There is quite the show going on outside my windows. Our house is up on a hill and the land goes down from the house and then gently up so that all in front of us is the woodline. The sun is shining brightly and right now, as I type, all the snow that came the other night is dropping off the trees. I opened a window and leaned way out to try to hear it, but I couldn’t! I’m sure if I was there I could hear the soft drops of snow, but from the house all I could hear was the rushing of the stream. And the noice of the children. (Caleb is playing the piano and singing!) By the end of the day the snow will be gone from the trees and I’m sad about that. Thanks to all of you who enjoyed the snow pictures from my walk yesterday, reading your comments actually increased my own pleasure in it. Just another reminder of what pleasant words do!
This is a photo I took this morning, when the sun was coming up and starting to shine on the tops of the trees:
Caleb woke up and came downstairs at 6:25 this morning, it was still dark outside. Rich had left for work already. I sat down in the recliner as Caleb played and read from these books:
Here are some quotes from each one that stood out to me today.
In my Bible, I read John 1-3.
“For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ”
“Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sins of the world” ~John the Baptist
“He must increase, but I must decrease” ~John the Baptist
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In Streams I read these beautiful words:
“You must rest, O soul, to receive your heart’s desire. Slow the beating of your heart over concerns for your personal care. Place the storm of your individual troubles on God’s altar of everyday trials, and the same night, the Lord will appear to you. His rainbow will extend across the subsiding flood, and in your stillness you will hear the everlasting music.” George Matheson
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“Do you really desire the things for which you pray,
is your heart set upon them so that you say,
“I will not let Thee go except Thou bless me”?
~Daily Meditations for Prayer
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In the excellent book, The Rare Jewel of Christian Contentment, I read:
“God expects that every day you should spend some time in blessing his name for what mercy he has granted to you. There is not one of you in the lowest condition but you have an abundance of mercies to bless God for, but discontentedness makes them nothing. The Spirit of God extenuates evils and crosses, and magnifies and amplifies all mercies; and makes all mercies seem to be great, and all afflictions seem to be little.” (this whole book really challenges me, I was convicted today about how when something goes wrong in my life, it seems to negate the amazing blessings that God has given me. I need to be careful to always count my blessings. Just like Joanna wisely emailed to me last week, when I sent her an S.O.S. to pray for my depressed state, “MAKE A LIST OF THINGS YOU ARE THANKFUL FOR.”)
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In Words to Live By, (which I found and bought it this weekend), I found this quote: (It reminded me of something I wrote in a blog entry last week, some of you may remember what I’m referring to)
“What a state we have got into when we can’t say ‘I’ll be happy when God calls me’ without being afraid one will be thought ‘morbid.’ After all, St. Paul said just the same. If we really believe what we say we believe–if we really think that home is elsewhere and that this life is a ‘wandering to find home,’ why should we not look forward to the arrival? There are, aren’t there, only three things we can do about death: to desire it, to fear it, or to ignore it. The third alternative, which is the one the modern world calls “healthy,” is surely the most uneasy and precarious of all.’ CS Lewis
(I do all three of those things sometimes, which I think is only natural, but the healthy, general way of the Christian should be to desire “going home”.)
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Well, if you read all this I will be amazed. But, thanks for letting me share what I read and meditated on this morning. “In the multitude of counselors there is safety” (Proverbs 11:14) and that is why I like to read a variety of books.
I also wanted to share some mischief that happened today at my house.
While Caleb was in the bathtub, David threw our cat Patches right in with him and Caleb got scratched! I could not believe that David did that! Patches is still grooming herself, trying to get dry. Caleb is fine. Poor boy.
Also, Caleb went up in the bathroom (this is why I gave him a bath) and poured the majority of a bottle of bubblebath all over one of his trains and the floor. (“This is what comes of watching too many Thomas episodes. Today on the show, Thomas was covered in “stinky cheese! I should be happy that Caleb settled on bubblebath!) While I was on my hands and knees washing it away, David came running in to tell me something and slipped and fell.
CRAZY!
Have a great day my friends!
Good to be Home 
Great verses! Jesus is Grace and Truth!
Sounds like the usual and normal kind of chaos that “family” means ~ LOL! Glad nobody broke any bones, etc. So, are the birds busy at your house today too? They always come to the feeder in droves when the snow is deep here ~
Well, Shanda, you can be amazed! I read all of what you wrote and especially enjoyed the quote from “The Rare Jewel of Christian Contentment.”Pretty after-the-snow picture!
LOL at least the train is clean now. Enjoyed the qoutes thanks for sharing.
David
I have loved watching the snow fall off the trees today. We went to the library and as we were walking back to the car, a tree decided to “shower” us with snow blessings. It surprised us and we all started laughing. 🙂 I thought of your comment yesterday about snow going down your back. Poor Patches! Poor Caleb! Poor David!… because I’m sure he was in a bit of trouble after that. 🙂
Thank you, as always, for sharing. I too read and enjoyed all the quotes and your thoughts. God uses you! It blesses me to see my David fed through reading your blog We have sand banks rather than snow banks to enjoy here ….hope to post that tomorrow….too full of a day today. blessings, Jenny
Loved the quotes and I am happy to hear that you had a nice moment to sit in your chair and read from the books you love. I enjoy seeing the beautiful scenery that surrounds your home, it looks so tranquil.
I was thinking of you this morning. I always think of you when I am up early, because I know you are a morning person. The picture of the snow-covered trees is glorious! I love snow on trees. I was always sad as a child when the snow would fall off of the trees. I enjoyed the quotes- especially the C.S. Lewis one. It has been cold here- about 10 degrees. I think it has warmed up to about 20, and the snow is coming down hard. I love snowy days!
Three things came to mind as I read your post this morning:1. I could head Burl Ives singing, “Count you many blessings, name them one by one, and it will surprise you what the Lord hath done.”2. Our children had a cat once that would actually sit in the dish water or in the tub at bath time. 3. Lindburger cheese was placed on the engine of my parents car when they were married and on their honeymoon, and as the engine got hot, so did the smell. : )Thank you for the reminder to be thankful and to look forward to the day we can see our Lord face to face.
You are just a precious jewel! I love reading through your posts, pictures and beautiful thoughts.
xoxo Cat
LOL… I can’t tell you how many “messes” I have cleaned up with my little boy ryan (4) trying to imitate one of the Thomas video catastrophe’s!!!!The quotes were great, thanks for sharing!
I enjoyed reading the excerpts from your books, actually. I need to get to reading some of my new books, too. Sounds like a fun day at your house today. 🙂 Hope you have a great afternoon. Love, Trish
wow, you do like to read…..good job~
That first picture is just lovely, a pretty sight to wake up to~
If I had read the C. S. Lewis one first I would have thought of you and emailed it to you promptly! That one has your name all over it!
Janet just gave me a book to read from Puritan paperbacks called precious remedies it looks very good and full of “Thees” and “Thous” b/c it was written in the 1600’s. Usually that means it will be so much deeper than the surface stuff being written today. Don’t you think that is why we enjoy Lewis so much, he is so deep!
I love the first picture of the woods, I would walk in and not return for hours!
Shanda with her head out the window trying to hear snow falling…I can imagine the sound and equally imagine you!!! You make me smile!
I love the first photo-breathtaking! Thank you for sharing and encouraging me. lish
I love the pictures you post!! I can see the bathroom now after the bubble bath:) Poor Caleb!
I have been reading Streams (and Springs in the Valley) since 1971. My hubby and I read it together now….that might not be a bad idea for you two right now.
I do love C.S. Lewis. A friend of mine gave me a copy of “The Four Loves” I am dying to dig into as soon as I finish what I’m currently reading.
I so enjoy seeing your snow pictures. It just rains here and is grey out.
A beautiful snow picture. I loved the photos on the previous post.
Love and prayers my friend.
Thank you for posting this. I’ve been making some really horrible choices lately, and my life is pretty crazy. I too really need peace, and will give it a try. Thanks for having the courage to post. HUGS!