An Exceedingly Gracious Gift

This summer, in our women's Sunday School class, we have been studying Biblical Womanhood. My eyes have been opened to many things during this time, but the one thing that stands out like a shining star is the FACT that God has given us a great gift in REPENTANCE.

My idea of repentance has always been a typical Webster's definition: "to turn from sin and resolve to reform one's life. to feel sorry for (something done) : REGRET."

And while this definition is correct, it's not nearly that simple. Repenting can become a ritual, like saying "I'm sorry" just to avoid further conflict. Repentance can be mere words with no heartfelt reversal of actions or it can be temporary, a fleeting moment of conscience.

It's no fun to repent. It means you have to bare your soul. If it's to another human, it's humiliating. But if it's to God, it can be downright heart rending. In prayer, repenting used to be so painful that I dreaded "that part". It was especially hurtful when you kept confessing habitual sin. (Which, of course, means that you said "I am sorry", but didn't take the next step....actually reform.)

Saying all that brings me to the point here...repentance is a continual process in a Christian's life. God has done His part. He has "imputed my sin to my substitute (Jesus), and hast imputed His righteousness to my soul..", but in my day to day earthly Christian walk, I am still stained with sin. I am so sinful that sometimes (most times) I don't even repent for the right reason.

 BUT, God is faithful and every day He rewards me with His incomparable grace and allows me to approach His throne and REPENT. As I do so, I receive His forgiveness and His strength, through the Holy Spirit to persevere. What a gift to a Christian...to be able to recognize sin, call it what it is and ask for forgiveness. And the "cherry on the top" is that we are given renewed strength day after day.

" Grant me never to lose sight of
the exceeding sinfulness of sin,
the exceeding righteousness of salvation,
the exceeding glory of Christ,
the exceeding beauty of holiness,
the exceeding wonder of grace."

(The Valley of Vision, p. 136-137)



Grace and peace to you,

Don't Let the Sun Set On Your Anger...

It is true that you don't know how much you appreciate something until it's gone. That's the case with rain! We have been without rain for weeks now. Summer in the south has been humid and dry at the same time. And did I mention, HOT?

For two days in a row, we suddenly received super showers. They weren't prolonged periods of rain, but what a blessing of refreshing they were.

 Have you ever had periods in your life like this? The problems seem like they will never end? You are "parched" and need just a cup of water. (Sometimes, I'd even settle for a drop.) That's where I found myself not too long ago. I wanted to share this "thorn in the flesh" in the hope that maybe it would be encouraging to you in some small way.

God's Word is ALWAYS correct. We can dodge it, try to hide from it, deny it, but in the end, if you know anything about God's Word, you know it's right. Case in point here. Several years ago, I got my feelings hurt...not only at the work place but also at church. People I thought were my friends, weren't. People I trusted, disappointed me. People I loved deserted me when I needed them most.

Now, if you are a friend, don't try to decide if you were one of them. That's not the point here. Just stay with me and let me get this out there. I have been a Christian for over 60 years, I know the Bible is clear about how to handle situations like this. You are to go to that person who has offended and speak eyeball to eyeball. You are to try and clear the problem up before it becomes a festering sore. You are NOT to let the sun go down while still being angry. You are to go in love and try to restore peace....even if it is NOT your fault. You are not to pout or try to get people on your side. That is called dissension and it is a destroyer.

And that is exactly what I did....I pouted, I misspoke, I got so angry that I dreaded going to work and worse, I didn't want to go to church. Did my actions make things better for me..or for anyone? Of course not. I felt as though I was walking in a desert. I needed just a drop of water. I needed a Friend.
(Read Ephesians 4.)

Then it happened. I went back to church. And one day, I went back to Sunday School. And the next thing I knew I felt refreshed. I felt pardoned. I felt forgiven. My prayer life, while not perfect, has been a Godsend. I have had a paradigm shift.  The way I face the day is completely different. I have no desire to relive the events that shattered my confidence and my friendships, except to help someone out there who might be struggling in this area. Do I care what you think of me as I write this? Certainly, but not in the way you might imagine. I was given the thirst quenching drink of forgiveness...maybe not from man but more importantly from our Heavenly Father. I want you to feel that forgiveness also.

People are people. They are sinners. Some have accepted that Jesus died for their sins and are saved from those sins. Some have not yet accepted Him. Some will not. But that's not my call. All I can do is to use the Bible as my "playbook". Read and study it and find the answers to problems that seem to be swirling all around. Whether there is or isn't a definite answer spelled out...give it to God. He knows best. He is my Savior and Friend...even when nobody else provides rain (provision)...He Will. He answers prayer...I believe it, I have seen it, I am a witness to you...He answers prayer.

A forgiven friend,

A Renewal of Hope

After living in the hot, humid South for over six decades, I have decided my preference (in order) for the four  seasons:
#4...SUMMER (too hot, too much daylight, too much humidity, and did I mention, Too HOT?)

#3...WINTER (I used to LOVE winter until my joints made it perfectly clear that they did NOT.
However, I do love the starkness of the landscape and the flash of red as the Cardinals feed at the bird feeders. We even had snow this year, which made for a gorgeous Spring. And fires in the fireplace....nothing better!)

#2...SPRING (I will discuss below.)

#1...AUTUMN (The colors make my heart pound! As some of you know, I have NO favorite color..
I love them all. That's why it's so hard to make decorating choices for me...I am pretty easy to please..at least for a while.)

Why has Spring displaced Winter as #2 on my "Ordered Favorite Season " you ask?
I always "liked" her...but she was like the "boy next door"...I never really and truly saw her. She was always there, quiet and delicate, but she didn't knock my socks off. Once I noticed, I fell in love.

There's something particularly endearing about the fragility of Spring. Those first few weeks when that lovely light green fluff begins to emerge from the cold, wet earth. The one little sprout, then another and then a glorious bud. The sunlight filtering through the newly budded leaves on the trees is something to behold. Spring is the season of hope renewed.

No words can adequately describe the beauty of God's creation. He provided just what we fickle humans needed...He knew that we couldn't stand the color riot of Autumn year 'round. Why we'd certainly begin to ignore all that flashy color. He was keenly aware that we would be depressed and lifeless if all our days were spent in the cold. Short on daylight we would be short on thanksgiving. Summer, the eternal vacation days of youth, would only be wasted on the young.

Now, Spring is vying for first place with Autumn in my heart. After losing both my parents, I have come to the realization that my seasons here on earth are also numbered. That reality is slowly sinking in. Oh, I've heard the new "mantra"... 50 is the new 30. So 60 must be the new 40. The problem with that way of thinking is that it gives the illusion that we will never age. We will be forever young in mind and body. And that's just not true. You can Botox and Lifestyle Lift  all day long, but the reality is every day that passes pushes you closer to your eternal destiny.

How sad that it has taken me this long to learn life's lesson. We aren't guaranteed another "season". We must seize the day. What a life we would live if we used our allotted minutes to do that which we were placed here to do! Each of us has a particular purpose given to us by the Creator. How wonderful it would be if we didn't rail against our "lot" in life and if we just determined that purpose and set our eyes on "the prize" and pushed forward toward accomplishing His desire for us.

Jesus did that. That is what Easter is all about.

 Jesus accomplished the purpose set forth by the Father.
He came as a man, He lived, died and rose again. He did His Father's will. And He did it for us. Without His determination to do His Father's will, we would have no hope...no promise of Spring.
Think on these things...time's a'tickin'.

Blessings on this Easter day,

Part ll: Christmas Open House

Thank you for returning for Part II of the Annual Virtual Christmas tour!
Settle down with your coffee and see what's going on!

This is what started it all....Johnson Brothers' Friendly Village china.
This was my jumping off point for the dining room and kitchen.
I like the idea of a Friendly Village.
So begins the rounding up of items to carry off this "theme".

You can't have a friendly village without a happy entrance..

so AnaLee Mr. and Mrs. Santa welcome at the foyer.

Mr. Santa is beckoning the visitors inside...

Short story about the chair: My church was "updating"...ummm...and had all these antique Windsor chairs from the children's department...

Kindly, we were allowed to secure one...it sits in my foyer...a testament to days gone by.

My goose feather tree was purchased years ago...during my "primitive" decorating period.

Kitchen straight ahead...theme: Gingerbread!

There is nothing special about my kitchen...no granite, no beautiful island, but I do have four windows above the sink that allow me unobstructed views of the fields just beyond the house. Nothing makes me happier than opening those blinds and looking out early in the morning.

Yelloware bowls reside atop the sink...always at the ready to be called into commission.

Quite a collector of bowls...I employ lots of them in holiday decorating.
My favorites are yelloware. Normally my Fenton hen sits here.

Above, my first attempt at appliqueing on a towel with my embroidery machine.



Here we go again..the ole piled high containers of ornaments trick.

This area of the eating bar got a little out of control.
 I had to edit after all was said and done..a little too sweet.
A double tier bar = lots of clutter!



Quick Owl story: My mother had the Shawnee winking owl cookie jar...long story short..my sister got it.
I found the Shawnee salt and pepper set and it fit just fine on top of my coffee station!
I think of Mother every time I see those owls! Mother was way ahead of her time in the owl department.

No matter how I change, my love of antiques and vintage items stays centered in my heart.
These are "prims" gathered together on a little shelf right at the back door.
(See dough bowl...gift from #1 Sister, Leslie!)

Mercy, even the refrigerator gets the gingerbread treatment.
Am I obsessive, or what?

Every year (and I mean EVERY) Mother made each one of us (around 25) a cross-stitch
stocking ornament. I wouldn't think of not putting them out..no matter what!

They are small and sometimes go on the tree, sometimes in a basket or bowl.

Notice, the hubster's has a church on it...I never got a church...hmmm.

This is my reminder of my mother.
For several years I went to a Monday night ceramics class...
did I need ceramics..NO!
 Does anyone in my family appreciate all those Santas I painted for them? NO!
If you come to my store, Dwellings, you will see them set about...with price tags on them :(
but this angel I did for myself...reminds me that my mom is doing up Christmas right.

I have no separate dining room..just an eating area off the kitchen...so this is my divider..it lets people know
"we are now entering a separate space"...no gingerbread or Santa here.
I am a purist when it comes to merging religious and fairy tales.

Say what you like...think what you like...it's your business, but

I am not a supporter of Santa praying over the manger.

It may look cute, but it's not biblical and I don't bend much on this rule.

So here's a longview of the eating area.

Here is my china hutch filled with items that symbolize the singing of Christmas carols.
The "good will toward men" idea.

Though I like Byers Choice...they were a little too much for here.
They landed on a window sill.

This is the edited version.

Again...friendly little children (Snow babies from mother's and my collection)
playing friendly little snow games in the friendly little village.

Can you stand it?
Give me a cloche and I will fill it.

The "hubster" (who does not like his name mentioned in my blogs) thinks the trough is a little over the top.
Grandson Ryan says it could be a manger if it weren't so skinny.
But my daughter in law, Robin, found it, I cleaned it, waxed it and poly'd the inside and love it.

Mercury glass candle holders and small gold stars add a little sparkle.
And the stars are symbolic.

Every friendly village has a sparkly tree!

And simple green wreaths tied onto the backs of their chairs, don't they?

OOPS! How did my old German Santa get into the china hutch?
He's outta here...he will have to go to another part of the house....sorry, Santa.
You are breaking my NO SANTAS in the dining room rule!

No matter what the theme, no matter what...one ornament goes up.

It was given to me by one of my all time favorite students, Brad Boatner, when I taught him in Kindergarten
at Brandon Academy in the 1980's.
Brad was killed in an accident while out of the country on a mission trip..I never taught a finer young man.

What about Jesus? Do we ever get to Jesus?
Be patient, Grasshopper, you will see.

Of course, we do.
The Baby in the manger resides on the nicest piece of furniture I own.

This Fontanini set tells the story.
How there was no room in the inn...
how Jesus was born humbly under the stars...
how the shepherds and angels were the only ones who were privy to His arrival.
The cross on the left reminds us not only of His birth and life, but also His death and resurrection for us.
What a story...what a celebration of life!
So there you have it...another year of preparation for that celebration!

**I have to thank "you know who"...he's quite a man to live with me. All those boxes, all that glitter...
I also want to wish my family and yours a wonderful and joyous holiday.
It may not turn out just right...but in the end...it's all about Jesus and His entrance into this world.
We've made a sorry mess of things, but He makes them right and new.
Praise God from Whom all blessings flow!

Much love to each of you,