Wednesday, August 31, 2011

Just Three Dollars Worth?

“I would like to buy three dollars worth of God, please.

 

Not enough to explode my soul and disturb my sleep.

Not enough to take control of my life.

I just want enough to equal a cup of warm milk.

Just enough to ease some of the pain of my guilt.

 

I would like to buy three dollars worth of God, please.

 

I would like to find a love that is pocket-sized.

I don’t want enough of God to make me love a foreigner or pick beets

With a migrant.

Not enough to change my heart.

I can only stand just enough to take to church when I have time.

Just enough to equal a snooze in the sunshine.

I want ecstasy, not transformation.

I want warmth of the womb, but not a new birth.

 

I would like to purchase a pound of the eternal in a paper sack.

If it doesn’t work, I would like to get my money back.

I would like to buy three dollars worth of God, please.

 

I would like to hide some for a rainy day.

Not enough for people to see a change in me.

Not enough to impose any responsibility.

Just enough to make folks think I am OK.

 

Could I just get three dollars worth of God, please?”

-Wilber Rees

 

Oh Lord, please remove my ease-loving heart which replaces the vital, living relationship with Christ for a placid, warm one. As Christ humbled Himself unto death, surrendered to obedience, so humble my own heart. Change me so that I may reflect your light.

 

With so much love,

Frannie

Tuesday, August 30, 2011

A Time of Hope

Greetings my dear brothers and sisters in Christ! I hope this finds you all well; September is drawing near and I believe Autumn is beginning to make her gentle, lovely self known, at least here in our little clump of trees. A few trees are just beginning their annual parade of color while temperatures drop to a degree more tolerable than July’s scorching heat. What a blessing it is to know that, as long as God wise hands will it, the seasons will continue the same course they began when the world was first created.

Seasons come and seasons go, young boys grow into men and baby girls into women. Years ago, one young woman began to store her hopes and dreams in a chest with the intent of pulling out its contents in a home of her own. Perhaps her father bought the dark cedar chest especially for her or maybe the original Roos chest was a family treasure—something passed from one generation of girls to the next. I suppose we will never know; however, the feminine heart can guess what the chest contained. Mother Laughland’s famous Thanksgiving turkey recipe; a pair of crocheted baby-blue booties, a tea set she received for her sixteenth birthday and many encouraging Bible verses full of wisdom and instruction concerning womanhood. Perhaps her family was poor but no matter—she lovingly filled the cedar chest with home-made trinkets and old letters from friends. One day, if God willed, she would leave her childhood bedroom of rose pink and open her chest in a new room, crisp with white paint and bare walls ready to be covered, and give of herself to make her house a home. Once unpacked she would use the treasured hope chest as a storage for her quilts or maybe she would use it for a living room coffee table.

Many years later, there was another young girl. This girl was born into a time when motherhood was given little honor and homemaking scorned. This foolish girl believed some of these modern day lies but then one day her Creator and Redeemer, Jesus Christ, got ahold of her heart. He began to change things, discard bad character, mold dreams and soon enough this young woman began to wish for a hope chest of her own. However, it was not to be. You see, hope chests are already expensive and when one lives in Alaska the shipping of such a creature could be outrageous. There was also the lack of space to consider—with two sisters sharing a bedroom there was little room for a chest.

So this young girl waited, although she wasn’t very good at it. She tried to be content and patient but the virtues were difficult considering her spare internet time was given to “Hope Chests For Sale.” It took time but one day the young girl discovered that her own room could be her hope chest and, with a finally happy heart, she set aside her feelings of lack. Time passed and now this young girl was becoming a young woman; neon orange and fuchsia pink walls gave way to a softer more feminine blue and favorite stuffed animals began to find their place tucked beneath the bed.

The want of a hope chest rarely bothered the young woman anymore although, I can honestly say the thought, “Oh, it would be nice to have one,” recently floated through her mind. However, it quickly passed and she began to help prepare the house for her soon coming aunt and cousins; they would be staying with the family for some time and soon the day of unloading the U-Haul arrived. While taking a moment to rest in front of the unloading ramp, the young woman heard a whispered, “This is for Frannie.” Her curiosity piqued, she quickly looked up and exchanged squinted glances of suspicion with her aunt and momma. Not to spoil the surprise, she quickly left—although I can testify that her smiling heart thought she was possibly getting a desk. Soon, the tired group headed home and after  rest and a much needed peanut-butter and jelly sandwich, the group began to unload the few pieces of furniture which would be stored within the house.

Expecting a desk of some sort, the young woman was quite surprised when a large box (covered up by a blanket) lay in the middle of the living room. After unloading the last of the furniture, the family gathered together and the young lady’s aunt called her in. “Frannie, soon you will be getting married, and for many years girls would store there things in hope chests—so that one day they could use their things for their own family. Well, several, several years ago I felt the Lord laying it on my heart that you should have this. It’s your Great-Grandmother Chilla’s hope chest. Your momma actually thought of this chest too and a few years ago she asked me about it—not knowing that I already had it laid aside for you!” And with that beautiful and honest story Aunt Joy pulled of the blanket to show my own hope chest.

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It is a lovely solid, cedar chest. And amazingly, it fits like a glove in my room adding grace and beauty.

Isn’t it just beautiful?

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My great-grandmother Chilla Mutchler was the young woman who owned it before I. While I’m not completely certain, I believe my great-grandmother was in her early twenty's during the 1930’s.

A few scratches can be found here and there but to me I would not want it any other way.

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Original Roos cedar chest. Est. 1871

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  I am looking forward to filling this special chest with things that will honor and glorify God—my Heavenly Father who sneakily knew about this chest and patiently listened to my heart’s impatience nearly five years ago! :o)

Yes, seasons come and go and I have finally been given a hope chest. I am so thankful for my time of lack and want—over a period of five years I learned the beauty and joy of contentment. Something which is invaluable! I also believe I will take better care of this family heirloom now that I had to wait for it; I’m almost certain I would have somehow damaged it while in my more careless days.

I am not certain where my Lord, my Master, will take me over the next few years. I may still be single, serving at home or abroad. I may be living like the people I am trying to win for Christ—in a mud/dung house of Africa or in a poorly insulated home in chilly Mongolia. I may have my little yellow cottage and my chest may hold little trinkets for young one’s . . . I do not know. However, I do know that my God is Lord and I will go wherever He wants me. And you can trust that wherever that is, I will share the wonderful tale of how my God used my dear aunt’s heart, my Momma’s wonderings and a young girl’s dream to give her a lovely hope chest in His time.

Trusting in Him,

Frannie 

 

Give thanks unto the LORD, call upon his name, make known his deeds among the people.”

1 Chronicles 16:8

Friday, August 26, 2011

No Longer Will I Carry What He Desires

Lately, I have taken up reading Elizabeth Elliot’s Passion and Purity. After poking through the book a little, I have become amazed to learn of God’s great love and interest for our lives (especially our dreams and hopes for love and marriage). However, what struck me most interesting are the gems I found on page 49. It reads:

“’Cast all your cares on him, for you are his charge.” 1 Peter 5:7 (NEB)

“. . . Have no anxiety, but in everything make your requests known to God. . . .” Philippians 4:6 (NEB)

“. . . I bid you put away anxious thoughts. . . .” Matthew 6:25 (NEB)

merimna—“care, thought, disquietude, trouble.”

merimnao—“be anxious, be cumbered, think earnestly upon.’”

~

I stopped there; once I digested these verses and their Greek wording my heart jumped at a new discovery. Jesus desires for me to cast every “care, thought, disquietude, trouble” upon Him! Glorious! Just this past week I’ve struggled with many a disquieting thought or trouble (often created by my own sinful nature) but I never thought to give them to God. Even more, I allowed deceitful thoughts of “Oh, He won’t help you because, well, you made this mess . . . again” and the like discourage me from approaching the throne of grace. What sweet assurance of God’s love—what mercy!

Any thought, any care God wants me to lay on Him. Those troublesome fears and thoughts on my relative’s upcoming move need to be given up. Worries on whether I’ll be ready for Ghana or not need to be surrendered to Christ. Cumbersome burdens of unconfessed sin need to laid at His feet. Isn’t our God good and gracious? How thankful I am to have such a personal and loving Lord; what a pity it is that millions refuse to serve Him and instead serve impersonal, non-hearing gods of imagination, gold or stone. How sad that many worship and serve their physical bodies and desires only to end up lost, confused and dying. How good my God is.

So, in case you are wondering, I am completely enjoying Passion and Purity. It is such freedom to find that God cares for all things: our love lives (or lack thereof :) and our worrisome thoughts. How merciful He is to want to take control of these issues and lead us in a good way.

With love and blessings!

Frannie 

 

*Only 27 more days till I begin my journey towards Ghana! Eeek! :)

Thursday, August 25, 2011

Isaiah 40

Comfort ye, comfort ye my people, saith your God. Speak ye comfortably to Jerusalem, and cry unto her, that her warfare is accomplished, that her iniquity is pardoned: for she hath received of the LORD's hand double for all her sins.

The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the LORD, make straight in the desert a highway for our God. Every valley shall be exalted, and every mountain and hill shall be made low: and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough places plain: And the glory of the LORD shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together: for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken it.

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The voice said, Cry. And he said, What shall I cry? All flesh is grass, and all the goodliness thereof is as the flower of the field: The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: because the spirit of the LORD bloweth upon it: surely the people is grass. The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: but the word of our God shall stand for ever.

O Zion, that bringest good tidings, get thee up into the high mountain; O Jerusalem, that bringest good tidings, lift up thy voice with strength; lift it up, be not afraid; say unto the cities of Judah, Behold your God!

Behold, the Lord GOD will come with strong hand, and his arm shall rule for him: behold, his reward is with him, and his work before him. He shall feed his flock like a shepherd: he shall gather the lambs with his arm, and carry them in his bosom, and shall gently lead those that are with young.

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Who hath measured the waters in the hollow of his hand, and meted out heaven with the span, and comprehended the dust of the earth in a measure, and weighed the mountains in scales, and the hills in a balance? Who hath directed the Spirit of the LORD, or being his counsellor hath taught him? With whom took he counsel, and who instructed him, and taught him in the path of judgment, and taught him knowledge, and shewed to him the way of understanding?

Behold, the nations are as a drop of a bucket, and are counted as the small dust of the balance: behold, he taketh up the isles as a very little thing. And Lebanon is not sufficient to burn, nor the beasts thereof sufficient for a burnt offering. All nations before him are as nothing; and they are counted to him less than nothing, and vanity.

To whom then will ye liken God? or what likeness will ye compare unto him? The workman melteth a graven image, and the goldsmith spreadeth it over with gold, and casteth silver chains. He that is so impoverished that he hath no oblation chooseth a tree that will not rot; he seeketh unto him a cunning workman to prepare a graven image, that shall not be moved.

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Have ye not known? have ye not heard? hath it not been told you from the beginning have ye not understood from the foundations of the earth?

It is he that sitteth upon the circle of the earth, and the inhabitants thereof are as grasshoppers; that stretcheth out the heavens as a curtain, and spreadeth them out as a tent to dwell in: That bringeth the princes to nothing; he maketh the judges of the earth as vanity. Yea, they shall not be planted; yea, they shall not be sown: yea, their stock shall not take root in the earth: and he shall also blow upon them, and they shall wither, and the whirlwind shall take them away as stubble. To whom then will ye liken me, or shall I be equal? saith the Holy One.

Lift up your eyes on high, and behold who hath created these things, that bringeth out their host by number: he calleth them all by names by the greatness of his might, for that he is strong in power; not one faileth.

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Why sayest thou, O Jacob, and speakest, O Israel, My way is hid from the LORD, and my judgment is passed over from my God?

Hast thou not known? hast thou not heard, that the everlasting God, the LORD, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary? there is no searching of his understanding. He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength.

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Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall: But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.

--Isaiah 40

Tuesday, August 23, 2011

Bear Ye One Another’s Burden

Greetings of love to you! I hope this finds you well and rejoicing in the salvation and grace of Jesus Christ. I am well; we’ve been quite busy lately with the blessings of many summer guests. It’s fun to think our house has been flipping over often enough that I’ve been calling it a boarding house. I always love sprucing up my bedroom which doubles as the guest bedroom. I think you know you are a lover-of-all-things-feminine when tidying your room for guests becomes a fun and exciting challenge. How I love changing the furniture and setting a fresh begonia near the white alarm clock. :)

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Lately, I have been blessed by so many and the blessings remind me of God’s burden bearing love. Sometimes I can get trapped into believing the world’s definition of love. Love isn’t a good feeling; in fact, love does not always feel good and love may not even feel (gasp!). Love is not a warm, float-above-all-troubles sort of thing. Instead, love is practical—when the going get’s tough love gets tougher. Love helps a wayward friend but it also encourages one to take responsibility. It is long-suffering. Love remembers that the spoiled child complaining has an inside issue which may need a kind word instead of a harsh, correcting chide. Love is kind. Love remembers to bless those who are given good even when it itself is given less, the spoiled and the remnant; it does not envy. Love does not vaunt itself but meekly and quietly serves other’s first. Love is being willing to ask for forgiveness when you realize you just said the wrong thing for it is not puffed up. Love remembers to behave itself—even when it is alone. It remembers to not seek its own—it meets the needs of others. It is not easily provoked when silly sister’s say foolish, hurtful words (I must learn from my mistakes!); love does not think evil of another—it does not assume evil. It rejoices not in iniquity but in truth therefore love will seek to hear and tell the truth even when it is painful.

Love beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things. Charity never faileth.

What I find completely amazing is that love beareth all things—All Things! How often I fall short to bear my fellow person’s burdens; what is even more amazing is to see how often my fellow man will bear mine. God has shown Himself to me these past few months. He has shown me His graciousness, enduring kindness, love and strength. He has done this through many people. In three months I have been seen many eager hands reach into their stretched wallets endeavoring to give to my Ghana trip. I have been given the chance to share my testimony six times—people have given their time to listen to my ever-stumbling mouth. I have seen my family, both physical and spiritual, believe in me and hope for me. How good God is to show Himself through His creation! Just today I was shown a love which never fails—a dear friend of mine who helped me shop for fabric, find measurements, adjust patterns and quietly sew a new dress for me! What love; what kindness! I’ve seen a love which told the truth when the truth was the last thing wanted to be said.

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A lovely green and cream swirl print dress made in the princess pattern.

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A pretty, twirly, modest dress.

One of those dresses which make even the  plainest hanger it trustfully sets on a little more graceful and important looking.

However noble and good the acts of love I saw this last week were none compared to the greatest of love: Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. To know that Jesus loves me (Loves Me!). Not only did He speak of love but  He demonstrated it by dying for me and rising again so that I may love and live for Him and therefore be fulfilled—this is the greatest of loves. And the wonderful news is that He loves you in the exact same way—His is a love that is long-suffering, kind, enduring. His is a love which Bears All Things.

I hope you all are well—I hopefully you are enjoying nice, cool August weather. I believe my friends dwelling in Alaska are already experiencing 45’ weather—sounds lovely to me. And guess what? Lord willing, I will be flying away from home and towards Ghana in 36 days! Praise the Lord!

Many blessings to you,

Frannie 

 

“Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.”

Galatians 6:2

 

*A special thanks to my special cousin who graciously tromped around, camera in hand, with me amidst a humid Missouri afternoon. You’re a blessing! :)

Tuesday, August 16, 2011

I’m so Thankful

clip_image001Hello! I hope this finds you all well and enjoying the cooling days of August. Here in Missouri we have been blessed with cooling rain—such a relief from our rising temperatures! At this moment I am resting in my room; I had a very pleasant day spending my time with Momma and tending to a few things here and there. And here I am, late at night, pondering a few things.

Lately, I have been battling a few insecurities. Insecurities wearing the name tags: “I’m not pretty enough,” “I’m such a dork” and the likes. Insecurities which render me useless in being the person Christ has called me to be. You see, I have been spending so much time trying to patch up my weaknesses, to hide my imperfections, that I have been hindering God’s work in me.

“And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness.”

Isn’t God so good to love us even when we’re imperfect? Please do not mistake me; I am not promoting the false thought which says, “Oh, well, everyone sins and well, it just can’t be helped . . . thank you Lord for loving me just as I am.” It is true; God has loved us perfectly in that He loved us while we were yet sinners. However, His holy and righteous nature demands that we allow Him to come in our lives and deal with our sinfulness. He will not let us sweep sin under the rug. What I am talking about is the silly, embarrassing weaknesses we all have (or think we have): our insecurities over our weight, complexion or ability—or lack thereof--to sing.

You see, I spend so much time thinking about what others think of me (notice the pure selfishness in that statement). I feel I can read their thoughts and any wrong move on their part may signal that I have done something wrong or that I’ve offended them. Yes, I know, quite pathetic. What a waste of time and energy . . . how foolish! I’m twenty-one and still going through issues I thought I had resolved years ago. It is this drama that brings me to my title. I am learning to be thankful for my weaknesses, my imperfections.

Thank you Lord for giving me my nose—fashioned according to your plan and taste. Thank you Lord for how you built my body; may it serve your purpose. Lord, use my shy nature to bring you glory and thank you for using my temperament according to your will. Lord, the eczema on my hands, use it according to Your will.

You see, when I learn to accept the things I may find unpleasant and thank God for them, it totally changes my perspective.

Thank you Lord for my love for tea cups, my joy in flowers and my lack of ability to sew. May you use my talents, or lack thereof, for your purpose and glory; may your strength be seen in me. I am so thankful to be me—being me, or being you, is the best billboard anyone could request. Allowing Christ to shine through you and your personal quirks can be one of the most radiate (and beautiful) characteristics a down-trodden, lost soul may need to see. Let’s not be cookie-cutters. You may like sweets while I like a good meatloaf; you can dress in your elegant ball gown and I in my pioneer dress. I think even the angels have different characters and talents and it is pleasing to our Abba Father.

With love from your mudboot lovin’, chipped toothed, soprano-only sister in Christ,

Frannie

P.S. Mr. Norman Rockwell’s “Spring Flowers” can be found at rockwellsite.com. I just love is paintings!

Wednesday, August 10, 2011

An Open Acknowledgement

Hello friends! An over-indulgence in chocolate chips,  anger, a slipping relationship with God, unexpected crabbiness with my brother,  a lack of interest in the things of God. A sudden and unquenchable desire to be noticed--known. What do all of these things have in common?

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 Loneliness.

I hate loneliness.

Yet, what I hate more is when I tromp around completing life’s chores and I feel my heart crying out for the Lord and yet I stuff it full of other stuff. I hate it when I choose the wrong music—oh it’s not bad music (especially compared to the world) but I know it is not good. I hate it when I waste my time in front of a movie instead of filling my hungry soul with the word of God. Can any of you relate? When our souls cry for our Holy Father and yet our flesh wages war with the tools of discouragement and apathy; when no amount of pleasure can make one happy this is when God is calling us to Him. Oh, I know how painful it can be to come to  the cross—how the flesh hates to die! But when we allow Christ to have His way—to point His righteous finger into the dark corners of our heart—then true contentment and joy follows. And then the aching pain of loneliness . . . well, it just seems to drift away as I allow Christ to become my All in All, my I AM. And if it doesn’t, if loneliness hangs around, I’m able to grow through it. To rejoice in it.

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A thought came to me as I was driving home tonight: “If God already knows the ugliness inside me then why do I pretend it isn’t there? Wouldn’t it just be better to humble myself and admit that ‘I haven’t arrived’ then pretend in front of those who know I haven’t? How deceitful my silly heart is; and how good God is to resist the proud but give grace to the humble. How good He is to make all my attempts of happiness vain unless the attempts are for Him. And then, even if I were lonely, I know my heart would be happily resting in the will of God.

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In the process of growing,

Frannie

A Surprise at the Library.

Hello all! I hope this finds you very well; I am really enjoying the cooler weather that our recent rain brought in. We even had a little adventure—because of a a strong thunder/wind storm we (along with many others in our area) went without electricity for about thirty-six hours! :) Thirty-six hours of no running water, candle-lit nights and a urgent switching of the generator’s power between the fridge (a necessary) and the coffee pot (a necessity!!) I also had the experience of cooking for campers and staff at Discovery Ministries. One of my fellow staff members said that us cooks were cooking quite “romantically” since the whole kitchen was lit with various candles and a LED flashlight. :-D

I wanted to drop in and share some of the amazing blessings of God. As you know, I’ve been busy preparing for my upcoming Ghana trip. One of the necessary duties I must do is try and raise money. I have found this quite difficult and often humbling along with tremendously encouraging. I feel that God shows Himself most strong when we are willing to humble ourselves and He has been doing just that.

Taste and See that the LORD is good. . .

As part of my fundraising I have set out four different jars in various places explaining who I am and what I am doing. I have been amazed by kindness and genuine interest people are giving! Just today I stopped by Huffman’s gas station and found $21! What a blessing! At work I discovered a tip placed into my jar—some sweet camper who gave up their chocolate bar to help their cook go to Ghana. My dear church family is meeting a huge need while some mysterious individuals in the church family have donated several hundred of dollars—and I am just beginning! But one of the most interesting and funny things happened when I was told I received a message from our local library about my can being full. The strange thing is that I never even left a can at the library!

 

Me: “Hello! My name is Frannie Halbert and I am calling to talk with the person who called about my can?”

The Jolly Librarian: “Oh, that’s me! (laughs) Yes, I called because your can is full.”

Me: “Well, (nervous giggle) this may seem silly but I don’t ever remember leaving a can. I only made copies there. . .”

T.J.L: (Laughing with great joy) Well, there’s one here! I guess someone must have found an extra copy and put it on a can because there’s one here!!” <3

 

Dear friends, there is no end to God’s kindness, mercy and humor. He has heard my prayers and, in His timing and way, He has been meeting my needs. Somehow, someway someone read a forgotten copy and thoughtfully placed it on a jar to help me . . . a complete stranger. And some people have given their own money into that special jar. Isn’t God good?

 

I hope that each of you will continue to live for our Heavenly Father; may He get all the glory!

In Christ’s name,

Frannie

Monday, August 1, 2011

Dreams

Hello! Today, while driving home, I was perusing my sister's cds when I came upon a song called "In My Dreams." Today, when many talk about love it is the kind of love which is self seeking. The sacrificial, forgiving, enduring love is the love forgotten and replaced with immediate self-gratifying love--or often lust.

In My Dreams

by
 Josh Turner

Some men dream of crossing oceans
Some men dream one day to fly
Spend their whole lives out there floating on the water and the sky

Some men dream of building fortunes
Some men dream of having fame
Nothing else is more important then making money and a name

But, In my dreams, I see
A little sky blue house beside a small stream
A front porch, a screen door,
The sound of barefeet running and cartoons.
In my dreams, your dreams come true

I come find you in your garden
Pulling weeds between the rows
Trade a kiss for a glass of water
Sit and watch what love can grow

In my dreams, I see
A little sky blue house beside a small stream
A front porch, a screen door,
The sound of barefeet running and cartoons.
In my dreams, your dreams come true

In my dreams, your dreams
Are the only things that really matter to me
When you smile, I smile
What makes you happy makes me happy too
In my dreams, your dreams come true

In my dreams, your dreams come true

Dreams. I'm not sure if there is anything wrong with them. If, and only if, our dreams are lined up with God's will then I believe dreams are lovely. Dreams inspire, motivate and encourage. Everyone has a dream. Missionaries dream of reaching the lost; while fathers and mothers dream of raising a home and family. Teachers dream of reaching their students while sailors dream of crossing the great seas. Even criminals have dreams . . . dreams which fail to line up with God's standards.

My dreams? I have a multitude. I desire to serve in some sort of mission work all my days. If I am ever blessed to marry my mission will be at home--my mission will be my husband's and my fi eld mychildren and those around me.

What does my dream look like?

It involves a little place. Buttercream yellow and cornflower blue is the theme of my kitchen, which by the way, has a little breeze coming through the open window. If you look outside you'll notice the front porch, a large tree with a swing and depending on the season, a green lawn or field. To the side will be a garden; I'll have to start small since I haven't much experience.
The Yellow Cottage--Harpswell was painted by Sylvia Dyer. Please visit this link to see her other works of art.

From the kitchen you'll notice a living room--probably not as clean and nicely decorated as some but comfortablely worn from guests and babes. Oh, and don't forget the library. I have known from a young age that no matter what I have in a house I must have a library. One that holds good books, edifying books. Books like Martyr's Mirror, God's Smuggler, The Hiding Place, Little Women, hymn books, Robinson Crusoe and the sweet Abeka and Rod and Staff books which teach so many good lessons.

It will be a house built on the foundation of Jesus Christ and God's Word. Love and forgiveness will adorn each board while laughter and pranks will squeak as often as the kitchen floor. Endurance and hardwork will make themselves as bold and true as the hand-picked geraniums decorating the dining table. Here hospitaity will be the rule, godly character and old-fashionedness encouraged and many rolls and cookies will be baked.
This lovely drawing can be found at this link.
And until then I'll help make this home just as pleasant--however long that may be. For if I am not content here I shall not be there. Please know, dreamy as I may be, I am also very much a realist. I know that there will be days when laundry has grown to mountainous proportions, when dinner is burnt and finances tight. There maybe days when time is limited, guests unexpected and clothes out-grown. There will be an unfair share of unproductive days along with many mismatched socks. I'm sure there will also be days when I struggle with lost patience and unmet expectations.

But it will be home. And if it is ordained by God and ordered according to His will it will be great.

What does your dream look like?
Until next time, dear ones!
Frannie
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