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.
