Letting Him Direct My Steps

A song will often minister to my heart or make me stop in the midst of whatever I may be thinking about. A song may remind me of a truth or in this case a prayer. There are times I get "stuck" on a certain CD, 4Him Hymns is a CD that is in my car and one I am "stuck" on right now, it  has many of my favorite hymns and I never tire of listening to it.

 This is a little interlude between two of the songs on the CD, it is the first two verses of Take My Life and Let It Be...whenever I hear it I am reminded of what my prayer each morning needs to be

                                                  Take my life and let it be
                                                  Consecrated Lord to Thee
                                                  Take my moments and my days
                                                  Let them flow in ceaseless praise
                                                
                                                  Take my hands and let them move
                                                  At the impulse of your love
                                                  Take my feet and let them be
                                                  Swift and beautiful for thee
                                                        written by Frances Havergal

My life is not my own, it belongs to another, I would do well to remember that as I go through my day

        Direct my footsteps according to your word; let no sin rule over me  Psalm 119:133

Pinker Nail Party

Little Miss is three and we recently celebrated her birthday, She had asked for a "pinker nail party" so thats what she had. She is one of four children, each child with their own unique personality, each so different and so much fun to watch from a grandparents vantage point

Little Miss is the middle girl, she is the little momma of the bunch, always carrying around a baby doll or pushing one in a stroller. She is a girlie girl, likes jewlery, dresses and will be frequently be seen wearing a tiara or carrying around a pink sparkly purse (thrift store find) Her cake for the party...pink of course.

Have you figured out what a "pinker nail" party is yet?

                                It's a party where you paint fingernails...you knew that right?

Finding Peace

Life can be a lot like the weather, it can change very quickly, sometimes you have warning sometimes you don't. There are all the indications that a "weather front" is getting ready to move through our lives, I can feel the winds against my face. I am not sure what's ahead...but change is coming.

When thinking about all the different scenarios that could play out, I  remembered a song by Sara Groves that I heard a couple of years ago...I was reminded of the faithfulness of God in times past...he has always provided what I have had need of. My biggest need right now is peace for today and the days ahead...trusting he will continue to provide it. Thought I would share the words from that song that gave me so much peace tonight.


He's Always Been Faithful
Morning by morning, I wake up to find
The power of comfort in God's hand in mine
Season by season I watch Him amazed
In awe of the mystery of His perfect ways
All I have need of, His hand will provide
He's always been faithful to me

I can't remember a trial or a pain
He did not recycle to bring me gain
I can't remember one single regret
In serving God only, and trusting His hand
All I have need of, His hand will provide
He's always been faithful to me

This is my anthem, this is my song
The theme of the stories I've heard for so long
God has been faithful, He will be again
His loving compassion, it knows no end
All I have need of, His hand will provide
He's always been faithful, He's always been faithful
He;s always been faithful to me

On The Potters Wheel

© Drager | Stock Free Images & Dreamstime Stock Photos

Note to self,
You are not the potter you are the clay. Clay does not decide what it wants to be, does not have control over what form it will take...that's the potters job.  Clay is completely dependent on the potter to be shaped....clay does not shape and mold itself.  Clay cannot stop the wheel from spinning and get off...not until the potter is done.
It is the potter who has the plans for the clay, he is the one turning the wheel, shaping, forming, molding and reworking the clay until he has made it into a vessel that will be used for his specific purpose...his purpose not yours.  Remember, clay does not decide what form it is going to take...and remember this, without the potter you would be just a lump of clay.


Yet, O Lord, you are our Father. we are the clay, you are the potter we are the work of your hand
                                                                 Isaiah 64:8

Prayer of Praise

"Prayers of thanks focus to some extent on us. We thank God for particular gifts given to us and others personally, and for general gifts  bestowed to all. Praise on the other hand, focuses directly on God. We praise him for who and what he is. It is the difference between a spouse saying to the other, "You are the most understanding person I know; that's one reason I love you so much" and "Thanks for the sandwich, I needed it"from...  Praying; Finding Our Way Through Duty to Delight...J.I. Packer

Unexpected Treat

We did not expect to see the Cherry Blossoms this year. We had just been to DC about two weeks before the blooms had begun to open and a return trip didn't seem likely. We had talked about going back but started looking at prices and decided it was cost prohibited.

Then our friends called and asked ...are you coming up? We would never have asked, we had just spent the weekend with them...isn't there a saying about company that stays to long...or comes back too often?

They assured us it was fine...so we decided to go. We really are trying to be more mindful of opportunities as they become available...especially when it involves relationships. You just never know....none of us do. I still miss opportunities... should have done... could have said... but the Lord gives much grace and each day is filled with new opportunities.

So we got to see the Cherry Blossoms, but more importantly we were able to spend some time with friends.... and lest I forget, there was this young man who decided to join us for dinner and a rousing game of domino's afterwards

Because of the Lord's great love we are not consumed, for his compassion's never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness   Lamentations 3:22-23

Sharing

Been awhile since this little gal has been over to our house...she now moves at lightening speed. We had prepared the house that morning....all electronics...phones, laptop, IPod up out of reach. Everything ready for the little ones.

Well almost

Seems this little gal enjoys kibble...next time we will remember to pick up the dog food

 (and yes she has a mouth full of kibble)

but wait...

She is not the only one, big sister has been known to share with the dog as well

This kind of stuff just makes me smile

Redeemed

Blessed Lord Jesus

"Before thy cross I kneel and see

the heinousness of my sin

my iniquity that caused thee to be

"made a curse"

the evil that excites the severity

of divine wrath.

Show me the enormity of my guilt by

the crown of thorns,

the pierced hands and feet,

the bruised body, the dying cries. Thy blood is the blood of incarnate God,

its worth infinite, its value beyond all thought.

Infinite must be the evil and guilt

that demands such a price

Sin is my malady, my monster, my foe, my viper,

born in my birth,

alive in my life,

strong in my character,

dominating my faculties,

following me as a shadow,

intermingling with my every thought,

my chain that holds me captive in the

empire of my soul.

Sinner that I am, why should the sun give me light,

the air supply breath,

the earth bear my tread,

the fruits nourish me,

its creatures subserve my ends?

Yet thy compassion's yearn over me,

thy heart hastens to my rescue,

the love endured my curse,

thy mercy bore my deserved stripes

Let me walk humbly in the lowest depths

of humiliation

bathed in thy blood,

tender of conscience,

triumphing gloriously as an heir of salvation"

The Valley Of Vision

pages 74-75 

"For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him"  2 Corinthians 5:21

Planting Party

Our ladies group had a little planting party last week. The concept is very similar to a cookie swap. Each lady brings twelve plants....all the same...that's either two six packs or three four packs. The type of plant you brought was your choice. The hostess provided the plastic pots...which can be found at the dollar store or you could bring your own (she also provided the dirt)

This is an outdoor project...gets a little messy. Each lady takes one of the plastics pots and  fills it with dirt and a selection of plants that were brought ...no wrong or right way. We had Snap Dragons, Sweet William, Creeping Jenny, Asylum and Marigold to choose from, above picture shows some of our masterpieces.

Our church has small groups. Our group is a great mixture of young and not so young, marrieds and a couple of singles. The entire group meets twice a month then the men and women each meet separately once a month. Most of the time we dig deeper into Sunday's sermon, or review a chapter in a book or we may spend the evening in worship and prayer. Occasionally there might be something called "sovereignty bowl".... digging deeper type questions you pull from a bowl.

Care group, it's where relationships are formed...it's where you walk through life together, it's where you care for each other...and it can be a place to grow. It's a place to rejoice together, cry together, praise and pray together....and sometimes just have fun together.