Saturday, July 31, 2010

Interesting book to read....

Glenn Beck's book...The Overton Window....
more truth than fiction?
Check it out!

A "Main Street" Morning

There's a small grille on Main St. in Waxhaw that we like to frequent. Heard that they had great breakfasts, "written- up- in -the- paper" kind. We 've only eaten lunch there but found out last week that after today they wouldn't be doing breakfasts anymore but lunches and dinners.
SO, we had to get up early to at least try their famous breakfasts and it was very good! My omelette was delicious and the bacon outstanding! I AM a bacon connoisseur! (ok, I know it isn't the best thing for you, but it's one of my weaknesses!) Coffee pretty good but I am a Gevalia/Starbucks snob. There, I said it!
We were the second customers and soon after it began to get busy. Good thing I crawled out of bed when I did!
What a lovely way to begin the day, breakfast out with Mike!

Friday, July 30, 2010

My Haven

Everyone needs a haven, a place of refuge, a place of safety and peace. This is mine. It's the place where I "come away from the things of man", so to speak. I find myself being drawn to this "sanctuary" many times during the day. Sometimes I go out to enjoy a phone conversation, read a book or the newspaper. Sometimes I just go out to think...meditate on the goodness of God...
and to pray-just talking with Him.
Here I feel as though God is holding me in the palm of His hand and I'm surrounded and hedged-in by the beauty of nature. We are literally surrounded by woods and I feel this "God-security" constantly. It's a nice feeling...selah.
I have a few other havens...a corner in another room, a special chair in the living room, my special space in the attic room but our porch is by far my favorite!

Everyone needs a haven. Where is yours? Don't have one...find one, make one. And go to it daily.
Make the time to just sit and be quiet. Read a good book, listen to soothing music. Go to be refreshed and renewed, in His Presence. Ahhh....ummmm....lovely, just lovely.

And if you would like, please share with me your haven. Tell me about that special place.

Wednesday, July 28, 2010

Basking....

Bask- "to enjoy a warm or pleasant feeling from being in a certain environment or situation
[to bask in someone's favor]".

This is the word that came to me while having my morning coffee on the porch. I was "basking" in the lush, wet "greenness" after last night's refreshing rain. I could picture the trees and plants
basking this morning, lazily enjoying the comfort of their nourished "earth-bedded" roots, kind of like me when I've had a hard day and finally get sweet relief in our cozy bed. I just lie there and bask...ahhhh.....

I really like that word- bask. Sounds a bit old-fashioned, a bit Jane "Austenish", don't you think?

There's even a Basking Shark! He's a plankton-eating giant shark. Our grandson, Elliott, could tell you all about them!

I'm not much into sharks but I am into "basking", especially basking in the favor of our Father God.
Whoa! Now that's the place to be, the place to "hang out". It's better than a warm cozy bed on a winter's night or even a refreshing rain to a sun-parched land.

Even though "life" may be happening all around, unpleasant situations arising one right after the other, there still is a special place...a secret place to run to, to hide in for a while...to bask in...
and that is His Presence. He's always there with opened arms, just waiting to draw you into... that place of basking.

Tuesday, July 27, 2010

God speaks...

God speaks. God is always speaking but we don't always hear, or we may hear and then decide that's NOT what we wanted to hear and so we go on as if nothing has happened.

God speaks through His Word. If we choose not to believe His Word then we don't know what He is saying. All His words, all His marvelous promises will have no effect on us. We will have missed out on great wealth, great treasures.

God speaks. He even spoke through a donkey one time because He couldn't get the man's attention. He can speak outloud, in a still, small voice, to our hearts, in a song, a book, a movie, etc. He is always speaking and His words are ALWAYS important.

He has been speaking to me in a special way these past few days. Each day's message building on the previous one. He has used His Word, a devotional and His sweet voice in my heart.
I am being changed. I am being corrected and encouraged. I am hearing and I am yielding.
I am obeying.

What is He saying to you? Slow down. Be still. Ask Him to speak and He will. Be quiet and listen.
Expect to hear His voice in any capacity He may choose. Listen and obey. You will never be the same again nor could you be any happier than when you yield to Him.
Write them down. Keep a journal. Read them over and over. They will take root in your heart and you will "bloom" into the person He created you to become. No struggles, only believe.

A warning.....His words to you will never contradict His Word, the Bible. The Bible will confirm
those precious words.

Monday, July 26, 2010

The next phase...

The Tropical Getaway over, my mind wants to start planning the Christmas outreach! I do have some ideas floating along in my mind but other things need my attention...housework, repair and upkeep, painting, sealing and staining the deck. It will all fall into place with some effort on my part. Just trying to keep cool is something we're all doing. On the drive to the hospital yesterday afternoon we noticed that there were hardly any people out walking or enjoying their yards.
We may have seen one person. There was very little traffic too. A sign outside a building that tells time and temperture "said" 110 degrees! Yikes! Mike's car thermometer said 106.This was around 5 PM. Whew!
Temps like these make you dread August! I am praying for a cold front to move in and stay through the winter! Well, really a very early and chilly Fall beginning now and just move into a cold, snowy winter.

Friday, July 23, 2010

Tropical Get-a-Way








Just a few pictures of our party for the Treasures! We had such fun and made some wonderful memories! Can hardly wait to get the disc with all the other pictures!



Bragging rights!

Just had to brag on Shea and her creativity! She did all the table centerpieces. It's a flower-shaped tray and she used play sand, small seashells she had collected and you can see the rest-
hula girl, flip-flops, beach ball, umbrella and surfboard. How clever!

Thursday, July 22, 2010

The Night Before


Just a glimpse of our tropical transformation!
More tomorrow with the Treasures!

"Fipflopped and fruit kabobbed!"




Ta-dah!!!! (is that how you spell it?) Well we did it! We made about 60 flip-flop cookies and about 75 kabobs! Whew! So much fun when you do things with friends!
The fridge is packed, sherbet in the freezer, cookies packed up...we're ready!
Robin is a treasure for sure!

ETC.!!!!

Oh my gosh! How could I forget....my friend Sheila, our daughter-in-law's mom who is a fantastic baker-lady made the icing for the cookies...lime green, orange and turquoise! What a blessing! AND then my friend, Sandi is making some special cookies too!

I have been so blessed to have so much help!

"Tropical Get-a-way Countdown"

The minutes are ticking by but everything is falling into place. Mike and I took as much as we could to the church last night. My dear friend Robin is coming over to help me with the flip-flop cookies and fruit kabobs! My dear friend Shea is doing centerpieces for the tables and many church friends will come tonight to transform our church into a tropical paradise!
I'm getting a bit giddy!
Yesterday had been quite a challenge with last minute errands and then "dressing" the "picture people". Will explain that later! That took me hours and tiredness was invading my body to the point of a hint of grumpiness but a refreshing shower and an early bedtime did the trick!
I'm back to normal this morning!

Wednesday, July 21, 2010

A long day....

We spent 6 1/2 hours at the hospital yesterday afternoon into the night. Mike's mom had surgery. She will spend the next few days in ICU. She came through surgery okay but the Dr.
couldn't do all he wanted because she was so frail.
Our prayers are for her continued healing, a strengthening within her and the desire to build herself up physically so she will be completely well!
Please pray and stand with us for her total healing!
Thank you............

Tuesday, July 20, 2010

A "Zillion" thoughts whirring in my mind,

and so many errands left to run for the assisted living outreach, BUT I just had to share this.

"Law is not liberty, but if there is a move of God within you, God has written His laws in your heart so that you may delight in Him. God desires to set forth in us a perfect blending of His life and our lives so that we may have abounding inward joy- a place of reigning over all things, not
a place of endeavor. There is a great difference between an endeavor and a delight."

I see so many today who have made Christianity a list of DOs and DON'Ts; working so hard at trying to be Christian and quit because it's too hard. Sorry to say, they have missed the whole point entirely!

It is a RELATIONSHIP, not a religion. When we are in a relationship with the Creator of the universe,
the Saviour, Jesus...God Himself, we obey His word out of love. Obeying becomes a delight!
We don't have to endeavor to "get it right". We live and move and have our being in Him.
He makes all the difference!

The above quote comes from the book, Smith Wigglesworth Devotional. Whitaker House is the publisher. I HIGHLY recommend this book! It's easy to read and is a wonderful way to begin the day. I read the devotional for the day and all the scripture and I feel as though I have had a delicious feast.
Get it if you can! :)

Monday, July 19, 2010

What a way to start the day!

Sure wouldn't have "chosen" the way the morning began, before 6 am!

I let Miss Darcy sleep in her little "room" which is the side porch entrance where we keep the freezer.
Apparently she wasn't feeling too well--would be nice if dogs could talk, and she got sick.

The less than pleasing aroma greeted Mike as he ventured downstairs and he came to get me.

Pretty yucky but at least I had a good attitude! The only "casualties"...a rug, practically a whole roll of paper towels and 4 swiffer mopping pads but it's all clean now!

It will have to be a V-E-R-Y COLD day before she sleeps inside again!

Saturday, July 17, 2010

Perseverance!

Whew! It can wear you out, BUT it's always worth it!

I've reconnected with a lady who was always so special, who always encouraged me in the things of the Lord.
She e-mailed me to tell me she was now a BLOGGER!!!! I think bloggers are so cool, well maybe not all bloggers since I don't know all bloggers but blogging is cool! And she's cool!
She gave me her blog address and I couldn't get it to work. I tried over and over last night, then this morning. Kept e-mailing her and was e-mailing her one last time. I typed in her blog address in the e-mail and happened to click on it and oh my gosh...it appeared!!!! Yippee! Who says I'm not computer savvy!!!!

(maybe it was just one of those little miracles after all!)

Friday, July 16, 2010

"A Tropical Get-A-Way"

Getting more excited by the day! Our church is hosting a party for our assisted living friends,
known as the Treasures. It's an island themed event and we're going all out!
Picture it! Palm trees, flowers, brightly colored tableware, a 40' long tropical backdrop, parrots-hopefully a real one too, island music, leis, fruit kabobs, cookies, sherbet, and a white grape/peach punch,...delicious and quite refreshing!
The party is next week. Right now our spare room is full of all the decorations and I can hardly wait to decorate next Thursday!
We're making this very special for our very special friends!

Thursday, July 15, 2010

Back to my Roots

Years ago when I first felt a deep hunger for the Word of God, I bought a New American Standard study Bible. I practically devoured it, highlighting passages, writing in the margins.
I took notes in it, wrote down special scriptures on any clean page I could find. I gradually went to a New King James, Amplified, King James and The Message. I study in them all from time to time, even using NIV and The Living Bible and various others.

A few weeks ago I felt led to go back to the NAS version. I pulled my old one out, re-reading certain passages, notes, special verses. It was a bit hard with all the old markings so I bought a new one. I feel as though I have gone back to my roots, so to speak. I am enjoying the way it reads. And yes, I'm marking it up too! I heard Charles Stanley say many years ago that if you had a Bible you couldn't write in, to throw it away and get one you could.
I love how God speaks to me in His Word. It's always a word in due season, something I needed to hear at the moment. When I read the Word, I expect Him to show me the rich treasures of His Word. I expect Him to speak to me through His Word and He always does.

In these days that we are living in, much has changed. What has always been good is being called evil and what is evil is now being called good. God said this would happen and it is unfolding before our very eyes. It is imperative that we keep our eyes on Him and His Word, that we walk according to His ways. He will protect those who are His, those who take Him at His Word and walk in His ways. Being religious will not keep us but being in a relationship- a real, viable relationship with Him, will.

He said that His Word is life to us! It is! It is alive and it produces His kind of life in all who will embrace it, believe it and act on it. We don't read it to impress Him. We read it to be fed, to be encouraged, to grow in our faith and to be able to be a blessing to others. It strengthens us and
enables us to overcome the cares of this world.
We cannot afford to neglect the reading and studying of His Word and we need it every day.
His Word will enable us to live and walk in love with all who come across our paths.
Love is the key! We are to love our enemies and do good to those who persecute us, who misunderstand us, even those who hate us because we belong to Him in Christ Jesus.
We cannot afford to hate people or mistreat them because they are different. We can walk in this powerful love led by Him and still take our stand for Jesus.

To survive in these last days, we need to be rooted and grounded...in the One Who made us in His image. Return to your roots. And if you've never been "rooted", do it now. Work on it now.
It isn't too late.

Tuesday, July 13, 2010

Beautiful Rain!

Thanking the good Lord for the wonderful rain we had yesterday! How we needed it!
I wouldn't mind rain the rest of the week, just a gentle steady rain.

I celebrated by sitting on the porch watching it, listening to it and reading.
I finally succombed to it's "hypnotic" rhythm and stretched out on the chaise lounge for an afternoon nap. Quite delightful!

Monday, July 12, 2010

I have...


snow on the brain! Must be all the heat! I've jokingly said to Mike that we sure could use a good snow right about now. Of course it would definitely be a miracle!
We watched Agatha Christie's Poirot last night and wouldn't you know it was winter and there was snow everywhere! The train even ran into a snow drift and they had to wait for snow plows.
Umm...I'm dreaming...yes, of snow and YES ALWAYS dreaming of a WHITE CHRISTMAS!
Hey maybe this will be the year!

Sunday, July 11, 2010

Hmmmm...

"There are two kinds of people: those who say to God, "Thy will be done," and those to whom God says, "All right, then, have it your way."
C.S. Lewis

Friday, July 9, 2010

What we could use right now is ...


a beautiful, cold SNOW! Was looking over my pictures and found the snow ones.
How cool and refreshing they look!
I could go for a good snow right about now! Hey, a nice cool rain would be terrific too!

Thursday, July 8, 2010

Need a change?

"The Spirit of God is upon me to change my situation."

Just read this in the Smith Wigglesworth devotional that a good friend gave me a few months ago. I must admit that I was pretty slack in reading it daily but decided to take it to the beach and use it in my morning quiet time. Now I'm hooked! I read the scripture listed and his expounding and it "feels" like a hearty breakfast! I read it slowly so I can savor each morsel and I read the scripture out loud, taking in its nourishment and what a difference it makes.

One of the things I love most about God is the fact that He ALWAYS meets us where we are!
"Change" had been on my heart for several days and I had decided that today would be a fresh start. Several areas of change need to be implemented within me and rather than talk about it...making promises to Mike about my spending and falling so short, etc.; I decided to just keep it between the Lord and me. You know, start living it rather than just talking...walk out the talk!
And this was what I read today. Wow! Talk about a direct Word from God! I love it when He does that and He does it quite often! (Actually He does it all the time but sometimes I'm not listening.)

"Change"- yes I have a part to do also but I'm not doing it alone! But I must "yield" to His ways
of changing. Then and only then will the change be effective and lasting.

Wednesday, July 7, 2010

Back from an adventure!













Oh my gosh! Where to even begin??? The beginning is probably the best!
First of all, two things we said we would never do, again...go to the beach for July 4th and never to Myrtle Beach for the 4th or ever again...(we're dyed-in-the-wool Holden Beachers!)
Well, so much for saying that!
Day 1...went a new way via our brother-in-law, enjoyed the scenery until we hit some highway
and then it was bumper to bumper for over 20 miles and we barely even moved at times.
Everybody and their brother, sister, aunt, uncle, cousins, etc. on the same road going the same place! BUT...we survived!
We arrived at our destination, Apache Campgrounds, Myrtle Beach. My sister met us at the entrance in her golf cart, checked us in and then to our "home" for the next 4 days.
It's a trailer...a tiny trailer and my parents had rented it for the week. (They are still there)
Our bedroom was the tiniest I've ever seen and the half bath...oh my! You couldn't walk around the bed, you had to go sideways and you would hit your elbows on the walls of the bathroom trying to put yourself back together! BUT...it was clean! Mike's head was in the blinds and his feet and ankles hung off the bed! BUT it was comfortable for me!
After being in the car for what seemed like a zillion hours( a slight exageration) we got back in the car to go to Hamburger Joe's with my parents, my sister and her husband and his son and girlfriend and another couple. Food was good!
Back to visit and bed! Whew! What a day!
Day 2...the three Seas...the Atlantic, the sea of humanity and the sea of "wall to wall" trailers, campers, RVs, golf carts, cars, etc.! All my Dad could say was "Wow!" And how this was a new experience! He was absolutely right! We had a wonderful cooked-outside delicious breakfast and
then a 4th of July parade with almost 100 golf carts all decorated. I took one picture as you can see. That evening the fireworks lasted well over an hour and were beautiful!
Day 3...shopping at Tanger Outlet with my mom and sister
Day 4...breakfast on the pier and out on the beach with the other zillion people! Then one of our favorite places, Calabash! Good food and St. Nick Nacks! More visiting that evening and riding the cart all over the capmground! Back to pack and hit the sack!
Day 5...left at 7 and home by 10 am! There's no place like home!
All in all it was a really good trip! We just looked on it as an adventure and that's what we had!
The weather was perfect...not too hot and lovely at night!
And the company, well family is always special!

Saturday, July 3, 2010

"Selah..."

"The idea is not that we do work for God, but that we are so loyal to Him that He can do His work through us."
Oswald Chambers

"Faith is not belief without proof, but trust without reservation."
Elton Trueblood

"...the whole trouble is that we won't let God help us."
George Macdonald

"Every word of God is pure; He is a shield unto them that put their trust in Him."
Proverbs 30:5