Sunday Reflections

The Lord upholds all who are falling, and raises up all who are bowed down.

Psalm 145:14  

 O Lord Thou knowest how busy I must be this day: if I forget thee, do not thou forget me.

                                                                                                                  Sir Jacob Astley                                                        

This prayer above was uttered by a soldier before a battle in the English Civil War.  Some of our days can be like a series of little wars on many fronts. It is so easy to be consumed by them,

by the energy and attention they require.

If we forget God in the heat of battle,  he does not forget us. And when we remember

him and our need for him, he is just as near as he was the last time we were

fully aware of his presence.


Link to Spiritual Sundays with Charlotte and Ginger for uplifting posts.

A red tour

I am so ready for spring! Today I was looking around the house and planning in my mind all of the changes I want to do when spring arrives. This prompted me do take a good hard look at my snowmen and wintery (is that a word) decorations.

I thought I would share some of my reds and thrifty finds I have found this year. Most of them will be packed away after Valentines day to rest until next winter.

I found this little red cannister at Hobby Lobby after Christmas. It was on the 66% off sales table. I just love the little Cardinal.

I found these vintage red place mats at an estate sale. I put them on the small kitchen table to enjoy until after Valentines Day. I need to add some hearts or something. I don't do a lot of decorating for Valentines day. I don't want to send the wrong message..... you see I'm all about eating out not cooking!

Some more red on my favorite tray which was a Goodwill find...

a little snowman on the shelf...

Meet my little snow family lamp. It sits on the counter to bring some light in the long 

winter nights.

and finally, these little snow people stand in the foyer waiting to welcome company, visitors.

(does anyone besides us southeners still call visitors company? )

I found them at the Home Goods store last year for 1/2 price.

They are as big as  kindergartners and the grand babies love them.

Thanks for dropping by and y'all come back.

I'm joining:

Rednesday

Vintage Thingie Thursday

Thrifty Thursday

Junkin Friday

Sunday Reflections

Flickr-hlkljgk's photos

Depart from evil and do good;seek peace, and pursue it.

Psalm 34:14

Help me dear Lord, to seek peace.  That might mean I have to back down from an argument. It might mean I don't get my way.  It might mean I don't get in the last word.  It might mean I don't have to be right all of the time.  I don't have to win.  Help me to put aside my selfish goals and to consider the needs of others. 

Give me a sense of what You want in every situation.

Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.

Matthew 5:9

Linking to Spiritual Sundays  - Drop by for lots of inspiring posts.

O is for the Ocean

Made a quick trip to the coast.  It's so nice after seeing all of the snow back home.  It's wonderful here that the ocean never changes.  Standing here in the sun looking at the surf one would think it is a                      warm summers' day.

The temperature is 48 so I  won't be staying out here very long.

Oh well, that is fine by me. The main purpose of the trip was to take down Christmas decorations at the condo and do some organizing.

 Yes, the decorations are still up. But  I will do a better job if the weather is

 not warm. I have nooo will power when it comes to work time or beach time.

Thanks for stopping by. I hope y'all are doing well. I plan to do a  lot   a little bit of organizing and a
lot of blog reading the next few days. Please join me at
Alphabet-Thursday for a fun time!

Sunday Reflections

I will lie down and sleep in peace;

for you alone, O Lord, make me lie down in safety.

Psalm 4:8

Now I lay me down to sleep.

I pray the Lord my soul to keep.

Peace and safety 'til I wake,

This I pray for Jesus' sake. Amen.

This childhood prayer calls me back to a childlike faith that can set aside the events of the day and embrace a restful night of sleep. Tonight when I lie down to sleep I will remind myself to leave my cares with God and to welcome the peace and safety he offers both day and night.

If I carry my cares and worries with me and never lay them down, even to sleep, I will become less and less able to meet the challenges they represent. Worry is a form of self-destruction, while faith is a means of daily renewal.

This post is linked with Spiritual Sundays

N is for New home for a little rocker

While thrifting this fall at one of my favorite little antique malls I came across this cute little rocker.
It had lots of scratches and the paint on the back had to go but I knew what I wanted to do with it.
And besides, it looked like it needed a new home.

First it had to be sanded down. The painting on the back was very resistant but it finally came off.

Then it got several coats of white paint.

Next I made a little lavender gingham check cushion with lots of ruffles.

Finally, it was ready for its' new home but it had to wait until Christmas.


It would be one of the surprises for Grandbaby #2

It fit her perfectly!

The little rocker now has a new home where it get lots of love and attention everyday.

Thanks for visiting and y'all come back!

Linking this post to Alphabe-Thursday  

                              Vintage Thingey Thursday 

                              Junkin Finds 

That white stuff is back...

We got more snow here in S.C. While I love it, Skipper is not impressed. It is all over his yard again!

Took a short walk to the river and

down the streets in our neighborhood. No one is going anywhere anytime soon. 

In the south,

when it snows everything shuts down!

Thanks for visiting. I'll be right here so ya'll come on back.

 Linking to Outdoor Wednesday at A Southern Daydreamer  and Watery Wednesday

 Drop by for lots of fun shots.

Priorities

As I packed up the final box of Christmas decoration today I felt a little blue. All of my decoration was packed up a week ago except for one tree. I do this every year. I hold on to one tree telling myself I just want to enjoy the lights a little longer.

With the decorations all up I am forced to look ahead and plan for the new year. I don't make resolutions... gave up on them years ago.When I think of the new year and my priorities  I am always reminded of the past year and always a little disappointed with what I have accomplished. My intentions were good but somehow I always get side tracked. It saddens me to think I have not made the most of every opportunity.

I know that God won't settle for second place. Anything that pushes him out of first place actually  becomes an idol. Satan has a way of squeezing little things into life that demands attention. The easiest thing in the world is to drift through life in a vague, thoughtless manner.

God says there's a better way. Ephesians 5:15-17

Look carefully then how you walk. Live purposefully and worthily and accurately, not as the unwise and witless, but as wise-sensible, intelligent people; Making the very most of the time, buying up each opportunity- because the days are evil.
Therefore do not be vague and thoughtless and foolish but understanding and firmly grasping what the will of the Lord is (Amplified Bible)

My prayer is to live this year purposefully and firmly grasping the will of the Lord.

Linking to Spiritual Sundays  Drop by for many uplifting posts or to add a post.

Missing luggage

Today we enjoyed one of life's simple pleasures, retrieving missing luggage. More specifically,                         Mr.Vintagesoutherns' luggage.
The good news is,  his luggage made it to Israel. The bad news is, he didn't!

Mr. Vintage left for a 10 day tour of the Holy land last week with the church group. He made it as far as the airport in Newark and got snowed in. Unfortunately this was his view for the next  two days.

After boarding two planes, mechanical failure, de-icing problems ( the truck caught fire), the first plane getting stuck in the snow after being grounded and having to be towed and sleeping on the airport floor, two days later they tried again.

Because of major overbooking and airport closures, they were not able to accommodate all of the group. They had decided the venture would be all or none so once again they exited another plane.No flights were available to get them anywhere near home so the boarded a Trailways for a sixteen hour ride.

The group returned home very positive... tired but positive. It was a trip that for some reason was not meant to be. I'm sure they will make plans to go again later.

The luggage arrived today after quite an adventure. Too bad no one was available to add souvenirs to it along its unscheduled route.
I better go, need to get Mr. Vintage some medicine, the only thing he brought back was a cold.

Have a good week and y'all come back!

Linking to Simple Pleasures  and   Alphabe-Thursday