Papa Pat and I had the JOYful pleasure of having two VERY IMPORTANT guests this past weekend to spend some time with us! Nathan (4 yrs)and Naomi (3 yrs) came to see us and we had a blast! For those of you who are on facebook, go to my page and see pictures. And I can guarantee that you won't be able to tell WHO had more fun....the kids or their grandparents!
What a blessing to be able to enJOY the simple pleasures of life with our grandbabies! They teach us so much...about what is truly important in life. Things like hugs and smiles and laughter and ice cream! :)
Though we took them Friday night to a small circus in town.....and they had a really good time......they seemed to like even more getting to Papa and GiGi's house so that they could play and just "be" with us. On Saturday, we stayed busy doing things that didn't cost a penny! We fished, we picked cotton, we rode on Papa's tractor and the lawn mower, we visited MeMa (my mom), we played with their daddy's old toys that we had kept over the years. We even found a "vintage" dress hanging in Aunt Ali's closet that JUST FIT Naomi! She wore it home and was soooooooooooooo proud of it!
Just a little summary of our weekend to let you know that I was once again reminded that JOY comes in the simple things! The simple truth that Christ died for EACH of US should make our hearts burst with JOY!
Monday, October 11, 2010
Friday, October 8, 2010
JOYful Blessings from Westside
Yesterday I mentioned that I'd been invited to speak last night at a wonderful church in a Fitzgerald...Westside Baptist. Once again, God "awed" us with His JOY and His care to "details". Though I knew very few of these ladies, I immediately felt "at home" with them. That's how God works! When our hearts are in tune because of our love for Him, then we have that "supernatural" bond and experience the JOY of Christian sisterhood. This sweet spirit was evident from the time I pulled into the parking lot throughout the whole night of fellowship and Bible study.
I gave you a summary yesterday of the message God had laid on my heart. We "planted" our fall gardens last night, talking about the kinds of seeds that God wants us to grow in our daily lives. I used the passage of scripture in Luke 8 in which Jesus tells the parable about planting the seeds. WELL......what I did not know, but God had perfectly orchestrated, this was the passage they had used in VBS this summer and still had their walls decorated down the hall of their Sunday School wing with "gardens". They were familiar with the passage, but God shed a new perspective on the verses....from a woman's point of view. He had prepared our hearts and our minds to receive His message! Ain't God good?!
As I was leaving, two of the sweet ladies were walking me out and I had to laugh out loud when one of them said, "That was the kind of message where I wanted to look around and point fingers, but then I realized that the finger would be pointing at ME!" :) The other quoted one of my illustrations and said, "But God, I didn't hear you calling those first three times!" God can use such simple examples to speak to our hearts, can't He? BUT we must be willing to listen...and obey! This dear lady had "heard" Him!
What JOY floods my heart to know that God spoke to the hearts of each of us last night! All of us could use some help in planting the right seeds in our gardens, right? Let's call on the Master Gardener to help us harrow away the weeds and bad seeds, to prepare the soil and choose carefully the right seeds, and then depend on Him to give us the JOY JUICE with which to keep it watered. That's when our gardens will produce an abundant crop of JOYful fruit....the FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT!!!
Thanks, again, Westside Sistas, for such a sweet time of worship with you last night! And thank you, Father, for bringing more JOYful sisters into my life. I'm looking forward to "gardening" with all of them!
I gave you a summary yesterday of the message God had laid on my heart. We "planted" our fall gardens last night, talking about the kinds of seeds that God wants us to grow in our daily lives. I used the passage of scripture in Luke 8 in which Jesus tells the parable about planting the seeds. WELL......what I did not know, but God had perfectly orchestrated, this was the passage they had used in VBS this summer and still had their walls decorated down the hall of their Sunday School wing with "gardens". They were familiar with the passage, but God shed a new perspective on the verses....from a woman's point of view. He had prepared our hearts and our minds to receive His message! Ain't God good?!
As I was leaving, two of the sweet ladies were walking me out and I had to laugh out loud when one of them said, "That was the kind of message where I wanted to look around and point fingers, but then I realized that the finger would be pointing at ME!" :) The other quoted one of my illustrations and said, "But God, I didn't hear you calling those first three times!" God can use such simple examples to speak to our hearts, can't He? BUT we must be willing to listen...and obey! This dear lady had "heard" Him!
What JOY floods my heart to know that God spoke to the hearts of each of us last night! All of us could use some help in planting the right seeds in our gardens, right? Let's call on the Master Gardener to help us harrow away the weeds and bad seeds, to prepare the soil and choose carefully the right seeds, and then depend on Him to give us the JOY JUICE with which to keep it watered. That's when our gardens will produce an abundant crop of JOYful fruit....the FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT!!!
Thanks, again, Westside Sistas, for such a sweet time of worship with you last night! And thank you, Father, for bringing more JOYful sisters into my life. I'm looking forward to "gardening" with all of them!
Thursday, October 7, 2010
Planting Seeds of JOY
I have the privilege of speaking tonight at a ladies' event at a church in Fitzgerald...Westside Baptist. I'll tell you more about that JOYful experience tomorrow! You see, I'm EXPECTING JOY! Anticipating God to pour out His JOY JUICE onto us. I think that's the key to finding JOY many times! You have to be looking for it. Often we focus on the negatives instead of all the good things that God has done and is doing for us. So, I've become determined to focus on the JOY of JESUS!
My message tonight has to do with planting the seeds of JOY in our "Fall Gardens". We can't do this alone. We need the MASTER GARDENER to show us how. And we need fellow gardeners to help us when we fail or grow weary.
We must plant our gardens with the right attitude....the attitude of Christ. (Philippians 2:5)
Also imperative in the gardening process is to use the right tools...one of the most important is that tool we call our tongue. Are we using it to plant the seeds which produce the "fruit" of the Spririt?
At times we must put our agenda to one side and help someone in their garden. This takes humility and selflessness.
Don't forget to plant that seed called "obedience". John 14:15 tells us: "If you love Me, you will keep My commandments."
Okay....so that's my message in a nutshell! To hear the "full meal deal", come on to Westside tonight at 7:00! It would bring us much JOY if you'd join us! Even if you can't come, please remember to be planting your seeds of JOY in your garden of life...DAILY!
My message tonight has to do with planting the seeds of JOY in our "Fall Gardens". We can't do this alone. We need the MASTER GARDENER to show us how. And we need fellow gardeners to help us when we fail or grow weary.
We must plant our gardens with the right attitude....the attitude of Christ. (Philippians 2:5)
Also imperative in the gardening process is to use the right tools...one of the most important is that tool we call our tongue. Are we using it to plant the seeds which produce the "fruit" of the Spririt?
At times we must put our agenda to one side and help someone in their garden. This takes humility and selflessness.
Don't forget to plant that seed called "obedience". John 14:15 tells us: "If you love Me, you will keep My commandments."
Okay....so that's my message in a nutshell! To hear the "full meal deal", come on to Westside tonight at 7:00! It would bring us much JOY if you'd join us! Even if you can't come, please remember to be planting your seeds of JOY in your garden of life...DAILY!
Wednesday, October 6, 2010
Today's Serving of JOY JUICE (Devotional)
Have you had your JOY JUICE today? It's a part of God's plan for you!
Before you were even born, God knew everything about you! That's hard to comprehend, isn't it? I don't even pretend to understand...other than---HE IS GOD!
In Jeremiah 1:5, God tells us that: "Before I made you in your mother's womb, I chose you. Before you were born, I set you apart for a special work." He designed us for a purpose! He gave us unique abilities, talents, interests and gifts...all to be used for HIS glory. Are you fulfilling His plan for your life? The Bible repeatedly tells us to "serve the Lord with all your heart". If we are serving Him, then we will be sensitive to the needs of others and ways we can serve them.
Rick Warren tells us in his book The Purpose Driven Life: "For Christians, service is not optional, something to be tacked onto our schedules if we can spare the time. It is the heart of the Christian life."
Mother Teresa once said: "Holy living consists of doing God's work with a smile." I think what she meant by that is that serving God brings much JOY to your life! Are you overflowing into others' lives today!?
SERVE WITH JOY!
Before you were even born, God knew everything about you! That's hard to comprehend, isn't it? I don't even pretend to understand...other than---HE IS GOD!
In Jeremiah 1:5, God tells us that: "Before I made you in your mother's womb, I chose you. Before you were born, I set you apart for a special work." He designed us for a purpose! He gave us unique abilities, talents, interests and gifts...all to be used for HIS glory. Are you fulfilling His plan for your life? The Bible repeatedly tells us to "serve the Lord with all your heart". If we are serving Him, then we will be sensitive to the needs of others and ways we can serve them.
Rick Warren tells us in his book The Purpose Driven Life: "For Christians, service is not optional, something to be tacked onto our schedules if we can spare the time. It is the heart of the Christian life."
Mother Teresa once said: "Holy living consists of doing God's work with a smile." I think what she meant by that is that serving God brings much JOY to your life! Are you overflowing into others' lives today!?
SERVE WITH JOY!
Tuesday, October 5, 2010
My Sisters of JOY
May I tell you just a little bit about my "Sisters of JOY"? They are on my heart this morning, because I spent such a sweet, special time with them last night at church.
"Sisters of JOY" is the group of ladies in my church who gather together periodically to pray, study God's Word, go on trips together to ladies' events, and simply enJOY the fellowship of other Christian women. As always, last night was such a fun time! You can always tell when we "sistas" are together, because there is LOTS OF JOY and laughter. I truly believe that this is "an offering of joy" to our Lord...a delightful way to worship Him! He wants us to laugh, to "be JOYful always"; to "rejoice in the Lord, always; and again, I say: REJOICE"!!!!
If you don't have a group of "sisters" that you can depend on to share the highs and the lows, the laughter and the tears, the hard work and the fun....then start asking God today to lead you to that group! Oh, what a JOYful support system! EVERYONE needs Christian sisters to confide in, to pray with, to encourage, to provide accountability in our walk with the Lord....and of course, to BE JOYFUL with!
Thanks to MY "Sisters of JOY" for being such an important part of my life! And thanks to God for bringing you into my life! I love you....each and every one! Indeed, God pours out His JOY JUICE into my life through YOU!
"Sisters of JOY" is the group of ladies in my church who gather together periodically to pray, study God's Word, go on trips together to ladies' events, and simply enJOY the fellowship of other Christian women. As always, last night was such a fun time! You can always tell when we "sistas" are together, because there is LOTS OF JOY and laughter. I truly believe that this is "an offering of joy" to our Lord...a delightful way to worship Him! He wants us to laugh, to "be JOYful always"; to "rejoice in the Lord, always; and again, I say: REJOICE"!!!!
If you don't have a group of "sisters" that you can depend on to share the highs and the lows, the laughter and the tears, the hard work and the fun....then start asking God today to lead you to that group! Oh, what a JOYful support system! EVERYONE needs Christian sisters to confide in, to pray with, to encourage, to provide accountability in our walk with the Lord....and of course, to BE JOYFUL with!
Thanks to MY "Sisters of JOY" for being such an important part of my life! And thanks to God for bringing you into my life! I love you....each and every one! Indeed, God pours out His JOY JUICE into my life through YOU!
Monday, October 4, 2010
A JOYful Autumn Day
Don't you just love the change of the seasons? I sure do! The Lord knew that we would tire of the hot weather of summer and would enJOY the cool briskness of fall/autumn. After the cold winter months, we are EXTRA JOYful to see the grass and leaves turning green and flowers beginning to bloom. Springtime is always a welcome season of the year!
Have you even considered that our lives go through seasons, too? We start out like little blossoms and grow into maturity, raising our own little blossoms. Then comes the season called "empty nest"...which can be a really tough season due to the emotions that come with it. However, having living through it, I can see the beauty in it as well. As Autumn brings falling leaves and lack of growth, it also brings beautiful colors and refreshing, cool days and nights. In our lives, God brings beauty throughout all seasons. Even during the tough times, He is there with His paintbrush to turn the "picture of tribulation" into a gorgeous masterpiece. But that's only if we will allow Him.
We must remember that though we don't have control over the circumstances, we DO have control over how we react to them! Let's decide and determine to always trust God...no matter what...and then we will experience JOY regardless of what season of life we find ourselves in. Now, let's enJOY this beautiful autumn day and share His JOY with others along the way!
Have you even considered that our lives go through seasons, too? We start out like little blossoms and grow into maturity, raising our own little blossoms. Then comes the season called "empty nest"...which can be a really tough season due to the emotions that come with it. However, having living through it, I can see the beauty in it as well. As Autumn brings falling leaves and lack of growth, it also brings beautiful colors and refreshing, cool days and nights. In our lives, God brings beauty throughout all seasons. Even during the tough times, He is there with His paintbrush to turn the "picture of tribulation" into a gorgeous masterpiece. But that's only if we will allow Him.
We must remember that though we don't have control over the circumstances, we DO have control over how we react to them! Let's decide and determine to always trust God...no matter what...and then we will experience JOY regardless of what season of life we find ourselves in. Now, let's enJOY this beautiful autumn day and share His JOY with others along the way!
Friday, October 1, 2010
JOYful Reflections
This week I have "reflected" on the JOYful weekend that God blessed me last weekend! I've shared with you in my blog posts some of the things we discussed and the lessons we gleaned from God's Word as we gathered at the "EnJOY the Journey" Conference in Pooler at Rothwell Baptist. As this week comes to a close, I'd like to try to summarize the experience in a few short sentences by sharing some of the lessons of JOY that God taught me through this event.
- God takes care of details, large and small.
- God honors our prayers, when our hearts are tender toward Him and His plan.
- Sisters in Christ are Sisters of JOY...no matter how long (or short time) you have known them.
- Christians of ALL ages can be used by God to spread His love and JOY to others.
- We all have gifts, talents and abilities that are to be used by Him. BUT we have to be willing to allow Him to work through us.
- Every church and every Christian has struggles. However, we can still have JOY in our relationship with Him.
- We need to strive to become more and more like Christ with each passing day.
- Saturate yourself with God's Word, spend time daily in prayer and quiet time, apply the Truth to every area of your life......and YOU WILL EXPERIENCE GENUINE JOY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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