TODAY IS June 16, 2025
AROUND ME there has been a lot of bird song. We have two house wrens who have built nests in our two bird houses this year. One I can see from our kitchen window, and I am enjoying it so much! There has also been a good mixture of sunshine and rain.
I AM PONDERING the beauty in the everyday. I've really been trying to live in the moment by letting go of the past and not being overly concerned about the future. I'm trying to remember that God has given me THIS day to enjoy and have often found myself repeating Psalm 118:24. I must be saying it out loud because even my husband is becoming a habitual repeater of it as well. "This is the day that the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it."
AMONG MY FAVORITE THINGS is spending time with family. I had the pleasure one evening last week of spending dinner time with one of my brothers and his family. My sister-in-law's sister was also a part of the gathering and that was enjoyable as well. She and I went to high school together and hadn't seen each other much since graduation.
BOOKS I AM CURRENTLY READING A Vision for Missions by Tom Wells. Last week I finished reading He Fell in Love with His Wife by Edward P. Roe, as well as The Forgotten Names by Mario Escobar. I will eventually get around to reviewing both of those books, along with Delighting in the Trinity by Michael Reeves and my current read.
I AM THANKFUL FOR the ability God has given us when it comes to our memories. When we had dinner with my brother and his family last week, we had such a good time remembering things from our childhood. Those memories only become more precious as we relive them with those who helped to create them.
NEVER TOO OLD TO LEARN it's not so much what we say, but often it's how we say something that makes all the difference in how it is received. (Psalm 141:3; Proverbs 18:21)
FROM THE KITCHEN
QUOTE FOR THE WEEK
SCRIPTURE FOR THE WEEK
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"So teach us to number our days,
so that we may present to You a heart of wisdom"
Psalm 90:12
"I AM PONDERING the beauty in the everyday. I've really been trying to live in the moment by letting go of the past and not being overly concerned about the future. I'm trying to remember that God has given me THIS day to enjoy and have often found myself repeating Psalm 118:24. I must be saying it out loud because even my husband is becoming a habitual repeater of it as well. "This is the day that the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it."
ReplyDeleteThis means so much to me today. God bless you. 🌻
I'm so glad that the Lord was able to minister to you today here in this space, my friend. xx
DeleteWe've been enjoying the birds songs too. When we sit on the deck in back in the evening, we hear so many (along with a few roosters!) and have commented on how beautiful it is. We also like to wander the yard every evening and see what is blooming. Bob says it's a great way to worship!
ReplyDeleteYou hear roosters, we hear owls (at the oddest times of the day). :) I like Bob's thoughts...viewing God's creation definitely gives us reason to worship Him. Thank you for sharing. xx
DeleteI really attached my eyes to the words, "live in the moment." Something I want to learn to do...Being where my feet are planted and allowing the heart, mind and soul to soak up the beauty of the day. This touched my heart today Dianna. No worries for tomorrow or regrets of the past...just following God and Trusting Him. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteI'm thankful that the post was meaningful to you, Shug. I took the majority of the day today to clean the kitchen and truly enjoy what I was doing rather than rushing through just to get done. What a difference it makes. xx
DeleteI try every day to not worry and yet I worry (but not as intensely!). It seems life is constant events that can be troubling.
ReplyDeleteI think we all tend to worry at times, my friend. Matthew 11:28 is a soothing balm for me during those times when Jesus tells us to come to Him if we are weary and heavy laden. We certainly are living in the midst of troubling events and when we can take those to Him, we do enter into His rest.
DeleteI love how you are being intentional about being present in your day. Often times I just wish the day away and don't think about being in the moment. I need to be better at this. Looking forward to hearing your thoughts on He Fell In Love With His Wife... sounds interesting. I hope you enjoy your day and don't over do it! {{hugs}} my friend!
ReplyDeleteMonica dear, I've done the same thing of wishing my days away so I can get to the next big event. I'm learning how much I've missed in doing that. Now that I am being more intentional, I am finding so many blessings that I know I've overlooked before.
DeleteThe title of that book almost made me concerned about reading it, but we have a mutual friend (Barbara) who had done a review on it, and I was intrigued.
I'll be good and take your advice about not overdoing it. That's one of the blessings of living in the moment...it slows one down! :) xx
That quote from Bunyan contains so much. It's one you can't just zoom by.
ReplyDeleteI agree, I think living in the moment is one of the best ways to peace. Too often we let the present suffer because we're busy regretting the past or worrying about the future.
I'm glad you had a visit with your brother and his family! It's fun when getting together with family stirs up old memories.
I know, Barbara. I feel the same way...especially when you consider that it was Bunyan who said it and the sacrificial life he lived for Christ.
DeleteThis brother is 8 years younger than me, but when we were growing up, we were quite close in spite of the age difference. I'm really soaking in these times when we get together now.
We were quoting Bunyan last evening here with the Grands chiming in, too. Sweet times with your family and friend. So good to ponder all the good things God has done and is doing in our lives and all around us. Thank you, Dianna.
ReplyDeleteIn my daily reading this morning I read this commentary note on Psalm 50:22 from John Calvin and learned a new word.
"Can you think of greater clemency than this? God invites us to himself, and into the bosom of the church. He invites perfidious apostates and violators of his covenant, who are departed from the doctrine of godliness in which we were brought up."
Perfidious: Violating good faith or vows (unfaithful, traitorous, deceitful, untrustworthy). I do not ever want to be perfidious when it comes to God's truth and our Faith. Blessings on the last week of Spring to you and yours!
I love it that you were quoting Bunyan with your Grands chiming in! What a rich heritage they have in you and your husband, Ellen.
DeleteI want to thank you for sharing that Calvin quote with us, Ellen. I can't imagine anyone would want to be perfidious, but I know that it happens or there wouldn't have been the need for Calvin to say such a thing.
I really love how you emphasize experiencing the day to day. So often, we get so busy and the beauty of what is around us is lost. To me, that is when I'm most at peace.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you got together with your brother and family. I agree that family is so special and the very best company to spend time with.
Such a cozy photo of your kitchen. Just definitely "YOU".
Melanie, I agree so much with you that there's much peace to be found in living in the moment. It tends to slow us down and our lives aren't as helter skelter.
DeleteThanks for your kind words about the photo from the kitchen. You definitely know me. :) xx
This is the day the Lord hath made, I sing that song all the time. :)
ReplyDeleteIt's a wonderful reminder, whether there's sunshine or rain. I love singing it too. :)
DeleteIt's lovely to hear birdsong isn't it ... there are quite a few who come and visit the garden, so nice to see them.
ReplyDeleteThe flowers in your kitchen look lovely.
Wishing you a good week ahead.
All the best Jan
Yes, it is, Jan. The other bird house is right outside our bedroom window, and I love waking up in the morning to the sound of the Wren singing.
DeleteThank you for your kind words regarding the flowers in the kitchen. They are faux, but at least I know they will look pretty throughout the season. :) My kitchen is basically blue and white...the walls are a soft butter yellow. So, when I changed out the decor for summer, I decided to use pops of yellow to brighten things up...kind of a French country combination of the blue, white and yellow.
I hope you have a wonderful week, my friend. xx
I enjoyed reading your answers and also the peek into your kitchen. It looks cheery.
ReplyDeleteWe hear birds singing when we go on our morning walks but not so often in our yard since our Kitty adopted us. Oh well, we enjoy her every day.
I'm sorry your wet weather has begun to rot your strawberries. How disappointing for you.
Thank you, GM, for your kind words. I'd love to have a kitten or cat, but we live too close to the road for that. Thank you for your kind words about our strawberries. I know it is really disheartening for my husband. Maybe next year will be better. :)
DeleteIt's fun to get together with family members and reminisce, we did this just recently and will be going to Australia in a couple of months to see family there. Always a blessing.
ReplyDeleteAnd' 'this is the day the Lord has made...' is something I often find myself saying out loud as well.
Yes it is, Diana. Some days that verse is what keeps me going.
DeleteI thank God for giving us the ability to have and enjoy memories too.I have always wanted to be one of those people who could differentiate birdsongs with confidence. I love" my" feathered friends who give me such joy with their songs.
ReplyDeleteI know. I would like to be that person too, but I find myself just getting caught up in enjoying the moment instead.
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