Condensing

 Two weeks into one post...

Last week I had a trip to Latrobe/Devonport/Ulverstone with Marnie.  As well as lunch out and some shopping, I had to get an Xray for some dental work I need done.  Not looking forward to that!

A visit to the Christian Bookstore in Devonport saw me bringing these home.  Enjoying the Billy Graham book, and the morning and evening devotional book is also very good.  Haven't got to the colouring book yet, or the CD...

In the garden...

A pot of colour for the garden

Denver helped me repair my weed bin wall.  I had used some of the excess of bricks around the place to build a (temporary) wall, but it turned out to be more temporary than I had anticipated, when it collapsed...

So Denver helped me build another (not temporary) one...

I have been busy filling it with weeds/grass from the strawberry patch...

And transplanting some of the plants to another bed...

I planted out my pot of colour, and another one that I bought in Launceston yesterday...

Yes...had a day in Launceston yesterday with Marnie and Denver.  To pick up my new kitchen stool I had ordered, for my kitchen bench, which is were I sit to eat my meals, have my coffee break, gaze out the window, etc...

new one on right (in case you were wondering) and so much more comfortable than my old one.

And in between times, I've been sewing...

a piece of brushed cotton fabric I picked up at the op shop for $2

It took me ALL DAY to sew this skirt!  I did french seams to conceal all the raw edges so it took a bit longer, but even so, I would not want to be trying to make a living from my sewing as I think I would go hungry...

also, the dropped waist style, which I prefer, adds extra work

Cooking...

beef casserole in my crock pot

chocolate/weetbix slice

And in my 'spare' time, working on Christmas gifts...

a sneak peek :)

This morning at the river...

Interestingly, the second two photos were taken about 5 minutes after the first two.  The first two, with the early morning light behind me, and the second two, into the morning light.  

The difference in the light is amazing, n'est-ca pas!

xx

Weekend Words

Being and Doing - two of my devotional reading this morning.  The 'being' (spending time alone with God),  helps us in the 'doing' (loving God and others).

From  A Year's Journey with God - Jennifer Rees Larcombe

Just you, me and us two.

Jesus said, "Let's go off by ourselves to a quiet place and rest awhile." - Mark 6:31, NLT

In my family, extroverts where praised for being 'good, outgoing Christians' whereas introverts were dismissed as 'moody and unsociable'.   So for years I tried to be the life and soul of every party, until I realised that constantly being with people drained me.  I needed plenty of time alone in which to recharge my batteries.  It was such a relief to realise God make me the way I am because He likes me that way!  I guess Elijah was introverted while his colleague Elisha was quite the opposite.  Elijah would not have been daunted when God told him to escape from the fury of Ahab and Jezebel and hide alone for months in the mountains (1 Kings 17:2-7).  The things God taught him during that period of 'aloneness' would prove invaluable in his later ministry.

One of my father's little sayings was 'Just you, me and us two'.  He was a very busy man but he always gave me and my brother time with him on our own...  These treats sealed our relationship with him, which might otherwise have been rather distant; they were special simply because they were 'Just you, me and us two'.

Whether God creates us extroverts or introverts, I believe we all need to carve out time to be alone with Him and give Him our undivided attention...

If you are never alone with God it is not because you are too busy, it is because you don't care for Him, don't love Him and you had better face the facts. - A. Ghazzali

From Beside the Still Waters...

How Is Our Love for God? - Read: 1 John 4:7-21, 5:1-4

By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments.       - 1 John 5:2

Many people may claim they love God, but do they give evidence of it by the way they live?  Looking inwardly, does our own manner of life show love for God as we examine ourselves by His Word?  One proof of our love and devotion to God is our obedience to His Word and surrender to His known will.  Jesus said, "If ye love me, keep my commandments" (John 14:15).  He also stated, "He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me" (John 14:21).  It is those who "do his commandments" that will enter Heaven (Revelation 22:14).

Loving the Lord with all our heart, soul, strength and mind is directly tied to loving our neighbour as ourselves (Luke 10:27).  In fact, 1 John 4:20 says, "If a man says, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen?"  We demonstrate our love to others not only by our words but also "in deed and in truth" (1 John 3:18).  If we use the opportunities at hand to meet other's needs with kindness, compassion and mercy, we are serving Christ and reflecting his love from our hearts.

How important is loving God?  In Exodus 20:6, God said that he shows mercy "unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments."  Consider also the promise of Romans 8:28: " All things work together for good to them that love God."  And the wonderful things God has prepared and has revealed by His Spirit are for "them that love him" (1 Corinthians 2:9-10).  Let us love one another fervently, obey the Bible diligently, and love the Lord our God supremely.

Mark Kropf - Halsey, OR

May our lives verily express the love we verbally profess.

Weekend Words

From Amish Peace - Tricia Goyer...

My Song and My Strength

Rejoice in the Lord always (delight, gladden yourself in Him); again I say, Rejoice! - Philippians 4:4

One of my favourite things about spring is the song of the birds.  Joy fills my heart when I hear the music of a birdsong.  The winter is past.  A new season has come!  Gratefulness to God is heard on every chirp and warble, and hearing that makes my heart rejoice too.

There is nothing more beautiful than a smile reflected from a thankful heart.  Many an Amish mother will set about her tasks singing hymns of praise, and when one of her children whines or complains, she will simply sing louder!

Rejoicing in the Lord isn't something you need to wait to do at a church service.  You can rejoice any moment of your day, in the middle of any task.  Rejoicing doesn't need to happen when you "feel like it."  I have many, many days when I'd rather complain.  But when I sing praises to God, my heart and my attitude begin to change.  The circumstances and situations that had been troubling me a moment before are still there, but something is different.  When I rejoice, my heart acknowledges the goodness of God - and all the good in my life - and my attitude changes: "God has come to save me.  I will trust in Him and not be afraid.  The Lord God is my strength and my song; He has given me victory" (Isaiah 12:2)

Sometimes God shows you His strength or His power, as in the coming of spring, and through that you find a song.  But sometimes, when you make Him your song, you discover strength you didn't have before.

The most beautiful songs are those that rise above the whining around us - or the whining in our own hearts.  What song of rejoicing can you sing today?

Dear Heavenly Father, I rejoice in you.  I will sing a song of praise, no matter what the circumstances.  I thank you for the strength that returns to my gladdened heart.

October Yarn Along

 Can you believe it's October already?!  And Yarn Along time again!

Didn't get a chance to get this post on last week as I was down for 2 days with headaches (low pressure weather system going through), but back on track now and catching up.  I did manage to get the blanket finished I was working on...

And am reading The Upward Way...

I've started a new crochet project, but as it's a Christmas gift, I can't say any more about it :)

A few years ago I picked up this pretty Laura Ashley cotton dress at an op shop for a couple of dollars.  The bodice was a bit tight, but I really liked it, so kept it, thinking I could always cut it up and use the fabric for something else.  Well, I'm glad I didn't cut it up, because I tried it on today, and it's not too tight anymore :)  But, the sleeves are a bit short (mid upper arm whereas I prefer at least elbow length) , so I am working on lengthening them, using the fabric in a belt/sash that came with the dress...

And on my slow headache days, I had coffee with some 'old friends'...

And baked blackberry and white choc chip muffins...

This is the base recipe I used (click on it to enlarge if you can't read it)...

Notes:  I used blackberries (because I had them in the freezer from my garden), only 1/2 a cup of brown sugar, a mix of flours (white, wholemeal, spelt, quinoa, buckwheat, almond meal), a mix of spices, and white choc chips.

Despite the headaches last week, I was still getting out for my early morning walks.  We had rain, wind, and fog...

on the bridge looking through the web and water droplets early one foggy morning

Colour under the trees...

Also some sunshine and blue skies...

And because I didn't walk this morning, I'm off for a late afternoon walk now :)

xx

Weekend Words

 From Beside the Still Waters devotional...

Stepping Into the Unknown - Read: Psalm 46, 91

Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee." - Isaiah 26:3

We know not what lies in the months ahead or even what tomorrow may bring.  We live in a turbulent world of uncertainty and unrest.  Many are fearful of what might happen next.  Luke 21:26 speaks of "men's hearts failing them for fear."  Through fear of the unknown, some people store vast supplies of food and ammunition, or they try to protect themselves and their possessions with things like burglar alarms and insurance plans.  Many are apprehensive about terrorists, economic upheaval, global warming, falling asteroids, devastating storms, deadly viruses, or other real or imaginary dangers.  In an attempt to increase their chances of survival, some have purchased their own underground bunkers or have chosen to live in communities below the surface of the earth.

As heaven-bound pilgrims, need we get caught up with the doom and gloom hysteria of the unbelieving world around us?  Do we not serve a faithful, unchanging God who has everything in His sovereign control, even the circumstances and events of our lives?  Let us anchor our confidence and security in the Lord, who is "our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble" (Psalm 46:1)  Instead of worrying fearfully, we can walk by faith in the assurance of God's presence and guidance every step of the way.

Whatever the future may hold, let us fully trust our heavenly Father, who holds the future in His hand and has promised, "I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee" (Hebrews 13:5).  Come what may, we can rest in His love and care, and trust Him to pilot us safely through life's stormy seas to the golden shore of our eternal, heavenly home.  "Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid" (Isaiah 12:2)

Mark Kropf - Halsey, OR

Peace, perfect peace, our future all unknown:

Jesus we know, and He is on the throne. - Edward H Bickersteth

 

Weekend Words

From Beside the Still Waters devotional...

The Weight of Glory - Read: 2 Corinthians 4:3-18

For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory - 2 Corinthians 4:17

During our travels in India we went to the markets to buy our vegetables.  The seller would use a balance scale, putting a two-kilogram weight on one side and the vegetables on the other side.  Something similar is portrayed in today's key verse.  Paul was putting the total of his affliction on one side of a scale and the weight of the glory of Heaven on the other side, and saying that the heavenly glory far outweighed all the affliction.  Such a perspective requires strong faith.

Paul had the same human feelings that you and I have.  He was "troubled on every side, yet not distressed; perplexed but not in despair."  He was even "persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed" (verses 8-9).  How could Paul do this; what was his secret?  First, Paul realized that he had a treasure in his earthen vessel (verse 7), which was Jesus Christ and the power of God.  He totally depended on the grace of God to carry him through.  Second, Paul looked beyond his immediate circumstances to the glories of Heaven.  He focused not on temporal things but on eternal things (verse 18).  As a result, he saw all his trials and persecutions as light affliction.

Which way does the scale tip in our experience?  Do we allow the trials and tests of life to pull us down?  If so, let's take fresh courage as Paul did, look beyond our circumstances, and fix our eyes on Heaven.  Remember, the glories of Heaven will far outweigh all the afflictions we face in this life.  "I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me" (Philippians 4:13).

Cleason Martin - Stratton, ON

Life in the fast lane...

It's so fast, that last week slipped by without me finding time to get my mid week post on.  And last weekend was busy with Marnie and Denver here, and also a visit from friend Vicki.

So here's a bit of a catch up...

The trees at the river are in blossom...

As is my plum tree...

I made a Lemon and Blueberry loaf/bread...

The recipe...

As usual, I used a mix of flours (white/wholewheat/spelt/buckwheat/quinoa/almond meal) and some spices.  Also only 1/2 a cup of brown sugar.  The oven temperatures are in F, so if you use C it is about 175 I think

Also made rock cakes...

I have shared this recipe previously, but if you want it again, just let me know

Most days I spend a couple of hours working in the garden...

continuing to move the taller hellebores to the back of the garden bed and transplant lower/ground covers to the front

And tackling this eyesore...

the previous owners had a big fish pond sitting on the bricks/rocks.  I'm clearing the gravel/rocks from the top (and hoping there is dirt/soil underneath) and will plant it out with?  something?

You can see the jasmine I planted along the fence finally starting to grow

Which doesn't leave much time for crocheting and reading...

Still sewing the blanket squares together and hope to have a finished photo for you in next week's Yarn Along post

Reading Sarah of Break Neck Ridge

But no matter how busy I am I always try and make time for my morning coffee...

this week I enjoyed it with the latest issue of an old friend, Grass Roots magazine, which I have been reading (and enjoying) for years 

And my daily (sometimes twice) walk...

early light this morning

"Never lose an opportunity  of seeing anything that is beautiful; for beauty is God's handwriting - a wayside sacrament."

- Ralph Waldo Emerson