A Lady's Efforts . . .

Thanksgiving Day is almost here . . . a time to thank God for His blessings upon us. In this month's issue of Home Life, Nancy Lee tells us about the lady behind the holiday.

Sarah J. Hale wrote "hundreds of letters to presidents, governors, and other influential persons, urging them to establish Thanksgiving to be celebrated on the last Thursday in November. During the bitter fighting of the Civil War, President Lincoln issued the National Thanksgiving Proclamation: 'I do, therefore, invite my fellow citizens . . . to set apart and observe the last Thursday of November next as a day of Thanksgiving and praise to our Beneficent Father.'"

Wherever you are . . . whenever you do it . . . whoever you are with, we have much to be thankful for. Our God has provided a way of salvation and given His Son, Jesus, to fulfill it. Now that's something to be thankful for!

Let's sing this wonderful song: "Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing"

"Come, Thou Fount of ev'ry blessing, tune my heart to sing Thy grace;
streams of mercy, never ceasing, call for songs of loudest praise.
Teach me some melodious sonnet sung by flaming tongues above; praise the mount--I'm fixed upon it--mount of Thy redeeming love." Robert Robinson, 1735-1790

The above picture is a beautiful tree. I had been waiting to snap it in all it's fall colors, but alas, I missed it. It just started to turn a week ago Wednesday. Then the weekend came, and being away at the annual meeting two days, and then the rain, and -- I missed it! On the way in Wednesday morning, I took a snap from a different perspective to see what it would look like. The cows decided to be a prop, and a good one I think! This was God's snap for me! I'll have to wait until next year to try again!

The Word . . .

I don’t remember now where I found this, but it thrills my heart at all the Bible is, and can be, for each one of us.

“Priscilla Howe once described the Word of God as the Book that contains the mind of God, the state of man, the way of salvation, the doom of sinners, and the happiness of believers. Its doctrines are holy, its precepts are binding, its histories are true, and its decisions are immutable. Therefore, how can it ever fade from the grasp of man? Read it to be wise, believe it to be safe, and practice it to be holy.

“It contains light to direct you, food to support you, and comfort to cheer you. It is the traveler’s map, the pilgrim’s staff, the soldier’s sword, and the Christian’s charter. Here paradise is restored, heaven opened, and the gates of hell disclosed.

“Christ is its grand object, our good its design, and the glory of God its end. It should fill the memory, rule the heart, and guide the feet. Read it slowly, frequently, and prayerfully. It is a mine of wealth, a paradise of glory, and a river of pleasure.

“It is given you in life, will be opened in judgment, and be remembered forever. It involves the highest responsibility, will reward the greatest labor, and will condemn all who trifle with its sacred content.”

It is this and more, if you let it be.

The picture above was taken one cold February morning on the way to work.Below is another sunrise early one morning.