I’d forgotten to make this available on the blog.
Click below for the October 2014 Newsletter:
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All posts for the month October, 2014
Today’s church service was a day of sharing and giving thanks for the bounty of the year. People brought what they could offer. Some brought gifts from their garden harvest including apples, pears, grapes, gourds, and quince as well as jams they had made. Many brought prepared food for lunch, while others brought singing voices, grateful hearts, and helping hands. It was a service to thank God for the many wonderful blessings He provides.
The children were involved in the service. They worshipped God by singing 3 songs and telling us what they were thankful for. Our favorite was the little boy who said he was thankful for strawberries and sisters but was really trying to say brothers and sisters. Three of the older children took turns reading the scripture for today, Psalm 85. During the sermon the children worked on stage decorating hearts with encouraging words, Bible verses, and stickers!
The Rochette Good News Band also played upbeat worship music throughout the service including New-Orleans-style versions of “Swing Low Sweet Chariot” and “Down by the Riverside”. They also played one of my favorites, “Give Thanks” and a new French one “Avec des Cris de joie”.
Thank you from a grateful heart.
Thank you to the Lord three times Holy.
Thank you because he has given Jesus Christ his Son.
With Shouts of Joy my mouth sings to you. I lift up my hands and celebrate you!
The sermon was based on Psalm 85. As I reflect on the words from this scripture, “The Lord will indeed give what is good (v. 12a)”, I am reminded that God will and does provide for me each day. He provides knowledge and patience as I learn the French language. He provides love and encouragement from family and friends near and far. He provides for our needs in abundance. He not only provides, but what he gives is good!
Psalm 85:10-13
10 Love and faithfulness meet together;
righteousness and peace kiss each other.
11 Faithfulness springs forth from the earth,
and righteousness looks down from heaven.
12 The Lord will indeed give what is good,
and our land will yield its harvest.
13 Righteousness goes before him
and prepares the way for his steps.
At the end of the service we were challenged to do one of the following for the next year. Will you choose to do one also?
1. Merci Seigneur Pour …” (“Thank you God for …”) Write down 3 things you are thankful for each day (2 on Sundays). By the end of the year you will have more than 1,000 thank yous to God!
Or
2. Every day fill in the blank: “Seigneur, Tu ……..: je T’aime!” (“Lord, you ……: I love you!”) Write these down and you will have 365 qualities of God.
Love, Teresa
Matthew and Teresa's Blog 