Indescribable

Monday Inspiration–Indescribable

I’ve been reading through the Old Testament. You know it’s tough reading when you reach the book of Job and rejoice. : ) Seriously though, I’ve always enjoyed Job. It’s my odd sense of humor. True story–when I first met my husband he was in a sad spot in his life and I recommended he read Job. Maybe that’s when he knew I was the gal for him!

What is it about that book? Is it Job’s faithfulness to God? Is it God’s faithfulness to Job? Or is it those 3 stooges that are Job’s friends? They’re such a mess, but at least they’re there with him. My comic book imagination kicks in, and I can just SEE that scene.

And then I see Job question God, and I see God answer.

“Where were you when I laid the earth’s foundation? Tell me if you understand. Who marked off its dimensions? Surely you know! Who stretched a measuring line across it?

My pastor told us that Job is thought to be the oldest written book of the Bible. All I know is that it soothes my soul. The Book of Job. It’s something else. It’s inspiring, and it’s indescribable.

~V

Birding

Monday Inspiration – Birding

I’m a birder. It didn’t happen all at once. Bob’s sister gave us ONE feeder for a Christmas present, then we added something to catch water, and THEN we saw our first painted bunting. From that moment on we were hooked!

A few weeks ago, my husband reminded me that our 2 birdhouses needed cleaning out. The doors were pushed opened they were so full. I climbed up on the ladder and pulled out the old nests. Talk about inspirational–birds are thrifty. They’ll use anything to build a nest. I found trash, yarn, pieces of grass, and lots of different kinds of feathers. We think we found an owl feather. An OWLfeather? Our houses are small. No owls were living there. But some smaller bird used an owl feather to line a nest. Smart.

Do you remember what Matthew wrote? “Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground outside your Father’s care.And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.” (chapter 10: verses 29-31, NIV).

If you have a chance this week, take a moment to watch some birds. They just might remind you of your heavenly father.

~V

Friends

Monday Inspiration: Friends

I don’t know what can encourage me more than friends. It’s funny–the letters that I receive. After reading Falling to Pieces, someone recently posted on my blog:

 I wish I lived there & could be friends w/Deborah et al. I felt they were friends that I wanted to come back & visit with. Robyn Carr’s books are the same, in that with every book, you get to revisit old friends & meet new ones. Keep up the great work.

I like to write about friendship, because friends are something we all need in our life. But it’s hard to maintain friendships these days. We’re all busy and pulled in different directions. The picture in this post is myself and two of my closest friends. If you read the acknowledgement in my books you’ll see their names (Donna and Dorsey–Kristy was missing b/c she was at her family’s). I’ve known Kristy all her life. Donna and Dorsey I’ve known for 11 years. Most of those years we’ve lived in different towns–different states! But we make an effort to see each other, to stay in touch, and to pray for each other.

Friends are an important blessing that God gives to us. Send a note to someone you care about today. Or better yet, pick up the phone. You’ll both be very glad you did.

~V

2011 in review

Monday Inspiration: 2011 in review

Do you know what inspires me? You!

Last week, I received this WordPress 2011 annual report in my mail box, and I think it’s pretty awesome! Why do I think it’s awesome? Because you all made last year rock! When you click on the link, you’ll see what I mean … and for my top 5 COMMENTERS, I’m sending an Amish photography card by Virginia Swartzendruber. So go see if your name is there. If it is, email me at VannettaChapman@gmail.com.

Here’s an excerpt:

The concert hall at the Syndey Opera House holds 2,700 people. This blog was viewed about 16,000 times in 2011. If it were a concert at Sydney Opera House, it would take about 6 sold-out performances for that many people to see it.

Click here to see the complete report.

Again, thank you! And here’s to 2012.

V~

New Beginnings

Christmas Holidays: New Beginnings

No matter how badly we have failed, we can always get up and begin again. Our God is the God of new beginnings. ~Warren Wiershe

Then He who sat on the throne said, “Behold, I make all things new.” Revelation 21:5

I’ll return to my regular posts on Monday, but I hope you’ve had a wonderful holiday and I want to wish you and those dear to you a very blessed 2012.  

~V

Christmas Peace

Christmas Holidays: Christmas Peace

I heard the bells on Christmas Day

Their old familiar carols play,

And wild and sweet their words repeat

Of peace on earth, good-will to men!

~Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

 

Christmas means the beginning of Christianity–and a second chance for the world. ~Peter Marshall

I hope your Christmas week has been filled with peace, rest, and special time with family and friends!

~V

Love came down …

Monday Inspiration: Love came down …

I hope you had a very merry Christmas–time spent with family, friends, and loved ones. For today, I thought I’d simply share the words from my advent calendar, which begin with “Love came down and we call him …”

Alpha & Omega

Saviour

Creator

Shepherd

Bread of Life

Wonderful Counselor

Prince of Peace

Lamb of God

King of all kings

Light of the world

The one and only Son of God

The Way, the Truth, and the Life

Lion of Judah

Mighty God

Redeemer

Baby Jesus is God

Teacher

Messiah

Our Father

Master

The Living Word

Healer

Immanuel

Jesus

“For to us a chid is born, to us a son is given and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increeae of his government and peace there will be no end.” Isaiah 9:6

 ~V

God With Us

Christmas Holidays: God With Us

And they shall call His name Immanuel, which is translated, God with us.

Matthew 1:23

I pray that you are enjoying a very special time with your family. Merry Christmas!

~V

Mary and Her baby

Monday Inspiration: Mary and Her baby

Yesterday I played the keyboard during our early morning worship service-I am so thankful when God gives me the opportunity to do that. I love praise services! And what better time than the week before Christmas. Our special music was one of my favorite songs, Mary Did You Know. Imagine it with 2 acoustical guitars, a keyboard and 2 sweet voices. Yeah … in a word, lovely.

This song had always held such a special place in my heart.

Mary, did you know
   that your Baby Boy would one day walk on water?
Mary, did you know
   that your Baby Boy would save our sons and daughters?
Did you know
   that your Baby Boy has come to make you new?
This Child that you delivered will soon deliver you.

I don’t know if Mary fully understood as she held her infant, but I can imagine her … holding that babe. I suppose we’ve all held a baby at one time or another (our own or someone else’s). They’re so precious. So vulnerable. Such miracles.

When Mary held her infant, I don’t know how much she understood of what lay ahead. I don’t know if she knew that her “Baby Boy had walked where angels trod?” or if she realized “when you kiss your little Baby you kissed the face of God?”

I don’t know if when we celebrate in a few days, we understand it still. But I am grateful, and I know you all are too.

Merry Christmas, ya’ll.

~V

 

Warm Up America!

Monday Inspiration: Warm Up America!

As you may know, I’ve spent the last 9 days on the road — touring with Amy Clipston and Shelley Shepard Gray. We had a wonderful time. I like to sew while I’m in the car, and we did spend a bit of time travelling from place to place. I THOUGHT I’d taken my needlework with me, but then I couldn’t find it once we arrived in Shipshewana. Not a problem! All those Amish shops … lots of choices. : ) Except that my luggage was full. Then someone mentioned Warm Up America. You can read about it here. All I would need was a skein of yarn and a crochet needle or knitting needles.

First I went in hunt of my yarn. Then I pulled out my ipad and googled the program. Have you heard of it? The idea is simple enough. You make 7″ x 9″ squares. Then you ship them to Warm Up America! and someone else will make them into blankets.

Awesome! It was the perfect project for me on the road. The webpage is fabulous. If you know someone who NEEDS a blanket, you can submit their name. If you’d like to send squares, there’s an address, and if you’d like to sew squares together, you can let them know.

Warm Up America! A simple idea that can make a difference in someone’s life. Even I can make a square, and my crochet/knitting skills are limited at this point. As you can see, my corners are curling a bit. Why do they do that? : )

I hope you all have a fabulous Thanksgiving week. Like most of you, I’ll work a little, cook a little, be with family for part of it, and in between — I’ll even crochet a few more squares.

V~