A Living Sacrifice

January is rose pruning time. I spent part of an afternoon learning the basics of rose pruning. One principle is you can’t kill a rose. Another one is that there is no absolute right or wrong. way to prune.

I was dealing with some very over grown, chopped at roses. I doubt if any cost much, but they did have some pretty roses. We did some drastic cutting.  Dead wood, broken branches, cross-over canes and suckers had to go. The bush had to be opened up for good air flow; shaped for a pleasing appearance; and healthy wood to produce roses.

This lady wasn’t one of the worst, but did look neglected.

John 15:-1-2  I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman. Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit.

My pruning was a work of faith. Open, now to fresh air and sunshine healthy wood, and it is still alive.

John 15:6  If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned.

Lots of brush was burned this day, and some were the rose prunings.

This burning wasn’t left unattended, but carefully watched.

When I first looked out at this fire pit filled with burning brush, I thought of the prayers as a sweet incense before God. Then I pondered what was being burned – trash.—that which was good for anything.

What does God want from me , a living sacrifice, a daily offering to God. If I find I’m being heard or seen instead of Jesus, then I must be pruned until the image of Christ can be seen

Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; Every man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is. 1Corinthians 3:12-13

Verse 16 of Psalms 116 is often  read during the memorial service of one who has served the Lord faithfully. As I read this Psalm it seemed like the verse was stuck in the middle of a description of what I needed to do daily in service for the Lord. I wondered isn’t  it precious in the Lord sight when I die out to myself and become more like his image; when I pay my vows; when I am God’s servant; when I offer the sacrifice of thanksgiving. So when I present myself a living sacrifice, the prunings burning are a sweet smelling savor before my Father.

What shall I render unto the LORD for all his benefits toward me?
I will take the cup of salvation, and call upon the name of the LORD.
I will pay my vows unto the LORD now in the presence of all his people.
Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his saints.
O LORD, truly I am thy servant; I am thy servant, and the son of thine handmaid: thou hast loosed my bonds.
I will offer to thee the sacrifice of thanksgiving, and will call upon the name of the LORD.
I will pay my vows unto the LORD now in the presence of all his people,
In the courts of the LORD’S house, in the midst of thee, O Jerusalem. Praise ye the LORD.                 Psalms 116:12-19

Published in: on January 31, 2011 at 10:40 pm  Leave a Comment  

One Thousand Gifts and A Scripture

One Thousand Gifts   January 29, 2011

1.  Sunshine breaking through an overcast gray sky

2.  Poinsettias polka-a-dotted with dew drops

3.  Seymore stretching to drink from the bird bath

4.  Roses pruned ready to blossom with the warmth of the sun

5.  Quietness in my home

6.  A shed ready to create and play in

7.  A heater in the shed to chase the cold away

8.  A kind hearted Brother Bob’s gift of a clock for my shed,

even though it frightens me, when it bird songs the hour

9.  A duplex across the fence still wearing Christmas lights

10. A spider web found in the top of an often used fence post

2Peter 1:4  Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.

 

Published in: on January 29, 2011 at 2:52 pm  Leave a Comment  

Genesis 6-9

God saw how sinful the world had become and was sorry He had created man. God was ready to destroy everything, then He found Noah, ‘a just man and perfect in his generations, and Noah walked with God.’ So God made a plan to save Noah and his household and the animals and flying birds Noah would need to live his life after the flood. Noah did as God said, even though he had never seen rain; he didn’t understand the need for an ark like he was asked to build; and his neighbors didn’t understand and mocked and jeered. Noah build the ark and gathered and planned by faith in God.  At God’s time, Noah, his family and all the animals entered the ark. God shut the door. The rains came and the floods arose. Then Noah waited. He didn’t know what to expect next; God had said build an ark, He said enter, Noah could hear the rain and feel the motion of the flood. What Next? According the plan of God as He designed, the rain had to stop, the flood had to be absorbed into the ground, grasses and trees and bushed had to regrow, flowers and seed pods had to form for food for the animals. then when all was ready for man and beast it was time to exit the ark. What a clean fresh world it must have been! I can see animals leaping, hopping, running, stretching their legs after such along time in stalls. How good the new grass must have tasted! Noah and his family, fresh air, deep lungs full of cool fresh air! Fresh clean water! Flowers, vegetables, fruits ready to enjoy! No wonder Noah’s first thought was to thank God then only way he knew how by sacrifice.

But God wasn’t finished. A Covenant, A Promise, A Rainbow.’ I establish my covenant with you, and with your seed after you; And with every living creature that is with you, of the fowl, of the cattle, and of every beast of the earth with you; from all that go out of the ark, to every beast of the earth’. Not just with Noah, but with every living creature and every fowl, every cattle, every beast.

When we see the bow, we remember the flood and the destruction and the promise. But see in verse 16, I will remember my covenant, which is between me and you and every living creature of all flesh; even God remembers when he sees the bow.

1.  God has plan for each of us.

2.  God will supply all our needs.

3.  We need to keep our faith in God, unwavering

4.  God never forgets.

5.  God never fails.

6. God never changes.

Published in: on January 24, 2011 at 12:28 pm  Leave a Comment  

Post?

So I had saved part of a post on Genesis 7-9.

I finished the post Saturday, feeling pretty good that I had done three now in my reading series.  I clicked on publish…..all that apppeared was part of the saved ‘draft’.,

‘Pride goeth before a fall’,   but where did my post go?

Published in: on January 23, 2011 at 4:25 pm  Leave a Comment  

FLag Quilt Wall Hanging

On January 2 I signed up with a quilt group doing a series of small to medium sized quilts using the fabrics from designer Kaye England. I have many of Kaye England’s books and patterns, I love her stuff. I have even taken a class given by her. She makes quilting fun.

The third Saturday of the month I’m to go to Quilter’s Corner, a local quilt shop, and view, get instructions, purchase the kit and eat a goodie. This 3rd Saturday I was in Redding and a 98 year old birthday girl’s party, so 4th Sunday I was at the shop to get my kit, a flag wall hanging, 13″x19″, in red, cream, and blue.

On January 19, I met with my good friend, Shirley and my Singer Featherweight sewing machine, at her house and we both cut out, pieced, and sandwiched our wall hangings. Now the flags are ready to be quilted next week.

I’m thinking I will quilt in the ditch for the stripes,  a simple cross-hatch in the borders and sew shiny star buttons on the blue piece.

Don’t you wish you could have joined us?

The recipe for the goodies served is for

Peanut Butter and Jelly Bars

3 cups flour, 1 cup sugar, 1 1/2 tsp baking powder, 2 sticks butter softened, 1/2 cup peanut butter crunchy, 2 slightly beten eggs 1 cup grape jam ( or your favorite flavor.

Combine all dry ingredients, cut in the butter and peanut butter until coarse like meal. Mix in eggs and stir well. Press half of the mixture in a greased 9×13 pan, spread all the jelly and crumble the remaining dough over the top. Bake at 375 degrees for 30 minutes.  ( I haven’t tried it)

Published in: on January 20, 2011 at 12:01 pm  Leave a Comment  

Genesis 4-6

Okay, I didn’t check the list last night and so overlooked chapter 7,  so will add it on todays’ list.

Thoughts:

Genesis 4:7  If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted? and if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door. . . . . .I must accept the consequences of my own actions, decisions and attitude. No body really makes me do anything, I choose. If I make a wrong decision, result is mine, I may suffer for it and I hope I will learn from it.  If I make a right decision, I’ll prosper.

Genesis 6:9  These are the generations of Noah: Noah was a just man and perfect in his generations, and Noah walked with God.
In the margin I have written:  perfect with what God had required. God doesn’t ask any more than that, to do the best we can, with what we know God would have us do.

Published in: on January 19, 2011 at 4:18 pm  Leave a Comment  

Catching up

It has been a while, so quick catch up.

  • I started my own quilting business, Quilt’m by Sunflower Designs, my website, my blog
  • I work at Cost-U-Less Insurance on a monthly basis. They were bought by a company in southern California and while they didn’t need our whole service center they are not to do all of our work.
  • I am working on getting over Strep Throat.
  • I have 2 cats, Grizabella Rose and Busterpher Jones
  • I am teaching the first graders at Bible Story Time at the Church of God in Carmichael

I think those are the big things…I can’t think of any others. But I can say that God is still great and has all things under control. He has promised to take care of us, and I can put my trust in that. He has yet to break a promise and has never failed to meet my needs.

Hopefully I won’t be as much a stranger as before. 🙂

Published in: on January 18, 2011 at 11:43 pm  Leave a Comment  

Genesis 1-3

I’ve joined a challenge to read the Bible through chronologically. I have read the Bible completely in the distant past. It is time to read it again and this method is intriguing.  I’ll be posting comments on the others posts, hopefully I receive comments back.

Genesis 1-3

Genesis 1
Verse 1 … In the beginning GOD
I receive such comfort knowing God is at the beginning.
John 1:3 All things were made by him; and without him was
not any thing  made that was made.
Since God is my beginning, the foundation of my life. I am secure. No matter what happens in all the remaining 1485 pages of my Bible and in my life.
Verses 2,3,9, 11 are a picture of my life before God, without form, void, and in darkness. Then God moved and I received light and a foundation and could then bring forth good fruit.

I am thankful for beginnings in God.

You’ll find another reader at:

http://giftedthroughgrace.wordpress.com

Published in: on January 18, 2011 at 1:19 am  Leave a Comment  

A word for 2011

I’ve read other blogs that find a word to be their theme for the new year.

Combining that thought with the message Sunday Morning

What are you going to “leave behind,” so you can move closer to God?

What negative attitudes, and actions of the flesh are putting you at distance from God and spiritual liveliness?

If there is to be any spiritual success in drawing closer to God as we go into 2011, “the flesh” will have to be left behind while we  ask God to search us, examine us, to prepare our souls as we draw closer to the judgment day of God

What would you like to see change in 2011? “One” definition of “insanity” is to want something different, yet still doing the same thing over and over again. We cannot often control our surroundings or environment,  but we are given control of our desires, actions, and attitudes. If  we want to change; we must  examine ourselves to find that which is displeasing to God and  leave it off, and/or change to draw closer to Him.

If you have had hurtful circumstance(s) happen to you,..what are you going to leave behind,..so you can move forward?

What  needs to be overcome in 2011, that you did in 2010?  All souls have some regrets of humanity. If we desire to draw closer to God, and want to see more  spiritually prosperity. We all need to leave some things behind.

What are you going to leave behind in 2011?

So back to my first statement, a word for 2011 – I keep thinking about ‘health‘. I have a physical health issue I keep ignoring, like maybe it will just go away. It hasn’t. I need to face my health and accept its needs.

3John 1:2  Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth. John desired prosperity, physically as well as spiritually, for those to whom he was writing.

I want to prosper, too, spiritually by laying aside weights that beset me, physically, by caring for myself, and financially by being a good steward of what God has provided.

A toast for the New Year  —  HEALTH for the glory of God!

 

Published in: on January 18, 2011 at 12:31 am  Leave a Comment  

A New Year

This how I began this blog; it seems fitting still for this New Year

 

Dear Lord and Father of Mankind
Drop Thy still dews of quietness,
Till all our strivings cease,
Take from our souls the strain and stress,
And let our ordered lives confess
The beauty of Thy peace.

John G. Whittier

And a scripture:

Isaiah 26:3
Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace,
whose mind is stayed on thee:
because he trusteth in thee. KJV

Published in: on January 3, 2011 at 2:11 pm  Leave a Comment