Monthly Archives: November 2015

delight
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The Lord Delights in YOU!

The Lord Delights in YOU!

delight

“For the Lord delights in you and will claim you as His own.”  Isaiah 62:4

Delight- “great pleasure, joy; please greatly, extreme pleasure or satisfaction; high degree of pleasure or enjoyment; joy; rapture.”  http://www.thefreedictionary.com/delight

“He led me to a place of safety; he rescued me because He delights in me.”  Psalm 18:19

“The steps of the godly are directed by the Lord.  He delights in every detail of their lives.”  Psalm 37:23

So many times I feel this can’t possibly apply to me.  I don’t consider myself “godly”.  I fail and trip up so often.  But my “godliness” does not come from my goodness or ability.   But by Jesus goodness and ability.  But by what Jesus did on the cross for me- taking my sin, my failure, my lack on him and giving me in exchange his goodness, his life, his godliness.  Therefore when the father looks on me He looks on me through Jesus’ colored glasses.  I am pure, I am holy. Read More

peace
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Peace Amidst World Turmoil

Peace Amidst World Turmoil

peace

“For God has not given us a spirit of fear (timidity, fearfulness), but of power and of love and of a sound mind.”  I Timothy 1:7 NKJV

Fear has run rampant because of the attacks in Paris and the world over.  ISIS has the world in fear.  Who is the author of fear?  Satan.  Are we to submit to fear?  No!  When fear begins to grip my heart I need to take a hard look at myself.  Because I am commanded not to worry, but to submit to God, to resist the devil and all of his attacks.  (James 4:7)  Fear being the primary attack that I struggle with.  The world is in turmoil but in the midst of that turmoil I can have peace.  I can have joy.  I can have love.  I can have a sound mind.  I need to turn to Jesus and ask him to empower me to walk as He walked.   Read More

winter garden
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Winter Garden

Winter Garden

What a difference a day makes!  From Fall garden to Winter in one day.  Not sure if the snow is going to last – looks like a warm up for Thanksgiving but it is pretty today.  8 inches of snow on November 20th.  Wow!  

winter garden

There is nothing that looks so pure as fresh fallen snow before the melt and before shoveling and bunches of tracks.  Although I see the bunnies have been about.  🙂  

The new fallen snow always makes me marvel about the grace of Jesus and the fact that he says, “Come now, and let us reason together,” Says the LORD, “Though your sins are as scarlet, They will be as white as snow; Though they are red like crimson, They will be like wool.”  Isaiah 1:18  To have the stain of sin removed and to be given grace that pardons and not only pardons but makes me new, whole, complete.  I have been given new life through Jesus’ sacrifice.  New hope, new peace.  What a marvel, what a joy!  He loves me!   Read More
fall flower garden
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Autumn Garden Cleanup

Autumn Garden Cleanup

Before winter comes I like to trim back some of the annual and perennials in my front flower garden to make it look a bit more tidy.  I leave some leaves as mulch for the plants and some seed heads for the birds to munch on.  Last week I had some birds perch on my porch posts and scold me while I was inside having devotions.  I guess they wanted food.  So we put a bit out on the ground for them.fall garden bird food Read More

Neti Pot for sinus health
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Neti-Potting for Sinus Health

Neti-Potting For Sinus Health

Neti Pot for sinus health

For several years now I have been using my neti pot daily in the winter for sinus health.  I used to get awful sinus headaches and toothaches stemming from the sinuses.  Several people suggested to me trying the neti pot but I thought, “ no way am I pouring water on purpose into my nose”.  Memories of water up the nose while swimming pretty much quelled any desire to want to try it.  But eventually I got tired of being miserable and decided it couldn’t hurt to try it.  I cannot express to you the relief I have found from this simple routine.  I use salt designed for the purpose and warm distilled water only (using tap water could cause worse infection if the water was contaminated).  Read More

dining room after
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Dining Room Changes

Dining Room Changes

One of the first things we had to do was paint the dining room.  Beige and white make me a little crazy and I have learned over the years that color is really important to my psychological well-being.  I had seen a really nice green combination on a paint ad and I knew that I wanted my dining room to have that color combo.  Since the woodwork was painted in that room I was fine with painting it again.  So before spring even approached my daughter and I tackled that project with Sherwin William Harmony zero VOC paint in satin finish.   It has held up these almost 8 years well.  Seemed kind of chalky going on so I wasn’t sure if it would last but it has.  The smell didn’t bother me when I was applying it.  I usually like a semi-gloss finish so that I can scrub walls since I have young grand children but it did not come in that finish.  It has proven to be quite washable though so I have been satisfied with it.   Read More

Homemade coconut milk
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Making Coconut Milk at Home

Making Coconut Milk at Home

Homemade coconut milk

 

Well I have wanted to try making my own coconut milk at home for some time.  I have been buying Thai Kitchen organic coconut milk for some time.  Mainly I use it in place of milk or creamer in my coffee.  But it is also yummy in oatmeal and amaranth.  Today I ran out of the canned stuff and am not planning on going into town so I guess it is time!  🙂

When you think about it, it makes sense – you are paying for the water that is added and the can goes in garbage or recycling.  I am all about saving waste- I buy my dry organic coconut from the local coop in bulk – bringing my own container for refills and I use my own purified water for the process.  I can dry the left over fiber for coconut flour for future yummies or use it in smoothies or pancakes right away.  Some time ago I did purchase a nut milk bag on Amazon in anticipation of this day.  It made straining so much easier.  Make sure to wash your hands before you do this because squeezing the bag by hand is really required to get all the coconut milk out of the bag.  Read More