May 27, Sunday Bible Reading – Deuteronomy 8

Waiting for the sunflower.

Good Morning

from the Amplified Bible, Deuteronomy 8

1. ALL THE commandments which I command you this day
you shall be watchful to do,
that you may live and multiply and go in and possess the land
which the Lord swore to give to your fathers.
2.  And you shall [earnestly] remember all the way
which the Lord your God led you these forty years in the wilderness,
to humble you and to prove you,
to know what was in your [mind and] heart,
whether you would keep His commandments or not.
3.  And He humbled you and allowed you to hunger
and fed you with manna,
which you did not know nor did your fathers know,
that He might make you recognize and personally know
that man does not live by bread only,
but man lives by every word
that proceeds out of the mouth of the Lord.
4.  Your clothing did not become old upon you
nor did your feet swell these forty years.
5.  Know also in your [minds and] hearts that,
as a man disciplines and instructs his son,
so the Lord your God disciplines and instructs you.
6.  So you shall keep the commandments of the Lord your God,
to walk in His ways and [reverently] fear Him.
7.  For the Lord your God is bringing you into a good land,
a land of brooks of water,
of fountains and springs,
flowing forth in valleys and hills;
8.  A land of wheat and barley,
and vines and fig trees and pomegranates,
a land of olive trees and honey;
9.  A land in which you shall eat food
without shortage and lack nothing in it;
a land whose stones are iron
and out of whose hills you can dig copper.
10.  When you have eaten and are full,
then you shall bless the Lord your God
for all the good land which He has given you.
11.  Beware that you do not forget the Lord your God
by not keeping His commandments,
His precepts,
and His statutes which I command you today,
12.  Lest when you have eaten and are full,
and have built goodly houses and live in them,
13.  And when your herds and flocks multiply
and your silver and gold is multiplied
and all you have is multiplied,
14.  Then your [minds and] hearts be lifted up
and you forget the Lord your God,
Who brought you out of the land of Egypt,
out of the house of bondage,
15.  Who led you through the great and terrible wilderness,
with its fiery serpents and scorpions
and thirsty ground where there was no water,
but Who brought you forth water out of the flinty rock,
16.  Who fed you in the wilderness with manna,
which your fathers did not know,
that He might humble you and test you,
to do you good in the end.
17.  And beware lest you say in your [mind and] heart,
My power and the might of my hand have gotten me this wealth.
18.  But you shall [earnestly] remember the Lord your God,
for it is He Who gives you power to get wealth,
that He may establish His covenant which He swore to your fathers,
as it is this day.
19.  And if you forget the Lord your God
and walk after other gods and serve them and worship them,
I testify against you this day that you shall surely perish.
20.  Like the nations which the Lord makes to perish before you,
so shall you perish,
because you would not obey the voice of the Lord your God.

Selah [pause, and calmly think of that]

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

Published in: on May 27, 2012 at 6:22 am  Leave a Comment  

May 26, Today’s thought — Hope

From my chair – the kitchen window

Good Morning,

On Facebook, Sunny Alteneder shared Evonne Loray Asbury Wu’s encouraging thoughts:

‎”As your days–so shall your strength be!” Deuteronomy 33:25

“Here is a precious promise for a trying day! It belongs to every Christian who is traveling to the Celestial City. It provides for every part of life’s journey; for every day–as each day may require.

It is especially suited to the dark days, the wintry days, and the trying days–when all our earthly props fail us; the days when our fellow man cannot help us.

Fellow pilgrim! Are you dispirited, depressed, and cast down? Are you looking back upon the past with sorrow–and forward into the future with fear? Cheer up! The Lord will not lay on you more than He will enable you to bear–nor will He allow any other to do so.

However weak you may feel in yourself,
however rough the road you may need to travel,
however heavy the burden you may have to carry–
God will supply you with sufficient strength for the day!

He has never allowed you to be crushed yet, though you may have staggered under some heavy burdens. He who has helped you in the past–is still your helper today. He will also help you in all the future. “As your days”–be they as troublesome as they may–“so shall your strength be.”

Whether your day brings life or death, joy or trial–it does not matter. God will send you exactly what you need to pass through it! Do not look at your trials, do not dwell on your inability–but lay hold on the promises of God and seek His grace to exercise faith in Him.

Then let Satan suggest what he pleases, or the flesh object as it may–you will be able to say, “I will not fear; for as my day–so shall my strength be. He who has promised–will also fulfill His promise.”

Blessed Lord, I praise You for this precious promise! Help, oh, help me to trust in it; and day by day as duty or trials may require–enable me to look to You and expect sufficient strength from You!
~James Smith

“On the day I called–You answered me; You increased strength within me!” Psalm 138:3″

This reading reminded me of Thursday evening’s lesson, “There Is Hope!” And I’m thankful.

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

this morning the wind blows some,
the tree  waves some,
the bright umbrella dances some,
and I smiled.

Published in: on May 26, 2012 at 10:07 am  Leave a Comment  

May 24, Today’s thoughts – God that performeth

Grissabell is more camera friendly.(opps, for some WordPress reason to see Griss, click the space.)

Good Morning

Be merciful unto me, O God, be merciful unto me: for my soul trusteth in thee: yea, in the shadow of thy wings will I make my refuge, until these calamities be overpast. I will cry unto God most high; unto God that performeth all things for me. Psalm 57:1-2

The beautiful old translation says,
“He shall perform the cause which I have in hand.”
Does that make it very real to us today?
Just the very thing that “I have in hand”–
my own particular bit of work today,
this cause that I cannot manage,
this thing that I undertook in miscalculation of my own powers–
this is what I may ask Him to do “for me”
and rest assured that He will perform it.
“The wise and their works are in the hands of God.” Havergal.

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

Published in: on May 24, 2012 at 4:58 pm  Leave a Comment  

May 23 Today’s thought — He Worketh

Buster likes his picture taken as much as I do.

Good Morning

Trust in the LORD, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed. Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart. Commit thy way unto the LORD; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass. Psalm 37:3-5

The translation that we find in Young of “Commit thy way unto the Lord; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass,” reads: “Roll upon Jehovah thy way; trust upon him: and he worketh.”
It calls our attention to the immediate action of God when we truly commit or roll out our hands into His, the burden of whatever kind it may be; a way of sorrow, of difficulty, of physical need, or of anxiety for the conversion of some dear one.
“He worketh.”
When? Now.
We are so in danger of postponing our expectation of His acceptance of the trust,and His undertaking to accomplish what we ask Him to do, instead of saying as we commit, “He worketh.”
“He worketh” even now; and praise Him that it is do.
The very expectancy enables the Holy Spirit to do the very thing we have rolled upon Him.
It is out of our reach.
We are not trying to do it any more..
“He worketh.”
Let us take the comfort out of it and not put our hands on it again.
OH, what a relief it brings!
He is really working on the difficulty.
But someone may say, “I see not results.”
Never mind.
“He worketh.”
if you have rolled it over and are looking to Jesus to do it.
Faith may be tested, but “He worketh;” the Word is sure! –V.H.F.

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

Published in: on May 23, 2012 at 9:37 am  Leave a Comment  

May 22 — Today’s thoughts — Peace

Happy Petunias

Good Afternoon

On the evening of that day, the first day of the week, the doors being locked where the disciples were for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.” John 20:19

The church of Jesus Christ began with a group; of frightened men in a second-floor room in Jerusalem.
Though they’d marched wit Jesus for three years, they now sat . . .afraid.
They were timid soldiers, reluctant warriors, speechless messengers.
Daring to dream that the master had left them some word,
some plan,
some direction,
they came back.
But little did they know their wildest dream wasn’t wild enough. Just as some one mumbles, “It’s no use,” they hear a noise.
They hear a voice; “Peace be with you.”
The betrayed sought his betrayers.
What did he say to them?
Not “What a bunch of flops!”
Not “I told you so.”
No ” Where-were-you-when-I-needed-you?” speeches.
But simply one phrase, “Peace be with you.”
The very thing they didn’t have was the very thing he offered: peace.
Max Lucado – Six Hours One Friday

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

 

Published in: on May 22, 2012 at 1:03 pm  Leave a Comment  

May 22 Garden Update

The Farmer is so glad it is planting time. Much planning and preparation goes into Cozy Acre’s garden. The bountiful harvest makes all the work worthwhile.

Facing south:

on the left, garden plot is 90’x75′ . The lighter dirt is a driveway between the two plots.

on the right, garden plot is 40’x75′

Winter garden, 34’x51′, is in the back, the Farmer is still picking swiss chard and beets.

The Farmer’s drip watering system:

The plants get covered with mulch to preserve water and cut down on weeds. The Farmer only waters the plants not walkways, He says, ‘if you don’t water the weeds, they won’t grow.’

Tomato

Bell Pepper

Published in: on May 22, 2012 at 11:11 am  Comments (3)  

Scavenger Hunt Sunday — (on Monday) May 21,2012

In this scavenger hunt we interpret the prompts in what we hope is a creative way and share our pictures with other hunters.

Rainbow
Delectable Mountain pattern with rainbow notes and rainbow points

Fluffy
Ol’ Red snoozing in the sun

Metal
Garden art made by my brother in honor of my five children=five butterflies

Letters
Looking for letters

Trees
I always gaze at this tree as I drive by

Click here to see more pictures Ramblings and Photos.

Published in: on May 21, 2012 at 2:26 pm  Comments (6)  

Sunday Bible Reading — Psalm 119:1-8

Love the Star Jasmine.

Good Morning

ALEPH.
Blessed are the undefiled in the way,
who walk in the law of the LORD.
Blessed are they that keep his testimonies,
and that seek him with the whole heart.
They also do no iniquity:
they walk in his ways.
Thou hast commanded us to keep thy precepts diligently.
O that my ways were directed to keep thy statutes!
Then shall I not be ashamed,
when I have respect unto all thy commandments.
I will praise thee with uprightness of heart,
when I shall have learned thy righteous judgments.
I will keep thy statutes:
O forsake me not utterly.
Psalm 119:1-8

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

Published in: on May 20, 2012 at 9:11 am  Leave a Comment  

{this moment} May 18, 2012

{this moment} – A Friday ritual. A single photo – no words – capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.

Linking to SouleMama to see other’s moments.

Published in: on May 18, 2012 at 11:35 am  Comments (1)  

Five Minute Friday — Perspective

Just five minutes.

Unscripted.

Unedited.

Real.

Today’s prompt:  Perspective

go . . .


This is a picture of the kitchen on Lincoln Ave, when My daughter was living there. I had a cream refrigerator with NO stuff on the front. I don’t have a picture of the kitchen when it was mine. We had to move due to financial reasons. Anyway, this was the kitchen I cooked in, laughed in and sometimes cried in, I loved it. I could have 4 work stations going at one time when we were having a party or everyone came over for dinner.


This is the kitchen I moved into. One person can cook at a time. One person can clean up at a time. Sometimes I have to share this kitchen with the Farmer. I cannot say I love it, but it does supply all I need in a kitchen.


Sometimes I use this kitchen at my neighbor’s.
And I think, “OH, LOOK AT ALL THE ROOM!

It is just a matter of perspective. . .

stop.

I found and added pictures first, then wrote. Whenever I hear the word perspective; I think of  the day I received this example.

Many other writers are sharing their experiences of perspective at Gypsymama’s click here.

Published in: on May 18, 2012 at 8:40 am  Comments (2)  

May 18, Today’s thought — Worry, Who Me?

Even after being gnawed on by the slugs, this zinnia is determined to grow. Grow ON!

Good Morning,

Casting all your care upon him, for he careth for you 1Peter 5:7

I have a Friend, whose faithful love,
Is more than all the world to me,
‘Tis higher than the heights above,
And deeper than the soundless sea

So old, so new,
So strong so true;

Before the earth received its frame
He loved me–Blessed be His name!  Unknown.

John Bunyan Smith wrote, “Let us turn our fears into faith, and quit worrying over the thing that has not and never will happen.”

Don’t let tomorrow use too much of today!

The refusal to worry does not mean lack of concern. Too many people have that. But though one cares greatly, when he has done all he can to prevent the evil or bring the good to past, he has a right to trust in God.

It is good that a man should both
hope and quietly wait
for the salvation of the Lord.
Lamentations 3:26

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

Published in: on May 18, 2012 at 7:44 am  Leave a Comment  

May 17, Today’s thought — My Feeble Prayers

Blooming Star Jasmine planted February 21.

Good Morning,

I prayed for strength, and then I lost awhile
All sense of nearness, human and divine;
The love I leaned on failed and pierced my heart,
The hands I clung to loosed themselves from mine;
But while I swayed, weak, trembling, and alone,
The everlasting arms upheld my own.

I prayed for light; the sun went down in clouds,
The moon was darkened by a misty doubt,
The stars of heaven were dimmed by earthly fears,
And all my little candle flames burned out;
But while I sat in shadow, wrapped in night,
The face of Christ made all the darkness bright.

I prayed for peace, and dreamed of restful ease,
A slumber drugged from pain, a hushed repose;
Above my head the skies were black with storm,
And fiercer grew the onslaught of my foes;
But while the battle raged, and wild winds blew,
I heard His voice and perfect peace I knew.

I thank Thee, Lord, Thou wert too wise to heed
My feeble prayers, and answer as I sought,
Since these rich gifts Thy bounty has bestowed
Have brought me more than all I asked or thought;
Giver of good, so answer each request
With Thine own giving, better than my best.
—-Annie Johnson Flint

And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.  Romans 8:28

Romans 8:28 We are assured and know that [God being a partner in their labor] all things work together and are [fitting into a plan] for good to and for those who love God and are called according to [His] design and purpose. Amplified Bible

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

Published in: on May 17, 2012 at 6:03 am  Leave a Comment  

Wordless Wednesday — Carrot Gone to Seed.

EXTRA, EXTRA  See All the  WORDLESSNESS  —  HERE

Isn’t being wordless fun!

For  Lea  🙂

Published in: on May 16, 2012 at 3:26 pm  Comments (5)  

May 16, Today’s thought — We Pray

Nothing like a glass of tea on these warm afternoons.

Good Morning,

Romans 8:26 Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.

Much that perplexes us in our Christian experience is but the answer to our prayers.
We pray for Patience,

and our Father sends those who tax us to the utmost, for “tribulation worketh patience.”

We pray for submission,

and God sends sufferings; for “we learn obedience by the things we suffer.”

We pray for unselfishness,

and God gives us opportunities to sacrifice ourselves by thinking on the the things of others, and by laying down our lives for the brethren.

We pray for strength and humility,

and some messenger of Satan torments us until we lie in the dust crying for removal.

We pray, “Lord, increase our faith,”

and money takes wings; or the children are alarmingly ill; or a servant comes who is careless, extravagant, untidy or slow, or some hitherto unknown trial calls for an increase of faith along a line where we have not needed to exercise much faith before.

We pray for the Lamb-life,

and are given a portion of lowly service, or we are injured and must seek no redress; for “he was led as a lamb to the slaughter and . . .opened not his mouth.”

We pray for gentleness,

and there comes a perfect storm of temptation to harshness and irritability,

We pray for quietness,

and every nerve is strung to the utmost tension, so that looking to Him we may learn that when He giveth quietness, no one can make trouble.

We pray for love,

and God sends peculiar suffering and puts us with apparently unlovely people, and lets them say things which rasp nerves and lacerate the heart; for love suffereth long and is kind, love is not impolite, love is not provoked. LOVE BEARETH ALL THINGS, believeth, hopeth and endureth, love never faileth.

We pray for likeness to Jesus, and the answer is,

“I have chosen thee in the furnace of affliction.”
“Can thine heart endure, or can thine hands be strong?”
“Are ye able?”

The way to peace and victory is to accept every circumstance, every trial, straight from the hand of a loving Father; and to live up in the heavenly places, above the clouds, in the very presence of the Throne, and to look down from the Glory upon our environment as lovingly and divinely appointed. –Selected

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

Published in: on May 16, 2012 at 8:31 am  Comments (2)  

May 15, Today’s thoughts — Boulder Too Hard to Move

Good Morning

If thou hast been here. John 11:21

“If only my circumstances and my environment were altered…
“If only So-and-So were not so trying to live with…
“If only I the opportunities, the advantages, that other people have…
“If only that insurmountable, difficulty, that sorrow, that trouble, could be moved out of my life; then how different things would be! and how different I would be.”

Ah, dear friend, you are not the only one who has had such thoughts. No less a person than Paul the Apostle besought the Lord three times that the thorn in the flesh might depart from him, and yet, it was allowed to remain.”

A certain gentleman had a garden which might have been very beautiful had it not been disfigured by an immense boulder which reached far under the soil. He tried to blast it out with dynamite, but in the attempt only shattered the windows of the house. Being very self-willed he used without success one harsh method after another to get rid of the disfigurement until finally he died of worry and blighted hopes.
The heir, a man who not only had common sense but used it, soon perceived the hopelessness of striving to budge the boulder and therefore set to work to convert it into a rockery, which he covered with frescoes, flowers, ferns and vines. It soon came about that the visitors to the garden commented on its unsurpassed beauty, and the owner could never quite decide which gave the greater happiness–the harmonious aspect of his garden or the success in adapting himself to the thing that was too deep to move.
So the unsightly boulder which could not be removed, proved to be the most valuable asset in that garden when dealt with by one who knew how to turn its very defects to account.  Selected.

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

Picture from ehow.com

Published in: on May 15, 2012 at 1:10 pm  Leave a Comment  
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