Gardening 2013

I believe that my garden for this year is complete!

Snow peas
Carrots
Radishes
Turnips
Valida Onions
Green onions
Potatoes
Brussell Sprouts
Leeks
Celery
Okra

Green beans
     Cherokee Yellow Wax Bush
     Contender Bush
     Kentucky Wonder Pole
Cucumbers
     Straight Eight
     Tasty Green
     Pickling
     Boston Pickling
Yellow Squash
Banana Peppers
     Sweet
     Hot
Jalepenos
     Fooled You (unhot)
     Hot
Bell Peppers
Black-Eyed Peas
Tomatoes
     Big Boy
     Early Girls
     Golden Globe
     Rainbow Heirloom
     Mortgage Lifter

I am ready to can, freeze, chop, eat and pick!  I can hardly wait!

Ronnie Freeman

Lord, apply these songs to my heart... work them through me....

10,000 Reasons (Bless the Lord) - Matt Redman (Best Worship Song Ever) (...

Joy

Forgive and Give

Luke 6:37-38  Judge not, and you will not be judged; condemn not, and you will not be condemned; forgive, and you will be forgiven; give, and it will be given to you.  Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap.  For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you.

We often hear “Judge not” from people who feel condemned.  It’s one of the few quotes they have heard from the bible that they remember… but, most of the time it is taken out of context.  The main jest, is that the person quoting it is saying that we have no right to judge whatever it is they may be doing (that we consider wrong.)  God does tell us to judge people by their fruits, but that’s a subject for another time…. Notice though, the scripture does not end with “judge not, and you will not be judged; condemn not and you will not be condemned”… it goes on to say “forgive, and you will be forgiven~ give, and it will be given to you!”  We should not take half of a scripture and use it to the advantage of what we want, and not apply the rest of it as well.  If you are feeling condemned about something and telling people they shouldn’t be judging you… choose to forgive them, and give to them, and work things out with them peaceably..and goodness will come back to you.

Judge not, condemn not, forgive and give….

Gateway Worship - O The Blood

O the blood
Crimson love
Price of life's demand
Shameful sin
Placed on Him
The Hope of every man

O the blood of Jesus washes me
O the blood of Jesus shed for me
What a sacrifice that saved my life
Yes, the blood, it is my victory

Savior Son
Holy One
Slain so I can live
See the Lamb
The great I Am
Who takes away my sin

O the blood of the Lamb
O the blood of the Lamb
O the blood of the Lamb
The precious blood of the Lamb
What a sacrifice
That saved my life
Yes, the blood, it is my victory

O what love
No greater love
Grace, how can it be
That in my sin
Yes, even then
He shed His blood for me

Passion

Christians need to be reminded and exhorted continually to keep their focus on Jesus.  It is very easy to become side-tracked into other things. We can get caught up in being passionate for a lot of good things in life, but the questions today are: “Are You Passionate for Jesus? Is Jesus holding the ‘center stage’ of your heart and life? Is He the One Who comes first? Is He a delight or a duty day by day?” It is important that we are challenged with such questions, so we can continually keep a check on our priorities. No one else can set our priorities for us. Our priorities will demonstrate where our passion is. It is quite amazing how we can usually find time for the things we want to do. For the Christian who is passionate for Jesus Christ he/she will always find the time to commit to that which He has asked of us.

 

In a day when many religions are being driven by a false passion, it is important that we  rise to higher heights in our representation of Jesus Christ in our communities. If we are unable to convey the passion, privilege and excitement of being in love with the risen Jesus, then who else can? If we are unable to let others see and know that He is the Answer to life’s problems, then who else is able to communicate that? People are seeking for answers today, but generally are seeking in the wrong places. All around the world people and cultures are degenerating back into lawlessness and wickedness ~ in spite of its religiosity, and in spite of governments making more rules and regulations to try and control people. Religion does not answer the cry, and governments cannot, because the answers needed are first and foremost spiritual. Even active involvement in Christian things does not necessarily answer that cry ~ unless Jesus is the focus, and His love and life are shining through those activities. Our hearts have to be motivated by a strong passion for Jesus. He is the Answer ~ not activities and things!

When we are passionate about someone, we want to be spending all the time we can with him/her. We just love to be in their presence. It is no different with Jesus. When we are in love with Him and are passionate for His presence and Word, we will find ways to get close enough to please Him. He is waiting for us to get close enough to Him so He can speak to us, and reveal more of His wonderful Word and will to us. We will never ever regret spending time with Jesus! When He speaks to us, it is always for our good! But if we are not passionate about our walk with Him, then we are going to struggle in hearing His voice and knowing His will for our lives.

Be encouraged to make those decisions that will draw you nearer to Jesus, with a passion that enables you to be a true witness of Him wherever you go. Remember, we are called to walk with Him more than the doing of those things that merely represent Him. Be passionate for JESUS CHRIST!

Dear Lord Jesus, I come to You right now, and I ask that You will put Your finger on anything and everything in my life that is robbing me of a real passion for You. Forgive me, Lord, for too often being far too passive and indifferent in my relationship and walk with You. I want to be a ‘fired-up,’ passionate follower of Jesus Christ, so the world will see and know that I belong to You, and that You are the Answer to every person’s need. Help me to be a greater witness of Your resurrection love and power. This I pray in Jesus name, Amen.

Desires of the Heart!

Here's to friendship, love, laughter, fellowship, great food and good times!

 Psalm 37:4  Take delight in the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart.

Presidental Election - It's a Sad Day~

Mr. Obama is back in office for another 4 years.. and it's a sad day indeed.  One thing this election has brought forth is my devoted prayer that our president will become saved by the blood of Jesus Christ during this term and change his morals and his ways.

I believe that under Obama our world will change drasticly before our eyes - and not for the better.  Things will get worse.  This is what the World of God tells us.. during the last days things will slope down hill and roll faster and faster toward distruction.  Obama may just be the man to keep that ball rolling.

Nonetheless, I am praying that God, the maker of all there is and ever will be, will change his life... and then that the world will change.

Teach us to pray Lord.. teach us to pray earnestly!

Forgiveness and Gratitude

Luke 7:36-50  One of the Pharisees invited Jesus to eat with him. After he entered the Pharisee’s home, he took his place at the table. ³⁷ Meanwhile, a woman from the city, a sinner, discovered that Jesus was dining in the Pharisee’s house. She brought perfumed oil in a vase made of alabaster. ³⁸ Standing behind him at his feet and crying, she began to wet his feet with her tears. She wiped them with her hair, kissed them, and poured the oil on them. ³⁹ When the Pharisee who had invited Jesus saw what was happening, he said to himself, If this man were a prophet, he would know what kind of woman is touching him. He would know that she is a sinner.
⁴⁰ Jesus replied, “Simon, I have something to say to you.”
“Teacher, speak,” he said.
⁴¹ “A certain lender had two debtors. One owed enough money to pay five hundred people for a day’s work. The other owed enough money for fifty⁴²  When they couldn’t pay, the lender forgave the debts of them both. Which of them will love him more?”
⁴³ Simon replied, “I suppose the one who had the largest debt canceled.”
Jesus said, “You have judged correctly.”
⁴⁴ Jesus turned to the woman and said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? When I entered your home, you didn’t give me water for my feet, but she wet my feet with tears and wiped them with her hair. ⁴⁵  You didn’t greet me with a kiss, but she hasn’t stopped kissing my feet since I came in. ⁴⁶  You didn’t anoint my head with oil, but she has poured perfumed oil on my feet. ⁴⁷  This is why I tell you that her many sins have been forgiven; so she has shown great love. The one who is forgiven little loves little.”
⁴⁸ Then Jesus said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.”
⁴⁹ The other table guests began to say among themselves, “Who is this person that even forgives sins?”
⁵⁰ Jesus said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you. Go in peace.”

Thank you Lord, that it just takes confession on our part... and mercy and love on yours.  Forgiveness with no strings attached.  Lord, you are so good.

Outside My Window

Outside my window.... It's starting to get dark and to cool down.  I love these cool fall nights when I can snuggle up with a book and blanket!

I am thinking... about how God works all things together for our good. It amazes me sometimes how He sees the big picture and orchestrates everything.

I am thankful for... For this time of year.  People's happy faces, holidays coming, baking, friendships and celebration!

From the kitchen... Today I made 11 jars of plumpkin jelly - A mixture of plum and pumpkin~ and it's sooo good!

I am wearing... An OU tee-shirt ( I can go OU or OSU!), jeans and socks.

I am creating... A handy dandy cleaning list to get the house ready for Thanksgiving guests!

I am going... to start my Christmas shopping tomorrow!

I am reading... While We Are Far Apart

I am hoping... that my oldest son is doing well helping to clean up after hurricane Sandy in New York City.

I am hearing... The TV playing a Hallmark Christmas movie.

Around the house... Things are clean and tidy. For the moment anyway~!

One of my favorite things... is to go out to eat breakfast. I just love a big breakfast bar full of scrambled eggs, sausage, bacon, fruit, biscuits and gravy etc...

A few plans for the rest of the week... Church, Christmas shopping, work, ladies night out and ladies day out.

Is trying to remember... that God allows mountain tops and valley's.. and He also allows ski-lifts!

We long for love and relationship and healing and hope. We long for holiness, for a closer walk with Jesus, for God’s truth to speak louder than the noise of the world. When we long for the right things, we find a different sort of love. The kind of love that will never let go of us, never let us down. Never walk away or disown us. A love that know us and our flaws, but stays anyways. For us to long for God is to long for a perfect love. God’s word promises if we start longing for that perfect love, everything…absolutely everything will follow that longing. God created our ability to long for love. But He wants us to long for His perfect love.

Beautiful People

I have seen beauty that makes your eyes blink and your heart stagger... yet beauty, true beauty comes from deep within the hearts and souls of who we are.  Most often true beauty is there inside of someone because of a struggle or a hardship that has been overcome.  Many of my most special friends are a beautiful mess.  Aren't we all?

I Love a Rainy Night

It is pouring outside right now.  Coming down in sheets.. a lot of rumbling thunder and lightening.  I love rainy nights!  Perfect for popcorn and a movie, cuddling, reading, sleeping.. or just staring out into the black sky awaiting a sudden flash of white.  There's something about feeling so safe at home.  A safe and sound abode. 

God is so awesome and good.

Job 28:26  He decided how much rain would fall, and the path for the lightning.

A Fall Song

Golden and red trees
Nod to the soft breeze,
As it whispers, "Winter is near;"
And the brown nuts fall
At the wind's loud call,
For this is the Fall of the year.

Good-by, sweet flowers!
Through bright Summer hours
You have filled our hearts with cheer
We shall miss you so,
And yet you must go,
For this is the Fall of the year.

Now the days grow cold,
As the year grows old,
And the meadows are brown and sere;
Brave robin redbreast
Has gone from his nest,
For this is the Fall of the year.

I do softly pray
At the close of day,
That the little children, so dear,
May as purely grow
As the fleecy snow
That follows the Fall of the year.

Dreamland

She invited me to come and visit. The whole time I was there she avoided me.  She would be sitting in corners crying or upset and there would be someone comforting her.  This happened many times... each time a different place with a woman hugging or talking to her. We were in a crowd of circus people and several people were leading horses by us and one was very tall.  I asked the lady if he was at least 17 hands and the man next to her tried to convince me that he was only 15, but there was no way that was true.  I rode a big draft horse at a run through a field and knew that the horse didn't belong to me and that I would probably get in trouble.  Then I was back at her house and she still looked at me with sad eyes yet didn't say anything.  I was confused about why I would come to visit when there was no communication. 

Trust in the Lord...

 Are you doing what is right?  No, I didn't ask if you feel good about what you are doing.. are you doing what is right?  There are a lot who think they are doing right because they don't feel guilty about something, but guilt is not a factor.. only what the Bible has to say is.  We can be walking a way that is totally wrong but at the same time be clueless and hard-hearted towards things that we don't want to change but know that we should.  Don't listen to your own intellect, listen to God.  Don't continue in your ways because you don't feel guilty, seek God for truth.  Obeying is better than sacrifice.

Proverbs 14:12-14

¹² There is a way which looks right to a man, but its end is the way of death.
¹³ Even while laughing the heart may be in pain, and the end of joy may be sorrow.
¹⁴ The man who has gone back into sin will get the fruit of his ways, and a good man will get the fruit of what he does.

Temptations

Corinthians 10:12-13 So watch yourself! The person who thinks he can stand against sin had better watch that he does not fall into sin. ¹³ You have never been tempted to sin in any different way than other people. God is faithful. He will not allow you to be tempted more than you can take. But when you are tempted, He will make a way for you to keep from falling into sin.

 The thing that God is faithful to do is to hold back any temptation that is more than you can bear. He knows your strengths and your weaknesses. He knows your exact threshold for temptation, and will never, ever allow the enemy to throw more your way than you can bear. 

With every temptation, God will provide a way out. He's provided an escape route for every conceivable temptation you could ever possibly experience. Have you ever been tempted to do something and right at that time, the phone rang, or there was some other interruption that kept you from doing the very thing you were tempted to do? Other times, the way of escape may simply be walking away from the situation.
The most encouraging thing is that God is for you! He wants you to walk in victory over sin and temptation, and he is there, ready and willing to assist you. Take advantage of his assistance and walk in a new level of victory today! 

 

Lord, I thank you today for your way out.  When I knew I couldn't make the choice, you made it for me.  Thank you for those circumstances beyond my control.  Thank you for your promise.. thank you for your love.. and most of all, thank you for your faithfulness.  Amen~

The Eyes Have It

Look into my eyes and hear what I'm not saying, for my
eyes speak louder than my voice ever will.