Tuesday, June 30, 2009

Alone With Our Thoughts?


Today is Tuesdays In The Word, and I am joining in with a poem that came to me when I woke up this morning. It came through the scripture verse Phil. 4:8, which always helps me to get my thinking into the right place.

Sometimes when facing the trials in life we feel so alone, and we try and try to work things out in our minds, all on our own without seeking God. I am guilty of this sometimes. But God wants us to know that we don't have to think it all out on our own. He doesn't want us to worry and fret, and lose sleep. He wants to give us peace.

If you would like to join in today just click on the button above and share what the Lord is teaching you through His word today!


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Alone With Our Thoughts?

Sometimes we think that we’re alone with what goes on in our mind
But we forget that there is One who’s with us all of the time

He hears our worries and our fears and all we struggle with
We think we’re dealing all alone with what life has to give

Why do we worry and fret so much and lose our precious sleep
When there is One who loves us so,…His promises He keeps

“Alone” we think,…we’re all “Alone”,…but friends this is not true
Just let Him come inside your head and He’ll tell you what to do!

We keep Him locked inside our “hearts” and do things on our own
Let’s let Him work inside our “heads” and not bear things alone

He knows our minds and all our thoughts, and all that brings us down
Give Him your grief, and tolls, and cares, and even that big frown

He’ll sweep the cobwebs from our mind and make our thoughts His own
If we give Him the room to work, we won’t feel so alone

We think we must face things alone and keep our pain inside
Not trouble others with our trials and what burdens our mind

What fools we are when we think this way, and tell ourselves these lies
Our precious Lord and Savior cares and hears our desperate cries

What peace He brings within our lives when we give Him control
He died for us and all our sins to save our weary soul

We’re not alone,…never alone,…what comfort this thought brings
Making every thought captive to my Lord,…and now my tired mind sings!

Whatsoever things are true, honest, just, pure, lovely, good and kind
Virtuous and praise worthy things, are now what fills my mind!

Yes friends, …“think on these things”, and “peace” the Lord will bring
You’re not alone with all your thoughts,…you share them with your King!

Linda ~~~ June 2009 ~~~ Philippians 4:8

You will be blessed by my daughter Lisa's post today too!

And by my daughter Lynnette's post

Saturday, June 27, 2009

Rain



These pictures were taken in Florida when we were on vacation a few years ago. We drove a couple of hours to go to the beach and it clouded up and poured down rain about 20 minutes after we got there!

I live in Kansas and so this is not the view from my window as I watched the rain the day I wrote this poem,...but I just added it because I couldn't find another rain picture. ((smile))
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Rain

A gentle rain is falling on this quiet summer day
I gaze outside my window and I feel prompted to pray

Why is it that the showers drench my dry and longing soul?
As I see the dancing raindrops and I hear the thunder roll

I turn my eyes toward heaven and I wonder with my mind
Why my precious Lord and Savior is so generous and kind

We’ve had days of heat and swelter where we grumble and complain
And yet the faithful Savior now sends peaceful quiet rain

There’s a feeling of contentment rising up within my heart
As I smile and draw a breath and let the vespers have their start

Thank you Jesus for your mercy raining down upon us all
Thank you for the generous blessings as the showers freely fall

Now my grass will green and flourish as it soaks in all the drops
And my flowers will stand taller,…heat had given them the flops!

Don’t we all feel bouts of weariness when summer takes it’s toll?
I know I often wilt outside when scorching heat and hot winds blow

But this morning here I sit inside just listening to the rain
And I find it’s rhythm soothing, like a lullaby’s refrain

I needed sweet refreshment,…we all do from time to time
So I sat inside and watched the rain and made this little rhyme

Wash me now oh precious Master with the wonder of your love
As you send the welcomed showers from your reservoir above

Always there to hear our murmurings,…how often we complain!
But today I choose to praise Him for the blessing of the rain!

By Linda Hogeland June 2009

Wednesday, June 24, 2009

Because Kids Live Here,....(This Week) and Wednesday's Walk


I am in BIG TROUBLE with my girls after I did this post earlier,...They made me apologize for posting pictures of their dirty clothes on the floor and the drawer with their personal stuff hanging out. They said those things should not have been posted on a blog where EVERYONE could see them! So, I am deleting those pictures, so my almost 10 and almost 11 year old granddaughters won't be mad at me any more. I love having them here with me this week and I don't want to hurt their feelings or make them mad at me anymore,...so I am changing this post and removing the pictures that "offended them"

We went to Pizza John's for lunch and they were telling me at lunch that they were offended by my blog about them being messy. Does this picture look like they like Grandpa better than me? I'm just teasing,...but I am changing my post and deleting the pictures that upset them!


Notes to Grandma and Grandpa are found

Papers grace our fridge again

Rocks are found on our counter tops

Notices from VBS and Bible verses to memorize

Grandma is driving precious cargo around town, (Don't kick Grandma's seat Adelynn!)

Bailey is helping Grandma keep up with the energetic little girls, (Notice the little hand over Bailey's Head?...Yup those fingers are Julia's)

Julia giving me a sweet smile.

Adelynn playing with my neck pillow

They love the slide at the pool

Bailey "chillin' out" on the 100 degree day

Sisters jumping in the pool

Here we go again!

Sisters, and cousins at play

Laundry for Grams

"Who us? We're not up to something!"

Not twins,...just sweet sisters who are a year apart
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On Tuesday my daughter Lynnette did a blog called "Because Kids Live Here", and you were supposed to take pictures of amusing things that your kids did,...or pictures of funny places they left things etc. Well, this week I have two of my granddaughters here with me,...and I suddenly realized that I could make a post about my week with them,...so I am posting about, "When Kids Live Here",...(This Week!) ((smile)) And this will also be my Wednesday's Walk memory blog for this week too.

If you would like to join in the fun, just click on the button below and then link up your post with Mr. Linky
...so we can read about your memories,...or see your pictures of what's happening around your house!

Sunday, June 21, 2009

Happy Father's Day

John doing something he really enjoys! He throws back everything he catches. He enjoys the peace and quiet times with the Lord as he fishes.

A picture of John's Dad. He was a well respected man who owned a grocery store in a small town.

John standing by his dad at his funeral. A very sad day for us all. John is the oldest of 5 boys, and two girls.

John's mom holding the flag that was presented to her at dad's funeral. She was from England. She married John's dad and came to America after the war. She helped dad build his grocery business and she raised 7 kids. She was an amazing woman. We miss her so much.

John with some of his grandkids at Christmas time a few years ago. He loves his grandkids,...all 14 of them that God has given him.

John getting ready to read scripture at his nephew's wedding last week. Oh how I love this man of mine!


I know that there are people out there who are sad today on Father's Day. Maybe their father has passed away,..or maybe they never knew their dad,...or maybe their relationship with their dad wasn't good. For whatever reason your sadness has come upon you, I just want to say that I am sorry. And that I can understand.

I also want to tell you that there is a Father in Heaven who loves you. A Father who wants to bring peace to your heart. A Father who will be there for you when you need tenderness. All you have to do is see your sins and confess them to Him, and then run into His arms and let Him be a Father to you,....He has adopted you already. He paid the price by offering His Son for your sake. His Son bled and died and took your sins upon Himself,...He rose again and won the victory over death and Hell, so that you could have abundant life now,...and eternal life with Him in Heaven, after you leave this earth.

John 3:16 For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

Last month on Mother's Day I was kind of sad because I was reminded that I had no earthly mother to send flowers, or greetings to, for the second year in a row. We lost John's mom a year ago in February. She was very special to me, and I loved her a lot. My own dear mother passed away in December of 1986, and I have missed her and thought of her daily for all of these years. She was such a wonderful mother to me when I was growing up! She had a hard life raising us kids alone, but I think she did her best. She looked to the Lord and He helped her.

Today is Father's Day and I am also missing my father-in-law who left this world three years ago in February. He was the only dad I ever knew, and he was a part of my life for 30 years. Of course I had a dad at birth, but he was never a daddy to me,...and then he left my mom when I was 5 and I never saw him again,...he just disappeared,....and we never knew where he went,...and eventually she divorced him.

But, from a very young age my mom helped me to understand that I had a Heavenly Father who loved me very much, and that knowledge of Him, always brought me comfort and joy.

I heard a Christian speaker say once, that as Christians, we are all under the umbrella of God's protection,...and women and children are under the umbrella of God,...as well as their husband's, and their father's protection. And then when the children grow up the cycle continues as they marry and have children. This gave me such a feeling of peace and security to think of being under protection and safety.

I always knew that God loved me and protected me,...but then I started thinking of how my dear husband loves and protects me too,....and how he has always loved and protected our children, and now our grandchildren. It is an awesome thought.

I don't know why Women's Libbers want to be so independent,...and some of them reject the strong protection and care from the men in their lives. I never had that from an earthly father,...and I always wanted it,... and needed it. But I do have that protection now, and also the love of my dear husband, and I thank God for it.

I was married before for about 9 years and I briefly had that from my first marriage.
But eventually the marriage dissolved. So, I had some insecurities as to why men in my life left me and could not be depended on,...and I had trust issues.

When I remarried 33 years ago, I carried those issues into this marriage. And there was a time when this marriage almost dissolved too. But praise God that never happened. My husband got saved, and for nearly 15 years now we have had a Christian marriage. John was a "good" man before salvation, who had a good up-bringing in a small town in Nebraska. He had values and he tried to always do what was right. But he wasn't living for Jesus when we got married,...and back then, neither was I.

John has been a good husband and a good father to my three girls. He adopted them and gave then his name, and he also gave them everything they needed for all of these years. He is still very giving to them even now that they are adults,...and he helps in any way he can, to add blessings to their lives,...and to mine,...and to each of our grandchildren's lives.

I praise God for my wonderful, and godly husband. I wish him a Happy Father's Day. I thank him for all he has done for me and for "our" kids, and "our" grandkids all of these years. These 15 years since he became a Christian have been wonderful, and we grow closer everyday.

Happy Father's Day John. You are a blessing to me, and to the kids, and the grandkids! We all love you very much.

Friday, June 19, 2009

Cucumber Sandwiches...And Feminine Friday




Cucumber Sandwiches

With cream cheese you spread the bread
Then add tomatoes bright and red

Fresh cucumbers sliced and cold
Stacked upon tomatoes bold

With salt and pepper I then flavor
Add more bread,…eat and savor

Nothing like them on a summer day
Cucumber sandwiches made this way

Eat them outside, under a tree
And top them off with a glass of iced tea

They call them “ladies' sandwiches”, so delicate and light
I call them simply “yummy”,...a summertime delight!

By Linda Hogeland June 2009

Every wise woman buildeth her house: but the foolish plucketh it down with her hands. Proverbs 14:1

June 19, 2009
Feminine Friday

Well it's that time again, time to show our beautiful dresses/skirts. We can show that dressing modest and feminine can be done and with style. I was called by the spirit of God to showcase how ladies in today's society can dress modest and feminine, not only in dress but in demeanor as well. You can also link past/present posts on modesty or feminity as well. This can be an encouragement to women, who can benefit from your wisdom. Just grab a button, paste it at the end of your post and link up!

Grab a button and code:

Tuesday, June 16, 2009

Our Nephew's Wedding

This week for Wednesday's Walk I thought I would share some pictures from our trip last week to Nebraska for our nephew's wedding. If you would like to join in today, just click on the button below and link up your story with Mr. Linky.



John and I drove our van on our trip to Nebraska last Thursday, to attend our nephew's wedding. Our daughter Lisa and her husband Brad, (who was the pastor officiating at the wedding), and their daughter Bailey followed us in their car.

I snapped some pictures along the way and said to my husband,... "when we drive this route you can sure tell we live in Kansas"! Lots of farmland and flat land, cows, horses, silos, wheat fields, and corn fields, etc. It is kind of nice to just get out of town, away from the hustle and bustle of life and just look out at the green fields and blue skies and clouds.

We stopped in a little town called Cawker City and took some pictures of "The World's Largest Ball Of Twine!" Can you believe that? ((smile)) It is 40 feet around and weighs over 17,000 pounds. Who would ever think of making the world's largest ball of twine??? Crazy! ((smile))

The wedding was nice and my son-in-law did a good job officiating, but I think it was the shortest wedding I have ever attended. It only took 15 minutes! The bride and groom wanted it that way. The dinner, reception, and party however lasted the rest of the night.

It was nice to spend time with family and friends, and a good time was had by all.
But I found myself wondering how this little curly haired nephew of ours grew up so fast? There he was standing next to his little dark haired beauty with stars in his eyes and love in his heart, pledging to love and to cherish from this day forward as long as they both shall live.

I do hope that Simon and Glynna will live happily ever after! And that God will bring many blessings into their life together.

It doesn't seem that long ago when John and I had a reception at that very same Country Club, (the old building though), as we started our life together.

And yet it is possible that before too many more years pass by, we will start attending some of our GRANDCHILDREN'S weddings! Life indeed flies swiftly by. Every day truly needs to be treasured.


Me taking pictures and being silly!


My John doing a good job driving...oh I love this man!


Kansas= blue skies, white clouds, green fields,... a beautiful day!


Kansas Road to Cawker City


Bailey in front of The World's Largest Ball Of Twine!


Lisa, Bailey and I


John and I


Brad and Lisa


Pastor Brad


Our niece played the music


John read Scripture


Three of our Aunties


Taking their vows


The happy Mother and Father of the groom


The new Mr. and Mrs. leaving the church


The bride and groom cutting the cake
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I love weddings!!!
Thanks for letting me share this with you today.