Sunday, August 26, 2007

Sunday Snippet

This is something new. I've been contemplating a few things lately, especially the issue of my time. Tomorrow is the first day of our new homeschool year. I now have a high school student to look after, as we are beginning ninth grade. I wish I could say that I'm happy that summer is over and school is starting up again, but that's another story. Let's just say that I am thankful for the fact that God is still allowing us to have school here in our home. But it does mean that I may again have less time for fun things like blogging.

So back to what's new. I knew when I made the decision to take on another blog that time was an issue. But when I made the decision, one of the reasons that I thought I could do it was that this blog was to be made up of short posts of a devotional nature, as well as a forum to discuss my writing projects. Typical of the type of person that I am, I've noticed that my posts have been getting more and more wordy and some have been such that I've pondered a while on what to say, hence it gets time consuming. I'll still be doing more intensive posts from time to time, but in order to keep things flowing around here, I'll be doing this weekly feature of words from other sources, with few or none from me. At least it will insure that things aren't stagnant and also that the original intent for the blog is maintained.

With all that said (see, I even made that a long explanation), here is the first week's Sunday Snippet. We sang this as our hymn during Sunday opening time, and it touched the heart of me and another teacher as we sang it with the children.

Softly and tenderly Jesus is calling,
Calling for you and for me;
See, on the portals he's waiting and watching,
Watching for you and for me.

Why should we tarry when Jesus is pleading,
Pleading for you and for me?
Why should we linger and heed not his mercies,
Mercies for you and for me?

Time is now fleeting the moments are passing,
Passing from you and from me;
Shadows are gathering, deathbeds are coming,
Coming for you and for me.

Oh! for the wonderful love he has promised,
Promised for you and for me;
Though we have sinned, he has mercy and pardon,
Pardon for you and for me.

Come home, come home,
Ye who are weary, come home;
Earnestly, tenderly, Jesus is calling,
Calling,O sinner, come home!
~Will L. Thompson, 1847-1909

What a wonderful Savior who calls sinners to Himself. I hope He's your Savior.

9 comments:

Mimi said...

that is one of the most beautiful invitation hymns that we sing...
if you are not a Christian that hymn certainly pulls you to come and accept Him as personal Savior
good luck with your school year with a high schooler..

Vicki said...

That particular hymn has always caused me to weep a little. Love it, Maxine. I'll be praying for the start of your school year. Anything you can share will be a huge blessing to me and I look forward to it. Sometimes all I have time for is a teeny post or quote myself. God bless you, my friend.

Susan Skitt said...

Ah yes, love that hymn. Come home... come home... softly and tenderly Jesus is calling.

There's an old German hymn my dad knows, I don't know how to spell it in German but it translates in English something like this:

I want to go, I want to go, I want to go there too. I want to go where Jesus is, I want to go there too.

Praise God those who receive Jesus as Savior, we have a home, a mansion waiting for us in Glory and a Savior who calls to us with arms wide open.

Kathy said...

Maxine, I can SO relate to your comments about budgeting your time. We start school next Tuesday and I'm wondering how that will affect my writing time as well. Thanks for sharing from your heart and I'll be praying for your school year!

Becky Wolfe said...

I can relate - as I've been working on other writing projects, I've found that I haven't had the time or creativity left over for my blog so it has been neglected a bit. But I try to still give it a bit of time & thought when I can.

I love that beautiful hymn

Jodi said...

Maxine I do so understand the time crunch. My eldest is starting his senior year of high school this year. It is rather an emotional time around here for all of us as we look to the future. And there has simply been so much to do . . . I'm afraid my little blog has been much neglected of late. :o)

Beautiful, beautiful hymn ... one that's tune is as achingly tender as the words themselves. I think great hymns are a wonderful marriage between words and melody.

Mishel said...

I love this hymn...it holds a special place in my heart, as it was one of my dear mother-in-law's favorite hymns.

I very much understand the issue of time spent blogging and trying to homeschool. I know some would think that with a high school student, there wouldn't be much for us as homeschooling moms to do. But as you already know--there IS much to do! : )

I pray you are having a wonderful "first week" of school!

Keith Wallis said...

With you on the 'time' dilemma.
The old hymn isn't one that I know - I enjoyed reading it.

Carol said...

Hi, Maxine, This is a beautiful hymn I have not heard it for such a long time..It was lovely to read the words again thankyou..

After such a long summer break I think it would be hard to get back into the rhythm of school again.. I have so much admiration for mums who home school, which seems to be big in the US..Home schooling in Australia is only in areas where Kids cannot get to a school or if a child is sick..

Our longest break is our summer holidays of six weeks over Christmas. My children couldn't wait to get back to the school year..They would have hated three months break..

Good luck with your school year...