Psalm 27

"One thing I have asked from the Lord, that I shall seek: That I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to Behold the beauty of the Lord and to meditate in His temple." Psalm 27:4

Expanded Ecclesiastes

I wanted to add to the previous post on Timekeepers, but frankly I just ran out of time. I love the verses from Ecclesiastes 3. Becky Freeman in her book Chocolate Chili Pepper Love wrote expanded verses to each of the Ecclesiastes verses. I thought you would enjoy it.

A Time to be born...A season of Eden-like love--the idealized, wonderfully romantic time when our affections for each other are as fresh as a newborn baby.

And a time to die...There also comes a time to die to our unrealistic fantasies, such as having, or being, the perfect mate. This necessary loss that author Judith Viorst described has to occur before mature love can begin.

A time to plant...Then just as the young family gets settled, a notice arrives, signaling it's time to start all over. Move, start a new job, face new challenges. Yet, these times of uprooting and re-settling can even be adventurous, producing a "you and me against the world" kind of feeling in a marriage.

A time to kill...No, not each other. (though there may be times we're tempted) There comes a season of reflection when we ask God to destroy sinful patterns that have crept into our marriages. Proverbs 27:17 says, "As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another." One reason God places us together is to unveil each other's blind spots--self defeating and harmful ways of reacting. This season is perhaps the most painful of all--it gets awfully hot when iron is at the task of sharpening iron.

A time to heal...After having gone through the refining fire of brokeness, couples need a season of healing, a time to cool off and comfort one another. Think of it as becoming each other's aloe vera.

A time to tear down...Occasionally, Scott has had to help me tear down a wall of pride or self importance. This guy who knows me best calls me on those pesky, subtle sins that others let me get away with. A time to build...On the other hand, when my selfesteem has been bruised by the world, my husband is the one I want at my side to make it all better again. He builds me up.

A time to weep...I'm not sure a couple can fully understand the concept of "becoming one" until they've wept together in a time of deep sorrow.

A time to laugh...It also helps becoming one to laugh so hard they fall off the bed and onto the floor together. A time to mourn...During those days of numbing sadness, after the weeping, the best gift yo have to offer each other is a hand to hold and a shoulder to lean on.

A time to dance...These are the seasons of festivity, when the pleasure of being old people in love bubbles up and overflows--when a husband spontaneously invites his wife into his arms for a spin around the kitchen floor, just for the fun of it.

A time to embrace...I'm looking at a black and white picture of a man swirling a woman around in the kind of embrace you see in old movies, usually at train stations. These are the Home-Sweet-Home times; moments of reuniting at the end of an absence or simply at the end of a long day.

A time to refrain from embracing...This can be a healthy and necessary part of growing in love. Not only do we need times of solitude for personal reflection, but it's often in the lonely times that God reminds us why we need each other after all.

A time to keep...There are special moments in marriage we want to freeze in time, to treasure in the memory bank of our mind--births of our children, anniversaries, walks by the sea. A time to throw away...Then there are those memories we need to toss. We all have to periodically toss the garbage of grudges into the bin of forgiveness.

A time to be silent...That's right--silent. We forgo our own agenda to focus on our mate--listening without judgement, without hurrying, listening below the surface of words for the feelings underneath. Giving our spouses focused attention is a rare and precious treasure.

A time to speak...Then comes the time to speak up. Yes, sometimes we have to speak in confrontation. But more often may it be "I love you," "I'm sorry," or "You're precious to me" that leaves our lips and enters nto our loved one's ears.

A time for war...Fights and disagreements will come, so we don't need to be terrified when they happen. Though painful, an argument can clear the air and allow for a new start. To disagree and argue are parts of what it means to be a human being.

A time for peace...Would we really appreciate peacetime if we'd not survived a few marital battles? I love the delicious relief, the joy of everything being okay between us again. Ah...peace--a season to savor.

Who is the Time Keeper?

"The owner bought this small, spherical pocket watch or Bisamapfel watch in the year 2002. Due to the absolute rarity, the curiosity was aroused and so the investigation and research was started. He asked the seller for the phone number of the first owner and contacted him to find out more about the watch. The first owner told that in 1987, as a watchmaker’s apprentice, he took part in a school trip to London. There, he bought for 10 Pound Sterling at a flea market a box with old metal and watch parts. In this box he later also found this small, rusty and defective watch, to which he did not pay a lot of attention. Only in 2001, he had the idea to get this little watch going again. He replaced two defective 5-pinions with 6-pinions on hand from another watch, as there were no 5-pinions available for such an old watch. But the watch also worked with the replaced 6-pinions. (One old defective 5-pinion was still at hand and was given to the current owner). An outer crown gear and the winding spring were also replaced. After the watch was intact again, he sold it to a watch collector, who later sold it to the current owner.
This gave cause for further investigation. It was established, that so far nobody had offered a pomander in an auction or anywhere else, neither an original nor a replica. Also, there have been no counterfeits.
5 specimens were only preserved up to World War II, some of which have been lost during the war confusions. After previous investigation, there is only one nearly complete pomander with clockwork from the year 1530 (Illustration 12) in existence apart from the completely unknown watch described here. This other watch has the following inscription on the bottom „PHIL. MELA. GOTT ALEIN DIE EHR 1530“ (Phillipp Melanchton) [translated: Phil. Mela. God alone the glory 1530]. This watch is located in Baltimore/USA (The Walters Art Museum). It is assumed that this watch was built by Peter Henlein, although no signature was found. According to this, there are only this completely preserved pomander watch described here and the pomander watch in Baltimore left over! Despite extensive investigation, there are no other existing specimens known. An empty housing can be found at the Wuppertal watch museum.
The watch was shown to a few befriended watch connoisseurs and watchmakers. The first impression due to the coarse inscription and the relatively bad engraving was rather negative. Nevertheless, these watch specialists needed to acknowledge that you can only reverse engineer such a watch if you have an original as a master. Even then, a reproduction would still be rather laborious. A complete replica without master would be impossible, and you still would not have harmonious wear and symptoms of old age. Furthermore, it would hardly be possible to make such a casing with the existing signs of aging. Should this watch be an original, the clockwork - due to its unique design (like no other portable watch has!) and with a complete running time of only approx. 12 to 13 hours – should be placed at the absolute beginning of the time string. Even Cochläus already writes in the year 1511: „So produces Peter Henlein, a still young man, works, which even the most learned mathematicians admire, because he makes from a little iron a clock with a lot of wheels, which, however you might turn them, show and strike 40 hours without any weight, even if they are at the chest or in the purse.“
There was the thought that this watch was probably also made by Peter Henlein. From the early 16th century, there are no other watch makers known, which could make small, portable watches."

The above excerpt is from some research my son did in preparing to write a research paper on Peter Henlein. It is very fascinating. The study of time and the history of time keeping boggles the mind. It made me think Ecclesiastes 3:1-8

There is an appointed time for everything. An there is a time for every event under heaven
A time to give birth and a time to die;
A time to plant and a time to uproot what is planted.
A time to kill and a time to heal; A time to tear down and a time to build up.
A time to weep and a time to laugh; A time to mourn and a time to dance.
A time to throw stones and a time to gather stones; A time to embrace and a time to shun embracing.
A time to search and a time to give up as lost; A time to keep and a time to throw away.
A time to tear apart and a time to sew together; A time to be silent and a time to speak.
A time to love and a time to hate; A time to for war and a time for peace.

The Christmas Card

It may be 80 degrees outside, but Christmas card preparation has started.....
first the picture.....

12, 10, 8 and 6 years old......

A little October 31 Fun

Pumpkins all a glow...

A rare picture of mom!

Our neighbor Doug (dressed as Dorothy) and the newest member of the 'hood, Maggie.

The world war I flying ace...

Quick...a picture before you get dirty.

Always the princess!

Veni, veni Emanuel!

Veni, veni Emanuel!
Captivum solve Israel!
Qui gemit in exilio,
Privatus Dei Filio.

Gaude, gaude, Emanuel
Nascetur pro te, Israel.

Veni, veni o oriens!
Solare nos adveniens,
Noctis depelle nebulas,
Dirasque noctis tenebras.

Veni, veni Adonai!
Qui populo in Sinai
Legem dedisti vertice,
In Maiestate gloriae.

Do you know it....? Come on you Latin students out there.....give it a try. The author is unknown but it is based on the biblical texts of Is. 7:14, Is. 11:1, Luke 1:78, Is 22:22, Is 9:6. It was translated by John Neale into English and the music is a French processional for Franciscan nuns. Maybe the english translation will help.

O come, O come, Emmanuel
And ransom captive Israel
That mourns in lonely exile here
Until the Son of God appear
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel.

O come, Thou Rod of Jesse, free
Thine own from Satan's tyranny
From depths of Hell Thy people save
And give them victory o'er the grave
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel.

O come, Thou Day-Spring, come and cheer
Our spirits by Thine advent here
Disperse the gloomy clouds of night
And death's dark shadows put to flight.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel.

O come, Thou Key of David, come,
And open wide our heavenly home;
Make safe the way that leads on high,
And close the path to misery.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel.

O come, O come, Thou Lord of might,
Who to Thy tribes, on Sinai's height,
In ancient times did'st give the Law,
In cloud, and majesty and awe.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel.

The words are just awesome....just dissect the first stanza. It will give you lots to ponder for awhile.

I'm Sticking with Scripture

These are examples as to why I shouldn't be homeschooling.....

How many two digit numbers exist such that the when the product of its digits is added to the sum of its digits the result is equal to the orginal two digit number?

or

The area of two different rectangles is 360 square centimeters for each rectangle. The length and width for each triangle are positive integers. The length of the second rectangle is 12 cm greater than the first while its width is 5 cm less than the first. Find the difference of the perimeters of the two rectangles.


or

A, B, and C are consecutive digits. D and E are also consecutive digits. A, B, C, D, and E are all different digits. If B x DE = ABC, find the sum of A + B + C + D + E. (Note: C and D are not necessarily consecutive digits.


Go ahead.....I know some of you are dying to answer these (let me know the answers....I am still asking what letters and numbers have to do with each other!!)

A Saturday and Rain

Soccer in the morning.....rainy day fun in the afternoon....

How sweet it was to hear, feel and see the rain....

A little impromptu girl time.....

Don't be scared...it is just Elena!!!

He's Back.....

Say Hello to the new Mr. and Mrs. Ryan Hansen.......
Praising God over this one!!
(my niece and "new" nephew)

Empty Nest

I have many gals I know who have entered or are entering the station of life known as "empty nest". All of them have been much on my mind lately. I read this story recently.....it doesn't make the tears go away, but it does give some perspective.

THE NEST
Evelyn Petty

Our front door slammed open and shut many times over the years, but there was one summer it was silenced-the summer before the last of our three children left for college. Christine, John and Jeff had been fun to raise and the delight of my life. Even the thought of them leaving home felt empty.

One day, I noticed a mother bird feverishly making a nest on the light fixture by our front door. Twigs and debris were scattered on the ground underneath. Somewhat anxious brown eyes peered quietly over the edge at me.

From that time forward, the front door was off limits. Through the entire active summer, with two kids home from college and another one preparing to leave, everyone used the kitchen door. Soon, the nest burst into activity with the arrival of three birds. We were able to watch from the kitchen as the mother bird fed, fluffed her babies, cleaned out the nest and eventually taught them to fly. And then one day, they were gone.

I thought about the mother bird and how her care and tending had ended as the birds flew away leaving nothing but a nest. From the moment I counted the three birds, I began identifying with the whole process, so I carefully took the abandoned home down from its perch and placed it on a shelf in the garage. As I watched Chris, and John, and now Jeff pack to leave home, I wept realizing the inevitable had come; I had raised my family and it was time for them to apply all the lessons home had taught them.

Late in October of the same year, an unusually loud thunderstorm hit our area. I looked out the kitchen window at the sky and a movement caught my eye. There, huddled under the eaves by the front door, near the porch light, were three fledgling birds. I'm sure it was "our family", returning to dind shelter in the only place they knew for sure was safe, familiar, welcoming-because it was home.

Smiling, I returned to my breakfast, knowing I'd been given reassurance. Though the years of nuturing were over, the years ahead would bring many opportunities for sheltering our family. When the crisis, the frightening, the difficult or the overwhelming times come, there is one place that will always be safe, familiar, welcoming for my family--home.

Seasons

One of my favorite Beth Moore quotes comes from her written study of the book of Daniel in which she says, "Sometimes God releases us after a season. Other times He calls us to remain a voice of truth in someone's ear long after the glimmer of effectiveness." Have you been on either side of this quote? Care to share....

Friends

Not In Her Storm

by Sauni

I see the clouds rolling in and oh how it looks like rain And it is always I fight for the welcome change When it rains it pours on this heart of mine So, I take the storms I feel to her each time. But I know she has lived under her own pouring rain Yet under her water her heart still doesn't change She can walk away from what hangs overhead And, not in her storm, are words left unsaid. Not in her storm have I ever felt alone Her storm ends, so I, may find my way home It's for me that she pushes away her own rain So, that I may find comfort in calling her name. She lives in this world for the sake of another's heart God, how she eases the miles when worlds apart And she never wanders when your world falls through Not ever in her storm would she do this to you. She has wings that I know not only I can see Cause only an angel could find strength to carry me It's the way that the eyes can surely view How her heart's written so clearly in what an angel can do. Not in her storm is her work ever done And even in her storm she hands me the sun When her world is dark - I always have light And now how I hold the new color of night. She takes then she gives to an unhappy face So that many can find an awesome place I have been able to love her more every day And with her hand in mine the clouds roll away. Not in any storm that I will ever live beneath Could ever change what I hold here inside of me Not in any of her storms have I lost my angels touch To that angel out there, I love her so much.

North Star and the Northern Lights

I had a friend move away a couple of years ago. I gave this friend a compass as a going away present with the following written...."If you ever get lonely, feel lost, start to question yourself then use this compass to find the north star. Looking up to find the north star will remind you to look up into the face of Jesus." I've been thinking a lot recently about our need to look up to the Lord.

"Thus says the Lord who made the earth, the Lord who formed it to establish it, the Lord is His name, Call to Me and I will answer you, and I will tell you great and mighty things, which you do not know." Jer 33:2-3

Some day I want to travel to a place where I can look up and see Jesus in the Northern Lights.....It is as if the Lord is finger painting in the sky. I think the heaven's are the original kindergarten classroom.

Be Still My Soul

"Be still, my soul: the Lord is on your side.
Bear patiently the cross of grief or pain;
leave to your God to order and provide;
in every change God faithful will remain.
Be still, my soul: your best, your heavenly friend
through thorny ways leads to a joyful end."

C. Schlegel

Shields and Hurts

taken from Proverbs 31 Ministries.....

Taking up the Shield, Van Walton Ephesians 6:16, "In every battle you will need faith as your shield to stop the fiery arrows aimed at you by Satan."

I stood in the midst of a horrible battle that Saturday afternoon! A relational death hovered over me; I needed to fight wisely.

I cannot remember how many times I retreated to my "tent", the dark recesses of my soul-the place no one sees, but I certainly feel. I went there to understand my emotions and tend to my wounds, justifying my pain and sorrow. No sooner would I feel the battle relax, allowing healing to begin, than a flaming arrow would fly into my line of vision and threaten to sink into my heart or a dart would settle in my mind and I would gear up for battle once again. This time I threatened to defend myself and mine. Determined now to face off with the one who, without a doubt, deserved my wrath, my rejection, and my public disapproval, I picked up every unethical tool that would surely destroy a friendship between two godly individuals and diminish the character of a popular person, my stated enemy.

This one-sided fight spotlighted only one person on the battle field. My foe was not aware that a dispute even existed. I knew! I fought alone. The hurtful and unfair decision stood to potentially destroy my child. "hadn't this been considered?" I wondered. The lack of wisdom in the decisions made and direction taken tied me in knots. Unfortunately nothing could be done. It was too late. Once again I read over the published names of the newly chosen stars. I had no choice, but to live with it. But how could I? The battle raged on...

I began to doubt myself. How had I so suddenly turned on one whom I had admired? Why didn't I respect the decision if, in fact, I enthusiastically supported him in the past? Why did he do what he did? Fickle me! At this moment I certainly couldn't be defined as a person of deep character.

"I retreated again, remorse for my thoughts toward my "friend". Then I began to see the battlefield for what it truly was. My struggle seemed to be against the flesh and blood of the person, I so admired, only the day before. In reality, Satan's prowling hunt threatened to divide and destroy God's children. If I continued to wrestle and fall prey to the enemy, I stood the chance of walking away, not with a shallow battle scar that would heal in time, but with a huge character flaw, if I continued in my plotting strategy to destroy a brother.

I needed a better tactic to win this battle. All around me missiles, darts and arrows attacked in the form of lies, rejection, misunderstandings, and hurt feelings. Even when I stood back and assessed the war zone, I knew the fight raged on. Immediately, I knew a cease-fire was the only resolution. I must stop this senseless issue.

My home is composed of guys and they like battle scenes, so we read and watch about wars and learn what goes on in battles. I can't help but notice that ancient combats demanded shield of all types - every soldier had protection and it was ingenious the way he used that gear. The hero made himself ready for the conflict as his servant stood holding his equipment designed for war. The master prepared for the skirmish and his servant offered, "Take your shield." Notice that, before stepping into the melee, the warrior is told to take his shield.

That is what I was missing! I had forgotten to pickup my shield - the Shield of Faith. Faith that God would bring peace and comfort to this decision turned major conflict. When I did grab it, I became intimately acquainted with my Shield - Jesus. Psalms 18:2 and 28:7 say about Jesus, our Shield: "I love thee O lord, my strength. The Lord is my Rock and my fortress and my redeemer, My God, my rock in whom I take refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stonghold. The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in Him, and I am helped; therefore my heart exults and with my songs I shall thank Him."

I learned when I pick up the Shield, Christ extinguishes the flaming arrows. I wanted a connection with my friend, not a conflict. What I learned was that the side of the shield held against the enemy deflected the incoming darts that brought lies and deception. The side of the shield that rested against my mind and my heart brought truth and peace.

Odds and Ends...

Don't ask. I don't know....it is what I came home to after a busy day. She is happy, though.

The after shot from the 'Clean Up' post and poem. Oh so much better.....

The Refining Process

"Pure gold put in the fire comes out of it proved pure; genuine faith put through this suffering comes out proved genuine. When Jesus wraps this all up, it's your faith, not your gold, that God will have on display as evidence of his victory." 1 peter 1 (the message)

"Friends, when life gets really difficult, don't jump to the conclusion that God isn't on the job. Instead, be glad that you are in the very thick of what Christ experienced. This is a spiritual refining process, with glory just around the corner." 1 peter 4 (the message)

"So be content with who you are, and don't put on airs. God's strong hand is on you; he'll promote you at the right time. Live carefree before God; he is most careful with you." 1 peter 5 (the message)


A friend pointed me towards these scriptures this past spring. I came back to them recently. Thank the Lord for His word.

GOALLLLLLLLLLLLL.......

Elena got her first goal today! Hard to believe you can strike with size 8 cleats....they are so small. There is a reason her nickname is peanut. It isn't ever easy being the coach's child. She does very well for her mama and I am very, very proud of her. I was equally proud of the reaction of the siblings.

What do you hear?

The question is this.....if a tree falls in the forest and no one is around to hear it does it make any sound?


Give it some thought and give me your answer......

I've been thinking a lot on the silence of the Lord lately. My real question is this....if you don't hear the Lord is He really silent?

Aahh Cleaning...

I have the house cleaning blues
I look around and see so much to do
I look at the walls, the windows, and the floors
I see heaps of dust layered like boards

What I need is a good house cleaning crew
But where to get one, I haven't a clue
I asked for volunteers, but none would relent
Their community spirit, it seems, had been spent

I could wish for an occasional hurricane
For me, that may not be such a bad thing
I could raise the windows and open the doors
And be done with these house cleaning chores

But hurricanes don't occur where I live
So its left up to me to clean this crib
I have devised a plan to get the job done
Since I can no longer depend on anyone

My plan is as simple as it can be
One that is not very taxing on me
My walking shoes I will lace up tight
And from this nightmare I will take flight

by Ellen Bailey


A fun poem....I am in the process of cleaning out all the 'Kid' books and only keeping age appropriate and those I want to box up and keep. My office is a pile of....well....stuff at the moment. Ever experience the same thing?