Quote for the day

Duty of Encouragement . . . . . . . . . . . . . William Barclay, Daily Study Bible, “Letter to Hebrews,” p. 137-138

“One of the highest of human duties is the duty of encouragement.…It is easy to laugh at men’s ideals; it is easy to pour cold water on their enthusiasm; it is easy to discourage others. The world is full of discouragers. We have a Christian duty to encourage one another. Many a time a word of praise or thanks or appreciation or cheer has kept a man on his feet. Blessed is the man who speaks such a word.

”

We Did It

We canned 8 qts tomatoes and 5 qts pickles and 1 qt juice for Pastor Gary. The temperatures outside were well over 100 and inside was a little hot as well. We were so joyful and happy that we could remember the lessons our Mother and Grandmother has taught us related to this craft. Thanks for the encouragement you gave us to do this.

Take a look at our ‘show-off’ results.
Cukes For Pickling-1Peeling Tomatoes

Pickles 1Hot Water Bath!

Making Tomato JuiceGetting Started

Continue reading “We Did It”

Home Canned Tomatoes

There’s nothing like being able to reach for a jar of home canned tomatoes from your own cupboard on a wintry day when you want to make chili or spaghetti. Years ago I did quite a bit of canning as I didn’t have a freezer and I wanted to make good use of my small garden’s harvest and the vegetables and fruits that neighbors shared. Seasons of life and circumstances changed and I let the canning fall by the wayside. However, when doing some cleaning in my garage this spring, I found a box of canning jars from days gone by. Instead of throwing them out, I said, ‘I may need these this summer.’ Sure enough I am going to use them.
This year I experimented by planting tomatoes in 15 gallon black nursery containers in April and growing them in the greenhouse, fertilizing regularly. Results…jungle plants! And as a by-product, lots of tomatoes. So my friend, Rena, and I will try our hand at canning some this week
Tomato VinesTomatoes In Basket

.
Continue reading “Home Canned Tomatoes”

Ancient Fellow-my friend

I have become enamored of a very ancient fellow. He has captured my heart. He has made my soul tremble, anew. He has presented me with didactic instruction and unlike the intimate, captivating allure of SONG OF SOLOMON, this message from my wise, elderly, prophetic herdsman and the tender of Sycamore trees, STAYS me in my tracks. He has spoken directly to me. He has checked me in my path. He speaks not like the romantic, glorious descriptions of the ‘shadow” of our Beloved Christ, as in The Song of Songs. But this man puts a mirror before me, a looking glass and I see NOT quite darkly but quite discerningly. This old fellow is , well, not scary but definitely terrifying!

Continue reading “Ancient Fellow-my friend”

Advocate EQUALS Peace

John 14:26-27 “But when the Father sends the Advocate as my representative-this is, the Holy Spirit-he will teach you everything and will remind you of everything I have told you. 27 “I am leaving you with a gift-peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid.”

Board Game-1(photo by Debi, painting of Lily by Rena)
SOS says “…I AM the Lily (the peace) of your valleys”

(Footnotes : 14:26 Jesus promised the disciples that the Holy Spirit would help them to remember what he had been teaching them. This promise ensures the validity of the New Testament. The disciples were eyewitnesses of Jesus’ life and teachings, and the Holy Spirit helped them remember without taking away their individual perspectives.

Continue reading “Advocate EQUALS Peace”

HAPPY AM I

Matthew 5:2-10
Then He (Jesus) opened His mouth and taught them, saying:

Blessed (happy, [a]to be envied, and [b]spiritually prosperous–[c]with life-joy and satisfaction in God’s favor and salvation, regardless of their outward conditions) are the poor in spirit (the humble, who rate themselves insignificant), for theirs is the kingdom of heaven!

Blessed and enviably happy [with a [d]happiness produced by the experience of God’s favor and especially conditioned by the revelation of His matchless grace] are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted

Continue reading “HAPPY AM I”