To Everything There is a Season...

The hint of spring has sprung literally overnight in North Carolina! It is a short-lived season here, all to quickly replaced by soaring temperatures that drive me indoors! However, for the moment, I'm going to enjoy every second of it! The windows are open, I can smell someone's barbeque and I'm sitting here planning my garden :) It's funny how every year, when we "spring forward" with the clocks, I feel like someone flips a switch in my brain that says, "It's time to wake up!"

So, I've been making plans for my garden, which may be a little over zealous considering I am currently 6 months pregnant.  Will be interesting to see how the energy levels hold out when the real work begins ;-)  I discovered that burpee.com has regional specific gardening advice, which is exceedingly helpful to someone who still can't wrap their head around planting in March instead of May!

Also on the agenda has been pricing privacy fence for our corner lot yard.  Seems a new trampoline and 10yo twins draws every kid in the neighborhoods attention.  I think this may be next weekend's project! 

Oh! and the nursery is getting walls today!!! Eeek!  Our basement is partially finished (the master bedroom/bath is downstairs), but the nursery's outer walls were block.  So, very soon I'll have walls to paint and furniture to set up. So very exciting!!!

My mind is whirling....bird feeders, flower gardens, vegetable gardens, I need a grill!!!  All this with two days of nice weather.  It's a crazy little thing that I call spring ;-) Does it too me every year!

 
© Adorning Grace 2013

Wednesdays in the Word: Meddling with Strife

I have spent the evening reworking my blog design and in doing so, came across a number of entries in my draft folder!  This entry is from September 28, 2011.  I have no idea why it was never published but ~wow~, the Lord really spoke to me through it this evening. And since I couldn't come up with anything fresh to say, I'm finally going to hit the 'publish' button!  Have a blessed evening!
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This journey of life is one that is ever-changing and full of lessons to be learned along the way. While I spend my days as a homeschooling mama teaching our children, there is One who is ever faithful to teach me some hard lessons as well!  And my heavenly Teacher not only gives the lessons but He makes me demonstrate my knowledge of the solution in day to day experiences! 

People who homeschool do so for a variety of reasons. In our home, one big reason is that we want to be able to inundate our children with God’s Word (which is commanded by the Lord in Deut. 6:6-9) and teach them from it so that they will one day be able to face this wicked culture with strength and not compromise. Part of the way we do that is to memorize verses that help them in real life situations. 

Our verse this week can be found in Proverbs 26:17:

He that passeth by, and meddleth with strife

Belonging not to him,

Is like one that taken a dog by the ears.

How often have we each been pulled into situations that haven nothing to do with us? We see it a lot in children, where one child will get mad at another and solicit their mutual friends to take a side. Unfortunately, we also see it in homes, churches and workplaces. How sad. 

The Bible says that messing with problems that do not concern you is like going up to a dog and grabbing it by the ears. I don’t know about you, but if I want to make friends with a strange dog, I am not going to grab it by the ears! That’s just foolish! Indeed, when we meddle with strife that isn’t ours, we are acting like fools. 

The Bible has a lot to say about fools but probably some of my favorite verses are Proverbs 26:4-5

Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest thou also be like unto him.

Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own conceit.

If those verses leave you scratching your head, thinking that the Bible is contradicting itself, let me assure you, it is not. What I get from those verses is that you just can’t win when dealing with a fool! Have you ever tried to converse with someone who just wants to argue for the sake of arguing? If you don’t speak, they goad you. If you do speak, they argue. That’s a fool! The best thing that you can do is r-u-n, because you are meddling with strife that isn’t yours to meddle with.

Ironically, the Lord tested my learning of this Scripture very recently.  To engage or not engage.  To bother or not bother, and my husband reminded me of the following verses.Thank God for a Spirit-filled husband!

But avoid foolish questions, and genealogies, and contentions, and strivings about the law; for they are unprofitable and vain. A man that is an heretick after the first and second admonition reject; Knowing that he that is such is subverted, and sinneth, being condemned of himself.
(Tit 3:9-11)

Really, it’s an issue of pride. “I am going to be right, no matter what!” Some lessons are learned the hard way, but praise the Lord, He never stops teaching and testing and forgiving and loving me as I learn!  So what am I trying to say?   Please do not waste your time fretting over strife that isn’t yours. Walk away from situations that do not concern you. Not only is it biblical but it will save you from hurt and heartache. Avoid people who would pull you into strife, use your block feature online and pray for that person!  First, it's hard to feel negatively about someone you're praying for and second, that person probably needs a lot of prayer!

Isn’t the Lord wonderful? He shows us exactly how to have a peaceful life, if we’ll only stop and listen. What strife have you meddled with that wasn’t yours? Confess it! Do you see areas where you could be pulled in and asked to take a side? Determine in your heart not to. Ask the Lord for His help.

See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise,

(Eph 5:15)

Have a blessed day!

© Adorning Grace 2011

It's a ....

We had a 3D ultrasound two weeks ago. What an amazingly precious site.  All looks good with baby and this pregnancy has progress to 21wks this coming Saturday.  There has been much debate over the gender of this little one, but thankfully that has been settled.  Welcome to Owen baby #4.  It's a .....

 

GIRL!!!!

© Adorning Grace 2012

A time to pray...

Like most of you, my heart is grieving for the families involved in today's tragedy in CT.  What a sobering reminder that what is important this Christmas season isn't the gifts under the tree, the lights or the parties, but rather our loved ones that surround us.  Jesus is the Prince of Peace and when society shuts Him out, evil reigns.  Take some extra time to hold those you love a little closer, say those things that need saying, make memories.  Life is short; slow down and enjoy the little things...

Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. 

For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, 

and then vanisheth away.
(Jas 4:14)

© Adorning Grace 2012

Get Out and VOTE!

 How did I vote?

1. I voted for the most pro-life candidate, because God hates the shedding of innocent blood (Prov.6:17).

2. I voted for the most pro-Israel candidate, because God blesses those who bless Israel & curses those who don't (Gen.12:3).

3. I voted for the most pro-marriage candidate, because God is for marriage as defined in Genesis 2:24.

4. I voted for the candidate who most closely believes government's purpose is to reward the good & punish the evil (Romans 13).

5. I voted for the most pro-debt reduction candidate, because the borrower is servant to the lender (Prov.22:7).

6. I voted for the most pro-work candidate because God says if a man does not work, let him not eat (2Thess.3:10).

I voted to go backward. Back towards workers keeping more of the money they earn. Back to a man and a party that better understands how businesses is run. Back to a party that understands the more you tax the top the less they have to hire/retain workers and the more the top lays off the middle and lower class. Back towards leadership that protects the unborn. Back to leadership that more closely follows the Biblical morals this country was founded on in regards to marriage. Back towards less government regulation of the private sector. Back to a President who is proud to be American and does not do international apology tours. Back to leadership without Islamic sympathies.

Moving forward is only good if you're going in the right direction. I am ready to go back to where we were and then forward in the right direction.

© Adorning Grace 2012

Remembering...

This past week has been one big rollercoaster of emotions but I can honestly say that God was there...every step of the way. If you read my previous post, you know that my precious grandmother passed away this past Tuesday, October 23. I mentioned later that night that there were too many "God-incidences" to ignore and I would love to share them here. I do not want to forget all that the Lord has done in the past 9 days.

On Saturday, October 20, my mother-in-law got out of work and told me she just "felt" like she should go visit my grandmother.  She was in a nursing home/rehab, 45 minutes from where my mother-in-law lives.  I told her that was God, directing her paths and showing His love towards ME, because she went to see her and had a really good visit.

I was sitting at home when I received a text message. Much to my surprise, it was the following picture of my grandmother, smiling.  It said "Grammy Lilley says hi."  I could tell it wasn't her phony "hurry up and take my picture" smile but was genuine and that just made me happy.

 

My mil later told me how she and her roommate had just had a huge belly laugh over her roommate getting her wheelchair stuck in the bathroom door. She also shared that Grammy told her how happy she was to be there, how she was a social butterfly and that she was at peace.  I've always had a special spot in my heart for my mil but her taking the time to visit my grandmother just endeared her all the more to me.

Monday, my grandmother just didn't seem herself and by Tuesday morning, she was bed-ridden.  My heart hurt so much, knowing that I couldn't be there with her.  God would not give me peace to make the trip from NC to NH.  I didn't know why but maybe it was because of the events that he had planned. God does know what is best for us.

On Tuesday morning, my aunt called me. She just "felt" like she should. Coincidence? I think not.  She told me how Grammy wasn't talking but she could hear them, as evidenced by the half smiles she'd give on occasion.  My aunt offered to put the phone to her ear so I could talk to her.  I took that opportunity to tell her how much I love her and thank her for everything she's always meant to me.  Then I got back on the phone. Literally, within minutes, my aunt whispered, "Karen, she's gone."  I could hear other family in the background saying, "she was waiting for Karen to call."  I believe she was.  My grandmother and I have always had a special bond. She used to say that we shared the same heart.

After hanging up with my aunt, I looked at my phone and we had not even been on the phone a full ten minutes!  I would never have called Grammy's room at 8am!   GOD did that - He knew how badly I wanted to be with her and in that small window of time, He saw fit to put it on my aunt's heart to call.  I am amazed.   I don't know how many hours I spent on the floor with my children, grieving her passing.  

At some point, I began thinking of my life verse:

Isa 61:3  To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that he might be glorified. 

I began wondering how God was going to take this situation and bring any beauty out of it or add any joy to it.  To make a much more detailed story shorter, about 8 hours after Grammy's death, I received this beautiful gift:

Coincidence?  I think not.  That's GOD.   I don't know why He chose to unfold His plan this way - why my grandmother was never to know that she'd be a great-grandmother once again, but I'm not going to question Him.  We would certainly appreciate your prayers that this baby will continue to grow and stay healthy.

There are so many other things I could tell you - how God intervened - how He allowed not only me but my mom to find precious items that we wanted to keep and treasure but thought were lost.  Things that belonged to her.  How in her final days, she testified of her faith in Jesus Christ and her assurance of spending eternity with Him after a lifetime of near silence on the matter.  How God allowed her memorial to go smoothly and for people who do not necessarily agree on matters of faith to come together and honor her life.  Oh! How I miss her, but I am so very thankful for God's intervention and His love towards me. Over and over again, I have seen his guiding hand.  He is a good God and I love Him.

Christmas 2010

© Adorning Grace 2012

A Tribute to Grandma - Part 2

This past Tuesday, I said "Good-bye" to a very special lady....my grandmother. She passed on with a final days testimony of knowing the Lord and being at peace, but there is a whole in my heart as big as the Grand Canyon. I'd like to repost something I wrote for her birthday five years ago. And when I get back to NC (I'm currently in NH)I'm going to share all the "God-incidences" of the last week with you because they are amazing.

In loving memory

Hazel Belle Phillips Lilley

February 8, 1928 - October 23, 2012

 ---originally written 2/6/08---
My grandmother... I love her so much that my heart aches when I think of the day I will no longer have her. Her 80th birthday is Friday and the girls and I have put together a big box of goodies to mail. We're also having flowers delivered. As I sat, thinking about why she's so special to me, a sort of tribute came about. Here is what I've written her and why she's so very special.

An 80th birthday is certainly a time to celebrate! In planning for your special day, it has also been a time for me to reflect on all that you mean to me. I have so many wonderful memories stored away that I couldn’t just pick one, so here are some of my favorites!

I remember….
Looking out your kitchen window, into the darkness while you spun tails of the Easter Bunny's helpers watching me from afar. I was absolutely convinced they were out there!

The box of toys, kept especially for me, in the corner of your kitchen. It reminded me that I was loved and wanted around.

Hiding under your kitchen table to ‘surprise’ you (every day!) when you came home from work and the fact that you acted surprised every time!

Taking walks in the woods to look for bunny and squirrel tracks, and how you’d walk slow enough for my little legs, never growing impatient because you had something better to do.

Walking in the fields to the strawberry patch.

Waking up on the morning of my brother’s birth, to find you in my parents bed, waiting for me to wake up. 

Our first morning in Manchester, looking out the big windows at the unfamiliar streets and wanting to go see Grammy.

Summer visits and walks to the beaver dam, playing dress-up & laying in front of the fans together to cool off.

Winter visits of sledding on wooded paths.

Having early Christmases before you left for AZ and missing you the entire winter. I waited eagerly for your letters!

All the help you gave me through my teenage years. Being my lifeline, always listening and never judging, your concern for my safety. You helped me through some rocky roads.

How you always invested in my interests, like when I wanted to be an exchange student to Russia. You were the first to pitch in and help.

I remember….all of your love, your patience, your kindness. I remember how you’ve always been my biggest cheerleader and my strongest supporter. When we had to say goodbye after Christmas, I whispered “I don’t want to go!” and though your heart hurt as much as mine, you didn’t tell me not to leave, you simply said “I know”. Instead of guilt for leaving, you gave me strength to do what I had to do.

For all these things and more, I love you! Happy 80th birthday Grammy!

© Adorning Grace 2012