We Are the Dead:

 

"...Short days ago we lived, felt dawn, saw

sunset glow,..."

Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae                                   

 

          As Christians, we are expected to keep the peace; however, we are often called to fight against the evil foes that may overtake us. Whether Hitler, the Al Qaeda, ISIS, communism, etc., we must war against the wrong. This is what makes Canada weak. My country is on a "toleration" agenda; we must try to please all people, because we are a "free country." On the other hand, the United States still generally recognizes its very Christian roots and is hated by the world, because they dare to face up to the enemy (aka, Satan in all those forms mentioned above + more).

          All these "dead" fought for not only our freedom from those who try to take over the world, but also against the devil who is constantly "seeking to devour us." We cannot let that happen ever. We are called to fight the good fight, physically and spiritually.

          There is so much more to say about the good fight; apparently we hate, because we dislike what God has commanded us to dislike. Apparently we should let evil men rule the world, because war is terrible (what's worse??!!). This is a sad, fallen world that we live in today. All because of one little fruit that Eve ate in the Garden of Eden.

 

 

 

 

     For those of you who asked, I've been working on the Reformation Day post - it's been taking a bit longer due to the lack of inspirational words. I'm hoping to get it out soon.

This Is Random:

     One very late night, I wrote this poem. I was thinking of the person who would take a nature walk and find all these tiny flowers, or wonder why or how something was fashioned, or appreciate each separate blade of grass. I thought of how he was, in a sense, only in God's world with the birds, trees, grasses, etc. and how he looked deeper into creation; everything else was tuned out.

And he went beyond the river

To the ground beside the stream - 

Though the coldness made him shiver,

He walked - his mind full of dreams.

All the common things forgotten;

Only puzzling mysteries

Higher than the most learned scholar/

Keener than the slightest breeze.

Ears attuned to smallest movement,

Eyes so bright and clear and sharp -

Nothing to escape his penchant;

Nothing in his senses warped.

"Glories to the God in heaven!"

As his thoughts rang out with praise,

"He, this world to us has given -

Let us thank Him all our days!"

"Oh! my joy has leapt inside me

By such great created things -

Each creation God had decreed;

Oh! my heart can only sing."

Heavenly Father guide us servants

To be stewards of your land/

To the marvelous creation

Fully fashioned by your hand. 





Wisemen Seeking Jesus

Traveled from afar
Guided on their journey     
By a beauteous star.
     James T. East

January 6th -  the day we celebrate the Wisemen's visit to Jesus.

 

Yes, even the Wisemen visited Jesus.

 

The traditional (or popular) explanation of why Jesus was given these gifts:

Gold - a symbol representing his status as a king

Frankincense - a symbol to represent his role as a servant of God (priest)

Myrrh - a symbol that takes into account his death and being laid in the tomb

 

What I am also impressed by is that these are all a very similar colour. ...

2nd Verse

O the deep, deep love of Jesus-

Spread His praise from shore to shore.

How He loveth, ever loveth;

Changeth never, nevermore.

How He watches over His loved ones-

Died to call them all His own;

How for them He intercedeth-

Watcheth over them from the throne.

Canada Day!

     

Happy 146th Birthday,Canada!

We pray that God will bless this land
And help it's citizens to stand;
To keep this country pure and true
And help it always stay by You.

Happy Birthday, Mami!

     My mother's birthday was yesterday. :) I won't say her age. Many people say that she looks waaaaay younger than that anyway.

May the blessings of our God above

Shine upon you today,

And may your Heavenly Father's love

Shine down with many rays.

Mixed Up Weather. Happy Birthday L!

     The weather is always a muddle. It's either raining or snowing. Usually it rains during the night and the next day the snow comes. The wind gives us lots of drifts and, as well as the rain, hazardous driving conditions.
    

Happy Birthday L!

God blessed you all the last year

And, so, this year He'll, too.

Remember that He'll care and guard

You every year through.

This Is What Happens When School Is Boring...

     So, my sisters and I were a little bit bored in school and we all happen to dislike a particular subject...
First M, my younger sister, wrote:

Math is boring,

Math is dumb.

Math makes people

Taste like rum.

Then S, another of my younger sisters added something:

Math is crazy,

Math is drear,

Math makes people

Very queer.

Then they asked R (another of my younger sisters) and I to contribute:

R:

Math hurts people,

Math ruins brains,

Math belongs

Down in the drain!

Me(it doesn't fit with the other verses, though):

Math-that word makes people cringe

And cower in their shoes.

It breaks their brains in tiny bits

Just adding two and two!
When I showed R, she contributed, too,...
Math is fun and
Math is kind.
Math makes you
Be smart in mind!

Math is happy
Just like a song.
Math keeps you entertained
All day long!
That was not what I expected, but it is like her. :)



Happy Birthday Daniel!!

     My younger brother turned a decade old today!

We thank the Lord who kept you

All through the passing year

He put His arms around you

And gave you health and cheer.

Now we will pray together

That he will keep you still

And make the next year happy

And help you do His will.



Reformation Day!

     On this day in 1517,Martin Luther nailed the 95 Theses on the castle church door in Wittenburg to state what he believed to be wrong in the Catholic church.
     This is the first verse of the German, "A Mighty Fortress Is Our God"(In this case,I know the German better than the English-usually it's the opposite):

Ein feste Burg ist unser Gott,

Ein gute Wehr und Waffen,

Er hilft uns frei aus aller Not,

Die uns jetzt hat betroffen;

Der alte, böse Feind, 

Mit Ernst ers jetzt meint,

Groß Macht und viel List 

Sein grausam Rüstung ist,

Auf Erd ist nich seinsgleichen.  



     On the Sunday before or after Reformation Day,we prepare short biographies of our church fathers and all the confirmed children take part in the reading of them. That is my favourite part. I am always interested in history and especially like to hear how the church was established and built.

     Just a week ago,we had a surprise visitor(that is,noone knew except for our parents and some others). Our former guest from Germany! I was quite surprised,I must say,but I am happy that he is here. :) Thankfully,he is staying for a while. :)

Thanksgiving/Erntedankfest

     A standard thanksgiving hymn for us and with a joyful melody:

Für den goldnen Sonnenschein,

Für die Luft,so klar und rein,

Für den Regen auf der Au',

Für den milden Morgentau

(For the golden sunshine,for the air,so clear and pure, for the rain on the meadows,for the mild morning dew...) 



Für das Wasser und das Brot,

Für die Freunde in der Not,

Für die Arbeit und das Spiel,

Für das Lebens Zweck und Ziel

(For the water and the bread,for the friends in the not,for the work and the play,for the life's purpose and aim...)

Für die Ruhe in der Nacht,

Für die holde Sternenpracht,

Für das teure Gotteswort,

Für die bess're Heimat dort

(For the rest in the night,for the lovely star splendor,for the costly Word of God,for the better home there...)

Für die lieben Eltern mein,

Die sich meinen Glücke weih'n,

Für den Heiland Jesus Christ,

Der von Himmel kommen is,

(For the loving parents mine,that my happiness ordain,for my Saviour Jesus Christ,that from heaven came...)

Für den lieben Ruhetag,

Den so gern ich feiern mag,

Wo wir gehn zum Haus des Herrn,

Immer wieder,ach,so gern,

(For the lovely Sunday,that I gladly celebrate,where we go to the House of the Lord,always again and ever so gladly...)

chorus

Danken wir dem Herrn.

Danken wir dem Herrn.

Vater,wir danken dir

Vater,wir danken dir;

Vater im Himmel,wir danken dir!

(Thank we the Lord,thank we the Lord. Father,we thank thee,Father,we thank thee.Father in heaven,we thank thee.)

     (Some of the translations might be a little off or wrong.)

     Last year I was so happy to have made Thanksgiving supper all by myself! I cooked red beets (picked by my younger sister, MM), cooked beans (picked by me), cooked rice, made a sauce for salmon and cooked it, and made tomato salad (tomatoes picked by S, and onions picked by my oldest sister, M).  I did burn the beets, but it wasn't too bad. :)

Another Pretty Verse.

     This one is German and tells about a bird that sings so sweet and makes people listen,but that is so small that you can barely see it.It is a cheery,uplifting,hymn particularily for children:

Vöglein im hohen Baum,

Klein ists,ihr seht es kaum

Singt doch so schön,

Daß wohl von nah und fern

Alle die Leute gern

Horchen und stehn

Horchen und stehn.

Unfortunately,though,I know very few German songs.   



Some Pretty Verses,Particularily for Children

  God make my life a little light

Within the world to glow,

A little flame that burneth bright

Wherever I may go.

God make my life a little flower

That giveth joy to all,

Content to bloom in native bower,

Although the place be small.

God make my life a little song

That comforteth the sad,

That helpeth others to be strong,

And maketh others glad.

God make my life a little staff

Whereon the weak may rest;

That so what health or strength I have

May serve my neighbour best.

Wherever I may go.

Wherever I may go,

God make my life a little light

Wherever I may go.



Another Hymn

     This hymn has nice words and a nice melody,and it is so easy to play,that I think this is my favourite:

When the trials of the day

Come to burden and dismay,

And the waves of disappointment seem to roll,

I retreat unto my Friend

For I always can depend

That He understands my needs of heart and soul.

When the burdens that I bear

I entrust to You in prayer,

And some answers are withheld, I yielded stay;

May my faith and peace in Thee

 Ever sure and anchored be

Till the dawning of that great eternal day.

Chorus:

Jesus, let me walk with Thee

Though the path I may not see;

Let me place my hand in Thine so trustingly;

In Thy strength and not in mine,

While I lay my will in Thine,

Your protecting arms surround and comfort me.

     The weather is getting warmer again. Hopefully,it will stay like that for a time.Yesterday was a beautiful day and I was going to do my schoolwork outside,but it never happened.  

A Beautiful Hymn

     I,at one time, thought that this was an ordinary hymn with a nice melody. Once,though,as I was reading through the words,I realized how beautiful it actually is.

God, that madest earth and heaven,

Darkness and light;

Who the day for toil hast given,

For rest the night;

May thy constant power defend us,

Slumber sweet thy mercy send us;

Holy dreams and hopes attend us,

This livelong night.

When the constant sun returning

Unseals our eyes,

May we, born anew like morning,

To labour rise;

Gird us for the task that calls us,

Let not ease and self enthrall us,

Strong through thee whatever befall us,

O God most wise!