Sunday, February 22, 2009

Joy!

Our hearts have been filled with Joy this week, as dear friends Josh & Amy received a good report regarding her cancer. The (non-chemo) hormonal treatment is working, meaning she has two more months of feeling better than she has in a while (and no more scans for two months!) Every so often, we four pastors' wives try to get together for an outing. We usually eat either dinner or dessert, then spend time sharing and praying for each other. It is touching and I am always inspired by Amy, Michelle, and Katie's godly examples. Being busy moms with busy schedules, it usually takes us a month to figure out a date that works for all. :) We managed to figure out this Friday, and are heading to a favorite restaurant of Amy's - Thai Basil Cuisine on Alpine. I will look forward to our time!

Debbie and I enjoyed playing a piano duet for offertory this morning. She assured me that anyone "35 and up" would know the John W. Peterson piece that we played. Pastor Josh was kind enough to put the words on the screen so people could follow along. What a great piece!! I hadn't heard it or thought about it in years, and it was especially neat because I played the "Secondo" part, the same part my mom played on this duet probably 20 years ago. I remember her practicing the song and part that I played. It had new joy and meaning today than it did when I was a child. You may learn some new vocabulary words (proffer, supernal, etc.) as you read! (In fact, sublime was one of my 10th graders vocab words this past week. What a joyful piece and message - I couldn't help but smile! Do you know this song? I leave with you:

Heaven Came Down
Words and music by John W. Peterson, © 196
1

O what a wonderful, wonderful day, day I will never forget;
After I'd wandered in darkness away, Jesus my Savior I met.
O what a tender, compassionate friend, He met the need of my heart;
Shadows dispelling, with joy I am telling, He made all the darkness depart.

(Chorus:) Heaven came down and glory filled my soul,
When at the cross the Savior made me whole;
My sins were washed away and my night was turned to day,
Heaven came down and glory filled my soul!

Born of the Spirit with life from above, into God's family divine,
Justified fully thru Calvary's love, O what a standing is mine!
And the transaction so quickly was made, when as a sinner I came,
Took of the offer, of grace He did proffer, He saved me, O praise His dear name!

Heaven came down and glory filled my soul,
When at the cross the Savior made me whole;
My sins were washed away and my night was turned to day,
Heaven came down and glory filled my soul!

Now I've a hope that will surely endure after the passing of time;

I have a future in heaven for sure, there in those mansions sublime.
And it's because of that wonderful day, when at the cross I believed;
Riches eternal and blessings supernal, from His precious hand I received.


Heaven came down and glory filled my soul,
When at the cross the Savior made me whole;
My sins were washed away and my night was turned to day,
Heaven came down and glory filled my soul!







5 comments:

Anonymous said...

I love that song and it does hold precious memories for me too. I wish I could have heard it...I was in 2&3's. You girls always do such a beautiful job. Thanks for playing with your obviously love for JESUS!!
LoriK:)
PS I'm glad you wives get together, I think that is great! I pray for you all!

Anonymous said...

I absolutely LOVED that offertory! The two of you did a wonderful job. I've heard that song done many times over the years (and I'm obviously in the 35 & older crowd), but I think you did it the best. Keep up the good work!

Sara said...

What does it say about me if I'm not in that "35 and older" crowd but remember that song well from my childhood? Well, maybe it just says something about the church I went to! :-)

Ang said...

I'm not even 30...and I know the song...in fact I probably heard your mother play it :)

Though I was a very little girl when I knew her...I remember her being very intense, and very loving, serious, but also really funny. I remember her piano playing too..it was always full of life and very precise!

She is one of many people (including you...and your father) that I have been blessed to know and have been inspired by... in music and in life.

Glidewell Family said...

Thanks for putting the words up! I just got done singing it.