Sunday's Hymn: Rock of Ages

Rock of Ages, cleft for me,
Let me hide myself in thee;
Let the water and the blood,
From thy riven side which flowed,
Be of sin the double cure,
Cleanse me from it's guilt and pow'r.

Not the labors of my hands
Can fulfill thy law's demands;
Could my zeal no respite know,
Could my tears forever flow,
All for sin could not atone;
Thou must save, and thou alone.

Nothing in my hand I bring,
Simply to thy cross I cling;
Naked, come to thee for dress,
Helpless, look to thee for grace;
Foul, I to the Fountain fly;
Wash me Saviour, or I die.

While I draw this fleeting breath,
When mine eyelids close in death,
When I soar to worlds unknown,
See thee on thy judgment throne,
Rock of Ages, cleft for me,
Let me hide myself in thee.

Augustus M. Toplady, 1776
Tune: Toplady, Thomas Hasting, 1830


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Thankful Thursday

I am thankful for Andy's day off from work today. Well, let me clarify that. I am thankful for Andy's day off from his paid employment today. We both worked very hard today and are feeling satisfied with all we accomplished. I am thankful that God gives us the strength and abilities to do all sorts of jobs around the house.

Fall is a busy time in Northern Illinois as we prepare for freezing temps and snow but it's a beautiful time too. I am thankful for the beauty of the changing leaves against the blue sky but I'll be thankful for the beauty of winter when it comes too. How wonderful that our God surrounds us with the beauty of creation all year long!

And finally, I am thankful for the comfortable bed and the restoration of sleep that await me in a couple of hours...not to mention the clean sheets I put on that bed today!


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Sunday's Hymn: Ye Christian Heralds, Go Proclaim

Ye Christian heralds, go proclaim
Salvation through Emmanuel's name!
To distant climes the tidings bear,
And plant the Rose of Sharon there.

God shield you with a wall of fire,
With flaming zeal your breasts inspire,
Bid raging winds their fury cease,
And hush the tempests into peace.

And when our labors all are o'er,
Then shall we meet to part no more;
Meet with the blood-bought throng to fall,
And crown our Jesus Lord of all.

Bourne H. Draper, 1803
Tune: Missionary Chant, Heinrich C. Zeuner, 1832


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Thankful Thursday

A day late again but all week I've been so thankful that our God is "able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us" so "to Him be all glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen."~Ephesians 20-21

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Sunday's Hymn: How Beautiful the Sight

How beautiful the sight
Of brethren who agree
In friendship to unite,
And bonds of charity;
'Tis like the precious ointment, shed
O'er all his robes, from Aaron's head.

'Tis like the dews that fill
The cups of Hermon's flow'rs;
Or Zion's fruitful hill,
Bright with the drops of show'rs,
When mingling odors breathe around,
And glory rests on all the ground.

For there the Lord commands
Blessings, a boundless store,
From his unsparing hands,
Yea, life for evermore:
Thrice happy they who meet above
To spend eternity in love!

From Psalm 133, James Montgomery 1771-1854
Tune: St. Godric John B. Dykes, 1823-1875


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Thankful Thursday

I'm thankful for a good check-up by my endocrinologist today. My thyroid cancer is well under control! I'm also thankful for my endocrinologist. He's a wonderfully competent doctor and a very caring man. What more could I ask?

I'm thankful for a nice hot cup of tea when I got home. My endocrinologist is about an hour and 15 away, as they say in these parts, and it's been steadily raining all day. That tea was very welcome!

I'm thankful for a soft, warm little dog...Charlie...in my lap as I drank the tea. And while I'm on the subject of Charlie, I'm going to mention that tomorrow is his 16th birthday! I'm thankful for every moment of his life and that he belongs to us!

I'm thanking God for a warm and comfortable home to return to as well. I'm a homebody and am always thankful for my cozy refuge, whether I've been gone a few weeks or a few hours.

Of course, I'm most thankful for the refuge and strength that is my God, an ever-present help in trouble.

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Sunday's Hymn: Father of Mercies

Father of mercies, in thy Word
what endless glory shines;
Forever be thy Name adored
For these celestial lines.

Here may the wretched sons of want
Exhaustless riches find;
Riches above what earth can grant
And lasting as the mind.

Here the Redeemer's welcome voice
Spreads heav'nly peace around;
And life and everlasting joys
Attend the blissful sound.

O may these heav'nly pages be
My ever dear delight;
And still new beauties may I see,
And still increasing light.

Divine Instructor, gracious Lord,
Be thou forever near;
Teach me to love thy sacred Word,
And view my Saviour there.

Anne Steele, 1760
Tune: Beatitudo, John B. Dykes, 1875

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Thankful Thursday

I'm thankful for a lovely day spent with my dear husband, Andy, today.

I'm thankful for this bit of Indian summer we're having this week. 79 sunny degrees today!

And I'm thankful for the health and strength God has given us to do the work we did in the yard today...especially since Andy is still recovering from his recent back injury.

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Sunday's Hymn: I Waited for the Lord Most High

I waited for the Lord most high,
And he inclined to hear my cry;
He took me from destruction's pit
And from the miry clay;
Upon a rock he set my feet,
And stedfast made my way.

A new and joyful song of praise
He taught my thankful heart to raise;
And many, seeing me restored,
Shall fear the Lord and trust;
And blest are they that trust the Lord,
The humble and the just.

O Lord my God, how manifold
Thy wondrous works which I behold,
And all thy loving, gracious thought
Thou hast bestowed on man;
To count thy mercies I have sought,
But boundless is their span.

Psalm 40:1-5, The Psalter, 1912
Tune: Dunstan, Sir Joseph Barnby, 1838-1896


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Thankful Thursday

This week has been a jumble of mixed emotions mostly related to my sweet little Charlie. He's only two weeks shy of 16 and we've known about an underlying problem with his heart for the last two and a half years. It's just been in the "keep an eye on it" stage though, and we've been instructed to bring him into the vet at the first sign of coughing. Well, he had a slight, intermittent cough last week but it turned into an ugly "keep all three of us awake" sort of thing in the early morning hours on Saturday. So Saturday morning we were at our regular vet's office and she confirmed my suspicions that it was indeed a cardiac cough and started him on some Lasix. She was reluctant to do any more without consulting Charlie's cardiologist, however. So Tuesday afternoon, he and I headed over there. The cardiologist confirmed that he is in early congestive heart failure and added enalapril to his drug routine. She also reassured me that Charlie could be made comfortable and enjoy a good quality of life for a while longer...maybe even another couple of years. And that's a big reason to be thankful for me this week! I do thank God for caring vets and advances in veterinary medicine but I am also very grateful for God's provision of the resources to spend on a beloved pet like this. We won't do anything extraordinary but a couple of drugs seem like a small thing compared to the joy of Charlie's presence in our lives for another while. Thank you, God.



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Sunday's Hymn: Thy Way, Not Mine, O Lord

Thy way, not mine, O Lord,
However dark it be!
Lead me by thine own hand,
Choose out the path for me;
Smooth let it be or rough,
It will be still the best;
Winding or straight, it leads
Right onward to thy rest.

The kingdom that I seek
Is thine; so let the way
That leads to it be thine,
Else I must surely stray.
I dare not choose my lot;
I would not if I might:
Choose thou for me, my God,
So shall I walk wright.

Take thou my cup, and it
With joy or sorrow fill
As best to thee may seem;
Choose thou my good and ill.
Not mine, not mine the choice
In things or great or small;
Be thou my Guide, my Strength,
My Wisdom, and my All.

Horatius Bonar,1857
Tune: Invitation, Frederick C. Maker, 1881


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Thankful Thursday

Today my thankful thoughts are focused on:

continued healing and improvement in Andy's back

a good time of fellowship with a dear sister

the gift of the Holy Spirit

the peace of God, that transcends all understanding and that guards our hearts and our minds in Christ Jesus.

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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 fulfill
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


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Thankful Thursday

I'm thankful for this week's very fall-like weather....cool and clear.

I'm thankful for the start of another year of Bible study. Its the book of Acts this year and I'm already being convicted and challenged.

I'm thankful for the gift of the indwelling Holy Spirit who testifies that I am a child of God.


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Thankful Thursday

I'm thankful today for the weekend stay in Minocqua, WI that I won last spring at an outdoor show. Andy and I (and Charlie too) are heading out tomorrow morning for a much needed bit of relaxation. It's supposed to be a lovely weekend, weather-wise, and we plan to relax with some lackadaisical fishing (no boat this time) and checking out of local shops and tourist spots.

I'm thankful too that our heavenly Father provides for all we need here on this earth but He promises that our real treasures are in heaven. What a loving Father He is!


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Sunday's Hymn: The Lord Will Come and Not Be Slow

The Lord will come and not be slow,
His footsteps cannot err;
Before him righteousness shall go,
His royal harbinger.

Truth from the earth, like to a flow'r,
Shall bud and blossom then;
And justice, from her heav'nly bow'r,
Look down on mortal men.

Rise, God, judge thou the earth in might,
This wicked earth redress;
For thou art he who shall by right
The nations all possess.

For great thou art, and wonders great
By thy strong hand are done;
Thou in thine everlasting seat
Remainest God alone.

John Milton, 1608-1674
Tune: St. Magnus, Jeremiah Clark, 1670-1707


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Thankful Thursday

I am so very thankful for:

my dear friend, Kim...for so very many reasons.

that we have new tenants in the rental...and I think we are going to have a very good relationship with this family.

that God is healing Andy's back...and that its in His timing, not mine, because I know His ways are perfect...despite my impatience.

that "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


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Sunday's Hymn: O God of Truth

O God of truth, whose living Word
Upholds what're hath breath,
Look down on thy creation, Lord,
Enslaved by sin and death.

Set up thy standard, Lord, that we
Who claim a heav'nly birth,
May march with thee to smite the lies
That vex thy groaning earth.

Ah! would we join that blest array,
And follow in the might
Of him, the Faithful and the True,
In raiment clean and white!

Then, God of truth for whom we long,
Thou who wilt hear our pray'r,
Do thine own battle in our hearts,
And slay the falsehood there.

Thomas Hughes, 1859
Tune: Mirfield, Arthur Cottman, 1872

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Thankful Thursday

Today my thankful thoughts have turned to....flowers!
















I'm so glad God made them a part of our world...especially the pink ones!


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Sunday's Hymn: We Praise Thee, O God

We praise thee, O God, our Redeemer, Creator
In grateful devotion our tribute we bring.
We lay it before thee, we kneel and adore thee,
We bless thy holy Name, glad praises we sing.

We worship thee, God of our fathers, we bless thee;
Through life's storm and tempest our Guide hast though been.
When perils o'er take us, escape thou wilt make us,
And with thy help, O Lord, our battles we win.

With voices united our praises we offer,
To thee, great Jehovah, glad anthems we raise.
Thy strong arm will guide us, our God is beside us,
To thee, our great Redeemer, forever be praise.

Julia Cady Cory
Tune: Kremser, Old Netherlands melody in The Collection, Adrianus Valerius, 1625

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