Francis Ridley Havergal ~ Like a River Glorious

I was introduced this week to Francis Ridley Havergal by Abigail. She has authored a lovely piece on  Havergal that you can find here. I was so excited to find out that she is the hymnwriter of a favorite of mine from Russian Baptist Days. Like a River Glorious is so beautiful when sung with soprano, alto, tenor and bass voices. It takes me back to the times when we sang these beautiful hymns in four part harmony.

Like a River Glorious ~ Francis Ridley Havergal (1836 – 1879)

Like a river glorious, is God’s perfect peace,
Over all victorious, in its bright increase
Perfect, yet it floweth, fuller every day,
Perfect, yet it groweth, deeper all the way.

Refrain:
Stayed upon Jehovah, hearts are fully blest
Finding, as He promised, perfect peace and rest

Hidden in the hollow of His blessed hand,
Never foe can follow, never traitor stand;
Not a surge of worry, not a shade of care,
Not a blast of hurry touch the spirit there.

Refrain:
Stayed upon Jehovah, hearts are fully blest
Finding, as He promised, perfect peace and rest

Every joy or trial falleth from above,
Traced upon our dial by the sun of love;
We may trust Him fully all for us to do.
They who trust Him wholly find Him wholly true.

Refrain:
Stayed upon Jehovah, hearts are fully blest
Finding, as He promised, perfect peace and rest.

Dying for want of water

This is the last week of my Women’s Bible Study on Personal Revival. I’m always sad to come to the end of these studies. Over the course you meet new people, develop friendships, learn with each other, pray for each other and then it’s over for the summer. I’ll remind myself and hopefully encourage you to continue in your daily devotion of following God wholeheartedly with these suggestions from my Study Book.

1. Prepare Your Heart

* “Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise!” (Psalm 100:4). Worship Him; praise Him for who He is; express thanksgiving for what He has done.

* Ask God to show you anything that could hinder your fellowship and communion with Him. Confess any sin He brings to mind.

* Ask God to quiet your heart, to open your ears, and to speak to you through His Word. Ask His Holy Spirit to be your Teacher. Commit yourself to obey whatever He shows you.

“Open my eyes that I may see wonderful things in your law. Give me understanding, and I will keep your law and obey it with all my heart. “(Psalm 119:18, 34, NIV)

“Show me your ways, O Lord, teach me your paths; Guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long.” (Psalm 25:4-5, NIV)

“That which I see not teach thou me: If I have done iniquity, I will do no more.” (Job 34:32, KJV)

2. Listen to God

Select a chapter or passage of Scripture. ….Read through the passages thoughtfully and prayerfully.

[There are all kinds of study suggestions for you to go deeper into a passage or chapter of the Bible. Use the method you like. ]

3. Respond to God

During and following your time in the Word, respond to God in prayer and praise…

“One thing have I asked of the LORD, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the LORD and to inquire in his temple.” (Psalm 27:4)

Seeking Him ~ Experiencing The Joy Of Personal Revival ~ Nancy Leigh DeMoss & Tim Grissom with Life Action Ministries

I think the point is to start somewhere. Find a place and a method that works for you. Do whatever you can to spend time in God’s Word, intimate time with Him springing from what the Holy Spirit is teaching you from the Word. Seek Him, learn from Him, love Him and spread the Word!

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Russian Noodle Soup ~ Lopsha

This soup (Lopsha) is made in huge quantities for Molokan Church Dinners. I have recipes to serve 200-250 people. They make their own noodles using 20 dozen eggs, 60 lbs. flour and 1 lb. salt, then make a stock from 35 lbs. of soup bones and 350 lbs of choice (kosher) beef. Usually Lopsha is served at funerals and Borscht (recipe coming soon) is made for Weddings. This is basic Russian Peasant Village Fare. I’m giving you a very simple quick recipe that you should enjoy. My family is not Molokan (we left the church in the ’60’s) We still have relatives and friends that are a part of this group.

All you’ll need is store bought (or home made) Chicken Broth and Jewish very fine egg noodles. ( Manischewitz or similar)

Bring the broth to a boil.

Add as many noodles as you like, but remember they expand while cooking. When the noodles are cooked the Lopsha is ready. Adjust your noodles as to how thick you like your Lopsha. If your soup gets too thick for your liking just add some more broth.

If you want a little more interest in the soup you can add cubed potatoes and carrots to the broth to cook them before you add the noodles. If you want those carrots and potatoes to be a lot tastier saute them in a little olive oil, salt and pepper before you add them to the broth.  Happy memories! If you want to see more yummy food, see what my mom was doing while I was making Lopsha, over at my sister’s blog.

The Molokans also make Maloshni Lopsha (Milk noodles) This recipe serves 30-40 people. Cut it down for your purposes. This Soup comes from my Recipes of San Francisco Russian Molokans cookbook that “Dear” and I received as a wedding gift in 1974.

 

Maloshni Lopsha (Milk noodles)

1-1/2 gallons milk

1 quart half and half

1 tsp. salt

2 tsp. sugar

1-1/2 “chashki” noodles (about 5 LARGE handfuls)

Using a 2-1/2 gal. double boiler (another good reason to cut the recipe…who has a 2-1/2 gallon double boiler??), heat the milk and half and half till it forms bubbles. DO NOT LET IT BOIL. Now add the salt and sugar and stir well. Start adding the noodles, a handful at a time, stirring often. Simmer gently for 1/2 hour. Turn flame off and cover. Let stand in double boiler till it thickens (about 30-45 min.) and serve.

HT: Recipes of San Francisco Russian Molokans (for Maloshni Lopsha) , Bagdanov Family Recipes for Easy Lopsha

You’ve Got A Friend ~ Carole King

All my photos for this post but one are being held hostage at Photobucket.

Spoken: Friends, you know, they’re there in the good times and in the bad times.

When you’re down and troubled
And you need some loving care
And nothing, no, nothing is going right
Close your eyes and think of me
And soon I will be there
To brighten up even your darkest night

Chorus:
You just call out my name
And you know wherever I am
I’ll come running to see you again
Winter, Spring, Summer, or Fall
All you have to do is call
And I’ll be there, yes I will
You’ve got a friend

If the sky, sky above you
If it grows dark and full of clouds
And that old North Wind begins to blow
Just keep your head, keep it together
And call my name out loud
Soon you’ll hear me knocking at your door

Chorus:

Now ain’t it good to know
That you’ve got a friend
When people can be so cold
They will hurt you, and they’ll desert you
They’ll take your soul if you let them
Oh, if you let them, but don’t you let them

Chorus:

You can call me when you want me
You can call me when you need me
Just call me
‘Cause you’ve got a friend
You’ve got a friend.

Words and Music by Carole King
1971 colgems-EMI Music Inc., ASCAP.

I love to listen to many songs written by Carole King. I have some of her original stuff and I also enjoy some re-do’s. One in particular is Tapestry Revisited ~ A Tribute to Carole King.I was thinking about her song after Allistair Begg mentioned it this last week on a series he was doing on Barnabas and what an encourager Barnabas was. A true friend you can count on. Well here are some photos of people I’d call on when I needed a friend…   Who would you call? Who do you encourage? Who encourages you? Who would call you?

 

“Dear”, Ellen, Jody (my walking buddy in Seattle), Dave (our Family practice doctor and friend, he delivered our daughter Katie 21 years ago in Ventura, California when he was just a Resident)

 

Jan (my other walking buddy) and Bob ( our pastor for 18 years in Seattle)

 

Ellen with sisters, Kathy and Lana (my youngest sister, we talk at least once a day…and we’re blogging soul-mates) Vera’s missing in this photo.

 

My brother Steve and his wife Kelly. Kelly has Homeschooled their 4 boys. Two of the four boys are attending Westmont College in Montecito, California. Their oldest son at Westmont is graduating May 5th.  Steve is a pastor in Nuevo, California.

Mandy and my brother Leonard (Dallas, Texas) Just married August 2006. He’s my baby brother and holds a special place in my heart.

 

My cousin Jim and his wife Jeanie. ( I introduced them to each other in college at Cal-State L.A.) They live in Clovis, California. We all graduated together. We have had many meaningful times together.

 

Ellen (matron of honor) when she was pregnant with firstborn Josh and Heidi her best friend in College. Ellen and Heidi had some great travels together before they were married. Friends at Bethany Russian Baptist Church in Los Angeles. Still friends after all these years and the distance between us.

My siblings and in-laws: Nick, Vera, Kathy, Tim, Letty, Kelly, Steve, Mandy & Leonard

 

“Dear”, Ellen, Christina and Terry (Dear’s brother) The half Swedish side of the family. Come to find out Christina has Russian heritage. No wonder we connected.

 

Dave and Beth our dear friends from our son’s friendship with their son.

Thank you, Jesus, for the Barnabases in our lives!

Michel Quoist ~ The Telephone

 

The Telephone

I have just hung up; why did he telephone? I don’t know…O! I get it…I talked a lot and listened little.

Forgive me, Lord, it was a monologue and not a dialogue. I explained my idea and did not get his; Since I didn’t listen, I learned nothing, Since I didn’t listen, I didn’t help, since I didn’t listen, we didn’t communicate.

Forgive me, Lord, for we were connected, and now we are cut off.”

This piece really convicted me because I have not been a good listener. There is a restless tendency in me that causes me to be distracted and not to listen attentively, especially in a crowded space, gathering, etc. I want to be a better listener. Someone who is at least as concerned about someone else’s thoughts as my own. I want to communicate, to hear the person speaking to me. I want to give them eye contact and heart contact. Help me Lord not to hang up without listening, helping, communicating. Forgive me for allowing distractions to keep me from caring. Forgive me Lord for not loving my neighbor as myself.

I Peter 1:22 (NIV) “Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth so that you have sincere love for your brothers, love one another deeply, from the heart.”

The Harper Collins Book of Prayers, comp. by Robert Van de Weyer (New York: Harper Collins Publishers, 1993)

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Remarks by John Newton ~ Out Of The Depths ~ Hymn

 The following excerpt is taken from, John Newton Out Of The Depths, an Autobiography

I have read of many wicked popes, but the worst pope I ever met with is Pope Self.

The heir of a great estate, while a child, thinks more of a few shillings in his pocket than of his inheritance. So a Christian is often more elated by some frame of heart than by his title to glory.

I feel like a man who has no money in his pocket, but is allowed to draw for all he wants upon one infinitely rich; I am, thererfore, at once both a beggar and a rich man.

Sometimes I compare the troubles which we have to undergo in the course of the year to a great bundle of [sticks], far too large for us to lift. But God does not require us to carry the whole at once; He mercifully unties the bundle, and gives us first one stick, which we are to carry today, and then another which we are to carry tomorow, and so on. This we might easily manage, if we would only take the burden appointed for us each day; but we choose to increase our troubles by carrying yesterday’s stick over again today, and adding tomorow’s burden to our load, before we are required to bear it.

“Out of the Depths”

It makes the wounded spirit whole,
And calms the troubled breast;
‘Tis manna to the hungry soul,
And to the weary rest.

Dear Name! the Rock on which I build;
My Shield and Hiding-place;
My never-failing Treasury fill’d
With boundless stores of grace.

By Thee my prayers acceptance gain,
Although with sin defiled;
Satan accuses me in vain,
And I am own’d a child.

Jesus! my Shepherd, Husband, Friend,
My Prophet, Priest, and King;
My Lord, my Life, my Way, my End,
Accept the praise I bring.

Weak is the effort of my heart,
And cold my warmest thought;
But when I see Thee as Thou art,
I’ll praise Thee as I ought.

Till then I would Thy love proclaim
With every fleeting breath;
And may the music of Thy Name
Refresh my soul in death!
~John Newton

Family Weekend ~ April 21-22

All my photos for this post are being held hostage at Photobucket.

This past weekend April 21st and 22nd was filled with extended family fun. Here are the pictures that tell the weekend story. I’m posting my Saturday post early, Friday night, because “Dear” and I leave early tomorrow for another family day.

 

Our oldest son Josh and his dad at the Pacific Ocean just south of Pt. Mugu

 

Father and Son

 

 

Once a mother always a mother….hoping my boy doesn’t get swept out to sea!

 

This seal was relaxing, oblivious to people and barking dogs. He (she) was kind enough to look up at me.

We came home from the beach via the fresh vegetable farm stand and got the fix-ins for Pico de Gallo and fresh strawberries from the local fields. So fresh, so good. “Dear” had some of his famous home-brew on hand which went perfectly with fresh dip that Josh prepared for us. Tomatoes, Jicama, Onion, a Jalapeno, Cilantro, Avocado and juice from a Lime. With chips it made a wonderful lunch. We went to Saturday evening service at E.V. Free where Pastor Steve gave Josh and “Dear” a supposed good excuse to get a tattoo! More to that story later…

 

Kacie, Jenna, Josh, and Annie (I’m seeing the family resemblance…the eyebrows that Josh and Jenna share, and the smile that Josh and Annie share.

Sunday, first stop, Anaheim Hills for Lox and Bagels. Such a rare wonderful moment for the Cousins on “Dears” side to get together.  “Dear” has one brother Terry who is married to Christina and they have 3 lovely daughters. So sad that Dan, Katie, and Laura weren’t here to share the Kodak moment.

 

Jenna the oldest who lives in New York, Annie who lives in So. California, and Kacie who just turned 16 and lives with her mom and dad in So. California. Beautiful nieces, all three!

 

We met Jenna’s boyfriend Justin for the first time. He lives in New York, also.

 

The Oldies but Goodies, “Dear”, Ellen, Christina and Terry

 

Next we zoomed to Whittier to get together with Ellen’s side of the family. Some of the cousins, Josh, Debbee, Ryan, Melissa, Michelle and Jackson.

 

Doing what we do best….cooking and eating! Baba and Deda at the head of the table. Meat, salad, rice pilaf, gourmet mac and cheese, Beautiful Strawberry Trifle and Chocolate Pecan Bars…yummy!

 

Dessert and Chai ( Plain old hot tea in Russian, not the sweet Chinese version popular today)

 

Nana (my sister Kathy) and Jackson

 

On our trip home from a long day of family gatherings I shot this from the car on the 101 Fwy in Thousand Oaks, 15 minutes from my own bed…

Saturday April 28th after I post this on my blog “Dear” and I are off on another family adventure. My two nephews are participating in the State History Day Finals in Long Beach, California today. Their performance is focusing on Honour Crimes in Pakistan. Winners move on to Nationals. Their home-school group has been to Nationals representing California twice already. I’m happy to be close by this time so I can actually see their performance. Nationals take place in Washington D.C.

“Like a Cedar in Lebanon” ~ Blenheim Palace

All my photos for this post are being held hostage at Photobucket.

This is Blenheim Palace in England. It is home to 11th Duke of Marlborough, and was the birthplace of Sir Winston Churchill. Set in 2100 acres of beautiful parkland landscaped by ‘Capability’ Brown, the exquisite Baroque Palace is surrounded by sweeping lawns, formal gardens and the magnificent Lake.

 

 

On the grounds of this beautiful palace are the most magnificent Cedars of Lebanon. Our daughter Katie is standing at one so you can get a better perspective on just how huge these trees are. In the verses below the righteous are compared to this amazing tree. Because of Christ’s righteousness in us we flourish and we are planted in the house of the Lord! How amazing is that!!!

Psalm 92: 1-8, 12-15: (ESV)

“It is good to give thanks to the Lord, to sing praises to your name, O Most High; to declare your steadfast love in the morning, and your faithfulness by night, to the music of the lute and the harp, to the melody of the lyre. For you, O Lord, have made me glad by your work; at the works of your hands I sing for joy. How great are your works, O LORD! Your thoughts are very deep! The stupid man cannot know; the fool cannot understand this: that though the wicked sprout like grass and evildoers flourish, they are doomed to destruction forever; but you, O Lord are on high forever.

…The righteous flourish like the palm tree and grow like a cedar in Lebanon. They are planted in the house of the Lord; they flourish in the courts of our God. They still bear fruit in old age; they are ever full of sap and green, to declare that the Lord is upright; he is my rock, and there is no unrighteousness in him.”

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Transitions ~ Hike ~ Amgen

All my photos for this post are being held hostage at Photobucket.

When “Dear” took a job in Southern California we were very surprised by many of the company perks. His company really is a little city in the Conejo Valley. They employ upwards of 10,000 people here. These people come from all over the world. The company hires an outside group (Transitions in Newbury Park) to plan and manage activities that help new employees transition to the new area and develop friendships. This really is a cool concept. They plan activities for the spouses of employees, for couples, for employees and kids. I’ve been to lunches, coffee breaks, happy hours, wine tastings, and hikes. I’ve missed spa day, movie night, potlucks, whale watching, cooking with Trader Joe’s, a Hollywood Bowl concert, and book clubs. I’ve met people from South Africa, the Netherlands, Germany, Australia, Canada, England, Sweden, and all over the U.S.A.  New employees are part of this transitions group for a full 2 years from their hire date. I commend Amgen for going the extra mile for their employees and families by offering this benefit. I don’t know how many companies out there would bother.

 

Yesterday there was a 4 mile hike with bagels and juice provided at the start of the hike.

 

The trail we hiked was a 4 mile loop. There were steep and gradual uphills, steep and gradual down hills, and some level areas. “Stick to the middle of the trail so you’re not surprised by a rattlesnake.” (comforting thought)

 

We had a wide range of age groups that managed the hike nicely. “Check your body for ticks after the hike!”  “Make sure you’re drinking your water!”

 

This is a view looking back at what we had already hiked. “My heart is pounding like a hammer.”

 

The happy hikers that just made it through the steepest grade and were looking forward to the downhills ahead. I’m on your left as you look at this picture. “I promise you this is the last uphill then it’s downhill all the way back.” One more comment as I knew we were truly on the downward trail. “I get dessert tonight!” Thank you Amgen and Transitions for another fun outing in the Conejo Valley!

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