I Shall Not Want

Louisa M.R. Stead (1850-1917) felt called to be a missionary from a very early age, but poor health hindered that dream.  She married at age 25 and one year later gave birth to a beautiful daughter, Lily.  Several years later her young husband died while trying to save a drowning boy.  Louisa's response in grief was penned in Tis So Sweet to Trust in Jesus.

Tis So Sweet to Trust in Jesus

     

Jesus, Jesus, how I trust Him!

How I've proved Him o'er and o'er

Jesus, Jesus, precious Jesus!

O for grace to trust Him more!

'Tis so sweet to trust in Jesus,

And to take Him at His Word;

Just to rest upon His promise,

And to know, 'Thus says the Lord!

O how sweet to trust in Jesus,

Just to trust His cleansing blood;

And in simple faith to plunge me

'Neath the healing, cleansing flood!

Yes, 'tis sweet to trust in Jesus,

Just from sin and self to cease;

Just from Jesus simply taking

Life and rest, and joy and peace.

I'm so glad I learned to trust Thee,

Precious Jesus, Savior, Friend;

And I know that Thou art with me,

Wilt be with me to the end.

It's an odd week, this week of marking "lasts" with Thomas.   

And though I could pour out words about ~

 

  * wanting to seize each moment

* perfect each day

* seal us away inside our home and not go through the ordinary of each day

* and a confession that I feel flat

* and I don't want to say goodbye 

* but I'm ready for him to go

~ instead of these rambling words, I'll just remember that we walk about like a shadow, and in vain we are in turmoil.  Psalm 39:37  I'll remember this, not in despair, or because of despair, but in HOPE.  Because it was hope that reminded me this morning that all turmoil is vanity when I can choose Christ.  So I choose to keep counting His graces today ~ to lift the flatness ~ to smile on what will be next for all of us ~ to say a proper goodbye ~ and definitely, on a beautiful, crisp, white-winter day, defy the desire to crawl back under the covers and lose out on any of the moments God has in store for me today.

counting graces...

936.  The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not want.

937.  He makes me lie down in green pastures.

938.  He leads me beside quiet waters.

939.  He restores my soul.

940.  He guides me in paths of righteousness for His name's sake.

941.  Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil for you are with me.

942.  Your rod and your staff, they comfort me.

943.  You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies.

944.  You anoint my head with oil.

945.  My cups runs over.

946.  Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life.

947.  And I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.  Psalm 23

948.  "We walk about like a shadow, and in vain we are in turmoil."  Psalm 39:7

949.  'Tis so sweet, to trust in Jesus.