JOYFUL, JOYFUL, WE ADORE THEE
Henry Jackson van Dyke
1852-1933
Joyful, joyful, we adore Thee, God of glory, Lord of love;
Hearts unfold like flowers before Thee, opening to the sun above.
Melt the clouds of sin and sadness; drive the dark of doubt away;
Giver of immortal gladness, fill us with the light of day!
All Thy works with joy surround Thee, earth and heaven reflect Thy rays,
Stars and angels sing around Thee, center of unbroken praise.
Field and forest, vale and mountain, flowery meadow, flashing sea,
Singing bird and flowing fountain call us to rejoice in Thee.
Thou art giving and forgiving, ever blessing, ever blessed,
Wellspring of the joy of living, ocean depth of happy rest!
Thou our Father, Christ our Brother, all who live in love are Thine;
Teach us how to love each other, lift us to the joy divine.
Mortals, join the happy chorus, which the morning stars began;
Father love is reigning o’er us, brother love binds man to man.
Ever singing, march we onward, victors in the midst of strife,
Joyful music leads us Sunward in the triumph song of life.
For Show & Tell Friday this week I would like to share my wonderful babushka (grandmother in Russian) with you. She was an amazing woman of God. Her left arm had to be amputated at her elbow at a very young age. My dedushka (grandfather in Russian), a Baptist minister was mistaken for someone else and was murdered. She came to the USA as a widow with a disability but that did not stop her from living a creative and fulfilled life.
My babushka loved to do embroidery. It was fascinating to watch her work and I wish I had a picture of her working with one arm. She was a quiet, gracious and loving woman. I know she was praying for all of us when she was creating her works of art. This post today is in loving memory of her faithfulness to Jesus, her family and her friends. I want to be just like her.
Here are some of her masterpieces:
Proverbs 31:25-31
25 She is clothed with strength and dignity;
she can laugh at the days to come.
26 She speaks with wisdom,
and faithful instruction is on her tongue.
27 She watches over the affairs of her household
and does not eat the bread of idleness.
28 Her children arise and call her blessed;
her husband also, and he praises her:
29 “Many women do noble things,
but you surpass them all.”
30 Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting;
but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised.
31 Honor her for all that her hands have done,
and let her works bring her praise at the city gate.
Thanks for stopping by. If you want to see more show and tell items, walk on over to Kelli’s at
Much of our prayer and worship is within a community. We sing hymns together. We voice prayers together. We build relationships with fellow believers. Yet sometimes our relationship with God can best be deepened by time spent alone. Some people find solitude more congenial than others. Not all of us are natural solitaries. But solitude is not yet prayer; it is a way into prayer. Solitude is a door.
When you open the door of solitude, you may find another door behind it. That is the door of silence. Silence, too, is an environment for prayer. In silence we put ourselves in touch with God and also with our deeper selves. Thoughts long buried come to the surface. Long-repressed feelings bubble up. Silence exposes certain issues in our lives, and almost without effort, what is most important comes to the forefront. Now we can place that “most important issue” before God as we pray.
Doors into Prayer – An Invitation
Emilie Griffin
The second paragraph is why it is hard for me to “be still and know that He is God”. The exposure of my “self” is too overwhelming to deal with. I would rather have my 30 minute devotions where I read for 15-20 minutes and pray for 10 minutes and off I go. Devotions. Check. Next item on the list…
Solitude, Silence, Being Still – Scarey things. We are made to be community minded, family oriented, relational people. Busyness is a way of life. Or is it? Just because I am community minded, family oriented and relational doesn’t mean I MUST be busy. Is busyness my excuse not to be still? Do I need busyness intervention? I know my heart needs this intervention. My spiritual life will dry up and die without it.
This week has been a week of reflection and examination of the state of my spiritual walk with the Lord. The Lord has been asking for some heart issues to be exposed and to be dealt with. As much I as would like to resist, I need this probing examination. Thank you Lord for stopping me in my tracks and showing me areas of need – intervening with gentle reminders. In your presence is fullness of joy.
Psalm 16
1 Preserve me, O God, for in you I take refuge. 2 I say to the Lord, You are my Lord;I have no good apart from you. 3 As for the saints in the land, they are the excellent ones, in whom is all my delight. 4 The sorrows of those who run after another god shall multiply;their drink offerings of blood I will not pour outor take their names on my lips. 5 The Lord is my chosen portion and my cup;you hold my lot. 6 The lines have fallen for me in pleasant places;indeed, I have a beautiful inheritance. 7 I bless the Lord who gives me counsel;in the night also my heart instructs me.
8 I have set the Lord always before me;because he is at my right hand, I shall not be shaken. 9 Therefore my heart is glad, and my whole being rejoices;my flesh also dwells secure. 10 For you will not abandon my soul to Sheol,or let your holy one see corruption. 11 You make known to me the path of life;in your presence there is fullness of joy;at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.
Above the Clouds 
