Dew From Heaven

His heavens shall drop down dew. Deuteronomy 33:28

 

"What the dew in the East is to the world of nature, that is the influence of the Spirit in the realm of grace. How greatly do I need it! Without the Spirit of God I am a dry and withered thing. I droop, I fade, I die. How sweetly does this dew refresh me! When once favored with it I feel happy, lively, vigorous, elevated. I want nothing more. The Holy Spirit brings me life and all that life requires. All else without the dew of the Spirit is less than nothing to me: I hear, I read, I pray, I sing, I go to the table of Communion, and I find no blessing there until the Holy Ghost visits me. But when He bedews me, every means of grace is sweet and profitable.

What a promise is this for me! “His heavens shall drop down dew.” I shall be visited with grace. I shall not be left to my natural drought, or to the world’s burning heat, or to the sirocco of satanic temptation. Oh, that I may at this very hour feel the gentle, silent, saturating dew of the Lord! Why should I not! He who has made me to live as the grass lives in the meadow will treat me as He treats the grass; He will refresh me from above. Grass cannot call for dew as I do. Surely, the Lord who visits the unpraying plant will answer to His pleading child."
C.H. Spurgeon

This meditation by Charles Spurgeon refreshed and encouraged me.
Lately life has been busy and different. God continues to teach me each day. Each new season and each new task reminds me how much we need a loving Savior to guard and guide our fragile lives. When I am weak He is strong, when I am discouraged He brings me joy. What a comfort we have in Jesus! There is no greater joy than what we find in Him. He is our love, our life, our salvation!

What has God been teaching you?

Christ is Risen

 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in Me will live even if he dies,  and everyone who lives and believes in Me will never die. Do you believe this?” 

              John 11:25-26 (NASB)

Let The Scripture Speak...

The Making of a Health Nut

 It all started with the webinar we watched.(Which I would love to write a review on! If you can, you should definitely order it!) Then it was the nutrition book for school... and it went from there. I've been reading up on all sorts of healthy foods, cosmetics and exercises. I'm only at the beginning of my nuttiness, but I'm pretty much obsessed with health now.

So I've switched soaps, shampoos, exercises and I'm trying my best to eat healthy. After I discovered how many toxins, (I mean many, many toxins) and chemicals are in what we eat, drink and put on our faces and hair I was definitely more willing to try to be more healthy. I have pretty bad acne so I've cut out sugar, been drinking more water in hopes that it will improve. (Next is gluten!) It was hard at first. Trust me! I love sugar. After a while the cravings are not as strong though. There's a book I'd recommend reading called Green Beauty Guide. And this one with natural body care recipes. (Both I found at the library) I do not endorse or agree with everything in these books, but both are good resources.

I switched shampoos and soap. I've only been using baking soda for my shampoo and apple cider vinegar for my conditioner. (You can read about how to use it here..) My hair feels great!

I've been learning more about healthy food choices and how to create delicious meals with them.
Very slowly I am growing my knowledge. It's been a fun adventure and I hope I will continue learning on this brought subject of health. I hope to post more of my experiences, too.

I would encourage you to look into what your putting on and in your body. I thought I was pretty healthy, but there are so many toxins in the food and cosmetics that we use! Just remember although it might be overwhelming at first, start where you are and start small. Maybe just start by cutting out soda or switching soaps or shampoo.

In all that we do we must remember that healthy living should not be an idol. Healthful living should be inspired by the fact that our body's our God's temples and we should be good stewards of them and the resources He blesses us with.

Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in your midst?  If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy that person; for God’s temple is sacred, and you together are that temple. 1 Corinthian 3:16-17

 Do you have any advice or good resources on how to be healthy? I'd love to hear them!

New Beginnings: rain and sunshine

The picture above is of the house plants on the front porch back in June. We had a large rain shower and put all the house plants out to be properly cleaned of dust. The last few days have been filled with rain. Rain, gray skies, and gray moods. Plus the yard does not look nearly as green as it did in June, but before I finish my thought:

I've noticed that many people (and myself) tend to take the holidays as a time to slack off, eat what they shouldn't, stay up late, scratch schedule and productivity with excuses for celebrating and "...But it's Christmas!". Then when New Year's eve ends we get back to the grind, frantically looking for a sheet of paper to scribble our resolutions on as we start over...again. I am not trying to write a guilt trip-I'm to blame, too.

It's a new year! January is a special month to refresh, rejuvenate and reevaluate our life and priorities.
Schedules begin their familiar hum and holiday sweets disappear. No. It's not a good thing that we slacked. (I am talking to myself here) We should be constantly guarding ourselves against laziness and making each holiday and break, more about Christ and less about our enjoyment. Let us not be discouraged or weary.

The past few days have been making me think that sometimes God sends rain on our lives.  Refreshing? Yes. Rejuvanating? Yes. Sometimes God sends hard times to strengthen our faith. If we get into bad habits and get out of good habits, God will continue to grow us, strengthen us, stretch us and discipline us. When your nice and healthy with foliage and greenery, rain is wonderful. Growth is seen quickly. When plants are dead and rain comes -especially in the Winter- growth is slow and sometimes the rain might even freeze the plants. But as with rain and clouds the sun will come out and joy, health, and strength will abide in our hearts.

As we spend each day serving God, we will all grow and learn. (Maybe learn a few lessons the hard way) Through this year there will be rain, clouds and sunshine, and God will be our strength and our joy.

So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow. 
                     1 Corinthians 3:7

How is God growing you?

Counting My Blessings

 It's November. That means that thanksgiving is not far off-and what better way to bring in the holidays than to count our blessings? One challenge that I did last year was the thankful challenge. This year I almost forgot about the challenge; and although I am a week late I am still going to participate this year, too. All you have to do is write down seven things your thankful for each day through this month. It's not only a fun challenge but very rewarding. It make me realize how much God has blessed me!
 Click here for the challenge details.

Today I am thankful for sunsets, life and health, changing seasons, ducks---one of my baby sisters favorite words, color in ordinary life, fall hydrangeas, and my family.

 "Seven times a day do I praise thee because of thy righteous judgments."
                                               Psalm 119:164

What are you thankful for today?

Quiescent

                    My hair do... Photo credit: my sister. Hair style: my other sister Mags.

How has your summer been? Life here has been filled with unexpected days. Although I wasn't thrilled with the sniffles and coughs that permeated our home last week there is still so much to take in and remember. The last few weeks have been quiet (in their own way) and precious. To name a few things: Baking cookies with my little brothers. Two fun photo sessions. (One with my aunt Jaime and one with my violin teacher's baby boy.) Satisfaction in organizing- from our closet to my desk. Warm blueberry cobbler with vanilla ice cream. Reading good books and being encouraged by sweet friend. Listening to the rain showers every night of the week.


There is an uncertainty of the things to come when summer ends. How will the year unfold? But as we go through the last of summer -and strive not to be discouraged by the expectations of school books- we should remember each blessing that God gives us. Each bright new day that He lets us enjoy is something to praise Him for.

 What have you all been up to this summer? Have you checked off any goals that you set out to accomplish? Have you relished in any special memories with friends and family?




Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed,
    for his compassions never fail.
 They are new every morning;
    great is your faithfulness.
     Lamentations 3:22-23

Hello June

Job 36:28 
The clouds pour down their moisture
    and abundant showers fall on mankind.

Rain drops and showers have been reviving each plant in my mom's garden. It's beautiful seeing all the life thrive all around our yard. June is a refreshing month. Not only do the plants grow but I find that I too am growing. Less distractions make for more time to think. But with more time there is more time to waste. Summer is approaching and with it comes more fun things to do. Let us not forget (let me not forget) to lay all our activities before God and constantly be renewing our minds in His word, praising Him, and growing in Him- even through the summer.

Job 37:2-6
²Listen! Listen to the roar of his voice,
    to the rumbling that comes from his mouth.
³ He unleashes his lightning beneath the whole heaven
    and sends it to the ends of the earth.
⁴ After that comes the sound of his roar;
    he thunders with his majestic voice.
When his voice resounds,
    he holds nothing back.
⁵ God’s voice thunders in marvelous ways;
    he does great things beyond our understanding.
⁶ He says to the snow, ‘Fall on the earth,’
    and to the rain shower, ‘Be a mighty downpour.’

What do you like best about Summer?

May days: snapshots

April showers bring May flowers. Spring is a beautiful season. It's overflowing with life, green, fresh rain, and time spent outdoors. I am preparing to take portraits for our churches directory in the next few weeks. Preparing gear, testing lighting, and getting ready to gain some needed experience. My sisters and I are still practicing for two more recitals and we're having family over for our Grandpa's birthday. Life's been a growing, learning journey- to say the least. Don't forget to stop and smell the flowers!

 So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.
 Colossians 2:6-7 NIV

What's your May been like?

Easter Preparations

                                          >>Hard boiled eggs

                                        >>We used natural egg dye this year!

                                                >> Blown eggs on the door

                                   >>>  Medallions...Inspiration from here

                                                        

                                           >>Blown egg trees

                                                   Medallions & Eggs

We're getting ready to celebrate Easter with both sides of our family. We've been planning, preparing and decorating. Here's a peek of the decorations strewn about our home.

Perspective

It was dark outside. My family and I had just finished family worship.
There were deadly tornado reports in many states and tornado warnings near us. We turned on the television and watched the weather radar. The storm was headed our way. The red blobs on the screen were ominously close.

We heard the tornado siren warnings outside.
But it was also very quiet. No thunder, lightning, or wind.
Silence.
I was prepared for the worst. Waiting for all the of that weather to fall down upon us.
I prayed. We waited.
We kept looking out the windows, watching the weather channel,... waiting.

But the storms around us and near us seemed to be missing us. It was peaceful outside. Nothing stirred. Nothing happened. Through the night we had sparse amounts of rain and thunder.
We were safe, protected, and alive. While some of the country around us was hurt, we were safe.

God's grace is always there. His hand is holding us steady. He's stronger than any storm, more powerful than any weather forecast. His mercy is mighty. His love is everlasting. And every day is a blessing. Even if that includes the grumpy, bad days, when milk spills, legos scatter about the floor, toddlers screech, cars break down, library books become over-due, muddy foot prints mark the carpet.
 No matter the panic, the worry, the chaos. No matter the perspective. God's grace can and will be sufficient.

Simple Blessings.

•Rain drops

 •Candid school lesson with my little brothers

•Leftovers for lunch

•Flowers

• Pancakes

 •Yummy yarn

•A camera

Source: via Nela

•A simple reminder

 •A cheerful robin (Entering this one in Mina's photo challenge!)

.....Do you have any simple blessings to share?