Week in Review

Once again giving thanks to God for some of the blessings of this week . . .

1. Thankful for a note from a dear friend and Deacon's wife who I had loaned some books to. I knew she wasn't particularly a "reader", but I thought she would enjoy the books I had loaned. Her note said, in part: "You'll never know how much I appreciate you for opening my door to reading. I always thought it was a waste of time. Now it is amazing how books can enlighten and entertain. Thanks and God bless." This individual may be realizing also that books can fill long, lonely hours. Her husband had to be permanently moved to a nursing home, and she's living alone. I'm so glad that she has discovered reading!

2. I finished updating and typing the church address list and birthday list, and getting them copied and ready to mail out! Stationery and envelopes have been purchased, and I just need to make copies of the letter that goes with them, and I can check off this item on my "to do" list!

3. I got my annual eye checkup this week. I can put off cataract surgery for another year, and although it's not an emergency situation I will have to plan it within this year for sure. Another item checked off!

4. We (my husband and I) had a very nice day Tuesday going to the eye doctor's appointment, then to Olive Garden for a late lunch. It was nice to get out of the house for a change. The sun was shining and it was nice just to breathe outside air again.

5. My copy of The Baptist Witness for February came, and my article was printed therein. I liked the layout very much. The subscription offer for anyone wanting to receive The Baptist Witness continues through March. Just send me a personal email at elainehousley@insightbb.com.

6. In the mid 1990s while my husband was pastor of Dawson Springs PBC, for a few years I sent out daily Bible reading lists monthly. I got the idea to do it for the church he's now serving in Evansville, Indiana, and he heartily approved and authorized it. I've been working on those the last couple of days, and am ready to start mailing them out beginning in April probably. For each day of the month, there is a designated reading and a phrase from that day's reading alongside. The folks at Dawson Springs really liked getting these when I was sending them out there. I remember one man, a Deacon, and his daughter who lived next door to him, telling me that they read the daily reading together every day, and had thoroughly enjoyed having this "guide". I also send these to anyone who's interested if I receive a note with their address saying they would like to receive them, so anyone reading this can email me at the address above and I'll be glad to get you on the list. Per these schedules it takes 3+ years to read through the Bible because I didn't want to make the reading so long that it would be too much to meditate on at one time. Usually the reading is a chapter a day, unless the chapter is particularly lengthy. Then I break it up into readings for two days. My husband pitched in and helped me get together the hard copies from the schedules before that I sent to DSPBC . . . all I have to do now is designate the readings for the new "format", probably beginning in April. I'm so glad that my health has improved remarkably and I feel like doing this.

Must end here, and get some sleep so I'll be alert for tomorrow's activities!

Hope you all have a God-blessed week with much to be thankful for!

"Praise God, from whom all Blessings Flow . . . "

Giving thanks to my Father God for some of the blessings I have noticed this week.

1. My husband had a safe trip home from the Philippines, and landed on American soil Sunday in Detroit. After a slight delay, he arrived home later that day. While I'm glad to support him in this work that helps so many, I'm always glad when he arrives back home, and I give thanks to God for that blessing once again.

2. Since I've had some health issues in recent years, my husband has insisted on house help for some of the more difficult chores associated with housekeeping. I was able to hire a very nice woman, a Christian, with whom I've become friends and who has helped me immensely with floors, bathrooms, and other things around here that would have overwhelmed me. I was especially thankful to have her come this week and last week while I've been sick, and she has helped me so much throughout this period of sickness. I still have a lot of clutter to clear away, but everything's clean! And I'm thankful and appreciate her so much.

3. Last week I got notes from two friends in different states, and these notes were BIG lifter-uppers to me. I was thankful for the notes, and am even more thankful for these two friends!

4. More insights from Philip Yancey in his book Grace Notes. I have, and continue to, really enjoy this book.

5. A towboat hit a pillar helping to hold up the northbound lanes of one of the twin bridges last week, shortly before I was planning to cross over the Ohio River into Indiana. I heard the warning of "severe damage" before I left, and changed my plans. Later, the warning was changed to reflect "cosmetic" damage only, and I was able to attend to my Indiana chores later in the week. I'm thankful no permanent damage was done to that heavily traveled bridge.

6. I'm thankful for antibiotics, particularly the antibiotic that the doctor put me on last week. It's starting to make a difference, and I'm feeling some better (although a bit subdued from the antibiotics themselves, as I always do). When I finish this round, I'm hoping and praying to feel better.

7. I had ordered some Honeybell oranges through an offer on QVC, and they arrived this week. They were delicious, and I ate enough of them to know!

For all of these things, and many more, I am truly thankful. I am thankful, too, for my daughter's example, which I started following in listing some of the things I'm thankful for from the previous weeks. Philip Yancy, in his book Grace Notes, had this paragraph: "In the Beatitudes, Jesus honored people who may not enjoy many privileges in this life. To the poor, the mourners, the meek, the hungry, the persecuted, the poor in heart, he offered assurance that their service would not go unrecognized. They would receive ample reward. Wrote C. S. Lewis, "We are half-hearted creature, fooling about with drink and sex and ambition when infinite joy is offered us, like an ignorant child who wants to go on making mud pies in a slum because he cannot imagine what is meant by the offer of a holiday at the sea."

Writing down a few of my blessings helps me to focus on the "better things" which God has given.
Grace and Peace,
Elaine