Saturday, November 25, 2006

Thankful hearts in England

We had a very nice Thanksgiving dinner. We managed to fit 9 people including Iain in our tiny bedroom! Our bed is a murphy bed and is hidden behind the large curtain in this picture. From left to right in this picture you can see Lizzie (PhD student in history), Amber (Lizzie's friend), Anthony (PhD student in astronomy who attends our church), Lani (an American getting her Master's), Sophie (MA student in history), Darren (Sophie's boyfriend), and Brian. Everyone stayed and chatted for quite a while after the meal and seemed like thay had a nice time. My pumpkin pies suffered an ignominious fate: they got moldy! I made two more at the last minute. Poor Brian had to hunt all over the city for another pumpkin, but he was the hero of the day and brought one home.

Click here to hear all our guests say hello.



I have so much to thank the Lord for and I wish that I could keep that thought foremost in mind. With Christmas coming, I'm experiencing another wave of homesickness. I'm praying that God would help me to take every thought captive and to keep an eternal perspective on the things that are truly important. Contentment is always such an elusive thing for me. My heart is enflamed by all the things I see around me and by my idealistic daydreaming.

Only let each person lead the life that the Lord has assigned to him, and to which God has called him.
1 Corinthians 7:17

But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
2 Corinthians 12:9-10

It is good to give thanks to the Lord,
to sing praises to Your name O Most High;
to declare Your steadfast love in the morning,
and Your faithfulness by night.
Psalm 92:1-2

2 comments:

Compleat Mom said...

You know, I think contentment is NOT NOT wanting something else. That might indicate real ingratitude in never loving what you had before. But I think contentment is just what you are doing: accepting the status quo even while remembering the dear ones across the sea. God bless you with grace to enjoy the status quo for itself.

Compleat Mom said...

BTW, wonderful pictures of you all! Thanks.