Knock, knock! Who's there?

Air conditioning became a reality for some in my youth. They were put in one's window to really cool that room and with a fan in that doorway, perhaps a little cooler in the rest of the house. Churches got AC much later, probably in my early adulthood. We photographed many weddings with fans blowing like crazy, sounding like an airplane hanger. I tell you this so I can explain this photo to you. Churches had hand-held fans with either this picture or one of Jesus praying in Gethsemane. (On the back was an ad for a funeral home which I found odd even at my young age. I will have to muse about that one sometime.)

We are learning about worship from our pastor and last Sunday, he spoke about prayer. Prayer is a personal conversation with God. Dr. Uth pointed out Revelation 3:20 as a verse that is used often for evangelism but he thinks of it as a verse about prayer. When Jesus knocks at our door, what does He want? He wants us to eat with Him. When Jesus lived on earth, the evening meal was very important. It was a time of fellowship. Relaxing together. When Jesus knocks at our door, He wants conversation with us.

On 11/23 (Desiring God) Francis Chan ended with this paragraph:

Something Has to Go

It was simple for Paul. He loved being with Jesus. “To live is Christ, and to die is gain” (Philippians 1:21). Knowing Christ deeply consumed him (Philippians 3:8). There is no substitute for being alone with God. If you don’t have time, you need to quit something to make room. Skip a meal. Cancel a meeting. End some regular commitment. There is literally nothing more important you could do today.

God literally determines whether or not you take another breath. “He himself gives to all mankind life and breath and everything” (Acts 17:25). Could anything be more important than meeting with the One who decides if you live through this day? Could anything be better? How can we not make time to be with the Maker of time? What plans do you have today that you think so important that you would race past the Creator to get to them?

E.M. Bounds wrote, “The devil doesn't mind people teaching on prayer, preaching on prayer, having conferences on prayer or singing songs about prayer. What he cannot stand, what he will fight against with all of his might are people who pray.”

Personally, this is so difficult many days. Everyone is busy! There will always be more needs/wants than we can do. When I was young, home décor included a photo like this. And of course, there was the Grace photo. At Huisken Designs, we sold many plaques of Bible verses. Maybe I should hang this photo in my home so I remember to not race past my Creator!

"Happy Thanksliving!" and "Merry Christian!"

Great Cartoon in the Sunday Paper How times have changed! “In my day” I recall putting some greenery and lights in our studio window before Thanksgiving, and some folks spoke to us about it. In the photography world, when we used film, we started thinking about Christmas cards in September. By the way, photo cards were quite a phenomenon and mostly done by the professional photographers. So we were thinking Christmas commercially before Halloween. Now the Halloween displays are with the Christmas displays. The Halloween stuff gets sold at 70% off and more Christmas stuff comes in. The stores have their decorations up in late September it seems. I have been humming Christmas music quite awhile already. Thanksgiving is an almost forgotten holiday. It might be if it were not for the food. And then yesterday, I heard Verizon's ad calling in “Thanksgetting”! Well, folks, there isn't much we can do about it. Maybe we should just say,
“Happy Thanksliving!” and “Merry Christian!”

God is faithful! I love when God shows me something to remind me of His greatness! While at Boca Grande, we especially enjoyed the sunsets over the gulf. Every evening God sends a sunset. Now one would think that is a good-enough-for-me sign of faithfulness but God has a way of pounding it home! Each evening, within moments of the sunset, just when one would think the show is over, an eagle flies in and lands on a large tree between the patio and the now-set sun. Unbelievable, a sure sign of faithfulness, but there is more! A second eagle arrives shortly, lands on a branch, and they chat just a bit. It is a sweet sound, one not expected from such a large bird. And then they just sit quietly for some time. Now isn't that great faithfulness? It is! But can you believe that Jerry and Jean have been watching this since they have lived in their home in Boca?

Got it, Fran? God is even more faithful than those two eagles! He is the forever I AM!

Beth Moore in Believing God, published in 2008, used Ps 74:19-20. “The world is in desperate need of true spiritual awakening, and believers are in desperate need of a fresh infusion of faith. Yes, we seek God primarily to find Him, not to see Him perform. But may He take His hand from the folds of His garment and show us His glory!”

I think God was asking me, “Got it, Frances? Really got it? I AM faithful!!”

Thrifting with my Friend

Thrifting with my Friend

“I'm gonna pop some tags! Got $6 in my pocket!” Diana and I headed out to Haines City which has two great thrift stores, both for great causes. I found some good finds there—$1 for a yellow hat, in case I start the first Yellow Hat Society, $1.50 for old jewelry, three books for a dollar, a $2 robe which I just laundered, misc. junk for $1.50. (That's another way of saying I can't remember.) Add that up, folks, and I just spent all my cash! Good thing I passed up the $1NOEL macrame banner as a great gag gift. I decided it would cost too much to mail it. I forgot to replenish my stash after the 39 Mile Yard Sale. Fortunately, Diana always has cash!

On to our next stop. There I found old earrings for 50 cents, a $14.99 book for $1, and a great book identifying all the Florida plants for a mere 25 cents. I needed to borrow from Diana so I thought it would be easier to just borrow a ten dollar bill so we could remember what I owed her and in case I found more since we planned to hit at least 5 more stores. The amount may seem irrelevant, but stay with me, folks.

We drove to Lake Alfred where there are some fun shops but no thrift stores open on Tuesdays. There is a restaurant we like with tables outside under a giant tree. It is important to keep up your strength when thrifting! Our lunch was delicious and delightful as well! And I could use my credit card!

Behind the restaurant there is a plant shop that we enjoy. I got an air plant-just a tiny little thing that weighs next to nothing. Diana bought 3 plants, one which was huge! I need to mention that these plants were all outdoors. I drove the car around and we loaded the humongous plant into the trunk. By this time we made a decision to go home and do the Winter Haven shops another time.

When we got to Diana's house, we opened the trunk, took out the plant and out jumped a small toad! Of course, we jumped back. Then I spotted another small toad still in the trunk! Now you know as well as I do how they got in the trunk! That little toad jumped to the back of the my trunk and disappeared! When I got home, I changed clothes, got a container for capturing, and climbed in the trunk. I saw zilch! I decided to wait for Lyle.

Now, the importance about that $10 loan. I still had $8 and found enough change to pay Diana back, put it in an envelope, and give it to Leo when he dropped off Lyle. I reached in the drawer, pulled out an envelope, happened to look inside it and there is a dehydrated toad in it. I'm not making this up, folks! It is my “toad you so”day! There is no way he could have gotten in the drawer, much less into an envelope so I assuming I found him once and decided he needed to be kept. I did that once with a gecko, but that is another story.

After it cooled off some, we got out the vacuum and I climbed in the trunk again. Once more, zilch. Lyle suggested he put the seats down and see if we could find him. Oh yeah, for sure, he is visible and jumped out into the garage—Where he may still be hiding! Perhaps even dehydrating!

"I'm gonna rock some tags-Got $20 in my pocket!" Actually had a little more. But what deals! When I bought the hat, I got a ticket for a free hotdog and soda-too early so got it on our way back. At one yard sale, a guy was grilling hotdogs and giving them away with a "God Bless Ya"! There were some kids doing a great job hollaring about their hotdog deal from a little Christian school so we paid $2.50 for two with a soda! You count 'em. We consumed our monthly ration of hotdogs in one day. Lyle and I had a fun 6 hours and enjoyed the scenery besides!

 A $1 jewelry box that I will chalk paint.

 A small piece of Belleek that I have always wanted-$1.

 Two small dishes, Japan, that enhance my centerpiece.

 Two great antique candlesticks with original crystals $2. Also small Bible for 50 cents.

Everyone can use another old Christmas box to tuck somewhere for a quarter. Marbles for a project for my daughter $1. A box with wooden puzzle pieces I plan to use for jewelry $1.50. And 25 cent ringbearer for a friend.

A hat I could not resist for $3 but we got a ticket for a hotdog and drink.

And our most expensive item-a rack of the best ribs ever for $10.

Bennett is 12!

We are excited to celebrate the 12 years that we have been blessed by loving and being loved by Bennett. Enjoy his birthday portraits from Baptism to 12!

This free picture collage generated with Smilebox

Found~Redeemed

After "Seeking Him" and Hide Me, Lord", I put together this book, "Found~Redeemed".  I loved making this book and I especially love the back cover with the photos of my grandchildren.  They are the ones for whom I specifically do this.  Leaving a legacy is a really big deal so I hope when they look at these books perhaps far down their path, they will recall the excitement of being "found" when they were kids.  And my prayer is that they are seeking Him, that He is hiding them, and that they are found and redeemed. Enjoy!

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