My friend's new book

My new blogger friend, Gina, at The Shabby Chic Cottage has just published a new e-book. I hope you'll visit her blog at http://www.theshabbychiccottage.net

I love her Transformation Thursday party, and I think you will, too. Gina is so creative. You are going to love her style and her stuff. Stop by and visit.

How pleasant it is...

"When the rabbi dances....everybody dances!" shouts Rabbi Jem, my husband each Erev Shabbat. Everyone who is able joins him to dance the hora to our favorite Hebrew song, Hene Ma Tov. In English the words are "Behold how pleasant it is for brothers to dwell together in unity."

The song ran through my mind last night as our congregation joined with five other local churches to worship God in a community Thanksgiving service. Rabbi Jem joined Methodist and Baptist pastors, a Catholic priest, and a Pentecostal preacher in conducting the service. We worshipped God in different types of praise music, liturgy, and prayer.

My heart swelled with pride as I listened to my husband praise the believers for stepping out of their denominational boxes to worship together. He also encouraged us to work together for the good of the community and to minister to those in need around us.

Unity was a beautiful thing to see last night, and I pray we will go forward as believers together.

Attitude of gratitude

Years ago, my 80 year old Jamaican neighbor, Carmita, taught me to be thankful. We prayed together often, and she always started her prayer, "Lord, thank you that I can see, and hear, and talk, and walk, and think, and that I have strength to work for you."

Carmita's glowing face, her energy, and her whole attitude toward life flowed from her gratitude to God. I learned from her example, and now start my prayers with those same words. I hope to be like her when I grow up.