Sunday Bible Reading — Matthew 7:24-27

“The Wise Man built his house upon a Rock!
This children’s chorus is the first one I learned. What a blessed truth for a young child to have as the foundation for her life!

Matthew 7:24-27
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: And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock.

And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand: And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it.

from Clark’s Commentary
Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine – That is, the excellent doctrines laid down before in this and the two preceding chapters. There are several parables or similitudes like to this in the rabbins. I shall quote but the two following: –
Rabbi Eleasar said, “The man whose knowledge exceeds his works, to whom is he like? He is like a tree which had many branches, and only a few roots; and, when the stormy winds came, it was plucked up and eradicated. But he whose good works are greater than his knowledge, to what is he like? He is like a tree which had few branches, and many roots; so that all the winds of heaven could not move it from its place.” Pirke Aboth.

I will liken him unto a wise man – To a prudent man, a man of sense and understanding, who, foreseeing the evil hideth himself, who proposes to himself the best end, and makes use of the proper means to accomplish it. True wisdom consists in getting the building of our salvation completed: to this end we must build on the Rock, Christ Jesus, and make the building firm, by keeping close to the maxims of his Gospel, and having our tempers and lives conformed to its word and spirit; and when, in order to this, we lean on nothing but the grace of Christ, we then build upon a solid rock.

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

Published in: on April 15, 2012 at 6:09 am  Leave a Comment  

Yarn Along — April 13, 2012

I wish I could either knit faster or had more knitting time. So many interesting, beautiful choices, I see while visiting other’s blogs.

Not a lot to show for my knitting time that is divided between four projects. Here is a picture of the newest cast on, from Cheryl Oberle’s folk Shawls, Litla Dimun. I have wanted to knit this one ever since I bought the book. My daughter, Mary, gave me some of her home spun yarn. You can find Mary’s pretties at Hopeful Days.

Neapolitan Sundae


First 24 rows.

Last night I started listening to ‘Murder on Nob Hill’, by Shirley Tallman, from Audible’s info: This book is one of a new series featuring Sarah Woolson, an intelligent, outspoken young attorney in San Francisco in 1889. Sarah Woolson has always dreamed of becoming a lawyer. The trouble is that, in 1880, everyone believes a woman belongs in the home. Sarah reminds me of Amelia Peabody. An enjoyable listen.

Joining with Ginny here.

Published in: on April 13, 2012 at 2:25 pm  Comments (1)  

4-12-2012 Today’s thought — How to Prosper

Good Morning

His delight is in the law of the Lord; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. Psalm 1:2

A man who loves the Word of God—
a man who dwells upon what it says—
a man who keeps a little text in his mind to think
about as he is walking on his way,
and who meditates upon it day and might—
“whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.”
If you can find a man who carries out this direction and doesn’t prosper, you can doubt the inspiration of the first Psalm;
but find the man first. J.H.T.

Prosper
1. to succeed in an enterprise or activity
2. to become strong and flourishing

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

Published in: on April 12, 2012 at 5:51 am  Leave a Comment  

Wordless Wednesday – Slow Camera Finger

Have you ever tried to just show a picture without any explanation? That’s what we try to do on Wednesday’s. I’m biting my tongue;  I hope you can read the story!

Linking with Wordless Wednesday.

Go see other’s stories!

Published in: on April 11, 2012 at 2:02 pm  Comments (1)  

4/11/2012 Today’s thought — ‘in the way’

Good Afternoon,

Tuesday evening at Bible Study Time, Sister Diana Licon brought a lesson about the many of life’s situations that bring grief to our lives. Large and small things can cause grief. Even when a person has planned to do something and is happy about it there can be a hint of grief, as in moving to a new hoped for home — a bit of grief is there in leaving the old with its dear memories.

She reminded us that God will always be with us in grief and the feelings we experience in grief are normal and a part of the grieving process.

In Streams of the Desert 2, the reading for April 5 follows her lesson.

. . . He had see the Lord in the way . . Acts 9:27

Having the Heavenly Father by our side does not keep the storms of life away; but He is with us in those storms. One who has put his trust in God very well knows he is safer in times of danger with Christ than in times of solace without Him. Only a foolish person would place his hopes in sinking sands. One’s confidence is sure in the steadfast Rock of Ages.

Disciples of Christ must first come to their wits’ end before they come to their journey’s end. (Psalm 107:25-31) they must first experience the presence of their Lord along every step of the journey–His constantly abiding presence. Then why fear the tempest? Is it not under the controlling hand of the Heavenly Father?

In the time of deepest sorrow,
When life seems without a ray
And the world is fresh and opened,
Can you see Him “in the way”?

When your plans and dearest projects
Shattered fell and broken lay,
And you vainly try to mend them,
Can you see Him “in the way?”

When your prayers remain unanswered
And you almost cease to pray,
Feeling that the heavens are brazen–
Can you see Him “in the way?”

When your dearest hope has vanished,
When your friends forsake, betray,
And all earthly props are broken–
Can you see Him “in the way?’

Broken rays become a rainbow;
Broken clods, a fruitful meadow;
Pruned vines bear richest clusters;
Cut and polished gems, rare lustres;
Harvests rise from buried grain;
Lives are born through grief and pain; —
God dwells in the broken clay.
He alone leads “in the way.”  L.S.P.

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

Published in: on April 11, 2012 at 1:41 pm  Leave a Comment  

Today’s thought – The Very Rare and Most Beautiful Vase

Good Morning,

“Behold, the kingdom of God is within you” (Luke 17:21).

Once upon a time, in a land far, far away there lived a very poor man in a shabby house in a run-down neighborhood on the wrong side of the tracks in a economically depressed town, in a state overrun with poverty and need. Things weren’t looking good.
One day as he was rummaging about the piles of items discarded from the local flea market, tossed aside because nobody wanted any of them, something caught his eye. It was a vase, and to his amazement, it was unbroken despite the obvious abuse it had suffered; unbroken, and unmarred. In fact, it was beautiful, even more so when contrasted by all the trashy surroundings.
He took it home and placed it upon the mantle in his dingy living room, and then sat and simply stared at it. Day after day he would spend hours gazing upon the very rare and most beautiful vase. One day, as he was intently focused upon the vase, he realized how cluttered his mantle was with other things, and how stained the wall was with the grime of poverty. So he cleared the junk off the mantle, and put a fresh coat of paint upon the wall. That simple decision caused the vase to stand out in even greater beauty, for now his entire wall took on the look of a beautiful painting, and he found such joy in gazing upon it all.
Then one day as he entered his living room he noticed how worn was the carpet, and how tattered were the furnishings. He pulled the carpet out and uncovered a beautiful hardwood floor; he cleaned and recovered the furnishings, transforming the look of the entire room. This is turn led him to slowly began renovating the rest of his home. Once finished, he delighted in the comfort of his beautiful abode.
But then he noticed that the yard was overgrown with weeds, and filled with junk; the fence was broken down and the outside of his home looked weathered and wasted. So he set upon making the needed repairs and cleaning up the yard. Soon, his home became the talk of the neighborhood, for it brought such a sense of hope to all those around him. Before long the other homeowners began making repairs upon their houses and yards, such that the entire neighborhood transformed and became the talk of the town.
Yet a little while longer and the town itself began to change; cleaning the trash off the streets, repairing broken windows and repainting faded homes; refurbishing businesses and rekindling dreams. At length, the town became the garden spot of the State. Tourists came from far and wide to see the beauty of the transformed town. Upon seeing it, they each went home inspired to make changes in their own homes.
Meanwhile, the man sat happily in his living room and looked upon that rare and most beautiful vase, blessed that his life had been transformed by beauty.
Jesus said that kingdom of God was within us; that the royal, ruling power of God was at work transforming our lives from the inside out. This is that very rare and most beautiful vase, and the power of its influence is truly extraordinary!  –Rylie

Two thoughts stuck me as I read this parable:

a.  the man started cleaning inside first

You blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and of the plate, so that the outside may be clean also. Matthew  23:26  Amplified Bible

b.  the man never said to his neighbors   ” Hey look what I am doing! YOU should do this too”……………and listing all the benefits of following the man.

A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh. Luke 6:45 KJV

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

Published in: on April 10, 2012 at 11:11 am  Comments (2)  

Five Minute Friday on Monday April 9, 2012

On Friday I read the prompt ‘Light’ and couldn’t put my thoughts together. This scripture was read Sunday morning and my thoughts jelled.

 

 

 

But Mary stood without at the sepulchre weeping: and as she wept, she stooped down, and looked into the sepulchre, And seeth two angels in white sitting, the one at the head, and the other at the feet, where the body of Jesus had lain. And they say unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? She saith unto them, Because they have taken away my Lord, and I know not where they have laid him. And when she had thus said, she turned herself back, and saw Jesus standing, and knew not that it was Jesus. Jesus saith unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? whom seekest thou? She, supposing him to be the gardener, saith unto him, Sir, if thou have borne him hence, tell me where thou hast laid him, and I will take him away. Jesus saith unto her, Mary. She turned herself, and saith unto him, Rabboni; which is to say, Master    John 20:11-16

start:

how many times in my grief
in my busyness
in my discouragement

am I so involved in what I assume to be true
so sure of what I feel
so unbelieving in the power of the Father

that even when Jesus is standing right in front of me, saying
can I help? — I am blind and stumble along in my own weak way;
until He says my name

and my eyes are opened like Mary’s
and I can honor, accept and submit to Him.

stop.

Matthew 6:22-23 The light of the body is the eye: if therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light. But if thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is that darkness!

Join others writing about light with Ginny here.

Published in: on April 9, 2012 at 1:23 am  Leave a Comment  

Scavenger Hunt Sunday — April 8, 2012

This week I hunted, searched and looked until I found every item.

 New

This blossom of wild strawberry and ladybug are new to Spring.

Life

  In the beginning was the Word,and the Word was with God,
and the Word was God.
In him was life; and the life was the light of men.
John 1:1, 4

Fragrant

We have Chickens.                We have fresh Eggs.          We have Fragrance.

Nosy Grissabell!  All the chicks left their nests.
What a noisy disturbance occurred.

Pink

I took my camera to church this morning, thinking surely some little girl will be wearing Easter pink.  What I found was our pastor’s wife’s shoes!

Obvious

I collect Tom Clark figurines. Wilkes and Molly are my favorites.
It is obvious they are in love and have loved for a long time.
When the Farmer and I were going together, he would often play and sing while I finished my chores.  These hold a special place in my heart.  The Farmer hasn’t played in a long time.
Our love continues;  in June will be our 45th anniversary.

You’ll find more hunters and their photos here:

Scavenger Hunt Sunday items: New, Life, Fragrant, Pink and Obvious

Published in: on April 9, 2012 at 12:29 am  Comments (13)  

Yarn Along — April 7, 2012

Yes, I know Yarn Along is on Wednesdays.

On Wednesday I didn’t think I had knit enough on anything to make it worth a post. Today I put Tweedily Dee on a life line  —  Wow.  I like.

I have started on my second ball of yarn and just over half way through the pattern. I love the colors. I love the way there are long lengths of color to make cool stripes. This yarn is very light weight, since the pattern has a picot bind off, I’m thinking of adding beads.

I’m listening to ‘Around the World in Eighty Days’ by Jules Verne. I have never read this story before, shying away from the ‘classics’, thinking them heavy reading and boring. I am enjoying the story. It is amusing and easy to follow while I knit away.

 

Ginny, here, has a whole list of knitters who did not wait until Saturday to write about their projects.  Go and See.

Published in: on April 7, 2012 at 10:26 am  Leave a Comment  

Today’s thought — Meeting Jesus

Good Morning

And he bearing his cross went forth into . . . Golgotha. John 19:17

When the two single beams were lifted from the Lord’s bleeding shoulders and laid on those of the sturdy Cyrenian, Simon became what none ever had been, or ever would be, in all the history of the Lord’s Passion–he became for a brief space the substitute of Jesus! Simon came into Jerusalem that morning, from the village home where he had been a guest, unconscious of the tragedy enacted there during the night, and was soon caught in the throng accompanying Jesus to Calvary. Through the dense excited mass of life this heavily-built countryman forced his insistent body until he came to the edge of the procession. From this vantage point he could peer in and get sight of Jesus–could catch the weariness of His face. Was it the merest accident that Simon was taken into the heart of the tragedy? The guard looked round and saw Simon –his prominence and bulk–perhaps an unconscious sympathy growing on his face–and before Simon knew what had happened he had been dragged out from among the people and the cross was on his shoulders, and he was walking beside Jesus to Calvary.

O good fortune of the Cyrenian to have a stout body–to be born a countryman–to carry a kindly heart! It had won him an honor denied to kings and conquerors.

And none so favored as this Cyrenian, for they journeyed together within an iron wall–no man could interrupt or annoy–neither priest nor people, they were so close together that the cross seemed to be on them both. That Jesus spoke to Simon as He did to few in all His ministry, there can be little doubt, since no one could render Jesus the slightest service without being instantly repaid, and this man had succored Him in  His dire extremity. What Jesus said to His substitute Simon never told. But on thing is certain in the heart of the tragedy on the way to Calvary, Simon meet Jesus, And with what kindness Jesus must have spoken to His cross-bearer as they went forward together under one cross-one common disgrace! Alone wit the Redeemer one gathers precious treasure!

For a short while this man carried the load of wood. In return, Jesus carried his sin, and that of his children after him, for by the time this Gospel was given unto the world Simon was know as the head of a distinguished Christian house–a man honored in his sons, Alexander and Rufus.

Nothing save–a few drops of blood on the ground remained of the great tragedy as Simon journeyed homeward that evening; but, in the meantime, Jesus had accomplished the deliverance of the world–and Simon, the Cyrenian, had carried the Lord’s cross!What  a privilege!

   Taken from the throng to carry another’s cross–Via Dolorosa with Jesus!   John Watson

Everyone who met Jesus didn’t go away from that meeting the same.

The blind could see,
the dumb could speak,
lepers were healed,
mothers had their sons returned unto them,
the rich young ruler went away sorrowing,
children felt love and acceptance,
mothers realized the importance their role in their children’s lives,
Peter learned about denial and forgiveness,
Judas learned of betrayal and despair.
A Roman soldier acknowledged, ‘Truly this was the Son of God. ‘

All were changed.

Simon, how could he not become a different person , meeting Jesus on the road to the cross.

No wonder, on the day of Pentecost, as Peter preached of Jesus, all the pieces of Jesus ministry fell into place in the hearts and minds of men and women. The seed planted by John the Baptist, the sermons  and  parables spoken by Jesus, the watering by the miracles and the blood of the sacrifice bore fruit,  about three thousand souls.

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

Published in: on April 7, 2012 at 9:01 am  Leave a Comment  

Spring = Growing

At Cozy Acres spring is coming.

A few pictures of the Farmer’s winter/spring garden

beets                                            broccoli                                   parsleyand onions

cabbage, bolted          mustard greens,turnip flowers       lettuce s

cauliflower                   cauliflower leavings

The row on the right raspberries, boysenberries and Marion berries.

                                 

The left row grapes,   ??  the varieties. Grape cuttings have leaves.

West and south sides have glass, the east side will have a sliding door and window to match west. The back side will be wood. All the glass has been donated.  The floor is river rock covered with decomposed granite. the Farmer is getting anxious to begin planting seed.

We hope you don’t have skin problems as this tree does.

These iris have been blooming since November and still there are bubs.

Love these violets!

Part of our rose garden, it is amazing to me  –  how drastically the roses are pruned. They grow full and beautiful.

Ajuga  is 6-8 inches tall, I’ve never had them grow so well as here.

This is my row of hydrangeas, all have good new growth. To the left, assorted ground covers are being planted. All the varieties I brought from Grandma Crain are growing nicely.

Our current wall hanging is one I made in 2004. I entered a quilt challenge, given the musical note fabric make a quilt on the theme, Music in the Foothills for the Foothill Quilt guild quilt show. The pattern is a variation of delectable mountains. All those little half square triangles were made with triangle paper. I won  the Viewer’s Choice award. I was more pleased to win the award than on from the judges. The viewer’s choice award is received from votes from the public viewers and quilters.

Published in: on April 6, 2012 at 6:42 pm  Comments (1)  

Scavenger Hunt Sunday — April 1, 2012

Scavenger Hunt Sunday

Evening clouds

Sacramento Skies are beautiful all year round.
This one  is  from my stash.

Sun flare

From my pillow I see the sun flare  saying  Wake Up

Seven

Seven little heads peek from the storyteller’s sarape.
I bought this in New Mexico I am the storyteller in our family and all the littlies gather round,
I love it.

High Angle

This oak tree looms high and the blackbirds sound like a flock of gossipy women.

Low Angle

Stooping low I saw  rosemary blossoms through the dried grasses bordering the library sidewalk.  (I liked the angles of the grass for a double ‘angle’ picture.)

I joined Ashley and other scavenger hunters here at

www.ashleysisk.com

Come and see what others have found.

Published in: on April 2, 2012 at 9:55 am  Comments (10)  

Wordless Wednesday — cat hair balls

It is Wednesday and it is time to be wordless.

Buster and Grizz

Look over the shoulders of other wordless ones here

Published in: on March 28, 2012 at 3:37 pm  Comments (14)  

Scavenger Hunt Sunday –March 25

 

Scavenger Hunt Sunday items:

Whimsy  —   Playfully quaint or fanciful,
especially in an appealing and amusing way.

To me, this squirrel fulfills the definition.

Create

Maybe this hat I knitted this week for grandson, Alex
could be called whimsical, also

Dust,

the Farmer makes dust as he cleans up the sides of the driveway.

Seed or Sprout

These succulents sprout flower stalks every spring.

and Swing or Drop

I went looking for dropped blossoms from magnolias or camillas;
What a Find!
a real swing,
a dropped orange
and a dropped red camilla
seen through a chain-link fence laced with wisteria vines.

I had  fun looking for scavenger items; the harder part was picking out which pictures to use this week; come on over to Ashley’s blog and check out some others.

Published in: on March 25, 2012 at 4:59 pm  Comments (16)  

{this moment} as long as there are weeds

A Friday ritual inspired by SouleMama. A single photo – no words – capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment to pause, savor and remember.

May your weeds be few!

Published in: on March 23, 2012 at 12:13 pm  Leave a Comment  
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