Sunday's Hymn: There is a Green Hill Far Away

There is a green hill far away,
Without a city wall,
Where the dear Lord was crucified,
Who died to save us all.

We may not know, we cannot tell,
What pains he had to bear;
But we believe it was for us
He hung and suffered there.

He died that we might be forgiv'n,
He died to make us good,
That we might go at last to heav'n,
Saved by his precious blood.

There was no other good enough
To pay the price of sin;
He only could unlock the gate
Of heav'n, and let us in.

O dearly, dearly has he loved,
And we must love him too,
And trust in his redeeming blood,
And try his works to do.

Cecil Frances Alexander, 1848
Tune: Meditation, John H. Gower, 1890

Thankful Thursday

Andy gave me the gift of an iPad this past Saturday! Can you believe it? I'm still incredulous myself! I've got a long ways to go on the learning curve but, wow! That about sums it up! Maybe that's too many exclamation marks...no, I don't think so.

And, listen to this. I normally use my laptop to post to my blog but there is a major, multiple day problem going on for some Blogger users including me. But here I am, posting from my iPad, using an app called Blogpress and smiling all the time.

And Charlie is smiling too because he's so much more comfortable sleeping on my lap without my continual effort to reach over him to use the laptop.

So, yes, today I am thankful for this fun, new gadget but even more I am thankful for a loving husband who persisted in telling me how much I would enjoy it. Need I say he was right?

What good gift are you thanking our gracious God for today? Please do share!


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Lemon Poppy Seed Muffins

1 3/4 cup flour
1/2 cup sugar
1 tablespoon each: lemon zest, poppy seeds
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 large egg, beaten
8 oz. lemon yogurt (I used 8 oz. vanilla yogurt plus 1 teaspoon lemon juice)
1/2 cup vegetable oil
1 teaspoon vanilla

Heat oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit. Combine flour, sugar, lemon zest, poppy seeds, baking powder, baking soda and salt in a medium bowl. Make a well in the center of dry ingredients and set aside.

Stir together beaten egg, yogurt, vegetable oil and vanilla in medium bowl. Add liquid ingredients to dry ingredients mixing only until just moistened. Batter will be lumpy.

Spoon batter into greased or paper-lined muffin tins, filling each 2/3 full. Bake until muffins are golden brown, about 18-20 minutes. Cool in pan for 5 minutes.

Mix 1/2 cup confectioner's sugar with 3 teaspoons lemon juice in a small bowl to make a glaze. Remove muffins to cooling rack and drizzle with glaze. Serve warm.

Sunday's Hymn: Teach Me, O Lord, Thy Holy Way

Teach me, O Lord, thy holy way
And give me an obedient mind;
That in thy service I may find
My soul's delight from day to day.

Guide me, O Saviour, with thy hand,
And so control my thoughts and deeds,
That I may tread the path which leads
Right onward to the blessed land.

Help me, O Saviour, here to trace
The sacred footsteps thou hast trod;
And, meekly walking with my God,
To grow in goodness, truth, and grace.

Guard me, O Lord, that I may ne'er
Forsake the right, or do the wrong:
Against temptation make me strong,
And round me spread thy shelt'ring care.

Bless me in ev'ry task, O Lord,
Begun, continued, done for thee:
Fulfil thy perfect work in me;
And thine abounding grace afford.

William T. Matson, 1866
Tune: Penitence, St. Albans Tune Book, 1875

Thankful Thursday

I'm thankful that today was warmer and sunnier than its been but definitely not too hot. I think I'm in that stage of life where my comfortable temperature range varies by only a degree or two either way and today was practically perfect in that regard.

I'm also thankful for my "new" kitchen. I'm thankful for Andy's willingness to help redesign it and then acquire and install the upgrades. Its a joy to work in now!

And I'm thankful for this truth spoken by our God to His people in Isaiah 49:16a:

See, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands

It makes His promise to never leave me nor forsake me penetrate my heart with even deeper meaning.

Kitchen Improvements: Phase IV

Phase IV, the final phase of the kitchen improvement project is now complete! Here is the unveiling of a beautiful stainless steel pot rack hanging over the Boos Block!
What a difference it makes! The pots and pans are so much easier to grab as needed. Now I just have to decide how to utilize the new found cabinet space to its maximum advantage.

The entire kitchen improvement project cost about $2500.00. That's not cheap but its still a fraction of what an actual kitchen remodel would have cost and I know I'm happier with the outcome. My kitchen went from looking nice but not so workable to very comfortable to work in and I really love how it looks too! I am so pleased!

A View of Mt. Hood

As seen through the window of the plane on my recent trip to Oregon

Sunday's Hymn: How Precious is the Book Divine

How precious is the book divine,
By inspiration given,
Bright as a lamp its doctrines shine,
To guide our souls to heav'n.

It sweetly cheers our drooping hearts,
In this dark vale of tears;
Life, light and joy it still imparts
And quells our rising fears.

This lamp, through all the tedious night
Of life, shall guide our way,
Till we behold the clearer light
Of an eternal day.

John Fawcett, 1782
Tune: Belmont, Arr. from William Gardiner, 1812

Sunday's Hymn: Shout, For the Blessed Jesus Reigns

Shout, for the blessed Jesus reigns;
Through distant lands his triumphs spread;
And sinners, freed from endless pains,
Own him their Saviour and their Head.

He calls his chosen from afar,
They all at Zion's gates arrive;
Those who were dead in sin before
By sovereign grace are made alive.

Gentiles and Jews his laws obey;
Nations remote their off'rings bring,
And unconstrained their homage pay
To their exalted God and King.

O may his holy church increase,
His Word and Spirit still prevail,
While angels celebrate his praise,
And saints his growing glories hail.

Loud hallelujahs to the Lamb,
From all below, and all above!
In lofty songs exalt his Name,
In songs as lasting as his love.

Benjamin Beddome, 1769
Tune: Truro, Psalmodia Evengelica, 1789

Thankful Thursday

I'm still here in Oregon thanking God for this very special time that He arranged for me and Mary to be together. I'm also thankful for the graciousness of Andy and Emily and my dear friend, Kim, who have each stepped in to take over various aspects of my day to day work at home so I could be here. And although this trip has been primarily one of "sister time," I've seen so many other precious members of my family and I do thank God for each one of them. I am blessed!

Sunday's Hymn: Who is This That Comes from Edom

Who is this that comes from Edom,
All his raiment stained with blood;
To the slave proclaiming freedom;
Bringing and bestowing good:
Glorious in the garb he wears,
Glorious in the spoils he bears?

'Tis the Saviour, now victorious,
Trav'ling onward in his might;
'Tis the Saviour, O how glorious
To his people is the sight!
Jesus now is strong to save,
Mighty to redeem the slave.

Why that blood his raiment staining?
'Tis the blood of many slain;
Of his foes there's none remaining,
None the contest to maintain:
Fall'n they are, no more to rise,
All their glory prostrate lies.

Mighty Victor, reign for ever,
Wear the crown so dearly won;
Never shall thy people, never
Cease to sing what thou hast done:
Thou hast fought thy people's foes;
Thou wilt heal thy people's woes.

Thomas Kelly, 1809
Tune: Edom, Albert L. Peace, 1885