THANKFUL THURSDAY

The Peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:7)Today, I am thankful for. . .
the little (and the Big) ways that God shows us His love everyday,

(like helping someone find a phone this morning that he lost on the side of the road last night, when he stopped and got out of the car to take a picture of. . . )

the beautiful moon! (God's creation!)

(on his way back from speaking to another youth group. . .)

I am thankful that he said it was "refreshing" to speak to them.

I am so thankful for the Joy and Peace that comes only from the Lord.

I am praying that YOU know that Joy and Peace today.

I'm joining Greg and Lynn this week.

Thank you both for hosting Thankful Thursdays!

You will be blessed by reading all of the other posts and by writing your own and linking up. It is always good for us to have a Grateful Heart!

SPIRITUAL SUNDAY. . .the Strength of the Lord

The Strength of Lord DOES make a Big Difference!

My grown up daughter had a broken heart at the beginning of this week, and wanted to come home, but had to stay at college to fulfill obligations. She is home now for the weekend, and is still hurting, but has already grown just in this past week, and is becoming stronger all the time, just through her relationship with her Lord.

She lives her life for God.



Psalm 73:26NIV

My flesh and my heart may fail,

but God

is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.



Psalm 27:14

Wait for the Lord,

be strong and take heart

and wait for the Lord.



2 Corinthians 12:9NIV

But He said to me,

"My grace is sufficient for you,

for my power is made perfect in weakness."



Proverbs 31:25NIV

She is clothed with

strength and dignity;

She can laugh at the days to come.



Psalm 30:11NIV

The Lord gives strength to His people,

the Lord blesses His people with PEACE.


To join Spiritual Sundays go here! You will be sooo blessed! Thank you so much, Charlotte and Ginger for hosting Spiritual Sundays and to all the others who link up such great heartfelt, encouraging posts! I pray God's blessings on all of you!

THANKFUL THURSDAY entry # 2 for today--Parents' Anniversary!

Yesterday was my parents' 48th wedding anniversary! I am so thankful for their example of a Christian marriage, with God at the center of both their lives and their marriage, totally devoted to God first, then each other and then us-their family!

I couldn't ask for better parents. I am very thankful for them and their love for me and my family and their love and devotion for each other. I am thankful that they still like to travel together and just be together. I am thankful that they are celebrating at a nice, quiet cabin at a special place.

Mom will read this in a couple days, after they get back home. I hope that you enjoyed your time with Dad and nothing else calling for your attention. I already told you,

"Happy Anniversary!" Thank you, Mom, for being the best example to me, of what

God wants a wife to be. Thank you for all you do for all of our family!

We all love you and Dad very much!

I'm joining Greg and Lynn this week.Thank you both for hosting Thankful Thursdays!

THANKFUL THURSDAY

Today, along with all of the people and things that I am always thankful for,

I am thankful for

the book, THE RELATIONSHIP PRINCIPLES OF JESUS, by Tom Holladay,

with videos by Rick Warren,

that our church is studying for 40 Days of Love.

I am thankful that Jesus, Himself, did give us those Relationship Principles!
I am thankful for each of the relationhips that I have with family members and friends.
I am thankful again for new relationships that are developing.

What are you thankful for today?



I'm joining Greg and Lynn this week.
Thank you both for hosting Thankful Thursdays!

SPIRITUAL SUNDAY/RETREAT REPORT/"INTER-RUPTED" TO "FOLLOW THE FATHER!"

Thank you to those of you who wished me well while I was at a Ladies' Retreat last night and today and said you would like to hear about it.

The theme was "Inter-rupted", relating to how God interrupts our plans for our lives with blessings and crisises, and always blesses us greatly even through the storms.

The keynote speakers were Jen Hatmaker and Esther Burroughs,

and Praise and Worship was led by Christy Nockels.

Esther spoke about "Splashing the Living Water" and "Going out of your way on your way" and "turning the conversation" with others to Jesus.

Jen's husband, Brandon is pastor of Austin New Church in Austin, Texas.

She told us that the story of Mary and Martha isn't just a story about "being still".

It is about CHOOSING TO BE A DISCIPLE-AN IMITATOR OF JESUS.

Isaiah 52:7

How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news,

who proclaim peace,

who bring good tidings,

who proclaim salvation,

who say to Zion,

"Your God reigns!"

My heart is aching tonight to be alert

to the Holy Spirit to tell me

where God wants my feet to go

to proclaim peace,

to take good tidings,

to proclaim salvation,

to say to all,

"My God reigns!"

"My God can meet your need."

"How can I help meet your

physical and spiritual needs?"

To join Spiritual Sundays go here! You will be sooo blessed! Thank you so much, Charlotte and Ginger for hosting Spiritual Sundays and to all the others who link up such great heartfelt, encouraging posts! I pray God's blessings on all of you!

THANKFUL THURSDAY

I'm thankful

that I'm getting in on Thankful Thursday on time this week!

for a surprise built in "no snow" day off this Friday!. . .

when I already had plans to go to a Ladies' Retreat, but was going to leave after work.

for new women friends at church,

to discuss the book, So Long, Insecurity with, and just to be friends with!

and I'm always very thankful for all of my family!

What are you thankful for this week?

I'm joining Greg and Lynn this week.

Thank you both for hosting Thankful Thursdays!

SPIRITUAL SUNDAY/SCRIPTURE MEMORY MONDAY/LOVE

The following scripture is familiar to most of us, but one that I think we need to go back to often, commit to memory and to practice with the ones we live with, work with and anyone that we come in contact with and that it is possible for us to witness to.

I Corinthians 13:4-7NIV

Love is patient, love is kind.

It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.

It is not rude, it is not self-seeking. It is not not easily angered,

it keeps no record of wrongs.

Love does not delight in evil, but rejoices with the truth.

It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

To join Spiritual Sundays go here! You will be sooo blessed! Thank you so much, Charlotte and Ginger for hosting Spiritual Sundays and to all the others who link up such great heartfelt, encouraging posts! I pray God's blessings on all of you!

THANKFUL THURSDAY

Another Thursday has almost passed without me posting my weekly gratitude list, AND it's my youngest child's 17th birthday! I can't let it get by without linking up for Thankful Thursday!

Tonight, my husband and I are missing our grown up birthday boy, because he is with the high school baseball team at an out of town, 3 day tournament. He is playing baseball, but baseball isn't his world. Following Jesus truly is his world. Jase is looking forward to the mission trip that he is going on this summer, but he is always on mission these days! He is always wanting to help others and tell them about how Jesus can change their life.

I truly am blessed to be a Wife, Mom, and "Granma"! (Daughter, Sister, in-law, Aunt,)

I am thankful for all of my family.

Today, I am especially thankful for Jase.

Happy 17th birthday, Jase!

We love you!

I'm joining Greg and Lynn this week. Thank you both for hosting Thankful Thursdays!

I'd love for you to leave me a comment!

Be Encouraged this Easter/Spiritual Sunday!. . .Everyday!

Maybe not the specific scripture you are thinking of when you think of Easter, but

it's from me to you today. I hope you like it!

I Thessalonians 2:16-17NIV

May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and by his grace gave us eternal encouragement and good hope, encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good deed and word.

addition to this post:
I am planning to substitute teach in the 2nd grade Sunday School class tomorrow.
I thought the lesson would be about Easter, but. . .like all of our church, the 2nd graders are in the
40 Days of Love Series.

Series Memory Scripture: I Corinthians 13:2b;4-7

Phrase of the day: Love is kind.

Definition: Kind-considerate, loving; doing something for someone without expecting anything in return

This week's Bible Verse: Love is patient and kind. . .1 Corinthians 14:4a (ICB)

Bible Lesson: Jesus Heals on the Sabbath-Mark 2:23-3:6(NLT)

Big Idea: Love is patient and kind. In this story, Jesus did not do what the religious leaders wanted, which was to ignore theman because it was the "wrong" day to heal him. Instead, Jesus was kind to the man with the crippled hand. What an awesome maracle and act of kindness! Jesus knew it was more important to be kind and to heal on the Sabbath than to worry about what the Pharisees thought of Him. Jesus could have walked past the man and waited untl it was more convenient or a better time, but He didn't wait. He chose the right time to be kind. Jesus is the ultimate example fo a "BFF" because He stopped everything He was doing and took care of those around Him by showing patience and kindness.

Application: How can we love like Jesus? It might seem easier to ignore someone who is in need because it isn't convenient or easy. In fact, sometimes in our busy and rushed lives, we can actually miss out on an opportunity to help someone who really could use assistance, just because we aren't paying attention! Next time you are busy and you feel God tugging at your heart to stop what you are doing and be kind to someone, take that challenge and show love to a person in need.

Note: All of the above "2nd Grade Sunday School Lesson" is from Saddleback Resources. (Rick Warren and Tom Holladay)

To join Spiritual Sundays go here! You will be sooo blessed! Thank you so much, Charlotte and Ginger for hosting Spiritual Sundays! I pray God's blessings on all of you! Happy Easter!