Thursday, June 27, 2019

The Back Porch - Country Songs, Barbecue, and Laughter!

Hello out there! I hope y'all are doing well! I was really tired when I went to bed
last night but I wanted to read the scriptures for the day from my Magnificat. If I
was still reading them first thing in the morning...I wouldn't have just read the
Gospel! My eyes (kind of ) popped open as I read the following scripture:
Matthew 7:15-20
Jesus said to his disciples: "Beware of false prophets, who come to you in
sheep's clothing, but underneath are ravenous wolves. By their fruits you
will know them. Do people pick grapes from thorn bushes, or figs from
thistles? Just so, every good tree bears good fruit, and a rotten tree bears
bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a rotten tree bear good
fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit will be cut down and thrown
into the fire. So by their fruits you will know them."
That reading from the Gospel of Matthew is so easy to understand. It has stayed
with me all day. I pray that I will always bear good fruit and that God will guide
me back to the right path if I start to wither like a plant that needs water!
Lately I have not had time to blog on a regular basis. There is no way to catch
up on everything that has happened so I'm just going to start fresh!
I went on an ACTS Retreat two weeks ago. It was an excellent spiritual retreat
and I really needed it. I'm thankful for the team of ladies who worked so hard
to make the retreat special. I'm also thankful for the priest and deacon who
were involved. I missed my husband. We're not away from each other very often
and when we are we still talk on the phone. We were not allowed to have our
phones at this retreat which really helps you focus but it was hard not being able
to call and Jim and say, "You won't believe what happened!" Guess what we did."
"I miss you, love you, etc!" I survived and he did too. Last Saturday night we
sat on the back porch and listened to the radio and watched our assorted animals;
our dog and cat, the sheep and their bouncy lambs, and a big fat hen chasing a
really big grasshopper. The sunset was breathtaking and it was so nice to sit and
visit. I sang along with the songs which always makes Jim laugh.
Speaking of Jim, he just informed me that he has fired up the barbecue pit. I'm
going to grab the pork chops and take them outside for him to cook. I'll
probably have a glass of my cheap wine over ice and sing along to some old
country songs! Spend time with your loved ones and make some awesome
memories - every day is a gift!
                                                                         Blessings to you and yours!
                                                                                    Bye for now, Sharla


Tuesday, June 11, 2019

Come, Holy Spirit, Fill our Hearts!

Good morning out there! It has been almost three weeks since my last post! A busy
time of year for everyone. I woke up about 3:30 am and could not go back to sleep.
I have several things to share with y'all and I'm still trying to decide if I should write
one really long post or several different posts. I'll just jump right in and see what
happens. That's usually how it works - I think I'm going to write about this or that and
The Holy Spirit has other ideas!


Speaking of The Holy Spirit - This past Sunday was Pentecost! I have the perfect
picture to share!

Come, Holy Spirit,
fill the hearts of your faithful.
And kindle in them the fire of your love.
Send forth your Spirit and they shall be created.
And you will renew the face of the earth.
Lord,
by the light of the Holy Spirit
you have taught the hearts of your faithful.
In the same Spirit help us to relish what is right
and always rejoice in your consolation.
We ask this through Christ our Lord.
Amen.

I am going to attend an ACTS Retreat this weekend. I am really excited about this!
I have to tell you...I never thought I would go on one of these retreats. Not because I
didn't want to or because I didn't think I needed to - I just didn't feel like I would ever
be able to. One of my closest friends told me that I would know when the time was
right. The time is right - I need this retreat and that's kind of a hard thing for me to admit.
I just go and go and right now I know that I have to stop for just a couple of days and
be still and listen. I'm praying to be filled with the Holy Spirit, just like the picture above.
I'm praying for the ACTS Team who have worked so hard to put this together and I'm
praying for all the other ladies who will be there with me.
 Come, Holy Spirit, fill our hearts!
Blessings to you and yours!
Bye for now, Sharla