Counting My Blessings

The Wonders of His Grace

While working at my computer, I suddenly heard someone or something tapping at our back window. It was just Woody Woodpecker letting me know that they were out of bird seed. I so enjoy the variety of critters that can be seen just by looking out my windows.

I am so often awed by the immense amount of variety God has placed in His world. Last Friday morning, my Friday Friends Bible Study watched a video segment of Beth Moore's study, "When Godly People Do Ungodly Things."

She shared her thoughts concerning the reason people are dissatisfied with the things of the Lord. I found myself resonating to her words. So often we look around us and think that God asks us to settle for boredom, when excitement is "out there" somewhere. We are the ones who are settling for so much less, when we fail to see His wonders all around us. She compared it to only eating apples and bananas when we could be enjoying papaya, berries, and melon. Then we blame God because we are only eating apples and bananas.

Beautiful Blessing

I am enjoying a blessing that God has made possible through the www. I have enjoyed Debbie Baker's artwork for a long time, even before I became a web-surfer. In fact the truth is I began by purchasing her mom's, Doris Morgan, art when decorating our previous home. They both create beautiful paintings which include written word. Now you know this girl is going to be all over beauty and sentiment! ;-)

In our current home I have two rooms lined gallery style with artwork. One room has my mom's paintings and the other is mostly Debbie's with a couple of her mom's in there as well.

Psalm 55:22 - Memorizing Scripture

I found this video on YouTube today! I am very thankful that part of my school experience included memorizing Bible verses. As anyone will tell you who has tried to get me to participate in a drama recently, my memorizing skills are not what they used to be. I am much more comfortable speaking extemporaneously! However, I still remember many of the verses I learned as a child. Anything I learn these days, ends up more like a paraphrase than an actual memorization.

This video is great! Anytime words are set to music they become easier to remember. So, I did a little digging and found a web site for Seeds Family Worship. As you check out theirsite, you will be blessed to know that every time you purchase a CD from them, they send two together. One for you and one to give away. How cool is that?!

I think I have found a way to get back to memorizing. What a great way to spice up my morning walk and bless me body and soul. May you be blessed by this as well.

Tangle.com - Cute Girl Flushes Fish

This may be one of the cutest videos I have ever seen. Thanks to Breanna for posting it. If you would like to find more family friendly videos and a place to connect with others and share your faith - check out Tangle.com, formerly God Tube. This is what they have to say about themselves:

In addition to a fresh look and a new name, tangle offers many powerful ways to reach out and connect with Christians and others seeking faith. Our goal is to touch more people than ever, to provide them with not just the place but also the means to connect with others online, to share their faith and lives, and to ultimately portray a Christian angle in everything they do.

We want you to use tangle to help encourage and unite, to inspire and connect, to share and believe, all for the sake of Christ. Our commitment is to continue to develop new tools that will enable you to reach out in community while still growing individually in your relationship with God.

The Blessing of LIfe

I have a couple of things I would like to share with you today. There is a common thread that connects them - and that is the blessing of life. Life is a God given gift to be cherished. My dh and I have begun supporting the Vitae Caring Foundation. The following is their mission statement -

Magnetic Monday - Yelp

 Magnetic Monday has been a good discipline for me. It has made me do a little web exploring. I've always been a huge Google fan, and I still use that as my primary search engine.  So, I went to Google and searched for top web sites.

TIME's staff editor, Anita Hamilton has compiled a list of the 50 Top Web Sites. She even put together a short audio segment on the criteria she used for selecting these sites. Very interesting.

Yelp was a new site for me, and one I was glad to find. To quote them, "Yelp is a fun easy way to find, review and talk about what's great - and not so great - in your area."

Magnetic Monday - Woman to Woman

 It has been a while since I have shared any news about Woman to Woman Radio. My friend, Phyllis, has been back at the mic for almost a year, and she continues to do wonderful things with the broadcasts.

At Woman to Woman Radio you can learn more about Phyllis. You can find information and listen to broadcasts with her variety of guests. I found recordings of interviews with Amy Grant, Dr. Paul Maier, and Debbye Turner to name a few. There were two shows with Mary Hunt on managing  our money during this challenging time in our economy, and one with Dr. Kevin Leman on his book, Have a New Kid by Friday. You can even catch a tape of the show I did with Phyllis last May, called Risking Love.

Magnetic Monday - Hungry Girl

  After a trip to Red Robin for lunch where we shared a veggie burger, fries, and a gingerbread shake, I mentioned to my dd that I wondered what my Magnetic Monday website would be today. She said, "I love Hungry Girl, and I really need it after that lunch!"

She's right Hungry Girl is a fantastic site! They offer tips and tricks on ways to control our food issues. What a great place to visit for those of us who have celebrated just a little too much over the holidays.

Magnetic Monday - New Life Challenge

Are you one of the many people who make New Year's Resolutions only to break them within the first couple of weeks.I have learned not to save my desires to improve until the first of the year. I will make resolutions at birthday time, the beginning of new months, the first day of the week, and if I were really telling the truth - anytime for me is a good time to make a change. I guess like everyone, I feel like there is much room for improvement here.

My friend, Dr. Melanie Wilson, has developed a new program that has the potential to help each of us as we strive toward almost any goal. This is an opportunity to make a complete 180^o transformation in our lives. Yeah right, you are saying! I am so excited about Dr. Mel's - New LIfe Challenge, that I am  participating in the challenge myself, my dh is taking the challenge, all of the people in the two Bible Classes we lead are participating, and I am hoping that some of you will join us, too.

Magnetic Monday - All Things Christmas

According to the web site All Things Christmas, it is 2 Days, 7 Hours, 8 Minutes, and 35 Seconds until Christmas! I am thankful to say that does not send me into panic mode . . . besides a little cleaning, wrapping, and baking I am good to go.

I did a little looking around for a Christmas web site to share with you, because this is our last week to look at things that have to do with the holiday. It's hard to believe isn't it? December has flown by!

If you find yourself with a few extra moments, go over to All Things Christmas and look around. There you will find gift suggestions, recipes, facts about traditions, stories, downloads, a section for kids, and if you'd like - you can listen to Christmas music while you're there. The picture above is from their downloads link. I found it with the wallpaper.