Category: Our Christian Walk

Our Christian Walk, Writing

Tuesday Teaser

deborahanndykeman

We humans are a prideful lot. If our feelings are hurt, we can stew for days, simmering just like a pot on the stove. Pride can keep us from forgiving a wrong done. Sometimes, this can take us a lifetime to get over. And then it may be too late.

There is a reason we are told not to let our anger go past the setting sun. Forgiveness heals our soul, is a balm to past hurts and injustices. It takes away the bitter taste of ‘being right’. It only takes you.

Tuesday Teaser - A Place to Heal

Our Christian Walk

How Long Has it Been?

deborahanndykeman

Jim Reeves is one of my favorite singers. His voice flows over you, deep an melodic. Have a beautiful Sunday. I pray your time with the Lord has been recent.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fe_kllNKXE0

Our Christian Walk

Those Old Hymns!

deborahanndykeman

There is just something about the older hymns. Maybe because of the different way of living, the priorities that aren’t shared today. This song brings back memories, and it makes me think of an era that I didn’t even enjoy. It is something that I imagine being a certain way. A time depicted in movies, and heard in songs. This is a group I enjoy because of their talent with harmony, and their musical instrument playing. No copyright infringement intended, just sharing some beautiful music. Please check out their other songs while you are there. Happy Sunday to you!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0-v3VT2M18I

Our Christian Walk

We Are Not Alone

deborahanndykeman

Sunday Hymn Meme

I pray your Sunday is as peaceful as a stroll through this garden. The fragrant aroma of blossoms in the air as they drift lazily over the trickling falls. Take a moment to listen and reflect…because He does walk with you.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=virUKkgqTeE

A Day to Remember, Our Christian Walk

Remind Me, Dear Lord

deborahanndykeman

When I first learned to play the piano, I had visions of playing for hours, any song that I wished. Most of what I wanted to play was the popular music of the 1970’s. I took one year of piano lessons, with almost no music theory involved. Of course I played by ear as much as I possibly could…not something a piano teacher advises, or even tolerates. What I ended up playing much of the time was classical music, and that was what I usually listened to when I wasn’t finding my way around so many other options. My great grandmother on my maternal side was a classical pianist, my grandfather played violin in the Phoenix symphony, and my mother was classically trained on the piano. There wasn’t much room in our house for the popular music of the day!

Many years later, I was asked to play piano for our church services. I had never played a hymn, even though my mother was usually the pianist or organist at whatever church we attended. I was not great with chords, and the older hymns are full of them! I learned to play those hymns, with much practice every day. Not an easy thing to do with three small children.

When we moved to Kansas, I played for the little church we attended. They also had a small choir, and a singspiration time. I was pretty excited about those two activities…from the singing point of view. Not the playing-the-piano point of view. Again…I adapted quickly.

What came from that period of time, was a love for hymn playing, and some of the old country hymns. One night, a dear woman requested Remind Me, Dear Lord. I had never heard of it before, and it had three flats, if I remember correctly. Not my favorite to maneuver through. But I learned that song, and it became one I loved. Each time I hear it, I am reminded of that dear lady, that has now gone on to be with the Lord.

I chose this version, and video of the song because I loved the old pictures in it. They reminded me of my grandparents, and a more simple time, when life was hard, but good. This is for you, Vicki…

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rdT5BK-eqVY

A Day to Remember, Our Christian Walk

Be Thou My Vision

deborahanndykeman

I am missing our children this morning. Missing the days when we all attended church together on a Sunday morning. Missing the days when we sung together, lifting our voices…usually in song! 😉

This song was one our children sung the day my husband was ordained at our church. They did a beautiful job, our son on the guitar, daughters harmonizing with him. The words were fitting for that service.

I made a copy of the song from the hymnal, and used a setting to make the paper look ‘old’. I then enlarged the words,

Be Thou My Wisdom and Thou My True Word.

Still Be My Vision, O Ruler of All. 

They are printed over the top of the music. This was hung in my husband’s office at the church, and now is where I can see it everyday, in my office at home. Seasons of our lives. I pray He is still my wisdom, my true word, my vision and Ruler of all.

This particular arrangement is also special because the woman in it is playing a Chickering piano. You don’t see very many of those. My upright is a Chickering and around 100 years old. My mother learned to play the piano on it, and she became an excellent pianist.

Have a beautiful Sunday!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ihJAJA4ibEs

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Our Christian Walk

Do You Know This Player?

deborahanndykeman

This poem really affected me and caused me to think. It was written and posted by a woman that had stopped by my site yesterday. I always try to follow up on those that come by my site…it is a privilege to meet new people. After reading this, I had to share.

Tammi Kale's avatarWomen: Each One A Survivor

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My name is Pride, I am a cheater.

I cheat you of your God-given destiny…

because you demand your own way.

I cheat you of contentment…

because you “deserve better than this.”

I cheat you of knowledge…because you already know it all.

I cheat you of healing…because you’re too full of me to forgive.

I cheat you of holiness…

because you refuse to admit when you’re wrong.

I cheat you of vision…

because you’d rather look in the mirror than out a window.

I cheat you of genuine friendship…

because nobody’s going to know the real you.

I cheat you of love…

because real romance demands sacrifice.

I cheat you of greatness in heaven…

because you refuse to wash another’s feet on earth.

I cheat you of God’s glory…

because I convince you to seek your own.

My name is Pride.  I am a cheater.

You like me because you…

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Our Christian Walk

Morning Has Broken

deborahanndykeman

Once, long ago when I was a teenager, I would sit and figure out the tune for songs I loved. I played the piano almost daily back then. It was my time of freedom from chores, my expression, and a way to relax. This song, was one I worked on for a long time. Please give it a listen on this Sunday morning.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Rifby1tVE8

I loved this song so much, that I titled my first WordPress site, Morning Has Broken. That was almost ten years ago. I thought it was very fitting to begin a blog with those words. Morning Has Broken, Psalm 118:24. Have a great Sunday!

Our Christian Walk, Parenting 101

God is Good!

deborahanndykeman

At times I wonder if decisions people make ever go as planned. Even the most thought-out, all-scenarios-reviewed-plans seem to have a glitch or two. Is this one way we stay on our toes? Helping us to mature and examine all aspects of an important decision? Or is it road-blocks designed to hamper what we would like to do?

I don’t know if I will ever have the answer for that question. I can say that one should always expect to have a fly in the ointment, and be extremely thankful when there is not! Maybe this is looking at the glass half-full, but I prefer to call it being prepared.

When we pack to go away for a few days, I always bring my raincoat, even if the weather says it won’t rain. I’ve been extremely thankful for this many times now. It seems as though the weather is just a toss-up. The more technology and tools we have to predict, the more it’s wrong. Again…a road-block, or is God reminding us that not everything is in our what we think capable hands?

Our son left yesterday for another year at a Bible Institute. When you have been living on your own, working two and three jobs, and having surgery after surgery for a few years, this is a huge decision to make. But he felt that since he had to leave his last semester due to the surgeries he needed, he wanted to finish what he had started. I don’t know if that was the best decision, but he is an adult, and I can’t tell him ‘no’ any longer. This picture is of our son and son-in-law. They became good friends while they were both at the Bible Institute in the same class. Our son is 6’2″ and our son-in-law is 6’4″…just to give you a bit of perspective!

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Going away to a Bible Institute would probably be considered a good thing to do for a Christian man wanting to serve in a ministry somehow. He is a gifted teacher in my humble opinion, and he is very talented musically. That in itself is beyond belief. The surgeries he has had have been for his ears, and at one time we thought he would be deaf. He can still play guitar and sing. God is good, merciful and gracious. He uses people as a testimony to this, over and over. Our son is not unique in this.

A question asked over the last couple of months is if he should make this decision. We tried as parents to give him the good and the bad of it, and I know he was praying, knowing all the same scenarios. He decided to go…and the road blocks just kept coming. I don’t know if it was a nudge saying he shouldn’t go, or a slap from the side that does not want God’s good to prevail. I struggle with that in my own life, and I think most Christians do. That’s why we are advised to seek wisdom.

Our son left, after two days of car trouble, and more money spent to repair it. He began his twelve hour drive on two hours of sleep. But he did arrive at his destination. He is already greatly missed…but we all have many of his projects to finish up to remind us of him! I pray this year goes well, I pray the answers he needed are made known to him.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eowI9QWsT-g&t=13s

God is good! Have a great weekend! (The lake at sunset was taken by our son.) Here is a video I shared on here before. Our granddaughter was loving the concert! This makes me smile…and I need to smile right now!

A Day to Remember, Our Christian Walk

When Morning Gilds the Skies

deborahanndykeman

Where ever you may be in this big, beautiful world, Good Sunday Morning to you!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gT7Kh88CrL4

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Have a wonderful Sunday!