We’ve a Story to Tell ~ Hymn

We’ve a Story to Tell

We’ve a story to tell to the nations,
That shall turn their hearts to the right,
A story of truth and mercy,
A story of peace and light,
A story of peace and light.

Refrain

For the darkness shall turn to dawning,
And the dawning to noonday bright;
And Christ’s great kingdom shall come on earth,
The kingdom of love and light.

We’ve a song to be sung to the nations,
That shall lift their hearts to the Lord,
A song that shall conquer evil
And shatter the spear and sword,
And shatter the spear and sword.

Refrain

We’ve a message to give to the nations,
That the Lord who reigns up above
Has sent us His Son to save us,
And show us that God is love,
And show us that God is love.

Refrain

We’ve a Savior to show to the nations,
Who the path of sorrow has trod,
That all of the world’s great peoples
Might come to the truth of God,
Might come to the truth of God.

Refrain

Words and Music by H. Ernest Nichol ~ In The Sunday School Hymnary (London: 1896)

HT: Cyberhymnal

Wyoming Critters

I’m joining Viewing Nature with Eileen for Saturday Critters today. The following critters were roaming and flying about Yellowstone and Cody, Wyoming.

Outside the Buffalo Bill Museum in Cody, Wyoming.

The Buffalo/Bison are allowed to make their own crossings regardless of the double yellow lines.

This gives you some perspective on how large they are.

A herd of elk far away on a hillside. I’m fully zoomed on this one.

One closer up and saying goodbye to us as we exit Yellowstone National Park.

I’ll be sharing more of my Bison photos for ABC Wednesday since we will be on the letter B this coming week.

Thank you Eileen for hosting Saturday Critters and for always taking the time to leave comments. You really are amazing!

Today is starting a bit gloomy in the Seattle area with a cloud cover and no sunshine peeking through. It’s a quiet weekend around this old house which is always good. What’s happening in your neck of the woods?

High Five

On our drive from Yosemite to Cody, Wyoming we passed through the Absaroka range. The Absaroka Range across the Montana-Wyoming border, and 75 miles at its widest, forms the eastern boundary of Yellowstone National Park along Paradise Valley (Montana), and the western side of the Bighorn Basin. These rugged cliffs are home to the largest bighorn sheep herds in the United States. High on these cliffs the sheep are protected from their predators.

I’m thankful to God for the following five where and with whom I feel protected.

I’m thankful for my home where I am protected from the elements.

I’m thankful for my husband with whom I feel safe and protected.

I’m thankful for our local police, our state police, our border patrol who work hard to protect us from harm and who help us in crisis.

I’m thankful for our military who protect our freedom and our country.

I’m most thankful to Jesus and what He accomplished on the cross, for being my Savior who protects me from isolation and separation from God.

What or who makes you feel protected?

Linking up with Amy at Love Made My Home and with Susanne at Living to Tell the Story for Five on Friday and Friday’s Fave Five.

The truck attack in Nice, France is just horrible. I feel so sad for all the people who were struck down in the midst of happy celebrations. Praying for the families that are forever changed by this. Make peace with the one true God and hug your loved ones.

A Good Fence With a Commission…

The sign at the entrance to this ranch says…

Quiet Warrior ~ Isaiah 6:8

Isaiah 6:8 (ESV) Isaiah’s Commission from the Lord.

And I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?” Then I said, “Here I am! Send me.”

We spotted this on Highway 14 between the East Entrance/Exit from Yellowstone National Park and Cody, Wyoming.

I’m linking up to Good Fences with TexWisGirl who is a fabulous hostess for this meme!

We had a wonderful time at Century Link Field in Seattle at a soccer match last evening. It’s always great when the weather is lovely and your team wins in grand fashion. 5 different players scored a goal for the 5-0 shutout which means here in Seattle we can get a free pizza today from Papa Murhpy’s and a free haircut at Great Clips in the next 7 days with our match day ticket/pass. Fun promotions.

Today is mowing the lawn day and then I’ll pick up our free pizza. What’s happening in your world?

West Thumb Geyser Basin

On our second full day in Yellowstone we traveled to the Canyon area of the park stopping at anything interesting along the way.

We enjoyed walking along the boardwalks at West Thumb Geyser Basin situated on the shores of Yellowstone Lake.

Temperature 172°F Dimensions 30×57 feet. Depth 53 feet. Abyss Pool is a colorful and interesting pool in the West Thumb Geyser Basin. Abyss is the deepest pool known in Yellowstone and received its name for its abyss-like depth. The dark green-colored water gives the illusion of a bottomless pool.

Big Cone

West Thumb Geyser Basin is one of the smallest geyser basins in Yellowstone yet its location along the shore of Yellow-stone Lake ranks it as the most scenic. West Thumb derived its name from the thumb-like projection of Yellowstone Lake and the name was given by the 1870 Washburn Expedition. It was also known as Hot Spring Camp. West Thumb has less geyser activity than other basins.

Lake Shore Geyser

Bluebell Pool

I shared before that this was Dear and my first trip to Yellowstone National Park. We were happy that we planned this last minute trip while Dear is unemployed. His contracting job ended the Friday before we planned this trip. He has a couple leads on new jobs and we are hoping we might be able to take another last minute road trip before he gets employed again. Dear has been busy working in his shop and in our yard in the meantime. Time will tell what adventures lie ahead.

Upper Geyser Basin

Dear and I took an early morning walk about the Upper Geyser Basin which includes Old Faithful. We are early risers and enjoyed the time with few other humans around.

The Upper Geyser Basin, approximately two square miles in area, contains the largest concentration and nearly one-quarter of all of the geysers in the world. A variety of thermal features exist here: spouting geysers, colorful hot springs, and steaming fumaroles.

You can see the Old Faithful Inn in the background where we were staying.

I’m pretty sure this is Castle Geyser.

This is another photo where you can see the Old Faithful Inn.

This could be Blue Star Spring.

Yellowstone is so amazing in it’s landscape and has so much to offer. We were glad to be in the park and satisfied with what we saw and encountered. We also thought that outer space movies could be filmed here. I still have so much to share from Yellowstone.

Monday Mural and Signs

Because we got in the car and traveled to places we’ve never been to before and because I saw some cool murals while on the trip I’m linking up to the Monday Mural Meme hosted by Oakland Daily Photo. And because we saw some cool signs along with these murals I’ll be linking later this week to signs, signs hosted by Lesley.

This mural is on the side of the former Seidel’s Saddlery across the street from the famous Irma Hotel named for Buffalo Bill Cody’s daughter Irma.

When we left Cody, Wyoming and traveled some country roads headed to Butte, Montana we passed another mural just before we traveled through Joliet, Montana.

Monday in the Seattle area is starting a bit gloomy with some drizzles. So far our Spring was more summer like than our summer is showing. Time will tell what the rest of the summer holds for us. How are things in your corner of the world? Since today is 7/11 are you going to go and claim your free Slurpee?

M and W Barns

The barns I’m sharing today are taken along the roads in Montana and Wyoming that we chose to get to and from Yellowstone National Park the end of June.

The Speed limit on Interstate 90 in Montana gets as high as 80mph so I’m happy my photos are not blurrier.

Thank you to Tom The Backroads Traveller for the Barn Collective. Click over to see barns from other parts of the world.

Our youngest kids are still working on moving out of this old house. They spent their first night there last night. Since their new apartment is quite small a lot of their stuff will remain here. They have the tough job of weeding through the stuff to decide what they really need for this next stage in their life and then organizing the remaining stuff so we can isolate it in one area instead of spread out around the house. Small problems in this world of woe.

Do you still have some of your married kids stuff at your house?

Softly and Tenderly Jesus is Calling – Hymn

Softly and Tenderly Jesus is Calling

Softly and tenderly Jesus is calling,
Calling for you and for me;
See, on the portals He’s waiting and watching,
Watching for you and for me.

Refrain

Come home, come home,
You who are weary, come home;
Earnestly, tenderly, Jesus is calling,
Calling, O sinner, come home!

Why should we tarry when Jesus is pleading,
Pleading for you and for me?
Why should we linger and heed not His mercies,
Mercies for you and for me?

Refrain

Time is now fleeting, the moments are passing,
Passing from you and from me;
Shadows are gathering, deathbeds are coming,
Coming for you and for me.

Refrain

O for the wonderful love He has promised,
Promised for you and for me!
Though we have sinned, He has mercy and pardon,
Pardon for you and for me.

Refrain

Words: Will L. Thompson

When the world-renowned lay preacher, Dwight Lyman Moody, lay on his death bed in his Northfield, Massachusetts, home, Will Thompson made a special visit to inquire as to his condition. The attending physician refused to admit him to the sickroom, and Moody heard them talking just outside the bedroom door. Recognizing Thompson’s voice, he called for him to come to his bedside. Taking the Ohio poet-composer by the hand, the dying evangelist said, “Will, I would rather have written “Softly and Tenderly Jesus is Calling” than anything I have been able to do in my whole life.”

This hymn was sung in the Academy Award winning movie Trip to Bountiful (1985), and at a memorial service for American civil rights leader Martin Luther King, at the Ebenezer Baptist Church, Atlanta, Georgia, April 8, 1968.

ht: Cyberhymnal

This hymn came to my mind as I was praying for some dear suffering saints who are ready to leave this earth and be with our Savior, Jesus Christ. What are you waiting for?

I’m combining my Sunday Hymn with InSPIREd Sunday this week.

This is Christ Episcopal Church (The Poker Church) in Cody, Wyoming.

“This little church building, the first in Cody, was funded in 1902 by the last hand of a famous poker game. The players, including Buffalo Bill Cody, agreed that the pot was too large for any one man and should be given to the winner’s church. Cody’s friend George Beck won and directed that the winnings be used to build this Episcopal Church. Through a loving circle of friends and parishioners, it was furnished with the first pipe organ in Wyoming as well as stained glass windows and a belfry bell. All who visit and come to pray with us are welcome.”

Dear and I were in Cody, Wyoming June 25 and 26th and we heard about this little church on the Cody Trolley Tour. After the tour we drove back and stopped to take these photos.

Thank you Beth and Sally for hosting InSPIREd Sunday and thank you Rebecca for posting Hymns with links every Sunday.

Meanwhile…

…back at ~~the ranch~~ this old house. For Friday’s Fave Five and Five on Friday I’m sharing the following collages and photos of what’s been happening around home.

Steve and Lana, Bob and Jan, Andrew and Katie, Matteo and Sandy. Friends and family gathered for our Fourth of July celebration. I took photos of the couples but missed getting Paul and Monica together but I do have one of Paul and Dear.

Dear smoked a couple of Pork Butts and we enjoyed pulled pork sandwiches, coleslaw, beans, corn on the cob, and salad. We had hot artichoke dip and onion dip for appetizers.

Our neighbor Sandy brought cupcakes and my sister Lana brought trifle for dessert.

Even though all of the couples did not know each other everyone enjoyed conversation and getting to know someone new. It was good to find out more about our neighbors.

Lots of purple blooming about the yard. One of our hydrangeas is an intense purple and the other is a cross between purple and blue.

Not everything is purple. Our Fuschia continues to charm us.

Our apples and pears are going to be ready sooner this year than last.

Our latest yard project is digging out the grass area in front that is encroaching on the drive and making the yard area more defined. We are adding a crushed base so the drive doesn’t get muddy from the rains. When we win the lotto we’ll have a cement driveway poured.

I’m thankful for family, friends, freedom, flowers, fruit trees and still being able to do some hard work. Don’t know if we’ll be able to move without moaning tomorrow but we are happy with our work progress.

Thank you Amy and Susanne for hosting these weekly Friday memes.

UPDATE: Our hearts and minds are with the families of the police officers killed in Dallas last night. Here are a few thoughts from a pastor in Dallas…

A Few Thoughts Regarding The July 7th, 2016 Dallas Shootings

The Happy Wonderer ~ ellen b.

To honor and encourage

We’ve a Story to Tell ~ Hymn

We’ve a Story to Tell

Wyoming Critters

High Five

A Good Fence With a Commission…

West Thumb Geyser Basin

Upper Geyser Basin

Monday Mural and Signs

M and W Barns

Softly and Tenderly Jesus is Calling – Hymn

Meanwhile…