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| cross-posted from my music blog
1.
In the garden, Eden, in days long gone by
Adam disobeyed God, in that day he died
Scripture states expressly, through this one man’s fall
Death and condemnation came and reigned in all
Dead in our trespasses, rebels bent to sin
There is not one righteous, none that seeks for Him.
2.
God, in Sovereign mercy, ere time had begun
Saw our helpless plight, and graciously chose some
Not for good within us, that did not exist
Not for faith to choose Him, that too is his gift
Simply His good pleasure, we cannot explain
We can only worship, Glorify His name.
3.
Later, in time’s fullness, God sent forth His Son.
For His sheep He died, and pledged to not lose one.
For His church He suffered, that she might be clean.
For His people, He shall save from all their sin.
On the cross, He cried out, “It is now complete.”
Definite atonement there He made for me.
4.
Now as gospel preaching outwardly calls men
By this means, God calls effectually within.
By His will and Spirit, quickens us from death,
Opens hearts, imparting faith to his elect.
What we were unable, dead in sin, to do
Through regeneration, God makes to come true.
5.
On this sure foundation, we can stand secure
His preserving grace empowers to endure
As his seed is in us, we depart from sin
His seal is upon us, we are marked for Him.
Therefore, it is written, in His holy word,
Let the one who boasts boast only in the Lord.
6.
Totally unable, in depravity,
Yet before creation chosen sov’reignly
Definite atonement made on Calvary
Now by gospel preaching called effectually
By preserving grace, the mark we press to-ward
True it is, that Salvation is of the Lord!
8/8 - 8/9/97
can be sung to the tunes WYE VALLEY (Like a River Glorious)
and ST. GERTRUDE (Onward Christian Soldiers)
© 1999 by Jon F. Caudle, Jr. • jcaudle@sdgmusic.us | | |
| He said it would be 57 degrees today, and I don't think there is any way that it approached that temperature. And the wind was blowing something fierce (though, to be fair, I'm sure some places get it a lot worse). But today was the appointed day, and so ... it happened. Last night between 11 PM and midnight (after men's meeting with my church buddies), I got home and loaded my chickens into the back of my little pickup, and covered it with a double-layer of tarp. Thankfully, they are a lot easier to catch when they are mostly asleep. To be sure, they squawked some when I would catch them, but other than the one I was catching, the rest seemed to go back to walking around like zombies. How many chickens did I load? Eight weeks and three days ago I got 48 cornish cross chicks. I lost one of those when I ran over it moving the field pen. I tugged the pen 10 feet sideways (from one "row" to another), apparently with the chicken under the far side base. The great news is: that is the only one of the meat birds that I lost. The other good news is, in the past 8 weeks and 3 days (since I got the meat birds), I did not lose a single one of the layer chicks (which were 2 weeks old at the point I got the meat birds).
So, the younger teenager(15), Sir William (8), and I headed off to assist with butchering early this morning. The family with whom we were butchering (an elder at our church) had 92 of their birds to butcher, plus my 47. It took us a little while to get started because we were putting tarps up along one (and part of a second) side of the outdoor pavilion under which they process. It was chilling! But thank God for those tarps. With 3 layers of clothing, and the tarps, the only part of me that got real cold was my feet. Walking around some began to help that. We were joined by 5 members of another family from church who came to fellowship, learn, work, and purchase.
We butchered all the chickens, sang a few Psalms as we worked (no, Sarie, no imprecatory Psalms), and then enjoyed a wonderful lunch of chicken soup and rolls, and a tasty desert. It is always thrilling to be with the saints, and despite the cold today, I was exceedingly grateful to be with them. (Psa 16:3 NKJV) As for the saints who are on the earth, "They are the excellent ones, in whom is all my delight." Truly, the saints of God are the excellent ones, and how greatly I delight in being with them!
I have so far to go in my agrarian aspirations. I read Christina (KS Milkmaid), Christine (Homestead Herbs), Scott Terry (Homesteader Life), Herrick Kimball (the Deliberate Agrarian), and so many more who inspire me with the recounting of their exploits. Some of them are seasoned agrarians, others novices like me. Today, I felt like I was "one of them" as I rejoiced in the fruition of the work of my hands.
As in all things, may God be glorified, and may His people be blessed. I know I sure was today!
(cross-posted from the Aspiring Agrarian) | | |
| Gracious Father, God of mercy,
Grant your children rest tonight;
Grant that their hearts would be trusting,
Knowing you will do what's right.
Grant them wisdom in decisions
That they're called upon to make;
Grant them fortitude to press on
When naysayers they must face.
Grant them courage in these hours
When their hearts could fail for fear,
Grant that they would cry out to You,
Confident that You will hear.
Gracious Father, God of mercy,
Reach forth with your mighty pow'r,
Healing bring to heart and body,
Be their strong and mighty tower.
In the name of Jesus Christ, our Lord.
Amen.
© Copyright 2006 by Jon F Caudle Jr
A prayer for friends who are undergoing a severe trial of their faith. Cross-posted from my poetry blog. You might might want to pray this prayer, or one similar, for those whom you know who are in severe afflictions. | | |
| Sitting in the back seat of a
Fifteen person van,
Bound for Monroe, L A as a
Conf'rence caravan,
Hearing young folks talking
In the seats in front of me,
Speaking of eternal life,
And of the Trinity.
Delving into C S Lewis,
Chesterton, and such,
With discourse on FV authors
Wilson, Leithart, Lusk;
Seeing passion in their faces,
Hear it in the voice,
Looking down the road a piece
I suddenly rejoice.
Things it's taken years to learn
At my unsteady pace,
They already wrestle with in
His astounding grace.
Families, I can envision
From these twenty-somes;
Fam'lies blessed with faithful daughters,
Fam'lies blessed with sons.
Fam'lies started with a strong
Foundation at the start.
Christ and his affections and
His knowledge fill their hearts.
Knowing how, at Kidderminster,
Baxter labored long;
After nearly twenty years
The streets rang with the Psalms.
Like that, glorious blessing I see
Waiting to unfold:
Covenant communities
With place for roots to grow.
Though I weep for barren years
Which mar the church's past,
Full of hope I look ahead
To see God's work at last.
Semper reformanda:
We are always to reform,
Taking ev'ry thought as captive
To our Saviour Lord.
Such reform I weekly see,
And that in younger saints.
Led by godly elders, they will
Storm Gehenna's gates!
© 2006 by Jon F Caudle, Jr.
cross-posted from my poetry blog | | |
| Sleep can be elusive when the children
Fitf'ly toss and turn upon their beds;
In the morn's wee hours you be wond'rin'
How you will survive without some rest.
I can see how easy it would be then
For Despair to make its presence known,
And the only way you can defeat him
Is to bare your heart before the throne.
There, then, I will join you in this hour;
There with God, our Father, we can plead:
Asking in his mercy and his power
He would grant you rest in time of need.
Rest that first begins with all your children;
Rest that drives away sickness and fears;
Rest derived from peace that stands a-guardin'
Hearts and minds, and dries away all tears.
Father, God of mercies and all comfort,
As before, we come to you again.
Pleading for a night of restful slumber,
Asking now in Jesus' name, Amen.
© Copyright 2006 by Jon F. Caudle, Jr.
cross-posted from my poetry blog | | |
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