Well! I’m writing this on my phone and feel very clever. Unfortunately I have not figured out how to add a cover photo to a post when doing it on my phone, thus, as you have noticed, no cover photo. I have much to learn.

Right off the bat I’m going to share the link to the cranberry pumpkin scones I promised two weeks ago. By now your leftover pumpkin is in the green bin unless you cleverly put it in the freezer before it went bad. Oh well. Do you know that you can buy pure pumpkin any time of year? It’s in the vegetable aisle of the grocery store. Since it’s still October and not yet Halloween, maybe you can even buy a real pie pumpkin and make these scones from real scratch.

Cranberry pumpkin scones

And now,

There’s a lot going on over here. You know the old song about rowing your boat! The last part, about Life being but a dream is not the most accurate philosophy upon which to build your life. It Is however, a reminder to keep rowing, keep moving forward and do it, the rowing, with a certain amount of joyfulness. Well that’s how I’m looking at it anyway. I’m keeping both oars in the water and although this boat seems to be going in circles at times, I’m determined to keep rowing, watching and drinking in, life.

Being a realist has its downside. I’m not good at pretending. Even classic allegories written by the masters of literature do not resonate with me. The best sellers that say one thing and mean something else leave me scratching my head. In high school when my English teacher strolled around the room and got to my desk, I looked at him with a blank stare. “What do you mean, what did he mean? How should I know?” If the writer wanted to tell us something, why didn’t he just tell us? Weird!

And then there’s the Bible and Jesus teaching. Tell it to me plain, Lord. I’m reading the words and I’m so glad you are alive, because I need you to explain them to me. Paul isn’t joking when he says, plain and simple, in Hebrews 4:12

“Indeed, the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two edged sword, piercing until it divides soul from spirit, joints from marrow; it is able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.”

“Judging the thoughts and intentions of the heart!” And here I am, with all kinds of thoughts and not at all certain, where intentions are concerned.

And

Then there’s James. It’s like he was thinking of me, staring at me from the pulpit, prepared his sermon with me in mind

When he said…

“If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind.  That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. Such a person is double-minded and unstable in all they do.

Great! Just great! I hear you James. I hear you God! Don’t bother asking if you aren’t going to reach for the wisdom you ask for and grab onto it and use it and live in it. Just don’t bother. (This would be such a great place for a few emoticons. I especially like the one with the hand slapped up against the forehead). Believe me, I am way too often in grave danger of being thrown against the breakwater by the enormous waves that surround me. I’m strong willed and determined and still, big decisions are easier if someone else makes them for me. It’s just simpler to keep living, trudging along, than to stop, look, listen and do something different.

Well I’m doing something different. Man oh man. Hillside B&B is a new thing and a crazy thing and the guests who have visited, slept under my roof, eaten at my table, shared words around a candle lit dinner, have been prayed for. When I have been nervous I have asked God to bring the ones He wants me to share with. When I’ve been uncertain He has given me confidence and calmness.

Sometimes I don’t feel like praying, for a list of reasons. I read something a few days ago and it went something like this. Prayer reminds me who God is and who I am.

It was helpful to me because I’m one of those who prays when I want something. Prayer is getting together with God and remembering, letting Him remind me, who He is, Holy, Loving, all knowing, listening, righteous, creator of everything, God. Who I am, created in His image, loved, sinful, in need of a saviour, saved, carried, precious in His sight, recipient of wisdom when I ask and receive.

It’s Saturday! I’m waking up in the desert, literally and potentially figuratively but No. Today I’m asking for wisdom. Wisdom that cannot come from anywhere, anyone other than God. I’m going to walk in that wisdom.