Thankfulness

As I am packing our things for a week away, I can't help but think with gratitude of our neighbors who have gifted us with a week's stay in their Wisconsin cabin.  And cabin is really a misnomer in this case. This home has air conditioning, internet, cable TV and all the amenities one could possibly want.  Plus it is situated on a lake!  And the real topper for us is that they have two kayaks up there that we can use!!  We are experienced canoers (is that a word?) but have never used kayaks, although we've wanted to try them for a long time. So we are quite excited.

I am also thankful that Emily's schedule allows her to join us for tomorrow and Saturday.  The life of a musician is definitely not 9-5 so thats an extra blessing.  And she's the only one of us who has gone kayaking before so maybe she can give us some pointers.

Its raining here this morning and I am definitely thankful for that too!  Things are looking a bit greener but we are still in need of more rain.

What blessings is God showering on you today?  Please do share.

Sunday's Hymn: Come, Holy Spirit, Come

Come, Holy Spirit, come;
Let thy bright beams arise;
Dispel the darkness from our minds,
And open all our eyes.

Cheer our desponding hearts,
Thou heav'nly Paraclete;
Give us to lie with humble hope
At our Redeemer's feet.

Revive our drooping faith;
Our doubts and fears remove;
And kindle in our breasts the flames
Of never dying love.

Convince us of our sin;
Then lead to Jesus' blood,
And to our wond'ring view reveal
The secret love of God.

'Tis thine to cleanse the heart,
To sanctify the soul,
To pour fresh love in every part,
And new create the whole.

Dwell, therefore, in our hearts;
Our minds from bondage free;
Then we shall know and praise and love
The Father, Son, and Thee.

Joseph Hart, 1712-1768
Tune: Camberwell, Har. by Samuel S. Wesley, 1810-1876

Thankfulness

I am thankful:

1. to be in no more pain from shingles!  I am still on medication for the neuralgia that commonly follows shingles but my doctor said we could begin to decrease that once I was pain free.  I am very much looking forward to talking to her early next week!
2. for continued cooler temperatures and some much needed rain.
3. for every day safety that we sometimes take for granted.
4. for our Sunday night Bible study at church.  Its currently the book of Romans and the discussion has been excellent.

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

Teach me, O Lord, thy way of truth,
And from it I will not depart;
That I may steadfastly obey,
Give me an understanding heart.

In thy commandments make me walk,
For in thy law my joy shall be;
Give me a heart that loves thy will,
From discontent and envy free.

Turn thou mine eyes from vanity,
And cause me in thy ways to tread;
O let thy servant prove thy Word
And thus to godly fear be led.

Turn thou away reproach and fear;
Thy righteous judgments I confess;
To know thy precepts I desire;
Revive me in thy righteousness.

From Psalm 119:33-40
The Psalter, 1912
Tune: Bishop, Joseph P. Holbrook, 1822-1888

Thankfulness

I am very thankful for the rain we are receiving right now!  Its been raining most of the afternoon and so far its 0.84 inches on the rain gauge!

I am also thankful for the cooler temperatures.  Mid-seventies for the high of the day is practically perfect!  Murphy and I had a delightful walk this morning when it was 68 degrees and the skies were overcast.

Earlier in the week, we celebrated Emily's birthday.  Andy had Monday off so we took Emily and a friend water skiing and tubing.  As we switched to the tube, Murphy took advantage of the opportunity and jumped off the boat onto it so even he got to go for a ride!

We had a great time together!  Well, all of us humans anyway.  Murphy was a lot less enthusiastic as the boat got farther and farther away from us.  And once we anchored the boat and started swimming off of it, he was even less sure of the fun of the outing.  So we put him back aboard, never expecting that he would jump onto the clump of grassy weeds that went floating by!  I sure wish I could share a picture of that with you!

Anyway, we had a great time together and, back to gratitude to our gracious God, I am so thankful for the blessing of a loving family and the fun times we have together.

Sunday's Hymn: Mighty God, While Angels Bless Thee

Mighty God, while angels bless thee,
May a mortal sing thy name?
Lord of men as well as angels,
Thou art every creature's theme.

Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! Amen.

Lord of every land and nation,
Ancient of eternal days,
Sounded through the wide creation
Be thy just and lawful praise.

For the grandeur of thy nature,
Grand beyond the seraph's thought;
For created works of power,
Works with skill and kindness wrought.

But thy rich, thy free redemption,
Dark through brightness all along,
Thought is poor, and poor expression,
Who dare sing that awful song?

Brightness of the Father's glory,
Shall thy praise unuttered lie?
Fly, my tongue, such guilty silence,
Sing the Lord who came to die:

From the highest throne in glory,
To the cross of deepest woe,
All to ransom guilty captives,
Flow my praise, for ever flow.


Robert Robinson, 1774
St. 1, line 2, alt.
Tune: Alleluia (Lowe), Albert Lowe, 1868

Thankfulness

Its been another hot week here in Crystal Lake, IL but we did get some rain last weekend and the grass is a bit less brown than its been.  Praise God for that!

I'm also praising God for the talent and abilities He has given to our Emily who is giving a concert on the harpsichord tomorrow.  Its a noon concert, part of a concert series at a church in a neighboring community, and I am thankful that I will be able to attend and enjoy it.

And I am thankful for some improvement in the residual pain associated with my shingles as well as the drugs that help to ease the pain.  Finally, I am thankful for your prayers on my behalf and for a God who listens to them.

Sunday's Hymn: Jesus, Lover of My Soul

Jesus, Lover of my soul,
Let me to thy bosom fly,
While the nearer waters roll,
While the tempest still is high:
Hide me, O my Saviour, hide,
Till the storm of life is past;
Safe into the haven guide,
O receive my soul at last!

Other refuge have I none,
Hangs my helpless soul on thee;
Leave, ah! leave me not alone,
Still support and comfort me!
All my trust on thee is stayed,
All my help from thee I bring;
Cover my defenseless head
With the shadow of thy wing.

Thou, O Christ, art all I want;
More than all in thee I find:
Raise the fallen, cheer the faint,
Heal the sick, and lead the blind.
Just and holy is thy Name;
I am all unrighteousness;
False and full of sin I am,
Thou art full of truth and grace.

Plenteous grace with thee is found,
Grace to cover all my sin;
Let the healing streams abound;
Make and keep me pure within:
Thou of life the Fountain art,
Freely let me take of thee;
Spring thou up within my heart,
Rise to all eternity.


Charles Wesley, 1740
Tune: Refuge, Joseph P. Holbrook, 1862

Thankfulness

Yesterday, the ladies of our church had lunch together and it was delightful!  I am thankful for each one of these precious sisters in Christ. The reason for our gathering was less delightful, however.  One of our number (and we are a very small church) is leaving us to move to North Carolina with her husband.  She will be sorely missed but I am thankful for the time she and her husband have been with us.

Yesterday, the temperature here in Crystal Lake, IL got up to 101 degrees.  I may sound like a broken record (now isn't that revealing my age category) but I am very grateful for our working air conditioning.

Finally, I am still fighting shingles and am on a pain medication that makes me sleepy and less efficient than normal...not that I am always on top of everything, mind you.  But I am especially thankful for the patience and loving kindness of my family at this time.

Sunday's Hymn: Jesus, My Great High Priest

Jesus, my great High Priest,
Offered his blood and died;
My guilty conscience seeks
No sacrifice beside.
His pow'rful blood did once atone,
And now it pleads before the Throne.

To this dear Surety's hand
Will I commit my cause;
He answers and fulfills
His Father's broken laws.
Behold my soul at freedom set;
My Surety paid the dreadful debt.

My Advocate appears
For my defense on high;
The Father bows his ears
And lays his thunder by.
Not all that hell or sin can say
Shall turn his heart, his love, away.

Should all the hosts of death
And pow'rs of hell unknown
Put their most dreadful forms
Of rage and mischief on,
I shall be safe, for Christ displays
His conqu'ring pow'r and guardian grace.


Isaac Watts, 1709
Tune: Bevan, Sir John Goss, 1853

Thankfulness

We had a major thunderstorm last night and lost power just as we were getting ready for bed.  I am so very thankful that it came on again about 7 this morning.  We have a generator (which I am thankful for too) and Andy started it for me before he left but I don't like being the one who is responsible for the thing so I was glad that he could turn it off and set things up for commercial power, as he calls it, before he left too.  It just happened to be the one day a month that Andy goes in late to back up certain pieces of equipment at work.

I am also thankful that we had a certain tree in our yard taken down on Tuesday because we were concerned about the way it increasingly leaned over the garage.  Actually, the tree is not completely down but only the tall trunk remains.  It was so hot on Tuesday (100 degrees) and the men were being so careful not to let the branches fall on the garage that they ran out of time and are coming back to finish in a couple of weeks but I guess there was nothing to catch the wind last night.

Thirdly, I am thankful that the wasps who were apparently living in that tree and were swarming all around the back door once they discovered their home was gone have apparently left us in peace now.

Finally, I am thankful for the badly needed three inches of rain that fell last night!!  That is in addition to the 2.11 inches (according to Andy's rain gauge) that we got on Saturday.  The grass is still brown but some of the plants are looking a little happier now.

So what are you thanking God for today?  Please do share.

Sunday's Hymn: Call Jehovah Thy Salvation

Call Jehovah thy Salvation,
Rest beneath th'Almighty's shade,
In his secret habitation
Dwell, and never be dismayed:
There no tumult shall alarm thee,
Thou shalt dread no hidden snare:
Guile nor violence can harm thee,
In eternal safeguard there.

From the sword at noonday wasting,
From the noisome pestilence,
In the depth of midnight blasting,
God shall be thy sure Defence:
He shall charge his angel legions
Watch and ward o'er thee to keep;
Though thou walk through hostile regions,
Though in desert wilds thou sleep.

Since, with pure and firm affection
Thou on God hast set thy love,
With the wings of his protection
He will shield thee from above:
Thou shalt call on him in trouble,
He will hearken, he will save;
Here for grief reward thee double,
Crown with life beyond the grave.

From Psalm 91; James Montgomery, 1822

Tune: Autumn, Francois H. Barthelemon, 1741-1808

Thankfulness

Our evening walks with Murphy have been so lovely this week!  Perfect temperatures and gorgeous sunsets over Crystal Lake!  And I just came back from a very pleasant (70 degrees) walk with Murphy this morning.  So I thank God for His provision of lovely mornings and evenings in this hot summer we've been having.

I'm still in the clutches of shingles so I was so thankful when Emily came home Tuesday evening with a loose fitting summer dress that she saw at Walmart and thought might be a perfect shingles dress.  She was right and I appreciate the thoughtful, loving daughter God has given me.

Speaking of family, I am thankful not only for our working A/C but for the fun times together we're enjoying despite the heat.  For me, its not what we're doing so much as the fact that we are together.  Even if we're each engaged in our own activity, we are together.  I am thankful for the gift of family.

How about you?  What good gifts has our gracious God given you this week?  Please share.

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

A Little Shade for the Flowers

I just came in from getting the mail.  Well, actually, I came in from getting the mail to get my camera and head back out to capture my neighbor's novel method of protecting her impatiens from our scorching 102 degree sun.  Maybe she's onto something but I just don't have that many umbrellas!

Thankfulness

This week I am thankful for improvement in my case of shingles.  Its not gone but its less painful and I am therefore sleeping better at night.  Thank you, God!

I am also very grateful for air conditioning in this week of daytime highs hovering around the 100 degree Fahrenheit mark.  And I am thankful for electricity to run the air conditioning.  Many are without power and suffering in the heat without a way to cool off.  I pray for relief for them very soon.

Finally, I am thankful for our country and the freedoms we enjoy in the U.S.  Its far from a perfect country.  That's my homeland in Heaven.  But as earthly countries go, its a pretty good one and I was pleased to celebrate its birthday yesterday.

What are you thanking God for this week?  Please do share!

Sunday's Hymn: Not What My Hands Have Done

Not what my hands have done
Can save my guilty soul;
Not what my toiling flesh has borne
Can make my spirit whole.
Not what I feel or do
Can give me peace with God;
Not all my prayers and sighs and tears
Can bear my awful load.

Thy work alone, O Christ,
Can ease this weight of sin;
Thy blood alone, O Lamb of God,
Can give me peace within.
Thy love to me, O God,
Not mine, O Lord to thee,
Can rid me of this dark unrest
And set my spirit free.

Thy grace alone, O God,
To me can pardon speak;
Thy pow'r alone, O Son of God,
Can this sore bondage break.
No other work, save thine,
No other blood will do;
No strength, save that which is divine,
Can bear me safely through.

I bless the Christ of God;
I rest on love divine;
And with unfalt'ring lip and heart
I call this Saviour mine.
This cross dispels each doubt;
I bury in his tomb
Each thought of unbelief and fear,
Each ling'ring shade of gloom.

I praise the God of grace;
I trust his truth and might;
He calls me his, I call him mine,
My God, my joy, my light.
'Tis he who saveth me,
And freely pardon gives;
I love because he loveth me,
I live because he lives.


Horatius Bonar, 1861; alt.
Tune: Leominster, George William Martin, 1862
Har. by Sir Arthur S. Sullivan, 1874

Thankfulness

This week I am thankful for the good time we had at the weekend picnic for the rescue group from which we adopted Murphy.  Murphy especially enjoyed running around in the big fenced in area with all the other little dogs.  He's the most outgoing little fellow so for him, that picnic was wonderful!

I came home with a case of shingles so for me the picnic was a little less fun.  But still I am thankful for early diagnosis of the problem (Monday morning) and the availability of the antiviral drugs that minimize long term effects of this unpleasant disease.  I am also thankful that mine is effecting a nerve that wraps around the trunk of my body rather than a nerve that serves the facial area around the ear or eye.  So now I just wait for it to run its course.

And finally, I am thankful for God's provision of a loving family and good friends who pray and are willing to care for me when I am less than 100%.

God is good, all the time.  What are you thanking Him for this week?

Sunday's Hymn: Jesus, the Very Thought of Thee

Jesus, the very thought of thee
With sweetness fills my breast;
But sweeter far thy face to see,
And in thy presence rest.


Nor voice can sing, nor heart can frame,
Nor can the mem'ry find,
A sweeter sound than thy blest Name,
O Saviour of mankind.


O Hope of ev'ry contrite heart,
O Joy of all the meek,

To those who fall, how kind though art!

How good to those who seek!

But what to those who find? Ah, this

Nor tongue nor pen can show:

The love of Jesus, what it is

None but his loved ones know.

Jesus, our only Joy be thou,

As thou our Prize wilt be;

Jesus, be thou our Glory now,

And through eternity.

Anon., Latin, 11th century

Tr. by Edward Caswall, 1849

Tune: St. Agnes, John B. Dykes, 1866

Thankfulness

I am very thankful for some cooler temperatures in the forecast for the weekend.  Its been in the 90's here in our neck of the woods with heat indices even higher so temps in the lower 80's sound really good about now.  Especially since Andy, Murphy and I are going to a weekend "picnic" for the rescue group from which we adopted Murphy.  We're not sure of what exactly to expect but it will be more fun if we're not all sweltering!

Considering that my maximum preferred daytime high temperature is really right around 72, I am also thankful for some new clothes of a sort that are supposed to prevent sunburn and wick away perspiration to keep one cooler.  They will be most of my weekend wardrobe even with the cooler forecast.  And I got them all on sale; some even clearance!!

Finally, I've been thinking a lot about the blessing of family this week. Immediate family, extended family and church family, even the ones I have a bristling sort of relationship with, each individual is a personal blessing and an opportunity for me to grow in grace and peace.  Such wisdom and love God demonstrates in my life to give them to me!