More than "Possible"

This is my Bible....C.C.'s photo had verse 5 highlighted.....

I have a Twitter account.  I use it primarily as a file of inspiring and challenging quotes.  This morning, Christine Caine's tweet sent me to her Instagram account--by the way, I don't have an Instagram account--there IS a limit:  This, along with a photo showing Joshua 3:5 highlighted in yellow, is what I found:

"I don't know about you, but I go to sleep believing this EVERY night.  I find that the more I BELIEVE the Lord will do amazing things among us, the more I see him do amazing things.  Life is too short to waste in unbelief, fear, doubt & negativity. As for me & my house, we are BELIEVING GOD!!!

"My word" for 2015 is possible. I wrote how that came to be here.  C.C.'s tweet and the accompanying Scripture impress me to expect so much MORE than possible.  God DID, CAN, and WILL DO AMAZING things!

It appears to me that Joshua called for at least two things here.  First, that the people "consecrate" (some versions say "purify") themselves in anticipation/expectation for God's amazing activity on their behalf.  Secondly, that preparation for the next day begin the night before!  Tomorrow begins today!

With God's help, I will incorporate both of these insights more intentionally into my daily - well, nightly - practice.

The Tension

I've begun to suspect that facebook/twitter/social media in general

is in danger of becoming the current "street corner" of Matthew 6. 
Jesus said, "Beware."  And I'm trying to discern and adjust my behavior accordingly.

This is how I responded in declining to participate in yet ANOTHER facebook "challenge" recently. 

Sometimes I feel like such a grinch.

It's a hard issue for me.  I have Facebook and Twitter accounts; a Pinterest board, too.  I've blogged for many years now.  I find it to be a creative outlet as well as a pictorial journal of sorts.  I've been challenged, inspired, corrected and instructed by reading the posts and comments of other people. I've made some wonderful friends.

On the other hand, I'm increasingly aware of a certain tension--perhaps a healthy one.   For me, the tension consists of temptations to compare myself with others either negatively or positively, occasionally to present myself in an unrealistically favorable or unfavorable light, and at times to judge other people -- again either favorably or unfavorably.

(I don't know if that makes ANY sense to ANYone...)

There ARE times, Jesus said, to let our lights shine before others so they may see our good works and give glory to our Father (Matthew 5:16).  But I can't escape his words just a few paragraphs later:  "Beware of practicing your righteousness before other people in order to be see by them..." (Matthew 6:1ff).

Last night I hear a radio preacher say something to this effect (I was too groggy to get this transcribed word for word OR to know who was speaking):  When you most feel like hiding, that's the time to let your light shine.  When you feel most like shining, that's the time to hide.   

I'm going to GO with that.  

It seems to be consistent with Jesus' intent. 

I suspect I'll continue to experience the tension as long as I'm present on social media. 

Saturday

A single beauty admired at our local Extension Gardens earlier this week...

This morning, one of my favorite "tweeters" - Scotty Smith - tweeted: "Saturday is a great day for embracing our limitations, boasting in Christ, and extending God's grace."  His hashtag was "justlikeeveryday". 

I'm determined not to get stuck on the FIRST part, 

consciously practice the second part, 

and actively engage in the third.

Another single beauty from our own back yard!

Let Your Light Shine

My dear grandmother made this lamp!  I treasure it.

 Sometimes I think I THINK too much.  Like today...
Just happens that it's the SAME day Nate came to do the electrical work
to install a plug-in on our kitchen island so I could "let THIS light shine"!

 My husband had the island already on some small rugs
so it could be slid around without scratching our floors.

 Once the hole was drilled, there was no turning back!

This was a combination birthday/Christmas gift.  MY choice!

OK.  Back to what I was thinking this morning after digesting
a lot of facebook posts, tweets, and a blog post or two...
Jesus DID say:
In the same way, let your light shine before others, 
so that they may see your good works 

and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.  (Matthew 5:19)

But only a few verses later, He ALSO said,

Beware of practicing your righteousness before other people in order to be seen by them, 

for then you will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven.  
(Matthew 6:1)
It's  quite a fine line between the two, I decided.  
A line I do NOT want to cross.
I really want to avoid the Pharisee lifestyle.
It so easily creeps up on a person!
 What IS it about me/us that makes me/us want to PUBLISH
ANYthing about myself/ourselves?   
Why do I think my left hand needs to know what my right hand is doing?
(Not to mention my facebook friends and everyone in Blogland?

See?  I told you that sometimes I think too much!

My hubby writing the check; the light, shining...

I Wish I'd Said That...

Surprise Lily in our Garden

• "There is more mercy in Christ than sin in us." (Richard Sibbes)
• "God is not peculiarly interested in your historical spiritual past. He is directly interested in your moral, spiritual present." (Alistar Begg)
• “The biggest obstacle to making Christ magnificent is the refusal to make yourself small.” (James MacDonald)
• “NEVER return meanness to offenders BUT ALWAYS support Christian sisters & brothers who are being attacked.  2Tim.4:16” (Rick Warren)
• “If I were to let my life be taken over by what is urgent, I might very well never get around to what is essential.” (Henri Nouwen)
• “I used to complain about all the interruptions to my work until I realized that these interruptions were my work.” (Henri Nouwn)
• “The Bible is not first a recipe book for Christian living, but a revelation book of Christ who is the answer to our unchristian living.”  (Tullian Tchividjian)
• “Is my biggest issue Jesus' biggest issue? Is what I'm most fired up about what Jesus is most concerned with?  If not, change!” (Rick Warren)
• "It is because God's wrath is real that his mercy is relevant." (Alister Begg)
• “Poverty and affliction take away the fuel that feeds pride.” (Richard Sibbes)
• “Treat everything as if it belongs to God. It does.” (Rick Warren)
• “The word obedient comes from the Latin word audire, which means 'listening'. When we learn to listen, our lives become obedient lives.” (Henri Nouwen)
• I'm a God-designed, purpose-intended, significant, lavishly-loved, prince/son (princess/daughter) of the King of the Universe.” (Louie Giglio)
• "O God, hear me, do for me more than I ask, think, or dream." - Puritan prayer
• “A trial is a difficult circumstance allowed by God to transform your conduct and your character. Ex11;  James 1:2-3” (James MacDonald)
• “If we pray, we will believe; If we believe, we will love; If we love, we will serve.” (Mother Teresa)

All of the above are recent tweets -- the collection of which

are the main reasons I have a Twitter account...

How I Found My Pumpkin

Read more about the pumpkin shortage HERE.

There was no pumpkin to be found at the two major grocery stores nearest me.  Then I went to Save-A-Lot in a small town nearby.  At all stores, I was informed either that pumpkin was a seasonal item not yet in stock OR that there was a shortage and they didn't know WHEN/IF they would receive it this year.

That's when Facebook kicked in.  I posted about my dilemma. Don noticed and told me that his father who lives in the Pumpkin Capital and home of Libbey Cannery (Morton, IL) said that the fields were too wet to harvest the crop last year and a shortage exists. In fact, he wrote:   There was an article last year about the shortage and it featured a picture of one of Libbey's marketing execs hugging about 6 cans of pumpkin! It was all that was left of 2009 production! I heard rumors that cans were going on ebay for quite a bit of money!  Brenda (Chicago area) told me: Our local grocery stores had been out of pumpkin for months but now I have seen again--just last week in Jewel and Aldi. A friend of mine had missed it and went and bought two cases from Aldi.  

My husband was at work in a neighboring town, close to an Aldi.  I texted him, and he agreed to check it out.  He came home with 4 cans.  (I should have told him to buy two cases!  I might have been able to sell them to WalMart!) 

More pumpkin recipes on my recipe page--thanks to Jacquelyn!

This afternoon, I made these pumpkin muffins.  I didn't have the maple flavoring to put in the frosting or the toffee bits to sprinkle on top....but here is how they turned out.

Thank you, Facebook Friends!

Have YOU had any trouble finding pumpkin this year - or is it too early?
What will YOU do with YOUR pumpkin?

When was the last time YOU got help from a Facebook Friend?