:(

I have blogger’s block!

have a blessed easter

there's something about that name.

Jesus, Jesus, Jesus

There's just something about that name

Master, Savior, Jesus

Like the fragrance after the rain

Jesus, Jesus, Jesus

Let all heaven and earth proclaim

Kings and kingdoms shall all pass away

But there's something about that name

is it well with your soul?

No matter what my circumstances are, can I truthfully say ‘it is well with my soul’?

No matter how terrible it may be, no matter how miserable it may be, no matter how difficult it may be, no matter how terrifying it may be, no matter how lonesome it may be, no matter how unbearable it may be, can I truthfully say ‘it is well with my soul’? Even thru sorrows and troubles and trials and...

Yes, even so, it is well with my soul!

‘It Is Well With My Soul’ is an old hymn that has great meaning to me. Its name may seem impossible to truthfully say, but with the peace of Jesus in my heart, it is.

The words of the first verse and refrain are:

When peace, like a river, attendeth my way,
When sorrows like sea billows roll;
Whatever my lot, Thou has taught me to say,
It is well, it is well, with my soul.

It is well, with my soul,
It is well, with my soul,
It is well, it is well, with my soul.


Only thru Jesus can I honestly say it is well with my soul!

Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice! Let your gentle spirit be known to all men. The Lord is near. Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4:4-7 NAS

Even so, it is well with my soul.

pause 'n ponder

Consider Jesus.
Know Jesus.
Learn what kind of Person it is you say you trust and love and worship.
Soak in the shadow of Jesus.
Saturate your soul with the ways of Jesus.
Watch Him.
Listen to Him.
Stand in awe of Him.
Let Him overwhelm you with the way He is.

John Piper

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I love my hubby. He still opens the car door for me.

At this specific time, it has been...

938,908,800 seconds or
15,648,480 minutes or
260,808 hours or
1552 weeks or
10,867 days or
29 years, 9 months, 2 days
since we’ve been married! (give or take a few hours)

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During my recent visit with the ‘kids’ and ‘grandkids’, I tried to sharpen my story telling ‘skills’. The first couple of stories weren't great, but I think I improved along the way.

I told these stories to the little lady. Each one began with “There once was a little girl (or princess or snuggle bug or little lady or doodle bug or... ) named (insert her name) who......... My imagination just wouldn’t flow unless she was in my lap with me holding her close. (Gotta love it!)

I made up adventures as I went, tying to be creative, and loving every minute! The little lady listened intently, sometimes widening her eyes with surprise, sometimes giggling, sometimes looking deep in thought, sometimes smiling, sometimes looking with a question.

Holding her close, with my love over flowing, these moments I’ll cherish forever.

And yes, we live happily every after, safe in the arms of Jesus...

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While visiting my ‘kids’ and ‘grandkids’ recently, one night, the little fellow didn’t want to go to bed. In the darkish bedroom, I held him close, and softly sang. It was a moment I’ll cherish forever.

First of all, I’m not a good singer. However, the little fellow cuddled up and listened as I softly sang. He relaxed and snuggled with his Nana (a precious moment indeed!). Of course, ‘Jesus Loves Me’ was one of the songs. I’ve sung it at least a kazillion times. But, this time I really, really listened to the words.

I thought about how deeply and completely I love this little fellow. My grandchildren opened my heart with a new love I can’t explain, one I had never experienced before. Considering how much I love my grandchildren, to how much Jesus loves us, well, there is no comparison. His love is complete and perfect and true and accepting and amazing and genuine and enduring and everlasting and abundant and unconditional.

Wow! Jesus Loves Me!

a disciple’s song – an invitation to give God your all

In the same way, any of you who does not give up everything he has cannot be my disciple.
Luke 14:33 NIV

“God had hidden a song in my heart. And touching a tender chord, He caused me to sing."

Judson W Van DeVenter (1896) was struggling between his dream of becoming an outstanding and famous artist, and fully committing his life as an evangelist. A moment in his life came, and he surrendered completely to God’s will. “At last the time came when I could hold out no longer and I surrendered my all-my time and my talents. It was then that a new day was ushered into my life. I wrote I Surrender All in memory of the time when, after the long struggle, I had surrendered and dedicated my life to active Christian service for the Lord.”

This hymn is a reminder to totally surrender your life to God’s will. And, that said, when I sing this song, do I really mean what I’m singing???

All to Jesus I Surrender

All to Jesus I surrender,
All to Him I freely give;
I will ever love and trust Him,
In His presence daily live.

Refrain

I surrender all, I surrender all.
All to Thee, my blessed Savior,
I surrender all.

All to Jesus I surrender,
Humbly at His feet I bow,
Worldly pleasures all forsaken;
Take me, Jesus, take me now.

All to Jesus I surrender,
Make me, Savior, wholly Thine;
Let me feel Thy Holy Spirit,
Truly know that Thou art mine.

All to Jesus I surrender,
Lord, I give myself to Thee;
Fill me with Thy love and power,
Let Thy blessing fall on me.

All to Jesus I surrender,
Now I feel the sacred flame.
Oh, the joy of full salvation!
Glory, glory to His name!

quick quotes

On the purpose of mankind: "What were we made for? To know God. What aim should we set ourselves in life? To know God. What is the eternal life that Jesus gives? Knowledge of God....What is the best thing in life, bringing more joy, delight, and contentment, than anything else? Knowledge of God....Once you become aware that the main business that you are here for is to know God, most of life's problems fall into place of their own accord." ~ J I Packer – ‘Knowing God’, pg 29

The Goodness of God: “The psalmist’s point [from Psalm 145:9, 15-16) is that, since God controls all that happens in his world, every meal, every pleasure, every possession, every bit of sun, every nights sleep, every moment of health and safety, everything else that sustains and enriches life, is a divine gift.”

~ J I Packer – ‘Knowing God’, pg 162

pause 'n ponder

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What is hope?...

What hope means
Hope is bright shining light which keeps darkness at the bay
Hope is gentle cold breeze on a hot summer day
Hope is to remain positive when going gets tough
hope is seeking more when others think u had enough

What hope means
Hope is dreaming of tomorrow
Hope is simmering under sorrow
Hope is sparkles when tears in our eyes
Hope is a beautiful thing & beautiful things never dies

What hope means
Hope is as light as a feather
Hope keeps all of us together
Hope is ubiquitous and free of cost
hope is the last thing ever lost.....

Vineet Bansal

quick quotes

The truth of God's love is not that he allows bad things to happen. It's His promise that He'll be here with us when they do.
~Clark Davis, Love Comes Softly

Pain insists upon being attended to. God whispers to us in our pleasures, speaks in our consciences, but shouts in our pains. It is his megaphone to rouse a deaf world.

~C S Lewis

All of history is moving toward one great goal, the white-hot worship of God and his Son among all the peoples of the earth.

~John Piper

broken heart and broken spirit

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We all need to be broken, because we are all born unbroken.

The more wounded we are, the more unbroken we become.

Anne Murchison

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Just what is ‘brokenness’? One definition is an acute and constant awareness of God’s presence, and devastation from the presence of my sin.

The way I see it, brokenness is a good thing. To completely and entirely and fully and totally surrender my heart to Jesus, then, and only then, will I be broken before God. And, I have to be broken hearted for God to use me. So, brokenness really is a good thing.

This is something I struggle with. Every step and every day. But I know God is with me every step that I take. Now, that is awesome!

Then, and only then, God can use me according to His will.

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Brokenness and freedom go together, in that order;
first suffering, then comfort;
first trouble, then joy;
first felt unworthiness, then felt love;
first death to the self, then resurrection of the soul.

Larry Crabb
The Pressure's Off

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The light of heaven is the face of Jesus Christ; the joy of heaven is the presence of the Lord Jesus Christ; the melody of heaven is the name of Jesus Christ. The theme of heaven is the work of Jesus Christ. The employment of heaven is the work of Jesus Christ. The fullness of heaven is the Lord Jesus Christ, Himself.

~Anonymous

broken before blessed

For me to be fixed, I first must be broken.

I have to be disciplined before I can be used. I can’t be prideful or arrogant or rebellious or stubborn or resistant or selfish. I must have humility and be obedient and be repentant and to grow and become equipped for His service. I have to totally yield and surrender my life to Him, or He can’t use me.

There are many pathways to brokenness. It may be because of sickness, it may be because of sin, it may be because of death, it may be because of sorrow, it may be because of poverty, it may be because of a strong self-will, it may be because of anger, it may be because of trials, it may be because of difficulties, it may be because of hard circumstances.

Just what’s it going to take to break me before the Lord?
I must bow humbly and broken before God.
Yes, the Lord blesses broken things!

God is most glorified in us when we are most broken before Him.

The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise. Psalm 51:17 NIV

The Lord is close to the broken-hearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.
Psalm 34:18 NIV

foto favs

Hebron Rock Colony - near Boone, NC

shhhhhhh...

Lately, I haven’t taken much time to be silent before God. It’s hard to hear Him speak when I’m not still before Him. There’s not a single reason or any sorry excuse or anything else to blame why I haven’t. When I get caught up in day-to-day things... yes, things. Is there anything or anyone or anywhere that is more important? Nope.

And, Jesus died for my sins and He knows my name and He cares about me and He is my salvation and He loves me and He blesses me and He hears my prayers and...

When I read these words today, I felt a warm and comforting embrace. My Father welcomes me into His arms and covers me with His love. For these precious moments, I sit by my Father and rest at His feet.

Let Your God Love You

Be silent.
Be still. Alone,
Empty
Before your God.
Say nothing.
Be silent.

Be still.
Let your God
Look upon you.
That is all.
God knows,
Understands,
Loves you with
An enormous love.
God only wants to
Look upon you
With Love.
Quiet.
Still.
Be.

Let your God –
Love you.

by Edwina Gately (from There Was No Path but I Trod One)

quick quotes

What can you ever really know of other people’s souls – of their temptations, their opportunities, their struggles? One soul in the whole creation you do know: and it is the only one whose fate is placed in your hands.
~CS Lewis

God loves you as though you are the only person in the world, and he loves everyone the way he loves you.
~St Augustine

You are accepted. You are accepted by that which is greater than you, and the name of which you don't know...simply accept the fact that you are accepted. If that happens, we experience grace.
~Paul Tillich

consider it pure joy

In living day-to-day, I often find myself focused on myself. I dwell on me. I think about my struggles and my physical pain and my troubles and my misery and my circumstances. I have my very own ‘pity party’. I’m too occupied with myself and I’m too self-absorbed. Good grief, do I really think I have problems? Do I really think that ...?

Wake up Liz! STOP!

I have no reason to dwell on the miniscule ‘problems’ I think I have. My life is blessed, I should be thankful and appreciate that my problems are so small.

Instead, God can use me just the way I am. I don’t have to understand it. I don’t need to question it. I just need to let Him have all areas of my life. The more I pray and the more I study God’s Word, I lean on Him more and more. The closer to God I am, the more I am strengthened. It’s hard for me to be happy about my problems, but there are reasons to be so.

Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.

James 1:1-4 NAS

oh what fun it is!

I'd forgotten just how much fun it is to cut donuts in the snow!

I'm a little rusty, but I'm rather proud of the 'art' I left behind!

(you gotta love empty parking lots:)

foto favs