Saturday, March 18, 2006

Peace Like a River

What a jam packed week it's been...we're all finally on the mend and now catching up on school...I'm a year older than last Friday, but realy don't feel any different than last week :) !

I was so blessed to receive gifts just tailored for me from my family and friends...they really spoiled me and I wasn't expecting that. It was just nice to spend some really great time with my family and to have a quiet, but truly special, celebration! I really just wanted my birthday to slip quietly by this year and it did. My hubby and kids baked me a cake and made one of my favorite suppers on the weekend and we spent my day with my sister, which was nice. I have a very special friend, one of my best friends...she knew this one would be hard, so she sent me a couple e-cards and another handwritten one with my present, which we exchanged last month when I was up to see her. As I told someone yesterday, the first birthday once you've moved is often a hard one, because you no longer have your old traditions, friends and celebrations, but yet it's usually too soon to feel comfortable trying to forge ahead and make new traditions and celebrations. Life in general though is going well and that's a very good thing at this point!

One present I received was a CD by "Selah" entitled "Greatest Hymns". Some people would be mildly surprised I'm sure to know how much I love to listen to hymns as much as everything else I listen to. I've listened to this CD over and over again...I just love how they have produced some of the hymns. I've listened a lot to "It is Well With My Soul"...I've thought a lot about where I was this fall when we made this move and where I am now and I'm truly humbled at how God never gave up, continued to work and is still working on me. It's so true how peace flows over you like a river and truly refreshes your soul! Thank you so much for continuing to drop by and leave your words of encouragement...this break is very refreshing...I'm learning to quiet myself and to concentrate on God and my first ministry...my family!

I pray you'll all have a very blessed week and that God will be very real and present with you and your families. I'm going to end off with "It is Well With My Soul"...it's so amazing to just sit back and drink in the reality, love and grace of these words!

When Peace Like a River
Philip Paul Bliss, 1876

When peace like a river attendeth my way,
When sorrows like sea billows roll;
Whatever my lot, Thou hast taught me to say,
"It is well, it is well with my soul."

It is well (It is well)
With my soul (With my soul)
It is well, it is well with my soul.

Though Satan should buffet, though trials should come,
Let this blest assurance control,
That Christ hath regarded my helpless estate,
And hath shed His own blood for my soul.

My sin - O the bliss of that glorious though!
My sin - not in part, but the whole,
Is nailed to His cross, and I bear it no more;
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul!

And, Lord, haste the day when the faith shall be sight,
The clouds be rolled back as a scroll,
The trump shall resound, and the Lord shall descend;
"Even so" - it is well with my soul.

"Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits." Ps. 103:2

9 comments:

audrey` said...

A Very Happy Birthday to you, Cinder!

God bless you abundantly, sis!

Jenny said...

Happy Belated Birthday!

That is one of my favorite hymns.

Kc said...

Cinder I'm so sorry we missed the celebration but maybe it's not too late. Happy Birthday! ;-)

I love that hymn as well as "Peace like a River (flows into my soul)". I'm so thankful all is going so well. ;-)

Jackie said...

Wishing you a happy birhtday!

Corry said...

Happy belated Birthday!!!!!!!!!!

God bless you.

God's Grace.

Patti said...

Happy Birthday too. I love that hymn. I have Amy Grant and Debby Boone's Cd's of hymns. They are great.

Vicki said...

Your blog is so beautiful and has encouraged me greatly this morning. Happy belated birthday and many more!

Curious Servant said...

Happy birthday.

A great old classic hymn...

audrey` said...

Hi Cinder :)

How are you?