All Things

Seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.  Matthew 6:33

How many times do we go to God and pray about something we want?  I find that when I don't go to Him it is most likely because I want like His answer.  What I am wanting is probably not a necessity and something I don't really need but I want it.  We are all like little children when it comes to wanting and not getting as we throw our little tantrum.  We try to justify our wants by saying but I work hard and I deserve a reward.  So we don't pray about it, we just go out and do it and then wonder why we can't make ends meet.

If we would only seek God first we will find that we will receive more blessings (rewards) than we could ever possibly imagine.  When we put Him first in our lives we will find that we are not only able to meet our obligations but will have some left over to be generous to others around us and to do some of the things we want to do.  Our God is a generous God and will always meet our needs.  All we have to do is put Him first, have faith and trust Him to have our best interests at heart.

Take My Life And Let It Be

by Frances R. Havergal, 1874

Take my life, and let it be

consecrated, Lord, to Thee.

Take my moments and my days;

let them flow in ceaseless praise.

Take my hands, and let them move

at the impulse of Thy love.

Take my feet, and let them be

swift and beautiful for Thee.

Perfect Love

There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves punishment, and the one who fears is not perfected in love.  1 John 4:18

I am so glad that God loves me with a perfect love!

All The Way My Savior Leads Me

by Fanny Crosby, 1875

All the way my Savior leads me

O the fullness of His love!

Perfect rest to me is promised

In my Father's house above.

When my spirit, clothed immortal,

Wings its flight to realms of day

This my song through endless ages

Jesus led me all the way.

Awesome Day of Celebration

From the rising of the sun to its going down the Lord's name is to be praised.  Psalm 113:3

Today has been an absolute fantastic day.  My day started this morning with a group of us girls heading to the Vancouver Farmers Market.  Of course our first stop of the day was Starbucks for a latte and breakfast sandwich, the latte to keep us warm and the sandwich to fill our tummies.  It was also a very special day for us as we were celebrating my baby girl's birthday, Marianne's birthday was actually yesterday and the celebration started then.  So we left Starbucks and made our way into the farmer's market where there was lots of goodies to be had.  The first purchase made was by Tiffany and it was a baker's dozen of assorted cookies for all of us to share.  So we made our way through the market stopping and sampling things as we went along.  I think I made the second purchase and that was two Lemon Cypress shrubs for our front porch, we have these two urns and have been looking for the right plants to put in them.  

 

 

The shopping continued and purchases of flavored olive oil, pictures, granola, salami, and one of the vendors gave Marianne a lettuce plant for her birthday.  It was now time for us to make our way out of the market for the next phase of Marianne's celebration.  So we said bye to the ladies and headed back to Marianne's place to pick up Stephen and then to our place in Ridgefield.

My sweetie and I had something special planned for our baby girl's birthday, afternoon tea at Myrtle's Tea House.  Since we were running late and did not want to miss our reservations I called my sweetie and asked him to meet us there.  Awbrey and Stephen knew where we were heading but Marianne had no idea until we were there.  My sweetie was already there and had everything organized for us. 

 

After the tea we headed to our place for a time of relaxation, hanging out together and decided to take a walk and walk off some of those calories we had taken in today.  As we were walking this shrub caught my eye and I am not really sure what it is.

     

Today was very special for me and my sweetie too.  It was the first time in five years that we were able to be here and actually celebrate our baby girl's birthday.  God has blessed our lives so abundantly through the years and we now live twenty minutes from our baby girl and her family.  Thank you Father for your infinite mercy, you love and for the blessing you continue to pour out on our family daily. 

Peace

Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace.  Colossians 3:15

It is a beautiful sun shiny spring day here in the Pacific Northwest.  The flowers and trees are all starting to come to life and show their beautiful colors.  There is nothing like being outside taking in all the beauty of our world and letting the peace of God permeate your body and soul.

For The Beauty Of The Earth

by Folliot S. Pierpoint, 1864

For the beauty of the earth

For the glory of the skies,

For the love which from our birth

Over and around us lies.

Lord of all, to Thee we raise,

This our hymn of grateful praise.

Happy Birthday Marianne

BirthVerse

But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what he has done has been done through God.  John 3:21

On this day forty-six years ago a little bit of heaven was placed in arms and God has been blessing this sweet girl ever since.  She is an amazing daughter, wife, mom and friend.  She loves with all her heart and is a joy to be around.

Happy Birthday Baby Girl and may your day be filled with love, joy, peace, laughter and sunshine as you celebrate your life.

Love you, 

Mom

Live in Love

God is love.  Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him. 

1 John 4:16

The breeze causes the ripples in the water and those ripples affect how the water acts when it reaches the shore.  The way we live our life does the same to all we come in contact with.  If we show the love of God to others then maybe, just maybe we will cause a ripple affect that will not only affect the person we have direct contact with but those they come in contact with also.

So share the love of God wherever you go and with all you come in contact with.  Let others see God's love alive in you.

There's A Sweet And Blessed Story

by Julia H. Johnston, 1916

There's a sweet and blessed story

Of the Christ Who came from glory

Just to rescue me from sin and misery.

He is lovingkindness sought me,

And from and sin shame hath brought me.

Hallelujah! Jesus ransomed me.

Hallelujah, what a Savior,

Who can take a poor lost sinner,

Lift him from the miry clay and set him free!

I will ever tell the story,

Shouting, "Glory, glory, glory!"

Hallelujah! Jesus ransomed me.

Ozzie

 This is our sweet baby boy Ozzie.  This past Monday Ozzie completed his Puppy Training 2 class.  Delaney, his trainer, gave him his diploma and bag of goodies for being such a good dog so he gave her a kiss.

Puppy Training 3 class starts Monday and it should be very interesting as there will be two other dogs in class with Ozzie.  Should be interesting!!!

All His

Every animal of the forest is Mine, and the cattle on a thousand hills.  

Psalm 50:10

Everything on this planet we call earth and our home was created by God and He owns it all.  He created us in His image to be the caretakers of all we see.  Since He is my Father that makes me and you an owner too.

He Owns The Cattle on a Thousand Hills

by John W. Peterson, 2006

He owns the cattle on a thousand hills;

The wealth in every mine.

He owns the rivers and the rocks and the rills;

The sun and stars that shine.

Wonderful riches more than tongue can tell;

He is my Father, so they're mine as well.

He owns the cattle on a thousand hills;

I know he will care for me.  

So Hard To Say Goodbye

For He will command His angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways.  Psalm 91:11

Today I am leaning on God's strength.  This morning I received word that a very dear friend of mine is in her last days.  Helen is family to me.  She was there for me when my Mom went home to heaven and held me as I cried on those days when missing my Mom got the best of me.  She was there when our daughter Marianne and Stephen married making sure that everything ran smoothly.  She was there when our sweet granddaughter Awbrey came into this world.  She has always Grandma Helen to us and we will miss her greatly.  I so would like to be with her now to tell her how much I love her and how much I will miss her but she is in California and I am here.

So Grandma Helen know that you are greatly loved and I wish you God's speed until we meet at heaven's gate.   Shelby is there with Jesus waiting to greet you and welcome you home.

In Heavenly Love Abiding

by Anna L. Waring, 1850

In heavenly love abiding, no change my heart shall fear.

And safe is such confiding, for nothing changes here.

The storm may roar without me, my heart may low be laid,

But God is round about me, and can I be dismayed?

Wherever He may guide me, no want shall turn me back.

My Shepherd is beside me, and nothing can I lack.

His wisdom ever waking, His sight is never dim.

He knows the way He's taking, and I will walk with Him

Kindness & Forgiveness

Be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God has forgiven you because you belong to Christ.  Ephesians 4:32

Oh this one is tough for me.  When someone is unkind or has hurt me the one thing I don't want to do is to be kind to them much less forgive them.  I want to strike back, I want to hurt them, I want to make them pay for what they did and the hurt they have caused.  Why should I forgive them when they aren't sorry one bit for the lives they destroyed.  But forgive I must just as God has forgiven me.  It isn't easy but by trusting God and living one moment, one day at a time I will be able to. 

Bringing In The Sheaves
by Knowles Shaw, 1874

Sowing in the morning, sowing seeds of kindness,
Sowing in the noontide and the dewy ever;
Waiting for the harvest, and the time of reaping,
We shall come rejoicing, bringing in the sheaves.

Sowing in the sunshine, sowing in the shadows,
Fearing neither clouds nor winter's chilling breeze;
By and by the harvest, and the labor ended,
We shall come rejoicing, bringing in the sheaves.

I Want To Know More

As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways and My thoughts than your thoughts.  Isaiah 55:8-9

Just as I want to know what is around the bend in the road I want to know more about my loving Savior and the plans He has for my life.  He has blessed my life so abundantly with a loving family and friends.  I see His grace in others and I pray they see it in me.  I depend on Him to lead me through each day.  I trust Him when He tells me that whatever comes my way He will take care.  He is my Abba, my Daddy and I know He wants only the best for me.

More About Jesus 

by Eliza E. Hewitt, 1887

More about Jesus would I know,

More of His grace to others show;

More of His saving fullness see,

More of His love Who died for me.

More about Jesus; on His throne,

Riches in glory all His own;

More of His kingdom's sure increase;

More of His coming, Prince of Peace.

Thank You Father

The Lord made the heavens.  Splendor and majesty are before Him; strength and glory are in His sanctuary.  Psalm 96:5-6

Thank you Father for creating this beautiful world.  Thank you Father for sending your Son Jesus Christ to give His life for us so that we could live eternally with You.

Crown Him With Many Crowns

by Matthew Bridges, 1852

Crown Him with many crowns,

the Lamb upon His throne.

Hark! How the heavenly anthem drowns

all music but its own.

Awake, my soul, and sing

of Him who died for thee,

And hail Him as they matchless King

through all eternity.

Great Things

They will tell of the glory of Your kingdom and speak of Your might, so that all men may know of Your mighty acts and the glorious splendor of Your kingdom.  

Psalm 145:11-12

God's majesty is all around us each day.  From the time our feet hit the floor each morning until night falls His glorious wonders surround us.  All we have to do is look around us and see the great things He has done.  Whether it be in the beauty of this world He created for us or the way He walks beside us each and every day.  When I look at the beauty I am surrounded by I can't help but wonder how I will be able to take in the beauty of Heaven.  O how glorious it will be when Jesus welcomes us to our beautiful eternal home!

To God Be The Glory

by
Fanny Crosby, 1875

To God be the glory, great things He has done;

So loved He the world that He gave us His Son,

Who yielded His life an atonement for sin,

And opened the life gate that all may go in.

Praise the Lord, praise the Lord,

Let the earth hear His voice!

Praise the Lord, Praise the Lord,

Let the people rejoice!

O come to the Father, through Jesus the Son.

And give Him the glory, great things He has done.

Count Your Blessings

He said, "My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest."  Exodus 33:14

With Christ as my Savior I will never be alone.  How great is that?  I know that He will always be leading and guiding me as He walks beside me.  When the load gets to heavy to bear I know that He will pick me up and carry me safely to the other side.  Praise God from whom all blessings flow!

Never Alone

by Ludie D. Pickett, 1897

I've seen the lightning flashing, I've heard the thunder roll.  

I've felt sin's breakers dashing, which almost conquered my soul.

I've heard the voice of my Savior, bidding me still to fight on.

He promised never to leave me, never to leave me alone! 

No, never alone, no never alone,

He promised never to leave me,

He'll claim me for His own;

No, never alone, no never alone.

He promised never to leave me,

Never to leave me alone.