Counting My Blessings

Jake Olson - Inspirational

We caught this video on ESPN this past weekend. I wanted to share it with you, because I am touched by the platform the Lord often allows those who suffer to inspire us. So often we can complain because life isn't living up to our expectations. Maybe it's not supposed to....

Joshua 24 - Faith, Faithfulness, and Courage

We have journeyed into and throughout the Promised Land with Joshua and the Children of Israel. We have learned that God's children in that time and place are not very different from God's children today. We have learned that God calls His children to faith and faithfulness:

1. Faith - A gift given by God which enables His children to trust and obey.
2. Faithfulness - The surrendering of our lives, trusting that God who is always faithful will provide all that we need to remain faithful to Him.

Joshua 24:14-15 -"Fear the Lord, and serve Him with integrity and faithfulness. Get rid of the gods of your ancestors served on the other side of the Euphrates River and in Egypt, and serve only the Lord. But if you don't want to serve the Lord, then choose today whom you will serve. Even if you choose the gods your ancestors served on the other side of the Euphrates or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you live, my family and I will still serve the Lord" (As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.

The Happiness Project - Exciting News

I want to tell you about an exciting new project, and invite you to participate. Woman's Day magazine is joining with author Gretchen Rubin to encourage us to discover those things which make us happy.

Gretchen will be the first to tell you that she was not unhappy before she began her year long project. She states that she simply wanted to "change the lens through which I viewed everything familiar." So she began by asking herself two crucial questions:

1. Did she believe it was possible to make herself happier?
2. What is "happiness"?

You can read her book (available at the end of the month) to learn how Gretchen answered those questions for herself, and then follow her year long journey with set goals and resolutions to see if any of those changes proved to make her happier.

O Come Emmanuel

Oh, come, oh, come, Emmanuel,
And ransom captive Israel,
That mourns in lonely exile here
Until the Son of God appear.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to you, O Israel!

Majesty

Join me in taking a few moments to praise our God, who was, and is, and will be forever! 
He is the King of kings and the Lord of lords!
Praise and Glory!

Psalm 145

¹ I will exalt you, my God the King;
   I will praise your name for ever and ever.

 ² Every day I will praise you
   and extol your name for ever and ever.

Psalm 18:28

 

First Steps

Our little JJ took off yesterday . . . not one or two hesitant steps; no, he decided it was time and paced off about ten in a row. He is truly our little miracle man!

I'm learning a lot about life from JJ:

Take one moment at time. Grow a little each day. If it's a good moment, smile and let everyone know it. If it's a bad moment, accept help from others. Encourage your family with smiles, hugs, and kisses. Take a nap when you're tired. Eat when you're hungry. Quit eating when you're full. Make sure you play a little everyday. Smile at everyone, you might just brighten their day. Say your prayers. Get a good night's rest. And when it's time - get movin'!!

I'm sure the Lord will teach me many more things through the eyes of my grandson. God willing maybe I'll be able to teach him some things about his Savior, the giver of miracles. First steps . . . another milestone for our miracle baby.

I will remember the deeds of the LORD; yes, I will remember Your miracles of long ago. I will meditate on all your works and consider all Your mighty deeds. Your ways, O God, are holy. What god is so great as our God? You are the God who performs miracles; You display your power among the peoples. Psalm 77:11-14

Are You a Jesus Person?

My friend, Phyllis, told us a wonderful story the other night during our Writer's Group and she has given me permission to share it with all of you.

One Sunday after church she was blessed with a visit from her daughter's family. Grandson, James, had brought along his project from Sunday School that morning, a white paper oval covered with cotton balls and attached to a stick.   

When invited to share it with "Oma," James proudly grabbed the stick and walked past holding it high up in the air and asked, "Do you know who I am?"

Phyllis answered, "Why yes, you are Moses following the cloud. Do you know what God sent him to follow at night?"

Psalm 119 - Thy Word

I began my morning reading Psalm 117 and 119 as God led me to set my thoughts on the center of His Word. Psalm 117 is the shortest chapter in the Bible, and Psalm 119 the longest.

Look with me for a moment at the words of Psalm 117:

Praise the Lord, all you nations;
extol Him, all you peoples.
For great is His love toward us,
and the faithfulness of the LORD endures forever.
Praise the LORD! (Hallelu Yah - Hebrew)

Prayer Stand, Drive Thru Open

I came across this article this morning.

Motorists Pull Up to Man's Prayer Stand

Vendors set up along Hunt Highway in San Tan Valley to peddle turtles, mattresses, tamales and other items.

But a newcomer to the scene doesn't have a ware to sell.

Hand-painted fiberboards welcome motorists to Matthew Cordell's roadside stop with this message: "Prayer Stand, Drive Thru Open."

Cordell, 38, has recently become a familiar sight to morning commuters on Hunt Highway east of Gary Road.

He's there from 6 to 10 a.m. on most Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, waiting for visitors with his "assistant," a friendly 5-year-old Chihuahua named Skye. Please click here to continue reading and take a minute to watch the video in the upper right corner....