Simple Joys Saturday

Join Jan @ Simple Joys in Our Life

Not much to say today...

'cept...

in these dog days of summer...

Lucy has found a way to relax...

by giving herself a tennis ball massage! Ahhhhh!

I prefer relaxing in the hammock in the shade of the old crabapple tree!

Simple (Summer) Joys!

I hope you have a wonderful weekend!

My soul finds rest in God alone;

my salvation comes from Him.

Psalm 62:1

Nothing Without You

I first heard this song when our worship leader at our church sang it. He was going through a health problem, and this was a beautiful moment of worship for him and for the rest of us as we listened and then joined him. God brought him through that difficult time, and this song continues to remind me that without the Lord, I have no strength, no power, no love - I have nothing of lasting. But I do have all I need with Him.

Nothing Without You

by Bebo Norman

Take these hands and lift them up

For I have not the strength to praise You near enough

For I have nothing,I have nothing without You

Take my voice and pour it out

Let it sing the songs of mercy I have found

For I have nothing,I have nothing without You

Chorus:

All my soul needs

Is all Your love to cover me

So all the world will see

That I have nothing without You

Take my body and build it up

May it be broken as an offering of love

For I have nothing,I have nothing without You

All my soul needs

Is all Your love to cover me

So all the world will see

That I have nothing

But I love You

With all my heart

With all my soul

With all my might

With all the strength that I can find

Take my time here on this earth

And let it glorify all that You are worth

For I am nothing,

I am nothing without You

Word-Filled Wednesday - I AM

Old Faithful Geyser Erupting in Yellowstone National Park
photo by Ansel Adams @ Public Domain Images Online 

God said to Moses, "I AM WHO I AM.

This is what you are to say to the Israelites:

  ' I AM has sent me to you.' "

God also said to Moses,

"Say to the Israelites, 'The LORD,

 the God of your fathers—

the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and

the God of Jacob—has sent me to you.'

This is my name forever, the name by which

I am to be remembered from generation to generation."

                                                             Exodus 3:14-15

Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life.

 No one comes to the Father except through me.

                                                                                John 14:6

Fill your cup with the Word at the Internet Cafe!

Summer Fun!

Our daughter Sara, son-in-law Mark and granddaughter Maya recently returned from a 2-week vacation, and so it was a delight to have Maya come for a visit yesterday. It was as if she was making up for lost time as she went from activity to activity! We spent quite a bit of time outside as she went from swingset to tricycle and garden. After that, it was time to go inside and play with toys and "read" Chicka Chicka Boom Boom. We had lunch together, enjoying the tomatoes she helped pick from our garden, and then it was off to stories in the rocking chair and a cozy nap.

So today I am thankful to the Lord for: 

• 
  
  returning Sara, Mark and Maya home safely and for the time they spent with family and friends
• 
  
  hugs and kisses from our sweet little Maya
• 
  
  hearing Maya chat about whatever came to her mind
• 
  
  tomato-picking and finding Daddy Longleg spiders
• 
  
  the swingset the Lord provided for us
• 
  
  cuddling during storytime and singing together
• 
  
  energy to keep up with a 2 year old!

 Meet with Lynn @ Spiritually Unequal Marriage

 for more Thankful Thursday.

Word-Filled Wednesday ~ Hope

I recently had the priviledge of hearing a young woman speak of her recent mission trip to serve at Homes of Hope in Fiji. She volunteered at a home for single mothers. While this island may appear as a paradise, her testimony of the suffering of these young women was anything but paradise. I love this verse in Isaiah of God's promise to bring deliverance, salvation and hope to even the people of faraway islands. I was humbled by her testimony and thankful that our God is a mighty God who offers hope and salvation to all.

Fill your cup with the Word at the Internet Cafe!

The Joys of Flower Gardens

This is a favorite place to sit in the cool of the morning...

a stepping stone my mom gave me

an old watering can at the birdbath

 

broken pottery and pinecones to keep the kitties at bay

(sharp edges in the soil, of course)

a sunny spot on the patio

 It is such a simple joy to spend time tending to the flowers and to sit nearby, enjoying the beauty of God's creation. I do not have large expanses of flowers, but the little flowerbeds I do have add such nice color to our yard. I am always blessed when I am able to visit the flowerbeds of friends or even on blogs. One of my talented blog friends shared her beautiful flowers on her blog today and introduced me to The 2010 Garden Tour that can be found at Notes From a Cottage Industry. I hope you enjoy the garden  tour and that you have a wonderful weekend!

Join Jan @ Simple Joys in Our Life

and the 2010 Garden Tour @ Notes from a Cottage Industry

Word Filled Wednesday ~ Ask, Seek, Knock

It wasn't until I had posted this picture and verse that I realized that my son-in-law's motorcycle was showing in the picture, and Eli was probably looking at it! The boys love the cycle, but it was for sale and recently sold, so it will be gone soon. The things of this world do not last, but when we seek Jesus, we receive that which will never leave, life everlasting with our Lord!

Fill your cup with the Word at the Internet Cafe

Speakable Gifts DaySpring Giveaway!

If you have never visited Maxine on her blog or at the family gift store she and daughter Beverly have, you are missing something wonderful! I met Maxine shortly after I began blogging, and I count her as a very dear friend. She loves the Lord and the business she shares with Beverly is a Christian business.

They can say it much better than I can. This is from their website:

Our purpose and desire is to provide gifts, favors, and publications

which include a spiritual message intended to edify, encourage,

comfort, and/or inspire the recipients. We want very much to help

families live, and give, the message of Christ in and from their

homes. We have gifts and publications for children and adults.

OUR MOTTO IS: If anyone is strengthened in the Christian faith

through our efforts, then to God be the glory!

Click on Maxine's blog at: Nanna's Reflections for the post concerning their giveaway from Dayspring.

To go to the Speakable Gifts website, click here. Have a wonderful time!

Simple Joys Saturday ~ Rest & Good Friends

After 2 months of visits from family members and traveling to take my mom back to the midwest, I had this week to get caught up on a few things here at home and to also have a much-needed rest. While it was nice to curl up with a book or to poke around in the flower gardens, the best rest was to sit outside in the mornings and spend time with the Lord and His word. It truly is a simple joy to ask Him to show me more of Himself through His word and prayer, and He is ever faithful to answer me, to show me something of Him in a new and fresh way.

Another simple joy this week that truly blessed me was to go with my husband to a 50th birthday celebration of a friend, and to see other good friends there and get caught up on what they have been doing this summer. A few of us sat and chatted on the enclosed back porch, and I think I could've visited with them for several hours, as we have the Lord in common and we were blessed having this time together.

This morning, my husband and I painted our side garage door a new color; he painted one side and I did the other. I love to help him do things around our home, as most of the big stuff falls on him to do.  So when I can, it gives me simple joy to be able to help him.

I have noticed as we all share in this Simple Joys Saturday meme that we tend to have our most joyous times with the Lord and with the people in our lives we love. It is no wonder, since our Lord Jesus tells us to:

"Love the Lord with all your heart

and with all your soul and with all your mind.

This is the first and greatest commandment.

And the second is like it:

Love your neighbor as yourself."

Matthew 22:37-39

It truly is a simple joy to follow these commandments He has given us. It is also a simple joy to connect with our friends in blogs and read what you all enjoy. Have a wonderful weekend!

Join Jan for Simple Joys Saturday @ Simple Joys in Our Lives.

Thankful Thursday ~ God's Sufficiency

As I sat outside this morning reading God's word, I was so thankful for the peacefulness that surrounded me. The birds were singing, the temperature was very moderate with the sun shining brightly, and our golden retriever Lucy was lolling in the grass.  It is easy to be thankful in such a setting, but the words I read in 2 Corinthians 12:1-10 reminded me that I can also be thankful for the difficulties in my life. Some of them come and go, and one in particular is chronic and has been my "thorn in my flesh" for many years.  Sometimes, as I go through trials, I tend to want to just get through them and then I thank God for removing them. But Paul was thankful IN them; in fact, he "delighted in weakness, insults, hardships, persecution and difficulties." And then he said, "For when I am weak, then I am strong."

So today, I want to thank God for the physical pain that slows me down and reminds me that He is my strength. I share this not to draw attention to my condition, but to emphasize that because of it, He is my sufficiency. He is all I need each day and He promises me:

"My grace is sufficient for you,

for My power is made perfect in weakness."

2 Corinthians 12:9

Thank you, Lord Jesus, for being everything I need. You provide for me abundantly, but YOU are my great provision. When I go through trials, I thank you for Your grace and mercy to see me through them. I thank You for the witness of Paul's words, that I may see the Son in the difficult times as well as the good.  Thank You for loving me so much that You suffered and died for me and for all mankind, that we all might live eternally with You. Amen.

Yes, I have much to be thankful for today; God's sufficient and abundant grace!

Please join Lynn at Spiritual Unequal Marriage for Thankful Thursday.

Word-Filled Wednesday - Higher

"For My thoughts are not your thoughts,

neither are your ways My ways,"

   declares the Lord.

As the heavens are higher than the earth,

so are My ways higher than your ways

and My thoughts than your thoughts.

Isaiah 55:8-9

I am so glad our Lord is Sovereign, for in this crazy, mixed-up world He is the One constant I can rely on, the One I can always trust. When my faith wavers, He remains the same, yesterday, today, tomorrow. When my thoughts are filled with doubts, uncertainty or fear, His thoughts are consistently sure, faithful and true. He is in control in a world out of control. He is not surprised with the way our world is turning away from faith in Him; He is delighted when someone comes to faith in Him through his Son. He thinks I am special. He thinks you are special, because he made us. He made us in His image. As His children, we take after him. Sometimes I feel like a toddler, doing my best to imitate His walk and His talk, to be like Him because He is my Father. Knowing He loves me and that he is in control makes me feel safe and cared for, and even if I do not understand all of His ways, it feels wonderful knowing I do not need to. I only need to trust and have faith in Him. What a mighty God we serve! 

Fill your cup with the Word at the Internet Cafe

How Deep the Father's Love for Us

One of our worship leaders at our church sings this song so beautifully in her pure, God-given voice, and it is a favorite of mine. I found this video on You Tube, and I love how scripture has been combined with the lyrics on each page. I just wanted to share this with each of you today; may you find peace and comfort as you listen.

How deep the Father's love for us

How vast beyond all measure

That He should give His only Son

And make a wretch His treasure

How great the pain of searing loss

The Father turns His face away

As wounds which mar the Chosen One

Bring many sons to glory

Behold the man upon the cross

My sin upon His shoulder

Ashamed I hear my mocking voice

Call out among the scoffers

It was my sin that held Him there

Until it was accomplished

His dying breath has brought me life

I know that it is finished

I will not boast in anything

No gifts, no power, no wisdom

But I will boast in Jesus Christ

His death and resurrection

Why should I gain from His reward

I cannot give an answer

But this I know with all my heart

His wounds have paid my ransom

Why should I gain from His reward

I cannot give an answer

But this I know with all my heart

His wounds have paid my ransom

Stuart Townend

Happy 4th of July

As we all celebrate the 4th of July, full of excitement with parades, flag-waving, picnics and fireworks, let's thank our Lord for the freedoms we have, given to us by His grace and mercy. This freedom has not come free, for many have given their lives that we may live in freedom. May we be, indeed, one nation under God.