“Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.” – Lamentations 3:22,23
Praise God – each day is a brand-new day…new beginnings! Thank you, Lord.
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Blog
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Simple Gifts: Embracing Simplicity
Simple Gifts: Embracing Simplicity – (Taken from Simple Abundance – A Daybook of Comfort and Joy, by Sarah Ban Breathmach)
“When we appreciate how much we have, we feel the urge to pare down, get back to basics, and learn what is essential for our happiness. We long to realize what’s really important.”
‘Tis a gift to be simple,
‘Tis a gift to be free,
‘Tis a gift to come down
Where we ought to be
And when we find ourselves
In the place that’s right
‘Twill be in the valley
Of love and delight
-Nineteenth-Century Shaker hymn
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freedom indeed…
“Live as free men (and women), but don’t use your freedom (in Christ) as a cover-up for evil; live as servants of God.” ( 1 Peter 2:16)
We who are in Christ are free indeed…but, there’s also a “but” included in the same sentence.
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Little eyes are watching…
“Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity.” 1 Timothy 4:12
“Me and my mommy’s going to church now,” declared Liberty. Off she marched, Bible under her left arm, and baby doll (named ‘Mumma’) in her left hand. It wasn’t long before I heard constant chattering in another part of our house. Upon further investigation, I found my 3 ½ year old granddaughter settled in the sofa on our 3-season porch telling a Bible story to her dolly and singing Christmas carols to the top of her lungs.
Then it struck me of the importance of modeling good behavior: studying God’s word, citing Bible stories, and church attendance. In the past, she’d attended church with Dad, Mom, Grandpa and Nana. She sat near me another morning while I read my morning devotions.
All the more reason for me to keep my scheduled quiet time with my heavenly Father. Little eyes were watching and mimicking my every move.
A good example has more value than good advice.
Lord, help me live a godly life of faith and love and purity so those who follow what I do will grow in their maturity. – Sper
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Crazy 3-year old sayings
Yesterday, while my 3 1/2 year old granddaughter helped prepare lunch, she observed a gadget I used. Her first words were, “What’s this, Nana? This is insane!”
Frankly, I had never pictured a can opener as “insane,” but apparently through the eyes of a 3 ½ year old, a manually operated can opener was indeed “insane!” I couldn’t help but laugh as her choice of words.
Early yesterday morning, while I sat reading and writing in my journal, she sat beside me drawing. I asked her a question, and she replied, “Don’t ask me a question, you know, I have to concetrate!”
Out of the mouths of babes!
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Bonfire and Snow Picnic
Who says picnics are for summer only? Friends of ours invited Steve and I, Andy, Bethany, Liberty and Elijah to their home in the woods to experience a bonfire picnic, complete with roasted hotdogs and melted marshmallow s’mores. Yum! Yum! It doesn’t get much better than that.
Our outer garments still smell of bonfire. My gloves show tell-tale signs of gooey marshmallow and Liberty’s white mittens had a few splotches of ketchup…reminders of good times, good food, and good fellowship!
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Good Sledding Times experienced by all!
Good Sledding Times experienced by all!
There’s nothing quite like sledding down hills for the child to come out in an adult! I found myself even repeating the sledding experience the next day.
Last year, the sleds remained cooped up in the attic merely collecting dust. How silly that was! Guess it takes young blood to coax the inner child within outside. Besides…fresh air invigorates the body and stimulates the brain. Healthy for the body all the way around.
“There’s no such thing as bad weather, only improper clothing,” so quotes my doctor. And, he’s right.
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Merry Christmas from our house to yours!
The Lasher household is bustling with fervent activity these days. Grandpa and Nana (that’s me) are busy trying to keep up with a 3 ½ year old and her 1 ½ year old brother plus mom and dad. They all attended second service church with us yesterday. Elijah started out with the “Ducks” which is the under 24 months of age children, but Nana and Liberty ended up in the “Ducks” due to a need for more workers.
Liberty and Elijah enjoyed bouncing in a pool of plastic balls and navigating inside a walking boat. They particularly enjoyed snack time with Cheerios. I’m not sure how many Cheerios actually ended up inside bellies because it seemed like more cereal covered the floor after snack time. The adults appreciated Pastor Jim’s sermon and also enjoyed the marshmallow video.
After church we enjoyed KFC and naps. Nana was especially ready for a Sunday afternoon nap! Both the children (and the majority of adults) sat enamored with Polar Express in the evening. By the looks of the dirty laundry accumulation, it’s time for laundry (again)—I pity mothers pre-automatic washer and dryer age! More later…,
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Sunday Morn
Big people and little people noises scurrying around for Sunday Morn service…such a delighful sound! Last evening, there were four little people in our home 3 and under! I just wanted to sit back and enjoy the interaction between them as they communed in their own, individual way amongst themselves. It was almost as if the adults didn’t exist, only little people.
I wonder how their young minds work when so much commotion surrounds their world. I really can’t remember back that far, can you?
All is calm–all is bright!
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They are here!
They are here! Safe and sound…a bit weary, but here, that is the important thing! The heavy snow, ice, and freezing rain held off—Praise the Lord!
Andy, Bethany, Liberty and Elijah arrived around 2:00 a.m. – it was difficult to sleep until I heard their footsteps inside the door. Before Liberty bedded down, she ran over to me and proclaimed, “Na-Na!” and greeted Grandpa happily (even in a half-asleep state). We sat up a bit and chatted. She even recited her Christmas program lines for us.
All’s quiet downstairs, and it’s already 7:30 am!
“To whom will you compare me? Or who is my equal? says the Holy One. Lift your eyes and look to the heavens: Who created all these? He who brings out the starry host one by one, and calls them each by name. Because of his great power and mighty strength, not one of them is missing.” (Isaiah 40:25, 26)
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