Dear Friends,
Regardless of what you think of Jesus, I think you will find this movie a compelling, powerful, inspiring and educational portrayal of the most famous person who ever lived – whose impact on the world is second to none.
For your reference, I have included some information about the film Here.

Like A Tree Planted By the Streams of Water

 Verses that Bless me .... Love these three

"Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers. The wicked are not so, but are like chaff that the wind drives away. Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous; for the LORD knows the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish."
(Psalms 1:1-6)

"Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD, whose trust is the LORD. He is like a tree planted by water, that sends out its roots by the stream, and does not fear when heat comes, for its leaves remain green, and is not anxious in the year of drought, for it does not cease to bear fruit."
(Jer 17:7-8)

"You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you. Trust in the LORD forever, for the LORD GOD is an everlasting rock".
(Isaiah 26:3-4)

A Mothers Love

Naewa made her way down to the river to fill the water containers. She hopes she will make it back before the rain starts again. It is the long rainy season in Uganda, the the trip takes about an hour each way and being 7 months pregnant and wearing her 10 month old on her back was not making the task any easier. As she was walking she thought over the events of the day. Her neighbors small child had died from typhoid earlier in the morning. She often wondered if one of her children would also die.

 Naewa arrived at the river, she set down the containers and swung the baby around to the front so that she could nurse. It was better to take care of the baby now than to have to stop on the way back. While nursing she feels the contractions again, she knows that will not be able to nurse much longer or it will make the new child come to soon.

Naewa finishes taking care of the baby and swings the child back on to her back. She makes her way to the water and fills the containers. The trip back will be slower because the water is heavy. Naewa often wishes that her husband could come and get the water, but he has to tend their small farm so that they have enough to sell and also to eat. When the children are older they will be able to help her with getting water and also help tend the few animals they own.

 On the way back to her small mud hut she wonders if she will be able to get one of the village women to come and help her when it time for the baby to come. The nearest medical help is 3 km away from their village, which is a long way to walk when you are in labor.

 Naewa is finally home after the long walk from the river. She starts a fire outside the hut and starts to prepare her family's evening meal which consists of tilapia (fish) and ugali (a stiff maize porridge) and maybe some matoke (a cooked plantain/banana mash). She also has to boil the water that she just got from the river so that her family will stay well.

As Naewa gets ready for bed in the evening she feels the new child kicking. She already loves this small baby growing inside her as much as her other little one. She wants to feel that there is hope for her small family to be healthy and to earn enough to be able to survive. She hopes that there will be help from somewhere soon.

 Today is Mothers Day, lets celebrate and support mothers who are living in poverty, through ongoing support of a Compassion Child Survival Program or by making a one time donation. The Child Survival Program helps save the lives of babies and mothers in poverty by utilizing local churches to assist mothers of at-risk infants and toddlers. Mothers can give their children a fighting chance for healthy development with the supplies and training provided by the donations to this program. Will you help a Mother like Naewa have some hope for the future?

Matty the Mosquito

Poverty is hopeless and depressing. 

I’m Matty the Mosquito an agent of poverty—in the preventable disease division. 

I’m effective too. 

Every 30 seconds a child dies from malaria, and I get the assist.

 It’s enough to make a caring, God-fearing soul see red.

But who cares? Red is just a color, like the color of a blood cocktail with 50 thousand plasmodia, a genus of protozoa, several species of which cause malaria, transmitted to humans by the bite of an infected Anopheles mosquito,

swimming in a drop the size of the period at the end of this sentence.

Image courtesy of Compassion International

Fifty thousand is overkill when it only takes one determined 

plasmodia to do what needs to be done.

I look for people that are not protected from me so that I can suck their blood and leave them with my very own present: sickness and death.

Half of the world’s population, 3.3 billion people, is at risk of malaria.  It kills approximately 655,000 children per year; many of who are under the age of 5 and most of who live in sub-Saharan Africa.  You can help thwart my efforts to spread malaria! 

Today is World Malaria Day 2013.

 Lets do something in recognition of World Malaria Day, head on over to  Compassion Internationals's Malaria Intervention  Page and make a donation.

Donations to this fund:

• provide households at risk with treated mosquito nets
• educate family members on malaria prevention
• treat children suffering from malaria, chagas disease and dengue fever

This fund was established by Compassion because it is one of the many ways we are able to release children from poverty in Jesus' name.  A healthy child can go to school. A healthy child can learn and play and develop. A healthy child can walk to the nearby church and hear the message of Christ.

Will you also sponsor a Child? Click  to read Our Compassion story.

Times are uncertain

Times are uncertain....there are rumors of war......earthquakes.... the economy is fragile... it seems our government has let us down.......  Where do we turn? To God of course!  His Word says: But, as it is written, "What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined, what God has prepared for those who love him"-- these things God has revealed to us through the Spirit. For the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God.
(1 Corinthians 2:9-10 ESV)  No matter our circumstance He is there. No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 8:37-39 ESV).  He loves us so much. He has our best interests at heart. We can trust Him! But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us. We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies. (2 Corinthians 4:7-10 ESV) I am so encouraged that King Jesus is on the throne and He is Sovereign over all things. Amen! 

Shout for joy in the LORD, O you righteous! Praise befits the upright. Give thanks to the LORD with the lyre; make melody to him with the harp of ten strings! Sing to him a new song; play skillfully on the strings, with loud shouts. For the word of the LORD is upright, and all his work is done in faithfulness.
(Psalms 33:1-4 ESV)

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.