Sunday's Hymn: All People That on Earth Do Dwell

All people that on earth do dwell,
Sing to the Lord with cheerful voice;
Him serve with fear, his praise forth-tell,
Come ye before him and rejoice.

The Lord ye know is God indeed;
Without our aid he did us make;
We are his folk, he doth us feed,
And for his sheep he doth us take.

O enter then his gates with praise,
Approach with joy his courts unto;
Praise, laud, and bless his name always,
For it is seemly so to do.

For why? the Lord our God is good,
His mercy is for ever sure;
His truth at all times firmly stood,
And shall from age to age endure.

Psalm 100 adapted by Wm. Kethe in 1561

Price of Gas: August 28, 2008

Gas is down another 2 cents per gallon in Crystal Lake, IL this week! Okay, two cents is not a whole lot but the downward trend is the thing that matters here.

So what's happening with the price of gas in your area? Is it up or down or the same as last week? Rebecca is the one who is compiling all of our gas price info each week so stop by her place and get your two cents worth in. Pun intended!

Sunday's Hymn: Jesus! What a Friend for Sinners!

Jesus! what a Friend for sinners!
Jesus! Lover of my soul;
Friends may fail me, foes assail me,
He, my Saviour, makes me whole.

Hallelujah! what a Saviour!
Hallelujah, what a Friend!
Saving, helping, keeping, loving,
He is with me to the end.

Jesus! what a strength in weakness!
Let me hide myself in him;
Tempted, tried, and sometimes failing,
He, my strength, my vict'ry wins.

Jesus! what a help in sorrow!
While the billows o'er me roll,
Even when my heart is breaking,
He, my comfort, helps my soul.

Jesus! what a guide and keeper!
While the tempest still is high,
Storms about me, night o'ertakes me,
He, my pilot, hears my cry.

Jesus! I do now receive him,
More than all in him I find,
He hath granted me forgiveness,
I am his, and he is mine.

J. Wilbur Chapman, 1910

Camping

Andy has another week of vacation coming up. In fact, it starts tonight when he gets home! And we're going camping! I really do love to camp but this year we're giving it a new twist. We're camping from the cottage! We're going to put up rope lights around the screen porch, make s'mores on the stove and use our candlelit fireplace for a campfire! We might even bring in the camp chairs to put in front of that campfire!

And during the day, we'll go canoeing and fishing, maybe bicycling, walk around the neighborhood....oops, I mean campground. But at night, we get to sleep in our real beds! And we can keep our food in a real refrigerator instead of a cooler! And when its hot and sticky, we can turn on the air! Maybe read a book by electric light! Plus we have private showers! Charlie will be a lot cleaner too!

Oh, and did I mention that this campground has wifi? And nearby Starbucks and Caribou both?

But the very best part is getting to spend some relaxing time with "my boys." The rest is just icing on the cake. So I know I'm going to have a wonderful week! I hope all of you do too.

Price of Gas: August 21, 2008

Here's a first for me. I get to reuse my photo from last week since the price of gas is exactly the same as it was last Thursday! That's not to say nothing had happened with the price of gas in the last week. Its been as high as $4.05 during that time but its slipped back down and for that, I am glad.

What's going on with the price of gas in your area? Stop by Rebecca's and let her know. Some of us are interested in these things.

15 Words or Less Poem

Perfection on the water,
Waiting for the magic
of being under sail.





More 15 Words or Less Poems here.

Crocheting Again!

I've enjoyed crocheting since my teenage years...and that's a long time! In the last couple of years though, I've developed a wrist problem that is somewhat related to carpal tunnel but for which surgery is not an option. Of course, this is in my right hand, the one I use for everything. Crocheting had become increasingly painful and I could only do it for short periods at a time. Until now.

About a month ago, I was at the library and if you know my reading habits, you know I like to have some sort of a book that is primarily pictures on hand. So I chose one called 200 Crochet Tips, Techniques and Trade Secrets by Jan Eaton. Very near the front of the book, the author mentioned ergonomic crochet hooks, something that had never occurred to me might even exist. There was a picture of one design which I found at Joann Fabrics but that design did not change anything about the pain in my wrist that worsened as I crocheted. But I found another design upon doing some internet research and guess what! This type of crochet hook is also available at Joann's! I searched for more coupons and off I went again. Here it is with my current project. And praise God, I can crochet for a good long while again without pain!



In my research, I found that this design was requested by a woman with Multiple Sclerosis of her husband so that she could continue hooking rugs. He originally carved a handle for her out of wood and you can find those hooks online but they are quite spendy! My little plastic handle with six hooks that screw into it retails at Joann's for about $20.00. I got it for $10.00 with a 50% off coupon and I am a happy camper!

A Healthy Mouth

I had my teeth cleaned recently and the dental hygienist was talking about the connection between oral health and cardiac health. Since its pretty hard to be a part of the conversation with her working in my mouth, I was left to ponder what she said on my own. The verse that came to my mind was from Matthew 12:

34b For out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks.

When I got home, I looked up a few more:

Psalm 49:3 My mouth will speak words of wisdom;
the utterance from my heart will give understanding.

Psalm 19:14 May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart
be pleasing in your sight,
O LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer.

Matthew 15:18 But the things that come out of the mouth come from the heart, and these make a man 'unclean.'

Romans 15:5-6 May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you a spirit of unity among yourselves as you follow Christ Jesus, so that with one heart and mouth you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

These verses all indicated to me the connection between the mouth and the heart when it comes to spiritual health. Why would I not think that our Creator God would link the physical health of our mouths and hearts as well?

Sunday's Hymn: God, Be Merciful to Me

God, be merciful to me,
On thy grace I rest my plea;
Plenteous in compassion thou,
Blot out my transgressions now;
Wash me, make me pure within,
Cleanse, O cleanse me from my sin.

My transgressions I confess,
Grief and guilt my soul oppress;
I have sinned against thy grace
And provoked thee to thy face;
I confess thy judgment just,
Speechless, I thy mercy trust.

I am evil, born in sin;
Thou desirest truth within.
Thou alone my Saviour art,
Teach thy wisdom to my heart;
Make me pure, thy grace bestow,
Wash me whiter than the snow.

Broken, humbled to the dust
By thy wrath and judgment just,
Let my contrite heart rejoice
And in gladness hear thy voice;
From my sins O hide thy face,
Blot them out in boundless grace.

Gracious God, my heart renew,
Make my spirit right and true;
Cast me not away from thee,
Let thy Spirit dwell in me;
Thy salvation's joy impart,
Steadfast make my willing heart.

Sinners then shall learn from me
And return, O God, to thee;
Saviour, all my guilt remove,
And my tongue shall sing thy love;
Touch my silent lips, O Lord,
And my mouth shall praise accord.

The Psalter, 1912

Price of Gas: August 14, 2008

The downward trends continues! Gas at "my" local gas station in Crystal Lake, IL is 4 cents per gallon cheaper this week than last. Now this is the gas station that I photograph each week and use as my standard to measure the price of gas in our town. And usually all of the plain old gas stations along the main drag here are within a couple of pennies of each other. Not this week! The prices were all over the place with $3.89 being the low and prices ranging all the way up to $4.09. In the neighboring town of Algonquin, just to the south of us where our Costco is located, prices were even more erratic. $3.91 was the low there but one station was $4.15 per gallon!

How are gas prices in your area? Is there more uniformity of price in your town or are the prices rather erratic like here? Check in with Rebecca and let her know what you are paying for gas. We want to know.

15 Words or Less Poem

Calm the fears,
Take the plunge,
Chin up,
Emerge victorious!



More 15 Words or Less Poems here.

Sunday's Hymn: Who is This So Weak and Helpless

Who is this so weak and helpless,
Child of lowly Hebrew maid,
Rudely in a stable sheltered,
Coldly in a manger laid?
'Tis the Lord of all creation,
Who this wondrous path hath trod;
He is God from everlasting,
And to everlasting God.

Who is this, a Man of Sorrows,
Walking sadly life's hard way,
Homeless, weary, sighing, weeping
Over sin and Satan's sway?
'Tis our God, our glorious Saviour,
Who above the starry sky
Now for us a place prepareth,
Where no tear can dim the eye.

Who is this? behold him shedding
Drops of blood upon the ground!
Who is this, despised, rejected,
Mocked, insulted, beaten, bound?
'Tis our God, who gifts and graces
On his church now poureth down;
Who shall smite in holy vengeance
All his foes beneath his throne.

Who is this that hangeth dying
While the rude world scoffs and scorns,
Numbered with the malefactors,
Torn with nails, and crowned with thorns?
'Tis the God who ever liveth
'Mid the shining ones on high,
In the glorious golden city,
Reigning everlastingly.

William W. How, 1867

Price of Gas: Aug. 7, 2008

Well, gas is down another 4 cents per gallon this week in Crystal Lake, IL! I am sure hoping this downward trend continues for a good while to come!

How much are you paying for gas in your area this week? Are your prices heading up or down? Rebecca is keeping track of these things so stop over at her place and let her know.

Sunday's Hymn: When I Survey the Wondrous Cross

When I survey the wondrous cross
On which the Prince of glory died,
My richest gain I count but loss,
And pour contempt on all my pride.

Forbid it, Lord, that I should boast,
Save in the death of Christ my God:
All the vain things that charm me most,
I sacrifice them to his blood.

See, from his head, his hands, his feet,
Sorrow and love flow mingled down:
Did e'er such love and sorrow meet,
Or thorns compose so rich a crown?

Were the whole realm of nature mine,
That were a present far too small;
Love so amazing, so divine,
Demands my soul, my life, my all.

Isaac Watts, 1707

15 Words or Less Poem

Warp and weft,
Back and forth,
Moment by moment,
Memories create the fabric of time.


More 15 Words or Less Poems here.

Price of Gas: July 31, 2008

Woohoo! Gas is below $4.00 per gallon in Crystal Lake, IL! Yes, its down 12 cents from last week's price of $4.09 per gallon. Now, I am aware that I could have bought gas for below $4.00 per gallon the last couple of weeks at Sam's Club or Costco. And the truth of the matter is that I have done exactly that. But for the sake of comparing gas prices in various locations around the world is doesn't seem to me to be a valid comparison if I quote the price at places that require a (paid) membership card for the privilege of buying their gas when that option is not available in other locations or even to everyone in this locale. Besides, they don't post their prices on nice big photogenic signs out by the road! So this is the price you'd pay if you pulled up to the pump at the average gas station in Crystal Lake, IL.

What are you paying for gas where you live? Rebecca is compiling a comparison each week so stop over and let her know. And please don't let my preference for recording the price at the corner gas station stop you from sharing the price you pay at Sam's Club or Costco or some other limited access gas source where you live.

A New Book for Me!

I am excited to announce that I am the winner of the book giveaway over at Unbreakable Joy! Ben is the generous host of this one and I'm very grateful to him. He promptly let me know that I won and I've already sent him my mailing address so all I have to do is sit back and wait for my copy of God's Pursuit of Man by A.W. Tozer to show up in my mailbox. The hard one out by the road. Mailbox, that is.

I've never actually read anything by Tozer so I am especially excited to get this book. And Ben describes this particular book of Tozer's as one of his favorites. Now Ben's blog is a new find for me but the content over there tells me that that statement means something. If you haven't visited Ben this is my opportunity to tell you that you should definitely go see what he has to say. I think you'll find it worthwhile.

Chew on This: Psalm 6

1O LORD, rebuke me not in your anger,
nor discipline me in your wrath.
2Be gracious to me, O LORD, for I am languishing;
heal me, O LORD, for my bones are troubled.
3My soul also is greatly troubled.
But you, O LORD— how long?

4Turn, O LORD, deliver my life;
save me for the sake of your steadfast love.
5For in death there is no remembrance of you;
in Sheol who will give you praise?

6I am weary with my moaning;
every night I flood my bed with tears;
I drench my couch with my weeping.
7My eye wastes away because of grief;
it grows weak because of all my foes.

8 Depart from me, all you workers of evil,
for the LORD has heard the sound of my weeping.
9The LORD has heard my plea;
the LORD accepts my prayer.
10All my enemies shall be ashamed and greatly troubled;
they shall turn back and be put to shame in a moment.

I find this particular psalm so emotionally evocative that I had to step back and pray again that God would lessen that emotional response so that I might learn what He had for me on this day in these words of David. The tone of abject humility and need of God's mercy and grace is mine as well as David's. I too pray that our God not rebuke and discipline me in His righteous anger for I deserve it and would surely suffer it were it not for the work of Jesus Christ. I openly acknowledge my complete need of His graciousness because I am languishing. I looked up that word, languishing, in the dictionary. Not because I am unfamiliar with it as much as that I wanted to be sure I had the precise meaning in mind here. One of the definitions was "to become feeble, weak." Another was "to assume an expression of grief." I can see both meanings in verse 2. In my own strength, I am feeble and weak and can achieve no righteousness before God. In fact, I can be shockingly feeble and weak in the face of temptation. And I want always to grieve over that...grieve that I can offend my holy God with my ugly sinfulness in the way that I do. My only hope of healing and life is in Him and His steadfast love.

At first glance, verse 5 seems a bit, well, almost manipulative. "If you don't give me life, if you let me die, how can I praise You?" But its a reasonable argument and a beseeching one at that. David's pleading (and mine, by extension) continues in verses 6 and 7. He describes his increasing weakness in the face of his grief because of his foes. Surely, our primary enemies or foes are the things of earth that tempt us away from God.

But I thank God from the bottom of my heart for the words of the last three verses! He has heard my cry and my plea! He does accept my prayer! All workers of evil, all temptations will depart from me when I cry out to Him for rescue. My enemies shall be turned aside and put to shame in a moment! What peace and victory is in these words! They bring to mind the comfort of 1 Corinthians 10:13. "No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it." I'm thinking that most often the "way of escape" is turning to God in earnest prayer.

Leslie of Light Came invites us to "chew on a psalm" with her periodically. See what she and others came up with for Psalm 6 here.

Unknown Insect

We saw this interesting creature of the insect variety on a recent Charlie walk. It was clinging to the underside of that branch over our heads. An over-sized dragonfly would be my description of it but I am not convinced that that's what it is. Has anyone else ever seen this type of insect or know what it is?

Sunday's Hymn: Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing

Come, thou Fount of ev'ry blessing,
Tune my heart to sing thy grace;
Streams of mercy, never ceasing,
Call for songs of loudest praise,
Teach me some melodious sonnet,
Sung by flaming tongues above;
Praise the mount! I'm fixed upon it,
Mount of God's unchanging love.

Here I raise my Ebenezer;
Hither by thy help I'm come;
And I hope, by thy good pleasure,
Safely to arrive at home.
Jesus sought me when a stranger,
Wand'ring from the fold of God:
He, to rescue me from danger,
Interposed his precious blood.

O to grace how great a debtor
Daily I'm constrained to be;
Let that grace now, like a fetter,
Bind my wand'ring heart to thee.
Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it,
Prone to leave the God I love;
Here's my heart, O take and seal it,
Seal it for thy courts above.

Robert Robinson, 1758