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I'm so thankful to have the income tax preparations finished today!!! I hate that job!
I'm also thankful for the completion of some other paperwork chores. Paperwork is not my favorite thing, tax-wise or other-wise. Give me a sink full of dirty dishes or some laundry to do any day...even bathroom cleaning!
But in terms of household chores, I am so thankful for the strength and energy to do some heavy duty spring cleaning. I like the way God allows me to get lost in physical labor and think and pray in a way that satisfies my soul.
And I can't forget to mention how very thankful I am for the lovely, lovely spring we are having! Today is a little cooler but for a person whose maximum desirable temperature is 72 degrees, lower 50's are just fine. Invigorating, in fact.
What are you thanking our gracious God for? Please share!
Thursday, March 29, 2012
Sunday, March 25, 2012
Sunday's Hymn: Soldiers of Christ, Arise
Soldiers of Christ, arise,
And put your armor on,
Strong in the strength which God supplies
Through his Eternal Son.
Strong in the Lord of hosts,
And in his mighty pow'r,
Who in the strength of Jesus trusts
Is more than conqueror.
Stand then in his great might,
With all his strength endued;
But take, to arm you for the fight,
The panoply of God.
Leave no unguarded place,
No weakness of the soul;
Take ev'ry virtue, ev'ry grace,
And fortify the whole.
To keep your armor bright,
Attend with constant care;
Still walking in your Captain's sight,
And watching unto prayer.
From strength to strength go on;
Wrestle and fight and pray;
Tread all the pow'rs of darkness down,
And win the well-fought day.
Charles Wesley, 1749
Tune: Soldiers of Christ, William P. Merrill, 1895
And put your armor on,
Strong in the strength which God supplies
Through his Eternal Son.
Strong in the Lord of hosts,
And in his mighty pow'r,
Who in the strength of Jesus trusts
Is more than conqueror.
Stand then in his great might,
With all his strength endued;
But take, to arm you for the fight,
The panoply of God.
Leave no unguarded place,
No weakness of the soul;
Take ev'ry virtue, ev'ry grace,
And fortify the whole.
To keep your armor bright,
Attend with constant care;
Still walking in your Captain's sight,
And watching unto prayer.
From strength to strength go on;
Wrestle and fight and pray;
Tread all the pow'rs of darkness down,
And win the well-fought day.
Charles Wesley, 1749
Tune: Soldiers of Christ, William P. Merrill, 1895
Friday, March 23, 2012
Baby Blanket
Thursday, March 22, 2012
Thankfulness
Today I've been thinking about all the "little" things I am thankful for...safety on the roads for regular errands and commuting and such for all of us, reasonably good health that allows us to do the work we have to do and enjoy the pleasures of each day, God's provision of adequate resources to provide for our needs and some wants too. These are the things that its easy for me to take for granted but its by God's grace that we have them...and so very much more too!
Speaking of that very much more, I've been studying the book of Ephesians lately and how about those blessings in Christ that we Christians have! In chapters 1-3, Paul outlines them thoroughly and then ends with this prayer:
Amen, indeed!
Speaking of that very much more, I've been studying the book of Ephesians lately and how about those blessings in Christ that we Christians have! In chapters 1-3, Paul outlines them thoroughly and then ends with this prayer:
"Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generation for ever and ever! Amen."
Amen, indeed!
Sunday, March 18, 2012
Sunday's Hymn: Blest Be the Tie that Binds
Blest be the tie that binds
Our hearts in Christian love:
The fellowship of kindred minds
Is like to that above.
Before our Father's throne
We pour our ardent prayers;
Our fears, our hopes, our aims, are one,
Our comforts and our cares.
We share our mutual woes,
Our mutual burdens bear,
And often for each other flows
The sympathizing tear.
When we asunder part,
It gives us inward pain;
But we shall still be joined in heart,
And hope to meet again.
This glorious hope revives
Our courage by the way,
While each in expectation lives,
And longs to see the day.
From sorrow, toil and pain,
And sin, we shall be free;
And perfect love and friendship reign
Through all eternity.
John Fawcett, 1782
Tune: Dennis, Arr. from Hans G. Nageli by Lowell Mason, 1845
Our hearts in Christian love:
The fellowship of kindred minds
Is like to that above.
Before our Father's throne
We pour our ardent prayers;
Our fears, our hopes, our aims, are one,
Our comforts and our cares.
We share our mutual woes,
Our mutual burdens bear,
And often for each other flows
The sympathizing tear.
When we asunder part,
It gives us inward pain;
But we shall still be joined in heart,
And hope to meet again.
This glorious hope revives
Our courage by the way,
While each in expectation lives,
And longs to see the day.
From sorrow, toil and pain,
And sin, we shall be free;
And perfect love and friendship reign
Through all eternity.
John Fawcett, 1782
Tune: Dennis, Arr. from Hans G. Nageli by Lowell Mason, 1845
Saturday, March 17, 2012
Thursday, March 15, 2012
Thankfulness
I am very thankful for our unseasonably warm and sunny weather this week! Its been wonderful to wear no jacket or gloves or hat and soak in that sunshine with Murphy!
Speaking of Murphy, I am thankful for his second graduation this past Monday. We're far from perfect but loose leash walking is coming along!
I am also thankful for good friends, old and new, near and far, but this week I've been especially blessed to spend some time with the nearer ones and its been good.
But most of all, I am thankful for "Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us, to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen!" (Ephesians 3:20-21)
Speaking of Murphy, I am thankful for his second graduation this past Monday. We're far from perfect but loose leash walking is coming along!
I am also thankful for good friends, old and new, near and far, but this week I've been especially blessed to spend some time with the nearer ones and its been good.
But most of all, I am thankful for "Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us, to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen!" (Ephesians 3:20-21)
Sunday, March 11, 2012
Sunday's Hymn: O Love of God, How Strong and True
O love of God, how strong and true!
Eternal, and yet ever new;
Uncomprehended and unbought,
Beyond all knowledge and all thought.
O love of God, how deep and great!
Far deeper than man's deepest hate;
Self-fed, self-kindled like the light,
Changeless, eternal, infinite.
O heavenly love, how precious still,
In days of weariness and ill,
In nights of pain and helplessness,
To heal, to comfort, and to bless!
O wide embracing, wondrous love!
We read thee in the sky above,
We read thee in the earth below,
In seas that swell, and streams that flow.
We read thee best in him who came
To bear for us the cross of shame;
Sent by the Father from on high,
Our life to live, our death to die.
We read thy power to bless and save,
Even in the darkness of the grave;
Still more in resurrection light
We read the fulness of thy might.
O love of God, our shield and stay
Through all the perils of our way!
Eternal love, in thee we rest,
For ever safe, for ever blest.
Horatius Bonar, 1861
Tune: Brookfield, Thomas B. Southgate, 1855
Eternal, and yet ever new;
Uncomprehended and unbought,
Beyond all knowledge and all thought.
O love of God, how deep and great!
Far deeper than man's deepest hate;
Self-fed, self-kindled like the light,
Changeless, eternal, infinite.
O heavenly love, how precious still,
In days of weariness and ill,
In nights of pain and helplessness,
To heal, to comfort, and to bless!
O wide embracing, wondrous love!
We read thee in the sky above,
We read thee in the earth below,
In seas that swell, and streams that flow.
We read thee best in him who came
To bear for us the cross of shame;
Sent by the Father from on high,
Our life to live, our death to die.
We read thy power to bless and save,
Even in the darkness of the grave;
Still more in resurrection light
We read the fulness of thy might.
O love of God, our shield and stay
Through all the perils of our way!
Eternal love, in thee we rest,
For ever safe, for ever blest.
Horatius Bonar, 1861
Tune: Brookfield, Thomas B. Southgate, 1855
Thursday, March 8, 2012
Thankfulness
I am thankful for the good time of fellowship that I had with the ladies of our church today! One of our sisters who happens to be from Taiwan invited us to her home to make Chinese dumplings and eat them for lunch. Working in her kitchen together was so much fun and our lunch was delicious!
I am also thankful for a long-distance sister in Christ who shared her very delicious recipe for ginger crackle cookies! I brought them to our lunch today and they were a hit! But of course, I sampled them yesterday right after I made them so I wasn't surprised.
I am also thankful for a beautiful sunshiny day even though its a bit windy and cool. Murphy and I took a nice walk with our neighbor Dashshunds and their walker after I got home. It wasn't the plan for us to walk together. It just happened but I enjoyed getting to know the woman who walks those dogs and the dogs had a grand time walking together!
I am thankful for this day and every day, even the ones that are not so pleasant by earthly standards. The Lord God made them all.
I am also thankful for a long-distance sister in Christ who shared her very delicious recipe for ginger crackle cookies! I brought them to our lunch today and they were a hit! But of course, I sampled them yesterday right after I made them so I wasn't surprised.
I am also thankful for a beautiful sunshiny day even though its a bit windy and cool. Murphy and I took a nice walk with our neighbor Dashshunds and their walker after I got home. It wasn't the plan for us to walk together. It just happened but I enjoyed getting to know the woman who walks those dogs and the dogs had a grand time walking together!
I am thankful for this day and every day, even the ones that are not so pleasant by earthly standards. The Lord God made them all.
Sunday, March 4, 2012
Sunday's Hymn: Lord, With a Glowing Heart I'd Praise Thee
Lord, with glowing heart I'd praise thee
For the bliss thy love bestows,
For the pard'ning grace that saves me,
And the peace that from it flows;
Help, O God, my weak endeavor;
This dull soul to rapture raise;
Thou must light the flame, or never
Can my love be warmed to praise.
Praise, my soul, the God that sought thee,
Wretched wand'rer far astray;
Found thee lost, and kindly brought thee
From the paths of death away;
Praise, with love's devoutest feeling,
Him who saw thy guilt-born fear,
And, the light of hope revealing,
Bade the blood-stained cross appear.
Praise thy Saviour God that drew thee
To that cross, new life to give,
Held a blood-sealed pardon to thee,
Bade thee look to him and live;
Praise the grace whose threats alarmed thee,
Roused thee from thy fatal ease,
Praise the grace whose promise warmed thee,
Praise the grace that whispered peace.
Lord, this bosom's ardent feeling
Vainly would my lips express;
Low before thy footstool kneeling,
Deign thy suppliant's prayer to bless:
Let thy love, my soul's chief treasure,
Love's pure flame within me raise,
And, since words can never measure,
Let my life show forth thy praise.
Francis Scott Key, 1817
Tune: Ripley, Arr. from a Gregorian chant by Lowell Mason, 1839
For the bliss thy love bestows,
For the pard'ning grace that saves me,
And the peace that from it flows;
Help, O God, my weak endeavor;
This dull soul to rapture raise;
Thou must light the flame, or never
Can my love be warmed to praise.
Praise, my soul, the God that sought thee,
Wretched wand'rer far astray;
Found thee lost, and kindly brought thee
From the paths of death away;
Praise, with love's devoutest feeling,
Him who saw thy guilt-born fear,
And, the light of hope revealing,
Bade the blood-stained cross appear.
Praise thy Saviour God that drew thee
To that cross, new life to give,
Held a blood-sealed pardon to thee,
Bade thee look to him and live;
Praise the grace whose threats alarmed thee,
Roused thee from thy fatal ease,
Praise the grace whose promise warmed thee,
Praise the grace that whispered peace.
Lord, this bosom's ardent feeling
Vainly would my lips express;
Low before thy footstool kneeling,
Deign thy suppliant's prayer to bless:
Let thy love, my soul's chief treasure,
Love's pure flame within me raise,
And, since words can never measure,
Let my life show forth thy praise.
Francis Scott Key, 1817
Tune: Ripley, Arr. from a Gregorian chant by Lowell Mason, 1839
Friday, March 2, 2012
Thankfulness
This week, I am thankful that I've almost got the income taxes ready to go! I don't like that job!
On a happier note, I am thankful for the warmer walks Murphy and I took the last couple of days, especially since more snow and colder temperatures are on the way tonight. Its been such an interesting winter, weather-wise.
And finally, I am thankful for a good and stable marriage. Yes, we have our disagreements but we both know that the other is always faithfully there. That's a blessing!
And finally, I am thankful for God's grace which is sufficient for me and made perfect in weakness. I have got plenty of weaknesses and I am so thankful for Christ's power resting on me and making me strong in them. His all-surpassing faithfulness to give me His strength in every situation is amazing!
On a happier note, I am thankful for the warmer walks Murphy and I took the last couple of days, especially since more snow and colder temperatures are on the way tonight. Its been such an interesting winter, weather-wise.
And finally, I am thankful for a good and stable marriage. Yes, we have our disagreements but we both know that the other is always faithfully there. That's a blessing!
And finally, I am thankful for God's grace which is sufficient for me and made perfect in weakness. I have got plenty of weaknesses and I am so thankful for Christ's power resting on me and making me strong in them. His all-surpassing faithfulness to give me His strength in every situation is amazing!
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