Thursday's Thought

Philippians 3:13-14

¹³ Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,

¹⁴ I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

Good morning, family and friends!

Well, it's here - the last day of this year! Wow! Where did the time go? As I look back over the past months, I can truly say that God has been good. What lies ahead? Only God knows.

Although we can reflect on the past events, we cannot live with our faces looking back. We must move forward. Yesterday has come and gone, and we will never be able to retrieve it or live it again. Tomorrow isn't here yet, and we are not even promised that day, so it leaves today. Right now is what we have been given by God. Today, let us live with our hearts in tune with God, trusting that however many days He gives us, we'll live it to the best of our ability.

I trust that you all will have a Happy New Year's Eve, and if the Lord allows, we'll all move into the new year of 2016 with renewed hope and resolve.

On this last day of 2015, I'd like to share the lyrics to this song:

I Will Go On

by The Gaither Vocal Band

Verse One

I repent, for moments I have spent

Recalling all the pain, and failures of my past,

I repent, for dwelling on the things,

Beyond my power to change, the chains that hold me fast

Chorus

I will go on, my past I leave behind me

I gladly take His mercy and His love

He is joy and He is peace

He is strength and sweet release

I know He is and I am His

I will go on

Verse Two

I give up the bitterness and hate

The blaming men and fate

For all my discontent

The guilt and pain, I empty from my cup

So God can fill it up, with peace and sweet content

Thank you all, my faithful blog readers and followers. You have helped make 2015 very special for me with regard to this blog.

God bless you, and should He bless us with tomorrow, I'll see you again for a new spoonful in a new year!

Wednesday's Whisper

Psalm 139:17-18

¹⁷ How precious also are thy thoughts unto me, O God! how great is the sum of them!

¹⁸ If I should count them, they are more in number than the sand: when I awake, I am still with thee.

Good morning, and a Wonderful Wednesday morning to you all!

I am often overwhelmed when I pause to think of how much the Lord loves me. One of my favorite chapters in the book of Psalms is chapter 139, because it speaks to me of the unconditional love of God. He knows my down sittings and my uprisings; He's acquainted with all my ways; He knows my thoughts - yet He loves me and thinks I am worth saving. It leaves me feeling so loved, yet sensing a deep unworthiness.

The late Dottie Rambo wrote a classic of a song many years ago, and the message within its lyrics is worth sharing today:

He Looked Beyond My Faults

by Dottie Rambo

Verse One

Amazing grace will always be my song of praise

For it was grace that bought my liberty

I do not know just why He came to love me so

He looked beyond my faults and saw my needs

Chorus

I shall forever lift my eyes to Calvary

To view the cross where Jesus died for me

How marvelous the grace that caught my falling soul

He looked beyond my faults and saw my needs

Verse Two

And for today, I humbly seek Thy favor, Lord,

And ask that Thou should smile on things I do

Then some those shifting sands of doubt all around me 

But they shall not take my eyes from You

I trust you all will have a Wonderful Wednesday. Pause to reflect on the amazing grace of God, and His unconditional love toward mankind. May it WOW us once again!

Lord willing, I'll be back tomorrow for yet another spoonful!

Tuesday's Tidbit

Psalm 145:2

Every day will I bless thee; and I will praise thy name for ever and ever.

Good morning, one and all!

'Tis Tuesday - terrific, terrible, tumultuous, tremendous..... what kind of day will this day be? Our circumstances may all be different, but how we handle what life deals us today will play a big part in what type of day we will enjoy (or endure). One thing is certain, God is good all the time, every hour, minute and second of every single day we live.

It's hard to believe we are approaching the end of another year. Looking back, it's been a great year, a busy year, a blessed year. God has brought us through this year. He has blessed us to travel and work for Him. I owe Him so much. How can I say adequate "Thanks" to God Almighty? What can I render back to Him for all that He has given me, or done for me? My appreciation seems to fall so short in comparison to the greatness of His giving. I guess I'll just keep trying my best to let Him know how grateful I truly am for His hand on my life.

I think I'll let the words to a beautiful song by the late Andrae Crouch finish this post:

My Tribute

by Andrae Crouch

Verse One

How can I say thanks for the things You have done for me

Things so undeserved

Yet You gave to prove Your love for me

The voices of a million angels 

Could not express my gratitude

All that I am or ever hope to be

I owe it all to Thee

Chorus

To God be the glory

To God be the glory

To God be the glory

For the things He has done

With His blood, He has saved me

With His power, He has raised me

To God be the glory

For the things He has done

Bridge

Just let me live my life

Let it be pleasing, Lord, to Thee

Should I gain any praise

Let it go to Calvary

To God belongs all praise, honor and glory. Without Him, we are nothing but, through Him, we can do all things!

Enjoy your Tuesday... whatever life brings... bring it to the Giver of Life, and ask for His help with each circumstance.

Hope to see you again tomorrow!

Monday's Moment

Acts 17:28

For in him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also his offspring.

Good morning, everybody!

Yesterday was the first time since this blog began on February 1, 2015, that I did not blog. The reason being that we left for a preaching engagement in AR around 7:00 AM. I found it quite impossible to fit a blog post into that busy time of getting ready so early. So, may today be a combo - Sunday's Specialty AND Monday's Moment.

After a busy week of getting ready for my family to come in, lots of cooking, fun, memories, etc., etc., I was looking forward to finding a secret place with my Lord; and, I found it yesterday. We had two great services and enjoyed God's presence so very much. The word of God was anointed and probing; prayer time was powerful. It was an awesome, and very special Sunday, indeed.

Everything that we enjoy in this life comes from the Lord. We are nothing and we have nothing without Him. This song is on my heart today, and I want to share it with you all as the very heart of this blog post:

He's the Only Reason I Live

by Joy Elms

Verse One

                         I've been blessed with so many things, God's been good to me

I have family and friends who share in all I do

But if I lose it all and I am left with nothing

If I have the Lord I know I'll make it through

Chorus

He's the only reason I live, but oh, what a reason

He's the only reason I live, but oh, what a reason

There's nothing in this world worth living for

It only leaves you empty and longing for more

Oh, He's the only reason I live, but oh, what a reason

Verse Two

You may have tried a lot of things to find real happiness

But if you've looked very long, then you know it can't be found

Until you find the Lord in the power of His Spirit

Jesus will be your reason to live and He'll never let you down

May your Monday be marvelous and filled with special moments with the Master!

God bless you all today. Please enjoy this spoonful until we meet again with another one!

Saturday's Snippet

Psalm 116:1-7

116 I love the Lord, because he hath heard my voice and my supplications.

² Because he hath inclined his ear unto me, therefore will I call upon him as long as I live.

³ The sorrows of death compassed me, and the pains of hell gat hold upon me: I found trouble and sorrow.

⁴ Then called I upon the name of the Lord; O Lord, I beseech thee, deliver my soul.

⁵ Gracious is the Lord, and righteous; yea, our God is merciful.

⁶ The Lord preserveth the simple: I was brought low, and he helped me.

⁷ Return unto thy rest, O my soul; for the Lord hath dealt bountifully with thee.

Good morning!

It is Saturday, and a very quiet Saturday morning it is at my house. Just yesterday, my entire immediate family ate Christmas dinner together - fourteen of us but, now, there remains just the original two!! They've all gone to their own homes, leaving behind a lot of wonderful memories, too many leftovers, and ... quietness.

The above verses from Psalm 116 touched my heart this morning, so I began today's blog post with them. I love the Lord because He has "inclined his ear unto me." Just the other day, I wrote about God caring at MY needs. I'm so glad for a personal God; One who cares about each of us as if we were the only child He has on earth. I feel as David, "...therefore will I call upon him as long as I live." 

There is much on my mind and heart today, but I just want to tell the Lord how much I love Him, and to say "Thanks", for He has truly dealt bountifully with me. I am a blessed woman. The hand of God has been great and good upon my life, and my determination to live for Him and to spend eternity with Him is stronger than ever before.

An old but very dear song seems fitting right now:

Thanks

by Carroll McGruder

Verse One

I thank You, Lord, for the strength You give

To simply carry on

Through life's toils and tests

In the worst and best

I'm never left alone

You are always right beside me

Hear me every time I pray

Since I first began, You've been my dearest Friend

And I want to give You praise

Chorus

Thanks, thanks

I give You thanks

Fro all You've done

I am so blessed

My soul has found rest

O Lord, I give You thanks

Verse Two

I give You thanks this moment

And I will continually

For each day I live Your grace You give

I'm blessed abundantly

I can't forget that moment

When in my life You made such a change

Since the Spirit came, I've not been the same

And I want to give You thanks

May our hearts be filled with daily gratitude for a daily God. We may get busy and be guilty of putting Him on the back burner, but He never treats us that way. He is truly an on-time God!

God bless you all on this Sweet Saturday and, if He is willing, I'll be back again tomorrow to share another spoonful!

Friday's Footnote

John 1:9

That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world.

Merry Christmas to all of my family and friends... faithful readers!

It's been an awesome Friday and Christmas Day. I hope yours was as blessed as mine! Grateful for the True Light that came into the world - just for you and me!! Enjoy this song as my blog post today!

Tonight 

(as sung by Ernie Haase & Signature Sound)

Words by Gloria Gaither / Music by Benjamin Gaither

Verse:

Kings and shepherds make their way

Straight to where a baby lay

Rich and poor and lonely

Bow before this sight

A light, a star has led them to this place

The Word that's been echoing through space

Becomes a child tonight

Chorus:

Light to shine in the darkest night

Light to make all the wrong things right

Light to show everyone the way

Light to shine where a virgin lay

Star of David, the prophet's star

Yahweh--God come to where we are

Star to mark the Messiah's birth

Star of heaven now touches earth

Tonight

Angel voices fill the air

Angel wings are everywhere

Light so bright it's blinding

Shepherds shake with fright

A song, a warmth begins to flood the hill

"Fear not! Peace to you--good will

Comes to earth tonight"

(Repeat Chorus)

Light will be so bright

It will shine through the darkest night

Send down Your holy light

(Repeat Chorus)

Hope to see you tomorrow!

Thursday's Thought

Luke 2:25-32

25 And, behold, there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon; and the same man was just and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel: and the Holy Ghost was upon him.

26 And it was revealed unto him by the Holy Ghost, that he should not see death, before he had seen the Lord's Christ.

27 And he came by the Spirit into the temple: and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him after the custom of the law,

28 Then took he him up in his arms, and blessed God, and said,

29 Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word:

30 For mine eyes have seen thy salvation,

31 Which thou hast prepared before the face of all people;

32 A light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel.

Good morning, one and all!

Today, by all accounts is Christmas Eve, and in the midst of all the activities going on in our lives, I really like to pause to reflect on the birth of Jesus Christ. Our lives were forever changed because He came. He made the difference in our world and in our lives - if we let Him.

I love this song that I just recently heard:

Changed by a Baby Boy

As sung by Ernie Haase & Signature Sound

Verse One

Joseph was looking for a place to sleep when

His life was changed by a baby boy

Mary had secrets that her heart must keep

Her life was changed by a baby boy

Chorus

They were glad (so glad)

So glad (so glad)

They were glad (so glad)

Their lives were changed by a baby boy

Verse Two

A host of bright angels tell the shepherd band

Their lives were changed by a baby boy

And when the angel said "Go", they obeyed the command

Their lives were changed by a baby boy

Verse Three

The kings had to follow a brand new star

Their lives were changed by a baby boy

No matter how long, and no matter how far

Their lives were changed by a baby boy

Verse Four

I was searching for something that I could not name until

My life was changed by a baby boy

I gave Him room and now I'm not the same because

My life was changed by a baby boy

Bridge

Hallelujah, Hallelujah

Hallelujah

My life was changed by a baby boy

I will forever be grateful for the change in my own life - all because of the birth of a baby boy! 

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all of my faithful readers! 

God bless you today and always. I hope to see you again tomorrow!