Friday, January 03, 2020

When God Says, "Always Choose The Scone and Decaf."



"Catch for us the foxes, the little foxes that ruin the vineyards, our vineyards that are in bloom."   ... Song of Solomon 2:15


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So. The first year I visited our neighborhood cafe? Always I purchased the muffin and a small regular coffee. Amy would tease, "I wonder what you'll order today?" 

But then, uh-oh. 

I couldn't sleep well. Years before I'd solved that problem with research/changes, but it was baaack. So I did little 'experiments' and bummer! Those 2 or 3 weekly cups of coffee were the culprit.






Oh no!

Now, I've had friends who refuse to release caffeine, choosing instead to take sleeping pills or whatever else works. But well, ol' Debra can't let herself go there. She just can't. (Sorry. Not sorry.) ツ

So it was no more real coffee for me at the cafe. 

Oh, and at the same time? God said, "Switch to scones." (I hope He tells you stuff like that, too.)  

Now in my heart I already knew why, but when I returned to the cafe and told Amy not to faint, but I'd be ordering scones from now on and do scones have less of --" she quickly, intuitively replied, "Oh yes! They have less of everything."  **

I'd thought so. heh. They're not as filling, but thank-goodness, Amy creates fluffy, delicious scones.

I know. You're wondering what point I'm trying to make, right? It's simply this:

I loved 2019. Why? Because God super-proved to me that it is the little foxes that spoil the vine--

my complaints about winter weather
the decluttering I refuse to do
the back-strengthening exercises I ignore
the enhanced driver's license I procrastinate getting
the hedge in my yard I wearily clip when I could chop it down, instead---

But! If I'd catch those tiny foxes and throw them out of my vineyard? He said I'd have a year where my obedience brought new fragrant growth. Much fruit. And songs of gratitude sung amongst the vines.

And with a marvelous God and much grace, that's the kind of year 2019 was for me. 

And since I'm planning to chase away more little foxes in 2020? Color me all anticipatory about what will happen next.



                                *                      *                       *



** As far as Amy's homemade muffins and scones go, anyway.


P.S.  Another marvelous God-thing in this story? Amy's decaf coffee--to me--tastes even richer, more dreamy than the regular. Seriously. (Would I lie to you??)

P.P.S. And yes! I finally got my enhanced driver's license. (Remember my earlier application fiasco?) As Tom drove us away from the DMV, I told him I was so thrilled and relieved that--if I could--I'd open the car door and fly all the way home.





We believe it's our huge problems which spoil our lives, but most likely it's our daily small-problem disobediences. 


"If you are willing and obedient, you shall eat the good of the land."   ... Isaiah 1:19


"Everything that you know you should do, but don't do? It's something that annoys you. I have an answer for you: get up and do it. Whatever it is."   ... Joyce Meyer







******




"For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses." ... Matthew 6:14,15

5 comments:

  1. Oh boy! I have LOTS of little foxes. I feel yuck though, and haven't been able to figure out why. No energy. Exhausted. Blaming the fact that I sit too much while knitting. I finally decided to send a download of my pacemaker to the cardiologist Tuesday. They called 15 minutes later. That's unheard of for them. Usually it's days. :-( . Anyway, my heart is doing crazy stuff again. Meds were changed. Again. Now I'm exhausted from the new meds.
    I'm so frustrated. I keep praying that I'll figure out the lesson that I'm supposed to be learning through all of these things God has allowed, but I guess I'm particularly dense and I'm not figuring it out very well.
    I DO want to make some changes this year. Please pray for me my friend.
    Blessings always,
    Betsy

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  2. Who knew a scone was better than a muffin? I wonder if the scone is better than the two small pieces of toast I have for a snack at night? I usually just have one cup of black coffee a day. Lately I have upped it to two and may be paying the price for it. My digestive tract would prefer that I skip coffee altogether but I haven't made that serious decision yet. Decaf wouldn't make a difference.

    I got the Big Brother Is Watching You driver's license two years ago, I think. I figured it was better to get it over with and move on.

    Blessings to you and your family!

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  3. Yes! Yes! Yes!
    Ticking things off my list, one by one..
    Can't wait to follow you through 2020!

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  4. Debra, we live in the country near a pond and creek, so we attract critters. There is a small den near the creek where foxes have lived for as long as my hubby can remember. They're actually close to our barn, but we seldom see them. Once in awhile, if I'm looking out toward the creek, I'll see something move, grab the binoculars, and sure enough, it's a fox. They blend in so well with their surroundings, that they're hard to spot. Harmless? No! A few years back, a very nice cat showed up on our doorstep and we started putting food and water out for him. One night, when we were sleeping, we woke to horrible sounds coming from outside.There a small fox had pinned that cat against our front door and was proceeding to try to kill it. The fox fled as soon as we showed up, but I will never forget that experience. The fox had caught the sleeping cat, unaware, and Solomon 2:15 made more sense to me. Our Lord protects and guides us, but we must always pay close attention to Him. Great post, Debra!

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  5. Thanks so much, Everyone! I appreciate your comments and personal stories more than you realize. Thank-you for taking the time to read and share with me and all others who read your words! Blessings, Debra

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