Comfort for troubled times

This was the entrance hymn this past Sunday at the TLM at Holy Trinity. Not this arrangement, of course. I couldn't find anything similar to the presentation we enjoyed, but I thought this was a nice arrangement. It is good for a live recording, not my favorite usually. I don't know if they do all the verses I have added below, but there are beautiful to read just the same.


It is a comfort to know that He is the Alpha and Omega, in all and above all.

This was the offertory prayer:

I will praise Thee, O Lord my God, with my whole heart, and I will glorify Thy Name for ever; for Thou O Lord, art sweet and mild, and plenteous in mercy to all that call upon Thee, alleluia,

1 Of the Father's love begotten,
ere the worlds began to be,
he is Alpha and Omega;
he the source, the ending he,
of the things that are, that have been,
and that future years shall see,
evermore and evermore!

2 By his Word was all created;
he commanded; it was done:
heaven and earth and depths of ocean,
universe of three in one,
all that sees the moon’s soft shining,
all that breathes beneath the sun,
evermore and evermore!

3 O, that birth forever blessed
when the Virgin, full of grace,
by the Holy Ghost conceiving,
bore the Savior of our race,
and the babe, the world’s Redeemer,
first revealed his sacred face,
evermore and evermore!

4 This is he whom seers in old time
chanted of with one accord,
whom the voices of the prophets
promised in their faithful word.
Now he shines, the long-expected.
Let creation praise its Lord,
evermore and evermore!

5 O ye heights of heaven, adore him.
Angel hosts, his praises sing.
Powers, dominions, bow before him,
and extol our God and King.
Let no tongue on earth be silent;
every voice in concert ring,
evermore and evermore!

6 Christ, to thee with God the Father,
and, O Holy Ghost, to thee,
hymn and chant and high thanksgiving
and unwearied praises be.
Honor, glory, and dominion,
and eternal victory,
evermore and evermore! Amen.

Abundant Grace

I just realized something about how God deals with me when I sin. And I mean the big sins. For instance~

1. I had an abortion, and well before, mind you, I came to an understanding of just how sinful this was, He continued to bless me with healthy beautiful pregnancies and children. Eight more times! (I had one miscarriage).

2. I went through some really gnarly times during the first twenty-ish years of raising them. Not all of it was due to my personal sin, but some definitely was, especially towards the end of that period.  In making my way out of those rough years, I responded with some old patterns,  from kind of a broken soul.  He has given me lots and lots of grace, and many opportunities to be there to support the kids through their own healing, which in turn, you guessed it, furthers my own. Having been there, I get it when people take time to work their way out of deep holes. God has afforded me with enough time and resources ( not tons, I said enough) to be generous and give to the kids and sometimes their boyfriends, from what we have. A lot of the time, what we have is simply just to care, to feed them some dinner, or open our home as a place to hang out. I noted the other day, when I was feeling kind of overdone, that giving myself away always furthers my healing and the healing of my family. It is never wasted. Even if what I offer is flawed, God puts in in the bank. And as a result,things are better. Not all better, but better. I trust that He is not finished with us yet. When we still have troubles, I now know that He is at work. I feel the pain, but I have hope. I see that the Lord has offered us His hand to cling to, and His grace to sustain us.

He always knows what we need. He rarely gives us what we deserve.  Sometimes, He blesses us and trusts us with the very things in which we have failed.

Isaiah 61:3

  and provide for those who grieve in Zion—
to bestow on them a crown of beauty  instead of ashes,
the oil of joy  instead of mourning,
and a garment of praise
   instead of a spirit of despair.
They will be called oaks of righteousness,
   a planting of the LORD
   for the display of his splendor.

A Lenten Friday