I found this picture of old mason jars online and it reminded me of grandmother and her sisters canning vegetables, and making preserves all summer. Then the pantry shelves would be lined with an abundance from the garden for the winter ahead.

God is able to make all grace abound toward you, 
that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, 
may have an abundance for every good work. 
2 Corinthians 9:8

Silly Goose

I urged my new friend to jump in the pond. She just looked at me as if I should go first. But I got goosebumps just thinking about it. As I was walking it was like playing hopscotch to miss stepping in the goose droppings on the sidewalk. When are the Canadians going to come clean up after their geese?

Just One Rose

I was thrilled to see this one pink rose in the garden this week. The weather will be much cooler with rain and wind tomorrow.

Stand Tall and Expect an Answer!

One day when Kaedyn was in kindergarten, she was at my house working on a Fall leaf project. We could not find her pencil box that held her markers. She said. "We could pray and ask God to help us."

"We need to hold hands while we pray," she told me. She asked God to show her where it was, and she thanked Him in Jesus' name.

She stood up with a big smile fully expecting to see the box. And she did!! It was behind her stack of library books on the dresser hidden until that moment.

What an awesome Father!

Morning Prayer

Our Father in heaven, How grateful we are for your matchless love for us. You take our fears and give us Your peace. Give us Your strength for the day and encourage us with Your Holy Word.

You are all wise, all powerful, all knowing and greater than any problem that may come our way.

Don't be afraid, for I am with you. Don't be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with my victorious right hand.
Isaiah 41:10

Gladness and Joy

Cameron (on left) and friends near the Eastern Gate, Old Jerusalem

They will enter Zion with singing; everlasting joy will crown their heads. Gladness and joy will overtake them, and sorrow and sighing will flee away. Isaiah 35:10

Desert near Jericho

Cameron wrote: The sights that have impacted me the most are the Garden Tomb and and the Mount of Olives. meditating on Jesus’ resurrection.

Joy

"This is the only life you will have before you enter eternity. If you want to find joy, you must first find thankfulness. Indeed, the one who is thankful for even a little enjoys much. But the unappreciative soul is always miserable, always complaining. He lives outside the shelter of the Most High God." Pastor Francis Frangipane

Lord, help me not to complain, but to look forward to each day with gladness and a thankful heart.

In Your Presence - Paul Wilbur

Break into shouts of joy, you forests and every tree

After the rain and wind, the walkway was carpeted with colorful leaves this morning.

I received more photos of Jerusalem from Cameron this weekend where Jews are celebrating the Feast of Tabernacles. Many Christians gathered for an awesome time of worship

Israel, I will not forget you. I made your rebellious acts disappear like a thick cloud and your sins like the morning mist. Come back to me, because I have reclaimed you. Sing with joy, you heavens, because the Lord has done this. Rejoice, you deep places of the earth. Break into shouts of joy, you mountains, you forests and every tree in them. The Lord has reclaimed Jacob. 
He will display his glory in Israel. 
Isaiah 44:21-23

Bigger than any mountain

Know that your Father God will never ever leave you nor forsake you. He has not called you to walk alone. He is offering for you to lean upon His strong arm, to lean on His understanding, and to rest in His word.

I am praying for a missionary friend who has served for decades with her family in Africa. Now in her 60's, caring for her elderly parents, she is battling depression and discouragement.

All of us go through valleys. I am so thankful to have friends and family who have lifted me up.

When I heard from my missionary friend today, these lyrics came to mind:

Bigger than all my problems, Bigger than all my fears
God is bigger than any mountain that I can or cannot see
Bigger than all my questions, Bigger than anything
God is bigger than any mountain that I can or cannot see 

Jerusalem

Those who trust in the Lord are like Mount Zion,

    which cannot be shaken but endures forever.

2 

As the mountains surround Jerusalem,

    so the Lord surrounds his people

    both now and forevermore.

Psalm 125:1-2

These are some of my son Cameron's photos of Jerusalem this week.

Praying for Healing and Righteousness

Yes, the Lord will give what is good;

And our land will yield its increase.

Righteousness will go before Him,

and shall make His footsteps our pathway.

Psalm 85:8-13

Praying for the nations, 
for all those suffering from recent storms, attacks, and tragedies.

Revive us again.

Fill our hearts with Your love.

May our souls be rekindled

With fire from above.

1996

Indiana University Campus, Southeast

Back to school twenty-five years after graduating from GSU, I went to Indiana University to get certification in special education and return to teaching. I had been at home with four children, and after the death of the youngest, who had multiple disabilities, I wanted to work with children with delays.

I quickly learned that everything had to be done on a computer. My professor told me to find the youngest guy in our class and offer to buy his lunch if he would tutor me! A wonderful young man was eager to help, but shocked that I didn't even know what a cursor was!

At the end of the semester my professor complimented me for having the guts to jump back in at age 46 and tackle all the new technology. Thanks to my young classmate, I was able to present a lecture on Down syndrome using power point.

For many years, I was a developmental therapist, working with young children with disabilities.
I learned more from those families than I could have ever learned from textbooks. When I went back to teaching in public school in 2006, I had a much greater appreciation for all that my students with disabilities had accomplished..

I shared this to show that God will carry us through tough times and will later use the experiences to help us encourage someone else.

He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end. Ecclesiastes 3:11