I'm Back!

It has been a busy few days.  The trailer which normally holds two swelled to nine with a visit from family.  We were so thankful for 3 beautiful weather days.  The children enjoyed our Bradford Pear trees which are easy to climb and they even found a robin's nest full of eggs.  They were hoping that they would hatch before they left, but they missed it.  They also enjoyed Uncle Christopher's collection of Lego's.  Sunday was church and Monday we visited Kings Mountain National Park.  We never had need to ask about the Junior Park Ranger program - but they provided some neat activities for the children.  We followed that with a trip to Cicis Pizza.  The oldest niece and nephew were adventurous with the macaroni and cheese, buffalo wing, and bar-b-q pizzas. 

This morning I am finishing the mountain of linens left and thinking that some families wash this many towels and sheets weekly!  Hubby finished his last 2 projects last night and now needs only to study for finals.  It is nice to be nearing the end of another semester with the long summer break to look forward to.  Must head into the garden again and do some more weeding.  Our rain last night and this weekend will bring things along again.  Must also get back into the exercise routine ... one nice thing about entertaining is that there is less time to snack!

Early Morning

I am so thankful for a diligent hubby.  He is up faithfully at 4:30 each day to meet with the Lord, because it sets the tone for his day and cannot be crowded out by activities in each day.  He often lets me enjoy another hour of sleep before I make breakfast and start the laundry, but today I arose with him.  We shared Pumpkin Spice Lattes while we read together.  It was a good morning!  I received a blessing in the end of I Samuel as I read about David's mighty men ... these were men who are forever noted in the Word because they "stayed by the stuff."  I was challenged to stick to what I know to be true, to do right.  I continued reading in Job and continue to be reminded that God is much higher than I and I should not be presumptuous to question His work in my life.  Finally Proverbs 15:27 caught my attention: "He that is greedy of gain troubleth his own house; but he that hateth gifts shall live."  This verse, combined with David's assertion about not offering anything to God that cost Him nothing made me think.  Do my tithes and offerings cost me anything?  It is easy to budget these items (even above 10%) and they become routine and not a sacrifice.  Do I need to offer God more?

Taboo Topics?

As you may realize, the next item on the list of wifely qualities is "obedient to their own husbands."  This topic is often avoided or mangled in classrooms and pulpits in an effort to pacify the women in attendance.  I do not believe that obeying and submitting to my husband makes me "less" of a person or that it belittles me.  I love my God-given role as helper and feel that it is an exalted role.  After all, the family of the virtuous woman rose up and blessed here.  I am still working my way through this very long chapter, but please know that I am not avoiding it.  I just want to give it the thought and study that it deserves and this week has had some added chores as I look forward to my weekend guest.  You will excuse me, won't you? 

Light in the Darkness

II Samuel 22:29

For thou art my lamp, O LORD:

and the LORD will lighten my darkness.

Just last Thursday, some strong storms blew through our area and left us without power for 5-7 hours.  There is nothing more frustrating than darkness.  How many times did I walk into a room and flip the light switch even when I knew that there was no power!

Recently, hubby and I have felt as if we are in the darkness.  What is God's plan for us?  Why are we here going to Bible college if a pastoral ministry is not an option?  What a blessing to read this psalm of David again this week. I need to be faithful in what God has called me to and trust that He will illuminate the path as He sees fit.

Psalm 4:5

Offer the sacrifices of righteousness,

and put your trust in the LORD.

Trust God to meet your needs today. 

Give Him your life - holy and set apart for Him.

Out of Burritos

Well, it appears that I will be making some freezer breakfasts again this morning.  I awoke to stick hubby's breakfast burrito in the oven, but the freezer was void of his morning sustenance.  He had to enjoy a PB&J Smoothie and some pumpkin muffins instead.  So this morning, I make some more breakfast burritos.  I am also going to make some lunch burritos.

2 lbs ground beef

2 cans refried beans

1 1/2 c enchilada sauce

1/2 c water

1/3 c minced onion

1 T chili powder

1 T garlic powder

1 tsp salt

1 tsp dried oregano

3 c shredded cheese

20 burrito size tortillas

Brown beef and drain.

Add other ingredients and simmer 20 minutes.

Put 3 cookie scoops in each tortilla; roll up; and freeze.

Heat at 350* for 30 minutes or microwave for about 3 minutes.

Looking forward to a good week and anticipating a full house this weekend.  I need to stay up on the housekeeping and work on pulling weeds in the walkway, driveway and garden! 

Joy in Correction

Job 5:17

Behold, happy is the man

whom God correcteth:

therefore despise not thou

the chastening of the Almighty.

I am thankful that God shows us that we are his children by correcting us when we are wrong.  I am consistently amazed at the "growth process" of the Christian life.  During Spring Break, hubby and I borrowed an old musical from the library.  We both grew up enjoying the songs and the storyline.  After so many years, the Lord pointed out some great problems with the movie and it will not be viewed again.  Isn't God good to work with us?  May I be sensitive to His leading and correcting that I may be "sanctified and meet" for His use.

GOOD

Today is another warm day, but it looks as if the heat will be breaking soon.  There have been many afternoons and early evenings when I have almost lost my resolve and turned on the AC.  There is a beautiful breeze right now and hopefully it will keep the trailer more tolerable this afternoon.  I will be cutting out a nightgown this afternoon for a growing niece.  The sewing may happen this weekend, but we'll just have to wait and see.  I have made a dent in freshening up the linens for my coming guests.  I think I only have a stack of towels left.  I think that I need to have company more often!

"teach the young women to be ... good"

The author describes "good" as an action.  An action that honors one's husband.  Proverbs 12:4 " A virtuous woman is  crown to her husband: but she that maketh ashamed is as rottenness in his bones."  The Bible promises that my actions can make my husband look good and bring him honor and respect or can cause him great shame.  If I had a lazy, or angry, or inattentive husband, my work could make him appear industrious and loving.  My faithful work could bring him honor.  On the flip side, if my husband is hard working and industrious, my frivolity and lack of attention to finances and the home can bring him shame by reflecting poorly upon him.  The author describes a "good" wife as ever learning and increasing in knowledge, as a hardworking helper rather than a hindrance, as virtuous, as active, as wise.  The world wants to portray a homemaker as weak, as pitiful, as lazy, as useless  ... but the "good" homemaker is actually busy, confident, capable, useful, and thankful.  How are you reflecting on your husband today?  Does your home convey peace and order?  Are you working with the children so that their obedience and honor is a reflection on your husband as a capable leader?  Are you attempting to lighten your husband's "honey-do" list by learning to do things yourself?  Are you reading books that just waste time or are you lost in the internet instead of reading books about health, gardening, home repair, child training, spiritual growth that will make you more useful in the home?  Are you wasting the money that your husband brings home or seeking to stretch every dollar by denying self and living frugally in the home?  I have to admit that the last one is the hardest for me ... It is easy to compare my home, my clothes, my car, my food with those of others rather than learning to take and use what I have to live within my means.

Good ... It is more than an adjective ... it is an active verb!

Where's my song?

Usually on Tuesday, I post a song or a Psalm.  I didn't have a particular tune going through my mind and I am reading Job through slowly rather than a Psalm a day.  So I will share a bit of Job with you.

Job 1:20-22; 2:10

Then Job arose, ... and worshipped, ...

and said, ... blessed be the name of the LORD. 

In all this Job sinned not, nor charged God foolishly.

But he said unto her, ...

shall we receive good at the hand of God,

and shall we not receive evil? 

In all this did not Job sin with his lips.

I think this struck me so strongly this week, because I have been prone to ask "why?" and to compare my situation with the situations of those around me.  I needed the reminder to just praise God and to remember that God doeth all things well.

                                                                                                     

Just a few shots of the peas growing - about 6" now

...and the beautiful flower bed hubby built which is filled with flower bulbs.

Daffodils, Tulips, Hyacinths are blooming right now.

I love the smell of the Hyacinths!

Welcome to a new week! 

Looking forward to another beautiful weather week here.

Much to do ...

... time to get going!

He is not here!

Happy Ressurection Sunday!

"...Why seek ye the living among the dead?

He is not here, but is risen: ..."

Luke 24:5-6

Early Warmth and Summer Snow

This week has seemed unseasonably warm.  We are once again getting acclimated to the warmth of the south.  The trailer has warmed to 85-90 most of this week and we are thankful for the cooler evenings to eat outdoors and to cool the rooms for sleeping.   I am still a Yankee at heart and can't really get excited about turning on the AC in April.  I love to get the April and May power bills while there is no heat or AC draining energy!  Despite the warmth, I have enjoyed the sunny days.  The garden shows more and more growth.  We have also enjoyed our "Southern Snow."  The beautiful Bradford Pear trees lose their flowers as the leave pop out and the wind makes the petals fall like snow.  It really is very beautiful.

We were successful in having a slightly slower week.  It seems that we let things get out of control for a week or two and our focus was not very focused - we were too scattered.  We are trying to make next week even slower and more relaxed.  The lawn is mowed for at least a week - last cutting was merely weeds, but today's was real grass.  Of course, with that comes hubby's allergies ... guess I better start shopping the sales for tissues :)  Tomorrow is Resurrection Sunday.   We will be at church for a Sunrise Service and then regular services.  Hallelujah - We serve a Risen Savior!

A Blessed Hope

During this season of rememberance.  I am thankful for the Living Savior.  This is what sets Christianity apart from all other religions.  Jesus died, but He had power over death.

II Timothy 1:8-12

...be thou partaker of the afflictions

of the gospel according to the power of God; 

Who hath save us, and called us

with an holy calling

according to his own purpose and grace,

which was given us in Christ Jesus

before the world began,

but is now made manifest

by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ

who hath abolished death,

and hath brought life and immortality

to light through the gospel;

... for I know whom I have believed,

and am persuaded that he is able

to keep that which I have committed

unto him against that day.

Because He lives, I have the blessed hope that I will spend the future with Him.