A familiar prayer request used in many churches and homes is, “Give us this day our daily bread…” Matthew 6:11 (KJV)
Today I say, “Thank you” to the Lord. We have received rain. It may be in time to save the corn crop. It is helping the hay crop. It is still hot and now it is humid, but never mind the discomfort.
To the farmer, the corn and hay are the means of the daily bread that God provides. And He has sent us rain. “Thank you, Lord!”
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Drought as defined in World Book Dictionary is:
We have experienced such a season. Our corn is stessed. Grass has failed. The garden has had to be watered.
We have brown grass that has ceased to grow. Mowing has been suspended. As a result some plants that grow with the grass are able to grow and blossom. We are experiencing beauty even in the midst of drought.
Even in a spiritual drought or thirst, all is not lost. Look for the blooming beauty that the Lord has there for you. He makes beauty even in the hard times.
photo credit: Bretta Grabau
I have been picking berries and that is temporarily suspended for the summer. Red raspberries will bear once more this season, in September.
Garden Fresh Green Beans
Now in the heat of summer my attention is turning to the big garden. My beans are bearing. Green beans may sound boring to some. But not to us. We have found a tasty way to eat them. We use butter, spice, garlic and seasoned salt.
I don’t recall where the idea for this recipe came from. So I will give you some starting quantities. You may alter them to your taste.
photo credit: Wenda Grabau
The north country of Wisconsin in late July and early August produces scrumptious wild blueberries, ready for the picking.
One day, Dad went out looking for blueberries. He had a spot, where he had picked before. He drove there, parked the car, and pail in hand, found the blue treats hanging ripe on the bushes.
As sunlight trickled through the bushes to the ground while he picked, Dad spied a shoe. Not knowing who might have lost it or where to return it, this good neighbor thought it best to put it in clear view so the owner could see it. The only visible place to put it was the limb of a nearby tree. He tied the laces securely around a branch and went back to picking berries.
Shoe Tree, a native of the north country
Many days, weeks and months passed. But rather than the shoe being found by its owner, other shoes started to adorn that tree. Evidently, others who saw the shoe hanging in the tree thought it a fun custom to contribute work boots, walking shoes and tennis shoes, etc. The tree branches hung low for several years.
At long last the road crew cut the tree down. It must have been judged unsightly. But by then, the custom was so deeply entrenched that shoes began showing up on several other trees on that same stretch of road.
When I go to the cabin and see the Shoe Tree, I remember my dear Dad. Those folks who have put shoes up may not realize it, but they add to a memorial to a gentle, loving man. He is gone now, but I know the tree people gave him a chuckle and they bring me pleasant thoughts of him.
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photo credit: Bretta Grabau
My daughter and I left the farm for a bit of a respite in the north country.
Barely a visitor, this yearling black bear sauntered right in front of our picture window.
Within a few miles of arriving at our destination, we were greeted by a parade of black bears crossing the road about 50 feet in front of us. A mother led the way followed by four cubs. I have see a mother and three cubs one other time, but this was unique. By the end of our northern retreat, we saw another one amble across our yard. This one we could catch on camera. I am glad we were indoors when he came calling.
We really enjoyed our time away from the farm. The woods send forth a fragrant air. Sounds of the wildlife are magnified. Sights of sparking water in the lake mesmerize the onlooker. We reunite with loved ones there. The north woods get-away treated us very well.
photo credit: Bretta Grabau
(Continued from An Easter Exercise)
I placed her in front of the church by the pulpit and set the microphone in front of her. I held it for her. She practiced the song a few times for me and delivered it flawlessly. “This is adorable,” I thought. “The church people will really enjoy this.”
I put the microphone back in its place on the pulpit.
While my back was turned, Lizzy took a fancy to the Easter lily. I am not sure what she did, but I heard a thud and turned to see the plant tipped over on the floor. The largest bud broke!
Yikes! Anger boiled hot inside me. I could not believe she did this. How embarrassing! In my attempt to delight the congregation, I ruined their plant by my inattentiveness. The temptation to yell at my child did cross my mind.
But in that moment a still, small voice broke into my consciousness. “If you bawl her out now she will never want to sing in front of a group again.” I held my peace.
I look back on that event and marvel at the presence and the voice of God coming to me at a moment when my reserves were spent. I believe this snapshot into our past shows a pivotal day for my daughter’s love of music. The Lord oversaw and knew best for both me and my daughter. I am so glad He led me in my response to the situation.
To this day, I thoroughly enjoy hearing Lizzy sing. Besides that, I dearly love singing with her.
(Continued from Singing Sweetly)
A three-year-old thinks that singing into a microphone is a treat. It delighted me that I had success capturing her childish voice singing on a tape recording.
Little Country Church
We did this little exercise on the Saturday before our Easter service at church.
Located in the “suburb” of a town of 458 residents, our church is the small country-type. The quaint, 90 year-old sanctuary equipped with balcony and wooden pews seated approximately 110 when packed.
One businessman in a nearby town regularly donated one Easter lily to the church each year. Often it was the only lily in the altar area or in the whole church. It had been positioned directly in front of the pulpit on the floor. This plant had three buds on it, one of which was nearly ready to burst open for the holy day celebration.
You may ask why I can remember the set up so vividly? What transpired on that Saturday will enlighten you.
After the successful taping of the song she sang, I got a tremendous idea. “How about having Lizzy sing this cute song for the Easter service tomorrow?” I thought. With that I set about getting her ready to drive to the church with me for a practice session. I reasoned that she may get nervous and “clam up” if she is unfamiliar with the setting and the microphone at the church. Off we went to practice.
We got to church and found that we were the only ones in the building. It would be less threatening to my three-year-old. So far things were going well.
(To be continued)
Note: We have cards featuring a country church and church steeples. View them in our store.
She sang so sweetly. The young lady smiled as she uttered the melodious love song at a Christian wedding today. The audience gave her their rapt attention. Her voice flooded the auditorium with melody. What a joy to see and hear her serving the Lord, the bride and groom and others with her voice.
“I am glad you asked me,” she offered as he spoke to the groom at the rehearsal the night before. “It reminds me how much I enjoy doing this.”
As I listened to her practice the afternoon before at the church, memories unfolded before me. My mind reviewed the events of the day before Easter when this young lady, Lizzy, was only three years old.
At this young age she could carry a tune. As a musical mother, I noticed that about her early in her life.
Being the third-born of our children, she learned from her older siblings. Her big brother and sister took part in a children’s choir and had memorized a simple Easter song. Our house echoed the words and tune often. So in time, Lizzy sang along. In fact, she knew the words and notes by heart!
“This would make a precious memory,” I thought. So off I went to get the tape recorder.
(To be continued)
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My mother gave me a family heirloom. Her own mother received it as a wedding gift over 90 years ago.
I had it sitting on the counter in my kitchen. I decided that it needed protection from breakage, so I stored it in a cupboard where I have many similar treasures. The cupboard doors are made of wood and are so high that I have to step up on a chair and on the cupboard counter to see into them. Unless I take time to look up in that inconvenient place, I will not lay eyes on those treasures on a daily, weekly or monthly basis.
I pondered this situation today.
Since I don’t see these lovely dishes, stemware, candle sticks, glass bowls or vases on a daily basis, I don’t really use them or live in the reality of their existence. I use the plastic unbreakables or everyday unmatched plates.
As Christians, we, too, have treasures given to us by our Heavenly Father. Ephesians 1:3, 7 (KJV) “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: . . In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;”
The question to ask ourselves might be, “Are we living in the reality of these gifts God has given us? Or are we shutting them up in a “cupboard” with a closed door so that we cannot be reminded of their reality on a daily basis?”
Let’s open up the Holy Bible to see the truths contained therein. Read it daily. You are rich in Christ, not a pauper. Let God’s Word remind you of who your Heavenly Father is and that you are a child of the King.
Do you have a mouse problem at your house?
Many have had to deal with such an occurrence.
Question: If you had to use a tool to get rid of such a pest, which would be the most effective?
A Dust Pan
A Hammer
A Wooden Chest
If you chose the wooden chest, you are right!
Here’s the handy-dandy way to eliminate mice from your life.
Our latest discovery reveals the truth. Mice cannot survive the mass of a chest falling on them. Evidence shows that they get pancaked.
The next time you encounter an invasion of mice, consider the wooden chest technique. You will be glad you did.
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