Anniversary Day

On a beautiful, sunny and warm November 14th day-26 years ago-my husband and I exchanged vows and became husband and wife. 26 years is not so long to someone married 40 or 50 years-but I feel it's an accomplishment nonetheless. I was a young girl of 19 and he was 20. We were so very naive. We didn't know the Lord and I guess we thought we could get along just fine without Him. I was thinking today how happy I am that God the Father grabbed ahold of me when I was 23. Then He grabbed ahold of Dave and He has been so very good to us and kept us. I could not imagine life without Him now.

One of my sons' friends once told me that Dave and I were "like the only parents still married." I was so sad to know that and it made me feel the importance of a godly marriage. In a day when divorce is rampant, 26 years seems like a lifetime to a teenager.

We didn't do anything grand or marvelous today. We ordered pizza and wings and our daughter Jynette was here and we visited and ate together.

This little poem reminds me of how women wait for their husbands to come home whether they are away or just away from home working for the day. You look for them when it gets time for them to arrive home. When the children were little, I remember them waving ever so long at their Daddy from the window when he was leaving for work, Dave would stop in the road to wave at them from the car. Then when it was time for him to come home from work, how they would greet him at the door!



No little feet run to greet him at the door now. Well, no human feet. We have a little chihuahua named "Taco" or "Mr. T" who absolutely claims Dave as his buddy...and he hears Dave every time he pulls up by the house when he gets home from work. He gets so excited that Dave's home. This alerts me too and I greet him at the door.



It matters to a husband to have his wife consider him the most important thing when he gets home. I try to stop what I'm doing and take a bit of time with Dave, asking about his day and just showing him that he matters. I've had all day to do things my way, now I'm taking a bit of time to let Dave know he's most important to me. It makes a big difference when I give him preference in this way. It is the one part of the day we get to spend time relaxing together. I'll pour some tea and take some quiet time. I like to visit with Dave, we talk about all kinds of things. I've learned so much from him over the years. He's full of life-skill lessons and I am blessed to be his bride. Here's the poem:


Listening

His step? Ah, no; 'tis but the rain
That hurtles on the window pane.
Let's draw the curtains close and sit
Beside the fire awhile and knit.
Two purl -- two plain. A well-shaped
sock,
And warm. (I thought I heard a knock,
But 'twas the slam of Jones's door.)
Yes, good Scotch yarn is far before
The fleecy wools -- a different thing,
And best for wear. (Was that his ring?)
No. 'Tis the muffin man I see;
We'll have threepennyworth for tea.
Two plain -- two purl; that heel is neat.
(I hear his step far down the street.)
Two purl -- two plain. The sock can
wait;
I'll make the tea. (He's at the gate!)



Lord, let us all be thankful for our husbands and those we care about. Help us to remember to let them know how much we enjoy spending time with them. Help us to see there is nothing else so important to us as them. Help us to allow You to direct our lives according to Your Word. Thank you so much Lord for Your gifts to us. Amen

God bless you as you set about your day. Bless you as you wait upon loved ones to return to the home-sweet things.

x0

Home-Sweet Things...

Good Evening. It is late but I wanted to get the photos on here that I've been promising for a time now. I only got as far as the back wall of my living room at this point. I intend to do more as Thanksgiving approaches. This will take time for me as I am still working on decluttering. I honestly tell you this is a radical move for me. I am enjoying the process, but my health continues to hinder me. I cherish your prayers and am still looking into some things I can do to ease the symptoms of this fibromyalgia.

Anyway...I didn't get on here to talk about that. So without further ado...here is the first photo:



I will just share some of the photos I put through PSP for fun.



Here is a fun side view of the back corner...



I am no photographer, nor do I claim to be an interior decorator. I am just having fun!



Well...I will add more as soon as I take some. I want to make/add some lightweight wool curtains for the windows. I have to take a trip to Joann Fabrics soon. I've got so many things I need to get done, this will be one more thing for the long list!



And so, that is all for now. I need to finish up in the kitchen and check the fire for the night and get some sleep.

Lord, Please bless each Dear One as they prepare for the holidays. Bless the work of their hands and I pray they begin to plan ahead to have order and peace in a time that can be very hurried. Help us to be truly thankful. Amen

God bless you as you prepare your home-sweet things for the coming holidays! Good Night. x0

Who Is The Greatest?

The Greatest

Who should be greatest?
Like a scorpion flung
Into our midst the notion flamed and stung.
The greatest of the Twelve!
My baser self asked: 'Why
Shoud it not--indisputably--be I?


The Disciple Jesus loved!
Loved in a special way.
I read it in His eyes.
Did they not say
Time and again
'I love thee'?

Then, as time went on
Others remarked upon
The Master's love for John--
Might that not mean
Some greatness yet to be
Would show itself in me?

Thus I mused--till He,
The only great One of our company--
Riseth from supper and before we knew
His purpose--He had put His robe aside
Each act a mute rebuke to all our pride--
And from the dust of old Jerusalem's street
Jesus began to wash His disciples feet.

But when I saw Him kneel,
Then torment seized my soul--
And bitter shame.
I, whom He had so loved
And known by name--
He with the royal lineage
In His face!
And I had let Him fill
A servant's place.

'Twas too late then to say
'Let me--O let me, Lord--I pray
Take towel and basin from Thee
And kneel down
Lower than dust!'

Instead, I had to bear
Touch of His hands--and--worst of all--surprise--
Love, undiminished--
Shining in His eyes.

But when
His task complete He took His seat again--
Like a forgiven child
Whose simple trust had never been defiled,
Weeping I turned--my littleness confessed
To lean my head once more upon His breast.

Fay Inchfawn


Hello Friends. When I read this poem, it brought tears to my eyes. How often do I puff up and think more of myself than I ought? How often do I forget that a great price was paid to redeem me and there is nothing in me that is of any use? That is a humbling statement and not easily received. All-every ounce of-my righteousness is as filthy rags. But-God did not leave me in my sad, pitiful state. He had mercy on me and revealed Himself to me. Of course, I (not being properly taught or discipled-which is still no excuse!) and thinking I was doing the right things...picked up my salvation and started running. And I ran...far, far from where my Father wanted me to go-all the while spouting Christian-ese and trying to keep my filthy rags of self from showing. It must be said, one cannot keep up the farce for long. At some point, the filthy rags show and the flesh creeps out and pride slithers and out of the selfish mire crawls all manner of spiritual filth. Heaping up teachers and having itching ears-anything that puffs up and makes the self smile...whatever it takes for the deceitfully wicked heart to convince me that I'm just fine. Then, when I stopped and looked back over where I had gone, I did not recognize the path I had taken, you see...it was a wide path before me-one that had swallowed me up like a giant fish whose name is Deception.

How easily we can be deceived and even by our own hearts(Jeremiah 17:9)! The Word of God is not meant to pamper the flesh. Did you know that? Almost every preacher you hear today on TV feeds you a "feel-good" teaching. I warn you my Sisters...do not be deceived...the Word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. (Hebrews 4:12) I don't know-but I think if I was pierced by a two-edged sword-it would hurt my flesh. Don't add to the Word of God but take it in it's most pure form. If God says something is wrong-don't twist it to make it right and vice-versa. I would remind you of the many deceivers that will come in the last days as mentioned in the Bible and the false teachers-these people will tell you, "Jesus is Lord"-they are manipulators and their only goal is to mix The Word with subtle lies for the purpose of drawing you off the Narrow Path and have you join in the great falling away. Don't get drawn to a side-path-they are not paved by God. His Way is narrow-so narrow and difficult that few find it (Matthew 7:14). There is no other way. You enter at the Narrow Gate and you walk the Difficult Way. Please, walk carefully using His Word as your road map and the Light to your path so you are not seduced off the true and only way to Life.

I thank God, through Jesus Christ, He shows me His Way-His Path. It is not the way of this kingdom of selfishness, but of The Kingdom of His Dear Son. Christ's servanthood shines-brightly-to those who have need of an example. Every person who calls themselves a Christian must remove the robe of the old man of self-effort and selfishness and the flesh and don the servant's robe of the New Man-that Man who was our ensample...the Lord Jesus Christ. Yes, put on the Lord Jesus Christ (Romans 13:14). If you read the Gospels and look for Christ's examples of servanthood you will find them aplenty.

I'm sure I'm not sharing anything you don't already know. I only hope to exhort you and remind you of the path of Christ. It is not a path that can be walked in the flesh, it can only be trod by following the leading of the Holy Spirit. I encourage you to get in the Word and see Jesus as the Servant He was and pray to begin to understand how that applies in your own lives. God desires, through Christ-in-us, to radiate from us, to be salt and light in a very, very dark kingdom. The light of a life-dead to self/alive to Christ. His Light slices through the deepest dark and the Father is glorified. Isn't that the whole purpose? Nevertheless, not what I will, but what He wills. Show me Your ways, O Lord; Teach me Your paths. Lead me in Your truth and teach me, For You are the God of my salvation; On You I wait all the day. (Psalm 25:4 and 5)

Oh Lord, help us to see Your calling on our lives. Not fame or fortune. Not recognition of man, but to become the least in order to truly do Your works. Help us not to stray from Your path. Give us discernment when the enemy would attempt to cloud our vision with deception. Thank you that You do not leave us on our own but You come to us in the form of the Holy Spirit and take our hand and lead us on The Way. Help us to wait on You before we make a move. Amen

God will guide us each moment as we seek to serve those He places in our lives. The greatest in God's Kingdom is the one who becomes the least. Remember, even as you bless others in your home you are glorifying the Father in the home-sweet things. x0

A Little While

Reward and Service

The sweetest lives are those to duty wed,
Whose deeds both great and small
Are close-knit strands of an unbroken thread,
Where love enobles all.
The world may sound no trumpets, ring no bells,
The Book of Life the slurring record tells.

Thy love shall chant its own beatitudes,
After its own like working. A child's kiss
Set on thy singing lips shall make thee glad;
A poor man served by thee shall make thee rich;
A sick man helped by thee shall make thee strong;
Thou shalt be served thyself by every sense
Of service which thou renderest.

Elizabeth Barrett Browning





Hello my Dears. I know it's been a bit since my last post. I wanted to get on here and say "Hello" and let you know everything's alright, I've just been very busy. Too busy, and now it feels good to know I will be home preparing this house for Thanksgiving feast in a few weeks.

I did get some pretty primitive harvest decor out and played with it in my living room. I took photos and will share a few tomorrow since it's so late now. I was inspired by a magazine page and totally went bonkers changing color schemes and decided to bring out the browns and the yellow/tea-stained things and the old books and the old prints of birds. It was all with things I already had stored and tucked here and there in my stash (remember-I told you I was a collector!).



Now I am looking for something suitable to make curtains out of for the winter. I was going to make window quilts-but for the living room at least I will make some heavy-type curtains that can be pulled back in the day. So that is my newest quest for my home-some type of woolen or wool blend cloth to make pretty, yet practical curtains with.

Well, it is late and I don't want to dwell on here too long. Tomorrow I can share other things with you.

I pray you are all well. I pray the Lord keeps you and your families. I pray He is still revealing ways you can keep the Home-sweet things.

x0