The Simple Woman’s Daybook – June 17

TODAY is  June 17, 2011

Outside my window…Bright sunshiny clear blue skies and a garden loving this hot weather, I can almost see growth from one day to the next.

I am thinking…how much writing down specific thoughts helps center me.

I am very thankful for… family and friends, especially when news is received of hard health battle beginning.

From my learning rooms… God is reviewing with me His promises of never failing grace.

From the kitchen…my kitchen has kinda been on strike, just making do with leftovers the past couple days, do today on goes the chef’s hat.  A bucket of fresh picked yellow crooked-necked squash is on the counter ready to be added to the menu.

I am wearing…black tee and cream skirt, barefoot until time to head out shopping.

I am creating…the quilt from last entry is stalled, I need to do (by tomorrow) a small wall hanging for “Bread and Butter” quilt group using pattern and fabric by Kaye England, a favorite quilter and designer.

I am going…to the grocery store, to Rite Aid, and then to make the rest of today

I am reading…the sequel to A Friday Night Knitting Club, Knit Two by Kate Jacobs. I enjoyed the first book this is the second of three in the series.

I am hoping…the weather isn’t too hot today.

I am hearing…birdsong, because the lawn mower was just turned off as Uncle Bob sweeps the sidewalk.

Around the house…not too bad, a little cluttered, and laundry to be done (soap to be gotten when shopping.)

One of my favorite things…eating breakfast out by myself, taking my time with a good book.

A few plans for the rest of the week: quilt club-Saturday, church services and family for lunch (all 20 of us I think)-Sunday; next week the car needs to be serviced, daycare with little Miss A, kinda of normal stuff, I like normal unexciting.

Here is picture I am sharing…

This morning’s picking, yellow crooked-necked squash, thanks to the Giver of increase and the Farmer.

Scripture:   I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase. 1Corinthians 3:6

Join Simple Woman’s Daybook and  me to pause and reflect on Tuesdays or whenever I can get to writing my thoughts.

http://thesimplewomansdaybook.blogspot.com/

One Thousand Gifts and a Scripture – 6

http://www.aholyexperience.com/2011/06/when-youre-thinking-its-time-to-give-up

I’m finding many things to be thankful for at Cozy Acres, join me as I take a walk around the yard.

49. We have shade screens on these two large windows and the one on the south end of the trailer.

50. Miss A enjoys every thing about “Meow” even to snitching a bit of kibbles.

51. This Cat aka “Meow” or as I like to call him ‘Seymore Toes’  can get comfortable anywhere and anytime.

52. I Love freckles on eggs.

53. First Fruits from the Garden June 13, 2011

(But , you know, they are a little large, not sure of the quality)

Yep, almost all woody!

So the chickens will get the first fruit scraps, on the left and the Farmer will get the First Fruit bounty on the right.

53. I didn’t think this coneflower would survive the frost but it did.

54. This wild strawberry likes its new home.

55. Look! a volunteer Hollyhock.

56. I’ve waited two years for this one to bloom!

57. These Iris are loving it here. They have doubled in size since transplanted.

58. My geraniums are finding
their new homes.

 

 

 

59. I didn’t take a picture of our new toilet; the old toilet flush mechanism broke. I am really thankful for the new one because is sits about 4 inches higher, now my knees are not under my chin.

60. What God promises He will do!

And God said, This is the token of the covenant which I make between me and you and every living creature that is with you, for perpetual generations:  I do set my bow in the cloud, and it shall be for a token of a covenant between me and the earth.  And it shall come to pass, when I bring a cloud over the earth, that the bow shall be seen in the cloud:  And I will remember my covenant, Gen 9:12-15

Published in: on June 16, 2011 at 5:12 pm  Leave a Comment  

Every Day

http://thegypsymama.com/2011/06/five-minute-friday-every-day/

Yes, it is Saturday, but I had to ponder this topic and my thoughts finally jelled this morning.  The exercise is to write for 5 minutes, just open up and let it flow; sometimes the flow is fresh and  sometimes something surfaces that needs a little work.  Whatever shows up, it is good.

EVERY DAY

go

Last year was a season of many changes, my whole life seemed to be turned upside down. My financial foundation crumbled, almost everything we had worked for gone, March 12, 3010 felt like a funeral had taken place.

Even so:

Every day I wake up and I have these treasures:

EVERY DAY:  I will load thee with benefits     Psalms 68:19

EVERY DAY: I will hold your right hand   Isaiah 41:13

EVERY DAY: The Lord is my Shepherd    Psalms 23

EVERY DAY: I will send a comforter    John 14:16

EVERY DAY: My peace I will leave with you   John 14:27

EVERY DAY: Let not your heart be troubled  John 14:1

EVERY DAY: My GRACE is sufficient  2Corinthians 12:9

EVERY DAY: Fear not! Isaiah 41:10

EVERY EVENING: I will never slumber or sleep   Psalms 121:4

stop

Scripture references and picture were added after ‘stop’.

Published in: on June 4, 2011 at 11:00 am  Comments (1)  

The God who knows secrets

In Daniel 2, we are told the story of King Nebuchadnezzar, who had a very troubling dream. When he awoke he couldn’t remember the dream, so he asked his wise men to tell him the dream and its meaning. Of course, the wise men couldn’t do that,  so King Nebuchadnezzar declared he would have them all killed.  When Daniel, one of the wise men, heard the king’s declaration, he called a prayer meeting with Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego.

Daniel 2:19-23  Then was the secret revealed unto Daniel in a night vision. Then Daniel blessed the God of heaven.  Daniel answered and said, Blessed be the name of God for ever and ever: for wisdom and might are his: And he changeth the times and the seasons: he removeth kings, and setteth up kings: he giveth wisdom unto the wise, and knowledge to them that know understanding:  He revealeth the deep and secret things: he knoweth what is in the darkness, and the light dwelleth with him. I thank thee, and praise thee, O thou God of my fathers, who hast given me wisdom and might, and hast made known unto me now what we desired of thee: for thou hast now made known unto us the king’s matter.

God showed Daniel the dream and the interpretation of the dream.  Then Daniel was brought before the king.

Daniel 2:26  The king answered and said to Daniel, whose name was Belteshazzar, Art thou able to make known unto me the dream which I have seen, and the interpretation thereof?  Daniel answered in the presence of the king, and said, The secret which the king hath demanded cannot the wise men, the astrologers, the magicians, the soothsayers, shew unto the king;  But there is a God in heaven that revealeth secrets, and maketh known to the king Nebuchadnezzar what shall be in the latter days. Thy dream, and the visions of thy head upon thy bed, are these; . . .

Isn’t there comfort in knowing we can serve the God that knows all the secrets of our lives? The secrets I am thinking about are those things of tomorrow, you know, the questions we have. What will happen if. . .   What will I do if . . .  How can I if. . .   We all have these kinds of questions and fears, but we can know the God who knows all the answers. He doesn’t reveal to us the secrets or shine a big flashlight on our dark path so we can see days in the future.  He asks us to place our hand in His and walk with Him.

I remember a night; driving in an unfamiliar city going I forget where, It was dark; the street lights few and I couldn’t read the street signs. I don’t have a GPS system, but somehow I had one in the car I was driving (excuse my poor memory). I entered in my destination and keeping one eye on the GPS and the other on the road;  I arrived safely.

God is like a super duper GPS. He already has our lives  programed for heaven. Our job is not to second guess the system, but to one eye on the Word of God and the other on our goal and trust in the Almighty who has gone the way before us.

Will doubts and fears and questions come? Yes, they will. Then we must determine to continue to trust, no  matter what we see or don’t see. We can pray as the father of a young child did:

And they brought him unto him: and when he saw him, straightway the spirit tare him; and he fell on the ground, and wallowed foaming. And he asked his father, How long is it ago since this came unto him? And he said, Of a child.
And ofttimes it hath cast him into the fire, and into the waters, to destroy him: but if thou canst do any thing, have compassion on us, and help us.  Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth.   And straightway the father of the child cried out, and said with tears, Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief.   Mark 9:20-24

Christ didn’t berate, condemn, or ridicule the father for his honest prayer, but Christ healed the child and returned the child to the father, whole.

We can trust the God that revealeth secrets.

Published in: on May 30, 2011 at 1:15 am  Leave a Comment  

as the Lord commanded

1Kings 17:9-16Arise, get thee to Zarephath, which belongeth to Zidon, and dwell there: behold, I have commanded a widow woman there to sustain thee. So he arose and went to Zarephath. And when he came to the gate of the city, behold, the widow woman was there gathering of sticks: and he called to her, and said, Fetch me, I pray thee, a little water in a vessel, that I may drink. And as she was going to fetch it, he called to her, and said, Bring me, I pray thee, a morsel of bread in thine hand. And she said, As the LORD thy God liveth, I have not a cake, but an handful of meal in a barrel, and a little oil in a cruse: and, behold, I am gathering two sticks, that I may go in and dress it for me and my son, that we may eat it, and die. And Elijah said unto her, Fear not; go and do as thou hast said: but make me thereof a little cake first, and bring it unto me, and after make for thee and for thy son.  For thus saith the LORD God of Israel, The barrel of meal shall not waste, neither shall the cruse of oil fail, until the day that the LORD sendeth rain upon the earth. And she went and did according to the saying of Elijah: and she, and he, and her house, did eat many days.  And the barrel of meal wasted not, neither did the cruse of oil fail, according to the word of the LORD, which he spake by Elijah.

Did God tell this woman ” my prophet will come and ask for bread”?

Or did God ask this woman to be my servant and I will never leave thee?

I think that by her response to Elijah she didn’t know what would happen but she did know the God she served. As she did her morning prayers don’t you think her cry to God was  ” O God, you see my need, you know my situation, Lord I’m depending on you to supply, but if you don’t supply I’ll serve you regardless. ”  Just as the three Hebrew boys said our God will deliver us but if he doesn’t we will not bow.

Serving God doesn’t come with a detailed  plan and explanations of all that is going to happen in our lives.  So that we can be prepared and know everything will work out okay.  Serving God is a commitment each day to choose Him again and again.

Matthew 22:37  Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is what God asks and there is no detailed explanation of what “all” entails.

Marriage doesn’t come with instructions either, it is just a commitment better and worse, richer and poorer, sickness and health, choosing each day to love again. We aren’t given any idea about how rich, how poor, how sick, how healthy, how much better, or how much worse.  This week (under the sickness and health column) I needed to help The Farmer with a procedure; I did not see it on  my list 43 years ago. But the love that started then, that has gone through many of life’s circumstances, that is renewed by choosing helped me. And it wasn’t so bad after all.

Published in: on May 20, 2011 at 4:09 pm  Leave a Comment  

Breath Deep, that’s what My Mind read

http://thegypsymama.com/2011/05/five-minute-friday-deep-breath/

It’s Friday Again! I’m trying another 5 minutes of thinking and writing, I guess neither one will hurt very much.

When I saw the prompt ‘ Deep  Breath’ and read a few posts, I thought ‘wow’

where can I go with this one:

Take a deep breathe   —  start:

Breath Deep

Let it out slowly, it’s called a sigh

I know two kinds of sighs

a sigh of acceptance     and     a sigh of regret.

If I Breath Deep and let out a sigh of acceptance as in “it’s alright” (thank you, Sarah Ban Breathnach)

You take over God

My way is not your way, God

God’s way is best, I will not murmur

You see the end from the beginning

Deu 11:11  But the land, whither ye go to possess it, is a land of hills and valleys, and drinketh water of the rain of heaven:
Deu 11:12  A land which the LORD thy God careth for: the eyes of the LORD thy God are always upon it, from the beginning of the year even unto the end of the year.

then I find the sighs of regret, sighs of I’m sorry, sighs of ‘I wish I had’ are fewer. . .

I’ll Watch and Pray as I Breath Deep.

Stop

Guess what I read ‘Deep  Breath’ and my mind thought ‘Breath Deep;’ that must have been what I needed for today.

Published in: on May 13, 2011 at 3:56 pm  Leave a Comment  

Cozy Acre Garden 2011

Here are the beginnings of 2011 garden on Cozy Acres:
Last year’s plot being worked:

New plot ripped,plowed, rototilled:


Grape cutting nursery, from cuttings from grapes at Lincoln Avenue:


seedlings added, sprouts up in one week!



Carrots and mixed salad greens:

The shade nursery:

Are you ready?


Marigolds for the row ends

On your mark, get set, GROW!

Watering system, emitters at plant=no weeds

View from the deck:

May the Lord bless the work of the Farmer!

1 Corinthians 3
6. . . but God gave the increase.
7 So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase.
8. . . and every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labour.
9 For we are labourers together with God: ye are God’s husbandry, ye are God’s building.

Published in: on May 11, 2011 at 6:47 pm  Leave a Comment  

One Thousand Gifts and A Scripture – 4

                                 

One thousand Gifts   April 18, 2011

24/25. this washer and dryer, large tubs and a light in the back of the dryer. . . (for finding things in the dark?).


26.  my shed, also known as fabric shop, yarn barn, pantry, puzzle and game place. office supply, and goodwill collection box.


27. flowers from Lincoln Avenue to be planted at Cozy Acres.

28. I love chocolate cake with ( as Corbin says) bo’nilla icing and ‘sprinklers’


29/30. chickens and fresh eggs are a special.

31. volunteer viola in March, same viola last week

33. a favorite motto

34. my re-arranged corner ready to sew

35. the beginning of garden, 2011

Isaiah 61:11 For as the earth bringeth forth her bud, and as the garden causeth the things that are sown in it to spring forth; so the Lord GOD will cause righteousness and praise to spring forth before all the nations.

Published in: on April 18, 2011 at 11:24 pm  Comments (1)  

Just a Little Oil, Please

Yes this is the presser foot that is attached to my Singer Featherweight sewing machine. You wouldn’t think that an item that small would be the object of frustration, well, it was. Ideally, you press on that shiny bar and the machine starts sewing. Not this one, it stalled, it caught, it hesitated, it started and then wouldn’t stop.  I could tell what was suppose to happen; on the bottom side there are little slots that the little prongs are to slide through to allow contact with something inside to make the machine sew. The little prongs were not sliding, but catching, or not going through at all. After three sessions trying to sew and becoming more frustrated (mechanical I am not)


I thought of asking Elmer to look at the presser foot, I was in the middle of a project with a nearing deadline. I hesitated because sometimes the cure is long and drawn out as only a perfectionist can make it, but the sewing was not going well at all  I took the foot to the workshop sea crate and showed Elmer the problem, saying he had about an half hour to fix it. I left, I heard a little grinding then silence. In about 10 minutes I had the foot back, “ I oiled it. I don’t think there is any extra oil to get on the floor.”

I finished making the meatloaf, put it in the oven and went back to my project.  That little foot stopped it grumbling and grouching, stopped its complaining and trying to rush ahead with out any direction. Just a little oil from one who knew what things  need to make them work smoothly.

I finished my project, I thanked my husband. I began to think sometimes I’m like that little presser foot without the blessing of the oil of the Spirit on my attitude. One my favorites from  “Streams in the Desert” February 1 devotion states:

“My child, I have a message for you today; let me whisper it in your ear, that it may gild wit glory any storm clouds which may arise, and smooth the rough places upon which you have to tread. It is short, only five words, but let them sink into your inmost soul; use them as a pillow upon which to rest your weary head,

This thing is from ME.

This day I place in your hand this pot of holy oil. Make use of it free, my child. Let every circumstance that arises, every word that pains you, every interruption that would make you impatient, every revelation of your weakness be anointed with it. The sting will go as you learn to see ME in all things.   Laura A Barter Snow”(1st and last paragraphs)

I know that every time I get out that little black sewing machine and put its presser foot on the floor two things will happen: one, I’ll again be thankful Elmer oiled the presser foot and  two, I’ll check, am I oiled with that holy oil of God’s strength and grace?

And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. 2Corinthians  12:9

One Thousand Gifts and A Scripture – 3

One thousand Gifts   February 21, 2011

19.  sleeping baby snores

20.  the heavy warm weight of a sleeping child

21.  trees wearing foo-foo waiting to put on their leaf green dresses

22.  trees waiting still and silent for spring

23.  acacia trees abloom with  bright yellow flowers

Genesis 1:14  And God said, Let there be lights in the firmament of the heaven to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs, and for seasons, and for days, and years:

Published in: on February 22, 2011 at 12:42 am  Leave a Comment  

A Living Sacrifice

January is rose pruning time. I spent part of an afternoon learning the basics of rose pruning. One principle is you can’t kill a rose. Another one is that there is no absolute right or wrong. way to prune.

I was dealing with some very over grown, chopped at roses. I doubt if any cost much, but they did have some pretty roses. We did some drastic cutting.  Dead wood, broken branches, cross-over canes and suckers had to go. The bush had to be opened up for good air flow; shaped for a pleasing appearance; and healthy wood to produce roses.

This lady wasn’t one of the worst, but did look neglected.

John 15:-1-2  I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman. Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit.

My pruning was a work of faith. Open, now to fresh air and sunshine healthy wood, and it is still alive.

John 15:6  If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned.

Lots of brush was burned this day, and some were the rose prunings.

This burning wasn’t left unattended, but carefully watched.

When I first looked out at this fire pit filled with burning brush, I thought of the prayers as a sweet incense before God. Then I pondered what was being burned – trash.—that which was good for anything.

What does God want from me , a living sacrifice, a daily offering to God. If I find I’m being heard or seen instead of Jesus, then I must be pruned until the image of Christ can be seen

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. 1Corinthians 3:12-13

Verse 16 of Psalms 116 is often  read during the memorial service of one who has served the Lord faithfully. As I read this Psalm it seemed like the verse was stuck in the middle of a description of what I needed to do daily in service for the Lord. I wondered isn’t  it precious in the Lord sight when I die out to myself and become more like his image; when I pay my vows; when I am God’s servant; when I offer the sacrifice of thanksgiving. So when I present myself a living sacrifice, the prunings burning are a sweet smelling savor before my Father.

What shall I render unto the LORD for all his benefits toward me?
I will take the cup of salvation, and call upon the name of the LORD.
I will pay my vows unto the LORD now in the presence of all his people.
Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his saints.
O LORD, truly I am thy servant; I am thy servant, and the son of thine handmaid: thou hast loosed my bonds.
I will offer to thee the sacrifice of thanksgiving, and will call upon the name of the LORD.
I will pay my vows unto the LORD now in the presence of all his people,
In the courts of the LORD’S house, in the midst of thee, O Jerusalem. Praise ye the LORD.                 Psalms 116:12-19

Published in: on January 31, 2011 at 10:40 pm  Leave a Comment  

Genesis 6-9

God saw how sinful the world had become and was sorry He had created man. God was ready to destroy everything, then He found Noah, ‘a just man and perfect in his generations, and Noah walked with God.’ So God made a plan to save Noah and his household and the animals and flying birds Noah would need to live his life after the flood. Noah did as God said, even though he had never seen rain; he didn’t understand the need for an ark like he was asked to build; and his neighbors didn’t understand and mocked and jeered. Noah build the ark and gathered and planned by faith in God.  At God’s time, Noah, his family and all the animals entered the ark. God shut the door. The rains came and the floods arose. Then Noah waited. He didn’t know what to expect next; God had said build an ark, He said enter, Noah could hear the rain and feel the motion of the flood. What Next? According the plan of God as He designed, the rain had to stop, the flood had to be absorbed into the ground, grasses and trees and bushed had to regrow, flowers and seed pods had to form for food for the animals. then when all was ready for man and beast it was time to exit the ark. What a clean fresh world it must have been! I can see animals leaping, hopping, running, stretching their legs after such along time in stalls. How good the new grass must have tasted! Noah and his family, fresh air, deep lungs full of cool fresh air! Fresh clean water! Flowers, vegetables, fruits ready to enjoy! No wonder Noah’s first thought was to thank God then only way he knew how by sacrifice.

But God wasn’t finished. A Covenant, A Promise, A Rainbow.’ I establish my covenant with you, and with your seed after you; And with every living creature that is with you, of the fowl, of the cattle, and of every beast of the earth with you; from all that go out of the ark, to every beast of the earth’. Not just with Noah, but with every living creature and every fowl, every cattle, every beast.

When we see the bow, we remember the flood and the destruction and the promise. But see in verse 16, I will remember my covenant, which is between me and you and every living creature of all flesh; even God remembers when he sees the bow.

1.  God has plan for each of us.

2.  God will supply all our needs.

3.  We need to keep our faith in God, unwavering

4.  God never forgets.

5.  God never fails.

6. God never changes.

Published in: on January 24, 2011 at 12:28 pm  Leave a Comment  

Genesis 4-6

Okay, I didn’t check the list last night and so overlooked chapter 7,  so will add it on todays’ list.

Thoughts:

Genesis 4:7  If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted? and if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door. . . . . .I must accept the consequences of my own actions, decisions and attitude. No body really makes me do anything, I choose. If I make a wrong decision, result is mine, I may suffer for it and I hope I will learn from it.  If I make a right decision, I’ll prosper.

Genesis 6:9  These are the generations of Noah: Noah was a just man and perfect in his generations, and Noah walked with God.
In the margin I have written:  perfect with what God had required. God doesn’t ask any more than that, to do the best we can, with what we know God would have us do.

Published in: on January 19, 2011 at 4:18 pm  Leave a Comment  

Genesis 1-3

I’ve joined a challenge to read the Bible through chronologically. I have read the Bible completely in the distant past. It is time to read it again and this method is intriguing.  I’ll be posting comments on the others posts, hopefully I receive comments back.

Genesis 1-3

Genesis 1
Verse 1 … In the beginning GOD
I receive such comfort knowing God is at the beginning.
John 1:3 All things were made by him; and without him was
not any thing  made that was made.
Since God is my beginning, the foundation of my life. I am secure. No matter what happens in all the remaining 1485 pages of my Bible and in my life.
Verses 2,3,9, 11 are a picture of my life before God, without form, void, and in darkness. Then God moved and I received light and a foundation and could then bring forth good fruit.

I am thankful for beginnings in God.

You’ll find another reader at:

http://giftedthroughgrace.wordpress.com

Published in: on January 18, 2011 at 1:19 am  Leave a Comment  

A word for 2011

I’ve read other blogs that find a word to be their theme for the new year.

Combining that thought with the message Sunday Morning

What are you going to “leave behind,” so you can move closer to God?

What negative attitudes, and actions of the flesh are putting you at distance from God and spiritual liveliness?

If there is to be any spiritual success in drawing closer to God as we go into 2011, “the flesh” will have to be left behind while we  ask God to search us, examine us, to prepare our souls as we draw closer to the judgment day of God

What would you like to see change in 2011? “One” definition of “insanity” is to want something different, yet still doing the same thing over and over again. We cannot often control our surroundings or environment,  but we are given control of our desires, actions, and attitudes. If  we want to change; we must  examine ourselves to find that which is displeasing to God and  leave it off, and/or change to draw closer to Him.

If you have had hurtful circumstance(s) happen to you,..what are you going to leave behind,..so you can move forward?

What  needs to be overcome in 2011, that you did in 2010?  All souls have some regrets of humanity. If we desire to draw closer to God, and want to see more  spiritually prosperity. We all need to leave some things behind.

What are you going to leave behind in 2011?

So back to my first statement, a word for 2011 – I keep thinking about ‘health‘. I have a physical health issue I keep ignoring, like maybe it will just go away. It hasn’t. I need to face my health and accept its needs.

3John 1:2  Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth. John desired prosperity, physically as well as spiritually, for those to whom he was writing.

I want to prosper, too, spiritually by laying aside weights that beset me, physically, by caring for myself, and financially by being a good steward of what God has provided.

A toast for the New Year  —  HEALTH for the glory of God!

 

Published in: on January 18, 2011 at 12:31 am  Leave a Comment