Every. Day. Grace.

Your worst days are never so bad that you are beyond the reach of God's grace. And your best days are never so good that you are beyond the need of God's grace. Every day of our Christian experience should be a day of relating to God on the basis of His grace alone.

Jerry Bridges

The Discipline of Grace: God's Role and Our Role in the Pursuit of Holiness

Painting, Anne Boleyn in the Tower 1835, Edouard Cibot 1799-1877

Weekend Daybook

Outside My Window...

A beautiful sunny day with a few neighbors out walking in the cool brisk air.

Noticing the sound of...

Lawn mowing. Time to get back to the lawns here in the south. Well, 'tis better than the 22 inches of snow they're having up north! 

A Peek Into My Week...

Did a little shopping yesterday at Hobby Lobby (one of my favorite places for home decor) and found this for the kitchen. It's now my daily reminder. 

I hope to...

Get involved in discipling a younger woman soon. I think the Titus 2 principle is essential.

Learning (still)...

That God's desire for me is to glorify Him in all that I do (whatever that may be), to be obedient to His Word, and to enjoy having Him in my life because of who He is. When I compare what I may be doing with those that I feel are doing a work that seems to be of much more significance than my own, I can begin to feel very insignificant in the grand scheme of things. That is how I felt for a day or so this week after listening to a couple of former Muslim ladies who are now believers in Jesus Christ, and who are, in my estimation, ranking pretty close to the Apostle Paul. They are doing grand and glorious things among the Muslim people. To God be the glory! Reminding myself that no one is insignificant to God.

Pondering...

Habbakuk's prayer, as I prepare for tomorrow's SS class.

     

Lord, I have heard of your fame;

     I stand in awe of your deeds, O Lord.

Renew them in our day,

     in our time make them known;

     in wrath remember mercy.

           (from Chapter 3)

Yes, Lord. Make your deeds known, and, please, have mercy on America.

In the Kitchen...

Cleaned out the fridge this morning, making ready for bringing in groceries on Monday.

 

Around the house...

Been wanting something by the stairs in the foyer. Found it yesterday at Hobby Lobby. I added the flowers to make it a bit more cheery.

Thankful For...

Hobby Lobby sales and coupons ;-) 

 

Thinking...

About our conversation with our daughter this afternoon. My Beloved and I get on extensions so we can talk with her together. Don't get to see her often, but it's nice to hear her voice.

Re-Reading...

Pilgrim's Progress

Updated text with notes by Warren Wiersbe

 

I think I'd like to get the 1891 historical reprint gift edition also. It's cloth cover with 170 illustrations. It's available from Grace and Truth Books. Click on the image for a more detailed description.

I do hope you're a pilgrim making good progress yourself. Keep looking heavenward and homeward.

On Losing Baby Ways

I came across this little poem today, and it resonated with me. Maybe you, too?

He Has Lost His Baby Ways

Not long, alas! Not long; the mother-heart

Knows well how quickly she will have to part 

With all this wonder; she who tries each art

To lure him on; the first to coax and praise 

Each added grace; then first in sore amaze

To mourn that he has lost his baby ways!

~ Alice Wellington Rollins, in Verses of Virtue 

The grandmother-heart knows it as well. It goes too quickly, especially when it happens miles away. So while we are together, we savor every moment.  Our little Daniel turned one year while he was with us in January. Anna is soon to be five, and Elijah heading toward eight. Baby ways left behind, but babies turn into little boys and girls. Lots of joy still ahead!

Even If He Passes By

Reflecting this evening on a phrase in Mark, chapter 6, verse 48. It's the familiar account of Jesus walking on the water, and the corresponding passage in Matthew 14, where Peter attempts to walk on the water out to Jesus. The disciples hadn't recognized Him and were frightened.

The phrase that arrests my attention is when Jesus was walking out to them as the waves grew rough-- "and He intended to pass by them." Why pass by them? Why not be walking out to save them from their distress? I think both were necessary. At this moment, it's not about the disciples. It's about Jesus and the authority that He has over the tumultuous situation.

I think most of us have the tendency to think that Jesus is supposed to calm all of the distresses that we find ourselves in. He can and often does. But at this moment with the disciples, and in many of our own moments, it's about recognizing the authority and power of Jesus Himself. It's all about Him.

It's not about what miracle can He perform for them, for me, to get us out of the chaos brought on by this fallen world. It's about our need to see who Jesus is, to see that He is, indeed, the Son of God. The disciples recognized that after they saw His power.  

And those who were in the boat worshiped Him saying,  

"You are certainly God's Son!" 

~Matthew 14:33

So I ask myself--Am I a Jesus follower because of what He can do for me? Or do I follow Him because of who He is and the authority that He has over all creation, including me? If it's about me, I'll be disillusioned when He doesn't respond the way I expect, when I don't feel benefited, or when I go through tumultuous times. Life has meaning only as it relates to knowing Him and His character and attributes--for that is how I find peace and calm in the midst of this broken, fallen world.

Even if He passes by--so that I may understand Him and life more fully. For one of the things I know is that He cares for me.

I do hope you know Him and shall see Him someday face to face. I hope I see you over there.

Painting ~ Leisure Hours 1863, Philip Hermogenes Calderon 1833-1898

Through Gates of Splendor

I had read the book many years ago and grew up hearing the account many, many times. Recently, we watched Through Gates of Splendor as a 35-minute documentary which told of the events leading up to the death of the five missionaries who were trying to bring the gospel to the Aucas in 1956 and how the Aucas were initially reached. The documentary was particularly interesting because it was narrated by Elisabeth Elliot herself as a young mother, based mostly on home-movie film footage and Life magazine photos.

I found the account of Elisabeth's and Rachel Saint's return to the Aucas to be a bit different than what I had understood it to be. My own misunderstanding, to be sure, but I had always envisioned these women tenaciously heading right back into the jungle, determined to do what their husbands had been thwarted in doing. Not exactly. The desire to reach the Aucas with the gospel message was, of course, their heartbeat, but how they ended up living in the village was more of God's direct intervention than that of their own sheer determination.

Once again I was reminded that it's all about God, not about us. It's not even about Elisabeth Elliott, as much as I am grateful for her life and writing. Neither is it about Rachel Saint, who lived with the Aucas until her death, translating the gospel into the Aucan language. Nor is it about Dayuma, the young Aucan woman who played a key role in bringing the gospel to her people.

God's purpose was to reach the Aucas, and Elisabeth, Rachel and Dayuma were simply willing instruments in the hands of the Redeemer. Dayuma's role in spreading the gospel among her own people was part of the story that I had somehow missed down through the years.

I do recommend the documentary, but you'll want to use discretion in its viewing. The Aucas are shown in their natural attire at that time, so there's nudity throughout. 

Sunday Ponderings ~ Don't Be As One of Them

I had mentioned in an earlier post that I'm taking a class at church on the Minor Prophets. This week we studied Obadiah and his warning against Edom (descendants of Esau, the brother of Jacob) for aiding those who wanted to destroy Israel. Edom, instead, was itself destroyed.

The prophecy is a warning to other nations as well, not to be aloof to Israel's needs, not to gloat over their misfortunes, or to bring violence to that country. I believe the warning carries even into our present time. The prophecy says not to be as one of them. This is why I think that it's important for America to stand with Israel. So thankful that our current president has turned America's stance back in support of that nation. Otherwise, I believe our doom would be sealed.

From Obadiah 8-14

“Will I not on that day,” declares the Lord,  

     “Destroy wise men from Edom," .... 

"Because of violence to your brother Jacob, 

     You will be covered with shame, 

     And you will be cut off forever.

“On the day that you stood aloof, 

     On the day that strangers carried off his wealth, 

     And foreigners entered his gate 

     And cast lots for Jerusalem— 

     You too were as one of them.

“Do not gloat over your brother’s day, 

     The day of his misfortune. 

     And do not rejoice over the sons of Judah 

     In the day of their destruction; 

     Yes, do not boast In the day of their distress.

“Do not enter the gate of My people 

     In the day of their disaster. 

     Yes, you, do not gloat over their calamity 

     In the day of their disaster. 

     And do not loot their wealth 

     In the day of their disaster.

“Do not stand at the fork of the road 

     To cut down their fugitives; 

     And do not imprison their survivors
     In the day of their distress.

“For the day of the Lord draws near on all the nations. 

     As you have done, it will be done to you.
     Your dealings will return on your own head."

Painting ~ A Quiet Read, William K. Blacklock 1872-1924

Weekend Daybook

Outside My Window

A cloudy, cool day, but one just right for My Beloved to wash the car. 

Noticing the sound of...
Distant traffic out on the main road. People going somewhere. Someplace they need to go, or want to go. The faint sound of distant traffic has always called to something within me. It stirs a longing deep inside, and calls me to go someplace I need to go. Someplace I want to go. It calls me Heavenward. Homeward. And someday I shall go. Thank you, Jesus, for calling me to Yourself. 

I do hope that you are headed Heavenward and Homeward, too. I do hope to see you on the other side.

A Peek Into My Week...
Red roses from My Beloved on Valentine's Day. 

Thankful For...

Women that I have met at our new church. I listen, blessed by their depth.

Learning... (still) 
That it's about God and not me. My life needs to more and more point others toward Him.

Pondering...
Taking my mother to the hematologist in a few days, and concerned about hearing words we'd rather not hear. Reminding myself to cast my cares upon Jesus. 

In the kitchen...
I tried making a new-to-me bread this week. I rushed the process, so it didn't come out so well. Tried it again today and it's a keeper. :-)

The fruit of my hands...
Meals this week prepared for others, as we share in fellowship (k-group), and as I show God's care for my parents. Drove my mother to the doctor and spent time with my sister shopping and lunch to give her and my parents some time apart. So glad we were able to move here last year and help in this way.

Around the house...
Found this lovely, small box yesterday to corral my ipod and cords on my dresser.

I hope to...
Get an area planted soon near my kitchen window so we can watch the birds. They are such a pleasant reminder of God's care.

Thinking...

About small things. We had chili at Wendy's today, and as My Beloved handed the money to the cashier, she thanked him for putting the money in her hand. She said that it's a small thing, but often people will throw the money at her, and sometimes she has to just hold her tongue when people do and say some of the things they do. She says she is thankful, though, for people who are respectful. Who would have thought such a small act would be a blessing to her day.

Currently Reading...

I've just begun reading this book, and the first several pages have pulled me into it. I looked online for more information about the author, and found that the book was originally printed in 1997 and updated in 2016. If you click on the image, it will take you to the updated edition.

A synopsis from the publisher:

"The globalizing world of late modernity is heavily awash with pseudo-gods. Gods That Fail provocatively deploys the theological concept of idolatry to explore the ways in which these gods blind their devotees and wreak suffering and dehumanization. Many of these pseudo-gods have infiltrated the life of the Church and compromised its witness. Combining lively social critique with fresh expositions of familiar biblical stories, this book engages with a variety of secular discourses as well as the sub-Christian practices that accompany and undermine Christian involvement in the public square."

I think I'll get the updated edition to finish the book. I'm interested in reading what he thinks about our post-modern global world after 19 more years of idolatry.

First Image ~ Charles Dana Gibson c1900, Library of Congress 

From the Kitchen ~ Chicken Pot Pie

Sharing an easy, peasy recipe that I took to our small group last evening. A few asked for the recipe, so thought I'd share it with you, too.

Easy Chicken Pot Pie

- 1 package Kraft Stove Top Stuffing Mix with Savory Herbs
- 1/2 package Tyson Grilled & Ready Pulled Chicken Breast, thawed
     (or as much as you like; I thawed in the microwave)
- 1 jar (12 oz.) Heinz Home Style Classic Chicken Gravy
- 1 package (15 oz.) frozen peas & carrots, thawed
     (I thawed in the microwave)
- 1.5 cups hot water
- 4 tablespoons butter
- 1/4 tsp. dried thyme leaves

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

- Melt butter in hot water.
- Stir contents of stuffing mix in water and butter mixture until water is absorbed.
- Mix gravy, chicken, vegetables, and thyme in a large bowl.
     Transfer to a 2 qt. baking dish.
- Spread stuffing mix over top of mixture.

Bake 45 minutes or until hot and bubbly.

Home, Something More

Lord, let our house be something more 

Than just a shelter with a door;

     May its windows glow with light,

     Shedding radiance through the night.

Not just a glitter of glass and chrome,

But give it the "feel" of a happy home.

Let it have flowers, a well-loved book,

Soft cushions in a quiet nook.

     May it be more than downy bed,

     Or snowy cloth with silver spread;

Lend it some smiles, warm sympathy,

With kindly thought, true charity—

     That all may recall, though far they roam,

     That God was there—in the heart of home.

~ Christine White

Painting ~ Room of Flowers, Childe Hassam 1893

The Love Affair With Romance

A Day of Romance

But often a marriage misconception

Today can be a fun day, but for many it's a day of disillusion and disappointment, with or without that special someone. When there is a special someone, it can be more disappointing because of expectations borne out of our culture's love affair with romance itself. And a misconception of what real love is.

Why acts of romance cannot be the basis for a healthy marriage relationship is the discussion in Paul Tripp's marriage conference: What Did You Expect: Redeeming the Realities of Marriage. The first two sessions are available for viewing today on Tripp's website. Just click on the image to go there. I'm not sure how long they will be offered.

The conference is also on DVD with a discussion guide. My Beloved and I have worked through it, as well as using it in our SS class a few years ago. Many in the class were astonished that they hadn't heard this type of teaching on marriage before, and for many, many years we had not either. There is no psychobabble in it. It is filled with biblical truth and principle.

I don't care for going out to dinner on Valentine's Day, so I'm going to fix a dinner that My Beloved especially likes. Then we're going to watch these sessions once again that Paul Tripp is offering. Review and Refresh. And Recommit.

The Life & Faith of C.S. Lewis

Recommending today The Life & Faith of C.S. Lewis. I had used it several years back when I taught high school English, and My Beloved and I watched it again on Amazon Prime over the weekend. Click on the image and it will take you there. The DVD can also be purchased on Amazon.

C.S. Lewis is thought by many to be the greatest writer of the 20th century. His ideas and words live on through the 38 books that he wrote. One of my favorites is The Screwtape Letters. Hmm...it's been awhile since I've read it. Think I'll pull it off the bookshelf next. It's interesting to note that none of Lewis's books have ever been out of print.

The documentary was originally broadcast on public television and chronicles Lewis's academic life, his transition from atheism to faith in Christ, his friendship with J.R.R. Tolkien, and his marriage to his wife, Joy. An interesting documentary for a quiet evening.

Sunday Ponderings ~ Faithful Is He

A blessed time of fellowship and corporate worship today with fellow believers in Christ. I hope you were able to worship with your own church family today. I do hope that you have a church family. And most of all, I hope you are a believer and a follower. After the Doxology, we parted ways with the benedicton from 1 Thessalonians.

Praise God from Whom all blessings flow.

Praise Him all creatures here below.

Praise Him above ye heavenly host.

Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.

Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you entirely; and may your spirit and soul and body be preserved complete, without blame at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. Faithful is He who calls you, and He also will bring it to pass. Amen (5:23).

Image ~ Family Going to Church, Andy Otto CC BY-NC 4.0

Weekend Daybook

Changing from linking with the previous daybook site to just doing my own. The previous site required strict adherence to specific lead-ins, and I wanted to change it up every now and then. So, not linking there any longer, but I do want to continue the Daybook postings for my own journaling. Still, simple thoughts from a simple woman.

Around the house... 

Got family photos and momentos back into the curio cabinet. Had my Christmas Village there for the holidays, and took awhile to get things tucked back in after the Village was stored away. I should call it our momentos cabinet. A brief peek at the top shelf...

  

One of our wedding photos. Wedding pearls from My Beloved.

Pin and ring were from dating days. The ring is heart-shaped with our birthstones.

We've had the older porcelain couple for probably 40 years or more. 

We'll soon be there!

The pink vase was a wedding shower gift. I still remember the flowers that were in it.

Love birds were a gift from My Beloved.  

My mother in the foreground (both photos). My grandmother behind her. 

My great grandmother in the passenger's seat of the car.

My grandmother on the far left.  Her sister beside her. Others are friends.

Thankful...

That my mother's TIAs have lessened after several this week, and for her tenacious doctor who keeps searching for answers.

Noticing the sound of...

My parents' phone ringing off the hook. Their number was spoofed today, and people are returning calls to the number they saw on their own caller ID. It's very annoying listening to the phone ringing from dozens and dozen of calls. And that's just today. My Beloved saw online that some people receive hundreds of such calls because their phone number was spoofed. My parents aren't answering the phone,  and it's sad that most who are leaving call back messages sound like older people who think the original call was legitimate. Only one person seemed upset about the call, whatever the original message was.

From the Kitchen...

Made some lentil soup today and took some to my parents.

Outside My Window...
Some of the bushes want to bloom, and it's just mid-February. Haven't become accustomed yet to the warmer weather here in the south, but this still seems rather early for blooming.

Thinking...
That it's been a week since I posted last. So much happening with my mother these past few days.


I hope to...

Open an Etsy shop for little girl dresses, probably several months down the road. I have soooo much fabric in my stash from quilt making, and I'd like to reclaim some of the money that I have invested in it. I made clothing for my own little girls when they were little, so it's sort of a revival of an interest for me. I enjoy working with fabric, and having a finished project much quicker than with quilt making is rather nice. I do have a few baby quilts that I plan to offer as well. So, we'll see. 

Learning...

To insert piping for a decorative touch in little girl dresses. Reviewing and stretching my skills. Watching tutorials from Sewing with Lindsay, who has a boutique children's pattern company, and is the author of Sew Classic Clothes for Girls. 

Pondering...

A portion of Joel 2:12-14 as I prepare for tomorrow's SS class. It gives me a glimpse of my God.

 

“Yet even now,” declares the Lord,
“Return to Me with all your heart,
And with fasting, weeping and mourning;  

And rend your heart and not your garments.”

 
Now return to the Lord your God,
For He is gracious and compassionate,
Slow to anger, abounding in lovingkindness
And relenting of evil.

Who knows whether He will not turn and relent
And leave a blessing behind Him

 

Praying that He may have pity on America. Who knows?

Reading...

Verses of Virtue

The Poetry and Prose of Christian Womanhood

A brief excerpt:

The virtuous woman is a daughter of destiny. She thinks multi-generationally. She walks by faith in the light of the promises of God. These promises spur her on to live courageously and without compromise. 

Keep looking upward and homeward, dear one. 

 PS--Formatting on this post has a mind of its own today. Can't get it uniform.

First Image ~ Charles Dana Gibson c1900, Library of Congress 

From the Sewing Room ~ Striped Table Runner

Showing a table runner that I made from scraps left from another project. I also save any left over batting that would be long and wide enough for a table runner, so this is a simple project for very little cost.

I just cut varying width strips and sewed them together with 1/4-inch seam, alternating white with color. Some of them I wanted really narrow, so I took a deeper seam on some of the strips, which also made them easier to work with. Then I trimmed those seams to 1/4 inch and ironed all of the seams in the same direction. With so many seams, ironing in the same direction helps the runner to lay flatter. Colors are basically aqua/teal and white. Backing is white, and it's also bound in white to keep the stripes accented.

I simply stitched in the ditch, again to accent the stripes, and called it finished. I hand quilted this table runner because hand stitching is relaxing for me in the evenings, but machine stitching in the ditch would make it much faster. With hand quilting, though, I can sit and stitch and enjoy being near my Beloved as a bonus.  :-)

Secrets: The Sphinx

If you're interested in ancient history, you might enjoy the documentary by the Smithsonian, Secrets: The Sphinx. We watched it on Netflix this evening and found it to be interesting speculation. A summary from the Smithsonian:

It stands as tall as a six-story building and is the length of a jumbo jet. Egypt's Great Sphinx is the biggest single stone statue in existence, and the mysteries surrounding it are equally sizable. When was the monument built, and why? Was it an act of devotion or part of a much larger plan? Join a team of international investigators as they attempt to shed new light on these age-old questions, using the latest research and techniques in order to solve the complex riddle of the Sphinx once and for all.

You can watch a few brief videos of the documentary on the Smithsonian website.  It's also going to be aired on the Smithsonian TV channel in March.

Image ~ Giza Plateau - Great Sphinx with Pyramid of Khafre in background, Daniel Mayer CC 4.0

We Do Not Lose Heart

Reflecting on the discussion in our small group last evening. The passage was relevant to how distraught some have shown themselves to be these past several weeks. Those with faith in that which is temporal have plunged into hysteria. Faith and hope have been misplaced, and they are frantic and distressed.

Yet God is raining on the just and the unjust, as He is righting some of the wrongs that have taken root in our national soil. And He seems to be using a Motley crew to do it. His ways, indeed, are not our ways.

Verses 15-17 of 2 Corinthians 4 caught my attention in our discussion:

For all things are for your sakes, so that the grace which is spreading to more and more people may cause the giving of thanks to abound to the glory of God. Therefore we do not lose heart, but though our outer man is decaying, yet our inner man is being renewed day by day. For momentary, light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison, while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal.

Do you see it?  

For all things are for your sakes, so that the grace which is spreading to more and more people may cause the giving of thanks to abound to the glory of God. 

God is always working for our good and for His glory.

And look again...

so that the grace which is spreading to more and more people may cause the giving of thanks to abound to the glory of God.

For it is only God who can make a change for the good of America. His grace is spreading to more and more people. Thanks be to God. To Him be the glory!

Therefore, we do not lose heart.

Painting ~ Woman in the Open Air 1853, Alajos Gyorgyi Giergl 1821-1863