I know it isn't summer, but I enjoy looking at pictures from my garden. I can look at the barren ground, and imagine what will be in a few months. How would I admire the flowers if I had them every day? The butterfly was a one day event. How miraculous this little creature is, when we think of humanity and the great intricacies of our brains, but yet God made these tender creatures as well.

What wonders of God's kingdom are about to  be lavished on us this coming year? What riches of His grace will we uncover in His word, or hear in church? What miracles will we see that perhaps we have been praying about for years? We cannot limit God to our circumstances when He wants to pour out Heaven on us, and show us His glory.

Scripture says,"We have not, because we ask not", or we ask incorrectly. When our will lines up with God's best, you can be sure that He will "open the windows of Heaven and pour you out a blessing."Scripture can be distorted when we think that God will give us according to our lustful desires. This is not at all like Him, and will not happen.

Winter can be seen as bleak and lifeless, but it actually is full of potential! Inside of every tree and bush is the nucleus of life, just waiting to happen. It is unseen, for now, but will be revealed at the right time. So it is with the untouched that God has placed in us! All of His potential has been made available by His Holy Spirit. All we have to do is cooperate. 

"You have given a banner to those who fear You, That it may be displayed because of the truth.   Selah   {Psalm 60:4}

Banners have always been about celebration. As we pack up Christmas, and unpack a brand new year, we can celebrate that God celebrates over us with love. It says in Song of Solomon, 2:4 "He has brought me to His banquet hall, And his banner over me is love." That is a banner that all of us long for, and He has given to us, because we seek after him. As His child, Jesus wants to keep us safe and as we obey His word, we are kept. We are not given this place of rest because we earned it, but simply because we walk in His precepts.

Life can be so terribly complex when we wander away from truth. I have been sick this past week, and I can tell you for sure, when you're body isn't well, it can effect your spirit. We are interconnected, spirit, soul, and body. When you add to that changed schedules for the Holidays, kids getting under each others skin, and family visiting, life can seem out of order, ah, yeah, because it is.

This is an ornament from my tree. I was admiring it, and it slipped out of my hand and broke. I am glad that my joy, love, and faith do not depend on that ornament! How easily things can change and burst into pieces if we are not careful. Put people in tight quarters, with lots of cookies, and things can go awry!

Think of this month as a great jumping off point. A clean slate, a place to get alone with God, and receive your marching orders for a new year! There is excitement, joy and adventure in God, because His mercies are new every morning. Great is His faithfulness!

It's time to think of 2017! Ugh! That's the first time I have typed it, what a surprise, it crept up on me, and bit me right between the eyes. I guess every year does that, it's just that I don't ever catch on to the fact that time is moving faster than I would like. Praise God, He is in control, and His plans will be done, on earth, as it is in heaven.

Speaking of God's plan, how do we fulfill His plan for our lives while we are here? Every individual finds out what God has for them by reading the Bible, His handbook on life. It is not instantaneous, like driving up to the window of Starbucks; it takes daily reading, memorizing, contemplating, and meditating in God's word.

The seed that is planted in the heart will take root, and grow stronger daily. Water, sunshine, and good ground!I have been  inundated recently with e-mails about how to grow spiritually in 2017. This is all well and good, because we think of the New Year as a good time to change. All the Bible studies in the world won't change us if we don't have a heart for God in the first place. I have done dozens of Bible studies in the past few years, and I will continue to, because I can glean from them the truth and apply it to my heart. You can too, but first you have to be hungry!

Hunger for God only comes through gaining an appetite for more of Him. Reading God's word will make you hungry for more! It may not seem like anything at first, but keep going in obedience, and God will honor that. No matter where you are in your walk with God, you can gain a greater desire for Him. "Perfect love casts out all fear."We become fearful if we have not had the best of relationships with others, and thinking of having a relationship with God, well, that too can seem daunting, no, maybe overwhelming is a better way to put it.


"It's His kindness that leads us to repentance." Jesus, In His compelling love and desire for us, wants us to be free.  He wants to give us body rest, soul, and spirit. "Come to me, all that are weary and heavy laden, and I will give you rest." " Cast all your cares upon me, "Jesus says,  "And I will give you rest." I need rest, How about you?

"Without good direction, people lose their way; the more wise counsel you follow, the better your chances."          (Proverbs 11:14)

I have found this verse to be true in my life. If I listen to what God says, the outcome of any circumstance tends to be better. My husband has said to me for years, to respond not to react when speaking to our children.  Of course this takes discipline on my part, and I don't always think before I speak. I wonder if any of you can relate? 

Yesterday as I was speaking to my daughter about dating, I realized that I had a good deal of composure1! She brought up the subject as this is something we never want to deal with. Our expectations are not realistic, but we know our children, and don't feel this is something that is good for her at this time. Teens can be so carefree and unaware of the pitfalls and entanglements that can come in relationships. Without realistic expectations, and guards around your heart, damage can be lifetime snare.

Listening to parental advice is not the latest fad, and has always met with resistance in teens, but those who are wise will have a continual feast! What kind of feast you might be wondering? Free from emotional baggage, free from jealousies, free from anger, and free from always trying to please someone else. Emotional roller coasters were invented by teens! All I have to do is say the wrong thing, and we are hanging on for dear life. The wrong thing can be something different every day!

What does God want in these situations ? His Father heart is to keep us from evil. He wants us to stay away from even the appearance of such things. Try to get a kid who doesn't know God's heart towards them to see that this is not harsh, well that is why we pray. Parents need to be on their knees more today than ever. I did not have a prayer covering when I was a teen, but God kept me from guys because I was shy. I didn't know the Lord, but He was already working in my heart. That just blows me away! Wisdom was working in me before I knew who wisdom was!!! 

Today, we live in a mixed up world of denial of sin, and unrighteousness. Praise God for His care and comfort in our lives. His heart was for us, before we knew Him.Who does that? Only our All consuming, ever-present Savior who makes a glorious way for us, if we will follow.

Dear Heavenly Father, your ways are so much higher than our ways. We can be thankful that you are watching out for our good, even when what happens to us doesn't feel like good. You see what has happened to us in the past and in the future. We can't possibly navigate in this world without your wisdom, Grace and care. Please be all that you can be in me! Amen

Hello everyone! I hope you all enjoyed your Christmas celebrations. It truly is the best time of the year!  The white dog is my west highland terrier, Lina, and our yorkie, Jack.We know that Jesus wasn't born in December, and we don't celebrate it because of winter solstice, we celebrate Jesus birth every day of the year, but it's great to have one day that concentrates on His birth.

Where would I be without Him? Thank God he doesn't tell us those things. There is no reason to dwell on what never was, and never will be. We celebrate the here and now, of being in His presence, loving others and displaying His love and kindness to the lost.

Jesus didn't hesitate to arrive here on earth so that He could save mankind. The greatest gospel truth is this, that Almighty God, lowered Himself to such a degree that He would be a helpless, newborn. The God who spoke all things into existence, cared for us enough to empty Himself of all that He was, so that the story of the fall would only be that, a story of what "was," not what "is" in our lives. Not that we have perfected being human, oh by no means, we all have to yield to God's gentle leading, and sometimes His push to display His glory. His power and authority rules in our lives as believers. That is something that I am happy to yield to. His love reigns supreme! Drum roll please.

This scene is in the narthex at my church. They had several little places like this for families to take pictures. I love fireplaces and use mine quite often this time of year. It makes the whole room cozy. 

This is my family's Christmas picture in front of our tree. Everyone looks so much older, yes, because we are! Time is one thing that we don't have a grasp of. It moves in spite of us, but with Jesus as the head we are always headed in the right direction. Amen!

I would like to share a scripture with you today from Proverbs 18:16. "A gift opens the way for the giver and ushers him into the presence of the great.

I like this verse since it reminds us of the greatest gift of all, Our Savior and Lord, Jesus! How I love to say His holy name, and give him praise. No matter what comes our way, we can rest in the fact that we are always in His care, and that He will somehow make a way for us regardless of the circumstance. I think of the persecuted church members in countries all over, who give testimony to the Love of God with their dying breaths. He receives their heart-felt cries, and receives them into heaven as victors in the winner's circle.

As we look at this verse we see that the gift was given by someone, who is much greater, and whose presence is great! Of course when we receive Jesus into our hearts we know we have also received The Father over all creation, who was and is, and is to come. Being ushered into the presence of God someday by Jesus, will be the crowning glory of our lives, and also just the beginning of our life in heaven. No tears, no death, no sorrow of any kind. Ruling and reigning with Christ.

We have a lot to do here before we can even think of the great beyond! Souls to bring to Christ, people to love regardless of their faith, and hands that reach out to the most desperate of souls.
Yes, we have a lot to do, as we serve Christ on earth, where he has us, doing His will to impact all eternity! Your life has impact, purpose, and is highly regarded, by the Presence of the Great!

Many Many Blessings and much love to all of you and your families as we celebrate the coming of the greatest man who ever lived. I so enjoy our time together, and look forward to talking with you next week. Merry Christmas!

I love the front of this house! It shouts He's alive,  Rejoice, give Him praise! The King is coming! I have no idea what these people believe, but that's my take on it.

Have you heard this song: I heard the bells on Christmas Day, on Christmas Day, on Christmas Day, I heard the bells on Christmas Day on Christmas Day in the morning. We were watching the end of the movie, " A Christmas Carol" last night and I was so joyed by the church bells ringing all over the city! Can't you hear the bells in heaven ringing out loud and clear when someone gives their heart to Christ, or receives healing, or hears from God?

The book of Revelation talks about the trumpets sounding, which seems more regal and kingly, but the peal of bells sounding out over the house tops so clear, sends a different message. Bells speak of Christmas in our culture. Many hymns talk about the ding dong sound of bells declaring the new born King's coming. What about His second coming?

There won't be the sweet sound of bells, but the roar of a Lion, the Lion of Judah. We will hear the voices of many angels saying, "Worthy is the Lamb  who was slain To receive power and riches and wisdom, And strength and honor and glory and blessings! And every creature which is in heaven and on the earth and under the earth and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, I heard saying: Blessing and honor and glory and power Be to Him who sits on the throne, And to the Lamb, forever and ever!"   { Revelation 5:12-13}

Then those who  are on the earth will wish that they had rung the bells, or Praised the Lord while here on earth. It will be a terrible time for the unbeliever, or those who half heartedly served God. It sounds from this scripture that even the " creatures on the earth and under the earth, meaning in the sea, will Praise God! Can we imagine such a scene? Animals will praise, maybe with the sound that God gave them, but what a sound that will be!