Beautiful Things

I must repeat one of my favorite stories.

There once was a city that was divided by a great wall. The people on one side of the
wall hated the people on the other side of the wall with a great hatred. One night those that harbored hate
threw all of their trash over the wall leaving a huge heap for those they despised. The people on the other
side of the wall had an idea ... that night they threw flowers and many other beautiful things
over the wall leaving a mounding heap of beauty for those on the opposite side of the wall to
discover when they rose in the morning. Above the mound of beautiful things hung a note that read, "Each one gives
what he has."

Proverbs 19:11
"The discretion of a man makes him slow to anger, and his glory is to overlook a transgression." NKJV

I am looking for opportunities to give away some of His beauty today. Do you know of anyone who could use some beauty? Let's tell them about the cross, the resurrection, and the promise of the return of Christ. That is a beautiful promise to leave with folks.

I am so thankful for the cross! And His resurrection! And the promise of His return!

Happy Easter, friends!

~Cheri

Rachel's Tea Party

Rachel and Rosanna are in town ... time for tea ...


cutie pie


cutie pie with handsome gent


friends


grace


touch of spring


dainty


soon to be filled

Response

His reply brought such joy to my heart

I wasn't expecting it ..

At times,I am random with questions.

Once in awhile I just blurt out an investigative, or maybe it is just inquisitive ...

(Ashli would correct me on this) ... question about something ...

We were tucked in bed, our jammies on, with covers pulled up to our noses,

I could hear his breathing begin to deepen

which usually means, "too late for conversation" not a good time for getting a

response.

I felt daring so I

boldly blurted out, "What are you most thankful for? I mean what do you feel was the

best thing that has ever happened to you in your whole life?"

I am ashamed to say, I wasn't expecting his answer ... my mind just wasn't on it at

the moment ... I thought he might say, "The day I met you!" or "The day you became my

wife!" Yep, that is where my mind was at! I confess! At that moment, it was all about

me!

It didn't take him very long to reply ... seconds, perhaps ...

I will treasure the word he spoke to me in that precious moment for the rest of my

life ...

Tenderly, beautifully, sincerely, appreciatively, assuredly he said,

"Salvation."

The perfect answer ... beautiful ... it stirred and convicted my heart.

It was if my own gratefulness for my salvation had been measured and left wanting.

Speechless, I lay next to him in awe of his answer as his breathing moved in time

with the rhythm of my mind. A rest settled over me, peace, sweet, satisfied peace.

His reply continues to echo in my mind ... If salvation is the most treasured

of all things to him... the thing he is most grateful for, then I feel safe with him.

I feel sheltered, I can rest, trust, and lean on him, not as Lord, but as

friend, spouse, beloved.

He went on to sleep, while I rose up to praise. Oh, I didn't leave his side, but my

heart began to rejoice, not only for his salvation, but for mine. Baptized in

gratefulness, I lay beside him pondering the gift of my salvation and the gift that

his salvation has been to me. The gift of the journey, yoked with the one I love who

is yoked with the One we love. Together, together on our way through life with

eternal life on our minds.

Grateful meditation beckoned me on to the place of sweet dreams.

So, random question for you ... what is the best thing that ever happened to you in

your whole life! I pray your answer is salvation. That is the perfect response!

Romans 10:9 "That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved."

Harmony

Luke did not even know that I was out of town. He was at his college home. I had decided to go with my friend at the midnight hour which barely left me time to pack much less notify my next of kin that I would be gone for a couple of days.

Regardless, a wandering thought had entered his mind the night before ...

"Mom, is going to call me from an antique store and is going to say something about an accordion."

Next morning the wandering thought repeated itself.

Hmmmm ...

I did not know this.

So back to the antique store next to the Lemon Drop Tea Room that I spoke of in my last post the other day, to that part of the story where I left you hanging ...

They was a child's accordion for sale. It was an antique, in a case, in good condition ... very cool. Renee' and I were completely intrigued with it.

Luke inherited my great aunt's accordion a few years ago. Luke loves music ... he picks up an instrument of any kind and within a measure of time is making melodies with it. He is gifted from God!

I pictured his future child playing this instrument, making harmony with their big daddy, Luke someday.

It was a bit on the pricey side and I wasn't positive that he would like it. I was about to make the purchase when I completely chickened out ... "Wait, would you let me call my son first?"

"Sure" ... the cashier was hoping that Luke was up for the deal.

I got him on the first try! Miracle!

"Luke, I am in an antique store and they have a child's accordion here, would you ..."

He breaks in, "I knew you were going to call me about this."

I say, "WHAT????" so that everyone in the store turns and looks to see what I am up to.

"I knew you were going to call me from an antique store about an accordion today. I didn't have a dream, I just had that thought before I went to bed and then again when I woke up this morning."

I stood staring in the face of the cashier stunned. She couldn't wait to discover the reason for my shock.

"Luke, I don't know if you will like the accordion or not, but because of what you are telling me, I am going to buy it."

Luke and I were in harmony.

The lady taking my money was a little uncomfortable with my story. I was too amazed to care.

Pictured above is the little accordion on my new chair.

Actually the base part does not work ... but perhaps can be fixed.

Luke was not into my vision so much ... the one about a little he/she making harmony with their big daddy, Luke. He's just not thinking about that right now. He thought a little niece or nephew might be okay to teach. Guess we need to hope for him to have another wandering thought that will bring about more harmony ...

Lemon Drop Tea Room

We successfully made our escape!
We left our neck of the woods for another and boy did we have fun!

It was a short run ... we left late Monday morning and returned late evening Tuesday.

Rachel is going to marry this summer ...

She is our girl ...

My friend is mom number one ...

And I am mom number two ...

Rachel adopted me some time ago ... an unexpected delight!

We talked about wedding locations, dresses, flowers, and of course food.

That was our wedding talk ...

Then we moved on to coffee shops, vintage dresses, and hmmm ... lots of other girly things!

The morning of the second day we visited an amazing coffee shop. Rachel and I love our coffee and she knew I would love this place! Everyone in the shop was having their Bible time! Cool, we thought!

We dropped Rachel off at school barely getting her there in time for class. We hugged her neck and promised to keep in touch. Did I tell you that she is absolutely darling?

Renee' (mom number 1) and I went to the damaged food store ...

Interesting ...

Beneficial ...

Prudent ...

P31 style ...

Car weighted down, we headed for home.

Renee' spotted a sign on the way home ... Lemon Drop Tea Room ...

Hmmmm ...

We kinda had other plans ...

Should we stop?

I am up for adventure ... so we got off the beaten path and headed for the Lemon Drop!

It was love at first sight!

It was decked in bright and cheery style ... every table said "welcome" ...

Finally, we found our place.

They served a sampler plate (on mismatched fine china) ...

a bit of salad,

a dainty cup of soup,

a quarter of a chicken salad sandwich on marble rye bread ...

and a potato quiche (which was new for both of us and may I say, simply out of this world!)

We finished our meal by sharing their signature dessert ... lemon cake!

"Not so into lemon cake", says I, but that one is worth repeating a little two hour trip East for. It was divine!

The Lemon Drop Tea Room is located at the end of the most amazing little strip of shops we had ever seen. Thus our three hour delay in the antique store next to the Lemon Drop.

Wish you could have seen this place! It was the cutest little shop we had ever, ever seen! We fell in love with it! It wasn't just the inventory that was so inviting, it was how they had put it all together. Have you ever seen a Romantic Homes magazine?
It was like stepping into it's pages and getting to walk around ... and touch and smell and enjoy at another dimension!

Umbrellas hung from the ceiling ...

Drawer pulls on dressers were made out of lace ...

Ideas galore!

We brought home a couple of things ... and we left so many wonderful things behind!

For next time ... I hope!

I bought a chair ... I put it in my new guest room ... if you come over to stay you can see it.

It will be a favorite for a very long time ...

There is another story about our trip that I must tell ... but it will have to wait.

The best part of the journey happened on the way home.

My friend prayed for me. Really, really prayed ... She took a long time to pray ...

And I needed that more than I needed a beautiful new, antique chair!

Heart Lifter

"Awake, north wind,
and come, south wind!
Blow on my garden,
that its fragrance may spread abroad.
Let my lover come into His garden
and taste its choice fruits." Song of Songs 4:16

I love to worship Jesus with passion.

There are times my heart gets so heavy that it feels as if it is literally dragging the ground. I have discovered a few remedies,heart lifters. They have come in various forms, such as the smile of a child, a timely message from a dear friend, or a new worship song.

Misty Edward's new cd, Fling Wide, has been a heart lifter for me.

It is full of beautiful worship songs. Songs that draw me right to the heart of God.

It has brought healing and refreshing to my soul.

Song number 5 is hard for me to sing. I don't like all of the words.

Worship is praying to music, is it not?

The words of song number 5 pray like this:

"Awake, awake, O north wind
Awake, awake, O south wind
Blow over me
Come, O wind of testing
Come, winds of refreshing
Blow over me
Let the winds blow ..."

This song is directly quoted from Song of Songs. The Bride petitions her Bridegroom to let the north winds blow on her garden. The south winds too. The north winds are symbolic of the hard times ... the harsh, momentary seasons, the Job lessons of life.

The south winds bring refreshing. They are the breathers in life,respites between tides.

I have experienced many north winds in my life. I have learned so much from them. I have snuggled closer to the heart of God during those frigid, seemingly heartless, hurtful seasons, and found such a warmth, I never would have discovered otherwise, so near His heart. It was a place warmth and wealth of love for me. A refuge. A crevice in the rock where He covered me with His hand. But those seasons are difficult and I don't enjoy them at all.

So I am hesitant to invite them ... even if it means that I will grow in my affection for my Beloved Jesus. Even if it means that others will see Him more clearly as they witness my suffering while walking in His grace.

So I mumble through that line of the song while singing the next line with courage and boldness ...

"Awake, awake, O south winds ..."

It does not take courage to ask for refreshing winds.

It is like asking for a trip to the Bahamas.

A north wind is blowing outside today.

I have stayed in ... I hear it ... it invites me to open the door and come out and play.

It wails ...

It reminds ...

It chills me to the bone ...

I stay inside with a hot cup of coffee.

Just the thought of it discourages my desire to petition for it.

Winter seasons pass ... eventually spring wins the game of tug of war with winter and it comes ...

Soon everything is blooming and I hardly remember the bite of winter winds

as I once again bask in gentle breezes ...

I find that I appreciate spring so much more after a hard winter.

I would love to share one of Misty's cds with you. Just leave a comment and I will enter your name in a drawing.

Blessings,
Cheri

Legacy

I have been considering my days. What is worthy of time, what is futile? What deserves my attention, where should I linger, what should I ignore?
A heritage is being woven behind me. My children will rest in the creases of the garment called legacy being prepared as I walk out my destiny.

Legacy calls for prudence ...

What is the most important baton to place in the hands of my children?
What would help them the most to endure to the end?
Is there something to be passed that would carry them through the difficult seasons, encouraging them on their way?
Oh, that they would enjoy the Lord as I have ...
that they would they listen for His whisper, His song, His laughter,
and they would delight in His presence never losing their awe of Him!

So I pray~

Oh, Lord, let me pass these wonders on to my children. Let this be their heritage! Their greatest delight!
I will be a failure if they do not have revelation of who You truly are!
Let joy spring in their heart like a fountain!
Let Your promises set passion to dancing in their hearts!
Let childlike wonder and awe inspire them to seek you more!
Oh, that they would bask in Your beauty, eye witnesses of Your glory,reveling in Your joy!
This is my petition! That they would be great in You,Lord! Mighty men and women of valor who love Your name!

Most of all, may they enjoy You forever, truly experiencing the pleasure that is only found in You!

Amen