"How Sweet, How Heavenly"

How sweet, how heavenly is the sight,
When those that love the Lord
In one another’s peace delight,
And so fulfill His Word!

When each can feel his brother’s sigh
And with him bear a part!
When sorrow flows from eye to eye,
And joy from heart to heart!

When, free from envy, scorn, and pride,
Our wishes all above,
Each can his brother’s failings hide,
And show a brother’s love!

When love, in one delightful stream,
Through every bosom flows,
When union sweet, and dear esteem,
In every action glows.

Love is the golden chain that binds
The happy souls above;
And he’s an heir of Heaven who finds
His bosom glow with love.

by Joseph Swain

John 13:34-35
A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.

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Moving into the State of Contentment

Hebrews 13:5 - Make sure that your character is free from the love of money, being content with what you have

Philippians 4:11 - For I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am.

Disclaimer: This is rather individualistic, so I write to share my own struggle, not to criticize those who may not share my thoughts. Personally, most of my gifts are homemade and what I do buy, I buy throughout the year so I can avoid shopping as much as possible this time of year. So if you are one of those "shop 'til you drop folks"... by all means enjoy and give the glory to God.

Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday. I love the warm, homey atmosphere of food, family, and joy and I love that the day remains rather noncommercial. I love simple traditions and I am not one to go all out with decorations and fuss. But I feel oppressed. Is it just me, or is the intensity of the shopping mania that is "Black Friday" reaching a whole new level? It goes beyond just one day. Stores are competing to open earlier and earlier with bigger sales, and now you can even start your Black Friday shopping on the evening of Thanksgiving at 10 pm! We've been inundated with glitzy sales fliers in our mailbox for weeks. No longer limited to "Cyber Monday", the internet is teeming with sales all week long as evidenced by my e-mail inbox and the advertising on the blogs I follow. I love a good deal as much as the next person. But this is too much. I am finding it oppressive. The hunt for a good deal is turning into a case of "stuffitis", that suffocating disease that chokes out my peace, joy and contentment. I feel it encroaching on Thanksgiving, and not just the holiday we celebrate, but upon the day-to-day giving of thanks.

I do not need more stuff.

I really, really, really don't need more stuff. Stuff can be nice, but stuff also means more things to clean and maintain. I am making the conscious choice, giving myself the gift, of moving into the state of contentment. We have already been in the process of downsizing, but now I am giving myself permission to toss all sales fliers directly into the recycling bin, delete all blogs in my feed or e-mails in my box no matter how tempting the sales. Instead, I will turn on my peaceful music and focus on the joys of the season with my family... making, doing, just BEING together.

In the state of contentment, there is peace, clarity, and serenity. God gives us everything we need.

1 Timothy 6:6-10
But godliness is a means of great gain when accompanied by contentment. For we have brought nothing into the world, so we cannot take anything out of it either. If we have food and covering, with these we shall be content. But those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a snare and many foolish and harmful desires which plunge men into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all sorts of evil, and some by longing for it have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.

Ann Voskamp says it simply, but well, "turn the carols up louder and remember all His gifts — And happily become the gift!"

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Hymn of Thanksgiving

Be Present At Our Table, Lord

by Louis Bour­geois

Be present at our table, Lord;
Be here and everywhere adored;
Thy creatures bless, and grant that we
May feast in paradise with Thee.

We thank Thee, Lord, for this our food,
For life and health and every good;
By Thine own hand may we be fed;
Give us each day our daily bread.

We thank Thee, Lord, for this our good,
But more because of Jesus’ blood;
Let manna to our souls be giv’n,
The Bread of Life sent down from Heav’n.

My prayer is that you will be surrounded by family and loved ones, but more so by the love of our Savior. May your day be blessed!

~ CM

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The Ultimate Indulgence

graham crackers + marshmallow fluff + dark chocolate dreams by Peanut Butter & Co.

That is all. :)

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"He Leadeth Me"

He leadeth me, O blessèd thought!
O words with heav’nly comfort fraught!
Whate’er I do, where’er I be
Still ’tis God’s hand that leadeth me.

Sometimes mid scenes of deepest gloom,
Sometimes where Eden’s bowers bloom,
By waters still, over troubled sea,
Still ’tis His hand that leadeth me.

Lord, I would place my hand in Thine,
Nor ever murmur nor repine;
Content, whatever lot I see,
Since ’tis my God that leadeth me.

And when my task on earth is done,
When by Thy grace the vict’ry’s won,
E’en death’s cold wave I will not flee,
Since God through Jordan leadeth me.

Refrain -

He leadeth me, He leadeth me,
By His own hand He leadeth me;
His faithful follower I would be,
For by His hand He leadeth me.

by Joseph Gilmore

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Escarole Soup

It's Potluck Saturday!

This recipe is healthy, simple, and very delicious! It's a terrific way to eat your greens!



1 medium onion, chopped
1 small head of escarole (about 1/2 lb. You will find it near the lettuce in the produce aisle.)
2 large carrots, grated
10 cups chicken stock, preferably homemade (I sometimes use half veggie stock)
6 oz. tiny pasta shapes - I like stelline (the tiny stars) though ditalini is easier to find
Freshly grated Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese

1 lb. Meatballs - I keep these made up in the freezer, though you can also buy the ready-made ones.

Preparation:
Saute your chopped onion in some olive oil in a large pot. Cook until the onions begin to brown.

Meanwhile, trim the escarole and discard any wilted or bruised leaves. Cut off the stem ends. Separate the leaves and wash well in cool water, especially the center of the leaves where soil collects. Stack the leaves and cut them crosswise into 1-inch strips (like a large chiffonade). You should have about 4 cups.



When the onions are ready, combine the escarole, carrots, and stock in a large pot. Bring to a simmer and cook until the escarole is almost tender, about 30 minutes.



When the escarole is almost tender, stir in the pasta and return the soup to the simmer. Drop the meatballs into the soup. Cook over low heat, stirring gently, until the meatballs and pasta are cooked, about 20 minutes. Taste for seasoning. Serve hot with grated Parmigiano-Reggiano.

Serves 8



Variation: To make a gluten free version, substitute a can or two of cannelini beans for the pasta. (You will want to make sure you make gluten free meatballs as well.) You can also substitute the beans for the meatballs if you want a meatless version, but I gotta tell you... the meatballs make the soup!

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Psalm 44:8 - "In God have we made our boast all the day long, And we will give thanks unto thy name for ever."

I was struck by this passage today. Do I indeed boast about God all day long? Do I speak His name when I tell of all of the blessings He gives? I think I need to be not only more thankful, but more outspoken when it comes to naming the One "from whom all blessings flow".

Today, I am thankful that Preacher Man tells me that I am beautiful. I'm inclined to quickly shrug it off when he says that, but today, I tried to take the moment to revel in the thought and be thankful in the blessing. I am loved and I am blessed. For this, I am undeserving, but I am still deeply thankful.

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