Sweet refreshment for the soul.....

This is a photo of the beautiful koi in our friend Jack's pond.... Our family loves this dear man and his wife so much.... they are like precious family to us!!
The other evening I was in my room at my Grandmother's house.... and, I am ashamed to say, I was fretting and worrying about my finances among other things..... So I just began to talk softly to my best Friend... for He is with me all the time..... Oh I love Him so much.......Anyway, I was telling Him about my worries and fears..... and about my fear for the future.... and I said rather doubtfully: "But I know You will take care of me Lord...". and I sat down on the bed and opened His Word..... and, wouldn't you know it..... I opened my Bible up, and there was Luke chapter 8!!  And a portion of verse 25 just leaped off the page at my eyes......it was written in red.... "Where is your faith?" And I just froze for a moment and let it sink in...... And then I backed up and read from verse 22:
Luke 8:
22: "Now it came to pass on a certain day, that he went into a ship with his disciples: and he said unto them, Let us go over unto the other side of the lake.  And they launched forth.
23: "But as they sailed he fell asleep: and there came down a storm of wind on the lake; and they were filled with water, and were in jeopardy.
24: "And they came to him, and awoke him, saying, Master, master, we perish.  Then he arose, and rebuked the wind and the raging of the water: and they ceased, and there was a calm.
25: "And he said unto them, Where is your faith? And they being afraid wondered, saying one to another, What manner of man is this! for he commandeth even the winds and water, and they obey him."

Tears began to flow, dear friends..... as I began to think about the kind of God He is.... He is Awesome and Mighty, and He can handle all of my problems and my struggles....Even the wind and the waves must obey His Command!  So I just sort of flipped the pages over, and wouldn't you know it!! My Beloved Friend had some more good thoughts for me to take to heart, to gain Strength from..... for I glanced down and it was Luke chapter 12, verses 22 - 32...... and as it registered in my mind.... my heart just leaped with Joy!!
Luke 12:
22: "And he said unto his disciples, Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat; neither for the body, what ye shall put on.
23: "The life is more than meat, and the body is more than raiment.
24: "Consider the ravens: for they neither sow nor reap; which neither have storehouse nor barn; and God feedeth them: how much more are ye better than the fowls?
25: "And which of you with taking thought can add to his stature one cubit?
26: " If ye then be not able to do that thing which is least, why take ye thought for the rest?
27: "Consider the lilies how they grow: they toil not, they spin not; and yet I say unto you, that Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.
28: "If then God so clothe the grass, which is to day in the field, and tomorrow is cast into the oven; how much more will he clothe you, O ye of little faith?
29: "And seek not ye what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink, neither be ye of doubtful mind.
30: "For all these things do the nations of the world seek after: and your Father knoweth that ye have need of these things.
31: "But rather seek ye the kingdom of God; and all these things shall be added unto you.
32: "Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom."

So I just wept and basked in His closeness and care and comfort..... why should I worry?  He is God and He has it all under His control!!  We can go to Him at any time with our concerns and burdens and fears and He is glad to lift them from our shoulders.......
And, wouldn't you know it?  a few days later, my Dad got a job after having been without one since March.......(and this was one of those little issues I had been fretting needlessly over)
My heart is filled with Praise for my Savior, Jesus Christ!  He is Jehovah God!  He is  so GOOD! 
I know this was a lengthy post, but I just HAD to share His Goodness with y'all!

Refreshing thoughts about my "Keeper"....

This week, Psalm 121 has been on my heart......

Psalm 121:
1: I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help.
2: My help cometh from the LORD, which made heaven and earth.
3: He will not suffer thy foot to be moved: he that keepeth thee will not slumber.
4: Behold, he that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep.
5: The LORD is thy keeper: the LORD is thy shade upon thy right hand. 
6: The sun shall not smite thee by day, nor the moon by night.
7: The LORD shall preserve thee from all evil: he shall preserve thy soul.
8: The LORD shall preserve thy going out and thy coming in, from this time forth and even for evermore.

The Lord brought something to my attention this week, and I just wanted to share it with y'all.... Do you notice how many times the word: "keeper" or "keepeth" is used in this Psalm? Well, I was over at my grandmother's one day this week, and it occured to me, how that I was up all hours of the night, listening for her every call, and how that I would peek in on her while she slept just to make certain she was ok, and how that when she was awake I would make sure she had everything that she needed, and was watching over her so vigilantly..... I was in effect, "keeping" her..... and I thought how that a mother will "keep" her little baby...... she listens for it's every whimper.... her ears are attuned to the slightest cry from that child.... she makes sure the baby is fed and taken care of, and allows no danger or harm to come to it......and I thought about how that my Mom and I, and my Grandma's home health care provider are watching over her so diligently..... making certain Grannie doesn't fall.... Making sure she doesn't accidently harm herself by taking the wrong medication ..... we are "keeping" her......
This Psalm tells us over and over how that the Lord Jesus, who is Jehovah God, is our "Keeper".....isn't that beautiful?  I could imagine Him listening attentively all hours of the night or day to our every cry....keeping us from harm and danger..... watching over us while we sleep... (because He NEVER slumbers or sleeps) and also making sure that our needs are met every day......
How He loves His children......and how I love Him.... I am so thankful that He is not only my "keeper", He is my everything......

A little bit crafty...




This is the finished product

 


This is the shade before photo, cute, but you know me!

 

Hello dear friends!  As you know, I have been busy, working, and also sitting with my grandmother day and night, as she gets stronger after having been in the hospital.  So I haven't had much time to enjoy crafting.... but I was finally able to do a little bit the other night as she slept..... so I thought I'd share the before and after photos with y'all..... 

I wanted to add a night light to my bathroom, and knew what I had in mind, but couldn't find what I wanted, so decided to come up with my own style..... I ordered a plain green gingham checked shaded one from Ebay..... it was from a  great store called:  Handmade With Love by Cathy..... and was cute just as it was...I got awesome service and fast shipping, too...  I decided  to add my own touch to it, though, and so added some beading to the bottom with hot glue, and "gussied up" a red ribbon rose pin I had got from Meadowstreet.com...... and glued it to the shade..... I was happy with the results.... and it was fun to craft something again!

I hope you are all having a wonderful weekend, and that the week ahead is rich with reminders that God loves you!

Hugs,

Jenni

Happy Fourth of July!!!

(This is a photo of my sweet Annalee patriotic mice, posing by a red white and blue bouquet)

I hope y'all have a wonderful July the Fourth!  Are you going to have a cookout, or maybe see some fireworks?  We are, and I am looking forward to it...... I sat in my car today and listened, REALLY listened to John Phillip Sousa's Stars and Stripes Forever..... I tried to pick out the different instruments as they joined in; paying special attention to the different melodic passages and the harmonies...... WOW!  When you hear those crashing cymbals, it really is thrilling!  I am so thankful for my beloved America.  As the song "America the Beautiful" says: "may God shed His Grace on  thee, and crown thy good, with brotherhood...... from sea to shining sea!"

Hugs,
Jenni

It's been a while!

Hello, precious friends of my heart!  It seems like forever since I have been able to blog..... I have been helping care for my grandmother, (who is making some progress and doing better) and my heart is full of Praise for my Jesus!  He has brought us through so many things in the last few months......
I have been teaching piano,  and working on lots of music for different people that need different songs for one reason or another....... and I have been attending  wonderful revival services at our church....... where many have been saved, delivered, and healed.........

Some news of a personal nature...... slept on my new, sealy posture pedic mattress for the first time yesterday, after staying up all night with my grandmother..... and it was awesome...... like sleeping on a cloud!  when I woke up, my poor old back didn't know what to do...... because it didn't have crick in it! LOL!

Whew!  It has been sooooo hot here in this part of Texas...... I just saw on the 'net that Texas has broken a record for the usage of power in the month of June....... thank God for air conditioning....... I stepped outside yesterday at one point and it literally felt like stepping into a blast of hot air from a heater set on high!

I hope things are going well for you and your loved ones..... are you having a good summer?  Sorry I haven't gotten to visit with y'all lately on my favorite blogs..... but I miss y'all and think of you and pray for you often...... will try to visit soon and see what's new with you.......

Hugs,
Jenni

He's so good, just gotta share it!

Well, dear ones, I have been fretting and worrying this week!  I had misplaced something that I use when teaching; it is really important to me!  I use it all the time...... so, this week I have looked and hunted and searched and wracked my brain trying to figure out where it was.........I asked my family if they had seen it.......and I thought and thought some more, and doubled back over all the places I had looked and searched....... and could NOT find it..............

It was bugging me!  And I needed it.........

Last night, I talked to the Lord about it..........I said "Lord, you can see it!  You know right where it is!  Please help me find it; please show me where it is! In Jesus' Name!"

I sat up all night with my Grandmother (who is still recovering from the last hospital stay) and then came home this morning to sleep....... After I lay down, I had a dream!  In the dream, I saw a bag, such as I carry my teaching supplies in........and I heard someone in the dream telling me "You transferred it to another bag.  It's in a different bag."

When I woke up, I remembered one place I had not looked, and sure enough, found a bag there that I had not looked in!  As I went to peek inside, I had the thought: "You transferred it to another bag, and it's in THIS bag..."

And there it was!

Now, to some people, this would sound silly! To some, it would even seem ridiculous to tell a little story such as this....... But, dear friends...... if you have been reading my blog very long..... you know I love bragging on Jesus!  He's my best friend! So I am thanking Him today for helping find this lost item..... Thank You Lord, You are Amazing!

Proverbs 15:30 says: "...a good report maketh the bones fat."

I believe that is indicating that when we hear good reports of what the Lord has done, it strengthens us and makes us Spiritually strong and healthy!  So I just had to share this with you all today!

Back to Bethel with all my heart......

       (This is a photo I took of a Magnolia Tree recently at Kemah)

As I reflect on a discussion I had with a dear student this week.....a song is on my heart.....

Draw me nearer,
Nearer blessed Lord
To the Cross
Where Thou hast died
Draw me nearer,
Nearer blessed Lord.....
To Thy Precious Bleeding side

My student and I were talking about  the story of Jacob's ladder, found in Genesis chapter 28.  And how that Jacob came to a special place as he was fleeing from the wrath of his brother Esau, after he had taken the blessing from Esau that was meant for the older son..... The Bible tells us in verse 11 of chapter 28,  that Jacob: "lighted upon a certain place, and tarried there all night, because the sun was set; and he took of the stones of that place, and put them for his pillows, and lay down in that place to sleep."

 Then Jacob has a dream of a ladder reaching up to heaven, with God's angel's ascending and descending upon it...... and then, the Lord God speaks to Jacob and gives some very important and precious promises to him.......and Jacob wakes from his slumber and says in verse 16: "Surely the LORD is in this place; and I knew it not." Verse 17 goes on: "And he was afraid, and said, How dreadful is this place! this is none other but the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven." And then Jacob set up the stone he had used for his pillow as a pillar and poured oil upon it.... consecrating it as an altar.... and he named it "Beth'-el",  which means "the house of God".....

Jacob was dedicating and consecrating himself to God, there is no doubt about that...... but he wasn't truly and completely changed until  he came to another special place of consecration as he was returning to his homeland, many years later..... and  wrestled with the angel until the breaking of the day, desiring a blessing from God...... the angel touched the hollow of Jacob's thigh..... and it caused him to limp for the rest of his life...... and he recieved a new name..... he was called "Israel" , for the angel in verse 28 of Genesis chapter 32 says: "Thy name shall be called no more Jacob, but Israel:  for as a prince hast thou power with with God and with men, and hast prevailed." And Jacob named this place "Peniel" which means "the face of God"..... Verse 30 tells us: "And Jacob called the name of the place Peniel : for I have seen God face to face, and my life is preserved."

I have been reflecting, dear friends, on times of consecration in my life.... times when I was completely and passionately dedicated to seeking God... doing my best to draw near to him.... what precious times of prayer and fasting they were! Oh how rich was the Glory of His dear presence.... how I would linger in prayer for hours......... and how He blessed me........what glorious memories I have of these times.... but I realize I cannot stop and rest on the experiences of the past....... I've got to return to those Beth-el and Peniel places in my life..... Oh I must consecrate again!  I must get beneath a surface relationship!  I must rediscover the passion! The Dedication! The seeking of God's face!  I cannot allow the things of life to side track me...... that is the enemy's dirty business, you know....  To let the cares of life overtake and choke the consecration, the prayer life, the fasting, the reading of God's Word, and the dedication out of the lives of God's children......

James 4:8 says: "Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you....."  I've got to go back to Beth'el and to Peniel with all my heart..... and I know without doubt Jesus is waiting for me there.... how about you, precious friend.  Will you go too? 

A sweet gift for a sweet Mom

Here are some pics of the gift bag and card I crafted for my Mother for Mother's Day......

Goodness!  Things have been so busy here in my part of the world..... The good news is that I am definitely on the mend from pnuemonia, and, though my grandmother had to go into skilled nursing for a while, she is doing better and getting stronger.  She was having such terrible pain in her lower back that the doctor decided to have an MRI and some X - rays done.  We haven't heard the results yet, but hope he will tell us something on Monday.....
Friday evening was a bit of fun in the midst of all the hectic pace.... my sister and brother - in - law, and I were able to go eat with a precious friend and her husband and two darling children..... they go to our church, and it was her birthday..... she wanted to eat at a Mexican resteraunt that we all enjoy....Her baby girl is a hoot - and a - half!  She is so entertaining,  I jokingly told our friends they should charge people for the entertainment Haven provides when they go out to eat....
Well, it is Mother's Day again, and, yet again, I am so very thankful to God for my dear Mother..... She is so precious to me....... He blessed me beyond measure by making her my own wonderful Mom.....
I wish all of you, my sweet blogging friends, a "Happy Mother's Day!"  I hope this day gives you a glimpse of how much you are loved.........
And a Big "Thank you" to all of you who left encouraging comments and prayed for me......
Hugs,
Jenni