I Am Taking You Along With Me Today

Good Morning My Dear Ones,

Wow, where has the time gone? It is nearly the end of July already.

Great news from our garden space, the watermelon plants [there are 2] have started to vine and they have some blooms on them...so thrilling to wait in anticipation for fresh watermelon from the garden. I have tried to grow watermelons in the garden for several years with no victory. This year we put up a fence to keep out any visitors [the cats ate the watermelon plants last year; they left all the other plants alone, just ate the watermelon plants, go figure!] and by the blessing of God we now have some lovely promising plants. In addition to the thriving watermelon, there are some pepper plants, tomato, lemongrass, cucumber, okra[not doing so well, but hanging in there!] and some flowers. The weather has been favorable to gardening...last year there was no rain and very hot and humid...the garden was not able to produce much. This year we have received so far, some nice cucumbers with m ore appearing each day...soon the tomato plants will provide for us...there are blooms now...no tomatoes...YET...soon.

I have stumble [no not literally...or perhaps maybe literally since the clover is out in my field] upon a delightful homemade tea made from red clovers. There are many benefits to the clover tea and it is right outside in my yard...hard to resist a natural wonder [I add a little dried mint to mine]. It is good for detoxing the blood and the liver...those who take blood thinners, beware...I offer a couple links to read more:

http://www.rebeccasherbs.com/herb_redclover.html

http://health.howstuffworks.com/wellness/natural-medicine/herbal-remedies/red-clover-herbal-remedies.htm

http://frugallysustainable.com/2012/07/how-to-use-red-clover-blossoms/

I have to admit, there are moments when I wish had learned about all the possibilities God has provided for us out in the country sooner, I am forever grateful to discover His wonderful blessings now.

"I am still confident of this: I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living" Psalm 27:13

It truly amazes me, how He provides so much to us [when give the room to move in our lives and allow Him the time do His work in us]and we often miss out because "we think" we know what we are doing and talking about...when I read what I just wrote and realize all I do not know...it reminds me of the TV show 'Hogan Heroes' and Sgt. Schultz who would go "I know NOTHING". Although, with him he had seen and was pretending he not see, alas, we do the same. We are shown everyday God's majesty and grace...and pretend [or deliberately choose] not to see or give Him credit for it...we would rather make it about "me" and what "I" did...I am guilty of that very thing every single day.

"Search me, O God, & know my heart, test me, & know my anxious thoughts" Psalm 139.:23

Meanwhile, know that you are in my heart and prayers each day...[by the by, I love meeting with you in my prayers, you have a special space in my heart]

I am out to my field to pick some red clovers to dry for tea...as an added bonus since you are in my heart...I am taking you along with me so we can hop, skip and watch the butterflies together.

Love you bunches and bunches...squeezes and squeezes....sqqqquuuuiisssshhh [that was a bear hug!]

Love Sara

How to Have a Meaningful Quiet Time

Proper Time Period: Quality time…

• What is the BEST time of your day?
• Early in day?
• Mid-morning 10 am?
• Early afternoon?
• Time you are left undisturbed
• The earlier in the day the better
• Make Time=make an appointment & commit

Proper Preparation: You need to be…

• Physically Alert=Awake.
• Not everyone is “awake” enough at 5 am
• Morally Pure & Clean=May take time to seek repentance.
• Search heart for any impurities
• Mentally Awake=strengthen your mind
• Be willing
• Eager.
• Expect to be a part of it=toughen up your mind=
• Participate
• Not emotionally

Proper Place: “Enter Your Closet”…

• Into Isolation=shut out the world=open to God
• Secret Place=Be alone with the Lord
• Avoid distractions=people, sounds, etc.

Proper Provisions:

• Readable Bible=good print=make notes in it
• Devotional Journal=Expect God to give you something
• Prayer Journal=Reminder of prayer requests
• Note pad=What God wants you to do
• Prayer duty=God’s to do list

Proper Procedure: Private Interview with Jesus…

• Get still=Be calm=Relax=Recognize His presence
• Focus Mind=Deep breath=Focus thoughts
• Look up & Lift your hands to Him
• Praise Him
• Surrender to Him
• Receive Him
• Get into the Word of God=Read Bible=THEN pray
• Hear Him first
• Then talk with Him
• Think about God is saying to you
• Select Passages=Balanced
• Psalms & Proverbs
• Not devotionals=JUST BIBLE
• Meditate on His words=Ask these…
• Is there a Command to obey
• Is there a Promise to claim
• Is there a Sin to avoid
• Is there a Lesson to learn
• Is there New Truth to carry with me
• Write Action Points that come out at this time on Note Pad
• Be Honest=OUT LOUD=Don’t rush
• Distracting thoughts…
• Bring to God
• Pray about it
• Share what you learn
• Obey=TRUST HIM=two rails
• Revelation & Obedience

Flickr Tags: note pad,promise,lesson,prayer,sounds,mind,rush,claim,surrender,praise,worship

Life is an interesting experience. God’s wonder and beauty surrounds us, if only we would take the time to notice. I do not always notice God’s grace and mercy in my own life. There are moments when my vision is blurred because I have not stayed focused on Jesus. My view becomes obstructed by some other distraction I allowed to get in the way. It has taken years of God’s patience for me to appreciate the process of God’s bending and molding within my heart. We want what we want now. There is always something good that comes from these shaping moments when we ask God and give God room to move and work out the details. This of course takes time—something we as humans do not like to wait for.

• And it shall be said in that day, Lo, this is our God; we have waited for him, and he will save us: this is the LORD; we have waited for him, we will be glad and rejoice in his salvation.” ~Isaiah 25:9 KJV~

It is lifelong journey to stroll down the pathways with God.
I pray you will find time to wait on God to show up in your own life.