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. 🥰

I am having a most wonderful time visiting my daughter and youngest granddaughter. I needed the vacation and time away, Covid has had us all pretty housebound and without many options of events or activities.

I have today and tomorrow to enjoy the rest of my Island time. Women’s Bible study tonight and church tomorrow night. It has been so fun visiting my church home, which is funny in itself as we usually visit our church home every Sunday.

You know what other home I find myself missing and longing for?

John 14:2-3 NIV “There is more than enough room in my Fathers home. If this were not so, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am.”

As the world gets weirder, scarier, and more disjointed, I find I long for Jesus’ return. I long to go home! To spend eternity in peace, no darkness, sickness, crying, sadness or pain. To walk on streets of gold, where the skies are always blue and we no longer have our earthly physical limitations.

“Father God, you sent your son to be our light in the darkness. I want your light in my life. I believe in your son Jesus Christ and ask for him to become my Lord. That I may walk the rest of my life on this earth in his love and light and can join the millions waiting for his glorious return and your promise to come to pass. Thank you Lord Jesus that you died for my sins. I thank you that now my name is in your book of life and my life is in your hands. In your glorious name I pray these words and receive your life-giving drink of water. Amen

I hope you prayed the words within this prayer, start your new day with Jesus, a friend that will never leave you. Welcome and now you can become homesick also!

Be blessed today, try and be a blessing and thank you for joining me! 🥰

I am an old lump of clay longing to be a beautiful vase. The vessel I am is getting worn out looking; there are a few fine lines that have cracked the smooth surface of my outer appearance; the inside is scarred, marred, and heavily stained from years of use.

I long to hold beautiful flowers within me for the world to see and enjoy, but alas, I have a few leaks from the bumps I’ve bounced over in this life journey. By today’s standards, I’m getting close to the antique store and slightly outdated. A relic, a thing of the past!

So do I just stop here? Do I stop and let myself sit on a shelf and grow dusty? Do I tell myself I no longer have any value because I’ve passed my years of usefulness and now set amongst the slightly damaged?

No! I may need to pray for guidance on the next stage of the journey. I may not be as strong and vibrant as I used to be but there’s still a spark to be found every once and awhile.

I am in a new phase, a new stage and I haven’t totally got the new dance routine entirely figured out, but with my Lord’s hand and help, I will get there!

2 Corinthians 5:17 NLT “This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!

I am becoming a new person from the inside out! So, the next time you see me, look past the tiny cracks and chips and try and notice the new me trying everyday to emerge and grow.

I hope you have a blessed day and thank you for joining me. 🥰