He Is Our Guide

Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him.  Fear the Lord, you his saints, for those who fear Him lack nothing. Psalm 34:8-9

The above picture is one of my favorite views as we drive to Vancouver.  It reminds me a lot of the woods where we lived during my childhood, the woods of Arkansas.  At first glimpse you can see the sky but I know, from experience, the deeper you go into the woods the less sky you see and you can easily get turned around and lose your way.

The exact opposite is true when we venture into God's Word.  When we start reading God's Word and start applying to our lives the easier our path becomes.  As we journey through this life and let God be our guide we will find that we make fewer mistakes.  When we do make a mistake take that mistake to God asking for His direction.  When we place it in His hands and surrender to His will we will learn from that mistake and not repeat it.

So let us take our refuge in God, let Him be our guide and we will receive blessings overflowing and lack for nothing we need.

How Sweet And Awesome Is This Place

by Isaac Watts, 1707

How sweet and awesome is this place

With Christ within the doors,

While everlasting love displays

The choicest of her stores!

Twas the same love that spread the feast

That sweetly drew us in;

Else we had still refused to taste,

And perished in our sin.

Trust

But I will always trust in You and in Your mercy and shall rejoice in Your salvation.  I will sing to the Lord because He has blessed me so richly.  Psalm 13:5-6

This morning when I left the house for Vancouver we had a few clouds in the sky and the sun was shining.  When I started home this afternoon the sun was still shining and there was a nice breeze blowing.  I had the sun roof open and was enjoying the springtime weather.  About two miles from our house it started to rain.  At first it was just a sprinkle so I left the sun roof open and continued to enjoy my ride.  I did have to close the roof about three blocks from the house.

This change in the weather got me to thinking.  Sometimes things change faster than you can snap your finger and we have to adjust to this change just as I did with having to close the sun roof.  There is one thing that I don't ever have to think about changing and that is my God.  He is the same today as He was yesterday and He will be the same tomorrow.  I trust Him to take care of me and to guide me through whatever changes come my way whether it be the weather, a new job, or a new place to live.

Tis So Sweet To Trust In Jesus

by Louisa M. R. Stead, 1882

Tis so sweet to trust in Jesus,

And to take Him at His Word;

Just to rest upon His promise,

And to know, "Thus says the Lord!"

Freedom Isn't Free

I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.

John 10:10

This morning my sweetie and I attended the Memorial Day Service at Ridgefield Cemetery.  When we got up we were thinking of not going since it was raining and this got me to thinking.

What if the young men and women as they were called to duty said "I'm not going going because it is raining and I don't want to get wet."  What if Christ had said "I'm not dying for them as they will only mess up again and again so what is the use."

We live in a land that is free because of the brave men and women that paid the ultimate sacrifice for our freedoms.  We have the freedom to choose to live for Christ and spend eternity with Him and our Heavenly Father because of what Christ did for you and I.

Today is not about barbecues and sales.  It is a day set aside to honor our fallen heroes, to show respect for them and their families.  I want to say Thank You to all our family members and friends that have faithfully served/serving this great nation.  I want to say Thank You to the families that have lost a loved one that paid the ultimate sacrifice.  I want to say Thank You Heavenly Father for sending your Son to pay a debt He did not owe so that my soul could be saved.

I Gave My Life For Thee

by Frances R. Havergal, 1858

I gave MY life for thee, My precious blood I shed,

That thou might ransomed be, and raised up from the dead;

I gave, I gave my life for thee, what hast thou given for Me?

And I brought to thee, down from My home above,

Salvation full and free, My pardon and My love;

I bring, I bring rich gifts to thee, what hast thou brought to Me?

God's Joy

If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you ,

ask whatever you wish, and it shall be done for you.

John 15:7

When I first read this verse I took it to mean that whatever I asked God for He would give it to me but then when I went back and read it in context that is not what it means.  

⁷ If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. ⁸ My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit, and so prove to be My disciples. ⁹ Just as the Father has loved Me, I have also loved you; abide in My love. ¹⁰ If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love; just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love. ¹¹ These things I have spoken to you so that My joy may be in you, and that your joy may be made full. John 15:7-11

To me what this verse means is that I need to stay grounded in God's Word,  I need to memorize His Word and keep it in my heart, I need to tell others about His Son, our Savior Jesus Christ.  I need to keep the commandments God has given and I need to abide in His love and to love others as He has loved me.  When I do this I will have joy unspeakable and that joy will be God's joy overflowing into all areas of my life and I will find that I have everything I need.

Dwelling In Beulah Land

by Austin Miles, 1911

Far away the noise of strife upon my ear is falling.

Then I know the sins of earth beset on every hand.

Doubt and fear and things of earth in vain to me are calling.

None of these shall move me from Beulah Land.

I'm living on the mountain, underneath a cloudless sky.

I'm drinking at the fountain that never shall run dry.

O yes! I'm feasting on the manna from a bountiful supply,

For I am dwelling in Beulah Land.

Living By Faith

 

Ask the Lord for rain in the springtime; it is the Lord who makes the storm clouds.  He gives showers of rain to men, and plants of the field to everyone.  Zechariah 10:1

It is an absolutely beautiful gorgeous day here in the PNW.  The sun is shining, the breeze is blowing and a perfect day for a long walk which is exactly what my sweetie and I did.  We took our boy Ozzie out for his walk and took in all the beauty God has blessed our area with.  I am loving the way everything is so green and I have never seen so many different shades of green at one time.  The wildflowers are all blooming as are the berry bushes.  Thank you Heavenly Father for the beauty you have blessed us with.

Living By Faith

by James Wells, 1918

I care not today what the morrow may bring,

If shadow or sunshine or rain,

The Lord I know ruleth o'er everything,

And all of my worries are vain.

Living by faith in Jesus above,

Trusting, confiding in His great love;

From all harm safe in His sheltering arm,

I'm living by faith and feel no alarm.

Awesome Day With Family

Today we celebrated my sweeties 71st birthday.  We started with breakfast at IHOP for his free Rooty Tooty Fresh 'N Fruity which he never gets and today he chose their new Cinnamon French Toast.  On the way home we stopped at Walmart Neighborhood Market, which I did not know they had, to pick up some sparkling cider and tea bags.  From there we headed to Joanns as I needed another skein of Painted Desert which they they did not have so I guess I will have to order it.  We then headed home,

Once home my sweetie took Ozzie out for a walk and while they were gone I decided to get the sauce cooking for the Lasagna.  I also got the table all set and I decided to use the China and crystal, what is the use of having it if you never use it.  Our sweet granddaughter called to see if she could over for a while and of course I said yes.  She was excited as this would be her first drive with no one else in the car with her.  We visited for a while and she headed home to pick up Mom and Dad as they were coming for dinner.

I then got busy getting everything ready for the cake.  I'd forgotten how much work goes into this three layer cake but the yumminess of the cake makes it all worth while.  So I spent the afternoon in the kitchen but that is fine with me as I love to cook.

Dinner was great!  The menu was all my sweeties favorites; Lasagna, Italian Green Salad, Garlic Bread,  Italian Cream Cake, Moscato White Wine and Sparkling Cider for our granddaughter.  Everything was absolutely yummy.

Here are a few pictures from today's festivities.

 Breakfast at IHOP

 His mother had started an afghan for me in 2011 and before she could finish it she had a stroke and was not able to crochet after that.  A friend, Erin Crop, finished it for me so I could give it to him for his birthday.

 Our sweet granddaughter Awbrey frosting Papa's birthday cake.

A beautiful day with family!!!

Happy Birthday Gary

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!

2 Corinthians 5:17

On this day in history, an important event took place.  You were born - and lucky for me, my fate was sealed. I'm so glad that our destiny is to be together.

Happy Birthday, to a wonderful husband!

Love, 

Me

Happy Birthday Nellie

Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven,

for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you. 

Matthew 5:12

Happy Birthday to you,

Happy Birthday to you.

Happy Birthday dear Nellie

Happy Birthday to you.

We've always shared the most important moments of our lives.
Today I just want to tell you that I love you.

Awesome Day

I love family time!!!

 This has been an absolutely awesome Mother's Day.  Started my day with morning worship at Elevate Church, came home to check on our boy Ozzie and then headed back to the kids place for lunch and a great lunch it was as I enjoyed every bite.

Received a really big beautiful potted garden for our front porch!  Marianne prepared a wonderful dessert; fresh strawberries with vanilla ice cream, a waffle cookie, and a sprig of mint.  Yummy!!!

The best part of the day was hanging out with my girls Marianne and Awbrey, Gary and Stephen.  I love you guys and thanks for making my day special.  

Happy Mother's Day Momma

  To my mother, my best friend.  

When I look in the mirror, and I see your face, 

I know that no matter where I go or what I do, 

you will always be a part of me.

 

  Love you and miss you every day Momma!

Tell The Story

We will tell the next generation the praiseworthy deeds of the Lord, His power, and the wonders He has done.  Psalm 78:4

 

Whenever I get together with our daughter and granddaughter, whether it be a celebration or just hanging,  we always try to take a 3 generation photo.  I love looking back through these photos as they show how much we have changed.  In some of the photos we were acting goofy and some where serious.  I love that my girls are both Godly young women and strive to serve our Heavenly Father.  I love sharing God's love with them and how He has been there for me when I was at my lowest and when I was at my highest.  I know that my Mom would be very proud of these two young women as they serve God in whatever capacity they can.  Thank you Father for blessing my life with these two amazing women. 

I Love To Tell The Story

by A. Katherine Hankey, 1866

I love to tell the story of unseen things above,

Of Jesus and His glory, of Jesus and His love.

I love to tell the story, because I know 'tis true;

It satisfies my longings as nothing else can do.

I love to tell the story, 'twill be my theme in glory,

To tell the old, old story of Jesus and His love.

Precious Name

Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name:  That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;  And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Philippians 2:9-11

When things come my way and I don't know which way to turn I know that I can call on Jesus and He will show me the way.  If during the night I am awaken by things  unknown I know that I can speak the name of Jesus and fall back into a peaceful restful sleep.  Jesus, Jesus, there's just something about that name!

Precious Name

by Lydia O. Baxter, 1870

Take the Name of Jesus ever,

As a shield from every snare;

If temptations round you gather,

Breathe that holy Name in prayer.

Precious Name, O how sweet!

Hope of earth and joy of Heaven.

Precious Name, O how sweet!

Hope of earth and joy of Heaven.

I'll Be There

 So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen.  For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.  II Corinthians 4:18

Dear Father I pray that you will help me to stay focused and keep my eyes on You and Your Son.  Help me to do Your will and not mine.  Help my thoughts to be pure thoughts and to love all I come in contact with.  Amen

When The Roll Is Called Up Yonder

by James M. Black, 1893

When the trumpet of the Lord shall sound,

and time shall be no more,

And the morning breaks, eternal, bight and fair;

When the saved of earth shall gather

over on the other shore,

And the roll is called up yonder, I'll be there.

 

Items by Shirley

the other day I decided to open an Etsy Shop, Items by Shirley, to see if I could perhaps sell a few of the things I have knitted and made.

Here are a few of the things listed.  Check them out and let me know what you think.