The Coming Storm

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Victoria Goes to Scotland

Kathy of   The Delightsome Life  hosts this  beautiful theme each week..I'm sitting here in my studio   perusing    the September/October issue of Victoria, the   British Issue.   I love these  special  editions   , and   this one is dedicated to  Scotland's Splendor.. no way could I   pass this one up! From the   ethereal   Isle of Skye

to the    majesty of  Edinburgh

  every page is a sumptuous  invitation to   relax and  sojourn  between the pages  ....   describing  delicious pub fare,     and   gracious    country guest homes,  and  the Mile High Shopping District of   Scotland's   capital  city!   There is also a  wonderful   article on  European luxury  hotels... the stuff dreams are made of!    The recipes    aim to   capture  your   heart and   inspire your  hands...   this is definitely  a keeper!!!

Relationship in these Last Days

This week  we are challenged to  consider  our  relationship with God,  our  Creator,  divine Father,  and Lover of our Soul....   but  today  I  have been thinking   beyond relationship...   how is that possible...my prayer group is   working with a team of   wonderful   Christians   from  around our community  on a  Christians United  to Pray for America event in September..   the  dynamics and the thrill of   envisioning  a  flame of  glory ignited across  this valley   is stunning in the very least,   so   we  planners  are  taking very seriously  the  depth of   commitment  we must individually  seek  to press in    to God   through Jesus Christ,    through  sacrificial fasting,  perhaps  even joining in the sufferings of  Christ... things one reads of in scripture  but   can hardly   understand...    I  have been thinking what  is it in my  life that  I love    and  that   timewise  keeps me from perhaps all I could be  in His kingdom and   it is   the computer...    I know I spend  too much time here  even if   a lot of it is for good.   Yet  it does  many times take precedent in my life because I  love it so... not good!

But even as I was  considering   unplugging the computer  I felt  something resonate in my spirit....   as I was  writing on my calendar  the   date 3 days prior  to our  prayer event  the date I will begin my   most serious   fast  is  September 17...Rosh Hashanah....    the   High Holy day      when  God's children  a re called to   seek  their inner most  being  for     any thing that   keeps them   in bondage   apart from God...a time of introspection and repentance.   Wow....  Does God's timing completely astound  you or what!!!!  and the  only a week   from  Yom Kippur,,, the Day of Atonement...     A healthy  research of these days   reveals much about    God's judgment falling   on  the nations   on  these days ( Ie.  9-11)   etc.   As I researched this today   I even ran across  some pretty compelling  sites that showed that   Jewish rabbis believe  that   the tribulation    started in 2008 and we are even now  very nearing  the  half way point of 3 and half years on God's timetable....  thus   you might  understand   how  you can go beyond   deep relationship   when     the Spirit seems to  be pointing you  to   see perhaps the very end of the age.....       yet   there  are many  in  my family,   my network of friends,  my neighbors,   about  whom  I  have no confidence of their salvation.... now there   is   a  serious  dilemma  before   God, your Father!  I have dear cousins  who   have told me

   oh,  IM ok..   YOU need God ,   that is good for you  , but I   dont need Him now.   I have all the time in the world.. as if to say    to admit one needs God  is to admit  a weakness.. yet there I am   believing as well,  ok, then, We must have all the time in the world too,   But do we???  The scriptures say  be alert,  watch for the signs of His coming,   pray!  

   The commission is  clear, go and tell,    and  there is an urgency in  it....   yet   how urgently  do we approach our  difficult  family  members,   friends,  neighbors... ..   taking   our relationship  a step further... boldly putting feet  and voice  to  our commitment and love of God  for the sake of the gospel and its impact on    the world ,  even our loved ones!   

  That  is   something  I truly believe we   must urgently  attend to!!!!!  There  are signs  and wonders...   and  the    events spoken of  in    prophecies  are coming and have already come to pass... we have no guarantee  of  a lot of time left to delay... How easy it is to write this  but to take it across the hedge and  tell my neighbors   ...  we must  all pray for one another for the love, mercy, compassion,and boldness to  go and tell, and    l0ve   and pray.  That is   going  beyond relationship and  taking   God  in us to   a dying world!

  

Sunny Side Breakfast

Click the icon  to return to The Delightsome Life for more Home and Garden !  This week  we  are to share  about our  cooking...
   Okay, Im a day late  but   yesterday  was   my day   finally to  just enjoy   the   thrill of  playing 'House' with my   hubby..   but  life   got in the way!!!!  The phone  got us   up   before d awn   with  troubles   at Assisted Living that had to   be    rectified immediately   which took   most of the day..... then   I  was  rammed in the  back of my  car in a parking lot  at the hospital...   and     about  3 other   time consuming events  took my  day   right away  from  me....  I did   get to fit   a relaxing   and  lovely lunch date in with my best friend and sister in the Lord, Dottie... Praise  God He  knows exactly what we need to sustain us when trouble strikes!!!
But  if I could have,  I would have  made  my favorite breakfast.

  I love poached eggs and I know Ive  written about them before   but   for   those who   missed it...   they  a re so  terribly easy  to do in a large frying pan  with  just a bit of water and  a couple  T.  of vinegar... 
  Just  gently slide  your turner  under neath them to keep them floating in the water..  they   will be ready in about  4-5 minutes depending on how   you like your eggs.  Lynn likes his   done through so I  gently flip his   but In  love their  sunny faces  on mine!

 My sugar cured ham I   cook in the microwave for  about 3 1/2 minutes...  comes out perfect every time.   A  fast and  delicious and very easy   breakfast    that looks like it took   a lot of hard work and  it just  cooks itself!!!

WFW

For more   WFW   visit here!

One Thousand Gifts (222-235)

Click the above   button to visit Ann Voskamp, creator  of  that site and the author of One Thousand Gifts... this  is one of my favorite bloggers.   

  Every Monday  she is hosting this  wonderful  theme  whereby we join  in  counting the blessings of our lives online, I pick up at  222 Mountaintop experiences... this week   Ann encourages us to focus on the JOY we have in our daily lives

222.  God's provision for working out the details regarding  our family concerns...mom and dad's  placements....   I will put my trust in God alone!
223. Refreshing rain and cooler temperatures.
224.  Helpful sales clerks... taking their time graciously helping me all alone the way
225.  Wonderful  government associates  in various  departments for the aged...   showing  so much mercy and    aid in  making  difficult decisions.  We have come to the time when we must separate my parents ....   they celebrate 70 years of marriage in October....      But separating them is in both of their best interests health and emotion-wise!
226.  Moderating  attitude   in my mother's  spirit to   accept things and  to   wean herself from me a bit so I can  get things done...
227.  Sense of brotherhood exhibited in the "Christian" interfaith prayer  for  our  nation  initiative our  team is     working on....   giving  the outcome and the  details to the Lord!    He is more than able!    We   feel that  it will glorify and  please  God  to see children from  different denominations  in our valley come together   in repentance, praise and prayer for our  nation!
228.    Medicinal aid  from my doctor to  help me  in a  very     stressful times in my life.
229.  Precious calls  form   family members supporting me in   the most difficult  circumstances of life!
230.  Good report  regarding  my cousins's    health issue!    Praise the Lord!!!!
231.  Opportunities  for me to   take some time  to   do a bit of home decorating this week....   something that blesses my heart...   even had a  spare  hour to  visit my favorite consignment shop....
232.  A couple of every good night's sleep in a row!
233.  An opportunity  to allay many of  Mom's  concerns today as she got to visit   and see her new  home   for herself...   praying   a  space will open for her very soon!
234.  Dad  got an opportunity to  really rest     for several hours today   while we had mom out   and about.He needed that time   for himself so badly!!
235.  Things are moving along  regarding getting   their home ready to market,..   the  realtor  will   do a walk through and write up  the  ad  tomorrow

Once Upon a Time Mantel

  Visit Marty at A Stroll Thru Life  for   the  party!
I recently   redid the    fireplace mantel....  It is an eclectic  collection of items,,, but  all things that speak to my inner self...  They all  tell a story   from my  life...  




 The arched feature  is reminiscent of my love of God and   also reminds me of the  beautiful   churches    in   the Olde World   with there  graceful  architecture...   the  Bunnies   are my very favorite   furry  critters    and  bluebirds   make me happy all the time!

  My favorite  " reads "  are   displayed....

and the    soften  touches of the hydrangeas    brings  my happy  tale to  a  very   delightful   conclusion!

A Cry to God from a Repentant People

   Do you agree with me this is a time  for  God's people to   call out in Repentance????

Psalm 106

Give Thanks to the Lord, for He Is Good

Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good,

for his steadfast love endures forever!

Who can utter the mighty deeds of the Lord,

or declare all his praise?

Blessed are they who observe justice,

who do righteousness at all times!

Remember me, O Lord, when you show favor to your people;

help me when you save them,

that I may look upon the prosperity of your chosen ones,

that I may rejoice in the gladness of your nation,

that I may glory with your inheritance.

Both we and our fathers have sinned;

we have committed iniquity; we have done wickedness.

Our fathers, when they were in Egypt,

did not consider your wondrous works;

they did not remember the abundance of your steadfast love,

but rebelled by the sea, at the Red Sea.

 

Yet he saved them for his name's sake,

that he might make known his mighty power.

He rebuked the Red Sea, and it became dry,

and he led them through the deep as through a desert.    

So he saved them from the hand of the foe

and redeemed them from the power of the enemy.

And the waters covered their adversaries;

not one of them was left.

Then they believed his words;

they sang his praise.

But they soon forgot his works;

they did not wait for his counsel. 

But they had a wanton craving in the wilderness,

and put God to the test in the desert;

he gave them what they asked,

but sent a wasting disease among them.

When men in the camp were jealous of Moses

and Aaron, the holy one of the Lord,

the earth opened and swallowed up Dathan,

and covered the company of Abiram.

Fire also broke out in their company;

the flame burned up the wicked..

They made a calf in Horeb

and worshiped a metal image. 

They exchanged the glory of God

for the image of an ox that eats grass.

 

They forgot God, their Savior,

who had done great things in Egypt, 

wondrous works in the land of Ham,

and awesome deeds by the Red Sea.

Therefore he said he would destroy them—

had not Moses, his chosen one,

stood in the breach before him,

to turn away his wrath from destroying them.

Then they 

despised the pleasant land,

having no faith in his promise.

 

They murmured in their tents,

and did not obey the voice of the Lord

Therefore he raised his hand and swore to them

that he would make them fall in the wilderness,

and would make their offspring fall among the nations,

scattering them among the lands. 

Then they yoked themselves to the Baal of Peor,

and ate sacrifices offered to the dead;

they provoked the Lord to anger with their deeds,

and a plague broke out among them.

Then Phinehas stood up and intervened,

and the plague was stayed.

And that was counted to him as righteousness

from generation to generation forever.

They angered him at the waters of Meribah,

and it went ill with Moses on their account,

for they made his spirit bitter,

and he spoke rashly with his lips.

They did not destroy the peoples,

as the Lord commanded them,

but they mixed with the nations

and learned to do as they did.

They served their idols,

which became a snare to them. 

They sacrificed their sons

and their daughters to the demons;

they poured out innocent blood,

the blood of their sons and daughters,

whom they sacrificed to the idols of Canaan,

and the land was polluted with blood.

Thus they became unclean by their acts,

and played the whore in their deeds.

Then the anger of the Lord was kindled against his people,

and he abhorred his heritage;

he gave them into the hand of the nations,

so that those who hated them ruled over them.

Their enemies oppressed them,

and they were brought into subjection under their power. 

Many times he delivered them,

but they were rebellious in their purposes

and were brought low through their iniquity. 

Nevertheless, he looked upon their distress,

when he heard their cry. 

For their sake he remembered his covenant,

and relented according to the abundance of his steadfast love.

He caused them to be pitied

by all those who held them captive.

Save us, O Lord our God,

and gather us from among the nations,

that we may give thanks to your holy name

and glory in your praise.

Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel,

from everlasting to everlasting!

And let all the people say, “Amen!”

Praise the Lord!

I believe like Bill Graham has recently said our days may be numbered if we dont fall on our face in confess and repentance for our own lives, families, the church and for our land..... We have much to repent about!!!!  
   May our confessions and repentant hearts    attract the  mercy and compassion of  an angry God, that he might stay his hand of judgment against....     It is just not  enough to pray a simple prayer for  help this time.....     Graham has said and I  agree that  this may be our last opportunity  to  truly repent and turn form our wicked ways,... and I am speaking to  His church now.....!!!!  We cant account for the world but we can  step out of  its worldly ways and  press in for more of God!!!!

WFW

For more   WFW   visit here!

  Are you  seeking   mercy for our land!!!!I am!
  Billy graham  has said this may be the last  opportunity we have    to  truly repent and    turn from our wicked ways...I am thinking   this may be a time for sackcloth and ashes....  let us rend our hearts and    demonstrate that  God is  LORD over all!

Lord, it is time! I pray!

Kathy of   The Delightsome Life  hosts this  beautiful theme each week... 

  Today I am sharing  about  my wonderful new inspiration...

Saturday I picked up my copy of  

The Autumn Cottage Journal    published by Hoffman Media.

Every page is  inspiration   for  transforming  the home into an autumnal    glory....   After this  excruciatingly hot summer,   I think every9one  has autumn on the mind....

 this periodical     will more than    tickle your fancy bone...   I  guarantee  it will spur you to action  to do something to prepare for  an autumn fest of    warm colors,   striking   venues,  and   cosy    memorable occasions around hearth 

and home!

"Alas, that my heart is a lute, 

Whereon you have learned to play! 

For a many years it was mute, 

Until one summer's day 

You took it, and touched it, and made it thrill, 

And it thrills and throbs, and quivers still!" 

- Anne Barnard, My Heart is a Lute, 1815

For myself... I started making of  list of  "must-have "  things to  begin gathering....

assorted gourds

pumpkins

vines

berries

dried hydrangeas

  fall    flowers

At the same time  I need to :

remove   spring/summer  decor and  pastel flowers

lighten up   the tabletops

think minimal

 pull out the autumn pillows

  think about good books   to use  as  table top  anchoring  decor

  bring out  homey items like mother's dough board and other 

  wooden items  out of storage

  consider  subdued lighting

  think about  autumn's  sensual      elements  regarding music,  aromas,     textures,   etc

    I am   truly ready to  move ahead  with autumn whether the calendar says so or not!!!!

I share  my heart song with this poet...

"Lord, it is time. 

The summer was very big. 

Lay thy shadow on the sundials, and on the meadows let the winds go loose. 

Command the last fruits that they shall be full; give them another two more southerly days,

press them on to fulfillment and drive the last sweetness into the heavenly wine." 

- Rainer Maria Rilke

I am also  sharing  on Mosaic Monday

Deep Blue Pearl

Welcome   to my Blue Monday post.

Just click the photo   or  visit  Smiling Sally.
 Last week we took our  autos in for  their  oil changes  and   the  Nissan dealership had  just gotten  their hottest new car into the showroom...

Priced over $100,000...     it  was drawing lots of attention.....  

especially my hubby!

One Thousand Gifts. (211-221)

Click the above   button to visit Ann Voskamp, creator  of  that site and the author of One Thousand Gifts... this  is one of my favorite bloggers.   

  Every Monday  she is hosting this  wonderful  theme  whereby we join  in  counting the blessings of our lives online, I pick up at  211 Mountaintop experiences... this week   Ann encourages us to focus on the JOY we have in our daily lives

211.   I  fabulous mountaintop experience  occurred over the weekend.   My prayer team  and I   went on retreat at Judy's  house...   Now Judy lives up on  the mountain...



 even though it rained and we couldn't  spend time on her gorgeous deck,   enjoying the most fabulous views...  we  did so love sitting   in the  bay window    . in her eat in  kitchen   and  absorb the glory of  God's creation!

As we discussed  our upcoming   community praise and prayer vigil we were planning  ....
The presence of God was with us throughout  the weekend..
212.  Then  come the  retreat's end,  Dottie   told us about her precious  Dachshund , Cricket,  who was so timid around  people and other dogs.  For a bit of  background,  our hostess Judy,  was visiting in Colleens home a while back and Colleen told her  how  her poor kitty  was so ill and  wouldnt eat and was  losing  weight unto the point of death... Judy took kitty up on her lap and   loved on her and told  kitty that Jesus loved her so much...After Judy left,  the kitty  sat on the very spot where  Judy had held her all afternoon and at dinner time  she rushed into the kitchen and ate  all of her supper and hasnt stopped eating since!
  So Dottie  wanted Judy to  pray over  Cricket,  but  Judy was a bit concerned about her   own  dog, Angel!.

Angel  is   a precious,  but  high strung  dog, too,  that    doesnt travel well,   so the vet  comes to the house....  and   Angel had never been around other dogs at all. It took her a little bit to   get used to  us prayer Sistas'  in the house...
So right before  Dottie's brother  arrived  with her  dog, we  prayed over the situation...

There wasnt a single whimper,

Just mild curiosity..

 the sweetest  sense of    common love and healing   invaded us...as Angel  ministered to Cricket
.
Both dogs  were amazing...     again, the presence and the  love of Christ  permeated  the  situation and      dispelled all fear,    and  brought  a since of  peaceful healing...   Glory to God.
213.  God's mercy is  astounding
214.  Praise the Lord for the good news   from  Wisconsin.(P.Ryan)
215.  Life together  in    the family, church, and   community
216.  The  wonderful  far reaching interest  we are receiving regarding our prayer vigil from other churches
217.  Good news on the family front regarding my parents  ongoing    adult care situation..
218.  Renewed   trusting  in God for  a positive and timely  outcome    regarding    my parents  change in   living status.
219.  This wonderful change in the weather...   a  hint of autumn  is in the air.
220.   Lengthy, newsy phone call from Amanda
221.  Renewed desire to  press in   during my  devotional times!!!!

Out and About

Visit A Southern Daydreamer  for  more  Outdoor Wednesday.. 
 These days it seems  Lynn and I are so  involved with  dealing with  my parents    and their  issues  that we  have no time  to   think of anything else....  so  I  searched the archives  for  some photos  taken this time of year  in the recent past!

  I love this scene  I captured on a     trip  up    the Shenandoah Valley  when  we visited    some plantations.. honestly I cant remember  which one this  was....It was when we went to Monicello  but this was  not part of that  beautiful  home....
  This    fabulous countryside was taken  from our seat on the bus  on the trip...  
 
I love the      magnificent  August skies with their myriad clouds    full of promise and  hope  for    a  cooling rain  and respite in the temperatures!

One thing about August  just like today..  one can count on 
high humidity  and    developing afternoon haze...  It always makes me long for  September  blue skies and  crisp    air!

Pink Saturday

Pink Saturday

For more  PS   visit Beverly here!!!
As I am  incorporating  many articles      from my parents household into mine,     it is the  hand items that momma lovingly crafted  that mean the most  to me...

This double wedding ring pillow    is so sweet  and reminds me of the  gorgeous quilt mom     had on   the bed in "Amanda's room"  when  we'd go visit them  when Amanda was growing up....   I am saving the quilt  in my Grandma hope chest.

Friday's Fave Five

Susanne is taking a  bit of  a vacation from   blogging  but I still  wish to play along today!  God is so good to us....  His Holy spirit goes along before us  making our way smooth and  easy  if  we will only  stay focused and watch for Him!




1.    Our  auto body shop owner   last  Friday  not only painted  dad's car, but also  fixed the  dent in the driver's door, at no cost, even though  he had originally  given  us a $650.oo estimate to  fix  the dent....  Awesome!  

                                

2.  The Holy Spirit led me to    do some  very important  checking and  make some  all important connections  in response to   my parents  living arrangements....God's timing is everything!

3.  Life together in His kingdom is so rewarding...   my little  teenage  friend I met on Farmtown    is such an amazing christian and he is  leaving tomorrow for  summer camp..  His  excitement  as he shared with me  his expectations  was  such a blessing....I am always so  surprised  when  he  texts me  with news about his  life...    and today  he asked me to pray with him about his upcoming week.... I may not  have any grandkids yet,  but God is  so  loving to   supply  what  will  touch my heart! 

4.  My mom  who has been suffering so  very much  with her osteo -arthritis   for months,  has  been feeling  pretty good the last few days   .. it seems perhaps at long last  the meds are kicking is  as    they  should! Hallelujah!

5.    The weather  has been  much nicer  lately  and    Lynn    and I have been able to get  some much needed  work done not only at mom and dad's home,  but  he is  mowing and  doing yard work even as I type!