I know I have been absent for a long time and have been sparse all this last year but I have a reason for this absence. The Lord has called me to be away , he has been teaching me A LOT and it will be just for a bit longer. We are going in a couple of weeks to see my family, some friends. I can't wait to see them all but so happy we will get to see my 1ds and bride, which we haven't seen for almost a year. ( too long) I am in the midst of posting a picture post of what is happening in the garden and kitchen. I am praying it will happen in a day or two but if not...it is coming. Miss you all tons!
The retreat was such a amazing time for me. I was a changed person with a changed heart after all said and done.
I went in with a heart that had become a bit dry and crusty from worrying about life. Kind of like the ground in the picture above. To a heart that had been cultivated, watered, and new seed was planted. I didn't realize how much pride had snuck into my heart. I wasn't where I was suppose to be in my walk with the Lord. I knew something wasn't right but I didn't know exactly what it was. I had become too self reliant instead of relying on the Lord fully for everything, even my attitude.
Kim Blackaby was our speaker for the week end and what a blessing she was. Her message for the week end was "What are You Waiting For?" She went over ...
What does it mean to wait on God and what are you waiting for?
How do we know when to move and when to wait?
What are the consequences of not waiting?
How do we hear God?
The issue that God showed me was I was waiting for...was "Rescue" and " longings to be fulfilled". Psalms 38:9-5
Rescue:
Psalm 37:5-9
New King James Version (NKJV)
5 Commit your way to the Lord, Trust also in Him, And He shall bring it to pass. 6 He shall bring forth your righteousness as the light, And your justice as the noonday.
7 Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for Him; Do not fret because of him who prospers in his way, Because of the man who brings wicked schemes to pass. 8 Cease from anger, and forsake wrath; Do not fret—it only causes harm.
9 For evildoers shall be cut off; But those who wait on the Lord, They shall inherit the earth.
Psalm 27:13-14
New King James Version (NKJV)
13 I would have lost heart, unless I had believed That I would see the goodness of the Lord In the land of the living.
14 Wait on the Lord; Be of good courage, And He shall strengthen your heart; Wait, I say, on the Lord!
Isaiah 41:10
New King James Version (NKJV)
10 Fear not, for I am with you; Be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, Yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.’
Longings Fulfilled:
Psalm 68:5-6
New King James Version (NKJV)
5 A father of the fatherless, a defender of widows, Is God in His holy habitation. 6 God sets the solitary in families; He brings out those who are bound into prosperity; But the rebellious dwell in a dry land.
Psalm 38:9-15
New King James Version (NKJV)
9 Lord, all my desire is before You; And my sighing is not hidden from You. 10 My heart pants, my strength fails me; As for the light of my eyes, it also has gone from me.
11 My loved ones and my friends stand aloof from my plague, And my relatives stand afar off. 12 Those also who seek my life lay snares for me; Those who seek my hurt speak of destruction, And plan deception all the day long.
13 But I, like a deaf man, do not hear; And I am like a mute who does not open his mouth. 14 Thus I am like a man who does not hear, And in whose mouth is no response.
15 For in You, O Lord, I hope; You will hear, O Lord my God.
The Lord showed me that I needed to keep doing good (what he has called us last to do and keep doing it till He tells us different) and what I am called to and be still and know that He will provide what is needed. Our attitude is so very important and we need to be still...rest in the Lord and let go of the tight grip of being in control of our life. And when we are angry we need talk it out with God and not hold back, work it out with God. Then rest and trust in Him. We are to trust in His character, ways, and timing. I know that is so much easier to say than do. I am a testimony to that! Also we are to stay before the Lord in the word, in prayer constantly and with others. I learned too that God is preparing me/us in our situation for what He wants to accomplish.
He sees our needs...Psalms 31:7
He hears our cry's ...Psalms 116:1
He sustains and strengthens...Isaiah 40:30-31, Psalms 18:1-2
He produces spiritual fruit in us Psalms 4:7-8
I Learned that patience is to tough it out, preserve when it isn't easy. To remember to keep coming back to the Lord and let Him build strength up in us. If we are being impatient then we are not relying on Him and way too much on our own strength. I also learned I need to expect to see God in my circumstance and search for Him. If I expect to see Him He will show up! Once I stop expecting I need to stop and ask the Lord to renew my heart and faith in Him. That is exactly what happened that week end, my heart was renewed. Thank you Lord.
Psalm 5:3
New King James Version (NKJV)
3 My voice You shall hear in the morning, O Lord; In the morning I will direct it to You, And I will look up.
The Lord drove all these lessons home with a incident during the free time on Saturday. I was asked to teach a beading class that week-end and I thought I had brought all my tools and supplies. But I forgot my beading tool kit. I didn't realize it till just before when I was gathering my supplies to teach. I had a feeling to check my bead bag for my tool kit and it was not there. That was the last straw that broke the camels back. I just crumpled to the ground crying. I had prepped all week to go to this retreat and felt this was my part to give. It was for me to give but I was doing it on my power. The Lord showed me that we are to do what he has called us to do but then He will provide when we are not able. My friend Bernie that was there in the cabin just happened to bring her needle nose pliers for the class and offered it. That gave me a bit of hope that I could still teach how to make the beaded bookmarks. As I pulled myself back together and all my supplies too. While I was pulling myself together Bernie went to one of the workers at the camp and borrowed some wire cutters and another needle nose pliers. That was just enough of what we needed. God is SO good! This was such a parallel to my financial situation. that I shared HERE. But this time the Lord showed me Him in the story.
Also there was provided lots of good tasting food and we were very spoiled. It feels so good sometimes to be waited on. [o= Plus there was AMAZING singing and fellowship. I was soooooooo very blessed indeed. I feel like a new woman! And my strength has been renewed.
(I am the one on the right)
This is the song I woke up to Saturday morning singing in my heart. Sometimes the Lord gives me songs to wake up to and I know they are from Him. They always speak into my heart and what I am working through. I hope this song blesses you as it did me.
Until I can get out my post(s) about my week-end I hope this will help you wait a bit . There is so much I want to share and I don't want to rush it, before I am really able to really share. I am hoping tomorrow but please be patient with me if it takes a couple of days.
The last few months I guess you can say I have stuck my head in the sand and I was at a (somewhat) stand still, emotionally. ( and blogging too) I have been a very frugal gal for many many many years but with the cost of living going up and UP it made things harder. What use to be a bit of lee-way, isn't so much lately. That kind of put me in a tail-spin and I have really struggled inside. I have to admit I wasn't relying on the Lord the way I should have been, I was kind of mad at Him. It was not consciously but subconsciously. I have been running over in my head over and over how can I create some ease back into our finances and I wasn't coming up with much. I had for years said that I have cut so many corners that I am down to a circle. My prayer lately has been..." Lord was please show me how I can be creative and cut some more corners to create some ease". He did give me a few ideas and then I really hit a wall. Even with all that I had done we were still having struggles. Now I have to say right here and now I am not whining and my hubby is the most AMAZING man and provider. I had a very hard time thinking about sharing this but the Lord prompted me to share more of my story. I am also asking for prayer to keep my chin up. I felt I was to share because there are so many others out there who are going through the same kind of feelings and probably more.
A very dear friend shared with me that I should share to encourage others and to be encouraged. I need to look at this as I have tried for many years as a ... good challenge. Lord , let it not lead me to stick my head in the sand but to keep my eyes lifted to the mountains and know where my strength comes from. It is from God.
I will be posting about how the Lord is showing me and my family how to live within our means, whatever that is during the coming days. If you have things to share with me/us please do!
I am wife to a waiter and our income fluctuates constantly and what I can afford certain times of the year is different than other times. I want to show snippets of projects around the homestead and maybe it will inspire someone else. I pray that it will show how we have a giving and loving God. And how He does provide for our needs. (and some of our wants too)
I am a person who is very busy in the kitchen and tries to be the Gardener's helper. I am working on ways to not be the reluctant gardener that I had been in the past. How He has been leading me to come along side my sweetheart and be his helpmeet. What a journey the Lord has lead me on, thank you Lord.
The Lord is teaching me how to harvest from the wild or to grow herbs and plants to make supplements instead of buying them to save money. This year for the first time I have harvested and dried horsetail to make into a tea for silica. Silica helps with strong nails, hair, and healthy skin. For information go HERE & HERE . This is a plant that likes shaded marshy areas and we just happen to have it growing on our homestead. I have stored it in a gallon glass jar in a dark place (our pantry) to use it through out this year.
I am just about done with my 2ds's second sock. ((happy dance)) I am casting off the toe this week-end. I am also going through my yarn and busting my stash. I have now used up all my cotton craft yarn by making up scrappy dish clothes. Not only is the yarn not going to waste ( that I have had for the last 15 yrs) but I now have a whole bunch of new dish clothes, such a blessing during dish washing times.
Another thing that has been keeping me very busy is the garden. My job to help the Gardener is to start a lot of the starter plants from seed on the plant table. And then transplant them to bigger pots to grow big enough to then transplant to the garden, for a head start. Our growing season is short and is only 90 days. Everything counts.
I am sad to say this year I am a bit behind in my job. ((sigh)) But at the same token it has been a very cool spring. This morning it was in the low 40's and we are still getting a very cool draft down the mountain. So time wise I am okay I guess. [o;
Okay, I think I will share one last picture of our homestead, a song that spoke to my heart, and sign off so I won't turn this post into a book.
It is sooooooooo nice when one of my boys finds a singer or group that has a strong faith in our Lord. And Owl City is one of them. He boldly talked about his faith and is such a wonderful witness to this generation. He has such a wonderful voice too. I hope this blesses you as much as it does me.
