tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-87566911831382884082012-01-19T21:27:49.568-06:00"But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ." 2 Peter 3:18Joannoreply@blogger.comBlogger3581100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8756691183138288408.post-10102549219040636082011-08-11T06:00:00.003-05:002011-08-11T06:00:10.824-05:00

Last month, I announced that I was moving Reflections from Blogger to a self-hosted Wordpress blog. I am happy to announce that my new design is ready (thanks to Erin at Design by Insight) and moving day is tomorrow, August 12th. My blog will be down while the move is made. I will return on Monday (if not before) at the new site. August 15th just happens to be my two-year blogging anniversary,

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For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. (Ephesians 2:8-9) I have heard religion described as man attempting to reach out to God. There are many who strive for acceptance through works in the hopes that they will draw close to their god. Christianity is different. In Christianity, God

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Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid. (John 14:27) This is the fourth in a series of posts about the fruit of the Spirit. You can read my posts on patience, love, and joy by searching the archives. Next, I will post about kindness. I suppose since the beginning of time—at least after

Joannoreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8756691183138288408.post-15695927333374916702011-08-07T21:21:00.000-05:002011-08-07T21:21:17.234-05:00

You have fixed all the boundaries of the earth; you have made summer and winter. (Psalm 74:17) Summer continues and I continue to count my gifts. Each day, each hour, each moment is a gift from God. I'm reminded that it is the Creator who changes times and seasons, who holds everything in His hands. Summer and winter, springtime and harvest...great is His faithfulness. This week, I give

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These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full. (John 15:11) This is the third of a series of posts about the fruit of the Spirit. You can read my posts on patience and love by searching the archives. In the next post, I will write about peace. “Lord, I’m not happy right now. Amen!” My husband and I have laughed many times since over his short (and

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O God, you are my God; earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you; my flesh faints for you, as in a dry and weary land where there is no water. (Psalm 63:1) Much of the United States is in the midst of a heat wave. Some areas are experiencing droughts and record heat. We long for water for the parched land and cooler temperatures to provide relief from the extreme heat.   However, most of us

Joannoreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8756691183138288408.post-18951049870190356892011-08-03T07:13:00.000-05:002011-08-03T07:13:27.563-05:00

When Jewish believers made the pilgrimage to Jerusalem to worship, they often sang songs. These have come to be known as the Psalms of Ascent and include Psalms 120-134. Psalm 121 is intended to instill confidence in those making that pilgrimage. As believers in Christ, we too can take comfort in the words of this Psalm. No matter what we face, we can rest in the fact that the Lord, the maker

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Let everything that has breath praise the Lord! (Psalm 150:6) The photo doesn't do it justice, as I snapped it with my iPhone while driving home two nights ago. The sun was nearing the horizon, directly behind a cloud. Rays of light streaked from behind the cloud and to the right, sunlight bathed the sky with a golden hue. And yes, the dark cloud had a silver lining. Isn't that just like God?

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Reflecting upon God's word. "For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven and do not return there but water the earth, making it bring forth and sprout, giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater, so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it." (Isaiah 55

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I say, “But I don’t even like her, Lord. How can you expect me to love her?” God says, “and you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.' The second is this: 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' There is no other commandment greater than these." (Mark 12:30-31) I say, “She hurt me, Lord. And you want me to

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I haven't participated in a Thankful Thursday post in a while, but this week our hostess, Lynn, asked us to share a miracle that the Lord revealed to us. In her post, she shared how God had miraculously provided for the needs of a friend whose husband has been unemployed for two years. My husband has faced unemployment on more than one occasion - the most recent being earlier this year. During

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But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. (Galatians 5:22-23) By nature, I am not a patient person. I dislike long checkout lines at the supermarket, I am easily annoyed with slow moving drivers, and I detest being late. But wait a minute, (no pun intended) as Christians, the Holy

Joannoreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8756691183138288408.post-17878152686003012262011-07-24T21:53:00.001-05:002011-07-24T21:54:56.685-05:00

And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ.(Ephesians 4:11-12) On Friday evening, I attended a commissioning for the daughter of a friend who is leaving to go abroad for a year. This young woman has a heart for missions and evangelism and although she will be working at a

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Reflecting upon His grace. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. (Galatians 5:22-23) Give thanks and rejoice - when we accepted Christ as Savior, the Holy Spirit indwelt us and we are sealed to the day of redemption. Heavenly Father, we thank you that you sent the Holy Spirit to

Joannoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8756691183138288408.post-80080167888511143702011-07-19T22:02:00.001-05:002011-07-24T19:19:31.897-05:00

And I heard the voice of the Lord saying, "Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?" Then I said, "Here am I! Send me." (Isaiah 6:8) The little meerkat ran around the yard, playing and interacting with others in his den. At first, he seemed oblivious to the fact someone was watching, but upon seeing a half dozen people at the front of the pen, he immediately left the others and ran toward the

Joannoreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8756691183138288408.post-61908319930781019992011-07-18T22:26:00.001-05:002011-07-18T22:27:20.336-05:00

I have shared before how I became a Christian at the age of ten, but I did not start living for God until well into my adult years. I had the misconceived notion that all God cared about for my life was what happened in church on Sunday mornings and those mid-week Wednesday prayer meetings. I thought the rest was up to me—including career choices, places to live, how and where I spent my money,

Joannoreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8756691183138288408.post-40260164847461762182011-07-17T21:16:00.001-05:002011-07-18T05:55:24.617-05:00

Yet he did not leave himself without witness, for he did good by giving you rains from heaven and fruitful seasons, satisfying your hearts with food and gladness." (Acts 14:17) Although Texas summers are long and hot, there is something special about this season. A hot summer day makes me appreciate a summer night when the moon arcs low in the southern sky and casts long shadows on the

Joannoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8756691183138288408.post-36939641164799823992011-07-16T00:00:00.000-05:002011-07-16T00:00:15.160-05:00

Welcome to Weekend Reflections He will tend his flock like a shepherd; he will gather the lambs in his arms; he will carry them in his bosom, and gently lead those that are with young. (Isaiah 40:11) Take some time this weekend to refresh, giving praises to the Good Shepherd. Let Him gather you in His arms and nourish your soul.  Father, thank you for your Son, our Good Shepherd. The One who

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Hi everyone. I hope you will take the time to hop over to visit my blog friend, Beck, at her blog Beck Far From Home. I wrote a guest post there today. Beck and I found one another a few months ago and I have thoroughly enjoyed reading her blog. She has some very encouraging and inspiring posts, as well as some beautiful photographs. I know you will be blessed by your visit. I plan to be back

Joannoreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8756691183138288408.post-12262737629427818872011-07-09T13:43:00.000-05:002011-07-09T13:43:32.892-05:00

As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, O God. (Psalm 42:1, NIV1984) I have decided to take a blogging break for a few days. It may be three or four, or it may be a week - as the Lord directs. With that being said, some changes are coming here. I have decided to switch from Blogger to a self-hosted Wordpress site. I'm excited about the upcoming changes - I am planning

Joannoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8756691183138288408.post-37520212350871184492011-07-08T06:44:00.001-05:002011-07-24T19:14:10.004-05:00

Have you ever been wounded by another person's words? Have you ever wounded someone by your words? I can answer yes to both questions. Often, I speak out before stopping to consider what I am about to say. Though unintentional, I have spoken in haste and immediately regretted what I said. Other times I have intentionally spoken in anger to "get back" at another person or to make a point. But

Joannoreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8756691183138288408.post-46051058500957235682011-07-06T06:17:00.001-05:002011-07-06T06:17:58.143-05:00

Though the fig tree should not blossom, nor fruit be on the vines, the produce of the olive fail and the fields yield no food, the flock be cut off from the fold and there be no herd in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the LORD; I will take joy in the God of my salvation. GOD, the Lord, is my strength; he makes my feet like the deer's; he makes me tread on my high places. (Habakkuk 3:17-19) My

Joannoreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8756691183138288408.post-69722582921997416762011-07-04T07:08:00.001-05:002011-07-24T19:09:36.269-05:00

My husband and I are on the road for the long weekend. We left on Saturday morning and traveled from our home in Eastern Texas to the West Texas Panhandle, where the landscape is vastly different. However, there is beauty in all God's creation - even in the desert and the high plains. It is all a gift...[291, 292]  He has made everything beautiful in its time.... We visited Palo Duro Canyon,

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Welcome to Weekend Reflections So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed in him, "If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free." (John 8:31-32) This weekend, those of us in the United States take time out to celebrate Independence Day. Let us also celebrate another freedom and the One who freed us from the law of sin and death

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The heart of man plans his way, but the LORD establishes his steps. (Proverbs 16:9) I have often made plans without consulting the Lord, and then expect Him to bless them. This is especially true in areas of ministry. I hear a little whisper from the Lord, and then I charge full force into what I want to hear Him to say. I love to claim Psalm 37:4, Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give

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Of late, I have been thinking about my wandering years. The time I strayed from the Lord, going my own way, living the life I thought I wanted. Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it,Prone to leave the God I love;Here's my heart, O take and seal it,Seal it for Thy courts above. Hymnist and Pastor Robert Robinson penned these words in 1757. Was he prone to wander or did he write from his experiences as

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Do you have dreams, hopes, or visions about an area of ministry to which you feel God has called you? Do you ever question when and if God will fulfill those dreams? Or perhaps you spend time pondering God’s purpose for your life and wonder if He will ever reveal it to you? I have answered yes to all three questions at one time or another. Sometimes it is easy to lose heart and think that those

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Job faced a tremendous amount of sorrow in a very short time. He lost his wealth, his children, and his health. Even his wife told him to “curse God and die.” When Job’s friends heard of his situation, they came together to show him sympathy and to comfort him. For seven days, they sat with him and did not speak. Then, they opened their mouths…  This is my friend, Rhodema (on the left) who

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And from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace. (John 1:16) A gentle breeze blows as the early morning sun climbs above the horizon. A nearby tree is already brown due to the extremely dry weather we have had, but still a tiny hummingbird flitters around its branches. I hear the distant sound of automobiles on a busy highway as commuters rush to their jobs and I am thankful to have

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Welcome to Weekend Reflections A Psalm of David. The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. You

Joannoreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8756691183138288408.post-90193778907661253702011-06-23T06:01:00.001-05:002011-06-23T06:07:29.102-05:00

And after the earthquake a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire. And after the fire the sound of a low whisper. (1 Kings 19:12) They glide slowly overhead, their wings silent...a mere whisper. There isn't great fanfare to announce their presence, and if one isn't watching closely, they are easily missed. But if you are familiar with a Texas summer morning, you know these egrets often move from

Joannoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8756691183138288408.post-24245893638393424232011-06-22T04:42:00.000-05:002011-06-22T04:42:45.377-05:00

No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it. (Hebrews 12:11, NIV 1984) Let's face it...discipline isn't pleasant. When we were children and our parents disciplined us, it hurt. We may not have realized it at the time, but they disciplined us for our own good and because they loved

Joannoreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8756691183138288408.post-17392150083147933082011-06-21T05:00:00.001-05:002011-06-21T05:00:02.342-05:00

It's hot here in Texas - the land is parched, the trees and plants are thirsty and in need of life-giving water. The oppressive heat is more like August rather than June and life seems so separated from the cold and snow of last winter. Have you ever felt dry and parched in your Christian walk? Does it seem as if God is far away? Do you find yourself wondering if He hears and answers your

Joannoreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8756691183138288408.post-3306200726775651872011-06-20T05:00:00.002-05:002011-06-25T16:11:03.782-05:00

The last time we were all together we walked across the stage to receive our diplomas. We were young and our entire lives were ahead of us. On Saturday, we gathered for our thirty-five year high school reunion. We are older, hopefully wiser, and though the years and distance have separated some of us, we aren’t far from one another’s thoughts. We shared laughter, we shared tears, and we shared

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Welcome to Weekend Reflections As the deer pants for the water brooks, So my soul pants for You, O God. (Psalm 42:1, NASB) Are you thirsty? Do you feel parched like a desert beneath the summer sun? Do you long for the living water? Revive by feasting upon His word. Lord, thank you for the life-giving water that you have bestowed upon us through your Son. Slow us down, revive us, and refresh us

Joannoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8756691183138288408.post-34278178071665671122011-06-17T05:00:00.009-05:002011-06-17T06:21:42.432-05:00

“But now your kingdom shall not continue. The LORD has sought out a man after his own heart, and the LORD has commanded him to be prince over his people, because you have not kept what the LORD commanded you." 1 Samuel 13:14) Have you ever been betrayed by a close friend? Have you felt rejection by someone in your own family? Has an associate been jealous and therefore spread falsehoods about you

Joannoreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8756691183138288408.post-61103377995070077382011-06-16T06:38:00.000-05:002011-06-16T06:38:18.277-05:00

I never cease to be amazed at the things God will do to show us His ways, His love, and His care for us. He will go to great lengths to prove to us that He is faithful and trustworthy. However, sometimes I seem to forget and this saddens me, especially when I reflect upon all He has done for me. If you read my blog often, you know what a love I have for His creation – the birds, wildlife,

Joannoreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8756691183138288408.post-44422040840569982772011-06-15T05:00:00.000-05:002011-06-15T05:00:03.763-05:00

He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also, He has put eternity into man's heart, yet so he cannot find out what God has done from the beginning to the end. (Ecclesiastes 3:11) All around us is God's handiwork... A sunrise, a million stars, a full moon lighting the night sky... A mountain range, a white sandy beach, the rolling prairie...A flower, a butterfly, the intricate detail of a

Joannoreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8756691183138288408.post-32737308294289959432011-06-14T05:00:00.008-05:002011-06-26T02:03:13.481-05:00

This is the third and final of a three-part series in which I share a part of my testimony. The events took place during one of the hottest and driest summers on record for our area. You can read the first installment by clicking here, the second by clicking here. During the long, hot summer a job change was in order for me and I began working for a small medical equipment supply office. My

Joannoreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8756691183138288408.post-58758504720127242682011-06-13T05:44:00.001-05:002011-06-25T16:12:41.767-05:00

Rest in the Lord and wait patiently for Him...(Psalms 37:7a, NASB) To rest in the Lord’s promises is one of the greatest gifts. He is the One who will never fail us, never leave us, and never forsake us. Speaking of rest, it is a gift to be able to hit the snooze button on the alarm and later awakening to Chris Tomlin singing How Great is Our God. [226…228] I am thankful for encouraging comments

Joannoreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8756691183138288408.post-63647513162059049292011-06-11T05:00:00.045-05:002011-06-11T05:00:06.637-05:00

Welcome to Weekend Reflections I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth. (1 Corinthians 3:6) Do you remember those who first told you about Christ? It may have been a parent, a Sunday School teacher, a pastor,  friend, or co-worker. Think about those who "watered" your soul, teaching you about God's word and how to study it for yourself. Take a moment to say a prayer of thanks for

Joannoreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8756691183138288408.post-30122220803907549552011-06-10T05:00:00.009-05:002011-06-11T07:49:28.084-05:00

One of the most familiar sounds of a Texas spring and summer is the call of the mockingbird. Well known for sitting on perches or the branches of trees while singing their melodious songs, they often sing into the night. Although not the largest of birds, they are very assertive. Many times, I have witnessed them chase the much larger crow (I’ve never seen it the other way around). They will

Joannoreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8756691183138288408.post-20658722083405529982011-06-09T05:49:00.001-05:002011-06-11T07:52:07.807-05:00

Friends...friendship. Often I've expressed my gratitude and thanksgiving for my friends. I've written several blog posts on the subject and mentioned friendship in my list of 1000 gifts. I am truly thankful for my friends, for their encouragement, for their kindness, understanding, and compassion. I can think of a host of other things for which I am thankful for in friendships. However, I've

Joannoreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8756691183138288408.post-40672570176127866662011-06-08T05:56:00.002-05:002011-06-11T07:57:35.158-05:00

(Scripture taken from the New International Version 1984) To trust in the Lord, totally and completely means that have assurance in all His promises. The KJV translates Psalm 37:3 a bit different from the NIV, "Trust in the LORD, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed."  The ESV translates another way, "Trust in the LORD, and do good; dwell in the land and

Joannoreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8756691183138288408.post-83943032908421118442011-06-07T05:00:00.004-05:002011-06-26T02:03:51.815-05:00

For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. (Romans 8:18) This is part two of a series in which I share a part of my testimony. The events took place during one of the hottest and driest summers on record for our area. You can read the first installment by clicking here. After John didn’t get the job at the

Joannoreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8756691183138288408.post-78095264207762464262011-06-06T05:00:00.005-05:002011-06-25T16:15:27.515-05:00

He gives rain on the earth and sends waters on the fields; (Job 5:10) Although the official start of summer is still a couple of weeks away, summer temperatures have descended upon Texas. Weather advisories are comparing this summer to 1998 (which I wrote about last week.) This year has proven to be a year of extreme weather, however, as Christians we are still blessed. Even if all our earthly

Joannoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8756691183138288408.post-9768499221615849642011-06-04T05:00:00.005-05:002011-06-04T05:00:12.148-05:00

Welcome to Weekend Reflections"Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations. I will be exalted in the earth." (Psalm 46:10) Take some time to sit still before the Lord. If possible, go for a walk or sit outdoors and observe His magnificent creation. Reflect upon His grace, His mercy, and His might and power. Give praise to the Omnipotent, omnipresent, omniscient Creator

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You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart. (Jeremiah 29:13)  The little girl clung tightly to her mother as they entered the room. Her demeanor wasn’t like the other children who smiled and laughed. She was quiet, withdrawn, and kept her head on her mother’s shoulder. She appeared to be about four years old and I assumed she was simply bashful. My attention turned away

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© Vladimir Il'yin Dreamstime.com He who made the Pleiades and Orion, and turns deep darkness into the morning and darkens the day into night, who calls for the waters of the sea and pours them out on the surface of the earth, the LORD is his name…(Amos 5:8) I enjoy looking at the night skies. It's always a pleasure to be outdoors after the sunset, when the stars begin to appear. The nearby

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Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make straight your paths. (Proverbs 3:5-6) You can't go wrong when you go with God! Linking with Word Filled Wednesday at the Internet Cafe.

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Recently, I pulled my NIV devotional Bible off the bookshelf. I no longer use it, as I have a good study Bible, but wanted to read one of the devotionals. In the back, I found a sticky note where I had written a reference to 1 Peter 1:6-7. Curious as to what these verses said, I turned there. In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all

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But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him. (John 4:23) Since I began counting 1000 gifts, I realize how much the little things bring me pleasure and I count them as gifts. I spent an enjoyable day on Saturday with my husband and we took an impromptu trip to Arlington, Texas.

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From the mountains, to the prairies, to the oceans white with foam. God bless America, my home sweet home. (Irving Berlin) This weekend, we stop to remember those who fought and died so that we might live free. America is far from perfect, but I'm thankful to live here, to enjoy the beauty that God created...the mountains, the prairies, oceans, streams, and valleys. But I am most thankful for

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This lilac bush was first purchased by my grandfather. It has survived several moves, droughts, and storms. I never knew my paternal grandfather – he passed away several years before I was born. However, of the many things I have heard about him, I cannot recall a single negative comment. One of things I remember was his attitude of thankfulness. I have heard it said that whenever he sat down

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Americans will celebrate Memorial Day this weekend - a time of remembrance for those who died serving our country in the military.  The American flag will line streets, the graves of fallen soldiers, and many residents will fly it at their homes. The stars and stripes and the Texas flag in the photo above are representative of my citizenship as a United States and Texas resident. But it is the

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A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones. (Proverbs 17:22, NIV 1984) Things were relatively quiet this past week and I had more time to reflect upon the blessings God has placed before me. On Tuesday evening, I took a short walk and breathed in the air around me, listening and looking at the beautiful sites in God's creation. The sweet smell of blooms from

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Last week, Blogger had a major problem. For over twenty hours, bloggers were unable to post or leave comments on other blogs. Comments and other content were lost and technologists scrambled to find the answers and fix the problem. Many were left wondering if they should switch to another blogging format. Perhaps betrayed isn’t the right word, but they were certainly disappointed. Probably all

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I don’t know about you, but I don’t like to have my plans interrupted. Even worse are times when they are uncertain. This isn’t to say that I never like to do anything spontaneous. There are occasions when my husband and I will wake up on Saturday morning and decide impulsively to take what we refer to as our “Saturday excursions.” Often those spontaneous outings are the most fun. However, in

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Some things just don't need further explanation. Linking this post to Word Filled Wednesday.

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Consider the lilies, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. (Luke 12:27) After enjoying a day off on Monday, the remainder of my week was very busy. However, we should never be too busy to acknowledge the gifts God bestows upon us. This week I am thankful for: [155...159] That my washer was repaired at a nominal

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Lester Moore lies buried in Boot Hill Cemetery on the outskirts of Tombstone, Arizona. I don't know how Old Les lived his life, but if this epitaph is any indication, he might have lived a rough and tumble existence. On the other hand, perhaps he was an innocent victim, shot down on the streets of a rowdy old west town. Whatever type of person he was in life, he is better known in death, if

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On a recent trip to the local zoo, my husband and I visited a bird sanctuary. Visitors are able to feed the birds and they will readily flock to a person's hands for a taste of the yummy morsels. Often you will have several birds competing for the food. Such was the case on the date of our visit, except for the one little bird in the above photograph. He sat patiently on the rope, awaiting his

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The house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume (John 12:3b) It's one of those rare Mondays when I don't have to work. I took a day of vacation, on the presumption that I would need to make a trip to Dallas, but plans changed at the last minute. Therefore, I'm at home, enjoying a day where I can spend more time in fellowship with my Savior, thanking Him for the blessings He has bestowed

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"But whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again. The water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life." (John 4:14) At my writing group this past week, one of the women in attendance spoke about how her life had been so busy of late. She said, "I know my writing is an overflow from my quiet time with the Lord. “For out

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So they took away the stone. And Jesus lifted up his eyes and said, "Father, I thank you that you have heard me. (John 11:41) Today is the National Day of Prayer here in America. It is a time set aside to give thanks for our country and pray for our nation. In recent years, efforts have been made to stop this event, but through the grace and mercy of God, it continues.   As I pondered what

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Last Friday, my husband participated in the American Cancer Society's local Relay for Life. He and several others dressed in matching purple shirts and gathered for a group photo before walking the survivor's lap. The emotion at seeing this group of brave people was overwhelming. Some have been cancer free for several years, while others are just finishing radiation or chemotherapy. Whether two

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Can I ever stop counting my gifts? Does God's grace and mercy ever cease? Scripture tells us that His mercies are new every day (Lamentations 3:22-23) and that He loves to bestow gifts upon us. (Mathew 7:11). Therefore, I continue to count my blessings, because they never cease. This week, I am grateful for: [121...125] Seeing my husband and dozens of others walk the survivor's lap in the local

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For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery. Galatians 5:1 On a recent visit to the local zoo, my husband and I were anxious to see the new black bear exhibit. Many other visitors crowded around the pen to catch a glimpse of them, and I stood back a while, watching one of the bears. It was apparent that he did not like being confined. He

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Tuesday afternoon and evening was a very stormy one in East Texas. Weather forecasters had predicted a strong line of storms - so sure of their forecast that the NWS issued a "high risk" warning for tornadoes. The Red Cross had disaster relief teams standing by in case of need. Even Discovery Channel's "Storm Chasers" were in the area - traveling the roads in pursuit of the "perfect storm." The

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But thanks be to God, who in Christ always leads us in triumphal procession, and through us spreads the fragrance of the knowledge of him everywhere. For we are the aroma of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing, to one a fragrance from death to death, to the other a fragrance from life to life. Who is sufficient for these things? (2 Corinthians 2:14-16)

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I would be remiss in counting my 1000 gifts if I didn't mention my thankfulness for the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ. Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. (John 15:13). Christ laid down His life that we might live - there is no greater gift. Although I began counting my gifts with thankfulness for my Savior, it bears repeating -  I can

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And as they were frightened and bowed their faces to the ground, the men said to them, "Why do you seek the living among the dead? He is not here, but has risen. (Luke 24:5-6a) The story of the crucifixion did not end on Friday. It did not end in death. For early on Sunday morning - the first day of the week - Jesus rose from the dead. The grave could not hold the King. He is risen. He is risen,

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He was despised and rejected by men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief; and as one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not. Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that

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For I received from the Lord what I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it, and said, "This is my body which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me." In the same way also he took the cup, after supper, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of

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I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. (John 10:28) This week, we celebrate the resurrection of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Our sinless Good Shepherd, the perfect Lamb of God, paid the price for our sins. Though we deserve death, He gives us eternal life and no one will snatch us from His hand. Join Amy and others at the Internet

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And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. (Col 3:17) [101...106] My husband’s new job, seeing an Indigo Bunting in my bird feeder, a visit to the zoo, God’s amazing creatures, a pastor who is dedicated to accurately teaching the word of God, Christian parents [107...112] Hearing the first whippoorwill of the

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Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. (2 Corinthians 5:17) While pondering what I would write this week for Spiritual Sundays, I spent some time going through my writing files. I looked in my drafts folder and found several pieces of writing. Some were not much more than a title and a sentence or two. Others were complete in

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My husband has a habit of not putting away his work shoes. Each afternoon, when he came home from work, he would place his heavy steel toed boots in our den. From time to time, I would pick them up and put them in the laundry room, but the next afternoon they would be back in that same spot beside the sofa. Finally, I gave up. After all, the den is the place where we "live" and we don't entertain

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Let my prayer be counted as incense before you, and the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice! (Psalm 141:2) Visit the Internet Cafe for more Word Filled Wednesday posts.

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Our prayers have been answered - my husband has a new job. He starts work today. I want to thank all of you who have been praying for us during this time - your prayers have been felt and are much appreciated. I won't say there haven't been times of discouragement - especially on John's part. However through it all, God has proven  Himself to be faithful and true. Jehovah Shalom gave us peace.

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Giving thanks...looking around for the simple things in life...living fully and completely right where you are - no matter what the circumstances. Continuing to count 1000 gifts and beyond... [78...83] Early morning rain, seeing a friend who is recovering from chemo and radiation treatments, my home group, fresh air, the sound of the breeze blowing through the trees, a sliver of a new moon. [84.

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Now the Bereans were of more noble character than the Thessalonians, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true. (Acts 17:11, NIV 1984) Have you ever listened to a sermon and thought something isn’t quite right? Perhaps you have taken part in a Bible study and read something in your study book that did not align with

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One of my favorite movies is the classic White Christmas. I often think of the Irving Berlin song, Counting my Blessings. One of the lines of the song reads, When my bankroll is getting small, I think of when I had none at all...and I fall asleep, counting my blessings. Blessings come to us every day - in all shapes and sizes. Some of them we may not recognize immediately as being a blessing.

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Probably no one, living or deceased, has faced the number of trials as Job. Within a short span of time, he lost everything (except his nagging wife and well meaning friends). First, his oxen, donkeys and some of his servants: Now there was a day when his sons and daughters were eating and drinking wine in their oldest brother's house, and there came a messenger to Job and said, "The oxen were

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Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. Psalm 119:105 When seeking God's direction, do you often wish He would always speak the answer in a loud and clear voice? Maybe you would like to see a giant billboard that says, "this is the way..."  Do you wish the way would be clear and straight as the train tracks in the above photo? Have there been times when you think you've heard from

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"He was despised and rejected by men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief; and as one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not. Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted.” - Isaiah 53:3-4 The longer I study God's word, the more I realize how every book, every chapter, every verse,

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Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. I can do all things through him who strengthens me. (Philippians 4:11-13) Learning to be content...in every situation, in every

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So we are always of good courage. We know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord, for we walk by faith, not by sight. Yes, we are of good courage, and we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord. (2 Corinthians 5:6-8) This past Sunday, our family celebrated a homecoming as my husband's uncle went home to be with the Lord. I wrote about Mickey's story

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Do you sometimes think your prayers aren't being answered? Does it seem as if they never reach farther than the ceiling? Do you wonder if God is really listening? There have been times when I have answered yes to all three of these questions. But God hears and answers our prayers. (Sometimes the answer isn't what we expect.) Not only does He hear and answer, but He treasures them. I've been

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Many people go through life thinking, "when I have this, I'll be happy," or "when I achieve such and such, I'll be satisfied."  There is nothing wrong with achievements unless we place these things above our relationship with God or allow them to become an idol. However, material things and accomplishments will never make us fully satisfied. Once we accomplish a goal or own a certain item, we

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With the news of the earthquake and tsunami in Japan, I am reminded that our lives are but a vapor. When I was twenty-one years of age, my father died unexpectedly of a heart attack. Many times I wished that I had one more chance to express my love to him. I wrote the following story a few years ago. I'm linking this post with Spiritual Sundays. “Don’t bother making breakfast for me,” I told Mom

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Enoch walked with God, and he was not, for God took him. (Genesis 5:24) When reading the line of descendants from Adam to Noah, we find virtually the same pattern of information in each generation... When____ had lived ____ years, he fathered _____. After he fathered....he lived...and had other sons and daughters. All the days of ___ were ___ years and he died. Then we come to Enoch: When Enoch

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Familiar landmarks of downtown Dallas caused me to reflect upon my childhood. I recalled gazing upon the night skyline, Pegasus – the flying red horse, the grassy knoll, the billboard that contained a waterfall. All of them remain, however, driving demanded my full attention as I navigated through the maze of freeways, road construction, and east bound traffic. Before long, the skyscrapers gave

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"Trials reveal where you are. They are designed to take you to a new level." Dr. Tony Evans No one enjoys going through trials. Given a choice, most of us would like to forfeit adverse circumstances in life. Likewise, many people, after coming into the saving knowledge of Christ, are content to stay where they are, never growing, never moving forward. They become complacent and stagnant. Have

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For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death. (Romans 8:2) Have you ever been in bondage? Although most of us have never been behind prison walls, all were once in imprisoned to sin. And no matter how "good" we try to be, how many times we attempt to obey the "law" it cannot save us. Only by the blood of Christ have we received salvation. It

Joannoreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8756691183138288408.post-65837540676530675352011-02-28T05:00:00.006-06:002011-06-25T16:34:38.589-05:00

Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change. (James 1:17) Counting 1000 Gifts and Beyond...(8 - 16)Lunch with friends A day of solitude Sunrise Sunset A rainy afternoon My ESV study Bible Photographs Memories Cardinals and other birds coming to my feeders

Joannoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8756691183138288408.post-58984172478333964652011-02-26T09:25:00.004-06:002011-05-21T11:02:04.938-05:00

Yes Lord, I will read my Bible today, but first let me check my email. Okay Lord, I know I need to spend time in prayer, but first I need to write this blog post. Jesus, you know I want to be your obedient servant, but first I have to… Do you offer excuses to Jesus? I know that I do. There are dozens, if not hundreds, of things that command my attention or take my focus off Him. Internet,

Joannoreply@blogger.com19tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8756691183138288408.post-57500365945292987972011-02-24T05:45:00.004-06:002011-06-11T11:17:45.648-05:00

It is good to give thanks to the Lord, to sing praises to your name, O Most High. (Psalm 92:1) I haven't participated in Thankful Thursday for a few weeks, and I'm glad to be back. It is good to give thanks to the Lord - the giver of all our blessings. This week, our hostess Laurie wrote about having a child-like faith and her post caused me to reflect upon my own life. My mother worried - a

Joannoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8756691183138288408.post-90534680688288492312011-02-22T18:44:00.001-06:002011-05-21T16:53:16.655-05:00

, They appeared this week...the first blossoms of spring. Other signs are visible as the earth begins to come alive after the cold of winter. Where ice and snow lay and everything appeared to be dead, new life springs forth under the warmth of the sun. In the same way, the Son gives new life to the coldest heart, to the vilest sinner. Where we were once dead in our sins and transgressions, we

Joannoreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8756691183138288408.post-12001724738313197052011-02-21T09:09:00.004-06:002011-06-25T16:13:15.358-05:00

For some time now, I have intended to join with Ann Voskamp each week in listing one thousand gifts. I've procrastinated, but while reading through my blog list this morning, I read a couple of posts that inspired me to begin. We don't have to look far to find a multitude of gifts. Our Heavenly Father has bestowed upon us rich blessings and I'm not speaking of worldly wealth. (However it is

Joannoreply@blogger.com7