This is the day.....

I am sharing a short 'devotional' or message that I shared at church Sunday morning for the opening...very short but something I need to be reminded of often...

This is the day the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it. Psalms 118:24

So many times I have heard (or have said myself) things like...I can't wait for this day to be over or this is the worst day ever, or something like this.

If we read the scripture..Psalms 118:24 it tells us that every day we have is created by God.  It is a day that we should rejoice and be glad in, not be burdened down with stress but praising and thanking God.

Every day is a gift, a day to treasure because we do not know if it will be our last.  Everyday is another day to share God's love, and his joy.  But I notice that a lot of Christians are not filled with joy...do not enjoy each new day....we take it for granted and sometimes grumble about our day...I noticed that in God's word, even the most afflicted Christians spoke of how joyful they were...Some were jailed, beaten and killed because of proclaiming Christ as their savior...I feel that's the attitude we should all have, being grateful for being able to know the Lord, to have Him as our savior. 
One thing I have started to do each morning when I first wake up is to repeat this scripture..it has helped so much to start my day off on a positive note.
So...just a reminder not to take our days for granted- start each day with praise and thanksgiving!!

It has been way too long since I have posted here and hopefully this is the beginning of getting back here on a regular basis.  I know I have said this before but I am hoping that this time is the time!!!!
Today I received an email from the author Karen Kingsbury that I thought was so good and wanted to share it here as my first post after so many months...hope you enjoy it too!!

Who are You Living For?

Life can be a funny thing when we get caught up pleasing someone else - even ourselves. We can so easily get stuck on the things we want or even think we need. The things other people expect of us. But in the madness of life, in the chaos of climbing the ladder to success and trying to live for the approval of others, and while counting the likes on Facebook or the retweets on Twitter, we can forget to ask the Lord what He wants for our lives. 

Sometimes things make sense on paper. The job seems like a perfect solution or an opportunity comes at the perfect moment. Maybe a relationship starts by filling a need, but then it starts to consume you. Even change you. And maybe those changes aren't God's best for you. Even the best opportunities and relationships may distract us from God's will.

Why do we move so hastily to connect the dots, fill the holes, and fix the issues in our lives? We know that God's ways are far better than ours, yet too often we don't surrender to His plan first. We don't even ask for His wisdom. Of course, it's so easy to forget to seek His guidance when we move so quickly.

 

Sometimes all it takes is an intentional conversation with the Lord. "Hey, God. I really want this opportunity. I really feel like I need this job or that relationship. But ... what do You think?" 

He knows the desires of our hearts, but He wants to be our greatest desire. The Bible says to seek first His kingdom - not our desires or the desires of someone else. Seek first His kingdom and He'll take care of the rest. Our goals and desires can easily become idols, and God wants us to serve and worship only Him. 

Let's have God decide what we need. Let's rely on His opinion as we make decisions for our lives. If we keep open hands around Him, He will give back to us what He sees fit, and keep from us what He knows is holding us back. Remember, His goal is that we experience life to the fullest - a joyful life for Him and through His strength.

This week, let's not worry what other people expect from us. Let's not judge ourselves and our decisions by the reaction on social media. Instead, let's seek God first. Let's lay our dreams, goals, and desires at the feet of God and let's keep our hands open before Him.

Then we really can go through life free of the madness!
 

Verse for the Week:

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight."
- Proverbs 3:5-6

Weekend Blessing...Susie Larson

Weekend Blessing: May you entrust your whole soul and story to the God who saves, loves, and establishes you. May you come to know, more and more, that He leads you even when you're unaware. The less you lean on your own understanding (and trust in His direction instead), the more you'll enjoy the peace that passes understanding and defies your circumstance. God is with you. He is for you. And He will never, no never, forsake you. Open your hands, receive the love He gladly gives, and walk with a spring in your step today. His mercy covers you and His grace surrounds you. Have a joyful weekend!

Morning Blessing----Susie Larson

Morning Blessing: May Jesus Himself lift you up and make you strong. May He heal those hidden areas that surface time and time again. May He bring wholeness and health to your mind, body, and spirit. May He strengthen you and fill you with faith so you'll dare to take the risks He puts before you. May you take time in His presence so you'll remember how strong and mighty He is. May you pause today, look up, and remember that you're not alone on this journey. Jesus loves you. His grace abounds in you. And His power is available to you. What's the divine assignment before you today? Go at it with joy and strength! Have a great day today!

Morning Blessing...Susie Larson

Good morning....

 

May the Lord dig up the stones of pain, regret, and angst from your soil and deliver you once and for all. May He turn over the soil of your heart and plant new seeds of faith, vision, and purpose specific to your life's calling. May He heal those deep places that nag you. May He strengthen those weak places that leave you feeling vulnerable. And may He overwhelm you with a fresh revelation of His love so you can believe that NOTHING is impossible with God on your side! Trust that God is up to something good. Blessings on your day today!

Keep Hoping and Dreaming, Friend

{my graphics are free goodies for you}

Hey, You…

The one who’s had a hard week. Who might be wondering if it’s even worth it to hope or dream anymore. The one who has to swat discouragement away like a pesky fly. I know those feelings, too. Can I lean in and gently whisper this hard truth to both of us?

The riskiest thing is not to hope or dream.

The only way to avoid making mistakes is to not do anything. And that’s the biggest mistake of all.

The only way to avoid being hurt is to never love. And being alone in that way is the deepest wound a heart can have.

Love anything and your heart will be wrung and possibly broken. If you want to make sure of keeping it intact you must give it to no one, not even an animal. Wrap it carefully round with hobbies and little luxuries; avoid all entanglements. Lock it up safe in the casket or coffin of your selfishness. But in that casket, safe, dark, motionless, airless, it will change. It will not be broken; it will become unbreakable, impenetrable, irredeemable. To love is to be vulnerable. – C.S. Lewis, The Four Loves

The things that help us feel safe are the same things that can put us at greatest risk.

You are braver, stronger, more capable than you know.

And the God you serve is bigger than you’ve yet experienced.

Keep hoping. Keep dreaming.

You are not done yet.

And neither is the God who wildly loves you and will see you through to the end.

“He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” {Php. 1:6}

XOXO

Holley Gerth

Just what I needed today...hope it touched your heart too..

 

Morning Blessing...Susie Larson

Morning Blessing: Before you take another step today, may you pause and give your burdens to Jesus. He'll carry what's too heavy for you. He'll give you grace to shoulder the light and easy yoke that fits you perfectly. May you clearly discern the worries that slow you down and make life unnecessarily burdensome. May you choose the discipline of joy and discover a new strength in the process. May you embrace grace for the moment, power in prayer, and perspective with the story God is writing in your life. You're loved, called, cherished, anointed, and appointed. Refuse yesterday's baggage, tomorrow's worries, or today's insecurities. You've got Jesus and He's got you.

When All Is Said and Done, This is Our Hope...by Holly Gerth

   

Raindrops scatter across my windshield as I drive home from a speaking engagement and the thoughts within my mind feel much the same. Questions haphazardly come: Should I have said that? Was I helpful? How did it really go?

I pull into my garage and the sound of the storm lessens. It seems a stillness begins to settle within me, too. I picture the corner of my room where I curl up to spend time praying. And these words come to my heart: “When all is said and done I get to go home to Jesus.”

In the moment I mean that in the most literal way. I’m thinking of a cup of tea, warm blanket and time for Him to bring my still-racing heart back to its usual rhythm. But I smile as I realize the words are true for eternity, too. No matter what happens in this life, when all is said and done we get to go home to Jesus.

That reality gives us the strength and courage to serve:

Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God; so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet. John 13:3-5

We are called to be foot-washers and holy risk takers, too. To step outside our comfort zones, face the storms, even walk on water {or speak in public–which feels harder to me sometimes}. We can only do that if we are sure of where we’re ultimately headed and Who will be waiting for us. If you’re not yet, you can be today.

I open the door of my house and it seems to invite me in like an old friend. I find my quiet spot in the corner. I close my eyes and all the questioning stops. I remember again that I am loved not because of what I do but because of Who I belong to. Home is where my heart is and I’m not in heaven yet. But I’m learning this: Home is also Who’s within my heart.

And as I whisper a prayer while the storm subsides, I know Jesus is there.

XOXO

Holley Gerth

Evening Blessings- Susie Larson

Evening Blessing: As the day wraps up and you crawl into bed tonight, may your body, mind, and soul be at rest and know the deep, abiding peace that comes from deeply knowing God. May He speak to you while you sleep and may He download fresh insight and perspective regarding your current circumstances. And as you rise up in the morning, may faith rise up in you and compel you to obey when you'd rather self-protect, give when you'd rather hoard, and trust when you're tempted to worry. You're not made for this place. You're only passing through. Live as one who is spoken for. Good night!

 

He Keeps Giving

Hey Soul? so the thing is, Monday's not your huge mountain to scale --
your huge *God* is the mountain Who scales everything, so you see your *problems* as so *small*.
He'll give you exactly what you need, He'll make you strong for exactly what you have to do, and He'll make you brave for exactly whatever you have to climb this week.
"You can be *SURE* that God will take care of everything you need" Phil4:19
Thank God we are kept from what we wanted ---
like escape, like an easier road, like an easier time of it...
and that He keeps giving us what we didn't know we *needed* --
like more courage, like more joy, like more grace, like more of Himself.
Thank God we are kept from what we wanted ---
and He keeps giving us what we didn't know we *needed.*
Because God will give you everything you need ---- all you need is to keep everything to Him! 

 

HE IS RISEN!!!

.. it's true, He is Risen -- He Is Risen, Indeed!
And you can know it's true, the very truest true --
because the disciples would have known about it if it wasn't.
It's simply impossible that all of them wouldn't have known the whole truth about what happened to Jesus' body--- and every single one of those disciples literally staked their life, (and died as martyrs), on the fact Jesus rose from the dead.
Would they die for a lie, especially because they'd have to know it was a lie? Who in the history of the entire world would be willing to die for a lie, if they knew it was a lie?
The only explanation is that these men who followed Jesus
had seen the RESURRECTED Jesus --
so how could they not give their all to Jesus, the RISEN ONE?
It's impossible to say that Jesus was just a good man, a good teacher, a good example --- because Jesus Himself said He was The Way, The Truth, The Life, that No One could come to God *but through Him* (Jn14:6), that He the Son of God, the RISEN SON OF GOD -- so either He literally & actually is exactly who He claimed, The Lord of the Universe... or the only thing He was good at was being a lunatic & a liar.
You can write Him off as a fool -- or you can fall at His feet & call Him the only Way, Truth & Life, the RISEN Lord. But you can't just say He was a great teacher -- because He didn't give us that option ---- and those disciples staked their life on the Truth that they KNEW HE HAD RISEN FROM THE DEAD!
He is RISEN! He is RISEN INDEED!
And now death itself starts working backwards
& all the sad things begin becoming upended & undone ... and we are undone with the glory of redemption for all our sinful messes & the miracle of amazing grace for all our messy wounds & the wonder that Hope literally rises --
that all will rise.
 

Ann Voskamp

Good Friday

Morning Blessings - Susie Larson
May you pause for a moment today and consider this: YOU are the object of God's affection. YOU are the reason Jesus came to earth as vulnerable baby. YOU were the joy set before Him when He endured the Cross and scorned its shame. Jesus made a public spectacle of the enemy that stands against you; He crushed the lies the enemy spews about you because YOU are someone Jesus loves and wants forever in eternity with Him. Jesus IS the reason for the Season. May we joyfully celebrate the One who came as a baby, died our death, and will return as the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. Have a thoughtful-heart-engaged day today.

Palm Sunday

When Jesus triumphantly rode into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday, the crowds who waved palm branches and excitedly exclaimed "Hosanna in the highest" were soon shouting "crucify Him" five days later on Good Friday. They wanted a King to deliver them from Rome, not a suffering Savior who would hang on a cross. Jesus Christ came to earth for one reason--to die for sin, mine and yours--that we might be forgiven and saved from an eternity in hell. We’re all sinners in need of a Savior.

Franklin Graham

 

His Love Will Endure!!

Seen this morning on Facebook and had to copy and share...thanks Ann Voskamp

Hey Soul? hey, listen -- really listen & feel this down deep: "Fear nothing—not flying arrows in the day, not disaster that erupts at high noon... *because God is your refuge*" Ps. 91MSG.
Every time we feel the anxiety build today? We're just saying 4 words:
I. Trust. You. Jesus. Just keep saying His name, inviting Him to come -- and Jesus moves right in & He evicts fear.
The problems of hard times are answered in the presence of Himself: *God is with us.*
Bottom line? All fear is the lie that God’s love ends.
Untie that lie. God's love for you will never, ever, ever end ---
Untie that lie that strangles you by circling everything today with Truth:
Give Thanks to The Lord, His Love Endures – His LOVE ENDURES through our messes, our failures, our mountains --- His Love Endures — without expiry date, without end — Forever.
So, yeah, Brave Soul, let's go get today! Trust Him! Thank Him!
His LOVE WILL ENDURE EVERYTHING WITH YOU TODAY!

 

Susie Larson- Evening Blessing

 May God open the heavens and pour a fresh grace awakening into your soul. May you understand--on a whole new level--what it means to rest in the finished work of Christ. May you abound in every good work because God's grace empowers you. May you persevere in prayer because His grace fuels you. May you refuse to strive for appearance sake because you've already been established for Jesus' Namesake. You are loved, treasured, appointed, and anointed. You're free to climb mountain heights with joy and free to stumble and fall without the condemnation. Jesus holds you and will lead you safely home. Have a heart-at-rest sort of night tonight! He's got you!

Susie Larson...Evening Blessing

May you begin to cherish the wonder of small things: small seeds, baby steps, subtle shifts in perspective. Choose LIFE every chance you get. When God is about to do a new thing, He starts small and speaks to those who are listening. Are you listening? Don't underestimate the power of your kindness, obedience, offerings, and prayers. Cherish today. Embrace faith. Take steps of obedience. Do small things like they're big things. God brings the increase. God multiplies. He has no rival. Nothing is too difficult for Him! Open your hand and trust Him to make something out of practically nothing. He's a wonder-working God and loves to work through you! Embrace the power of small steps even tonight!

Susie Larson...Morning Blessing

When you're weary and tired, may God give you rest and a right perspective. When you long to run ahead on your own, may He give you divine wisdom to wait on Him. When your guard is down and you're vulnerable to the enemy's schemes, may God protect you and deliver you on every side. And when you're ready to fly, may He lift you up and bless you before a watching world. Take one humble step at a time. He'll lead you to your next place of promise. May yours be a powerful, nourishing, faith-filled day!

Evening Blessing by Susie Larson..

                        

 May God remove every hindrance that keeps you from knowing His love in a way that changes you. May He change every circumstance that sends a lying message to you. May He highlight every trial He's using to train you into a warrior. And may He remind you that all of heaven is on your side. You are very close to His heart. Live and breathe with expectancy and hope. He's got you.

                         

Evening Blessing....Susie Larson

Evening Blessing: May you grow to love and accept the YOU God is making you to be. May you walk in a new level of grace and gratitude that gives you peace and leaves others encouraged. May you be more apt to look forward with hope than you are to look back with regret. May your heart spill over with joy at the very thought of the story God is writing with your life. Sleep deeply, sleep well...

True love is Heaven's hope....

 This was on Facebook this morning and I couldn't let it go without sharing it here..so good....

 Proverbs 31 Ministry
"Love is, indeed, a sacred and lofty gift, but two decades of loving and learning has taught me that the mark of true love isn’t height, it’s humility. True love doesn’t stand tall; it bends low.
True love stoops to pick up the trash bag sitting near the kitchen door and crouches to look a sullen child in the eye.
True love bows to change diapers and to shovel snow, to deliver goodnight kisses and offer hugs.

True love bends over the dishwasher and over the sick child. True love hovers over the hurting and kneels quietly in prayer.
True love chooses to be righteous instead of right, servant instead of master, humble instead of haughty.
Let’s be honest, true love isn’t headline news. It’s not greeting card verse. It’s not blockbuster buzz. True love is Heaven’s hope, as we see in 1 John 4:10: "This is the embodiment of true love: not that we have loved God first, but that He loved us and sent His unique Son on a special mission to become an atoning sacrifice for our sins."
God didn’t declare His love for us with a bouquet of red roses. He didn’t wrap up a box of fine chocolates or a flowery card. Instead, God wrapped His only Son in wrinkled flesh and proclaimed His undying love on Calvary’s cross.
It’s crazy when you think about it, the way the truest love of all stooped the lowest — so we might know the summit of His glorious love. God sent Jesus to demonstrate how true love is sacrificial at its core.
The shape of true love isn’t a diamond. It’s a cross.” - Alicia Bruxvoort-The Overflow

Have a wonderful Friday and Valentine weekend...

To The Shepherd

Post by Really Woolly.

Missing my best friend....

Missing my best friend and hubby so much..

As much as I know that he is in a better place my

heart still hurts with missing him....

 

The Shepherd is Always With Us.

Post by Really Woolly.

Jeremiah 29:11

 

Lord, for all Your goodness, we will keep on singing,

Lord, for all Your goodness, we will keep on singing,
for all the warring, we will keep on praying,
for all the fed up, we will keep offering bread,
for all the hurting, we will keep on touching,
and for all the weary, we will keep on being a hand.
Let us still be reaching for You with a refrain of a thousand thanks
in the midst of everything, as evening comes. 

Ann Voskamp