How Can I Say Thanks?

An Historic Prayer and Two Chances to Win a Free Book...

We have SO much!
Do you ever sit, speechless before God with a full heart and no idea where to begin as you list your gratitude? We’re one week away from my favorite holiday, and everyone’s days are filling up, so this letter will briefly accomplish two goals:

1. To introduce you to a historic prayer of thanksgiving from The Valley of Vision. Although the prayers and devotional writing in the collection came from the pens of Puritans 300 years ago, the book was not compiled until 1975.

2. To give you the opportunity to enter one of two drawings for recently released books I have read, reviewed, and learned from!

A Prayer of Thanksgiving

Do you sometimes find the startling sound of borrowed words with their archaic syntax and unfamiliar cadence serves you better than your attempts at impromptu prayer?

“O my God,
Thou fairest, greatest, first of all objects,
My heart admires, adores, loves thee,
for my little vessel is as full as it can be,
and I would pour out all that fullness
before thee in ceaseless flow.

When I think upon and converse with thee,
ten thousand delightful thoughts spring up,
ten thousand sources of pleasure are unsealed,
ten thousand refreshing joys spread over my heart,
crowding into every moment of happiness.

I bless thee for the soul thou hast created,
for adorning it, sanctifying it, though it is fixed in barren soil;
for the body thou has given me,
for preserving its strength and vigor,
for providing sense to enjoy delights,
for the ease and freedom of my limbs,
for hands, eyes, and ears that do thy bidding,
for the royal bounty providing my daily support,
for a full table and overflowing cup,
for appetite, taste, sweetness,
for social joys of relatives and friends,
for ability to serve others,
for a heart that feels sorrows and necessities,
for a mind to care for my fellow-men,
for opportunities of spreading happiness around,
for loved ones in the joys of heaven,
for my own expectation of seeing thee clearly.
I love thee above the powers of language to express,
for what thou art to thy creatures.
Increase my love, O my God, through time and eternity.”

Would you like to print a copy of this historic prayer to keep with your Bible and other devotional materials for your prayer life this November? Just hit the button below and follow the prompts to print your copy…

And Now for the Book Giveaway!

Leave a Comment Below for a Chance to Win One of These Books!

I love sharing books with friends, and maybe, like me, you think it’s fun to get books from friends in the mail. Both of these books were written by online friends whom I have come to respect, and I’d love to share their wisdom with you.

I reviewed 16 Names of God by Patsy Burnette HERE with the reminder that we cannot love what we do not know. Immersing our hearts and minds in the study of God’s rich and meaningful names is undoubtedly a good beginning for the believer who wants to embrace her identity as God’s child and model her life according to God’s character.

In Empty Nest Awakening, Ruthie Gray comes alongside empty nesters with a meaningful path and well-lit signposts to offer direction in a way that’s both compassionate and kick-in-the-pants direct. You can read my review (and my own empty nest story) HERE.

Once you’ve had a chance to check out the two books, decide which one you’d prefer to win if your name is chosen and tell me in the comments below. That’s it! (For heaven’s sake, let’s keep life simple in November! And in the interest of keeping it simple, United States entries only, please.)

Entries will close on Wednesday, November 22, and winners will be notified directly via email.

Naturally, I’d love to hear from you even if you don’t care about winning a book because this is a conversation place, and I value your input.

If you know someone who would like to be included in this monthly communication, please forward it to two or three friends and encourage them to subscribe. It’s easy! Just hit the Share button and follow the prompts…

Thank You for Praying!

Thanks to so many of you who have said you are praying for me! I’ll be sharing Christmas inspiration with the women of South Hope Community Church on Monday, December 4, and your prayer support would be a huge gift!

And one last piece of good news! I’ve been invited to contribute devotional content to YouVersion, a free Bible app that offers hundreds of devotionals and biblical resources. My very first series is a five-day plan that tackles some of the most pressing questions believers bring to their prayer life. I hope you’ll take a minute to visit the site!

Holding You in the Light,

P.S. A big welcome to new readers who have been referred by friends! Simply hit the “Subscribe Now” button below if you’d like to start receiving this newsletter in your inbox.