Happy Resurrection Day, Easter 2018
He is risen. If you are struggling with that this Easter, if life just doesn’t seem like this could possibly be true…well, that’s what faith is all about. If you need to learn more, please take time to click over to the Knowing God section of the side bar. Do you know Him? Things may be going along smoothly for you right now, and you don’t really think you have need of this hope. Or, maybe life is a complete train wreck and you’re desperate for His help. Just a reminder. He lives. He rose. He gave His life, enduring the cross, for you. And me. The greatest of sacrifices, from the heart of God. If you need an online Easter service check out Saddleback or Viewpoint church from CA. Two of my favorites!
Luke 24:1-12 (NASB77)
1 But on the first day of the week, at early dawn, they came to the tomb, bringing the spices which they had prepared.
2 And they found the stone rolled away from the tomb,
3 but when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus.
4 And it happened that while they were perplexed about this, behold, two men suddenly stood near them in dazzling apparel;
5 and as the women were terrified and bowed their faces to the ground, the men said to them, “Why do you seek the living One among the dead?
6 ” He is not here, but He has risen. Remember how He spoke to you while He was still in Galilee,
7 saying that the Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again.”
8 And they remembered His words,
9 and returned from the tomb and reported all these things to the eleven and to all the rest.
10 Now they were Mary Magdalene and Joanna and Mary the mother of James; also the other women with them were telling these things to the apostles.
11 And these words appeared to them as nonsense, and they would not believe them.
12 [ But Peter arose and ran to the tomb; stooping and looking in, he •saw the linen wrappings only; and he went away to his home, marveling at that which had happened.]
Lifeway’s Latest Online Bible Study (OBS)
Discerning the Voice of God from Priscilla Shirer.
I hope you are able to gather up your Bible and the workbook and study along. I’ll be there!
Study has ended however, you can always access the Lifeway studies via the archives. Video lessons will only be available during the study or for a few weeks after (or available for purchase through Lifeway.)
Your Business is His Business
As a small business owner since 1986, I am on occasion under attack from those forces of darkness that we are warned about in Scripture. I run as ethical a business as is humanly possible. We all make mistakes, but as so many of you do in your business, we try to do the right thing. In today’s world however, an anger is raging. A Me First mentality is invading our lives while many of us are struggling just trying to keep their businesses going and to make ends meet. To do the right thing. I know this is true, many of my online friends have expressed it. Their prayer requests are filled with God honoring desires that seem to be thwarted.
Social media has made the business owner an open target for attack. Maybe sometimes criticism is justified, and it can be welcome and put to good use. But when your peaceful day, where you are simply struggling to do your job, pay your bills and care for your family, is disrupted from an other-world force of rage, or anger or subtle threats then what do you do?
He came to bring peace. He came during this Christmas season to do so. He is here to offer that, along with hope and His never ending love. He told us to ask, to pray and believe He will answer.
Are you struggling with your career, your employment, your business?
Prayer requests welcome. Please feel free to post and share. I’ll be adding some verses or share the ones you stand on. Don’t let things ruin your day, your joy your peace. And if you do not know Him, please read the section on the sidebar that addresses that. This is unedited for the most part. Real honest talk. God knows your struggles, and I might just understand them too. If you work hard, if you work to provide for your family. You gotta keep hope alive. I don’t know much, but I know Him. He truly is all in all, all that matters. Keep fighting, keep serving, keep believing.
1 Timothy 4:10 (NIV2011)
10 That is why we labor and strive, because we have put our hope in the living God, who is the Savior of all people, and especially of those who believe.
Happy Thanksgiving 2017
The holiday season is upon us, and it’s time for you crafty folk to have some fun. Please visit the sites in the sidebar for your supplies, and some Black Friday specials. Bible journaling, scrapbooking and more…….please note, I am an affiliate for these sites. I appreciate your purchasing through the links.
Have a blessed holiday season. And let’s remember to give thanks.
Psalm 100:1-5 (NASB77)
1 Shout joyfully to the LORD, all the earth.
2 Serve the LORD with gladness; Come before Him with joyful singing.
3 Know that the LORD Himself is God; It is He who has made us, and not we ourselves; We are His people and the sheep of His pasture.
4 Enter His gates with thanksgiving, And His courts with praise. Give thanks to Him; bless His name.
5 For the LORD is good; His lovingkindness is everlasting, And His faithfulness to all generations.
World Ballet Day 2017
Yes, I know I remind you every year of this event and this year I am late with the post.
As a former ballet student and teacher, I love this glimpse into major dance companies. It so reminds me of my days in class.
Visit the link for more…….
#WorldBalletDay
Bible Art Journaling Fans
If you love Bible art journaling, planners and Christian gifts please visit my links on the sidebar. These are affiliate links, and I thank you for visiting them to make your crafty purchases. Those who love to scrapbook will also find some goodies there.
The Tomb is Empty, He is Risen
It’s empty. He is risen. But not before dying an unimaginable death for you and for me. If you don’t know Him this Easter, if this is unclear or confusing or simply something you have never heard about please read the page on Steps to Knowing God. You’ll find it in the right sidebar. Don’t build your Easter on anything less than Christ the solid rock. This is serious business. The greatest sacrifice ever made for anyone, was made for you and me. As always, if you have any questions please post them. If you simply want to express how thankful you are to Him, please do. In this day of instability and world terrorism threats, we need the hope of that empty tomb. We need to know, our Savior lives. And one day, He will return for us. We need something to hold on to when we think we can no longer hold on. But this something, lives and will return again one day. God in human flesh, died a horrible death on our behalf. Again, if you need this hope, this security in your own life, remember the tomb is empty. Don’t live another day, another moment, without surrendering your life to the One who surrendered His life for you.
Matthew 28:1-9 (NASB)
1 Now after the Sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to look at the grave.
2 And behold, a severe earthquake had occurred, for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven and came and rolled away the stone and sat upon it.
3 And his appearance was like lightning, and his clothing as white as snow.
4 The guards shook for fear of him and became like dead men.
5 The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid; for I know that you are looking for Jesus who has been crucified.
6 “He is not here, for He has risen, just as He said. Come, see the place where He was lying.
7 “Go quickly and tell His disciples that He has risen from the dead; and behold, He is going ahead of you into Galilee, there you will see Him; behold, I have told you.”
8 And they left the tomb quickly with fear and great joy and ran to report it to His disciples.
9 And behold, Jesus met them and greeted them. And they came up and took hold of His feet and worshiped Him.
October 4, World Ballet Day
It’s a theme of this blog, and it’s a reminder of my past. Ballet. Tuesday October 4, is World Ballet Day. If you have ever been a dancer, or just love dance, this event is one not to be missed.
Dancing. It has always been one of the most colorful, beautiful things in the world to me. And though I can’t quite participate like I used to, I just love watching these classes from some of the world’s best companies and I’m dancing right along with them.
Psalm 149:3-4 (NKJV)
3 Let them praise His name with the dance; Let them sing praises to Him with the timbrel and harp.
And God Sent Mindy: Lessons From a Rescue Dog
Mindy, the Heaven sent Bichon Frise
And God Sent a Mindy…
Matthew 6:8- (NASB77)
8 for your Father knows what you need, before you ask Him.
.
It’s been said that sometimes God doesn’t give you what you want; He gives you what you need. Such was the case in March 2010, when a scraggly puppy entered our world. Mindy came from an animal rescue. In her scrawny, disheveled state, she was what my husband wanted, but not the right dog to fill the hole in my heart. It was bleeding from a massive hole created by the recent death of our Golden Retriever Boris. The rescue could not deliver us a Golden, so they sent us Mindy. Or God did.
She was a curly little mutt. A real mess. (It wasn’t until later, that we determined she might be a Bichon Frise.) It wasn’t too long after her arrival that Mindy became sick. A little cough moved her from the Golden I wanted, to the pup I needed. A cough contracted from life in the shelter. I was beside myself until I knew she was going to recover. Yes, she was becoming what I needed to heal. All five pounds of her. She was in fact, what the whole family needed. She infused joy back into our home. She delighted everyone including two cats and our other Golden, Morgan.
This was our first little dog and we quickly learned that she could get into places we could not. She liked to hide under the bed, beneath the couch, under the table. Taking her to the vet was a challenge. We had to lift the sofa to force her out, or stand guarding either side of our bed in hope that she would exit and we could scoop her up. The only thing we found that sent her directly into our arms was a big bath towel. With every storm, her fur wet and muddy, she would readily walk into a waiting towel. Security. Rest. Comfort. To this day, it remains our solution for her sassy or fearful, hide- under- the-furniture state. Love replaces her fear.
The Christian life is like that. We hide in spots where no one can touch us. Physically. Mentally. We cower, rebel, or refuse to budge. And God waits to catch us with open arms. Sometimes He will lift us out of our hiding places. He moves walls to shake us loose from our stubborn stance, isolation, fear. Often He waits patiently for us to make the move, to step out into the light. And when we are in life’s storms, He is there to wrap us in that blanket of security, rest, love.
Though Mindy was not what I wanted, she has long since proved she was what I needed. To heal from the loss of a noble Golden. To demonstrate how God stands waiting for me. No doubt when He sees the pup He sent, He smiles. Just as we do, day after day with Mindy. Joy bestowed. Lessons learned.
Has a rescue dog or cat changed your life for the better? I’d love to hear about it! I believe God hand picks our pets.
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