Wednesday Treasures: How I Spent My Day

I'm not really doing a "Wednesday Treasures" today, but then again, these blessings are my "treasures".

So, I'm wondering how most of you spent the past 24 hours? Without going into the grueling details of the roller coaster ride we've been on for the past 24 hours, I thought I would show you what I've been doing instead.  I've pretty much stayed away from social media today and have limited TV watching to hitting the highlights early this morning, noon, and this evening. Rather than stressing over what is or is not happening quickly enough, here is how I spent my day.  What a joy to finally be able to capture a picture of this Belted Kingfisher, who often loudly sings his rattling song as he flies over Still Waters Pond, but he is always too quick for me to get a picture...until now!  I consider this one of God's little blessings to help me focus on the beauty around us rather than the other things that aren't so pretty.

I love how the early morning sunshine illuminates the back porch and reflects off the pond, and an extra bonus was the vision of our American flag, blowing in the breeze...reflected in the glass doors as we had our front door open, looking out through the storm door to the front porch. Just a little reminder of how thankful we are to still have the freedom to enjoy such wonders...

Actually, this was my lunch yesterday, and it looked so pretty I just had to take a picture:

If you remember me sharing with you about our refrigerator HERE a couple of weeks ago, you may recall that I mentioned that we needed to replace our refrigerator because of temperature control issues that we couldn't resolve.  However, the replacement refrigerator that we wanted was not in stock and not even available anywhere at that time.  I kept watching for it to come available online, and about a week later it said it would be available in a few weeks. So we decided to take the plunge and order it, praying that our current refrigerator would continue to run well enough to at least keep our basic food cold enough. We just didn't buy anymore ice cream and I constantly monitored the condition of the lettuce and other produce to make sure they weren't freezing.  Well, today was the day! The new refrigerator  was to be delivered this morning.  So I had a task before me to clean out the old, put everything in coolers until the appliance delivery truck arrived, and they could remove the old fridge and set up the new.

Here's the very nice delivery guys taking out the old:

(Yes, I know it looks perfectly fine from the outside, but remember, you can't judge a book by its cover, nor can you judge an older refrigerator by its looks...)

And here is the NEW, all set up and ready to go:

Yes we decided to get a side by side refrigerator for several reasons.  #1, this one actually fit into the limited space that was available without us having to take down a wall.

However, we did have to move the shelf above the refrigerator up several inches because this fridge is taller than our old one.  Thankfully, our carpenter son was able to do that for us ahead of time, and it was quite a job...but he did it perfectly, because below you can see that there is room to spare:

The other reason was that now I can actually open the doors and not bump into the island across from it. The other refrigerator door was much wider, and we couldn't open it the whole way without bumping the island.  I couldn't even pull out the vegetable drawer the whole way to get out my vegetables or to clean it. It was a constant frustration not being able to open that door the whole way.

Now, as you can see below, we have plenty of room and can even get around the door when it is open!

So that was a wonderful blessing to arrive today and keep us occupied and away from TV and Social Media.  Plus, after lunch we needed a nap after staying up so late last night watching you know what.

After supper we took our usual walk. We are having to remember to go a little earlier these days since the time change, as it is getting dark earlier and if we wait until after supper and after washing dishes, etc., as we normally did, it is almost too dark to go. So we try to eat a little earlier and get out the door as soon as possible.

These were the skies this evening as we walked:

Then we hurried back home so we could see the sunset on Still Waters Pond before it was too late:

What a beautiful way to end the day!

And then to come and share it with you.

I do hope to get around to read your posts for today as I can.  I am getting behind in my reading, but now you know why.

Here are some excerpts from the scriptures we read this morning in our devotions:

Philippians 2:14-16

14.  "Do all things without complaining and disputing.

15.  that you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, 

among whom you shines as lights in the world,

16.  holding fast the word of life, 

so that I may rejoice in the day of Christ that I have not run in vain or labored in vain."

Psalm 27: 1-3, 5-6, 13-14

1.  "The Lord is my light and my salvation;

Whom shall I fear?

The Lord is the strength of my life;

Of whom shall I be afraid?

2.  When the wicked came against me to eat up my flesh,

My enemies and foes, they stumbled and fell.

3.  Though an army may encamp against me,

My heart shall not fear;

Though war may rise against me,

In this I will be confident."

5.  "For in the time of trouble He shall hide me in His pavilion'

In the secret place of His tabernacle He shall hide me;

He shall set me high upon a rock.

6.  And now my head shall be lifted up above my enemies all around me;

Therefore I will offer sacrifices of joy in His tabernacle;

I will sing, yes, I will sing praises to the Lord."

13.  "I would have lost heart, 

unless I had believed that I would see the goodness of the Lord 

in the land of the living.

14.  Wait on the Lord,

Be of good courage,

And He shall strengthen your heart;

Wait, I say, on the Lord!"

I'd call that some good advice and encouragement during these days of "waiting on the Lord."  May we continue to put our trust in the Lord, no matter what the outcome of these current "events" in our land. Always remember that God is in control, and He will strengthen our hearts and take care of us no matter what.

Be blessed my friends. 

 

Life On Still Waters Pond

Psalm 24:1-2

1.  "The earth is the Lord's, and all its fullness,

The world and those who dwell therein.

2.  For He has founded it upon the seas,

 and established it upon the waters."

Psalm 23

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.

4.  Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,

I will fear no evil;

Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.

5.  You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies;

You anoint my head with oil;

My cup runs over.

6.  Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me

All the days of my life;

And I will dwell in the house of the Lord

Forever!"

Amen.

Good Tuesday morning, friends!  I hope you enjoyed this little tour around "Still Waters Pond" with the thoughts from Psalms 23 and Psalm 24 to accompany us.  I did a little walkabout the pond the other morning, hoping again to find a spot dry enough to cross over to the little island. If you were with me HERE, when I tried this once before, you will know that this has been a desire that I've had ever since we moved here.  But alas! Even though the pond is getting drier and drier due to lack of any consistent good rain, it is still too mucky for me to attempt that trek again.   I guess I'll just have to wait until either it gets drier (but I hope it doesn't!!), or it gets full enough of water to float a little kayak or canoe over. (Now that will be a video worth watching IF it ever happens! LOL).  

Because the pond is getting so dry, we are discovering some things that have been "left behind" or disposed of in the pond during its wetter days.  Here's a few of the pictures that I didn't include in the above montage since they just wouldn't have quite fit the narration:

I know some people do like to use old tires as a planter for flowers...well, "Mother Nature" created her own display in this "lovely" flower pot...

The bottom of the pond is getting so dry in some places that there are little tiny yellow flowers popping up all over in the midst of the mud.  They are actually kind of pretty, but it's interesting they they are blooming in the mucky "desert"....

This (below) is a picture from the past, of the interior of our house before we moved in and before we painted the walls.  If you will note that hole on the far wall over there to the right, it has some wires sticking out of it.  We figured out that it was where the security system used to be, but it had been removed. We have since patched up that hole and painted over it.  Didn't think anything more about it,

Until I discovered this stuck in the mud of the drying pond... Yep, that's it...the security system from inside our house.  Not sure if it was ripped out by an angry would be robber, or by the former owner who was not happy that his house was going back to the bank and probably couldn't pay for the security system anymore...either way...needless to say it was no longer providing security for this house...

 But I am not afraid:

Psalm 27

1.  "The Lord is my light and my salvation;

Whom shall I fear"

The Lord is the strength of my life;

Of whom shall I be afraid?"

Whether it be disease, pestilence, drought, or famine, or enemies of our freedom, we do not need to fear when we have The Lord as "the strength of (our) life".   

2.  When the wicked came against me  

to eat up my flesh,

my enemies and foes,

they stumbled and fell.

3.  Though an army may encamp against me,

My heart shall not fear;

Though war may rise against me,

In this I will be confident...

4.  One thing I have desired of the Lord,

That will I seek;

That I may dwell in the house of the Lord

all the days of my life,

To behold the beauty of the Lord,

and to inquire in His temple.

5.  For in the time of trouble 

He shall hide me in His pavilion;

in the secret place of His tabernacle

He shall hide me;

He shall set me high upon a rock.

6. And now my head shall be lifted up above my enemies all around me..."

So whether or not you have a working "security system", when you belong to Christ Jesus, you are secure enough from the enemies of this life.  So have no fear, and let the Lord fight these battles for us.

Have a blessed and beautiful day my friends.

Just a Little Pep Talk -Updated

This is a rerun of a previous posting from over two years ago...but I came across it tonight and it spoke to my heart again...and I felt that God wanted me to share it with you again as well.  Perhaps there is someone out there who needs this "Little Pep Talk" tonight.  I am praying for you, whoever you are. May God bring courage and strength and hope to your heart as you read these words. 

"The Lord is my light and my salvation; 

Whom shall I fear?  

The Lord is the STRENGTH of my life; 

Of whom shall I be afraid?" 

Psalm 27:1

Fear is one of those enemies of the mind that binds us and keeps us from being able to step out on faith...or sometimes even to step out of our houses. It locks the door of our hearts and throws away the key, prohibiting us from giving or accepting love.  Fear tells us not to speak out...strangles our tongues so we can't express our thoughts freely, grasps our hands and keeps our fingers from writing the words that could set others free. We fear what others might think of us if they knew the truth...we fear we'd lose their friendship or love...if one can call it that.  God's Word tells us that "There is NO fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment.  (I John 4:18)   "Love has been perfected among us in this: that we may have boldness in the day of judgment; because as He is, so are we in the world." (I John 4:17)

"When the wicked came against me to eat up my flesh, my enemies and foes...

they stumbled and fell."

"Though an army may encamp against me, My heart SHALL NOT FEAR! Though war may rise against me,

In this I will be confident!"  Psalm 27:3

"And now my head shall be lifted up above my enemies all around me;

Therefore I will offer sacrifices of JOY in His tabernacle; I will SING, yes, 

I will SING praises to the Lord." 

Psalm 27:6

Sometimes we just need to give ourselves and those around us a little pep talk from God's Word! Now, doesn't that feel better?  

"The LORD is my STRENGTH and my shield;

My heart trusted in HIM, and I am helped;

Therefore my heart greatly rejoices,

and with my song I will praise Him."

"The LORD is their STRENGTH, 

and HE is the saving refuge of His anointed."

Psalm 28:7-8

FINAL WORD:

"Wait on the LORD;

Be of good courage,

and HE shall STRENGTHEN your heart;

Wait, I say, on the LORD!"

Psalm 27:14