"I was very unwise to let you go among people of whom I know so little, --kind, I dare say, but worldly, ill-bred, & full of these vulgar ideas about young people. I am more sorry than I can express for the mischief this visit may have done you, Meg . . ."
". . . But it is nice to be praised & admired, & I can't help saying I like it," said Meg, looking half ashamed of the confession.
"This is perfectly natural, & quite harmless, if the liking does not become a passion, & lead one to do foolish or unmaidenly things. Learn to know & value the praise which is worth having, & to excite the admiration of excellent people by being modest as well as pretty."
Little Women ~ Ch. IX
Blessings from Ohio . . . Kim<><
PASSAGE: "He reached down from on high and took hold of me; He drew me out of deep waters . . . He brought me out into a spacious place; He rescued me because He delighted in me." ~II Sam. 22:17, 20
"But to you who revere My Name, the sun of righteousness will rise with healing on its wings. And you will go out and leap like calves released from the stall." ~Malachi 4:2
LESSON LEARNED: There are times that I almost (almost) feel sorry to those who have grown up in a Christian family. Not that I wish ill on anyone or rejoice in a life of sin, but I can't help but think that it may be just a little harder for them to understand real repentance from a life digging their own way to hell and a life that has done a complete 180 degree turn around. I may be wrong . . . but it's an observation. There may even be a hint of jealousy on my part ~ once a group of friends and I were sharing our testimonies, one friend said, "I was basically a good kid, accepted Jesus & got better." To which I replied, "I wish I had your testimony."
I often tell people that I have lived two utterly and completely different lives in my one lifetime. I am truly a sinner saved by grace and when I gave my life to Jesus & felt just like that little calf who was set free and went out leaping with joy . . . and I am thankful.
And in this season of thankfulness, I appreciate the heritage of our great country and the humble, God-ordained beginnings and I celebrate right along with the rest of the country. But I am also most thankful for the Lord's saving grace. I'm thankful that He truly "reached down from on high and took hold of me; He drew me out of deep waters." That "He rescued me because He delighted in me." He delights in you and me . . . who were in our own way: "the worst of all sinners" (I Tim. 1:15-17).
Oh the joy! Oh the wonder! Oh the Thanksgiving!
Blessings from Ohio . . . Kim<><
Picket Fence Blogs has recalibrated their website & has started their vote counting all over. I would be humbled & blessed if you would click on the Icon in the left-hand column & cast a vote for Marmee's Pantry. If you feel so inclined, you may vote once everyday.
Thank you SO very, very much!
Blessings from Ohio . . . Kim<><
For Today . . .
Outside my window . . . it's a gray, rainy day w/bare trees & puddles.
I am thinking . . . that as much as I enjoy my job, I wish I didn't have to go in today. Much to do.
I am thankful for . . . our warm, cozy old house. Being able to make some repairs.
From the kitchen . . . bread baking day. I hope it rises alright w/the rain ~ bread doesn't rise well on rainy days. It's also a great day for some chili. :-)
I am wearing . . . gray yoga pants (just comfort ~ no yoga!) & my old, comfy golden-yellow Lakeside hoodie.
I am creating . . . a peaceful, Christ-centered home.
I am going . . . to take DD#2 to work, putter around the house, read some favorite blogs while my chili simmers, go to work.
I am wondering . . . what wonderful window the Lord will open since He just closed a door?
I am reading . . . The Story & The Heart of the Story for church & Sunday school.
I am hoping . . . Thanksgiving will go well. New family dynamics now that my mom has passed.
I am looking forward to . . . seeing a dear friend from high school today! It's been over 30 yrs since I've seen her ~ think she'll recognize me?!
I am hearing . . . the radio, typing fingers, the dryer, DD#2 puttering around getting ready for work.
Around the house . . . baking, endless laundry, preparing for some work to be done in the downstairs bathroom, preparing for Thanksgiving.
One of my favorite things . . . getting the FIRST COPY of the NEW magazine: Christian Women's Voice!!! I am thrilled, humbled & honored to be a part of such a wonderful magazine. My column is "Living the Frugal Life." Cute, huh?
A few plans for the rest of the week . . . family time, work, Thanksgiving; practicing for "Christmas in the Village" that THE Man, one of our best friends & I are singing 3 songs in.
Pondering these words . . . "Scripture NEVER gives us permission to maintain the status quo; we are called ADVANCE the Gospel, not become passive." ~from Sunday's sermon.
Scripture thought . . . "The LORD does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart." ~I Samuel 16:7
Here is a picture thought I am sharing with you . . .
Read 100's of other Daybook's at Peggy's Simple Women's Daybook!
Blessings from Ohio . . . Kim<><
"It's my dreadful temper! I try to cure it; I think I have, & then it breaks out worse than ever. O Marmee, what shall I do? What shall I do?" cried Jo, in despair.
"Watch & pray, dear; never get tired of trying; & never think it is impossible to conquer your fault," said Mrs. March, drawing the blowzy head to her shoulder, & kissing the wet cheek so tenderly that Jo cried harder than ever.
"You don't know, you can't guess how bad it is! It seems as if I could do anything when I'm in a passion; I get so savage, I could hurt any one, & enjoy it. I'm afraid I shall do something dreadful some day, & spoil my life, & make everybody hate me. O Marmee, help me, do help me!"
"I will, my child, I will. Don't cry so bitterly, but remember this day, & resolve, with all y our soul, that you will never know another like it. Jo, dear, we all have our temptations, some far greater than yours, & it often takes us all our lives to conquer them. You think your temper is the worst int he world; but mine used to be just like it."
"Yours, Marmee? Why, you are never angry!" and, for the moment Jo forgot remorse in surprise.
"I've been trying to cure it for 40 years, & have only succeeded in controlling it. I am angry nearly every day of my life, Jo; but I have learned not to show it; & I still hope to learn not to feel it, thought it may take another 40 years to do so."
The patience & the humility of the face she loved so well was a better lesson to Jo than the wisest lecture, the sharpest reproof. She felt comforted at once by the sympathy & confidence given her; the knowledge that her own mother had a fault like hers, & tried to mend it, made her own easier to bear & strengthened her resolution to cure it; though 40 years seemed rather a long time to watch & pray, to a girl of 15.
Little Women ~ Ch. 8
Blessings from Ohio . . . Kim<><
PASSAGE: "The LORD Who delivered me from the paw of the lion and the paw of the bear will deliver me from the hand this Philistine . . . and the whole world will know that there is a God . . . All those gathered here will know that it is not by sword or spear that the LORD saves; for the battle is the LORD's . . . " ~I Samuel 17:37,46-47
"But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. He chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things ~ and the things that are not ~ to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before Him." ~I Cor. 1:28-29
LESSON LEARNED: YOU are NOT an accident! The Lord created you with much love and intent. Now, you may already have an idea what His purpose for your life is or your life may be such a series of ups and downs and round and rounds and you have no idea WHAT His purpose could possibly be for anything that has come your way.
I have wondered that many times, myself. I am a surviving twin and have often asked, "why me?" Why was I blessed to have had to opportunity to walk this earth, to experience defeat and triumph, deep sorrow and incredible happiness? Why was she blessed to have gone almost immediately into the Presence of the Lord?
Well, as we look at the family tree of Jesus (Matt. 1:2-16), God's plan may not have anything to do with us, but might have everything to do with our children or some future descendant as they fulfill some glorious plan. What a thought! You? Yes. Me? Wow, could it be?! Could it be that everything we have gone through ~ every struggle with the "lions and bears" in our own lives has groomed us into the people God desires us to be as He uses us for His kingdom?
YES! The battle is His & HE trains us and equips us with the "armor" we will need to do His work right where He has put us so that . . .
". . . the whole world will know that there is a God . . . "
Blessings from Ohio . . . Kim<><
For Today . . .
Outside my window . . . gray, windy & drizzly w/the temps in the high 50's. I feel like I'm experiencing November in the Carolina's instead of Ohio.
I am thinking . . . that I wish I knew what the Lord is up to.
I am thankful for . . . my childhood & the parents that the Lord blessed me with. I hope our girls feel ~ & will feel ~ the same way about us.
From the kitchen . . . Tuesday: bread baking day. And I'm thinking: homemade chili or taco soup!
I am wearing . . . jeans, purple long-sleeved shirt w/a fuchsia, green & blue scarf a co-worker-friend gave me.
I am creating . . . a peaceful, CHRIST-centered home.
I am going . . . to go to work later today.
I am wondering . . . how the Lord is going to answer a big prayer that is a dream of mine.
I am reading . . . The Story & The Heart of the Story for church & Sunday School.
I am hoping . . . & trusting in a wonderful miracle!
I am looking forward to . . . finally getting my kitchen cupboards painted.
I am hearing . . . radio, typing fingers, Maggie's dog tags jingling.
Around the house . . . general chores, laundry, scrubbing the cupboards ahead of painting them.
One of my favorite things . . . good health. For our family, our friends & our little dog. We thought we might lose Maggie Friday night, but we took her to an emergency vet, got meds & now she's running around like a puppy. The Lord is SO good!
A few plans for this week . . . family time, work, a writing project, worship practice, church; practice for a community Christmas program they our dear friend, THE man & I are singing in on Dec. 4th. Busy.
Pondering these words . . . “The longings of your heart are not incidental, they are critical messages. The desires of your heart are not to be ignored, they are to be consulted. As the wind turns the weather vane, so God uses your passions to turn your life. God is too gracious to ask you to do something you hate.” -Max Lucado/Just like JesusScripture thought . . . "But the LORD said to Samuel, '. . . The LORD does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.'" ~I Samuel 16:7
Here is a picture thought I am sharing with you . . .
Major prayer request :-)Read 100's of other Daybooks at Peggy's Simple Woman's Daybook!
Blessings from Ohio . . . Kim<><
"Moses said to the LORD, 'O Lord, I have never been eloquent, neither in the past nor since You have spoken to Your servant. I am slow of speech & tongue.' The LORD said to him, 'Who gave man his mouth? Who gave him sight or makes him blind? Is it not I, the LORD? Now go; I will help you speak & will teach you what to say.'" ~Exodus 4:10-12
"I am not ashamed of the Gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes." ~Romans 1:16
"If you do not stand firm in your faith, you will not stand firm at all." ~Isaiah 7:9
"Preach the Word; be prepared in season & out of season; correct, rebuke & encourage ~ with great patience & careful instruction. For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. In stead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. They will turn away from the truth & turn aside to myths . . . But the Lord stood at my side & gave me strength." ~II Timothy 4:2-5, 17
"For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing; but to us who are being saved it is the power of God . . . Brothers [& sisters], think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. He chose the lowly things of this world & the despised things ~ the things that are not ~ to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before Him." ~I Corinthians 1:18, 26-29
"One man with God is always in the majority." ~John Knox
Blessings from Ohio . . . Kim<><
Edinburgh
