Hope found in the old stuff!

Yesterday, I read the devotion from Ann Spangler's new book and I left for my adventure.  I drove the roads over to Jefferson looking for critters and neat sights.  Arriving, I wanted to find my perfect parking spot, so that walking around Jefferson would be central to bringing any must have finds back to my car.  I found one right in the middle of everything!

I began the stroll through this quaint little town.  Snapping pictures here and there, stopping to visit with fellow explorers and of course, shopping for must have items.  

I didn't find many must have's.  I wondered the aisles looking at things that someone once treasured.  I wondered about the people that came before me and how their things ended up in a little store in Jefferson to hopefully become someone else's treasure.  Times change.  Things change.  Lamps don't look the same as they use to!  Neither do shoes, hats, doors...the list goes on and on, but these were treasured by someone at some point.  I thought a lot about how they ended up on the store shelf.  Life and stuff changes constantly.

I was reminded throughout the day about Jesus is with us always!  He is still the same as when these folks were enjoying the light provided by the lamps and Him and He is right now!  I had a perk in my step thinking and pondering on He is never changing just like the words found in Malachi 3:6 ~ "I am the LORD, and I do not change."

Jesus is with us and God never changes!  Now that is where you find encouragement and hope!  Trust it and believe it!

Blessings,

God is with us!

I took this photo late one evening in Oklahoma when the sun was setting!  It reminds me that God is with me.  I always see God in nature and I am trying to spend as much time as possible in nature sharing with The Lord.  The older you get the more time you have to spend special moments with The Lord, but oh how I regret not doing this earlier in my life.  Yet, I know that God's timing is perfect.  

I went to Lifeway the other day and picked up a new devotional and I started it this morning.  I already love it.  It is praying the names of Jesus by Ann Spangler and it already touched my heart.  Today, she started with a wonderful reminder and then ask the most encouragement that one could offer.  Ann Spangler thank you for this wonderful reminder that I intend to practice from this day forward.

Ann begins with the name Immanuel.  It means that "God is with us."  Ann shared that Matthew begins with this teaching in chapter 1 and it ends with these words in Matthew 28:20 

and these are Jesus words written in red.  

And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.

Matthew begins and ends with reminding us that Jesus is always with us.  Ann took it further with a question of how would our life be different if we began and ended each day with the firm belief that God is with you?  Wow, powerful.  Encouragement, Affirmation, Trusting, Believing, and Claiming powerful words and we need to claim them.

On this Monday, I want to encourage all of you that indeed Jesus is with us!  Always and forever and let's provide hope with reminding each other of this wonderful TRUTH!

Well, I am off to my next adventure a day in Jefferson, Texas.  Exploring and discovering God's creation and a few creations from humans.  Imagine it!

Have a wonderful day!  Sweet blessings,.

You are much more valuable than they...

Devastation is all we see.  Daily it is a new one somewhere around the world, this past weekend it hit much closer to home in Houston.  I have friends and family struggling not sure what is going to happen next and words just simply fall short.

Yet, we all ask what can we do?  We encourage.  We pray.  We donate.  And again I say, we PRAY.  All of us are able to lift the leaders, the first responders, the people of Houston and surrounding areas up to God.  So let's hit our knees and say our prayers and do our part.  It is big part of recovery to know others of lifting you in prayer.  You feel them and you need them.

When I went through my fire God showed up in Mighty ways, so those of you walking this path of loss look to Him.  Keep your eyes on Him.  He will get you through...nothing else will get you through.  Others can help, but He will get you through.  He showed up in some of the most awe inspiring ways for me and He will for each of you, so look for Him.  Talk to Him.  Ask Him and keep your eyes firmly on Him and in His Words.

I sat with my brother yesterday watching the news constantly and the hanging to every word and every text, every phone call were obvious.  Nothing anyone said helped, so I just prayed quietly to the LORD to give Hal and Stacy the answers as they await the unknown of home.  

Grieve if you are one of the folks pushed so rudely out of your home.  Grieve for the things and the physical spot you called home, but know in your heart that God is with you and helping you to take each step forward to a new beginning...

During my time of loss of my home from fire I clung to 2 verses that got me through that terrible time and I hope they bring comfort to some of you struggling now...

Matthew 6:26 - Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them.  Are you not much more valuable than they?

any my life verse from Joshua 1:9 -

Have I not command you?  Be strong and courageous.  Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.

It is my hope that this encourages and those of you suffering realize that we see you!  We are praying for you and we are trying to help in some small way to help heal your pain.

Sweet blessings,

Debbie  

Wonderful Book - Sacred Mundane by Kari Patterson

Sacred Mundane by Kari Patterson

How to Find Freedom, Purpose, and Joy

I must admit the reason I wanted to sign up to review this book was the title.  It captured my attention and intrigued me!  After all, who doesn't need to find freedom? Purpose? and Joy? Or to make mundane moments sacred?  After all, ordinary happens every moment of every day, so to make them sacred - well it sounded fabulous!

Sign me up was my first response and I wasn't disappointed.  I found it helpful and very honest.  Kari challenged me at the same time helping me with every page always pointing towards God.  God is the center of this book and He should be at the center of our life in order to find the 3 things that Kari mentioned in the title.

I immediately looked at the words Sacred and Mundane before I went into the book.  Sacred meaning devoted or dedicated to a deity or to some religious purpose and mundane meaning ordinary, common, unimaginative.  On days I find myself in the ordinary I find I ask a lot of questions.  Such as: Do you feel like you do the same thing every day?  What is my purpose?  Is it really you God?  Why do I doubt you God?  Do you ever ask these type of questions?  Well, this book is for you too.  Kari, shows us that God is with us in the ordinary and to never forget this fact.  God works in the everyday ordinary situations as well as the mountain top experiences and He will transform us, if we allow it to happen.  God finds us right where we are in the ordinary!

I give this book 5 stars and I was given a complimentary copy from the publisher for my independent and honest review.

I hope you order it today from your favorite book outlet or purchase it at the store of your choice.  It is worth the time and it took Kari many years to write this book.  She took her time to share her life stories and lessons that she learned in ordinary moments.  It is a small book, but filled with deep thoughts.

Sweet blessings,

Debbie