You Make Your Own Breaks

Last year I took several blog holidays as I traveled, and even one when I was ill. This year I haven’t traveled or been ill, so I’ve been at this blogging thing rather steadily. But blog breaks are good for the soul, so I’m going on a break anyway. 

I’m going to enjoy my last week of summer harvesting the garden, playing with babies, making jam, and catching up on my reading. I’ll be back on Sunday with the Sunday hymn.

Don’t forget that next week is the scheduled birth of this baby. You’ll want to be there.

Sunday's Hymn: I Know Whom I Have Believed

I know not why God’s wondrous grace
To me He hath made known,
Nor why, unworthy, Christ in love
Redeemed me for His own.

Refrain

But I know whom I have believèd,
And am persuaded that He is able
To keep that which I’ve committed
Unto Him against that day.

I know not how this saving faith
To me He did impart,
Nor how believing in His Word
Wrought peace within my heart.

I know not how the Spirit moves,
Convincing us of sin,
Revealing Jesus through the Word,
Creating faith in Him.

I know not what of good or ill
May be reserved for me,
Of weary ways or golden days,
Before His face I see.

I know not when my Lord may come,
At night or noonday fair,
Nor if I walk the vale with Him,
Or meet Him in the air.

—Dan­i­el W. Whit­tle

Other hymns, worship songs, sermons etc. posted today:

• A Poem for Little Souls at Daily On My Way to Heaven
• Be Thou My Vision at Rosemary at Home
• How Great Thou Art at Gospel Grace
• Abide Not in the Realm of Dreams at The Happy Wonderer
• Lord’s Day 35 at Tried With Fire 
• Lord’s Day 35, 2012 at The Thirsty Theologian
• Faith Alone - August 26, 2012 at The Upward Call
• Your Weekly Dose of Spurgeon at Pyromaniacs: Upon Me

Have you posted a hymn (or sermon, sermon notes, prayer, etc.) today and I missed it? Let me know by leaving a link in the comments or by contacting me using the contact form linked above, and I’ll add your post to the list.

Thankful Thursday

I am thankful for God’s mercy. God’s mercy, as it’s biblically defined, is his pity for those who are suffering or needy or helpless in their situation. It’s out of his mercy that he rescues us when we are in trouble and heals us when we are sick. But the crowning act of God’s mercy is saving sinners who are helpless to save themselves. I am thankful that God is merciful to me, providing for me when I cannot provide for myself and healing me when I am sick. But most of all I’m thankful that he is saving me, because I have no hope of saving myself.

I’m also thankful for

• a fun day sitting for my granddaughter Natalie. It was our first whole day together and everything went fine, even though she’s recovering from a nasty virus and not back to her energetic self. 
• the big bowl of raspberries from the garden patch I had for supper. 
• bounty from the garden, enough for me and enough to give away.
• last night’s rain. There’s nothing better than sleeping beneath an open window and  hearing the rain falling inches away. Come to think of it, I’m thankful for the whole summer’s rain. I didn’t water the lawn once, or the garden, either, after the seeds sprouted. Whenever I’d think that I might need to start watering, God would send a little rain and I thank him for it.
• the steady stream of company that comes in and out of my house. For almost a week, there were few visitors. They were all gone or sick or busy, and I missed them. But things are back to normal and I’m thankful.

What are you thankful for?