April This and That

Still here! Some weeks a gal just needs a vacation from blogging, hours to think her own thoughts without feeling she must type them. This was (still is?) my vacation.

So as a 'soft return' here you go: a few simple links, thoughts and memes.

1.) Oh wow! 

For months I'd longed to read the titles on Miranda Mills vintage books bookshelves and hooray! Yesterday she gave us marvelous, long glimpses (I que'd it to the place here). All those titles of books yet undiscovered(!)

Vintage books. For me, they're the very best, especially in their original hardcover form. (I'm grateful for the vintage books I read online, I am. But holding a book within your hands just seems to add to the story. Somehow.)

2.) Now, for my friends who, also, are nearing retirement age, here's a short-ish video filled with--not the financial aspects--but wisdom regarding the now-what-do-I-do? hours not often planned for.

Both Tom and I found this video helpful: Five Things You'll Wish You Knew Before You Retire. Timely, thought-provoking stuff there (though, yes, it felt a tad odd listening to a young man speaking).

3.) And let's insert this here:

(Isn't it wild/sad how some folks get stuck on a certain chapter for the rest of their lives?)

4.) And as I wrote at Facebook: "Yesterday I did a great act of faith. I placed our snow shovels back inside the garage for storage."  シ

5.) Ariel created a new video! In this one she gave us three examples of what she's thinking in the way of redesigning her kitchen. Fun stuff! She even asked us to vote for our favorite.

6.) And wow. Here's a blast from the past: Jesus Music Time Sweep 1969 - 1979. Just a few seconds of each song, but oh, the memories for us of a certain age! What a treat as a junior high school girl to switch on her transistor radio and hear Christian songs. Seems like only 10 (or so) years ago.  ヅ

7.) Here's an article I appreciated reading: How To Love Your Home Even When It Isn't Your Dream. Much great advice and may just make you appreciate your home again, especially after making some tweaks.

8.)  A chapter from my life:  シ

9.) Yes, it's possible! Joy is stronger than our troubles.

10.) Now this link is NOT for my minimalist friends, but for the rest of you who enjoy seeing a house with lots of cool stuff. heh. How amazing the items handed down through her family or found on the street.

11.) And I'll leave you with this to mull over today:

.... it matters now and eternally!

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(And my oh my... we're having so many April showers that our lawn guys would have to row a boat  in order to arrive at our jungle of a lawn. Oh dear. This is just a test. This is just a test.)

Please remember: My posts are always about more than they appear to be. 

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 "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

For The Unappreciated Folks

"For it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure. ... and your Father who sees in secret will reward you."   --- Philippains 2:13, Matthew 6:18

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Lately I'm watching reruns of Restaurant Impossible and often the moms, especially, say they desire their restaurant to do well so their children will be proud of them. So to leave a legacy.

That's usually when I squirm a bit on the red couch and wonder what kind of legacy I'm leaving for not only Naomi, but as a general Life one, as well,

Me? I am a behind-the-scenes person and folks like us find describing our lives difficult. We major in the unseen. Mostly.

People ask, "So what've you been doing lately, Debra?" and it's kinda frustrating finding an interesting answer.

I might say, "Oh, just spring cleaning", but who wants to hear about pulling out the broom to swoop down cobwebs or washing the dishes displayed near the kitchen ceiling or walking clutter down to the Salvation Army drop-off even though I believe God wants me to create a clean environment for my family? To plan ahead so no one will have a horrible time tossing my possessions upon my demise?

(The entire housekeeping thing: that's hard to make sound delightful unless you're a Bailey White type.)  シ

If I declare, "Gardening," what I really mean is scooping up buckets of dead, brown leaves into the trash can and preparing my garden beds for transplants. Yet you go describing all that and peoples' eyes frost over. Only another gardener gets the importance, the joy (I don't know many).

I would list the titles of books I'm reading, but nobody in Real Life cares about those vintage authors. Gladys Taber? Mary C. Jane? Augusta Huiell Seaman? Who?

Prepping, boycotts and buycotts are important to me, but not so much to my acquaintances.

I might add that instructional Youtube videos fascinate me, help and teach me to live with purpose, but that's a whole scattered, many-faceted (and again, eyes-frosted-over) thing.

Sometimes I say, "I'm still blogging after 18 years," yet only another blogger/teacher/minister would understand (or want to hear) what all that entails. How fulfilling/cathartic/challenging it is to be responsible for such a ministry to others--

--and of course--

it's not like you can recount the appreciative emails or comments you receive. That never feels right.

What also never feels right? Saying that since Tom and I are as old as dirt and have paid our bills (and our dues), we have extra money to give away to others. We love that we've tithed for 44 years and that we're able to make extra monthly donations to folks in need.

But you certainly can't go talking about that, either!

And of course, Tom and I don't have grandchildren to brag rejoice about and although I love listing ways Naomi's a huge help to us, still, her personal life is not for me to share with others.

So basically, when people ask what I've been up to, I toss out a simple oh-just... statement, then immediately ask where Life has taken them. Then I lean back, relieved, because now all I need do is listen--and fortunately--I love hearing new stories.

I'm sharing this today because some of you, my fellow behind-the-scenes friends, need this:

God is keeping a record of all we faithfully, secretly, do for Him and someday in Heaven? All the books will be opened and everyone will see and finally understand how we spent our years. The ways tiny things--when appointed by God--were huge and actually helped spin this world the way He designed.

Yet what will prove most important on that day? God led us. He performed those actions, those tasks through us--

--and He understood us, He appreciated us, every moment of the very long journey.

And that's what mattered most of all.

Since we know someday we'll be understood by others, we can live in a present joy today.

What God also appreciates? All the times we kept going while feeling so tempted to quit.

Until we realize and know God's deep appreciation for us, we'll be expecting others to give us what only God, Himself, can.

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Okay, this lady was a pure delight. She loves being the third generation country store owner and throughout the entire video I never sensed she wished she'd gotten out of town for bigger, flashier things. Such contentment, I believe, is a gift, and what a marvelous legacy she's leaving!

And the narrator of this video often spoke of forgotten memories and people and homes, but as mentioned earlier, Almighty God forgets no good thing.

This year I'm purposely aiming to read more books each month. Here are those I read in March:

Gone-Away Lake

True to You

Return to Gone-Away

Through Charley's Door

Practically Twins

If These Walls Could Talk

The Frightened Whisper

Anna Wolfrom Dove and The Wigwam Tea Room

It matters. All of it. Every task and gift and lesson and adventure. Although Earth isn't our home, it's still the place where we begin to learn how to later live, thrive even, in Heaven.

Please remember: My posts are always about more than they appear to be. 

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 "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

Why I Don't Believe Jesus Will Return, Like, Next Tuesday

Hopefully by now you know I prefer keeping things simple. These are only blog posts, after all.

Keep that in mind today, ok?

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So why don't I believe Jesus is returning, like, next Tuesday?

Three quick reasons:

1.) "For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord as the waters cover the sea."   --- Habakkuk 2:14

Are we there yet? Uh, no. Though many folks of Earth have heard about Jesus, no way do most have personal knowledge/experience of the glory of the Lord, either to accept or deny. Not even. Not yet.

2.) “In the last days, God says,

    I will pour out my Spirit on all people.
Your sons and daughters will prophesy,
    your young men will see visions,
    your old men will dream dreams.
18 Even on my servants, both men and women,
    I will pour out my Spirit in those days,
    and they will prophesy.
19 I will show wonders in the heavens above
    and signs on the earth below,
    blood and fire and billows of smoke.
20 The sun will be turned to darkness
    and the moon to blood
    before the coming of the great and glorious day of the Lord.
21 And everyone who calls
    on the name of the Lord will be saved.’

And, well, are we there yet either? Uh, no. It's begun, though! And how exciting to partake in inklings of godly beginnings.

3.) " ... Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless."   --- Ephesians 5:25-27

And that last portion, especially: is the majority of the church, the Bride, at the 'radiant, without  blemish, but holy and blameless' point? No, just no. Not yet. A remnant exists, of course (always there's a remnant!), but these verses speak of something more glorious, more complete. More seen.

Okay, to some of you, all that above is a 'buzzkill'.  Perhaps you're thinking, "But I want Jesus to come and rescue me now! This world is too ugly." Yet again, He's returning for a radiant church, not a limping, just-take-me-home-cuz-I'm-tired one.

But oh, what is coming to us before Jesus does! Before the huge 'falling away' which the Bible describes for later.

Far more spreading of supernatural revival which will bring:

Christians walking in unity! 

The tossing away of petty differences. 

The loving God with all their hearts

And a sacrifical love for one another, 

one not preferring pets over people(!)

The exposure of leaders with evil hearts 

And their God-chosen replacements.

The laws reflecting God's heart.

More shaking of all things that can be shaken!

And oh, the holiness which the unsaved will crave.

And again, love! The most important thing of all.

Now is the time to prepare our hearts for the 'best of times, worst of times' scenarios ahead. To train for battle.  To ready our minds and hands to exercise those God-given gifts given long ago for such a time as this.

What I and a few million other Christians believe? We are at the beginning of the end, not the end of the end. God has a timeline, yet our skipping ahead on it won't bring Jesus back any sooner.

He'll come when He's prepared for us, even though, yes sometimes, we feel so ready for that to be today.

Of course, if we all find ourselves in Heaven next Tuesday because Jesus returned for us, y'all can stand in line to take turns with your, "I told you so's."  I promise to be a good sport about it. heh.  シ シ

 “... Once more I will shake not only the earth but also the heavens.” The words “once more” indicate the removing of what can be shaken—that is, created things—so that what cannot be shaken may remain. Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe..."   --- Hebrews 12: 26-28

A house divided against itself cannot stand and that's why satan has pulled out the big guns, trying to divide not only our nation, but God's church, as well. Never play into his deceptions, games and plans!

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Tom and I watched two good movies last weekend: 

American Underdog

I Can Only Imagine

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"For he must remain in heaven until the time for the final restoration of all things, as God promised long ago through his holy prophets.."   --- Acts 3:21

One of the very best things about true, supernatural revival? It always brings unity amongst those gathered to worship God with all their hearts. All the nit-picky differences vanish, float away, leaving additional room for more of God's glory to touch and change and heal.

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Please remember: My posts are always about more than they appear to be. 

 *** 

 "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

The Exciting Time of History

" ... the Holy Spirit will guide you into all the truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come."   --- John 16:13

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Are you excited that God placed you at this back end time of History? 

I am. 

These days I walk around, cleaning my house, thinking, "Will this be the week God turns things rightside-up? Was this latest 'happening' in the news His 'last straw'? The thing He's waited for before mightily moving in our midst?"

It's Springtime again! What miracles will 'spring forth' during this one, I wonder while standing at our kitchen window or moving pans around the stovetop.

--or--

Have I completed the individualized homework God's given me so far? Did I do my assignments, ones like allowing God to make me more trusting of His timing? More slow to speak? More grateful? More excellent in all He's called me to do for Him? Less likely to assume things or to question God's ways?

Am I cooperating with His plans or creating and following my own, instead? (Oh dear.)

Lately these are my questions, but I don't allow them to overwhelm me. God never places upon me assignments too heavy to bear, but rather, His hand leads me at His do-able, wise pace.

Always, the Holy Spirit thinks ahead and when I cooperate with Him? I find He prepared me for whatever came next. With Him, I'm steady in spirit, soul and body--

--and anticipating my part in what He's got planned for this crazy world.

All with the consistent, lasting peace I'd not trade for anything else. Ever.

• “God cannot give us happiness and peace apart from himself because it is not there. There is no such thing.” – C.S. Lewis

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I love watching tiny house videos, but I also appreciate when their owners share the truth about life inside them. Like she did.

Did you watch the video of this weatherman's quick prayer on air? (I que'd it to that place.) It went viral and you know? In the days ahead, I believe we'll see more things like this. Way more.

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And as I wrote at Facebook:

Today we may not understand God's plan, but we can believe He HAS one--and that it's remarkably good!

“Once more I will shake not only the earth but also the heavens.” The words “once more” indicate the removing of what can be shaken—that is, created things—so that what cannot be shaken may remain. Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe..."   --- Hebrews 12:26-28

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Please remember: My posts are always about more than they appear to be. 

 *** 

 "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