bidding summer farewell.

We are bidding summer farewell and welcoming fall and all it dainties. From warm drinks, falling leaves, cozy sweaters, and beautiful hues. It's definitely been a tremendous summer and one that is pretty much impossible to forget.

|| humblest things ||

the power of finding beauty in the humblest things makes home happy and life lovely.

louisa may alcott 

|| g i f t s ||

time alone spent in silence and reflection,

may be on of life's most precious

and under-appreciated gifts.

|| love of Jesus Christ ||

i believe any dwelling can be made a home.

any brokenness can be made whole.

and any life can be made sweet...

when transformed by the || love of Jesus Christ ||

|| b l i s s ||

blue skies + fluffy clouds + 75 degree weather + country side + flowers + creeks + red barns + tractors = bliss

lots of more unedited photographs || here ||

//thankful for...//

Caroline, Blanche, Daniel, David, Grandma Ruby, and John 

...I am also thankful for old stoves, warm hearts, worn hands, twinkling eyes, and easy smiles. Folks who have spent their whole life loving their families, where sacrifice is never a question, but an immediate reaction whenever possible. People who have chosen to love others more than themselves, and to stop the world if a neighbor is in need. I'm thankful for neighbors and front porches and rocking chairs and the steady tick-tock of old clocks. 

{Christy Jordan}

{q u o t a t i o n}

"In contrast to the wise woman, the foolish woman is not content to be a keeper at home. She is not satisfied with where God has put her. One of the things the feminist movement has done so successfully is to stir up discontent in women with being homemakers and to convince them that other pursuits can increase their sense of self-worth… Fueling discontent and pushing women out of their homes in search of greater meaning and satisfaction has resulted in off-the-chart stress levels for many women who can no longer survive without pills and therapists… The greatest spiritual, moral, and emotional protection a woman will ever experience is found when she is content to stay within her God-appointed sphere. This does not mean that she never leaves her house, but rather that her heart is rooted in her home and that she puts her family’s needs above all other interests and pursuits."

~Nancy Leigh DeMoss

{Liv, Anna, and I...years ago} 

Now I see us growing up, and how scary that can be, but always I'll remember all our dear, old memories.

{simple, unimportant, down right plain}

Some things which may seem 

too

{simple}

or 

{unimportant} 

or even just 

{down right plain} 

those things are really every bit as important, 

and every bit as beautiful as the 

{most magnificent things}.

*JBW

{Walton Wisdom}

 I don't believe a person should have more then what they know to do with. I believe a body should earn his livin' by the sweat of his brow. 

{Grandpa Walton} 

Memories are important. You can't take those away. 

{Grandma Walton} 

*taken from season two, episode "the heritage" 

{Enjoy}

It's so easy to look over the little things in life...

{the leaves turning colors}

{the hugs of little ones} 

{walking in a room to find my ma, just to talk} 

{making music with my brother} 

{sitting around the table after church on Sunday nights} 

{spending a day thrift shopping with my ma} 

{etc.} 

...and it's so easy to get caught up in wanting future things to be here...

{getting that diploma} 

{summer plans} 

{getting married} 

{starting a family} 

... I have been realizing lately how much I will miss those things. Soon...

{there will be no leaves on the tree showing the autumns beauty} 

{the little ones will grow up}

{i won't always share a house with my ma} 

{my brother won't always be in the same house} 

{my time with my family won't last forever}

{I may have to thrift shop alone} 

...I look forward to the future. New things. Exciting chapters. But oh how I cherish these little things.  

{Life is so short}

James 4:14 KJV

[14] Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.

Enjoy and cherish your precious life that God has given you! Don't rush ahead to the next thing, when God has so much in store for you right now!! 

Lord,to Thee I dedicate myself.

 Oh accept of me 

and let me be Thine forever. 

Lord I desire nothing else,

I deserve nothing more. 

-David Brainerd 

{The Will of God}

{jar of flowers on grandma's counter}

To know the will of God is the greatest knowledge,

To find the will of God is the greatest discovery,

To do the will of God is the greatest privilege.

~Truett  

"Not one of us is "called" to live the self-indulgent,pleasure-seeking,comfort-craving life of the typical American Christian. If you think that God has called you to merely live in a nice house with a well-paying job and be part of a Bible study group,then you aren't very familiar with what His Word says. It's not that living in a nice house,having a well-paying job,or joining a Bible study is wrong. But those things are not the essence of the Christian life. 

There is a sacred claim upon each of our lives that is not to be ignored. Christ makes us whole so that we can be poured out for Him. Not once a year. Not even two or three times a week. He has called us to be a living sacrifice-to live a lifestyle of serving and sacrifice for His kingdom."

-Set Apart Femininity 

{What is the Difference?}

What is the difference between a youth group that is on fire for the Lord and one that is not? It's not their youth pastor,it's not their church,it's not their pastor. Let me tell you what it is. It's their relationship to the Holy Spirit of God and to the Word of God while it is being preached. 

Jerry Ross 

Let Your Light So Shine

My pastor recently started preaching a series on Sunday mornings called "For God's Glory,By God's Grace."

 The messages have been really good. One of the verses that he used has been continually brought back to my mind. 

Let your light so shine before men,that they may see your good works,and glorify your Father which is in heaven. Matthew 5:16

One of the points in the first sermon in this series was this:

The Glory of God Includes Perception 

What kind of perception are you giving people of God? Is it drawing others to Him? Is it turning others away? 

This really challenged me...my response to circumstances can affect people's view of my God. Like at work. Sometimes there are problems that come up at work that I have to deal with. it would be extremely easy for me to just get frustrated and complain about it,but lately I have been watching how I respond to situations like these. I am constantly reminded of Matthew 5:16. Would I be setting an example that would draw others to Christ if I got upset just like the rest of them? 

During his second message in this series he made this point :

Your Righteous Fruit Will Plant the Gospel Seed 

He said that your life should be lived in such a way that others see it and want the same thing!! So again I am challenged this week to always be consciously aware of what kind of representation of my God I am making. I must be glorifying God even when the less-than-perfect circumstances come up. 

There is a quote and it goes like this:

Be careful how you live,you will be the only Bible some people will ever read. 

How are you representing your Saviour? 

Can others see Jesus in you? 

Shattered

You know the best thing that could happenend in your life would be your loving Heavenly Father to delightfully shatter your world with the incredible delight of His presence,His love,and His plan. In that moment, whatever has your attention would instantly fade in comparison to the captivating wonder of His greatness.

I truly wish you would stand at His feet- eyes wide, jaw dropped- and stare in wonder at His overwhelming goodness. I wish you would sense His incomparable care and His undeniable infatuation with you. I wish you would see that you have "caught His eye"- that you have "captivated His attention." I wish you would spin around and be delightfully surprised by His wonder and majesty.

In that moment,you would most certainly reach out to Him in total trust and surrender. You would be absolutely taken hostage by His kindness and grace. You would reach up in childlike innocence and say "I yuv you!" One true glimpse would cause you to quickly leave your petty plans behind to follow this "tall,gentle, Father" anywhere He would lead you. Your whole world would melt into HIs perfect love and grace,your whole future would take on a sacred delight unlike anything you've ever experienced. 

Discover Your Destiny- by Cary Schmidt

page 259

I would esteem one soul gained for Heaven worth a life of suffering. -J.O. Sanders

There is no greater honor than to be the instrument in God's hand of leading one person out of the kingdom of Satan into the glorious light of the Heaven.

~D.L. Moody 

Let me burn out for Thee,dear Lord;

Burn and wear out for Thee;

Don't let me rust,or my life be

A failure,my God,to Thee.

Use me and all I have,dear Lord,

And get me so close to Thee

That I feel the throb

Of the great heart of God;

Until I burn out for Thee.

*Taken from the inside cover of "I Must Tell" 

by James Alexander Stewart