20 Things to Do When It's Time to Dust

 

Today was a bit of an unusual day. 

There were no appointments, no Dr. Visits, and no zooms.

Every month I try to hold a FREE DAY on the calendar.

It doesn't always work. I was very excited 

when it turned up today still blank.

The only thing I had down today

 was to do dusting in the house.

But, you also need to know that I have a genetic quirk

that makes this household task a challenge.

My mom didn't like to dust.

Her mom would dust when she came to visit.

My mom dusted for me when she came to visit.

My mom has been gone for 22 years.

I dust for my daughters when I visit them.

Yes, I have dusted our home in the last two decades,

 but today there were the distractions.

Here is what happened today:

1. my morning devotions

2. chatted or texted with all three daughters

3. folded and put away laundry

4. dealt with about 60 emails

5. returned damaged cheese to Costco (and bought groceries)

6. deadheaded the yarrow

7. changed the water in the little bottles that are rooting cuttings

8. fixed supper and cleaned up

9.     harvested some of the first lavender

10. filed some papers

12.  read 50 pages in Theo of Golden

13. emptied and refilled the dishwasher

14.  realized that feverfew matched the porcelain flowers 

       on the lamp by my bedside- so had to put a bouquet right there

15.  three phone calls and one video call

16.  sorted a couple paper piles

17.  noticed, stood and watched what we can see of a sunset                             

       at our house

18.  worked on a prayer card for Joey

19.  did some planning for vacation

20.  watched the latest on Castle Impossible

And no dusting.  

So... you see what happens.

On every day and a FREE DAY.  

But, I can still count gifts today.

There is tomorrow..... 

Worship into the Week- Don't Be Afraid

 

 Worship into the Week-

Matthew 10: 5a, 21-33

Jesus Sends Out the Twelve Apostles

Jesus has some sobering words for his disciples

 as he gets ready to send them out.

He warns them that there will be family strife and 

betrayal. The world is fallen and hostile and they will be

the brunt of hatred because of the story of Jesus they share.

Faith in Jesus will cost them dearly. 

"Don't be afraid " is a phrase Jesus 

uses three times in this section.

Then Jesus moves to affirming the value of their work. 

 Most importantly, He highlights the value of each apostle

 to God. God knows the number of the hair on their heads.

 Their value is far beyond that of the birds of the air.

God has intimate knowledge of believers.

They are KNOWN to Him.

A final warning is that their public affirmation of Jesus

 will be known, 

and Jesus will affirm each of them to the Father.

They are encouraged that even with a future of persecution,

 they will be rewarded in heaven.

Worship Sermon notes- JRD 

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Worship into the Week- Treasured Possession

 

Worship into the Week-

 Exodus 19:2-8     The Lord Reveals  Himself at Sinai

Things were moving along for the people of Israel. 

They arrived at Mount Sinai after their exodus forn Egypt. 

God reminds them of His goodness and past grace. 

There is the reveal of a conditional covenant and God delcares

 that Israel is His treasured possession.

The people agree with the proposal,

 but really don't understand what it means for this acceptance

 to God's offer. He wants total obedience, nothing else works.

Israel commits to doing all that the Lord 

has asked of them and 

really don't see how this will be a probelm.

There is a big IF in this agreement.

God states that IF they obey...

they will be His treasured possession.

Well, know how this is going to go, 

and so the story continues only with God's 

continued grace story of those 

He carried on eagles's wings. 

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Worship into the Week- A Call to Repentance

  Worship into the Week- Hosea 5:15-6:6

Hosea, the revivalist, was making a call to repentance.

There was superficial worship that was

 no better than the worship of false gods.

Over and over again Israel was caught in this 

cycle of stepping away from a healthy view of God.

Then God dispenses discipline and waits. 

This withdrawal is to highlight their great need for Him. 

He invites them back into this authentic relationship,

but sees that their worship and devotion

 is like "the morning mist" or "early dew."

God throws out the empty words and states,

"for I desire steadfast love and not sacrifice, 

the knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings."

Instead of chasing after Baal, there is hope 

that the people will strive for knowledge

 

that begins with "the fear of the Lord."

Hope for us too, that repentance opens the door to 

new relationship with God.

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Worship into the Week- God Created

 

  

Worship into the Week- Trinity Sunday

Genesis1:1-2; 4a

Lots of beginnings here. 

Genesis comes from a Greek word that means

"origin", "birth", or "beginning."

We have the creation of the universe, adding humanity, 

then sin, the beginning of civilization and the Jewish nation.

It is a giant epic movie to tell this story.

God was before the beginning. 

He was before life and structure and form 

set things in motion and set apart.

The Spirit of God, the Holy Spirit, 

hovered over the waters.

The Spirit was an active presence in the creation.

The creation of matter out of nothingness.

This act of grace was reflected in God's creation as 

a reflection of God's character and it was very good. 

Jesus was present at creation as the eternal "Word".

 He existed before time began and was actively involved 

as the agent through whom God created all things.

This story of the beginning with the Triune presence 

 is a wonderful reading for Trinity Sunday.

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Calendar Journaling- May 2026

 

May 2026 Calendar Journaling for Devotion Time

Four colored pencils and a Micron pen.

Sitting in stillness and seeking the words for me each day.

Together they tell the story of what my heart and spirit 

need to "see and hear" each month.?

What does the Holy Spirit want me to not miss?

My small attempt of capturing the journey of a life

 seeking time with Jesus in a very distracting world.

May Gardens

 

A few beautiful days have been wonderful garden time. 

Cool temps and no humidity and yes we will take that!

 Planted 2 red, white and blue planters for the 250th.

                      Time to see what came back and made it 

through an extra long frozen spell here in January.

The spirea and clematis are showing off.

The David Austen Rose is pretty happy right now also.

                         There are a few new spaces for seating 

and it is easier to get to now that the grass 

has filled in and covered the red clay dirt.

We added some garden edging (Bueta) 

with trying to keep upkeep a bit easier.

Some containers over wintered in the house

                                                  and some outside survived.

Some containers have perennials planted to fill in.

Red hot poker,  acanthus, yarrow and phlox.

Plantings in the slip scoop from the farm, golden huechera,

hostas in a pot, (they do better here with the slugs)

 and popcorn drift roses.

This clematis was planted last year 

and bloomed beautifully this year already.

Sweet William always reminds me of my grandfather.

This rose smells so wonderful.

That's the May gardens.

On to June!!!