Here at last! A snowy Saturday, everything, I mean everything cancelled because of the snow (with the just right amount of ice on top). No wedding shower to attend, no appointment to keep, no ballgame to cheer, no groceries to get, no NOTHING but the building of a fire, studying the Word, listening to music, eating taco soup and cornbread, watching the birds and writing in my little blog!
By the way, 2 comments on yesterday's blog broke my comment record -you know who you are so give yourselves a little squeeze from me.
Let's close with some lovely and true quotes about snow:
"Kindness is like snow-it beautifies everything it covers." -unknown
"Getting an inch of snow is like winning 10 cents in the lottery."
"Advice is like snow-the softer it falls, the longer it dwells upon, and the deeper it sinks into the mind. Samuel Taylor Coleridge
Saturday, January 30, 2010
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
"The Battle is Mine, saith the Lord"
Beware blogger friends. I was so excited to announce that I had a comment from someone in China, written in the lovely Chinese letters which, of course, I cannot read. Hoping to gain understanding and maybe see"love your blog", I showed it to Phil, and I clicked on the message--no, not "love your blog!" Up popped a PORNO KITTEN from China!!! So much for my ego!
Life so far this year has been a case study in "not what one plans" for the new year, or any old year for that matter. However, because of the serious illness of a beloved family member, I have had the privilege of going to the battlefield, serving the troops, and hunkering down in little foxholes with Jesus, our Commander and Chief. He is teaching all of us how to trust him, actually, that He IS our trust.
One of the most valuable lessons thus far is finally sinking in with this training--you do NOT run, there is no peace, no comfort, and no provision for a soldier on the run from the battle God has you in. On the contrary, protection and peace come from meeting your enemy head on, with the knowledge that, unlike normal warfare,we are strengthened by the surrender of our wills to the will of our Lord, and triumphant in the knowledge that God, our Sword and Shield, goes before us in every skirmish.
One thing for certain, in this battle with fear and "what-if", there is an amazing power available to battle weary soldiers. That power comes from trusting in the NAME, the name above all names, the name that has the power to become its name for you in time of need. A name that beckons us to look not at the circumstances of the battle, but look the character of our Leader. Let us learn to trust that name, Jesus, our Advocate, Jesus, our Hiding Place, Jesus, Our Chief Shepherd, Jesus, our deliverer, Jesus, our Shelter, Jesus, the Lover of our Souls.
We will have battles to fight all the rest of our lives. Let us never lose sight of the precious and life altering fact that God Himself, our Redeemer, has already won the War! In every grip of fear the enemy tries to hold you in, look up--God's banner over you is love.
-ever grateful for that!
Life so far this year has been a case study in "not what one plans" for the new year, or any old year for that matter. However, because of the serious illness of a beloved family member, I have had the privilege of going to the battlefield, serving the troops, and hunkering down in little foxholes with Jesus, our Commander and Chief. He is teaching all of us how to trust him, actually, that He IS our trust.
One of the most valuable lessons thus far is finally sinking in with this training--you do NOT run, there is no peace, no comfort, and no provision for a soldier on the run from the battle God has you in. On the contrary, protection and peace come from meeting your enemy head on, with the knowledge that, unlike normal warfare,we are strengthened by the surrender of our wills to the will of our Lord, and triumphant in the knowledge that God, our Sword and Shield, goes before us in every skirmish.
One thing for certain, in this battle with fear and "what-if", there is an amazing power available to battle weary soldiers. That power comes from trusting in the NAME, the name above all names, the name that has the power to become its name for you in time of need. A name that beckons us to look not at the circumstances of the battle, but look the character of our Leader. Let us learn to trust that name, Jesus, our Advocate, Jesus, our Hiding Place, Jesus, Our Chief Shepherd, Jesus, our deliverer, Jesus, our Shelter, Jesus, the Lover of our Souls.
We will have battles to fight all the rest of our lives. Let us never lose sight of the precious and life altering fact that God Himself, our Redeemer, has already won the War! In every grip of fear the enemy tries to hold you in, look up--God's banner over you is love.
-ever grateful for that!
Sunday, November 8, 2009
hip hip hooray!
It may be a tad early for us to be talking about snow, but come cool weather, rain, sleet,or freezing nights, we are officially READY! When we looked for a new home one thing that was on the top of the have-to-have (Lord willing) list: a wood burning fireplace. Well, talk about "grateful", this girl was and is more than grateful to have found such a lovely one that works so well and provides the same exact coziness as our old one, the same exact comfort, and the same exact thrill. Now, if that were not enough, today we put together our wood rack and stacked our new load of wood on it. Honestly, as I think I said in a past entry, I almost have to call 911 when I see wood stacked, ready and waiting.
Is it the "ant syndrome," you know, being ready for winter? Or is it more the romance of cutting, stacking and working together that makes the enjoyment of a wood fire so lovely? Is it the warmth, the unmatchable smell, or the welcome it evokes that makes it so wonderful? I don't really know why a fire brings such joy, but I am ever grateful for it and a soul mate to share it with who seems to love it as much as I.
"the darker the storm, the brighter the fire," Jane Austen
Is it the "ant syndrome," you know, being ready for winter? Or is it more the romance of cutting, stacking and working together that makes the enjoyment of a wood fire so lovely? Is it the warmth, the unmatchable smell, or the welcome it evokes that makes it so wonderful? I don't really know why a fire brings such joy, but I am ever grateful for it and a soul mate to share it with who seems to love it as much as I.
"the darker the storm, the brighter the fire," Jane Austen
Friday, November 6, 2009
the morning sun
This little entry is for you, Brenda, my most faithful and maybe only follower.
One wonderful truth God has taught me is to look for anything and everything that I am grateful for and take the time to ponder the nourishing effect it has upon my everyday life. There is a daily occurrence that has remained near the top of my list for years, the morning sun. It fills my house with early golden light, moving across the floor (revealing previously invisible dust) and highlighting objects that I love, giving them an ethereal glow for a moment. Many mornings you may find me slowly moving around the rooms waiting and watching for this momentary magic trick only the sun can pull off. I have taken so many pictures, but none ever do justice to the thrill if affords.
One reward I receive for early rising is to be met by long, bright rays of sunshine flooding the hall as I leave my bedroom. God's everlasting faithfulness is once again revealed by the constant return of the sun, a life-giving miracle that we often take for granted. I suppose that without realizing it, the sun has always carried more than warmth and light for me. It is a reminder of "new mercies" that always accompany a new day in Christ Jesus. New hope, new opportunities, a new way to see something......
"No matter how dark the night, somehow the morning sun rises over again and all shadows are chased away." David Click
ever grateful for that!
One wonderful truth God has taught me is to look for anything and everything that I am grateful for and take the time to ponder the nourishing effect it has upon my everyday life. There is a daily occurrence that has remained near the top of my list for years, the morning sun. It fills my house with early golden light, moving across the floor (revealing previously invisible dust) and highlighting objects that I love, giving them an ethereal glow for a moment. Many mornings you may find me slowly moving around the rooms waiting and watching for this momentary magic trick only the sun can pull off. I have taken so many pictures, but none ever do justice to the thrill if affords.
One reward I receive for early rising is to be met by long, bright rays of sunshine flooding the hall as I leave my bedroom. God's everlasting faithfulness is once again revealed by the constant return of the sun, a life-giving miracle that we often take for granted. I suppose that without realizing it, the sun has always carried more than warmth and light for me. It is a reminder of "new mercies" that always accompany a new day in Christ Jesus. New hope, new opportunities, a new way to see something......
"No matter how dark the night, somehow the morning sun rises over again and all shadows are chased away." David Click
ever grateful for that!
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
A Perfect Birthday
God never fails to order up delightful weather for my birthday! I've had years where sweat would be dripping off my hair on September 29th, but lo and behold on September 30th I have to grab a sweater for the cool wind and sunglasses for the bright sun. It has been a day of friends, love and much joy. I don't even have to cook supper!
I've been working in our little garden. Who could have known, (least of all me) how beautiful our new little home would be to me. I cannot name my favorite room. Dorothy knew her stuff when she said, "There's no place like home." Before our move, I guess I thought our home had to be the one we had. Oh, sweet blog friend, your home is where your loved ones are, where your well-loved things are, and where Jesus is. So, like Dorothy, I click together my muddy brown Crocs and agree "there is truly no place like home."
It's Fall and last year this time I was writing about my passion for it. I won't bore you with repeating my sappy love for every minute of it, but let me close with this stirring word picture found in "Autumn" (a precious gift from Clare a couple of birthdays ago.)
"October gave a party, the leaves by hundreds came-the chestnuts, oaks and maples-their costumes all aflame. Miss Weather led the dancing, Professor wind the band. The guests were all a flutter and danced off hand in hand." george cooper
ever grateful for that picture.....
"
I've been working in our little garden. Who could have known, (least of all me) how beautiful our new little home would be to me. I cannot name my favorite room. Dorothy knew her stuff when she said, "There's no place like home." Before our move, I guess I thought our home had to be the one we had. Oh, sweet blog friend, your home is where your loved ones are, where your well-loved things are, and where Jesus is. So, like Dorothy, I click together my muddy brown Crocs and agree "there is truly no place like home."
It's Fall and last year this time I was writing about my passion for it. I won't bore you with repeating my sappy love for every minute of it, but let me close with this stirring word picture found in "Autumn" (a precious gift from Clare a couple of birthdays ago.)
"October gave a party, the leaves by hundreds came-the chestnuts, oaks and maples-their costumes all aflame. Miss Weather led the dancing, Professor wind the band. The guests were all a flutter and danced off hand in hand." george cooper
ever grateful for that picture.....
"
Sunday, July 26, 2009
Contentment
Well, man does make his plans, but God does direct his path. I have never known the truth of that statement as well as I do now. The good news is, God's paths are way neater, way more satisfying and way more wonderful even if you don't think they will be.
Phil and I have sold our home I thought I could never leave and paid for a lovely home (I refuse to call it a condo) that I now don't think I could ever leave.
As I type I am watching a tiny hummingbird feed just outside my window. Everything about our new "nest" is a blessing to us. Every morning Phil says, "I am so happy." I am just as happy as he and ever grateful for God's big vision in spite of our sometimes tiny one and His marvelous provision for not only our needs but our desires.
I guess if I want this little blog to speak to anyone's heart today, I would have it say, "gain contentment." Contentment is without a doubt the most precious state of mind and spirit and worth more than just about anything else one could desire. The most amazing thing about it is that anyone can have it! It is simply the result of not getting what we want, but recognizing and appreciating what we have. Oh, how monumental it is to embrace your life, just as it is. From that vantage point, God can outdo Himself (as if that were possible!) If we can just learn to trust Him, He will pull many bunnies from His hat, surprising and delighting us with His divine ability to know us better than we know ourselves!
We call our home our "nest." Let me rephrase that. I call it a "nest" but think that Phil thinks that name is a little cheesy. But we will NEVER call it a "condo." Nest is a word that conjures up a much more accurate description of our new home. One of kind? yes- Cozy? immensely so -Made to fit us? exactly-Safe? very... I could go on but you get the picture.
Let me close by saying this, don't go looking for happiness and contentment as if it is a button that has rolled under the sofa. You will find it when you accept your life, and go about your day doing the things God has put before you with a grateful heart.
"Contentment is a pearl of great price, and whoever procures it at the expense of a 1000 desires makes a wise and happy purchase."
Phil and I have sold our home I thought I could never leave and paid for a lovely home (I refuse to call it a condo) that I now don't think I could ever leave.
As I type I am watching a tiny hummingbird feed just outside my window. Everything about our new "nest" is a blessing to us. Every morning Phil says, "I am so happy." I am just as happy as he and ever grateful for God's big vision in spite of our sometimes tiny one and His marvelous provision for not only our needs but our desires.
I guess if I want this little blog to speak to anyone's heart today, I would have it say, "gain contentment." Contentment is without a doubt the most precious state of mind and spirit and worth more than just about anything else one could desire. The most amazing thing about it is that anyone can have it! It is simply the result of not getting what we want, but recognizing and appreciating what we have. Oh, how monumental it is to embrace your life, just as it is. From that vantage point, God can outdo Himself (as if that were possible!) If we can just learn to trust Him, He will pull many bunnies from His hat, surprising and delighting us with His divine ability to know us better than we know ourselves!
We call our home our "nest." Let me rephrase that. I call it a "nest" but think that Phil thinks that name is a little cheesy. But we will NEVER call it a "condo." Nest is a word that conjures up a much more accurate description of our new home. One of kind? yes- Cozy? immensely so -Made to fit us? exactly-Safe? very... I could go on but you get the picture.
Let me close by saying this, don't go looking for happiness and contentment as if it is a button that has rolled under the sofa. You will find it when you accept your life, and go about your day doing the things God has put before you with a grateful heart.
"Contentment is a pearl of great price, and whoever procures it at the expense of a 1000 desires makes a wise and happy purchase."
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
Can you say, "Man makes his plans, but God directs his steps?"
"He is happiest, be he king or peasant, who finds peace in his home." Whoa! What a difference 3 months can make! To all those very few but faithful blog followers, I am back. So much has happened since the lovely pictures of the old log cabin and the hope of building on it's land. Cyberspace cannot hold the long version explaining why now we want to buy a condo! If anyone had told me that this would be in our future, I would have said, "Well, one thing is clear, you do not know me." This would be the equivalent of me buying a plastic Christmas tree, or choosing gas logs over the real thing, or buying margarine instead of sweet cream butter!
Turns out, God is pretty much the only one, including myself, who really knows me.
The closer we got, the less peace we had about this decision of building in the country...let's face it, we are old! We would be facing the hardest work of our lives, blah, blah, blah, so let me just say that God brought us to our senses just in time.
Now my chickens will have to walk around in my paintings, and my big garden will be a little one surrounding our fenced-in patio. Another plus is Phil won't be spending the entire weekend cutting grass, weed-eating and hoeing. All the outside work is done for us. I've never had a work-free weekend, there is no telling what we might be free to get into! We have peace and know that anywhere we live we will have each other (Lord willing) and we will have Him and we will be content--ever grateful for that!
Turns out, God is pretty much the only one, including myself, who really knows me.
The closer we got, the less peace we had about this decision of building in the country...let's face it, we are old! We would be facing the hardest work of our lives, blah, blah, blah, so let me just say that God brought us to our senses just in time.
Now my chickens will have to walk around in my paintings, and my big garden will be a little one surrounding our fenced-in patio. Another plus is Phil won't be spending the entire weekend cutting grass, weed-eating and hoeing. All the outside work is done for us. I've never had a work-free weekend, there is no telling what we might be free to get into! We have peace and know that anywhere we live we will have each other (Lord willing) and we will have Him and we will be content--ever grateful for that!
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little blanket of snow
