The lines have fallen to me in pleasant places; Indeed, my heritage is beautiful to me. ~ Psalm 16:6 nasb
Showing posts with label Tea Talk. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Tea Talk. Show all posts

Thursday, May 3, 2012

Tea Talk -- Surely I Will


Welcome to my home for Ruth's Tea Talk!
Click on Ruth's button above to participate with me.
Sit and share a cup of tea with me as we encourage each other in the Lord.


I'm having...Irish breakfast tea in my Polish pottery mug, as I do every morning.


I'm feeling...fine, healthy, no cold, no sickness, for which I'm thankful.  :)

On my mind...is my sweet Joseph, who is 23 years old today.  Despite the challenge of autism and the struggles and roadblocks he faces every day, he is a sweet, thoughtful young man who is happy to be sheltered in love at his dad's and mom's house.  I can't believe I have a 23-year-old!  Many twisty-turny roads lie ahead for Joseph as he (and we) contemplate his future, but for right now I'm resting firmly in the Lord's hand for the future of the amazing gift He gave us so many years ago.  Joseph has made our lives rich beyond comprehension.

I leave you with...two passages of Scripture.  This first one is a claim as a promise for our son.

 Do not fear, for I am with you;
Do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you, surely I will help you,
Surely I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.
Isaiah 41:10 NASB

This second one is a reminder to those of us without disabilities.

Now we who are strong ought to bear
the weaknesses of those without strength
and not just please ourselves.
Each of us is to please his neighbor for his good,
to his edification.
Romans 15:1-2 NASB


Joseph and a sunrise in Florida (May 2011)

But the path of the righteous is like the light of dawn,
That shines brighter and brighter until the full day.
Proverbs 4:18 NASB


Back to life,
Christine

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Thursday, March 22, 2012

Tea Talk -- Something New


Welcome to my home for Ruth's Tea Talk!
Click on Ruth's button above to participate with me.
Sit and share a cup of tea with me as we encourage each other in the Lord.


I'm having...a cup of Irish breakfast tea in my Polish pottery mug.

Creamer {coneflower} with teapot in background {blue poppy}

I'm feeling...pretty good after a few nights of good sleep.  It has been so warm--summer-like temperatures have reigned for over a week!--that it has been hard to get sleep.  I'm wearing short-sleeved shirts and my hair up off my neck, and bare feet around the house.  I even weeded my gardens this week!

On my mind...all those appointments and dates and events are starting to stack up again.  I'm staying upbeat about them all, though this warm weather is making it hard to get anything done.  I've also been preoccupied with our anniversary trip coming up in September.  I know it's a long way off, but it's now official--we've purchased plane tickets and are now researching accommodations to make sure we can get a good deal early.  And that means time to research, read, email, ask, etc.  Here's a hint:  think cafés and coffee, narrow streets and amazing architecture, and too many places to see in one week's time.  :)

I leave you with...a Scripture verse containing the word spring (even though it means something different).

Behold, I will do something new,
Now it will spring forth;
Will you not be aware of it?
I will even make a roadway in the wilderness,
Rivers in the desert.
Isaiah 43:19 NASB

Spring daffodils in my neighborhood!


Back to life,
Christine

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Thursday, March 15, 2012

Tea Talk -- A Home for the Lonely


Welcome to my home for Ruth's Tea Talk!
Click on Ruth's button above to participate with me.
Sit and share a cup of tea with me as we encourage each other in the Lord.


I'm having...a cup of pomegranate green tea, leaves given to me by my sweet neighbor Lorraine.

Green tea leaves with pomegranate

I'm feeling...warm and humid!  You would not believe how warm it was here yesterday--close to 80 degrees Fahrenheit!  In March!  In Chicago!  Here (below) is a picture of a teacup; I took it at the Mother/Daughter Encouragement weekend and it fits these summery days perfectly.  The warmth is supposed to continue for a week or so!


On my mind...is lots of stuff, as usual.  Jacob has gotten some appointments and things out of the way and on the calendar (that's always good to get appointments set!).  I'm helping my mom de-clutter so she and Dad can get ready to list their house for sale.  And I scheduled a photo shoot for April--always something to look forward to!  Everything else is rather haphazard right now, so I'm trying to muddle through.  I also have big plans on my mind for Fernando and me to celebrate our 25th wedding anniversary this autumn!  Fernando and I have been huddled around books and the computer screen a lot, doing research and mostly dreaming right now.  Hopefully one of the dreams will become reality, and I'll let you know as soon as it does!

I leave you with...a little passage of Scripture.

God makes a home for the lonely;
He leads out the prisoners into prosperity,
Only the rebellious dwell in a parched land.
Psalm 68:6 NASB



Back to life,
Christine

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Thursday, March 8, 2012

Tea Talk -- Oaks of Righteousness


Welcome to my home for Ruth's Tea Talk!
Click on Ruth's button above to participate with me.
Sit and share a cup of tea with me as we encourage each other in the Lord.


I'm having...a cup of Emerald Isle tea, which I bought at our farmers market last summer.  I've been enjoying tea in my Polish pottery, a gift from Jacob.


I'm feeling...tired.  I haven't been getting enough sleep lately, and life is crazy right now.  I have way too much on my mind!  Speaking of which...

On my mind...helping Jacob get all his paperwork, essays, applications, etc. done by their respective deadlines.  Transferring to WIU is crazy!  Then, there's Joseph's possible employment, which he's now balking at; Fernando and I have begun a discussion about implementing a plan for "a future and a hope" for our autistic son.  Plus, Danny is suffering through a bad cold while trying to keep up with college classes, and Thomas is home with me working with a haphazard, slightly crazy homeschool schedule.  There's other stuff, but really, I can't handle any more right now.  :)

I leave you with...this verse of Scripture.

...Giving them a garland instead of ashes,
The oil of gladness instead of mourning,
The mantle of praise instead of a spirit of fainting.
So they will be called oaks of righteousness,
The planting of the LORD, that He may be glorified.
Isaiah 61:3 NASB

A tree at North Central College


Back to life,
Christine

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Thursday, March 1, 2012

Tea Talk -- No Longer


Welcome to my home for Ruth's Tea Talk!
Click on Ruth's button above to participate with me.
Sit and share a cup of tea with me as we encourage each other in the Lord.


I'm having...a cup of Irish breakfast tea to start off my morning.

Two cups for two sisters

I'm feeling...tired.  We have had a trying week, and I feel weary attempting to process the wildly erratic emotions connected with event after event.  Mind you, the events haven't been earth-shattering, but the week has been one thing right after another.

On my mind...is my to-do list with deadlines looming and no desire to get anything done.  I'm not down in the dumps; I'm just tired.  I know the Lord will lift me up, and I know that many are praying for me, and for our family (again, nothing dire).  I'm resting in His mercy and strength in time of weakness.

I leave you with...hope from the Scriptures.

And He will wipe away every tear from their eyes;
and there will no longer be any death;
there will no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain;
the first things have passed away.
Revelation 21:4 NASB


Last week--looking down the street where my parents live


Back to life,
Christine

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Thursday, February 23, 2012

Tea Talk -- Get Yourself Up!


Welcome to my home for Ruth's Tea Talk!
Click on Ruth's button above to participate with me.
Sit and share a cup of tea with me as we encourage each other in the Lord.


A quick note--I can't believe I haven't blogged in over two weeks!  I spent several days out of town, and just haven't had any time to blog since I returned home.  I think I'm finally getting back into the routine of my life, though, and I'm very happy to start blogging again by sharing Tea Talk with you all today!


I'm having...a cup of Irish breakfast tea in my Polish pottery mug.  Since you've seen my tea cups before, I'm sharing someone else's cup with you today.

A tea cup from a Christmas tea party

I'm feeling...fine.  Some of the muscle pain in my neck has eased, and I am leaving the rest in the Lord's hands.

On my mind...is editing the final 15 of the 300+ images I took at the SECHDF Mother/Daughter Encouragement Weekend in Georgia.  Not only did I get to shoot the two-day event, I got to spend lots of time with my sister D.  :)  Now I have just a bit of hard work left, then it's organizing everything, getting portraits printed, then mailing them off.  I'm also praying for a few print orders from the event!

I leave you with...a passage of Scripture that brings hope.  I'm looking ahead to warmer weather (though this winter has been nothing to complain about!), to spring and to the celebration of Jesus' resurrection.  This passage also helps me look ahead with hope and excitement.

Get yourself up on a high mountain,
O Zion, bearer of good news,
Lift up your voice mightily,
O Jerusalem, bearer of good news;
Lift it up, do not fear.
Say to the cities of Judah,
"Here is your God!"
Isaiah 40:9 NASB

Looking forward to spring!!


Back to life,
Christine

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Thursday, February 2, 2012

Tea Talk -- So Great and So Far


Welcome to my home for Ruth's Tea Talk!
Click on Ruth's button above to participate with me.
Sit and share a cup of tea with me as we encourage each other in the Lord.


I'm having...a cup of tea with honey and half-n-half.  It's my typical morning cup of tea.

Morning tea in my Pfaltzgraff Ocean Breeze teacup


I'm feeling...fine, mostly.  I slipped on the stair into our garage last weekend, and it exacerbated the pain I was already experiencing in my neck due to pulled muscles.  Nothing has worked so far, so I'm off in a few minutes to see a massage therapist.  If nothing else, I'll end up relaxed by lunchtime!  :)

On my mind...is my upcoming trip to Georgia!  Details are swirling 'round my brain, including figuring out how not to have to check a bag (it's $25 each way to check a suitcase; can you believe that??).  I have to get all my photography gear in order, clean my camera's sensor (a tricky procedure I've never done), put together pricing sheets, edit photos for display (digital picture frame) at the two-day conference at which I'll be shooting.  So many details!  I'll soon be in full swing pulling all of this together.  All I do is start making lists, and that eases any panic I feel.  Then I simply start "doing" and checking items off.

I leave you with...a passage from Psalms that brings such comfort to my heart.

He has not dealt with us according to our sins,
Nor rewarded us according to our iniquities.
For as high as the heavens are above the earth,
So great is His lovingkindness toward those who fear Him.
As far as the east is from the west,
So far has He removed our transgressions from us.
Just as a father has compassion on his children,
So the LORD has compassion on those who fear Him.
For He Himself knows our frame;
He is mindful that we are but dust.
Psalm 103:10-14 NASB

Sunset in the woods


Back to life,
Christine

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Thursday, January 26, 2012

Tea Talk -- Examine and Probe


Welcome to my home for Ruth's Tea Talk!
Click on Ruth's button above to participate with me.
Sit and share a cup of tea with me as we encourage each other in the Lord.


I'm having...a cup of tea with honey and half-n-half, in Fernando's Stone Mountain Park mug.


I'm feeling...pretty good.  My neck has had some pulled muscles for a while, but things are getting better.

On my mind...continues to be Jacob's internship issues at school.  He is handling things very well by himself, and he lets me know everything that is going on.  No matter how this turns out--whether or not he actually receives an internship--we know the Lord will be honored.  Also on my mind is losing my mind!  This week Joseph and I drove to an "expo" featuring community service organizations.  We pulled up to the recreation center where the expo was being held, and I glanced at the article again--the day was wrong.  Then I glanced again.  The expo is in February.  How could I have missed that??  Joseph was very patient; he hardly ever gets mad.  Then we enjoyed a nice ride home.  :)

I leave you with...a short passage of Scripture as our country is getting into gears with upcoming primary elections, and then the presidential elections this coming autumn.  We need, so very much, to return to the Lord!

Why should any living mortal, or any man,
Offer complaint in view of his sins?
Let us examine and probe our ways,
And let us return to the LORD.
We lift up our heart and hands
Toward God in heaven...
Lamentations 3:39-41 NASB
 
  • examine (2664)--search, ponder, ransack (there's an interesting connotation!)
  • probe (2713)--ascertain, examine, investigate, make a search, ponder, taste

The Lord had Jeremiah use these two words, not just one.  To me, both of these words lend emphasis to the importance of making sure our hearts are indeed turned toward the Lord in everything and in all areas.  It doesn't mean a quick check to see if something is there.  It is a thorough search!  I loved reading that one of the translations was ransack.  This word gives the connotation of tearing the place apart to find every little thing, such as a burglar ransacking a house to steal every single item of value.  This is what I am exhorted to do with my ways!  And taste--I've "sampled" a leftover dish in the fridge, just to make sure it's still edible.  I mean, it looks good.  But how does it taste?  This refers to a second examination of something that may, at first glance, appear to be okay.  Again, I need to apply this to my ways--my time, my money, my thoughts, my actions, my words...

Lord, is there anything--anything at all--that is hindering my relationship with You?  Help me to search, probe, and ponder, and expose those areas one by one.  Purify my heart to keep it turned toward You!

Snow on our lawn


Back to life,
Christine

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Thursday, January 19, 2012

Tea Talk -- My Hiding Place and Shield


Welcome to my home for Ruth's Tea Talk!
Click on Ruth's button above to participate with me.
Sit and share a cup of tea with me as we encourage each other in the Lord.


I'm having...a cup of Trader Joe's Irish breakfast tea.  I drink it every morning, and drink other teas throughout the day (in winter).  I'm posting a photo of the below teacup (from a recent Ladies' Christmas Tea) because it reminds me of spring.

Thinking of spring!

I'm feeling...cold!  That's why I'm dreaming of spring.  :)

On my mind...is my crazy schedule today and for the next several weeks.  Thomas joined a local math team!  I think it's great, but they're currently meeting on Tuesdays and Thursdays, which are the two long days for Jacob and Danny down at Joliet Junior College.  Plus Fernando has physical therapy on some of those days, so my Tuesday/Thursday afternoon schedule looks like this:

  • 12:30pm -- take Fernando back to work so I can have the car in the afternoon
  • 1:00pm -- arrive home from taking F. to work
  • 1:45pm -- take Thomas to math team meeting
  • 2:15pm -- home from dropping Thomas off
  • 3:15pm -- pick up Fernando from work and take him to therapy
  • 4:00pm -- drop off Fernando at therapy and drive down to pick Thomas up
  • 4:30pm -- arrive home for dinner preparations!?!

This is no fun.  But at least there are only a few math team days when Fernando has therapy, so all I have to do is take Fernando back to work at lunchtime in order to have the car.  I'd really like to have a steady routine for at least a little while.  I think the Lord has other plans for me.  :)

I leave you with...as usual, a Scripture verse.  Short and sweet.

You are my hiding place and my shield;
I wait for Your word.
Psalm 119:114 NASB

  • hiding place -- a covering, secret place, shelter
  • shield -- buckler; from 1598 (to cover, surround, defend, protect)
  • wait -- await, have hope, wait expectantly

Told you I was thinking of spring...!


Back to life,
Christine

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Thursday, January 12, 2012

Tea Talk -- Be On The Alert


Welcome to my home for Ruth's Tea Talk!
Click on Ruth's button above to participate with me.
Sit and share a cup of tea with me as we encourage each other in the Lord.


I'm having...a cup of Trader Joe's Irish breakfast tea in my Polish pottery.  The below is a picture of one of Lori's teacups.  Isn't it pretty?


I'm feeling...healthy and well.  Thank you for asking!

On my mind...I'm helping Jacob with some issues he's having with the community college he is attending.  He is receiving the "run-around" from various people, so I'm helping him put together a strategy and plan of action which will help him obtain what he is seeking, and which at the same time is God-honoring and respectful.  It's so hard when I have been wronged; I just want to charge in and demand my rights.  It's even harder when my young men are wronged!  Even though they're older, they still don't have the skill (which is built through experience) to negotiate and figure out what to do.  We're praying that the Lord would be glorified through this situation.  I'll definitely keep you posted!

I leave you with...the end of a passage of Scripture we read in family devotions last night.


Be on the alert then,
for you do not know the day or the hour.
Matthew 25:13 NASB

  • alert:  formed from the Greek word to awaken, to raise up.  Meaning to be awake, to watch.

Jesus spoke these words after He shared the parable of the ten virgins.  All ten took their lamps.  All ten fell asleep.  But only five were prepared for the bridegroom to come.  They stayed the course and were faithful til the end.  Jesus admonishes me to be on the alert, to be aware of Him in all things--in my own personal life and in world events.  It is not physical sleep that is at issue here--it is my spiritual alertness to Him in my life.  My constant surrender to and focus on Him keeps me alert and awake in Christ!



The DuPage River in winter


Back to life,
Christine

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Thursday, December 29, 2011

Tea Talk -- Make Your Way Known


Welcome to my home for Ruth's Tea Talk!
Sit and share a cup of tea with me as we encourage each other in the Lord.


I'm having...a mug of Irish breakfast tea in a big "hot chocolate mug."  I made pancakes this morning for the guys.


I'm feeling...fine.  :)

On my mind...is/was trying to create a new Facebook page for my business.  I thought it would take just a few minutes, but alas, I ran into problems, including somehow creating two pages!  I have spent the morning working on it.  Hopefully it's fixed now.  I also have to type out the cars' schedule--where the cars will be when, and who will be in them--so that Fernando can coordinate his therapy sessions and I can coordinate simply having a vehicle for errands and such.  Busy days are coming!

I leave you with...a passage of Scripture that is fitting as we look forward to a new year.  I pray that this Scripture is fulfilled in both my life and yours as the new year progresses!

Psalm 67
(NASB)

God be gracious to us and bless us,
And cause His face to shine upon us--
That Your way may be known on the earth,
Your salvation among all nations.
Let all the peoples praise You.
Let the nations be glad and sing for joy;
For You will judge the peoples with uprightness
And guide the nations on the earth.
Let the peoples praise You, O God;
Let all the peoples praise You.
The earth has yielded its produce;
God, our God, blesses us.
God blesses us,
That all the ends of the earth may fear Him.

This is not a selfish blessing.  There is a purpose to the Lord's blessing:  That His way and salvation may be known to others.  And the last two verses sum it up again:  He blesses me so that others may fear Him.  May I be useful to the Lord so that others are drawn to Him this new year!




Back to life,
Christine

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Thursday, December 22, 2011

Tea Talk -- Today!


Welcome to my home for Ruth's Tea Talk!
Sit and share a cup of tea with me as we encourage each other in the Lord.


I'm having...a mug of Irish breakfast tea in my new Polish pottery bubble mug (as they call it).  I love my mug and this tea!


I'm feeling...fine and healthy.  :)

On my mind...is a little bit more baking that needs to be done for the weekend, and then the rest of my focus will be on Christmas Day!  Our extended family will be spending the afternoon and evening in our home, and we hope to create a warm, inviting atmosphere for everyone.  This includes cleaning and all the other preparations that need to happen!  I'm mentally making my lists, and I need to get it all written down in order to sort out all the logistics.  But--I love logistics!

All my snowflake ornaments--I purchase one or two each year--are on our tree!

I leave you with...another appropriate verse for this season of joy, hope, and peace.


...for today in the city of David
there has been born for you a Savior,
who is Christ the Lord.
Luke 2:11 NASB




Merry Christmas, dear Tea-Time friends!!


Back to life,
Christine

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Thursday, December 15, 2011

Tea Talk -- This Will Be A Sign


Welcome to my home for Ruth's Tea Talk!
Sit and share a cup of tea with me as we encourage each other in the Lord.


I'm having...a mug of Irish breakfast tea in my new tea mug!



On one of my extremely rare "window shopping" adventures, I spotted this Polish pottery.  After oohing and aahing and practically drooling over the various pieces and patterns, I was persuaded by the shop owner to fill out a gift wish list.  She then proceeded to hand me a $10 gift certificate to her store!  But wait...  there's more to this story...

Last week I spent a massive chunk of time typing up a school project for Jacob.  He usually pays me in peanut butter cups, but seriously--I had spent over 14 hours and typed 87 pages of information.  This project was big.  In thanks, Jacob accompanied me back to this shop, where he chipped his "payment" and, along with some money I had saved, we purchased the teapot and mug in the blue poppy pattern, and the sugar and creamer in the cornflower pattern.  Jacob was so sweet to go with me, since window shopping is complete foreign to his character (I pray frequently for his future wife!).  At one point, after browsing for several minutes, Jacob leaned over to me and whispered, "I'm trying, Mom, but this is really hard!"

I'm feeling...fine and dandy.  :)

On my mind...are details of Christmas.  I'm guessing Christmas is on your mind as well!  I'm trying to enjoy the whole process, instead of becoming frenzied with preparations for just one day which will pass as a vapor.  Today I plan to enjoy hand-addressing envelopes in which we will send out our annual Christmas letter (which is written but not yet copied).  I enjoy this activity because it gives me time to think about each person and/or family we send a letter to.  I think back on the blessings of each person, and thank the Lord for all of them.

I leave you with...a passage of Scripture fit for this season.

This will be a sign for you:
you will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger."
And suddenly there appeared with the angel 
a multitude of the heavenly host 
praising God and saying,
"Glory to God in the highest,
And on earth peace among men with whom He is pleased."
Luke 2:12-14 NASB


 "A shoot will spring from the stem of Jesse..." [Isaiah 11:1ff]


Back to life,
Christine

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Thursday, December 8, 2011

Tea Talk -- His Name


Welcome to my home for Ruth's Tea Talk!
Sit and share a cup of tea with me as we encourage each other in the Lord.


I'm having...a cup of Trader Joe's sipping chocolate.  (I actually had this last night.)  Very rich, very chocolatey.  :)

Hot chocolate in my Gibson china teacup

I'm feeling...just dandy this morning, though still a bit sleepy.

On my mind...is how to calculate the radius of a curved roadway, how to use the triangulation method to place evidence in a field sketch, the length of a yaw skid mark...  Yeah, it doesn't make a lot of sense to me, either.  These past few days, I have been typing up an outline of a "Traffic Accident Investigation" field manual for Jacob.  I have learned more about parts of cars, skid marks, flares, and evidence-gathering than I ever wanted to know.  And today will be the final push to complete the outline.  I'm nearing 80 pages of typed material!

I leave you with...any Scripture should take my mind off traffic accidents and evidence, lol.  I leave you with this particular passage as my mind and heart look toward this Christmas season:

For a child will be born to us,
a son will be given to us;
And the government will rest on His shoulders;
And His name will be called

Wonderful Counselor, 
Mighty God,
Eternal Father, 
Prince of Peace.

Isaiah 9:6 NASB

O Come, O Come Emmanuel!


Back to life,
Christine

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Thursday, December 1, 2011

Tea Talk -- Every Word


Welcome to my home for Ruth's Tea Talk!
Sit and share a cup of tea with me as we encourage each other in the Lord.
To participate, click on Ruth's button above.


Lake Bonaparte wildflowers


I'm having...a cup of green pomegranate tea.  My friend and neighbor Lorraine brought some of this loose tea for me to try, and it's excellent and very flavorful.  I'm using my everyday Pfaltzgraff Ocean Breeze pattern tea cup.  Kudos to you if you can spot it in the below picture of the basement computer desk!  This is where I do my photography editing and blogging.  Danny and Thomas built the computer and it is the only one in the house that can handle my photo editing software.


I'm feeling...fine!  The Lord has been keeping me in His care this week.  Fernando had surgery on Monday to repair his left rotator cuff and bicep (an injury from last May), and he has already had two rehab therapy sessions, with another scheduled for tomorrow!  I think that's amazing.

On my mind...is my dear sweetheart, of course.  I'm playing nurse to him, but the boys are helping so much that I feel as if I'm hardly doing anything.  Friends have blessed us with meals, too.  There are obviously things waiting for me on my to-do list, but the Lord has His own focus for me this week, and it is to take care of my darling.  The funny thing is--when I was a little girl, I wanted to grow up to be either a nurse or a teacher.  Well, I am a homeschool mom.  However, I have realized that I would have made a terrible nurse!  :)

I leave you with...another funny thing is, I've been reading Scripture before going to bed each night.  (No, that's not the funny thing.)  This is the funny thing:  I've been reading about all the kings who followed or didn't follow the statutes of the Lord, and famines where women were boiling their children to eat.  It has not exactly been ideal bedtime reading!  (I can hardly believe that some of that stuff is in the Word!!)  I refuse to share those verses with you.  (You're welcome!)  Instead, I have chosen this one:


Every word of God is tested;
He is a shield to those who take refuge in Him.
Proverbs 30:5 NASB


tested -- 6884.  To smelt, refine, test.  This Hebrew word carries connotations of having been "through the fire," as when a metal is smelted and refined to remove impurities.  In the side margin of my beloved Bible, I wrote pure next to tested.  This is every word of God!  Every single one.  How marvelous to take refuge in the One whose every word has been tested and proven pure in every way, without blemish, stain, or impurity.  He is my shield!  My heart sings praise to Him.


 This photo makes me think of Christmas.


Back to life,
Christine

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Thursday, November 24, 2011

Tea Talk -- Be Exalted!


Welcome to my home for Ruth's Tea Talk!
Sit and share a cup of tea with me as we encourage each other in the Lord.
To participate, click on Ruth's button above.



I'm having...a cup of Trader Joe's Irish breakfast tea.

Lori has such pretty tea cups!

I'm feeling...extremely rested after a long sleep.  I think I needed to make up some snooze time, which has been lacking lately.

On my mind...is today's and tomorrow's events.  We're spending the day with my parents and younger brother at my parents' home.  My whole family lives close, so we see them all the time, but Thanksgiving makes seeing them even more special.  Then on Friday, we get to spend the day with Lori and her family; we're driving to Wisconsin to get a Christmas tree.  Fun, huh?

I leave you with...simple words of thanks and praise to God.


My heart is steadfast, O God, my heart is steadfast;
I will sing, yes, I will sing praises!
Awake, my glory!
Awake, harp and lyre!
I will awaken the dawn.
I will give thanks to You, O Lord, among the peoples;
I will sing praises to You among the nations.
For Your lovingkindness is great to the heavens
And Your truth to the clouds.
Be exalted above the heavens, O God;
Let Your glory be above all the earth.
Psalm 57:7-11 NASB


Along Hermitage Road, Lake Bonaparte, NY


Back to life,
Christine

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