A week of sunshine and flowers

I had a week with no obligations so I spent some time with friends.

Monday I met my friend Jenny for lunch and we spent hours talking and laughing!

That evening our church helped at  6Stones . Besides stacking cans of food we had a fun time visiting with each other.  A great way to become friends or get to know each other better while helping an organization that provides food and clothing for those in need.

Tuesday I had lunch with my friend Carol.  We ate salads and visited for what seemed to be too short of a time.

Wednesday I had lunch with my friend Jennifer and her daughter. What fun to spend time with her and her sweet three yr. old who loves to be read to and work puzzles.

Besides a fun visit I received a special treat of Jennifer's homemade strawberry-cranberry jam. It tasted delicious on our biscuits this morning!

Thursday I baby sat for my friend Lindsay while she was out of town helping her sister with her new baby. Her little Keane is adorable!

Friday morning my friend Jennifer and I visited our friend Phyllis that is in the hospital recovering from a fall.

I am blessed and believe that...

A good book is worth reading and giving...

Yesterday you would have found me at Starbucks in a comfy chair, with a vanilla latte, and reading this book. 

A few quotes from the book:

"We are God's chosen ones, even when our world does not choose us."

"To give someone a blessing is the most significant affirmation we can offer."

"From all eternity, long before you were born and became a part of history, you existed in God's heart."

As I was reading this book I kept thinking of a friend that I thought would like it.  I am giving her a copy...and a hug... this morning at church!

What book are you reading? Have you been thinking of a friend that might enjoy a copy?  I bet she would!

We give and God blesses...

The title of the chapter we were on Tuesday in the book What Happens When Women That Say Yes to God was

Giving Up What Was Never Ours...We are managers, not owners, of God's resources

Two significant things happened in class:

One, a lady shared that although she loves blessing others she has never been blessed in a tangible way.

The second thing was that a lady asked for prayer for their finances.  She had to leave class early so she told me the request before leaving. As we were going to prayer another lady in our group felt that we were to help supply the financial need. How fun to reach into our purses and give to this precious lady. A card would be purchased and we would give her the card with the money in it the following week.

Eight of us went to lunch after the study. As we were preparing to pay our bill the waitress told us a man in the restaurant paid for our lunch. He paid the bill for ALL of us! We could not believe it...it was our lesson.  It was saying yes to God.  It was receiving a blessing when we give what is not ours.  We began to reach into our purses to bless the waitress.  As we left that day I looked at the pile of money laying there on the table and wished I could see her eyes when she came to clear the table. I could hardly wait to share this story. I wonder if the waitress is telling someone this story?  And the man that paid our bill must be filled with joy for blessing us. I have a card with a large sum of money ready to give to the lady with a financial need and can hardly wait to see her smile. 

Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth. This then is how we know that we belong to the truth, and how we set our hearts at rest in his presence.

1 John 3:18-19



I am keeping my eyes and my heart open for opportunities God places in front of me to give, to bless another and to say YES to God! 

It's a choice...

Today's devotion from Jesus Calling really spoke to my heart!

Romans 8:38-39

 For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Exodus 33:14

And He said, "My presence shall go with you, and I will give you rest."

YOU ARE MINE FOR ALL TIME;nothing can separate you from My Love.

Since I have invested My very Life in you, be well assured that I will also take care of you.

...Each moment you can choose to practice My Presence

or to practice the presence of problems.

I am thankful that nothing can separate me from His love!

I choose to practice the presence of the Lord and receive His rest!

Think on this...

There is something of beauty to be learned from every dark and lonely place in our lives.

It is in those times of obedience during suffering that we have an opportunity to experience our Father as more than enough.

Out of the rough material of our trials, He is more than willing to fashion objects of beauty.

~~Lisa Bevere (from Fight Like a Girl)

My thought for today...

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Finally, all of you, live in harmony with one another;

be sympathetic, love as brothers,

be compassionate and humble.

1 Peter 3:8

A friend is one who takes me for what I am.

~Henry David Thoreau

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"If we find ourselves with a desire that nothing in this world can satisfy, the most probable explanation is that we were made for another world." ~C.S. Lewis