The Beauty of God's Creation in Northern Wisconsin

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Ruffed Grouse



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Sunset on Lake Bastine

Sunday's Hymn: How Vast the Benefits Divine

How vast the benefits divine
Which we in Christ possess!
We are redeemed from guilt and shame
And called to holiness.
But not for works which we have done,
Or shall hereafter do,
Hath God decreed on sinful men
Salvation to bestow.

The glory, Lord, from first to last,
Is due to thee alone;
Aught to ourselves we dare not take,
Or rob thee of thy crown.
Our glorious Surety undertook
To satisfy for man,
And grace was given us in him
Before the world began.

This is thy will, that in thy love
We ever should abide;
That earth and hell should not prevail
To turn thy Word aside.
Not one of all the chosen race
But shall to heav'n attain,
Partake on earth the purposed grace
And then with Jesus reign.

Augustus M. Toplady, 1774
Tune: St. Matthew, William Croft, 1678-1727

Thankful Thursday

I haven't posted much about our vacation (an omission I intend to correct) but one incident was something we would have preferred to avoid. Charlie got hurt. He jumped off the bed and hurt his rear right leg. Charlie sleeps with us at home too and sometimes he needs to go out in the middle of the night (he is an old guy, remember). At home, he wakes us up by scratching at us, waiting patiently on the bed until one of us responds. Perhaps he was confused in unfamiliar circumstances but he jumped rather than waiting. The result was he was unable to put any weight on the leg. So on our second day of vacation, we visited a local vet who X-rayed the leg and determined that nothing was broken or dislocated. Charlie had torn or strained the equivalent of a human ACL. If it was indeed torn, she told us, he would be unable to bear weight on the leg for a month and it would take two more for it to heal. No surgery for dogs under 30 pounds...or dogs of 14 and a half years.

Well, he began to bear some weight on it in a few days. Its now four weeks since the injury and Charlie is walking, albeit with a little limp, and this week he began bearing enough weight on the leg to lift the other one as boys do. Praise God for His healing of my little pet! I thank Him for His care for Charlie and His care for me in my love for Charlie!

Each Thursday of 2010, I am thanking God for His goodness to me together with Kim of The Upward Call and several others. Won't you join us?

Sunday's Hymn: Before Thee, God, Who Knowest All

Before thee, God, who knowest all,
With grief and shame I prostrate fall.
I see my sins against thee, Lord,
The sins of thought, of deed, and word.
They press me sore: I cry to thee:
O God, be merciful to me!

O Lord, my God, to thee I pray:
O cast me not in wrath away!
Let thy good Spirit ne'er depart,
But let him draw to thee my heart
That truly penitent I be:
O God, be merciful to me!

O Jesus, let thy precious blood
Be to my soul a cleansing flood.
Turn not, O Lord, thy guest away,
But grant that justified I may
Go to my house at peace with thee:
O God, be merciful to me!

Magnus B. Landstad, 1861
Tr. by Carl Doving, 1909
Tune: The Lord's Prayer (Vater Unser), Schumann's Gesangbuch, 1539

Thankful Thursday

Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable--if anything is excellent or praiseworthy--think about such things.~Phil. 4:8

I am thankful for a dear and faithful sister in Christ who points me in that direction and reminds me of the sovereignty of God when I am feeling discouraged and overwhelmed.

What are you thankful for today? Please join with Kim of the Upward Call and many others who are sharing in the thanksgiving to our good God each Thursday of 2010.

Sunday's Hymn: By Grace I'm Saved

By grace I'm saved, grace free and boundless;
My soul, believe and doubt it not.
Why stagger at this word of promise?
Hath Scripture ever falsehood taught?
Nay; then this word must true remain:
By grace thou, too, shalt heav'n obtain.

By grace! None dare lay claim to merit;
Our works and conduct have no worth.
God in his love sent our Redeemer,
Christ Jesus, to this sinful earth;
His death did for our sins atone,
And we are saved by grace alone.

By grace! O, mark this word of promise
When thou art by thy sins oppressed,
When Satan plagues thy troubled conscience,
And when thy heart is seeking rest.
What reason cannot comprehend
God by his grace to thee doth send.

By grace! This ground of faith is certain;
So long as God is true, it stands.
What saints have penned by inspiration,
What in his Word our God commands,
What our whole faith must rest upon,
Is grace alone, grace in his Son.

Christian L. Scheidt, 1742
Tune: Aus Gnaden Soll Ich Selig Werden, Justin H. Knecht, 1796

Thankful Thursday

We returned this past Saturday evening from our two weeks in Northern Wisconsin. It was a wonderful time of rest and relaxation. Decisions consisted of shall we go fishing or just relax by the cabin? What game shall we play tonight? Should I read or crochet? You get the idea. It was just wonderful! And I am so thankful that God's provision for us included this special time together!

We came home to all kinds of catching up at the home front. Some things we expected, others we didn't and they are still not fully dealt with. But I am also thankful to God for His provision of this home to come to, this life that He has given us, and the strength to deal with the issues that awaited us, fully aware that that strength comes from Him.

Each Thursday of this year, I am joining with Kim of The Upward Call and others in praising God for the good gifts He gives us. What has He given you this week? Please share in the thanksgiving.

Sunday's Hymn: Thou Art the Way

Thou art the Way: to thee alone
From sin and death we flee;
And he who would the Father seek
Must seek him, Lord, by thee.

Thou art the Truth: thy Word alone
True wisdom can impart;
Thou only canst inform the mind,
And purify the heart.

Thou art the Life: the rending tomb
Proclaims thy conquering arm,
And those who put their trust in thee
Nor death nor hell shall harm.

Thou art the Way, the Truth, the Life:
Grant us that Way to know,
That Truth to keep, that Life to win,
Whose joys eternal flow.

George W. Doane, 1824
Tune: Arlington, Arr. by Ralph Harrison, 1784
from Thomas A. Arne, 1762