Monday Morning Encouragement -- My Portion Forever

 

"My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever." Psalm 73:26

We have all heard or read stories about the heroes of September 11, 2001. People who sacrificed their own lives to save the lives of others during the devastating terrorist attack on the twin towers. Their stories touch our hearts and inspire us.

The story of bond trader Al Braca is one that should stir the heart of every Christian, and inspire us to be ready to share the gospel whenever God appoints the time.

Monday Morning Encouragement - Make Me a Servant

 

Source: Heartlight.org

"For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do." Ephesians 2:10

As the youngest of three children, born to a mother almost forty years old, I was told that I was "an accident". I'm sure my mother didn't mean to hurt me with those words. In her mind it was a simple fact . . . I wasn't a planned pregnancy, so therefore I was conceived "accidentally." Although hearing that from her lips caused some distress in my young life, after hearing the gospel and receiving Christ, I then understood that my conception was not an unplanned pregnancy. My Heavenly Father planned my birth from before the creation of the earth, and He had work He wanted to accomplish through me. He still does.

New Addition to My Bedroom

 

The Enchanting Cottage - The Finale

When last we saw Cottage Lover in The Enchanting Cottage - Part Three she was oohing and ahhing over the master bedroom ceiling. . .


Artist Steve appreciated the compliments from Cottage Lover. 

He motioned toward the door, "Come and I'll show you the Secret Room."

Cottage Lover's eyes lit up with delight.  For if there was one thing she loved as much as cottages, it was secret rooms. 

Artist Steve led Cottage Lover into another bedroom.  There she saw a delightful painting the artist had created for his daughter when she was very little.

Artist Steve opened a door in a large armoire and Captain said, "Look inside.  There's a ladder."

It was so dark inside the armoire that Cottage Lover could barely see the ladder.  Captain urged her to climb it.  She was a tad fearful, since it was a narrow ladder and very steep, but Captain steadied her with his strong arms and told her she would not regret the climb.

When she reached the top of the ladder she saw a small room with a tall window.

She stepped up into the room and turned to behold magical creatures.

  A second ladder for climbing to a loft.

And next to the ladder a door that Artist Steve said opened into a little closet.

Artist Steve had created the Secret Room for his daughter.  And Cottage Lover thought his daughter must be one of the most blessed children in all the world.  Who could ask for a more loving father?

Cottage Lover climbed down the ladder with the help of Captain, and followed Artist Steve to the back porch.

 
She was amazed that the porch was just as charming. . .

just as whimsical. . .

just as wondrous. . .

as the rest of the cottage.

Resting on the porch floor was a cradle that Artist Steve had made.  A cradle that reminded Cottage Lover of the little cradle she saw in Steve's painting.

A butterfly graced the front of the cradle. 

Oh, it was adorable!  And Cottage Lover imagined it to be an absolutely,

positively,

perfectly peaceful place for a baby to nap.

Artist Steve took Cottage Lover and Captain outside to show them the weather vanes a friend had made.

Cottage Lover thought The Enchanting Cottage deserved such marvelous weather vanes.

Artist Steve's studio overlooked the garden.

Although the garden was dormant, it was still charming.  For Artist Steve had decorated it with trellises and other pretty things.

Like a gazebo. . .

with matching benches.

The garden shed had a special door that looked just as a garden shed door should look in such a magical, fairy tale place.

All too soon the tour of The Enchanting Cottage was over.

Cottage Lover felt sad that she had to leave The Enchanting Cottage.

She did take consolation, however, in knowing that she could return once more.

Perhaps in the spring.

When The Enchanting Cottage garden is in bloom.

And she knew, if she did return then, she would take photos and share her garden experience with her Cottage Friends.

 

The End

 

(Dear Readers, if you missed Part One of The Enchanting Cottage, you'll find it here.  Part Two is here.  Part Three is here)

 

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The Enchanting Cottage - Part Three

In Part Two of The Enchanting Cottage we left Cottage Lover in the laundry room.  We may feel this to be a terrible abandonment of Cottage Lover, but never fear.  Although she found it a pleasant laundry, she did not stay there. 

We join her now in the bathroom. . .

Cottage Lover was certain she had never seen a more romantic bath in all her life.

She imagined herself soaking in the claw foot tub, surrounded by velvet and candlelight; her nose tickled by lilac bubbles.

Cottage Lover marveled at how Artist Steve could merge elegance with whimsy in just the right measure.

The bath cabinets were outstanding.

Cottage Lover hated to leave the bath, but she did long to see more of The Enchanting Cottage.

Walking into the dining room was like stepping back in time.  In fact, she felt she had been transported to Victorian Europe. 

Oh, it was fantastical.

Beautiful wainscot.

Fabulous ceiling detail.

Pretty chandelier.

Glorious windows.

And a most curious little pachyderm.

There were clocks everywhere.

Small clocks. . .

and tall clocks. . .

and a mantel clock.

Under the mantel stood a wood stove that separated the dining area from the living room.

It possessed ornate wood carving, and metal work.

The cottage was toasty warm, for the wood stove was very efficient.

Each piece of furnitue was perfectly sized for the space.

The upholstery was lovely.

Cottage Lover smiled because Artist Steve had a wonderful eye for mixing fabric patterns.  She knew that he knew that the key is to make sure all the materials are in the same color family.  This makes the room much more interesting.

Another grandfather clock stood guard in the corner, next to an amazing mirror.

Cottage Lover reckoned that Artist Steve was, indeed, very fond of timepieces.

Artist Steve had cleverly remodeled the living room ceiling in the most stupendous way by repurposing a satellite dish. 

 

 

A beautiful stained glass window overlooked the front porch.



A gorgeous coat rack with mirror held Artist Steve's outerwear.

From the living room Cottage Lover walked into the master bedroom.  It was small in size, but extra large in beauty.

Artist Steve's bed was breathtaking.

All hand made and carved by himself.

Cottage Lover heard Captain ask Artist Steve if the portrait of the gentlemen was a relative.

 

"No, just a painting I liked and bought," he said.


The artwork in between the molding was delightful.

But the pièce de résistance was. . .


 the bedroom ceiling.

 

 

Magnifique! 

 

To be continued. . .

 

 

 

(Dear Readers, if you missed Part One of The Enchanting Cottage, you'll find it here.  Part Two is here)

 

Sharing this Cottage Tale with

Amaze Me Monday

Inspire Me Monday

The Scoop

Be Inspired  Link Party

Wow Us Wednesdays

Cottage Style Party

Share Your Cup Thursday

Feathered Nest Friday

Shabbilicious Friday