Sunday's Hymn: Awake, My Soul, Stretch Ev'ry Nerve

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

Thankfulness

This morning, I am thinking with thankfulness of all the everyday provisions of our gracious God, things like our lovely little house, food on the table, relative good health and safety in our activities.  I am also thankful for His provision of our sweet Murphy to love and be loved by, our church, the beauty of new snow and a neighbor who cleared our driveway since Andy is at work today and he is not.  God is graciousness to us is overflowing!  And I never want to take it for granted!

Sunday's Hymn: All People That on Earth Do Dwell

All people that on earth do dwell,
Sing to the Lord with cheerful voice;
Him serve with fear, his praise forthtell,
Come ye before him and rejoice.

The Lord ye know is God indeed;
Without our aid he did us make;
We are his folk, he doth us feed,
And for his sheep he doth us take.

O enter then his gates with praise,
Approach with joy his courts unto;
Praise, laud, and bless his name always,
For it is seemly so to do.

For why? the Lord our God is good,
His mercy is for ever sure;
His truth at all times firmly stood,
And shall from age to age endure.



Psalm 100, William Kethe, 1561
Tune: The Old Hundredth, Louis Bourgeois, 1551

Thankfulness

Today I am thankful for a lovely, sunny day after a rainy night.  The air feels so clean and its 45 degrees out there!  In mid-February!!  Its been such a mild winter.  We may pay for it in the summer but right now, it feels so good.  Murphy and I will celebrate the day with a nice long walk this afternoon.

I'm thankful for the gift that dogs are in our world...especially mine...but I love them all.  How much more satisfying is a walk with a dog than a walk alone!

Speaking of Murphy and walks, we are into our second class at Petco.  Loose leash walking is our goal and while we are not there yet, I am enjoying the challenge.  I hope Murphy is too.  I know he's enjoying the treats.  : )

What are you thanking God for today?

Sunday's Hymn: Tell Me the Old, Old Story

Tell me the old, old story
Of unseen things above,
Of Jesus and his glory,
Of Jesus and his love:
Tell me the story simply,
As to a little child,
For I am weak and weary,
And helpless and defiled.

Tell me the old, old story,
Tell me the old, old story,
Tell me the old, old story,
Of Jesus and his love.

Tell me the story softly,
With earnest tones and grave;
Remember, I'm the sinner
Whom Jesus came to save:
Tell me the story always,
If you would really be,
In any time of trouble,
A comforter to me.

Tell me the same old story,
When you have cause to fear
That this world's empty glory
Is costing me too dear:
Yes, and when that world's glory
Is dawning on my soul,
Tell me the old, old story,
"Christ Jesus makes thee whole."

Katherine Hankey, 1866; refrain added

Tune: Evangel, William D. Doane, 1869

Thankfulness

I've been pondering these words from 1 Corinthians 1:8-9 all week: "He will keep you strong to the end, so that you will be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.  God, who has called you into fellowship with His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, is faithful."  Then this morning in my study, I came across these words in 1 Corinthians 10:13: "No temptation has seized you except what is common to man.  And God is faithful; He will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear.  But when you are tempted, He will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it."

Isn't the mercy and grace of our God amazing!  He sends His Son our Lord not only to save us from the punishment for our own sins but to bring us into eternal fellowship with Him, keeping us strong and persevering with us until the day He returns to this world.  He keeps our temptations to a level we can bear and gives us the means to stand up under them.  What incredibly faithful love from a holy, holy God for a terribly sinful people!  I am humbled and thankful.

Sunday's Hymn: My Jesus, I Love Thee

My Jesus, I love thee, I know thou art mine;
For thee all the follies of sin I resign.
My gracious Redeemer, my Saviour art thou;
If ever I loved thee, my Jesus, 'tis now.

I love thee because thou hast first loved me,
And purchased my pardon on Calvary's tree.
I love thee for wearing the thorns on thy brow;
If ever I loved thee, my Jesus, 'tis now.

I'll love thee in life, I will love thee in death;
And praise thee as long as thou lendest me breath;
And say, when the death-dew lies cold on my brow:
If ever I loved thee, my Jesus, 'tis now.

In mansions of glory and endless delight,
I'll ever adore thee in heaven so bright;
I'll sing with the glittering crown on my brow:
If ever I loved thee, my Jesus, 'tis now.



William R. Featherstone, 1864
Tune: Caritas, Adoniram J. Gordon, 1894

Thankfulness

I am thanking God for the reunion of a lost little Maltese dog (not ours) with his mom and dad yesterday.  He had slipped away from them on Saturday afternoon and the next two nights were quite chilly with some snow before it warmed up again on Monday.  We have a population of wild critters that like domestic animals for snacking here in Crystal Lake too so, as a dog lover, I am thankful for God's protection of this one.

Reflecting on my thankfulness for Tully's safe return made me extra thankful for our Murphy too.  He is such a sweet little boy and wants so much to please us!  There is something so humbling about the love of a dog in one's life.

Okay, its safe for the non-dog lovers to read again now.  I am also thankful for warmer temperatures than normal these last couple of days as well as an unseasonably warm winter overall, one decidedly lacking in snow, for Chicagoland.  That's a big reason to thank God!

And finally, I am thankful for God's sovereignty and the ways in which He uses all things for the good of those who love Him!

What are you thanking Him for today?