First sighting of the oriole!

Cardinal's beautiful song!

spring's morning sun
crocus, the first blooms of spring . . .

both refreshment for my soul

Thankful for safe travels and time spent with family and friends!

When I Am . . . God Is

You're all I want in heaven!
You're all I want on earth!
When my skin sags 
and my bones get brittle
God is rock-firm
and faithful.

Psalm 73:25
Message Bible

How Long Do I Praise God?

"From the rising of the sun
to its going down
the Lord's name is to be
praised!"
Psalm 113:3  NKJV

"From east to west
from dawn to dusk
keep lifting all your
praises to God!"
Psalm 113:3  Message Bible

When Our Soul Melts

What to do when
our soul melts because of trouble and
we are at our wits' end . . .

"Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble,
And He delivered them out of their distresses.

Oh, that men would give thanks to the Lord
for His goodness
and for His wonderful works to the 
children of men!"

Psalm 107

Never Forget . . .

Let all that I am praise the Lord;

may I never forget the good things he does for me.

Psalm 103:2

David was not saying

“soul (mind, will, emotions)

if you want to”

David said . . .“never forget"

I am so very thankful . . . 

He forgives all my sins

He heals all my diseases.

He redeems me from death

He crowns me with love and tender mercies.

He fills my life with good things.

My youth is renewed like the eagle’s!

He is compassionate

He is merciful,

He is slow to get angry

He is filled with unfailing love.

He does not punish us for all our sins;

He does not deal harshly with us, as we deserve

He has removed our sins as far from us

as the east is from the west.

No Escape

Is there anyplace I can go to avoid your Spirit?
    to be out of your sight?
If I climb to the sky, you’re there!
    If I go underground, you’re there!
If I flew on morning’s wings
    to the far western horizon,
You’d find me in a minute—
    you’re already there waiting!
Psalm 139:7-10  
Message Bible

who are we
that the God of all creation
knows
even cares
where we are
every breath of our day

thankful

He is already
into
the very next breath of our life
waiting for us
because He
cares
because He
loves us so much

there is no
escaping
God's sight

not that I would ever want to!

Happy New Year!

I did not reach my goal
of 1,000 written entries in my journal
for 2013
(I had 979 entries)
but
this I know
thankfulness is
practicing the presence of God
which brings healing grace
to the soul

no list this year
but the attitude of gratitude
challenge remains . . . 

"I will thank the Lord at all times.
My lips will always praise Him."
Psalm 34:1
NIRV

#877  A gift hung . . . grandchildren's art work
#878  A gift held . . . a new born granddaughter
#880  A gift of my savior . . . unconditional love
#886  A gift crowning . . . "Children's children are a crown to the aged . . . "  Psalm 17:6
#889  A gift of unframed art . . . a snowflake

Gifts of Remembrance

#815  The men and women who have served and are serving in the armed forces of the United States of America
#816  My father surviving landing on Normandy Beach and WWII
#817  Family holiday meals
#818  The work of the cross

#777  a big pot of homemade chili
#778  homemade cinnamon rolls to go with the chili
#779  Tuesdays with my 4-yr old grandson . . . priceless

Hard to Give Thanks for . . .
#755  Squirrels burying acorns in my flowerbeds!
#756  Migrating grackles taking over the bird feeders

Easy to Give Thanks for . . .
 #759  Colors of Fall . . . trees, mums, intense blue of the sky
#760  Crisp temps of Fall 

3 Gifts Very Small

#646  Hummingbirds (at my feeder)
#647  Cherry tomatoes in my garden
#648  Faith as a mustard seed

#621  A gift in a ring . . . commitment / covenant
#622  A gift in a curve . . . a river's gentle bend
#623  A gift in a sphere . . . our earth / our moon

3 Gifts White . . .

Giant Hybiscus

Clematis . . . "Henri"

Peonie

3 Gifts Understated

#574  Listening
#575  Kindness
#576  A Smile

#526  A Gift of Rhythm . . . Music
#527  A Gift of Rhyme . . .  Poetry
#528  A Gift of Reason . . . The Word

#470 . . . I'm so thankful that God blessed my husband and me with 2 miracle babies (we had been told we could not have children).  We have a daughter and a son.  Today is our son's 33rd birthday. 

#410