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 God makes his people strong. 

God gives his people peace.

Psalm 29:11 (The Message)

 

 

 

 Friday at Our House

 

 

 

It was a beautiful day in southcentral Pennsylvania. 

 

 

 

 I first noticed the sunshine before going downstairs to my office – and tried to capture it in the objects in our window, but it was almost too bright!

 

 

 

 

I love this shoe (a gift from a TFC staff person) and decided to get a few closeups.

 

 

 

 

 

 

~~~

My goal today was to write The Extra Mile newsletter.  I was working on gathering photos for it (about midmorning) when Cerwin asked if I was ready for my second cup of coffee.  I was. 

(Cerwin does not usually work in the shop on Fridays.  He uses Friday to get things does at his desk and in our office and house.) 

When he came downstairs with the coffee, he had a funny smile on his face, and asked, “Did you clean up the kitchen in a hurry today?” 

I didn’t remember that I was in a hurry, but expected something was not right. 

He said when he went to the cupboard to get coffee cups.  The first one he chose was dirty. 

Then he went to the silverware drawer for a knife to put peanut butter on his english muffin.  There was a knife in the drawer with peanut butter on it! 

After emptying the dishwasher, I must have continued in the mode of putting things away, and instead of putting my dirty breakfast dishes in the dishwasher – I put them in the cupboard.  

The rest of the day went better, as I almost finished the newsletter.  That feels good.

~~~

, 

 

Cerwin was in the mood to grill supper, so I sliced a few vegetables for our grilling basket.

 

 

Our meat was fresh sausage.

 

 

 

 

Sausage is not my favorite meat – but this was absolutely delicious.

 

 

While Cerwn was grilling, I noticed that God was closing the day with a gorgeous sunset.

 

 

 

 

 

 Goodnight.

 

 

 

My grace is all you need.

My power works best in weakness.

2 Corinthians 12:9 (New Living Translation)

 

 

 

How Do You Start Your Day?

 

 As a rule I wake up about an hour before Cerwin (5 a.m. is my favorite time), but I rarely set an alarm clock, so the time may vary.

 

~~~

 

I turn the TV on to one of three channels that air beautiful  music-videos in the morning, and while listening to soft, worship music, I read the Bible online, usually by subject or something I am researching.  I use http://www.biblegateway.com/.  If I don’t have access to the Internet, I use Quick Verse which is downloaded on my laptop.

I have read or listened to the Bible in its entirety many times, so have chosen a theme method for this time in my life.  I usually spend about fifteen minutes doing this.

 

~~~

 

Prayer involves checking my computerized Praise & Prayer Journal.  I began this years ago because of the many prayer requests that come into my life. 

Today I opened my Praise & Prayer Journal folder, and then opened the folder numbered 22 – because this is January 22.

Twenty-two happens to be Cerwin’s date of birth, so the folder dated 22 begins with reasons I praise God for bringing Cerwin into my life.  Each day’s entry begins with praise – based on the book, “31 Days of Praise” by Ruth Myers. 

Next is a listing of my prayer requests.

1. My personal requests – for spiritual growth in my life – are listed every day.

a. I adjust this according to spiritual goals and what is going on in my life.

2. Cerwin and our children and grandchildren are listed every day.

a. On the day of their birth (like Cerwin’s today) I list special life requests or current needs.  His actual birthday is April 22.

3. Other family members and friends (personal, church, ministry) are next. 

a. Each name appears once a month.

4. The next list is made up of people we met – at meetings or on trips – people who God laid on my heart.  People who are not in my life on a regular basis.

a. Each name appears once a month.

For instance:

When visiting an overlook to Mount St Helens many years ago, a man came up to me and asked about my faith in God, and told me about his search for truth.  He was entered into my journal on the day of the month we met. 

A woman in an airport restaurant asked me to pray for her. 

A man came up to me in a gas station store in the midwest and asked me to pray for him and his family.

5. The last list is current burdens and special requests of family, friends, and ministry. 

This list changes daily as new names and concerns are added.

As I go through the month, names and concerns may be deleted or moved to a dated folder so I am reminded of them once a month.

 

~~~

I am writing this because of the benefit a prayer journal has been to my life.  

I prefer the computer, because it is easy to add or delete names and requests.  For instance if today I entered the name of someone who had surgery, or is sick with a flu or cold, it can easily be removed the next time I open the folder to this date and the person is no longer ill.

Maybe this will challenge someone else to keep a Praise and Prayer Journal.  (I even back it up on an external drive every now and then so I don’t lose the contents.)

~~~

 

 

At 6:00 or 6:30 (when Cerwin comes to the living room) the TV channel is changed to the news, and I am ready for the coffee that he grinds and brews.

My Xanga Bible verse is entered about this time (or may have been entered earlier) and I check to see what blog friends have been up to. 

 

 

My breakfast is almost always a slice of toast (I currently have a loaf of pumpernickel) with peanut butter.  That’s probably why some of you find bread crumbs on your sites in the morning!

 

 

 Fruit is also an important part of my breakfast.  The Gala is my favorite apple this time of year.  Bananas or juice are other fruit choices in the morning.

 

~~~

That is pretty much routine for me – unless the day is not routine.

~~~

 

 

 

He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High

shall remain stable and fixed

 under the shadow of the Almighty

[Whose power no foe can withstand].

Psalm 91:1 (Amplified Bible)

 

 

 

Pomegranate

 

Because I enjoyed learning about mangoes – and tasting one, I bought two more. 

I also decided to learn about Pomegranates.

 

 

I knew almost nothing about pomegranates, and am not aware that I ever tasted a fresh one.

 

 This fruit originated in tropical Asia but has been cultivated throughout the Mediterranean and the Middle East. History credits Spanish padres with bringing pomegranates to California more than 200 years ago.

 

 

I understood that I would only be eating the seeds, but had no idea what to expect when I opened the fruit.

 

When you split the hard fruit open, a mass of red seeds in a spongy white membrane is revealed. Only the seeds, with their sweet-tart flavor and juice squirting texture, are edible.

Scientists say the leathery-skinned, orange-sized fruit with the sweet-tart juice may help with heart disease, cancer and problems associated with aging. It’s loaded with antioxidants, vitamins, potassium, folic acid and iron. 

 

 

I was pleasantly surprised at the taste of these fruity seeds.  Cerwin wasn’t real impressed with eating seeds.   It was easy for me to bite into the seed to release the flavor, then swallow it.  However, Cerwin felt that he had to chew it until there was no fruit left on the seed – then spit it out.

 

The ruby colored fruit we refer to as seeds are called arils. Each aril is a delicious sac of juice that surrounds a seed. Pomegranates contain 840 arils that are compartmentalized between shiny, tough membranes. Whether you swallow the seeds or spit them out is a matter of personal preference.

 

~~~

I will definitely buy this fruit again sometime, but probably not as often as mangoes – partially because of the price.

~~~

 

 

 

The peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. 

John 14:27 (New Living Translation)

 

 

 

Sunrise Monday to Sunset Tuesday

 

 

Sunrise on Monday was muted by the morning fog.

 

 

 

 

Toward the middle of the afternoon large snowflakes began falling.

 

 

By evening the sunset cast an interesting pink glow on the wet road.

 

 

This is why I had a very cold foot this morning.

(I’m usually barefooted and in a warm housecoat until I get dressed for the day.)

 

 

I wanted to get in the right position to photograph this pretty sunrise.

 

 

~~~

Lunch at the International Office.

Due to a variety of deadlines at the end of December, our Christmas luncheon was delayed until today.

~~~

 

 

The delicious pork loin was prepared by Director of Chaplains, Bunny O’Hare.

 

 

This shrimp/horseradish dip was fabulous – and I’m not sure who brought it.

 

 

Lynn baked the awesome red velvet cupcakes.

…and these are only a few of the wonderful foods we enjoyed.

 

 

It is always good to see everyone, because I work out of our home office.

 

 

I communicate or receive communication (usually email) from most of these people every week – some every day – but I only see them face-to-face about once a month.

 

 

This evening I saw this unusual scene – created by the setting sun.  The photo turned out even more unusual. 

Can you guess what it is?

 

 

 

 

~~~

It is melting tire tracks in our driveway.  Everything gold is water.  The white is snow.

~~~

 

 

 

The Word that God speaks is alive and full of power

[making it active, operative, energizing, and effective]

Hebrews 4:12 (Amplified Bible)

 

 

 

A Relaxing Weekend

 Saturday

 

 

 We were awake early (5:30) to pick up Cerwin’s mother and attend a local TFC prayer breakfast.

 

 

 The sunrise was soft and beautiful.

 

 

 It is a joy to meet with these people and pray about ministry concerns and praises.

 

 

 Alvin ordering breakfast.

 

 

 

 

 Cerwin ordering baked oatmeal (hot) topped with ice cream!

 

 

 Ed and Mike ordering breakfast.

 

 

Cerwin had been asked to share the devotional portion of the morning.

 

 

He chose Proverbs 2:1-10, and read from his favorite version (CEV).  I’m including a few excerpts… 

 Keep in tune with wisdom.

He watches over everyone who is faithful to him.

 

 

 Beg as loud as you can for good common sense.

Search for wisdom as you would search for silver or hidden treasure.

 

 

With wisdom you will learn what is right and honest and fair.

Wisdom will control your mind.

(That grabbed my attention – I want wisdom to control my mind.)

 

 

As I’ve mentioned before, I love traveling through the local Amish area.  This is not a partially white buggy, but a “buggy pickup truck.”  The lower part is aluminum diamond plate, and the back section is an open area for hauling small items.

 

 

 A conservative Mennonite buggy.  I think that is correct, because it is black.

 

 

 A grey Amish buggy.

 

 

As we approached the senior community where Mother lives, I noticed that the lake was full of Canada geese, and asked Cerwin if he would drive up closer.

 

 

 

 

 Some were swimming, others were walking on ice.

 

 

 

 

~~~

After spending some time with Cerwin’s mother, and bringing her banking and checkbook up to date, we stopped at a local pharmacy.

~~~

 

 

 While Cerwin went inside, I enjoyed watching this dog waiting and watching for his master. 

The picture came out better than I expected, because I took it through my dirty (passenger side) window, then the two (also dirty) windows of the next car, and the driver side window of the car in which the dog was sitting.

 

 

 My brothers’ farm pond was frozen solid from the very cold temperatures.

 

 

 The lowest temperature we saw on our thermometer this weekend was 1.6 degrees.

 

 

 

 

~~~

 

 

Sunday

 

After a blessed, challenging time at Sunday school and church, we were grateful to have an entire afternoon and evening to ourselves, to relax, read, and watch TV.

 

 

 I am not very political – but I love patriotic celebrations and pomp and circumstance.  (I took this photo on Saturday afternoon while Cerwin pumped gas at a local station.)

I knew there was a huge inaugural celebration at the Lincoln Memorial on Sunday afternoon, and figured we wouldn’t be able to watch it because HBO had purchased exclusive rights.

Then we heard on the news that DirectTV was showing it free.  So I checked the channel I thought may carry it – and there it was!  It was a special treat to watch some of our country’s talented speakers and musicians honor the USA.

 

 

The bird feeders were busy toward suppertime.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 I liked the pictures I captured of this goldfinch as it turned its head toward me.

 

 

Notice the wind blowing its feathers.

 

 

 

  Rest and relaxation – that’s why God created Sunday!