Jean Stockdale...

Finer Things Friday

I bought a decorative perfume atomizer. Something about the discovery of an item that used to be a staple on every woman's dressing table produded a strong emotional response in me.

I held the atomizer in the palm of my hand and looked at it from all angles. The graceful curve of the bottle speaks of days gone by, while theatomizer evokes elegance and sophistication. It makes me think of a time when women carefully pin curled their hair, wore rhinestones combs to tame their waves, wore nylons held in place with garters, used loose powder in monogrammed silver compacts, wore Cody red lipstick, kohl eyeliner, Mary Jane collars, tweed skirts and sensible shoes. The final grooming step was a heavy dousing with cologne. Itwas spirited generously about with a perfume atomizer. Droplets of the cologne drifted and settled on the woman's hair, neck, shoulders, and cheeks. A tiny drop was dabbed behind the knees before a shrug sweaters was pulled on to finish the outfit and a matching clutch was grabbed on the way out of the door.

In Ephesian,s 5:1-2 Paul wrote, Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children; and walk in love, just as Christ also loved you and gave Himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God as a fragrant aroma. Just as the perfume atomizer contains a fragrant cologne, we are filled with the Spirit of God. When we walk in love and operate in obedience, the fragrance of Christ is emitted. Others are blessed by the fragrant cologne of the presence of the Savior. Our homes are filled with the sweet fragrance of the Lord Jesus Christ.

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Nothing Could Be Finer

"In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.Then God said, "Let the land produce vegetation: seed-bearing plants and trees on the land that bear fruit with seed in it, according to their various kinds." And it was so. The land produced vegetation: plants bearing seed according to their kinds and trees bearing fruit with seed in it according to their kinds. And God saw that it was good ."

Genesis 1:1-3

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Finer Things Friday Dumplings

One of my favorite finds of late is Mary B Dumplings. These little jewels are in your frozen section. You will want to thaw them slightly in order to separate them before dropping them in the pot of boiling broth. These are delicious and a wonderful short-cut for Chicken and Dumplings. 

If you would like to see the way I used them click here. You will find the recipe I used. It is delicious.

These are one of my Finer Things. To see some more Finer Things click here and visit with our host, Amy.

Finer Things Friday

Today I taught Bible study to a group of great MOMMAS. We are working our way through the book of Ephesians. What rich truth!!

Anyways, we were at Ephesians 2:19-22.

So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints, and are of God's household, having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets,Christ Jesus Himself being the corner stone,in whom the whole building, being fitted together, is growing into a holy temple in the Lord, in whom you also are being built together into a dwelling of God in the Spirit.

In Christ, we are living stones being built together into a dwelling of God as a house of praise and worship. For no man can lay a foundation other than the one which is laid, which is Jesus Christ (1 Cor. 10:11). We are building a household of faith. 

So how does that look in a Christian momma? We are to live out our faith. By EXHORTATION (the words we say) and EXAMPLE (our daily walk) we are to testify to the reality of Christ in us, the hope of glory. We cannot believe for our children, but there is much we can do to give our children them an appetite for the things of the Lord.

So . . . is your house in order?

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Finer Things Friday

During a recent business trip to Lafayette, La. Craig and I stopped at the Shrimp and Petroleum Festival (seriously-doesn't that strike you as an odd combination to celebrate) in Morgan City. We arrived several hours early for the event, but since we were driving through we stopped and strolled through the fairgrounds. Vendors were setting up. Rides were being constructed. Corn dogs were being dipped and fried. Electricity was being run and heavy-duty orange extension cords criss-crossed the pavement.

We came upon a local church that was offering plate lunches for the "early birds." A lovely group of folks were selling red beans and rice with a corn bread muffin and sweet tea for $6.00. Craig and I bought one lunch to split. We found a shady spot in a nearby park and sat down to share our feast. The delicious homemade meal satisfied both body and soul. It represented what is right with the world.

 

Simple food. Simple faith.

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Finer Things Friday

Really, it's the simple things in life that satisfy. Take for instance, this spun sugar known as cotton candy.

Cotton is simply one of the Finer Things. Especially when you frineds go to St. Louis for vacation. And they go to a Cardinal's ballgame. And they remember that one of the in life for you is cotton candy. And they buy you a bag.  And they bring it home without eating one single solitary bite. And they surprise you with this sweet treasure. That is one of the Finer Things. Blessings.

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Finer Things Friday

My sister came in town last week and we took my mom to the zoo. I had forgotten how much I love to watch the animals. Like this polar bear named Cranbarry swimming past the observation deck. Up close and personal with a polar bear. Now that is one of the Finer Things in Life.

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Finer Things Friday

We got to go on a mission trip to teach pastors and church leaders about discipleship and church planting. Wow. What an awesome privilege!! This picture was taken through a screen door of the sunrise (If you know me at all, you know I did not take this picture. I never see sunrise!) As the sun is coming up, you can see the slightest image of the cross. 

 

I just love it when God reminds me of His presence in the midst of my world!

O God, You are my God; I shall seek You earnestly: my soul thirsts for You, my flesh yearns for You. Psalm 63:1

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Finer Things Friday

On Wednesday both of our boys and their little boys were at the house. This is the Finer Things of my life.

Dawson, Grayson, Declan, and Jason. 

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Finer Things Friday

One of the greatest joys of my life is watching my sons raise their own sons. God has graced my life with the privilege of seeing my children have children.

Dawson and Grayson (12 months)

Jason and Declan (24 months) getting ready for bed.

"I have no greater joy than hearing my children walk in truth." 3 John) This is the finest things I know.

PLEASE JOIN ME IN FIVE THINGS FRIDAY. POST ABOUT 5 THINGS YOU KNOW NOW THAT YOU WISH YOU KNEW EARLIER.

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Finer Things Friday

I have just finished a project. I have written a Bible study for MOMS on the book of Ephesians. For months I have been writing day and night, night and day. Some weeks I wrote 7 days a week to meet my deadline. The manuscript is 192 pages. It is a 8.5 x 11 workbook style book. It has 67,579 words. It is the work of my hands. It is the expression of my heart. And it is finished. It is safely in the hands of the publisher and will be released in August.

I have always struggled with procrastination. I am one who can come up with great ideas but I lacked the follow-through. I am easily distracted. I like to sit on the couch and drink Diet Coke. I like to ponder the issues of life. All this has made my propensity to procrastination problematic. 

When I became a Christian, I wanted to serve the Lord. I wanted to follow after Him with passion and urge others to join me in the aggressive pursuit of personal holiness and practical righteousness. This heart's desire was at odds with my natural tendency to procrastinate. It is evidence of God's work in me that I am able to overcome my natural bent and stay on task to finish a project. The completed manuscript is not one of my finer things; God's work in my life IS! 

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Finer Things Friday

Amy over at Amy's Finer Things is hosting a wonderful carnival called Finer Things Friday. Click here to go there and read more Finer Things Friday. Consider writing your own post and join in the fun.There is nothing finer than God's Word. I am studying and teaching the Book of Philippians to my MOMS Bible Study. We are working our way through this series called Joy in the Journey. I have been pondering Paul's admonition, "Do all things without grumbling or disputing so that you will prove yourselves to be blameless and innocent, children of God above reproach in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation among whom you shine as light in the world" (Phil. 2:14-15).

Don't grumble. Don't argue or be drawn into a dispute. Seriously? Can you imagine how many homes would be transformed if we implemented just this one small fragment of the Word of God?!?!? Some people would not have anything else to say if it weren't for murmuring and grumbling! Obviously, if we would consciously choose to carefully guard our words we could consistently be lights in the dark world for the glory of God! There is no greater joy than living a life that is well-pleasing to the Father. There is nothing finer!