Of Paths

We all need paths in life,
      To take us here or there.

And when there's not a path
      We forge one new with care.

Most of the time we follow
      The work that others have done.

But sometimes a new path
      Is what we need to run.

We must make sure our path
      Is safe for our littles to follow.

For often we find that
      In our steps they go.

May my path today be one
      I'd love to be followed on.

Grant me the grace, Father,
      Through your own Dear Son!

The absence...

I am sorry for the absence here. We recently moved and with getting all settled into a new community, plus helping with food for volunteers that are currently helping in our community, writing has gotten pushed to the back burner. I do hope to get started again and be back to regular posting.

Psalm 139:7-12

In thinking about absence, I am so glad that we serve a God that is never absent from anywhere on this earth! He is always with each one of us, caring, loving and waiting for us to reach out to Him in faith!

Reach out to the ever present "King of Kings" today and worship Him!

Birthplaces

During this season of the year, we think a lot about the birth of Jesus. And we think of His birthplace, Bethlehem. It is a special place to us as Christians, because it is where our Savior took His first breath in a human body. Divinity met humanity, perfectly combined in one little being.  It is where the prophet, Micah, had said He would be born.

MIC 5:2 KJV,  But thou, Beth–lehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting.

There are many other towns/cities and states and countries that claim to be the birthplace of many different notable people. Illinois is known as the birthplace of Abraham Lincoln and Virginia as the birthplace of George Washington, etc.

The birthplace of my children will always be a place that is close to my heart. There is something very special about meeting the new little life you have carried for 9 months.

As I think about birth and birthplaces, it reminds me of the words of Jesus in John 3.

John 3:3 KJV

Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.

Our natural birthplace is special, but it is our spiritual one that is the most important! It is as vital to being a part of the kingdom of God, as birth is to having life here on this earth. As a mother, I look forward to the spiritual birthplaces of my children. And I think that I will treasure them even more than their natural birthplaces.

So this Christmas, as we think about Jesus birth, may we also think about our own birth into His kingdom and thank Him for giving us that new life abundantly! Let's worship Him for He is worthy!

Celebrating the Birth of our Mediator!

Hope you are all doing well and enjoying the busyness that goes along with this special Christmas season! I am sorry for the long absence here. We have been very busy with many good things, one of which is taking care of a new foster baby. I do hope to do better at updating! 

Today I was reading through Job 9 and this verse stood out to me.

Job 9:33 HCSB

There is no one to judge between us, to lay his hand on both of us.

Job realized that because of God's greatness and his smallness, he could not question or answer to God. This is what he said just a few verses before:

Job 9:15 HCSB

Even if I were in the right, I could not answer. I could only beg my Judge for mercy.

I think that Job realized that there needed to be someone that could be a go-between, someone that understood both divinity and humanity, a mediator. He was looking forward to the time when God would send a redeemer to reconcile mankind to Himself. That mediator/redeemer is our precious King Jesus! 

1 Timothy 2:5 HCSB

For there is one God and one mediator  between God and humanity, Christ Jesus, Himself human.

This Christmas season, let's celebrate not only the birth, but also the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ and praise God that through Him (Jesus) we have access to the Father. We now have someone that is our go-between, our mediator! 

Pumpkin Pie Squares from Home Joys

One of my fellow bloggers that I highly recommend is Home Joys. She posts amazing recipes and does a LOT of gardening! She recently posted the following recipe and I Can't wait to make it!

Pumpkin Pie Squares

Crust: 
1 cup flour
1/2 cup quick oatmeal
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup butter

Combine ingredients. I use a food processor to make it extra quick to cut in the butter. Press into a 9x13 pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 15 minutes. Cool.

Filling:
6 eggs 
1 1/2 cup brown sugar
2 T flour
2 tsp cinnamon 
1 tsp salt
1 tsp ginger 
1/2 tsp nutmeg
1/2 tsp cloves
4 cups pumpkin puree
2 cups scalded milk (heated to hot but not boiling)

Mix all ingredients together and pour over crust. Bake at 350 degrees for 60 minutes or until a knife inserted in center comes out clean. Serve with whipped cream.

Blessings!

Praise God's Glory

A continuation of our thoughts on thanksgiving....

Ephesians 1:3, 7, 11-12 HCSB

Praise the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavens.   We have redemption in Him  through His blood, the forgiveness  of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace We have also received an inheritance  in Him, predestined  according to the purpose of the One who works out everything in agreement with the decision of His will, so that we who had already put our hope  in the Messiah might bring praise to His glory.

We cherish the times when our children express their love to us. Whether it is an "I wuv you, Mommy" or an "I wike your dwess", it always warms my heart.

I think that it is the same way for God. He is so great and has done so many mighty things for us and we are mere dust in comparison to Him. Yet He loves and wants to hear our praise and adoration for Him. He has blessed us with so much, we should be bursting with thankfulness and praise! Just read Ephesians 1:3-14, and look at the descriptive words in that passage that talk about what God has done! Let's take conscious time today to bless, praise, and thank our Heavenly Father. Will you join me?

Thank you, Father God, for all the spiritual blessings that You have given to me today. I want to bring praise to Your Glory today. You have done so much for me, and when I really stop and think about it, I can't help but adore, honor, and praise You, for You alone are worthy! In Jesus' name, Amen.

Thank God for Victory!

As we head into this season of Thanksgiving, I would like to think about things that we can thank God for. Today I want to focus on these verses:

1 Corinthians 15:57-58 HCSB

But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ! Therefore, my dear brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always excelling in the Lord’s work,  knowing that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.

The other evening, we took our family out to try the new ice cream shop in town. While we were waiting in line, I observed a father and small son that were also waiting. While they waited, they were playing "Pin the Thumb". When the little boy won, he jumped up and down and celebrated his victory.

We also can be excited about the victory that is already declared in heaven. Jesus Christ has won the battle against the devil and evil once and for all by His death on the cross. We must thank God for this amazing gift! And then out of our thankful hearts, we need to serve Him and 'excel in the Lord's work'.

"Thank you, Father God, for declaring the victory over sin and evil! Thank you for giving us the tremendous privilege of claiming that victory with Christ. We praise You and magnify Your Name! Give us the grace (power) to excel in Your work today! In Jesus name, Amen

"Gratitude unexpressed is plain old ingratitude"