All the hairs of my head

Psalm 56: 8 You keep track of all my sorrows. You have collected all my tears in your bottle. You have recorded each one in your book.

Isaiah 40:1 “Comfort, comfort my people,” says your God. 2 “Speak tenderly to Jerusalem. Tell her that her sad days are gone and her sins are pardoned. Yes, the Lord has punished her twice over for all her sins.”

Small things, great love

*"In this life we cannot do great things. We can only do small things with great love. " *
Mother Theresa

1 Corinthians 13: 1 If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. 3 If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing.

1 Corinthians 13: 4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

Proverbs 15: 30 A cheerful look brings joy to the heart; good news makes for good health.

Matthew 10: 42 And if anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones because he is my disciple, I tell you the truth, he will certainly not lose his reward."

" There is always the danger that we may just do the work for the sake of the work. This is where the respect and the love and the devotion come in - that we do it to God, to Christ, and that's why we try to do it as beautifully as possible." Mother Theresa

"You too try to bring that presence of God in your family, for the family that prays together stays together. And I think that we in our family don't need bombs and guns, to destroy to bring peace - just get together, love one another, bring that peace, that joy, that strength of presence of each other in the home. And we will be able to overcome all the evil that is in the world." Mother Theresa

Matthew 6: 10 Your kingdom come, Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.

We had a wonderful time apple picking. To me these are times of fun and love seed sowing. I believe our God that is Good and Love Himself is happy when we share these times and share love with one another. We are far from perfect (oh boy, the bickering we had to work with in the car!), but that's ok. He still accepts us, and teaches us how to love when we are bumping against each other. His work never stops! As I'm able, and as I stretch in my human capabilities, I believe I'll see Him at work as I keep loving and doing the little things as I grow in love.

"In this life we cannot do great things. We can only do small things with great love. " Mother Theresa

Simple morning thoughts

Psalm 143: 8 Let me hear of your unfailing love each morning, for I am trusting you. Show me where to walk, for I give myself to you.



"God speaks in the silence of the heart. Listening is the beginning of prayer." ~Mother Teresa

Stories to tell

Playtime begins, and one of the little ones has an important job to do.

Catching another person riding down the slide! Whee!

Can anyone stop this boy? I don't think so. Tumbler and rough. It is in his blood.

We have a gracious young lady who has found enjoyment in his play.

A beautiful rooster, who has ego issues with the young man who takes such good care of him.

Ardent admiration.

He is crowing. The battle begins.

An act of protection.

With Ranger's help, the rooster usually retreats.

:)

Look at the beautiful eggs the hens give us.

It was such a beautiful day. We end it well with the fruit of my hardworking chefs, Chef Crockpot and Baker Bread Machine. Homemade bread and Autumn Bean Sausage Soup.

From whom all blessings flow

"The enjoyment of God is the only happiness with which our souls can be satisfied... Earthly fathers and mothers, husbands, wives, children and earthly friends, are all shadows. But God is the substance. All earthly delights are but scattered beams. But God is the sun. All earthly delights are but streams. But God is the ocean." ~Jonathan Edwards

Birthday Presents

A little bit of spending money for my birthday from Ma and Pa Moore,

gives me a little bit of bountiful beauty that makes me so very happy.

1, 2, 3, 4, 5 pots of mums. Pink and burgundy.

Thank you!

Receive and go

Well, settling so far into fall hasn't been as hard as I had anticipated. So much so, that I keep asking myself if I'm missing something? ;) I still have a lot to learn, but my Source and Comfort will keep me moving in the right direction.

The little ones bedtime hour became an actual hour starting a couple years ago when Jeremy was working the evening shift. They were a bouncy handful, and that last hour of the day became a good time to sing, do nursery rhymes, and read stories. Last night I realized (as Jeremy is not here most bedtime hours) that this has changed into a very meaningful time for us. I have been making up stories about a little girl who can talk to animals and she, over the course of many bedtimes, has learned about opposums, squirrels, chipmunks, porcupines, hawks, eagles, skunks, and bears for example. I hope to spend some time with them today on enature or more, to talk and draw some pictures. We have a beautiful National Geographic book for children I picked up from Salvation Army this past summer, and they are eating up the beautiful pictures. Abby asked if she could be in one :) of a beautiful landscape with the colorful trees. Maybe I can do that for her :).

Homemaking Inspiring

I loved this entry yesterday at Daisy Cottage.

And I have been reading the archives of this cottage.

Course, I have 7 children and homeschool, but they remind me that my elbow grease can be a work of creativity...even if it's keeping the air smelling like clean linens.

Keeping my cart behind the horse

Phillipians 3: 3 For we [Christians] are the true circumcision, who worship God in spirit and by the Spirit of God and exult and glory and pride ourselves in Jesus Christ, and put no confidence or dependence [on what we are] in the flesh and on outward privileges and physical advantages and external appearances--


Proverbs 21:31 The horse is prepared for the day of battle, but the victory belongs to the Lord.

Ephesians 6: 13 Therefore, put on every piece of God’s armor so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil. Then after the battle you will still be standing firm.

As I live my moments, there are times of quiet, rest, worship, listening and times where I have opportunities to fret and get worked up about what I think is a battle or struggle. I believe that the rest for my soul as Jesus told us to find in Him is found with the heart and example of Mary who sat and listened, not with the preoccupation that Martha had. Do you ever wonder about that preoccupation? I know I do. She was making dinner for heaven's sake! :)

There is that which is good, which my life will be given for. But first, I need that which won't be taken from me. Then I am ready to take on the world.

The Big Emptiness

“God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in Him.” Desiring God, John Piper

I was lonely when I was a young child. I'm not saying that to make anyone sorry for me. It's just that the days in the schoolyard and in the neighborhood didn't bring me happiness. It brought me a slew of stomachaches and moments of rejection I found difficult to recover from. What brought me happiness were the times I had in my church where they taught me about the Father God who loved me, and the Savior who stretched out His arms for me and died a terrible death because of love. This is the Love has drawn me for years. I know the Christian walk brings more things into the picture, but if this element is missing (as I found for myself), it makes everything else...empty and lonely. What is the reason for it all if there is no Father who loves me? No Son who died to make a way Home for me? No Holy Spirit who brings the living comfort of life outside the shell of flesh, the ability to see His kingdom advance through us, His people?

"Can you imagine what it would be like if the God who ruled the world were not happy? What if God were given to grumbling and pouting and depression like some Jack-and-the-beanstalk giant in the sky? What if God were frustrated and despondent and gloomy and dismal and discontented and dejected? Could we join David and say, "O God, thou art my God, I seek thee; my soul thirsts for thee; my flesh faints for thee, as in a dry and weary land where no water is" ( Psalm 63:1)?
I don't think so. We would all relate to God like little children who have a frustrated, gloomy, dismal, discontented father. They can't enjoy him. They can only try not to bother him, and maybe try to work for him to earn some little favor."
Desiring God, John Piper

My prayer for my children is that they come to relationship with a loving God and that this Love and relationship will be the thing that motivates them and keeps them throughout their lives. I've heard a statement by a pastor I have carried in my heart, that cries out louder and louder as the days go by,
"Daddy's not angry anymore..."

I'll be what You want me to be

As he's living out what you've called him to be, was my prayer for him today.
Help him to be Your witness in the way he lives, listens, and interacts with people in his circle. Talk to him, help him to be organized and insightful. Increase Your love deposit that I see so much in him. I trust Your work in his life.

Memories stir of a young girl, guitar in her hand, key of C. Singing, praying.

All of me
Jesus take all of me
I'll be what you want me to be
Jesus take all of me

I give you my heart Lord
my body and my mind
I give me life to you Lord
New life in You I find...

No clear impressions of a perfect picture. Just stirrings of desire to follow Him, whatever that meant. Perhaps the Peace Corp, maybe nursing home nursing, teaching.

I'll be what You want me to be...

Life, not sidetracked or distracted. Just different. But right all the same.

"They try to walk the tight rope between two kingdoms and they find no peace in either. Their strength is reduced, their outlook confused and their joy taken from them." AW Tozer (chapter linked in margin)



1 Corinthians 7:23-24 All of you, slave and free both, were once held hostage in a sinful society. Then a huge sum was paid out for your ransom. So please don't, out of old habit, slip back into being or doing what everyone else tells you. Friends, stay where you were called to be. God is there. Hold the high ground with him at your side.

If the devil doesn't like it he can sit on a tack

We are in a 2-3 month season of being busy with sports schedules. It's ok, because we feel like it's what God wants right now. That's how I embrace the running around, and Jeremy being absent for so many hours. His absence is felt most at bedtime when 4 antsy little people aren't ready to settle, and I'm pooped-tired, wanting to escape to a good book or TV show. Patience runs low, mouths are moving, bodies are wiggling....up and down, up and down. But they all need the closeness of me, asking for water, prayers, stories and songs. Me. All by myself. Pulled in four different directions. Not to mention, the bigger ones are waiting downstairs that I long to talk to and just spend some time with. Well, if I get thinking on how tough that is, it just adds to the emotional static of this hour to hour and a half. Preoccupied, too uptight.

One night last week was really tough. One that I truly lacked the strength to give it my heart, and I ended up crying because I just couldn't do it and I blew it. These are moments my feelings deceive me, and there is an enemy that wants me to live in those feelings of failure. I am coming to be more aware of those lies that twist the Lord's true heart toward me. Taking those thoughts captive, I remember His nature, His forgiveness, His promises.

There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.
Abide in me and you will bear much fruit.

Let's try it again.

After I gathered myself together, the bedtime songs continued. Do you know how funny it is my children help move me into right thinking? They requested one of their favorite bedtime songs "I've got the joy, joy, joy, joy down in my heart " with their absolute favorite verse to be sung, nice and loud
with confidence is~
and if the devil doesn't like it he can sit on a tack!

And I sang it. Yet again. Though my eyes were still stained with tears, this simple song brought me into His presence with three of my bouncing children singing it along with me.
Yes, ole enemy, go sit on a tack!
I have the Love of Jesus in my heart.

Sometimes people think and say I'm amazing to have so many children. But really I'm not. I'm just like them. But my relationship with a big God has helped me gain in ways I know I can't and couldn't obtain on my own. The love of Jesus is unlike any self help book, parenting philosophy, or self effort I could muster. He leaves the old man rendered useless, and calls me to be a new creation in Him.

Numbering my days

Psalm 148:3 3 Praise him, sun and moon! Praise him, all you twinkling stars!

Jeremy's homecooked breakfasts.

Decorating our nest with the colors of fall. Tis fun, tis pretty. The family loves it. So do I.

Just like a little chipmunk's nest, burrowed under the roots of a tree. Bringing in the outside treasure. Keeping it nice, keeping us growing.

It is all worth while.

Small for a season.

To roam, to run, to love and be loved.

The reason I sing. The reason for peace and comfort. Hearing His knocking. Opening up the door of my heart and letting Him in.

Revelation 3: 20-21"Look at me. I stand at the door. I knock. If you hear me call and open the door, I'll come right in and sit down to supper with you. Conquerors will sit alongside me at the head table, just as I, having conquered, took the place of honor at the side of my Father. That's my gift to the conquerors!

Don't hate me...

I'm sorry, I know I just keep posting all these links.... *blush* Just another one...gently tossed out there by Ann V. again. It's here. Ok....back to Sunday surfing (Jeremy is working ;).

Whatsoever

Passing along some links that stir me this week, both in my heart and in my work. Brain is busy as usual, but these links seem to fit better than any words I could put out there today.

With Derek and Andrea's recent visits to Uganda, finding this link of a young woman over there is poignant. Reading about lives like this and what she sees makes it seem like my American faith is so complicated, unnecessarily. There is need everywhere. God, give me eyes to see. He asks, "Do you love me? Feed my sheep."

Holy Experience shares her growth personally and with the Bride of Christ in this post. The Love Body link is very good too.

And for the love of being a homemaker and making a nest, I found this cottage redo amazing and inspiring.

Because of Love

Ann V. of Holy Experience sent us along this way.