God's Word is always relevant ...

tidbits ... can also be very filling!  

every morning, i start my day off with reading a devotional ... or two ... we are so very blessed to be living at a time when there are excellent ones readily available ... words written by people who love JESUS, and want to walk as HE walked ... of course, reading the bible is #1 ... but i love to read short devotionals - tucked into various spots of my day ... to get my mind going in the right direction ... 

we live in a time when GOD's Word can be found everywhere ... we can read the bible online (i did that last week, while waiting to do my bloodwork at the lab) ... or listen to it on some device ... more than any other generation, we have an overflowing abundance of biblical literature ... we don't have an excuse for not reading/studying GOD's Word ... 

from tidbits in devotionals - to a full meal in the Holy Word of God ... it is all there for us ... may we be women of the Word ... 

blessings on my praying sisters, who encourage me with their Godly example ...

"Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman who needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth."   2 Timothy 2:15

it's sunday ...

refuge ... church ... GOD's sanctuary ... 
GOD's people ... joy ... sharing ... 
learning ... singing ... togetherness ...

i hope that was your experience this sunday ... and even if the living room and a sermon on tv was what it contained - IF GOD was in it, then HE will bless it ... 


i am very thankful, that even tho' leo has become more and more "shut-in", we still have ways to worship GOD daily ...

thankful for praying friends ....

my mom (the ever talented tapestry maker!) made this for me over 30 years ago ... she wanted to remind me that she was always praying for me ...

women and praying ... praying and women ... i think it's a wonderful gift GOD has given us ... and that is why i so appreciate my scarf sisters ... ladies who uphold each other in prayer, reserving judgement -  always ready to pray for each others needs  ...

for those just popping by this blog ... i want you to know that prayer isn't an exclusive thing, reserved only for special groups and special people ... it is real "free speech" ... to our Maker ... who longs to hear from us ... it is redeeming speech, through JESUS - who wants to save us ... it is a life changer - in all ways ...

But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed.  Luke 5:16

Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed.  Mark 1:35

it's the little things ... just tidbits ...

the tidbit box finally found it's way to middle canada!!!  i guess the customs' officers wanted to share in the joy of the parcel - since it was 3 weeks on it's journey to our place!

tidbits .. it's all about the little things ...  those moments in life that we may miss, if we aren't paying attention ... sometimes it's just GOD reminding us that "it is I, do not be afraid" ... reassuring us that HE will be with us ... that HE remembers us ... loves us ...

check out what i saw one valentines day - just across the street from us ... a vehicle's tires had made double hearts in the snow ... to me it was more than a random happenstance, they were a reminder to me, that my Father in Heaven loves me - HE loved me so much that HE saved me through HIS Son Jesus ... 

then another little happenstance?  ... i had been grumbling to the Lord (just a wee bit, honest - it was just a little comment ... maybe two?) about how high the neighbour's hedges were getting ... totally blocking out the lovely view of the river from our living room ... well ... the next day there was a huge storm - which felled a tree - which the guys who cleaned up the mess, dragged through the hedge and made a peep hole for me!  when i saw it - i just laughed (yes, with tears too) ... to me, my Heavenly Father was having some fun - saying HE can do anything - even give me back my view ...

tidbits in life can be those fleeting moments - when God speaks to us personally, in some unique way ... and at just the time when we need it most ...

"If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed."  John 8:31

Wisdom

I have been extraordinarily blessed in my life to have had strong, Christian women to guide me.  In my youth, I doubted their supposed wisdom but have found their advice and examples are priceless.

Momma, ca. 1995

 The strongest woman I have ever known was Momma.  From the earliest years of my life, I knew there was nothing Momma couldn't do once she determined in her heart to do it.  By the time she turned 21 on August 1, 1960, she had three daughters aged 2 months, 15 months and 32 months.  She was caring the three of us, Daddy, a household and working in local farmer's fields to help supplement the family income.

She was never too tired, too busy or too frustrated to listen to us, take care of us and nurture us.  She had many health issues during my years at home, but I never remember a time when those issues kept her from her responsibilities to her family.  Our clothes were always clean, our house was always kept and meals were hot and home cooked.  She made sure my sisters and I were in church with her every Sunday even though it caused no small about of displeasure in Daddy when we went to church.

As I grew into adulthood, I found her more wise than I had originally thought her to be.  She never gave unsolicited advice but always made sure she was direct in her response if asked for advice.  Beginning very early in life, she taught me how to think for myself by never giving me answers, but by offering options and allowing me to choose my path and then being there to put me back together when my decisions were bad ones.   Her love and approval were always readily available and words of encouragement were always on her tongue.  From very early, she told me I could do anything I wanted to do if I was willing to work hard, learn from my mistakes and keep the Lord first in my life.

Momma was right, of course; she was an incredibly wise woman.

10 A truly good wife
is the most precious treasure
    a man can find!
¹¹ Her husband depends on her,
    and she never
    lets him down.
¹² She is good to him
    every day of her life,
¹³     and with her own hands
    she gladly makes clothes.

¹⁴ She is like a sailing ship
    that brings food
    from across the sea.
¹⁵ She gets up before daylight
to prepare food
    for her family
    and for her servants.
¹⁶ She knows how to buy land
and how to plant a vineyard,
¹⁷     and she always works hard.
¹⁸ She knows when to buy or sell,
    and she stays busy
    until late at night.
¹⁹ She spins her own cloth,
²⁰     and she helps the poor
    and the needy.
²¹ Her family has warm clothing,
    and so she doesn’t worry
    when it snows.
²² She does her own sewing,
    and everything she wears
    is beautiful.

²³ Her husband is a well-known
and respected leader
    in the city.
²⁴ She makes clothes to sell
    to the shop owners.
²⁵ She is strong and graceful,
    as well as cheerful
    about the future.
²⁶ Her words are sensible,
    and her advice
    is thoughtful.
²⁷ She takes good care
of her family
    and is never lazy.
²⁸ Her children praise her,
    and with great pride
    her husband says,
²⁹ “There are many good women,
    but you are the best!”

³⁰ Charm can be deceiving,
    and beauty fades away,
but a woman
who honors the Lord
    deserves to be praised.
³¹ Show her respect—
    praise her in public
    for what she has done.

Proverbs 31:10-31   (CEV)

Quiet Solitude

The best remedy for those who are afraid, lonely or unhappy
is to go outside, somewhere where they can be quiet,
alone with the heavens, nature and God.
Because only then does one feel that all is as it should be.
- Anne Frank

The Scarf Sisters (many of you) know how much I like to talk!  I can be loud and boisterous, right girls?  However, as I grow older (and hopefully, wiser) I find myself enjoying the quiet more and more.  I also find that I enjoy solitude more than at any other stage of my life.  I have always wanted people around me with lots of talking and laughter.  Now, I find I enjoy just sitting quietly and thinking....I know a dangerous pursuit for sure!

When I took the picture above, I must admit I felt a bit sad for the bird....all alone with no other bird to share his morning.  The fog was settling in and it seemed dreary and so quiet!  Yet, even as I snapped the picture, the bird began to sing and chirp so happily it made me smile.  He was having a lovely time sitting on his perch, singing his song and not another bird in sight.

I think I learned something from that bird that has taken a couple of years to settle into my own heart, being alone is often a great blessing.  Time to sing my song and sit on my perch with no one to answer to is a joy that I have rediscovered over the past year. 

Jerry is a "thinker"; he relishes time to sit alone and think about things, ruminate and come to conclusions and find answers.  I am most often a "talker", needing someone to hear me, acknowledge my presence and validate my conversation.  That can be a recipe for disaster if one is not careful.

Yet, as time has passed, he has opened up more and has become more and more prone to talk things over with me, ask my opinions, share his thoughts.  We spend wonderful time in the evenings just making plans for our business and for our future.  I have found I relish the hours while he is at the office because I have time to pursue my own interests, to sit quietly and read or just think about things that are on my heart.  I had forgotten how good that time can be.

Years of taking care of others and having every hour consumed by others' needs had nudged out any time I had for myself or my own interests.  I am finding great joy in rediscovering just what I AM interested in; I had honestly forgotten.  I have found again the simple pleasure of sitting alone in a quiet corner and reading until I'm ready to put the book aside or writing until my thoughts are empty.

Quiet solitude has once again become available to me and I must say, I like that; yes, I like that very much!

"Be still, and know that I am God: 

I will be exalted among the heathen, 

I will be exalted in the earth."

Psalm 46:10  (KJV) 

"Now therefore stand still, 

that I may reason with you before the Lord 

of all the righteous acts of the Lord, 

which he did to you and to your fathers."

1 Samuel 12:7  (KJV) 

 

I Believe....

I Believe by Southland QT

I believe.....yes, I believe.  In all the things this beautifully rendered song speaks about but I also believe that what I do, how I behave, what I think while I'm traveling here matters.

As the years have passed, I have become ever more aware of what it means to BE a Christian.  I spent my younger years pretty much on the periphery, observing what living a Christian life was and the people who were doing the real work.  I was at church, I was involved, I was BUSY, but I wasn't LIVING IT.  I was ACTING IT.

A lot of things happened that caused me to be aloof, to sit afar off and cast cynical aspersions on those who were making the real efforts to BE a Christian.  Momma used to say they were excuses, not reasons.  I think she was right, as Mommas very often are!  I could find 10,000 excuses to live afar from the Lord, but no valid reason.

Over the last several years, I've let go of my excuses, painfully so at times.  They were like a blanket that sheltered me and comforted me.  As each was peeled away, I was vulnerable to the Holy Spirit and had no choice but to face myself as I really was.  I didn't much like what I was seeing. 

The arduous process took years to even dent my facade, but it did happen eventually.  The me God created me to be began to surface.  I liked me for the first time in my life.  I even began to love me.  What a surprise!  I didn't want to be vain, but who God created in me was a pretty lovable person!  For the first time in my life, I felt not only loved, but loveable.  What a joy to feel that you deserve to be loved!

So, yes, I believe.  I believe in who God created ME to be............just as I am!  I'm not perfect by any means, but I am on my way to perfection in Him and that's all He asks of me......OR YOU. 

Perfection isn't being a size 6 or having great hair or a faultless smile; it isn't always having a spotless house or the latest fashions, it isn't driving the best vehicle or having the best husband or children.  Perfection is working your way to being just who He created you to be....just as you are!

DO YOU BELIEVE?

"God planned for us to do good things and to live as he has always wanted us to live. That’s why he sent Christ to make us what we are."  

Ephesians 2:8  (CEV)

"God is the one who began this good work in you, and I am certain that he won’t stop before it is complete on the day that Christ Jesus returns."  

Philippians 1:6  (CEV)