Glad Game

A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity; an optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty.
~Winston Churchill

I am by nature an optimist. I am a "Pollyanna" always looking to play the "Glad Game "
Just in case you don't know:  
Pollyanna is a best-selling 1913 novel by Eleanor H. Porter

 ("The Glad Game", is an optimistic attitude Pollyanna  learned from her father. The game consists of finding something to be glad about in every situation. It originated in an incident one Christmas when Pollyanna, who was hoping for a doll in the missionary barrel, found only a pair of crutches inside. Making the game up on the spot, Pollyanna's father taught her to look at the good side of things—in this case, to be glad about the crutches because "we didn't need to use them!"Pg 38-39) 

 Some People however are not optimistic and do not play the "Glad Game" it is not their nature. They can be very negative and hard to be around.

The Church Hill quote reminds me of how much we need Christ Like attitudes.

Obedience is about pleasing God, doing "what is well pleasing in His sight."  This is why Christ died for us. "He died for all, that those who live should live no longer for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again" (2Co 5:15). 

Living to please self is the ultimate disobedience to God.  ~Bob Hoekstra

 For at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light  (for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true),  and try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord. (Eph 5:8-10 ESV)


 We need  have proper heart posture  in order to please Him.

By abiding in Him we can choose to be pleasing and to do His will no matter what our nature is.

Now may our God and Father himself, and our Lord Jesus, direct our way to you, and may the Lord make you increase and abound in love for one another and for all, as we do for you, so that he may establish your hearts blameless in holiness before our God and Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his saints.
(1Th 3:11-13 ESV)

 Are you Glad? Let God live through you and be a light and love to those around you.

Direction

 I have been trying to figure out what direction to take my blog.  I have visited many other blogs in the blogoshere  to "see" how to have an effective blog.  There are many types of blogs that cover many topics. I have found there is not a "right way" to blog. You just have to be your self. For me I have to also be true to my convictions and beliefs.

I am not here to be a braggart and tell everyone how many laundry loads I have done today and how many loaves of fresh homemade bread I cranked out in my homey little cozy kitchen. . I want to be real and be used of the Lord to encourage others in their Christian walks. That means transparency, it means being able to say "I blew it"  It also means seeking Godly counsel  and be willing to accept that counsel.   I will Keep Timeless Treasures Direction to reflect What God is teaching me about walking with Him With an occasional  recipe or frugal find.
My son, do not forget my teaching, but let your heart keep my commandments, for length of days and years of life and peace they will add to you. Let not steadfast love and faithfulness forsake you; bind them around your neck; write them on the tablet of your heart. So you will find favor and good success in the sight of God and man. Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths. Be not wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD, and turn away from evil. It will be healing to your flesh and refreshment to your bones.
(Pro 3:1-8 ESV)

Giveaway over at Christian Writer/Reader Connection

 Click Here to visit: Christian Writer/Reader Connection


 

Woohoo! One person will win all three of these fabulous Historical Romances. Here are the giveaway details:

1) You must be a Follower of Christian Writer/Reader Connection.

2) The giveaway is open to residents of the United States.

3) To enter, comment on this post.

4) You can get an additional entry for each of the following. (Let me know in the comments section what actions you've taken.)

     A) Post the contest details and link on your blog.

     B) Post it to your Facebook page.

     C) Post it on Twitter.

5) Contest deadline: Saturday, June 2, 2012, at midnight. The winner will be notified by email. If you do not leave me an email in the comments and do not respond to the Winner Announcement on the blog by Saturday, June 9, 2012, another winner will be selected from the entries.

Disclaimer: I have not received any payment from either the authors or the publishers for doing this giveaway. These books are from my personal collection.

Make your Own Laundry Powder

Each batch yields approximately 32 ounces (between 32-64 loads based on how many Tbsp used per load).
1 bar of shaved bar soap (Ivory,  Fels-Naptha or Dr Bronners bar soap ) I grate mine with the zesting part of my cheese grater.
1 cup of borax
1 cup of washing soda
Thoroughly stir together for 5 minutes.

Beauty for Ashes

Photo by:

365 project

 I was driving to church for ladies bible study one morning, I was thinking of what the LORD had been doing in my life. Each of us were to share per the request of our leader what the LORD was laying on our hearts. I knew of this assignment for two weeks but being the procrastinator that I am I waited till the last minute. I was just thinking "I will not share...I will just sit  and listen." I felt I had nothing and should  just be quiet. I prayed "Lord, what shall I do, what do you want me to share?" Just then I glanced to the right of the road, there sat a little blue house. I had seen it before as my family and I had traveled to and from church. The house was probably beautiful at one time, yet now it laid in ruin as it had caught fire and was badly damaged. I quickly looked away. I hated to stare at it for to long it made me uncomfortable.  I felt the Holy Spirit  nudge me.. He asked me "Why won't you look at that house?" I thought for a minute and I responded," I  do not like to look at the ruin ,the life that may have been lost, the utter destruction of personal property. The pain  the family must have had  when everything they owned was lost." 

 I felt like the Lord was telling me"Your spiritual life is like that house!" "You wont look at it long enough to deal with all your pains and hurts and trust me. You need to really look and feel and examine yourself...confess any sins that hinder you so that you may have fellowship with me."(If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 1Jn 1:8-9 ESV) I started to cry.  I felt like He was telling me to share what he had just taught me with the women at church, I was hesitant I made excuses," I have no notes Lord." "I will help you I will give you the words to say", He replied. I arrived at church,  went in and sat anxiously waiting for the worship time to be over.  The Lord brought the scriptures below to my mind as I was waiting.

The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me, because the LORD has anointed me to bring good news to the poor; he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound; to proclaim the year of the LORD's favor, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all who mourn; to grant to those who mourn in Zion-- to give them a beautiful headdress instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, the garment of praise instead of a faint spirit; that they may be called oaks of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that he may be glorified.

(Isa 61:1-3 ESV)  

 "I am the true vine, and my Father is the vine-dresser. Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit. Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you. Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me.

(John 15:1-4 ESV)

  I was the first to volunteer,  I do not like public speaking. I got up shared what He showed me on the way there and sat down.  I felt  His peace. Later afterward a few ladies thanked me for sharing and said that it ministered them. I replied do not to thank me, but Him because it is all Him not me. 

Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day.  (2Cor.4:16)

"Sometimes, the pain we have worked so hard to avoid is the one thing that leads us to where God calls us to go.  Sometimes, feeling our need is the greatest work of faith we can surrender to". ~Bonnie Gray, Faith Barista

Overnight Crock Pot Oatmeal

 This is a great recipe to prepare Saturday night so there is a nice warm breakfast for Sunday Morning.
2 cup steel cut or regular old fashioned oats (NO Quick Oats!)
4 cups water
1/2 cup milk
1/4 cup brown sugar
2 TBS butter
1  tsp vanilla extract
1/2 tsp cinnamon
Spray crock pot with Pam then combine all in crockpot and cook on low for 8hrs.  Serve with milk & cinnamon sugar.
optional add ins: Canned peaches, raisins, apples, bananas
 Add up to 1 C raisins, chopped fresh apples, bananas canned peaches/dried fruit before cooking.
You can also top with fresh fruit  or canned fruit (drained).
Add  butter or jam, or top with honey.

HIS Faithfulness

I have been going through my blog reading the "Timeless Treasures"  that I have recorded here. I  was greatly encouraged by the words written here, either by my own hand or the quotes and other devotionals that I had come across.  The Lord God is  so good and faithful.  He cares about every part of our humanity. He cares when we are sad, weary, confused, bitter, tired, emotionally exhausted. He cares when we feel like we cant go on...when we feel like we cant make it through the next day,  minute,  second, breath. I have had a huge upheaval in my life recently. Many changes here at home, they are good changes, but somehow very unsettling to me. My heart seems overwhelmed at times.  I was reading Lamentations chapter 3, God spoke quite clearly through the text "I am faithful you can trust Me."  "Rest in Me I am Faithful."

My soul is bereft of peace; I have forgotten what happiness is; so I say, "My endurance has perished; so has my hope from the LORD." Remember my affliction and my wanderings, the wormwood and the gall! My soul continually remembers it and is bowed down within me. But this I call to mind, and therefore I have hope: The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. "The LORD is my portion," says my soul, "therefore I will hope in him." The LORD is good to those who wait for him, to the soul who seeks him. It is good that one should wait quietly for the salvation of the LORD. It is good for a man that he bear the yoke in his youth. Let him sit alone in silence when it is laid on him; let him put his mouth in the dust-- there may yet be hope; let him give his cheek to the one who strikes, and let him be filled with insults. For the Lord will not cast off forever, but, though he cause grief, he will have compassion according to the abundance of his steadfast love; for he does not willingly afflict or grieve the children of men.
(Lamentations 3:17-33)

The business of life.

I haven't been blogging for a long while. I apologize. I really do this blog to remind myself of Gods faithfulness in the things that he is teaching me and I slacked off. There is so much that he teaches me everyday. I would be remiss not to keep record.  I am going to do a fresh start and I will be diligent. I hope that somewhere along the way...you will be encouraged too. 

Amazing Love

Chris Tomlin
Amazing Love

I’m forgiven because You were forsaken,
I’m accepted, You were condemned.
I am alive and well, Your spirit is within me,
Because You died and rose again.
(Repeat x2)

(Chorus)
Amazing love,
How can it be
That You, my King, should die for me?
Amazing love,
I know it’s true.
It’s my joy to honor You,
In all I do, I honor You.

I’m forgiven because You were forsaken,
I’m accepted, You were condemned.
I am alive and well, Your spirit is within me,
Because You died and rose again.

(Repeat chorus x2)

You are my King
Jesus You are my King
(Repeat x4)

(Repeat chorus x2)

You are my King
(Repeat x8)

Wandering or waiting?

I was babysitting my granddaughter on DEC. 16th and I had to go pay a water bill down town . I was praying before hand that God would provide a good parking place that would be easy to accommodate the stroller assembly and be close to the building I need to go to. As I neared the building I saw that there was a place right in front. I was ecstatic. I parked and got out only to realize I was at the wrong building. Back into the van; drove to the right place, no parking spot. I went around the city block hoping that when I got back around something would have opened up...... nothing. I went around again.....nothing where I wanted, but there was one a little further down than I had wanted. On the third time around the block I heard God say to me,"You are an Israelite wandering in the desert". "I have provided a spot for you but it wasn't good enough for you." "It was not your perfect spot you wanted, but it was adequate." I humbly finished going around the block to find the one further back from the door still available. I started to park only to find that someone left up ahead of me and if I pulled up I could be closer to the "perfect" spot. I rushed to pull up and secure the spot, only to find out it was a loading zone and before I could move a Fed Ex truck parked me in. I waited for it to move and soon I was able to leave. Astonishingly the perfect spot came open and I pulled in and parked. I took the stroller out and fastened in the baby. There is always a long line in the water dept and I did not want to get a ticket so I fed the parking meter 50 cents for one hour. I went in to pay and to my amazement there is no one in line but me. I paid my bill and left. I was in there only 5 minutes. I took the baby back to the van buckled her in and put the stroller away.

I got in to start the van and it would not stay on. I then waited awhile, tried again still the van refuses to stay on. I find that I can drive if I keep my foot on the gas and the brake at the same time. I go a couple blocks and end up in front of a church we used to attend a few years back. I wait some more, visit with some of the staff. I returned to the van buckled the baby back in. I prayed for the van to start.
I felt God was telling me to buckle up. I buckled up, started it and it did not stay on. I prayed again and I felt HE was saying to drive off in faith this time and don't put your foot on the brake just drive. I did so in obedience and the car stayed on. I drove home.

Later that afternoon I had to drive again to pick up my daughter from work. The van was just fine no problems. As I was driving I was thinking over the events earlier in the day, I felt God nudging me and reminding me that what He was trying to say was much bigger that a parking spot. He was telling me that I may not really like my circumstances , but they are adequate...Not the perfect scenario but livable. That He had provided everything I need for life and Godliness.*1 I began to weep, I need to repent and thank Him for His provision. I drove a bit further and God Reminded me what today was: My Spiritual Birthday. On December 16th,1981 I recieved Christ as My Savior. More weeping but more from Joy than sorrow, that He is so merciful to remind me that He will complete the work He started in me.*2



1.His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence, by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire.
(2Pe 1:3-4 ESV)

2. And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.
(Php 1:6 ESV)

I am very contemplative and sad. I do not like where I am right now....spiritually, emotionally and I am really tired. I know God Cares for me.....I know who has won the battle......Weariness has set in. Please pray for me.


But who can endure the day of his coming, and who can stand when he appears? For he is like a refiner's fire and like fullers' soap. He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver, and he will purify the sons of Levi and refine them like gold and silver, and they will bring offerings in righteousness to the LORD.
(Mal 3:2-3 ESV)

Quote

"Men occasionally stumble over the truth, but most of them pick themselves up and hurry off as if nothing had happened."~~ Winston Churchill

Why settle for little?

Heb 5:12-14

"There has been enough time for you to be teachers---yet you still need someone to teach you the first lessons of God's message. Instead of eating solid food, you still have to drink milk. Anyone who has to drink milk is still a child, without any experience in the matter of right and wrong. Solid food, on the other hand, is for adults, who through practice are able to distinguish between good and evil."

I was feeding my cats the other day and I happened to spill some of the food quite a distance from the bowl. Before I could clean it up one of the cats decided to nibble on what had fallen to the floor. The other cat went to the bowl where there was plenty and had a nice feast. As I was watching the first cat, I thought, I am like that cat. I settle for little nuggets of Scripture here and there instead of diving into the real meal Of Gods Word. Lets not settle for little when there is plenty.

Grab life by the mane

"Quit living as if the purpose of life is to arrive safely at death. Set God-sized goals. Pursue God-ordained passions. Go after a dream that is destined to fail without divine intervention. Stop pointing out problems and become part of the solution. Stop criticizing and start creating. Stop playing it safe and start taking risks. Expand your horizons. Accumulate experiences. Consider the lilies. Find every excuse you can to celebrate everything you can. Don't let what's wrong with you keep you from worshiping what's right with God. Burn sinful bridges. Laugh at yourself. Keep making mistakes. Worry less about what people think and more about what God thinks. Don't try to be who you're not. Be yourself. Quit holding out. Quit holding back. Quit running away. And remember: if God is for us who can be against us?Unleash the lion chaser within!" ~~Mark Batterson

The New Covenant Promise of a New Heart

June 1

I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. (Eze_36:26)
To live in obedience to the will of God, man needs more than his own best efforts and intentions. The history of Israel emphatically demonstrates this. God gave His law. He commanded them, saying,"Walk in My statutes, keep My judgments, and do them" (Eze_20:19). Israel had promised to obey. "All that the LORD has said we will do, and be obedient" (Exo_24:7). Nevertheless, they failed miserably. "Notwithstanding, the children rebelled against Me; they did not walk in My statutes, and were not careful to observe My judgments" (Eze_20:21).
In order to live obedient lives, people need a new life from God, followed by understanding in how to develop that new life. Here, we see a promise from God to supply that new life. "I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you." These promises are related to the new covenant of grace that the prophets proclaimed for Israel some day. "Behold, the days are coming . . . when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel . . . not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt" (Jer_31:31-32). The book of Hebrews elaborates on this new covenant of grace and applies it to the church today: "Therefore, brethren, having boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way which He consecrated for us" (Heb_10:19-20).
When anyone embraces the grace of God offered in Jesus Christ (the mediator, the great High Priest of the new covenant), that person is born again by the Spirit of God. "That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit" (Joh_3:6). This is a necessity. "Unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God" (Joh_3:3). Human "flesh-birth" brings with it a hard spiritual heart (a dead spirit). Spiritual new birth from God replaces this hard heart (this dead, non-responsive spirit). "I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you."
Think of our desperate need for this work of God that brings us a new heart, a new life. Those not born again are described as living "in the futility of their mind, having their understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God . . . because of the hardening of their heart" (Eph_4:17-18). Yet, whoever relies upon the grace of God offered in Jesus Christ becomes a newborn child of God. "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new" (2Co_5:17).
Dear Lord, giver of new life, I praise You for replacing my old, hard, dead heart with a new, living, responsive heart. Now, I long to grow in the newness that is in Christ, Amen.


Day-By-Day By Grace, by Pastor Bob Hoekstra, director of Living In Christ Ministries, seeks to illuminate the grace of God through daily devotions set to inspire the child of Christ toward the heart of his Creator and Benefactor.

Provided by Living in Christ Ministries
http://www.calvarychapel.org/livinginchrist/


Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted. In your struggle against sin you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood.
(Heb 12:1-4)

etc....

I am sitting at the computer listening to the wind howl outside the front door, hoping a tree does not fall in the yard again. We haven't cut up the wood from the last trees that fell. We are without our van now for 3 months. This is a huge discouragement to me. We had it fixed but are still paying for the repair, so it is still at the dealership. Please pray for funding for this need.


Fig trees may no longer bloom, or vineyards produce grapes; olive trees may be fruitless, and harvest time a failure; sheep pens may be empty, and cattle stalls vacant-- but I will still celebrate because the LORD God saves me. The LORD gives me strength. He makes my feet as sure as those of a deer, and he helps me stand on the mountains.
(Hab 3:17-19)


Praise God !!!!!! This need has been met and we now have our van.

Thoughts on prayer from John Charles Ryle of Liverpool 1816-1900

This is an excerpt From an article called The Duties Of Parents.

Prayer is the very life-breath of true religion. It is one of the first evidences that a man is born again. "Behold," said the Lord of Saul, in the day he sent Ananias to him, "Behold, he prayeth" (Acts ix. 11). He had begun to pray, and that was proof enough.

Prayer was the distinguishing mark of the Lord's people in the day that there began to be a separation between them and the world. "Then began men to call upon the name of the Lord" (Gen. iv. 26).

Prayer is the peculiarity of all real Christians now. They pray, for they tell God their wants, their feelings, their desires, their fears; and mean what they say. The nominal Christian may repeat prayers, and good prayers too, but he goes no further.

Prayer is the turning-point in a man's soul. Our ministry is unprofitable, and our labour is vain, till you are brought to your knees. Till then, we have no hope about you.

Prayer is one great secret of spiritual prosperity. When there is much private communion with God, your soul will grow like the grass after rain; when there is little, all will be at a standstill, you will barely keep your soul alive. Show me a growing Christian, a going forward Christian, a strong Christian, a flourishing Christian, and sure am I, he is one that speaks often with his Lord. He asks much, and he has much. He tells Jesus everything, and so he always knows how to act.

Prayer is the mightiest engine God has placed in our hands. It is the best weapon to use in every difficulty, and the surest remedy in every trouble. It is the key that unlocks the treasury of promises, and the hand that draws forth grace and help in time of need. It is the silver trumpet God commands us to sound in all our necessity, and it is the cry He has promised always to attend to, even as a loving mother to the voice of her child.

Prayer is the simplest means that man can use in coming to God. It is within reach of all, the sick, the aged, the infirm, the paralytic, the blind, the poor, the unlearned, all can pray. It avails you nothing to plead want of memory, and want of learning, and want of books, and want of scholarship in this matter. So long as you have a tongue to tell your soul's state, you may and ought to pray. Those words, "Ye have not, because ye ask not" (Jas. iv. 2), will be a fearful condemnation to many in the day of judgment.

The Futility of Pride

Stange New year topic but oh well! I have been bothered by the topic of Pride! I hate it! It is a destructive force in the life of many. "When pride cometh, then cometh shame: But with the lowly is wisdom" (Pro11:2). "Only by pride cometh contentions" (Pro13:10). In the book of Proverbs, pride is used in two senses. (1) The good sense. In this sense, it is admirable and necessary. It is associated with self-respect and personal dignity. However, we must always avoid self-contempt. "I am a nobody" is not a way to gain respect from others. Acts 2:47 shows us that it is alright to have respect from other people. This kind of pride is acceptable. (2) The bad sense is associated with arrogance, self-esteem, self-importance, and all such similar vices. Webster defines it this way: The quality or state of being proud: as inordinate self-esteem: conceit. Let us keep pride as God wants it. The chin and head up, not our nose. The pride of life is a channel by which Satan tempts man to sin (1Jo 2:15-17). In John 13 we find the disciples would not wash one another's feet because it would show they were inferior and forfeit their position in the kingdom. Christ deflated their egos and pride by washing their feet, showing that He was the greatest of all and serves all. We see a lot of people in the church today fighting for the top, but very few reach for towels. There are many today that pride destroys. It kept Felix from obeying the gospel (Act 24:25). It also cost Ananias and Sapphira their lives. Mat 5:3 says, "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven." We must be willing to assume the role of beggar to enter the kingdom of heaven. Pride will cause us not to admit wrong or have compassion on our fellow man. It will cause us to live beyond our means (Rom 13:8). Pride leads to rebellion (Psa 10:4); also apostasy (1Ti 3:6). "He who stands on a pedestal has no place but to step off"-a Chinese proverb.

Home today

Well I have managed to acquire an ear infection! I haven't had one in 15 years....wow! Well things here have been pressured, stressed and perplexing. I want to see a light at the end of the tunnel. Things need to change. How do they get changed ? By prayer or Action? Oh and not to mention the discernment to know where to begin. Help us LORD Jesus!

How you should respond to the election results.

From Tom Nettles of Founders Ministries:

My friend, Dr. Wyman Richardson, pastors FBC of Dawson, GA. He sent the following "True-False Test" to me yesterday. It is timely and very helpful in giving us perspective on the presidential election. Take the test, then ask yourself how you should respond to the election results. Click this link below.

Perspective