On Singleness of Heart + Today

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Only when we pursue God with singleness of heart do we find the peace that comes from integrity. If we seek with less than the whole heart, the result will be less than total joy ... In the end, will we look back and see that many good things were lost because we lingered in indecision? While we delayed, with hearts divided and minds not made up, did we forfeit many of the blessings that could have come from disciplined action?

      May we aspire to the joys of the united heart. May we be devout in our devotion and wholehearted in our holiness. May God help us to make up our minds.

Gary Henry, Diligently Seeking God: excerpt from Jan 23

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 Today: 

~ Worship

~ Embroidery

~ Watching Woodlawn with the family

~ Getting ready for the week and for starting a new job (!!!!!!)

~ Blogging and perusing pictures from our Thanksgiving Day walk to post

~ Vanilla ice cream with Pioneer Woman's homemade caramel sauce. Just YUM. :O)

My land of counterpane ....

Have a fantastic week!

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A Day Out

Back in July I went antique shopping in an old church building that had been converted to a delightful antique shop, and found some equally delightful things! The building was very cool -- I guess it was the first church building built in the old town we were in, which I loved for the historic factor.

The garden in front was a lovely, old-fashioned, overgrown thing ... roses, daisies, lavender, hens-and-chicks, a garden gnome. I love over-grown gardens that manage to look picturesque rather than messy. I just wish I could figure out the whys-and-wherefores because MY garden is generally of the messy overgrown variety. ;o)

See what I mean? Very cool.

 Lots of books!

 Look at those rafters!

And the windows ... love.

Here are my treasures:

This lovely quilt rack, which I have definitely been needing. Required a little dusting and a bit of Old English, and now it's perfect!

And this:

A sewing firkin!!! SO cool -- and actually I did not spot it, my mom did. #creditwherecreditisdue
 I l.o.v.e this thing!!

Fun, huh? I love those kinds of days when the findings and the locations are perfect, dahling. :o)
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Snow!

We got a beautiful dusting this afternoon, after arriving back in town from morning worship!

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Happy New Year ...

My view from the "wrapping room" on Christmas Eve ... beautiful.

... from the Gather Ye Rosebuds Blog! :)

I am beginning this January with a thankful heart. I find the excitement with which I used to greet the new year has been tempered by the last few, and I think that's natural as we grow and experience some life and learn from it (hopefully) the lessons God wants us to. But at the same time, I have to be careful not to let it become too tempered. ;) To give God the glory and remain hopeful and joyful when His amazing and all-wise plans graciously continue to say "no" to my wishes, one year after another. To thank Him for His care when my heart hurts to the extent that I don't even know how to pray. I remember Jesus in the garden, how He cried out (with suffering that I will never comprehend and would never pretend to equate anything in my life with) -- and how His crying was for God's will to be done over His. And I really want to focus on that idea this year -- on subjection. On what John the Baptizer described as "my decrease for His increase." Man, that's hard. And does Satan ever throw absolutely everything he can into our paths to turn our attention back onto ourselves.

I look at the lives and the daily burdens carried patiently by so many brethren around me and I'm humbled. I'm so thankful for what I do have and for the fact that I'm starting this year off with good health, a good job, a warm home, a family, and God, and the assurance that God will never leave me though all those earthly things might. To HIM be glory! Brrrrrrrring it on, 2016, you next chapter in this exciting, yes, exciting adventure called life! :0)

 Wishing all of you the blessings that belong to those IN CHRIST this year. Have courage, dear friends! Christ has overcome, and all we need do is follow Him down to the last little jot and tittle. :) After all ... that is what we are here for in the first place! :o)

With Love,

Gather Ye Rosebuds 

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