Trust the Lord

This evening, I was dwelling on the mysteries of God; his works of providence and his holy acts. So often, I find myself struggling (wrestling, really) with the Lord over the whys and wherefores of his plans in the lives of his children. It is nothing more than kicking against the goads; an adult temper tantrum, if you will.

And yet, I know he is benevolent and does desire to and will perform good to his children.

Ps. 85:12 Yea, the LORD shall give that which is good...

Ps. 145:17 The LORD is righteous in all his ways and holy in all his works.

Notwithstanding the understanding of his benevolence, righteousness and holiness, my frail sinful heart too often finds it difficult to understand the ways of our infinite Creator. I know, right? He is infinite, I am finite. What do I think I can possibly comprehend?

Is. 40:8 To whom then will ye liken God? or what likeness will ye compare unto him?

But God is so merciful. He does not leave me to wallow in my frustration and confusion or loneliness. He does not allow me to doubt his love for long.

Song of Sol. 2:4,10-12a He brought me to his banqueting house, and his banner over me was love. My beloved spake, and said unto me, Rise up, my love, my fair one and come away. For, lo, the winter is past, the rain is over and gone. The flowers appear on the earth; the time of the singing of birds is come.

He patiently and graciously brings me out of darkness and back into the light of his glorious face. He strengthens and renews my weary soul in his good time.

Is. 40:28-31 Hast thou not known? hast thou not heard, that the everlasting God, the LORD, the Creator of the ends of the earth fainteth not, neither is weary? There is no searching of his understanding. He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength. Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall: but they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.

Proof in my life, that the Lord hears the cry of his people and sends comfort, came in the form of a journal entry of a friend that gently silenced and encouraged me. The quote says...

"Relax, Christian. Rest. God has ordained the evil as well as the good. God has given to Satan and to the Beast and to the False Prophet roles and, if you will, services to perform, in his sovereign and most wise plan for our salvation. All things are purposed to serve God’s glory and our good. We may be for the present spectacles to angels, as the working out of the redemptive plan of God displays us before them, but we are the beneficiaries of God’s goodness. We shall yet be saved from all evils."

"Rest." Just one little word. One little yet very powerful word that provides a host of comfort. I can rest in the Lord because he is my refuge and my strength; an ever present help in the time of trouble (Ps. 46). I can rest because "the LORD is gracious, and full of compassion; slow to anger, and of great mercy (Ps. 145:8). I can rest because the kingdom of our God is an everlasting kingdom (Ps. 145:13).

These promises are to all God's children. No matter the struggle. If we call upon the Lord in truth, he will hear and bless.

God is good to those that call upon his name; that call upon his name in truth (Ps. 145:18).

Happy is he that hath the God of Jacob for his help, whose hope is in the LORD his God.
Ps. 146:5



*The full journal entry can be found here: http://gospelcovenanter.squarespace.com/journal/
It is titled, Behold Leviathan! (A short biblical-theological look at the beast concept in Job chapters 40 &41)

From God Your Beings Are

Woke up to my 3 yo neice singing Ps. 148 with her daddy. Reminds me of when my sons were little. Those were precious days. ♥

"From God your beings are, Him therefore famous make; You all created were, when he the word but spake. And from that place, where fixed you be by his
decree, you cannot pass."

Have a beautiful Lord's Day.

Gluten freers can live again!

If you are gluten free or wheat free (like me) or mostly grain free (like my mom), you will want to check these amazing sites out. I want to make every cookie I see. I want to eat the delicious bread. Notice I didn't say I wanted to make the bread. I not that brave in the kitchen, but for tried and true tested recipes, I think I will!

Ginger Lemon Girl
http://www.gingerlemongirl.blogspot.com/

On her site these cookies look amazing!
http://gingerlemongirl.blogspot.com/2009/08/gluten-free-chocolate-chip-cookies.html
http://gingerlemongirl.blogspot.com/2010/04/gluten-free-peanut-butter-honey-cookie.html


Gluten Free Girl and the Chef
http://glutenfreegirl.blogspot.com/

Check out this bread on her site!
http://glutenfreegirl.blogspot.com/2010/02/gluten-free-crusty-boule.html



Gluten Free Mommy
http://glutenfreemommy.com/

And this pizza crust looks amazing, too!
http://glutenfreemommy.com/homemade-pizza/


Perhaps you aren't gluten free, but maybe you know someone who is. If they have been gluten free for awhile, no doubt they know these sites already, but if they are just beginning this type of lifestyle pass on the info. It is incredibly helpful!

Watching You by Rodney Atkins

I found a parody of this song on Jordan Niednagel's blog. If you haven't seen any of his home videos, you should check his site out.

http://www.niednagel.com/movies.htm

He is a christian fella. I came across his blog while looking at some other christian blogs associated with Vision Forum. He is a pretty funny guy. Many of his videos are parodies which I love.

Anyway, while I'm not a huge fan of country music (but I love bluegrass!), I really like the original by Rodney Atkins. ( http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4K-wmQuWfrs )
Hope you enjoy it.
Have a great day!

"Watching You" Music Video from Jordan Niednagel on Vimeo.

I'm Alive and Well and Back to Blogging (at least as much as I do anyway)

Just a few photos here. Don't have time for much else right now...

Walter, of course. I love how he crosses his foot over his other foot. The photo of Walter and Ranger is actually quite significant as it demonstrates Ranger's progress in getting along with Walter. :D

The following are of Josh's birthday.Happy 32nd Josh!

Ann was humoring me as I went about taking pictures.

A momma and her boy

Such sweet girlies.



Emily decided to do my hair one night so these are from that fun experience.

The two stinkers.

Another stinker with really cute eyeballs. ;)

A lovely sunset Gregory barely captured, but so glad he did.

And proof that spring has sprung. Greg took this picture b/c we saw this great 1950's Ford pull into Alberston's across the street.

Hope to be on sometime soon.

I Won't Be Blogging For a While...

So, I thought I'd post a few photos that are past due.
:o)
The following pictures were taken this past summer when Kristie and her kids came down from Canada. We are looking forward to another great visit this year, Lord willing.

Beth, Julia and Warren (Kris's kids)

Can we say, "mischievous"? Kennedy (Kris's girlie) and Addie (Josh and Amanda's girlie) were trouble times two, but oh so adorable! :o)

Pierce, Harrison (Kristie's boys), Josh (friend) and Micaiah.
I love Harrison's expression in this photo!

Julia had a birthday while visiting. She loves to cook so I had to post this particular picture of her. It is so adorable.

Kennedy (Kristie's youngest daughter) and Ranger

Jackson's bountiful garden

Emily, Addie (Josh and Amanda's girlie's) and Kennedy at the park

Harrison and Beth playing with my 'almost' dog, Iris. Thanks anyway Ann and Kris. xoxo

These were taken in the fall.

These were taken on Greg's birthday (my baby is 9!) and I couldn't possibly post photos and not have one of our silly selves. Greg fell asleep while warming himself on my heating pad.

My cousin made this great cowl neck "scarf" for me and Micaiah decided to try it out.

This is Micaiah's Uncle Sam impersonation.

Have yourself a good rest of the winter and enjoy those days of sunshine!

It's Nearly That Time!

Hi there...just wanted to ask for prayer for my sister, Kristie, who is due to deliver baby number eight on February 24th! How awesome is that?! This delivery will (Lord willing) be a vbac and she is a bit nervous. She has been having contractions and doesn't have anybody to watch the kids during labor and delivery except my mom (Murray will be with her, of course) and she isn't there yet.

Please pray that Kristie's labor and delivery will be safe, that the baby will be healthy, that the Lord will comfort Kristie and give her peace and that my mom will arrive before labor begins.
Thanks so much!



Psalm 127:1a, 3-5
Except the LORD build the house, they labour in vain that build it: Lo, children are an heritage of the LORD: and the fruit of the womb is his reward. As arrows are in the hand of a mighty man; so are children of the youth. Happy is the man that hath his quiver full of them: they shall not be ashamed, but they shall speak with the enemies in the gate.

Psalm 128
Blessed is every one that feareth the LORD; that walketh in his ways. For thou shalt eat the labour of thine hands: happy shalt thou be, and it shall be well with thee. Thy wife shall be as a fruitful vine by the sides of thine house: thy children like olive plants round about thy table. Behold, that thus shall the man be blessed that feareth the LORD. The LORD shall bless thee out of Zion: and thou shalt see the good of Jerusalem all the days of thy life. Yea, thou shalt see thy children's children, and peace upon Israel.

Genesis 1:26-28
And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them. And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.

Punxsutawney Who?

It's official. The ever famous and adorable fuzzy ground hog has seen his shadow which, of course, means that we still have another 6 weeks of winter.

For some seriously immature individuals (me!), Phil seeing his shadow is just about enough to make this cute furry friend an enemy. So, instead of blaming some poor creature who merely responds to instincts our great God has put in him, I am quickly and quietly placing my hand over my mouth as I remember it is God who ordains the seasons for our good and his glory.

But, to my delight (*squeals*), it would seem that here in Lewiston it's a little closer than furry Phil thought.

The signs of spring are growing in my yard and the sounds of spring are happily chirping in my backyard shrubs. I opened my kitchen window this morning just to listen to them. I didn't care if it was cold. I could hear them calling to me through the window and listening to them was like medicine.


Today was up to 50 degrees and that means I only had to wear 6 relatively light layers to be warm! :) It was fantastic to be outside. The boys started some yard work beginning with trimming the rose bushes and turning the soil. If you look closely you can see the bushes beginning to sprout their beautiful red leaves. Lovely.



This is our sunrise on the bluffs. It is so much better in person...the hills full of oranges, pinks and yellows and contrasted by the deep shadows. It is really quite inspiring!

No matter what season the Lord decides to give you in your neck of the woods, I hope it is a beautiful day. It is all beautiful in God's eyes. He created it and we ought to enjoy it all for that it is... his varied beauty surrounding us. Which means I'll have to rejoice if the Lord decides to send some of that cold weather my direction. ;)

Psalm 104:14
He causeth the grass to grow for the cattle, and herb for the service of man: that he may bring forth food out of the earth.