Some goals for December

 A new month means new goals (and with me, always some ongoing ones as well).  The December calendar page is already beginning to fill up!  Here goes:

* Keep up with Flylady's homemaking zones of the week
* Spend time with our friends who are younger believers
* Enjoy our church ladies' gathering and gift exchange
* Post in this blog as often as possible 
* Post in my Christmas blog every day if possible
* Continue planning and making Christmas gifts and decor
* Continue planning for family birthday gifts and crafting any handmade ones
* Continue studying and preparing for my Sunday Scripture blog posts
* Do an Advent devotional study
* Finish Even If, a study of Habakkuk from the Daily Grace Co.
* Continue stocking my Etsy shop and continue selling vintage items
* Write at least 4 encouraging notes to friends and family
* Help and encourage my local daughter as I'm able
* Plan meals with a greater emphasis on healthy eating
* Get early light each morning
* Get to bed by 8:30 each night we are at home
* Drink enough water each day
* Walk and/or exercise at least 4 times each week
* Possibly plan a few get-togethers with friends 
* Brainstorm about Christmas with my daughter
* Plan and prepare food for Christmas
* Bake dozens of Christmas cookies (my hubby will do most of this)
* Work at our volunteer jobs as needed
* Prepare kitchen gifts (cookies, fudge, snack items and more)
* Write and send out Christmas cards
* Attend and participate in Christmas events at church
* Enjoy our traditional Christmas activity with four of the local grands
* Write and schedule December posts for both blogs
* Prepare and send at least one gift box to Nevada
* Decorate our home for Christmas

HEALTHY HABITS FOR DECEMBER:  Drink more water/get more sleep/exercise daily/intermittent fasting/limit carbs/get morning light

WORD FOR 2025: Trust 

And there you have it -- a few goals for December 2025!

Sunday Scripture

 

For the month of November, I've decided to take a break from Fix Your Focus to set our minds on Thanksgiving.  Again today, I'm sharing some insights from a Thanksgiving/fall study with Good Morning Girls that I did back in fall of 2013.  Sadly, it seems that this little but oh-so-meaningful 2-week study -- Focusing our Hearts on Gratitude -- is no longer available.  If anyone is interested in the Scripture verses to do your own little study, just let me know and I can send you the references or even the pdf of the study.  

The verses I chose for today are from Day 9 of the study.  We were to read Psalm 95, and the verses to SOAP were Psalm 95:1-2.  ( Just a reminder that the S is for Scripture -- just write it out -- and the O is for Observation, the A is for Application and the P is for prayer -- concerning how you'll apply this verse or praise for what it means to you.  And if you've never tried this simple method, I hope that you will give it a try and see if you find it as helpful as I do.)

S= "O come, let us sing unto the LORD; let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation.

"Let us come before His presence with thanksgiving, and make a joyful noise unto Him with psalms."  (Psalm 95:1-2)

O= This is an exhortation to worship.  Its intended audience is obviously God's people.

There are a number of repeated words and phrases in these two verses."O come" (v.1); "let us come" (v.2); "let us sing" (v.1); "let us make a joyful noise" (v.1); "let us come" (v.2).  Both verses contain the phrase "make a joyful noise."

Basically there are four exhortations:

1) Let us sing unto the LORD.

2) Let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation.

3) Let us come before God's presence with thanksgiving.

4) Let us make a joyful noise unto Him with psalms.

A= I am to be singing to the Lord and making a joyful noise unto Him.  He is the Rock of my salvation -- what a most meaningful name that is! -- and worthy of my highest praise.  My joy at being His redeemed child ought to result in exultant praise to Him for all that He has done.  He is always present with me -- and thus, I ought to be continually thankful.  I don't have to physically go anywhere to come before His presence, for He is always with me.

When I come to Him in prayer, thanksgiving must be a key component along with praise.

To me, the phrase "make a joyful noise" implies that my praise and thanksgiving may well be overheard by others and may be a testimony to them of the greatness of God.

P= "Lord, I do joyfully praise You for all that You are -- the Rock of my salvation and so much more!  I praise You for all that you have done for me in providing the means of salvation and giving me a new life as Your redeemed child.  

"May I live a life that brings honor and glory to You so that "many shall see it, and fear, and shall trust in the LORD" (Psalm 40:3).

"With a thankful, joyful heart, I praise You, in Jesus' name, Amen."

And that concludes our little Thanksgiving Sunday Scripture series.  I hope it was a blessing!

Happy Thanksgiving!

 

Just a quick Thanksgiving post (probably a near repeat of past Thanksgiving posts, but the thoughts are as sincere as ever!) in the midst of preparations for our dinner with friends and family!  We will be a group of about eleven, gathering at our daughter's home in the next town.

I pray that each and every one of my readers will have a truly blessed Thanksgiving.  I know that some are grieving today.  For some it is the first Thanksgiving without a loved one.  Some are going through  very, very difficult health struggles and family concerns.  There are personal friends of mine in all of these situations today.  And yet, as believers, we still have so very much to thank God for.

Think of it!  We have a personal relationship with the God of the universe!

  One thing I have come to realize is that even in the hardest things of life, I can be thankful that God is with me.  There are many other things to be thankful for as well: He loves me; He wants the best for me; He is good; He has a good purpose for all that He allows; He knows all about every situation; He is in control and sovereign over all things; He is all-powerful and able to change any situation.

And so today, Mr. T and I pray that each of you will spend some time counting the blessings God has given you.  There are so many, starting with salvation.

The hymn "Thanks to God" is one of my very favorites at Thanksgiving time and always.  Here are the words:

 Thanks to God for my Redeemer,
Thanks for all Thou dost provide!
Thanks for times now but a mem’ry,
Thanks for Jesus by my side!
Thanks for pleasant, balmy springtime,
Thanks for dark and stormy fall!
Thanks for tears by now forgotten,
Thanks for peace within my soul!

 Thanks for prayers that Thou hast answered,
Thanks for what Thou dost deny!
Thanks for storms that I have weathered,
Thanks for all Thou dost supply!
Thanks for pain, and thanks for pleasure,
Thanks for comfort in despair!
Thanks for grace that none can measure,
Thanks for love beyond compare!

 Thanks for roses by the wayside,
Thanks for thorns their stems contain!
Thanks for home and thanks for fireside,
Thanks for hope, that sweet refrain!
Thanks for joy and thanks for sorrow,
Thanks for heav’nly peace with Thee!
Thanks for hope in the tomorrow,
Thanks through all eternity!

"Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, and into His courts with praise: be thankful unto Him, and bless His name." 

(Psalm 100:4)

Happy Thanksgiving!

Sunday Scripture

 

For the month of November, I've decided to take a break from Fix Your Focus to set our minds on Thanksgiving.  Again today, I'm sharing some insights from a Thanksgiving/fall study with Good Morning Girls that I did back in fall of 2013.  Sadly, it seems that this little but oh-so-meaningful 2-week study -- Focusing our Hearts on Gratitude -- is no longer available.  If anyone is interested in the Scripture verses to do your own little study, just let me know and I can send you the references or even the pdf of the study.  

The verses I chose for today are from Day 8 of the study.  We were to read Philippians 4:4-9, and the verses to SOAP were Philippians 4:6-7.  ( Just a reminder that the S is for Scripture -- just write it out -- and the O is for Observation, the A is for Application and the P is for prayer -- concerning how you'll apply this verse or praise for what it means to you.  And if you've never tried this simple method, I hope that you will give it a try and see if you find it as helpful as I do.)

S=  "Be anxious for nothing, but in everything, by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known unto God. 
"And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus."  (Philippians 4:6-7)

O= Paul wrote this letter to the church at Philippi while he was in prison in Rome.   
 

C.I.Scofield says, "This is a tender letter to a group of Christians who were especially close to the heart of Paul."

Scofield titles the section containing these verses "The secret of the peace of God."  Paul, in prison at Rome, obviously had that peace.  

He counseled the Philippians to

* Be anxious for nothing
* Instead, in everything
* By prayer and supplication
* With thanksgiving
* Make their requests known to God.

The result would be that God's peace -- the peace which surpasses all human understanding -- would garrison their hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

The Amplified Bible gives a beautiful translation of verse 7: "And God’s peace [shall be yours, that tranquil state of a soul assured of its salvation through Christ, and so fearing nothing from God and being content with its earthly lot of whatever sort that is, that peace] which transcends all understanding shall garrison and mount guard over your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus."

A= I am not to worry about even one thing.  Of course there are, and will always be, things that concern me.  But I am not to worry about them.  Instead, I'm to bring every concern to God.  

 "Do you ever find yourself worrying? Do you know that Scripture calls worry a sin? When you realized that you were worrying, did you go to God and confess it as a sin? Worry is just as much a sin as adultery, or murder, or theft. Yet how often we as believers treat it lightly when we find our stomachs tied in knots because we have worried ourselves into a nervous frenzy. We don’t realize that we have fallen into sin." -- Dwight Pentecost

 Now that is a challenge!

I'm to pray over every concern that I have, being careful to include the element of thanksgiving for what God has already done and is doing.

I might tend to think that some of my concerns are too small to bring to God.  But Barclay writes: "It has been beautifully put: 'There is nothing too great for God’s power; and nothing too small for his fatherly care.' A child may take anything, great or small, to a parent, sure that whatever happens to him is of interest there, his little triumphs and disappointments, his passing cuts and bruises; we may in exactly the same way take anything to God, sure of his interest and concern."

Concerning the element of thanksgiving, Pentecost helps our understanding with these thoughts: "Thanksgiving looks back to previous answers to prayer and gives thanks because God has worked in similar situations before. If there is something that is a burden to me today, I can go to God and remind Him that yesterday or last week or last month I was in the same situation, with the same gnawing anxiety, and I asked Him to do something, and He did it; so I thank Him for what He has done. Confidence for the future is based on what God has done in the past."

As I make my requests known to God in this manner, His unfathomable peace will guard not only my heart, but my mind through Christ Jesus.

P= "Lord, I praise You for the clear teaching in Your Word.  I thank You that not only did Paul teach this, but he lived it out and practiced it, providing a wonderful example for the Philippians and for all believers down through the ages.

"Help me, Lord, as I seek to obey Your Word in this area of life.  Help me to bring all of my concerns, large and small, to You in prayer, thanking You for all that You have done in the past, as well as for all that You will do.

"I am so thankful for Your promise that as I do this, Your unfathomable peace will guard my heart and my mind through Christ Jesus.

"I praise You in Jesus' name, Amen."

There is the simple Sunday Scripture for this week!  I hope it was a blessing.

Sunday Scripture

I mentioned last week that for the month of November, I've decided to take a break from Fix Your Focus to set our minds on Thanksgiving.  Again today, I'm sharing some simple insights from a Thanksgiving/fall study with Good Morning Girls that I did back in fall of 2013.  Sadly, it seems that this little but oh-so-meaningful 2-week study -- Focusing our Hearts on Gratitude -- is no longer available.  If anyone is interested in the Scripture verses to do your own little study, just let me know and I can send you the references or even the pdf of the study.  

The verses I chose for today are from Day 7 of the study.  We were to read 2 Corinthians 4:13-18, and the verse to SOAP was 2 Corinthians 4:15.  ( Just a reminder that the S is for Scripture -- just write it out -- and the O is for Observation, the A is for Application and the P is for prayer -- concerning how you'll apply this verse or praise for what it means to you.  And if you've never tried this simple method, I hope that you will give it a try and see if you find it as helpful as I do.)

So without further ado, here is my very simple study of 2 Corinthians 4:15:

S=  "For all things are for your sakes, that the abundant grace might through the thanksgiving of many redound to the glory of God."  (2 Corinthians 4:15)

O= Paul wrote this second letter to the believers at Corinth to address some questions about his sincerity and authority.  In this letter he is placing before the church the overwhelming evidence of his sincerity in serving the Lord.

Here in chapter 4, verse 15 Paul seems to be saying that the suffering he has endured is for the sake of the Cornithians, so that they could see God giving abundant grace in difficulty.  Their thanksgiving for this would redound to the glory of God.  

MacDonald says, "With the certain and sure hope of resurrection before him, the apostle was willing to undergo terrible hardships. He knew that all such sufferings had a twofold result. They abounded in blessing for the Corinthians, and thus caused thanksgiving to abound to the glory of God. These two motives actuated Paul in all he said and did. He was concerned with the glory of God and the blessing of his fellow men."

Warren Wiersbe explains that the phrase all things are for your sakes…"gives us the assurance that our sufferings are not wasted: God uses them to minister to others and also to bring glory to His name. How is God glorified in our trials? By giving us the 'abundant grace' we need to maintain joy and strength when the going gets difficult. Whatever begins with grace, leads to glory."  

The Phillips translation reads: 

"The more grace God gives,
The more thanksgiving will redound to His glory.
This is the reason why we never collapse."

The ESV reads, "For it is all for your sake, so that as grace extends to more and more people it may increase thanksgiving, to the glory of God."

A= Trials that come into our lives are allowed by God for a good purpose.  He gives us the grace that we need to deal with the trials and get through them.  As others see and observe this, they -- and we -- offer thanks and praise to God and this redounds to His glory.  

Paul had faith that God would be glorified in all that was taking place, and I can have that same faith. Our sufferings are never wasted in God's economy.  And what an encouraging thought that is!

John MacArthur wrote, "God’s astounding plan is to use common clay pots (verse 7) to carry the priceless treasure of the glorious gospel to needy sinners. As they humbly, faithfully serve Him, His power flows through them to others. The final result is that more and more people will worship and glorify God."

I need to be more thankful for the grace and strength God gives in trials and for the opportunity He provides through them for Christ's name to be lifted up and glorified.

There were some "Digging Deeper" questions for this verse:

Looking at 2 Corinthians 4:15,  what is the connection between grace and thanksgiving?  How do grace and thanksgiving result in giving glory to God?

My answers:

This particular section of 2 Corinthians is dealing with trials and suffering.  We know that God gives us grace to deal with and endure adversity -- His grace is sufficient for us!  To me, the connection looks like this: I have difficulties, God gives me grace to endure them, and I give thanks to Him.  Not only that, but others see the grace that God is giving and they also give thanks to Him.  This brings the opportunity for God's name to be lifted up and glorified.  Psalm 50:23 comes to mind: "Whoso offereth praise glorifieth Me."

P= "Lord, I am so thankful that You have a good purpose in our trials.  Sometimes I just feel stuck, as if my trials are never going to end, but I must never forget that You are in them with me and that the trials will not last a moment longer than necessary.

I am so prone to forgetting that Your strength is made perfect in my weakness.  I pray that You will bring this back to my mind when I am weary.  

I praise You that Your grace is sufficient for me in every difficulty I face!  I pray that You will help me to consistently praise You in all circumstances and to bring glory to You as others observe Your working in my life through trials.  In Jesus' name, Amen."

And that's the Sunday Scripture for this week!

Peanut butter and hodgepodge

 

It's Wednesday again, and time for the weekly Hodgepodge with Joyce and the gang at From This Side of the Pond.  Joyce asks the questions, bloggers supply the answers.  I don't really have time to write a post, but the questions aren't too hard this week so I'm giving it a go.

 1. What does patriotism mean to you? 

Well, I thought this would be easy but it really isn't as simple as I thought. I thought maybe a simple dictionary definition would jump-start my thinking but this is it:

To me, that just isn't good enough.  My assumption with this definition is they're trying to make patriotism sound a bit fanatical, and make ter**rism sound a bit like patriotism.  

I think love of country needs to figure into patriotism, and that's not mentioned.

So I looked it up in our old standby (great dictionary for checking Scrabble words or playing The Dictionary Game) 1949 Webster's New Collegiate Dictionary and found this, which is much more to my liking:

PATRIOTISM: Love of country; devotion to the welfare of one's country.

2. September-October-November...your favorite fall month? Tell us why. If you live in the southern hemisphere use these months but sub spring for the word fall. 

Oh, this is a nearly impossible choice.   I am going to say October.  September might still have some very hot and humid days, but that's not usual in October.  The fall foliage colors hit their peak in October, the skies are the most gorgeous bright blue, and the air is crisp.  I do love September and I also love November (especially for Thanksgiving, but other reasons as well) but if I must pick a favorite, then October it will be.

3. A song you love with the word thanks (or some form of that word)  in the title or lyrics?

Thanks to God for My Redeemer, an older hymn written by Swedish poet August Ludvig Storm in .  The tune was written by J.A. Hultman, a Swedish evangelist, singer, musician, composer and publisher.

1. Thanks to God for my Redeemer,
Thanks for all Thou dost provide!
Thanks for times now but a mem’ry,
Thanks for Jesus by my side!
Thanks for pleasant, balmy springtime,
Thanks for dark and stormy fall!
Thanks for tears by now forgotten,
Thanks for peace within my soul!

2. Thanks for prayers that Thou hast answered,
Thanks for what Thou dost deny!
Thanks for storms that I have weathered,
Thanks for all Thou dost supply!
Thanks for pain, and thanks for pleasure,
Thanks for comfort in despair!
Thanks for grace that none can measure,
Thanks for love beyond compare!

3. Thanks for roses by the wayside,
Thanks for thorns their stems contain!
Thanks for home and thanks for fireside,
Thanks for hope, that sweet refrain!
Thanks for joy and thanks for sorrow,
Thanks for heav’nly peace with Thee!
Thanks for hope in the tomorrow,
Thanks through all eternity!

 

4. November is National Peanut Butter Month. Are you a fan? What's the last peanut butter bite you had? Fill in the blank: peanut butter and _____________________ . 

Oh, and you can't say jelly. 

Yes, definitely a fan, especially of natural peanut butter with no sugar.   Last peanut butter bite I had would have been a peanut butter cookie with chocolate mini chips in it.

5. This week's gratitude question-What event from this past year are you most grateful for? 

That is a tough one.  Again, I thought it would be easy.   I'm going to say the recent decision of a friend to trust Christ as Savior.  That's of eternal significance, and almost no other events are.

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

We've had our first snow here although I wouldn't really call it measurable.  It did cover the ground.  I'm hoping to post later this week about an old formula (which I only recently read about) for predicting the number of winter snowstorms.  I think it might be fun to try and see if it's anything close to accurate!

 
And there's the Hodgepodge for this week ... just a little late!

Sunday Scripture

 

I mentioned last week that for the month of November, I've decided to take a break from Fix Your Focus to set our minds on Thanksgiving.  Again today, I'm sharing some insights from a Thanksgiving/fall study with Good Morning Girls that I did back in fall of 2013.  Sadly, it seems that this little but oh-so-meaningful 2-week study -- Focusing our Hearts on Gratitude -- is no longer available.  If anyone is interested in the Scripture verses to do your own little study, just let me know and I can send you the references or even the pdf of the study.  

The verses I chose for today are from Day 5 of the study.  We were to read Hebrews 12:22-29, and the verse to SOAP was Hebrews 12:28.  ( Just a reminder that the S is for Scripture -- just write it out -- and the O is for Observation, the A is for Application and the P is for prayer -- concerning how you'll apply this verse or praise for what it means to you.  And if you've never tried this simple method, I hope that you will give it a try and see if you find it as helpful as I do.)

So without further ado, here is my very simple study of Hebrews 12:28:

S= "Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear."  (Hebrews 12:28)

O= Although no one knows for sure who wrote the book of Hebrews (my personal guess is Paul), its intended purpose is to encourage Jewish Christians "who had professed faith in Jesus as the Messiah, some of whom were wavering in their attitude. Hence, the exhortation to 'hold fast' (Hebrews 3:6; Hebrews 4:14, among others) and 'go on to maturity' (Hebrews 6:1)."

"Hebrews contains a series of contrasts, between the good things of Judaism and the better things of Christ." -- C.I. Scofield

"Those who were occupied with the tangible, visible ritualism of Judaism were clinging to things that could be shaken.  True believers have a kingdom which cannot be shaken."  -- Believer's Bible Commentary

So, as believers who have received this kingdom which cannot be shaken, we have grace.  

By means of this grace, we may serve God acceptably 

* with reverence
* with godly fear.

A= I can be so thankful that I'm a recipient of a kingdom which cannot be moved or shaken.  There is no uncertainty at all about the reality of my God and my faith in Him.  I need not wonder about the validity of His promises for He will never change.  I can rest in Him even "though the earth be removed, and the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea" (Psalm 46:2).

Because of this, God also gives grace by which I may serve Him acceptably with reverence and godly fear.  Being part of His kingdom should inspire us to fervently praise and adore Him unceasingly.

P= Lord, I am so thankful for all that You are and all that You have done.  I thank and praise You that by Your grace I'm an inhabitant of a kingdom which is certain and can never be moved or shaken.  I never have to be uncertain about my standing with You, because it is not based on my goodness or rule-keeping but on Your grace and Christ's righteousness imputed to me.

I praise You for the opportunity to serve You.  Although I realize I can never repay You for all You've done for me, and although I recognize that my service is flawed and imperfect, still I desire to serve You as a thank-offering for what You've done.  I praise You that by means of Your grace, it's possible for me to serve You acceptably, with reverence and godly fear.

Please forgive me for the times when I mess up, and say or do things that don't reflect the reverence or fear of You that I need to have.  Help me to walk as You'd have me to, every day!  Help me to serve You consistently and with appropriate reverence.  Help me to "give You my best and live for You completely, after all You've done for me!" as the old Sunday School chorus says.  In Jesus' name I pray, Amen."

That's the Scripture study for this November Sunday!  I hope it was a blessing to someone.