Whatever Dims Thy Sense of Truth ~ Hymn

Whatever Dims Thy Sense of Truth

Whatever dims thy sense of truth
Or stains thy purity,
Though light as breath of summer air,
Count it as sin to thee.

Let not the world thy God dethrone
Or from His smile divide;
And count compared with heavenly wealth,
As dross all things beside.

Dim not the crystal of thy soul
By sin’s destroying breath:
There lurks beneath the siren smile
Dark treachery and death.

Preserve the tablet of thy thoughts
From every blemish free,
For our Redeemer’s lowly faith
Its temple makes with thee.

And pray of God, that grace be given
To tread time’s narrow way:
How dark soever it may seem,
It leads to cloudless day.

Words: Mary W. Hale, 1840.

Whatever weak­ens your rea­son, im­pairs the ten­der­ness of your con­science, ob­scures your sense of God, takes off your rel­ish for spir­it­u­al things, what­ev­er in­creas­es the au­thor­ity of the bo­dy ov­er the mind, that thing is sin to you, how­ev­er in­no­cent it may seem in itself.

Susanna Wes­ley, mo­ther of John & Charles Wes­ley

Belated Birthday Celebration

We enjoyed a belated birthday dinner and overnight in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho on Wednesday September 30th. We strolled along Sherman Ave. before our dinner reservation at 4:00.

Our kids gifted us a certificate to eat at Tony’s on the Lake, an Italian restaurant across from Lake Coeur d’Alene.

Filet for Dear and Osso Buco for me and it was oh so good.

We stayed the night at Blackwell Hotel, An old grand house turned into a Boutique Hotel. It is right on Sherman Ave. It has all the creaks and wood banisters to prove it’s old.

When we checked out of this hotel we headed north just a bit to stay in an RV park that my brother’s family rolled into on October 1st. We spent the night and then all of us headed to our country bungalow on Friday. More tales to come.

Thursday Bible Verse Challenge, D is for…

It’s Thursday the first of October and we are on the letter D in our Truth from A to Z Bible Verse Challenge. It’s been so good to read the verses all who participate have come up with. This week I’m traveling and it could take me a while to add the verses you share here but I will eventually get to them. Thanks for understanding.

D is for dominions, dead, dwell

Colossians 1:15-20 (The Preeminence of Christ)

He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by him all things were created, in heaven and earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or DOMINIONS or rulers or authorities–all things were created through him and for him. And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the DEAD, that in everything he might be preeminent. For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to DWELL, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross. 

Mrs. T at Across My Kitchen Table chose the word Deliver. She has an in depth post on her blog on Deliverance. Pop over to read it, you’ll be glad you did. Here are some of the verses she posted.

“[He] hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of His dear Son.”  (Colossians 1:13)

 “For Thou hast delivered my soul from death, mine eyes from tears, and my feet from falling. I will walk before the LORD in the land of the living.”  (Psalm 116:8-9)

“The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished.”  (2 Peter 2:9)

“The righteous cry, and the LORD heareth, and delivereth them out of all their troubles … Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the LORD delivereth him out of them all.”  (Psalm 34:17, 19)

“And call upon Me in the day of trouble; I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify Me.” (Psalm 50:15)

 Psalm 37:39-40:

“But the salvation of the righteous is of the LORD; He is their strength in the time of trouble.  And the LORD shall help them, and deliver them: He shall deliver them from the wicked, and save them, because they trust in Him.”

From my sister Vera: D is for Decision

I love how this verse shows us that through it all a God is in control.

Decision

“The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from the Lord.”
‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭16:33‬ ‭ESV‬‬

From Maristella:

D is for Desire,Do…
“I have the right to* do* anything,” you say—but not everything is beneficial. “I have the right to do anything”—but I will not be mastered by anything.”
1 Corinthians 6:12 | NIV

From Willow at Willow’s Cottage: D is for Depend

Psalm 62:5-6

5 I depend on God alone; I put my hope in him. 
6 He alone protects and saves me; he is my defender, and I shall never be defeated. 

Click over to read it on her blog.

Leave your verse/verses in the comments or on your blog and I’ll add them here. Thank you in advance. If you have a post on your blog please let me know and/or leave your link in the comments.

A Nostalgic Hodgepodge

It’s time for Wednesday Hodgepodge. Jo From This Side of the Pond publishes the questions on Tuesdays for us to answer and then we post our answers on Wednesdays to share with other Hodgepodgers.
1. When is the last time you experienced nostalgia?
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I was putting together all the photos of my little Babushka for a post and it got me thinking of her life and all she endured and her perseverance. She died in March of 1980. So many conversations that I couldn’t have with her because of our language barrier. When we were young and she would come over to stay with us I’d hope to be the one who would be able to sleep with her on the fold down couch in the living room. Her left arm was amputated at her elbow in her youth but she learned to do more than a lot of people with two hands can do. She taught me to embroider or I should say she persevered with me as I tried to embroider. One thing she told me as a teenager that I still quote from time to time is something like this, “Nothing good happens in the dark”. She was cautioning us as young adults not to be out at night. She prayed for the salvation of all her grandchildren and their spouses. It would have been fun for our children to know her…
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 2. September 29th is National Coffee Day.
Do we need this? Ha!
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Seems like everyday is a National day of something. Reminds me of handing out trophies to everyone regardless of their talent.
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So are you a coffee drinker?
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I am a coffee drinker. The mug on the left is my current every morning choice of coffee vessel. I bought that mug at TDMaxx (not TJ) in Windsor, England.
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If so how many cups per day, and tell us how you like it.
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One large cup in the morning, strong and black.
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Is there a recipe you enjoy that calls for coffee as one of the ingredients?
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I have had some things that have coffee as an ingredient but nothing that is in my recipe wheelhouse.
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 3. Do you find praise or criticism to be more motivating? Explain.
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My pride gets in the way of accepting criticism. I find it easier to accept when the Holy Spirit convicts me of something that needs correcting.  I’m definitely spurred on by genuine praise but not flattery.
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 4.  What’s a television series you keep coming back to and re-watching?
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Vera, Midsomer Murders, Detective Lewis, Endeavor…there’s a theme going here. British murder mysteries.
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 5. As the month of September draws to a close give us three words to describe your mood.
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Smiling With Anticipation…
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 6. Insert your own random thought here.
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The reason I’m smiling with anticipation is because the month of October will be family filled. We are meeting up with my youngest brother’s family this Thursday in Idaho and then they will be parking their 5th wheel at our place for a bit. My oldest sister’s family is traveling to Washington state next week and we will gather together on the west side of the Cascades for a few days together. Four of our eight siblings will be together along with their families and our “Coast” kids. Then more family time in Colville with all of our kids together for our annual hunting weekend. All the rooms will be full at all the Family Inns for many days in October.
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We are traveling for a few days and I will be late in visiting everyone this week. Cheers!

First Sunday Drive This Fall

Our area has such a beautiful layering of mountains all around us looking North, South, East and West. The photo above is looking South.

We are choosing to drive some roads in our area that are new to us to continue familiarizing ourselves with our county. On this first Sunday in Fall we chose Greenwood Loop Rd. which took us to Mingo Mountain Road. When the road became Primitive we turned around and went back the same way we came.

We had a good weekend and I hope you did, too. Happy new week to you all.

My computer only let me upload a couple of my collages. I’ll add the rest of the photos when my computer behaves. Bright and early this morning my computer is behaving so I added the rest of the photos!! 

This will be a busy week for us. I’ll be very scarce come Wednesday and beyond.

O God of Truth ~ Hymn

O God of Truth

O God of truth, whose living Word
Upholds whate’er hath breath,
Look down on Thy creation, Lord,
Enslaved by sin and death.

Set up Thy standard, Lord, that we,
Who claim a heavenly birth,
May march with Thee to smite the lies
That vex Thy groaning earth.

Ah! would we join that blest array,
And follow in the might
Of Him, the Faithful and the True,
In raiment clean and white!

We fight for truth, we fight for God,
Poor slaves of lies and sin!
He who would fight for Thee on earth
Must first be true within.

Then, God of truth, for whom we long,
Thou who wilt hear our prayer,
Do Thine own battle in our hearts,
And slay the falsehood there.

Still smite; still burn; till naught is left
But God’s own truth and love;
Then, Lord, as morning dew come down,
Rest on us from above.

Yes, come: then, tried as in the fire,
From every lie set free,
Thy perfect truth shall dwell in us,
And we shall live in Thee.

Words: Thomas Hughes, 1859.

Where in the World…

…is our traveling family?

My youngest brother and his family are having an RV adventure around the USA (Wholly-Rollin) for who knows how long. My sister Lana and her hubby Steve met up with them in South Dakota the 16th through the 19th of September and here are a couple photos I “borrowed” from them. Leonard, Mandy, Hope and Andrew will soon make it to our neck of the woods the beginning of October. Hope and Andrew are being RV schooled enjoying God’s amazing creations around the USA. They have just left the Yellowstone Area and the Grand Tetons heading to Montana.

Leonard and Lana, the babies of our family. They are twins. The Black Hills of South Dakota.

Meanwhile back in our neck of the woods,  Jaymison and Addyson enjoying the beginning of Autumn.

Addy is enjoying a carrot fresh out of the garden and JJ is always pleased to be seated on any piece of machinery!

After I got the framework of the puzzle done and a lot of the interior done, Dear helped me finish up this Matryoshka Doll puzzle. He did leave the final pieces for me. It was a tough one but satisfying to see it completed. This is our 7th COVID-19 puzzle in the books!

Have you taken up puzzles lately? Do you grow carrots in your garden? Are you part of the RVing world? What’s the favorite place you’ve traveled to in the USA?

A to Z Bible Verse Challenge ~ C is for…

 

Today is Thursday and we are on the letter C in our Bible Verse Challenge.

I read a couple of Bible verses loaded with several ‘C’ words.

C is for Common, Certain, Crept, Condemnation, Christ.

Jude 3-4:

Beloved, although I was very eager to write to you about our common salvation, I found it necessary to write appealing to you to contend for the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints. For certain people have crept in unnoticed who long ago were designated for this condemnation, ungodly people, who pervert the grace of our God into sensuality and deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ.

Visit Willow at Willow’s Cottage to see the verse she has chosen to share and say hi.

C is for Casting and Care

Casting all your care on Him for He cares for you.  1 Peter 5:7

From Vee: C is for…

The account of the woman taken in the act of adultery…cast, convicted, conscience, and condemn as in “Neither do I condemn thee, go and sin no more.” 

You can read the full account in John 8:1-11

From Sue: C is for Come, Crimson

Isaiah 1:18-20: 

“Come now, let us reason together, says the Lord: though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall become like wool. If you are willing and obedient, you shall eat the good of the land; but if you refuse and rebel, you shall be eaten by the sword; for the mouth of the Lord has spoken.”

From Maristella: C is for Christ, Continually and Circumstances

“Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in* Christ* Jesus.”
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 | NIV

From my sister Vera: C is for Chosen and Called.

“But you are a CHOSEN race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who CALLED you out of darkness into his marvelous light.”
‭‭1 Peter‬ ‭2:9‬ ‭ESV‬‬

Click over to Mrs. T’s blog, Across My Kitchen Table to see her choice for C! I’ll add the verse from her blog to this post tomorrow that will give you time to head over and comment on her blog. She chose the word Courage. C is for Courage.

“Have not I commanded thee?  Be strong and of a good courage: be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed; for the LORD thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.”  (Joshua 1:9)

From Libby at Beauty Without Within: C is for Cry and Crushed.

These verses referring to CRYING out are timely I think: Ps. 34:15,17-18
“The eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and his ears are open to their cry for help. The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears, and rescues them form all their troubles. The Lord is near the brokenhearted; he saves those crushed in spirit.”

Libby’s blog is Beauty Without Within.

Bethany at Raindrops & Rainbows has a post on her blog for the Challenge. Click over and read her post, you’ll be encouraged. C is for Create.

“So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.”  Genesis 1:27

“Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.” Psalm 51:10

From Cheryl: C is for Comfort

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comfort by God. 1 Corinthians 1:3-4

And you are right Cheryl…why stop there. Here is the rest of the paragraph from 2 Corinthians 1:5-7 (ESV).

5 For as we share abundantly in Christ’s sufferings, so through Christ we share abundantly in comfort too. 6 If we are afflicted, it is for your comfort and salvation; and if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which you experience when you patiently endure the same sufferings that we suffer. 7 Our hope for you is unshaken, for we know that as you share in our sufferings, you will also share in our comfort.

Cheryl’s blog is called Thinking About Home.

If you have verse/verses for the letter C post it in the comments and I’ll add it here. If you posted a verse on your blog let me know and I’ll add your link here. Thank you in advance for participating. It has been so good to see the verses that you find to share.

Hello Fall Hodgepodge

Thank you to Jo for coming up with the questions for the weekly hodgpodge! Click over to From This Side of the Pond to join in.

This photo of JJ and Addy covered with leaves is from last Fall after the leaves fell.

1. It’s fall y’all. What’s something you love about this season and also something you don’t?

Fall clothing is something I enjoy. I really can’t come up with something I don’t like about Fall. Fall might be my favorite season of all.

2. When you think of the colors of fall, which one is your favorite?

Hmmm…I think I like the combination rust, gold, olive green, maroon, and brown. If I had to pick one I’d pick olive green.

Is there somewhere you could easily day trip to see the leaves in all their glory?
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There are lots of great drives in our area where we can enjoy fall colors.
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Will you? Yes, we will.
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3. What’s one thing you’ve let ‘fall’ by the wayside during this season of staying home and staying away?
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We aren’t taking as many roadtrips as we have in the past.
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4. If you’re wearing a sweater is it most likely a cardigan, crew neck, v-neck, or zip up hoodie?
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Most likely a cardigan.
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5. What’s your secret to dealing with change?
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It’s not a secret but sometimes we forget that God is sovereign, that He is in control. Reminding myself that I am not in control takes the pressure off when change happens.
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6.  Insert your own random thought here.
Each Thursday until we have gone through the alphabet I’m hosting Truth from A to Z Bible Verse Challenge. Tomorrow we are on the letter C. If you’d like to join in you can add a verse in the comments on my post tomorrow or let me know that you posted a verse on your own blog. I’ll add a link to your post or add your verse from the comment section onto the Thursday challenge post. The word/words that start with C can be anywhere in the verse. It can be a key word or not. Not a lot of rules just an exercise that encourages you to search the treasure we have in the Bible.

Hello to Fall 2020!

I’ve added a few touches of Fall Decor for 2020. We have some exciting events happening in October. Lots of family time with our little circle and extended family, too. Fall is a favorite time around our parts. Time will tell if the Cider Festival will be happening. (So far it hasn’t been cancelled). We know the corn maze is opening soon. Hunting season opens in October, too. For Christmas our kids gifted us a family photo shoot and we are getting our clothing choices coordinated for that. We hope to get the photographer scheduled during hunting weekend when all our kids will be on this side of the mountains.

Do you have any Fall plans?

UPDATE: Sad news that the Ciderfest has been cancelled. 😦