SEASONS - HOW DECORATION DAY BECAME MEMORIAL DAY

  

Written by Sheila Gail Landgraf

Did you know that Memorial Day wasn’t called Memorial Day in the beginning?  It was called Decoration Day.  They called it that because after the Civil War, people decorated the graves of the soldiers who were killed in battle on that day.  It was a southern tradition, to decorate graves to remember loved ones lost, but this tradition was now shared all over the country, for soldiers from the north and the south.  

Maybe it was a way to bring the people of the north and the south together after the war.  It took the South a long time after the Civil War before they joined in the celebration in a national way. As a matter of fact, it took another war, World War I.  

There were many organizations of southern women’s groups that went about in local areas decorating the graves of the Confederate soldiers on random but different dates in May each year, and they finally came to see that this day was not about division, but about reconciliation and coming together.  It was to be a time for honoring the soldiers who gave their all for all of us.  

The North and The South finally came together and began placing flowers on the graves of their heroes who were buried in the Arlington National Cemetery.   

The Civil War was such a misunderstood war.  Most people haven’t heard the whole story.  It wasn’t really all about slavery, as many think.  It was mostly about state’s rights and taxation without representation.  

As wrong as slavery was, many believed that the whole situation would have worked itself out eventually with the invention of the cotton gin and new farming machinery.  At any rate, the subject was often used for a political soap-box in order to get at some of the underlying issues that were really more important to those involved.  It is a sad fact that though people did care about the situation of slavery, the truth was that neither side would be willing to send their sons to fight over the issue of slavery.  They were, however, willing to die for their freedom to own and keep their own property, and their right to make a living and receive the financial benefit from it without government interference.  Hmmmm…..I wonder how people are feeling about that today?

To understand what really happened way back then, you must first see and note the contrast in the cultures.  The North and The South were two totally different cultures, with two totally different ways of life.  Out of the 5.5 million people living in the south, there were really only 12 rich and powerful southern plantation owners, who owned over 500 slaves each.  These men had a lot of political power, and they were involved with legislation.  In 1860 everything in the South evolved around agriculture, mostly cotton.  Everything in the North evolved around manufacturing goods.  There were 140,000 manufacturing facilities in the North in 1860.  The North thrived on exporting goods.  The South thrived on exporting cotton.  Most of the southern cotton was bought by England.  The English people manufactured their own products, and were not likely to import the North’s exports, but they were glad to export their own to the southern traders.  As a matter of fact the English had a good trade deal established with the South, where they would buy their cotton and in turn the Southern plantation owners would receive good prices on English products.  

The South wound up buying goods from England instead of buying the goods being manufactured in the North.  In order to counteract this, the North, who controlled the House of Representatives and the Senate at that time, decided to tax both imports and exports.  That put the South paying high taxes on both the cotton they exported, and the goods they imported from England.  

By 1860 the South was actually paying approximately 85% of the taxes collected by the U.S.   They felt they were overtaxed and under represented by our government. That was the main issue, and slavery was the song it traveled on.  The politicians of the day knew that slavery was the political subject that would pull at people’s heartstrings and evoke emotion, and they used it to their own advantage to stir up people’s hearts.  

Many good people, most from the north, but also some good godly people from the south, were already hard at work trying to change the situation of slavery.   Slaves were considered to be property, and therefore, they were a good source of tax revenue for the government.   In this respect, the north was just as guilty as the south in not stopping slavery.  They thrived from the revenue received because of slavery from the large plantations.  There were also excessive property taxes taken from the huge lands that made up the southern plantations where the slaves lived and worked.  

Remember “Gone With The Wind”?  A huge part of the story came to light because of the lack of tax money to pay Tara’s taxes.  This was a catch 22 type situation though – when it came time for the numbers to be counted of people in an area, the southern plantation areas could count their slaves and claim a larger stake of the pie.  There was legislation over this, and some real odd ways came about by trying to justify whether a slave counted in a region as a whole person or not.  The North got the slaves reduced to a fractional number until after the war when the whole issue was corrected.   

Because of the heavy taxation, and the reduction of the number of people the southern legislators represented, the southerners became financially and politically strapped.   They could not exist any longer under the current tax situation, and they could not gain any power in the House and Senate to make a change.  Desperate, they exercised their state’s rights to pull out.  When they did, everyone suffered. The northern industrial states had depended on southern plantations for their food sources.

  

It was a mess, and it was a stupid and greedy mess.  It took both sides a long time to recover from their wounds. 

I find it very ironic that a war within our own country was the event that evolved into a time of remembering and honoring the soldiers that died protecting our country from other countries.  It actually started out because we needed to protect ourselves from each other.    

Perhaps the greatest lesson of the Civil War was about coming together as a people of one voice, and putting aside our differences and creating workable solutions for all.  The abolishing of slavery certainly falls under this huge umbrella.  The Union soldiers never mentioned in their historical diaries that they were fighting to abolish slavery.  What you read in their writings was the fact that they were fighting to protect and establish the Union.  They wanted The United States of America to stay The United States of America, which was established as “one nation under God with liberty and justice for all.”  They gave their lives for the idea that we, as a nation, should always stay together and work out our problems, under all circumstances.   

Hence, Decoration Day was established, which became known as Memorial Day after World War II.  It was officially moved to the third Monday of May in the 1970’s.  This was done so that all of America could enjoy a long weekend while they remembered those who died for their freedom.   

THE HOUSE DOCTOR - PART FIVE - SPICING UP MY SUMMER KITCHEN WITH AN HERB GARDEN

(Written by Sheila Gail Landgraf)

I have always wanted to have a summer spice/herb garden inside my kitchen window, so I made that one of my priority projects for early this summer.  I planted seeds to grow dill, cilantro, basil and oregano in pots that live right inside my kitchen window!  If this works well, I'll be adding more as I go along.  

There is nothing at all complicated about this folks.  It is just fun to do, and great to watch growing in your kitchen window.  Plant your own spice/herb garden with your grandchildren and let them see how God makes seeds to grow.  I planted part of my spice garden with my granddaughter.  She is just now toddling around and didn't have a clue what on earth we were playing in the dirt for, but she seemed to enjoy it anyway.  

Find some pots, get some dirt and purchase the type of seeds you wish to use and start planting!  I've even seen the seeds at the grocery store produce departments this year.  I bought mine at the hardware store in the garden section.  You can't see it yet in my pics, (unless you look VERY close) but my seeds are just now beginning to grow tiny little sprouts.  It has only been a few weeks since they were planted.  

The nice thing about doing this inside your kitchen window is that you can plant any time of the year, but I chose the traditional time of gardening probably because it made me feel more like an "official" gardener.  Maybe next year I will get even braver and move outside!  

All I did was fill up the colorful little buckets with wet dirt (it probably helped a lot that I chose to use the Miracle-Gro Seed Starting Potting Soil Mix that I bought at Lowe's), made holes in the soil about two inches deep, lay the seeds down in the moist soil and covered them up without patting the dirt down very much, using only loose damp soil.  About once a week I water them, checking in-between times to be sure they are okay.  If the soil starts to look dry, I give them a drink, but not too much at once.

These decorative containers were bought at The Christmas Tree Store for just over $1 each, and the patriotic girl and boy cost me $7 each at the same store.  I probably created this whole project for under $25, and it will brighten up my beacy/patriotic summer kitchen a lot this year.

The real cool part of it all is that when these pots fill up with spices and herbs I'll have fresh herbs to add to all of my summer recipes!  Can't wait till it reaches that stage.  I'll post pics and summer recipes to go with all the spices when they do begin to produce fresh basil, oregano, cilantro and dill.

I also re-purposed some old furniture for this setting.  I'll talk about that blue bar stool in  the corner on the next House Doctor post, plus a few more pieces of useless furniture that I turned into whimsical accent pieces for my summer rooms.

I'll admit the space looks a little empty right now, but you have to imagine it with bushy green growth spilling out of each container in a few weeks.  That will look a lot more interesting and will add some greens into the room so the red, white and blue won't be so stark on the eyes.  Can't wait to see it all appear.   I expect this will come together very nicely in the end.

Have you planted any new herbs and spices at your house this year?  I would love to share any reader's tips and comments.   I'll add them to the final article that will just be a continuation of this post in  "The House Doctor" blog section whenever the crop comes in and begins to serve its purposes for our summer foods.

Okay, now I'm off to plan some spicy recipes for Pentecost!  

Catch you next time - happy gardening!

COME AS A CHILD LESSON 70 THE BIRTH OF TWINS

 (Written by Sheila Gail Landgraf)

Abraham was buried at the Cave of Machpelah next to Sarah in the field that he bought from Ephron the Hitite, to the east of Mamre in the land of Canaan.  All of these details are important because God had promised Abraham that his descendants would possess the land where he was buried.  We read about this in Genesis 12:1-3.  

We can also think of and be thankful for the fact that Abraham, like Sarah, was probably resurrected from the grave after Jesus was resurrected and ascended to Heaven after him at the Ascension as part of that great cloud of witness.  Anyone seeking Abraham's grave site today would find an empty tomb!  He is known as the one who had faith to believe even before the Messiah had come.  Abraham will forever be revered by the people of God for his great faith.

After Abraham died we are told that Isaac moved to the home which Abraham had established at Beer Lahai Roi.  Isaac was now the rightful owner of all of Abraham's property.  This must have been the property where Abraham had lived with Keturah, and perhaps Isaac looked after her when Abraham died.    We know this home was near the well where she (then named Hagar) had experienced a theophany, and that was the place where she personally met God for the first time.  She had named this well that sprang from a fountain of a spring "The Well of The God Who Sees Me" and some had also begun to call it "The Well of The Vision of Life".  It was the well where people traveling would stop as they passed through on the way to Shur.  Abraham had bought this well from King Abimeleck.  The well and the cave at Machpalah were the two pieces of property that Abraham had bought and paid for during his life time.  Now Isaac had moved his home to the place of the well.

More than likely this new home of Isaac’s was in close proximity to where Ishmael was living too.  This again indicates that the two brothers had finally come to agreeable terms and were getting along with each other. They both could live in the land in peace.  This was a great accomplishment!  

Ishmael had twelve sons.  Each of the twelve sons was considered a prince and each established their own township that carried their own name, and each of those towns eventually became nations.  Ishmael lived to be 137 years old.  

It was said that many members of Ishmael’s family lived in the area from Havilah to Shur, which was east of Egypt as you go toward Assyria, and for some reason the bible mentions that Ishmael died in the presence of all his brethren. This seems to indicate that his family was close and that they bonded together and cared for one another, and that Ishmael was well respected among them, but that is just my own interpretation of the passage.  I had to wonder if this scripture meant that Isaac too was there among his other family members when he came to the end of his life.  There is no way to know how this really played out.

The name of Ishmael’s wife is not mentioned, but we do know from study of scripture that Hagar had once traveled to Egypt to find her for Ishmael, so it is supposed that she was an Egyptian woman, though some people dispute this.  Either way – we know that Ishmael took a foreign wife and we do not know her name.

Isaac also became the a father.  He was forty years old at the time he married Rebekah (a native of Syria) but Rebekah did not conceive a child right away.  Isaac, who was very anxious to have children, prayed for her and pleaded to God for her to be able to have children.  Finally, Rebekah became pregnant with twins which were born when Isaac was sixty years old. These Two boys were the very first twins that we know of. and they were as different as night and day.

During the pregnancy Rebekah could feel the two children struggling within her womb and their disturbances worried her.  She inquired of The Lord about this.  This is what she heard from the Lord in answer to her prayer:

“Two nations are in your womb,

Two peoples shall be separated from your body;

One people shall be stronger than the other,

And the older shall serve the younger.”

When the first child was born he had a ruddy red coloring and his skin was very hairy.  It was like he was wearing a hairy garment.  They named him Esau.  The noun for Esau in Hebrew means "hairy."  The verb for Esau in Hebrew means "to do or to accomplish, " or "he that acts or finishes."  A simpler definition of the Hebrew would translate as "doer."  

The next son was born holding on to Esau’s heel and they named him Jacob, which means "to press or to squeeze," or "to grab the heel," or "to trip up."  It also means to supplant or to deceive."  The verb of this word for Jacob is often used for one who ambushes an unsuspecting party."  Another way of saying this would be "trickster."  

The two boys grew up to be young men.  Esau was a man who loved to hunt and he was always outside walking through the fields looking for his next game.  Jacob was a mild-mannered man who enjoyed dwelling inside the tent.  Isaac loved Esau and related better to him than Jacob. He enjoyed the stews that Esau would make for him from the meats that he hunted.   Rebekah loved Jacob and related better to him than Esau.  Jacob was quiet and enjoyed staying in the tent with Rebekah and tending to household chores with her.  He enjoyed the art of cooking..

The prenatal striving of the twins in Rebekah's womb foreshadowed the relationship of conflict that would exist between these two sons of Isaac and Rebekah.    

SEASONS - MEMORIAL DAY AND PENTECOST

(Written by Sheila Gail Landgraf)

It is that time between Passover and Pentecost, the time of The Counting of the Omer.  I've been faithfully counting the Omer, waiting on The Day of Pentecost to come,reading the scriptures, pondering the verses, numbering the days of my life and examining them to see how much I need to change in order to grow closer to God. 

 I believe it is the blood of Jesus that covers me and saves me from the wrath of God.  This brings me salvation, but it is my desire to please God and grow closer to Him that brings sanctification.  Salvation and sanctification must not be confused.  Salvation is our gift from God.  Sanctification is our gift back to God.  It is what we do with the life He has given to us.  It is a growing process and one step leads to the next.   This is what happens every year in the journey of my soul during the 50 days between Passover and Pentecost when I count the days of the Omer and ponder the days of my life before God.  The Jewish people have followed this practice for many, many years, and I agree with them that it is scriptural and right.  This is not about a Christian trying to be Jewish, it is about a heart desiring to move closer to God.  One scripture that confirms my thoughts for carrying out this practice each year is found in Leviticus.

Leviticus 23:15-16

¹⁵ And ye shall count unto you from the morrow after the sabbath, from the day that ye brought the sheaf of the wave offering; seven sabbaths shall be complete:

¹⁶ Even unto the morrow after the seventh sabbath shall ye number fifty days; and ye shall offer a new meat offering unto the Lord.

 So I go through this counting and thinking process every year, and I'm never disappointed in how God moves my heart into submission to His will during the 50 days leading up to Pentecost.   I ponder, pray and wait, anticipating, expecting God to do His work in my life.  It is a time of deep listening and turning.  In no time at all the 50 days are up and I find myself approaching sunset and realizing the time is up and the actual time of celebrating Pentecost begins.  It always happens 50 days after Passover.    The practice is to keep the Sabbath first (Saturday), and then Pentecost comes right on it's heals.

Ironically, this all happens during the same time of the year that I find myself decorating my home for Memorial Day, so my house is usually always full of red white and blue candles, flowers and decorations.  One day (on a year that both holidays collided exactly) I caught myself wondering what these two days (Memorial Day and Pentecost) could actually have in common?  As I prepared for both, I kept thinking of one thing after another.   

Since Shavout (Pentecost) is normally called "The Harvest Festival" it is customary to adorn your home with fruit, greenery and flowers.  Part of the festival is to remember that the 10 Commandments were given at Mt. Sinai, which was a desert area, but legend has it that when the law was given the mountain bloomed and sproutted flowers.  There is great symbolism in this legendary story and I love it.   I look around my house and see the red and white roses and ferns that I've chosen for Memorial Day and realize I don't have to change a thing for Pentecost, it all flows beautifully together.  

It is also customary to eat dairy foods on this Pentecost festival. The spiritual nourishment we receive from God's word and His laws are compared to the nutritional factors found in milk.  The Hebrew word for milk is "chalav."  The numerical value of this word using Hebrew Gematria is 8 + 30 + 2, adding up to 40.  We know that Moses spent 40 days on Mt. Sinai receiving the Torah.   In his 40 days with God on the mountain Moses gained great wisdom.  In the first 40 days of counting the omer up until the 50th day of Pentecost, we too, if approached correctly, gain wisdom and knowledge from God.

Passover was celebrated on two days, then we had the seven days of unleavend bread, that made nine days in counting.  The day we reach Pentecost is the 50th day - that is one day, making 10 holy days in the count.  These days are the first 10 days and then there are the 40 days inbetween, with a total of 50 days.  The 40 days inbetween the two festivals of the 50 days we have been counting are symbolic of the time of Moses on the Mountain receiving the Torah.  Receiving the word of God into our lives is like taking nourishment from milk and honey; it is very good for us and makes us healthy.  So, we eat fruit and dairy at Pentecost.  I glanced at my Memorial Day menu, and  I see mini white chocolate cheesecakes topped with blueberries, and a Memorial Day Flag Fruit Kabob Platter.    Even the menu is working out for both days!  Pretty amazing to think about!

It is also traditional to eat meat on this festival day.  You eat the dairy first, then take a break, and eat the meat next.  This is because of the natural law of God that says you must learn to drink milk before you learn to eat meat.  You must learn the basic stories of Torah and each year as you study them more and more (it is traditional to stay up all night reading Torah on Pentecost eve) they become layered lessons in life.  The stories become meatier and meatier.  You are gradually moving from milk to meat.  I had chosen an Open Faced Rib Sandwich for my Memorial Day menu.  My ribs will be beef ribs (not pork).  Even the main course will fit this day!  Again, amazing!  I had no idea when I was making out the menu that things were going to come together so easy.  Was God putting the choices into my head?  I like to think so....even the fruit kabobs in the shape of a flag with blueberries, strawberries and bananas will work out fine.  This combination of the two occassions that often fall close together on the calendar this will work out just great, no problem.

Lots of things are being memorialized on both of these days.  The giving of the Torah on the Mountain, the memory of the fallen soldiers, the sacrifice of Christ that brought the freedom that comes from the gift of The Holy Spirit, and the sacrifice of our Americian soldiers that brought us freedom in our land.

It also occurred to me that both Pentecost and Memorial Day were about marking endings and beginnings. 

Pentecost marks the harvest, the end of the wheat growing season.  Things that have been growing all year are gathered up and stored in the barn.  The wheat harvest is ended and we wait until the time comes for enjoying the fruit of the crops.  An offering is offered up to God, to give thanks for His provision.     

Memorial Day marks the end of the lives of many good godly men, who selflessly put their all on the line for the benefit of others so that all could enjoy the abundance that freedom brings.  These soldiers were so much like that wheat gathered into the barn, their service representing the harvest that causes our lives to be full and abundant.  Because the wheat has been gathered in, the barns are full.  They gave themselves as an offering.  We send up prayers of thanks to God for all their lives have provided for us.            

Those were endings;  but with each ending comes a new beginning. The Book of Life turns a page and we get a chance for new heroes to walk the earth and give the service that true heroes always give.  What a perfect example we have received from our Lord, Jesus Christ, the First-fruit of the Harvest, who came to live on this earth, to be buried like a grain of wheat in the ground and to arise again.  He walked on this earth for 40 days after His Resurrection, then, He ascended into Heaven to give us a new beginning when He sent His Holy Spirit to dwell in us.   With the giving of The Holy Spirit on The Day of Pentecost, the whole earth received the offer of a new beginning. 

Perhaps those soldiers who died for us all were only imitating The One they knew so well.  There are soldiers that enlist in the battles of this country, and there are soldiers that enlist in the battle for The Kingdom of Heaven.  There are many who join both battles.   They all deserve our heartfelt memorials.  They all were seekers, looking for a better way of life for everyone.   Maybe our country fails miserably sometimes in maintaining the honor due to them.  Maybe our country fails in keeping the freedom that they fought so hard to obtain.  But take heart good friends, there is one Commander In Chief that will never fail.  He will provide all of us with a new beginning in a land that we have yet to see, but a land that is held in our hearts as we fight our own battles.  We are all but soldiers and pilgrims fighting through the battles of this life. 

SEASONS - COUNTING THE OMER WITH A BAPTIST TWIST

(Written by Sheila Gail Landgraf)

Even though I grew up Baptist but now lean toward all things original and Hebraic, I have come to realize that so many Messianic and Hebraic thoughts and practices were taught to me by those dedicated Baptist Sunday School teachers and preachers who were very serious about their knowledge of the scriptures and the gospel of salvation.

For instance, back in those days in the little Baptist Church where I attended we constantly sang a song called “Bringing In The Sheaves.”  This song to these sincere Baptist people simply related to bringing a harvest of souls to salvation, which was an absolutely correct metaphor; except that now in my own life, with added Hebraic thoughts, there is also SO MUCH MORE to this story of the sheaves that was not known or taught, or at least never publicly shared in that little baptist congregation.  Yet, you might say in the Baptist Church I received the basics, and since then God has graciously shown me more of the story.  I'm sure there are baptist that receive MORE than the basics in their worship; I am simply relating my own personal experience.  I was young and still learning, but those BASICS were so vital to any more growing I had to do.

Now as  I contemplate the basic truths learned about salvation and the gospel message I was taught as a young girl in the Baptist church, I am able to realize that the “sheaves” referred to in this song were the “first fruits” of the early spring harvest that relate to the Counting of the Omer in the time period between the Jewish Passover Festival and the Jewish Feast of Pentecost.   With this further knowledge, the song really comes alive for me! These things were not specifically taught or talked about a lot the Baptist Church, but this is a Torah commandment given in Leviticus 23: 15 – 16.

 “You shall count seven full weeks from the day after the Sabbath (Passover, The High Sabbath) from the day that you brought the sheaf (omer) of the wave offering (Day of Early First Fruits).  You shall count 50 days to the day after the 7^th Sabbath.  Then you shall present a grain offering of new grain unto the Lord.”

I was taught that it is good and proper to bring offerings unto the Lord, and I was taught that The Holy Spirit descended on Pentecost; but nothing specific was given in the teachings that addressed these particular feast days or this particular offering (The Omer of First Fruits), which appears to be pretty important to God in the scriptures.

So, now that I know this fact; I’ve taken it to heart!  Every year starting on the day of Early First Fruits during the season of Passover I say a prayer/blessing and declare the day of the Counting of the Omer.  It makes that old worn-out and heavily used Baptist scripture of  “work out your own salvation with fear and trembling” found in Philippians 2:12, come alive for me!  This harvesting experience has become the way of the season at our house now, and we (like a lot of other Jewish, Protestant and Catholic believers) count the days up until Pentecost (49 days with Pentecost being the 50^th day)  and participate in The Counting of the Omer.

Studying the Hebraic Feast Days of Passover and Pentecost has made these days that are sandwiched in between them so much more significant in the journey of life.  I never knew until I just stepped out in faith on my own and took God at his word and just started doing what I had learned, how significant these days would be in changing my life and bringing me closer in my walk with God.  It is so helpful, and believe me – I am one of those people who always needs a lot of help.  When the 49 days,(seven weeks) are complete it is customary to say another prayer/blessing: 

“O Compassionate One may He return for us the service of the Temple to its place speedily and in our time. Amen.  Selah.”  

Having the Messianic meaning of “temple” (fits right in with my Baptist upbringing too) I know I am walking around in the temple of the latter days.  Christ dwells in me through The Holy Spirit and my body has become a temple.  It is my place to do all I can to keep my temple holy and acceptable to God so that one day, He will return for me.  

One way that I attempt to do this is to study and meditate on the seven fruits of the Spirit that are focused on by Jewish and Hebraic thinking people along with miscellaneous others (like nondenominational Christians such as myself) during The Counting of the Omer. 

Each day is devoted to learning more of the attributes of God.  At first they seemed a little silly and really strange to me, but the more I studied and listened to God, the more they exactly showed me the things that God wanted me to change about my temple (my body) and my life (my soul and my spirit) so that I could better be of service to Him in His Kingdom as I walked the earth.  These seven attributes which correspond directly to the fruits of The Spirit I studied all my life, starting early in the Baptist church, are really cool.  These seven attributes of God’s Divine Character help us to overcome the attributes of our human nature that are directly opposed to God’s will.  These seven attributes we meditate on in The Counting of the Omer are:   

                         (1)       Chesed – Loving Kindness

                        (2)       Gevurah – Strength and Power

                        (3)       Tiferet – Harmony and Peace

                        (4)       Netzach – Victory and Triumph

                        (5)       Hod – Glory and Majesty

                        (6)       Yesod – Foundation

                        (7)       Malkut – Sovereignty

It seems that each of the seven ancient patriarchs of Israel possessed a portion of these characteristics when we look at their combined lives.  The life of Abraham teaches us Chesed.  The life of Isaac teaches us Gevurah.  The life of Jacob teaches us Tiferet.  The life of Moses teaches us Netzach.  The life of Aaron teaches us Hod.  The life of Joseph teaches us Yesod.  The life of David teaches us Malkut. 

By meditating and dwelling on these seven attributes of God’s character during the seven weeks of counting the omer while waiting for Pentecost, we participate in a process of overcoming that consists of seven stages of spiritual growth and development.  This is God teaching us how to overcome our own human nature that drags us down and keeps us from entering and/or presently living in The Kingdom of God.  These seven attributes of God’s personality offset the seven natures of our own humanity that Paul spoke to us about and called “the works of the flesh.”  (Galations 5:19-21).  Peter listed the characteristics of God for us to help us overcome these when he said:  “Giving all diligence add to your faith virtue (spiritual power), to virtue knowledge, to knowledge self control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness, to godliness brotherly kindness and to brotherly kindness love.  For if these things are yours and abound you will be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of Our Lord Jesus Christ.  For he who lacks these things is short sighted, even unto blindness and has forgotten that he was cleansed from his old sins.  (II Peter 1:5-9). 

How many times did I hear those teachings as I sat a child and a young adult in the Baptist pews?  Over and over they were taught.  Now in counting the omer and meditating on these attributes and trying to overcome daily by putting them into my life as we approach the Day of Pentecost, I am able to begin to live out what I was taught.  Not to say that we will ever be perfect (far from it), only Jesus was perfect!  With His blood covering my sins though, I am better able to open my eyes to the things of life that are worthy and worth while for God’s Kingdom.  I am constantly being “born again” into this new place of where God created me to be! Like a child growing in the mother's womb; I love and need this process and this time.  Only God could have commanded something so perfectly fitting and valuable for teaching a sinner like me to overcome. The scriptures clearly say that those who "overcome" will be the ones who enter the kingdom after they come out of the great tribulation.  Our world is beginning to groan with the pains of tribulation even now, and help for living out these days in a godly manner is welcome food for my soul.

The days of The Counting of The Omer are simply all about growing in the womb of the attributes of God’s character and learning how to better become His child.  This is one of the first process, after salvation, baptism and the receiving of The Holy Spirit, to being "born again."   It is an exciting and fulfilling process that I am thankful to have discovered.  As I go through these days now an old song comes to mind that I haven’t sung in a long time.  I catch myself singing that old hymn called “Bringing In The Sheaves.”

The words are suddenly so much more profound:

“Sowing in the morning, sowing seeds of kindness, Sowing in the noontide and the dewy eve;Waiting for the harvest, and the time of reaping, We shall come rejoicing, bringing in the sheaves."

The old song was written in 1874 by a man named Knowles Shaw.  How I would love to have a conversation with him! I am told by what little witnesses there are, that he was inspired by Psalms 126:6; “"He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him." 

“Sowing in the sunshine, sowing in the shadows, Fearing neither clouds nor winter’s chilling breeze;By and by the harvest, and the labor ended, We shall come rejoicing, bringing in the sheaves”  

These wonderful old words perfectly describe the journey through life with Christ living inside us and being led by The Holy Spirit.  It paints a beautiful picture of the aspect of overcoming; of accepting the good with the bad and staying faithful until the times of harvest, learning, loving, trusting, rejoicing as we go!

"Going forth with weeping, sowing for the Master,
Though the loss sustained our spirit often grieves;
When our weeping’s over, He will bid us welcome,
We shall come rejoicing, bringing in the sheaves."

I guess that little conversation with Mr. Shaw will have to wait until we are in eternity together, but I do intend to look Mr. Shaw up on the other shore!  I also find it amazing how the Spirit of God advertises the kingdom sometimes.  These simple yet profound lyrics that most people do not have a clue how to understand have been used in a million and one movies, tv shows and books.  All of our bad media sources have unknowingly used them in the strangest ways and all of them have from time to time burst out in one big chorus of the songs refrain:

"Bringing in the sheaves, bringing in the sheaves,
We shall come rejoicing, bringing in the sheaves;
Bringing in the sheaves, bringing in the sheaves,
We shall come rejoicing, bringing in the sheaves."

 One of the most astounding places I’ve found the lyrics repeated was in the southern American writer Eudora Welty’s novel called “Losing Battles.” 

Robert Mitchum sung it as he portrayed The Reverend Harry Powell in “The Night Of The Hunter.” 

A three piece marching band played it in “Batman and The Bomb” scene in 1966 from “The Batman Movie” staring Adam West. 

Granny of the Beverly Hillbillies loved to sing this song! 

In a real ironic twist, Faye Dunaway sings it while bathing Dustin Hoffman in the movie “Little Big Man.” 

The church congregation of The Andy Griffith Show sang it in “The Church Organ” episode, not to mention the time Barney Fife lulled Otis (the town drunk) to sleep by humming it in another episode of the same show.

The children in "The Children of The Corn" sang it before chasing the main character into the corn field, yet another most ironic use of the song.  

Each time I see this song used in a bad way, a way that really wasn't intended and at first think it should have been edited out of a musical, tv show or video, the thought finally occurs to me; this is just God's way of seeping into our bad and bringing His good.  If we don't turn, He comes to us in our dirt and grime and states truth in a way that we will understand it.   It is like he is playing a joke on his mischievous children and teaching them something in a different way, a way that He knows they will relate to and come back to in their minds later after they feel the contracting emotions of that wrong way twist, and turn from the bad because of the good words heard within the bad.

You can see this old song has has been used a million different ways by a million unlikely sources over the years!  

Now I sing it with a Hebraic heart, loving the words that speak to me of a better future in a land where we are always surrounded by the beautiful attributes of God, Our Father and the mercy, grace, love and truth of Yeshua, Our Messiah.

THE HOUSE DOCTOR PART FOUR PREPARING FOR A LIVELY SUMMER

(Written by Sheila Gail Landgraf)

I did so LOVE the spring look that had evolved at our home by the closing of spring this year, and even felt a little sad and challenged about packing it all up.  I had become used to it and it made me happy every time I walked through.

It felt like Spring had reached a point of perfection; but nothing gold can stay forever, and I’m sure by Fall, Summer will have reached a point of perfection too…..so here goes, on with the transition!

Out with the red, white and blue - what a contrast!  Quite a change!

Both looks could be quite cheerful and comfortable, but I was going for more of summer and less of spring!  This:

Became this:

And several other changes began to take place:

I usually wait until after Derby Day and Mother’s Day to begin to transition our house from the lovely, more formal, fresh and bright spring greens and soft and pretty pastels into the more casual and comfortable deeper, darker greens of summer and deep reds of Pentecost.  I chose to start a little early this year.  

Now with the fast approaching days of summer we go from elegant, spacious and slightly formal to cottage-cozy, laid back and comfortable casual.  I always want a more relaxed, laid back feeling in the house which will hopefully match our life styles during the summer months.

 

It is a season that easily blends it’s qualities.  These same colors used for Pentecost work well when we arrive at the time for the patriotic reds, whites and blues of Memorial Day.   The patriotic things feel so festive, yet un-formal.  They continue the Pentecost message with the way they speak of freedom and growth of a Godly nation.  

They also lend themselves with the blends of more shades of the blues and some mixed beiges to the beach feeling I like to mix into it all.  

These beach decorations and colors then go so well with more red, white and blue when we once again show our patriotism on Independence Day.

When you set your home with this atmosphere, you get the feeling of a constant on-going picnic.  It is the time of the year to concentrate much more on the yard and the outside living areas of the home.  We stay beach-worthy inside and outside right through the end of August when things will once again take another transition and total change of colors in honor of fall in September. 

This year I’m starting early, right BEFORE Mother’s Day.  I’m going to let May, June, July and August just blend with slight changes.  I have pulled out the basics and I’m setting my goals for some new improvements and fresh ideas this summer. I have a list of the things I would like to aim to accomplish in my home before the end of August.  I'll share a few of them with you here.  Pray that I get at least HALF of them done!

I want to plant a thriving spice garden in my kitchen window.  When this gets done I'll use these spices to make fresh new summer recipes.

I need to make the entrance to the house fit the season that we are going through.

I would love to re-purpose several pieces of old un-useful-for-the-moment furniture.  I want to paint some smaller pieces with a patriotic flair (only to be used in the appropriate seasons.)

I am hoping to be able to revive some of my outdoor areas – they need a lot of tender loving care this summer.   They have been long neglected while we worked on some inside remodeling.   Places like the back yard deck, the grilling area at the downstairs back of the house and the screened porch just off our master bedroom.

It would be fun to incorporate more plants, those of the “eating” kind and those of the “just pretty” kind into planters and containers all over the yard and decks of the house.

I am STILL cleaning out the storage building and garage - an on-going project that will continue through the summer.  The garage may have more priority - since it is cooler in the summer months.

I’ve always dreamed of having a little secret garden to the back of my house that wraps all the way around one side of my house.  I want to lay out the master plan for that this summer and plant a few of the basics and create a few beginning gardening projects in that direction.  This will be a whimsical garden, one with little spots of imaginative creations and restful places of peaceful meditation, with pretty plantings that add large splashes of color here and there, maybe even with a walking trail, be it ever so small and humble.  I will use some of my seasonal re-purposed furniture that I will not need to use any more to make outdoor sitting spaces for this area.

 

I want to establish our first annual Family Pentecost BBQ Picnic to be held in our own back yard and I will work on little things that aim for making this more festive and fun for all.  This year it will only be immediate family, but this may evolve over the years into a casual reunion with other extended family and friends.  I’ve noticed a lot of the younger cousins don’t really seem to know each other very well.  We need to initiate an opportunity there…..Planning the fun events that you want to take part in your home is what the constant remodeling and redecorating is all about, right?  It is all about the people; not the things.  I want the people to know each other better!  The things and all the effort you are extending toward the care of your home are for the people you love.  Let them enjoy as often as you can.  There are a million little ways to do this.  My Pentecost Family Picnic is just one example.  What would you like to be sharing with your family this summer? Make some special memories!

Last but not least, is my forever dream-plan of putting an entertainment center with sliding barn-style doors at the end of our living room.  It would be a miracle to get this done by fall, but I can always hope.  I’ve seen just exactly what I want (well, I would tweek it a bit and make it fit my purposes) in a local store display.  Remember my thoughts are to have the barn doors slide on and off and be the display for my different large pieces of art to be changed with each season?  I am going to make it a priority to take pictures of the “almost perfect” one I saw so that my husband and my son-in-laws can help me build it at the end of our living room.  If we do it ourselves, we can do this for a small amount of pocket change.  The one I saw in the store though amounted to several thousands of dollars.  Of course, I'm opting for saving the money and having a new family project to share!   I would change the store's original design a bit to suit my own purposes, change the door to one large one instead of two smaller ones, and change the colors used for painting the wood.  This is on my “if possible” list.  Maybe I will just start accumulating the materials – we will see how this one goes.

So what is my budget for all of this?  I don’t have one.  I really don’t have a penny to spend on home improvements this summer, so everything you see from me will be very thrifty and economical.  Just more of an excuse to use the old imagination, right?  Keep reading the blog each week to see all that can be accomplished with sheer will power and a little elbow grease!

Sounds like we all are going to have a very busy summer!  I’ll share my pics and tell you all about it as we go along, hopefully it will spark some ideas for your home too.  Have you made your own list yet?  What things would you like to work toward this summer?  Life is a process and if you don’t think it through and make a list, well you may not ever get started.  If you have anything you would love to share with others about your summer décor and home improvement ideas, please let me know.  I would be happy to feature your home on this blog in “The House Doctor” section too.  I'm always looking for willing participants not too embarrassed to put their ideas out there for everyone to share.  The more we share our ideas the richer our lives will be.

 Just don’t forget to stop and enjoy your summer progress along the way.  Take long times to rest and bask in your progress and also remember to share the beautiful results of your ideas with all of your family, friends and neighbors.  A “house” is an investment.  A “home” is a lifestyle!