Autumn Moods

The autumn rains usher in the seasonal temperature decline and the prospect of ever increasing color outside... a welcome relief for the dry, crispy browns of late summer. Yet inside the tones on these rainy days offer varying degrees of autumnal energy... I offered the health tip this week in our Body Builders class and my research demonstrated that autumn is time of grieving..... I suppose as the year begins its downward decline toward winter's dormacy, as living things go into deep repose... so as I walk around my home I feel this same sense of grief in the light from room to room.

Almost like a still-life, this vignette by the stairs lies in the deep shadows of the retreating sun, offering up its melancholy cry which pierces my soul...yet soothes my fevered spirit that has long, last come to this place of seasonal rest and introspection. My autumn health research offered a few ideas to feed into this "autumnal grieving process" :

• to listen to old music and reconnect with those days of yore
• spend some time enjoying old photo albums, or organize those old photos,,, particularly label the people for posterity
• go and visit a person you havent seen in some time and reconnect over a cup of tea

Absolutely, dont linger in the past or dwell on things that you wish had been different, but definitely, develop a plan to improve things in your life now... to make it happier for others..... and along the way your life will be blessed...

and if the dark days of autumn really begin to get to you,,, then turn on some light for goodness sakes!

Celtic Music

You may ask me, why Celtic music so much of the time?
Celtic music is the thread that binds me to my old Irish roots.. ahh, to hear the lilting strains of a Irish tune puts stout in my veins and a jig in my feet…. My heart soars o’er the emerald hills and my spirit finds solace in the crags along the shore…. I am thinking perhaps your kindred spirit may find a home among the crags there as well!

Tag

I was blog hopping this morning wishing I had participated on The Stay at Home Mom's Monday Homemaker post yesterday when I saw this opportunity to participate in a Tag meme which I havent done in months and wanted to get in on it....thanks to Sandra for her gracious invitation to partake! She has listed the following questions to answer....


1. What is your biggest pet peeve?

My greatest pet peeve is unruly children in the restaurant... as a retired teacher, I love children, but parents who allow unruly kids to be disruptive in nice restaurants really rile me.... by the same token there is nothing quite as wonderful as a polite mannerly child who is expressing wonderful behavior in a nice restaurant.. we used to take Amanda to nice restaurants with us... we never left her at home with a sitter, she loved it and we loved the nice compliments we received from other diners.

2. If you could live anywhere in the world, where would it be and why?
No doubt about it I would live in the highlands of Scotland.... the more remote the better... a cosy cottage on the edge of the moor... Id sit by my aga and knit socks! Let the wind howl, and hounds bay, and Im safe and warm within!
3. Have you ever been searched by the cops? (LOL inquiring minds want to know)
No, but I have had my rights read to me by the CID. I didnt do it!
4. What is the one thing on your mind right now?
Oh, that is the problem I dont have just one thing on my mind right now..... I am fairly consumed with thoughts... birthdays to plan, Bible study to do, plans for autumn...decorating, cooking, celebrating ... it's all a jumble!!!
5. Favorite song right now.
Anything by Josh Groban at the moment
6. What talent do you wish you had?
To be able to do yoga... the flexibility and litheness.... fascinating
7. Favorite drink.
This summer I have really enjoyed Sonic's sugar free cherry limeades. So refreshing!
8. In one word, how would you describe yourself.
Inquiring

I'll send this out to some folks, but feel free to just participate if you'd like...
My new list of questions are as follows:

1. Who is your favorite author and why?
2. Describe your best day.
3. What is it about your favorite relative that inspires you the most?
4. If you had it to do over what career would you pursue?
5. What is your favorite scripture or life verse?
6. Introduce me to one of your favorite blogs.
7. What is your favorite autumn food?
8. Share about one of your "bucket list" items. (Something you hope to do)


So I tag you, and Marie, Stacey , Sherry, Jeanne

Three or More Tuesday

Visit Tam at The Gypsy's Corner for more TOMT..

Last week I was bemoaning the dry and arid conditions we've experienced since mid summer... The lawn decimated by the heat, the fall blooming mums refused to blossom, the daisies withering before they chanced to bloom,the haws on the hawthorn literally dried, shivelled, even now I fear that my lovely young hawthorn is perishing.... and then, this week...

The rains came,,,abundant, cooling, reviving rain!

Autumn has arrived!! The colors will be bursting forth now!

Pink Saturday

Happy PINK Saturday!!

MY dear PINK ladies!!





I just love my prayer group.... this precious group of ladies with whom we share about God's work in our lives, and how we too can be more effective prayer warriors... interceders for our church, families, friends, and communities.. and for God's blessings in our world. Last year at this time autumn was reigning supreme...

Pink was bursting out all over... but this year it has been so hot and dry the mums will not bloom at all.

But God does exhibit His glory!



Psalm 141:2
May my prayer be set before you like incense; may the lifting up of my hands be like the evening sacrifice.

Enjoy PINK Saturday!!!

Visit Beverly at How Sweet the Sound for more PINK SATURDAY!!

Crazy Love

I just discovered this new book and author, Crazy Love by Francis Chan... Just the powerful message we need for today.... simply written but with awesome majesty of who God is and his relentless pursuit of us....

Skywatch Friday

The prediction for the weekend...gathering clouds and hope for rain and much more fall-like weather... but alas, for today, another day in the mid-90's, hot and so very dry.

For more skies visit Skyley.

Tea Time Thoughts

A peaceful teatime is such a marvelous opportunity to collect my th0ughts and really come to grips with ideas that keep circulating in my head.. lately on this very important topic...

how does one go about sharing the gospel with their most cherished family members especially in these trying days of uncertainty.. for example how would I share the gospel with a loved one who is facing the end of their life due to some catastrophic disease... one who may have always held to a faith in God and always tried to live a good life,, but you;re just not sure of his/her salvation... here is a word from wonderful teacher Billy Graham on this important topic.

" You certianly do not want him to go into eternity without hope and without Christ - and God may want to use you in these days to confront him with this sobering reality.

Pray, therefore, that God will open the door for you to talk frankly with your father about his spiritual condition. Sometimes the hardest people to talk to about spiritual things are those who are the nearest to us - our relatives or closest friends. But remember: You are not alone. If God opens the door to talk with him, He will be with you by His Holy Spirit - and He'll also be working in your father's heart.

During these days, let him know that you love him and you care what's happening to him. And let him know that because you love him, you care not only for his physical health but also for his spiritual well-being. Let him know, too, that you hope to be with him in heaven some day - and you will, if he opens his heart to Christ. "
For Christ, alone is the way, the truth and the path to eternal life.
Most of all, let him know that God loves him. He may not love God - but God loves Him, and the proof is Jesus Christ. When we know Christ, nothing "in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord" (Romans 8:39). "

OH how powerful is the gospel message and none anymore wonderful than this message to a dying patient,, Pause the music to take advantage of this loving message.

Tea Talk

Ok, I am found out.... I am perpetually thinking about and planning to host a tea party in my near future... as the magazines pile up around me my mind is full of ideas,, twirling around in my head like so many falling leaves... aha! That's it ...an autumn harvest tea.... hmmm.... as I peruse this topic mulling it around as I sip my English breakfast tea... it brings to mind other thoughts.... alas.. it is 4:19pm a nice teatime for me at home,,, but now my thoughts drift to other teatimes across the great sea to England.. a teatime I missed for today but in my next post I shall share about my teatime thoughts ... too deep for this light topic..
for now I will share this lovely thought with our tea!

Luke 10:38-42

As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord's feet listening to what he said. But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, "Lord, don't you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!"
"Martha, Martha," the Lord answered, "you are worried and upset about many things, but only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her."

"I would like to believe that I have a heart like Mary's, one that stops to listen to God whenever the opportunity arises. I am afraid though that I probably come much closer to being like Martha... Hurrying about planning, preparing, fixing, organizing, making lists, and worrying. Will it all get done?

...but after all I am trying to be faithful to do, well, the tasks He has set before me. I need to remember though, that by far the most important thing I can do us take the time to sit at Jesus' feet and really listen.".. then I may be assured I am doing His will.
Mary Hampton, Tea and Inspiration

Now you will wish to join Ruth for more TeaTalk !

Word Filled Wednesday

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Happy Homemaker Monday

The Stay at Home Mom hosts this each week.
The weather in my neck of the woods:
Summer is hanging on with a vengeance... temps ever clinging to those 90's.... definitely those dog days of summer... not my favorite to say the least.
Things that make me happy:

Spending time with family and friends

Book I'm reading:

One Enchanted Evening, by Lynn Kurland

Daily Victory, Daily Joy, a Bible study for First
Place for Health

Beth Moore's Study of Revelations

What I'm enjoying on TV:
Last night I did enjoy Just Desserts, the new pastry chef competition


On the menu for dinner:
Hopefully, I'll even feel up to cooking dinner tonight,,, been dealing with an upper respiratory event that has knocked me silly for a week now. Im not too much into being in a creative or cooking mood.

On my To Do List:
Hoping to do some Bible Study and reading today

Going to the Ear, Nose, and Throat doctor today


New Recipe I tried or want to try soon:
Anything that my friend, Marie, has up on her blog here.
In the craft basket:
still thinking about doing some oil painting and my knitting basket looking inviting


Looking forward to this week:
Getting back to Wednesday Bible Study and Thursday night Bible Study on Revelation

Blog Hopping (a new discovered blog you would like to share with the readers):
To keep up with what's in style visit Miss Janice regularly... she never disappoints!

No words needed (favorite photo or picture, yours or others you want to share):


It is always my complete joy to prepare a tasty breakfast for the kids when they come to visit!


On my mind:

Life is such a roller coaster of moments, one hardly gets over the thrill of the pinnacle until one is sliding into the slough of despond
... alas, the fevered thoughts of one who has been on day/nightquil too long

Devotionals, Scripture Reading, Key Verses:
Colossians 1:
27To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.

28We proclaim him, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone perfect in Christ.
This passage was the teaching from our new and wonderful pastor, Dr, Pete Shemm, who delivered his first sermon to our church since his interim position last spring.... It is with great delight we call him our new senior pastor...we've been without one too long!!

Pink Saturday

Happy PINK Saturday!!

Last Saturday we were in the Pink as we anticipated our daughter and son in law's visit from New England.... So this week I want to share some of the grand pinkness we enjoyed a week ago... Hubby and I took the grandparents, my mom and dad, over to Joshua's parents' home for an impromptu picnic... not to be deterred by the drizzle, we moved the event into Jan's gorgeous home... where east meets west.

Amanda particularly wanted to make this visit to see her grandparents who arent able to make the trip to Boston.....

Once Amanda had them both happily ensconsed at the dining table

then it was time to call everyone to dinner... but not before I grabbed this quick shot of our lovely daughter.... Amanda is the PINKNESSS of our lives!!

Visit Beverly at How Sweet the Sound for more PINK SATURDAY!!

Skywatch Friday

Welcome to my Skywatch Friday post....

Through the dining room window..... I love these pre-autumn sunsets!
p>

For more skies visit Skyley.

Pink Saturday

In lieu of Pink Saturday

today I am commemorating the most tragic event in recent American history...

9/11

Lest we never forget!!!!

The song that is now playing was written and dedicated to all those who were touched by 9/11

Fragile by Sting
If blood will flow when flesh and steel are one
Drying in the colour of the evening sun
Tomorrow's rain will wash the stains away
But something in our minds will always stay
Perhaps this final act was meant
To clinch a lifetime's argument
That nothing comes from violence and nothing ever could
For all those born beneath an angry star
Lest we forget how fragile we are

On and on the rain will fall
Like tears from a star like tears from a star
On and on the rain will say
How fragile we are how fragile we are

On and on the rain will fall
Like tears from a star like tears from a star
On and on the rain will say
How fragile we are how fragile we are
How fragile we are how fragile we are

Visit Beverly at How Sweet the Sound for more PINK SATURDAY!!

Skywatch Friday

Welcome to my Skywatch Friday post....



I love a study in contrasts... the azure against the brillaint white framed by the deepest hued trees....

For more skies visit Skyley.

Click here for more WFW!

Three or More Tuesday

Visit Tam at The Gypsy's Corner for more TOMT..

Today I am celebrating the end of summer.... with some photos from around the backyard...

first of all the 'lil gardener has had many challenges this summer with the long, hot, dry spell we've endured ... even though the grass is looking very bad,, he has kept the mums ready to show off their autumnal glory!

Conditions must have been just right for these lovelies who herald the beginning of each new late summer day...

Could anything be more cheerful and bright...even to endure such harsh extremes in the heat.. than my ever blooming angel wing begonias....

It truly is something that these hardies have persevered the difficult days of August this summer season.. and hopefully, autumn is right around the corner!

Mosaic Monday

Visit Mary at the Little Red House for more Mosaic Monday!!

A bit of autumn around our home.... it makes me giddy with expectation!

Happy Homemaker Monday

The Stay at Home Mom hosts this each week.
The weather in my neck of the woods:
Autumn is in the air with a respite from the heat and humidity
Things that make me happy:

The cooling change of seasons and redecorating the house by the season

Book I'm reading:

God's Cure for the Post Christian Syndrome by James Tarter

One Enchanted Evening, by Lynn Kurland

Daily Victory, Daily Joy, a Bible study for First
Place for Health

Beth Moore's Study of Revelations

What I'm enjoying on TV:
What's tv??

On the menu for dinner:
Chicken... better check out Marie's blog for a tasty recipe!!!
http://www.ayearfromoakcottage.com/
On my To Do List:
Sweep and mop the floors
Laundry
Organize my studio... why does it forever more need to be organized


New Recipe I tried or want to try soon:
Cranberry/pear Smoothie
Ingredients:
1 can (15 ounces) pears in juice
1 can (15 ounces) whole-berry cranberry sauce
1 1/2 cups vanilla ice cream or yogurt
1 to 2 tablespoons fresh culinary lavender, rosemary, or mint
Sprigs of lavender, rosemary, or mint for garnish (optional)


Preparation:
Whirl the pears, cranberry sauce, ice cream and lavender in a blender, just until smooth. Serve immediately in tall glasses. Garnish with lavender, if desired. Another serving option: serve the smoothie as a chilled dessert soup in a small bowl or stemmed glass.

Servings: 4


In the craft basket:
preparing to get back into some oil painting getting some ideas together


Looking forward to this week:
Well, this week I have my yearly checkup so Im looking forward to hearing a good report... hopefully!
But much better than that that same day Amanda and Joshua fly home for a week that same day... we'll see then on our leg of their visit starting next Sunday!! YAYA!


Tips and Tricks:
For you next autumn Garden Party

Weathered terra-cotta pots are used as the base for asimple display. Set pumpkins in or atop them, and pair with an explosion of rich burgundy dahlias accented with pumpkin leaves...



My favorite blog post this week:

My new series from the book God's Cure for the Post Christian Syndromoe because it's message needs to be spread abroad!!!

Blog Hopping (a new discovered blog you would like to share with the readers):
http://wwwhiddentreasuresinthedeep.blogspot.com/
This wonderful blog inspires the soul and spirit and this topic speaks to the above mentioned issue of what the church must be about to move into God's purposes!

No words needed (favorite photo or picture, yours or others you want to share):



My new blog which Ive surprised myself that I would ever be interested in creating another one... but it does please me.....
Lesson learned the past few days:

God is confirming in my spirit that He is preparing a people for a day that will soon come... He wants His children to press in more fully.... His church has been dull too long... His glory must be spread abroad to demonstrate His true nature to this dying world..... too long the children of God have dishonored Him, and His nature has gone undetected in the land We have removed Him from our schools, the marketplace, our government,, even our history books are being revised to disavow He... just as in the days of Malachi, God will either curse the land or bless it.. Do we sense a warning in our nation... to return to the Lord... oh, I pray the brethren will wake up... be alert to God's counsel,, for the Word is being preached in churches across this land... " turn back allow the Holy spirit to do its work" ..

See Malachi 3:2-5
2 But who can endure the day of his coming? Who can stand when he appears? For he will be like a refiner's fire or a launderer's soap. 3 He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver; he will purify them and refine them like gold and silver. Then the LORD will have men who will bring offerings in righteousness, 4 and their offerings will be acceptable to the LORD, as in days gone by, as in former years.

Malachi warned that God's judgement would come and the land would either be cursed or blessed because of their faithlessness... vs 9 You are under a curse—the whole nation of you—because you are robbing me. 10 Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this," says the LORD Almighty, "and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it. 11 I will prevent pests from devouring your crops, and the vines in your fields will not cast their fruit," says the LORD Almighty. 12 "Then all the nations will call you blessed, for yours will be a delightful land," says the LORD Almighty. ....16 Then those who feared the LORD talked with each other, and the LORD listened and heard. A scroll of remembrance was written in his presence concerning those who feared the LORD and honored his name.

17 "They will be mine," says the LORD Almighty, "in the day when I make up my treasured possession. [a] I will spare them, just as in compassion a man spares his son who serves him. 18 And you will again see the distinction between the righteous and the wicked, between those who serve God and those who do not.

The church today is in this same predicament before God.... our offerings are stale, useless, and the church ahs become a wasteland in many areas.....humankind can see little distinction between beleiver and non-beleiver therefore they fail to see the true God in society.... the lesson today is to read Malachi and heed God's warning... thereby find healing for our land.


On my mind:

Aside from my deep concern as mentioned above,, I am in contrast delighting in the coming of autumn... and in the delicious remaking of an autumnal home...

Devotionals, Scripture Reading, Key Verses:
11 Now what I am commanding you today is not too difficult for you or beyond your reach. 12 It is not up in heaven, so that you have to ask, "Who will ascend into heaven to get it and proclaim it to us so we may obey it?" 13 Nor is it beyond the sea, so that you have to ask, "Who will cross the sea to get it and proclaim it to us so we may obey it?" 14 No, the word is very near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart so you may obey it.
15 See, I set before you today life and prosperity, death and destruction. 16 For I command you today to love the LORD your God, to walk in his ways, and to keep his commands, decrees and laws; then you will live and increase, and the LORD your God will bless you in the land you are entering to possess.

Pink Saturday

Happy PINK Saturday!!

This morning I am off to prayer Saturday, a group of dear friends

who meet every other Saturday for a concentrated time of prayer for our church, families, community and nation... there isan urgency in the circles of faith for the month of September to press in to the Lord and seek Him in these trying days of uncertainty.... so with prayer journal in hand I'm off to join in prayerful fellowship.. and I challenge all who may visit me this morning to consider how time spent with the Almighty God may have far reaching efefcts in your own realm of influence and life....

Enjoy PINK Saturday!!!

Visit Beverly at How Sweet the Sound for more PINK SATURDAY!!

Skywatch Friday

Welcome to my Skywatch Friday post....

A summer sky over the Hudson River, at the Newburgh Bridge in New York.... taken on our August trip to Boston.

For more skies visit Skyley.

God's Cure for the Post Christian Syndrome 2

So the church of today has become a dry wilderness because believers are not honoring God just as the priests of old brought second rate sacrifices to the temple... believers are practicing worldliness instead of godliness ever increasingly..."Multiple statistical data show a turning away form the laws and ways of the God of the Bible.... Examples of these sins abound including divorce, abortion, disregarding the needy and poor, injustice, promiscuity, homosexuality, ... instead of practicing God's comprehensive law of love,,, which unselflshly seeks the true good of others above one's own self,, we see self seeking treacheries....Mal. 2:10 describes treachery within the church and literally also this abounds in our nation... just as Judah in vs 11 practiced treachery.. Ill leave the scripture for you to follow up on.. Our author goes on to ask...what causes so much treachery in our churches and our nation? It is the natural result of being unaware of God thinking that He does not know or will not hold them accountable for their actions. Once a people become unaware of God in practice, then they will turn away from God's ways for us..Mal. 3:7 says "From the days of your fathers you have turned aside from my stautes and have not kept them. Return to me and I will return to you, says the Lord of hosts! God is waiting for HIs people to return to Him... but for how long... We can look at Malachi to see what happened to Judah...

The Book, God's Cure for the Post Christian Syndrome

Our study on the book by our teacher, Jim Tarter, describes the church today as a dry wilderness.. whereby one might experience widespread treacherous betrayal, gossip, slander, and a loss of unselfish love which is causing a lack of peace and joy as well as unity... He goes on to say that widespread arrogance breeds unhealthy competition and put-downs from almost everywhere... A loss of good character in the marketplace, our government, schools, the family, and our entertainment, all demonstrate symptoms of an underlying disease in our country and our churches.... that underlying diseas, the dry wilderness, has a underlying cause which is the christians' lack of honoring God... allowing Him to become irrelevant in our society... this current predictament is foretold in the book of Malachi..a must read as we continue on with this thread of thought in up-coming posts!

God's Provision

I am always amazed at just how loving and gracious our heavenly Father actually is.... that He is relational... and desires to know me and care for my inner most needs is awesome... a word I try to reserve just for HIm... For He, alone, exemplifies the word!

Just when I need encouragement the most He is there... even bringing a new friend I didnt even know I had with such blessing and uplifting words of affirmation that brings joyful tears of wonder to my eyes.... God gave me the desire of blogging when I retired... an outlet of expression that has opened so many doors to me... but none as wonderful as the opportunity to"bring " new friends from all across the planet into my life... connecting kindred spirits enabling us to share into each others lives and pour revelation of God's wondrous love into one another.... I thank you all and I give God the glory for everything beautiful in my life....

Word Filled Wednesday

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