Turn in Hither

Whoso is simple, let him turn in hither.

By me thy days shall be multiplied, 

and the years of thy life shall be increased. 

If thou be wise, thou shalt be wise for thyself: 

but if thou scornest, thou alone shalt bear it. 

Proverbs 9:4, 11-12

The call of wisdom in the ninth chapter of Proverbs is the voice of the Lord, calling lost, straying men to His ways. "Turn in hither" is a call to repentance. Choosing to repent is not to our detriment but to our benefit! We gain length of days -- and days blessed of God, at that. The choice you make, whether to "turn in hither" or to continue on your merry way to destruction, has its consequences (Gal. 6:7-9). Heed His voice. Obey His will.

In the photo: My grandmother's beautiful garden (Iowa).

His Greatness Is Unsearchable

The study of history gives perspective to one's life. It defines the present. To know where we are in time is essential to our present generation. It is humbling because it brings one to the realization that the here and now is so temporary: life does not revolve around me; I'm but one life; I am part of something much bigger than myself. But far more humbling is a good grasp of the concept of our life in terms of space.

Where are we, exactly?

We know our location on this planet called Earth, and we learned in school that our planet is the third of nine planets orbiting a star we call the sun. We also have a vague knowledge that our planetary system is located in the Milky Way galaxy. Those are just common facts.

But, really, where are we? Do we have any comprehension of our location, truly?

Astronomy is one of my favorite aspects of science. Microbiology is another. I find it so fascinating that man's  place in the scheme of creation is between the microscopic and the telescopic. I love to learn new things about outer space. I just love it! I especially love learning about space from a Biblical perspective -- which, in truth, is the only perspective, isn't it? =) I found this astounding video on Youtube yesterday. It answered  many questions but created so many more. =D

Scripture in the video is quoted from mistranslations. Here are the correct verses from the KJV.

"The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork. Day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night sheweth knowledge." (Ps. 19:1-2)

"Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear." (Heb. 11:3)

"Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature: For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: And he is before all things, and by him all things consist." (Col. 1:15-17)

The Weather and Our Health

On November 13, we sorrowfully said goodbye to the sun.

We were graced with a gentle departure...

...and a final burst of glory as it vanished from the view of our northerly latitude.

The True LIGHT and overcoming peace of Christ's presence becomes so real during the dark days of Arctic winter. During the those endless night-stretching days when it seems that carrying on with joy is hopeless, His presence is enough. When spiritual oppression is strong and sensed, we only have to pray and Jesus delivers us. When a month passes without leaving the house except to walk the dog... when patience runs low and there is a discord in our home, He gives grace and helps and restores.

With His presence comes a real sense of contentment that is found only in Him.

Directed by the LORD

Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; 

and lean not unto thine own understanding. 

In all thy ways acknowledge him, 

a n d  h e  s h a l l  d i r e c t  t h y  p a t h s . 

Proverbs 3:5-6

A man's heart deviseth his way: 

b u t  t h e  L O R D  d i r e c t e t h  h i s  s t e p s . 

Proverbs 16:9

In the photo: The view from my grandparents yard in Iowa.

Grandma's Apron

Author Unknown

I don't think our children know what an apron is.

The principal use of Grandma's apron was to protect the dress underneath because she only had a few. It was also because it was easier to wash aprons than dresses and aprons used less material.

But along with that, it served as a potholder for removing hot pans from the oven.

It was wonderful for drying children's tears, and on occasion was even used for cleaning out dirty ears.

From the chicken coop, the apron was used for carrying eggs, fussy chicks, and sometimes half-hatched eggs to be finished in the warming oven.

When company came, those aprons were ideal hiding places for shy kids.

And when the weather was cold Grandma wrapped it around her arms.

Those big old aprons wiped many a perspiring brow, bent over the hot wood stove. Chips and kindling wood were brought into the kitchen in that apron.

From the garden, it carried all sorts of vegetables. After the peas had been shelled, it carried out the hulls.

In the fall, the apron was used to bring in apples that had fallen from the trees.

When unexpected company drove up the road, it was surprising how much furniture that old apron could dust in a matter of seconds.

When dinner was ready, Grandma walked out onto the porch, waved her apron, and the men folk knew it was time to come in from the fields to dinner.

It will be a long time before someone invents something that will replace that old-time apron that served so many purposes.

Remember this: Grandma used to set her hot baked apple pies on the window sill to cool. Her granddaughters set theirs on the window sill to thaw. They would go crazy now trying to figure out how many germs were on that apron. I don't think I ever caught anything from an apron... but love.

Keep Your Hands Off

From Streams in the Desert by Mrs. Charles Cowman

"Neither know we what to do; but our eyes are, upon thee." (2 Chron. 20:12)

A life was lost in Israel because a pair of human hands were laid unbidden upon the ark of God. They were placed upon it with the best intent, to steady it when trembling and shaking as the oxen drew it along the rough way; but they touched God's work presumptuously, and they fell paralyzed and lifeless. Much of the life of faith consists in letting things alone.

If we wholly trust an interest to God, we must keep our hands off it; and He will guard it for us better than we can help Him. "Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for him: fret not thyself because of him who prospereth in his way, because of the man who bringeth wicked devices to pass."

Things may seem to be going all wrong, but He knows as well as we; and He will arise in the right moment if we are really trusting Him so fully as to let Him work in His own way and time. There is nothing so masterly as inactivity in some things, and there is nothing so hurtful as restless working, for God has undertaken to work His sovereign will.

A. B. Simpson

Being perplexed, I say,

"Lord, make it right!

Night is as day to Thee,

Darkness as light.

I am afraid to touch

Things that involve so much;

My trembling hand may shake,

My skilless hand may break;

Thine can make no mistake."

Being in doubt I say,

"Lord, make it plain;

Which is the true, safe way?

Which would be gain?

I am not wise to know,

Nor sure of foot to go;

What is so clear to Thee,

Lord, make it clear to me!"

Anna B. Warner

It is such a comfort to drop the tangles of life into God's hands

...and leave them there.

Count Your Blessings

When upon life's billows you are tempest-tossed,

When you are discouraged, thinking all is lost,

Count your many blessings, name them one by one,

And it will surprise you what the Lord hath done.

Edwin Excell

I am commanded to give thanks in everything. Yes, every thing. The downright bad things as well as the really good things.

To say "Thank You, Lord!" for:

A blank, ominously dark computer screen this morning.

The dread that filled my heart, turned into such relief because of...

A solution discovered. (Yay for Google!)

The mind of Jesus working in me, turning my whole attitude around.

A way to back up valuable files.

Being forced to do something that I've put off for quite some time. (wink)

Another laptop to use in the meantime.

Quietness that stills my soul and helps me to reflect and realize, "Wow, God has been good through this!"

Fresh understanding of the foolishness of my heart.

Lessons my Lord teaches me in conciously acknowledging and choosing to be grateful for the disguised things He does for me. Even when I don't understand, unlike this situation. Like the song says, I get surprised by my good and loving Lord! =)

What wonderful things He does for me,

Though only one step each day I see,

The joy of my life indeed is He,

Oh, what a dear friend is Jesus!

Lizzie DeArmond

71-80. It's truly amazing what praising can do!

To give unto [me]...

the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness...

t h a t  H e  m i g h t  b e  g l o r i f i e d .

Isaiah 61:3

The Gift of Grace

Surely he scorneth the scorners: 

but he giveth grace unto the lowly.

Proverbs 3:34

In the photo: Pure white spring blossoms captured in Billings, Montana.

The LORD Is My Strength

From Streams in the Desert by Mrs. Charles Cowman

Psalm 68:28 Thy God hath commanded thy strength: strengthen, O God, that which thou hast wrought for us. 

The Lord imparts unto us that primary strength of character which makes everything in life work with intensity and decision. We are "strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man." And the strength is continuous; reserves of power come to us which we cannot exhaust.

"As thy days, so shall thy strength be" -- strength of will, strength of affection, strength of judgment, strength of ideals and achievement.

"The Lord is my strength" to go on. He gives us power to tread the dead level, to walk the long lane that seems never to have a turning, to go through those long reaches of life which afford no pleasant surprise, and which depress the spirits in the sameness of a terrible drudgery.

"The Lord is my strength" to go up. He is to me the power by which I can climb the Hill Difficulty and not be afraid.

"The Lord is my strength" to go down. It is when we leave the bracing heights, where the wind and the sun have been about us, and when we begin to come down the hill into closer and more sultry spheres, that the heart is apt to grow faint.

I heard a man say the other day concerning his growing physical frailty, "It is the coming down that tires me!"

"The Lord is my strength" to sit still. And how difficult is the attainment! Do we not often say to one another, in seasons when we are compelled to be quiet, "If only I could do something!"

When the child is ill, and the mother stands by in comparative impotence, how severe is the test! But to do nothing, just to sit still and wait, requires tremendous strength. 

"The Lord is my strength!"

"Our sufficiency is of God."

You must remember that John was in the Isle of Patmos, a lone, rocky, inhospitable prison, for the Word of God and the testimony of Jesus. And yet to him, under such circumstances, separated from all the loved ones of Ephesus; debarred from the worship of the Church; condemned to the companionship of uncongenial fellow-captives, were vouchsafed these visions. For him, also, a door was opened.

We are reminded of Jacob, exiled from his father's house, who laid himself down in a desert place to sleep, and in his dreams beheld a ladder which united Heaven with earth, and at the top stood God.

Not to these only, but to many more, doors have been opened into Heaven, when, so far as the world was concerned, it seemed as though their circumstances were altogether unlikely for such revelations.

To prisoners and captives; to constant sufferers, bound by iron chains of pain to sick couches; to lonely pilgrims and wanderers; to women detained from the Lord's house by the demands of home, how often has the door been opened to Heaven.

But there are conditions. You must know what it is to be in the Spirit; you must be pure in heart and obedient in faith; you must be willing to count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Jesus Christ; then when God is all in all to us, when we live, move and have our being in His favor, to us also will the door be opened. -- Daily Devotional Commentary

God hath His mountains bleak and bare,

Where He doth bid us rest awhile;

Crags where we breathe a purer air,

Lone peaks that catch the day's first smile.

God hath His deserts broad and brown--

A solitude -- a sea of sand,

Where He doth let heaven's curtain down,

Unknit by His Almighty hand.

The Meal {Christmas Blessings}

My family had such a wonderful Christmas together this year. We ate our meal on Christmas Eve, and what a delicious feast it was! Mom pulls out her china dishes for all special occasions.

Mom's china was given to her by her grandma (my Gammie, see picture in below post). So-o-o pretty!

 Our table laden with food...

Other Decorations {Christmas Blessings}

Christmas cards and stockings hanging in our stairway. A sweet elderly lady from Missouri knitted the stockings for my family several years ago. They each have our names and a word such as peace, joy, etc. on them. They're very special.

My mom loves snowmen. Her collection grows each Christmas. =)

My mom took a ceramics class before my siblings and I were born. I love this Nativity set! Didn't she do a beautiful job? (The picture in the back is of my Gammie [great-grandma] when she was just about my age. She's beautiful!)

The Fair {Christmas Blessings}

I have a few more posts I like to share about Christmas. I hope to get them up during the next few days.

A few weeks before Christmas is our village's annual craft and book fair. It takes place in the gym of the public school. Well over half the community attends it. It is a fun, happy time. My family looks forward to it each year. Anyone who has the notion to is allowed to display their crafts and/or goodies on a table to sell. This was my family's second year to participate in the fair.

What a cutie! Looks like she will be wearing this parka for a few more winters. =)

Matching kuspuks for twin sisters! I've been blessed to watch these sweet little girls grow up from babies. They come to our children's Bible Time regularly.

Tables set up around the gym