Psalm 115 (in memory of my longest day)

Not unto us, O Lord, not unto us, but unto thy name give glory, for thy mercy, and for thy truth's sake. Wherefore should the heathen say, Where is now their God? But our God is in the heavens he hath done whatsoever he hath pleased. Their idols are silve and gold the works of men's hands. They have mouths, but they speak not: eyes have they, but they see not: They have ears, but they hear not: noses have they, but they smell not They have hands, but they handle not: feet have they, but they walk not; neither speak they through their throat. They that make them are like unto them; so is every one that trusteth in them. O Israel, trust thou in the Lord; his is their help and their shield...
Thank you my God for the fresh promises of renewal in relationship with You!
You truly are the center of my joy!

My New Job

I started a job, outside of the home! I am fumbling to keep heart and hearth and home together while learning to keep all of these relationships together. I find it difficult. My grumpiness after work is evident and my social skills at work are not the same as my social skills at home. I have to figure out how to be the same person at work and at home. My, customer, smile and my home smile are not the same and older children tell you these things. Shame on me!

Recreating Mrs. Walker

I read 2 quotes on this day after my start of the new job training. I am recommitting myself to the care and keeping of my family and that without disposing of myself or my husband (in care)! These quotes are food for my thought on how to approach this new season of our lives in terms of family management and life, seeking to amass enough resources to run the family efficiently and such! Just attempting to keep body and soul together and live to the glory of God!

Kathy Peel said in ther book The Family Manager page 5

"The Ideal Peel Family
I want my home to be a place where the members know they are valuable, where they feel loved for who they are as unique individuals, where they know they belong and can grow in their separate interests. I want our home to be a friendly place for everyone, those of us who can stand clutter and those of us who like everything in its place..."
I desire to write a similar missions statement for myself in building my family. Wisdom is building up and not tearing down... God help me to be better!

75 degrees and sunny!

What a beautiful day in March! This is great weather we are having here in North Carolina. It takes getting used to for us to figure out what is bad weather down here. One snow day a year is wonderful. The sun is out even when it is raining. No wonder they all seem to have a sunny disposition, it is because the sun is always shining. Sunshine in my soul today! It is still Jesus who shines brightest when the sun is out all of the time and when it is not. Even when the sun and the day is beautiful, Jesus shines brighter, Jesus shines purer!

I simply pale, because we are used to running on the adrenaline of antagonisms in NY. Conflict vs. conflict and we live on that. We get high on the struggle of life, I don't want to go under because of the lack of kicking and screaming. Kick, I say! Kick!
Thank you, God for the season of beauty and rain in the time of latter rain. Even if it is every season as here in NC.

God, give me Strength, please!

The rain finally came, and am I glad. This means that my grass and my seedlings have a chance after all. We never have to think about such things in places where precipitation is consistent. I must get used to this.

Rain is also good for my prayer life. I am praying for an unsaved couple I just met in the neighborhood. A cute young couple with 2 children who need prayer because without Christ, even the best of intentions cannot make it. I am praying for my children and their futures, with or without mates. The host of unsaved loved ones and those 2 bereaved families of the officers killed in New York(my home town).

I have alot of catching up to do around the house, but the rain makes me feel slow and sluggish. It is a good thing that the weather is no determination on whether God answers prayer or keeps the earth turning. He is all consistent and I am following Him, so that means follow the schedule and get to those laundered bedding. It is Friday and if you don't prepare for the weekend with these children at home, it will be a disaster and it won't have been the first time, God forgive me!

Scrumptuous Submission?

Is it submissive for me to do what I agree with for my husband? No! It is only when I disagree and do what is good that it can be called submission!
What a beautiful relationship can ensue when a couple learns the dance of loving leadership and submission! Love is the combination of the two.
Totalitarianism is the lack of love in leadership and rebellion is the lack of submission.

Good Morning, Joyful Heart

Good Morning, Happy Heart,
Christ bought you for me,
Were it not for His grace,
There would be no hope to see,
I am so grateful that there is grace for my life,
Jesus gave me joy!

The Blessing of Family

What a privilege it was this week to play host to two sets of extended family couples. Although it really is not extended family since our family is so large.
Ben's oldest brother blessed our home by coming to visit with his wife, Delores. We were surprised and Evelyn had a fever at the time, but in a family this large somebody is always carrying some kind of germ around. We kept her out of their way as much as we could. It was so good to see them and have them rejoice with us at God's gracious provisions for our family. They were traveling from SC to Virginia, where their new house is being finished and we spent alot of time enjoying their stay. I had not budgeted in for that in our budget so I am making a note that I must hide some treats away from the children for just such occurrences in the month.
While I was feeding them breakfast, which was pretty sparse, seeing this is the end of our budget cycle; a phonecall came in and Ben's nephew had a flight delay and was in town for a few hours. He is a Doctor of Psychology and it was indeed a privilege to play hostess to him and his wife for a while. What do you do with a doctor nephew? There was not enough time to play tennis or golf so we took them house shopping. It was so fun!
I hope that the next visitors are my family!

Bringing in the Sheaves

I am amazed at the joy that God brings in this prespring season at the remembrance of my father-in-law. His faith and temperance and Godly perserverance is a reminder to me. Pastor Pipers father died and that generation is dwindling. I remind myself in light of honoring my elders and precious service done for the sake of Christ to "receive the joy"
Follow them, as they follow Christ.
God is still more willing to give good gifts to His children than we are to give good gifts to ours. Thank You, Lord for the memory of the Godly.

commitment for joy

This week, in our house, we celebrate Esther in the Bible. Esther won the lives of her people, because of her submission to a very wicked and ungodly husband. I celebrate the fact that I have been blessed with a godly husband and recommit myself to my vows to Love, Honor and Obey him. I need God's help in this area.
Thank God for the opportunity to try to serve this godly man for His glory!

recipes for curing my March madness:

Has Earth No Sorrow…?

I never CRACK the Bible. My usual habit is to have some kind of planned and systematic reading of the scriptures, for my edification and strengthening(a lofty task and sometimes an excuse for not reading:)).
I tease my husband about his oft references to seeing something in scripture, when cracking it. We call it a Christian drug! This morning it happened to me. I, very inadvertently, opened to Jeremiah31;15-17. I know that I needed that this morning. I always intend to go on and let go of the grieving season, but my emotions are not always obedient to my intentions and my emotions seem to get the upper hand in such things. A moping spirit and a bitter attitude are not always seen in the countenance, although they are seen in the actions and words…
This morning, through the Bible Crack (which I abhor), God took my sullenness in His hands and spanked me. Stop it, stop it!
“Earth does have no sorrow that heaven cannot heal!” We are not in heaven yet. In the meantime it is about moderating the pain and using it in service to others! Help me, Lord.
God is not intolerant of my sullenness, He is longsuffering and instructional. Jeremiah reminded me that there is a hope in my future and the sadness should give way to rejoicing in a while.

Fruit in its Season?

This morning, was the first in a long time that I've been able to get out and walk. It was so sweet to see the new shoots of grass coming up in our neighborhood. I am not used to seeing so much of the sky and the deafening quiet in contrast to the hustle and bustle of the New York suburbs, that we think of as the slow life. I still love NY, but I am seeing the hand of God holding me amidst this overwhelming change in my life.
This is the day before the "18th birthday". Each year God comes through with some surprising encouragements to swab the pus out of the wounds of my soul at my maternal grief. This was the first year that Ben and I were able to talk about Baby Ben's birth. We have so many stories to talk about after 9 pregnancies, that one was too painful to discuss because it was the part of our lives that died. I feel that perhaps this is the beginning of a new transparency between us about that part of our pain. Men can't be women, but as parent partners and attempted lovers (when we make the time), maybe, we can help eachother better because of our loving transparency and his understanding of my need to share that with him after all these years.
Where are the hyacinths, down here?

March First

March first is often God's response to my prayers. I ask and I ask and I want to know when and march first is His reminder to me that it is while I am doing, walking, marching along that I will see the fruition of many of my prayers. I think that I am supposed to wait and that patience means that I am seated and comfortable in the process of seeing God work things out. NO! God's answer is March First. I want Jesus to walk with me. My prayers for peace and strength and help come in a while as I am not focused on me, but on Him!

A Prayer for Wisdom (When will I receive it?..march first!)

By wisdom a house is built, and through understanding it is established; through knowledge its rooms are filled with rare and beautiful treasures.

Fly me up to wisdom, Lord! It is too high for me for I am a fool. I wish to see Your smile! I wish to see Your smile and to see the beauty of Your schemes and to grow in the grace which You bestow! Death is the consequence of sin. Life and abundant life is what Christ came to give and to gain for us, Your unworthy people. Still You loved us, help us to unwrap the gift of Your love in this beautiful life and earth and worlds that You have blessed us with and not to be the sower of the seeds of discord, but the sower of the seeds of faith and truth! I love you Lord!