then sings my soul ~ 21 November

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I have loved this song since the very first time I heard it.

I grew up Catholic and started going to a Congregational church after I married and had my first daughter. I go to a Baptist church now...

anyway, we did not sing songs like this at church when I was young and it's one of my favorite things to do at church now.

Come, Ye Thankful People, Come Hymn

Come, ye thankful people, come, raise the song of harvest home;
All is safely gathered in, ere the winter storms begin.
God our Maker doth provide for our wants to be supplied;
Come to God’s own temple, come, raise the song of harvest home.

All the world is God’s own field, fruit unto His praise to yield;
Wheat and tares together sown unto joy or sorrow grown.
First the blade and then the ear, then the full corn shall appear;
Lord of harvest, grant that we wholesome grain and pure may be.

For the Lord our God shall come, and shall take His harvest home;
From His field shall in that day all offenses purge away,
Giving angels charge at last in the fire the tares to cast;
But the fruitful ears to store in His garner evermore.

Even so, Lord, quickly come, bring Thy final harvest home;
Gather Thou Thy people in, free from sorrow, free from sin,
There, forever purified, in Thy garner to abide;
Come, with all Thine angels come, raise the glorious harvest home.

Thankful Thursday ~ 19 November

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“Not what we say about our blessings, but how we use them, is the true measure of our thanksgiving.”

W. T. Purkiser

I read this on a blog this morning. It really hit a chord within me. It's a good thing to wonder how we can use what the Lord has blessed us with.
Almost as if if we are not using our blessings our thankfulness is sort of arrogant.
Thank you that I have this, and I have this, and I have this....
But if we are actively seeking ways to use our blessings then the Lord has put them in the right place. And not only that, our blessings multiply when we put them to use.
Not using them would be like having all the ingredients for a lovely pie and never baking it.

If we are blessed with money are we using that money to help others or just hoarding it all for ourselves?

But, even that is to easy and to black and white to really illustrate the point here.

I am not blessed with money but I am blessed with a spirit that is able to find contentment. As I have matured in life I have realized that is not such a common thing to have.

Now after reading this I need to begin to think about how I am using that blessing and the others that I have.

Even my health. Am I using it? Am I truly doing what I need to do in order to keep my body healthy or am I squandering away my health as if it meant nothing at all.

Thanks for the blessing of my health God, I think I'll go sit on the couch and eat chips and watch TV.

I think since today is thankful Thursday I am going to start trying to carry this in my heart all of my days. Not just being thankful (although that is a very good thing) but using that thankfulness towards God's glory. Whether it be by helping some one else or by maturing as a Christian myself.

Luke 6:38

Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you."

James 1:17

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 James 1:17

 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.

Gathering at the well

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The topic for Monday, November 16, 2009, will be:

The All-Sufficient One

For discussion:

In what areas of your life are you not allowing God to be your Soul Provider, the All-Sufficient One? What problems do you need to hand over to Him? Do you find yourself in a place of weakness right now? Is your soul thirsty?

Oh these are good question for me right now.
I have stopped going to church because I am so uncomfortable in my little church. I know that is my place of weakness. I know that God has been speaking to my heart about this. I know that He wants me to be in a church on a regular basis. I just can't seem to find the church He wants me to be in.
I also know that this is a fairly common problem among Christians. I can hear Satan telling me that church is not necessary and that I can still be a good Christian without going to church. But I know that I can't. I am missing the vital element of Christian fellowship and accountability.
I keep saying I'm going to find another church but it is not that easy. Part of me wants to stick it out and persevere at the tiny church I am in. Part of me is so uncomfortable there that I think I need to find a different place.
I know I need to hand this problem over to God. I keep thinking I have done just that but then I get confused over the whole thing again...which could only mean that I never really handed it over to begin with. And I understand that satan loves to see me confused as it means that I am not attending a church at all. 
There is a church in the next town over that I think I am going to check out on Sunday.

the simple womans' daybook

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FOR TODAY

16 November 2009

Outside my window...
It's quite windy out. The temps are down a bit from the weekend but it was quite warm so I don't mind. The sun is making it's way up into the sky but it's still quite gray.
I am thinking...
I do love this time of year. It's so cozy and one can't help but feel content with the little one has if it shared with friends and family.
I am thankful for...
a season of contentment
From the learning rooms...
I have been rather lazy in that department lately. Content to sit at home and be still and quiet.
From the kitchen...
I ordered Fannie Farmer's baking book and it came in the mail. I had it long ago but lost it. I have been making all sorts of goodies from it and my family is very appreciative. I am making a broccoli cheese soup for dinner tonight from a cookbook that I received as a gift from an online friend.
I am wearing...
ugly work clothes....black yoga pants, gray turtleneck, sneakers.
I am creating...
I am going to be making photo greeting cards to sell at work.
I am going...
to work today. I'll be going to the market at one when I get out of work.
I am reading...
I have just finished Shepard's Abiding by Jan Karon. I will be reading A Christmas Carol with an online book club.
I am hoping...
that the sun will come out. Or, that perhaps on Thanksgiving we will have our first snow.
I am hearing...
It is very quiet in the house right now. Mr. Hip is still sleeping, Miss B. is also. Miss A, has already left for school. That means all I hear is the hum of the fridge and they clicking of my keyboard.
Around the house...
Please don't let this change your high opinion of me but....I already have greens and Christmas lights up. I see no reason they cannot be part of a Thanksgiving celebration. I don't have the "real" Christmas things up like the Advent wreath or the Nativity scenes. I am busy for the next three weekends and this weekend was my chance to to it at my leisure. It does look very pretty with all those little twinkly lights.
One of my favorite things...
the holiday season
A few plans for the rest of the week:
work, housekeeping, I am working on Saturday also this week to cover for a co-worker. I only have to work from 8:00 to 11:30 AM but it does cut into the day.
Here is picture for thought I am sharing...
This is the summer church  a few towns over from me. They meet there only in the summer months. Attendance is down and the smaller crowd will fit into this little church. Also, I don't think it is heated and things get pretty chilly here in New Hampshire.

Multitude Monday

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16~
God leaves petals of grace everywhere I turn.

A trail of His goodness for all who seek Him.

17~

WHEN THE FROST IS ON THE PUNKIN
by: James Whitcomb Riley (1849-1916)

HEN the frost is on the punkin and the fodder's in the shock,

And you hear the kyouck and gobble of the struttin' turkey-cock,

And the clackin' of the guineys, and the cluckin' of the hens,

And the rooster's hallylooyer as he tiptoes on the fence;

O, it's then's the times a feller is a-feelin' at his best,

With the risin' sun to greet him from a night of peaceful rest,

As he leaves the house, bareheaded, and goes out to feed the stock,

When the frost is on the punkin and the fodder's in the shock.

 

They's something kindo' harty-like about the atmusfere

When the heat of summer's over and the coolin' fall is here--

Of course we miss the flowers, and the blossums on the trees,

And the mumble of the hummin'-birds and buzzin' of the bees;

But the air's so appetizin'; and the landscape through the haze

Of a crisp and sunny morning of the airly autumn days

Is a pictur' that no painter has the colorin' to mock--

When the frost is on the punkin and the fodder's in the shock.

 

The husky, rusty russel of the tossels of the corn,

And the raspin' of the tangled leaves, as golden as the morn;

The stubble in the furries--kindo' lonesome-like, but still

A-preachin' sermuns to us of the barns they growed to fill;

The strawstack in the medder, and the reaper in the shed;

The hosses in theyr stalls below--the clover over-head!--

O, it sets my hart a-clickin' like the tickin' of a clock,

When the frost is on the punkin and the fodder's in the shock!

 

Then your apples all is gethered, and the ones a feller keeps

Is poured around the celler-floor in red and yeller heaps;

And your cider-makin' 's over, and your wimmern-folks is through

With their mince and apple-butter, and theyr souse and saussage, too! ...

I don't know how to tell it--but ef sich a thing could be

As the Angels wantin' boardin', and they'd call around on me--

I'd want to 'commodate 'em--all the whole-indurin' flock--

When the frost is on the punkin and the fodder's in the shock! 

 

18~
The opportunity to spend the afternoon with my mum

19~
November out my bathroom window..a dark and dreary day..perfect for baking bread and cookies, catching up on laundry, perhaps a drive to the beach

20~
The joy of seeing the flag on folks houses

Spiritual Sunday ~ 15 November

 Proverbs 31:

 ²⁷She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness.

 ²⁸Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her. 

At this time of year I am happiest when I am at home. I love making my home a peaceful, welcoming place for my family and friends.

Yesterday I spent the day at home by myself. I took out some of the greens and Christmas lights that I put up indoors. I know it is a bit early yet but I will be busy on the next three Saturdays and won't have another full day to do all of it.

All day I could hear the rain and the wind outdoors.

All day I was cozy and content indoors.

I must say, my home looks so pretty. I just love the way the Christmas  lights look.

I find such joy in home making.

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