November of Thanksgiving-Day Thirty

I just got home a few minutes ago and there were snow flurries falling out there! I'm thankful for that because Andy gave me some lovely snowflake jewelry for Christmas last year and I've been anxious to wear it again but felt kind of silly to do so when there was no hint of snow yet. Now I'm going to wear it proudly with my pink sweater! Thank you, Lord, and thank you for the loving husband you gave me too.

Today is the last day to join in Rebecca's November of Thanksgiving. Its been a blessing to me to focus on God's good gifts to me each day and then read about yours as well. Thank you for hosting this annual festival of praise to our gracious God, Rebecca!

November of Thanksgiving-Day Twenty-Nine

I am thankful for the Holy Spirit because:

The mind of sinful man is death, but the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace.~Romans 8:6

Tomorrow is the last day to join in the November of Thanksgiving at Rebecca Writes. Please do!

November of Thanksgiving-Day Twenty-Eighth

What temperature constitutes warmth outside is decidedly relative to the season. Today it is sunny and 44 degrees F. and for late November, that's warm! So this afternoon, I'm thanking God for the blessing of sunshine and warmth. It enhanced a lovely walk with Charlie.

Only two more days of Rebecca's November of Thanksgiving! Please join in the praising of our good God for the gifts He gives us.

Sunday's Hymn: O Come, O Come, Emmanuel

O come, O come, Emmanuel,
And ransom captive Israel,
That mourns in lonely exile here,
Until the Son of God appear.

Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel.

O come, O come, thou Lord of might,
Who to thy tribes, on Sinai's height,
In ancient times didst give the law
In cloud and majesty and awe.

O come, thou Rod of Jesse, free
Thine own from Satan's tyranny;
From depths of hell thy people save,
And give them victory o'er the grave.

O come, thou Dayspring from on high
And cheer us by thy drawing nigh;
Disperse the gloomy clouds of night,
And death's dark shadows put to flight.

O come, thou Key of David, come
And open wide our heav'nly home;
Make safe the way that leads on high,
And close the path to misery.

Latin antiphone, 12th century. Latin hymn, 1710
Tr. by John Mason Neale, 1851
Tune: Veni Emmanuel, Ancient plain song, 13th century
Adapted by Thomas Helmore, 1856

November of Thanksgiving-Day Twenty-Seven

Today I am thankful that I can:

Trust in the LORD forever,
for the LORD, the LORD himself, is the Rock eternal.~Isaiah 26:4

Each day of November, Rebecca is gathering our grateful thoughts that honor and glorify our gracious God. Won't you join in the thanksgiving?

November of Thanksgiving-Day Twenty-Six

What a nice day I've had with Emily today! Sadly, Andy was at work, but Emily and I hung out and watched some Masterchef on hulu this morning. We waited until the Black Friday rush was dying down and slipped out to get a few things that we wanted to shop for together this afternoon. So I am thankful for Emily, a loving daughter who is fun to be with and also willing to help when needed. (She did her share of the cooking and clean-up yesterday too!)

What are you thankful for today? Only a few more days left to share in Rebecca's November of Thanksgiving. Please do!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Psalm 100

A psalm. For giving grateful praise.

¹ Shout for joy to the LORD, all the earth.
² Worship the LORD with gladness;
come before him with joyful songs.
³ Know that the LORD is God.
It is he who made us, and we are his;
we are his people, the sheep of his pasture.

⁴ Enter his gates with thanksgiving
and his courts with praise;
give thanks to him and praise his name.
⁵ For the LORD is good and his love endures forever;
his faithfulness continues through all generations.

November of Thanksgiving-Day Twenty-Four

I'm anticipating tomorrow's celebration with thankfulness for the time that Andy, Emily, Charlie and I will have to relax together and reflect on God's goodness to us. Well, okay, Charlie won't be doing much of that reflection but he'll enjoy the being together part. And his presence is one more reminder of God's lavish provisions for us...not only every thing we need but so much more besides! What a great God we have!

Each day of this month, there is a gathering of thankfulness going on over at Rebecca's. Won't you join in?

November of Thanksgiving-Day Twenty-Three

Yesterday was rainy; in fact, we even had a big thunderstorm! But the temperature was in the lower 60's...Fahrenheit, that is...and, except for the stormy period, it really wasn't too unpleasant out there. Today is sharply colder, topping out at 32 degrees. And its windy; the biting, blustery kind of wind. I was so thankful to come home from my Bible study commitment for today and the few errands I had on the way home to a warm, snug cottage. So today, I'm thanking God for central heat and automatic thermostats. I'm thanking Him that I don't have to do a thing when I get home to warm it up in here...no starting a fire, no shoveling coal, no nothing like what people had to do to warm their homes in the not so distant past or even now in other parts of the world. And I don't have to worry about my Charlie getting cold while I'm gone either!

Each day of November, Rebecca is gathering our thought of gratitude to our gracious God. Won't you join in?

Quotable

Forty is the old age of youth; fifty is the youth of old age.--VICTOR HUGO

November of Thanksgiving-Day Twenty-Two

I'm especially thankful for a very good friend who listens when I need her to. I do thank God for her.

What are you thanking Him for today? Please share over at Rebecca's November of Thanksgiving.

November of Thanksgiving-Day Twenty-One

Today I am thankful for an excellent sermon on Jonah 3 which followed a very thought-provoking Sunday School on the same subject. Actually, I am very thankful for all of the teachings on Jonah that we as a church have been blessed by this month.

Rebecca is hosting her annual November of Thanksgiving. Won't you share your thankfulness today?

Sunday's Hymn: How Good it is to Thank the Lord

How good it is to thank the Lord,
And praise to thee, Most High, accord,
To show thy love with morning light,
And tell thy faithfulness each night;
Yea, good it is thy praise to sing,
And all our sweetest music bring.

O Lord, with joy my heart expands
Before the wonders of thy hands;
Great works, Jehovah, thou hast wrought,
Exceeding deep thine ev'ry thought;
A foolish man knows not their worth,
Nor he whose mind is of the earth.

When as the grass the wicked grow,
When sinners flourish here below,
Then is there endless ruin nigh,
But thou, O Lord, art throned on high;
Thy foes shall fall before thy might,
The wicked shall be put to flight.

The righteous man shall flourish well,
And in the house of God shall dwell;
He shall be like a goodly tree,
And all his life shall fruitful be;
For righteous is the Lord and just,
He is my Rock, in him I trust.

From Psalm 92:1-9, 12-15
The Psalter, 1912
Tune: St. Petersburg, Dimitri Bortniansky, 1752-1825

November of Thanksgiving-Day Twenty

Right now, I am very thankful to be able to say that we are finished raking leaves in our yard! They finally all came down so we could finish the job. I'm also thankful that Andy and I are able to do the work of raking and bagging all those leaves. Praise God!

This November, as usual, Rebecca is hosting her annual November of Thanksgiving. Won't you join us in thanking God for His many blessings?

November of Thanksgiving-Day Nineteen

Charlie had a big health check-up today and he got the all clear on his bladder stone situation and his heart situation! That's great news for us who love him! So I'm thankful today for Charlie and God's protection of his health. I'm thankful for every moment of the 15 years (plus) that Charlie has been a part of our family.

How about you? What are you thanking God for today? Please share with us at Rebecca's November of Thanksgiving.

November of Thanksgiving-Day Eighteen

Its Thursday, the day for my dear friends Kim and Carol and me to gather and share in the study of the book of Hebrews. We're in our fourth year of this study now and I thank God for each and every time we've gathered and all He's taught me through it. Its been a wonderful study!

Oh, and I thank Him for Carol and Kim too! Studying His Word together has brought us close in a way no other pursuit ever can. Thank you, Lord.

What are you thanking Him for today? Please share over at Rebecca's!

November of Thanksgiving-Day Seventeen

We've sung A Mighty Fortress is Our God both yesterday and today in my Isaiah Bible study and its still playing in my mind. I love the rousing tune of it but even more, I love the words. I love the truths Martin Luther states with no equivocation; that our God is a mighty fortress to us, that Christ Jesus is on the side of His own, and that He will fell the prince of darkness, our ancient foe, with one little word. There is such vast comfort in this hymn for the people of God because its true that we can never accomplish that victory in our own striving.

But this is not the only hymn I love. There are so many, many hymns that speak of the precious truths of our faith in ways that stir my soul to thanksgiving; so for all of them and the men and women that wrote them, I am giving thanks today.

What thankful thoughts are on your mind today? Please share with us all at Rebecca's November of Thanksgiving.

November of Thanksgiving-Day Sixteen

For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.~Ephesians 2:10

I am thankful for the work God gives me to do...caring for my family and home, the women He gives me to shepherd, my ministry of availability to those who cross my path, serving at my church. But in all areas of my life the most important task He gives me is to bring the light of Christ, the life-giving light of Christ to all. What a privilege that is!

Rebecca is holding her annual November of Thanksgiving. Won't you join in?

November of Thanksgiving-Day Fifteen

I've been thinking while I work around the cottage this morning and what I'm thinking is just exactly how thankful I am for my washer and dryer. I'm thankful that I can just put the clothes in the washer, add the detergent and walk away knowing the clothes will be clean when I move them over to the dryer about 40 minutes later. Then, in about 40 more minutes, I can take them out of the dryer, fold or hang them and viola! I am finished with laundry! I can only imagine the backbreaking work that previous generations of women endured to clean the family's clothing...and that some women in the world still endure. I am blessed.

What blessing are you thanking God for today? Do tell and share over at Rebecca's November of Thanksgiving!

November of Thanksgiving-Day Fourteen

Today I've been thanking God for good friends, brothers and sisters in Christ, and the way we are able to encourage each other in faith through the struggles, big and small, that we face in our daily lives. What a precious gift is the spirit of unity through Christ that comes with the most precious gift of faith in Him! Thank you, God!

Each day of November, Rebecca invites us to share our thanksgiving thoughts. Its been such a blessing to me to focus on the good gifts that God gives us by reading all of your thoughts as well as posting my own. Don't stop now! Please!

Sunday's Hymn: Safe in the Arms of Jesus

Safe in the arms of Jesus,
Safe on his gentle breast,
There by his love o'ershaded,
Sweetly my soul shall rest.
Hark! 'tis the voice of angels,
Borne in a song to me,
Over the fields of glory,
Over the jasper sea.

Safe in the arms of Jesus,
Safe on his gentle breast,
There by his love o'ershaded,
Sweetly my soul shall rest.

Safe in the arms of Jesus,
Safe from corroding care,
Safe from the world's temptations,
Sin cannot harm me there.
Free from the blight of sorrow,
Free from my doubts and fears,
Only a few more trials,
Only a few more tears.

Jesus, my heart's dear Refuge,
Jesus has died for me;
Firm on the Rock of Ages
Ever my trust shall be.
Here let me wait with patience,
Wait till the night is o'er,
Wait till I see the morning
Break on the golden shore.

Fanny J. Crosby, 1870
Tune: Safe in the Arms of Jesus, William H. Doane, 1870

November of Thanksgiving-Day Thirteen

Right now, its just about 50 degrees F. outside and raining lightly. But this morning when Andy and I got up, it was several degrees warmer and just cloudy, although you could see what was coming. We decided to use the time before it did come to work on the continual fall clean-up. Andy decided on cleaning the gutters and I set out to trim back the roses in preparation for blowing their protective winter robes of leaves around them. I have 12 rose bushes whose blooms are a very deep pink that sometimes steps over into red. They are gorgeous! And if I dead-head them regularly (which I am pretty good about doing), they keep producing those outrageously beautiful flowers all the way from early June well into November. So as I pruned them back, I thanked God for those magnificent roses...and every beautiful flower in my yard, all sleeping now, but ready to bloom again when God turns the seasons to meet their needs. And I'm thankful too, that God turns the seasons of my life to meet my needs, not my wants, giving me times to rest, times of pruning and dead-heading, and times of blossoming.

Rebecca is gathering our thankful thoughts each day of this November. Please join in!

November of Thanksgiving-Day Twelve

I'm thankful for the ease and relative inexpense with which I can keep in touch with extended family members. Oh, and I'm thankful for those family members too...each one of them!

What are you thanking God for today? Please share your thankful thoughts at Rebecca's Thanksgiving Celebration and bless us all in our praise to our gracious God.

I've Been Tagged....

twice!! Both Rosemary and Kim from Hiraeth have tagged yours truly for the Crazy Eights meme. Here's how it goes:

Answer eight questions posed by the person who tagged you, come up with eight more questions and tag eight more people to answer your questions.

Does that make it the Crazy Sixteens Meme for me? Well, I'll answer the sixteen questions but I'm not going to tag anyone. If you want to do the meme, just pick any of these 16 questions and have at it! I like to rebel against the rules every now and then. Don't you?

Rosemary's Questions:

1. What is your earliest childhood memory? Pushing my sister, Mary, around the living room in a porta-crib.

2. Do you usually wear an apron when you cook or clean your home? I wear an apron when I cook but not when I clean.

3. With what do you top your hot cocoa: marshmallows, marshmallow crème, whipped cream, nothing at all? Nothing at all. But I do sometimes swirl a candy cane around in it to get a bit of peppermint going.

4. Will you have a fresh or artificial Christmas tree this year? Artificial.

5. Colored lights or clear? Clear, right now. But I do vacillate on this one.

6. Tell us about your favorite piece of furniture in your home. My bed because I love finally reclining there at the end of each busy day to read a few pages and gain the restoration that sleep gives.

7. If you could spend six months anywhere in the world, expenses paid, where would you choose to go and what would you be doing? Ireland and I'd just soak up living there.

8. If you were a tree, what kind of tree would you be? Just kidding. Couldn’t resist throwing that in…Pink Dogwood. I love pink!

9. If you were given a million dollars, tax free, what would you do with it? Find a way to glorify God with it.

Kim's Questions:

1. Did you have a favorite Aunt or Uncle growing up and if so, what made them so special to you? My Aunt Agnes. She's still my favorite Aunt because we laugh together and she thinks I am someone important.

2. Carpet or hardwood floors; what is your preference? Hardwood.

3. Do you remember your dreams upon awaking? Sometimes.

4. How many different churches have you attended in the past decade? Three.

5. Do you prefer to do your shopping in stores or online? Online. Except for shoes.

6. Do you label and date the back of family photos? No. I always mean to, but I don't.

7. What is your least favorite household task? Dusting. Its just too tedious.

8. Do you stroll the aisles in the library for interesting books to bring home or search the online catalog to reserve the specific book you are looking for? Both. But I must say that I love strolling the aisles of the library for interesting books and some of the best I've ever read I discovered that way!

November of Thanksgiving-Day Eleven

I'm so thankful for the robe of righteousness with which I'm covered by Christ through His atoning work so that my sins are completely covered before my Heavenly Father.

I delight greatly in the LORD;
my soul rejoices in my God.
For he has clothed me with garments of salvation
and arrayed me in a robe of his righteousness,
as a bridegroom adorns his head like a priest,
and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.~Isaiah 61:10

I'm celebrating Thanksgiving every day this month and sharing my thanks in Rebecca's November of Thanksgiving. Please join in!

November of Thanksgiving-Day Ten

I'm thankful for an unplanned afternoon spent with my dear daughter, Emily, and that she still wants me to cut her hair. I consider that a high compliment.

I'm also thankful for TWO lovely walks with my sweet Charlie in the warm, November sunshine today. At fifteen years old, he doesn't walk as far or as fast as he used to but he still loves his walks!

What are you thankful for today? Please share in Rebecca's November of Thanksgiving. Its a blessing to praise God together for His good gifts to us.

November of Thanksgiving-Day Nine

This is part of the passage that was covered today in my study of Isaiah:

In that day you will say:

“I will praise you, LORD.
Although you were angry with me,
your anger has turned away
and you have comforted me.
Surely God is my salvation;
I will trust and not be afraid.
The LORD, the LORD himself, is my strength and my song;
he has become my salvation.”
With joy you will draw water
from the wells of salvation.~Isaiah 12:1-3

What reasons to give praise to our Mighty God! In this day, I sing this song with thanksgiving and joy!

Blessings shared are blessings increased. Please share in Rebecca's November of Thanksgiving and bless us all.

November of Thanksgiving-Day Eight

As I've worked and meditated on my study of Isaiah today, I am thankful:

For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account.~Hebrews 4:12-13

Rebecca is hosting a November of Thanksgiving gathering at her place. Please come and share your thanks too!

November of Thanksgiving-Day Seven

I am thankful that God created dogs. Anyone who has read my blog much at all knows that I am crazy about our little Charlie. But the truth is I like most dogs. Last night, Andy and I took our neighbor's dog for a walk while they went to a wedding and I'm still thinking about how much fun we had! Cody is a yellow lab, about as far from our little Maltese as you can get. Cody was happy to see us as we opened his door and ready to go as soon as we said walk. And go he did! He's very well trained and we took him the same route as we walk with Charlie but we were home again in half the time! And breathless too! Once returned to his house, we fed Cody and were ready to go home but Cody made it clear that he wanted us to stay a while and visit with him. I love that about dogs! If you like them, they like you and they are not shy to show it. Uncomplicated affection. What's not to like about that!

What are you thankful for today? Please join in the November of Thanksgiving festivities going on over at Rebecca's.

Sunday's Hymn: Peace, Perfect Peace

Peace, perfect peace, in this dark world of sin?
The blood of Jesus whispers peace within.

Peace, perfect peace, by thronging duties pressed?
To do the will of Jesus, this is rest.

Peace, perfect peace, with sorrows surging round?
On Jesus' bosom naught but calm is found.

Peace, perfect peace, with loved ones far away?
In Jesus' keeping we are safe and they.

Peace, perfect peace, our future all unknown?
Jesus we know, and he is on the throne.

Peace, perfect peace, death shad'wing us and ours?
Jesus has vanquished death and all its powers.

It is enough: earth's struggles soon shall cease,
And Jesus call us to heav'n's perfect peace.

Edward H. Bickersteth, 1875
Tune: Pax Tecum, Alt. from George T. Caldbeck by Charles J. Vincent, 1876

November of Thanksgiving-Day Six

I love spending time with my family! It doesn't matter if we're working together or playing together or just relaxing together. I just love the feeling of togetherness. Today we got in two of the three and by my calculations, that's a good day! We started out by relaxing over tea/coffee and bagels together while we waited for the day to warm up a bit. Then we switched to leaf raking and other yard work...still together. And the plan for the evening is to watch Dr. Who on DVD together over more tea and a snack. In my book, it doesn't get much better than this! Thank you, God, for a lovely day with my family!

Rebecca is hosting a whole month of Thanksgiving over at her place. Won't you join in the celebration?

November of Thanksgiving-Day Five

I've been out and about with various commitments and errands for most of today and that's not the way I like to spend my days! I am your basic garden variety homebody so I sighed a huge sigh of relief when I backed in the garage and closed the door about 2:30 this afternoon. Yes, I am very thankful for my home...every day but I'm especially appreciative of it this day. And its such a sweet, comfy home too! That's an extra blessing that I'm thanking God for today.

What are you thanking Him for right now? Blessings shared reflect even more glory to our gracious God so please share yours over at Rebecca Writes.

By Popular Request...

Barbequed Spoonburgers!

4 tablespoons oil
1 1/2 lbs. ground beef
1/2 cup chopped onions
half of a green pepper, diced
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
1/2 cup ketchup
1 clove garlic, minced
1 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup water
1/8 teaspoon pepper
1/2 teaspoon paprika
1 6 oz. can tomato paste
2 tablespoons vinegar
2 teaspoons brown sugar
1 teaspoon dry mustard

Brown beef in oil in fry pan. Drain. Saute onions and green peppers. Combine all ingredients in slow cooker. Cook on low 6-8 hours or high 3-4 hours. Serve on buns.

So you see spoonburgers are basically Sloppy Joe's with a bit of BBQ tang. I hope your families love them as much as mine!

November of Thanksgiving-Day Four

This afternoon, I'm thankful for leftovers. I was thinking that I might save them for tomorrow when I might be even more tired but I decided to go with them for dinner tonight. Its barbequed spoonburgers, a family favorite and no one will be disappointed. Least of all, me!

What are you thankful for today? Please share in Rebecca's November of Thanksgiving.

November of Thanksgiving-Day Three

I am thankful for God's grace to me:

This righteousness is given through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference between Jew and Gentile, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.~Romans 3:22-24

What are you thanking our gracious God for this day? Each day in the month of November, Rebecca is gathering our thankful posts in a celebration of Thanksgiving. Please join in!

November of Thanksgiving-Day Two

On this Election Day, I am thankful that:

The king's heart (and the senator's and the judge's and the governor's and the sheriff's) is in the hand of the Lord; He directs it like a watercourse wherever He pleases.~Proverbs 21:1

Rebecca invites us to join with her in giving thanks to our good God each day of this November of Thanksgiving. Please do!

November of Thanksgiving-Day One

This weekend has been a whirlwind of things to give thanks for! As I sit here at my computer, I hardly know where to begin. Here are a few of my thankful thoughts:

• We finally found tenants for our little rental home! We had been praying that God would allow us to use that house to bless someone else as well as the blessing that it is to us to have it rented and occupied. The details were worked out Saturday morning, the lease was signed Saturday afternoon and our new tenants began moving in on Saturday evening. Praise God for His provisions all around in this situation!
• Yesterday we had the joy of attending a performance by our daughter, Emily, and her fellow musicians in their chamber ensemble. Praise God for the gift of music and that He gave it to Emily and her friends!
• We attended that performance and enjoyed the afternoon with some good friends including Kim from Hiraeth and her family. Praise God for the gift of friendship!

Its a Thanksgiving Festival at Rebecca Writes! Please join in!

A Tradition

Thanksgiving is my very favorite holiday and there is a tradition associated with it that I've been especially blessed by participating in for the last couple of years. Its the November of Thanksgiving postings hosted by Rebecca and she always invites abundant participation. Here are the ways we can join in the festivities.

• Mention something you’re thankful for in the comments of her posts. She’ll include your comment in one of her thanksgiving posts.
• Email her to tell her what you’re thankful for and she’ll include it in a post.
• Post your thankful thought(s) on your own blog, send her the link(s), and she’ll link to your post(s). If you plan to post something daily during the month, let her know that, too. That way you won’t need to send her your daily links.

I'm excited to know just how our good God is blessing you and to share the ways He blesses me! Happy Thanksgiving!