Shine Thou Upon Us, Lord #195

Taken from the New Trinity Hymnal ~~

Shine thou upon us, Lord,
True Light of men, today,
And through the written Word
Thy very self display,
That so from hearts which burn
With gazing on thy face
Thy little ones may learn
The wonders of thy grace.

Breathe thou upon us, Lord,
Thy Spirit's living flame,
That so with one accord
Our lips may tell thy name.
Give thou the hearing ear,
Fix thou the wandering thought,
That those we teach may hear
The great things thou hast wrought.

Speak thou for us, O Lord,
In all we say of thee;
According to thy Word
Let all our teaching be,
That so thy lambs may know
Their own true Shepherd's voice,
Where'er he leads them go,
And in his love rejoice.

Live thou within us, Lord;
Thy mind and will be ours;
Be thou belov'd, adored,
And served with all our powers,
That so our lives may teach
Thy children what thou art,
And plead, by more than speech,
For thee with ev'ry heart.

Down in the valley ~~

"God gives us the vision, then He takes us down to the valley to batter us into the shape of the vision, and it is in the valley that so many of us faint and give way…The vision is not a castle in the air, but a vision of what God wants you to be. Let Him put you on His wheel and whirl you as He likes, and as sure as God is God and you are you, you will turn out exactly in accordance with the vision. Don’t lose heart in the process. If you have ever had the vision of God, you may try as you like to be satisfied on a lower level, but God will never let you."

~~ Oswald Chambers, My Utmost for His Highest.

Which woman am I?

The fact that I am a woman 

does not make me a different kind of Christian, 

but the fact that I am a Christian

 does make me a different kind of a woman ...

 ~~ Elizabeth Elliott

Reminder to Self ~~

Pam ~~ stop treating Proverbs 31 like a checklist,
 separate from the rest of the book, 
but rather like the embodiment of 
a woman living the rest of the book!

Duty to pray for our Pastors ~~

Pray for us; 

for we are confident that we have a good conscience,

 in all things desiring to live honorably.

~Hebrews 13:18

"This is one part of the duty which people owe to their ministers. Ministers need the prayers of the people; and the more earnestly the people pray for their ministers the more benefit they may expect to reap from their ministry. They should pray that God would teach those who are to teach them, that He would make them vigilant, and wise, and zealous, and successful--that He would assist them in all their labours, support them under all their burdens, and strengthen them under all their temptations."

~Matthew Henry

rustling leaves ~~

"The whole course and series of divine providence towards the saints is like a music-book, in every leaf whereof there is a song ready pricked for them to learn and sing to the praise of their God. No passage in their life of which they can say, 'In this I received no mercy for which I should bless God.'"

~William Gurnall

Prayer ...

James Smith said,

"A real Christian has sympathy with all true believers. They are taken up into his heart, and are included in his prayers. For them he praises God, and for them he pleads with God. As one with Christ, he is one with them. As interested in Christ, he feels interested in them. They may be poor and needy, they may be oppressed and despised, they may be weak and feeble—but they excite his admiration, and draw forth his love."

November of Thanksgiving ~~ Day 19

"The falling leaves drift by the window
The autumn leaves of red and gold....
I see your lips, the summer kisses
The sunburned hands, I used to hold
Since you went away, the days grow long
And soon I'll hear ol' winter's song.
But I miss you most of all my darling,
When autumn leaves start to fall."
-  Johnny Mercer, lyrics, Autumn Leaves

"Grandma's Hands"

These are the hands
that held me up high
higher and higher
till I touched the sky

These are the hands
that would lovingly wipe
the tears from my cheeks
When I fell off my bike

These are the hands
that would tickle my side
till I'd wiggle and giggle
and laugh till I cried

These are the hands
that dressed me up warm
they'd button and tuck
to keep me safe from the storm

These are the hands
that now need my care
as I bathe her and dress her
and brush her gray hair

These are the hands
that once were so mighty
they now need my help
to button her nightie

These are the hands
that I'm happy to hold
to keep her from harm
and to ward off the cold

These are the hands.....
"That taught me to love"

Anonymous

November of Thanksgiving ~~ Day 17

 

Leaves  ~~~

"How silently they tumble down
And come to rest upon the ground
To lay a carpet, rich and rare,
Beneath the trees without a care,
Content to sleep, their work well done,
Colors gleaming in the sun.

At other times, they wildly fly
Until they nearly reach the sky.
Twisting, turning through the air
Till all the trees stand stark and bare.
Exhausted, drop to earth below
To wait, like children, for the snow."
by  Elsie N. Brady

 

 

“Thankful” that my son and his wife are having a good vacation in Florida. That their flight went well along with the hussle of boarding. Since son never flew before he was anxious about it all. They were to fly out of Pittsburgh at 7:10pm He texted me right before boarding. Then again when they exited the plane. He said, “I’m on the ground!  made it.” I wrote back, “Thank You Lord!” He said back, “I was sitting right beside Him We watched the world going to bed.” I just sat there and cried.  I never flew and don’t plan on it but it must be something to see something like this. Above the clouds as day turns to night. “The Heavens declare the Glory of God!”  Amen …

November of Thanksgiving ~~ Day 16

 

"November comes

And November goes,

With the last red berries

And the first white snows.

With night coming early,

And dawn coming late,

And ice in the bucket

And frost by the gate.

The fires burn

And the kettles sing,

And earth sinks to rest

Until next spring."

~~   Elizabeth Coatsworth

 

I’m “thankful” for the fact that I live where you witness the changes of the season’s in all their glory. It’s a dreary gray day here in south-central PA.

I’m “thankful” for books and magazines that fill the mind, help us to stretch and grow, ones that teach and ones that cut to the quick, ones that cause us to create and ones that take us places we may never go in person, for those of poetry and rhyme, for those that tell us of the past and talk of the future.

 

Join us at Rebecca-Writes for a Month of November Thankfulness!

November of Thanksgiving ~~ Day 13

 

This is Jaxx. He is a Pudel Pointer.

The is Bella. She is a Deutsch Drahthaar.

And this is Dakota. He is a Chocolate Lab.

These are a source of love and enjoyment!

We are so ‘thankful’ for  these good companions.

This is Joey. He belongs to my youngest son and his wife.

He is a Jack Russell mix. Little ball of Dy-no-mite!

And this one! Well he is the new love in my Mom’s life.

He’s a tea cup poodle named ZaZoo. He weighs 3 1/2 lbs.

And he is not afraid of the big dogs.

Then there are the fish in the pond and 2 Betta fish.

When we all get together it’s like WOW, especially when Joey comes

and the gangs all here …… 

but that’s is what makes memories.

Thank you Lord for our furry and finned friends whom You created

for our good pleasure.

November of Thanksgiving ~~ Day 12

 

"There is an elusive quality about November sunlight. At night, little faraway houses, never seen in summer, suddenly prick the dark with their lamps. Fields of winter wheat appear, visible now the leaves are down. All the browns, a thousand browns, come out. Rust-brown, sand-brown, topaz-brown, and the faded gold of harvest fields. The contour of the land is evident, folds and hills and valleys. The sky over all is soft and hazy, and there is a feeling in the air that winter is coming. The shadows look different, sloping across the pale grass. This is a peaceful, serene land, and never quite so peaceful as now, with the crops in, wood piled high, houses snugged down, brooks running slow with leaves. The days grow shorter. Dusk comes before we are finished with the day."

from The Book of Stillmeadow by Gladys Tabor

Praise God!

Praising and exclaiming how thankful I am for all that He has given to me!

Thankful that He is :

“Jehovah Ro’-i ~~ The Lord My Shepherd”    Psalm 23:1

“Jehovah ‘Ori ~~ The Lord My Light”    Psalm 27:1

“Jehovah Kabodhi ~~ The Lord My Glory”     Psalm 3:3

November of Thanksgiving ~~ Day 11

 

I’m thankful that this happened and I wish I could have been there to experience something like this!  AMEN and Amen!  Enjoy!

November of Thanksgiving ~~ Day 10

 

Looking out my window I see a nice and frosty morning. Many trees are now bare.  The sun still paints its gold on those leaves still hanging on. It’s cool and crisp.

I’m ‘thankful’ today for the internet, my computers (no matter how much trouble they give me), and online friends.

I really appreciate Rebecca at Rebecca Writes for taking the time to gather all of our links and post them everyday for others to read. This takes a lot of time …  ‘THANKS REBECCA – YOU ARE APPRECIATED!”

I enjoy traveling all over the world while setting here at the computer, with my coffee, sometimes a snack or sandwich, wearing my scruffy old flannel pj’s, and just cruising around the mighty web visiting. I’m a lurker as some call it. I have been visiting some peoples blogs for years and never have posted a word. I have received some responses back to things I have posted on my own blog that have really hurt. Its so easy to type words when you don’t have to look at that person in the eye. I wonder how many things that are typed would really be said one on one?

I have hundreds of blogs and such in my google reader and feeds. I can pick and chose were I want to go for the day. Recipes with video or great pics, you can learn languages, learn how to knit or crochet, crating, how to care for animals, traveling to sights I will never be to in my lifetime. Connections with friends and family is wonderful!

I’m ‘thankful’ for what I have learned about the Christian walk from the web. WOW – you learn who publishes Truth and who don’t. But the wealth of biblical understanding, knowledge and wisdom is unfathomable. We so take for granted what’s available to us.

The Web – it’s an amazingly big huge cyber world. Stop and think how many people are on here right now. Just let our computers go down or we don’t have good internet connections and man do we get grumpy!  Don’t say you don’t! We all know we do!!!

November of Thanksgiving ~~ Day 9

 

We have 3 big dogs at our home. They bring a lot of comfort and laughs. I have never been without a dog. I have never had a cat – hubs is allergic to them. We had  beagles when I was at home. My Dad and I had a kennel.  “Hickory Hill Beagles” that we bred, sold, and ran beagles in AKC Beagle field trials all over PA, Ohio, MD, WV and down into Virginia. We were both AKC Field Trial Judges in which we did some short traveling to other clubs to judge their trials. What sweet memories. I also was a midwife in that I went around and helped other kennel owners when their dogs were having puppies.

Beagles are sweet dogs but they are real stubborn bone heads too. If you have one with a strong nose you’ll never keep them at home unless they are fenced in. And beagle puppies … need I say more! Oh puppy breath and warm wet noses … I miss that. We had Hickory Hill Holly, Hickory Hill Dan, Hickory Hill Hope, Hickory Hill Stubby,  on, and on.  There is nothing better on a fall morning when the mist is just starting to rise, the sun is burning the frost away, your in the middle of a cut cornfield and you hear the dogs break out in that all familiar howl. Some dogs pound the trail with their nose down walking a circle around the spot that smells real good, others throw their heads back and bawl and take off on a run, some squeal and wiggle their behinds till you think they’ll wiggle it off! You stand still and wait for the rabbit to break out, all the while listening to this glorious sound on an autumn morn. Out runs the rabbit, the dogs are coming along behind and ‘bang!” the rabbit rolls. The dogs are rewarded and you head out for the next rabbit.

Here’s a pic of our last beagle “Benjamin of Hawke Hill” When I got married I chose my own kennel name. Ben was the last beagle we had. The end of a long line of faithful, loveable beagles. We had to put him down in 2005. I miss the cuddles and those big soft ears.

I’m thankful for all those memories with the beagles in my life.  Oh Benny …. we loved you so!

November of Thanksgiving ~~ Day 8

 

Today I am ‘thankful’ for being able to attend the Elizabeth George Seminar that was held in Knox, PA. It was about a 2.5 hour ride to get there but when you have 6 gals of various ages in the car it was a joyful ride!

The only downfall of the day for me and some of the others in my group was that we had to set in folding chairs at the ends of the auditorium rows. Since it was downhill in the aisle my toes actually ached from holding myself back in the chair. I felt like was was falling forward the entire day. We didn’t get to set together but was still blessed beyond measure.

On the way home we hit some snow in the higher elevations, the rode was wet but no snow laid upon it. We stopped at Indiana, PA for supper and ate at the Ruby Tuesday there. Our meals were delicious but wow were they busy! There was a college football game and no restaurant had instant seating!

When I was involved in leadership with the ladies ministry we had Elizabeth George for a seminar and she was an absolute joy! That was a few years ago now but we still hear how she impacted women’s lives that day.

Her first session was about “Loving God with all of your mind.” ~~

The verse which is her life verse from what I understand is Phil. 4:8-9 KJV

^“8Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.

⁹Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.”

She said we have to train our thoughts to think on what is real. It’s a command. She said “to think outside those biblical boundaries is sin.” WHACK! … one of those right between the eyes deals …. when God commands, He enables us to obey that command.

Accordingly God hears, He remembers, He looks to us and He knows our need.

2nd Session she talked about “Winning over Worry” ~~

Worry is sin! Take one day at a time and deal with today. (I know I hear this and it is sin but I still do it) 

“If onlys” does not work! Don’t “rehash, remember or relive” but we should pray and fast. Reach forward, gain a forward momentum. Choose to trust what the Bible reveals about God and ask Him to replace any fears and doubts with the truth of His Word. “Relying on God has to begin all over again every day as if nothing yet had been done. quote by C.S. Lewis”  Focus on today helps us live each day to the fullest, and that focus begins with preparation, planning, and prayer.

3rd session was “Trusting in the Lord” ~~

Romans 8:28 “We know that God causes all things to work together for good.”

That we are to take every thought captive: “Nothing will ever happen to you that God does not already know about. Nothing will every happen to you that is a mistake. (Ps. 139:4,16)  Nothing will ever happen to you that will not eventually be used by God for some good purpose in your life (Rom 8:28-29), and nothing will ever happen to you apart from God’s presence. (Matt. 28:20).

She talked about Ney Bailey and how she learned to “pray the Word” thru her teachings. She said that Ney showed her how to use the authority of Scripture in prayer. “Your Word says … ”,  “You have also said that …”, And Lord, Your Word says …” “When we choose to believe that truth we can’t help but find hope in Him.” He only asks us to trust that He is working His purpose in us as we live out our purpose of serving Him.” 

She spoke about difficult times we are each going thru and how the Lord will bring us thru. She shared how she was as a ‘new’ christian and how she underlined everything in the Bible that pertained to who God is and laughed at how many gold pens she used in doing it but mostly how it helped to her to come to know Him more. Her teaching touched each one of our lives at the very ‘season’ we are in. 

Then there was the music!  Wow! Janet Paschal was the special music and does that lady know who to minister to you. She spoke about her time with cancer and how the Lord brought her through. She encouraged the audience to participate. But the combined singing of 812 women along with her accapello .. words cannot describe it.

Back in 2004 when Elizabeth was at our seminar she signed her book “Loving God with All Your Mind” to me. She wrote, “Pam - thank you for today!”  

Elizabeth George – Thank You for how you have touched my life. Your three ‘pink books’ changed me and the women I call friends. My home, my faith, my marriage, my sons, my becoming a “Woman Who Walks With God”,  “A Woman After God’s Own Heart”, “A Woman of High Calling” has come from the truths about God and your relationship with Him and how you taught, shared, cried, and laughed with us, at us, and at yourself has been a blessing beyond measure.

Thank You Lord for her! Bless her and I know You will …

Join us at Rebecca-Writes.com for our month long November of Thanksgiving posts.

November of Thanksgiving ~~ Day 7

 

     The time changed here in the US – Day Light Saving Time. Honestly I wish they would just leave it the way it should be … I’m ‘thankful’ that God does not change – He is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow; nor shift His priorities, but that He is the  great I AM. You ever stop and think really how great that is? We humans are constantly shifting and changing but not Him.

    As I set here smelling the coffee perking on the stove, listening to the steady breaths of 3 dogs lying around my feet, watching the sun rise in the East, I know that He is in control of every second, of everyday. The sun rises and sets because He ordained it. The very fact that my coffee is perking on the stove is due to His cause and effect. I’m ‘thankful’ that wherever I am, at that point in time, I have access to Him. My prayer bench a lot of the time is here at the computer. Instead of worn places from knees, it’s worn places from elbows. Gazing out at a night that is fluid black or in the morn when the sun is burning the mist away. The tears fall, my heartaches, my joy overflows, my understanding grows … the WORD is read, studied, mused over, absorbed, His praises are sung and thru it all I walk closer to my Lord and Savior.

From The Starry Firmament on High by Robert Grant: 

The starry firmament on high,
And all the glories of the sky,
Yet shine not to Thy praise, O Lord,
So brightly as Thy written Word.

The hopes that holy Word supplies,
Its truths divine and precepts wise,
In each a heavenly beam I see,
And every beam conducts to Thee.

Almighty Lord, the sun shall fail,
The moon forget her nightly tale,
And deepest silence hush on high,
The radiant chorus of the sky.

But, fixed, for everlasting years,
Unmoved amid the wreck of spheres,
Thy Word shall shine in cloudless day,
When Heaven and earth have passed away.

I’m THANKFUL that:

     God is “Holy Sovereign.” His Holiness expresses the sum total of all God is. His Sovereignty expresses the absolute rulership of God above everything and everyone else. He is under no external constraints!~~  Isa. 46:5,9,10; Zech. 9:14; 1 Tim. 6:16-17.

     God is “Creator.” The Bible declares God is responsible for the creation of everything that exists anywhere. It also says that He keeps all things running properly, He sustains it. ~~ Ps. 136:5-9; Isa. 40:25-26, 44:24, 45:12; Jere. 5:22, 10:12, 51:15-16; Dan. 5:23; Acts 17:24-26; Heb. 1:1.

     God is “Omnipotent.” He has the ability to do anything and everything He wishes that is not contrary to His nature. ~~ Gen. 18:14; Psa. 33:9-11, 93:4; Isa. 40:26, 46:10; Jere. 32:17; Matt. 19:26; Luke 1:37; Rom. 1:19-20; Rev. 19:6.

November of Thanksgiving ~~ Day 6

 

I’m “thankful” for my warm cozy home. For a seminar with women friends that I’m thankful to be going to. Looking forward to a fun filled day of learning more about Him and how to be a better servant to the One and Only.

I’m ‘thankful’ for a vehicle that is safe to travel 2.5 hours in. For uplifting encouragement for like-minded women.

I’m ‘thankful’ for my Mom who is so precious to me. For wonderful daughters-in-law.

I’m ‘thankful’ for the very breath I take this cold morning at 5 am. While the rest of the family sleeps, the coffee perks, the adventure begins …. I’ll let you know tomorrow of all the blessings I have encountered this day.

November of Thanksgiving ~~ Day 5

 

     I’m “Thankful” for Psalm 27:1 – “Jehovah Ma’-Oz Khayyay – The LORD the Strength of My Life”   He is always there to strengthen me when I am weak. Whether it be physically, mentally or spiritually. My flesh does rise up at times. I am “Thankful” to Him, the Holy Spirit,  who is the ‘gatekeeper’ of my conscience. He is the one who draws me back to Him, He is the one who opens and closes the gate of my heart, my mind, my tongue, my eyes …. Open to all that is holy and true. Closed to all that is evil and wicked. To You, “Who Hears my prayer”  As my prayers ascend may they be a sweet smelling savor to the nostrils of my God. To the One who stands between myself and God, turning my will to His will, my ways to His ways, always interceding on my behalf  … Thank you for saving such a wretch as I am.

     I’m ‘thankful’ for a good warm pellet stove on these cold, windy, rainy days.  For a husband who sees to all our comforts. My good provider. my best friend, the love of my life. My one and only … my man of God in whom I am well pleased.

November of Thanksgiving ~~ Day 4

“Thankful” that I had the money to go buy a new Router and get the Internet back up and running the right way! Thank you Lord.
“Thankful” for late posts that can still be posted.
“Thankful” for a DIL who invites me to run around with her. With never having a daughter of my own, only boys, this is fun. Setting up painting our fingernails, watching movies, cooking, its nice!
“Thankful” that my son and his wife are staying here for 3 weeks till their home is ready to move into. Things are piled up, time is busy, more cooking, no quiet, but I love every minute of it. It will seem deafeningly quiet when they leave again.
“Seasons of life” they come and go and are always changing. Sometimes they are dark times, sometimes they are full of light, and sometimes the are misty. I hate menopause. I feel like I have lost myself. Thank you Lord for being there in the dark, in the light and amid the mist.