We're FREE!!!

I was reading in Galatians this morning.  Before I started reading, I prayed, "Lord, I'd like to find a verse and a photo to put it on today."  While I was reading this verse stuck out to me.  I knew just the photo I wanted to put it on, so after my Bible time I searched for it.  I knew I'd seen it, but it was hard to track down the info.  

Feel free to copy it, print it and share it.  The photo credits say it cannot be sold, but it can be shared. Enjoy!

It should print out to 8"x10" at full size.

Photo credits:  http://www.flickr.com/photos/tomflem/5751720035/

Happy Momma's Day to all you beautiful moms!!!

What's On Your Walls?

This beautiful scripture print is available from "Blessing Another" at Etsy.com.  Thank you Cindy for letting me use your art on my blog post.

I’ve been looking at Christian art lately and posting some on my facebook page.  Why?  Because I think it is of utmost importance to have Bible verses and promises, reminders of God’s love everywhere in our homes. 

Think about it!  What you love, you fill your home with.  What does your home say about your relationship with our Heavenly Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.  Is He relegated to the Bible on a shelf collecting dust or lovingly displayed in art on your walls, on your fridge, in every room of your house, even stitched into pillows, quilts or painted on wood. 

I know that our works do not make our faith.  But our surroundings have an impact on how we view life.  If we are encouraged to seek God, to praise Him, to be thankful in all things, then we are giving our faith a “shot in the arm” so to speak.  Not to mention, training our families to see God and seek Him in every situation, to “acknowledge Him in all their ways.” (Proverbs 3:6)

So, where’s your heart?  What do you love?  Does it inspire you and those you love to praise our Almighty God?  Look around?  Think about it!

Another Great Day to Praise the LORD!!!

Today is the day the Lord has made!

I will rejoice and be glad in it!!!

It’s 37 degrees in Peoria, AZ this morning.  All I wanted to do was stay snuggly warm under the covers.

Didn’t happen!  I went outside to turn off the water that we let trickle during the night to keep the pipes from freezing, and that’s when I saw them, all around me in the rocks --- tiny seedlings of African daisies scattered everywhere peeking out from between the landscaping stones. 

Wow!  God is so great.  He’s so good.  Everywhere we look, we find evidence of His goodness in the beauty He made for us to enjoy.  Even in the coldest of weeks, record-breaking cold here, He makes things to show up that He’s been cultivating long before we knew about them.

What’s up in your life?  Where has God shown you His goodness lately?  Is there something that He’s done for you that took Him much time and great care to cultivate or generate that has just appeared in your line of vision when you least expected it?  It could be as simple as a smile from the barista at the drive-through that you’ve been talking to every day, or as big as an unexpected bonus right when you needed it to pay for an unanticipated repair or dr. visit.

God is good!!!  Let Him know that you notice.  Tell Him about it!  Praise Him for all He is and does in your life.  This is another great day He has prepared just for you and me.  Let’s rejoice!!!  Thank you, Father!!!

A Ray Of Morning Light

I was asking the Lord this morning to help me to love His Word.  I had just awakened and I knew I needed to read my Bible before I started the day, but my heart just wasn't in it. 

I remembered a time several years ago when I read the 119^th Psalm every day for a month.  It was an exercise I chose to do.  I don’t remember the reason, but the outcome was that I literally fell in love with God’s Word.  Just like the Psalmist, I loved God’s word.  It was my life, my passion, my love!

So this morning, I opened to Psalm 119 and started reading.  I won’t say it took my mind off of everything that I wanted to get done today and engulfed me with joy, but it did remind me that I depend on God for everything.  His Word gives strength to my soul.  It keeps me going when otherwise I would dissolve in a puddle of hopelessness.

Thank you God for Your Word.  It really is a light shining in the darkness, a ray of hope, a joy and peace, food for my heart.  Thank YOU!!!

photo credit: Will Montague via photopin cc

This is one of my "life" verses.

I was reading it yesterday morning.

Just wanted to share.

Over the past three years, I have been battling hormonal depression.  It's not been an easy fight and sometimes I don't experience the victory I should as a "Child of the King".  Anyway, yesterday was one of those days.  I woke up and just wanted to pull the covers up over my head and make the morning disappear.  I called out to God who is so very gracious to me, no matter what. I took out my Bible and ask what I should read.  I felt I should read Psalm 146.  Believe me, I didn't want to read a "happy" Psalm, but I went ahead and started to read.  

When I read the first two verses, I was in tears. I said, "Lord, I remember when I was this happy.  I remember when I wanted to sing Your praises every minute I was alive.  Here I am!  I know You deserve all my praise.  I give it to you even though I'm crying.

So I raised the hand that wasn't holding my Bible in an attempt to praise and read.  "I will praise the Lord all my life;  I will sing praise to my God as long as I live..."  I went on and read clear through.  Then, I read it again, & again.  Three times through.

I don't know when it happened, but my soul was quieted.  I wasn't so emotionally overwrought.  I prayed and thanked the Lord for the ability to pray and have Him answer.  I thanked Him for people to pray for and for sending them my way.  I thanked Him for being the only true God, a God worthy of all my praise all of the time. He's so good to me!  I really do trust Him and love Him.

My heavenly Father met me where I was.  It wasn't the first time and I'm sure it may not be the last, but He's so faithful to always be there, to not fuss at me when I "can't make it on my own," and to just love me where I'm at, no cajoling, no making fun, no staring at me with eyes of scorn, but loving me with compassion and mercy. He gives grace to the humble.  He shows lovingkindness to all He has made.  I'm so glad He made me.

Today is another day.  I'm glad He made you, too.  Chin up and have a hug!  God's loving arms are waiting to surround you and set your heart to singing again.  Bless you friend!

This is what I read this morning!  I love this Psalm!
Just wanted to bless your life with it today.  Thanks!

Joy

Psalm 136 (NAS)

Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good,
For His lovingkindness is everlasting.
² Give thanks to the God of gods,
For His lovingkindness is everlasting.
³ Give thanks to the Lord of lords,
For His lovingkindness is everlasting.
⁴ To Him who alone does great wonders,
For His lovingkindness is everlasting;
⁵ To Him who made the heavens with skill,
For His lovingkindness is everlasting;
⁶ To Him who spread out the earth above the waters,
For His lovingkindness is everlasting;
⁷ To Him who made the great lights,
For His lovingkindness is everlasting:
⁸ The sun to rule by day,
For His lovingkindness is everlasting,
⁹ The moon and stars to rule by night,
For His lovingkindness is everlasting.

¹⁰ To Him who smote the Egyptians in their firstborn,
For His lovingkindness is everlasting,
¹¹ And brought Israel out from their midst,
For His lovingkindness is everlasting,
¹² With a strong hand and an outstretched arm,
For His lovingkindness is everlasting.
¹³ To Him who divided the Red Sea asunder,
For His lovingkindness is everlasting,
¹⁴ And made Israel pass through the midst of it,
For His lovingkindness is everlasting;
¹⁵ But He overthrew Pharaoh and his army in the Red Sea,
For His lovingkindness is everlasting.
¹⁶ To Him who led His people through the wilderness,
For His lovingkindness is everlasting;
¹⁷ To Him who smote great kings,
For His lovingkindness is everlasting,
¹⁸ And slew mighty kings,
For His lovingkindness is everlasting:
¹⁹ Sihon, king of the Amorites,
For His lovingkindness is everlasting,
²⁰ And Og, king of Bashan,
For His lovingkindness is everlasting,
²¹ And gave their land as a heritage,
For His lovingkindness is everlasting,
²² Even a heritage to Israel His servant,
For His lovingkindness is everlasting.

²³ Who remembered us in our low estate,
For His lovingkindness is everlasting,
²⁴ And has rescued us from our adversaries,
For His lovingkindness is everlasting;
²⁵ Who gives food to all flesh,
For His lovingkindness is everlasting.
²⁶ Give thanks to the God of heaven,
For His lovingkindness is everlasting.