Today, I am reminded of how thankful I am for praise songs, for the songs that lift me up when I am not feeling like singing and praising. However, just hearing the beginning chords of certain songs send my heart soaring and I am right there with the praise artist, singing along even as inside me, I may be feeling anything but thankful. Here are some of my favorite praise songs for you to enjoy.

10000 Reasons by Matt Redman

Shout to the Lord by Hillsong

Mighty to Save by Ben Fielding

God Will Make a Way by Don Moen

Above All by Lenny LeBlanc

Do you have a favorite praise song or two? Please leave a link in the comments as I would love to listen. We are separated by many miles, but together, we can lift up His Name in praise and start each day with blessing on our lips. May the Lord bless your day with a song in your heart!

I belong to multiple book groups online, and in these groups I have been able to virtually meet people from all over the United States. I was blessed recently with a new friend from Alaska and I told Holly that I have always wanted to go there. She told me how beautiful it is and sent me photos to show me the beauty of God’s creation in a place that I have never seen. I asked her permission to use her photos with Scripture and she gave it. Here is the result.

I am so thankful for God’s creation and the differences that we can see all over the earth, all created by Him. It is He who makes a new day every morning, the Lord Almighty! Out of my window, I can see flat ground and woods. But, just consider, that there are millions of people all around the earth awakening to different views, all made by our Lord for our pleasure. Here are other photos that Holly sent, for your enjoyment. I have never been to Alaska, but it truly exists and others enjoy its beauty. Can you imagine what Heaven will be like when there is so much beauty already on the earth that many of us have not had the opportunity to enjoy yet? I am so thankful for God’s creation of so many different landscapes and of a new morning every day in which to praise Him for it.

Photos courtesy of my new friend, Holly Marie Ward. Thanks to God for His creation!

Blessings to each of you for a day filled with thankfulness for whatever view is out your window!

I am thankful for doctors, those medical professionals who work tirelessly to keep people like me vertical and enjoying life. Since I have multiple health issues, I have many physicians, most of whom are specialists in their fields. Most of these knowledgeable people I did not choose, but my primary care sent me to him or her. Nevertheless, each doctor whose office I visit has been vetted with my prayers. I always ask God to give them wisdom to know what to do and to do no harm. I know that they take an oath to do the latter, but I don’t think my prayers are ineffective. Each specialist that I go to has been kind, giving me the time that is necessary to delve into whatever my current issue is. Recently, some of my physicians have been retiring and I have been greatly saddened by losing their presence in my life. It has been like losing a good friend on whom I counted to help keep me healthy. I know that the Great Physician is the real reason that I am still walking around here on earth, but I also give credit to the doctors who use the wisdom that God has given them to selflessly serve others.

Today, I am headed to my rheumatologist, and I am happy to go see him again. Lately, I have been unable to sit, stand or lie down comfortably because of pain in my back that goes down my right leg. In fact, my lower leg feels like I have shin splints when I try to stand up. So, I’m glad to go see my specialist and get his opinion about what is going on now with my bones. I am very thankful for doctors who have the book knowledge, the skill and compassion to treat people with problems. I am thankful that Jesus works through them to help me!

Blessings to each of you for a day filled with health, healing if you need it and compassion for others who need a touch from the Lord!

Marygene returns home to Peach Grove Island and the family diner that her sister has run alone while she lived in Atlanta. Unfortunately, she returns home just in time to help solve the mystery of an elderly resident who drops dead in the diner. The characters in this book are all fun and lovable. The humor is droll and thoroughly enjoyable. I really liked that the author managed to include a complex plot in this book with so many town characters, many of whom were suspects in the murder at the diner. The fact that there is a budding romance between Marygene and her old high school beaux just adds interest to the storyline. I especially enjoyed the family ties and how they were presented to mean so much to each of the characters. The small town southern atmosphere was spot on, with everybody knowing everybody else and all of their business, too! I think my favorite thing about the book was the recipes included at the end, the recipes for all of the delectable goodies that Marygene and her sister Jena Lynn cook throughout the book. This is the first book in a new series by the author, and it is also the first book that I have read by her, but it will definitely not be the last one. It was a wonderful romp through the land of mystery, with a lot of fun and laughter along the way! Fans of cozy mysteries will want to read this book for the plot and characters and keep it for the recipes!

Disclaimer

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255, “Guides Concerning the Use of Testimonials and Endorsements in Advertising.”

This humorous book is available now from your local bookseller. There is a “ghost” of Marygene’s mamma who comes and talks to her, so readers of Christian fiction may not like this aspect of the book. It is worth buying just for the recipes at the back of the book!

Today, I am thankful for soup. Although it is early in the morning when I am writing this, I am already anticipating my bowl of soup after church today. I spent about three years when I didn’t have any soup that I liked or could eat because of my low sodium restrictions. Look at the cans of soup that you have in your cabinet! Almost all of the popular soups have 700 mg of sodium which is way too much for me. Anyway, about a year ago, I discovered that Progresso makes a really good lower sodium soup called tomato basil. Yum! My favorite! I am not much of a cook, so when I tried to make soup from scratch and without sodium, it was not tasty at all! I don’t know the secrets to herbs and spices and there are a lot of spices that my friends recommended that I don’t particularly like. For example, rosemary is one that I was told would make my chicken soup taste good. I couldn’t even bear the smell of it as it simmered, much less put it into my mouth. So, I went on a quest for healthy soup, writing companies and telling them that they needed lower sodium options. Behold! Now, there are several companies that make the kinds of soups that I can have and enjoy. I am so thankful for soup, especially on these cool autumn days when I just want to cuddle up and get warm.

Photo from qcumber.com

If you have good soup recipes, please pass them along! And if you know how much sodium your recipe has, even better! Blessings to each of you for a day filled with warmth and the foods that satisfy you physically! And even better, for a day filled with spiritual food from our Father in Heaven so that you are filled to overflowing!

I am very thankful today for being able to walk. I am not fast, not even close! But I am mobile and I can walk around to see the leaves that have changed outside, to play with grandchildren, to feed my kitty, to cook and even to clean (if that cleaning bug happens to hit me). There was a time when every step was a struggle and I had to think about each step so that my brain would tell my legs and feet to move. I am thankful that I am able to move without a lot of brain exercise that is evident to me. God gives each of us the ability to walk. It is where we walk that is important to Him. First, are we walking in His ways? Have we studied His Word enough that we know what His ways are? Second, are we walking in His will? Again, we can only know His will by immersing ourselves in His Word. And third, are we walking close to Him in our daily lives? Can we hear his still, small voice that leads and guides us into the right way?

Photo from workingwomenoffaith.com

Blessings to each of you for a day of walking close to Him and being fully pleasing to Him!

I’m thankful today for the birds that I can see out of the window next to my recliner. For weeks, there have been no birds. None! And the sight of them had been giving me so much pleasure! Three days ago, just before our one inch snow storm, my husband went out and lay things on the ground in the side garden there. I wondered what he was doing, so he told me that after the storm he would move these things and there would be ground for the birds to find food. Sure enough! It happened! He also scattered some cranberries on the bare ground, and there were a whole lot of little gray birds. I have no clue what they were, but I was so happy to see them again. It brought to mind the idea of when we walk away from the Lord. We are the one sheep that He is seeking and He is so happy to see us again!. I think that it is close to the same feeling in the Lord’s heart as what was in mine when I saw the birds again. Or at least a similar feeling, right? Utter joy and thankfulness! The hope is that we won’t wander off and be a prodigal, but if we do, God’s arms are open wide to welcome us again and He will be overjoyed to see us and speak to us again.

Photo by Getty from photo.com

Photo from rainbowtoken.com

Blessings for a day filled with God’s goodness and love and birds to help you see the wonder of His creation!

I am so very thankful for a variety of channels, shows, and music that I can watch and listen to. Yesterday, my husband and I spent most of the day in the car, driving to an ophthalmologist appointment for me and then doing errands while we were in town. Unfortunately, I get stressed by all of the political junk going on these days. Also unfortunately, my husband is a political junkie…the more news, the better. So, for the most part of the afternoon, I listened to impeachment news non-stop, with additional commentary by my husband. By about 5:30 p.m., I was so done with the news and the commentary that I had an awful headache and just wanted to go home. But alas, we had one more stop, to a pharmacy for the eye drop prescription that my doctor had given me. Oh, no! The pharmacy didn’t have the meds and when the pharmacist called around to find it for me, she discovered that there is a nationwide back order on it. So, finally, I could go home to fight another battle today. Very happily, I get to stay home today where I can put the TV on the soothing music that I enjoy while reading. No talking heads telling me how bad/good things look for the president! No commentary! No politics! My kind of day! Thus I am thankful that I have a variety of channels to choose from, and I choose music! Not politics! Praise music is the best, followed by classical and easy listening. Blessings to each of you for a day filled with good thoughts, good music and lots of time to enjoy your day!

Photo from society6.com

Today, I am thankful for heat. Yes, heat! We got our first snow yesterday. Although this it only amounted to about an inch, the weather turned extremely cold for this time of year, dipping down to the mid-twenties. I snuggled under my heated blanket, with my heating pad at my back. But you know what kept our house warm? Our almost thirty year old heater! It’s still working just fine. I’m also thankful for the propane truck that came on Monday and delivered our propane before the cold came. My husband had planned on calling them this week, but they came before we called, delivering to their regular customers before the cold snap hit. Doesn’t that remind you of Jesus? He knows what we need before we call and gives it to us before we ask! So, I am very thankful for heat and for the people who make it possible. What are you thankful for today? I hope that you are staying warm and counting your blessings!