August 9, Today’s thought — Jesus’ Hands

Sunflowers about 20 feet high, reaching for the sky!

Good Morning

And when he had thus spoken,
he shewed them his hands and his feet.
Luke 24:40

In the hands of Jesus there is certainty!
There is providence!
There is majesty!
The hands of Jesus are human hands.
They were once baby hands! Did not the angels from the realms of glory bid the shepherds to hasten to Bethlehem to behold those infant hands For the fulness of time had come. The pagan empires had unknowingly set the stage. This great moment of which the prophets had spoken and the psalmists had sung had arrived! A body had been prepared for Him to permit the Godhead to be veiled in flesh.
In the course of time those tiny hands became toiling hands. He who fashioned the stars toiled in a carpenter’s shed! His workmanship would be thorough.
“We are his workmanship.” cries Paul.
He knew!
Those hands that hewed rough timber into useful objects of beauty and usefulness had transformed him from a despot to a disciple motivated not by law but by love.
The hands of Jesus are generous hands–generous in tender care.
His hands were laid upon the little children in blessing when the stern disciples dared to drive them away.
His hands were generous in cleansing. He laid aside His robes and with His own hands He began to wash His disciples’ feet.
When Peter protested,
He replied, “Except I wash thee, thous hast no part with me.”
Those hands are even today at our disposal when we need cleansing.
The hands of Jesus are saving hands. The Bible describes every type of sin but declares that the Lord delivers from them all. His hands can save only because they are pierced hands.
The only things in heaven that man made are the five wounds which are born in His body. His wounded hands plead at the throne of grace for all who call upon the name of the Lord.
His saving hands are secure hands. Of all who come to Him, He said
“I will give them eternal life, and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.”
They are able to hold secure for time and eternity all that we commit to Him. –from Streams in the Desert 2, Cowman

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

Published in: on August 9, 2012 at 5:57 am  Leave a Comment  
Tags:

July 5, Today’s thought — Leave the Edge

Have you seen the Farmer’s hat, yet?
He calls it his umbrella. Thanks, Dan.

Good Morning

So let us go on to grown-up teaching.
Let us not go back over the beginning lessons
we learned about Christ. Hebrews 6:1

I like the story of the little boy who fell out of bed.
When his Mom asked him what happened,
he answered,
“I don’t know. I guess I stayed too close to where I got in.”

Easy to do the same with our faith.
It’s tempting just to stay where we got in and never move.
Pick a time in the not-too-distant past.
A year or two ago.
Now ask yourself a few questions.
How does your prayer life today compare with then?
How about your giving?
Have the amount and the joy increased?
What about your church loyalty?
Can you tell you’ve grown?
And Bible study?
Are you learning to learn?. . .
Don’t make the mistake of the little boy.
Don’t stay too close to where you got in.
It’s risky resting on the edge.
When God Whispers Your Name – Max Lucado

Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ,
let us go on unto perfection;
not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works,
and of faith toward God,   Hebrews 6:1

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

Published in: on July 5, 2012 at 10:26 am  Leave a Comment  
Tags: ,

Yarn Along, June 27 – KALs and Take A Longs

Knitting, reading, and Listening – Life is good.

Clue A of Wendy Knits Mystery KAL received on June 20. I was ready. Casting on, ripping off and casting on again. The first 8 rows of Summery Solstice Shawl completed. I liked it.

I liked it so much I had to try the shawl in ivory silk and wool. I know I can be obsessive compulsive at times. I hoping for a understated elegance with this shawl.

Since all but one of the projects I’m knitting I have sit with directions in front of me, I cast on another shawl of mindless garter stitch, I’m calling Muted Jazz. This is my to go project that I can knit on at stop lights, in parking lots, and at the Chiro’s.

I’m still listening to Inkspell by Cordila Funke and reading Driving Force by Dick Francis.

I get knitting and reading ideas by clicking here.

Published in: on June 27, 2012 at 12:47 am  Comments (4)  
Tags:

June 18, Today’s thought –Amram and Jochebed

Thoughts from June 17, Father’s Day Message, preached in Spanish by Pastor Jose Montano, from Havana, Cuba, translated by Brother Luis Sanchez.

Exodus 6:20 And Amram took him Jochebed his father’s sister to wife; and she bare him Aaron and Moses: and the years of the life of Amram were an hundred and thirty and seven years.

Did you ever think about this couple,
these parents, who were slaves their whole lives,
without a scripture,
without the Law,
without religion as we know it,
trusting in the God of Abraham, Issac, and Jacob.

Trust nurtured by the retelling of the stories of their forefathers.

Exo 2:2 And the woman conceived, and bare a son: and when she saw him that he was a goodly child, she hid him three months.

Living close enough to God to hear Him say this is a ‘goodly child.’
Making a plan,
Hoping to just save his life.
Trusting in the God of Abraham, Issac and Jacob.

Heb 11:23 By faith Moses, when he was born, was hid three months of his parents, because they saw he was a proper child; and they were not afraid of the king’s commandment.

By the faith of his parents,
Amram, an exalted people,
and Jochebed, the glory of God,
Moses was hid . . .

And Moses was raised a prince,
taught the language, customs, politics,
and religion of his foster family.

All the while
his parents were trusting in the God of Abraham, Issac and Jacob.

Moses, who when he came of age,
tried to fix the plight of his people in his own strength,
failing and running away

Exodus 2:11-15 And it came to pass in those days, when Moses was grown, that he went out unto his brethren, and looked on their burdens: and he spied an Egyptian smiting an Hebrew, one of his brethren. And he looked this way and that way, and when he saw that there was no man, he slew the Egyptian, and hid him in the sand. And when he went out the second day, behold, two men of the Hebrews strove together: and he said to him that did the wrong, Wherefore smitest thou thy fellow? And he said, Who made thee a prince and a judge over us? intendest thou to kill me, as thou killedst the Egyptian? And Moses feared, and said, Surely this thing is known. Now when Pharaoh heard this thing, he sought to slay Moses. But Moses fled from the face of Pharaoh, and dwelt in the land of Midian: and he sat down by a well.

All the while
his parents were trusting in the God of Abraham, Issac and Jacob.

Heb 11:24 By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter;
Heb 11:25 Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season;
Heb 11:26 Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompence of the reward.

This Moses, as an adult, by himself in the desert, recognized the voice of God, because he had parents who trusted in the God of Abraham, Issac and Jacob.

Exodus 3:4,6 And when the LORD saw that he turned aside to see, God called unto him out of the midst of the bush, and said, Moses, Moses. And he said, Here am I…..Moreover he said, I am the God of thy father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. And Moses hid his face; for he was afraid to look upon God.

These are my ponderings of the message. I received encouragement to continue to have hope and trust in God for the children that have chosen to try their own ways. Remembering that the truths they were taught will be there for them when they again hear the voice of God calling them home.

Not all the scriptures listed here included in the message, it is where my thoughts led me. If you would like to hear this inspiring message; go to this link after Monday when it is uploaded:
http://churchofgodcarmichael.org/
then click : Sunday Morning Gospel Podcast

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

Published in: on June 18, 2012 at 6:00 am  Leave a Comment  

Wordless Wednesday — I’ll Share!

Being wordless isn’t for everyone….but we can try!

Check us out here.

Published in: on June 6, 2012 at 9:08 am  Comments (2)  

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  

Improving Your Skillset — 3KCBWDAY6

How far down the road to learning your craft do you believe yourself to be?

From no knowledge to being able to teach others to knit and loving every stitch, every needle, every skein of yarn along the way.

I learned to crochet from my mother as a child, while watching her make a traditional granny square afghan, bright colors with black. I never really made anything, I could just do the stitches.
I made a shell stitch scarf for my husband when we were first married. Later a couple of large single granny square afghans, I don’t like to stitch little squares together. I tried afghan stitch making an afghan and adding cross-stitched pattern. for my girls I crocheted open-work ponchos.
I always wanted to learn to knit. I found an ‘I can learn to knit’ book, so step by step and picture by picture I learned the basics, English style.
I had seen Continental style and that was the way I wanted to knit. I didn’t know what the styles were called. I talked with an older knitter friend, and she showed me how to start. So I just kind of put together a way to knit — leaving me knitting with twisted stitches. I didn’t know that either.
I made a hooded poncho and a sweater, a baby sack …sock hats with long skinny ends. We called them elephant hats, because when you bent over the hat tails fell down looking like elephant trunks.
THEN………I started reading (collecting) knitting books,and all kinds of needles, wood, bamboo, metal, plastic, glass, round, square, straights, double pointed and circulars and Y A R N!

I began reading, following the pictures, and step by step perfecting the little I knew.

I mainly used a yarn like Lion’s Homespun. I was afraid of my stitches, afraid I was doing them wrong, afraid of what they looked like. I kept on knitting. I don’t know how many round afghans I knitted from Homespun.

If someone would ask me ‘do you knit?,’
I would always say, oh kind of, or just a little; always comparing myself with other knitters. Then one day I realized, I KNIT! Not as good as some, not as competent as others, but I knitted the best I could.

My mom bought me this book and I began to work my way through it. Some patterns I couldn’t figure out because of my twisted stitches. I have a bag full of 4×4 inch squares of samples. Now I use the pattern book to make washcloths, still trying new patterns.

I learned how to knit without twisting, how the stitches sit on the needles and what it means, and how to pick up drop stitches.
I have tried and love knitting lace and have made 6 shawls. I’ve made soxs.

Most times I have either a Wallaby or a Zimmermann’s baby surprise jacket on my needles.

Oh…..and I LOVE stitch definition.

Knitting,  being able to read the stitches, listening to the rhythm of the needles is like another language.  I’ve become bi-lingual!

Published in: on April 28, 2012 at 6:32 am  Leave a Comment  

Being Honest

My friend commented  on Adjusting to Change:

“Oh my…this is huge! Not impossible, but huge! . . .”

Today

Right now this seems hugely impossible!!!!
I ate my way through thanksgiving as normal, smaller portions though…..now to start again
UGH! It seems like such a mountain and I’m not even sure I want to climb it.
Gird up my mind, thinking again why I started in the first place,

Was it just an  impluse?

Was it to please someone?

Do I really believe there is value in this change?

Is this what I need to face? instead of hoping things will change without me doing anything different?  Isn’t that the definition of insanity?

And then I hear:

O Daniel, a man greatly beloved, understand the words that I speak unto thee, and stand upright: for unto thee am I now sent. And when he had spoken this word unto me, I stood trembling.     Then said he unto me, Fear not, Daniel: for from the first day that thou didst set thine heart to understand, and to chasten thyself before thy God, thy words were heard, and I am come for thy words.    Then there came again and touched me one like the appearance of a man, and he strengthened me,     And said, O man greatly beloved, fear not: peace be unto thee, be strong, yea, be strong. And when he had spoken unto me, I was strengthened, and said, Let my lord speak; for thou hast strengthened me.   Daniel 10:11-12, 18-19

Why is this so very hard?

I went looking for a picture of climbing a mountain and stumbled across this essay I used as a e-mail post a long time ago.

I TRIED TO CLIMB THE MOUNTAIN TODAY.

I tried to climb the mountain today. As I inched my way up the path, I felt overwhelmed, so I had to turn back.

I tried to climb the mountain today. On my journey, darkness started to fall, and I was full of fear, so I had to return to a safe place.

I was ready to climb the mountain today. But it was so hot outside, I thought I better stay in my nice air-conditioned house and rest up for tomorrow’s attempt.

I was about to climb the mountain today. But I had so many other things to do, so instead of climbing the mountain I took care of much more important tasks. I washed my car, mowed the grass and watched the big game. Today the mountain will just have to wait.

I was going to climb the mountain today. But as I stared at the mountain in it’s majestic beauty, I knew I stood no chance of making it to the top, so I figured why even bother trying.

I have forgotten about climbing the mountain today; until a friend came by and asked me what I was up to lately. I told him I was thinking about climbing that mountain some day. I went on and on about how I was going to accomplish this task.

Finally, he said, “I just got back from climbing the mountain. For the longest time I told myself I was trying to climb the mountain but never made any progress. I almost let the dream of making it to the top die. I came up with every excuse of why I could not make it up the mountain, but never once did I give myself a reason why I could.

One day as I stared at the mountain and pondered, I realized that if I didn’t make an attempt at this dream all my dreams will eventually die.”

“The next morning, I started my climb.” He continued, “It was not easy, and at times I wanted to quit. But no matter what I faced, I placed one foot in front of the other, keeping a steady pace. When the wind tried to blow me over the edge, I kept walking. When the voices inside my head screamed “stop!” I focused on my goal never letting it out of sight, and I kept moving forward. At times, I was ready to quit, but I knew I had come too far. Time and time again, I reassured myself that I was going to finish this journey. I struggled to make it to the top, but I climbed the mountain!”

“I have to be going,” my friend said. “Tomorrow is a new day to accomplish more dreams. By the way, what are you going to do tomorrow?”

I looked at him, with intensity and confidence in my eyes, and said, “I have a mountain to climb.” – Gary Barnes

Then I found my picture with this ………..

The Mountain   Author: Jim Stovall

There were two warring tribes in the Andes, one that lived in the lowlands and the other high in the mountains. The mountain people invaded the lowlanders one day, and as part of their plundering of the people, they kidnapped a baby of one of the lowlander families and took the infant with them back up into the mountains.

The lowlanders didn’t know how to climb the mountain. They didn’t know any of the trails that the mountain people used, and they didn’t know where to find the mountain people or how to track them in the steep terrain.

Even so, they sent out their best party of fighting men to climb the mountain and bring the baby home.

The men tried first one method of climbing and then another. They tried one trail and then another. After several days of effort, however, they had climbed only several hundred feet.

Feeling hopeless and helpless, the lowlander men decided that the cause was lost, and they prepared to return to their village below.

As they were packing their gear for the descent, they saw the baby’s mother walking toward them. They realized that she was coming down the mountain that they hadn’t figured out how to climb.

And then they saw that she had the baby strapped to her back. How could that be?


One man greeted her and said, “We couldn’t climb this mountain. How did you do this when we, the strongest and most able men in the village, couldn’t do it?”
She shrugged her shoulders and said, “It wasn’t your baby.”

sighs……heartache……….tears……….

but I can’t say I’m starting the climb………………yet.

 

Published in: on December 3, 2011 at 12:12 pm  Comments (2)  

Up From a Root

I love these beautiful yellow flowers whose common name is wild sunflowers.  The Farmer’s mother gave me my first start several years ago.  From just a couple roots the patch grew to be about 6′ by 4′.  The plants die back every winter and then all year they grow and grow. Just when the garden slows down and the roses are in their final bloom, these bright yellow flowers burst out all up and down the stems of the plants.

I dug up roots this spring from the Lincoln property and the Farmer planted them along the back side of the barn. I see this barn from my chair in the trailer.

I’ve watched them sprout and grow and grow and grow!

The bottom of the stems get rather ragged and the leaves die because so much energy is going into growing higher and higher.

I think they are trying to get as close to the sun and they can.

When I went to take pictures, the blossoms were covered with little butterflies swaying in the breeze drinking the sweetness found in in these pieces of sunshine.

Fall is my favorite season. Wild sunflowers are one of the reasons.

Published in: on October 8, 2011 at 4:45 pm  Leave a Comment  

On my mind – Finishing

On Friday DOWN TO EARTH shares what’s on her mind and
asks what’s on your mind?

This quilt is ‘on my mind.’

I pieced  this flannel quilt for my great-niece, McKenna.

My  goal for today: bind McKenna’s quilt.

Auntie Em did the beautiful quilting.

Postscript – Friday, 8:40pm, PDST   —   DONE!

Published in: on September 16, 2011 at 1:41 pm  Comments (1)  

Together Still

Michelle over at So, I Married a Mennonite is doing a wedding dress link-up this weekend as she is celebrating her anniversary. It was fun to see her pictures and the others that linked up.   SO……..

How about an oldie?

June 16, 1967

Out the front door of my parent’s house into the front yard under an arch decorated with gladiolas, we exchanged wedding vows. We’ve experienced them all: better or worse, richer or poorer, in sickness and in health. Our heavenly Father has been faithful to keep us faithful.

October, 2009, Quebec City

Be sure to stop over at So, I Married a Mennonite to see more fun Wedding photos!

Published in: on August 12, 2011 at 11:54 pm  Leave a Comment  

Planting

In the hazy “tea leaves” I see:

Planting

by Cinda Thompson

Two

Old people work

Side by side

She wears a hat

The old man boasts no hair

She moves

And he kneels

He digs

And she nods while

He speaks

To the seed

She ardently covers

Row by row

They rise and bend

Over their garden

On earth

Sunflowers will bloom

Toward

Late summer.

I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase. So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase.Now he that planteth and he that watereth are one: and every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labour.For we are labourers together with God: ….1Corinthians 3:6 -9

(I like “tea leaves”.)

Published in: on March 18, 2010 at 12:55 pm  Comments (1)  
Tags: , , , , , , , ,

Waiting is one of the great arts. Allingham

Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD. Psalms 27:14

Is this what my waiting looks like?

First week: Hopeful confident cheery
Second week: optimistic philosophical edgy
Third week discouraged depressed snarly
Fourth week: Have mercy! Hurry up please it’s time!!!!!
I don’t care what happens just let the torment be over!
Fifth week: I don’t want to talk about it don’t you dare tell me
the Universe knows best.
Indeterminable time in the future: Oh my God. You’re kidding! Really!
You wouldn’t joke about this, would you ?I don’t believe it!
thankyouthankyouthankyou!!!!!
borrowed from  Romancing the Ordinary, Sarah Ban Breathnach

My soul, wait thou only upon God; for my expectation is from him. Psalms 62:5

But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it. Romans 8:25

Published in: on February 21, 2010 at 3:51 pm  Leave a Comment  
Tags: , , , ,

Can you knit in Spanish?

Ralph and Rosa stopped in Sacramento on their way home Wednesday. They had been visiting family and friends in Washington, Oregon, and in Redding, Ca.

Ralph and Rosa stopped at the shop first and were given the 25 cent tour, then to our house for lunch. Ralph got a load of firewood for their wood stove, Edith and Gene came by to visit, and Mary, R & R, Elmer and & I went to Garcia’s for dinner. Edith and Gene didn’t come with us, that is Uncle Gene’s story.

Rosa wanted to learn to knit. A fly on the wall must have been laughing itself silly watching two ladies whose communication skills would fit in a thimble work on the intricacies of knitting. I would show, Ralph would explain and Rosa had the challenge of figuring it all out. We did a lot of laughing, too. At one point I said, Ralph I need some more words, he said which ones, I didn’t care which ones, just some that would work for our knitting need. I guess we didn’t do to badly, though, when she left she could cast on, do the knit stitch, bind off and she had two new sets of knitting needles. Ralph learned he could go online and find information about how to knit. So if she wants to learn more, they can struggle together. She caught on real quick, her stitches were very even from the start. Could be a knitter in the making.

They left about 9:45 Thursday.

I went on to help at a grammar school library until a little after one, I went to lunch and the to the shop to get Elmer and home again.

Published in: on February 11, 2010 at 11:50 pm  Leave a Comment  
Tags: , , , , ,

Simplicity is More Than Less

I like Simple Abundance by Sarah Ban Breathnach:

Simplicity does not mean making do with less,  but appreciating the important things more.  It means making deliberte decisions to surround yourself only with objects that inspire, comfort, soothe and serve you. Paring down to those essentials is more than just cleaning, organizing, or rearranging. Clearing away the clutter is a spiritual endeavor made up of choices, not chores, and the process itself can be as satisfying and empowering as the results: With every decision, you are creating a calm, clear space for your self. You are making room for wonderful new gifts to come into your life, such as order, serenity, and creativety.

Published in: on February 4, 2010 at 7:52 pm  Leave a Comment  
Tags: , , , , , , ,
« Older Entries
Newer Entries »