Wednesday Treasures

 

It's been a busy week. I'm sorry I've been a bit awol here in blogland.  Just a lot going on, and it's been hot! Too hot to think too hard I guess! LOL.

We did take a walk a couple of times...and I had to take a picture of this crape myrtle blossom, growing on a skinny little branch of what used to be a bigger tree probably back in the day in someone's yard in the old historic section of town where the highway went through and took away their houses...You know I just love to see how life goes on in one way or another...

And this morning we had an occasion to go into the "big city" of Palatka, which is about 15 miles from us. (Not really a BIG city, but bigger than where we live). Palatka is known for its many murals painted on the sides of the old store buildings in their historic section of town.  I happened upon this mural, and wanted to share it with you:

This mural is of a Cattle Drive to Paynes Prairie, circa 1930.

 Here's a brief summary of the history of the cattle drives to Paynes Prairie:

"Paynes Prairie, now Paynes Prairie Preserve State Park, has a history of cattle drives dating back to the Spanish era and continuing through the Civil War. Specifically, Confederate cattle drives would stop there to fatten up cattle before moving them north towards the Georgia border. The prairie's landscape, with its vast open spaces and proximity to transportation routes, made it a strategic location for cattlemen. "

Link to more about the Murals in Palatka, FL.  There are so many, and they are all so interesting. I still haven't seen them all in person, but this link will show you what is there.

It's been so hot this week, the kitties have been finding different places to rest in the shade...Not sure that's much cooler, but Sunshine seems to like laying there under the tarp that covers the lawn tractor.

Some of you may have already seen these pictures on Facebook this week, but I'll share them again for those who haven't...One early morning Mr. Cardinal came calling at the bird feeder...I know many believe that when a Cardinal visits it's like having a visit from someone who's gone on to heaven.  I don't know if that's true or not, but I do love to see them, and they do always make me think of those who have gone on before us.. Always a comforting sight and thought.

Of course our "porch kitties", Blackie and Sunshine, are totally oblivious to the Cardinal just a few feet away from them.  That's a good thing, really!  Look at Sunshine...he's definitely enjoying his "catnap".

Mr. Cardinal seems to be oblivious to the cats as well...

Oh to be able to be so relaxed...

I guess you can tell I didn't get much done that morning!

But perhaps the kitties have the best idea for a hot summer day...

Mr.Cardinal seems to think so.

Isaiah 26:3

You will keep him in perfect peace,
Whose mind is stayed on You,
Because he trusts in You.

Ah yes, "perfect peace!"...something we are learning about...when our mind is on the Lord, and when we put our complete trust in Him, we can be at perfect peace.  When we allow the cares of this world and our fears for the unknown to get to us,  we get anxious and afraid.  But GOD! 

Remember this old hymn..."What A Friend We Have in Jesus"...

1 

What a Friend we have in Jesus,

All our sins and griefs to bear!

What a privilege to carry

Everything to God in prayer!

O what peace we often forfeit,

O what needless pain we bear,

All because we do not carry

Everything to God in prayer!

2

Have we trials and temptations?

Is there trouble anywhere?

We should never be discouraged,

Take it to the Lord in prayer.

Can we find a friend so faithful

Who will all our sorrows share?

Jesus knows our every weakness,

Take it to the Lord in prayer.

3

Are we weak and heavy-laden,

Cumbered with a load of care?

Precious Savior, still our refuge—

Take it to the Lord in prayer;

Do thy friends despise, forsake thee?

Take it to the Lord in prayer;

In His arms He’ll take and shield thee,

Thou wilt find a solace there.

Amen.

We've been going through a lot of waiting and trusting and praying these past several months, while hubby has been dealing with some mystery illness and total exhaustion.  We've been to different kinds of doctors and had several kinds of tests...and still there haven't been any real answers.  Tomorrow morning he goes for more lab work to rule out some other possibilities...but here's the "good news"...

Yesterday he met with a neurologist (finally!).  After the Doctor looked over all the test results that have been done over the past few months, and also after asking my hubby many questions about how he feels, etc.,  finally my husband asked the doctor if he believes that he has any neurological disease? And the doctor said, based on what he sees, he does not believe that he does. However, he wants to run a few more blood tests to rule out some things, so that is why we go tomorrow, but he said he really doesn't believe they will show anything significant.  

Now, personally, I am a little frustrated with that answer only because we still don't know what's going on.  But the doctor reassured us that he doesn't see anything life threatening or serious.  It could be a kind of "chronic fatigue" situation, but there really isn't a whole lot that can be done for that.  However, to hubby, this news was great! It relieved his mind so much that I have noticed a new spring in his step...and tonight he even went to the church board meeting (where he is the chairman), and I thought he was planning to resign from his position because of his illness, but instead he rejoiced that God has given him the strength and desire to keep going. He was like his "old self" again,  and it was like witnessing a miracle of God right before our eyes!  So I want to stop and give thanks to the Lord for what He has done...because I know it was God who did that!   Praise God from Whom ALL blessings flow!!

And so I will leave you with those words of hope and thankfulness for tonight. There's some other things going on, but I will save that for another post as I am tired tonight. It's been another long, hot day, but, oh! It did finally rain! We had a good little thunderstorm and rain this afternoon, so that is something else to be thankful for!

I like this translation of Philippians 4:19...

Philippians 4:19  New Living Translation

"19 And this same God who takes care of me 

will supply all your needs from his glorious riches, 

which have been given to us in Christ Jesus."

Amen!!

Good night dear friends!

Being "Clothed with Humility" - Random Journal Day Update

It is Random Journal Day again...the first Friday of the month, when several of us here in the blogosphere randomly choose a journal entry from our past...and dare to share it with you. (Click HERE to read what blogger Wendy Roberts is sharing today as our featured writer.) 

So I thumbed back through some old stuff, and discovered this previous post from one of my old journals.  Interestingly, it also coincides with Easter. I offer it to you again today as my Random Journal offering for this month.  (Originally Posted  8/3/10, but written many years previously)


I Peter 5:5 "....Yes, all of you be submissive to one another, and be clothed with humility, for 'God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble.'"

Proverbs 16:19 “Better to be of a humble spirit with the lowly, than to divide the spoil with the proud.”


Back in the early days of our ministry it seemed that our finances were always a bit tight. I won’t say that we were ever destitute, for God would not allow that to happen. But we always had to watch our spending very closely. However, the pastor’s wife is often called upon to perform certain duties and to attend functions where she needs to look her very best. I have always bristled at the thought that a minister’s wife shouldn’t have stylish clothes or nice things. I’ve seen too many pastors’ wives having to make do with other people’s hand-me-downs or homemade outfits that looked homemade. And then when they do buy something really nice, they are criticized for not being very frugal, and putting on "airs"...  

"The Dress"
Funny...Today it would probably be
considered very stylish!

I’ve been the recipient of many such “gifts” in the past myself, and I have always graciously accepted those gifts outwardly, but oftentimes inwardly have groaned that I would have to wear that thing or someone would have their feelings hurt! On one such occasion a dear relative brought me a dress purchased at a thrift store thinking that I should wear it for Easter. Not only was the dress terribly out of style, but the bright flashy flowered print was just more than I could bear. However, I knew there was no way out since that particular relative would be spending Easter Sunday with us. I carefully made a few alterations to the dress and picked accessories that would help to downplay its garish design. Sunday morning I proudly wore the dress to church, much to the pleasure of the benefactor, and I actually received several sincere compliments from people at church. When I realized how much it pleased my relative to see me wearing something he had chosen for me with love, it helped me to put aside my feelings of pride and truly appreciate the gift and the giver.

Not long after this occasion, a couple from out of state was passing through our town and came to visit at our little church. They were friendly, but did not hang around very long after the service. That week I received in the mail a gift of $25.00 cash (a lot of money to me at that time!) with a note attached saying that I was to use that money to purchase a new outfit for myself and not to use it for my children or any other purpose! By the names signed on the note, I knew it was from the couple that had passed through earlier in the week, but there was no address or any way of contacting them to thank them. Even as I write this now many years later, I can only say thank you to the Lord, and pray that He will bless those dear people for their generosity and encouragement shown to me that day! And yet, I am reminded to also thank the Lord for the ones who gave what they could, even if it wasn’t something brand new, but yet it was given with just as much love and thoughtfulness.

“And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:19

How about you? What are some of the lessons in humility you've learned throughout the years?
And, what are some of the ways God has supplied all of your need during times of leanness...which may be right now for some of us...?  Sometimes we just need to stop and think about it...and then remember to say, "Thank you, Lord!"