And a little child shall lead them...

"Truly I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child will not enter it at all." Mark 10:15

**Remember to scroll down and pause my player before clicking the link.**


The Lord's Prayer ~ by Zoei

The Gospel according to...you (?)

For my Old Testament study, I am currently in the Book of Leviticus. For me, it is a difficult book to read, understand and apply to my own life. That's when you need a good study guide! Thankfully, one was recommended to me last year by a friend (thanks V!) and it has been such a gift - allowing me to understand God's Word in a deeper, clearer way.

So Saturday, after reading in Leviticus, I turned to Dr. J. Vernon McGee's Thru the Bible to see what he had to say...and incorporated in his outline, I found this:

The Gospel is written a chapter a day

By the deeds that you do and the words that you say.

Men read what you say whether faithless or true.

Say, what is the Gospel according to you?

I backed up and read it again. And again. It struck me as quite a profound little poem.

If I am Christ's Ambassador here on earth, then everything I do and everything I say can impact a lost brother or sister. Am I the best representative of the Gospel that I can be? Those who do not know the Lord are more than likely NOT reading His Word. So it's up to me as a believer to live His Word so that it's evident in my words and deeds.

What a responsibility...and you know I was convicted. A million thoughts ran through my head. Oh so many ways I can do better! I prayed that the Holy Spirit guide me and make me more conscious of my behavior.

So tell me...what is the Gospel...according to YOU?

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Yesterday was "Friend's Day" at church. My girlfriend, Kimberly, attended church and Sunday School with me. Please keep her in your prayers. When I thanked her for going, she said, "I did it for you." It is my prayer that one day (soon, please Lord) she will realize it was the best thing she ever did...for herself.

Because if there's one thing I know for sure, it's that we ALL need a Savior.

Which leads me to my song choice for Music Monday. I hope you enjoy it! **Remember to scroll down and pause my player before clicking the link.**












Mighty To Save ~ Hillsong

"Jesus said to him, "I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." John 14:6

They miss him...

My Sweet Hubby was an awesome Father. And our children miss him so very much. Each is dealing with the loss in their own way...it just breaks my heart.

So today's Music Monday is for our children...James, Jennifer and Matthew. **Remember to scroll down and pause my player before clicking the links**

First, for our sons...













Finally Home ~ Mercy Me

I love the verse in that song about the "voices of the angels." I know my Sweet Hubby is singing in the heavenly choir - praising God for all he's worth...and he had such a beautiful voice...

And now, for our daughter...when this song came out, I remember how deeply it moved me. Even more now.












Dance With My Father ~ Luther Vandross

"Children, obey your parents in everything, for this is pleasing to the Lord." Colossians 3:20

"When Jacob finished giving these instructions to his sons, he pulled his feet into his bed. He took his last breath and joined his ancestors in death. Joseph threw himself on his father, cried over him, and kissed him." Genesis 49:33, 50:1

Good News!

I had some wonderful quiet time this morning with the Lord. It's a beautiful day outside, all kinds of wildlife are out in the pond across the street enjoying the sunshine. And even though the thermometer has not yet broken 30 degrees there is the promise of Spring in the air!

As I immersed myself in God's Word, I found beauty waiting for me there as well. Such beauty that I had to share it here with all of you! See if these words don't make you feel jubilant!!

"All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. It is by his great mercy that we have been born again, because God raised Jesus Christ from the dead. Now we live with great expectation, and we have a priceless inheritance--an inheritance that is kept in heaven for you, pure and undefiled, beyond the reach of change and decay. And through your faith, God is protecting you by his power until you receive this salvation, which is ready to be revealed on the last day for all to see.

So truly be glad. There is wonderful joy ahead, even though you have to endure many trials for a little while. These trials will show that your faith is genuine. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold--though your faith is far more precious than mere gold. So when your faith remains strong through many trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honor on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world.

You love him even though you have never seen him. Though you do not see him now, you trust him; and you rejoice with a glorious, inexpressible joy. The reward for trusting him will be the salvation of your souls." 1 Peter 1:3-9

There now...don't you feel better having just read those words?? How can you not?! Just like looking out my windows, those words filled me with a feeling of the promise of Spring! New life, hope, beauty...

Have a blessed weekend, my friends! Breathe deeply of the Promise!

Home

Church just put me away yesterday. Period. The End.

Pastor Tommy had me in tears almost from the word "go." His sermon was all about how this is not our real home - rather, just a temporary residence. Amen, amen, amen.

Our choir sang beautifully - as always. From start to finish, our church service fed me...heart, mind and soul. Matthew agreed. In fact, he said it was his favorite service!

If you'd like to listen, you can. Click here, then select "podcasts" on the left, scroll down and select the sermon for 2/15/09.

For Music Monday, I'd like to share one of the songs our choir sang. It was just lovely...sigh...I wish you all could have been there...

**Remember to scroll down and pause my player before clicking the link**

The Light of That City ~ performed by the Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir (lyrics below)

In this house we've built of make believe
Loved ones go long before, seems it's time to leave
But we will learn how to grieve, to forgive and receive
'Till we see them there in that city

Span of stars overhead as we walk this road
While this darkness remains, I will bear your load
And together we will tend the seed He's sown
As we walk along the road to that city

CHORUS:
On that day we will sing "Holy, Holy"
On that day we'll bow down in the light
And then we'll rise and turn our eyes
To the Lord, Jesus Christ, on that day

Though my eyes can't see what is waiting there
Though my mind can't conceive all that He's prepared
There the blind will see the sun, what was old will be young
And the lame, they will run all over the streets of that city

CHORUS:
On that day we will sing "Holy, Holy"
On that day we'll bow down in the light
And then we'll rise and turn our eyes
To the Lord, Jesus Christ, on that day

"Do not let your heart be troubled; believe in God, believe also in Me. In my Father's house are many dwelling places; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you. If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, there you may be also." John 14: 1-3

Please understand...

Today marks the three month anniversary of my Sweet Hubby's homegoing. In almost every way it seems like just yesterday. But it feels like an eternity since I saw his beloved face, felt his hand in mine and heard him say "I love you."

I participate in an online support group sponsored by the CancerCare organization. Membership is private and closed to the general public. When I first joined last year, I was in the "pancreatic cancer caregiver's group" and now I am in the "partner's bereavement group." This past week, one of the members posted the following. I share it here, for myself as well as anyone else you may know who is going through the loss of a spouse.

Please understand By Suzanne Miller

My Husband died,

There - It's down in black and white. What I mean is, he's still alive in spirit, but his body died. And that's how I became a member of the community of the bereaved. And as a member I ask for your understanding. Not your pity - your understanding.

As individuals, we in the community of the bereaved need you. Don't worry about saying the "Right things". We're tired of cliches. We know our "dear ones are at peace with God" and that they feel no more pain.

But, we still miss their physical presence. There was this one person on earth to whom we were the most important; one person who knew us so completely that no words were necessary. We miss that.

If we seem distant, please understand. Some of us are still in shock. Even if the illness was long and the prognosis unfavorable, we maintained the hope that death wouldn't come. We had to. How else could we face each other and encourage our loved one?

If we seem angry , please understand. Most of us are angry, but we know that God accepts our anger and refines it into an energy that will be vital in our outreach to others.

If tears come at inappropriate times and places, please understand. Our emotions, even yet are raw. Just when we think we are in control, a song or a scent - or a feeling of utter desolation overcomes us.

Or, if we laugh, know that deep inside we are hurting. WE know that God has given us the gift of a sense of humor and that our loved ones are rejoicing that we are exercising this gift.

We may be forgetful. Sleep is elusive, we may not eat properly; we may make foolish purchases. Please don't condemn us. Just know it can be a part of the grieving process. In time, we'll come around.

And please, oh please, let us follow our own timetables. We each march or stumble along the route at our own pace. Grief has no calendar; don't hold us to a timetable. For the moment, we are drifting, buoyed by the love of God and our faith in Jesus Christ.

This faith, along with your understanding, will enable us - eventually - to celebrate life once again.

I love the phrase "buoyed by the love of God." It reminds me of a life jacket when you're adrift in the ocean...held up, supported. Yes.

I hope you enjoy the song I've chosen for today. It kind of goes along with the life jacket thing...

**Remember to scroll down and pause my player before clicking the link**

He Will Carry Me ~ Mark Schultz

"Even to your old age I will be the same, and even to your graying years I will bear you! I have done it, and I will carry you; and I will bear you and I will deliver you." Isaiah 46:4

Hey Hey Hey!

It's FAT ALBERT!!!



And he's just bursting forth all over with new buds...new LIFE!



Every day, another one...and another one!!

And yes, he is still decked out in all his Christmas finery...my family has not "celebrated" Christmas yet. Hopefully, we will have all gotten together before planting time!

"Either make the tree good and its fruit good, or make the tree bad and its fruit bad; for the tree is known by its fruit." Matthew 12:33

I'm sorry no one guessed it...I thought for sure someone would! So instead of a prezzie, I'll leave you with a couple of consolation prizes!


LuLu sends her love!

Here's a hint

Two, actually...

Based on your comments, I can tell you the following:

1) It's NOT an alien!

2) It IS alive!

Post your best guesses...answer tomorrow. And I do have a "door prize" should someone guess correctly!

"If you come with us, we will share with you all the good things the Lord gives us." Numbers 10:32

Any idea

what this is?

"May I reveal it as clearly as I should." Colossians 4:4

I'll be checking to see if anyone gets it right...and maybe I'll even have a prezzie should there be a lucky winner!

I changed it

My cell phone ringtone that is...

After having Third Day's Cry Out to Jesus forever, yesterday I changed to a different song.

The past week has been an emotional one. Missing my Sweet Hubby beyond what I thought possible. My Mom. A furnace that quit working. And so it goes.

I heard this song on the radio the other day and mentally I just said, "yeah."

So here's today's Music Monday song...**remember to scroll down and pause my player before clicking the link**












Homesick ~ Mercy Me

I close my eyes and I see your face...

"I lie awake. I have become like a lonely bird on a housetop." Psalm 102:7