Every time I read Holy Experience I am blessed. Her words whisper like the wind and speak truth. What I read today was no different. Words I needed to hear.  

Gentle. Simple. Beautiful. True.     

blessings,

dani

Those who live in accord with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. – Romans 8:5

with Nancy Leigh DeMoss – if you’ve read Our Narrow Way for any length of time you will know that I love the ministry of Revive Our Hearts and it’s host Nancy Leigh DeMoss. (So much so that people get tired of hearing me talk about it.) Here is a link to an interview with Nancy done on girl talk – check it out. I thought Day One was really neat because during that interview Nancy shares about her growing up years which are so interesting and inspiring. There is so much we can take away and learn from…I love the picture she paints of her father.

So, in honor of Father’s Day I thought I’d share a memory similar to the one Nancy shares of her Father – this is being shared in honor of Mark’s Father and it is Mark’s memory.

Mark has told me that one of the neatest and most precious memories that he has of his father is of his father on his knees each night next to his bed praying. He says that his father did this every single night without fail. When Mark was young he didn’t pay much attention to this humble act, but today as he thinks back tears come to his eyes…for the fruit of those prayers can be seen in him - Mark.

Today his father sits and stares, quietly watching TV, barely moving from his spot on the couch, in September he turns 90. He is ill and it is very likely that this will be his last Father’s Day.  Mark says that when he was a boy his dad was a vibrant man, full of life and humor, always ready to help out and lend a hand. The “life of the party”. Yet, it is the memory of his father in prayer that impacts Mark the most – and probably it was those prayers that impacted Mark the most because today Mark is a godly man. One you would call in time of need. One who will stop and pray with you on the spot. One who proclaims God’s truth before other’s every Sunday. One who doesn’t back down on his convictions and one who has led many men to the Lord.

Soon we will be going on vacation and before we leave Mark will gather us together or we will bow our heads together in the car and he will lead us in prayer for a safe journey and travelling mercies. Before we leave from our destination he will gather us together again and we will pause to pray for our return trip…and while we are gone there will be prayers not seen or heard but given up…for the family and for others…

I wonder...what will our children remember?

blessings,

dani

“Be very careful to keep the commandment and the law…to love the Lord your God, to walk in all His ways, to obey His commands, to hold fast to Him and to serve Him with all your heart and all your soul.” (Joshua 22:5)

Happy Mother’s Day!

Dickon stood out among the trees and rose-bushes and began to sing…

“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.

                                Amen”

…“Who is coming in here?” he said quickly.  “Who is it?”

The door in the ivied wall had been pushed gently open and a woman had entered.  She had come in with the last line of their song and she had stood still listening and looking at them.  With the ivy behind her, the sunlight drifting through the trees and dappling her long blue cloak, and her nice fresh face smiling across the greenery she was rather like a softly colored illustration in one of Colin’s books. She had wonderful affectionate eyes which seemed to take everything in-all of them, even Ben Weatherstaff and the “creatures” and every flower that was in bloom.  Unexpectedly as she had appeared, not one of them felt that she was an intruder at all.  Dickon’s eyes lighted like lamps.

“It’s Mother-that’s who it is!” he cried and went across the grass at a run.

Colin began to move toward her, too, and Mary went with him.  They both felt their pulses beat faster.

“It’s Mother!” Dickon said again when they met half-way.

(Chapter XXVI, “It’s Mother!” The Secret Garden, Frances Hodgson Burnett)

“There is no human love like a mother’s love.  There is no human tenderness like a mother’s tenderness…In all ages everywhere, the true children of a true mother ‘rise up and call her blessed’; for they realize, sooner or later, that God gives no richer blessing to man then is found in a mother’s love.” 

                       - Henry Clay Trumbull, Hints On Child Training

blessings,

dani    

“Her children rise up and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her…” (Proverbs 31:28)

The Encouragement Award.

I know I’m supposed to pass on the Encouragement award…but I’m a little stumped…not because I don’t know who to pass it on to, but because the blogs I would have passed it to have disappeared.

Now...this doesn’t mean that there aren’t other wonderful blogs out there…I KNOW that there are, but they have either already been given the award (originally entitled the Thinking Blog Award) or I’m not aware of them. (And although I would love to do so…I just don't have time to visit too many other blogs, and lately I haven’t had any time to visit anywhere except  Thinklings and A.S.Kids…both of which are wonderful and worthy of awards…Thinklings for – of course – making people think, and A.S. Kids for encouragement and help.)

But, that said, I would still like to honor the blogs I would have chosen if they were still around, because when I first started blogging these were the blogs that encouraged me the most…and just because they have “disappeared” doesn’t make them any less of an encouragement. It just means that the bloggers have rearranged their priorities (probably for the better) or switched to an easier blog host. So without further ado here is my list…

Number 1 – would have to be the famous Dandelion Seeds. She has won all sorts of awards and deserves it. What a blessing her blog was to so many.

Number 2 – Little Eblings Academy - because she was so sweet to always comment on my blog and now she is missing…and we all miss her and her cute, encouraging blog.

Number 3 – Jewels2Texas @ From the Hearth – who was such an encouragement to me when I first started blogging and stumbled upon Homeschoolblogger. Her blog was witty and encouraging and I loved the background music. She inspired me to go ahead and blog. I think that she can still be found by following the link on her page, but I haven’t visited her new blog.

Number 4 – HomeschoolNewbie @ Journey – who is a dear friend and had an encouraging, humorous blog as well,

And

Number 5 – HeadingHomeward – which actually might still be around, but all I can ever get to load is the header. Her blog was sweet and encouraging…

Well that’s it. Check out the two blogs I spoke about above…and here is another one of note that I recently stumbled upon…The Prattling Pastor's Wife. (The other blogs are still in my friends, if you want to check them out...but I am not providing links here since none of these blogs are currently active.)

blessings,

dani

“Her price is much higher than jewels.” (Proverbs 31:10)

I’m so surprised. I can’t believe it! Thank you, thank you, thank you!

PumkinsMomma, from Striving to Bring Light to the World Around Me, (which she does) gave me “The Encouragement” award. I’m so honored and blessed. I was having a bad day until I saw her award - now I’m on the top of the world. Thank you so much Marie, you have no idea how you have blessed me today. You’ve put a smile on my face.

It’s nice to know that someone actually reads and likes my blog (I always enjoy seeing your comments.)…one never knows…and since I don't have much time to visit other blogs I just assume that no one visits mine...and because of that I often think about signing out forever…but maybe I’ll stick around awhile. Thank you.

blessings,

dani

“Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.” (1 Thessalonians 5:11)

Last night as I climbed into bed the Lord spoke to my heart and laid a heavy conviction upon me regarding a few things which I should have done that day with Bethany, that I didn’t do.

When I woke this morning I had the feeling that all night God had been speaking to me about each of the children. I woke with the (joyful) conviction that I needed to make sure that each of the children knew that they are a joy and a delight to me and that I feel blessed beyond measure with the “large” family God has given me. I also had the feeling that God had been telling me to re-adjust my attitude about how I was viewing my family…and the language I’d been using with the children and others to describe my family. Soon after, I sat down for my quiet time and my bible fell open to one of my favorite verses, Psalm 16:5-6 which says, Lord, You have assigned me my portion and my cup; You have made my lot secure.  The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; surely I have a delightful inheritance.

Now, I don’t tend to put much stock in my bible just falling open to certain verses and that verse being important, but this morning I know the Lord was showing me that verse because it confirmed what I was feeling and what had happened in my heart during the night and if you’ve read The Narrow Way before, you’ll know that I’ve referred to this verse before…it isn’t my life verse, but it is a verse that I love and which defines how I think about my life. But, even as I was thanking the Lord for once again bringing this verse before my eyes and reminding me of this truth, He drew me to the next verse – the one I think He really wanted me to see which said, “I will praise the Lord, who counsels me; even at night my heart instructs me.” (Psalm 16:7) It was confirmation for me that “yes” He had been speaking to me during the night and it wasn’t just me…I felt like He was saying, “Pay attention. Don’t forget. Do this. Walk in this way.” Help me, Lord. Let it be…

People ask how does God speak? Maybe the question should be, how should we be listening? Even at night…and in the quiet of the morning. Word of God speak.

I have set the Lord always before me. Because He is at my right hand, I will not be shaken.  Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices; my body will also rest secure,…        -Psalm 16:8-9a

Thank you, Lord. Pour down like rain.

blessings,

dani

“You have made known to me the path of life; You will fill me with joy in Your presence, with eternal pleasures at Your right hand.” (Psalm 16:11)

This morning I watched the Nightline show about the Carpenter Family (Franklin Springs Media) and my heart is overflowing. I respect this family so much. I feel blessed from having watched the show. I think what they are doing is beautiful. I wish that as a younger woman I hadn’t been so deluded by all the false teachings that young women are exposed to. The constant mantra of “Me, me, me…self!” Forgive me, Lord. My heart aches. I see Your truth in this. Here is the link . –this ABC Nightline link 

Check it out. You will be blessed.

blessings,

dani

“Sons are a heritage from the Lord, children a reward from Him.  Like arrows in the hands of a warrior are sons born in one’s youth. Blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them.  They will not be put to shame when they contend with their enemies in the gates.”  (Psalm 127: 3-5)

All the relatives are gone.

The kids are playing quietly (and not so quietly amongst themselves again.)

The house is almost back to normal.

I have started a new routine that I think is going to work.

Elisabeth is back in her own room.

The quiet months of January, February and March lie ahead of me.

School has been quietly getting under way all week.

Aaron finished a book in two days and WANTS to read more by this same author.

Bethany has been reading book after book on her own.

Elisabeth slept through the night.

Wonderful news about the lawsuit.

Good news about Mark’s job.

And…

Anticipation. A sense of waiting…knowing that Advent was done right.

blessings,

dani

 “Christ loved us and gave Himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.”  (Ephesians 5:2)