Taste and See than DO!

TGIF!
I am looking forward to this weekend and all that's on the menu - literally!
It all started this morning already-
I stopped at Detwiler's farm market , I  splurged at the deli counter and got the maple smoked bacon (it was on sale!). I believe there are bacon,cheese melts gonna happen somewhere in this weekend!
This evening, a long- in- planning date with another couple to Pizza SRQ  a local pizza shop that has fabulous pizza  and "to die for" cannolis! I am expecting very animated conversation,laughter and encouragement.  Tomorrow morning I get to meet some friends that I rarely see  for brunch at  Milllies restaurant.We always have a good time ,catching up and sometimes helping each other figure out how to deal with situations we are coming up on in life.  While I am going on about my appetite I might as well add this fact, at this very moment I am enjoying a homemade pumpkin latte .I used this recipe for a ladies night at church last evening  it was a hit. I used  instant coffee (and I am a picky coffee drinker) instead of brewed. It was faster and tasted just fine  :)
 Obviously food wise it is going to be a great weekend .
  On Sunday night as I lay my head on my pillow the question will be this, when I spent that time with friends and family was my character as it should be,were the words that left my mouth, and the images my eyes took in pleasing to God? Ultimately,I need to "Taste and see that the LORD is good..." Ps. 34:8 Than, make being a child of God inviting and "salty" so others will want the LORD too!

 I was looking back over some of my drafts that have been sitting waiting for finishing touches and publication.This one seems very dated  but yet there was a message I thought might be relevant. If not for someone else,than me. :) This one tugs at my heart because since I wrote this Grant no longer takes  lessons from this gentleman but still benefits greatly from the things he learned . Also, The teacher today is in the middle of a huge trial-a trial in life that we all hope to never have to walk through- the death of a loved one (in this case a spouse) .I pray strength and peace over the family.
Here is the draft I was working on:

Beat beat beat...tap tap tap tap...I am sitting here at Grant's drum lesson while writing.I hear them drumming together with his soft spoken teacher giving bits of instruction and encouragement in-between.His teacher is a gentle sort of man with an incredible talents . Grant loves him and has really gotten quite well under his teaching. 
---Been thinking - it takes 2 to learn...one to teach one to accept  and apply the instruction. ---
A picture of what God has been working on my mind lately.
The teaching in the Bible that God gives to me.The changes he wants me to make in my life- only I can choose to make.He can instruct,nudge,encourage but I have the choice to do as he asks.We could take Grant to his drum lessons and pay the fee. Grant could  hear the instruction ,watch his teacher give the examples but if  Grant would choose to not  apply what he hears what good is it?  I have been wondering about myself and thinking about the little things that don't necessarily make me "non-christian" but that hinder me from living that fully abundant life. Hearing and reading the instruction but leaving it at that -not choosing to act on it.

Grant in action!

Today I add these thoughts:

 James 1 verses 22-26 "You must be doers of the word and not only hearers who mislead themselves.  Those who hear but don’t do the word are like those who look at their faces in a mirror.They look at themselves, walk away, and immediately forget what they were like.  But there are those who study the perfect law, the law of freedom, and continue to do it. They don’t listen and then forget, but they put it into practice in their lives. They will be blessed in whatever they do." 

You know it's a day to day,minute by minute growing experience. It's life. It's why we depend and lean on God.It's why we have each other. It's why we pick up the mirror God's word daily and read the same things again and again. Apply and re-apply.It's not a novel to be read through than to put on the shelf and forgotten. It's our GPS of sorts. ..do we get anywhere by sitting in the garage and punch in the address in our GPS? NO-absolutely not we turn right,make a U turn, recalculate.We follow the direction of the voice or read the guide at the top of the instrument . But than not only to read/hear but to DO.Than , only than do we reach the destination.
We end up exactly in the center of God's will!

Taste and see that he is good-than continue on reading &and  hearing his word but don't stop there- DO IT! :)

Since I was talking so much about food here is some foody eye candy - maybe you will be inspired to create something yummy ....

The children asked for baked oatmeal again- so yum-so simple! Add fresh fruit and milk and you have a great breakfast!

Our family Labor Day supper; Grilled sausage and bratwurst with grilled hot peppers(I buy them ,they eat them.Too hot for me!) Pasta Salad with Olive Garden dressing, Southern sweet tea .)We had Mac and cheese too plus Apple pie and ice cream to finish off the meal but no photos of those dishes)

 

And finally, a great summer snack.It may be a funny combo but I love it! -Nutella and crunchy Ginger Snaps (from Detwiler's Farm Market)with  homemade vanilla Iced coffee.....

Have a WONDERFUL weekend!

A Brand New Schedule

Today,Monday August 20,2012 is very different from any first day school  in this household ever. I am not sure about this whole thing-I really am not. I have been looking forward to knowing how this is going to go and dreading it at the same time.
I have been spoiled really since Logan was a Kindergartner which was 12 years ago. We enrolled him in a small private Christian school all went well. Courtney and Grant started their school life in the same manner at the same school. Other than one year of Grant going to a Charter School  our schedule has remained the same from August through June.We knew the school well and they knew us.Our last name was hard to say and hard to spell but they knew it and who we were when we called. A comfort zone in the real sense! This year all that has changed. Our "Comfort Zone" closed it's doors and we had to make choices and changes in a few weeks time.After lots of prayer, debate and conversation with Godly council , Grant is enrolled in a small private school,Courtney is homeschooling and Logan does not start school till January(long story).
I know that God has his hand all over this.I know that I shouldn't "worry about tomorrow,tomorrow has enough worries for itself", God has plans for all of us that are for the good and not the bad.I am training diligently to "Pray about everything,(try to)worry about nothing and pray about everything with thanksgiving,giving my requests to God". With effort I try to "think on things that are lovely, pure and true" . (Phil.4:6-9)
I love the way Peterson paraphrases it in The message;

"Don't fret or worry. Instead of worrying, pray. Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns. Before you know it, a sense of God's wholeness, everything coming together for good, will come and settle you down. It's wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the center of your life.

 Summing it all up, friends, I'd say you'll do best by filling your minds and meditating on things true, noble, reputable, authentic, compelling, gracious—the best, not the worst; the beautiful, not the ugly; things to praise, not things to curse. Put into practice what you learned from me, what you heard and saw and realized. Do that, and God, who makes everything work together, will work you into his most excellent harmonies."

Some days this is much easier than others and today I will say it's been tough!
At the end of the day all went well, there were good reports and tomorrow is already in God's hands.

God Encounters

It's been too long.
It's not that I have been on vacation,nor that my mind has settled to nothingness,I returned here several times to try to put words in their place ...
I am back.

In the past week I have had God sightings - no, more like God encounters.

Soon it will be a week. Saturday 4:00 AM it will be.
We woke to the sounds of our young neighbor in desperate need of help.
What to do?
God said "go"- so I went.
I sat there with my arms around her on her concrete garage floor.She cried, she talked.I whispered the name of Jesus, giving encouraging words where appropriate but mostly just letting her talk as her mangled thoughts became words.She sat stiff and rigid,holding on to my hand.
I prayed with her and at that moment  her body totally relaxed against me.Jesus was there.
He was holding her.
He was holding me.-Oh he was ALWAYS there but at that moment I felt him.
I wanted to keep her there. She soon went back to the horror of the morning.
 I pray she will never forget that moment.
I won't.

Earlier this week the setting was completely different.I was sitting by the beach overlooking the water.I had a small time of just resting.It was if He found me there sitting still and came in close.Again it was just for a short moment , but I knew he was there- reassuring,encouraging.

You know He is always pursuing , always wanting to draw us close, have one on one time.
He is ALWAYS there.
I  just wonder...
 how many times I miss him because  I am too distracted or too restless to sit still long enough to feel.
Although,
I am convinced these encounters  happen in the middle of busy.
BUT if I don't know how it is to have him close or hear his voice  in quiet how will I feel him in busy or in noise?

Growing Pains

Had a good talk with a friend recently.
A very honest conversation.She took what I said and responded with truth.Truth that wasn't really fun to hear although, it will help me grow in the long run. It woulda been more fun to hear her say " nah~ your not like that at all..it's only the people in your life...they need to understand you...".
Growth is tough.
When you were little do you remember your parents talk about "growing pains"?
It doesn't stop when your fully grown ....except it's in character rather than stature... it still aches, just not our bones but our spirit.
With the pain of growth we become more Christ-like and better people.Though the end result is for our good ( and hopefully others,because we will be easier to live with).;0

Do you ever think that your enjoying holding that grudge a bit too much? It's a kinda  a good feeling to hold onto those thoughts that make you feel a little "more better" than the other guy? "psh...at least I don't __________"(fill in the blank) 
 "Whoa!"...my mind is telling me... that's exactly what Jesus called  " like a Pharisee" plus-"do not be like them"!
In the midst of the growing pains I hear God asking me to make that first move- the move that will reconcile.
Why ME?!
 I wanna argue back and remind God whose right , whose argument makes more sense,
-c'mon aren't I more Biblical-y correct here? He than reminds me that If I am so concerned about whose "Biblical-y correct" than I should not only listen to him but DO what He asked!
It stops me in my tracks, because you see-
I like justice-

but you know what?

Life is not always fair!
At any rate....
God knows what makes me grow...
what makes me more like Him...
sometimes it takes too many nudges before I move...
too many lessons...
too many days between hearing the direction and the actual doing it.
The wonder of it all?
He Never gives up on me.
He asked so I need to...
Swallow.....breathe....step out and DO what God asked.
Because if He suggested it doesn't mean it will be easy, but that He will be right there beside me encouraging,in front of me leading, behind me nudging.
After words he doesn't say "I told you so".Simply, "I love you ,next time don't wait so long- trust me".

  

VBS

VBS is in full swing....!

Wow ~

• 193 kids
• Oover 100 volunteers
• 5 "mission sites" for the kids to do hands on projects for missions
• 5 "story sites" to learn about Paul as a missionary
• 300 cookies donated each night
• Countless cups of punch
• Singing(loudly) in assembly
• Memory verses
• New friendships
• MOST IMPORTANTLY: Kids are hearing about Salvation ,(maybe for the first time)

Along with this ;

1. I am busy with normal life stuff...
2. I am working on a few posts...:0
3. I promise pictures!

Have a wonderful day.....

Appliance Alliance...

  

So here I sit at 

My dryer broke….. It started to make a horrible noise that sounded like I had  a tin can in the dryer with the laundry ...
 we suffered through it…closed the laundry door to block the horrific noise, the next step would have been ear plugs- On it’s final run we discovered black streaks on our clothes and a burn hole on a pair of shorts. In that event we decided until we find a new  used dryer we would have to visit the  ol’ laundromat.
 I found it funny that the place is called “Coin Laundry”.
Really?
 Literally?
Funny…my dryer sounded like it had a whole lotta coins rumbling around in it.:)
Oh- If you are wondering what the going cost is for a load of laundry- For every 25 cents you get 6 whole minutes of drying time (this was for a commercial size dryer).My cost?

This pile is 2 washer loads

dried in this humungo dryer was $1.00 for a grand total of 24 minutes....

My washer still works but probably not for long....it's day's are numbered!

 In case It's been awhile that you frequented a place like this ...some things never change! This one was
is very clean.

Those ugly yellow chairs.  I wonder-why are they connected? AND.. Remember to always take something along to do ,plenty of change, and COFFEE!

A must...soda machines

These soap machines...cutsie little boxes of soap that cost $$$.Wow  the price for that small amount of soap would make any coupon-er faint!

In case #1- you only have paper money....

in case #2- you forgot your own game thingy that is what?  300 times smaller....

LOVE vintage signs...I want one like this for my laundry room!

 OH YEAH...
To add to all of this…my dishwasher gave up the ghost last week too! It refuses to drain. I think my appliances formed an alliance(forgive my play on words here) and decided to all break down in one week. Wonder if there is anyplace one can take a pile of dishes and run a load through the dishwasher…funny thought! I could start one and call it a “Dish-o-mat”!   If I told you I was washing my clothes by hand because my washer broke you would wonder why I don’t load up my clothes and go to a Laundromat ,but never would we question washing dishes by hand….:)-just a thought...

That was yesterday....
Let me tell you what God did today...

Chip came home from work and said "Honey I got your Christmas present -Come and see!"
I followed him out the door and this is what was on the back of his truck...

not only a dishwasher but....

A washer AND a dryer...

I was in awe!
Chip did a demolition in a condo today and this was what he took out...
They by far are not the latest version ,front load or stainless steel but they are  CLEAN, barely used and given by God who knew last week when Habitat got the days mixed up for pick up that I , HIS CHILD was going to NEED this!
I still sit her amazed at this provision! it chokes me up and makes me cry...(wow!)

Just over the weekend I heard the old song "His eye is on the sparrow ,and I know He watches me..."
He proved it hugely this week...

 

Online book study

I wanted to let you know about an online book study I signed up for...check it out! Click on this link and it will explain it better than I could! I have never done this before but I thought it would be fun!


"Made to Crave" online book study

It started yesterday but don't let that keep you from joining !