For this particular header, I chose this picture because we saw these flowers in California while on our honeymoon 4 ½ years ago – one of the most breath-taking sights on our trip. We had been driving through the mountains, we rounded a corner and went over a hill and saw a large snow-capped mountain.
Seconds later, more awesomeness, as around another corner there were green (treed) mountains, with large sections of orange – half the mountains were orange – filled with these little flowers. We later learned that these particular mountains had had a forest fire a few years back, and when spraying with water, seeds were included to jumpstart the new growth.
This might be a good time also to share why I chose the name “Miracles of Grace” for our blog URL and title. Quite a few years ago, in choir we sang the hymn “Sweet the Moments”, and that’s where I first heard the phrase.
Sweet the Moments
Sweet the moments, rich in blessing,
Which before the cross I spend;
Life, and health, and peace possessing
From the sinner’s dying Friend.
May I sit forever viewing
Mercy’s streams in streams of blood;
Precious drops my soul bedewing,
Plead and claim my peace with God!
Truly blessed is this station,
Low before His cross to lie,
While I see divine compassion
Beaming in His gracious eye.
Here it is I find my heaven,
While upon the Lamb I gaze,
Love I much? I’ve much forgiven;
I’m a miracle of grace.
For Thy sorrows I adore Thee,
For the pains that wrought my peace,
Gracious Saviour! I implore Thee,
In my soul Thy love increase!
Still in ceaseless contemplations,
Fix my heart and eyes on Thee,
Till I taste They full salvation,
And, unveiled, Thy glories see!
The phrase “miracles of grace” stuck in my mind for quite sometime, and when many people I knew started created blogs, and I decided to join the crowd, I knew the name I wanted to use for the blog was “miracles of grace”. In the beginning, the main purpose for our blog was to share with friends and family about different events and fun happenings in our lives. While such posts do not not necessarily explicitly call out God’s grace, the fact is, every day is full of grace from God. My purpose in blogging has not changed much, although I am trying to blog more about things that are not necessarily events. Trying to put up more posts that don’t require a picture to write about. J Which means God’s miracles of grace may be more explicitly pointed out. Underneath and over top of it all, Rob and I want our blog to be to God’s glory and honour, for He it is who deserves all the praise, and He it is who gives us miracles of grace every single day.
However, there is more. Back when we started this blog, Rob and I were very much hoping and praying for the miracle of a baby in our family, and this blog would then have presumably documented much about the joy that would have brought us. God, in His sovereign wisdom, has chosen not to give Rob and I children, although we do still hope and pray that He will do so; and we have no doubts in His ability to do so. Despite the fact that we do not have children in our family, and how hard that is, we still do testify that our lives are still full of miracles of grace, grace that we need weekly, daily, hourly and every minute, grace that blesses us with forgiveness, with various joys and fun, grace that sustains us on hard days. Hard days because we don’t have children, or hard days for some other reason. Some days, as we strive to serve our great God, our LORD, our Saviour, as a family of two, we really feel our need of His grace every hour and every minute. Other days are easier, and while we need God’s grace no less, He provides other joys, and He provides His peace; great, wonderful, peaceful peace in the knowledge that HE is sovereign, HE is doing what is right, HE is doing all things for our good….and for HIS glory (Romans 8:28)
Sweet the Moments
Sweet the moments, rich in blessing,
Which before the cross I spend;
Life, and health, and peace possessing
From the sinner’s dying Friend.
May I sit forever viewing
Mercy’s streams in streams of blood;
Precious drops my soul bedewing,
Plead and claim my peace with God!
Truly blessed is this station,
Low before His cross to lie,
While I see divine compassion
Beaming in His gracious eye.
Here it is I find my heaven,
While upon the Lamb I gaze,
Love I much? I’ve much forgiven;
I’m a miracle of grace.
For Thy sorrows I adore Thee,
For the pains that wrought my peace,
Gracious Saviour! I implore Thee,
In my soul Thy love increase!
Still in ceaseless contemplations,
Fix my heart and eyes on Thee,
Till I taste They full salvation,
And, unveiled, Thy glories see!
The phrase “miracles of grace” stuck in my mind for quite sometime, and when many people I knew started created blogs, and I decided to join the crowd, I knew the name I wanted to use for the blog was “miracles of grace”. In the beginning, the main purpose for our blog was to share with friends and family about different events and fun happenings in our lives. While such posts do not not necessarily explicitly call out God’s grace, the fact is, every day is full of grace from God. My purpose in blogging has not changed much, although I am trying to blog more about things that are not necessarily events. Trying to put up more posts that don’t require a picture to write about. J Which means God’s miracles of grace may be more explicitly pointed out. Underneath and over top of it all, Rob and I want our blog to be to God’s glory and honour, for He it is who deserves all the praise, and He it is who gives us miracles of grace every single day.
However, there is more. Back when we started this blog, Rob and I were very much hoping and praying for the miracle of a baby in our family, and this blog would then have presumably documented much about the joy that would have brought us. God, in His sovereign wisdom, has chosen not to give Rob and I children, although we do still hope and pray that He will do so; and we have no doubts in His ability to do so. Despite the fact that we do not have children in our family, and how hard that is, we still do testify that our lives are still full of miracles of grace, grace that we need weekly, daily, hourly and every minute, grace that blesses us with forgiveness, with various joys and fun, grace that sustains us on hard days. Hard days because we don’t have children, or hard days for some other reason. Some days, as we strive to serve our great God, our LORD, our Saviour, as a family of two, we really feel our need of His grace every hour and every minute. Other days are easier, and while we need God’s grace no less, He provides other joys, and He provides His peace; great, wonderful, peaceful peace in the knowledge that HE is sovereign, HE is doing what is right, HE is doing all things for our good….and for HIS glory (Romans 8:28)
You will keep him in perfect peace,
Whose mind is stayed on You,
Because he trusts in You.
Isaiah 26:3
Isaiah 26:3
4 comments:
Beautiful, Karen and Rob. Our prayers are with you guys. Truly, God is right and good in all His choosings for us and His direction and different ways of caring and providing for each of His children. What a lovely song that you chose your blog name from!
A beautiful, moving post! And lovely new header! Len and I are so grateful to have you both in our lives... you are a blessing to us! Press on!
Beautifully said! We are so often in need of continual reminders of God's blessings in our lives. May God continue to give you strength for each day....we love you guys!
i love you sister dear <3
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