Winter pics before our actual "big" snow. Snows like this are mesmeric falling from above, but when it "just doesn't cover" everything, it is a reminder of how our sinful, fallen natures lie right below the surface. How we must stay close to His Word and to Him alone for that "old nature" to stay hidden. God is faithful to His promises, and He will do what He says.
"Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering,
for He who promised is faithful."
Heb. 10:23
He will help in times of trouble and distress,
"Our soul waits for the Lord;
He is our help and our shield."
Psalm 33:20
He will help when we call out to Him; He knows what we need, when we need it. We must keep our trust in Him, and in Him alone.
As I sit here typing, I am sick with the nasty old head cold stuff, that everyone either had or has. It makes me feel awful. I don't have much energy anyway and this takes the rest away. My family has gone to church for our evening Bible study, so I thought I would get another post off, and then rest and read a bit. It is so quiet with everyone gone, and yet it reminds me that someday my house will be like this all the time. I love the sounds of my children's laughter, and their discussions. So, I really try not to complain when it is all noisy, or have late-night nerf gun fights (yes, they do!), and try not to be too excited when they are all out. I love the house full! Sorry about the pink calf; I am not sure what happened, but I did see I had my camera on video while snapping some pics, so maybe that was it. It isn't really pink. :) I love the snow pics, so there may be another post and possibly one more with snow, because I love the crystal covered land! It doesn't take us long to get tired of it, but it is so beautiful! Take time today, this Lord's Day, to revel in His glory, to be grateful for all those around you, and to thank Him for His special graces He has given. Always Experiencing Him, Jody
The last few days have been icy, cold, and snowy. We have been some of the fortunate ones. Our power was only off in the early morning hours, so far... We poured extra drinking water, closed doors so the fire can heat the main space better, and brought out the trusty camping stove. Haven't had to use it yet.
I don't mind the power being off for a bit, but yes, a few days makes things a bit more difficult. I'm not quite sure we could have survived in our grandparents or great-grandparents days. They were amazing.
The oil lamps have been pulled out as well. We are as prepared as one can be in this day. Laundry, dishes, cleaning caught up. Just keeping animals fed, watered, and closing chickens up every evening. Jamin and my dad had to cut a few trees off of fences or pull them out of the road just so he could get home.
Our major drawback is the Dad has to be at work since he works for the utilities company. So, over the 3 days so far, he came in for 2 hours sleep yesterday, and 4 hours sleep today, and went right back to work. All of those men should be praised greatly! They are not only working around the clock, but working out in this cold! Thank you all utility workers! We are grateful for your dedication!
Are we grateful enough? In all things? I forget to write, as I keep counting, and I see my new bracelet with my one word,focus, and it reminds me to continue seeking what is important. I'm coming up on 4000 gifts! 4000 written, counted gifts! Oh, how many I have missed to write! Focus...Focus...Focus...How distracted I become, even as I sit down to type. As we stay in the comfort of our warm homes, those men all out working and all into and through the night, yes, we are grateful again, and again. We thank their families, because they are sacrificing too, husbands gone, daddies unavailable for a time. Thank you, and again, thank you.
What beauty is displayed in God's glory. How amazed I continue to be with the artistry of our heavenly Father.
"The heavens are telling of the glory of God,
And their expanse is declaring the work of His hands.
Day to day pours forth speech,
And night to night reveals knowledge.
Psalm 19:1-2
Endless Grace
So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord,
continue to live your lives in him, rooted and built up in him,
strengthened in the faith as you were taught,
and overflowing with thankfulness...
and in Christ you have been brought to fullness.
Col. 2:6-7, 10
Remember, I'm always looking forward to hearing from you! Always Experiencing Him, Jody
and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God;"
Ephesians 2:8
"My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness."
2 Corinthians 12:9
"so that being justified by His grace we would be made heirs
according to the hope of eternal life."
Titus 3:7
"Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace,
so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need."
Hebrews 4:16
Always Grateful The changing seasons daughters safe flight to AZ rainy day - remembering God's Grace - so grateful daughter receiving new book from friend in mail piano and guitar practice "thorn in flesh?" prayers to Him Be still and know that I am God Listening, listening #3391 -3405 October has dawned mammograms waiting Dr. results a bit of cooler weather building a burn pit w/son stacking wood - good exercise girls decorated for Autumn rain on new seed in ground Grace Peace practicing Christmas choir songs while driving Ming Dynasty w/hubby kids staying at the cabin w/grandparents - they still love it! :) going out w/hubby blessings of rain - Grace Rain What are you thankful for this day? What do you do on rainy days? Always Experiencing Him, Jody
No words can express what I felt when I watched this autistic boy singing the high praises to our God. He was also born blind, and now lives with an uncle, such a wonderful, loving, family. Just watch, and give praise along with him. So wonderful!
We have no excuses not to sing, to give Him praise and all the glory He deserves, so listen, and lift up your eyes, which you can probably see out of, and give God the glory for all He has done!
"Sing to the Lord a new song;
Sing to the Lord, all the earth.
Sing to the Lord, bless His name;
Proclaim good tidings of His salvation from day to day.
The 5th day of a new year and I have already failed Him...over and over again. Why is it so terribly hard to obey the One who gave me life, the One who gives me grace for all my failures, the One who loves me even when I fail Him? Grace, I need grace, and forgiveness, and He gives it, just as He showers us with the rain, He showers me with all I need. Why can't I simply remember that? Seek, I must seek Him at all times, I must draw near, draw closer to Him as I seek to live my life in obedience.
When the shadows appear and fear takes hold, remember God's Light. Jesus always dispels the darkness. During our family worship time Steve reminded us of the definition of darkness - the absence of light, even a candle in a dark place brings light, and Jesus is Light. He dispels all darkness even where shadows appear. As I seek Him in this year of 2014, I strive to have His Light shine through me.
Behind on our advent readings, we finally completed our advent tree, and experienced the Coming of the Christ. What an exciting event and experience as we read through the lineage of Jesus and excitedly awaited His coming. To seek Him as the shepherds and the magi did is a picture of how we should continually be looking forward to His returning. He came once and He is coming again!
God gives gifts in so many ways. One for us is His gift of wild animals on our farm. The turkeys have been all over our fields, with our chickens and our horse. We love watching as they scratch and walk or fly over.
"Grow in the grace and knowledge of our
Lord and Savior Jesus Christ."
2 Peter 3:18
Charles Spurgeon says, "Grow in the grace --not in one grace only, but in all grace. Grow in that root-grace, faith. Believe the promises more firmly than you have done. Grow also in love. Ask that your love may become extended, more intense, more practical, influencing every thought, word, and deed. Grow in humility. Seek to lie very low, and know more of your own nothingness. As you grow downward in humility, seek also to grow upward--growing closer to God in prayer and having intimate fellowship with Christ. "
"Seek to know more of Him in His divine nature, in His human relationship, in His finished work, in His death, in His resurrection, in His present glorious intercession, and in His future royal return."
"An increase of love for Christ, and a more perfect apprehension of His love for us is one of the best tests of growth in grace."
Morning By Morning by Charles H. Spurgeon -- January 4
Everything is growing and changing to the most beautiful green right now. As I sit and listen to the thunder, watch the lightning that was displayed before my ears and eyes, and now, sit back and hear the glorious sound of the rain coming gently down, I am in awe and amazed at how our God blesses us and chooses to continuously give us the beauty of the earth.
It is a gentle rain, a good soaking rain, one to make the grass grow and the flowers and trees to bloom. A lovely sounding rain to relax a tired soul, an anxious soul, and as I see the grass turning green almost before my eyes, I am grateful.
Grateful for His Grace,
Grateful for His mercy,
Grateful for His love,
Grateful for His provisions,
Grateful for His blessings,
Grateful for His salvation.
How can we not delight in our God, the Lord Jesus Christ? How can we not throw ourselves before His throne, to worship Him in reverence, in song, in dance, on bended knee, prostrate before Him, with words of love, of kindness, of adoration, of praise, of confession, of adulation, of obedience.
"Bless the lord, O my soul,
And all that is within me,
bless His holy name."
Psalm 103:1
"My lips will shout for joy when I sing praises to You; And my soul, which You have redeemed." Psalm 71:23
"Because Your lovingkindness is better than life,
My lips shall praise You.
So I will bless You as long as I live;
I will lift up my hands in Your name.
My soul is satisfied...
And my mouth offers praises with joyful lips."
Psalm 63:3-5
"You have turned for me my mourning into dancing;
You have loosed my sackcloth and girded me with gladness,
That my soul may sing praise to You and not be silent.
O Lord my God, I will give thanks to You forever."
Psalm 30:11-12
"I will rejoice greatly in the Lord,
My soul will exult in my God."
Isaiah 61:10a
"These verses and many others command us to worship God in ways that express deep gratitude, longing for Him, and joy for our salvation. This gratitude, longing, and joy should overflow our hearts, causing praise for His character and nature. We are not free to praise God in any way we decide; we are to worship Him in the ways that He has prescribed. God has told us how to praise Him. We are to do so with all that is within us, with shouts of joy, with songs of thanks and gladness, with faces and hands uplifted!
Should not we, who know the mercy of redemption, be filled with more praise than the angels who have worshiped since the beginning of time? God recounts how all the 'morning stars sang together and all the sons of God shouted for joy' (Job 38:7) How much more should we, who have been forgiven, redeemed, adopted, and made heirs of His kingdom, praise Him and shout for joy?
(Excerpt from Idols of the Heart by Elyse Fitzpatrick)
As I see the beauty before me, and hear God's beauty around me, I stand in awe, and I bow on bended knee to give thanks for all He has done. We give our obedience, not out of fear, yes, there is a reverent fear of who God is, but we give it because He commands it; He has called us out, to be different, to shine, to walk differently. It is when you see no difference, we must question if we are truly walking with the One who gives life, who is Truth, who gives and who takes away; it is then, my confession must come before Him, of whom else am I glorifying if others do not see me as one who obeys only my Lord and King, Jesus Christ. My Jesus, the King of Kings and Lord of Lords, I pray for those around us, right around us; the farmer with 2 brain tumors, my cousins who lost their mother at the age of 80 a friend with prostrate cancer a man with a tumor on his kidney a friend who lost her mother and her father-in-law a friend whose nephew died at the age of 12 my dad has pleurisy my mom who has pulled a back muscle neighbor with breast cancer my sister's son with Type 1 diabetes at 8 months old, he's 2 now friend who miscarried - looking to God who said "Be fruitful and multiply" Oh, how Your grace still amazes me in times of need! These dear friends are looking and leaning on You Lord. Give them Your grace, and thank You for sustaining us in our lives here. Jesus, we thank You for using all things to bring glory to Your Name.
