The Thousand Word Project - Summer Prettiness

 

Word of the Day - Deep - Part 2

Genesis 2:20-22 And Adam gave names to all cattle, and to the fowl of the air, and to every beast of the field; but for Adam there was not found an help meet for him. And the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam, and he slept: and he took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh instead thereof; And the rib, which the LORD God had taken from man, made he a woman, and brought her unto the man.

Genesis 15:12 And when the sun was going down, a deep sleep fell upon Abram; and, lo, an horror of great darkness fell upon him.

Daniel 10:8-10 Therefore I was left alone, and saw this great vision, and there remained no strength in me: for my comeliness was turned in me into corruption, and I retained no strength. Yet heard I the voice of his words: and when I heard the voice of his words, then was I in a deep sleep on my face, and my face toward the ground. And, behold, an hand touched me, which set me upon my knees and upon the palms of my hands.

Acts 20:9-11 And there sat in a window a certain young man named Eutychus, being fallen into a deep sleep: and as Paul was long preaching, he sunk down with sleep, and fell down from the third loft, and was taken up dead. And Paul went down, and fell on him, and embracing him said, Trouble not yourselves; for his life is in him. When he therefore was come up again, and had broken bread, and eaten, and talked a long while, even till break of day, so he departed.

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Evening Song - It Is Well with My Soul

Jeremiah 38:20 But Jeremiah said, They shall not deliver thee. Obey, I beseech thee, the voice of the LORD, which I speak unto thee: so it shall be well unto thee, and thy soul shall live. 

Hebrews 13:12-15 Wherefore Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people with his own blood, suffered without the gate. Let us go forth therefore unto him without the camp, bearing his reproach. For here have we no continuing city, but we seek one to come. By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name. 

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Tennessee Memories - Ruffled Trumpets

Angel's Trumpet

High Road or Low Road by Martha Snell Nicholson

 

High Road or Low Road

Whatever path Thou takest me-

It matters not which road it be,

If it but lead me home to Thee.

O joy, O bliss beyond compare

If Thou shouldst call me from the air,

To rise at last and meet Thee there!

Yet in my longing heart I know

If through the valley I must go,

I would not laggard be, nor slow;

For Thou wouldst closely hold my hand

And lead me through that shadow-land

To heaven's bright and blessed strand.

It matters not. That road is best

Which leads me soonest to Thy breast

Whereon this weary soul may rest.

Martha Snell Nicholson

 

Philippians 1:20-21 According to my earnest expectation and my hope, that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but that with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether it be by life, or by death. For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.

Evening Song - Heaven Came Down and Glory Filled My Soul

Revelation 1:5 And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood, 

1 Peter 2:9 But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light: 

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Tennessee Memories - Summer Sunset

June and July Journaling and Writing Challenges

We have been enjoying the fawns again this summer, as we did the year I took this photo.

Psalm 103:1-8 Bless the LORD, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name. Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits: Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases; Who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies; Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things; so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle's. The LORD executeth righteousness and judgment for all that are oppressed. He made known his ways unto Moses, his acts unto the children of Israel. The LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy. 

First of all, let me apologize for not getting posts up in a timely manner, especially the writing and journaling challenges. I actually thought I had posted the June challenge here as well as at The Home Maker's Corner and on FaceBook, but I couldn't find it here when I looked for it. I think it must have been the post that the internet decided to eat as a snack one night and I was too tired to try to get it together again. I meant to come back later and do the post over, but I forgot. (The story of my life.) I really tried to be more organized this year about posting in all the places that I put up ministry things, but my plan settled into oblivion in May and I haven't managed to get back to it. Yet. 

Last year and this year life has been changing in some unexpected ways for us. Last year we started attending a new church after about 16 years at another church. It took some getting used to, and also, being a much smaller church, I feel a bit more connected there. This has been lovely, but also takes up more of my head space and time (in a good way).

We had a major family visit last year in the spring, and then in December my brother who had been in Australia for years moved back to the U.S. Since he's living on our property, that has added another pleasant layer to life this year. He's had difficulty finding employment in this area and he is studying at present to expand his potential, but he helps out a lot, in particular with just being there for my Dad and assisting him in various ways. 

This has significantly lightened my load as far as caring for our Dad is concerned. In a weird, but not surprising way, I almost feel like this has triggered a bit of a reaction in me. This isn't uncommon when someone has been keeping up with an important responsibility or necessity for a long period of time and then no longer has to think so much about that thing. I had not realized how much mental energy I (along with my husband) was putting into just checking on my dad daily and making sure he was ok. We also were the ones being there for him when he was having a health struggle. We didn't resent any of it, but it was more tiring to me than we realized at the time.

Last year we were also praying and seeking God's will about the possibility of moving, possibly even to another county where we might serve the Lord in a local church situation. None of the doors clearly opened as far as we could see, but I was working hard on downsizing our possessions with that in view and it rather took over our lives and home. (The downsizing was beneficial, but exhausting.) The outcome of that whole process, though, is that this year we have put our long-delayed plans to build a house on this property into motion. It is a slow process and it has been really tiring. We are in the end stages of completing the house plans at present, and hoping to start the ground breaking soon, if the Lord so wills. 

I say all this to give some insight into why the articles and such have diminished or been delayed so much here and at The Home Maker's Corner. It is not the whole reason, there have been health issues (including menopause) among other things as well, but it is doubtless much of the reason. And, by way of disclosure, I'm considering possibly dropping some things. I'm not yet clear on what or when at this point. 

After a long period of pondering and talking to the Lord and others, I have started a book project which is taking up more space in my mind. It also has been a real joy to me and revived my interest significantly. I have no date for when the books might be finished as these projects take a lot of slow plodding for me, but the hope is to be able to put out some books in the future that are edifying and devotional for the encouragement of Christian ladies.

So, having said all that...and it was more than I intended to say, here are the June and July journaling and writing challenges. :-)

June:  Write about a blessing God has given you that other people would not have noticed.

July:  Write about something you learned from a sermon that changed your life.

Evening Song - Send the Light

Mark 16:15 And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. 

Acts 1:8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth. 

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Creatures Great and Small - Honey Bunch

Psalm 119:103 How sweet are thy words unto my taste! yea, sweeter than honey to my mouth! 

Evening Song - How Great Thou Art

Psalm 48:1 Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised in the city of our God, in the mountain of his holiness. 

Psalm 145:3-5 Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised; and his greatness is unsearchable. One generation shall praise thy works to another, and shall declare thy mighty acts. I will speak of the glorious honour of thy majesty, and of thy wondrous works. 

Psalm 77:13-14 Thy way, O God, is in the sanctuary: who is so great a God as our God? Thou art the God that doest wonders: thou hast declared thy strength among the people. 

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Texas Memories - Growing Crepe

Crepe Myrtle

The Things that Remain by Annie Johnson Flint

 

The Things That Remain

(Heb. 12:27)

Times change and men change with them,
For still the New allures,
Their purpose falters ever,
No plan of theirs endures;
Strange gods demand their worship,
Strange creeds that come and go.
Men's thoughts and men's opinions
Are tides that ebb and flow.

On ever-shifting currents
Their minds drift to and fro,
Their wavering wills are shaken
By all the winds that blow;
But steadfast as the mountains,
And surer than the sea,
And fixed as are the heavens,
God is and God shall be.

And though the little hills shall melt,
The mighty mountains move,
Though earth and heaven shall pass away,
And suns unstable prove,
Though faithless stars shall cease to shine,
And there is no more sea,
Still changeless as the changeless God
The Word of God shall be.

Annie Johnson Flint

Hebrews 12:27 And this word, Yet once more, signifieth the removing of those things that are shaken, as of things that are made, that those things which cannot be shaken may remain.

Evening Song - Jesus, What A Friend of Sinners

John 15:14-16 Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you. Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you. Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you. 

Hebrews 13:5 Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.

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Tennessee Memories - A Rich Mallow

Hollyhock

Evening Song - O, Sacred Head Now Wounded

Isaiah 53:4-6 Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all. 

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Creatures Great and Small - Some Bunny's Lunch Time

Cotton tail rabbit

Evening Song - It Will Be Worth It All

Hebrews 12:1-3 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds. 

Romans 8:18 For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. 

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Tennessee Memories - Red and White Stripes

Garden Amaryllis

Worth Repeating - We Rest On Thee

We Rest on Thee

"We rest on thee" - our shield and our defender!
We go not forth alone against the foe;
Strong in Thy strength, safe in Thy keeping tender,
"We rest on thee, and in thy name we go."

Yea, "in thy name," O Captain of salvation!
In Thy dear name, all other names above:
Jesus our righteousness, our sure foundation,
Our Prince of glory and our King of love.

"We go" in faith, our own great weakness feeling,
And needing more each day Thy grace to know:
Yet from our hearts a song of triumph pealing,
"We rest on thee, and in thy name we go."

"We rest on thee" - our shield and our defender!
Thine is the battle, thine shall be the praise
When passing through the gates of pearly splendor,
Victors - we rest with Thee, through endless days.

Edith Cherry, ca. 1895

2 Chronicles 14:11 And Asa cried unto the LORD his God, and said, LORD, it is nothing with thee to help, whether with many, or with them that have no power: help us, O LORD our God; for we rest on thee, and in thy name we go against this multitude. O LORD, thou art our God; let not man prevail against thee.

Ephesians 6:11-12  Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.