Life & Godliness

Found

2012-01-31T07:58:00.001-05:00

I posted this picture (along with others) at my Other Blog. A piano student of mine arranged my doll house yesterday. She did such a sweet job incorporating the many, many miscellaneous pieces I've gathered over the years. In composing that post, I concluded by saying: I think I could spend hours at the Toy Bin at My Favorite Thrift Store! That's where I find my BEST treasures--at the very bottom of the bin.

As I typed the period at the end of the last sentence, something clicked with me! It was as if God said, "That's where I find MY best treasures--at the very bottom of the bin!"

Hallelujah! He FOUND me.

The Bible says: "Remember, dear brothers and sisters, that few of you were wise in the world's eyes or powerful or wealthy when God called you. Instead, God chose things the world considers foolish in order to shame those who think they are wise. And he chose things that are powerless to shame those who are powerful. God chose things despised by the world, things counted as nothing at all, and used them to bring to nothing what the world considers important. As a result, no one can ever boast in the presence of God." (I Corinthians 1:26-29)

I Go to the Rock

2012-01-30T08:37:00.001-05:00

Where do I go when there's nobody to turn to?

Who do I talk to when no one wants to listen?
Who do I lean on when there's no foundation stable?

I go to the Rock--

I know he is able--I go to the Rock.

stuff

This morning I thought I needed to "go" somewhere.

My heart was calling me to a little "retail therapy."

(Well, not retail exactly--but thrift store therapy anyway...)

Then I remembered I still had this stuff in the back seat of my car

from a trip to My Favorite Thrift Store over a week ago!

Obviously, the thrift store is not the place to turn to

when the heart is restless.

Then I remembered this song!

I'm going to The Rock instead.

more stuff

Where do I go when the storms of life are threatening?

Who do I turn to when those winds of sorrow blow?
And is there a refuge in the time of tribulation?

I go to to the Rock--

I know he is able--I go to the Rock.

Chorus
I go to The Rock for my salvation
I go to the Stone that the builders rejected
I run to the Mountain and the Mountain stands by me
When the earth all around me is sinking sand
On Christ, the solid Rock I stand
When I need a shelter, when I need a friend
I go to The Rock.
(Dottie Rambo wrote this WONDERFUL song!)

"Turn my eyes from worthless things,and give me life through your Word" Psalm 119:37 NLT

I Choose Life!

2012-01-27T08:13:00.002-05:00

Without boring everyone "stiff", I want to go on record about the faithfulness and awesomeness of God. Last Sunday, in the shower BEFORE church and BEFORE my car "died" (another story), I cried out to Him and said, "I choose life. I don't want to die. I want to live!" (I had been battling discouragement. I was overwhelmed by the number of unfinished projects around me and some health issues that seemed to block my accomplishing them. I wasn't contemplating suicide, but I had been thinking it would just be better if He would just "take" me.)

But in the shower, out loud, and out of NOWHERE, I chose life! I started to ask for another 20 years, but then decided to leave it in His hands. I babbled on a bit, dried off, and got ready for church. Only later did I realize it was The Sanctity of Life Sunday.

Then this past Wednesday morning - and very unexpectedly, I might add - I sat maybe 25 feet away from this woman--Vonnette Bright. I know she is over 80; I just don't know how MUCH over. I observed her vitality and love for the Lord Jesus. And with this privilege, the Lord strengthened and confirmed my determination to live howEVER long He chooses--and to live WELL. Isn't He awesome? Isn't He faithful?

"This day I call heaven and earth as witnesses against you

that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses.

Now choose life, so that you and your children may live." (Deuteronomy 30:19)

POSTSCRIPT
After reading a few early comments, I realize I may have called attention to my discouragements and failed to point to the goodness, faithfulness and awesomeness of God! My "troubles" are no worse than anyone elses. I'm on the "victory" side of this!

The Old, Old Story

2012-01-26T06:41:00.003-05:00

I love to tell the story 
of unseen things above, 
of Jesus and his glory, 
of Jesus and his love.  
I love to tell the story, 
because I know 'tis true; 
it satisfies my longings 
as nothing else can do.

I love to tell the story; 
more wonderful it seems 
than all the golden fancies 
of all our golden dreams.  
I love to tell the story, 
it did so much for me; 
and that is just the reason 
I tell it now to thee. 

I love to tell the story; 
'tis pleasant to repeat 
what seems, each time I tell it, 
more wonderfully sweet.  
I love to tell the story, 
for some have never heard 
the message of salvation 
from God's own holy Word.

 I love to tell the story, 
for those who know it best 
seem hungering and thirsting 
to hear it like the rest.  
And when, in scenes of glory, 
I sing the new, new song, 
'twill be the old, old story 
that I have loved so long.

Refrain:

I love to tell the story,

'twill be my theme in glory,

to tell the old, old story

of Jesus and His love.

Just a few scenes from The Holy Land Experience

that we enjoyed Wednesday afternoon.

At every turn, the old old story of Jesus and His love was communicated!

Beautiful weather in a most beautiful setting

with beautiful friends.

Next time YOU are in Orlando, put this on your "to do" list!

(W)Here We Are

2012-01-25T06:56:00.000-05:00

I had no idea of the size of the Campus Crusade for Christ Campus

(if I'm correct, it will soon be called simply "Cru")

until we arrived here Monday!

Most of our time has been spent inside

We met in one of two duplicate buildings.

Above is the center of the building, second floor,

looking down on the main desk.

On of the wings appeared to be devoted to The Jesus Film Project.

Below, main desk, looking down from second floor...

Looking out the window during a break,

we see the second building (which appears identical to the one we were in).

Our group is small--I don't think more than 25 people.

The prayers have been large.

It is a gathering of prayer leaders from various denominations

united by our ♥ for Jesus.

Dare I say that after hearing the State of the Union address last night,

I believe our prayers -- MY prayers and yours-- are urgently needed?!?

(No, maybe I shouldn't have dared to say that.)

The apostles had a single purpose as they devoted themselves to prayer.
They were joined by some women, including Mary (the mother of Jesus),
and they were joined by his brothers.
Acts 1:14

Life--NOT Godliness

2012-01-22T07:16:00.001-05:00

Found a few weeks ago at My Favorite Thrift Store.

WHO knew? (I suppose ALL of you youngsters!) I just learned this very morning that it is no longer considered proper to leave two spaces following end-sentence-punctuation. One space is now all that's necessary. I have been practicing the two space rule from the time I learned typing in a high school typing class. It has been reinforced by countless term paper writings and various contract writing assignments I've had throughout the years.

This is going to be a VERY difficult habit to break. It's FAR worse than writing "2012" instead of "2011" the first few weeks of the new year.

For anyone who doubts as I did, you can google it and find out the rationale. I'm just sorry I didn't learn about this sooner. Imagine all the spaces I could have saved...

I'm classifying this as a matter of life. NOT godliness!

What ELSE have I missed?

Your help will be much appreciated.

Snow Glory!

2012-01-21T12:48:00.002-05:00

Lord Jesus, I long to be perfectly whole;
I want Thee forever to live in my soul;

Break down every idol, cast out every foe—
Now wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.

Whiter than snow, yes, whiter than snow,

Now wash me and I shall be whiter than snow.

('nother old Gospel Song. Words by James L. Nicholson)

Snow scenes seen from our front door this morning.

Glory!

2012-01-19T08:40:00.000-05:00

vintage radio in our living room

"I'm experiencing an extra dose of God's glory in my heart this morning! Big things and small, He is Lord of all!' So posted a facebook friend this morning. And from the Gospel Song Hall of Fame in my heart came this FlAsHBaCk. I sure wish I could sing it so you all could HEAR it!

Thank you, JESUS, for the songs embedded in my memory! Thank you for the glory that fills my soul as I sing these words about You, for You and to You!

It is glory just to walk with Him Whose blood has ransomed me;
It is rapture for my soul each day.
It is joy divine to feel Him near where'er my path may be.
Bless the Lord, it's glory all the way!

It is glory when the shadows fall to know that He is near.
O what joy to simply trust and pray!
It is glory to abide in Him when skies above are clear.
Yes, with Him, it's glory all the way!

'Twill be glory when I walk with Him on heaven's golden shore,
Never from His side again to stray.
'Twill be glory, wondrous glory with the Savior forevermore,
Everlasting glory all the way!

Refrain
It is glory just to walk with Him,
It is glory just to walk with Him,
He will guide my steps aright
Through the vale and o'er the height,
It is glory just to walk with Him.

Does anyone else remember this song?

There was a RADIO program that began with it regularly.

I just know there was.

Broken Things

2012-01-18T05:19:00.000-05:00

First, it was the lid to one of my tureens...
Then it was the saucer.
Broken.
One due to haste and carelessness.
The other? Clumsiness of age, I suppose.
I HATE it when this happens.

I'm kinda waiting for the "other shoe to drop"!
I had to toss the saucer,
but I'm clinging to hope of finding a lid for the tureen.
My recent experiences with breaking things
reminds me of the One who mends and heals the brokenhearted--
regardless of cause..

"He is the healer of the brokenhearted. He is the one who bandages their wounds."

(Psalm 147:3)

And my response to Him?

I will serve Thee because I love Thee.

You have given life to me.

I was nothing before You found me;

You have given life to me.

Heartaches, broken pieces,

Ruined lives are why You died on Calvary.

Your touch was what I longed for.

You have given life to me.

(Words to the song I Will Serve Thee)

Have YOU dropped anything lately?
Come on. Make me feel better!
More importantly,
Have you any broken pieces within yourself?
He died on Calvary for those broken pieces!
Don't throw them away. Take them to Him for mending.

Hello, Young Mothers

2012-01-17T07:23:00.002-05:00

"Mommy, will you help me grow up?"

A friend posted this line spoken by her toddler

on her facebook page this morning.

My heart melted.

I thought the line could/should be woven into

a song. At the very least, poetry.

I said so.

Her response was,

"In context, we were discussing all of the jobs

that he could have when he grows up.

His favorite option was driving a train. Followed closely by being a drummer."

Hello, young mothers, wherEVER you are!

Will you help them grow up?

My prayers today are as full as my eyes with tears
as I think of the innocence of children
and the challenges and joys of raising them...

of our three children raising THEIR children and

mothers and dads everywhere.

One of our 10.5 grandchildren

Ephesians 6:4

"Take them by the hand and lead them in the way of the Master."
(The Message)

"Bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord."
(English Standard Version)

"Wove and Mawwage"

2012-01-14T05:22:00.003-05:00

Our friends...

Earlier this week, we joined 13 other people around the table to celebrate

the 50th wedding anniversary of our friends.

They plan to host similar evenings over a period of a few weeks

in lieu of one big celebration.

I think it was a STELLAR idea!

We, the guests, carried in the food.

We were asked to bring a wedding picture or two.

I took our album. I haven't had it out for a LONG time.

June 5, 1971

I "wove" this man!
I also believe I had a wonderful photographer - though I didn't
realize how important that would be at the time.

"Mawwage. Mawwage is what bwings us together today. Wove, twue wove...
So tweasure your woves forever." (from The Princess Bride)
Would you believe I've never seen this movie? But I HAVE heard this line.
Many times!

God in the Detail

2012-01-13T08:46:00.002-05:00

According to Wikipedia, the idiom "the devil is in the details" comes from an earlier idiom--"GOD is in the detail." That second one was meant to communicate that whatever one does should be done thoroughly--details ARE important! The origins of the original saying are a little vague, and Bartlett's Familiar Quotations lists the author as anonymous.

What I AM sure of is that the details of my friend's Winter Wonderland (my "title" for it) display ARE amazing! She's been building her collection for 20 years. I got to see the 2011-2012 version yesterday. My pictures don't begin to do it justice, but you can click on them to enlarge....

The amazing thing to me is that most (if not all) of the buildings are plastic-canvas creations! I'm generally not a big fan of this particular craft, but this collection is a major exception to my perception.

My visit to this Winter Wonderland triggered my thinking about the detailed attention of the Heavenly Father--from the hairs of my head to the flowers of the field and birds of the air.

I'm also thinking about paying more attention

to a few details of my schedule and responsibilities.

God IS in the detail!

"Kicking the Box was Stupid"

2012-01-11T12:13:00.001-05:00

I saw a good friend of mine last night. She has been experiencing quite a bit of pain in her hip. So far the shot she had to improve her condition hasn't kicked in. Earlier in the day before our meeting, an incident had irked her, and she'd kicked at a box that happened to be handy. The kick aggravated her hip pain further. I could tell she was hurting.

I sent her an email this morning telling her that "I hurt" just seeing HER hurt along with some other unrelated comments. She addressed the other comments and then slipped in the line, "Kicking the box was stupid."

All morning I thought about that. Finally I emailed her back:

For some reason your statement "Kicking the Box was Stupid" just keeps playing itself in my mind. When the pain is over, I wish you'd write a short essay - maybe even a paragraph - on that topic. I think it would be helpful to MANY of us. (I can't tell you how many boxes I've kicked in the past!)

Somehow I was powerfully instructed by five words that came kind-of-out-of-NOwhere!

Kicking boxes IS stupid! And I'm not just talking about cardboard ones.
I'll try not to do it again.
Stay tuned for the short essay or paragraph.
(She's not a writer--or so she says. I'm hoping she'll find her writer's voice!)

Right Hand, Left Hand

2012-01-09T07:55:00.000-05:00

I don't expect to EVER exhaust Jesus' teaching in what is sometimes called "The Sermon on the Mount". Currently, this one verse is working on/in me: "But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing." (Matthew 6:3)

I recognize this particular truth directly applies to charitable giving. But as I think about it, I wonder if the principle doesn't apply to some other areas of my life? I am evaluating the "urge/temptation" in me to broadcast my thoughts (Yep! See? I'm doing it right now!), my "finds", my creations, my activities -- you get the picture?

In 2012, I am looking for balance between being "The good (wo)man (who) brings good things out of the good stored up in (her)" - see Matthew 12:35 - and disobeying the intent of Jesus in Matthew 6:3.

Just thinking "out loud on paper" here...

This post summarized Matthew 6:3 this way and was challenging to me.

Help the needy in secret without broadcasting it.
Do not tell close relatives or friends.
Do not tell yourself (by thinking about it). Just do it.
Don't expect to be repaid by those you help.
God will repay you; if not in this life then in the next.

What think YE?

Creative Ways?

2012-01-08T05:34:00.000-05:00

My most recent attempt at a "creative way"...

All around me it seems that close friends and friends of friends and relatives of friends are experiencing hardships -- many of them health-related. Some of them are life-and-death situations. I am often at a loss to know what to do. I pray. Yes, I do. But I want to "do" something. That's where I'm stumped.
Carrying in food seems to be the popular go-to-first action. My problem is that I'm a miserable cook. At the very least, I lack confidence.

What to do? How to support? How to show my love and concern?

Jacquelyn's brother is one of those relatives of friends who is suffering. At his blog, in a January 7, 2012 report, he tells of an opportunity he had to speak to his church about his experience. He says, "I strongly encouraged the congregation to realize that life can change suddenly and dramatically. There are no guarantees for health (etc etc) for any of us. I also wanted people to know that in the Body of Christ when one member hurts....all hurt and when one member rejoices....all rejoice. Please take this to heart and be fully engaged in your local fellowship and find creative ways to serve those who are in pain."

I want to be "fully engaged".

I'll keep trying to find creative ways to serve those who are in pain.

Any suggestions (besides food)?

Saturday Miscellany

2012-01-07T06:27:00.003-05:00

...my updated chalkboard

Leave it to Judy to come up with a solution to group pictures! Her comment following my last post had me laughing out loud! "My son makes us all up into little Lego figures, groups us together, and takes a picture of us. It's better that way."

The sunrises and sunsets have been extremely beautiful here the last several days! God is declaring His glory BIG time! No one is without excuse.

I'm reading an OLD book. I think they had to dig deep in the Allen County Public Library archives to find it--but I'm glad they did! Rachel Peden's Rural Free: A Farmwife's Almanac of Country Living. Very much on the order of Gladys Taber's Stillmeadow writings.

Christmas is still alive and well on Pinterest.

Found out Thursday that our eleventh grandchild (currently in utero) will be needing a boy's name!

I've joined an on-line group for accountability in memorizing a different Bible verse every two weeks. Mine THIS week is Colossians 3:12: "Therefore, God's chosen ones, holy and loved, put on heartfelt compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience."

I don't like the way the bullets hug the left margin here, but I don't know what to do about it.

Me, Myself, and I

2012-01-05T12:54:00.001-05:00

My parents & our extended family minus 17!

Recently I was part of a group picture.

One person out of maybe thirty-one people.

Guess who I looked for first when the picture was sent to me?

Have YOU ever done that?

Not only did I look for myself,

I breathed a sigh of relief that my eyes weren't closed.

Then I did a really embarrassing thing to admit.

I zoomed in.

(Don't you DARE!)

Anyhow...this whole exercise made me realize how self-centered I am.

How quickly I look out for myself.

How much I need the reminder of Philippians 2:1-4:

If you've gotten anything at all out of following Christ,

if his love has made any difference in your life,

if being in a community of the Spirit means anything to you,

if you have a heart, if you care— then do me a favor:

Agree with each other, love each other, be deep-spirited friends.

Don't push your way to the front; don't sweet-talk your way to the top.

Put yourself aside, and help others get ahead.

Don't be obsessed with getting your own advantage.

Forget yourselves long enough to lend a helping hand.

(The Message)

Resolutions are Hard Stuff

2012-01-02T06:24:00.000-05:00

goals, plans, directions, projects, hopes,

desires, resolutions, dreams, commitments

When you get down to it, it doesn't matter what I call them. It doesn't matter whether I do or don't formally write them down. It doesn't even seem to matter whether or not I think I'm going to resolve anything at all in a particular year! The fact remains that every new year finds me yearning for change and improvement--progress and results of some sort. 2012 is no exception.

What IS different is the incredible amount of well-stated resolutions that flood the posts of some amazing blogger friends this year. I am overwhelmed and a bit intimidated by them all. I want to adopt every one of them. (In fact, I confess to copying some of them down only to move on to find yet another list to add to a growing volume of hopes and desires for my personal life, home, marriage and family.)

I'm intrigued by words. I LOVE words. I like stating things in simple but striking ways. I like having words at my fingertips. Lists to remind me. Statements to keep me on track. Inspirational quotes of others who say things "just right".

I'm beginning to realize that the volume of excellent writing

so readily available to me via the internet just may be the biggest hindrance

to the realization of some of my aspirations for this year.

Sometimes I get sidetracked by the splendor of it all!

I substitute READING for ACTION.

I am cognizant of fact that Jesus asks His disciples to follow HIM.

(He must have know of the temptation it would be

to "follow" favorite bloggers in the 21st century when He said that.)

So my resolution (or goal, desire, hope, aspiration, plan, etc.) is to follow HIM. First and supremely. I would like to also say "only", but instead will do my best to follow those who are also following Him.

It was Paul who said, "And you should imitate me, just as I imitate Christ" (I Corinthians 11:1). I shall be careful whom I imitate in 2012, and I will be careful to live in a such a way that I could say, "Imitate me, just as I imitate Christ."

(Give me a little time on this one, OK? Resolutions are hard stuff!)

All growth depends upon activity.
There is no development physically or intellectually
without effort & effort means work. (Calvin Coolidge)

The Invincible Future with Him...

2012-01-01T07:18:00.003-05:00

Security for Today. “You shall not go out with haste . . . .” (Isaiah 52:12) As we go forth into the coming year, let it not be in the haste of impetuous, forgetful delight, nor with the quickness of impulsive thoughtlessness. But let us go out with the patient power of knowing that the God of Israel will go before us. Our yesterdays hold broken and irreversible things for us. It is true that we have lost opportunities that will never return, but God can transform this destructive anxiety into a constructive thoughtfulness for the future. Let the past rest, but let it rest in the sweet embrace of Christ.

Leave the broken, irreversible past

in His hands, and step out into the invincible future with Him.

...these words from the December 31 entry from
My Utmost for His Highest.
The pictures - a few from our
time with extended family Friday & Saturday...

Happy New Year!
"Favor us this year with such a sense of Thy preciousness,
that from its first day to its last...we may be glad and rejoice in Thee." Spurgeon


My parents in the middle; two nieces on the ends-waiting for a game to begin.

And My Word for 2012 Is.....

2011-12-30T11:10:00.003-05:00

GRACIOUSNESS. It was between that and hope. I really wanted it to be hope. But graciousness was confirmed in a year-end simulcast by Pastor Rick Warren for pastors and Christian leaders. My husband and I watched it together. In his conclusion, Warren gave some suggestions for personal growth. He said, “The mark of godliness is graciousness. The more carnal I am, the more critical I am...Be slow to judge what people do until you know what they've been through.”

I've taken the first step and looked graciousness up in on-line dictionaries. It's the noun form of the adjective gracious which means (as I was afraid it might):

having or showing kindness, courtesy, charm, etc.
merciful; compassionate
indulgent or polite to those held to be inferiors
characterized by the taste, luxury, and social ease associated with prosperity, education, etc.: gracious living
Archaic having pleasing qualities; attractive

I do need/want to work on that. And I DO need the Lord to work IN me concerning this. But before I have to put GRACIOUSNESS into motion, let me get a few pet peeves out of the way:

Hearing or reading after the death of someone, "God needed another angel" or "he/she has his/her angel wings now. " People do NOT turn into angels when they die!
Flash mobs. The first ones I saw were pretty cool. Lately, not so much.
The phrase "prayers to you". Prayers are addressed to God. (Maybe prayers FOR you....????)
Annoying phone calls from Rachel who calls concerning my credit card account..."there is NOT a problem with your account, but....yadayada).
Facebook friends who share the links to companies "giving away $200 to everyone" who likes their page (and fills out a bunch of information in the process).
Milk at the very BACK of the grocery store.

There are probably more. If I think of them, I'll put graciousness on hold temporarily and let you know. Is there anything YOU want to get out there before you start to be gracious?

Ready for Take-Off!

2011-12-30T06:50:00.002-05:00

Bite off more than you can chew,
then chew it.
Plan more than you can do,
then do it. (Anonymous)

These words popped off the page at me when I read them. I don't think they're for everybody. Some people are already energetically involved with life--engaged in service for Jesus. I, on the other hand for whatever reason, had been "stuck" for awhile. Good habits of prayer and planning had weakened. I have confessed it and am in the process of repenting - which means doing a "180".

One tool I am using is my journal. Its blank pages remind me of the demise of my commitment in the past, while each fresh entry reinforces and records my current commitment and progress. I didn't wait until January 1st to begin.

I'm still praying and waiting to see if there is "a word" to focus on in the coming year. I have narrowed it down to two, I believe.

Can you tell I love "new beginnings"?
Can I tell you I am confident that
"I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me"?
(Or as J. B. Philips translates Philippians 4:13:
"I am ready for anything
through the strength of the one who lives within me.")

Do YOU have a "word" for 2012?
Do you get into new beginnings?
Are YOU ready for Take-Off?

*The plane was constructed by a friend of ours. We asked him to make it for one of our grandsons. It's to RIDE on! My husband painted the seat, prop and stripes and sealed the wood.

1/2 Price Christmas Candy

2011-12-27T08:35:00.000-05:00

I was so (self)-impressed with my post on my diet/health blog,
that I brought it over here to remind me.

Just because the mini Hershey bars are 1/2 off, doesn't mean you have to buy them.
Just because you bought them doesn't mean you have to eat them all in one night.
Just because they're still 1/2 price and yours are just about gone doesn't mean you have to go back and buy some more.
Just because I've posted this doesn't mean I won't...

Christmas WAS...

2011-12-26T08:58:00.002-05:00


One of the nativity-related ornaments on our Nativity Tree

After posting "Christmas Is" yesterday, I decided to follow it up THIS way.
Christmas WAS...

Sunny.
Cold.
Very windy.
Joyful. Our morning worship service was well attended and filled with sincere greetings, smiles, and celebratory spirits.
Simple. I took a crockpot meal of sweet/sour meatballs with onion, green and yellow peppers, pineapple chunks, and potato slices to share with my parents. (I also took cranberry relish, having missed it at Thanksgiving somehow.) My sister and her family joined us. She brought taco soup and a cauliflower salad and snacks for the afternoon.
Fun. We sat around the table and played Balderdash for a l-o-n-g time. We're a game-playing family.
Family. Our children called from IL, Mexico, and KS. We plan to see them this weekend except for the Kansas contingency. Our daughter is recovering from gallbladder surgery and they (wisely, I think) decided not to make the trip.
My birthday. Yes. I turned 63. I keep repeating that number with incredulity! Where HAVE the years gone?
Reflective. As per my usual birthday habit, I listed people, events and "things" I have been thankful for over the past year to match the number of years I have lived. Every year it takes more time to compose because of the added year! Some items on the list never change from year to year. Particularly I am thankful for the grace and mercy of God that saved me and give me hope. There is GREAT hope in His Name!

"A bruised reed he (Jesus Christ) will not break,

and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out,
till he has brought justice through to victory.

In his name the nations will put their hope."

Matthew 12:20-21

Christmas Is...

2011-12-24T10:29:00.003-05:00

"Christmas is not LIKE heaven on earth, it IS heaven on earth."

That's what Louie Giglio tweeted this morning.

SO true.

Merry Christmas!

He Shall Feed His Flock

2011-12-23T10:36:00.001-05:00

Next to the Hallelujah Chorus in Handel's Messiah, I believe my favorite music and text is He Shall Feed His Flock. This beautiful alto solo is so calming and full of promise! As a high school student, I took voice lessons. My instructor selected this solo for my vocal range, and I memorized this beautiful aria for a music contest one year. I'm VERY thankful. Its message has remained with me all these years. Here is its text:

He shall feed His flock like a shepherd;

and He shall gather the lambs with His arm,

and carry them in His bosom,

and gently lead those that are with young. (Isaiah 40:11)
Come unto Him, all ye that labour, come unto Him ye that are heavy laden,

and He will give you rest.

Take His yoke upon you, and learn of Him,

for He is meek and lowly of heart, and ye shall find rest unto your souls.
(Matthew 11:28-29)

Several of my sheep and lamb collection (and two cats)

are displayed on this shelf.

None are too "precious" - mostly thrifted plastic "strays".

Did you attend a performance of Handel's Messiah this year?
Do you have a favorite selection from it?

To Give is Happier...

2011-12-20T09:18:00.001-05:00

"... remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’ ”

(Acts 20:35)

"You'll not likely go wrong here if you keep remembering that our Master said, 'You're far happier giving than getting.'" (Acts 20:35, The Message)

A year ago, I thought keeping all my wrapping paper in this (thrift-store-bought) shopping cart would be a nifty idea. I envisioned myself wheeling it out and around to wherever I decided to wrap. Now I see it's hard to keep all the rolls inside it tidy. I need to find a different storage system (or sew a liner for the cart -- not likely to happen). Anyhow, I've pulled out the rolls of wrapping paper and wall paper that I think will "work" for Christmas wrapping this year. I'll retrieve the gifts from the trunk of my car (where I've been stashing 'em), check the scotch tape supply, light the candles, play some carols, and experience as I wrap that:

"To give IS happier than to receive".
(Acts 20:35, J.B. Phillips translation)


One down...and miles to go before I sleep!

A Peek. A Reflection. Some Nostalgia

2011-12-16T13:01:00.000-05:00

The light casts shadows on the Christmas trees sharing the shelf

with other quaint items at one end of our Christmas Cabin.

Inside, it's Christmas Year 'Round!

Sitting in our backyard, it has a small sleeping loft and bunkbeds

to house family and friends who visit us at our two-bedroom home.

For a peek at the inside, click here to go to my other blog.

And here....a bit of Christmas reflection (and nostalgia, for me)...

1907-1989

The immense step from the Babe at Bethlehem to the living, reigning triumphant Lord Jesus, returning to earth for His own people - that is the glorious truth proclaimed throughout Scripture. As the bells ring out the joys of Christmas, may we also be alert for the final trumpet that will announce His return, when we shall always be with Him. (*Alan Redpath)

*Dr. Redpath was the pastor of Moody Church (Chicago) which my family attended when my father was a student at Moody Bible Institute in the early 1950s...Late he spoke at special events at Moody Bible Institute when I attended in the late 60s.He was a gifted preacher (had a British or Scottish accent) and is the author of several books.

Wrapped Up in Love

2011-12-15T06:36:00.001-05:00

Let me be clear.

I have not wrapped ONE Christmas gift yet.

But when it comes to wrapping,

I'm pretty sure I'll use one or more of the ideas

that I saw HERE this morning--
very likely one involving plain brown paper.

I recommend this post highly if you need some gift-wrapping inspiration!

And now, the words to a song--one of my favorite Christmas ones...

Do YOU remember Evie singing it years ago?

I have a Christmas birthday, and I would like this Christmas song

sung or played at my funeral (if Jesus doesn't come before I die)...
Just look at the last 8 lines! And look at Him! Worship and Honor Him today!

Special Delivery
♥ click on title to hear it ♥

Never was anyone like Him,

never will one be the same
Tiny babe, an Infant King, Savior,

we worship and honor the power of His name.

Chorus:

He came special delivery, wrapped up in love,

bound by a promise, sealed by a dove
And filled with the spirit, carried by grace,

you knew where He was goin', by the look on His face

Where He went, Love was there also,

where He was, Love showed the way
Those who saw, knew He was holy,

and I see what they saw to this very day

And when I'm called I will go gladly,

I will not grieve for the past
For I know where I'll be going,

and I will be going to see Him at last.

I'm goin' special delivery, wrapped up in love,

bound by a promise, sealed by a dove
And filled with the spirit, carried by grace,

you know where I am goin', by the look on my face.

L: http://able2know.org/topic/90631-1

No Tinsel to Tangle

2011-12-14T08:04:00.002-05:00

What wonderful ideas came from my question, "What do YOU do with Christmas cards from prior years?" You really ought to look at them in the comment section of THIS POST! I'm glad it wasn't a contest. I would have been hard-pressed to select a winner.

The phrase "Don't get your tinsel in a tangle" has kept me chuckling the last week or so...

The (artificial) Christmas trees in our kitchen/dining area are all buck naked this year! Yes. You heard that right!

It doesn't get much simpler than this.

There's simply no Tinsel to Tangle!

Don't be obsessed with getting more material things. Be relaxed with what you have. Since God assured us, "I'll never let you down, never walk off and leave you," we can boldly quote,
   God is there, ready to help;
   I'm fearless no matter what.
   Who or what can get to me?
(Hebrews 13:5-6, The Message)

I'm challenged to keep the tinsel of my life at a minimum--
and not just at Christmas-time!

Picniking in December

2011-12-13T09:35:00.001-05:00

My parents are quite intentional about having their pictures taken together frequently.

We, on the other hand, have very few of ourselves.

And when they DO "happen" it is just that--happenstance!

This one was taken unbeknownst to us last Friday.

We were attending an office Christmas party - a Mystery Dinner Theater.

Here we are. Trying to decide Who Dun It!

Since it might be awhile until we have another photo of ourselves,

I decided to have a little fun.

I "picniked" it!

I sent it to our grandchildren labeled,

"Santa and his Mrs. are makin' a list and checkin' it twice!"
(Guess the cat's out of the bag now!)

Usually I forget about picnik.

Glad I tried it today.

Have YOU tried picnik (or another photo enhancer)?

A Christmas Card Dilemma

2011-12-12T08:48:00.002-05:00

Yesterday we received a Christmas card that

not only is beautiful,

but totally sums up the reason we celebrate!
"When you get right down to it,
the only thing that really matters is...

Jesus

'Now this is eternal life: that they may know You, the only true God,

and Jesus Christ, whom You have sent'." (John 17:3 NIV)

WhatEVER will I do with this card at the end of the

Christmas season? It's much to beautiful to do NOTHING with!

What do YOU do with Christmas cards from years past???

Just Give Me Jesus

2011-12-09T10:22:00.001-05:00

None of our nativity sets are "perfect".

This particular one must be missing a shepherd.
Surely there was more than one!

But I love the way it fits the empty stable that I found at a thrift store.

The ones below have been assembled from

unrelated pieces from various sets.

I'm quirky like that.

Even these three magi didn't come together!

There are so many pieces in this one - carved and from the Philippines.
Maybe it IS complete!

And this one is one piece, so I guess nothing COULD be missing!

I just can't bring myself to add anything to THIS one.

As Anne Graham Lotz's book is titled,

Just Give Me Jesus.

He is enough for me. This Christmas and forever.

Joy

2011-12-08T05:59:00.001-05:00

"There is joy in serving Jesus," was her facebook post.

Sometimes that's all it takes.
Just a phrase and my mind is called to attention.
Joy!

Before I realized it, my fingers pranced across the keyboard typing out: "Yes there is. And sometimes I think we serve like Jesus did--'for the joy set before Him' -- that is out there; yet to come." (Hebrews 12:2).

My point - if I had one - was that sometimes the joy isn't "there" in the sense of feeling it.
It is yet to come.

But it IS coming.

And sometimes, when it ISN'T "there",
we're just encouraged to "Count it all joy" (James 1:2)

It's not very "spiritual", but I like this quote:
"You have to sniff out joy. Keep your nose to the joy trail." (Buffy Sainte-Marie)
So true. So true.

Party Time

2011-12-06T17:43:00.001-05:00

My fellow clubbers arrived at the home of our hostess for our Christmas meeting

this afternoon.

It's an annual tradition, this December meeting at Sonnie's house.

Just inside the door, this life-sized snowman greeted all of us!

The main Christmas tree was beautiful--I just didn't get a good picture.

There was plenty of beauty everywhere

Below, one of the three tables at which we enjoyed a wonderful buffet-style dinner.

Each of us went home with a bag of lovely gifts

and a box of home-made turtle candies,
thanks to our amazing hostess.

I'm realizing how many circles of friends I am blessed with.

Although there is a little "overlap" among a few of them,

my friends represent a wide variety of ages, interests and backgrounds.

I'm VERY thankful and count these friends dear --

especially during this beautiful season.

♫ Faithful friends who are dear to us

Gather near to us once more... ♫

Where'd the Weekend Go???

2011-12-05T08:29:00.001-05:00

Friday afternoon, hubby and I visited a few shops in a small town nearby.

We enjoyed the sunshine, sights and sounds of the holiday season.

After Ladies' Brunch at church Saturday morning,

some lingered for conversation

and others went straight to decorating the church for Christmas.

That evening, hubby and I enjoyed the Holiday Home Tour with another couple.

Gary and I try to do this every year. We love seeing the homes decked out for Christmas.

The Williams Woodland Neighborhood is over 100 years old

and filled with beautiful restored homes.

Sunday morning, our worship service began with one of our sweet families from church lighting

the Second Advent Candle (left). Later in the evening, we enjoyed a fun gathering with our Home Connection. Along with an evening meal, we did a read-through drama--each person was assigned a part. Apparently, we have many budding actors and actresses in our small group!

This was a really fun activity!

A "white elephant" gift exchange capped the evening.

So THAT'S where the weekend went!!!!

Temporary Clarity

2011-12-04T15:37:00.001-05:00

Three red trees that appear better in "real life"

"...but I think pretty flashing Christmas lights out in the snow don't necessarily have a lot to do with the sacred birth of Messiah..." It was this line in an otherwise rather wandering post on a blog site with an intriguing name (to me) that finally brought clarity (at least temporarily) about the whole celebrating Christmas situation.

I may not agree with her starting point, but I think I DO agree with this statement. For me, this Christmas, it would be more intellectually honest to say, "I love this holiday called Christmas. I love the traditions. I love carols, candles and cookies. I love sleighs, poinsettias, fireplaces with stockings, the giving of gifts, and everything ELSE that says "Christmas"!

We do get carried away with purchasing, decorating, and partying. Sometimes some of us actually ARE celebrating Jesus' birth. Other times we are celebrating a season and trying to bring some coziness and warmth into our homes and family life. Sometimes the advent banner that says, "It's All About Family" IS our truth, and it really isn't all about Jesus. So rather than lying, pretending or feeling guilty or twisting things to put the best spin on them, at least I want to be honest and say,

" pretty flashing Christmas lights out in the snow

don't necessarily have a lot to do with the sacred birth of Messiah..."

Ah! Clarity! Temporarily, at least...
Oh, Eileen. Your comment on my last post contributed
to my temporary clarity, too! Thank you.

Christmas Questions

2011-12-03T06:20:00.001-05:00

So glad I purchased this poinsettia - a fund-raiser...

Just for clarification ... It was Dr. David Jeremiah who made the observation that Dickens believed in a benevolent God & may not have had specific faith in the Savior (see my previous post). Personally, I don't know. For the life of me can't remember what I learned about him in my January term Dickens course while at Sterling College 40 years ago.

I do believe it IS possible to just be melted by the season - lights, music, food, festivities etc. and even to call it "Christmas" - without being Christian (in its purest sense).

I have caught myself trying to create a "mood" once again this year. Sigh. There is nothing wrong with beauty, carols and candles. Christmas posts all over blogland evoke such warm sentiments in me. I'm captivated! I could just sit with my laptop ALL day...

Then, I ask myself, "Would I be equally content to just sit with JESUS all day?"

"Am I going to all this effort for JESUS?"

These are questions you can't answer for me.

They're questions I need to examine quietly and honestly.
Several times a day!
And not just at CHRISTmas!

More than a Moment

2011-12-01T06:15:00.001-05:00

The "Christmas Carol Moment" I referred to yesterday seemed such a brilliant concept to me at the time I was composing. (I was thinking of Ebenezer Scrooge's response after the Ghost of Christmas Future transported him to the graveyard where he observed the apathy of the crowd and realized it was his own name on the tombstone..)

“Spirit!” he cried, tight clutching at its robe, “hear me! I am not the man I was. I will not be the man I must have been but for this intercourse. Why show me this, if I am past all hope…? Assure me that I yet may change these shadows you have shown me, by an altered life!”

“I will honour Christmas in my heart, and try to keep it all the year. I will live in the Past, the Present, and the Future. The Spirits of all three shall strive within me. I will not shut out the lessons that they teach.”

He left the cemetery a changed man, and we applaud all the lessons contained in this story.

"There is, however, a fatal flaw in A Christmas Carol." So says Dr. David Jeremiah. He goes on to say,

"The person of Jesus Christ is strangely absent. Dickens himself believed in a benevolent God and felt the Bible contained good maxims. But he had no creed and didn't profess evangelical beliefs. Like our modern holiday celebrations, he managed to capture the mood of Christmas while forgetting the manger. Ebenezer Scrooge had a change of heart--but not by Christ. He was transformed from a miserable miser into a warm, kindhearted philanthropist by the power of imagination alone. The Christmas spirit--not the Holy Spirit--got hold of him."

"...A Christmas Carol warms the heart, but only Christ can change the soul.

It isn't just realization we need, but redemption.
Not just sentiment, but a Savior."

In our quest to create the atmosphere and sentiment of Christmas in our hearts and homes, let's beware of stopping short of Jesus. Advent is NOT about family (one advent calendar I saw yesterday said "'Tis the Season for Family"). Advent is the season for Jesus! Christmas is NOT for children! Christmas is for Jesus! Christmas is not even "about" Jesus. Christmas IS Jesus! And not a primitive chalk figure in a nativity set, but a Living and Active Savior and Friend.

May HE bless us everyone!

A "Christmas Carol" Moment

2011-11-30T09:13:00.001-05:00

Seems that a lot of people are grappling with what it means to keep Christmas "sane, simple, and sacred" this year. What follows are two of my responses to peoples' blog or facebook posts this morning. Now, I'm certainly not free from struggle and error myself. But, friends, while we can get ideas from others, let's turn to Jesus for our Christmas sanity this year. Taking our cues from other people only leads to comparison, complications and discontent...

It's not easy, is it? I'm trying to get my cues from the "still, small voice" and not the "world" around me. Staying out of stores, definitely. Upping the time I spend in the Word & prayer. Listening to praise music and carols. Being with people - not to impress or entertain, but to enjoy and rejoice together. Being "sane" re. the food I bake, eat, etc. Looking for needs around me with an eye to meeting them...

Yes, there is an alternative, and I think you have identified it in your questions and veiled words. I'm thinking that every one of us has a "Christmas Carol" moment when the truth finally dawns on us--when we quit taking our cues from the "world" around us and decide what we really want this holiday to be about...

Praying that NOTHING will be artificial about Christmas in your heart and home this year.

Talent Galore!

2011-11-28T05:42:00.001-05:00

Yesterday, all the Sunday school classes in our small church began with a few minutes

of cutting out bells, stars, bulbs or Christmas tree shapes from old Christmas cards.

These will be used in decorating our church later this week..

Most of us traced our shapes from cookie-cutter patterns.

This free-form cutout was my favorite--for its originality, the skillful cutting,

and selection of background pattern and color.

(Note to self: Next time, cut out front and back together with cards'
images showing on both sides. These could be glued together, laminated or not, and hung.)

This is the guy who did it!

I would never have guessed he had this talent.

It makes me excited to discover what additional abilities and gifts reside

in my "brothers and sisters" in Christ!

Writing about the unique gifts God has given every person in the church,

the Apostle Paul compared them to body parts - each with special functions...

God has placed the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be. If they were all one part, where would the body be? As it is, there are many parts, but one body. The eye cannot say to the hand, "I don't need you!" And the head cannot say to the feet, "I don't need you!"... God has put the body together, giving greater honor to the parts that lacked it, so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it. Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it,

(I Corinthians 12:8-27)

Leftovers

2011-11-25T17:32:00.001-05:00

One of the few downsides of not hosting a thanksgiving event is the lack of leftovers.

It's actually a pretty BIG downside for me!

I really do like cold turkey sandwiches and cold stuffing/dressing, too.

That's right. Cold stuffing/dressing.

Oh, well. Instead of food, I have memories.

Beautiful tableware - even paper dessert plates,

turkey place holders made by one of my granddaughters for

LAST year's dinner (she forgot to bring them then,

so we used some of them at brunch today).

Family...

and music - always an important part of our gathering.

"For the beauty of the earth....Lord of all to thee we raise

this our hymn of grateful praise."

What's YOUR favorite Thanksgiving Day leftover?

Warming Up!

2011-11-24T06:46:00.001-05:00

We warmed up to Thanksgiving Day by meeting two of our children's families

at a small hotel. We missed seven of our "squad",

but it didn't take long for all who were here (photographer excluded)

to warm up to the idea of swimming!

Every child had their water specialty.

One had creative dives - "the frog dive (above), pencil dive, quarterback dive", etc.)

Others, like T above, spent more time under the water than above.

We took an early birthday present to F. She immediately

warmed up under blankets.

Occasionally, the whole gang warmed up in the warm shower in the corner!

Happy Thanksgiving from the cutest "turkey" in the flock!

(Our oldest granddaughter)

Today we travel a few more miles to our Thanksgiving Dinner!

I believe that, except for our present and future salvation,

there is no blessing greater than family!

All My Bags Are Packed

2011-11-23T05:00:00.001-05:00

I'm looking forward to some hours this afternoon with two of our children and their families. Tomorrow morning we'll be driving a bit further to enjoy Thanksgiving Day with my husband's mother and siblings. Friday we'll be home for a brunch with two of my sisters and their families, my mother and dad.

I continue (and end) my formal November Thanksgiving List with these:

21. Great coffee - still at a reasonable price.

22. Little white lights sparkling on our "Christmas Pole"

23. Anticipation of extended family time over the next 48 hours.

HIS great salvation - so rich; so free.

THANK YOU, LORD!

Happy Thanksgiving to each of you,
my Sweet Friends...
May we all remember:

Count your blessings instead of your crosses;
Count your gains instead of your losses.
Count your joys instead of your woes;
Count your friends instead of your foes.
Count your smiles instead of your tears;
Count your courage instead of your fears.
Count your full years instead of your lean;
Count your kind deeds instead of your mean.
Count your health instead of your wealth;
Count on God instead of yourself.
- Anonymous

Dead Ends and Dark Alleys

2011-11-21T05:38:00.000-05:00

Cornucopias - "Horn of Plenty"

Red (warmth), yellow (energy) and blue (strength).

Maybe seeing these colors together will get my blood going ...
I had to tweak the photo a bit to produce the color.
Sometimes that's how it is in life. You've gotta "tweak" it!
I admit to feeling a bit lost. And lethargic. A bit adrift. Lately.
When I stumbled upon these bookends sitting on the bottom shelf
of one of our bookcases yesterday,
I was reminded of the abundant and full life that Jesus came to give us all.

I receive it (again) today!
I remind myself of the
importance and pleasures,
opportunities and beauty
that lie in every second of this gift of TODAY...
I "tweak" myself with words like these:

Live your life, take chances, be crazy. Don't wait cause right now is the oldest you've ever been & the youngest you'll be ever again.

“I still get wildly enthusiastic about little things... I play with leaves.

I skip down the street and run against the wind.”

Leo F. Buscaglia

“Find  life experiences and swallow them whole. Travel. Meet many people. Go down some  dead ends and explore dark alleys. Try everything. Exhaust yourself in the  glorious pursuit of life.” Lawrence  K. Fish

How can we please the Lord? Be hopeful in him. 
"The LORD takes pleasure in those who hope in his steadfast love." Psa. 147:11 
(from a John Piper tweet)

And God blessed them. And God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over every living thing that moves on the earth.”  Genesis 1:28  

The Thanks Continues

2011-11-19T15:54:00.001-05:00

Give thanks to the LORD and proclaim his greatness.
Let the WHOLE WORLD know what he has done. (Psalm 105:1)

16. Food on the table, shoes on my feet, roof over our heads.
17. A gracious and loving husband.
18. Our small group(s) friends - Have I already said this???
19. The luxury of a laptop computer and wireless service at home.
20. The encouragement & inspiration of my blogging community♥

If God wills, our plans are to see two of our children and their families (7 grandchildren) on Wednesday and then together travel to my husband's mother's home where his siblings and their families will congregate for a Thanksgiving dinner. It's kind of nice not to have the planning and/or hosting responsibilities this year...

When Life Gives you Lemons...

2011-11-15T11:11:00.001-05:00

Yesterday our internet provider went down. A lot of what I "do" depends on internet service--

not to mention the FUN I have on the side. I waited until our local library opened this morning to take advantage of the free wireless available to me.

Meanwhile, I had some hours to fill so I started in on a distasteful task--

cleaning out one (of many) stashes of miscellany that has

accumulated over a period of time.

(By the way, does ANYONE else have stashes????)

I was successful! I'd almost forgotten that I had this lovely

tole (I think that's what you call it) tray.

The experience reminds me of the importance of keeping "short accounts"

with the Heavenly Father--not letting junk ("little" sins of omission and co-mission) pile up and block the beauty of fellowship with Him.

If I'd just get in the habit of dealing with odds and ends as they "happen"

instead of tossing them into drawers, trays or onto countertops,

I wouldn't have to spend hours sorting, tossing, organizing and storing!

So,I'm thankful for the "lemon" of interrupted wireless today.

I accomplished something that's been bogging me down for quite awhile now,

and have been reminded of a fundamental truth for my spiritual life as well.

13. My very own personal copy of the Bible.
14. Recovery from shoulder pain.
15. Allen County Public Library - specifically today, free wi-fi there...

Above and Beyond

2011-11-14T09:39:00.001-05:00

The stack may not look so big compared to what some churches have collected,

but to me, this is a miracle. I really didn't think our goal was realistic.

It represents almost 1 shoebox for every 2 people who attend our church (children included)!

Several in our small congregation are currently unemployed...

but not only was the goal met, it was surpassed!

Operation Christmas Child is a project that will place gifts into the hands of children

who may not receive another gift at Christmas-time. These gifts will be accompanied by a gospel message and a link to Christians in their communities.

What did I learn as gifts were collected in our church?

My faith is too small
God WILL supply all our needs
Little is much when God is in it
Think bigger
Expect more
Give a little bit more than seems feasible
I belong to an incredible community of faith, locally and world-wide
and SO much more!

"And God will generously provide all you need.
Then you will always have everything you need

and plenty left over to share with others." (2 Corinthians 9:8)

from Basic to Beautiful

2011-11-12T07:27:00.001-05:00

The cover of the September issue of one of my favorite magazines

looks like this (above).

My husband is an expert in turning things from basic to beautiful.

This week he removed this old chalkboard from its "plain Jane" frame

and put it into a fancier one--in LESS than an hour, I might add.

In just a little over an hour, he sanded the top of the small table, painted the legs black,

and applied wax to the surfaces. We found the table curbside, beside a trash can.

Thankfully, we arrived at just the right time to rescue it, a child's chair,

a wonderful coffee table, and a child's stroller!

THIS project will take a little longer! It is an old Singer sewing machine cabinet

we "redeemed" for $5. If the machine can't be repaired for a reasonable price,

I think the cabinet would make a wonderful desk for my laptop.

I can't help but think how God rescued me! Took me from the basic, throw-away condition I was in before I was "found" by Him and made me NEW and BEAUTIFUL! So young was I when He did it, that I don't have a good "before and after" picture in my mind. But every now and then, I get a peek into my old, sinful nature and realize how bad it is...how disgusting and dark my life would be if He hadn't stepped in and performed the MIRACLE of grace. Turns out HE'S the EXPERT in this and is still in the business of turning basic sinners into beautiful saints!

Christ arrives right on time to make this happen. He didn't, and doesn't, wait for us to get ready. He presented himself for this sacrificial death when we were far too weak and rebellious (and young?) to do anything to get ourselves ready. And even if we hadn't been so weak (and young?), we wouldn't have known what to do anyway. We can understand someone dying for a person worth dying for, and we can understand how someone good and noble could inspire us to selfless sacrifice. But God put his love on the line for us by offering his Son in sacrificial death while we were of no use whatever to him. (Romans 5:6-8)

12. Thankful for my washer and dryer. Convenient & dependable.

Real Heroes

2011-11-11T08:14:00.001-05:00

O beautiful for heroes proved
In liberating strife.
Who more than self their country loved
And mercy more than life!
America! America!
May God thy gold refine
Till all success be nobleness
And every gain divine!

I've decided to turn off the news for awhile. I have been spending far too much time mulling over the events of the past week. They are sordid, sad, and sinful. Today I will spend time "filling (my mind) and meditating on things true, noble, reputable, authentic, compelling, gracious—the best, not the worst; the beautiful, not the ugly; things to praise, not things to curse." (Philippians 4:8-9, The Message)

10. fine hours spent in the company of a fine husband yesterday

11. American heroes

The Old Is Just Fine - Part 2

2011-11-09T04:59:00.001-05:00

More old from my previous post...

A couple of days ago a young friend facebooked a link: "I Stand Amazed (How Marvelous) by Chris Tomlin - YouTube." The title sounded very much like a song I've known and loved for many, many years. Imagine my absolute thrill to discover that it IS this OLD and familiar song! Both its tune and its words were written by Charles H. Gabriel in 1905.

  I stand amazed in the presence 
 of Jesus the Nazarene, 
 and wonder how he could love me, 
 a sinner, condemned, unclean. 
Refrain:
 How marvelous! How wonderful! 
 And my song shall ever be:
 How marvelous! How wonderful 
 is my Savior's love for me!

Why were we/ARE we so quick to abandon it? Hopefully THIS generation will continute to discover the beauty and depth of some of the old hymns and gospel songs for themselves. Kudos to musicians who use their "platform" to reintroduce some of the best of the old along with all the new...

9. Music - old AND new!

The Old is Just Fine!

2011-11-08T09:21:00.003-05:00

I suppose I should think twice before I show you my un-ironed pillow cases.

No, I don't iron them - especially for everyday.

And, yes, I do use these for "everyday"...

These are fresh out of the dryer!

I believe I found these three particular pillow cases at thrift stores.

Any time I find see them, I find them hard to resist.

They remind me of my grandmother who lovingly crocheted the trim

on the hems of some cases I'd embroidered while a young wife in the early 70s.

She lovingly selected blue variegated threads

to match the blue and white pattern I created

and variegated green threads for the shades of green in another pattern.

I happily sleep on these.

It's hard to improve on the beauty of these hand-worked pieces.

It kind of reminds me of Luke 5:39

(which refers to the old/new wine and old/new wineskins).

But no one who drinks the old wine seems to want the new wine.

'The old is just fine,' they say."

8. Furnace winterized

2011-11-07T12:18:00.000-05:00

I'm Thankful!
...a spaceholder, really...not a real post...

1. a fresh, new day on which to write my thanks...and life and breath to write it with...
2 . beautiful weather yesterday and forecast for the same today!
3. opportunities to do good AND my family of faith.
4. truth received (loud and clear) via My Utmost for His Highest today.

5. Some "down time" with hubby - taking in a couple of local nursery/garden spots'

Christmas Open Houses yesterday.

6. Our Home Connection Sunday evening--the fellowship, the prayers, the food, and two new people joined us!

7. Able to give 5 pieces of furniture to someone who wants/needs them!

Say What You Want

2011-11-05T05:38:00.003-04:00

I'm thankful for....

5. Some "down time" with hubby - taking in a couple of local nursery/garden spots'

Christmas Open Houses yesterday

Go ahead. Say what you want.

It was a beautiful day

and a cheerful way

to spend a couple of hours with my husband yesterday.
Seems to me there were TONS of bazaars and open houses this weekend.
The two Open Houses we took in were enough for me.
Were there a bunch in YOUR community?
Did you/do you "do" them?

The Stones are Shouting!

2011-11-04T07:39:00.005-04:00

But Jesus answered, "If they keep quiet, these stones will start shouting."

Luke 19:40

I wish I could remember where I found this rock. I have a few other heart-shaped rocks, but I doubt that I'll find another as "perfect" as this one. Even its color is good - kind of darkish pink...

In October, my husband and I visited Victory Noll Center with its beautiful grounds, chapel, Stations of the Cross, and outdoor labyrinth. All afternoon I had my eyes peeled for a heart-shaped rock to take home with me to remember the day. Just when I had given up, my eyes fell on this SECOND rock! The pairing of these two SHOUT at me!

For God so loved the world
that he gave
his one and only Son,
that whoever believes in him
shall not perish but have eternal life.
(Jesus, in John 3:16)

Matthew 16:18 records Jesus saying,
"...on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it."

Oh, the love of God and cross of Jesus!

On this solid rock I stand.

All other ground IS sinking sand

Are you standing with me?
Have the rocks shouted anything at YOU lately?

Can't Wait to Try It!

2011-11-03T09:14:00.002-04:00

Therefore, whenever we have the opportunity, we should do good to everyone

--especially to those in the family of faith. (Galatians 6:10)

We were on the receiving end again last night! My husband came home from the Awana meeting with this jar and note of explanation.

Pastor Gary and Rebecca, I made this apple butter Saturday with Jen and her family and her mother's neighbor who is 89 years old. It's a family tradition. First we cleaned 100 pennies and put them in bottom of a 100 year old copper pot over an open fire. We stirred it for 9 hour and canned it outside. It was an awesome experience and thought you two would like to try some. Oh. I forgot to tell you. We peeled and cored over 1,110 apples!!! Enjoy.

Carole C.

I think we WILL enjoy it! Later today, I'm going to have an opportunity to share some of our furniture with a young woman recently released from prison. She is setting up her apartment. She has come to faith in Jesus and is officially in my "family of faith". I can't wait to see what (if anything) she can use.

1. a fresh, new day on which to write my thanks...and life and breath to write it with...
2 . beautiful weather yesterday and forecast for the same today!
3. opportunities to do good AND my family of faith.

Back Door Friends are Best!

2011-11-02T07:56:00.000-04:00

In her October 19th post, Deb showed her $15 chair--a favorite spot of hers for meeting with her Friend. She asked what OUR favorite way to meet Jesus was. I commented:

My favorite way? 'Bout the same as yours...(And I really, REALLY like your $15 thrift store chair!) I also like it that He's sort of like a "back door friend" and shows up quite unexpectedly at times and lets Himself in! (Hmmmmmmmmm. I may have to create a post about that...It's true!)

Since I thought it might be a good topic to explore that day, I composed a brief draft* to serve as a reminder. Today I'm looking at that draft and remembering a sign I once saw that read, "Back Door Friends Are Best". It may seem a little disrespectful, but I mean no disrespect. I want the house of my life to be totally accessible to Jesus. I want Him to interrupt my schedule at anytime. He's welcome to enter without knocking. Stay as long as He likes. Share unexpected casual OR intimate conversation with me. THIS is the sense in which I said, "I like it that He's sort of like a 'back door' friend".

Of course, He's SO much more. But this is just one way I like to meet my Friend...

How about you? Favorite spot? Music? Silence? Devotional book?

*Did you catch that blogging tip? Maybe you already do this...but I write a "seed thought" and instead of publishing it, I just "save" it. Then I can go back and develop it and publish at a later date. I have several drafts like this - waiting for the day(s) when I have no inspiration!

1. a fresh, new day on which to write my thanks...and life and breath to write it with...
2 . beautiful weather yesterday and forecast for the same today!

November

2011-11-01T07:29:00.001-04:00

november dawned
early for me.
i woke long before light
knowing...just knowing.
thanks is for living.
thanks is for giving.
there really isn't a lot more
about november...
well, my father's birthday...
but before that, thanksGIVING.
thanks LIVING.

(Just a couple of my turkeys I'm getting

out for the season...)

1. a fresh, new day on which to write my thanks...and life and breath to write it with...

Riches and glory come from you,
      you're ruler over all;
   You hold strength and power in the palm of your hand
      to build up and strengthen all.
   And here we are, O God, our God, giving thanks to you,
      praising your splendid Name.

I Chronicles 29:12,13 The Message

Fun While It Lasted

2011-10-30T07:53:00.002-04:00

It was all kind of a blur!

My weekend has included

Friday morning - leading Hymn Sing at a local nursing home
Friday afternoon - making 2 soups, a huge cheeseball and 2 pans of brownies

Friday evening - greeting daughter and 4 grandchildren
Saturday - much play! Indoors and out!

Saturday evening - served dinner (soups, etc.) to 10 dorm leaders who came to retreat in Indiana with our son-in-law who is a Resident Director at Moody Bible Institute.
Sunday morning - Sunday school and church
Sunday noon - I'll prepare and serve lunch to the worship leaders after church (and clean up, of course).
Sunday afternoon - I'll probably look like THIS!

or this...

It was fun while it lasted!

Yes it was!

Happy Halloween

2011-10-28T05:59:00.003-04:00

...outside our front door...

I've tortured my facebook friends daily. Now, with no further ado, I submit my pumpkin/jack-o'-lanterns riddles and one-liners to you, my blog friends! I didn't find so many online. When I ran out, I created my own. I'll let you guess which is which (no Halloween pun intended)!

Q. What happened when a truck spilled its entire haul of pumpkins across the freeway? A. The morning commute got off to a Smashing Start

(Inspired by the Wednesday spill near Orchard Lake Road on I-696 (MI) on 10/27/11. Thanks, Dee, for bringing the "spill to my attention.)

Q. What did the jack-o'-lantern say to the other jack-o'-lantern when they were on their way to a Halloween party? A. "Let's get glowing."

Q. Why wasn't there any food left after the jack-o'-lantern's party? A. Because everyone was a goblin!

Q. What do you call a person who gets a pumpkin pie in the face? A."Desserted"

Q. What do you get when you divide the circumference of a pumpkin by the diameter? Pumpkin Pi

Q. What do you call a fat pumpkin? A. A plumpkin

Q. Who goes to the field when a pumpkin gets sick? A. Patch Adams

You might be a redneck if....The Halloween pumpkin on your front porch has more teeth than your spouse.

Q. When is a pumpkin not a pumpkin? A. When you drop it; then it's squash!

Q. How do you mend a broken jack-o-lantern? A. With a pumpkin patch!.

...a few of my autumn tablecloths...thrifted, of course!

Q. Who helped the pumpkin kid cross the street on his way to school? A. the Crossing Gourd

Q. Lynn likes grapes but not potatoes. She likes squash but not lettuce, and she likes peas but not onions. Following the same pattern, will she like pumpkins or apples? A. Pumpkins (All the things she likes grow on vines.)

Q. On what day of the week do jack-o-lanterns eat their candy? A. Chewsday

Q. How did the pumpkin feel when it had no insides left? A. All right.

Q. Why was the jack-o-lantern afraid to cross the street? A. It had no guts.

Q: What is the difference between a broomstick and a pumpkin? A: You can't make broomstick pie!

Q: What's the difference between a pumpkin and peanut butter? A: The pumpkin doesn't stick to the roof of your mouth!

Q. What kind of books do Jack-o'-lanterns read? A. Pulp fiction and other seedy novels (Thanks to Jess who planted the seeds for this one.)

That's ALL for now, Folks!

Trivial vs. Significant

2011-10-26T07:44:00.001-04:00

Being oblivious to eternity leaves us experts in the trivial and novices in the significant.

- a Randy Alcorn tweet

It is my observation that technology has made it very, very easy for me to become an "expert in the trivial". My mind so easily flits from one tweet to the next, one photo of fashion or flower to the next, a tempting recipe to a tip for chalk-painting a dull piece of furniture...

Sometimes I feel frantic or frazzled. Confused by the options. Immobilized by so many good and beautiful choices. A little like Eve might have felt with all the fruit trees to sample.

Then comes this Alcorn tweet across my path ... and with it a reminder of eternity. Something Eve lost sight of so easily. Something I am in constant danger of losing sight of, too!

But make His Kingdom and righteousness your chief aim,

and then these things shall all be given you in addition.

Matthew 6:33

Years ago, Al Smith penned the words of a simple chorus that we sang in our youth group in the 60s: "With eternity's values in view, Lord, With eternity's values in view. May I do each day's work for Jesus With eternity's values in view."

These words are my prayer this morning

as I pursue "expertise" in the significant.

How Reassuring Is THIS?

2011-10-23T06:43:00.001-04:00

The will of God will never take you,
where the Spirit of God cannot work through you,
where the wisdom of God cannot teach you,
where the army of God cannot protect you,
where the hands of God cannot mold you.

The will of God will never take you,
where the love of God cannot enfold you,
where the mercies of God cannot sustain you,
where the peace of God cannot calm your fears
where the authority of God cannot overrule for you.

The will of God will never take you,
where the comfort of God cannot dry your tears,
where the Word of God cannot feed you,
where the miracles of God cannot be done for you,
where the omnipresence of God cannot find you.

This morning, I needed some reassuring.

Current circumstances don't support this, but I know it's true

I'm banking my LIFE on it! On Him, actually.

(Try reading it aloud, substituting "me" for "you"!)

I'm sorry that I copied this without copying the source.

Let me know if you know its origins, please.

Some people may regard my recent "finds" at my favorite thrift stores
as small, but I consider them very real and personal tokens
of the mercy and kindness of God to me.
Some of them will find their way into "friendship gifts"
-- tied to a jar of honey or holding some mini-muffins.

Music...Poetry...Picture

2011-10-20T07:05:00.001-04:00

"A man should hear a little music,
read a little poetry,

and see a fine picture
every day of his life,

in order that worldly cares may not obliterate the sense of the beautiful

which God has implanted in the human soul."

Goethe

And God saw everything that He had made, and behold, it was very good (suitable, pleasant)

and He approved it completely. And there was evening and there was morning, a sixth day.

Genesis 1:31

I'd just have to add "nature/creation" to music, poetry and picture. I like the Amplified Version above..."God approved it completely"!

These small books (all found in thrift stores) have heightened my appreciation for various artists and styles of art. I've placed them to be convenient for browsing or more detailed study.

How do YOU interject music, poetry, pictures and nature
into the hours of your day?

Chronicling the Particular

2011-10-19T09:01:00.002-04:00

Has it already been a couple of weeks since Andy Rooney did his final gig on 60 Minutes? Do I remember correctly that he is 92? (I DO remember being suprised at how short and stooped in posture he appeared as he got up and walked away from his desk...)

I'm not a big fan of TV in general and don't watch any particular show with regularity. But every time I watched Andy Rooney's segment that closed out Sunday night's 60 Minutes, I enjoyed it!

In speaking of him, someone (I don't remember who) called Mr. Rooney "The chronicler of the particular". I think that's why I liked his commentary. He could take the most ordinary subject and make it interesting. With common sense and dry wit, he supplied perspective and frequently elevated the ridiculous to the level of sublime.

I miss Andy Rooney.

The world needs common sense, wit, and perspective.

There are still a lot of particulars out there waiting to be chronicled!

Sunday - Taking/Making Time

2011-10-16T06:19:00.002-04:00

Take care that you do not use the day of rest only as a day for the public observance of divine worship. It is especially in private personal communion that God can bless and sanctify you. In the church, the understanding is kept active, and you have the ordinances of preaching, united prayer, and praise to keep you occupied. But there we do not always know whether the heart is really dealing with God--is taking delight in Him. This takes place in solitude. Accustom yourself, then, to be alone with the Lord your God. Not only speak to Him, but also let Him speak to you. Let your heart be the temple in whose holy silence His voice is heard. Rest in God. Then God will say of your heart, "This is my rest, here will I dwell." (An Exciting New Life, Andrew Murray)

...from an interesting chapter in a classic and helpful book--this insight re. the Sabbath and our present day "Lord's Day"--the first day of the week! We're studying this chapter in our Sunday School class this morning...

"The principle aim of the Sabbath is to make you holy,

as God is holy--this is His blessing, this His rest.

God wants you to be holy, filled with Himself and His holiness."

(Murray)

Taking time--MAKING time--to be holy!

Isaiah 58:13-14

Double Duh!

2011-10-14T08:24:00.002-04:00

When I was a little girl, I got a book named: The Lady That Put Salt In Her Coffee. The story characters (went) through all kinds of ways to make the salty coffee taste good....then finally somebody said just pour it out and get a new cup......

Thanks, Mrs. Mobunny (who commented on my "Duh" post from a couple of days ago).

I looked it up and found out this book was first published in a children's periodical in 1867. It was the first story in what became known as The Peterkin Papers. I also saw that it can be read online... If anyone happens to own a copy and wants to part with it, I'd love to have it. (Duh! Fat chance, now that I've drawn attention to it!)

What book(s) do you remember from your childhood?

Do you still have a copy?

LATE BREAKING NEWS...
Brenda and Mrs. Mobunny have both offered to send me a copy!
Thanks to both of you.
I'll take them, if you're serious.

The Best Laid Plans...

2011-10-12T09:22:00.003-04:00

"It's good to ditch the old things and start fresh."

Yesterday Debora commented on my garden glove post, "We often hang on to things that no longer serve us well because of familiarity. It's good to ditch the old things and start fresh." So, in a way, Debora had a role in my drama yesterday!

Monday night my husband was out of town. I locked and double locked doors before going to bed. And I went to bed with many intentions for the next day. Written down, even! One of them was to throw away the robe I had worn so comfortably for at least the past eight years...and it was a thrift-store purchase when I acquired it! I had recently worn a hole in one elbow and it WAS time to ditch "the old thing and start fresh".

Next morning, I put it on one last time, made the coffee, and headed out the front door with a sack of trash in hand. Tuesdays are trash days here. When I returned, I found the door locked. I was outside in 48 degree weather in a holey robe and barefoot! I tried to open windows. No luck. Every door double locked.

So, at 6:00 I padded down to the bakery - about 1 block from my house. (It opens at 6:00.) From there I called my husband's cell phone. Got his voicemail. Trudged back home and waited on the front porch. After an hour and a half, and assuming that he didn't get the message and wasn't coming to rescue me, I tried to think about my options.

Only then did I remember our cabin in the back yard. Outfitted for overnights when our children/guests visit us. So, after about two hours, my feet had thawed, and I settled in for the day. We have an old fashioned porta-potty out there, but no running water, etc. I listened to the radio, read some 1998 Victoria magazines, napped, and prayed. I missed my (no longer) Red Hats luncheon, didn't get a hair cut, didn't get the birthday cards sent, and didn't clean up my kitchen counter. Didn't even get to drink my cup of coffee!

At 2:00 my husband returned home. He spent the rest of the day trying to make up for my no-good-very-bad-unproductive day.

I was MORE than happy to abanadon my robe to the rag pile after a whole day in it!
I even cut off a sleeve so I wouldn't be tempted to retrieve it!

And we've done our best to make sure we can't lock ourselves out of the house again.

People may make plans in their minds, but the Lord decides what they will do.

(Proverbs 16:9)

Duh!

2011-10-10T07:55:00.002-04:00

This picture makes 'em look better than real life - kind of a "glam" shot!

I've had these garden gloves for at LEAST three years. I was wearing them the fateful evening my husband and I contacted (and conTRACTED) poison ivy! They sat on a cabinet top for a couple of weeks while I tried to figure out how to wash them. I knew I needed to get the ivy oil off of them. I didn't think it wise to wash them with other items; didn't want to run even an extra-small load in the washing machine just for them; and couldn't figure out a good way to hand wash-them.

While conversing with a friend about my dilemma, she asked, "Why don't you just throw them out and get a new pair?"

Duh! I believe they cost me $1.99. I'd definitely had my money's worth out of them. They had a small hole in one of the fingers. Why hadn't I thought of this myself?

I got home and promptly tossed them into the waste can. It's the end of the gardening season, so I expect I'll find a pair on sale soon.

Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses,

let us also lay aside (throw away?) every weight, and sin which clings so closely,

and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us.

Hebrews 12:1

Sometimes it takes a "cloud of witnesses" to remind us

to throw away the useless, dangerous, old and worn habits and/or sins

and move in a new direction.
Thank God for my "cloud".

Another lessons learned.

Minding My "P"s...

2011-10-08T10:10:00.001-04:00

Holy Passion + Holy Presence + Holy Patience = Holy Pace

an aster from my "pasture"

It takes so little to get me THINKING.

It takes much more to get me MOVING!

FlowerLady's musings on Thursday got me thinking about "passion".

If you've been with me for even a short while,

you may have picked up that I am passionate about MANY things

and patient with FEW.

In spite of those two characteristics,

I also tend to be a procrastinator.

I created the above formula very quickly this morning

when commenting on FlowerLady's post.

I think if I really ponder it and put it into practice,

I will be increasingly pleased with the pace of my days.

Becoming a Life Long Learner

2011-10-07T14:03:00.001-04:00

Seeing my grandson here paying attention to the fire fighter

while on a field trip makes me proud!

Paying Attention helps one be a Successful Learner!

Hands-on participation in a subject is another way to learn.

(I can't wait to hear what he learned in this experience.)

Look at the pride he shows!

Being a life long learner brings pleasure to life.

I'm pleased that my grandkids LIKE to learn!

Being a life long learner is a goal that I have for myself.

I found most of these suggestions for helping to make that happen here.

I've tweaked them just a bit...:

1) Always have a book with you My husband is GREAT at this one! It doesn’t matter if it takes you a year or a week to read a book. Always have a book that you are reading through, and take it with you so you can read it when you have time.

2) Keep a “To-Learn” List In addition to a "to-do" list, have a “to-learn” list. Write ideas for new areas of study.

3) Get More Intellectual Friends Start spending more time with people who think. Not just people who are smart. But people who actually invest much of their time in learning new skills. Their habits will rub off on you AND they will probably share some of their knowledge with you.

4) Contemplate. Think. Albert Einstein once said, “Any man who reads too much and uses his own brain too little falls into lazy habits of thinking.” Simply studying the wisdom of others isn’t enough, you have to think through ideas yourself. Spend time journaling and contemplating ideas you have learned.

5) Put it Into Practice Skill based learning is useless if it isn’t applied. If your knowledge can be applied, put it into practice.

6) Teach Others You learn what you teach, so find an outlet of communicating ideas to others! Start a blog, mentor someone or even discuss ideas with a friend.

7) Clean Your Input Some forms of learning are easy to digest, but often lack substance. Regularly clean out your feed reader for blogs you subscribe to. Great blogs can be a powerful source of new ideas, but every few months, purify your input to save time and focus on what counts. Don't get bogged down in information.

8 ) Learn in Groups Lifelong learning doesn’t mean condemning yourself to a stack of dusty textbooks. Join organizations that teach skills. Workshops and group learning events turn educating yourself into a fun, social experience.

9) Unlearn Assumptions You can’t add water to a full cup. Try to maintain a distance away from any idea. Too many convictions simply mean too few paths for new ideas.

10) Find Jobs that Encourage Learning Pick a career (or volunteer opportunity) that encourages continual learning. If possible, don’t spend forty hours of your week in a job that doesn’t challenge you.

11) Start a Project Set out to do something you don’t know how to do. For instance, if you consider yourself a horrible artist, try a painting.

12) Follow Your Intuition Lifelong learning is like wandering through the wilderness. You can’t be sure what to expect and there isn’t always an end goal in mind. Letting your intuition guide you can make self-education more enjoyable.

13) The Morning Fifteen Use the first fifteen minutes of your morning as a period for education. If you find yourself too groggy, you might want to wait a short time. Just don’t put it off later in the day where urgent activities will push it out of the way.
14) Reap the Rewards Learn information you can use. Meeting a situation that makes use of your educational efforts can be a source of pride.
15) Make it a Priority Few external forces are going to persuade you to learn. The desire has to come from within. Once you decide you want to make lifelong learning a habit, it is up to you to make it a priority in your life.

16) Pick your Subjects Wisely I added this one. With so much information at my fingertips, I find it important to weigh the value of the subjects I choose to study AND to select sources wisely. Life is short. Eternity is long.

What would YOU add to this list?

Just Do It

2011-10-05T08:34:00.003-04:00

Thank God for "beginnings"! In a post at No Spring Chicken Debbie included this picture of her daughter's fresh journal at the beginning of the new homeschool year.

I hijacked the title of the journal page. "I am. I ought. I can. I will." It inspired me!

Toward the beginning of his son Solomon's great undertaking - building the temple - David ... said to Solomon his son, "Be strong and courageous, and do the work. Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the LORD God, my God, is with you. He will not fail you or forsake you until all the work for the service of the temple of the LORD is finished. (I Chronicles 28:20)

The English Standard Version puts it this way: "Be strong and courageous and do it."

I really get into "beginnings." I can say and have said with the best of them, "I am. I ought. I can. I will." At the end of the day, I want to be able to add: "I DID it!" As soon as I hit the publish button, I'm going to go do it.

"In the beginning God created..." (Genesis 1:1)

On the First Day of OUR Week

2011-10-02T19:34:00.003-04:00

(You can click on any of these pictures to enlarge them...)

After church and a meal shared with some friends from our church,

we drove to Huntington, IN to enjoy the Victory Noll Center's Fall Festival.

Soon after arriving, we boarded the wagon for a tour around the beautiful campus.

These were the shoes of the kids that sat across from us

in the wagon...

Our ride took us through meadows of native grasses

and wildflowers.

Circling back to the main campus,

we passed through the cemetery.

I couldn't help but wonder how many varieties of trees

there are here!

After the ride, we walked the labyrinth.

We followed the path to the center, but took a shortcut out.

The children were having a good time running all over their "maze"!

Many trees were labeled like this (below).

This particular tree is the one in the middle of the labyrinth.

EVERYthing was beautiful this afternoon! Even these steps leading down

to the Stations of the Cross.

I liked this view--two crosses, the small bell in the belfry...the blue sky!

I think this oak tree might have been the most beautiful one

I saw this afternoon...(but there were SO many, I really shouldn't pick a favorite)!

Below you can see my husband walking down the "Stations" path...

As we left, I stopped to take some pictures of the beautiful

potted plants surrounding this particular entrance.

We ALMOST didn't make the trip. I'm SO glad we did!

It was an absolutely WONDERFUL way to begin the week!

Now on the first day of the week,

Mary Magdalene went early, while it was still dark, to the tomb,

and saw the stone taken away from the tomb.

John 20:1
Now THAT was a REALLY wonderful way to begin a week!
How did YOUR week begin?

October

2011-10-01T05:58:00.000-04:00

5:30 a.m. 10-1-11 Ready to Roll!

"O suns and skies and clouds of June,

And flowers of June together,

Ye cannot rival for one hour

October's bright blue weather."

October 1st is the day we celebrate the anniversary of our engagement. This date is easier for me to remember than the date of our wedding. My husband was playing college football. He'd invited me out to eat at a fine restaurant after an early practice. "A Thursday practice," he told me yesterday. He proposed after dinner. Then we went to share our happiness with my grandparents who lived nearby.

We celebrated yesterday because we have all-day plans today. I had a perfect salmon salad at a favorite restaurant.

I'm looking forward to this morning's drive to our meeting. We should be able to watch the sun rise as we travel and see leaves turning on the way home. I'm hoping for a peek at blue skies, too. (May have to wait until tomorrow for that...)

Welcome, October! You've come SO quickly.

Thumbs Up!

2011-09-30T08:30:00.001-04:00

Thumbs Up to my favorite mug!

While I'm still in the list-making groove,
here's my Thumbs Up List. THUMBS UP to.....

Today's entry in My Utmost for His Highest: "You can't drink grapes." (You'll have to read the whole thing to understand this line.)
A good phone conversation with my brother (who is also a doctor) last night. Helped me with my P.I. issue.
A free meal and fellowship at last night's Thursday Table (Holy Trinity's monthly service to our community).
An opportunity to attend an AWANA traning conference tomorrow.
A working furnace. (60 degrees in the house was just too cool not to turn it on yesterday.)
Autumn. Currently my favorite season of the year.
Adult children who love Jesus and are committed to serving Him faithfully.
The chance to be a sounding board for one of them (adult children) yesterday.
God's Word, literacy, and teachers who taught me how to read.
My husband who must have SOMEthing up his sleeve. (He left for the office with the instruction not to plan anything for lunch! Could he be planning a celebration of our engagement anniversary which is actually tomorrow???)

Be thankful in all circumstances,

for this is God's will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.

I Thessalonians 5:18

P.I. and Me

2011-09-29T11:02:00.001-04:00

For our present troubles are small and won't last very long. Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever! (2 Corinthians 4:17)

In an attempt to rise to Janie Fox's listing-making stature, I have composed my personal list of observations about Poison Ivy. After three consecutive episodes over the past few months, I consider myself rather qualified to state the following with confidence! Note: This is NOT meant to elicit pity.

1. There have been an unusually large number of poison ivy cases this past summer (this out of the mouth of our local doctor when I consulted him with my FIRST and serious case of P.I.)!
2. The shot I received when I consulted said doctor didn't seem very effective in my opinion.
3. The bill I received after my said consultation and shot seemed unusually large.
4. After the second (and less serious) outbreak of P.I. I learned that there are many, MANY forms of poison ivy, poison oak, and poison sumac. It would be impossible for me to learn them all by sight.
5. "Leaves of three, let them be."
6. One should carefully examine all vines and other plant life and count the leaves before touching.
7. The third case is NOT a charm.
8. Oatmeal and Epsom salt baths feel good as long as you are submerged.
9. You can only take so many baths in a 24 hours period.
10. Caladryl with an "April 1991" expiration date contains benedryl and works just as good (if not better) as Caladryl now on the market that no longer contains benedryl.
11. Friends have many, MANY suggestions regarding how to treat poison ivy.
12. Friends and husbands lose interest and have little sympathy when you refuse to go to the doctor.
13. 20+ bee stings are NEVER a good accompaniment to P.I. (It's difficult to count bee stings on your back side. You just have to estimate.)
14. A worn and ragged terry-cloth bathrobe feels better than tight-fitting underwear on an itchy body.
15. It's not OVER until it's OVER.

I could say more. But I need to go soak awhile.
If I've learned ANYTHING from this, it is:
Pay attention to #5!

Life and Blogging

2011-09-28T10:35:00.002-04:00

HER: "Hi Rebecca, just having my coffee. How are you? Miss you and the others so much and every day I say I am going to post today but life just gets in the way. I am out of here in an hour as we are driving to a birthday party supper north of here. Have a great day, xo"

ME: "Sounds like a fun day! It's quite wet here and raining - maybe up until the weekend. Never think that "life gets in the way" though. Life IS the way"

ME: "What I mean is it is better to let life get in the way of blogging than blogging in the way of life!"

...so went our facebook exchange yesterday. It IS possible to let blogging (technology) get in the way of life. This morning, fueled by the realization of what I'd written yesterday, I got busy and updated our mantel. It had been on my mental "to do" list for several days. For more pictures of the result, click on the picture below.

For me, it takes deliberate and frequent evaluation

to be sure that blogging doesn't get in the way of life.

How about you?

Better than I Deserve!

2011-09-27T08:42:00.001-04:00

I'm a huge fan of this show. His financial principles and counsel are rock solid. I'm not a regular listener (simply 'cause I haven't taken the time to figure out local scheduling). But now and then, while in the car or during occasional sleepless nights, I stumble on his call-in radio program.

Dave's stock answer to every caller's question, "How are you?" is "BETTER THAN I DESERVE!"

How great is that?! How TRUE is that?!
Lately, I've been challenged (and frankly, OVERWHELMED in a positive way) by insights of Paul David Tripp on the subject of grace. This, for example: "Never forget that what God required you couldn't do...Christ did it for you...his grace is your hope."

Wonderful the matchless grace of Jesus,
Deeper than the mighty rolling sea;
Higher than the mountain, sparkling like a fountain,
All sufficient grace for even me;
Broader than the scope of my transgressions,
Greater far than all my sin and shame;
O magnify the precious Name of Jesus,
Praise His Name!

Music & Lyrics: Haldor Lillenas

"How am I doing?" you ask. "Better than I deserve!" His grace IS my hope.

Widespread Outage?

2011-09-26T06:25:00.000-04:00

"No power here at work.

Waiting to hear from Indiana Michigan Power on what is causing the problem.

Apparently widespread outage."

This bit of tweet was twittered a few days ago by a friend of ours. (Or would it be "twitter was tweeted"?) I never DID hear what was causing that particular outage...

Today we awakened to yet another day of rain. The local news tells us there are trees and power lines down this morning due to wind and rains.

~~Maybe~~ I'm cynical, but lately I've been wondering if a similar tweet might be twittered about the condition of many churches and individuals professing faith in the Lord Jesus...Sometimes it appears to me there is "apparently widespread outage". (And I'm not just talking about empty pews and offering plates!) My heart's prayer is best summed up by the words of an old gospel song, Pentecostal Power.

Lord, as of old, at Pentecost,
Thou didst Thy power display,
With cleansing, purifying flame,
Descend on us today.

For mighty works for Thee, prepare
And strengthen every heart;
Come, take possession of Thine own,
And never more depart.

All self consume, all sin destroy!
With earnest zeal endue
Each waiting heart to work for Thee;
O Lord, our faith renew!

Speak, Lord! before Thy throne we wait,
Thy promise we believe,
And will not let Thee go until
The blessing we receive.

Refrain

Lord, send the old-time power, the Pentecostal power!
Thy floodgates of blessing, on us throw open wide!
Lord, send the old-time power, the Pentecostal power!
That sinners be converted and Thy Name glorified!

...and let it begin in ME.

Rejoice!

2011-09-24T05:54:00.001-04:00

From the "wild prairie" section of our local Extension Garden...

"There is not one blade of grass,

there is no color in this world
that is not intended to make us rejoice."

-John Calvin


Our youngest grandson... Rejoice, the Lord is King! Your Lord and King adore; Mortals give thanks and sing, and triumph evermore; Lift up your heart, lift up your voice; Rejoice, again I say, rejoice! Jesus, the Savior, reigns, the God of truth and love; When He had purged our stains He took His seat above; Lift up your heart, lift up your voice; Rejoice, again I say, rejoice! His kingdom cannot fail, He rules o'er earth and heaven, The keys of death and hell are to our Jesus given; Lift up your heart, lift up your voice; Rejoice, again I say, rejoice! He sits at God's right hand till all His foes submit, And bow to His command, and fall beneath His feet: Lift up your heart, lift up your voice; Rejoice, again I say, rejoice!

Words by Charles Wesley

I ♥ Autumn

2011-09-23T07:32:00.000-04:00

"Thy bounty shines inautumn unconfined
And spreads a common feast for all that live."
- James Thomson

"Summer is alreadybetter, but the best is autumn.
It is mature, reasonable and serious, it glows
moderately and not frivolously ... It cools down,
clears up, makes you reasonable ..."
- Valentin

"I love fall! Fall is exciting.
It's apples and cider.
It's an airborne spider.
It's pumpkins in bins.
It's burrs on dog's chins.
It's wind blowing leaves.
It's chilly red knees.
It's nuts on the ground.
It's a crisp dry sound.
It's green leaves turning
And the smell of them burning.
It's clouds in the sky.
It's fall. That's why...
I love fall."
- Author Unknown

"Autumn is a season followedimmediately by looking forward to Spring." - Anonymous

Today I'm simply ReVELiNg in the coming of my favorite season.

Time seems to have flown by...

I have a few potted plants to place in our already-crowded flower beds..

I'd best get ENeRGeTiC before winter!

Remedies?

2011-09-21T07:29:00.000-04:00

So far...

nothing works.

The itching is intense. The rash is ugly.

I didn't go to the doctor.

I got the shot for the first bout of poison ivy of my summer

and didn't think it did much good.

But I think I've tried just about everything else--

except for bleach.

It kind of makes me think about how "mankind" has dealt with

the undeniable sin issue--

trying to compensate with good works,

attempting to break old habits,

repressing or aggressing,

sacrificing or reforming

with little progress and no actual success.

I've given up on the poison ivy situation.

Thankfully, God didn't give up on the SIN situation!

"This is love: not that we have loved God,

but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the payment for our sins."

(I John 4:10)

"(H)e saved us, but not because of anything we had done to gain his approval.

Instead, because of his mercy he saved us through the washing

in which the Holy Spirit gives us new birth and renewal."

(Titus 3:5)

How "Tweet" It Is!

2011-09-17T10:48:00.002-04:00

Scene from Brenda's honey extraction post...

Yes, I have a twitter account.

However, I don't use it for personal, back and forth communication.
(I use facebook for that.)

Rather I have the account so I can"collect" and profit

from the wisdom of a few people I respect.
This process reminds me of my friend Brenda's post
about extracting honey from the hives.

Here's a sampling of what I've extracted lately.

Paul David Tripp: You simply must not under-estimate sin and you simply cannot over-estimate grace.

Randy Alcorn: "Sympathy is no substitute for action." David Livingstone

Tullian Tchividjian: "No man knows how bad he is until he has tried very hard to be good." CS Lewis

Tim Keller: There is no way you will be able to grow spiritually apart from a deep involvement in a community of other believers.

Rick Warren: The more you're tested, the more you're trusted. So rejoice! See James 1:12

A W Tozer: The purpose of God is not to save us from Hell. The purpose of God is to make us like Christ.

Mark Driscoll: “Ambition that centers on the glory of God and welfare of the church is a mighty force for good.” J. Oswald Sanders

Ray Ortlund:

One way I have never, ever, ever wasted my time: studying the Bible.
Jesus-intensive, biblical, heartfelt, simple, joyful, communal Christianity - this I revere and desire to spread.
Reading the Bible, cover to cover, year after year, we stop thinking piecemeal and think biblically. No quick way.
"The early Christians were not persecuted because they worshiped Jesus but because they worshiped Jesus only." F Schaeffer

Rick Warren once tweeted: "A great quote is the highest form of literature,

needing no context to liberate a life, save a soul, or direct a destiny."

My twitter page is a storehouse of "tweet" stuff--great quotes
that challenge and encourage me.

How TWEET it is!

This is a test...

2011-09-15T06:26:00.000-04:00

Yesterday a friend told me that she got a "mailer daemon" message when trying to email me. So this morning I asked my husband to email me so I could see whether or not my email account was working. I just received his message. "This is a test."

My first thought was a sarcastic one: "How creative of him!" But immediately on the heels of THAT thought came the realization that this could be the title of my last 36 hours!

Leaves of three? Let them be!

Tuesday evening, I asked him if we could go help a friend who mentioned the overgrowth in a section of her back yard. We packed a few tools. I took my gardening gloves. It wasn't until we'd begun tearing out some stubborn weeds that it occurred to me that we might be handling poison oak or ivy.

It was after moving to the site of a partially-fallen lilac bush that we encountered bees! I'm not sure I've had a bee sting in any of my 62 years of life. (Wasp, yes. Bee? I don't think so.) Well, we both got enough stings to make up for our lack of experience!

I woke yesterday with an obvious rash on both forearms. This morning, there are only a few places on my body that AREN'T covered with rash. My husband's are confined to his legs and arms.

This IS a test.

Actually, ALL of life is a test.

Job 23:8-10 " If I go east, He is not there, and if I go west, I cannot perceive Him. When He is at work to the north, I cannot see Him; when He turns south, I cannot find Him. Yet He knows the way I have taken; when He has tested me, I will emerge as pure gold."

Job understood that at least SOME tests come from God. Character is developed AND revealed by testing! God sees how we respond to people, problems, success, conflict, illness, disappointment, the weather, and even poison oak or ivy!

This is just another test I want to pass.
QUICKLY, if possible!

Like Job, I too am going for the gold.

Quiet Corner

2011-09-14T12:48:00.003-04:00

Yesterday, our Lady Bugs (Red-Hattters-No-Longer) group met

at Quiet Corner Tea and Coffee Room for lunch.

As soon as I turned into the lane and began the winding route up to the tea room,

I was inwardly quieted...

Above, a sign in a window...

Below, a sign on the path to the Tea Room.

A new feature since I was there last was this little farm stand.

I bought a couple yellow summer squash and two tomatoes.

I wish this place was just a little bit closer to our house.

I would spend more time in the rocking chairs

on the porch watching the birds at the feeders

and calmed by the Quiet of this special Corner.

I brought home a few souveniers....Yes, they're buckeyes.

Do YOU have a favorite Quiet Place?

What are its best features?

Bananas...Bread...Baking

2011-09-12T10:45:00.002-04:00

My husband and I attended this country church

during our college years and early married lives.

I treasure this cookbook not just because of the wonderful recipes,

but because every page conjures up a special memory in my mind.

You may know that you can click on these pictures to enlarge...

This morning I used up 3 "black" bananas and followed

my great-aunt Pearl's recipe for banana bread.

(I didn't add a cup of nuts.)
I baked the bread in this Corning Ware bread pan.
We received several casserole dishes in this pattern
as wedding gifts in 1971.
I've added other pieces such as this one throughout the years
while shopping in thrift stores and at garage sales.

As I stirred up the batter, I thought of this Chip Ingram quote...

"God gives us the ingredients for our daily bread, but he expects us to do the baking!"

How does YOUR favorite banana bread recipe

compare with my Great-Aunt-Pearl's?

God Bless our Native Land

2011-09-11T08:34:00.002-04:00

God bless our native land
Firm may she ever stand
Through storm and night.
When the wild tempests rave
Ruler of wind and wave
Do Thou our country save
By Thy great might.

 
For her our prayers shall rise
To God above the skies
On Him we wait.
Thou who art ever nigh
Guarding with watchful eye
To Thee aloud we cry
God save the State.

Amen.

Words: Charles T. Brooks, circa 1833. These words, written while Brooks was studying at the Divinity School in Cambridge, Massachusetts, were said to be a translation from the German.

They were later recast by a number of other authors.

Rambling Day and Night

2011-09-10T09:03:00.001-04:00

Some of the flowers rambling in our backyard...

Rambling a bit this morning....a continuation of a rambling night! I haven't been sleeping all that soundly. I'm semi-sidelined with a pain around my left shoulder blade. As a result, most of my daytime hours are spent in my recliner with a heating pad.

During the night, I have a Christian radio station playing softly. I hear some very encouraging (and challenging) messages. I also think I've been dreaming!

For one thing, in the middle of the night my right hand THINKS it is operating my built-in laptop mousepad! Now that's a strange sensation to experience in a half-asleep state.

I also dreamed that I stumbled across an unfamiliar picture 3 times in one day. Once was in someone's blog....the other two instances were unrelated to the computer. I woke up trying to figure out if it was a dream or if it actually had happened yesterday. I can't remember what the picture was and STILL am unclear if it was a dream or actual experience...

Apparently, I have been spending too much time on the laptop. (I AM rather proud of using my "time out" to figure out how to use my own photos as backgrounds for my blogs. However, I have run out of blogs to remodel, so I'll have to move on to something else, I guess.)

I'm going a little stir-crazy waiting for the pain to subside.
A person can only ramble so much!

My Priceless Gem

2011-09-09T08:29:00.005-04:00

I reached out, with youthful passion, for a lovely bauble,and found a priceless gem.

This was the opening line of a eulogy I saw today--written by a husband for his wife. I'm in a very mellow mood. The words "melted" my heart! Having just prepared to lead a Bible study about priorities and finding it was directed primarily to women in their roles as wives and homemakers, I am instructed and challenged regarding my marriage.

Yes, even after 40 years of marriage and homemaking, I still need to be instructed, reminded and sometimes corrected.

I do have a priceless gem in my husband. For whatever time God gives us together, I want to honor and obey the Word of God in this matter (and all others).

Bid the older women similarly to be reverent and devout in their deportment as becomes those engaged in sacred service, not slanderers or slaves to drink. They are to give good counsel and be teachers of what is right and noble, so that they will wisely train the young women to be sane and sober of mind (temperate, disciplined) and to love their husbands and their children, to be self-controlled, chaste, homemakers, good-natured (kindhearted), adapting and subordinating themselves to their husbands, that the word of God may not be exposed to reproach (blasphemed or discredited). Titus 2:3-5, Amplified Bible

Inner Beauty

2011-09-07T06:33:00.000-04:00

Proverbs 31: 30

For a thoughtful post about inner beauty and well-being, I recommend French Essence--this post particularly. It contains a lovely explanation of ten qualities that supersede physical treatments and products, appearance, habits, and material goods when it comes to being a truly beautiful person. They are:

Caring

Contentment

Happiness

Self-Confidence

Laughter

Learning

Flexibility

Generosity

Communication

Centered*

For me, *"centered" means finely arranged and balanced around The One who is Worthy and Superior to anyone or anything else...to be motivated and empowered by Him. So, I'm going to reverse the order of these ten and go to "work"! (Or rather, clear the way so HE can work!)

And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you (me)
will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.
Philippians 1:6

Pride Reinforces Love

2011-09-05T20:42:00.000-04:00

I am extraordinarily blessed in so MANY ways--not the least of which is having

this man for my father. The hours spent watching him in the yard today

brought me great joy. At the age of 84, he is still teaching me a great deal!

Thank you, HEAVENLY FATHER, for my earthly dad.

"I talk and talk and talk, and I haven't taught people in 50 years

what my father taught by example in one week." -- Mario Cuomo

"One father is more than a hundred schoolmasters." -- George Herbert

"My father didn't tell me how to live; he lived, and let me watch him do it."

-- Clarence Budington Kelland

"None of you can ever be proud enough of being the child of such a Father who has not his equal in this world - so great, so good, so faultless. Try, all of you, to follow in his footsteps and don't be discouraged, for to be really in everything like him none of you, I am sure, will ever be. Try, therefore, to be like him in some points, and you will have acquired a great deal."

-- Queen Victoria of England (clearly speaking of our Heavenly Father)

"It's only when you grow up, and step back from him,

or leave him for your own career and your own home—

it's only then that you can measure his greatness

and fully appreciate it.
Pride reinforces love." -- Margaret Truman

Impossible to Measure

2011-09-04T06:19:00.000-04:00

Don't ask me why I have 4 sets of measuring spoons!

Our spiritual life cannot be measured by success as the world measures it, but only by what God pours through us--and we cannot measure that at all. (O. Chambers)

This phrase from yesterday's devotional keeps going through my head. So many times in the past, I've spent unprofitable time trying to measure whether or not I'm "doing enough for God." I may not say it in those words, but that's generally the gist of my self-evaluation.

It's freeing to let the highlighted words above sink in! "We CANNOT measure that at all." What God pours through a surrendered and selfless life is impossible to measure! It's not what I produce that matters, but what He produces in me and releases through me.

Another form of five pounds...

In this world, I'm dependent on measurements of all kinds. For instance, my scale shows that I've lost five pounds in the last two weeks. Five pounds looks ONE way on the scale and another way sitting on my kitchen table. (And I have NO idea what it looks like on my actual body. I can't "see" anything yet,,,)

I think it's the same way with my spiritual life. How differently my efforts must "weigh" with God who measures with an entirely other-worldly set of measures! After all, how do you measure "Living Water"??? I can't see anything yet...but one day I WILL see as He sees. Till then my prayer is:

Jesus, fill now with Thy Spirit
Hearts that full surrender know;
That the streams of living water
From our inner self may flow.

Channels only, blessed Master,
But with all Thy wondrous power
Flowing through us, Thou canst use us
Every day and every hour.

("Channels Only", Gospel Song)

Kind of curious here.  What kitchen gadgets do YOU have duplicates of?

Verbatim

2011-09-02T07:02:00.001-04:00

"He who believes in Me, out of his heart will flow..." (John 7:38)

Jesus did not say, "He who believes in Me will realize all the blessings of the fullness of God," but, in essence, "He who believes in Me will have everything he receives escape out of him."

Our Lord's teaching was always anti-self-realization. His purpose is not the development of a person--His purpose is to make a person exactly like Himself, and the Son of God is characterized by self-expenditure.

If we believe in Jesus, it is not what we gain but what He pours through us that really counts. God's purpose is not simply to make us beautiful, plump grapes, but to make us grapes so that He may squeeze the sweetness out of us.

Our spiritual life cannot be measured by success as the world measures it, but only by what God pours through us--and we cannot measure that at all.

(VERBATIM from My Utmost for His Highest, 1st paragraph for September 2.) The grapes are "mine" -- what's left of a larger collection...See HERE for a few more.

Life & Godliness

Found

I Go to the Rock

I Choose Life!

The Old, Old Story

(W)Here We Are

Life--NOT Godliness

Snow Glory!

Glory!

"I'm experiencing an extra dose of God's glory in my heart this morning! Big things and small, He is Lord of all!' So posted a facebook friend this morning. And from the Gospel Song Hall of Fame in my heart came this FlAsHBaCk. I sure wish I could sing it so you all could HEAR it!

Thank you, JESUS, for the songs embedded in my memory! Thank you for the glory that fills my soul as I sing these words about You, for You and to You!

RefrainIt is glory just to walk with Him,It is glory just to walk with Him,He will guide my steps arightThrough the vale and o'er the height,It is glory just to walk with Him.

Broken Things

Hello, Young Mothers

"Wove and Mawwage"

God in the Detail

"Kicking the Box was Stupid"

Right Hand, Left Hand

Creative Ways?

Saturday Miscellany

Me, Myself, and I

Resolutions are Hard Stuff

The Invincible Future with Him...

And My Word for 2012 Is.....

Ready for Take-Off!

1/2 Price Christmas Candy

Christmas WAS...

Christmas Is...

"Christmas is not LIKE heaven on earth, it IS heaven on earth."

He Shall Feed His Flock

To Give is Happier...

A Peek. A Reflection. Some Nostalgia

Wrapped Up in Love

No Tinsel to Tangle

Picniking in December

A Christmas Card Dilemma

Just Give Me Jesus

Joy

Party Time

Where'd the Weekend Go???

Temporary Clarity

Christmas Questions

More than a Moment

A "Christmas Carol" Moment

Talent Galore!

Leftovers

Warming Up!

All My Bags Are Packed

Dead Ends and Dark Alleys

Live your life, take chances, be crazy. Don't wait cause right now is the oldest you've ever been & the youngest you'll be ever again.

The Thanks Continues

When Life Gives you Lemons...

Above and Beyond

from Basic to Beautiful

Real Heroes

The Old Is Just Fine - Part 2

The Old is Just Fine!

Say What You Want

The Stones are Shouting!

Can't Wait to Try It!

Back Door Friends are Best!

November

Fun While It Lasted

Happy Halloween

Q. What do you call a person who gets a pumpkin pie in the face? A."Desserted"

Q. What do you get when you divide the circumference of a pumpkin by the diameter? Pumpkin Pi

Q. What do you call a fat pumpkin? A. A plumpkin

You might be a redneck if....The Halloween pumpkin on your front porch has more teeth than your spouse.

Q. When is a pumpkin not a pumpkin? A. When you drop it; then it's squash!

Q. How do you mend a broken jack-o-lantern? A. With a pumpkin patch!.

Q. Who helped the pumpkin kid cross the street on his way to school? A. the Crossing Gourd

Q. Lynn likes grapes but not potatoes. She likes squash but not lettuce, and she likes peas but not onions. Following the same pattern, will she like pumpkins or apples? A. Pumpkins (All the things she likes grow on vines.)

Q. On what day of the week do jack-o-lanterns eat their candy? A. Chewsday

Q. Why was the jack-o-lantern afraid to cross the street? A. It had no guts.

Q. What kind of books do Jack-o'-lanterns read? A. Pulp fiction and other seedy novels (Thanks to Jess who planted the seeds for this one.)

That's ALL for now, Folks!

Trivial vs. Significant

How Reassuring Is THIS?

Music...Poetry...Picture

Chronicling the Particular

Refrain
It is glory just to walk with Him,
It is glory just to walk with Him,
He will guide my steps aright
Through the vale and o'er the height,
It is glory just to walk with Him.