Praise to the Lord, the Almighty!

Yesterday was the first day of BSF (Bible Study Fellowship) for this year. We are doing a brand new study of Isaiah this year and I think it will be very interesting. I had heard about BSF over the years while I was still working full-time and heard what a wonderful program it was. When I "retired" in 2004, beginning BSF was one of the first things I did! I started the study of The Acts of the Apostles halfway through the class year in January. I LOVED it! I have grown more in my personal walk with Jesus Christ through BSF the past 6+ years than I have by doing anything else. I cannot recommend this program enough! The following year we studied Genesis, then Romans, Matthew, The Life of Moses, and then John. To complete the program, I still have to study The History of Israel and the Minor Prophets, and then do the other half of The Acts of the Apostles. So, the addition of Isaiah has now made BSF an 8-year program instead of a 7-year program. I will hopefully "graduate" in December of 2012! If you want more info on BSF, check it our here.

One of the BEST things about BSF is their children's program that's offered during the Women's Day Class on Wednesday mornings. Until recently, the program was offerred to children from age 2 through preschool, but NOW they have classes beggining at birth! Just in time for our sweet little MadelinE! Since BSF members usually help with the children's program sometime during the year, I know firsthand what wonderful things are offered for these little ones. I am SO EXCITED about what Madeline will get to do this year! Children in the "Under-Two" program are not there for just nursery care. Madeline will be nurtured in a loving environment by women who not only love God, but she will be taught a Bible story, she will be prayed for, and she will hear BSF hymns sung to her as she is held and rocked! Wow! There is even a CD with her BSF songs on it that we can use to help her learn the songs. Her teachers will also teach her some basic sign language signs like eat, more, sleep, please, thank you, etc. Madeline did great on her first day and her teachers seem like very sweet loving people! So grateful for their willingness to teach these sweet babies!

I have to say that I pretty much "lost it" when I walked in the church building yesterday. For some reason a HUGE wave of emotions just hit me. I'd watched a gazillion women take their children to BSF for years, but I was FINALLY getting to do it myself! I was overwhelmed with such gratitude to our Lord that we have the opportunity to expose her to something so wonderful. Madeline was actually born on the last day of BSF in May and I hadn't been able to share with a lot of the women (face to face anyway) that we had even been chosen by a birthmother (much less already had a baby!) because we found out so close to her birthdate. So many friends I have met through BSF have prayed for us throughout our adoption journey! The emotions that hit as I walked down the nursery hallway seeing the looks on these ladies' faces when they saw me with precious Madeline was just too much. I was a mess! I'm sure some of the nursery workers that don't know me thought I was having some REAL hormonal problems!

I finally made it to the worship center where we begin each Wednesday morning singing two hymns. The first hymn we sang was "Praise to the Lord, the Almighty". Well, needless to say I couldn't sing until we got to the third verse, and then I just mouthed the words! So overwhelmed with joy! It was a great morning.

Here are the words to that hymn:

Praise to the Lord, the Almighty - Joachim Neander

Praise to the Lord, the Almighty, the King of creation!

O my soul, praise Him, for He is thy health and salvation!

All ye who hear, Now to His temple draw near;

Praise Him in glad adoration.

Praise to the Lord, who o'er all things so wondrously reigneth,

Shelters thee under His wings, yea, so gently sustaineth!

Hast thou not seen How thy desires e'er have been

Granted in what He ordaineth?

Praise to the Lord, who doth prosper thy work and defend thee;

Surely His goodness, and mercy here daily attend thee.

Ponder anew What the Almighty can do,

If with His love He befriend thee.

Praise to the Lord, O let all that is in me adore Him!

All that hath life and breath, come now with praises before Him.

Let the Amen Sound from His people again,

Glady for aye we adore Him.