psalm 30

psalm 30

there is a direct line, connection 

between my hand and heart

when I lift one, the other elevates 

there is a direct line, connection

between thanksgiving and contentment

when I drop one, the other falls

but shall I bless Your name

for selfish gain

forgive me when praise

has been for reasons

other than Your worth-ship

please receive me 

with no false intent, that I may be

awestruck by holiness

silenced by glory

Ode to my mosquito net

Ode to my mosquito net

metres of white, soft billows fold

bright against incoming dark

how many secrets do you hold

in your protective embrace

mosquitoes cannot penetrate

your life given up for me

you never rest or hesitate

to foil invasive attempts

what can I offer back to you

worthy of your sacrifice

night after night you remain true

hour by hour on guard you wait

no words of gratitude spoken

by the one you humbly serve

isn’t your cotton heart broken

by such total disregard

so now I’ll lift my voice in praise

to you, of you, for you friend

songs of thanksgiving I’ll raise

never will it be enough

for all you’ve done, will ever do

for me the vain receiver

allowed to sleep the long night through

while you, your dreams never come

no comparison

Jesus carried the instrument 

of His own destruction

weary beneath the weight

already bloody, beaten

willing to be willing

to bend to the will

of His Father

our Father

and I am asked

to carry my cross

yet what weight

is there that He did not

already bear

only what I allow

when I refuse to live 

in Him

through Him

for Him

so I pray

to be willing

to be willing

to bend to His will

it is surrender then 

that is my cross

weighing nothing

and everything

the only cost

my life entire

and even then

I can't compare

the price

to the gift

freely given

already received

it is thanksgiving then

that is my cross

may I carry it

with praise

jamming with Bonnie

 

Thanksgiving Monday

Be happy [in your faith] and rejoice and be glad-hearted continually (always); 

Be unceasing in prayer [praying perseveringly];

Thank [God] in everything [no matter what the circumstances may be, 

be thankful and give thanks], 

for this is the will of God for you [who are] in Christ Jesus 

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 Amplified

As we gather in twos and threes and more

to celebrate the holiday of thanks giving

teach me Lord

what it means to be thankful always

to lay down my right to grumble 

when things are not as I planned

when I don't get my way

help me again to release control

into your care

with my hands and heart open

lifted to You in gratitude and praise

Day 14 of 31 Days of Surrender

 

don't scratch the itch

and on what day did God create mosquitoes?

here is a re-post from the 2010 archives 

because I'm too busy trying not to scratch 

to concentrate on writing at the moment:

My thoughts are scattered, I submit them to the Lord

I praise Him for this day as the sun burns its way through the clouds

just as I have praised Him through the rains that yet threaten to continue

But He is God, in all things, of all things, through all things.

All things.. yes, that must include the mosquitoes

inescapable in this the wettest season we've seen in years

seeming as large as the hummingbirds that hover

fighting for spots around the feeders we provide

I must coat myself in repellents or choose the safety of the indoors

where I watch as they seem to taunt me from the window screens

but.. He is God.. of all things, yes,

even when, particularly when, I cannot comprehend His reasoning.

Okay Lord, I'm not complaining, really,

it's not me You hear, it's the whine of the dreaded insect

as I slap it dead against my bare skin, awaiting the welt that will rise,

repeating to myself, "this is a test, this is only a test...."

At last, I have thought of one benefit of the noxious pests..

they make me forget about the wood ticks.

For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. 

[For all things originate with Him and come from Him; 

all things live through Him, 

and all things center in and tend to consummate and to end in Him.] 

To Him be glory forever! Amen (so be it). 

Romans 11:36 Amplified

 

Deeply rooted

My counsel for you is simple and straightforward: 

Just go ahead with what you’ve been given. 

You received Christ Jesus, the Master; now live him. 

You’re deeply rooted in him. 

You’re well constructed upon him. 

You know your way around the faith. 

Now do what you’ve been taught. 

School’s out; quit studying the subject and start living it! 

And let your living spill over into thanksgiving. 

Colossians 2:6-7 The Message

 

walking with the Sunday singers at Deidra's

 

Sunday offering

We must offer ourselves to God

like a clean, smooth canvas

and not worry ourselves

about what God may choose to paint on it,

but at each moment,

feel only the stroke of His brush.

-- Jean Pierre de Caussade

Beginning the week with worship, thanksgiving and surrender

 

Joining Deidra's Sunday choir to glorify His name.

 

Thanksgiving words

This is a busy time - so I am offering here a reworking of a Thanksgiving post from 2009.

This weekend in Canada we are celebrating Thanksgiving. People will gather to eat, and laugh and play games.  In the midst of all the feasting and festivities I'm afraid that too few of us stop to consider what the very name of the holiday means - thanks giving - the giving of thanks.

The Word tells us:

Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, and into His courts with praise. Be thankful to Him, and bless His name. For the LORD is good; His mercy is everlasting, and His truth endures to all generations. Psalm 100:4-5 NKJV

I know that I am abundantly blessed and have much to be thankful for. Please join me by adding your lists of thanks in the comments or linking to a post on your blogs.

Thank You, Lord Jesus, today and all days.
Thank You for choosing to die for my sins.
Thank You that each day brings more new beginnings.
Thank You for blessings that I never earned.
I offer my thanks, my worship and praise.
Thank You, Lord Jesus, now and always.