Month of Thanksgiving -- Final Blessing 21

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As I reflect back on these days of giving thanks, I see just a drop in an ocean of things, people, and events for which I have thanked the Lord.  Today, instead of naming specific things for which I thank the Lord, I want to share a few quotes on thanksgiving which our pastor shared with us on Sunday as part of his study on Proverbs 14.

Thanksgiving is acknowledging our dependence on the Lord.

Thanksgiving, after all, is a word of action.

If you are not content with what you have,

you would not be satisfied if it were doubled.

God is glorified, not by our groans, but by our thanksgivings.

And my personal favorite:

When asked if my cup is half-full or half-empty, my response is that I am thankful I have a cup.

Thank you, Tamara, for hosting this incredible meme this month.  I have enjoyed participating with all the wonderful ladies, "meeting" you all, visiting your blogs, and being encouraged.  THANK YOU!

From the rising of the sun to its setting

The name of the LORD is to be praised.

Psalm 113:3 nasb

Back to life,
Christine

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Month of Thanksgiving -- Blessing 20

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Today I thank the Lord for my husband.  Fernando is as unique as his name, and we're all sure that God created him, then broke the mold.

I have said that his eyes are the color of joy, and he brings laughter like a good medicine to our home.  He balances me in every way!

He leads his family and his sons love him.  So do I.  :)

May he kiss me with the kisses of his mouth!

For your love is better than wine.

Song of Solomon 1:2 nasb

Thank You, Lord, for my husband.

Please visit Tamara's blog to find out more about Month of Thanksgiving,

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Christine

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Month of Thanksgiving -- Blessing 19

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Today I thank the Lord for the dinner hour, that blessed time of gathering around the table for physical and spiritual nourishment, of fellowship together as a family, of prayer and Bible study as brothers and sister (yep, just one "sister") in the Lord.

O magnify the LORD with me,

And let us exalt His name together.

Psalm 34:3 nasb (emphasis mine)

Thank You, Lord, for our dinner hour.

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Christine

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Month of Thanksgiving -- Blessing 18

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Tamara has asked us to share Thanksgiving traditions and memories, which I will do today.  So today, I thank the LORD for Thanksgivings past, the wonderful traditions shared, and memories stored up.

Above is my mom's and dad's dining room, set with almost everything but the turkey.  My sister-in-law is placing her dish on the table--she is an awesome cook!  And my mom is simply amazing:  she makes a turkey with homemade stuffing in the bird, so delicious!  Plus, everything is from scratch:  the cranberry sauce, steamed broccoli (everyone's favorite vegetable), several types of rolls and breads...  I make sweet potatoes, lemon-garlic mashed potatoes, and one or two types of squash.

For dessert, my mom and I contribute several pies.  She usually makes two or three, and I usually make a couple.  We have French apple or cranberry-apple, pumpkin (I make a yummy pumpkin-pecan pie), lemon custard (a new favorite).  There are only three ladies in our little 11-person clan, but we all love to cook!

The day is spent in food preparation, amidst laughter, conversation, and the guys sneaking in to try to snitch food samples.  Our young men may pull out chess or Settlers of Catan or another game.  We usually share prayer and eat around 2pm, so that we can relax afterward with cleanup, and more fellowship and laughter.  We also talk about Christmas plans--in whose home will we have Christmas this year?  (There are four to choose from!)  What about gifts?  Gift ideas?

Around 6pm, the guys are the ones who start tossing out hints about dessert!  Out come the pies, whipped cream, coffee or tea...

Thanksgiving is a day of family togetherness, conversation, and laughter.  Since we're a mixed bunch, specifically Christian activities (reading the Word, etc.) are not done.  But we love our family and this very special day that we share together.

Let us come before His presence with thanksgiving,

Let us shout joyfully to Him with psalms.

For the LORD is a great God

And a great King above all gods.

Psalm 95:2-3 nasb

Thank You, Lord, for Thanksgiving Day, and the opportunity to give thanks to You every day.

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Christine

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Month of Thanksgiving -- Blessing 17

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Today I thank the Lord for the moon to light our night.  It is the perfect distance from our planet--closer would mean too strong of a tide pull, further away would mean not enough.  God is all-wise.

The moon is peeking out from above my watermark!

God made the two great lights,

the greater light to govern the day,

and the lesser light to govern the night;

He made the stars also.

Genesis 1:16 nasb

Thank You, Lord, for the moon.

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Christine

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Month of Thanksgiving -- Blessing 16

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Today I thank the Lord for Thomas.  What an incredibly fun bundle of energy he has always been!  Now, I can think fondly back to the times when he learned how to flip the deadbolt on our front door, and would go out there and ring the doorbell.  Incessantly.  Um, I didn't let that continue for very long...

After learning to not go out the front door, Thomas would slip out the back door.  "Jacob, go chase your brother again!" I would call as Thomas tore across the field as fast as his little legs could carry him.  And there went Jacob, flying after him on his slightly longer little legs.  Thomas always came back willingly.

Just a few weeks ago, Thomas ran out to get the mail.  I heard the doorbell ring; he had inadvertently locked himself out.  I opened the door a crack, and teased him, "What's the password?"

"Mom is brilliant," was his grinning reply.

"Works for me!"  I let him in.  :)

My son, keep my words

And treasure my commandments within you.

Keep my commandments and live,

And my teaching as the apple of your eye.

Proverbs 7:1-2 nasb

Thank You, Lord, for Thomas.

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Christine

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Month of Thanksgiving -- Blessing 15

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Today I thank the Lord for Joseph.  Just his very presence in my arms as a newborn was a testimony that God loved me.  According to the Word, Joseph was a reward!  God was good!

As he grew, we began to walk the confusing, blessed road of autism.  But Joseph was still a reward.  And God was still good.

God has kept our sweet, no-nonsense son to even today.  And Joseph is still a reward.  And God is still good.

Give me your heart, my son,

And let your eyes delight in my ways.

Proverbs 23:26 nasb

Thank You, Lord, for Joseph.

Please visit Tamara's blog to find out more about Month of Thanksgiving,

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Christine

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Month of Thanksgiving -- Blessing 14

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Today I thank You, Lord, for color.  Some animals see in black and white, but you made us to see in color--the reds and oranges and yellows in a sunset, the sweet green grass, all the shades of a blue sky, the purples in the rainbow...

Now that autumn is fully upon us here in the Midwest, I appreciate color even more.  To my delight, as Thomas and I cleared out the dead brush from my front yard garden, I noted that even my blue oat grass glowed with autumn light as the sun hit that latening hour when dull, fading brown turns to molten shimmer.

As I cleared brush and leaves, I also discovered a few fading flowers on the beard tongue, hanging on until the hard frost arrives.

I love this little plant, which happily grows without much care.  It is especially colorful when it begins to bloom in early summer:  flowers appear, arrayed in bright pink, then with time turn to darker red, then purple, as they complete the blooming cycle.  At any given time, all of these colors are displayed and create a bright and colorful corner in my garden.

There will be color in heaven!

The material of the wall was jasper;

and the city was pure gold, like clear glass.

The foundation stones of the city wall

were adorned with every kind of precious stone...

...jasper...sapphire...chalcedony...emerald...

...sardonyx...sardius...chrysolite...beryl...

...topaz...chrysoprase...jacinth...amethyst...

And the twelve gates were twelve pearls;

each one of the gates was a single pearl.

And the street of the city was pure gold,

like transparent glass.

Revelation 21:18-21 nasb

Thank You, Lord, for colors!

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Christine

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Month of Thanksgiving -- Blessing 13

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Today I thank the Lord for hands to work, that set to the task and see it through.  (Thomas' hands are featured in this post!)

The Lord has given me two hands, a dominant hand and a helper hand.  I need them both in order to perform the many tasks before me in my day.

The helper hand may hold a nail, and the dominant hand may swing the hammer--but neither hand is more important than the other.  I need them both!

I praise the Lord for the hands in my household, busy about the work of the Lord.

Poor is he who works with a negligent hand,

But the hand of the diligent makes rich.

Proverbs 10:4 nasb

A man will be satisfied with good by the fruit of his words,

And the deeds of a man's hands will return to him.

Proverbs 12:14 nasb

Regarding the woman who fears the LORD:

Give her the product of her hands,

And let her works praise her in the gates.

Proverbs 31:31 nasb

Thank You, Lord, for hands.

Please visit Tamara's blog to find out more about Month of Thanksgiving,

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Christine

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Month of Thanksgiving -- Blessing 12

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Today I thank the Lord for teenagers, and more specifically, teenage sons!  They are amazing, marvelous people, and I have enjoyed the presence of four very different ones in my home.

Danny, the 17-year-old

Since both photos are of Danny, I particularly thank the Lord for this amazing teenager.  Boy, this little guy was interesting--we half-jokingly said that if Danny made it alive to his fifth birthday, we would have a Miracle Birthday Party.  He did, so we did!  He was Superboy--able to slide down a staircase in ten seconds flat, scale a chain-link fence barefoot before we could blink, climb on top of the washer or dryer unassisted, and fearlessly climb out onto the roof to make a bed for himself for the evening.  Um--these were all before the age of four...

To see the young man of God that Danny has become is truly a miracle.  He is tender-hearted--all little children love him--and yet practical, and can be heard singing (beautifully) at any given moment. 

Each of our sons has his own personality and character, and I still marvel that the Lord used Fernando and me to create four completely separate and unique individuals to the praise of His glory.

Danny, 85% done with his college English essay

Our four sons are goofy and serious, loud and introspective.  They're in each others' rooms, lives, and conversations.  (They're in the fridge a lot, too!)  God has forged their bond of brotherhood, both by blood and by the Spirit, for eternity!  Thank You, Lord, for teenage sons!  And thank You for Danny!!

Let our sons in their youth be as grown-up plants...

Psalm 144:12a nasb

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Christine

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Month of Thanksgiving -- Blessing 11

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Today I thank the Lord for His food, both physical to nourish the body, and spiritual to nourish the soul.  In our fallen state, our bodies grow weak and require food and water to function.  The growling emptiness and the dry thirst remind us that we are weak, and that we need to rely on Him for strength.

Just as our physical bodies grow weak without nourishment, our spiritual souls require food.  Fellowship with the Lord--in reading and prayer--and spiritual sharpening with our spouses, children, and the community of believers is vital to the growth of our souls.

He has made His wonders to be remembered;

The LORD is gracious and compassionate.

He has given food to those who fear Him;

He will remember His covenant forever.

He has made known to His people the power of His works,

In giving them the heritage of the nations.

Psalm 111:4-6 nasb [emphasis mine]

Please visit Tamara's blog to find out more about Month of Thanksgiving,

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Christine

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Month of Thanksgiving -- Blessing 10

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Today I thank the Lord for a garden harvest in November.  I've had a vegetable garden for three or four years, but have never enjoyed its sweet (fresh) rewards into November, or even October!  My tomato plants were usually done by the end of September, and that was that.

My garden harvest reminds me of God's bountiful blessings in my life--not only of food for the belly, but nourishment for my soul, my husband, children, family, heart-sisters, a warm house...  Thank You, Lord, for working in my life to produce the fruit of Your Spirit!

Please visit Tamara's blog to find out more about Month of Thanksgiving,

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Christine

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Month of Thanksgiving -- Blessing 9

This post is part of a giveaway at Tamara's blog.

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This morning, I thank the Lord for sisters.  No, I don't have any.  Nor do I have daughters.  But I have so many wise and wonderful heart-sisters!  I share my life with my husband, and we are one in the Lord, but there's something about a sister who knows and understands.

I couldn't find a verse to describe my heart-sisters, but these verses show a little of how we love each other.

So, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved,

put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience;

bearing with one another, and forgiving each other,

whoever has a complaint against anyone;

just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you.

Beyond all these things put on love,

which is the perfect bond of unity.

Colossians 3:12-14 nasb

Thank You, Lord, for heart-sisters!!

Please visit Tamara's blog to find out more about Month of Thanksgiving,

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Back to life,
Christine

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Month of Thanksgiving -- Blessing 8

This post is part of a giveaway at Tamara's blog.

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Many have blogged about thanking the Lord for the privilege of voting; I'd like to do the same today, now that most of the election results are finalized.

I thank God that in the USA we are allowed to vote for those who would lead us in government.  Here in Illinois, we had some tough choices to make.  Though I do not want to get into a political debate with my readers, I have a few personal quandaries:  Do I vote for the republican candidate, even though he is almost as "dirty" as the democrat candidate?  Do I vote for the upstanding Christian pro-life woman candidate running against the liberal incumbent, even though I believe that if she is a Christian, her ministry should be geared toward her husband and children?  What about school district superintendents and judges, when we have searched for information about them, and found almost nothing?  These are just a few of the questions that were floating around my brain in the days leading up to election day.

The four of us voters in this household did vote on Tuesday, and prayed that God would approve our choices--because ultimately, we have to answer to the Lord for how we voted.  We prayed that the Lord would providentially allow Godly people to serve in leadership over us.  We waited through the day on Tuesday, and watched the results on TV as they were reported to the news stations.

Almost none of the candidates for whom we voted was elected.  It is frustrating to live with the realization that our taxes will rise (that was the newly elected governor's campaign platform).  It is disturbing to see the character of the people elected into office both locally and nationally.

Jacob votes in his first national election

I hope the above doesn't sound like a complaint, for it is not.  This election was a deeply thought-provoking one, and I've simply shared those thoughts here.  When all is said and done, I am able to say that I voted my principles and my conscience, and that I followed my husband's lead in the voting booth.

My thankfulness to the Lord is for the fact that He is in control; He providentially moves the hearts of men, and knows the thoughts of a king.  If we are living in perilous times, I am to rejoice!  What can man do to me?  Fear God, and worship Him.  I am determined to live for Him, come what may.  God is in control.

The king's heart is like channels of water in the hand of the LORD;

He turns it wherever He wishes.

Proverbs 21:2 nasb

The LORD is for me; I will not fear;

What can man do to me?

The LORD is for me among those who help me;

Therefore I will look with satisfaction on those who hate me.

It is better to take refuge in the LORD

Than to trust in man.

It is better to take refuge in the LORD

Than to trust in princes.

Psalm 118:6-9 nasb

Please visit Tamara's blog to find out more about Month of Thanksgiving,

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Back to life,
Christine

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Month of Thanksgiving -- Blessing 7

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Today, though I have no photos to share, I do have a story.  I am thankful for the Lord's provision.

In the past weeks, we have been borrowing from different categories in our budget so that we could purchase healthy food for our family.  We have been trying to buy organic where possible, but just last week my husband informed me that we will no longer be doing that.  We had drifted away from living on just what the Lord had provided for our food, and though our budget is financially just fine, we need to get back to the basic prinicple of, "This is what we have to spend--no more.  Once it's gone, no more groceries."

So last Friday, Fernando gave me my grocery money for the week--$15.  That was not easy to take, and I gulped inwardly as I wondered how that would be spent to feed five men and myself.  We had gone through a similar circumstance a number of years ago, and we saw the Lord's provision in a mighty way then...

Thomas and I drove on some errands that afternoon, and at one stop, I rummaged through my purse for something.  Was that a check?  I pulled it out, and remembered that my mom had just given me a check to reimburse me for some Costco groceries I had bought her the week before.  Forty-seven more grocery dollars!  I showed Thomas how the Lord was providing, and we went on our way.

At church on Sunday, I excited shared this story with a wonderful friend, and she commented that she was trying to clean out her freezer, and would we like some items?  Her daughter drove to our home on Monday with bags of blessings, and a frozen meal for us.  Through these two faithful servants, the Lord provided again.

On Monday afternoon, my mom called and asked if she and my dad could come down and bowl with us.  (We've been bowling together on a weekly basis for several years.)  She told me that she had been cleaning out her freezer, and asked if she could bring a couple of pork roasts down and we could combine efforts and share a meal together.  And yet again, we praised God for His provision.

The same dear ladies who shared from their freezer are also coming to supper on Thursday.  We will be combining efforts and the Lord will provide for that meal as well.

When I looked at our calendar yesterday to prepare for the rest of the week, I realized that we will be attending a banquet on Friday, hosted by Illinois Christian Home Educators for homeschool support group leaders.  (We are not homeschool leaders; I volunteer with ICHE as the coordinator for special and struggling learners.)  This year, families have been invited to attend the banquet.  Through this event, God is providing once more.

God took care of our week.  We so easily fall into the trap of thinking that what we have is really ours, and we use things (or money) without remembering where it came from.  This week, I stumbled once again into the reality that the Lord is my provider.  Thank You, dear Father, for making this fact abundantly clear, over and above anything I could have imagined might happen as I stood there with $15 in my pocket last Friday.  Thank You for Your provision.

Lifted a little out of context, this verse comes to mind:

Man did eat the bread of angels;

He sent them food in abundance.

Psalm 78:25

Please visit Tamara's blog to find out more about her Month of Thanksgiving,

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Christine

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Month of Thanksgiving -- Blessing 6

This post is part of a giveaway at Tamara's blog.

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We are to thank the Lord for everything, in every circumstance.  I recall reading about Corrie and Betsie ten Boom, Dutch Christians who hid Jews during the Holocaust.  Betsie had a simple faith, and told Corrie to thank the Lord for everything.  In one of the concentration camps, Corrie explained that she could thank God for almost everything in their circumstances, but how could she thank God for the lice (I believe it was lice)??

A short time later, the sisters realized that they had the freedom to share Scripture, sing, and minister to the other women in their barracks because the German guards would not come past the entrance.  Why?  Because there were lice.

While we do not have lice, or fleas, in our home--I thank the Lord for that!!--I thank the Lord today for His amazing creation; namely, all the creatures He created, and yes, even for the ants that for some reason feel welcome inside our home every spring.  On the subject of insects, Danny spotted this guy on our window.

God made praying mantises to be able to turn their heads 180 degrees to search for prey.  He gave them excellent eyesight, with the ability to see up to 60 feet away!

Their life span is a mere 12 months

A praying mantis can cause us to stop schooling/cleaning/etc., and run outside, or to the window, to inspect and ponder God's amazing creation.  Lori, I took pity on you and didn't post spider photos!!  :)

I have no Bible verses to share about insects, as they all pertained either to swarms of them, or which ones the Israelites were allowed to eat.  Here is one, though, about His creatures in general!

God made the beasts of the earth after their kind,

and the cattle after their kind,

and everything that creeps on the ground after its kind;

and God saw that it was good.

Genesis 1:25 nasb

Please visit Tamara's blog to find out more about her Month of Thanksgiving,

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Back to life,
Christine

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captured by Christine Anne