Today's Grace Gem

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The easiest cross for each one to bear!

(J.R. Miller, "The Shining Light" 1911)

"He who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me." Matthew 10:38 

It is his cross, and not some other man's--that each one is to take up. It is the particular cross that God lays at our own feet, that we are to bear. 

We are never to make crosses for ourselves--but we are always to accept those which are allotted to us by God. 

Sometimes we think our lot is peculiarly hard, and we compare it with the lot of this or that other person, and wish we had hiscross instead of our own. But we do not know what other people's crosses really are. If we did, we might not want to exchange. The cross that seems woven of flowers--if we put it on our shoulders, we might find filled with sharp thorns under the flowers! The cross of gold that seems so bright--we would find so heavy that it would crush us! The easiest cross for each one to bear, is his own!

"If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me." Luke 9:23 

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Joy and Strength

" This world of ours is a happy world, so that God is our end, so that we can say to Him, "Thou art my God." Then everything takes new hues of joy and love. Our daily comforts have a soul in them, for they abound in thanksgiving; our daily infirmities or crosses have a special joy in them, because they are so tenderly fitted to us by the medicinal hand fo our God; the commonest acts of life are full of deep interest, because their end is God; daily duties are daily joys, because they are something which God gives us to offer unto Him, to do to our very best, in acknowledgement of His love. It is His earth we walk on; His air, we breathe; His sun, the emblem of His all-penetrating love, which gladdens us. Eternity! Yes, that too is present to us, and is part of our joy on earth. God has given us faith to make our future home as certain to us, as this our spot of eath; and hope, to aspire strongly to it; and love, as a foretaste of the all surrounding ever-unfolding, Almighty love of our own God. " --E. B. PUSEY, Joy and Strength

Jasmine Green

~Honeyed and steaming~

Ice cold water and coconut milk come next and make a wonderfully fragrant and delicious drink all together. Katie is the jasmine green tea connoisseur, and she's taught me to love it, too! I make it up in the morning and sip it throughout the day. Yesterday the steam rising in the sunbeams caught my fancy, so I ran for the camera. I wasn't able to really catch the rolling steam and dancing light, but a shadowy lesser version still makes me smile.

Reading

:: Home Views through Katie's Lens ::

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New Place Blessings

Morning view out Ben's east window.
My sun glowy green bedroom. Still haven't hung pictures on the wall, but it feels like home anyway.

New living room curtains~sewn by that sweet ol' Katie. Colorful and luscious and sort of Moroccan Bazaar Comes to Small Town Minnesota. Makes me smile.


A dearly beloved book, revisited as the current read aloud. This story, and the telling of it is so very rich. I cry a lot as I read. Mostly for love of Corrie's father, the beauty of their home life, and the goodness of God amidst injustice and suffering. I'm thankful to be settled into our new home, and back to the morning routine, reading with Livi and Ben.

A Garland of Orange and Bay

Sweet daughter Kat sent a care package full of lovely things to eat and embelished with this seasonal decoration.

photo by Will

kitchen windows bright and clean~

Night Kitchen

Kitchen Colors

August Blessings

Grandbaby Josiah in Kat's arms

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photo by Olivia

July

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It speaks to me of summer heat
Of struggling grass and burning street

Of sweating drinks that cool my hand

When lemonade is in demand

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Though heat is more a friend than foe

It never our love for breeze will know

And oft in shade of trees we find

A rest for body and the mind

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Before the warmth had come to height

We raise the banner: blue, red, white

Then mix a dish to chill, and pack

The cookies for an evening snack

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We all arrive in festive air

The breeze caresses our damp hair

Up high in blue shines out a torch

And smiling on we cross the porch

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Activities throughout the day

Might possibly contain hose-spray

While over picnic bounty lingers

Playful feet and serving fingers

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On past this day my thoughts reach out

The fireworks gone--to days without

The noise of people, all I see

Is green beans being picked by me

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Then back to people--at the lake

And splashing water, eating steak

Build towers high from fresh wet sand

Then back in water, back to land

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I've left out lots of things, you know

Enjoy them all and learn and grow

In summer's heat and winter's chill

In flow'ry valley, sun-baked hill

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Learn: God, in all good things we see

Shows crazy love and so should we

And don't forget it's 'Only the

First sentence of eternity'

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~Olivia