Thankfulness and Praise

Songs of Thankfulness and Praise

Songs of thankfulness and praise,
Jesus, Lord, to thee we raise,
manifested by the star
to the sages from afar;
branch of royal David's stem
in thy birth at Bethlehem;
anthems be to thee addressed,
God in man made manifest.

Manifest at Jordan's stream,
Prophet, Priest and King supreme;
and at Cana, wedding guest,
in thy Godhead manifest;
manifest in power divine,
changing water into wine;
anthems be to thee addressed,
God in man made manifest.

Manifest in making whole
palsied limbs and fainting soul;
manifest in valiant fight,
quelling all the devil's might;
manifest in gracious will,
ever bringing good from ill;
anthems be to thee addressed,
God in man made manifest.

Sun and moon shall darkened be,
stars shall fall, the heavens shall flee;
Christ will then like lightning shine,
all will see his glorious sign;
all will then the trumpet hear,
all will see the Judge appear;
thou by all wilt be confessed,
God in man made manifest.

Grant us grace to see thee, Lord,
mirrored in thy holy Word;
may we imitate thee now,
and be pure, as pure art thou;
that we like to thee may be
at thy great Epiphany;
and may praise thee, ever blest,
God in man made manifest.

Words: Christopher Wordsworth (1807-1885), 1862
MIDI: Salzburg
Meter: 77 77 D

Advent - Week 4 - Day 1

"Savior of the Nations, Come"
by Martin Luther, 1483-1546

Savior of the nations, come;
Virgin’s Son, here make Thy home!
Marvel now, O heaven and earth,
That the Lord chose such a birth.

Not by human flesh and blood;
By the Spirit of our God
Was the Word of God made flesh,
Woman’s offspring, pure and fresh.

Wondrous birth! O wondrous Child
Of the virgin undefiled!
Though by all the world disowned,
Still to be in heaven enthroned.

From the Father forth He came
And returneth to the same,
Captive leading death and hell
High the song of triumph swell!

Thou, the Father’s only Son,
Hast over sin the victory won.
Boundless shall Thy kingdom be;
When shall we its glories see?

Brightly doth Thy manger shine,
Glorious is its light divine.
Let not sin o’ercloud this light;
Ever be our faith thus bright.

Praise to God the Father sing,
Praise to God the Son, our King,
Praise to God the Spirit be
Ever and eternally.

The Lutheran Hymnal
Hymn # 95
Text: John 1: 14
Author: St. Ambrose, +397
German version translated by Martin Luther, 1524
Translated by: William M. Reynolds, 1860, alt.
Titled: Veni, Redemptor gentium
Tune: Nun komm, der Heiden Heiland
1st Published in: Geistliches Gesangbuchlein
Town: Wittenberg, 1524, ad.

Advent - Week 3 - Day 7

When Morning Gilds the Skies

When morning gilds the skies my heart awaking cries:
May Jesus Christ be praised!
Alike at work and prayer, to Jesus I repair:
May Jesus Christ be praised!

When you begin the day, O never fail to say,
May Jesus Christ be praised!
And at your work rejoice, to sing with heart and voice,
May Jesus Christ be praised!

Whene’er the sweet church bell peals over hill and dell,
May Jesus Christ be praised!
O hark to what it sings, as joyously it rings,
May Jesus Christ be praised!

My tongue shall never tire of chanting with the choir,
May Jesus Christ be praised!
This song of sacred joy, it never seems to cloy,
May Jesus Christ be praised!

Does sadness fill my mind? A solace here I find,
May Jesus Christ be praised!
Or fades my earthly bliss? My comfort still is this,
May Jesus Christ be praised!

To God, the Word, on high, the host of angels cry,
May Jesus Christ be praised!
Let mortals, too, upraise their voice in hymns of praise,
May Jesus Christ be praised!

Be this at meals your grace, in every time and place;
May Jesus Christ be praised!
Be this, when day is past, of all your thoughts the last
May Jesus Christ be praised!

When mirth for music longs, this is my song of songs:
May Jesus Christ be praised!
When evening shadows fall, this rings my curfew call,
May Jesus Christ be praised!

When sleep her balm denies, my silent spirit sighs,
May Jesus Christ be praised!
When evil thoughts molest, with this I shield my breast,
May Jesus Christ be praised!

The night becomes as day when from the heart we say:
May Jesus Christ be praised!
The powers of darkness fear when this sweet chant they hear:
May Jesus Christ be praised!

No lovelier antiphon in all high Heav’n is known
Than, Jesus Christ be praised!
There to the eternal Word the eternal psalm is heard:
May Jesus Christ be praised!

Let all the earth around ring joyous with the sound:
May Jesus Christ be praised!
In Heaven’s eternal bliss the loveliest strain is this:
May Jesus Christ be praised!

Sing, suns and stars of space, sing, ye that see His face,
Sing, Jesus Christ be praised!
God’s whole creation o’er, for aye and evermore
Shall Jesus Christ be praised!

In Heav’n’s eternal bliss the loveliest strain is this,
May Jesus Christ be praised!
Let earth, and sea and sky from depth to height reply,
May Jesus Christ be praised!

Be this, while life is mine, my canticle divine:
May Jesus Christ be praised!
Sing this eternal song through all the ages long:
May Jesus Christ be praised!

Words: From Katholisches Gesangbuch; translated from Ger­man to Eng­lish by Edward Caswall
Music: “Laudes Domini,” Joseph Barnby

Thankfulness

I waited patiently upon the LORD;* he stooped to me and heard my cry. He lifted me out of the desolate pit, out of the mire and clay;* he set my feet upon a high cliff and made my footing sure. He put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God;* many shall see, and stand in awe, and put their trust in the LORD. Happy are they who trust in the LORD!* they do not resort to evil spirits or turn to false gods. Great things are they that you have done, O LORD my God! how great your wonders and your plans for us!* there is none who can be compared with you. Oh, that I could make them known and tell them!* but they are more than I can count. ~Psalm 40:1-6

Thankfulness

Last month my blog focus was on thankfulness. This month I’ve been posting Advent hymns which have turned out to be another thing to be thankful for in that most of them are new to me and they are such treasures.

Today though I wanted to return to the things I'm thankful for. We have been under several winter weather advisories and we have been blessed to have not had any major problems. We have electricity, water, food, and wood. We are warm and dry. The television, radio, and internet are working. The roads and driveway are too icy to navigate, but we have not had to go out. We’ve been listening to Christmas music, reading Christmas stories, watching Christmas movies and snuggling. And Peter ventured out to get the icy snow off of the back deck which afforded him some much appreciated outdoor fun time. As I said so much to be thankful for. ;-)

Advent - Week 3 - Day 1

I chose this hymn because the third week of Advent is traditionally a time for giving particular attention to Mary and her role as bearer and mother of our Lord.

A VIRGIN UNSPOTTED

A virgin unspotted, the prophet foretold,
Should bring forth a Savior, which now we behold,
To be our Redeemer from death, hell, and sin,
Which Adam’s transgression had wrappèd us in.

Aye and therefore be merry, set sorrow aside,
Christ Jesus our Savior was born on this tide.

At Bethlehem city in Jewry it was
That Joseph and Mary together did pass,
All for to be taxèd with many one moe [sic],
Great Caesar commanded the same should be so.
~Refrain

But when they had entered the city so fair,
A number of people so mighty was there,
That Joseph and Mary, whose substance was small,
Could find in the inn there no lodging at all.
~Refrain

Then were they constrained in a stable to lie,
Where horses and asses they used for to tie;
Their lodging so simple they took it no scorn,
But against the next morning our Savior was born.
~Refrain

The King of all kings to this world being brought,
Small store of fine linen to wrap Him was sought,
But when she had swaddled her young Son so sweet,
Within an ox manger she laid Him to sleep.
~Refrain

Then God sent an angel from Heaven so high,
To certain poor shepherds in fields where they lie,
And bade them no longer in sorrow to stay,
Because that our Savior was born on this day.
~Refrain

Then presently after the shepherds did spy
Vast numbers of angels to stand in the sky;
They joyfully talkèd and sweetly did sing,
To God be all glory, our heavenly King.
~Refrain

To teach us humility all this was done,
And learn we from thence haughty pride for to shun:
A manger His cradle Who came from above,
The great God of mercy, of peace and of love.
~Refrain

Advent - Week 2 - Day 6

Lift Up Your Heads, Ye Mighty Gates
 
Lift up your heads, ye mighty gates;
behold, the King of glory waits;
the King of kings is drawing near;
the Savior of the world is here!

Fling wide the portals of your heart;
make it a temple, set apart
from earthly use for heaven's employ,
adorned with prayer and love and joy.

Redeemer, come, with us abide;
our hearts to thee we open wide;
let us thy inner presence feel;
thy grace and love in us reveal.

Thy Holy Spirit lead us on
until our glorious goal is won;
eternal praise, eternal fame
be offered, Savior, to thy name!

Text: Georg Weissel, 1590-1635; trans. by Catherine Winkworth, 1827-1878
Music: Psalmodia Evangelica
Tune: TRURO,
Meter: LM

---

Advent - Week 2 - Day 5

Hark, the Glad Sound!

Hark, the glad sound! the Savior comes,
The Savior promised long;
Let every heart prepare a home,
And every voice, a song.

On Him the Spirit, largely poured,
Exerts His sacred fire;
Wisdom and might, and zeal and love,
His holy breast inspire.

He comes the prisoners to release,
In Satan’s bondage held;
The gates of brass before Him burst,
The iron fetters yield.

He comes, from thickest films of vice
To clear the mental ray,
And on the eyes oppressed with night
To pour celestial day.

He comes the broken heart to bind,
The bleeding soul to cure;
And with the treasures of His grace
To enrich the humble poor.

His silver trumpets publish loud
The jub’lee of the Lord
Our debts are all remitted now
Our heritage restored.

Our glad hosannas, Prince of Peace,
Thy welcome shall proclaim;
And Heav’n’s eternal arches ring
With Thy belovèd Name.

Words: Philip Doddridge, December 28, 1735.
Music: St. Saviour, Frederick G. Baker, 1876 (MIDI, score)

Advent - Week 2 - Day 4

In due course John the Baptist appeared; he proclaimed this message in the desert of Judaea, 'Repent, for the kingdom of Heaven is close at hand.' This was the man spoken of by the prophet Isaiah when he said: A voice of one that cries in the desert, 'Prepare a way for the Lord, make his paths straight.' ~ Matthew 3:1-3

Hark, the Voice of One That Crieth

Comfort, comfort ye my people,
Speak ye peace, thus saith our God;
Comfort those who sit in sadness,
Mourning ’neath their sorrow’s load;
Speak ye to Jerusalem
Of the peace that waits for them;
Tell her that her sins I cover,
And her warfare now is over.

Hark, the voice of one that crieth
In the desert far and near,
Calling all to true repentance,
Since the reign of God is here.
O that warning cry obey!
Now prepare for God a way!
Let the valleys rise in meeting,
And the hills bow down in greeting.

Make ye straight what long was crooked,
Make the rougher places plain:
Let your hearts be true and humble,
As befits this holy reign,
For the glory of our God
Now o’er earth is shed abroad,
And all flesh shall see the token
That God's word is never broken.

Johann Olearius, 1671; tr. Catherine Winkworth, 1842; alt.
Tune: PSALM 42
Louis Bourgeois, 1551

Advent - Week 2 - Day 3

ON JORDAN’S BANK THE BAPTIST’S CRY

On Jordan’s bank the Baptist’s cry
Announces that the Lord is nigh;
Come, then, and hearken, for he brings
Glad tidings from the King of kings!

Then cleansed be every breast from sin;
Make straight the way for God within;
Prepare we in our hearts a home,
Where such a mighty Guest may come.

For Thou art our Salvation, Lord,
Our Refuge, and our great Reward.
Without Thy grace our souls must fade
And wither like a flower decayed.

Stretch forth Thine hand, to heal our sore,
And make us rise and fall no more;
Once more upon Thy people shine,
And fill the world with love divine.

To Him Who left the throne of Heaven
To save mankind, all praise be given;
Like praise be to the Father done,
And Holy Spirit, Three in One.

Words: Charles Coffin

Advent - Week 2 - Day 2

O SON of GOD, WE WAIT for THEE

O Son of God, we wait for Thee,
In love for Thine appearing;
We know Thou sittest on the throne,
And we Thy Name are bearing,
Who trusts in Thee, may joyful be,
And see Thee, Lord, descending,
To bring us bliss unending.

We wait for Thee ’mid toil and pain,
In weariness and sighing;
But glad that Thou our guilt hast borne,
And canceled it by dying;
Hence cheerfully may we with Thee
Take up our cross and bear it,
Till we relief inherit.

We wait for Thee; here Thou hast won
Our hearts to hope and duty;
But while our spirits feel Thee near,
Our eyes would see Thy beauty;
We fain would be at rest with Thee
In peace and joy supernal,
In glorious life eternal.

We wait for Thee; sure Thou wilt come;
The time is swiftly nearing;
In this we also now rejoice,
And long for Thine appearing.
Oh, bliss ’twill be when Thee we see,
Homeward Thy people bringing,
With transport and with singing!

Words: Philipp F. Hiller (1699-1769) (Wir warten dein, o Gottes Sohn); translated from German to English by Joseph A. Seiss, 1890.

Advent - Week 2 - Day 1

OF THE FATHER’S LOVE BEGOTTEN

Of the Father’s love begotten, ere the worlds began to be,
He is Alpha and Omega, He the source, the ending He,
Of the things that are, that have been,
And that future years shall see, evermore and evermore!

At His Word the worlds were framèd; He commanded; it was done:
Heaven and earth and depths of ocean in their threefold order one;
All that grows beneath the shining
Of the moon and burning sun, evermore and evermore!

He is found in human fashion, death and sorrow here to know,
That the race of Adam’s children doomed by law to endless woe,
May not henceforth die and perish
In the dreadful gulf below, evermore and evermore!

O that birth forever blessèd, when the virgin, full of grace,
By the Holy Ghost conceiving, bare the Savior of our race;
And the Babe, the world’s Redeemer,
First revealed His sacred face, evermore and evermore!

This is He Whom seers in old time chanted of with one accord;
Whom the voices of the prophets promised in their faithful word;
Now He shines, the long expected,
Let creation praise its Lord, evermore and evermore!

O ye heights of heaven adore Him; angel hosts, His praises sing;
Powers, dominions, bow before Him, and extol our God and King!
Let no tongue on earth be silent,
Every voice in concert sing, evermore and evermore!

Righteous judge of souls departed, righteous King of them that live,
On the Father’s throne exalted none in might with Thee may strive;
Who at last in vengeance coming
Sinners from Thy face shalt drive, evermore and evermore!

Thee let old men, thee let young men, thee let boys in chorus sing;
Matrons, virgins, little maidens, with glad voices answering:
Let their guileless songs re-echo,
And the heart its music bring, evermore and evermore!

Christ, to Thee with God the Father, and, O Holy Ghost, to Thee,
Hymn and chant with high thanksgiving, and unwearied praises be:
Honor, glory, and dominion,
And eternal victory, evermore and evermore!

—Aurelius Prudentius

Advent - Day 7

O Come, O Come Emmanuel

O come, O come, Emmanuel
And ransom captive Israel
That mourns in lonely exile here
Until the Son of God appear
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel.

O come, Thou Rod of Jesse, free
Thine own from Satan's tyranny
From depths of Hell Thy people save
And give them victory o'er the grave
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel.

O come, Thou Day-Spring, come and cheer
Our spirits by Thine advent here
Disperse the gloomy clouds of night
And death's dark shadows put to flight.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel.

O come, Thou Key of David, come,
And open wide our heavenly home;
Make safe the way that leads on high,
And close the path to misery.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel.

O come, O come, Thou Lord of might,
Who to Thy tribes, on Sinai's height,
In ancient times did'st give the Law,
In cloud, and majesty and awe.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel.

Advent - Day 2

O Come, Divine Messiah

O come, divine Messiah!
The world in silence waits the day
When hope shall sing its triumph,
And sadness flee away.

Dear Savior haste;
Come, come to earth,
Dispel the night and show your face,
And bid us hail the dawn of grace.

O come, divine Messiah!
The world in silence waits the day
When hope shall sing its triumph,
And sadness flee away.

O Christ, whom nations sigh for,
Whom priest and prophet long foretold,
Come break the captive fetters;
Redeem the long-lost fold.

Dear Savior haste;
Come, come to earth,
Dispel the night and show your face,
And bid us hail the dawn of grace.

O come, divine Messiah!
The world in silence waits the day
When hope shall sing its triumph,
And sadness flee away.

You come in peace and meekness,
And lowly will your cradle be;
All clothed in human weakness
Shall we your Godhead see.

Dear Savior haste;
Come, come to earth,
Dispel the night and show your face,
And bid us hail the dawn of grace.

O come, divine Messiah!
The world in silence waits the day
When hope shall sing its triumph,
And sadness flee away.

Text: Simon J. Pellegrin
Music: 16th cent French carol, Harmony: Brian M. Ames

Advent - Day 1

Come, Thou Long Expected Jesus

Come, Thou long expected Jesus
Born to set Thy people free;
From our fears and sins release us,
Let us find our rest in Thee.
Israel’s Strength and Consolation,
Hope of all the earth Thou art;
Dear Desire of every nation,
Joy of every longing heart.

Born Thy people to deliver,
Born a child and yet a King,
Born to reign in us forever,
Now Thy gracious kingdom bring.
By Thine own eternal Spirit
Rule in all our hearts alone;
By Thine all sufficient merit,
Raise us to Thy glorious throne.

~ Charles Wesley

Day 30 - Thankfulness

I was going to write about and post a picture of the snow. Yes, it's finally snowing! But as I was going through the pictures on the disk I came across this one and realized that this is the picture I want to end this month of thankful posts with. For this precious and unexpected gift I am so very thankful. Because of this gift, and in the living out the words of Deuteronomy 11:18-19*, I'm even further blessed by seeing so many other gifts that I might have otherwise missed. 

*You shall therefore lay up these words of Mine in your heart and in your soul, . . . You shall teach them to your children, talking of them when you are sitting in your house, and when you are walking by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise.

Day 29 - Thankfulness

Everyday there are so many things for which to be thankful. Today it was our cell phone and the blessing of a good signal. Our land phone was out of order and usually we have a very weak cell signal.

Also, the folks that came to repair our TV today. They were nice, they knew what they were doing, and they gave us all sorts of great information on a variety of electronic issues.

Two examples of things that could have been fodder for grumbling, but instead were opportunities for thankfulness. Not in a pollyanna kind of way, but real opportunities to see God's hand in our life.

Day 28 - Thankfulness

I will praise the name of God with song And magnify Him with thanksgiving. ~ Psalm 69:30

We Will Glorify

We will glorify the King of Kings,
We will glorify the Lamb,
We will glorify the Lord of Lords,
Who_ is the great I Am.

Lord Jehovah reigns in majesty,
We will bow before His throne,
We will worship Him in righteousness,
We will worship Him alone.

He is Lord of heaven, Lord of earth,
He is Lord of all who live,
He is Lord above the universe,
All praise to Him we give.

Hallelujah to the King of Kings,
Hallelujah to the Lamb.
Hallelujah to the Lord of Lords,
Who is the great I Am.


©1982, Singspiration Music
Words and Music by Twila Paris

Day 27 - Thankfulness

Day 26 - Thankfulness

Make-up. Today I am thankful for make-up and ribbons and bows and lace and dresses and skirts and pretty tops and sparkly belts and bracelets and flowers and well . . . you know . . . all the pretty, feminine, girly stuff.

It was a lovely wedding . . .

Day 25 - Thankfulness

I'm thankful for birthdays, weddings, and holidays. Opportunities to stop and reflect, to reminisce, to focus on and celebrate with the special people in our lives. Today is a birthday, tomorrow a wedding, and Thursday, Thanksgiving. So much to be thankful for!

Day 24 - Thankfulness

Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
~ Colossians 3:12-17

Days 22 - Thankfulness

The other day when I was checking out Google Reader, I discovered another handy application, Google Notebook. It is just what it says, a notebook. When I find something I want to remember, I just copy and paste into the notebook. It's so handy. And if you want, you can share it. So cool.

Day 21 - Thankfulness

Why should I fear when evil days come,*
The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and I have been helped; Therefore my heart dances for joy, and in my song will I praise him.


* ~ Psalm 49:5, Psalm 28:7

Days 20 - Thankfulness

Oh LORD, thou hast pleaded the causes of my soul; thou hast redeemed my life.* 

And for this, I am truly thankful. Amen

*~ Lamentations 3:58

Days 19 - Thankfulness

All the day to day stuff. I am thankful for all of the day to day things (that sadly, I sometimes foolishly complain about). Dishes, laundry, dusting, vacuuming, cooking, picking up, schooling, shopping. I am so blessed to have a family and a home and a car and a yard that need me to do all of the day to day things for.  

Days 18 - Thankfulness

I've been thinking about this a lot lately ~ the little things. I am grateful for all the "little things." All of the wonderful amazing little things that God does in my life that would only be special and meaningful to me. The little things are really very big things.

Day 17 - Thankfulness

My laptop. I am so thankful for my laptop. Tonight I am able to sit with my family by the fireplace and write this post and email with my best friend. A couple of weeks ago, I was able to sit outside enjoying the Indian summer weather and follow blogs and answer emails. It has traveled with us as we moved across the country and has gone with us to Ukraine and Israel. It has my contacts, my music, my photos, e-books, electronic devotions and Bible, and lots and lots of journaling. During long periods of being homebound it has been my "window" to the world. I am thankful for my laptop especially because it was given to me with love, from my husband, for whom (I might have mentioned this before) I am very thankful.

Day 16 - Thankfulness

I am thankful for this beautiful sunny Lord's day and the blessing of family to share it with.

Day 15 - Thankfulness

I am thankful for a talented creative husband who creates beautiful children's books and animated Bible maps and websites. I am also thankful that he is able to do his work from our home, and that Peter, who loves the kind of work Daddy does, has the opportunity to be with Daddy and learn from him and create his own wonderful projects.

Day 14 - Thankfulness

I am so thankful for a friend, a kindred spirit,
who really knows and understands me.
Someone I can just be myself with.
She is such a blessing.



related: Friendship

Day 13 - Thankfulness

A few days ago Kim wrote about being thankful for blogging friends, for Google Reader, and for the positive impact that blogging has had on her life.

As I was reading, I was thinking about how I too am very thankful for my blogging friends and the positive impact that blogging has had on my life, but I didn't know a thing about Google Reader. So I decided to check it out. Wow! I had no idea how much easier my blogging life could be (and now will be).

So, in addition to all of the other blessings that I am receiving as a result of Rebecca's "Thankfulness" post, I now have a much easier way to keep up with what's going on with everyone.

Thank you Kim.

Day 12 - Thankfulness

I'm so thankful for Rebecca for declaring November a month of thanksgiving and inviting us to join her in blogging what we are thankful for and for all of the folks I've "met" as a result. As I read through everyone's entries each day, I am so blessed and my thankfulness grows and grows.

Day 11 - Thankfulness

Necessary Knowledge
"Thus shall they know that I the LORD their God am with them, and that they, even the house of Israel, are My people, saith the LORD God" (Ezekiel 34:30).

To be the LORD's own people is a choice blessing, but to know that we are such is a comfortable blessing. It is one thing to hope that God is with us and another thing to know that He is so. Faith saves us, but assurance satisfies us. We take God to be our God when we believe in Him; but we get the joy of Him when we know that He is ours and that we are His. No believer should be content with hoping and trusting; he should ask the LORD to lead him on to full assurance, so that matters of hope may become matters of certainty. It is when we enjoy covenant blessings and see our LORD Jesus raised up for us as a plant of renown that we come to a clear knowledge of the favor of God toward us. Not by law, but by grace do we learn that we are the LORD's people. Let us always turn our eyes in the direction of free grace. Assurance of faith can never come by the works of the law. It is an evangelical virtue and can only reach us in a gospel way. Let us not look within. Let us look to the LORD alone. As we see Jesus we shall see our salvation. LORD, send us such a flood-tide of Thy love that we shall be washed beyond the mire of doubt and fear.

From "Faith's Checkbook" - November 9
Faith's Checkbook by C. H. Spurgeon

Day 10 - Thankfulness

The 23rd Psalm ~
I am thankful for all of the Psalms and all of God's Word, but the 23rd Psalm holds a special place in my heart.

1 The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.
2 He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.
3 He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.
4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.
5 Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.
6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.

Day 9 - Thankfulness

The internet ~
I am so very thankful for the internet for countless reasons. Here are just a few:
new friends
keeping in touch through words and pictures
innumerable free resources
shopping
music
a sense of connectedness

Day 8 - Thankfulness

Provision ~
When we moved to Oklahoma we didn't know we would be so rural, so far from stores and libraries. But God did. I cannot count how many times I have opened a box, a drawer, an old notebook, a cabinet, or looked on a shelf and found exactly what I needed, just when I needed it. Something I purchased or was given long before we moved for some “inexplicable” reason, and in many cases had completely forgotten about.

For all of the big things and the seemingly small things, for all of the amazing ways and means that the Lord uses to provide for me and my family, I am so very grateful.

Day 7 - Thankfulness

Like Dorothy, I am thankful for Fridays and the promises that weekends hold.

Also, fires in the fireplace. Our electricity went out for much of the day and it got quite chilly in our house, so we built a fire in the fireplace which warmed us and our home very nicely.

Which brings me to wood. I am so grateful for the wood we have this year to have fires in the fireplace.

Which brings me to how blessed we are to have a wonderful neighbor who cut the wood that we purchased so we would have fires in the fireplace.

Day 6 - Thankfulness

John records these comforting words from our Lord:
“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” ~ John 14:27

And Paul writes in Philippians:
Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. ~ Philippians 4:5-7

I am so thankful for the peace of God.

Day 5 - Thankfulness

What is the chief end of man?

Man’s chief end is to glorify God, and to enjoy Him forever.

Psalm 50:23 tells us: “The one who offers thanksgiving as his sacrifice glorifies Me;”

Thank You, Lord. 

Day 4 - Thankfulness

Telephones. Today I am so grateful for telephones that keep me connected to those I love.

Rebecca also reminded me how grateful I am for the long distance plan we have that allows me to not just keep connected, but to talk and talk and talk to my beautiful 9 year old granddaughter about well, whatever 9 year olds want to talk about!

Day 3 - Thankfulness

Today I was reflecting on how thankful I am to be able to homeschool. How fortunate I am to be able watch and nurture and share in the creative processes. To be there when the “idea” becomes a “reality.”

Day 2 - Thankfulness

So many things to list! 

Today it’s my camera. It’s so wonderful to be able to capture and share so many of the things for which I’m so grateful. 

Thankfulness

I have been going to restart a gratitude journal for months now and thanks to Rebecca and Ann, I have a renewed incentive. Rebecca has declared November a month of thanksgiving at her blog and is inviting everyone to join in. And Ann is also inviting us to join the Gratitude Community. 

At Study in Brown, Tonia reminded me that “thankfulness is a double gift; first, the obvious joy of every day’s blessings and second, the way such awareness has the potential to transform moments into a treasure hunt of beauty and gladness.”

On this first day of November I have so many things that I am grateful for. I'll begin my list with:

~ our home

~ family & friends

~ beautiful fall colors & weather

~ an unexpected visit & walk with a friend and her family

~ a wonderful online community

~ a fellow (and until today unknown to me) blogger from our former home town posting beautiful pictures that our family was so blessed by.

Rejoice

Praise the LORD
Sing unto the LORD a new song
and HIS praise in the congregation of saints

Praise the LORD in worship . . .

let them sing praises unto HIM with
timbrel and harp
for the LORD takes pleasure in HIS people
HE will beautify the meek with salvation
let the saints be joyful in glory
let them sing aloud upon their beds . . .
(Psalm 149:1, 3b-5)

From the beginning of the day until the end of the day we should be rejoicing in our salvation before the LORD.
Are we?

Happy Birthday Gabe!

Summer science fun

Happy Birthday Sarah!

Mo'ed

Yesterday was a mo'ed.
"These moments in time when all the things come together so completely to bring about a plan are called a divine appointment or "Moed" - appointed time. Some of us take these so for granted when they happen but it is nothing short of miraculous." ~Deep Calleth Unto Deep

All I can think and say and sing is, how great is our God!

How Great is Our God

Making challah

Life lessons

Peter and I were watching a program on drawing. It was a wonderfully instructive program in many ways. As the artist was showing us how to "see" what we want to draw, and then what we have drawn, he kept saying,
"now stop . . .
look . . .
ask yourself, what do I see . . .
do I need to make any adjustments?"

Another lesson ~ if you use a very light touch, the lines are then light, so that if a correction needs to be made it is easily done.

As I was pondering these "lessons" and how they apply to life as a whole, I read this in an article by Rabbi Wein:

The rabbis taught us in the Talmud “Attempting too grab too much too soon means that one will eventually grab nothing.” Grabbing less, wisely, with patience and a long view of things always is a better policy. Haste and impatience, overreaching and unrealistic assessments of the situation, always lead to, at the very least, painful backaches. (emphasis mine)
For Rabbi Wein's whole article click here.

Nature, computers, and

imagination!
In addition to the typical benefits of our nature walks and all of the great pictures we've been taking, Peter has been inspired to take all this natural wonder a step further.
He has been taking photos, ones he's taken of nature as well as ones he's taken of his paintings, and then bringing them into Poser, a 3D modeling program, and adding images. He then saves the new images and prints them out onto a photo printer. Sometimes this process requires more than one computer, saving files onto portable hard drives, and using multiple software programs. Cool!

Why?

Ok, so why do we do it? Why do waste our very precious time being upset about what we aren't doing? Who makes the rules, anyway? Who says that we should be doing certain things at certain times in a certain way? And why do we listen?

We are all unique. I am unique. My family is unique. The Lord disciples each of us uniquely. He leads me where I need to go to do what I need to do. He teaches me what I need to know. He provides what I need each day. I have the family that I have, each person with unique personalities and abilities, and the home that I have, located in the place that it is because it is what I need, to walk out the call on my life that is unique and special. So why and how do I slip into self condemnation?

And why do I get so upset with myself when the plans I've made, the rules I've imposed on myself get set aside?

Each day is new, different, unique. Routines and plans are fine, but being open to what the Lord wants me (and my family) to do with each day is so much more important and so very much more fulfilling.

“For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good, not for disaster, to give you a future full of hope.” ~Jeremiah 29:11-15

Journey

the journey ~ the journey itself is important, not just the destination. The journey is, “the life which I now live.”

You must live in the moment, launch yourself on every wave, find your eternity in each moment. ~ Henry David Thoreau

Light

The dark can be a cocoon of sorts, hiding the less pleasant things from our eyes. Or it can be a fearful place . . . noises we can't place, thoughts that race to unbidden places.

Then the light comes with its revelations . . . noises are now easily explained, the shadowy thoughts are shown to be just that and the cold, icy fear is dispelled and replaced by the warmth and the brightness of the light.

May the light of Christ, rising in glory, dispel the darkness of our hearts and minds.

Count it all Joy

Joy. “The joy of the Lord is your strength,” says Nehemiah.

I’ve been thinking a lot about joy. And about the word eucharist and its meaning ~ word origin for Eucharist~[Middle English eukarist, from Old French eucariste, from Late Latin eucharistia, from Greek eukharistiā, from eukharistos, grateful, thankful : eu-, eu- + kharizesthai, to show favor (from kharis, grace; see gher-2 in Indo-European roots).]

I’m still fleshing these ideas out and I don’t know where it all is going to take me.

I see a connection. I keep thinking that the more I understand His grace, the more grateful, the more thankful I become. Then the more joyful, full of joy, I will become. Since the joy of the Lord is my strength, this is important.

Spurgeon said, “The man full of joy within is quiet.” Quiet . . . within.

I’m not quiet within. Why? I don’t think there is a quick and easy answer, but while pondering that thought, I came across some posts that really struck a chord.
It's All Too Much in the Homeschool
Sing a New Song
Every Face I Look at Seems Beautiful

Counting my blessings

On this Holy Thursday, we’re reflecting on the events of the last few days of our Lord’s earthly life. Dayenu ~ “it would have been enough,” keeps going through my mind.

The gift of Himself, the gift of salvation, restored fellowship with the Father, eternal life, it is so amazing, so awesome. It would have been enough . . . but there’s more. There are all the daily graces; the seasons, family, perfume on the wind, a surprise group of flowers, a grandbaby’s beautiful eyes, a good friend.

What Love, what love.

Thankfulness

  Now as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and blessed, and broke it, and gave it to the disciples and said, “Take, eat; this is my body.”
  And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he gave it to them, saying, “Drink of it, all of you; for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.” ~Matthew 26:26-28

  For by grace you have been saved through faith, and this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God. ~Ephesians 2:8

So now ~
  Sing, sing your hearts out to God! Let every detail in your lives—words, actions, whatever—be done in the name of the Master, Jesus, thanking God the Father every step of the way.~Colossians 3:16-17
Icon by Simon Ushakov

The weather outside is frightful

But the fire is so delightful . . . the fire in the oven that is. Peter and I made Irish Brown Bread today. It was so much fun and oh, so yummy. Then we snuggled up and read about Mary anointing Jesus in “Bible Stories for the 40 Days” and then finished our book about George Muller.

Michael took some pictures of one of the branches we brought indoors to watch bloom.

Then he spent a while repairing a radio/flashlight.

Now, I’m off to see what everyone else has been doing today.

Blessed is He

[Christ's] love for man will never rest until he has raised our earthbound nature from glory to glory, and made it one with his own in heaven.
So let us spread before his feet, not garments or soulless olive branches, which delight the eye for a few hours and then wither, but ourselves, clothed in his grace, or rather, clothed completely in him. We who have been baptised into Christ must ourselves be the garments that we spread before him. Now that the crimson stains of our sins have been washed away in the saving waters of baptism and we have become white as pure wool, let us present the conqueror of death, not with mere branches of palms but with the real rewards of his victory. Let our souls take the place of the welcoming branches as we join today in the children’s holy song: Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. Blessed is the king of Israel.
~From a sermon by Saint Andrew of Crete, bishop
Artist: Giotto Scrovegni

We’re seeing green!

It’s St. Patrick’s Day. So, in addition to the book, “The Bandit of Ashley Downs: George Muller” that we’ve been reading, we read “St. Patrick’s Day in the Morning.”

We looked at and reviewed the St. Patrick lapbook that we made last year and talked a bit about Ireland.

This afternoon Peter took full advantage of the spring like weather and spent quite a bit of time outside becoming more proficient with his remote controlled car.

Thanks to Dawn it looks like we have a great project for tomorrow, Irish Bread.

A Walk in the Woods

Just to show that we are, in fact, getting outdoors and enjoying the change in weather, here are some photos Michael took on our walk today.

We gathered more branches to bring indoors to watch bloom.

And we found the most wonderful old groove of trees off of a dirt road. It was so other worldly, like a very old forest, all overgrown, with hundreds of birds and a surprise of brightly colored red-leafed trees. We just stood and watched and listened for several minutes.

A beautiful yellow daffodil greeted us as we rounded a bend in the road.

We saw and heard so many different birds. Michael took pictures of quite a few so that we could identify them using our bird guides when we got home. Grey and red squirrels both entertained us with their antics. And not to be left out were the geese that greeted us on our return home.

Peter couldn't resist a picture of this reminder of the fall colors.

What a nice walk.

His Wonders

Blessed be the LORD God,
Who alone works wonders.
And blessed be His glorious name forever;
All earth brims with His glory.
Psalm 72:18-19

Smile

Everytime you smile at someone, it is an action of love, a gift to that person, a beautiful thing.
~Mother Teresa


And what a relief to see your friendly smile. It is like seeing the face of God! ~ Genesis 33:10

Love Perserveres

“People are unreasonable, illogical, and self-centered. Love them anyway. If you do good, people may accuse you of selfish motives. Do good anyway. If you are successful, you may win false friends and true enemies. Succeed anyway. The good you do today may be forgotten tomorrow. Do good anyway. Honesty and transparency make you vulnerable. Be honest and transparent anyway. What you spend years building may be destroyed overnight. Build anyway. People who really want help may attack you if you help them. Help them anyway. Give the world the best you have and you may get hurt. Give the world your best anyway.”
“We ourselves feel that what we are doing is just a drop in the ocean. But the ocean would be less because of that missing drop.”
“We cannot all do great things, but we can do small things with great love.”
~ Mother Teresa

Your Instrument, Lord

Lord, make me an instrument of your peace.
Where there is hatred, let me sow love;
Where there is doubt, faith;
Where there is despair, hope;
Where there is darkness, light;
Where there is sadness, joy.
O Divine Master,
grant that I may not so much seek
To be consoled, as to console;
Not so much to be understood as to understand;
Not so much to be loved as to love;
For it is in giving that we receive;
It is in pardoning that we are pardoned;
It is in dying that we awaken to eternal life.
~ St. Francis of Assisi

Love’s Responsibility

'Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brethren, you did it to me.' *
Christian love is the “possible impossibility” to see Christ in another person, whoever he or she is, and whom God, in His eternal and mysterious plan, has decided to introduce into my life, be it only for a few moments, not as an occasion for a “good deed” or an exercise in philanthropy, but as the beginning of an eternal companionship in God Himself.
. . . each [Christian] has received the gift and the grace of Christ’s love. We know that all persons ultimately need this personal love—the recognition in them of their unique soul in which the beauty of the whole creation is reflected in a unique way.
. . . however narrow and limited the framework of our personal existence, each one of us has been made responsible for a tiny part of the Kingdom of God, made responsible by that very gift of Christ’s love.

Sunday Of The Last Judgement lesson
*Matthew 25:40

Love is Patient

Have patience with all things, But, first of all with yourself.
~Saint Francis de Sales

Habit

I’ve been thinking about habit. If, as they say, it takes 21 days to form a habit this would be a very good one to cultivate: 21 days of seeking change through seeking Him.

Remembering

Gratitude is the memory of the heart.
~Jean Baptiste Massieu
Ideas to help:
Begin a gratitude journal
1000 gifts list

Turning, Looking, Seeing

“I am God, the one and only. I don’t just talk to myself or mumble under my breath. I never told Jacob, ‘Seek me in emptiness, in dark nothingness.’ I am God. I work out in the open, saying what’s right, setting things right. So gather around, come on in, all you refugees and castoffs. . . . Turn to me [look to me] and be helped — saved! — everyone, whoever and wherever you are.

Whenever they turn to face God as Moses did, God removes the veil and there they are—face-to-face! They suddenly recognize that God is a living, personal presence, not a piece of chiseled stone. And when God is personally present, a living Spirit, that old, constricting legislation is recognized as obsolete. We’re free of it! All of us! Nothing between us and God, our faces shining with the brightness of his face. And so we are transfigured much like the Messiah, our lives gradually becoming brighter and more beautiful as God enters our lives and we become like him.
~Isaiah 45: 18-22 ~2 Corinthians 3:18

A Reminder

“The Friend, the Holy Spirit whom the Father will send at my request, will make everything plain to you. He will remind you of all the things I have told you.

I’m leaving you well and whole. That’s my gift to you. Peace. I don’t leave you the way you’re used to being left—feeling abandoned, bereft. So don’t be upset. Don’t be distraught.” ~John 14:26-27 (MSG)

Thank You, Lord.

I Am Not a Template

I thought that it would be so easy. That was the advertising, Sign up, pick a template, start blogging. No problem, right? Wrong. I quickly discovered that none of the templates fit me. Some were closer than others, but none just right.

Meanwhile, while I was learning html code so that I could modify a template and make it into something I thought I could work with, my “closer than a sister in every way” friend signed up, picked a template, and started blogging.

I thought about the many “lessons” in this.

Lesson number one: We are not templates.
We are each uniquely created for a unique purpose. We have unique gifts. The Lord may give us the gift of a friend who is so like us it is uncanny, but we need to always remember, we are unique.

So since we find ourselves fashioned into all these excellently formed and marvelously functioning parts in Christ's body, let's just go ahead and be what we were made to be, without enviously or pridefully comparing ourselves with each other, or trying to be something we aren't. ~Romans 12:4-6

Behold, Children are a Gift of the LORD

He’s eleven today. Eleven years. It seems like it was just yesterday that I held him in the crook of my arm, breathing in that sweet baby fragrance, losing myself in those beautiful eyes, and returning that infectious smile with laughter. As he’s opening and thanking us for his gifts, I sit and watch my “little guy.” Putting together his new remote controlled sailboat, checking the line on the new rod and reel. The time has flown, going way too fast. He catches me watching him and comes over to me, to be cradled in the crook of my arm, and as I breath in his fragrance and lose myself in those beautiful eyes, with tear-filled ones of my own, I return his infectious smile with a prayer of thanks to God for this beautiful and most precious gift.

And a Little Child Will Lead Them

We’ve been letting a young Galilean boy, “Joel,” lead us along the Galilean shores, into the Judean countryside, and through the streets of Jerusalem at the time of Christ, in the book Joel: A Boy of Galilee.

The Time

“I will appoint a time,” says God.

You know the time has come; the moment is here for you to stop sleeping and wake up, because by now our salvation is nearer than when we first began to believe. The night is nearly over, daylight is on the way; so let us throw off everything that belongs to the darkness and equip ourselves for the light. Let us live decently, as in the light of day . . . fix your attention on God.

Jesus said, “No procrastination. No backward looks. You can’t put God’s kingdom off till tomorrow. Seize the day.”

Psalm 75:2a ~Romans 13:11-13 ~Romans 12:1 ~Luke 9:62

Friendship

Friendship is rare on earth. It means identity in thought and heart and spirit. ~Oswald Chambers

My friend left today. Moving to a beautiful country, on a grand adventure. I'm happy and excited for her. And I'm sad. I'm missing her. Things will be different. We'll communicate differently. What will it be like?

Is this some of what the disciples felt? Jesus said, "I have called you friends." Then He said, "It is expedient for you that I go away." Happy and sad. Missing Him. Things would be different. How would they communicate? What would it be like?

I believe what C. S. Lewis wrote in The Four Loves, "for a Christian, there are, strictly speaking, no chances. A secret Master of the Ceremonies has been at work. Christ, who said to the disciples, “Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you,” can truly say to every group of Christian friends, “You have not chosen one another but I have chosen you for one another.” . . . At this feast it is He who has spread the board and it is He who has chosen the guests.

Friendship which can end was never true friendship.* Our Friendship is a true friendship. It has been tested by fire and our hearts are melted together. I don't know the way things are going to work out, but I know that they will and that "it will be fine."

*St. Jerome

“. . . the true driving force in authentic Christian living is, and ever must be . . . the heart of gratitude.” Simply, we were made to give thanks and glorify Him.
~J.I. Packer

Serendipity

Thanks to Elizabeth our “tapestry” of life is full of many new beautiful threads. We started traveling down the serendipitous path of delightful and directed learning a couple of weeks ago and it has been delightful. We look forward to each days adventures, amazed at the way everything that we’re doing is weaving together seamlessly.

As we started down the alphabet path, we began listening to The Secret Garden on Librivox. While listening, Peter draws and paints and models with beeswax. We’ve added in two Thornton W. Burgess books, The Burgess Bird Book for Children and The Burgess Animal Book for Children. Additionally, we read from James Herriot’s Treasury for Children.

Each day we study a new flower providing another opportunity for artful expression. We have had so many serendipitous moments and are making so many “connections.” While listening to The Secret Garden, our weather and several birds and critters have cooperated wonderfully by providing living examples of various passages from the text. Its been such fun to watch Peter as he realizes that a flower we’ve just studied is being discussed between Dicken and Mary.

We’ve been baking, reading wonderful picture books, looking at beautiful art, and learning about the lives of people who love God. We love it!

I have modified math a bit. Rather than Gnomes and Gnumbers, we are using Knights and Knumbers. Serendipitously, we already had knights with mathematical symbols on them and gems from a previous math venture.