Sane, Simple, Sacred: Good and Perfect Gifts

Good and Perfect Gifts

A special friend stopped in to give me this Christmas gift. I was doubly happy to receive it because it was painted by her mother!

When our outdoor temperature rises a bit, I plan to take a walk around the house and outbuildings to find the "perfect" spot for it.

I love every single DETAIL in the scene! I have it propped up in a prominent INDOOR spot where I can just sit and smile at it for awhile...

I confess to listening to Rush Limbaugh occasionally. I always chuckle when I hear him say "with talent on loan from God". The fact is, that is true! Our talents ARE God-given and are "on loan" from Him!

I celebrate the talent God has given my friend's mother and the generosity of my friend. I'm renewed in my desire to use the talents I have been given to bring pleasure to others as theirs have done to me.

Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom is no fickleness, neither shadow of turning.

(James 1:17)

11 comments:

EileenDecember 16, 2010 at 6:09 PM
Such a beautiful gift! And how wonderful for her to share her Blessing (on loan from God! I like that!)!
And I love how you emphasized each detail, and each detail could be a painting of it's own! Really precious!
Enjoy it!

I hope things are well with your family. I will keep you all in my prayers. And I hope you all enjoy a Holy, Blessed Season.
Love and Prayers,
Eileen
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DianaDecember 16, 2010 at 8:50 PM
Is that painted on a stone Rebecca? It really is pretty. I think that I'd keep it inside for the winter to enjoy and find a good spot outside in the spring!
I am so grateful for the talents that God has blessed me with and I enjoy sharing them with friends! That reminds me, I promised you a little something after Christmas. I already have something in mind that would be perfect for you! Love Di ♥
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PatDecember 16, 2010 at 9:23 PM
A very special gift from the heart, more lovely and precious then any that could be purchased in a store.
I love that you took pictures of each detail, it is beautiful!
I look forward to seeing a picture of it outdoors when the weather warms up..don't forget to share that!
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Jacquelyn StagerDecember 16, 2010 at 10:55 PM
Oh I love that too! It looks like it is painted on slate? Is there some kind of protective clear stuff you can spray on it if it will be outside? Maybe it already has something? What a treasure!!!
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RebeccaDecember 17, 2010 at 6:26 AM
Yes, it IS on slate & my friend said there IS a protective coat on it so it can be hung outdoors.
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Janettessage.blogspot.comDecember 17, 2010 at 8:32 AM
Just beautiful...what a treasure! And I agree, talents loaned to us by God...may we all use what He has entrusted to us.
You fonts, and blog just looks wonderful...you are talented also, and use your talent to encourage all
Merry Christmas
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SandyDecember 17, 2010 at 8:48 AM
Well, I love the painting as well.
Very nice.
Hey, we listen to Rush from time
to time too. I think he is a brave
man who tells it like it is.
Blessings,
Sandy
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Donna's Book NookDecember 17, 2010 at 6:56 PM
That is really a special gift! What a good reminder that all of our "talents" are from God and we need to use them for His glory.
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GlendaDecember 17, 2010 at 7:43 PM
Beautiful gift ... and reminder to use our gifts, no matter how small they seem to us, to serve God and others! I really like the Wilda English quote you've posted, too; it's a perfect definition of this season!
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MariaDecember 18, 2010 at 11:11 AM
That is so pretty Rebecca! I'm glad it has an indoor home ~ so lovely...
as is the prayer just above the comments * thank you ♥
Merry Christmas!
love,
Maria
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LisaShawDecember 18, 2010 at 12:08 PM
What an absolutely beautiful and treasured gift! Nothing at all like gifts made of the hand and heart!

Christmas blessings!
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"We simplify, not just to be less busy, even though we may be right to pursue that. Rather, we simplify to remove distractions from our pursuit of Christ. We prune activities from our lives, not only to get organized, but also that our devotion to Christ and service for His kingdom will be more fruitful. We simplify, not merely to save time, but to eliminate hindrances to the time we devote to knowing Christ. All the reasons we simplify should eventually lead us to Jesus Christ!" (Donald S. Whitney)

Dedicated to my sister-in-law, Beth--a TRUE home manager....

"I work for a King. He has put me in charge of his home. When He comes to see how I have managed His possessions and His children, I do not want to be found wanting. I want to do my best. Everything I have is on loan from Him. I have room and board and a job to do, but it is all for Him. Therefore I want to dress my best and do my best in all my work. I also want to be creative, for this is a sincere attempt to glorify Him and His beautiful creation. How I manage my home is a form of worship to Him." --Lydia Sherman

"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."

~Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

Contentment makes poor men rich.

-Benjamin Franklin

"What I am gradually discovering is that in the writing I come in touch with the Spirit of God." ~ Nouwen

~~"Reading without reflecting is like eating without digesting."~~Edmund Burke

C.S. Lewis: "To trust Him means, of course, trying to do all that He says. There would be no sense in trusting a person if you wouldn't take his advice. Thus if you have really handed yourself over to Him, it must follow that you are trying to obey Him."

"To live content with small means; to seek elegance rather than luxury, and refinement rather than fashion; to be worthy, not respectable, and wealthy, not rich; to listen to stars and birds, babes and sages, with open heart; to study hard; to think quietly, act frankly, talk gently, await occasions, hurry never; in a word, to let the spiritual, unbidden and unconscious, grow up through the common--this is my symphony." William Henry Channing

“Finish each day and be done with it. You have done what you could. Some blunders and absurdities no doubt crept in; forget them as soon as you can. Tomorrow is a new day; begin it well and serenely and with too high a spirit to be encumbered with your old nonsense.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson

The Apostle Paul: "But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus." (Philippians 3:13-14)

"It's a good thing to have all the props pulled out from under us occasionally. It gives us some sense of what is rock under our feet, and what is sand. It stops us from taking anything for granted. It has also taught me alot about living in the immediate moment. I am somehow managing to live one day, one hour at a time." Madeleine L'Engle

FIVE CERTAINTIES
WITH WHICH TO
START YOUR DAY

God holds you. Each day he carries us in his arms. Psalm 68:19 NLT
God sustains you. THE LORD is my Shepherd [to feed, guide, and shield me], I shall not lack. Psalm 23:1 AMP
God covers you. He will cover you with His pinions, and under His wings shall you trust. Psalm 91:4 AMP
God pours His love upon you. Through each day the Lord pours his unfailing love upon me. Psalm 42:8 NLT
God will not fail you. The unfailing love of the Lord never ends! Lamentations 3:22 NLT

THE BLOGGER'S PRAYER Lord, help me to learn to spell without spellcheck, manage to visit all that visit me, and post regularly - all in 5 minutes a day, so that I can clean house and take care of my family. Help me to not look at every occurrence in my life as a blog post, and to quit taking pictures of weird things to share as well. Please Lord, help me to stop talking about my blog friends as though they are next door neighbors or someone I have known all of my life. And help me, dear Lord, to think of something witty and wise to post tomorrow.
Love, The Dust Bunny Hostage

Sane, Simple, Sacred

Mercy

Good and Perfect Gifts

11 comments:

Writing a Song a Week #3