Tuesday, December 28, 2010
Monday, December 27, 2010
How do we know we love God?
Wednesday, December 22, 2010
A Gift~
If one is allowed to have a favorite Bible verse, mine is Romans 8:28-29. I often quote it, write it, say it, pray it, tell it, meditate on it.
Elisabeth Elliot if one of my favorite authors. So I decided to give myself and you a gift today from her. The following is an excerpt from a radio interview with Elisabeth. Hope you receive a blessing...I know I did!
We know, for example, "that all things work together for good to them that love God" (Rom. 8:28). Now the Bible says we know that. The Bible does not say God is going to show us how all things work together for good, here and now. He's not going to show us that, here and now. We have to take His word for it. But that's what it means to take His word. You just read the verse and as my friend Catherine Morgan said, "I don't have faith, I just know how to read."
So if you know how to read, open your Bible, read Romans 8:28 and 29. It says there, "Everything that happens, fits into a pattern for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose." It is all we know, but it is enough. He will prove it in His time.
How silently the wondrous gift is given. Are you drawn, as I am, to hidden things? I've always been fascinated, ever since I was a little girl, with hidden things. I loved playing hide the thimble when I was two or three or four years old. I was always called "the snooper" in our family, because I was always going into closets and drawers and places where it really was not my business to go.
And I remember in our summer place in New Hampshire, which really didn't belong to us, it belonged to my grandparents, I went snooping through all the things in a certain closet and I found what I thought were some empty boxes. And in one of these supposedly empty boxes I found a pair of glasses. Well, it turned out to be a pair that my grandfather had lost and he had been looking for, for years, and he gave me a quarter for finding those. So I triumphantly showed my quarter to my parents and said, "Look, I earned this by snooping."
I always loved little sandy roads in the New Jersey pines. I didn't have a chance to follow them. We would be driving by on a highway and I would always be fascinated to think, I wonder where that road goes? I always loved footpaths in the woods in New Hampshire where we spent our summers. And I loved the games that involved either hiding, like hide-n-seek or kick the can or hide the thimble.
I was always drawn to weak things--babies, little animals, tiny crabs, lowly things. What about painful things, silent things? In the spiritual life the instinct of faith hints that God is there, in hidden things--weak, lowly, painful, silent. God's Book, the Bible, is just loaded with instances of this fact. God is there, the mighty God. The everlasting Father is silently and in hidden ways at work in those very unlikely circumstances and events.
So what difference does this make in our life during this week? Let's meet everything that comes, as people who know, trusting and submitting to the authority of the eternal Word--Who does not reveal the end or the outcome or the meaning, but only Himself. And this has been my prayer lately. I have been really having quite a struggle over certain things in my life and in the life of some people I love. And I've been saying, "Lord, just make Yourself real to me." And I've thought of that poem that I think maybe Hudson Taylor wrote or at least Hudson Taylor was one who quoted it often and Amy Carmichael also quotes it:
Lord Jesus make Thyself to me
A living, bright reality;
More present to faith's vision keen
Than any outward object seen;
More near, more intimately nigh
Than even the sweetest earthly tie.
What is your condition today? Are there things that you don't understand, you don't know the meaning of them, you have no idea what the outcome is going to be? Maybe you are really afraid. Come to Him who came to us. Ask Him to make Himself known to you. He is Emmanuel, which means God with us.
Maybe there is someone, and I'm not sure whether the Lord is just reminding me to say this to you, but I have a feeling that there may be somebody out there who is pregnant and doesn't want to be--somebody who is dying a thousand deaths over the prospect of yet another child. You're afraid. You can't handle it. You know your husband doesn't make enough money for it. You don't have room in the house. You are already exhausted, tired, desperate. Remember that Mary also had an unexpected pregnancy and her response was, "Behold, the handmaid of the Lord. Let it happen as you say."
I too look for 'hidden' things in life. GOD WITH US! May we all, like Elisabeth Elliott quote Romans 8:28-29 often!
Merry Christmas from me to you, Sherry Lynette
Monday, December 20, 2010
Christmas Gifts ~
Monday, December 13, 2010
Marriage Monday
Thursday, December 9, 2010
Little Red Pail ~
Sunday, December 5, 2010
Sewing is fun!
Saturday, December 4, 2010
Food for Thought:
Friday, December 3, 2010
Aunts and Uncle Baby Love~
40th Anniversary ~ Sweet Gift
Gratitude Check
Wednesday, December 1, 2010
Baby Love~
Mommy Natascha, Daddy Matt Scott, Joschua and Lorelei visiting at the hospital. She had no pain and was actually laughing during the delivery~ she had an epidural! Amazing!
Tuesday, November 30, 2010
Home again, Home again, jiggity jig!
We had Thanksgiving together as Dave, Caleb and Rebekah came for the day to be with all of us and celebrate together. We have traditions.....and the traditions must go on. After our delicious turkey dinner with all the fixings, we go around and share two things. We name one person in our family we are most grateful for this past year, and why. Secondly, we share the name of a non family member we are most grateful for this past year and again why. Not a year goes by, without tears flowing. I have a Thanksgiving journal I have written down this info in over the years.
Was it hard to leave? Yes. And No. Yes, because I love them, love talking with them, being with them and being a blessing as they are to me. I am a baby person, always have been, always will be. I love babies. I really love babies. I love talking to them, holding them, rocking them, changing their diapers, changing their clothes, wrapping them up, burbing them, all things baby I love. Even doing their laundry and smelling their tiny clothes as I fold and put away. Like I said I love babies, especially mine, be them, my own babies or my grandchildren. I do love other peoples babies too.....if they 'share'.
So this morning I packed up my stuff. I hugged goodbyes. I kissed and kissed goodbyes. Then I hugged again. My sweet darling Joschua stood on the porch waving bye-bye to Grandma and Grandpa! Sweet! Very Sweet! We drove home. Here I am. YET ~ I have my pictures and my heart is very very warm. I am a happy Grandma!
Did I mention they are coming Friday for a visit? Yay! They will visit Great-Grandma and Great-Grandpa McCurley too. We are so blessed!
Gratefully His, Lynette
Sunday, November 28, 2010
In PA
Gratefully His, Lynette
Wednesday, November 10, 2010
10 Ways
Monday, November 8, 2010
Keep Your Heart
Friday, November 5, 2010
Marriage Monday Part 2
Thursday, November 4, 2010
~Recipes ~
Tuesday, November 2, 2010
Tidy Mother
I will admit it...I am a Tidy Mother! Or at least I try to be, wanna be. I like things in their place, easier to find. My time is limited and I hate to waste time 'looking for things'. We live in a middle sized home with no basement. We also have an eat in kitchen (which I love) but little counter space and not many cabinets. Soooo not a lot of room. I have learned to use 'wall spaces' and 'vertical spaces up high'. Our ceilings are almost 10 feet.
Still ~ Tidy means more than just everything in it's place. Here are some tips:
Don’t let it sit for later (Clean ASAP) – a mess is much easier to clean up when it happens. Once food or dirt is allowed to dry or soak in, it’s going to take a lot more time and elbow grease to clean it later. I have learned this the hard way....clean it up when it happens...even dripped milk.
Don’t Put it off – this is probably my BIGGEST household tip! Clean as you go. You’ll be amazed that many things only take a few minutes to do if you clean as you go, rather than hours of cleaning if you put it all off to do at once. If you stay on top of these things daily your house will look nice and you will be more organized and relaxed. Some of the things I do daily are:
- make my bed
- wipe down the bathroom after I have gotten ready – I keep Clorox wipes and a cloth diaper under the bathroom sink – and I give the bathroom a quick wipe down daily.
- clear the dinner table AND do dishes as soon as we finish eating.
- load the dishwasher any time there’s a dirty dish – it really only take a few seconds, instead of having a sink or counter piled with dirty dishes.
- wipe off the counters and table. Get kids to help....this is key to large families...it becomes a habit to them too.
- sort mail, throw out junk.
- do at least one load of laundry a day if children are small. I do mine all on Monday.
- fold and put away laundry as it comes out of the dryer ~ you'll be sorry if you don't.
- We home school. When my children were younger we had 15 minutes after breakfast before school for 'chores'. Different things each day. Trash, clean sinks, put things away, collect laundry etc. It was just automatic once learned. At the end of the day, we did the same thing. 15 minutes of everyone doing 'something' to help keep things running smooth.
Set a Timer for Quick Clean Ups- Many days I will give myself 15 minutes and run thru a few rooms and just pick up stray times, fluff and straighten the room. You’ll be surprised how often this will motivate you to keep going. Get the kids to help – make it a game!
Dust While on the Phone – often if I’m on the phone with someone, instead of sitting on the couch, I will get up and dust a room while we chat! Multi tasking is my friend
Don’t walk to another room empty handed - there’s almost ALWAYS something in a room that belongs some where else – don’t pass it up, grab it on your way – even if you just open a door and toss it in!
Clean up as you cook - I have a small kitchen, so I really get stressed if I have no room to cook or bake. Like wise, if you’re waiting on dinner in the oven, clean up the mess while it cooks.
I LOVE to come home to a Clean House- I try and pad my “to go time” by 15-30 minutes and do a quick run thru before I leave, put dirty dishes in the dish washer, wipe off counters, pick up stray items, even vacuum if I have time. I especially do this before travels, that way I could walk in to a clean house and start dinner with out the stress of a messy house to pick up as well.
Hope this gives you some ideas.....make it work! Doing a little now, pays big time later!
Thankful Heart Here, Sherry Lynette
Monday, November 1, 2010
Marriage Monday
Highly bonded couples…
1. Are courteous and kind to each other.
A little kindness goes a long way. Try to treat your husband like he's a good friend. If you're rude and snippy to your husband, why will he want to be nice to you?
2. Talk about issues before they get out of hand.
In marriage, you have to choose your battles, but if you sense that an irritation is becoming a major annoyance, you need to talk about it with your husband.
3. Believe in each other.
If you think your husband is a loser, you're going to treat him that way. Even if he has a track record of business failures or poor decisions, keep your opinion of those outcomes separate from who he is as a person.
4. Assume the best about each other.
Look for the good things about your husband and assume the best in his actions and words. Instead of assuming that he has bad intentions, give him the benefit of the doubt before you jump to conclusions.
5. Live in a "we" world.
Couples who are close use words that show they are set apart. Try to say, "Our bedroom, our house, our children, etc." Think of you and your husband as a team.
6. Touch.
It sounds corny, but hugs are healthy. So, hug your husband when he comes home, instead of just giving him a quick peck on the cheek or lips. Touch his shoulder while he's driving; hold hands while you pray at church, offer to rub his back.