Weekend Daybook

Outside my window...

It was a glorious day on Thursday, so we took a 2-hour drive up into the mountains just to enjoy the sunny, autumn palette, although the photo doesn't seem to show the colors. :-/ By the time we arrived at our destination the sky was cloud covered. But we followed about a half hour after the rain, so our little picnic in the park in the cool mountain air was still enjoyable and refreshing. Came back out into the sunshine on our return trip home.

Noticing the sound of...

The rumble of the neighbor boys' truck as they leave our cul-de-sac. And their friends have rumble trucks, too. Their house seems to be the gathering place, which I think is a wonderful thing. Their parents know that it's a good idea to have an open door, hospitable home. That way they get to know their sons' friends. Wise parents. The mom says, though, that the grocery receipt can get pretty long.

Thankful For...

Those who have served in our military and for their families who have sacrificed their presence at home.

Around the house...

Learning...

To let God's love flow through me. I too often clog the pipe.

 

The fruit of my hands...

Hemmed some pants for my mother. Pants are awfully long these days. My daughters are glad of it, though. 

In the Kitchen...

Made Torellini Casserole yesterday to share with my parents. Sharing the easy recipe with you. Serves 6

Prepare 1 pkg. 20 oz. Italian sausage tortellini

Meanwhile, stir fry a 3 pepper (red, yellow, green)-onion mixture, about 2 cups or so

   (I just used a precut container from the grocery store)

Combine tortellini and veggie mix

Stir in 1 jar of your favorite spaghetti sauce

Spoon combination into casserole dish (I separated into 2 dishes so as to share)

Top with cheese or your choice

Cover and bake for 30-40 minutes, uncovering the last 5 minutes

Brought a smile...

As my sister Dorothy opened her birthday gifts, she would take them one by one to where she wanted to keep them. Open a card, take it to where she has them displayed. Open the gift, go put it on her bedroom chest. Open another gift, go put the wrapping in the the trash can. She may have some handicaps, but she's a whiz at keeping things orderly and in their place. 

Pondering...

"I think the reason we sometimes have the false sense that God is so far away is because that is where we have put him. We have kept him at a distance, and then when we are in need and call on him in prayer, we wonder where he is. He is exactly where we left him." ~ Ravi Zacharias, in Has Christianity Failed You?

Thinking...

About a comment I'd read on someone's blog recently that said he has posted each day for over 5,000 days. I don't know how anyone has enough time in the day to keep up with that and other responsibilities or opportunities, but I think he is famous in his life's sphere, and speaking and writing is part of his livelihood. I don't think I could even think of that many things to write about.

Reading...
Finished Wise Parenting Principles from Proverbs last evening. Posted about it on Thursday. 

I hope your week has been filled with seeing God in the small things, dear one. That's where most of life is lived. 

 

Evil Beyond Words

Jesus Wept

The horrific deaths of those whose lives are taken only because they are there causes us to ask, how can anybody be so entirely and completely mastered by such evil and wickedness as to kill and maim the innocent, especially children? And who would we ask, except God? I don't know if even the wicked perpetrators themselves would know.

This past Sunday's attack on the church family in the little town in Texas is almost beyond belief as to the heinousness that burst from the heart of the killer. I cannot wrap my mind around such evil to understand it. I cannot find the words to describe it. I read an article yesterday, though, by Janie Cheaney at World Magazine titled "The Terror of the Void" that gave me a little understanding. She was discussing the previous shooting in Las Vegas, and her thoughts could apply to any such violence as we've seen this past week.

She talked about evil being the absence of good. There is a void in our hearts that only God can fill with Himself and His goodness. When the heart has no goodness in it, that void is evil. Not filled with evil, but evil itself. God is the creator of all things, and goodness is from Him, but He did not create evil. Evil is the absence of God's good. It is that void without the goodness of God.

Janie Cheaney explains it so well, that I leave you with a link to her article. You can find it here. It helped me to understand a little more, even though it's still hard to imagine a person's heart so void of any goodness whatsoever that he could look at a baby's sweet face, see the innocence in the eyes, and continue his dastardly, cowardly, wicked, evil deed.

I've been thinking, how do we discuss this evil deed, or any evil, with our children and our grandchildren?  How do we help them process what has taken place? I will ponder it more, I'm sure, but I think we need to help them understand that the absence of God and His goodness in our hearts leaves the void, the evil. And evil becomes the master. The more we love God and His ways, the more our hearts are filled with His goodness. And He becomes our master.

All I know is to pray for those who mourn and weep, and to ask for God's grace and mercy to comfort and console, that they will know Father God in a way that they have not experienced before. I pray that He will strengthen them in their spirit, in their physical being, in their hearts and minds. Only He can do any of that. He is Goodness. God is great and God is good.

Painting ~ Jesus Wept, James Tippot (1836-1902)

Wikipedia, public domain

Thankful Thursday ~ For Biblical Authors

I'm thankful for people that God has gifted with an understanding of His Word and how to bring it to bear with the issues of life. I'm thankful for their ability to write with a gospel orientation as they share their insights and knowledge through the written word.

I've been doing some reading about parenting and wishing we had some of these books when our own children were growing up.  But it's never too late to learn good principles about training children and touching their hearts for eternity, to be a positive influence on  grandchildren and an encouragement to them in their faith.

One of the books I'm reading is Wise Parenting Principles From Proverbs by Chris Cutshall. The author categorizes the Proverbs into 40 principles for training children.

Wise Parenting Principles 1-5 ~ A Teachable Spirit
Wise Parenting Principles 6-10 ~ The Way of Wisdom
Wise Parenting Principles 11-15 ~ Arrows in the Hand
Wise Parenting Principles 16-20 ~ Strong Parent Leaders
Wise Parenting Principles 21-25 ~ The Small Window of Opportunity
Wise Parenting Principles 26-30 ~ The Treasure That You Seek
Wise Parenting Principles 31-35 ~ Stay on Mission
Wise Parenting Principles 36-40 ~ No Regrets

 Going to pass this book along to my daughter when I'm finished. 

Finding the Way to Your Child's Heart

from J.C.Ryle:

Train up your child with all tenderness, affection, and patience. 

I do not mean that you are to spoil him, 

but I do mean that you should let him see that you love him. 

Love should be the silver thread that runs through all your conduct. 

Kindness

Gentleness

Long-suffering

Patience

Forbearance

Sympathy

A willingness to enter into childish troubles

A readiness to take part in childish joys

These are the cords by which a child may be led most easily.

These are the clues you must follow.

If you would find the way to his heart.

~ J.C. Ryle,  from The Duties of Parents

1888

Painting ~ Mother and Daughters Playing Chess, Francis Coates Jones (1857-1932)

Wiki Gallery, public domain
(It looks like checkers to me, but enjoyment nevertheless)

The Overarching Theme, Our Good and His Glory

Sharing some thoughts from my quiet time reading today, and being reminded that God requires a few things from me. They take my mind back to yesterday's post and what God wants to be navigating my heart.

And now, Israel, what does the LORD your God require from you, but to fear the LORD your God, to walk in all His ways and love Him, and to serve the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul, and to keep the LORD's commandments and His statutes which I am commanding you today for your good? (Deut.10:12-13)

My Beloved asked me last evening what my day was going to look like today, so that we sync our activities. What did I have planned for the day? Well, besides the routine responsibilities, returning an item to Walmart and picking up an item that I keep forgetting about until I need to use it, wrapping my sister's birthday gift and taking it to her so she can enjoy the anticipation of what might be inside for her birthday tomorrow, possibly a haircut (I surely need it!), continuing preparation for a Sunday School opportunity. All to be viewed as positive action items.

As I plan out my day and plot my journey through it, though, I'm reminded that my overarching theme is to be my relationship with God. Jesus reiterated this Himself, as we're reminded in the gospel of Matthew, You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind...You shall love your neighbor as yourself (22:37-39). I've had this reminder in my kitchen for several years, to be cognizant of where I let my mind wander, to put a guard over my heart as to what I allow to influence it.

It takes practice to know what does.

But solid food is for the mature, who because of practice have their senses trained to discern good and evil (Hebrews 5:14).

None of my action items for today are required of me, except through the filter of loving God with all my heart, my mind, my soul. Will I journey through the day with this objective in mind? Walmart will be where I meet my challenge. Practice, I tell myself. Practice.

Painting ~ The Artist's Wife Reading, Henry Bouvet

1859-1945, public domain

Surprised About Hollywood?

An Anxious Moment, Briton Riviere

Why is anyone surprised at the current goings on in Hollywood? What is seen on the screen simply flows from the heart through the pen and the voice of those with which it has to do. Why is it such a surprise then, especially to the regenerate and transformed mind, that immorality and perversion go on behind closed doors as well as on the screen? Are we that naive? Do we lack any discernment? Have our minds not been transformed but, rather, conformed to what Hollywood reels out movie after movie?

I watched a brief video on a blog today that speaks somewhat to this issue; if you'd like to watch it, click here. But I think the much more serious issue is the inability to discern what is affecting our hearts and minds and that of our children. An easy question to ask myself is, "Would I allow this to take place in my living room?" Do you enjoy watching what breaks the heart of God, the sins that cost Jesus on the cross? We are to love the things God loves and hate the things He hates. Simple enough. I'm not talking about throwing the baby out with the bathwater and never watching a movie that may edify and encourage, but there's a warfare going on between God and Satan, and it's too often hardly noticed. Who is winning Hollywood? Who is winning your heart and the heart of your family?

Authors, whether through the pen, the keyboard, the lips, or the audio and visual arts have a story to tell with a philosophy to expound. Suggestion: Watch a movie (or TV show) at home that you'd normally choose and take notes. Two columns: godly themes / ungodly themes. I don't mean the overall theme of the movie. If there's a family dressed in their birthday suits taking food to their neighbors who have just had a loss of some sort, the theme of helping your neighbor is a good one, but obviously, the sub-theme of delivering the meal naked is wrong. You may not catch all the sub-themes of the movie; they're often very subtle. Watch with your spouse or a friend, both take notes, then compare and discuss. You may be surprised to learn what is actually coming into your mind and the mind of your children, both consciously and subconsciously. Food for thought either way. And the mind is where it matters. When you wonder where your children got some idea that you find foreign to your family, it may be no surprise at all. 

Some say that we need to be integrated into the culture, otherwise we'll be "irrelevant and alienated from others." They propose that watching Hollywood movies helps us have talking points with our neighbors, just be cautious of "the danger of excess." I don't see that philosophy expounded in Scripture. What we do read is that we are to test all things and to abstain from every form of evil and to hold fast to what is good. There's much more that we can discuss with our neighbors, and what seems to be unrecognized is that changes in thinking patterns slowly morph, and the change points are hardly noticed. It's like a lobster; if it's put into water that's being heated to boiling, he doesn't even notice that he's soon to be somebody's meal.

Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls about like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour (1 Peter 5:8).

Is it you, dear one?  And what about those precious children who sit by your side, innocently munching on their popcorn?

Painting ~ An Anxious Moment, Briton Riviere 1878

WikiArt, public domain

Sunday Ponderings ~ Come

We are all needy, so do come.

Come, ye sinners, poor and needy,
Weak and wounded, sick and sore;
Jesus ready stands to save you,
With compassion, love and power.

 
Come, ye thirsty to the fountain,
Come, and find His goodness here;
True belief and true repentance,
Every grace that brings You near.

Come, ye weary heavy-laden,
Lost and ruined by the fall;
If you wait until you're better,
You will never come at all.

I will rise and go to Jesus;
He will embrace me as His own.
In the arms of my dear Savior,
There is life forevermore.

~ Joseph Hart 1759

Painting ~ A Private View, William Powell Frith 1882

wikipedia public domain

Weekend Daybook

Outside My Window

We take a faster route to get to church, but our leisurely route back home takes us past acres and acres of cotton fields. It was cloudy when I took the picture this week, but as you can see, the fields flow far into the distance. They are about to be harvested, and they are much more beautiful than the photo depicts.

Thankful...

That our daughter and grandchildren spent last week with us while her hubby flew to the west coast for a conference. It was so good to have the extended time together. I felt like I got to know her once again.

Noticing the sound of...
The passenger train that occasionally makes a run past our house, giving passengers an autumn-paletted excursion. The railroad tracks end about a mile up the road, and we get to see the train on its return trip as well. We sometimes wave and greet them from the back porch. :-)

Looking forward to...

Giving my sister her birthday present this week. I think she'll enjoy it. :-)

Learning...
Not to generalize with comments that I make. They just might give offense. :-/

Pondering...
Compassion or rebuke? Of compassion we know of our Lord that “a bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not quench” (Matthew 12:20). Of rebuke we know He said to Peter on the lake, “Where is your faith?” (Luke 8:25). We work these out in fear and trembling. Surfeit of compassion is enabling; surfeit of rebuke crushes the spirit. ~ Andree Seu Peterson in World Magazine (You can read the entire article here.)

Thinking...
How so many people believe humanity is in control of Earth's destiny. Human-centric philosophy skews one's perspective in many ways.

In the Kitchen...
Took a chicken noodle casserole to my parents yesterday and pepperoni pizza pasta to our new neighbors after they moved in recently. Thankful for good neighbors once again. :-)

The pizza pasta is my go-to for taking a meal to a family. Include a bag of salad and some deli bread, and you have a quick meal. Sharing the recipe. You can include whatever pizza topping you want and as much as your family likes. This recipe is pretty generic for sharing.

Pepperoni Pizza Pasta
(Serves 4. I usually double for more)

8 oz. (2 cups) uncooked ziti or penne pasta
14 oz jar pizza sauce
2 oz (2/3 cup) mini pepperoni (or regular size cut in half) 
     or any pizza toppings your family likes
1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1/2 tsp. dried oregano leaves 
1 garlic clove, minced
4 oz. (1 cup) mozzarella cheese

Heat oven to 375. Spray 8-inch square baking dish with cooking spray. Cook pasta according to directions on package and drain. In large bowl, combine cooked pasta, pizza sauce, pepperoni and whatever other toppings you want to add, Parmesan cheese, oregano, and garlic. Put into baking dish and top with cheese. Cover with foil and bake for 30 minutes or until mixture is thoroughly heated and cheese is melted.

In the Sewing Room...

Worked with my daughter while she was here to redo a couple of pillows for her sofa. Her style is rustic, and she says they're just perfect. It was fun to work together.

They're from the same fabric as a quilt I had made for her last year with big quilt stitches that she throws across an over-stuffed chair.

Around the house...
Freshening up this week after the kiddos' visit last week, and remembering how the crumbs and the spills came to be. Finding little toys stashed here and there by the little one or misplaced after a game by the older ones . All part of good memories of having them here.

Brought a smile...
Seeing a little red-headed fella having lunch with his daddy, and thinking of my own little fella Daniel and his brother Elijah with his red hair. :-)

Reading...
Proverbs for Parenting: A Topical Guide for Child Raising from the Book of Proverbs by Barbara Decker

from the introduction--
One of the greatest things we can do for our children is to teach them God's Word. The words we speak help build our children's consciences, their understanding of God, and their view of life and the world about them.

The proverbs are categorized into many areas where children need correction, direction, growth in godly attributes, and instruction.

This is a wonderful resource for anyone who has oversight of children.


I hope you've had a good week, dear one, as you journey through this season of life. If our paths don't cross here on earth, I hope they will eventually. I'm headed Upward and Homeward, and I hope to see you there.

Invaluable

It's been almost a month since I've taken some time to write out some thoughts. I need to get back to doing that. It helps me to formulate what I really think and feel about some things that are going on in my life and how I ought to be thinking and responding. It gets me beyond simply moving through my days, and causes me to contemplate and consider my ways. Oftentimes, some new realization comes to mind in how I need to change, and oftentimes, I'm reassured that I'm on the right track. Either way, it's invaluable.

Yesterday was our last session in our Bible study in Ephesians. I'm so very thankful to have the privilege of discussing God's word with women who seek truth as they walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which we've been called (Ephesians 4:1). I'm also so very thankful that it is the grace of God than enables us to walk in a worthy manner, and thankful that my performance in the walk doesn't determine His love for me. His love is perfect--He can't love me more than He does, and He won't love me less than He does. Absolute perfect love.

However, my walk does give evidence of my faith to those I may meet on my journey Homeward. It also gives evidence of my gratitude and love for Him, and so I want to "walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, to please Him in all respects, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God" (Colossians 1:10). 

And so we gather together each week to increase our knowledge of God, and to talk of ways to bear fruit in good works. And as an added blessing, we become friends. :-)

I do hope you have a group of like-minded friends who encourage you in your walk of faith, dear one. We are meant for relationship and encouraging one another.

Painting ~ Woman Writing A Letter  c. 1665, Gerard Terborch  

WikiArt, public domain

Autumn ~ The Mellow Season

Youth is like spring, but autumn is the mellow season.

What we lose in flowers we more than gain in fruits.
 

~Samuel Butler

Image ~ Pumpkins, by Maxx Girr

via pixabay CC0 Creative Commons