Some Thoughts For The New Year

 

I took this photo last night before I went to bed. We love the way our new windows look, and I love to see the reflection of our lamps in the windows.

We took the tree down on Saturday, but have left all of the garlands and lights. Its so pretty in the evenings. I'll miss it when its gone.

I wanted to show a few more photos of the house. We got our front light on now but it's not up yet in this photo.

This is the board and batten up close. I just noticed the siding on the right on the garaged is dirty from when they ripped our old siding off the front of the house.

The section with the board and batten is the original house. Before we bought the house a primary suite was added, that's the bumped out section on the left. Then a year ago my parents added the other addition, which includes their inlaw quarters. They are tucked behind the garage, and have beautiful views of the creek, barn, trees, and pasture. Our Amish neighbor is using our pasture for his sheep, and my mom loved seeing them out of her windows! 

A huge difference for us is the new front door. We wanted a window in it to bring in more light. We had a solid door before and that was a dark corner. Now light floods in even on cloudy days!

The photo was taken the day the door was installed.

This week, we had a prayer and fasting week with our church. You can fast in any way, so Tim and I decided to fast sugar. Overall it wasn't hard, and though I had a little sugar yesterday, I think I'm going to continue. If I want a dessert or treat it will have to be homemade with xylitol.

I am starting the new year with a renewed vision of how I can minister and be a light for Christ. I'm grateful to the Lord for allowing me to walk alongside people and encourage them in the Lord. 

There is so much heartache and disaster happening in our world, but I feel a change happening. People are seeing evil for what it is in ways they've never seen it. They also are ready to hear about God and what He has done for us all, and what He continues to do.

I want our home to continue to be a haven of welcome and rest for people. With it all updated, I trust the house will have many more years of sheltering, sharing, welcoming people.

To God be the Glory!

It's A Beautiful Morning

 

I was up and out of the house, with Kyle, early this morning. It wasn't unusually early for me to be awake and out of bed, but I'm not usually headed out the door at 7:20 am.

We needed to run into town and take Tim's trailer tire to the local tire business we use. The tire had picked up a nail or something, and even though Kyle found the leak yesterday, and Tim usually can plug them, it didn't work this time so off to the tire guy to be repaired.

Tim needs that tire to be on the trailer this afternoon as he has to take about 400 gallons of water to an inspection.  The tire will be ready in a few hours, so we'll have plenty of time to get it, then Kyle will put it back on the trailer, and fill the water totes.

I'm always glad when we can support Tim in anyway, and make his day easier.

I am appreciative of your comments yesterday. Thank you all for being a part of this community of friends online. I'm thankful for each one of you!

I don't know how many of you have Telegram. If you do, Patrick M. Byrne has been sharing some incredible things about the election. If I can figure out how to share some of those things here, I'll do it.

I hope none of you have to go to any major cities right now. I think they are dangerous places with the rioting. Some of the things I'm doing during these days of uncertainty and chaos are 1. Keeping my vehicle filled with fuel and 2. Keeping a semi deep pantry.

Kyle doesn't always understand why I buy extra, but last week the price of butter at our local Aldi was up 97 cents in one week! I'm grateful for beef in the freezer from the side of beef we split with my parents and our daughter and son in law last fall. We are setting money aside for when we will need to buy a side again. I buy extra canned goods of things we eat, and I have an extra ham, and turkey in our freezer as well. I buy chicken at Aldi.

Kyle is taking a homesteading class, and a food science class at co-op this semester. So far in the homesteading class he has learned to make jam and make a sour dough starter among other things. Handy and useful skills to have.

He's been learning to cook and bake over the last year, and I think it's so important to teach our kids and grands so they have these vital skills. Even young kids can help in the home with daily work. Kyle knows how to do laundry, and does the mowing here, too. He's going to be 16 this summer. He can change tires and oil, knows how to pump gas, use the ATM machine at our bank, grocery shop. 

He's being well prepared for adulthood, which has always been our goal with our kids. Tim and I always used to say that we were raising adults not kids. We wanted them to be well functioning adults.  I think we did alright in that department.

If your kids are grown, and you have grands, invite them over to bake with you. They won't mind taking most of the results home with them! If you are still actively raising kids, get them involved with your daily routines. With homeschooling, it helped me to get daily work done without feeling as if I had to do it all! So we could enjoy our homeschool, and our home, and not be swamped! Even little ones can help fold laundry - they are really good with socks and washcloths!

I'm rambling now, so I'll go. Be of good courage friends! You are not alone!

Weekend (And Thoughts On The Consent Of The Governed)

Today at 9:00 am

Today the sun is shining, it's a bit windy, and the high will be around 40 degrees. A chilly day.

We had a really good weekend. 

Friday evening the family gathered (those that were available), we ate dinner and played Mexican Train. That's a game that even Kamryn can play (she won a round, too!), and Klaire plays on a 'team' matching up the Dominos by color and number. As my dad likes to say, "We had four generations at the table." It was fun. Nate and Kay left to put the little grands to bed, and the older two got to stay a bit longer. They live very close to us, so it's easy to run them home.

It was fun, and we're already looking forward to this week. 

On Saturday, Tim had breakfast with a friend, and then had an inspection. Normally he doesn't work weekends, but with work slower right now, we didn't mind that it was a Saturday.

I cleaned the hall bathroom, changed out the shower curtain (I keep them and rotate them seasonally), dusted, vacuumed the living room, kitchen, hallway, and bathroom. I've learned to always dust before vacuuming. 

Tim wanted to eat the leftovers in the fridge for dinner, which was fine with me! Kyle never minds that, as long as there is good food! (grin)

Yesterday, was church, and then home for a big Taco Salad I had made. I also made homemade ranch dressing.  Our friend Denny was here for lunch and the afternoon/evening, and the older grands were here, too, as they go to church with us and spend the day. Kamryn and Kyle played minecraft online with their friend Daniel, Klaire played, took a nap, and then watched a show she likes.

I like a relaxed day with my people. 

This leads me to some thoughts regarding freedom, and our rights being given to us by God. They relate to cov*d because several things I saw and read this weekend are on my mind. If you don't want to read that, then this is where you can stop. I respect that.

I was thinking about how as a citizenry, so many have adapted to being told what they can and can't do without laws being passed. JB says they'll give us guidance on what we can do. Really? F@uci says there is no date he can give when people can have larger gatherings like weddings. I'm glad that our family has always gathered together, in spite of cov*d. I guess we just made ourselves our own 'cov*d circle.'

I believe most of us are good, law abiding citizens of our countries, and we want to do what's right. That's why it's been so easy for us to come under these mandates, not laws, that restrict our lives. There is enough data to show that with proper treatments (which our last president talked about, so the opposition couldn't have him have any kind of victory, so they wouldn't allow certain known drugs to be used that could have saved lives.), HCQ, and Ivermectin and others, this could have been over with in just a few months.  But its never been about keeping people safe, its about control. 

When will people feel it's okay to stop wearing a mask?  The CDC report said masks don't make a significant difference in cases, so why are they saying we should wear two or three masks?  Are people waiting for someone to come out and say, "You may now stop wearing a mask, and go about your lives." This continuing on is mostly for optics. So JB can say, "We beat it under my administration." They already have tried to say there was no vax before they took office etc... which is not true! JB himself was vaxxed before he took office! 

Cases are down significantly around the country, yet JB talks like a dictator: they'll decide, they'll give us guidance. In America, the founders built the foundation on the fact that people's rights are God given, not government given.

From our Declaration of Independence - 

"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.--That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed,"

Governments derive their just powers from the consent of the governed. That's us. If we disagree we need to say, NO!

I'm really praying for people to recognize that we can shelter the vulnerable, and those who are not at risk should be able to run their businesses, visit with friends and family, go to church, breathe freely.

We can believe that the virus is real, care about those who've lost loved ones, and still believe that as sovereign people we can make those choices for ourselves.  People are free to make their own choices. I respect that. If someone feels better in a mask or two, then feel free to wear them. I am not offended by that. I simply feel that the citizens of free nations, should have the right to decide that. 

Snowy Pattern And Some Thoughts

 We are in quite the snowy pattern.  Our normal winters are not this snowy, and while we haven't had huge accumulations, getting anywhere from 2-6ish inches every week is a lot for our area.

Tim was away at a training seminar all day yesterday, but this guy took care of the driveway.

Remember how I said, just a few days ago that spring was on the way?  It really is.  Next week we're going to have temps in the 40's and on Wednesday its going to be nearly 50 degrees! That's how I know for sure that the season is turning. We'll have more snow still, at least that's what my weather app says, and some cold days, too. However winters' days are waning.  I'm ready, are you?

On another note - have you heard about Pastor James Coates of Alberta Canada?  He's been arrested for holding church services.  There is an article {here}that tells about the church and their decision to meet, and {here}is an article about his arrest.  Please pray.

We have to decide just how much our governments can demand of us.  If we take precautions and quarantine the vulnerable, the majority of people should be allowed to go about their normal daily lives.

If the Super Bowl can have people attend, and protests can have thousands, why can't churches meet?  The church involved in this had no cov*d deaths of their congregation, but they have had a member die because they couldn't get their cancer treatments due to cov*d regulations.

People everywhere should be concerned. Today it is covid, tomorrow what will it be? Many countries have been very totalitarian with their lockdowns.  At one point in Australia you were not allowed to go out to exercise or even to walk your dog. In Germany, they can forcibly remove you from your own home if you have cov*d.  

It's all madness, and where does it end?  

Some Thoughts As I Watch The Snow Fall

 

It started snowing on Sunday, and for the most part it has continued to snow, with some sleet at times.  It's supposed to end soon.  It's a winter wonderland outside!

I've been thinking about a lot of things but this is one that has been in the for front of my mind. There are lots of pressures on our young people these days.  Many young people I know are hard working and as they begin to marry and have families, financial pressures are on them. One young couple I know that farm, lost their barn to fire last week. One young family with small kids, is struggling with finances.  Since Covid lockdowns hit, the husband has been mostly out of work.  Lots of stress and pressure.  

Let's all do what we can to walk along side these young couples. Let's physically help them, as well as financially help them when they have a need. Pray for the young people in your communities and see how God would have you be a help to them.  

Sometimes helping requires sacrifice in some way, and we should be willing, if God is leading, to do without some comfort or convenience in order to help a young couple see God at work in their lives.

For we surely can be the hands and feet of Jesus. Of course it may not just be young people, though they've been on my mind. It might be an elderly neighbor, or someone at your church, or at work.  Let's ask God how we can be a blessing to others.

Courage, Dear Heart

 

“But no one except Lucy knew that as it circled the mast it had whispered to her, "Courage, dear heart," and the voice, she felt sure, was Aslan's, and with the voice a delicious smell breathed in her face.”

― C.S. Lewis, The Voyage of the Dawn Treader

source

Joshua 1:9

"Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid, and do not be dismayed, for the LORD your God will be with you where ever you go." 

There are a lot of interesting things happening.

1. The world has awoken to the fact that an elite group of people run the world.

2. In the US we've learned that fraud can and does happen in an election, and that they are not fair or free.  Our votes can be switched, by machine, from who we voted for to the other candidate. They can bring in fake ballots too, and even though there is video evidence, tech evidence, signed affidavit testimonies the media silenced it all. Censored people on social media, the msm just kept saying there was no fraud, etc.

3. We then saw that the courts are corrupt.  It wasn't that the lawsuits came to court, showed their 'evidence' and then a judge decided that there was no merit to the case. No, it was decided that these cases would not be 'heard' in court because they had no standing! The courts did not want the cases to be heard because evidence would have been allowed to be presented and it would be in official records.

4. We then learned that many in our government were also corrupt.  They would not allow the objectors to certain states EC votes to show the evidence of the fraud and election stealing that had gone on. Why? Why not hear it and decide? Because it would have been show to everyone watching, and it would be officially in the congressional record!  

5. Did you know that there were state legislators that wrote to the congress asking them to NOT certify the election? My state was one of them.  The state legislators were bypassed by corrupt officials in our state. They were trying to get their state votes back to change them.

6. We've now seen that Wall Street is corrupt.  They play the system but when regular people begin to play by the elite rules, the elite use their influence, just as they did with social media, and get the regular people shut down.  They can make millions, but you cannot.

That last bit is regarding what's happening currently with Wall Street.  

The people are wide awake now.  Before we were distracted by the 'circuses.' We distracted by entertainments, and sports, and other things, and not paying attention to the fact that the ruling class was taxing us to death, and doing things that didn't benefit us.

They use false flags to distract and make us afraid, so we allow more and more freedoms to be taken from us "to protect us."

I'm writing this post because its what's on my heart and so many of you seem to be in the same place. I'm writing because I feel like something new is happening. People around the world have awoken, too.

Be of good courage my friends, and pray. God is always with us, if he feels far away its because we've moved, not him.  We may see some scary things, but do not be afraid. We need to have the truths come out, and we need to really see it for what it is, and help others to see it, too.

My advice is that we pray, love our neighbors, help each other, take care of our families. 

Ephesians 6:10-18

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might.  Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil.  For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.  Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm.  Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness,  and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace.  In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one;  and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God,  praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints,

Friday Five And Some Thoughts

 Many years ago now, Tim and I got rid of cable for watching TV.  We found that the only thing we were watching was the news and it was negative and telling a narrative, and so we decided that with the internet we could read news, hear it on the radio, etc.  We found we got a much broader perspective on events happening here in the US and around the world. (our local npr station used to play the BBC world service news late at night and I'd listen to that, too, when I used to have to pick Rachel up after closing at CFA)

Last night, Tim and I tuned in to a live stream of NBC online so we could watch the town hall meeting.  From the way the people were presenting the differing news stories, you could tell there was an agenda, and its an agenda of fear. Everything from the number of positive coronavirus tests (not deaths, just positive tests), you'd think that everyone who gets the virus is going to die.  They've made people afraid to even get the virus.

Same with the unemployment numbers, except they forgot to mention that our unemployment is where we were at the end of the second term of O's administration.  They exact same numbers, and we've currently had so many out of work because of extreme lockdowns. (I live in one of these states) 

They didn't mention any of that.  To me that's an encouraging sign that our strong economy before the virus is coming back!  They should have been telling that story, but they weren't.  

They didn't because they hate the president.  We were not surprised at Savannah Guthrie debating the president last night rather than being their to facilitate voters asking questions only.  The positive thing was it gave the president a chance to speak to these issues.  Oh, and guess what?  She is married to the man who was Al Gore's traveling Chief of Staff during the the 2000 presidential election.

I've been concerned for years about human trafficking.  I haven't mentioned it here but this isn't the place I talk about those issues.  Child sex trafficking is a real problem, and getting scarier all the time.  I'm deeply troubled by Huntr Bdens laptop and the photos that purport to show s*x with minors. The former VP wasn't asked about this issue at all last night at his townhall and social media owners are shutting everyone down, including a major newspaper and the press secretary for the president, who mentions it.  They are working to not allow you access to this information. 

 They are hiding and protecting politicians they support, and tearing into those they don't support.  That's why so many people think or thought the president was involved in things that turned out to be actually done by the other party.

My heart is so troubled by how close we are to losing our freedom of speech, right to dissent, etc.  I'm okay with people who have different political views. Its their right, and I support it!  I'm not okay with media telling only the narrative they want you to have.

That's all I'm going to say for now.  

Now to my five - 

1. Kyle is so much help to me. He is one great young man.

2. Our hard work paid off, and looked great until the chickens came back to scratch away!

3. My bed looked cozy the other morning, so I snapped a photo.

4. I've been knitting and finished this cowl.  It may be a gift or I might keep it.

5. My battery operated candles.  I use the remote to set a time and they come on at 6:00pm and go off at midnight.

I got my first set of 9 as a gift from Rachel last year for Christmas.  They were purchased from Amazon.  I bought another set with a birthday gift card, because I love them so much!  The link to the exact set I bought is wrong because it shows a birch bark candle set, but this link {here} will take you to a set that looks exactly like what I purchased.  

I don't use scented candles in my home, only essential oil diffusers, but I love the coziness of candles and these battery ones give me all the cozy feels.

I hope you have a good weekend.  I'm praying for our country, and I know you all are too!  Thankful for each one of you.

disclosure - If you order through my amazon link, I will receive a small credit.  It doesn't affect your price in anyway.

Sharing My Kick In The Pants, And Encouragement

These lovely photos are from David Austin Roses Instagram account and they shared them so you could screen shot them, and use them for backgrounds on your phone or tablet. 

Aren't they lovely?  Feel free to copy them from here, too!

Saturday was a rough day for me.  Nearly every hour I thought about what we SHOULD have been doing at that time.  10:00am - the bridal party should be just about ready to go get photos taken, 12:45 pm - everyone would be seated at the venue and we'd be ready for the processional to start.  3:00 pm - The reception would be well under way.  You get the idea.  I cried off and on all day.

Rachel and Wes went hiking.  They had made their peace with God about the day.  She said, "If we were meant to be married today, we would be."  How did my kid get so wise? {smile}

Now, you should know but I'll say it anyway, we are not angry with God.  None of us have blamed him, or hold bitterness toward him.  But I was unhappy that things weren't going how I had planned them to be going.

I needed to be reminded to leave it in God's hands, and trust Him.  As our lockdown here continues, and will continue to slowly open up in May, we are finding that we need to make changes to how the wedding will happen on the 16th.  I've always felt like a flexible person, and quick on my feet at adapting to changes etc, but I've resented that as we get past peak with this virus, we are getting MORE restrictions not less.

My devotional the other day, and today on the Truth for Life Instagram account, I got a nice 'kick in the pants' and a loving reminder to run the race set out for me, keeping my eyes on Jesus.  You can see it {here}.


Tomorrow, I'm going to write about missing hospitality.  Have a great Monday!

Take Every Thought Captive

I woke up this morning pondering a bit of fear I was feeling over potentially getting sick.  I think it is because of the quarantine and stay at home orders, and the way life has so quickly become 'dangerous.' 

I don't want to think this way, and I do limit my intake of news, but I am realizing I need to be even more limiting, even in conversations with other people, because their concerns and fears affect me.

 I was praying about it as I began my morning, and the verse about taking every thought captive came to mind.  A captive is one who is under the control of someone or something else.

I think this is a good practice during these unprecedented days.  I will work to take every thought captive to the truth.

The truth is that God is with us, He will never leave us or forsake us.  He already has numbered our days, He hides us in the shelter of His wings, He fights for us.

King David said in the Psalms - 

In peace I will both lie down and sleep;
    for you alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety.  (4:8)

And - 

But you, O Lord, are a shield about me,
    my glory, and the lifter of my head.   (3:3)


I want to walk in freedom from fear, so that I may be used by God to meet needs.

I hope you all are well.

Do you remember the little wee girl I had you pray for a few months back, maybe even in the late autumn?  This family has the virus, and with three medically fragile kids the mom was taking extra precautions.  However, the medically fragile kids have a mild case, the mom and the other kids who have it are okay, too.  The mom had the worst case, as she had pneumonia also.  *Update* one of the medically fragile kids has pneumonia know.  Please pray!

God is with them and He is with us, too.

Changes

It seems that everyday there is something new.

Last night our Governor put out more work shut downs.  Thankfully Tim is still able to work, and so is Sarah.  Rachel will work her office job three days a week, but she's not needed right now to nanny as the mom is home.

Our sweet friend Luisa's plans have been changed.  She was to be here until the end of the month, but with the new changes in New York State, Word of Life has gone to all online classes through the end of the school year.

We thought this would mean she would be with us for a few months. However, WOL has decided to take all their WOL missionary kids, of which she is one, and have them stay altogether at the Florida campus.  This is being done to give their parents peace of mind about their kids who are in different parts of the world.  So she leaves us tomorrow morning.

At dinner last night, Tim prayed for those having to make hard decisions, for those who are without work, and for those who are sick.

We want this quarantine and self isolating to work!  We're doing what we can to be part of ''flattening the curve.''

Lastly, I want to leave you with a link to "A Liturgy For Those Flooded By Too Much Information," by Douglas McKelvey. You can find the liturgy, and several others {here}.  

I'm going to share a snippet with you here - 

"In a world so wired and interconnected, our anxious hearts are pummeled by an endless barrage of troubling news. We are daily aware of more grief, O Lord, than we can rightly consider, of more suffering and scandal than we can respond to, of more hostility, hatred, horror, and injustice than we can engage with compassion."

I hope you all are well. I'm praying for you.

Mid November Morning Musings

It's a rainy morning, but the mild temperatures it have kept us from  wintery mix.  We had flurries the other day, and while some parts of our county may see some snow showers, I think we're in the clear.

I'm grateful for that because tonight I am hosting a small group of ladies from my church to talk about The Livegiving Home by Sally Clarkson.  At least the book will be a starting point to discuss how we can make our homes places where our families, and those whom the Lord brings into our lives, can find a place of encouragement, hope, rest, companionship, friendship, and welcome.

This has been a passion of mine for many years.

 Tomorrow Tim's sister and brother in law (I call Richard and I the outlaws!) arrive for an overnight stay on their way to upstate New York.  Richard will be hunting deer, and they will be visiting with his mom who still lives on the family farm.  She came there as a bride 75 years ago, and intends to breathe her last breath there, too. 

I'll get to practice hospitality and welcome this week, which makes me happy.  I'll also be spending time with my friend at the hospital, and tomorrow morning meeting with a bride and her mom at their wedding venue.  I'm doing flowers and day of coordinating for them for a late December wedding.  The couple go to our church, and the groom is my son in law, Joseph's, brother.  I'm excited about this wedding and very happy for this sweet couple.

We Are All Flawed

The last few weeks I've been going through a time of weeding out some things in my heart, and growing forth in my relationships with the Lord and my family.  Its uncomfortable sometimes, but its always for our good, and the end result is worth it.

I think I'd gotten comfortable in where I was at, and I'd gone through a year or so of discouragement in some areas, but that discouragement spilled over into other areas and I was unaware.

We are all flawed humans, and without Jesus redeeming us, and placing his righteousness on us, we'd have no hope.

 I think that for too long, the church put forth an ideal of how Christians should be, and we all tried so hard to live up to that ideal.  But there is no 'perfect' people.  I think we need to show that we fail sometimes, but that we have a savior to forgive us and help us, and isn't that where 'be ready to share the hope that is in you' comes in to action?  No one is going to ask us about our hope, if they think we've got it all together and they'll never be able to live up to that.

 Christians have gotten a bad reputation because so many of us act so pious and above sin, that when believers fall (and the s*x scandals and bullying pastors, etc, show how spectacularly we can fall), people who do not believe scoff and mock.

When the woman caught in adultery was brought to Jesus by the religious leaders, he didn't say she didn't sin, in fact he told her to go and sin no more.  However, he did challenge the religious leaders and their actions toward her.

Wrong does need to be dealt with, sometimes that means the law gets involved.  Sometimes it means that people need to believe accusers.  Sometimes it means that an elder needs to be strong and stand up to a strong personality pastor, regardless of the consequences to his position in the church.

God isn't worried about his reputation.  He isn't trying to prove to the unbelieving world that he is good.  God is good, and he wants to use us to be his hands and feet and arms and to be love in the world.  

Life is short.  Let's live in love for one another, lets help our neighbors, love those who are hard to love.  We all have them in our lives.  Loving someone doesn't mean you have to approve of their actions or choices, but that you continue to pray for them and care for them.

Last Day of February Thoughts

I think we are all ready to say good bye to February!  March can be iffy - either very spring like or full of wintery weather, but we know that after March, is April!  We can hang on a few more weeks!

Kyle and I went to lunch yesterday with our friends Kelly and her son Zeb.  We used to go to church together, but now are at different churches.  We enjoyed talking and hanging out together!  Lots to catch up on, lots of shared interests.  It was a good time.

I came home and made a quick dinner and then Tim and I went to our Connection Group from church.  We are studying the book of Ephesians.  This is the section we were studying last night.

Ephesians 3:14-21

For this reason I kneel before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named.  I pray that according to the wealth of his glory he will grant you to be strengthened with power in the inner person, that Christ will dwell in your hearts through faith, so that, because you have been rooted and grounded in love, you will be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and thus know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, so that you will be filled up to all the fullness of God.

Now to him who by the power that is working within us, is able to do far beyond all that we ask or think, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.

That power that is working in us is the same power that raised Jesus from the dead.  That's power and its given to us so that we can be strengthened in our souls, and that we can be rooted and grounded in love.  All so we can comprehend how God loves us and so that we can be filled with all the fullness of God!  I say fill me up, Lord!

Our hens are laying again, and its making me very happy!  It was so interesting that as soon as the days began to be a bit longer, the egg production started up again.  Now, its really in full swing!  Some of our girls are getting older, and won't be laying as frequently, but the younger ones will.

I want to thank you all for praying for baby and her mama.  Mama is well, and has been released from the hospital and baby has had so many tests and everything is fine.  So the consensus is that because she was early she needs a bit of maturing, so to speak.  If she feeds well, and has no more issues with turning blue (or dusky as they say) she'll be able to go home next week.  Grandma tells me that she'll get some nice photos so that I can share one with you all!

I hope you have a great day, friends.

A Committee of Vultures

Driving home from errands yesterday I happened upon this committee.  Being a quiet country road I stopped and took the first photo through my windshield.

I wasn't sure if they'd fly off, but I pulled up closer and took this photo out the passenger window.

They are not the prettiest things but I was reminded, as I drove off and one of the fence sitters joined the one on the ground, that they faithfully do the work God has assigned to them.

If it weren't for these birds, there would be a lot more dead creatures along the roads. These aren't the glory animals, like eagles, or herons, or even Canada geese, but they don't seem to care.

There's a lesson in this for all of us, I think, at least for me.  Am I faithfully serving the Lord in the role and place in this world He has placed me?

Early Morning Thoughts

These photos were taken last week, on my way home from dropping Sarah off at work.  I love how  beautiful the sky was that day.  It was a reminder that even with stormy clouds there is beauty.

Rachel is writing an essay on the Names of God for her theology class and we were talking about it yesterday.  God, through His names, is continuously revealing Himself to us.  He's our healer (Jehovah Rapha), he's our Righteousness (Jehovah Tsidkenu), he's our provider (Jehovah Jireh).  He also refers to Himself as Jealous (qanna or kanna), as our peace (Jehovah Shalom).  Its really amazing how God wants us to know Him as He knows us.  He's not a being 'out there, somewhere distant' but He is close to us and longs to be in relationship with us.

Our former associate pastor, Jack Wilkins, died Sunday night at the age of 95.  He was a Marine, a veterinarian, a pastor, husband and father.  His Anne went to be with the Lord several years ago, after a long battle with Parkinson's.  Jack was in the hospital with bronchitis and seemed to be rebounding.  We don't weep at those who have no hope, we are sad, but rejoicing that Jack is with the Lord (he was so ready) and reunited with his Anne!

I hope you all have a wonderful day.

Thursday Thoughts

I have a few different things rolling around my mind this morning, so I thought I'd talk about them with you.

I follow Sarah Clarkson on Instagram and she used a word picture today that really resonated with me.  She is feeling a bit squeezed with her studies, her husbands last year of studies, a baby.  She'd asked yesterday for people to share something of beauty that they either read recently, experienced, or learned.  Here's the lovely word picture - 

"Watching your comments pop up felt a little like watching that scene in the film version of The Return of the King where signal fires are lit across the kingdoms of Gondor and Rohan, each faithful, kindled light prompting another. The moments of beauty we all share are our signal fires, no less a call, really, to join the fight for hope. We make our fires of beauty and love and hope in the darkness of discouragement and depression, and we know that our small flames are a glimpse of a great dawn to come, one that glimmers in our moments of loveliness. "   Sarah Cl;arkson

Isn't that lovely?  Its true, too.  That's why we need each other and why its so important to speak truth in love to one another, to encourage each other, to care about each other!  We are lighting fires of 'beauty and love and hope in the darkness' when we do that!

 I knit Isla's winter hat and have just the pompom onto to do!  I'm starting Clark's today.  My parents and Lindsay are driving to see them this week and will be there for Isla's second birthday!  How I wish I could be there, too!  I love talking to her everyday and I am going to start reading books to her over FaceTime or Marco Polo!  We're sending some clothes and a fun Leap Frog learning game.



I got this sweet little tea pot from Lindsay.

She knows me well!  Isn't it the cutest?  I know the little ladies in my life will love having a little teapot all their own to use when they come for tea!

We went to dinner last night; Tim, Sarah, Kyle, and Wes.  Tim said we couldn't have Rachel here so we had Wes stand in for her. (grin)

I've been reading Ephesians and these verses are always like a 'beacon fire' of hope for me.  Paul says, in chapter one verses 15-19:

" For this reason, because I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, I do not cease to give thanks for you when I remember you in my prayers.  I pray that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, will give you spiritual wisdom and revelation in your growing knowledge of him, - since the eyes of your heart have been enlightened - so that you can know what is the hope of his calling, what is the wealth of his glorious inheritance in the saints. and what is the incomparable greatness of his power toward us who believe, as displayed in the exercise of his immense strength."

It encourages me so to think of Paul praying these things for the Ephesian believers and that they are for us too!  God wants to be known by us and wants to give us the same inheritance that Christ has!  Let that roll around your minds as the week comes to an end!

I am, as always, grateful for your friendship that you share with me here at the cottage, and for your lovely birthday greetings yesterday!  I hope that when you come here you find warm, welcoming hospitality, some encouragement, and friendship.

I'm leaving this bit of beauty with you for today.