Tuesday, April 29, 2008
Good Morning
Monday, April 28, 2008
Monday Morning
Have fun and write away...No pun intended.
A great book to read is: A Fresh Brewed Life by Nicole Johnson
If post is hard to read sorry I'm still learning.
Proverbs 3:3, Do not let kindness and truth leave you; bind them around youneck, write them on the tablet of your heart. NAS
Sunday, April 27, 2008
Laughter Is The Best Medicine
Top 10 Signs You've Hired The Wrong Guy To Mow Your Lawn:
10. He shows up with a pair of nail clippers and a Ziploc bag
9. On the side of his mower you notice the stenciled silhouettes of 13 cats
8. Stops frequently to nap inside the grass-catcher
7. Always trying to impress you by stopping the mower blades with his head
6. You notice him shoving the last of his clothes into the mulcher
5. He's fascinated by the details of you home security system
4. Stops every couple of minutes to smoke some clippings
3. Somehow manages to mow the hood ornament off your Lexus
2. Turns a goat loose and says he'll be back in three weeks
1. No toes
Proverbs 17:22 A cheerful heart is a good medicine; But a broken spirit drieth up the bones. ASV Some translations differ, broken spirit is listed as depression at least once.
Its Sunday enjoy the day. Rest in the Lord & give Him your cares. Go to church. Think Happy. Laugh!
"Start enjoying the life that the Jesus died to give you." Joyce Meyers
Saturday, April 26, 2008
Portable Apple Cheese Pleasers
This is a yummy breafast cookie from Quaker Oats. I've made them in the past for my boys and they've always loved it. It's also great when you're on the run or for snacks. It takes only 1/3 cup of brown sugar and can easily be adapted to an organic version. I also use wheat pastry flour instead of all-purpose. Its very easy and yummy. My version today is below....
Here's the recipe.
Combine in large bowl; mix well.
3/4 cup all-purpose flour
2/3 cup butter
1/3 firmly packed brown sugar
1 egg
Friday, April 25, 2008
Spring Outside My Window
Sings his morning song.
A nest's been made,
Worms are dug.
Robin Red- Brest
Sings his evening song,
Well pleased with his day.
Wednesday, April 23, 2008
Earth Day
I don't get wrapped up to much in the "Global Warming" issues as some. I've listened to many arguments going in either direction. I am concerned about things that are happening, food issues, pesticides, genetically altered crops, and over vaccinating: I could go on. This is a good site to check out: http://www.truefoodnow.org/ I try to keep some balance to it all. I also sign many petitions. As a christian, my concerns can differ greatly from the concerns of one who isn't. Though in Genesis 1:26-28 God gave as things to take care of.
26 Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” 27 So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. 28 Then God blessed them, and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the earth.” NKJ
We haven't been doing a very good job. So for the past month I've been recycling. Its mind boggling to me how much trash you actually don't have when you recycle. I had one kitchen trash bag for 2 weeks use. I think that's awesome. That's just one of the things I'm doing. What do you do?
When you look at this beautiful world that Gods blessed us with for a short time, let's consider our ways. Some, in their efforts to help this planet end in worshipping the creation instead of the Creator. If we have a relationship with Him we worship Him. Trust God in all you do. He will direct your path.
If you'd like to help more though, maybe consider a different form of getting around..Ha
I wouldn't mind it....
The link above has a new shopping list to consider when purchasing groceries.
Tuesday, April 22, 2008
Today
So, what do you do? I sat for a while and wanted to cry. Yesterday, seemed so different with my clean kitchen blessing. I watched the birds coming in for feed and sat, still waiting. I opened my Bible to Psalm 68 and read. If you get/take the opportunity to read it do so. Its powerful.
God is all powerful, He has taken care of the enemies. I picked out a few verses that helped me.
v3. But may the righteous be glad and rejoice before God: may they be happy and joyful. (Can you be joyful in rough times? Yes).
v4-6. Sing to God, sing praise to his name, extol him who rides on the clouds - his name is the Lord and rejoice before him. A father to the fatherless, a defender of widows, is God in his holy dwelling. God sets the lonely in families, he leads forth the prisoners with singing; (Can He minister to our needs and set us free? Yes).
v9. You gave abundant showers, O God; you refreshed your weary inheritance. ( Are you weary? Can He refresh you? Yes).
v10. Your people settled in it, and from your bounty, O God, you provided for the poor. (There are many ways to be poor. Can God provide? Yes).
This next verse made me cry...
v19-20. Praise be to God our Savior, who daily bears our burdens. (We aren't alone! Is He our Savior? Yes). Our God is a God who saves; from the Sovereign Lord comes escape from death. (For me I know I have eternal life in the Lord. So what else might be holding you captive like a death? Can He provide escape? Yes).
V32-35. Sing to God, O kingdoms of the earth, sing praise to the Lord, to him who rides the ancient skies above, who thunders with mighty voice. Proclaim the power of God, whose majesty is over Israel, whose power is in the skies. You are awesome, O God, in your sanctuary: the God of Israel gives power and strength to His people. Praise be to God!
Yes, the day started off a bummer but it got better. Are things still yet unresolved? Yes. But the answer is coming. God is faithful, that's where I have hope. He will carry our burdens so we don't have to. Give them up to Him even if you have to do so everyday.
I read this in Life Lessons from the Hiding Place; Corrie Ten Boom, that I believe applies.
His ways are immense; when I look at His beautiful sky and all His creation; I think that. Tomorrows a new day..VB
Monday, April 21, 2008
Morning Blessings
But with all the beauty shinning, there was still a bigger blessing I recieved. So I'll start by backing up a bit--We have been going through what my gram might have said years ago, a bad patch. I'm sure many of you have gone through a bad patch a time or two? Sometimes the things you go through can be stressful and tiresome. As you wait for the answers you're seeking; you most difinitely have good days and bad. The past few have been no exception either and yesterday I guess I was flat out exhausted. In the process I did fix dinner and such but didn't really clean-up. When I finally went to bed, I was pretty much gone. Sometime after I fell asleep and before getting up I was dreaming. I was dreaming of the state I left the kitchen in. It wasn't just kitchen stuff but paint cans with supplies, papers and books, everything that should have been elsewhere. So as I laid there dreaming of cleaning it all up I woke myself up.
As I went downstairs, seeing the sun in entry made me feel happy and turning into the kitchen was a true blessing from God and my husband.
I woke to a beautiful clean kitchen...How absolutely AWESOME! was that. How I love that man of mine.
So I pray for all of you out there today. That God would bless you too. And though I (we) may not know what lies ahead as we're waiting for prayers to be answered; I'll think of how I'm being blessed everyday in many ways.
The Lords timing is perfect,
Don't rush it.
Be ever patient,
Just trust.
12-27-89 VB
Sunday, April 20, 2008
Lazy Day ....Maybe Boring....
As far as unfinished goes; my friend and I bought a pin cushion kit, complete with pattern and wool fabrics. I'm guessing this was about 4 years ago and I excited to say we started the project back up. At the time of purchase we thought how fun it would be to get together on days "like this" or even sunny. Just sit, talk, and sew. Where has the time gone? It really isn't a big project at all either. This could be a good sign for the Julie's quilt. I hear motivation sometimes helps. I tend to procrastinate to much and its not good sometimes. I'm always thinking of how to do it better and changing my mind, that my friends takes valuable time. Time I need to spend better.
On this journey called life I'm continually made aware of just how valuable time is. How you spend it is important. Whether praying for someone, helping a friend, finishing a project or reading God's Word; I need to learn how better to be a good steward of time. I read today " it's not how you start the spiritual journey; it's how you continue and how you finish". .
So as I continue learn to finish what I've started while making better use of my time. I'm hoping to share some pics of what I've done. VB
Saturday, April 19, 2008
Be Still
This morning was a blessing for me and though it wasn’t sunny with big puffy white clouds (my favorite kind of day), I was blessed all the same. I went to a women’s fellowship breakfast at Mary Yoder’s with ladies from church. I haven’t been to one in a long while - - years in fact, so it was high time to do so. It seems that when you’re going through something difficult it is then when you recognize the true importance of Godly fellowship - - though one still has the choice to seek it or not. The ladies planning to attend were asked to be ready to share Bible verses that apply to a verse in Psalm 46.
“Let be and be still, and know (recognize and understand) that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations! I will be exalted in the earth! “Psalm 46:10 AMP
When I read this verse I focused on the words “be still” as this is something the Lord had been impressing upon me, as well as a couple of my friends over the past two or three weeks. As I read and thought about what this scripture means, it occurred to me that it’s actually God’s “command” to each of us - - to “be still” and to “know that He IS God.”
Yet to “be still” doesn’t always seem so easy when life is happening. This is especially true as a wife and mom for a near 30 years; there have always been a lot of things happening, some good, some bad. The notion of being still - knowing that God is who He says He is, and that He really is in control, has been one of the most difficult lessons for me to learn. It means far more than sitting down and taking a break, one could look at it as not getting stressed over the troubles and hardship that come our way by trying to take the helm ourselves but to wait and be still before the Lord. As it is a command it truly is one of the most important things we can do as a believer.
So what does the word “still” mean to you? According to this on-line dictionary http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/still there are 39 separate definitions of the word still. Of these, the first two seemed to fit the scripture best: 1. Remaining in place or at rest; motionless; stationary: to stand still. 2. Free from sound or noise, as a place or persons; silent: to keep still about a matter.
Luke chapter 10, verses 38 through 40, tells of two sisters, Martha and Mary and their reactions to the Lord’s visit. Martha was the busy one; she was distracted with all the things that had to be done, preparations made, and dinner to be served. Frustrated with the lack of help, and feeling that Mary was treating her unfairly, she went to Jesus with her compliant.
Jesus said to her, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and bothered about so many things; but only a few things are necessary, really only one, for Mary has chosen the good part, which shall not be taken away from her.” NAS
We need to learn how to have the stillness of Mary; that calm quiet spirit within. To be able to refueled we need to be like Mary to get through those days of Martha. Whether you’re a believer or not there’s always that part of you that needs to find rest and peace for the journey you’re on. It doesn’t take much time out of your day; for Mary, she gained while sitting with the Lord. Martha missed out on a wonderful and rare opportunity. And, not to take away from the fact that Martha thought what she was doing was important, after all Jesus was there for dinner. Martha’s busyness kept her away from the Lord, the very one she was busy for.
Come, to the quiet
You’ll find peace of mind.
Inter my rest
While there is still time;
The world has much noise
That’s harmful to thee.
Inter my rest,
Come, sit with Me.
8/18/89 VB
Friday, April 18, 2008
Why Refracted Lite?
To the weak became I as weak, that I might gain the weak: I am made all things to all men, that I might by all means save some. And this I do for the gospel's sake, that I might be partaker thereof with you. 1 Corinthians 9:22-23 KJV
I have so many interests I’m sure there’ll be a little something for everyone and hopefully this blog will inspire, helping any and all who may view as others have inspired me. And like all blogs this is a work in progress.
Refracted: To break the natural course of, as rays of light or heat, when passing from one transparent medium to another of different density; to cause to deviate from a direct course by an action distinct from reflection; as, a dense medium refracts the rays of light as they pass into it from a rare medium. Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
As for some of my family and friend who may wonder the spelling of Lite—Light was already taken.
Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven. Matthew 5:16 KJV