"Come Watch Me Ride My Bike!" And Other Calamities

Little sisters. Little brothers. Most people (probably all of us)  would, most likely, plaster the label "annoying" smartly in the middle of them and sigh in frustration. "Just a little girl who messes up the room and jumps on the bed and gets into my closet and ruins my clothes and tags along and...and..."...But as Believers, we're supposed to be different.

I think, many times, selfishness is the foundation of our label (the one we stick on siblings.) Indeed, the very glue that sticks it onto that stained, muddy shirt is the same stuff that envelops us in a cushy bubble and protects our ideas, physical beings and agendas.

Why didn't we kindly overlook when "he" tracked mud over the floor that we've swept, when he's too little to know any better? Why, even when he did know better, did we fly off the handle because he did "such-and-such" when we remember that the Bible says to "Do unto others" and "Love thy neighbor as thyself?"

Why do we give free reign to the anger that screams retribution when Jesus said to turn the other cheek?

The reason, a lot of the time, is that we don't want to.

Ever heard the saying "Where there's a will there's a way"? I don't think that, at least, in most situations, God just waves a magic wand over us and cries " (Enter Name Here), thou shall never again be bothered by your brother's (sister's) unkind remarks. I do here and now turn you into a little angel who cares not what others do to her."

Remember the verse about the man who kept his tongue (or spirit)? The Bible said he was greater than someone who took a city. Does that make you think that God waved a magic wand over him? No. This man had to fight.

It's not God's fault for not making us perfect with a wave of his hand. Sometimes, it's our fault for not trying. (Though I don't say that you have to try all by yourself. God does help us mightily in these things.)

I have heard complaints, as I tried to smooth a situation while someone exclaimed vehemently over a sibling's actions."Yes, but it's so hard. She does this all the time." Blaming the situation for her own defeat.

You are more than a conqueror. If you are a Born-Again Christian, why do you choose to bow in defeat?

Fight. Fight with prayer. Fight with thanksgiving, knowing that "Greater is He that is in me than he that is in the world." Strive for peace, turning the other cheek, bearing the unfair, letting go of your rights. If someone hadn't done it for you 2000 years ago, where would you be?

"...We don't wrestle flesh and blood
But the principalities of the dark.
We too are marching to one beat
Crushing the enemy under our feet
We are mighty in our stand
With God's word in our hand.
Onward Christian soldiers...."

In this day and age, churches, denominations, groups and families fuss and fight and split. Let's set an example in our families that tells our neighborhoods, our siblings, our grandparents, the whole world, maybe, that we're real Christians who love one another as Jesus said to. Let's give a testimony of God's love. Let's not be hypocrites.

"Hereby do men know that ye are my disciples; if ye love one another." (I'm paraphrasing.) If we want people to be see the truth and be saved, let's show them that there "Is a balm in Gilead and, what's more, I know how you can get it!" If you've got the goods behind your verbal testimony, don't you think they'd be more willing to hear?

Be an overcomer. Be the brother or sister that Jesus wants you to be. It's bigger than just "being nice."

An Answer.

I've thought about that verse in the Bible that says to have an answer for those who ask about the "Hope that lies within you" and wondered how I would word my answer when somebody finally asked me what I believed.

Would I be stumped by a question? Would  I only be able to say "Brother Branham said we believe it this way because..." and not know where the reason behind the belief is in the Bible? (Whoever I might be talking to probably wouldn't know Brother Branham.)


 It is our duty to search the scriptures about what we believe and know where things are found.

I think many (myself included) these days don't search the scriptures or listen to the messages enough. We might  read, asking the Lord to speak to us, pray, and ,occasionally, listen to a recorded message, but we don't seek out the "whys" from God.

I didn't think much about it, but it's so important. There are more good reasons for knowing these things than only knowing how to witness. For one: when someone tries to explain why your beliefs are wrong, what is going to hold you to the truth? Will you be stuck with "Brother Branham said" as you confusedly listen to a person who seems to have a scripture for all of their beliefs,  or will you be able to stand firmly on the word of God with serenity, knowing exactly why you believe what you do and that you have "Thus saith the Lord?"

Be sincere. Ask Him to show you. Ask Him to guide you every day. Ask Him to help you be ready.

We are ambassadors for God, shouldn't we know how to represent our heavenly kingdom?

The Joyfully Gardening's Garden So Far - A Belated Post

I'm a "lucky" girl. Y'all. Know why? Because....

My Mumsie is letting me be in charge of the garden this year!!!!!!! (Upon my request. She isn't forcing me. Just a note on her behalf.)

So, I ordered the seeds that I needed (after finding out which ones we didn't already have in the basement) and planned where I would put what out in the garden. (But I'm going to have to re-do it, since we planted a few extra things upon the desire of my mumsie.) 

Tip: Refer to  the book "Carrots Love Tomatoes" if you ever want to plan your own garden. Companion planting is a smart idea, in my opinion.

I also looked on the Farmers' Almanac to see what days were good for planting, and then PLANTED. 

I used these pellets to plant the seeds in first.

Planting tip: Wetteth the point of thine pencil and sticketh it in thy seed containereth instead of groping aroundest with thy fingernails, trying to fish out "two" teensy little black doteths. The seeds sticketh to wet wood. 

This is how the Pyatskowits (Joel Pyatskowit's, anyway) start seeds in Wisconsin! (Florescent lights, hung a few inches over the tray of labeled plants to give extra light, heating pads underneath some of the trays to give extra heat, and (in the left, bottom corner) a space heater to keep our little "greenhouse" (in the garage) warm.) 

Every morning I go out and turn the heater off, the lights on and water whatever needs it. In the evening, I turn on the heater, off the lights, and occasionally water again. 

Believe it or not, since I've started the plants it has snowed again. In other words: We have a very short growing season around here. It's a good idea to start plants ahead of time in Wisconsin.

My other plants, (beets, green beans and lettuce, for example) will be planted out in the garden when the time is right, but I started the flowers to go around the garden, broccoli, tomatoes, morning glories,  cilantro, basil and several other herbs in this fashion.

It's so exciting.  

(What the garden looked like in 2009, under mom's control. Yep. I've got a lot to live up to. :D)

In Honor:::

Ode to thee:

There once was a wonderful Lady

Most people would call Mrs. Py.

Her neighbors were naturally blessed

Her kind of dessert they could not buy.

Her husband realized he was lucky

To find such a Lady as she

So he bought her some roses and chocolate

And took her away to Door County.

The children would call her amazing

And others agreed it was so.

Her garden was huge and a-thriving

The grass her trained children did mow.

She’d get up at six in the morning

And make, for her husband, a brew.

Then at last at ten-thirty she bedded

After wishing “Good night” to her crew.

Love,

 Anna :D

You can read her blog HERE if you like. :)

Little Is Much When God Is In It

The words echo: "What do you want to do, then? Get married and have half-a-dozen kids?" "There's a very nice college down here...." her finger slid down a map, "they all wear uniforms there, skirts and blouses."

I see, in my mind, what I always see when I think of what the world thinks of me. My ambitions. My dreams. Cold, awkward faces that don't understand. Minds that think "She'll never be anything important."

I remember my own dreams of fame, wherein crowds loved me and asked for my autograph. There were rounds of applause and a stages and fancy clothes. There were dreams of delivering children - seeing the first breath, hearing the first cry. There might have been  hopes of  being in on the action at the hospital. I dreamed of being great. I dreamed of being admired. I dreamed of what I wanted. Sometimes, I also dreamed practically.

But God said: "No." To practicality, fame, and, comfort among many peers.

I didn't want to give up my own ideas, but I knew better than to walk over God's will for me. Thus, reluctantly, yet gravely, I turned loose my ambition and faced the struggle of "What I'm going to be when I grow up" as the Lord's will was concerned.

 What I believed He began to reveal to me, in light of my old dreams, was of pale comparison. My gaze fell from the star on the stage to the woman watching her. From the height of "classy" to a more sensible stair of "practical."

People would gawk and click their tongues in pity. They would criticize and push for a more "fulfilling" life for me. There would be persecution. There would be loneliness. There might be hurt. I'd be nothing. To others, this might be pointless.  Except, of course, (All Christian girls would hurry to say,) that God has some plan for this.

That last little nugget of truth, is what we do not see clearly. Easily, we can see the looming trials and negativity awaiting a girl or boy who God calls to some "lowly" station in life. But, we have a hard time seeing the spiritual side.

Sometimes, we forget about the angel of the Lord that "encamps about those who fear him" and the kingdom of heaven wherein we want to hear "Well done my good and faithful servant. Enter ye into the joys of the Lord." (Pardon. I paraphrase a lot.) We forget that power of our God. We forget that "His ways are not our own." We hang on too tightly to this earthly "reality" and forget the spiritual war that we are fighting in.

When you really think of what it will be like when you see Jesus - how that special presence must radiate from Him and how beautiful that voice will sound as, maybe, the tears slide down your cheeks, and He tells you not to cry; when you know how wise He is and how much He loves you. When you know that He has a reason: Then, when you find that God's will (for you ) is working at McDonald's or being a cleaning lady, trash man, keeper at home, etc.  you can say to yourself; "Know ye not, that I must be about the Father's business?"

You don't have to know why God put you there, but remember that God knows best.

 You could be a famous speaker, you could be a college graduate, you could be a millionaire - But remember to "Seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness" and also that "Little is much when God is in it."

Hullo dirty feet, mussed hair, tan skin, Believer's Youth Camp...

...Dirty fingernails, fresh sun-warmed tomatoes, cookouts in the ol'e backyard, fireworks, my birthday, the gentle, exciting noise of thunder on a humid open-window evening, the late nights and shouting of cousin-camaraderie, the blending of harmonious voices, the peace of a dew-studded bean patch...

Summer's coming.

But right now it's in a transitional stage from springy to summery and our family has been very busy.

Ze garden::

I've been getting the garden started (by way of introduction to the post I'll be posting soon on the subject.)

The lights in our "greenhouse" are supposed to be turned on every morning and off every night. Other than that, I'm s'posed to turn the trays of plants 180 degrees every morning and keep 'em watered. Simple. (I guess we're getting ready to toughen the plants up for garden-life as well.)

Sometime today, hopefully, I'll look up the dates for planting everything in the garden. (Do you use the Farmer's Almanac for planting?)

In the kitchen::

On top o' that, Mom has assigned Monday night to be my personal night to cook supper every week. She wants me to have more kitchen-confidence and get more practice with getting everything on the table at the right time and stuff like that.

Family::
Dad preached my great-grandmother's graveside committal/funeral service last week (Granny didn't want a funeral.) He did a good job, as usual, tying the necessary ingredients of funeral services into a beautiful bouquet of her personality.

Church::
We had communion this last Sunday, so of course, we had a meal between the Communion service and the regular service. Dad grilled brats and Italian sausages, mom and I made coleslaw, fruit salad and Strawberry Tart (It's awesome.) Others brought more, a'course. It was good.

Other than that::
 I've been making gifts for my friends' birthdays,  visiting yard sales, cleaning my grandmother's house, getting excited about books from the library, getting ready for Believer's Youth Camp, singin' (as usual), finally attempting to read through a list of books my loving Daddy wants me to read, watching my cousins, and pulling dandelions out of my precious garden.

What have YOU been doing?

There's No Place Like...

I was so happy. I sang, the scenery glided past through the windshield. We turned off the music and ended up singing without it. (Have you ever heard the "Penguins" sing the song about how God doesn't want us to cheat? It was that one. If you know it, you'll  understand.)

I was going home, to my cozy little  kitchen, the drawer with chocolate chips and nuts in it  (ever tried that snack?) my piano, the house that often listened as I sang loudly and heart-feltedly (yes, I know that's not a word), the family who silently endured, and might even have joined in, on my rendition(s) of "I Surrender All", "Leaning On The Everlasting Arms", "I Choose To Believe That You Are Faithful" or "Higher Ground"....etc...etc...

I felt like throwing my head back and closing my eyes and taking in a nice deep breath - almost overwhelmed by the joyfulness welling up inside.

The crunch of gravel on the trail by our house, the taste of chocolate chip cookie dough (that mom reluctantly consented to my making), the creak of wood floors, the sunshine... and the pizza we would be having (a special treat that had a HUGE influence on my happy thoughts.)

It wasn't that my visit had been particularly bad, I just, somehow, came home loving home. (The pizza had a lot to do with it.)  My home. Our home.

During that day-and-a-half away from the place where I freely lavish my off-the-record presence (the louder version of me, at least) upon the people who live with me,  I learned quite a few things.

One: I can indeed work quickly when I have to. When, however, I have no authentic reason to hurry, I find it extremely hard to do so. (Cleaning my aunt's sickroom before she got home from the hospital might have been one of the fastest things I've ever done in my life.)

Two: (Something Mom taught me a long time ago that I remembered.)
Cleaning a house is good. Picking up a house is better. When you clean a house, you move papers and dust underneath. The counter is clean, but it still looks cluttered. When, on the other hand, you pick up  the papers, they're gone and the counter looks far more clean than if you would have  really "cleaned" it. Simple, I know. (Though there is still a place for cleaning.)

Three: Short periods away from home renew one's appreciation of that glorious place. You realize how awesome it is to do your own, normal thing with or around the people who know you as you are.

(You don't have to sing in whispers. They already know what you sound like.)

When you come home from little vacations like mine, you might be giddy with happiness about going back to your natural habitat. You might see the silhouettes of your "haunts" in your mind and envision wood floors and cozy-colored-kitchen walls. You might imagine the high-pitched voice of your little sister. You might learn that you love "home" way more than you thought you did - like me.

Think about your "abode." What do you love about it? What do you see?