“Many, O LORD my God, are the wonders you have done. The things you planned for us no one can recount to you; were I to speak and tell of them, they would be too many to declare”. PS :40:5

On this Thankful Thursday, I want to give thanks to God just for thinking of me. David declared that “God's thoughts were innumerable, too many to be counted or numbered”.
The Lord loves us so much that He cannot keep Himself from thinking about us. How wonderful it is to know that we are always on His mind and in His thoughts.

Psalm 139:17 says – “How precious also are Your thoughts to me, O God! How great is the sum of them! If I should count them, they would be more in number than the sand.”

God knows and understands every aspect of our lives. He knows about the joys and He knows about the sorrows. He sees every victory, and He is there with us through every trial, heartache, sickness, and pain. How marvelous it is to know that in Hebrews 7:24-25 (speaking of the ministry of Jesus) the Bible says,

“But because He (Jesus) remains forever, He holds His priesthood permanently. Therefore He is always able to save those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to intercede for them.”

No matter what may be happening in our lives today, the word of God reassures us that Jesus is there for us, not against us. He has a plan and a destiny for us, and He will watch over us until all is fulfilled according to His will. He is praying for us right now. We have a High Priest and an advocate who is intervening continually on our behalf with the Father. How thankful I am to know that I am safe and secure in His arms, and to know that if God is for me, who can be against me?

So today I thank you Lord, for all the thoughts and plans you have for my life. I am so grateful for the gift of your precious son Jesus!

If you would like to see what others are thankful for today go to Laurel's Wreath!

In Other Words

1Peter 2:21 – “To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example that you should follow in his steps.” (NIV)


God calls believers to live out a life of example for others. While many people learn about Christ from what they read or hear, many more learn by example. So, it becomes so important that we act out our faith in all areas of our lives.

There are many ways we can show the love of God, and today I'd just like to use 2 examples that stand out to me.

The first would be to manifest the fruit of the Holy Spirit in our lives. In Galatians 5:22-25 (NTL) says:

"But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things! Those who belong to Christ Jesus have nailed the passions and desires of their sinful nature to his cross and crucified them there. Since we are living by the Spirit, let us follow the Spirit’s leading in every part of our lives. "

The next area that I believe critical to living a life that would cause this earth to be like "God's paradise" would be that we would determine (key word here) to respond to others mistakes with the same forgiveness that God has so graciously given to us. A great example would be found in Galatians 6:1 where it says:

"Dear brothers and sisters, if another believer is overcome by some sin, you who are godly should gently and humbly help that person back onto the right path. And be careful not to fall into the same temptation yourself."

Gosh, I know this can be so hard at times, and I'm so guilty of not being so gentle and humble. But my prayer is that I would have the eyes and mercy of Christ as I journey on the path He has laid before me.

Lord, help me be a reflection of your great love today and everyday you grant me here on earth.

If you would to see what others have said about this beautiful quote you can go to Lori's site, at All You Have to Give.

A Light that will always shine...

The Compassionate Friends is a national nonprofit, self-help support organization that offers friendship, understanding, and hope to bereaved parents, grandparents and siblings.

Tonight at 7:00pm they will hold a "Worldwide Candle Lighting" to honor and remember children who have died at any age from any cause.

I'd like to ask you to stop a moment and ask God to comfort and uphold each family represented. During our Journey with Jordan we have had the privelge to meet and become close to many brave young warriors who in the end won their battle with cancer and now are sitting at the feet of Jesus. Today, I remember each one and the lessons we learned as they taught us what it truly means to fight the good fight of faith.

Here are the names of some very special children that have went before us:

Brent Nason

Timmy Pauxtis

Haley Girl

Jeremiah Averhart

Shae Pierce

Randon & Reid Miller

Jake Raborn

Jacob Duckworth

Spencer Boyer

Emma Grace Hampton

Tony Horton

T-Bone

Dakota Micheal Gay

Maddie Adams

Jessica Randall

Brayden Breaux

Thankful Thursday

Each year I gather together with a group of my very special friends to share a cup of tea, laughter, friendship, and lasting memories. Over the past ten years, our Christmas Tea has become one of my very favorite holiday traditions, which I look forward to so much every year.

On this Thankful Thursday, I want to thank God for all the wonderful women that He has brought into my life. Friendships are a special gift given to us by God, and I cherish every one of those gifts that have so enriched my life. In Proverbs 17:17 the Bible says, "A friend is always loyal, and a brother is born to help in time of need." Oh, where would I be if it were not for my faithful friends and family?

In Psalm 133:1 David wrote, "How good and pleasant it is when brothers live together in unity!" I believe this brings glory and honor to our Father as we walk together in unity; upholding, comforting, and encouraging one another. This really is the clearest expression of what we as the Body of Christ need to be about.

In closing today, I'd like to share a few pictures from our Christmas Tea that capture some of those special moments and memories that live on forever. I pray that all of you checking in will have a wonderful day today, and that you will also have the chance during this holiday season to celebrate the friendships that God has so graciously brought into you life!

Pam & Cyndy, we go back many, many years!

My daughter in law Kristin!

~Thrista & Nancy~

~Shelia~

My precious treasures...

If you would like to see what others are thankful for please go to Laurel's site!

Wordless Wednesday

Need one?

Labor of Love

Please remember to turn off my Music Playlist!

Those Three Words...

I didn't think I had time today to participate in Marriage Monday, but when I saw the topic, "What Makes a Marriage Christian, I thought, let me slow down, take a minute and think about this one".

As I was driving home this morning after dropping my son off at school, I had time to think about and reflect on this topic. The very first thing that came to mind was FORGIVENESS. Of all the many things that should set a Christian marriage apart from all others would be forbearance and forgiveness.

I have been so blessed and privileged to have so many wonderful examples of what a Christian marriage looks like. My precious mom taught me what patience and forgiveness really means. I also had two "spiritual moms" in the Lord who also taught me about the characteristics that should be a reflection of Christ and his bride, the church.

Personally, forgiveness has been something I have had to work on daily. God has blessed me with a wonderful, patient, (oh so very patient...) husband, and he seems to be able to offer forgiveness toward me in such a generous way each day. Now on the other hand, it is very easy for me to want to nurse my wounds and keep Rick reminded of his shortcomings.

A few years ago my precious friend Bunny Wilson, (the author of the wonderful book "Liberated Through Submission") gave me a challenge that changed the course of my marriage. The mission was learning to say three very painful, yet powerful, words. Now, to make things more difficult, I was challenged to say these words even when I felt I was offended or justified.

OK, I am sure you are wondering what those words were. Well, here they are…"I was wrong." Ouch. I tried to argue this theory with her, and justify many situations where those words were unnecessary, but it continually came back to me having to say them. Just the act of taking “an offense" for things that have been done to us is wrong, even when we may be right. That’s hard! However, I soon realized that I did not have any rights, except the right to offer the same kind of unmerited forgiveness Jesus offered to me. Well, I began using those words on a daily basis, and it began to change my life.

At first, it was very painful, but as the days and weeks went on, they just came out more naturally, and then my husband started catching on. We began to get into spats over who was really in the wrong! We both kept saying, “No, I was wrong”…”No, it was me - I was wrong”! Can you imagine trying to stay upset when the other person is trying to argue that they were really the one who was wrong?

God loves when we are obedient to His word, and the fruit from this is always so sweet. I cannot end this post without sharing the best guidelines I have ever found for marriage. It is recorded in the famous "love chapter" in I Corth. 13 and I love the way the Message Bible brings these words of Paul home:

The Way of Love


(1) If I speak with human eloquence and angelic ecstasy but don't love, I'm nothing but the creaking of a rusty gate. (2) If I speak God's Word with power, revealing all his mysteries and making everything plain as day, and if I have faith that says to a mountain, "Jump," and it jumps, but I don't love, I'm nothing. (3-7) If I give everything I own to the poor and even go to the stake to be burned as a martyr, but I don't love, I've gotten nowhere. So, no matter what I say, what I believe, and what I do, I'm bankrupt without love.



Love never gives up.

Love cares more for others than for self.

Love doesn't want what it doesn't have.

Love doesn't strut,

Doesn't have a swelled head,

Doesn't force itself on others,

Isn't always "me first,"

Doesn't fly off the handle,

Doesn't keep score of the sins of others,

Doesn't revel when others grovel,

Takes pleasure in the flowering of truth,

Puts up with anything,

Trusts God always,

Always looks for the best,

Never looks back,

But keeps going to the end.


((I love you Rick!))


Thanks E-Mom for being yet another great spiritual mom and example for me. I learn so much each time I come go to your site, and especially when I participate on Marriage Monday, because it makes me stop and really think about what is important in my life. If any of you reading this today would like to see what others are sharing about Marriage you can go and visit Chrysalis.