14 Satisfy us in the morning with your unfailing love, that we may sing for joy and be glad all our days.
15 Make us glad for as many days as you have afflicted us, for as many years as we have seen trouble.
16 May your deeds be shown to your servants, your splendor to their children.
17 May the favor of the Lord our God rest upon us; establish the work of our hands for us— yes, establish the work of our hands.
We can be glad during our afflictions and trouble because of God's unfailing love. We can sing for joy all our days, the days of afflication and years of trouble because of God's unfailing love. This love will shown itself in deeds and splendor to us and our children. Sometimes we do not see them or recognize them until the difficult time has passed. May we rejoice and trust in His unfailing love when we don't understand. Time will come when we will see clearly.
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
Frequent comments
"He is so cute."
"He has a beautiful smile." Jonathan always smiles at stranger, no matter who they are.
"Is he always this well behaved?" He is content with being held or in the stroller during our tours. He doesn't make a peep usually and falls asleep when he is really tired, in the car seat or the carrier.
“He is too small" when we asked for a high chair.
"Is this a boy or a girl?" despite his blue outfit.
"He has a beautiful smile." Jonathan always smiles at stranger, no matter who they are.
"Is he always this well behaved?" He is content with being held or in the stroller during our tours. He doesn't make a peep usually and falls asleep when he is really tired, in the car seat or the carrier.
“He is too small" when we asked for a high chair.
"Is this a boy or a girl?" despite his blue outfit.
Psalm 89:13-18
13 Your arm is endued with power; your hand is strong, your right hand exalted.
14 Righteousness and justice are the foundation of your throne; love and faithfulness go before you.
15 Blessed are those who have learned to acclaim you, who walk in the light of your presence, O LORD.
16 They rejoice in your name all day long; they exult in your righteousness.
17 For you are their glory and strength, and by your favor you exalt our horn.
18 Indeed, our shield belongs to the LORD, our king to the Holy One of Israel.
What impressed upon me in this passage is the fact that to acclaim God is learned. It does not come naturally. I don't know what the Hebrew grammar is for this verse 15, but in my mind, to walk in the light of God's presence is also a learned practice. So easily we get distracted by the daily toils, disappointments, hurt, frustrations, work load, burden of raising children etc. We are often buried by our circumstances and can't see the light of God's presence, can't feel the power of his arm and the strength of his hand. Often we forget about his love and faithfulness in the midst of our struggles. We forget that God knows what we are going through, He orchestrates the events of our lives, and gently guides us. We must learn about His power and strength, learn about his righteousness and justice, his love and faithfulness so that in our trouble we can yet acclaim him, see the light of His presence, and rejoice in His name. One must practice to acclaim Him and to walk in His presence.
14 Righteousness and justice are the foundation of your throne; love and faithfulness go before you.
15 Blessed are those who have learned to acclaim you, who walk in the light of your presence, O LORD.
16 They rejoice in your name all day long; they exult in your righteousness.
17 For you are their glory and strength, and by your favor you exalt our horn.
18 Indeed, our shield belongs to the LORD, our king to the Holy One of Israel.
What impressed upon me in this passage is the fact that to acclaim God is learned. It does not come naturally. I don't know what the Hebrew grammar is for this verse 15, but in my mind, to walk in the light of God's presence is also a learned practice. So easily we get distracted by the daily toils, disappointments, hurt, frustrations, work load, burden of raising children etc. We are often buried by our circumstances and can't see the light of God's presence, can't feel the power of his arm and the strength of his hand. Often we forget about his love and faithfulness in the midst of our struggles. We forget that God knows what we are going through, He orchestrates the events of our lives, and gently guides us. We must learn about His power and strength, learn about his righteousness and justice, his love and faithfulness so that in our trouble we can yet acclaim him, see the light of His presence, and rejoice in His name. One must practice to acclaim Him and to walk in His presence.
Monday, April 20, 2009
Jonathan is taking a nap. I hope he will sleep for at least 2 hours.
I feel like we were moving our house to the hotel when we arrived. We have two nearly 50 lb suitcases, a stroker, a car seat, a computer bag, a diaper bag, and my purse packed with things. I'm glad we did. There isn't a store near by where we can buy bottled water, baby formula/foods. There are a lot of shops a few blocks away but with the misty rain we didn't feel like walking down.
Taxi here is very convenient and cheap. Cheap is relative. It is cheaper than renting a car. One can really walk to most downtown historic sites but with an infant in the stroker and sometimes needs to be carried, eat, and diaper change, taxi serves us better.
I feel like we were moving our house to the hotel when we arrived. We have two nearly 50 lb suitcases, a stroker, a car seat, a computer bag, a diaper bag, and my purse packed with things. I'm glad we did. There isn't a store near by where we can buy bottled water, baby formula/foods. There are a lot of shops a few blocks away but with the misty rain we didn't feel like walking down.
Taxi here is very convenient and cheap. Cheap is relative. It is cheaper than renting a car. One can really walk to most downtown historic sites but with an infant in the stroker and sometimes needs to be carried, eat, and diaper change, taxi serves us better.
Sunday, April 19, 2009
Historical ignorance
I knew surprisingly little about Philadephia and its rich history. Everything I learned today in Independence Park were almost all new information. I didn't know that the Declaration of Indepndence were created and signed in this city. I hadn't heard of the Liberty Bell. I remember reading a book about Benjamin Franklin's inventions in English, a book given to me by two American girls visiting China with their parents at the time. I didn't have an inkling that Benjamin Franklin had any connection with Philadelphia until I saw a sign for Ben Franklin Bridge on my way to the hotel from the airport. I need to take a US history class.
Our first family trip
Our flight to Philadephia yesterday was uneventful. Jonathan did surprisingly well on the plane. The short flight from Madison to Detroit he was awake the whole time. Couldn't get him to take the pacifier at take off or descend. He didn't seem to be bothered by the pressure change. From Detroit to Philadelphia, he fell asleep while we were on the runway for take off.
After we got to the hotel he was very excited about the king size bed. He laughed and giggled for a long time. Then he fell asleep. After his nap, we went to a restaurant in China town. He fell asleep in the pack and play in a short time after we came back to the hotel.
This morning he didn't get up until 8:30 AM. We had breakfast. He wouldn't nap so we went on to tour the Liberty Park. He was very well behaved the whole time. He took a nap for about one hour. Albert called him "eyeball catcher"-whoever saw him commented on how cute he was. Most people gave him an extra look and smile. And he would smile back in most cases. Finally we came back around 5 PM. He got excited again about the king size bed. But I think he is over stimulated now.
After we got to the hotel he was very excited about the king size bed. He laughed and giggled for a long time. Then he fell asleep. After his nap, we went to a restaurant in China town. He fell asleep in the pack and play in a short time after we came back to the hotel.
This morning he didn't get up until 8:30 AM. We had breakfast. He wouldn't nap so we went on to tour the Liberty Park. He was very well behaved the whole time. He took a nap for about one hour. Albert called him "eyeball catcher"-whoever saw him commented on how cute he was. Most people gave him an extra look and smile. And he would smile back in most cases. Finally we came back around 5 PM. He got excited again about the king size bed. But I think he is over stimulated now.
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