Interceding for Us!

I was reading the prayer in John 17, where Jesus prayed for His disciples and for those who would believe on Him through their word. He prayed for us! Verse 22 was the greatest blessing as Jesus prayed that we might be "one" with the Father, as Jesus himself was. This, so the world would believe that God had sent Jesus.

A dear believer and sister-blogger wrote to me yesterday, reminding me that prayer IS our ministry! It's the most important one we could have and as I thought on that fact, I was reminded that it is the one thing that Jesus spent most of His time in. He spent all night in prayer and God recorded it on several occasions throughout Scripture. Jesus was truly ONE with His Father. He prayed, in God's will, that we would be one with Him too. God will answer Jesus' prayer!

He prayed, too, that God would "sanctify them through thy truth, thy word is truth". Believers are set apart through the Word of God. We are truly blessed. Jesus is still at the right hand of the throne of God, interceding for us!

What communion we can have with God because of Jesus' shed blood on the cross of Calvary. We can be ONE with God because of Him!

I hope you have a blessed day.

Doesn't this look like an oil painting? It is a photo, taken from the top of Darling Hill. I call it 'December sunrise'

First Things First

"Therefore, take no thought, saying what shall we eat? or what shall we drink? or, wherewithal shall we be clothed?...for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these  things. But seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you."
Matthew 6:31-33

It so wonderful to remember that nothing can separate the believer from the love of Christ. He loves us in the midst of tribulation, distresses, famine, nakedness, peril or sword! most of which I have never yet encountered. No matter what the tribulation or distresses are, the focus has to be on God and His righteousness. I was reminded today to stop flitting around, seeking what ministry I can have in someone's life here...or there...God will bring the opportunities for ministry along my path as I am focusing on Him. It does little good to look good on the outside (trying to please people by constantly "meeting their needs", perhaps) if I am not first focusing wholly upon and pleasing God on the inside. This is just something that the Lord has reminded me of in the past several days. He has a way of working in us very individually, doesn't He? God knows me so much better than I know myself. Let's be so in tune with Him that when He prods us in a particular area, we are ready to recognize where we've turned aside, confess it and go on with the Lord!

The Christian life is one of such simplicity when it is in tune with the Saviour. I wrote a line of a chorus once, based upon Ephesians 2:10, "For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them." The first time that the Lord helped me understand that verse it was pointed out that the word "workmanship" was "poiema" (spelling?) which is where we get our word poem. The question I have written in the margin of my Bible there is, Am I walking in the path wherein He designed this poem? We are His poem!

The chorus was only ever partly written but it comes to my heart often when I consider the "well worn way" that my feet are to be taking daily. "A poem for Jesus; His workmanship are we; the world reads each line daily, each word they see." The most important One who sees our poem is the Lord Jesus Christ, but our children, grandchildren, neighbors, co-workers and others are reading it as well.

I am thankful that nothing can separate us from Christ's love and that He guides our feet in the path that we should take. My prayer is that I consider Him first, knowing that "all these things" will be added to my life as I am seeking the things of "His righteousness".

Whether it's strewn with flowers and sweet;

sun-flecked, or with rocks, and dim;

I'd rather have Jesus to guide my feet

than to travel the path without Him.

Look What Sarah Did!

We're blessed to have Sarah back in our lives. When I was growing up, Sarah was my younger neighbor. I used to babysit for her little sister, Amy (but not for Sarah because she was "too old"). I just "hung out" with her.  She would ride her bike to the house and sit and talk with my mom as Mom decorated cakes or caned a chair. She has been away for many years and recently the Lord has lead her back to the North country. She came back in contact with me via both Facebook and the blog. At this time she's spending quite a bit of time on Darling Hill and look what she did for us the last two days!!! This is something I do, usually twice per year. I'd not gotten to it this Spring, so the Summer 'weeding frenzy' was a big job!! 

                                                                       Thanks, Sarah!!

I can see my mailbox up by the road again! we don't use it for mail, just curb-appeal ( :   She cleared the bramble bushes away from the driveway so well that they weren't even nearly scratching the door of my car as I backed down in last night. I wish I could pay her in more than food and coffee. She is now putting her name out for local employment. Job searching will get easier now, as the satellite dish guy actually CAME today!! We have been without it since May 30th, as many of you know, and we've been on the phone to our provider, sometimes two times per week. Today's free service call was such a blessing (well, we'd already paid for it last time a tech came, and whatever he did did not work). We had gone back on to dial-up. Everyone laughs when we tell them that, but there was no other way if we wanted internet at home. Now Syd and Sarah can fill out their applications on line and save the gas in their tanks for interviews, which will surely come soon.

Our rooster, Buck-buck, made his way into the stew pot the other night. We knew we would't be keeping him for the winter, and his feed had run out. The dogs are now eating their food very slowly, but we assured them that we would buy them more food and keep them around. I truly do miss Buck-buck's crowing ---all day long. He was cute. His feathers made beautiful earrings though! Syd has tied some and taken them to one of the local art stores where he sells his goods.

Syd stopped at his former workplace to help them put a machine part back together. It could have gone together in about 6 different ways, so he thought he'd make it easier on them since he was the one who had disassembled it. His boss said, "I can't believe you came back just to help us out like this, after getting laid-off." Syd told him that he fully believed that they are going to call him back when work picks up. His boss said that they certainly are planning on it. We praise the Lord for that job in the past and again in the future, if the Lord is willing.

Coco is with us for a week and a half. She and Sturm are in constant motion while Ruger lays to one side, missing his little white friend. It used to be he and she playing all the time. Coco has finally gotten used to Sturm's rough style and it seems that he's actually toned it down just for her sake.

an old picture; Ruger and Coco

Well that's just a little update from the Hill. We're glad you stopped by!

Life Lessons

"What man is he that feareth the Lord? Him shall He teach in the way that He shall choose." 

Psalm 25:12

Have you ever thought about the way that the Lord's lessons come to us in bits and pieces? I used to believe that God would allow us to go through particular trials to teach us something, right then...something that would follow us through life and which we would always be able to look back on as a "lesson learned". I can think of particular situations and look back several years as to when God cemented that truth in my heart. If I looked even further back, however, I would probably realize that He had been teaching and leading me up to that decision for quite some time. And still, He uses reminders to keep me thinking "right" in that particular of  life. I read somewhere that He may not always lead us through a trial to teach us a new lesson, but to "undo" my thinking in that area so that He can teach me how to think correctly. --to simplify my belief so that my trust is like that of a little child.

I cannot pretend to know His ways; all I really know is that He is all-knowing!

As I read in the book of Mark yesterday I read again the account of Jesus just after He fed the multitudes with the loaves. He "constrained" His disciples to enter the ship and go to the other side while Jesus went into the mountain to pray. When he came by them, walking upon the water, entered the ship which was being tossed, the winds became calm. The disciples had a hard time understanding how Jesus could have such power. It said that their "hearts were hardened" and they had already forgotten about the miracle of the loaves which had happened that very day. These were lessons that our Lord was using to train these men who would one day be the pillars of the early church as well as the first martyrs. I find it wonderful to know that He is still doing the same thing in Christians today!

On Friday Syd got news that his place of work just didn't have enough business to keep all the workers on. His boss had tears in his eyes as he had to lay him off. When work picks up they want Syd to come back. We are grateful for the job that he had there and know full well that the Lord will supply all of our needs as Syd goes back into the job hunt. Our God has never failed to provide and will not fail us now. Through these 32 years we have been amazed over and over at the Lord's faithfulness to His children. It does not take just one lay-off to teach us every lesson we need to learn in this area. Perhaps this time He has new heights that He wants to take us to. We can trust the Lord, we know that. He is always good to us!

This old  hymn comes to my heart:

I'm pressing on the upward way; new heights I'm gaining every day. 

Still praying as I onward bound; 

Lord lead me on to higher ground.

Lord, lift me up and let me stand by faith on Heaven's table land;

A higher plain than I had found; Lord lead me on to higher ground!

After I wrote this post, Syd called saying that he has met a couple from town (I have known them only through the post office). They would like him to come and do some work for them, as the husband has had a stroke. They asked if he could take about 20 minutes to come and look things over at their house. He was there for almost an hour and a half. Praise the Lord for this opportunity for work and, through prayer, we wish to be a good testimony and have open doors with our neighbors.

Just want to leave you with some "peaceful" pictures from the hill...

nephew, Nathan's, stone piles stand, even after several winters

Dennis' outhouse at the cabin

my brother, Dennis, built the end of the stone wall around this stone post

Our Baby Kangaroo

See the little Joey in this picture? I couldn't resist. Don't you hate it when people take a picture of you while you're asleep?

A Poem on Friends

As I'd mentioned in an earlier post, we've been blessed with visits from many friends of late. What a blessing it is to see one another again. Some friends came from afar and others we see often. When we come together within the walls it is always a special time. 

"Oh how good and pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity; it is like the precious ointment upon the head, that ran down upon the beard, even Aaron's beard; that went down to the skirts of his garments." Psalm 133:1,2

In early July Mr.Grant came down to be with us from Maine. I snapped this photo when at church. Little Ruth was on the move and I'm afraid it's the only one I got so wanted to get it into the mix of recording our most recent visits from friends. All of our church children sure love and miss Mr. Grant!

I have Sarah on the blog prayer list. She is seeking the Lord's direction as to where He wants her to serve and what kind of job He wants her to have. She grew up with us and we are thrilled that God has brought her back into our lives. She is a blessing. As you saw on a much earlier post, she came to us with the Richardsons. They are always a GREAT blessing to have on the Hill. We love them and thank the Lord for giving us such good friends as they.

Brother Bill is a neighbor who Ruger once only knew from a local Post office. Ruger used to be able to come with me to work (new rules no longer allow that). He looked forward to biscuits and pats from Bill. As you can see, he has missed him.

Our friends, Bill and Norma

We were thrilled to get a phone call one evening from our South Carolina friends, the Powells. They had visited last summer also and were traveling down from Maine to stay overnight with us. What a joy. We had a nice evening and a great visit with Mom also.

We wish they could have stayed a few more days!

Here is their Boaz, posing on top of the hill. Pretty boy. He, Ruger and Sturm had MUCH fun playing.

While we all visited, Ruger showed up at the door with a fresh "catch" -- one less red squirrel under Mom's porch. He chewed on it while the other dogs sniffed and watched from a distance.  He couldn't wait for us to see what he'd gotten, while his entire rear end wagged!

Truly, Friends Indeed

Cyndy Veysey 

You brought your smile and a hearty, "hi", 

into our lives today.

It let the memories flood over us,

like you'd never been away.

The door thrown open; to humble halls

a cheerful spirit walked in.

It rested on our fireside

and settled deep within.

And while the room with laughter rang;

you spread your words of love;

A story told, a thought provoked;

It pointed us above.

Memories sparked; as days of old

were brought  to mind again;

Our heads thrown back, our hearts refreshed

while we all remembered "when".

Slowly through the yard we traced

a path we hoped would lead

us back together in future, near;

Truly, friends indeed!

As up the hill, tracks lead you on

to paths we did not know;

A wave of parting; a light tear shed;

"God be with you", as you go.

The Beatitudes, Within

What mild and poetic words...the Beatitudes.  I was reading them today and am reminded, how thankful I am that Jesus, as Teacher, gave them; but am more thankful that He is not first and foremost the Teacher, but the SAVIOR of the world! What an impossibility it would be for the natural man to read and obey the Beatitudes.  Without Jesus' saving grace no man could ever live up to these. The first one, "blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven." We all had to come to Jesus, poor in spirit - knowing that we could not save ourselves and were in desperate need of His cleansing! That is where it all begins.

A quote from Oswald Chambers: "The Sermon on the Mount is not a set of rules and regulations; it is a statement of the life we will live when the Holy Spirit is getting His way with us."

I just wanted to share this blessing to my heart from God's Word this morning.
I hope that God blesses you with sweet truths from the Bible, on your "hilltop with Him" this day.