Bread

To be nourished by

Christ Himself,

to eat

The Bread of the Presence--

this is my

prayer.

(My daughter’s hands, Thanksgiving 2010)

The Blessing

A history lesson this week of Thanksgiving:

At this time of year, we speak often (or we should) of counting our blessings.

Hopefully, we recognize that we are blessed by the Lord.

But what does that mean, exactly, to be blessed?

The word “bless” in Hebrew means to “kneel or to adore”.

It is closely connected to the word for “knee”.   So when we sing “Blessed be the Name of the Lord,” we are using the literal meaning of the word. 

We bless Your Name, oh God, we kneel before You because You are worthy. We adore You.

Why, then. does scripture say God blesses us?

After all, God doesn’t kneel before us in adoration.  (Shudder! How awful the thought of God shrinking to submission to me.)

Ann Spangler’s excellent book, Praying the Names of God offers some insight into this.  She explains that Yahweh, the Covenant Maker and Keeper, came down to initiate a relationship between Himself and man.

In other words, He knelt down as a loving Father and went face to face with His child, looked me in the eyes--

and blessed me with His presence.

This Thanksgiving, as we sit at a table laden with the feast, let’s remember that God and man at table are sat down—because Yahweh, our Covenant Maker and Keeper, came to bless us.

Happy Thanksgiving.

Ginger

 

 

Thoughts

I have not disappeared into cyberspace.

 

I simply may, for one of the few times in my life, have used up all my words for awhile last weekend.

I’m letting them accumulate.

Today I have slept ridiculously late, read half a novel, and consumed three cups of coffee.

Useless, I tell you, completely useless.

My sink is full of dirty dishes, the floor is gross, Thanksgiving grocery lists sit unmade, as do the beds.

For just a little bit longer, I feel His permission to rest.

Then I’ll be wonderfully busy and productive preparing for my favorite of all holidays, Thanksgiving.

And full of words once more.

Be very, very blessed today.  You are loved by the King.

Ginger

Poured Out

Yesterday I spoke at our church’s Ladies Fall Gathering.

Such precious women, such a sweet time with the Spirit.

I am spent.

I hope to be back this week with a Scripture and a Snapshot, some Thanksgiving recipes, and whatever else comes up.

For now, I cannot string three intelligent thoughts together.

Be blessed,

Ginger

With Unveiled Faces

This verse leapt out at me today on several levels.

My family is becoming more and more burdened for young girls trapped in human trafficking situations.  We are seeking God’s plan for using us to lead them to His throne.

Yet, today I also think of those I know and love who are bound not by human hands, but by doubt and fear and discouragement.  I long to hold up a mirror that would show them the light of His face reflected on them.   I pray that they would know His glory manifested through them.

Oh, to be radiant with His light!

Ginger 

Excuse the Mess

Thank you all for your advice!  Since I was already working in Live Writer, I decided to play with my blog dimensions in Blogger. 

I made a mess, kind of.

Good news:  I think my pictures are bigger!

Bad news:  Now my header picture is “off,” and I can’t figure out how to fix it.

Told you I wasn’t techie.

More Bad News:  I just don’t have time to play around with it too much.

We’re in a monsoon, a tsunami, a typhoon of activity around here.

I’ve got so much going on that God has me in two Bible studies—teaching Esther and going through Believing God on my own. 

Whew.  Can you tell I need fortifications for this season?

Be blessed, bloggy friends.  May He give you all the fortifications you need as well!

Ginger

Dumb Blogger Question #567

How do I set up my blog so that I can post large photos?

(This is soooo small!)

If I put in medium-sized pictures, one side is cut off, so I have to shrink it.

(See how the words are cut off in medium.)

So sad.

(Getting this giant-sized photo to fit would really be nice!)

Thanks for your help.

Be blessed!

Ginger

Scripture and a Snapshot

Many days I remind myself in Whom I have trusted.  I am not trusting in myself, my expert parenting, my feeble teaching skills.  I trust in the God Who spoke creation into being, formed man with His hands, and breathed His life-giving Spirit into him. 

Surely He is my God; I trust Him and know He will save me.

Be Blessed today.

Ginger

Linking up to Scripture and a Snapshot