Son-Day: "Onward Christian Soldiers"

here, lately, marching songs have played in my mind...
Onward Christian Soldiers Lyrics


Onward Christian Soldiers

Onward, Christian soldiers,
Marching as to war.
With the cross of Jesus
Going on before!
Christ, the royal Master,
Leads against the foe;
Forward into battle,
See His banner go!

Onward, Christian soldiers,
Marching as to war.
With the cross of Jesus
Going on before!

At the sign of triumph
Satan's host dost flee;
On, then, Christian soldiers,
On to victory!
Hell's foundations quiver
At the shout of praise;
Brothers, lift your voices,
Loud your anthems raise!

Onward, Christian soldiers,
Marching as to war.
With the cross of Jesus
Going on before!

Like a mighty army
Moves the church of God;
Brothers, we are treading
Where the saints have trod;
We are not divided;
All one body we,
One in hope and doctrine,
One in charity.

Onward, Christian soldiers,
Marching as to war.
With the cross of Jesus
Going on before!

Onward, then ye people,
Join our happy throng,
Blend with ours your voices
In the triumph song;
Glory, laud, and honor,
Unto Christ the King:
This thro' countless ages
Men and angels sing.

Onward, Christian soldiers,
Marching as to war.
With the cross of Jesus
Going on before!

ABOUT THE WRITER:
Ever since the Apostle Paul told the Ephesian Christians to put on the armor of God,
Christian writers have used the symbolism of the soldier as a call for preparedness and courage. But when Sabine Baring-Gould, a thirty-one-year old preacher and schoolteacher, wrote "Onward, Christian Soldiers," he simply wanted to write a marching song for his schoolchildren.

Later, he apologized for the hymn: "It was written in great haste, and I am afraid some of the rhymes are faulty." Whitmonday was a festival day for schoolchildren in Yorkshire, and Baring-Gould's youngsters in the mill town of Horbury had to walk to a neighboring town to join other children for the celebration.

"I wanted the children to sing when marching from one village to the other, but couldn't think of anything quite suitable," Baring-Gould commented, "so I sat up at night and resolved to write something myself."

~Sabine Baring-Gould {1834-1924}

"Take your share of hardship, like a good soldier of Christ Jesus.
A soldier on active service must not let himself be involved in the affairs of everyday life if he is to give satisfaction to his commanding officer.
Again, no athlete wins a prize unless he abides by the rules.
The farmer who does the work has first claim to the crop.
Reflect on what I am saying, and the Lord will help you to full understanding."

2 Timothy 2: 3-7

Camera Critters: Blu-ue-ue-ue-ue

Oh, soooooo lone-some for you....











{actually Reba Marie is stretching here, you won't get a picture of her 'singing', she only sings when she's left alone (maybe we should have named her Leann):}

Show & Tell: Forced Spring!

Leaving Valentine's day behind, but still enjoying a little red.
See my butterflies?

I had admired painted looking stickers online, and thought of painting my own birds in flight because the price was so high. Imagine my surprise to find these butterflies at the Dollar Tree.

Just as exciting to find so many in each package.


Sure does break up this big space...


All these for just TWO whole dollars! (and a shot of Uno cat for good measure!) If I decide I don't like them, or want them else where, I just peel them off.
(the photos really don't show the detail of each butterfly, they are swirly, with grays, greens and blues)



And for another dollar:
'laugh, live, love, hope, peace, joy, dream...'



I love them! Happy Show & Tell Friday!!!

7 Things Tag and Award

~An Award~

Zaroga of Zaroga's Nook AND Grammy's The Empty Nester awarded me the Lemonade Award, AND Linda of Seasons of Life.
I appreciate all of them for thinking of me and I appreciate their friendship.
THREE?
WOW!
Guess I really need it-and since I've been a little sour puss lately, I guess this is a 'gentle' reminder to suck it up, let it go, and get on with life (with a smile:)


"The Lemonade Award is for sites that show gratitude and a wonderful attitude."

Rules for the award:

1. Put the logo on your blog or post.
2. Nominate at least 10 blogs which show great Attitude and/or Gratitude!
3. Be sure to link to your nominees within your post.
4. Let them know that they have received this award by commenting on their blog.
5. Nominate your favorites and link to this post.



Give seven things that people may not know about you and the link of the person who tagged you.

1. My favorite number is nine.
It used to change every year with my birthday, until, at age nine, a so called friend called me on it.
I declared "nine will ALWAYS be my favorite number", and it STILL is!!
SO THERE!!!

2. My first dog was named Sissy Cowbell, Sissy for short.
We got her when I was two, and she lived to be 11 yrs old, quite a member of the family.
I loved her so.

3. I love to see God in things, you just can out beauty God.

4. I have been known to make myself 'stoned' sniffing gardenia blooms (and magnolias too:).

5. Had BOTH my big toe nails removed in high school TWICE! I let them get ingrown, and the first set of re-grown nails had to be removed. Left me with ugly big toe nails, that don't like pressure, I don't recommend it.

6. I LOVE the sun, until it gets really hot, then I'm a shade dweller
(which is how I maintain my creamy whiteness:).

7. My second favorite number is 3, why you ask?
Because 3 + 3 + 3 = NINE SILLY!!!

Now tag 7 others.
If you read my blog, you are tagged:)
I so love you all:)
Let me know if you do so I can read your randomness:)


In case you were wondering, I found this online:

Pink lemonade is simply lemonade that has been dyed with pink coloring and is sometimes made sweeter. Sometimes artificial colorings are used; natural colorings can include grenadine[1], cherry juice, red grapefruit juice, grape juice, cranberry juice, strawberry juice, pink-fleshed Eureka lemon juice, or other juices.

The New York Times credited Henry E. "Bunk Allen" Allott as the inventor of pink lemonade in his obituary:

At 15 he ran away with a circus and obtained the lemonade concession. One day while mixing a tub of the orthodox yellow kind he dropped some red cinnamon candies in by mistake. The resulting rose-tinted mixture sold so surprisingly well that he continued to dispense his chance discovery.[2]

However, this is disputed by historian Joe Nickell, who claims that it was Pete Conklin who first invented the drink in 1857 when he used water dyed pink from a horse rider's red tights to make his lemonade.[3]

Son-Day: "God With Us"

Mercyme
God With Us

Who are we--- that You would be mindful of us?
What do You see--- that's worth looking our way?
We are free--- in ways that we never should be.
Sweet release--- from the grip of these chains.

Like hinges straining from the weight,
My heart no longer can keep from singing.

All that is within me cries
For You alone be glorified:
Emmanuel, God with us.

My heart sings a brand new song.
The debt is paid, these chains are gone.
Emmanuel, God with us.

Lord, You know--- our hearts don't deserve Your glory;
Still You show--- a love we cannot afford.

Like hinges straining from the weight,
My heart no longer can keep from singing.

All that is within me cries
For You alone be glorified:
Emmanuel, God with us.

My heart sings a brand new song.
The debt is paid, these chains are gone.
Emmanuel, God with us.

Such a tiny offering
Compared to Calvary;
Nevertheless,
We lay it at Your feet.

Such a tiny offering
Compared to Calvary;
Nevertheless,
We lay this at Your feet.

All that is within me cries
For You alone be glorified:
Emmanuel, God with us.

My heart sings a brand new song.
My debt is paid, these chains are gone.
Emmanuel, God with us.

I decided, currently, I need a little 'Son-Day' on Wednesday!
God bless you today!
May you see His beauty, in all you do.
May you feel His love wrap around you.
May you feel it lift you through whatever you need.
God bless, God keep you today:)

Bloomin' Tuesday! 02/24/08

Butterfly pea vine growth today!! Google search shows the REAL name is clitoria ternatea. (If I am wrong let me know and I will correct it)

You can see the butterfly pea vine growth-five strong vines

Here is the plant 09/07 (bought it 06/07). See the wonderful green leaves? Mine only bloomed where the sun touched the plant. It was too big for its pot and needed lots of water. The vines are floppy and really need a frame-mine was a tomato cage.

Here is a bloom (06/07)-in 2008 I halved my plant and kept the smaller half. It took a while to bounce back and didn't really bloom for me last year. I'm looking forward to a big performance this year.

We went Lowe's shopping Sat. I put our three new fruit trees (two peaches, one pear) on the the front porch so I can enjoy their blooms:). They are currently budding:)

Pansies were on sale...

They also had cyclamen on sale!!! I decided to give my old (healthier) ones to mom for her window sill, and bought a fragrant spotted white,

a fragrant solid white (left)

and a red, dark pink, light pink cyclamen

Look at the cool drooping red buds

Lastly My Angel (wing begonia) spreading her wings

ahhh Bloomin' Tuesday!
I'm joining MsGreen "thumb" Jean for Bloomin' Tuesday! Come join in or see others!

Son-Day: "Abide With Me"

Abide With Me Hymn

Abide with me; fast falls the eventide;
The darkness deepens; Lord with me abide.
When other helpers fail and comforts flee,
Help of the helpless, O abide with me.

Swift to its close ebbs out life’s little day;
Earth’s joys grow dim; its glories pass away;
Change and decay in all around I see;
O Thou who changest not, abide with me.

Not a brief glance I beg, a passing word;
But as Thou dwell’st with Thy disciples, Lord,
Familiar, condescending, patient, free.
Come not to sojourn, but abide with me.

Come not in terrors, as the King of kings,
But kind and good, with healing in Thy wings,
Tears for all woes, a heart for every plea—
Come, Friend of sinners, and thus bide with me.

Thou on my head in early youth didst smile;
And, though rebellious and perverse meanwhile,
Thou hast not left me, oft as I left Thee,
On to the close, O Lord, abide with me.

I need Thy presence every passing hour.
What but Thy grace can foil the tempter’s power?
Who, like Thyself, my guide and stay can be?
Through cloud and sunshine, Lord, abide with me.

I fear no foe, with Thee at hand to bless;
Ills have no weight, and tears no bitterness.
Where is death’s sting? Where, grave, thy victory?
I triumph still, if Thou abide with me.

Hold Thou Thy cross before my closing eyes;
Shine through the gloom and point me to the skies.
Heaven’s morning breaks, and earth’s vain shadows flee;
In life, in death, O Lord, abide with me.