April 4, Today’s thought – Let God

“He was wounded for our transgressions, and by His stripes we are healed”March 29-30  YP cabin trip 029 Each post it note has a sin written upon it,
the Blood of Christ cleanses from all sin.

Good Morning

I’m more a landlubber than a sailor,
but I’ve puttered around in a bass boat
enough to know the secret for finding land in a storm.
You don’t aim at another boat.
You certainly don’t stare at the waves.
You set your eyes on an object unaffected by the wind,
a light on the shore,
and go straight toward it.
You see, the light is unaffected by the storm.

In seeking God, you do the same.
You focus on “a cut above” any storm life may bring.
Like Job, you find peace in the pain.
Like Job, you cover your mouth and be still.

Psalm 46:10 says, “Be still, and know that I am God.”

A command with a promise. Be still.
Cover your mouth.
Bend your knees.
And, as a result, you will know that I am God.

Be still.
Be quiet.
Be open and willing.
Let God be God.

Max Lucado ~~The Great House of God

Looking unto Jesus. . . Today
With my prayers, desiring yours, Leslie

Published in: on April 4, 2013 at 8:55 am  Leave a Comment  
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Chatting on the Deck

chatsonthefarmhouseporch
“Chats on the Farmhouse Porch” is a group of friends
gathering to visit,
sip their favorite beverages,
nibble delicious treats
and share their likes and dislikes.

Patrice and Wendell have invited me to join the chatting.
Patrice provides the questions,
we answer.

What did you do for Easter?

My day was blest, but low key.
Easter morning worship service,
Lunch with youngest daughter at Garcia’s,
a little time on the computer, some knitting, a nap
and attended the evening Easter program presented by the Young Married class.
The young children sang so cute, much singing and a pantomime skit.
skit531868_577440852274594_63678473_nWe saw the veil rent in twain as Christ died to save us from our sins.
My heart is full of thanks.

How bad were you with candy or treats? (On a scale of 1-10. 1 being good, 10 being sugared up)

I was a 1 – shock —   no candy on Easter, but I did pick up a bag of marked down almond M&M’s on Monday. It’s almost empty.

What’s one of the first things you’d like to do when you have consistent spring temperatures?

I love to sit on my deck wrapped in a shawl for my devotions and then knit a while.

How are you at gift buying?

My favorite gift is one I have made, either a quilt or a knitted/crocheted item
Mar 12 granny square 003This is the beginnings of new little girl’s afghan, don’t you love granny squares, I do.

Do you have an projects in mind for the month of April?

I’m hoping to finish the baby afghan, Shirley’s Shawl and Deanna’s quilt this month.
I hope I don’t cast on any thing new,
no, I don’t hope that at all,

but I do hope to stay focused on these three projects.

You can visit, too, click here

April 3, Today’s thought – Last Words

April 3, seeing greenOh, Look! We’re seeing green!

Good Morning

Mark, chapter 14 begins the account
of the betrayal and crucifixion of Christ.

What were Christ’s last words in Mark 13?

And Jesus answering them began to say,

Take heed lest any man deceive you:
But of that day and that hour knoweth no man,
no, not the angels which are in heaven,
neither the Son, but the Father.
Take ye heed, watch and pray:
for ye know not when the time is.
For the Son of man is as a man taking a far journey,
who left his house, and gave authority to his servants,
and to every man his work,
and commanded the porter to watch.
Watch ye therefore:
for ye know not when the master of the house cometh,
at even,
or at midnight,
or at the cockcrowing,
or in the morning:
Lest coming suddenly he find you sleeping.
And what I say unto you I say unto all,
Watch.

Mark 13:5, 32-37

Watch with me . . .Today
With my prayers, desiring yours, Leslie

Published in: on April 3, 2013 at 9:44 am  Leave a Comment  

Ten on Tuesday – Pranks and Jokes

ToT-Button

On Tuesday’s Carole hosts ‘Ten on Tuesdays’.
She chooses a topic – we list ten items.

10 Favorite April Fool’s Day Pranks.
If you’re not into pranks then 10 Favorite Jokes

I chose  only three items this week:

My favorite joke of all time,

A man was walking along a California beach and stumbled across an old lamp. He picked it up and rubbed it and out popped a genie. The genie said, “OK. You released me from the lamp, blah blah blah. This is the fourth time this month and I’m getting a little sick of these wishes so you can forget about three. You only get one wish!” The man sat and thought about it for a while and said, “I’ve always wanted to go to Hawaii but I’m scared to fly and I get very seasick. Could you build me a bridge to Hawaii so I can drive over there to visit?”

kailua-beach-01-01
The genie laughed and said, “That’s impossible. Think of the logistics of that! How would the supports ever reach the bottom of the Pacific? Think of how much concrete…how much steel!! No, think of another
wish.” The man said OK and tried to think of a really good wish. Finally, he said, “I’ve been married and divorced four times. My wives always said that I don’t care and that I’m insensitive. So, I wish that I could understand women….know how they feel inside and what they’re thinking when they give me the silent treatment….know why they’re crying, know what they really want when they say ‘nothing’….know how to make them truly happy….”
The genie asked, “Do you want that bridge two lanes or four?”

My favorite blond joke,

A blond woman walks into a store.
Curious about a shiny object, she asks, “What is that?”
The store clerk responds, “It’s a thermos.”
The blond then asks, “What does it do?”
The clerk says “It keeps hot things hot and cold things cold.”
So she buys one.
The next day, she brings it to work with her.
Her boss, also a blond, asks, “What is that shiny object?”
She replies “It’s a thermos.”

il_fullxfull.367752107_6ndw
He asks, “What does it do?”
She says, “It keeps hot things hot and cold things cold.”
He then asks, “What do you have in there?”
“Two cups of coffee and a popsicle.”

A divorce prank that makes me laugh every time I read it.

Her very wealthy husband wanted a divorce. He loved his young secretary. The young secretary wanted the big house. The husband’s attorney made that happen . . .

She spent the first day packing her personal belongings into boxes, crates and suitcases. On the second day, she had the movers come and collect her things. On the third day, she sat down for the last time at their beautiful dining room table by candlelight, put on some soft background music and feasted on a pound of shrimp, a jar of caviar, and a bottle of Chardonnay.

ID-10097039
When she had finished, she went into each and every room and deposited a few half-eaten shrimp shells dipped in caviar into the hollow of the curtain rods. She then cleaned up the kitchen and left.

When the husband returned with his new girlfriend, all was bliss for the first few days. Then slowly, the house began to smell. They tried everything; cleaning and mopping and airing the place out. Vents were checked for dead rodents and carpets were steam cleaned. Air fresheners were hung everywhere. Exterminators were brought in to set off gas canisters, during which they had to move out for a few days. In the end they even paid to replace the expensive wool carpeting.

Nothing worked.

People stopped coming over to visit. Repairmen refused to work in the house. The maid quit.

Finally, they could not take the stench any longer and decided to move. A month later, even though they had cut their price in half, they could not find a buyer for their stinky house. Word got out and, eventually, even the local realtors refused to return their calls.

Finally, they had to borrow a huge sum of money from the bank to purchase a new place. The ex-wife called the man and asked how things were going. She told him she missed her old home terribly and would be willing to reduce her divorce settlement in exchange for getting the house back. Knowing his ex-wife had no idea how bad the smell was, he agreed on a price that was about 1/10th of what the house had been worth, but only if she were to sign the papers that very day. She agreed and within the hour, his lawyers delivered the paperwork.

A week later, the man and his new girlfriend stood smirking as they watched the moving company pack everything to take to their new home. Including the curtain rods.

I LOVE A HAPPY ENDING, DON’T YOU?

Click here for more giggles and smiles.

Kailua Beach – http://www.pachd.com/free-images
Thermos – etsy.com
Shrimp – http://www.freedigitalphotos.net

Published in: on April 2, 2013 at 9:45 am  Leave a Comment  
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April 2, Today’s thought – The Heavens Declare

BigEarth

Good Morning

I remember knowing kids whose fathers were quite successful.
One was a judge. The other a prominent physician.
I attended church with the son of the mayor.
“My father has an office at the courthouse,” he could claim.
Guess what you can claim?
“My Father rules the universe!””

Scripture says,

“The heavens declare the glory of God and the skies announce what his hands have made.” Psalm 19:1

Nature is God’s workshop.
The sky is his resume.
You want to know who God is?
See what he has done.
You want to know his power?
Take a look at his creation.

How vital that we pray,
armed with the knowledge that God is in heaven.
Pray with any lesser conviction
and your prayers are timid, shallow, and hollow.
But spend some time walking in the workshop of the heavens.
Seeing what God has done—
seeing what your Father has done
and watch how your prayers are energized!

Max Lucado~~The Great House of God

This is my Father’s world,
and to my listening ears
all nature sings, and round me rings
the music of the spheres.
This is my Father’s world:
I rest me in the thought
of rocks and trees, of skies and seas;
his hand the wonders wrought.

This is my Father’s world.
O let me ne’er forget
that though the wrong seems oft so strong,
God is the ruler yet.
This is my Father’s world:
why should my heart be sad?
The Lord is King; let the heavens ring!
God reigns; let the earth be glad!
Maltbie D. Babcock

Scan the heavens . . Today
With my prayers, desiring yours, Leslie

Earth -http://www.evl.uic.edu/pape/data/Earth/

April 1, Today’s thought – Remember

IMG_5247the Farmer got cuttings from this Butterfly Bush at Grandma Crain’s

Good Morning

As we move out of this season
of focused remembrance of the resurrection of Jesus,
let us remember why we have this focus-
that we would remember all year long.
Resurrection is not something we will have done,
but is the very air we breath.
When we proclaim each day,
“This is the day the Lord has made;
let us rejoice and be glad in it”
we are not merely speaking of His creational power.
This is the day that the Lord,
by walking out of that tomb, has remade.
Let us rejoice and be glad in it.
We live in the days of hope and promise.
We live in the new creation. ~RC Sproul Jr.

He is not here, but is risen!
Remember how He spoke to you
when He was still in Galilee, saying,
“The Son of Man must be delivered
into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified,
and the third day rise again.” ~Luke 24: 6 – 7

Remembering . . .Today
With my prayers, desiring yours, Leslie

Published in: on April 1, 2013 at 4:21 am  Leave a Comment  

Sunday Bible Reading – Psalm 130

clean up camera 32812 012

Good Morning,

Psalm 130
Out of the depths have I cried unto thee, O LORD.
Lord, hear my voice:
let thine ears be attentive to the voice of my supplications.
If thou, LORD,
shouldest mark iniquities, O Lord,
who shall stand?
But there is forgiveness with thee,
that thou mayest be feared.
I wait for the LORD,
my soul doth wait,
and in his word do I hope.
My soul waiteth for the Lord
more than they that watch for the morning:
I say, more than they that watch for the morning.
Let Israel hope in the LORD:
for with the LORD there is mercy,
and with him is plenteous redemption.
And he shall redeem Israel from all his iniquities.

Luke 19:10
For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.

Waiting for the Lord. . .Today
With my prayers, desiring yours, Leslie

Published in: on March 31, 2013 at 5:06 am  Leave a Comment  

March 29–Today’s thought — Sunday’s Coming

Good Morning

It was a simple sermon, starting softly, building in volume and intensity until the entire congregation was completely involved, repeating the phrases in unison. The sermon went something like this.

It’s Friday. Jesus is arrested in the garden where He was praying. But Sunday’s coming.

It’s Friday. The disciples are hiding and Peter’s denying that he knows the Lord. But Sunday’s coming.

It’s Friday. Jesus is standing before the high priest of Israel, silent as a lamb before the slaughter. But Sunday’s coming.

It’s Friday. Jesus is beaten, mocked, and spit upon. But Sunday’s coming.

It’s Friday. Those Roman soldiers are flogging our Lord with a leather scourge that has bits of bones and glass and metal, tearing at his flesh. But Sunday’s coming.

It’s Friday. The Son of man stands firm as they press the crown of thorns down into his brow. But Sunday’s coming.

It’s Friday. See Him walking to Calvary, the blood dripping from His body. See the cross crashing down on His back as He stumbles beneath the load. It’s Friday; but Sunday’s a coming.

It’s Friday. See those Roman soldiers driving the nails into the feet and hands of my Lord. Hear my Jesus cry, “Father, forgive them.” It’s Friday; but Sunday’s coming.

It’s Friday. Jesus is hanging on the cross, bloody and dying. But Sunday’s coming.

It’s Friday. The sky grows dark, the earth begins to tremble, and He who knew no sin became sin for us. Holy God who will not abide with sin pours out His wrath on that perfect sacrificial lamb who cries out, “My God, My God. Why hast thou forsaken me?” What a horrible cry. But Sunday’s coming.

It’s Friday. And at the moment of Jesus’ death, the veil of the Temple that separates sinful man from Holy God was torn from the top to the bottom because Sunday’s coming.

It’s Friday. Jesus is hanging on the cross, heaven is weeping and hell is partying. But that’s because it’s Friday, and they don’t know it, but Sunday’s a coming…”    S. M. Lockridge

For the Son of man is come to seek
and to save that which was lost.
Luke 19:10

Hopeful because  . . . Sunday’s Coming
With my prayers; desiring yours,  Leslie

Published in: on March 29, 2013 at 5:00 am  Comments (1)  

March 28, Today’s thought -God Lays My Foundation

imageshands

Good Morning

Isaiah 54:10-13
For the mountains shall depart, and the hills be removed;
but my kindness shall not depart from thee,
neither shall the covenant of my peace be removed,
saith the LORD that hath mercy on thee.
O thou afflicted, tossed with tempest, and not comforted,
behold, I will lay thy stones with fair colours,
and lay thy foundations with sapphires.
And I will make thy windows of agates,
and thy gates of carbuncles,
and all thy borders of pleasant stones.
And all thy children shall be taught of the LORD;
and great shall be the peace of thy children.

“Is there o end to trials?
Is there no limit to affliction?” you ask.
“Can there be assurance that God knows our every care,
our every weakness?
Will not the morning break with new hope
and refreshing courage?”
Yes, dear heart, there is hope,
there is a limit.
did not our Lord Himself promise us
that we would not have to suffer
affliction beyond that which He had to endure?
God sends affliction and He removes it.
Quietly wait
and patiently endure the will of the Lord till He comes.
When His design in using the rod is fully served,
He ends the trials and He limits the affliction.
If the affliction is for a time of testing,
that we might become as pure gold,
that we might glorify God,
it will end when the Lord has used us
to bear witness to His grace and goodness.
When we have given to Him all the honor
which we can possibly render to Him,
then we would wish the affliction to depart. M. Taylor

How firm a foundation, ye saints of the Lord,
Is laid for your faith in His excellent word!
What more can He say than to you He hath said—
To you who for refuge to Jesus have fled?
. . .Today
With my prayers, desiring yours, Leslie

Song verse – John Keith

Published in: on March 28, 2013 at 4:56 am  Leave a Comment  
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Yarn Along-The Bad, The Good, and a Wedding Gift

yarnalong_gsheller_gray
On Wednesday’s knitters go to Ginny’s to share all the wonderful projects being worked on, finished, frogged, cried over, and learned from. They also tell what they are reading and a little of the storyline or provoking thoughts. I think it is great. So many books, knitting ideas and hints on how to make knitting more enjoyable.

Mar 27 whippoorwill

I’m having a big problem with Miss Shirley’s shawl.
Last week I told you I had to frog a long row,
this week I reknit the long row and the count is still off…:(
Doesn’t it look innocent?

Mar 27 blanket & pillow cases 001Miss Brittany’s granny square is coming along – it’s my take-a-long knitting.

Mar 27 blanket & pillow cases 003My dear friend’s daughter is getting married in April.
I’ll just use the ivory thread for the embroidery,
to give a white on white look to go with her ivory bedding.

If you click here you’ll see what’s happening at Ginny’s.

AND if you click here, you’ll find more friends at Tami’s.
tami_wip
I’m reading Plague of Memory by S. L. Viehl, one of the Star Doc series.
Viehl’s science fiction series is one I’ve really enjoyed.51IZiW-9EnL._BO2,204,203,200_PIsitb-sticker-arrow-click,TopRight,35,-76_AA300_SH20_OU01_

March 27, Today’s thought – Gossip

P1000038One morning we got up early to watch the balloons rise at sunrise in Reno, NV

Good Morning

It always starts with one word

First, somebody told it,

Then the room couldn’t hold it,

So the busy tongues rolled it

Till they got it outside.

Then the crowd came across it,

And never once lost it,

But tossed it and tossed it,

Till it grew long and wide.

This lie brought forth others,

Dark sisters and brothers,

And fathers and mothers–

A terrible crew.

And while headlong they hurried,

The people they flurried,

And troubled and worried,

As lies always do.

And so evil-bodied,

This monster lay goaded,

Till at last it exploded

In smoke and in shame.

Then from mud and from mire

The pieces flew higher,

And hit the sad victim

And killed a good name.
~~ Author Unknown

Set a watch, O LORD, before my mouth; keep the door of my lips.
Incline not my heart to any evil thing,
to practice wicked works with men that work iniquity:
and let me not eat of their dainties. Psalm 141:3-4

Set a watch, Oh Lord . . .Today
With my prayers, desiring yours, Leslie

Published in: on March 27, 2013 at 4:47 am  Leave a Comment  
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Chatting on the Deck

chatsonthefarmhouseporch

“Chats on the Farmhouse Porch” is a group of friends
gathering to visit,
sip their favorite beverages,
nibble delicious treats
and share their likes and dislikes.

Patrice and Wendell have invited me to join the chatting.
Patrice provides the questions,
we answer.

QuestionsMelanie asks “What kinds of seafood have you tried and liked? What is the most unique seafood you’ve eaten?

I’m not very adventuresome when it comes to food. Red Snapper, tilapia, tuna, halibut, crab, shrimp, cod are my favorites. At a wedding reception in Hawaii, I was super encouraged, dared, it was insisted that I try the raw fish. I don’t know what kind it was. I wasn’t impressed.

Anne says, “An unforgettable holiday moment is_____________________. (She’s on the other side of that BIG pond. I believe a holiday is a vacation on this side. )

In 2007 the Farmer and I took a cross country road trip, 53 days long, visiting 32 states. One deadline – complete freedom. We loved every minute of it. Our dream is to do more traveling.
P1000068

Arlene wants to know, “When was the last time you tried something new?”
I tried a new to me recipe last night ‘Barley, Peas, and Lentil Stew’ the Farmer is a vegetarian. I’m always on the look out for veg-recipes. It was good.

Becky asks, “Who or what inspires you?”
The Word of God, my mother and my children, all encourage me, You can do it!

Madonna wants to know,” How did you chose the names of your children. Wendell adds,”If you don’t have kids, how do you choose pet names?”
Daughter #1, praying I asked the Lord for a name my baby would like. “Mary Ruth”, but Lord I can’t name the baby that I’m going to have a boy! this was before untra-sounds.
Son #1, My choice Aaron Clifford; Clifford for my brother. Aaron looked so much like my brothers at birth, the Farmer didn’t want a Topper name, so he was named Aaron Howard, Howard after the Farmer’s father.
Daughter #2 Margaret Ellen, I was thinking after a favorite aunt. Later we found out it was the Farmer’s grandmother’s name also.
Son #2 Daniel Ripley, I just liked the name Daniel, Ripley is my mother’s maiden name.
Daughter #3 Dan and I read a book whose main character was Emily Susanne. So she is. (Picture of the 5 is in the previous post, ‘Ten on Tuesday’)

You can visit, too, click here

Published in: on March 26, 2013 at 12:25 pm  Comments (10)  

Ten on Tuesdays – Dreamin’

ToT-Button

On Tuesday’s Carole hosts ‘Ten on Tuesdays’.
She chooses a topic – we list ten items.

10 Things You’d Do If You Won the Big Powerball Jackpot.

What a fun topic!
Not many of us could say
we haven’t dreamed of winning the big one.
Although not long ago I ask the Farmer
“what would you want to but if. . . ”
After a long pause he replied,
“Maybe a new tractor…”
I’m not that limited.

1. A substantial offering toward missionary work our church supports in Mexico, Cuba and different areas in Africa.

2. A chunk to each of the 5 children for paying off/buying the house and furnishing of their dreams. Or maybe we will seriously consider that family compound we’ve talked about.

2009 1226 (91)aAaron, Dan, Mary, Emily and Margaret

3. Trust funds for the 13 grandchildren to access at 30 years old.

2009 1226 (86)(opps! most current– 2 not present)

4. Funds for our mothers: the Farmer’s is 100yrs old in a nursing home; my mother is independent and healthy, but __?___ a month would go a long way toward easing financial needs.

5. A new tractor

6. A whole family vacation, that we’ll remember and talk and laugh about the rest of our lives.

7. Travel – – we have several trips we’ve been dreaming about

8. Remodel the caretaker’s house – possibly will be our home in the future

9. Increase our monthly income by $2000. a month (we are retired with SS plus occasional part-time income).

10. A Hyundai Genesis for me.
genesis-hyundai-2013-01 Dark Red with cream leather

Sarah Ban Breathnach wrote
“Be grateful for the home you have, knowing that at this moment,
all you have is all you need”. I believe this with all my heart.

Click here to see other’s dreams.

Published in: on March 26, 2013 at 9:34 am  Comments (4)  
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March 26, Today’s thought –Figured Out?

Mar 22 13 mt shastaOur view of Mt Shasta, March 22, 2013

Good Morning

Have you got God figured out?
Get ready, you may be in for a surprise.
Hear the rocks meant
for the body of the adulterous woman drop to the ground.
Listen as Jesus invites
a death-row convict to ride with Him to the Kingdom
in the front seat of the limo.
Listen as the Messiah whispers to the Samaritan woman,
“I who speak to you am He.”
And listen to the surprise
as Mary’s name is spoken by a man she had buried.

God appearing in the strangest of places.
Doing the strangest of things.
Stretching smiles where there had hung only frowns.
Hanging a bright star in a dark sky.
Many more knees will bow.
And many more seekers will celebrate.

“For no eye has seen, no ear has heard,
no mind has conceived what God
has prepared for those who love Him!”
1 Corinthians 2:9

Max Lucado ~~ Six Hours One Friday

Accept God’s Preparation . . Today
With my prayers, desiring yours, Leslie

Published in: on March 26, 2013 at 4:25 am  Comments (2)  
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March 25, Today’s thought – Plain Truth

Mar 22  barnI love old barns for the useful life they lived and the secrets they could tell.(seen on along Interstate 5 north of Sacramento)

Good Morning

Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life:
no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. John 14:6

The plain truth is that without Christ there is no happiness in the world.

He alone can give the Comforter who abides forever.
He is the sun; without Him people never feel warm.
He is the light; without Him people are always in the dark.
He is the bread; without Him people are always starving.
He is the living water; without Him people are always thirsty.
Give them what you like, place them where you please,
surround them with all the comforts you can imagine,
it makes no difference.

Separate from Christ, the Prince of Peace, a person cannot be happy.

~ J.C. Ryle

Love the truth. . .Today
With my prayers, desiring yours, Leslie

Published in: on March 25, 2013 at 11:23 am  Leave a Comment  
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