Happy Thanksgiving!

Tomorrow, our family will be heading over to the little town where my grandmother lives, to spend the day with her. Each Thanksgiving and Christmas Day, a community center there hosts a meal for anyone to come and eat, and for at least the past ten years, our family has served there. We’ve served at the Thanksgiving meal once before, a few years ago. We’re taking my sister’s harp, and plan on providing background music for part of the time.

Drop a comment a let me know what you’ll be doing tomorrow!

I hope each of you have a blessed and joy-filled day! Happy Thanksgiving!

Give thanks to the Lord, call on His name; make known among the nations what He has done. 1 Chronicles 16:8

Top Ten Things For Which I Am Thankful

It is hard to enetertain a complaining and worried attitude when we choose to stay focused on all the blessings the Lord has graciously bestowed on us! May He work in us a spirit of thanksgiving and rejoicing all throughout the year!

Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

 

:: Ten Things For Which I Am Very Thankful ::

1. God’s love - oh the rich and unfathomable depths of His love for us! “How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!”    (1 John 3:1)

    

2. Loving parents who care for me deeply and desire only what is best for me.
3. My sister who will do crazy stuff with me. I love her very much, even though she makes me do scary things that she claims are, ahem, (and I quote), “good for me”: like going into lumber stores by myself to get keys made – a very frightening experience indeed! [grin]
4. Health and strength - that I can get up in the morning and move around, go out running, and play the piano. Many people cannot do these things.
5. Lots of nice clothes, and more than I even need. This is a big one for me! [grin]
6. A lovely home.
7. Food – especially salads, fried eggs, Granny Smith apples with home-made peanut butter, whole wheat pasta with alfredo sauce and parmesian cheese, stir-fried peppers with fresh garlic…I could go on. :) I don’t ever go hungry.
8. My beautiful harp, “Shiloh” ( yes, it even has a name ). I still haven’t gotten over the incredible provision of the Lord to give my Shiloh to me!
9. Wonderful Godly friends, who are a great encouragement to me and are such fun to talk to!
10. Opportunities to go places and serve, share with, and minister to others – I am continually amazed at the Lord’s goodness in this area!

 

:::: What are you thankful for today? :::

 

 

.:: sisters ::.

The Word became flesh…

I have been reading Systematic Theology (by Wayne Grudem), and one of the chapters discussed what exactly is meant by the phrase “the Word of God” – the different meanings distinguishable in the Scriptures. Reading this chapter started me thinking…

Not only do we have the written Words of God in the Bible, as expressed by a plethora of different people whom the Father used to record them. This alone is an amazing thing to consider – the Creator speaking to and revealing Himself to His creation.

And yet, that is not all! Oh no, that is not all! ( thank you, Dr. Seuss [grin] ) As if having the written Word of God was not enough proof for us of His existence, He gave us even more proof. For this Word became a Living Word…

The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us. We have seen His glory, the glory of the One and Only, Who came from the Father, full of grace and truth. (John 1:14)

We have the Word, the One and Only living Word – Jesus Christ.

Jesus Christ “is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of His being, sustaining all things by His powerful word.” (Heb. 1:3) Through Him, we have a living representation of God the Father’s character and attributes.

Among the members of the Trinity, it is especially God the Son Who, in His person, as well as in His words, has the role of communication the character of God to us and of expressing the will of God for us.

Wayne Grudem – Systematic Theology

As we get closer and closer to Christmas, it was neat to stop and really consider what it means for the Word of God to become flesh.

First snow

 

And look at that – the roses are still blooming!

 

…life…

The past few days have been very stressful and hectic (hence, no blogging!). My “mantra”, as I scurry around from one task to the next, has been, “Oh, there’s so much to do and so much to be done!” [grin]

And that’s exactly what it’s been like! :) Between preparing for and teaching piano lessons, trying to practice for my own music lessons, general up-keep and cleaning of the house (my mom and sister are both out of town), cooking, studying, and organizing the basement (I’m trying to suprise my mom when she gets back!), the days are full! I did manage to finish a few sewing projects that have been sitting around for way too long. Among them, sewing a new skirt, putting fabric in the side slits of one, and adjusting another. Oh, and I am going to a musical tonight, and looking forward to going out immensely!

Well…I guess I’d better just end this exceedingly boring post ( my deepest apologies ), since it’s really not going anywhere very important. :)

This verse from John 14 really “stuck” for me when I read it during devotions on Wednesday:

v. 23 If anyone loves Me, he will obey My commands. My Father will love him, and We will come to him, and make Our home with him.

What an amazing thought this is! That They would make Their home with us!

I hope everyone is having a lovely weekend! Hugs for all my huggable friends and a hearty handshake for everyone else!

PS Drop a note and tell me what you’ve been up to recently!

~*Bryant*~

John 12:28

Now My heart is troubled, and what shall I say? “Father, deliver Me from this hour”?

No, it was for this very reason I came to this hour.

Father, glorify Your Name.

Instead of wanting to be simply delivered from what He was about to endure, Jesus knew that His troubled and sorrowful heart was part of what He came to do. He saw a bigger purpose behind the momentary pain and suffering. His foremost desire was for the Father’s glory. If it took anguish on His part in order that His Father might be glorified, He was willing to endure it.

- Ingot -

I learned a new word today – ingot.

According to the online dictionary:

in·got

 n. 1. A mass of metal, such as a bar or block, that is cast in a standard shape for convenient storage or shipment.

2. A casting mold for metal 

 

I had never heard this word before, so thank you for helping me feel just a little bit wiser, Daddy! [grin]

Random…

It’s so weird to be able run around without even a coat in early November, but I’m enjoying it immensely. I don’t think it will last very long, but I’m loving it while it does!

I took my traditional Sunday afternoon walk today, and I got to wear flip-flops! I had packed them away for next summer a month or two ago, but dug them out for one last fling this year. At first, I couldn’t find them, and I had to dig around for a while before I found even one. It’s pretty frustrating to not be able to find the pair of shoes you want to wear, but it’s even more frustrating to only be able to find one. You’re so close … and yet still so far away! [grin] But I found both of them eventually, and had a lovely walk.

I was just praying while I was out walking that the Lord would teach me to let Him use me to bring glory to Him, and that I would not be afraid to take the opportunities to serve Him when He gives them to me. Just then, the lady who lives next door to us rounded the corner, and we were able to walk the whole “circle” in our development together and just talk. It was so nice, and I felt like the Lord had answered my prayer right then, by giving me the opportunity to walk and talk with her. It was neat, and I walked home rejoicing and thanking the Lord for that time with her.

As I was writing this post, I was listening to Meredith Andrews singing You’re Not Alone. It is one of my favorite songs, as the words are so meaningful.

You’re not alone, for I am here, let Me wipe away your every fear.

My love, I’ve never left your side, I have seen you through the darkest night.

And I’m the One Who’s loved you all your life.

Faithful and true, forever. My love will carry you.

 I can trust and believe that the deep, deep love of Jesus is all I truly need, for today, for tomorrow…and the years ahead. Oh, the rich and unfathomable depths of His love, that have stretched from everlasting to everlasting! My flesh cries, “Lord, but what if…?” But, He is all I need right now, and I can take one day, one step at a time, believing and rejoicing that He will be all I need then, too. Could I dare even consider that this deepness which I cannot even comprehend could be exhausted in any amount of time?

Oh, the deep, deep love; All I need and trust is the deep, deep love of Jesus.

Oh, The Deep, Deep Love

 

Oh, the deep, deep love; All I need and trust is the deep, deep love of Jesus.

 

VOM slideshow

This is a slideshow that I made to be shown at our church of pictures from our trip to The Voice of the Martyrs.

The music doesn’t really fit, but it was the best of what I had. Enjoy it anyway! :)

Sometimes the weather amazes me…

 

65 degrees at 7:30 PM on November 6!

And it’s supposed to be COLD! :)

When good things must die

The fair new petals must fall, and for no visible reason.  No one seems enriched by the stripping.

And the first step into the realm of giving is a like surrender — not manward, but Godward: an utter yielding of our best.  So long as our idea of surrender is limited to the renouncing of unlawful things, we have nver grasped its true meaning: that is  not worthy of the name, for “no polluted thing” can be offered.

The life lost on the crosswas not a sinful one — the treasure poured forth there was God-given; a God-blessed treasure, lawful and righ to be kept: only that there was the life of the world at stake.

What kind of a God is it Who asks everything of us?

The same God “Who did not spare His own Son, but gave Him up for us all—how will He not also, along with Him, graciously give us all things?” (Romans 8:32).

 

He gives all . He asks all.

Passion and Purity

Peaceful place

Doesn’t it make you want to just sit down and read?

Emma’s song

This is probably my favorite part of the movie Emma. Did You Not Hear My Lady is such a pretty song.

This song was written by G. F. Handel for the opera Tolomeo in the 1700’s. It’s original title was Silent Worship.

From an autumn walk

There’s nothing like a walk on a gorgeous fall day. God’s creation simply amazes me. It’s too beautiful for words. It’s so calming and peaceful to be out with the breeze rustling in the trees, and all the warm golden hues, with the sun reflecting off it all. I love it!

Some of the things I saw while I was out enjoying the weather today…

Berries…

and flowers…

and those beautiful fuzzy-things that I don’t know what they’re called…:)

and soft, spongy moss…

and deer tracks…

and ruby-red leaves…