Little notion of thought:

Listen, no one is coming to save you. People can not help you. It is better to take refuge in the Lord. It is better to trust in the Lord than to trust in humans.

It is better to take refuge in the Lord
than to trust in humanity.
⁹ It is better to take refuge in the Lord
than to trust in nobles.

Psalm 118:8-9

Hold on to the Lord, call out to him, and ask him for help. Then look for what He does. Who does He send? What comes?

PS. You don’t want “the help” that does not come from Him. It might just come with entanglement rather than freedom.

One time our family was in one heck of a pickle. My husband had gotten hurt. He was unable to work. I was working. We had exhausted our savings; the unemployment was running out. From March to November that year, it was slow going with employment. He had many job changes and side jobs. We did all that we could. We were at the end of our own ability. We had been praying, asking, waiting, and working. Up to that point in November, we had sensed God’s hand in this and that; people came, sent little notes of encouragement, and little gifts of groceries and such. But we were teetering on the brink.

Then at the moment of make it or break it, God sent apples. Yeah, apples.

We could have seen what is given as “What the heck? How does this help me?” We could have turned our nose up at what God was giving and missed what He was doing. Two different people came into our situation, unknown to each other, offering apples. So we thought, “What can we do?” We decided to make apple rings and spiced apples. We had jars, and hubby had the know-how. We told people in our church, friends, and family that we would have them available for donation. People came and gave. Those apples paid for our mortgage and groceries at the beginning of December. We were astounded. Humbled. And thankful.

After that, a company that had already told my husband they were going with someone else called and asked him to come in; they offered him a position that he didn’t even know they had.

God knows the way through. He will show you if you trust Him.

But if you complain because you are not getting what you think you need or want, rather than trusting Him to give exactly what is needed, you may get help that is more like harm, and you may miss the opportunity to see God in a new way.

Which, by the way, is the true blessing because that is what He is doing. Showing you who He is, and when your heart overflows with revelation, it comes in such a way that your mouth opens wide and the glory of praise flows out.

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A little celebration

She wanted cheesecake, so no candles in that. lol

HAPPY BIRTHDAY DEAR DAUGHTER

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A little something silly

Every once in a while, during a neighborhood walk with my momma we see something that brings a little whimsy and mystery. Like mushrooms. Did something plant them? Perhaps a fairy or a frog.

A little something I thought of because of those mushrooms

My Granddaughter #1 is reading the Spiderwick Chronicles books authored by Holly Black and Tony DiTerlizzi. The adventure unfolds when the curious Grace siblings—twins Jared and Simon alongside their sharp-witted sister Mallory—tumble into the creaky, secret-filled halls of their family’s old estate. Deep within a forgotten study, they stumble upon a magical, hand-drawn field guide left behind by their eccentric great-great-uncle Arthur. They meet fun and interesting whimsical friends along the way and some not so friendly ones too.

Dear Daughter loves this movie when she was young and started reading the books. Now she is introducing them to her daughter.

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A little reflection for you

I am reading a book called The Noticer by Andy Andrews. I am only just going to start the 4th chapter but there are some great nuggets in the form of questions or ponderings from each chapter. The book is about the story of Andy meeting a stranger names Jones. Who is a noticer. I would call this observant. This man helps Andy with perspective. We all need this.

CHAPTER 1:

What would people change about you if they could?

I answered this question so fast in the back of my mind, that I laughed and sighed at the same time. I didn’t even have to think. It just ran through my head. Let me tell you the thought:

….How I always try to fix them and scrutinize…

But now before anyone has anything to say about that. Let me tell you how I see this. This is someone who is a problem solver and has a critical eye (not criticizer, but able to see very fine differences.) I can see how to begin to unravel things. I want to help. I want to see people free, love, grow, and go deeper in their walk with the Lord. But this can come off as one who does not see people first, judges them, and tries to control. Yep. It sure does. I have experienced that reaction and he is why.

The issue comes when I do this without consent and without validation, meaning I trespass against the other person. This comes can come off as not seeing people first, judging them, and trying to control when I don’t listen first and have compassion for the person I am speaking with and when I don’t ask if they want some thoughts or insights about that. Some people don’t. And no matter if I think I can help or not. If they don’t, they don’t.

If you are like this. Not everyone will want to hear you. And here is what you have to settle on. You are a workmanship. Not a rogue agent. God created you. Planned for you. And has things for you.

Ephesians 2:10: For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them

You are not, and neither am I, everyone’s teacher and evaluator.

So, keep the sharp observational skills and helpful instinct but dump the responsibility to help everyone unless they have consented to the process.

CHAPTER 2

How do I show people, I love them?

This too, didn’t take long for me to answer. I give them my time and attention.

How about you?

CHAPTER 3

This one is very similar to the Love Languages by Gary Chapman. Jones tells Andy about 4 main ways love is expressed, like a dialect. Everyone speaking a different language.

CATS – physical contact. Cats if they are hungry, they hunt, they don’t pay much mind to things, and when you call they most likely will ignore you. But when they love you, they rub up against you with their face or their back, and love to rubbed and scratched.

DOGS – words of approval. Tell a dog how good it’s been, and it will wag its tail. You teach a dog with praise. You must be very careful with words with a dog. They take them to heart.

GOLDFISH – deeds and favors. You can’t really touch them. They can’t hear you or you hear them, they don’t need your approval. They just need you to feed them, clean the tank, and straighten the castle.

CANARY – quality time. Canaries doesn’t seem to notice when you bring food or water. It doesn’t respond to your “good job” encouragements. But it loves to sing its song.

Which one are you?

Thanks for listening?

Starla