Under His Wings

FOR TODAY (August 18th, 2008)...

Outside My Window...The sun is bright, the day is close, as my mother-in-law would say. It is definitely an August day.

I am thinking...of my daughter,Hannah, who left last evening on a long road trip to Spokane, WA where she and her boyfriend, Danny will be attending Moody Bible Institute for the next school year. We talked to them today about noontime and they had made it as far as Montana. My husband, son and I were all very teary yesterday when they left.

I am thankful for...wonderful, blessed friends who gave me a wonderful day celebrating my birthday today.  The ladies from my home fellowship group gave me a lovely breakfast tea on the enchanting sun room of one of the ladies.  It looked as if it came right out of a Country Living magazine.  They each took time to bless me and it was wonderful just to spend time together.  In the afternoon the ladies from the Bible study that I teach celebrated my birthday and it was a delightful time just to be with them also.  What a blessing to feel loved.

From the kitchen...My breakfast tea was served with scrambled eggs made with summer squash and parsley sprigs.  We also had a wonderful apple crunch made with oatmeal and granny smith apples.  Being gluten and sugar free makes for a trial when other people try to cook for you.

I am wearing...I am wearing a brand new pair of denim capris that are a size smaller than the ones I had on this morning.  They were on clearance at Fleet Farm.

 I am creating...strengthened relationships and a place of shalom for my family by the grace of God. Perhaps I will say more about this at another time.

I am going...to visit my mother on Thursday.  She will be having surgery on her back on Wednesday if all goes as planned.

I am reading..."The Committed Life" an inspiring book by Rebbetzin Esther Jungreis who talks about walking out the principles found in the Torah and how this applies to all of mankind.

I am hoping...

I am hearing...the women's gymnastic competition on television since I am finishing this post at a later time than I began it.  The Chinese girl just finished her uneven bar performance and there is a tie for first place.

Around the house...my dear husband is playing Risk on the other computer across the room and my son has gone to bed.  Since the last few days have been busy with getting Hannah packed and loaded to leave for school and then today was spent celebrating, my home is a mess and tomorrow will be spent doing laundry and trying to get things back in order.

One of my favorite things...is spending time with the ladies at my Bible study like I did today.  They are all older than I am being in their 70s and 80s.  After our Bible study, which is currently in the Book of Acts, they have to have their social time in which we always have coffee and some kind of dessert.  Then we sit over our coffee and solve the worlds problems.  We do a pretty good job, too, if only someone would listen to us, lol.

A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week: after getting things back in order, I plan to spend sometime recharging my batteries, spending some extended time with the Lord and preparing for days ahead which I will write about in the future.

Here is picture thought I am sharing...

This is a picture of Hannah and Danny that Hannah took when they had just bought a new point and shoot camera earlier this year.

This post is inspired by my blog friend, Beth. You can read Peggy's original Simple Woman's Daybook here.

For His Name's Sake.

Lately, all I can do when I come into the Presence of the Almighty is to be still. I bow in awe of His goodness, His mercy, and His power. He works in mysterious ways. He allows certain situations into our lives to mold us, to shape us....even tonight I was talking with someone about the fact that if the Son of God learned obedience by what He suffered, why shouldn't we. We need to stand before Him with our hands open ready to receive what He is wanting to give, whatever that is whether it is a fish or something we would consider a scorpion. Our Heavenly Father only gives good gifts so why do we see the things in our lives that are unpleasant as though they are not gifts from His hand.

We have been waiting nearly three weeks. My husband had been investigated for an accident that he had with a work vehicle and also for falling asleep for a brief time. Since he works 3rd shift this is a very easy thing to do. Yesterday, we received the news with regard to the accident; a 10 day suspension, 5 of which would be taken immediately and 5 carried over the next 6 months to be taken in the event of another accident. This was great news considering our expectation of a 30 suspension without pay. Today we received the news with regard to the other investigation--dismissal from his job. We were in shock.

But, our shock lasted only briefly. We know that our God is faithful. He so often meets the need before we know that we have it and just within the last week the guys have gotten $100 in tips in their paper routes. Before we even knew that we needed them. God is good....all the time. There are many at the railroad who are upset with this decision. The union is going to appeal. The correct protocol was not followed. "You would have been better off taking drugs!" someone suggested because drug users get 6 months off and at least get to keep their jobs.

My Redeemer is Faithful and True and every morning His mercies are New! We have been trying to teach the homeless woman who has been living with us this very fact and now we get a chance to live this out before her. To walk with God. Oh the depth of the riches! God WILL provide what we need! And I will keep you updated on the progress!

For His Name's Sake.

Well, not exactly old news, but it happened a short while ago.   At the beginning of the summer Josh and his dad got a paper route and Josh invested in a new "toy".   You know what they say!  "Big Boys Big Toys"!

I am afraid to get on the thing.  You know those Funniest Home Video Movies where the women get on the motor bikes and crash into the trees?  That would be me if I got on the thing.  BUT!  It does get over 100 miles to the gallon.

We recently painted our kitchen which hasn't been painted for several years.  Here are some pictures of the process and the result.

Josh made the Hebrew stencils by hand and then did the stenciling on the soffet for me.

Of course, the Hebrew reads from right to left and the transliteration goes like this, "Shema Israel, Adonai, Eloheynu, Adonai, Echad."

The other wall in the kitchen has the English translation from Deuteronomy 6:4, "Hear O Israel, the LORD our God, the LORD is one!"

And one last look at the finished Hebrew lettering:

Two more weeks of Bible study have gone past since my last blog post.  Where has the summer gone?  Last week we talked about repentance and forgiveness.  We need to walk in repentance....even moment by moment.  The Biblical concept of repentance is not a one time event as is so many times seen today in evangelistic crusades.  John the Baptist talked about bearing fruit in keeping with repentance.  The Prophets, the Jesus and Paul, yes even the Torah all talk about turning back to God.  Jesus told those in His hearing to repent for the Kingdom of God was at hand.  In the 2nd Temple period in which Jesus lived the Kingdom of God was the place in which God was King. When we allow God to reign and rule in our lives then the Kingdom of God is here in us.  We need to repent and give up our way and seek to do things according to God's agenda.

I was talking with a young lady this afternoon, a very driven young lady, who has suddenly stopped reading her Bible because she thinks she has done something that cannot be forgiven.  I told her that there is only One perfect Lamb of God and that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins.  We have to trust in His authority to forgive us.  We need Him to wash our feet, so to speak.  This takes humility and repentance.

Today's Bible study was on walking with God in Joy.  We looked at the passages in Galatians 5, Psalm 16, Psalm 30 and James 2:1.  Since joy is a fruit of the Spirit, God's Spirit. It is supernaturally obtained when we rest in Him.  We rest in Him by being obedient to what He asks us to do.  Elisabeth Elliot once said that joy is not the absence of suffering, but the presence of God in the midst of the suffering.  So many times we allow the suffering or the trial that we are going through to be blown up like a balloon before our eyes so that we cannot see anything be the trial before us.  God, in comparison, looks small.  We need to pop that balloon so that we can see God for who He truly is.  He is able to accomplish what concerns us.  He is greater that anything thing that we are facing here on earth and He is good.  We don't necessarily have any guarantees as to how our circumstances are going to turn out, but we can count on the ROCK of our salvation and on His character because He never changes.  In His presence is fullness of joy.

For His Name's Sake.

Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children; and
walk in love, just as Christ also loved you and gave Himself up for us,
an offering and a sacrifice to God as a fragrant aroma. (Eph. 5:1-2)

This is the second week of my summer Bible study. We are doing a topical study this year on "Walking with God". This walk with God begins with relationship as the above passage says, "as beloved children." God has a vested interest in us. He is known by His discipline, as well as, His love of His children.

We are able to love because He first loved us as it says in first John. We are able to walk with Him and be imitators of Him because His grace makes it all possible. "For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men, instructing us to deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to live sensibly, righteously and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus who
gave Himself for us to redeem us from every lawless deed, and to purify
for Himself a people for His own possession, zealous for good deeds." (Titus 2:11-14) As these verses in Titus show us, and I may have mentioned this before, God's grace is the power that redeems us from lawless deeds and makes us zealous to live sensibly, righteously and godly RIGHT NOW. IN THIS PRESENT AGE. Salvation is for this present time.

God saves us to walk in relationship with Him and to imitate Him by walking in love.

For His Name's sake.

Fifty days ago, on the Biblical calendar which can be found in Leviticus 23, we celebrated the Exodus from Egypt and our salvation from the slavery of sin. This festival is Passover. Then, in Leviticus 23: 15-22 we read of the Feast of Weeks, or Shavuot. This is a harvest festival and two loaves of leavened bread are presented to God. It is also to be a remembrance of our slavery in Egypt before God set us free.

Tradition says that it is on this day that the Torah was given on Mt. Sinai and in Acts 2, Luke tries to show us that the giving of the Spirit on that Shavuot was very similar to the first time God gave the Torah. This time the Torah was written on our hearts. The promised Holy Spirit was given which enables us to live as God commands. We see in the Book of Acts also that the Gentiles would now begin to come into the congregation of the sons of Israel as never before. It is interesting that the Book of Ruth is read on the Feast of Shavuot.

There is reason for joy and celebration today. "Remember His wonders which He has done..." Psalm 105:5 25 years ago today my beloved and I were united as husband and wife. Here is a picture of me in my wedding dress.

We were married in the little church called the Lone Rock Congregational Church in Lone Rock, WI. So many memories and a wonderful man to share them with. The rabbis say that uniting two people in marriage is like parting the Red Sea. Well, God did that miracle once and He is doing that miracle again in us and we bless His Name. He has brought us through times of hardship and sickness, of the joy of new babies and the joy of just being the two of us alone together. We love laughing when no one gets the joke but us. We love talking about the Lord and reading His Word. We love blessing others in any way we can. I came across a saying once that said, "We may not have much, but together we have it all."

"The LORD has done great things for us, and we are filled with joy." Psalm 126:3

For His Name's Sake.

My beautiful, 98-year-old, dear, Grandmother died on Saturday. Though I know this is part of life and she wished so much to go and be with the dear husband she loved, I miss her. I miss her laughter and her caring. I love you, Grandma.

Red River Valley

From this valley they say you are going
We will miss your bright eyes and sweet smile
For they say you are taking the sunshine
That has brightened our pathways awhile

CHORUS:
Come and sit by my side, if you love me
Do not hasten to bid me adieu
Just remember the Red River Valley
And the cowboy who loved you so true

I've been thinking a long time, my darling
Of the sweet words you never would say
Now, alas, must my fond hopes all vanish
For they say you are gong away

Do you think of the valley you're leaving
O how lonely and how dreary it will be
And do you think of the kind hearts you're breaking
And the pain you are causing to me

CHORUS
They will bury me where you have wandered
Near the hills where the daffodils grow
When you're gone from the Red River Valley
For I can't live without you I know

(My Grandma used to sing this song all the time)

My class is finished.  I sent in my term paper last night.  The class was extended six weeks and Tim still didn't get to cover all the things he wanted to cover.  The final exam was last week.  The class on worldviews also started last week, but I am just auditing that one.  Writing the paper was stressful for me.

Hopefully, I can get back to writing here soon.  Hannah has some friends coming tomorrow and I have to clean the house.  I also have my time at the center this afternoon.   I feel wiped out.