Point of View

Have you ever wondered why tough times happen to devoted Christians?  I have, and I'm sure there are LOTS of reasons.  But one of them is discussed in a letter written by a man named James, who tradition says was the brother of Jesus.  He's explaining to fellow believers, among other things, why trials and temptations occur.  He said, "the testing of your faith produces patience".

In other words, patience is suppose to be the 'fruit' of our adversity.  And apparently, patience is so powerful it will cause us to be "perfect"(spiritually mature) and "complete" (lacking nothing, whole).

So what exactly is Patience? It's often translated endurance and perseverance. 

My favorite definition, however, is "a consistent response".  

When Jesus faced temptation, His 'consistent response' was "It is written".  He countered the devil's temptation in the wilderness with The Word of God.  I don't think we can do any better than to follow His example.  When tough times, difficult circumstances, or the devil himself comes a-knockin', respond with God's word, consistently. Regardless of what it looks like and regardless of how you feel.  And may I add, out loud.  (The devil's a lot of things, but he's not a mind-reader.)

Here's  how I summarize James 1:3

Testings come to find the Word of God operating in you.

Let God's word be a part of your inner make-up, fully functioning, and operating at full capacity.  When the tough times hit, answer back with your own faith-filled declaration:  It Is Written!

Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

Romans 10:17

Counting my Blessings,

Susy

I'm  joining Spiritual Sundays

Tub Love

There must be quite a few things a hot bath won't cure, but I don't know many of them ~  Sylvia Plath

When my husband and I decided to downsize several years ago, one of the things I wanted in the next house was a big, deep bathtub.  It was so high on my Wish List that my husband (who saw the house before I did) called me on his cell phone to say "I think I found your bathtub!"  Indeed he did.

Like many of you, the tub is my think tank and retreat.

I listen to music, read, light candles, snack, 

and fall asleep soak in the tub

  

But hard as I try, there's one thing I can't do ~ and that's
take a bath without bubbles.

  Impossible.

So ~  I always have a stash of bottles

and packets of fragrant potions standing ready.

Running out of bubble stuff would be like

running out creamer for my Earl Grey tea.

Whot!

The good news is I'm real easy to shop for (:

Speaking of presents, Valentine's Day is fast approaching
and I thought I'd share a fun gift idea with you.

  Last year my sis gave me a cute red rose bowl

with LOVE sparkled on it

  It was quickly assigned to the table next to the bath tub

and here's what I did ~

I emptied several packets of bath salts into the bowl,

 then sprinkled in some rose petals

Added an old berry spoon to the mix

And topped it with a lacy doily 

It's handy on a table right next to the tub
~ and it looks pretty

Don't you think that would make a great gift for a friend ~ or yourself!

My favorite bath products come from THYMES

Thymes was one of the few product lines I sold

  all the years (18) I had my gift store.

They may seem expensive, but they're excellent

quality and a little goes a long way.

They have many fragrances, and wonderful ingredients

My best seller was Goldleaf

Hard to describe the scent but, oh my, it's beautiful!

Did you know the proper way to test a room spray in the store
is to spritz into the cap.
very important trivia.  you're welcome (:

These are some bath make-overs from HGTV.com

I didn't find many I liked,

and the bathrooms were all huge.  

Not really how most of us live in my neck of the woods.

Is that a mantle?  Clever.

This one's fully outfitted.  Wow.

 

This is my favorite ~ I love the simple chest of drawers

Mine fits me to a T, and lucky me

I don't have to share it with anyone

Counting my Blessings,

Susy

This is my next project ~

Redecorating the shelf over the tub.

Any ideas?

I'm joining 

Pearls and Lace Thursday 

Vintage Inspiration Friday

Show and Tell Friday

Feathered Nest Friday 

Cozy Home Party

Tea and Mystery

"I do not like mugs," said Melrose.  "Indeed, I hate them.  Mugs suggest drinking while you're wandering around doing stuff; you should be sitting down over tea and certainly not doing anything else, except reading.  But definitely sitting down.  Like most other things," he added thoughtfully.
Jury shook his head.  "You've been too long in the Nitwits Club."

from The Winds of Change ~ A Richard Jury Mystery by Martha Grimes

My favorite leisure reading is a good mystery; but not too violent or graphic.  A writer friend of mine called her murder mysteries "gentle".

One thing that's not a mystery is that I have TOO MUCH STUFF!  Hard as I try, it seems to keep coming in the door faster than it goes out.  So I might as well let you enjoy it too, before I'm convinced I should open an Etsy shop!  Here's a wee bit of my favorite tea accoutrements collected over the years.

Two old English teapots, decorated with decals and hand painting.

This teapot, creamer and sugar were a gift from hubby.
Note the birds.   Good job honey!

New chintz I brought home when I closed my store

 An antique jam jar and a tiny French teapot

Tea-for-One and an old tea canister

A large English creamer and sugar

A hand painted tea strainer

A cluster-o-pots in the china cupboard

 A chippy Limoge chocolate pot and orphan cups

The tea tray that's always at-the-ready for my Monday night group
(no Nitwits allowed)

A few favorite biscuit barrels

A transferware tea cannister

Water Pitchers

A Nippon Tea Set

An old Japanese teapot 

One of many tea cups that no one EVer uses 

Unlike Mr. Melrose, they prefer mugs

And, finally,  a cutie from my breakfast room

  Seen enough for now?  Me too!

 

Thanks so much for dropping by ...

and please join the parties at

Vintage Inspiration Friday

Show and Tell Friday 

Feathered Nest Friday

Blessings,  Susy

Visit this print at my most popular post

 Our Girls