Hymn & Book Of The Week

Good morning. 🌞🌞

The quiet moments of dawn,

just as the sun peeks over the trees,

is my favorite time to sit alone and read.

My tea cup today is from the 

Royal Albert collection.

It's called Surrey.

The shape of the cup is called Lyric.

There is a post online titled

"A Study Of Royal Albert Cup Shapes"

I thought it was interesting so I am 

sharing a few of the shapes I discovered.

The cup below is Royal Albert 

Laurentian Snowdrop,

the shape is called Malvern...

The next cup is Royal Albert's

Woodland Series- The Goldfinch.

This cup is in the

Montrose style....

Next is Royal Albert's

Victoriana Rose.

It is also the

Montrose shape...

My last cup is

Royal Albert's Hamlyn.

I'm not sure, but it may

be the Gainsborough shape.

Any teacup experts reading

can let me know.

I want to thank my Dear One

who searches out and brings home

these pretty tea cups for me.

There is a lovely blog called

The Teacup Attic.

She wrote two posts on

"A Study Of Royal Albert Teacup Shapes"

They were interesting.

Now on to our book of the week,

"Putting On A Gentle A Quiet Spirit"

by Elizabeth George.

It is pictured in the first photo.

I enjoy anything that Elizabeth George

and her husband Jim write.

I have gifted my grandsons many

Jim George books for teens over the years.

They are worth looking at online.

The book today is based on 1 Peter,

"Do not let your adornment be merely outward

arranging the hair, wearing gold, or putting on 

fine apparel, rather let it be the hidden person of the heart,

with the incorruptible beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit,

which is very precious in the sight of the Lord."

When I consider the truth that something

is VERY PRECIOUS to the Lord,

I pause to consider what He says that is.

The Word says it is 

a woman's gentle and quiet spirit.

Just ponder that for a moment.

Your Creator,

the One Who made you and loves you,

thinks your greatest beauty comes from 

 a heart of gentleness and quietness.

This is what is very precious to His heart.

And guess what?

It is also very precious to your husband.

You will never hear any man complain because

his wife is too gentle and quiet.

Those attributes are very

precious to your dear husband.

The times I am most disappointed in 

myself are the times when my words do not

match God's desire for me.

Any woman who determines to grow

in the quality of gentleness and quietness will

find her husband enjoying her presence more

and her home will reflect the beauty of  her

gentle, quiet and peaceful ways.

Simple words

that can bring beautiful changes

to our hearts and homes.

The hymn for today is

Search Me O God

Releasing and Receiving

A pretty Autumn leaf on the 

Blue Ridge Parkway...

and a trail through the

woods on the Parkway...

Below is a photo of the Peaks of Otter....

Just a few photos of 

the beauty of creation...

Sometimes it's just nice to 

look at beautiful things isn't it?

Even though it's still August

the weather has cooled and the

leaves are beginning to fall.

The trees are letting go.

A woman was sharing recently that she is a

"helicopter mom and a control freak."

She says she has a difficult time letting her

children move out and leave home, and that she

still feels the urge to protect and care for them.

I don't think she is a helicopter mom.

I think she's just a mom.

Every mom.

My Grandma once told me that

to have a child is to forever have 

your heart walking outside your body.

Every mother from every generation

feels the very same way.

Letting go is a difficult process.

And it may take some time to release

our hold on the people or things we love.

Whether we are letting go

of loved ones, cherished possessions,

a great job, our health, or hopes we had

for the future, it is painful to simply

shut the door and move forward.

Letting go 

is a life time lesson in

trust and faith in God.

There is always something to 

release into the hands of God.

Someone wrote that the stages 

of letting go can include....

Denial: Difficulty accepting the

situation or loss

Anger: Feeling frustration, resentment,

or rage.

Bargaining: Attempting to negotiate,

or find ways to change the situation.

Depression: Experiencing sadness, 

hopelessness, or withdrawal.

Acceptance: Reaching a state 

of understanding and moving forward.

We learn that the way out 

is through,

there is no easy way around.

With the help of the Lord

we learn how to walk through

and navigate the things we must face.

He becomes our trusted friend

and anchor for our soul.

In Him we find the strength to 

let go and live without the thing we desire.

When we release this into His care

we receive His peace, comfort and joy.

We receive more of Him 

to fill the place of what was

released to Him.

Jesus can care for the 

things we leave in His loving Hands.

We can trust and let go.

And we can move on into 

the glorious life He has set before us.

In time, we no longer look back

longing to hold on and control.

As Elisabeth Elliot wrote...

there are only two ways to be unhappy,

wanting what we don't have 

or 

having what we don't want.

Wanting what He wants,

appreciating what He gives,

is the pathway to peace.

In acceptance lieth peace.

Either way, 

once we accept the truth that

 the Lord giveth 

and 

the Lord taketh away

we can release all to Him.

It is in His Hand 

to give or take.

And we do well to accept this.

You see,

we were never in control of things anyway.

The sooner we understand our inability

and cling to His will and ability,

the sooner we can get on with living

with what remains.

Enjoy what is given.

Hold it with an open hand.

Let go of your grip,

and cling on to the Lord.

This is a life of peace and joy.

More Than Enough

 

I've been sharing the

fruity Summer iced teas

my friend and I are enjoying

when we get together for a visit.

This week the tea was Cherry Berry

 by Celestial Seasonings.

I froze a large batch of

Rainier cherries in July

which I added to this tea.

We loved it!

After our tea we had a

little outing to our local

Mission Thrift store to

bring a load of drop offs

from my Autumn cleaning.

She was sweet to

help me pack and load

a large donation.

Sometimes we simply 

bring too much into our home

and  it just  has to be 

moved on and shared.

Our tiny cottage 

can only hold so much!

I was reading a devotional this 

morning that reminded me....

The world is such that the 

more we have, the more we crave.

Things cannot fill the heart of man.

How do we quench the desire for more?

Not by having more of what we desire,

but by withdrawing the fuel.

That is by lessening our desires.

He who is contented has enough.

Our journey on this earth is short.

If we have enough 

we are to be content.

Godliness with contentment 

is great gain.

I was sharing with a loved one 

that it is best to temper our desires.

Less buying.

Less going.

Less talk.

Less wanting.

Less thinking about 

things of the world.

More quietness.

More time in the Word.

More contentment

with what is already given.

More giving than getting.

I guess as we age and grow

nearer our time to move to heaven,

we relinquish the desire for more

of what this earth offers.

I am in this season.

I no longer seek to gather,

whether it is gathering things

or gathering relationships,

or gathering adventures.

I simply want to be available

to the Lord for prayer and to share

the spiritual blessings I have gathered

as I walked through this life with the Lord.

I am ready to unpack and turn loose

of things so those who remain do not

have to deal with all the possessions

I will one day leave behind.

Our days pass quickly.

At the end we realize that 

only what's done for Christ will last,

and that God answers prayer,

so we spend our ebbing energy on

things that last for eternity.

I enjoy unloading the things 

of this earth so I can focus on 

eternity and the joys that lie ahead.

The future is bright.

And the best is yet to be.

I've got a mansion waiting

just over the hilltop....

An Easy and Pleasant Life

 

I just couldn't wait any longer:)

I had to get some pumpkins

and Autumn flowers set out.

I love the Summer and Spring.

I enjoyed them both immensely this year.

And now I am going to enjoy Autumn just as much.

Even though it is still about 30 days away,

I am dreaming of cooler days and falling leaves.

I think the Autumn decor fits the little

cottage so well and it feels cozy with the 

orange, reds, yellows and browns.

The candle below is a favorite

brand from Hobby Lobby...

***

I took the blog title today from Matthew Henry's Commentary.

If you don't have this book I highly recommend it.

I got mine at Good Will for the price of $2.00.

This is the price of all hardback books at our GW.

Such a blessing to find these treasures for that cost.

This commentary covers every verse,

book by book, in the Bible.

Today we look at Proverbs 15:16-17

A merry heart has a continual feast.

Better to have a little, with fear of the Lord, 

than to have great treasure and inner turmoil.

Better is a dinner of herbs, 

than a fattened calf with hatred.

Matthew Henry writes in his commentary....

"Christian contentment, and joy in God, 

make life easy and pleasant.

Cheerfulness of spirit will furnish a man

with a continual feast, 

though he has little in this world.

A little, if we keep a good conscience, 

and serve God faithfully with the little we have,

will be more comfortable, 

than great treasure and trouble therewith....

it is far better to have but a little of the world,

to keep communion with God,

and enjoy Him in it, and live by faith,

than to have the greatest plenty,

and live without God in the world."

Today's book is filled with 

blessing upon blessing.

Each line is a treasure to savor.

This commentary is among my 

favorite old books in my library.

It can be found at 

Banner Of Truth Trust online.

I have mentioned them before

and greatly enjoy their abundant 

online book store.

That's our book of the week.

Our hymn of the week is 

"The King Of Love My Shepherd Is"

sung in Calvary Free Presbyterian Church

Magherfelt Scotland

A Tranquil Heart

Early morning in the little prayer cottage.

"A tranquil heart is life to the body."

Proverbs 14:30

The word tranquil means

free from disturbance,

peaceful, 

quiet,

calm.

C. S, Lewis once wrote,

"We live in a world

 starved for solitude, silence, and privacy.

Therefore, we are starved for meditation,

and true friendship."

"Peace I leave with you;

My peace I give to you.

I do not give to you as the world gives.

Do not let your hearts be troubled,

and do not be afraid."

John 14:27

Book & Hymn Of The Week

Blessings to one and all.

The hydrangea above is from 

early Spring this year.

The heat is unfortunately damaging 

my plants throughout the yard so

I am sharing a photo from earlier.

The pitcher the flowers are in 

is from Pioneer Woman.

The design is called the

Painted Meadow dinnerware set.

We have the dishes, mugs, bowls 

and the pretty pitcher.

It's a pretty set 

and 

very cheerful on the table:)

I once again want to thank 

you dear ladies for comments 

you have shared with me.

I don't post your comments.

They are often private and personal,

but every one is read and appreciated.

I also do pray for each of you.

The book of the week is

Seven Steps To Spiritual Stability

by John MacArthur.

I took the photo by my prayer chair window

hoping you can see the red cardinal

eating from the bird feeder outside.

This book takes us through Philippians 4: 1-9

Chapter three reminds us

to rest on a confident faith in the Lord.

An awareness of the Lord's presence

keeps our minds and hearts from 

becoming anxious or unstable.

In this chapter the Lord revealed to Habakkuk

that his nation was going to face God's judgment.

Devastation was coming at the hands of 

the dreaded Chaldeans who would be

used by God to punish the wayward nation.

Habakkuk trembled at this news.

In his great fear and sorrow he 

found comfort in remembering 

*what He knew to be true about God.*

*He is eternal

*He is self existent

*He is holy

*He is faithful

*He is almighty

Perhaps Habakkuk was thinking,

"Everything I know about You, Lord,

tells me to stop worrying about this problem.

I don't understand it, but I don't need to. 

In fact, my mind is too

small to do so, and it was pride 

that led me to think I could."

He learned that the righteous

must live by faith.

Even if he lost everything

He knew he must place his faith in God.

He knew God would give him the

ability to walk in peace and hope 

despite the sorrows of life.

Habakkuk 3:17-19

The Lord is near.

We are to delight in Him

and meditate on His Word.

God can handle everything in your life.

His peace can be yours always.

His love for you never falters or fails.

Your problems and needs are not

greater than God's ability to meet those needs.

If you are His child you are to 

rest, moment by moment, in His

strong arms of love,

Worry and anxiety

add nothing to this day.

They cannot calm your heart.

Trusting Jesus is the balm 

your heart longs for.

Sitting at His feet 

and meditating on His promises

will bring relief from the worries of your heart.

Our hymn this week is

Living For Jesus.

Written by Thomas Chisholm 1917

How To Clean A Refrigerator

 

"Whatever your hands find to do,

do it with all your might."

Ecclesiastes 9:10

This Scripture emphasizes the 

importance of doing our work with

diligence and wholehearted effort.

Oftentimes a homemaker may

feel that the common duties of her day 

aren't that important.

However that is far from the truth.

I love the words of Elisabeth Elliot

concerning any job 

the Lord has given us to do....

"This job has been given to me to do.

Therefore, it is a gift.

Therefore, it is a privilege.

Therefore, it is an offering 

I may make to God.

Therefore, it is to be done gladly,

if it is done to Him.

Here, not somewhere else,

I may learn God's way.

In this job, not in some other,

God looks for faithfulness."

Many of us know how to clean 

a refrigerator, but there may be some

who are new to this task or who 

want to learn a bit more 

about deep cleaning.

I begin this task by pulling the 

refrigerator completely away from the 

wall so I can vacuum thoroughly.

Then I scrub the floor with

my nice smelling lemon

verbena cleaner and soapy water.

I get this at Home Goods...

I remove the back from my UNPLUGGED

refrigerator to wipe down the motor, the

floor and surrounding areas as they usually

have dust hidden all about...

After this I wipe

down the plug and plug it in again....

I use 409 degreaser to clean the top....

The homemade basket below

was made by a precious elderly

woman I met a few years ago.

I keep it on top of

my refrigerator and fill it with pine cones.

I dust them all a bit

before returning to the top...

The floral plastic mats

I use inside the refrigerator below

are made by Pioneer Woman.

I get them at WalMart.

They keep the glass shelves

safe and are easily removed

to wash in soapy water...

Below I remove the 

vegetable bins and wash them

in the sink, then I scrub the bin

area in hot soapy water...

I line the clean bin

drawers with a soft towel 

or an old cloth place mat

before placing the veggies in..

it's nice when it's all clean

and filled with good food..

And there we are..

a sparkly clean refrigerator.

If you're wondering how

I attach the homemade quilt 

to the front, I use glue sticks.

It doesn't harm the refrigerator

and the quilt can be washed 

if I remove it from the front....

Homemaking is an art

if it is done right.

If we are keeping a tidy home

 we will never run out of work.

God bless you as 

you care for your homes

in a manner that glorifies Him.

Just For Today

 

Looking out my kitchen window

this warm August morning.

I awoke this early morn

with some concerns on my heart.

I sat with the Lord and shared

all that I was thinking,

and 

over thinking.

The Lord reminded me 

that since He is in control of

every aspect of my life

I should let go of the overthinking

and go on and take care of 

what I am in control of this day.

Philippians 4:6-7

That is so comforting to my heart.

I can prepare a meal for my family,

do my laundry, water my garden, and

vacuum my floors and just  take a 

stroll through my yard while leaving

all my concerns in His hands.

There are a few flowers left

after the heat wave to pick and enjoy.

There are butterflies flitting about

and birds chirping on the fence line

and in the trees for my enjoyment.

I just need to focus on what

is mine to care for here in my home.

All that lies outside my care

I can do nothing about but pray,

and that has been done,

so I am able now to focus

on things that belong to just this day.

Late Summer is such a beautiful season.

I love the subtle change of color

in the trees as we tip toe into Autumn...

The shadows are lengthening

the days are shortening....

All is in His hands.

In His perfect timing

changes come that He controls.

I am just His guest on this earth.

soon I will be home with Him forever.

Knowing this

I am free to simply care for

the duties He gives me daily

and to do them to His glory.

I am not called to worry over

what I cannot do, but to enjoy

watching His plans unfurl.

I don't need to know more than 

I need to know about things that

He has control over.

I just need to do today

the things I am responsible for,

and to use wisely what He has

provided for my family and I to enjoy.

I am not to worry over tomorrow

or concern my thoughts with what

takes place outside my realm.

"Do not worry about your life,

what you will eat or drink,

or about your body,

what you will wear.

Is not life more than food,

and the body more than clothes?

Look at the birds of the air,

they do not show or reap 

or stow away in barns,

and yet your heavenly Father

feeds them. Can any of you 

by worrying add a 

single hour to your life?"

Matthew 6:25-34

We aren't helping ourselves if we allow

our minds to wander and wonder

over things outside of our control.

Whether this be finances, family,

or world affairs.

We are small.

God is all powerful.

We cast all our cares upon Him.

He is able to do 

exceedingly and abundantly

above all we ask or imagine.

So...

just for today,

and then again tomorrow,

I will take care to 

focus on my assigned portion

and enjoy the blessings of this

beautiful day.