Days of Thanks: Day 1

Some of my blessings that I am thankful for, in no particular order:

#1: My Grandma Roffel's patterned sheets.  Feel so cozy compared to plain sheets.

#2: Chubby baby cheeks.

#3: An automatic dishwasher.

#4: Michigan's four seasons.  I'm getting ready to see some snowflakes floating through the air.

#5: 5 loud boys!

#6: The ability to stay connected to friends and family through technology.

#7: Chocolate.  In all forms.  Except chocolate-covered grasshoppers.  That's nasty.

#8:  The solid, reformed preaching I hear every Sunday.

#9: A minivan.

#10: Cherry Carmex.

Count your blessings, name them one by one,

Count your blessings, see what God hath done!

Count your blessings, name them one by one,

And it will surprise you what the Lord hath done.

10 Challenges from our pastor

Yesterday our pastor preached this sermon on I John 3:14, continuing his series on the marks of a healthy church.  The 10 challenges he gave the congregation are simple things that even our children can be involved in.
Here are Dr. Murray's 10 challenges to show that we love one another:
(Here is the list from Dr. Murray's blog.)

1,  Pray for one family for one month.  Pick one family from the congregation and pray for them this month.
2.  Speak to one different person from the congregation this month.  Pick someone you don't normally speak to.
3.  Encourage one person in the next month.  "I am so thankful to God for you because..."
4.  Carry someone's burden.
5.  Visit one person who you don't normally visit.
6.  Give a gift.  He suggested gift cards for someone who wouldn't normally be able to afford to go out for dinner or a coffee.  I think another great gift would be to offer to babysit someone's children for them or help someone with a project on their home.
7.  Forgive one person.
8.  Welcome one person who is new to the church.
9.  Share a meal with someone.
10.  Submit one  preference.  Some of our preferences have Biblical standing, but some of our preferences are merely personal and these can build barriers to fellowship.

Considering upcoming childbirth

From 52home

Wisdom from Ryle

"Do not wait, because you feel unworthy. Wait for nothing: wait for nobody. Waiting comes from the devil. Just as we are, go to Christ. The worse you are, the more need you have to go to Him. You will never mend yourself by staying away."

- J.C. Ryle

Leaving

 

Has this world been so kind to you that you should leave it with regret? There are better things ahead than any we leave behind. 

C.S. Lewis

When He Cometh

A beautiful, sweet children's hymn. My aunt used to sing this with her kids at bedtime.

When He Cometh

When He cometh, when He cometh
To make up His jewels,
All His jewels, precious jewels,
His loved and His own.

Refrain:
Like the stars of the morning,
His bright crown adorning,
They shall shine in their beauty,
Bright gems for His crown.

He will gather, He will gather
The gems for His kingdom;
All the pure ones, all the bright ones,
His loved and His own.

Refrain

Little children, little children,
Who love their Redeemer,
Are the jewels, precious jewels,
His loved and His own.

Refrain

Encouragement for the day

Keep on looking unto Jesus. Faith shall soon be changed to sight, and hope to certainty. Looking to Jesus on earth by faith, you shall end with seeing Jesus eye to eye in heaven. Those eyes of yours shall look on the head that was crowned with thorns, the hands and feet that were pierced with nails, and the side that was pierced with a spear. You shall find that seeing is the blessed consequence of believing, and that looking at Jesus by faith, ends with seeing Jesus in glory, and living with Jesus for evermore. When you awake up after His likeness, you shall be satisfied. - J.C. Ryle


Jack Westerink's blog

Sunday Gleanings: Thinking of our nation

To us Thy mercy now afford
And show us Thy salvation Lord;
Yea, Thou wilt answer us in peace,
If from our folly we will cease.


The Lord's salvation will appear
To men of faith and godly fear,
And glory in our land shall dwell
When we shall heed God's precepts well.


The Lord will send His blessing down,
And harvests all our land shall crown;
Before Him righteousness abides,
And in His steps our feet He guides.


Psalter 230, vs 4, 5, and 7

Random encouragement

Last Saturday we were on our way home from Canada and we stopped at Big Boy for dinner.  It was 6 PM, peak rush time for the supper hour, so it was a bit busy.  We were seated across the aisle from an older couple, probably about 60-65ish.  They stared at our family almost the whole time we were eating dinner, without cracking even a small smile.  And the boys were even behaving!  We get stares quite frequently.  I mean, a family with 4 small boys isn't exactly common place, but neither are we a total anomaly.  Anyway, maybe these people were just interested in our family, but it wasn't exactly a friendly stare.  More like a "what is wrong with you people?" stare.  So it was so refreshing in the grocery store today to have a lady come up to me, pat my arm, and tell me that I was so blessed to have 4 boys (after she asked if they were all mine!).  I thanked her and teared up a bit.  I mean, I love my boys and feel blessed to have them, but I'm glad that others can see it as a blessing too (and fortunately, she didn't see Joel screaming at Noah at the checkout!).

Sunday Gleanings

What comfort would it be to pray to a god that, like the chameleon, changed colours every day, every moment?
The immutability of God is a strong ground of consolation...and encourages hope and confidence.

~Stephen Charnock, 1628-80