Fasting from Words

My word fast last week was very enlightening, inspiring, uplifting. I was drawn close to God because I was drawing close to Him. Isn't that what He says will happen? I need to do that more often. I'll try for 3 days a month.

Making Granola

This morning I'm cooking granola. Had to have some to go with the yummy peaches we picked off our trees 2 days ago. It smells so good and it's so easy. Here's the recipe.
4 cups old fashioned oats
1/2 cup brown sugar
1 1/2 cups nuts(sliced almonds, chopped walnuts or pecans)
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 cup oil
1/4 cup honey
1 teaspoon vanilla
Preheat oven to 300 degrees. Stir dry ingredients together. Heat oil and honey in microwave for about a minute, add vanilla. Stir this mixture into dry ingredients. Pour into long, shallow cooking pan and bake 40 minutes stirring every 10 minutes.

Canning Peaches

Yesterday afternoon, my friend, Cheryl came over and I showed her how to can peaches. It was great fun, lots of good conversation and inspiration from her. Such a godly woman. I have been praying for something to do like this. Teaching the younger women things they maybe didn't learn growing up. I'm so thankful my mom, dad and grandmothers taught me such useful life skills. I hope to start another Bible study soon and teach bread baking, painting and along with my husband and sons and daughters-in-law we can have a teaching place for all kinds of skills such as woodworking, pottery, cake decorating,... So many ideas. I pray for God's help in making them happen.

Midday Connection

I listened to a really good radio program Friday, Midday Connection. It comes on 88.9 FM at 1 PM weekdays in the Chattanooga, TN area. On this program, Jane Rubietta talked about going on a word fast. A word fast is fasting from so many words we listen to every day and trying to focus on hearing words from God. Fasting from reading blogs, Facebook, magazines, books, e-mails, tv, news, etc. and reading only God's word. Maybe just a few verses in a passage. Dwelling on it. Not moving on until you understand what God is trying to tell you. I started today. So far, I haven't read any blogs, books, magazines. I have read my Bible. 3 times today so far. I've got such a habit, though of sitting down with my husband and watching the news and veging out for several hours before heading to bed. I do enjoy spending time with Lewis, but I think sitting in front of the TV is a waste of time when there's so much more worthwhile to do. So, I'm going for it. We'll see how it goes.

Gratitude

Today, while eating my lunch, I read as I usually do if I'm home alone. The last two days I have spent most of the day alone so I've had lots of time to think. Mostly thinking a lot about my daddy. He died last Wednesday. I'm so grateful to God for giving me such a wonderful father who always treated my mom, my sisters and me so special.

I decided to pick up a book I hadn't read in about a week.A really thought provoking, inspiring book. God in the Yard by L.L. Barkat I've been reading her blog for several months and got her book. It's a different sort of Bible study with artistic people in mind.

This is a prayer she has at the end of the chapter on gratitude. "God of good gifts, please open me, to give and receive in gratitude, by helping me face my fears and struggles. Deepen my trust in You." Amen.

My Daddy

It's hard to believe how life can change in just a day or an hour. I saw my dad alive 3 and a half weeks ago. He was weaker than I'd ever seen him but still kickin' hard.
Then last Monday my sister, Laura called and said my dad was being taken to the hospital in an ambulance. He was dehydrated. He hadn't been to the table in 2 days for a meal. Just Ensure and yogurt. Hadn't been able to go to the bathroom himself.
The second day he was in the hospital we thought he was improving then came Wednesday and I guess God said his time was up on this earth. My mom called at 5:45 AM said he's gone. What a shock! He will be greatly missed by my mom, my 3 sisters, many grandchildren, great grandchildren, lots of other friends and family.

There was a visitation in Bainbridge, GA where he lived on Thursday evening then his body was brought to Chattanooga and there was a graveside service yesterday. Then friends and family came to our house and ate and visited and talked about my daddy, Billy Bramblett. He was such a fine man. A man of honor, great character, great daddy and father, gardener, hard working man, loving husband to my mom for 59 years. I am so looking forward to seeing him in heaven looking like he did in pictures I have of him when he was young and strong and healthy.

Please Lord, Come soon and I pray that we all stay close to You, trusting You, following the way You want us to go.

July

Can't believe I haven't written here in 2 months. Been busy. Gardening, working, cleaning out closets, canning... My dad has been sick. Yesterday he went to the hospital dehydrated. He was really weak. Hadn't ate at the table for 2 days. Just Ensure and yogurt. I talked to my mom this morning and she said the doctor said they think he can get better. Praise God.

Went to Harrison Bay St Park on Sabbath to visit my son Lewie and his wife, Bonnie at their campsite. We had a really nice visit and lunch. Brought back some nasty seed ticks. Still trying to get rid of them.

My youngest son, Matthew left this morning to go to Ft. Lauderdale, Florida to work remodeling a house. He will fly back in 2 weeks for the weekend then fly back down for 2 more weeks. Lewis and I will have an empty nest again for a little while anyway.