God’s blessings

Just a few days ago I was chatting with my husband about how much God has blessed us this past year.

One year ago, this month, we bought this property.

For the entire month of October and a good part of November, my husband camped out in the shop, working his normal shift and then spending countless hours on our house every evening and weekend.

Although, our son-in-law had two or three other jobs, he worked nights on our house, driving the hour and a half out of his way just to help us get done before our date to be out of the rental.

I’d drive down to my husband’s work on Friday afternoons to drop our son off so he could help through the weekend.

Then on Sunday mornings I’d get up extra early to meet them for church.

I didn’t move in until just before Thanksgiving.

Handsome spent part of Christmas and New Year’s finishing the bathrooms.

He came down sick in January.

February he started working on the chicken coop.

March and April on the garden fence and the run for the chickens.

May we started planting and were given our lamb.

The summer saw us adding our goat to the mix and working on several things including my husband’s shop and restarting the furniture business.

Somewhere in there we were given our rabbits!

We’ve been excited to be able to share eggs and tomatoes with others.

Our other crops didn’t grow too well, but hopefully next year we will have enough to share more.

Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content. I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.
Philippians 4:11‭-‬13 KJV

We are so thankful for God’s blessings.

Dear Lord Jesus,

Thank You for placing our family here and all You did to make it possible. Thank You for the blessing of help through our many projects, especially our two sons. Lord, this property belongs to You and we want to honor You with it. Please help us to be wise stewards and to be generous with all things. Lord, please teach me how to organize and setup things that we are using our time wisely. Lord, thank You for how much You have done to prepare us for what You are doing next. Lord, I love You. Thank You for loving me first. Amen.

A bit of a rough go

This is a photograph of our garage.

It’s one of the positive things which occurred this week.

Handsome (my husband) came home from work one day and did all of this.

I should have taken a “before” picture, but I wasn’t thinking about it at the time.

Rather, I was feeling a bit panicked over a comment my husband had made when he called me on his way home.

My husband loves me very much and I love him.

We are two extremely different people and over the past week, we’ve had a bit of a rough go.

Communication has never been our strong suit, and although we are continuing to try to learn how to communicate well, I can’t say this week felt like a win.

It was more like survival.

And frankly, I think a large percentage of the lack of communication was me.

I couldn’t see it at first, but suddenly a bunch of small things all began to pile up in my emotions.

Instead of working to forgive each circumstance, I somehow began a mental list.

After a few days of struggling with terribly poor attitudes, and praying throughout this, God used a couple moments to fold back the hurt and reveal the truth.

I was afraid.

I wasn’t walking in forgiveness and humility.

I had ignored my husband’s perspective and God’s, and was focused upon mine.

Uhg!

How quickly fear becomes a slimy slope which my emotions and thoughts become bogged down in and the decent into self-pity and hopelessness begins to permeate everything.

Praise God for His mercy and grace!

Not only did He lift me out of the yuck, He cleansed me, and wrapped me in new understanding.

With these gifts came instructions.

Trust Me.

As a wife, I can often get caught up in looking to my husband to be the answer to my concerns, the comfort of my hurt, the tireless solution to all my needs.

But that’s not his job.

Those things belong to Jesus.

My husband is a wonderful man, but he’s not God and I shouldn’t expect him to be able to be.

Love him.

Scripture is clear, the woman was created by God for man as a helper, a complement to him. (Genesis 2:18-25)

Marriage is God’s foundation for all of society and it’s meant to work as a team, two people who love and serve God, together.

I’d allowed my hurt to dampen my love and mar my service both to my husband and to the Lord.

Allow Me to lead.

I’m a first born.

God has put me in many positions of leadership over the years, and I have a “can do” attitude about most of life; if I see a need, my first response is to try to fill it.

But that’s not following.

Just because I see what I perceived to be need doesn’t mean it is, nor does it automatically fall to my list of responsibilities.

I’ve learned, through some painful experiences, that I must wait upon the Lord for His direction not charge off on my own.

The root of my fears, which triggered my hurt were, in some degree, my reaction to “needs” which I was trying to fill in my own strength.

I had taken these things to the Lord, but sadly, I was failing at waiting upon Him for direction.

Praise God for His forgiveness!

I’m also extremely thankful to my husband for his forgiveness.

I’m not just full of gratitude for God using this to show me my heart, I’m expecting Him to continue to use it.

When I need to be chastised by the Lord, I know it’s for my best and with continued humility and remembrance an opportunity for future reference.

So, although this week has been a bit of a rough go, I know God will use it for good.

Proverbs 3:11 KJV — My son, despise not the chastening of the LORD; neither be weary of his correction:

Dear Lord Jesus,

Thank You for Your correction. Thank You for Your faithfulness throughout my error. Lord, thank You for helping me see the truth and for giving me Your perspective. Thank You for relieving my fears. Thank You for Your help in times of trouble. Lord, I know You are Sovereign and I worship Your holy name. You alone are worthy of all honor, all glory, all praise. I love You, Jesus. Thank You for first loving me. Amen.

Some days…

I need more.

This morning, I needed more thankfulness.

I woke up late, probably due to my asthma giving me trouble.

I’d neglected to open the house last night, to allow the cool evening air to circulate and cool down the house.

As I moved around trying to get the lamb’s bottle, make my husband’s coffee, and open the house, I found myself struggling.

(I have so much compassion for elderly people!)

Yet, as I did the required things, the Lord spoke to my heart.

Be thankful.

Yes!

“Lord, thank You for this beautiful day. Thank You for my husband, please be with him at work and help him in all he does.”

After feeding my lamb, I went to open the chicken coop.

The outside door had been difficult for me to open, so last weekend, my husband fixed it.

As I hooked it open I praised God for His blessings, specifically my husband and an easier chicken door.

My sluggishness began to return as I headed to water the garden.

Our hose is newer and often causes me trouble, this morning was no different.

I began to grumble in my heart and the Lord spoke again.

Be thankful.

“Yes, Lord. Please forgive me.”

“Lord, thank You for this hose, as difficult as it is, I am so glad I’m not carrying buckets of water.”

“Lord, thank You for Your provision, how You are making our garden grow. Thank You that even with the loss of so many plants, You have given us much. Lord, I lift up my day and thank You for Your blessings. You know what is in store, please help me to hear Your voice and trust in You completely, waiting upon You for direction.”

I setup the sprinkler, watering the corn, and heard my husband.

He was headed to work, but came out to kiss me goodbye.

We briefly talked and he left an image of his warm smile on my heart.

“Lord, thank You for my husband. I’m so blessed.”

By the time I returned to the house, my attitude had lifted greatly, the physical restrictions were no longer able to rob me of joy.

After all, God is good, His mercy endures forever, what, in this life, compares?

If I suffer, it is a reminder to pray, praise, and be thankful.

Psalm 30:12 KJV — To the end that my glory may sing praise to thee, and not be silent. O LORD my God, I will give thanks unto thee for ever.

Dear Lord Jesus,

Thank You for Your patience with me, such a slow learner. Thank You for Your mercy and grace which never fail! Lord, thank You for reminding me to be thankful. It has been such a joy to turn all things back to an opportunity to praise You. For You are worthy of all honor and glory. Lord, thank You for supplying my needs, especially this week. You know I was not looking forward to our schedule, yet You have stepped in and carried us through. Lord Jesus, You know what is required for today and I rest in Your provision, trusting Your Sovereignty. Lord, please continue to remind me to be thankful, especially when I stray into self-pity. Guard my heart against the temptations of self focus and continue to teach me how to see as You do. Lord Jesus, I praise Your holy name! Amen.

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. ❤️

Each day is a blessing

As the checker scanned the new dresses we were getting for Anne at the Goodwill she mentioned the beautiful day.

I responded back and in my heart wondered if this older woman would be finished with her shift in time to enjoy the sunshine.

It took me back to the first summer I had a job.

I remember feeling a bit envious of those whose time allowed them to get out and enjoy the sunshine instead of merely appreciating it from indoors.

With this memory came a thankful heart for the ability to enjoy a beautiful day no matter where I am.

Because everyday is a gift from God.

His creation is a blessing and I never want to miss an opportunity to praise Him for it.

Psalm 96:4 NKJV — For the LORD is great and greatly to be praised; He is to be feared above all gods.

Psalm 95:3 NKJV — For the LORD is the great God, And the great King above all gods.

Lamentations 3:22-23 NKJV — Through the LORD’s mercies we are not consumed, Because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness.

Psalm 118:24 NKJV — This is the day the LORD has made; We will rejoice and be glad in it.

Dear Lord Jesus,

Thank You for Your creation. Thank You for the beauty of plants, and flowers, mountains, beaches, deserts, lakes, oceans, prairie,… Thank You for the beauty in each individual carefully crafted by You. The unique finger print, the family resemblance, or lack there of. All the beauty how You made mankind from dust. The very hairs of our head numbered. Lord, too often I grow callous to the beauty around me, numb to the incredible creation of man, beast, bird, and creeping thing. Lord, please help me to return to thankfulness when I grow numb. Bring me a fresh wonder at all the intricate details, just like a small child whose seeing it for the first time. Lord, please help me to remember all that creation speaks so loudly about: You. Let my heart never grow dim and begin to worship the creation rather than You, the Creator. Lord Jesus, thank You for all Your wonderous works. I love You. Amen.

Some changes…

…are sad.

I came into the office this morning to get my shots.

And found, they are closing our branch.

My shot nurse is retiring.

The remaining staff is moving to the other office.

I feel like crying.

I know that sounds silly.

But these four ladies (shot nurse, doctor, nurse, and receptionist) I care about.

They were the encouraging smiles and gentle listening hearts as I began this journey with my allergy shots.

We had just moved to a new city, didn’t know anyone, didn’t have a clue where anything was and we were fairly ignorant about a great deal in this area

I remember the nurse taking my blood pressure and telling how to find Walmart.

The doctor (before the virus) telling me it was okay to bring both my kids and our grandbaby to my appointment, because I just didn’t feel comfortable leaving them home.

I remember the ladies’ sweet comments about our baby granddaughter, as we all came to the office for my shots.

Then, after the virus, the care continued in asking to see pictures of our granddaughter, then of our grandson.

Discussions with the receptionist as we both had highschool children.

One time I shared my favorite Youtube link about crocheting.

And many other little moments which have been a blessing.

They have made this time a joy and something to look forward to.

Especially nice, as I rarely go anywhere.

I’m praying for each of these ladies and the changes they are all making.

Although, I’m sad, I know change is part of life and oftentimes a blessing.

Change helps us to value the things we have.

Like today, I am so thankful for the past year and a half with these ladies.

I’m praising God for His provision of what I have had.

No matter what this change brings, I’m thankful.

Dear Lord Jesus,

Thank You for Your blessings. Thank You for the medical professionals who step beyond treatment and into caring for each individual. Thank You for the courage to continue to get up each day and work to help others. Please bless those who are serving. Please shine Your love to them and through them. Thank You, Jesus. Amen.

Praising God for today

I woke up with a song this morning.

It was playing over and over in my heart.

With it was a lovely memory of singing in our church’s Sunday school.

This song is one I learned there.

I knew it was a scripture so I looked up the words I can remember.

Here’s what I found:

Jeremiah 32:17 NKJV — ‘Ah, Lord GOD! Behold, You have made the heavens and the earth by Your great power and outstretched arm. There is nothing too hard for You.

As a child the last line was my favorite.

Nothing is too difficult for You.

It’s true!

He’s able to do anything.

Of course life and learning have taught me there are a good number of things He chooses not to do, but we can trust Him that His way is perfect.

So, armed with this lovely reminder, I’m stepping into my day looking for opportunities to praise God.

I started with praise for this beautiful rental we live in.

Then to my blessings.

The dishwasher!

The rose blooming on the table.

The tulips in the garden.

The humming bird feeder.

Tea out of my Grandmother’s china.

My wonderful family.

Breakfast!

Warm fuzzy socks.

Jesus.

Yes, there’s plenty of opportunities to get bogged down in the “what in the world is happening?!”.

But I’m choosing to praise God today.

No matter what occurrence may come, I know that Jesus will be with me.

That’s worth praising God for!

Home again

I thought it was so sweet.

Bell had arranged the teddy bears and a few photos which escaped the boxes.

It was obvious everyone had worked so hard to get our house at least livable for me.

And it is working!

I didn’t cough or struggle for breath.

I was able to sleep and not have to take my inhaler even once.

It was amazing.

I’m so thankful.

Thankful for my family.

Thankful for the air purifiers.

Thankful that I am feeling stronger than I have in so very long.

Thankful to God for the ability to return home.

To rejoin my family.

Thankful just to be able to make pancakes!

Thankful for the things I would have taken for granted this time last year.

And I know the path hasn’t ended.

I’m still going to have to be careful.

I still need to thoughtful about how I use my time and energy.

And I’m certain there’s still more to learn and opportunities to stretch.

And I’m positive Jesus shall be with me every step of the way.

May God’s name be glorified in my life today!

Again, praising the Lord

This time we had a friend over who is a nurse.

We didn’t go to the ER.

We did go to the Urgent Care.

Three stitches.

No basketball for a while.

She’s handling the pain and the set back well.

I wish I could say the same.

Nope.

I didn’t cry, or get sappy.

Nor did I smile.

Instead I struggled with worry, guilt, and fear.

I wish I’d handled it all with peace and joy.

However, I am still learning.

On our drive home I started realizing how much I have to be thankful for.

Thankful for the friend who dropped everything to come check it out.

Thankful for the medical professionals who cleaned and stitched it.

Thankful for my husband’s job through which we have insurance.

Thankful for our daughter’s cheerful attitude.

Thankful for our friends’ prayers.

Thankful for the car which got us to the Urgent Care.

Thankful for my hubby who was calm and at ease through the entire process.

Thankful for Jesus and His faithful provision.

Come to think of it, the more I focused on these things the less I felt the guilt, worry, and fear.

No wonder God’s word tells us to take every thought captive.

So I can say:
Again! Again I’m praising the Lord for all He has done!