An apology and a poem

This space has been utterly silent for a month and a little better.  Forgive me, Gentle Readers!  Both busy-ness and illness have kept me elsewhere.  But I hope to return to the discipline of sharing my own encouragements and trials here.  If any of you are still with me, thank you!

These last weeks, like all weeks in this beautiful, broken world, have held delights and challenges: wonderful times with family and friends, and lonely hours in my comfy chair.  But this morning I am dwelling on the goodness of God to direct my days, and the sureness of His providence to send to me those things He deems to be for my good.  What a remarkable place to dwell- in his goodness. 

And Happy Reformation Day.  Ecclesia reformata, semper reformada!

"My Thankful Heart with Glorifying Tongue"  by Anne Bradstreet

My thankful heart with glorying tongue

Shall celebrate Thy name,

Who hath restored, redeemed, recured

From sickness, death, and pain.

I cried, Thou seem'st to make some stay,

I sought more earnestly

And in due time Thou succour'st me

And sent'st me help from high.

Lord, whilst my fleeting time shall last,

Thy goodness let me tell,

And new experience I have gained

My future doubts repel.

An humble, faithful life, O Lord,

Forever let me walk;

Let my obedience testify

My praise lies not in talk.

Accept, O Lord, my simple mite,

For more I cannot give.

What Thou bestow'st I shall restore,

For of thine alms I live.