All Members have not the Same Office – A Poem by Eva Travers Poole

 

Waiting by the Window by C. Holsoe

Here is a new poem I posted at the Home Maker’s Corner this week.  This poem sort of continues the theme of the Sunday post two weeks ago – The Missionary No One Remembers.  It is a good reminder for those feel like they are too weak or insignificant to do anything that “really counts” for the Lord.  No matter how bound you may feel by limitations, illness, responsibilities of life or whatever the challenge is, there is something you can do for the Lord.  And, it’s important to remember that God doesn’t expect us all to do the same work for Him.  He made us different for different works On Purpose for His glory.

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All Members Have not the Same Office

Romans 12:4 For as we have many members in one body,
and all members have not the same office:

I could not do the work the reapers did,
Or bind the golden sheaves that thickly fell;
But I could follow by the Master's side,
And watch the marred Face I loved so well…

Continue Reading.

“When we don't have some ‘great work’ to do, it is easy sometimes to feel like what we are doing for the Lord doesn't really count all that much.  It is so important to remember that no job that God gives us is ‘too small’.  Every work for Jesus is significant…”

Evening Song - Savior, More Than Life to Me

James 4:8  Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you…

Sew Happy Friday– Quick and Easy Quarter-Square Triangles

 

Here’s a really short tutorial on making quarter-square triangles.  These can be used for a lot of design ideas besides the ones shown.  Also, you can make them bigger for a faster finish.  :-)  Enjoy!

Texas Wildflowers – Standing Cyprus

 

 

These photos were taken in my parents’ yard in 2014.

Speaking of Fathers…

 

Proverbs 17:6  Children's children are the crown of old men; and the glory of children are their fathers.

Our thanks, O God, for fathers who follow in Thy way,
And who, with glad and trusting hearts, exalt Thee every day.
Our thanks, O God, for fathers who show, by word and deed,
Commitment to Thy will and plan, and Thy commandments heed.
Our thanks, O God, for fathers who meet Thee oft in prayer,
And who, for all life's toil and care, find strength and wisdom there.
How blessed are the children who in their fathers see
The tender Father-love of God, and find their way to Thee.

by Lois S. Johnson  [Source: The Enchanting Rose]

My grandfather reading to his children.

My brother entertaining his son while my mom gave him a haircut.

My dad tuning my piano.  He supported our family for years mostly through piano tuning.

A small portion of the fruit of my dad’s labors in the garden.

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Some thoughts on adoption:  Thoughts from the Past – Adopted

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But in case you don’t have a godly, loving dad, here is an important reminder.

(Note: This is not posted for the express purpose of supporting these people’s adoption goals, but for the video content itself.  I know little about the family.)

John 1:12-13  But as many as received him [Jesus Christ], to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:  Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.

1 John 3:1-2  Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not. Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.

1 John 5:11-13  And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life. These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.

Evening Song - How Big Is God?

Isaiah 40:12  Who hath measured the waters in the hollow of his hand, and meted out heaven with the span, and comprehended the dust of the earth in a measure, and weighed the mountains in scales, and the hills in a balance?

John 14:23  Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.

Sew Happy Friday – Help with Fabrics – Mixing Batiks and Prints

 

One area that some quilters, crafters and seamstresses sometimes find challenging is how to choose fabric that “play well together”.  I hope to make some posts using various sources that will provide some help for those who struggle with this.  (Important to remember.  There are no quilt police.  If you like it, it’s OK.  Don’t think you have to follow anyone’s specific “must-dos”.)
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You can mix batiks and prints!  Even in the recent trend to make clothing with mixed fabrics this can be done tastefully.

When I first started noticing batiks I was not particularly drawn to them, though I liked the colors.  (Probably it was the price.)  Then I ordered some for a lap quilt for a friend, thinking that they really suited her style better than some other things.  When I washed them and ironed them I realized here was a fabric I really liked!  So, I’ll probably be ordering more along the way.  It helps that the designs they are putting on batiks now have improved in variety.  The down side is that they generally cost more, though some sellers are trying to offer some less expensive choices.  However, considering how they are made, I won’t complain of the prices any more.

Here’s a video with Edyta Sitar showing how she mixes batiks and prints.  I thought it was helpful to actually see the process in action.

 

Texas Wildflowers – Mexican Hat

 

These photos were taken in our yard in 2014.

A Random June List

 

This is a photo my brother took of the bridge over Bear Creek which we cross regularly.  Actually, there was water over the road in both directions on this road for awhile.  This happened in the Memorial Day flooding here in central Texas.  This bridge flooded because on Saturday that weekend the rain had caused a log jam at the bridge and the Monday rains were too much for it.  It was a blessing that it didn’t wash out. 

We were blessed that we had very little damage on our own property.  Besides the flooding, a small tornado probably touched down not far from us on Saturday that weekend causing some mild local damage.  We spent time in our tornado shelter with some of my family on both Saturday and Memorial Day.

Lamentations 3:22-23  It is of the LORD'S mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.

Recently I have been…

Making: our guest room pretty and comfortable with the help of family and a friend! (Hopefully more later on that.)
Cooking: Homegrown vegetables – love my dad’s garden and am thankful for all his hard work!
Reading: Marriage and the Family In the Middle Ages (not sure yet if it’s a recommend).
Wanting: to take a down day after a lot of activity around here.
Looking: at the sun shining on the trees and grass in the late afternoon.
Playing: at interior design. :-)
Deciding: what I need to do next.
Wishing: for more contact with some of my family.
Enjoying: a visit with my in-laws.
Working: on catching up.
Liking: seeing things so green here this year.
Wondering: if we’ll have more flooding as the rain in the Gulf of Mexico moves onshore.
Loving: having my husband off work for a few days.
Pondering: many things, including the convolutions of the Duggar debacle.
Remembering: my great-aunt who went to Heaven this month.
Watching: a variety of things, including some old Peanuts cartoons. :-)
Hoping: I can get some more things done that will make a significant difference around here.
Marveling: at the beauty of rain.
Needing: to catch up on some things after my long project.
Smelling: fresh paint, my in-laws’ fabric softener. (It’s funny, but since ours is unscented I really can smell it after they’ve been here. It’s kind a pleasant lingering smell to remind me of their presence.)
Wearing: comfortable stuff.
Noticing: how nice hot running water is, and how breath-taking cold showers can be.
Knowing: that life is never simple, everything seems to have complications at some point.
Thinking: about things to write.
Feeling: tired.  Really?
Admiring: my husband.
Buying: things we needed for the guest room, including a bed and some linens.
Getting: sore muscles.  I don’t usually paint and move furniture.
Opening: packages?
Giggling: at my own jokes. Bad taste, I know, but I can’t help it. At least someone laughs at them that way. ;-)
Feeling: thankful to my father-in-law for helping my husband with two big projects while he was here – installing a new water heater and cleaning up a large area of the garage!
Having: more bad dreams. Ecclesiastes 5:3  For a dream cometh through the multitude of business…

It seems like life has been kind of full lately and now it looks like canning season will be starting for us any day!

The Missionary No One Remembers

 

Ephesians 3:20-21  Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.

We’ve had a particularly busy week, so this Lord’s Day I am posting a link to an item I happened across on my dad’s site while doing research for this month’s “Word of the Month” post.

The Village that Lived by the Bible – by Clarence W. Hall

This short story really blessed my heart!  We little know how greatly some very small thing we do for the Lord might increase in fruit.  I’m sure this missionary, whose name is not even remembered, didn’t think that he did much for those people, and perhaps he regretted that he couldn’t do more.  How often we do regret things sometimes, only to learn later that we had done more than we could ever imagine.  This is because we are not the ones who give the increase, God does and His power is limitless.  Think what a surprise awaits this man at the Judgment Seat of Christ!

1 Corinthians 3:6-9  I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase. So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase. Now he that planteth and he that watereth are one: and every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labour. For we are labourers together with God: ye are God's husbandry, ye are God's building.

1 In the harvest field now ripened
There’s a work for all to do;
Hark! the voice of God is calling
To the harvest calling you.

Refrain:
Little is much when God is in it,
Labor not for wealth or fame;
There’s a crown, and you can win it,
If you go in Jesus’ name.

2 Does the place you’re called to labor
Seem too small and little known?
It is great if God is in it,
And He’ll not forget His own.

3 When the conflict here is ended
And our race on earth is run,
He will say, if we are faithful,
"Welcome home, My child, well done!"

- Kittie L. Suffield
(print the music here)

Evening Song - Higher

Proverbs 4:18  But the path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day.

Psalms 61:2  From the end of the earth will I cry unto thee, when my heart is overwhelmed: lead me to the rock that is higher than I.

Berry Fun Friday– Fun Facts About Strawberries

Here’s a fun post about strawberries from Jo at Finding Joy In the Everyday.  I hope you enjoy the fun facts she shares.  Please leaver her a comment to let her know how you got there. :-)

Random Tuesday #6 – Fresh Strawberries

Texas Memories– The Wildscape

 

This is what my parents’ yard looked like about a year ago.

White flowers – Blackfoot Daisy
Yellow flowers – Threadleaf Thelesperma
Red and yellow flowers – Indian Blanket

Word of the Month- Attributes of God: Humor, A Merry Heart

 

Attribute n. - a quality or feature regarded as a characteristic or inherent part of someone or something.

Someone might wonder why I’m writing about God having humor or a merry heart.  It is something that I got to thinking about awhile back and I just thought I’d write about this month.  Maybe someone needs this.

This attribute of God is one that is easy to overlook in some ways.  It may be mentioned in connection with some of His creations, but I’m not sure we always see how it affects our relationship with Him directly.  However, if you have a friend who has a sense of humor, as we call it today, you will be affected by it.  If God is your friend, you will find His humor affecting your life at times as well.  (Are You A Friend of God?)

First of all, we know God does have a sense of humor and a merry heart based on some of His creations.  There are things in creation that are too comical or funny to be made by a Creator who didn’t have a sense of humor!  There are many animals that are just funny to look at, and there are many more that sometimes behave in ways that make us laugh.  And, then too, who could love the cuteness of little kids without seeing God’s merry heart?

In the King James Bible this kind of humor is called a merry heart (not to be mistaken for the merriness in relation to the use of alcohol, which is the most common use in scripture.)

Samuel Johnson defines merry as “…Pleasant; sweet; agreeable; delightful; charming…Laughing; loudly cheerful; gay of heart…Causing laughter…to be jovial…”  [This is “gay” as in “a state of happiness”.]

Here are some verses to consider:

Proverbs 15:13  A merry heart maketh a cheerful countenance: but by sorrow of the heart the spirit is broken.

Proverbs 17:22  A merry heart doeth good like a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones.

James 5:13  Is any among you afflicted? let him pray. Is any merry? let him sing psalms.

Since we are created in the image of God, we can safely say that the Lord must have a sense of humor, especially since this type of merry heart is spoken of as a good thing.

Another way we know God has a sense of humor is because of some of the things that happen in scripture that are actually laughable.  The first one that comes to my mind is Balaam with his donkey.  Here he was beating the poor animal unfairly, not knowing that the donkey was in fact saving his life, and what does God do but loose its tongue and let it speak.  What’s even funnier is that Balaam answered her back as if it were perfectly normal to have a conversation with one’s donkey.  (Numbers 22:22-31)  I like the last verse in that section where Balaam “fell flat on his face” when he finally saw the angel!  I can just see that in my imagination. :-)

There are other stories that have humorous elements.  There’s Barack who refused to go to war without Deborah, so God allowed a woman (Jael) to slay the most important person in the enemy’s army (Sisera).  (Judges 4 &5) 

It’s also kind of funny when Darius comes to the lion’s den to see if Daniel survived the night.  Daniel 6:20-21  And when he came to the den, he cried with a lamentable voice unto Daniel: and the king spake and said to Daniel, O Daniel, servant of the living God, is thy God, whom thou servest continually, able to deliver thee from the lions? Then said Daniel unto the king, O king, live for ever.  Somehow that just tickles me. 

How many other places have you seen humor in the Bible?

We also can see the Lord’s sense of humor in how He interacts with us sometimes in life.  He does not laugh at us.  That he reserves for the wicked, curiously enough.  Psalms 37:12-13  The wicked plotteth against the just, and gnasheth upon him with his teeth.  The Lord shall laugh at him: for he seeth that his day is coming.  (Also see Psalm 2) But then, we seldom enjoy being laughed at, so that does make sense in a way.  No, the Lord’s humor with His friends is always of the kindest and gentlest sort.

A friend of mine went through a number of years of difficult depression.  She was having a particularly bad time at one point and her daughter came to take her out shopping in hopes that it would help her.  My friend was complaining to her daughter how she just couldn’t cry.  She felt that if she could just have a good cry she would feel better, but for some reason she couldn’t cry and she was quite annoyed.  When they were getting out of the van at some point during their excursion, my friend hit her head so hard on the door frame that she instantly burst into tears.  She immediately remembered her complaint earlier and she saw what the Lord was doing.  She had a very friendly relationship with the Lord and she just said, “That wasn’t funny, Lord.”  But, she knew it was.  She told the story to illustrate how God does have a sense of humor – and also that we should be careful what we say.

I also have two friends who originally came from other countries who absolutely vowed and declared that they would “never” marry an American – particularly a white one.  They both married Christian, Anglo, Americans and are confident that it was the Lord’s will for each of them. :-)

My mom has a story where the Lord made her retract her words as well.  We were traveling across southern California on our way to Los Angeles when we passed a town in a desert area that was, to my mom’s eyes, particularly bleak and depressing.  She made the comment, “Anyone who would live here would have to be crazy.”  My dad admonished her to be careful what she said.  Sure enough, we ended up within miles of that exact location in just a few months.  We lived there more than five years.  My dad had his fist pastorate there and that church was so loving and patient (having had a hard time getting any pastor to come at all), that my parents count those as some of the best years of their life.  That just makes me smile. :-)

I have my own little story.  Texas is notorious for dry spells, often followed by lots of rain.  We seem to either be praying that it will rain or that it will stop!  Well, we’d been having a really long dry spell in the recent drought (now over), and I was feeling really discouraged about it.  One night it came up as my turn to pray for rain again.  I told my husband that my faith was too weak to pray for rain and he was going to have to do it.  Well, the next morning it was raining when I got up.  I went to the front door in my housecoat and noticed that the rain running off of the roof was beating my potted plant pretty badly.  I went out the door to move it and the door swung shut behind me.  The knob is one that does not unlock when you twist it to open it, so it was still locked!  There I stood on the front porch, locked out of my house; it was raining and the spare key was hidden where I had to walk out in the rain to retrieve it.  I could see the humor in what the Lord had done to me, and as I set out to retrieve the key I told Him, “I deserved this.”  :-)  I had to walk in that rain that I didn’t have the faith to pray for the night before!

One of my favorite martyr stories seems appropriate here.

John Bradford, who, while studying Law in London, heard Latimer preach a powerful message which directed him to the ministry, became Chaplain to Edward VI.  With the accession of Queen Mary, he was arrested for seditious utterances and heresy and sentenced to be burned at the stake.  On the day of his death he displayed great courage.  Kneeling and praying, he took a burning piece of wood in his hand and kissed it, and as the flames arose he looked up to heaven and prayed:

"O, England, England! repent thee of thy sins, repent thee of thy sins.  Beware of idolatry, beware of false antichrists; take heed they do not deceive you."

Then Bradford turned to a young man who had also been condemned to die for his faith, and as the flames crackled, Bradford said to his suffering companion:

"Be of good comfort, brother, for we shall have a merry supper with the Lord this night."

From Last Word of Saints and Sinners by Herbert Lockyer, p.151

Somehow those last words of his indicate a warm and hearty friendship with his Savior.

There are many little ways that we can sometimes see the Lord’s merry heart in His dealings with us.  Some of these things are things that only you will know about because He knows you so well and can show them to you in just the way that will make you smile or laugh.  Like an affectionate friend, He will do little things for you from time to time to cheer your heart and give you a chuckle just between Himself and you. 

Do we pay attention to His little tokens of friendship?  Or are we so busy or distracted with the complications of life that we are blind to His merry heart?  It is something we should consider because a friendship that is cultivated and warm will naturally have those things.  If we aren’t noticing, we’re probably not paying attention like we should.

Proverbs 15:15  All the days of the afflicted are evil: but he that is of a merry heart hath a continual feast.

Evening Song – Blessed Assurance

1 Thessalonians 1:5  For our gospel came not unto you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Ghost, and in much assurance; as ye know what manner of men we were among you for your sake.

Hebrews 6:11  And we desire that every one of you do shew the same diligence to the full assurance of hope unto the end:

Sew Happy Friday – Hmmmm?

 

I believe this to be a joke. ;-)  However, it is something some of us might think about. :-)

 

Tennessee Memories – Calla Lily

 

Monthly Challenge - June

Life has been a little, well...hectic lately.  I have a project that I'm working on that is taking up my extra strength and some of that which I should be using to do the "normal" stuff.  Hence, I'm falling behind till we can get this thing to a certain point.  (More later on that.  I do hope to let you in on it at some point.)  But, because of that, I have decided to use one of my easy challenges for us this month.  Since school is or will be out soon for people in some parts of the world, I suspect that some of my readers will be extra busy this month anyway.  Easy is sometimes better!

Are you ready? :-)

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Watch a sunrise or sunset,

And/Or

Go outside and look at the stars at night.

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Someone might think, "That's all?"  Well, here are some thoughts to go with it.

So many people are glued to technology these days, it is good to make a point of enjoying some of God's creation.  It is good to look at the heavens because they tell of God's glory.

Psalms 19:1-6  The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork. Day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night sheweth knowledge. There is no speech nor language, where their voice is not heard.  Their line is gone out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world. In them hath he set a tabernacle for the sun,  Which is as a bridegroom coming out of his chamber, and rejoiceth as a strong man to run a race. His going forth is from the end of the heaven, and his circuit unto the ends of it: and there is nothing hid from the heat thereof.

Please do look at the real thing if it is at all possible, not a picture or video on the computer.  City folks may have to plan to go to a place where they can actually do this.  It is much better in person - provided you aren't being eaten alive by mosquitoes. ;-)  For those in the Southern Hemisphere it may involve checking the weather in order to see when the sky will be clear.

That's it.  Can you manage it? :-)  I trust it will be a blessing to you as you take the time to stop and really look at the beauty of God's artwork which He offers you free of charge!