Celebrating JESUS!

Merry Christmas!!!

celebrate JESUS!

'tis the season ... to remember ... God's great gift to us ... wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manager ... Let us celebrate JESUS!

'tis the Season

decorations are up, Christmas cards are almost all written ... it's beginning to feel like Christmas!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Ruth Bell Graham quote.

picture taken this morning ... and i've been hanging onto this quote by Ruth Bell Graham for awhile now ... time to use it ... and also try to live it ... 

a repost ... from 8 years ago

i sometimes go back in my blog ... to see what i was thinking at another time and place in my life ... this post is from 8 years ago ... and it encouraged me today ... and reminded me of a BIG truth - each of us matters to GOD ...


have you ever had times in your life when it seems that your voice is so small, no one hears it?  when you call the maytag repair guy and no one comes ... when your normally speedy internet, just churns and churns, and the provider doesn't care ... when a loved one is in pain, and you can't do anything to help? ...


i have had so many incidents this past while, that it has to be more than coincidence ... it seems i'm under attack ... every day, my "smallness" shouts - "you have no voice ... it doesn't matter, so don't even bother trying!!!" ....


but it does matter - because though i may be small - the God i serve ISN'T ... and it is His battle, not mine ... i just need to keep my eyes on Him who redeemed me ... keep praying and keep reading my bible - which tells me that i was so important to God that He sent His only Son to die for me ...


the maytag guy may not hear me ... but God does!  the internet may be slower than molasses on a january morning - but God isn't slow to encourage my heart ...


yup - i need my focus on things that matter ... things that are eternal ... because though my voice is small and muffled on earth - it is heard with love and concern in heaven ...

my morning view

"Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.  Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart, and ye shall find rest unto your souls.  For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.  ~ Jesus ... (Matthew 11:28-30)

Where does your strength come from?

Where does our strength come from?  From God ... who created the heavens & earth.   Now that is all the power we will ever need!

God's timing ...

good reminder when we get anxious!  

God has it ALL under control ... and ALL in His time.

strength for the day

for such a time as this, give me Jesus ... 

Scarf Sisters retreat ...

 it was a wonderful retreat with my scarf sisters a few weeks back ... ladies i met while blogging (14 years now) ... we were able to have a GOOD visit and share life stories ... and talk about our GOD and pray and fellowship ... thank you LORD for Your mercies ... 

thankful for another season ...

 Thanksgiving weekend in Canada ... so many blessings to count ... 

looking towards eternity ... and Jesus ...

i took this pic in the fall of 2015 ... 3 years ago already ... it seems like time is a speeding locomotive heading towards eternity ... time to seek HIM who will meet "the saved" on that train ... it's good to be found in Jesus ... the One and Only ... 

God knows the beginning and the end ...

it gives me comfort to know that GOD has all my days ordained ... even before i was formed.  even if i am only known to a handful of people in my lifetime - i am KNOWN to the Creator of the Universe ... the one Who designed me ... my life matters ... your life matters ... take heart ... 

a truism ...

i really like this Max quote ... truth!!!  :D

Sundays always feel special ...

sweet Sunday blessings on ya!  

double the blessing!

we had some torrential rains ... and then a beautiful double rainbow appeared ... it seemed to start (or end?) right in the river ...  somehow pictures never do it justice ... "God has promised" is what i think of when i see the rainbow ... Hope ... there is still HOPE.

Heaven came down and glory filled my soul ...

scripture from my morning reading ... 
sky from my evening walk ...

a post from 10 years ago

i came across this blog post today ... it's been 35 years now since we started this chronic pain walk ...

leo and i are celebrating an anniversary ... sort of ...

it has been 25 years since leo's first back surgery ... 25 years since chronic pain became the "third person" in our marriage ... 25 years of having our hope for health dwindle and the dreams of our youth eliminated ... 

YET, it has also been 25 years of learning to love each other unconditionally, despite obstacles which attempted to destroy our marriage ... learning to walk by faith - when human understanding failed ... 25 years of great valleys - and even greater mountain top experiences ...

an anniversary ... sort of ... 

* * * * * * *
points from a charles stanley sermon, that also mark the cornerstones of our faith:

- God controls our circumstances
- God will meet our needs
- God is with us
- God loves us with an eternal love ...

what are we worried about?

i am not perfect ...

how many times have i not done something, because i didn't think i could do it as well as someone else ... or felt inadequate for so many reasons ... but the GOD who created me, just asks for a willingness to be used for HIS glory and for HIS kingdom ... ok ... i can do that ... i am WILLING ... 

sundays ...

... sundays ... tv church ... quietness ... reflection ... yup, sundays always feel different ...

make time for rest ...

summers are also a time for resting ... visiting ... reading a book ... being outside ... just do all of it "In Him ... " ... blessings on ya!

encouragement

new heights i'm gaining every day ...

Lord lift me up and help me stand, by faith on heaven's table land ... 

a higher plane than i have found ... Lord plant my feet on higher ground.

Names of God

we can find our needs met IN God ...    

wait ...

a little patience and faith can go a long way ... 

my mornings ...

to start the day with God ... that is my habit and my help ... the second part of this verse says:  "show me where to walk, for I give myself to you" ... amen.

a relevant word for today ... from "The Word"

I've always loved that simple statement ... Be Anxious for NOTHING ... in the days we live in, that becomes a comforting thought ... and we are told what to do next ... "by prayer and supplication - with Thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God ... " ... don't worry - but pray about IT  ... thank you LORD ... let our hearts and minds be set on JESUS ... who is the Author and Finisher of our faith ... 

end of April's pink moon ... as seen from middle Canada ... 

God's unfailing love ...

it encourages me to KNOW that God's mercies are new every morning ... despite circumstances, faith in Jesus produces a joy that doesn't depend on anything but God's grace - for every situation ... 

always a good word in the Psalms

as life happens, quickly at times, it gives me comfort to know that Jesus is my portion ... whatever i may be going through - HE knows and is with me ... and HE knows what you are going through ... and will be your Saviour and Deliverer too ... 

JESUS is my portion

soothing flow ... love eternal ... comfort forever more ...
 JESUS is my portion ... 

Easter 2018

Happy Easter ... HE IS RISEN!

memories of Finland .. .from a year ago ...

a meaningful and moving experience from a year ago ... i walked behind a birch cross, through a busy city in Finland ... 

i am so thankful for the witness ...

and thankful for the others, from various denominations, who did the same ...

Good Friday ... thank you Jesus. 

time change sunday

i may not be happy about the time change ... but i should always have God's praises on my lips ... 

forgetfulness can be a good thing ...

i woke up in the middle of the night with the idea for this poster ... but i was too tired to write it down (plus i didn't want to wake up too much and not get back to sleep!) ... so i just asked the Lord to help me not forget it ... i thought of it again almost as soon as i got out of bed ... :) ... i make posters to remind myself of truths ... this particular truth can save much heartache in life ... 

Sunday blessings ...

billy graham quote ...

picture taken at our local beach - of a supermoon (or was it harvest?) a few years ago ... i love the way the camera shook a bit, because it created a heart ... all things DO work according to God's purpose and  plan ... trust the ONE who holds our future, He'll never fail us ... 

Billy Graham

billy graham went home, to be with Jesus on wednesday, february 21st ... the world lost a prayer warrior ... heaven gained a saint!

rest is an ok thing ... just in case you were wondering ...

February has always been a month of hibernation ... 

or "rest" ... :) ...  

perfect love casts out fear ...

i find comfort in this thought ... if we walk with Jesus, we have nothing to fear ... God KNOWS the end of our days and completes all the moments between now and then ... 

Come Holy Spirit ...

1	Like the woman at the well, I was seeking For things that could not satisfy. And then I heard my Savior speaking— “Draw from My well that never shall run dry.”
	Fill my cup, Lord; I lift it up Lord; Come and quench this thirsting of my soul. Bread of Heaven, feed me till I want no more. Fill my cup, fill it up and make me whole.
2	There are millions in this world who are seeking For pleasures earthly goods afford. But none can match the wondrous treasure That I find in Jesus Christ my Lord.
3	So my brother if the things that this world gives you Leave hungers that won’t pass away, My blessed Lord will come and save you If you kneel to Him and humbly pray— ~ Richard Blanchard

it's the simple things

a milder spell of weather has hit central Canada ... Praise the Lord for that!  the frigid temps were so restrictive ... i captured this scene on my walk the other day ... in our small town kids still get together for pick up hockey ... makes me smile ... and feel thankful ... 

Who holds tomorrow ...

we heard this old hymn during our tv church this morning ... written by Ira Stanphill after his own crisis of faith ( http://www.paxplena.com/2008/03/song-of-week-i-know-who-holds-tomorrow.html ) ... i went hunting through my pics to find a backdrop for the chorus ... just sharing ... blessings on your sunday!

morning sunrise ...

i watch the skies ... not like a watchman might, but more like someone who thrills in the beauty that GOD creates and shares with His children ... camera at the ready - this was what i experienced this morning ...  i could hear Jesus words, "Come and see ... "  ... after seeing, i could only exclaim, Your Mercies are NEW every morning, Praise your Name Lord!

heavenward ...

Press On!  the battle cry of the Christian ... Press On!