Sunday's Song--We Gather Together

We Gather Together

We gather together
to ask the Lord's blessing;
He chastens and hastens
His will to make known.
The wicked oppressing
now cease from distressing.
Sing praises to His Name,
He forgets not His own.

Beside us to guide us,
our God with us joining,
ordaining, maintaining
His kingdom divine;
so from the beginning
the fight we were winning;
Thou, Lord, wast at our side,
all glory be Thine.

We all do extol Thee,
Thou leader triumphant,
and pray that Thou still
our Defender wilt be.
Let Thy congregation
escape tribulation;
Thy name be ever praised!
O Lord, make us free!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving, Everyone! What are you thankful for, this year?

I'm thankful for family, friends, our pets including a cuddly new little kitty, health, a detox that's going really well, my dream camera, our beautiful flower gardens..., and an abundance of wildlife that roam our neighborhood. But I'm especially thankful to and for my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and all the blessings, care, and love He's bestowed upon us. May His grace, mercy, and love touch your life today! --LKR

Pass the Pomegranates, Please!

We just love pomegranates! Unfortunately, they're a seasonal fruit and only available to us in the fall. Here is an easy way to access the seeds:

Cutting the very top of the pomegranate reveals the whitish skin separating the seeds into sections.

Slightly cutting into the sections makes it easier.

It's now easy to gently pull each section apart!

The seeds are easily freed with your fingers and a little bit of twisting.

They are wonderful additions to salads, yogurt, or cereal, but we love to eat them all by themselves! Yes, it takes a little work to get to the tasty seeds hidden within, but it's well worth it!

A note of caution is needed, here: Please be careful if you take certain medications. The same drugs which are effected by grapefruit will also be by pomegranates. --LKR

Sunday's Song--Search Me, O God

2. Search Me, O God
3. (Cleanse Me, O God)
4. 
   
5. Search me, O God, and know my heart today,
   
   Try me, O Savior, know my thoughts, I pray;
   
   See if there be some wicked way in me;
   
   Cleanse me from every sin, and set me free.
   
6. I praise Thee, Lord, for cleansing me from sin;
   
   Fulfill Thy word and make me pure within;
   
   Fill me with fire, where once I burned with shame;
   
   Grant my desire to magnify Thy name.
   
7. Lord, take my life, and make it wholly Thine;
   
   Fill my poor heart with Thy great love divine;
   
   Take all my will, my passion, self and pride;
   
   I now surrender, Lord, in me abide.
   
8. O Holy Ghost, revival comes from Thee;
   
   Send a revival, start the work in me;
   
   Thy Word declares Thou wilt supply our need;
   
   For blessings now, O Lord, I humbly plead.
   

--James E. Orr, 1936

Sunday's Song--He Has Made Me Glad

He Has Made Me Glad


I will enter his gates with thanksgiving in my heart,
I will enter his courts with praise.
I will say this is the day that the Lord has made,
I will rejoice for He has made me glad.

He has made me glad,
He has made me glad,
I will rejoice for
He has made me glad.
He has made me glad,
I will rejoice for
He has made me glad.

A Porcupine Sighting!

It was the coolest thing! On our way home from our children's orchestra concert this evening, a porcupine waddled across the road right in front of our van! I've never seen a porcupine out in the wild before, have you?

These large, nocturnal rodents can tip the scales at 30 to 40 lbs. They are peaceful animals that curl up when threatened, protecting their vulnerable bellies while exposing up to 30,000 thorny quills that cover them from head to tail. If attacked, they will whack their predator with their spiny tails. These painful weapons fall off and become embedded in the attacker's skin.

Porcupines live in wooded areas, making their homes in hollow logs, underground dens, and caves. They can also be found climbing around in trees. They dine on clover, grass, fruit, seeds, tender leaves, twigs, and the bark of trees. Like beavers, they also crave salt and will eat things like canoe paddles and tool handles that contain human sweat.

--LKR

Sunday's Song--We Praise You, O God

We Praise You, O God


We praise You, O God, our Redeemer, Creator;
In grateful devotion our tribute we bring.
We lay it before You, we kneel and adore You;
We bless Your holy name, glad praises we sing.

We worship You, God of our fathers, we bless You;
Through trial and tempest our guide You have been.
When perils over take us, You will not forsake us,
And with Your help, O Lord, our struggles we win.

With voices united our praises we offer
And gladly our songs of thanksgiving we raise.
With You, Lord, beside us, Your strong arm will guide us.
To You, our great Redeemer, forever be praise!
--Julia C. Cory

Sunday's Song--Mighty To Save

Mighty To Save

Everyone needs compassion

A love that's never failing

Let mercy fall on me

Everyone needs forgiveness

The kindness of a Savior

The hope of nations

Savior

He can move the mountains

My God is mighty to save

He is mighty to save

Forever

author of salvation

He rose and conquered the grave

Jesus conquered the grave

So take me as You find me

With all my fears and failures

Fill my life again

I give my life to follow

Everything I believe in

And now I surrender

Savior, He can move the mountains

My God, my God is mighty to save

He is mighty to save

Forever

author of salvation

He rose, He conquered the grave

Jesus conquered the grave

Shine your light and let the whole world see

We're singing for the glory of the risen King,

Jesus

Shine your light and let the whole world see

We're singing for the glory of the risen King

Savior

He can move the mountains

My God is mighty to save

He is mighty to save

Forever

author of salvation

He rose and conquered the grave

Jesus conquered the grave

Savior

He can move the mountains

My God is mighty to save

He is mighty to save

Forever

author of salvation

He rose and conquered the grave

Jesus conquered the grave.

--Laura Story