Another Warm One

The laundry is hanging, Hannah got the bread machine going, and the day is full underway. Jeremy is home working hard cleaning the basement, burning brush, and getting ready for a big trip to the dump. The little ones and I will go and visit Babci after Jake has moved the carseats over the other vehicle. I hope to make banana bread for afternoon coffee/tea. I have been a little under the weather, and it is hard to keep moving when I feel this way. Jeremy and the big kids pitch in a lot, and I appreciate it so much. My bedtime comes around 8 pm each night (I am such a drag ;) and I read as long as I am able to. But this too shall pass, and good days are coming. They are good now, but I'll be glad when I feel a little better.

Homemaking Goodness

Stop by, read, and see a glimpse of sunshine :)

When One Goes a Diggin'

you can find beautiful treasure!

I've been digging so much, my mind has been whirling a bit. I'm putting down my shovel and pail for a little, in order to let my mind rest. But in my digging, I stumbled on some old Tozer sermons online. They are so old, they are barely decipherable. But in one of his messages, he talked about something that I myself have been praying a lot about. The Holy Spirit leads us into wisdom, and if we ask him, believing, He will talk to us. I have found that He does...sometimes in unexpected places. But while there is fresh water and bread there to partake of, partake, until He says...Move On. Believe. Move ON. So, I leave the words from this sermon about Pharisees, finding directional confirmation...not reckless, mind you. But words that leave me remembering the true marks of spirituality that Jesus declared were so important. (Remember my blog about "What would Jesus say?")

It's based on the scripture in which the Pharisees accused Jesus for breaking the Sabbath because He healed someone. Here are only bits and pieces, but some goodies from Tozer:

"He would die for them but not compromise with them.
Could it be that we have placed the battle where it is not?
Could it be that we have looked at the horse racers and gamblers as the enemy? Peddlers, marijuana pushers, American businessman…
'Secularism there is the enemy.'
Could it be that we find the conflict where God doesn’t find it? But with the religionists?

Not with the sinner, so he came to die for the sinners.
But with people who can look at need and not care. But people who can congratulate themselves on their correctness.
No heart for the poor, no love for the harlot, no sympathy for the ignorant.
Confusion, opposition to goodness.
How sweetly common was the real God man.
I’m glad He mingled with sinners.
Because to him sin was not contagious. Sin was a disease of the soul and could not be passed by contact. Pharisees thought that sin was contagious and sat in their houses. They were the elite, the elect, the friends of God, the chosen ones, they were indeed…so they thought. A religion pure by keeping it insular and away from the crowds.
Cut it off from the marketplace to keep it pure. They clothed it in black robes, and hid it in a cave to keep it pure.
But the fountain of spirituality flows out, and you can’t contaminate a fountain. Because the 'fountain from within him shall flow,' says the Lord Christ. And any contagion or infection that comes from the outside is rendered nihl by the outflow!
So there is no real godliness in the hiding."

*Praying to not lose my saltiness, to let His light shine, to keep my heart tender to what He sees as need, to be an example of this to my children...that they may know His ways, and agree in their hearts and minds with what He says is good, and what He says is bad. Not in judgement, but triumphing because of His mercy and grace. Spring up O Well!　

Once in Every Life

*To listen turn off player at bottom of screen

A butterfly garden

There shall be eternal summer in the grateful heart. ~Celia Thaxter

The cottage garden container from Wal-Mart worked. Wonderfully. Blessing my sunny bank with poppies, coreopsis, baby's breath, cosmos, and butterflies. And cute little hummingbirds. I smile everytime I look at it.

Never out, never far, always near

"Comforter”—what a word of bliss, if we only could realize it. Let us repeat it over and over to ourselves, until its meaning sinks into the very depths of our being. And an “abiding” Comforter, too, not one who comes and goes, and is never on hand when most needed, but one who is always present, and always ready to give us “joy for mourning, and the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness.”
~H.W.S.

A Holy Ambition

I have been gathering my thoughts about this whole "passions" posting I felt like I needed to do. I know my "friends need no explanation, and my enemies wouldn't believe me anyway" truth, but in line with so many swirling teachings, and my Pastor's recent teaching on using your gifts to serve one another, I thought this would be a benefit to me. I don't expect anyone to read along, but say thanks if you do. This video I placed here is, I feel, very true for me. Before I open up my heart and mind about some of my next passions, I thought it would be helpful to introduce it with the video.

Oh man...AWESOME!

What I am so passionate about Part 1

~I am passionate about my relationship with the Lord. To stay far away from dead religious teaching, that doesn't profit my salvation and increase my Father/daughter relationship with the Lord, is a principle of mine. I am justified in Christ, and sanctified in my walk through my daily relationship with Him. The entire New Testament lays out the details of this New Life in Christ. Circumcision of the heart, faith, hope, and love, God's love, walking in the Spirit, grace, Godly relationships, and how to live out the Gospel....all of it is there helping the pilgrim's journey to journey home to His heart. I can't throw out His Word and words as it is there to help me see, and help me know, and to remind me of who I am....who you are, in Christ.

The heartbeat of His love and kindness draws us to repent. His power, His Holy Spirit, rests on us to take His kingdom into our world in both small and large ways.

Just as husband and wife ought to go and spend alone time together, my alone time with Him increases that intimacy and relationship. My heart is hugged and instructed as I keep my gaze fixed on Him.

He sets me free from anxiety, worry, and depression as I drink from His living streams of water.

It is freedom. It is life. It is love. How my heart aches and thirsts for Him. How my heart aches and thirsts to teach my children to know Him in a personal way. How it aches for the fighting, the lost, the hurting who have sought their Savior in the form of a man who makes promises, but doesn't and can't fulfill them for their best because they aren't His ways. A hope tree that fails to produce true blossoms...(Mark Twain paraphrase.)

My choices, decisions, and direction in life reflect this passion. Not Cassandra's good ideas, but what I have discovered in a world that is outside my own.

May I learn to continue to have my faith in place upon One source who is the Beginning, the Middle, the End, and Forever.

Day by Day

After participating in awesome and fun activities over the course of last week and weekend, I have been trying to set the tone of routine again here at the home and hearthspot. But, life as usual, is unpredictable, and it seems I have been running around much more than I like. But soon enough, time will again be my friend, and I will pursue the regular course of my days.

Freedom. A word, an idea, a principle, I am giving my heart more and more to. Freedom for our souls and lives was purchased through Christ's death and resurrection. Rules, clothing, festivals, and food no longer save us. Freedom is only by this cleansing blood. It is a freedom of the heart that overflows into an abundant life. This freedom is not to be used as a cover up for sin. Are there things that we are convicted of? Yes! But they are not the same for all of us.

All things are permissable, but not everything is beneficial. 1 Corinthians 10:23, 29-31

29 I mean not your own conscience, but the other man's; for why is my freedom judged by another's conscience?
30 If I partake with thankfulness, why am I slandered concerning that for which I give thanks?
31 Whether, then, you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.

You blind Pharisee, first clean the inside of the cup and of the dish, so that the outside of it may become clean also. Matthew 23:26

Colossians 2:20 You have died with Christ, and he has set you free from the spiritual powers of this world. So why do you keep on following the rules of the world, such as, 21 “Don’t handle! Don’t taste! Don’t touch!”? 22 Such rules are mere human teachings about things that deteriorate as we use them. 23 These rules may seem wise because they require strong devotion, pious self-denial, and severe bodily discipline. But they provide no help in conquering a person’s evil desires.

So, may my liberty in Christ not be offensive to any, but be a beacon of His grace and mercy.


We have ducks. They are soft and so much more gentle spirited than the feisty chickens who are pecking my children's toes. I love ducks. They make me happy. I wish the world had more ducks than chickens.

The fourth: Enjoying and respecting freedom

The freedom to knowingly put down a rock in favor of another's benefit

The freedom to pursue our dreams, as high as they may lead us

The freedom to learn, from many different books, people, and experiences

The freedom to enjoy the simple pleasures of life

The freedom for our loved ones to live without fear

"It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us - that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion - that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain - that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom - and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth." portion from Gettyburg Address

So beautiful

In line at the thrift store I notice Bella smiling and watching the person behind me in line. Turning around, I find a radiant smile. A stooped, elderly woman, with an ironing board in her cart, is smiling and waving at Bella. Making some small talk, I mention "family day" at the store is wonderful as I have seven children I am here picking up odds and ends for.
"Seven?" she asks.
I assure her she heard right.

Without a change in expression, she continues to ask about my family, and takes opportunities to encourage my anwers with a little bit of her own thoughts.

That was that. No big drama. A mild mannered, quiet woman, who had a way to build that ornamented her appearance in ways that clothing, make-up, and even a fountain of youth could not give to a woman.

Beauty is out there. And I often find it in the older generations who are so sensitive to the little people I take with me on my outings. These are the people that see worth in the individual no matter the age nor stature. They radiate care and concern with a listening ear and it always makes me want to hear what they have to say.

Inner beauty. It is breathtaking when it makes its appearance.