Daily Joys.

Hello! Greetings in the name of Jesus Christ and our Heavenly Father! How are each of you? Busy with summer gardens, fun and work? Life around the Halbert household has been quite full yet in a very pleasant way. Amid the stifling sweat-creating heat I have seen many blessings unfold. Isn't true that no matter what the season--in weather or in personal life--there are always blessings to be found? I thought I would drop in and share a few with you. :o)

1. This couple.

Oops, no I mean the couple below.

. . .

American Gothic was painted by Grant Wood.

Hmm. No. . .I'm referring to the cute couple even farther down.

Ah, much better. :o) Yes, this is reason #1 for why I love living in Missouri. Meet my examples of virtue and love, Mum and Papi--the rulers, guides, caretakers and gentle-hands which run our place. Please do not mistake me, I have always been blessed to have parents who love the Lord and who have sought to train us to love Jesus. However, since moving to Missouri I have seen God work miracles. He is the binder and the healer. He has rekindled a love--a godly love. A love which is forgiving, patient, slow to anger and quick to kindness. A love which inspires. Since moving to Missouri I have seen a marriage develop which, Lord willing, I would love to imitate one day. And so, dear ones, the sweet couple above is reason #1 of why I love Missouri.

2. Reason number two for why I am falling for Missouri is . . .

Cricket's insatiable chorus. Wild kittens beginning to trust.

Beautiful sunsets. Cattle on a thousand Ozark hills. Bass in a pond.

Crystal clear swimming holes. Mailboxes at the end of a driveway. Friendly cowboy-boot wearing locals.

Warm, summer air. Homemade, fish-line weight plumb lines suspended from bothersome, ill-placed trees. :o)

These are a few of my Favorite things. 

3. One final blessing of living in Missouri is its location. While I truly loved the state of Alaska, it's far-far-away position made traveling to family and friends very difficult. Yet, Missouri has proved otherwise. Grandma and Grandpa can swing down from corn-field Illonois for roast beef on Mother's Day while we can drive to Smokey Mountain Tennessee for a dear friend's wedding. What a blessing.

So, what are a few of your blessings? Is it the comfort of one's homemade zucchini muffins (hello Sonja!), the joy of two rambunctious felines crowding freshly washed material (greetings Miss Linda!) or is it the excitement over family research (blessings Mrs. Adams)? Ahem, or maybe it is the excitement of making and giving away a beautiful apron, Miss Shannon?  Hint, Hint! :o)

May the LORD bless each of you as you begin a new week!

With a smile,

Frannie

Using Time

Would you like to stop and visit somewhere edifying and lovely? Pleasing Design is a neat site which Naomi uses to share her lovely graphics. Enjoy!

Summer Afternoons

It's eleven o'clock, dear readers, on a summer afternoon. I look out my window and see a collage of beauty--hues of green, sky blue, white and hints of yellow stream into my room as I lay on my bed with a cup of coffee, a warm chiwawa and a biography to keep me company. Please don't think me too lazy; I just finished a good week of hard labor and a morning of serving yummy cinnamon rolls and smokies to twenty-nine campers and staff. :) 

Then followed that beautiful season... Summer.... Filled was the air with a dreamy and magical light; and the landscape Lay as if new created in all the freshness of childhood. ~Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

And that brings me about to my topic--my campers. This week I had seventeen campers who eagerly appeared each meal time and also came in thirty minutes prior and afterwards for kitchen duty. Because Discovery Ministries is a Christian organization we typically have church related groups; however, this week was different. This group was a non-Christian group made up of junior high kids who came from military families. Because of this camp's make-up I prepared myself to have a very non-spiritual week. I was so wrong.

According to one of the leaders, one of the girls saw my "A Tip for Ghana" jar. After reading it she ran upstairs where the simple tupperware canister was passed from hand to hand filling with love, goodwill and money which could have bought candy bars and soda. When I appeared the next morning to start my ovens and set up the counter I was tremendously blessed to see that they had put at least thirty dollars. Thirty dollars worth of Snickers, Sprite and iceceam bars where given to an almost-complete stranger who is trying to go to Ghana for a missions trip. And the amount grew as the week progressed.  These children were so excited to give something--their joy and complete willingness encouraged me to keep going. They encouraged me to keep looking unto the Lord. Last night I told the Lord that I am trusting Him completely; if He desires me to go He will provide. I also told Him that when He does I will be as David and sing praises.

O God, my heart is fixed; I will sing and give praise, even with my glory.  Awake, psaltery and harp: I myself will awake early. I will praise thee, O LORD, among the people: and I will sing praises unto thee among the nations. For thy mercy is great above the heavens: and thy truth reacheth unto the clouds. Be thou exalted, O God, above the heavens: and thy glory above all the earth; That thy beloved may be delivered: save with thy right hand, and answer me .God hath spoken in his holiness; I will rejoice,

. . .

Give us help from trouble: for vain is the help of man. Through God we shall do valiantly: for he it is that shall tread down our enemies.

  Psalms 108:1-7a, 12,13

Altogether this group gave forty-seven dollars--I told my campers that, although some may find the amount small,  their firty-seven dollars could be the exact amount God will give in order to meet my need. My Abba not only used these young people to provide physical needs but also spiritual--He used them to strengthen my faith, encourage me my heart and also chide me for the times I have often been stingy in giving. I praise God for using this week for my complete good.

I hope that you are all well and enjoying summer; I think before I drift asleep I should talk a walk to the mail box and see if there are any goodies inside. :)

May the LORD bless each of you today! Yo u all are so dear to me!

With a smile, 

 Frannie

P.S I have two very good sites I would love for you to visit. First, Miss Sonja from Girlish Musings recently wrote a most excellent piece concerning followers and our hearts toward them. Please drop by and read this; it was quite challenging for me and I feel the need to pass it on.  Also, please visit ButtonWillow Chronicles. I recently found this and I truly enjoy stopping by--its a breath of fresh air! :) Blessings to you!

Blackberry Picking

Greetings! Yesterday we were blessed to have our good friends over for a blackberry-picking fest. We started with supper and then went out in the evening.

Daddy and our good friend Mr. T sitting before a scrumptious and energizing meal of tater tot casserole, salad and garlic sticks is served.

Bless the LORD, O my soul. O LORD my God, thou art very great; thou art clothed with honour and majesty. Who coverest thyself with light as with a garment: who stretchest out the heavens like a curtain:

Who layeth the beams of his chambers in the waters: who maketh the clouds his chariot: who walketh upon the wings of the wind:

Off we go!

A young lady having fun.

Who maketh his angels spirits; his ministers a flaming fire: Who laid the foundations of the earth, that it should not be removed for ever.Thou coveredst it with the deep as with a garment: the waters stood above the mountains.

At thy rebuke they fled; at the voice of thy thunder they hasted away. They go up by the mountains; they go down by the valleys unto the place which thou hast founded for them. Thou hast set a bound that they may not pass over; that they turn not again to cover the earth.

Our young friend avoiding the thorns.

He sendeth the springs into the valleys, which run among the hills. They give drink to every beast of the field: the wild asses quench their thirst. By them shall the fowls of the heaven have their habitation, which sing among the branches.

Mr. T creating a path.

He watereth the hills from his chambers: the earth is satisfied with the fruit of thy works. He causeth the grass to grow for the cattle, and herb for the service of man: that he may bring forth food out of the earth; And wine that maketh glad the heart of man, and oil to make his face to shine, and bread which strengtheneth man's heart.

My sister's beautiful smile next to beautiful berries!

The trees of the LORD are full of sap; the cedars of Lebanon, which he hath planted; Where the birds make their nests: as for the stork, the fir trees are her house. The high hills are a refuge for the wild goats; and the rocks for the conies. He appointed the moon for seasons: the sun knoweth his going down. Thou makest darkness, and it is night: wherein all the beasts of the forest do creep forth.

My good daddy picking.

The young lions roar after their prey, and seek their meat from God. The sun ariseth, they gather themselves together, and lay them down in their dens. Man goeth forth unto his work and to his labour until the evening. O LORD, how manifold are thy works! in wisdom hast thou made them all: the earth is full of thy riches.

So is this great and wide sea, wherein are things creeping innumerable, both small and great beasts. There go the ships: there is that leviathan, whom thou hast made to play therein. These wait all upon thee; that thou mayest give them their meat in due season.

 

Mrs. T, Mommy and Allie helping one another.

Our reward!

That thou givest them they gather: thou openest thine hand, they are filled with good. Thou hidest thy face, they are troubled: thou takest away their breath, they die, and return to their dust. Thou sendest forth thy spirit, they are created: and thou renewest the face of the earth.

Mmm. . .Mrs. T brought a delicious homemade pound cake. What a perfect combination for vanilla icecream and blackberries. :9

Yummy!

That thou givest them they gather: thou openest thine hand, they are filled with good. Thou hidest thy face, they are troubled: thou takest away their breath, they die, and return to their dust. Thou sendest forth thy spirit, they are created: and thou renewest the face of the earth. 

Psalm 104

 

Thank you all for reading! It is such a blessing to be in God's world--He alone is responsible for such beauty and life. 

Your sister in Christ,

Frannie

Maybe.

Greetings dear readers! I hope this finds you all well and rejoicing in the love of our Heavenly Father and His Son Jesus Christ! I’m very well—enjoying a nice week with Momma and my family.

Today I had a very interesting conversation with a fellow co-worker on missions, the danger of a mission field and the reality of  we are safest in God’s will. And somehow I began to think, “Maybe life isn’t  what I perceive it to be?”


Maybe life isn’t about living the dream—my dream or the American. Maybe it isn’t about having fine clothes,  comfortable houses and nice dishes. Maybe life isn’t about movies, entertainment and games. Maybe it isn’t being the most popular, well respected, honored and most sought after. Maybe life isn’t about living comfortably with fancy cars, a revered education and  a nice, plump nest egg. Maybe it has nothing to do with money at all. Maybe life has nothing to do with safety. Maybe life is not anything that has to do with self but rather with God. Maybe life is about obedience—for better or worse, for richer or for poorer, in health or sickness  for as long as I live. Maybe life is about becoming the perfect Bride of Christ—holy and without blemish (Ephesians 5:27), chaste (1 Corinthians 11:2), without blame (Ephesians 1:4).

“ In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight:” Colossians 1:22

Yes, dear friends, maybe this alone is true life. I have been living in a dream. An illusion created by self; I’m so thankful Christ came to give us so much more mediocrity. And so, if living God’s dream means giving up wealth, reputation, comfort, and normalcy I’ll take it. For then, and only then, will I be filled with joy and the knowledge that I am doing well.

Please know that having the above is not wrong or sinful—God is the giver of all perfect gifts! However, to believe that the gaining and maintaining  of the above is the mission of life, well, that is wrong.

May the Lord bless you all today as you seek Him! Thank you so much for stopping by! You all are a dear blessing to me!

With love,

Frannie