Summer afternoon at the lake...

Last week we took an afternoon off to enjoy some time with our family at a local lake.

It's wonderful to live just a short drive from so many beautiful places 

where we can spend a few hours of relaxation and recreation.

The weather so far this summer has been wonderful-

sunny and warm but not too hot.

Perfect for an afternoon of swimming, fishing, kayaking and picnicking! 

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Summer thanksgiving...

Summer is flying by! We've had a lot going on, such as the usual busyness of ministry and family life and two major house projects. A new and improved very large patio is completed and updates to our kitchen are in process. We are still managing to savor some of the sweetness of summer and spending time with the grandkids when we can. You'll notice one such day tucked into this week's gratitude list.  We took an afternoon to "play hooky" and to spend a few hours picnicking and kayaking with some of our family.

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Since 2009 I've been counting my blessings thanks to the prompting of Ann Voskamp.

 I continue to count my thanks

piling up gratitude day by day

in my journal.

(and capturing some of my blessings via my camera or iPhone)

#10,0220#10,043

7-10-17-

-a few moments in the Word before starting a busy day

-spending time with my daughter and grandson

-a quiet evening with my husband after too much busyness

7-11-17-

-french lavender plants for my patio pots

-our oldest grandson helping us with some yard work 

while our middle grandson played in the dirt and sprinkler

-God's provision for needs and even for wants

7-12-17-

-taking a bit of mid-week time off

-going to the lake with two of our girls and four of the grandkids,

 (plus our "unofficially adopted" granddaughter from church)

-kayaking!

7-13-17-

-Psalm 103

-morning clouds giving way to afternoon sun

-demo day for our old countertops!

7-14-17-

-watering my plants in the cool of the morning

-dinner and shopping with a friend

-asking God for help to find something I needed and Him answering

7-15-17-

-a slow and quiet Saturday morning

-a new to me birdsong in my backyard

-fresh caught crab for dinner!

-a lovely evening walk

7-16-17-

-wonderful worship and word

-more new faces at church

-resting

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What do I meditate on?

What do I meditate on?  What are my thoughts focused on?  What am I pondering about?  Just today in my devotions I read these words in Psalm 104:34, "May my meditation be pleasing to Him".  I wrote it as a prayer in the margin of my Bible, "May my meditation be pleasing to You".

It was a great help in my spiritual life when I realized I didn't have to let my mind meander wherever it wanted to. I heard someone say, "think what you're thinking about!", and it really has made a world of difference.  However, reigning in this unruly mind of mine is an ongoing, daily process,.  On any given day, much like a willful child, my mind pushes against restraint and tries to go its own way.  On those kinds of days I meditate on, focus on, and ponder things like a recent hurt or offense, a situation I'm worried or anxious about, fear of the unknown future, or resentment over things I'd rather not have to do.  On other days my mind isn't necessarily focused on negative thoughts, rather its just not focused at all, flitting here and there, willy nilly.

Whatever it is I'm thinking about, there comes a time to stop the madness-to stop the worrisome, fearful, or resentful thoughts, to send a cease and desist order to the willy nilly random thoughts-and to practice experiencing a mind at rest.  (Join me for the rest of this post on Sunday, July 16th, at Woman to Woman Ministries where each Sunday I share a bit of Sunday Soul Food!)

still following,

Also happily linking up with the lovely

Susan B. Mead
and

Sunday Scripture Blessings

Ten thousand blessings!

I've been keeping my gratitude journal since the fall of 2009.  

This past week I passed ten thousand as I count my blessings!

So here I am posting my ten thousandth blessing and beyond, a day later than my normal Monday gratitude posts because I seem to not have enough hours in the day lately!

****************

Since 2009 I've been counting my blessings thanks to the prompting of Ann Voskamp.

 I continue to count my thanks

piling up gratitude day by day

in my journal.

(and capturing some of my blessings via my camera or iPhone)

#9996-#10,021

7-3-17-

-God's help and guidance 

-support and encouragement

-our family

7-4-17-

-U.S.A.'s 241st birthday!  God bless America!

-10,000!!!

-our family coming over for BBQ and to watch the neighborhood fireworks

-getting to know our neighbors better as we watched the fireworks

7-5-17-

-a text from our weary youngest daughter that our newest grand baby slept better

-finally getting something I've been procrastinating about done

-a need met

-a beautiful evening walk

-Psalm 92-"they shall still bear fruit in old age"

7-6-17-

-an unexpected chance to see my youngest daughter and grand baby

-the way our grand baby stretches toward the sun because he loves the warmth on his face

-a really good prayer time at church tonight

7-7-16-

-baking for the work crew that is helping with our new patio, (I love to bake!)

-many hands make light work-so thankful!

-the joy and privilege of being a Nana

-a good visit with friends 

7-8-16-

-a quiet Saturday morning after a busy week

-time with Jesus and time to write

-our oldest granddaughter spending the night

7-9-17-

-a sweet spirit at church

-an encouraging word

-lunch and fellowship

-baking with my sweet unofficially adopted granddaughter from our church

still following,

-

The Lord reigns...

THE LORD REIGNS! Those are three very powerful words.  The LORD reigns.  Not the Democrats or the Republicans, not Vladimir Putin or Kim Jong-Un, not the state of your bank account,  the economy, your health or the health care system, not satan himself or all the demons in hell.   THE LORD REIGNS! He is predominate, preeminent, supreme and sovereign over all-this sin twisted earth included.  The enemy wants us to cower in fear, worry and anxiety.  He wants us to waste our today fearing the future.  However, once we are firmly, immovably, completely convinced of the truth that THE LORD REIGNS, then we are not easily shaken by the tactics of satan nor the headlines on the five o'clock news.   (Join me for the rest of this post on Sunday, July 2nd, at Woman to Woman Ministries where each Sunday I share a bit of Sunday Soul Food!)

still following,

Also happily linking up with the lovely

Susan B. Mead
and

Sunday Scripture Blessings

Worthy of gratitude and appreciation...

“Maybe it feels as if choosing contentment is a simultaneous choice to quell your desires and silence your future aspirations, to quit ever hoping for more. On the contrary, contentment is the equilibrium between the enjoyment of life now and the anticipation of what is to come...It is the key to unlock you from the bondage of unrestrained longing that wells up within your heart and inevitably begins to control your life, making you a slave to what you don’t have instead of a fully engaged participant with what you do. It is the faith-filled belief that what God has bestowed now is worthy of gratitude and appreciation, not merely because it is enough but because it is good.” Priscilla Shirer

****************

Since 2009 I've been counting my blessings thanks to the prompting of Ann Voskamp.

 I continue to count my thanks

piling up gratitude day by day

in my journal.

(and capturing some of my blessings via my camera or iPhone)

#9963-#9995

6-26-17-

-a sweet time with our three year old grandson

-an itsy bitsy frog

-walking

-yummy middle eastern rice and fresh green beans

-my kind oldest grandson

6-27-17-

-morning snuggles

-brothers-the way our oldest grandson watches over his brother

-a few quiet hours

-a phone call with my oldest brother

-delicious Alaskan halibut that our good friends gave us for dinner

6-28-17-

-our son-in-law's birthday

-a fun morning visit with our middle granddaughter while the youngest slept in

-making yummy homemade blueberry muffins with my granddaughter

-a couple of inexpensive bouncy balls bringing joy and fun

-both girls falling asleep on the ride home

6-29-17-

-this beautiful day

-a visit from our daughter and sweet youngest grandson

-cute new toys for him

-a nice walk

-Hula Boy, YUMMM!, with our daughter, son-in-law and grandson

-God taking care of things when I trust and rest in Him

-a really good time of worship and prayer

6-30-17-

-our day off

-lunch and a walk by the river

-a restful evening

7-1-17-

-July!

-our oldest grandson helping papa in the yard

-our oldest granddaughter's big smile when she road past the kitchen window on her bike

-making homemade ice cream for tomorrow's contest at church

-a favorite recipe from my sister-in-law

7-2-17-

-a great message 

-a fun church BBQ and homemade ice cream contest

-God's provision and blessing

still following,

When you can't see where you're going...

I vividly remember the first time that Psalm 32:8 became real and personal in my life. It was my senior year of high school, the year everyone asks you the question, "What are you going to do after you graduate?".  I remember feeling overwhelmed that everyone expected me to know what I wanted to do with my life and to have my next steps all figured out.  The truth was, I had quite a list of things I maybe wanted to do with my life, but nothing that clearly marked the path that I should take. That's about the time I stumbled across this verse that promised me that God would instruct and teach me in the way I should go.  What a comfort that was to me!  Forty years down the road, I can say that God definitely did guide me and has continued to do so throughout the years since.

Like the photo above, we can sometimes go through foggy seasons.  The horizon and all of the familiar landmarks that normally help us to know which direction to go seem hidden.  The good news is, while all that we are used to depending on for our sense of direction seems hidden, while we may feel lost, no matter how thick that fog is God knows exactly where we are and exactly what our next step should be.  His eye is on us and always will be.   However, God isn't going to lasso us with a rope and lead us around.  He will instruct, teach, and counsel us, but we have to be willing to listen and then follow His instructions!  (Join me for the rest of this post on Sunday, July 2nd, at Woman to Woman Ministries where each Sunday I share a bit of Sunday Soul Food!)

still following,

Also happily linking up with the lovely

Susan B. Mead
and

Sunday Scripture Blessings