Remembrance

   Lindsay Johnson, United State Army, 87th Infantry Division  

My Uncle Lindsay was killed in action December 1944, Battle of the Bulge at the young age of 18.  I never met him but I often heard family members speak of him.

Today is a day set aside to remember and honor those lost in battle for our great country's freedom.  So tonight as you end this day, say a prayer for all our young men and women serving our country, for their safety and for the families at home waiting for their return.

Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends.

John 15:13

God Bless America!!!

Sunshine

It is a beautiful sun shiny day, with a gentle breeze blowing, here in the PNW.   Morning worship was absolutely awesome!  We sang some of the old songs about how God's extends His grace to us.  Since our pastor is on vacation the morning message was brought by one of the elders.  Sermon topic "The Real Deal" with scripture reference 2 Corinthians 12.  He shared with us the marks of a genuine follower of Jesus Christ today.  How we are to rely on God's grace in our weakness, to stay humble, refuse to be a financial burden and to show alarm about sin in the church.  Then he asked us 3 questions; 1) Do we rely on God's grace in our weakness? 2) Do we refuse to be a financial burden to others? 3) Is our hearts broken over sin in the church?  Gave us a lot to ponder and pray on.  Awesome sermon!!!

After morning worship my sweetie and I had nothing planned so we came home and had lunch on the patio, he sat in the shade and me in the sun as I love to feel the warmth of the sun on my face.  There is just something about sitting in the sun soaking up those rays that warms a body from the inside out.

2 Corinthians 4:6 tells us; 

"For God , who said, "Light shall shine out of darkness," is the One who has shown in our hearts to give the Light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ."

In other words God puts the sunshine in our soul.  We can't help but glow with the light of Christ as we place our faith and trust in our Savior Jesus Christ for He is our light.  He gives us hope, love, peace and grace.

Think of it this way, the warmth of the sunshine is Jesus smiling down on us giving us His abundant blessings today.

Happy Birthday Ozzie Bear

Today our Ozzie Bear would have been 5 years old and we celebrated his birthday by planting a White Dogwood in his memory.  We knew the perfect spot for his tree as Ozzie had dug a hole trying to get at a Mole.  It was a family affair as the kids came over, with our grandpup Oscar, and helped us dig the hole and get the tree planted.  I can see the tree from the kitchen window and at times I see our Ozzie Bear running around the back yard. 

It has been 2 months since our Ozzie Bear left us but it still feels like today.  We give thanks to our Heavenly Father for blessing our lives with our Ozzie Bear.  We miss him everyday but know that he is running free chasing the Butterflies and Bees.

Love you Ozzie Bear, you will be forever in our hearts...

Friends...

Does the number of friends you can boast about on Facebook or followers you have on Instagram make you feel important?  Are these the friends you can count on when you need that shoulder to cry on?  Are they someone you can rant and rave at when life has gotten all turned upside down and not take you personally?  We can have a multitude of friends but only a few that are there when the going gets tough, that will listen and not judge when you need that shoulder.  But there is only one true friend that is always there and that is Jesus.

I don't know about you but I am so glad that I can call Jesus my friend.  He is always there when the pain gets to much for me to bear.  He is there when I feel that I am at the very bottom of the pit with no place to go.  He will always take care of me and never forsake me.  He will cradle me in His loving arms and comfort me with the peace only He can give.  All I have to do is submit myself to Him and take all my worries and cares to Him in prayer.

God's Word tells us in Philippians 4:6 "Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplications with thanksgiving let your requests be made know to God."

I don't know about you but I choose to let God carry my burdens for He is so much stronger than I...

1. 
   
2. 
   
3. 
   

Rewarding Love

Life is full of the unexpected!  We often find ourselves wondering what in the world happened to us and how did we let this happen.  Truth be known we got a little bit to big for our britches and tried to do every thing ourselves by thinking we don't need anyone or anything.  But when we have really messed life up we let pride get in our way and refuse to ask for help.  Why?  God has already seen what we did and knows that we need help, help that is there simply by asking.

Get over that pride thing because we have all messed up.  God's Word tells us in Proverbs 29:23, "Pride brings a person low, but the lowly in spirit gain honor."

God is always loyal to us, He will never turn His back on us no matter how bad we messed up.  So ask and let Him demonstrate His unconditional love for you...

Giving us more...

Our God is so awesome!!!  My sweetie and I have been working really hard to pay off some credit cards which has been tough since we lost part of our income last year.  But our God is faithful and we have been able to pay off 2 credit cards as well as some medical bills we had incurred. Satan will throw everything he has at us when we really start to place our faith and trust in our Heavenly Father and His Son. 

God's Word promises us an abundant life to overflowing.  In John 10:10 we read, "The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.

Stay strong and trust our Heavenly Father for He will bring us through what ever trial comes our way...

Joy

I am so glad that my Heavenly Father loves me and knows exactly what I am going to do each day.  He knows my thoughts as I plan my day and knows exactly what path I will take, even when I fail to ask for direction.  So I am choosing to seek His guidance as I plan my day and travel the path He has for me.  I am choosing to follow the will He has for my life for I know that He will never forsake me and I am safe as He cradles me in His loving arms.

God's Word tells me in Deuteronomy 33:12 "Let the beloved of the Lord rest secure in him, for he shields him all day long, and the one the Lord loves rests between his shoulders."

So I choose Joy for my life...

Don't forget to ask...

Has there ever been a time when you felt like God had deserted you?  I know I have felt like that a time or two but I soon realized that it was not God that had moved, it was me.  I had tried to do things on my own and had really messed them up.  So I was in that valley where I felt all alone.

God's Word tells us in James 4:8, "Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you."
Learn to trust that God is always walking beside you, to guide you and direct you daily.  Spend time with Him letting your needs be known to Him.  Oh I know He already knows what I need but His Word also tells me to ask and I will receive.

Prayers

Be still and know that I am God. 

Psalm 46:10

Sometimes during our quiet time, when we are offering our prayers up to God, we don't take the time to listen to what God is saying to us.  So linger a bit longer in God's presence and listen, really listen to Him.

Blessings

Our Heavenly Father gives us so many blessings each day that our cup overflows with His love.

His Love

Happy Birthday Gary

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!

2 Corinthians 5:17

Today is my sweetie's "75th" birthday.  We started our day of celebration at our local IHOP for his free birthday breakfast.  The rest of day will be rest and relaxation and since he is teaching a class this evening we won't actually do anymore celebrating until this weekend.

So Happy Birthday Gary, wishing you a day blessed with all the good stuff....

Love,

Me  

Happy Birthday Nellie

Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, 

for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you. 

 Matthew 5:12

Today is Nellie's birthday!!!

God so richly blessed my life all those years ago when He place this young lady in my life.

Life made us sisters, but love made of friends...

A Very Special Sister

For many years we've shared our lives

One roof we once lived under

Sometimes we laughed, sometimes we cried

Through winter storms and thunder

The younger years have faded fast

We've gone our separate ways

But through all time our friendship lasts

Our bond in life remains

As summer brings the happy times

The autumn winds will whisper

A closer friend I'd never find

Than the one I call my Sister.

Vernon 1985

So Happy, Happy Birthday Nellie...

May your day be blessed with all the good stuff  life has to offer as you celebrate you.

Love you bunches and bunches of bunches,

Shirley