Headed to Texas!

Matt was headed out of town on business again so I tagged along. 😍 

Next stop...San Antonio, TX! 

Enter into his gates with thanksgiving...

Happy November 1^st! I hope you all enjoyed an extra hour of sleep! I cannot sleep late, as much as I try, so I was able to enjoy another beautiful sunrise with my Jesus!

I am so excited to begin my favorite season of the year! A season of thanksgiving has begun!

I am not, nor have I ever been, a big fan of Halloween so I, for one, am glad to see it over. Lol! I love seeing the cute little costumes, seeing the children’s happy candy-filled faces and seeing families spend time together but the dark side, gruesome costumes and focus on zombies and death creep me out. Ha! Too much of the dark world is not something I like to joke around about or make light of so I stick to the Light because in HIM there is life and no darkness at all! Light dispels darkness. Hallelujah!

“In Him was life, and the life was the Light of men. The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.”

John 1:4-5 (NIV)

But here we are on the beginning of a season of thanksgiving and then going into the celebration of our Savior’s birth. I can’t think of anything that I would rather put my focus on than on what my God has done for me. The blessings of His love and redemption make my heart explode in thanksgiving and I could never truly express my gratitude to Him. But….I would like to try!

So today, November 1, 2015, on this Lord’s Day as I stood on my back porch watching the sun wake up, I began to give praise to God for all He is to me.  I pray we experience a great awakening throughout these next couple of months as we focus on our great and mighty God and all He has done for us. This world is getting darker by the day but when we put our focus on the Light and let His light shine through us, we will see darkness dispelled. Let us carry the light and shine brightly for all the world to see!

"You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden; nor does anyone light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. "Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.”

Matthew 5:14-16 (NIV)

I begin this month of thanksgiving with one of my favorite passages and I pray that we all keep this on our hearts and minds throughout the season. May you be blessed today!

“Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all ye lands. Serve the Lord with gladness: come before his presence with singing. Know ye that the Lord he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture. Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name. For the Lord is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations.”

Psalm 100 (KJV)

Precious Father, in YOU I trust and in YOU I give my praise! Today, I enter this season with a heart of thanksgiving because YOU are GOD! YOU are LIGHT and YOU are TRUTH and I lift YOUR name on high this day! YOU are worthy of all glory and honor and, today, may others see YOU in me. It’s ALL about YOU my Savior, my Redeemer, my LORD! YOU are good and YOUR mercy endures forever! Amen and amen!

~ My God Knows ~

Praising God for His Word this morning! Sitting here on my porch cozied up in a blanket with God’s Holy Word and a hot cup of coffee soaking in the presence of my Jesus! Oh, how I need Him every second of every day! His Word this morning….Yes!

So much comfort in this verse:

"You’ve kept track of my every toss and turn through the sleepless nights, Each tear entered in your ledger, each ache written in your book."

Psalm 56:8 (MSG)

After a challenging month, I am thankful to God for his Word. So many times I can just open it and the words leap off the pages straight to my weary soul. A salve to heal the cracks of my heart. My God knows!

 My God knows the burdens on my heart and the burdens of so many others I hold dear. It is only He that can truly bring comfort. This morning I am thankful for that comfort and His beautiful compassion. When troubles come, He is there! When burdens digs deep, He is there! Troubles will come and troubles will go but my God will be there every step of the way. 

 That's why this morning I can REJOICE! Even in times of burden, I rejoice in my God! He is faithful! He is true! He is GOD! O, how I love him so! 


"Weeping may last through the night, but joy comes with the morning."

Psalms 30:5 (NLT)

"Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!"

Philippians 4:4 (NIV)

I don't know who else needed to read these words from Scripture today, but I sure did! For those of you struggling today, this is for you too! No matter what you are going through, my God knows your hurts and loves you with an everlasting love. Cling to him today and let his Word soothe your weary soul. Be confident that He is in control and is working all things for our good. Remember, His mercies are new every morning!

HE IS MY PORTION! HALLELUJAH!

"Because of the Lord's great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. I say to myself, “The Lord is my portion; therefore I will wait for him.” 

Lamentations 3:22-24 (NIV)

Pondering Questions This Morning...

Questions on my heart this morning:

When others look at our lives what do they see?

Do they see a life committed to Christ?

Do they see a life transformed by the Gospel?

Today, I pray that my life is a pleasing aroma before my Lord. I pray that I live in a way that honors my God and shines His light for all the world. I pray that when others see me, it's really CHRIST in me that they see. I pray that I walk in a manner worthy of the calling God has placed on my life. I pray that I keep from sinful desires and put on the armor to fight the enemy. I want my mind renewed to think like Christ and to love like Christ. I want to know Him more and seek Him wholeheartedly. I want to remember that this world is not my home and that I'm on a mission to serve Christ and share His love with others. I pray that I run the race with perseverance; a race that glorifies my God and points others to Him!

So many things on my heart this morning!

Today is ALL about YOU, precious Father! I love you and I pray that I honor YOU this day! Have your way in me!

“You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.”

Matthew 5:14-16 (NKJV)

“so that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God,”

Colossians 1:10 (NIV)

“This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.”

John 15:8 (NIV)

“And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.”

Romans 12:2 (NKJV)

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.”

Hebrews 12:1-2 (NIV)

Praise for a new week!

Happy Monday!

What a glorious morning waking up to these cool fall temps! Of course I had to break the icicles off our noses because I refuse to cut the heat on yet but what fun! Lol!

As we begin a new work/school week let's commit to give praise to the ONE who is worthy of all honor and glory! Without Him we are nothing and walking through this crazy thing called life with Him is so full of adventure with grace & mercy abounding that only He could give. Today, I praise HIM and today I lift you all up in prayer!

He is my HOPE! He is my JOY! He is my PEACE!

“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.”

Romans 15:13

Nothing is Impossible for God!

Good Tuesday morning!

It's the new work/school week after enjoying a day off yesterday. So now we begin!

What are you facing today that seems impossible?

I had this discussion with my mom yesterday. She reminded me that God can do anything! When we look at a situation and cannot, through our human eyes, see how it will work out, the Holy Spirit nudges our hearts back to scripture where God, time and time again, does the humanly impossible. He is God and nothing is impossible for Him!

What is your impossible today?

We need to take it to battle in prayer. Fight on our knees. God is in control and we have to listen and obey His ways. When our eyes are on Him and His will, we will begin to see what once was humanly impossible has been divinely made possible!

Today, go to battle on your knees and trust the One who is in control!

“For with God nothing shall be impossible.”

Luke 1:37 (KJV)

Praising in All Things!

It's a wonderful morning out on the porch! It's foggy but a little cool and the sound of the water dripping off the house from last night's downpour is so soothing. I look across the field where the soybeans are growing and there's that slight haze lying ever-so-gently on top of the crops. Birds are chirping and the small tree beside my rocking chair makes me happy as the leaves dance in the gentle breeze. Oh, it's so peaceful and in this rat-race of a world we live in, peaceful mornings are treasured and good for the soul.

I'm always the early riser. I've tried sleeping late but it just won't happen. 6:30 is about as late as it can get for me even this summer when I had the opportunity to sleep late. My plan was to stay in bed and just continue watching my sweet husband sleep. After quite a bit of travel over the last month, his presence is treasured and my heart beats a little faster just looking at his precious face. So, this morning I was just enjoying Matt's presence and thanking God for this amazing man beside me. But, Louie, our faithful dog, decided he wanted to be an early riser this morning and needed to go out. So, off we went!

I made my way here to the porch. You know how it goes....Bible, coffee and dog lying at my feet. As I sit here, I talk with my Father over the things on my heart. Sure there are burdens and I lay them at His feet but there are also many many blessings to give Him praise for. I thank Him for being my portion. In times of waiting, as we are in a few things, I praise Him for filling me up and continue asking Him for contentment in situations and seasons that we are in. I don't want to be discontent. Even in the difficult areas of life, there is so much to learn and grow from. God doesn't waste our times of trial or waiting. When we turn our trust and faith to Him and Him only, those times strengthen us and prepare us for the next season of life. Even in the midst of these times, I will praise Him louder and stronger! I thank him for answered prayers! He hears and He answers in His time and for our good! It's a blessed day!

I will continue to sit and rock in my chair for a while! I will turn on some music and sing praises to God. (I will just wait until a better hour of the morning so I don't bother the neighbors with my praise. Lol!) But then I'll enter my home again and pull out the griddle and cook a big breakfast for my people. My people! Thank you, Lord!! What a blessing to serve them and love on them!

I pray you have a blessed Saturday and enjoy a long 3-day weekend. Whatever you do, wherever you go; praise the One who is worthy!

Yes, Precious Lord, I will count my blessings and give YOU praise for it ALL!!

"I will praise the Lord all my life; I will sing praise to my God as long as I live."

Psalm 146:2 (NIV)