Thursday, September 22, 2022

Porch #61 * Sunflowers & Somethings

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SOMETHING WISE

'Prayer is not asking God to endorse and resource your plan for your life.  Prayer is recognition that the One who made the world, including you, knows what's best for you.  As the psalmist says, "the rules of the Lord are true, and righteous altogether" (Psalm 19:9).  

Prayer is not bringing your list and asking God to sign on the bottom.  Prayer is handing God a blank sheet that you have already signed and trusting Him to fill it out as He sees fit.'
Paul David Tripp

SOMETHING WONDERFUL


very early morning tea & scones

with my sister

we use our grandmother's tea set

she was Scottish

i think she & our dad
would have been delighted
that we were honoring 
the Queen

remembering her life
celebrating the legacy 
she left our family

on the day of her funeral

SOMETHING WHISPERED
As we entrust our dreams, hopes, and desires to His tender leadership, He gives us light for each moment and sweet reassuring glimmers of the road ahead.  He holds us close to His beating heart as He carries us safely through those treacherous valleys that would easily swallow us alive if we were venturing alone.

His loving guidance fills us with hope and assurance as He whispers, 'peace, be still.'  For He knows the end from the beginning.

Keeping in pace with His sacred rhythms frees us from having to figure out every last detail.  And choosing to invest our energy in enjoying His companionship rather than playing the know-it-all grows our faith ... and gets us where we're going in a much calmer frame of mind.

He leads.  We follow.  Our souls overflow with unspeakable gratitude.
- How Calming the Relief When We Relinquish Control
July 2016

SOMETHING WHIMSICAL




Thanks for sharing this little bit of time together as we head into the weekend, dear friends.  As we mark the official start to autumn, may His hope re-fill our hearts as, yet again, 'we see His hand of mercy and hear His voice of cheer.'

He is always near.  Always.
Linda

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54 comments:

  1. I am no longer receiving notifications of your posts and have so much to catch up on! What a delight to check your blog this morning! 💛 Barbara onehopefulyear.com

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    1. Barbara, hi! I can't tell you how good it is to see you again!

      Yes, in the past year Blogger slowly faded Feedburner out which is how subscribers received posts in their email inboxes. I moved to Mailchimp about 15 months ago. I'm guessing most writers who use Blogger have been impacted if they somehow missed the memo.

      Trust me, you're not the only one. Meanwhile, Bloglovin' has faded away, too. I'm thinking a number of bloggers wonder where everyone went.

      No worries here. Just click to subscribe.
      http://www.lindastoll.net/p/subscribe.html

      Missed you.
      📬

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  2. Sunflower and bittersweet! Oh, my heart! Every year, for whatever reason, bittersweet shows up as a surprise to me! Always new beauty!

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    1. Most people around here detest bittersweet - it's seen as an 'invasive' species. I love it. I can't get enough of it.

      That you find it a beautiful surprise make my heart sing, girl.
      🥰

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  3. Those scones look wonderful. What a beautiful way to honor the Queen.

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    1. It was an incredible morning on lots of levels. So grateful for our British roots and this time to celebrate that legacy! Even if it was way too early in a.m.!
      👭

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  4. Beautiful sunflowers and girls. I hope you have a fabulous weekend!

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    1. You, too, Cindy! It's windy and cold here and I'm huddled under a blanket.
      🧣

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  5. I copied that quote from Paul David Tripp to use in a future blog, Linda. I hope you don't mind!
    And what a breath of fresh air to see those beautiful girls amidst the sunflowers. I'm reminded that we can always find something to smile about even on the most difficult of days.
    I adore that tea set, too.
    Welcome fall with open arms, my friend!

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    1. Don't you just love that we can share good resources with each other?! I look forward to reading your post, Martha. Hope you're enjoying this weekend ...
      ✍️

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  6. LOVE that quintessential photo-for-September--those lovely girls holding perfect sunflowers. Calendar worthy! Also love that you and your sister held a tea party in honor of Queen Elizabeth. Did you see the youtube video of her having tea with Paddington Bear, as part of her Jubilee Celebration, 2021? It's very cute and demonstrates her delightful sense of humor. Here's the link--hope it works! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7UfiCa244XE

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    1. Yep, I love the Paddington Bear video ... especially when the Queen pulls that marmalade sandwich out of her ever-present pocketbook!. So fun to see that wry sense of humor she was quietly known for.
      🐻

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  7. Where do I start thanking you for today’s wisdom? From “endorse nor resource”, thru “sacred rhythm “, ending w “ he is always near. Always”- your message really means a lot to me. Gail

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    1. Always grateful to get a glimpse of what God is doing in other women's lives. Thanks for sharing a bit of your heart, Gail. Inspirational.
      🕊️

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  8. Beautiful sunflowers and pretty girls 🌻

    Hugs and blessings, Linda 💜💙💛💚

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    1. Veronica, thanks for the encouraging words ...
      😎

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  9. I like the thoughts on prayer, Paul David Tripp said it beautifully. Our early morning "tea with the Queen" was wonderful, wish we didn't have to get up so early to start at 5:30!! Your scones were perfect, all we needed was clotted cream! Grandma's china made for a special day!

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    1. I found clotted cream on Amazon. I was going to get you a jar for Christmas, but it's far too expensive. And I doubt Christmas Tree Shop has it. You're out of luck.
      💰

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  10. Your grandmother’s tea set is lovely and the scones look delicious. What a wonderful treat to share with your sister. I love the Paul David Tripp quote. Sunflowers are a favorite. Have a blessed first weekend of autumn, Linda!

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    1. I love autumn! But tonight it feels like winter. I remember you saying it was going to be in the 90s this past week at your place. Go figure.
      🤷‍♀️

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  11. What a sweet way for you and your family to honor Queen Elizabeth II and to honor your family heritage.

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    1. It was last minute, spur of the moment. Maybe that made it all the more fun?!
      😏

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  12. Linda, love the scones and using your grandmother's tea set! Just so much fun!

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    1. It was a pleasure to dig that fragile set out of the cupboard in the basement. It's been decades since I used it. Kind of sad when we don't actually use what's been gifted to us ...
      😕

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  13. I like the prayer quotes. Thanx.

    God bless.

    Victor S E Moubarak http://timeforreflections.blogspot.com

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    1. Hope you're enjoying a beautiful Saturday, Victor.
      😎

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  14. What beautiful sunflowers and those scones look so delicious!

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    1. God has given us so many simple pleasures to enjoy and share. I'm so grateful!
      😇

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  15. Hi Linda! Methinks thou dost love sunflowers. :) Such bright and beautiful pictures, especially of those two (I'm guessing granddaughters). I love the quotes by Paul David Tripp. He is one of the my favorites. I noticed the first comment about not getting notice. I use Feedly and they still notify people, however my other blog (Cycleguy's Spin) has lost notifications. Not sure why. It says my other one, Living in the Shadow, still works. Since I am technologically-challenged I certainly can't fix it. Thanks for brightening my weekend. Sorry I'm so late to this party. Friday is my day off and I try to unplug.

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    1. From one technologically-challenged soul to another, I absolutely hear you. The basics of Blogger have served me well over the years and I can't even imagine moving to another platform. Two times when I've tinkered with the inners? I almost deleted two, not one but two, websites. And last year my whole subscriber list vanished into thin air before I knew it.

      I want to stick to what I know best in this season. I'm all about keeping it as simple as humanly possible. And I think God understands.
      😏

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  16. SUCH a comfort to KNOW--He is ALWAYS NEAR! Makes me tear up to think about it!
    Blessings!

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    1. Especially in those transition seasons ... how reassuring. Yes, that depth of comfort brings a tear or two.
      😥

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  17. The sunflowers are beautiful, and I love how you and your sister honoured the Queen. That must have been an early start for you if you watched the funeral!

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    1. Oh yeah. 5:45 am. Completely unheard of for the two of us. Actually that space before sunrise was kind of magical ...
      🌤️

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  18. Yes, your grandmother would certainly be pleased that you used her beautiful china in your tea party honouring the late Queen Elizabeth II!

    Thanks for stopping by.

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  19. P.S. The sunflowers are so pretty! I've never tried growing them myself, but have always admired the sunflowers in other people's gardens.

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    1. We planted seeds several times a year or two ago. The rabbits mowed them down both times.
      🐰

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  20. How thoughtful that you used your grandmother's tea set on the day of the Queen's funeral! I love the whimsical photos with the beautiful young ladies and sunflowers. May sunflowers have begun to bloom the last few days and they bring such light.

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    1. Oh I always love hearing that someone is successful when I'm not! I live vicariously through you.
      😎

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  21. It was so wonderful to stop by and catch up with you today! I always leave here so refreshed in spirit and mind. May Jesus bless you in this beautiful autumn season!

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    1. Your appearance always makes me smile, Cheryl. I see Jesus in you ...
      ✝️

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  22. I LOVE scones (but I prefer coffee, rather than tea ;) ), and I adore sunflowers. And your words of wisdom on prayer? Spot-on what I needed to read today!

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    1. So glad this hit the spot for you, whoever you are! I'm thankful when God does that. Glad you're here ...

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  23. Hi Linda,
    What a wonderful way to commemorate Queen Elizabeth! I love the sunflowers, as well. Thanks for linking up at Grace and Truth!
    Blessings,
    Tammy

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  24. Love your four somethings, especially that quote and the sunflowers.

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    1. What a lovely way to start this dreary day! I'm glad you're here.

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