The Thousand Word Project - Autumn Memories In Texas

Goldenrod

Coleus - red plants above, and below.

These photos were taken at the Shangri La Botanical Gardens in Orange, Texas when we visited in the Fall of 2011.

Hard Questions: Can You, Should You Give Thanks for That?

Can You, Should You Be Thankful for That?

Excerpt:

Christians sometimes quote 1 Thessalonians 5:18, In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. They may emphasize “In every thing…” and say that we don’t have to give thanks for everything. Yet the Spirit of God clearly tells us through Paul in another place that we should be thankful for all things.

Ephesians 5:20 Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ;

A friend of mine was posting a “31 days of gratitude challenge” in October on Facebook. One of her questions was “What pain are you grateful for?” I had to honestly answer that I couldn’t say that I was thankful for my anxiety disorder, but that it has taught me some important lessons for which I’m thankful. I also haven’t learned to be thankful for migraines, although I am thankful for the sympathy I’ve learned for others through them. But, this shows my limitations, not that it is impossible to give always thanks for all things. I should be thankful for that pain, despite its hardship. Anything that pushes us closer to Jesus Christ and causes us to cast ourselves more wholly upon Him is something to be thankful for, unpleasant as that seems. Like contentment, it is something that we generally have to learn.

Read the whole article here.

Evening Song - No Other Name/Precious Name

The John Marshall Family

Philippians 2:7-11  But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.  Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;  And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

FREE - Scripture Coloring Page - Leaves

Earlier this year my husband bought me an iPad as a birthday gift. Because he bought me a keyboard to go with it, it has turned out to be a very useful tool for writing. This is primarily because I can sit anywhere to type now, for which I'm very thankful.

He also got me the "Pencil" (stylus) for coloring and drawing. The coloring has been very relaxing and has been helpful in reducing stress. The drawing (mostly tracing really) has been enjoyable as well, although it is more intense physically.

I had thought it would be a good tool for drawing coloring pictures to share here, however, after printing off this copy, I find that the lines are more pixelated than I care for. This is probably either the program or my lack of ability in using it, so I will have to see if I can correct this. However, I decided to share this one with you anyway and you can take it or leave it as you wish.

To download the largest size of this page click here and then click the download icon/button in the lower right corner. This is intended to be printed on 8.5" x 11" printer paper. If you try to save the image here on the blog (above) you will probably be disappointed because it will be much lower quality and probably will turn out very poorly when printed, so please go on over to my smugmug page to download it. :-)

Here is an example that I colored myself with colored pencils.

Thanksgiving Greetings 2017

Thank and Praise Jehovah's Name

Thank and Praise Jehovah’s Name;
For His mercies, firm and sure,
From eternity the same
To eternity endure.

Let the ransomed thus rejoice,
Gathered out of every land,
As the people of His choice,
Plucked from the destroyer’s hand.

Let the elders praise the Lord,
Him let all the people praise,
When they meet with one accord,
In His courts on holy days.

Praise Him, ye who know His love;
Praise Him from the depths beneath;
Praise Him in the heights above;
Praise your Maker all that breathe.

For His truth and mercy stand,
Past, and present, and to be,
Like the years of His right hand—
Like His own eternity.

- James Mountain

Revelation 7:11-12  And all the angels stood round about the throne, and about the elders and the four beasts, and fell before the throne on their faces, and worshipped God, Saying, Amen: Blessing, and glory, and wisdom, and thanksgiving, and honour, and power, and might, be unto our God for ever and ever. Amen.

Thanks to God for Our Redeemer

Thanks to God for Our Redeemer

Thanks to God for my Redeemer,
Thanks for all Thou dost provide!
Thanks for times now but a memory,
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!

- August L. Storm
member of the Salvation Army in Sweden

Evening Song - Come, Christian, Join to Sing

Ephesians 5:18-20  And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit; Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord; Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ;