Thank The Lord

Each morning I wake and thank the Lord for His grace and mercy.  Each evening I thank the Lord for His grace and mercy.

He is unfailing in His love for each and every one of us.

Last weekend I had the privilege of watching my 28 year old daughter be baptized.  Before she was baptized, she was asked if she wanted to share anything.  Lo and behold ~ she gave her life to Christ a couple of weeks before.

As a parent, I wonder where I failed through the years of her upbringing.

As a Christian, I know that to have Christ as my Lord is a choice I have to make on my own.

Each morning I wake and thank the Lord for His grace and mercy.  Each evening I thank the Lord for His grace and mercy.

I cry for joy that my daughter and I will have eternity together.

I cry for despair that many of my loved ones (family and friends) haven't yet bowed down at the foot of our Lord.

I pray for the lost and unreached.  I pray for all of us as we go through trials and tribulations.  Knowing the Lord is always by my side encourages me as nothing else!

Each morning I wake and thank the Lord for His grace and mercy.  Each evening I thank the Lord for His grace and mercy.

Snow

It is a winter wonderland here in the Inland Northwest.  I love the cleansing of the snow over the rough and dirty roads.  The whispery silence in the early morning with the snow gently falling.

Living in an area with four seasons is a blessing.  To be able to enjoy the variety of God’s creation is not taken for granted.  His mercy and grace abound.

Review - Pieces on Earth by Cathy Bryant

Pieces on Earth is a wonderful Christmas story.  Cathy Bryant brings to life a young military family going through a time of deployment and the reality of the ups and downs of everyday living.  God’s mercy and grace flow through the story and brings growth and healing to the main character, Liz and others.  The sharing of the gospel that each of us as Christians are called to do comes through loud and clear in a lovingkind way.  Cathy Bryant is a talented author who uses her gift to share God’s love with others.

I received an Advanced Reader Copy of Pieces on Earth by Cathy Bryant in exchange for an honest review.

Ramblings

It has been over a month since I posted.  Time is flying by -- in a good way.

I am very blessed with a loving Father who showers me with mercy and grace on a daily basis.  I have a home, family, a great job, wonderful co-workers, a Church family with two small Bible study groups, and the list of blessings goes on.

We are starting to cool down here in the Inland Empire of the Pacific Northwest.  I am holding out on a coat and just using a scarf and fingerless mitts for now :-)

Freedoms

Here in the United States, we are blessed with many freedoms.  Freedom of Speech, Religion, Press, Assembly, Petition, the Right to Bear Arms, “No-Quartering”, the Right to Equal Justice, the Right to Own Private Property, and many other rights including the Freedom to live or travel anywhere in our nation, to work at any job for which we can qualify, to marry and raise a family, to receive a free education in public schools, to join a political party, a union and other legal groups…

The Glory of God is that we are Free from Sin when we accept the gift of Christ’s crucifixion and resurrection.  Freedom in Christ is more important than any of these ‘freedoms’ we have in our country – because we gain eternal life when we become a child of God and become dead to sin.  As we surrender daily to our Lord, we are given Grace [the power to obey] and the ability to continue to say NO to sin; yahoo!

We have been in the Book of Romans at Church and this past Sunday the ‘big idea’ was: We have a choice; serve sin and die or serve Christ and live forever!  

Winter Continues ~ Grace Abounds

Punxsutawney Phil saw his shadow yesterday…which predicts another 6 weeks of winter.

I have to laugh at that since the official First Day of Spring is March 20^th – 7 weeks away.

The poor creature – who wouldn’t be scared after being ripped out of a cozy bed and thrust into the ‘limelight’!

I am sure the East Coast is dreading another six weeks of winter.  However, over here in the Pacific Northwest, we have had an extremely mild winter.  I’m not sure what that will mean for the spring/summer months…drought?

As a Christian, I put my faith in the Lord.  This is for all aspects of my life, not just weather J  As a human, I fall short of that goal.  However, God’s grace and mercy are in abundance and cover my failings.  Thank you Lord!

Freedom

As Americans, we are privileged to have more freedom than many other countries.  I give thanks to God for the military and the everyday people that have worked hard for our liberties.

As children of the Living God, we have freedom – even more than living in America gives us.  We are free of the constrictions of this world!  How awesome is that  :~)

I thank the Lord daily for His holy love which is shown in His mercy and grace for all of His children.

Spring Clean-Up

I have the landscaping crew coming today to do a spring clean-up on my yard.  Then it is my duty to keep up on it :-)

I think my daughter and I will be looking at doing some raised beds.  I would also love to put up a clothesline ~ maybe one of the umbrella type

My small group is starting a new book of the Bible this Saturday: Jonah.  I am looking forward to actually getting into the Word versus a book by some celebrated author.

Praises to God for His grace.  Yesterday was my daughter's 1st day of full-time employment.  Congrats to her and thanks to the Lord!

The Lord is full of mercy and grace.  I have been under-the-weather and also feeling sorry for myself this past week.  I am so grateful for His lovingkindness and know that although I don’t deserve it~the gift of life has been freely given to me.  By focusing on Christ, my Lord, instead of myself, I am already feeling better!

There are many times when I wonder what path the Lord has for me and if it will continue along a single path or join with another.  As I am growing and maturing in many areas of my life, I am confident that the Lord has a wonderful plan for me and I need to be watchful and listening to Him.

Lent - To Observe or Not To Observe

The season of Lent began yesterday.

From About.com:

What is Lent?

The Christian Season of Lent

By Mary Fairchild

Lent is the Christian season of preparation before Easter. In Western Christianity, Ash Wednesday marks the first day, or the start of the season of Lent, which begins 40 days prior to Easter (Sundays are not included in the count).

Lent is a time when many Christians prepare for Easter by observing a period of fasting,repentance, moderation and spiritual discipline. The purpose is to set aside time for reflection on Jesus Christ - his suffering and his sacrifice, his life, death, burial and resurrection.

Not all Christian churches observe Lent. Lent is mostly observed by the Lutheran, Methodist,Presbyterian and Anglican denominations, and also by Roman Catholics. Eastern Orthodox churches observe Lent or Great Lent, during the 6 weeks or 40 days preceding Palm Sunday with fasting continuing during the Holy Week of Orthodox Easter. Lent for Eastern Orthodox churches begins on Monday (called Clean Monday) and Ash Wednesday is not observed.

The Bible does not mention the custom of Lent, however, the practice of repentance and mourning in ashes is found in 2 Samuel 13:19; Esther 4:1; Job 2:8; Daniel 9:3; and Matthew 11:21.

Since the Bible does not mention the custom of Lent, it would appear that this is a man-made observance.

I think reflection on Jesus’ suffering, sacrifice and resurrection makes sense; however, I wonder if a man-made prescription is necessary to do this.  Reflecting on our Lord and Saviour and the mercy and grace we receive from Him should be thought of more often that just 40 days before Easter.

Work

Work has been crazy over the last month with people on vacation, having surgery or out with colds/flu.  I enjoy my job when I can actually do my duties.  Filling in for others and not getting any of my own work (or little) done got a tad frustrating.

Sometimes I wonder if this is where I am supposed to be.  Is there something else out there for me?  I have to admit that I have not been praying about this; therefore, I haven’t received any answer.

Being unmarried doesn’t afford a woman to be a homemaker or work part-time or even volunteer instead of work-for-pay.  I may be in the minority, but I feel like I am missing out.  I am past the time of having more children (have a lovely 23 year old daughter); however, that doesn’t mean I am over-the-hill or meant to be an old spinster, or does it??

Praying to the Lord for guidance in all things is something I don’t always do.  Sometimes He seems so big and far away and my daily life seems so inconsequential.  I give thanks daily for His mercy and grace and need to give thanks for His guiding hand in all areas of my life.

Goodness, it is time to get on my knees and pray J

Sovereign Lord

I am reading the Irish fiction series The Emerald Ballad by B.J. Hoff.  This quote is from book 2 and is part of a prayer by Pastor Jess Dalton:

“Remind us of the trust, that Your sovereign will does not depend upon our faith, nor can Your mercy ever be understood by our finite minds.  Our part is to trust Your mercy and acknowledge Your right to fulfill Your purposes—in Your own way, in Your own time.  Surely we can do that much, Father. Surely we can trust the mercy…and the love…of a Lord who would die for us.  Surely we can trust the Lord of the Cross…”

Although the group is praying over someone ill, the words resonated with me so much that I put a sticky note by it so that I could share it with others.

Our God is the Almighty One and His grace and mercy sustain us.  Thank you Lord!

Daily Devotional E-Mails

"Spirit Brought Blessings" — SpiritFire for 08/07/2013

They were pleased to do it, and indeed they owe it to them. For if the Gentiles have shared in the Jews' spiritual blessings, they owe it to the Jews to share with them their material blessings. — Romans 15:27 tniv

Key Thought

The Spirit guided the people of God and brought God's message and God's blessings. This difficult path through history and the treacherous times of human failings was completed because of the work of the Holy Spirit in the lives of God's leaders and his chosen people. The blessings, and even more, the blessing of the Holy Spirit, are now ours. But we must remember those from whom we've received them and continue to pass these blessings along.

Today's Prayer

Almighty God, you know the future and I do not. You know who is good and bad. Yet I trust you because I see how you worked through your Holy Spirit to bring us to today. Now I ask that you work in us and through us to bring your blessing to the world today. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

The Thoughts and Prayers for SpiritFire are written by Phil Ware. You can email questions or comments to phil@heartlight.org.
© 1998-2013, Heartlight Inc.

I get the above as a daily e-mail.  I felt this one needed to go on my blog.  I have a group of beautiful ladies that I forward these on to with a thought of my own.  This is what I said about the above:

Through God’s grace we have been redeemed.

I am looking at the prayer portion of today’s email and am reminded again that I am not to judge others.  In my work environment, it is difficult not to get frustrated with co-workers who circumvent the system creating extra work for a few employees (especially when the boss is away).  I continue to work on focusing on the Lord and knowing that I need to do my best in all things and NOT worry about others ~ whew.

With that crankiness said, I am thankful to know that I have the Holy Spirit guiding me in my daily life and continue to pray for guidance in all things.