HUMILITY

My husband has been preaching through the book of Nehemiah and it has been a fresh journey for me. Nehemiah, a humble servant - a Cupbearer to the King, hears of the great affliction of the Jewish reminant left in the destroyed city of Jerusalem. He is broken hearted and prays to the Lord God of heaven for the children of Israel. God answers his prayer and Nehemiah finds favor with the king, who sends him with letters that would provide Nehemiah the supplies needed to rebuild the wall around Jerusalem.
From a humble servant who LOVED, HONORED and TRUSTED the Lord - God raised up a leader who lead the Jews living in the rubble of Jerusalem to work together and rebuild the city. Once the wall was rebuilt, it was time to appoint a leader. In chapter 7 Nehemiah appoints a ruler of the palace with one listed qualification..."he was a faithful man, and feared God above many."
This is where my husband referenced Psalm 84. What a beautiful Psalm of praise and longing for communion in the sanctuary/house of the Lord. It was verse 10 that inspired me to create this graphic image. I am so glad the Lord uses broken, worn out and tattered lives to do HIS work. I am so glad he is forgiving and merciful. He is the God of second chances...and in many cases...the God of third, fourth and fifth chances....and sixth.....and seventh....etc...Thank you, Lord!

Be thou Exalted!

"Be thou Exalted, O God, above the Heavens; let thy Glory be above all the Earth." Psalm 57:5

I love the way David praises the Lord in the book of Psalm. The earth and all of nature exalts the Master Creater. I see His handiwork everywhere.

We took the grandbabies fishing this weekend - there were ducks with their babies - and buckets full of worms to play with.......

Like I said, I see God's handiwork everywhere....

It's the Simple Things....

"It is always the simple things that change our lives. And these things never happen when you are looking for them to happen. Life will reveal answers at the pace life wishes to do so. You feel like running, but life is on a stroll. This is how God does things." Donald Miller 


Here I am enjoying one of life's simple and sweet moments....holding a litter of baby kittens! How could anyone do anything but smile when you look at their cute faces and watch them explore the world around them for the first time. It's the simple things!

My Mockingbird...

I photographed this lovely Mockingbird in my back yard this week. He was busy singing his song, serenading the kids and I as we worked around the yard. There is just something about a birds song that  makes me smile, gives me pause and makes me stop, take a deep breath and smell the freshly cut grass floating on the cool spring air....to take a moment to look around and thank the Lord for His blessings.....to enjoy that brief moment when God sends me a song to lift my spirit and remind me of His presence. It's the simple things that matter the most.

No Shadow of Turning

This is one of my favorite verses. The words are so beautiful and leave an image of a loving, powerful, infinite God who is constant and steadfast. "...with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning." James writes one simple phrase that paints a profound picture of an unwavering Father who's love for us is without even a glimmer of swaying. Knowing that no matter what happens in life, I can put my trust in the God who is the "unmoved mover".

One Nation Under God

"If my people, who are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land." 2 Chronicles 7:1
I am so glad that I was born an American and raised by Christian parents. I would not want to live in any other country.
 I will not forget and I will proudly remind younger generations that the United States of America was founded by men and women who fought and died for religious freedom, founding this nation on Christian principals.
"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. - That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, - That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness." (an excerpt from The Declaration of Independence)