.

 

 

 

Then Job replied (regarding)God…
His wisdom is profound, his power is vast…
He alone stretches out the heavens
and treads on the waves of the sea. 
 He is the Maker of the Bear and Orion,
the Pleiades and the constellations of the south.  
He performs wonders that cannot be fathomed,
miracles that cannot be counted

(from Job 9,1-10)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

.

On Memorial Day 

 

With politics aside today
remember those who give;

believing in the duty to
defend, that others live.

Remember those for ages past
who life’s breath freely gave 

so weaker ones might freely live,
while soldiers earned the grave.

With feet of clay or steely will
so many’ve paid in pain
with loss of limb, or wounded soul
that tyrants might not reign. 

So..disagreements all aside
remember those who give;
believing in the duty to
defend, that others live.
                                                                  ©5/28/07 james a. smallish

 

“Greater love has no one than this; that
a person lay down their life for their friends.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

 

I’ve been updating my music player lately. If there’s any song, group, or style

you would (or would not/do not) care to hear…let me know. My purpose for

the player is for it to be an easy source for others to “tune in” to positive uplifting music which is enjoyable.

 

blessings…jim

 

Going through some photos of Matt (my son), as he returned to Iraq,
I was struck by the tenderness of this Military Police Sergeant
comforting his new wife.

 

 

 

“What has the power to
soothe anger, calm
violence, and bring
peace to tense
situations? It’s gentleness. “
…Matt Redman

May God bless all our soldiers with the strength and
courage to protect the weak , and the wisdom and gentleness to
comfort them as well.

(…and may God grant our leaders the wisdom to know how to
bring home our sons and daughters)

……jim

 

 

 

 

A Psalm of Hope

 

Oh God, Who makes all life to grow;
Who lives inside of me,
with Your sweet Spirit
            fill my soul,
and set this captive free!

Fill ev’ry corner, ev’ry turn -
of body, mind and soul;
With your own joy, and life and thought
suffuse and make me whole.

Father, set my feet to dance
and lift my arms in praise.
With all Your power, take my life
that I may anthems raise

to worship You for all You’ve done
and all You plan to do,
let ev’ry fiber resonate
and live to worship You.

Oh God Who makes all life to grow
come, live inside of me.
With your sweet Spirit take control,
and set this captive free!
© james a. smallish 3/18/2007

 

+ + +

 

4/27/07  I’m working on a way to get you easy links to my Selah music;
’till then, here’s the link to “By and By” with the baptism recording
(from the Congo) at the beginning:
http://www.freewebtown.com/jimmish/09%20By%20and%20By.wma

 

Selah 

aaaaand…re-edit: Some of you seemed to like the music by Selah, so I’ve added the
rest of the album,(The Hiding Place). Selections # 10 through 21 below are the album contents …
…ENJOY them!

 Edit: …so, for someone who loves God-based music..I just learned something
very cool which I probably should have known already. The Christian music group, “Selah”,
does a lot of African (specifically Congolese) music. Todd and Nicol, 2 of the 3 group members,
were raised in the Congo; grandchildren (and I suspect children) of missionaries.
In the new song track I’ve added below, “By and By”, You can hear Todd’s grandfather speaking
from an old radio broadcast. In the liner to their album “Hiding Place”,
they tell the story that so many people were accepting Christ at that time, that
the Belgian government banned baptisms for two years, thinking that the people
were overemotional (hysterical?) , and didn’t know what they were doing.In the first baptism service
when re-allowed (the recording you hear is from that service), over 1,000 people were immersed.

What an awesome legacy God has given through that family.

blessings…jim

 

So…Rachel finally sent a CD of photos from Ghana
(I’ve modified the music..it’s all worshipping God, so
even if you don’t understand all the words,
enjoy the warmth and the sentiment..it’s
wonderful!)

 

                                                                                                                                                       

 

Children at a YWAM-sponsored school on the 50th anniversary of Ghana’s independence.
(which, Rachel kindly pointed out, makes Ghana younger than me.)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Helen and Haruna, with Rachel.
Helen is a former YWAM staffer,                
and Haruna is currently on staff.

 

Below are Rachel and her classmates, visiting one of the Mercy Ships
which was in port in Ghana. Cool side note: on the ship Rachel ran into
a former schoolmate (high school of 50 students)!

 

         …and here’s Rachel,
                                                                     dressed in traditional garb, 
                                                                             going to a wedding.

 

 

 

 

 

 

“Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord,
the fruit of the womb a reward.” Psalm 127:3……………
                  I have, indeed, been blessed by The Lord; bless His Name forever!

 

 

 

edit: here’s the direct link to the video;
seems it didn’t work for everyone
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JohyL2D2v5o
(you’ll still need to turn off my music)

Saw this video ( at the upper right)
at church the other day,
and had to share it with you.

 

remember to scroll down to the bottom of my page and
turn off (“stop”) the music player before you start the video

be blessed…jim 

+ + +

 

Recipe for a great breakfast.
(this version takes a little time)

1. Visit a good friend

 

 

2. Open unexpected gift from said good friend  

 
    (a couple weeks later)

3. Following instructions, make dough for Beignets
pronounced “bin-yay”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

4. Cook in hot oil

 

5. Make Cafe du Monde coffee
(in a French press, of course!) 

 

 

6. Coat beignets with powdered sugar

7. Enjoy…thanking God for friends and food!

You bless us with Your bounty, Lord
With love and home and food.
You lend it from an open hand
All given for our good.

Oh, fill us with your Spirit, Lord
That we might always see
That all we have, and all we are
Are graces sent by Thee.

copyright april ’07 james a. smallish

 

 

 

 

 

 

Halle un buen amigo
Mi amado Salvador,
Contare lo que El ha hecho para mi:
Hallandome perdido
E indigno pecador,
Me salvo y hoy me guarda para si.
Me salvo del pecado, Me guarda de satan:
Promete estar conmigo hasta le fin:

Aleluya!

El consuelo mi tristeza,
Me quito todo afan:

Grandes cosas Cristo ha hecho para mi!

 

AleluYa!

 

 

(translation)

I’ve found a great friend,
My beloved Savior.
I’ll tell what He’s done for me:
He found me lost;
A disgraced failure (“shamed sinner”)
He saved me and he protects me,
He saved me from my own failure
and protects me from the enemy:
He’s promised to be with me till the end:

Alleluia!

He comforted my pain,
And quenched all my desires:
Christ has done great things for me!

Alleluia!

 

 

 

 

 

4/2 edit: Ray Brewer is awesome! (more later)

 

What’s that in the background?
(answer later..hint: sticks and snails)

 

Okay, it’s one of the things “little boys” (nine year-old  ones) do before their grandpas get up.

 

 

 

First, they have a hearty breakfast…
3/4 of a pan of brownies with milk
 

 

 

…then, they stuff and stuff a shirt pocket until they’re pretty sure they’ve set a record for pencil, marker, etc. stuffing (102, to be exact)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

after that, it’s time for outdoor activities…

a shovel is essential

…for a worm collection!

and all this by about 9 am!

 

 

              

 

 

 

It’s amazing how well they “clean up ” later when you insist!

 

 

 

It’s been said that if a man of forty had the energy of a  child,

he could rule the world….

I’ve never doubted it!

 

 

 “Sitting down, Jesus called the Twelve and said, “If anyone wants to be first, he must be the very last, and the servant of all.” He took a little child and had him stand among them. Taking him in his arms, he said to them,  ”Whoever welcomes one of these little children in my name welcomes me; and whoever welcomes me does not welcome me but the one who sent me.”

                            (from Mark 9:35-37)

 

          blessings, little friends…jim