You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven. Matthew 5:14-16 niv

Don't you just love how light can play on objects as simple as a jar of cookie cutters or marbles?

Those marbles above were my husband's when he was a kid. Some are chipped and cracked...and some just might be of value. And the jar filled with old cookie cutters I remember playing with as a young girl. They also are dented, dinged and even a little rusty.

I want the Lord to shine through me--cracked, dinged and even as rusty as I am--just as the light shines through these simple objects and makes them beautiful.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

It's All I'M GONNA LET IT SHINE Good!

Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice!

Let your gentleness be known to all men.

The Lord is at hand.

Be anxious for nothing,

but in everything by prayer and supplication,

with thanksgiving,

let your requests be made known to God;

and the peace of God,

which surpasses all understanding,

will guard your hearts and minds

through Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:4-7 nkjv

In case you couldn't tell from my last post (sarcasm here) I was quite discouraged by the outcome of the election. And for two reasons, I'm going to bring it up again.

First, I want to thank all of my blogging friends who were so encouraging through their comments. And secondly, and because of their comments, The Lord grounded me again with the above verse.

It's interesting to me how we are told to rejoice always, and in the same breath reminded again to...rejoice. Is it that we forget so easily, or days like last Tuesday trip us up?

Check out all these gentle reminders just in one verse:

Rejoice

Be gentle

The Lord is at hand

Don't worry

Pray

Be Thankful

And the two benefits we'll receive is:

Peace that passes understanding. I like to call it 'freaky peace'. The kind where all heck can be breaking loose in your life, but you still can have a wonderful calmness inside.

Our hearts and minds will be guarded through Christ Jesus.

And the next verse goes into the 'whatevers' I wrote about here.

Concerning the election, and I'm sorry I can't remember on whose blog/comment I read this, but they put it back into perspective when they said, "God wasn't up there wringing his hands and fretting over the outcome". He was the same loving and holy God before that He is now. I'm so thankful that He never changes.

It's All NO FEAR Good!

UPDATE: IT'S SNOWING!!!

w/ LIGHTENING & THUNDER!

GO FIGURE!

It's All

I'M GLAD I HAVE THE FREEDOM TO VOTE

Good!

Finally, WHaTeVer things are true, WHaTeVer things are honest, WHaTeVer things are just, WHaTeVer things are pure, WHaTeVer things are lovely, WHaTeVer things are of good report, if there be any virtue, if there be any praise, think on these things. Philippians 4:8

INTRODUCING

THE

WHaTeVeR

DIET!

No more counting carbs!

No more meetings!

Eat all you want

and still go back for more

because it will

go straight to the

heart

and not the hips!

True - loving the truth, speaking the truth, truthful

Honest - to regard with respect for character, honorable

Pure - exciting reverence, calling forth respect, sacred

Lovely - acceptable, pleasing

Report - sounding well, uttering words of good omen

Virtue - a virtuous course of thought, feeling and action, goodness, modesty

Praise - commendation

Think - to reckon, compute, calculate, count over, take into account, meditate on, determine, purpose

(Definitions taken from the Greek Lexicon)

I guarantee the 'weight' of hatefulness, ugliness, thinking ill of each other, biting and devouring one another and all the other awful, selfish things that are going on in our world today will come off quickly if we spend more time 'thinking on these things'.

It's All WHaTeVer Good!

*update*

Susan has a great post entitled A Call To Pray concerning the upcoming elections. A great challenge.

Who can find a virtuous woman?

For her worth is far above rubies.

Proverbs 31:10

This is referring to the Proverbs 31 lady, but before you get completely discouraged already and say, "C'mon, it's Monday, why'd you have to bring HER up?" read on, and you'll find that you--as a woman, wife, mother, grandma--are far more virtious than you might think.

The Hebrew word for virtuous is 'Chayil' which means strength, might, efficiency, wealth, army. If you were to go back and read Proverbs 31:10-31 you'd discover each of these definitions interwoven throughout this passage in one form or another. And by the way, I didn't see the word perfection anywhere in there, did you?

So don't beat yourself up because you didn't get up 'while it is yet dark' or because SHE doesn't yell at her kids (excuse me, raise her voice) or because you don't 'make linen garments...and sell them'--on Ebay to boot! (by the way, my first and last sewing experience was in 7th grade when I sewed a pair of cheesy cotton pants in which the zipper ripped out the first day I wore them!)

As one commentary states, "The cultural details of her specific tasks are different in our era, but the principles are timeless".

My favorite scripture in this passage is in vs. 30 which says 'Charm is deceitful [I can handle that] and beauty is passing [still coming to grips with that one] but a woman who fears the Lord, she shall be praised!' Be encouraged, women who fear the Lord!

It's All Good!

Share Your Frugal Tips

{Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content: I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. (written by Apostle Paul in Philippians 4:11-13 nkjv)}

{The Message Bible brings it closer to home: I've learned by now to be quite content whatever my circumstances. I'm just as happy with little as with much, with much as with little. I've found the recipe for being happy whether full or hungry, hands full or hands empty. Whatever I have, wherever I am, I can make it through anything in the One who makes me who I am.}

This is another one of my favorite scriptures because it encourages me that no matter what I'm personally going through, or what's going on around me, I can be content and rest in Christ who gives me strength--I especially like the last statement in The Message translation: I can make it through anything in the One who makes me who I am.

I love that. I thank God we have Him to lean on in these precarious times and with the condition of the economy.

I've realized that being frugal is one way the Lord provides for us. He gives us the wisdom, and ideas that will help cut costs here and there. Of course, it'd be much easier if money would just fall from heaven, problems solved, right?! But would it?

In light of where we are with the economy, what are some tips you can share that have helped especially during this time? Big or small, every little bit helps.

I'll start with a few of my tips:

1. I have begun a housecleaning service. My husband is a realtor...enough said. This has worked well for us and Sunny jumps in and helps when I need it. To be honest, cleaning toilets isn't the most glamourous job, but it has definitely helped put food on the table. (I can't believe I just used 'toilet' and 'food' in the same sentence!) What about childcare, baking, using your skills to bring in extra income?

How about bartering? I haven't tried this personally other than with childcare, but I have a friend who has bartered with her orthodontist. He is fixing her son's teeth, she cleans his office. (Consequently, I have benefited from her bartering as well. She offered me the job of cleaning his house.)

2. We have switched out a lot of our lights with flourescent bulbs. I wasn't big on the whiter light and I'm still not, but now they're making them more ambient.

3. One of the biggest ways we've saved money and I know I've mentioned this before, is that we've stopped eating out after church on Sunday's. Not only have we saved financially but we're eating healthier as well.

4. This might be a regional tip, but here in Flagstaff and in the Phoenix valley the Dol*lar Tree store sells Sa*ra Lee 100% whole wheat and 9-grain bread as well as hamburger/hotdog bun, bagels and raisen bread for $1.00. It's not day-old's either. The expirations date is 5-7 days out. The bread freezes well. In the grocery store the ww bread sells for $3.99 retail.

Ok, what about you. Any tips we could all use?

Be encouraged this Beautiful Monday!

It's All FRUGAL TIPS Good!

I have had the privelege of meeting my first blogging buddy in real life! I KNOW! I was really excited. Susan, (Penless Writer), emailed me a couple of weeks ago. Her and Mickey were celebrating their wedding anniversary. They were married here in Flagstaff 50 years ago on Saturday! A milestone for sure, especially in this day and age.

We met Susan and Mickey at Cracker Barrell for coffee and dessert. All I can say is what a delightful couple! They made us feel very comfortable--you know, no axes in their back pockets, stuff like that! ;) But seriously, very real and down-to-earth.

Thank you, Susan, for wanting to meet up with us. You and Mickey blessed us with your sweet, Godly spirits. I look forward to a blossoming friendship with you. And you both are always welcome in our home. You made our day! Happy 50th anniversary!

{But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Galations 5:22,23 niv}

Off topic, Saturday was an overcast, cold and rainy day. (We actually woke up Sunday with the 'S'- word on the San Francisco Peaks--ok, I'll say it--SNOW!) Anyway, around noon our 7 yr. old daughter comes in the bedroom and says,

Mom, it looks like the sun's never gonna rise up today!

It's All Susan & Mickey Good!

It doesn't take much to make me happy. Give me a garden-fresh tomato, a salt shaker and the back porch and I'm content. Just me and my tomato! We're at 7000 ft. in Flagstaff, AZ, so any attempts at growing fresh tomatoes or any other produce is challenging. Our 'fresh' produce is shipped in from CA or up from southern AZ. But fresh to me is picking it right off the vine, giving it a quick rinse and heading for the back porch. Which is exactly what I did the minute I arrived at my sister's home in Colorado Springs. They had the toms ready and waiting, fresh from their garden! Mmmm!

Sometimes it's the littlest things that bring the most contentment. Today, let's take our eyes off the huge problems that seem to hover over us like a black cloud and, instead, take a look at the seemingly unimportant things in our lives with a different eye--an eye of contentment, even if only for a moment.

...and be content with such things as ye have : for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. Hebrews 13:5b kjv

(p.s. When we got home last Wednesday, we had 5 homes that needed to be cleaned by Friday. Wasn't my cup of tea to jump right back into work as I was hoping to have at least one day to regroup. That said, I've missed visiting with all of you. So I'm back and will have more time this week to get back into the blogging groove!)

It's All ME & MY TOMATO Good!

To everything there is a season,

a time for every purpose under heaven.

Ecclesiastes 3:1 (nkjv)

I CAN'T HELP IT...IT'S SO BEAUTIFUL!

This is the time of year that I begin having mixed emotions about the change of seasons. Emotions that I don't feel any other time of the year. I never have any trouble exiting winter--Adios, See ya, Goodbye! And spring, of course, brings the hope of summer. But then August arrives and I begin having twinges of anticipation for fall, yet I don't want summer to end. I'm betwixt and between. Do any of you experience this?

I guess the only way I can explain my feelings right now are like in the Bug's Life movie where the bugs are drawn towards the light of the bug zapper. One of the bugs warns the other to stay away from the light, and the other bug, like he's drugged says, "I can't help it...it's so beautiful!"

~~zzZAP! r.i.p. summer~~

That's me, right now. I want summer to go on for a little longer, but I'm being pulled towards fall like the pretty light of the zapper.

So for now, I'll just fly a little slower towards the 'Autumn Zapper' and enjoy each day of the rest of summer as it comes.

I guess I'm hopelessly...normal?

It's All I CAN'T HELP IT Good!

Who gets the gold?

Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us.

Hebrews 12:1 (nkjv)

Who gets the gold?

I have been so amazed watching the Olympics. My favorite events have been the gymnastics and, of course, watching Michael Phelps breaking the record for the most gold won in a single Olympics.

Ok, now you're gonna have to get in my head for this one, but an interesting thing I noticed while watching Phelps and his opponents as they raised their arms getting ready to dive in was that they had no armpit hair, or chest hair, or back hair. Nada. There wasn't a hairy one out there. I had heard that they shaved their legs--some friction thing--but it finally dawned on me that that wasn't the only place they shaved. And, being the 'curious George' that I am, I did the Ask Jeeves thing and found out some interesting information on the reasons for shaving.

In this particular article I read, there were 4 reasons given for shaving:

1. Surface area = Drag

2. Dead skin - comes off when shaving along with the hair.

3. Feel - supposedly makes one more sensitive in the water but probably more mentally invigorating.

4. Intimidation - could make an opponent nervous if you shaved and he didn't! (I got a kick out of that one!)

Now I know the above verse is talking about running, but I think 'weights that easily ensnare us' could be compared with the hair thing going on with swimmers, especially when we're talking 1/100 of a second, right?

What are some of the weights, if any, that hinder us from running our race? What's holding us back (drag)? Is there anything (dead skin) that we can shed so that we can stay focused on finishing? Are we in tune and sensitive (feel) to the Lord's guidance or direction for our race? And what about intimidation? Are we allowing intimidation tactics by our opponent(s) to slow us down i.e. peer pressure, accusation, fear from the enemy who's primary goal is to 'steal, kill, and destroy' (John 10 :10a)?

And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not. (Galations 6:9)

Bring on the Nair, baby, I'm going for the GOLD!

It's All BEAUTIFUL MONDAY Good!

Renewing a Right Spirit

Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me. Psalm 51:10

I spoke last Monday about this scripture and how the Lord, unbeknownst to me, began preparing my heart for a spiritual battle that would take place 6 months down the road. It's funny sometimes how the Lord operates, isn't it? Knowing me, had I known what was in store ahead of time, I would've said I don't think so. But then I wouldn't be able to tell the rest of the story. Because it definitely gets better. God is so good!

After working through the uprooting process and the unforgiveness issues--which didn't happen in a day--He then began literally directing our steps. We began attending another church. We began preparing for our relocation back into Colorado. (YAY! Reva here we come!) But most importantly, He has healed us and set right things in our lives that were hindering our walk with Him.

The neat thing was last week, when I began studying the root words for this verse, I looked up the word 'right' as in "renew a right spirit within me". As I was reading these I became more and more excited!

Here's the definition for 'right' in Hebrew:

to be firm, be stable, be established, be fixed, be secure, be enduring, to be directed aright, fixed aright, to prepare, be ready, provide for, to direct toward, to be restored.

Can you believe so many variations from one word?!

This excited me so much because I finally CLEARLY saw how He unfolded His direction in this new season of our lives. He has set us aright--funny, 'Help! I've fallen and I can't get up.' comes to mind here! It's amazing how He has not only brought us through, but restored our hearts as well as directed us towards our future, simply from one verse!

It's All BEAUTIFUL MONDAY Good!

Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.--Psalm 51:10

The Lord dropped this scripture in my heart one day probably 18 months ago. What I mean by that is that it came to me out of the clear blue. Has that ever happened to you? It wasn't a verse I had read through studying the Word that day or something I had read in a devotional. It just...came to me.

I knew right then that God was trying to get something over to me. When this happens I begin praying and asking, What is it, Lord? What are You trying to speak to me? I would check my heart daily and pray, Let my heart be clean before you Oh, Lord. If there is anything in me that is dishonoring to You in any way, correct it, renew a right spirit in me.

This went on for about six months.

Then IT happened! Exactly what 'IT' is isn't relevant at this point and a very long story!

In hindsight I see how the Lord was preparing us for one of the worst spiritual/personal character attacks we have experienced in our entire walk with Him. Now, I had to truly put this verse into action because bitterness and unforgiveness, among other things, really tried to put down deep roots inside of me. Suddenly, 'create in me a clean heart' became very personal. My constant prayer along with this verse was I forgive, I forgive, I forgive! And...I forgive again!

I thank God for is loving concern for me ahead of time in preparing the soil of my heart. He knew!

It's All BEAUTIFUL MONDAY Good!

But let patience have her perfect work that you may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing. -- James 1:4

That pretty Hollyhock in the picture above has a story to tell today. This poor little plant has, through no fault of it's own, had to battle it's way to fruition. Literally. Because of me.

Rewind. A couple of years ago this plant came up right outside our door. It was just this ugly, big-leafed plant that appeared to me like a nice food group for grasshoppers judging by the holes in the leaves. Ugly. So I pulled it up and that was that. Same thing last year. Persistent little thing, anyway. When it came up again this year, I decided to let it grow and see what happened. Well, it grew and grew and, frankly, still just looked to me like a huge ugly weed of some sort. Then one day, lo and behold, there were tiny buds growing and, before I knew it this plant bloomed into a beautiful pink flower and said, "Geez, lady, it's about time... a little patience, puleeeze".

Concerning patience, The Message Bible states it this way: So don't try to get out of anything prematurely. Let it do its work so you become mature and well-developed, not deficient in any way.

Here, here cried Hollyhock!

Had I just let Holly do her thing when it first sprouted, we would've enjoyed her blooms sooner. But, because of my lack of patience--I only had to wait 6 weeks--we missed out on two seasons of enjoying the beauty in this pink flower.

There are so many times I want to hurry things along, a.k.a. chop it down and move on, thinking I'm helping the situation when, in reality, I'm slowing up the process the Lord is trying to bring me through altogether. Patience takes...well...patience. No other way around it. But the end result--maturity, completeness, lacking nothing--is well worth the wait, dont you think?

Ok, Holly, lesson learned!

It's All BEAUTIFUL MONDAY Good!

Monsoons

O God, thou art my God; early will I seek thee: my soul thirsteth for thee, my flesh longeth for thee in a dry and thirsty land, where no water is; To see thy power and thy glory, so as I have seen thee in the sanctuary. Psalms 63:1-2

Here in Flagstaff, Arizona we're in the midst of monsoon season. It's crazy, but I've lived here for almost 15 years and still can't get used to calling our rainy season The Monsoons. A monsoon to me conjures up geography lessons about rain forests in Brazil or severe storms in Africa. Even growing up in Colorado they were just called severe thunderstorms.

At any rate, we've had afternoon thunderstorms for several days now, and they will most likely last through the end of July and hopefully beyond. The great thing is that, until last year and for the last five years before that, we were in severe draught, so, the rains have been a much-needed refreshment for these parched lands of northern AZ.

Now, this post isn't meant to be a weather forecast, how boring would that be?! But it did get me to thinking about how at times we can become spiritually parched and feel like we are in a personal draught.

We shout Where is the rain? Bring on the monsoons, Lord.

Someone once told me when you feel like your in a spiritual desert, make the best of it and make yourself some cactus jelly. Well, I guess that's well and good if you're planning on pitching your tent in the hot, dusty desert--after all you gotta have something to eat. I may be in the Sahara, but I'm going through it, and I won't be needing a MOtel thank-you-very-much.

If you're in need of some fresh rains for your parched and thirsty soul, or better yet, a mighty downpour, hang on because your just one prayer away! Be refreshed today!

He shall come down like rain upon the mown grass: as showers that water the earth. Psalm 72:6

It's All BEAUTIFUL MONDAY Good!

After being a guest blogger over at Prayfully Yours last week, it started me thinking about how Mondays often really are difficult days to get some of us moving and motivated. Especially after experiencing a fun and exciting weekend or even just a calm and relaxing weekend. I know this isn't the case with everyone because we all lead such varied lives. But if you are one who experiences 'Blue Mondays', and it takes you a little longer to get your mind and body 'wrapped around' the beginning of a new week, I would like to offer weekly words of encouragement and/or a devotional.

It's Monday.

NO! It's Beautiful Monday!

A popular scripture heard often or seen written in greeting cards is Numbers 6:24-26:

The Lord bless you and keep you. The Lord make His face to shine upon you and be gracious unto you. The Lord lift up His countenance upon you, and give you peace.

I'd say that's a pretty cool all-encompassing blessing spoken to the children of Israel. But too often this scripture has just become one of those that has been repeated so much that the meaning has been lost. (Does, 'The Lord is My Shepherd, or The Lord's Prayer ring a bell?!)

I've broken down some of the words of these verses so that the next time we hear this verse, it won't just be another cliche' verse, but words we can take to heart and apply to our own walk with the Lord.

The Lord bless and preserve, protect and guard you. The Lord make his Presence, before and behind to be illuminated or kindled upon you and show favour and consideration to you. The Lord lift up (to bear, carry, support, sustain, endure) his presence, before and behind you and give you peace.

What an awesome verse to take into our day.

(Definitions are from the Hebrew Lexicon at Crosswalk.com and not exhaustive.)

God bless your day!

It's all BEAUTIFUL MONDAY Good!