2 Corinthians 4:18….. For the things we see now will soon be gone, but the things we cannot see will last forever.

2 Corinthians 6:10 Our hearts ache, but we always have joy. We are poor, but we give spiritual riches to others. We own nothing, and yet we have everything.

Psalms 23: 2-3 He lets me rest in green meadows; he leads me beside peaceful streams.

He renews my strength.
He guides me along right paths, bringing honor to his name.

Several weeks ago while traveling my husband and I had an opportunity to visit my brother and his family. This is always a treat for us since we only get to see them 2-3 times a year. My brother and his wife have been blessed with the gift of hospitality. They have truly mastered the art of entertaining.
When you leave their home you literally feel like you have been blessed to have a few nights away at a 5 star Bed and Breakfast. They love to cook and they make a great team in the kitchen. They each have their specialties’ that they enjoy preparing when guest come. And believe me they have their share of guest.

When we are there our children really enjoy each other’s company and that makes for a fun time. We have lots of laughs and of course we always have to revisit our good old childhood memories, which seem rather pre-historic to our children. The visit is just not complete without sharing those well over told stories with them one more time.

Usually after having a great meal we retire to the living area. We can sit for hours with he and his wife just talking about the wonderful things God is doing in all of our lives and just how great He is. It seems that when we start these conversations our time just gets away from us and before we know it, the whole evening has gone by. In our conversation on this last trip my brother made the statement: “the best things in life cannot be purchased” We started to name a few of the things that money cannot buy. I thought I would share some of these with you today just as a reminder of how richly blessed we are.
Things money can not buy: peace, joy, contentment, hope, great health, a beautiful sun shinny day, family, and your relationship with God, wisdom, a great friend, salvation/ eternal life and love. Just to name a few. All of these things are straight from the hand of God and none of these can be purchased.

Most of the time we work endless hours to acquire money to purchase more and more things. These are usually material items that our eyes simply cannot resist, such as a shiny new car, a beautiful home, the finest clothes, jewelry with the most sparkle or bling, and don’t forget those lavish vacations.
Please know that I enjoy beautiful things also and that there is no sin in having nice things. Yes, please hear me, there is no sin in having nice things. However while these also are blessing from God, you will never find complete fulfillment in obtaining them. Our greatest joy actually comes in the things we cannot see at all. The evidence of some of these flow through us. An example of this would be a person who has joy, is joyful. People who are at peace or are content are usually calm in their demeanor, because they have learned how to rest in God and trust His will for their lives.

Where are you today? Are you truly enjoying the gifts that are free to us straight from the hand of our Father, or are you chasing the things that have no eternal value and can never truly bring peace or contentment? If so, maybe it’s time to get still with paper and pen in hand and re-evaluate some things. Make a list of the things you have been blessed with that have cost you nothing. I think you will be amazed. I also think that you would not trade one of those for something material.
Let’s fully enjoy all that God has given us and realize that we are already rich beyond measure. We simply need to take time to review what we freely possess.

May your cup run over today with peace, joy, love, contentment, and most of all gratitude.

Galatians 5:22 But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness.

Colossians 3:12 Since God chose you to be the holy people he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience.

Psalm 51:2-3
2 Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin.
3 For I know my transgressions, and my sin is always before me.

Psalm 51:7-10
7 Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.
8 Let me hear joy and gladness; let the bones you have crushed rejoice.
9 Hide your face from my sins and blot out all my iniquity.
10 Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me

March 27, 2014

Okay people get your dust cloths ready, drag out your vacuum cleaners and get them revved up and ready to go. Don’t forget about the mops and brooms, room deodorizers, window cleaners and a bucket of paint for a fresh touch up. It’s time for some good old-fashion spring cleaning. Now that it is spring lets exchange the Winter bedspreads and throw pillows for those that have bright bold sun shinny colors all representing the new season that is approaching. Raise your windows and let the fresh air blow through your home for a change. Why not move your furniture around and rearrange it for a new designer look. Wow! Too bad we don’t have those old-fashioned clotheslines to hang out our sheets and towels on to really freshen them up. I guess I might be getting carried away here. Who am I kidding we don’t have time for that. I got exhausted just thinking about it.Thank God for washers and dryers. By the way if you’re reading this and you are starting to feel a little anxiety approaching calm down and stay with me, I am going somewhere.

Stress Management

Mark 6:30-31
The apostles gathered around Jesus and reported to him all they had done and taught. Then, because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat, he said to them, “Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.”

1st Corinthians 6:19-20
Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; 20 you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies.

Ask yourself: can I speak as boldly and confidently about my life as Paul did regarding his?

7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 8 Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing
2nd Timothy 4:7-8

This past weekend my one and only child graduated from High School. Friends and family came from every direction to celebrate her 13 years of hard work and dedication. (I am counting Kindergarten also 🙂 ).

Of course no celebration is complete without food and we had plenty of that (all weekend long).

Happy Mother’s Day!

This was originally posted in May of 2013, and many of you enjoyed reading it so I thought I would share it again.

Proverbs 31 NKJV
28 Her children rise up and call her blessed; Her husband also, and he praises her.

One of the most precious gifts that God has granted us is our mothers. God only can love deeper, and stronger than a mother. She possesses so many of the characteristics of God. She is patient and self sacrificing, she loves unconditionally, she always sees the best in her children, she protects them, and she is so honored to care for each one of them. She has the ability to make each child feel as though they are her favorite of all. She nurtures and acknowledges their gifts and talents. A mom is her child’s greatest cheerleader; she is their source of security.

Proverbs 18:24 (KJV)
24 A man that hath friends must show himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.

My Dear Sisters, today I would like to explore what it means to be a great friend. I am concerned that so many friendships are thrown to the wayside and discarded like yesterday’s newspaper; and usually over something very minor. We are so quick anymore to take our toys and leave the sandbox headed straight for home.

We are no longer as willing to talk and work patiently through situations. As Christian Women we are to go to one another directly and speak to each other one on one in love and not judgment, when we have differences. We are to be the examples Christ would have us to be, to our sisters, daughters, nieces etc. Christ showed us everything we needed to see in the characteristics of a great friend.