Recommended Reading: The Prodigal God

 Prodigal: adj. 1.  recklessly extravagant; 2. having spent everything

"Jesus is showing us the God of Great Expenditure, who is nothing if not prodigal toward us, his children.  God's reckless grace us our greatest hope, a life-changing experience, 
and the subject of this book."
~Tim Keller

The book, The Prodigal God, by Timothy Keller will challenge everything you thought you understood about the story of what is commonly called "The Prodigal Son" taken from the Book of Luke chapter 15. If you have a reading list you want to tackle this year.  Put this one on it...near the top!  I would love to hear what you have gleaned from this gem!  Happy Reading!

When was the last time...

Amazing Grace
John Newton
 
Amazing grace, how sweet the sound 
that saved a wretch like me; 
I once was lost, but now I'm found; 
was blind, but now I see.
'Twas grace that taught my heart to fear,
and grace my fears relieved;
How precious did that grace appear
the hour I first believed.


When was the last time you 
pondered these words?


Take time.


It's worth it.

Quote:Joys are on their way

Joys are always on their way to us.  They are always travelling to us through the darkness of the night.  There is never a night when they are not coming (Psalm 30:5). ~ Amy Carmichael

From the Window: Over the Kitchen Sink

It has been since Sc. and I lived in our first little rental house in 1999 

that I had a window over my kitchen sink.  I am enjoying it greatly!

Dinner Time

Skillet Corn Bread (thanks Pioneer Woman) and White Bean & Sausage Soup

And sweet, sweet fellowship

Making ready the fields

 

From our front door we see this beautiful field that has been freshly plowed.

I look forward to what it will look like with a new crop growing.

 

Not Easily Broken

Ecclesiastes 4:9-12
New Living Translation

Two people are better off than one, for they can help each other succeed.  If one person falls, the other can reach out and help. But someone who falls alone is in real trouble. Likewise, two people lying close together can keep each other warm. But how can one be warm alone? A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer. Three are even better, for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken.

Where We Live: The Fence

Sometimes, it is hard for me to believe that we are this close to the U.S./Mexico border.  The reality of the difference a boundary can make is so vivid to us here.  The contrast of two cultures colliding, in all actuality creates a new one.  It really is something that has to be experienced because even if I were able to explain in acute detail what it is like, the smells, the sounds, the feel cannot be captured...Unique is the word I have.  At times, it is a comfortable as if this has been my home for a lifetime, then at other times the unfamiliar stairs me in the face.

I am thankful for what seems to be a ping pong game to "feel" settled here...I guess in a sense we are, but still...there is the sojourning aspect to it.  This just reminds me that as believers we will always have this struggle.  While the Lord plants us in places here and there and then moves us again, we are just here for a little while and then...eternity.  I am thankful for His promise that one day we will have rest--True Rest.  Through His Spirit we experience glimpses of that rest on this side of Heaven, but the hope we have that there will be no more struggling or striving...just the thought calms me.

His Spirit is so faithful in reminding me to "set my mind on things that are above, not on things that are on earth" (Colossians 3:2).

Encouragement for the Race

Sisters-in-Christ

Iron sharpens iron

So grateful

Press on

Waves: Hope

 

A temptation arises: it is the wind.

It disturbs you:  it is the surging of the seas.

This is the time to awaken Christ and let Him remind you of these words,

"Who can this be? Even the wind and the waves obey Him."

~ Augustine

Go for it!

Come to Jesus by Chris Rice

He gives power to the weak, and to those who have no might He increases strength...those who wait on the LORD shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint. ~ Isaiah 40:29, 30

Here Comes The Sun James Taylor Yo Yo Ma

Ahhhh! Enjoy!

Where We Live

It has been a long while since I wrote last! As you know we MOVED! We are rejoicing in the Lord's direction and provision in this whole process. We have been in our new (older) home two months! Time flies when you are unpacking, painting, rearranging furniture for the 100th time (no joke, just ask my dear hubby, children and friends who have visited!) and hosting dear family and friends! It has been a whirlwind, but with the view (above) we have in our front yard, it is all worth it!

This house holds a wonderful story for us! Since we moved to the the Rio Grande Valley nearly four years ago, we hoped to some day find a little house with an acre or more. Well, in September 2010, I saw this house on the market it was a little bit above our price range AND it was only .88 of an acre...so, it didn't quite fit with the specifics for which we had been praying. So, we continued to wait. We finally decided to put our house on the market, not sure where we were going to live if it sold before we found a house! Well, at the end of July the Lord provided a buyer for our house AND lo and behold THIS house was back on the market after being off for a year and that was not all... they included the rest of their land bringing the total size to 1.5 acres!!! With what we sold our house for and with what we were able to negotiate for this house it was almost an even swap!

So, we praise the LORD for His gracious and generous provision.

We have many projects ahead of us, but nothing that is urgent...as many of you know by our house in the Big O that we are used to projects!!

So, for you, our dear family and friends...you are welcome to our humble abode! We would love to see any or all of you!

Happy Thanksgiving

"The First Thanksgiving at Plymouth" (1914) By Jennie A. Brownscombe

Let us, on the day set aside for this purpose, give thanks to the Ruler of the universe for the strength which He has vouchsafed us to carry on our daily labors and the hope that lives within us of the coming of a day when peace and the productive activities of peace shall reign on every continent. ~ Franklin D. Roosevelt, October 31, 1939

Getting Close

We are almost finished with packing!

This is our LAST weekend in this great house!

It has been a wonderful home!