Work in Progress....

Wednesday Words of Wisdom

I found this story that really spoke to my heart at 

"A Holy Experience" 

and knew I just had to share with y'all, in case you aren't a follower there.  It's a story of how we should not see our experiences....or those of others....as a blessing, or a curse.  Only God can see the "big picture" and our only HOPE

should be that HE receives the glory!!!

A white stallion ride into the paddocks of an old man and all the villagers congratulated him on such good fortune.  The old man only offered this:

"Is it a curse or a blessing?  

All we can see is a sliver.  

Who can see what will come next?"

When the white horse ran off, the townsfolk were convinced the white stallion had been a curse.  The old man lived surrendered and satisfied in the will of God alone:

"I cannot see as He sees."

And when the horse returned with a dozen more horses, the townsfolk declared it a blessing, yet the old man said only,

"It is as He wills and I give thanks for His will."

Then the man's only son broke his leg when thrown from the white stallion.  The town folk all bemoaned the bad fortune of that white stallion.  And the old man had only offered,

"We'll see.  We'll see.

It is as He wills and I give thanks for His will."

When a draft for a war took all the young men off to battle but the son with the broken leg, the villagers all proclaimed the good fortune of that white horse.  And the old man said  but this,

"We see only a sliver of the sum.

We cannot see how the bad might be good.

God is sovereign and He is good and He sees and works all things together for good."

As I read this story, I was reminded of this verse of scripture....

I Corinthians 13:12 

Now we see things imperfectly as in a cloudy mirror, but then we will see everything with perfect clarity.  All that I know now is partial and incomplete, but then I will know everything completely, just as God now knows me completely.

What joy it brings to my heart that God knows me completely....

....and still loves me in spite of myself. 

I'm quite content to leave the "big picture" up to HIM!!!

HOPE  you have a Wonderful Wednesday,

Sweet Reader!!!

In His Most Precious Love....and with mine!!!

Women of the Bible

This will probably be the last in our series

"Women of the Bible" 

for a while.   

I HOPE that as you've read about some of the little known women of the Bible this past year that you've learned something new about each of them....

....and maybe even something new about yourself!!!

No matter our age, our race, our finances, our "position" in life....

....we can all be used by the Lord....

....if we are just willing....

....and, sometimes that takes stepping entirely out of our comfort zone.

Galatians 3:28

There is no longer Jew or Gentile, slave or free, male and female.  For you are all one in Christ Jesus. 

  

Happy, happy Tuesday, Sweet Reader!!!

In His Most Precious Love....and with mine!!!

By comparison....

 I discovered a long time ago that there's always going to be somebody who is "better at it" than I am.  My  prayer is that we'll each recognize our own individual gifts, talents and abilities....

....given to us by God....

....to be used for HIS glory!!!

And....to quit comparing ourselves with others!!!  

Galatians 6:4 (NLT)

Pay careful attention to your own work, for then you will get the satisfaction of a job well done, and you won’t need to compare yourself to anyone else. 

HOPE you have a "marvelous" Monday, 

Sweet Reader!!!

In His Most Precious Love....and with mine!!!

SONday Morning Song - Friend of God

We can worship God in so many ways....and one of my favorites is thru music.  
Although I'm not the best of singers....I do enjoy making a "joyful noise"!!!  

We sang this song last SONday morning during our worship service and I've had it on my mind all week.

   HOPE you enjoy it, too!!!

(just don't forget to turn off my PlayList above before listening/viewing)

Happy, happy SONday, Sweet Reader!!!

HOPE today is full of lots of sweet blessings on you!!!

In His Most Precious Love....and with mine!!!

August 27, 2011

Lookie, lookie....out of our garden!!

Y'all can't begin to know how much I ♥ watermelon!!!
But....probably not as much as our oldest GRAND-son.
I believe he took after his Nannie!!!
;-)

Showers of Sweetness!!!

 Edited to add....
I failed to mention that I learned the 80/20 rule of decluttering from Ms. Donna @ 
Comin Home.
Sorry for the oversight, Ms. Donna....
....but, thanks so much for sharing some of your secrets!!!

Happy Saturday, Sweet Reader!!!

My sincere HOPE

....is that you've had a wonderful week....and that your "showers of sweetness" (blessings)....far outweigh any troubles and trials that you've gone thru!!!


Here are just a few of my "showers" this week....

***dusted off the old treadmill and started exercising once more....I don't like it any more than I did the last time....except for how good it makes me feel afterward!!!  Thanks again, Ms. Jennifer for the gift!!!


***got a new printer for less than $50.  Our printers are old and the ink cartridges cost so much to replace....so we opted for a Kodak one this time that scans, copies and prints.  

***learned that I can use a cordless drill.

;-)

I usually wait on Pappy....but took matters into my own hands and moved a shelf down for the new printer to sit on!!!

***found a scarf in the linen closet that my Mamaw had embroidered about 30 years ago.  I ironed it up and placed it on a table we also got from her!!!

***speaking of linen closet.....it's clean!!!

I recently read something about the 80/20 rule.  It's where we only use about 20% of what we have and we should get rid of the other 80!!!  So....I've been cleaning out and taking to the thrift store, or giving to our kids for a yard sale to benefit their adoption!!!

***as most of you know, I LOVE to crochet.  It's my favorite "hobby" because I feel like it's also productive.  Anyway, I found an afghan I wanted to make and didn't want to have to purchase the pattern (I'm kinda frugal....not cheap, mind you....frugal...

;-)

Anyway....I saved a picture of it, HOPE-ing that I could replicate it myself.  But....then....guess what happened?!?!?  In just a few days, I got an e-mail from Interweave Crochet that the pattern was available in PDF form....and the download was FREE!!!
I was ecstatic....so, needless to say....the new printer got broken in!!!

***a brand spankin' new Dollar General Store was built about 2/10 mile down the hill from our house.  Now, that might not seem odd....but we live in a rural area, so to see a store like that out in this neck of the woods....well, it's a huge blessing to our community!!!  And, I can just walk down there!!!


***spent all day yesterday with our GRANDsons....what a treat!!  When Pappy got home, we took them out for supper.  What a joy to listen to our boys sing along with Awesome God and Sweet Wind!!!


So, how about you....did you get lots of sweet showers this week, too!!!


Happy Weekend, Sweet Reader!!!


In His Most Precious Love....and with mine!!!

August 26, 2011

Precious little "Jenny Wren"....

....or is it "Jeremy Wren"?!?!

These little birds land in the wreaths in the windows and sit and stare in at me on the computer.

A little blessing from HIM to make me smile!!!

;-)

Friday Food for Thought!!!

Little wrens come and land in the wreath on the window near the computer.

I couldn't help but think as I watched him/her....watching me.....

I sing because I’m happy,
I sing because I’m free,
For His eye is on the sparrow,
And I know He watches me.

Matthew 10:29-31 

 What is the price of two sparrows—one copper coin?

But not a single sparrow can fall to the ground without your Father knowing it.    

And the very hairs on your head are all numbered. 

  So don’t be afraid; you are more valuable to God than a whole flock of sparrows.

 

Just a little "food for thought", Sweet Reader!!!

HOPE you have a fantastic Friday....

....and a wonderful weekend!!!

In His Most Precious Love....and with mine!!!

Thoughtful Thursday!!!

Edited to add....

I went back and checked and this is the third post I've used Galatians 1:10 since January 1 of this year. 

For some reason, God keeps returning me to that verse of scripture....so....obviously me, and possibly a sweet reader....needs the reminder!!!

 Pappy sometimes calls me "Gideon" (wonder what the female equivalent would be?...;-).  
Remember Gideon (Judges 6:36-40), who asked for the fleece to be wet....
....then for it to be dry....
....as "proof" of God's promise of victory.   
I love in verse 39 when Gideon says to God, 
"please don't be angry with me, but let me make one more request"!!!  

I ask God for a "sign" a lot that proves that what I think He's asking....is what He's really asking....and I truly don't think He gets angry with me over that!!!

I'm doing a Bible study right now by Henry Blackaby and his son, Richard, titled 
"When God Speaks".  
It was recommended reading in our Sunday school lesson a few weeks back.  As I studied one day this week, I came across this quote by Mr. Henry....

"The person who received a word from God could not always prove to others that God had spoken.  He could only obey and allow the results to testify to God's work."

 I shared with a friend a couple of years ago a decision I was trying to make and I told her that I didn't want to hurt anybody's feelings, or make them angry....and her response was
"but, what about hurting God's feelings"!
OUCH!!!

We can't always explain ourselves....but as long as we know in our hearts that we've received a word from God....then, He's the only person we need to aim to please....right?!?!?

;-) 

Paul put it very bluntly in his letter to the churches at Galatia.....

Galatians 1:10 (NLT)

Obviously, I’m not trying to win the approval of people, but of God. 

If pleasing people were my goal, I would not be Christ’s servant.

HOPE  your Thursday is terrific, Sweet Reader!!!

I love you....but please know that nobody can love you like JESUS!!!

In His Most Precious Love....and with mine!!!

 

August 24, 2011

My Mom and Aunt are sorting thru my Mamaw's things.  When I was there one day last week, I saw a lot of the scarves that Mamaw had embroidered over the years and I remembered that she had done us one not long after we got married.  I've been doing some cleaning out and I found mine in the linen closet, so I got it out and ironed it and put it on a table in the sun room.  The table also came from Mamaw....we had it refinished many years ago!!!  
The vine also came from one of the dish gardens sent when Mamaw passed away.

Sweet memories of such a precious lady!!!

Kicking it up a notch!!!

 (my own image....our NLT Study Bible....my coffee mug!!)

I recently did the 40 day study "The Purpose Driven Life" by Rick Warren.  As a friend and I talked about the book, she said that it was really just the basics that all CHRISTians should already be aware of.  Well....that made me feel a tad "guilty" because I got A LOT out of it.  Then....the following verse of scripture was in one of my daily e-mails this week....

So let us stop going over the basic teachings about Christ again and again. 

Let us go on instead and become mature in our understanding. 

Surely we don’t need to start again with the fundamental importance of repenting from evil deeds and placing our faith in God. 

Hebrews 6:1 (NLT)

I do believe the Lord is asking me to kick it up a notch.  I'm not altogether sure what that means....but I think I'm ready 
(notice I said "think"....prayers, please!!!)


HOPE you have a wonderful Wednesday, 

Sweet Reader!!!

 In His Most Precious Love....and with mine!!!

August 23, 2011

I adore old barns....sometime soon, I'll get some pics of the one at Mamaw's....well, if I can keep from getting dog bit!!!  I took this one Saturday morning....look at that gorgeous blue sky!!!

;-)

Women of the Bible - Tabitha (Dorcas)

Acts 9:36-41 (NLT) 


Tabitha (which in Greek is Dorcas - both names mean “gazelle.”) She was always doing kind things for others and helping the poor.   Tabitha became ill and died and her body was washed for burial and laid in an upstairs room.   The believers had heard that Peter was nearby at Lydda, so they sent two men to beg him to come as soon as possible, so Peter returned with them and as soon as he arrived, they took him to the upstairs room. The room was filled with widows who were weeping and showing him the coats and other clothes Dorcas had made for them.    Peter asked them all to leave the room, then he knelt and prayed. Turning to the body he said, "Get up, Tabitha", and she opened her eyes! When she saw Peter, she sat up and he gave her his hand and helped her up. Then he called in the widows and all the believers, and he presented her to them alive.


Conclusion:

Often when we read the word “disciple” in the New Testament we think of the 12 disciples of Jesus, or we think of men....but a disciple was a follower of Jesus, whether man or woman.  The first thing pointed out about Tabitha in scripture....was that she was a  "disciple" (KJV), or a "believer" (NLT).  She was a Christian....not because she did good works and charitable deeds....but rather, she did good works and charitable deeds because she was a Christian.  This is a very important distinction. It is so easy to get wrapped up in all of the things we do, saying it's for HIM....but the most important thing we MUST do is to be sure of our true faith in Christ, and then renew that faith each day as we fellowship with the Lord through Bible reading and prayer.


Happy Tuesday, Sweet Reader!!!


In His Most Precious Love....and with mine!!!

Special Prayer Request!

Good Evening, Sweet Readers!

We have a very special prayer request for Ms. Audry Baker, the great-grandmother of our niece, Cortney.  Ms. Baker has double pneumonia and is in the hospital in West Virginia.  Please keep her and her family in your thoughts and prayers that she will recover completely and get back to work 

(yes...she's a hairdresser and was working up until a few days ago!!!)

Thanks so much, Prayer Warriors!!!

In His Most Precious Love....and with mine!!!

Check this out!!

Ms. Sarah featured my watermelon purse over at Sarahndipities!!!

Go check it out!!!

And, thanks so much, Ms. Sarah!!!

Blessings,

Deb

What a difference a letter can make!!!

Don't you just love the English language?  

English and spelling and reading were some of my favorite subjects in school.  I can still remember how much I loved doing sentence diagrams, with the subject and the verb and all the adjectives and adverbs!!!!  But, our language can be a bit funny at times, too.  Isn't it amazing how just changing one little letter in a word can change the entire meaning?

So, you know this is leading to something, right?!?

;-) 

I bet you've never given much thought to the fact that if you change the "t" to an "n" in the word "mature"....then, you get an altogether different word!!!

;-)

Big difference, right?!?!?

Here's my train of thought. 

Sometimes....we have to go thru a lot of "manure" in our lives....to get to the maturity.  We have to go thru the sticky situations and the difficult times in order to grow and mature as a CHRISTian...to strengthen our faith in Him!!!

There's even scripture to back up my point:

There was a man who had a fig tree and it hadn't born any fruit for three years so he asked the gardener to just cut it down because it was worthless.  The keeper of the vineyard asked for it to be left alone for a year and he would dig around the fig tree....and "dung" it....and then, see if it would bear fruit. (Luke 13:7-9)

 Do you sometimes feel like that fig tree with things of life digging at you and like you're drowning under a pile of "dung"?  

Yeah, me, too!!!

But, Sweet Reader....it's for our own good....it's so that we'll grow and mature....and "bear fruit" for HIM!!!

Now....wasn't that an interesting topic to start off our week?!?!

;-)

HOPE each of you has a "marvelous Monday"!!!

In His Most Precious Love....and with mine!!!

SONday Morning Song - Happy Day

We've been singing this song for several weeks at church and I  ♥  it!!!

HOPE you enjoy it, too!!!

Happy, happy SONday, Sweet Reader!!!

In His Most Precious Love....and with mine!!

Showers of Sweetness!!!

What a week we've had in this neck of the woods....it's been somewhat "topsy-turvy"....
....but there were still lots of showers of sweetness!!!

One day our oldest GRANDson asked, "why are you crying, Nannie?"  I HOPE I made a 5 year old understand that sometimes people cry when they're happy, too....they're not always sad tears.  

Here are just a few sweet things that have happened this week....

***discernment given about trust 

***seeing light at the end of the tunnel
***job loss is still on the horizon but sweet friends looking out for us
***adoption plans underway and moving forward
***shopping (even if it was for groceries) and lunch with a precious sister and niece
***praying with my daughter
***praying with Pappy
***praying and laughing and playing with our boys 
***being in the right place at the right time to be a help 
***a friend of Pappy's who offered to help check out my car for the price of breakfast
***a sweet sister and friend who handed me the keys to her car to drive since mine is dead
***enjoying sweet fellowship with a new church family
***being able to drive Pappy's big truck....even taking it thru Micky D's drive thru to get the boys breakfast
***listening to our GRANDson clap along and be happy listening to CHRISTian music 
***reading "Pilgrim's Progress" for the first time
***finding out unexpectedly that our oldest GRANDson's favorite cartoon, Caillou, has returned for the fall season
***a gift from my Momma that had belonged to my precious Mamaw
***visiting my Mamaw's house and letting it bring back sweet memories instead of sorrow 

I know I've left a lot out....like being blessed to even get out of bed each and every morning!!!   This week has been full of confirmations (and sometimes we need those)....of just how much God loves His children....and how He takes care of us in ways that we would have NEVER even expected....and how He answers prayers....in HIS time and in HIS own way!!!

As I look back over the last year, there have been many disappointments.  Sometimes I wasn't able to see the "silver lining" in the clouds....but God, in HIS wisdom....well, He knew even during the sad times of losing my Mamaw....that there would be much brighter days ahead!!!


Will there still be trials and troubles and tribulations?
Of course....as long as I live!!!
But....here is my "plan of action".... 


 Psalm 62:8
....trust in Him at all times.  
Pour out your heart to Him, for God is our refuge.



HOPE each of you has a weekend full of lots of "sweet" blessings!!!

In His Most Precious Love....and with mine!!!

August 19, 2011

In honor of all the teachers, students, parents, cafeteria workers, maintenance people, school bus drivers, day care workers....and anyone who takes care of our children and GRANDchildren.  

Prayers are being said for each of you as you begin a brand new school year!!

(this is especially for our daughter and GRANDsons!!!)

Friday Food for Thought!!!

In honor of it being FRIDAY....

....how about some "fun" Food for Thought?!?!

For Reverend Jones' 60th birthday, the congregation at the church decided to give him a present of a new suit.  Reverend Jones was so moved by the gift that the following Sunday he stood before everyone and began his message with a tear in his eye as he said....

wait for it.....

wait for it....

wait for it.....

"Today I am preaching to you in my birthday suit." 

 

 Happy, happy Friday, Sweet Reader!!!

HOPE you have a great weekend!!!

In His Most Precious Love....and with mine!!!

Everything old is new again!!!

Have you ever  gone thru a fiery trial and when it was over you just felt like a brand new person....full of life and joy once more!!!  A conflict of hearts was settled this week, thanks to prayers that were answered by our precious Lord and Savior!!!

Aren't you glad that we serve a risen Savior....who knows all....sees all....understands all....
....and is able to fix "it"....
....whatever our "it" might be?!?

Me, too!!!

(please turn off my PlayList above before viewing/listening)

In His Most Precious Love....and with mine!!!

August 17, 2011

Our baby GRANDson....isn't a baby any longer!!

:*(

Word Filled Wednesday

image credit

In His Most Precious Love....and with mine!!!

What's on my heart?

Instead of our usual "Women of the Bible" post today, I want to join Ms. Shanda @

A Pause On The Path 

and talk about what's on my heart!!!

Do you ever wonder "why me, Lord?" when it seems like each and every day brings yet another thing that we deem as "bad"?  Oh....we might not always speak that question out loud....but I have on occasion, especially in the last year! 

But....often, what we determine with our feeble minds as being "negative" or "bad"....well, it really isn't.  It's God working on our relationship with Him....seeing if we'll allow things to work out according to His plan, and not ours.  Maybe it's somewhat of a test to see if we'll keep our faith in Him, and not turn to a friend for advice....or....heaven help us....take matters into our own hands and totally make an even bigger mess!!! 
I think what's sad is that often others see our troubles and trials and problems as a punishment from the Lord.  When that happens....we just need to remember Job and how he suffered even though....


 Job 1:1b
He was blameless—a man of complete integrity. 

He feared God and stayed away from evil.

As I was doing a bit of cleaning out last Saturday, 
I came across a card with the following on the front.....

Challenges Are Blessings in Disguise

by Amanda Bradley

God sometimes sends us challenges

     as blessings in disguise

          to make us stop and think along the way....

To make us search our hearts and souls

     and take time to discover

           a little more about ourselves each day....

To lovingly remind us

    just to reach for Him in prayer

          for any answers that we long to know....

God sometimes sends us challenges

     as blessings in disguise

          to guide us and inspire us as we grow

  

 Romans 8:28 (NLT)

And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them. 

HOPE you have a terrific Tuesday, Sweet Reader!!!

In His Most Precious Love....and with mine!!!