Farewell

Here we are at the end of 2011 and the end of my blog as well. As I consider stewardship of time, I think I need to use the hours on other things in 2012. Blogging consumes a lot of time, at least it has for me. It's had its place and purpose, and I'm glad I kept at it for the year, but it's time to put it aside.
I had three goals during the past year. The first was twofold--to pen thoughts that draw my own heart toward my eternal home and toward my brief earthly home, as well as to be an encouragement to others along the way. Another goal was to post most days, which actually happened, although December was rather lean. A third goal bore no fruit.
To those of you who let me know you were reading my blog--I thank you. That in itself was an encouragement to me. I hope you were encouraged as well. To those of you who let me know that you were encouraged, edified, or benefited in some way, I super-duper thank you! Oftentimes when I felt like quitting mid-stream for one reason or another, someone would let me know that something they'd read on Homeward was a blessing. Those who did that--you were such a blessing to me in return!
If you've just recently come across Homeward, do linger for awhile and explore a few posts. I hope something you read will be an encouragement to you.
May the days to come find us all preparing for our heavenly home and fulfilling first ministries within our earthly homes, helping others prepare for eternity as well. I hope to see you over there.

~ Vickie

Painting ~ Leave Taking, Charles Haigh Wood 1856-1927

The Christmas Ten Commandments

pixabay

A friend sent me the following that I'd like to share with you this Christmas Season.

THE CHRISTMAS TEN COMMANDMENTS

1. Thou shalt give thy heart to Christ. Let Him be at the top of thy Christmas list.

2. Thou shalt prepare thy soul for Christmas. Spend not so much on gifts that thy soul is forgotten.

3. Thou shalt not let Santa Claus replace Christ, thus robbing the day of its spiritual reality.

4. Thou shalt not burden the shop girl, the mailman, and the merchant with complaints and demands.  

5. Thou shalt give thyself with thy gift. This will increase its value a hundred fold, and he who receiveth it shall treasure it forever.

6. Thou shalt not value gifts received by their cost. Even the least expensive may signify love, and that is more priceless than silver and gold.

7. Thou shalt not neglect the needy. Share thy blessings with many who will go hungry and cold unless thou are generous.

8. Thou shalt not neglect thy church. Its services highlight the true meaning of the season.

9. Thou shalt be as a little child. Not until thou has become in spirit as a little one art thou ready to enter into the kingdom of Heaven.

10. Thou shall not forget to share your joy, peace and faith with those around you.

 ~Author Unknown

Image ~ Merry Christmas, Flash Buddy via pixabay
CC0 Creative Commons

The Source of Song

When I awake of the morning, I like to get a nugget to ponder until my quiet time. Sharing with you today a thought from David Jeremiah that I read this morning----

Christianity is a religion of song. Agnosticism has no carols. Confucianism and Brahmanism have no anthems or alleluias. Dreary, weird dirges reveal no hope for the present or for the future. Christianity however, is filled with music. Only the message of Christ puts a song in a person's heart.

When you have Christ in your heart something changes inside of you and a melody starts to form that you can't really control. It is unlike any other belief system.

As we read the stories of Christmas in the Book of Luke, we find six different songs recorded almost back-to-back:

• the "Beatitude of Elizabeth," when she was visited by Mary
• the "Magnificat of Mary," Mary's song
• the "Benedictus of Zacharias," the father of John the Baptist
• the "Song of Simeon," when he was presented with the Christ Child at the temple
• the "Evangel Song" of the angel of the Lord over the plains
• and finally, the "Gloria" of the angelic hosts.

When Jesus came into the world, music was reborn.

~ from Sanctuary: Finding Moments of Refuge in the Presence of God

Painting ~ Girls at the Piano 1892, Pierrie Auguste Renoir 1841-1919
Wiki Commons public domain

Ironing and Listening

Today is ironing day, and I listened in to Revive Our Hearts to pass the time. Nancy Leigh DeMoss is pointing our thoughts toward Christ in this Christmas season. The title of the series is Zechariah's Hymn, someone we seldom hear about in the Christmas story. But here we see clearly the themes of redemption and salvation as God visits earth.

Nancy says,

So as we approach this season where we celebrate, we remember, we rejoice in the advent, the first coming of Christ to this earth, we join with saints of old, such as Zechariah, in singing and saying from our hearts, "Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, for He has visited and redeemed His people."

Painting ~ Woman Ironing, Armand Gautier 1825-1924

Wiki Gallery public domain

The Simple Woman's Daybook

On Saturdays I reflect on simple thoughts and simple pleasures. My leads are somewhat similar to others in The Simple Woman's Daybook group, yet a bit different as well.  
 

Outside my window...
Christmas lights reminding me that Jesus is the Light of the World. We got our outside decorations up today. Sometime this week we'll put up the tree.

A Picture to Share...

 
Mary and Joseph in our front garden. Actually, he looks like a shepherd, doesn't he?

Learning...
To let God bring whatever things into my life where He wants my involvement and to be content in the rest of a measure in the symphony of life.

   

From the sewing room...

I finished this wall quilt that I named "Garden Pathways" and hung it in the upstairs hallway. I practiced free motion quilting some viney leaves on it, but I think I hurried it too much. I did learn some of what not to do, though, and to take my time and be patient with the process.
 
This coming week I'm looking forward to...

Making sugar cookies for My Beloved--his favorite.

From the kitchen...

Made some biscotti while visiting with my parents. Sharing the recipe. It's originally from bettycrocker.com, but I thought it was much too dry, so I tweaked it some. Here's my version.

Orange-Almond Biscotti
1 cup sugar
1/2 cup butter or margarine
1 tablespoon grated orange peel
3 eggs
3 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/3 cup slivered almonds, toasted and chopped

1. Heat oven to 350 F.
2. Stir together sugar, butter, orange peel and eggs vigorously in large bowl until creamy and well blended. Stir in flour, baking powder, salt and almonds. Shape half of the dough at a time into rectangle, 10 x 3 inches, on ungreased cookie sheet.
3. Bake about 20 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.
4.  Cut crosswise into 1/2-inch slices. Place slices cut side down on cookie sheet.
5. Bake about 15 minutes or until crisp and light brown.Removed from cookie sheet to wire rack. Cool completely. 

Noticing the sound of...

The vaporizer bubbling away. A soothing sound. I've tended to get nosebleeds easily the past few years in the dry air of winter. The vaporizer helps tremendously.

Thinking...

 That there is great mystery is the incarnation of Jesus Christ. If you haven't read The Incomparable Christ by J. Oswald Sanders, I recommend it to you.

Thankful...

For My Beloved. A friend gave me some pictures of our family taken a few years back, which brought to mind how much we've changed--in several ways. My love for him grows deeper, and I feel the same from him. I'm thankful for another Christmas together. I was reading a blog today of a woman whose husband recently died. She is having a difficult time of it, this first Christmas alone, with sorrow upon sorrow. It's only by God's grace that any of us see the good of life in times like that, but I don't think she knows Him.

Around the house...
The closets that I mentioned a couple of weeks ago--I MUST get to those this week!

A thought from my Quiet Time...

From 1 Thessalonians  5:23--Now may the God of peace sanctify you entirely. 

Sanctification is a quiet work. A quiet work within. A quiet work wrought by God. The God of peace.

Sanctification is that process of being set apart for God. He begins our sanctification at the point of salvation, and He will complete it in its entirety. Yet He interweaves His grace and power with His exhortations to holiness in daily living:

• v. 11 - encourage one another and build one another up
• v. 12 - appreciate those who diligently labor among you, and have charge over you in the Lord
• v. 14 - admonish the unruly, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with everyone
• v. 15 - do not repay evil for evil, but seek after that which is good for one another
• v. 16 - rejoice always
• v. 17 - pray without ceasing
• v. 18 - in everything give thanks
• v. 19 - do not quench the spirit
• v. 20 - do not despise prophetic utterances
• v. 21 - examine everything carefully, hold fast to that which is good
• v. 22 - abstain from every form of evil

These we are to be diligent about in the process of sanctification. Yet it is God who brings us to maturity, who sanctifies us wholly, entirely. He is the source and author of sanctification, and without Him we can do nothing.

 

Currently reading...

An Amish Christmas by Cynthia Keller.  It caught my eye at the library when I stopped in for some children's books. Just a couple of chapters into it. I'm typically not fond of fiction, but I am fond of the Amish, so I thought I'd get a little glimpse into what someone thinks they do to keep our current culture's Christmas at bay.

Home Again

Toast on the Hearth, Carlton Alfred Smith

Getting back into routine after being away for a few days for a Christmas visit with my parents and sisters in Alabama. Amidst the baking of three batches of biscotti to share and other holiday goings on, Mom and I enjoyed going to her favorite quilt shop and starting to work on her wall quilt. I turned a little coupon money into a few lovely cuts of fabric. It's fun to visit quilt shops and to savor their individual character. The weather was unusually good this time of the year for traveling, and although distance is no friend to families for a lot of reasons,  I'm thankful for interstates and scenic back roads. Looking forward to a visit with my daughters right after Christmas and hoping the weather is conducive to their travel as well. Many times they've come or gone over treacherous conditions.

I was chatting with the postal clerk yesterday as I dropped off some Christmas cards, and we were discussing our current culture's Christmas. It takes a concerted effort to avoid it and to keep Christ as the center of celebration. I'm convinced staying out of the stores as much as possible is a great benefit toward that end. Oh, but that doesn't include quilt shops! I think one of the things I really like about them is the human touch that naturally goes with the fabric as we gladly offer labors of love through it.

Reading from The Incomparable Christ this morning and sharing just a brief paragraph with you.

The mystery of the incarnation will never be fully explained until "we know even as we are known." But it is not the only mystery in this mysterious world, as Lecerf said, "The presence of mystery is the footprint of the divine." We are daily surrounded by mysterious facts, which are facts nevertheless. We may not understand how Jesus could be at the same time fully divine and yet really human, but that need be no insuperable obstacle to faith. The fact has been believed by many of the greatest minds of the ages.

~ J. Oswald Sanders 

Painting ~ Toast on the Hearth, Carlton Alfred Smith 1853-1946
Wiki Commons public domain

Walking Toward the Beginning

I resonated with this thought from J.R. Miller. Perhaps some of you do as well. ~ ~ ~

Old age ought to be the most beautiful period of a good life. Yet not always is it so. There are elements in the experience of old age which make it hard to keep the inner life ever in a state of renewal. The bodily powers are decaying. The senses are growing dull. It is lonely. There is in memory a record of empty cribs and vacant chairs, of sacred mounds in the cemetery. The work of life has dropped from the hands. It is not easy to keep the joy in living in the heart in such experiences. Yet that is the problem of true Christian living. While the outward man decays, the inward man should be renewed day by day. This is possible, too, as many Christian old people have proved. Keeping near the heart of Christ is again, as always, the secret. Faith gives a new meaning to life. It is seen no more in its relation to earth and what is gone, but in its relation to immortality and what is to come. The Christian old man’s best days are not behind him, but always before him. He is walking, not toward the end, but toward the beginning. The dissolving of the earthly tabernacle is a pledge that the house not made with hands is almost ready.

~ J.R. Miller

Painting ~ Teasing the Kitten, Joseph Clark 1834-1926
via iamachild.com

My All-Sufficient Savior

My thoughts today come from the thread that runs throughout the Bible--Jesus Christ. From Genesis to Malachi we're told of the forthcoming of the One who would deliver His people from their sins. From the Gospel of Mark through the Gospel of John we see the fulfillment of the Old Testament prophecies, and from the book of Acts to Revelation we see the name of Jesus in all His radiant glory. Following are just a few of His names, titles, and characteristics.

As I stop and ponder on each one, I am reminded that He is my all-sufficient Savior.

The Lord
The Creator of All Things

The Everlasting Father

The Beginning and the Ending

The Life

The Word of God

The Word of Life

The Image of the Invisible God

The Man Christ Jesus

The Son of Man
His First Born Son

The Servant of the Father

A Man of Sorrows
The Lord Jesus Christ

Messiah, Which Is Called Christ

The Lamb of God
A Lamb Without Blemish and Without Spot
The Shepherd of the Sheep

The Door of the Sheep

The Great Shepherd

The Vine

The Tree of Life

The Bread of Life

The Rose of Sharon

The Lily of the Valleys

The Light of the World

The Bright and Morning Star

The Rock of My Strength

The Builder

The Foundation

Chief Cornerstone

A Ransom

The High Priest

The Mediator

The Intercessor

The Advocate

The Surety

The Chosen of God

The Redeemer

The Shiloh (Peace Maker)

The Truth

The Amen

The Just One

The Resurrection

The Deliverer

King of Kings

Lord of Peace

Lord of All

The Prince of Life

The Prince of Peace

The Righteous Judge

Lord of Lords

King Over All the Earth

The Gift of God

His Unspeakable Gift

The Savior of the World

"Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty which was, and is, and is to come."
Revelation 4:8

"Jesus Christ, the same yesterday, and today, and forever."
Hebrews 13:8

Lo, How A Rose E'er Blooming

Lo, How a rose e'er blooming

From tender spring hath sprung!

Of Jesse's lineage coming,

As men of old have sung.

It came, a floweret bright,

Amid the cold of winter,

When half spent was the night.

Isaiah 'twas foretold it,

The Rose I have in mind

With Mary we behold it,

The Virgin mother kind

To show God's love aright,

She bore to men a Savior

When half spent was the night.

The shepherds heard the story 

Proclaimed by angels bright,

How Christ, the Lord of Glory

Was born on earth this night.

To Bethlehem they sped

And in the manger found him,

As angels heralds said.

This Flower, whose fragrance tender

With sweetness fills the air,

Dispels with glorious splendor

The darkness everywhere;

True man, yet very God,

From Sin and death he saves us,

And lightens every load.

----------------
 Traditional German Carol
1599

Photo ~Red Rose, Peggy Greb (USDA-ARS)

Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Thankful for What I Receive and What I Escape

Finishing up reading through Nancy Leigh DeMoss's book Choosing Gratitude. I read the book a couple of years ago as well during the Thanksgiving season, and God used Nancy to help me understand the importance of the attitude of gratitude, no matter my circumstances or feelings. I've come to realize that times when I pray and don't receive what I desire are in reality avenues of escape -- because God is sovereign and sees the beginning to the end. He may be shielding me from the consequences of what I desire, even though in itself and otherwise it may be a good thing. I long to view much more through the eyes of thankfulness. I'd like to share something that Nancy wrote that spoke to my heart.

Matthew Henry, the eighteenth-century Puritan preacher whose Bible commentary remains among the most popular of all time, was accosted by robbers while living in London.

Perhaps you've experienced this yourself--whether by having your car broken into or coming home to discover that your house had been burglarized. It's among the most unsettling things that can happen to a person. I'm sure it was, as well, for a quiet, thoughtful man of letters like Matthew Henry.

And yet, upon further reflection (as he wrote in his diary), he couldn't help but find something to be thankful for as a result of his misfortune: 

Let me be thankful, first, because I was never robbed before; second, because although they took my purse, they did not take my life; third, because although they took my all, it was not much; and fourth, because it was I who was robbed, not I who robbed. 

What a perspective! As someone has said, "If you can't be thankful for what you receive, be thankful for what you escape."

It is simply true that the person who has chosen to make gratitude his or her mind-set and lifestyle can view anything -- anything! -- through the eyes of thankfulness. The whole world looks different when we do. And the one whose gratitude is Christian gratitude -- directed not toward good genes or good timing but toward God Himself--finds that she deepens her relationship with Him on many levels.

 ~ Nancy Leigh DeMoss from Choosing Gratitude


Painting ~ Sweet Solitude 1919, Edmund Blaire Leighton 1852-1922
Wikipedia Commons public domain
 

Thinking About Santa

I wrote in yesterday's post about some Christmas traditions that our family enjoyed over the years and shared a link with you to Revive Our Hearts with other women discussing their own traditions to keep the gospel central at Christmas. Elizabeth had shared the following with me some time back. Thought I'd pass these thoughts from Noel Piper along to you today.

Thinking About Santa
(Author: Noel Piper)

Over the years, we have chosen not to include Santa Claus in our Christmas stories and decorations. There are several reasons.

First, fairy tales are fun and we enjoy them, but we don't ask our children to believe them.

Second, we want our children to understand God as fully as they're able at whatever age they are. So we try to avoid anything that would delay or distort that understanding. It seems to us that celebrating with a mixture of Santa and manger will postpone a child's clear understanding of what the real truth of God is. It's very difficult for a young child to pick through a marble cake of part-truth and part-imagination to find the crumbs of reality.

Third, we think about how confusing it must be to a straight-thinking, uncritically-minded preschooler because Santa is so much like what we're trying all year to teach our children about God. Look, for example, at the "attributes" of Santa.

He's omniscient—he sees everything you do.
He rewards you if you're good.
He's omnipresent—at least, he can be everywhere in one night.
He gives you good gifts.
He's the most famous "old man in the sky" figure.
But at the deeper level that young children haven't reached yet in their understanding, he is not like God at all.

For example, does Santa really care if we're bad or good? Think of the most awful kid you can remember. Did he or she ever not get gifts from Santa?

What about Santa's spying and then rewarding you if you're good enough? That's not the way God operates. He gave us his gift—his Son—even though we weren't good at all. "God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us" (Romans 5:8). He gave his gift to us to make us good, not because we had proved ourselves good enough.

Helping our children understand God as much as they're able at whatever age they are is our primary goal. But we've also seen some other encouraging effects of not including Santa in our celebration.

First, I think children are glad to realize that their parents, who live with them all year and know all the worst things about them, still show their love at Christmas. Isn't that more significant than a funny, old, make-believe man who drops in just once a year?

Second, I think most children know their family's usual giving patterns for birthday and special events. They tend to have an instinct about their family's typical spending levels and abilities. Knowing that their Christmas gifts come from the people they love, rather than from a bottomless sack, can help diminish the "I-want-this, give-me-that" syndrome.

And finally, when children know that God's generosity is reflected by God's people, it tends to encourage a sense of responsibility about helping make Christmas good for others.

Karsten, for example, worked hard on one gift in 1975. On that Christmas morning, his daddy stepped around a large, loose-flapped cardboard box to get to his chair at the breakfast table. "Where's Karsten?" he asked, expecting to see our excited three-year-old raring to leap into the day. Sitting down, I said, "He'll be here in a minute."

I nudged the box with my toe. From inside the carton, Karsten threw back the flaps and sprang to his full three-foot stature. "And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them..." He had memorized Luke 2:8-20 as a gift for his dad. Karsten knew the real story.

In fact, a few days later, he and I were walking down the hall at the church we attended then. One of the older ladies leaned down to squeeze his pink, round cheek and asked, "What did Santa bring you?" Karsten's head jerked quickly toward me, and he whispered loudly, "Doesn't she know?"

(Adapted from Treasuring God in Our Traditions)

Image ~ Clkr free vector image via pixabay
CC0 Creative Commons

Creating Traditions That Point to the Gospel

 I didn't take this cold to church last night, so I spent the time listening to Revive Our Hearts with Nancy Leigh DeMoss. I had missed several days of broadcast, so I listened to three sessions while My Beloved was at church. Nancy had several ladies in the studio talking about Christmas traditions and making Christmas meaningful. A lot of good ideas were shared.

It's easy to get caught up in the makings of our current culture's Christmas, the shopping and decorating, the baking, all the special activities and expectations, and lose sight of celebrating the incarnation of the greatest gift - the Savior of the world. We learned many years ago that we have to be intentional in keeping Christ in Christmas. Otherwise, it becomes just a secular gift-giving holiday, turning merchant colors from red to black.

It's easy for children to think of Christmas as presents and santa and just tack on Christ's birth because, well, that's just the Christian thing to do (for those who do the Christian thing). We've never played santa, and if our daughters made Christmas lists, it was for what they were going to give to someone else, not what they wanted to receive. Our purpose in gift-giving reflected the gift-giving of the wise men and God's giving the greatest gift of all, His Son.

While we had a "blessing box" in which we shared the special blessings we received during the year, we also wanted to be a special blessing to those in need at Christmas. We usually chose a girl from the bus ministry at our church, and our daughters had great fun anonymously buying her clothes and items that they would enjoy receiving themselves. It was a special blessing when we'd see her wear her new clothes to church.

Christmas Eve has always been special, and still are when our daughters are home for the holiday. We have special goodies, but the best part is spending the evening reading the account of Christ's birth and singing Christmas carols. Then we open one gift before bed (and another if they could talk their daddy into it). It would take a couple of hours to open all the gifts on Christmas morning, not because there were so many, but because we opened them one by one, one person at a time, reflecting on the gift and the giver, trying it out, maybe trying it on, expressing appreciation.

Relating as much of the goings on of Christmas to the gospel message as we can helps to focus on Christ's birth. For example, we talk of the decorative lights as a reminder that Jesus is the light of the world. The red of Christmas reminds us that He was born to die for our sins. The green reminds us of our new birth because He came into the world to die and rise again. Gold speaks of the golden streets of Heaven, purple His royalty, white and snow His purity and that our sins shall be as white as snow if we know Him. Angels - Gabriel announcing Christ's birth. The star at the tree top - the star that led the shepherds to the Christ child. Bells ring out the good news of His birth. We always liked to have a manger scene that the children could move the pieces around. Wise men still seek Him. Our Christmas cards are an opportunity to share the gospel message.  And the music - carols and songs about the birth of Christ, not reindeer on the roof.

Joy to the world -- the Lord is come! Come, let us adore Him!

Painting ~ By Marcel Rieder (1862-1942) (Collection privée  Photographie by P.F. Rieder) 
Public domain via Wikimedia Commons

Home Again After Thanksgiving

A few pictures to share from our Thanksgiving trip to Chicago with our daughter's family. Brought a bug home with me that I'm just now getting the better of, which is why I haven't posted for a few days. Been mostly sleeping and resting. I think it landed on me as we were jam-packed in one of the zoo buildings on the opening night of Lincoln Park Zoo Lights on Friday. Way too many people and germs. The lights were lovely, though.

We enjoyed our visit and helped get Christmas decorations going to begin the season. Got to babysit a little and definitely relished reading and snuggling with our little fella.

The happy little family with another on the way, due in May. 

She does not feel as good as she looks.

Elijah playing the ocean game on Nana's computer.

What's Christmas cookie baking without flour all over yourself?

When Eyes Are Open

A word from Nancy:

Who else but a Christian can thank someone for a good meal, a good time, or a good effort, knowing that this has not just been a gift to us from another person but ultimately comes from the living God?

I love knowing that He cares and provides for me, not just air to breathe and food to eat, but countless extras that simply flow from His generous heart.

And I don't want to miss thanking Him for a single one of them.

When my eyes are opened by gratitude to these boundless examples of grace, only then can I see clearly enough to press on in this broken world.

~ Nancy Leigh DeMoss, Choosing Gratitude

Image ~ Thank God, CDJ via pixabay

CC0 Creative Commons

Divine Blessing

We need the divine blessing on everything we have and everything we do. Surely there is no work, no plan, no undertaking in all the range of the possible things we may do in the longest and busiest lifetime, on which we so much desire God's benediction as upon our home. In nothing else are so many sacred interests and such momentous responsibilities involved. Nowhere else in life do we meet such difficult and delicate duties. In nothing else is failure so disastrous.

~ J.R. Miller in Homemaking (1882)

Painting ~ Mother and Child 1885, Jones Francis Coates 1857-1932
public domain via Wiki Commons

The Simple Woman's Daybook

On Saturdays I reflect on simple thoughts and simple pleasures. My leads are somewhat similar to others in The Simple Woman's Daybook group, yet a bit different as well.

 
Outside my window...
Bird feathers scattered by the bedroom window. Two neighborhood cats lying low earlier in the week. Glad I don't know which one did this deed.

A Picture to Share...

 












Almost finished with a wall quilt. This one has a John Deere theme.


From the sewing room...
Pulled out the John Deere tractor quilt top this week that I had completed not long ago to practice some free-motion quilting. I had planned this to be a baby quilt, but I didn't notice on the back while I was quilting that I wasn't getting the tension just right. The stitches aren't even and flat all over, so it won't do for a baby quilt. It'll have to be a wall hanging or maybe a lap quilt that won't get much wear. I just need to bind it and I'll be on to the next lesson. Woo-hoo!

I'm not sure what I'll do with this quilt. I can't think of anyone to give it to, and it won't go with anything in my house. I thought about hanging it in My Beloved's shed where he keeps his John Deere, but he said... uh,... no. He thinks it deserves a better home than that. :-)  So..... I've decided to do a free giveaway to the first person living within the 48 contiguous U.S. states who emails me about it. It's a 34 x 34 size quilt in John Deere tractor motifs and colors--green, yellow, black, with gray tonal blocks. You can email me at HomewardThoughts@gmail.com. Now, keep in mind--this is a practice piece.

Update: The John Deere quilt has been spoken for.  :-)

Learning...
Finished an online video class this week on machine quilting. I can see it's going to take a lot of practice!

This coming week I'm looking forward to...
Seeing little Elijah and his parents. :-)

From the kitchen...

Easy, but a little special. I've made these for so long that I don't measure, so adjust to your own tastes.

Glazed Carrots

1 lb cut carrots, cooked to crisp-tender (I like to use baby carrots)

1/2 cup brown sugar

3 tbsp butter or margarine

1 tsp grated orange peel

1/4 tsp vanilla extract

Remove carrots from pan and keep warm. Heat margarine and brown sugar over low heat until bubbly. Stir in orange peel and add carrots, coating with mixture. Cook, stirring frequently, on low for about 10 min. more.

Noticing the sound of...

The dishwasher. Such a homey sound for reading or blogging after supper.

Thinking...

Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O LORD, my rock and my redeemer. ~ Psalm 19:14

Been thinking for the last couple of days on this verse that I have on my dresser as my constant counsel. My words, whether from my lips, pen, or keyboard flow from the meditations of my heart. Too often my meditations and resulting words are not acceptable in his sight. This has been true this week. And yet... He is faithful and just to forgive and redeem.

Thankful...
Grateful for grace.
 
From the garden...  
Worked a good while in the gardens today, cutting back and clearing leaves. My Beloved mowed and mulched the leaves with his faithful John Deere. This is probably the last big day in the yard. I like a tidy yard with flowers and all, but I welcome autumn with its winding down of outdoor chores and a little rest for us both. 

Around the house...
Rather laid back this week, but after Thanksgiving I need to move around some things in a couple of closets. Not something to do a little here and there. Major work that I've been procrastinating. I'll be more motivated about it, though, as I look forward to my girls coming right after Christmas!

A thought from my Quiet Time...

Pondering 2 Thessalonians 3:10--"If anyone will not work, neither shall he eat." I understand how those who walk in the way of the world prefer unemployment checks to finding a job--sometimes those checks pay more than a job would. But for a follower of Christ, it's dishonest gain.

Currently reading...
Choosing Gratitude by Nancy Leigh DeMoss. Sharing a brief paragraph with you.

True thankfulness requires a "you" to say "thank you" to. And to be thankful to the living God implies a corresponding level of trust in Him that can only reside in a believer's heart.

Children's Christmas Books

I was out yesterday looking for non-Santa Christmas books for our little Elijah for Thanksgiving. I found a few that might be of interest to your family. I found them all at Books-a-Million, many of them were on the clearance table.

 

 

 

Both Need Jesus

I'd like to share a book review with you today from my daughter Laura. The book is The Prodigal God: Recovering the Heart of the Christian Faith
by Timothy Keller

~~~~~~~~

I read this book recently and wanted to share it. It's a short book that lays out the essentials of the gospel. Keller explains the Parable of the Prodigal Son in a way that illuminates the meaning of the gospel.

The book is laid out in seven brief chapters which aim to uncover the grace of God, as revealed in this parable. Keller shows how the parable describes two kinds of lost people, not just one. Most people can identify the lostness of the "prodigal son," the younger brother in Jesus' story, who takes his inheritance early and squanders it on riotous living. But Keller shows that the "elder brother" in the parable is no less lost. Together, the two brothers are illustrations of two kinds of people in the world. Jesus uses the younger and elder brothers to portray the two basic ways people try to find happiness and fulfillment: the way of moral conformity and the way of self-discovery. Both brothers are in the wrong.

Nearly everyone defines sin as breaking a list of rules. Jesus, though, shows us that a man who has violated nothing on the list of moral misbehaviors may be every bit as spiritually lost as the most profligate, immoral person. Why? Because sin is not just breaking the rules, it is putting yourself in the place of God as Savior, Lord and Judge just as each son sought to displace the authority of the father in his own life.

What both brothers, and both types of people, need is Jesus, whom Keller presents as "the true elder brother," the one who comes to our rescue at his own expense.

This book helped me to understand just how amazing and needed God's grace is for me, every day.

The Deepest Well of Gratitude

The thing that awakens the deepest well of gratitude in a human being 

is that God has forgiven sin.

~ Oswald Chambers, My Utmost for His Highest

~Autumn Lake at Whitney Court, Gail Hampshire
via Flkr, Wikipedia Commons public domain
CC 2.0 Generic

Evaluating Doors

Reading through Acts and coming to the account of Paul and Silas in the Philippian jail (16:27-37). Thinking about God's will and guidance as the earthquake shook the prison doors open. I would have considered this more than just a little nudge toward a decision I'd been fervently praying about. Sure seems like an answer to prayer. God, get me out of here. Sure thing, here's the open door.

I would have gratefully walked (run) out. But Paul and Silas didn't. Didn't they recognize God's hand in all of this? Yes, they did. And that's the point. There was more involved in this decision than what most eyes could see. They were wisdom thinking. They knew there was more ministry on this side of the door at that moment than on the other side.

I don't know about you, but most of the time when I pray, I have a pretty good idea of how I'd like that prayer answered. When I see just the slightest hint of circumstances moving in that direction, I'm drawn that way. Open door, open window, doesn't matter. I'll walk in or out, climb in or out. Problem is, it doesn't always turn out to be the right entrance or exit. I'm learning (too slowly) not to pray for opened or closed doors. Closed doors are not always locked doors, either. Just ones that God might be requiring a bit of putting feet to prayers.

There have been countless points of decision in my life. Some have been mine alone to make. Some have involved my family. Those can be the most challenging because of other people impacted by the decision. It can also be challenging (discouraging, disheartening, there are countless adjectives I could give it) when My Beloved doesn't see decision points as I do. I've often chaffed (mildly put) at this. I'm coming to realize over the years, though, that God directs our home through my husband as the head. And in understanding that, I can rest in God's sovereign care and guidance. That's not to say that I think My Beloved's decisions are always the right ones, but God uses everything for our good and His glory. And in that understanding I can rest.

As I was reading this account in Acts, I was reminded of a book that God used to teach me how to think more biblically about His guidance. If, perhaps, you're in the midst of decision making, I'd like to share a paragraph with you about evaluating doors from Decision Making and the Will of God by Garry Friesen.

On the basis of these *passages, we can make the following conclusions about the place of open doors in guidance and decision making: (1) the term door refers to an opportunity, usually related to the effective ministry of the Word; (2) opportunities, like everything else, come through God's sovereignty; (3) most of the time open doors should be utilized as part of wise, resourceful living for the Lord (Eph. 5:15-16); (4) if a greater opportunity or more pressing work is at hand, it is proper to pass by the open door; and (5) an open door is not a providential command from God. Doors facilitate entrance. It is foolish to climb through a back window or tear down a wall when the front door is open.

A final word on so-called "closed doors." The need for open doors certainly implies the existence of closed doors, though Scripture never uses the term. Paul did not have a "closed door" mentality. If he was sovereignly prevented from pursuing a sound plan, he simply waited and tried again later. He did not view a blocked endeavor as a "closed door" sign from God that his plan was faulty. He accepted the fact that he could not pursue that plan at that time. Yet he continued to desire, pray, and plan for the eventual accomplishment of the goal. This approach is clearly demonstrated in Paul's attempts to visit Rome (Rom 1:10-13).

*1 Corinthians 16:8-9, 2 Corinthians 2:12-13, Colossians 4:3

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I'm thankful that God's sovereign will finds fulfillment of my good and God's glory.

Painting ~ Estense Castle, dungeon, Ferrara Italy
by Palikap via Wikimedia Commons
Creative Commons Share Alike 4.0 International

The Simple Woman's Daybook

On Saturdays I reflect on simple thoughts and simple pleasures. My leads are somewhat similar to others in The Simple Woman's Daybook group, yet a bit different as well.
 
Outside my window...
Autumn is shedding her color with fallen leaves like a brilliant tree skirt. We took a drive in the mountains today to immerse ourselves in autumn's grandeur.

A Picture to Share...

From the sewing room...
I diverged from my table runner to making a Bible bag for my secret sister last week. Then I decided to make myself one this week, and then another for a friend. It has five inside pockets on one side for a pen, tissues, cell phone, etc. so the Bible can slide easily into the bag, and two pockets on the outside. The back of the black one is quilted. I quilted the front and back of the red one, but I think I like just the back quilted the best. I wish I had thought to take a picture of the first one I made. For my own reminder, I'm including a scan of the feature fabric.

I'm thinking about making them to sell to help fund my fabric love. Maybe opening an Etsy shop, if I can figure out how much my time is worth, and if I have the time to put into it. Only 24 hours for each of us. No, make that 16 for me. I turn into a pumpkin at 10:00. Maybe I should think instead about how much someone might want to pay for one...but I think, as C.S. Lewis might put it, it will have to be the other way 'round. And Etsy will probably have to wait.



Learning...
Which stabilizers are best to use for fabric bags.

This coming week I'm looking forward to...
Making another bag or two, if time allows.

From the kitchen... Simple, yet delicious!  
Simple Sausage Pasta Toss from Healthy Cooking Magazine
(Serves 5, but I cut the recipe in half for the two of us.)

8 oz. uncooked multigrain spaghetti
1/4 cup seasoned bread crumbs
1 tsp. olive oil
3/4 lb. Italian turkey sausage links, cut into 1/4 in. slices
1 garlic clove, minced
2 cans (14.5 oz. each) no-salt-added diced tomatoes, drained
1 an (2 1/4 oz) sliced ripe olives, drained

1. Cook spaghetti according to package directions. Meanwhile, in a small skillet, toast bread crumbs in oil over medium heat; remove from the heat and set aside.

2. In a large nonstick skillet, cook sausage over medium heat until no longer pink. Add garlic; cook 1 minute longer. Stir in tomatoes and olives. Cook and stir until heated through. Drain pasta; add to skillet. Sprinkle with bread crumbs.

Noticing the sound of...

My Beloved listening to hymns online, testing out his new laptop.  

Thinking...
About the sorrow of the sister and long time friend who buried their best friend today. But they do not sorrow as the world sorrows. And so shall they ever be with the Lord.

Thankful...
That this is just an earthly journey on our way to our eternal home. I want you to go with me.
 
From the garden...  
Almost time for cutting back and letting it all rest awhile.

Around the house...
The rhythm of routine for another week or so.

A thought from my Quiet Time...

Thinking about the woman of Athens mentioned in Acts 17, when Paul preached Christ and some came to belief.  "But some men joined him and believed, among whom also were Dionysius the Areopagite and a woman named Damaris and others with them." This is the only mention of her, but it makes me wonder what it was about her that caused her to be named among the believers. Little known, yet counted among the believers. What could be greater?

Currently reading...
Choosing Gratitude by Nancy Leigh DeMoss. I read this book last year as well during November. I'm taking my time to read and ponder the thoughts once again. Sharing a brief paragraph with you.

Gratitude is a lifestyle. A hard-fought, grace-infused, biblical lifestyle. And though there's a sense in which anyone can be thankful--for God has extended His common grace to all--the true glory and the transforming power of gratitude are reserved for those who know and acknowledge the Giver of every good gift and who are recipients of His redeeming grace.

Autumn Leaves

I've enjoyed lunch on the back porch these past several days with the glorious beauty of autumn all around me. The sights and sounds and smells are so homey, filling me with thanksgiving that God gives senses not only for practical purposes, but for pleasure in His grand creation as well.

How silently they tumble down
And come to rest upon the ground
To lay a carpet, rich and rare,
Beneath the trees without a care,
Content to sleep, their work well done,
Colors gleaming in the sun.
At other times, they wildly fly
Until they nearly reach the sky.
Twisting, turning through the air
Till all the trees stand stark and bare.
Exhausted, drop to earth below
To wait, like children, for the snow.

Leaves, Elsie N. Brady

Photograph ~A view along the river over the slope of our backyard.

Genesis and Gender

A friend had mentioned on our walk this morning about Mary Kassian's talk on "Genesis and Gender" on Revive Our Hearts with Nancy Leigh DeMoss. So I listened online during lunch today.  Today's broadcast is the third in the series, but I went back to begin with the first one. I'd like to share a bit of that with you, and if you'd like to hear more, just click on the image. I'm sure you'd be encouraged by it. Mary is talking about how gender tells the story of the gospel.

For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, 

have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, 

in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse. 

Romans 1:20

From the time of creation until now, gender and sex, manhood and womanhood constantly display truths about God. God wrote His story on our flesh. In who He created me to be as a woman and in who He created you to be as a woman tells a story about God. Paul says that people are without excuse because God's story is displayed everywhere, and it is even displayed on gender and His creation.

Ephesians chapter 5 connects all the dots and indicates that manhood and womanhood, marriage and sex, all point to the story of the Bridegroom, the Son of God, who loved and gave His life to redeem His Bride, the Church. Gender exists to tell the love story of the gospel, and that is why God created male and female.

This mystery is profound, and I am saying that it refers to Christ and the church. 

Ephesians 5:32

God had the story of Jesus Christ, the Bridegroom, the Church, His Bride, in mind before the foundation of the earth, and it’s that story that He had in mind—the love story of God that He was thinking about when He set His hand to create male and female, when He said, “Let us make man in our image” and created man, male and female.

So with this larger cosmic context in mind, we’re going to go back to Genesis, and we’re going to observe twelve points of God's pattern for manhood and womanhood. Six points about manhood; six points about womanhood. The truth that God wanted to display between male and female was really important. So it stands to reason that He was very intentional when He created us.

~ Mary Kassian on reviveourhearts.com