Left with Nothing (or Everything)

I've been thinking about a question from my brother's blog for the past two days.

"What if all you had today were

the things you thanked God for yesterday?"  

This thought has changed my prayer time for the past two days.  God has given me so much.  I started my semi-annual large scale cleaning yesterday.  Perhaps this will be the last fall cleaning here in Shelby.  I am thankful for the little trailer that we have here.  Perhaps it is not the most structurally sound place that we have lived, but it is the largest.  It has provided garden space and lawn, it has allowed for a clothesline, and we know all of our neighbors!  It has been a place of extreme personal growth and struggle.  Does the above question change your view of things?

Preparation

It seems as though we are always in some state of preparation.  We spend our childhood in school and learning in preparation to be an adult.  Some choose a college and major and spend four or more years preparing for a career or vocation.  Some spend much time preparing for a wedding.  There are preparations when company heads your way.  There are preparations for just about everything.  An event over the weekend caused me again to think of all of the ways the Lord prepares us for ministry.  Paul spent time in the wilderness.  Moses got some time in a palace and then headed to the wilderness.  It turned out that the majority of his ministry was in the wilderness.  David had time in the fields, time as a fugitive, and then he arrived in the palace.  Ministry preparation is not something that can happen in just four years of school - rather, it is years of experiences and acquaintances that mold us, change us, temper us to be more useful. 

The Fair is in town for the next 10 days.  We don't usually attend for the entertainment, but I will be spending 3 1/2 to 4 hours there each of the next 4 days, so will you excuse me if I don't visit with you each day?  We will be sharing the gospel with the 1000's who will attend by handing out tracts and talking with those who will listen.   

Focus

Psalm 37:4

Delight thyself also in the LORD;

and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.

While our Wednesday sermon should be out of Psalm 38 this week, I am still enjoying the time thinking about Psalm 37.  In addition to the verses, I also read John Phillips commentary on Psalm 37 from his book Exploring Psalms Volume 1 and enjoyed his comments very much.  Here is just one thought from page 280.

"This (Psalm 37:4) is good to remember, for when things go wrong we tend to get occupied with the problem.  ... We must get our eyes back on the Lord.  As long as we look at the problem, we shall become increasingly depressed, but if we look at the Lord we shall rise above our circumstances.  After all, He hasn't failed.  He cannot fail.  Our happiness must not rest upon what happens.  It must be drawn out of the wellsprings of salvation and from our experintial knowledge of the goodness, grace, and greatness of our God."

Freezer Meals

So typically a freezer meal is one that is prepared ahead of time and placed in the freezer in order to "save the day" when there seems to be no time to prepare a meal.  On Saturday, I cleaned our small chest freezer as well as the freezer above the refrigerator and this week we are eating some food that I had lost track of ... maybe it will be a good thing, and maybe it will be a downright creative week :)

Happy 400th!

... 400th post, that is.

Dripping

 

Jeremiah 14:22

Are there any among the vanities of the

Gentiles that can cause rain?

or can the heavens give showers?

art not thou he, O LORD our God?

therefore we will wait upon thee:

for thou hast made all these things.

 
I am thankful for the rain today (and that of yesterday, and the rain we will get tomorrow).  It has been a long time since we have received any substantial rain here.  It is not quite Autumn here yet, but with the cool grey day it is feeling more like fall.  The house is buttoned up and a candle burns scenting the house with raspberry and geranium.  I am looking forward to burning a pumpkin candle soon (maybe I will even do it this afternoon).  It is a good day for a cup of tea or coffee and some computer work.

The Happiest Home

Where is the happiest home on earth?

Tis not 'mid scenes of noisy mirth;

But where God's favor, sought aright,

Fills every breast with joy and light.

The richest home? It is not found

Where wealth and splendor most abound;

But wheresoe'er, in hall or cot,

Men live contented with their lot.

The fairest home? It is not placed

In scenes with outward beauty graced;

But where kind words and smiles impart

A constant sunshine to the heart.

On such a home of peace and love

God showers his blessing from above;

And angels, watching o'er it, cry,

"Lo! this is like our home on high!"

- M.A.S.M.

I am not familiar with this author, but I love the focus on contentment.



Psalm 37:25

I have been young, and now am old;

yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken,

nor his seed begging bread.

* * * * * * *

We serve a faithful God. 

He continues to abundantly supply. 

Human reason can't understand it ...

...but we don't have to ...

we just have to leave it in His hands.

Spending most of today cleaning for an older couple.  TTFN

No Fancy Recipes

It has been a very busy week and the next 3 weeks promise more of the same.  Between counselling efforts, Hebrew class, Greek lessons, piano lessons, tract distribution, and church responsibilities ... well, there have been more "tried and true" recipes than new experiments.  I have been thankful for some freezer meals and will be using the crockpot a lot in the coming weeks.  Tomorrow I will be doing Chicken and Rice (with Cheese and Broccoli).  I did bake cookies today - but sadly they were made with Christmas cookie dough that I found in the freezer.  A loaf of bread is about to go into the oven (I can't believe that I am baking at 10:00 at night). 

The piano lessons went well today and all of my students showed up, then tonight I have been working on a sheet to help my preteen and young teen girls to focus on what they are reading during their daily devotions - I think that I may use it right along with them :)  Do you think, really think, during your Quiet Times?  These are some of the questions that I came up with.  What did I learn about God?  Is there a sin to avoid?  Do I need to confess a sin and change?  Is there an example to follow?  Is there something to be thankful for?  What words do not make sense?  I am currently working through the book of Esther.  I have seen a faithful God who uses sinful people to accomplish His work.   I have seen the sin of pride to avoid (Haman).  The first chapter shows the effect that a leader's wife may have on other wives.  I want to be a godly wife that others can look to as an example.  I am thankful for God's protection in difficult situations (the Jews were protected from Haman's plot and God still protects His own).

Apple Festival and A Different Kind of Harvest

We spent much of the day up at the Lincoln County Apple Festival.  We were there supporting Liberty Baptist Church by helping to distribute gospel literature.  In about 2 hours, we think about 2000 tracts and door hangers and gospels went out.  Praise the Lord for the abundance of cars and people.  Many on the street were receptive to at least taking the literature and I talked to one lady who assured me that she would stop by the church sometime.  More important than a harvest of apples, is the harvest field around us.  If only one soul is saved, the time spent is well worth it.