Jeremiah 31:14b

To Add A Few Words...

   I hope you enjoyed the Summer Picture posts! I thought that pictures would be the best way to give you a glimpse into my summertime, without exhausting you and myself with words! :) But to add a few words about my summer I would say... 

   It went by way too fast, but doesn't it always!?  


   This spring we planted a smaller than normal garden, because we weren't feeling like super ambitious gardeners. So our harvest has been smaller, with less variety than "normal", but never-the-less a blessing! Our sweet corn patch did very well and we froze over 60 quarts, which will be enough for our family for the next year or two!

   I took a road trip to Indiana in July to attend WIT ALIVE, a conference for Christian singles. It was an amazing, refreshing experience and time away! I am so glad that I went. :)

   In case you are wondering if my life is "perfect" and "lovely" all the time... It's NOT! I know that pictures and the short captions that go with them can give a false impression... believe me I have been there and thought that, while looking at other girls' blogs; "Wow she has a perfect family, she is an amazing cook or she dresses with such class!" and *maybe*  it's true... but you know what is probably truer?? That they are real girls, with real lives, that are sometimes less than perfect, amazing and classy... And I want you to know that I am one of those real girls, ...sometimes I eat boring food, on a plainly set table with miss-matched dishes, sometimes I don't get along with my sister, (even when we are on a "fun" trip, where we had a "good" time), sometimes I am not patient and kind with my words... sometimes I feel discouraged about things in my life. But I didn't start this blog to air my dirty laundry and vent my frustrations... I started this blog to proclaim God's goodness, God's daily graces! The pictures that I post are but beautiful nano moments, frozen in time. I take pictures and share them here, not because my whole life looks like that, but because I am crazy for beauty, order and simplicity, crazy to see through the lens of God's goodness! So I hope you enjoy the pictures I share, just remember that a real, less than perfect girl is behind them and this blog! :)

   Now that we have taken a look back, in my next post, we will look ahead, as I share with you my hopes and plans for what's in-store here on The Riches of His Goodness in the coming weeks and months!

Psalm 107:8

Two Favorite Kinds Of Tea

   I am a hot tea lover! And it is a rare day in my life that doesn't include at least one cup of tea! And in the wintertime make that 2-3 cups! :) Over the years I have become quite opinionated on what a good tasting cup of tea is & isn't and I have found my favorite kinds of tea among the many brands and flavors that I have tried. I know that I haven't sampled a fraction of the teas on the market... but from what I have tried... these are two of my favorites: 

Organic Jasmine Green Tea 

from Prince of Peace 

 This is my go to, everyday cup of tea. In general I don't like green teas, but my one exception is jasmine green tea! For me the jasmine covers up the "grass" flavor that is characteristic in most green tea blends. I think I have liked most brands of Jasmine green tea that I have tried... but the one I normally purchase is Prince of Peace from Vitacost.com. I love that you get 100 bags in a box for under 6 dollars (and if you watch for sale codes you can get it even cheaper!) They also offer a non-organic Jasmine Green Tea, which is also good and slightly less expensive.

 

Sweet & Spicy 

caffeine free - herbal tea

From Good Earth

    This tea has bold flavor! With the most prominent tastes being cinnamon, ginger & orange. The name sweet & spicy fits this tea perfectly. Both my Mom and I have loved this tea from the first cup! You can buy it at Walmart and many other stores. (Good Earth Sweet & Spicy Tea comes in both regular and caffeine-free.) 

Psalm 27:13-14

Quote By: A. W. TOZER

   O God, I have tasted of thy goodness, and it has both satisfied me and made me thirsty for more. I am painfully conscious of my need of further grace. O God, the triune God, I want to want Thee; I long to be filled with longing; I thirst to be made more thirsty still. Begin in mercy a new work of love within me. Say to my soul, "Rise up my love, my fair one, and come away with me." (Song of Solomon 2:10) Then give me grace to rise and follow Thee up from this misty lowland where I have wandered so long. In Jesus' name. Amen.

A.W. TOZER, The Pursuit of God

Pink Tulips

   Dad gave me these lovely tulips on Valentine's Day! Oh how I've been enjoying their fresh & bright beauty! Since they are potted, I will transplant them into my garden this spring, to be enjoyed for many more years to come! Thank you Dad! 😊

To See Goodness

What is it about looking at life through a camera lens... that makes ordinary moments near spectacular? And what is it about looking at life through the lens of truth, that brings abounding joy, abiding peace and deep, sweet contentment?

 

Even when nothing in life changes, except the way we choose to see. We find that seeing is the path to the change we really needed. That we need heart changes, more then circumstance changes. 

When you know in the depths of your being, and choose to focus your heart on, the truth that God is good in character and deed, a beautiful thing begins to happen... you begin to see what was there all along. God's goodness displayed in simple, humble, everyday-ness. Thousands of grace gifts, wrapped in God's goodness... FOR YOU!

The photographer's focusing lens draws spectacular out of ordinary and the Christian believing in God's goodness grows contentment where once lay worries, frustrations and unhappiness.

It's where we put our focus that makes ordinary into spectacular and life worth living! Are you looking at life through the lens of cynicism or the truth that God is good?

Because the way we see changes the way we live.

 

My Grandparents

  Growing up I was blessed to have all four of my Grandparents living close by. Each one has been very involved in my life, for which I will always be grateful. I don't know if there is anyway to fully express how dear each one of them is to me. Thank you Grandmas and Grandpas for  your love, laughter, listening ears, baby-sitting, tea parties, food 😊 and always an open door into your hearts and homes! I love you all SO MUCH! 

We celebrated my Grandma Z's 84th birthday last weekend! 

 

Holly and I had fun planning, preparing, decorating and hosting a party for her! We made supper and Lime Jello Poke Cake with 7 Minute Frosting for dessert!

 

   This picture was taken a few years back on the 4th of July. We had a patriotic outfit contest! Can you tell we were having a lot of fun together?!  Yep, my Grandparents are some of my best friends! 😀  (left to right: Grandma M. Me and Grandpa Z.)

 Here is another picture from a few years back.  My Grandpa M. Grandma M. and me on South Padre Island. What a wonderful time we had! 😊 

Thank you Lord for my grandparents! 

They are a gift of your goodness!

Happiness...

"Happiness comes from a heart of gratitude and thankfulness. 
 Victory lies in the recognition that God is good." 

- Michael Phillips, Wild Grows the Heather in Devon

    
    I find the words God is good gracing my stationary.  It is true and it is changing me. Really believing that God is good, that He is Goodness, is reviving life in me, giving me joy & peace in Him! Like fresh air to my lungs, is God's goodness to my soul! Indeed what true happiness & victory there is for the soul that believes God is good!

10-29-16

Glory

Goodness 

Grace

Gifts from God... 

Bright & Beautiful

   While I contemplate future post ideas... I thought I would share a few pictures of God's beautiful creation here on the farm! Reminders of His goodness! I love the bright & brilliant colors in them! Aren't you glad God created a colorful world?!

 

 

 Psalm 19:1  

The heavens declare the glory of God; and the

 firmament sheweth his handywork.

The Riches of His Goodness

Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance? 
Romans 2:4 

   The title of this blog is a reflection of where I find myself ... needing, desperately needing to know the goodness of God. In the real and raw, ebb and flow of my everyday life. God is good! Yet so often I choose to see the bad things of this world, instead of His goodness. This blogging journey is about decidedly believing, seeing & proclaiming the goodness of God! What is at the core of God's goodness? Repentance unto salvation! And if that is all the goodness of God that I ever hold, what an extravagant gift! May I never despise it!  But the amazing thing is, He has given me more of His goodness than my two hands can hold! So join me if you will, as I blog The Riches of His Goodness!

Like breathtaking sunrises...