Joy Day! My favorite day of the week. The day when we count blessings.... ...the good things and the not-so-good things. The day we acknowledge The One who loves us beyond anything we can imagine. Everyday my husband drives through what is called a greenway. The mountainside is immediately on the right and and the gorge to the left on portions of the road. It's beautiful. And true to its name in the spring and summer. He sees lots of wildlife. And dead deer in the fall and winter. Everyday he prays that he won't hit one of those graceful creatures with … [Read more...]
Joy Day! This past week began for many with fear and trepidation. For some of us touched by Hurricane Sandy, the forecast was fierce compared to the wind, rain, and snow that actually pelted our homes. For others of us, the toll was unimaginable. My heart goes out to all those affected. I cannot imagine being without electricity, water, or heat for a week, or being displaced from my home and facing the ordeal of clean up and renovation or demolition and rebuilding. Together, let's pray hard for continued protection, provision, strength, wisdom, and joy for … [Read more...]
Day 7 Why be ordinary when you (we) can be extraordinary! What can make a day extraordinary? One way... is to have a heart of gratitude. Earlier this year I started counting gifts. It was an intentional discipline on my part. As I undertook the challenge my eyes opened to seeing both the good and the not-so-good occurrences in my life as gifts. There's a verse in the Bible that I love... You will live in joy and peace. The mountains and hills will burst into song, and the trees of the field will clap their … [Read more...]
This weekend we hopped in the car and drove to New York State to attend a wedding. The daughter of one of my closest friends was getting married. The weekend weather forecast was perfect.....for Friday. The wedding was scheduled for Saturday afternoon. We checked the weather bug on the iPhone many times. Thunderstorms, 15-25 mph winds, and 100 percent chance of rain for Saturday was forecast...every time we looked. We awoke on Saturday morning to dark, heavy clouds, loud claps of thunder, and driving rain. My heart was as heavy as those clouds. As with every wedding there … [Read more...]
Thanks for joining me for another Joy Day! A day where we count blessings. A day where we celebrate God's overwhelming goodness. A day when we take a look around us, with His eyes, and really see. My birthday was a few days ago. It was a great day. And, because it was also Tim's regular day off, we enjoyed the whole day together. Our day concluded with walking "downtown" to the wonderful little Connections Cafe for Sharon's yummy grilled-to-order pizza. I choose mine topped with grilled veggies, Tim choose his topped with mushrooms & spinach. This is the most … [Read more...]
It's Saturday night. Our time to worship HIM. Worship. It's about Him. It's not about me. The congregation sings a song I know so well. A song I sang with the kids' worship team at my old church. It seems that every other week lately we've been singing a song to which "my" kids and I made up motions and led a multitude of other children in singing worship to our great God. "My" kids because I loved them (still do). "My" kids, because we were a team. A family. We celebrated, cried, prayed, and had fun together. We had the best of times every Wednesday night and Sunday … [Read more...]
Joy Day! A day to say to God, "How awesome are your deeds!" Shout with joy to God, all the earth! Sing the glory of his name; make his praise glorious! Say to God, "How awesome are your deeds!" Psalm 66:1-3a The Bible tells us that God created us in his image. Have you ever attempted to explain that concept to a child? The best way I know to do that is to stand her in front of a mirror and ask her to tell me what she sees. Inevitably she'll say..."I see me." That reflection we see in the mirror is our image. It's … [Read more...]
