God's Sufficient Grace

Three times Paul prayed that his thorn in the flesh would be taken from him. The Lord answered with, "my grace is sufficient for thee; for my strength is made perfect in weakness." I have always been thankful for "down times" when the Lord has set me (or laid me) down on the couch or bed for rest, to recover from overload on the body. As I  think back, several times when I've run a fever, the warmth and high temperature caused me to thank the Lord that He was letting my body battle the sickness out of me! God always brings us through. Joy truly does come in the morning. Without these times of pain and weakness, where would be the ability to feel someone else's sorrow or pain? There was a time that I had the idea that Christians would be kept from tragedy and pain. I had bought into a false teaching that believers should never suffer adversity (some even believe, never suffer sickness). Scattered throughout the whole of Scripture we are given instances where brethren are in adversity and we are told to "remember" them (Hebrews 13:3). Please forgive me for not putting in all the references. I am simply sitting here, in the dark, tapping on the keyboard and am reluctant to turn on lights and possibly wake my sweetie.

This "down time" I really do need extra prayer. When the pain is at its worst, I plead with the Lord to make it subside or to take it away all together. He always answers, it always subsides for a time. Sometimes it will be for a couple hours, lately for about 1/2 hour until another "surge" comes. I really do not mind knowing that something is brewing in there (whether in my tooth or sinus, somewhere) I am just thankful that the Lord sustains through each instance. I do pray for a little sleeping time and He has given almost three hours, in the beginning of each night. At this time I can only sleep sitting up but am so thankful for those few hours. Today I will see the dentist and they'll do some x-rays.

In the meantime, I am reminded of the passage when Jesus foretold Peter that he was going to deny his Lord. Jesus said that Satan had desired that he may sift Peter as wheat. "but  I have prayed for thee, that thy strength fail not; when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren." Peter did go through that terrible time of denial and penitence (his was one of the worst spiritual battles). He certainly DID strengthen the brethren when he came out on the other side! Victory! Perhaps I have the opportunity to be a better wife, daughter, sister and friend because the Lord is taking me through a time of pain. It is amazing the things you think about when you are sitting in the dark. I am thankful that the Lord of light is right here beside me. Aren't you?

If you are going through hardship of spirit or body right now. I hope, first of all, that you know the Lord Jesus Christ as your personal savior. Then know that He brings ALL things into our lives for a reason. Without some of these battles we would go astray perhaps. A verse in Psalm 119, "before I was afflicted I went astray; but now have I kept thy Word." The Lord is good to us ALWAYS, no matter whether in adversity or in a day when the path is perfectly clear. I am praying that it, first, makes me more empathetic. My poor hubby suffers from a deviated septum, therefore experiences much sinus pain and almost constant pressure. Tonight I helped him with extremely hot compresses, as I was experimenting with them on my own head; this I should have been doing all along (I have, many times when he has had migraine in the past). It took personal pain to make me more sympathetic. If this is what it takes, Lord, bring it on.

"Lord, please make me the wife you want me to be," that is my daily prayer and has been for 32 years. This is just one other means for Him to do just that. I am so thankful.

I'm glad you stopped by the Hill. I hope you have a beautiful day.

Praises!

I am praising God this morning for His wonderful blessings daily. Reading in Ephesians 1:7, "In whom we have redemption through His blood, even the forgiveness of sins."! It is easy to reflect on the fact that I am forgiven from sin (though I do not grasp the full meaning of it) but I must keep before me, most of all, the huge sacrifice that it took for that to happen ---the tremendous tragedy of Christ's death on the cross.  God would never have been able to forgive me without the payment of Jesus' blood. I lose sight of His holiness sometimes. What a blessed reminder and great meditation for the day and days ahead.

My husband started a new job today! Praise the Lord for this. I was thinking, as he was driving out the driveway this morning, what a blessing it is each time there is a change in job status. If it were not for these times, we would not experience need and answer to prayer (perhaps). I do believe that God brings into every couple's life (individuals also) some means of their deep NEED to depend upon the Lord for provision. I am very thankful that Syd was not a "professional" in a particular field, with "job security". It has been a 32 year road of dependence upon God for provision, though, as I said, He has His means of bringing everyone into this dependence, even if they are professionals. I am just thankful for the way He has lead us.

I am on my way to my 2nd job today. If you are reading this and would care to pray, my sinuses are killing me and it is affecting my face and teeth immensely. Thankfully it comes on in "surges" and only lasts 15-20 minutes at a time, but I would love for it to stop. Have been doctoring myself and praying a lot. Thanks for your prayers.

Thanks, too, for stopping by the Hill today!! I'm sorry I've been so lapse in writing.

For These, we are Truly Thankful

Coming into this Thanksgiving week, we have so much to be thankful for. With upcoming turkey brining, baking of cornbread for stuffing, finalizing recipes for pies and last minute grocery buying, it is so easy to let the day go by without really reflecting on being thankful! I have tried to meditate on it more this year, perhaps because I am getting older and the days seem more fleeting now.  The truth is, I need to be thankful every day. Many weeks ago I mentioned starting a blessings list, which I did. I tried to think wayyyy back, 32 years ago, when Syd and I first were married. Going through the years in my mind, remembering the ways the Lord has lead, and even instances where He taught me specific lessons. The list is long already, and still growing.

In my Sunday School class we have been studying in the book of John. Last week we read the account of Jesus when He was speaking to Nicodemus. He said that the wind bloweth where it listeth, and we do not know from where it comes nor where it goes, likening this to being born of the Spirit. Christians are now "born of the Spirit". Tonight in our Bible time, Syd and I read from Philippians 1. Verse 6 says that, "He which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ." Sunday, the children and I talked about how we do not understand the way the Holy Spirit works in our lives, leading us and teaching us to grow, but we believe it and walk with Him each step of the way. When we were young in the Lord we may have read a particular verse or sang certain hymns day after day, or week after week. Now, many years later, we read these verses and they hold so much more meaning to us than they ever did then. On Sunday we sang the hymn, "Living for Jesus". As new believers, we sang that song practically every week; but meditating on the words last weekend, they were more alive to me than ever they were in years past. The Holy Spirit has lead me along, tempering me and broadening my understanding. I did not see it happening, but He is faithfully doing it.

Isn't it wonderful that the Lord just draws nearer and nearer to us as we draw near to Him? I love Him and hope that if you are reading this, but do not know Him as your personal Savior, you will trust the work He did on the cross of Calvary. He hung there, bearing all your sin and shedding His blood to take the death that we all deserved because of sin. It's the thing that I am most thankful for - my Savior!

I am praying for so many of you; There are so many who are going through hardships at this time, and yet I know that you are looking at your blessings instead. Knowing some of you personally, I want to let you know that I am thankful for YOU too.

Syd and I wish you all a really happy Thanksgiving.

Being that it is Deer Season (as we have always called "Hunting Season") Here are a few deer shots from us. The first one was just down behind our cabin, hiding amongst the trees.

See me?

These two turkeys walked up to the two deer, they looked at each other, then the turkeys just kept going

On Mom's front lawn

Love Lessons in New Circumstances

"Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing." I Corinthians 13:1, 2

It has been so long since I've come to the blog-world! I'm hoping to catch up on some of my fellow blogger's posts this morning. Many things have happened since I last posted. It is amazing how one or two things that come into one's life can throw off the schedule.

My out-of-the-home job has shifted for a time (projected, a year and a half). One of my fellow-workers wanted to be free from the position that she's held for almost two years. She had been told that it would only be for "three months" when she took on that particular job. By my agreeing to a change, it allowed the superior over me to step to the position that this co-worker wanted "out" of. I am praising the Lord that this new work-schedule keeps me in the hometown at all times now. Between the 28 hours at this little office, plus the 10 hours at my bookkeeping job - they are just up the road from one another and less than two miles from my house in either direction!  It took much prayer, even though it seemed like a "no-brainer" to some people, to decide if this was a responsibility I should take on. The Lord has given peace about it and I am amazed that in the week that I've spent at it, there seems to be no 'overwhelming' or over-burdened feelings (which is what I experienced before, when I stepped into a similar, short-termed position).  I think that most of you "readers" know that I try not to speak about my job often. I would rather be at home any day of the week, but God has had other plans for me and thankfully He has given me jobs that are non-career,  yet help my husband pay the bills.

Most recently the job of juggling home and away-from-home-work has become so much simpler also. What a blessing that is! It used to be a constant fight and struggle between my time and emotions. There has been an inner shift and peace that only the Lord can give. Between giving it over to Him in my mind (first) then performing the tasks with my hands, it has become a peaceful experience. He is also reminding me not to 'sweat the small stuff' (totally my words, of course).

Having my husband at home more often is a total joy! I do pray that one of the applications and interviews does turn into a job soon, of course, for his sake, but I just love having him here. He has been able to get some of the unfinished jobs done that he's been wanting to and, as many of you know, is also a great cook! The smells that greet me at the door when returning from lunch are SOO good. Just to sit and sip hot soup in the middle of the day with the love of your life - well, that is a treat!

We've almost left another Autumn behind us. That is hard to believe. Last year I had so much time to spend with Mom; picking apples, making sauce, walks in the woods and swinging on the porch swing. This year we could literally count the apples on the trees. Circumstances come in the way of so many things, but when we belong to the Lord, He orders the things that come into our lives. I am thankful that Jesus died on the cross, shedding His blood for me, and because I trusted this as the only way of salvation, He now leads me along the path that He's chosen for me!

God is teaching me that how I react to "circumstances" can either make me soft and pliable or hard and bitter. He has been bringing me back to I Corinthians 13 often throughout these last several months. Without charity, love, all of life is fruitless. Dear Lord, teach me to separate my "common sense life" from my life which is to be totally immersed with love and with YOU. This is something that He has been impressing me with. Common sense is what I have, naturally. "Christ-sense" is what He is putting into me. Oh, may I learn the lessons!

I hope that you, my friends, have a really beautiful day today. Thank you so much for stopping by Darling Hill along your way!

Just a couple of pictures to make you smile:

We celebrated puppy birthdays (Nov 1st) along with our friend, Sarah's! They weren't totally impressed with the hats.

"Queen Elizabeth and the Duke" My dear aunt and uncle. They are so fun!

A Prayer of True Worship

It is such a privilege to have a relationship with the God of this universe! Because Jesus reconciled me by His blood, shed on the cross, I was talking with Him this morning and spending time in His very WORD!

"...the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth; for the Father seeketh such to worship Him." John 4:23

Oh, that I might worship the Lord with honesty in my spirit, complete openness with Him and with others, always in truth, never lying (even to myself) about my sins!

The word, truth, brings thoughts of God's Word and 'honesty'; it also reminds me of "reality". As a new Christian I used to think that the Lord just shields all believers from extreme sadness and tragedy. How untrue that is. Believers go through tragedy, heartbreak, trials and everyday temptations just like anyone. It actually sounds ridiculous to think otherwise now, but I suppose it was just child-like ignorance that bred that thought in my early Christian life. There is a 'rugged reality' that a Christian is taken through, to mold and to shape each lump of clay into a beautiful vessel that He can really use. What a blessing, to be able to go through any circumstance truthfully, with open face before God and man! If I do not let God have His way in these everyday "way"s, I will be a hinderance and a clog to His work and I won't be a "true worshipper" in experience.

We are often reminded by our Pastor to 'live what you ARE'.  I am a true worshipper, now BE a true worshipper!

Sunday morning sunrise; wish I'd been at Mom's THAT morning!

One other thing that it seemed the Lord was reminding me of this morning was; let others Christians be led of the Spirit into this reality of being a true worshipper. If I can help them along in any way, wait for the Lord to humbly take and use me and don't run ahead to "serve" Him...those thoughts as I mused on being a 'hinderance and a clog' to the Lord's work.

I hope you have a wonderful walk today; Christians, as you walk along in the way the Lord is leading you. Thanks for stopping by Darling Hill today!

To Be Used of God!

"To be used of God; to sing, to speak, to pray. To be used of God to show someone the Way. I long so much to feel the touch of His consuming fire; To be used of God is my desire."
- writer, unknown to me; a spiritual song learned many years ago.

This is a post of serious thoughts and even not-so-serious rambles.

The property taxes are paid and this is such a relief! It is amazing how many things you can find to sell or do without when it gets into September and October, hee, hee!! The Lord is so good and provides in amazing ways. Syd is still waiting to hear from a job prospect where he has had three interviews. We are praying that he gets this job. At the same time though, I am praising God for a new headboard and bedside tables that he has been working on for the past few days and I have just LOVED having him home, being able to have lunch together and even to see him in one or another of my little post offices throughout the week. Last week an arm reached in through the window, holding a steaming cup of coffee! It's the little things that bring us such pleasure, you know?

Last night I was experimenting with gluten-free bread recipes! how hilarious! Maybe before this post is through I will have decided to show you pictures, though I doubt it! The white bread came out of the oven all nicely puffed up and beautiful but (as with the pumpkin loaf which rose nicely also), as it cooled it almost fell flat,or lopsided at least. I don't know if the barometric pressure added to this failure, or what. Eating the pumpkin bread is like eating a piece of pumpkin pie in loaf form. It is extremely DENSE, to say the least. Obviously I can only serve it to Syd, not company. I toasted a piece of each bread this morning and both are very tasty. Perhaps when (if ever) I perfect these gluten-free loaves I will share some secrets!

okay, I decided to show you the funny photos:

what was a beautiful, puffy bread while hot...settled!

this pumpkin bread looked promising; rose high and nice. Cooling took all the air out of it!
As you can see, I have no secrets to share yet. Will keep experimenting with gluten-free.

"Be kindly affectioned one to another; in honor preferring one another." Romans 12:10

"Look not every man on his own things. but every man also on the things of others." Phil 2:4

This morning, these two verses came to my heart as I prayed for the needs of others. I prayed that the Lord would use me to meet someone else's need today. My heart especially goes out to those who have lost a most important person in their life, whether it be a child, dear friend or spouse. We are here to glorify God as we give out the Gospel of the Lord Jesus, "do good" and to "relieve the fatherless and widows in their affliction". While I sorted mail into little post boxes this morning the Lord was reminding me that every single person who I encounter is worthy of the same care as she who would be considered my very best friend. What have I got to lose in making every person who crosses my path feel special and cared for? Yesterday I meditated on the thought, "what have I to gain by thinking evil of another person?" I Corinthians 13 tells me that charity (love) thinks no evil and does not rejoice in iniquity. It "beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things". What a love to strive for; to ask God to make real in my heart and to make come out, daily, through my mouth and hands!

This is a special kind of Godly love, that truly believes and expects the best of others and situations! wow! Please don't quote me on knowing and trying to teach you what to think on these verses. I meditate out loud when I blog; daily musings. Putting things down in this form is such a blessing to my heart and thanks to all of you who comment, when they are a blessing to yours also.

We gave our friend, Sarah, her birthday gift early. As you can see, she wastes no time unwrapping!

 We three girls, at lunch today...

Ruger knows he can usually talk Grammy into giving him a bite. He also knows this isn't allowed!

Thanks for stopping by the Hill today. It may be rainy outside, but it should be sunny in the Christian's heart!

Gearing Up for a Storm

It is 3:00 a.m. and I am doing something that I have never done before. I read in bed for over a hour (which is typical if I cannot sleep) but this is the thing that's different...I did not fall back to sleep, so came downstairs --in the middle of the night! In thirty two years of marriage I cannot count on one hand doing it (unless I was really sick, for peppermint tea, etc). Now I'm checking out my friend's blogs: unheard of!

While spending time in the car with Syd, Mom and Sarah yesterday we began talking about getting strength from the Lord. Not having a Bible in hand, we were trying to remember what Colossians chapter 3 was teaching. After arriving home I was reading through it. What a blessed chapter!  "Let the Word of Christ dwell in you richly" ~ verse 16. That is certainly the answer to receiving spiritual strength from the Lord. Obedience to God's Word is all we need. This chapter seems to cover every area of life, including home and family. It speaks of "the greatest of these", which is charity. "And above all these things, put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness." What a complete picture of the obedient Christian life is portrayed in this chapter.

In gearing up for a "nor'easter" that is to be hitting the East within the next few days, what better  picture can we get than applying God's Word, by His grace, to gear us up for any spiritual storms that may come in the future? I'm praising God, this early morning, for preserving His perfect Word and for having a copy of it to carry with me and to gain nourishment from daily.

If you are in the track of the storm, I am praying for you and for God's physical protection. I'm praying also for fellow Christians, as we face the battering storms that come in from day to day. Aren't you glad that, armed with the sword of the Spirit and "praying always", we have everything we need to withstand in the evil day?

"And above all these things, put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness. And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful. Let the Word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by Him." Col. 3:14-17

Early morning ponderings

Our big doe and her fawn

praying that this storm does not bring ice

may we all care for one another even more than Ruger cared for this little fawn and attempted to meet its needs