It Took Only Three Summers!

One of the things I liked about this place when we first looked at it was the gazebo.  Gary wasn't impressed.  To him it was just a grain bin.  But I saw possibilities!

The first summer, 2018, was busy with painting, ripping out carpet and replacing it with new, buying new appliances, moving from the old house in Pulaski to the new one in Colburn, sifting through items to decide what stayed with us or went to other places, and keeping up with the mowing at three places.  We still mowed at The Farm, at our house since it was being listed to sell, and at the new place.  It all took time, and fixing up the gazebo was low on the to-do list.

I checked Pinterest for ideas.  And of course when I posted a picture of an empty gazebo (grain bin) on FB, there were many suggestions from friends on how to decorate or what to do with it.

Fast forward to the summer of 2019.  This would be the time to work on sprucing up the exterior.  The Party Barn was in pretty good shape since we had used it for several occasions.  I had planted a few new perennials, but the flower beds needed a little work.  We had basically ignored the fruit trees and bushes that first summer since we were busy with other things  And then there was the gazebo.

Other things got in the way---namely Gary's foot.  On our trip to Las Vegas with Karen and Clay at the beginning of June, Gary had pulled a callous off his foot near his little toe and that area became infected.  By the time we returned home at the end of the week, the infection was in full force around that area.  A week later when he finally had a doctor's appointment, Dr. Perry told him to go straight to the hospital for admission.  The result was amputation of the little toe, a wound vac for most of the summer, home health care, and being under 'house arrest' until Labor Day. While we were extremely worried about him and his health, any summer plans evaporated.  Very little work in the flower gardens, just a few times to weed.  Mowing the yard fell to Blaine, Hilary, Landon, and Matt.  The weed-eating was done just a few times.  Finally the flag pole was erected (Gary's gift when we moved in the day before his birthday).  More cleaning in the Party Barn for Owen's Adoption Day party!  But the gazebo?  Only two new red chairs and a table from the At Home store and a few new plants around the perimeter.  Fixing it up was very low on the priority list!

Fast forward again to 2020.  Pandemic.  Restrictions on travel and other summer activities have put us close to home since the middle of March.  My to-do list has been long.  Many items have been crossed off, but other items have been added since March.  One of those was 'work on the gazebo.'

It happened.  

In May a trip to the At Home store resulted in the pick up of ordered items:  two new chairs and three new tables.  Those chairs went into the gazebo along with one table and the other two tables were added to the group on the deck.  Another trip to the inside of the store resulted in another table for the front porch to fit between the wicker chairs and a few other items for the deck (which had been stained and sealed -- another cross-off on the to-do list!).  But the gazebo still needed some work.  The kids were using it for riding around with their small tractors and pulling wagons.  But there needed to be more for the grown ups in that space.

Step 1 - more perennials   Yes I know.  Not the inside, but the outside needed some work too.  Coreopisis.  Salvia.  Daisies.  Pincushion plant.  Mosquito plant.  Asian lily. Lavender.  All of them are blooming nicely and doing well!  There is a hosta on each side of the entrance too!  I am hoping that the mums return in the fall---we shall see if they come back to life.

Step 2 - A trip to Down on the Farm in Peru.  Hilary spotted a bench  that she thought would look nice in the gazebo.  So Gary and I went on a road trip there on Wednesday, arriving just in time to see the turn of the key in the lock on the front door of the shop.  We found the bench, measured it, bought it, and loaded it into the back of the white Escape.  We also picked up a metal cow and a metal pig to stand at the end of the barn by the hostas there.  As I was browsing through the store, I spotted a lantern with a bulb similar to those we had strung around  the inside of the gazebo.  It had an on-off switch with a timer and a hook at the top which could be placed in the center of the lights and gazebo.  We had pitched the rusty lantern that had been there. I also picked up a sign that said "This Is My Happy Place."  Plus Gary, who usually doesn't like to look at things like this and doesn't care what I pick up, found a sign that he wanted to put above the entrance and a small bench to set the white box of marigolds on.  

Step 3:  After we unloaded our purchases and placed things where we wanted them, we decided to visit the At Home store again.  Why?  For cushions for the bench. Sitting on the wire frame was rather uncomfortable, and I had found a couple of red pillows for the chairs at that store earlier.  So off we went.

Well, you know how that goes.  No more cushions or pillows of any kind in that print.  BUT...we did find another red print that we liked called Red Geranium.  A cushion for the bench, two throw pillows for the red chairs, and two smaller throw pillows to add to the bench went into our cart.  The next stop was the wire furniture section where we found a small table to put next to the bench.  We needed some place to set a glass, right?  Or a plate of food?  Or a bottle Mike's Hard Lemonade?

Finally we looked at the wire wall decor and a metal birdcage with a couple of birds in it caught my eye.  Gary found a Coke sign he liked as well as a metal cross mounted on burlap which looked great under the tan wreath already on the wall. The last piece I found was a plaque with black wire gracing the top which said "Stay Awhile."  That was perfect!

By the end of the evening we were quite pleased with our purchases and their placement.  It was fun to sit there in the evening with the lights on, just enjoying the warm breeze and listening to the sounds of the birds and the livestock in the barn.

The next day when Cooper and I came home with lunch from Wendy's we ate in the gazebo.  Cooper put that little wire stand to good use!  It was perfect for his cheeseburger and fries, his grape Sprite, and his cups of cheese.

It only took three summers, but it was worth it!  Now it is ready for summer evenings.  Lunches.  Dinners.  Overflow for guests.  Sitting and reading in the afternoon. Morning devotion time.  Visiting with friends.

I love it!

Another reason why I like this place.....

Galatians 3:27-29 Equality

"For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothes yourselves with Christ.  There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.  If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise."


Now timely is this?

As I was reading this chapter, I was amazed at how much it applies to today.  I usually don't write twice a day in my blog, and sometimes I skip several days, but I felt this merited mention.

Joyce hits it square today in this chapter.  I can't say it better than she did, so here goes:

Many people today are fighting for equality, but those who belong to Christ, who are "in Him" through faith have already been made equal by Jesus. In Christ, we are all one and made complete, and we need not be like anyone else.  I admit that people, even those who are born again, don't always treat everyone as equals, but the way people treat us is not what determines our worth.  The only thing that truly matters is how God sees us and how we see ourselves.  We should never see ourselves as better than others, but neither are we beneath anyone else.  We are simply "In Christ."

 Our world is filled with division, and that is a shame because it weakens us.  We are made stronger as we unite, not as we divide.  Satan is the author of division, and we need to work toward uity in order to defeat him.

You are not less than or inferior to anyone else unless you believe you are.

No matter our gender, race, or position in life, we believers in Jesus are all brothers and sisters, and we are part of one another.  We should all be careful not to think more highly of ourselves than we ought to (Romans 12:3) and to never make anyone feel devalued or diminished through our words or behavior.

Treat all people as valuable, because Jesus does.

I Just Never Know

...how my projects may be received.

I remember someone, I think it was Aunt Catherine, making some items in plastic canvas.  Not plastic canvas things are not my cup of tea, so I always accepted them graciously and made a fuss over them, then they went into a drawer when we returned home and eventually into the Goodwill bag.

I didn't want my projects to be received the same way.

Gary always says that if I enjoy making something and find pleasure in it, that is the important thing.  Once I give it to someone else, then it is up to them what to do with it and who cares what their reaction might be.

But during my last OBS, the author of the book we studied said something different.  When we take the time to make something or a lot of time selecting that perfect gift for someone, then we want it to be well-received, and part of the joy is in seeing the reaction.  I like that idea.

I love to sew quilts.  I like to blend the fabrics, cut the pieces, and sew designs together.  There is something satisfying about a seam that is well-pressed and corners that fit perfectly.  I enjoy seeing reactions to my work, especially with family members. 

Many people don't realize how much time, effort, and cost goes into making a quilt.  It isn't always easy.  I cringe every time Betty tells me a total to pay for backing or batting or for the quilting process itself.  Plus the time involved is consuming.  I have to think, calculate, measure and re-measure before I cut.  I taught English, remember, and math always gave me trouble.  Once I am certain that I know what I am doing and how to mesh the fabrics to make what I want, I am fine.  But getting there is a challenge sometimes, and that takes time.  Plus I am methodical when it comes to pinning, sewing, and pressing.  I was taught that pinning and pressing were keys to successful end products, and I can't stray from that.  I know that many don't pin short seams, and I think Tina told me she doesn't pin the fabric when she is sewing binding.  But I have to.  I need to.  There is re-assurance for me when I do that.

In the last week three quilts have been given to their recipients.  Nick opened his rag quilt that we sent to Wichita for his high school graduation gift. As much as a guy can show emotion for a quilt...I think he liked it.

Then Tessa and Lynnlee saw their quilts yesterday afternoon.  I don't think Lynnlee fully understands what it was.  She seemed to like it.  It was probably confusing for her because last weekend it was on the floor by my chair and she was going to pick it up for her doll and I yelled "NO!" mainly because there were pins in it and I didn't want her to be stuck.  I think Tessa liked hers

This morning I added the final touches to each of them---the tags on the back which has their names and mine and the date.  On Wednesday I hope to take the quilts with me when I go to see Sheri so she can see them.   After that Tessa can have hers (it is really an Adoption Day gift) and Lynnlee can have hers (for the new bed she doesn't have yet).

Seeing the smiles and listening to them say Thank You, Mamaw was precious to me.  I know they like them, and I hope they will have fond memories of the times Mamaw spent in her sewing room, making quilt tops that they could enjoy.

Love Versus Fear

I am drifting today away from the study of Galatians to the daily devotions that I share with Rhonda.

She and I have been working our way through the book 365 Devotions to Love God and Love Others Well.   i like this book because the verses are from both the Old and New Testaments, and the applications are very timely for what is happening today.  Another example of God knowing what we need to hear and when we need to hear it?  Probably!

Anyway....the verse today is this one : "Do not let your hearts be troubled."  John 14:1

I had to smile because this is EXACTLY what I need to read today.  I am tired of being scared of the virus, of violence, of not being able to do things I want to do.

I am tired of distancing myself from others, of not enjoying a meal in a restaurant, of not being able to wander around in Target or Hobby Lobby to just browse.

I am tired of the mixed messages, the fake news, the data that is spewed everywhere and twisted for whatever purpose is being forced upon us by the media.

For example :  I saw an article shared by someone on FB yesterday.  It was attributed to Time magazine.  The headline indicated that the virus was not receding as we were being led to believe, but that it was exploding in many states and was only going to get worse over the summer because (guess why)... Trump had pushed to open things too quickly.  Of course earlier he had been chastised for not taking action quickly enough, but that is another issue.  Anyway, as I scrolled through the article I saw graphs for each state depicting the number of cases of COVID 19 since the end of February to now.  And guess what?  Most of the states were showing decreases in numbers.  Indiana.  Illinois.  Ohio.  Kentucky.  Some of the New England states.  A few bigger states were showing increases - Texas, Florida, California, the Carolinas.  But most of the states were showing decreases in number of cases or leveling off.  

I am shaking my head.

Back to the devotion ---  Jesus tells us this not as a 'there, there, it will be ok' type of message.  He really wants us to trust Him and not be afraid all the time.

This is what I needed to hear today.

Last week was SO horrible for me.  I was petrified.  I was nervous.  I couldn't sleep.  When I did fall asleep, I didn't want to wake up.  It was just awful. 

But this puts everything in a new light.  The suggestion in the devotion is to read the verse as a command.  Trust Him.  Give all the worries over to Him.

The ending prayer is very important, one that I need to remember and pray often:  "I'm tired of being troubled and afraid all the time, Lord. I'm ready to obey your command to 'Fear not.' Set me free!  Amen."

How Can I Change?

Title of Chapter 6 in the study of Galatians.

As a side note - Proverbs 31 is offering a study of Galatians also in First 5.  When I investigated it, there was a charge for a book, but since I have the book written by Joyce Meyer and am using it, I decided against buying another one.  However, this morning there was an offer of a free download of the study of the first chapters, and since it was free, I downloaded it and printed it off.  I am hoping for a deeper study of this book.  At some point I will search for a similar study on Philippians because that is one of my favorite books of the Bible.  I like the Book of Ruth also, and I did study that through a book by Liz Curtis Higgs (and I just love her!   TA DA!)

Anyway...How Can I Change?

The first section was titled 'The Key to Real Change" and the focus is Galatians 3: 1-4

Key points for me:

I could never change myself through struggle, self-effort, discipline, or anything else without God's help.  He had begun a good work in me, and He would finish it. (Phil. 1:6)  see?  Philippians!!

There has to be effort on our part.  It would be like having the best teacher in the world in the classroom and just sitting there and not making any effort to learn from that teacher.  But I think the point is that we have to trust God to lead us in the right direction with our changes, no matter what they may been we need to trust that God will give us the understanding that we need and know that He is indeed in control and that HE will make the outcomes as they should be.  This does give me more peace about the situations.

Change doesn't come by our trying to change; it comes as we learn our new identity in Christ and allow the Holy Spirit to work out of us what God has placed in  us.

By focusing on what God's lessons have been, and trying to live by showing respect and love to others is what we need to do to change ourselves and to show others the benefits of living a godly life.  Whether they recognize it or not is up to them.  All we can do is focus on how WE act and how WE live.

We cannot give away what we don't have, so God works in us and we work with the Holy Spirit to work out what is in us.

 This reinforces what I just said---about letting Jesus work through us and letting others see the effects of how He is working in our lives.  Leading by example. Living by example.

What we need to do is hear the Word and let it convict us of sin or something that needs to change in us, repent, and receive God's forgiveness and ask Him to help us change.  We need to continue to pray for change to come and study God's Word in the area in which we need help.  Because the Word of God acts as medicine to heal our soul.

 This can apply so much to what is happening in our country today.  Asking Him to help us to change in our way of thinking, in treating others, in reacting to what others say and do?  All of this can be part of healing our souls.

If you have a problem with  jealousy, anger, disobedience, or lust, study that subject in the Bible, purchase Christian books that deal with it, and pray as you study.  The Holy Spirit will use the Word to change you.

This is what I have done with many of the Proverbs 31 OBS and with several other books that I have purchased.  I need to work on the one I purchased, I think written by Joyce Meyer, about forgiveness.  I have struggled with forgiving Mom for how she treated us over the years, and I still have issues with that.  I am getting better about forgetting because I am not dwelling on the verbal abuse and the instances of anxiety when we visited her as much as I used to.  But I still have trouble with forgiving her for all of the things she said, how she treated me, and her keeping Greta and me apart all of those years.  Why?  And how do you forgive your mother for treating you like that?  I do need to work on that! 

The Personal Reflection question:  Have your reached the point where you are no longer trying to change yourself but relying on God's grace to change you?  Explain why or why not?

I didn't really think about this until I read it the other day.  I have been so distraught over what is happening in our country.   I really don't want to talk about any of it with anyone, and I don't like to say that.  In our family there could be explosions because of people's differing opinions.  I don't want that to happen.  So what I need to do is rely on God's grace to lead me in the direction I need to go.  If I need to change my beliefs or my ways of thinking about the unrest, the political scene, the racism discussion, then I need to pray that God leads me to think and act the way that He needs me to be and go.  That is all I can do.  Otherwise, I will drive myself crazy.  I have to trust in Him. I must.

After I pray about these things, I always feel a peace come over me.  What should that tell me?  The Power of Prayer for sure!

Exactly the Way I Feel Right Now

A friend posted this on FB and it says exactly what I have been feeling lately.

I can’t keep up. I just can’t. I'm stressed. I’m exhausted trying to figure out what we’re all supposed to do, believe, and be outraged by next. 

Two months ago, First Responders were all the rage. In fact, they were heroes. We gave them free coffee, meals, and cheers as they drove by.Today we hate them and want them defunded because they can’t be trusted. 

Nurses and Doctors are still cool for now. But they may be unemployed. They too are heroes, unless of course they truly believe all lives matter. Then they’re filled with hate and are part of problem like so many others. 

Just 45 days ago protests weren’t “essential” and were considered criminal, selfish and a murderous activity. Today they are gloriously critical and celebrated. All of the obvious criminal and murderous activities are simply ignored. If you protest about lockdowns for freedom, you are selfish and you will spread a virus. If you protest, loot, and riot for social justice, you are a warrior and the virus cedes. 

Trust the experts. No, not those experts. Don’t wear masks ... wear masks, but only good ones. Wait, don’t wear masks, wear anything as a mask. Nevermind on the masks. Not sure, but if you don’t, you hate people because you could be an asymptomatic spreader. Wait. That's not a thing anymore?

For 3 months, NOTHING was more important than social distance. In fact, we gave up all of our liberties for it. We canceled schools, medical and dental procedures, yet allowed the murder of babies, canceled activities, closed businesses, eliminated every spring rite of passage from prom to graduation, denied people funerals, even at Arlington, and we wrecked the economy for it. Then came social justice, and social distance was no more. Now things are more cut and dry though. A thousand people at three memorials for someone they never even met. It's a matter of "respect". But you can only assemble 100 or less people. 

Black Lives Matter. Of course they do. Then multiple black police officers and individuals were killed during the “peaceful protests”. I don’t see any outrage. Black individually owned businesses burned to the ground. Silence. Deadliest weekend in Chicago. NOTHING!!

I’m really confused now. Look at the data, NO, not that data. Do the math. No, you can’t do the math like that. Only the experts can understand the data and math. What do you mean other cities/states/governors are interpreting the data differently? Pools are safe in Indiana, but not Michigan? Playgrounds are safe in your town but not mine? Amusement parks are safe in Florida but not Ohio?

Just listen to the black community leaders. No, not them. 

If you are silent you are part of the problem. If you speak, you are part of the problem. If you have to ask, you don’t understand. If you don’t ask, you don’t care. 

It’s all so predictable, tedious, and exhausting. Nothing adds up. It’s one gigantic common core Math life problem, with ever changing denominators that I’m sure the media and politicians are eagerly ready to solve for us....until the next "crisis". 

So for now I pray. I pray God will heal our land and bless the United States of America.

Just Troubled

I have written a couple of posts lately that I have returned to the next day and deleted. 

Why?

Because they were just a way to get things off my chest.  Because hammering on the keys on the laptop felt better than yelling at someone. 

So why delete?  Because when I returned to read them the next day, the problems didn't seem to be so bad.  I could imagine myself reading the same post written by someone else and wondering why this person was so upset about those things.  

But maybe there is some merit in the way I have been feeling lately.

First of all--- I drove into Lafayette yesterday morning while Gary was mowing.  I need to pick up medicine at the drive up window at Meijer.  I also needed a few things in the grocery area plus I wanted to purchase a new waffle iron.  The waffle iron was needed so that Landon could mix up a batch of oatmeal waffles.  He had found the recipe in my recipe box last week and it had sparked an interest.  When I resurrected our old waffle iron and cleaned it up, the smell emitting from it after I plugged it in permeated the house.  Big clue that using it for waffles was not going to happen.   

There was an issue with picking up the meds.  The Express pay that I used hadn't worked.  Then my debit card wouldn't work in the device in the little window thingy that they use.  The clerk took my debit card to the register on the inside window and when she scanned to barcodes on the meds again, the express pay worked.  Not a big deal, but it was just an annoyance.

After observing the customers going in and out of Meijer and their lack of facemasks, I decided to go to Target where I felt more comfortable since we had been there twice recently.

The Target stop was successful, for the most part.  I picked up a LARGE container of instant oats, just in case we needed to make a double batch of waffles or another batch of oatmeal cookies.  I added to the cart the 1/2 gal of 2% milk which was the only thing on my list, along with another bottle of Trop 50, then a container of Lit N Fit Vanilla Yogurt.  Next stop was the kitchen appliances section for a waffle iron.  The small iron I intended to purchase was not available in a box, so my only option was a Belgian waffle maker with room for 4 squares. That would work, but it was also nearly double the amount of $$ I had thought I would spend.  Just for one session of making waffles.  But I thought that if I had a nice waffle maker, and since we were into making Sunday Brunch now, this might be a good thing to have.

Leaving Target I drove to the JoAnn Fabrics close by.  Once again the mask went on before I entered the store.  My search for gray thread was not too successful.  I found just one of the Dual Duty that I wanted, plus another spool of navy and a more expensive spool of gray from another manufacturer.  I winced as I spent nearly $20 for 3 spools of thread.  Really?

Then the depression set it. 

I couldn't browse anywhere like I am used to doing.  Social distancing made even the quest for thread difficult.  People would see me standing there, looking at the various colors, halt, then back away.  I had to do the same thing with any of the aisles I chose to walk through to make my way to the check out.  

Similar things were happening at Target.  No one said hello.  No one nodded a greeting.  Heads were down and people moved to accomplish their missions and nothing more.  No browsing.  Just the feel of "I am looking for this one thing and i need to get it and get out of here."  

When I returned home, Gary was still mowing.  Megan and Matt and the kids pulled in before I was out of the Escape.  Before they left, Hilary and the kids arrived.  Everything that happened after that set me off inside because I was trying hard NOT to be mad at the kids, even though I just wanted to scream.


Why was I so on edge?  Besides the mask-wearing and restrictions on browsing when shopping and spending more on a waffle iron and thread than I had planned?

Everything is bothering me.

Even though I am fine with not going to a restaurant to eat, I don't like feeling that I can't.  It's different that when Gary was on 'house arrest' with his foot last year.  We couldn't go, and that was ok.  But to not feel safe going, being afraid to be around other people.  I don't like that.

Chase on Paw Patrol being banned, possible.  Really?  Because he is a law enforcement pup?

Lady Antebellum changing their name to Lady A.

Gone with the Wind being pulled from streaming.

Cancelling the last part of our trip to Florida in two weeks.

Not going to Nick's graduation.

Being afraid to travel anywhere too far if I need to  miss having a bathroom break which is really hard for me to do.   But are the bathrooms clean?

Being afraid to travel anywhere that might require an overnight stay...how can I sleep in a bed that may not be clean?  Must we sanitize everything just to be safe?  Wouldn't it be better just to return home instead?

Being afraid to watch Landon's showing of pigs and goats anywhere where there are other people.

Still being terrified of one of us contracting this virus.

Petrified of the coming election and what will happen to this country.

The hatred that everyone is feeling and showing.

The 'off limits' topics of conversation within our own family.

Being afraid of someone blowing up over this and family ties being severed, maybe permanently. 

The big fear of our country being destroyed.  So many are throwing threats and challenges.  Loud voices are demanding things that are contrary to our constitution and to the basic premises of common sense.

Challenges are being made and those who have the power to maintain control are slowly losing that power.

I am scared.

No I am terrified.

And that is why I am feeling so troubled, even when I go somewhere as non-threatening as JoAnn Fabrics to buy thread.

 

Dying to LIve

Sounds  like a contradiction, doesn't it?  An oxymoron?   Something that shouldn't make any sense at all, but when you stop to think about it, it really does?

This is from Galatians 2:20.  "I have been crucified with Christ and I  no longer live, but Christ lives in me.  The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.






 
Here we go:

















When we die to ourselves, we cease having relationship with anything.  So dying to self means that we cease having relationship with what we want if it doesn't agree with what God wants.

 This passage is a good one, if I can get past the idea of dying!  But I can totally understand needing to stop something that we find essential because it isn't essential for us through God's eyes.

For me, sometimes, that is food.  We need food.  We must have nourishment to survive, to maintain good health, and to  navigate through the world with strength.

But....we don't need to eat to excess. 

Example:  a few minutes ago I went to the kitchen to take my nightly medicine.  I popped open the pill container, dropped the four tablets into my hand and then into my mouth, drank the rest of the iced tea from dinner, then grabbed a cookie and stood at the back door and ate it.

Ok...wait a minute.  It was fun until the cookie, right? Why the cookie?  I tell myself every night that it says on the Xerlto bottle that it should be taken with food.  That is how I justify eating a cookie, a brownie bite, a piece of cake, a cheese stick, or whatever I can find.  Does that make it ok?  No.  It doesn't.

I could take the meds with dinner.  I usually don't though. 

I could just not eat something when I take the meds at 10:00.  But I do.

Is God chastising me because I use the medicine as an excuse to pop a cookie into my mouth?  I am not sure.

What I do know is that every cookie I eat in the evening adds more calories to my daily intake, most of the time pushing the total over the daily requirements.  What happens them?  More weight on this body in the form of fat. 

That is NOT what God wants.  He wants me to be healthy, not fat.  Not bursting out of my clothes.  Not tipping the scale at 200+ pounds (and I am guessing at that because I haven't stepped on the scales since the middle of March).

We feel things in our flesh, and even when we give up something that is hurting us, it may still be painful for us to give it up.

 Very true. My 'flesh' tells me that I need to eat that brownie at night with my medicine, but in my heart I know that I should take the meds with dinner, thus eliminating the need for extra food.  I also know that less food will result eventually in pounds dropping off.  That is always a good thing!

In the Personal Reflection for this section is this:

How will you say no to self and yes to God?

I won't join WW again, but I can really watch what I eat and be more consistent in going to the Fireside Fitness Center.

It will work!  It will!

Faith Alone

Focus on Galatians 2:15-19

This was an interesting section.  Some of the concepts have puzzled me over the years, and I think Joyce clarified some things for me.

First of all.....

We are justified by faith alone and not by works of the law.

This confuses me because Leo always said that his work would speak for him, and there was a saying to that effect on the medallions that were placed on his casket, then given  to each of his four children.  Gary's medallion is placed on the back of the door to the dining room from the deck (the front door, as Gary calls it).   If his works are not to speak for him, then the statement on the medallion is not true.  However, the key, I think, lies in the last four words in bold above.  "Works of the law"  Leo's works were charity type works, works that he did to provide for his family, works that made him a 'good man in the community.'  I don't think anyone would fault him for those works.  He was also considered a good Christian man as well, and I think that was why his works were so important to him...to be kind to others, to serve others, to support his community and his family.

God's Word and time with Him is our spiritual food.

I agree with this wholeheartedly, and I admit that when I take the time to start the day with devotions or with the assignment in the OBS, if we are studying one at the time, I feel better and more relaxed about the day itself.  However, I have felt guilty, mainly when I was trying to "Read the Bible in 365 Days" because I couldn't keep up every day.  I would fall behind for one reason or another, then I would try to catch up and fail.  Sometimes I would skim a chapter, such as those with excessive lineage in them.  It became cumbersome for me to read about who begat whom and how many wives this person had and how many children were borne to the union with this particular woman.  Then they traveled from this place to that place and spent so many years there before they went somewhere else.  Not being familiar with the names and the places caused me even more confusion.  I felt like a failure.  Even with the OBS sometimes I fall behind somewhere around the 4th week when things get busy or something changes in my routine.  I feel really good if I stick with it and finish.  But from what I read today, what is most important is not the time spent or the number of chapters read, but the communication with God in the process and how much I learn about God's word.  That makes sense to me, and I don't feel like such a bad Christian knowing that when I can read and pray and study, I am doing what I can, not falling short.

God does want us to work, and we will receive rewards for the work we do on earth, but those works do not save us.

This passage makes me feel better about the saying that I always connect with Leo.  Even though Leo and Agnes did not attend church much during the years that I knew them, I do know that their belief in God was strong.   I do know  in particular that Agnes' faith was strong; that was evident as she drew closer to her last days.

Anyone who is born again through faith in Christ instinctively know right from wrong in most instances.  We do grow and learn more and more all the time, but the Holy Spirit who lives in us will guide us if we will pay close attention to Him.

I do believe this.  I also believe that no one is perfect and that no one knows EVERYTHING there is to know about the Bible and what it says to us as Christians...not even Bible scholars.  Not even ministers.  There is always something new to learn, some new perspective from which to read a verse.  For instance, when I first learned that "Thou shalt not commit adultery" was a commandment, I was very young, and I probably had no idea what that word even meant.  Cheating on a husband or wife?  But the meaning wasn't full for me until I was a married woman.  I had promised in front of God and the guests at the wedding, in front of the minister and repeated to Gary, my marriage vows, and I took them seriously.  'Till death do us part' is exactly what that means, not 'until we get tired of each other' or 'until we find someone we like better.'  Adultery can have various shades of meaning also.  I remember one of the women at the Ladies' Bible Study saying that her husband would not meet with a woman professionally without another woman being present.  He also would not travel to a meeting with another woman unless she, his wife, went along.  He didn't want anyone who might happen to see them think that he might be committing adultery even though he wasn't.  That gave me something to ponder, because I had gone to professional meetings with other teachers, some of them male, without Gary.  Jeff and I traveled to other schools together for in-service presentations.  Was that wrong?  Gary went with Kathy and then with Gina to coaches meetings.  Was that wrong?   Something to think about...and discuss too.

As this section ends, I am not sure I understand the title of it, "Faith Alone."  Something to think about before I move on....

Chapter 5 - Justification by Faith

The Danger of Being a  Compromiser

Galatians 2: 11-14

Compromise.  That is supposed to be the way to go, isn't it?  Compromising.  Finding the middle ground.  Not wanted 'my way or the highway' all the time. And in this troubled times right now, more compromise is needed instead of one side pushing for their way and the other side saying "you need to be more open to the opinions of others as long as you agree with me."  Even our minister listed this on our prayer request list: "need for peace in our nation--between races, between police and civilians, between Republicans and Democrats.  We are a very divided nation." 

Thus...this was an interesting chapter to read last night.

The focus for me was not really on compromise, though.  At least not the way I usually think of it.

Here are my take-aways:

Sincerity, not pretense, is what God requires.

Ok...I know that.  We hear so often about Christians who show up on Sundays and act like they are godly people, but as soon as the Sabbath ends, they are back to their own ways of acting, talking, and doing business.  We do need to be sincere about our faith, which includes living it, not just acting like we are Christians on Sunday in church.

People can give many reasons that seem logical for the things they say and do, but if their behavior is not in line with God's Word, it is wrong.

This passage brought to mind some things that I haven't understood for a while, and I could be subjecting myself for criticism from many of my friends and family members.  But some things are written in the Bible and should be followed.  The Ten Commandments for one.  "Thou shalt not steal."  I don't understand the justification of looting businesses and stealing televisions from Target and money from ATM's during the protests that have occurred during the last couple of weeks.  I understand the need for peaceful protests and the outrage at what has been happening in our county with the black population, but stealing is not right.  There is no justification for that.    I don't see the justification in damaging the property of others either.    Neither of those actions are in line with God's word.  Both of those are just wrong.

Hypocrisy is something unbelievers in every era have accused Christians of, and it causes many people to be resistant to Christianity.  It is vitally important that we live our lives in front of people according to what we say we believe and not compromise to gain their approval.

I hope I have not been a hypocrite too many times.  I know that I have been on a few occasions, but I try to live my life according to the commandments and the teachings of the Bible.  There were several years where I was floundering in the 80s and 90s especially, and I regret some of the my thoughts and actions during that time.  But I try.

Be a God-pleaser, not a people-pleaser.

I like to think I am a God pleaser. But when I think about the last half of this statement, I know that too often I try to please people.  I care too much about what people think of me. I want to be liked.  I don't like to be made fun of.  I don't like to be laughed at.  I don't like to be mocked.  I also compare myself too much with others, and while I know that is wrong,  and even though I have gotten better about it, I still do too much of it in my mind.  This is definitely something to work on.

I am still not sure about the title of this section and the idea of compromise.    Maybe it is a compromise between what God wants us to do and what people expect of us and how different they are, so we are caught and try to compromise?


 


 

Happy To Be Here!

Yes, I know.  I say it all the time.  But it's true.

I love living in this house.

I really do.

Eacday I am reminded of a reason why I like it here.

You know, at first, two years ago when we were in the process of moving, I felt a little guilty for being happy.  I felt like I was betraying our home.  We had lived in the same house for the entire time we had been married.  Both of the girls were born when we lived in that house.  It was our home when we were a family of four.  The girls lived there through their school years, including college vacations.  They spent their last nights as Siemens girls in that house.  They had brought their children to that house and it was Mamaw and Papaw's house.   How could I leave that house that had so many memories?

But when it came right down to it....it was just a house.  I realized the memories would be with us wherever we were; we didn't have to be in that house to have them.

So we moved.  And I love this house.

And it just isn't the house.

I love being here.  On this property.

I love being closer to Hilary and her family. I love being closer to Megan and her family.

I love being closer to Lafayette (even though we aren't going there too much right now with the pandemic going on) and to bigger stores (not that we are shopping much now either).

Every morning I am thankful for the walk-in shower and the master bathroom which is right next to, you guessed it..the master bedroom.

I am super excited about air conditioning, now that it is getting warmer.  A couple of weeks ago I was not sleeping well because I was so hot, and Gary had not turned on the AC yet.  During the night he found one of the fans, plugged it into one of the bedroom outlets, and it was running during the night to cool off the bedroom.  I could hear that fan running, and it took me back to those stuffy nights, sleepless and damp, in the old house with the windows open, hearing every sound of the night and each vehicle that passed by, and listening to that fan.  Oh no!  I had to be sure that we were really in the new house and that the last two years hadn't been a dream.  No way do I want to return to those sleepless sticky nights!

The deck.  The gazebo.  The porch.  The patio.  Everything is conducive to sitting and visiting.  We didn't really have anywhere to sit outside at the other house.  Yes, there was the patio with the hottub and there was the sunroom.  We had a yard, but rarely did we ever sit in it.  Usually in the evenings we would sit in the living room and watch tv, with the fan blowing to cool off the room.  There was very little outside sitting.  To be able to enjoy the deck and the gazebo is just nice.  We have probably sat on the deck and enjoyed more meals out there this spring/summer than we did the entire time we lived on 550S.

The yard.  There is just something about the yard that I really like.  The grass covers it better.  Does that sound funny?  Well, it does.   The yard is huge.  There is so much room to walk around, for the kids to play, to wander.  I really enjoy it.

The lane.   Not only do I like being back from the road, somewhat isolated, I like walking to the mailbox.  There is a rise in the lane after passing over the creeEk.  I told Gary the other day that the rise seems to be the spot where we leave our little bit of paradise and return to the real world.  After we pass over that rise, we are soon back to the road, the neighbors, and the rest of civilization.  Upon return that rise turns into a dip and once over the creek, we are secluded again.

I also like the roominess of this house.  There are three levels and each one works independently of the others.  The main floor is just that..the main floor with the living room, the kitchen and dining room plus a full bathroom and the entrance to the garage.  The upstairs includes the three bedrooms and master bath.  The downstairs contains the family room, the laundry room, and my sewing room.  Gary and I can be in different levels and not bother each other, but we can communicate easily.  Other than needing the bathroom, one could stay in each of the levels all day without needing anything else.  Well, maybe food.

Yes, I am happy to be here.  Sometimes I think that this has just been a dream and that I might wake up and be back on the Francesville-Pulaski Blacktop.  I can tell you, the other night when I was trying to sleep and could hear the fan blowing, I was just a little worried that I might have been dreaming.  Just a little.....

Beating the Heat

When this pandemic started, I created a rather long To Do List that included many items that we needed to address either in the house or on the property.  Some of them depended on the weather.  Some depended on whether I felt like doing it or not.  And some depended on availability of supplies or other needed materials.

This week has been a good one to cross off a couple of the outside items.

Gary finished removing the thistles from the black raspberry bushes the other day.  Cross that one off!

He also attacked some of the weeds in the flower bed behind the deck.  That is hard for me to do since it requires bending and squating - two things that are hard on my left knee, or the 'bad knee' if you want to call it that. 

This morning we were awake early to make a trip into Target when it opened at 7.  It was a successful trip since the story was nearly empty, except for employees stocking shelves, other workers, and a few shoppers.  We were able to pick up everything on our list as well as a few other items.  When the shelves are stocked full of big bales of paper towels and toilet paper as well a combined packages of 4 big boxes of Kleenex, then one should take advantage of buying those particular supplies to replenish what has been used over the past few months.

When we returned home, and after changing clothes, we worked in that flower garden behind the deck.  Gary was pretty successful at removing most of the weeds, even from the irises.  I sprinkled Preen everywhere and he soaked it so it would work into the soil.  Next we planted the remaining perennials and annuals both in that flower bed, in the one in front of the garage, and two around the gazebo. 

Next was pulling out the 12 bags of pea gravel from the back of the truck and covering the ground with it.  My job was to use the cup and fill in the areas around the plants and close to the edging.    We used all 12 bags in that flower bed, so we will need more to finish the bed in front of the garage.

All of those garden pretties that we have collected or have been given after funerals needed to be placed so that was the next job.

As Gary was watering the new plants and soaking down the gravel, I pulled weeds from the hostas around the bases of a couple of trees.  We moved the US Navy stone to the base of one tree.  I like it because we bought it in memory of Dad, and it looks good where we placed it here.

After a couple of fills of the watering can and soaking the new lavender and mosquito plants near the gazebo and trying to revive the buttermilk daisies, I finally watered the pansies in Dad's iron kettle on the circle and the new lilac bush the girls gave me for my birthday.

By that time the sweat was pouring off of me, my feet hurt, my 'bad knee' ached, and I was ready for a cool drink and some lunch.

And this is why we have the fridge in the Party Barn stocked with cold drinks.  That bottle of Snapple Mango Tea was delicious!

We did beat the heat this morning! 

(and I am thankful for the AC in this new house of ours.....have I  already mentioned that???)

Paul, the Freedom Fighter

Galatians 2:2-9

Some take-aways from this reading:

We are all responsible to do only what God gives us to do, not to compare with others or try to do what they are doing.

I take this in several ways.  One is minding my own business about things.  Not all information, events, instances concern me.  Also I need to use my potential and my talents the best way that I can, not to compare myself with others or imitate what they do.   That was hard for me when I was teaching because I would see another teacher use a technique, then I would try to incorporate that same technique in my classroom and it didn't work well.

Our worth and value are found in Christ, and in nothing else---not in our ethnic background, our talent, who we know, our level of education, our gender, or anything else, but Christ alone.

Interesting that this came up in today's reading.   Something that we know.  That many of us practice.  But so many others do not. And look at what is happening in our country.

When we receive Jesus and the Holy Spirit comes to fill our hearts, we get a new "want to." We want to do the right thing; we want to study God's Word and talk with Him in prayer, and we want to help other people.  Just think about it for a moment.  When we read and study the Bible, we are not doing it for God; we are doing it for ourselves so we can grow spiritually and gain knowledge of God's will.  When we pray, we don't do that for God; we do it for ourselves and others and for the simple pleasure of spending time with Him.  Prayer is a privilege, not an obligation.

Interesting perspective of studying God's Word and prayer. I still consider it a two-way street --  I see it as a a conversation with God. Especially prayer.  But I also need to read God's Word to grow spiritually which is why I am reading Joyce's book.

Philippians 4:13 promises that Jesus will always give us the strength to do anything He asks us to do.  But if we do something because we feel that God will be angry with us if we don't; then our motivation is entirely wrong.

One of my favorite verses!  But doing something not because we feel His strength to help us through it, but because we fear His wrath if we don't do it...is wrong.

 

Fighting for Freedom

No, this isn't about what is happening in our country right now with the rioting, looting, and violence in many cities due to the death of a black man in Minneapolis.

This is Chapter 2 in the study of Galatians.

Wilderness University.  That is an interesting title for this section of the chapter.

Galatians 2:1  Then after fourteen years, I went up again to Jerusalem; this time with Barnabas.  I took Titus along also.

Joyce calls it this because Paul was away for 14 years.  She cites other examples in the Bible when separation also occurs. Joseph.  Moses.

For me I haven't really been separated from others for a time period.  Growing up.  College.  Teaching.  Summer sessions for my masters.  When the girls were at home, all the time in the summer with 4-H.  Moving to Ivy Tech and teaching all summer sessions.  Even after the second retirement I was never separated from others for a long period of time.

But now?  Interesting.

During these times it's easy to think we are in the wrong place because it's not a place of comfort for us, but more often than not we are exactly where God wants us.  When God prepares something for us, then He has to prepare us for it.

There have been suggestions that the past three months have been a plot in our government to control us.  There has been a suggestion that the Chinese planned this and implemented the pandemic while the United States was distracted with the impeachment procedings.

But there is an even stronger suggestion that this is all part of God's plan (and I belief that it is because nothing happens to us without it being part of God's plan). Landon and I discussed this the other day as well.

Maybe we needed time to unwind, to relax, to step back from everything that stresses us in our lives.  Working.  Schedules.  Time.  Money.

Maybe we needed to focus more on family and the people that are closest and mean the most to us.

Maybe the need to move church services to online versions have been the vehicle to bring more people to Christ.  I know that Gary and I have been more faithful in attending services and participating in communion during the last 10 weeks.

When I say people are often hidden, that doesn't mean they are totally alone, but that they are not known by large numbers of people and are not doing great things as far as the world can see.  But doing a small thing faithfully and in secret is a great thing to God.

Gary and I have both seen leaps and bounds type of improvements in both Owen's and Lynnlee's speech and their growth as toddlers.  Well, Owen isn't really a toddler, but he is 4.  We really think this time at home their folks, this more relaxed schedule, and the relaxed atmosphere has worked wonders with them.


If you have a dream in your heart and feel invisible, as though no one knows you or cares who you are, don't despair.  Let God use this time to teach you and draw you closer to Him.  While you are waiting, do anything He asks you to do without concern about how small it is or who knows you are doing it.  As long as God knows, that is all that really counts.

This passage really speaks to me.  Especially this part:  Let God use this time to teach you and draw you closer to Him.


On to the next section....

Defending the Message

Galatians 1: 11-24

This was a long passage detailing Paul's journey and his intentions.  Take aways from this:

We should never feel the need to hide our past sins because they are in fact what make our salvation by grace so amazing.

I do believe this, but this is just hard for me.  I don't want to admit all of my sins to others.  I guess I am not really hiding them, trying to go through life thinking that I had never sinned and I am better than others, but I don't think I want to broadcast all the bad things I have done.  I am growing as a Christian because I know I have sinned and I have asked God's forgiveness for those.  And I continue to sin each and every day.  I don't feel the need to tell everyone about those sins though.


We would be wiser to simply live our new beliefs patiently and let others witness for themselves the changes in us.

Often in the devotions that Rhonda and I have shared over the last 18 months we have been called to witness to others, to share our faith, to proclaim our beliefs.  We both feel that this is hard to do and that while we are not ashamed of our faith nor would we ever deny our faith, we just don't feel comfortable sharing it with others when we aren't sure how our words would be received.  This passage and Joyce's words of explanation made me feel so much better about my feelings about this.  I can do this...although it is still hard....to live my Christian belief and faith daily.  Then I can lead or share by example.


It is usually best to make sure the timing of our sharing is right.  Without patience, we usually choose our own timing and don't get good results.  This is true not only in our witnessing but in many other areas of life as well. 

No kidding!  And I think today's society has caused the 'immediate gratification' to be more prominent, especially in our young people.  Credit cards allow us to 'buy now, pay later' which allows us to buy impulsively because we can always pay for it later on.  What happened to saving for a new car or a down payment for a house?  Why does it always have to be now?  I struggle with  eating --- instead of waiting for a meal, I will grab a cheese stick or a cookie.  Now there is a tub of brownie bites on the counter and those are so easy to just open and pop one in my mouth.  How many points are in a brownie bite?  Too many to justify eating several a day, that's for sure!


New section coming up!