Satisfaction

“I know that, whatsoever God doeth, it shall be for ever; nothing can be put to it, nor any thing taken from it; and God doeth it, that men should fear before Him.” 

Ecclesiastes 3:14

A blessing from God's Word today, messages from the book of Ecclesiastes with Dr. Jim Berg.

"God never intended for us to get satisfaction from the components of life, but from the Creator of life."

I have been having fun looking through some of Mom's photo albums. She was great at keeping pictures for the family and has MANY albums, labeled for different occasions, etc. At the funeral I was hearing some of the girls, now all grown up, exclaim about how much they loved playing dress up at Grammy Rhodes'. Here's one of the photos I found...little Bobbi Jo, Joanna and Heather up on the back lawn.

               

Whiter Than Snow!

Beautiful snow is blanketing the ground today, laying lightly on each tiny branch of the trees.

I am ashamed to say that I have not posted on this blog for many days, weeks previous. The shame comes because I sometimes feel like a "freak" due to wanting to share the things that the Lord has opened up to me through His Word. This freaky 'feeling' has even caused me to keep my mouth shut. That is shameful. The Spirit of God opens my eyes and heart to my own sinfulness, as He has for you, no doubt, and will for any Christian who is seeking for Him to do so. He promises these things. He does not lie. His Word is TRUTH.

We have been blessed by our Pastor's teaching in past weeks also. On Sunday he shared that the Church certainly needs revival in these days. It has been a matter of prayer on his part for some time, I am sure. It is something that Syd and I have been in prayer for much in this past year. God saturates the Christian with His Word and deeper eye-opening as to our own sinfulness, this for any Christian who will seek Him with all their heart.

When I got saved God cleansed my heart; made me whiter than snow! He has not taken my sin nature away though. As He opens my eyes to behold wondrous things from His Word, it is so that I will more clearly see my own sinfulness and CHANGE; 

As one of our pastor-friends shares in almost every message, "What is my next step?" 

We were listening to a message by Dr. Jim Berg this week. A quote he shared went something like this...

"A Christian who will not be 'broken' is a worthless Christian." 

This was shared along with a story about young George Washington (the cherry tree story is not the only one out there). Young George had taken a future prize-horse of his mother's and was determined to break it. The horse had much spirit and did not wish to be broken. In her last huge effort to resist the young rider on her back, the horse reared up with all her might and fell down, dead. George had to confess to his mother what he had attempted to do. She was sorry to hear that the horse was dead but stated that even the most promising horse would have been of NO USE to them if her WILL could not be broken by the owner.

Dear Lord, break me; may my will continually, moment-by-moment, be in tune with yours. Send a revival, and let it begin in me.

II Cor. 3:18

"But we all, with open face beholding in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord."

Precious

“Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His saints.”

Psalm 116:15

Mom went to be with the Lord at 10:00 p.m. November 10. We praise the Lord that she is now in the presence of God. 

Thank you, all who have been praying for her these many years, months and days. She was very special. Her death is precious in God's sight.

Fall Contemplations

Oak leaves...They are lovely enough to bring indoors. My Sister-in-law had some on the table the other night, which prompted me to clip some from the little tree across the road! 

“That I may  know Him, and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being made conformable unto His death.”

Philippians 3:10

What a blessing that God knows me and wants me to KNOW HIM! ...really KNOW Him. The rest my life must be lived in pursuit of God. What a journey!

A good book which we just ordered and it came today: The Knowledge of the Holy" - A.W. Tozer

Many years ago I read, "The Kneeling Christian". It was by an unknown author.

No casual reading of either of these can bring about this knowledge, but digging into God's Word, in response to them will. Oh, to learn the lessons! He is faithful!

This was our pumpkin soup tureen this Fall. I'd seen these white pumpkins. They're kind of ugly, actually, but when you paint them it gives a pretty effect.

Back to work. Thanks for stopping by.

An update on Mom:
She is getting physical therapy at least once per day. The speech therapist was there yesterday when I visited. They're very creative in the ways of therapy. We are so thankful that Mom is in a place that is doing everything they can to help her toward recovery.
One great prayer request that I have is, that she will perceive how God is reminding her moment by moment that He is there, giving her peace, ready to respond to her every prayer and meet her every need. Mom has always said, "you can pray to God at any time, in any place." I am thankful that she never forgot that. I trust that it is what she does all the time.

Overwhelmed!

Overwhelmed by this beautiful day, by God's love and by the teachings from His Word! It was hard to decide between taking a longer walk, sitting outside in the sunshine, doing dishes, listening to Scripture and making applesauce...so I was able to do quite a bit of all of them, praise the Lord!

A blessing today was listening to two messages by Jim Berg; Work the Farm and Let The Word of Christ Dwell in you Richly. The Word of God is a book that must be dug into!

“But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he

 being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed

 in his deed.”

James 1:25

A good reminder today: If we say that we "cannot memorize the Bible", we might ask ourselves, "do you know your name and address, your phone number, your best friend's phone number?" We almost always get those right!

I leave you with a silly picture, two silly ones, actually:

See, things don't change all that much in 35 years!

Take care, and thank you for stopping by Darling Hill

Prayers of Thanks

"But my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus."

Philippians 4:19

Mom's infection is gone. This is what we understand according to her "numbers". There have been some discouraging days but she has gone into a different Nursing facility, where she will again receive some rehabilitation. The other day while I was there, the speech therapist was doing some massage and moistening in the back of Mom's throat. She then tried her on some straws of water. Mom was swallowing just fine! These are tiny steps, but when Holly (the therapist) asked her if she wanted more water, she whispered, "yes".

I cried while Mom sipped! 

Thank you for praying, those of you who are.

I do not have much more of an update than this, but knew that some of you had been asking about the condition of things.

Plenty going on up on the Hill these days, mostly leaves falling.  Fall is my favorite time of year.

Thanks for checking Darling Hill.

Don't forget to turn your clocks back this Saturday night!

More Prayers Needed

Acts 1:8
"But ye shall receive power after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you; and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth." 

We want to thank all of you who have prayed for Mom. We would appreciate prayer for her and for those in the family who know the Lord Jesus as our Savior. There have been some setbacks in Mom's health and there have been opportunities to witness for Jesus Christ.

Some recent pictures:

Listening to the Bible readings on-line

Ruger was so happy to see her

"Grammy, wake up! I'm here!"

At this time Mom is experiencing a serious infection, for which she is hospitalized. Please continue to pray for health, for her comfort, peace and for the Lord's leading. The family needs guidance as to what the next step is when and if she is able to leave the hospital. We appreciate all the calls and surely the prayers! 

Some beautiful pictures from this lovely Fall:

A picture I took on my way to work one morning

This is a photo Syd took while on his mail route

The apples on the Hill were BOUNTIFUL this year!

The A's came to pick apples with us this year. Here they are on Grammy's prayer rock

 ...and we celebrated our 35th anniversary that day! Praise the Lord!

Happy Birthday, Honey!

“For we are members of His body, of His flesh, and of His bones. For this 

cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his 

wife, and they two shall be one flesh. 

This is a great mystery, but I speak concerning Christ and the church.”

Ephesians 5:30-32

Happy Birthday to YOU, Happy Birthday to YOUUUUU, Happy Birthday to SYDney! 

Happy Birthday to YOUUUUU!

It's not a cake, but it's his favorite - GRITS!

I had bought Syd some hot salsa made with tomatillos. He had it in his favorite breakfast this morning - his Grits! Much healthier than cake too.

I am thankful for the wonderful man that God sent into my life 35 years ago. 

Happy 57th birthday, to my Honey!

An update on Mom:

Yesterday I was pleased to see the physical therapists at the hospital and they were doing some therapy! Please pray that Mom can focus and that she'll have the "umph" to endure therapy and eventually lend much strength to it. This has taken a whole lot out of her, of course. She is still not able to use her right side and still not speaking. We are thankful for those of you who have expressed that you are praying and will continue to. We are waiting on the Lord to show us the next step.

God's Strength Made Perfect in our Weakness

"My grace is sufficient for thee; for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake; for when I am weak, then am I strong." II Cor. 12:9,10

That is typed out by me for confirmation, not because we have learned the lesson fully, but because we want to "reckon" God's Word and promises to be so!

Please pray for Mom; for her spiritual and physical comfort and needs to be met. Please pray for the family and church family; for wisdom in decisions to be made and for God to make the believers to grow in Christ, and unbelieving to come to faith in His Son. Already there has been a strong testimony left to many involved since this most recent stroke on Saturday morning.

God's Word and promises are true. His love is unfailing!

We enjoyed coffee on the porch on Friday

Mom's littlest visitor, on Saturday

So Faithful!

He abides faithful!

I am thankful for the promises of God in His Word. He brings those things into our lives that will cause us to grow. We serve such a loving, blessed, wise God. I hope that you are encouraged today that no matter what you are going through, God is faithful and His love sustains you through it. His grace is sustaining me and our family at this time.

I am thankful for my husband, for dear family members and for church family and Christian friends' encouragement and help day by day. Syd and I have special friends who call on the phone to share prayer requests and who we can encourage (and they especially encourage us) in the Lord. We have other special ones who come alongside to physically help us in trials and troubles. Thank you; thank the Lord!

"There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it." I Cor. 10:13

I am thankful that He reminded me of this verse all week (it was hidden in my heart years ago) to remind me that my/our trial is not unique. It is given for a reason and He sustains us in it and will bring us out!  What a personal God we serve!

Neither, Nor

"For I am persuaded that neither death, nor life, nor angels nor principalities,

 nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any

 other creature shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in

 Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Romans 8:38, 39

...that's a lot of "nor"s! More than anything, I want to be "persuaded", truly persuaded of this. I am persuaded in my brain, but sometimes my heart forgets. No matter our failings, a Christian can be sure that our Lord God loves, loves, loves us. 

Blessings are surely had in putting God's Word to memory. I am thankful for children and teens in our church who we can memorize with. I am finding that a teen's mind is so much keener than mine these days. No excuses though. We are to hide God's Word in our hearts "that I might not sin against thee".

It is also a "persuader", as we reckon the Word to be true!

We have been through many things with Mom these past two weeks. Those of you who are "pray"ers ~you know who you are (:  ~we would appreciate much prayer for her. These days I have been more and more thankful for her as she goes through struggles and praises the Lord regularly. It is truly a blessing to spend time with Mom. She teaches me daily. Now she is struggling with health problems that she's never experienced. She is trusting the Lord. We, as family members, are learning to do so too.

The tomatoes are on the vines here. Many of you are probably enjoying their fruit already. Ours are still green, but we're looking forward to picking soon. 

Happy Summer to you all!

A Personal Moment

I have not posted in so long! I miss it, but things get so busy. The little (and huge) blessings come along and I miss recording them. Today's was just too sweet not to post about.

You know, when you're praying to the Lord and Satan tries to get his little "digs" in, trying to disrupt and cause you to sin? This morning I was thinking of a conversation I had with someone yesterday. As I prayed about it, I said, "Thank you, Lord, for this little cabin that you've given us. It's nothing grand, in fact there are SO many little things that are inconveniences...." THAT'S when Satan stepped in and tried to make me discontent. The verses that came to mind were I Timothy 6:6 and 8..."But godliness with contentment is great gain"..."And having food and raiment, let us be therewith content." I quoted them to the Lord as I prayed.

If any of you read the little devotional, Feature, today, you'll know the section of Scripture that was on today's agenda...I Timothy 6:6-11! As I opened my Bible, there it was! The Lord is so good to us always. It's these personal times that amaze us, isn't it? I love Him.

Thank you for stopping by the hill today. I would not have blamed you if you'd given up on visiting Darling Hill. We have not had much time, and not a lot of happenings to blog about, but the Lord is always the best topic of conversation - and He is always someone we can exalt and promote on the Hill. Take care, friends!

Giving Thanks

“In everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.” I Thess. 5:18

This morning I start a job that I had not sought, but one that is obvious that the Lord wants me to do. It involves moving from my "beloved" (my favorite, at least) Post office to one 7 miles away. We have prayed for the Lord's will, and not our own, to be done. He has made the answer clear and now it is time to continue to thank Him for answer to prayer... to thank Him this morning, and to continue to thank Him throughout the days and weeks ahead. He reminded me today, through time in the Scriptures, that through thanksgiving is the only way that I can be used in the place where He has put me. It is amazing how many reminders we need, over and over; and how easily we forget the lessons that we thought He had taught us!

This morning God led me to the Mountain View Bible Church website, after visiting it last evening. When it was time to listen to a morning message, God seemed to lead me back there. Pastor Pelletier was preaching on contentment, from Philippians 4. He had asked his mother to open the service by giving a short testimony. Many years ago, when the children were young, her husband had committed suicide. She shared that one morning as she sat on her bed she quoted the above verse; one which her husband had shared with her only weeks previous, after attending a Christian seminar. As she sat there she prayed, "Lord, I thank you for this situation. I don't like it, but I thank you for it." I thank the Lord for her testimony, through such sad and adverse circumstances. What a loving, great and personal God we serve!

I know that (as well as the rest of the message Pastor Pelletier preached) this is one thing that the Lord wanted me to hear today. I hope that if you are experiencing a situation that is difficult, distasteful or simply trying on your patience today, that God will give you the grace to give thanks for even that very thing. He promises to bless obedient children. Christians have a loving Father and the power of God's Spirit gives us strength to obey.

Step by step, step by step, I will follow Jesus; all the day, all the way, keeping step with Jesus.

I hope that you all have a wonderful day. It is a rainy one here. How green and lush everything is. This rain does remind me to pray for the people out in Texas who are underwater and in dire circumstances today.

Thank you for stopping by the Hill.

Okay, It's Summer!!

Happy Memorial Day! 

It's the start of Summer. After such a long Winter, it is surely a welcome day. We hope you're enjoying it as much as we are. We been working outside, as probably most of you have been.

Below is the start of one of Syd's big projects. Soon we hope to have a very large composting tub (the one laying on its side) installed in our side yard. This tank is so long and we hope to start the compost on one end and rotate it, in stages, to have it "finished" at the other end. Syd's going to fix a hinged, two piece, cover. That's mostly to keep our big piggy out (well, actually he's a big lab who loves to eat compost!)

I spent the morning weeding in the little front garden. There's still SO much to do! I wanted to share a picture of the begonia that a friend gave me. I just think that "begonia orange" is such a beautiful color! Mom and I met up on the road, taking our afternoon walks.

I hope you all get to celebrate this Memorial Day in special ways. We are thankful to all of those who have given their lives to fight for our freedoms. We are thankful to our Lord God, Who has blessed us with a free country!

Sowing, Watering and Reaping

Our leaves are truly unfurling so quickly! We've been through a busy two weeks here and sometimes I have not taken the time to look at those leaves two days in a row. Suddenly everything is looking SO green and lush! Yes, the weeds are coming up too, as we all know.

On Wednesday I went out and put some of our plants into the ground. Our South Carolina friends laugh at that, as their gardens are yielding already! I remember those days. Thursday and Friday mornings there was plenty of frost on the ground down in the low-lying areas though...thankfully not up at our altitude.

Today the plants are getting gently watered. Thank you, Lord. The rain makes these leaves look even greener.

Now it is time to go out into our little town. At our small Post Office I am called upon to sow seeds, water them, and maybe one day (perhaps today) to reap! My sweet hubby does this in one Post office, I in another. Christians do this continually. God is the one Who does the work in hearts. The battle is the Lord's. May we put on the whole armor of God and go in the Spirit's power. Believers are on the mission field. May we be walking, walking, walking; step by step in obedience to the Holy Spirit through this whole day; then start again tomorrow until God takes us home.

"Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers by whom ye believed, even as the Lord gave to every man? I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase. So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase." I Cor. 3:5-7

May the Lord Jesus Christ, be magnified.

Heart Work

"Heart work is hard work. It so hard that most have let it alone...Heart work is secret work... Many have employed themselves in the more open work of 'religion'. Few have taken pains with their hearts in secret." 

Thomas Vincent, 'God's Terrible Voice In The City'

I was blessed this morning by verses from Ephesians 5. In verse 4, "giving of thanks" is given as the opposite of the disgusting, sordid sins listed there. True contentment and thankfulness girds me up and battles against discontent that leads to a mind and heart of wickedness and filthiness.

God is so good to us. I am thankful for our Comforter, the Holy Spirit, Who teaches me from the Word!

Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.”

Proverbs 4:23

Walking Along, Through Our Mission Field

In the little moments of life are opportunities to meet people who desperately need the Lord Jesus Christ. I was called to minister to one this morning.

If you care to, I would ask you to pray for a young woman, "D", today. 

I am praying for you, other Christians, as your life touches the lives of others. Each believer is on the mission field.

Scripture memorization from James and Ephesians in these past months has shown me how lofty my "theology" sometimes is, but that it does not always 'play out' in the day-to-day steps of my life. By being a "hearer" and not a "doer", I have deceived myself into thinking that I am something that I am not. These convictions stemmed namely from how I use my tongue and what kind of "respecter of persons" I am. The Lord has used the first two chapters of James to chasten me.

Growing and changing...what is my next step? ...after getting up from reading and memorizing precious, living and powerful Scripture...Lord, how do you want me to use it today?

Aren't you thankful that God does not leave it up to US to change ourselves. He only calls us to be obedient to the Spirit of God moment by moment. No small task, but the high calling of God in Christ Jesus!

It has been a long time since I've written on this page! The written blog is a way of PRAISING the Lord for things that He has been doing, but often I don't get around to writing them down, I sadly say.
I hope that your days and weeks have been blessed. It is finally Spring! Soon we'll all be digging into the ground and planting gardens.

“I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of 

the vocation wherewith ye are

called, with all lowliness and meekness, with long-suffering, forbearing one 

another in love; Endeavoring to 

keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.”

Ephesians 4:1-3

The Pendulum of Life

Are you, am I:
Afflicted? Pray!

Merry? Sing psalms!

Whichever direction each situation of life swings - Pray and Praise!

Growing and changing through the book of James...The studies in this book are so concise and convicting! The more I learn, the more I see how much I have deceived myself into thinking I'm "okay" in places that just aren't okay! Lord, by your grace, change me and mold me into the woman you want me to be.

Our wonderful Lord; The wonderful, preserved Word of God...gives us all things that pertain unto life and godliness! All praise goes to Him!

Oh, how I need the prayer of God's people and how we each need the prayer of other believers! The local church is such a gift. We are also members of Christ's body, universal. I pray for those who read this blog and pray that you are encouraged in God's Word when you visit Darling Hill.

Since I blogged last, the Lord has handed my hubby a new job. We are now a true "postal family". I must get a better photo, but God even provided a right hand drive Jeep, a very handy tool for delivering mail. His route is out of a town 20 minutes away...familiar roads, most of which are dirt (soon to be mud). He's getting to know his customers and enjoying this new chapter of life.
Thank you, Lord.

The car now goes up for sale. We trust that, in God's time, it will sell. I'll be wheeling around in Syd's truck soon!

The Reflection in the Mirror

Lord, please let me not forget the things that I saw through the mirror of your Word this morning...

Guide me as I go into the day and the days ahead, "continuing therein".

Lord, please change whatever needs to be changed.

"Thy Word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against Thee."  Psalm 119:11

An Evening Gift

“Then he said unto them, Go your way, eat the fat, and drink the sweet, and send portions unto them for whom nothing is prepared; for this day is holy unto the Lord; neither be ye sorry; for the joy of the Lord is your strength.”

Nehemiah 8:10

What a joy to have the LORD as my strength! It is joy that will never end.

We received a wonderful present late last night. One of my brothers sent LOTS of meat up to us, and to our Pastor (my other brother, who stopped by to bring us the gift) and to Mom. It filled every empty portion of our freezer. 

As we were going to sleep, all I could think of is, 

"Thank you, Lord". 

He is so good to His children!

Love With Shoes On

Our Lord's Day was a wonderful one of precious time in God's Word and in serving and in fellowship. Some were not able to be with us because of snow and ice. We missed them.
During the afternoon service God directed our pastor to share accounts of missionaries and Christians who are now being persecuted and imprisoned for the sake of the Lord Jesus. I cannot with words express how the Lord used it in my own heart.

This morning I was listening to a message on-line which simply added to the burden the Lord laid on my heart yesterday. The speaker mentioned a sermon, Love With Shoes On, by Darrell Champlin, missionary to Africa. I googled the title. For the second "kitchen sermon", Msn. Champlin gave account of his wife, Ruth's, family who were missionaries to Africa. They trekked 1000 miles into Africa after getting off the boat. Mrs. Champlin's mother died of malaria on the field when Ruth was 8 years old. It was now her father and five children. Now over 3 years into the ministry, there had been yet no converts. After watching them lay Ruth's mother to rest in a hollowed out log (because they had no wood for a casket) and hearing the testimony of this missionary family, the first five young men came to be saved because they saw that the Gospel message was "good for dying." For the next 10 years, this missionary and his five children, traveled by foot and bicycle, never having a home, but traveling from village to village giving the Gospel to the lost people of Africa. It was account after account of things which were suffered, eventually death, but unswerving resolve to continue on, loving the Lord through each infirmity. The Champlins and their family went to Africa, continuing to reach the people in these villages for Jesus Christ. It was through many trials, tears and prayers that they left Africa and went to South America as missionaries, midst terrific trials there also.

For many months now I have envisioned (this is nothing more than a figure in my head, please take it only as such) many crosses sunk into the ground along the steep bank in front of our church building. On them, the blurred bodies of church members, hanging there, dying for the Truth of the Gospel. Will I, do I, love the Lord that much?

What kind of love do I have for the Lord Jesus? all-out, agape love? or for me, has my Lord (as He did for Peter) had to change the question to "brotherly fondness, warm affection"? For the great salvation He has given me, for His shed blood on the cross to ransom my soul, may I make the constant choice to LOVE Him with true, agape love.

Please pray for the unsaved ones here in our "Jerusalem". As I called Mom this morning we talked about a poor, elderly, widowed neighbor named Pauline. While Mom and I talked we prayed for her over the phone. Lord willing, late this morning or early afternoon we will go to visit her. Please pray for her salvation and for the ministry of the Lord's lighthouse here in our little village. This is where the Lord has us. This is our mission field! Do I love the Lord, with shoes on? or simply with words?

Mud And Sugarhouses

A March Stroll  

(I had titled this A February Stroll, when first written. This year February was too COLD)

Little tracks beckon us to follow them over the tall snow banks, between the trees, into

                                               woods beyond.

The temperature tells us that we’ll stick to the road.  Crust has softened now.  Only the small animals stay atop.  The fox prints show up from last night’s hunt. 

Ruger succumbs, to find himself chest-deep.

No mittens or scarf to encumber today.  Coats may stay unbuttoned.

The best part --- our boots need not keep out the cold and snow, but only

                                               the MUD – glorious mud!!

It's 40 degrees! Today I saw sugar houses with their doors thrown open and many trucks in their yards. Soon the sweet sap will be boiling!!

Thanks for stopping by Darling Hill. 

Happy Spring!

One-On-One Time

Wouldn't it be wonderful if we could spend more one-on-one time with each of our Sunday School students, with your children, with each close friend that we have?

I am glad that God spends this personal time with us!

Each trial that I go through is for me to see how weak my flesh is and to grow closer to my Savior. These months of "revival" in my own heart...spending "on-purpose, extra-cirricular time", have simply been a time that I have asked God to let me get to know Jesus better...more Bible study, more Scripture memorization, a deeper prayer life. May it go on and on! He answers prayer for each of us individually, sends just the trials and blessings that each of us need individually, molding us into the person He wants us to be.

It's the BEST one-on-one time there is!

“If any of you lack wisdom let him ask of God, which giveth to all men 

liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.” 

James 1:5

Mom's rock...where she often spends alone-time with God

I leave you with a photo of "Miss Riley's house". It is one of the hometown memories that Mom still holds dear. She would walk to the top of North Road to clean at Miss Riley's. I am glad she has some vivid memories left, and that she can share them with us.

A very nice follow up to "Miss Riley's"... There were two ladies who lived together in this house. Perhaps they were sisters, I am not sure of that. When Syd and I moved to South Carolina, Mom and Dad came to visit us on several occasions. On their first trip they had learned that these two ladies were living together in elderly housing, just a few miles above where we lived! During their visit, while Syd and I were at work, Mom and Dad went to visit them. What a joy that they could do that...after all those years! We love this memory, though Mom has forgotten it, it was a special time in her life.

How Does It Smell?

“Be ye, therefore followers of God, as dear children; and walk in love, 

as Christ also hath loved us, and hath 

given Himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a 

sweet-smelling savor.” Ephesians 5:1,2

It is not so much what I LOOK like to the world or to other Christians that matters;

but what I SMELL like to God.

Jesus' life was sweeter than any incense! If the fragrance of my life is pleasing to the Lord's nostrils it will be serving its purpose to the believers and to the unsaved around me. Memorizing Scripture without my letting it make me a "follower of God", is fruitless.

Dear Lord, change me by your grace. 

Trust and obey; for there's no other way to be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey.

You Leave 'Em Alone for One Hour!

Hmmmm!

...what have we here?

I went to Mom's to do a load of laundry and this is what Syd came home to.

Only Sturm is tiny enough to fit through the crack, the width that the bathroom door was propped open

It appears that Sturm got in and brought stuff out where Ruger could partake too. Ruger's usually the culprit when it comes to tissues. Obviously it was a tag team job this time, as the bathroom door was only open about 6 inches or so  ( :

I came home to two dogs, banished to their beds.
Oh well, at least it wasn't shoes!!

Making the Most of My Minutes

1440 minutes

The rapture of the Church may happen this very day, I know, but if not...

...beginning at 12:00 a.m. I have been granted 1440 minutes today

Thinking back on a couple of the kitchen sermons this week, one of the points that "hit" me was:

Start the day with the END in mind

Wherefore He saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead and Christ shall give thee light. See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, Redeeming the time, because the days are evil. Wherefore be ye to unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is.”

Ephesians 5:14-17

All of the above, by God's grace and strength. Thank you, Lord, for this new day!

Thank you for Prayer

Thank you for praying for Kay, as I am sure that many were and are! She is still in the hospital but out of the Intensive Care Unit. She should be released this Monday. Doreen and I have had a couple of good talks, spiritual talks. Humanly speaking, "some good things have come out of this". Kay and her husband will be moving out of their house where they've lived all their married lives (60?) and into a couple of rooms at their son's place. Knowing where some of the stress came from, this move will be great. On the phone yesterday, Doreen said, "can you even BELIEVE that they would agree to this?" Doreen and her father have been able to start to communicate better also. If you had known all the past history, you'd know that these are BIG steps. Please pray for salvation needs of Kay and her husband, Doreen and the rest of the family too.

I would ask you to add one more prayer request on. We have an unspoken burden that we are seeking the Lord's hand of leading on. Thank you so much.

Urgent Prayer Need

Dear praying readers,
If you could please keep this urgent prayer request before the Lord today; a very good friend of mine, Doreen, just called me. Her mother is in ICU on a ventilator at this time and is in danger of passing into eternity without the Lord. Her name is Kay. We would appreciate your prayer. I'll be down with Doreen this afternoon, as she is home right now trying to get some sleep but will be back at the hospital at 3:00. Thank you for remembering Kay.

Sweethearts

The beautiful card Syd made me...

one of the things he wrote inside, "still sweet on you"

Breakfast this morning. Hot sauce on the eggs and sugar on the toast (:

                                      ...then (1980)












                 ...and now (this was 7 years ago)

                                                                    My Valentine!


                 

A statistic I learned this morning: Half the world's population was born after we were married 

(34 years)

                                                                                 

A Clean Bill of Health

My sweet hubby did not go to work today, as he is resting up from a "procedure" at the hospital yesterday afternoon. It was a planned one and we are so thankful that the results were good - a clean bill of health for another 5 years! If he didn't work with machines he would have gone in today, but not in his line of work.

So the house is quiet right now, only the music from WMUU playing on the computer. Syd and I still recommend WMUU up until 7:00 a.m., when they change their programming to "show tunes"? It's quite a change from the years that we used to listen when living down South. Enough said. You'll know if you tune in. Coupled with personal time in God's Word, the messages from old teachers like Oliver B Green and Dr. Bob Sr., as well as others (this morning, a chapel hour from Pastor John Monroe) really prepare me to be thrust out into the village for those two hours each morning.

I am liking the new Post office schedule; 2 hours in the morning and 2 hours in the afternoon. I think it is hard on the community, but they are adjusting. It makes my Saturday morning quite busy!

"Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me? Hope thou in God; for I shall yet praise Him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God." Psalm 42:11

A clean bill of health!

God is the health of my countenance! 

Lord, help me to draw upon YOU, moment by moment today.

An Old Friend

It was time to get reacquainted with an old friend today - well, we'd never really been too close, this friend and I...

My sweet hubby listens very carefully. Several years ago he heard me say, "I'd love to be able to play the flute." For my birthday (or Christmas, or "wife's day", or some made-up holiday-with him, any excuse will do for giving presents) he had opened up a rental account at a nearby music store. I do LOVE this instrument and practiced quite faithfully for a while. The flute and I have not been acquainted for many months now though.

On the Lord's Day, one of our dear children at church (Grace, you know who you are) brought along a flute that her parents had gotten for her! She wanted me to show her a few things to get her started...hmm, I'd forgotten a lot! I did know how to put it together and blow into it! Anyway, I told her that I'd bring mine along this week. You see why I needed to get re-acquainted. I love young people for so many things. This is one of them!

See? I found a website "Flute for Dummies". It has a wonderful fingering chart, which it allowed me to print! I have my book which I'd been practicing from, but thought this would be helpful for both of us.

Well, enough blogging about it - time to start fluting. Will let you know how things are going. If Grace and I ever do a duet, I will try to record it, how's that?!

Full Moon

It's collld outside!

...that's what Ruger says. When it's 7 below zero, rooting around under the snow probably doesn't help him stay warm. He still stays out for about 10 minutes at a time -crazy dog!

We hope you are all staying warm. This cold winter weather makes us so happy for a wood stove and a warm house to live in. Soup's on the stove and my hubby should be pulling in soon from some clean-up plowing after work.

The "welcome gift" for our newest little grand-nephew. Figured it's something that can grow with him. Maybe when he's 16 he won't still think of the wood burned letters as baby blocks! (which is what they're supposed to resemble)

I just spent a few minutes with Mom on the phone. While we talked, she was just seeing the full moon appear and then come up fully. I "watched" it with her as she described it to me. I told her that soon I would be seeing it through the trees. I was going to post a picture of it for you, but it's not cleared the East side of the hill yet and is getting too dark outside now.

I hope you have a good night. Thanks for stopping by!

Roots

So blessed by a sermon by Steve Pettit this morning: Put Away Bitterness, Ephesians 4.
It is found on sermon audio.com

~Be rough on yourself, but smooth on others ~

Bitterness can get its roots in us, and by it many will be defiled. Sadly it could go on for years without our even recognizing it. 

God, please keep my heart tender, yielding, daily; that you can reveal my own heart to me.

In The Image of our Holy God

Don't you just thank God that we still live in a FREE country?

Preparing to go into this day, listening to God's Word, knowing that I am here only to bring glory to God...these are things I thank the Lord for today.

When my hubby and I came to know the Lord as Saviour, we now look back and see that it was just at the tail-end of when "Christianity" (in its holiness and holding fast to the truths of God's Word) was and is, so sadly, encouraged to turn "modern". We are now certainly in a post-Christian nation, but still called to worship and live for our wonderful, HOLY Lord!

Now the world is modern; modernism is pushed, even in churches that are "evangelistic". I hate to think about it, but even dear, true Christian loved ones and acquaintances scoff at believers who wish to walk strictly by the Word of God...scoffing, mocking our holy Lord. Though many say, "Christianity has changed"...God has not changed at all.

Hearing sermons from preachers now gone to Glory, Dr. Bob Jones, Sr. and from Oliver B. Green this morning on WMUU.com certainly prompted many of these thoughts.

I hate to think how much modernism has been absorbed into my own being. I am frail, only dust. Only by walking in obedience to His truth and depending upon Him daily, will I be led and changed toward Christ-likeness by my faithful Lord!

A Scripture reference that comes to mind,

"...walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh." Galatians 5:16   

That's a promise!

Created in God's image; created to glorify God, our Creator!

He's so great, and I'm so small; I'm so weak, but He's so strong!

It's chilly in the north country, but we certainly didn't get the amounts of snow that they were predicting in this last storm!

Thanks for stopping by the Hill today!

Forgiveness With Thee

The kitchen sermons this past week and today have seemed to all center around walking in the Spirit and in the presence of God. Today's was from Psalm 130. It reminded me of the sermon at church yesterday; a reminder of all that I have been forgiven for and a call to walk in His presence each  moment. We were blessed to have three young people from town visiting with us during the morning service too!

Aren't  you (if you know the Lord Jesus as your Savior) glad that there is forgiveness with God?

When we were first saved our Pastor Gibbs had us learn a "chorus of the month". This is one of them.

After all He's done for me; after all He's done for me;

How can I do less than give Him my best

and live for Him completely?

After all He's done for me!

It's a blessing that each passing year the believer recognizes this more deeply. We serve a wonderful God; We have an "unspeakable gift". These spiritual blessings are sometimes difficult to put into words, but we are supposed to praise Him always. I have nothing to boast in except this wonderful Lord!

“If thou, Lord, shouldest mark iniquities, O Lord, who shall stand? But there is forgiveness with Thee, that thou mayest be feared.”

Psalm 130:3,4

A Well Rounded Breakfast

It's back to round bread. I never knew where my mother got the idea, but all my life I ate round bread. When we married, Syd and I bought juice in cans so that we could keep eating round bread. In one or two of our moves I misplaced or threw away my old juice can bread pans. For several years now we have been eating store-bought bread or home made that's made in bread pans, which spread out and just aren't compact enough for our liking.

A few weeks ago Syd came home with two cans of pineapple juice. We never drink the stuff, but soon I found out what he was up to! Now we're back to eating our compact and perfectly round bread. It makes for a nice sized sandwich and just works "all-'round"!! ha, ha!

Thanks to my friend, Sharon, I now have new canisters too. I've been looking around for canisters, as I have hated the big "urn" shaped ones I had because they're hard to reach way down into and had a very narrow neck. Sharon showed up at church with some pecan candies in one of these great jars from Wal-mart. They're a nice size, so Saturday I bought three...just right for sugar, white and wheat flours. Thanks for the idea, Sharon!

Thanks for stopping by the Hill today. I hope you have a wonderful day.

Simple bread recipe:   7 cups flour (I mix 2 parts whole wheat and 1 part white); 3 cups tepid water,
1 1/2 t. salt, mixed together with two packets yeast; allow yeast to dissolve in water and salt and pour all together into your mixer with dough hook, or just mix together -however you're accustomed to doing it. Knead for 4 minutes or so; set aside for an hour; knead again for 4-5 minutes and put into your greased juice cans (this recipe will use three and will likely rise slightly above the cans, perfect). Allow to rise in a non-drafty area. 450 degree oven for 30-35 minutes. Lay the cans on their sides for a few minutes then shake them out onto cooling rack. Enjoy!

Settle Down

But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you. To Him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.” 

I Peter 5:10, 11

I do not know how much snow you got with this storm; if you live in a place that got no snow, I am sorry. The storm started as rain and ice, but the heavy snow that fell in the night is certainly settled onto every branch and twig. The quietness out there is amazing. 

I pray that the Lord will stablish, strengthen and settle me. Our Lord's day messages were a blessing. Our pastor is teaching from I Corinthians and the reminders of oneness among the body, the church, was so well explained. I pray, as do you I am sure, that our church family works together as one body; encouraging, guarding, building up and binding up wherever needed. Next week begins the chapter on charity, the "more excellent way". 

“And that ye study to be quiet, and to do your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you. That ye may walk honestly toward them that are without, and that  ye may have lack of nothing.”

I Thess. 4:11,12

I spend much of our little dog's waking hours reminding him to "settle down". I call Sturm "the Barney Fife of the dog world."  One can learn a lot even from their pets. I know that some days I spin my wheels, really getting little accomplished. It is surely not the moderate, settled, quiet and peaceful day that the Lord would have me experience. Even on my busiest days, they can be experienced with a peaceful heart-attitude. 

Day by day, God answered prayer in this regard during the past two weeks. I praise the Lord for a husband who loves his mother in law as his own Mom. He cares for her as lovingly and carefully as I do (much better than I do at times). I only hope that one day I will have the opportunity to help care for his mother in the same way; as I had my own mother for an example when she took my Grammy into their home and cared for her (my Dad's mom).  Thank you for any who prayed for Mom's needs over the past weeks. She is doing so much better!