Thanksgiving 10

I’m thankful for books. I’ve loved books since I was very young, and throughout my life, I’ve learned much more from books than school. Even though I recently pruned my bookshelves, I still have lots and lots of books, and just seeing those full (but no longer overstuffed) bookshelves makes me happy, because I know that with all those books, I will never ever be bored. ‘Tain’t possible.

Last week a friend asked if I might have a book for her to read. I looked through my bookshelves and quickly collected four biographical books I thought might possibly interest her, not giving the task much thought. I finally got the books to her on Friday, and on Sunday she returned two of them, not because she wasn’t interested in them, but because she’d already read them. It turns out that she’d loved those two books for connections they had to her own life that I hadn’t even known when I chose them for her.

So I’m thankful for book—for the joy they give me and the joy they give others around me.

What are you thankful for today?

• Rachel is thankful for laughter.
• Kristina is thankful for music.
• Elle is thankful for a certain truth.
• Connie is thankful for books. (Ha! There can never be too much thanksgiving for books.)
• Kim is thankful for the Psalms.
• Kim of Hiraeth is thankful for her husband.
• Carla is thankful for the cold. Yep, that’s what she says and she has good reasons.
• Ann is thankful for location, location, location.
• Dorothy is thankful for opportunities to study God’s Word.
• Jenn is thankful for warm weather.
• Lisa is thankful for other people’s kids..
• Julie is thankful for the ability to write without pain and more.
• Jules is thankful for Christian friends, and especially one special friend.
• Update: Lisa is thankful for chocolate iced doughnuts.
• Update: Rosemary is thankful for God’s daily provision.
• Update: Kim is thankful for caffeine.
• Update: At Scriptorium, Kim is thankful for “new sources for leads and the time in which to pursue them!”
• Update: Suzanne is thankful for free books and audiobooks on the internet.
• Update: Candy is

  also thankful for books. Opening a book. The tactile feeling of a book. Staying up late at night because I cannot set the book down, and discussing books with other book lovers. I even enjoy opening a book that once belonged to my late mother who smoked like a chimney. Opening the book with the lingering scent of smoke reminds me of her and is somehow comforting.
  
  I am also thankful for faithful bloggers who provide a respite for me when I am tired from a long day at work.

Here are three ways you can join in the thanksgiving. 

• Mention something you’re thankful for in the comments here and I’ll included it in one of my thanksgiving posts, or
• Email me to tell me what you’re thankful for and I’ll include it in a post, or
• Post your thankful thought(s) on your own blog, send me the link(s), and I’ll link to your post(s). If you plan to make your thanksgiving posts daily during the month, let me know that and you won’t need to send me daily links.

More details here.

If you’ve got a thanksgiving post and I missed it, please let me know so I can add your link.

Round the Sphere Again

Good News
of penal substitution. (Nathan W. Bingham)

Our older brother does his job. (Evangel)

Answers to Questions
Why so many words in worship? (Kevin DeYoung)

Did God intend the fall? (Triablogue)

Whom does God love? (The Thirsty Theologian)

First Commandment
I ordered Tim Keller’s Counterfeit Gods for the church library and read it the day the order came in. I probably won’t review it here because I have too many freebies I’m obligated to review, but I do recommend it. Here’s a review by Sean Lucas at Reformation21 Blog. He says: 

Keller pastorally gives suggestions for how to identify heart idols; but he especially assists in recommending how to deal with this most basic human problem: by falling more in love with Jesus which, in turns, leads to deeper and more thorough repentance.

I’ll just say this: It’s been a while since I’ve been so convicted by a book.

Language Development
A couple of ladies were discussing this study and its findings before church yesterday. Babies, it seems, are listening from the womb.

Home Plate
Several years ago I found a souvenir plate from my hometown in Minnesota at a garage sale here in Whitehorse. I bought it—and have since broken it—but it started my interest in commemorative plates for travellers. I’ve acquired a few at garage sales and thrift stores, including one that’s over 100 years old.

Here are souvenir plates from all of the 50 states. The one from Minnesota has Paul and Babe from my hometown on it, as you can see. It also has a taconite mine from the Mesabi Range and the old, old, before-the-old-Metrodome Twins Stadium.

Can you find the one from your state?

Thanksgiving 9

I’m thankful for answered prayers—two answered with a yes and one with a no—but I know that all three answers are blessings.

What are you thankful for today?

• Gloria is thankful for “the relative religious freedom we have in the country where we live. We praise the Lord for the openness we enjoy.”
• Rachel is thankful that she can be a stay-at-home mom.
• Kristina is thankful for her bed.
• Elle is thankful for home study.
• Connie is thankful for the opportunity to home school.
• Kim is thankful for the warmth of the sun.
• Lisa is thankful for a morning without obligations and more.
• Kim of Hiraeth is thankful for her carpet cleaner and more.
• Carla is thankful for the work of the Holy Spirit.
• Rosemary is thankful a working hot water heater.
• Ann is thankful for safety while travelling.
• Dorothy is thankful for that her coat came out of the wash looking good.
• Jenn is thankful for her church.
• Kim is thankful for a visit.
• Lisa is thankful for her magic hour.
• Veronica is thankful for adoption.
• Jennifer is thankful for the ministry of Samaritan’s Purse.
• Julie is thankful for music.
• Suzanne is thankful for appliances that make life easier.

Here are three ways you can join in the thanksgiving. 

• Mention something you’re thankful for in the comments here and I’ll included it in one of my thanksgiving posts, or
• Email me to tell me what you’re thankful for and I’ll include it in a post, or
• Post your thankful thought(s) on your own blog, send me the link(s), and I’ll link to your post(s). If you plan to make your thanksgiving posts daily during the month, let me know that and you won’t need to send me daily links.

More details here.

If you’ve got a thanksgiving post and I missed it, please let me know so I can add your link.