when your broken

Taken from Streams in the Desert - October 15

   God uses most for His glory those people and things which are most perfectly broken. The sacrifices He accepts are broken and contrite hearts. It was the breaking down of Jacob's natural strength and Peniel that got him where God could clothe him with spiritual power. It was the breaking the surface of the rock at Horeb, by the stroke of Moses' rod, that let out the cool waters to thirsty people.

   It was when the three hundred elect soldiers under Gideon broke their pitchers, a type of breaking themselves, that the hidden lights shone forth to the consternation of their adversaries. It was when the poor widow broke the seal of the little pot of oil, and poured it forth, that God multiplied it to bay her debts and supply means of support.

   It was when Esther risked her life and broke through the rigid etiquette of a heathen court, that she obtained favor to rescue her people from death. It was when Jesus took the five loves and broke them, that the bread was multiplied in the very act of breaking, sufficient to feed five thousand. It was when Mary broke her beautiful alabaster box, rendering it henceforth useless, that the pent-up perfume filled the house. It was when Jesus allowed His precious body to be broken to pieces by thorns and nails and spear, that His  life was poured out, like a crystal ocean, for thirsty sinners to drink and live.

   It is when a beautiful grain of corn is broken up in the earth by DEATH, that its inner heart sprouts forth and bears hundreds of other grains. And thus, on and on, through history, and all biography, and all vegetation, and all spiritual life, God must have BROKEN THINGS.

******

As the Deer

"He makes my feet like the feet of a deer;

he causes me to stand on the heights."

Psalm 18:33

"As the deer pants pants for streams of water,

So my soul pants for you, my God."

Psalm 42:1

His,

On the brink of the New Year

      Forgetting the past . . . I press onward. (Phil. 3:13, 14)

Taken from Streams in the Desert volume 2, January 1.

  One of God's glorious gifts to mankind is to bestow upon him the dawn of a new year. New opportunities and challenges are before him. A chance to try again, t make another endeavor to successfully accomplish the ambitions which were perhaps cast aside with discouragement in the year past. Life is full of beginnings. As one stands at the ate and with doubtful hand draws aside the curtain and peers into the unknown, he begins today by taking his first step across the threshold of the new year. It is already a beautiful year because it is another year of Our Lord.

  Gazing at the far horizons and half wondering what the coming months will bring, pause but a moment to reflect over the old volume of three hundred and sixty-five days just ended. The pages may have been marred by mistakes and torn by intentions, but a few more miles have been covered on the upward climb, pressing toward the mark.

Through many dangers, toils and snares

We have already come,

'Twas grace that brought us safe thus far,

And grace will lead us Home.

  It has not bee our own achievement. Great has been our Father's faithfulness; new every morning have been His mercies. He faileth never!  . . . . 

   Standing at the parting of the ways, there is a choice to make, some road to take, we must consider which. How is it that we intend to live? Will it be repetitious of the past?

   "I do not see my way: I do not care to; But I know that He sees His way, and that I see Him." Shining destinies are ahead! We must keep our eyes upon Jesus as we now face the Dawn.

✻✻✻✻✻✻✻

May you all have a wonderful, blessed year!

In Christ's Love,

Finally brethren. . .

 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, 
whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and 
if there be any praise, think on these things.



Philippines 4:8

   Have a beautiful day!

                   

::On the Dove Field::

Hi Y'all! My dad, brother, cousin and I went dove hunting this passed weekend! 

^loading the 4-10^

The weather was amazing! It felt like fall was really here! 

Looking out for doves.

Dylan.

We got to the field at about 2:00. The doves didn't fly until around 3-4:00.

Meanwhile I took pictures, worked on a hat for the children in Romania, and read a little. : )

A hat in the making.

Every time a gun went off...

... Dylan covered his ears. 

Coming back with a dove.

Dad keeping a lookout.

I shot one dove. ; )

Dylan was Benjamin's "bird boy!"

It was a long day. But very profitable. : )

:::

Here's the Bible verse in Spanish as promised.

"Antes, en todas estas cosas somos más que vencedores por medio de aquel que nos amó.

    Por lo cual estoy seguro de que ni la muerte, ni la vida, ni ángeles, ni principados, ni potestades, ni lo presente, ni lo por venir, ni lo alto, ni lo profundo, ni ninguna otra cosa creada nos podrá separar del amor de Dios, que es en Cristo Jesús Señor nuestro."

Romans 8:37-39

What did ya'll do this weekend?

Y'all have a blessed day!

Summer with a Purpose???

Summer with a Purpose? Oh my! I've only posted twice about my summer accomplishments. : 0
Thank-you so much Emily Elizabeth for hosting this! It was lots of fun! : D

This was the last week so I'll give a list here of what I've done this summer:

Taking most of our photos off the computer and onto CD's.

Sewing.... I'll put up pictures of my projects soon!

Reading.

Learning to knit.

Canning.

Learning a new song on the piano.

Spending time with my family! : )

and

Learning Bible verses in Spanish. I'll share those verses soon! : )

Not as much as I  had planned but it was still lots of fun!

Picture of the day. ; )

Blessings,

Summer with a Purpose

Emily at My Life Belongs to Him is hosting....




You can read here to learn more about it!
For this first week I've been catching up on Finishing School...(This monday I should be complete with all my history, Bible, Literature etc!)
Things I'm wanting to do this summer!
Sewing...My mother had been teaching me how to sew and I love learning from her!
Reading..Lots of reading. For what would life be like if there were no books???
Health/Exercise...Must be done this summer!
More! I'll make a better list later!

It sounds like fun and I can't wait to read what others are doing!

Of Terrariums and the Outdoors

For my birthday, my thoughtful cousin, Mari, gave me this ingenious invention-an herb terrarium. In the pete we planted teeny, tiny oregano seeds. Do you know how small those seeds are?! I was excited when the sprouts began coming up!

.the terrarium.

Can you see the little sprout coming out of the side?

Thank-you Mari, for a lovely gift!

Here are some more pictures that I took the other day:

"...a rose by any other name would smell as sweet. But a rose just couldn't smell the same if it were a thistle or a skunk cabbage..." 

~Anne Shirley - Anne of Green Gables

^privet in front of an old bird house^

I thought this one was rather interesting. (It's an old rail road tie.)

{lol, by the way...you've never been at our house long enough unless you hear the train barreling through!}

This is the first year we've planted corn! I love to see it growing.

Our chicks are getting bigger! LOL, they love their food!

^our small barn at sunset^

Which do you like best?

Hope your having a blessed week!

A Great Book

If you are looking for a historical book to read I suggest you grab this one! The Open Door by Mrs. J.L. Ragsdale is an amazing book! The back cover explains it better than I can.

"This is not a polished, literary work, but rather the very heartbeat of soldiers of Christ out in the battlefield of life-right here in the heart of America. It is a true story of a couple who left their well-to-do California home to establish The Open Door Children's Home and received life's richest reward, that of loving and protecting those who are closest to the heart of God-the children. You'll find yourself struggling to hold back the tears."

I've read it twice already and it has quickly become one of my favorites! I highly recomend it!

                             ~Allison