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HAPPY THANKSGIVING DAY TO YOU! I hope that you are thankful and full of gratitude. The joy of the Lord is our strength even in whatever you are going through and however you are feeling. I want to share this devotion with you from the Upper Room Magazine. A GREAT DAY!   Read Read Psalm 34:1-11, 17-20 When the righteous cry for help, the Lord hears, and rescues them from all their troubles. - Psalm 34:17 (NRSV) Today's Devotional Boyce, a single, teacher-friend, was facing a Thanksgiving alone — his family 2,500 miles away. So, we invited him to celebrate the day with our family. Within minutes of arriving, he was in the den with the children, laughing, rolling on the floor, and having a wonderful time. The following spring, Boyce began to struggle with pronouncing words; he had to focus intently to complete a sentence. Soon after, he was diagnosed with ALS (Lou Gehrig’s disease). His condition deteriorated rapidly, but...

  Good morning to you this fine Sunday! 2 Thessalonians 3:16 Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times and in every way. The Lord be with all of you. Is your peace waning? Are you troubled? Do you pray for God's peace? Do you keep your focus on Christ? The Holy One Who died on the cross for your sins? We do live in a troubled world. We do have things in our individual lives that trouble us. But if our focus is on Jesus those things in our lives that upset us will be taken care of because God is with us. Now they may not turn out the way we want them to. But God has a plan for our lives. He knows the big picture. He knows what is coming ahead for us. So, the results of our troubles are in God's hand. And however things turn out are perfect for us as long as we keep our focus on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith. So, Matthew 6:33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to ...

Good morning to you! 2 Peter 1:2 May God bless you with his special favor and wonderful peace as you come to know Jesus, our God and Lord, better and better.  I want God's favor, how about you? We all should. But sometimes we don't feel like we have it or are getting it. Even though we know beyond a shadow of a doubt that God loves us beyond measure, we don't see His favor on us. Or maybe we don't think we do. And maybe we don't get His favor! There is a definite key behind this and it is the last part of that scripture above.  "...as you come to know Jesus, our God and Lord, better and better." And what is the key for knowing God better and better? It is praying, reading the Word of God, and not just reading but studying the Word of God. We also need to worship Him in Spirit and truth. And hearing preaching, going to church. Spending time with His people.  And remember that His people are not perfect but striving and running th...

Good morning! This has been a blessed and very busy week. And I praise God for it! I have had several doctor's appointments and tests run. Just trying to get some medical things taken care of before the end of the year. And yes I do have several things going on health wise. Just trying to get to the bottom of them so I can move on. Sort of getting it over with. And I have two more doctor's appointments next week. I will be doctored out before Thanksgiving! I know that God is with me and taking care of me all the time. He is right by my side. And He is right by your side also.  Psalm 118:6 The LORD is on my side; I will not fear: what can man do unto me?   Romans 8:31 What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? Psalm 56:4 In God, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I shall not be afraid. What can flesh do to me? Isaiah 41:10 fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will ...

Good morning! I would like to share my devotion this morning, in a moment. Do you sit down in the morning and spend time with God? Do you talk to him (pray) without ceasing? Do you study His Word? Even if just a verse or two a day. We are all busy but I guarantee that if you would do those things your days would be much better or you would have a different attitude if they are not so good. Sometimes the things that are not going so well can be handled better when you are spending time with God. Here's the devotion: Closer to God Read Mark 12:41-44 Paul wrote, “If I give all I possess to the poor . . . but do not have love, I gain nothing.” - 1 Corinthians 13:3 (NIV) Today's Devotional    Recently we completed our church stewardship campaign. The program consisted of a series of messages, starting with the big picture of living for Christ. We then discussed how stewardship fits into a life that is pleasing to God, including the ...

Hello! Life is rough. Life is busy. Life is not for the faint of heart! Life is easy. Life is not busy enough. Life is distinct and bright and wonderful!  And also with God life is: Hid with Christ in God! Col. 3:3 Eternal! John 3:16 , 17:3 Abundant! John 10:10 Awesome! Matthew 6:33 A gift from God! Romans 6:23 And life is so much more!! But as we know it is all a matter of perspective. Are you looking at life from a positive outlook or a negative outlook? God wants us all to look at it from a positive outlook. Life is not perfect, not even close. But with God all things are possible! So, if you know Jesus as your Savior, life can be amazing, because Jesus lives in our hearts. And what can be better than that? Look at your life as wonderful, amazing, and full of God's blessings. Because that is the kind of life that God wants you to have, despite the circumstances. Ephesians 5:20 And give thanks for everything to God th...

Good morning this beautiful Sunday morning! Oh Lord how majestic is your name in all the earth! What a great cool, crisp morning that the Lord has made. I was reading my devotion this morning and it really made me think about what life holds for us in the future and what we have gone through in the past. Some of us have really had it rough. Some of us have just sailed through life with not a lot of trials.  But whatever we have gone through or not gone through, God is still with us and wants the best for us. And He sustains us and helps us through whatever it is we go through. We have to believe that or we have no hope. Romans 12:12 Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.  1 Timothy 1:1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the command of God our Savior and of Christ Jesus our hope,   Romans 15:13    May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power o...

Hello!  I have not been very good lately about posting every day but awhile back I talked to you about not putting myself in a stressful position. As much as I do want to post everyday, my life is just so busy and I just don't seem to have the time. Maybe soon there will be a day when I won't be so busy and then I can get back to writing every day. Just know that Jesus loves you so much and He wants you to know Him intimately and seek Him earnestly. He wants you to pray without ceasing, thank Him and praise Him, worship Him, read and study His Word and do it, and love everyone. 1 John 4:19 We love because he first loved us. Mark 12:30 Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength. John 17:3 Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.   Deuteronomy 4:29 But from there you will seek the Lord your God and you wil...

Good morning to you! God is good all the time and all the time God is good! And I praise His holy name! In my home I have an arsenal of things. Like too many things. Like my children are going to go crazy and want to kill me when I am gone. Too many papers. Too much junk. Too many chachkies. ( Yiddish word for trinkets and collectibles, AKA "dusk collectors" that you would find in an old lady's house.) Well, I am not that old yet, am I? I am closer than you think! Anyway, in my papers, stacked, stuffed, and stored everywhere in my house, I found a paper this morning called: 101 Ways to Praise a Child . I have had it for years and don't know where I got it. But it is great. I am going to share it with you after I add some scripture about how God feels about children. Therefore we should feel the same way and treat them as God would treat them. It really saddens me to think of the way that some people treat kids. So, here goes: Psalm 127:3-5  ...

Good morning to you! Today is election day! Today is a good day! Today will be a great day! God is with us! Romans 8:31 What shall we say about such wonderful things as these? If God is for us, who can ever be against us? Wow! That is so true. The Bible, God's Word says it is. So, how can we doubt it? Do you doubt God's Word? I sure hope not. It is true and it is truth! In the beginning [before all time] was the Word (Christ), and the Word was with God, and the Word was God Himself. John 1: 1 I will delight myself in Your statutes; I will not forget Your word. Psalm 119: 16 Your word have I laid up in my heart, that I might not sin against You. Psalm 119: 11 But what does it say? The Word (God's message in Christ) is near you, on your lips and in your heart; that is, the Word (the message, the basis and object) of faith which we preach. Romans 10: 8 Sky and earth will pass away, but My words will not pa...

   I took this picture on my walk Thursday morning! It is not as good as I would have liked but it was a beautiful view! Pond on the right with fog  and the sun coming up. The fall trees. It was gorgeous! Good morning to you!  It is November already! This year has just flown by. Before you know it, it will be Christmas! As much as I love the fact that we celebrate the birth of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, we have let it become a stressful, and busy time. And I am not sure what to do about it.  It is a time for the love of Jesus to shine through us and to be a witness to others as to how much He loves them. And yet we go to and fro and shop and stress-out and whatever else we do at this most special time of the year. But right now I am going to choose to spend this month being thankful and in peace because I know that Jesus loves us so much and that is what God wants us to do. Then when December comes I will st...