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.