Nature's Praise - Part 2 (Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus)

Turn your eyes upon Jesus

Of things held dear from my heritage

It smells like home.

Like the home I grew up in.

Wafting

through the air

is the smell of...

PASTY !

Since my godly heritage has been on my heart,

I thought it only fitting to include this different,

but none-the-less sweet part of my heritage.

Pasty (with a short "a" sound) is a Finnish meal- a pie crust stuffed with potatoes, onions, carrots, and hamburger. Normally they are individual, hand-held pies...but with 10 children- you learn to do things on a...let's say "grander" style! By the way, this idea was also passed on to me by my sweet mama!

Ahh, the joy of knowing that your family enjoyed a meal!

One more thing... whenever my mom made pasty, there was always this little bit of pie crust left-over. Just perfect for a little sugar and cinnamon! Hungry yet?

"O taste and see that the Lord is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him." Psalm 34:8

I love the smell ( and taste) of home!

Strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power, unto all patience, and longsuffering with joyfulness. Colossians 1:11

"A great point is gained when we have learned not to struggle against the circumstances God has appointed for us." H. L. Sidney Lear

Do I come to God saying, " Rabboni" ? (which is to say, "Master")

Or do I come with my will flailing against Him?

Let my soul look up with a steadfast hope, and my will be lost in Thine.

Counting Blessings

1. I'm so thankful for the way the Lord answers specifically- just in time.

2. I'm so thankful for my family~ 4 sisters, 3 brothers, 4 brother-in-laws, 3 sister-in-laws, 18 nephews, 17 nieces.

3. I'm so thankful for the parents God gave me.

4. I'm so thankful for a godly husband.

5. I'm so thankful for 10 children, my heart is full, my hands are busy!

6. I'm so thankful for the present~ living life moment by moment!

7. I'm so thankful for music~ lifting up soul to my Father.

8. I'm so thankful for the Word of God~

9. I'm so thankful for little girls that play with their babies~ rocking, singing to them, feeding, burping them, dreaming of someday...

10. I'm so thankful for little boys that watch their papa with admiration, that learn far more than they might let on, that long to be real men!

11. I'm thankful for the privilege of prayer~ sometimes simple, sometimes quick, sometimes thoughtful, sometimes gut-wrenching sobs, always HEARD!

12. I'm so thankful for the testimony's of those that have walked before.

Lord Jesus, help us to voice, or pen, or type our thankfulness. Not so much for the benefit of others, but as unto the Lord.

As we do, we will gain the precious ability to be thankful in the moment.
"I will bless the Lord at all times: his praise shall continually be in my mouth." Psalm 34:1

"I have a Goodly Heritage" Psalm 16:6

If there is one thing I would gladly shout from the housetops it is this:

Psalm 16:6 "The lines are fallen unto me in pleasant places; yea,

I have a goodly heritage."

So, with this in mind, I would share with you a song that blessed me. It is my prayer that you are blessed too. I do not know the people singing, but the message is loud and clear. I close my eyes and picture my own precious parents!

I may not have riches as some others may
But I have a mother who knows how to pray
And maybe there's some things I've missed in my youth
But I have a father who stands for the truth

I have a goodly heritage
I'm blessed with things you can't see
I have a goodly heritage
And that is worth far more to me

And if in the future, my parents pass on,
To dwell in that City we've come to call Home
They may not leave me the goods of this world
But I have accepted their God and His Word

Chorus

I have everything, all that I need
All that I need, treasures unseen,
And that is worth far more to me

written by Leah Sandlin

Is it just my imagination, or are there a LOT of really hurting people?

Nothing like "jumping right in", hmm?

Individuals

Marriages

Families

Churches

I'm sure the list could go on and on. My heart is overwhelmed with lives that are going to absolute pieces. People that I know. Individuals that have made choices that are affecting every part of their lives.

My parents told me many times, " You are your choices."

What did they mean by that? They wanted me to know that I am responsible for my own choices and the consequences of them.

Maybe I could not prevent others from hurting me, but I could choose how I was going to respond.

To be able to respond with Christ-like love to my husband, or child, or friend- in the face of being hurt, will require that I do not see myself as better than others. = pride

It will also mean that I accept what comes into my life as from the hand of the Lord.

Jesus gave us an example of reaching out to hurting people.
Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep. Rom. 12:15
May we have an answer prepared by experience to give to them that seek hope in their hurt.
Experience in walking with Jesus and responding with a gentle, quiet, Christ-like word when we are hurt.
These are just some thoughts that have been in my heart.

"Only one life, how soon it will pass, only what's done for Christ will last."