Sunday's Hymn: Here From the World We Turn

Here from the world we turn, Jesus to seek;
Here may his loving voice tenderly speak!
Jesus, our dearest Friend, while at thy feet we bend,
O let thy smile descend! 'Tis thee we seek.

Come, Holy Comforter, Presence Divine,
Now in our longing hearts graciously shine;
O for thy mighty pow'r! O for a blessed show'r,
Filling this hallowed hour with joy divine!

Saviour, thy work revive: here may we see
Those who are dead in sin quickened by thee;
Come to our hearts tonight, make ev'ry burden light;
Cheer thou our waiting sight; we long for thee.

Fanny J. Crosby, 1876
Tune: Cambria, Welsh hymn melody, from the Bristol Tune Book, 1876

Kitchen Improvements: Phase II

Phase II of the kitchen improvements had to be a way to increase counter top workspace. We had a small kitchen cart/island which helped some. You can see it in my Kitchen Improvements: Phase I post, but it simply wasn't big enough. And we had plenty of floor space for something bigger.

First, we measured and tried some different pieces of furniture in the spot to determine the appropriate dimensions. Then we did lots of research, mostly online, before deciding on a beautiful butcher block from the John Boos company. They have lots of different styles and sizes but we chose a Gathering Block III. And upon discovering through the very helpful Norbert at the factory store that we could save 40% if we went down to pick it up in Effingham, IL, which is about 5 and a half hours away, we decided that a weekend road trip was just the ticket.

Now, the Gathering Block III measures 24 X 48 inches and we have a Honda Ridgeline pick-up with a bed that is bigger than that so we figured it would be a piece of cake. We even thought the end gate would close and the tonneau cover would fasten over it!! Wrong!!!! It was kind of scary watching the forklift descend on the truck and I was too shocky to think of a picture at the factory but here it is in the pickup in the driveway.

We were a little concerned about the two of us getting it out of there when we got home but we managed by opening the box and bringing in the well-packed pieces one at a time.

Andy did have to get our gracious neighbor to help him bring in the 4 inch thick top though. I just could not manage an end of that!

Then it was on to assembling it which Andy did with just a little help from me and none from Charlie.
Then we kind of rolled it upright and slid it into place before putting in the basket drawers.

It was an adventure but we're very, very pleased with the results! Isn't it a beauty!

Thankful Thursday

Today I'm thankful for:

• A dear friend who listens
• A loving husband
• Sunshine
• Daffodil leaves poking up
• Progress on the kitchen project (separate blog post coming soon)
  
• But most of all, I'm thankful for God's sovereignty in all situations

Sunday's Hymn: Who Hath Believed

Who hath believed after hearing the message,
To whom is the arm of the Lord revealed?
He shall grow up as a plant new and tender,
And as a root out of a barren field.

He was wounded for our transgressions,
He was bruised for our iniquities;
The chastisement of our peace was upon him,
And with his stripes we are healed.

He was despised and by all men rejected,
Weighted with sorrows, acquainted with grief;
Smitten, afflicted, by God was forsaken,
He suffered alone; no one could bring relief.

Like as a lamb he was brought to the slaughter,
Speechless as sheep to the shearers was led;
He was cut off from the land of the living,
For our transgressions on Calvary bled.

From Isaiah 53:1-8
Richard J. Oliver
Tune: He Was Wounded for Our Transgressions, Richard J. Oliver

Thankful....

...Friday. Oops. Thankful Thursday flitted into my mind a couple of times yesterday but then I'd get busy again and the thought was gone. Not that I didn't have things to be thankful for, believe me. For one thing, it was a lovely sunny morning and Charlie and I had a delightful walk.

And then there was this lovely sight outside my kitchen window:
I know I've posted them other years but I just never can resist taking a new picture of these every spring.

And since it is Friday now, I'm going to tell you how thankful I am that Andy is working from home today! He normally works from home one day a week but that hasn't happened for the last few months because of big projects at work that necessitated his being present on site. So its nice to have him back with us.

Several of my thankful blogging friends are joining in praising God for His good gifts to us each Thursday. Please feel free to join us!

Quotable

The God of the law and the God of the Gospel is the same God--unchanged, unchangeable. His mercy beams forth more gloriously in the Gospel than in the law, but His holiness is not obscured by the effulgence of His mercy. No, the displeasure of God against sin is more strongly marked in the sacrifice of His Son, than in all the hecatombs of victims which bled on the Jewish altars; and we may rest assured, that "if he who despised Moses' law died without mercy, he will be accounted worthy of much sorer punishment, who treads under foot the Son of God, treats as unclean the sanctifying blood of the covenant, and does despite to the Spirit of grace." The Gospel despiser, the impenitent apostate, will find that there is no wrath like the wrath of contemned, abused mercy, and that it is indeed "a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God." The belief of the infinitely energetic holiness of God, manifesting itself both in the sufferings of Christ and in the peculiarly sore punishment of the despiser and neglecter of the Gospel, is admirably fitted to produce that "which is in perfect harmony with that grateful love which arises from the faith of the truth as it is in Jesus.~John Brown, Hebrews, commentary on Hebrews 12:28-29

Sunday's Hymn: Arm of the Lord, Awake, Awake!

Arm of the Lord, awake, awake!
Put on thy strength, the nations shake,
And let the world, adoring, see
Triumphs of mercy wrought by thee.

Say to the heathen from thy throne:
"I am Jehovah, God alone."
Thy voice their idols shall confound,
And cast their altars to the ground.

Let Zion's time of favor come;
O bring the tribes of Israel home;
And let our wond'ring eyes behold
Gentile and Jews in Jesus' fold.

Almighty God, thy grace proclaim
In ev'ry clime of every name;
Let adverse pow'rs before thee fall,
And crown the Saviour Lord of all.

William Shrubsole, 1795
Tune: Truro, Psalmodia Evangelica, 1789

Thankful Thursday

I'm thankful for a bit of sunshine this afternoon in which to take Charlie for a short walk. It was a short one because the temperature was only 38 degrees F. and there was a little breeze to make it feel even cooler. Charlie is 15 now and old guys get cold in that kind of weather. But it was nice to get out in the fresh air for a quick trip around the block.

I'm even more thankful for this exhilarating reminder from our Hebrews passage for this week:

You have come to Mount Zion, to the heavenly Jerusalem, the city of the living God. You have come to thousands upon thousands of angels in joyful assembly, to the church of the firstborn, whose names are written in heaven. You have come to God, the judge of all men, to the spirits of righteous men made perfect, to Jesus the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel.~Hebrews 12:22-24

I'm joining with Kim of The Upward Call and many others in posting my thanksgiving to God each Thursday of 2011. Here's your invitation to join in!

Sunday's Hymn: Awake, My Soul

Awake, my soul, stretch ev'ry nerve,
And press with vigor on;
A heav'nly race demands thy zeal,
And an immortal crown.

A cloud of witnesses around
Hold thee in full survey;
Forget the steps already trod,
And onward urge thy way.

'Tis God's all-animating voice
That calls thee from on high;
'Tis his own hand presents the prize
To thine aspiring eye.

That prize with peerless glories bright,
Which shall new lustre boast,
When victors' wreaths and monarch's gems
Shall blend in common dust.

Blest Saviour, introduced by thee,
Have I my race begun;
And, crowned with vict'ry, at thy feet
I'll lay my honors down.

Philip Doddridge, 1755
Tune: Christmas, George Frederick Handel, 1728

Thankful Thursday

I'm thankful that its March. I do like all of the seasons but I am very ready for winter to be over and spring to arrive. That happens on Sunday, March 20th this year. At least, that's what the calendar says and I'm ready for warmer days, robins and daffodils!

I'm also thankful for leftovers for dinner tonight.

And my warm, soft Charlie sleeping in my lap.

And that Andy will be home in less than an hour.

I am thankful.