Psalm 111

Praise the LORD!

I will extol the LORD with all my heart!

In the council of the upright and in the assembly.

Great are the works of the LORD!

 

Great are the works of the LORD,

they are pondered by all who delight in them.

 

Glorious and majestic are his deeds,

and his righteousness endures forever.

 

He has caused his wonders to be remembered;

the LORD is gracious and compassionate.

 

He provides food for those who fear him;

he remembers his covenant forever.

 

He has shown his people the power of his works,

giving them the lands of other nations.

 

The works of his hands are faithful and just;

all his precepts are trustworthy.

 

They are steadfast for ever and ever

done in faithfulness and uprightness.

 

He provided redemption for his people;

he ordained his covenant forever --

holy and awesome is his name.

 

The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom;

all who follow his precepts have good understanding.

To him belongs eternal praise.

 

AMEN!

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

God's Boxes

God's Boxes

Author Unknown.

I have in my hands two boxes,
Which God gave me to hold.
He said, "Put all your sorrows in the black box,
And all your joys in the gold."

I heeded His words, and in the two boxes,
Both my joys and sorrows I stored,
But though the gold became heavier each day,
The black was as light as before.

With curiosity, I opened the black,
I wanted to find out why,
And I saw, in the base of the box, a hole,
Which my sorrows had fallen out by.

 

I showed the hole to God, and mused,
"I wonder where my sorrows could be!"
He smiled a gentle smile and said,
"My child, they're all here with me."

I asked God, why He gave me the boxes,
Why the gold and the black with the hole?
"My child, the gold is for you to count your blessings, 

the black is for you to let go."
 

 

"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened,

and I will give you rest.

Take my yoke upon you and learn from me,

for I am gentle and humble in heart, and

you will find rest for your souls.

For my yoke is easy and my burden is light."

~ Matthew 11:28-30

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I've been sick since Thanksgiving Day.
So, I've not been too grateful for this virus that our son shared with me.
He and my husband have managed to shake it,
however, I have not.
But,
as passive as I have been posting to this gratitude blog,
I've been actively putting my time to good use,
getting ready for the new year,
planning for Documented Faith 2016.
I've reflected on what worked for me this year
and created new pages for my notebook, most of which
I've uploaded to a Pinterest board and will link into (watch the side menu for that).
I've also watched many videos at Youtu.be,
learning what I liked and didn't like and compiling a "Faith-booking" playlist
(again, watch the side menu for a link to it).
And horrors, I've even contemplated deleting this gratitude blog during some
pity party moments. According to blogger, I only have one reader
who reminded me a couple of weeks ago
that I haven't posted in awhile! Thank you, Susan, for giving me a poke!
I watched a video last night about depression and gratitude and the person who was depressed, was advised to write ten letters to people
and tell them what he was grateful for about them.
He was healed of his depression!
So, I learned that I should keep on trucking, even when I don't FEEL LIKE IT!
I was reminded of something Corrie ten Boom said in a video I watched
a few weeks ago, not to trust our feelings, but to continue trusting God.
Perhaps this little "rest" was all part of God's plan to divert me from my usual activities,
to help me focus on my faith in him.

Blessings Mix

Over in the side menu, there is a link to a "Grateful Heart Craft Playlist," made up of various pre-selected craft tutorials including several favor gift bags and boxes which would make cute gifts for people you would like to show your appreciation to during the coming holidays. Below are several recipes along with a poem for the gift. Make up a large quantity, scoop into zip baggies, tie with bright ribbon and insert into a container and/or your crafted favor gift bag or box. Write or type up the recipe along with the meaning of each thing and attach to gift. 

 

 BLESSING MIX RECIPES:




BUGLE SNACKS = a symbol of the cornucopia, a horn of plenty.

PRETZELS = represents arms folded in thanks and prayer.
CANDY CORN = reminds us that during the first winter, the Pilgrims were allowed only five kernels of corn per day because food was so scarce.

ORANGE CANDY SLICES (or SPICED GUMDROPS) = is a reminder that Thanksgiving is the celebration of the harvest.

PEANUTS = represent seeds, the potential of the bounteous harvest for the next season if they are planted and well tended.

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 KOOL - AIDS
(give with a packet of sweetened kool-aid)

"Just a little thank-you
For everything you do
When things get very hectic
While helping out at school
Take a moment to mix up
This very special treat
A packet of kool aid
For our KOOL AIDE.
Because we think you're neat."
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CHRISTMAS BLESSING MIX

BUGLES---The trumpet that sounded at his birth.
PRETZELS---Mary's arms wrapped around her baby.
FRUITS AND NUTS-----The gifts the wise men brought.
CANDY CANE(S)---Shepherds staffs.
CHOCOLATE STARS-- The star of Bethlehem.
HERSHEY KISSES--The love he has for you.
RAFFIA---The hay in the manger that ties it all together.

Use dried fruit mix and two different nuts. Put in treat bags tied with raffia. You can then put in mug, or any suitable container that recipient may need, or just leave in treat bag.

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