Sing For Joy

For you, O Lord, have made me glad by Your work; at the works of Your hands I sing for joy. 

Psalm 92:4

Come, Ye Thankful People, Come

by Henry Alford, 1844

Come, ye thankful people, come,

raise the song of harvest home;

All is safely gathered in,

ere the winter storms begin.

God our make doth provide

for our wants to be supplied;

Come to God's own temple, come,

raise the song of harvest home.

The Wonder

You kingdom come,

Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.

Matthew 6:10

When we stop and take the time to really take in the splendor of a sunset we see God's glory in the magnificent colors placed in the clouds.  He is letting us know that He is there, that He loves us,  and will never forsake us.  

So when we get that upsetting phone call, email, postcard, letter or whatever satan may throw our way, stop for a moment and thank God for His infinite grace and mercy as He puts things back in their proper prospective.

The Wonder Of It All

by George Beverly Shea, 1957

There's the wonder of sunset at evening,

The wonder as sunrise I see;

But the wonder of wonders that thrills my soul

Is the wonder that God loves me.

O, the wonder of it all!  The wonder of it all!

Just to think that God loves me,

O, the wonder of it all!  The wonder of it all!

Just to think that God love me.

Happy Anniversary Gary

Over the years, our relationship has grown stronger and more steadfast.  We have learned to accept both the good things and the bad.  We have grown closer together.

On our anniversary, I look forward to being with you forever.
Happy Anniversary!

Love,

Me

Forty-two years ago today my sweetie and I said "I Do" and our lives together began.  Through the years we found that being married did not mean that you wake up in love every day.  We had our difficulties as any married couple does.  We have learned through the years that when we keep Christ at the center of our marriage we will make it through whatever comes our way.  When those tough times come you get to fall in love all over again. 

Here are a few photos of us through the years...

Fall

For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God.

Ephesians 2:8

We absolutely love living here in the PNW and are enjoy the four seasons.  Fall has definitely arrived in our area as the leaves are turning and there is a definite chill in the air.  I love to be in the outdoors taking in all the brilliant colors and the smells of fall.  Just think all this beauty was created by our God for us to enjoy and care for.  It is a gift from Him to us.  But He has given us a greater gift and that is the gift of salvation through the blood of His Son Jesus Christ.  Jesus gave His life willingly for me.  Our worship leader made this statement yesterday and it was something I had never thought about.  Oh I knew that I was on His mind but when she stated "it was my face he saw" gave me a different insight for it was by grace I am saved.  Just as I know the trees will be green again I know that God will get me through each day and that someday I will be with Him.

Saved By Grace

by
Fanny Crosby, 1891

Some day the silver cord will break,

And I no more as now shall sing;

But oh, the when I shall wake

Within the palace of the King!

And I shall see Him face to face,

And tell the story -- Saved by grace;

And I shall see Him face to face,

And tell the story -- Saved by grace.

Garden of Prayer

They came to a place named Gethsemane, and He said to His disciples, Sit here while I pray.

Mark 14:32

As we come into God's presence making our requests known to Him how often do we sit and wait for Him to speak to us?  As we come into His presence reading and studying His word how often do we sit and wait for Him to speak to us?  Is it all about what we want as His word tells us to ask and we shall receive.  Unfortunately we think that all we need to do is read His word, ask and receive.  In the day to day lives we lead in this hurry up world we forget that we should also spend some quiet time with God waiting on Him.  He tells us in His word to be "Be still and know that I am God."  Psalm 46:10a. 

So tomorrow as you spend time with God sit a while longer and listen as He whispers softly in your ear. He may just give you the answer that you have been waiting to hear.

The Beautiful Garden of Prayer

by Eleanor Allen Schroll, 1920

There's a garden where Jesus is waiting,

There;s a place that is wondrously fair,

For it glows with the light of His presence,

'tis the beautiful garden of prayer.

There's a garden where Jesus is waiting,

And He bids you to come, meet Him there;

Just to bow and receive a new blessing

In the beautiful garden of prayer.

Happy Anniversary Jeff & Merle

Happy Anniversary to you

Happy Anniversary to you

Happy Anniversary Jeff & Merle

Happy Anniversary to you

Today is your "14th" anniversary!!!  

Our wish for you is a day filled with love, joy, peace, laughter and sunshine 

as you two celebrate your love for each other and your lives together.

Love,

Gary & Shirley

Rainbows

“Can you fathom the mysteries of God?
    Can you probe the limits of the Almighty?

They are higher than the heavens above—what can you do?
    They are deeper than the depths below—what can you know?

Their measure is longer than the earth
    and wider than the sea.

Job 11:7-9

Whenever I see a rainbow in the sky I am reminded of God's promise to each of us.  There are so many things that are a mystery in this world but to me the rainbow is not one of them.  It is a promise, a covenant, that God gave to each of us.  It tells me that no matter what trial comes my way, He will be right there with me, fighting the battle and carrying me each step of the way.  We serve an awesome God!

Take The World, But Give Me Jesus

by Fanny Crosby, 1879

Take the world, but give me Jesus,

All its joys are but a name;

But His love abideth ever,

Through eternal years the same.

Oh, the height and depth of mercy!

Oh, the length and breadth of love!

Oh, the fullness of redemption,

Pledge of endless life above!

He Touched Me

The Spirit of God has made me,

and the breath of the Almighty gives me life...

Behold, I belong to God like you;

I too have been formed out of the clay.

Job 33:4, 6 NASB

Today as I was on my way home from stitchery I decided to take a side trip on one of the back roads in our area.  I love driving these back roads away from all the traffic, where things are slower, where I can take in the beauty of the area we live in.  When I look around at the beauty of the back roads it reminds me of God and the beauty He has made for us to enjoy.  His touch was all that was need to create the beauty on this planet we call earth.  

Just as He made all this by His touch He can do the same thing with our lives.  When we give our life to Jesus we become new creatures.  When we give all the burdens and the worries to Him we will find that we are no longer the same.

Here are a few of the photos I took along the way today.  Enjoy the beauty and let Christ do the same for you.

He Touched Me

by William J. Gaither, 1963

Shackled by a heavy burden

'Neath a load of guilt and shame

Then the hand of Jesus touched me

And now I am no longer the same

For He touched me, He touched me

What wonderful joy that floods my soul

Something happened and now I know

He touched me and made me whole.

Happy Anniversary Stephen and Marianne

And now these three remain: faith, hope and love.  

But the greatest of these is love.  

1 Corinthians 13:13

Twenty-four years ago today our beautiful baby girl married her best friend and we gained a son.

God has richly blessed their lives together, their love and friendship grows daily. 

So today as you celebrate your love for each other we wish you a day filled with joy, love, peace, laughter and sunshine.

Love,

Mom & Dad

Water of Life

The angel showed me the river of the water of life, as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb.  Revelation 22:1

When we look around us at all the beauty God has blessed us with and we see the mighty rivers He gave us we get a feeling of awe.  When we look as these rivers and the beautiful paths they have carved through the country side we get just a glimpse of the crystal river flowing through Heaven.  O what a beautiful picture that paints in my mind with all the loved ones that have gone on before me standing there to welcome me home.

Shall We Gather At The River?

by Robert Lowry, 1864

Shall we gather at the river,

Where bright angel feet have trod,

With its crystal tide forever

Flowing by the throne of God?

Yes, we'll gather at the river,

The beautiful, beautiful river;

Gather with the saints at the river

That flows by the throne of God.

Happy Anniversary Mom & Dad

Happy Anniversary to you

Happy Anniversary to you

Happy Anniversary Mom & Dad

Happy Anniversary to you

Today is my Mom and Dad's "71st Anniversary"  and I know they are having a big party in Heaven.

Wish you were here so we could all celebrate with you!

Love you and miss you everyday!!!

All Things Are Possible

Jesus looked at them and said, "With men it is impossible, but not with God; for with God all things are possible.  Mark 10:27

Have you ever been in a situation and you just knew that there is was no way that it was going to work out.  You have worked on your budget and everything is finally falling into place.  Then something unexpected comes along and takes money you had set aside for a trip you had been planning.  You keep working the numbers and finally throw your hands up in despair and say there is never going to be enough to do anything, you are never going to get ahead and you will never be able to take a trip again.

Well you know what?  Maybe you have have been going about it all wrong.  You have been depending on yourself when you should have given it all over to God in the first place.  His Word tells us that He will supply all our needs, not our wants, but our needs and nothing is impossible for Him.

So I don't know about you but I am giving it all to God for He always has my best interest at heart.

Nothing Is Impossible

by Eugene L. Clark

Nothing is impossible when you put your trust in God;

Nothing is impossible when you're trusting in His Word.

Hearken to the voice of God to thee;

"Is there anything too hard for Me?"

Then put your trust in God alone and rest upon His Word;

For everything, O, everything, yes everything is possible with God.  

Ephesians 5:8-14

S ~
O & A ~ I am no longer in the darkness and I am to learn what is pleasing to God.  I am to walk in His light doing the things that please Him.  I am no longer dead but alive in Christ and His light will shine through me.
P ~ Father God thank you for removing the darkness from my life.  Thank you for giving me new life through Your Son.  Father let His light radiate through me, Amen

Ephesians 5:5-7

S ~

O ~ The impure person does not have an inheritance in the kingdom of God.  We are not to partake of immoral things.
A ~ I am to obey the commandments God has given us to live by.
P ~ Father God teach me thy ways and let me think only pure thoughts, Amen

Ephesians 5:1-4

S ~

O ~ I am to be an imitator of God and walk in love.
A ~ As I go about daily living I am to be like Christ.  I am to let others see Him living in my life, to see His fragrance within me.  I am to speak true and kind words and I am not to be greedy.  I am to give thanks in all things!!!
P ~ Dear Father help me to walk the path you have set before me.  Help me to be Christ like to all I come in contact with, that they smell His fragrance and want to know more about Christ, Amen

Ephesians 4:30-32

S ~
O ~ Praise God I have been redeemed, I have been forgiven!!!
A ~ I am to forgive others just as Christ has forgiven me.  I'm going to be very honest here, this one is a tough for me.  I'm supposed to forgive someone who hurt me more than I thought I could be hurt.  I am supposed to forgive someone who did their best to destroy my marriage.  I am supposed to forgive someone who did all this while saying they were my friend.  Yes I finally did offer the forgiveness to that individual.  Was it easy, absolutely not!  I found that the only person I was hurting was myself by having an unforgiving heart.
P ~ Father God thank you for granting me forgiveness.  Father God thank you for removing the bitterness and the anger I held on to toward this individual.  Thank you for cleansing my heart and filling it with your love, Amen

Ephesians 4:28-29

S ~

O ~ Everything we do or say is to give grace to all who hear.
A ~ We are to work for the things we need, we are to share them with others and we are to speak kind words.
P ~ Father God give me the strength and courage to work for the things my family needs and to never ever be afraid to share what you have so blessed us with.  Father God let my words always be kind and may they always give You the glory for the many blessings you send my way, Amen