Thankfulness

This week Andy has vacation from work but we opted to stay home and enjoy some local recreation rather than travel anywhere.  We have some great fishing holes very close to home, including Crystal Lake which is about three blocks from the cottage.  We also have the Chain O' Lakes on the Fox River which boasts some great fishing and is only an hour away. But back to our cottage, we love it!  There is a nice screen porch attached to our home and a beautiful yard too.  That is in addition to our home itself which we've got set up for our own tastes and preferences.  So why not enjoy our relaxing time right here!

Well, its been a wonderful week so far.  We have gotten in some fun times on the water but we've also enjoyed plenty of time of just relaxing at home together too.  And the key word for me is together.  I don't really care much what we are doing as long as its together.  We even did a few tasks that had backed up on us but we did them together and that's the best way!

So I am thanking God this week for the blessing of a happy marriage in which we genuinely enjoy each others' company and His provision of a lovely place to live and enjoy life together.  I also thank Him for Emily who, although she is still teaching and working, has managed to enjoy some of the fun times with us too.  And of course there is Murphy who makes the fun times even more fun when seen through his eyes. So I am blessed and soaking it up this week.  Thank you, God!

Sunday's Hymn: Come, Thou Almighty King

Come, thou Almighty King,
Help us thy name to sing,
Help us to praise:
Father, all glorious,
O'er all victorious,
Come, and reign over us,
Ancient of days.

Come, thou Incarnate Word,
Gird on thy mighty sword,
Our prayer attend:
Come and thy people bless,
And give thy Word success;
Spirit of holiness,
On us descend.

Come, Holy Comforter,
Thy sacred witness bear
In this glad hour:
Thou who almighty art,
Now rule in every heart,
And ne'er from us depart,
Spirit of power.

To the great One in Three
Eternal praises be,
Hence evermore.
His sovereign majesty
May we in glory see,
And to eternity
Love and adore.



Anon., c. 1757
Tune: Trinity, Felice de Giardini, 1769

Thankfulness

I am thankful for good health and the ability to work hard.  Spring brings lots of new growth and that means in weeds as well as the plants I want to see grow.  And weeding is hard work so I am glad for the strength and health to do it.

But while I am working out there in the yard, I sure am thankful for the lovely flowers God has given us.  Here are a few of them:

Finally, I am thanking God for the sweet sisters in Christ that I serve alongside of in an interdenominational Bible study in Crystal Lake.  I am especially thankful for the unity I have with them despite those denominational issues that could divide us but don't.

What are you thanking God for today?  Please do share.

Sunday's Hymn: Jesus, Master, Whose I Am

esus, Master, whose I am,
Purchased thine alone to be
By thy blood, O spotless Lamb,
Shed so willingly for me,
Let my heart be all thine own,
Let me live to thee alone.

Jesus, Master, I am thine:
Keep me faithful, keep me near;
Let thy presence in me shine
All my homeward way to cheer.
Jesus, at thy feet I fall,
O be thou my all in all.

Jesus, Master, whom I serve,
Though so feebly and so ill,
Strengthen hand and heart and nerve
All thy bidding to fulfil.
Open thou mine eyes to see
All the work thou hast for me.

Lord, thou needest not, I know,
Service such as I can bring;
Yet I long to prove and show
Full allegiance to my King.
Thou an honor art to me:
Let me be a praise to thee.



Frances R. Havergal, 1865
Tune: Wells, Adapted from Dimitri Bortnianski, 1752-1825

Thankfulness

I am thankful for beautiful weather this week....mostly sunny, low humidity and daytime highs in the 60's and 70's.  My idea of perfect.

I am also thankful for the completion of the study of Acts.  Its been a rich study with much personal application.  I've loved it from start to finish.

And I'm thankful for a beautiful Mother's Day.  We went fishing in the afternoon on Crystal Lake and I caught the biggest fish I ever caught...a 24 inch Northern Pike!  I planned to pick it up for the picture but those teeth caused me to leave it in the net.

 
But the very best part of Mother's Day and every day is relaxing with my family.  I'm so thankful for them!

How about you?  What are you thanking God for today?

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 shall I 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 naught 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

Sunday's Hymn: Faith of Our Fathers!

Faith of our fathers! living still
In spite of dungeon, fire and sword;
O how our hearts beat high with joy
Whene'er we hear God's glorious Word:
Faith of our fathers, holy faith!
We will be true to thee till death.

Our fathers, chained in prisons dark,
Were still in heart and conscience free;
And blest would be their children's fate
If they, like them, should die for thee:
Faith of our fathers, holy faith!
We will be true to thee till death.

Faith of our fathers! God's great pow'r
Shall draw all nations unto thee;
And through the truth that comes from God
His people shall indeed be free:
Faith of our fathers, holy faith!
We will be true to thee till death.

Faith of our fathers! we will love
Both friend and foe in all our strife,
And preach thee, too, as love knows how
By witness true and virtuous life:
Faith of our fathers, holy faith!
We will be true to thee till death.


Frederick W. Faber, 1849
St. 2, line 4; st. 3, lines 1-4, alt.
Tune: St. Catherine, Henri F. Hemy, 1864
alt. by James G. Walton, 1870