Sunday, January 11, 2009

I'm writing this Saturday night, going to save it as a draft and try the 'scheduled post' feature of blogger and see how this works out. I don't want to overwhelm you with two posts in one day, after all!

I'm sitting at my computer with a soft light on. The snow is falling outside, heavily and gently in big, fluffery flakes, turning our almost melted world back into a magic looking one. It makes me feel so peaceful. I had some music playing in the background and then I realized it was competing... with other music. And that music was LIVE. And that music was SO beautiful. Its the sound of Mr. Miles and his friend Nathan practicing worship music for tomorrow's service.

Songs like Blessed is the Name of the Lord, and Lord Have Mercy... and their voices and playing together wafting up through the floorboards is moving me to tears. I'm reminded, the God who can turn our melted away landscape into a pretty winter wonderland in the span of a few brief hours is all-powerful. His ways are beyond our comprehension. The weathermen can predict conditions all they want, but God can change all that in a heartbeat.

So it is with the economists. They're just reporting it like it is. They want us to be careful, live within our means. God wants whats BEST for us. Sometimes that just seems wierd, when you think of it. For, as the song says "He gives - and takes away" I'm sure it does not always feel like what we have is best. I'm sure if I got "it" all taken away from me I'd fall flat on my face. For its all nice, and good - but its all a crutch. If you're leaning too hard on that 'ol crutch, when its taken quickly, you'll fall.

And sometimes, thats where He wants us to be - flat on our face, though He'd rather it be a willing thing. Its when and where we are 'richest' - strange as that may sound. Its where we have intimate communion with Him. And the more 'stuff' we get to look after, the more easily we are distracted, tending to the things of the world.

I'm reminded of Solomon. He had it all. Knowledge and wisdom. Castles and cash. Slaves and animals. You woulda thought he'd be in luxury - always amused by all this things. But, even he summed it up like this:

Ecclesiastes 2

1 I thought in my heart, "Come now, I will test you with pleasure to find out what is good." But that also proved to be meaningless. 2 "Laughter," I said, "is foolish. And what does pleasure accomplish?" 3 I tried cheering myself with wine, and embracing folly—my mind still guiding me with wisdom. I wanted to see what was worthwhile for men to do under heaven during the few days of their lives.

4 I undertook great projects: I built houses for myself and planted vineyards. 5 I made gardens and parks and planted all kinds of fruit trees in them. 6 I made reservoirs to water groves of flourishing trees. 7 I bought male and female slaves and had other slaves who were born in my house. I also owned more herds and flocks than anyone in Jerusalem before me. 8 I amassed silver and gold for myself, and the treasure of kings and provinces. I acquired men and women singers, and a harem as well—the delights of the heart of man. 9 I became greater by far than anyone in Jerusalem before me. In all this my wisdom stayed with me.

10 I denied myself nothing my eyes desired;
I refused my heart no pleasure.
My heart took delight in all my work,
and this was the reward for all my labor.

11 Yet when I surveyed all that my hands had done
and what I had toiled to achieve,
everything was meaningless, a chasing after the wind;
nothing was gained under the sun.

So, I'm going to get down, flat on my face, freely and I'm going to thank the Lord for all my blessings (and not just the THINGS) I'll get used to being down there, so when my crutch is taken, I may already be flat - and the crutch will be... just a crutch. Something nice to use if its handy, but not something that I rely on when I should be relying on the Lord.

I thought today would be a great day to share some FREE stuff with you. If you go to the site of Phil Wickam you will be able to download this BEAUTIFUL worship album, in it's entirety, for free. So though I am blessed to hear my husband's and Nathan's awesome songs of Praise as they practice, you can have something good to listen to, too!

You will be asked to fill out a your name and email address and then he will send you the link. What a sweet thing to do - its a great album, I've been listening to it while working on my spirit while my machine works on my physical body.



click HERE to visit Phil and get his album!

And I found out about this free album through a newsletter I recieve which gives me MORE free music each month. If you've never heard of it before, its the FreeCCM Newsletter, and you can sign up for it by clicking HERE. This is a great place to hear new releases - the free songs this month are Mike Farris - "Streets of Galilee", Darlene Zschech - "Call Upon His Name" and Derek Webb - "She Must and Shall Go Free"

There are also new free desktop wallpapers and greeting cards from Crosscards which you can find by clicking HERE.

*****

BEFORE the big flurffy snowfall of last night (cause you are reading this on Sunday, so its last night - oh, I could get so confused prewriting this!) Before this snow, on Friday, I took some photos down by the lake again. I thought I would share a few. Click them to view a bit bigger.






I think a racoon mebbe, what do you think?





My friend Cicero always takes these looooonnnng shadow pics...
so she inspired me. Visit her blog(click HERE) and I bet you'll see one somewhere.
She does 'two headed' ones with her husband.
I'll have to get Mr. Miles to lend me his head soon.

*****

Thrift Store "Good Buy" alert!



I bought one of these at the thrift store the other day. It was still in its new wrap and I only paid $3 for it. I looked it up and it regularly goes for $9.99. I love gadgets. Its actually my gift to Sabastian, our van, cause it folds up nice and flat. It gets tight hauling a full size colander around when we are camping. This will be good for so much more.

I keep breaking things at the store too. Before Christmas I broke a lid to a beautiful teapot set. I made the mistake of telling the ladies and they would NOT accept payment. I tried every which way to convince them to charge me, but they would not. Sigh.

So, on Thursday, when I bought this colander, and was having a good look around, (and when I look around I really look AROUND - my whole self twists and turns and... well, they hide some good stuff either way down on the floor or way up near the roof for heaven's sake!) And, I'm clumsy at the best of times. Plus this with a big purse that day and ... I broke a picture frame! So, this time, I put it in with all my purchases and paid for it first, THEN asked the clerk to take it out and throw it away!!! LOL - she told me she would not have made me pay, so I'm glad I DID!

Do YOU have a 'breaking something in a store' story to share too?

Well... I've chewed your ear off for long enough this morning. I hope you have a great day!

19 comments:

  1. Thank you for sharing all that good info!! LOVE your photos and that colander is very COOL!! Thankfully i don't have any 'break items in store' stories! (not YET anyways hehe) LOVE yours though! :D read your post from Saturday too and what a GREAT card!! Hope you have an AWESOME day! :D

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  2. Hello Barb,

    What a great devotional for today. You really hit some good points to ponder there...
    Would love to have on those colander´s too, but maybe next time I visit I´ll look for something like that. I love going to the second hand store´s there, they are so clean and organized. It´s easy to find good stuff.
    Great pic´s of your snow and ice too!

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  3. Great message.

    Now off to check out that music.

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  4. Thank you for visiting my blog this morning! I have added the following feature at the bottom left side of my blog! :D

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  5. awesome message Barb ...love the photos ..hope to chat to you tonight< I can hear Nathan and Miles ..they are very good ..and Pastor loves both of them and is glad for their leading of praise and worship at church. Can't wait to visit you very loving church again.

    hugs

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  6. First off I want to say that I'm a bad friend of late but my plate is just too full. Second i wish I could get into a snowball fight with you, it'd be so much fun. Next I want one of those colanders. My hubby is always complaining about how much space they take up when we only use it every blue moon it seems. And lastly I've been inspired to work on our collab kit again, let me know if you want to add any more or if I should just finish it up.
    Hugs from your missing in action friend,
    -Amers

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  7. just running by before bed sweet Barb. Such a lovely post today!

    Love the photos too!

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  8. Thank you for the wonderful post Barb.. I am so glad to be home and able to check your blog out.

    Love love love your photos.. they are so beautiful.

    Thank you for the album link also that is very cool.

    I hope we get to chat sometime.

    Big hugs... and thank you for all you share girl friend.

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  9. Good Morning Barb:)
    Love your message today.:)Thanks for sharing.!!
    Your pics are awesome! I wouldn't have any idea what made those paw prints..but I would hope they were far away by now.LOL
    Love your thrift store story.:)I am sure in my almost fifty five years here on this earth..I have broken something in the stores.I just can't think of them right now.:)I am a clutz..so that is why I am sure.hehe
    I don't have time to go to your link for the beautiful music...but hopefully when I do get time..I will check back.:)
    I will be MIA this week.Taking a break.:) You will most likely be the very first one I say hi to when I do get back to blogging.:)

    Great big hugs!!

    Valinda

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  10. Just wanted to let you know how much I enjoyed your post today.

    Sometimes all this news can leave ya feeling a wee bit weak in the knees,but then we remember that god is there for us,if we let him be.That he can strenthen us,empower us to walk un-afraid in these times,if we put faith in him,that he will see us through.
    We do need to fall flat,give over to him,it is amazing what a peace that can bring.
    Very up-lifting your words for this day,thank you.:-)

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  11. The massage is so good. After a day beiing sick readung this....

    The folding colander I have myself! I saw it on our holiday realy handy for the caravan!
    When I cme home our local store had one in sale!!!! only €2,00!!!
    LOL!!! In the Netherlands it's the time to shop because of the sale!!!! i love it too when I have a bargin on things....
    Love Miranda

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  13. What an encouragement my friend! I want more of Him and less of this world. Thank you for sharing.

    And thanks for sharing the pics. It is so cool to this Southern gal to see all the snow pics.

    Take care my friend!
    I hope you have a great week!

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  14. Your integrity is inspiring, but then it is not a surprise. Your blog was an excellent read, as always. Music is a soothing source of relaxation. I often put on clssical music (even though I do love my other music as well) and it seems to help relieve the clutter in the mind.

    The photos were lovely, I must say. I have been house bound, but should really get out there and shoot the "color" of snow. LOL.

    The collander is just to cool! I have never seen one like it, but it would be a MUST HAVE for the avid camper.

    Thanks for your insight on all that is going on in the world. There is so much to reflect on. Truthfully, stuff doesn't matter, as we cannot take itwith us. Our deeds are what matter.

    Thank you for yet another wonderfulpost,

    hugs,

    eila

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  15. I have something for you at my blog....

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  16. WOW.... I need some of your 'meditative attitude' over here! LOL! Seriously... I've been checking out books on CD about relaxation and meditation etc.... but have I actually LISTENED to them yet you might ask???? Well --- no. WAHAHAHA!!! But now after reading your blog I feel peaceful. Thanks for all the great pics n' stuff.

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  17. Hey there my friend! I have something for you at my blog. Please don't feel bad if you don't get it posted. I just wanted to let you know you are appreciated!

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