Seeds of Grace

Just recently I have begun a " Gratitude" Journal. My inspiration started with a passage from Psalm 92:1,2.

V1.  It is a good thing to give thanks unto the Lord and to sing praises unto thy name Oh most High.

V2. To show forth thy loving kindness in the morning and thy faithfulness each night.
      I began to pray and ask the Lord to show me his loving kindness each day. And to show me as I lay my head down to sleep each night , what  his  faithfulness looked like for me that day.

This prayer became  as natural as breathing as I opened up my heart and senses. Sure enough I began to notice situations and circumstances each day that showed me his loving kindness towards me. Sometimes it was a phone call, a difficult situation turning around or just a blessing that came out of the blue.
  At night as I lay down and thought over my day ,I began to see little highlights of that day. Things that would have gone unnoticed if I had not been looking for them. Nevertheless, there they were, like little toy soldiers standing at attention, beckoning me...see here I am , Gods faithfulness to you ...today.
   This has continued now for weeks...everyday and every night that I choose to look for and seek his kindness and faithfulness it is there!

Thomas Merton once said, " there are seeds of grace flowing from God in every moment. Our job is to be present enough to receive them.

When I read this quote for the first time, the Lord showed me a picture: A little girl running in a field of wild flowers. In her hand was a butterfly net. The wind was blowing and she was chasing and catching dandelion seeds that had dried. These white, fluffy puffs, were whirling and twirling and dancing in the wind. "Catch me if you can"...they sang.

 

A New Season

Well, I asked the Lord ...now that I am 60 what shall I do? His answer...Laugh in its face!
Now that was quite an answer ...how exactly do I do that? As I was looking for some pictures to post I came upon the answer.It was of me making a toast with a cup of hot cocao w/chili pepper. It seemed to jump out at me and say,Here's to " Life" sweet ,with a dash, of pepper! Celebrate it,cherish it, embrace it and offer up praise!
So now I go about my days, looking for the sweetness,to give or embrace .And the Spice of life, sometimes a little Hot,intense ,but brings  the opportunities to Praise Him for the life that he gives to us!

Some very Special Travelers

Chris and Carrie are on their way to California. They just so happen to stop and do some rock climbing while going through AL. Enter,Beau Armistead and friends and a perfect ingredient for Divine Appt. Beau invited them to stop in for a visit @ Nomads Land.
We learned that Chris and Carrie are " Soccer Evangelist ". They both play soccer and use the sport to open doors to share the gospel.
They hope to link up w/South American Missions and head to Brazil next year. Carrie is fluent in Portuguese and has visited Brazil many times for months at a time. They hope to raise support so they can be on the mission fields in Brazil for a 2-3 year stay.
They hope to reach out to kids and villages through out South America one game at a time.

Blessings and safe travels to a couple of Global Nomads,Chris and Carrie Himes.

A Lovely Resting Place

Here is a Dynamite recipe
for "Baked Oatmeal"I came across while staying at Dave in Betty Myer in PA.
              Baked Oatmeal w/a Apple
3 c oats.                         1 c sugar
2tsl baking powder.      2 eggs
1tsp salt.                         1 apple,
1 c milk                            1 tsp cinnamon
1/2 c oil

Mix oats,baking powder,salt,and milk.Add oil, sugar,and eggs.Place in 8c8 in pan.Peel and slice apple and mix e/cinn.Lay apples on top if oatmeal,push down into batter.Bake @ 350/ 30 min. May substitute your fav fruit for apple. Nice also served with milk in top.

New Years Makeover

I awoke in the middle of the night and decided to chat little w/the Lord before going back to bed.I was inquiring what this New Year would bring." Well Lord,its been a good year and you have done amazing things,but at the same time the process has been pretty rough" Should I gird myself for another like year?Not really expecting a reply,as my mind went back over some of the tough experiences ,I received this amazing download. I saw in each situation how Gods hand had protected me and had
brought me through with victory.I sat amazed as I ,the heard these words...the graveclothes of the past years experience are slipping off as you enter this New Year.You shall be clothed in Glory and Grace.The scales of the old man has come under the exfoliating work of the Spirit. The Dew of Heaven shall not only cling,but soak into the open clean fresh pores of your body,soul and spirit.As obedience and faith was used as a pumice stone so now will hope,expectancy, goodness and mercy be your adornments.
So my lovley ones come step into this New Year w/you me and receive your "New" makeover.

Thanksgiving is for " Family"

Its that time of year again,when I come Home to Daughters and Grandkids .Its amazing to me how the simple act of preparing for a family holiday meal can produce such Joy!

This is the 4th generation of making Holiday memories. First it was helping my Mom prepare for all the Greek aunts,uncles, cousins, grandparents and anyone else who needed a meal. Then my own family preperations w/my daughter and planning,cooking,and serving up our favorites.Then my Daughters began there own family traditions and I came along preparing my signature rolls and a few requests. Now I find myself w/our 3rd generation Nord/women,Kya,and we have started our own little traditions. Mom makes the master list and granddaughter and Grand ma do the shopping. We planned some new desserts,straying away from total traditions.I watch as I follow her w/my cart,her list in hand,checking prices and favorite brands.We like to go a couple days ahead,before the mad rush
,getting up early and taking our time...and pulling through the drive through after we're all finished for a sweet tea and ice coffee.

30 Days of Thanksgiving

B So I decided to challenge myself based in a book I began reading, "365 Thank Yous" by John Kralik.

I decided to blog each day .Maybe share something from the book that inspired me .Find one thing in each day that I am thankful for and the lesson that it taught me, and one person to send a "thank you"to. I'm not sure if I will use email,snail mail or phone call,but some form of connection and encouragement.
So today I am thankful for warm  weather, blue skies and a season of contemplation.

The second annual Nomads Pilgrimage

Here we are @ the 2nd annual walk a thon for Nomads Land. We are raising money by sponsoring folks who have volunteered to walk 40 ml /10 ml a day from bham Al to Attalla/Nomads Land. This is our 1st day. Last year friendships were forged together simply by walking down the road together.

I can almost see the Lord walking along side this one for a while then moving up ahead to another cluster of walkers.Then hear them proclaim to each other "Didn't our hearts burn" . Luke 24:32, Mt 18:20...happy Travels Pilgrims!

A Stable experience

While in the CZ Rep we had need of some shelter,we were given this address and told while it may be in a small village, it,was a good price. Our GPS brought us through small wood paths and feilds and we were getting a bit nervous.we finally came to what looked like a very Big Junk yard,equiped w/junk yard dog. we were about to turn around when a lovley young girl in riding gear waved and singled us in to the gates. Now I was getting really nervous,she came up to us and what appeared to say in Cz/english,come I'll show you,good you have come. well being good Americans we didn't want to appear rude,so off we followed. I'll tell ya it wasn't getting any better for me,as we turned a corner we came upon a fenced area with sheds and Goats running around. There she told us to park our car and proceeded to walk into a hallway across from us.I stayed in the car,brave adventurer that I am) and sent Al to spy out the land. Al came back giving me the heads up,I gingerly came out of the car and grabed a suitcase . I was amazed @ the beautiful tiled hall that met me after crossing a not so lovley doorway and porch! Our room was large,comfortable w/kitchenett,patio(over looking the goats) and comfortable beds. I shot up a grateful prayer and comment about being in a stable like him,in retun the Lord spoke,yea,not to shabby huh! ( Yes he really talks to me this way sometimes lol)The Lesson: Do not fear togo through what appears to be narrow doors that I may provide @ times. A little flesh may get scraped off in the process and you may have to get squeezzed just a tad getting through,but I usually have a great big open place for you on the other side to enjoy! Amen Lord :D

Arriving@ the Castle

On our Arrival @ the Castle we were warmly welcomed w/a USA Flag made by the childrens own hands. Our room prepared with lots of Love.

The Carriage of the Lord

While hanging out w/Pappa this morning I heard him speak these words,"Let my word Carry you". As I pondered this ,He began to expound on this."My word can be like a carriage that can carry you through life. You can ride upon it and rest in my promises or you can be carried away by worry,fear,your emotions,the cares of life and its perception". We can feel the rocking and reelling of the times we are living in there is no avoiding it,but we can be carried by his grace and truth rather than the winds of life.

We have been staying on the "Smiths Ranch" our own little corner of, Paradise ,when off the road.Here we stay in our R.V where we can rest,exercise and refuel till our next little 'launch out' w/the Lord. Little did I know 10 yrs ago when I took the Lords invitation to " Come ride w/Him" that it would be "literal". We have been riding w/him since,watching his kingdom come in the most unlikely places and in the hearts of the most unlikely people. He is revealing Himself ,his beauty,love and compassion to a Fatherless generation,and they are responding w/passion and brokeness to his call.It is a Beautiful thing to behold. Is 51:3 says" Indeed,the Lord will comfort Zion;He will comfort all her waste places,and He will make her wilderness like Eden and her desert like the garden of the Lord; joy and gladness shall be found therein,thanksgiving and the voice of melody.