Walk in the Good Way

Thus says the LORD:
"Stand by the roads, and look,
and ask for the ancient paths,
where the good way is; and walk in it,
and find rest for your souls."
- Jeremiah 6:16

Everyone wants to find the "good way" to live, right?

The problem is that we humans usually look for it in the wrong place. We read the latest self-help books, try every fad diet that comes along, saturate ourselves in popular blogs, podcasts and online summits, keep up with the fashions, cook and brew like the pros on TV, remodel our homes ad infinitum, and maybe emulate our favorite celebrity as far as possible. We run ourselves ragged, and for what?

When asked, those who look like they "have it all" usually admit that they are still empty. Still chasing the wind... or worse yet, giving up and chosing to end their life.

So where do we find the good way? In the ancient paths of God's word. It takes standing still long enough to look and soak in the truth, asking God to lead the way. But the result is worth it... finding "rest for your souls."

Only, beware! To find this rest, we can't just see the truth and go our own way as in the remainder of the verse: "But they said, 'We will not walk in it.'"

We are told to stand, look, ask... and walk in it.

September Blossoms 2018

All but a few hardy roses have frozen by now, but just a week or two ago, we were still enjoying colorful blossoms, including a surprise when looking closely at a fragrant rose!

Clear as a Fog

"A constant straining to see what is coming next can be like pulling up roots to see what is growing. ...Were we doing what we had come for? Were we being prepared for something ahead? Were we teaching other people. ...Or were we learning more than we could in any course of study by listening? Could we tell just what point history itself had come to? Could we tell anything about the point we had arrived in our own history?

"Clear as a fog. We were sitting in a fog, needing once more to trust the Lord to take us safely to the next stepping stone.

"A day at a time, life was being lived; a day at a time, a work was in progress; a day at a time, a foundation was being laid in the area of ideas as well as attitudes and atmosphere. If anyone had asked us right then, "What have you come over here for? What are you preparing for in the future?" we would probably have said, "We are doing it."  

From The Tapestry by Edith Schaeffer

I was encouraged this week by Edith Schaeffer's perspective on the many days (and years) that look like our life and plans are "on hold" or losing their way. Chronic illness can be such a thick fog that one feels stuck, clinging to the same precarious stepping stone where you were when pain took over. The river is raging inches from your face while others are standing tall above the fog and passing you by. But you must stay until God clears the way for you.

As the days stretch into months and years you may start to ease out of the crisis mode that kept you simply holding on for dear life. You begin to raise your head and look around again. But there is still no strength to take the leap to the next stone - even if you could see it. 

What do you do then? 

Well... you live! You realize that this is life, right now - the life God has given you.

It can be tempting to focus on two extremes:
   -To think that this kind of life is useless and will never go anywhere
   -Or to wonder what "big task" you are being prepared for through this trial
But even such hopeful wondering can sometimes be a distraction from the importance of today. 

"...make it your ambition to lead a quiet life: You should mind your own business and work with your hands" 
- 1 Thessalonians 4:11 (NIV)

"This is the day that the LORD has made;
let us rejoice and be glad in it." 
- Psalm 118:24 (ESV)

Concord Raisins

Concord grapes have several distinct connections in my mind since childhood days. One is the pungent flavor of Welch's grape juice. A second is the spontaneous tour of a Welch's grape-grower's farm after starting to chat with him at a little farmer's market stand in the Pacific Northwest on a family camping trip in 1993. He even showed us the home-made grape harvester he invented.

I couldn't find any photos of that visit; they must be on Dad's slides. But here are glimpses from other stops on that trip (poor quality photos-of-photos):

At the end of an arduous hike near to the
rumbling crater of Mt. St. Helens

Sitting on log-covered Spirit Lake at the
foot of Mt. St. Helens

Crater Lake

Being dwarfed by the world's tallest known tree

But back to our grapes: the memory that still impacts us most today is bringing home a slip of live Concord vine from our local friends' arbor. (Thanks, Linda and family!!) 

See our bushy grape arbor at left

Despite frigid winters, that planting has flourished for more than two decades.  

Many are the pints of jelly and quarts of juice we have enjoyed in years past though more recently we have not been able to make use of the wealthy crop from our little arbor and have let the birds (or a neighbor) enjoy it.

But this is the second year I have made raisins. Last year's post showed the strange version that resulted from the dehydrator. 

This year I learned to set the oven at 180 degrees F. and slowly dry them for a couple days (turning off overnight), never stirring or turning the fragile grapes.

Several pints of raisins are now in the freezer to enjoy in cookies, cakes, scones, and smoothies.

"Let us fear the Lord our God, who gives the rain in its season,

    the autumn rain and the spring rain, and keeps for us
    the weeks appointed for the harvest."

Jeremiah 5:24 (ESV)

True Woman 2018 Conference Replay

We were recently blessed by the True Woman 2018 conference livestream and wanted to let you know how you can still get in on it! A free replay is available through Oct. 14th at this link: http://www.truewoman18.com/archives/

If you want to steer straight for certain speakers I have collected starting times from each session’s archived video (see list below). Otherwise you can watch straight through and enjoy all the backstage chats, extra interviews and panel discussions on-stage, and special times of worship with the Gettys and their band.

Keith And Kristyn Getty

SINGER & SONGWRITERS

The Gettys have created songs teaching Christian doctrine with traditional, classical, folk, and contemporary composition.

Meaningful skits were performed throughout by:

Acts Of Renewal

PLAYWRITERS & ACTORS

Jim and Carol Shores are professional actors, speakers, and writers who communicate about the transforming power of Jesus.

Thursday Night:

1:31:15 Skit: "Deceived"

1:48:34 Foundations – Truth or Consequences: Nancy DeMoss Wolgemuth, author and radio host

2:33:20 The Truth About God: Mary Kassian, author and speaker

3:04:45 The Truth About Ourselves: Jackie Hill Perry, writer and artist

Friday Morning:

1:06:27 The Truth About Sin: Mary Kassian

2:01:30 Skit: "Woman at the Well"

2:17:15 The Truth About Sexuality: Jackie Hill Perry

2:40 Gender Identity and Sexual Issues Today: Panel Discussion

Friday Afternoon:

1:04:30 Skit: Social Media

1:15:15 The Truth About Priorities, Betsy Gomez, blogger and speaker

2:21:30 The Truth About Marriage: Dannah Gresh, author and speaker

2:51:30 The Truth About Children: Robyn McKelvy, author and speaker

Friday Evening:

1:07:57 Jen's Story (watch on YouTube) and interview

1:23:10 Truth about Circumstances: Nancy DeMoss Wolgemuth

2:21:18 Skit: "Joan's Story"

2:37:40 The Truth that Sets Us Free: Dr. Eric Mason, author and pastor

Saturday Morning:

46:43 Skit: Seek Peace and Pursue It

1:11:54 The Truth about Emotions: Dannah Gresh

1:50:08 Your Word is Truth: Dr. Eric Mason

3:12:25 True Woman Manifesto

You can also still sign up for the
I Choose Truth challenge

by clicking here.

Pumpkin Spice Latte, Dairy-Free

With autumn in full swing, I have dug out wool socks, wool slippers, and a wool sweatshirt or shawl for daily use. The temps dipped into the 20's a couple nights ago but thankfully didn't turn all our plants to mush quite yet. Dad is trying to extend our season of eating fresh, homegrown greens by covering the fall crop of lettuce and spinach at night.

Meanwhile, my breakfasts are changing. For some reason, an icy smoothie is no longer appealing when I am already shivering in the morning. So I am working on tweaking a combination of recipes into a rich, dairy-free Pumpkin Spice Latte to have along with some fruit, pancakes, or leftovers of yesterday's meals.

Pumpkin Spice Latte

2 servings (in my opinion!)

Brew 1 cup of coffee, strong.

Meanwhile, heat on the stove:

1 cup full-fat coconut milk

1/3 cup canned (or roasted/frozen) pumpkin

2 Tbsp coconut oil or MCT oil

(optional) 1-2 tsp ghee or butter

1/8 tsp salt

1/8 tsp ground nutmeg

1/8 tsp ground ginger

1/8 tsp ground cloves

3/4 tsp cinnamon

1/4 tsp vanilla extract

Once heated, blend together with coffee until smooth.
Share half with a loved one or freeze it for later.

Pour into your favorite mug, and enjoy!

I Choose Truth

After attending much of 

the TrueWoman'18 conference 

by live-stream 

(more about that soon), 

I signed up for the 

Revive Our Hearts

 I Choose Truth Challenge! 

Will you join me?!
Sign up by October 2nd 

by clicking here.