Sunday Wisdom

"One thing I ask of the Lord,

this is what I seek:

that I may dwell in the house of the Lord

all the days of my life,

to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord

and to seek him in his temple."

Psalm 27: 4, NIV

Sunday Wisdom

"There is no wisdom, no insight, no plan,

that can succeed against the Lord."

Proverbs 21: 30, NIV

When Life Gives You Lemons...

make lemonade!

Don't you hate it when you are distressed and some perky, positive person comes along to make light of things?

If you agree with this statement you may want to stop reading now.

When I began this blog I vowed I would not discuss anything depressing.

 My vision for the Victorian Parlor II was to be a place of respite where people could go to forget about the worries of life and just enjoy a small bit of joy no matter how insiginificant or unimportant the subject might be.

Lately all we hear about is the economy, the terrible state of the country, and other unsettling things.

Right now life is full of lemons.

But even with the landslide of lemons many have made lemonade.

Despite the daily worries and fears some good is taking place around us.

In times such as these people are having to cut back on the luxuries or 'unnecessaries' of life.

Families that once spent their time sitting in front of the TV watching cable shows are now having to cut off the cable and spend time talking, reading, or playing games together. 

Instead of reaching for a credit card to buy something that we want but don't need we have to step back and ask ouselves, "Do we really need it?"

Saving for the things we want is back in style, just like our grandparents used to do

 (for those of us in the forty-something age group :).

Our country has suffered through a great deal in the past but that's not what makes us great.

Our survival of these things is what makes us great!

We are banding together to help our neighbors and friends who are in need.

We're growing our own vegetables in the garden

 (a wonderful thing for children of this technologcial generation to  learn:).

We're reading, we're praying, we are finding other things to occupy our time besides TV, shopping, and 'keeping up with the Joneses.'

We have learned that we really are all created equal no matter what your income-everyone is subject to the same unsettling changes taking place.

And it seems it is bringing us closer together.

We will survive this ecomomic and financial famine!

We just have to be willing to make some lemonade instead of staring hopelessly at the lemons.

In the history of this world famines have reeked havoc and distress.

But God who is faithful always sees us through.

We were sailing along believing ourselves invinceable but we have hit rough seas and now know that we are all vulnerable.

Don't let the bad news of the day worry and destroy you.

Turn off the bad news, pick up a book and read.

Or even better, talk to a lonely older neighbor or fix a casserole for a a family in need.

We have become complacent these past years of abundance merely opening a can of powder and mixing it with water instead of using a little effort to squeeze several lemons to make a pitcher of lemonade.

Have you made lemonade lately?

Philippians 4:12-13

¹² I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. ¹³ I can do all this through him who gives me strength.

Sunday Wisdom

"He who oppresses the poor shows contempt for their Maker,

but whoever is kind to the needy honors God."

Proverbs 14: 31, NIV

Sunday Wisdom

"As the Scripture says,

"Anyone who trusts in him will never be put to shame."

For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile-

the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him,

for, "Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved."

Romans 10: 11-13, NIV

Magazine Dreams!

Kasey has taken an interest in my new magazine.

Yesterday while at Barnes and Noble I stumbled across this British magazine, Period Homes & Interiors.

Being a magazine-a-holic and enamored with all things British I splurged and bought it.

Let me tell you it did not disappoint!

Filled with lovely English homes and their interiors, antiques, and other articles I have enjoyed sipping tea while pursuing its colorful pages.

Granted it is a bit pricey so Kasey is helping by hiding the price tag so people don't think I'm crazy for spending $10 for a magazine:).

 One of the fun features of the magazine is the real estate section.

It was great fun looking at all the lovely country homes on the market and visiting the websites to see the interiors.

This one in particular caught my eye.

Thus begins the dream...

(if you would like to dream along with me visit:)

http://search.struttandparker.com/residential/property/1092?from=home

of owning an English cottage:).

Looks like Kasey is dreaming about it too!