A Smilebox of our Thanksgiving Pictures...

Note: You may need to mute my playlist music on the right-hand side-bar. My apologies for the possible comfusion with the music going in the Smilebox and the auto-playlist on my blog.
Sarah

Make a Smilebox scrapbook

Do Everything as to the Lord...

If you've been reading my blog for any length of time,

you know of my affection for Charles Spurgeon's writings.

Today is no different. *smile*

This morning, as I dragged myself out of bed to meet with God in the quiet of the early morning hours - (yes, dragged myself out of bed...I'm still working on this self-discipline of rising early to give Him first place in my day) - *another smile* -

what greeted me from the pages of Spurgeon's Morning and Evening Devotional

was a challenge and such a great reminder for me -

(a stay-at home-Mom to five small children) -
here is what I read....

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might."

Ecclesiastes 9:10

"Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do," refers to works that are possible.

There are many things which our heart findeth to do which we never shall do.

It is well it is in our heart; but if we would be eminently useful,

we must not be content with forming schemes in our heart,

and talking of them;

we must practically carry out "whatsoever our hand findeth to do."

One good deed is more worth than a thousand brilliant theories.

Let us not wait for large opportunities, or for a different kind of work,

but do just the things we "find to do" day by day.

We have no other time in which to live.

The past is gone; the future has not arrived;

we never shall have any time but time present.

Then do not wait until your experience has ripened into maturity

before you attempt to serve God.

Endeavour now to bring forth fruit.

Serve God now, but be careful as to the way in which you perform what you find to do-

"do it with thy might."

Do it promptly;

do not fritter away your life in thinking of what you intend to do

to-morrow as if that could recompense for the idleness of to-day.

No man ever served God by doing things to-morrow.

If we honour Christ and are blessed, it is by the things which we do to-day.

Whatever you do for Christ throw your whole soul into it.

Do not give Christ a little slurred labour,

done as a matter of course now and then;

but when you do serve him,

do it with heart,

and soul,

and strength.

But where is the might of a Christian?

It is not in himself, for he is perfect weakness.

His might lieth in the Lord of Hosts.

Then let us seek his help;

let us proceed with prayer and faith,

and when we have done what our "hand findeth to do,"

let us wait upon the Lord for his blessing.

What we do thus will be well done, and will not fail in its effect.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

So, for me, a SAHM to 5 - I am reminded that no matter whether the

"things my hands find to do" involves changing a diaper; washing or folding clothes; wiping little noses; drying tears; cooking; scrubbing toilets; making beds; teaching these little people the Christ-like way in which to solve conflicts; etc, etc, etc....

(the list could go on and on...

Moms out there, you know exactly what I'm talking about *smile*)

No matter what it is that I'm called to do in that moment,

if I do it with my whole being,

and for His glory,

then these seeming "little things" will not return to me void.

For He will bless these efforts.

I believe this.

________________________________________

A few things I know for sure...

God is ALWAYS faithful-

He promises never to leave my side-

He works ALL things together for good-

These children I've been given
(some for a lifetime, some for but a season)

are wondrous, extravagant gifts and I need to remember this -

even in the midst of one of "those" days-

If I will but simply follow His leading throughout my days,

setting aside my own agenda for His,

then my days will go well -

however, if I try to do it all "on my own" and "my way"

then the day will surely unravel and fall to pieces-

I know that there is no good thing in me, but that in my weakness,

His strength is made perfect-

And I know that my Father,
Who owns the cattle on a thousand hills,

will supply all my needs.

And I am humbled to be used of Him in the lives of my children and my husband.

By His grace and in His strength,

Sarah

"The " Day!

Dawn breaking over the sky just a couple days ago...

It's finally here!

Today we receive our three new additions to our family -

albeit a temporary 8 months, but still....

we're all so excited!

Now, having said that,

I ask that you would please bear with me for these next few weeks

as I adjust to having 5 small children in the house.

I have no idea how much time "life" will allow for me to blog.

(though it'll be for a good cause!)

I'll do my best, but I may not be able to be as consistent as I'd like...

but who knows?

Perhaps this will be my creative outlet where I can sit and think

and write about all the day's happenings. ;o)

Well, off I go -

just a few things to finish before we head to the airport to gather everyone!

Your prayers are coveted as we walk into this new adventure as a family.

In His never-ending Grace,

Sarah

Thankful Thursday

Today I am thankful for:

edifying hobbies that keep my hands busy and productive...

(my first knitted/felted handbag - a Christmas gift for my Dearest Friend - my Mom)

children who have a desire to learn how to cook and "be a chef like Mommy" ;o)

(oldest son at the stove, making his favorite breakfast - scrambled eggs)

the beautiful instrument that has been mine for over 20 years...

(my baby grand, a gift to me from my parents when I was a little girl - this poor piano has been moved - a LOT) :o)

the look of wonder on my children's faces over the fascinating "little things" in life...

(youngest son looking out, amazed at the wonders of the "Street Sweeper" :-) )

and of course...

angelic faces lost in Dreamland at the end of a long day-

it's these moments that make it all "worth it", isn't it?

(a moment captured after a long day)

Father, my heart of full of gratitude for all that You have bestowed.

I am most blessed (and so unworthy) - let me sing Your praises all my days.

In Preparation for Thanksgiving...

Today I'm sharing with you one of my family's favorite Thanksgiving recipes.

It is one of those things that simply CANNOT be missing from our Thanksgiving table -

and it's been part of the supporting role of "side dishes" as far back as I can remember...

It's Cranberry Relish!

No, it's not a savory relish, like the kind you're probably used to having-

(don't think of pickle relish - this is totally different).

This is a sweet relish - we serve it on warm dinner rolls, or alongside the turkey,

and the leftovers?
Well... Mom and I enjoy it on freshly toasted english muffins with cool cream cheese.

YUM!!!

It gets even better...

This has got to be one of the simplest Thanksgiving recipes ever!

Here goes:

(I love my Mom's handwritten recipes!)

Rhyner Family Cranberry Relish

4 cups fresh (or frozen) cranberries

1 large orange

and 2 cups sugar (that's not a typo!) :o)

Trim off the ends of the orange(top and bottom)

and make sure you've removed all seeds (if there are any)

Place all three ingredients in the bowl of a food processor and...

blend until uniformly chopped - you can make it as course or as fine as you'd like -

(we prefer it slightly coarse)

Refrigerate at least a couple hours (the sugar will dissolve and flavors will blend nicely)

Best of all???

You can make this DAYS in advance - up to a week in advance!

We actually like it best once it's had a chance to sit a while.

I made mine today and we're not having our family's Thanksgiving until Sunday afternoon.

It'll be perfect... I can hardly wait....

(maybe I'll just HAVE to try it to make sure it's as amazing as last years'!)

So, if you're looking for a delicious alternative to that nasty store-bought jelly-stuff that looks like a can and jiggles like jello, this is the thing for you to try -

once you've had this Cranberry relish, you'll never go back!

(Now I'm off to taste-test this batch...

well - someone's got to "sacrifice"!!!) ;o)

The Simple Woman's Daybook

FOR TODAY...

Outside My Window...fallen leaves tumble over each other in the Autumn wind -

awaiting the coming snows to lay them to rest.

I am thinking...that I cannot wait for Friday to arrive!

For on Friday, we receive my nephews and niece who will be living with us for eight months. How relieved I will be to know that they will be safe,

well-loved and taken care of.

And how humbling to realize that GOD has chosen us for this amazing task.

I am thankful for...children who love each other and a husband who gives of himself to help those in need.

From the learning rooms...we're reading Laura Ingalls Wilder's "Little House in the Big Woods"

From the kitchen...This week, we're having steak fajitas, spaghetti, chicken noodle soup, "upside-down supper" (breakfast foods for supper), pizza and preparing for "my side of the family's" Thanksgiving - taking place on Sunday afternoon.

I am wearing...black socks, jeans, and an orange tank top under a forest green "vintage/modern" sweater cardigan.

I am creating...another scarf for one of my nieces for Christmas and have just finished up the amazing handbag that I knitted and felted for my Mom (for Christmas).

I am going...out for coffee and to a ladies fellowship at church tonight - :o)

I am reading...through the Proverbs and Spurgeon's Morning and Evening

I am hoping...that the transition for my nephews and niece goes smoothly - for them and us.

I am hearing...the dogs (our one dog and my parent's dog - whom we're watching this week) chase each other around in play - and I'm enjoying the relative silence that is afforded by the boys' naptime.

Around the house...a load of laundry waiting to be folded and a few left-over birthday party balloons floating here and there.

One of my favorite things...listening to beautiful music (currently enjoying the CD that will become our church's Christmas Contada - and picking out my alto part) while sitting in the living room knitting in my favorite chair.

A picture thought I am sharing with you...

Dusk settling over the Riverbend Nature Center after one of our Fall Evening hikes...

Sunday

Devotional

My devotional this morning was so very good

and since I've not shared a devotional in a while,

I thought it appropriate to do so today.

I hope you enjoy it as much as I did! ;o)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"The Lord's portion is his people." Deuteronomy 32:9

How are they his?

By his own sovereign choice.

He chose them, and set his love upon them.

This he did altogether apart from any goodness in them at the time,

or any goodness which he foresaw in them.

He had mercy on whom he would have mercy,

and ordained a chosen company unto eternal life;

thus, therefore, are they his by his unconstrained election.

They are not only his by choice, but by purchase.

He has bought and paid for them to the utmost farthing,

hence about his title there can be no dispute.

Not with corruptible things, as with silver and gold,

but with the precious blood of the Lord Jesus Christ,

the Lord's portion has been fully redeemed.

There is no mortgage on his estate;

no suits can be raised by opposing claimants,

the price was paid in open court,

and the Church is the Lord's freehold for ever.

See the blood-mark upon all the chosen,

invisible to human eye, but known to Christ,

for "the Lord knoweth them that are his";

he forgetteth none of those whom he has redeemed from among men;

he counts the sheep for whom he laid down his life,

and remembers well the Church for which he gave himself.

They are also his by conquest.

What a battle he had in us before we would be won!

How long he laid siege to our hearts!

How often he sent us terms of capitulation!

but we barred our gates, and fenced our walls against him.

Do we not remember that glorious hour

when he carried our hearts by storm?

When he placed his cross against the wall,

and scaled our ramparts,

planting on our strongholds

the blood-red flag of his omnipotent mercy?

Yes, we are, indeed, the conquered captives

of his omnipotent love.

Thus chosen, purchased, and subdued,

the rights of our divine possessor are inalienable:

we rejoice that we never can be our own;

and we desire, day by day, to do his will,

and to show forth his glory.

From Charles Spurgeon's "Morning and Evening"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

May we never forget the ransom that was paid for our sins -

those of us who believe are bought with a price -

let us accept the challenge to live each day as though it were our last.

Thankful Thursday

A few of the things I am thankful for today...

a warm and cozy home-

happy, healthy children-

a husband who has a good job-

food that God always provides for my family-

(He is ever faithful!)

an amazing church that we can serve in and be a part of-
( http://www.gracebaptistministry.org/ )

a working dishwasher :o) -

the work God gives my hands to do-

incredible friends who so richly bless my life-

a family who loves and supports us in all seasons of life-

and most of all...

I'm thankful for the grace of God who saw fit

to send His only Son to die on a cruel cross,

paying the price for my sin

and saving this poor, wretched sinner that I am.

For that, I am eternally grateful.

"Redeeming love has been my theme,

and shall be 'til I die..."

"Love so amazing,

so divine-

demands my life,

my soul,

my ALL..."

Picture Thought for Today

Day dawning outside our back door early one morning.

"Satisfy us in the morning with your unfailing love,

that we may sing for joy and be glad all our days."

Psalm 90:14

A Prayer for Mothers

I received this in my e-mail inbox today and it so touched my heart,

that I felt compelled to share it here,

with you.

Please take a moment to follow this link:

http://joyfullyliving.blogspot.com/2008/11/mothers-prayer.html

I pray your heart will be blesssed as mine was.

In His grace,

Sarah

Verse for Today

Scripture for Tuesday...

“If the Lord delights in a man’s way,
he makes his steps firm;
though he stumble, he will not fall,
for the Lord upholds him with his hand.
I was young and now am old,
Yet have I never seen the righteous forsaken
Or their children begging bread.”
Psalms 37:23-25

Daybook Entry

Every Monday I'll be joining Peggy at http://thesimplewoman.blogspot.com/ in posting

"The Simple Woman's Daybook" I thought it would be a fun, informal way for you to get a glimpse into the goings-on of my weeks...

Here goes...

For Today, November 10, 2008...

Outside My Window... the sun is weakly struggling to break through clouds.

I am thinking... that I really need to get to bed earlier so that I'm not dragging myself through my days.

I am thankful for... my happy children and the deer (a gift from a friend) hanging in our garage.

From the learning rooms...a new school book this week, "The Family Under the Bridge" - not sure what I think about the book yet - time will tell.

From the kitchen... another batch of yogurt incubating on the kitchen counter and venison backstrap thawing in the sink along with bacon - bacon wrapped venison for supper tonight! Yum!

I am wearing... gray jeans, mustard yellow Sparta Wresting t-shirt and my Door County sweatshirt - oh, and my warm fuzzy (pink) slippers!

I am creating... a knitted woolen bag for my Mom for her Christmas gift (made with icelandic sheep's wool), a beautiful red scarf, and a sweet blue scarf for my oldest son

(whose birthday is coming soon!).

I am going... to go to Girl's Coffee Night at Starbucks tonight - yay! :o)

I am reading... Charles Spurgeon's Morning and Evening - LOVE IT!

I am hoping... that everything will go smoothly with getting my

nephews and niece in two weeks - please, God, let it all work out...

I am hearing... my oldest son taking pictures with my digital camera - he's photographing the dogs...and his toy guns..and anything else that happens to catch his eye.

I love that he's showing a strong interest in photography!

Around the house...honestly? dishes that need to be done, laundry that needs to be folded

and a birthday party that needs to be planned...

One of my favorite things... The smell of freshly brewed espresso.

A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week: I'll be finishing up the current batch of yogurt (and hoping that it turns out thicker this time), baking bread, creating a menu/meal plan for the month of December, planning the birthday party for my oldest son and attending his Choir Recital that he's partaking in with the local homeschool group.

Here is picture thought I am sharing...

A stream that meanders through the woods near our house.

Sunday

Scripture for Saturday

"O God, you are my God,

earnestly I seek you;

my soul thirsts for you,

my body longs for you,

in a dry and weary land where there is no water.

I have seen you in the sanctuary

and beheld your power and your glory.

Because your love is better than life,

my lips will glorify you.

I will praise you as long as I live,

and in your name I will lift up my hands."

Psalm 63: 1-4

Snow Day!!!!

This morning I woke to the gorgeous sight of freshly fallen snow!!!!!!

Silently in the night, Winter had visited,

leaving behind it's signature frosting of laden branches

and the hush of peace over all.

I couldn't resist slipping outside before my quiet time to just savor

the stillness of the early morning...

and to snap a few pictures! ;o)

I stood there in the snow,

reflecting on how beautiful it had made everything-

what just yesterday were tired, worn out, brown, barren trees

were now transformed into things of beauty-

tall and strong, with arms clothed in the whitest white,

robes unspotted, stretching branches towards Heaven in silent worship,

I am struck by a thought...

Isn't this similar to the way God sees me?

Once a thing not worthy of a second glance,

spotted and stained by the world,

covered in the filth of my sins...

but now I have been transformed by His precious blood,

my scarlet sins made as white as this new-fallen snow.

Now when God looks at me,

He doesn't see what I once was -

He sees me beautiful, unspotted

and cleansed from all my unrighteousness -

through the blood of Jesus Christ.

I am forever thankful for His work in me -

this one who is but a worm,

yet He loves me and has

carved my name into the palm of His hand.

Father, I can never praise you enough -

Oh, for a thousand tongues to sing

my great Redeemer's praise!

Let Not Your Heart Be Troubled

“He shall not be afraid of evil tidings.”
Psalm 112:7

Christian, you ought not to dread the arrival of evil tidings;

because if you are distressed by them,

what do you more than other men?

Other men have not your God to fly to;

they have never proved his faithfulness as you have done,

and it is no wonder if they are bowed down with alarm and cowed with fear:

but you profess to be of another spirit;

you have been begotten again unto a lively hope,

and your heart lives in heaven and not on earthly things;

now, if you are seen to be distracted as other men,

what is the value of that grace which you profess to have received?

Where is the dignity of that new nature which you claim to possess?
Again, if you should be filled with alarm, as others are,

you would, doubtless,

be led into the sins so common to others under trying circumstances.

The ungodly, when they are overtaken by evil tidings, rebel against God;

they murmur, and think that God deals hardly with them.

Will you fall into that same sin?

Will you provoke the Lord as they do?
Moreover, unconverted men often run to wrong means

in order to escape from difficulties,

and you will be sure to do the same if your mind yields to the present pressure.

Trust in the Lord, and wait patiently for him.

Your wisest course is to do as Moses did at the Red Sea,

“Stand still and see the salvation of God.”

For if you give way to fear when you hear of evil tidings,

you will be unable to meet the trouble

with that calm composure which nerves for duty,

and sustains under adversity.

How can you glorify God if you play the coward?

Saints have often sung God’s high praises in the fires,

but will your doubting and desponding, as if you had none to help you,

magnify the Most High?

Then take courage,

and relying in sure confidence upon the faithfulness of your covenant God,

“let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.”

From Spurgeon's Morning and Evening Devotional, September 15

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Father God, my faith is weak.

Strengthen this feeble heart of mine,

let me see You in all things.

And not fear.

Let me rest in You

and remember that it is often in the darkest of night

that I am forced to lean hard on you -

and in that dark, I will seek Your face

and learn to sing the song You would have me to sing.

For You Who Are Raising Children

"You may speak but a word to a child,

and in that child there may be slumbering a noble heart

which shall stir the Christian Church in years to come."

- Charles Spurgeon

Prayer

This morning's devotional reading

was on the subject of prayer.

Prayer.

Supplication with my Heavenly Father.

Before I go on, I will share the reading with you here:

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Behold, he prayeth." Acts 9:11

Prayers are instantly noticed in heaven.

The moment Saul began to pray the Lord heard him.

Here is comfort for the distressed but praying soul.

Oftentimes a poor broken-hearted one bends his knee,

but can only utter his wailing in the language of sighs and tears;

yet that groan has made all the harps of heaven thrill with music;

that tear has been caught by God

and treasured in the lachrymatory of heaven.

"Thou puttest my tears into thy bottle,"

implies that they are caught as they flow.

The suppliant, whose fears prevent his words,

will be well understood by the Most High.

He may only look up with misty eye;

but"prayer is the falling of a tear."

Tears are the diamonds of heaven;

sighs are a part of the music of Jehovah's court,

and are numbered with"the sublimest strains that reach the majesty on high."

Think not that your prayer,

however weak or trembling,

will be unregarded.

Jacob's ladder is lofty,

but our prayers shall lean upon the Angel of the covenant

and so climb its starry rounds.

Our God not only hears prayer but also loves to hear it.

"He forgetteth not the cry of the humble."

True, he regards not high looks and lofty words;

he cares not for the pomp and pageantry of kings;

he listens not to the swell of martial music;

he regards not the triumph and pride of man;

but wherever there

is a heart big with sorrow,

or a lip quivering with agony,

or a deep groan,

or a penitential sigh,

the heart of Jehovah is open;

he marks it down in the registry of his memory;

he puts our prayers, like rose leaves,

between the pages of his book of remembrance,

and when the volume is opened at last,

there shall be a precious fragrance springing up there from.

"Faith asks no signal from the skies,

To show that prayers accepted rise,

Our Priest is in his holy place,

And answers from the throne of grace."

*Quoted from Charles Spurgeon's "Morning and Evening"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~`

What encouragement!

You see, after "one of those days" -

(which I endured not so long ago)

I found myself at His feet in prayer,

eyes averted,

shoulders bent, burdened with the weight of wrong attitudes

I had carried about through the day,

heart heavy with my failures.

I felt completely unworthy of daring to enter

into the presence of Most High God.

Yet, this morning, as I read these words,

I am comforted by the asurance that

my Saviour knows my struggles -

He knows my downfalls -

He knows...me - this broken, weak one.

And when words fail me

and all that escapes my fainting heart are spirit groanings

of the wretched sinner, that I am -

how reassuring to know that...

I am still regarded in His eyes with

gentleness,

forgiveness

and an everlasting love -
a love which I can never begin to understand.

And I am restored.

Praise Him for His everlasting goodness!

His mercy endures throughout all generations!

Thought for Upcoming Election

I've only time to share a quick thought in regards to tomorrow's election.

(Perhaps time will allow more writing later.)

*Smile*

Those who will not be governed by God,

will be ruled by tyrants.

-- William Penn

Please continue to pray the elections tomorrow!

May God have mercy on our country.

Sunday

A Wonderful Saturday Project

I'm so excited! I just have to share this with you all!

This morning, as I was browsing another of my favorite blogs,

http://www.crockpot365.blogspot.com/

I came across a recipe using the crock pot (of course)

to make homemade yogurt!!!

This makes me very excited because my boys love yogurt

but it's so expensive!

Plus, our family enjoys raw milk,

so by making it myself, we'll be able to have

(what is normally VERY expensive)

raw milk yogurt!

Yay!!!

*smile*

If you are interested in trying crock pot yogurt,

I encourage you to check out this link:

http://crockpot365.blogspot.com/2008/10/you-can-make-yogurt-in-your-crockpot.html

SO EASY!!!

Now I'm off to try my hand at yogurt making!

I'll let you know how it turns out...

*smile*