Wednesday "Treasures"

Hello friends! Here it is Wednesday already. I missed the Tuesday 4 this week...sorry about that. I haven't even been around to say hello to all my friends out there in Blogland.  I am still adjusting to this new routine/schedule we are on and I don't have as much "free time" as I used to have.

I can't say that I've been just laying around like this lovely mermaid either...isn't she beautiful?

But today I did do something special...it was our church ladies' monthly "United Women in Faith" gathering.  The name of our organization has been recently changed to this new name. I like it a lot.

And here are the lovely ladies of our group:

We also celebrated the birthdays of two of our ladies...one was 93 years young and the other is a new "Medicare Mama", as her hubby lovingly calls her. She's our Pastor's wife and our worship leader as well. We were a lively and happy group today. It was a pleasant change for me after the past couple of weeks of working so hard helping get Dixie Cottage ready for action and then becoming a part of the action, which by the way, continues to be a wonderful new adventure for our family and our community. God is faithful, and we are so thankful!

This evening it was still 95 degrees around 6:00 p.m., so hubby suggested we go to the store and pick up some "Eskimo Pies".  I know, they don't call them that anymore, and I didn't see any anyway, but they did have these delicious Klondike Bars, which suited me just fine:

I never noticed the slogan "Making Squares Cool Since 1922" before. I guess I am now a "cool square". LOL.  

Now I know you want to be a "cool square" too, don't you? LOL.

I hope you enjoyed this refreshing little break. I have a feeling that is is probably hot wherever you are as well.  It is still summertime for sure, even if our kids in this area did start back to school today!

I know this isn't the greatest picture, but this Anhinga bird usually just sits out there in the middle of Still Waters Pond very still, letting his wings dry after he dives down in the water for his supper. But it's so hot he's been actually fanning himself by constantly flapping his wings as he sits there.  At least that's what I think he's doing.  Maybe I should offer him a Klondike Bar so he can "be cool". LOL.

Oh, yesterday, while working at Dixie Cottage, I was there alone for a little while when my hubby went home to get some lunch and take a little break. Wouldn't you know that would be the exact time that a rather unkempt man with a very long scruffy beard, pushing a blue grocery cart from our grocery store down the road a ways, would decide to come inside the store to "look around"?  I was immediately on guard, but I greeted him with my usual friendly "Welcome to Dixie Cottage" and he seemed pleasant enough as he kind of aimlessly wandered around the store looking at this or that and asking some questions about different things.  Thankfully I noticed a car pull up in the parking lot and a friend of mine from our church came into the store. I greeted her very warmly with a prayer of thanks to God for sending her just at that time so that I wouldn't be alone.  Then the man came over to me at the check out desk and asked if we bought used furniture from people, and I told him yes, if it was in good condition, and then he asked me if I would give him $20.00 for a "leatherman tool" that he had with him, as he needed some money to get home.  Well, I told him I was not the owner of the store and would not be authorized to make any purchases, (and of course that wasn't furniture anyway, but I didn't say that).  He still remained respectful but seemed to be a little more persistent in trying to make his case.  About this time I noticed my son and his wife and then my husband all pulling up into the parking lot and coming inside, and I gave my son a quick look that I know he understood meant "help me out here!".  Long story short, my son went outside with the man and talked to him and ended up actually giving the man some money for the tool, and the man thanked him very kindly and took his blue grocery buggy and went on his way across the highway to the McDonald's to get something to eat.  Wow...I was so thankful for God's intervention by sending His helpers at just the right time. Although I did not feel like the man was dangerous, it was still a very uncomfortable situation...but God had it all under control. However, it also made us all aware that we need to be on our toes and have a plan in place for handling such situations, especially if we are alone at the store.

This morning our devotions "just happened" to touch on this very subject. The scripture verses that we read  came from Psalm 112, in particular verses 5-9

1 "Praise the Lord!

Blessed is the man who fears the Lord,

Who delights greatly in His commandments.

2 His descendants will be mighty on earth;

The generation of the upright will be blessed.

3 Wealth and riches will be in his house,

And his righteousness endures forever.

4 Unto the upright there arises light in the darkness;

He is gracious, and full of compassion, and righteous.

5 A good man deals graciously and lends;

He will guide his affairs with discretion.

6 Surely he will never be shaken;

The righteous will be in everlasting remembrance.

7 He will not be afraid of evil tidings;

His heart is steadfast, trusting in the Lord.

8 His heart is established;

He will not be afraid,

Until he sees his desire upon his enemies.

9 He has dispersed abroad,

He has given to the poor;

His righteousness endures forever;

His horn will be exalted with honor.

10 The wicked will see it and be grieved;

He will gnash his teeth and melt away;

The desire of the wicked shall perish."

This Psalm helped me to look at yesterday's situation a little differently, and I am thankful for how God brought it all together in a positive way...and also especially thankful for His protection.  For all I know, the man could have been "Jesus in disguise" to give us that opportunity to serve Him in that way. 

It also reminded me of the passage in Matthew 25:31-46, about the sheep and the goats.  I won't quote the whole passage here, but this part in particular stands out:

37 “Then the righteous will answer Him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You drink? 

38 When did we see You a stranger and take You in, or naked and clothe You? 

39 Or when did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?’ 

40 And the King will answer and say to them, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.’

This was definitely some "food for thought".  

Well, friends, I need to get to bed. Tomorrow we don't have to spend the day at the store, although my hubby is going to help our son make a delivery of some furniture that was sold, but other than that I think we have a free day...so maybe I can get caught up with you all. Thank you for your patience. 

I pray you are having a blessed and wonderful week. Please take care and keep watching for those "treasures" that are out there where you may least expect them to be.

 

My Little Matryoshka Doll

I've had this sweet little "Matryoshka Doll", or Russian Nesting Doll, sitting on a bookshelf for quite a few years. It was a gift from some people who were members of the church where I used to work before I retired.  They had taken a trip to Russia and surrounding areas, and brought back this souvenir for me from their journey. I was thrilled to receive it, but I didn't fully appreciate the meaning of it or its uniqueness until now.  All I knew was that it was a "Russian Nesting Doll".

For more information on how these dolls are made, you can click on this link for the history:  Matryoshka Doll, or Russian Nesting Doll

Now, with the terrible conflict that is going on in Ukraine at the hands of the Russian dictator Putin, my heart has been so broken as I watch the thousands of Ukrainian women and children trying to escape from their cities to get to a safe place.  Their husbands and menfolk are mostly staying behind to protect their country and fight for their freedom.  Many of these women and children may never see their men again alive. And it's not only the Ukrainian women who are losing their menfolk. So are the Russian women. Many of them do not even realize what is happening and why the men have gone off to fight in Ukraine. Many of the Russian people are shocked and angry when they realize what is really happening.

And so, without going into the political issues that surround all of this horrific conflict, my heart is breaking for the women and children of both countries. And this little doll has become the reminder to me to pray for them.

If you are not familiar with how this little doll is made, let me show you mine:

When you open up the doll, also known as "The Little Matron", or a "Babushka Doll", you will discover another smaller doll inside!

Ah, but when you open that doll, there is another! 

And, guess what?  When you open the third doll, yes, you guessed it, there is another one!

Oh, but you mustn't stop there, like I did when I first got this doll!  I didn't realize that the fourth doll also opened up. It wasn't until much later when I was looking at her more closely that I noticed that she was also supposed to be opened!  And guess what I found inside her?

Yes, a tiny baby doll!

As I look at this little family of the Mother and her children, I pray for these dear sisters around the world who are suffering so today. Sadly, even some of the children and mothers have been killed in this tragic, senseless war.  I am happy to see that surrounding countries are welcoming these families into their homes, even though they are strangers from a foreign country.  They are literally taking them inside their homes and giving them clothes to wear and food to eat and a bed to sleep in.

This reminds me of the story in the Bible we read this morning in our devotions. I am sure it is familiar to many of us. But what a perfect example we are seeing take place today.  Here is the story:

Matthew 25:31-46

31 “When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the holy angels with Him, then He will sit on the throne of His glory. 32 All the nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate them one from another, as a shepherd divides his sheep from the goats. 33 And He will set the sheep on His right hand, but the goats on the left. 34 Then the King will say to those on His right hand, ‘Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: 35 for I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in; 36 I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me.’

37 “Then the righteous will answer Him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You drink? 38 When did we see You a stranger and take You in, or naked and clothe You? 39 Or when did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?’ 40 And the King will answer and say to them, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.’

41 “Then He will also say to those on the left hand, ‘Depart from Me, you cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels: 42 for I was hungry and you gave Me no food; I was thirsty and you gave Me no drink; 43 I was a stranger and you did not take Me in, naked and you did not clothe Me, sick and in prison and you did not visit Me.’

44 “Then they also will answer Him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to You?’ 45 Then He will answer them, saying, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to Me.’ 46 And these will go away into everlasting punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”

Some real "food for thought", isn't it? What would I do if they came to my door?  I pray I would be as kind as those who are opening their doors and rescuing these poor women and children today.

In my research to learn more about these dolls, I came across a link to this little book.

The Littlest Matryoshka Book

"Here is a Sweet and fun introduction to Russian nesting dolls"   and what appears to be a very lovely story.

By Thriftbooks.com User, April 30, 2004

"Although the set of coincidences leading to the happy ending is far-fetched enough to raise a toddler's eyebrows, this sweet story extolling the sisterhood bond is a favorite in our home. The matryoshkas, or nesting dolls, have human emotions. They grieve the loss of their littlest sister, the center doll carved from the heart of the wood. Yet their inability to behave as people do leaves them helpless. "They could not lift their painted arms to reach out..." After the littlest matryoshka is reunited with them, the young girl who owns the dolls places them in a circle so that each can look at her sisters' faces and rejoice.

 Only then do the dolls' painted smiles really mean something. Each of the dolls is given a name. Several times throughout the story, their stacking order is chanted. "Nina inside Nadia, and Nadia inside Vanda," and so on. This repetition helps make the story a fun read-aloud book for young children. Kathryn Brown's watercolor illustrations are not only cute, they also teach the reader something about matryoshka costuming. When we first meet the toy maker crafting the matryoshka set, each doll's outfit is being decorated slightly more elaborately than the previously painted doll. Similarly, their faces are drawn with progressively more detail. Though the difference between any two consecutive dolls is hardly remarkable, the cumulative effect of adding increasingly more decorations is apparent when they are lined up next to each other. Reading this book just once helps the novice gain new appreciation for the subtleties involved with this old Russian folk art tradition. In summary, this is a delightful book that will be appreciated by children and adults alike."

My little friend Lily Grace said that she would love to play with these little nesting dolls, and she wanted to dress up like a "Matryoshka Doll" too.  So here she is with her "Babushka" on.  She wanted me to remind you all to keep praying for these people in Ukraine, and yes, even the people in Russia.

Matthew 5:43-48 

“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 44 But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. 46 If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? 47 And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? 48 Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect."

These are certainly some things for us to think about and pray about during this season of Lent. Amen?

May the Lord bless you and yours, and may He keep our families safe.  And Pray for Peace in Ukraine.

Sunday Night Hope and Comfort

Happy Sunday.  Just wanted to share today's message with you from Philippians 4:10-23, as well as the Praise Team singing, "Precious Lord, Take My Hand"

You can sing along with us, if you wish:

"Precious Lord, take my hand, Lead me on, help me stand.

I am tired, I am weak, I am worn.

Thro’ the storm, thro’ the night, Lead me on to the light.

Take my hand, precious Lord; lead me home.

When my way grows drear, Precious Lord, linger near

When my life is almost gone.

Hear my cry, hear my call, Hold my hand lest I fall

Take my hand, precious Lord; lead me home.

When the darkness appears and the night draws near

And the day is past and gone,

At the river I stand, Guide my feet hold my hand

Take my hand, precious Lord, lead me home.

Precious Lord, take my hand, Lead me on, help me stand.

I am tired, I am weak, I am worn.

Thro’ the storm, thro’ the night, Lead me on to the light.

Take my hand, precious Lord; lead me home."

I know there are many times when we feel just like this...we are weak and worn and tired, and we just need the Lord to take us by the hand and lead us gently home.  How blessed we are that we have such a Savior as Jesus Christ our Lord, Who is always there, ready to help us stand when our own strength is gone.   

I hope today has been a good day for you.  We enjoyed church this morning, then went out to lunch with our kids and friends as per usual.  It's just good to spend time together, fellowshipping and enjoying good company.  I must say it is the highlight of our week!

Another highlight this weekend was this:

There's a story here.  The other evening I saw a hummingbird fly up to our back porch glass doors and flutter about, looking inside, as if to say, "Why haven't you put out your hummingbird feeders for us this summer???"  Well, to be honest, the only answer I could give was I was lazy.  The hummingbird food has to be changed every couple of days in the summertime, because it is so hot outside that the sugar water will ferment and/or mold very quickly. If you don't keep it changed often and clean the feeder thoroughly, it could make the hummingbirds very sick and they will die.  So, I decided rather than go to all that trouble, they could just search for natural sources of nectar out there in nature and not become dependent on me.   I thought I was being rather noble.    

But then, my son said to me, "Mom, I saw a hummingbird out there around the trees last night, and he was looking for food. Where's your feeder that you usually put out for them?"  Talk about being shamed by my own son. I should have said, "If you want to keep up with boiling the water and adding the sugar, and then keeping it changed every couple of days and cleaning the feeder, then YOU are welcome to do so."   But instead, I grabbed the pyrex measuring cup, boiled the water in the microwave, added the sugar, washed the feeder, cooled down the sugar water until it was cool enough, and put it in the feeder and hung it on the back porch where we could see it.

And then we were rewarded with these pictures, (and many more feedings that I couldn't get a picture of quick enough).  There will probably be more to come later.  And actually, the honest truth is, the female ruby throated hummingbird literally flew back toward the glass door after getting her drink and fluttered outside the window as if to say, "Thank you for caring enough to feed me." 

Reminds me of this story found in Matthew 25:31-40

31 “But when the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit upon his glorious throne. 32 All the nations will be gathered in his presence, and he will separate the people as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. 

33 He will place the sheep at his right hand and the goats at his left.

34 “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the creation of the world. 35 For I was hungry, and you fed me. I was thirsty, and you gave me a drink. I was a stranger, and you invited me into your home. 36 I was naked, and you gave me clothing. I was sick, and you cared for me. I was in prison, and you visited me.’

37 “Then these righteous ones will reply, ‘Lord, when did we ever see you hungry and feed you? Or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38 Or a stranger and show you hospitality? Or naked and give you clothing? 39 When did we ever see you sick or in prison and visit you?’

40 “And the King will say, ‘I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me!"

(To read the rest of the story, for what happened to the goats...keep reading from Matthew 25:41-46)

And then remember Harriet the Hawk?  Looks like she came back for another fashion show...

Isn't she lovely?  

I do believe she knows when we are talking about her...

After posing for us on the tree, she leapt down to the ground to see whatever she was spying on down there:

I believe there is a hole in the ground there, and I think she can see the wiggles of a mole in the ground, probably digging his tunnels...

She stood watch over the hole for a while, using her talons to dig at the ground a bit...

Looking around to see if anyone else was watching...

She flapped her beautiful wings and stomped her claws on the ground a few more times,

And after giving whatever was down there a real hawk eye look...she took off into the trees as if to say, "I'll be back later for you!"

Well, that's all for now...oh wait...Last evening on our walk we met this "deer" lady:

Sadly, I did not have my good camera with me, so these were taken with my cell phone from a distance, hence the poor quality. But I think you will get the "picture" anyway:

I think this is a great way to end this post for tonight:

Habakkuk 3:18-19

18 Yet I will rejoice in the Lord,

I will joy in the God of my salvation.

19 The Lord God is my strength;

He will make my feet like deer’s feet,

And He will make me walk on my high hills.

Joy of the Redeemed

Isaiah 35:1-6

1. "The desert and the parched land will be glad;

the wilderness will rejoice and blossom.

Like the crocus, 

2 it will burst into bloom;

it will rejoice greatly and shout for joy.

The glory of Lebanon will be given to it,

the splendor of Carmel and Sharon;

they will see the glory of the Lord,

the splendor of our God.

3 Strengthen the feeble hands,

steady the knees that give way;

4 say to those with fearful hearts,

“Be strong, do not fear;

your God will come,

He will come with vengeance;

with divine retribution

He will come to save you.”

5 Then will the eyes of the blind be opened

and the ears of the deaf unstopped.

6 Then will the lame leap like a deer,

and the mute tongue shout for joy.

Water will gush forth in the wilderness

and streams in the desert."

How's that for some hope and joy as we begin a new week?  Be blessed my friends, and have hope. 

"Be strong, and do not fear; Your God will come....He will come to save you."

 

Judge Not...

Matthew 7:1-5  "Judge not, that you be not judged. 

For with what judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you. 

And why do you look at the speck in your brother's eye, but do not consider the plank in your own eye? 

 Or how can you say to your brother, 'Let me remove the speck from your eye'; and look, a plank is in your own eye? 

Hypocrite! First remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye." 

Judging...it is a problem that we have all dealt with in one way or another.  Either we become the judge about someone else, or they become the judge of us.  Judgment is passed down every day in our courts, in our schools, our towns, our churches and and our neighborhoods...as well as in our own families.  You point the finger at me, I point my finger back at you.  We criticize our neighbors, friends, pastor, teacher, co-workers...or random people we don't even know on the street, on the news, on the highways. 

We label others because we don't like the way they dress, wear their hair, the vehicle they drive, the house they live in, or even where they may have come from.  We make unkind remarks about people out on the street carrying signs saying they are homeless, jobless, hungry..."will work for food".  We find out that so-and-so was in prison, or had an affair, or a divorce, or lost their job because they made a mistake...and we think that would never happen to us, our family, or our friends. We criticize our politicians, their wives, their children..when we don't even know the truth about them. We are too quick to believe the lies, the gossip, the "news", without giving anyone the benefit of the doubt. We refuse to consider someone fairly for a job, or a promotion, or assistance of any kind because we heard something negative about them or their family, or we fear they may do something to embarrass us  or cause others to criticize us for helping them.

Jesus has a lot to say about this kind of judging and lack of love for our neighbors...Matthew chapters 5-6-7 are full of instruction, admonitions, and warnings to us if we do not show love to our fellow man or if we judge others unfairly.  But the best response of all is found in Matthew 25:31-46. I will not reprint it all here, but will commend it to your reading...Jesus is telling the people about the judgment in the end times, when God is separating the sheep from the goats. 

 In verses 35-36 He is telling those on His right hand about the good things they had done..."For I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in; I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me."  When the righteous people asked Jesus when they had done these things to Him, He responded in verse 40: "Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me." 

But then the tables are turned on those on His left hand...He tells them in verses 41-46 that they did NOT do these things for the least of these, and therefore they had not done it for Him...and He told them to "Depart from Me, you cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels."    He concludes His story by saying in verse 46: "And these will go away into everlasting punishment, but the righteous into eternal life."

Wow!  Sure makes me want to think twice before I start judging my neighbor...or before I refuse to help someone less fortunate than I.  I know I am guilty of not always doing the right thing for others...I'm in too big of a hurry, or too prejudiced in my thinking about their circumstances.  But when others do that against me or members of my family and friends...I get angry. I get self-righteous...I forget that I, too, am guilty of neglecting the needs of others.

Lord, help me to be less judgmental and more caring for my neighbors and others who You bring into my world each day.  Help me to not be so quick to see the speck in others' eyes, when I have a log in my own eye.  Forgive me, Lord, for my self-righteousness at the expense of others.  Thank you for this reminder tonight.  May it have a lasting impact on my heart.  Amen.