Praying for You!!!

"I remember you in my prayers."

--Philemon 1:4 NIV

Life is busy...and crazy...and hectic...and stressful...and sometimes downright scary.  I know.  But you know what's even more comforting?  God knows too.  I've heard Max Lucado say that Jesus could have just come down for a day, taught a lesson, died for us on the cross, and we still would have been saved.  But He didn't.  He was born a babe in the manger.  He grew up as a toddler and teenager.  He lived life on this earth for 33 years.  He knew stumped-toes and bad hair days; he knew bad colds and bad days at work; he knew stressful times and even downright scary moments.  He felt it all so that when we are having one of those busy, crazy, hectic, stressful, or scary days, we can completely turn to Him. 
 
Go to Him today.  He is ALWAYS there for you. 
 
I am praying for you today!!!

I Always Thank My God For You

"I always thank my God for you

and for the gracious gifts

He has given you."

--1 Cor 1:4 NLT

Each of you is unique and special, with many talents and gifts only YOU can do!  You are special to me.  You are special to God.  And I thank Him for you in my prayers.

You are Special!

"God has given each of you some special abilities;

be sure to use them to help each other,

passing on to others God's many kind blessings."

--1 Peter 4:10 TLB

God loves you!  He has given you talents, abilities, and opportunities that no one else has.  You are uniquely wonderful in His eyes and special in His master plan.  Only you can do the things you do, say the things you say, help they way you help.  You might think that everyone can do it and that you are not special.  Nope.  You are you, and you are unique.  The things that come so effortlessly and easily to you just don't come to the rest of us.  Use these talents.  Use this gift.  Use them to show His love and His blessings to those around you.  Not only will they be blessed, but you will too!!!  :0)

Take Courage to Heart

As promised yesterday, here is one of the encouraging Bible verses found inside one of the WONDERFUL Dayspring cards I received from (In)Courage.  Enjoy!  Be strong and courageous today...God loves you!!!  :0)

"Be strong and let your heart take courage,

all you who hope in the Lord."

--Psalm 31:24 NASB

Happy, Happy Day!

Today is DOUBLY blessed...happy, happy day!...for today is not only Grandparents' Day (see post below) but also the National Day of Encouragement!  Double yay!!!  :0)

The Bible tells us that encouragement comes from God:

"For everything that was written in the past

was written to teach us,

so that through endurance and the ENCOURAGEMENT of the Scriptures

we might have hope.  May the 

GOD WHO GIVES endurance and ENCOURAGEMENT

give you a spirit of unity among yourselves as you follow Christ Jesus,

so that with one heart and mouth

you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ."

--Romans 15:4-5

and tells us that encouraging others is one of the gifts God gives us with His grace:

"We have different gifts,

according to the grace given us...

if it is encouraging, let him encourage..."

--Romans 12:6-8

Thank You, Father, for Your amazing grace!!!  Here are some more encouraging verses on ENCOURAGING!  :0) 

"My purpose is that they may be 

ENCOURAGED in heart

and united in love,

so that they may...know...Christ"

--Colossians 2:2

"We believe that Jesus died and rose again

and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in Him.

Therefore ENCOURAGE each other with these words."

--1 Thessalonians 4:14, 18

"ENCOURAGE one another daily"

--Hebrews 3:13a

"Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus... let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith...

Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess...

let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds...

let us ENCOURAGE one another"

--Hebrews 10:19-25

What a WONDERFUL day today...to have a day dedicated to encouraging one another in Christ Jesus!  Yay!!!

As I've posted previously, I LOVE the website (In)Courage.  Every piece of the website, every post on the blog, and every woman who shares her words / her life / her soul, is absolutely a gift of daily Godly strength, encouragement, example, and love.  I said it privately in the comments section of one of their surveys once, but I'll say it again, that even though I don't comment very often on their blog, I wanted them to know that I was ALWAYS there.  (You know, like in the movie "Julie & Julia" where Julie wonders if anyone was out there "listening" to her blog.  I wanted them to know that I was ALWAYS there and ALWAYS inspired, encouraged, and ever-grateful.)  And the women of (In)Courage did it again...as part of their celebration of the National Day of Encouragement and their one year anniversary celebration, they offered up ten free encouraging cards for us to use in bringing Godly encouragement to those in our lives.  What a sweet, sweet gift!  My ten-pack of cards just came on Friday, and I LOVE them!!!  Each one is more beautiful, more inspiring, and more wonderful than the one before.  Here is a pic of all the amazing cards:

I immediately knew the perfect person to send a few to.  And while they are just now in the mail and I don't want to ruin the surprise, I am sending a bit of beautiful encouragement to: 

• my wonderful twin sister who is an absolutely amazing new mom to precious 4-month old J
• my adorably sweet and strong and wonderful younger sister, K
• to my "bestest" friend from high school, N, who is a wonderful new mom to precious 9-month old A
• to my dear co-worker and Godly friend, W, for her Godly wisdom and encouragement this past Friday
• to my sweet and Godly co-worker, W, for her Godly words of encouragement each morning
• to my best friend in the big city, L

These ladies are so wonderful to me.  I am SO BLESSED to have them in my life and THRILLED to send them such a BEAUTIFUL card of encouragement.  Thank you (In)Courage!!!

And to continue the encouragement on, this week I plan to blog a different Bible verse from inside one of the cards each day...a little daily dose of Godly encouragement every day!  Woo hoo!!!  (Trust me...with this being my busy season at work, I DEFINITELY need it!  Thank you again, (In)Courage!)

So Happy Sunday, Happy Grandparents' Day, Happy Church Picnic Day to my family down home, and Happy Encouragement Day!  Go out, hug a grandparent, eat a yummy kolache, and give some encouragement today! 

Love up on others, for GOD LOVES YOU!!!  :0)

Happy Grandparents' Day!

Happy Grandparents' Day to ALL my wonderful grandparents!  I am SO BLESSED to have each of you in my life!  Thank you for ALL you have done for me and for ALL your love.  I hope we, your grandchildren, have (at least some of the time!) been a "crown" to you...because I know we have been SO PROUD to be your grandchildren!

"Children's children are a crown to the aged,

and parents are the pride of their children."

--Proverbs 17:6

 

With my Grandma on her 90th birthday!

With my Grannie & Granddaddy!

Us with Matt's MeMa this past Christmas.

Matt & Grandpa at Grandpa's 90th birthday party last weekend!

(More pictures to come!)

And Happy 1st Grandparents' Day to my Mom & Dad this year!  J is SO WONDERFUL!!!

The new and OVERWHELMINGLY JOYFUL grandparents

on J's birth day.  :0)

Happy Grandparents' Day! WE LOVE YOU ALL SO MUCH!!!

"Every time I think of you, I give thanks to my God."

--Philippians 1:3 NLT

Extreme Makeover: Me Edition

Tonight was the first class of my women's fall Bible study.  This study is entitled "Extreme Makeover" and is written by Gail Matthews, my church's women's minister.  She is such a wonderful, Godly woman, and I am so excited about this semester's study!

The theme of the study is to renovate our lives to live intentionally for Christ.  A girl in our group said that living intentionally to her meant that every day...and sometimes every hour...she makes the conscious decision to live her life differently and live her life for Christ.  Gail said that instead of living reactively (like a bunch of pool balls being hit and bounced and ricocheted around a pool table...which often leaves us feeling scattered and empty and spiritually-dry) living intentionally is living with meaning and a purpose.  I liked that.  :0)

Our study will focus on week-by-week lessons/renovations of getting rid of the bad stuff (guilt, worry, disappointments, bitterness, fear, pride, etc) and living our lives like Christ (Romans 8:29; II Cor 3:18) with Godly faith, hope, patience, meekness, gratitude, peace and joy.  Our first homework is tomorrow...and I can't wait to get started!  I'll try to keep the blog updated each week as things touch my heart...or as my makeover becomes extreme.  I might need Stacy & Clinton to makeover the outside of me after my inside (hopefully!) gets made over to a new, more beautiful me!  :0)

I'll close this post with what Gail had written on the marker board for us to read.  She said it was one of her favorite quotes:

"I am responsible for the purity of my motives and the integrity of my behaviors."

And the above Bible verses:

"For those God foreknew He also predestined
to be conformed to the likeness of His Son"

--Romans 8:29

"And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord's glory,
are being transformed into His likeness with ever-increasing glory,
which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit."
--II Corinthians 3:18