What's So Special About Sunday? (Part 2)

This is our church - at the corner of Scipio and Antwerp Roads

Psalm 115:1 (NIV), “Not to us, O LORD, not to us but to your name be the glory,

because of your love and faithfulness.”

Not to please ourselves or to bring attention to ourselves,
but because we love Him, and want all the praise, all the adoration,
all the worship and all the glory to go to Him...
Let us today – and EVERY day, give God all the glory,
all the praise, and all the honor, for He alone is worthy.
Let us seek new ways in which we can bring glory to the Lord.
Let us do all things for the glory of God
and not for our own selfish ambition.
Let us lift Jesus high and exalt Him.
Let us bring Him glory in our Sunday gatherings
and in daily, humble service to Him who loved us
and gave Himself for us.

Plant Sale

Scenes from the plant sale down the street from me....
At their invitation, I took some of my "yard art"
to see if it will sell.
The setting is beautiful...a large yard/garden
with heirloom plants and an old wooden shed.

Up and Running

We moved furniture yesterday to make room for the completed project. Here it is - repaired, painted, installed and lit! All in time for our Ladies' Bible Study last night.

Celebrating my Femininity--Never Too Old

Thanks to all who read and responded positively to my original post under this title. No sooner was it posted, then I had a sting in my heart. The Holy Spirit used another blog to reinforce the sting and speak to me about my motivations. Philippians 4:8-9 encourages Commitment to Loveliness, and I am committed to godly femininity, loveliness and holiness.

I WILL be celebrating my femininity this week, but a little more secretly than I first set out to do. I celebrate the still, small voice of God, the faithfulness of sisters in Christ Jesus, and the clear direction I received on the heels of what could have side-tracked me from my purpose to "know and follow hard after Jesus Christ."

As the description line in the Charming the Birds from the Trees header reminds me: "It is never too late to be what you might have been." (George Eliot)

Lesson learned.

What's So Special About Sunday?

While standing in the cellar of the old farm house at Sauder Village yesterday, we watched as the interpreter demonstrated the old, time consuming clothes-washing routine. School children watched in rapt attention. "Of course, the people didn't have so many clothes to wash. Most of them had only two sets of clothes - one everyday outfit and one for Sunday," the woman explained.

A little girl, maybe eight or nine years old, piped up, "What's so SPECIAL about SUNDAY?"

"Why, that's the day they went to church!" the interpreter calmly instructed.

Oh, dear friends...What IS so special about Sunday?
May we cherish our freedom to assemble.
May we honor the risen Lord Jesus as we gather weekly!
May we not neglect the assembly of ourselves together,
as instructed by the writer of Hebrews!
And may we by word and example teach our own children and grandchildren
and faithfully minister to the children of others
who have yet to experience
"what's so special about Sunday".

Leaving Legacies....."(He) Made a Difference"

While "our men" golfed, my mother, two sisters, a niece and I
enjoyed a morning at Sauder Village (Archbold, OH),
Ohio's Largest Living History Destination.
Two Sauder furniture factories, this lovely village depicting life and crafts of an earlier time period, a large inn, an impressive auditorium, campgrounds,
gift shops and a great restaurant are only a few legacies left by a simple, hard-working and generous gentleman, Erie Sauder.

We enjoyed each others company and were blessed by yet more beautiful weather.
I was also reminded of the potential and beauty
of a life lived in simplicity and service for others.
"Erie made a difference"!

Jeremiah 6:16: "So now the Lord says, 'Stop right where you are!
Look for the old, godly way, and walk in it.
Travel its path, and you will find rest for your souls.'" (NLT)

RESCUED AND RESTORED

While out driving last week, Good Husband and I stumbled on a pile of junk awaiting trash pickup. I THOUGHT I saw a fireplace mantel. We stopped, backed up - and sure enough! In not-so-good shape, but all there down to the logs and light bulb! We strapped it onto our car (it wouldn't fit in the trunk) and traveled on. Yesterday, GH put in some major time repairing some of the faults, shaping a new piece of trim, and fixing the electrical cord so that the fake fire could burn.

I couldn't wait for the finished product to show you THIS much....It is primed and will be painted to fit into our eating area. We have selected the spot.

I can't help but think of how Jesus "rescued" me! His work is not finished. He's STILL working on me! On the basis of His Word, I know he has selected "the spot" for me! What a thought to think that He can't wait to see me there. I have been rescued and restored. I am a new creation in Christ Jesus! (2 Corinthians 5:17)

He is preparing a place for me - and me for that place!

IT DIDN'T RAIN ON OUR "PARADE"

Twenty-three people gathered at the Home Connection last night. It was a casual evening of enjoying each others company, eating, and playing. Home Connections are the small group fellowships in our church that meet Sunday evenings every other week. We usually spend some organized time studying the Word and praying, but this week we celebrated the holiday.

Only a few drops of rain fell (though the sky looked ominous at times). AND our clematis bloomed for the first time yesterday--just in time to grace our gathering! It IS an odd one. I don't remember it being this shape last year, but I'm sure it was.

IT'S NOT EASY BEING GREEN!

It wasn't easy finding them in stock.
The one we DID find was missing the installation kit....
So we ordered on-line.
The rain barrels arrived by Fed Ex on Friday.
Saturday afternoon found my hard-working husband
leveling ground,
moving the gutter system, and installing the first of two barrels.
By evening, it was all set up and ready for rain! We'd prefer the rain would hold off to accommodate our plans for a cookout Sunday evening with our Home Connection
(small group from church)!
We plan to water our plants, clean up after outside work,
and maybe wash the car a time or two
with the rain water that used to flood a low spot in our lawn.

As Lady M commented a couple of days ago..."As Christians, we should be the best environmentalists because we serve the Creator of all things."

EDITH SCHAEFFER on GARDENING

ROBIN'S NESTING PLACE: Edith Schaeffer on Gardening If you've been with me for awhile, you may remember that I have posted a few "gracious women" posts. This past week I stumbled on Robin's Nesting Place and found this WONDERFUL post relating typical, practical Edith Shaeffer wisdom. I believe it will bring blessing to your heart to read this post, and I encourage you to get a copy of the book Robin mentions. I have read it myself many, many times.

By the way, Edith Shaeffer is on my short list of gracious women. I have started compiling and sorting through highlights of her life to relate in the near future. I had the privilege of sitting around a table with her and a handful of Directors of Women's Ministries from various denominations to listen to her "heart" many years ago. What an inexpressible joy it was! I can't begin to tell you what a beautiful and remarkable woman she is.

To link with Robin, click on the title of her blog above - and when you get there, scroll up.

....FOOTPRINTS ON THE SANDS OF TIME....

Prominent Missiologist Dr. Ralph Winter is with Jesus
(excerpted from an article) By Mark Ellis
Senior Correspondent, ASSIST News Service PASADENA, CALIFORNIA (ANS)

One of the most significant missiological thinkers of the twentieth century, Dr. Ralph Winter, passed away last night (Wednesday, 20th) at his home in Pasadena from complications of cancer. He was 84.

"He was constantly thinking outside the box," said Dr. Dale Kietzman, a professor at William Carey. "He did this to such an extent that you weren't sure what the box was anymore."

"He died with his boots on. Even up to a few weeks ago, he was working on articles that would challenge people with God's purposes. He was always thinking about how to do something differently or better." (Parsons)

"He continued to look for additional frontiers or problems to be solved-issues that block the spread of the gospel of the Glory of Christ to the world. To Winter, identifying the right problem to solve is the most important step in solving it," Greg Parsons, general director at the USCWM noted.

According to Billy Graham, Winters "accelerated world evangelization." Peter Wagner once said, "history will record Winter as one of the half-dozen men who did most to affect world evangelism in the 20th century."

"Lives of great men all remind us
we can make our lives sublime,
and, departing, leave behind us,
footprints on the sands of time."
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

ALWAYS SEEK TO PRAISE GOD!

While walking in Hickville, OH yesterday, I saw this amazing carving in someone's front yard! I'm pretty sure it was carved out of an existing tree trunk (I may be wrong).

Saint Francis of Assisi (Giovanni Francesco Bernardone; born 1181/1182 – October 3, 1226) was a friar and the founder of the Order of Friars Minor, more commonly known as the Franciscans. He is known as the patron saint of animals, the environment and Italy. The Catholic Church celebrates his Feast Day on October 4th.

Many of the stories that surround the life of St. Francis deal with his love for animals. Perhaps the most famous is recounted in the "Fioretti" ("Little Flowers"), a collection of legends and folklore that sprang up after the Saint's death. It is said that, one day, while Francis was traveling with some companions, they happened upon a place in the road where birds filled the trees on either side. Francis told his companions to "wait for me while I go to preach to my sisters the birds". The birds surrounded him, drawn by the power of his voice, and not one of them flew away. Francis spoke to them:

My sister birds, you owe much to God, and you must always and in everyplace give praise to Him; for He has given you freedom to wing through the sky and He has clothed you... you neither sow nor reap, and God feeds you and gives you rivers and fountains for your thirst, and mountains and valleys for shelter, and tall trees for your nests. And although you neither know how to spin or weave, God dresses you and your children, for the Creator loves you greatly and He blesses you abundantly. Therefore... always seek to praise God.

Francis believed (as do I) that the world was created good and beautiful by God but suffers a need for redemption because of the sin of man. He preached to man and beast the universal ability and duty of all creatures to praise God (a common theme in the Psalms) and the duty of men to protect and enjoy nature as both the stewards of God's creation and as creatures ourselves.

Legend has it that St. Francis on his deathbed thanked his donkey for carrying and helping him throughout his life, and his donkey wept.

Quiet Corner - A Place to Refresh and Reflect

I shared a lovely day Tuesday with a friend. We drove several miles to a favorite spot of mine - Quiet Corner Tea and Coffee Room outside of Churubusco, IN. Inside is just as charming as outside. Nature is highlighted; the Creator praised. After a simple and delicious lunch, we strolled the trails and spent time sitting on the deck watching birds at the feeders and enjoying the fine afternoon weather.

This Could Be Fun! How Many "Welcome Signs" Do YOU Have?

If you've read my earlier posts, you know that I had THREE welcome signs to sell in my garage sale last weekend. These were "extras"! Apparently everyone else has enough welcome signs, too! I didn't sell one.

One of my friends says she has 8! Can you top that? Incidentally, I am finding places to put those three unsold welcome signs in my yard/garden! Go to Scene in our Garden tomorrow to see where they ended up.

Welcome!

It's a word I use SO frequently—as I open the door to strangers and friends…as I respond to another’s “thanks”….When I became aware that the word popped up on so many signs around my house and garden, I turned to Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary to learn a bit more about it. This is what I found:

Welcome \Wel"come\, a. [OE. welcome, welcume, wilcume, AS. wilcuma a welcome guest, from wil-, as a prefix, akin to willa will + cuma a comer, fr. cuman to come; hence, properly, one who comes so as to please another's will; cf. Icel. velkominn welcome, G. willkommen. See Will, n., and Come.]
1. Received with gladness; admitted willingly to the house, entertainment, or company; as, a welcome visitor. "When the glad soul is made Heaven's welcome guest."--Cowper.
2. Producing gladness; grateful; as, a welcome present; welcome news. ``O, welcome hour!'' --Milton.
3. Free to have or enjoy gratuitously; as, you are welcome to the use of my library.

There are at least four towns/cities in the U.S.A. with the name Welcome. They are in Maryland, Minnesota, North Carolina, and South Carolina.

And Jesus was “high” on welcome! Just look at Matthew 18:5 & Mark 9:37. Later, Peter wrote: “(those who eagerly make their calling and election sure) will never fail and…will receive a rich WELCOME into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.” 2 Peter 1:11

By the way, do you notice in the etymology section the words “see Will and Come”? Jesus said, “Whosoever will may come”! WILL you? HAVE you?

WHOEVER IS THIRSTY, LET HIM COME;
AND WHOEVER WISHES, LET HIM TAKE THE FREE GIFT
OF THE WATER OF LIFE. Revelation 22:17

Welcome!

After the Garage Sale

After we shut up for the evening, we went to nearby Fort Wayne and strolled the beautiful environs of the Neuhouser Nursery. If you've hung around me for very long, you know that I am a great fan of garden art, statuary, and sculpture. I can't afford the $500 plus price tags that were on a couple of the items above, but I can LOOK! My inexpensive alternatives are exhibited in Scene in our Garden.

Speaking of that "hour in the garden"....I imagine Adam and Eve could have been the originators of this statement! Certainly looking back on their famous hour, it gives ME perspective about the origins of "ugly" and God's intention for beauty.

There's a Welcome Here! (You Asked For It, Brenda)

It's a little hard to know where to put these pictures...I have no idea how they fit under the LIFE AND GODLINESS header! I guess it's "LIFE"!

And part of my life right now is "Simplification"! Wish you could all stop by and help me simplify! It was good to have Donna (who is responsible for my having a blog) stop in! We shared a cup of coffee and I gave her the short tour of our yard/garden. I SHOULD have taken a picture.

By the way, are any of you old enough to remember an old Sunday School/VBS song that said, "There's a welcome here; a welcome here. There's a Christian welcome here! Hallelujah! There's a welcome here; a welcome here. There's a Christian welcome here."???