2014? Yup... you read that right. I am sharing a glimpse from 2014. But why 2014? Can you believe that I put together this top 10 list and never published it? Me either. Today I spent a little time going through my drafts... a year-end clean-up of sorts when I discovered the list. It might have seemed appropriate to let it go and move forward to 2015, but I couldn't. You see, there's something different about these Sunday posts. First, they require more effort than any others, except maybe some sponsored posts. The reason they take more effort is because I'm sharing my … [Read more...]
Praise God for this incredible, unbelievable, indescribable gift! 2 Corinthians 9:15 The Voice Most days are filled with the common, the ordinary, nothing spectacular happens. And we just keep rolling along in a field of gray. As I write this on Christmas Eve just a little more than an hour before the 11 p.m. service at church, I'm reminded that incredible moments come in the midst of pain and ordinariness. Early this morning I awoke with a terrific pain in my stomach. I am pretty sure it was that glass of egg nog cut with some Vernor's, in addition to the chocolate truffle I enjoyed earlier in the day. … [Read more...]
For the past six weeks we've been discovering how to pray with power and purpose. This prayer discovery (which began here) has taken us on a journey through... The Lord's Prayer Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy Name, thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever and ever. Amen. This is the prayer Jesus taught his followers … [Read more...]
Jesus taught us a prayer that is filled with power. It really is the key to learning how to pray in a way that matters. Today we'll discuss how we should pray as if our lives depend on it. If this is your first time in joining us for this series on prayer... you can jump in right here... or take a moment to scroll down below for a recap of what we have discovered so far on this prayer journey. Matthew 6 where Jesus taught his followers this prayer has been the focus of our prayer journey: “This is how you should pray: Our Father in heaven, let your name be kept holy. Let your kingdom come. Let your … [Read more...]
We've been on a journey of learning how to pray in way that matters. Today we're discussing a hot topic for many of us... how we forgive others. Jesus packed a lot of power into this prayer he taught us and his followers to pray. The Lord's prayer is a life-giving prayer. It teaches us how to pray in a way that makes a difference. Its concepts are life-changing. At the end of this post there is a recap of what we have discovered so far. If you like, scroll down and read that first if this is your first time joining us. Or.... jump in here, now. Our source for this prayer journey has … [Read more...]
We've been on a journey of learning how to pray in way that matters. I am so grateful that some of you have mentioned that this has been a helpful journey. For as long as I can remember, I have been fascinated with prayer. Especially seeing the results of powerful praying and wondering how I can pray in a way that matters. At the end of this post there is a recap of what we have learned so far. If you want you can scroll down and read that first if it's your first time joining us. Or.... just jump in now. Our source for this prayer journey has been Matthew 6 where Jesus taught his followers this … [Read more...]
My desire to make coastal Advent candles comes from some very sweet childhood memories. Every Christmas, my parents would take me to services at the Swedish Lutheran church. A highlight for me was observing the Advent candle lighting. The Advent candles hung near the altar in a large circle of evergreen. There were four red candles on the wreath with a large center white candle. And though I really enjoyed singing the Christmas carols, I was mesmerized with that wreath. Once I was an adult I realized many families had Advent wreaths and candles in their home. Many even participated in special … [Read more...]
I come with a grateful heart today. Grateful for you and the joy of An Extraordinary Day. Grateful for my husband and my very special friends. But, most of all, I am grateful to my God... for his love, grace, mercy, provision, favor, and blessing. King David expressed it best.... Blessed are you, God of Israel, our father from of old and forever. To you, O God, belong the greatness and the might, the glory, the victory, the majesty, the splendor; Yes! Everything in heaven, everything on earth; the kingdom all yours! You’ve raised yourself high over all. Riches and glory come from you, you’re … [Read more...]
We've been on a journey of learning how to pray in way that matters. We began by looking at Matthew 6:6-8 NLT and discussed the first steps in learning how to pray in a way that matters. The first is to recognize that our prayer time is something to be treasured, it's a time of intimacy with God, and God rewards us for spending time talking with him. Second is to remember that God already knows what we need before we ask. Because of this intimate relationship we have with him we don't have to explain things and we can relax and be completely honest. Third is to follow Jesus' very specific guidelines for … [Read more...]
Prayer is this amazingly simple yet complicated communication we have with God. It's simple because God is always ready and listening... it's complicated because we tend to be rather selfish in our praying. And yes that includes praying for other people. I'm reminded that a great marriage is one where we adore listening to our partner talk... we want to know their thoughts, their ideas, their hopes, their dreams, and even the crazy little details of their day. But, sometimes, we have another agenda and we quit listening and we start dwelling on our desires. For most of us... our prayer time is more … [Read more...]
Today I'm joining up with some of my blogging friends for an extravaganza of Mason Jar Christmas Gift Ideas Each blogger has chosen a different theme and because my niece is having a baby mid January, I thought it would be fun to create a mason jar gift for her. Since my niece has selected green and pink for her baby girl... that became my color theme for the gift. I wasn't exactly sure what I was going to do when I got started. But, in shopping for the gifts to put inside the jar I came across this green rubber bath ducky and knew that it was the key to decorating my mason jar. Polka dots … [Read more...]
We want to pray in a way that matters. We want God to hear our prayers. And we want our prayers to help make things happen. Last week we looked at Matthew 6:6-8 NLT and discussed the first steps in learning how to pray in a way that matters. The first is to recognize that our prayer time is something to be treasured, it's a time of intimacy with God, and God rewards us for spending time talking with him. The second is to remember that God already knows what we need before we ask. Because of this intimate relationship we have with him we don't have to explain things and we can relax and be … [Read more...]
Do you pray and wonder if you're praying "the right" way? Do you pray and feel like you don't see any results to your prayers? Do you pray and wonder if it even matters that you've prayed? For the next few weeks, we're going to delve into prayer and together we're going to discover this wonderful conduit we have with God, and learn how to pray in a way that matters. Prayer seems like it should be so easy. After all it's just a conversation with God. Yet, somehow, it seems we don't really know how to pray. Evidently it was an issue when Jesus walked the earth, because he … [Read more...]
Have you ever felt like you were on the cusp of something new and big? That's how I feel right now. I can't exactly explain it, but this week God got our attention with some scripture verses that he put in neon lights so we wouldn't miss them. And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work. 2 Corinthians 9:8 God is the One who gives seed to the farmer and bread for food. He will give you all the seed you need and make it grow so there will be a great harvest from your goodness. 2 … [Read more...]
Last night I spent the night in a hotel room. It was clean, nicely decorated, and the bed was fairly comfortable. But, while I was laying in bed, I moved my arm against the headboard... and it felt like it was buzzing. There was some sort of low-level vibration in the headboard and I felt it in the bed too. It was a bit disconcerting. When I went to breakfast, I noticed that the room next to my room was labeled, "Electrical." On my return from breakfast the door to that room was open and I peeked inside. On the adjoining wall to my room... right where my bed was... were three enormous breaker … [Read more...]
God is good! That's the comment that many make when something good has happened in their life or in the life of another. We know that goodness is one of God's characteristics. God IS good. All. The. Time. Examine and see how good the Lord is. Happy is the person who trusts him. Psalm 34:8 NCV It's interesting to me that the psalmist is suggesting that we examine and see how good the Lord is. You might be more familiar with the verse in another translation. It's more commonly translated this way. Taste and see that the Lord is good; Psalm 34:8a NIV When was the last … [Read more...]
Be joyful because you have hope. Be patient when trouble comes, and pray at all times. Romans 12:12 It's been a hard week for me. I won't bore you with the details, but through the difficulties I knew that I could choose joy. And often I did. Choosing to be joyful is a mindset. Some days it's like walking a tightrope with that big long stick. There's only one way to traverse a tightrope. One step at a time. With our eyes fixed on the finish. For us as believers... Walking in joy is one step at a time, too. The stick we carry... is … [Read more...]
