Thankful for my blessings...

You know that song, "Count Your Blessings"? I love that one, not because it reminds me of the cheerful song we sang in church as a child, but because it really does remind me of all I am blessed with.

I have been looking for the perfect sign to post above my doorway in my family room of this saying and I haven't been able to quite yet find one. But yet I can already see it there.

I have so many wonderful things that God has given me and looking back at where I've been in my life I would have never thought I'd be so blessed as I am today.

God's greatest gifts are in His creations, the western sun in the Autumn sky as it warms my face, the cool breeze that smells of fall, the kindness of your husband when you are feeling ill, the gentle nudge from a kitty that wants your attention, the grass green and vibrant from the rain that fell the night before, the birds singing to each other in beautiful choruses, the eyes of your dog as he waits for you to call him, a loving call from your mother when you least expect it, your son dropping by to visit unannounced, your daughter's "thank you" for the meal you made.

Yes these are only a few of the many blessings that I think of every day, and blessings they are!

Your Creation

Psalm 139:17-18

Dear Lord, 

I love to ponder Your creation. This earth I stand on. This earth that You created. How precious is all Your Creation! Everything is handcrafted with Your care. The thought You put into everything. The thought You put into me.

My memories as a child take me back to many instances where Your presence was with me. I didn't now You then as I do now, yet I knew You were there. There is one particular day that has been on my mind as of late and I am inspired to share it here...

As far back as I can remember, I enjoyed playing outside no matter the weather - each day was a new experience. I grew up in a home with an acre of land full of grass, plants, and trees. My father had a beautiful garden and pasture. Oh how I loved spending time alone there. There was always so many things to explore in my surrounding world - the colors - the textures - the sounds - the smells. And my thoughts Lord, I loved thinking so many things about them.

On this particular day, I was probably 5 years old, I really don't know, but I recall playing in the summer shade with the cool, silky, soil in my bare toes. I was hiding in the tall grape vines and pretending I was in another land. I remember pausing as I felt You there with me and in that moment I realized that this place I was in, this place called earth, was full of life! 

I then paid attention watching every detail with my eyes and how intricate everything became to me. It was as if You curled the tendril vines around Your very fingers at each end drawing them where they were supposed to go. 

I was amazed at the vast amount of branches that You orchestrated into a magnificent trellis around the structure they were given and how their life was engulfed into providing strength for the yielding fruit to come.

The large leaves woven with Your hands, were jagged and vibrant green, rough, yet soft and velvety to the touch.

I then turned to the grapes deep with this color called purple and noticed how each one of them donned such beautiful frosty bloom. As I touched them to feel their skin, my fingerprints were left behind imprinted on their being. 

The smell You gave them was so new and intriguing to my senses that I needed to know what was on the inside. So I borrowed just one and as I opened it I found seeds tucked in green flesh, not at all what I expected. I thought maybe they weren't ready yet, that I had picked this one too soon. 

The taste was not becoming to me with my sour face turned in. This was not the way I knew grapes to taste. "Shouldn't they be sweet?" I thought. And after removing the bitter pulp I still found the experience of Your creation in them more intriguing to me than the jam I helped Mom to preserve in those Mason jars the year before.

I love hiding there in our secret places Lord. Oh Lord, how I love to ponder on all Your creation! I am in awe of You! I love the thought You put into these beautiful gifts for us here on earth so much so that it does not enter my mind what You have in store for me in heaven!

Romans 1:20 " For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse."

On Thanksgiving...

When most people are asked what their favorite holiday is Thanksgiving is usually not the at the top. For me it is and always has been. I love Thanksgiving!

Thinking back a few years or more the reasons I remember loving it was for the time with family and the food and the memories I think I loved about it. As I have gotten older there are much more precious things that my heart takes notice of.

There is just something about giving thanks for all our wonderful blessings that fill my heart with joy and love. I try and be thankful each day of the year, but when everyone around you in this world is giving thanks in abundance at once this time of year there is no denying the love of Christ that draws near to us all.

As I see people post things on the Internet about what they are thankful for each day it reminds me that I too would like to show where I give thanks. I thought about doing something daily but to me that doesn't just seem like enough. This week at Sunday School I really found so much speaking to me that I want to just ponder on it more and felt led to share it. I love God's word for this. It is always renewing and refreshing my soul...just when I need it most.

In the Bible you have probably heard it said in James 4:8 "Draw near to God and God will draw near to you." (which is by the way one of my new favorite passages) but did you know that in John 15:4 Jesus says to His disciples, "Remain in me as I also remain in you?" I'm sure I've read it before but never heard it to the point where it is really being written on my heart. Paralleling these two phrases together shows that Father God draws us near and Jesus is what keeps us there. He never leaves. We are a dwelling where God lives by His Spirit! (Ephesians 2:22)

Sometimes I catch myself reading backwards. At John 15:3 Jesus tells His disciples that they are already clean because of the word he has spoken to them. Isn't it awesome that God's words cleanse us? There was a point and time in my walk that I was surrounded by Christians that were reciting Bible verses in response to some of my questions. I never understood how they remembered them until now that I have had my own experiences in God teaching me through His word.

As a growing Christian I am so thankful for God's word. It is one of the many keys to a growing relationship with Jesus and speaks truth and love.

Oh Christmas Tree

So we didn't get a real tree this year. We invested in an artificial one - you know the one that is overly advertised to look the most realistic with just the perfect amount of needles and lights? It is the first year I have had one in 10 years. This is because my husband (whom I love for this) who has always been so adamant about our getting a real tree. I thought it was cute and always went along with it thinking it didn't make that big of a difference outside of the fun family outing. Yes, I knew would miss that - going to the same place each year, picking one out but didn't think anything else would be missed. Until now.

 

Oh sure to bring up the fact that there would be no mess and no going out in the cold and making sure it is secured on the SUV or having to feel bad for having killed it or taking it to the street when the new year comes I thought it was a great idea. Actually we all agreed it was easier to just get one we could put out each year at our convenience and not fiddle with lights and all that other stuff I mentioned. So we did it. However when we got it all decorated and up it didn't have any charm or character. No smell. No life. We love it and appreciate it, but it is just not the same.

 

It then occurred to me that this is odd in that I had real trees growing up as a kid and even later in life. I have even experienced going into the woods and cutting a tree down. So what is different inside of me now? It is different to me now because I have a relationship with Christ where in times past I hadn't. God's word written in the Bible is true that we are born again and made new. I have no doubt about this and will testify to it. But back to the tree...

I thought about what I missed with a real tree and pondered a moment or two. I began to feel a warmth and love come over me knowing how God has created so many things for us to enjoy. Thinking about the evergreen Christmas trees, I then thought about all the kinds of trees that grow around us - even the evergreens have so many variations. I moved on to the birds, the animals, the fruit, the vegetables. So much variety.

 

Also while thinking about this I thought how different we are as people, our characters, our charm, and our life. Not so much our smells, though - funny however. But thinking like this I know even more that God loves us and he formed each one of us with His own hands and heart. Every single person is so special. He admires us just as we do that Christmas tree. Just the way we are.

 

We are so blessed by a God that loves us so much and has given us so much and this Christmas season I do not take that for granted. I am so thankful for my Heavenly Father who sent His son to save us all. I am so thankful that He loves us.

 

Merry Christmas! I hope you all have wonderful season filled with love and fellowship with your relationship with our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Love

Love brings so much warmth to my heart, it makes me glow inside. I have so many things I could talk about on this subject but since I don't have a lot of time right now, all I can say is thank you Lord for your Love and because of Your love - I have learned to love others so much! Thank you Jesus!

The gift of giving makes a joyful heart!

I love giving, and not just at Christmas. I love to find that perfect gift for someone. One that speaks to my heart. I love wrapping the gift and the giving of it. It makes me wonder how God felt the day He gave us His only son. And to see how we received it. What a joy this time of year brings to my heart to give to people and to show them love. I am so thankful for our Heavenly Father that He first showed us love so that we could love. Most of all I am thankful for His gift of sacrifice in sending us His son to die for our sins so we can once again live with Him for eternity.

Merry Christmas!

Don't close your eyes!

Savannah, my daughter, always sends keen messages to me. Messages that remind me I am a daughter of God.

The other afternoon she and I were at our new church. It was after a luncheon given to those that are new to the congregation. She grabbed my hand, and said, "Mom, I have a surprise. Close your eyes and hold my hand." I instantly replied, "I can't close my eyes or I might trip!" She said back to me, "I will hold on to you." She then led me into another room, had me open my eyes and then pointed to a baby crawling in the foyer. She said, "See. Look!"

It was the cutest thing. Of course Savannah loves babies. Who doesn't. But the message that hit me here was when I said, "I can't close my eyes or I might trip!"

This is so true! I have been battling many spiritual warfare and even slipped some away from the Gospel because I have been shutting my eyes rather than keeping them open where I can remain in a cautious state of mind.

But Savannah's second message occurred to me...that even though my eyes were shut, Christ still held my hand all the way through. Leading me and making sure I didn't fall!

I thank my Heavenly Father for the gift of His son and the Holy Spirit for always being near and reminding me of the Gospel so that when I don't "feel" near I remember my faith and am given a renewed hope to continue forward.

John 14:17 (Amplified Bible)
"The Spirit of Truth, Whom the world cannot receive (welcome, take to its heart), because it does not see Him or know and recognize Him. But you know and recognize Him, for He lives with you [constantly] and will be in you."

John 14:26 (Amplified Bible)
"But the Comforter (Counselor, Helper, Intercessor, Advocate, Strengthener, Standby), the Holy Spirit, Whom the Father will send in My name [in My place, to represent Me and act on My behalf], He will teach you all things. And He will cause you to recall (will remind you of, bring to your remembrance) everything I have told you."

Another message that has struck me well this week after my Bible reading is of how can I expect God to remain near me when I am not near Him?

James 4:8 (New Living Translation)
"Come close to God, and God will come close to you. Wash your hands, you sinners; purify your hearts, for your loyalty is divided between God and the world."

Thank you Lord for your word and your guidance through Christ and your Holy spirit! I pray I will remain obedient and thirsty for your life and love. May the enemy have no power over me!

Sunday

I woke up this morning feeling empty. I reminded myself that I need to take time out to "commune" or fellowship with God. With our upcoming move and all the details and preparations there are to do I have been so busy concentrating on daily tasks that I have put aside my daily time with the Lord. So before I arose from bed this morning, I said a little prayer asking God to enter my mind, spirit, and heart before the day truly starts.

It used to be that Sunday was just another day off and I did what I wanted with no thought at all to the Lord - the enemy always made it enticing to do so too, yet I never realized this until now. When I was a child I looked forward to it to spend time together with my family doing "Sunday" things. Even though we went to church there wasn't much impression on me about anything I heard or learned there. What I loved was being together afterward eating a Sunday dinner, taking a drive, or playing board games and watching television. But now things are different. You know what I love about Sundays now? All the troubles are forgotten and I find I spend my day focusing on God more than any other day of the week!

Today is Communion Sunday - I am focusing on Jesus Christ dying on the cross for us so that our sins could be forgiven and that we may have life. I never understood this before but as I continue my walk with God my testimony of His Gospel is increasing in me and I am finding that I am getting richer and richer in not only coming to know who Jesus is, but coming to love Him.

Yes, I am getting to the point in my relationship with God that I have not been in before! Before my newfound walk and love with God I wasn't really sure about who Jesus was and why He was so important. I knew of Him, I knew He had a big part in why I even knew God in the first place, but yet I didn't have a personal relationship with Him. Until now. I recently read the book of John for the first time in my life and I had no idea I would get to know Jesus on such a very personal level.

I want to thank the Lord for His gracious abundance of blessings and love for not only me but for all of us! I want to thank Him for sending His only son to us and giving us this precious gift of life! I praise the Lord God for beckoning to me so long ago and being patient waiting for me to respond and now that I have he has given me ears to hear His voice and eyes to see His work so that I may know it in order that I will recognize Him and continually seek Him. I am so grateful to be a child of God!

Taking time to notice...

Today as I entered the parking lot on my way home from work, the smell swept over my nose and the memories of being a child came all over me again. I love how the dirt and the rain take me back to when I was a child, summer memories. But now this smell is much more than that, it reminds me of the earth...the earth you created and created us from. It got me to thinking about how much I love the way You made the earth, the grass that is full and plush, the smell of flowers, the sky - so big and full of wonder, the miracle of birth, beautiful water, and the list goes on....

Because of the details you created, You made a life for us here...imagine what else You have in store! I can't even begin! How awesome! Thank you Lord.

Thanksgiving

I am thankful for all the wonderful gifts I have been given. That I am a child of God. That I have the Word to read when I am doubtful, the Spirit to guide me, and the gift of being forgiven of my sins. I pray that I will begin again to start following the promptings I receive and act on them instead of leave them to the wayside and drought in this valley.

I am excited and looking forward to the season of Christmas and am hopeful that the joy will arise in my home and family and be sustained for the new year to come.