It's a sobering thought that God's eyes are open to ALL of the ways of man.
We know it, but do we think, speak, and act like we really believe it?
I would like to be able to answer that with a wholehearted yes I do, but unfortunately that's too often not the case.
I've been praying that I will think, speak and act like the Father.
Jesus only said and did what His Father said and did, and I want to be like Him.
I want the fruit of my "doings" to be sweet.
Still following,
Elizabeth
On the dining table, an old metal tool caddy holds red, white and blue pails bought in years gone by from the dollar section at Target.
Silverware is gathered in the two end pails, while the center one holds colorful carnations and American flags.
The stair landing, visible from our front door, has this arrangement above an antique trunk.
I’ve been told the rack is a french bread cooling rack.
I thought it was a candle dipping rack.
Other opinions were that it was an herb drying rack.
All I know is, I like it as wall décor, and I think it was a pretty good deal at $4.99 at the Goodwill
The mantel has had a little patriotic switcheroo, too!
I found this slatted wood piece on my walk,
took it home and gave it a good scrub down with bleach water then left it out in the sun to dry.
Some letter stencils and paint, some paste wax rubbed on when the paint was dry, and VOILA!… rustic, patriotic folk art!
The countdown is on
to America’s 236th birthday,
but in the meanwhile,
Friday’s comin’!
Have a Happy, Happy Friday
and
a Blessed weekend!
Elizabeth
The words are all in red,
Matthew chapters 5, 6 and 7,
words straight from the Word, Himself.
Those words,
they’re bugging me,
getting under my skin,
sneaking into my thoughts unbidden.
Some call it the fasted lifestyle,
the kingdom lifestyle.
I call it hard,
uncomfortable,
radical,
scary even.
But, He isn’t letting me ignore them,
these radical words of His.
Costly words,
lay it all down words,
say goodbye to self and man’s recognition words.
This gospel,
these words from the Man Himself,
aren’t very popular,
not very American prosperity-ish,
they’re so very lay it all down-ish,
so very Jesus freak-ish,
so very it’s not about me-ish.
I like to be liked.
I like to be accepted.
I like to be thought of as nice and kind and sweet and thoughtful.
Weird, people will think I’m weird,
if these three chapters become my standard for living.
I have a feeling I’m either all out or all in,
it’s not a pick and choose the parts I like lifestyle.
Courage,
I need Him to give me the courage,
to say YES wholeheartedly.
Love,
I need His love,
His help,
to love Him wholeheartedly enough
to be all in.
Still following,
Elizabeth
“Fix your thoughts on what is true and honorable and right.”
“Think about things that are pure and lovely and admirable.”
“Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.” Philippians 4:8
The skies are gray and rainy today, as have been many of our days so far this June.
But evidently my roses love the weather.
With my circumstances, with the people in my life, I can either focus on the things I don’t like, or the things I do.
It’s so easy to be critical, to murmur, grumble and complain.
I’ve found that it’s much more life giving to do what this verse says, to fix my mind on the praiseworthy things, the lovely things.
I’ve heard is said, and I believe it’s true, that the way the mind goes is the way the life goes.
I have noticed that the more I make an effort to fix my mind on the blessings I already have,
the more blessed I am.
Still following,
Elizabeth
In my dreams I can take lovely food photos,
lovely photos like Lara on her blog, Air Kissed.
Food photos are so seductive…I had to try making cherry clafouti after seeing hers.
I didn’t have brandy or vanilla bean however,
so I made Julia Child’s recipe for cherry clafouti instead.
And now the other reason I’m not a gifted food photographer…
we dished up the still warm clafouti and started eating it, when I suddenly remembered I hadn’t taken any pictures of the finished product!
Clafouti is custard-y, flan-like yumminess.
I’m going to try it again with other fruits, although the cherry was absolutely delicious.
Three year old granddaughter said, “I YIKE, (like), cherry pie, Nana!”
And may I say, I think you’ll YIKE it too!
Still following,
Elizabeth
One of my favorite things to eat is something both sweet and salty.
This has been a sweet and salty kind of week.
So many things to give thanks for, but tasting even better when savored together…
-I finished writing, proofreading, changing, proofreading again, correcting and finally submitting, the magazine article that’s been on my goal list for oh, so long.
-At the beginning of the week, my oldest sister’s husband was in the critical care unit of the hospital, with a mysterious yet to be diagnosed virus, (center for disease control is still running tests). Our extended family was very concerned and praying fervently as were so many, many people in our various churches. Today, he was well enough to be released to go home! God answers prayer!
-The Hubs and I, my nephew and his wife, (he is my Hubs right hand man at the church and she is our main worship leader), took a road trip to northern California for a conference. On the way we stopped in southern Oregon at my sister’s, (my nephew’s mama), and enjoyed a great relaxing afternoon and evening at their beautiful home on the river.
-Driving by gorgeous Mt. Shasta on a hot summer day, so lovely!
-The opening worship set at the conference was led in part by Rita Springer. She’s been a long time favorite of mine and it was such a blessing to hear her in person.
-Three days of worship, being in God’s presence, hearing the Word.
-Home, be it ever so humble, (and my wee, little nest is a pretty simple, humble place), there’s just no place like home.
-Seeing our two little granddaughters after being out of town is the whipped cream with the cherry on top of coming home.
-My rose bushes were so full of blooms when I got home!
-Our daughter and oldest granddaughter and only grandson called from Ghana, West Africa this morning.
My Little Buddy was excited to tell me about climbing a tree and finding a nest with an egg in it.
My granddaughter told me about the outreach to the village they did on Friday.
(They gave out shoes and food to the children. We need 500 more pairs of children’s shoes just for that one village. Perhaps your church or Bible Study group would like to help collect and send shoes. If so email me via the link on my sidebar.)
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I’ve taken the Joy Dare.
I’m counting one thousand thanks in one year.
I hunt for thanksgiving using the prompts Ann gives us each month.
If you are interested in joining in, click the link above or at the bottom of this post.
I continue to count my thanks
piling up gratitude day by day
in my little black journal…
#2036-#2056
3 gifts from your heavenly Father-
-He loves me
-He gave His Son for me
-He adopted me as His own
3 gifts today in serving-
-my sister, niece-in-law and putting together kebabs to grill for dinner
-chatting together while working
-doing dishes together after
a gift bent-
-excitement when the fishing pole would bend, (just a snag, no fish caught this time)
a gift beautiful-
-my sister’s backyard
a gift loved-
-my nephew, his wife, their daughter and son
3 gifts found in light-
-bright sun and blue, blue sky
-palm trees
-a clear night with lots of stars
3 gifts that are difficult-
-wanting all of our daughters’ dreams to come true but not being able to make it happen for them
-choosing the most excellent things of God over my own self
-letting go
3 gifts found around a table-
-a home cooked meal after 3 days of eating out
-the Hub’s compliment of the meal
-roses from the backyard in the centerpiece
a gift found in water-
-hot bubble bath
a gift found in words-
-wishing my son-in-law a Happy Birthday today
a gift found in white-
-my favorite creamy, white top
Still following,
Elizabeth
