Sleep Sweetly

Sleep sweetly in this quiet room
Oh thou, whoe’er thou art,
And let no mournful yesterdays
Disturb your peaceful heart.
Nor let tomorrow pierce thy rest
With dreams of coming ill:
Thy Maker is thy changeless friend,
His love surrounds thee still.
Forget thyself and all the world;
Put out each glaring light.
The stars are watching overhead.
Sleep sweetly, then. Goodnight.
~Victor Hugo

Where I'm From

I am from the wicker laundry basket that rests beneath the clothesline, from the hearth that warms the soul and the table we join hands round.
I am from the cheery, peaceful bungalow where aromas of freshly baked breads slip out the window to call loved ones home. I am from the porch swing where stories are told, hearts desires unfolded and kisses bestowed.
I am from hand made baskets bursting with Chrysanthemum. From delicate tea rose, and gentle Dogwood. From Japanese Maple, proud and colorful.
I am from puns and playfulness and loyalty, from Jack and Mert, and Russell and Sylvia, too.
I am from childlike generosity and unwavering love.
From faeries leaping from chimney stacks and flickering with light and from brownies who clean under the bed through the night.
I am from Calvin, Luther, and Zwingli; the reformers whose voices still echo today.
I'm from England and Germany, from tradition and stoicism. From sourdough bread and chocolate chip cookies, relished with thanksgiving to God.
From the floods and fires of vacations past, the adventures of clearing land and contests for the dirtiest laborer. From seaside strolls, ice cream shops, and bookstore addictions. From the members who stand by their loved ones when all the world turns their back.
I am from hope chests, old train trunks, and hat boxes tucked away for safe keeping until some small child happens upon these tiny treasures and stories from so long ago.

Hat tip to Mrs. Blythe for this wonderful idea. :)

Hope Springs Eternal


Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God. More than that, we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us. Romans 5: 1-5

As I witness my father’s sluggish passing from the harsh Winter of his sufferings into the newness of Spring’s hope of glory, I find myself longing for the dawn that lies on the other side of this dark night’s watch. For many months now, my father has been in the dark and cold winter season of life. Winter is now drawing to a close for him, but this last leg of his journey is one that, to outside viewers, seems to be solitary and lonely. As Christians and fellow sojourners in this life, we know this is not so. Even as my father gives the impression of no longer being lucid and stares blankly at nothing, I believe he is simply beginning his passage into the Spring of eternity with Christ. This is not a crossing that he makes alone. If I ascend to heaven, you are there! If I make my bed in Sheol, you are there! Psalm 139:8……He has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” Hebrews 13:5

What a glorious Spring awaits my father on the other side, to be free from the bondage of sin and its effects on our frail human bodies, to truly know and be in the presence of the glory of the Lord, to have his hope realized. How truly beautiful our Lord must be! And what joy will be his as he will finally be able to worship in spirit and in truth! This is what we long for, to finally be able to fulfill our chief end: to glorify God and enjoy Him forever. For the common man, Winter is end of his journey, but for those who love the Lord hope springs eternal.

Autumn Morning

The rarest Autumn morning,

of leaves set all ablaze.

The mildest touch of sunlight,

amid the Autumn haze.

The booted feet of daybreak,

falling to the ground,

The cool clear air a stirring,

God's poetry profound.

October 20, 1969

By Linda A. Copp ©

When peace, like a river, attendeth my way,When sorrows like sea billows roll;Whatever my lot, Thou has taught me to say,It is well, it is well, with my soul.
Refrain
It is well, with my soul,It is well, 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 has regarded my helpless estate,And hath shed His own blood for my soul.
Refrain
My sin, oh, the bliss of this glorious thought!My sin, not in part but the whole,Is nailed to the cross, and I bear it no more,Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul!
Refrain
For me, be it Christ, be it Christ hence to live:If Jordan above me shall roll,No pang shall be mine, for in death as in lifeThou wilt whisper Thy peace to my soul.
Refrain
But, Lord, ‘tis for Thee, for Thy coming we wait,The sky, not the grave, is our goal;Oh trump of the angel! Oh voice of the Lord!Blessèd hope, blessèd rest of my soul!
Refrain
And Lord, haste the day when my 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.
Refrain