The Smokies III

 Beautiful Cades Cove

 Stragglers.

Always happens when there's someone with a camera, serious about taking pictures. 

And I learned just today that the mark of a serious photographer is the camera strap around the neck. 

I always assumed it was the expensive camera at the end of it, and the know-how in the head the neck's attached to. But what do I know!?!

 This was the Oliver's Cabin.

Note the word "was."

We decided it should be Mom and Dad's from here on out.

 The girls deciding whether writing their names on historic structures is worth $3000 in fines.

 Educating ourselves.

 Cabin features:

a hole.

 Mossy hand-split shingles.

 The Oliver's lovely stream.

Now Mom and Dad's, of course.

 Sam doing his thing.

Photographic close-ups.

 Primitive Baptist Church.

We liked it until we discovered they kicked out those who believed in missions.

And considering we'd just dropped Tyler off at TMM, we moved our membership to the Missionary Baptist Church.

 Sam still doing his thing.

 Love old cemeteries!

 Ahhh...old faithful.

It may not be as sharp and schnazzy as its neighbors, but it takes us where we want to go. All of us!

 And the adventuring continues.

The Smokies II

 Although the rainy-ness of our stay didn't keep us from hiking and adventuring in the great outdoors, we also managed to have a grand time in our mountain-side cabin.

Games galore!

Oh yes, a pool table!

 Pretty intense, there, Abbie.

 And reading corners abounded...in quiet and not-so-quiet places. :)

Doncha wonder?

 Abbie the beverage-maker.

Hot chocolate.

Tea.

Chai.

Coffee.

Take your pick!

Peaceful, restful times. :)

The Smokies I

Enjoyed a great vacation earlier this month with the family to NC/TN. 

North Carolina to drop Tyler off at The Master's Mission where he'll be training for the next year. Then Tennessee for some family time in a cabin in the mountains.

The Smokey Mountains were most certainly...smokey!

But we'll take them in any form they come. 

:) 

 

 The lovely deck...I miss it!

Mercy and Grace

"Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need."

Hebrews 4:14-16

Plumb Line

"It matters nothing who says a thing in religion, whether an ancient father, or a modern Bishop, or a learned divine. Is it in the Bible? Can it be proved by the Bible? If not, it is not to be believed. It matters nothing how beautiful and clever sermons or religious books may appear. Are they in the smallest degree contrary to Scripture? If they are, they are rubbish and poison, and guides of no value. What says the Scripture? This is the only rule, measure, and gauge of religious truth. "To the law and to the testimony," says Isaiah, "if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them." (Isaiah 8:20)"

 --J.C. Ryle

Building, Bearing, Surrendering

"Now if anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw -- each one's work will become manifest, for the Day will disclose it, because it will be revealed by fire, and the fire will test what sort of work each one has done." (1 Cor. 3:12-13)

Hello! I'm HERE again!!

Back in the middle of a nice 

waiting-on-the-Lord-in-between-stages stage!

Just standing...

waiting...

watching...

praying...

I've clearly felt the Lord moving me away from where I've been, and truly feel that each step that I've taken up to this point has been of Him

...but...

He hasn't moved me to anything else yet.

It's been rather unsettling!

How do I find God's good pleasure and will for me in THIS time. To make it a good "building" time, not a wasted one? It's so much harder when there isn't a clear goal or objective! 

And I can't just do anything. 

Until He clearly moves me on, I HAVE to wait.

And yet...it's my spirit that's waiting. 

Time doesn't stop!

What to do with it?

How can I bear fruit in this in-between stage?

 "Walk as children of light (for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true), and try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord. Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them." (Eph. 5:8-11)

"Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is." (Eph. 5:15-17)

One light for my way recently was in our family study of James, and the need pointed out in chapter 1 of a heavenly focus. In every trial and hard time to persevere, keeping my eyes on the goal of the  "upward call of God in Christ Jesus" (Phil. 3:14) and the crown of life. 

It's not necessarily about where our pilgrimage physically takes us on this earth, but how we walk.

Where our affections lie.

Who we're living for.

Something deeply inward that affects all we do on the outside, no matter what it is. 

"Slaves, obey your earthly masters with fear and trembling, with a sincere heart, as you would Christ, not by the way of eye-service as people-pleasers, but as servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart, rendering service with a good will as to the Lord and not to man, knowing that whatever good anyone does, this he will receive back from the Lord..." (Eph. 6:5-8)

Yes, I'm awaiting more specific direction, but this does NOT have to be a wasted time, or a time of unfruitfulness. The will of God in my life has so much more to do, it seems, with the internal than the external. The "physical doings" may at times be direct service in the Lord's army. But mostly it's "everyday stuff" that's to be transformed into service done unto Him by my heart-attitude.

"By this we know love, that He laid down His life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers...Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth." (1 John 3:16,18)

I think my difficulty lies in a fleshly desire for my life to look important in other peoples' eyes.

Working at an Orchard doesn't look that amazing...

but it can be a service unto the Lord!

Visiting and encouraging friends may seem trivial...

but it can be a service unto the Lord!

 Emailing, letter-writing, meal-making, exercising.

Ordinary?

Yup.

But if it's what the Lord calls me to now, 

it can be a service rendered unto the Lord!

 And as such, I need to throw my BEST into whatever He's given me to do here! If it were time for something else, I'd be there. :) He wants me to be pour out His love into those He's placed around me here and now. It's worthwhile, and brings Him pleasure! And when I'm concerned about my ability to know and do His will...

"...it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure." (Phil. 2:13)

It's Him. Not me.

I abide. He brings forth fruit.

His Life and dreams are far better than mine. 

If I'm waiting another month...

another year...

five years...

"Lord, I give up all my own plans and purposes, all my own desires and hopes, and accept Thy will for my life. I give myself, my life, my all utterly to Thee to be Thine forever. Fill me and seal me with Thy Holy Spirit. Use me as Thou wilt, send me where Thou wilt. Work out Thy whole will in my life at any cost, now and forever."

--Betty Scott Stam