​Dear Sisters,
 
Over the past few weeks God has just overwhelmed me with His awesome goodness, love and faithfulness! Do you ever wonder if God hears your prayers? Well, I just wanted to remind you that He does! About a month ago, I was a little discouraged and I just asked God to remind me of His goodness. I knew God was good; I just needed a reminder. Nothing is too little, small, or simple for God. God wants us to trust Him for everything!
 
Do you ever ask God for everyday things? Have you asked God for material things? What about little things you would like to have, but you just don’t have the money for?... We want to be careful not to put God in a box or be demanding of Him. We need to realize that God’s will is truly best and desire it more than our own. We need to learn to be content no matter what. :)

O gift of gifts! O grace of faith!
My God! how can it be
That Thou, who has discerning love,
Shouldst give that gift to me?
 
How many hearts thou mightest have had
More innocent than mine!
How many souls more worthy far
Of that sweet touch of Thine?
Oh, grace! Into unlikeliest hearts
It is thy boast to come,
The glory of Thy light to find
In darkness spots a home.
 
Oh, happy, happy that I am!
If thou canst be, O faith
The treasure that thou art in life
What wilt thou be in death?
 
 
The above poem was taken from Mrs. E. Prentiss’ beloved classic, Stepping Heavenward. I would highly recommend this book; in fact, I have literally highlighted many portions that were encouraging/convicting to me. Very thought-provoking!
 
When I read Romans, my heart is overwhelmed with pure joy and gratitude to our heavenly Father to think of His mercy and grace—the unmerited goodness of God. Never skim the book of Romans. Read it—again and again and again—it is brimming with truth about the wonderful doctrine of salvation!

~What is Thanksgiving really about?
   
For some, it’s just another holiday with lots of good food to eat. But for us as Christians, it’s more than that! It’s a day where we stop and remember all of God’s blessings to us, thanking Him for what He’s done for each one of us.

Thanks to God!
(by August Ludwig Storm, translated by Carl E. Backstrom)
 
Thanks to God for my Redeemer, Thanks for all Thou dost provide!
Thanks for times now but a mem’ry, Thanks for Jesus by my side!
Thanks for pleasant, cheerful springtime, Thanks for summer, winter, fall!
Thanks for tears by now forgotten, Thanks for peace within my soul!
 
Thanks for prayers that Thou hast answered, Thanks for what Thou dost deny!
Thanks for storms that I have weathered, Thanks for all Thou dost supply!
Thanks for pain, and thanks for pleasure, Thanks for comfort in despair!
Thanks for grace that none can measure, Thanks for love beyond compare!
 
Thanks for roses by the wayside, Thanks for thorns their stems contain!
Thanks for homes and thanks for fireside, Thanks for hope, that sweet refrain!
Thanks for joy and thanks for sorrow, Thanks for heavenly peace with Thee!
Thanks for hope for the tomorrow, Thanks through all eternity!
 
      “O give thanks unto the LORD; for He is good; for His mercy endureth for ever.”
—1 Chronicles 16:34

      “By Him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to His name.”—Hebrews 13:15
​
      “In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.”
—1 Thessalonians 5:18

Last time, we unpacked the glorious promise of Jeremiah 31:14, realizing that God wants to satiate our souls with living water and soak our lives in His all-sufficient presence.  This is a wonderful truth to apply to our lives; but most of us fall short of living it as we should.  We know that our Lord is all we truly need—that He alone can bring lasting satisfaction—but we focus our energies on earthly things as if they will fulfill and complete us.  We convince ourselves that “if only” we could have this thing or reach that place or become this different person, we would finally be happy; and instead, we wind up empty and miserable.  Our gracious Heavenly Father wants much more for us than this!  He wants us to know true satisfaction, to walk through each day with joy, and to showcase His glory before an empty, miserable world.  His vision for His children is not merely to survive the daily grind, but to thrive in the midst of its challenges.  Here is a description of the life He wants for us.  The last verse is one you will recognize.  “. . . [A]nd they shall be radiant over the goodness of the Lord . . . [T]heir life shall be like a watered garden, and they shall languish no more. . . . I will turn their mourning into joy; I will comfort them, and give them gladness for sorrow.  I will [satiate] the soul of the priests with abundance, and my people shall be satisfied with my goodness, declares the Lord” (Jer. 31:12-14 ESV – emphasis added; same for the following verses).

It is God’s will that we be content with everything that He has given or not given us. It is Satan’s goal to do everything he can to make us discontent with what God has given or not given. 

“Brrrrring!” As the phone echoed through the house, there was a clatter of feet on the stairs, and within seconds an enthusiastic little voice was calling, “Margaret! It’s for you!”

Laying down the napkins she’d been folding, Margaret hurried over. “Thanks, Joseph,” she smiled, before saying into the phone, “Hello, this is Margaret.” Her face lit up with pleasure as she recognized the voice of her friend Jennifer—a phone call from her was a once-or-twice-a-year affair.
For perhaps fifteen minutes, the girls talked about the various little events since their last chat some months before, but Margaret could tell that something was on her friend’s mind. At last, Jennifer burst out:

​“My sister Annie is engaged to Thomas Craddock from church!”