Dreams....

Have always loved this beautiful home the Father God led us to over 24 years ago. And as you know, homes are always in need of some TLC as the years go by.
I had a dream, a vision of my upstairs bath being shabby chic- beadboard ceiling, beadboard wainscotting with chair rail...white with painted pale yellow walls...pinks and greens accessories.
Well, have some of the accessories and have been using them a few years. When the popcorn ceiling started cracking, etc. I thought "now is the time for my beadboard ceiling!" Well, someone in the house wasn't in favor of my scathingly brilliant idea so it just remained a dream.
Decided to remove the popcorn ceiling that was falling down---a messy, yucky job and after feeling a bit overwhelmed, called out for either Mary Poppins or popcorn-ceiling-removal elves. Neither showed...UNTIL today!
Came home from breakfast and he was in the driveway! Not only did he do my ceiling but he and Mike came upon the idea of doing beadboard and really fixing up my bathroom!
When I heard that, I had to offer up my thank-You to Father God who knew how much I wanted to do this! My dream was just sleeping and at the right time, God awakened it...just for me! Oh how He blesses me every day!
This may seem silly or so trivial a thing in the world in which we live with such evil, such need, so many life and death situations, such moral decay, etc. yet God so loves to bless His children, caring about the teeny tiny details of our lives...about our dreams...about our needs. He is such a good GOD!
Thanking Him now!

"Contemplating a big change"

Wow! So many thoughts buzzing around in my head- now and last night. So much buzzing that I couldn't sleep. I prayed, I thought, and prayed some more. Finally gave up looking at the clock and at some point I fell asleep. "Wake-up" time came way too early!

We've lived in our beautiful home for 24 years. It's a haven; a sanctuary. To us it just doesn't get much better than this. But now we are entertaining thoughts of downsizing, wanting to get out of debt, simplifying, etc. In so many ways it's kind of scary...do we venture out into a new neighborhood? Do we give up this "practically perfect" home (in our eyes)? How can I leave our amazing porch that I believed God for, for about 20 years? So many wonderful memories! Great neighbors!

Obviously we are seeking God in this! Not making a move without His guidance! For now we are waiting on Him and taking steps to beautify our home a bit. Moving forward until He tells us to stop!
Our times are in His hands-the best place to be.....

This morning I drifted downstairs to the coffee maker. Chose my delicious breakfast blend and headed out to the screened porch. Even though it was after 7 am, cloudy darkness surrounded me and I turned on the lamps. Instant coziness! I positioned myself so I could enjoy God's beautiful lilies while I spoke with Him. I so love being in the palm of His mighty hand! That's what it feels like here at our home. If you could see us from an aerial view you would agree. We are surrounded by trees, small patches of woods...and it is definitely a sanctuary...a little bit of Heaven on earth.
I know how blessed we truly are and I do not take this for granted. I tell Father God all the time how grateful I am!
This week it's especially nice to be in His hand...to feel His closeness...to bask in His love and heart-healing mercies. I think of Mike's mom, in Heaven with her parents, Papa and Mama Kenney, with her brothers, Jack, Buddy, Jimmy, and Ray. I think of Mike's dad throughout the day and evening and have to restrain myself from calling too often to check on him so I just pray, knowing that God has him in the palm of His hand as He has the rest of the family and that He indeed heals the brokenhearted!
After all the busyness, the emotional highs and lows, it has been so nice to rest...to rest in His amazing grace, to see myself crawl up in His massive lap, snuggling as He encloses me in His loving arms. Life is returning to normal...slowly.

"Life"

A part of life is passing from this world into the next...Heaven to be specific. This week my husband's mother, Margaret, went on to be with the Lord. Things changed so quickly from that Friday afternoon when she told me she was feeling a bit better, so happy with the flowers we had brought her. By Sunday things were quite the opposite. We could hardly believe the transformation. Early Monday morning we met with one of her Drs. and when he told us that she had a few days, we were shocked.
God heard our every prayer and began to order the day. We had favor everywhere we turned and were able to move her to the Hospice unit quickly. She went from being fitful to being peaceful. Arrangements were made for family members to begin coming later; Mike's Dad went home to take care of a few things, her pastor came by, Mike and I ate our lunch watching her from the other room. I found a station that played beautiful, sweet music and it was playing softly in the background. One of her doctors came by, checked on her and walked over to us, telling us that she was leaving us quickly. As we were talking with her, I kept my eyes on Margaret and realized she was no longer breathing. Rather than a few days, we only had a few hours. Mike had to call his dad and his sisters and I called our children. The sadness began sweeping upon us but also the gratefulness to God that her passing was so very peaceful.
It has been a long week, a very long week. Her funeral is Sunday and we've been busy all week preparing...preparing for the coming in of family, preparing for her service, etc.
Our oldest daughter is sharing and I am singing...rather the Holy Spirit will sing through me. Today I'm a bit nervous but know that I can do all things through Christ.
We ran back and forth across town all week except for yesterday and we prepared for the family coming here for supper. It was a sweet visit and our furry little girl, Charlotte, doted on Mike's Dad. He loved it! This morning Mike went to meet with his Dad and sisters to review everything at the funeral home.
I chose to stay home. I need the time. I need the quiet. I need time with the Lord to steady myself and to prepare. I want to honor her with my song. I want to honor my Lord and I want those who do not know Him to be gripped by His Amazing Grace.
More family coming in tomorrow, a private viewing tomorrow, more sharing food lovingly prepared by friends and hopefully wonderful restful sleep.
Then Sunday...a celebration of her life...  "Blessed Assurance, Jesus is mine! Oh what a foretaste of glory Divine!

"Jewels" I'm Learning from Colossians

Have been studying in the book of Colossians for a few weeks now. Have not been as diligent to study daily but I'm working on that!
This morning, as I sipped my hot coffee while studying and praying on the screened porch in the early morning coolness, I read these words. Col. 4:6 "Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you know how to answer each one..." In the Spirit-Filled Student Bible ( yes, me, a student at 61 years of age, really liking reading in this paperback NKJ version with World Wealth and all the extras and it's so easy to handle) I came across a section expounding on this verse. The words that caught my eye were these. "People judge us by our words." Hmmmm.... "PEOPLE JUDGE US BY OUR WORDS." Our words, as Christians, should be godly, "sensitive", "gracious", "loving", "uplifting" and should glorify God. As I'm reading this and pondering this, several thoughts came into my head.  "speak the truth in love", "put off arguings", "get rid of crude humor, dirty jokes, etc." I also thought about HOW we say things! People really do judge us by what we say and how we say it! I know I do. Someone can be thought to be a strong Christian, godly, prayer warrior, etc. but if their words come out soaked in arrogance, I think twice about their relationship with Christ. I choose not to be around them. It's like that saying, "do as I say, not as I do", which is not a good witness to anyone. It's also like the trend going around, hopefully NOT going around anymore, that Pastors could cuss, speak crudely from the pulpit and that was okay. Okay, for me, it's NEVER okay to speak that way, especially if you are a Christian and especially if you are a teacher of the Word. (I do know pastors are human and can make mistakes and I certainly don't hold that against them, but it should not be a lifestyle.)
We can choose to speak in love, in grace, seasoned with salt, or maybe we should just keep our mouths shut.
Examining myself today and my words.

(For the record, I don't personally know a pastor who speaks that way but I do know quite a few believers, some in ministry who think nothing of crude humor. This is really a pet peeve of mine!
I just don't see Jesus acting this way! Okay, I'm coming down off my soapbox!)

"Taking the Day Off!"

I decided to "take the day off" sometime this morning. I was four days of newspapers behind and wanted to enjoy them with a cup of coffee and quiet. Really felt like I needed the day off after having Anna and her munchkins from 11:45 am until 7:50 pm yesterday! Well she and the girls did leave me and the boys for about three hours- and we had a great time! Everyone was good! BUT, I was wiped! Even Charlotte was worn out!

So I have spent the day reading- newspapers, magazines, fixing birdfeeders and now am going to write my cousin in Ohio a letter! Love writing her letters!
Oh yeah and some Hallmark movies I "DVRed" have been playing in the background. So after the letter, I'll get my exercise time in and straighten up a bit and then....hmmmm.... I think I'll READ some more!

"Antsy"

Just the way I've been feeling today...a bit antsy. Have a couple of things on my mind, situations -and trying to not let my mind wander or speculate as to "why".

Ever tried to contact someone, or left them messages, or mailed them cards and they never responded at all. Find myself wracking my brain to see why...what could I have done to offend them, or did I offend them?

That's when I just have to give it to the Lord. Sometimes I have to give it over and over and over again. And working at keeping myself busy so I won't think about it! Guess that's where the "antsy" has come in!

And another way to handle it is to pray for that person so that's what I'm going to do...right now!