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

Thankfulness

I am very thankful for some cooler temperatures in the forecast for the weekend.  Its been in the 90's here in our neck of the woods with heat indices even higher so temps in the lower 80's sound really good about now.  Especially since Andy, Murphy and I are going to a weekend "picnic" for the rescue group from which we adopted Murphy.  We're not sure of what exactly to expect but it will be more fun if we're not all sweltering!

Considering that my maximum preferred daytime high temperature is really right around 72, I am also thankful for some new clothes of a sort that are supposed to prevent sunburn and wick away perspiration to keep one cooler.  They will be most of my weekend wardrobe even with the cooler forecast.  And I got them all on sale; some even clearance!!

Finally, I've been thinking a lot about the blessing of family this week. Immediate family, extended family and church family, even the ones I have a bristling sort of relationship with, each individual is a personal blessing and an opportunity for me to grow in grace and peace.  Such wisdom and love God demonstrates in my life to give them to me!

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,
Sin-sick and sorrow-worn,
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,

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

Thankfulness

Today I am especially thankful for air conditioning as we head into another hot, hot weekend.

I am also thankful to be almost caught up on my weeding.  I don't know how it got ahead of me but its almost back under control.  Yay!

I've been working on a baby blanket for the baby of my nephew and his wife, a little girl due in July.  Its a lace pattern and I am thankful to be finally "getting it" about lace knitting....especially because there are a few more patterns in lace that I would like to try.

One more thing I am thinking about with gratitude today is the new direction in which our pastor has taken our study of the book of Romans.  His new method makes that book of doctrine so much more applicable to our own daily lives....as it should be.

What are you thinking of with gratitude to God today?  Please join in the thanksgiving!

Sunday's Hymn: Christ in His Word Draws Near

Christ in his Word draws near;
Hush, moaning voice of fear,
He bids thee cease;
With songs sincere and sweet
Let us arise, and meet
Him who comes forth to greet
Our souls with peace.



Rising above thy care,
Meet him as in the air,
O weary heart;
Put on joy's sacred dress;
Lo, as he comes to bless,
Quite from thy weariness
Set free thou art.


For works of love and praise
He brings thee summer days,
Warm days and bright;
Winter is past and gone,
Now he, salvation's Sun,
Shineth on ev'ry one
With mercy's light.

From the bright sky above,
Clad in his robes of love,
'Tis he, our Lord!
Dim earth itself grows clear,
As his light draweth near:

O let us hush and hear

His holy Word.

Thomas T. Lynch, 1855

Tune: Kirby Bedon, Edward Bunnett, 1887

Sunday's Hymn: Let Children Hear the Mighty Deeds

Let children hear the mighty deeds
Which God performed of old;
Which in our younger years we saw,
And which our fathers told.

He bids us make his glories know,
His works of pow'r and grace;
And we'll convey his wonders down
Through ev'ry rising race.

Our lips shall tell them to our sons,
And they again to theirs;
That generations yet unborn
May teach them to their heirs.

Thus shall they learn in God alone
Their hope securely stands,
That they may ne'er forget his works,
Bur practice his commands.



From Psalm 78:1-7
Isaac Watts, 1719
Tune: Dundee, The Scottish Psalter, 1615