Forgiveness and Love!

Best way to begin blogging again and a reminder that life is very short. I know many folks who

Just can’t or won’t get along with family or others and unfortunately I have known some who have went to their grave because of an unforgiving heart. It isn’t possible to forget, but it is possible with God to forgive. It surely doesn’t mean the other person was right, it just means we are releasing them to God, no more bitterness and holding grudges. Just being obedient to our Heavenly Father. If any of us have learned anything, we know life is just a vapor and this old corrupt world is not our home. We really are here for a short while! Eternity is forever! So as you and I make choices, let’s just remember a few things, for one, it isn’t an option! God told us to forgive and it certainly isn’t about feelings. Those will get us I trouble every time.  

Colossians 3:13 Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.

Blessing and Peace on you.

The Wellness Revelation book review!

I received a book courtesy of Tyndale called The Wellness Revelation book  to review. I am always interested in diet plans, so I was excited to read and then apply what the author Elisa Keeton wrote. I have to say I was intrigued from the beginning. The book was complete with a journal and calendar. But the best part of all was of course bringing our God in and depending on Him for success.

The 8 chapters were laid out very well. I highly recommend this program if you are interested in being healthy and of course losing weight.

Thank you Tyndale,  this one was a winner.

The Wellness Revelation

http://www.tyndaleblognetwork.com/1_Title/my-titles.phpThe Wellness Revelation Review

                                                                    

                                                                         Esther!

Thank you Tyndale for this complimentary of the drawn in bible story of Esther written by Eugene H. Peterson. I have enjoyed the story as he has portrayed it, and also of the pictures to color. I really didn't think I would enjoy "coloring", but I do love it. Some of the artwork is awfully small but it just means taking more time to color. The Bible Study is incredible and I intend to us it at an upcoming bible study we have planned. I didn't take the 4 weeks time limit, because I wanted to go ahead and do a review. I did read through it though so I could give an honest review.  I believe folks will enjoy this technique of doodling while learning Gods Word.

Thank you again Tyndale. Keep those wonderful inspiring products for us! In the times we live in, we need truth!

Esther

http://www.tyndaleblognetwork.com/1_title/submit-review.php?type=ADD&bppID=25496

Peace In the Face of Loss

A devotion for those of us who have lost loved ones using scriptures to encourage us that death is not the final answer, only the beginning. Jill Kelly knows all to well about grief and losing and is sharing her heart here in this little but powerful book of  forty devotions. Stories of women also sharing their pain gives us hope and strengthens our faith. Painful stories but with Gods help, we can recover. She beautifully illustrates this throughout the book.

These devotions touched my heart as I have recently lost my husband. Reading stories like this  and relying on the Word of God is bringing me through a very rough time. My faith is fortified and hope is within my heart. It is helpful to learn how others handle such times and know we are not alone. God never leaves us and of course those around us gives us comfort also.

Thank you Tyndale House for this wonderful complimentary copy for review purposes,  I am very happy to say I can truthfully recommend this book.

http://tyndaleblognetwork.com/4_browse_review/browse-review.php

New Beginnigs!

I love Spring! Evidence of Life is everywhere. Reminding us that those things that we thought were dead was only asleep. Just like those loved ones and friends that are no longer here with us. One day we will see them, knowing they are only asleep as Lazarus was. Thank God for His promises! I love the story of Lazarus and his sisters. Mary and Martha loved the Lord and were so distraught when their beloved brother died. They knew that if Jesus had been there, things would have been entirely different. But Jesus had other plans for their lives, just as He has for ours. Things we think needs fixing now sometimes just isn't the time. There are bigger things ahead. Jesus told the disciples, He was glad for their sakes He wasn't there, now they would really believe. As I read these verses, I remember losing loved ones, the most recent my husband. There is little comfort in words, although people mean well and can sometimes say inappropriate things. But it is because there are at a loss to. We are told there is a time for everything, including death. Mary and Martha were in awe when Jesus shouted, "Lazarus come forth". What a wonderful reunion that must have been. Their brother was alive and with them again. Just as our loved ones will be one day to.
Lets be encouraged as we read this account of how Jesus loves and cares for us. All the promises in His Word are there. We just need to believe!
I pray you will be blessed and enjoy the much needed peace that is ours to have.
If we seek Him, we will find Him.

In Him We are Complete!

Ready to Blog Again!

Taking time off from blogging was something I just had to do, but now I feel as though I am ready to put my thoughts into words and see where this new journey takes me. I will admit right here, my faith took a hit when my husband died. He was so precious to me and we had prayed for God to spare his life, but my plan was not Gods' plan. So heartbroken yet  I know there will be many things we won't understand until we get to heaven.

 Then there were so many changes that have occurred over the last 4 years. Anyway, God has been gracious to me and I did survive. I have learned in whatever circumstance to be content. I will also admit (confession is good in so many ways) the anger and disappointment I had towards God was very real and it was very hard to accept. And yet again, so many stages to go through, and that is the whole point, going through, not staying in the grief, anger, disappointment, etc., but going through! It was difficult to say the least, but it would have been a disaster to be entrapped in a sinful lifestyle as a way out or just to cope. God understands those thing that crush us, and  that is where healing comes in. He knows it will take time! I don't believe we ever completely get past the feeling of loss, but with His grace and mercy and us keeping our eyes on Him, we do heal.

thank you for stopping by! I pray for comfort and peace as you look to the only One who is able and willing to sustain us.

Blessings!

Times Have Changed!

This is from 1960, and so strange, because this looks just like my mother, sister and myself. Even the haircolor is the same!

Ecclesiastes 3:2-8 (The Message)

There’s an opportune time to do things, a right time for everything on the earth:

^2-8 A right time for birth and another for death,
A right time to plant and another to reap,
A right time to kill and another to heal,
A right time to destroy and another to construct,
A right time to cry and another to laugh,
A right time to lament and another to cheer,
A right time to make love and another to abstain,
A right time to embrace and another to part,
A right time to search and another to count your losses,
A right time to hold on and another to let go,
A right time to rip out and another to mend,
A right time to shut up and another to speak up,
A right time to love and another to hate,
A right time to wage war and another to make peace.

I have noticed that as I get older, I remember things that happened so many years ago, and I am like, "where did that come from?"  I guess it is normal, sometimes pleasant and sometimes not, but this one just happened to be a pleasant memory:

Things have changed so much since I was a little girl growing up in a rural setting where "going to town" was a much anticipated event. Waiting for the mail to run was also exciting. I remember when my mother ordered a sewing machine from Sears and Roebuck. When that catalog came or the wish book as it was called, a whole world opened up for us. Things I couldn't imagine having and wishing for it, well, that was really big and impossible. Anyway, back to the machine. My mother was and would be considered in this day and time, an expert seamstress. No pattern, just looking in the "wish book", she would sew clothes for me and my sister. By the way, I have a daughter, Candace, that does not need a pattern either. For sis and I, we need those patterns! lol. So this machine that had all the fancy stitches would be amazing!  The machine was chosen and ordered and the wait began. Every day we would be waiting for the mail to run and finally after about 3 weeks, he pulled up to the house with the package. I remember all of us being so excited! My mother had that thing figured out and would use it for many years to come. No telling how many dresses for us was made on it. We always were dressed so pretty and of course had the latest fashions, because that wonderful wish book provided the patterns.
So what does this have to do with anything? Well, I am not sure except the fact that change can be good, they call it progress. Of course it can be bad to! because my mother has gone to be with the Lord and there will always be a empty place in my heart, makes me very sad.  Even after all these years, I miss her so. The good part of buying a sewing machine, or whatever we want these days just means a trip to WalMart or the mall, no waiting and we will have our purchase. And did I say, No waiting! But, to be honest with you, the  best memories I have of shopping would have to be with my mother and the things we ordered from Sears and Roebucks. It had more meaning than any purchase I have ever made..
I hope you have memories that stir your heart and cause you to be so thankful for your family. Those of you that still have your parents and grandparents, spend time with them making memories, there is a season for everything just as Gods' Word tells us, and one day things will change again, they will be gone and you will be the "older" ones. Our time here is very limited, worrying and getting caught up in the worldly things of this life will only cause stress and unrest. Jesus came to give us life and life more abundantly! There can and should be peace even though everything around us changes, and it will change!  When we are rooted and grounded in faith, these changes will not uproot us. So my prayer for you today is to embrace this day, remembering the blessed hope that awaits us. Remember the good things in our past, but don't stay there long, and most of all remember who you are in Christ
.
So, in this post, we have gone from a sewing machine to heaven! I pray something was said to encourage your heart and maybe stir a memory or two.

Blessings and encouraging words to you, daughters and friends!