Watching

Psalm 32:8

I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go:

I will guide thee with mine eye.

This verse reminds me of my days in the classroom.  Oh, how I would work that first month of school to establish the respect of each child in the room.  I wanted the children to watch me.  I used signs, I whispered, I tested, I corrected until I knew that I had their attention.  Many parents and visitors were amazed that the children seemingly acted properly without any instruction.  No, it was not a lack of instruction, it was that I could "guide them with my eye."

I am rebuked that I am not always watching my God this closely.  He wants to instruct and teach, but so often I am the student staring off into space, the child finding toys in her desk, the child doodling on my homework paper, or the one distracted by another disobedient classmate.  I need to get my eyes where they belong - on my teacher.

Laboratory



basket of ground cherries in their husks



It was a relatively typical Monday.  Piano lessons to teach in the morning ... trailer to clean in the afternoon ... laundry to catch up from the weekend ... but today also involved some EXPERIMENTATION in the kitchen.



ready to enter a pie



I am not usually an adventurous cook.  While today's cooking did involve some ordinary cooking ... Breakfast burritos for the freezer, two loaves of bread, and a dozen English muffins.  The fun came from a free pack of seeds.  The seeds were for Ground Cherries.  I had never grown them, seen them, or tasted them.  After weeks of harvesting, we finally had enough to make a pie.  It is done, but I probably won't get a taste until ... breakfast?

*Update - the pie was NOT a hit. 

Hubby did not care for it,

and while edible, I don't think that I will follow that old Mennonite recipe again.

Will continue a search for something else to try.*

Convicted by the Cults

About one month ago, I answered a knock at the door.  To my surprise, two Mormon girls stood on my front step.  My first reaction was to laugh, because I knew that they would continue around the trailer park and assumed the reactions and sermons that they would receive from the many Bible college students as they went around the park.  After they left, I was smitten.  It was 4:00 pm on a hot, sunny day ... It was easily above 90*.  There I sat in my cool trailer, while these girls were melting while getting the word out about a false religion.  It has been a lot easier to go out on Tuesday nights and Saturday mornings since these two ladies stood before me.  I have much better news to tell!

I Corinthians 15:3-4

For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received,

how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;

And that he was buried,

and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:

Peaches

We are enjoying the fresh fruits of the season.  This morning we enjoyed some peach shortcake for breakfast.  It was missing the whipped cream ... but the hot, buttered biscuits covered with fresh, juicy peaches were OUTSTANDING!  I am thankful for these seasonal treats.  I really cannot imagine getting bored with fresh strawberries, or orchard peaches, or apples, or garden lettuce, or vine-ripened tomatoes, yet the Israelites murmured at "angel food" after a season.  God is good to provide fruits in their season.  I cannot get bored with fresh produce because the selection will soon change and I can choose to enjoy each season for its unique treats.  Right now ... its the peaches, and vine-ripened tomatoes, and the cantaloupes right out of the garden. 

There is a modern phrase to thank someone for their kindness ... "You are such a peach!"  I am also thankful for those "peaches" in my life who just know the right thing to say (or not say) or do (or not to do).   

More Squash?

I just love the return that you get on a small packet of summer squash seeds.  I love the bushy green plants and the bright vegetables.  I love that this year my beneficial nematodes kept the cut worm away.  I will love it when I figure out an easy way to keep the squash bugs down other than scraping off eggs daily and "squashing" the ones that hatch.  Often times though, the dishes for zucchini and summer squash get monotonous.  We love them grilled, sauteed, thrown in dishes with a tomato base, in squash bread (a delicious coffee cake).  Yet the search continues for recipes.  The other day I made carrot cake and substituted yellow summer squash for the carrots - I only wish that I had had the ingredients for cream cheese icing instead of plain vanilla icing.  I recently found this delicious salad and prepared it for a potluck.  It is very good.

Summer Squash Salad

2 c julienned zucchini
2 c julienned yellow summer squash

1 c diced radish (not in season, so I omitted it)

1/2 c vegetable oil

2 T plus 2 tsps cider vinegar

1 T Dijon mustard

1 T minced fresh parsley (1 tsp dried)

3/4 tsp salt

1/2 tsp dill weed

1/4 tsp pepper.

Toss veggies together.  Mix dressing ingredients and shake or blend well.  Pour over veggies.  Cover and refrigerate at least two hours.

On this Woman's Work Wednesday I am planning out a project today that will become a wall decoration as well as repurposing used greeting cards into note cards. 

Direction

Psalm 143:8

Cause me to hear thy lovingkindness in the morning;

for in thee do I trust:

cause me to know the way wherein I should walk;

for I lift up my soul unto thee.

Hubby brought this verse to my attention this morning.  He focused on the goodness of God shown in the early part of the day.  I noticed a prayer for wisdom and guidance.  It is good to pray the Scriptures.

Back Up and Running

I am back in my satellite office today (the local library).  I had to change the format of the church website and in the process, I goofed up some connections.  The site has been down for about a week.  But, I am glad to say that it is now UP and RUNNING.  With some help from my dad, the site now offers sermon downloads - you can hear our pastor, or my personal favorite speaker - hubby (he is preaching through James right now).  I am glad to have this little project off my plate except for some small weekly updates.  Now on on to catching up with Sunday School worksheets.

All My Needs

 Philippians 4:19

But my God shall supply all your need

according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.

I am definitely a planner.  I like to have a plan.  I like to see how everything fits together, how everything will work out.  Our time in NC has definitely tested that trait of mine and caused me to work to develop faith and trust.  My Savior is rich - He owns it all!  When hubby took a pay cut this summer, the pieces did not look like they would fit together.  Oh me of little faith.  Hubby's part time (typically 30-32 hours) was made full time by 8 paying piano students.  Hubby's position in the "Pantry" allows him to know when food is marked down and to stretch the grocery budget.  I continue to get "hand-me-downs" that curb my desire to shop and to buy "new" clothes.  An inside, cooler job means that hubby consumes less food (plus he is getting older and can't do that any more).  God even used the TLC company to send me a free box of Pita Crisps - yummy, delicious.  A local food mart sold cups this summer that provided free refills of teas, soft drinks, and Icees all summer allowing for a FREE date whenever we need it!  God continues to provide and to teach us simplicity that just makes life easier. 

Thankful for What You Don't Have

It is thankful Thursday and truthfully, I have been struggling with thankfulness.  I am working on being thankful for what God hasn't given or provided.  The Scriptural command is for thankfulness in everything.  It is easy to be thankful for my family, the food in front of me, the car that is running, the church with packed pews ... but what about for the death in the family, the empty nursery, the bare cupboards, the car up on jacks, ... You understand ... right?  Without the thankful spirit it is hard to "Rejoice with them that do rejoice."  (Romans 12)  So I am praying and asking God to help me to be thankful in WHATSOEVER state I am.

Ecclesiastes 7:13

Consider the work of God:

for who can make that straight,

which he hath made crooked?



A New Language

We are very excited because hubby will get to take Hebrew with his coursework this fall.  It had been in our sights from the beginning, but when the coursework was consolidated to 3 years instead of 4, it just would not fit in.  We decided to ask for some help from the administration.  It took a little arranging and some extra reading and book reports in these last few weeks of the summer, but it will work out.  We are also praying that the instructor will let me sit in on the classes.  It seems as if the Lord has closed the door on pastoral work, but ever since hubby started Greek classes there has been the thought that the Lord might use him in translation work.  We are still unsure, but it is better to be prepared than to sit idly by.  Since I am the helpmeet, I am now trying to catch on to Greek and will take Hebrew along with hubby (even if it is at home)!