Alone with God

I am alone with God this morning. When I woke up I didn't expect such a drawing from God to Him.

I have lots of time today to do anything I want. And I certainly planned to spend some time in the Word and in prayer. But I wasn't quite sure how this day would pan out. I don't have to be anywhere at all.

With my cup of tea in hand I retreated to my double rocking love seat to sprawl out with three different Bibles. The first thing that came to mind was an old hymn "Alone with God":

"When storms of life are round me beating, when rough the path that I have trod,
Within my closet door retreating, I love to be alone with God.

Chorus:
Alone with God the world forbidden,
Alone with God oh blest retreat!
Alone with God and in him hidden
To hold with Him communion sweet.

What tho the clouds have gathered o'er me? What tho I've passed beneath the rod?
God's perfect will there lies before me, When I am thus alone with God

Tis there I find new strength for duty, as o'er the sands of time I plod
I see the King in all His beauty, while resting there alone with God."

God: Our Masada fortress

I am so thankful for God, who never changes, never forsakes us. As it says in I Peter chapter 1, I have an inheritance that is not corruptible that I rejoice in even though I may be in heaviness through mulitiple problems.

We have been doing a Bible study on Thursday evenings about the Jewish culture with a video of teachings done directly in Israel. Believers faced many persecutions with a determination to be steadfast for God in spite of it.

It doesn't matter what scary things we are facing or experiencing: treatments for life threatening sickness, fighting in another country, going through the day to day stress of work, crushed by family break ups and the list goes on and on. God has grace and wisdom for everyone of them. God is our "Masada", the fortress rock in Israel by the Dead Sea.

Wild Plum Tea Room

Our daughters sent us to TN for a two night stay for our 38th anniversary. We leisurely spent our time. One of the places we visited was a lovely tea room:  "The Wild Plum Tea Room" in Gatlinburg. 

The welcoming sign.

Here is me on a bench outside the entrance.

A part of the lovely garden at the side.

Another view of the garden.

The menu for the day.

A view of the outdoor seating.

A charming table inside.

Another outside decor, a large vendor cart.

My husband was so sweet to visit here with me. Here he is with our menus.

He ordered the salad of the day. It was a scrumptious pea salad with a taste of horse radish. Of course, I helped him eat it. I will need to search for the recipe as I did not purchase a cookbook.

My plum tea was so refreshing and relaxing. I had several cups! His was served cold.

I chose the cheddar chablis soup. So good.

We gave in and tried a dessert. This was  peaches with a sauce. pound cake on the bottom, ice cream in the middle and whipped topping. Mmmmmm.

Mine was an amaretto bread pudding. You can also see husbands glass of iced plum tea.

A part of the serving area across the aisle from us.

Dishes for sale.  I resisted a purchase.

One of the hostesses said it was an Austrian tea room and invited me to go upstairs where there was more seating.  They were hosting a bridal shower up there the next day.

I hope you have enjoyed visiting The Wild Plum Tea Room with me today. If you are ever in the area look it up.

I am sharing with Lady Katherine today @ Lady Katherine Tea Time Tuesday.

Dew of Heaven

How do I begin this. Words escape me to describe the blessings of waking up and in prayer having the dew of heaven soak into my soul from God. It is wonderful to be led by still waters in a green pasture as Psalm 23 states. It continues on, He restores my soul, anoints my head with oil, prepares a table before me in the presence of my enemies. That lets me know that even when things are not always right in our world we can still be blessed by God, pampered, fed spiritually and listen to the rippling brook of His presence and be calmed and assured.

"You are my hiding place,

You always fill my heart with songs of deliverance;

Whenever I am afraid,

I will trust in You.

Let the weak say, 

"I am strong in the strength of the Lord!"

Words by Michael Ledner

What a wonderful way to start the day.

First Time Ever Surprise

This morning I woke up to a First Time Ever Surprise! I walked into the bathroom and to the left is my bathtub. This is what I saw:

He was on my bathmat and had left a trail. I have never known of a place that a mouse could not escape. But evidently a tub with slanted sides is one of them too slippery to climb.

My mat is not that old, a pretty one with positive sayings. But when I looked again, behold he had nibbled on the side. That mean little creature.  Evidently he read some of the sayings but this one did not help him get out so he started chewing trying to remove it.