The deeper your love, the higher it goes; every cloud’s a flag to your faithfulness. Soar high in the skies, O God! Cover the whole earth with your glory! And for the sake of the one you love so much, reach down and help me—answer me! ~Psalm 108:4-6 The Message One of my favorite things to do is to go for a walk and take in the beauty. Today, the sky was brilliant blue, the sun was intense, and the white crusty ground reflected both. Though the wind was biting I was warmed by the glory all around me. Do you ever go for a walk expecting to see the earth filled … [Read more...]
Yesterday, Ann Voskamp's blog post hit my inbox. As I was reading through the post I came across these words... When you’re overwhelmed with the goodness of God to you — you overflow with the goodness of God to others. Ann Voskamp I had to ask myself this question... Are you overwhelmed with the goodness of God Maybe you'd like to join me in contemplating this question and Ann's statement. Thank you for stopping by today. I appreciate you and your sweet comments make my day. Overwhelmed... Diane P.S. Don't forget the check out or link up to our Project Inspire{d} Link … [Read more...]
Winter weather seems to be the topic of conversation everywhere. Did you get snow? I love hearing the excitement of those of you who are experiencing the first real snowfall in a long time. Please tell me you celebrated by making snow ice cream. Yesterday the sun was shining here in the Mitten State, for a while, and the temps were all the way up to the low twenties! My husband and I celebrated by going for a long walk at a local park. The best part was walking on some of the frozen marsh. I know...it doesn't take much for me. [wink] And of course, I took a bunch of photos … [Read more...]
When I was reading this verse in my Bible, the words seemed really familiar to me. It seems that a pastor of a church I attended used to say something very similar when he prayed, just prior to preaching his sermon. May the words from my mouth and the thoughts from my heart be acceptable to you, O Lord, my rock and my defender. Psalm 19:14 GW Most of us have been taught to say only things that build people up and not run them down. What's the phrase? "If you can't say something nice, don't say anything at all." We've also been taught to think the best of people. And some of us have … [Read more...]
How do you celebrate Valentine's Day? Usually my husband and I choose to make a lovely dinner together and I decorate the table in a way fitting for the day. We have been doing this for several years. It really is more fun than going out. And more economical, even if we splurge for special menu items or ingredients. This time of year we are inundated by offers from jewelers and florists and chocolate shops. At our house, we don't place any pressure on exchanging gifts and cards, but if we choose to give a gift, it probably will be in an unexpected kind of way. One year my … [Read more...]
In a few days the calendar will turn to the 14th. Valentine's Day. The day when the florists' couriers have the best job in the world. The day when we all have an excuse to do something amazingly kind and loving for our co-worker, our neighbor, our parent, our spouse, our child, our significant other, the person in line before or after us, almost everyone with whom we brush shoulders. Or not. It's a day that makes it abundantly clear that how we live our lives is all about choices. On this day, we can choose to receive the love of God and in turn, demonstrate it to others. Especially … [Read more...]
The road of life is difficult. Do you ever wonder if you'll make it? Then, if that's not enough...we're called to live holy lives. Really. I know, in this day and age, who talks about being holy? So roll up your sleeves, put your mind in gear, be totally ready to receive the gift that’s coming when Jesus arrives. Don’t lazily slip back into those old grooves of evil, doing just what you feel like doing. You didn’t know any better then; you do now. As obedient children, let yourselves be pulled into a way of life shaped by God’s life, a life energetic and blazing with holiness. God … [Read more...]
Yet in the light of day, the Eternal shows me His love. When night settles in and all is dark, He keeps me company— His soothing song, a prayerful melody to the True God of my life. Psalm 42:8 ~ The Voice Isn't it comforting to know that all day long God demonstrates his love for us? Isn't it comforting to know that in the dark of night...God is with us? Isn't it comforting, at the end of the day, to remember what God has done for us and recount it to him? This is a way to put order in a stress filled day or to qualm anxious thoughts. There is one thing though. … [Read more...]
Faith. It's a complicated word. For some...it has great spiritual meaning. For others...it's a bit nebulous. A long time ago, when one of the girls from my youth group got married, I created some counted cross stitch art for her as a wedding gift. I stitched these words from Hebrews 11:1....Faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. Why in the world was I so enamored with this verse that I created cross stitch art? And for a wedding gift, no less. I can't answer that. One thing I do know.... In order to navigate through life, faith is a … [Read more...]
Taste and see that the Lord is good. Psalm 34:8a If you don’t slow to count the gifts in the moments, God in the moments — when exactly will you taste and see that the Lord is good? The losing of every battle begins when there is no time to taste and see and savor that the Lord is good. When you don’t have time to taste and see that the Lord is good — you begin to taste and believe that life is bad. Ann Voskamp, A Holy Experience My days are pretty full. I get up early and go to bed late. I'm an early bird and a night owl. Would that make me an early owl? No matter what I do, or … [Read more...]
Do you choose a Word for the Year? Lots of people choose a word rather than make resolutions. Last year my Word for the Year was JOY. You can read about it here. If you've been following on Facebook you might have picked up that I decided to skip on choosing a Word for the Year and choose a Verse for the Year. Okay....I changed my mind. Instead.... I decided to do both. Sorta. The verse isn't just a verse...it's several verses...okay....a whole section of scripture. But before we go there let's visit my Word for the Year. Restore. It isn't what you … [Read more...]
“The object of a new year is not that we should have a new year, but rather that we should have a new soul.” G.K. Chesterton Do you make New Year's Resolutions? Whether the resolution is to be more organized, get healthy, read more books, or run a marathon....as significant as all of those are....the resolution to restore our souls is the more lasting resolution. What do you resolve to do in 2014? The photo quote above by Chesterton is available as a Free 5x7 Printable. Download the New Year's Quote and Printable for 2014 here. Save it to your desktop to print out at home or take to your favorite photo … [Read more...]
[sigh] It's the end of a year. Tonight we gather with a few friends and usher in the New Year. I'm making Swedish Meatballs. My cookbooks are in storage and so I'll be depending on my memory. I guess it will be a splash of this and a sprinkling of that. But, mostly, I'm hoping that they taste like I remember. Because today, I have a yearning for the familiar. Memory lane can be a lovely beautiful place filled with blooms and petals drifting in the sweet breeze. Or...not. Most of us like to travel down memory lane for the good remembrances. Often those remembrances are triggered by aromas. … [Read more...]
What was the best Christmas gift you have ever received? I would need to think long and hard about that one. As a child there were too many gifts under the tree for me. I'm not quite sure what my parents' thought process was on Christmas gifts. Most kids get some new clothes to start off the school year. Not me. Sometimes I got new shoes....in the first few weeks or months of the school year. My parents were not into starting off the school year all shiny and fresh. For all the picture-taking, I never remember, one time, a first-day-of-school picture. But, always, there was a new wardrobe of clothes … [Read more...]
Merry Christmas!! I am the light that has come into the world so that everyone who believes in me will not live in the dark. John 12:46 Today we light the Christ candle and celebrate Jesus, the Light, who came into the world to free us from the oppression of darkness. I've been contemplating this concept of Jesus being the light of the world lately. And wouldn't you know, last night I attended a Christmas Eve service and the theme of the service was about Jesus being the light. Isn't that just like God? The time when Jesus entered this world as a babe was … [Read more...]
Love. On this Fourth Sunday in Advent we Light the Candle of Love. The first week, we lit the candle of Hope. The second week, we lit the candle of Peace. And last week we lit the candle of JOY. My heart is full of gratitude. I cannot even begin to comprehend this love the Father has for us. To think that he so much wanted us to "get it" that he orchestrated an amazing turn of events to not only demonstrate this love he has for you and me, but to make a way to be a part of his forever family. At Christmas, we imagine a sweet bucolic scene of a mother tending to her … [Read more...]
But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. Luke 2:19 Just think of all the experiences Mary had leading up to and through the birth of her baby, King Jesus. Somehow Mary recognized the greatness or significance of each experience. Her heart was full. Neither of us are Mary, but God has allowed us to experience many significant things as well. Which of your experiences do you treasure? Have you pondered the significance of any? The good and the not-so-good? Christmas is more than the celebration. Christmas is also … [Read more...]
