Jehovah-Jireh

It has become something of a tradition to revisit this devotion I found several years ago in a flea market book, published at the turn of the last century.

Each year I read it with a fresh perspective and a deeper understanding. 

 

Jehovah-Jireh is a name of God first announced to Abraham after he had gone

out from his country and his family,  "not knowing where he was going".

 "Write deep in your heart this New Year's day

this word of sublime confidence, Jehovah-Jireh.

It tells you that you can trust God always;

that no promise of His ever fails;

that He doeth all things well;

 

that out of all seeming loss and destruction

of human hopes He brings blessing.

You have not passed this way heretofore.

There will be sorrows and joys, failures and successes,

this year, just as there were last year.

You cannot forecast individual experiences.

You cannot see a step before your feet.

Yet Jehovah-Jireh calls you to enter the new year

with calm trust.

 

It bids you put away all anxieties and forebodings ---

The Lord Will Provide."

May it help to bring comfort and hope, and the deep knowledge

 that all is well ~  if we will trust in Him.

Counting My Blessings

xo Susy

I'm joining Spiritual Sundays

Checkin' Out ~

The house is tidy, leftovers are in the cooler, my bag is packed with warm clothes, hiking boots, and good books.  I'm checked out from work for the rest of the week year.

Yup, I'm ready to go.  Giddyup!



Counting My Blessings

xo Susy

Mary Did You Know?

This antique print is one of my favorites.
Rather than hanging, it sits on a side board in my living room, year round.

As I recall it was a gift from my son.
It's tall, about 22 inches,
and is in a lovely gilded frame.

There is no visable attribution,
and I wasn't able to find anything
about it online.

You can't see her feet here,
but she's barefoot.

This beautiful rendition of Mary Did You Know

 by Ceelo Green

 is from the mini series The Bible,

 scheduled to debut in 2013.

I have enjoyed this Christmas season more

than any I can remember since I was a child.

Spending extra time with family, entertaining,

celebrating with friends ~ my cup is full.

Counting My Blessings

xo Susy

You can see other's favorite things at

 Claudia's @ Mockingbird Hill Cottage

A Favorite Thing 

and more inspiration at

Charlotte @ Spiritual Sundays

Spiritual Sundays 

Tick Tock

It's time once again for sweet Vee's once-a-month Note Card Party.  This is a fun meme where you select four pictures, previously posted, that you think would make nice note cards.

I like to keep to a theme for my cards, although Vee says that isn't necessary. She doesn't have a lot of rules.

This month I've chosen a CLOCK theme.

Like some of you, I have a several old clocks that you have to wind.  But I don't.  Which can be very confusing when you have to be somewhere.

This is an empty tall clock case that I added a clock face to.

You can read all about it at 

The Case of the Tall Clock
I liked this picture so much I added it to my sidebar >>>

and this is a broken but charming alarm clock that sits in an old buffet.

  Poor thing doesn't have a story (that I can remember).

and these two are cropped closeups

 from the wall clock above.

The 11th Hour

Cherub Pendulum

  They were used in one of my very favorites posts

What Time Is It? 

 based on Ecc. 3:1-8 

"to everything there is a season"

Although it was written two years ago,

it seems all the more appropriate today.

We have so much to be grateful for this holiday season
 and I do not take it for granted.

Abundant Blessings to you and yours.

Counting My Blessings

xo Susy

You can enjoy other Note Cards at

A Haven for Vee
there's still time!

Finding Our Way Home...

In the aftermath of Friday's tragedy, there has been the compelling pull toward family and friends; the desire to hug and say "I love you", to bridge gaps and reconnect and remain connected to all those I hold dear.  Happily, I spent the weekend with or talking to family. It was good medicine for us all.

A business contact shared these words from an unidentified source.  Perhaps you've heard them already; they were new to me and they resonated ~

 

 "The very brokenness, the lump, the silent inexpressible grief arising in our collective soul reminds us that we human beings long for something purer than the isolated selfish ways we normally live.  When pushed by calamity we want to live with our better selves… Let us hold each other up even as we weep.  Let us step out into the darkness, light a candle, say a prayer, forgive, reach out, put our children on the bus, and risk love.  We have no alternative.  There is no grand scheme; only small actions that light the path, dispel the darkness, and offer renewal."

 

Counting My Blessings,

xo Susy

It's Up to Us...

For some, the world has stopped.  For a community the processing of an unfathomable evil, that will shape their future, has just begun.

For the rest of us ~ we cry, we pray, we care from the bottom of our hearts.

I believe the tragedy of Newtown is a clarion call to the watchmen.  Be alert, be vigilant.  Pray for families, schools, churches, and your city.  Prayer walk your neighborhood and your school yards and set a hedge of protection around them.

Make Psalm 91 your address and your declaration.

Counting My Blessings

xo Susy

you can find Spiritual Sundays here

The Lord is close to the brokenhearted

and saves those who are crushed in spirit

Psalm 34:18

Lammiekins

Lammiekins is new to the Nativity this year.

He came all the way from Hopi House at the Grand Canyon to be a part of the team. 

The first day on the job this week was a little stressful.

There were already three little lambs on the set, and he felt a little out of place.  

They were lambs, he's a sheep.

 He was fuzzy ~ they weren't

His ears stuck up ~ their's didn't

But he did his very best to fit in.

He found his mark

and was verrrry still and quiet

Everyone thinks he did great

and I agree.  good job Lammiekins.
You're my favorite thing this week!

 bahhhh

Counting My Blessings,

xo Susy

I'm joining the flock over at Claudia's house.

Mockingbird Hill Cottage

 She has a new sheep too!

Footnoot:  Like many of you, I'm sure, I've cried and prayed today

 for the families, friends, school mates and staff
  that tragically lost their precious children today.

My heart goes out to all of them.

A Splash of Christmas

Who doesn't love bubble baths?

It's my favorite thing this week, and boy have I been getting some mileage out of this ol' tub.

Yesterday I spent several hours helping set up

 for our church's  Women's Christmas event. 

 At the end of the day,

a long soak was the perfect remedy for my aches and pains. 

 

I had fun recently, decorating the shelf that

hangs over the tub.

As I pulled out the decorations for the Christmas tree, 

I set aside a few things for the shelf.

I already have red walls, so it doesn't take much

to make it Christmas-y.

 (he looks unhappy)

my cute li'l Make A Wish snowman

this vase and flowers were already there,

all by their lonesome.  

I just added some artificial eucalyptus

(spell check please)

btw, everything is tacked down with 

Quakehold (**  this is California after all

I hope the season has been merry and bright for you so far!

Counting My Blessings

xo Susy

You can read more about my TUB LOVE here
and a gift-from-the-heart idea

I'm linking to

Debra @ Common Ground for

Vintage Inspiration Friday

Claudia @ Mockingbird Hill Cottage for

A Favorite Thing Saturday

December Blessings To You

I'm lovin' this picture.

We enjoyed a family dinner last night, Norman Rockwell style: twelve of us crowded around the dining room table to celebrate three birthdays.

 I broke out the fancy stuff.  Happily no one complained.

After everyone left Pizza Man put another log on the fire and I lingered in the living room with just the Christmas tree lights, the fire and Earl Grey.  Ahhhh.

I'm determine to make this a month of blessing by giving of my 

time, talents, and treasure.

Counting My Blessings,

xo Susy

Gratitude

As this month of thanksgiving and grateful hearts comes to a close,

I came across this video.

It's a breathtaking reminder that every day is

a gift for which we can be thankful.

Today is my favorite thing.

Counting My Blessings,

xo Susy

I'm joining 

Claudia at Mockingbird Hill Cottage

and Charlotte at Spiritual Sundays

APPLES B&B

We spent Thanksgiving in the local mountains at a B&B with family ~ and it was perfect.

Day temps were in the upper 50's, crisp and clear.  Nights dipped down into the 30's, but we were bundled up and comfy.

No snow.

 The Innkeeper makes a fabulous traditional Thanksgiving dinner for all the guests, 

and then matches it with a huge breakfast the next morning.

We learned our lesson last year,

and forced ourselves not to eat every single thing

on our plate!

 

The wooded grounds are rustic and chippy,

dotted with whimsy

 During the day the kids "tubed" down the mountain on 

 man-made snow.

Evenings were spent in the village

for the tree lighting and arrival of Santa on a sleigh,

 dinner out, a movie and a bit of shopping

our adorable nephews (10 and 7)

 (this little guy is never without a hat)

 even the pooches were in festive attire

It was a wonderful way to officially start 

the holiday season

Counting My Blessings,

xo Susy