Tuesday 4 ~ Home Sweet Home

(this isn't our house, but the pond certainly 
looks a lot like it)

Home Sweet Home

Hello! Welcome back to Toni Taddeo's Tuesday 4 

where each week we ask you to consider 4 questions on various subjects. The goal is to get you thinking, considering, talking and getting to know yourself and other bloggers.
Be it ever so humble there is no place like home . Let's talk about homes okay?

1. In some places people name their homes or properties. What would you name your home and why?
If you would not name it, why wouldn't you?

I think most people know that I already call our home Still Waters Pond, or at least that is what I call our pond. It wasn't named that...I named it. I think of our house as "Beside Still Waters (Pond)".

    

I may have written about this sometime before (HERE!), but many years before we ever moved to this house I had purchased this book, "Beside Still Waters" , because I loved the pictures and the theme of the book...filled with verses and poems and paintings of cabins and woods and places beside ponds and lakes and beautiful scenery of the kinds of places I would love to live.

When the day came that we were able to purchase this house beside this pond, I realized that my dream had come true, and so the idea of calling the pond "Still Waters Pond" came to me because we live "Beside Still Waters".  It is also based on the first three verses in the 23rd Psalm,

Psalm 23 New King James Version

1 The Lord is my shepherd;

I shall not want.

2 He makes me to lie down in green pastures;

He leads me beside the still waters.

3 He restores my soul;

He leads me in the paths of righteousness

For His name’s sake.

Welcome to our home...

A view from the back porch Monday evening...the wildflowers were picked on our morning walk. Unfortunately, the flowers have a strong scent that ended up being too strong to keep inside the house, thus they were moved to the back porch! LOL.

This is Trailing Lantana, found on a lot where an old home used to be 

Our Still Waters Pond at Sunset (not today, however)

2. Are you more of a romantic or a pragmatist when it comes to your home or apartment's decor and color?

I had to look this up to be sure I understood what it meant. Here's what I found online:

"What is a pragmatist personality type?
A pragmatist is someone who is pragmatic, that is to say, someone who is practical and focused on reaching a goal. Pragmatists usually have a straightforward, matter-of-fact approach and don't let their emotions distract them."

Based on that description, I would say that I am probably more a "romantic" than a pragmatist. Although I am very practical about many things and try not to go overboard on things/design/decor. I use what I have and make do rather than buy new. But I do enjoy decorating for holidays and seasons and using the things that I have to make things comfortable and interesting rather than boring and plain.  I am definitely NOT a minimalist type by any stretch of the imagination.  My emotions distract me when it comes to hanging on to things that have sentimental meaning, such as family "heirlooms" or gifts that have been given to us over the years.  Our home is more of a "museum of family artifacts" than just a practical or modern style of furnishings. But they are comfortable family artifacts that are definitely used.

3. Do you have enough room in your home? Storage space, kitchen cabinets? What would you add or subtract from your home?

I'm sure I could always use more storage space, but unfortunately then I would probably just find more stuff to fill it up.  I am at a stage in life where I am trying hard to make myself start weeding things out and eliminating rather than adding more stuff.


4. Is your place really home sweet home ? Would it be hard to leave it ? Are you firmly rooted in your abode or would you move if a better opportunity came your way?

The only thing that would make me move at this stage in life is if our kids moved far away. Then we would want to move closer to them because we don't want to be left totally "alone" in our old age and not have any immediate family nearby.  The other reason would be if our health made it such that we could no longer maintain our home on our own or climb the steps to get in and out. We have discussed that possibility and if the right home/location/price came available that was on ground level, we might be persuaded to consider it while we are still able to make such a move on our own. But I would hate to leave Still Waters Pond.

Home Sweet Home

Thanks for visiting! Y'all come again!

Hebrews 13:5  NIV

5 Keep your lives free from the love of money 

and be content with what you have, 

because God has said,

“Never will I leave you;

never will I forsake you.”

Now, let's go see what others are writing over at Tuesday 4 today.

Monday Monday...Got nothing much to say!

 Here it is Monday, and I am pretty much at a loss for words. Let's see how long that lasts! LOL.  I think I said enough last week to make up for this week.  I wonder where I left off?  Let's see...I just spent a little time "porch sitting" on this beautiful not yet spring but it sure feels like it day here in north central Florida. I have actually been feeling a bit under the weather today, so I stayed home from Bible Study to just try to rest and stay quiet for a while. 

Here's where I was: 

And this is what I saw:

This bluebird couple seems to be a different pair, and they are showing interest in building a nest in the first birdhouse on the left.  I guess I don't have a picture of that to show you this time, but if you recall another couple has already claimed the other birdhouse on the right, but I haven't seen much of them lately, so I'm thinking maybe they started nesting too early and things didn't happen they way they expected.

So now this couple has shown up and this seems more like the right timing for nesting, so we shall see what, if anything, develops!

And while sitting there on "Pamela's Paradise Porch" (the sign was a gift from my friend "Pamela", who is moving back up north and no longer needs this sign so she gave it to me), anyway, I digress, while sitting there Mrs. Sand Hill Crane walked by. She is on a break while Mr. Crane sits on the nest for her.

She's filling up on lots of food to help tide her over until the next break...

There's Mr. Crane, doing his husbandly duty of giving Mrs. Crane a break.  At least I think that's who it is. They switch back and forth throughout the day, so I really don't know which one is which anymore, but at least they know who they are and they have things under control!  They are both very dedicated to their task!

Back inside the house, Lily Grace wanted to say hello! She is dressed up in her original outfit as when she arrived here a little over three years ago already!  Gosh! Has it really been three years? She certainly turned our little world upside down and sideways when she arrived, and even though we aren't quite as active with her special adventures as before, (you can read more about her on her own blog site HERE), she still has a very active role in our daily fun and frolics. I just seem to have run out of steam for keeping up with "helping her write" her own blog. It's all I can do to write my own and keep up with everyone else's blogs too!

To follow up on the story about the "letting go" of my Grandma Tedlie's 123 year old dresser from last Friday,  I did find out that the dresser has already been sold from our church's thrift store, and an "older couple" who are farmers apparently bought it.  My prayers go with them and I hope they will enjoy this very special old piece of family history.  Speaking of which, I thought you'd enjoy seeing some pictures that I took before I cleaned out that old dresser...these are pictures of the top two drawers, mine is first...

And hubby's is here:

Yes, they were pretty messy and not very well organized.

Now, in the new dresser seen below, those top "3" drawers are actually just two drawers. One narrow one on the left, and the middle and right hand are actually combined into one wider drawer:

So, again, I have the narrow drawer on the left, which doesn't hold as much as my previous dresser drawer, but I still have my old original journal in there just like before:

And then hubby has the wider drawer, but there are a few of my things in there as well, but the rest is his. He has quite a collection of ink pens, and they are stored in this drawer, along with our stuffed pet "Ratty", who has been with us for many years and shows up in the strangest of places when you least expect him. LOL. Right now he is quietly plotting his next "move" to startle one or the other of us. 

I had to reorganize the rest of my personal stuff to make it all fit in the other drawers of the dresser. Hubby has another tall dresser that belonged to his father that he uses for his "personal stuff" and unmentionables. LOL.   No pictures of the other drawers. I think I've shown you too much already. LOL.

Anyway, I'm glad that saga is over and life can move on to something else. I honestly cannot believe how happy I am that I made the decision to "let go" of that old dresser! It has truly set me free!

And now I do feel very content with what I have and am thankful for how God has blessed us in so many more ways than just material goods.  Here's some good thoughts for today:

There can be no better promise than knowing that God has said He will never leave us nor forsake us! Thank You, Lord!

I hope you have a blessed and wonderful rest of your week. See you later!

(I guess I did find a few things to say after all! LOL).

Sermon Notes: A Season of Change

This past Sunday was our Pastor's final day of preaching at our little church. He will begin his actual retirement in a couple of weeks, but yesterday was his last opportunity to preach the gospel to our congregation...and he gave us a powerful, challenging message from Jeremiah 29:11-23

The key verses are the most familiar to us:

Jeremiah 29:11-14 (NIV)

11.  "For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

12.  Then you will call on Me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. 

13. You will seek Me and find Me when you seek Me with all your heart. 

14.  I will be found by you,” declares the Lord, “and will bring you back from captivity. I will gather you from all the nations and places where I have banished you,” declares the Lord, “and will bring you back to the place from which I carried you into exile.”

We are in a season of change in our church, and here, above, God is giving a word of hope to the children of Israel, much like what He is giving to us today:

"Build, plant, pray..."  even though they were in captivity...

"You are here for a reason...God has called you here...to bloom where you are planted."

This community needs us to thrive despite transition and changes

We need to stand behind the new pastor...show God's love at work in this church...and remember the people outside.

God has great plans for us...

Have you ever felt hopeless and in despair?

God is with us always and forever...

Jesus told His disciples before He went away:

John 16:33  (NIV)

33 “I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

There is NO equal to GOD. Jesus is stronger than any of our fears. God is here...God is stronger than the gates of hell-stronger than death. 

We can have hope in the midst of troubles

Hebrews 13:5

"Let your conduct be without covetousness; 

be content with such things as you have,

For He Himself has said, 

"I will never leave you nor forsake you."

God is pursuing us.  

We've been given great privilege and responsibilities.

Ephesians 2:8-9

"For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast."

The key to a great life is the decision to live for God. 

It was said that recently many, many people waited ten hours in line to ride the new "Harry Potter " ride at Disney.   Ten hours standing in a long line to ride a new ride...can you imagine?

As believers, we are living an adventure in our relationship with Jesus Christ...the adventure of a lifetime! Far greater than any ride Disney or any other theme park could imagine.

We need to humble ourselves and get pride out of the way...

"Seek Me and find Me...I will be found by you when you seek Me with your whole heart..."

God has plans to prosper you and not to harm you.

Accept and believe that God has plans for you...and it will be good because God will not do anything to harm His church...

Embrace the new pastor...It is God's will that he is coming here.

Have an open mind and an open spirit.  

Choose to look at the bright side of life

Choose to step into the unknown that brings in the future...

Share your unique gifts and graces with others...

Choose to have faith that God is in control...

"For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord,

thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope."

Jeremiah 29:11 NKJV

Sermon Notes: FUMC, Interlachen, FL, Pastor A.C. Myers, 6/16/2019

Please Note : I want to repeat this disclaimer here...the notes, outline, and content included here are based upon my own personal understanding of the message that was being given. I am not attempting to completely quote or reproduce this message or any other message I've shared previously. Just as each person reading these notes may glean insights and thoughts that seem to directly apply to one's own situation and interpretation, my own delivery of these messages is skewed by my hearing and translation of what is being said. Some may read my notes here and wonder if they were hearing the same message as I...and I say, God speaks to each of us as He wills...there are things He is trying to get across to each individual that may be entirely different than what the person sitting next to you in the pew is needing to hear... That is how the Holy Spirit works! He knows what we need to hear and how to apply it to our hearts. So it is with that understanding that I present these sermon notes to you.

Friday Foto Friends - It's February!

 Who can believe it is already February?!!  It just doesn't seem possible that this year is flying by so quickly!  So I turned the pages on my calendars today and smiled at this picture on my "Cabin View" calendar...doesn't that look inviting?  Sitting on the front porch of a log cabin, overlooking a beautiful lake, and getting the fishing poles ready to go fishing.  I can imagine that many of you who live in our northern regions are chuckling and saying something like "it will be June or July before it looks like that again!!' This week has been quite the cold one everywhere...even here in Florida it dipped down to near freezing, and has been too chilly for taking very many good walks, so my pictures will be limited to either inside or, well...let's see what I can find:

Here's the February page on the Teapots Calendar...isn't that pretty? Makes me want to have a tea party...

 Maybe I need to plan a tea party sometime this month...

I managed to get a Valentine's wreath on the front door...

We went to Walmart yesterday and they have their pansies and violas already...so I had to get some to brighten up the front porch...

Aren't they sweet?  

They have such cute faces...

I know you are wondering what this is:   This is a bud on one of my camellia bushes. This particular plant isn't looking too good...it sits in too much sunlight and just hasn't done very well, and this is the only bud I see on it...which surprised me to even find this one. It was hiding under the leaf...so I will be watching it to see what it looks like when it opens...you may be the first to know!

Back inside I wanted to share this picture with you. This silk flower arrangement was given to us in memory of my mother in law (at her funeral back in August) from some dear friends of hers. I love it because it has a sweet little angel sitting in the middle.  A friend of mine recently gave me some little " LED fairy lights" and also some little white flowers with LED lights inside them, and so I wound them around in this arrangement and now it lights up the flowers and looks so pretty.  

It sits here in the dining room next to "Baby Elva" and also next to the rocking chair where Nanny (my MIL) always sat to visit with me when I was busy in the kitchen. That just seems like a fitting spot to remind me of her. Hard to believe she's been gone almost six months already. 

We miss her so much.

(Please notice that "Baby Elva" is all wrapped  up in her blankie due to the very cold temperatures this week. I won't tell you who wrapped her up to keep her warm, but it wasn't me...However, I just realized that I need to change her outfit before our company arrives later today. She's still wearing her Christmas dress underneath that blankie, and it is time to put on her pretty little Valentine's Dress.)

There, now "Baby Elva" is all ready for company this afternoon, wearing her pretty red Valentine's Dress. Her little friends Bear Bear and Puppy are happy to see you too!

We are looking forward to some special guests Friday afternoon...one of our wonderful blogging friends, Barbara from "Sweet Tea and Sandals", and her hubby will be passing through our area and stopping by for a visit! I am so excited to get to meet them in person.  Hopefully we will remember to take some pictures to share with you!  Any time any of you are passing through or near enough to meet close by, please don't hesitate to let me know so we can arrange to get together. I feel like we are all "old friends" already because we share such personal things from the heart here on our blogs...so it really is like visiting with someone you already know and love.

Okay friends, it IS Friday Foto Friends, so let's all gather over at Deb' place, Breathing in Grace, and see what everyone else is doing.  Have a blessed and marvelous weekend...and keep looking up!! God is still on His throne, and we have not been forgotten.

Hebrews 13:5  (NKJV)

5 "Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”

Happy February!

Y'all come!!

(This "Closed Door" will gladly open when you arrive!)

The Refining Fire-Preparation for that "Open Window" ?

Proverbs 17:3: "The refining pot is for silver and  the furnace for gold, but the Lord tests the heart."

Malachi 3:2b-3: "For He is like a refiner's fire and like fullers' soap. He will sit as a refiner and a purifier of silver; He will purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer to the Lord an offering in righteousness."

Have you ever seen a rough nugget of gold fresh out of the rocks and dirt? When I first saw a real gold nugget at one of those places where you "pan for gold" along the road (a tourist trap) I thought, "How can anything so beautiful come out of something so ugly and lumpy and dirty?" One would wonder why people would literally kill to have such precious metals! But then you go to the jewelry store and you see all the gorgeous rings, pins, necklaces, brooches and other priceless items that have been fashioned out of those ugly lumps, and you marvel at the difference! What could have happened to make such a change?

In the case of gold, it must be crushed, ground, soaked in a chemical solution and melted at a temperature of at least 1063 degrees C and poured into a mold. Silver also goes through this refining process and melts at 960 degree C. When the metals are soaked in a chemical solution, they are sifted through and all of the dross is poured off and discarded. In other words, it is purified, refined, strengthened, and formed into a thing of great beauty.

All of this process takes time, careful guidance, and skill. It also takes some terrifically high heat. Without following all these steps completely, gold and silver just wouldn't be the beautiful and precious metal that we know it to be. It would be like any other rock...nothing about which to become very excited!

We are much like gold and silver in its natural state...lumps of clay without any real beauty and use. Oh certainly, we would make a great paperweight or door stop, but without careful cultivation we would not become the beautiful person that God intends us to be. Sometimes the refining process takes a lot of high heat, grinding, melting, crushing and sifting out the ugly things of our lives so that we may become useful, strong, and beautifully fashioned for God's use. This process is never pleasant, certainly not very desirable, but oh so necessary. God's Word says that the Lord tests the hearts. This refining process is purifying the innermost being of our hearts and souls, purging out the dark and ugly things, cleaning the dirty corners and grinding away the rough edges. It's very painful going through this process, but the end results certainly justify the means. God's refining fire does not consume us, but it purges us of all unrighteousness that when He returns we "may offer to the Lord an offering in righteousness." (Malachi 3:3b.)

Lord, I do not like the fiery trials through which You have allowed me to travel, but I thank you for them. Even though the heat was sometimes more than I could bear, You, oh Lord, did not consume me. You have tested my heart, and have strengthened me in my innermost fibers. You have created in me a clean heart, so that I may shine as pure gold and silver. I know that I am not alone in these fiery trials, for Christ Himself had to suffer for my sake and for the sins of the whole world. Therefore I rejoice in that I am a partaker of Christ's sufferings, and when His glory is revealed, I may also be glad with exceeding joy. (I Peter 4:12-13) Lord, just help me to remember when the trials come that the final result will be precious in Your sight. Thank you for caring about me enough to take the time to purify and refine me as gold and silver. Amen.

Are you going through some fiery trial right now, and you just can't see how anything good could possibly come from it?  Or maybe you have already been there, and you are still reeling from its heat.  Perhaps another door has slammed shut in your life, and you feel abandoned and angry.  Please HOLD ON, dear friend! You are NOT ALONE in your furnace!  Like Daniel's friends, when King Nebuchadnezzar had them thrown into the fiery furnace (see Daniel 3:8-25), the Son of God, Jesus our Redeemer, is right there in the midst of the flames with you! He will NEVER leave you or forsake you! (Hebrews 13:5) Be ready and watching...that "open window" from God may be right around the corner.  Hey! That 'pot of gold' we've all been looking for isn't at the end of the rainbow afterall! It's right here, inside each and every one of us...if we'll just let God finish the work He has started!  I guess that makes us very precious indeed!!!