Saturday Scriptures: Make It Plain

 

"Tell me what to do, O Lord, and make it plain....."

(Portion of Psalm 27:11 Living Bible Translation)

Do you ever wish that when life decisions have to be made that answers could be sent very clearly? As a musician, when I sit down to play a piece of music I don't have to guess at the notes. They are right there clearly printed in front of me and all I have to do is to play them. Now granted, I may not play the notes perfectly or in tune but they are clearly in front of me to see. 

Not so with life, though. I oftentimes pray and pray for guidance regarding a situation and don't feel a clear answer one way or the other. And perhaps, that is the answer. My response could go either way. But oh how I long for a sign with flashing lights to appear in front of me saying, "DO THIS, DON'T DO THAT." 

Life can be extremely frustrating at times and full of questions. But we can know that God holds our hands and leads us through everything that is challenging and difficult. While I don't get flashing signs I do have the assurance of the following:

"And we know that all that happens to us is working for our good if we love God and are fitting into his plans."

Romans 8:28  Living Bible 

Do you ever long for flashing signs in your life? 

Blessings and Peace,

Debbie

Fun and Easy Tablescapes Using Tiered Trays, Anchor Pieces and Cute Salt Shakers

 Easy Table Vignettes

Hi everyone!  Today, I'm featuring three easy tablescapes or table vignettes that use items I already own along with a few new pieces. I love to decorate my little foyer table, the little side table in the dining room and the side table in our living room. I change the displays with the seasons, with holidays and when I take a fancy to do so! First up is the little table in our dining room. I have been wanting a tiered tray for a long time but have resisted buying one because they are so very expensive! I just couldn't see paying anywhere from $40-$70+ dollars for a tray. A couple weeks ago, The Mr. and I were browsing at the Tractor Supply Co. in Weaverville and I spied the tiered tray you see above. The trays are actually metal and have red and green stripes along the edges. I had not seen a metal tiered tray before and I kept going back to look at it. The store was having a 50% off clearance sale and I decided to bring this tiered tray home. Imagine my surprise when, at checkout, the price was more like 70% off and I scored my tiered tray for $10 dollars. Oh, how I love a bargain! I can't wait to decorate it for all the seasons but, for now, I am displaying a couple of favorite signs, some brass animals, a candle and two lovely angels. I smile each time I walk in the dining room and see this lovely tiered tray vignette!

This is the side table in our living room and you have seen various vignettes displayed here before. We bought the new bear and pine tree piece recently and we both just love it! The bear and pine trees are metal and sit on a wooden base. Bears and pine trees certainly fit our property and the overall effect carries the lodge look style we have in our home. I consider this an anchor piece that is an all-in-one vignette. Of course we have other items on the table, as well, but this piece could stand alone just fine. It reminded us both of pieces we had seen displayed in lodges we stayed at when traveling to the Rocky Mountains. 

And, finally, here is my whimsical beach vignette on the foyer table. This vignette features various lighthouses and the whimsy comes from the blue seahorse and crab salt shakers. I think they are so cute and I have used them in other vignettes before. Why not on the foyer table? The blue framed picture at the back was thrifted and although the painting on it is not a beach scene I thought the flower and butterfly went well with the other beach pieces. What do you think?

You know, the way we decorate in our homes reflects our style, interests, love of color and personalities. Our surroundings can provide warmth, joy and restfulness when we incorporate "ourselves" into the mix. My little table vignettes give me a lot of joy as I walk through our home and I look forward to changing them out on a regular basis to keep things fresh. 

How do you like to decorate in your home? Hope you'll share in the comments!

Until Next Time,

Debbie

Saturday Scriptures: Cups of Water

Public Domain Image

And if anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones who is my disciple, truly I tell you, that person will certainly not lose their reward.

Matthew 10:42 NIV

It doesn't seem like much does it?  A cup of cold water?  It takes very little effort to pour from a faucet or pitcher.  There is no mixing, no special ingredients to add.  Just a glass and some water.  That's it.  And yet to someone who thirsts, a cup of water, especially if it is cold water, can mean a great deal. 

Some days, I feel like I do so very little to serve the Lord. To further His kingdom. To offer hope or help of any kind to someone else. It seems like my energy level or my ability or even my motivation just isn't there. Or it seems as if the task of something that needs to be done is too big a load for me to carry or to do. 

And then, I think of that glass of water......

It seems like such a small thing, giving a glass of water to someone. 

But, it is something I can do. 

And it means I care and am trying. 

In her book, "Do What You Have The Power To Do" Helen Bruch Pearson tells the stories of six women in the Bible who did just that. They did what they were able to do at the right times. And what a difference it made to those in need!

If you are like me, you may long to be one of "those people" whose energy never seems to lag, who are always johnny-on-the-spot with the right words, the right help, the perfectly in control attitude, the strongest faith, etc, etc, etc. 

I seem to fail miserably at being one of "those people". 

And then...I think of the cup of cold water that Jesus talks about in Matthew. 

And I think about the times in my own life when someone offered me a cup. And while the person who gave it to me may have thought that they were not offering much at all.........they really were offering me a lot. That water was just what I needed. And they had the power, in that moment, to offer it.

When have you offered cups of cold water to others in the name of Jesus? When has a cup been offered to you? 

May you feel the love of Jesus in your life today and always. And thank you to those who joined in with the "Take 5" this past week. Remembering to be thankful and have gratitude each day this week has meant a lot to me in my own personal life!

Blessings and Peace,

Debbie

Staycation Day in Asheville

 Enjoying An Adventure Day in Asheville

Hello everyone!  Here I go again, running blog posts close together.  I love it when days just "happen" without planning like today's did. The Mr. and I started out to have lunch and ended up enjoying a "staycation" afternoon right here in our own Asheville! 

We ended up going to the River Arts District and going into The Marquee which contained all sorts of "stuff" from beautiful art and unique crafts to photography and antiques and the items went on and on.

This place was huge and went on forever it seemed! It even had a bar at the back with room for sitting and visiting. 

We saw lots of things that attracted our attention. I'll just let the pictures do the talking for a bit.

Wanted to be sure to get the pics of these mini quilts for my friend, Sharon, to see!

There is so much to see here that we just drove around to see what other studios were in the complex and walked around outside for a bit. 

And as a fun aside, The Mr. caught this lizard running across the bricks to snap up a bug just as quick as a wink. No loitering allowed with this guy (or gal?) around!!

We drove further down the River Arts District to another favorite store called "Second Gear" that sells used and some new hiking/outdoor clothes. They also do consignment. They have a gelato store at the back and of course on this very hot summer's day a little gelato was calling my name! We had already tucked in before I remembered to ask The Mr. to take a picture. Suffice it to say that this was a little bit of heaven in a cup!! It was such a fun afternoon! I had been moaning to The Mr. that I wanted to do something fun and after this afternoon's adventure I told him that I felt like we had been on a staycation in Asheville!

Have you been having a little hometown fun lately? Be sure to let me know in the comments. Or let me know anything else. I love hearing from you!

Until Next Time,

Debbie

Saturday Scriptures Take 5 For Gratitude

 

Today's post is all about Gratitude. I don't know about you, but I have so much to be thankful for even on days when I think absolutely everything is going wrong! Finding Gratitude and thanking God for our blessings is so very important as the scripture on the photo collage from I Chronicles 16:34 reminds us.

Today, I would like to "take 5" and practice Gratitude by naming 5 things for which I am thankful. In fact, I would like to practice this habit each day of the coming week. Would you like to join me in developing this habit?

Each day of the coming week be sure to "take 5" and some point in the day and thank the Lord for at least 5 things for which you are thankful. I'm going to practice this habit, too!

Developing a sense of Gratitude, even in the midst of troubles, can be a great way to remember our blessings!

Peace and Blessings,

Debbie

Blue Paisley Dress To Keep or Not To Keep

 To Keep Or Not To Keep Help Me Decide

Hi friends!  Today, I need you to help me decide whether or not I should keep this pretty paisley dress. I have owned this dress for well over a year and just haven't really worn it. Not sure why. I saw it hanging in the closet and decided to try it on again today and I am still not sure if it is a keeper or not. So, blog readers to the rescue, right?!

I thrifted this dress from Thred-Up when I was looking for some pretty summer dresses. I love paisley and the blue and pink pattern are colors I love!

I wonder, though, if the dress is a little too big on me at the top. It's one of those times when I feel like I need to try it on and say, "What do you think?" to someone. The Mr. would say, "You look fine." I need another woman's opinion. 

So tell me...should I keep this dress or send it on its way? What do you think? And, yes, my posts will be back-to-back this week. I just couldn't get a post ready at the beginning of the week, so enjoy this post and then look ahead to Saturday Scriptures coming right after! By the way, this dress brand is Croft&Barrow. 

Until Next Time,

Debbie

Saturday Scriptures:

For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. 

Jeremiah 29:11

May each of you feel the light of God's blessings this day and always, as we remember that God offers us hope and good plans for our future!

Blessings,

Debbie

A Few Things

 A Little Bit of This and That

Hi everyone! Today's post is just a little bit of this and that. Random photos from the last few days. Hope you enjoy! First off, are some beautiful flowers I brought home a couple of days ago. Yellow is such a bright, cheerful color and the arrangement is so pretty on the small table in the dining room. 

The summer just seems to be flying by and I can't believe that the 4th of July has passed. I dressed in a navy blue dress with a colorful neck kerchief boasting red, white and blue for the holiday. It was a festive look and also cool enough for a hot summer's day.

On the evening of the 4th I attended a patriotic concert held at a venue in Black Mountain, NC. The Mr. plays in this band and the concert was fabulous!

Here are all of the trumpet players standing for their solo part in, "The Stars and Stripes Forever."  The Mr. is standing second from the left. 

And here I am with my sweet friend, Libby, who was attending to watch her husband play in the band. We always enjoy catching up at these concerts!

And this isn't the greatest picture, but this is a dress that I have been wearing on repeat this summer. I really need to devote a whole blog post to this dress because it is so comfortable! Made of a soft tee shirt like fabric this dress came from Amazon and is available in different colors and patterns. I will try to do a blog post on this dress soon. 

And, finally, here is a veggie board I created recently. Can you call this a charcuterie board? I tried to be creative in placing the veggies and I loved how the cut end of the celery stalk looks like a flower! I really enjoy having fun in the kitchen and this is one way I do it. Someone once said we eat first with our eyes. This board was a feast for the eyes!

How are you being creative in styling your life right now? Hope you will let me know in the comments!

Until Next Time,

Debbie

Saturday Scriptures: Trusting in God

 

Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid: for the Lord Jehovah is my strength and my song; he also is become my salvation. 

Isaiah 12:2  KJV

While having devotions this past week, I read this verse and it stood out to me. Does that happen to you as you read scriptures? Oftentimes, a scripture just seems to fit the circumstances that are happening in life. I don't believe these things happen by "coincidence" but are rather God speaking through scripture. 

Trusting in God, and not being afraid, can be challenging. I'm a natural worrier by nature (unfortunately) and I tend to ruminate about problems and how they are going to work out or be solved. While I'm not proud of this, I have been this way since childhood so it seems to be a part of my nature. While I take worries "to the Lord in prayer", as the hymn goes, I also tend to take them back sometimes! Being reminded of God's steadfastness through scriptures like this one from Isaiah, helps me to feel better. 

Luckily, I have good company with other "worriers" in scripture who were used by God. In Exodus Chapter 33, Moses was speaking with God in the "Tent of Meeting" outside the Israelite's camp and was concerned that he (Moses) didn't know God's full plan for who God was going to send with him as he led the people forward. Moses was doing a little bit of complaining to God about why, if God knew Moses by name, He had not let him know more and the plans. God's answer to Moses was incredibly simple and as follows:

"And He said, My presence shall go with thee, and I will give thee rest."

Isaiah 33:14

Isn't that wonderful to know? The answer for Moses, and for us, is simply that God's presence goes with us and gives us rest. If only my worrisome attitude could remember these words and rely on them more! I also love how "The Message" version interprets Isaiah 33:14. That version says, "My presence will go with you. I'll see the journey to the end." 

Friends, the simple truth is that we are never alone in life's worries. God's presence is ALWAYS with us. Even if you're like me and want to take the worries back sometimes. God has our backs. He gives us rest. And, most of all, He sees us through to the end of our journey....and beyond!

What a blessing it is to have the Lord in our lives!

Blessings and Peace,

Debbie