tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-152659882024-03-19T04:47:44.685-04:00Across My Kitchen TableRecipes, memories and random thoughts from my kitchenMrs.Thttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00392321745556290343noreply@blogger.comBlogger3165125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15265988.post-56982445624026749712024-03-17T04:00:00.205-04:002024-03-17T04:00:00.135-04:00Sunday Scripture<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYzJ5w3k9whNo92cZKMFh77pR09ieRP5MCsSA-c_BOUjw1eaT24JlsLw1SLuUE9LRWjzdnNgP6wM54R1q_UFd_xJD0jrEJL7IolCWs6Tc8w2nKxONpfWfyAioyu8ywLHTCfdgD9E7CXqvO1cH4VFskBpRGGgy0aFiaTNX7C-_ALicGM-teeQ38PQ/s1080/Isaiah%2052-7.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYzJ5w3k9whNo92cZKMFh77pR09ieRP5MCsSA-c_BOUjw1eaT24JlsLw1SLuUE9LRWjzdnNgP6wM54R1q_UFd_xJD0jrEJL7IolCWs6Tc8w2nKxONpfWfyAioyu8ywLHTCfdgD9E7CXqvO1cH4VFskBpRGGgy0aFiaTNX7C-_ALicGM-teeQ38PQ/w400-h400/Isaiah%2052-7.png" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>Here's another in our new series for Sunday Scripture! Back in 2018, I did a simple study from Rachel Wojo called <i>Everything Beautiful</i>. You can read about it here: <a href="https://rachelwojo.com/everything-beautiful-bible-reading-plan-journal-challenge/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #38761d;"><b>Everything Beautiful Bible reading plan</b></span></a>. My answers and input on this series are a combination of what
I learned back then, and what I found in looking over the Scriptures
now, six years later. I'm attempting to SOAP the passages too,
though some of them are longer. </p><p><b>S=</b> <span style="font-family: courier;">"Awake, awake; put on thy strength, O Zion; put on thy beautiful garments, O Jerusalem, the holy city: for henceforth there shall no more come unto thee the uncircumcised and the unclean.<br />"Shake thyself from the dust, arise, and sit down, O Jerusalem; loose thyself from the bands of thy neck, O captive daughter of Zion.<br />"For thus saith the LORD, Ye have sold yourselves for nothing, and ye shall be redeemed without money.<br />"For thus saith the Lord GOD: My people went down at the first into Egypt to sojourn there; and the Assyrian oppressed them without cause.<br />"Now, therefore, what have I here, saith the LORD, that My people are taken away for nothing? They that rule over them make them to wail, saith the LORD, and My name continually every day is blasphemed.<br />"Therefore, My people shall know My name; therefore, they shall know in that day that I am He who doth speak; Lo, it is I.<br />"How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace; that bringeth good tidings of good, that publisheth salvation; that saith unto Zion, Thy God reigneth!" (Isaiah 52:1-7)</span></p><p><b>O=</b> This chapter is titled by C.I. Scofield in the Scofield Study Bible: "Vision of Jerusalem in the Kingdom Age".</p><p>My observations:</p><p><span style="font-family: Quicksand;">Through Isaiah, God says:</span></p><p><span style="font-family: Quicksand;">Awake, awake!<br />Put on your strength, O Zion<br />Put on your beautiful garments, Jerusalem, the holy city</span></p><p><span style="font-family: Quicksand;">FOR</span></p><p><span style="font-family: Quicksand;">The uncircumcised and unclean will no more enter your gates.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: Quicksand;">Jerusalem is directed to shake herself from the dust, to arise, and sit down. <br />The daughter of Zion is directed to loose herself from the bands of her neck.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: Quicksand;">FOR</span></p><p><span style="font-family: Quicksand;">Thus says the LORD: You have sold yourself for nothing, and you will be redeemed without money.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: Quicksand;">FURTHER:</span></p><p><span style="font-family: Quicksand;">Thus says the LORD: My people went down to Egypt at the first to sojourn there. The Assyrian oppressed them without cause.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: Quicksand;">THEREFORE:</span></p><p><span style="font-family: Quicksand;">What have I here, asks the Lord.<br />My people are taken away for nothing; <br />Those who rule over them make them to wail.<br />My name is blasphemed continually every day.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: Quicksand;">THEREFORE:</span></p><p><span style="font-family: Quicksand;">My people shall know My name;<br />They shall know that I am speaking.<br />Good tidings are coming to Zion: the beautiful message of salvation and sovereignty: </span></p><p><span style="font-family: Quicksand;">Thy God reigns!</span></p><p>Cross-reference for "<i><b>without money</b></i>" (v. 3) -- <span style="font-family: Taviraj;">"I have raised Him up in righteousness, and I will direct all His ways; He shall build My city, and He shall let go My captives, not for price nor reward, saith the LORD of hosts." (Isaiah 45:13)</span></p><p>For "<i><b>redeemed</b></i>" (v. 3) --<span style="font-family: verdana;"> "For thy Maker is thine husband; the LORD of hosts is His name; and thy Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel; the God of the whole earth shall He be called." (Isaiah 54:5)</span></p><p><span style="font-family: Bodoni Moda;">"Break forth into joy; sing together, ye waste places of Jerusalem, for the LORD hath comforted His people; He hath redeemed Jerusalem." (Isaiah 52:9)</span></p><p>For "<i><b>Egypt</b></i>" (v. 4) -- "And they took their cattle and their goods, which they had gotten in the land of Canaan, and came into Egypt, Jacob, and all his seed with him." (Genesis 46:6)</p><p>For "<i><b>wail</b></i>" or "<i><b>howl</b></i>" (v. 5) -- "Behold, My servants shall sing for joy of heart, but ye shall cry for sorrow of heart, and shall wail for vexation of spirit." (Isaiah 65:13)</p><p>For "<i><b>feet</b></i>" (v. 7) -- "Behold upon the mountains the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace! O Judah, keep thy solemn feasts, perform thy vows; for the wicked shall no more pass through thee; he is utterly cut off." (Nahum 1:15)</p><p>"And how shall they preach, except they be sent? As it is written, how beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!" (Romans 10:15) <br /></p><p>For "<i><b>tidings</b></i>" (v. 7) -- "The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me, because the LORD hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; He hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound." (Isaiah 61:1)</p><p><b>A=</b> For this Scripture, there were a number of ways to apply it as prompted in the journal. </p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: Quintessential;">"A devoted messenger who spreads good news reveals beauty beyond the mirror." -- Rachel Wojo</span></span></p><p>The question was asked: <i><b>What season or circumstance in life challenges me to see God's gift of beauty?<br /></b></i></p><p><b>My response in 2018</b>:
This recent injury has really sidelined me. I had a very rough night and so am pretty much useless today. And yet outside the window is the glory of the snow!<br /></p><p><i><b>Answering this same question in 2024</b></i><br /></p><p><b>My response</b>:
I am going to say Mud Season, which is a season unique to New England, especially New Hampshire and Vermont. Another thing that can challenge me to see God's gift of beauty is when we see seasons of discontent in a church, a family, a school, or a workplace. I've come to believe that, although discontentment can arise for many reasons, it seems to occur seasonally as well. Keeping our eyes on God and the beauty of our salvation could really help our perspective.<br /></p><p>This prompt was given, along with a list:<i><b> Today I will keep my eyes open for God's beauty in one or more of these places.</b></i></p><p>These are the places I circled: <span style="font-family: verdana;">The words I read; the music I hear; the air I breathe; the people I encounter; the weather I experience; the rest I receive.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">In
2024 I can note that the words I read include those from <a href="https://thedailygraceco.com/products/stand-firm-armor-of-god-study" target="_blank"><i><b>Stand Firm</b></i></a>, a Bible study on the armor of God from the Daily Grace Co. I believe it is currently on sale for $5, though that could change at any time. This quote, from the chapter on being shod with the readiness of the gospel of peace, encouraged me so much:</span></span></p><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Paprika;">"A
solid foundation in our understanding of the gospel of peace brings hope
to any circumstance we may face in this lifetime and enables us to
share our hope with others ... Our foundation -- our footing -- is found
in the perfect peace offered through the hope of the gospel. That
foundation allows us to ... move toward others in light of that hope.<br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Paprika;"> </span></div><span style="font-family: Paprika;">"For
those around us, our lives and words serve as a testimony to the peace
we have found in Christ. We can point them to the only One who offers
us true comfort and rest. The gospel message is a message of peace that
speaks into every broken part of this world. In seasons of hardship or
suffering, brokenness or doubt, the gospel serves as an anchor for our
souls, keeping us firmly planted in the peace of Jesus."</span><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"> </span></span>For the people I encounter, I noted this: Here at TWNE, it's a blessing to know people who are using every gift, talent, and skill they possess to the utmost. All to the glory of God! It's so good to spend time at meals with other believers sharing and encouraging one another.</p><p>For the weather I experience, I noted: It's been rainy this week, but yesterday God provided a dry day to complete an outdoor project.</p><p>And for the rest I receive, I saw that even though we were working hard, we were sleeping well. So thankful for a comfortable room to stay in as we serve here.<br /></p><p>A journaling prompt was this: <i><b>List one or more ideas to remind myself to intentionally look for God's beauty throughout the day.<br /></b></i></p><p><b>My response in 2018:</b> Look out the window frequently to see the beautiful snow-covered trees and landscape. Go out and walk on the screened porch periodically to take in the snowy fresh air. <br /></p><p><b>My response in 2024:</b> We were at our volunteer jobs at <a href="https://www.thewildsofnewengland.org/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #38761d;"><b>The Wilds of New England</b></span></a> as I worked through this again. It was raining the day that I wrote this, but I noted, "This campsite is beautiful in any weather, and I look out the windows often."</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqtRT3gSgHufFLXXSppdZa-g8SvjVx2JyP5UpqA7Vk1i6mfH7C4i37g4F3MiIfD45eSt4gr6Rw-TkA60M4D9crovo03IGYlN1PNgcBHPpNhUW1qCeQe3E0ZFIKpxuqIBE9rRkJ9dplxY2K5ZO0j38TkVEe7NgIz1P6O-KSJ0Wp_YIm7n2iceLQxQ/s1200/IMG_20230201_143243_kindlephoto-411902125.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1131" data-original-width="1200" height="378" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqtRT3gSgHufFLXXSppdZa-g8SvjVx2JyP5UpqA7Vk1i6mfH7C4i37g4F3MiIfD45eSt4gr6Rw-TkA60M4D9crovo03IGYlN1PNgcBHPpNhUW1qCeQe3E0ZFIKpxuqIBE9rRkJ9dplxY2K5ZO0j38TkVEe7NgIz1P6O-KSJ0Wp_YIm7n2iceLQxQ/w400-h378/IMG_20230201_143243_kindlephoto-411902125.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS9R4eeAKyR-1lIpIi-sviAJ-HX3aJJPRWiX7bLfKOjnYwRK_rVNgIWXV992FZjrlzJz8Lzfx2BvwKShCRoBd1Kwg2QPrw0tlyMNJ8DiKaI9bOPl1BqKzZCWmUNz6aWjGutOkj2lfUyc2z-hs3ckGdFKKvKuDsBjigUoIxSLL3I1mjlOAvpAKUZQ/s821/game%20room%20in%20snow.jpg.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="821" data-original-width="800" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS9R4eeAKyR-1lIpIi-sviAJ-HX3aJJPRWiX7bLfKOjnYwRK_rVNgIWXV992FZjrlzJz8Lzfx2BvwKShCRoBd1Kwg2QPrw0tlyMNJ8DiKaI9bOPl1BqKzZCWmUNz6aWjGutOkj2lfUyc2z-hs3ckGdFKKvKuDsBjigUoIxSLL3I1mjlOAvpAKUZQ/w390-h400/game%20room%20in%20snow.jpg.png" width="390" /></a></div>(Photos above from <i><b>last</b></i> winter. The snow is all gone now.)<br /><p><b>P</b>=<span style="font-family: Homemade Apple;">
"Lord, in 2018 I was choosing to be thankful for the physical difficulty You had allowed, reminding myself that Your Word says, 'In everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.' The injury was uncomfortable and even outright painful at times<span> Yet I could thank You for it and could trust You to use it for good in my life.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: Homemade Apple;"><span>"Now, in 2024, it's exciting to look back and see how far You have brought me physically since then, and to see how You have given me strength, stamina, and energy to serve You at the Wilds of New England and elsewhere. </span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: Homemade Apple;"><span> </span>"I thank and praise You in Jesus'
name, Amen."<br /></span></p>And there is the Sunday Scripture for this
week! I'd love some input on this series so far. Wouldn't you like to
share your thoughts with me?Mrs.Thttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00392321745556290343noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15265988.post-87378299531154269752024-03-11T12:02:00.001-04:002024-03-11T14:26:04.286-04:00Happy Homemaker Monday for March 11<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXjrSNg_wflzmzk_QkbajpsbKstsdufF06-TPPKNNf-ZW3qeR7py8QvOD3xbM4aljoVTZGONfCuC4ijXsS8q6inaaCZEnx7rfhjkLe5MLYZWf-d6v33f3BQjZHZ4im4llwYomY8XeeNARjSvnO_6H8GDlFNJikkZSZWQCIeUuoMkOwz61qyw0Hhg/s1080/Happy%20homemaker%20Monday%20--%20maple%20season.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXjrSNg_wflzmzk_QkbajpsbKstsdufF06-TPPKNNf-ZW3qeR7py8QvOD3xbM4aljoVTZGONfCuC4ijXsS8q6inaaCZEnx7rfhjkLe5MLYZWf-d6v33f3BQjZHZ4im4llwYomY8XeeNARjSvnO_6H8GDlFNJikkZSZWQCIeUuoMkOwz61qyw0Hhg/w400-h400/Happy%20homemaker%20Monday%20--%20maple%20season.png" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>As usual, there's no time for a long post, but
I'm taking a few minutes to join Sandra for this link party over at <span style="color: #990000;"><a href="https://familycorner.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><b>Diary of a Stay at Home Mom</b></a></span>. <br /></p><span><span style="color: #38761d;"><b><span><span><span><span><span><span><span style="font-size: large;"></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></b></span></span><p><span><span style="color: #38761d;"><b><span><span><span><span><span><span><span style="font-size: large;">The Weather:::</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></b></span></span></p><p><span> It's 32º and cloudy, with fine snow flurries in the air, at 11 am. 20 mph wind so it feels like 20º. <br /></span></p><p><span><span style="color: #38761d;"><b><span><span style="font-size: large;"><span><span><span><span><span>As I look outside my window:::</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></b></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: small;"><span><span style="color: #38761d;"><span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #444444;"><span><span><span><span><span><span><span style="font-size: small;">We got snow on Saturday night so there is now more snow on the ground in the woods and a messy driveway that's a combination of frozen snow and mud. (My hubby just scraped it down but it would make too much of a mess to actually plow it.) Snow flurries in a cloudy sky. </span><br /></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p><p><span style="color: #38761d;"><b><span><span><span><span><span><span style="font-size: large;">Right now I am:::</span></span></span></span><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span></span></b></span><br /></p><div style="text-align: left;"> Working
on a blog post. </div><div style="text-align: left;"> <span style="color: #38761d;"><b><span><span><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span></span></b></span><span style="color: #38761d;"><b><span><span><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></span><span><span><span style="font-size: large;">Thinking and pondering:::</span></span></span></b></span></div><p><span style="color: #444444;"><span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"> <span style="font-size: small;">About my Sunday Scripture series. I'm still not sure how well it's working with this new study, but I hope that it's edifying to someone.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #444444;"><span><span><span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #444444;"><span><span><span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span>And also continuing to ponder on how crucial it is to have our spiritual armor firmly in place. How easily Satan can delude us if we don't pay attention. <br /></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: Bree Serif;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><b><span><span><span><span><span style="font-size: large;">On my bedside table:::</span></span></span></span></span></b></span> </span></p><p> A lamp, 2 books a mint, and a pen <span style="color: #38761d;"><b><span><span><span><span><span style="font-size: large;"><br /><br /></span></span></span></span></span></b></span><span style="color: #38761d;"><b><span><span><span><span><span style="font-size: large;">Listening to:::</span></span></span></span></span></b></span> <br /></p><p>Literally, silence. The furnace blower. And the occasional gust of heavy wind.<br /></p><p><span style="color: #38761d;"><b><span><span><span style="font-size: large;">On the Breakfast plate:::</span></span></span></b></span> </p><p>I
do intermittent fasting so don't have breakfast. Lunch will be a salad of leaf lettuce, cubed turkey, Swiss cheese, avocado and maybe some grape tomatoes.<br /></p><p> <span style="color: #38761d;"><b><span><span><span style="font-size: large;">On the dinner plate:::</span></span></span></b></span> </p><p>Egg bake, bacon, and maybe some broccoli.<br /></p><p><span style="color: #38761d;"><b><span><span><span style="font-size: large;">On the menu for this week:::</span></span></span></b></span> </p><div style="text-align: left;"><p> A few meals on my menu plan:</p></div><div style="text-align: left;">Hamburgers, roasted Brussels sprouts<br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Chicken divan<br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Taco pie, green beans<br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><b><span><span><span style="font-size: large;">On my reading pile:::</span></span></span></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><b><span><span><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span></span></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i><a href="https://www.thriftbooks.com/w/every-ocean-has-a-shore_jamie-langston-turner/38725477/#edition=66627917&idiq=56450737" target="_blank"><span style="color: #38761d;"><b> Every Ocean Has a Shore</b></span></a>, </i>by Jamie Langston Turner, a Christmas gift I'm really enjoying.<i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i><a href="https://www.thriftbooks.com/w/adorned-living-out-the-beauty-of-the-gospel-together_nancy-demoss-wolgemuth/13540522/#edition=13205024&idiq=23627415" target="_blank"><span style="color: #134f5c;"><b>Adorned</b></span></a> </i>by Nancy DeMoss Wolgemuth</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiepBc90Ou4ZR4aXhSEy0b2CWOxL0kJfs4dypFgyhZ1kD0ksQeHELlaIw3XuSLzRSTkcCyqnVQv7A6h9R46CjhE6HqPGVf-dDpgkj2Je5Rgkl9eyInHbgFVHs8mLP_LkFyWTtJSN7kDQsDUA5tku-zOkcWedXYj-W1ejGAmpkdtwKYWdND06pGeiA/s350/Adorned.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="350" data-original-width="233" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiepBc90Ou4ZR4aXhSEy0b2CWOxL0kJfs4dypFgyhZ1kD0ksQeHELlaIw3XuSLzRSTkcCyqnVQv7A6h9R46CjhE6HqPGVf-dDpgkj2Je5Rgkl9eyInHbgFVHs8mLP_LkFyWTtJSN7kDQsDUA5tku-zOkcWedXYj-W1ejGAmpkdtwKYWdND06pGeiA/w266-h400/Adorned.jpeg" width="266" /></a></div><p><a href="https://www.thriftbooks.com/w/the-stranger-on-the-road-to-emmaus_john-r-cross/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #bf9000;"><i><b>The Stranger on the Road to Emmaus</b></i></span></a>, by John Cross.</p><p>We're reading this one in the car and it is excellent. A dramatic and refreshing change from <i>The Real Anthony Fauci</i>, by Robert F. Kennedy Jr. which we finally finished. <br /></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcKIfinegH61UWx5fQvBzuin2zs7hhU37KtCZKItsAVAsIBzgo3Y4PEyKHo_Iy1CCgCpw4xZndbRkPEGtuDCxY2zRrQqBYQjaq-t2ISSl3SpDV608ld0zFljTUt88tK2BTxCiFaWr4qGd9L3dr7yAraNyiCva89rp6qv4QpyPSXc17hNYhLfKFgg/s350/stranger%20on%20the%20road%20to%20Emmaus.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="350" data-original-width="233" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcKIfinegH61UWx5fQvBzuin2zs7hhU37KtCZKItsAVAsIBzgo3Y4PEyKHo_Iy1CCgCpw4xZndbRkPEGtuDCxY2zRrQqBYQjaq-t2ISSl3SpDV608ld0zFljTUt88tK2BTxCiFaWr4qGd9L3dr7yAraNyiCva89rp6qv4QpyPSXc17hNYhLfKFgg/w266-h400/stranger%20on%20the%20road%20to%20Emmaus.jpg" width="266" /></a></p><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><span><b><span><span style="font-size: large;">On my to do list today:::</span></span></b></span></span> <br /><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;"> Spend time cross stitching</div><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: left;">Write some thank-you notes</div><div style="text-align: left;">Possibly go grocery shopping </div><div style="text-align: left;">Call a couple of friends to see how they are doing<br />Go for a walk downtown<br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Do some planning for later in the week</div><div style="text-align: left;">Type up some info for my hubby to email out to folks √<br />Work on a couple of blog posts<br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Work on my Sunday School lesson</div><div style="text-align: left;">Crochet a square for my temperature blanket<br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><span style="color: #38761d;"><b><span><span><span style="font-size: large;">Plans for this week:::</span></span></span></b></span><br /><br />Etsy listings, especially some children's books with spring themes<br /><div style="text-align: left;">Ironing<br />Take a bag to the thrift store<br />Work on Sunday School lesson 22<br /></div>Blogging<br /><div style="text-align: left;">Get started with an exercise regimen<br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Begin some serious decluttering</div><div style="text-align: left;">Start a pillow quilt<br />Do some cleaning at my volunteer job</div></div><div style="text-align: left;">Go out to breakfast with our friend Terry</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><b><span><span><span style="font-size: large;">What I am creating:::</span></span></span></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><b><span><span><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span></span></b></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><span><span><span><span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span><span>⛄ January</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span> cross-stitch sampler, plus another wintry cross-stitch intended for a gift<br /><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span><span><span><span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span><span>⛄ </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span>Some <a href="https://acrossmytable.blogspot.com/2010/08/condensation-catchers.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><b>"condensation catchers" </b></span></a>out of old towels to place behind toilets that sweat in the humidity -- no, I still haven't <strike>finished</strike>
started those! 😕 And I need to do so, because the old towels are just
sitting around waiting to be used! And also because we keep getting
sporadic warmer weather and I half expect the toilets to start sweating
again.<br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span><span><span><span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span><span>⛄ </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span>An older unfinished dishcloth in a more challenging pattern<br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span><span><span><span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span><span>⛄</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span> Need to start a pillow quilt <br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span><span><span><span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span><span>⛄ </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span>A granny square temperature blanket<br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><span><b><span style="font-size: large;">Bible verse, Devotional, Quote:::</span></b></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><span><b><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></b></span></span></div>I've been making my way through Nancy DeMoss Wolgemuth's wonderful and challenging book, <i>Adorned</i>. It's one of those books where I could easily underline nearly every word. I have believed and shared for many years that there is no dividing line in our lives between the secular and the sacred. Every bit of life is to be lived to the glory of God and as a service to Him, whether it's teaching Sunday School or cleaning a toilet. I will just share this snippet from Nancy that encouraged me:</div><div style="text-align: left;"></div><div style="text-align: left;"></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Paprika;"> </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Paprika;">"Wherever we are at this moment is a sacred place, and whatever He has given us to do is sacred service ... There is simply no hard dividing line between the sacred and the secular in our lives, no special compartment for those pieces and parts of life that pertain to our faith, with everything else in another, separate compartment.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Paprika;">"We each possess a holy calling, a high calling, one worthy of our awe-inspired devotion to God and His will. And we flesh out this calling each day by honoring Him with lives that reflect His character and exemplify our grateful, loving surrender to Him." </span>-- Nancy Demoss Wolgemuth, <i>Adorned</i>, page 96.<br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="reference" style="color: #38761d;"><span><b><span style="font-size: large;">On my prayer list::: <br /></span></b></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;">Friends & family<br />Church family<br />Missionaries <br />Our country</div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div>And there's the Happy Homemaker Monday for this week!</div></div><span style="font-family: Paprika;"> </span></div></div></div> </div><p> </p><p><span style="color: #444444;"><span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"></span></span></span></span></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: small;"><span><span style="color: #38761d;"><span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #444444;"><span><span><span><span><span><span> </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p>Mrs.Thttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00392321745556290343noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15265988.post-15302068298145783622024-03-10T04:00:00.300-04:002024-03-10T04:00:00.149-04:00Sunday Scripture<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUtGhuXQBBFAVfIKpw8xKVfmTvCKvFRf8VKElxMrGyzPU_NhY_mHto5klLfHYlSVeqOy1TOGkDvXC9UzHP6rTHxqG5cExJ0pbuL03HmXDPlLFW1a3085bIhQnjHligkrnAcDB0sc234VC-kQ8bMD_UF6DwDYcqucN7we7pdaqclksLAMglWyibVA/s8100/ps98%201a%20oceans%202.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4950" data-original-width="8100" height="392" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUtGhuXQBBFAVfIKpw8xKVfmTvCKvFRf8VKElxMrGyzPU_NhY_mHto5klLfHYlSVeqOy1TOGkDvXC9UzHP6rTHxqG5cExJ0pbuL03HmXDPlLFW1a3085bIhQnjHligkrnAcDB0sc234VC-kQ8bMD_UF6DwDYcqucN7we7pdaqclksLAMglWyibVA/w640-h392/ps98%201a%20oceans%202.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p> Here's another in our new series for Sunday Scripture! Back in 2018, I did a simple study from Rachel Wojo called <i>Everything Beautiful</i>. You can read about it here: <a href="https://rachelwojo.com/everything-beautiful-bible-reading-plan-journal-challenge/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #38761d;"><b>Everything Beautiful Bible reading plan</b></span></a>. My answers and input on this series are a combination of what
I learned back then, and what I found in looking over the Scriptures
now, six years later. I'm going to attempt to SOAP the passages too,
though some of them are longer. <br /></p><p><b>S=</b><span style="font-family: courier;"> "O sing unto the LORD a new song; for He hath done marvellous things: His right hand, and His holy arm, hath gotten Him the victory.<br />"The LORD hath made known His salvation: His righteousness hath He openly showed in the sight of the heathen.<br />"He hath remembered His mercy and His truth toward the house of Israel: all the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God.<br />"Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all the earth: make a loud noise, and rejoice, and sing praise.<br />"Sing unto the LORD with the harp; with the harp, and the voice of a psalm.<br />"With trumpets and sound of cornet make a joyful noise before the LORD, the King.<br />"Let the sea roar, and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein.<br />"Let the floods clap their hands: let the hills be joyful together<br />"Before the LORD; for He cometh to judge the earth: with righteousness shall He judge the world, and the people with equity." (Psalm 98)</span><br /></p><p> <b>O=</b> Psalm 98 is titled by Scofield "Praise to the LORD". The Bible titles it simply "A Psalm".</p><p>"Why should we praise the Lord? Because of His redemption (v. 1), the revelation of His righteousness (v. 2), and the remembrance of His mercy (v. 3)." -- Warren Wiersbe, <i>With the Word</i></p><p>A few cross-references:</p><p>For "<i><b>Sing unto the LORD</b></i>" (v. 1) --</p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">"Sing unto Him a new song; play skillfully with a loud noise." (Psalm 33:3)</span></p><p><span style="font-family: Special Elite;">"Oh, sing unto the LORD a new song; sing unto the LORD , all the earth." (Psalm 96:1)<br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">"Sing unto the LORD a new song, and His praise from the end of the earth; ye that go down to the sea, and all that is in it; the coasts, and their inhabitants."</span></p><p>Wiersbe explains concerning "<i><b>a new song</b></i>": "The word translated 'new' means 'fresh, new in quality'. The song may be an old one, but our growth in the Lord and our new experiences of His grace enable us to sing an old song with fresh new meaning and blessing. This explains why the Lord allows us to go through trials. He is tuning us up to praise Him in a new way!"</p><p>Cross-references for "<i><b>done marvelous things</b></i>" (v. 1) -- </p><p><span style="font-family: courier;">"Remember His marvelous works that He hath done; His wonders, and the judgments of His mouth." (Psalm 105:5)</span></p><p><span style="font-family: Quicksand;">"Thou art the God who doest wonders; Thou hast declared Thy strength among the peoples." (Psalm 77:14)</span></p><p><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">"Who is like unto Thee, O LORD, among the gods? Who is like Thee, glorious in holiness, fearful in praises, doing wonders?" (Exodus 15:11)</span></p><p>For "<i><b>known His salvation</b></i>" (v.2) --</p><p><span style="font-family: Kadwa;">"The LORD hath made bare His holy arm in the eyes of all the nations, and all the ends of the earth shall see the salvation of our God." (Isaiah 52:10)</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">"To give knowledge of salvation unto His people by the remission of their sins." (Luke 1:77)</span></p><p>"For mine eyes have seen Thy salvation, which Thou hast prepared before the face of all people." (Luke 2:30-31)</p><p>For "<i><b>all the ends of the earth</b></i>" (v. 3) -- </p><p><span style="font-family: Quicksand;">"And He said, It is a light thing that Thou shouldest be My servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and to restore the preserved of Israel: I will also give Thee for a light to the nations, that Thou mayest be my salvation unto the end of the earth." (Isaiah 49:6)</span></p><p>"Be it known, therefore, unto you, that the salvation of God is sent unto the Gentiles, and that they will hear it." (Acts 28:28)<br /></p><p>For "<i><b>cometh to judge the earth</b></i>" (v. 9) --</p><p><span style="font-family: Della Respira;">"Say among the heathen that the LORD reigneth. The world also shall be established that it shall not be moved; He shall judge the peoples righteously ... He cometh to judge the earth; He shall judge the world with righteousness, and the peoples with His truth." (Psalm 96:10, 13)<br /></span></p><p><b>A=</b> Warren Wiersbe asks,<br /><br /><b>* How should we praise the Lord?</b> "With a joyful shout and song (v. 4) and with musical instruments skillfully played to please Him (v. 5-6). Let voices and instruments join in praising the Lord! Not religious entertainment, but the joyful expression of praise to God."<br /><b>* Who should praise the Lord?</b> "Everybody in the world -- and all the world of nature (v. 7-9). The anticipation of His coming excites creation, and you should be a part of their excitement. Joy to the world -- the Lord has come!" </p><p>The <a href="https://womenlivingwell.org/psalms-51-100/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #38761d;"><b>One Chapter a Day Psalms study</b></span></a> from Good Morning Girls states: "Not only do we see instruments, such as trumpets and horns praising God in this psalm, but we also see nature personified as the seas and rivers and hills clap their hands to the Lord. Our praise to the Lord must not be silent."</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRy1ay1nfApHZM_9y_Osp1H6BGWz-B-aiz5N6SH_JzIKWhz1KL5bRVh-Uim88I9Nq-iKdeMzA03n0c1iFfxIJpNQC4qymPhXbFcOdjTrna7jB1TtcKWW9IRLhA3pmko91xP1FuS2sttkVaA8D0_RaJIbCiPNY37lIwiISTPPPeQuie1NoU0zkm0w/s640/GMG-Psalm-98-640x640.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="640" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRy1ay1nfApHZM_9y_Osp1H6BGWz-B-aiz5N6SH_JzIKWhz1KL5bRVh-Uim88I9Nq-iKdeMzA03n0c1iFfxIJpNQC4qymPhXbFcOdjTrna7jB1TtcKWW9IRLhA3pmko91xP1FuS2sttkVaA8D0_RaJIbCiPNY37lIwiISTPPPeQuie1NoU0zkm0w/w400-h400/GMG-Psalm-98-640x640.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p> For this Scripture, there were a number of ways to apply it as prompted in the journal. </p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: Quintessential;">"Salvation can always be listed in the search for beauty." -- Rachel Wojo</span></span></p><p>The question was asked: <i><b>How can I realign the eyes of my heart to see the Father's present of everyday elegance?<br /></b></i></p><p><b>My response in 2018</b>:
I can keep my eyes open to see what He has done and is doing. I can always be ready to praise Him for what I see. I can make it a habit to look at God and not at my circumstances.<br /></p><p><i><b>Answering this same question in 2024</b></i><br /></p><p><b>My response</b>:
It can be possible, I think, especially through the difficulties of our culture and world today, to focus almost completely on the big picture -- that God has a plan, and He is working all things after the counsel of His own will to achieve His purposes. And this is an important focus. But I never want to look at the big picture so intently that I can't see God in the beauty of every day. He is doing marvelous things every day, and I want to have eyes that will take note of that beauty and share it with others.<br /></p><p>This prompt was given, along with a list:<i><b> Today I will keep my eyes open for God's beauty in one or more of these places.</b></i></p><p>These are the places I circled: <span style="font-family: verdana;">The words I read; the food I eat; the air I breathe; the weather I experience; the rest I receive; the grace I give.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">In
2024 I can note that the words I read include not only God's Word (which is incomparable in its beauty in addition to being living, powerful, and so much more!) but words from Christian novelists, devotional writers, Bible commentators and teachers and even bloggers and Instagrammers. Many of them write beautifully to encourage and strengthen believers.</span><br /></span></p><p>A journaling prompt was this: <i><b>Everything God made is beautiful. Where have I noticed God's beauty in the last 24 hours?</b></i></p><p><b>2018:</b>
In the incredible beauty of the snow. Like most people, I'm ready for spring. But this is New Hampshire. We get snow in March -- sometimes a great deal of snow. The snow is beautiful and richly symbolic of salvation.<br /></p><p><b>2024:</b> Yesterday we went downtown to walk, as is our habit. Along Main Street are planted a number of small trees which I believe to be mountain ash trees. We noticed that one of them was full of birds -- cedar waxwings. How beautiful! Later in the day, my husband glanced at our bird feeder and spotted a lovely female cardinal. We have only had cardinals visiting in the past couple of years, so we don't take their presence for granted.<br /></p><p><b>P</b>=<span style="font-family: Homemade Apple;">
"Lord, I praise You today for the beauty of Your creation, particularly the snow that covers and freshens the landscape and trees with a beautiful coating of white. It brings to mind Isaiah 1:18 where we're told that though our sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow. Snow is such a lovely picture of salvation, and I thank You for giving it to us.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: Homemade Apple;"><span> </span>"I praise You too for the amazingly beautiful birds You have created, and for the opportunity to enjoy these on a daily basis. The birds have so many object lessons to teach us, as we read in Your Word.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: Homemade Apple;">"And I pray that You will help me not to be so focused on the big picture of what You are doing in our world that I fail to notice Your everyday elegance. I pray in Jesus'
name, Amen."<br /></span></p>And there is the Sunday Scripture for this week! I'd love some input on this series so far. Wouldn't you like to share your thoughts with me?<br />Mrs.Thttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00392321745556290343noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15265988.post-8959175236676596152024-03-06T11:18:00.000-05:002024-03-06T11:18:12.714-05:00How my word for 2024 -- Continue -- will look in my life this year<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCoQ8ie4xrshnEXC4NfWSdjrum-8q1cidOXQRzTOs5POTdWZBJ-uv54BPXDLKIPY7f57bxk8BhwtTYHiVxdZYsZf06OXs5sICQd2I9ZEUCmUniLF6o5S2Jjpx-TSXfTuaoILmdstPdrabBKOtNAwO7lJdu5-LvGNz79d10OBJBslWKkq3ABrI6gA/s1080/Eph%206-18.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCoQ8ie4xrshnEXC4NfWSdjrum-8q1cidOXQRzTOs5POTdWZBJ-uv54BPXDLKIPY7f57bxk8BhwtTYHiVxdZYsZf06OXs5sICQd2I9ZEUCmUniLF6o5S2Jjpx-TSXfTuaoILmdstPdrabBKOtNAwO7lJdu5-LvGNz79d10OBJBslWKkq3ABrI6gA/w400-h400/Eph%206-18.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>Even though I decided on my word for 2024 fairly quickly, it took me awhile to write about it. Now, though admittedly still behind, I thought I'd jot down some thoughts about how that word -- continue -- will hopefully play out in my life on an everyday basis.</p><p>Recall, here is the definition:</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOXANKDxG2OMrF552A4wtVY6ExHbiWh6sG1VsDcUeL4YCFd7yhXuBG4OCfYmj-YbY64wgU7bPhxrZFopbNhgijnoPKNCIUZr1fleqQRMzncxprVUB9P9tJGfCMBeVeaaSFd4UKK84Z1PBRZq6v5_xzIV6xuxGH7R7zVnEatF1YeJzZ3E-Ya-tUHg/s516/definition%20of%20continue.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="385" data-original-width="516" height="299" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOXANKDxG2OMrF552A4wtVY6ExHbiWh6sG1VsDcUeL4YCFd7yhXuBG4OCfYmj-YbY64wgU7bPhxrZFopbNhgijnoPKNCIUZr1fleqQRMzncxprVUB9P9tJGfCMBeVeaaSFd4UKK84Z1PBRZq6v5_xzIV6xuxGH7R7zVnEatF1YeJzZ3E-Ya-tUHg/w400-h299/definition%20of%20continue.png" width="400" /></a></div><p>As I mentioned, in choosing the word <i><b>continue</b></i> for this year, I was mostly thinking about
continuing on faithfully with a number of things, most (but not all) of
them related to my spiritual life. Let's look at the various parts of the definition and how they might look in everyday life.</p><p>First, "<i><b>persist in an activity or process</b></i>". I'd relate this to Bible study and blogging. I intend to persist in both of these. </p><p> Bible study is a given. There is so much more I want (and need) to learn about God's Word!<br /></p><p>Blogging might be considered much more of an option, a personal choice. But is it really? I don't think so, at least not for me. Blogging, I've come to believe, is an integral part of living out God's purposes for me. It's a way to use the talents, skills, and even some of the spiritual gifts God has given me, to bless others. So for sure, this is an activity I'll be persisting in.</p><p>Then, "<i><b>carry on with something that one has begun</b></i>". I am hoping we can get back to getting together regularly with a younger couple we had been informally mentoring. I do chat with the wife weekly by phone, and that's wonderful, but in-person time is important as well. </p><p>I'm hoping and planning, too, to get back more faithfully to decluttering and downsizing. I've started that; have done some closets and dressers and have begun going through our many bookshelves, but oh, there is so much more to do!</p><p>In another instance in carrying on with something I've begun -- I had gifted six of my teen grandchildren the <i>Stand Firm</i> Bible study from The Daily Grace Co. I'm not sure how they are doing with it. I'm keeping up with my own study of the book, and finding it very much of a blessing. My intent had been to have a group chat with them weekly via email, but so far that's only happened once. 🙄. So obviously I want to carry on with this important activity.<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifkIh2UPbC8-i9TYOIkrwNGIiGucQ6RZCkonPrFfDlAHK10Eua71rFcVYqPyyoMAx_IEfcRj9hbzM0dKY-3kyq4-PIkbcu0d-r8-O4X9pnkeEU9J3sXhC8x5X1TYfnRuQyLPEuig0J1ykp9NoKgbgyWjw3dOqQ33fzrwx9wAIICb5JlA9MBMz_jQ/s694/%20Stand%20Firm%20Armor%20of%20God%20Study%20-%20Men.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="694" data-original-width="635" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifkIh2UPbC8-i9TYOIkrwNGIiGucQ6RZCkonPrFfDlAHK10Eua71rFcVYqPyyoMAx_IEfcRj9hbzM0dKY-3kyq4-PIkbcu0d-r8-O4X9pnkeEU9J3sXhC8x5X1TYfnRuQyLPEuig0J1ykp9NoKgbgyWjw3dOqQ33fzrwx9wAIICb5JlA9MBMz_jQ/w366-h400/%20Stand%20Firm%20Armor%20of%20God%20Study%20-%20Men.png" width="366" /></a></div><div><br /></div>Another thing to carry on with (unless or until God shows me differently) is listing and selling small vintage items from my childhood home on Etsy. There is so much more to go! I have shelves, a half dozen boxes, and even an entire dresser full of these small treasures. It could take me years just to list all the paper items, so I'm thinking I may need to zero in on the children's books and see if I can get some of those out of the way.<div><br /></div><div>(Looking for a vintage Little Golden or Junior Elf book? I might well have it.)<br /><p>And then, <i><b>"remain in a specified position or state"</b></i>. I'll continue teaching Sunday School to ladies, at least for the foreseeable future. That may change once we've completed this study, but that's months away.</p><p> I'll also continue with writing Sunday Scripture blog posts. And with other things like writing notes and doing other things to encourage friends and family.</p><p>And <i><b>"carry on traveling in the same direction"</b></i>. To me this zeroes in on spiritual growth. I've said before how our former pastor who retired after decades often reminded us that there is no standing still in the Christian life. If you're not moving forward you're moving backward. Period. So very obviously, I am purposing to carry on with traveling forward in my pursuit of spiritual growth.<br /></p><p>Finally, "<i><b>extend farther in the same direction"</b></i>. For me, this speaks to my prayer life. I hope to update some of my prayer journal pages to make it even more of an effective tool.<br /></p><p>This also applies to my memorization of the book of James, which my younger friend Jennifer and I are working on together. We finished chapter 1 during the last quarter of 2023, and hope to get through chapter 2 by the end of March. That should give us the remaining three quarters of 2024 to finish memorizing the final 3 chapters (which are shorter than the first two). We will see!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTpjclqUS9TgqSdFim5FpMLjhBywUWT7fdfwtWq81bEeFs_RYnWIejgKkG_4liBA6mvzxos2HIbdcSeoF-FUyqKT9MjJvOcynBQM_dtdDbPDoX5dgl399RTuUjUw762FmzqOlBk91LszmDW39pk9GbC7OANIATlIGk9GEoiw9OKUyfN0zUHvhPNA/s1080/Continue.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTpjclqUS9TgqSdFim5FpMLjhBywUWT7fdfwtWq81bEeFs_RYnWIejgKkG_4liBA6mvzxos2HIbdcSeoF-FUyqKT9MjJvOcynBQM_dtdDbPDoX5dgl399RTuUjUw762FmzqOlBk91LszmDW39pk9GbC7OANIATlIGk9GEoiw9OKUyfN0zUHvhPNA/w400-h400/Continue.png" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>So there you have it, a little late. </p><p>Jennifer left a sweet comment on my March goals post and noted that these were wise and purposeful goals. I can't tell you how much that encourages me. It made me look at my goals with fresh eyes, and I was struck by how many of them involved continuing. I've been continuing with these things throughout January and February and, Lord willing, will continue on with them through the remaining ten months of 2024.<br /></p><p>What about you, friends? If you chose a word for 2024, how is that playing out for you?</p></div>Mrs.Thttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00392321745556290343noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15265988.post-84600779674461248402024-03-03T04:00:00.255-05:002024-03-03T04:00:00.149-05:00Sunday Scripture<p> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRPuZ4GGVkkWMlemXjp7FPWSXIAoykdQwqEXkECWb08JOlsZnH9mBpkxTjDHE_y3-Bg6ziTVdXv8w1H4pN90Jys4rso9ppqp_XC_Fkxz5ToaJxlncRgUlqWBD5ywuVdcyEINN3O_QlVYbeXG87sYKveStDiuVeoOsDudur9PsCV3HKjmwq8THJrg/s400/lbb%20isaiah%2040%20wm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="268" data-original-width="400" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRPuZ4GGVkkWMlemXjp7FPWSXIAoykdQwqEXkECWb08JOlsZnH9mBpkxTjDHE_y3-Bg6ziTVdXv8w1H4pN90Jys4rso9ppqp_XC_Fkxz5ToaJxlncRgUlqWBD5ywuVdcyEINN3O_QlVYbeXG87sYKveStDiuVeoOsDudur9PsCV3HKjmwq8THJrg/w400-h268/lbb%20isaiah%2040%20wm.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pretty graphic by Abby at <a href="http://littlebirdieblessings.blogspot.com" target="_blank"><span style="color: #38761d;"><b>Little Birdie Blessings</b></span></a><br /></td></tr></tbody></table></p><p> Here's the third in our new series for Sunday Scripture! Back in 2018, I did a simple study from Rachel Wojo called <i>Everything Beautiful</i>. You can read about it here: <a href="https://rachelwojo.com/everything-beautiful-bible-reading-plan-journal-challenge/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #38761d;"><b>Everything Beautiful Bible reading plan</b></span></a>. My answers and input on this series will be a combination of what
I learned back then, and what I found in looking over the Scriptures
now, six years later. I'm going to attempt to SOAP the passages too,
though some of them are longer. </p><p><b>S=</b> "<span style="font-family: courier;">Comfort ye, comfort ye My people, saith your God.<br />"Speak comfortably to Jerusalem, and cry unto her, that her warfare is accomplished, that her iniquity is pardoned; for she hath received of the LORD's hand double for all her sins.<br />"The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the LORD, make straight in the desert a highway for our God.<br />"Every valley shall be exalted, and every mountain and hill shall be made low; and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough places plain;<br />"And the glory of the LORD shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together; for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken it.<br />"The voice said, Cry. And he said, What shall I cry? All flesh is grass, and all the goodliness thereof is as the flower of the field:<br />"The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: because the Spirit of the LORD bloweth upon it: surely the people is grass.<br />"The grass withereth, the flower fadeth; but the word of our God shall stand forever." (Isaiah 40:1-8)</span></p><p><b>O= </b>C.I. Scofield tells us that Isaiah chapters 40-48 deal with "The Greatness and Transcendence of God". Isaiah 40:1-2 are titled by Scofield "The prophet's new message". Verses 3-5 deal with "The mission of John the Baptist". The remainder of chapter 40 presents "The greatness of God and man's insignificance."<br /></p><p>The Daily Walk Bible shares some interesting information:</p><p>"Beginning with chapter 40, Isaiah changes the focus of his message. For 39 chapters his major message has been the condemnation resulting from the waywardness and wickedness of God's people. But now comes a heartwarming message of hope and comfort. The next 27 chapters declare the coming salvation of the Lord. He is sovereign over creation; He is sovereign in the protection and selection of His nation Israel. And thus there can be certainty that He will comfort and deliver His people."</p><p>Warren Wiersbe notes, <span style="font-family: Merienda;">"Though Isaiah wrote a century before the fall of Judah, his words greatly encouraged the exiles when they read them in Babylon." </span><br /></p><p>Some cross-references include:</p><p>For "<i><b>voice of him that crieth in the wilderness</b></i>" (v. 3) --</p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> "He said, I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness, Make straight the way of the Lord, as said the prophet Isaiah." (John 1:23)</span></p><p><span style="font-family: courier;">"As it is written in the book of the words of Isaiah, the prophet, saying, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight. Every valley shall be filled, and every mountain and hill shall be brought low; and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough ways shall be made smooth; And all flesh shall see the salvation of God." (Luke 3:4-6)</span></p><p>For "<i><b>glory of the Lord</b></i>" (v. 5) --</p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">"[The desert] shall blossom abundantly, and rejoice even with joy and singing; the glory of Lebanon shall be given unto it, the excellency of Carmel and Sharon; they shall see the glory of the LORD, and the excellency of our God." (Isaiah 35:1)</span></p><p>For "<i><b>grass</b></i>" (v. 6) -- </p><p><span style="font-family: Special Elite;">"For all flesh is like grass, and all the glory of man like the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and its flower falleth away. But the word of the Lord endureth forever. And this is the word by which the gospel is preached unto you." (1 Peter 1:24-25)</span><br /></p><p><b>A=</b> Warren Wiersbe notes that this passage speaks with </p><p><b>*The voice of comfort</b> -- (verses 1-5) -- "tells you that God knows how to measure your chastening and that He forgives and gives you a new beginning."<br /><b>* The voice of confidence</b> -- (verses 6-8) -- "assures you that His Word stands in spite of the frailty of man." <br /></p><p> For this Scripture, there were a number of ways to apply it as prompted in the journal. </p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: Quintessential;">"No scenery can match the beauty of God's Word." -- Rachel Wojo</span></span></p><p>The question was asked: <i><b>Which of my own thoughts have blocked the beauty of God's Word?</b></i></p><p><b>My response in 2018</b>:
I really can't think of any. God's Word is incredibly beautiful and completely trustworthy.<br /></p><p><i><b>Answering this same question in 2024</b></i><br /></p><p><b>My response</b>:
I do think, though, that we can block the beauty of God's Word by not believing it, or by making statements like "I can't" when His Word clearly tells us we can.<br /></p><p>This prompt was given, along with a list:<i><b> Today I will keep my eyes open for God's beauty in one or more of these places.</b></i></p><p>These are the places I circled: <span style="font-family: verdana;">The words I read; the places I go; the music I hear; the weather I experience; the rest I receive; the grace I give.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">In
2024 I jotted down a few details regarding these things. Concerning the places I go, I noted that Lord willing, we would be spending that night at our camp, a beautiful provision by God that wasn't even a dream on the horizon in 2018. For the weather I experience, I noted the warm temperature -- in the fifties. And, though it fit none of these categories as such, I also noticed the simple but beautiful artist's rendering of a winter scene on a mug I was sipping coffee from. </span><br /></span></p><p>A journaling prompt was this: <i><b>List one or more ideas to remind myself to intentionally look for God's beauty throughout the day.<br /></b></i></p><p><b>2018:</b>We are expecting a large winter storm here today, with many inches of snow. I know that watching the falling snow outside our windows will show me God's beauty. I also think I will play some music CDs and look for God's beauty in that way, also.<br /></p><p><b>2024:</b> We set a timer each morning to remind us to catch the dawn light which is so beneficial to us in so many ways -- not the least of which is its beauty.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiNlFQgiDbHuEyUwAqeTr1COs_p4SV_fc26BugSYbPTlkEHBrQ-x71cJ_QN-XkgVgKu8ooOpe9qCV8e3ebLuuUszncxoKbwWBOlndqCTY8Xj16qHTeQwp4ZpCqzs2dJqjrIFuD_Nxv5vAn9zNNT5neL62i4tPtI0d4jQ_qsIMPB7Eeq4cdovbtaQ/s4608/101_2971.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="4608" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiNlFQgiDbHuEyUwAqeTr1COs_p4SV_fc26BugSYbPTlkEHBrQ-x71cJ_QN-XkgVgKu8ooOpe9qCV8e3ebLuuUszncxoKbwWBOlndqCTY8Xj16qHTeQwp4ZpCqzs2dJqjrIFuD_Nxv5vAn9zNNT5neL62i4tPtI0d4jQ_qsIMPB7Eeq4cdovbtaQ/w400-h300/101_2971.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><p></p><p><b>P</b>=<span style="font-family: Homemade Apple;">
"Lord, I praise You for the beauty of Your Word. It is not only more beautiful than any scenery or music (which, after all, are created by You), but it will stand forever. It is unchanging, unfailing. I can count on it every day.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: Homemade Apple;">"In today's Scripture passage, I was so blessed to be reminded that You desire to comfort Your people and to make the rough places of life plain to us. I thank You for all this, in Jesus'
name, Amen."<br /></span></p>And there is the Sunday Scripture for this week! I'd love some input on this series so far. How do you think it is working?Mrs.Thttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00392321745556290343noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15265988.post-52790780375439172782024-03-01T08:55:00.004-05:002024-03-01T08:55:27.797-05:00A few goals for March<p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV2kRKZla51ET9ki696G3sm6oxKauNjN1XaF5cXj6SpQ2HeVkFutRXdgp6J0NtKjfI55JMsEg5Ik8nfsVO_MNI_8B9ocDj1k8ZCDPqpL2iKB-YHecUhV2tmA02cJfh9TkTCNtmM08x_AWdS-TZp2KbzPBEcP3SxXLTPPIgSvwB3Eti2YNAWjZ0nw/s1593/March%201959-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1593" data-original-width="1209" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV2kRKZla51ET9ki696G3sm6oxKauNjN1XaF5cXj6SpQ2HeVkFutRXdgp6J0NtKjfI55JMsEg5Ik8nfsVO_MNI_8B9ocDj1k8ZCDPqpL2iKB-YHecUhV2tmA02cJfh9TkTCNtmM08x_AWdS-TZp2KbzPBEcP3SxXLTPPIgSvwB3Eti2YNAWjZ0nw/w304-h400/March%201959-2.jpg" width="304" /></a></div><br /><p>Once again, it's a new month and so I need to set some goals.<br /></p><p>* Keep up with Flylady's homemaking zones of the week<br />* Get back to working through the "Make Room Challenge" from <a href="https://theinspiredroom.net/make-room-for-what-you-love/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #b45f06;"><b><i>Make Room for What You Love</i></b></span></a><br />* Spend time with our friends who are younger believers<br />* Enjoy our church ladies' gathering <a href="https://womenlivingwell.org/2021/12/introducing-the-book-of-ephesians-a-4-week-study/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #b45f06;"></span></a><br />* Post in this blog as often as possible <br />* Post in my Christmas blog as often as possible<br />* Continue planning for family birthday gifts and crafting any handmade ones<br />* Celebrate March birthdays<br />* Use Charles Swindoll's devotional <i><b>Growing Strong in the Seasons of Life</b></i> for my quiet time daily<br />* Continue studying and preparing for my Sunday School lessons<br />* Continue with <a href="https://thedailygraceco.com/products/stand-firm-armor-of-god-study" target="_blank"><span style="color: #134f5c;"><i><b>Stand Firm</b></i></span></a>, a Bible study on the armor of God<br />* Continue stocking my Etsy shop and continue selling vintage items<br />* Write at least 4 encouraging notes to friends and family<br />* Spend extended time at our volunteer jobs<br />* Help and encourage my local daughter as I'm able<br />* Plan meals with a greater emphasis on healthy eating<br />* Continue to work on memorizing the book of James<br />* Continue to help a widowed friend with the challenges of life in general<br />* Get to bed by 8:30 each night we are at home<br />* Drink enough water each day<br />* Walk and/or exercise at least 4 times each week</p><p>HEALTHY HABITS FOR MARCH: Drink more water/get more sleep/get more exercise/intermittent fasting/limit carbs</p>WORD FOR 2024: Continue Mrs.Thttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00392321745556290343noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15265988.post-52242129151090692832024-02-28T04:00:00.081-05:002024-02-28T04:00:00.256-05:00Leaping into the hodgepodge<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2mNzKONEOwapSnGEIobemGoaZWc3hrQhdJYFq_PeMOjIbdG3Fcudq1QfHj00ohDGrBbE4GI-pHMPKdcZbxh8DHpBnmaeoPilm9NnneDI1TgZNPkspbsOmKuLFk_fDSnunINe3i0NRmZLZQeFl9rt3y5TZQcd8jlosvp_PFbx-1uYWkjKYMsPPtw/s273/hodgepodge-button.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="250" data-original-width="273" height="293" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2mNzKONEOwapSnGEIobemGoaZWc3hrQhdJYFq_PeMOjIbdG3Fcudq1QfHj00ohDGrBbE4GI-pHMPKdcZbxh8DHpBnmaeoPilm9NnneDI1TgZNPkspbsOmKuLFk_fDSnunINe3i0NRmZLZQeFl9rt3y5TZQcd8jlosvp_PFbx-1uYWkjKYMsPPtw/w320-h293/hodgepodge-button.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p> It's Wednesday again, and that means it's time for the Hodgepodge -- the linkup where Joyce, at <a href="http://www.fromthissideofthepond.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><b>From This Side of the Pond</b></span></a>,
asks the questions and bloggers
provide the answers on their own blogs. After many weeks of neglecting this linkup, I'm attempting to jump back in. Here goes!</p><p><span style="font-family: courier;">1. February is coming to a close. Give us a two-word phrase that tells us something about how yours went.</span></p><p>Pleasantly fast. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6fwuDN5y0JHb0EhWyy2p6foEoBS4jeHMrULoS3sHtRc2VeonGZw8pzeylZr7gnDFOgMDOgXyXA68KgjREwOrD7DzgLWnJUZC7pSbgiF2gmY_rwMNCfAKVjBU5ai1m9N85vXHsdFpkqF5T9M0B3vjcHgi3f05GBdS3W96zTrSEm1nubmsLPvJtyg/s487/Feb.1950.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="487" data-original-width="364" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6fwuDN5y0JHb0EhWyy2p6foEoBS4jeHMrULoS3sHtRc2VeonGZw8pzeylZr7gnDFOgMDOgXyXA68KgjREwOrD7DzgLWnJUZC7pSbgiF2gmY_rwMNCfAKVjBU5ai1m9N85vXHsdFpkqF5T9M0B3vjcHgi3f05GBdS3W96zTrSEm1nubmsLPvJtyg/w299-h400/Feb.1950.jpg" width="299" /></a></div><p><span style="font-family: courier;">2. If you had to describe how you're feeling right now as an amusement park ride, what ride are you on? Explain. </span></p><p>I guess I would say a ferris wheel. At the moment life goes round and round at a fairly moderate pace. There's a good view and great perspective from the top. Sometimes there's an unexpected pause that leaves one hanging, so to speak, but those are infrequent. <br /></p><p><span style="font-family: courier;">3. What's something on your desk or a nearby wall that cheers you up when you see it or walk past? </span></p><p>Hmmm ... maybe this little tag I made years ago. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2cpVLMRGfqxKtJb_aljbv3KcWvk0kqgvY_6vR3fZy8jg4mYOFgJF9qRn_-AXBGMOxoCP5u-rVsZG-c6azk05QtEp6VXJwkrzxl4Hf4mJg4gn6133RVSpeA21q95gcy53DfOccCENBQjUiNLbVOLVt5aBvteBsgVTpNVKfwlJuYfEx_uH0mszYvg/s506/febtagback.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="415" data-original-width="506" height="328" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2cpVLMRGfqxKtJb_aljbv3KcWvk0kqgvY_6vR3fZy8jg4mYOFgJF9qRn_-AXBGMOxoCP5u-rVsZG-c6azk05QtEp6VXJwkrzxl4Hf4mJg4gn6133RVSpeA21q95gcy53DfOccCENBQjUiNLbVOLVt5aBvteBsgVTpNVKfwlJuYfEx_uH0mszYvg/w400-h328/febtagback.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPSHk78zWEh0qZHNnxZ3BWqT1Fypp3zwM-v-4WyFfYr_xnHDEmhFWUKCy3HMbby8t06aRHcr7E7CrzXuyjSZo3JMipExjC_crSPC482HHw_e6nGj2HspP-wPd_cCocCEWWPcPmazO_1m-BttPXNfX4heXUpzBuXNaxNHK9_Y2RI86Bud_2HjIv7Q/s4608/101_2987.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="4608" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPSHk78zWEh0qZHNnxZ3BWqT1Fypp3zwM-v-4WyFfYr_xnHDEmhFWUKCy3HMbby8t06aRHcr7E7CrzXuyjSZo3JMipExjC_crSPC482HHw_e6nGj2HspP-wPd_cCocCEWWPcPmazO_1m-BttPXNfX4heXUpzBuXNaxNHK9_Y2RI86Bud_2HjIv7Q/w400-h300/101_2987.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>Not on a wall, but in a living room corner pictured above.<p><span style="font-family: courier;">4. Are you a salad eater? How many salads do you typically eat in a week? Your favorite kind of salad? </span></p><p>Definitely a salad eater. I eat salad pretty much every day. Usually at lunchtime, I will have a salad of nice fresh leaf lettuce with cubes of meat and cheese. </p><p>My favorite salad may be one with berries, feta cheese and nuts in addition to greens, with a fruity dressing, or <a href=" Lemon Artichoke Romaine Salad" target="_blank"><span style="color: #38761d;"><b>maybe this one</b></span></a> with black olives, tomato wedges, shredded Parmesan, and quartered artichoke hearts in addition to greens, with a lemony Caesar vinaigrette.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6P3NE8r7C_2pd3YGY9KAZkQKAafwDJwrZrTjEx2KsQj57OUGEXCOV7N6IURLn8fPDZtwTgdoc2fEAZdSbQxqsaGhHedu1dUW82TsEQEnVyGeKLKdDD5amj3w9yyGyxNHsWVvmUuk6dmm4fZf88MwoN8K0Kowcr1gWmmbW_CO-dHQ60twqBmfncw/s700/Lemon-Artichoke-Romaine-Salad_EXPS_QEBZ20_23097_B01_28_1b-6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="700" data-original-width="700" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6P3NE8r7C_2pd3YGY9KAZkQKAafwDJwrZrTjEx2KsQj57OUGEXCOV7N6IURLn8fPDZtwTgdoc2fEAZdSbQxqsaGhHedu1dUW82TsEQEnVyGeKLKdDD5amj3w9yyGyxNHsWVvmUuk6dmm4fZf88MwoN8K0Kowcr1gWmmbW_CO-dHQ60twqBmfncw/w400-h400/Lemon-Artichoke-Romaine-Salad_EXPS_QEBZ20_23097_B01_28_1b-6.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p><span style="font-family: courier;">5. Without telling us the category give us your top five ______________. </span></p><p>Counted cross stitch, embroidery, stamped cross stitch, crochet, sewing.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1rWGT_SiiwtVN3_FgSmyK0PobZ_JcnksHlVQvLDFIKMMMX5MTAZlimxQbK0RcxYzH823iGErRZ8zsPb7Ec0OY0wZbFiDAYK0f6zIJVuzLzpDKd95ho07YkoWfrIFDY1i1xVMpd7VaO99lhKPLdh2sVcRC3fFmkJLBjCZW5xPdJQa_1oPb2o2nIw/s4608/101_2991.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4608" data-original-width="2386" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1rWGT_SiiwtVN3_FgSmyK0PobZ_JcnksHlVQvLDFIKMMMX5MTAZlimxQbK0RcxYzH823iGErRZ8zsPb7Ec0OY0wZbFiDAYK0f6zIJVuzLzpDKd95ho07YkoWfrIFDY1i1xVMpd7VaO99lhKPLdh2sVcRC3fFmkJLBjCZW5xPdJQa_1oPb2o2nIw/w208-h400/101_2991.jpg" width="208" /></a></div>Progress on my granny square temperature blanket.<p><span style="font-family: courier;">6. Insert your own random thought here. <br /></span></p><p>Wish you could sniff the air in our house right now. Mr. T is baking <a href="https://mychristmaskitchen.blogspot.com/2017/12/secret-spice-cookies.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: #38761d;"><b>Secret Spice Cookies</b></span></a> to take to The Wilds of New England next week to share with volunteers and staff. They're a favorite of certain folks so he is making them and freezing them to take next week.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV00nZztgmw1mBpmHJ-XWzIN_waOdRPKv9uy0emeskPiPoBVfweMPO9XkMHzPSKh0IhyphenhyphenRqD-a4z25QJCCanFhUlcoDgJP4s6AFbzc2h-8su3FSevhGivxdQrpiwoWqUtPHnGwnwFPWIGizwh1prI4PUdWgUak_hST5bYFRwjU2AJfC2KEc1eKA4w/s416/grandma's%20molasses.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="416" data-original-width="303" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV00nZztgmw1mBpmHJ-XWzIN_waOdRPKv9uy0emeskPiPoBVfweMPO9XkMHzPSKh0IhyphenhyphenRqD-a4z25QJCCanFhUlcoDgJP4s6AFbzc2h-8su3FSevhGivxdQrpiwoWqUtPHnGwnwFPWIGizwh1prI4PUdWgUak_hST5bYFRwjU2AJfC2KEc1eKA4w/w291-h400/grandma's%20molasses.jpg" width="291" /></a></div><br />And there's the Hodgepodge for this week!<br /><p></p><p><br /></p>Mrs.Thttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00392321745556290343noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15265988.post-28031258656244629352024-02-25T04:00:00.296-05:002024-02-25T15:11:58.184-05:00Sunday Scripture <p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsZmvuG9Szg0-ZiqXFriixNVS3FWjTK45Wkypgc1x5XXYhU-a1Hq5MjvR_cBZl1svI8XsOtOqJFNDQwI_O9NndcZMh88nZZD-LsprSRFxlZINS21dExdOJ5cijLl1VMC2163JpHUjsGVgi-wbIC27PNls6EV5UT0dAGqzJX53RhfGkqsANNpb1RQ/s1080/Psalm%2016-11-1.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsZmvuG9Szg0-ZiqXFriixNVS3FWjTK45Wkypgc1x5XXYhU-a1Hq5MjvR_cBZl1svI8XsOtOqJFNDQwI_O9NndcZMh88nZZD-LsprSRFxlZINS21dExdOJ5cijLl1VMC2163JpHUjsGVgi-wbIC27PNls6EV5UT0dAGqzJX53RhfGkqsANNpb1RQ/w400-h400/Psalm%2016-11-1.png" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p></p><p></p><p>Here's the second in our new series for Sunday Scripture! Back in 2018, I did a simple study from Rachel Wojo called <i>Everything Beautiful</i>. You can read about it here: <a href="https://rachelwojo.com/everything-beautiful-bible-reading-plan-journal-challenge/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #38761d;"><b>Everything Beautiful Bible reading plan</b></span></a>. My answers and input on this series will likely be a combination of what
I learned back then, and what I found in looking over the Scriptures
now, six years later. I'm going to attempt to SOAP the passages too,
though some of them are longer. </p><p><b>S= </b> <span style="font-family: courier;">"Preserve me, O God; for in Thee do I put my trust.<br />"O my soul, thou hast said unto the LORD, Thou art my Lord: my goodness extendeth not to Thee;<br />"But to the saints that are in the earth, and to the excellent, in whom is all my delight.<br />"Their sorrows shall be multiplied that hasten after another god: their drink offerings of blood will I not offer, nor take up their names into my lips.<br />"The LORD is the portion of mine inheritance and of my cup: Thou maintainest my lot.<br />"The lines are fallen unto me in pleasant places; yea, I have a goodly heritage.<br />"I will bless the LORD, who hath given me counsel: my reins also instruct me in the night seasons.<br />"I have set the LORD always before me: because He is at my right hand, I shall not be moved.<br />"Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoiceth: my flesh also shall rest in hope.<br />"For Thou wilt not leave my soul in hell; neither wilt Thou suffer Thine Holy One to see corruption.<br />"Thou wilt show me the path of life: in Thy presence is fulness of joy; at Thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore." (Psalm 16:1-11)</span><br /></p><p><b>O</b>= This psalm is titled by Scofield "The path of love and joy."</p><p>The Bible titles it "Michtam of David". I've mentioned this before, but Spurgeon notes in <i>The Treasury of David</i>: "Michtam is usually understood to mean THE GOLDEN PSALM, and such a title is most appropriate, for the matter is as the most fine gold."</p><p>Psalm 16 is considered to be a Messianic psalm pointing to the resurrection of Christ.<br />
<br />
But it has a message for me as well, a message that I can take from this without doing any disservice to the Scriptures:</p><p><b>1) God will preserve those who put their trust in Him; they are eternally secure.<br />2) God is my portion and the One who maintains my lot.<br />3) God will give me counsel as I look to Him.</b><br />
<b>4) God will show me the path of life.<br />
5) In God's presence there is fullness of joy.<br />
6) At God's right hand there are pleasures for evermore.</b></p><p>Here are a few cross-references:</p><p>"<i><b>Preserve</b></i>" (verse 1) -- <span style="font-family: arial;">"Keep me as the apple of the eye: hide me under the shadow of Thy wings." (Psalm 17:8) </span></p><p>"<b><i>Whom</i></b>" (verse 3) -- <span style="font-family: Special Elite;">"I am a companion of all those who fear Thee, and of those who keep Thy precepts." (Psalm 119:63)</span></p><p>"<i><b>Lips</b></i>" (verse 4) --<span style="font-family: Quicksand;"> "And in all things that I have said unto you be circumspect; and make no mention of the names of other gods, neither let it be heard out of thy mouth." (Exodus 23:13)</span></p><p>"<i><b>I have set the LORD always before me ..</b></i>. " (verse 8) -- The cross-reference here is to Acts 2:25-28 where Peter is preaching. He quotes this verse and more from Psalm 16.</p><p>Concerning the word "<i><b>trust</b></i>" (verse 1) Scofield explains, <span style="font-family: verdana;">"Trust is the characteristic Old Testament word for the New Testament 'faith' and 'believe'. It occurs 152 times in the OT and is the rendering of Hebrew words signifying <u><b>to take refuge</b></u>, <u><b>to lean on</b></u>, <u><b>to roll on</b></u>, <u><b>to wait for</b></u>."</span></p><p>Wow! does that ever give dimension to what it means to trust biblically!</p><p>Regarding verse 2, Warren Wiersbe notes in <i>With the Word</i>, "You have taken a giant step toward true Christian maturity when you can say to the Lord <i><b>and mean it,</b></i> 'my goodness is nothing apart from You'." <br /></p><p> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjLHDEbXiwU6nCbLt_XZSF7xHGjC82tZSRkXnXCvZNTOHrOtVQS-IDR4fycajzneSKj8gn-lcxjiArhcSiKv46S09OQI3k6SauK_LF6o4fpuxvVGt0-lgv4LguNn9sQ5cEph-KFYKDA1B2-5qLS4Uq0Ep0lxlEtqOv62SEW9s43vDXuV2g1wbI2g/s2048/DSCN2256.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1680" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjLHDEbXiwU6nCbLt_XZSF7xHGjC82tZSRkXnXCvZNTOHrOtVQS-IDR4fycajzneSKj8gn-lcxjiArhcSiKv46S09OQI3k6SauK_LF6o4fpuxvVGt0-lgv4LguNn9sQ5cEph-KFYKDA1B2-5qLS4Uq0Ep0lxlEtqOv62SEW9s43vDXuV2g1wbI2g/w329-h400/DSCN2256.JPG" width="329" /></a></p><p><b>A</b>= Warren Wiersbe notes that this psalm highlights<br /><b>* Good fellowship</b> -- "God's people are not perfect, but we should delight in their fellowship and not in the fellowship of the world's crowd."<br /><b>* Good heritage</b> -- "Not just God's gifts, but God Himself!" <br /><b>* Good counsel </b>-- "God gives wisdom if you will ask Him. God teaches you in the darkness as well as in the light."<br /><b>* Good hope</b> -- This passage is one of the few in the Old Testament dealing with resurrection. It refers to the resurrection of Christ, and that is what gives us our hope."<br /></p><p> For this Scripture, there were a number of ways to apply it as prompted in the journal. </p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: Quintessential;">"My most beautiful treasure awaits in heaven." -- Rachel Wojo</span></span></p><p>The question was asked: <i><b>What one thought can I surrender to create room for seeing moments of grace?</b></i></p><p><b>My response in 2018</b>: I can surrender the erroneous thought that God doesn't see, know, or care what is happening in my life. This will help me to see the beautiful moments of grace that He allows even in the midst of a painful situation.<br /></p><p><i><b>Answering this same question in 2024</b></i><br /></p><p><b>My response</b>: I can surrender the erroneous thought that God is not in control of all that is happening in our world. That will leave room for noticing and appreciating the grace that God does give even in the midst of difficulty. Not only does He give me grace for dealing with life in our culture, but He is gracious to let His beauty in Creation shine on the just and the unjust.<br /></p><p>This prompt was given, along with a list:<i><b> Today I will keep my eyes open for God's beauty in one or more of these places.</b></i></p><p>These are the places I circled: <span style="font-family: verdana;">The words I read; the people I encounter; the air I breathe; the weather I experience; the rest I receive; the grace I give.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">In 2024 I can note that the people I encounter included dear old friends we met for a breakfast out and then several hours of delightful fellowship. Christian friendship has a beauty all its own when we encourage one another in the Lord. And oh, we did.</span><br /></span></p><p>A journaling prompt was this: <i><b>Everything God made is beautiful. Where have I noticed God's beauty in the last 24 hours?</b></i></p><p><b>2018:</b>
In the eyes of my grandchildren; in the gentle hug of a little grandson who was so concerned about me: <span style="font-family: Happy Monkey;">"How are you feeling?"</span>; in a delicious meal, carefully served; in blue skies and white clouds; in the healing power of arnica oil.</p><p><b>2024:</b>
We met our friends for breakfast at a pancake house. Man's artistry translated the beauty of God's Creation in metal wall sconces shaped like maple leaves, among other lovely touches. I also saw God's beauty in a crisp and beautiful winter morning ... frost sparkles like glitter on snow and frozen grass, and the sun lighting the tops of leafless hardwood trees.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvpDXng16Y22Bem8vguQ-z_xlSs3CM82XVuideNDryxp6xhSeR5Xv5M4-T_MH7ULkOcm7gI_JCscWEYhNahd-Mop5rxPcmkqRo5i1PclIu3m9ALyKeWlTlnjfUqJur4cG1VuTL3wbfGiA26soL0v3pRI9kmgc2zhyphenhyphenavxuhQKxB4zl1DrMXqopzuQ/s405/Screenshot_2024-02-23%20Mrs%20T%20(%20mrsteanh)%20%E2%80%A2%20Instagram%20photos%20and%20videos(1).png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="373" data-original-width="405" height="369" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvpDXng16Y22Bem8vguQ-z_xlSs3CM82XVuideNDryxp6xhSeR5Xv5M4-T_MH7ULkOcm7gI_JCscWEYhNahd-Mop5rxPcmkqRo5i1PclIu3m9ALyKeWlTlnjfUqJur4cG1VuTL3wbfGiA26soL0v3pRI9kmgc2zhyphenhyphenavxuhQKxB4zl1DrMXqopzuQ/w400-h369/Screenshot_2024-02-23%20Mrs%20T%20(%20mrsteanh)%20%E2%80%A2%20Instagram%20photos%20and%20videos(1).png" width="400" /></a></div><p><b>P</b>=<span style="font-family: Homemade Apple;"> "Lord, I thank You today that You are the One who maintains my lot. In March 2018 things looked and felt out of control in my physical life. Today, in 2024, things look and feel out of control in our world. Yet I know that things are not, and have never been, out of Your control. You have a good plan and I am blessed to see it unfolding. Knowing that You maintain our lot and lead us in good paths is such a comfort. I thank You for all that You are doing and all that You will do, in Jesus' name, Amen."<br /></span></p><p>And there is the Sunday Scripture for this week! I'd love some input on this series so far. Do you think it is working?<br /></p>Mrs.Thttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00392321745556290343noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15265988.post-90986220959069640652024-02-24T16:07:00.001-05:002024-02-24T16:07:37.971-05:00Saturday six<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGMWAX5IZpGRpjVECD3J5Rnz_HMEIi7uePAlSFuos_MBbcxUG8aQ_s9Y_NrEAkmZRbRGuTxZIOWSvz-ZEOuCq7vNqxAJS7vHn8TPieM4lBRVBMNKfdNUQDtB-zo92lTckTukQfFI1bH99cWtA6mj-WnM68zdVRemfI4mzyP0plXEzePsMGWySuGA/s568/heart%20cookies%202.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="568" data-original-width="529" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGMWAX5IZpGRpjVECD3J5Rnz_HMEIi7uePAlSFuos_MBbcxUG8aQ_s9Y_NrEAkmZRbRGuTxZIOWSvz-ZEOuCq7vNqxAJS7vHn8TPieM4lBRVBMNKfdNUQDtB-zo92lTckTukQfFI1bH99cWtA6mj-WnM68zdVRemfI4mzyP0plXEzePsMGWySuGA/w373-h400/heart%20cookies%202.png" width="373" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p> Quickly popping in with six blessings to share from the week!</p><p>1. A glorious sunrise one morning this week as we ventured out to catch the early morning light!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUMzm8skIzJyFzpSqzUy9Uy_o19_NtN1Vy8fy1oN4GwKgTXB35vyn5xsmJnsaUzmGWmD3IhJgjdqdxMpN6IKe9aHZBPR6bG3wFLC-ASWtbbSuNMDULO5lrMcTOYOw1eyKixH41y-TFLv-3IZcsu_dC3F06QFEmrBr38UAER6_H6C8NVLpBDtEVMQ/s4608/101_2973.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="4608" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUMzm8skIzJyFzpSqzUy9Uy_o19_NtN1Vy8fy1oN4GwKgTXB35vyn5xsmJnsaUzmGWmD3IhJgjdqdxMpN6IKe9aHZBPR6bG3wFLC-ASWtbbSuNMDULO5lrMcTOYOw1eyKixH41y-TFLv-3IZcsu_dC3F06QFEmrBr38UAER6_H6C8NVLpBDtEVMQ/w400-h300/101_2973.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><p>2. Wonderful fellowship with dear friends on Monday as we met for breakfast. Another thing we did later was to work on a jigsaw puzzle together.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9QtENXYQT88fCuhChrZWqtZsXFtJXo0ITGENK1d-cFZ3zt_x8JFomV7H8WjoaR4cz4q3RMRkJttNj0Cbfp70WP6EHesep3un56LcB7xFDCNxNi7jlMQme5r1xcRECFDiXHN2OPcmxPQWjMLByJiCPTt_GSmKc8gvhQBe3McLn6j0HR7X76eUvxw/s405/Screenshot_2024-02-23%20Mrs%20T%20(%20mrsteanh)%20%E2%80%A2%20Instagram%20photos%20and%20videos(1).png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="373" data-original-width="405" height="295" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9QtENXYQT88fCuhChrZWqtZsXFtJXo0ITGENK1d-cFZ3zt_x8JFomV7H8WjoaR4cz4q3RMRkJttNj0Cbfp70WP6EHesep3un56LcB7xFDCNxNi7jlMQme5r1xcRECFDiXHN2OPcmxPQWjMLByJiCPTt_GSmKc8gvhQBe3McLn6j0HR7X76eUvxw/s320/Screenshot_2024-02-23%20Mrs%20T%20(%20mrsteanh)%20%E2%80%A2%20Instagram%20photos%20and%20videos(1).png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdxWavOb9-yps1gLmgpURolYJU2ci_w6jn-LkMWPHgfGFHPGR7cikMA2xWlOvqFx9HNHP9OS61k6N3XAWzoiZjBvGihWfJxrfOFNBkkQBSToZh7QmB84gWN9f0e9tlUT8WgpqIY9KSX4v-_jo8TY1F5kas4kc7Ao6PrM_WKk4Z8bOcQIk_HjQEfw/s4608/101_2975.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="4608" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdxWavOb9-yps1gLmgpURolYJU2ci_w6jn-LkMWPHgfGFHPGR7cikMA2xWlOvqFx9HNHP9OS61k6N3XAWzoiZjBvGihWfJxrfOFNBkkQBSToZh7QmB84gWN9f0e9tlUT8WgpqIY9KSX4v-_jo8TY1F5kas4kc7Ao6PrM_WKk4Z8bOcQIk_HjQEfw/w400-h300/101_2975.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><p>3. A chance to serve the Lord at our volunteer jobs. My hubby is helping on a remodel of one of the small buildings at <a href="http://thewildsofnewengland.org" target="_blank"><span style="color: #274e13;"><b>The Wilds of New England</b></span></a>. I've been working on purging and shredding of old files. I also got some small sewing projects done while we were there, as I had brought along my sewing machine for any downtime.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtH8TAYqYjiUamhi2uEySC4Z_PQjpNKJU6kYS8l9YPG4oRbFoWla7_Ev5qLoe55GHvXSsw0Kk3bQCFolDf_X1-FxLSBuyOhrN5VnmmSYEOjl9tQ4yrs05X9Q_Vyq6tpGYJiZ7CM-6CeGN-sAq6QK5hVu7RPALyyGTA1W5Vdb4MpbiVNG2mLQbg-w/s4608/101_2978.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="4608" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtH8TAYqYjiUamhi2uEySC4Z_PQjpNKJU6kYS8l9YPG4oRbFoWla7_Ev5qLoe55GHvXSsw0Kk3bQCFolDf_X1-FxLSBuyOhrN5VnmmSYEOjl9tQ4yrs05X9Q_Vyq6tpGYJiZ7CM-6CeGN-sAq6QK5hVu7RPALyyGTA1W5Vdb4MpbiVNG2mLQbg-w/w400-h300/101_2978.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><p>4. Getting out to walk each day this week, either in the early morning at TWNE or in the afternoon in our own local downtown.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhksVX2H2L4ZrDQl0cMtgPUIMwZ-Qg_jOon66P3MgGgdcakfYSn5Y0x67DrFnAIwddKnyCDZH44q39Iie26GrP8vSxpQIh_IdHDnmmwwQPvhuHQ7dNhnHMtgNB5kTM0sX1tmccbfhGr52OONChgGt_o9hYJUJFHQD5U8HyVEDFI_DoU49lnEq5xhg/s4608/101_2972.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="4608" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhksVX2H2L4ZrDQl0cMtgPUIMwZ-Qg_jOon66P3MgGgdcakfYSn5Y0x67DrFnAIwddKnyCDZH44q39Iie26GrP8vSxpQIh_IdHDnmmwwQPvhuHQ7dNhnHMtgNB5kTM0sX1tmccbfhGr52OONChgGt_o9hYJUJFHQD5U8HyVEDFI_DoU49lnEq5xhg/w400-h300/101_2972.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><p>5. The opportunity to get together for our monthly Ladies of Grace gathering of church ladies. Our devotional discussion was on ways to bring peace into our homes. What a blessing the time was!</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxJgHYkwdyNZjMq3vh4JD7hMT8vbm-U9kiSiwHtu7CmtpGIpMfF8VwxWtuxbkWdQb38q4s-ckvlk_cqyS9ydId2poh_TTGwX-mfpEUfp321EARJnF6guticFlNlw7C4M_33IMrAvuk4FXoSodGlZnFrgqGqioENDrsv7LREfNbz7Yq3bVVNB9giw/s609/lbb%20peace%20peace.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="609" data-original-width="422" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxJgHYkwdyNZjMq3vh4JD7hMT8vbm-U9kiSiwHtu7CmtpGIpMfF8VwxWtuxbkWdQb38q4s-ckvlk_cqyS9ydId2poh_TTGwX-mfpEUfp321EARJnF6guticFlNlw7C4M_33IMrAvuk4FXoSodGlZnFrgqGqioENDrsv7LREfNbz7Yq3bVVNB9giw/w278-h400/lbb%20peace%20peace.jpg" width="278" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This beautiful graphic, and the one below, are by Abby at <a href="http://littlebirdieblessings.blogspot.com" target="_blank"><span style="color: #073763;"><b>Little Birdie Blessings</b></span></a><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p>6. Reading in Jeremiah 29 this morning in preparation for a future Sunday School lesson. Speaking through Jeremiah, God told the Israelites four times that <i><b>He,</b></i> God, was the one who had caused them to be carried away captive. And we need to acknowledge God's hand in our difficulties, as well.</p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVs75DB1J5gYcB-T7sw2YAFLnGniOSPSAIFV1guUCnh-PuK18aDdHL5DV7MA6LghywAoUP-LozkWxA-NeCkZmrBxcqhCuY4tGq_W0aUkSLoALStlzeNHqA-chYSzbxjVN-vdz5dF9Ql6zbt8CU4wDnbYvFxP7YKADg9oDXpLHUvRKIMqt6ef2wsQ/s1000/lbb%20winter%20collage%20wm%201.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="1000" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVs75DB1J5gYcB-T7sw2YAFLnGniOSPSAIFV1guUCnh-PuK18aDdHL5DV7MA6LghywAoUP-LozkWxA-NeCkZmrBxcqhCuY4tGq_W0aUkSLoALStlzeNHqA-chYSzbxjVN-vdz5dF9Ql6zbt8CU4wDnbYvFxP7YKADg9oDXpLHUvRKIMqt6ef2wsQ/w400-h400/lbb%20winter%20collage%20wm%201.jpg" width="400" /></a></p><p>See you all tomorrow for Sunday Scripture! And I hope each of you will also seek out the blessing of fellowshipping with God's people at a Bible preaching church.<br /></p>Mrs.Thttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00392321745556290343noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15265988.post-28650918171027932012024-02-18T04:00:00.435-05:002024-02-18T04:00:00.133-05:00Sunday Scripture <p> </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy7PyZHqZMLh1jDed2xbovEnr4hyffF2H-AeDM_eDNzTz4_j_lWYrmAX3yoCyXJ_FAxX3DMw2XXUusn6rCujFjCjedD6kzf1VDixXQaKvR24tL39rWywUQqJwFGOLhwMu3IHMOybeJJbI5Y1Ff-JHy0o_6xinl5fUsRdBctFEWQfmN67qX-2f5vA/s1043/beautiful%20in%20his%20time.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="628" data-original-width="1043" height="241" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy7PyZHqZMLh1jDed2xbovEnr4hyffF2H-AeDM_eDNzTz4_j_lWYrmAX3yoCyXJ_FAxX3DMw2XXUusn6rCujFjCjedD6kzf1VDixXQaKvR24tL39rWywUQqJwFGOLhwMu3IHMOybeJJbI5Y1Ff-JHy0o_6xinl5fUsRdBctFEWQfmN67qX-2f5vA/w400-h241/beautiful%20in%20his%20time.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lovely graphic by Abby at <a href="http://littlebirdieblessings.blogspot.com" target="_blank"><span style="color: #38761d;"><b>Little Birdie Blessings</b></span></a><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p></p><p> Okay, so we are starting a new series for Sunday Scripture! Back in 2018, I did a simple study from Rachel Wojo called <i>Everything Beautiful</i>. You can read about it here: <a href="https://rachelwojo.com/everything-beautiful-bible-reading-plan-journal-challenge/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #38761d;"><b>Everything Beautiful Bible reading plan</b></span></a>. Interestingly, although it took me months to begin this study, it was perfect in God's timing. In early March 2018 I fell on the ice, injuring my back, and it took weeks to recuperate (pretty sure there were compression fractures). I had decided to begin this little study in March, and it couldn't have been more perfect for my situation.</p><p>My answers and input on this series will likely be a combination of what I learned back then, and what I found in looking over the Scriptures now, six years later. I'm going to attempt to SOAP the passages too, though some of them are longer. So buckle your seat belt, it may be a bumpy ride as I attempt this!</p><p>I'd also like to note that this Bible reading plan may be downloaded at the link above. And you might enjoy trying some of the journaling prompts for yourself! <br /></p><p><b>S=</b> "<span style="font-family: courier;">To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven.<br />"A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted;<br />"A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up;<br />"A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance;<br />"A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;<br />"A time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away;<br />"A time to tear, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;<br />"A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace.<br />"What profit hath he that worketh in that wherein he laboreth?<br />"I have seen the travail, which God hath given to the sons of men to be exercised in it.<br />"He hath made every thing beautiful in its time; also He hath set the world in their heart, so that no man can find out the work that God maketh from the beginning to the end." (Ecclesiastes 3:1-11)</span></p><p><b>O</b>= Scofield wrote concerning the book of Ecclesiastes that it is "the book of man 'under the sun' reasoning about life". </p><p>In Warren Wiersbe's <i>With the Word</i> devotional commentary, he explains, <span style="font-family: Merienda;">"In this book Solomon seeks to answer the question 'Is life worth living?' First, he states the problem and argues for the negative (chapters 1-2). Then he examines the problem from many different angles (chapters 3-10) and argues for the positive. He concludes that life is worth living if you put God first and obey His Word (chapters 11-12).</span></p><p>He adds,<span style="font-family: Merienda;"> "Called a pessimistic book, Ecclesiastes is actually realistic. Solomon looked at life and death, success and failure, time and events, and wrote down some wise counsel about how to live a meaningful life in a world of contradictions and seeming futility."</span></p><p>Now for a few cross-references:</p><p>For "<i><b>a time to die</b></i>" (Ecclesiastes 3:2) --<span style="font-family: helvetica;"> "It is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment." (Hebrews 9:27)</span></p><p>For "<i><b>weep</b></i>" (v. 4) -- "Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep."</p><p>For "<i><b>refrain from embracing</b></i>" (v. 5) --<span style="font-family: verdana;"> "Defraud ye not one the other, except it be with consent for a time, that ye may give yourselves to fasting and prayer, and come together again, that Satan tempt you not." (1 Corinthians 7:5)</span></p><p>For "<i><b>silence</b></i>" (v.7) -- <span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">"Therefore, the prudent shall keep silence in that time; for it is an evil time." (Amos 5:13)</span></span></p><p>For "<i><b>speak</b></i>" (v. 7) -- <span style="font-family: arial;">"A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver." (Proverbs 29:11)</span></p><p>For "<i><b>hate</b></i>" (v. 8) --<span style="font-family: Taviraj;"> "A righteous man hateth lying, but a wicked man is loathsome, and cometh to shame." (Proverbs 13:5)</span></p><p>For "<i><b>travail</b></i>" (v. 10) -- <span style="font-family: Quicksand;"> "For all his days are sorrows, and his travail grief; yea, his heart taketh not rest in the night. This is also vanity." (Ecclesiastes 2:23)</span><br /></p><p>For "<i><b>find out</b></i>" (v. 11) -- <span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: Philosopher;">"Then I beheld all the work of God, that a man cannot find out the work that is done under the sun, because, though a man labor to seek it out, yet shall he not find it; yea, further, though a wise man think to know it, yet shall he not be able to find it." (Ecclesiastes 8:17)</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: Paprika;">And also ... "<i><b>world</b></i>" in verse 11 literally means "<i><b>eternity</b></i>".</span><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTxQ1D4XPQHglvuYbJBtMeovzw_4zsx9tjZfyrtDj6m6rFxso41kaa4xY-7YIDfXJZXXTKtJfPhh7HS4nLBpx6STUrGq55tiEJPcXJROY-ic0l6eYOcFyJ1h65HtQ-LwNwWEnwhxbyxKz9U9kCvH47wsg_8PwxncHjJamhcte4BAyJBj_MkG2iSw/s2048/DSCN2256.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1680" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTxQ1D4XPQHglvuYbJBtMeovzw_4zsx9tjZfyrtDj6m6rFxso41kaa4xY-7YIDfXJZXXTKtJfPhh7HS4nLBpx6STUrGq55tiEJPcXJROY-ic0l6eYOcFyJ1h65HtQ-LwNwWEnwhxbyxKz9U9kCvH47wsg_8PwxncHjJamhcte4BAyJBj_MkG2iSw/w329-h400/DSCN2256.JPG" width="329" /></a></div><p><b>A</b>= Concerning these verses, Warren Wiersbe mentions two alliterative points: <b> Balance</b> and <b>Beauty</b>. <b>Balance</b> is seen in verses 1-8 where we see the various times for life events and activities. Wiersbe writes, <b>"When life is especially difficult, we are prone to see only one side of the situation. In these statements, Solomon reminds you that God is in control of life and keeps everything balanced. You feel pain when there is bereavement, but you feel joy when there is a birth. You are not always weeping, but neither are you always laughing. Job knew this principle, and it gave him strength in his trials."</b></p><p><span style="font-family: Special Elite;">"The LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD." (Job 1:21)</span></p><p>Concerning <b>Beauty</b>, Wiersbe observes, <br /></p><p><b>"It may not look like it now, but God will bring beauty out of all that happens (Romans 8:28, Isaiah 61:1-7). No matter what the seed looks like, the flower will be beautiful, so give God time to work. You were made for the eternal; in Christ, you share eternal life, the life of God (1 John 5:9-13)</b></p><p>For this Scripture, there were a number of ways to apply it as prompted in the journal. </p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: Quintessential;">"I want to focus on the beauty of God's work, even when I feel the ugliness of life's seasons." -- Rachel Wojo</span></span></p><p>The question was asked: <i><b>What season or circumstance in life challenges me to see God's gifts of beauty?</b></i></p><p><b>My response in 2018</b>: "My answer would have been quite different had I begun this on March 1 as I had planned. I would likely have said the season of settling an estate. Now, after a fall and a back injury, I would say just the circumstances of pain, discomfort, and limitations."</p><p>I quickly realized, even back then, that God had allowed those circumstances to give me some much-needed rest. I had been through a long season of eldercare and was now plunged into settling my dad's estate following his passing in 2017. Enforced rest was exactly what I needed.</p><p><i><b>Answering this same question in 2024</b></i><br /></p><p><b>My response</b>: Seasons of difficulties with people definitely challenge me to see God's gifts of beauty, yet as Wiersbe says above, God will bring beauty out of all that happens even though it may not look likely at the time. I find that it really does help me keep perspective on people and situations if I take time to notice God's power, beauty, and creativity in all that He has made.<br /></p><p>This prompt was given, along with a list:<i><b> Today I will keep my eyes open for God's beauty in one or more of these places.</b></i></p><p>These are the places I circled: <span style="font-family: verdana;">The words I read; the people I encounter; the air I breathe; the weather I experience; the rest I receive.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">I decided to take a few minutes to write about these places. I often find beauty in Scripture, especially as I write it out and memorize it. In addition, I enjoy the beauty of words in the writing of others. People I encounter may exhibit beauty in many ways: in a little granddaughter's lovely face; colors or textures in their clothing or creative endeavors; the beauty of Christlikeness in a life. The air I breathe here in New Hampshire seems fresh and clean, especially here in New Hampshire. There is so much beauty in the weather, especially the snow and ice of winter. And the rest I receive each night is truly a rich and beautiful blessing -- one that I never take for granted.</span><br /></span></p><p>A journaling prompt was this: <i><b>List one or more ideas to remind myself to intentionally look for God's beauty throughout the day.</b></i></p><p><b>2018:</b> I'll likely be indoors much, or more likely, all of this day. I need to make a point of looking out the window to see the beauty of a snow-covered landscape, even on a cloudy winter day. I also want to focus on God's goodness in giving me time to rest.</p><p><b>2024:</b> We've formed the habit of taking a short walk at sunrise each morning. The sun gilding the tops of the evergreens is one thing we've begun to look for. In a longer walk, later in the day, I often notice beautiful or unique things about God's creation.</p><p><b>P=</b> <span style="font-family: Homemade Apple;">"Lord, I I thank You for the opportunity to look back at a season that felt very difficult at the time. I do praise You for Your goodness in giving me that time to rest. It wasn't the way I would have chosen to get rest, but it was the way you provided, and was for the best. I praise that You helped me to be appreciative and to savor that quieter time. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: Homemade Apple;">"I thank You also for the beauty of sunrise and the health and strength now to get out there each morning and take it in. I praise You for the glorious winter night sky as well, and even the understated beauty of a cloudy winter day. I thank You that Your beauty is visible in so many ways in our world. I praise You for all of this, in Jesus' name, Amen."</span></p><p>So that is our first Sunday in the new series. I hope it hasn't felt too disjointed and that it's been a blessing to someone.<br /></p>Mrs.Thttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00392321745556290343noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15265988.post-64925299841522399552024-02-12T14:34:00.000-05:002024-02-12T14:34:27.511-05:00Happy Homemaker Monday for February 12<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwnaXCdm_hSvGR-B4ukf0CGfSgx66Se7ixa0Fjbs-hN4C3hl3Uf0K31EM4UC2vEwGUndQxWEYtnvBV3uM2JK0o-4hJU3XxZlHv3IOgdViLhNzNyjm4ZpW365TpiV9Hlwd5THUv5rcn5-8EogqxWhv4Ne4um9wkLNXrsvto28zdWpoD3JUtChI6YA/s1080/Happy%20Homemaker%20Mondaywinter.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwnaXCdm_hSvGR-B4ukf0CGfSgx66Se7ixa0Fjbs-hN4C3hl3Uf0K31EM4UC2vEwGUndQxWEYtnvBV3uM2JK0o-4hJU3XxZlHv3IOgdViLhNzNyjm4ZpW365TpiV9Hlwd5THUv5rcn5-8EogqxWhv4Ne4um9wkLNXrsvto28zdWpoD3JUtChI6YA/w400-h400/Happy%20Homemaker%20Mondaywinter.png" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>As usual, there's no time for a long post, but
I'm taking a few minutes to join Sandra for this link party over at <span style="color: #990000;"><a href="https://familycorner.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><b>Diary of a Stay at Home Mom</b></a></span>. <br /></p><span><span style="color: #38761d;"><b><span><span><span><span><span><span><span style="font-size: large;"></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></b></span></span><p><span><span style="color: #38761d;"><b><span><span><span><span><span><span><span style="font-size: large;">The Weather:::</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></b></span></span></p><p><span> It's 40º and sunny at 12:15 pm. 9 mph wind so it feels like 35º. <br /></span></p><p><span><span style="color: #38761d;"><b><span><span style="font-size: large;"><span><span><span><span><span>As I look outside my window:::</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></b></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: small;"><span><span style="color: #38761d;"><span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #444444;"><span><span><span><span><span><span>Lots
of snow on the ground in the woods and a very icy (though melting) driveway. Beautiful blue sky.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p><p><br /><span style="font-size: small;"><span><span style="color: #38761d;"><span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #444444;"><span><span><span><span><span><span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNOwoRyxpHj5S2QyiMuUOkoHxzX7songLlq1WE0XhTO9gOIqM5fLmylb23flFUZGCvoLsiILCtV1P1D3LtrCuKXGeld2mgC-urwcZMS5Vc0a93xcGu2cXDM-cgwK8hvvNn7SQ14fjcRFWplqWSfYT85MRIjo9WG4q7zkfHS7afOoiXMQuhkAXA-A/s1761/1930s%20skating%20Valentine%20.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1761" data-original-width="1543" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNOwoRyxpHj5S2QyiMuUOkoHxzX7songLlq1WE0XhTO9gOIqM5fLmylb23flFUZGCvoLsiILCtV1P1D3LtrCuKXGeld2mgC-urwcZMS5Vc0a93xcGu2cXDM-cgwK8hvvNn7SQ14fjcRFWplqWSfYT85MRIjo9WG4q7zkfHS7afOoiXMQuhkAXA-A/w350-h400/1930s%20skating%20Valentine%20.jpeg" width="350" /></a></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p><p><span style="color: #38761d;"><b><span><span><span><span><span><span style="font-size: large;">Right now I am:::</span></span></span></span><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span></span></b></span><br /></p><div style="text-align: left;"> Working
on a blog post. </div><div style="text-align: left;"> <span style="color: #38761d;"><b><span><span><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span></span></b></span><span style="color: #38761d;"><b><span><span><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></span><span><span><span style="font-size: large;">Thinking and pondering:::</span></span></span></b></span></div><p><span style="color: #444444;"><span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span></span></span></span><span style="color: #444444;"><span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">About what we've been learning from <i>Loving God with All Your Mind</i> about wrong responses to difficulties. There are all sorts of wrong responses, ranging from doubt to bitterness to manipulation, and we've all probably responded in these ways at one time or another in our Christian life. Currently I'm observing people who are reacting to difficulties in some of these wrong ways, and it's quite disheartening. </span></span></span></span></span></span></p><p><span style="color: #444444;"><span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">And also pondering on how crucial it is to have our spiritual armor firmly in place. </span></span></span></span></span></span></p><p><span style="color: #444444;"><span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span></span></span></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA86sqRzsx8XfMNITCmI5wBM6alXr_cKjUJ2eHoJjxnL0visuig7GEKiLL4Slfpj5L_wAASWP64-kSl48tdhLpW49Tq57otkdNhvrO6cp9U9VBB_cZYMGDPYWOgLk5QKYvgeb1CWwMKbmiOqg32B4YqSVnvIb3yAd1o8PxwOaqZb5RvF7AOOVk-g/s1404/wastebasket%20Valentine.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1404" data-original-width="1124" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA86sqRzsx8XfMNITCmI5wBM6alXr_cKjUJ2eHoJjxnL0visuig7GEKiLL4Slfpj5L_wAASWP64-kSl48tdhLpW49Tq57otkdNhvrO6cp9U9VBB_cZYMGDPYWOgLk5QKYvgeb1CWwMKbmiOqg32B4YqSVnvIb3yAd1o8PxwOaqZb5RvF7AOOVk-g/w320-h400/wastebasket%20Valentine.jpeg" width="320" /></a></p><p><span style="font-family: Bree Serif;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><b><span><span><span><span><span style="font-size: large;">On my bedside table:::</span></span></span></span></span></b></span> </span></p><div style="text-align: left;"><p> A lamp, 2 books, and a pen<br /> </p><p><span style="color: #38761d;"><b><span><span><span><span><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span></span></span></span></b></span><span style="color: #38761d;"><b><span><span><span><span><span style="font-size: large;">Listening to:::</span></span></span></span></span></b></span> <br /></p>Literally, silence. The occasional faint sounds from the kitchen as my hubby prepares a batch of fudge.<br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiga3am8sb6Teu8DkRxkUSBm84NOxK_ivaDWfDmhsLaQv_aVz_gkFn16Zyglnnw6XFzxwZVf3XTzwN9yoormrEzuCQGNQat56dJlVr-aYT2HZf6R3n-7_7XnnUWyyFvr6-Oi09FU9X3ESS5jyQSmDHsZmYIORfeZEk6PFDlYsGfqiGa63vRor5lEQ/s1152/Valentine%20girl%20with%20flowers.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1070" data-original-width="1152" height="371" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiga3am8sb6Teu8DkRxkUSBm84NOxK_ivaDWfDmhsLaQv_aVz_gkFn16Zyglnnw6XFzxwZVf3XTzwN9yoormrEzuCQGNQat56dJlVr-aYT2HZf6R3n-7_7XnnUWyyFvr6-Oi09FU9X3ESS5jyQSmDHsZmYIORfeZEk6PFDlYsGfqiGa63vRor5lEQ/w400-h371/Valentine%20girl%20with%20flowers.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><p><span style="color: #38761d;"><b><span><span><span style="font-size: large;">On the Breakfast plate:::</span></span></span></b></span> I
do intermittent fasting so don't have breakfast. Lunch was a salad of leaf lettuce, cubed turkey and cheddar cheese.<br /></p><p> <span style="color: #38761d;"><b><span><span><span style="font-size: large;">On the dinner plate:::</span></span></span></b></span> </p><p>Chicken divan and maybe a baked sweet potato.<br /></p><p><span style="color: #38761d;"><b><span><span><span style="font-size: large;">On the menu for this week:::</span></span></span></b></span> </p><div style="text-align: left;"><p> A few meals on my menu plan:</p></div><div style="text-align: left;">Hamburgers, roasted Brussels sprouts<br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Chicken divan<br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Egg bake, homemade sausage<br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><b><span><span><span style="font-size: large;">On my reading pile:::</span></span></span></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><b><span><span><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span></span></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i><a href="https://www.thriftbooks.com/w/every-ocean-has-a-shore_jamie-langston-turner/38725477/#edition=66627917&idiq=56450737" target="_blank"><span style="color: #38761d;"><b> Every Ocean Has a Shore</b></span></a>, </i>by Jamie Langston Turner, a Christmas gift I'm really enjoying.<i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>Adorned </i>by Nancy DeMoss Wolgemuth<br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://www.thriftbooks.com/w/finding-a-mentor-being-a-mentor-sharing-our-lives-as-women-of-god_donna-otto/372192/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #a64d79;"><b><i>Finding a Mentor, Being a Mentor</i></b></span></a> by Donna Otto <br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://www.thriftbooks.com/w/a-step-farther-and-higher-some-turn-back-others-never-will_gail-macdonald/485818/?resultid=3493d90d-4817-4af8-9e8f-b8e7a91be7f7#edition=1712052&idiq=3329312" target="_blank"><b><span style="color: #0b5394;"><i>A Step Farther and Higher</i></span></b></a>, by Gail MacDonald<a href="https://www.thriftbooks.com/w/high-call-high-privilege_gail-macdonald/306982/#edition=3602810&idiq=1045742" target="_blank"><span style="color: #783f04;"><i><b><br />High Call, High Privilege</b></i></span></a>, also by Gail MacDonald</div><div style="text-align: left;"><i><span style="color: #134f5c;"></span></i></div><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu7sgqmx0a8vJBy_n6uvVd40ygP8Ly-AEO-fikzc7uA0ZjPfYLPvdHSdMU845n6PVsfn4pfYdUolDOAOCzztrpr55rpTv1sPPCM8PsbwaNIPlU-SqB824nLa6QzQ54lPB3rSG0YzDrxrzwRmJHaCHIecls65JOGIGJmxkpoUF-Grj2vzw1TQLDXQ/s2139/cheerleader%20valentine.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2139" data-original-width="1455" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu7sgqmx0a8vJBy_n6uvVd40ygP8Ly-AEO-fikzc7uA0ZjPfYLPvdHSdMU845n6PVsfn4pfYdUolDOAOCzztrpr55rpTv1sPPCM8PsbwaNIPlU-SqB824nLa6QzQ54lPB3rSG0YzDrxrzwRmJHaCHIecls65JOGIGJmxkpoUF-Grj2vzw1TQLDXQ/w273-h400/cheerleader%20valentine.jpeg" width="273" /></a><a href="https://www.thriftbooks.com/w/all-manner-of-things_susie-finkbeiner/19683215/#edition=20900078&idiq=39043934" target="_blank"><br /></a><i></i><span style="color: #38761d;"><span><b><span><span style="font-size: large;">On my to do list today:::</span></span></b></span></span> <br /></p><div style="text-align: left;"> Spend time cross stitching</div><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: left;">Write some thank-you notes</div><div style="text-align: left;">Go grocery shopping √<br />Go for a walk downtown<br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Do some planning for later in the week</div><div style="text-align: left;">Type up missions team meeting minutes; email to team members<br />Writing posts for both blogs</div><div style="text-align: left;">Work on my Sunday School lesson</div><div style="text-align: left;">Email a mission board with a question √</div><div style="text-align: left;">Crochet several squares for my temperature blanket<br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><span style="color: #38761d;"><b><span><span><span style="font-size: large;">Plans for this week:::</span></span></span></b></span><br /><br />Plan menus for next week when we'll be at our volunteer job for several days<br />Etsy listings<br /><div style="text-align: left;">Ironing<br />Take a bag to the thrift store<br />Work on Sunday School lesson 20<br /></div>Blogging<br /><div style="text-align: left;">Get started with an exercise regimen<br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Begin some serious decluttering</div><div style="text-align: left;">Start a pillow quilt</div></div><div style="text-align: left;">Make mug rug and coaster<br />Do some cleaning at my volunteer job</div><div style="text-align: left;">Bake some heart shaped cookies for a friend's birthday </div><div style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgilhiw_Vcgq1sjP7p_qNYHxx8Ys2MgAMcIHuhri25PZSvoyGkk8rkxwhr7j8R9BSYIg_tfiJNLd_zC1PTExDT-G2hOWCd63Gx6EgyvW6r3XULy295lWN6VrH8IgqkYc7WMiryApv1EpwY5NcfJ8DBwN4QhlNjArMn68q2cY0B98bItNP95tchPSw/s568/heart%20cookies%202.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="568" data-original-width="529" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgilhiw_Vcgq1sjP7p_qNYHxx8Ys2MgAMcIHuhri25PZSvoyGkk8rkxwhr7j8R9BSYIg_tfiJNLd_zC1PTExDT-G2hOWCd63Gx6EgyvW6r3XULy295lWN6VrH8IgqkYc7WMiryApv1EpwY5NcfJ8DBwN4QhlNjArMn68q2cY0B98bItNP95tchPSw/w373-h400/heart%20cookies%202.png" width="373" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><b><span><span><span style="font-size: large;">What I am creating:::</span></span></span></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><b><span><span><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span></span></b></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><span><span><span><span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span><span>⛄ January</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span> cross-stitch sampler, plus another wintry cross-stitch intended for a gift<br /><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span><span><span><span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span><span>⛄ </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span>Some <a href="https://acrossmytable.blogspot.com/2010/08/condensation-catchers.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><b>"condensation catchers" </b></span></a>out of old towels to place behind toilets that sweat in the humidity -- no, I still haven't <strike>finished</strike>
started those! 😕 And I need to do so, because the old towels are just
sitting around waiting to be used! And also because we keep getting
sporadic warmer weather and I half expect the toilets to start sweating
again.<br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span><span><span><span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span><span>⛄ </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span>An older unfinished dishcloth in a more challenging pattern<br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span><span><span><span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span><span>⛄</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span> Need to start a pillow quilt <br /><span style="font-size: medium;"><span><span><span><span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span><span>⛄</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span> Need to start a mug rug and coaster for a March birthday gift</div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span><span><span><span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span><span>⛄ </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span>A granny square temperature blanket<br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><span><b><span style="font-size: large;">Bible verse, Devotional, Quote:::</span></b></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><span><b><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></b></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;">In my preparation for Sunday School lesson 18, with its focus on Romans 8:28, I referred to Willmington's Bible Handbook. In the light of Romans 8:28 and the truth that God is working all things together for good in the lives of believers, Willmington referred to the responses of two men -- Joseph, and his father Jacob — to bad things in their lives. If we look at Genesis 42:36, what was Jacob’s response to trouble here? He said that <b>“all these things are against me.”</b><br /> </div><div style="text-align: left;"> If we turn over to Genesis 50:20 and read that, we see Joseph’s response, looking back at some incredibly hard things in his life. His response was quite a contrast: <b>“God meant it unto good”</b>.<br /> </div><div style="text-align: left;">And just for one more response to hard things, consider what Paul had to say about difficulties in Acts chapter 20, verses 22-24. Paul’s reaction to “all these things" was <b>“None of these things move me”</b>.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /> Many years ago, I was at a ladies’ retreat where the speaker challenged us to consider how we handled problems. Would our reaction be more like that of Jacob, or would it be more like that of Paul or Joseph? In thinking about this today, I am very thankful that God has helped me to grow beyond the response of “all these things are against me.” I’m at the place (also by God’s grace) where I see that God means all things for good in my life, even things that appear to be bad things. But I must admit I haven’t yet fully reached the place where “none of these things move me.”<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Paprika;"> </span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQHhbvR0h429G6i0XYj4zqJTQ3sgc2csegg79hF8wlPAU2vWkpG39exM1ubPput1FRt7O2Hc5dKDaAdD2yj3cd7yR2X5_dMFm1WJUKHNbMhPjchNmYbscNglO7HBM-xr2S67eKLYfSYmTGEa3mz5gvh5dCKNSL-ob6-89zNC5ssCqkQCZxbj2zog/s400/Pooh%20votive%20holder.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="391" data-original-width="400" height="391" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQHhbvR0h429G6i0XYj4zqJTQ3sgc2csegg79hF8wlPAU2vWkpG39exM1ubPput1FRt7O2Hc5dKDaAdD2yj3cd7yR2X5_dMFm1WJUKHNbMhPjchNmYbscNglO7HBM-xr2S67eKLYfSYmTGEa3mz5gvh5dCKNSL-ob6-89zNC5ssCqkQCZxbj2zog/w400-h391/Pooh%20votive%20holder.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Paprika;"> </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="reference" style="color: #38761d;"><span><b><span style="font-size: large;">On my prayer list::: <br /></span></b></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;">Friends & family<br />Church family<br />Missionaries <br />Our country</div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div>And there's the Happy Homemaker Monday for this week!</div></div><span style="font-family: Paprika;"> </span></div> </div> </div><p><span style="color: #444444;"><span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></span></span></span></span></p><p><span><span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #444444;"><span><span><span><span><span><span> </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p>Mrs.Thttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00392321745556290343noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15265988.post-25700851833061923142024-02-11T04:00:00.223-05:002024-02-11T04:00:00.241-05:00Sunday Scripture<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrRt1SIZjh3pAvIF-fAXwJaEG788bVme21ZCJwVeJ8aG0Sx2oxfHQLThC2nE7rT29brfAMcnZ22kXUbSaxmcaoOtU9Teirft6019xIaY-_49kY5XVLihx6bsGaOe0pSxPE0lypLQCGHpfQs8_YAc8V8NKGmc_Ll0tIIg_npvNVDMnJ6qgFPZ6YFg/s1080/Isaiah%2043-1,2.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrRt1SIZjh3pAvIF-fAXwJaEG788bVme21ZCJwVeJ8aG0Sx2oxfHQLThC2nE7rT29brfAMcnZ22kXUbSaxmcaoOtU9Teirft6019xIaY-_49kY5XVLihx6bsGaOe0pSxPE0lypLQCGHpfQs8_YAc8V8NKGmc_Ll0tIIg_npvNVDMnJ6qgFPZ6YFg/w400-h400/Isaiah%2043-1,2.png" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>For this week's Sunday Scripture series, I'm finishing up my simple study of a little devotional journal titled <a href="https://www.christianbook.com/woman-god-sees-prayer-journal-kjv/9781943216185/pd/216181?event=CPOF" target="_blank"><span style="color: #38761d;"><i><b>Reflections: The Woman God Sees</b></i></span></a>,
by Jane L. Fryar -- a journal gifted me by some dear young friends. It
has a daily
devotional one works through -- about a month's worth or so. The daily devotions were a
blessing to me when I worked through the book, so I've been sharing
them here. And today is the last in the series!<br /></p><p>The
Scripture for today is Isaiah 43:1. Here's the assignment:
"Each blessing described in this journal is yours because you are the Lord's redeemed. Jesus brought you back from sin and death by suffering and dying for you on the cross. List your fears below. Then cross them out one by one as you repeat, 'I am redeemed!' " I
chose
to <a href="https://acrossmytable.blogspot.com/2015/09/the-soap-method-of-bible-study.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: #b45f06;"><b>SOAP</b></span></a> Isaiah 43:1-2 as I considered this assignment. </p><p><b>S=</b> <span style="font-family: courier;">"But, now, thus saith the LORD who created thee, O Jacob, and He who formed thee, O Israel, Fear not, for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art Mine.<br />"When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee; when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned, neither shall the flame kindle upon thee." (Isaiah 43:1-2)</span></p><p><b>O=</b> Although quite obviously spoken to Israel, these words are absolutely applicable to believers as well. God says:</p><p>* Fear not<br />* I have redeemed you<br />* I have called you by name<br />* You are mine<br />* I will be with you</p><p>Cross-references for "<i><b>Fear not</b></i>" --</p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">"Fear not, for I am with thee." (Isaiah 43:5)</span></p><p><span style="font-family: courier;">"Fear thou not; for I am with thee. Be not dismayed, for I am thy God. I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; Yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of My righteousness." (Isaiah 41:10)</span></p><p><span style="font-family: Quicksand;">"Thus saith the LORD that made thee, and formed thee from the womb, who will help thee: Fear not." (Isaiah 44:2)</span></p><p>Cross-reference for "<i><b>redeemed</b></i>" --</p><p><span style="font-family: courier;">"Thus saith the LORD, the King of Israel, and His redeemer, the LORD of hosts: I am the first, and I am the last, and beside Me there is no God." (Isaiah 44:6)</span></p><p>Cross-references for "<i><b>Mine</b></i>" -- </p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">"Behold, I have engraved thee upon the palm of My hands; thy walls are continually before Me." (Isaiah 49:16)</span></p><p><span style="font-family: Special Elite;">"The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want." (Psalm 23:1)</span></p><p>Jude 1 refers to <span style="font-family: arial;">"them that are preserved in Jesus Christ". </span></p><p>C.I. Scofield writes: <span style="font-family: Merienda;">"Assurance is the Christian's full conviction that, through the work of Christ alone, received by faith, he is in possession of a salvation in which he will be eternally kept."</span></p><p><b>A=</b> Decades ago, my daughters' school choir sang a song based on this passage. Some of the words went something like this (to the best of my recollection, anyway):</p><p><span style="font-family: Paprika;">"Be not afraid, for I have redeemed you; Be not afraid: I have called you by name. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; When you pass through the floods they will not overflow; When you walk through the fire you will not be consumed; you are Mine; you are precious in My sight."</span></p><p>In answer to this assignment: <i><b>"Each blessing described in this journal is yours because you are the
Lord's redeemed. Jesus brought you back from sin and death by suffering
and dying for you on the cross. List your fears below. Then cross
them out one by one as you repeat, 'I am redeemed!' </b></i>I wrote:</p><p>The fears I am dealing with right now are more real and more intense than any of my previous fears -- although I have known deep fear in past trials. Our country is in a very serious situation right now with threats from within and without. We personally are not at all wealthy (in a monetary sense) but we live a comfortable life and are blessed with many freedoms. We stand to lose much and may face unimaginable difficulties. But we are redeemed. God knows us by name. He is with us. We need not fear.</p><p>Another part of the assignment went like this: <i><b>"As you get ready for bed each evening, remind yourself: 'I am redeemed. Jesus knows my name. I belong to Him.' Then sleep in peace."</b></i></p><p>This is a wonderful idea and I sort of already do something like this, but I think I'll be adding this in. I was also reminded of <span style="font-family: verdana;">Psalm 4:8: "I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep: for Thou, LORD, only makest me dwell in safety."</span><br /></p><p><b>P=</b> <span style="font-family: Homemade Apple;">"Oh Lord, as I read through these verses, I am overwhelmed by the greatness of who You are: The King of Israel! My redeemer! The Lord of hosts! The first and the last! The one true God!</span></p><p><span style="font-family: Homemade Apple;">How can I possibly fear when I remember who You are, and that You, the incomparable, Almighty, all-knowing God, are also my ever-present Shepherd.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: Homemade Apple;">You have redeemed me! You have called me by name! I am Yours! When I go through deep waters, You are with me and You promise that they will not overflow me. When I walk through fiery trials, I will not be consumed by them. From the experience of the three Hebrew men in the fiery furnace, I know that You will be walking through the fire with me. How amazing! How reassuring!</span></p><p><span style="font-family: Homemade Apple;">I praise You for Your love and care, in Jesus' name, Amen."</span></p><p>And there is this week's Sunday Scripture and the finish to our study of<i> The Woman God Sees</i>. I hope it's been a blessing!<br /></p><p><br /></p>Mrs.Thttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00392321745556290343noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15265988.post-92155219058611741602024-02-10T11:49:00.003-05:002024-02-10T11:49:53.490-05:00A bit of winter decor<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwh1JYeOkFDEWFts04v16JprpQFeEE5T8JdmLlZHPoBuLtGfdfTMGHMu3H2jqUpBx0s0UY-tABBf4ymUamLsI4wMKNEC7KROls3nhaNnLpCL6GqnNtC9IhidBnC45ovTivdoGgMKo3RdG8bYpagUmUsWB0L3Dxp60ITwJvPKyZZeQlqtX_fY9a9w/s4608/101_2946.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="4608" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwh1JYeOkFDEWFts04v16JprpQFeEE5T8JdmLlZHPoBuLtGfdfTMGHMu3H2jqUpBx0s0UY-tABBf4ymUamLsI4wMKNEC7KROls3nhaNnLpCL6GqnNtC9IhidBnC45ovTivdoGgMKo3RdG8bYpagUmUsWB0L3Dxp60ITwJvPKyZZeQlqtX_fY9a9w/w400-h300/101_2946.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>Now that it's almost Valentine's Day, I'm going to share the smidgen of winter decorating I did. The area pictured above is the top of a shortish bookcase in a corner of the living room. Some of these same items were here for Christmas decor, but they are lovely and wintry and so they remain -- the card back center, from our good friend Kristina; the beautiful winter pitcher is by Hallmark and was a thrift store find a couple of years ago; and the little cardinal, for whatever reason, was found in a kitchen drawer at my childhood home.</p><p>The crewel picture of a skating boy was made by me in the 1970s; the winter tag was made by me a few years ago; the little house in a jar was made by me from a repurposed candle jar; the blue snowflake made by a crafting friend; and the "January" garland was made by my friend Judy.</p><p>Inquiring minds might like a closer look at a couple of things. Below is the back side of the January/winter tag. It was my first attempt at tag making and I still love it.<br /></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4go-S-8Ysulr0u7fdKtZoOCac36_wFSNJ42MWHUlQRDGtEwdXpNKcX61YT2I46dUfv5K-aJaQUBl1Tcu7L4CuWuAY8dWunDnvOoa5CxbZd08cmUApzs8nJFI4jwEeAWEo36eNmvLMOWT7Mw334gjgUvN8DPwrGMcv6RObXGUVXyyeXgsMTc7r-g/s522/Jan%20tag%20back.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="522" data-original-width="289" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4go-S-8Ysulr0u7fdKtZoOCac36_wFSNJ42MWHUlQRDGtEwdXpNKcX61YT2I46dUfv5K-aJaQUBl1Tcu7L4CuWuAY8dWunDnvOoa5CxbZd08cmUApzs8nJFI4jwEeAWEo36eNmvLMOWT7Mw334gjgUvN8DPwrGMcv6RObXGUVXyyeXgsMTc7r-g/w221-h400/Jan%20tag%20back.jpg" width="221" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb9wb8NE8IWcORjA2FaaeHN5JENyinAk9ravYIZcardok8ESJqf1Pp9mqon0XRbMxlJNv9zpQGwkR9ovvTw3b-TQec5sMbx-vqKqron_sOk_GN9GlqEmFG2__qLpWwfB159858GnWvsifJ-Egd-nVFtFSssG5-YnuhhMDUPbeUtotEhofnMRlXSg/s402/jantagfront.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="402" data-original-width="376" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb9wb8NE8IWcORjA2FaaeHN5JENyinAk9ravYIZcardok8ESJqf1Pp9mqon0XRbMxlJNv9zpQGwkR9ovvTw3b-TQec5sMbx-vqKqron_sOk_GN9GlqEmFG2__qLpWwfB159858GnWvsifJ-Egd-nVFtFSssG5-YnuhhMDUPbeUtotEhofnMRlXSg/w374-h400/jantagfront.jpg" width="374" /></a></div>This is the front of the tag. I repurposed a little snowman charm from a defunct necklace. <br /><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5IGVyUgjdf-yTPvvuDNxSYXo8UTfqGkwk9Bx3-6_gxM-nuvizJKZcHtLrDG-lRUcGMSqczjIDzhN2tAd3pspU1i4XJZxigcqZo35zlUXVr2K2_qobEdYcUQNf-9-hYiHxL8q8Yt-cxee6Y9BWWzlFLOEATqxJkI0-i29YLZMUiDpEHyeXakA8qQ/s2048/DSCN0836.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5IGVyUgjdf-yTPvvuDNxSYXo8UTfqGkwk9Bx3-6_gxM-nuvizJKZcHtLrDG-lRUcGMSqczjIDzhN2tAd3pspU1i4XJZxigcqZo35zlUXVr2K2_qobEdYcUQNf-9-hYiHxL8q8Yt-cxee6Y9BWWzlFLOEATqxJkI0-i29YLZMUiDpEHyeXakA8qQ/w400-h300/DSCN0836.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>This adorable project was so much fun to make. Find out how I did it here: <a href="http://mychristmaskitchen.blogspot.com/2015/12/a-few-minutes-at-my-crafting-desk.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: #38761d;"><b>Winter house in a jar.</b></span></a> I'm still astounded that I was able to pull this project together. <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLkhw0JDuLpx24g9zVWbW_63FAEmYbkXpVSd_xBQhUydIDTzy2jCWjZxDnIYHKWjXurKAA2-33Io-MJqQB1emIlr-Ss8fI3_q1_2y3vtk98tGbFHQNLaRWeoDEK0qIvP0FwrN8Xoj6DDvkpc_UKaLYpMgCwNIpcTwcdIEHTxvVOdxnBUpBO2xcVg/s4608/101_2958.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="4608" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLkhw0JDuLpx24g9zVWbW_63FAEmYbkXpVSd_xBQhUydIDTzy2jCWjZxDnIYHKWjXurKAA2-33Io-MJqQB1emIlr-Ss8fI3_q1_2y3vtk98tGbFHQNLaRWeoDEK0qIvP0FwrN8Xoj6DDvkpc_UKaLYpMgCwNIpcTwcdIEHTxvVOdxnBUpBO2xcVg/w400-h300/101_2958.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>Top 2 shelves of my winter hutch.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiThyLIa9liLGi3g5825teDmUeXixZbtgtqXMNbbjonJCfU6JgGnrY9sQZLMyRfhsVv9hsVOQX0zhR5bAew4CHwahZcdg3ZjT4KlpsXovWZ4M7hzZGOtgNC9mqK-q_JCEeoT62ATNnuGvcigpQEB6AXXMnziJch5YZKkHap1VJZQ-6ynEW1GBQOJw/s3755/101_2960.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="3755" height="369" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiThyLIa9liLGi3g5825teDmUeXixZbtgtqXMNbbjonJCfU6JgGnrY9sQZLMyRfhsVv9hsVOQX0zhR5bAew4CHwahZcdg3ZjT4KlpsXovWZ4M7hzZGOtgNC9mqK-q_JCEeoT62ATNnuGvcigpQEB6AXXMnziJch5YZKkHap1VJZQ-6ynEW1GBQOJw/w400-h369/101_2960.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>A blurry photo. It's hard to photograph things in jars. This one was repurposed from a mason jar with no lid, a figurine from a broken snow globe, and a page from an old hymnal. The song is "Whiter Than Snow", but that's impossible to see from this photo.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMzXziTG71prDcOL3wB41X_3BOtypu9W6XV0ribM2iUsHU5whYycfZuXpciy_qOlEaJ3ozv9qUtRroRJSu9ucoF_NwIQfy8dfK8TkKrJueVEAJL_MH_b3GAGw9AdbPR9nu5wTvz2irxydNF5t9gvDRaYzObCgW6v_tBOBWTk7jZUisZiV3Ol0ysA/s4608/101_2963.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2604" data-original-width="4608" height="226" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMzXziTG71prDcOL3wB41X_3BOtypu9W6XV0ribM2iUsHU5whYycfZuXpciy_qOlEaJ3ozv9qUtRroRJSu9ucoF_NwIQfy8dfK8TkKrJueVEAJL_MH_b3GAGw9AdbPR9nu5wTvz2irxydNF5t9gvDRaYzObCgW6v_tBOBWTk7jZUisZiV3Ol0ysA/w400-h226/101_2963.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>A fun Christmas card from my daughter's family and some of my glitter houses.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidsfGmYiMQzF1qZubrWCLz4ybQ_erEO3OrYwzcXZbO3R5TxjKC7gfpS1yfOm_peJRRdru96O_MuuGDF9yOLT9E2aOGbp_nzHyWjqmyAHAsKQaDSa_Wr67hebeSw3RWo-Qo_IKiM30UajdeZjwQubZHozjTi1KnEnYWshHyUERt1q-yzH_JJds0Qw/s4218/101_2964.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2231" data-original-width="4218" height="211" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidsfGmYiMQzF1qZubrWCLz4ybQ_erEO3OrYwzcXZbO3R5TxjKC7gfpS1yfOm_peJRRdru96O_MuuGDF9yOLT9E2aOGbp_nzHyWjqmyAHAsKQaDSa_Wr67hebeSw3RWo-Qo_IKiM30UajdeZjwQubZHozjTi1KnEnYWshHyUERt1q-yzH_JJds0Qw/w400-h211/101_2964.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>"Snow" card made by my friend Judy; a cross stitch made by me<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWOpcH6nqrK5GwRx4aSkwMa1JP33YqZQi3m6aHYrwx6MRdGI4eUhoKGT1oevF0JZRSJj4OFM_VgmGmanJjeZ7Oew5DO4vNhjE2RkWcfECtlEMpnTr1gbfhrkUzP_ywt9dtUeQUDJjLaADSVXEthtovDcAbMOy-8bvaNZHYaMaSw59vszLSzenR4g/s3625/101_2966.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3181" data-original-width="3625" height="351" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWOpcH6nqrK5GwRx4aSkwMa1JP33YqZQi3m6aHYrwx6MRdGI4eUhoKGT1oevF0JZRSJj4OFM_VgmGmanJjeZ7Oew5DO4vNhjE2RkWcfECtlEMpnTr1gbfhrkUzP_ywt9dtUeQUDJjLaADSVXEthtovDcAbMOy-8bvaNZHYaMaSw59vszLSzenR4g/w400-h351/101_2966.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>The two oldest grandgirls are now adults, but I've always liked this fun snowman photo of them. The Fire King "Kimberly" mug just seems to fit with winter decor, and the cabin plate was a thrift store find.<br /><p><br /></p><p>And there is some of my simple winter decorating!<br /></p>Mrs.Thttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00392321745556290343noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15265988.post-44790893472365405112024-02-05T16:56:00.002-05:002024-02-05T16:56:15.991-05:00Happy Homemaker Monday<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7DFEGVlFGAtlG8pVSwpYxDwXE29lltgOLk_E_2xeoh3ytHooF7vdS9ptTwVrYDYSG4BfQmcPh14J0u3J_L437bHfX-7jXdCC2JdqS9y1vNYO4uM3WAxmeyz9SsI_ioiW10lTBMr08hm2xFjiXZFkk3eSD50mIbfpVwyOcnMC-0j0g5CS2x75VsQ/s1080/Happy%20Homemaker%20Mondaywinter.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7DFEGVlFGAtlG8pVSwpYxDwXE29lltgOLk_E_2xeoh3ytHooF7vdS9ptTwVrYDYSG4BfQmcPh14J0u3J_L437bHfX-7jXdCC2JdqS9y1vNYO4uM3WAxmeyz9SsI_ioiW10lTBMr08hm2xFjiXZFkk3eSD50mIbfpVwyOcnMC-0j0g5CS2x75VsQ/w400-h400/Happy%20Homemaker%20Mondaywinter.png" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>As usual, there's no time for a long post, but
I'm taking a few minutes to join Sandra for this link party over at <span style="color: #990000;"><a href="https://familycorner.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><b>Diary of a Stay at Home Mom</b></a></span>. <br /></p><span><span style="color: #38761d;"><b><span><span><span><span><span><span><span style="font-size: large;"></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></b></span></span><p><span><span style="color: #38761d;"><b><span><span><span><span><span><span><span style="font-size: large;">The Weather:::</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></b></span></span></p><p><span> It's
32º and sunny at 4:30 pm. 10 mph wind so it feels like 23º. <br /></span></p><p><span><span style="color: #38761d;"><b><span><span style="font-size: large;"><span><span><span><span><span>As I look outside my window:::</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></b></span></span></p><p><span><span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #444444;"><span><span><span><span><span><span>Lots of snow on the ground in the woods and a very icy driveway. And looking out my window at night one would see what we call "the little fir tree" bravely shining to beat back the dark winter.<br /></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p><p><span><span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #444444;"><span><span><span><span><span><span><br /></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4uQg_Cv72B7D2niJaJZ_8qgmCf2nk37hSK_DIdePYbwiBYJR4ODifu6aHIE796QAUDi493uYPuCc7mQyzm1216DC_tGUv3SE2YLUaHqPf5kQn3oA5rW7KLQniGXCtTSh4FvmXoOu5BrYj5D1rDoBmfZRPrCt_zg_sNXZLOqdb3-ZHyae0Dh9FmQ/s4608/101_2940.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="4608" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4uQg_Cv72B7D2niJaJZ_8qgmCf2nk37hSK_DIdePYbwiBYJR4ODifu6aHIE796QAUDi493uYPuCc7mQyzm1216DC_tGUv3SE2YLUaHqPf5kQn3oA5rW7KLQniGXCtTSh4FvmXoOu5BrYj5D1rDoBmfZRPrCt_zg_sNXZLOqdb3-ZHyae0Dh9FmQ/w400-h300/101_2940.JPG" width="400" /></a></span></div><b><span><span style="font-size: large;"><span><span><span><span><span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></b><p></p><p><span style="color: #38761d;"><b><span><span><span><span><span><span style="font-size: large;">Right now I am:::</span></span></span></span><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span></span></b></span><br /></p><div style="text-align: left;"> Working
on a blog post. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><b><span><span><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span></span></b></span><span style="color: #38761d;"><b><span><span><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></span><span><span><span style="font-size: large;">Thinking and pondering:::</span></span></span></b></span></div><p><span style="color: #444444;"><span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> On something presented in this week's Sunday School lesson. This is the study <i>Loving God with All Your Mind</i> by Elizabeth George. In the chapter we went over yesterday in class we were talking about Romans 8:28 and how *all* things work together for good in believers' lives and just what "all things" includes. The point was made in the chapter that "all things" also includes the <i><b>people</b></i> in a difficult situation: Whether an individual brings us joy or sorrow, pleasure or pain, comfort or conflict, he or she has come into our lives by the hand of God .. and He uses each and every one for His purposes and for our eventual good. Now this is a very deep thought and a hard one for me to process. Maybe for you too. But we can count on it … some good will come from every relationship, even the most difficult and painful. </span></span></span></span></span></p><p><span style="color: #444444;"><span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"></span></span></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhniQcu1Grm3iYrBTWTarAcoUV16WPe30m5UKlOn8EkF2WQIwYJNPEtVWAE2Tcx45GXtZX8HqFFNGoAmPNPNNYeUSCB5ilPDDACHhrYK-WLgL18lXZhJbMPclajaWpw9UNNeQXxn04MJfh0xI4j_x8wuru1vPbY5iP0s9R2WC_bizo7wfVlRJKtCw/s573/loving%20God%20book.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="573" data-original-width="388" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhniQcu1Grm3iYrBTWTarAcoUV16WPe30m5UKlOn8EkF2WQIwYJNPEtVWAE2Tcx45GXtZX8HqFFNGoAmPNPNNYeUSCB5ilPDDACHhrYK-WLgL18lXZhJbMPclajaWpw9UNNeQXxn04MJfh0xI4j_x8wuru1vPbY5iP0s9R2WC_bizo7wfVlRJKtCw/w271-h400/loving%20God%20book.png" width="271" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: small;"><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span><span style="color: #444444;"><span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span><span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #444444;"><span><span><span><span><span><span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: Bree Serif;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><b><span><span><span><span><span style="font-size: large;">On my bedside table:::</span></span></span></span></span></b></span> </span></p><div style="text-align: left;"><p> A lamp, 2 books, and a pen.</p><p><span style="color: #38761d;"><b><span><span><span><span><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span></span></span></span></b></span><span style="color: #38761d;"><b><span><span><span><span><span style="font-size: large;">Listening to:::</span></span></span></span></span></b></span> <br /></p>Literally, silence. The occasional vehicle passing by on the road below.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #444444;"><span><span><span><span><span><span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRsYx_ArsxdHTaHfMn8IMSYx22gi6O-hKhC7SSamLNbI7I0GJrK0M07cvZD5-Z3j6xylEhrHTj8Mv_fNaR_xfrkkUI4-lx_hbJDuXETlW3ktRWbg21LSrMOq9fBMVAc506KPVohXbblh8aQnmR7KUkkqSvdR1Pmv7g3oLrRDsbHnjeGsBAFJC8Qw/s4608/101_2946.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="4608" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRsYx_ArsxdHTaHfMn8IMSYx22gi6O-hKhC7SSamLNbI7I0GJrK0M07cvZD5-Z3j6xylEhrHTj8Mv_fNaR_xfrkkUI4-lx_hbJDuXETlW3ktRWbg21LSrMOq9fBMVAc506KPVohXbblh8aQnmR7KUkkqSvdR1Pmv7g3oLrRDsbHnjeGsBAFJC8Qw/w400-h300/101_2946.JPG" width="400" /></a></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"> Above is a bit of my January decorating. Guess it's time to swap out some of those blue touches for red and hearts. We will see!<br /></div><p><span style="color: #38761d;"><b><span><span><span style="font-size: large;">On the Breakfast plate:::</span></span></span></b></span> I
do intermittent fasting so don't have breakfast. Lunch was a salad of leaf lettuce, cubed turkey, cheddar cheese and avocado.<br /></p><p> <span style="color: #38761d;"><b><span><span><span style="font-size: large;">On the dinner plate:::</span></span></span></b></span> </p><p>Creamy Sausage Stew with some type of low-carb side<br /></p><p><span style="color: #38761d;"><b><span><span><span style="font-size: large;">On the menu for this week:::</span></span></span></b></span> </p><div style="text-align: left;"><p> A few meals on my menu plan:</p></div><div style="text-align: left;">Tortilla Enchilada Soup<br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Italian sausage, eggplant and peppers<br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Burger bowls</div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><b><span><span><span style="font-size: large;">On my reading pile:::</span></span></span></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><b><span><span><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span></span></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i><a href="https://www.thriftbooks.com/w/every-ocean-has-a-shore_jamie-langston-turner/38725477/#edition=66627917&idiq=56450737" target="_blank"><span style="color: #38761d;"><b> Every Ocean Has a Shore</b></span></a>, </i>by Jamie Langston Turner, a Christmas gift I'm really enjoying.<i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>Adorned </i>by Nancy DeMoss Wolgemuth<br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://www.thriftbooks.com/w/finding-a-mentor-being-a-mentor-sharing-our-lives-as-women-of-god_donna-otto/372192/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #a64d79;"><b><i>Finding a Mentor, Being a Mentor</i></b></span></a> by Donna Otto <br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://www.thriftbooks.com/w/a-step-farther-and-higher-some-turn-back-others-never-will_gail-macdonald/485818/?resultid=3493d90d-4817-4af8-9e8f-b8e7a91be7f7#edition=1712052&idiq=3329312" target="_blank"><b><span style="color: #0b5394;"><i>A Step Farther and Higher</i></span></b></a>, by Gail MacDonald<a href="https://www.thriftbooks.com/w/high-call-high-privilege_gail-macdonald/306982/#edition=3602810&idiq=1045742" target="_blank"><span style="color: #783f04;"><i><b><br />High Call, High Privilege</b></i></span></a>, also by Gail MacDonald</div><div style="text-align: left;"><i><span style="color: #134f5c;"></span></i></div><p><a href="https://www.thriftbooks.com/w/all-manner-of-things_susie-finkbeiner/19683215/#edition=20900078&idiq=39043934" target="_blank"><br /></a><i><a href="https://www.thriftbooks.com/w/all-manner-of-things_susie-finkbeiner/19683215/#edition=20900078&idiq=39043934" target="_blank"><span style="color: #134f5c;"></span></a></i></p><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><span><b><span><span style="font-size: large;">On my to do list today:::</span></span></b></span></span> <br /> </div><div style="text-align: left;">Spend time cross stitching</div><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: left;">Write some thank-you notes</div><div style="text-align: left;">Prepare and send Etsy order√<br />Go for a walk downtown√<br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Do some planning for later in the week</div><div style="text-align: left;">Talk with my Nevada daughter<br />Declutter two dresser drawers √<br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><b><span><span><span style="font-size: large;">Plans for this week:::</span></span></span></b></span><br /></div><br />Plan menus and make grocery list<br />Etsy listings<br /><div style="text-align: left;">Ironing<br />Take a bag to the thrift store<br />Work on Sunday School lesson 20<br /></div>Blogging<br /><div style="text-align: left;">Get started with an exercise regimen<br />Complete 40-day sugar fast</div><div style="text-align: left;">Begin some serious decluttering</div><div style="text-align: left;">Start a pillow quilt</div></div><div style="text-align: left;">Make mug rug and coaster<br />Do some cleaning at my volunteer job</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_-jgmOCOF5LeoGszcMZgpF6eed_WXiNFQx_WBvUkYG2tLq2WdboQabNCqg0fTIQAfUBMXAyXzFSXnjmnNlckB1O2zxokLFYBB3kG6-Nu2FJr-emw8ZmWwdfaAGfEul13E36R5oSoyEVXO7s7iatEQ3rwLysQ2QXXqb9Hdpu-WpD3xmJAm1D3Teg/s1296/Readerville%20coaster.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1260" data-original-width="1296" height="311" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_-jgmOCOF5LeoGszcMZgpF6eed_WXiNFQx_WBvUkYG2tLq2WdboQabNCqg0fTIQAfUBMXAyXzFSXnjmnNlckB1O2zxokLFYBB3kG6-Nu2FJr-emw8ZmWwdfaAGfEul13E36R5oSoyEVXO7s7iatEQ3rwLysQ2QXXqb9Hdpu-WpD3xmJAm1D3Teg/s320/Readerville%20coaster.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9BX_a-nn2qhJhWJtvF4f_Qge6HqBs1PGOFfDEpvtdZGZGeC-OnWEj0j6R9P2izqnjc4LBtvEHBxyUCQopp2ndaILzlGCaCyt-j4VFkGeo62vjTnm4a1krIX9zyG-_P-zGY8eJVWb9apK_eCI49ezWm3kc_70QDZbA6tyhPbSN4ym1Y_xZzfcpYw/s3492/Readerville%20mug%20rug%20side%202.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3492" data-original-width="2340" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9BX_a-nn2qhJhWJtvF4f_Qge6HqBs1PGOFfDEpvtdZGZGeC-OnWEj0j6R9P2izqnjc4LBtvEHBxyUCQopp2ndaILzlGCaCyt-j4VFkGeo62vjTnm4a1krIX9zyG-_P-zGY8eJVWb9apK_eCI49ezWm3kc_70QDZbA6tyhPbSN4ym1Y_xZzfcpYw/w268-h400/Readerville%20mug%20rug%20side%202.jpg" width="268" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Mug rug and coaster will resemble those above ... from the same fabric collection, probably different colors though.<br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><b><span><span><span style="font-size: large;">What I am creating:::</span></span></span></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><b><span><span><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span></span></b></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><span><span><span><span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span><span>January</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span> cross-stitch sampler, plus another wintry cross-stitch intended for a gift<br /><div style="text-align: left;">Some <a href="https://acrossmytable.blogspot.com/2010/08/condensation-catchers.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><b>"condensation catchers" </b></span></a>out of old towels to place behind toilets that sweat in the humidity -- no, I still haven't <strike>finished</strike>
started those! 😕 And I need to do so, because the old towels are just
sitting around waiting to be used! And also because we keep getting
sporadic warmer weather and I half expect the toilets to start sweating
again.<br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">An older unfinished dishcloth in a more challenging pattern<br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Need to start a pillow quilt <br />Need to start a mug rug and coaster for a March birthday gift<br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><span><b><span style="font-size: large;">Bible verse, Devotional, Quote:::</span></b></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><span><b><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></b></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;">This quote from my Scofield Study Bible: </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Paprika;">"Assurance is the Christian's full conviction that, through the work of Christ alone, received by faith, he is in possession of a salvation in which he will be eternally kept."</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Paprika;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYjRHao1ygC-IBXu9krTZRwCrzVpz9F-J3vbTniq8JpCD4gEfso5TfayehyluPQlbApz4W-K1PQWFgCg0abPEdg7mua9KgrXy_kVhBZNFop-o9jnMfcBnTN7_Gl-FehG5B2YoJSzaAFAonz45MgPtPBjMpjC41-g75KGdzlHRNQVazG73l1etlLQ/s1080/Isaiah%2043-1,2.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYjRHao1ygC-IBXu9krTZRwCrzVpz9F-J3vbTniq8JpCD4gEfso5TfayehyluPQlbApz4W-K1PQWFgCg0abPEdg7mua9KgrXy_kVhBZNFop-o9jnMfcBnTN7_Gl-FehG5B2YoJSzaAFAonz45MgPtPBjMpjC41-g75KGdzlHRNQVazG73l1etlLQ/w400-h400/Isaiah%2043-1,2.png" width="400" /></a></div><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="reference" style="color: #38761d;"><span><b><span style="font-size: large;">On my prayer list::: <br /></span></b></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;">Friends & family<br />Church family<br />Missionaries <br />Our country</div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div>And there's the Happy Homemaker Monday for this week!</div></div><p><span><span style="color: #38761d;"><b><span><span style="font-size: large;"><span><span><span><span><span> </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></b></span></span></p>Mrs.Thttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00392321745556290343noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15265988.post-9511697659530443892024-02-04T04:00:00.110-05:002024-02-04T04:00:00.151-05:00Sunday Scripture<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpaqCH__eMA29X41xdfQupiyaFyTa8RGtngfRHBaHdLuZbe60dmuMr03sSmH2FBNH0HbjogO_76D7qg09N4T2s92i8vh8bnBzd3laA8Onyh0FKrPTtnaFv1NKUggOKiQFwlQdlzSl-UsPOo5M1fDb-O4-1bcA0oEn59sc9R6I5_1h6R3jd4_A0uw/s1080/(Exodus%203317).png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpaqCH__eMA29X41xdfQupiyaFyTa8RGtngfRHBaHdLuZbe60dmuMr03sSmH2FBNH0HbjogO_76D7qg09N4T2s92i8vh8bnBzd3laA8Onyh0FKrPTtnaFv1NKUggOKiQFwlQdlzSl-UsPOo5M1fDb-O4-1bcA0oEn59sc9R6I5_1h6R3jd4_A0uw/w400-h400/(Exodus%203317).png" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>For this week's Sunday Scripture series, I'm close to finishing up my simple study of a little devotional journal titled <a href="https://www.christianbook.com/woman-god-sees-prayer-journal-kjv/9781943216185/pd/216181?event=CPOF" target="_blank"><span style="color: #38761d;"><i><b>Reflections: The Woman God Sees</b></i></span></a>,
by Jane L. Fryar -- a journal gifted me by some dear young friends. It
has a daily
devotional one works through -- about a month's worth or so. I've been posting about this study for awhile now, but there is just one more lesson after this, so we'll be shifting gears for Sunday Scripture in mid-February.<br /></p><p>The
Scripture for today is Exodus 33:17. Here's the assignment:
"God knew Moses by name. He knows you by name, too! He hears your prayers, just as He heard the prayers Moses offered. In Jesus, you have found favor in heaven. Reflect on this. Then write a poem, letter, or paragraph in response." I chose
to <a href="https://acrossmytable.blogspot.com/2015/09/the-soap-method-of-bible-study.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: #b45f06;"><b>SOAP</b></span></a> Exodus 33:12-13 and 17 as I considered this assignment.</p><p><b>S=</b> <span style="font-family: courier;"> And Moses said unto the LORD, Thou hast said, I know thee by name, and thou hast found grace in My sight.<br />"Now therefore, I pray Thee, if I have found grace in Thy sight, show me now Thy way, that I may know Thee.<br />"And the LORD said unto Moses, I will do this thing also that thou hast spoken; for thou hast found grace in My sight; and I know thee by name." (Exodus 33:12-13, 17)</span></p><p><b>O=</b> Cross-reference for <i><b>"show me now Thy way" </b></i>--</p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">"Show me Thy ways, O LORD; teach me Thy paths." (Psalm 25:4)</span></p><p>This is such an amazing truth -- that God knows people by name!</p><p>I think of just a few examples in Scripture -- when God called "<b>Samuel, Samuel</b>" to a little boy.</p><p>When His angel, Gabriel, said, "Fear not, <b>Mary</b>" (Luke 1:30).<br /></p><p>When God told Paul onboard a ship in the middle of a fierce storm, "Fear not, <b>Paul.</b>"</p><p>There are so many instances of God calling people by name! I can be assured that He knows my name, as well. </p><p><b>A=</b> In response to the assignment:
<i><b>"God knew Moses by name. He knows you by name, too! He hears your
prayers, just as He heard the prayers Moses offered. In Jesus, you have
found favor in heaven. Reflect on this. Then write a poem, letter, or
paragraph in response." </b></i></p><p>I wrote:</p><p><span style="font-family: Merienda;">"God heard and answered Moses' prayers; He will also hear and answer my
prayers. This is a blessed encouragement today, as our nation is in a
time of uncertainty that could be very frightening. Right now I am praying fervently for God to deliver our nation from destruction, undeserving though we be.<br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: Merienda;">"Through Jesus I also have found grace in God's sight and favor in heaven. God knows me by name and I have a personal relationship with Him. I can know that He hears my prayers and that He will answer in the way that is best. "</span></p><p><b>P=<span style="font-family: Homemade Apple;"> </span></b><span style="font-family: Homemade Apple;">"Lord, I am so thankful that You know me by name. I praise You that through Jesus I have found grace in Your sight and that You hear and answer my prayers. You know exactly what is going on in my life and in our world, and I know I can trust You to do what's best even though things look very scary indeed. I thank You for all You will do, in Jesus' name, Amen."</span></p><p>And there's this week's Sunday Scripture. Just one more in the series!<br /></p>Mrs.Thttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00392321745556290343noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15265988.post-22453441541380129612024-02-02T16:36:00.002-05:002024-02-02T16:36:35.535-05:00Some goals for February<p> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRQXcH3lhstYbiUWrnuTku9Oh7gehOa6qBcX3JAyRTR1Gy4GXVRYHSIdJaRbpXBN7MVnH3tsBhunqPv4tA1isxKa1GbMPbQ7V-X-zTlWpZTS6b0StXCr1d-8gG_02miW4YFLviAX-5_uizHz16HWVHSV98lNlLlW1verj_jQLyJ9dyfKcBFAiutw/s846/February.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="846" data-original-width="845" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRQXcH3lhstYbiUWrnuTku9Oh7gehOa6qBcX3JAyRTR1Gy4GXVRYHSIdJaRbpXBN7MVnH3tsBhunqPv4tA1isxKa1GbMPbQ7V-X-zTlWpZTS6b0StXCr1d-8gG_02miW4YFLviAX-5_uizHz16HWVHSV98lNlLlW1verj_jQLyJ9dyfKcBFAiutw/w400-h400/February.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Delightful graphic by Abby at <a href="http://littlebirdieblessings.blogspot.com" target="_blank"><span style="color: #7f6000;"><b>Little Birdie Blessings</b></span></a><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></p><p>Well, it's a new month and so I need to set some goals.<br /></p><p>* Keep up with Flylady's homemaking zones of the week<br />* Get back to working through the "Make Room Challenge" from <a href="https://theinspiredroom.net/make-room-for-what-you-love/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #b45f06;"><b><i>Make Room for What You Love</i></b></span></a><br />* Spend time with our friends who are younger believers<br />* Enjoy our church ladies' gathering <a href="https://womenlivingwell.org/2021/12/introducing-the-book-of-ephesians-a-4-week-study/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #b45f06;"></span></a><br />* Post in this blog as often as possible <br />* Post in my Christmas blog as often as possible<br />* Continue planning for family birthday gifts and crafting any handmade ones<br />* Use Charles Swindoll's devotional <i><b>Growing Strong in the Seasons of Life</b></i> for my quiet time daily<br />* Continue studying and preparing for my Sunday School lessons<br />* Continue with <a href="https://thedailygraceco.com/products/stand-firm-armor-of-god-study" target="_blank"><span style="color: #134f5c;"><i><b>Stand Firm</b></i></span></a>, a Bible study on the armor of God<br />* Continue stocking my Etsy shop and continue selling vintage items<br />* Write at least 4 encouraging notes to friends and family<br />* Help and encourage my local daughter as I'm able<br />* Spend time at our volunteer jobs<br />* Get together with friends on President's Day<br />* Plan meals with a greater emphasis on healthy eating<br />* Continue to work on memorizing the book of James<br />* Continue to help a widowed friend with the challenges of life in general<br />* Get to bed by 8:30 each night we are at home<br />* Drink enough water each day<br />* Walk and/or exercise at least 4 times each week</p><p>HEALTHY HABITS FOR FEBRUARY: Drink more water/get more sleep/get more exercise/intermittent fasting/limit carbs</p><p>WORD FOR 2024: Continue <br /></p>Mrs.Thttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00392321745556290343noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15265988.post-49661348031383198902024-01-31T04:00:00.259-05:002024-02-01T11:09:35.889-05:00Last day of January Hodgepodge<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgelv9GVY2_xJ-UEKMPXVViOPz5or6Ni0WXlR4B-bsst6Ze2wAi3TJnFO9wzLc2xcArED-S6W7UNswRXrzWeG-gDO3-nFQeG4NHzzX7HiazNo843cgx8yDY1SNWrSDO3Evm1yqpxainhdYBGU8Lo5sAXrN9fXZDVjdTNkjjscytKZDZCKWxmhVjVA/s273/hodgepodge-button.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="250" data-original-width="273" height="293" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgelv9GVY2_xJ-UEKMPXVViOPz5or6Ni0WXlR4B-bsst6Ze2wAi3TJnFO9wzLc2xcArED-S6W7UNswRXrzWeG-gDO3-nFQeG4NHzzX7HiazNo843cgx8yDY1SNWrSDO3Evm1yqpxainhdYBGU8Lo5sAXrN9fXZDVjdTNkjjscytKZDZCKWxmhVjVA/w320-h293/hodgepodge-button.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p> It's Wednesday again, and that means it's time for the Hodgepodge -- the linkup where Joyce, at <a href="http://www.fromthissideofthepond.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><b>From This Side of the Pond</b></span></a>,
asks the questions and bloggers
provide the answers on their own blogs. Here goes!</p><p><span style="font-family: courier;">1. January 29th is National Puzzle Day. Do you enjoy puzzles? What kind? How often do you work a puzzle?<br /></span></p><p>I do enjoy puzzles -- jigsaw puzzles especially, but also word puzzles, sudoku, crosswords, and more. We currently have a 1000 piece jigsaw in the works at home. I would like to keep a jigsaw going at all times, but we don't really have space for that. I'd like to do word puzzles more often, but seldom think of it. I know it's good for my brain. 😉<br /><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6h2T6lswS5zq3Iw7KPSlPz1kq5zEZIZVhj0E6RtDFyAOcpyS7vg_xL2XFcTQClf_vg3bpsMfBWbSrI66V3kmtNiJwGLSEHWCf56H6io6gW8f83p-d4_gKxyqu0Wm-nfeegJqzLh5rBxAURnGcBBnCtUQZJL9D7JU9R8Al85mSAV5h-tXiBlbyYw/s1200/IMG_20230908_113555_099.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6h2T6lswS5zq3Iw7KPSlPz1kq5zEZIZVhj0E6RtDFyAOcpyS7vg_xL2XFcTQClf_vg3bpsMfBWbSrI66V3kmtNiJwGLSEHWCf56H6io6gW8f83p-d4_gKxyqu0Wm-nfeegJqzLh5rBxAURnGcBBnCtUQZJL9D7JU9R8Al85mSAV5h-tXiBlbyYw/w400-h400/IMG_20230908_113555_099.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A jigsaw we did at our cottage this past fall</td></tr></tbody></table><p><span style="font-family: courier;">2. Something you currently find 'puzzling'?</span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span>The number of citizens who are so deluded and misled by what they hear on "the news". Have people really become incapable of thinking for themselves?</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: courier;">3. What's your go-to dish to take to someone who needs a meal?</span></p><p>Usually lasagna, with bagged salad, a loaf of Italian bread, and some sort of simple dessert. Often I will freeze a couple of lasagnas and give them to people to cook as needed. For a bereaved household, I might take muffins or a coffee cake to help with extra family who might be in town.</p><p><span style="font-family: courier;">4. Do you watch any HGTV and/or The Food Network?</span></p><p>No. We watch very little TV and don't have cable. We keep our TV out of our living space and only bring it in when we want to watch a movie.</p><p><span style="font-family: courier;">5. Wrap up your January in five words, with a five word phrase, or with a five word sentence.</span></p><p>Busy, yet somehow oddly relaxing.</p><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcy2k94-PDwKqFu474BBzux1CcPT-8OfiAcO3l1RNvVSzrYJoLVEbZ44PI_XlPw9FnuyNXe9QuuSZ9kbDqdxgBeD2_bKTJl0MOnINcf5h3Sn2CYrEqDKbIoohigtiwHWMTjfBOF7bjFg_BHacwiHKiAy6I1KUH8B-PMUQ9yrtatVOJR1hduLV6jw/s1267/IMG_20240120_102053_kindlephoto-5152194.jpg"><img border="0" data-original-height="522" data-original-width="1267" height="165" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcy2k94-PDwKqFu474BBzux1CcPT-8OfiAcO3l1RNvVSzrYJoLVEbZ44PI_XlPw9FnuyNXe9QuuSZ9kbDqdxgBeD2_bKTJl0MOnINcf5h3Sn2CYrEqDKbIoohigtiwHWMTjfBOF7bjFg_BHacwiHKiAy6I1KUH8B-PMUQ9yrtatVOJR1hduLV6jw/w400-h165/IMG_20240120_102053_kindlephoto-5152194.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p>This is one of the few photos I took in January. We were at my friend Patty's for our Ladies of Grace meeting a couple Saturdays ago, and I noticed the sweet handmade holiday garland over her kitchen window. The picture isn't the best but it's good enough to remind me of how they are made. I'd love to make some of these! </p><p><br /></p><p><span style="font-family: courier;">6. Insert your own random thought here. </span></p><p> Snowy
day here as I write this on Tuesday at The Wilds of New England. So pretty to see this picturesque campsite with a frosting of white!</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH3Xd6goIgYX-pM5KSEShBochoXeqxVMVTnEBiH2X-P-vZdZgVR3_hQNcPcNNOs-bZyRVC9BizMBhSBtuA9Z5JtU6MubgCvLhfI9oBxW8rArIgNeX4ySr_zMRPpySvZcSmSDmhZzxgX-c95BqmjZEj9XbrR_eySmejLTUNuwpqmkcFT1D_OoaErQ/s1200/IMG_20230201_143243_kindlephoto-411902125.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1131" data-original-width="1200" height="378" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH3Xd6goIgYX-pM5KSEShBochoXeqxVMVTnEBiH2X-P-vZdZgVR3_hQNcPcNNOs-bZyRVC9BizMBhSBtuA9Z5JtU6MubgCvLhfI9oBxW8rArIgNeX4ySr_zMRPpySvZcSmSDmhZzxgX-c95BqmjZEj9XbrR_eySmejLTUNuwpqmkcFT1D_OoaErQ/w400-h378/IMG_20230201_143243_kindlephoto-411902125.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo from last winter</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>And that's the Hodgepodge for this week!</p>Mrs.Thttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00392321745556290343noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15265988.post-43171162305704461622024-01-29T04:00:00.282-05:002024-02-02T18:59:29.956-05:00Happy Homemaker Monday<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE9__i1siX-4q0uRBaL0Wci_elKNolJD5Jllm95qd1GyRUDv2xAJ_-qD6qClmA2aY4hJbV7LSier0eJ7nbobrzVNGvvZb_gL6nw94qHYJpjtZvjrmC471ajv_MWyLU0osw_fSrk0bkpV_8KU_O_D9MYlaUdWm_7urEpK7ESlWZ7U7z6WEhzhTrFQ/s1080/Happy%20Homemaker%20Monday%20fireplacepopcorn.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE9__i1siX-4q0uRBaL0Wci_elKNolJD5Jllm95qd1GyRUDv2xAJ_-qD6qClmA2aY4hJbV7LSier0eJ7nbobrzVNGvvZb_gL6nw94qHYJpjtZvjrmC471ajv_MWyLU0osw_fSrk0bkpV_8KU_O_D9MYlaUdWm_7urEpK7ESlWZ7U7z6WEhzhTrFQ/w400-h400/Happy%20Homemaker%20Monday%20fireplacepopcorn.png" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>As usual, there's no time for a long post, but
I'm taking a few minutes to join Sandra for this link party over at <span style="color: #990000;"><a href="https://familycorner.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><b>Diary of a Stay at Home Mom</b></a></span>. <br /></p><span><span style="color: #38761d;"><b><span><span><span><span><span><span><span style="font-size: large;"></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></b></span></span><p><span><span style="color: #38761d;"><b><span><span><span><span><span><span><span style="font-size: large;">The Weather:::</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></b></span></span></p><p><span> It's 30º and cloudy. Only 6 mph wind so it feels like 24. About 8 inches of heavy wet snow fell overnight. I'm blogging from a tablet so I'm rather challenged with fonts. So I'll say right here that as I look out the window of the inn at The Wilds of New England, where we're currently working, I see snow snow, and more snow, on the ground and on every tree, bush, and building. We tried to take some photos last night. Those snow laden branches are on a lilac bush!<br /></span></p><p><span><span style="color: #38761d;"><b><span><span style="font-size: large;"><span><span><span><span><span>As I look outside my window:::</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></b></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><span><span><span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiChpJobKDYeAI-PNmVLmJ1FuMFzPBKK6DBt_VwI9AY6npdQnhR0xlMlZ6TMudLCGa0sthVs_USjveLkT3-tiEJ1zlBJQoOf0wF5K_ey_3wX93f1-2L8XXbJ9xN-E3daXS0woo064o3VsFh5hh1pnqqclXmUUDX0qfYqNxY8MUYO4r-bn226ntRhw/s1600/IMG_20240128_211335.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiChpJobKDYeAI-PNmVLmJ1FuMFzPBKK6DBt_VwI9AY6npdQnhR0xlMlZ6TMudLCGa0sthVs_USjveLkT3-tiEJ1zlBJQoOf0wF5K_ey_3wX93f1-2L8XXbJ9xN-E3daXS0woo064o3VsFh5hh1pnqqclXmUUDX0qfYqNxY8MUYO4r-bn226ntRhw/w400-h300/IMG_20240128_211335.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></span></span></span></b></span></div><span style="color: #38761d;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><span><span><span><br /></span></span></span></span></b></span><p></p><p><span style="color: #38761d;"><b><span><span><span><span><span><span style="font-size: large;">Right now I am:::</span></span></span></span><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span></span></b></span><br /></p><div style="text-align: left;"> Working on a blog post. And simultaneously keeping an eye on the time so I get my lunch preparations completely in a timely way.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><b><span><span><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span></span></b></span><span style="color: #38761d;"><b><span><span><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></span><span><span><span style="font-size: large;">Thinking and pondering:::</span></span></span></b></span></div><p><span style="color: #444444;"><span><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span></span>Continuing to think on a devotional I studied this morning on the topic of thoroughness. There are so many tasks I need to thoroughly complete. I took some time and organized my massive to-do list into categories and I think that will help me take a more balanced approach to my tasks. Of course, I won't accomplish much on my list other than some blogging and hopefully some note writing while staying here at TWNE for a few days in Room ⬇</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE8Jg4S4BS5fyB1VAL0cdtb0DqN21Efee47zy2UbMEw0p6twsSQi0MXf-rawaWclgVJZhd_sVL5rOvL1WqErR30afBL87bEMoobckoHfeiXQ0sqiN-GsmQiOhmxI9HWPysfACql4RcPLCDFl2uURfFyBYbSR-D8UFRL8VcXOY_2ZZXw8wSZ-PPBA/s1233/IMG_20220417_191625_kindlephoto-226244557.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1233" data-original-width="866" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE8Jg4S4BS5fyB1VAL0cdtb0DqN21Efee47zy2UbMEw0p6twsSQi0MXf-rawaWclgVJZhd_sVL5rOvL1WqErR30afBL87bEMoobckoHfeiXQ0sqiN-GsmQiOhmxI9HWPysfACql4RcPLCDFl2uURfFyBYbSR-D8UFRL8VcXOY_2ZZXw8wSZ-PPBA/w281-h400/IMG_20220417_191625_kindlephoto-226244557.jpg" width="281" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p><span style="font-family: Bree Serif;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><b><span><span><span><span><span style="font-size: large;">On my bedside table:::</span></span></span></span></span></b></span> </span></p><div style="text-align: left;"><p> A lamp, a books, a water bottle and a wood slice coaster.</p><p><span style="color: #38761d;"><b><span><span><span><span><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span></span></span></span></b></span><span style="color: #38761d;"><b><span><span><span><span><span style="font-size: large;">Listening to:::</span></span></span></span></span></b></span> <br /></p>Literally, silence.</div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><span style="color: #38761d;"><b><span><span><span style="font-size: large;">On the Breakfast plate:::</span></span></span></b></span> <p>I
do intermittent fasting so don't have breakfast. We're currently at our volunteer job and I'm cooking for those helping on a remodeling project. Lunch today is going to be pizza and pasta salad, with a cookie tray for dessert.<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTj9mm9HfMo3yDJ7DfcHLuJACCexnHwkuPachO6ae7nidzajYvtqCCZgW0AIbD6EuzpGAkVQGWYN4WE5Giv-RRPGq510zdiw24E9f3zDmJuHVua89NX0seezc8SujfCp1QdfqJLzBdjdsbXb6H2tFjAKUWDglRdNj-tLsUyXeHJ1PPU635S8m-pg/s1600/IMG_20221203_161044_burst_01.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTj9mm9HfMo3yDJ7DfcHLuJACCexnHwkuPachO6ae7nidzajYvtqCCZgW0AIbD6EuzpGAkVQGWYN4WE5Giv-RRPGq510zdiw24E9f3zDmJuHVua89NX0seezc8SujfCp1QdfqJLzBdjdsbXb6H2tFjAKUWDglRdNj-tLsUyXeHJ1PPU635S8m-pg/w400-h300/IMG_20221203_161044_burst_01.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p> <span style="color: #38761d;"><b><span><span><span style="font-size: large;">On the dinner plate:::</span></span></span></b></span> </p><p>Ranch House Chicken, Mashed Potatoes, Roasted Butternut Squash Cubes, Cranberry Sauce<br /></p><p><span style="color: #38761d;"><b><span><span><span style="font-size: large;">On the menu for this week:::</span></span></span></b></span> </p><div style="text-align: left;"><p> A few meals on my menu plan:</p></div><div style="text-align: left;">Tortilla Enchilada Soup<br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Lasagna<br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Burger bowls</div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><b><span><span><span style="font-size: large;">On my reading pile:::</span></span></span></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><b><span><span><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span></span></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i><a href="https://www.thriftbooks.com/w/every-ocean-has-a-shore_jamie-langston-turner/38725477/#edition=66627917&idiq=56450737" target="_blank"><span style="color: #38761d;"><b> Every Ocean Has a Shore</b></span></a>, </i>by Jamie Langston Turner, a Christmas gift I'm really enjoying.<i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>Adorned </i>by Nancy DeMoss Wolgemuth<br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://www.thriftbooks.com/w/finding-a-mentor-being-a-mentor-sharing-our-lives-as-women-of-god_donna-otto/372192/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #a64d79;"><b><i>Finding a Mentor, Being a Mentor</i></b></span></a> by Donna Otto <br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://www.thriftbooks.com/w/a-step-farther-and-higher-some-turn-back-others-never-will_gail-macdonald/485818/?resultid=3493d90d-4817-4af8-9e8f-b8e7a91be7f7#edition=1712052&idiq=3329312" target="_blank"><b><span style="color: #0b5394;"><i>A Step Farther and Higher</i></span></b></a>, by Gail MacDonald<a href="https://www.thriftbooks.com/w/high-call-high-privilege_gail-macdonald/306982/#edition=3602810&idiq=1045742" target="_blank"><span style="color: #783f04;"><i><b><br />High Call, High Privilege</b></i></span></a>, also by Gail MacDonald</div><div style="text-align: left;"><i><span style="color: #134f5c;"></span></i></div><p><a href="https://www.thriftbooks.com/w/all-manner-of-things_susie-finkbeiner/19683215/#edition=20900078&idiq=39043934" target="_blank"><br /></a><i><a href="https://www.thriftbooks.com/w/all-manner-of-things_susie-finkbeiner/19683215/#edition=20900078&idiq=39043934" target="_blank"><span style="color: #134f5c;"></span></a></i></p><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><span><b><span><span style="font-size: large;">On my to do list today:::</span></span></b></span></span> <br /> </div><div style="text-align: left;">Spend time cross stitching</div><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: left;">Write some thank-you notes</div><div style="text-align: left;">Prepare lunch and dinner for volunteers</div><div style="text-align: left;">Do some planning for later in the week</div><div style="text-align: left;">Work on menu planning and grocery list</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><b><span><span><span style="font-size: large;">Plans for this week:::</span></span></span></b></span><br /></div><br />Plan menus and make grocery list<br />Etsy listings<br /><div style="text-align: left;">Ironing<br />Take a bag to the thrift store<br />Work on Sunday School lesson 19<br /></div>Blogging<br /><div style="text-align: left;">Get started with an exercise regimen<br />Continue 40-day sugar fast</div><div style="text-align: left;">Begin some serious decluttering</div><div style="text-align: left;">Start a pillow quilt</div></div><div style="text-align: left;">Cook meals for volunteer crew</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><b><span><span><span style="font-size: large;">What I am creating:::</span></span></span></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><b><span><span><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span></span></b></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><span><span><span><span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span><span>January</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span> cross-stitch sampler, plus another wintry cross-stitch intended for a gift<br /><div style="text-align: left;">Some <a href="https://acrossmytable.blogspot.com/2010/08/condensation-catchers.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><b>"condensation catchers" </b></span></a>out of old towels to place behind toilets that sweat in the humidity -- no, I still haven't <strike>finished</strike>
started those! 😕 And I need to do so, because the old towels are just
sitting around waiting to be used! And also because we keep getting
sporadic warmer weather and I half expect the toilets to start sweating
again.<br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">An older unfinished dishcloth in a more challenging pattern<br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Need to start a pillow quilt <br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><span><b><span style="font-size: large;">Bible verse, Devotional, Quote:::</span></b></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><span><b><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></b></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;">This quote from <a href="https://thedailygraceco.com/products/stand-firm-armor-of-god-study" target="_blank"><span style="color: #134f5c;"><b><i>Stand Firm</i></b></span></a>, the Daily Grace Co. study on the armor of God :<br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Paprika;">"What preservation we find through faith in Jesus Christ! Unwavering faith guards us against the flaming arrows of doubt that Satan throws our way, and it leads us to stand before the throne of God, unblemished by his many throws. By grace through faith, we are saved from our sins and justified. God brings us into His family to live in His presence forever, for in Christ's death, justice was served. Christ absorbed the blows of Satan through his death, and emerged victorious in His resurrection.<br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Paprika;"> </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Paprika;">"We will lose the battle if left to ourselves. But through faith in Christ, we find hope in a better outcome. Faith leads us to persevere. We are no longer exposed and unprotected but are walking forward into the battle of sin with confident hope that God will bring us to the other side."<br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Merienda;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"> This
is from the chapter concerning the shield of faith, from Ephesians 6:16. I'm loving this study. It's currently
on sale for $5, which is an amazing price. </div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDrGHDCSSVN0FGThH2bYbXngvzsJX8vFbK5pCXTHi1J2bGEunWDyDUziKTZKpmt4suLFOY5z1Ov24AZSr6T681nG-iP5bRTYxphEn1TgJfCG4EW9Q1MWfmlKxnEd8xCuGzjjse7Sosawbyx4Fm3DjD4VsNcEvA2ymOY1JoiBZw0jBl5lAO_gpktw/s716/Screenshot_2023-08-28%20Stand%20Firm%20Armor%20of%20God%20Study(1).png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="716" data-original-width="646" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDrGHDCSSVN0FGThH2bYbXngvzsJX8vFbK5pCXTHi1J2bGEunWDyDUziKTZKpmt4suLFOY5z1Ov24AZSr6T681nG-iP5bRTYxphEn1TgJfCG4EW9Q1MWfmlKxnEd8xCuGzjjse7Sosawbyx4Fm3DjD4VsNcEvA2ymOY1JoiBZw0jBl5lAO_gpktw/w361-h400/Screenshot_2023-08-28%20Stand%20Firm%20Armor%20of%20God%20Study(1).png" width="361" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="reference" style="color: #38761d;"><span><b><span style="font-size: large;">On my prayer list::: <br /></span></b></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;">Friends & family<br />Church family<br />Missionaries <br />Our country</div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div>And there's the Happy Homemaker Monday for this week!</div></div></div>Mrs.Thttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00392321745556290343noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15265988.post-83196123511286106062024-01-28T04:00:00.137-05:002024-01-28T04:00:00.129-05:00Sunday Scripture <p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSfPrZN3IvJAmiEQmhxLOyyNwzAMaDwQXZkgPrTcXLxz1reJm0-e8nyplbT5ButY5kMd3Og5Vm2Hn0JhfRyps4ygiH1zgiMxkN1eT4MwTMSNr1b-wQJD-hpdsIr-zGNPvzR0q7RWIcPXe4lWIj_NhPlQCcLyrZGEE9bOgPbwDal4XjxXR2rJmVsQ/s1080/Isaiah%2043-4.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSfPrZN3IvJAmiEQmhxLOyyNwzAMaDwQXZkgPrTcXLxz1reJm0-e8nyplbT5ButY5kMd3Og5Vm2Hn0JhfRyps4ygiH1zgiMxkN1eT4MwTMSNr1b-wQJD-hpdsIr-zGNPvzR0q7RWIcPXe4lWIj_NhPlQCcLyrZGEE9bOgPbwDal4XjxXR2rJmVsQ/w400-h400/Isaiah%2043-4.png" width="400" /></a></div><p></p><p>For this week's Sunday Scripture series, I'm almost finished with my simple study of a little devotional journal titled <a href="https://www.christianbook.com/woman-god-sees-prayer-journal-kjv/9781943216185/pd/216181?event=CPOF" target="_blank"><span style="color: #38761d;"><i><b>Reflections: The Woman God Sees</b></i></span></a>,
by Jane L. Fryar -- a journal gifted me by some dear young friends. It
has a daily
devotional one works through -- about a month's worth or so. The daily devotions were a
blessing to me when I worked through the book, so I've been sharing
them here. I There are just two more pages after this, so we will see what I come up with next!<br /></p><p>The
Scripture for today is Isaiah 43:4. Here's the assignment:
"Spend a few minutes writing about each of these words: <i><b>precious, honored, loved</b></i>." I
chose
to <a href="https://acrossmytable.blogspot.com/2015/09/the-soap-method-of-bible-study.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: #b45f06;"><b>SOAP</b></span></a> Isaiah 43:1,4 as I considered this assignment. (Our final lesson in the series, two weeks from today, will also involve Isaiah 43:1.)</p><p><b>S=</b> <span style="font-family: courier;">"But, now, saith the LORD who created thee, O Jacob, and He who formed thee, O Israel, Fear not, for I have called thee by thy name; thou art Mine.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: courier;">"Since thou wast precious in My sight, Thou hast been honorable, and I have loved thee." (Isaiah 43:1, 4)</span></p><p><b>O=</b> These verses are quite obviously speaking of Israel, as we see from looking back at verse 1. However, in a broad sense we can apply them to ourselves as believers. </p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>* God has told us not to fear<br />* He has called us by name<br />* We are His<br />* We are precious in His sight<br />* He loves us.</b></span><br /></p><p>A cross-reference for "loved" is <span style="font-family: verdana;">Isaiah 63:9 -- "In His love and in His pity He redeemed them; and He bore them, and carried them all the days of old."</span><br /></p><p>Warren Wiersbe comments: "God formed Israel, forgave His people their sins, and is glorified in them. He speaks to His people and is faithful to keep His word. May we never take for granted the privilege we have of knowing and worshiping the true and living God!"<br /></p><p><b>A=</b> In response to the assignment "Spend a few minutes writing about each of these words: <i><b>precious, honored, loved</b></i>." here's what I wrote:</p><p><b><span style="font-family: Playfair Display SC;">PRECIOUS</span></b>: Of great price or value, highly esteemed or loved; dear. This is certainly true of believers. We were so valuable to God that He paid an incredibly high price for us. We are loved by Him; we are dear to Him.</p><p><b><span style="font-family: Playfair Display SC;">HONORED</span></b>: The KJV says "honorable". I've searched the dictionary and no definition seems quite right for the meaning of "honored" here. Although this one is pretty general, it probably comes the closest: "To regard or treat with honor." </p><p>A verse that came to my mind was 1 Samuel 2:30 where God tells Eli, "Them that honor me I will honor, and they that despise Me shall be lightly esteemed." We do need to be honoring God with our lives. And oh, what a position of honor we have as His children!<br /></p><p><b><span style="font-family: Playfair Display SC;">LOVED:</span></b> An old dictionary defines love as "the benevolence attributed to God as being like a father's affection for his children." There are so many facets to a father's love for his children, and it's such a blessing to be God's child and to have Him as our heavenly Father!<br /></p><p><b>P=</b> <span style="font-family: Homemade Apple;">"Lord, how I thank You for Your Word and its comforting truths. I praise You than I am precious in Your sight -- that You loved me so much You would send Your only Son to redeem me from my sin. I'm so thankful that because of my relationship with You as Your loved and blood-bought child, I need not fear. I cannot thank You enough for the privilege I have to know and worship You, the true and living God. I praise You in Jesus' name, Amen."</span></p><p>And there is the Sunday Scripture for this week. Just two left in this series!<br /></p>Mrs.Thttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00392321745556290343noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15265988.post-59757161706836716652024-01-25T04:00:00.001-05:002024-01-25T04:00:00.128-05:00A word for 2024 -- Continue<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj3cbIbfzM4nmgmo4h3dCSLQLvu1dXHndXN_bE3Ge68VeQ7HOrzJEDEfsE74Ks8R3oQOGcIPwBPC7udsnoX0iTVSGgob6xK2lh3vNLmeCaqOFUaVWPplZ8xjSdsgeaqZszWywsAHMk7ifaNLKFZ9IQtz4dn3OvD_9v4dDp6tX2OO9RDenM98xJmg/s1080/Colossians%204-2.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj3cbIbfzM4nmgmo4h3dCSLQLvu1dXHndXN_bE3Ge68VeQ7HOrzJEDEfsE74Ks8R3oQOGcIPwBPC7udsnoX0iTVSGgob6xK2lh3vNLmeCaqOFUaVWPplZ8xjSdsgeaqZszWywsAHMk7ifaNLKFZ9IQtz4dn3OvD_9v4dDp6tX2OO9RDenM98xJmg/w400-h400/Colossians%204-2.png" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p> Before I begin, my usual yearly disclaimer: I understand, and I'm sure most of my readers do also, that it's not a necessity to choose a word for a
new year. It's not in any way a practice that makes one any more
spiritual, any more committed, or any more <i><b>anything</b></i>. Vast
numbers of believers don't choose a word for the year, nor do they need
to. I had never thought of doing such a thing until 2013. I'd read in
the past of others doing so and in 2013 I prayerfully considered it for
myself. That year I ended up with the word "Purpose". I found it
incredibly helpful throughout the year to zero in on God's purposes for
me.<br />
<br />
Each year since (except for 2022, when I just didn't feel led to do so), I have prayerfully chosen a word for the year. Some
times it has seemed as if God laid a particular word on my heart, and
that has seemed to be the case this year, although for awhile I was undecided between "persevere" and "continue" (which after all are rather similar words). I've now settled on "continue" as my word for 2024. </p><p>First, maybe we should look at some definitions. </p><p>I was surprised to learn that perseverance means "Steadfastness in doing something despite difficulty or delay in achieving success."</p><p>In thinking of a word for this year, I was more thinking about continuing on faithfully with a number of things, most (but not all) of them related to my spiritual life. Although I expect there will be difficulties in the year ahead, "persevere" wasn't quite the word I was looking for.</p><p>So here is the definition of "continue":</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY0Q3-_B1dsOpTL6gIt-81AU8l0yqi5GRSvknOed7mUxd64pD3JIP4mR7aCt2zZYOnS0m-so2AIr477oEdqlqpMq_ADONsP6MdGYxrOWTuapnzPKfv1Hju9zTo8MsYOGB23lV7fhFcgJJQJg4jI5Wm1ntQ-agbOdlZxR9w48jpwBN1kdHnyjXxkQ/s516/definition%20of%20continue.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="385" data-original-width="516" height="299" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY0Q3-_B1dsOpTL6gIt-81AU8l0yqi5GRSvknOed7mUxd64pD3JIP4mR7aCt2zZYOnS0m-so2AIr477oEdqlqpMq_ADONsP6MdGYxrOWTuapnzPKfv1Hju9zTo8MsYOGB23lV7fhFcgJJQJg4jI5Wm1ntQ-agbOdlZxR9w48jpwBN1kdHnyjXxkQ/w400-h299/definition%20of%20continue.png" width="400" /></a></div><p>There are a number of facets with this definition that fit with what I hope to do this year. I'll be sharing those, most likely in a second post.<br /></p><p>And I thought it was also important to check out this word in a Bible dictionary. I discovered that there are quite a number of Greek words translated continue. My <i>Vine's Dictionary of New Testament</i> words didn't spell out what Greek verb is used in 2 Timothy 3:14, so I looked it up in an online source and found this from the <span style="color: #274e13;"><a href="https://www.icr.org/books/defenders/8186/" target="_blank"><i><b>Defenders Study Bible</b></i></a></span>: "Despite all the perilous times and persecutions of
the last days, plus all the false teachers and seducing spirits,
believers must simply continue believing and obeying the Word of God.
The same word (Greek <i>meno</i>) is often translated 'abide' and 'remain'." </p><p>A couple of other verses regarding continuing came to mind. One is Colossians 4:2:</p><p><span style="font-family: courier;">"Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving."</span></p><p>Another is Romans 12:12 -- <span style="font-family: verdana;">"Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer."</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijbKVfJ6dp8Ef2rq8AJ3kipqChdqQvS45ZiWA60yGgVaxb7XBLDM8Bt27D-m4dmekJtheE7IYXtchLvNWZhNlyLRTNbZhG0GiI_sT3D8ZbryTE9k11sbuXgu5BaAaWnN2aWE3kNwtg9GmldEeYncpaj8dXksEoiJbealsDxi64fKwk4gyxMkJwaQ/s1014/romans%2012%2012.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="584" data-original-width="1014" height="230" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijbKVfJ6dp8Ef2rq8AJ3kipqChdqQvS45ZiWA60yGgVaxb7XBLDM8Bt27D-m4dmekJtheE7IYXtchLvNWZhNlyLRTNbZhG0GiI_sT3D8ZbryTE9k11sbuXgu5BaAaWnN2aWE3kNwtg9GmldEeYncpaj8dXksEoiJbealsDxi64fKwk4gyxMkJwaQ/w400-h230/romans%2012%2012.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Beautiful graphic by Abby at <a href="http://littlebirdieblessings.blogspot.com" target="_blank"><span style="color: #38761d;"><b>Little Birdie Blessings</b></span></a><br /></td></tr></tbody></table></span><br />Both of these are the Greek word <i>proskartereo</i>, literally meaning to be strong toward, to endure in or persevere in, to be continuously stedfast with a person or thing, used here of continuing in prayer with others.</p><p>Colossians 1:23 exhorts us to <span style="font-family: courier;">"continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel".</span> That one is the Greek <i>epimeno</i>, meaning to remain on, to continue long, still to abide.<br /></p><p>And James 1:25 instructs us that <span style="font-family: Quicksand;">the one "who looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he not being a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed." </span> This use of "continue" is the Greek <i>parameno</i>, meaning to remain by or near; hence, to continue or persevere in anything.</p><p>To sum up (for now; look for another post on this topic): <b>I want to continue in the things I have learned; to continue in prayer; to continue in the faith grounded and settled; to continue in the perfect law of liberty -- God's Word. </b></p><p>Continuing in spiritual disciplines and spiritual growth sounds like just what I want to do for the new year!</p><p>Have you picked a word for the year? Do share, if you have!<br /></p><p> </p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Mrs.Thttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00392321745556290343noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15265988.post-30851903868887333592024-01-24T04:00:00.062-05:002024-01-24T05:50:48.405-05:00Taking a tip from the Hodgepodge<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnAB3yj17qVWfla51cqMAJibsbrk5KZuh2Hev7mN6L2mouoJrK5RR2Ohbxomf6D2cGzT5-mOiH3z5N0o7wQC_cat1vi6_cibZJnt8nhGGggbusiNfi6rKpc-StMopNVmt4C5PSgBdtbJGwd8LCAhWasjvZFKnbfa3U4pmc9g8gQAXgfVYtYEF-Ow/s273/hodgepodge-button.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="250" data-original-width="273" height="293" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnAB3yj17qVWfla51cqMAJibsbrk5KZuh2Hev7mN6L2mouoJrK5RR2Ohbxomf6D2cGzT5-mOiH3z5N0o7wQC_cat1vi6_cibZJnt8nhGGggbusiNfi6rKpc-StMopNVmt4C5PSgBdtbJGwd8LCAhWasjvZFKnbfa3U4pmc9g8gQAXgfVYtYEF-Ow/w320-h293/hodgepodge-button.png" width="320" /></a></div>It's Wednesday again, and that means it's time for the Hodgepodge -- the linkup where Joyce, at <a href="http://www.fromthissideofthepond.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><b>From This Side of the Pond</b></span></a>,
asks the questions and bloggers
provide the answers on their own blogs. Here
goes!<p></p><p><span style="font-family: courier;">1.
Do you have a word for the year (WOTY)? If so, and you'd like to share,
please share. How do you decide on a word? If you don't have a word are
you still on the hunt for one for 2024? </span></p><p>I have chosen a word for the year, but haven't posted about it yet. I want to try and sort out many of the nuances of the word and note how I plan to apply it throughout the year. The word I've chosen is <i><b>continue</b></i>. </p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi35QJJk7MMEpFvpNmkW_0jN2m4zRteM8LY4aSQs_BNeDE-59G7CfxNmeosvBYvYqaxZsncjDblm1aywmv5ZD_Qp12cKSZB4VqoGG3FCvWY33rUnWVEI6NwaNUiKDuh-Po0fNiOG9mdk9R_GmLsINaxMKZ63XQL68rvG9L0vmckHZHJYjiZTGIKDQ/s1014/romans%2012%2012.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="584" data-original-width="1014" height="230" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi35QJJk7MMEpFvpNmkW_0jN2m4zRteM8LY4aSQs_BNeDE-59G7CfxNmeosvBYvYqaxZsncjDblm1aywmv5ZD_Qp12cKSZB4VqoGG3FCvWY33rUnWVEI6NwaNUiKDuh-Po0fNiOG9mdk9R_GmLsINaxMKZ63XQL68rvG9L0vmckHZHJYjiZTGIKDQ/w400-h230/romans%2012%2012.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Beautiful graphic by Abby at <a href="http://littlebirdieblessings.blogspot.com" target="_blank"><span style="color: #38761d;"><b>Little Birdie Blessings</b></span></a><br /></td></tr></tbody></table> <br />As to how I decide on a word -- I consider prayerfully whether or not God wants me to choose a word for the year. Sometimes He doesn't show me one, but other times He either impresses a word on my heart or just drops one into my thinking. <br /><p></p><p><span style="font-family: courier;">2. January 23rd is National Pie Day...will you celebrate? Do you like pie? What's your favorite? </span></p><p>I do like pie, but I'm currently in the middle of a 40-day sugar fast so am not likely to be celebrating. My favorite pie? Oh, that's a tough one. I make an Apple Crumb Pie that is scrumptious, and a Reese's Pie (peanut butter, chocolate pudding, chocolate whipped cream) and a Red, White and Blueberry Pie that we really like. Any of those might be my favorite. <a href="https://acrossmytable.blogspot.com/2007/11/some-favorite-pie-recipes-for.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: #38761d;"><b>This post </b></span></a>has all three of those recipes in it.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCLQ-ynt2HDshu-hjwlS2PTitDwR6Esjr2DfAqUbwjN1RFOlsvhaJt8MFGDWqvdgRVgSLx-dQPPtg1p1Yfa69xNn28-0n_GMVoq42ijUR4EqnIOP4OKdD4G8rUbJfqsn_RlyIcItdi2WMuUZpd8XzjxlWMAnvy7HgLcCcGeQFvCWUHD4tYzv-oCA/s300/red%20white%20blue%20pie.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="300" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCLQ-ynt2HDshu-hjwlS2PTitDwR6Esjr2DfAqUbwjN1RFOlsvhaJt8MFGDWqvdgRVgSLx-dQPPtg1p1Yfa69xNn28-0n_GMVoq42ijUR4EqnIOP4OKdD4G8rUbJfqsn_RlyIcItdi2WMuUZpd8XzjxlWMAnvy7HgLcCcGeQFvCWUHD4tYzv-oCA/w320-h320/red%20white%20blue%20pie.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p><span style="font-family: courier;">3.
Tipping. What are your thoughts, expectations, as to who, when where?
Do you appreciate a store/restaurant giving a 'suggested amount'? Have
you ever left an extravagant tip? </span></p><p>20% is the most we will ordinarily tip (but at times we are more generous if the service was exceptional) and generally I think most service we receive is worth tipping 20% for. I don't think we have ever had service so bad it deserved no tip, but we have been known to leave a very small tip if the service is abysmal. And a very generous tip at other times. Never left an extravagant one, though.</p><p>I don't appreciate "suggested amounts" or the payment systems that have you tipping people who basically did nothing, in establishments where tipping is not usually a thing.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglYuDGdvJRcQSNRWOg2NJl86bVmWmDX3NVgtYk_9izHmK3H_p7cQBt-Eb-egV0-avs7Jr2luG_eSHfyTmJNlqvTQH7wouAiXmkES4OFMBkVPV0XVzB8OiONMgaKVUsqq1K8gRSMqiZK08oPpny9cMlV0opsKWkEhawG0kthvhSzCK65EVu16aYrQ/s1600/Angela%20Staehling%20travel%20mug.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglYuDGdvJRcQSNRWOg2NJl86bVmWmDX3NVgtYk_9izHmK3H_p7cQBt-Eb-egV0-avs7Jr2luG_eSHfyTmJNlqvTQH7wouAiXmkES4OFMBkVPV0XVzB8OiONMgaKVUsqq1K8gRSMqiZK08oPpny9cMlV0opsKWkEhawG0kthvhSzCK65EVu16aYrQ/w300-h400/Angela%20Staehling%20travel%20mug.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>Check out this adorable ceramic travel mug I found at our local thrift store!<br /><p><span style="font-family: courier;">4. Share with us one household 'tip' that works for you. </span></p><p>I'll do even better! Here's a whole post on some <a href="https://acrossmytable.blogspot.com/2021/12/a-few-tips-to-make-things-easier-in.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: #38761d;"><b>kitchen tips</b></span></a>. I wrote it in 2021 at Christmas time, but these kitchen tips will come in handy any time of year. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCjT446MH2ZvP_F8spOHUbsRKo4xbuCo5spInYsUrdfF8No5tn4Oezr65lnR23XWb_LSwiZNyCZp76B8nw40TQQxGzZQj0T1SVhD7ydqZiAIIdwiF_U75r6A9zAlDKz06U3u1INR3ErC48P_7vZdiEntO-lbdwj2wRJkE1a2hDfbrFdlZ0idkuTQ/s2504/GE%20fridge:freezer%201950s.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2504" data-original-width="1668" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCjT446MH2ZvP_F8spOHUbsRKo4xbuCo5spInYsUrdfF8No5tn4Oezr65lnR23XWb_LSwiZNyCZp76B8nw40TQQxGzZQj0T1SVhD7ydqZiAIIdwiF_U75r6A9zAlDKz06U3u1INR3ErC48P_7vZdiEntO-lbdwj2wRJkE1a2hDfbrFdlZ0idkuTQ/w266-h400/GE%20fridge:freezer%201950s.jpg" width="266" /></a></div>Evidently having the freezer on the bottom of the fridge is not a new idea. Ad from a 1950s magazine!<br /><p><span style="font-family: courier;">5.
Influencers on social media are people who've built a reputation for
their knowledge and expertise on a particular subject. Do you follow any
influencers online? Have you made a purchase or tried something new
because of that 'influence'? If there's one you particularly enjoy tell
us who they are and why you enjoy them. </span></p><p>I may follow one or two influencers on Instagram, but I can't think of one I particularly enjoy or have made a purchase, tried something new, etc. based on their recommendation.<br /></p><p><span style="font-family: courier;">6. Insert your own random thought here. </span></p><p>Tuesday, January 23 (when I'm writing this) is the New Hampshire presidential primary. Really no idea how it's going to turn out. Things I liked about the voting process: it was quick; our town has its own "I voted" stickers which feature a covered bridge and are more original than what we usually see; and the 8th grade bake sale outside. Things that annoyed me: there's a table where you check in. This used to be done by alphabet, but no more, which is fine, but confusing. So, there are six people sitting at this table; they work in teams of two. Theoretically one would go to the team where there's no line, in order to move things along efficiently. Person after person went to that team, only to be told, "We're processing absentee ballots". Okay, fine, good for you, but how about something novel like a little sign that says "Please use first two lines only" or even "Absentee ballot processing in progress". </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg5D3taSwBALq0MepWNymSGcwSdoImxZwaGLtgtYL4giGePJowxvRdIF0SOgZ3mFbIGGALjZij7i721Cw0u5YfCfYe78SQcTA4g3k9NdRQ5UGLkBrj9lRVzqP_fp-wwnnHsRUNFgdRB3PLzgUESciAPaaG_3SPl2Vnow4HbtsUbBlRbhV3mmg7Cg/s640/sticker.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="620" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg5D3taSwBALq0MepWNymSGcwSdoImxZwaGLtgtYL4giGePJowxvRdIF0SOgZ3mFbIGGALjZij7i721Cw0u5YfCfYe78SQcTA4g3k9NdRQ5UGLkBrj9lRVzqP_fp-wwnnHsRUNFgdRB3PLzgUESciAPaaG_3SPl2Vnow4HbtsUbBlRbhV3mmg7Cg/w388-h400/sticker.jpg" width="388" /></a></div><p>And there's the Hodgepodge for this week!<br /></p>
<span class="post-author vcard"></span>Mrs.Thttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00392321745556290343noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15265988.post-41410226123373745062024-01-22T15:08:00.003-05:002024-01-22T15:12:55.811-05:00Happy Homemaker Monday<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj18OTj6A8eVygcg7IquWykez8y5JNJLPpLy3tkFtQEmVEmmWodKicgPbNEarGqC4cSBH_6tdTgDPdJGYzEcoQQTWbf3dOX8qGYZOMhtKTlrbAMwDLcxwIe_qkSAATwp1aRG8DLKZqsTM0esRVwYZFm0cIBNlyRsJM3Q_qW08NApa7KPgPGsEts-Q/s1080/Happy%20Homemaker%20Monday%20fireplacepopcorn.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj18OTj6A8eVygcg7IquWykez8y5JNJLPpLy3tkFtQEmVEmmWodKicgPbNEarGqC4cSBH_6tdTgDPdJGYzEcoQQTWbf3dOX8qGYZOMhtKTlrbAMwDLcxwIe_qkSAATwp1aRG8DLKZqsTM0esRVwYZFm0cIBNlyRsJM3Q_qW08NApa7KPgPGsEts-Q/w400-h400/Happy%20Homemaker%20Monday%20fireplacepopcorn.png" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p></p><p>As usual, there's no time for a long post, but
I'm taking a few minutes to join Sandra for this link party over at <span style="color: #990000;"><a href="https://familycorner.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><b>Diary of a Stay at Home Mom</b></a></span>. <br /></p><span><span style="color: #38761d;"><b><span><span><span><span><span><span><span style="font-size: large;"></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></b></span></span><p><span><span style="color: #38761d;"><b><span><span><span><span><span><span><span style="font-size: large;">The Weather:::</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></b></span></span></p><p><span>Now, at 3 pm, it's 33º and partly cloudy. Only 5 mph wind, so it feels like 28º. Hoping to get out for a walk later.<br /></span></p><p><span><span style="color: #38761d;"><b><span><span style="font-size: large;"><span><span><span><span><span>As I look outside my window:::</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></b></span></span> </p><p> I
see a partly sunny, partly cloudy late-afternoon winter sky.
The ground is snow-covered but the road is bare.<br /></p><p><span style="color: #38761d;"><b><span><span><span><span><span><span style="font-size: large;">Right now I am:::</span></span></span></span><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span></span></b></span><br /></p><div style="text-align: left;"> Working on a blog post. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><b><span><span><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span></span></b></span><span style="color: #38761d;"><b><span><span><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></span><span><span><span style="font-size: large;">Thinking and pondering:::</span></span></span></b></span></div><p><span style="color: #444444;"><span><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span></span>Continuing to think on the<b> </b>new
year and just what my goals and priorities should look like. I've
chosen the word "continue" and am working on a post for that --
hopefully to be published this week. I thought it would be last week but ... well, have been too busy "continuing" with the activities of life to complete the study for the post.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7FZdJA4IAwa4jyclgg9dOgghrta5kgnVlMxidZmmfLMzDCAjW-hqnjZMdZxiKrj805tm-ApqRYLZRUQohMxSNtsDOSt0Nq-MUzOuavIFO8dxpLKxm7I-5-eLXVgEvYrI3r3OHPW0PteMdpRSkhw2tevR2esSRqT0oimoiuEIXpwvuMHnD-qSFfw/s1080/Continue.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7FZdJA4IAwa4jyclgg9dOgghrta5kgnVlMxidZmmfLMzDCAjW-hqnjZMdZxiKrj805tm-ApqRYLZRUQohMxSNtsDOSt0Nq-MUzOuavIFO8dxpLKxm7I-5-eLXVgEvYrI3r3OHPW0PteMdpRSkhw2tevR2esSRqT0oimoiuEIXpwvuMHnD-qSFfw/w400-h400/Continue.png" width="400" /></a></div> <span style="font-family: Bree Serif;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><b><span><span><span><span><span style="font-size: large;">On my bedside table:::</span></span></span></span></span></b></span> </span><p></p><div style="text-align: left;"><p> A lamp, three books, and a pen.</p><p><span style="color: #38761d;"><b><span><span><span><span><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span></span></span></span></b></span><span style="color: #38761d;"><b><span><span><span><span><span style="font-size: large;">Listening to:::</span></span></span></span></span></b></span> <br /></p>Literally, silence.</div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><span style="color: #38761d;"><b><span><span><span style="font-size: large;">On the Breakfast plate:::</span></span></span></b></span> <p>I
do intermittent fasting so don't have breakfast. We were helping a friend with a kitchen sink issue and she made us an amazing lunch of homemade sauce, meatballs and sausages with spaghetti.<br /></p><p> <span style="color: #38761d;"><b><span><span><span style="font-size: large;">On the dinner plate:::</span></span></span></b></span> </p><p>Zuppa Toscana soup<br /></p><p><span style="color: #38761d;"><b><span><span><span style="font-size: large;">On the menu for this week:::</span></span></span></b></span> </p><div style="text-align: left;"><p> A few meals on my menu plan:</p></div><div style="text-align: left;">Tortilla Enchilada Soup<br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Hamburgers, roasted Brussels sprouts<br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Egg roll in a bowl</div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><b><span><span><span style="font-size: large;">On my reading pile:::</span></span></span></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><b><span><span><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span></span></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i><a href="https://www.thriftbooks.com/w/every-ocean-has-a-shore_jamie-langston-turner/38725477/#edition=66627917&idiq=56450737" target="_blank"><span style="color: #38761d;"><b> Every Ocean Has a Shore</b></span></a>, </i>by Jamie Langston Turner, a Christmas gift I'm really enjoying.<i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>Adorned </i>by Nancy DeMoss Wolgemuth<br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://www.thriftbooks.com/w/finding-a-mentor-being-a-mentor-sharing-our-lives-as-women-of-god_donna-otto/372192/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #a64d79;"><b><i>Finding a Mentor, Being a Mentor</i></b></span></a> by Donna Otto <br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://www.thriftbooks.com/w/a-step-farther-and-higher-some-turn-back-others-never-will_gail-macdonald/485818/?resultid=3493d90d-4817-4af8-9e8f-b8e7a91be7f7#edition=1712052&idiq=3329312" target="_blank"><b><span style="color: #0b5394;"><i>A Step Farther and Higher</i></span></b></a>, by Gail MacDonald</div><div style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://www.thriftbooks.com/w/high-call-high-privilege_gail-macdonald/306982/#edition=3602810&idiq=1045742" target="_blank"><span style="color: #783f04;"><i><b>High Call, High Privilege</b></i></span></a>, also by Gail MacDonald<i><a href="https://www.thriftbooks.com/w/all-manner-of-things_susie-finkbeiner/19683215/#edition=20900078&idiq=39043934" target="_blank"><span style="color: #134f5c;"><b><br /><br /></b></span></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglfKMeAKnCo5cHR52PJBZLai7qHzwA0M_qfqzc7NWUh8-qtnwqryYPuz_4iZjli06YtCx-IWyvqHmzVv_5FuZ78IbW2dbRfQMSsSWGwqvyMT2MYyJEpFLvBehzyXt16CN1-4uQN3yQ9cto9rGlLelDOf7Emn_cDHMT388HTGiY32s_8f62LApIEw/s350/every%20ocean%20has%20a%20shore.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="350" data-original-width="226" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglfKMeAKnCo5cHR52PJBZLai7qHzwA0M_qfqzc7NWUh8-qtnwqryYPuz_4iZjli06YtCx-IWyvqHmzVv_5FuZ78IbW2dbRfQMSsSWGwqvyMT2MYyJEpFLvBehzyXt16CN1-4uQN3yQ9cto9rGlLelDOf7Emn_cDHMT388HTGiY32s_8f62LApIEw/w259-h400/every%20ocean%20has%20a%20shore.jpg" width="259" /></a></div><br /></i></div><span style="color: #38761d;"><span><b><span><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span></b></span></span><span style="color: #38761d;"><span><b><span><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span></b></span></span></div><span style="color: #38761d;"><span><b><span><span style="font-size: large;">On my to do list today:::</span></span></b></span></span> <br /><br />Work on several blog posts<br />Work on Sunday School lesson 19<br />Help Terry with kitchen faucet √<div style="text-align: left;">Spend time cross stitching</div><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: left;">Write some thank-you notes</div><div style="text-align: left;">List a sewing pattern and maybe a card on Etsy</div><div style="text-align: left;">Send Etsy order √ <br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><b><span><span><span style="font-size: large;">Plans for this week:::</span></span></span></b></span><br /></div><br />Plan menus and make grocery list<br />Etsy listings<br /><div style="text-align: left;">Ironing<br />Take a bag to the thrift store<br />Work on Sunday School lesson 19<br /></div>Blogging<br /><div style="text-align: left;">Get started with an exercise regimen<br />Continue 40-day sugar fast</div><div style="text-align: left;">Begin some serious decluttering</div><div style="text-align: left;">Start a pillow quilt</div>Ladies Bible study on Saturday </div><div style="text-align: left;">Plan menus for volunteer crew next week</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><b><span><span><span style="font-size: large;">What I am creating:::</span></span></span></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><b><span><span><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span></span></b></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><span><span><span><span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span><span>January</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span> cross-stitch sampler, plus another wintry cross-stitch intended for a gift<br /><div style="text-align: left;">Some <a href="https://acrossmytable.blogspot.com/2010/08/condensation-catchers.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><b>"condensation catchers" </b></span></a>out of old towels to place behind toilets that sweat in the humidity -- no, I still haven't <strike>finished</strike>
started those! 😕 And I need to do so, because the old towels are just
sitting around waiting to be used! And also because we keep getting
sporadic warmer weather and I half expect the toilets to start sweating
again.<br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">An older unfinished dishcloth in a more challenging pattern<br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Need to start a pillow quilt<br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><span><b><span style="font-size: large;">Bible verse, Devotional, Quote:::</span></b></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><span><b><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></b></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;">This quote from <a href="https://thedailygraceco.com/products/stand-firm-armor-of-god-study" target="_blank"><span style="color: #134f5c;"><b><i>Stand Firm</i></b></span></a>, the Daily Grace Co. study on the armor of God :<br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Paprika;">"A solid foundation in our understanding of the gospel of peace brings hope to any circumstance we may face in this lifetime and enables us to share our hope with others ... Our foundation -- our footing -- is found in the perfect peace offered through the hope of the gospel. That foundation allows us to ... move toward others in light of that hope.<br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Paprika;"> </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Paprika;">"For those around us, our lives and words serve as a testimony to the peace we have found in Christ. We can point them to the only One who offers us true comfort and rest. The gospel message is a message of peace that speaks into every broken part of this world. In seasons of hardship or suffering, brokenness or doubt, the gospel serves as an anchor for our souls, keeping us firmly planted in the peace of Jesus."<br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Merienda;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"> This is from the chapter concerning being shod with readiness for the gospel of peace, from Ephesians 6:15. I'm loving this study. It's currently on sale for $10, but Daily Grace Co. has frequent sales and sometimes you can find it for even less.</div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDrGHDCSSVN0FGThH2bYbXngvzsJX8vFbK5pCXTHi1J2bGEunWDyDUziKTZKpmt4suLFOY5z1Ov24AZSr6T681nG-iP5bRTYxphEn1TgJfCG4EW9Q1MWfmlKxnEd8xCuGzjjse7Sosawbyx4Fm3DjD4VsNcEvA2ymOY1JoiBZw0jBl5lAO_gpktw/s716/Screenshot_2023-08-28%20Stand%20Firm%20Armor%20of%20God%20Study(1).png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="716" data-original-width="646" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDrGHDCSSVN0FGThH2bYbXngvzsJX8vFbK5pCXTHi1J2bGEunWDyDUziKTZKpmt4suLFOY5z1Ov24AZSr6T681nG-iP5bRTYxphEn1TgJfCG4EW9Q1MWfmlKxnEd8xCuGzjjse7Sosawbyx4Fm3DjD4VsNcEvA2ymOY1JoiBZw0jBl5lAO_gpktw/w361-h400/Screenshot_2023-08-28%20Stand%20Firm%20Armor%20of%20God%20Study(1).png" width="361" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="reference" style="color: #38761d;"><span><b><span style="font-size: large;">On my prayer list::: <br /></span></b></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;">Friends & family<br />Church family<br />Missionaries <br />Our country</div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div>And there's the Happy Homemaker Monday for this week!</div></div></div> </div>Mrs.Thttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00392321745556290343noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15265988.post-58408626272429700022024-01-21T04:00:00.136-05:002024-01-21T04:00:00.134-05:00Sunday Scripture <p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwpIXooqPEY9jaB6J11QiGZZ04lAjY4PL0V1ICebbHSZzhkya3WNs0KEvesMavh7a_DUe9stk53uDc9LpMLQ-rfV_BmVTBBvykjwTghyphenhyphenbHQkiUz1IFmQhSQjXVl8PdF3s70xBX9zQlLepeT3j1-rIGa1eP2abFU3aQ6B1Y2B9xolBfISp_N6ebBg/s1080/Isaiah%2038-17.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwpIXooqPEY9jaB6J11QiGZZ04lAjY4PL0V1ICebbHSZzhkya3WNs0KEvesMavh7a_DUe9stk53uDc9LpMLQ-rfV_BmVTBBvykjwTghyphenhyphenbHQkiUz1IFmQhSQjXVl8PdF3s70xBX9zQlLepeT3j1-rIGa1eP2abFU3aQ6B1Y2B9xolBfISp_N6ebBg/w400-h400/Isaiah%2038-17.png" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>For this week's Sunday Scripture series, I'm returning to my simple study of a little devotional journal titled <a href="https://www.christianbook.com/woman-god-sees-prayer-journal-kjv/9781943216185/pd/216181?event=CPOF" target="_blank"><span style="color: #38761d;"><i><b>Reflections: The Woman God Sees</b></i></span></a>,
by Jane L. Fryar -- a journal gifted me by some dear young friends. It
has a daily
devotional one works through -- about a month's worth or so. The daily devotions were a
blessing to me when I worked through the book, so up through November I had been sharing
them here. Then I switched to something more seasonal for December and now -- for a few weeks at least -- I am back to
these again. We will see!<br /></p><p>The
Scripture for today is Isaiah 38:17. Here's the assignment:
"Jesus carried all our sins to His cross -- and left them there. He has thrown our guilt 'behind His back'. How does that good news give your courage to face today's troubles?" I chose
to <a href="https://acrossmytable.blogspot.com/2015/09/the-soap-method-of-bible-study.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: #b45f06;"><b>SOAP</b></span></a> Isaiah 38:16-17 as I considered this assignment.</p><p><b>S=</b> <span style="font-family: courier;">"O Lord, by these things men live, and in all these things is the life of my spirit; so wilt Thou restore me, and make me to live.<br />"Behold, for peace I had great bitterness, but Thou hast in love to my soul delivered it from the pit of corruption, for Thou hast cast all my sins behind Thy back." (Isaiah 38:16-17)</span></p><p><b>O=</b> Scofield points out that Isaiah 38:10-20 were actually penned by Hezekiah. That was a really interesting fact to learn.</p><p>Although I'm quite familiar with verse 17, and have read this account from Hezekiah's life numerous times, I'm not sure I remembered how it all fit together -- that these verses are part of Hezekiah's response to God's healing him and sparing his life. </p><p>Warren Wiersbe noted, "During this time of suffering, Hezekiah examined his own heart and confessed his sins, and God forgave him. 'Undertake for me' (verse 14) means 'Be my surety. Stand with me'."</p><p> Cross-references for "back" are these:</p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"> "I have blotted out, like a thick cloud, thy transgressions, and, like a cloud, thy sins; return unto me, for I have redeemed thee." (Isaiah 44:22)</span></p><p><span style="font-family: courier;">"For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins." (Matthew 26:28)</span></p><p>About that word "remission" above -- Scofield notes that it is elsewhere translated "forgiveness" and means "to send off or away." He adds,</p><p>"And this, throughout Scripture, is the one fundamental meaning of forgiveness -- to separate the sin from the sinner.</p><p>"The sin of the justified believer interrupts his fellowship [with God]; it is forgiven upon confession, but always on the ground of Christ's propitiating sacrifice."<br /></p><p><b>A</b>= Wiersbe says of Hezekiah, <span style="font-family: Merienda;">"There was a new humility in his walk, a deeper love for the Lord in his heart, and a new song of praise on his lips. He had a new determination to praise God all the days of his life, for now those days were very important to him."</span></p><p>Hezekiah's time of suffering might have been wasted, had he not used that time to pray and get his heart right with the Lord. Once he did, and had the assurance of God's forgiveness and healing, he was quick to move forward with praising and serving God once again.</p><p><span> </span>In answer to the question <i><b>"He has thrown our guilt 'behind His back'. How does that good news give your courage to face today's troubles?"</b></i>, I responded: </p><p>This good news does indeed give me courage to face each day's troubles without fear or guilt. Keeping short accounts with God frees me to serve Him wholeheartedly.</p><p><b>P=</b> <span style="font-family: Homemade Apple;">"Lord, I'm so thankful that You have delivered my life from the pit of destruction! So thankful that my sins are gone as far as the east is from the west. I'm thankful too for this example of how You worked in Hezekiah's life. Help me to have that fresh determination to praise You with my remaining days! In Jesus' name, Amen."</span></p><p>And there is this week's Sunday Scripture! Just three more in this series, and I have figured out what I'll be doing next, so I'm thankful to have direction on that. Stay tuned!<br /></p>Mrs.Thttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00392321745556290343noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15265988.post-16211905578010986982024-01-17T04:00:00.093-05:002024-01-17T04:00:00.144-05:00Hundred Acre Hodgepodge<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf3v5grbOAA-JpMaXm2pejBH9846Uo4C-b_CTOBzY9_xRjFoB4W_xi1Vky7F8i4inL0ISEI0qWWPqm_gx9t9Gw0hwTVTlJNStuwQq5M1r0fLF9M8K19fOtvL4JOX5NqQkXyJdtKMre-tIXWInt2OYKk_frf9fgqr4oBvYBKISYYvXjEhd0K-wlZQ/s273/hodgepodge-button.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="250" data-original-width="273" height="293" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf3v5grbOAA-JpMaXm2pejBH9846Uo4C-b_CTOBzY9_xRjFoB4W_xi1Vky7F8i4inL0ISEI0qWWPqm_gx9t9Gw0hwTVTlJNStuwQq5M1r0fLF9M8K19fOtvL4JOX5NqQkXyJdtKMre-tIXWInt2OYKk_frf9fgqr4oBvYBKISYYvXjEhd0K-wlZQ/w320-h293/hodgepodge-button.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p> It's Wednesday again, and that means it's time for the Hodgepodge -- the linkup where Joyce, at <a href="http://www.fromthissideofthepond.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><b>From This Side of the Pond</b></span></a>,
asks the questions and bloggers
provide the answers on their own blogs. Today's questions have a very definite and fun theme. Here
goes!</p><p><span style="font-family: courier;">1. On January 18th we commemorate A.A. Milne's birthday. Milne is the author of the beloved classic <u>Winnie the Pooh.</u>
In many ways Pooh represents innocence and simplicity. His optimism
reminds us to appreciate the little things. What are three little things
you're appreciating in mid-January? </span></p><p>1. A slightly slower pace.<br />2. Time to cross-stitch in the evenings we are home.<br />3. The slow but sure lengthening of daylight hours.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieyeRHGln36F1vTqrbVdgRD0TKJJtpO_dZcjugHi6_xbo45sBxVCXMA5_OA-umQRzQFdQBtABwxSQQbEVX5o8K2076d7Egx6UNjg9bHcMK2ayAeFOGqRixDZR0mxr1ZjGfbGP89K2ZwhAc39WXRqpU5tQI7vkEs5MKCoQf-0MtmwT9MFS-ZOUrrQ/s400/Pooh%20votive%20holder.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="391" data-original-width="400" height="391" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieyeRHGln36F1vTqrbVdgRD0TKJJtpO_dZcjugHi6_xbo45sBxVCXMA5_OA-umQRzQFdQBtABwxSQQbEVX5o8K2076d7Egx6UNjg9bHcMK2ayAeFOGqRixDZR0mxr1ZjGfbGP89K2ZwhAc39WXRqpU5tQI7vkEs5MKCoQf-0MtmwT9MFS-ZOUrrQ/w400-h391/Pooh%20votive%20holder.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p><span style="font-family: courier;">2. Piglet teaches us even
the smallest of individuals can achieve big things with the proper
amount of determination. How do your current responsibilities make you
feel? </span></p><p>I've chosen continue for my word of the year. My biggest responsibility at this time of my life is just to continue walking with God and to serve Him and others well. That's a huge responsibility and can only be done as I abide in Him. And although God is the One doing the work, it takes determination on my part to stay close to Him. <br /></p><p><span style="font-family: courier;">3. Tigger is known for his enthusiasm and energy, his
boundless joy and love of life. What's something you're interested in
learning more about in this new year? </span></p><p>Truly healthy eating; effective exercise for folks in my age bracket. I'm well on track with eating -- keto bordering on carnivore, and intermittent fasting -- and even though I walk frequently I know I need to build more strength in my upper body and work on balance, etc. And I'm interested in learning more about many other subjects as well. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiST-hMWTlXKPQvbhnSAcuUtM_wQJpQZE9HkDHDglyGLUX0cC3uzKXfmTAs7I_Y4f0CQ30X4GpusvmLGmu0ZvbtSIWNRbnCSEW12Nt4n-wTKR7mjge5-j6VF0a6VoxgqxbF7_7E6t1LI_9GruSUXu0SHzbHxu5tO8_AxmgWmx3ie_mOnwzWRuwbRw/s350/Winnie%20the%20pooh%20seasons%20movie.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="350" data-original-width="245" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiST-hMWTlXKPQvbhnSAcuUtM_wQJpQZE9HkDHDglyGLUX0cC3uzKXfmTAs7I_Y4f0CQ30X4GpusvmLGmu0ZvbtSIWNRbnCSEW12Nt4n-wTKR7mjge5-j6VF0a6VoxgqxbF7_7E6t1LI_9GruSUXu0SHzbHxu5tO8_AxmgWmx3ie_mOnwzWRuwbRw/w280-h400/Winnie%20the%20pooh%20seasons%20movie.jpg" width="280" /></a></div><br /><p><span style="font-family: courier;">4. Eeyore, while a
melancholy character, teaches us the importance of resilience and
perseverance. How do you stay motivated and persevere in difficult
circumstances?</span></p><p>Looking to God and the promises in His Word. The Sunday School lesson I'm currently working on is all about Romans 8:28. We can persevere through difficult circumstances when we understand that God is going to use them for our eventual good and for His glory.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx6nK_0Jk6h08nj3i8Sb7p1hhBXXGZDFtg4vLQyyD_iw-5PnzdDXd_OEKc9HDbya1OySGuFLg6SD-TmlUeQVV_Q8pRlkJnL7CY-yJhojgQ8IRMBBypb5bAHq23BUElkGUk8ru8J5fPhmr8wnHvY7kmYi4i5ymNcz2zLxv9PQqBIl6QIJhN_OZzvA/s1101/lbb%20romans%205%20perseverance.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="619" data-original-width="1101" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx6nK_0Jk6h08nj3i8Sb7p1hhBXXGZDFtg4vLQyyD_iw-5PnzdDXd_OEKc9HDbya1OySGuFLg6SD-TmlUeQVV_Q8pRlkJnL7CY-yJhojgQ8IRMBBypb5bAHq23BUElkGUk8ru8J5fPhmr8wnHvY7kmYi4i5ymNcz2zLxv9PQqBIl6QIJhN_OZzvA/w400-h225/lbb%20romans%205%20perseverance.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Beautiful graphic by Abby at <a href="http://littlebirdieblessings.blogspot.com" target="_blank"><span style="color: #38761d;"><b>Little Birdie Blessings</b></span></a><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: courier;"><br />5. What's the last thing you ate that was made with honey? </span><p>I am not sure. Oh, I remember! Someone gave us a log of goat cheese with figs and honey as part of a Christmas gift basket. We took it along last Wednesday when we stayed overnight at our cottage. We couldn't taste the honey, which is fine with me. I like honey but not really as an ingredient. Other than that cheese log, I think the last thing I had with honey was a combination of honey and lemon juice to soothe a cough. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc_dP6PvoNFnyPiDiaTWq9767rqxp54786jvgp0hHL4V6qJfBsaxSRWQICX1pUs-vl9DRiwyFMPpd3VIh9HbNFswAM-VUsXoR7Z3OiitR0JQRE0U64xfT5-HTQ4HwneFk590VQQ-PvVAm2K3oZflKXJdGkf2c9HUr7VErETIMmEiUNcc5cDnS3CA/s1871/honey%20cookie%20cookbook.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1871" data-original-width="1093" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc_dP6PvoNFnyPiDiaTWq9767rqxp54786jvgp0hHL4V6qJfBsaxSRWQICX1pUs-vl9DRiwyFMPpd3VIh9HbNFswAM-VUsXoR7Z3OiitR0JQRE0U64xfT5-HTQ4HwneFk590VQQ-PvVAm2K3oZflKXJdGkf2c9HUr7VErETIMmEiUNcc5cDnS3CA/w234-h400/honey%20cookie%20cookbook.jpeg" width="234" /></a></div><br /><p><span style="font-family: courier;">6. Insert your own random thought here. </span></p><p> Snowy day here, with a winter weather advisory and a prediction of 4 to 6 inches. Sounds like a good day to stay in. Mr. T and I have some plans for decluttering and cleaning, and I intend to put a hearty soup in the crockpot for supper. If I can, I'd love to spend an hour cross-stitching in the evening!</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT1BsJGZqIQgWduG9iSYEwlkSOpEd_GpNeVu921xi30zPL_lLnyWRrc91LY3u5nR78eMQZb-sxVIwg97gy8Rbg22X5cCwEvorSgFlcIziST1X4FkWQ7bu87i7AU3pskBPk57H4SZB9nXa2sAhvXuwdmPjZMVepnm9Tix7_t0C0f_3JQOeSeXXJiw/s2048/DSCN6694.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1152" data-original-width="2048" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT1BsJGZqIQgWduG9iSYEwlkSOpEd_GpNeVu921xi30zPL_lLnyWRrc91LY3u5nR78eMQZb-sxVIwg97gy8Rbg22X5cCwEvorSgFlcIziST1X4FkWQ7bu87i7AU3pskBPk57H4SZB9nXa2sAhvXuwdmPjZMVepnm9Tix7_t0C0f_3JQOeSeXXJiw/w400-h225/DSCN6694.JPG" width="400" /></a></div> <br />And there's the Hodgepodge for this week!<br /><p></p><p><br /></p>Mrs.Thttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00392321745556290343noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15265988.post-38669374421894064682024-01-15T17:30:00.003-05:002024-01-15T17:30:30.020-05:00Happy Homemaker Monday<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8GdHnDBa8c3x1HZ4IMdY7ZG2-H4mXe3La1QoIMscQSGeIuCPabGCb9qJnvk4jxybCnXJm56C8bWC-ONdcOQyZQq6n2nvyPFVumH5DgA-36DbYogh-hZS4cJnTRw83um6MEfI7yK8dmEPz0iDhw0jTsQtrNwpsiy3J-bKsv2hTmfKtVOFrJ1CkBA/s1080/Happy%20Homemaker%20Monday%20fireplacepopcorn.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8GdHnDBa8c3x1HZ4IMdY7ZG2-H4mXe3La1QoIMscQSGeIuCPabGCb9qJnvk4jxybCnXJm56C8bWC-ONdcOQyZQq6n2nvyPFVumH5DgA-36DbYogh-hZS4cJnTRw83um6MEfI7yK8dmEPz0iDhw0jTsQtrNwpsiy3J-bKsv2hTmfKtVOFrJ1CkBA/w400-h400/Happy%20Homemaker%20Monday%20fireplacepopcorn.png" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>As usual, there's no time for a long post, but
I'm taking a few minutes to join Sandra for this link party over at <span style="color: #990000;"><a href="https://familycorner.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><b>Diary of a Stay at Home Mom</b></a></span>. <br /></p><span><span style="color: #38761d;"><b><span><span><span><span><span><span><span style="font-size: large;"></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></b></span></span><p><span><span style="color: #38761d;"><b><span><span><span><span><span><span><span style="font-size: large;">The Weather:::</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></b></span></span></p><p><span>Now, at 4 pm, it's 24º and sunny. A winter weather advisory in the works for tomorrow with 3 to 5 inches of snow predicted.<br /></span></p><p><span><span style="color: #38761d;"><b><span><span style="font-size: large;"><span><span><span><span><span>As I look outside my window:::</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></b></span></span> </p><p> I
see a sunny late-afternoon winter sky.
The ground is snow-covered and some of the trees bear a light frosting of snow after yesterday's snow squalls. Most of that has melted, but there is still a bit clinging to bark of trees here and there.</p><p><span style="color: #38761d;"><b><span><span><span><span><span><span style="font-size: large;">Right now I am:::</span></span></span></span><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span></span></b></span><br /></p><div style="text-align: left;"> Working on a blog post. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><b><span><span><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span></span></b></span><span style="color: #38761d;"><b><span><span><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></span><span><span><span style="font-size: large;">Thinking and pondering:::</span></span></span></b></span></div><p><span style="color: #444444;"><span><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span></span>Continuing to think on the<b> </b>new
year and just what my goals and priorities should look like. I've chosen the word "continue" and am working on a post for that -- hopefully to be published this week.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCzSkC6QAHPDUY8yMjVgwayIjwjXDgAK_xeCMILLIEK5aE0aXvEyOrhUkRR3x7SFMPtYKRYlW1EohENV8FeqeqFJHmoOe1Cv8lGyq8SzZ2vQ3e49rAuRbrKYHWYVJQDlrW7obpKY1g-vl-sEU3Gwa41WXJcih-4TP68OvAV88gmWlYWVbzOZAzRA/s1080/Continue.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCzSkC6QAHPDUY8yMjVgwayIjwjXDgAK_xeCMILLIEK5aE0aXvEyOrhUkRR3x7SFMPtYKRYlW1EohENV8FeqeqFJHmoOe1Cv8lGyq8SzZ2vQ3e49rAuRbrKYHWYVJQDlrW7obpKY1g-vl-sEU3Gwa41WXJcih-4TP68OvAV88gmWlYWVbzOZAzRA/w400-h400/Continue.png" width="400" /></a></div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Bree Serif;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><b><span><span><span><span><span style="font-size: large;">On my bedside table:::</span></span></span></span></span></b></span> </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><p> A lamp, three books, and a pen.</p><p><span style="color: #38761d;"><b><span><span><span><span><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span></span></span></span></b></span><span style="color: #38761d;"><b><span><span><span><span><span style="font-size: large;">Listening to:::</span></span></span></span></span></b></span> <br /></p>Literally, silence.</div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><span style="color: #38761d;"><b><span><span><span style="font-size: large;">On the Breakfast plate:::</span></span></span></b></span> <p>I
do intermittent fasting so don't have breakfast. We did have brunch with friends at our daughter's home since it was a holiday and it made a nice way to visit with old friends we seldom see. I brought breakfast sliders, and hash browns, our daughter made an egg bake, and our friends brought fruit salad. Late lunch was a
small salad with turkey, cheese and avocado in addition to leaf lettuce.<br /></p><p> <span style="color: #38761d;"><b><span><span><span style="font-size: large;">On the dinner plate:::</span></span></span></b></span> </p><p>Chicken divan<br /></p><p><span style="color: #38761d;"><b><span><span><span style="font-size: large;">On the menu for this week:::</span></span></span></b></span> </p><div style="text-align: left;"><p> A few meals on my menu plan:</p></div><div style="text-align: left;">Chicken divan<br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Hamburgers, roasted Brussels sprouts<br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Egg roll in a bowl</div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><b><span><span><span style="font-size: large;">On my reading pile:::</span></span></span></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><b><span><span><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span></span></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i><a href="https://www.thriftbooks.com/w/every-ocean-has-a-shore_jamie-langston-turner/38725477/#edition=66627917&idiq=56450737" target="_blank"><span style="color: #38761d;"><b> Every Ocean Has a Shore</b></span></a>, </i>by Jamie Langston Turner, a Christmas gift I'm really enjoying.<i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>Adorned </i>by Nancy DeMoss Wolgemuth<br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://www.thriftbooks.com/w/finding-a-mentor-being-a-mentor-sharing-our-lives-as-women-of-god_donna-otto/372192/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #a64d79;"><b><i>Finding a Mentor, Being a Mentor</i></b></span></a> by Donna Otto <br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://www.thriftbooks.com/w/a-step-farther-and-higher-some-turn-back-others-never-will_gail-macdonald/485818/?resultid=3493d90d-4817-4af8-9e8f-b8e7a91be7f7#edition=1712052&idiq=3329312" target="_blank"><b><span style="color: #0b5394;"><i>A Step Farther and Higher</i></span></b></a>, by Gail MacDonald</div><div style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://www.thriftbooks.com/w/high-call-high-privilege_gail-macdonald/306982/#edition=3602810&idiq=1045742" target="_blank"><span style="color: #783f04;"><i><b>High Call, High Privilege</b></i></span></a>, also by Gail MacDonald<i><a href="https://www.thriftbooks.com/w/all-manner-of-things_susie-finkbeiner/19683215/#edition=20900078&idiq=39043934" target="_blank"><span style="color: #134f5c;"><b><br /><br /></b></span></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.thriftbooks.com/w/all-manner-of-things_susie-finkbeiner/19683215/#edition=20900078&idiq=39043934" target="_blank"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglfKMeAKnCo5cHR52PJBZLai7qHzwA0M_qfqzc7NWUh8-qtnwqryYPuz_4iZjli06YtCx-IWyvqHmzVv_5FuZ78IbW2dbRfQMSsSWGwqvyMT2MYyJEpFLvBehzyXt16CN1-4uQN3yQ9cto9rGlLelDOf7Emn_cDHMT388HTGiY32s_8f62LApIEw/s350/every%20ocean%20has%20a%20shore.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="350" data-original-width="226" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglfKMeAKnCo5cHR52PJBZLai7qHzwA0M_qfqzc7NWUh8-qtnwqryYPuz_4iZjli06YtCx-IWyvqHmzVv_5FuZ78IbW2dbRfQMSsSWGwqvyMT2MYyJEpFLvBehzyXt16CN1-4uQN3yQ9cto9rGlLelDOf7Emn_cDHMT388HTGiY32s_8f62LApIEw/w259-h400/every%20ocean%20has%20a%20shore.jpg" width="259" /></a></div><br /></i></div><span style="color: #38761d;"><span><b><span><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span></b></span></span><span style="color: #38761d;"><span><b><span><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span></b></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><span><b><span><span style="font-size: large;">On my to do list today:::</span></span></b></span></span> <br /><br />Work on several blog posts<br />Work on Sunday School lesson 18<br />Brunch with friends and family√<div style="text-align: left;">Make sliders to take to brunch √</div><div style="text-align: left;">Spend time cross stitching</div><div style="text-align: left;">Write some thank-you notes</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><b><span><span><span style="font-size: large;">Plans for this week:::</span></span></span></b></span><br /></div><br />Plan menus and make grocery list<br />List some Christmas cards on Etsy<br /><div style="text-align: left;">Ironing<br />Take a bag to the thrift store<br />Finish Sunday School lesson 18<br /></div>Blogging<br /><div style="text-align: left;">Get started with an exercise regimen<br />Continue 40-day sugar fast</div><div style="text-align: left;">Begin some serious decluttering</div><div style="text-align: left;">Start a pillow quilt</div>Ladies ministry meeting on Saturday<br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkdaZ3esXVCl0ArBZpR7XmVKBUqNtUmPTw0HFMAwnwhX23fCMwXSc-fhjvznxzn8R2uAMCbdemSctJFk1UZnFYmtyGP0NnYB-NZidpsjCPvZAEyER3omHDV8GO0dVxjBi_k7IzoWI4OoWfGg6usxdWf2pjkrsnn98DxjHWR_FUdhqae9p_KKG9pQ/s596/winterberries%20and%20snow.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="596" data-original-width="590" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkdaZ3esXVCl0ArBZpR7XmVKBUqNtUmPTw0HFMAwnwhX23fCMwXSc-fhjvznxzn8R2uAMCbdemSctJFk1UZnFYmtyGP0NnYB-NZidpsjCPvZAEyER3omHDV8GO0dVxjBi_k7IzoWI4OoWfGg6usxdWf2pjkrsnn98DxjHWR_FUdhqae9p_KKG9pQ/w396-h400/winterberries%20and%20snow.png" width="396" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><b><span><span><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span></span></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><b><span><span><span style="font-size: large;">What I am creating:::</span></span></span></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><b><span><span><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span></span></b></span></div><span style="font-size: small;"><span><span><span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span><span>January</span></span></span></span></span></span></span> cross-stitch sampler, plus another wintry cross-stitch I've just started<br /><div style="text-align: left;">Some <a href="https://acrossmytable.blogspot.com/2010/08/condensation-catchers.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><b>"condensation catchers" </b></span></a>out of old towels to place behind toilets that sweat in the humidity -- no, I still haven't <strike>finished</strike> started those! 😕 And I need to do so, because the old towels are just sitting around waiting to be used! And also because we keep getting sporadic warmer weather and I half expect the toilets to start sweating again.<br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">An older unfinished dishcloth in a more challenging pattern<br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Need to start a pillow quilt<br /></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><span><b><span style="font-size: large;">Bible verse, Devotional, Quote:::</span></b></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><span><b><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></b></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;">This quote from <i>Adorned</i>, by Nancy Demoss Wolgemuth:<br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Paprika;">"The truth is, if we are going to invest ourselves in others or receive the wisdom offered to us by others, some of the most significant encounters will occur within the context of human weakness and inadequacy. Yes, even failure and sin. Because even while we're still in the process of being changed into the image of Christ, He can use us as a means of grace in others' lives.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Paprika;"> </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Paprika;">"We're still far from where we ought to be (and one day will be, praise God!). But this is part of the story we have been given to share with others. Even our failures -- humbly acknowledged and redeemed by His mercy and grace -- can become a path to a more fruitful life and ministry."<br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Merienda;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"> There is so much more to this book! I'm still reading it, but wanting to underline almost every word!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="reference" style="color: #38761d;"><span><b><span style="font-size: large;">On my prayer list::: <br /></span></b></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;">Friends & family<br />Church family<br />Missionaries <br />Our country</div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div>And there's the Happy Homemaker Monday for this week!</div></div></div>Mrs.Thttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00392321745556290343noreply@blogger.com1