YOU!

The heartfelt counsel of a friend is as sweet as perfume and incense.

- Proverbs 27:9

Happy Friday, everyone!

Today being the last day of November, the last “day of thankful” I wanted to be sure to thank you, my readers, followers and friends.

When God put it on my heart several years ago to start sending an email with His word, I reacted kind of like everyone else to whom He has given a task.

“Why me, Lord?”

Then, He told me (through the advice of a friend) that I should start a blog.

Through sharing His word, I have gained perspective, friends and a greater understanding of His word.

You, my friends, have played an integral part in making that happen.

Friends

Packing up the dreams God planted

In the fertile soil of you

Can't believe the hopes He's granted

Means a chapter in your life is through

But we'll keep you close as always

It won't even seem you've gone

'Cause our hearts in big and small ways

Will keep the love that keeps us strong

And friends are friends forever

If the Lord's the Lord of them

And a friend will not say never

'Cause the welcome will not end

Though it's hard to let you go

In the Father's hands we know

That a lifetime's not too long

To live as friends

With the faith and love God's given

Springing from the hope we know

We will pray the joy you'll live in

Is the strength that now you show

But we'll keep you close as always

It won't even seem you've gone

'Cause our hearts in big and small ways

Will keep the love that keeps us strong

And friends are friends forever

If the Lord's the Lord of them

And a friend will not say never

'Cause the welcome will not end

Though it's hard to let you go

In the Father's hands we know

That a lifetime's not too long

To live as friends

And friends are friends forever

If the Lord's the Lord of them

And a friend will not say never

'Cause the welcome will not end

Though it's hard to let you go

In the Father's hands we know

That a lifetime's not too long

To live as friends

No, a lifetime's not too long

To live as friends

Today I am thankful for the followers of my ramblings, those who read my “daily bread”, those readers that offer feedback and encouragement, who share in my joy and in my pain.  Together we grow closer to God, and for that, I am very thankful.

Have a blessed day!

gifts

Thanks be to God for His inexpressible gift!

- 2 Corinthians 9:15

Oh my goodness, it is almost Christmas!

You know what that means, right?

Presents!  Lots and lots of presents!!!

As a child, (and even into early adulthood!) I can honestly say that I really didn’t get the whole “it’s better to give than to receive” thing.

But now, I have seen the joy on the faces of people as they receive an unexpected gift.

The happiness that radiates from within as someone opens that item, the object of their desire.

I wonder if that is how God feels when we realize the gift that He gave us, when we acknowledge how wonderful that gift is.

The Greatest Gift

Condemnation falls away

Never more to call on me and I am clean, yes I am clean

The powerful work of you in me

Breaks the chains of guilt and shame and I go free, yes I go free

I take them to your cross and leave them there

Captured by this grace I’m free at last

It is the great gift of Your salvation

Working in me, working in me

It is the life giving taste of heaven

Your kindness revealed, Your kindness revealed to me

It’s the greatest gift of all

It’s the greatest gift of all

It’s the greatest gift of all

Your mercy’s pouring down on me, Your mercy’s pouring down on me

And I am clean, I am clean

Your mercy’s pouring down on me, Your mercy’s pouring down on me

And I go free, I go free

Today I am thankful for the gifts I have been given, and the ability to share gifts with others.

Have a blessed day!

Prayer For A Friend

Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

- 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

Pray without ceasing.

This is one of the biggest challenges that some of us face.

It is really hard to pray without ceasing, to give thanks in ALL circumstances.

We have talked about “what if I can’t”, and how can we be thankful for all things?

It is hard, but we must.

I have a personal favor to ask of you.

If you are reading this, please take a moment to pray for people in need of God.

I have a few in my life that really need Him.

Prayer For A Friend

Lord, I lift my friend to You, I've done all that I know to do

I lift my friend to You

Complicated circumstances have clouded his view

Lord, I lift my friend up to You

I fear that I won't have the words that he needs to hear

I pray for Your wisdom, oh God, and a heart that's sincere

Lord, I lift my friend up to You

Lord, I lift my friend to You

My best friend in the world, I know he means much more to You

I want so much to help him, but this is something he has to do

And Lord, I lift my friend up to You

'Cause there's a way that seems so right to him

But You know where that leads

He's becoming a puppet of the world, too blind to see the strings

Lord, I lift my friend up to You

My friend up to You

Lord, I lift my friend to You, I've done all that I know to do

I lift my friend to You

Today I am thankful for the ability to pray, for my friends, for my family, for others, for myself.

Have a blessed day!

presence

Let us come into His presence with thanksgiving; let us make a joyful noise to Him with songs of praise!

- Psalm 95:2

This is a really powerful verse!

We are allowed, encouraged and welcomed into the presence of the King!

We can take everything, every little thing to our Father and He will listen.

He is a wonderful Daddy, we can crawl into His lap and be comforted . . .

Here in Your Presence

Found in Your hands, fullness of joy

Every fear suddenly wiped away here in Your presence

All of my gains now fade away

Every crown no longer on display, here in Your presence

Heaven is trembling in awe of Your wonders

The kings and their kingdom are standing amazed

Here in Your presence, we are undone

Here in Your presence, Heaven and Earth become one

Here in Your presence, all things are new

Here in Your presence, everything bows before You

Wonderful, beautiful, glorious, matchless in every way

Wonderful, beautiful, glorious, matchless in every way

Today I am thankful for His presence in my life, because I would not have my life without Him.

Have a blessed day! 

blessings

Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless His holy name! Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits, who forgives all your iniquity,  who heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit, who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy, who satisfies you with good so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's.

- Psalm 103:1-5

Well this verse is kind of about thankfulness . . .

If you really think about it, when you praise God, you are thanking Him too.

Today’s song reference:

10,000 Reasons

Bless the Lord oh my soul
Oh my soul
Worship His Holy name
Sing like never before
Oh my soul
I'll worship Your Holy name

The sun comes up
It's a new day dawning
It's time to sing Your song again
Whatever may pass
And whatever lies before me
Let me be singing
When the evening comes

Bless the Lord oh my soul
Oh my soul
Worship His Holy name
Sing like never before
Oh my soul
I'll worship Your Holy name

You're rich in love
And You're slow to anger
Your name is great
And Your heart is kind
For all Your goodness
I will keep on singing
Ten thousand reasons
For my heart to find

Bless the Lord oh my soul
Oh my soul
Worship His Holy name
Sing like never before
Oh my soul
I'll worship Your Holy name
Bless You Lord

And on that day
When my strength is failing
The end draws near
And my time has come
Still my soul will
Sing Your praise unending
Ten thousand years
And then forevermore
Forevermore

Bless the Lord oh my soul
Oh my soul
Worship His Holy name
Sing like never before
Oh my soul
I'll worship Your Holy name

Today I am thankful for all the blessings He has given me, from my health to my happiness, I am truly, truly blessed.

Have a blessed day!

truth

But I with the voice of thanksgiving will sacrifice to you; what I have vowed I will pay. Salvation belongs to the LORD!

- Jonah 2:9

The voice of thanksgiving.

What does that mean?

Well, these are my thoughts, and it is my blog, so . . .

I think that the voice of thanksgiving means that we listen to the voice of God. 

The voice of thanksgiving means that in all things we are thankful, because it is God that saves us. 

No matter how big our storm, our giant, or our trouble, the voice of God is the voice of truth.

And here is our song reference: 

Voice of Truth

Oh what I would do to have
The kind of faith it takes
To climb out of this boat I'm in
Onto the crashing waves

To step out of my comfort zone
Into the realm of the unknown where Jesus is
And He's holding out His hand

But the waves are calling out my name
And they laugh at me
Reminding me of all the times
I've tried before and failed
The waves they keep on telling me
Time and time again. "Boy, you'll never win!"
"You'll never win!"

But the voice of truth tells me a different story
The voice of truth says, "Do not be afraid!"
The voice of truth says, "This is for My glory"
Out of all the voices calling out to me
I will choose to listen and believe the voice of truth

Oh what I would do to have
The kind of strength it takes to stand before a giant
With just a sling and a stone
Surrounded by the sound of a thousand warriors
Shaking in their armor
Wishing they'd have had the strength to stand

But the giant's calling out my name
And he laughs at me
Reminding me of all the times
I've tried before and failed
The giant keeps on telling me
Time and time again. "Boy you'll never win!"
"You'll never win!"

But the stone was just the right size
To put the giant on the ground
And the waves they don't seem so high
From on top of them lookin' down
I will soar with the wings of eagles
When I stop and listen to the sound of Jesus
Singing over me

I will choose to listen and believe the voice of truth

Today I am thankful for the truth.

Have a blessed day!

family

This is the day the Lord has made; We will rejoice and be glad in it.

- Psalm 118:24

Happy Thanksgiving!

Rejoice in this day, whether you are stuffing your turkey (or yourself), spending it with friends or family, or friends that are family.

Thanksgiving has always been a big day in my world, even before I found God. 

Thanksgiving was one of two days that as a family we sat down together for a huge meal.

As a child, my largest Thanksgiving was at most 6 people, and there was not a focus on God or for what we were thankful.

Imagine my shock, my first thanksgiving with my husband’s family, kids everywhere,  like 30 people and everyone there loved God.

Then we moved to Arkansas. 

The first year we tried to have a big dinner,  I had driven to Iowa and back to bring my mother to join us for a nice meal.

It was not the same,  I missed my husband’s family terribly,  there were a lot of tears.

Over the years we have perfected our big dinners by including our friends and most importantly including God.

We have  called it “Friendsgiving” but in reality, it is still Thanksgiving.  

I am thankful for every person that sits at my table.

I am thankful that God led my family to  Arkansas.

I am thankful for the jobs that allow us to provide the food for our dinners.

I am thankful for the home that we open to our friends and family.

I am thankful for my husband’s family, who taught me the true meaning of thanksgiving (it’s really not about the turkey!)

I am  thankful.

Have a blessed day!

i am needy

And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.

- Philippians 4:19

Have you ever needed anything?

That is a rhetorical  question, because of course you have.

From the day you were born, you have been needy!

As an  infant you needed food, diaper changes, warmth, care and as you have grown you still need things.

Today’s song reference brought me to tears the first time I heard it.

I Need You (How Many Times)

Well, everybody's got a story to tell
And everybody's got a wound to be healed
I want to believe there's beauty here
'Cause oh, I get so tired of holding on
I can't let go, I can't move on
I want to believe there's meaning here

How many times have you heard me cry out
"God please take this"?
How many times have you given me strength to
Just keep breathing?
Oh I need you
God, I need you now.

Standing on a road I didn't plan
Wondering how I got to where I am
I'm trying to hear that still small voice
I'm trying to hear above the noise

How many times have you heard me cry out
God please take this?
How many times have you given me strength to
Just keep breathing?
Oh I need you
God, I need you now.

Though I walk,
Though I walk through the shadows
And I, I am so afraid
Please stay, please stay right beside me
With every single step I take

How many times have you heard me cry out?
And how many times have you given me strength?

How many times have you heard me cry out
"God please take this"?
How many times have you given me strength to
Just keep breathing?
Oh I need you
God, I need you now.

I need you now
Oh I need you
God, I need you now.
I need you now
I need you now

Today I am so thankful that I need God, and that He meets my every need.

Have a blessed day!

hidden treasure

And I will give you treasures hidden in the darkness— secret riches. I will do this so you may know that I am the Lord, the God of Israel, the one who calls you by name.

- Isaiah 45:3

By now most people know that precious jewels are made in the earth.

Depending on the minerals that are present and the climate surrounding the area, you might find a sparkling diamond, a deep red ruby or a shockingly blue sapphire.

But you have to dig deep in the layers of the earth, hidden in the darkness to find the jewels. 

Sometimes we have to  dig deep into ourselves to find what is precious.

How often are you faced with a challenge that you just don’t think that you can get through, and you come out on the other side refined and beautiful?

The struggles are real, the pain we go through is not easy, but hang in there!

God knows our layers.

Diamonds

Here and now I'm in the fire in above my head
Being held under the pressure don't know what'll be left
But it's here in the ashes
I'm finding treasure

He's making diamonds, diamonds
Making diamonds out of dust
He is refining and in His timing
He's making diamonds out of us

I'll surrender to the power of being crushed by love
Till the beauty that was hidden isn't covered up
Oh it's not what I hoped for
It's something much better

He's making diamonds, diamonds
Making diamonds out of dust
He is refining and in His timing
He's making diamonds out of us

Oh the joy of the Lord
It will be my strength
When the pressure is on
He's making diamonds

Today I am  thankful for the hidden treasures that God has given me. 

Have a blessed day!

today is a special day

I am my beloved’s and my beloved is mine.

- Song of Solomon 6:3

Happy birthday to  my wonderful husband,  Randy!

We just had a sermon series on Songs of Solomon, what a beautiful book!

I feel so lucky to have the kind of love that Solomon had for his wife, and that she had for him. 

God gave me the perfect partner in my Randy, and today’s song was sung at the ceremony where we renewed over wedding vows after 20 years:

When God Made You

It's always been a mystery to me

How two hearts can come together

And love can last for ever

But now that I have found you I believe

That a miracle has come

When God sends the perfect one

Now gone are all my questions about why

And I've never been so sure of anything

In my life

Oh I wonder what God

Was thinking

When he created you

I wonder if he

Knew everything I would need

Because he made all my dreams come true

When God made you

He must have been thinking about me

I promise that wherever you may go

Wherever life may lead you

With all my heart I'll be there too

And from this moment on

I want you to know

I'll let nothing come between us

And I will love the ones you love

Now gone are all my questions about why

And I've never been so sure of anything

In my life

I wonder what God was thinking

When he created you

I wonder if he

Knew everything I would need

Because he made all my dreams come true

When God made you

He must have been thinking about me

He made the sun

He made the moon

To harmonize a perfect tune

One can't move without the other

They just have to be together

And that is why I know it’s true

Your for me

And I'm for you

Because my world just can’t be right

Without you in my life

I wonder what God was thinking

When he created you

I wonder if he knew everything I would need

Because he made all my dreams come true

Happy birthday, baby, today I am thankful that I get to do life with you!

Have a blessed day!

children

Out of them shall come songs of thanksgiving, and the voices of those who celebrate. I will multiply them, and they shall not be few; I will make them honored, and they shall not be small.

- Jeremiah 30:19 

Jeremiah 30  is titled  “Restoration of Israel”.

The prophet Jeremiah is preaching about what is coming for the children of Israel. 

“Out of them shall  come songs of thanksgiving” this reminds me so much of little kids singing. 

Have you ever seen the joy on the faces of kiddos when they are singing?

Especially this one: 

Jesus Loves Me

Jesus loves me this I know

For the Bible tells me so

Little ones to him belong

They are weak but he is strong

Yes Jesus loves me

Oh, yes Jesus loves me

Yes Jesus loves me for the Bible tells me so

Today I am  thankful for children, may the joy in their hearts continue to  shine brightly.

Have a blessed day!

music (to my ears)

Enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise; give thanks to Him and praise His name.

– Psalm 100:4

I really enjoy praise and worship music.

The lyrics of so many songs touch my heart,  it seems like God knows exactly what I  need to  hear.

Did you know that the Bible says approximately 250 times “praise the Lord”?

Today’s song: 

O praise the name

I cast my mind to Calvary
Where Jesus bled and died for me.
I see His wounds, His hands, His feet.
My Savior on that cursed tree

His body bound and drenched in tears
They laid Him down in Joseph's tomb.
The entrance sealed by heavy stone
Messiah still and all alone

O praise the name of the Lord our God
O praise His name forever more
For endless days we will sing Your praise
Oh Lord, oh Lord our God

Then on the third at break of dawn,
The Son of heaven rose again.
O trampled death where is your sting?
The angels roar for Christ the King

O praise the name of the Lord our God
O praise His name forever more
For endless days we will sing Your praise
Oh Lord, oh Lord our God

He shall return in robes of white,
The blazing Son shall pierce the night.
And I will rise among the saints,
My gaze transfixed on Jesus' face

O praise the name of the Lord our God
O praise His name forever more
For endless days we will sing Your praise
Oh Lord, oh Lord our God

I am  so  thankful for music. . . it makes  my heart happy.

Have a blessed day!

peace

Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.

- Colossians 3:15

I absolutely love to be the first person awake on a day that I have nothing planned. 

I get to have my coffee in my pajamas, under a blanket (usually with a cat on my lap) and whatever I happen to be reading.

It is so quiet,  so peaceful.

Today’s song: 

Give me Jesus

In the morning, when I rise

In the morning, when I rise

In the morning, when I rise

Give me Jesus

Give me Jesus

Give me Jesus

You can have all this world

Just give me Jesus

When I am alone

When I am alone

Oh, when I am alone

Give me Jesus

Give me Jesus

Give me Jesus

You can have all this world

Just give me Jesus

Jesus

Give me Jesus

When I come to die

When I come to die

Oh, when I come to die

Give me Jesus

Give me Jesus

Give me Jesus

You can have all this world

Just give me Jesus

Today I am thankful for the peace of Christ.

Have a blessed day!

people

For this reason, ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all God’s people, I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers.

- Ephesians 1:15-16

I might have a little issue here. . . 

I am not a people person.

Most people will find this hard to believe, but I really like cats more than I like people.

So today’s song reference is an old pop culture song (Sly and the Family Stone) that crossed over into Christian music (Nicole C Mullen) a few years ago:

Everyday People

Sometimes I'm right and I can be wrong

My own beliefs are in my songs

The butcher, the banker, a drummer and then

Makes no difference what group I'm in

I am everyday people

Yeah,Yeah Listen

There is a blue one who can't accept

The green one for living with

the big one tryin' to be a skinny one

Different strokes for different folks

And so on and so on and scooby dooby dooby

Ooh sha sha

We gotta live together

I am no better and neither are you

We're all the same whatever we do

You love me you hate me

You know me and then

You can't figure out the bag I'm in

I am everyday people

Y’all hear me when I’m singing

There is a long hair

That doesn't like the short hair

For being such a rich one

That will not help the poor one

Different strokes for different folks

And so on and so on scooby dooby dooby

Ooh sha sha

See we got to live together

There is a yellow one that won't

Accept the black one

That won't accept the red one

That won't accept the white one

Different strokes for different folks

And so on and so on and

Scooby dooby dooby

Ooh sha sha

Well, I am everyday people

I am everyday people 

Today I am thankful for people, because we need each other!

Have a blessed day!

spiders?

For everything God created is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving, because it is consecrated by the word of God and prayer.

- 1 Timothy 4:4-5

Everything God created is good – so, that means spiders and fleas and creepy crawly things???

I actually had to google this one, to find things that I could learn from this verse.

There are a lot of different opinions on the details!

I found that much of the internet slices and dices these words to be about everything from animals to alcohol, from favors to food, from Gnostic heresy to Jewish doctrine.

SOOOOOO, since these are my thoughts, I am going to focus on the spiders (those who know me thought they would never hear those words!)

Today’s song reference is an old school hymn:

All Things Bright and Beautiful

All things bright and beautiful,

All creatures great and small,

All things wise and wonderful:

The Lord God made them all.

Each little flow’r that opens,

Each little bird that sings,

He made their glowing colors,

He made their tiny wings.

The purple-headed mountains,

The river running by,

The sunset and the morning

That brightens up the sky.

The cold wind in the winter,

The pleasant summer sun,

The ripe fruits in the garden,

He made them every one.

The tall trees in the greenwood,

The meadows where we play,

The rushes by the water,

To gather every day.

He gave us eyes to see them,

And lips that we might tell

How great is God Almighty,

Who has made all things well.

Even the spiders are precious to Him.

And some spiders do good, so today I am thankful for spiders – as much as they freak me out, they too are God’s creation.

Have a blessed day!

pay it forward

You will be enriched in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God.

- 2 Corinthians 9:11

Recently there has been a recognized “pay it forward” movement.

In 1999 Catherine Ryan Hyde wrote a book that morphed into a movie “Pay It Forward” and subsequently she created a non-profit organization called The Pay It Forward Foundation.

According to the “about us” portion of their website, “The philosophy of Pay It Forward is that through acts of kindness among strangers, we all foster a more caring society.”

My husband and I have participated in “pay it forward” in drive through windows, it is really kind of fun.

The really cool thing about paying it forward though is the chance to show God’s love by doing something nice for someone else.

And who can complain about a more caring society?

Today’s song reference:

Starry Night

Given my life to the only one
Who makes the moon reflect the sun
Every starry night
That was his design
Given my life to the only son
Who was and is and yet to come
Let the praises ring
Cause he is everything
He is everything

So today, I am thankful for God’s generous nature, because He paid it forward to me, I can pay it forward to others.

Have a blessed day!

flawless

All this is for your benefit, so that the grace that is reaching more and more people may cause thanksgiving to overflow to the glory of God.

- 2 Corinthians 4:15

The grace of God.

Dictionary dot com defines grace in Christian belief as “the free and unmerited favor of God, as manifested in the salvation of sinners and the bestowal of blessings.”

Of course the first song that comes to mind when I think of grace is the old standby “Amazing Grace”.

But His grace is also “Flawless”:

Flawless

There’s got to be more

Than going back and forth

From doing right to doing wrong

‘Cause we were taught that’s who we are

Come on get in line right behind me

You along with everybody

Thinking there’s worth in what you do

Then like a hero who takes the stage when

We’re on the edge of our seats saying it’s too late

Well let me introduce you to amazing grace

No matter the bumps

No matter the bruises

No matter the scars

Still the truth is

The cross has made

The cross has made you flawless

No matter the hurt

Or how deep the wound is

No matter the pain

Still the truth is

The cross has made

The cross has made you flawless

Today I am thankful for His amazing and flawless grace.

Have a blessed day!