It is almost Valentine's Day.  Wouldn't it be fun to have a new piece of jewelry to wear on that special night. Or maybe you are looking for a gift for a friend or loved one.  My friend Melinda Jernigan makes beautiful  jewelry. I have purchased from her and have been very happy with the jewelry. I also love giving her jewelry as gifts. The pieces are not only lovely, but often have a special meaning attached to it.  An example is a bracelet she makes called Revel in The Love.  She says on her web site: "Inspired design titled by a song, I Revel In The Love, my husband, Dennis Jernigan, wrote on his newest recording, Here In Your Presence. " 
I hope you will visit Melinda's website  mpdesignsjewelry .  I know you will find something pretty that you just can't resist. :)

My sister...

Today is my sister's birthday!

Growing up I always wanted a sister and am so thankful that the Lord gave our family Stephanie!

She is a wonderful sister, mother, niece, cousin, aunt, and friend

God is using her in mighty ways in Comayagua, Honduras where she is a missionary teacher.

 Happy Birthday Stephanie 

You are loved!



Heart to Hear...

You have read some of the devotions here on my blog my friend Jennifer has written.  I am so excited to let you know she now has a blog where you can read her devotions each week.  I look forward to them arriving in my email each week as she writes for our women's ministry. I am excited that others will now be able to read them. I hope you will visit her blog Hear to Hear and let her know how the devotions encourage you.  I know it will be an encouragement to her to hear from you!

This is the year continued...

The  grass withers ,

the flower fades,

But the word of our God stands forever.

Isaiah 40:8

How is your Bible reading coming along?  I have been reading every day with my journal and pen beside me ready to write down a scripture that the Lord speaks to my heart for the day.  It has been fun, exciting and a blessing each day.  I love how the Lord knows my needs and a verse will just pop out at me and it is what I needed for that time in my day, life or someone's life I am praying for. 

Besides comments that were made on this blog I have had friends tell me they read my blog and they too are reading the Bible.  Last Sunday a friend encouraged me to keep on reading as she had done this last year and what it meant to her.  I love when friends come along side us to help and encourage us in our daily walk with the Lord.

It is not too late to pick up your Bible and start reading.  It doesn't matter to God that it is not Jan 1. In fact one person commented on my blog that the Lord led her to read through the Bible in 40 days during a fast her family was doing. I know God blessed her obedience.  We read books all the time, but do we read the most important book?  Looking forward to hearing how you are doing! 

 

Philippians 4:8

Special Moments

The Lord has blessed me with a wonderful family and many that I feel as close to as family!   Today I am remembering some special moments with a few of them ....

I was invited to attend the Nutcracker with Colette, her Mommy and her MiMi

Giggles with Joshua!

Ashlynn is always ready to help others open gifts!

And always happy to have her own gifts!

Excited over her Veggie Tales movie

Little gifts are often the best gifts!

Happy to get George Bush's book!

So happy to have my sweet sister with us from Honduras!

Stacy with two of her favorties!

Every girl needs a pink pencil sharpener!

This is the year...

How many times have you tried to read the entire Bible in a year?  Or maybe you are one that does this every year.  That is great if you do!  I can picture my mother-in-law sitting in her chair, Bible opened, reading every morning.  At her death she had read the Bible through many, many times.  I admired her so much and have many times wanted to do the same thing.  I would start each year but it never lasted long.  It is easy to get discouraged when you try something over and over and fail at it. I probably have Genesis practically memorized since every year I started with that book. I decided in December I was going to try again but this time I would finish. It was January 5th before I realized I had not started,  but I was not going to be discouraged by the missed days.  I found a new journal that Jim had given me, got my Bible and set to reading.   Every morning since that day I start my reading by asking the Lord to speak to me through His Word and to give me something applicable for me and/or situations around me.  Each time as I am reading a scripture has "jumped out" at me. I knew it was the one for me for that day.  When I finish reading I write in my journal so I can keep a record of it as well as it helps me to remember it for the future. Last night we had a party at our house and a friend told me she was doing something she had always wanted to do.  I was so excited when she told me she was reading through the Bible.  I told her I was too, so we will hold each other accountable this year!

How about you?  If you are like me and have never read the Bible through why not let this year be the year you do it. Get a journal and write what the Lord is saying to you as you read.  Think how wonderful each day will be as you are in His Word and then the fun you will have when you go back at the end of the year and read you journal.  Will you join me and my friend?  Here's a link to help you get started: Bible Reading Guide

Trust

My friend Jennifer's devotion arrived in my inbox today.  It was just what I needed this morning. My prayer is that no matter what is going on in your life you will know today that you can trust God!


The dictionary defines free-falling as a sudden, sharp, uncontrollable drop in something such as value, popularity, or credibility. It also means to descend with an unopened parachute. Does this sound familiar to anyone? Do you feel the wind rushing past your face, hear the roar in your ears, and feel the panic in your limbs as you frantically, hopelessly try to defy the law of gravity and save yourself before impact? I don't know about you, but there are times when life is great, my balloon is full of hot air, and I'm floating along without a care when suddenly everything turns upside down. I get cross-ways with my husband, my kids start to remind me why I believe in the doctrine of original sin, the refrigerator breaks down, and my car won't start. My illusion of control is popped like the empty bubble that it is and in a most unpleasant display of humanity, I go splat. This always happens just when I'm feeling so spiritual, so in tune with the Lord, ready to let His love shine through me to everyone I meet.

God is so gracious - when we belong to Him, He never lets us live a lie for very long. We may fool ourselves for a while, but eventually He will bring us to the place where we can't hide from the truth that apart from Him, we can't do a thing. We've been free-falling since birth. It is only God's mercy that keeps us from death, from grievous sin, from total annihilation. Sunday during worship, the Lord reminded me of a beautiful picture of His gracious hold on our lives. It is a scene from the animated movie  The Rescuers Down Under where a small boy is being propelled down a river by a giant eagle who has befriended him. The boy is laughing as he races down the surface of the water, but suddenly he goes over a cliff and finds himself falling. For a moment or two, he panics, but then the eagle gently comes up under him and rises into the sky. The boy shouts for joy, throwing his hands up in the air. As this scene played out in my mind, I felt the Lord asking me to trust Him despite the helpless panic that was assailing my heart. The Father is longing for us to trust Him enough to laugh into the wind and believe He is ready to swoop up under us and take us higher than we've ever been.

Last night as I prayed for God's word for us this week, my little Rebecca brought her Bible to me and asked me if she could read something to me. She thought she was in Psalms, but it was actually Jeremiah 31:1-7. I believe this is our Abba Father's word for us today. Here are verses 2-4, but try to find time to read it all! 

 Thus says the LORD: The people who survived the sword found grace in the wilderness - Israel, when I went to give him rest. The LORD has appeared of old to me, saying: "Yes, I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore with lovingkindness I have drawn you. Again I will build you, and you shall be rebuilt, O virgin of Israel! You shall again be adorned with your tambourines, and shall go forth in the dances of those who rejoice.


Abba Father, please give us grace to believe that You are good and even when we feel like we are falling, we are always safe in Your hands. In Jesus' Name. Amen.

~~Jennifer Davis



 

Giving in 2011

'It is more blessed to give than to receive.'

Acts 20:35

Today I stopped at Chick-fil-a for a sandwich.   I was entering one way and there was a long line entering another way.  Just so happened I needed to be in THAT line..  No one was even willing to let me in.  I am sure you can picture the little glances and then pulling as close to the next car as they can so you can't get in.  I finally prayed and asked the Lord to have someone let me in and I would pay for that person's meal.  It happened almost before the prayer had left my lips.  I pulled into line, ordered, drove to the window to pay and also paid for the person behind me. I asked the person at the window to tell the person I paid for thank you for letting me in line! That was so much fun and such a fun way to start the new year!  I plan to look for other ways this year to bless others.  I am sure I will be given many opportunities and hope I don't miss them!  I encourage you to look for ways too.  Because it is true...It is more blessed to give than to receive!

Happy 2011 ...

HAPPY NEW YEAR!