Something for God

In looking for a new title, I thought back on the hymns we used to sing and play for the churches we visited before moving to Germany. One of our old standbys was an old, old song called "Something for Thee," partly because it sounded pretty on the recorder, but also because it capsulized why we were going to Germany. That is, why we had given our lives to God in the first place, a decision that eventuated in replanting our family an ocean away. Anyway, Some Song to Raise comes out of the end of the second verse. "Help me... some song to raise - or prayer, something for Thee."


But first I did a lot of thinking about this old blog here. What it is and is not, what it should be and should not be, what it could be and could never be. I thought about how it started, an alternative to e-mailing all those first-grandchild pictures. I thought about my love/hate relationship with this blog, and all the other more important things on my plate right now. I thought about the encouraging google analytics results (and how much I would love to know who you people are!). A few Proverbs about our words came to mind, and I was ready to yank the whole thing right off the web. I thought about my life - where we live and what we do, and all the people who pray and give and wonder what it's like to be missionary. I thought about my scribbly journal pages, and how crazy I would be to put some of that stuff up here. But also, that some of those words could praise God better on a blog than stuffed in a notebook. They could become some kind of song, a life-song to sing. Some song to raise. Something to offer. 


Nothing that is going to change the world. Nothing that hasn't already been said. Hardly a bubble in the sea of blogs out there today. 


But something. Some song, coming from some ransomed soul, falling on the heart of some reader. If this blog can, as the song lyrics say, achieve "some work of love begun, some deed of kindness done, some wanderer sought and won," that would be "through all eternity, something for Thee."


One more thought about the whole song idea. Some of the verses are just there for the fun of it. Others are mundane, factual, or random. Sometimes this blog sings a happy song, but at other times it has a sad song to raise. What gives us hope is that all of our songs will make perfect sense one new day that's coming after all the last notes are sung. 

Something For Thee

Sylvanus D. Phelps, 1862

Savior, Thy dying love
Thou gavest me,
Nor should I aught withhold,
Dear Lord, from Thee:
In love my soul would bow,
My heart fulfill its vow,
Some offering bring Thee now,
Something for Thee.

At the blest mercy seat,
Pleading for me,
My feeble faith looks up,
Jesus, to Thee:
Help me the cross to bear,
Thy wondrous love declare,
Some song to raise, or prayer,
Something for Thee.

Give me a faithful heart,
Likeness to Thee,
That each departing day
Henceforth may see
Some work of love begun,
Some deed of kindness done,
Some wanderer sought and won,
Something for Thee.

All that I am and have,
Thy gifts so free,
In joy, in grief, through life,
Dear Lord, for Thee!
And when Thy face I see,
My ransomed soul shall be,
Through all eternity,
Something for Thee.

The dandelions

...on the background. They are gone forever. Promise. Now to do something about that title up there. Daniel is telling me that it's time. :o) I have to say that "There" has grown so packed with meaning for me. But, I'm afraid it just doesn't deliver the meaning very well. So, I have a list started, and we'll see if I can come up with a new title and tag line without over thinking it or losing sleep.

Suggestions, anyone?

family and friends

Germany feels more like home than it did before the Goernandts came to visit from their side of Germany. Rebecca is Daniel's cousin, so they are completely family and every bit friends. Being together was rejuvenating, sharpening, and tons of fun. I'm just mad they didn't stay longer. We are already dreaming about those first snowflakes to fall and tell us it’s almost time to visit them in December!