Dear Lord,

I wish to know you more! I long to walk with you and talk with you. I read the Bible, your living breathing word. I hear the stories of the great men and women who served at your right hand, discussed situations with you, and Moses being such a friend he even countered back at times for the sake of the unruly lot he managed.

I wish to be that kind of friend with you, Lord! To enjoy the freedom of a conversation with you, the right to ask why and how! I long to carry a heart of compassion for your children, not just mine. I long to have your glow about me, making me just a bit different, different enough for any to wonder what it is!

I want to be kinder. I want to let go of the past and focus on today, looking forward to tomorrow. I want to outgrow the box I often feel I’m sitting in, to spread my wings and fly.

I see the signs of spring and the beauty of life unfolding, and I feel a stirring in my spirit to be outside in your glorious nature. At the same time, enjoying the colors, the sounds, the scents, all the birds, bunnies, and chipmunks who love the treats, they find in our yard. It’s all you Lord, you created this world, and all the beauty our eyes can behold are gifts from you.

I long to slow down enough to recognize the beauty while appreciating the ability to do so. Thank you, Lord, for taking my hand and walking with me every day.

I wish this prayer for you today! May you take a moment to ponder the simple beauty around you, little splashes of joy! I want a day filled with peace and joy…for you, for me, for this…I Wish!!!

Have you ever won something, been chosen for a position of honor, been blessed by someone that caused you to squeal with delight? I imagine most of us have, at one point or another.

The electricity that streaks through your body, causing your joy to burst forth and expressed right out of your mouth, is how we should feel every day regarding the love and relationship we have with our Lord Jesus.

We have been blessed with eternal life! We have been saved and given the honor to walk beside him every day. We are forgiven and given a fresh sheet of paper to write on each new day. We are loved beyond our imagination, protected by thousands of angels, provided by our Heavenly Father.

Do we walk around carrying harps over our shoulders? No! Praise and worship can be as simple as a “good morning papa, thank you for safety as I slept last night” or “I thank you for being my strength today as I’m not sure I can do this” or “thank you for the roof over my head and a meal in my stomach,” your health, your doctor, your partner, parents, children, grandchildren…the list is as long as you are tall.

Psalms 100 1-5 NLT “Shout with joy to the Lord, all the earth! Worship the Lord with gladness. Come before him, singing with joy. Acknowledge that the Lord is God! He made us, and we are his. We are his people, the sheep of his pasture. Enter his gates with thanksgiving; go into his courts with praise. Give thanks to him and praise his name. For the Lord is good. His unfailing love continues forever, and his faithfulness continues to each generation.”

There’s praise enough right there…He made us, and we are his! His love continues forever, generation after generation! There is a special peace and smile inside when you simply start thanking him for all that is good in your life.

So if your morning started with a frown Or someone throughout the day causes a frown, start thanking and praising and turn it upside down! See, there’s a smile already! Be blessed and be a blessing and as always thank you for joining me.🥰

I am a blessed tired! I haven’t had the opportunity to slow down after returning from a vacation with my daughter and youngest granddaughter. I came home in time for spring break and a visit with my oldest grandson and granddaughter. Mind you, these two aren’t much work, minus the culinary art of grammies kitchen.

I see a hint or two of sunshine is in the forecast for the next two upcoming days; I find I am longing for fresh air and warmth in these bones of mine. As I pondered and prayed this morning, I asked for rest in my body, mind, and soul.

Psalms 116:4-7 NLT “Then I called on the name of the Lord: ‘Please, Lord, save me!’ How kind the Lord is! How good he is! So merciful, this God of ours! The Lord protects those of childlike faith; I was facing death, and me saved me. Let my soul be at rest again, for the Lord has been good to me.”

So, whether you are physically tired, mentally drained, or spiritually empty, look to the provider of love, peace, and rejuvenation. The Son shines and the waters of life flow abundantly at the foot of the cross. It’s a beautiful place to hang out; join me this weekend. I’ll be there!

Be blessed, be a blessing, and as always, thank-you for joining me. 🥰

Romans 12:1 NIV “Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God-this is your true and proper worship.”

I am humble and thankful for Jesus. He became our sacrifice, he died for our sins. He took the pain and suffering we deserved and for this offering we cannot ignore.

I am also thankful that I don’t have to kill animals as a sin sacrifice for my bad behavior and mistakes. I have an extremely sensitive heart towards animals and I cringe as I read the book of Leviticus.

To me it reads as a slaughterhouse! BUT…It also shows Gods love from the beginning of time. He has always given us a scapegoat so to speak! In the Old Testament it was the blood sacrifice of animals and the New Testament, Jesus Christ becomes our ultimate sacrifice.

I’m thankful everyday for the freedom given to me by my Lord. I am a living sacrifice, I want to be a pleasing aroma wafting up to heaven. I want to sacrifice me, giving him the sides of me we’re not crazy about and to grow in the sides we are. I want to be a shining example of God’s love.

To do this I need to start at the cross every morning! I can’t do it alone but sacrificing the old and asking for new is a great place to start. May you have a blessed start to your day and try and bless someone, it’s a boomerang! Thank you for joining me this morning! 🥰

There is a place I long to be

A someone who’s inside of me

She’s kind and humble, funny and smart

She has a certain sweetness blended with tart

The road she travels has its ups and it’s downs

Her face reflects the miles through smiles and frowns

She’s not unaware of her good or bad

Nor oblivious to the happy or sad

She prays every day for the growth that she needs

Understanding the change never appears in speed

As a chick grows and spreads it’s wings

Watch her blossom, hear her sing!

So in her old, she will not stay

Because in Jesus…

She’s a new creation every day

I write in a journal every morning a list of things I am grateful for…

This morning I am blessed with peace. Peace in my world, peace in my home, peace in my mind and peace in my heart. We must recognize these moments and allow ourselves to be wrapped in the quiet goodness.

Romans 15:13 NIV “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”

If you weren’t able to wake up to peace, take a moment of solitude and repeat the verse above but word it in prayer form, thanking him for peace within and hope that never ceases or tires, due to the unending power if the Holy Spirit. You don’t and never have to do this alone, Jesus is just waiting for you to put your hand in his and to trust him!

It’s Sunday, our Lords day! I pray you find a moment or two of peace and quiet in your world and hope abounding in your heart.

Be blessed today and thank you for joining me. 🥰

According to Oxford Language, the definition of an “oxymoron” is a figure of speech in which contradictory terms appear in conjunction.’ For example, Reno, Nevada’s is dubbed The Biggest Little City.

The Lord I love and serve is full of oxymorons, and naturally, I’m intrigued.

1 Thessalonians 5:18 ESV “Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”

Yeah, but what about those circumstances I don’t care for or necessarily understand? What about those. We don’t have to like our circumstances, but we are asked to trust in his presence and protection.

Simply being thankful to Lord that You don’t have to face your battle or battles alone.

Isaiah 41:13 ESV “For I, the Lord your God, hold your right hand; it is I who say to you, ‘Fear not, I am the one who helps you.”

Philippians 4:7 ESV “And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.”

Peace and Battles…put your hand and your trust in His mighty one, and you too can stand firm in the midsts of the storms. Try remembering each deliverance from past storms and trials. Reminding yourself that a second of worry isn’t going to change your circumstances, prayer is!!!

If you are in a struggle or battle today, I challenge you to turn it into an oxymoron. If you’re scared ask for help being brave. If you’re worried ask for help with peace. If your sad or mad ask for a song in your heart and turn on some uplifting music…If you’re stuck, ask for a nudge in the right direction.

If you are without I pray for you many blessings today! Need a blessing, then find a way to be one…another Oxy, but it works!

And as always, thank you for joining me. 🥰

Good morning; I am back home from a most blessed vacation. My heart, spirit, mind and body needed it, however I literally was in an airport or an airplane all day yesterday and I am mush! It’s a food-for-thought day.

I was reading in one of my devotions this morning, and it triggered me to thinking about gossip and how much we as people like to gossip. Even if it isn’t hurtful or backstabbing as is the first thought related to gossip, we like to discuss other people and whatever they are up to, good bad or otherwise and we usually have an opinion one way or another!!! Henceforth the discussion.

Have you ever thought of gossiping about Jesus? He has great stories to tell. He did and does mighty and powerful things in our lives everyday. He did and does the quietest, most peaceful things in our lives every day.

He is so worthy of our gossip! I have spoken on many occasions of one of my mentors, Paula; we used to sit and gossip about Jesus all day. We would talk about all the things we’re going to do in heaven one day. She plans on snow skiing as her earthly knees no longer allow her this passion. We shared his love in our everyday moments and life. We shared his strength, his wisdom, and his advice.

I have to reign in my gossip tendencies, don’t misunderstand. I don’t gossip maliciously, but I have been privy to hit a topic or two with my opinion or two. The next time I feel the need to discuss someone’s actions, I’ll discuss Jesus instead. Care to join me?

Thank you for joining me today. I appreciate all of you and your support. Off for another cup of coffee, I have a suitcase to unpack! Be blessed and try and be a blessing; the world needs us! 🥰

I am flying home today from a wonderful visit with my daughter and youngest granddaughter…Today I have anticipation!

I hope my planes are on time. I hope my flights are smooth and comfortable. I am longing to see my husband and Bella dog waiting for me when I land. I am longing for my home and my routine.

This is the same hopeful anticipation we share with our walk with Jesus.

Micah 7:7 ESV “But as for me, I will look to the Lord; I will wait for the God of my salvation; my God will hear me.”

Psalms 130:5 ESV “I wait for the Lord, my soul waits, and in his word I hope;”

Romans 15:13 ESV “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.”

As with Jesus, our hope isn’t deferred, our walk isn’t alone, our love isn’t rejected. Just as I know my husband and puppy will be waiting for me when I land and that he will drive me home, to my world. I know that my Lord is with me always and that is all the anticipation (hope) I need.

Thank you for joining me this morning…Be Blessed!!!

John 17:9-21 NIV

“My prayer is not for the world, but for those you have given me, because they belong to you. All who are mine belong to you, and you have given them to me, so that they may bring me glory. Now I am departing from the world; they are staying in this world, but I am coming to you. Holy Father, you have given me your name; now protect them by the power of your name so that they will be united just as we are. During my time here I protected them by the power of the name You gave me. I guarded them so that no one was lost, except for the one headed for destruction, as the scriptures foretold.

Now I’m coming to you. I told them many things while I was with them in this world so they will be filled with my joy. I have given them your word. And the world hates them because they do not belong to the world, just as I do not belong to the world. I’m not asking you to take them out of the world, but to keep them safe from the evil one. They do not belong to this world anymore than I do. Make them holy by your truth; teach them your word, which is truth. Just as you sent me into the world, I am sending them into the world. And I give at myself as a holy sacrifice for them so they may be made holy by your truth.

I’m praying not only for these disciples but also for whoever believes in me through their message. I pray that they will all be one, just as you and I are one-as you are in me, Father, I am in you. And may they be in us so that the world will believe you sent me.”

It’s a common phrase anymore, “Oh I will pray for you!” Do you? Jesus prayed for us, our growth, our walk, our protection. Beautiful prayer to copy…who in your life needs prayer? Once again, Jesus is that perfect example…

Be blessed today and thank you for joining me. 🥰