I was reading the Psalms this morning and when I came across Psalm 143 the words tugged at my heart. I don't have anything to write really. I'm tired, sick, emotionally spent, and I feel like I'm at the end of my rope. I guess I just wanted to share a little of what's on my heart. Maybe, if you're reading this, Christ will bring something out of this passage that arrests your attention as well.

When I was playing piano this morning I came across the music for Nearer My God To Thee and Leaning On The Everlasting Arms. I love those songs! Two of many wonderful hymns.

Today, I'm planning to cook/bake up a storm. Mom, Laurel and Kate are away, and Dad will most likely be outside quite a bit. I think I'll make a bunch of stuff to just stick in the freezer. I enjoy cooking. This weekend I made, Pork Chops, Sweet Potatoes, Green Beans, Pineapple Upside-down cake, Cherry Pie, Six loafs of bread, Morning Glory Muffins and a couple meals for myself. It was so fun.

We store some of our products for Pleasant Hill Grain (PHG) in shipping containers. We already have two, and we are getting another one delivered today. They are all so huge!

By the way, Selah means to pause, and reflect, on what you have previously read in the chapter.

Psalm 143
Prayer for Deliverance and Guidance

Hear my prayer, O Lord,
Give ear to my supplications!
Answer me in Thy faithfulness, in Thy righteousness!
And do not enter into judgment with Thy servant,
For in Thy sight no man living is righteous.
For the enemy has persecuted my soul;
He has crushed my life to the ground;
He has made me dwell in dark places,
Like those who have long been dead.
Therefore my spirit is overwhelmed within me;
My heart is appalled within me.

I remember the days of old;
I meditate on all Thy doings;
I muse on the work of Thy hands.
I stretch out my hands to Thee;
My soul longs for Thee, as a parched land,

Selah.

Answer me quickly, O Lord, my spirit fails;
Do not hide Thy face from me,
Lest I become like those who go down to the pit.
Let me hear Thy loving-kindness in the morning;
For I trust in Thee;
Teach me the way in which I should walk;
For to Thee I lift up my soul.
Deliver me, O Lord, from my enemies;
I take refuge in Thee.

Teach me to do Thy will,
For Thou are my God;
Let Thy good Spirit lead me on level ground.
For the sake of Thy name, O Lord, revive me.
In Thy righteousness bring my soul out of trouble.
And in Thy loving-kindness cut off my enemies,
And destroy all those who afflict my soul;
For I am Thy servant.

The State Of Your Heart | An Essay On Contentment

Discontentment | A Side Effect Of An Ill Heart

Contentment is a state of the heart, not a state of affairs.

In the past year God has called my attention, again and again, to my state of contentment, or lack thereof, and I have pushed Him out in this area of my life. I didn't want to admit that I was discontented. I think many of us, myself included, use discontentment as a way to receive attention. If I complain about some small physical ailment I have, people may pity me, and I will obtain attention.

Picture a window - this window represents how you view life. It is a beautiful window, looking out on a golden desert with majestic mountains in the background and wild flowers that scatter the landscape. However, instead of spending your time gazing outside, at the beautiful surroundings, you study the smudge of mud on the window.

How many times have we complained about our own lot - that we view as so poor? As Christians, we have accepted the gift of eternal life with God. He supplies everything we need - when we need it. He will never leave us or forsake us! So why are we not content?

I see the lack of contentment in our culture today as a huge problem. I believe we look at our neighbor's yard and envy them. Why can't we plant flowers in our own yard?

Contentment Confessions

I am not writing this as someone who has mastered being content with her own set of problems and blessings. Quite the opposite, I struggle with this daily.

I do not want to wake up one morning, in thirty years, and realize that I have set an extremely poor, unrighteous example for my children in the area.

Why should Christians conform to the low standards the world has set? Why should we be discontent? The answer... we shouldn't.

Altered Views

Philippians 4:4-9 says:

“Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice!

Let your forbearing spirit be known to all men. The Lord is near.

Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.

And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things.”

Does looking at the mud on our windows enable us to set our minds on that which is true, honorable, right, pure, lovely and of good repute? I don't think it does.

Conclusion

Lets examine our own hearts. I choose to strive, everyday, to have a calm, content heart. Lets live like Paul in Philippians 4: 11-13

" Not that I speak from want, for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am.

I know how to get along with humble means, and I also know how to live in prosperity; in any and every circumstance I have learned the secret of being filled and going hungry, both of having abundance and suffering need.

I can do all things through Him who strengthens me."

Written by

C.E. Hansen

What Our Country Needs

This entry is really for my lady friends, but anyone can read it. Just some thoughts on what I've been pondering lately.

I've been thinking about what it means to really be a woman of God in the 21^st century. What does virtue, strength, compassion, service, liberty, vision and purpose look like to the people around us? How do we live this?

I've started reading Noelle Wheeler's book "Daughters of Destiny". It has been very insightful, and I'm only on chapter two!

We, as women, are created to be a companion for our husbands. We are to support them, encourage them, pray for them, love them and stand beside them. Raising families and training the next generation is such a high calling, why doesn't our generation view it as such?

What Our Country Needs

What does our country need? Not armies standing
With sabres gleaming ready for the fight;
Not increased navies, skillful and commanding,
To bound the waters with an iron might;
Not haughty men with glutted purses trying
To purchase souls, and keep the power of place;
Not jeweled dolls with one another vying
For palms of beauty, elegance, and grace.
But we want women, strong of soul, yet lowly
With that rare meekness, born of gentleness;
Women whose lives are pure and clean and holy,
The women whom all little children bless;
Brave, earnest women, helpful to each other,
With finest scorn for all things low and mean;
Women who hold the names of wife and mother
Far nobler than the title of a queen.

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I'm praying that all of you will have the endurance and strength to live noble, courageous lives of purpose. Even if they are quiet, and go unnoticed by the world.

Carly