May 8, Today’s thought — Mud Balls

This rose was about 5 feet high and used as a hedge; at the nursery where I bought it.

Good Morning,

When Miracles Come from Mud Balls

He answered and said, . . . one thing I know, that, whereas I was blind, now I see. John 9:25

It’s one of those strange moments in Scripture – Jesus makes a pair of mud balls and places them over the empty eye sockets of a man who was born blind, telling him to go wash his face at the pool. The man does so and – bam! – he can see!
It is at this point that the story gets really bizarre. The religious leaders become so agitated by this man’s excitement and his confession of faith in Jesus, that they ultimately toss him out of the Temple!
How ironic — a blind man sees, and sighted men are blinded by their self-righteousness. William Yeats said, “All empty souls tend to extreme opinion.” Such were the religious leaders in Jesus’ day – empty, and extreme. And such are those who prefer religion over relationship with Christ in our own day.
Matthew Henry, the great Bible Commentator, wrote, “There is none so blind as those who will not see.” It is uncanny how quickly religious minded people fall into the snare of their own opinions. An extraordinary miracle took place right before their very eyes, but they couldn’t see it because their minds were already made up about something completely different. They were dead set against Jesus – and therefore nothing He did could possibly be legitimate. Rather than acknowledge the miracle, they excommunicated the man.
When miracles come from mud balls we each may be faced with similar challenges – especially if our opinions are so set that we cannot see what the Lord is doing in spite of us.
Henry Ward Beecher described a highly opinionated religious opponent thus — “He is the human owl, vigilant in darkness and blind to light, mousing for vermin and never seeing noble game.” Don’t let religious opinions blind you to the miracles that come from mud balls. Otherwise, you just may be the one who ends up sitting in the dark.  Rylie

Trust God for your day. . . Today
With my prayers, desiring yours, Leslie

Published in: on May 8, 2012 at 12:21 am  Leave a Comment  

May 7, Today’s thought — Building

This week we will look at Cozy Acres’ roses. And, yes, it is time to start deadheading the pretties.

Matthew 7:24 Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock:

Am I building completely on the Rock, Christ Jesus and his teachings or is part of my building resting on my own sandy ideas of God’s Way? I know God’s word says, His thoughts are not my thoughts nor His ways my ways, I want to know that in the storms of life my building will be secure and stable, not a corner of the house shifting in the storm causing ruin.

1Corinthians 3:12-15 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. If any man’s work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.

Are you building on the rock eternal.
Or upon the ever shifting sand?
Are you going to that home supernal,
In that bright and blessed heav’nly land?

Are you building on a strong foundation
That will stand the stormy sea of life?
‘Mid the surging billows’ wild commotion,
Do you conquer in the raging strife?

Are you building on a strong foundation
that the floods can never sweep away?
Are you living in the truth unshaken,
Ready for the final judgement day?

Are you building on a strong foundation
That will stand the awful judgment shock?
Are you grounded in his great salvation,
Fastened like an anchor tot the Rock?

Are you building on the rock
Are you building on the rock
Are you building on the rock
and not on shifting sand?   Barney E. Warren

My prayer continually is:
Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting. Psalm 139:23-24 Amen.

Trust God for your day . . Today
With my prayers, desiring yours, Leslie

Published in: on May 7, 2012 at 9:00 am  Leave a Comment  

Scavenger Sunday — May 6

Scavenger Hunt Sunday items: Shadow, Keys, Smile, Unedited (SOOC) and Fish

Shadow
I love all the shadows from the different grids.

Keys

Simple things are the keys to a contended life.

Smile

This 6 year old grandson has the best smiles!

Unedited

I didn’t see all the reflections until after I took this picture of spinach ready to steam, but it’s kinda neat.

Fish

from the archives, Peggy’s Cove, Nova Scotia,  a fishing boat. My daughter took this picture, I had nothing with a fish.

Linking with other scavengers at Ramblings and Photos

Published in: on May 6, 2012 at 2:56 pm  Comments (11)  

May 6, Sunday Bible Reading

I think my geraniums are going to bloom this year.

Ruth 1:14-17
And they lifted up their voice, and wept again:
and Orpah kissed her mother in law; but Ruth clave unto her.
And she said, Behold, thy sister in law is gone back
unto her people, and unto her gods:
return thou after thy sister in law.
And Ruth said,
Intreat me not to leave thee,
or to return from following after thee:
for whither thou goest, I will go;
and where thou lodgest, I will lodge:
thy people shall be my people,
and thy God my God:
Where thou diest, will I die,
and there will I be buried:
the LORD do so to me,
and more also, if ought but death part thee and me.

from Smith’s Commentary:
The Targum adds several things to this conversation between Naomi and Ruth. I shall subjoin them:
“And Ruth said, Entreat me not to leave thee,” for I desire to become a proselyte.

And Naomi said, We are commanded to keep the Sabbath and other holy days; and on it not to travel more than two thousand cubits.

And Ruth said, “Whither thou goest, I will go.”

And Naomi said, We are commanded not to lodge with the Gentiles.

Ruth answered, “Where thou lodgest, I will lodge.”

And Naomi said, We are commanded to observe the one hundred and thirteen precepts.

Ruth answered, What thy people observe, that will I observe; as if they had been my people of old.

And Naomi said, We are commanded not to worship with any strange worship.

Ruth answered, “Thy God shall be my God.”

Naomi said, We have four kinds of capital punishment for criminals; stoning, burning, beheading, and hanging.

Ruth answered, “In whatsoever manner thou diest, I will die.”

Naomi said, We have a house of burial.

Ruth answered, “And there will I be buried.”

(A Targum is an Aramaic translation of the Hebrew Bible (Tanakh) written or compiled from the Second Temple period until the early Middle Ages (late first millennium). Wikipedia)

The testimony of  Naomi’s life offered Ruth such hope that forsaking all she knew;  Ruth followed Naomi and the true God.

Trust God for your day. . . Today
With my prayers, desiring yours, Leslie

Published in: on May 6, 2012 at 9:36 am  Leave a Comment  

May 5, Today’s thought — Disturb Me

These iris, originally from the Farmer’s grandmother’s home place in Selma, now residing at Cozy Acres, started blooming in November and have just finished.
I have enjoyed them so much.

Good Morning

One addition thought from Thursday evening’s lesson surfaced as I was pondering this poem and the word ‘disturb.’

IF in a difficult life decision, especially one in which God is asking you to quit doing something, to give up something, to change something that is dear to your heart; and you find yourself saying:

I’m stilling praying about that,
I’m thinking that over,
I’m trying to decide what is right for me,
I just want to be fully convinced,
I’m trying to figure out what that looks like in my life,
I’m afraid of ____________.
What will people say if _______________.

By not making a decision, you have made a decision.

I know this is true, I’ve used these excuses before. The peace comes when I accept the situation, surrender my way to God, and commit the keeping or the outcome to HIS perfect plan for me.

2Timothy 1:12 . . . for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.

Disturb – interfere with the normal arrangement or functioning of.
trouble – perturb – bother – upset – annoy – agitate  ~   Webster’s

“Disturb us, Lord, when
We are too well pleased with ourselves,
When our dreams have come true
Because we have dreamed too little,
When we arrived safely
Because we sailed too close to the shore.

Disturb us, Lord, when
With the abundance of things we possess
We have lost our thirst
For the waters of life;
Having fallen in love with life,
We have ceased to dream of eternity
And in our efforts to build a new earth,
We have allowed our vision
Of the new Heaven to dim.

Disturb us, Lord, to dare more boldly,
To venture on wider seas
Where storms will show your mastery;
Where losing sight of land,
We shall find the stars.
We ask You to push back
The horizons of our hopes;
And to push into the future
In strength, courage, hope, and love.”
[Sir Francis Drake]

Trust God for your day . . .Today
With my prayers, desiring yours, Leslie

Published in: on May 5, 2012 at 10:48 am  Leave a Comment  

Five Minute Friday — Really

 

 

Just five minutes.

Unscripted.

Unedited.

Real.

 

 

Today’s prompt: Real

go:

REALLY!?!
Are you sure?
You want me to write about Real?
I’m a grannie.
I care for 2 year old and 8 month old sisters.
On good days writing is a challenge.
This Friday, oh, well

child: what’s this?
me: I don’t know it’s Grandpa Elmer’s.
child: Grandpa Elmer’s ?? mumble mumble
drops it and goes to next thing that catches her eyes.

That’s a sample of the real life from 6:30-4:30.
(Except for nap times 🙂 )
Question, answered, question answer, answered, repeat
Soaking it all up like a sponge.

I try to forget the day,
breaking my resolution to never say ‘shut up.’
I said it.
The next day,
she whispered while walking away,
shut up…shut up.

It’s real
what goes into the sponge
comes out.

stop.

Joining others and Gypsymama.

Published in: on May 4, 2012 at 11:49 am  Comments (3)  

May 4, Today’s thought — Grace

Garden preparation at Cozy Acres

Good Morning,

Gleanings from the lesson Thursday evening:

2Corintians 12:7-10
And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure. For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me. And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my 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.

Paul sought God’s will first.
Earnestly, pleadingly, prevailing and wrestling in prayer.
God said, “This thing is from me,”

Paul accepted his weakness.
Trusting in God’s ordering of his steps.

Job 31:4 Doth not he see my ways, and count all my steps?

Psalm 37:23 The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and he delighteth in his way.

Paul received a useful, spiritual gift — grace.

By accepting the weakness, Paul could fully trust in God’s strength for help in time of need.

2Corinthians 12:9 But He said to me, My grace (My favor and loving-kindness and mercy) is enough for you [sufficient against any danger and enables you to bear the trouble manfully]; for My strength and power are made perfect (fulfilled and completed) and show themselves most effective in [your] weakness. Therefore, I will all the more gladly glory in my weaknesses and infirmities, that the strength and power of Christ (the Messiah) may rest (yes, may pitch a tent over and dwell) upon me! Amplified Bible

Trust God for your day . . Today
With my prayers, desiring yours, Leslie

Published in: on May 4, 2012 at 10:31 am  Leave a Comment  

Yarn Along, May 3 – Stops and Starts

Recap:
Last ‘Yarn Along’ post this shawl Alpaca Sox was trying to add grey to the last few rows and the edging but it was just not working. So the knitter ripped back enough? to finish off the shawl, adding beads to picot bind off.  OPPS, overlooked a row and beads were laying on the wrong side of the shawl! So ripping again, re-knitted and ready for picot row again!

Now I needed something to kind of mindless to work on, enter Holden Shawlette. I’m using Fortissima Socka in this pretty autumn colorway. Right now, it’s just:
Row 1 knit 3, yo, knit to marker, yo, k1, yo, knit to last 3 stitches, yo, knit to end
Row 2 knit 3, p across, knit 3,
Repeat until 193 stitches, then start the pretty stuff

Remember this Wallaby was running out of yarn. It’s now pouting until the knitter figures out just what to do with adding stripes of a complimentary color…..oh well.

Since Wallaby Sox was pouting; Wallaby Coffee Beanz for an almost 2 year old whose mother does not drink coffee got started. I love the Coffee Beanz yarn. After I started W-CBz, I realized mom is Oregon Ducks FAN. So had to find a gold to add a couple of stripes to one, maybe both sleeves.

This Purl Bee’s Wallaby –  It is darling!

Or course, the other WIP’s  are waiting patiently, or at least I don’t hear them if I turn up the Audio Book loud enough. I’ve recently found Jefferson Bass’s Body Farm series. That is my book of choice just now.

I’m joining other knitters with Ginny at http://www.gsheller.com/tag/yarn-along, sharing the stops and starts of our projects.

Published in: on May 3, 2012 at 10:21 am  Leave a Comment  

Wordless Wednesday — Spring Garden Preparation

Day after Wordless Wednesday silence:

You can see how silent others were on Wednesday here.

Published in: on May 3, 2012 at 9:32 am  Comments (1)  

May 3, Today’s thought — Pray

Growing on Cozy Acres
On the left, assorted berry vines with zinnias and sunflowers planted between sections of berries. On the right grape vines, the Farmer’s  ride and joy  – he started them from cuttings.

Good Morning

My thoughts are being drawn to prayer and my need to spend more time in fervent, prevailing prayer.

“If you cannot find time to pray, ask for forgiveness. Ask to be cleansed of the sin of having no time to pray … It could be that Satan is pushing you into too much work so that you cannot take time to pray.” – Corrie Ten Boom

“The work of praying is prerequisite to all other work in the Kingdom of God. It is by prayer that we couple the powers of heaven to our helplessness … and make the impossible possible.”  – O. Hallesby

“Continue earnestly in prayer, being vigilant in it with thanksgiving.” – Colossians 4:2

Trust in the Lord for your day. . . Today
With my prayers, desiring yours, Leslie

Published in: on May 3, 2012 at 9:23 am  Leave a Comment  

May 2, Today’s thought — Enriched By Memory

Counting at Cozy Acres.

Good Morning,

“You shall remember all the way the Lord thy God has led thee.” (Deuteronomy 8:2)

Our lives come, from time to time, to crossroads of defining importance; those critical intersections along the way, which face us with choices for new directions in our thinking, and in our living. At such moments we need briefly pause, for we have not passed this way before.
Ere we move onward we must first reflect back upon where we have been; remembering all the way that the Lord our God has led us. For in His leading are the lessons that will hold true all the days of our lives. As we think upon what He has taught us, shown us, done for us and with us — our lives become enriched by memory, and mindful of a love that never fails.
With this, we then step across the boundary into another season, filled with faith and courage. And we are also renewed in spirit and adventure, discovering afresh that the way in is also the way on. As He has led us, so He will still lead us. As He has loved us, so He will still love us. And as He has been faithful, so faithful shall He ever be.
Such is the happy lot of those whose lives are enriched by the memory of God’s handiwork throughout their days. Why not pause right now and recall to mind the many undeniable moments throughout your life when the Lord blessed you, loved you, healed you, helped you, saved you, used you — and the list goes on, and on, and on, and on, and on…

Trust in the Lord for your day. . . Today
With my prayers, desiring yours, Leslie

Published in: on May 2, 2012 at 6:07 am  Leave a Comment  

May 1, Today’s thought — Test before Glory

The moon shines bright and stars give light,
A little before it’s day
So God bless you all both great and small
And send you a joyful May.

Variant of a May Carol

Good Morning

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. 1Corinthians 10:13

In an old book written by the blind Scotch preacher, George Matheson, we found some very heartening words. We quote a few excerpts:
“There is a time coming in which your glory shall consist in the very thing which now constitutes your pain. Nothing could be more sad to Jacob than the ground on which he was lying, a stone for a pillow!

It was the hour of his poverty.
It was the season of his night.
It was the seeming absence of God.

The Lord was in the place and he knew it not. Awakened from his sleep he found that the day of his trial was the dawn of his triumph! Ask the great ones of the past what has been the spot of their prosperity and they will say,
“It was the cold ground on which I was lying.”

Ask Abraham;

he will point you to the sacrifice on Mount Moriah.

Ask Joseph;

he will direct you to his dungeon.

Ask Moses;

he will date his fortune from his danger in the Nile.

Ask Ruth;

she will bid you build her monument in the field of her toil.

Ask David;

he will tell you that his songs came from the hight.

Ask Job;

he will remind you that God answered him out of the whirlwind.

Ask Peter;

he will extol his submersion in the sea.

Ask John;

he will give the path to Patmos.

Ask Paul;

he will attribute his inspiration to the light which struck him blind.

Ask one more!–the Son of God;
Ask Him whence has come His rule over the world:
He will answer,

‘From the cold ground on which I was lying–the Gethsemane ground–I received my sceptre there.’

Thou too, my soul, shall be garlanded by Gethsemane! The cup thou fain wouldst pass from thee will be thy coronet in the sweet by and by.

“The hour of thy loneliness will crown thee.
The day of thy depression will regale thee.
It is thy desert that will break forth in the singing
It is the trees of thy silent forest that will clap their hands.
The last things will be first, in the sweet by and by.
The thorns will be roses.
The vales will be hills.
The crooks will be straight lines, the ruts level.
the shadows will be shining.
The losses will be promotions.
The tears will be tracks of gold.
The voice of god to thine evening will be this:

‘Thy treasure is hid in the ground, where thou wert lying.'”

Trust the Lord for your day. . . Today
With my prayers, desiring yours, Leslie

 

PS:  HAPPY BIRTHDAY, ELMER, the Farmer

Published in: on May 1, 2012 at 2:04 pm  Comments (1)  
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