In His arms...

At the foot of the cross the child of God is oblivious to the darts of the enemy as the protecting arm of Jesus protects and holds us in His grip. And yet even in this humble position it is the tongue of the haughty and proud and hurtful heart that can still inflict injury.

Oh it is nothing that cannot be overcome, as His children overcome evil with good. It is however something that can stop a child of God from accomplishing what he ought, should he fall prey to the words that wound a soul deeply. Yet, should those tones fall upon your ear little one, continue on in the conversation you find yourself in with your Beloved Jesus, for the words from His heart will drown out all others if we let them.

© Monika Hardy

The pain of it all....

I've missed visiting with many of you and writing here lately as life has been busy with mom, but I am happy to report that tests results we were waiting on came back fine! She is doing fine and enjoying visiting with her "people" at the Alz Day Care. I went in on Monday to share the word of God and worship Jesus with them. I was the one who went away blessed. They all truly enjoyed hearing from God, and reading the Bible and singing and raising their hands in worship.

The next day I went in to have a tooth pulled, and ended up having major oral surgery and two teeth pulled. It was quite an ordeal that the Dentist does not want to go through again....I don't either I might add, but I have one more that needs to come out. You see, I had the German Measles when I was young about the time these molars were forming and they came in weak and it's a good thing to get all that mercury out of the mouth. However the last one is the oldest root canal I've had done and may be the most difficult. This week has been pretty painful, but it reminds me to pray for a few others I know that are going through much pain themselves.

God is good all the time and fills us with all that we need. I know friends were praying this week! God held me up. I am going to miss being at church tonight with the children though. At least I will be able to watch church online. Thank God for technology, and friends who care enough to pray for me.

Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort;
Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.
II Corinthians 1:13-14

© Monika Hardy

Remembering...9-11

Remembering…

… that dreadful day in our Nation’s History, when people cried out in the terror of the destruction of the Twin Towers and the death of so many individuals.
…watching the news reports over and over with my son, after my husband called to ask if I had heard the news, watching in disbelief that someone would actually commit such a horrendous act.
…that day when many cried out asking, “Where was God when all this happened?”
…that churches were filled that next Sunday with people looking for answers
…that churches were back to their normal level of visitors a few weeks after the planes rammed the towers.
…sharing with many the love of Jesus Christ because fear gripped their hearts.


Thankfully I know my God and He knows me!
I know that God was, is and always will be on the throne and in control!
I know that He loves me, and has made a way for me to go to heaven to live with Him forever! Jesus is that way, the only way to the Father.

I offer Jesus to you now….
…You who are searching for answers to life’s questions

…You who cannot make sense of the ugliness around you.
…You who are lonely and cannot fathom living another day alone
…You who are riddled with guilt over the things in your past
…You who have come to realize the need for a Savior…your need for Jesus!

Remember…these are God’s words and we are to live by them…

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 1 John 1:9
Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God.

1John 4:15
He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it.

Matthew 10:39
Just bow your head and talk to and listen to God while you pray and ask Him to forgive you of your sins and draw you close to His heart as your read the Bible and come to know the heigth and breadth and depth and width of the love God has for you!

Then when you suffer by doing the will of God while you wait for Jesus return, in the service of Jesus Christ…

REMEMBER…
Wherefore let them that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls to him in well doing, as unto a faithful Creator. 1Peter 4:19
Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his saints. Psalm 116:15
The LORD is my portion, saith my soul; therefore will I hope in him. Lamentations 3:24

© Monika Hardy

Spiced Plum Butter

Simmering on the stove today...

Spiced Plum Butter

Wash and Pit

3 quarts Italitan Purple Plums

Place in Deep stock pot

add 3 cups water

1/2 cup lemon juice

2 cups sugar

1 cup Brown sugar

2 tablespoons Cinnamon

Simmer gently mashing as fruit softens

Remove from stove and pour butter through a strainer to remove peelings

Put Butter back on stove

Cook down to desired consistency, will thicken

OR add Pomonas Universal Pection according to directions on package.

Place in hot, sterile pint size canning jars

(jars can be kept warm in dishwasher, wash them just before making Jam)

Tighten lids and store upside down till Plumb Butter cools

Place right side up and tighten lids again

Let stand overnight

If seal does not seal tight store in fridge

If all have sealed will keep for up to one year in pantry

© Monika Hardy

Good Morning!

A good September fall like morning to you all! The cooler weather has finally arrived here and with it a glorious day! God is so good to bring relief. I am still praying for those in California suffering in the heat and flames. My sister and her family live in San Bernadino County and the heat and flames and smoke and ashes are all around them. Please help me and pray for them and all those suffering in this fire season. My niece who will be starting first grade this year is asking that we pray for rain, and to ask God to keep them safe. Lord please have mercy!

© Monika Hardy

Farmers Market

It was a cool morning as I sneaked out the front door and went to the local Farmer's Market. I was hoping to find some good deals by getting there early, and I did!

I found the most beautiful huge heads of red tipped butter lettuce, all organic. Along with the lettuce I found some gorgeous carrots, a gallon of local raw honey, a rosemary plant, a basil plant, and 1 quart of huckleberries! If you read my huckleberry picking excursion during last year's wedding anniversary, you will know why I bought them this year.

The morning was fresh and clean and cool and it was nice to visit with some friends who were at the market as well. I had to call my mom and let her know what I found and how nice it was to go to the "Markt" as we did in Germany. There was music, and many hand crafted items as well.

I'm off now to prepare for tonight's meal.

Rosemary chicken

Honey glazed carrots

Fresh garden salad

Huckleberry sauce over vanilla ice cream

© Monika Hardy

Homemakers Beatitudes

Amazingly enough this was written in a cookbook just 40 years ago referring to Christian Homemakers and their conduct in the home. What a difference 40 years can make. It's been said, Christianity is only one generation away from extinction. What an awesome responsiblity God has given the homemaker. We influence the next generation. Here we find a 40 year old cookbook encouraging the ways of God in the home. May we all find the strength and courage in Jesus to continue living as God instructs no matter the direction the world takes.

The aged women likewise, that they be in behaviour as becometh holiness, not false accusers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things;That they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children,To be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed. Titus 2:3-5

Beatitudes for a Housewife

Author unknown- Taken from the Yankee Kitchen Cookbook, 1969


Blessed is she whose daily tasks are a labor of love; for her willing hand and happy heart translate duty into privilege, and her labor becomes a service to God and all mankind.

Blessed is she who opens the door to welcome both stranger and well-loved friend; for gracious hospitality is a test of brotherly love.

Blessed is she who mends stockings and toys and broken hearts, for her understanding is a balm to humanity.

Blessed is she who children love, for the love of a child is more to be valued than fortune or fame.

Blessed is she who sings at her work; for music lightens the heaviest load and brightens the dullest chore.

Blessed is she who dusts away doubt and fear and sweeps out the cobwebs of confusion; for her faith will triumph over all adversity.

Blessed is she who serves laughter and smiles with every meal; for her buoyancy of spirit is an aid to mental and physical digestion.

Blessed is she who preserves the sanctity of the Christian home; for hers is a sacred trust that crowns her with dignity.


Thanks to Elizabeth Plain and Simple for the Homemakers Beatitudes.
© Monika Hardy

Stay Home Vacation

Ah the joys of summer...

knee pain

tooth pain

tooth pulling pain

family in the hospital (please pray for salvation and healing)
Just doesn't sound like fun does it?

Ok there was another side...

A stay at home vacation!

Mom spent the weekend at "The Club" as she calls it, and had a great time! It was our first weekend without her since last September since she came to live with us.

Hubby and I did some of the things we have been wanting to do and get done, and have fun as well! We made it out to breakfast, and to the Farmers Market, where my wonderful Honey found some beautiful flowers and bought them for me, as a gift on our 27th wedding anniversary. What a delight to walk around the Farmers Market with a gorgeous boquet of flowers. I am hoping to get some time to try to draw and paint them before they wither. I'll be able to use my "new" painting easel that we found on our Thrift store excursion.

We also popped out the door early one morning, because we could!...and splurged on a Mc Donalds Iced Latte. The weather had cooled just for our weekend,and it was so nice to enjoy the front porch. It was hard not to get some work done with it all around us so we took care of some of the repairs that needed to be done.

We never made it to the movie theater that was on our list. We origianlly wanted to go to get out of the heat, but since it had cooled off there really wasn't any need for it, and we didn't really see anything decent playing anyway. We did have some more creative things in mind to accomplish, so I had time to paint...the easel to make it look better as well as a base coat for some wooden items I had found and would like to decorate.

I also made it to the Library to get a few books on embroidery stitches, as I am working on some items for Christmas already. Hubby was able to play guitar, and read, as well as a few other items on his list.

It was good to have the time to recooperate from the tooth pulling, and have some time together. What a great decision to stay home, instead of traveling and coming home exhausted and needing time off before going back to work! We were even able to watch our church services online. What a blessing to sit out on the front porch and listen to the Word of God on a cool "vacation day" morning, for the heart takes no vacation from Jesus!

Yesterday while my dear Hubby took care of mom's rental needs, I had a chance to go to "The Club" with her. I was invited to play my guitar, ok my Honey's guitar, and sing for the residents.

What a blessing it was to be there! Just to share the love of Jesus with them in song and in word, and in deed is such a pleasure. As always there are some who are not "comfortable" with, or "offended" by the word of God, but to be ready in season is wonderful, and to see the smiles and tears of others as they listened brings this heart joy.

© Monika Hardy

New Links

Greetings to all! I have been adding some new links for Homeschooling and Handiwork on the side bar and am so encouraged to create when I see these links. Miss Jen recently spoke about an artist that she enjoys and I took one look and fell in love with his work.

Woman with watering can

Summer is in full bloom and so are the roses! I just love roses and would love to be able to paint them, but the talent just isn't in me. Not for lack of trying, it's just not a gift God wants for me I suppose. So I will enjoy the art of Daniel Ridgway Knight until there is enough time to master painting a rose myself....I'm sure the Rapture will come first :)

A few more from the Collection of Daniel Ridgway Knight

who was very adept at capturing the beauty of every tasks

This one reminds me of Ruth

Gathering the wheat

Women washing clothes by a stream

Mending

Handmaid of the Lord

And Mary said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord;

be it unto me according to thy word.

And the angel departed from her.

Luke 1:38

Our Lady

by Mary Elizabeth Coleridge

Mother of God! no lady thou:

Common woman of common earth

Our Lady ladies call thee now,

But Christ was never of gentle birth;

A common man of the common earth.

For God’s ways are not as our ways:

The noblest lady in the land

Would have given up half her days,

To bear the child that was God of the land.

Never a lady did He choose,

Only a maid of low degree,

So humble she might not refuse

The carpenter of Galilee:

A daughter of the people, she.

Out she sang the song of her heart.

Never a lady so had sung.

She knew no letters, had no art;

To all mankind, in woman’s tongue,

Hath Israelitish Mary sung.

And still for men to come she sings,

Nor shall her singing pass away.

‘He hath filled the hungry with good things’

~O listen, lords and ladies gay!

~‘And the rich He hath sent empty away.’

© Monika Hardy