A Few Thoughts In A Winter Storm

Memories from a previous storm.

I was going to try to write something new for you, but I didn't start soon enough, and as I'm sitting here right now (Saturday night) we are getting sleet and maybe some freezing rain coming and going. Because of the hour, I'm going to have to stop and go do a few things "just in case" the power goes out in the night. We are mostly ready and our wood stove is already going, but I need to wash up a few pans for cooking and take a shower and my husband needs to pump up the air mattress in case we need to come sleep in the living room in the night. If the power goes out and stays out for an extended period we will have at least two extra people (my dad and brother) and possibly more. I hope and pray the power stays on for all of us, but I'm very thankful that we do have a backup heat source, and plenty of wood.

In lieu of a regular post here are a few things for you to ponder and enjoy.

Songs in the Night

Job 35:10 But none saith,
Where is God my maker,
who giveth songs in the night;

We make our songs in the day of our gladness,
When life is all laughter and joy and delight,
When never a shadow has clouded our sunshine;
But God giveth songs in the night!

He giveth songs in the night of our sorrow,
When tears are our drink and when grief is our meat,
Till we silence our weeping and still our repining
To list to those cadences sweet.

God giveth songs in the night of affliction,
When earth has no sun and the heavens no star;
Like a comforting touch in the desolate darkness
His voice stealeth in from afar.

He giveth songs -- and His music is sweeter
Than earth's greatest voices and gladdest refrains;
Our loveliest melodies shade to the minor,
But His keep their full major strains.

He giveth songs when our music is over,
When our voices falter and our tongues are mute;
When trembling hands drop from the lute and the harp-strings,
And hushed are the viol and flute.

Give us Thy songs, O Thou Maker of music!
Teach us to sing, O Thou Bringer of joy!
Till nothing can silence the notes of our triumph
And naught our rejoicing destroy!

Annie Johnson Flint
[altered]

Psalm 32:7 Thou art my hiding place; thou shalt preserve me from trouble; thou shalt compass me about with songs of deliverance. Selah.

Psalm 12:1-8 Help, LORD; for the godly man ceaseth; for the faithful fail from among the children of men. They speak vanity every one with his neighbour: with flattering lips and with a double heart do they speak. The LORD shall cut off all flattering lips, and the tongue that speaketh proud things: Who have said, With our tongue will we prevail; our lips are our own: who is lord over us? For the oppression of the poor, for the sighing of the needy, now will I arise, saith the LORD; I will set him in safety from him that puffeth at him. The words of the LORD are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times. Thou shalt keep them, O LORD, thou shalt preserve them from this generation for ever. The wicked walk on every side, when the vilest men are exalted. 

A free coloring page: LINK