Thanksgiving Rejoicing!

Early Morning Thanksgiving:

I am enjoying my coffee and the quiet in my home these early morning hours of Thanksgiving 2010. The turkey is in the oven. I always use the oven bags and usually cook it overnight on lower temps but decided to but it in early morning this year.

I am so thankful for my salvation and for all God's grace and mercy. He has blessed me so richly and daily loadeth me with benefits! I am thankful for a houseful of sleeping family members, husband, children, grandchildren, niece, the warmth of the heat that is coming from a new heat pump, the cozy chair that I am sitting in, the hot coffee I am drinking, but most of all for the Book that is beside me: The Holy Bible - God's very breath that is alive and His very Words that are written to me. How blessed I am to realize what it actually is! How I wish others realized what they can hold in their hands and have in their hearts to help in times of need ! I am so thankful that God has placed me under the teaching of some very gifted preachers and teachers that know how to bring the Word and how to encourage me to go to it each day for the Bread of Life. The only thing that the world can not take away is my salvation, and it is free and extended to all. Not a thing that I can do could earn it, not a thing that I do makes me keep it. My God holds me in his hand. He seals me with his Holy Spirit. Jesus is the author and finisher of my faith. I love my Lord and want to sacrifice the sacrifices of thanksgiving this morning, and declare his works with rejoicing! Psalm 107:22

I thought I would share a poem I wrote about our pastor for our church's Pastor Appreciation Day service last month. I'm truly thankful that God has blessed my husband and I with such a man for a pastor and friend.

DEAR PASTOR

There is a special person

God brought into our lives.

He’s been with us through ups and downs,

prayed for us while we cried.

We’ve grown to love his family,

many that they be.

His precious wife is ever near,

at work behind the scenes.

He Preaches with conviction,

of a Christ who changed his heart.

He sometimes uses more than words...

(By acting out each part)!

He Teaches us with wisdom

from time spent with God above.

He Guides with truthful counsel,

but most of all he Loves.

He doesn’t serve for money,

his salary is nil;

nor accolades, nor praise of men,

but thanks we give him still.

He serves out of obedience,

a mind set on the Lord.

So we will serve alongside him,

our hearts in one accord.

God gave us Christ, salvation,

heavens promise in the end.

But life on earth’s been better,

with our Pastor and our Friend.

10-24-10

GLORIFY

It is the most beautiful day! The mid 70's is in my opinion the perfect temperature. In my part of the world that is not always the case, but spring and fall bring several perfect days like today. I have had to work in my home office the biggest part of my day but am finished with that until tomorrow. My hard working hubby called and has to meet a customer a little ways away, so dinner will not need to be ready as early so that will allow for a little more time to enjoy the weather. I think I will visit my perennial garden after this post.

I was just reading I Cor. 6:20 "For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God's."

I am a child of God, redeemed, with the promise of an eternal home in heaven because I was purchased, paid for, by Jesus' blood. Because he did this for me, I can at the very least obey this command to glorify Him. My body and spirit belong to God - that is why when we who are saved, are not living for Him, glorifying HIm, there is unrest, dissatisfaction, even health issues. I want to glorify Him today and always. He is worthy of all our praise!

THEN SINGS MY SOUL!

I am so thankful for the many wonderful blogs that I have been blessed to read from precious and gifted sisters in Christ. Often I've thought that I would love to join in writing my own, so here is my first attempt. I have been reading through the Word and this past month, the book of John. I am blessed beyond measure to call Jesus, my Lord, my Saviour, my Friend! He tells me through His Word that he knew me before I was born, He prayed for me before He went to the cross, He thought of me as He hung on the cross, He intercedes for me daily as I pray, and He is preparing a mansion for me that will soon be ready. As I listen to the birds signing His praises outside my window this sunny morning, my soul can not help but sing too! I am so thankful for His saving grace and His mercies that he has poured out on me for many years now. What a wonderful Saviour is Jesus My Lord, a wonderful Saviour to me! He has been so patient in molding me! In this the most precious of seasons, I am thankful today for all He is to me. John 17:20