Sunday's Hymn: Away in a Manger

Away in a manger,
No crib for a bed,
The little Lord Jesus
Laid down his sweet head;
The stars in the sky
Looked down where he lay,
The little Lord Jesus,
Asleep on the hay.

The cattle are lowing,
The Baby awakes,
But little Lord Jesus
No crying he makes;
I love thee, Lord Jesus!
Look down from the sky,
And stay by my cradle,
Till morning is nigh.

Be near me, Lord Jesus,
I ask thee to stay
Close by me forever,
And love me, I pray;
Bless all the dear children
In thy tender care,
And fit us for heaven,
To live with thee there.

Anonymous, c. 1884, 1892

Well, its another Thursday and time to share my thanksgivings of the week.  But first I feel I must make some sort of explanation for my neglect of keeping up my blog of late.  It kind of goes hand in hand with giving thanks.  More than kind of, actually.  I am free now to share our praise and thanksgiving to God for His answer to our longstanding prayer for a special man to love and cherish our daughter, Emily.  Once God revealed His work in Emily's life, things started happening and so it is with great joy that we anticipate the marriage of Emily to Glenn on January 15th.

That praise and thanksgiving is only overshadowed by our humble thanksgiving as we prepare to celebrate the birth of God's only Son, our Savior Jesus Christ, at this time of year.  What joy could possibly compare with that!!  In answer to the question "Are you ready for Christmas?" I say a resounding "Yes and Amen!"

Sunday's Hymn: Come, Thou Long Expected Jesus

Come thou long expected Jesus,
Born to set thy people free;
From our fears and sins release us;
Let us find our rest in thee.
Israel's Strength and Consolation,
Hope of all the earth thou art;
Dear Desire of ev'ry nation,
Joy of ev'ry longing heart.

Born thy people to deliver,
Born a child, and yet a King,
Born to reign in us forever,
Now thy gracious kingdom bring,
By thine own eternal Spirit
Rule in all our hearts alone;
By thine all sufficient merit
Raise us to thy glorious throne.

Charles Wesley, 1744

Thankfulness

For the second Thursday in a row, I have gotten to stay home all day!  Thank you, God, for that and for everything I was able to accomplish because of it!

I am thankful that I was able to get Murphy groomed and he looks pretty sharp, if I say so myself.  I am thankful that he is pretty cooperative with the grooming process too.

The rest of the tasks were more mundane...paying bills, laundry, changing sheets...but I am thankful to get them done too.

And I am thankful for leftovers tonight!  Yay!

I am also thankful for the time to think as I worked.  I've been thinking about lessons learned through the study of Genesis and thank God for the conviction to change some attitudes in my life.

Thankfulness

I am so thankful for a whole day at home and all the work I was able to accomplish today!  Its been an incredibly busy fall and so much has fallen behind here at the cottage.  I am also thankful for the health to be able to do all that work!

It was a beautiful sunny day and Murphy and I did squeeze in a noontime walk out there.  I am thankful for that too!

And I am thankful for the nifty bluetooth headset Andy gave me for my cell phone.  I never would have guessed how much I would enjoy that little thing!  What a thoughtful husband to do that guessing and go out and get one for me!

Thanksgiving

Now thank we all our God
With heart and hands and voices,
Who wondrous things hath done,
In whom His world rejoices;
Who, from our mother's arms,
Hath blessed us on our way
With countless gifts of love,
And still is ours today.

O may this bounteous God
Through all our life be near us,
With ever joyful hearts
And blessed peace to cheer us;
And keep us in His grace
And guide us when perplexed,
And free us from all ills
In this world and the next.

All praise and thanks to God
The Father now be given,
The Son, and Him who reigns
With them in highest heaven,
The one eternal God
Whom earth and heav'n adore;
For thus it was, is now,
And shall be evermore.

Martin Rinkart, 1636
Trans. by Catherine Winkworth, 1858

Sunday's Hymn: Great is Thy Faithfulness

"Great is thy faithfulness," O God my Father
There is no shadow of turning with thee;
Thou changest not, thy compassions, they fade not;
As thou hast been thou forever wilt be.

Refrain:
"Great is thy faithfulness! Great is thy faithfulness!"
Morning by morning new mercies I see:
All I have needed thy hand hath provided
"Great is thy faithfulness," Lord unto me!

Summer and winter, and springtime and harvest,
Sun, moon and stars in thy courses above,
Join with all nature in manifold witness
To thy great faithfulness, mercy and love.

Refrain:

Pardon for sin and a peace that endureth,
Thine own dear presence to cheer and to guide;
Strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow,
Blessings all mine, with ten thousand beside!

Refrain:

Thomas O. Chisholm
Tune: Faithfulness, William M. Runyan

Thankfulness

I was so busy yesterday that I totally forgot about posting my thankfulness for the week but I am surely thankful for all I accomplished yesterday.  I defrosted the basement freezer, always a bigger job than I think it is going to be.  Then I pruned back the roses in preparation for putting them to bed for the winter and did some other yard work while I was out there.  And I was so very thankful for a mild day to do that outside work!  It was a pleasant, sunny 50 degrees!

Then Murphy and I got in a lovely walk with only a light coat for me and none for him.  Such a lovely day!

After that it was back inside for some kitchen work.  I boiled a chicken carcass for soup and put it in the freezer to have handy for a warming meal on a busy day when I don't know what to make for dinner.  Yesterday, I already had a plan for dinner so now I am one up on that repeating job!

I can't help but mention my thankfulness for time spent on TWO occasions with TWO dear sisters in Christ.  What a blessing they both are to me and how encouraging in my walk of faith!  I thank God for both of them

Sunday's Hymn: O Come, Let Us Sing to the Lord

O come, let us sing to the Lord,
To Him our voices raise;
With joyful noise let us the Rock
Of our salvation praise.

Let us before His presence come
With praise, and thankful voice;
Let us sing psalms to Him with grace,
And make a joyful noise.

For God's a great God, and great King;
Above all gods He is,
The depths of earth are in His hand;
The heights of hills are His.

To Him the spacious sea belongs,
For He the same did make;
The dry land also from His hands
Its form at first did take.

O come, and let us worship Him;
Let us bow down withal,
And on our knees before the Lord,
Our Maker, let us fall.

Psalm 95:1-6
Scottish Psalter, 1650
Tune: Irish, Hymns and Sacred Poems, Dublin, 1749

Thankful Thursday

This fall has been especially busy for me so I was thankful to have a quiet day at home today. Enhanced by a cup of tea with a friend who stopped by, it felt like just what I needed.

I am also thankful that I am sleeping well lately. That is not always the case and especially during time change weeks so I am grateful for the restorative power of sleep.

But most of all, I am thankful for God's mercy and grace to me, a sinner before Him. I am thankful for the safety of the ark that is provided for believers in Jesus Christ.


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Thankfulness

Well, its been another absence of longer than I planned but here I am.  Andy had still yet a few more days of vacation to use so we had some more days together doing things like going to Starbucks and talking for a couple of hours and long walks with Murphy.  There is a lot to be thankful for in that!

I am also so very thankful for answered prayer!  There is finally a special somebody in Emily's life!  Now we are praying for God's hand on that relationship, giving both of them His wisdom and protection.

A friend who listens with her heart as well as her ears has been a special blessing to me this week.  I thought I was too busy to make time for lunch with her today but God, and my encouraging husband, knew better.

Thank you, Lord.

Sunday's Hymn: From All that Dwell Below the Skies

From all that dwell below the skies
Let the Creator's praise arise:
Alleluia! Alleluia!
Let the Redeemer's Name be sung
Through every land, by every tongue.
Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!

Eternal are thy mercies, Lord;
Eternal truth attends thy Word:
Alleluia! Alleluia!
Thy praise shall sound from shore to shore,
Till suns shall rise and set no more.
Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!

From Psalm 117
Isaac Watts, 1719
Tune: Lasst Uns Erfreuen, Giestliche Kirchengesang, Cologne, 1623


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Thankfulness

Its been two weeks since my last posting of Thankfulness.  Andy took last week off and we accomplished quite a few tasks around the cottage in preparation for colder weather.  I am thankful to have then finished; thankful for the good health to do that work.

I am also thankful for the time spent together, Andy and I, last week.  We worked together some of the time and also spent some time just relaxing over tea together.  It was fun.

There are still lots of leaves left in the trees and I am surprised and pleased that this has been a beautiful fall despite our lack of rainfall in the midwest.  I thank God for the majesty of His creation.

Our study in Genesis this past week has focused on the fourth chapter, story of Cain and Abel, and leaves me so very grateful for God's loving mercy to us sinful people.  Surely we are a blessed people!

Sunday's Hymn: Christ For the World We Sing

Christ for the world we sing;
The world to Christ we bring
With loving zeal;
The poor and them that mourn,
The faint and overborne,
Sinsick and sorrowworn,
Whom Christ doth heal.

Christ for the world we sing;
The world to Christ we bring
With fervent pray'r;
The wayward and the lost,
By restless passions tossed,
Redeemed at countless cost
From dark despair.

Christ for the world we sing;
The world to Christ we bring
With one accord;
With us the work to share,
With us reproach to dare,
With us the cross to bear,
For Christ our Lord.

Christ for the world we sing;
The world to Christ we bring
With joyful song;
The newborn souls whose days,
Reclaimed from error's ways,
Inspired with hope and praise,
To Christ belong.

Samuel Wolcott, 1869
Tune: Braun, Johann G. Braun, 1675

Sunday's Hymn: By Grace I am an Heir of Heaven

By grace I am an heir of heaven;
Why doubt this, O my trembling heart?
If what the Scriptures promise clearly
Is true and firm in ev'ry part,
This also must be truth divine:
By grace a crown of life is mine.

By grace alone I shall inherit
That blissful home beyond the skies.
Works count for naught, the Lord incarnate
Hath won for me the heav'nly prize.
Salvation by his death he wrought,
His grace alone my pardon bought.

By grace! These precious words remember
When sorely by thy sins oppressed,
When Satan comes to vex thy spirit,
When troubled conscience sighs for rest;
What reason cannot comprehend,
God doth to thee by grace extend.

By grace! Be this in death my comfort;
Despite my fears, 'tis well with me.
I know my sin in all its greatness,
But also him who sets me free.
My heart to nought but joy gives place
Since I am saved by grace, by grace.

Christian L. Scheidt, 1742, cento
Tr. by H. Breuckner
Tune: Neumark, Georg Neumark, 1657

Thankfulness

I am thankful for extra time spent with Andy over the last week as he took a couple of vacation days that needed to be used by the end of the year.  We took Murphy and went fishing one of the days, hiking the other.  It was fun and relaxing!

As I continue in the study of Genesis, I am very thankful for God's institution of marriage.  Our God's wisdom and provision for us is perfect in every way!

And I am very thankful that His particular provision for me in this regard is Andy!

Sunday's Hymn: I Sing the Almighty Power of God

I sing th' almighty power of God, that made the mountains rise,
That spread the flowing seas abroad, and built the lofty skies.
I sing the wisdom that ordained the sun to rule the day;
The moon shines full at God’s command, and all the stars obey.

I sing the goodness of the Lord, who filled the earth with food,
Who formed the creatures through the Word, and then pronounced them good.
Lord, how Thy wonders are displayed, where’er I turn my eye,
If I survey the ground I tread, or gaze upon the sky.

There’s not a plant or flower below, but makes Thy glories known,
And clouds arise, and tempests blow, by order from Thy throne;
While all that borrows life from Thee is ever in Thy care;
And everywhere that we can be, Thou, God art present there.

Isaac Watts, 1715

Tune: Forest Green, Traditional English melody, Arr. by Ralph Vaughan Williams, 1906

Thankfulness

I am thankful this week for the book of Genesis and my study of it this year.  We are only one week into it, and I have studied Genesis before, but I can never cease to be amazed at the power of God demonstrated in creation.  More than His power is demonstrated though.  He demonstrates His sense of order too and His love for mankind in providing all that was needed before creating him...and her.  I am thankful for the reminder this gives me in my life now that God knows exactly what I need and He will provide it exactly when it is needed.  Why do I ever worry?

I am thankful for the creation of my life and the privilege it is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever.

Sunday's Hymn: How Beautiful the Sight

How beautiful the sight
Of brethren who agree
In friendship to unite,
And bonds of charity;
'Tis like the precious ointment, shed
O'er all his robes, from Aaron's head.

'Tis like the dews that fill
The cups of Hermon's flow'rs;
Or Zion's fruitful hill,
Bright with the drops of show'rs.
When mingling odors breathe around,
And glory rests on all the ground.

For there the Lord commands
Blessings, a boundless store,
From his unsparing hands,
Yea, life for evermore;
Thrice happy they who meet above
To spend eternity in love!

From Psalm 133
James Montgomery, 1771-1854
Tune: St. Godric, John B. Dykes, 1823-1876

A Blanket for Daphne

I am a bit behind on posting but we have another great niece!  I am thankful for her safe delivery, of course, but I am also thankful for another reason to knit.  I decided to try a bit of lace knitting this time and it was fun!  There are a few flaws in the blanket, if you look closely, but I am guessing that Daphne won't.

Thankfulness

This day I am thankful to be on the tail end of a nasty cold.  My nose, chapped from wiping, is finally healing and I can actually taste my food again.  Yay!

I am thankful too for cooler temps and expected rain this afternoon.  Soup weather!  I love it!

And then there is the joy I am finding in getting to know the women God has given me to lead in our study of Genesis this year.  That's in addition to the study itself!  What a gracious God we have to give us His Word to draw us ever closer to Himself!

Sunday's Hymn: Thy Loving Kindness, Lord

Thy lovingkindness, Lord, is good and free:
In tender mercy turn thou unto me;
Hide not thy face from me in my distress,
In mercy hear my pray'r, thy servant bless.

Needy and sorrowful, to thee I cry;
Let thy salvation set my soul on high;
Then I will sing and praise thy holy Name,
My thankful song thy mercy shall proclaim.

With joy the meek shall see my soul restored;
Your heart shall live, ye saints that seek the Lord;
He helps the needy and regards their cries,
Those in distress the Lord will not despise.

Let heav'n above his grace and glory tell
Let earth and sea and all that in them dwell;
Salvation to his people God will give,
And they that love his Name with him shall live.

From Psalm 69: 16-17, 29-30, 32-36

The Psalter, 1912

Tune: Ellers, Edward J. Hopkins, 1869

Thankfulness

Well, we are back from vacation and almost readjusted to real life.  I am thankful for that lovely week and the fun we had together.  We did a lot of kayaking and fishing and hiking but we also did a fair amount of just hanging out.  Kayaking was new to us and took some adjustment for us as old hands with a canoe.  Murphy had the most adjustment to make, I suppose.  He wasn't sure about us being in separate boats at first but he got over it and had a good time too.

This unexpected stay in a beautiful cabin on a lake in Wisconsin was a gift to us from our neighbors.  Obviously, I am grateful for these neighbors, our friends, and the relationship that we enjoy with them.  They are part of our real life here in at the cottage in Crystal Lake, a life that I am grateful for in so many ways.  Vacations are wonderful but....there's no place like home.

Finally, I am thankful for the start of my next study on the book of Genesis!  Yes!!!

Thankfulness

As I am packing our things for a week away, I can't help but think with gratitude of our neighbors who have gifted us with a week's stay in their Wisconsin cabin.  And cabin is really a misnomer in this case. This home has air conditioning, internet, cable TV and all the amenities one could possibly want.  Plus it is situated on a lake!  And the real topper for us is that they have two kayaks up there that we can use!!  We are experienced canoers (is that a word?) but have never used kayaks, although we've wanted to try them for a long time. So we are quite excited.

I am also thankful that Emily's schedule allows her to join us for tomorrow and Saturday.  The life of a musician is definitely not 9-5 so thats an extra blessing.  And she's the only one of us who has gone kayaking before so maybe she can give us some pointers.

Its raining here this morning and I am definitely thankful for that too!  Things are looking a bit greener but we are still in need of more rain.

What blessings is God showering on you today?  Please do share.

Sunday's Hymn: Come, Holy Spirit, Come

Come, Holy Spirit, come;
Let thy bright beams arise;
Dispel the darkness from our minds,
And open all our eyes.

Cheer our desponding hearts,
Thou heav'nly Paraclete;
Give us to lie with humble hope
At our Redeemer's feet.

Revive our drooping faith;
Our doubts and fears remove;
And kindle in our breasts the flames
Of never dying love.

Convince us of our sin;
Then lead to Jesus' blood,
And to our wond'ring view reveal
The secret love of God.

'Tis thine to cleanse the heart,
To sanctify the soul,
To pour fresh love in every part,
And new create the whole.

Dwell, therefore, in our hearts;
Our minds from bondage free;
Then we shall know and praise and love
The Father, Son, and Thee.

Joseph Hart, 1712-1768
Tune: Camberwell, Har. by Samuel S. Wesley, 1810-1876

Thankfulness

I am thankful:

1. to be in no more pain from shingles!  I am still on medication for the neuralgia that commonly follows shingles but my doctor said we could begin to decrease that once I was pain free.  I am very much looking forward to talking to her early next week!
2. for continued cooler temperatures and some much needed rain.
3. for every day safety that we sometimes take for granted.
4. for our Sunday night Bible study at church.  Its currently the book of Romans and the discussion has been excellent.

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

Teach me, O Lord, thy way of truth,
And from it I will not depart;
That I may steadfastly obey,
Give me an understanding heart.

In thy commandments make me walk,
For in thy law my joy shall be;
Give me a heart that loves thy will,
From discontent and envy free.

Turn thou mine eyes from vanity,
And cause me in thy ways to tread;
O let thy servant prove thy Word
And thus to godly fear be led.

Turn thou away reproach and fear;
Thy righteous judgments I confess;
To know thy precepts I desire;
Revive me in thy righteousness.

From Psalm 119:33-40
The Psalter, 1912
Tune: Bishop, Joseph P. Holbrook, 1822-1888

Thankfulness

I am very thankful for the rain we are receiving right now!  Its been raining most of the afternoon and so far its 0.84 inches on the rain gauge!

I am also thankful for the cooler temperatures.  Mid-seventies for the high of the day is practically perfect!  Murphy and I had a delightful walk this morning when it was 68 degrees and the skies were overcast.

Earlier in the week, we celebrated Emily's birthday.  Andy had Monday off so we took Emily and a friend water skiing and tubing.  As we switched to the tube, Murphy took advantage of the opportunity and jumped off the boat onto it so even he got to go for a ride!

We had a great time together!  Well, all of us humans anyway.  Murphy was a lot less enthusiastic as the boat got farther and farther away from us.  And once we anchored the boat and started swimming off of it, he was even less sure of the fun of the outing.  So we put him back aboard, never expecting that he would jump onto the clump of grassy weeds that went floating by!  I sure wish I could share a picture of that with you!

Anyway, we had a great time together and, back to gratitude to our gracious God, I am so thankful for the blessing of a loving family and the fun times we have together.

Sunday's Hymn: Mighty God, While Angels Bless Thee

Mighty God, while angels bless thee,
May a mortal sing thy name?
Lord of men as well as angels,
Thou art every creature's theme.

Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! Amen.

Lord of every land and nation,
Ancient of eternal days,
Sounded through the wide creation
Be thy just and lawful praise.

For the grandeur of thy nature,
Grand beyond the seraph's thought;
For created works of power,
Works with skill and kindness wrought.

But thy rich, thy free redemption,
Dark through brightness all along,
Thought is poor, and poor expression,
Who dare sing that awful song?

Brightness of the Father's glory,
Shall thy praise unuttered lie?
Fly, my tongue, such guilty silence,
Sing the Lord who came to die:

From the highest throne in glory,
To the cross of deepest woe,
All to ransom guilty captives,
Flow my praise, for ever flow.


Robert Robinson, 1774
St. 1, line 2, alt.
Tune: Alleluia (Lowe), Albert Lowe, 1868

Thankfulness

Its been another hot week here in Crystal Lake, IL but we did get some rain last weekend and the grass is a bit less brown than its been.  Praise God for that!

I'm also praising God for the talent and abilities He has given to our Emily who is giving a concert on the harpsichord tomorrow.  Its a noon concert, part of a concert series at a church in a neighboring community, and I am thankful that I will be able to attend and enjoy it.

And I am thankful for some improvement in the residual pain associated with my shingles as well as the drugs that help to ease the pain.  Finally, I am thankful for your prayers on my behalf and for a God who listens to them.

Sunday's Hymn: Jesus, Lover of My Soul

Jesus, Lover of my soul,
Let me to thy bosom fly,
While the nearer waters roll,
While the tempest still is high:
Hide me, O my Saviour, hide,
Till the storm of life is past;
Safe into the haven guide,
O receive my soul at last!

Other refuge have I none,
Hangs my helpless soul on thee;
Leave, ah! leave me not alone,
Still support and comfort me!
All my trust on thee is stayed,
All my help from thee I bring;
Cover my defenseless head
With the shadow of thy wing.

Thou, O Christ, art all I want;
More than all in thee I find:
Raise the fallen, cheer the faint,
Heal the sick, and lead the blind.
Just and holy is thy Name;
I am all unrighteousness;
False and full of sin I am,
Thou art full of truth and grace.

Plenteous grace with thee is found,
Grace to cover all my sin;
Let the healing streams abound;
Make and keep me pure within:
Thou of life the Fountain art,
Freely let me take of thee;
Spring thou up within my heart,
Rise to all eternity.


Charles Wesley, 1740
Tune: Refuge, Joseph P. Holbrook, 1862

Thankfulness

Yesterday, the ladies of our church had lunch together and it was delightful!  I am thankful for each one of these precious sisters in Christ. The reason for our gathering was less delightful, however.  One of our number (and we are a very small church) is leaving us to move to North Carolina with her husband.  She will be sorely missed but I am thankful for the time she and her husband have been with us.

Yesterday, the temperature here in Crystal Lake, IL got up to 101 degrees.  I may sound like a broken record (now isn't that revealing my age category) but I am very grateful for our working air conditioning.

Finally, I am still fighting shingles and am on a pain medication that makes me sleepy and less efficient than normal...not that I am always on top of everything, mind you.  But I am especially thankful for the patience and loving kindness of my family at this time.

Sunday's Hymn: Jesus, My Great High Priest

Jesus, my great High Priest,
Offered his blood and died;
My guilty conscience seeks
No sacrifice beside.
His pow'rful blood did once atone,
And now it pleads before the Throne.

To this dear Surety's hand
Will I commit my cause;
He answers and fulfills
His Father's broken laws.
Behold my soul at freedom set;
My Surety paid the dreadful debt.

My Advocate appears
For my defense on high;
The Father bows his ears
And lays his thunder by.
Not all that hell or sin can say
Shall turn his heart, his love, away.

Should all the hosts of death
And pow'rs of hell unknown
Put their most dreadful forms
Of rage and mischief on,
I shall be safe, for Christ displays
His conqu'ring pow'r and guardian grace.


Isaac Watts, 1709
Tune: Bevan, Sir John Goss, 1853

Thankfulness

We had a major thunderstorm last night and lost power just as we were getting ready for bed.  I am so very thankful that it came on again about 7 this morning.  We have a generator (which I am thankful for too) and Andy started it for me before he left but I don't like being the one who is responsible for the thing so I was glad that he could turn it off and set things up for commercial power, as he calls it, before he left too.  It just happened to be the one day a month that Andy goes in late to back up certain pieces of equipment at work.

I am also thankful that we had a certain tree in our yard taken down on Tuesday because we were concerned about the way it increasingly leaned over the garage.  Actually, the tree is not completely down but only the tall trunk remains.  It was so hot on Tuesday (100 degrees) and the men were being so careful not to let the branches fall on the garage that they ran out of time and are coming back to finish in a couple of weeks but I guess there was nothing to catch the wind last night.

Thirdly, I am thankful that the wasps who were apparently living in that tree and were swarming all around the back door once they discovered their home was gone have apparently left us in peace now.

Finally, I am thankful for the badly needed three inches of rain that fell last night!!  That is in addition to the 2.11 inches (according to Andy's rain gauge) that we got on Saturday.  The grass is still brown but some of the plants are looking a little happier now.

So what are you thanking God for today?  Please do share.

Sunday's Hymn: Call Jehovah Thy Salvation

Call Jehovah thy Salvation,
Rest beneath th'Almighty's shade,
In his secret habitation
Dwell, and never be dismayed:
There no tumult shall alarm thee,
Thou shalt dread no hidden snare:
Guile nor violence can harm thee,
In eternal safeguard there.

From the sword at noonday wasting,
From the noisome pestilence,
In the depth of midnight blasting,
God shall be thy sure Defence:
He shall charge his angel legions
Watch and ward o'er thee to keep;
Though thou walk through hostile regions,
Though in desert wilds thou sleep.

Since, with pure and firm affection
Thou on God hast set thy love,
With the wings of his protection
He will shield thee from above:
Thou shalt call on him in trouble,
He will hearken, he will save;
Here for grief reward thee double,
Crown with life beyond the grave.

From Psalm 91; James Montgomery, 1822

Tune: Autumn, Francois H. Barthelemon, 1741-1808

Thankfulness

Our evening walks with Murphy have been so lovely this week!  Perfect temperatures and gorgeous sunsets over Crystal Lake!  And I just came back from a very pleasant (70 degrees) walk with Murphy this morning.  So I thank God for His provision of lovely mornings and evenings in this hot summer we've been having.

I'm still in the clutches of shingles so I was so thankful when Emily came home Tuesday evening with a loose fitting summer dress that she saw at Walmart and thought might be a perfect shingles dress.  She was right and I appreciate the thoughtful, loving daughter God has given me.

Speaking of family, I am thankful not only for our working A/C but for the fun times together we're enjoying despite the heat.  For me, its not what we're doing so much as the fact that we are together.  Even if we're each engaged in our own activity, we are together.  I am thankful for the gift of family.

How about you?  What good gifts has our gracious God given you this week?  Please share.

Sunday's Hymn: Like a River Glorious

Like a river glorious
Is God's perfect peace,
Over all victorious
In its bright increase;
Perfect, yet it floweth
Fuller ev'ry day,
Perfect, yet it groweth
Deeper all the way.

Stayed upon Jehovah,
Hearts are fully blest,
Finding, as he promised,
Perfect peace and rest.

Hidden in the hollow
Of his blessed hand,
Never foe can follow,
Never traitor stand;
Not a surge of worry,
Not a shade of care,
Not a blast of hurry
Touch the spirit there.

Ev'ry joy or trial
Falleth from above,
Traced upon our dial
By the Sun of Love.
We may trust him fully
All for us to do;
They who trust him wholly
Find him wholly true.


Frances R. Havergal, 1878
Tune: Like a River, James Mountain, 1844-1933

A Little Shade for the Flowers

I just came in from getting the mail.  Well, actually, I came in from getting the mail to get my camera and head back out to capture my neighbor's novel method of protecting her impatiens from our scorching 102 degree sun.  Maybe she's onto something but I just don't have that many umbrellas!

Thankfulness

This week I am thankful for improvement in my case of shingles.  Its not gone but its less painful and I am therefore sleeping better at night.  Thank you, God!

I am also very grateful for air conditioning in this week of daytime highs hovering around the 100 degree Fahrenheit mark.  And I am thankful for electricity to run the air conditioning.  Many are without power and suffering in the heat without a way to cool off.  I pray for relief for them very soon.

Finally, I am thankful for our country and the freedoms we enjoy in the U.S.  Its far from a perfect country.  That's my homeland in Heaven.  But as earthly countries go, its a pretty good one and I was pleased to celebrate its birthday yesterday.

What are you thanking God for this week?  Please do share!

Sunday's Hymn: Not What My Hands Have Done

Not what my hands have done
Can save my guilty soul;
Not what my toiling flesh has borne
Can make my spirit whole.
Not what I feel or do
Can give me peace with God;
Not all my prayers and sighs and tears
Can bear my awful load.

Thy work alone, O Christ,
Can ease this weight of sin;
Thy blood alone, O Lamb of God,
Can give me peace within.
Thy love to me, O God,
Not mine, O Lord to thee,
Can rid me of this dark unrest
And set my spirit free.

Thy grace alone, O God,
To me can pardon speak;
Thy pow'r alone, O Son of God,
Can this sore bondage break.
No other work, save thine,
No other blood will do;
No strength, save that which is divine,
Can bear me safely through.

I bless the Christ of God;
I rest on love divine;
And with unfalt'ring lip and heart
I call this Saviour mine.
This cross dispels each doubt;
I bury in his tomb
Each thought of unbelief and fear,
Each ling'ring shade of gloom.

I praise the God of grace;
I trust his truth and might;
He calls me his, I call him mine,
My God, my joy, my light.
'Tis he who saveth me,
And freely pardon gives;
I love because he loveth me,
I live because he lives.


Horatius Bonar, 1861; alt.
Tune: Leominster, George William Martin, 1862
Har. by Sir Arthur S. Sullivan, 1874

Thankfulness

This week I am thankful for the good time we had at the weekend picnic for the rescue group from which we adopted Murphy.  Murphy especially enjoyed running around in the big fenced in area with all the other little dogs.  He's the most outgoing little fellow so for him, that picnic was wonderful!

I came home with a case of shingles so for me the picnic was a little less fun.  But still I am thankful for early diagnosis of the problem (Monday morning) and the availability of the antiviral drugs that minimize long term effects of this unpleasant disease.  I am also thankful that mine is effecting a nerve that wraps around the trunk of my body rather than a nerve that serves the facial area around the ear or eye.  So now I just wait for it to run its course.

And finally, I am thankful for God's provision of a loving family and good friends who pray and are willing to care for me when I am less than 100%.

God is good, all the time.  What are you thanking Him for this week?

Sunday's Hymn: Jesus, the Very Thought of Thee

Jesus, the very thought of thee
With sweetness fills my breast;
But sweeter far thy face to see,
And in thy presence rest.


Nor voice can sing, nor heart can frame,
Nor can the mem'ry find,
A sweeter sound than thy blest Name,
O Saviour of mankind.


O Hope of ev'ry contrite heart,
O Joy of all the meek,

To those who fall, how kind though art!

How good to those who seek!

But what to those who find? Ah, this

Nor tongue nor pen can show:

The love of Jesus, what it is

None but his loved ones know.

Jesus, our only Joy be thou,

As thou our Prize wilt be;

Jesus, be thou our Glory now,

And through eternity.

Anon., Latin, 11th century

Tr. by Edward Caswall, 1849

Tune: St. Agnes, John B. Dykes, 1866