Sunshine Through Basement Windows--and Will it Be I Who Will Be Unselfish?

The other day it was a beautiful sunny day, and I hated to spend it indoors,

so I hit a blissful compromise:

I painted the basement window frames in the beautiful sunshine!

It had been a beautiful sunrise that morning.

And I had stood there with Jonathan, both of us taking pictures, and I was remembering Psalm 19:1,

"The heavens declare the glory of God, and the firmament shows His handiwork."

And basements can declare His glory, too, if we open their windows to the sunshine!

And basements can show His handiwork when we paint to the glory of God!

It's up to us if we hole up in our basements--

 or get out into the sunshine and rejoice in His love and goodness.

Though it's true, work has to be done in the basement, like painting or sorting through stuff that has collected.  

Like old college papers and artwork from childhood, 40 some years ago,

and photos.

Photos of happy days long ago--like this one above with my happy baby Carrie in our log home in Ukraine,

my Carrie who is now 18 and has a driver's license and a job and raises puppies and is away with the guys and Rose to go hunting tomorrow!

And the one below where my hubby is coming in filthy--and we still shared a kiss with all the kids looking on!

The morning before I spent hours prepping and painting window frames and sorting through a couple boxes of stuff in the basement, I'd been thinking of somebody else who I thought was doing something selfish.

It wasn't selfish on their part, but their choices affected me in a way that hurt.

So it was easy to feel like they were being selfish and not very fair or thoughtful.

And anyway it was a really rough morning anyhow, as I wasn't feeling well at all.

But all of a sudden, the thought came to me, 

"Why don't you be unselfish?"

And that sounded like a really nice thought.

A really nice attitude.

A really nice deed to do.

There was something freeing about it.

Being unselfish myself, letting the other person do what they wanted to do,

even though it would be hard on me. 

Just letting go of thinking how selfish they were, and choosing to be unselfish myself instead.

That is when I remembered this plaque in  my room.

It's when I remembered to ask the Lord for His arm.

And the great thing is that when He asks you to be unselfish, and you choose to just obey 

without any bells or whistles or trumpets or fanfare or glory,

there is a really sweet peace that is there.

It's His arm.

Country Wedding, Barefoot Bride and Her Beautiful Mother

It's been a few days since I could write on my blog, between school, butchering a steer, painting,  helping get the family ready to go hunting, and so on. 

But I wanted to share more pictures of that most interesting country wedding we attended last week.

And what a crowd! Jonathan estimated around 300 people. 

The bride and her parents are very loving and much loved people!

The seats were hay bales with long planks laid across them, and there were just simple jars or buckets with flowers in them.

The entrance to the gathering!

The bride, groom, wedding party, ushers, and even the bride's father were all barefoot!

Loved it!

The groom bringing both mothers down the "aisle."

Before giving the bride away, the bride's father shared that when Katrina was young, 

she had told them that she wanted to walk down the yard and be married right down at the bottom of the little hill that was their front yard.

And that is precisely what happened!

Talk about a dream come true!

You can click on this picture below to read the informal and fun order of service!

The father of the bride, before giving her away, shared how Nick had asked to date her,

and how he, the dad, had let Nick know the things that were most important to him about whichever young man was to date her.

Then, the dad said, "when I got done letting Nick know all that, I realized that he [Nick] was already doing it!"

Nick was already treating his daughter with respect, serving God first of all, and having a servant heart.

So the dad gave Nick permission to date his daughter, and went home to tell his wife, 

"I believe I just talked with our future son-in-law!"

While the wedding party was getting pictures,

(including a few funny ones!)

the crowd stood in line for a light lunch served from long tables at the side of the house.

 Tables had been brought in a trailer to be set between the hay bales and planks, and other round tables were set up with folding chairs. People were free to come and go as they chose. It was a very laid back atmosphere.

Instead of wedding cake, there were cookies to choose from!

The drink table.

Bachelor days are over, Nick!

The bride's family

The groom's family

The sweet, beautiful bride and her groom.

I loved the simplicity of her dress and just flowers twined around her head.

Meanwhile, in the back yard of the big old farmhouse, youngsters (and youth) were playing games, swinging, and jumping rope.

That's what's so neat about getting married on your own farm--

everybody can feel so at home and enjoy themselves!

After the pictures and meal, everyone who was still around attended a time of praise and prayer before the bride and groom departed. 

This brother and two sisters led in singing several hymns and songs, accompanied by guitar and keyboard played very worshipfully. We really appreciated the spirit of these young people.

Jonathan sat on the planks on hay bales,  but I could not manage in the heat and brightness, so I got a chair and slipped over into the shade.

The bride's mother (who had already made us feel like a million for coming to the wedding)

was coming up the hay bale aisle to find a place to sit.

She saw me over in the shade and came over and sat down right beside me!

She sat by me the whole devotions time, sharing her hymn paper with  me, and two other ladies slipped over into the shade with us, too.

The way the bride's mother made sure that this other little mother didn't have to sit alone, and just sat beside me even though I was different than everyone else, 

made me think of Jesus.

This couple is known for being very down to earth and being approachable and Christlike, as evidenced by all the people who end up coming to them for guidance and counsel, which is why they were attending Caring for the Heart Ministries seminar a few months ago where we met them and their daughter and son-in-law-to-be.

Above is the final kiss before the bride and groom take their leave of everyone.

And below is the final prayer--and I took a quick photo before closing my own eyes, 

because I thought this was so sweet.

It was obvious that God was number one in this couple's life, in the way that they chose to end the festivities with praise and prayer.

Jonathan and I helped the many others who all helped quickly gather and stack chairs, tables and planks before a possible storm that was brewing nearby.

It had poured down rain shortly before the wedding, but dried out quickly just in time!

What a lovely time we had!

We so appreciated the spirit and character of this bride and groom.

A Friend's Wedding Day and Friend Day--and What a Friend We Have in Jesus!

Even though Jonathan and I had just gotten home from several hours of travel Saturday from a new friend's wedding, 

we drove up again Sunday to the mission church in Denver, as it was their Fall Friend Day,

and we wanted to help support their effort.

 A lot of Fall Friend Day invitations had been given out in the community, and there was a special speaker, Justin Stanton, our good friend, who was there with his wife, Melanie and little daughter. 

Pastor Walker led the song, "What a Friend We Have in Jesus" before the message.

 It would have been easy to focus on everyone who wasn't there. 

But look at all the people who were there--including a young man from the Springs whom we'd invited up and who was dropped off by another young man traveling through Denver that  morning.

For others' privacy's sake, I don't like to put faces on my blog, but I got a side view of the fellowship picnic afterward. I know some, like the Albertsons, who used to attend here before they moved, will enjoy seeing what is happening.

Here is Pastor Walker grilling burgers and hot dogs, and his wife provided baked beans, chips, and brownies. We took home-pressed apple cider, pumpkin rolls, etc. 

Here is Crystal with the Walker's baby, and to the left you can see a lady from the community whom Pastor Walker has been picking up each Sunday morning ever since the Beavertown youth group was here.

She ate one piece after another of the delicious pumpkin rolls that Rose had made!

She has had one stroke and heart attack after another, and life is just very hard for her right now.

I can only imagine that she probably doesn't cook much for herself.

How blessed we should consider ourselves if we get a few square meals a day!

Soon she will be moving to assisted living, but the Walkers faithfully minister to her each week till then. She is hearing the gospel.

Addison was fascinated with the basket of mums we brought.

The three little girls enjoyed playing with sidewalk chalk while the  mothers made sure they shared!

I really appreciated seeing the  moms watching over the little girls and insisting on obedience and sharing.

I showed the young moms pictures of the wedding we'd been to the day before, and they talked about wedding gowns.

One mom said she had visited five different wedding gown shops before her wedding, and not one of them had a wedding gown with so  much as shoulder straps, to say nothing of sleeves.

 When I got married, I wanted Jonathan to like my wedding gown, so I showed him patterns I was considering.My gown would not be a total surprise because I didn't want to come down the aisle and have him gulping, gagging or grumping

over the crazy dress I was wearing!

I wanted my wedding gown to be pretty to him.

I was marrying my best friend, and I wanted him to be happy!

I should have said, "second-best friend," because Jesus is my very best friend.

And that is not a cliche.
Someday, we all want to be part of His bride.

Jesus, will You be happy with our wedding dress on that day?

Will it be beautiful enough, modest enough, white enough?

Jesus, I'm so afraid that the self-righteous gown I might want would not be beautiful to You.

It might be dirty, cheap, flimsy, and not cover enough.

Or it  might cover too much, because I am trying too hard to cover more than I need to, even my hands and my feet and my face,

when You want to see me just as I am--simple, with Your robe of righteousness which is just exactly right because You made it and paid for it!

So Jesus, I'm going to let You help me choose the pattern and make my gown for me. 

 Most Bridegrooms don't sew the wedding gown, or even pay for it.

But Jesus has provided His own wedding gown for His bride, and paid for it with His own blood.
We don't have to go to wedding shops or search Ebay or Amazon or even sew our own.

Thank You, Jesus, for being my very best friend--my coming King and Bridegroom!

And thank You that when I am uncertain of my ability to please You,

You have already made my beautiful gown for me!

And I can rest in You, folded in Your acceptance and love!