Cultivating a thankful heart, looking to God as provider and sustainer, each day this month I’m posting that for which I’m thankful. . .
* My immediate family
* My extended family
* God’s faithfulness this year
* Singing with joy
* Brothers and sisters at St. Paul’s Missionary Baptist Church
In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. I Th 5:18
Cultivating a thankful heart, looking to God as provider and sustainer, each day this month I’m posting that for which I’m thankful. . .
* My second son’s birthday
* His thoughtfulness
* His expressive eyes
* His love of the unusual
* His patience
In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. I Th 5:18
Cultivating a thankful heart, looking to God as provider and sustainer, each day this month I’m posting that for which I’m thankful. . .
* My youngest baby’s birthday
* His rascaliness
* His crazy laugh
* Flexible fun
* Family
In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. I Th 5:18
Cultivating a thankful heart, looking to God as provider and sustainer, each day this month I’m posting that for which I’m thankful. . .
* Boys who like brie
* Cannolis and coffee-milk
* Encouragement from unexpected quarters
* Long, long-distance calls
* Laughter
In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. I Th 5:18
Cultivating a thankful heart, looking to God as provider and sustainer, each day this month I’m posting that for which I’m thankful. . .
* Hope PCA
* Membership vows
* Professions of faith
* Covenant community
* Preaching of the Gospel
In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. I Th 5:18
Cultivating a thankful heart, looking to God as provider and sustainer, each day this month I’m posting that for which I’m thankful. . .
* Peace, not as the world gives
* Cowboy songs and stories, as delivered by R9
* Low key holiday shopping, online and in person
* New neighbors, a foreclosed house sold
* Simple Saturdays
In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. I Th 5:18
Cultivating a thankful heart, looking to God as provider and sustainer, each day this month I’m posting that for which I’m thankful. . .
* Learning, reviewing CPR
* Having never to actually use CPR
* Sharing the ups and downs of wedding planning
* God’s amazing mercy
* Hubby’s patience
In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. I Th 5:18
Cultivating a thankful heart, looking to God as provider and sustainer, each day this month I’m posting that for which I’m thankful. . .
* Being still and knowing He is God
* Blank books
* A friend who lets me grump then helps me laugh
* Old Bisbee Roasters coffee
* Long distance phone calls
In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. I Th 5:18
Cultivating a thankful heart, looking to God as provider and sustainer, each day this month I’m posting that for which I’m thankful. . .
* Positive feedback from some of Hubby’s job feelers
* The ability to type and think and write papers
* That I’m okay with myself not being able to pull all-nighters like I used to do
* Good neighbors
* Yummy tea when I’m out of coffee
In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. I Th 5:18
Cultivating a thankful heart, looking to God as provider and sustainer, each day this month I’m posting that for which I’m thankful. . .
* A working washer and dryer
* A working heater
* The financial means to pay large library fines
* A Paris lithograph for the dining room, a gift from Hubby
* Energetic boys
In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. I Th 5:18
Cultivating a thankful heart, looking to God as provider and sustainer, each day this month I’m posting that for which I’m thankful. . .
* Hubby making a big pot of borsch
* Cooler Florida weather
* When Mondays are over
* Hulu.com
* God’s faithfulness
In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. I Th 5:18
Cultivating a thankful heart, looking to God as provider and sustainer, each day this month I’m posting that for which I’m thankful. . .
* Hot tea for sore throats
* A cabinet full of OTC meds
* Boys who are extra snuggly when sick
* Hubby who takes good care of me
* Student Office Software Suite
In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. I Th 5:18
Cultivating a thankful heart, looking to God as provider and sustainer, each day this month I’m posting that for which I’m thankful. . .
* Five family birthdays in November
* A fresh haircut
* SIL’s fab haircutting skills
* The good pressure of having deadlines
* Great weather for being outdoors
In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. I Th 5:18
Cultivating a thankful heart, looking to God as provider and sustainer, each day this month I’m posting that for which I’m thankful. . .
* Weekends
* Hubby doing the grocery shopping
* Cell phones
* Encouraging phone calls
* Living near (some) family
In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. I Th 5:18
Cultivating a thankful heart, looking to God as provider and sustainer, each day this month I’m posting that for which I’m thankful. . .
* Filling my gas tank for $20
* Antibiotics
* Being friends with Hubby’s mom
* Files in .pdf format
* Encouraging words
In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. I Th 5:18
Cultivating a thankful heart, looking to God as provider and sustainer, each day this month I’m posting that for which I’m thankful. . .
* Hugs from kiddos
* Fast computers
* Slow walks
* Hot food
* Sleep
In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. I Th 5:18
Cultivating a thankful heart, looking to God as provider and sustainer, each day this month I’m posting that for which I’m thankful. . .
* Men and women who serve our country in the military
* People from older generations who remind us of our history
* Older Believers who remind us of our Christian heritage
* Pastors and family who remind us of God’s covenant faithfulness
* Encouragement in real life and online
In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. I Th 5:18
Cultivating a thankful heart, looking to God as provider and sustainer, each day this month I’m posting that for which I’m thankful. . .
* Young love
* Mature love
* Jon and Rebecca’s engagement
* Laughs with friends
* Friends far and near
In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. I Th 5:18
Cultivating a thankful heart, looking to God as provider and sustainer, each day this month I’m posting that for which I’m thankful. . .
* Corporate worship
* Communion of the saints
* Elders who take their responsibilities seriously
* Boys who are learning to grasp the Gospel
* Transparency in relationships
In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. I Th 5:18
Cultivating a thankful heart, looking to God as provider and sustainer, each day this month I’m posting that for which I’m thankful. . .
* A clean house
* A hot meal
* A three/four day weekend
* Working wifi
* God’s steadfastness
In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. I Th 5:18
Cultivating a thankful heart, looking to God as provider and sustainer, each day this month I’m posting that for which I’m thankful. . .
* Living in sunny Florida
* Friends, who come to visit us, not just Florida
* Really good coffee
* Cool days / hot stew
* Snuggly boys
In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. I Th 5:18
Cultivating a thankful heart, looking to God as provider and sustainer, each day this month I’m posting that for which I’m thankful. . .
* Watching history unfold
* Friends, near and far
* Homeschooling the boys
* Rearranging furniture
* Hubby, who does the rearranging
In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. I Th 5:18
Cultivating a thankful heart, looking to God as provider and sustainer, each day this month I’m posting that for which I’m thankful. . .
* Free and democratic elections
* Freedom of religion
* Freedom to pursue dreams
* Freedom of speech
* Free wifi
In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. I Th 5:18
Cultivating a thankful heart, looking to God as provider and sustainer, each day this month I’m posting that for which I’m thankful. . .
* Our God, who provides all our needs
* My mother, her friendship and constancy
* Good books
* Boys who love to read
* The First Amendment
In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. I Th 5:18
Cultivating a thankful heart, looking to God as provider and sustainer, each day this month I’m posting that for which I’m thankful. . .
* Our church home, after a long time without
* Sunday School teachers who study and teach the boys
* Paintball fun this weekend
* Really good coffee
* Free elections, in spite of the craziness
In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. I Th 5:18
Cultivating a thankful heart, looking to God as provider and sustainer, each day this month I’m posting that for which I’m thankful. . .
* Our home, warm and getting more organized
* Our neighborhood kids, playing with my boys
* Hubby’s energy this week
* Bible study plans with the ILs
* Scarf-wearing weather
In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. I Th 5:18
Do not wait; the time will never be “just right.”
Start where you stand,
and work with whatever tools you may have at your command,
and better tools will be found as you go along.George Herbert, via Camille
Reluctantly, dragging my feet, resistant to let go of ritual. . . At the prodding of my pastor of all people, I am finally embracing RSS and using Google reader to keep up with my online friends.
After church today, our pastor led a mini-seminar on utilizing web technology in a positive way. Afterwards, one gentleman told me he was “too old” for that sort of thing — and then waxed eloquently about his iMac and how he frequented the pastor’s blog. Too old? No way! Though, it has taken a little bit of prodding for my grandmother to like her new laptop. . . still she’s checking her e-mail and looking at family pics online now.
From time to time I come across an article or academic research that points to problems with technology, cautions about the web being a barrier to community. I think those warnings are very valid. And yet. . . So many times in my life I’ve been physically isolated (at home with small kids, a move to a new state where I’ll only live a few months, on the other side of the ocean from family), and yet have been able to maintain relationships, continue communication, stay sane because of this same technology.
How often it just comes back to the same refrain that is true of so much of life. . . Balance.
My hope is built on nothing less
Than Jesus’ blood and righteousness.
I dare not trust the sweetest frame,
But wholly trust in Jesus’ Name.On Christ the solid Rock I stand,
All other ground is sinking sand;
All other ground is sinking sand.When darkness seems to hide His face,
I rest on His unchanging grace.
In every high and stormy gale,
My anchor holds within the veil.On Christ the solid Rock I stand,
All other ground is sinking sand;
All other ground is sinking sand.His oath, His covenant, His blood,
Support me in the whelming flood.
When all around my soul gives way,
He then is all my Hope and Stay.On Christ the solid Rock I stand,
All other ground is sinking sand;
All other ground is sinking sand.When He shall come with trumpet sound,
Oh may I then in Him be found.
Dressed in His righteousness alone,
Faultless to stand before the throne.On Christ the solid Rock I stand,
All other ground is sinking sand;
All other ground is sinking sand.
My oldest is singing this right now, boldly and fervently. My heart is singing along with him. I cut-n-pasted the lyrics from cyberhymnal.org, which provides the backstory of this hymn. “One morning it came into my mind as I went to labour, to write an hymn on the ‘Gracious Experience of a Christian.’ . . . On the Sabbath following I met brother King as I came out of Lisle Street Meeting…who informed me that his wife was very ill, . . . As these verses so met the dying woman’s case, my attention to them was the more arrested. . .”
If you go to pandora.com and create a station with the title of this hymn, you’ll have peaceful piano music for your Sunday afternoon.
Some meandering thoughts on Independence Day. . .
Jennie Manning compiled this slideshow as a tribute that is shown while she is singing “God Bless the USA,” hence the music is background music and not the full vocals. She shares, “The last time the chorus is sung, The words go as follows: “And I’m proud to be an American, where at least I know I’m free. I won’t forget the MAN who died, who gave that right to me.” . . . I have spiritual freedom, and freedom from my sins because of the death of Jesus, so it just fits the emotion of the song to say that!”
There are many places in the world where our brothers and sisters in Christ have spiritual freedom, but do not have the political freedoms we have in the US, or the religious freedom to worship publicly without persecution.
This particular slideshow tribute has additional meaning to me because some of the pictures are from people I knew many years ago on GTMO in the 1980s. This family is still both serving the Lord and serving their country. Thinking of them has me reflecting on Independence Day, and remembering Cuba — especially strong memories of a certain Fourth of July.
The Fourth was a big holiday on GTMO. Lots of fun with parades, picnics, tanks to climb on, cantatas. . . This particular Fourth I won the pie baking contest with “Martha Washington’s Favorite Cherry Pie.” I’ll post the recipe one day. . . I was also in the cantata performed by the base chapel choir. Sailors from the ships doing training at GTMO had shore leave for the holiday. I remember all the festivities and fun. But right across the bay I could see smoke rising in columns, smoke from the Cuban sugar fields. We were celebrating freedom, but could almost see the people who were still laboring under the harsh yoke of Communism. Remember, this was before “Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall!” This was before the fall of the Soviet Union and its stranglehold on countries around the world. The sharp divide between freedom and bondage was almost palpable that day.
Hubby’s brother returned from a mission trip to Cuba just a few weeks ago. Today he organized quite the spread of Cuban fare — roasted pork, black beans and rice, tropical fruits, fried bananas, mojitos. . . It seemed oddly appropriate to me. And along with our thankfulness to the Lord for our freedom in Christ and freedom in life, we prayed for the country of Cuba, its people, and our persecuted brothers and sisters there.
“Finally, lest we forget, there will always be a level of antagonism between the church and the culture. After all, the only way the church could be universally loved by the World would be to surrender to it utterly. The trick is to preserve the natural offense of the Gospel without placing extra cultural stumbling blocks in the way of secular people.”
Related to that, I’ve been listening to Keller & crew talking about the Gospel and persuasion within the the context of the U.S. culture.