White as Snow ...

It’s time for an update on our kitchen booth. We have been busy this week.  I say “we” because my hubby joined me in the fun.  Not the painting part, but the building part.  Just you wait!

I ended up having to prime this piece 2 times, yes, the lovely green and raspberry just kept shining through.  Then I painted 2 coats of this white paint called "snow cap".  Love the color--its has just a hint of cream to it.

Finally, I polyurethaned the booth and the table.

Then my hubby stepped in and did his part.  We knew we wanted a bigger table top because 48” x 30” was not going to be big enough for the crowds we have.  Ben got to work doing math and calculations.  Then he began the building process.

After cutting, gluing, filling in with wood filler, a lot of sanding, here is the new table top, waiting to be stained.

I Can NOT wait to get to that today.

And next week, hopefully, we will have the table in place.  I’m also working on the cushions, window valances, and reupholstering these beautiful antique chairs.  They were built in the 1920’s.  I am in love.  Nope-no sneak peaks!  😳🙄😍

Do you know what song popped in my head while I was painting away?

No guesses?

This old hymn called, “Nothing But the Blood”.

1) What can wash away my sin?
Nothing but the blood of Jesus.
What can make me whole again?
Nothing but the blood of Jesus.

chorus:
O precious is the flow
that makes me white as snow
no other fount I know;
nothing but the blood of Jesus.

The more I painted the white over the colors, the more the song just kept playing through my brain.   "O precious is the flow that makes me white as snow".  

Have you ever thought about how blood could be so very precious?  When I had the cancer debulking surgery in September 2017, I found out just how precious blood was.  I had to have 8 bags of blood during that 9 1/2 hour surgery.  In fact, the reason the doctor had to give me a colostomy was because my body was "weeping" blood.  It just couldn't handle any more surgery.  So yes, I fully understand how precious blood can be.  Blood saves lives.

This song however, is referring to the blood that Jesus spilt for us when he died on the cross over 2,000 years ago.   He sacrificially went to the cross to make a blood atonement for all the sins of the world.  Just like in the Old Testament times when the Jewish Priest would make atonement for the sins of the people with an animal sacrifice, Jesus made that sacrifice for each of us.

What can make us whole again?
Nothing but the blood of Jesus.

The precious blood of Jesus is the reason I have faith to believe that I can trust Jesus with my life.  The precious blood is why I try to be obedient to God's call on my life.  It's why we moved our family to Honduras. He was willing to be the sacrifice for my sins.  The least I can do is to obey Him with my life.

As you reflect on how his precious blood affects your life.  Go to the link below and enjoy this beautiful hymn.

Nothing But the Blood by Hillsong

In Him who is Able,

Julie

New Year New Project!

2019-Welcome to the New Year!  I’m not making any resolutions—but I am beginning my 1st project for the year.   And it’s going to be a fun one.  

I saw this booth/table on Facebook Marketplace during the Christmas Holiday.  We bought it and brought it home.  There it sat until today.  

Today I began the remodel with sanding.  Can you see all of the pretty shades this table has displayed?  

After sanding, I wiped down all the pieces.  Then I got my hubby to help me move the pieces inside because it’s going to be too cold for paint to dry outside over the next few days and this is going to take several days to prime and paint.  

I may be painting in the great room while a National Championship is playing.  😜 All I can say is Go Dawgs—Next Year!

Come back next Monday to see how far the “makeover” has progressed. 

Julie

Are you Experiencing Winter or Christmas?

Today is December 21^st which is the official beginning of the Winter Solstice.  This day typically brings colder weather and less sunlight.  It ushers in the Winter Season. 

On Sunday we were discussing the 400 years of silence from God between the time period of the Old Testament and the New Testament.  Did you realize there was 400 years when God was silent?  Before these years God spoke mainly through prophets, angels, signs, visions, dreams and even a rare donkey.  But there was a day when He became silent.  For 400 years there was nothing.  The seasons continued to change but there was no Word from the Lord.

Then in Luke 1:11 and angel appeared to Zacharias.  The first words from the messenger were, “Do not be afraid.”  Can you imagine what Zacharias was thinking?  Here was a messenger from God.   I’m guessing he had been told these stories of God from his family, and I imagine he had read these stories himself since he had been chosen to perform the priestly duties of burning incense in the temple. But here in the temple, on this day, was the angel--Gabriel standing before him, giving him a Word from God.  The angel told him that he and his wife would have a baby.  That their son would bring joy and gladness.  He would be great in the sight of the Lord and would turn many of the sons of Israel back to the Lord their God. 

The Silence was over.  And we now know that the Lord was orchestrating the best plan ever—Christmas!  The time when Jesus would be born and enter this world as a tiny baby.  The beginning of His redemption plan for all of mankind. 

So I have to ask you—are you experiencing winter or Christmas?

Are you living in silence from God?  Or Are you living in the wonder of the miracle of Christmas?

We have been choosing to celebrate this miracle all Christmas season.  We have been using the book, “Unwrapping the Names of Jesus” to keep our focus on Jesus this season.  (And even though we are behind—It has helped us to look to at all the many different aspects of who Jesus is to us.)  We have been choosing to have joy and peace. 

Then yesterday—we got our own personal message from the Lord in the form of test results.  We found out yesterday that my CA 125(cancer marker) was normal.  We were also told that the nodule that was found in September “has not grown any bigger”.  The MRI also showed the rest of my body cancer free.  (As I’m typing this—I still have a big ole goofy grin on my face.) 

Yall, the Lord is very much at work and answering prayers!  He is not silent!  Praise the Name of Jehovah-Rapha –the God who heals!

Let me encourage you today to seek after the True Meaning of Christmas!  Don’t experience Winter—experience Christmas!

Love and Hugs!

Julie

Christmas Stockings are Finished!

4 months ...

the amount of time I have been sewing, quilting, piecing, crafting, creating new Christmas stockings.

The tradition of using a Stocking is said to originate in the early 1800's.   Tradition says that St. Nicholas heard about sisters who were very poor and he decided to give them money.  Apparently he threw bags of gold down the fireplace and it landed in the girls stockings that were drying by the fireplace.  

I like this story--whether it's true or not--because can you imagine finding a bag of gold in your stockings?  What excitement that would bring! 

Our family's stockings usually have small gifts like socks, gift cards, chocolate candy and usually an orange(can't remember why an orange--this tradition came from Ben's side of the family). 😉

But I am so excited to finally be finished with these creations, I decided to share them.

Enjoy!

Do you feel it? The Excitement of Fall

Do you feel it?  Cooler weather, a crispness to the morning, leaves falling, pumpkin decorations, pumpkin pie flavored coffee, pumpkin bread, Fall has come!

And I love it!  I love this season when I can raise the windows, air out the house, decorate the front porch (I'd be lying if I said the house😁), and have a fire in the fire pit.

This is one of my favorite times of the year.  The building up to THE holiday season.  

This is the little lull before full on Craziness!

And really--Hallmark Channel--you have made my season--Christmas movies are now on!  (All of my sons and my husband are groaning outloud!)  But I'm an equal opportunity kind of girl--I watch spy/thriller/shoot em' up movies and college football right there with my men.  They really can't complain too loudly.

Do you want to know what also happens this time of the year?

BUSYNESS!  Parties, celebrations, church functions, family get-togethers, and for us--November is a birthday month for 4 of us in the Agee family.

Already this season, I have found myself putting accomplishing "things" before digging deep into some Bible study.  I'm not saying you have to legalistically study deeply everyday, but you know when you are starting to miss out on the deep fellowship with Jesus.  You realize that you've only been giving the Lord a few moments to your day, and its been a while since you really sat and meditated on what you are learning from the Word.

So let me encourage you and myself to not let the busyness of the upcoming season creep in without you knowing it.  Let me encourage you now to make a plan of what you are going to do to not let this happen.

I decided to start this study by Lysa TerKeurst called, "Finding I AM".  

  
I also bought this book, Unwrapping the Names of Jesus" by Asheritah Ciuciu for the advent season.  I would say it's geared towards older kids and teens.  But each week it gives suggestions on ways to reach out to others and share some Christmas Love.  I do know this, if you don't plan ahead these things won't happen.

Just a few ideas to keep your focus on the true meaning of the upcoming season.

Just keeping it real!

Julie

When "Realness" Hits

I was having a weak moment this morning.

Basically--I was in the "God I am tired of this camp."

I was tired of being stuck at home, I was tired of feeling alone, and I was tired of running to the bathroom because my tummy is still not cooperating.

I was weary.  

Truthfully--I realized today--I was Jealous.  

That's right.  Facebook is my foe.  All those pictures of vacations, trips out shopping, trips to the beach --Y'all--I was undone.  This had been building.  Yesterday I was upset because I couldn't go to church or Sunday School, and then I missed out on a family get together because I didn't think I would do anything but run to the bathroom.  (I had based that on the morning I had been having--no less that 10 trips between 9:00 am - 12:00 noon.)  And yes, we went shopping on Friday, but we also spent our day devising plans of where the public restrooms were and how quickly I could get to them.

The tears have been silently falling all morning.

And then in the back of my brain, since I'm being so terribly honest,  is the fear that I really may die in the near future.  If this nodule is growing, then ...

So forgive my humanness.  It had stolen my joy for a little bit.  I can't help it--it sometimes happens.

Oh, but Jesus.

He doesn't let me wallow for long.

My sister called, she let me talk it out, she prayed for me, and then I went to the Word.

My scriptures today was Psalm 56.

And there I was--just like David--feeling like I was being attacked from all sides.  

Feeling lonely, facing the unknowns, overwhelmed.

Verses 3 and 4 hit me so hard.  I had been looking at my circumstances, instead of trusting that the Lord is bigger than all my problems.   Psalm 56:3-4 says--"When I am afraid, I will put my trust in You. In God, whose word I praise, In God I have put my trust; I shall not be afraid.  What can mere man do to me?"

Then verse 8. "You have taken account of my wanderings; put my tears in Your bottle.  Are they not in Your book?"    You can't tell me these verses don't just make you sit still and pause.  He puts MY TEARS in  HIS bottle and His book.  This is my God who knows me so well to know that I will have bad mornings, that I will take my eyes off of His plan, and look at my circumstances, that I will feel alone, instead of remembering that He is with me and never leaves me.  He has a bottle and a book for our tears.  

The end of verses 9-12 says, "This I know, that God is for me. In God, whose word I praise, In God I have put my trust, I shall not be afraid,  What can man do to me?  Your vows are binding upon me, O God; I will render thank offerings to You."

How humbling.  The Lord knows our humanness--he knows we will have times of sorrow.  Here he gives us a way to overcome it--give Him "Thanks" offerings.  

So here are a few of my "Thanks" Offerings:

Thank you Lord for being with me--always.
Thank you Lord for collecting my tears in your bottle.
Thank you Lord for numbering my days.
Thank you Lord for my family.
Thank you Lord for good friends.
Thank you Lord for cards of encouragement.
Thank you Lord for your Word.
Thank you Lord for good legs that get me to the bathroom. 😉
Thank you Lord for your redemption plan of salvation.
Thank you Lord for letting me come to you when I am weak.

What is your "Thanks Offering" today?  Please share so we can be thankful too.

Julie

Test Results 9/28/18

We just left Mayo and stopped for a bite to eat at Chipotle.  So while I devour a chicken bowl, I’ll pass on the news we were given today.  First things first, my CA 125 marker number was a 9.  That is an awesome number.  So yes, we are celebrating that.  The only other piece of news is that they did find a 1.2 cm nodule in my right pelvic area that was not present at the scans in July.  They do not know if it is cancerous and just said we would watch it.  We are scheduled to go back at the end of December for more scans.  So that’s our news.

We are choosing to believe that God is not caught off guard by this nodule—cancerous or not.  And that finding it has not shortened or lengthened the number of days that I’ve been given.  We hold firm to the truth that God is bigger than anything that may happen in my body.  We trust in Him!

Today we are choosing to have “fun” shopping and hanging out before we head back home.  (I put the fun there for Ben’s benefit.) He’d rather mow the grass than shop, but well a girl is in the city so she must shop a little bit.  😃