Author: Amanda Tero

Music has always been a part of Amanda Tero’s life–from her mom singing Steve Green specials to her dad honking out the rhythm of “Jingle Bells” in the driveway. She began teaching in 2007 and fell in love with sharing music. Amanda started arranging hymns for herself in her teens, with fast and furious advanced hymn settings. Then, as her students began requesting hymns at their levels, she branched out to hymn arranging for pedagogical reasons. Because of Amanda’s interest in various genres, in her shop, you will find hymn arrangements of various levels embracing classical elements, light jazz style, Southern Gospel flair, and more.

Word Wednesday #69

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But Jesus said unto them, They need not depart; give ye them to eat. And they say unto him, We have here but five loaves, and two fishes. (Mark 14:16-17)

The disciples saw what they had physically, without the power of Jesus. What is it Jesus is asking me to do, but I am relying on what I can physically see, not on Jesus’ limitless power?

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Psalm 119:57-58

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Psalm 119:57-58
(57) Thou art my portion, O LORD: I have said that I would keep thy words.
In this life, we tend to expect certain “portions” (allotment). But for the believer, we should realize that HEis our portion. Can we, like the Psalmist, say, “The Lord is the portion of mine inheritance and of my cup: thou maintainest my lot.”? (Psalm 16:5) If we recognize God as our portion, perhaps we would be more inclined to keep His Words.
(58)  I intreated thy favour with my whole heart: be merciful unto me according to thy word.

Similar to verse 41 (“Let thy mercies come also unto me, O LORD, even thy salvation, according to thy word.”), there are promises “according to [God’s] Word.” It is amazing to think that those of us who have obtained God as our portion (through salvation) now have access to God’s favor and His mercy – according to His Word.

Word Wednesday #68

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“But since we left off to burn incense to the queen of heaven, and to pour out drink offerings unto her, we have wanted all things, and have been consumed by the sword and by the famine.” (Jeremiah 44:18)

Not only were the people in great delusion, it seemed that their motive to turning away from idols was rooted in “What can I get from this?” and when God justly did not grant their desires, they blamed Him. What is my motive for serving the Lord? My love for Him or my love for the benefits? Would I serve God even if I saw no blessings come my way?

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Psalm 119:53-56

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Psalm 119:53-56
(53)  Horror hath taken hold upon me because of the wicked that forsake thy law.
What is our response when others forsake God’s law? Do we have a feeling of horror (glow, consuming)? or do we “let it slip?” The more we love God’s law, the more we’ll desire to see others follow it. “They that forsake the law praise the wicked: but such as keep the law contend with them.” (Proverbs 28:4)
(54)  Thy statutes have been my songs in the house of my pilgrimage.
“Pilgrimage” gives the idea of temporary abode. “This world is not my home, I’m just a-passing through.” As we journey, what is the song on our lips? Do we love God’s Word so much that we’re willing to sing it so that we may better know it and be reminded of it?
(55)  I have remembered thy name, O LORD, in the night, and have kept thy law.
What do we do at night? At night is when our thoughts tend to wander, our “daydreams” happen, our fears come. But as the believer, what should our nighttime activity be?
“But his delight is in the law of the Lord; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.” (Psalm 1:2)
“Yet the Lord will command his lovingkindness in the daytime, and in the night his song shall be with me, and my prayer unto the God of my life.” (Psalm 42:8)
“When I remember thee upon my bed, and meditate on thee in the night watches.” (Psalm 63:6)
To keep God’s law at night, be must meditate upon it at night.
(56)  This I had, because I kept thy precepts.
To remember God’s Name at night and keep His law will not happen automatically. Instead, it happens because we have determined to keep God’s precepts in everyday living. What am I missing because I’m not keeping all of His precepts?

The Week I Came Home

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By the end of summer, I will have spent over 50 days away from home (if you include some nights I was home enough to sleep). However, the weeks away from home were not what I was thinking of when titling this post. Because there were many times that I was homebut not HOME.
Image from freerangestock.com
The summer progressed. On the days I was home (physically), I had this “feeling” of unrest. Of something that just wasn’t quite right. Not in focus. Amidst the many revival and camp services I attended, no one had that “instant formula” that revealed to me what was wrong.
I prayed about it on and off and slowly, in a faint way, it seemed that the Lord hinted at a step I was to take. It didn’t quite make sense to me and I couldn’t really see how it was the “answer” to my unidentifiable problem.
So, one week, with God’s prompting and my parents’ encouragement, I took that small, insignificant step: a week off texting and internet (other than some things “business” related). How it was connected to my unrest I really didn’t know. The first day passed and I don’t want to admit how much my thoughts went towards “Oh I should text–oh…never mind…” or “Let me check on…oh wait, next week…”
As the days passed I began to realize something: how did I EVER have time to text and be online SO MUCH? I barely had enough time to keep up with everything! The answer is simple: I didn’t have time. I was stealing it from God and from my family. You don’t believe me? Without trying to exaggerate, here are some examples:
*Awakens in morning*
*Opens Bible*
“My devotion time. I need to get it done so I can head outside to help with the house. I wonder if __ replied to my question. What free books are on Amazon today? I should be able to squeeze that in before I head out.”
*skims chapters*
“That was a bummer. Nothing really seemed to stand out to me today. I feel so dry.”
“Has it really been three weeks since I memorized a new verse? I’ll do that on my way to church this evening.”
*Forgets to leave phone (distraction) home*
*Heads to church and back, catching up on texts*
“Aw man! I forgot again! I wasn’t going to bring my phone. I’ll do it tomorrow.”
*Another week passes*
“Amanda, what’s for breakfast?”
“Did I reallyforget about breakfast prep again (for the fourth day in a row)!? How did that happen?”
*Me on device*
Ashlyn: Amanda, look at what I did…and you know what…did you see…can you…and…
Me: Mmhmm…interesting…yeah…okay…no, I don’t have time to…
*Me on device*
*Kitchen getting cluttered*
*Breakfast prep forgotten*
*Irritability at siblings or parents for asking me to do things that I knew I should do anyway but just couldn’t find the time to do*
*No time for projects*
You get the picture.
These are things that sneak in when we don’t realize it  and grab hold of our lives (I say “we” because I have seen many other girls and women realize the same thing in their lives). In the past year, my life has drastically changed. Some of the changes have been subtle. Wifi. Facebook. Goodreads. Pinterest. Texting. Yeah. Those things. All of which I have found to be very encouraging and useful at times. But what was it Paul said? “All things are lawful unto me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any.”(1 Corinthians 6:12)
The Lord showed me that turning my time (unconsciously) to these “other things” actually turned my focus away from Him and my home. By taking a week’s break there were two things I realized:
~I enjoyed my family. It was amazing how many little things brightened my day! How many fun things I had time for. Like having a “date night” with my youngest brother, teaching my younger sister how to eat an halved orange (“How did you get to be ten without knowing how to do this?!”), and listening to the chatter of one sibling after another. Things which blessed me–and didn’t feel at all like “interruptions” of my day. And you know what? I rarely found myself using the excuse, “No, I’m too busy…”
~After a few days away from distractions (note: it didn’t happen right away), my quiet, devotion life was enriched and my focus again turned to the Lord. No longer was it a “task” to be done, but a time of nourishment and guidance.
I know that I have been wordy and if you have read all the way through this you deserve a high-five at the least. 🙂 Why did I write it all? Obviously not to applaud my failures or even small victories. But as a challenge.
Is there something in your life that you need a break from? Something that is pulling your focus away from God and your family? For me, it was texting and internet. For you, it may be something completely different–only you know. Why not prayerfully consider taking a full seven days’ break (or more!) and use that time to get refocused? Maybe, like me, you will discover that it is a step needed to bring you back home. 

Word Wednesday #67

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“Micah the Morasthite prophesied in the days of Hezekiah king of Judah, and spake to all the people of Judah, saying, Thus saith the Lord of hosts; Zion shall be plowed like a field, and Jerusalem shall become heaps, and the mountains of the house as the high places of a forest. Did Hezekiah king of Judah and all Judah put him at all to death? did he not fear the Lord, and besought the Lord, and the Lord repented him of the evil which he had pronounced against them? Thus might we procure great evil against our souls.” (Jeremiah 26:18-19)

Hezekiah was unknowingly an example for good to those after him. The choices I make today are affecting and influencing others–even generations after me. Is my life an example for good and following God or self-centered, following the whims of my flesh?

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Psalm 119:50-52

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Psalm 119:50-52
(50)  This is my comfort in my affliction: for thy word hath quickened me.
In any affliction we go through, God’s Word is able to quicken us – give us life. If we sense no meaning to life, perhaps we should dig in God’s Word: He promises that It is able to quicken (Hebrews 4:12). When we need comfort, do we turn to God’s Word?
(51)  The proud have had me greatly in derision: yet have I not declined from thy law.
Others may scoff at our foundation of God’s Word – but do we let that affect us? When others make fun of how much time we spend in God’s Word, rail on us for not doing things with us because God’s Word prohibits it, how do we respond? Do we go to God’s Word with renewed passion? or do we let their words influence us? That which we love most (acceptance of men or praise from God) will shape our lives.
(52)  I remembered thy judgments of old, O LORD; and have comforted myself.
Similar to verse 50 (“This is my comfort in my affliction: for thy word hath quickened me.”), we are to go to God’s Word for comfort. It is true that friends can comfort us, but there is no comfort like the Lord Himself and His Words.
“Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort; Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.” (2 Corinthians 1:3-4)
“Mine eyes fail for thy word, saying, When wilt thou comfort me?” (Psalm 119:82)

“For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.” (Romans 15:4)

Word Wednesday #66

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“But now thus saith the Lord that created thee, O Jacob, and he that formed thee, O Israel, Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art mine.” Isaiah 43:1
Spoken to Israel, this is a truth every person must embrace by faith. Do you believe that there is only one God? that there is no Savior but the Lord Jesus Christ?

“I, even I, am he that blotteth out thy transgressions for mine own sake, and will not remember thy sins.” (Isaiah 43:25)

“Fear ye not, neither be afraid: have not I told thee from that time, and have declared it? ye are even my witnesses. Is there a God beside me? yea, there is no God; I know not any.” (Isaiah 44:8)

“I am the Lord, and there is none else, there is no God beside me: I girded thee, though thou hast not known me: That they may know from the rising of the sun, and from the west, that there is none beside me. I am the Lord, and there is none else.” (Isaiah 45:5-6)

“Tell ye, and bring them near; yea, let them take counsel together: who hath declared this from ancient time? who hath told it from that time? have not I the Lord? and there is no God else beside me; a just God and a Saviour; there is none beside me. Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God, and there is none else.” (Isaiah 45:21-22)

Remember the former things of old: for I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like me,” (Isaiah 46:9)

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Psalm 119:49

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Psalm 119:49
(49)  Remember the word unto thy servant, upon which thou hast caused me to hope.
We can hope in God’s promises:
“My soul fainteth for thy salvation: but I hope in thy word.” (Psalms 119:81)
“Thou art my hiding place and my shield: I hope in thy word.” (Psalms 119:114)
“Uphold me according unto thy word, that I may live: and let me not be ashamed of my hope.”  (Psalms 119:116)
“I wait for the LORD, my soul doth wait, and in his word do I hope.”  (Psalms 130:5)
“For the hope which is laid up for you in heaven, whereof ye heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel;” (Colossians 1:5)

Abraham is a great example of a man who hoped in God’s Word and His promises: “He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God; And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform. And therefore it was imputed to him for righteousness.” (Romans 4:20-22) He knew that God would remember His promises to His servant. And he did not stagger in his faith. Do I believe God’s promises so much that my faith is unwavering?

Of Rocks and Trees

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Pictures from our Colorado trip…might take me several weeks to get more pictures up (including pictures from Canyon Land, Utah!) but enjoy these for now!

For a fun effect, I used a slow shutter speed and zoomed out the lens while the shutter was still open

~*~*~
This is my Father’s world, and to my listening ears
All nature sings, and round me rings the music of the spheres.
This is my Father’s world: I rest me in the thought
Of rocks and trees, of skies and seas;
His hand the wonders wrought.

This is my Father’s world, the birds their carols raise,
The morning light, the lily white, declare their Maker’s praise.
This is my Father’s world: He shines in all that’s fair;
In the rustling grass I hear Him pass;
He speaks to me everywhere.

This is my Father’s world. O let me ne’er forget
That though the wrong seems oft so strong, God is the ruler yet.
This is my Father’s world: the battle is not done:
Jesus Who died shall be satisfied,
And earth and Heav’n be one.
 Malt­bie D. Bab­cock