Sunday Hymn: When Morning Guilds 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 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.

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.

In heav'n's eternal bliss
The loveliest strain is this,
May Jesus Christ be praised:
The powers of darkness fear,
When this sweet chant they hear,
May Jesus Christ be praised.

Let earth's wide circle round
In joyful notes resound,
May Jesus Christ be praised:
Let air 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:
Be this th'eternal song,
Through all the ages on,
May Jesus Christ be praised.

Trinity Hymnal #131

Quote of the Week: Lloyd-Jones

If we truly mourn, we shall rejoice, we shall be made happy, we shall be comforted. For it is when a man sees himself in this unutterable hopelessness that the Holy Spirit reveals unto him the Lord Jesus Christ as his perfect satisfaction. Through the Spirit he sees that Christ has died for his sins and is standing as his advocate in the presence of God.  He sees in Him the perfect provision that God has made and immediately he is comforted.  That is the astounding thing about the Christian life.  Your great sorrow leads to joy, and without the sorrow there is no joy.

D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones, Studies in the Sermon on the Mount

I Hear America Singing

I HEAR AMERICA SINGING

I hear America singing, the varied carols I hear,
Those of mechanics, each one singing his as it should be blithe and strong,
The carpenter singing his as he measures his plank or beam,
The mason singing his as he makes ready for work, or leaves off work,
The boatman singing what belongs to him in his boat, the deckhand
    singing on the steamboat deck,
The shoemaker singing as he sits on his bench, the hatter singing as
    he stands,
The wood-cutter's song, the ploughboy's on his way in the morning,
    or at noon intermission or at sundown,
The delicious singing of the mother, or of the young wife at work,
    or of the girl sewing or washing,
Each singing what belongs to him or her and to none else,
The day what belongs to the day--at night the party of young
    fellows, robust, friendly,
Singing with open mouths their strong melodious songs.

Walt Whitman, Leaves of Grass

This poem brings tears to my eyes because in America today so many are groaning and sighing under the pressures of unemployment and a stagnant economy.

November of Thanksgiving

November is just around the corner and it's time to gear up for November of Thanksgiving.  Rebecca has been hosting this annual event for the past five years and I've participated each year.  It's been a great blessing to me and I'm looking forward to participating again this year.

Here's how you can join in:

• Mention something you’re thankful for in the comments at Rebecca Writes. Rebecca will include your comment in one of her thanksgiving posts.
• Email Becky to tell her what you’re thankful for and she’ll include it in a post.
• Post your thankful thought(s) on your own blog, send Rebecca the link(s), and she'll link to your post(s). If you plan to post something daily during the month, let her know that, too. That way you won’t need to send her your daily links.

Thanksgiving is a good thing.  Sharing your thanksgiving thoughts with others is a good thing.  I hope you'll join in, too!

Thankful Thursday 2010

I am thankful for so many things this week:

I think I finally made some headway on some problems Jake's been having on his health insurance coverage for some important treatments.  What a relief!  I'm so thankful that burden is beginning to be lifted!

I'm thankful for his wonderful doctor who took time out of her busy schedule to talk through the insurance issues with me.  I'm so grateful that she's willing to 'go to bat' for him and write the necessary letters that will, hopefully, allow him to have payment for those appointments he's already had and have coverage to continue with his treatment. 

I'm grateful that Eve made it through surgery on Monday.  She had 4 lesions taken off with laser surgery.  One was involved in the bone and it would have been hard on her to take it off, so since it's not bothering her, we left that one alone.  I'm so thankful for a vet who gives us guidance about which things we need to treat and what is better left alone.  She had an echocardiogram which showed that her congestive heart failure was caught early and is treatable at this point.  All her valves are leaky and her mitral valve is very, very bad but her ventricles are still pretty strong.  A mixed report, to be sure, but better than he thought it might be.  She's now on two heart medications, and antibiotic, and her regular thyroid medicine.  She's blind, deaf, has heart and thyroid problems and a mysterious dark spot behind her eye (one of the things better left alone) but she is a sweet and happy as she ever was.  I'm thankful for every day with her.

I'm thankful that there was little damage in the area from the windy days we had on Tuesday and Wednesday.  It was a wild and windy couple of days!  I'm grateful for the demonstration of God's power in the weather.

I'm thankful for Dr. D. Martn Lloyd-Jones.  His words speak both conviction and comfort to my heart.

I am so excited about a new 'toy' I ordered this week.  I am having a custom pen made for me by a truly masterful calligrapher--and a very fine, generous young man.  Jake Weidmann is a 'once in a generation' calligrapher and I am so delighted that he is making a pen for me.  I will treasure it!  I'll show pictures when it arrives!  In the meantime I hope you'll go see his beautiful, breath-taking work.

I'm thankful tonight that we have a Taco Bell right down at the end of our street.  I really didn't want to cook tonight.

I'm thankful for my church and my church family and especially their prayers for Jake and even for Eve.

I'm thankful for the time I have with Maddie and Elliott each Wednesday.  They wear me out but I love it!  Yesterday, I made some playdough for Elliott and we played with it while Maddie was napping.  He was fascinated with the garlic press and I have to admit, he figured it out faster than I did when I first got it!  He colored for a while but mostly he used the crayons as building blocks, laying them out in intricate patterns.  I think he's going to be an engineer when he grows up!

Maddie is the fastest crawler!  She really motors!  And she's such a sweet and happy baby.  She'll be walking soon!  I'm so very thankful that the kids live near us and we can see them often.

I'm especially thankful that the election is less than a week away!  I'll be so glad for my phone to stop ringing off the wall and for the campaign commercials on the radio and tv to fade away.  I'm so thankful that God is Sovereign over the affairs of men and whatever the outcome, I can rest in the knowledge that His Will will be done on Earth as it is in Heaven.

I'm thankful for the blessings of work and rest, reading and sleeping, conversations with my boys, kisses from my Grandchildren, and the love of my husband.  God is good.

I'm joining my friend, Kim from the Upward Call,  and others in giving thanks to God on Thursdays in 2010.  Won't you join us?

Grandma's Kisses

Michael Defrancesco

My neighbor, Michael, painted this lovely angel especially for me.  I decided not to keep it all to myself:

You can see more of his paintings at his website, Michael Defrancesco Fine Art.  Only don't visit if you're busy; wait until you have an hour to scroll through his gorgeous landscapes.

Might as Well be YOU

TO A CERTAIN CANTATRICE

Here, take this gift,
I was reserving it for some hero, speaker, or general,
One who should serve the good old cause, the great idea, the
    progress and freedom of the race,
Some brave confronter of despots, some daring rebel;
But I see that what I was reserving belongs to you just as much as to any.

Walt Whitman, Leaves of Grass

Note to Self: Big Storm on it's way

This one sounds like a doozy:

Crystal Lake, IL Weather Advisories, Watches & Warnings

TORNADO WATCH
in effect until Tuesday, Oct 26, 11:00 AM

IL . ILLINOIS COUNTIES INCLUDED ARE

BOND CHAMPAIGN CHRISTIAN CLARK CLAY CLINTON COLES COOK CRAWFORD CUMBERLAND DE WITT DOUGLAS DUPAGE EDGAR EFFINGHAM FAYETTE FORD GRUNDY IROQUOIS JASPER KANE KANKAKEE KENDALL LAKE LAWRENCE LIVINGSTON MCHENRY MCLEAN MACON MARION MONTGOMERY MOULTRIE PIATT RICHLAND SHELBY VERMILION WASHINGTON WILL

HIGH WIND WARNING
in effect until Tuesday, Oct 26, 8:00 PM

...HIGH WIND WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 7 AM THIS MORNING TO 8 PM CDT THIS EVENING...

A HIGH WIND WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 7 AM THIS MORNING TO 8 PM CDT THIS EVENING.

* TIMING...THIS MORNING THROUGH 8 PM THIS EVENING.

* WINDS...WILL SHIFT TO SOUTHWEST THIS MORNING AND INCREASE TO 30 TO 40 MPH...WITH GUSTS UP TO 60 MPH.

* IMPACTS...NON SECURE OBJECTS MAY BECOME AIRBORNE. FALLING TREE LIMBS AND POWER OUTAGES ARE LIKELY...WITH TRAFFIC SIGNALS ALSO EXPECTED TO BE AFFECTED RESULTING IN SIGNIFICANT TRAVEL DELAYS. TRAVEL WILL ALSO BECOME DIFFICULT...WITH HIGH PROFILE VEHICLES BECOMING DIFFICULT TO CONTROL.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A HIGH WIND WARNING MEANS A HAZARDOUS HIGH WIND EVENT IS EXPECTED OR OCCURRING. SUSTAINED WIND SPEEDS OF AT LEAST 40 MPH OR GUSTS OF 58 MPH OR MORE CAN LEAD TO PROPERTY DAMAGE.

Well, we battened down the hatches last night.  Brought the patio furniture in and anything else that could blow away.  Could be an interesting day.

For some reason I'm sort of excited.

Uh, oh.  Here it comes.  Impact 6:29 am.

To the States

TO THE STATES

To the States or any one of them, or any city of the States, Resist
    much, obey little,
Once unquestioning obedience, once fully enslaved,
Once fully enslaved, no nation, state, city of this earth, ever
    afterward resumes its liberty.

Walt Whitman, Leaves of Grass

Sunday Hymn: Look, Ye Saints, the Sight is Glorious!

LOOK, YE SAINTS, THE SIGHT IS GLORIOUS!

Look, ye saints, the sight is glorious;
See the Man of Sorrows now;
From the fight returned victorious,
Ev'ry knee to him shall bow:
Crown him! crown him!
Crowns become the Victor's brow.

Crown the Saviour, angels, crown him;
Rich the trophies Jesus brings;
In the seat of pow'r enthrone him,
While the vault of heaven rings:
Crown him! crown him!
Crown the Saviour King of kings.

Sinners in derision crowned him
Mocking thus the Saviour's claim;
Saints and angels crowd around him,
Own his title, praise his Name:
Crown him! crown him!
Spread abroad the Victor's fame!

Hark! those bursts of acclamation!
Hark! those loud triumphant chords!
Jesus takes the highest station;
O what joy the sight affords!
Crown him! crown him!
King of kings, and Lord of lords.

Trinity Hymnal # 217

Quote of the Week: Green Baggins

Scripture tells us in no uncertain terms that rejection of heresy is just as important, and indeed is of a piece with positive theology. They are the flip side of the very same coin. You cannot hold positive theology without also rejecting the corresponding error. Rev. Lane Keister

Positive Theology and Negative Rejection

Green Baggins

The grandkids and me

Sunday afternoon, Tom and I had our pictures taken with our grandchildren.  Everyone who knows me knows I HATE having my picture taken and I avoid it whenever I possibly can.  But even I can't resist having my picture taken with my grandkids. 

This one cracks me up.  I love the kinetic pictures rather than the posed ones.  Elliott is 2 and a real squirmy worm.  I think that comes out in this picture.

I'll share from the photo shoot later, but for now, this one makes me smile.

Life and Biography

WHEN I READ THE BOOK

When I read the book, the biography famous,
And is this then (said I) what the author calls a man's life?
And so will some one when I am dead and gone write my life?
(As if any man really knew aught of my life,
Why even I myself I often think know little or nothing of my real life,
Only a few hints, a few diffused faint clews and indirections
I seek for my own use to trace out here.)

Walt Whitman, Leaves of Grass

Musings on a Wednesday in October

October 20th and we haven't had to run the furnace yet.  So far we've been able to leave the windows open (or at least cracked).  It's a brilliant autumn day--64 degrees and sunny. The sky is so blue today.

Elliott and I have been playing outside this afternoon.  Elliott likes me to draw 'choo-choo's' on the sidewalk so he can take a train ride; sometimes sitting in the engine car, sometimes running back and forth the length of the train yelling, "Choo! Choo!"

Grandma got hot and tired so Sam's playing with him now.  He draws pictures for Elliott; Sponge Bob and Gary, Patrick and Squidward, Blues Clues.  Sam's much better at drawing than I am.  Even Elliott has that figured out!

He'll be a chalky mess when he comes in.  Bath time!

Maddie is napping in our room.  She is such a good little napper.  She's crawling all over the place now and pulling up and furniture cruising--she'll be walking before you know it!

Prayer meeting at our house tonight.  I used to worry about getting the house cleaned up before everyone arrived--now I'm just happy if I can get the toys picked up!

Less than two weeks until the election.  I'll be glad when the political ads are over, how about you?

Here comes Elliott!  Off to the bathtub!

My little peachy-pie

My little cuppy-cake

Sunday Hymn: Hark, the Savior's Voice

HARK, 'TIS THE SHEPHERD'S VOICE

Hark! 'tis the Shepherd's voice I hear,
Out in the desert dark and drear,
Calling the sheep who've gone astray
Far from the Shepherd's fold away.

Bring them in, bring them in,
Bring them in, from the fields of sin;
Bring them in, bring them in,
Bring the wandering ones to Jesus.

Who'll go and help this Shepherd kind,
Help him the wand'ring ones to find?
Who'll bring the lost ones to the fold,
Where they'll be sheltered from the cold?

Out in the desert hear their cry,
Out on the mountains wild and high;
Hark! 'tis the Master speaks to thee,
"Go find my sheep where'er they be."

TRINITY HYMNAL #684

Quote of the Week: Ferguson

"So what does it mean for me and for you and for us as the people of God to be able to come to Him in the Name of Jesus, and using His Name come and say to Him, 'Holy Father'. . .if when we pray we say 'Our Holy Father' then that means that the church which He purchased with His blood is the Holy Family."

Sinclair Ferguson, Hallowed Be Your Name

Thankful Thursday 2010

I'm thankful for these familiar verses and the comfort they bring:

Matthew 11:28 "Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light."

I'm joining my friend, Kim from the Upward Call,  and others in giving thanks to God on Thursdays in 2010.  Won't you join us?