November of Thanksgiving-Day Eight

As I've worked and meditated on my study of Isaiah today, I am thankful:

For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account.~Hebrews 4:12-13

Rebecca is hosting a November of Thanksgiving gathering at her place. Please come and share your thanks too!

November of Thanksgiving-Day Seven

I am thankful that God created dogs. Anyone who has read my blog much at all knows that I am crazy about our little Charlie. But the truth is I like most dogs. Last night, Andy and I took our neighbor's dog for a walk while they went to a wedding and I'm still thinking about how much fun we had! Cody is a yellow lab, about as far from our little Maltese as you can get. Cody was happy to see us as we opened his door and ready to go as soon as we said walk. And go he did! He's very well trained and we took him the same route as we walk with Charlie but we were home again in half the time! And breathless too! Once returned to his house, we fed Cody and were ready to go home but Cody made it clear that he wanted us to stay a while and visit with him. I love that about dogs! If you like them, they like you and they are not shy to show it. Uncomplicated affection. What's not to like about that!

What are you thankful for today? Please join in the November of Thanksgiving festivities going on over at Rebecca's.

Sunday's Hymn: Peace, Perfect Peace

Peace, perfect peace, in this dark world of sin?
The blood of Jesus whispers peace within.

Peace, perfect peace, by thronging duties pressed?
To do the will of Jesus, this is rest.

Peace, perfect peace, with sorrows surging round?
On Jesus' bosom naught but calm is found.

Peace, perfect peace, with loved ones far away?
In Jesus' keeping we are safe and they.

Peace, perfect peace, our future all unknown?
Jesus we know, and he is on the throne.

Peace, perfect peace, death shad'wing us and ours?
Jesus has vanquished death and all its powers.

It is enough: earth's struggles soon shall cease,
And Jesus call us to heav'n's perfect peace.

Edward H. Bickersteth, 1875
Tune: Pax Tecum, Alt. from George T. Caldbeck by Charles J. Vincent, 1876

November of Thanksgiving-Day Six

I love spending time with my family! It doesn't matter if we're working together or playing together or just relaxing together. I just love the feeling of togetherness. Today we got in two of the three and by my calculations, that's a good day! We started out by relaxing over tea/coffee and bagels together while we waited for the day to warm up a bit. Then we switched to leaf raking and other yard work...still together. And the plan for the evening is to watch Dr. Who on DVD together over more tea and a snack. In my book, it doesn't get much better than this! Thank you, God, for a lovely day with my family!

Rebecca is hosting a whole month of Thanksgiving over at her place. Won't you join in the celebration?

November of Thanksgiving-Day Five

I've been out and about with various commitments and errands for most of today and that's not the way I like to spend my days! I am your basic garden variety homebody so I sighed a huge sigh of relief when I backed in the garage and closed the door about 2:30 this afternoon. Yes, I am very thankful for my home...every day but I'm especially appreciative of it this day. And its such a sweet, comfy home too! That's an extra blessing that I'm thanking God for today.

What are you thanking Him for right now? Blessings shared reflect even more glory to our gracious God so please share yours over at Rebecca Writes.

By Popular Request...

Barbequed Spoonburgers!

4 tablespoons oil
1 1/2 lbs. ground beef
1/2 cup chopped onions
half of a green pepper, diced
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
1/2 cup ketchup
1 clove garlic, minced
1 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup water
1/8 teaspoon pepper
1/2 teaspoon paprika
1 6 oz. can tomato paste
2 tablespoons vinegar
2 teaspoons brown sugar
1 teaspoon dry mustard

Brown beef in oil in fry pan. Drain. Saute onions and green peppers. Combine all ingredients in slow cooker. Cook on low 6-8 hours or high 3-4 hours. Serve on buns.

So you see spoonburgers are basically Sloppy Joe's with a bit of BBQ tang. I hope your families love them as much as mine!

November of Thanksgiving-Day Four

This afternoon, I'm thankful for leftovers. I was thinking that I might save them for tomorrow when I might be even more tired but I decided to go with them for dinner tonight. Its barbequed spoonburgers, a family favorite and no one will be disappointed. Least of all, me!

What are you thankful for today? Please share in Rebecca's November of Thanksgiving.

November of Thanksgiving-Day Three

I am thankful for God's grace to me:

This righteousness is given through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference between Jew and Gentile, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.~Romans 3:22-24

What are you thanking our gracious God for this day? Each day in the month of November, Rebecca is gathering our thankful posts in a celebration of Thanksgiving. Please join in!

November of Thanksgiving-Day Two

On this Election Day, I am thankful that:

The king's heart (and the senator's and the judge's and the governor's and the sheriff's) is in the hand of the Lord; He directs it like a watercourse wherever He pleases.~Proverbs 21:1

Rebecca invites us to join with her in giving thanks to our good God each day of this November of Thanksgiving. Please do!

November of Thanksgiving-Day One

This weekend has been a whirlwind of things to give thanks for! As I sit here at my computer, I hardly know where to begin. Here are a few of my thankful thoughts:

• We finally found tenants for our little rental home! We had been praying that God would allow us to use that house to bless someone else as well as the blessing that it is to us to have it rented and occupied. The details were worked out Saturday morning, the lease was signed Saturday afternoon and our new tenants began moving in on Saturday evening. Praise God for His provisions all around in this situation!
• Yesterday we had the joy of attending a performance by our daughter, Emily, and her fellow musicians in their chamber ensemble. Praise God for the gift of music and that He gave it to Emily and her friends!
• We attended that performance and enjoyed the afternoon with some good friends including Kim from Hiraeth and her family. Praise God for the gift of friendship!

Its a Thanksgiving Festival at Rebecca Writes! Please join in!

A Tradition

Thanksgiving is my very favorite holiday and there is a tradition associated with it that I've been especially blessed by participating in for the last couple of years. Its the November of Thanksgiving postings hosted by Rebecca and she always invites abundant participation. Here are the ways we can join in the festivities.

• Mention something you’re thankful for in the comments of her posts. She’ll include your comment in one of her thanksgiving posts.
• Email her to tell her what you’re thankful for and she’ll include it in a post.
• Post your thankful thought(s) on your own blog, send her the link(s), and she’ll link to your post(s). If you plan to post something daily during the month, let her know that, too. That way you won’t need to send her your daily links.

I'm excited to know just how our good God is blessing you and to share the ways He blesses me! Happy Thanksgiving!

Sunday's Hymn: I'm But a Stranger Here, Heav'n is My Home

I'm but a stranger here,
Heav'n is my home;
Earth is a desert drear,
Heav'n is my home;
Danger and sorrow stand
Round me on ev'ry hand;
Heav'n is my fatherland,
Heav'n is my home.

What though the tempest rage,
Heav'n is my home;
Short is my pilgrimage,
Heav'n is my home;
And time's wild wintry blast
Soon shall be over past;
I shall reach home at last,
Heav'n is my home;

There, at my Saviour's side,
Heav'n is my home;
I shall be glorified,
Heav'n is my home;
There are the good and blest,
Those I love most and best;
And there I too shall rest,
Heav'n is my home;

Therefore I murmur not,
Heav'n is my home;
Whate'er my earthly lot,
Heav'n is my home;
And I shall surely stand
There at my Lord's right hand;
Heav'n is my fatherland,
Heav'n is my home

Thomas R. Taylor, 1836
Tune: St. Edmund, Sir Arthur S. Sullivan, 1872

Thankful....

Friday, again. Whew! I'm thankful that God is my strength these days...every day, in fact. Its through His power that I am able to do anything ever but some days that's more obvious than others. Its been a hectic Fall around the cottage!

Yesterday was my annual thyroid check-up and I am so thankful to report that all is well on that front. This year's Thanksgiving Day should be much different from last year's and I'm praising Him for that!

And this morning I'm thankful for a hot cup of tea and a warm little dog in my lap as I study God's Word and thank Him for His promises to me.

Each Thursday (or Friday) of 2010, I'm joining my friend, Kim of The Upward Call and others in thanking God for His blessings. Won't you join us?

Sunday's Hymn: My God, Is Any Hour So Sweet

My God, is any hour so sweet,
From blush of morn to evening star,
As that which calls me to thy feet,
The hour of prayer?

Then is my strength by thee renewed;
Then are my sins by thee forgiv'n;
Then dost thou cheer my solitude
With hope of heav'n.

No words can tell what sweet relief
There for my ev'ry want I find,
What strength for warfare, balm for grief,
What peace of mind!

Hushed is each doubt, gone ev'ry fear;
My spirit seems in heav'n to stay:
And e'en the penitential tear
Is wiped away.

Lord, till I reach yon blissful shore,
No privilege so dear shall be
As thus my inmost soul to pour
In prayer to thee.

Charlotte Elliott, 1836
Tune: Eudora, James R. Murray, 1841-1905

Thankful Thursday

I am thanking God today for His sovereignty. No matter what is going on in my life and my corner of the world, I can rest in this promise:

For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.~Jeremiah 29:11

What are you thanking our gracious God for today? Please join Kim of The Upward Call, myself and many others in giving Him praise for all the good gifts He gives to us each Thursday of 2010.

Fall Color

There's a park just a block or so from the cottage and we headed that way on our Charlie walk this evening. Shamefully, I forgot my camera but Andy rescued me with his Blackberry. This is the eastern end of the park with the setting sun shining from the west causing that glow in the trees in the background. Talk about fall color! I just had to share it!

Sunday's Hymn: O God, Most Holy are Thy Ways

O God, most holy are thy ways,
And who like thee deserves my praise?
Thou only doest wondrous things,
The whole wide world thy glory sings;
Thine outstretched arm thy people saved,
Though sore distressed and long enslaved.

O God, from thee the waters fled,
The depths were moved with mighty dread,
The swelling clouds their torrents poured,
And o'er the earth the tempest roared;
'Mid lightning's flash and thunder's sound
Great trembling shook the solid ground.

Thy way was in the sea, O God,
Through mighty waters, deep and broad;
None understood but God alone,
To man thy footsteps were unknown;
But safe thy people thou didst keep,
Almighty Shepherd of thy sheep.

Psalm 77:13-20
The Psalter, 1912
Tune: The Lord's Prayer, Schumann's Gesangbuch, 1539

Thankful Thursday

I get to stay home all day today! And for that, homebody that I am, I am thanking God this fine morning! Its a perfect day to stay home too. Truth be told, most days are for me. But today is Charlie's 15th birthday so its an extra special day to be home. I get to have him sleep in my lap while I do my Bible study, take him for a walk or two, and even just watch him sleep in his little bed as I pass back and forth doing laundry and cleaning bathrooms. Did I mention that I'm thankful for Charlie too? Ah, I thank God for the contentment I feel this day.

What are you thanking Him for t0day? Kim of The Upward Call and quite a few others are cultivating an attitude of gratitude as we thank God for His blessings each Thursday of 2010. Please jump right in with us!

Sunday's Hymn: In the Hour of Trial, Jesus, Plead for Me

In the hour of trial,
Jesus, plead for me;
Lest by base denial
I depart from thee;
When thou seest me waver,
With a look recall,
Nor for fear or favor
Suffer me to fall.

With its witching pleasures
Would this vain world charm,
Or its sordid treasures
Spread to work me harm,
Bring to my remembrance
Sad Gethsemane,
Or, in darker semblance,
Cross-crowned Calvary.

If with sore affliction
Thou in love chastise,
Pour thy benediction
On the sacrifice;
Then, upon thine altar
Freely offered up,
Though the flesh may falter,
Faith shall drink the cup.

When in dust and ashes
To the grave I sink,
While heav'n's glory flashes
O'er the shelving brink,
On thy truth relying
Through that mortal strife,
Lord, receive me, dying,
To eternal life.

James Montgomery, 1834
St. 1, line 2, alt.
Tune: Penitence, Spencer Lane, 1879

Thankful Thursday

I'm thanking God for a working dryer today. Tuesday morning, I washed the sheets from our bed and moved them over to the dryer. Clunk, clunk, clunk. But thank God, they did dry. Andy (aka: Handy Andy) pretty much disassembled the whole thing on Tuesday evening and determined the problem to be a worn out shaft on a fan. Yesterday on his lunch hour, he went to some big appliance parts warehouse close to where he works in Chicago and got the part. Last evening was our turn to host prayer meeting at our house so Andy worked on the dryer up until the first knock on the door. He didn't think he'd be able to finish getting it back together afterwards because he wanted to replace some old parts on the gas line while he was at it. But praise God for enabling him to get it all up and running by the time I had the kitchen cleaned!

That old washer and dryer are 14 years old but I love them. They do their jobs well (when they are up and running) and I am so thankful not to have to replace either one.

Each Thursday of 2010, there's a bit of Thanksgiving going on in our part of the blog world. Kim of the Upward Call got us started but we can never thank God enough! Won't you join us?