Brocade Curtains

 

This beautiful tree and the next picture were in a back yard not far from home. They both were stunning. It was a bright, sunny fall afternoon and the sky was a lovely shade of blue with white clouds. I love big, beautiful, healthy trees both in the spring and fall.

 

What is Love? "Brocade curtains . . . boots Ingrid's father wore, and an engagement ring."

 

I don't watch much TV anymore, rarely a new series or show, which is a good thing I suppose. I'd rather read or watch DVDs of my own choosing for my entertainment. But a number of years ago, there was one television series that I loved to watch: Dr. Quinn Medicine Woman. Maybe it was the romance of life on the frontier that drew me to it. Whatever it was, I watched faithfully from its beginning in 1993 to the last show in 1998.

A few years ago, as a gift to myself, I purchased the complete series, and I've enjoying the shows since then. I watched the shows again this year. Thankfully, Jerry liked the show too so he watches with me.

You can just see the small covered bridge on the other side of the tree. What beauty!

The other night we watched the episode "What is Love?" as the cast prepared to perform Romeo and Juliet. Brian, the young boy, was writing an essay about love, and as the show ended his essay declared "brocade curtains, boots Ingrid's father wore and an engagement ring" was love.

But Jerry topped this saying: "Love is trying to explain ice cream to someone who's never tasted it." It brought fun laughter to my face--we love ice cream! A little while after, the thought came to me: "how do you explain faith to someone who doesn't believe."

One of my thoughts is: "believing when you can't see, yet knowing in your heart it is true." Following are words from faithful men and women:

"Faith is not a sense, nor sight, nor reason, but taking God at His Word." Arthur Benoni Evans, 1781-1854.

"Faith is deliberate confidence in the character of God whose ways you cannot understand at the time." Oswald Chambers, 1874-1917.

A peaceful scene indeed!

"Faith is not anti-intellectual. It is an act of man that reaches beyond the limits of our five senses." Bill Graham

"Faith is knowing something is true, but you can't prove it, and you prove faith by the way you live your life and treat others in Jesus name." Jerry

 

"Faith means being grasped by a power that is greater than we are, a power that shakes us and turns us, and transforms and heals us. Surrender to this power is faith." Paul Johannes Oskar Tillich, 1886-1965

 

"Faith sees the invisible, believes the unbelievable, and receives the impossible." Corrie Ten Boom, 1892-1983

 

 

All this because of trying to explain love. I can certainly identify with this description: "Love is like swallowing hot chocolate before it has cooled off. It takes you by surprise at first, but keeps you warm for a long time." Anonymous

Even an episode of Dr. Quinn Medicine Woman can trigger my mind to greater topics. Faith. How do you describe it?

This is another lovely tree I saw in a backyard. When I asked permission to take pictures the lady said: "I just took pictures of it yesterday."

A Little of This and That

 

I so enjoyed walking in the wildflower field the other morning. I've always loved wildflower fields and wanted one at our home in Maryland. That never got done. I'm hoping to make it happen here in PA. This is a picture I like because Jerry's smiling. He doesn't do that very often when his picture is taken. This is the best one taken in several years.

The other morning I had a very strong feeling of thanksgiving about my Bible. I've been reading from it for 40 years. I am just so thankful to have this great friend that tells me about God's Story through the ages and helps me every day as I try to live for Him. Make sure you have a Bible that you can understand and have a commentary or two when you need additional help.

"The Bible redirects my will, cleanses my emotions, enlightens my mind, and quickens my total being."

E. Stanley Jones, 1884-1973

If you have never read through the complete Bible from beginning to end I urge you to at least once. When I read through the Bible I would read one chapter in the Bible and the same chapter in a commentary. The additional help received made all the difference. It took me two years to complete reading all the way through and worth all the effort I made.

"It doesn't matter what you think about it, the Bible is true whether you accept it or not."

Billy Graham

 

Providentially cared for. We don't live on luck or fortune or circumstances. If we serve the living God we are providentially cared for at all times. God's care and protection are always on us and we can be assured that whatever happens to us is part of God's plan for our life. Yes, sometimes bad things happen and sometimes great things happen. But whatever it is we know it is in God's Hands and we can trust His care of us.

Last week we drove to Benezette, a little over an hour from here, to see the wild Elk. Well, we saw one. It was beside the road eating from this bush. It didn't want to have anything to do with us or anybody else on the road. We left and drove around for another hour or so and happen to pass the same location again. Well, that young Elk was still eating in the same spot. I think that bush was delicious!

Have you gone to your church to pray? Yes, you can pray at home, in nature, in your car and just about everywhere you want, but if you haven't experienced praying in the place where you worship all by yourself you are missing a great experience. Some churches are open all day; some at different hours, and some provide a time that you can come in by yourself.

It is a different experience when you sit in God's house and pray. You and God. Alone. Check out when your church is open and you can go in and sit in the sanctuary to pray. It's worth the effort!

 "Between the humble and contrite heart and the majesty of heaven, there are no barriers, the only password is prayer."

Hosea Ballou, 1771-1852

The other week we stopped at an overlook on our drive to the Veterans Home to deliver blankets. I loved this message displayed above the overlook.   

I have several books that share the stories of faithful Christians through the ages. I love reading about them and learning what they went through and how they succeeded. It brings such encouragement to my mind, and I am thankful that we have such an array of witnesses who lived for Christ to read about. It reminds me of a lovely hymn, Find Us Faithful, whose chorus goes like this:

"Oh may all who comes behind us find us faithful

May the fire of our devotion light their way

May the footprints that we leave

Lead them to believe

And the lives we live inspire them to obey

Oh may all who come behind us find us faithful."

Jon Mohr, 1987

What are you leaving behind? All we do tells our story and what we believe.Whether it's your children, your friends, your extended family, your church fellowship or the post man, leave behind the story that you were faithful to the God of the ages and succeeded in living for Him.

 

"Since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith."

Hebrews 12:1-2 

 

I didn't see any Hawk, but the overlook was nice to view.

 

"Wilfred Grenfell, a doctor in England, encountered Dwight L. Moody at one of his meetings back in the late 1800s. Moody inspired Grenfell to begin a long association with the Royal National Mission to Deep Sea Fisherman in Newfoundland. Fourteen years later Grenfell encountered Moody again and told him he had put his faith in Christ after attending one of his meetings. Moody replied: 'And what have you been doing with your life since?'"

 

A very good question. What have you been doing with your life since you came to faith in Christ?

 

"The service we render to others is really the rent we pay for our room on this earth."

Wilfred Grenfell, 1865-1940

This is one of the quilt pieces I created and finished in September.

And lastly, I met a new friend last week. She's a friend of our neighbor, Norma, and she is in the same art class as Norma. They've been friends since school days, and she paints just as beautifully as Norma does.

You may remember the beautiful fall scene Norma painted and gave to me recently. I created a card and bookmark from her painting. Norma took it to her art class and Rita loved it! I was invited to Rita's home to take pictures of some of her art work and make cards for her. As it turns out, Rita is a note writer too!

I'm having a lot of fun creating her cards and bookmarks. I think she's a kindred spirit. So you never know when you might meet someone new as you do what God has given you to do. So be ready in all you do because you just might meet a kindred spirit!

Love and Blessings Facebook Page

 

Do You KnowThis Thrill?

 "Those who are readiest to trust God without other evidence than His Word always receive the greatest number of visible evidences of His love."

 C. G. Trumbull

 

 

We all have things that thrill out heart. My heart is thrilled when I spot a scene to photograph and get the snap; fall color, snow, gardens, baby animals. That always thrills my heart. Baby leaves thrill my heart. God tells me even when all looks dead in the cold winter there's still hope. Baby leaves will come in spring. I love baby leaves!

My heart was thrilled last week when I heard a new song. The song is titled: "Behold Him"written by Francesca Battistelli, and this lyric in the chorus is excellent: "Feel the thrill of Hope."

I'm a big endorser of God's Hope. I believe in it. I trust His Hope. And I know it is real.

 

"Hope, the balm and lifeblood of the soul." 

John Armstrong, 1709-1779

People who have not submitted their life to God, or His Son, Jesus Christ, have no idea what His Hope means or does to those who love Him. I can just imagine people saying: "The thrill of Hope? What does that mean?" When you haven't surrendered your heart to God, hope is truly a meaningless word.

"In your silent night When you're not alright

Lift your eyes and Behold Him

Feel the thrill of Hope You are not alone

In this moment Behold Him."

If you don't know God's Hope the casual use of the word hope has nothing to back it up. I hope this; I hope that. No assurance. No comfort. Nothing to believe in. 

 

It was a damp, gray day but the colors of fall still made a pretty snap!

God's Hope is miraculous. "He who breathes into our hearts the heavenly hope, will not deceive or fail us when we press forward to its realization." Selected, Streams in the Desert, Volume 1, March 26

 

 Hope to a believer brings complete calm to any and all situations. We know in our heart that God is able to do all things so we don't have a need to be unsure or afraid. If our hearts are true to God, the calm in our hearts is sufficient to make us strong and believe God is with us.

 

"Life with Christ is an endless hope, without him a hopeless end."

Unknown

 

If you put God off and refuse to submit to Him you will never know the Hope He has for you. You will never feel the incredible refreshment in your heart of knowing you are safe in the Arms of God. You can't imagine what a blessing it is to your soul to be under the protected Arms of God and know you are cared for. It's difficult for me to tell you what you are missing.  

 

The thrill of Hope. What a treasure to the believer.  

"My hope comes from Him." Psalm62:5 

 

"What a privilege for a believer to be able to say these words! If he is looking for something from this world, it is indeed a poor 'hope.' But if he looks to God to supply his needs, whether they are earthly or spiritual needs, his 'hope' will not be in vain. He may continually make withdrawals from the bank of faith, getting his needs met from the riches of God's loving-kindness."

Charles Spurgeon

Where Are You Hiding?

 

"O safe to the Rock that is higher than I,

My soul in its conflicts and sorrows would fly;

So sinful, so weary, Thine, Thine, would I be;

Thou blest 'Rock of Ages,' I'm hiding in Thee.'

 

I so enjoy being introduced to hymns I haven't heard before. I'm reading through "How Sweet the Sound," stories and grace-filled reflections on beloved hymns by George Beverly Shea.Those words are the first verse in the hymn "Hiding in Thee."

Shea tells how the author of "Hiding in Thee," Rev. William O. Cushing, 1823-1902, visited his mother's family in Canada. She was twelve years old. She played the piano, accompanying him as he was rehearsing. She received a note from him thanking her for her beautiful piano playing.

The chorus says it all! 

"Hiding in Thee, hiding in Thee, 

Thou blest 'Rock of Ages.'

 I'm hiding in Thee."

 

I'm not ashamed that I hide in my God. There is no safer place to be in these turbulent times than resting in the Everlasting Arms of God. Deuteronomy 33:26-28 

 

 

"My weakness--my helplessness--my sense of inferiority has turned out to be my greatest strength."

Harold Russell

 

The world tells me how weak I am to rely on God. I would have to tell the world, "How weak you are to deny God." I can name hundreds of strong and capable people who are far from weak. And history tells of thousands and thousands more. Believing in and trusting God is far from weak. There is so much evidence of it's truth, I wonder how anyone can decide not to believe it.

Shea says "just repeating the words over and over again [of this great hymn] always brings spiritual uplift . . . What a perfect hiding place God offers us! He's not there just to provide a temporary escape--He fills us with His love and power so that we can go out to face our life each day. He gives us the strength and courage we need to continue down the path that He wants us to follow. God is a mighty Rock, and He never leaves us."

 

Cushing wrote "Hiding in Thee" after he lost his voice. He was no longer able to preach, but continued his ministry with the gift of songwriting. Cushing and Ira Sankey, who wrote the music for "Hiding in Thee" also wrote and composed "Under His Wings" another beautiful hymn with a similar theme.

"How shall we rest in God? By giving ourselves wholly to him. If you give yourself by halves, you cannot find full rest; there will ever be a lurking disquiet in that half that is withheld. Martyrs, confessors, and saints have tasted this rest, and 'counted themselves happy in that they endured.' A countless host of God's faithful servants have drunk deeply of it under the daily burden of a weary life--dull, commonplace, painful, or desolate. All that God has been to them he is ready to be to you. The heart once fairly given to God, with a clear conscience, a fitting rule of life, and a steadfast purpose of obedience, you will find a wonderful sense of rest coming over you."

Jean Nicolas Grou, 1731-1803 

 

 

Charles Spurgeon said: "Show the world your God is worth ten thousand worlds to you. Show the materially rich just how rich you are in your poverty when the Lord God is your helper. Show strong men just how strong you are in your weakness when 'underneath are the everlasting arms." 

Continuing, Spurgeon said: "A believer cannot fall so deep into distress and affliction that the covenant grace of our ever-faithful God will be unable to encircle him . . . he cannot fall so low as to be beyond the reach of 'the everlasting arms'."

 

Yes, I will continue to hide in my God as He knows all and has authority over all. His plan is being worked out day-by-day. If you don't believe then  you've have never studied His Word, for the proof of all He's done is proven all the time. It's not only proven by Christians, but by Scientists, Atheists and Agnostics. There is no doubt that He is true.

 

So hide yourself in God. Rest in His Everlasting Arms. Let Him be your refuge. All you have to do is call and He's there.

 

 

 You can hear "Hiding in Thee" on these links:

 

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oNZ5VDVX0Qo

   Haven of Rest Quartet

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kGRPcT-W6-I  

  George Beverly Shea

Cooperating With God

The fields are abundant with Goldenrod! I love driving the roads during this season of the year. Fields, yards and the roadside are alive with yellow! There is sunshine everywhere I look!

 

"What an honor we've been given to cooperate with God as He works in the world?"

Lisa Beamer

 

I read those words one morning recently in The One Year Women in Christian History devotional. Of course, Lisa Beamer is the widow of Todd Beamer who heroically worked with other men to abort the hijacker's plans to attack a national target on that fateful day of September 11. 2001.

Her words stopped me. I've never heard it said quite that way. We're cooperating with God as He works in the world. Yes, that is what we're doing.

It is an honor, one in which we don't deserve. For all God has done and is doing for us, we are privileged to be able to do something for Him. That He uses us in any way He wants to accomplish His purpose is amazing.

                              Queen Anne's Lace mixes with Goldenrod for a lovely display! 

 As it says in Romans 12, we all have different gifts to use for His Glory. Every gift is vital and needed. Whatever your gift(s) is, do it with all your heart. Whether big or small, if it's done for God's Glory, it is BIG indeed!

 "He who governed the world before I was born shall take care of it likewise when I am dead. My part is to improve the present moment."

John Wesley, 1703-1791

Beamer spoke to the graduating class of Wheaton College in Illinois. "This is how we know redemption: when we see broken things made whole; when what's been discarded is restored to its rightful place; when those in peril are brought back to safety; when a path of restoration becomes clear; when love shines in the place that's been starving for it." 

Beamer's final question was: "What is becoming whole again on your watch? What is being healed through your influence? How is God redeeming His creation by way of your life?"

Cooperate with God? There's no question. Always. There could be no fuller life experience than to use your gifts for God.

 "What we think of, what we know, or what we believe is, in the end, of little consequence. The only thing of consequence is what we do."

John Ruskin 1819-1910

                                        Joe Pye Weed is also lovely at this time of the year.

Always remember, Little Is Much When God Is in It. Sing the chorus!

"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'll go in Jesus' name.

 

Second verse:

"Does the place you're called to labor

Seems so small and little known?

It is great if God is in it,

And He'll not forget His own."

 

Words: Kittie J. Suffield 1884-1972

Music: Dwight Brock, 1907 -

The Stirring of Fall

 "I love autumn, the one season of the year that God seemed to have put there just for the beauty of it."

Lee Maynard

 As the stirring of Fall starts touching early morning temperatures, it means my early morning drives to spot and snap fawn comes to an end. I so look forward each May to the refreshment I receive driving the roads at daybreak. Unless I forget when I start out, I begin with my "Melody of Hymns," my own special time of praise to God.

It's not just seeing fawn that I look forward too. It's driving the back roads, with barely a car being seen, and being refreshed by nature. It's my annual celebration of being alone with deer, turkey, rabbits, and the occasional bear.

And the stirring of Fall also means the flowers on my front porch and back deck will soon be gone as the cool temps comes in earnest. There will be no more sitting on the front porch as the day starts. The birds will soon hush their song as cold weather begins to make it's entrance.

"Even if something is left undone, everyone must take time to sit still and watch leaves turn."

Elizabeth Lawrence 

 Fall is a beautiful time of the year and has always been a favorite season of mine. Sweatshirts, falling leaves, fireplaces (which I miss like crazy now that we don't have one), Herb Stew and many other things delight me when Fall starts to arrive. My early morning drives turn into later morning drives as I look for Fall color to snap. There's just something wonderful of driving down a road bursting with orange, red and gold.

Since last Fall I've purchased a few pieces of fabric to make Fall pieces. I love my quilt shop! All that fabric just waiting there for me to choose the pieces I want. I purchased in sets of three and it will be fun to see what I decide to make with them.

Taking that bold step in joining the quilting group at my church was the best thing I could do when we moved here. It has given me hours and hours of delight, both sewing with the group and making personal items to keep and give away.

                   This is the fabric I decided to start with. I'm happy with the way it turned out!
 

So I'm heading into Fall with thankfulness for the summer delight I found and anticipation for the joy of Fall and all it has to offer! 

"Fall has always been my favorite season. The time when everything bursts with its last beauty, as if nature had been saving up all year for the grand finale."

Lauren DeStefano

My Bayonet

"The purpose of the sword of the Spirit--the Bible--is to make us strong and able to withstand the evil onslaughts of Satan, our enemy."

GotQuestions.org

A few weeks ago, Jerry and I watched the movie "Gettysburg" with Tom Berenger and Jeff Daniels. We watch it at least once a year. Daniels plays Chamberlain who ordered the bayonet charge on Little Round Top.

I always start shaking and tears form in my eyes when he let's out with the strong order "Charge!" It's quite a scene. On the other hand, I don't watch the final fight at the end of the movie.

Shortly after watching the movie a thought formed in my mind. As Christians, we have our own bayonet to fight with. The Sword of the Spirit is strong enough to handle any battle we're in. And right now, we are in a big battle for America and our freedom.

The Sword of the Spirit is found in Ephesians 6:17 and is the Word of God. There is no weapon stronger than God's Word and we're to arm ourselves with it. It is a weapon belonging to the Holy Spirit.

"The Word of God is even sharper than the Roman sword. It is capable of piercing to the deepest levels of one's heart and attitude, and it is also a tool of discernment in the hands of the skilled user."

Dave Johnson, Life Hope and Truth

Chamberlain's bayonet charge could only wound, kill or intimidate. God's sword, as Johnson said, pierces to the deepest levels of one's heart and attitude.

"Ofttimes the test of courage is to live rather than die."

Conte Vittorio Alfieri 1749-1803 

How well do you know God's Word? It goes hand in hand with the whole armor of God stated in Ephesians 6:14-18.

"Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God."

In Hebrews 4:12 it's said like this: "For the Word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart."

I was listening to a study my pastor is doing online, and he quoted D. L. Moody. I think this sums it up quite well:

"What is an army good for if they don't know how to use their weapons."

Pick up your bayonet and be ready to fight as our country and the world try to wipe out Christianity. When God yells "Charge!" I want to be ready. Do you?

 The Sword of the Lord and Gideon

"Gideon, with three hundred soldiers, Once a mighty host withstood,

Camping in the Moreh Valley--An uncounted multitude.

But the Lord was helping Gideon, And his brave and trusting band,

Armed with trumpets, lamps and pitchers,

Went, obeying God's command."

 

Refrain:

"Blow thy trumpet, break thy pitcher,

Hold thy lamp within thy hand along the line;

Cry,'The sword of the Lord and Gideon.'

'The Sword of the Lord and Gideon,'

And the vict'ry shall be thine."

 

Author: Mrs. Frank A. Breck