As I was having my quiet time today, reading in the book of Haggai, I made note of the following:
(From Haggai 1:5&7)
"Give careful thought to your ways"
This is a good reminder that I am not to live my life thoughtlessly.
(Read Haggai 1:6)
This reminded me to be careful not to take my abundant blessings for granted nor to become discontent or obsessed with my work; food; drink;clothing and saving $. God is my provider. I need to remember and be grateful and thankful.
(Read Haggai 1:9)
This cautioned me about personal expectations of blessing when living outside the obedience to God and His specified will/Word. I cannot expect selfish gains while neglecting God.
(Haggai 1:12)
It's refreshing to read when God's people Israel actually listen to Him when He speaks to them through His prophets. Here "the whole remnant of the people (of Judah) obeyed the voice of the LORD their God and the message of the prophet Haggai because the LORD their God had sent him. And the people feared the LORD."
(from Haggai 1:13)
God responds to His people's response of obedience to Him and fear of Him by saying to them:
"I am with you"
I love those four words from God. They are powerful words of assurance that I need to hold on to the Presence of God. I need to allow God's presence with me to be sufficient for me in times of trial.
Haggai Chapter 2 is God's encouragement to His people as they obey Him.
(From Haggai 2:3-4)
When our work for God seems to us "like nothing" (v3) God says: "Be Strong...For I am with you".
Indeed, His presence and grace are sufficient for us. I should never grow weary in well doing.
(From Haggai 2:5)
The LORD further encourages his people and leaders with this assurance:
"My Spirit remains among you. Do not fear."
Because I have the Holy Spirit, I never have reason to fear.
**As I read this verse: Haggai 2:9
"The glory of this present house will be greater than the glory of the former house,"
says the LORD Almighty.
"And in this place I will grant peace"
declares the LORD Almighty."
My thoughts take me back to 10 years ago when the Spirit prompted me for about a month straight...every Mon.-Fri. to go to LEFC and prayer walk the church parking lot every morning from 6:00 a.m. until about 7:00 a.m., praying for the church and for God's mercy and grace and glory to fill His house at LEFC and bring peace. And as I read this verse (Hag. 2:9) today, I remember the Spirit speaking these very words of Scripture to my Spirit concerning LEFC. I remember feeling a peace in my soul that God had indeed answered "Yes" to my prayers concerning LEFC. I praise the LORD this day for the fulfillment of these words on behalf of my former much loved church home. I truly believe this day (2013) that God has granted peace to the fellowship of believers/brothers-and-sisters-in-Christ gathered together at Lancaster Evangelical Free Church. And I truly believe that His glory will be great there among that body of believers.
Praise Him!**
Haggai 2:19 - "From this day on I will bless you."
Praise You LORD Jesus!
Amen!
Saturday, December 21, 2013
Our Log Home Pictures (Christmas 2013)
Below are some updated house pictures.
We excitedly await Samantha's arrival in a couple of days.
She will be celebrating Christmas with us in Idaho this year, driving in from her new home in Boulder, CO.
First off is a picture of a red fox that Bryan and I watched hunting (and catching) mice for breakfast this morning. It has been SO COOL watching ALL of the beautiful wildlife on our property.
This fox spent a good 10 minutes or so prancing around our driveway and the hill beside the house.
Very entertaining!
Here are two pics from the Master Bedroom.
We enjoyed our first snow (which was over an inch) for this season.
Just in time to put us in festive spirits for Christmas. :-)
(The fox picture was taken from one of the Bedroom windows.)
The above 4 pictures are of our Diningroom and views from the DR door.
And here are a few pictures of my lovely Kitchen.
I love my green granite counter tops, stainless steel appliances, and cherry cabinets!
And this is my view when I'm washing dishes at the kitchen sink.
Looking from Kitchen towards Main Livingroom area.
You can see we get LOTS of warm and wonderful sunshine flooding the house.
I am SO THANKFUL! (I love sunshine, especially in the winter.)
Pictures of the Livingroom from various angles.
Kelby and Frodo bark and wait at the door to go out.
Kelby especially loves to bark at the cows.
Idaho is a "Free Range" state,
which means that where we live, we sometimes have
herds of cows wander up our driveway for a visit.
Kelby scares the poor beasts away.
This Christmas, Bryan and I had a grand time hiking into the
Payette forest, and cutting down our Christmas tree.
(We bought a $10 permit from the forest service. The permit
secured us permission to cut any forest tree 12 foot tall or under.)
Follow me up the spiral staircase.
Next I'll give you a tour of my Office Loft.
My grandma's lamp sits at the top of the stairs
with a couple cherished pictures.
Next is the bunny Playpen/X-pen so I can enjoy
watching my gorgeous English Angoras playing
as I work in the office and spin their wool into yarn.
My desk and leather chair flank the window
so that I can enjoy great light &
great views whenever I am sitting in my office.
The sheepskin rug that Bryan bought me is warm
and soft on my relaxing bare feet.
On the side of the loft is framework for a future
built-in daybed with storage drawers beneath.
(For now, it is filled with an air mattress and my plethora of pillows.)
And here is my comfy hammock/swing chair.
Behind it you can see my spinning area set-up.
My loft is a quite comfy/cozy place to:
Sit/Read/Relax/Think
Spin
Do Desk Work
And the future built in Queen Sized Daybed
will serve as Extra Sleeping Area
(incase we have guest overflow from the guest wing.)
And right now,
this is what you'll see from my office window.
Not bad, eh?
Nice views of Cuddy Mountain and
the Weiser River.
A Brand New Queen Bed
awaits Samantha's Christmas arrival.
And though the guest bedroom is only roughed in,
it will provide a private sleeping space right now.
Our guest bathroom is almost finished.
[The jacuzzi tub & shower won't be hooked up
until January. I'll post the 2nd bathroom pics later.]
We joyfully anticipate Drew and Jenae's visit to Idaho in January
and
Brianna and Joel's visit this summer.
As you celebrate the birth of our Savior
Jesus Christ,
May you all be blessed and enjoy God's rich blessings
at Christmas and throughout the new year!
Rest in the arms of the Good Shepherd Always.
"The Lord your God is with you.
He is mighty to save.
He will take great delight in you.
He will quiet you with His love,
He will rejoice over you with singing."
Zephaniah 3:17
I REMIND YOU:
Bryan and I would LOVE to have you visit us.
Plan an Out West Vacation.
Come and enjoy a quiet, relaxing vacation in Scenic Idaho,
America's Best Kept Secret!
Seriously, this is a GREAT place to get unplugged from the electronics that consume hordes of time...
kick the shopping addiction and the tyranny of the urgent....
Enjoy a personal prayer retreat or writing retreat where it's quiet, laid back, free of interuptions...
Get to know some authentic, real-life/real-time Cowboys and awesome people!...
and "go back in time" to a simpler era.
Oh, and if you like to snowmobile, ski, snowshoe, cross country ski etc.
Come in Winter.
If you like to hike, kayak, canoo, and enjoy the warmer outdoors (with almost everyday a sunny Idaho day)
Come in Spring or Summer or Fall.
It's Beautiful All Year Round!
We live in Idaho's outdoor playground!
Don't forget us! Come see us!
LOVE,
Cindy & Bryan
Wednesday, December 4, 2013
Frustrations of Being Technically Challenged. Argh!
Okay so last week I created my "Bunny Blog" at this link:
Anglic Abi
.JPG)
Cuddly Cody
Cuddly Cody with Frodo
Glorious Gabriel
Smokin' Hot Rodney
Sheepish Shep
Smokin Hot Rodney
BUT...today I wanted to go in and post updated pictures of the buns...and, I could not get into my own blog to update it. Go figure.
I don't know what I'm doing wrong, but when I have a techo-literate person visit me, perhaps I can figure it out. For today...I shall simply post the bunnies 7 week old photo shoot here. Enjoy, and
MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!!
Enjoy the 7 week old photo shoot of the English Angora Bunnies.
Some day I'll actually figure out how to work my technology and then be enabled to post bunny pictures to the bunny blog. For now...here's the latest bunny pictures from West Nest News.
Cuddles and Blessings to All!
~Cindy
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