We do love it when the Larches turn golden here at our country bungalow.
Larches are called Tamaracks in other parts of the country.
The windows are in the shop and the service door is also in. Now Dear will move on to trims and then the siding.
Hope all is well in your corner of the world.
For the first Thursday in November we are on the letter I in our Bible Verse Challenge. I’m going to go with several “I ams” that are found throughout the Bible that God declares about Himself.
I is for I AM
Exodus 3:14: “I am who I am.”
Isaiah 41:13: “Fear not, I am the one who helps you.”
Isaiah 45:18: “I am the Lord, and there is no other.”
Matthew 28:20: “I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
John 6:35: Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst.”
John 8:12: Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”
John 10:11: I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.
John 11:25-26: Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?”
John 14:6: Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”
Revelation 1:8: “I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.”
From Tom: Another I Am:
Exodus 3:14 God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM” And he said, “Say this to the people of Israel, ‘I AM has sent me to you.’
From Cheryl:
My verses today are two similar questions:
“Is anything too hard for the LORD?” Genesis 18:14
“Behold, I am the Lord, the God of all flesh. Is there anything too hard for Me?” Jeremiah 32:27
From Maristella:
“Better a little with righteousness
than much gain with *injustice*.”
Proverbs 16:8
And
“The *integrity* of the upright guides them,
but the unfaithful are destroyed by their duplicity.”
Proverbs 11:3
From Vera: I is for Immortal, Invisible
“To the King of the ages, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.”
1 Timothy 1:17 ESV
Add your verse/verses for the letter I in the comments or on your blog and I will add them to this post. Happy Hunting!
I want to give you a heads up that we will not have our Bible Verse Challenge on the Thursday that Thanksgiving lands on this year, November 26th. We’ll resume the following Thursday, December 3rd.
The verses before this verse are: Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4: 4-7
1. How do you define peace?
Funny you should ask that question. Tuesday morning as part of my devotions I read these words from a commentary on Ephesians:
Speaking about Jesus…
For He Himself is our peace, who made both groups into one, and broke down the barrier of the dividing wall, by abolishing in His flesh the enmity, which is the Law of commandments contained in ordinances, that in Himself He might make the two into one new man, thus establishing peace, and might reconcile them both in one body to God through the cross, by it having put to death the enmity. And He came and preached peace to you who were far away, and peace to those who were near. (Ephesians 2:14-17)
Jesus alone is our peace.
Jesus Christ came as a babe to earth, and in His sacrifice on the cross He Himself became peace for those who trust in Him. His peace is not temporary but permanent. he made both groups, Jews (those who were “near”) and Gentiles (those who were “far off”), into one, and broke down the barrier of the dividing wall. (MacArthur New Testament Commentary, Ephesians)
Believing in Jesus Christ as Savior because of his perfect sacrifice on the cross for our sins is the only way to peace with God. This is the only permanent peace available.
2. November 3rd is Election Day in the US of A, but did you know it’s also National Sandwich Day? Let’s vote, shall we? egg salad or tuna salad? chicken salad or grilled chicken on a bun? peanut butter and jelly or a bagel with cream cheese? turkey and swiss or ham and cheddar? grilled cheese or pimento cheese? roast beef-corned beef-or make mine veggie?
I vote for tuna salad, grilled chicken on a bun, peanut butter and jelly, turkey and swiss, grilled cheese and corned beef on rye, please.
3. When did you last say (or feel) ‘no rest for the weary’?
This is my hard working husband every day while he tries to get the shop ‘snow tight’ before the next big snow. Hard to work in freezing temps so his hours are limited but he keeps plugging away.
4. This time last year, where were you?
This time last year we had just had a weekend with my sister Vera in our neck of the woods and I was taking her back to the airport. While she was with us we enjoyed a trip into Canada to enjoy a Persian lunch at Kootenay Kebab in Trail, B.C. and we had a baking day in my kitchen making Piroshky with our kids and our cousin while Dear and our son worked on the shop. (We’re still working on the shop!!) I’m hoping that some day in the future we’ll be able to cross the line again into Canada…
5. Share a favorite song, verse, or quote featuring the word ‘peace’.
What a friend we have in Jesus,
All our sins and griefs to bear!
What a privilege to carry
Everything to God in prayer!
O what peace we often forfeit,
O what needless pain we bear,
All because we do not carry
Everything to God in prayer.
Have we trials and temptations?
Is there trouble anywhere?
We should never be discouraged;
Take it to the Lord in prayer.
Can we find a friend so faithful
Who will all our sorrows share?
Jesus knows our every weakness;
Take it to the Lord in prayer.
Are we weak and heavy laden,
Cumbered with a load of care?
Precious Savior, still our refuge,
Take it to the Lord in prayer.
Do your friends despise, forsake you?
Take it to the Lord in prayer!
In His arms He’ll take and shield you;
You will find a solace there.
Blessèd Savior, Thou hast promised
Thou wilt all our burdens bear
May we ever, Lord, be bringing
All to Thee in earnest prayer.
Soon in glory bright unclouded
There will be no need for prayer
Rapture, praise and endless worship
Will be our sweet portion there.
6. Insert your own random thought here.
A quote from our pastor this last Sunday that made a few of us laugh out loud.
“The Bible tells us how to live in the nasty now and now.”
Thank you to Jo From This Side of the Pond for asking the questions each week!
The concrete went in on October 16th. It was sealed on October 17th. After the seal dried I took these photos.
The roof ridge cap was a pain as it took a while to figure out how to anchor the body harness so Dear could work with that safety net while on the steel roof. Finally this past Sunday with the help of our son they managed to get the 4 sections of ridge cap installed and drilled onto the roof.
The view from below of the first section of the ridge cap in place with three more to go.
You can understand my relief for Dear to have this part of the job behind him.
Thank you to Dan who made the work go smoothly and quicker than having Dear working on his own.
Little by little it’s coming together. Today he is working on installing the windows. Soon the steel side panels can be installed. Still hoping to have it enclosed before our next big snow!
Our daughter-in-law is creative and doesn’t shy away from hard work. She came up with this idea for the family for Halloween this year. Aren’t they the cutest S’more Family? Love our little Hershey bar (Jamie made the whole thing!) and our little marshmallow. I think he looks like a Victorian boy ready for his baptismal. Rayna even got into the act by being the campfire! They made the rounds to Uncle & Aunt, Granny, Granny Great and ended up at our house for dinner.
Dear was ready for the trick or treaters at the door with his chainsaw hat on. How’s that for creative!? I had a pirates wig on with an eye patch and the kids were not so sure about me…
One more photo for the books. I took my wig and eye patch off and here’s the response I got from our little marshmallow. How I love this look.
Coming in for his hug! I cherish this look and response from him knowing the time will come when he’ll out grow it. Boohoo…
Happy first Monday in November. Hope the time change doesn’t throw you for a loop.
Approach, My Soul, the Mercy Seat
Approach, my soul, the mercy seat,
Where Jesus answers prayer;
There humbly fall before His feet,
For none can perish there.
Thy promise is my only plea,
With this I venture nigh;
Thou callest burdened souls to Thee,
And such, O Lord, am I.
Bowed down beneath a load of sin,
By Satan sorely pressed,
By war without and fears within,
I come to Thee for rest.
Be Thou my Shield and hiding Place,
That, sheltered by Thy side,
I may my fierce accuser face,
And tell him Thou hast died!
O wondrous love! to bleed and die,
To bear the cross and shame,
That guilty sinners, such as I,
Might plead Thy gracious name.
Poor tempest tossèd soul, be still;
;
My promised grace receive
’Tis Jesus speaks—I must, I will,
I can, I do believe.
Words: John Newton, 1779.
Thank you to Laura who always remembers the group shot selfie and for taking the next couple photos in the midst.
Me and my favorite eighteen month old. He’s my little guy and I love him so.
Giving a hug to his gramps. Like his daddy when he was little, Jaymison, likes to have his hands full.
Saturday catch up with these photos before I forget them on this last day of October 2020. We have Halloween, a full moon and then before we go to bed we’ll need to turn our clocks back one hour. In the country we have no chance of trick or treaters except for our little grands who will stop by with their parents. They have a costume theme this year that is a fun one and I hope to get a photo tonight to share with y’all on Monday.
Take care everyone!
What a difference a week makes. Sunday the 18th of October my brother and his kids enjoyed the maze with me in sunshine and a bit of mud. On Saturday the 24th of October the patch paths were covered in snow. Our car arrived at the Corn Maze location a little after ten and it was closed. After checking on line we saw that they were due to open at eleven. Jamie and the littles arrived a little before 10:30 and the owner of the maze spotted us and came over to open up early for us. We were the only group on the maze from start to finish. Thank you Colville Corn Maze for a detailed maze experience and for opening early for us!
We never dreamed we’d be trekking through the maze in snow but we were all up for the adventure.
You need a map expert like Katie to make it through with ease and we were so happy she was on point since we were trekking through the snow in below freezing temperatures.
Warning: This is a photo loaded post!
Katie led us to the #1 stop quick and easy. Onward and upward we go.
We supported the Corn Maze People by buying some of their last pumpkins.
The cutest little pumpkins in the patch!
Do you go to a pumpkin patch this time of year? Do you have a Corn Maze in your town? Our snow is melting and we’ve had a nice stretch of dry weather. Very cold starts to the day with warming by mid afternoon. Slow but sure progress on the shop.
The last Thursday of October and we are on the letter H for our Truth from A to Z Bible Verse Challenge. Choose a verse or verses from the Bible with words beginning with H. Share your choices in the comments and I will add them to this post. Thank you in advance.
Psalm 121 (ESV): H is for Hills, Help, Heaven, Hand, He
I lift up my eyes to the hills.
From where does my help come?
2 My help comes from the Lord,
who made heaven and earth.
3 He will not let your foot be moved;
he who keeps you will not slumber.
4 Behold, he who keeps Israel
will neither slumber nor sleep.
5 The Lord is your keeper;
the Lord is your shade on your right hand.
6 The sun shall not strike you by day,
nor the moon by night.
7 The Lord will keep you from all evil;
he will keep your life.
8 The Lord will keep
your going out and your coming in
from this time forth and forevermore.
Looking forward to seeing your verses!
From Aguene7:
Isaiah 52:7
7 How beautiful upon the mountains
are the feet of him who brings good news,
who publishes peace, who brings good news of happiness,
who publishes salvation,
who says to Zion, “Your God reigns.”
From Cheryl:
Hebrews 13:14
“For here we have no continuing city, but we seek one to come.”
From Maristella:
H is for HOPE :
“But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect.
1 Peter 3:15
From Barbara:
My God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4:19
From Patricia:
Isaiah 49:15-16
…I will not forget you. I have written your name on the palms of my hands…
From Vera:
H is for he, his, hand, heir, high and having
“Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world. He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, having become as much superior to angels as the name he has inherited is more excellent than theirs.”
Hebrews 1:1-4 ESV
From Bethany: H is for Hope
The Happy Wonderer ~ ellen b. 