Sunday's Hymn: Like a River Glorious

Like a river glorious
Is God's perfect peace,
Over all victorious
In its bright increase;
Perfect, yet it floweth
Fuller ev'ry day,
Perfect, yet it groweth
Deeper all the way.

Stayed upon Jehovah,
Hearts are fully blest,
Finding, as he promised,
Perfect peace and rest.

Hidden in the hollow
Of his blessed hand,
Never foe can follow,
Never traitor stand;
Not a surge of worry,
Not a shade of care,
Not a blast of hurry
Touch the spirit there.

Ev'ry joy or trial
Falleth from above,
Traced upon our dial
By the Sun of Love.
We may trust him fully
All for us to do;
They who trust him wholly
Find him wholly true.

Frances R. Havergal, 1878
Tune: Like a River, James Mountain, 1844-1933

Quotable

So do not fear, for I am with you;
do not be dismayed, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you and help you;
I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.~Isaiah 41:10

Thankful Thursday

Andy is in Corsicana, TX this week for his job. I miss him and I'm thankful that he comes home on Saturday. That's the day after tomorrow!

Like Rosemary, it seems that things often go awry when Andy is out of town. We had the furnace in one of the rentals repaired last week and I was feeling so thankful that that happened while Andy was still here. Well, the tenant called yesterday to say it wasn't working again. I was out and by the time we spoke, he had talked to someone else who had suggested turning the thermostat completely off and waiting a half hour to restart the furnace. It worked! At least for now, and I'm so thankful for that.

Still, its been a long week and I'm especially thankful for a dear friend who has invited me to join her family for dinner tomorrow night.

Oh, and one more thing I'm thankful for...snowdrops peeking up through the snow! They keep getting buried again by another inch or two of snow that then recedes in time for the next batch but I know they are there!

I intend to post my thankful thoughts each Thursday along with Kim of The Upward Call and others. Please join in!

Sunday's Hymn: Amazing Grace

Amazing grace—how sweet the sound—
That saved a wretch like me!
I once was lost, but now am found—
Was blind, but now I see.

'Twas grace that taught my heart to fear,
And grace my fears relieved;
How precious did that grace appear
The hour I first believed!

Thro' many dangers, toils and snares,
I have already come;
'Tis grace has brought me safe thus far,
And grace will lead me home.

And when this flesh and heart shall fail,
And mortal life shall cease,
I shall possess within the veil
A life of joy and peace.

When we've been there ten thousand years,
Bright shining as the sun,
We've no less days to sing God's praise
Than when we've first begun.

John Newton, 1779
Tune: Amazing Grace, traditional American melody, Arr. by Edwin O. Excell, 1851-1921

Thankful Thursday

I'm thankful to be just about over the flu. I faithfully got my flu shot back in October but I know that those shots are a mix of the strains that people in the know think will be the problem ones in a particular year. At least for me, they guessed wrong this year. It was not pleasant but I was so thankful for this promise from the passage of Isaiah which was part of last week's study:

So do not fear, for I am with you;
do not be dismayed, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you and help you;
I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.~Isaiah 41:10

Kim from The Upward Call and several others of us are posting our thanksgiving to our great God each Thursday. Please join in!

Kitchen Improvements: Phase I

Field Stone Cottage dates to the 1930's. The kitchen has been redone, probably multiple times, since then. The latest upgrades predate our ownership of the cottage which is now into its seventh year. My best guess would be late 1980's or early 1990's. The kitchen is really lovely but it is lacking in both usable cupboard space and working countertop space.
Andy and I debated on how to proceed on improvements and came up with a four point plan. Phase One: We decided that the two lower corner cupboards just had to have lazy susans installed! I was sick of having to get down on the floor, flashlight in hand, to try to find anything in the far reaches of those chasms!
So we visited our local big box home improvement centers and Andy searched for retrofit lazy susans online. We decided on these models.
After some emails back and forth between Andy and Allen to get the sizing right, we ordered four of these lazy susans on February 2nd. They arrived this past Friday, the 11th and Andy installed them on Saturday. He was really pleased with how quickly and easily the project went! I wasn't much help since I had the flu. Andy even took the pictures! But I'm really pleased with the outcome!

Sunday's Hymn: Jesus, Saviour, Pilot Me

Jesus, Saviour, pilot me
Over life's tempestuous sea;
Unknown waves before me roll,
Hiding rock and treach'rous shoal;
Chart and compass came from thee:
Jesus, Saviour, pilot me.

As a mother stills her child,
Thou canst hush the ocean wild;
Boist'rous waves obey thy will
When thou sayest to them, "Be still."
Wondrous Sovereign of the sea,
Jesus, Saviour, pilot me.

When at last I near the shore,
And the fearful breakers roar
'Twixt me and the peaceful rest,
Then, while leaning on thy breast,
May I hear thee say to me,
"Fear not, I will pilot thee."

Edward Hopper, 1871
Tune: Pilot, John E. Gould, 1871

Thankful Thursday

I hurt my back on Saturday, moving a piece of furniture around...I know....dumb, dumb, dumb. Anyway, I am so thankful that my back is just about back to normal today. I am thankful that God healed my back even though it was totally my fault that it got hurt. I'm thankful that He also heals my spiritual condition when I turn to Him in repentance for sins that are totally my doing, my disobedience.

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.~1 John 1:9

What are you thankful for today? Please join in the thanksgiving started by Kim from The Upward Call!

Sunday's Hymn: How Firm a Foundation, Ye Saints of the Lord

How firm a foundation, ye saints of the Lord,
Is laid for your faith in his excellent Word!
What more can he say than to you he hath said,
You who unto Jesus for refuge have fled?

"Fear not, I am with thee, O be not dismayed;
I, I am thy God, and will still give thee aid;
I'll strengthen thee, help thee, and cause thee to stand,
Upheld by my righteous, omnipotent hand.

"When through the deep waters I call thee to go,
The rivers of woe shall not thee overflow;
For I will be with thee thy troubles to bless,
And sanctify to thee thy deepest distress.

"When through fiery trials thy pathway shall lie,
My grace, all sufficient, shall be thy supply;
The flame shall not hurt thee; I only design
Thy dross to consume, and thy gold to refine.

"E'en down to old age all my people shall prove
My sovereign, eternal, unchangeable love;
And when hoary hairs shall their temples adorn,
Like lambs they shall still in my bosom be borne.

"The soul that on Jesus hath leaned for repose,
I will not, I will not desert to his foes;
That soul, though all hell should endeavor to shake,
I'll never, no, never, no, never forsake."

"K" in Rippon's Selection, 1787
Tune: Adeste Fideles, Unknown, probably 18th century

Thankful Thursday

I'm thankful that Emily is making lasagna for dinner tonight. I had a doctor's appointment late this afternoon so not having to rush home to fix dinner was especially appreciated. We're all hungry now plus lasagna is a favorite of every one of us so we're smelling that delicious aroma with eager anticipation! Can't wait!

What are you thankful for tonight? Kim of The Upward Call and several others of us are posting our thankful thoughts each Thursday. Please join in!

Blizzard: The Clean-up

It starts with Andy raking the snow off the roof edges as far up as he can reach with the roof rake. We have to get the heavy accumulation off so it doesn't slide off when the sun comes out and hurt someone. Snow is heavy! I didn't think of taking a picture of that part today but it was the first time Andy ever wore his snowshoes to do it!

Then he uses the snow blower to get around the cars as best he can and get to the sidewalk to do that around the corner to the second driveway. Living on a corner has pros and cons. But one pro is the second drive to move the cars between when removing snow. When the smaller drive and the front walk and Charlie's area are clear, we move the cars over to that drive and Andy does the big drive. We do have a two car garage on the side with the big driveway but we have three vehicles and a boat so the truck and the boat get the garage.

With this much snow, its taken some time and we had a lunch break in the middle but Andy is finishing it up now. That means its time for some hot chocolate!

Blizzard: The Morning After

View out the window.
The local newspaper says its 18 inches.

Looking up the street.

I love Charlie's reaction!

Evening Snow

You may have heard that our part of the country is getting a pretty good storm tonight and tomorrow. In fact, they are calling it a blizzard...and it is blowing and snowing mightily out there! But it sure did make for some nice pictures earlier this evening!

Sunday's Hymn: Gracious Saviour, Gentle Shepherd

Gracious Saviour, gentle Shepherd,
Our little ones are dear to thee;
Gathered with thine arms and carried
In thy bosom may they be
Sweetly, gently, safely tended,
From all want and danger free.

Tender Shepherd, never leave them
From thy fold to go astray;
By thy look of love directed,
May they walk the narrow way;
Thus direct them, and protect them,
Lest they fall an easy prey.

Let thy holy Word instruct them:
Fill their minds with heav'nly light;
Let thy love and grace constrain them,
To approve whate'er is right,
Take thine easy yoke and wear it,
And to prove thy burden light.

Cleanse their hearts from sinful folly
In the stream thy love supplied;
Mingled streams of blood and water
Flowing from thy wounded side:
And to heav'nly pastures lead them,
Where thine own still waters glide.

Jane E. Leeson, 1842
Tune: Dismissal, William L. Viner, 1845

Thankful Thursday

I'm thankful for good medical care. I'm thankful for Andy's job which provides good insurance coverage for that medical care and I'm thankful for the good doctors, hospitals and other health care providers that we have in Chicagoland. Andy and I do make use of them. But overall, our health is good and for that I am most thankful to our gracious God.

What are you thanking Him for today?

Quotable

Indeed, every earthly inclination--every earthly pursuit, however innocent in itself, when it interferes with the cultivation of Christian dispositions and the practice of Christian duties, becomes a weight which must be laid aside. There are certain habits in reference to religion itself which form great encumbrances to the persevering discharge of Christian duty. A fondness for what is curious and new in religion--a disposition to "intrude into things not seen," because not revealed--a giving heed to doctrines which minister questions rather than godly edifying--a turning aside unto vain janglings,--this appears to me one of the weights which Christians of the present as well as of the apostolic age need to lay aside, if they would so run as to obtain. The great enemy of our souls does not care much what it is that keeps us from prosecuting our Christian course, if we are but kept from prosecuting it; and when he can so far delude us as to make us believe that we are prosecuting that course when we are either standing still or proceeding in another direction, he considers his object as gained in the best possible way.~John Brown, Hebrews, on Hebrews 12:1

Sunday's Hymn: When Peace, Like a River

When peace, like a river, attendeth my way,
When sorrows like sea billows roll;
Whatever my lot, thou hast taught me to say,
It is well, it is well with my soul.

It is well with my soul;
It is well, it is well with my soul.

Though Satan should buffet, though trials should come,
Let this blest assurance control,
That Christ has regarded my helpless estate,
And has shed his own blood for my soul.

My sin—O the bliss of this glorious thought!—
My sin, not in part, but the whole,
Is nailed to the cross and I bear it no more;
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul!

O Lord, haste the day when the faith shall be sight,
The clouds be rolled back as a scroll,
The trump shall resound and the Lord shall descend;
"Even so"—it is well with my soul.

Horatio G. Spafford, 1828-1888
Tune: It is Well, Philip P. Bliss, 1876

Thankful Thursday

I'm thankful for bright sunshine this afternoon. Its only 17 frigid degrees out there and the forecasted low for tonight is -6 degrees Fahrenheit but sunshine right now makes up for a lot of those missing degrees.

So does Bible study with Kim and Carol. I am thankful for the encouragement around the table in refocusing our eyes on Jesus, the Author and Perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Wow! Overwhelmingly thankful to our most gracious Savior!

What are you thanking our God for this day?

Sunday's Hymn: O Lord, By Thee Delivered

O Lord, by thee delivered,
I thee with songs extol;
My foes thou hast not suffered
To glory o'er my fall.
O Lord, my God, I sought thee,
And thou didst heal and save;
Thou, Lord, from death didst ransom
And keep me from the grave.

His holy Name remember,
Ye saints, Jehovah praise;
His anger lasts a moment,
His favor all our days;
For sorrow, like a pilgrim,
May tarry for a night,
But joy the heart will gladden
When dawns the morning light.

In prosp'rous days I boasted,
Unmoved I shall remain,
For, Lord, by thy good favor
My cause thou didst maintain;
I soon was sorely troubled,
For thou didst hide thy face;
I cried to thee, Jehovah,
I sought Jehovah's grace.

What profit if I perish,
If life thou dost not spare?
Shall dust repeat thy praises,
Shall it thy truth declare?
O Lord, on me have mercy,
And my petition hear;
That thou mayst be my helper,
In mercy, Lord, appear.

My grief is turned to gladness,
To thee my thanks I raise,
Who hast removed my sorrow
And girded me with praise;
And now, no longer silent,
My heart thy praise will sing;
O Lord, my God, for ever
My thanks to thee I bring.

From Psalm 30
The Psalter, 1912
Tune: Ellacombe,
Wurttemberg, Gesangbuch, 1784

Thankful Thursday

I am thankful for faithful brothers and sisters in Christ who take my concerns and requests to our perfect High Priest as though they were their own. I thank God upon every remembrance of them.