May 14, Today’s thought — Mother in Zion

My beautiful Mother’s day Flowers

Good  Morning,

Ponderings from Sunday morning’s Mother’s Day lesson:

Judges 4:4 -5  And Deborah, a prophetess, the wife of Lapidoth, she judged Israel at that time.  And she dwelt under the palm tree of Deborah between Ramah and Bethel in mount Ephraim: and the children of Israel came up to her for judgment.

Judges 5:7 The inhabitants of the villages ceased, they ceased in Israel, until that I Deborah arose, that I arose a mother in Israel.

The Brother told us of Deborah, the judge and mother in Israel, how god led her and guided her as she and Barak led the children of Isael in battle. He told how the battle was won and how the betrayer was slain by another woman, Jael.

There was a need in the early church for the care of widows, guidelines were set so the neediest and most worthy could receive care.

1Timothy 5:1-3 Rebuke not an elder, but intreat him as a father; and the younger men as brethren; The elder women as mothers; the younger as sisters, with all purity. Honour widows that are widows indeed.

1Timothy 5:9-10 Let not a widow be taken into the number under threescore years old, having been the wife of one man, Well reported of for good works; if she have brought up children, if she have lodged strangers, if she have washed the saints’ feet, if she have relieved the afflicted, if she have diligently followed every good work.

I was sitting between Emily and Mary, (Aaron’s family were sitting on the other side of Emily). After 1 Timothy 5:10 was read Emily said ‘You’ve done all that.’

What a high standard to try to reach, a mother in Israel.

I thought, I didn’t start serving God thinking that one day I might be a widow and over 60 years old and I needed to do all these things so I would qualify for care if I needed it.

I started serving God:
by being obedient to what I knew to do
by being a help when there was I need
by being hospitable more than once when asked to open our home to strangers as they became established in our community
by thankfully participating in the ordinance services
by praying for the afflicted

When I started serving God, I just doing my best to be a help and not a hindrance in the congregation.

That is all God asks of us — do what you can as well as you can.
God will strengthen and perfect us as the potter does the clay,
creating a mother in Israel.

Now I am over sixty.
I am not a widow.
I don’t consider my job done.

My desire remains the same.
but now I can say. . .
I want to be a help, as a mother in Israel.

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

Published in: on May 14, 2012 at 2:12 pm  Leave a Comment  

Five Minute Friday on Monday, May 14 – Identity

 

On Fridays over here a group of people
who love to throw caution to the wind
and just write gather to share
what five minutes buys them.
Just five minutes.
Unscripted.
Unedited.
Real.

Prompt: IDENTITY

Go. . .

At every season of our lives we will have identity issues.
Changes will bring issues.
We learn how to make those changes.
Sometimes graciously
Sometimes kicking and screaming
But always changing.

I – ideally

D – (full of) dreams

E – by example

N – with much nurturing

T –  always trying

I – sometimes instinctively

T – accepting truth

Y – becoming you(me)

With all the flaws and failures
Incomplete and searching
Humbly
Acknowledging
That whatever I become after
Going through His perfecting

My identity will be a vessel
to honor and good works
fit for the Master’s use.

Picture: Ray Allen Untitled vessel, 1995    umma.umich.edu

To read others’ identities, visit Gypsymama.

Published in: on May 14, 2012 at 11:27 am  Leave a Comment  

Scavenger Hunt Sunday — May 13, 2012

Sidewalk


NO concrete side walk, just stepping stones to my house.

Inspiring

Grannies have natural inspiration to do this.

Close Up

My spider plant is coming back after getting too cold this winter.

Time

A time for growing. . .

With a Mirror

#1 – before you start to take a mirror picture, make sure the mirror is clean!

If you like to look at pictures, go to Ramblings and Photos.

Published in: on May 14, 2012 at 9:44 am  Comments (12)  

May 13, Today’s thought — Happy Mother’s Day

My beautiful mother, Frances Topper, is a wonderful example of a mother.

Good Morning,    Happy Mother’s Day

Proverbs 31:20, 25-29

She opens her hand to the poor, yes, she reaches out her filled hands to the needy [whether in body, mind, or spirit]. Strength and dignity are her clothing and her position is strong and secure; she rejoices over the future[the latter day or time to come, knowing that she and her family are in readiness for it]! She opens her mouth in skillful and godly Wisdom, and on her tongue is the law of kindness [giving counsel and instruction]. She looks well to how things go in her household, and the bread of idleness (gossip, discontent, and self-pity) she will not eat. Her children rise up and call her blessed (happy, fortunate, and to be envied); and her husband boasts of and praises her, [saying], Many daughters have done virtuously, nobly, and well[with the strength of character that is steadfast in goodness[, but you excel them all. Amplified Bible.

The young mother set her foot on the path of life. “Is the way long?” she asked.

And her Guide said: “Yes. and the way is hard. And you will be old before you reach the end of it. But the end will be better than the beginning.”

But the young mother was happy, and she would not believe that anything could be better than these years. So she played with her children, and gathered flowers for them along the way, and bathed with them in the clear streams; and the sun shone on them and  life was good, and the young mother cried, “nothing will ever be lovelier than this.”

Then night came, and storm , and the path was dark, and the children shook with fear and cold, and the mother drew them close and covered them with her mantle, and the children said, “O Mother, we are not afraid, for you are near, and no harm can come,” and the mother said, “This is better than the brightness of day, for I have taught my children courage.”

And the morning came, and there was a hill ahead., and the children climbed and grew weary, and the mother was weary, but at all times she said to the children, “A little patience and we are there.” So the children climbed, and when they reached the top, they said, “We could not have done it without you, Mother.” And the mother, when she lay down that night, looked at the stars and said: “This is a better day than the last, for my children have learned fortitude in the face of hardness. Yesterday I gave them courage, today I have given them strength.”

And the next day cam , strange clouds which darkened the earth—clouds of war and hate and evil, and the children groped and stumbled, and the mother said, “Look up. Lift your eyes to the Light.” and the children looked and saw above the clouds an Everlasting Glory, and it guided them and brought them beyond the darkness. And that night the mother said: “This day is the best day of all, for I have shown my children God.”

And the days went on, and the weeks and the months and the years, and the mother grew old, and she was little and bent. But her children were tall and strong, and walked with courage. And when the way  was hard, they helped their mother, and when the way was rough, they lifted her, for she was as light as a feather; and at last they came to a hill, and beyond the hill they could see a shining road and golden gate flung wide.

And the mother said: “I have reached the end of my journey. And now I know that the end is better than the beginning for my children can walk alone, and their children after them.”

And the children said: “You will always walk with us, Mother, even when you have gone through the gates.”

And they stood and watched her as she went on alone, and the gates closed after her. And they said, “We cannot see her, but she is with us still. A mother like ours is more than a memory. She is a living presence.”

Temple Bailey from Food for thought

I love you , Mom. . . Leslie Anne

Published in: on May 12, 2012 at 11:52 pm  Leave a Comment  

May 11, Today’s thought — God Listens

For he hath not despised
nor abhorred the affliction of the afflicted;
neither hath he hid his face from him;
but when he cried unto him,
he heard.
Psalm 22:24

You can talk to God because God listens.
Your voice matters in heaven.
He takes you very seriously.
When you enter into his presence, he turns to you to hear your voice.
No need to fear that you will be ignored.
Even if you stammer or stumble, even if what you have to say impresses no one, it impresses God, and he listens.
He listens to the painful plea of the elderly in the rest home.
He listens to the gruff confession of the death-row inmate.
When the alcoholic begs for mercy, when the spouse seeks guidance, when the businessman steps off the street into the chapel.
He listens.
Intently.
Carefully.
Max Lucado, The Great House of God.

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

Published in: on May 11, 2012 at 6:00 am  Leave a Comment  

May 10, Today’s thought — More Peace

On the west side of the house in front of the fireplace, a white climber.

Good Morning,

Peace I leave with you,

The Jewish form of salutation and benediction. A wish of peace among them is thus to be understood: May you prosper in body and soul, and enjoy every earthly and heavenly good!

my peace I give unto you:

Such tranquillity of soul, such uninterrupted happiness of mind, such everlasting friendship with God as I enjoy, may ye all enjoy! And such blessedness I bequeath unto you: it is my last, my best, my dying legacy.

not as the world giveth, give I unto you.

Not as the Jews, in empty wishes: not as the people of the world, in empty compliments. Their salutations and benedictions are generally matters of custom and polite ceremony, given without desire or design; but I mean what I say; what I wish you, that I will give you. To his followers Jesus gives peace, procures it, preserves it, and establishes it. He is the author, prince, promoter, and keeper of peace.

Let not your heart be troubled,
neither let it be afraid.

Let not your heart shrink back through fear of any approaching evil. This is the proper meaning of the word. In a few hours ye will be most powerfully assaulted; but stand firm: – the evil will only fall upon me; and this evil will result in your comfort and salvation, and in the redemption of a lost world.

John 14:27, Clarke’s Commentary

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

Published in: on May 10, 2012 at 6:10 am  Leave a Comment  

Yarn Along, May 9, Ready to Block

 

In checking my finished projects I saw that I didn’t share this shawl after I finished it. Maybe because, the cat climbed in the cubbie and slept on it. So I put it where he couldn’t get to it and I forgot about it  I’m in the season of forgetfulness.

Last week Alpaca Sox Shawl became a finished object! I finally decided no picots and simple edge with beads. I like it.  Now to get both blocked pretty.

Young Holden shawl on size 6 needles was looking small so frogged back and now knitting on 8’s, much better. 139 stitches on the needle, 195 stitches then I get to start the lace work.

I just finished reading ‘Empty House’ by Rosamund Pilcher, all of her’s are favorites.

Join with me to see what’s on other’s needles with Ginny.

Published in: on May 9, 2012 at 11:01 am  Comments (8)  

Wordless Wednesday — Cat Door?

Join us as we try to cut down on the chatter on Wednesdays.

In and out

(Please excuse the blur – he is fast!)

Published in: on May 9, 2012 at 7:12 am  Comments (5)  

May 9, Today’s thought — Peace

This one grows on the east side of Bro. Bob’s house.

Good Morning,

In Christ Alone, My Hope Is Found
He Is My Light, My Strength, My Song
This Cornerstone, This Solid Ground
Firm Through The Fiercest Drought And Storm
What Heights Of Love, What Depths Of Peace
When Fears Are Stilled, When Strivings Cease
My Comforter, My All-in-all
Here In The Love Of Christ I Stand

There In The Ground His Body Lay
Light Of The World By Darkness Slain
Then Bursting Forth In Glorious Day
Up From The Grave He Rose Again
And As He Stands In Victory
Sin’s Curse Has Lost Its Grip On Me
For I Am His And He Is Mine
Bought With The Precious Blood Of Christ

No Guilt In Life, No Fear In Death
This Is The Power Of Christ In Me
From Life’s First Cry To Final Breath
Jesus Commands My Destiny
No Power Of Hell, No Scheme Of Man
Can Ever Pluck Me From His Hand
Till He Returns Or Calls Me Home
Here In The Power Of Christ I’ll Stand
Till He Returns Or Calls Me Home
Here In The Power Of Christ I’ll Stand
Here In The Power Of Christ I’ll Stand

http://youtu.be/Ipl-rLRxOrs

John 14:27  Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.

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

Published in: on May 9, 2012 at 6:17 am  Comments (2)  

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)  
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