Wednesday Scripture Picture 2

Greetings and Holykisses,

This scripture has become so special to me in the last few weeks.
I recently finished the bible study "Believing God" with a friend and I remember when we first started; we were told to read Romans 4 over and over and over... --In all honesty I really struggled with it! I felt like my heart and mind just weren't "getting it?"
But now Romans 4 has become one of my favorite chapters.
God really will meet us right where we are; .......wherever we are.

May I not waver Lord through unbelief! But (present active participle) believe You Lord!
Soli Deo Gloria!

Wednesday Scripture Picture

My Hope

Greetings and Holykisses!!

Morning everyone!
I just finished my lesson this morning and thought I'd share a scripture picture. I love that word "portion." The thought that "He's my portion!" He's my nourishment. I think I need to put that on the word study list. ;)
I'm still on the word "patience." A couple weeks ago, I bought a Strong's Concordance. It's like opening the word of God into whole new exciting insights.

The Believing God study I'm currently in; has been taking me down memory lane.
My teenage years were very turbulent and at one point, I decided I didn't even believe in God anymore. If there was a God, He must not care about someone like me. But even though I was turning my back on Him, ... I know He never turned His back on me. He was there all along. He protected me and made good come from any and all bad. He never forgets us!

"Can a woman forget her nursing child, And not have compassion on the son of her womb? Surely they may forget, Yet I will not forget you. See, I have inscribed you on the palms of My hands; Your walls are continually before Me." Isaiah 49: 15-16 Doesn't that just give you goosebumps!

Have a wonderful day everyone!
Holykisses xoxo
Lea

Gardening, Possum Belly's And Sanctification

Greetings and Holykisses from the Shed!

Monday night it got really cold here.
Just before dark; all the peonies were covered with flower pots and buckets except a handful of them that were too big. Usually I make pup tents out of sheets on all the big stuff but it was so windy that more damage would have been done from the sheets flapping- so I just left the rest. Then Tuesday morning we woke up to ~frost~. Thankfully, I think everything is going to be okay. All but the pumpkin seeds that had come up on their own from leftover Autumn decorations. They bit the dust bigtime.


Been doing alot of garden work this week. When pulling weeds, I discovered our little "Believe" stake had somehow gotten broken.
So I cut some baling wire and made a little hook to hang it on the garden chair. The word "Believe" is very meaningful to me these days!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I've really been enjoying the sound of running water in the fountain this week. It looks so bare with nothing growing in it yet, and could use some waterlilies again. I do see the wisteria coming back to life behind it. It never blooms like everyone else's, which is probably my own fault. I always cut it back severely in summer when it ends up growing across the doorway of the shed.
Emma Rose has been lovin the new tool tote. She's used it more than I have.
This magazine has been so much inspiration for me this Spring.
In fact, the dresser on the cover is one of my newest projects.
I love even the color of it and hope to recreate it somehow.
A planted dresser... what's not to love? --
This is the one I'm going to use.
It was our Strongheart's for years n years growing up.
I'm pretty sure the mirror part is still around here somewhere. But, I'll probably take the mirror out and make a chalkboard top, or else ... do something with rusty chicken wire. Maybe both? lol I can hardly wait to start. Hope it turns out.
The Snow Queen hydrangea came from White Flower Farm, and is now planted. I hope and pray she likes her new home and blooms like crazy.
If you'll remember; this is what I've used for a potters bench inside the shed for a long time.
Well, over the weekend; I came across another possum belly cupboard. It was at the tag sale I had purchased the wagon and chairs and things. I saw it there the first day, and admired it but they had the price jacked up too high. I stopped back in there, two days later to see if they had any jars left, and everything was marked half off. Every thing. And the possum belly was still there. I really figured someone would have already bought it. But there it sat. Half off. (happydance) If you're wondering what I'm going to do with the first one?... You'll have to wait and see!!! ;)


Here's the new one. As you can see, it has a broken and missing door on the top front, but ...I don't care. I'll either just take the broken one the rest of the way off and leave that half open, or else I kinda think it would look cool to get a totally different old door/or even window and hinge that in it's place. I like mismatched, old, junky, everything.

I like having the extra drawers on the top piece alot. Also the little shelf. If only Emma Rose would learn to walk a little more gingerly. She's one of those cats that ... when she wakes up completely (ha) she is totally underfoot. You can't take a step without her under it. She has no concept at all. And anything I try to take a picture of.... she jumps in to say,
"CHEESE."
Or was it: "Mouse." I forget.

Since I was moving furniture around, I had a chance to clean, and putter.
I took all the flowerpots out of the washtub Emma likes to lay on, and
filled half with potting soil and the other half with birdseed. The baskets are full of zinnia and cockscomb seed. Gotta keep that hid in there so no one (like EmmaRose) knocks it over.
I think it was Sunday morning; that we discovered Popcorn had her calf.
She's still taking it off by herself and staying away from the herd. I tried to get close enough to tell if it's a little heifer or bullcalf, but Popcorn tussled her head at me so we'll wait til she calms down. She's normally really sweet and will eat range cakes out of my hand but with those pokee horns, I'm not taking any chances.
Our goat Lydia isn't doing too good these days.
She's just gettin old and we think she probably has cancer in her udder. It's pretty bad.
We've had her so long; I wonder if she might be the oldest goat in Johnson county.



Myguy's been working alot of evenings on our olde barn.
One of the last times we drove next to it, we accidentally snagged the power line down. I think it hung up on the dozer if I remember right. Anyways, we have baby chicks coming on the 11th so we needed to get power back to it so we can hang a brooder lamp.

We had a big round bale of hay in there over the winter for Lydia and she had half of it tromped down so all of that had to get drug out. And Myguy's anxious to bulldoze down our old chicken coop and put up some new fence so, he's making a new pen down here in the barn for all our other chickens. He's even making me a cute little stall/room that I'm probably going to decorate with a "planted dresser," among other things. lol
I love this picture of him.
(My sweetheart.)

We've cleared brush quite a lot in the past few weeks, and over the weekend, he got it all pushed up into a pile so we can burn it soon. I loved watching him. He reminds me of a little boy with a Tonka truck he just got for Christmas on this thing.

I watched butterflies, and took pictures while Myguy did all the work. lol
I leave you with my Wednesday Scripture picture.
The verse is special to me and goes with my "blue cord" bracelet in the photo.
Week 1 of going through the "Believing God" workbook; we were encouraged to put on a blue cord bracelet. It's to serve as reminder that I am the Lords and to step up my level of sanctification.

Numbers 15: 37-41 says:

" The LORD said to Moses, “Speak to the Israelites and say to them: ‘Throughout the generations to come you are to make tassels on the corners of your garments, with a blue cord on each tassel. You will have these tassels to look at and so you will remember all the commands of the LORD, that you may obey them and not prostitute yourselves by chasing after the lusts of your own hearts and eyes. Then you will remember to obey all my commands and will be consecrated to your God. I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of Egypt to be your God. I am the LORD your God."

Since I've put it on, there have been several times I've looked down and just seeing it has made a real difference. "Remember to obey all my commands." My little knot with the two frayed ends is my tassle. ;)

I have a friend who wears a blue cord all the time now since she did this bible study. I think I will as well.

He is the LORD my GOD!

Mighty Oliver, Dots Connected, and Hearing

Greetings and Holykisses Yall,

Just a quick post while I'm waiting on my dh to come in from the mechanics shop. I just had to share with you what Oliver did. -Nope; he didn't piddle on anything... and he didn't even find my Valentine slippers again. ........Yall, he protected me! 3 cheers for Oliver!!!! I mean to tell you he was ready to kill whoever it was who was coming into our bedroom. -- It was however my dear husband, but when he figured out it was him, he was okay. You should have seen him fly off the bed and CHARGE that bedroom door. I was so proud of him and have almost forgiven him for peeing on my aprons. *If you're wondering about his side in this picture; that's one of the spots where I thought he had gotten shot when he showed up here. It's healing really well but the hair is growing back dark.
Recently I've started going back to the nursing home again. Some of you knew I took a break from Hospice volunteering. One of my first days back, I had to wait in a hallway for a little while. This woman was in a wheelchair next to me and we started talking. She told me she wanted to go back to her room and asked me to help her get there. I saw an aid and asked where she belonged and she directed me to her room. When I went to leave the sweet woman started crying; put her arms out to hug me and pleaded me not to go. It tore my heart out. I talked with her for a little while longer and then asked her if I can come back to see her... and if I could; would she like some buttercups? She said "Oh yes!!!!"

The next week; when I got ready to go back to the nursing home, I noticed most of my own buttercups were pretty well spent. So I called my neighbor who has gobs of them growing out in her woods. I told my neighbor I was going to the nursing home and asked if she'd mind if I picked a bouquet. She told me to pick all I wanted. :) It was such a pretty walk that day and I picked this very vase of flowers. The pink one was one of my tulips I'd stuck in there. --(My friend Tracy sent me the tulips bulbs for my birthday this past year.) Anyways, I was off to the nursing home. When I found the sweet woman, and gave her the flowers she cried. I wish you could have seen, heard and felt her emotion.

I know nothing about this woman in the nursing home. -I now know her name and that's it. But I know God loves her and I think He grew this bouquet of flowers especially for her. These little things that happen, are helping me to realize how He goes before us and does all these things and makes things happen so perfectly. A really small thing to us can be so easily overlooked and yet when you open your eyes and begin to connect all the dots...well, it just blows me away. I begin to really notice this so much by people He puts in my path. Kind of like how He used Tracy (someone I've never actually met) to send me tulip bulbs that He grew into beautiful flowers. Then one of those beautiful tulips went to another stranger in a nursing home. When you get a little grasp of the big picture, it's pretty overwhelming isn't it? God is so amazing.



I've been really missing the weekly scripture pictures. I drifted away from the meme on Word Filled Wednesdays, but want to try to keep doing them here when God gives me a picture and verse.

The other day I was driving in the back pasture along a fence and came across this old post on the ground. At first glance I knew it was special; so I got out and heaved it into the truck. It's not that long, but really heavy!

I showed yall the area I've started tackling behind the potting shed. Somewhere I'd like to use this post; either for a birdhouse or feeder. But today; ... it became background for this verse. When reading Ann Voscamp's book 1000 Gifts, I became much more aware of "seeing" things I'd been missing. But these days; it's been just as much about "hearing" for me. I want to see what I keep missing, and listen... really listen with all my heart.

Well, my Hubster is back, so time to close for now.
Until we meet again,
sweet dreams,
L

~The Fountain Of Life~

This past weekend, while in the potting shed; the sunlight was streaming through the doorway onto this painting. It seemed to be shining perfectly in line with the heavenly light that's painted just above Jesus and.... then continued "Son-shine" ..... to the bottom of the picture. I took several photos!!

As March 1st rolled in; I began searching for my new memory verse. Psalm 36:9 is the scripture I'm writing in my heart. If you're memorizing God's word as well, feel free to practice your verse in the comments!!!

Tonight was our ladies bible study here. We were missing one of our sisterchicks and hope she starts feeling better soon. -- Our lesson tonight covered Lot's wife, and Priscilla. So many things are still running through my mind. Our discussion was good and some things ... we still wonder about? But I come away tonight having learned something from both women, as well as their menfolk.

When God tells me to do something.... I don't want to hesitate like Lot did.
And I hope to remember on my own journey to not "look back." -- .....Why did "Mrs. Lot" look back? Disbelief? ........Curiosity?
Or maybe it was just pure disobedience... caring more about what she thought, wondered and wanted rather than what God said? I don't know for sure.

And then there is dear Priscilla: .....I'd love to be more like her. She did what she could alongside her husband to further the kingdom of God. She even risked her own life for another. She must have been very brave. Did she have her worries? Or was she fearless and bold!??

When I mentioned I'd like to be more like her, one of the Chicklets asked, "Well would you want to go to dangerous places and do what she did?"
I said "Yes," ... But I really meant... "Yes and No."
No, I wouldn't "want" to move away now, but I hope I would- if God asked me to. --Not everyone is called to be a traveling evangelist. But aren't we all commanded to share the good news? It seems that for the most of us: our mission fields are our own backyards, and communities. Our mission field is simply every soul who crosses our path.

Well, it's getting late and I have three new colors of paint to go splash in my soul journal before bed. "True blue, Citrus green, and fresh foliage!"
Sweet dreams dear friends,
Holykisses xoxo
L

He Knows

Greetings and Holykisses,



Psalm 139
You have searched me, LORD,
and you know me.
You know when I sit and when I rise;
you perceive my thoughts from afar.
You discern my going out and my lying down;
you are familiar with all my ways.
Before a word is on my tongue
you, LORD, know it completely.
You hem me in behind and before,
and you lay your hand upon me.
Such knowledge is too wonderful for me,
too lofty for me to attain.

Where can I go from your Spirit?
Where can I flee from your presence?
If I go up to the heavens, you are there;
if I make my bed in the depths, you are there.
If I rise on the wings of the dawn,
if I settle on the far side of the sea,
even there your hand will guide me,
your right hand will hold me fast.
If I say, “Surely the darkness will hide me
and the light become night around me,”
even the darkness will not be dark to you;
the night will shine like the day,
for darkness is as light to you.

For you created my inmost being;
you knit me together in my mother’s womb.
I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
your works are wonderful,
I know that full well.
My frame was not hidden from you
when I was made in the secret place,
when I was woven together in the depths of the earth.
Your eyes saw my unformed body;
all the days ordained for me were written in your book
before one of them came to be.
How precious to me are your thoughts, God!
How vast is the sum of them!
Were I to count them,
they would outnumber the grains of sand—
when I awake, I am still with you.

If only you, God, would slay the wicked!
Away from me, you who are bloodthirsty!
They speak of you with evil intent;
your adversaries misuse your name.
Do I not hate those who hate you, LORD,
and abhor those who are in rebellion against you?
I have nothing but hatred for them;
I count them my enemies.
Search me, God, and know my heart;
test me and know my anxious thoughts.
See if there is any offensive way in me,
and lead me in the way everlasting.

*Love* WFW

Greetings and Holykisses!

This Christmas my dear Mil gave me two, sparkling, vintage jars that had once belonged to her own Angel Mother. I've collected vintage fruit jars for a long time, but had never come across one just like this jar before. I was so excited, and knowing they came from my dear Mil, as well as Gramma Colwill: the button collector; well that just made them all the more special. From the moment I picked up this aqua, glass jar for the first time and read the word "banner"...... this verse sprung from within the tablet of my heart.

"His banner
over me
is
Love."

Happy WORD filled Wednesday everyone,
We're loved!!!
Holykisses xoxo
L

WFW Strength In Christ

Greetings and Holykisses,

I Just finished my first walk of 2011, carrying these little weights.
While I walked, I thought and wondered whether or not I'm living life... in a pleasing way to God.... and also what it really means to "walk in Christ."

"Show me your ways, LORD, teach me your paths."

May the words of my mouth and

the meditation of my heart,
be acceptable
in Your sight,
O LORD,
my strength,
and my redeemer.

~WFW~ Collected Tears

Holykisses,
xoxo
L

Word Filled Wednesday

Good morning!

I've had this verse on my ~heart~ for quite a while.
For me; it's a prayer to bathe in every day. And sometimes if you're like me; we might need several *baths* a day.


Happy Wednesday!

Waiting

Word Filled Wednesday

Happy Word Filled Wednesday!

Sitting in the dentist chair yesterday; I found myself staring at the treasure chest in the corner of the room. A plastic? box full of plastic treasure. I "know" a much better treasure. I hope you do too! If not; here's your key.

Holykisses xoxo
L

Word Filled Wednesday

Greetings and Holykisses,

Yesterday, I was thinking of my Grama Ruby and how she taught me to "use what I have." The green, marble earring had belonged to her and after it broke, she wound all that thread on it, trying to fix it. On days when I'm tempted to want something newer or better, I often think of this earring.

"Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, "Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you." Hebrews 13:5

Then Am I Strong.... WFW

Greetings and Holykisses,

Happy WFW everyone!

I hope today's scripture picture speaks to someone's heart.
I took the picture in my garden this morning and although it's the not the verse I had thought to put with it... it seems to be the one God gave me.

Be blessed today.
Be encouraged.
God is the lifter of your head!!!

"But you are a shield around me, O LORD; you bestow glory on me and lift up my head."
Psalm 3:3

Word Filled Wednesday

Greetings and Holykisses!

Today's word filled Wednesday scripture picture: "I will sing to the LORD, for He has been good to me!" Psalm 13:6
Walking around my garden lately, something has occurred to me. Where are all the honey bees? We have quite a few of those big ole, fuzzy, carpenter bees. You know; like the hateful one who got inside my capris last summer? I'd hung them on the clothesline and it hid inside the pantleg, and then stung me when I put them on. -Those; bees are still buzzin all over here. Drilling holes in fenceposts, and even drilling into the rafters of the shabby olde potting shed. -- This morning, I watched them dining on flowers here in the garden, but I've wondered.... where are their lil cousins? Have you too noticed the honey bees seem to be disappearing? I think I've only seen maybe one or two regular bees all Spring.

Our garden's in full swing.
The picture above, shows a few of our tomatoes. These little Juliets were our first to ripen. Most people use them in salads, but I like to slice them up and eat them with a little salt. (okay; a lot of salt!)

Our maters are planted against cattle panels. As they grow; I tie them uP to the panel. Old hay strings seem to work the best, but I ran out. So in a pinch, I used some plain string that we had and was that ever a mistake. Within about 3 weeks, the vines got too heavy and the strings stretched out and before I knew it;- we had tomato vines all over the ground again. So yesterday, I had to tie them uP for the second time, using good olde jute twine. Sometimes I need a little support too....

"When I said my foot is slipping," your love O LORD supported me." Psalm 94:18

We've had a couple visitors at the shed recently.
This lil tarrapin dropped by and said she was hungry. The blackberries aren't ripe yet, so I brought Miss Tara a few red raspberries from the house and she started gobbling them right up. When she had her fill, I re-routed her to the shade beneath our blackberry vines. I wonder if she's still there?
I've now had , 4 run ins with Mr. Squirrel, who has such a love for sunflower seeds. I finally hid the bag inside the washtub in the shed and keep it covered with a board. The old chamber pot in this photo also stays full of seeds, and it's used to fill the bird feeders. Unfortunately,... Mr. Squirrel discovered the chamber pot and helps himself. So I now, leave him a little bowl right in front of the doorway. This way; when he comes for dinner, hopefully we'll "see" eachother before I walk inside the doorway. You'd think we'd get used to one another but thee initial shock still makes us both scream and run for our lives.

Yesterday evening, I tilled the garden once again. It is getting so dry!
So afterwards, I started watering. I noticed that the wash tub I'd painted, was leaning pretty badly. Upon inspection, I noticed one of the tiles I'd set under the feet, had squooshed out from under the wheel and it was all sinking down in the mud. I grabbed another little tile, and tried to lift it by myself and push the tile back in place and the whole thing toppled over! Thankfully, nothing actually broke but some of the plants get a little messed up. Made me think of this verse:

Psalm 40:2 "He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand."

This Spring, I planted a few heirloom tomatoes that I'd never tried before. Remember the black ones I showed pictures of before? Today, I tried my very first black tomato. The outside was healthy and actually very pretty. Look how juicy they slice up! I'll admit, the dark edges don't look too appetizing. But they are delicious! Deep, tomato flavor!
Forgive my fuzzy picture but sun dried tomato turkey with black prince tomato slices is a very good thing! I'd take a better picture for you,.......... but I'm afraid ... I ate it.*

God bless yall today!
Much Love,
Lea

Growing In Him

Greetings and Holykisses Yall,

The lil plants in our water garden have all started coming to life. It's really neat seeing new sprouts growing from those little brown coco nets.

The verse above has become very special to me.
Have a beautiful day everyone!
<*)))><
holykisses xoxo
Lea