Of Girls Camp and Prayer Partners...

I was asked by a friend to share my notes 

from a recent
Friday evening's prayer
and sharing time at the girls' camp out
at my house.

 We did a prayer partner exchange
 and with it I gave some 

encouragement from
the Word on  how to 

share/care/pray 

for each other.

I thought I would share
my brief devotional here
on the blog.

The fathers and sons go on an
annual local 

camping outing  together
and the girls, 

feeling slightly left out, 

were invited to our house 

this year to keep me 

and my daughters company 

while the men were away.

We had a good time together,
with much giggling as this

 WAS a girl party, after all!

There were pancake and/or turkey/cheese mountain pies for breakfast the next morning, complete with a brisk autumn breeze with a slight nip in it to remind us that summer is ending and autumn is here.

There was much giggling on the trampoline, and singing Robin Mark songs on the glider swing after midnite,

and sleeping in the open air on the trampoline. (I hope no one else is sick like my daughter is today!)

We made personal pizzas for Friday supper, and had the leftover ice cream from the ice cream social our family hosted a few weeks ago, along with some toppings for that.

After supper, there were games, and more giggling and telling stories as only girls can do. Then we sat on the back porch, the light from the wall encircling us while darkness shrouded the rest of the world.

In the past, we have done prayer partner exchanges at such functions, keeping the partner for three months. I like having this because I think it helps us in our church to know each other in a different way, and if we apply ourselves diligently in service for the one we are paired with, this can be a purposeful way for us to love and bless this one in special ways for a few months, to let them know how much they are loved. I decided to share a devotional on prayer and sharing. Following is an essence of what I said and, as I really didn't have notes besides Scripture references written down, I'm going to try to write down something similar to what I shared:

1 Thes. 5:25

(Scripture is clear that it is 

important to pray for each other)

2 Thes. 1:11, 12

(the main aim of our prayers for each other

should be because we desire that our lives

will fulfill the purpose for which we are created:

to know Him and make Him known)

2 Thes. 3: 1, 2

(we pray for each other

because there is an enemy that is

seeking to destroy,

and who wants to prevent us

from spreading God's fame 

to our world)

James 5:13-16

(we pray for each other when we are sick.

we also confess our needs/faults before each other

at times, and ask for prayer for them. It can be scary to

share our hearts with each other, and certainly we should 

only be doing this after we have bared our hearts before God

and shared mostly with Him, but it is important to 

share with each other because it keeps us humble before

one another, it gives us opportunities to care for each other,

and it draw our hearts together in Him when we share.)

Eph. 5:15-21

(being prayer partners is not only praying for each other,

but it is also a blessed opportunity to share with each 

other using Scripture and godly songs to encourage

one another and lift our hearts to God.)

1 Jn. 3: 14-18

(showing love to each other is the best 

way to show that we truly love God.

Being a prayer partner and being honest with

each other gives us the opportunity to grow

closer to someone, and to learn to know them

in a way that maybe we wouldn't otherwise.

You might find ways of personally showing

your prayer partner your love and care by

sending them a note, or giving them a small gift

that you know they will enjoy, etc).

We ended with a prayer.

I was very blessed. I certainly love 'my girls'

and hope that they will carry these memories 

and the things we teach with them for life.

Love and blessings,

Marcia

PS
I came across this prayer this morning in my time in the Word. What a privilege to carry this prayer on my heart for my loved ones:

Wonderful Words of Life...

In Psalms and Hymns...

In loving memory of my niece, Jessica Rose, daughter of Marcus and Ann Brubaker. She was much loved and wanted, by her parents and 8 siblings. Delivered stillborn this week, and premature at 17 weeks, she was beautiful and perfectly formed, made in His image, for His glory.

I share this song today in memory of the niece I will never meet on earth. Please pray for my family as they walk thru the valley of the shadow of death.

My sister-in-love, Ann (the deceased baby's mama) who taught me years ago the meaning of surrender to God is even now pointing her loved ones to God through her tears. She was so excited when, after being happy with all three of her sisters and three sisters in law who brought babies into the world in 2015, the Lord saw fit to bless her with a baby to dream about, too. In her very first text to me this week, telling me about the events unfolding, she said 'Our God reigns'. Bless her heart!

Love and blessings,
Marcia

PS

I realize I shared this song last week, too. I know that some of you know Marcus and Ann, so I thought I'd share it again along with aa request for prayer for them.

Wonderful Words of Life...

In Psalms and Hymns...

There's No Disappointment in Heaven

I recently was introduced to this Youtube video

version of an old familiar and favorite hymn.

I was so very blessed.

I hope you enjoy it, too.

Love and blessings,

Marcia

The Farmer's Wife...

One evening recently, I accompanied my Farmer and son to a neighboring farm in response to reports that our cattle were out. I off-handedly mentioned that maybe I should go for a walk while they were fixing the fence, and the Farmer invited me to walk the fence line with him. "You'd get your walk in that way," he said and so, having really been missing him these busy days during corn harvest where he barely has time for a quick peck on the lips and a smile as I hand him his supper plate in the tractor, and being a rather impulsive sort of lady (I'm still being changed from glory to glory!), and always up for an opportunity to hang out with my peoples, I hastily agreed to do that pasture walk with him.

Ahem...little did I realize 

what this entailed. 

Imagine me, sort of a known 

'city slicker' kind of lady,

 clad in orange flip flops 

(pretty comfy for walking around the house or the store 

but NOT in a pasture.

 I would have grabbed boots

 if I had known I was doing this!) 

at dusk, dodging cow pies, 

listening to the happy chatter

 of my son, trying to keep up

 with the Farmer's long strides 

AND take a few pics along the way, stepping in holes, fording mucky little swampy places (my boy made sure I had stones to step on),

 skirting swampy areas at my 

son's direction, and then deciding

 to cut up across that humongous pasture to the truck, because I had had 

enough of a workout!, 

leaving my husband to do 

the last corner without me.

(He was so sweet, 

running up after me 

when he realized

 I was cutting it short, 

making sure he walked me 

to the truck before finishing 

because he didn't want 

his wifey to be the first person the young bull decided 

to charge. Had I known this,

 I would not have made the extra work for

 my beloved Farmer, but I did feel very protected!).

I was really glad I made these memories with the men. I don't often get into their farming world like that, preferring to serve my husband by creating a clean and calm home for him, and running errands for him when he needs me to, but normally I stay out of the dirty part of farming. They were thrilled that I was with them.

I was reminded that night of another incident I was in recently that has enforced my heart feelings about embracing my Farmer's occupation and supporting it, even the parts I don't really like...

A little while ago, we attended the NYS Pageant of Steam for my son's 12th birthday, 

and as I sat in the bleachers watching the antique tractors, 

I couldn't help but notice the unique hat the woman in front of me

 was wearing (and later, I noticed she had a tote to match).

Maybe she is a bonafide, diehard country farm girl 

who absolutely loves

Farm-all tractors, but to me this hat spoke volumes

of a woman getting into her husband's occupation/life

and supporting his cause and loving the life he has

created for us.

You see, this Farmer's wife
(me, not the woman sitting in front me me, I mean)
 spent far too many years

griping (in my heart) about taking tailgate suppers,

being 'bothered' to run for parts,

or feeling forsaken during seedtime and harvest

when the Farmer is compelled to work with the

weather the good Lord gives us,

to get his crops in or harvested.

But the Lord did a work in my heart,

and now, I admire the tenacity of my Farmer.

I love to see him doing what he enjoys

(yes, there are parts of his job he doesn't like),

and I appreciate how hard he works to provide

for his family, and to do a job well for his

employer who is also his father-in-law.

I no longer grumble in my heart when I need 

to drop what I am doing on a warm afternoon

at his plea to bring him some water.

It is pure joy to me to take him supper

so that the tractor can keep going 

'before it rains'.

I truly feel blessed 

to be a

Farmer's wife.

Wives and daughters,

I honestly think that it gives

our  husbands a huge boost of

confidence when they know we

love them and support the

work of their hands.

Do you despise the grease that

comes with your mechanic

father or husband?

Do you grimace at needing

to pack his lunch or clean up his

lunch box when he comes home?

Do you find yourself

grumbling 

(silently or aloud)

about the inconvenience of

his work schedule?

Please consider how your attitude

can tear him down or lift him up.

It matters.

It makes a huge difference.

God created us for them.

How well are we doing?

Let's embrace our calling fully

and let Him make us who we ought to be.

And as I close this post,
I do want to clarify that
my Farmer is very careful
and considerate as my
husband. He does his best
to be with his family as much
as he can, even during the busy seasons,
and I am blessed that he makes an effort
to be considerate and kind.

It was me who needed to change my
attitude and embrace his life.
It has made all the difference
in our marriage and in our home.
Hallelujah!

On Being a Missionary...part 2

You may not remember

the missionary post

part 1 that I did 

a little bit ago,

and I invite you

to refresh yourself on it

if you care to. The

two were kinda meant 

to go together,

but this post was

requested by

my friend 

Kristina

who has an

instagram ministry

and would have

liked a shorter post

to copy.

(hmmm, does

that mean I get

kind of long winded

sometimes?!) :-)

so I did it in two parts.

I think that in order to be a missionary, we need to first be knowing and living the Gospel.

My experience has been that once we are fully awakened to

the power of this Good News in our own lives,

our overwhelming gratitude for redemption and the power to 

war against the flesh and overcome will compel us to 

share with others.

Which brings me to this:

As we grow up in Christ, He expects us to fulfill the 

Great Commission, no matter who we are.

Matthew 28:18-20 was written for all of us

who are His disciples,

whether we are wives or daughters,

married or single.

in America or another country,

rich or poor,

sick or in good health.

I think that as long as we live, 

we will always need others to 

minister to us and disciple us,

but at some point in time

we also need to be ministering

and discipling others, using the

gifts God gives us through His

Holy Spirit.

If we follow God,

 then we will

love others and

 feel the weight

of their eternal destiny

 on our hearts.

And in some way or other,

we will add our gifts to the

working of the

 Body of Christ

to win souls.

We will lay aside our

 petty cares,

our comparing ourselves

 with others,

our weak prayer lives,

our small-mindedness,

and embrace the calling

Jesus gave disciples everywhere

to GO and make disciples.

Love and blessings,
Marcia

PS

One other thing...

Jesus said that the fields are white

unto harvest, but the laborers are few

and that we are to pray to the Lord 

of the harvest,

that HE will send forth reapers.

We often miss that part, I think.

Praying first,

and asking God to send workers.

But in our praying,

I think Jesus intended that we

would surrender our own hearts

for God to send US if He so

desires.

Be Kind...part 2

I didn't feel like I was finished when I posted

 last week about kindness, so I thought I'd continue it today. 

Hope I don't lose you in wordiness!

Some people equate kindness with tolerance. 

That seems to be the going theme in society today, 

including in churches. 

I've watched, and listened, and lived, and prayed, 

and pondered this over the past few years, 

and I do not think this is what God had in mind when he had

 the apostle Paul pen these words:

"Love is patient, love is kind..."

in 1 Cor. 13.

Sometimes the kindest thing I can do for someone God brings to me who has a festering wound (i.e. character flaw or weakness that continues to trouble them and their loved ones) is to cut it open (gently!) so that the pus can come out of it. However, if God calls me to that, then I am also called to be like Christ who was called to heal the brokenhearted and to bind up their wounds. I am  not Jesus. I cannot heal, actually, like He does, but I can bring my friend to Him, and I can pour oil and wine into his wounds and bind them up in His name. This is part of the Great Commission (teach them all that He commanded). This is kindness. In James, we are told that if we see our brother has a need,

and turn away from it, then we do not love. I think this includes seeing a need of heart 

that God points to and says, "Go tell them they can be free in this". If we do not obey Him,

do we really love and is it really kindness?

However, to do this requires me to be emptied of myself so that I can love like Jesus does. This kind of love does not practice control of others nor is it oppressive and insistent that others apply Scripture in the exact detail that I do.

Kindness...I don't naturally know where it is kinder to not help someone because it would be enabling him/her to continue to in his/her unwholesome lifestyle and where I am called to help even if it seems I am enabling him/her. But I am blessed to know the One who does know and if I simply obey Him, then I am confident that He will (and He has in the past) give the wisdom needed to act in every situation in the way He would have me to. 

I do not ever need to be rude. 

Love is never rude, according to Paul's counsel in 1 Cor. 13. 

Kindness is the opposite of rudeness. 

Kindness requires me to regard each of my fellow men as I

 regard myself. If I cannot do that, 

then I am proud and selfish and need a major attitude adjustment.

I just wanted to share this, 

because I really didn't think that the first post 

on kindness was complete without it.

Above all, let there be charity,

 in the which God's perfection 

can be lived thru us in Christ Jesus. 

Love,

Marcia

From My Kitchen...

I love making meal type salads on warm, summer evenings when we just don't feel like eating hot meals. Tonite, this is gracing my table:

Cici's Tomato Cucumber Salad

6 medium sized ripe tomatoes, diced small

1/2 English cuke, shredded with a large hole grater

1 small red onion, finely diced

Stir together and chill. When ready to serve, add dressing, or 

serve dressing on the side. You can also add finely shredded red cabbage

to this recipe for extra veggie power if you like.

Dressing:

1 cup yogurt (I make my own soy yogurt so I can 'thin' down mayo dressings and use it for sour cream, baking, etc)

1/2 cup mayonnaise

1 t salt

1/2 t lemon pepper

1 t Greek seasoning (I get mine from Penzy's spices)

1 T sugar or sweetener of choice

Whisk til smooth. Serve with cucumber salad dressing or any salad you wish, really.

With this meal, I served baked rice (done in the crockpot so I didn't heat up the house!):

3 cups brown rice

6 cups hot water

1 T olive oil

1 T salt

1 t black pepper

Bake on high in crockpot 3  hours or until soft. If baking in the oven, bake at 350* for 1 1/2 hours.

I also served baked chicken. Some of us had chicken shredded into our salad, and some had chicken on rice with a little cheese sprinkled on top, and one of us had rice, chicken and taco salad dressing (his all time favorite way to eat rice).

I hope you enjoy these simple recipes.

You can also take the salad recipe above, add cooked pasta of choice and some chicken and make it a real meal salad. I probably would also add black or kalamata olives, some green olives, and maybe even some artichokes if I was feeling extra 'greekish'.

Currently...(1)

I am watching:

The Widowmaker (a documentary about heart disease and interesting, while not helpful in teaching viewers how to prevent the disease by diet)

All That Jesus Taught, part 54 by Zac Poonen on Youtube

Little House on the Prairie with the family for old time's sake

I am working on:
wrapping up my big Back-to-Eden garden prep for next summer
mulching my little kitchen garden (turning it over to Back-to-Eden as well)
watering and tending my little fall veggie garden
getting my wardrobe in order for fall/winter

I am reading:
Love Does by Bob Goff (good stuff!)
Little House in the Big Woods to the family several evenings a week (what fun to read wintry stories on the front porch at the end of summer!)

I am really despising:
false nutritional teaching flooding social media and life these days (we'll do anything to keep our Standard American Diet!)

pantry moths that threaten to eat me out of house and home! I think we have the upper hand on them currently!

the brokenness of this world (Lord, I'm willing but the brokenness makes me stagger sometimes!)

I am looking forward to:
an ice cream social we are hosting on Saturday, Lord willing. Should be fun with lots of outdoor games, mountain pies, and an ice cream buffet (we're sanctifying it with lots of fresh veggies and fruit and trying to keep the rest of the food as healthy as we can as well!). We are having loads of fun prepping for this social to be held on our lawns.

autumn's color and cooler temps

I am learning about:
Back-to-Eden gardening
Aspberger's Syndrome
being the parent to one newly turned adult

I am remembering:
my Uncle John with a joyful heart that he left a sterling testimony of loving Jesus before he passed on to eternity a year and a half ago

I am thankful:
for a husband who cares more about people than he does about his reputation or his personal life, and is willing to be late for supper if it means giving a young friend some premarital advice that will hopefully help him on down thru the years of marriage if God tarries

for the many jars of tomatoes and cucumbers lining the shelves and waiting in boxes for a busy mama friend we did some canning for besides our own stuff

for energy and good health. A year ago, I was really struggling with PCOS depression and low energy from a stressful summer. A year later, I am well and so very thankful, and seem to be almost completely healed from PCOS, thanks to apple cider vinegar, a clean diet and learning how to relate better to stress that I cannot avoid (all God's gifts to answer my prayers for healing)

I hope to: go biking and hiking more yet this fall before the snows fly

I am loving:
watching my daughters each enthusiastically  making their way through a long list of books to read, books that both feed their souls as well as broaden their horizons. How wonderful to have such a blessing available!

my container gardens that I had so much fun filling earlier in the season. Most of them have outdone themselves in blooming profusely, bringing many happy moments to my heart as I see them daily.

the answers that God is giving in response to desperate cries for help in some situations we were facing. He truly gives wisdom and is a refuge to those who come to Him for help and rescue.

Now it's your turn! I'd love to see your answers in my comments, if you care to take the time to contribute. Just put the headings there with your own answers, if you wish to participate. Looking forward to hearing from you!

Be Kind...

I was reading a blog post yesterday, written by a woman whose son has Aspberger's Syndrome, a form of autism where the child more than likely appears normal to most people but in layman's terms can come across as a 'spoiled child without discipline' because of neurological malfunction. I heard this woman's heartcry in her writing, that people often blamed them, the parents for not doing their job well enough and for dropping the ball in parenting. 

And my thoughts roll onward...

Friends, where is grace?
Where is love?
Where is the patience and acceptance of people
 as they are while inspiring them to move on in their lives with God?

I have had many lessons in this,
on either end of the spectrum.
I have misunderstood/lacked patience,
and I have been misunderstood and not
been given grace and love where it should have been.

My encouragement today to us all:

I have thought about this subject at length over the years.

Jesus was always kind.

Oh yes, sometimes he said hard things to religious people,

but He was never rude, always kind, always gracious.

I am not always that way and I want to be more like Jesus.

And I want to follow 1 Cor 13, where it says that

love (that is of God) is never rude...

it is patient,

it is kind,

it is long suffering.

You may not know why that teenager doesn't talk much

in prayer group at Bible school.

Don't assume it's because she is rebellious or

too proud to speak.

It may be that she would rather give place to

those who seem to be more needy and lonely

and she is being kind to them.

You may not know why a woman isn't participating

much today in the conversation after church.

Don't assume it's because she is being snobby.

Maybe she is disturbed about something,

and is feeling pressed in her spirit while

she waits on the Lord to show her how to walk

in whatever the situation is that is disturbing her.

Don't act out of the hurt that may come if 

your husband doesn't respond to you today 

in the way you feel you need it.

Perhaps the weight of his responsibilities is

pressing hard on his shoulders...

shoulders you could massage as you kiss his

whiskered face and whisper and "I  love you"

into his ear...

if only you will lay down  your selfish

desires enough to get to that place!

That child that is rude and obnoxious at church...

don't assume that it's from poor teaching or

because they are really wanting to be extremely selfish.

Perhaps you don't know the situation but can you 

feel compassion for that needy one,

realizing that obviously there is something amiss

that you don't know?

(I happen to know many situations like this

and it is often because the child is bothered

about something and cannot figure out how to

deal with it, and in their immaturity,

they act out of it in ways that are sinful.

Incidentally, there are adults like this too

who have never learned how to deal with the

problems that they have encountered.

They need our kindness too.)

That family who is like a thorn in your side...

who doesn't make the life choices you think they should

(and quite likely they should!)...

It's easy to excuse ourselves and say we do not want to

condone their lifestyle by our help,

and perhaps some of that is righteous,

but consider Jesus...

he fed people who should have thought to bring food

with them into the hills when they followed Him;

he healed the sick, even though their lifestyle might

have caused the disease/sickness in the first place;

He took the time to talk to a fearful Pharisee at night,

never once scolding him for not being brave enough to

come in the daytime.
No where do we see Jesus
berating people or
turning away from them
in their neediness.

Be kind.

Everyone needs our love and compassion.

And many times, there are details

and circumstances surrounding people's lives

that if we fully knew,

we would be ashamed of ourselves

for not being as kind and compassionate

as we could have and should have been.

We are all journeying through life,

and all have struggles and heartaches that

we need to deal with.

Many times, it leaves us unable to fully engage with people

in the way they might feel we should or that they want us to.

If we feel this way (unable to fulfill people's expectations of us),

then by all means, would that not 'automatically' make us

kind and loving to those who are not meeting

what expectations we might have of them?
Unfortunately, we deal with sinful natures,
and it is not an automatic thing,
but with JESUS' life lived in us
and our sinful one aside
it is possible to habitually be
compassionate and full of grace
toward others,
especially those who seem
extra needy.

I'm 'preaching] to me here.

I need this just as much as the next person.

Let's be kind.

Just like Jesus was.

HE was a great example to us all.

By His power, we can overcome our 

stupidity and selfishness,

and let Him supernaturally work 

His life in and thru us.

God bless you, friends.