Sabbath Music - Enemies Scatter

  

It's preparation day as I write this post.  I'm getting ready for our Erev Shabbat service tonight, and a day of rest tomorrow...looking forward to time with Hashem to be still, worship, study His Word, and time to listen to His voice.

This week has brought news of devious plots against our country.  I'm talking about the memo detailing subversive actions against our current president.  This information will shake the nation.  My prayer is for hidden things to be revealed.  I pray for protection for our president and his family.  I pray for the enemies of America to be avenged.  Vengeance is G-d's and it's Biblical to pray this prayer.

"For we know the One who said, “Vengeance is Mine; I will repay,” and again, “Adonai will judge His people.” (Heb 10:30)

This song has been on my mind and relates to what's happening in our country:   Enemies Scatter by Sue Samuel.  I hope you all will join me in praying for America.  Pray for President Trump and all of our leaders to be led in the path of "righteousness and justice."

Good Shabbos to you, Gail-Friends
~~~
I sometimes share my posts with these friends:
  Spiritual Sundays  GRAND Social      Modest Mom Monday Link-up      The Art of Homemaking Mondays
   BLOGGING GRANDMOTHERS LINK PARTY     Share Your Cup Wednesday Wordless Wednesdays    Classical Homemaking Link-Up     
    Favorite Things Home and Garden Thursday at Delightsome Life  Paula's Weekend No Rules Blog Party Friendship Friday 
Sunday Thoughts Link-Up
 OVER THE MOON LINKY PARTY!

Thankful Thursday - How Sweet It Is

The day I became GiGi (a grandmother)

And here he is today - a source of constant love and JOY . . . and laughter!  We are so thankful for him.

Do you remember the saying, "How Sweet It Is"?  It was spoken by tv host, Jackie Gleason, on his weekly show back in the 1950's.  Well, that's how I feel about being a grandmother.  I love it!  I thank G-d every day for my husband, children, their husbands, and our grandson.  We are so blessed.

Father and son warming up by the fire dvd, which we've used a lot this winter.

So thankful that we got to spend some time with dear friends this week.  How sweet it was!

The restaurant where we ate is on the water, and I got to take some good photos of birds -- I'm always thankful for that

This sign was in a park near the restaurant.  Don't you love it?

How sweet it is to be able to have fresh flowers all year 'round.  They make me feel so rich.  But, hey, I am rich!!!  I can buy a $4.00 bouquet that lasts for two or more weeks at our local Winn Dixie or Publix grocery. (Aldi and Walmart flowers don't last as well.) Here are a couple of bouquets I've made lately.  

A bunch of carnations was only $4.00

A mixed bouquet with three roses was only $4.00, too.

I want to share a little trick I use with fresh flowers to make a fuller bouquet:  I use artificial baby's breath.  That way, I can use it over and over again. I buy a bunch at Walmart for about $3.00.  I cut one bunch down to fit the small containers.  It makes me so happy to save money!! 

~~~
I sometimes share my posts with these friends:
  Spiritual Sundays  GRAND Social      Modest Mom Monday Link-up      The Art of Homemaking Mondays
   BLOGGING GRANDMOTHERS LINK PARTY     Share Your Cup Wednesday Wordless Wednesdays    Classical Homemaking Link-Up     
    Favorite Things Home and Garden Thursday at Delightsome Life  Paula's Weekend No Rules Blog Party Friendship Friday 
Sunday Thoughts Link-Up
 OVER THE MOON LINKY PARTY!

Sabbath Music - Sabbath Song

Shabbat Shalom to you, dear Gail-Friends.  I pray you are preparing for the blessed, set-apart day ahead.  It will be a wonderful one for us because we'll get to visit with some dear friends who are in town.  I'm looking forward to seeing them at our Erev-Shabbat service tonight.

I love this song by Zemer Levav, because it describes the Sabbath.  The lyrics are included in the video, so sing along and be blessed.  Sabbath Song by Zemer Levav.

Blessings to you all.
~~~
I sometimes share my posts with these friends:
  Spiritual Sundays  GRAND Social      Modest Mom Monday Link-up      The Art of Homemaking Mondays
   BLOGGING GRANDMOTHERS LINK PARTY     Share Your Cup Wednesday Wordless Wednesdays    Classical Homemaking Link-Up     
    Favorite Things Home and Garden Thursday at Delightsome Life  Paula's Weekend No Rules Blog Party Friendship Friday 
Sunday Thoughts Link-Up
 OVER THE MOON LINKY PARTY!

Thankful Thursday - A Pro-Life President

I took this photo last week while attending a meeting at a local Catholic Church.  That memorial says it all:  All life is sacred.

Today, as I watched the March For Life in Washington, DC, I'm so very thankful that President Trump is standing on the side of life. He is the first president to ever speak at this rally.  I hope you will listen to the speech on YouTube to learn of the efforts he has taken to promote an anti-abortion agenda and religious liberty in our country.   Trump's Ten Minute Speech 

The theme of the march is LOVE SAVES LIVES.  How perfect is that?  Oh, how I weep for the children who never saw the sun, and for the girls and women who killed their babies because they were told "it" was just a clump of cells.  I weep because they did not know how it would affect their lives mentally and spiritually for the rest of their lives.

photo -  Little Birdie Blessings

Last week, I came across a diabolical group of women called Grandmothers for Abortion.  Can you imagine that, Gail-Friends?  Women who would want their grandchildren to be murdered . . . doesn't that give you chills?  They even have t-shirts!  Make no mistake, my friends, because I tell you the truth:  any grandmother who gives money to kill her grandchild is just as responsible for the murder as the mother who kills her child.  If you've done that, please repent and tell your daughter to repent, because the Bible says unrepentant murderers will not be in heaven.  Forgiveness is given for the truly repentant, so humbly ask Him before it's too late.  There is hope, as you can see in this passage of Scripture:
¹⁴ How blessed are those who wash their robes, so that they have the right to eat from the Tree of Life and go through the gates into the city! ¹⁵ Outside are the homosexuals, those involved with the occult and with drugs, the sexually immoral, murderers, idol-worshippers, and everyone who loves and practices falsehood. ¹⁶ “I, Yeshua, have sent my angel to give you this testimony for the Messianic communities. I am the Root and Offspring of David, the bright Morning Star. ¹⁷ The Spirit and the Bride say, ‘Come!’ Let anyone who hears say, ‘Come!’ And let anyone who is thirsty come — let anyone who wishes, take the water of life free of charge.” (Revelation 22:14 - 18)


God bless President Trump, Vice President Pence, and the pro-life members of Congress for all they are doing to end the murder of pre-born children.  I hope you'll listen to the entire rally (available on YouTube) because the speakers are so inspiring.  Their beautiful stories tell of God's working in the world today.  Tim Tebow's mother's story was just amazing.  Multiplied millions of children have been murdered since Roe v Wade was passed, and I pray for that demonic, murdering spirit to be defeated in my lifetime.


~~~
I sometimes share my posts with these friends:
  Spiritual Sundays  GRAND Social      Modest Mom Monday Link-up      The Art of Homemaking Mondays
   BLOGGING GRANDMOTHERS LINK PARTY     Share Your Cup Wednesday Wordless Wednesdays    Classical Homemaking Link-Up     
    Favorite Things Home and Garden Thursday at Delightsome Life  Paula's Weekend No Rules Blog Party Friendship Friday 
Sunday Thoughts Link-Up
 OVER THE MOON LINKY PARTY!

Sabbath Music - Even There

Time to slow down. . . rest . . . refresh . . . renew . . . and worship.  Think about this, dear Gail-Friends:   Our Heavenly Father loves us and is constantly thinking of us.

Today's Sabbath music  is perfect for all of that.

Zemer Levav's song Even There leads me into the joy of sitting at His feet and receiving strength for the week ahead. The song is based on Psalm 139, a wonderful meditation on Shabbat.  This psalm gives me holy bumps (chills) when I read and meditate on it.  I glory in and thank Him for His love and care. 

How Precious Your Thoughts!

Psalm 139

Tree of Life Version (TLV) 

For the music director: a psalm of David.
Adonai, You searched me and know me.
² Whenever I sit down or stand up, You know it.
You discern my thinking from afar.
³ You observe my journeying and my resting
and You are familiar with all my ways.
⁴ Even before a word is on my tongue,
behold, Adonai, You know all about it.
⁵ You hemmed me in behind and before,
and laid Your hand upon me.
⁶ Such knowledge is too wonderful for me,
too lofty for me to attain.
⁷ Where can I go from Your Ruach?
Where can I flee from Your presence?
⁸ If I go up to heaven, You are there,
and if I make my bed in Sheol,
look, You are there too.
⁹ If I take the wings of the dawn
and settle on the other side of the sea,
¹⁰ even there Your hand will lead me,
and Your right hand will lay hold of me.
¹¹ If I say: “Surely darkness covers me,
night keeps light at a distance from me,”
¹² even darkness is not dark for You,
    and night is as bright as day—
    darkness and light are alike.
¹³ For You have created my conscience.
You knit me together in my mother’s womb.
¹⁴ I praise You, for I am awesomely, wonderfully made!
Wonderful are Your works—
and my soul knows that very well.
¹⁵ My frame was not hidden from You
when I was made in the secret place,
when I was woven together in the depths of the earth.
¹⁶ Your eyes saw me when I was unformed,
and in Your book were written the days that were formed—
when not one of them had come to be.
¹⁷ How precious are Your thoughts, O God!
How great is the sum of them!
¹⁸ Were I to count them,
they would outnumber the grains of sand!
When I awake, I am still with You.

¹⁹ If only You would slay the wicked, O God!
Away from me, you bloody men!
²⁰ For they speak about You with wicked intent.
Your enemies reproach You in vain.
²¹ Do I not hate those who hate You, Adonai?
Do I not loathe those who rise against You?
²² I hate them with total hatred—
I consider them my enemies.

²³ Search me, O God, and know my heart.
Examine me, and know my anxious thoughts,
²⁴ and see if there be any offensive way within me,
and lead me in the way everlasting.

Good Shabbos to you, Gail-Friends.

~~~
I sometimes share my posts with these friends:
  Spiritual Sundays  GRAND Social      Modest Mom Monday Link-up      The Art of Homemaking Mondays
   BLOGGING GRANDMOTHERS LINK PARTY     Share Your Cup Wednesday Wordless Wednesdays    Classical Homemaking Link-Up     
    Favorite Things Home and Garden Thursday at Delightsome Life  Paula's Weekend No Rules Blog Party Friendship Friday 
Sunday Thoughts Link-Up

Thankful Thursday - A Mother's Prayers

Do you have a mother who prays for you?  Then you have a gift that is more valuable than anything money can buy.  I'm so thankful that my daughters ask me to pray for them.  They know it will happen because I'll do it right then.

This framed picture sits near where I pray.  I look at it to reinforce how powerful prayer is.  If you look closely, you can see the spiritual warfare going on in the images outside the window.  Not sure you can see it clearly, but it of a dark figure fighting against a white figure.  You can also see the cross in the panes of the glass.  This reminds me of the power of the blood and name of Yeshua when I call on Him.

I've been keeping a prayer journal for my children for almost fifty years.  I love going back and reading the many, many prayers that have been answered.  The two most important ones were for them to be conceived and "born," since I miscarried my first child.  I prayed for four years to conceive my first daughter, and then six years for my second.  

I prayed for their future husbands while they were little girls.  G-d answered those prayers by giving them wonderful men.  Those two fine men are a part of my daily prayers, too.  

I'm thankful, too, for those who've prayed for me.  The praying mothers and grandmothers in my past have brought me uncountable blessings I know.  I've felt those prayers many times.

This song crossed my path recently, and I hope you will listen, and follow the words.  If you have a mother or grandmother who prays, don't take them for granted.  They are doing spiritual warfare for you, my friends.  One day, the mothers and grandmothers in your life will pass on, and you'll feel the void.  Cherish them while you can.

A Mother's Prayers by Ralph Stanley 

Momma would pray, at night by her bedside.

She'd call out to Jesus, in a voice so sincere:

Watch over my children, and show them your mercy 

Don't let 'em be alone, in this old world down here 

Chorus: A mother's prayer, more precious than diamonds 

A mother's prayer, more precious than gold 

There's nothing on earth that could compare,

 I can still see her kneeling there 

Thank God for the power, of a mother's prayer 

With tears in my eyes, in the darkest of hours,

 I cried alone, don't take her from me.

Then she took my hand, said, son I'm ready

 Said the sweetest prayer, then she went off to sleep

 Repeat Chorus:

Then I had a dream, I stood before Jesus.

Saw the Book of Life, and my name was in there.

Lord, Ive done so much wrong, and I don't deserve mercy 

He said, there's something about, your mother's prayer

Repeat Chorus

You may be blessed by this post about prayer and motherhood:  Mother Crying Over the World

~~~

Do you have a prayer warrior in your life?  Do you keep a prayer journal for your children and grandchildren?  I'd love to hear about it in the comments.

~~~
I sometimes share my posts with these friends:
  Spiritual Sundays  GRAND Social      Modest Mom Monday Link-up      The Art of Homemaking Mondays
   BLOGGING GRANDMOTHERS LINK PARTY     Share Your Cup Wednesday Wordless Wednesdays    Classical Homemaking Link-Up     
    Favorite Things Home and Garden Thursday at Delightsome Life  Paula's Weekend No Rules Blog Party Friendship Friday 
Sunday Thoughts Link-Up
 OVER THE MOON LINKY PARTY!

Sabbath Music - I Believe In You

Greetings Gail-Friends!

This week, I watched a show called the Transatlantic Sessions on NetFlix (I think).  I was intrigued by Allison Kraus' rendition of  I Believe in You.  I looked up the song on YouTube, found the lyrics, and was deeply touched by them.  It's a beautiful worship song, perfect for Shabbat.  I want to share two versions of the song with you today, and tell you a little bit about the songwriter. Here is the first version:  I Believe in You by Allison Krauss

Isn't her voice like a pure, softly ringing bell?  I never tire of listening to her music.  As I listened to the song, at first I thought it was just a sweet love song, but then the words caught my attention. When I looked it up on YouTube, I ran into this:  I Believe In You by Bob Dylan

Quite a difference, right?  But when you listen to Dylan's version, can't you hear the deep emotion?  It touched me even more when I realized he was the writer of the song.  Bob Dylan is Jewish, and accepted Yeshua as his Messiah.  This song was written back in the 1970's when he became a believer.
 
I've been a fan of Dylan since the 1960's.  While everybody else in my peer group was listening to the Beatles and Rolling Stones, I was buying Dylan's records.  Everything about his music touched me, the themes, the rhythms, but most of all his poetry.  I think that is what grabbed me about the song, I Believe In You.  I thought, this isn't a love song.  This is a worship song.  This is a gut-level call out to G-d.  That's why I had to find out more about it.  Here are the lyrics:

They ask me how I feel

And if my love is real 

And how I know I’ll make it through

And they, they look at me and frown 

They’d like to drive me from this town 

They don’t want me around 

’Cause I believe in you

They show me to the door 

They say don’t come back no more

 ’Cause I don’t be like they’d like me to

 And I walk out on my own

 A thousand miles from home 

But I don’t feel alone 

’Cause I believe in you

 I believe in you even through the tears and the laughter

 I believe in you even though we be apart

 I believe in you even on the morning after 

Oh, when the dawn is nearing 

Oh, when the night is disappearing 

Oh, this feeling is still here in my heart 

Don’t let me drift too far 

Keep me where you are 

Where I will always be renewed 

And that which you’ve given me today

Is worth more than I could pay 

And no matter what they say

I believe in you 

I believe in you when winter turn to summer

I believe in you when white turns to black

I believe in you even though I be outnumbered 

Oh, though the earth may shake me 

Oh, though my friends forsake me

Oh, even that couldn’t make me go back

Don’t let me change my heart 

Keep me set apart 

From all the plans they do pursue 

And I, I don’t mind the pain 

Don’t mind the driving rain

I know I will sustain

'Cause I believe in you

I'd never heard the song because it came out in the 70's, while I was having babies and listening to other types of music.  I'm so glad I found it, though, because I love listening to it.  It's full of faith, desire, and hope.  I love that.

I also learned that Bob Dylan was awarded the Noble Prize for Literature in 2015,"for having created new poetic expressions within the great American song tradition."  Here are some other articles I found interesting.  Dylan has always marched to the beat of a different drummer. 

 https://www.nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/literature/laureates/2016/dylan-lecture.html

  https://www.theguardian.com/music/2017/apr/02/bob-dylan-finally-accepts-nobel-prize-in-literature-at-private-ceremony-in-stockholm

 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bob_Dylan

Shabbat Shalom Gail-Friends, and may your Sabbath be filled with worship, rest, and JOY!

~~~
I sometimes share my posts with these friends:
  Spiritual Sundays  GRAND Social      Modest Mom Monday Link-up      The Art of Homemaking Mondays
   BLOGGING GRANDMOTHERS LINK PARTY     Share Your Cup Wednesday Wordless Wednesdays    Classical Homemaking Link-Up     
    Favorite Things Home and Garden Thursday at Delightsome Life  Paula's Weekend No Rules Blog Party Friendship Friday 
Sunday Thoughts Link-Up

Thankful Thursday - The Beauty of Home

Greetings, Gail-Friends, and Happy New Year!  This week, I've been reflecting on the beauty of home.  Not just my own little cottage, but the concept of home.  I've turned into a real home-body in the last few years because I just love being at home.  This quote caught my heart this week:

"I wonder if it will be—can be—any more beautiful than this,’
murmured Anne, looking around her
with the loving, enraptured eyes of those to whom
 ‘home’ must always be the loveliest spot in the world,
no matter what fairer lands may lie under alien stars.”

~L.M. Montgomery, Anne of the Island

A friend has this quotation in her home, and I think it expresses what I desire for my home.  To me, a beautiful home is not that it is filled with expensive decor or kept perfectly clean and tidy like a mazine phot.  The atmosphere of a home makes it beautiful.

Golden Cottage is a place filled with faith and with peace. It reflects the philosophy of our lives.  This grouping speaks of my love of music, birds, and faith.  The framed piece says, "All Is Well."  The key reminds me that we have the Keys to G-d's Kingdom.

My daughter gave me this ceramic dish, and I love it so much.  It reminds me to have open hands, not only to give, but also to receive.  I want to remember to give to others and to give my cares to G-d.  I want to be reminded also to receive from others and from G-d.  To accept and receive both the good and the bad.  I've learned that hard things draw me closer to Him and teach me lessons to share with others.  The key is another reminder to share and use the Keys of His Kingdom.

Here's another grouping on the living room wall that speaks of the atmosphere of our home.

I made this chalkboard reminder a few years back.  It reminds me of my word for the year.  That year, it was Listen.  Then in 2017, it was Words.  I haven't determined my word for 2018, but I'm praying about it.

By now, I guess you can tell that I like gold and white.  I've had this color scheme for fourteen years and I've never tired of it.  I read somewhere that people who decorate with white have a desire for peace.  Well, there ya go!  That's me.

Our back porch is probably my favorite part of Golden Cottage.  It's where I have my morning quiet time.  The porch has a view of Golden Pond and my bird feeders and bird baths.  My sweet husband built the pond just for me, and I call it my little bit of paradise.

Here, I read, write, paint, listen to music, watch birds, talk to my Heavenly Father, and listen to His tender, sweet voice. 

 

The porch is also my artist studio. You can see more about it HERE.

Our home is a place of peace, rest, love and JOY.  Gratitude for our humble, little Golden Cottage fills my heart every day. 

What are you grateful for about your home?  What makes it beautiful?

Blessings to you, Gail-Friends.

~~~
I sometimes share my posts with these friends:
  Spiritual Sundays  GRAND Social      Modest Mom Monday Link-up      The Art of Homemaking Mondays
   BLOGGING GRANDMOTHERS LINK PARTY     Share Your Cup Wednesday Wordless Wednesdays    Classical Homemaking Link-Up     
    Favorite Things Home and Garden Thursday at Delightsome Life  Paula's Weekend No Rules Blog Party Friendship Friday 
Sunday Thoughts Link-Up