The Sunset

The sunlight laced the trees, 

so I ran down the stairs and out the door

so that I could snap a picture of the trees that seemed to be etched into the sky.

It was breathtaking!

When I came back in, I stood at the kitchen window, and all I could see was depressingly grey clouds. "If the clouds weren't in the way," I grumbled, "it would be a stunning sunset! Psalm 19:1 came to mind, but I kinda pushed the thought aside. A few minutes passed, and I glanced out the window to this:

It was breathtaking!

On my way back in from taking the pictures, I whispered to God, "I guess you proved me wrong!" As soon as I came in and made it back to the window, the sunset had disappeared entirely.

Psalm 19:1 (ESV)

The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork.  

Beautiful Blessings - 8/23/15

~ Face painting kids at the Church picnic! T-bug wanted to be a teddy bear (so Mom did that) and then later on wanted a bunny on her arm (so I did that)! :~D

~ Lip-syncing & dancing with T-bug on our way to Church!

~ Beginning with my daily Bible reading again after a long hiatus!

~ Psalm 138....verses 3 and 8 in particular!

~ Hearing this quote in the sermon:

God has a purpose in where he has placed you. Be satisfied and productive there, and do what you can to prepare where he may take you. 

Beautiful Blessings - 8/21/15

~ Getting a massage and hugs from T-bug!

~ L-Jo and Mommy going on a buddy date to the YMCA to go swimming!

~ Lil' G feeling better after a good day of rest!

~ T-Tot going on a buddy date with her friend!

~ Being encouraged by the network of prayer warriors!

Psalm 118:24 (ESV)

This is the day that the Lord has made;
    let us rejoice and be glad in it.

Beautiful Blessings - 7/12/15

~ Enjoying angel food cake and strawberry rhubarb jam.

~ Watching "Monk" with family and a friend.

~ Harmonizing with my sisters as we sing a song based on Psalm 23.

~ Remembering Psalm 118:24 and rejoicing about the lovely day that the Lord made!

~ Reminders from God to fully trust Him even when things dont make sense!

Photo-A-Day - Day 7!

"Unique" - A story of 4 quarters!

The story starts with a pair of shoes. Canvas ballet shoes to be exact. The shoes were bought so that we could do our shows at various nursing homes in our area. Though something was overlooked, and we found out that we had overpaid. 

My ballet instructor gave us 4 quarters in change so that we were even. The quarters were left in an envelope - completely forgotten - while the shoes were used for our shows. 

One day, it was a dismal day, and we were in a rough patch. It was that day in which I found the 4 quarters. A glimmer of hope on a depressing day. The quarters were then forgotten after the rough patch was over, and it was lost in a sea of envelopes. 

Every Mother's Day, our Church hands out baby bottles for a local organization that is pro-life, and does so much with the little they have. I've personally raised money for them before, and sometimes through miraculous ways! We took home a baby bottle last year but we never took it back on Father's day, so we slowly added change throughout the year to it.

Today I stumbled upon the envelope with the 4 quarters. Its time for them to go where they are needed next, and they are now in the baby bottle for New Hope. As I dropped them into the bottle, I saw that the bottle is almost full. On Father's Day, we will take the bottle to Church, and from there it'll go to New Hope, to bring new hope to those who are needing it most!

Those 4 little quarters have brought hope to many! Through the shoes that we use at our nursing home shoes, encouraging me through a dismal time, and finally to bring hope to women who need it most! 

God is good! :~) <3 God is so very good! 

Psalm 111 (ESV)

Praise the Lord!
I will give thanks to the Lord with my whole heart,
    in the company of the upright, in the congregation.
Great are the works of the Lord,
    studied by all who delight in them.
Full of splendor and majesty is his work,
    and his righteousness endures forever.
He has caused his wondrous works to be remembered;
    the Lord is gracious and merciful.
He provides food for those who fear him;
    he remembers his covenant forever.
He has shown his people the power of his works,
    in giving them the inheritance of the nations.
The works of his hands are faithful and just;
    all his precepts are trustworthy;
they are established forever and ever,
    to be performed with faithfulness and uprightness.
He sent redemption to his people;
    he has commanded his covenant forever.
    Holy and awesome is his name!
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom;
    all those who practice it have a good understanding.
    His praise endures forever!

Prayers in the New Testament

This will be a similar post to the one I did the other day on the Psalms. I will give the reference, and then do my best to say who was praying, and the reason they were praying. I encourage you to take some time to study these. (This obviously does not include every mention of prayer).

Matthew 6:5-15

Jesus was giving an excellent example of how to pray.

Matthew 26:36-46

Jesus prayed the night he was betrayed. He was praying that the Father's will be done.

Mark 14:32-42

Another telling of Jesus' time in prayer the night he was betrayed.

Luke 11:1-4

Jesus set an example of prayer for his disciples. This is similar to Matthew 6:5-15.

Luke 22:39-46

Jesus prayed hard on the night he was betrayed. It says that his sweat was like drops of blood.

John 17

 Jesus prayed for himself, then for his disciples, and finally for all believers. This is the longest recorded prayer he prayed.

Acts 4:23-31

The Early Church prayed the God would show his miraculous power and enable them, so that they could continue to share the Gospel with others.

Ephesians 1:15-23

Paul thanked God for the believers in the city of Ephesus. He prays that they will understand the power and majesty of who God is so they can know him better.

Ephesians 3:14-21

Another prayer from Paul. He prays that they will have Spiritual Strength. I personally memorized this a few years ago.

Philippians 1:3-11

Paul also thanked God for the believers in the city of Philippi. His prayer was that their love for God would abound, and that they would be able to discern what is right.

Colossians 1:3-14

Paul was thankful for the believers in Colosse. So he thanked God for them! He also prayed that they would be filled with knowledge of God's spiritual wisdom, and understanding.

 2 Thessalonians 1:3-12

 Paul wrote this to the believers in Thessalonica. Now you may wonder why I'm including the portion of thanksgiving, and not just the prayer. It is important to remember to praise/thank God for what he is doing. Paul's prayer was that God would make them worth of their calling.

2 Thessalonians 3:1-5

This time Paul asks for prayer. Prayer for protection, and that the word of the Lord would be spread!

Philemon 1:4-7

Paul thanks God for what he hears of Philemon's faith. He prays that Philemon will continue to be active in sharing his faith.

Prayer is poignant and powerful. I pray that you will take the time to read these prayers. And maybe take the time to study prayer in the New Testament on your own. God's word is so powerful. When we take the time to study it, especially like the topic of prayer, it can change us.

Prayers in the Psalms

This will be a little different then the other posts. This will be a collection of Psalms I have found while perusing the book of Psalms. I will give the reference and a verse (or two) that particularly stuck out. I pray that you be encouraged to spend some time reading them.

(For the sake of continuity, I will be sticking with the ESV)

Psalm 3 -Psalm 3:3

But you, O Lord, are a shield about me,
    my glory, and the lifter of my head.

Psalm 4 - Psalm 4:1

Answer me when I call, O God of my righteousness!
    You have given me relief when I was in distress.
    Be gracious to me and hear my prayer!

Psalm 5 - Psalm 5:2

Give attention to the sound of my cry,
    my King and my God,
    for to you do I pray.

Psalm 6 - Psalm 6:9

The Lord has heard my plea;
    the Lord accepts my prayer.

Psalm 12 - Psalm 12:6

The words of the Lord are pure words,
    like silver refined in a furnace on the ground,
    purified seven times.

Psalm 16 - Psalm 16:11

You make known to me the path of life;
    in your presence there is fullness of joy;
    at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.

Psalm 17 - Psalm 17:8

Keep me as the apple of your eye;
    hide me in the shadow of your wings

Psalm 25 - Psalm 25:4-5

Make me to know your ways, O Lord;
    teach me your paths.

Lead me in your truth and teach me,
    for you are the God of my salvation;
    for you I wait all the day long.

Psalm 27 - Psalm 27:14

Wait for the Lord;
    be strong, and let your heart take courage;
    wait for the Lord!

Psalm 36 - Psalm 36:5-6

Your steadfast love, O Lord, extends to the heavens,
    your faithfulness to the clouds.

Your righteousness is like the mountains of God;
    your judgments are like the great deep;
    man and beast you save, O Lord.

Psalm 39 - Psalm 39:12

Hear my prayer, O Lord,
    and give ear to my cry;
    hold not your peace at my tears!
For I am a sojourner with you,
    a guest, like all my fathers.

Psalm 40 - Psalm 40:3

He put a new song in my mouth,
    a song of praise to our God.
Many will see and fear,
    and put their trust in the Lord.

Psalm 42 - Psalm 42:8

By day the Lord commands his steadfast love,
    and at night his song is with me,
    a prayer to the God of my life.

Psalm 51 - Psalm 51:10

Create in me a clean heart, O God,
    and renew a right spirit within me.

Psalm 54 - Psalm 54:4

Behold, God is my helper;
    the Lord is the upholder of my life.

Psalm 55 - Psalm 55:22

Cast your burden on the Lord,
    and he will sustain you;
he will never permit
    the righteous to be moved.

Psalm 56 - Psalm 56:3-4

When I am afraid,
    I put my trust in you.

In God, whose word I praise,
    in God I trust; I shall not be afraid.
    What can flesh do to me?

Psalm 57 - Psalm 57:9-11

I will give thanks to you, O Lord, among the peoples;
    I will sing praises to you among the nations.

For your steadfast love is great to the heavens,
    your faithfulness to the clouds.

Be exalted, O God, above the heavens!
    Let your glory be over all the earth!

Psalm 59 - Psalm 59:16-17

But I will sing of your strength;
    I will sing aloud of your steadfast love in the morning.
For you have been to me a fortress
    and a refuge in the day of my distress.

O my Strength, I will sing praises to you,
    for you, O God, are my fortress,
    the God who shows me steadfast love.

Psalm 61 - Psalm 61:1

Hear my cry, O God,

 listen to my prayer

Psalm 64 - Psalm 64:10

Let the righteous one rejoice in the Lord
    and take refuge in him!
Let all the upright in heart exult!

Psalm 66 - Psalm 66:19-20

But truly God has listened;
    he has attended to the voice of my prayer.

Blessed be God,
    because he has not rejected my prayer
    or removed his steadfast love from me!

Psalm 67 - Psalm 67:1

May God be gracious to us and bless us
    and make his face to shine upon us

Psalm 70 - Psalm 70:1

Make haste, O God, to deliver me!
    O Lord, make haste to help me!

Psalm 84 - Psalm 84:2, 10, 12

My soul longs, yes, faints
    for the courts of the Lord;
my heart and flesh sing for joy
    to the living God.

For a day in your courts is better
    than a thousand elsewhere.
I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God
    than dwell in the tents of wickedness.

O Lord of hosts,
    blessed is the one who trusts in you!

Psalm 85 - Psalm 85:10-11

Steadfast love and faithfulness meet;
    righteousness and peace kiss each other.

Faithfulness springs up from the ground,
    and righteousness looks down from the sky.

Psalm 86 - Psalm 86:6

Give ear, O Lord, to my prayer;
    listen to my plea for grace.

Psalm 90 - Psalm 90:17

Let the favor of the Lord our God be upon us,
    and establish the work of our hands upon us;
    yes, establish the work of our hands!

Psalm 102 - Psalm 102:1

Hear my prayer, O Lord;
let my cry come to you!

Psalm 109 - Psalm 109:4

In return for my love they accuse me,
    but I give myself to prayer.

Psalm 120 - Psalm 120:1

In my distress I called to the Lord,
    and he answered me.

Psalm 123 - Psalm 123:1

To you I lift up my eyes,
    O you who are enthroned in the heavens!

Psalm 139 - Psalm 139:4

Even before a word is on my tongue,
    behold, O Lord, you know it altogether.

Psalm 143 - Psalm 143:8

Let me hear in the morning of your steadfast love,
    for in you I trust.
Make me know the way I should go,
    for to you I lift up my soul.

Psalm 144 - Psalm 144:4

Man is like a breath;
    his days are like a passing shadow.