Reserved for the Master's Use

I decided to write a quick post, since nobody is wanting to use the computer at this time. They're practicing a song with the piano (without me!) for church tomorrow. They're also practicing an a capella song, supposedly for an upcoming contest, but to tell the truth, it sounds like a cross between howling wolves and alley cats!!! Lol! And every couple of phrases, they burst into laughing. I don't know if this is supposed to be for a vocal contest or a comedy act! But thankfully, the rules limit them to two verses, so their audience shouldn't have to endure it very long! ;-)

Seriously, though, the other song that they're practicing for tomorrow sounds pretty good, and it really has a good message. I don't know who wrote it...we heard it off somebody else's cd. Rachel sang this at her graduation, and I thought it really fit the occasion.


Reserved For the Master's Use

Now you may ask what I desire to do with my life,
My ambitions, my plans, and my dreams,
But I must answer that I'm not my own,
For I'm bought with a price,
The slave is subject to Him Who redeems.

(Chorus)
And I have no plans but those God has made,
He bought all rights to my life when He paid
The price to redeem me from Satan's abuse
I've been reserved for the Master's use.

Now you may see me as a captive being held against my will,
But you don't understand, Oh, I'm free!
I'm a slave to my Master, but I need no chains,
I serve Him for His love constraineth me.

I've heard some people, people that claim to be Christians, say, "I have the right to live my life the way I want to. No one can tell me what to do." But after all the Lord has done for us, I believe He has every right to tell us how to live our lives! He, Who has never sinned, took our sins upon Himself and suffered and died, so that we might trust in Him for eternal life!

"He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not. Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed." (Isaiah 53:3-5)

What love! My Dad often gives the illustration that as much as he loves us seven girls, he really loves our little brother! (And so do we all!) He wouldn't consider giving our brother's life for anybody! But God gave His only begotten Son for us, knowing what kind of sinners we would be!

"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." (John 3:16)

How can anybody say, "No one's going to tell me what to do?!?"

"I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God." (Romans 12:1-2)

Well, this has turned out to be more than just a quick post! :-) I've got lots of pics, and I'll try to post them sometime soon. (I've got to change the size so it doesn't take forever to load the page when people come to my blog!)

Believest Thou This?

In my Bible reading last night, one of the chapters I read was John 11. Lazarus, the brother of Mary and Martha, was very sick, and when they sent for Jesus, it seemed like He didn't really care. He waited around two days before He started for the town of Bethany. By the time He arrived, Lazarus had been dead and buried four days.

(vs. 17-24) Then when Jesus came, he found that he had lain in the grave four days already.
Now Bethany was nigh unto Jerusalem, about fifteen furlongs off:

And many of the Jews came to Martha and Mary, to comfort them concerning their brother.
Then Martha, as soon as she heard that Jesus was coming, went and met him: but Mary sat still in the house.
Then said Martha unto Jesus, Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died.
But I know, that even now, whatsoever thou wilt ask of God, God will give it thee.
Jesus saith unto her, Thy brother shall rise again.
Martha saith unto him, I know that he shall rise again in the resurrection at the last day.

At this time, Martha had no way of knowing what Jesus was doing. I'm sure she was probably confused as to why Jesus hadn't shown up sooner.

(vs. 25-27) Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:
And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?
She saith unto him, Yea, Lord: I believe that thou art the Christ, the Son of God, which should come into the world.

The Lord showed me this...Martha was trusting in Him for salvation, but she thought He had made a mistake in her life. Many times I, too, wonder why the Lord allows things to happen in my life. Why is this happening? I'm just trying to do what's right and serve You. How foolish! If I can trust the Lord for eternity, I can trust that what He does in my life down here is right! He can see the whole picture, and He's knows what is best!

I love this song by Fanny Crosby...

All the way my Saviour leads me; What have I to ask beside?
Can I doubt His tender mercy, Who through life has been my Guide?
Heavenly peace, divinest comfort, Here by faith in Him to dwell!
For I know whate'er befall me, Jesus doeth all things well;
For I know whate'er befall me, Jesus doeth all things well.

All the way my Saviour leads me, Cheers each winding path I read,
Gives me grace for every trial, Feeds me with the living bread.
Though my weary steps may falter, And my soul athrist may be,
Gushing from the Rock before me, Lo! a spring of joy I see;
Gushing from the Rock before me, Lo! a spring of joy I see.

All the way my Saviour leads me; Oh, the fullness of His love!
Perfect rest to me is promised, In my Father's house above.
When my spirit clothed immortal, Wings its flights to realms of day,
This my song through endless ages: Jesus lead me all the way;
This my song through endless ages: Jesus lead me all the way.

Just 27 Hours!

It's just a little over 27 hours until we open for Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver! We have been busy all week practicing and getting ready (which is why I haven't been posting very much.) We'll be leaving for Cullman, AL, pretty early tomorrow in order to get everything set up and ready. We've got a lot of our family coming up for the concert, and our grandparents and aunt will be coming up to see us for the weekend. So I'm sure I'll be posting lots of pictures next week!

p.s.
Our garden is doing really well now! Everything is coming up nicely, and just in time, too, 'cause we want our garden to look it's best when Papa is here! :-)