Counting Your Blessings?

Ever get to a point in your life
where you feel overwhelmed?
Perhaps with grief, disappointment, heartache?
Surrounded by sadness, failures,
seemingly hopeless situations, etc...?

I found myself there recently.
I realize that when I do find myself there,
it is when my faith is shamefully small.
I loose sight of the almighty God
that I love, serve, and belong to.
But I am glad He is Faithful to remind me.

Yesterday morning, I arose and enjoyed a cup of coffee
with my beloved as we read from the book of Job.
And the Holy Spirit pierced my heart.
A few key verses caught my attention
and stayed in my mind
as I fed from His Truths all the day...

1) Job CONTINUALLY lifted his children
up before the LORD.
(chapter 1, verse 5)
"And it was so, ... that Job sent and sanctified them,
and rose up early in the morning, and offered
burnt offerings according to the number of them all:
for Job said, It may be that my sons have sinned,
and cursed God in their hearts. Thus did Job continually."
What a challenge and reminder to this mother...
that I need (must) pray MORE for the hearts of my children


2) When nothing seemed to be going as Job had planned,
when it seemed that he lost all that he had,
and all he knew was falling down around him...
he fell down and worshipped the LORD,
realizing it was the LORD that gave
and the LORD that can take away...
that it truly is the LORD that is in control.
(chapter 1, verses 20 and 21)
" Then Job arose, and rent his mantle, and shaved his head,
and fell down upon the ground, and worshipped, And said,
Naked came I out of my mother's womb, and naked shall I return
thither: the LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away;
blessed be the name of the LORD."
What a lesson and reminder for me...
that whatever befalls me, my LORD (Who loves me)
is always in control and is always worthy of worship.
That whatever the circumstances, HE is still the same!


3) That when tempted to curse God and die,
Job realizes that he is not worthy
to expect and receive the blessings of God
or of cursing Him when they do not come.
That God allows what is best for us,
whether we see it good or bad.
(chapter 2, verse 9 and 10)
"Then said his wife unto him, Dost thou still retain
thine integrity? curse God, and die. But he said unto her,
Thou speakest as one of the foolish women speaketh.
What? shall we receive good at the hand of God, and
shall we not receive evil? In all this did not Job sin with his lips."
What a lesson for this prideful and ungrateful woman...
I, in no way, deserve God's blessings.
Who am I to complain when they do not seem to come?
Who am I to complain when it seems
that I am surrounded by trials?
Who am I to think that I should not suffer at all,
when HE suffered ultimately? Who am I?


As I sat at my dining room table, after my beloved left,
I stared at those precious Words,
thinking, meditating, praying, letting them sink in,
(what gladness that the Holy Spirit does His work!)
I looked up towards the sky (ceiling) trying to understand
how to move through these circumstances
and He showed me a sign... a LITERAL sign...

Hanging there, high on our dining room wall...



Yes, count my blessings.
A sober reminder... and, yet, I still grasped for more.
So He showed me more.

It was another "sign"... a literal one, too.
He showed me my blessings and they were even labeled!
Underneath the "Count Your Blessings" sign
and hanging on the wall in the hallway was this...


The blessings He wanted me to begin counting.

Oh, how I laughed (and cried).
It is a beautiful and precious thing
when we allow Him to speak to us...
whether through obvious signs
or through a still, small voice.

I counted my blessings... still counting.
But, as Job learned, and as I had to accept...
whatever is happening around me...
God is still God...
and I am His and He is mine!
And I can (and will) hope in HIM!
And I will praise Him... not only for what He can do
but I will praise Him for WHO He is!

Simple Woman's Daybook...

For today... September 28, 2009


Outside my window...
the sun is brightly shining
and an autumn breeze is blowing


I am thinking...
about how God is still God no matter what
is happening in my life;
that I am not worthy nor deserving of His blessings
and how I should not take them for granted.


I am thankful for...
God's grace and strength...
that when I am weak He is strong


From the learning rooms...
being students of God's Word in Proverbs and Joshua;
learning of Ancient Greece and continuing studies
in our other subjects, as well


From the kitchen...
music is playing from the cd player
and the dishes are clean

On the Menu...
a new menu needs to be made


I am wearing...
a dark blue, courdory jumper
and a long sleeve shirt


I am creating...
dresses for the little girls


I am reading...
my KJ Bible through in a year,
currently in 2 King, Psalms, Romans;
the book of Job with my husband;
A Wife After God's Own Heart by Elizabeth George;
When Women Walk Alone by Cindi McMenamin;
For Women Only by Shaunti Feldhahn;
Won By One: A Workbook on Personal Soul Winning
by Clarence Sexton
Order in the Court by Sherry Hutson Camperson;
Total Money Makeover by Dave Ramsey;
(with a friend aloud) Parents and Children by Charlotte M Mason;


I am hoping (praying)...
for the LORD to do what I can not...
work in the minds and the hearts of the ones I love


I am hearing...
piano hymns playing from the kitchen;
wind blowing through the trees;
the children playing at the dining room table


One of my favorite things...
when the LORD works in a heart
and allows me to see some of the fruit


A few plans for the rest of the week...
study God's Word with my children
and learn and teach how to apply it;
focus on trusting the LORD of all more;
enjoy our lessons in learning;
make decisions and take action in doing things
that will help me to keep the heartstrings
of my children's hearts tied to mine;
attend our midweek service; sew as I'm able;
go to our 6 year old daughter's violin lesson;
go to our homeschool group's park day;
celebrate a friend's daughter's birthday


Here is picture thought I am sharing...



"Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace,
whose mind is stayed on thee:
because he trusteth in thee.
Trust ye in the LORD for ever:
for in the LORD JEHOVAH is everlasting strength."
~ Isaiah 26:3-4

What a peace we can have
when we truly learn to trust in the LORD.

Haven at Home Happenings...

This past week has been another busy one for us.
In addition to enjoying the days we've been blessed with,
we were glad to have revival services at our church!
It was such a blessing and a wonderful time
of spiritual refreshing!

Our home learning has resorted back to our relaxed way,
which is okay because I tend to enjoy it that way
and the children tend to enjoy it that way, too. ;o)


Below are some snapshots from our week...


Last Friday at our homeschool park day...
We like to show up early to work in our nature journals
and Ally enjoys crocheting out-of-doors.



Carolynne enjoying her copywork and learning to read



Beth feasting on God's Word



Will enjoying learning more about our Creator
and His creation in his science book




The lil' girls making acorn soup



Ally learning to do a casing and elastic in a skirt she made



The younger children singing songs of our Saviour's birth
("Christmas" songs are wonderful year round!)


I hope you, too, have enjoyed
the pleasures of life this week!


"Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised;
and his greatness is unsearchable."
~ Psalm 145:3

A Breakfast Delight... Sunrise Sandwich

Something that our family has always enjoyed for breakfast
is a fried egg sandwich, a tradition passed down by my own mama. ;o)
Some of us like our yolks runny, some do not.
But it's always a treat to have one for breakfast!

Another delicious breakfast passed down by my mama
is a zucchini/squash quiche breakfast bake. Oh, yum!

A few days ago, we whipped up something a little different
that sort of combined the two favorites.

I'm calling it the Sunrise Sandwich.
It was a new favorite!

Sunrise Sandwich

1 zucchini, diced
1 squash, diced
1 medium onion, diced
2 to 4 TBS butter
8 large eggs
milk
sliced bread

Saute zucchini, squash, and onion in the butter till browned.
In bowl, beat eggs with a little milk. Add to veggie mix
and cook until eggs are done.
Pile on two pieces of toast with a little mayo.
Add shredded cheese, if desired. Enjoy!

Learning Violin...

About three weeks ago, our 6 year old daughter, Beth,
began taking violin lessons.
This week she attended her first master's class.
Master's class is, basically, when all of the students
gather together to play pieces that they've been learning.
It is a casual gathering of performance
to help them prepare for recital.
She was a little afraid and it was a wonderful opportunity
to help her learn how to overcome fear. ;o)
I thought she did quite well.
Here she was playing a Twinkle variation with
her teacher and a friend of mine
that is, also, taking lessons...

Arrival of Autumn!

It's the first day of fall! I welcome it with open arms.
Autumn is like having a long missed friend return.




I love fall! Fall is exciting.
It's apples and cider. It's an airborne spider.
It's pumpkins in bins. It's burrs on dog's chins.
It's wind blowing leaves. It's chilly red knees.
It's nuts on the ground. It's a crisp dry sound.
It's green leaves turning And the smell of them burning.
It's clouds in the sky. It's fall. That's why...
I love fall.
~Author Unknown





"Come said the wind to the leaves one day,
Come o're the meadows and we will play.
Put on your dresses scarlet and gold,
For summer is gone and the days grow cold."
- A Children's Song of the 1880's





"I cannot endure to waste anything as precious
as autumn sunshine by staying in the house.
So I spend almost all the daylight hours in the open air."
~ Nathaniel Hawthorne





When the trees their summer splendor
Change to raiment red and gold,
When the summer moon turns mellow,
And the nights are getting cold;
When the squirrels hide their acorns,
And the woodchucks disappear;
Then we know that it is autumn,
Loveliest season of the year.
~ Charlotte L. Riser





"And he changeth the times and the seasons..."
~ Daniel 2:21

Simple Woman's Daybook...

For today... September 21, 2009


Outside my window...
the sun is brightly shining
in a bright, blue sky


I am thinking...
about a thought/Truth from revival yesterday,
When we truly see God for Who He is,
we will see ourselves for who/what we truly are.
Oh, how we fall so short!


I am thankful for...
the Holy Spirit and all He does,
Jesus Christ for what He did,
God the Father for Who He is


From the learning rooms...
continuing on in our studies...
in History/Bible we continue through Joshua


From the kitchen...
a little blessing {cleaning} is needed from the weekend

On the Menu...
M ~ Wet burritos
T ~ Lentil Spaghetti
W ~ Homemade Chicken Soup
Th ~ Chicken and rice
F ~ Sourdough Pizza


I am wearing...
my new peachy, floral jumper with an olive green shirt


I am creating...
dresses for the little girls


I am reading...
my KJ Bible through in a year,
currently in 2 King, Psalms, Romans;
A Wife After God's Own Heart by Elizabeth George;
When Women Walk Alone by Cindi McMenamin;
For Women Only by Shaunti Feldhahn;
Won By One: A Workbook on Personal Soul Winning
by Clarence Sexton
Order in the Court by Sherry Hutson Camperson;
Total Money Makeover by Dave Ramsey;
(with a friend aloud) Parents and Children by Charlotte M Mason;


I am hoping (praying)...
my beloved as he continues to go through his weeks
of difficult training (physical and mental);
continuing to pray for the Lord to bring revival
to my heart, to my husband's, children's,
and other family, and to the churches and our nation;
for our church's revival services this week;
for my brother's father-in-law who discovered
he is in the last stages of stage 4 liver and lung cancer;
to have victory in implementing our new schedule;
to have victory in implementing our new budget;
that I will be humble and right before Him


I am hearing...
the children playing in the living room


One of my favorite things...
hearing the children play
(one day they will no longer be here)


A few plans for the rest of the week...
continue with our homeschool lessons;
take our eldest to the chiropractor;
go to revival each night till Wednesday;
violin master's meeting for our 6 year old;
enjoy the blessings of living


Here is picture thought I am sharing...



"Create in me a clean heart, O God;
and renew a right spirit within me." ~ Psalm 51:10

I've shared that one before but it is a verse that I am
meditating on this week as we have our revival services.

Revival...

Charles C. Todd and His Family, Praying in the Morning Before Breakfast
by Wallace Kirkland


Revival is a renewed conviction of sin and repentance,
followed by an intense desire to live in obedience to God.
It is giving up one's will to God in deep humility.
- Charles Finney


A spiritual awakening is no more than
God's people seeing God in His holiness,
turning from their wicked ways,
and being transformed into His likeness.
- Lewis Drummond


Oh! men and brethren, what would this heart feel
if I could but believe that there were some among you
who would go home and pray for a revival -
men whose faith is large enough,
and their love fiery enough to lead them from this moment
to exercise unceasing intercessions that God would
appear among us and do wondrous things here,
as in the times of former generations.
- C.H. Spurgeon


"Let us search and try our ways,
and turn again to the LORD."
Lamentations 3:40

"Search me, O God, and know my heart:
try me, and know my thoughts:
And see if there be any wicked way in me,
and lead me in the way everlasting."
~ Psalm 139:23-24

Constitution Day

222 years ago today,
39 of our Founding Fathers signed
one of the most important documents in U.S. history,
The Constitution.

Take some time today to explore, celebrate,
and learn more about the history and importance
of this document and event.
Take the opportunity, too, to pray for our country.


Links of interest:
Constitution Day 2009 & Founders Online



"If my people, which are called by my name,
shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face,
and turn from their wicked ways;
then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin,
and will heal their land." ~ 2 Chronicles 7:14

Simple Woman's Daybook... September 14, 2009

For today... September 14, 2009


Outside my window...
it is cool, dark, and very quiet


I am thinking...
about yesterday's messages at church...
how we have the ministry of reconciliation
and about how I ought to be aiming to please God


I am thankful for...
the preserved and inspired Truths of God's Word


From the learning rooms...
Lord willing, we'll be going "full speed ahead" this week
as we attempt to adapt to our schedule
while allowing grace for living real life. ;o)
Continuing in Joshua this week and beginning
our study in Ancient Greece
while adding in our other subjects, too!


From the kitchen...
a little blessing {cleaning} is needed from the weekend

On the Menu...
new menu to be made today


I am wearing...
sleepytime attire and a fringed shawl ;o)


I am creating...
a new jumper


I am reading...
my KJ Bible through in a year,
currently in 2 King, Psalms, Romans;
A Wife After God's Own Heart by Elizabeth George;
When Women Walk Alone by Cindi McMenamin;
For Women Only by Shaunti Feldhahn;
Won By One: A Workbook on Personal Soul Winning
by Clarence Sexton
Order in the Court by Sherry Hutson Camperson;
Total Money Makeover by Dave Ramsey;
(with a friend aloud) Parents and Children by Charlotte M Mason;


I am hoping (praying)...
my beloved as he goes through three weeks
of difficult training (physical and mental);
continuing to pray for the Lord to bring revival
to my heart, to my husband's, children's,
and other family, and to the churches and our nation;
for our church's revival services next week;
to have victory in implementing our new schedule;
to have victory in implementing our new budget;
that I will be humble and right before Him


I am hearing...
sounds from the monitors


One of my favorite things...
spending time with the Lord early in the morning


A few plans for the rest of the week...
make a menu and grocery list then go shopping;
focus on homeschooling; attend midweek prayer service;
go to violin lessons and our homeschool park day


Here is picture thought I am sharing...



"Unto thee lift I up mine eyes,
O thou that dwellest in the heavens." ~ Psalm 123:1

What a beautiful thought!

Sharing Ocean Snapshots...

Friday morning, we enjoyed a trip
out-of-doors to the ocean.
It was such a beautiful, autumn-like day!
A perfect day to spend at the beach...







And even better sharing it with friends...



The waves were large and loud,
and as the sound of thunder crashing...






The mamas and the younger ones
took a long walk down the beach...



A few delights from our Creator
that we observed and enjoyed along the way...

A half eaten horseshoe crab...
Perhaps not the 'prettiest' sight, but very fascinating! ;o)



This sandpiper and its little friend
walking along the beach with us



The sea oats are always lovely to look at and listen to!


We walked until we reached the pier...


What a sight to see the ocean waves crash underneath!



My friend's daughter stepped into this picture
and I thought it was just perfect!
Look at that wave coming! lol




All of the younger children under the pier


Our three youngest...











Up against the wall...

It sure got bright!


On our way back...








Time to play in the water!



Even the older ones...

















In addition to Ally's head bobbing in the ocean,
we were amused by the osprey that kept flying overhead.
In the back, a Marine was sitting and waving to us!


LOL

It was a beautiful day spent out-of-doors,
enjoying the handiwork of our Creator!