YIKES!!!

i'm stressing here ... yes, in this lovely little home pictured above ... see the light in the smaller window? that is where i sit as i type this ... our computer room and spare bedroom ...

and why am i stressing in this picture perfect location? well, our real estate agent brought us an offer for our home today ...

not too long ago i mentioned that no one had come to see our place ... we were going to take it off the market on Monday and put it up again in the spring ... well, on Sunday some folks did come by ... and today they made an offer ... we counter-offered ...

that's all i know ... except that i have little nervous tingles happening ... not that i'm worried - our future is in God's hands ... it's just that i would like to take a little peek ahead and see how it turns out!

so my Christmas cards are only half done ... the baking is left on the back burner ... and we don't have a place to move if this plays out!

if you think of me ... could you ask the Lord to give us wisdom and peace through this process ... thank you!

and if i seem a little fuddled - well, now you know why!

a tag

David Fisher, from Pilgrim Scribblings, just celebrated one year of blogging ... he created a 3 question tag for the occasion ... which is actually a cool idea ... he wanted a one sentence response, if possible ... so here are the questions and my responses ... oh, and if you haven't visited Pilgrim Scribblings ... drop by and say hi ... David always has an encouraging thought or story to share ...

now the tag:

1. What comes to mind/what is your heart's response when
you think of or hear the word..."CALVARY"?
pain/suffering; forgiveness/love; redemption!

2. What would you like to have inscribed on your tombstone?
Saija is not here ... she has graduated to Glory!

3. Which attribute of God do you find yourself revelling in the most?
His infinite love.

if these questions intrigue you - why then, you are tagged!

... along the road ...

as i headed home from our little town, i wondered at how the scenery is ever changing - though my route remains the same ... today revealed a snow covered shoreline, along a fast moving, troubled water ... there were white caps on the river, as the wind blew in a bitter fashion ... soon those white caps will be frozen in place - for a season ...

these are the same waters that i swim in during the heat of a prairie summer ... swimming was far from my thoughts today, as i tried to coax the cold digi camera to life (it kept on giving me a high pitched shrill sound, like it was in pain!) ... finally after warming the batteries between my hands, it came on ... the product of this effort is posted for you to see ...

along the road ... we think we know exactly what we will see along familiar pathways ... but life is ever changing and presents a new view daily ... there is beauty in everything, it's all in how we look at it ...

day at the beach

this is a man made beach in Japan (or so the e-mail stated) ... i think i would love to see one of these in the prairies ... uh, how about Winnipeg? ... *smile* ... i think the roof is one that can be closed to keep the snow out in the winter and mosquitoes out in the summer ...

the odd thing about this picture is - there is a beautiful natural beach in the background ... wonder what the story is there?

just some Sunday night musings ...

just enough

going to the city, though needful, is an energy drainer ...

i did have a wonderful time visiting ... plus the shopping went well (no crowds) ... but as soon as i got home and unpacked - my batteries felt drained!!! ... i think i should make it an early night ... small town girls and big cities don’t make for restful spirits ...

while in the city i had a chance to visit with an old friend ... you know the special kind ... you can start talking about a concern before your coat is even off your shoulders ... over coffee, we shared burdens and encouraged each other ...

as we talked, i came to the realization that i always had "just enough" grace for any and all needs that crossed my path ... just enough to get me to the place where my feet stood on solid faith once more ... just enough to keep me going, when all i wanted to do was drop in my tracks and refuse to budge ... just enough, to get me out of the valley and onto the mountain top again ...

God doesn’t give us grace for tomorrow’s battles - all we need is grace for the moment we are living in ... so tonight i'm thankful for "just enough" ...

The Love of God

Could we with ink the ocean fill,
And were the skies of parchment made;
Were ev'ry stalk on earth a quill,
And ev'ry man a scribe by trade;
To write the love of God above
Would drain the ocean dry;
Nor could the scroll contain the whole,
Tho' stretched from sky to sky.

that is the 3rd stanza, in the lovely old hymn The Love of God ... the first 2 stanzas were written by Frederick M. Lehman (1868-1953) ... that 3rd stanza might date as far back as the eleventh century ... it's author unknown ... Mrs. Lehman found it on an editorial page ... clipped it out, and included it in her husband's lunch, to encourage him ... he was inspired to pen the first 2 stanzas ... and the music ...

i thought that was a neat little story ...

i read it in George Beverly Shea's new book "How Sweet the Sound" and just paraphrased it here ... the book showcases many old hymns ... and includes little stories to go with them ... a CD was included in the book, with 5 old hymns sung by Bev Shea ...



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i'm off to the city tomorrow ... just wishing my American blog buds a very Happy Thanksgiving!

Deal with the faults of others

as gently as with your own.

anon

The Great Compromise

we finished Joseph Stowell's The Weight of your Words, a month ago ... that was an eye opening book for me - and convicted my little ole mouth ... i picked the book because i thought Leo "needed" it - the Lord had the last laugh (doesn't He always ... *smile* ) about my naive assumptions!

we are now about mid way through Greg Laurie's The Great Compromise ... it is a terrific, thought provoking book ... it reminds the reader that we cannot have a foot in both worlds ...

Quotes from The Great Compromise:

"... I know that the closer I stay to the Lord, the safer I am. I know that when I stay close to the Lord, I am not fighting for victory: I am fighting from it. In other words, I am standing on the finished work of Calvary, relying on the work that Jesus did on the cross to defeat sin and the devil ... " page 39

"Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you." (Matt.6:33). The phrase "seek first" means to seek principally - above all things - the rule and reign of Christ in one's life. That will keep everything else in the proper balance ... page 79

So many people appear to be living for only the pursuit of pleasure. The Bible, in fact, lists this as one of the distinguishing signs of the days immediately prior to the promised return of Christ. Of this Epicurean mindset, the Bible says, "In the last days ... men will be lovers of ... pleasure rather than lovers of God" (2 Tim. 3:1-2,4). page 81

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we read a Greg Laurie book

last year called Breakfast with Jesus ... he writes in a timely fashion, leaning heavily on the word of God ... if you are starting to look for good books to put in someones stocking - i would definitely recommend anything by Greg Laurie ...

in the garden

God answers knee-mail

"Do not worry about anything; instead PRAY ABOUT EVERYTHING." Philippians 4:6

ya - we got milk!

cold milk! fresh milk! yay ... we finally DID get milk!

which means i went to town - driving on roads that had frozen ice/snow on them ... the traction control went on a few times, just to keep the car going straight, rather than swerving ... wonder if my inner traction control kicks in just as quickly? ... you know, to keep me going the way i should ...

i brought home a big bag full of mail (post office box) ... and it felt good to be out and about again ... and to read the newspaper ...

guess what? it is supposed to rain tomorrow ... which isn't so unusual for this time of year - one day there is a little blizzard and freezing temps ... the next day it can pour rain ... duh!

the "got milk" part made me happy - to have had only sour milk in the fridge for 3 days, is a sad state of affairs!

weather up-date

here's the morning after the storm - from our front deck ... it is a chilly -21C (5 below F) ... the city got a foot of snow ... and we did too ... the neighbour plowed our driveway out, but the road is not done - so no milk today - i will be quite happy if i get the steps shovelled out and the sidewalk to the car ... it looks lovely - but you need muscles to live here!

this was our backyard yesterday ... yes it is lovely to look at ... from a distance!

after wallowing in self pity yesterday (i wasn't going to type that, but lets be truthful - i was a weenie!), i don't want to waste another day in it! ... so, i will do some stretching ... then head out to shovel and enjoy the brisk fresh air ...

thanks for cheering me on with your comments! i so appreciated it!

****

blogger comments has been turned on (haloscan is there as well, but it has been finicky lately!) ... and would you believe -29C this morning!

winter has arrived

i went to bed last night and my world was still coloured in those brown, light green shades of fall ... i woke up this morning and this is what our driveway looked like ... uh - can anyway say "lots of snow!" ...

i thought my heart was prepared for this ... i told leo i would not get down about the snow ...

i guess my heart didn't read the memo ...


this is a real downer for me ...

and to drive home the point about feeling isolated and stuck - the milk that i had just bought is sour ... i can't get new milk today because we live 6 miles from town ... you drive on a dirt road for a while, then a highway, then over a narrow bridge, more highway - with a little bit of cottage country roads thrown in ... they are closing roads, so it would be fool hardy to go out without a good reason ... sigh ...

it looks lovely, so why won't my heart believe that? and just rest?

this is one of those days where i just have to say i will be glad, regardless of feelings ...

life is good ... i do feel blessed ... it's just that "snow" and i have a long BAD history ... many stories, most not so good!

enough whining - sorry - i must go throw another log in the fire ...

... sailing ....

picture by sonja, design by God

don't you love the way the water shimmers in this picture ... a lake of diamonds ... the tiny ripples are almost too bright ... the people in the boat are skimming along joyfully - perhaps unaware of the fantasy image they create ...

at times the believers life may look like a fantasy ...

an observer might think we have no cares, gliding through life with rosy tinted glasses on ...our sails full of imaginery wishes ... a pristeen blue sky with puffy clouds as a backdrop ...

they weren't there when the wind was howling, turning the water black with churning, angry waves ... they only saw the surface ... not the quiet prayer, done in secret - with only God to hear the heart's cry ...

an outside observer might want the serenity a believer demonstrates ... yet doesn't want to search out God's word ... or read it daily, to catch His Spirit ... to keep the vessel going in the right direction ...

what may appear an easy ride - can be deceptive ... there is work behind the scenes ... God's work in a saved sinners' heart ...

one day i will land on heaven's shore - the fantasy image will blend into a heavenly reality ... and if some days are filled with diamond seas and clear sailing - why Thank God ... and if some days the waters churn - why, i'll still Thank God!

"I know the Lord is always with me.

I will not be shaken, for He is right beside me.

No wonder my heart is filled with joy.

and my mouth shouts His praises!

My body rests in hope. ...

You have shown me the way of life,

and you will give me wonderful joy in your presence."

Psalm 16: 8,9,11

wanna buy a cottage?

our house has been on the market for 5 weeks ... so far we have had about 10 cars driving by - real slow ... stopping on the road and looking ... yet no one has called to view it from the inside ... our house looks like a normal cottage - honest - nothing weird about it from the outside ... and it is cozy on the inside, with cedar/pine on the walls ... but no one has asked to see it yet?

i cleaned house almost daily for 4 weeks ... that is too much cleaning as far as leo is concerned ... well, me too - after all, 2 adults and one cat live here - how much of a mess can we make?

sooooooooo ... another 3 weeks and we will take it off the market for the season ... then i will start to decorate for Christmas ...

i can't tell you why we put it on the market in the late fall ... we felt at peace doing it ... and still feel at peace, even though no one has come to peak inside ... or walk the property ...

life is interesting sometimes ... i wonder how all this will eventually play out? the Lord does keep us guessing ... resting in Him, but wondering where the journey will take us ...

Remembrance Day

In Flanders Fields

In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.

i remember memorizing this poem in the 4th grade ... it was written by John McCrae in 1915 ... he was a Canadian medical officer in WWI ... i can still recite the poem by heart ... it made it's impact on me ...

today i think of those who have fought for a way of life we take for granted ... lives which ended away from home and loved ones ... we should pause and remember ...

the trouble with trouble ...

The trouble with trouble is that it starts out as fun ...

contentment

today was a day of contentment for me ... i think that the gospel of John is partly to blame for that! i may have finally learned to ask the Lord for the right things! things He has wanted to give me all along ... like peace, joy, long suffering ... contentment ...

it was a dark, damp, rainy day ... but somehow - i just took the day for what it was worth ... i was able to spend time in God's word ... and also time with Leo ... and i didn't stress about having to be somewhere, or do something ...

i enjoyed the day ... and enjoyed my world ... i didn't try to carry Leo's pain - since i can't ... he seemed less stressed today as well ...

i hope this doesn't sound like gloating ... if you only knew how dreary days can get me down ... how leo's pain levels go up - A LOT - because of the high humidity ... days like today are usually ones to just suffer through and thank the Lord when they end ...

so today was an oddity ... a pleasant one ...

i think i like pleasant oddities ... *smile*

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what was i blogging about a year ago? click here if you are curious ...

Choose to be Glad!

"...He who has a glad heart has a continual feast (regardless of circumstances)."
- Proverbs 15:15

i have DECIDED to be GLAD today ... yup ... it is a choice i can make at the start of each day ... so that is what i choose!

i was reading John 13 & 14 this morning ... those chapters certainly contain enough encouragement in them to make any believer just get up and dance ... regardless of their current circumstances here on earth ... we are promised a home in heaven ... Jesus has said He will even come and get us, to bring us there personally ... He has given us the Holy Spirit to live within us, while we are journeying along ... so we are never alone ...

His blessings are all around us ... daily things, that we take for granted ... but if we would just look, then start to count those blessings ... even before we reach double digits, our hearts should be gladdened ...

i woke up to a dreary type of morning ... cloud covered, damp ... knowing that leo won't be feeling very well when he gets up ... i was dragging a bit ... then i read my bible ... my heart brightened up ... even though my situation is the same ...

yup, my choice is gladness ... how 'bout you?

just checking in ...

my blog bud Maggie Ann posted this neat little link a while back ... click here ... it's a fun way to generate different computer art ...

it's been a quiet sunday at our place ... the normal Autumn type of day ... leo watching football and me reading ... i sometimes feel guilty for my quiet times ... i know i shouldn't - life can get busy, so i should just enjoy ... but, i feel i should be doing something other than resting!

"Lord help me to just enjoy the day you have made!!!"



Lord bless your Monday!!!

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if you want to know what i was blogging about a whole year ago ... why, click here ...

storms and boats ... and Jesus

But as darkness fell and Jesus still hadn’t come back, they got into the boat and headed out across the lake toward Capernaum. Soon a gale swept down upon them as they rowed, and the sea grew very rough. They were 3 or 4 miles out when suddenly they saw Jesus walking on the water toward the boat. They were terrified, but he called out to them, "I am here! Don’t be afraid." Then they were eager to let him in, and immediately the boat arrived at their destination! John 6:17-21

this was part of my bible reading this morning ... and it got me to thinking about my journey and my destination ...

what struck me about this familiar passage was how like the disciples i am! i mean really now ... i wait around for God’s will, or wait around for His help in a situation - but sometimes i just get tired of waiting!! i set off on my own ... in the most innocent of ways ... i know where He is and sometimes don’t even realize that i am putting distance between my Lord and me ... i think i’m doing ok - then wham! the storms of life hit ...

does the Lord get annoyed at me for taking off on my own? does He let me sink, as He watches from afar?

nope!

He comes to me in the storm - telling me not to fear, that He is there with me ...

the next step is up to me - do i let Him get in my boat ... or do i flounder about?

notice, when the disciples took Jesus into the boat - voila, they immediately arrived at their destination ... and it says that they were EAGER to take Him in, no more grumbling about Jesus being late ... instead their attitude was - hey let’s get Him in here with us! what a change of heart!

so i did a "heart" check of my own attitudes ... i want to make sure that Jesus is part of my journey ALL the time ... and not only part of my journey - but also my Destination ...