Abiding Grace

~Love is the most abiding grace.~

This will stay with us when other graces take their farewell. In heaven we shall need no repentance, because we shall have no sin. In heaven we shall not need patience, because there will be no affliction.



In heaven we shall need no faith because faith looks at things unseen (Heb. 11: 1).



But then we shall see God face to face; and where there is vision, there is no need of faith.



But when the other graces are out of date, love continues; and in this sense the apostle says that love is greater than faith, because it abides the longest." Charity never faileth" (1 Cor. 13:8). By Thomas Watson



Join us today at the 160 Acre Woods for more Word filled posts!!



Lord, teach me what it means to love. Thank you for loving me before I ever knew you. Your love brings healing and hope. Your love never ends. Because of your great love I will praise you with my whole heart. Your mercy and grace sustains me. I glorify your name. Amen

Friday Photo Flashback

 

 

 

 

This picture was taken in 1985.  I was  pregnant with Jordan, my fourth son. 

Just looking back at this picture brings a flood of emotions and sweet memories.  Little did I know at that time I would lose my mother the following year. 

Although it's been a long time, there isn't a day that goes by that I don't miss her.

As you all know, we only get one mom.  She is the one who knows all your secrets, shortcomings, fears, dreams and still loves you unconditionally. 

My mom was truly my very best friend.

Relationships can be difficult for some, but never forget what a special gift your mother is.  Let her know today!

I would give anything just to be able to sit down and talk to my mom about all that is going on in my life.  She always had so much wisdom to share with me.

  I know the day will come when I will see her once again. 

My mom loved Jesus with all her heart, and now she is completely whole and resting in the presence of the Lord.

Thanks so much for stopping by today.

Please join us over at Alicia's for more Flashback's at More Than Words.

A Matter of the Heart

Welcome to Word Filled Wednesday...I am delighted to be your hostess today!

The purpose of Word filled Wednesday is to share God’s word (no famous quotes or other literature — only the beautiful Word of our God) through photo’s & a Bible verse!
MckLinky is below so you can join us.

This past weekend Grace, my 5-year old granddaughter, came over for a visit. After church, we decided to visit Barnes and Nobles. As soon as we entered, she eagerly asked me to take her to the children's section.

It wasn't long before she had chosen several books for Grammy to read to her. I pray her love for books and reading will be a lifelong passion that brings her ever closer to the Lord.

John Wesley once told his students, “Either read or get out of the ministry!” In prison Paul asked Timothy for “his books, especially the parchments” (2 Tim. 4:13 NAS). The parchments were his copies of the sacred scriptures.

Proverbs 15:14 says, “The discerning heart seeks knowledge.” So we find Paul still reading, still seeking wisdom, and still searching for truth until the day he was martyred.

J. I. Packer once wrote, “A little knowledge of God is worth much more than a great deal of knowledge about him.” Along these same lines, Hosea prophesied, “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge” (Hos. 4:6).

What a tragedy it is that so many of our young people have turned away from the reading and study of God’s Word for the entertainment of video games and the Internet. We should pray that a hunger for truth will capture the hearts of this next generation, and they will come to be known as those who were seekers of wisdom and instructed of the Lord.

Lord please give us a hunger and desire to know more about you. Let our hearts be discerning as we seek to know you more.

So, you want to go to Egypt?

(my son Joseph in Egypt!)

 

I  received this picture and note from my son who recently left Thailand to take a new teaching position in Turkey.  He decided to stop off in Egypt on the way to Istanbul. 

Without a doubt, Joseph is my adventurer!  If he had been alive in 1492, I am sure he would have been Christopher Columbus’s first mate onboard the Santa Maria!

Greetings from Egypt!

Hi mom, just want to give you a quick update on how things are going.

Upon arrival in Cairo, I discovered that it was Ramadan, which means almost no one in the entire country eats or drinks from sunrise to sunset. However, when the sun drops below the horizon, everyone flocks to the streets to feast together. After "break-fast" the energy level increases tenfold and the streets are abuzz until early in the morning.

I bought a camera and ventured out to the Pyramids of Giza. I took a camel ride through the desert and around the pyramids. I climbed to the top of one of the smaller ones and descended deep into the burial chamber of another. Inside the pyramid, I laid down in the well that once held the sarcophagus and could literally feel the weight of the massive stones above me. That evening I watched the sun set behind those magnificent ancient wonders. It was truly amazing.

I love you momma, and miss you. Istanbul is next!

I would greatly appreciate your prayers for God’s protection over Joseph as he continues his travels around the world!  I sure miss him!

 

Please join us over at Christy’s Critty Joy for more Word filled posts!  You won’t be disappointed! 

Friday Photo Flashback

I recently stumbled upon this meme and thought I would go find some old pictures of my boys through the years. 

My, my…the years have flown by so quickly!  If you are the mother of young ones now, cherish each and every moment.  Time waits for no one!  I labeled the first one with my son’s names, let’s see if you can figure out who’s who as they are growing up.

 

Easter - 1991

 

Ready for Church…5 years later

 

  

 

My oldest son’s wedding day in the summer of 2003, with all of his brothers.  He left two weeks later for a one-year tour of duty in Afghanistan.

 

And this one taken on Easter 2007, right after their annual spring football game.

 

Now finally, I have my granddaughters to add a little pink to the family photos!  I enjoyed raising the boys…..but MY GIRLS are GREAT !!!!

Please join us over at Alicia’s More Than Words for more flashbacks!

Soaring

 

Did you know that an eagle knows when a storm is approaching long before it breaks?

The eagle will fly to some high spot and wait for the winds to come. When the storm hits, the eagle sets its wings so that the wind will pick it up and lift it above the storm.

 While the storm rages below, the eagle is soaring above it.

 

The eagle does not escape the storm. It simply uses the storm to lift it higher.

It rises on the winds that bring the storm. When the storms of life come upon us-and all of us will experience them-we can rise above them by setting our minds and our belief toward God.

The storms do not have to overcome us. We can allow God's power to lift us above them.

God enables us to ride the winds of the storm that bring sickness, tragedy, failure, and disappointment in our lives.

We can soar above the storm.

Remember, it is not the burdens of life that weigh us down, it is how we handle them.

 

Join us today over at Lori’s All You Have to Give for more inspiring scriptures and graphics today. 

Weighing in…

Hey Ladies,

I didn’t plan on posting today, but someone sent me the funniest email this morning. 

Since crying about my weight doesn’t seem to help, I thought laughing was  therapeutic! 

Hope you have a blessed Labor Day Weekend♥

~My New Diet Plan~

Breakfast
     1 grapefruit
     1 slice whole wheat toast
     1 cup skim milk

Lunch 
     1 small portion lean, steamed chicken
     1 cup spinach
     1 cup herbal tea
     1 Hershey's kiss

Afternoon Tea

     1 The rest of the Hershey Kisses in the bag
     1 tub of Hagen-Daaz ice cream with chocolate chips

   Dinner

     2 loaves garlic bread
     1 family size supreme pizza
     3 Snickers Bars

     Late Night Snack

     1 whole Sarah Lee cheesecake (eaten directly from the freezer)

    Remember: Stressed spelled backward is desserts!

For more Friday Funnies join Kim at the Homesteaders Heart!

Would you join me in prayer?

 

 

I recently had the honor of stumbling upon a new blog called Bella Mella.  Someone had requested prayer for Andrew, Melanie’s son, who was just diagnosed with a brain tumor.

Now, having walked down that unexpected diagnosis road before, my heart was drawn to this family instantly. 

I thought I would stop by and maybe offer a prayer and some words of encouragement, but what I discovered was so much more. 

As Melanie faced the most dreaded words any mom could ever hear from a doctor, her faith and love for Jesus was simply unshaken.  Her mouth was filled with praises, and even now, she is proclaiming the goodness of God in the midst of this dark storm.

Many of you reading may already know this precious family.  Some may not, but either way please join with me in a time of prayer and fasting for this precious 12-year boy and his family.

In Gal.6:2 Paul said:

“Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.” 

Let’s bind our hearts together as we come before the throne of God.  If you have not met this family yet, you really should take a moment and check in on them. They are counting on the prayers of the saints, now more then ever.

I’m believing for a miracle, will you join me?

On the road with Jesus…

(Devotion by David Jeremiah)

 

For seasoned travelers, the anticipation of a trip often outstrips the reality. Travel brochures never show the things that can go wrong, like airport delays, long lines, overbooked hotels, pick pockets, rainy weather, or bad food—to name a few.

Paul might have felt that way during his trip to Rome. After all, he was ditched at sea when his ship went down. But as the Book of Acts closes, we see him happily at work, sharing the Gospel with all he met.

When we're traveling with Jesus, we'll never be disappointed.

Cheerfulness keeps breaking in. We have our travel documents in the Bible, and a brochure of the final destination in Revelation 21-22. We have the Holy Spirit as a guide, and a straight and narrow path.

We'll not be disappointed with our accommodations as we abide in Christ.

Nor with our guidebook as we read His Word. Nor with our daily itinerary as we do His will. Nor even with our travel companions as we love His church.

And our final destination? We're heaven-bound pilgrims. We are just going over Jordan. We are just going over home.

 

Father, I thank you for the hope that is found in you.  Help us to remember you are always there, right beside us each step of the road before you.  Let our hearts be always heaven bound, and our joy be found only in you.

Please join us today over at Penny’s for more Word filled posts!

A Sweet Delight!

This past weekend I had the opportunity to attend a Beth Moore Satellite Simulcast conference here in my city.  One of my dearest friends, Cyndy, made plans to spend the night and attend the event with me. Over 90,000 people participated, including many from oversees.

Oh, what a refreshing, relaxing and really going deep into the Word time it was! 

I can’t imagine that anyone who attending the event was not changed and challenged by the revelation God used Beth to bring forth.

  I thought I would share the 7 key points that we covered in our study of Psalm 37, and the final commission she gave as we concluded the conference.

 

Key Points from Psalm 37 to meditate upon:

1. Nothing dictates our lives like our desires.
2. Beneath the desires of our heart is the heart of our desires.
3. Delighting in God adapts our desires into inevitabilities.
4. Nothing external can steal our right to delight.
5. To make room for delight we’ve got to commit.
6. Nothing is passive about patiently waiting for desire to turn into delight.
7. Till faith becomes sight, trust God and do good.

Those concepts are a lot to think about!

And now the commission Beth gave us:

My Dear Sister,

 
God has not overlooked you
He has not ignored you
He hears every petition
And intimately knows
The heart beneath it.

Give Him full access
To all your longings
Pray every single day
To become a person who delights in Him.

When delight seems to disappear remember to check your JAW!

• “J” - Are you jealous?
• “A” - Are you angry?
• “W” - Are you worried?

Roll it all on Jesus
He's strong enough to carry it
Big enough to handle it.
Trust God with all your heart
Now leave this place
And go into the world
And do some GOOD

I was hardly able to utter a word through that commission as tears continuously fell; I was just so choked up!  It was a moment forever sealed in my heart.

What a gift Beth Moore is to the body of Christ!

I'll be starting a Beth Moore series on The Book of Esther later this week with a group of sisters in a daytime study group!  I'm just sooooooooooooo excited! I can hardly wait to get started!