August 30, Today’s thought — Let Us

And many nations shall come, and say,
Come, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD,
and to the house of the God of Jacob;
and he will teach us of his ways,
and we will walk in his paths:
for the law shall go forth of Zion,
and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.
Micah_4:2

Let us resolve to be more holy and more bright.
Let us bury our idols.
Let us put away all strange gods.
Let us cast out the old leaven.
Let us lay aside every weight and besetting sin.
Let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of flesh and spirit,and perfect holiness in the fear of God.
Let us renew our covenant with our beloved Lord.
Let us aim at the highest and best things.
Let us resolve by God’s blessing to be more holy, and then I know and am persuaded we shall be more useful and more happy.~J.C. Ryle

Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace,
and things wherewith one may edify another. Romans 14:19

Published in: on August 30, 2012 at 5:00 am  Comments (2)  

Yarn Along – One Clue at a Time


On Wednesday’s knitters go to Ginny’s and Tami’s and share all the wonderful projects being worked on, finished, frogged, cried over, and learned from. they also tell what they are reading and a little of the storyline or provoking thoughts. I think it is great. So many books, knitting ideas and hints on how to make knitting more enjoyable.

After many start overs, on Friday my fingers, my brain, the yarn and Trapeze mystery clue one finally came together at the same place and the same time.

Clue two – make two more of clue one!


Six rows from the end of #1 of 2 for clue two.

Much easier the second time around.  Ravelry here.

Published in: on August 29, 2012 at 7:13 pm  Comments (12)  
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August 29, Today’s thought — Praise

Tiger Lilies

“Serve the Lord with gladness:
Come before His presence with singing.”
Psalm 100:2.

THE HUNDREDTH Psalm is rightly entitled “A Psalm of Thanksgiving” (R.V.).
The Psalmist calls for a “joyful noise,”
i.e. an audible expression of worship.
Do not be content with a thankful heart, but express it!
It is good to let God have “the fruit of our lips.”
As a bird will awaken the whole choir of a woodland glade, so the soul really aglow with loving adoration will spread its own contagion of song.
How often Christian people hinder the progress of Christianity by their dullness, gloominess, and depression. His service is perfect freedom, and if we delight ourselves in the Lord, we should serve Him with gladness!
It is very important to maintain the habit of regular church-going because of its opportunity for worship.
Let us “enter into His gates with thanksgiving, and into His courts with praise!”
By meditation and prayer let us ask that we may be accounted worthy to stand in His Presence, and offer praise and adoration to the Most High God, mingled with the fragrance of our Saviour’s Name (Revelation 8:3-4).
“‘The Lord is good!”
There are many mysteries, and much pain and sorrow in the world. We must dare to believe and affirm the goodness of God beneath all the distressing elements of modem life. With His goodness are combined His mercy and His truth. Let men do their worst, “His truth endureth to all generations.” It is an impregnable Rock, on which the waves of sin can make no sensible impression. What comfort there is in knowing that equally His mercy is everlasting. We need so much patience, forbearance, and longsuffering, that if God’s mercy were anything less we should despair, but it is extended to every generation till Time shall be no more! Meyer

Bless the LORD, O my soul:
and all that is within me,
bless his holy name.
Bless the LORD, O my soul,
and forget not all his benefits:
Who forgiveth all thine iniquities;
who healeth all thy diseases;
Who redeemeth thy life from destruction;
who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies;
Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things;
so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle’s.
Psalm 103:1-5

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

Published in: on August 29, 2012 at 5:17 am  Leave a Comment  

August 28, Today’s thought — Show Me Thy Ways

The Farmer taking the veggies get to the veggie stand.

Shew me thy ways, O LORD; teach me thy paths.
Psalm 25:4

Show me thy ways –
The psalmist wishes to know God’s way,
to be taught his path,
and to be led into his truth.
He cannot discern this way unless God show it;
he cannot learn the path unless God teach it;
and he cannot walk in God’s truth unless God lead him:
and even then, unless God continue to teach,
he shall never fully learn the lessons of his salvation;
therefore he adds, “Lead me in thy truth, and teach me;” Psalm 25:5.

That he may get this showing, teaching, and leading,
he comes to God, as the “God of his salvation;”
and that he may not lose his labor,
he “waits on him all the day.”
Many lose the benefit of their earnest prayers,
because they do not persevere in them.
They pray for a time;
get remiss or discouraged;
restrain prayer;
and thus lose all that was already wrought for and in them.
Clarke’s Commentary

Lead me in thy truth, and teach me:
for thou art the God of my salvation;
on thee do I wait all the day.
Psalm 25:5

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

Published in: on August 28, 2012 at 5:15 am  Leave a Comment  

August 27, Today’s thought — Endure

Hollyhocks

THE RACE (a poem by D.H. Groberg)

“Even if godly people fall down seven times,
they always get back up”
Proverbs 24:16.

“Quit! Give up! You’re beaten!” They shout at me and plead,
“There’s just too much against you now. This time you can’t succeed!”
And as I start to hang my head in front of failure’s face,
my downward fall is broken by the memory of a race.
And hope refills my weakened will as I recall that scene.
For just the thought of that short race rejuvenates my being.

A children’s race – young boys, young men – how I remember well.
Excitement, sure! But also fear; it wasn’t hard to tell.
They all lined up so full of hope; each thought to win the race.
Or tie for first, or if not that, at least take second place.
And fathers watched from off the side, each cheering for his son.
And each boy hoped to show his dad that he would be the one.

The whistle blew and off they went! Young hearts and hope afire.
To win and be the hero there was each young boy’s desire.
And one boy in particular whose dad was in the crowd,
was running near the lead and thought, “My dad will be so proud!”

But as they speeded down the field across a shallow dip,
the little boy who thought to win lost his step and slipped.
Trying hard to catch himself his hands flew out to brace,
and mid the laughter of the crowd he fell flat on his face.

So down he fell, and within him hope; he couldn’t win it now.
Embarrassed, sad, he only wished to disappear somehow.
But as he fell his dad stood up and showed his anxious face.
Which to the boy so clearly said: “Get up and win the race!”

He quickly rose, no damage done; behind a bit, that’s all
and ran with all his mind and might to make up for his fall.
So anxious to restore himself, to catch up and to win,
his mind went faster than his legs; he slipped and fell again!

He wished then he had quit before with only one disgrace.
“I’m hopeless as a runner now; I shouldn’t try to race.”
But in the laughing crowd he searched and found his father’s face.
That steady look which said again: “Get up and win the race!”

So up he jumped to try again, ten yards behind the last.
“If I’m to gain those yards,” he thought, “I’ve got to move real fast!”
Exerting everything he had he gained eight or ten,
but trying so hard to catch the lead he slipped and fell again!

Defeat! He lay there silently, a tear dropped from his eye.
“There’s no sense running anymore; three strikes: I’m out! Why try?”
The will to rise had disappeared, all hope had fled away;
so far behind, so error prone; a loser all the way.
“I’ve lost, so what’s the use,” he thought. “I’ll live with my disgrace.”
But then he thought about his dad who soon he’d have to face.

“Get up,” an echo sounded low, “Get up and take your place.
You were not meant for failure here. Get up and win the race.
With borrowed will, get up,” it said, “you haven’t lost at all.
For winning is no more than this: To rise each time you fall.”

So up he rose to run once more, and with a new commit
he resolved that win or lose, at least he wouldn’t quit.
So far behind the others now, the most he’d ever been,
still he gave it all he had and ran so as to win.
Three times he’d fallen, stumbling; three times he rose again;
to far behind to hope to win, he still ran to the end.

They cheered the winning runner as he crossed the line first place.
Head high, and proud and happy; no falling, no disgrace.
But when the fallen youngster crossed the line in last place,
the crowd gave him the greater cheer for finishing the race.
And even though he came in last with head bowed low, unproud.
You would have thought he’d won the race to listen to that crowd.
And to his dad he sadly said, “I didn’t do so well.”
“To me, you won,” his father said. “You rose each time you fell.”

And now when things seem dark and hard and difficult to face,
the memory of that little boy helps me in my own race.
For all of life is like that race, with ups and downs and all.
And all you have to do to win is rise each time you fall.
“Quit! Give up! You’re beaten!” They still shout in my face.

But another voice within me says: “GET UP AND WIN THE RACE!”

But he that shall endure unto the end,
the same shall be saved.
Matthew 24:13

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

Published in: on August 27, 2012 at 4:27 am  Leave a Comment  

August 26, Sunday Bible Reading, Abraham

Monterey, CA

Genesis 12:1-5
Now the LORD had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father’s house, unto a land that I will shew thee: And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing: And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed. So Abram departed, as the LORD had spoken unto him; and Lot went with him: and Abram was seventy and five years old when he departed out of Haran. And Abram took Sarai his wife, and Lot his brother’s son, and all their substance that they had gathered, and the souls that they had gotten in Haran; and they went forth to go into the land of Canaan; and into the land of Canaan they came.

Genesis 18:1-5,11-19
And the LORD appeared unto him in the plains of Mamre: and he sat in the tent door in the heat of the day; And he lift up his eyes and looked, and, lo, three men stood by him: and when he saw them, he ran to meet them from the tent door, and bowed himself toward the ground, And said, My Lord, if now I have found favour in thy sight, pass not away, I pray thee, from thy servant: Let a little water, I pray you, be fetched, and wash your feet, and rest yourselves under the tree: And I will fetch a morsel of bread, and comfort ye your hearts; after that ye shall pass on: for therefore are ye come to your servant.

Now Abraham and Sarah were old and well stricken in age; and it ceased to be with Sarah after the manner of women. Therefore Sarah laughed within herself, saying, After I am waxed old shall I have pleasure, my lord being old also? And the LORD said unto Abraham, Wherefore did Sarah laugh, saying, Shall I of a surety bear a child, which am old? Is any thing too hard for the LORD? At the time appointed I will return unto thee, according to the time of life, and Sarah shall have a son. Then Sarah denied, saying, I laughed not; for she was afraid. And he said, Nay; but thou didst laugh.

And the men rose up from thence, and looked toward Sodom: and Abraham went with them to bring them on the way. And the LORD said, Shall I hide from Abraham that thing which I do; Seeing that Abraham shall surely become a great and mighty nation, and all the nations of the earth shall be blessed in him?

For I know him, that he will command his children and his household after him, and they shall keep the way of the LORD, to do justice and judgment; that the LORD may bring upon Abraham that which he hath spoken of him.

I find such comfort in those words ‘ for I know him’. God had led and Abraham had followed. God knew Abraham would be faithful no matter what.

Published in: on August 26, 2012 at 9:24 am  Leave a Comment  
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August 24, Today’s thought — Store Up Comfort

Dinner from the garden at Cozy Acres.

Good Morning

Comfort ye, comfort ye my people, saith your God.
Isaiah 40:1

Store up comfort.
this was the prophet’s mission.
The world is full of comfortless hearts,
and ere thou art sufficient for this lofty ministry,
thou must be trained.
And thy training is costly in the extreme;
for, to render it perfect,
thou too must pass through the same afflictions
as are wringing countless hearts of tears and blood.
Thus thy own life becomes the hospital ward
where thou art taught the Divine art of comfort.
Thou art wounded,
that in the binding up of thy woulds by the Great Physician,
thou mayest learn how to render first aid to the wounded everywhere.
Doest thou wonder why thou art passing through some special sorrow?
Wait till ten years are passed,
and thou wilt find many others afflicted as thou art.
thou wilt tell them how thou hast suffered
and has been comforted;
then as the tales is unfolded,
and the anodynes applied which once thy God wrapped around thee,
in the eager look and the gleam of hope
that shall chase the shadow of despair across the soul,
thou shalt know why thou wast afflicted,
and bless God for the discipline that stored thy life
with such a fund of experience and helpfulness.
—Selected.

Who comforteth us in all our tribulation,
that we may be able to comfort them
which are in any trouble,
by the comfort
wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.
2Corinthians 1:4

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

Published in: on August 24, 2012 at 5:04 am  Leave a Comment  

August 23, Today’s thought — But THROUGH

Melons are picked.

Good Morning

When thou passest through
Isaiah 43:2

“When thou passest through the waters”
Deep the waves may be and cold,
But Jehovah is our refuge,
And His promise is our hold;
For the Lord Himself hath said it,
He, the faithful God and true:
“When thou comest to the waters
Thou shalt not go down, BUT THROUGH,”

Seas of sorrow, seas of trial,
bitterest anguish, fiercest pain,
rolling surges of temptation
Sweeping over heart and brain–,
They shall never overflow us
for we know His word is true;
all His waves and all His billows
He will lead us safely through.

Threatening breakers of destruction,
Doubt’s insidious undertow,
Shall not sink us, shall not drag us
Out to ocean depths of woe;
For His promise shall sustain us,
Praise the Lord, whose Word is true!
\We shall not go down, or under,
For He saith, “Thou passest THROUGH.”
—-Annie Johnson Flint

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

Published in: on August 23, 2012 at 5:50 am  Leave a Comment  

Yarn Along – Just one or two more, please. . .

On Wednesday’s knitters go  to Ginny’s and Tami’s and share all the wonderful projects being worked on, finished, frogged, cried over, and learned from.  they also tell what they are reading and  a little of the storyline or provoking thoughts.  I think it is great. So many books, knitting ideas and hints on how to make knitting more enjoyable.

This is not my fault!
I was just pursuing Facebook checking in on the world and Babetta, at my FYS,
Babetta’s Yarn and Gifts, posted she was joining Nelkin Designs Blog: Trapeze Mystery KAL.
I looked, I pondered, I ordered the pattern.
This is my second mystery with Laura Nelkin. The first was way beyond my abilities, although I made a valiant effort.
She says this one isn’t as difficult.   hummmmm.


I’m using Jagger Spun, Zephyr Silk/Wool, 50% Chinese Tussah silk and 50% Merino wool, Color: Lady Slipper, lot 1147. I have two 630 yard skeins, I’ll be holding the yarn double.


I will not begin to tell you how long it took me to get to this point. I worked and worked with the wool/silk, then finally got out some worsted yarn so I could see the stitches and have something substantial with which to knit. I figured out the pattern, it wasn’t really that hard just fiddly, got my fingers retrained to work with doublepoints again and knitting is going smoother. My Ravelry project page.

I have had Cowry Shell Shawl on my to do list since I saw it in Interweave Knits Accessorues, 2011. Right after I saw the pattern I did the first 96 rows  – that makes one scallop – and liked it a lot. I wanted soft, smooshy yarn with good stitch definition.  I admit I am a yarn snob, but knitting this in Red Heart Soft, 100% acrylic, in Wine (looks Christmasy Red to me), is meeting all my expectations.  It will be such a warm cozy shawl this winter.

Looks like I’m ready to put this shawl on circular needles.
I hope I can find an empty size 6.

I’m listening to The Nazi Officer’s Wife by Edith Hahn Beer with Susan Deworkin.

Published in: on August 22, 2012 at 6:28 pm  Comments (4)  
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August 22, Today’s thought — What To Do? Part 3

I apologize for the goof in the post. I fixed it, thank you.


“I don’t think there’s anything on this planet that more trumpets life than the sunflower. For me that’s because of the reason behind its name. Not because it looks like the sun, but because it follows the sun. During the course of the day, the head tracks the journey of the sun across the sky. A satellite dish for sunshine. Wherever light is, no matter how weak, these flowers will find it. And that’s such an admirable thing. And such a lesson in life.” ~ from the movie Calendar Girls (2003)

Good Morning

“He has shown you, O man, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God?” (Micah 6:8, NKJV).

The one question I most often hear people ask is, “What does the Lord want me to do?” While those who ask this question are typically looking for some specific answer about some specific issue or decision — the answer God gives tends to be more comprehensive.
Over the past two days we’ve looked at two of the three directives given by the prophet Micah in response to this question. Today we finish by looking at the third. The first was to do justly, the second was to love mercy, and now today we are told to…..

#3— WALK HUMBLY WITH YOUR GOD
Pride has no place in the presence of the Lord,
nor in the service we render unto His name.
Pride will never do justice,
for it only seeks its own.
Pride will never show mercy,
because it delights in oppression.
Pride will never walk with God,
for it sees itself to be equal to the Most High.
Thus, God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble.

Humility is the God-given self assurance that eliminates the need to prove to others the worth of who you are, and the rightness of what you do. It is the freedom to be yourself before God, and before others.

Humility is the result of being in total agreement with the Lord. “Can two walk together except they be agreed?” (Amos 3:3).
If you will agree with God and submit to His will for your life, He will make you a man or woman of justice and mercy; clothed with humility! And He will anoint you with His grace. His power and ability will use your limited resources in His unlimited ways. Even if all you have is two fish and five loaves of bread—there is going to a banquet in your sphere of influence!

Whatever you decide to do with your life, and wherever that decision may take you — be sure that these three things are true of you in every place and situation — you do justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with your God.

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

Published in: on August 22, 2012 at 5:35 am  Comments (2)  

August 21, Today’s thought — The Edge of our Need

Buster and the tigers

Good Morning

When thou passest through the waters,
I will be with thee;
and through the rivers,
they shall not overflow thee:
when thou walkest through the fire,
thou shalt not be burned;
neither shall the flame kindle upon thee.
Isaiah 43:2

God does not open paths for us in advance of our coming.
He does not promise help before help is needed.
He does not remove obstacles out of our way before we reach them.
Yet when we are on the edge of our need,
God’s hand is stretched out.
Many people forget this,
and are forever worrying about difficulties
which they foresee in the future.
They expect that God is going to make the way
plain and open before them,
miles and miles ahead;
whereas He has promised to do it only step by step
as they may need.
You must get to the waters and into their floods
before you can claim the promise.
. . . J.R.M.

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

Published in: on August 21, 2012 at 5:36 am  Leave a Comment  

August 20, Today’s thought — Bountifully

Last August I brought home tiger lily bulbs from Grandma Crain.
This August I found tiger lilies at Cozy Acres.
I’m happy.

Good Morning

Several thoughts lately have been on ‘waiting.’
I really don’t know why.
I don’t feel anxious about anything.
I don’t feel like I’m ‘waiting’ for anything.
Perhaps I’m being prepared to wait.

I was encouraged with these verses from Psalm 13.

How long wilt thou forget me, O LORD?
for ever?
how long wilt thou hide thy face from me?
How long shall I take counsel in my soul,
having sorrow in my heart daily?
how long shall mine enemy be exalted over me?
Consider and hear me, O LORD my God: lighten mine eyes, . . .

But I have trusted in thy mercy;
my heart shall rejoice in thy salvation.
I will sing unto the LORD,
because he hath dealt bountifully with me.

bountifully – Giving freely and generously; bighearted, bounteous, giving, openhanded, handsome, freehanded, liberal, big
generous – willing to give and share unstintingly;

Even though, the Psalmist was in a place dark,
feeling forsaken and alone;
He still had hope.
He still knew the bounty of God.
He didn’t let the circumstances in life rob him of that confidence.

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

Published in: on August 20, 2012 at 10:35 am  Leave a Comment  

August 19, Sunday Bible Reading — Isaiah 43:1-7

Just a pot of petunias and violas; and a snail trap like Grandma Crain’ makes.

Good Morning

Isaiah 43:1-7

But now thus saith the LORD that created thee, O Jacob,
and he that formed thee, O Israel,
Fear not: for I have redeemed thee,
I have called thee by thy name;
thou art mine.
When thou passest through the waters,
I will be with thee;
and through the rivers,
they shall not overflow thee:
when thou walkest through the fire,
thou shalt not be burned;
neither shall the flame kindle upon thee.
For I am the LORD thy God,
the Holy One of Israel, thy Saviour:
I gave Egypt for thy ransom,
Ethiopia and Seba for thee.
Since thou wast precious in my sight,
thou hast been honourable,
and I have loved thee:
therefore will I give men for thee,
and people for thy life.
Fear not: for I am with thee:
I will bring thy seed from the east,
and gather thee from the west;
I will say to the north,
Give up;
and to the south,
Keep not back:
bring my sons from far,
and my daughters from the ends of the earth;
Even every one that is called by my name:
for I have created him for my glory,
I have formed him;
yea,
I have made him.

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

Published in: on August 19, 2012 at 5:31 am  Leave a Comment  
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August 18, Today’s thought — Listen

Did you ever seen freckles on your eggs?

Good Morning

“If My people would but listen to Me…” (Psalm 81:13).

The Lord is looking for Listeners, those who will be both attentive and obedient to His revealed will. To such as these He will surely speak — “For the eyes of the Lord range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him” (2 Chronicles 16:9).

Although He is looking, He does not often find them. This is not merely a condition of modern times, but rather is a longstanding problem that has characterized the people of God throughout history.
The Lord lamented Israel’s indifference to His Word, revealing that their defeats in battle were directly tied to their neglect of listening to His voice. “If my people would but listen to me, if Israel would follow my ways, how quickly would I subdue their enemies and turn my hand against their foes!” (Psalm 81:13-14).

The foremost cause of our many defeats is failure to listen to what the Lord is saying to us, and to do what He is telling us. Oh, how much grief do we experience in our lives simply because we do not lend an ear to a Love Song! Rylie

But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass: For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was. 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 1:22-25

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

Published in: on August 18, 2012 at 5:46 am  Leave a Comment  

August 17, Today’s thought – Waiting Requires Patience

Sauteed veggies on toasted thin muffins make a ‘from the garden” dinner.

Good Morning

In waiting, I waited, for the Lord. Psalm 40:1

Waiting is much more difficult than walking. Waiting requires patience, and patience is a rare virtue. It is fine to know that God builds hedges around His people–when the hedge is looked at from the viewpoint of protection. But when the hedge is kept around one until it grows so high that the cannot see over the top and wonders whether he is ever to get out of the little sphere of influence and service in which he is pent up, it is hard for him sometimes to understand why he may not have a larger environment–hard for him to “brighten the corer” where he is. But God has a purpose in all HIS holdups. “The steps of a good man are ordered of the Lord,” reads Psalm 37:23

On the margin of his Bible at this verse George Mueller had a notation. “And the stops also.” It is a sad mistake for men to break through God’s hedges. It is vital principle of guidance for a Christian never to move out of the place in which he is sure God has placed him, until the Pillar of Cloud moves. –Sunday School Times.

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

Published in: on August 17, 2012 at 5:14 am  Leave a Comment  
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