Hello to you. Hope your day is going well. I was late but right on time to the Woman’s Coffee today at Grace House. I wasn’t going to go but God wouldn’t let me rest about it. Missy always makes me feel so welcome as do the other ladies. Sometimes you just need to be with other women! We talked about being a Mary or a Martha in our lives. We talked about things you try to help a teenager who has a lot of questions about God. I felt just by her sharing and the feedback we gave her God was at work to help her. We prayed for dear Charlottes sick dog Annie. Charlotte left us in tears as she had to take Annie to the vet. I’m glad I went! I usually am it’s just the going! I didn’t sleep very well last night – that’s why I didn’t want to get up and go. I always feel bad for Link because he always gets disturbed with my tossing and turning.
Isaiah 41:10New International Version
10 So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.
Hello to you. As I write to you tonight, I have a heavy heart. With the recent murders of Charlie Kirk and Iryna Zarutska and so many others that don’t make the headlines, it’s just a really sad time for America. It feels like every day we are being fed negative news. We can’t catch our collective breath! What I’m having to do is turn to God and pray for our country…for this world. I want to use my words here to lift up the spirits of those who intentionally or unintentionally visit my blog.
I would ask you reader what are you grateful for today? I am grateful for the savior who unconditionally loves me. When everything is dark there is light in Jesus and giving thanks. What we focus on the most gains the most power. I want to focus my personal power on the good in this world even though that is so hard to do right now.
My prayer for today:
Dear Jesus the people of this world need to know you now more than ever. I pray that those who are casting about and are lost will be lead to your loving and merciful light. I pray for the truth of what you taught us how to love one another, your creations and you would take center stage. I pray especially for the children that are the innocent in the affairs of adults. They should be able to go to churches and schools free from fear. I also pray for all animals that you would intercede for those being needlessly abused and neglected. Thank you holy father!
Mark 10:13-16New International Version
The Little Children and Jesus
13 People were bringing little children to Jesus for him to place his hands on them, but the disciples rebuked them. 14 When Jesus saw this, he was indignant. He said to them, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. 15 Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.” 16 And he took the children in his arms,placed his hands on them and blessed them.
Hello to you. I hope this finds you well today. My thoughts this evening turn to mortality. To legacy. To being enough in the time I’ve had thus far. I couldn’t sleep the other night and found this from Jonathan Roumie. What I got out of it is it’s not how long we live but how deeply we love in the time we are given:
Jonathan has a lot of videos up like this on YouTube and I’m gradually getting through them.
Today was my Thursday prayer group and I was finally able to talk to Pastor Jason about a calling I’ve been having about an assisted living home we have here in town called The Cottages. Ever since we went there for Mothers Day in May I’ve been thinking about the place. The thing that has been holding me back is me – specifically my body. Things going on with my body make it hard for me to want to commit to anything. Explaining this to Jason and Lois today brought me to tears. I am willing to serve God but my body mobility and pain keep holding me back. Both Jason and Lois were supportive of me approaching the place to see if there is a need I can fill. Lois suggested keeping it small – just going once a week to say hello- learn the residents names. My plan is to call them on Monday and see what God has in mind for me. Please pray for me – for healing and heeding Gods call. Thank you! 🙏
Link will always look like a puppy to me – unchanging. The only thing that he’s showing of his age is the changing mobility in his back legs. He’s my baby boy!
Hello to you. How are you? I’m just back from church and getting groceries. The sun is out after being cloudy- making it humid! Last night we got much needed rain.
I almost didn’t go to church this morning. If I had listened to the voice that spoke so clearly I would have stayed in bed! My back has been bothering me the past couple of days and I was considering staying home from church. Before bed last night I said to Jesus if you want me to go to church tomorrow ease my back pain. Sure enough I woke up and the sharp pain was gone but a voice told me loudly and sweetly to stay in bed. I couldn’t go back to sleep and forced myself to get up defying the voice. Pastor Jason’s messages today were ones I needed to hear and if I had listened to that voice I would have missed them! I would have missed seeing my church family. Pastor Jason was sick and yet he took the stage! “Your heart is a wicked steering wheel” he reminded us. “Your identity drives your behavior – your identity is not anything but your relationship with Jesus.” The spirit is willing but the flesh is weak – this is something I struggle with a lot as my body gets older. Sometimes we just have to push through and trust Jesus hears our pleas. Our inner voice can’t always be trusted and after I heard it I even asked who was speaking! I asked the Holy Spirit to help me and I think he did. Be careful who you listen to!
Reading for today:
2 Corinthians 4:7-18New International Version
7 But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. 8 We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; 9 persecuted,but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed.10 We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body. 11 For we who are alive are always being given over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that his life may also be revealed in our mortal body. 12 So then, death is at work in us, but life is at work in you.
13 It is written: “I believed; therefore I have spoken.”[a]Since we have that same spirit of[b] faith, we also believe and therefore speak, 14 because we know that the one who raised the Lord Jesus from the dead will also raise us with Jesus and present us with you to himself. 15 All this is for your benefit, so that the grace that is reaching more and more people may cause thanksgiving to overflow to the glory of God.
16 Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. 17 For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. 18 So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.
Happy Fathers Day to all the men in my life! Yesterday some of us had a cookout at my Aunt and Uncles house and that was really nice! The weather was beautiful. We had hotdogs and hamburgers and chocolate cake for dessert. We sat on their porch and looked at a couple picture books my Aunt is taking with her for her upcoming visit with my Uncle Bill in California. My cousins and I took a walk at a park nearby – it was harder than it used to be but was good for us after a big meal.
I went to church today and as I sat there I got teary eyed thinking about my dad who is in heaven now. I was thinking how happy it would make him that his little girl was in church for this special day. He can rest easy knowing I believe in Jesus. For so many years I wasn’t going to church – my parents are Catholics and I was a Catholic for much of my life. I have been thinking about my dad a lot lately. My grief has been gradual these past couple of years and days like today especially make it stronger.
The messages at church today came from 1 and 2 Thessalonians- talking about the rapture. We don’t know when it will happen – just how. So many people I’ve known and loved are already with Jesus and someday it will be my turn.
Oh Lord, my God When I, in awesome wonder Consider all the worlds Thy hands have made I see the stars, I hear the rolling thunder Thy power throughout the universe displayed
Then sings my soul, my Savior God to Thee How great Thou art, how great Thou art Then sings my soul, my Savior God to Thee How great Thou art, how great Thou art
And when I think that God, His Son not sparing Sent Him to die, I scarce can take it in That on the cross, my burden gladly bearing He bled and died to take away my sin
Then sings my soul, my Savior God to Thee How great Thou art, how great Thou art Then sings my soul, my Savior God to Thee How great Thou art, how great Thou art
When Christ shall come, with shout of acclamation And take me home, what joy shall fill my heart Then I shall bow, in humble adoration And then proclaim, my God, how great Thou art
Then sings my soul, my Savior God to Thee How great Thou art, how great Thou art Then sings my soul, my Savior God to Thee How great Thou art, how great Thou art How great Thou art, how great Thou art
Good morning to you. I hope this finds you well. Today’s prayer meeting was just Jeannie and I. The rest of the regulars had stuff going on so we made the best of it. Jeannie had a lot of prayer petitions to lay at the cross for her family especially Roy who fell and cracked his head open recently. He is elderly and lives alone and relies on Jeannie a lot. He needs more than she can give so we are praying his doctor recommends rehab for him. We prayed for our church and the world. What we also prayed for is what’s going on in my head with the pressure and balance in my ears. Everyone has been praying for me about this.
One of my favorite church songs:
God of Wonders
Song by Third Day ‧ 2003
When we finished we agreed that it felt good to lay all our troubles down at the feet of Jesus. Now the challenge is to not pick those things back up and let Jesus do his thing. That’s something my Aunt and Niki talked about yesterday too! I wonder is it a woman thing to want to try and do it ourselves?! Now is the time for faith – believing in the unseen which can be quite a challenge sometimes.
Lord of all creation Lord of water, earth and sky The heavens are your Tabernacle Glory to the Lord on high
And God of wonders beyond our galaxy You are holy, holy The universe declares Your majesty You are holy, holy Lord of heaven and earth Lord of heaven and earth
So early in the morning I will celebrate the light As I stumble in the darkness I will call your name by night
God of wonders beyond our galaxy You are holy, holy The universe declares Your majesty You are holy, holy
Lord of heaven and earth Lord of heaven and earth Lord of heaven and earth Lord of heaven and earth
Hallelujah! To the Lord of heaven and earth Hallelujah! To the Lord of heaven and earth Hallelujah! To the Lord of heaven and earth
The God of wonders beyond our galaxy (You) You are holy, holy Precious Lord, reveal Your heart to me Father, holy, holy (Lord God Almighty)
The universe declares Your majesty (You are holy) You are holy (yes you are), holy (holy You are) Holy (Jesus saves), holy
Hallelujah! To the Lord of heaven and earth Hallelujah! To the Lord of heaven and earth Hallelujah! To the Lord of heaven and earth Hallelujah! To the Lord of heaven and earth Hallelujah! To the Lord of heaven and earth Hallelujah! To the Lord of heaven and earth
Hello to you! I hope this finds you well. I had a nice visit with my Aunt Ruth and her niece Niki that lives with her today. We had lunch and read from devotionals and I sang the song The Goodness of God . I love that song! Each of us have been through life altering ordeals and find it very therapeutic to share our testimonies of how we came to believe in Jesus. Sharing our experiences, strength and hope reinforces our belief ! Through our individual stories we see that Jesus had a plan for each of us and through the Holy Spirit the doors were flung open for each of us. We just had to see and recognize which doors to enter and which ones to let shut.
Spending time with fellow believers fills a void in me that can only be filled by such gatherings. Today’s gathering was like food for me and we are talking about making it a weekly occurrence.
I love You, Lord For Your mercy never fails me All my days, I’ve been held in Your hands From the moment that I wake up Until I lay my head Oh, I will sing of the goodness of God
‘Cause all my life You have been faithful And all my life You have been so, so good With every breath that I am able Oh, I will sing of the goodness of God
I love Your voice You have led me through the fire In darkest night You are close like no other I’ve known You as a Father I’ve known You as a Friend And I have lived in the goodness of God, yeah
‘Cause all my life You have been faithful, oh yes You have And all my life You have been so, so good With every breath that I am able Oh, I will sing of the goodness of God
Your goodness is running after, it’s running after me Your goodness is running after, it’s running after me With my life laid down, I surrendered now I give You everything, oh Lord Your goodness is running after, it’s running after me Your goodness is running after, it’s running after me (oh yeah, oh yeah) Your goodness is running after, it’s running after me With my life laid down, I surrendered now I give You everything Your goodness is running after, it keeps running after me
And all my life You have been faithful And all my life You have been so, so good With every breath that I am able Oh, I’m gonna sing of the goodness of God I’m gonna sing
All my life You have been faithful (All of my life You’ve been faithful) All my life You have been so, so good (So good with every breath) every breath that I am able (Every breath I’m able) I will sing (I’m gonna sing) Of the goodness (of the goodness of God, yes I am) I’m gonna sing of the goodness of God Oh, I’m gonna sing of the goodness of God
A couple residents The flower arrangements The cookies went over really well
Hello to you on this sunny Thursday. Today I joined Sandy, Jera and Charlotte in delivering flower arrangements and cookies to our local assisted living home called The Cottages for Mothers Day. They really seemed to appreciate the gesture. The staff at the facility appreciated us coming as well. We got a chance to see some of the rooms and they were really homey! One gal we visited with had a beautiful picture of Jesus by her bed. It was nice to bring something a little special to their day and visit for a little while. When you live in such places you don’t always have visitors.
Sandy, the head of our women’s ministries, wants to go back for Fathers Day next month.
Matthew 25:40New International Version
40 “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’
Hello to you on this windy Monday afternoon. There has been some things happening the past couple of days that have been good for me and good for my church. On Sunday I went to church and got to hear from the inspirational representatives from a mission our church supports – Missions of Hope International or MOHI.
https://youtu.be/4jeA6wW9H5Y?si=AhGhYXA7QFyMeBoG – Be a Spring – Pastor Jason Boyd Grace Bible Church Middleton ID – includes interview with representatives from Missions of Hope International (MOHI)
This morning I was asked to join some ladies at Grace House for coffee and to help assemble some Mothers Day gifts for residents at our local assisted living home called The Cottages. We will be taking them over on Thursday. They really appreciated the Easter baskets we made and asked if we would come back! I didn’t get to deliver the baskets but this time I will be involved in this delivery. Our women’s ministry leader Sandy has a lot of ideas for our little group to include may be making care kits for women at a homeless shelter. She was inspired by the message from MOHI – how can we reach out to those in need in our own communities? We have been known in the past as the “hot dog church” but with how much we are growing it’s possible we can be much more!
Today was Baptism SundayHe was baptized jeans and all! I almost went up myself! Not ready yet
Today we were in 2 Timothy 1:1-7. The message from Brad was a lot about legacy. His family wasn’t rich when he was growing up but they left him a loving legacy in Christ. He asked us who is your Paul and my mind immediately thought of my Aunt Ruth. She is such a good role model as is my cousin Tony and his wife my dear friend Tawna. It is through their example that they can count me and my drawing nearer to Christ as part of their legacy. I have been blessed throughout my life to have had loved ones and friends leading by their example in their faith. Today was baptism Sunday – I almost went up! I’m almost ready!
2 Timothy 1:1-7New International Version
1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God,in keeping with the promise of life that is in Christ Jesus,
2 To Timothy, my dear son:
Grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.
Thanksgiving
3 I thank God, whom I serve, as my ancestors did, with a clear conscience, as night and day I constantly remember you in my prayers. 4 Recalling your tears, I long to see you, so that I may be filled with joy. 5 I am reminded of your sincere faith, which first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice and, I am persuaded, now lives in you also.
Appeal for Loyalty to Paul and the Gospel
6 For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands. 7 For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline.
To be 