Happy Anniversary L Z & Debbie

Happy Anniversary to you

Happy Anniversary to you

Happy Anniversary we love you

Happy Anniversary to you

Hey you two,

May your day be blessed with love, joy, peace, laughter and sunshine as you celebrate your love and lives together.

Love you,

Shirley & Gary

Perfect Peace

There is therefore now no condemnation
to those who are in Christ Jesus.

Romans 8:1

When we come to Christ laying our sins at His feet we will have His perfect peace.  When we give all our worries and burdens to Christ we will have His perfect peace.  We will have a song in our heart to lift up in praise to our Heavenly Father.  So sing your praises to God for His infinite mercy and grace that are new to us each morning as He gives us another day to share the good news of His Son...

Father God thank you for each and every blessing you bestow upon me and my family.  Thank you for your healing touch in our son-in-law.  Thank you for blessing Awbrey and guiding her the direction you have for her life.  Thank you Father God as you lead my sweetie and I down the path to the home that you have for us.  Amen

He Took My Sins Away

by Margaret J. Harris, 1903

I came to Jesus, wear, worn, and said,

And now His love has made my heart so glad.

He took my sins away, He took my sins away,

And keeps me singing every day!

I'm so glad He took my sins away,

He took my sins away.

No condemnation have I in my heart,

His perfect peace He did to me impart.

Come To Me

Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.  Matthew 11:38

Do you ever wake up in the morning and feel like you have the weight of the world on your shoulders.  That there are so many depending on you to take care of things that all you want to do is crawl back into bed, pull the covers up over your head and forget about it all.  Don't you know that you don't have to feel like that?  God is there to come along side you to pick you up and carry you when the load becomes to heavy to bear.  He is there waiting, all we have to do is ask...

I know many of you have read the poem "Footprints in the Sand."  I really like the newer version and here it is:

New version of
Footprints in the Sand

Imagine you and the Lord Jesus walking down the road together. For much of the way, the Lord's footprints go along steadily, consistently, rarely varying the pace. But your prints are a disorganized stream of zigzags, starts, stops, turnarounds, circles, departures and returns. For much of the way it seems to go like this. But gradually, your footprints come more in line with the Lord's, soon paralleling His consistently. You and Jesus are walking as true friends.

This seems perfect, but then an interesting thing happens: your footprints that once etched the sand next to the Master's are now walking precisely in His steps. Inside His larger footprints is the small 'sand print', safely enclosed. You and Jesus are becoming one.

This goes on for many miles. But gradually you notice another change. The footprint inside the larger footprint seems to grow larger. Eventually it disappears altogether. There is only one set of footprints. They have become one.

Again, this goes on for a long time. But then something awful happens. The second set of footprints is back. And this time it seems even worse. Zigzags all over the place. Stops. Starts. Deep gashes in the sand. A veritable mess of prints. You're amazed and shocked. But this is the end of your dream.

Now you speak. "Lord, I understand the first scene with the zigzags and fits and starts and so on. I was a new Christian, just learning. But You walked on through the storm and helped me learn to walk with you."

"That is correct."

"Yes, and when the smaller footprints were inside of Yours, I was actually learning to walk in Your steps. I followed You very closely."

"Very good. You have understood everything so far."

"Then the smaller footprints grew and eventually filled in with Yours. I suppose that I was actually growing so much that I was becoming like you in every way."

"Precisely."

"But this is my question. Lord.. Was there a regression or something? The footprints went back to two, and this time it was worse than the first."

The Lord smiles, then laughs. "You didn't know?" 

He says. "That was when we danced."

By Mark Littleton
© 1990

Happy Birthday Matthew

So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal. 2 Corinthians 4:18

Matthew you are celebrating your birthday in heaven.  You are seeing the things we cannot see and I know that they are absolutely beautiful.  So today as you gather around God's banqueting table give Lady Di, your sweet Mama, a hug for me as well as all the other family that is there with you.  Love you, miss you and I will see you again one day.

Happy Birthday Matt!!!

Where Does My Help Come?

I will lift up mine eyes to the mountains; from whence shall my help come?  My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth.  Psalm 121:1-2

When trials and temptations come our way we some times forget who we can rely on.  We go to people that we think can help get us out of our latest mess hoping they can fix our problem.  They can't!!!  Only God can save us from our messes.  That is why His Word tells us that our help comes from the Lord.  The person we lean on here on this earth is human just like us.  They can't solve our problems.  We need to start leaning on the one that can save us and that is our Lord Jesus.  So lean on Him, trust Him to lead and guide you for He always has your best interest at heart.

Father God thank you for always being there to help me pick up the pieces when I have made a mess and get me back on the right track to you.  Amen.

Yesterday my sweetie and I were watching a Bill Gaither show and this old hymn was sung.  As I closed my eyes listening to the words I could hear my sweet Momma singing as she gave all thanks and praise to our Heavenly Father.  As you read the words let them sink in and think about what they really mean to you.

Rock of Ages

by Augustus M. Toplady, 1776

Rock of Ages, cleft for me,

Let me hide myself in Thee;

Let the water and the blood,

From Thy wounded side which flowed,

Be of sin the double cure;

Save from wrath and make me pure.

The Hunt Begins...

I have said this to you, so that in Me you may have peace.  In the world you face persecution. But take courage; I have conquered the world!  John 16:33

Yesterday I posted about my sweetie and I praying about our own little place.  Our God is so faithful!!!  We got a phone call about one and half hours after my post letting us know that we were pre-qualified for a mortgage loan.  After we got off the phone with the mortgage guy we immediately gave thanks to the Lord for the many blessings He showers on us daily.

Now the hunt begins.  As I said yesterday we know that God has already picked out our little place.  We will start looking knowing that God will lead us down the path to the perfect place for us.  There He will plant us so that we can bloom in the neighborhood for Him.

Father God thank you for your infinite mercy and grace that is new to us each morning.  Thank you Father God for blessing my sweetie and I with this opportunity for You for we know that You will plant us where You want us to be and place us on mission for You in our neighborhood.  Amen

Constantly Abiding

Anne S. Murphy, 1908

There's peace in my heart that the world never gave,

A peace it cannot take away;

Though the trials of life may surround like a cloud,

I've a peace that has come here to stay!

All the world seemed to sing of a Savior and King,

When peace sweetly came to my heart;

Troubles all fled away and my night turned to day,

Blessed Jesus, how glorious Thou art!

Our Own Little Place

In my Father's house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you.  I go to prepare a place for you.  John 14:2

As many of you know my sweetie and I have been living with our daughter and family for the past several months.  Prior to that we were leasing a home but the owner decided to increase the rent to more than we could afford so we moved in with them for a while.

Now we feel that God has a plan for us so my sweetie and I have been praying about purchasing our own little place.  Oh it isn't a done deal yet as we are waiting.  We have looked at a couple of places online but not really going to get serious about looking until we know we can qualify for a home loan on our retirement income.

We know that God has already picked the place for us to plant ourselves and bloom so we will wait on Him and His timing.

Thank you Father God for the new beginning you give us each day.  Thank you for Your blessings and grace.  Thank You for blessing us with a wonderful place to live but we know You have something else in mind for us.  So Father God we wait for You to tell us when and direct us to our own perfect little place.  Amen

Mansion Over The Hilltop

by Ira F. Stanphill, ca. 1993

I'm satisfied with just a cottage below,

A little silver and a little gold;

But in that city where the ransomed will shine,

I want a gold one that's silverlined.

I've got a mansion just over the hilltop,

In that bright land where we'll never grow old;

And someday yonder we will never more wander,

But walk the streets that are purest gold.

The Dogwood Tree

For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. 
John 3:16

There is an old legend that the wood from a Dogwood Tree was used to make the cross Christ died on for us.  It is a beautiful poem but the Bible does not state what kind of wood was used.  Although the author of the poem is unknown I like to think that it was something that daily reminded him/her of the blood Christ shed for us.  Just as you and I have things in our lives that have a special meaning to us and our relationship with Christ I'm sure this poem was to him/her.

The Legend of the Dogwood

“When Christ was on earth, the dogwood grew
To a towering size with a lovely hue.
Its branches were strong and interwoven,
And for Christ's cross its timbers were chosen.
“Being distressed at the use of the wood,
Christ made a promise which still holds good:
'Never again shall the dogwood grow
To be large enough for a tree, and so,
Slender and twisted it shall always be,
With cross-shaped blossoms for all to see.
“'The petals shall have bloodstains marked brown,
And in the blossom's center a thorny crown.
All who see it will think of me,
Nailed to a cross from a dogwood tree.
Protected and cherished this tree shall be,
A reflection to all of my agony.'”

Now you know the legend and whenever you see a Dogwood Tree it will remind you of what Christ did for you.

Thank you Father God for sending your Son and His willingness to shed His blood for me.  Amen

And Can It Be That I Should Gain?

by Charles Wesley, 1738

And can it be that I should gain

An interest in the Savior's blood?

Died He for me, who caused His pain

For me, who Him to death pursued?

Amazing Love! How can it be,

That Thou, my God, shouldst die for me?

Happy Birthday Linda

No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us.
1 John 4:12

Happy Birthday Linda...

I know there is a party going on in heaven today as you celebrate your "69" birthday with all of our loved ones that are there with you.  Sure do miss our phone calls and talks little sister.  L Z has taken over for you by calling me "Puss", not a nickname I am real fond of, but you knew that.  Love you little sister, tell everyone hello for me, and I'll see you later.

 Happy Birthday to you
Happy Birthday to you
Happy Birthday Dear Linda
Happy Birthday to you.


Love you and miss you every day...

We Know Not When...

Watch ye therefore: for ye know not when the master of the house cometh, at even, or at midnight, or at the cockcrowing, or in the morning.  Mark 13:35

Father God thank you for this day you have given to me.  May I use it to the fullest as I travel the path you have set for me today.  I pray that my words and my actions bring only glory to Thee and the light of Your Son shines through me.  Amen

Christ Returneth

by James McGranahan, ca. 1906

It may be at more, when the day is awaking,

When sunlight through darkness and shadow is breaking

That Jesus will come in the fullness of glory

To receive from the world "His Own."

O Lord Jesus, how long, how long

Ere we shout the glad song,

Christ returneth! Hallelujah!

Hallelujah! Amen. Hallelujah! Amen.

Fairest Lord Jesus

The winter is past, the rain is over and gone.  The flowers appear on the earth; the time of singing has come, and the voice of the turtledove is heard in our land.  Song of Solomon 2:11-12

I love springtime!!!  It is a time of refreshing, a time of new growth, a time to begin anew.  Thank you Father God for the time of refreshing as we begin each day anew in Your Word.

Fairest Lord Jesus

by German Jesuits, 1677, translated by Joseph A. Seiss, 1873

Fairest Lord Jesus, Ruler of all nature,

O Thou of God and man the Son,

Thee will I cherish, Thee will I honor,

Thou, my soul's glory, joy and crown.