Do You Know this Song?

We learned this at a local Baptist church. The words are so good and with the melody, it's beautiful.



Before the throne of God above,
I have a strong, a perfect plea,
A great High Priest whose name is "Love,"
Who ever lives and pleads for me.

My name is graven on His hands,
My name is written on His heart;
I know that while in heav'n He stands
no tongue can bid me thence depart.
No tongue can bid me thence depart.

When Satan tempts me to despair,
and tells me of the guilt within,
upward I look and see Him there
Who made an end to all my sin.

Because the sinless Saviour died,
my sinful soul is counted free;
For God, the Just, is satisfied
to look on him and pardon me.
to look on him and pardon me.

Behold him there! the risen Lamb,
my perfect, spotless Righteousness,
the great unchangeable I AM,
the King of glory and of grace!

One with Himself I cannot die,
My soul is purchased by His blood;
My life is hid with Christ on high,
with Christ, my Saviour and my God
with Christ, my Saviour and my God


CCLI #1360011
Charite Lees Bancroft, Vikki Cook © 1997 PDI Worship

Growing Up and Leaving Home

Growing Up and Leaving Home

No, this isn't going to be about how to tell when children are mature enough to leave home. (Though it might make a juicy subject sometime!)

Remember our biscuits born in May? Well, they're eight weeks old now and ready to go to their new homes.













They've grown progressively cuter as the weeks have gone by. And more and more active! It is pretty much impossible to enter the kennel now without a couple exuberantly escaping.

Three of our eight are gone and one more is leaving on Tuesday. It is sad to see them go, but good too, as they are ready to get their own "families." With all the activity, and increased need for attention, and greater appetites, and more by-product, we are ready to lessen our burden. The money is nice too!


I think that the tender and humorous side of God's nature is so evident in His creation of babies. Almost any kind of baby is cute! Have you ever seen a baby pineapple?

Raspberry Time

Raspberry Time

July is raspberry month where I live. After waiting all year for these wonderful treats, I now am having a hard time keeping up with my ambitious planting. I love raspberries, so when we first moved here, I made sure to plop some in the ground right away. Little did I know, I had gotten sterile plants, and spent three years waiting in vain for berries. I made up for my misfortune by planting nearly two rows of good raspberries in my garden. I would love to freeze them, but they take so long to pick, and we end up eating them all.

Here's a recipe for those of you who are likewise blessed. It was given to me by a nice family in western Wisconsin. These are just wonderful with tea or coffee.


Jensens' Raspberry Custard Kuchen

1 1/2 cups flour, divided
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 cup cold butter
2 TBLSP. whipping cream
1/4 cup sugar
3 cups fresh raspberries (we use slightly less)

Topping:
1/2 cup sugar
1 TBLSP. flour
2 eggs, beaten
1 cup whipping cream
1 tsp. vanilla

In a bowl, combine 1 cup flour & salt; cut in butter
until resembles coarse crumbs. Stir in cream. Pat
into a 9x13 greased pan. Combine the sugar and
remaining flour; sprinkle over crust. Arrange rasp.
over crust. For topping, combine sugar and flour.
Stir in eggs, cream and vanilla; pour over berries.
Bake at 375 for 40-45 mins. or until very lightly
browned. (I usually set timer about 5 mins early
then keep a close watch). Serve warm or chilled.
Store in refrig. Serves 9-12, depends on how big
you cut the slices.

Honey for a Perfectionist's Heart

Honey for a Perfectionist's Heart

Is there anyone out there who is a perfectionist like me? I am your classic, first-born, reserved, conscientious female who likes everything just right in order to relax and enjoy. The weather has to be right, we have to get there in time, and my outfit must be perfect! Unfortunately, we live after the Fall on a planet where nothing is "just right." And so I have spent much of my life frustrated, as little and big problems marred the experiences and objects I so wanted to savor.

It is only in recent years that I have begun learning the art of rolling with the punches. Of finding the joy in the unplanned moments, and picking out the beauty amid the things that go wrong. I've found that nothing can match the enjoyment of something spontaneous! And don't you just love spontaneous people?

Some time ago I found this insightful quote that really gave me a lot of perspective on this. It is by Alexandra Stoddard, a secular interior decorator.


"Perfect. Think about that word. When something is perfect, it can't be improved upon. Perfection is sterile, cold, unloving. . . Perfectionists rate low on self-esteem because nothing they do, or create, ever meets their standards. . . Perfection, in the final analysis, halts the creative process. It is the enemy of spontaneity and serendipity, surely two of the most glorious gifts of life. . .


"Where is the living taking place? Living well is an earthy business. We may celebrate the daily moments of life when we throw an extra log on a roaring fire, light a scented candle, open a window, move a chair over to the light, sip a glass of Chardonnay, prepare a snack, read the paper, or write a letter with a fountain pen; but the soot, the scratches, the crumbs, the ring on the table, the mess on the floor, the ink on the chintz, the wrinkles, the work -- these are all part of the romance of everyday living. Perfection, on the other hand, chills the mystery and leaves us frozen in space. Perfectionists miss it all."