Thankful Thursday

May the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, equip you with everything good for doing his will, and may he work in us what is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.~Hebrews 13:20-21

These are the verses I'm especially thanking God for today. This afternoon, Kim, Carol and I finished up our long-standing study of the book of Hebrews and for me, these two verses bring to mind so much of the content of that book. I have so, so much to be thankful for in them...that I am at peace with our God through the blood of Christ who bore my sins on the cross, that our Lord Jesus Christ is my great Shepherd, that God will equip me and sanctify me to do every good work that He plans for me in His will making me pleasing to Him through Christ Jesus. There's more imbedded in these words of Scripture too but this is more than enough to make me overflow with gratitude to Him!

Sunday's Hymn: Blest be the Tie that Binds

Blest be the tie that binds
Our hearts in Christian love:
The fellowship of kindred minds
Is like to that above.

Before our Father's throne
We pour our ardent prayers;
Our fears, our hopes, our aims, are one,
Our comforts and our cares.

We share our mutual woes,
Our mutual burdens bear,
And often for each other flows
The sympathizing tear.

When we asunder part,
It gives us inward pain;
But we shall still be joined in heart,
And hope to meet again.

This glorious hope revives
Our courage by the way,
While each in expectation lives,
And longs to see the day.

From sorrow, toil and pain,
And sin, we shall be free;
And perfect love and friendship reign
Through all eternity.

John Fawcett, 1782
Tune: Dennis, Arr. from Hans G. Nageli by Lowell Mason, 1845

Thankful Thursday

Its Friday again and I'm just posting my gratitude to God this morning for the fun day Emily and I spent together yesterday. We had originally planned to do something outdoors like visiting the Japanese Gardens that are about an hour from our house. 80% chance of rain changed that so we visited the community of Naperville, IL which is about an hour away in a different direction to browse some shops and enjoy a relaxing lunch. We agreed that it didn't matter exactly what we did, that the important thing was being together and we had a wonderful day of it! So wonderful that I forgot all about my Thankful Thursday post until this morning!

Sunday's Hymn: Now May He Who From the Dead

Now may he who from the dead
Brought the Shepherd of the sheep,
Jesus Christ, our King and Head,
All our souls in safety keep.

May he teach us to fulfil
What is pleasing in his sight;
Perfect us in all his will,
And preserve us day and night.

To that dear Redeemer's praise,
Who the cov'nant sealed with blood,
Let our hearts and voices raise
Loud thanksgiving to our God.

John Newton, 1779
Tune: Mercy, Arr. from Louis M. Gottschalk, 1867



- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Thankful Thursday

I am thankful for:

• our snug and welcoming home...weeds and all...as we returned from vacation
  
• strength for the work accomplished this week...lots of weeding included
• FaceTime on my iPad that allows me to see my sister in Oregon when I talk to her
• my sister in Oregon
  
• our church and our time of prayer together last evening
• the book of Hebrews
• God's sovereignty over all despite things that don't always make sense

What are you thanking our gracious God for this day? Please share!

Sunday's Hymn: Father, Again in Jesus' Name We Meet

Father, again in Jesus' Name we meet,
And bow in penitence beneath thy feet:
Again to thee our feeble voices raise,
To sue for mercy, and to sing thy praise.

O we would bless thee for thy ceaseless care,
And all thy works from day to day declare:
Is not our life with hourly mercies crowned?
Does not thine arm encircle us around?

Alas, unworthy of thy boundless love,
Too oft with careless feet from thee we rove;
But now, encouraged by thy voice, we come,
Returning sinners to a Father's home.

O by that Name in whom all fullness dwells,
O by that love which ev'ry love excels,
O by that blood so freely shed for sin,
Open blest mercy's gate, and take us in.

Lady Lucy E. G. Whit more, 1824
St. 3, line 2; st. 4, line 4, alt.
Tune: Longwood, Sir Joseph Barnby, 1872

Thankful Thursday

On this second Thursday of our vacation in the Northwoods of Wisconsin, I am thankful for:

God's provision of safety, especially on the water but also on our trips to town and sightseeing

the fish we've caught

the refreshment and relaxation that Andy and I (Charlie too) have experienced together

WiFi coverage and my iPad which has allowed me to stay in touch with those from whom it is hard to be separated

a home and a life that I'm glad to return to

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Sunday's Hymn: Great God of Wonders!

Great God of wonders! all thy ways

Are worthy of thyself divine;

And the bright glories of thy grace

Among thine other wonders shine:

Who is a pard'ning God like thee?

Or who has grace so rich and free?

Pardon from an offended God!

Pardon for sins of deepest dye!

Pardon bestowed through Jesus' blood!

Pardon that brings the rebel nigh!

O may this glorious matchless love,

This God-like miracle of grace,

Teach mortal tongues like those above,

To raise this song of lofty praise;

Samuel Davies, 1723-1761

Tune: Pater Omnium, Henry J.E. Holmes, 1875

Thankful Thursday

We're on vacation in the beautiful Northwoods of Northern Wisconsin this week and next. Its good to spend time relaxing together with Andy and Charlie in God's beautiful creation! I'm so thankful for His provision of this place and the resources that allow us to be here. But today I am especially thankful that He allowed Andy to catch this impressive 40 inch musky right off the dock of our cabin yesterday afternoon! I'm also thankful that He provided the granddaughter of a neighbor at just the right time to hear Andy calling me to come quick with the camera! She ran up to the cabin and got me before that big fish got away so Andy has this snap to prove his story.

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Sunday's Hymn: There is a Green Hill Far Away

There is a green hill far away,
Without a city wall,
Where the dear Lord was crucified,
Who died to save us all.

We may not know, we cannot tell,
What pains he had to bear;
But we believe it was for us
He hung and suffered there.

He died that we might be forgiv'n,
He died to make us good,
That we might go at last to heav'n,
Saved by his precious blood.

There was no other good enough
To pay the price of sin;
He only could unlock the gate
Of heav'n, and let us in.

O dearly, dearly has he loved,
And we must love him too,
And trust in his redeeming blood,
And try his works to do.

Cecil Frances Alexander, 1848
Tune: Meditation, John H. Gower, 1890

Thankful Thursday

Andy gave me the gift of an iPad this past Saturday! Can you believe it? I'm still incredulous myself! I've got a long ways to go on the learning curve but, wow! That about sums it up! Maybe that's too many exclamation marks...no, I don't think so.

And, listen to this. I normally use my laptop to post to my blog but there is a major, multiple day problem going on for some Blogger users including me. But here I am, posting from my iPad, using an app called Blogpress and smiling all the time.

And Charlie is smiling too because he's so much more comfortable sleeping on my lap without my continual effort to reach over him to use the laptop.

So, yes, today I am thankful for this fun, new gadget but even more I am thankful for a loving husband who persisted in telling me how much I would enjoy it. Need I say he was right?

What good gift are you thanking our gracious God for today? Please do share!


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Lemon Poppy Seed Muffins

1 3/4 cup flour
1/2 cup sugar
1 tablespoon each: lemon zest, poppy seeds
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 large egg, beaten
8 oz. lemon yogurt (I used 8 oz. vanilla yogurt plus 1 teaspoon lemon juice)
1/2 cup vegetable oil
1 teaspoon vanilla

Heat oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit. Combine flour, sugar, lemon zest, poppy seeds, baking powder, baking soda and salt in a medium bowl. Make a well in the center of dry ingredients and set aside.

Stir together beaten egg, yogurt, vegetable oil and vanilla in medium bowl. Add liquid ingredients to dry ingredients mixing only until just moistened. Batter will be lumpy.

Spoon batter into greased or paper-lined muffin tins, filling each 2/3 full. Bake until muffins are golden brown, about 18-20 minutes. Cool in pan for 5 minutes.

Mix 1/2 cup confectioner's sugar with 3 teaspoons lemon juice in a small bowl to make a glaze. Remove muffins to cooling rack and drizzle with glaze. Serve warm.

Sunday's Hymn: Teach Me, O Lord, Thy Holy Way

Teach me, O Lord, thy holy way
And give me an obedient mind;
That in thy service I may find
My soul's delight from day to day.

Guide me, O Saviour, with thy hand,
And so control my thoughts and deeds,
That I may tread the path which leads
Right onward to the blessed land.

Help me, O Saviour, here to trace
The sacred footsteps thou hast trod;
And, meekly walking with my God,
To grow in goodness, truth, and grace.

Guard me, O Lord, that I may ne'er
Forsake the right, or do the wrong:
Against temptation make me strong,
And round me spread thy shelt'ring care.

Bless me in ev'ry task, O Lord,
Begun, continued, done for thee:
Fulfil thy perfect work in me;
And thine abounding grace afford.

William T. Matson, 1866
Tune: Penitence, St. Albans Tune Book, 1875

Thankful Thursday

I'm thankful that today was warmer and sunnier than its been but definitely not too hot. I think I'm in that stage of life where my comfortable temperature range varies by only a degree or two either way and today was practically perfect in that regard.

I'm also thankful for my "new" kitchen. I'm thankful for Andy's willingness to help redesign it and then acquire and install the upgrades. Its a joy to work in now!

And I'm thankful for this truth spoken by our God to His people in Isaiah 49:16a:

See, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands

It makes His promise to never leave me nor forsake me penetrate my heart with even deeper meaning.

Kitchen Improvements: Phase IV

Phase IV, the final phase of the kitchen improvement project is now complete! Here is the unveiling of a beautiful stainless steel pot rack hanging over the Boos Block!
What a difference it makes! The pots and pans are so much easier to grab as needed. Now I just have to decide how to utilize the new found cabinet space to its maximum advantage.

The entire kitchen improvement project cost about $2500.00. That's not cheap but its still a fraction of what an actual kitchen remodel would have cost and I know I'm happier with the outcome. My kitchen went from looking nice but not so workable to very comfortable to work in and I really love how it looks too! I am so pleased!

A View of Mt. Hood

As seen through the window of the plane on my recent trip to Oregon

Sunday's Hymn: How Precious is the Book Divine

How precious is the book divine,
By inspiration given,
Bright as a lamp its doctrines shine,
To guide our souls to heav'n.

It sweetly cheers our drooping hearts,
In this dark vale of tears;
Life, light and joy it still imparts
And quells our rising fears.

This lamp, through all the tedious night
Of life, shall guide our way,
Till we behold the clearer light
Of an eternal day.

John Fawcett, 1782
Tune: Belmont, Arr. from William Gardiner, 1812

Sunday's Hymn: Shout, For the Blessed Jesus Reigns

Shout, for the blessed Jesus reigns;
Through distant lands his triumphs spread;
And sinners, freed from endless pains,
Own him their Saviour and their Head.

He calls his chosen from afar,
They all at Zion's gates arrive;
Those who were dead in sin before
By sovereign grace are made alive.

Gentiles and Jews his laws obey;
Nations remote their off'rings bring,
And unconstrained their homage pay
To their exalted God and King.

O may his holy church increase,
His Word and Spirit still prevail,
While angels celebrate his praise,
And saints his growing glories hail.

Loud hallelujahs to the Lamb,
From all below, and all above!
In lofty songs exalt his Name,
In songs as lasting as his love.

Benjamin Beddome, 1769
Tune: Truro, Psalmodia Evengelica, 1789

Thankful Thursday

I'm still here in Oregon thanking God for this very special time that He arranged for me and Mary to be together. I'm also thankful for the graciousness of Andy and Emily and my dear friend, Kim, who have each stepped in to take over various aspects of my day to day work at home so I could be here. And although this trip has been primarily one of "sister time," I've seen so many other precious members of my family and I do thank God for each one of them. I am blessed!

Sunday's Hymn: Who is This That Comes from Edom

Who is this that comes from Edom,
All his raiment stained with blood;
To the slave proclaiming freedom;
Bringing and bestowing good:
Glorious in the garb he wears,
Glorious in the spoils he bears?

'Tis the Saviour, now victorious,
Trav'ling onward in his might;
'Tis the Saviour, O how glorious
To his people is the sight!
Jesus now is strong to save,
Mighty to redeem the slave.

Why that blood his raiment staining?
'Tis the blood of many slain;
Of his foes there's none remaining,
None the contest to maintain:
Fall'n they are, no more to rise,
All their glory prostrate lies.

Mighty Victor, reign for ever,
Wear the crown so dearly won;
Never shall thy people, never
Cease to sing what thou hast done:
Thou hast fought thy people's foes;
Thou wilt heal thy people's woes.

Thomas Kelly, 1809
Tune: Edom, Albert L. Peace, 1885