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.