My precious Saviour

 I was just considering what I could post, when I came across this brief draft I had saved quite some time back. Though not recently written, and not very long, it still shares what is on my heart. Praying that each one who reads this post will come to know the Lord Jesus Christ if you do not already, and find Him precious to your soul! And if you do already know the Lord, may you and I always gladly speak a word for Him whenever the opportunity arises! 

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"Surely He hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem Him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon Him; and with His stripes we are healed." 

Recently, a message I was listening to gave such comfort to me, as it spoke of Christ and all He has done for my soul. It gives such help and peace to remember He was a "man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief." It made me think once again of a post I wrote years ago, about Christ being precious to those who believe. "How sweet the Name of Jesus sounds in a believer's ear! It soothes his sorrows, calms his fears, and dries away his tears." I asked it then...and I ask it again...is the Lord Jesus Christ precious to you? 

 "Unto you therefore which believe he is precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner" -1 Peter 2:7

O let me never be ashamed, 

To speak a word for Thee - 

To those who walk around me, 

To those I daily see. 

O let me never be ashamed, 

For Thou, my precious Lord - 

Wast not ashamed of me. 

You bore the awful shame 

And curse upon the tree - 

There lifted up in suffering

For all those there to see. 

O! let me never be ashamed,

To live my life for Thee.

"In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, if any man thirst, let him come unto Me and drink."

- John 7:37

Spring Flowers

 Hello everyone! I didn't intend to let this much time go by before posting again, but it seems to keep happening as other things in my schedule seem more important to keep up with. Hopefully some of you are still around to even check this when my random posts come along!  

Just thought I would post some pictures of some recent springtime flowers to brighten your day. :) 

I love spring. I don't think there is any other lovelier time of the year! The birds are singing so cheerfully, and I'm beginning to plant some of my earliest cool weather vegetables in the garden. It feels so good to get outside in the garden again and enjoy the sunshine...and of course, the flowers! :)

Some verses that have been on my mind lately regarding the new life of a believer in Christ:

For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead:

And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again.

-2 Corinthians 5:14-15

I'm still here :)

 

Trust ye in the LORD forever: for in the LORD

JEHOVAH is everlasting strength. -Isaiah 26:4

Hello to all - once again I have been rather quiet here on my blog. 

It is much due to being busy, and I just have not had good opportunities to 

get on here and put together posts. I hope all of you are doing well as we've 

entered yet another new year. Time never slows down, does it? :) 

We had a beautiful day here where I live, so I made the most of it and 

spent a good part of my afternoon out in my yard, cleaning up my garden 

space for spring, and covering it with a mulch of leaves - something 

I have wanted to get done before now, but the cold and snow came on us 

earlier than I anticipated, and I waited for a warmer day when I had the time. 

It finally came today, and it was so enjoyable to be outside in the fresh air and sunshine! 

Soon, I hope to start tomato seeds indoors (and possibly some other things...often I 

wind up planting far more than I originally intended as I get excited thinking of 

springtime and gardening.) :) We will see. 

That is a quick update of what has been happening for me, but hopefully I can be 

back again soon, and manage to not let so much time lapse before a next post, Lord willing!

Thank you so much for stopping by. :) 

Eternity

A man's greatest care should be for that place where he lives longest;

therefore eternity should be his scope. -Thomas Watson

 Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth 

and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal:

 But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth 

nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal:

For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. 

-Matthew 6:21

Just checking in

Hello everyone. I have been intentionally spending less time on the internet

recently, which explains why my posts on here might be rather sporadic and not very frequent.  I do hope you all are doing well, and while I have an upcoming post in the works, 

just thought I would share a (new to me) hymn that I discovered in an old hymn book about a week ago. The words were encouraging to me, and I hope it encourages you as well. 

Christ, My All

by Horatius Bonar

In the hour when guilt assails me, 

On His gracious name I call, 

Then I find the heavenly fullness, 

Christ, my righteousness, my all. 

Chorus: 

All my song when standing yonder,

Shall be Christ, my joy, my all; 

This shall ever be my anthem, 

"Christ my glory, Christ my all"; 

This shall ever be my anthem, 

"Christ my glory, Christ my all." 

In the night when sorrow clouds me, 

And the burning teardrops fall, 

Then I sing the song of patience, 

Christ, my Brother, and my all. 

(Chorus)

In the day when this immortal, 

Shall fling off its mortal thrall, 

Then my song of resurrection 

Shall be Christ, my all in all. 

(Chorus) 

Upon looking up this hymn to find a copy online to share, I discovered this page

that has several more verses and also more lines to each stanza. You can read that more complete version of it here.

Contentment, and Reaping in Prayer

 “I have learned in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.” Philippians 4:2

Unknown Author

Have I learned, in whatsoever

State, to be content?

Have I learned this blessed lesson,

By my Master sent—

And with joyous acquiescence

Do I greet His will,

Even when my own is thwarted,

And my hands lie still?

Surely it is best and sweetest,

Thus to have Him choose,

Even though some work I’ve taken,

By this choice I lose.

Folded hands need not be idle,—

Fold them, but in prayer,

Other souls may toil far better

For God’s answer there.

They who reap receive their wages,

Those who work, their crown,

Those who PRAY, throughout the ages

Bring blest answers down;

In “whatever state” abiding

Till the Master call,

They at eventide will find Him

Glorified in all.

Moving Forward

I hope everyone's week has been going well so far. It's turned into brisk, fall days here with a chilly breeze. This year I have been making a purposeful effort to notice pleasant things about fall to enjoy (you might guess that fall is not my favorite time of year). :) I have learned to appreciate things about it that I had not taken much notice of before. I do always love seeing the colorful trees, and have been trying to get out more to enjoy it while it lasts. 

Thank you to each one of you who took the time to read my last post, comment, and/or vote on my poll. I appreciated it very much! Several of you expressed that you think I should keep just this one blog, and post a variety of things. You each shared some very good thoughts. I have to admit that I didn't quite realize how much I had started looking forward to the thought of possibly starting a second blog...as it is with a slight tinge of disappointment that I decide to forgo the thought for now and keep everything here. :) I don't want to make anything more complicated for others to have to keep track of two different blogs, and I thank you all for sharing your thoughts! It meant a lot to me! I do have a somewhat "compromising" idea that might come to place in the future, while still keeping it one blog, Lord willing. :) But if not, I am glad to know that my readers enjoy seeing a mixture of topics on my blog.  I look forward to hopefully sharing more soon! 

 "Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works." 

-Titus 2:13-14

Input Requested :)

I have been considering some different options as I'm coming back to my blog, and wondered if my readers would mind sharing your opinions? 

For some time prior to my break, I had gradually (and without fully realizing it at first) began shifting my posts almost entirely from the everyday things (recipes, projects, etc.), to devotional type posts with what I had found encouraging to me in my own life, and what was often on my mind. Once I realized I had made this change, I began to feel reluctant to share the more everyday things of life as it seemed almost out of place and of lesser importance. What my question is...what do you all think of my starting a second blog that would focus more on home life, crafts, gardening, recipes, etc., while also keeping this blog to make posts separately for devotional/spiritual encouragement? Or would you prefer I kept just one blog where there is a mixture of posts of both kinds, and everything is kept all in one place?

I've added a poll on the right hand side of this blog page, and if you'd care to share your thoughts by voting I'd appreciate it so much! :) If the poll for some reason doesn't work properly, you can also leave me a comment choosing "A, B, or C" options. I'd also love to hear if you have any other thoughts/suggestions in the comments. If you prefer I don't post your comment publicly, please feel free to mention that and I will keep it private. 

A. I like the idea of two separate blogs.

B. I think it's better to leave the blog how it is, with everything all in one place. 

C. I'm not really sure / Either way is fine with me! 

A new season

  It has been nearly two years since I last posted on here. I've been giving some serious thought to coming back again. I also have a new venture I've been considering and praying about, that perhaps if the Lord wills, I might share in the future. I would love to hear from my readers if any of you still keep up with my blog. Does anyone still read this? How are all of you doing? Often, the swiftness of time passing by has been on my mind in recent times. May we use it for the Lord! 

"'A little while '-He'll come again!

Let us the precious hours redeem;

Our only grief to give Him pain,

Our joy to serve and follow Him.

Watching and ready may we be,

As those that wait their Lord to see."

Redeeming the time, because the days are evil. -Ephesians 5:16

A break, and a goodbye

 I just wanted to do a quick post letting everyone who reads my blog that I will be taking a break from blogging...I'm not really sure for how long. I just feel a need to step away from it at this time. I thank each one of my readers who through the years have been regular readers and leaving me many kind, encouraging comments...they have each meant a lot to me! I hope this is just a season for me, and that I might return someday in the future, but for now in this time of my life it seems best for me to put it aside. Thank you all for the blessing you've been.  

The Blessings of Winter

 These thoughts about the positive and necessary effects of the cold of winter on the production of fruit in trees has been such an encouragement and comfort to me during some hard times in my own life, as I thought on the spiritual truths it could be applied to for our lives and bearing fruit, that I thought I would share it here...just with the hope someone else out there who might be going through some trials might find it a comfort to them also. 

I first learned of this when my family and I lived down in the south for many years...and came to find that our apple and pear trees were very weak growing, and simply would not produce any fruit no matter what we tried. I wrote some details about it in a small journal I kept at the time...and when I came across it recently again while I've been in some hard times...it honestly brought me to tears and gave me such comfort as I thought of the way it could be applied spiritually to God's children. The cold, hard times might be very unpleasant...but God can and does promise to work it for the good of His own (Romans 8:28). I wish I could say that I always remember this, and always walk by faith rather than sight...but I need this constant reminder...it is so easy to forget, and be weighed down by difficult times!

"A mild winter may be pleasant, but it can diminish our future harvests. Warm winters can result in delayed foliation and prolonged blossoming, but the buds deteriorate or drop, yielding few flowers or fruit."

"Fruit trees and certain bushes must go through a dormant period each winter in preparation for producing fruit the following spring and summer. This rest period, also known as a chilling period, is directly related to the temperature. For many varieties of trees, the most efficient temperature for chilling is 45°F, with little additional chilling effect at temperatures below 32°F. Brief warm spells in winter have a negative effect — temperatures above 70°F for four or more hours offset any chilling that happened in the previous 24-36 hours."

The amount of hours needed at or below 45°F varies with the type of tree:

Peach: 400 to 1050 hours

Apple: 800 to 1100 hours

Cherry: 1000+ hours

Once chilling is complete, the trees prepare to wake up from dormancy and bud after a certain amount of warming takes place."

                 

"I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman. Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit." -John 15:1-2

 "Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples." -John 15:8

This is a poor quality photo...but it is a handwritten note that my sister's mother-in-law (who passed away earlier this year) kept on her fridge. It always made me stop and think...and especially more so as going through times of suffering. It says:

 "Suffering in a believer's life is never pointless. It tests in order to strengthen, OR It chastens in order to correct."

"And this I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and in all judgment;

 That ye may approve things that are excellent; that ye may be sincere and without offence till the day of Christ;

 Being filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ, unto the glory and praise of God." -Philippians 1:9-11

The sweetest rest is at even,

After a wearisome day, 

When the heavy burden of labor 

Has been borne from our hearts away;

And those who have never known sorrow - 

Cannot know the infinite peace

That falls on the troubled spirit

When it sees at last release. 

We must live through the dreary winter

If we would value the spring; 

And the woods must be cold and silent

Before the robins sing;

The flowers must be buried in darkness

Before they can bud and bloom.

And the sweetest warmest sunshine 

Comes after the storm and gloom. 

-Unknown Author

"Who understands the thrill of seeing the first 

bright flowers of spring so clearly as one who has just gone 

through the long, hard winter?"

-Darlene Deibler Rose

🌷🌷🌷🌷🌷🌷

 "But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you." -1 Peter 5:10

Hope in God

 

  "Be of good courage, and he shall strengthen your heart, all ye that hope in the LORD."

-Psalms 31:24

"Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me? hope in God: for I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God."

-Psalm 43:5