The pie hutch

I’ve loved this from the first time I saw it.

It’s one of the “leftover” pieces from our used furniture business.

When we first saw the house we are moving to I noticed it didn’t have a pantry.

Handsome and I discussed it and he had a wonderful idea.

“What about the pie hutch?”

So, instead of flipping it, I painted it and we brought it inside.

I began shopping thrift stores for canisters.

You can see my collection in my white wood box.

They fit nicely on the bottom shelf and with some other glass canisters and baskets the pie hutch worked beautifully.

Then, we got the keys and realized we needed to gut the kitchen.

When, we had the plans for the kitchen done, I didn’t factor in my hutch.

I hadn’t forgotten it, but trying to work around it was going to cost us.

So, I left it out and told the Lord I’d do whatever He directed.

Last time our daughter and I walked the house we discussed the placement of my furniture.

Although, I feel I know where most things are going, I’ve continued to pray about the pie hutch.

Where should it go?

What should be it’s primary function?

I’d like it in the dining room, but will it fit?

As I was packing up the kitchen today I began to pray about the hutch again.

I began with telling the Lord it is His and I’m willing to do whatever He directs.

As I began to pack up our mugs a thought ran through my mind.

What about a beverage center?

I suddenly could see our mugs lined up on the top shelf and my husband’s mini coffee maker sitting on the shelf above the drawers.

I thought about the possibility of adding breakfast stuff, cereal and muffins would fit nicely in my glass containers…

Then, I stopped.

“Lord, whatever this ends up being used for, I thank You for it.”

In my heart I went on to praise God for His blessings in so many things throughout all of this.

I’m excited to see if this will work in our dining room.

Whether or not we use it for beverages and breakfast, I am thankful to God for His guidance.

I know He is leading us every step of the way.

Psalm 18:32 KJV — It is God that girdeth me with strength, and maketh my way perfect.

Dear Lord Jesus,

Thank You for using something as unimportant as furniture to encourage my heart, today. Lord, thank You for Your faithfulness and guidance as we walk each day with You. Lord, thank You for the strength to do things. Please give me the wisdom and discernment to know what things to use my energy on and how to go about the things which need to be done. Lord, all of this belongs to You. My life is Yours. Thank You for giving so much to us. I praise Your holy name, Jesus! Amen.

God’s blessings

While sitting at my desk this morning in prayer, I was suddenly overwhelmed by the change.

As renters, the back garden was a mowed yard with trees, their full branches of apples nearly touching the ground, and everywhere else was weeds.

Not a single flower or decorative plant was in the beds.

I remember feeling rather down about it.

We moved in the middle of September and my health was not going to allow me to do any yard work.

But I praised God for a yard and the lawn being mowed and the over grown apple trees.

(Anne baked us some pies!)

The following spring, one history will remember, was an interesting combination.

Despite the circumstances, the weeds were cleared away and we planted some seeds.

We were blessed to add some veggies.

It was a time of adjustment and the yard was definitely an “in progress” project.

Today, it’s much more of a garden.

There’s still things that need to be done and weeds are always trying to take back what they lost, but as I prayed I realized just how much God has blessed us with in the yard.

It’s a beautiful reminder that no matter what, God is still working.

His blessings are around us every day and all I have to do is take the time to notice.

Because I want to live with a grateful heart, I never want to miss a blessing before me.

I want to sing praises to my God and share of His generous works each day.

Because in the little bits of life’s blessings we can find the truths of God’s love, faithfulness, goodness, and grace which will carry us through the big things.

Romans 1:20 KJV — “For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead;…”

Dear Lord Jesus,

Thank You so much for Your Word. Thank You for creation which points us to You, the Creator. Lord, please continue to help me live a life of thankfulness to You each day. Please continue to hone and mold my heart into Your likeness, that others might see You and come to know You. Lord, I am weak and unable, but it is in my weakness You are strong. Please help me not to lean on my own understanding, but to trust in You and Your Word for every part of my life. Thank You for Your incredible blessings. Thank You for Your goodness and truth! I praise Your holy name, Jesus. Amen.

I thought I’d share pictures from the garden with you this morning as an added testimony of God’s blessings.

May you too see the blessings that surround you, dear reader. ❤️

A Psalm of Thanksgiving

Psalm 100 is beautiful and we’ll worth reading as we celebrate.

I plan on having our family read it before we eat our Thanksgiving meal.

Hopefully, I will also have time to make place cards with the verse on it, but if not that’s okay too.

The point is Jesus and being thankful to Him for all things.

These last two months the Lord has been speaking with me about giving thanks for all while holding it lightly.

It began somewhere in September I believe.

I was walking around the house and thanking God for different things, especially the ability to have a tidy, functional, and clean house.

When the Lord asked me a question.

Would you give it all up if I asked you to?

I was surprised.

September was our “one year” in this house and the idea of giving it all up to move again wasn’t that appealing.

But I know better than to with hold anything from my Lord.

“Lord, I want to say yes without hindrance or regret. I’m not there, but I want to be. Please help me to be willing to give it all up.”

And so began weeks of different circumstances which gave me many opportunities to say, “Lord, it all belongs to You. Do with it as You see fit.”

Then it rippled out of things and into other areas.

Like my family, my personal “to do” list, and other such precious things.

Over and over the Lord gave me opportunity to give all to Him.

To speak the words both in my heart and with my mouth, that I give all to Jesus, He’s will be done.

And although I’m unsure of all the reasons He has taken me down this path again (not the first time and I’m certain it won’t be the last either) I find gratitude has bloomed anew.

There’s such thankfulness of heart when one realizes that the cherished things, family, love, blessings, are all gifts from God.

Nothing I have done has earned these things.

But I can enjoy them all the more and praise God I each.

Especially when I’m holding them lightly.

There’s something so precious about understanding the gifts and blessings of the now may or may not be those of tomorrow.

When I cherish today, my heart finds such thankfulness waiting.

Yes, some days are easier to cherish than others, but each is a gift and I want to praise God for every one.

This Thanksgiving, I hope you are able to relinquish expectation and simply praise God for another day.

His gift to you.

His gift to me.

Praise the Lord!

Dear Lord Jesus,

Thank You so much for helping me relinquish all things back into Your hands. Lord, there are still many things I do not understand and circumstances which are concerning, but I choose to place each one in Your hand. To reach up and wrap my heart around Your goodness and cling to You through it all. For nothing and no one can separate me from Your love. That in itself is something to be thankful for! I praise and worship You this day. Thank You for Your love. Thank You for Your faithfulness. Thank You for a day to simply be grateful. I love You, Jesus. Amen.

Make a joyful shout to the Lord , all you lands! Serve the Lord with gladness; Come before His presence with singing. Know that the Lord , He is God; It  is He who has made us, and not we ourselves; We  are His people and the sheep of His pasture. Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, And into His courts with praise. Be thankful to Him, and bless His name. For the Lord  is good; His mercy is everlasting, And His truth endures to all generations.
Psalms 100:1‭-‬5 NKJV

November 14

Today’s prayer:

Psalm 28:7 KJV — The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusted in him, and I am helped: therefore my heart greatly rejoiceth; and with my song will I praise him.

Dear Lord Jesus,
Thank You for Your love. Thank You for Your care. Lord, thank You for watching over us and giving us so much. Lord Jesus, thank You for guiding our lives and allowing those things we do not like to teach us. Lord, thank You for revealing those things which are hidden. Lord, thank You for loving us so much that You allow things which are hard to stretch and grow us. Lord, thank You for teaching us compassion and humility. Thank You for showing us how dependant we are upon You for all things. Lord, I love You, thank You for first loving me. Lord, I trust You, thank You for being so faithful. Lord, I worship You, thank You for being worthy of all praise and honor. May Your name be known throughout the world. Amen.

My mouth…

My mouth shall speak the praise of the Lord, And all flesh shall bless His holy name Forever and ever. Psalms 145:21 NKJV

How this resonates within me.

I want my mouth to be full of the praise of God.

To be continually speaking the honor that Jesus deserves.

But it must be a heart condition first.

Luke 6:45 NKJV — “A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings forth evil. For out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.

What comes out of my mouth is dwelling in my heart.

Since, I want my words to edify, those truths need to reside in my heart before they can be spoken in spirit and truth.

Because, God isn’t fooled by my words if my heart is out of order.

And He speaks clearly about lying.

Proverbs 6:16 NKJV — These six things the LORD hates, Yes, seven are an abomination to Him:

Proverbs 6:17 NKJV — A proud look, A lying tongue, Hands that shed innocent blood,…

Therefore, my heart is the key to my mouth being filled with praise.

I must daily praise God, with my in- most being, to fix my thoughts upon all that I know to be true of God.

It normally starts with something simple.

“Jesus, I thank You and praise You for loving me.”

Then I try to name as many things about Him as I can think of.

“Lord Jesus, You are righteous, holy, set apart, full of mercy, truth, goodness, kindness, grace…”

After my heart speaks these things I normally flow into thanking Him for each member of my family.

“Thank You so much for my husband, thank You for Sis, for Tim,…”

Focusing on God’s attributes and naming my blessings helps me focus my heart.

I praise God, throughout my day.

It’s not a formula or recipe.

Instead it’s a purposeful practice of praise, which brings such rewards.

One of them being a mouth which speaks praise to God Almighty.

The other is a heart which is focused upon giving glory to God.

2 Samuel 22:4 NKJV — I will call upon the LORD, who is worthy to be praised; So shall I be saved from my enemies.

Dear Lord Jesus,

Thank You for another day. Please teach our hearts to be focused upon You and Your Word, that we might have lips full of praise and thanksgiving. Lord, I want my life to be honorable before You. Please, help me to walk in Your Word, applying it to my life. Lord, I want to give You all You are due, all honor, all glory, and all worship. No matter the circumstances, please help me to praise You. Thank You for all You are and all You are doing. Jesus, You are amazing and I praise You! Amen.

An Easter meal to remember

Anne worked hard on Saturday.

She wanted the house to reflect the festivities of our Risen Savior.

I had gotten up for a bit and she showed me all she had done.

It was beautiful.

I was blessed by her creativity.

She had gotten into the storage boxes and looked for anything she might use.

I commented on how nicely she had done.

“Mom, what are we going to have tomorrow?”

I shrugged.

“Maybe Daddy can smoke us some chicken.”

With me being in bed for so long, I didn’t know what we had for groceries.

Anne decided to make some deviled eggs, and she informed me we still had some potato salad Bell had made.

My husband had to spend the day at our property working. Bell had gone down also to get a few things.

Anne and I both knew they wouldn’t have time to go buy anything.

I could tell Anne was a little concerned about our meal, but I reminded her to trust God.

When we went to bed, my husband still hadn’t arrived home.

So when I got back up later that evening to welcome them, I had a big surprise waiting.

My husband and our daughter were bringing in groceries.

A ham, potato casserole, rolls, salad, and an apple pie.

All of it had been a gift to our family.

The next day I made sure to text our thanks and appreciation.

Her response was simple:

“As I was buying our ham at Costco yesterday the Lord brought you to my mind and knowing the situation your family has been in with you being so limited with your health I figured everyone might need a little break. I only wish some of it was homemade!! At least it won’t be too much work for anyone.
Hope your family has a wonderful Easter celebration together!”

Even now, I can not properly express my gratitude and appreciation.

We had a wonderful Easter celebration.

We watched service online.

Then we had our own worship and my husband taught from Isaiah 53.

Our meal was one of the nicest Easter meals we’ve ever had.

Truly, God is incredible.

His ways are so much higher than ours.

He is so faithful.

This really was an Easter to remember.

Praise God!