Another year older ...

 Had a birthday earlier this month (73)...

Marnie gave me a new apron

we went out for lunch

She also made me a yummy (carrot) birthday cake...

we were so eager to get eating it that I forgot to take a 'before' photo

A pretty bunch of statice...

from Denver and Sophie

and lovely flowers from friend Vicki

it was a good day :)

Meanwhile, back at the ranch...

Finished reading these three books since the beginning of the year.  Was only going to read one but found it so interesting that I read the other two as well.  All by David Bercot...

about early Christianity and how it has been corrupted over the years

A change of pace now...

A re-read of an early (1994) Janette Oke book and continuing to work on a crocheted blanket I started last year (or maybe it was the year before?).  I get there eventually :))

Have you seen these movies?  I picked them up second hand on eBay...

Have to go and cook dinner now.

I hope you are all having a good day, and I'll be back when I can...

xx

From Behold the Lilies (devotional)...

"Consider how great things he hath done for you." - 1 Samuel 12:24

But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved [me] - Ephesians 2:4 ...

... hath made me (Job 33:4)

... hath been mindful of [me] (Psalm 115:12)

... hath looked upon my affliction (Genesis 29:32)

... hath regarded the low estate of his handmaiden (Luke 1:48)

... hath inclined his hear unto me (Psalm 116:2)

... hath attended to the voice of my prayer (Psalm 66:19)

... hath sent his angel, and hath delivered me (Acts 12:11)

... hath delivered me out of all trouble (Psalm 54:7)

... hath redeemed my soul out of all distress (1 Kings 1:29)

... hath prospered my way (Genesis 24:56)

... hath given me counsel (Psalm 16:7)

... hath prepared for [me] a city (Hebrews 11:16)

... hath called [me] to glory and virtue (2 Peter 1:3)

... hath made [me] accepted in the beloved (Ephesians 1:6)

... hath blessed me hitherto (Joshua 17:14)

... hath put a new song in my mouth (Psalm 40:3)

... hath said, I will never leave thee (Hebrews 13:5)

... hath given [me] everlasting consolation and good hope (2 Thessalonians 2:16)

... hath given [me] an understanding (1 John 5:20)

The Lord hath done great things for [me]; whereof [I am] glad (Psalm 26:3)

"Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us."

 - 1 John 3:1 KJV

And suddenly it's February...

Despite being slowed down with headaches (again) last week I'm thankful that I am feeling better now and was able to get to church, after missing the last two Sundays.

And I'm happy to report progress on Effie.  She is all stitched up and has a dress, but still needs a face (unless I make her Amish) and hair, or a hat.  I finished her last week but wanted to make a dress for her...

The knitting is a ball of chenille type yarn that Marnie didn't want, so I decided to make a little doll blanket out of it.

A trip to the op shop during the week netted me some nice bargains, all for a grand total of $6.50 ...

Englich bone china mug (50 cents), Victoria magazine ($1), a pretty handmade card (50 cents), a signed, historical book by a Tasmanian author ($3.50), and a ceramic and Tasmanian Blackwood wall plaque ($1)

And it's always a good day when mail arrives...

makes for a happy lunch break

and before you ask... Yes!  I have the same lunch every day :))

The strawberries are ripening well (and the blackberries will be ready soon)...

I have to pick them before they fully ripen or the snails get them, but these ones all ripened up overnight inside

Freya the fence sitter...

that way she can keep an eye on what's going on inside in the yard and outside in the street

My New Testament one chapter a day Bible reading is going well...

Mark Chapter 4 today

And I almost read two books in January, even though my goal was only to read one...

I'll finish "Will The Real Heretics..." tonight.

Not sure what I'll read next

We had a pretty sunset last night...

Jefferson sent me this photo of Jaya doing a tea ceremony for them ...

I think that's what I need...  a cup of tea.  It always makes things better!

Have a blessed week, and don't forget to drink your tea :))

xx 

From Behold the Lilies (devotional)

"But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him." - Hebrews 11:6

Institutions and organizations are crumbling, and it does not take long to figure out why.  God is pushed aside and left out.  Questions are asked and much money is spent on research, but answers are evasive.  Again it seems the reason is that God is ignored.

I seem to think a lot about material things ... but surely I'm not pushing God aside.  I have a firm belief in God.

Sometimes I do not sense my need.  I do not feel as dependent on God as I had been.  I wonder why ... but no, I'm not pushing God aside.  Every time I look outside and see the beauty of the creation, I recognize that God is the Creator of it all.

I feel disturbed and unsettled.  I really want a settled peace in my heart.  If only ... but still, I'm not pushing God aside.  I read His Word every day, at least a bit.

I would not intentionally push God aside or reject Him.  But somehow these verses seem to ring in my mind: "Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.  But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works in dead?" (James 2:19-20)

My problem with materialism shows that I have more faith in what I see than in what I cannot see.  I do not have my eyes on eternal things.  I must admit that I do push God aside in this aspect of my life. My problem with feeling self-sufficient might stem from not giving heed to the Spirit's voice in little things because I think I know better.  He may see my independence and choose to retreat; He will not force Himself on me.  Soon I start feeling as though something has come between God and me.  Obviously, I again pushed God aside.  I did not have the faith that He knows best.

The problem with feeling unsettled and disturbed - could it come from a lack of trust, from not leaving that disturbing matter to the Lord?  Again, I lack real faith in his promises.

Are worldly institutions rejecting God?  Yes.  Do I sometimes reject God?  My life makes it obvious.  Faith in God means more than believing that He exists.  I must have a faith that moves me to live above the present and convinces me that His will is always best.  With such a faith, I can experience a restful, trusting life that will not crumble.

The Foreigner (devotional)

From Beside the Still Waters...

The Foreigner: Read - 1 Peter 2

"Ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints, and of the household of God." - Ephesians 2:19

It was at Lisbon, that I first experienced the new and somewhat uncomfortable status of being a foreigner.  The language was incomprehensible, and the culture was a mixture of strange customs, values, and traditions.  Although there were new and interesting sights to see, I always felt out of place.  It was a relief to return home and live among people whose language and customs were familiar.

As time passed, however, I became increasingly aware that the customs, traditions, language, and moral values that I had been taught as a child were rapidly changing.  I could identify with the English author L. P. Hartley, who wrote, "The past is a foreign country.  They do things differently."  As I endeavored to live in the values and customs of the past, I once again felt like a foreigner, this time in my own country.

Eventually, responding in faith to the call of Christ resulted in my third experience as a foreigner, one that continues to this day.  "Come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing, and I will receive you, and will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty" (2 Corinthians 6:17-18).

Although awkward, difficult, and trying at times, this kind of foreign life is rewarded with joy, peace, and victory unmatched by any other citizenship.  Jesus Himself was a foreigner in His own land, and He lived with misunderstanding and hostility.  Still, Jesus told Paul, "My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness" (2 Corinthians 12:9) - and so it is!  May we all strive to be faithful foreigners in the land where God has placed us.

Pete Lewis - Halsey, OR

Today's Bible verse on my perpetual calendar:

"Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits."

Psalm 103:2 KJV

Saturday Snippets

Hello friends!

Halfway through January already!  How is your year shaping up?  I have been enjoying some quiet days.  It's still hot here, but cooler than it has been, and the horribly strong winds have mostly stopped.  I've also been enjoying some headache free days, which aways makes things better :)

My 'one chapter a day' Bible reading is progressing well, and I'm halfway through the 'one book a month' I am reading...

The strawberries are doing well...

Baked bread this morning...

It's been a bit too hot for knitting or crocheting... 

So I've been enjoying some slow stitching.

I don't remember if I mentioned this last year, but I have been wanting to make some little calico dolls...

from this lovely little book

I chose Effie

pinned and ready to stitch by hand

maybe I'll make some of the other dolls if Effie turns out well

there are also patterns for little doll quilts :)

In my previous post there was mention of treadle sewing machines, and I remembered the West Ladies use treadle machines in their crafting DVDs.  I bought the whole series many years ago, and love to rewatch them, especially the sewing and quilting ones...

And I've just discovered you can watch them ALL on YouTube HERE!

They make lovely 'slow day' viewing  

And while we are on the subject of crafting, Hayley sent me a photo of Hazel with her Christmas blanket...

The book with the doll patterns is also the fictional diary of Sarah Jane, age 8, who lives on the Kansas Prairie in the 1880's.

I'll leave you with a little 'slow Saturday snippet' ...

January 21  I made a doll today.  Her name is Hannah.  Ma cut it from an old petticoat and I sewed it up by myself.  Pa let me have some sawdust to put in her.  She even sits.  Ma says Hannah is just like the dolls she had when she was little.  Gramma made me a doll named Mary but I lost her on the trip.  I hope another little girl found Mary.  She had a real face and clothes and a quilt.  I wrapped Hannah in Molly's quilt but Ma took it away and gave me a feed sack.  Hannah wants a face.

January 26  Ma made a face for Hannah today.  She is real pretty now.  Ma let me pick buttons for her eyes and she sewed a mouth with red thread.  Hannah wanted yellow hair but all Ma had was black.  I wish Hannah had a dress.  Molly wants Hannah.

Have a blessed and safe week 

xx

 

Soul Stitching (devotional)

 From Amish Peace...

Most people assume that Amish quilts were done completely by hand but this was not the case.  Many Amish quilts were pieces using a treadle sewing machine but the beautiful quilting was always done by hand.

Soul Stitching

[Boaz said,] "come over here and sit down, friend." - Ruth 4:1

The Amish sewing circle is a gathering of women working together with a common purpose.  The quilt is the object of their work, but when women nestle side by side, sharing recipes, good news, and worries, their hearts and souls are stitched together too.  Amish live, work, and worship with those who reside next door, down the road, and around the corner.  They not only know the names of their neighbors but they also bake with them and their daughters.

Spending time with friends is often one of the first things we cut from our busy schedules.  We may have neither the skills nor the interest to belong to a sewing circle, but each of us can make time for friends.  The colorful moments of shared lives brighten the dreariest days.  The pieced-together scraps of memories create the story of who we are.

The Bible shares numerous stories of friendship.  David and Jonathan's friendship bonded them closer than brothers.  Ruth found friendship in her mother-in-law, Naomi.  Jesus crossed the countryside sharing the Good News of God's plan with twelve close friends.  More than that, Jesus calls us friends too: "I no longer call you slaves, because a master doesn't confide in his slaves.  Now you are my friends, since I have told you everything the Father told me" (John 15:15).

If you have even one good friend, hold her tight and be blessed.  If you have a circle of friends, consider yourself rich indeed.  The shared laughter and tears keep us close and stitch our hearts together.  Most of all, remember that Jesus is your best friend - no matter what.

Father in heaven, my heart overflows with gratitude for my friends.  I know these relationships weren't formed by chance; they were tailor-made by You.  Show me today, Lord, one person to reach out to in friendship.  Stitch my life together with others' through the power of your love.

(the little quilts are from the book: Prairie Children and Their Quilts by Kathleen Tracy)