Things to give thanks for

171-  Green grass in August
172-  Plenty of moisture for the garden
173-  Apples on our trees
174-  Fun and laughter while we put up produce
175-  Lots and lots of peaches and blueberries
176-  Herbal remedies
177-  Friends that understand














178-  A praying Sunday School class
179-  Plans and direction for school in September
180-  Our nature class - lots of learning and fun
181-  Imaginative children
182-  Wonderful books to read aloud
183-  Lively conversations with my Mom
184-  Light bread again - a solution to our wheat that makes flat bread
185-  Good neighbors
186-  A bucket of raspberries
187-  Cool breeze and lower humidity for canning weeks
188-  Twin grandbabies on the way
189-  A little boy with a wonderful creative vocabulary
190-  Frogs and Toads in terrariums

We Must Be Obedient

I've been slowly reading F.B.Meyer's book Elijah.  The following paragraphs really stood out to me and I wonder how much I miss of what God has for me because I am not quick and sensitive to obey small promptings.  I have made it a practice to obey what I know in the Word of God but even there I know of areas where I have not brought my practice up to the level of what I know.  The life of blessedness held out as a result of living in obedience is very attractive to me. I highly recommend F.B.Meyer's biblical biographies  including this one -- they are full of insights.

"We have already insisted on this, but it is so indispensable that repeated emphasis must be laid upon it.  Christ reiterated His appeals for the keeping of his commands in almost every sentence of His closing discourses with His disciples (John 14:15, 21, 23, 24).  He gives the secret of His own abiding in His Father's love in these striking words:  "As the Father gave Me commandment, even so I do.  If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in My love, even as I kept My Father's commandments, and abide in His love."  (John 14:31, 15:10).  Instant and implicit obedience to the teaching of the Word, and to the inner promptings of the Holy Spirit, in an absolute condition of keeping, or increasing, the store of sacred influence.  On the contrary, one little item of disobedience persisted in is quite sufficient to check all further bestowments, and even to deprive us of what we have.  "If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land; but if ye refuse and rebel, ye shall be devoured with the sword."  Nor is such obedience hard; for all God's commands are enablings, and His grace is sufficient.  Look out for it.  If only every believer who reads these lines would resolve from this hour to imitate Elijah, who went and with the thought of merit, but beneath the inspiration of love;  not in the weightier matters only, but in the crossins of the t's and in the dottings of the i's --he would find at once that there would open before him a life of almost inconceivable glory.  It is the wide and open sea of blessedness.  The exact obedience of Elijah is the inviolable condition of receiving and keeping "the spirit and power of Elijah."

Giving Thanks: the remedy for a heavy heart....

I'm long overdue for looking for and listing blessings to be thankful for:

151.  A beautiful garden with a deer fence to protect our labors
152.  A laboring husband who loves to grow things
153.  Healthy, energetic little ones
154.  Hard working girls who help keep the house clean.
155.  Time at the lake with friends
156.  Beautiful sunset and time to paint in my nature journal
157.  An encouraging phone call from Adam - stories of God's faithful provision
158.  Conviction and confession followed by forgiveness and a new start
159.  Quiet moments with my Mom to talk and be refreshed
160.  Flowers blooming in my gardens
161.  Loaded apple trees
162.  Our own strawberries and blueberries
163.  A church family to be part of
164.  Bills paid and jobs planned
165.  Little one's learning to read
166.  Laughter and late conversations with my "big girls"
167.  Cool breezes at the end of hot days
168.  Good books to read aloud at bedtime
169.  Phone conversations with grown boys.
170.  Hope that hangs on

Labor and Delivery

Parenting wayward teens can feel much like a long hard labor and delivery.  Things are out of your control. Fear haunts you, panic grips you by the throat.  You want to quit or run away but there is no escaping - there is no way out but through...  This is your own flesh and blood.  No one but God knows when it's going to end or how it will turn out.  The pain comes in incredible waves and you can only hang on and cry out to God.  You long for birth, to witness the first breath of new life.  But as in the first laboring for this child, God IS in control - He is not surprised by any detail of it and He is completely and intensely present. We will risk our very lives and give in the most intense and intimate ways, being humbled and laid low, but if we believe we will experience the salvation of God and see and know Him in new ways. 

Taking Time For Tea

My dear friend Delight feels the same about her mother and her daughters as I do about mine. She is very faithful about taking time for tea.   Here she is sharing tea with her sweet girls.

My mom only lives 3 miles away and we can always e-mail or talk by phone, but there is something special about visiting face to face.  I hadn't been to her house for several weeks so we arranged to have tea Friday afternoon.  I always come away blessed after visiting with my Mom.  Her house is quiet and clean and her heart is warm and understanding.  The conversation is animated as she has many interests and we share the love of our family and many people we've known through the years.  She likes to read and is always interesting to talk to.   She understands me and wants the best for me as much or more now than when I was a little girl.  She lets me into her life and  shares her heart, allowing me to be her friend, too.  When I share things I know that she will take them to our Heavenly Father in prayer.  


Some years ago after her three girls were grown and on their own, she wrote an article about parenting being a 20-year investment.  We got to talking about that Friday and she said she realizes now that it isn't just 20 years, but a lifetime commitment.  Not only is She still caring about and praying through for me, but she also is praying for my children and grandchildren.  She actually carries prayer burdens for many more now than when she just had the three of us. I used to think it was busy and challenging when I had 20 years of pregnancy and nursing but I realize now that those years were a breeze, when my children's needs could be met by simply cuddling and nursing them or changing their diaper.  Now I find myself actively involved in spiritual battles for the souls of my children and the futures of my grandchildren. I thank God that I am not alone, but that He has placed me in a godly family where My Mother still partners with me in love and prayer.  

Not only do I have my wonderful Mom, but I now have my older daughters sharing in the spiritual battles and blending their hearts and lives with mine in intimate friendships.  My Mother and my daughters know me intimately and still love me, they know my history and they are happy to share my future.  We speak each other's "language" and have learned to graciously pass over the flaws.   Then there is the joy of building for the future with the younger ones and the grandbabies!  I am so blessed by God's design for a lifetime of love within families. I hope my girls will always take time for tea with me and be as blessed as I am when I take time to have tea with my Mom!!

 

A Day With Davie

Grandbaby cuddled close
Big blue eyes burrowing into mine
Hair damp and curling
Our hearts entwine.

We rock and fall asleep
Quietly doze, cuddled up close we rest
slowly we wake
Our hearts are blessed.

Playing's a way to learn
Turn the page, learning the names of things
Animal sounds laughed
Our hearts on wings.

Stacking the blocks so high
Now your turn, You knock them all away
Stack them again now
Our hearts at play.

Sitting in your high chair
Cheerios grasped with your little hand
I "zoom" the vegies
Our hearts feel grand.

Grandbaby, the day is done
keys in hand, I say "good-bye" and sigh
I have to go, but
Our hearts stay nigh.

Springtime Blessings

141 - Two Robins, a sure sign of Spring
142 - A work trip for Brian to Texas
143 - God giving him courage to fly
144 - The garbage in the yard picked up
145 - The camaraderie and feeling of belonging at KEY
146 - A letter in the mail from a faithful friend
147 - A young friend full of passion for the LORD
148 - Another young friend sweetly sharing her spiritual journal and trusting me to keep her accountable
149 - peanut butter and tea with creamer
150 - Sweet little ones cuddling close at storytime