I copied (with permission) this poem from a woman's blog years ago. I have somehow misplaced her name to go with it. If you know who wrote this poem, please email me so that I can give her the proper credit for it.
You know, God is so good. He can give you a little nugget then bring different perspectives out of that little nugget. Expounding on the earlier "Leave-ing" note that I shared with the folks on Facebook, God brought the life of the leaf to my mind.
The leaf (leaves), like the Christian, starts out tender, green, and fresh. They hold on to the Creator and enjoy the newness of life. As they grow, they toughen up to the elements. On bright and sunny days, they can be seen and heard waving gaily on the gentle breezes. On dark, stormy days, they cling fiercely to the Creator, holding on for dear life...life itself. They weather the storms and the heat, the sun broiling down on them throughout the long, dry summers.
Then, they near the end of their life. Having clung to their Saviour, their Creator, their sustainer, their Protector, they prepare to exit this Old World. The winds may pick up, but their songs can still be heard as they give up the Ghost. Brightly and gloriously they magnify and praise the Redeemer until the very end.
Being a nurse, I've seen the Hand of Death come for collection. I've cried softly beside a sweet, elderly lady as the peace surrounded us when she slipped off of this earthly vine and went to be with the Eternal Vine (John 15:5-Jesus said I am the vine, ye are the branches). What grace and mercy, what glory to God when His saints leave this world, shining brightly for Him even until the end, just as those simple leaves do in the Autumn....
It's wonderful when God sends you a little reminder of just how special you are to Him. After all, He creates us and He knows our individual peculiarities. I, personally, love candles, birds, and flowers. You know...girlie things. Well, the other weekend we were yard sale-ing and what do you suppose I found? Something just for me. Something that I know God put there just for me because I hardly ever go to a yard sale.
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A candle holder complete with real pressed flowers in the glass window panes in a bird cage design.
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Isn't that just awesome??? Only a Personal, Mighty, All-Knowing God could do that. And, did I mention that this was a church yard sale?????
O.K. I don't know about you guys, but my site takes forever to load on my computer so...I'm working with someone to try and get a new look going. One that, hopefully, will not take so long to load and will be "different". We'll see what she comes up with!
Nature Boy and I are close. Of course, living together and being together all the time, the entire family is close, but...Nature Boy is especially glad to talk with his mama, and to show me things that are important to him. You know, when a young person wants to share with you what they love and enjoy, it's all the more precious. Anyway, this morning we were talking about the guitar. Nature Boy has a tremendous talent for playing. He's easily another Les Paul in the making-a person whose talent, though not the lifestyle, he admires. Now, this is not my boasting because I had nothing to do with it. God gave him this gift and I know that God is wanting Nature Boy to use it for His glory. O.K., so, we were talking and he said, "I know what I want to play (a particularly hard piece). I can hear it in my head but I can't get my fingers to do what I want". My light went off.......
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Matthew 26:41 the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak. Our spiritual ears hear plainly what the Holy Spirit is telling us to do. Our flesh, on the other hand, doesn't want to listen. The more we stay in God's word, the closer we try to walk with God, just like diligently practicing that particularly difficult guitar piece, will strengthen our spirits and help us to overcome the flesh. We need to be diligent in strengthening the spirit rather than the flesh. Whichever one is exercised the most will win....
Thought I'd share a wonderful Preacher friend's site with you. This man studies the Word 8-10 hours a day, travels almost non-stop around the country as an evangelist, and preaches a tremendous sermon. If you stop by, I know you'll be blessed by Preacher Tom. His main page is here.
Aug. 21, 2009 - Looking For the Artificial or You're Not Going to Like This
We sat down to breakfast this morning to eggs, bacon, and pancakes. As I had had a doctor’s appointment yesterday, Grace had made “artificial pancakes” for them. We rewarmed them to go with the bacon and eggs today. As I used the fork to refill a child’s plate I thought about the natural sin nature of man.
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If the children had their druthers, they’d “druther” have these artificial pancakes rather than the real things. (I have a Nutrimill and make whole wheat pancakes, bread, etc.). Even though they are natural, without artificial flavorings or colorings, good-for-you pancakes, they prefer the Bisquick ones; made with bleached out flour (stripped of all of it’s goodness), pumped full of chemicals and sugar. Why is that? Because they taste better. Because for years that’s what I used to make. Because that’s what they’re used to. Why change? We’ve eaten like this for years and we’re o.k. .
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Can you, dear reader, see where I’m going with this? Sin looks good (Heb. 11:25) and we become calloused to it after a while. Man, naturally, is attracted to that which is sinful. Sinful things are usually prettier (again Hebrews 11:25 pleasures of sin for a season). It starts out with glitter and glam, luring man in. Many times it may be another woman, it may be p*rn*graghy, alcohol, drugs…whatever. No one takes that first hit with the intent of becoming an addict. Noooo. They’re out for the thrill of it. That buddy makes it look good. Being high sounds like so much fun. That’s only one example; there are many others. There’s also the subtleness of sin. Remember, Satan himself is known as the Angel of Light.
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I firmly believe, and do not send me flame mail for my convictions, that the church has fallen asleep to sin. Much of the time we can’t tell a brother or sister in Christ from the next heathen. Christ calls us to be a peculiar people. Exodus 19:5 clearly states: Now, therefore, IF you will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, THEN ye shall be a peculiar treasure (isn’t that so special??) unto me above all people: There are those who will have something to say about that being an Old Testament verse. Well, try this one: Titus 2:14 (v. 13 ends with ‘and our Saviour Jesus Christ;’) v 14 Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works. And 1 Peter 2:9 But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a peculiar people; (why?) that ye may show forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness (hallelujah) into his marvelous light. Satan has thrown the lights on the church and when the switch was turned back on, the light has shown a church that looks for all the world like the world. People walking around with blue hair (or whatever color it is for that particular day), their drawers hanging out their jeans (which are hanging down to their knees), metal protruding from various and sundry places, rock music blaring in the background. All for the sake of blending in so that they can win others to Christ. WHAT??? How much more blinded can one become?? You don’t do what everybody else does, nor look like everybody else does, nor go to the places everybody else does, nor sound like everybody else. How in the name of goodness can others be changed when the church is acting just like them? They look at these so called Christians and think, “Man, he’s just like me. He’s alright…I’m alright. What do I need to change anything for??”. What’s that old saying…If it looks like a duck…
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We are called to be salt. Matthew 5:13 Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savor, wherewith shall it be salted: it is thenceforth good for nothing (God’s words, my emphasis), but to be cast out and to be trodden under foot. I don’t know about you, but I don’t want to be trodden under foot. Salt stings. It burns. It purifies. If we as individual Christians, truly born again and sanctified (set apart) by God are not burning others with our saltiness, we need to check up somewhere…lest we be cast out and trodden under foot….
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Can you believe that I got all of that out of a pancake???? What nuggets we can catch if we're listening to that "still, small voice".....
The Rowan County Homeschooler's Association graduating Class of 2009.....
Kristen is far left with the gold cord for the National Honor Society. This was one of the largest graduation classes, with 11 seniors, 3 of which were honor students. They worked hard!
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This is her table. Each Senior made a table representing themselves through the years.
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Her table was FULL....
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Mixed emotions show.
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Partying at home before the ceremony.
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She graduated on a Saturday and then had her final concert as First Violinist in the Salisbury Youth Orchestra. Sadly, due to the decrease in government funding, we received a letter informing us that there will no longer be a SYO. She was so saddened by the news, as she had looked forward to more years as a violinist in the group. Here are bittersweet pictures from her final concert....
We slip off to the mountains occasionally. When we went last month, we found all sorts of nature critters to photogragh.
This is the view from our front porch. The "road" is the drive way *up*. If you look closely you'll see the pickle jar full of ring necked snakes that Nature Boy found. Don't worry...he left *most*of them before we left.
Wildlife spotted on the front porch.
Lolly and Davey looking out the kitchen window. I thought this was a cute shot...
That's all I have uploaded right now. We found all kinds of nature, though. Bird nests, cocoons, flowers, a hornet's nest, etc. All in all, a wonderful, relaxing weekend.
Wanted to share some photos since I haven't done that lately.
This first photo is of Nature Boy and his prize find. 16 lizard eggs to go with the 5 snake eggs that his ring necked snake laid. *sigh*
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Having fun with Davey Do!
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First bucket of harvest...
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Helpers in the kitchen...
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Do you honestly think that they had any fun at all????
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I'll post pictures from the mountains later. It's time for church and I don't have the extra time to post them right at the moment. Enjoy your weekend!
Jeremiah 32:17 reads: Ah Lord GOD! (notice that exclamation mark) behold, thou hast made the heaven and the earth...there is nothing too hard for thee:
I cling to that verse because once a month, I have storms. Sometimes they take the form of grouchiness, other times, weepiness. Whatever form presents itself during *that* time, it is a *storm* in me. This verse helps me during those times of *storm* within myself because I can cling to the fact that He calms storms.
Whether the storm that you're facing is today, tomorrow, next week; whether they be storms *within* yourself, physical, financial, familial, work-related--please, take these two verses (and there are many, many more) with you and cling to them. Rest assured that:
He maketh the storm a calm, so that the waves thereof are still and there's nothing too hard for Him.....
My friend, LINDA, shared with me how to size photos, saving me an enormous amount of picture posting time. So, while I have fun posting photos, ya'll will just have to endure.
This is, with really no need for introductions, Nature Boy...
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Nature Boy in training, reading....
No, the camera isn't that bad, my Photoshop editing is.
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This is what Laura Faith made with her cuisenaire rods. In case you can't tell, it's a church with "the glory of God coming out" (as quoted per Laura Faith). Out of the mouths of babes.
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Miss Innocence herself, working on a Moon lapbook. She really enjoyed that.
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Lolly and Hopers working with the Balance Bears.
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Loll's creativity in grouping the bears into families....
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Loll, Hopers, and Davey getting ready for tomorrow!
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By Jove, I think he's got it...
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And this is me, having lots of fun with the pressure washer. No, I wasn't trying to show you how dirty our sidewalks are, merely showing you how much fun you can have even while doing the most menial of tasks.
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And, I guess I'll give you a break for now. Again, many, many thanks to Linda for helping me with photo resizing. I appreciate it so much! Now, ya'll run on over to her place and let her know how much you could strangle love her for showing me the photo tips.
Welcome to my place to ramble, witness, and vent (occasionally). Hopefully you'll enjoy yourself while you're here. I believe we need to seize the moments that God gives us. We never know which ones will be our last.
