Autumn Owlies.....

 Y'all know I love owls, right?

I've adored the little creatures for many, many years.....

long before the craze hit.

But, I've  gotta say.....

their popularity has added fuel to the fire!!!

Since I have somewhat of a problem with all the hoop-la over Halloween.....
let's celebrate the day with little fall owlies!!!

This made me think of our four grand's!

Pappy and Nannie

Leviticus 11:17
And the little owl, and the cormorant, and the great owl.....

Breathing in Jesus,

Deb

p.s.....
don't forget about the give-a-way.
Just click here, or on the little red birds above to enter!!!

Wednesday's Word - Forgive.....

Edited to add:
I did this post Saturday morning and scheduled it to post today.
Since then, so many things have happened that let me know exactly why God gave me the word.....
"FORGIVE"!!

Breathing in Jesus,

Deb

p.s....
don't forget to click on the little red birds underneath my header to enter my give-a-way!!!

A gift for you.....

Every once in a while I like to have a little give-a-way.

I picked up this book last weekend with just that idea in mind!

Don'tcha just love the "Eat Your Peas" books?

I bought one for my best friend and went thru and wrote things on a lot of the pages just for her!!!

This one is about FAITH!!

And, there's a little sign to go along with the book that has a verse of scripture that always reminds me of my friend, Ms. Norma!!!

So.....how do you win?

All you've gotta do is follow me here at Breathing In Jesus.

You can do that at the bottom of the page.

Then, leave a comment and let me know.....

what is your favorite word.....

or words!!!

And, why is that a favorite.....

how has that word played a role in your life?

Does it go along with a favorite verse of scripture

I'll go first!!!

My favorite word is.....

 Hope!!!

And, I always think of Jeremiah 29:11-13 when I hear the word HOPE!!!

“For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. 

 “They are plans for good and not for disaster, 

to give you a future and a hope.  

In those days when you pray, 

I will listen.

If you look for me wholeheartedly, 

you will find me.”

Breathing in Jesus,

Deb

p.s....

I'll announce the winner next Monday, November 4th!

WHO do you trust?!?!

I got gas and headed down the road to the grocery store.

Sometimes I turn the little heater on beside the computer.

Did I turn it off before I left the house?

I knew that I hadn't turned it on.

Or, did I?

Do I turn around and go back home?

No....you didn't turn it on!!!

Another thought.....

"you need to trust your instincts better than that".

Then, yet another thought.....

a convicting one from the Holy Spirit.

"This is how you make ME feel when you don't trust Me"!

Breathing in Jesus,

Deb

SONday Morning Song - Beautiful Scandalous Night.....

Breathing in Jesus,

Deb

Saturday Smiles.....

If you've visited here much, then 'ya know that I simply ♥ to crochet!!!
I laughingly tell people that since I can't afford therapy....
I crochet!!!

Crocheting and chocolate.....
now that's REAL therapy!!!

Proverbs 17:22a
A cheerful heart is good medicine.....    

Hope I brought a bit of happy to your Saturday!!!

Remember to keep on.....

Breathing in Jesus,

Deb

Friday Foto.....

I so wish I had taken this pic with my better camera instead of my cell phone!!!

But, isn't she beautiful?

She thought it was so funny to wear both Pappy's toboggan and his straw hat!!!

Matthew 18:5
And anyone who welcomes a little child like this on my behalf
is welcoming me.

Breathing in Jesus,

Deb

Let's take a test.....

What American accent do you have?

Your Result: The South

 

85%

That's a Southern accent you've got there. You may love it, you may hate it, you may swear you don't have it, but whatever the case, we can hear it.

 

80%

The Northeast

 

66%

Philadelphia

 

62%

The Inland North

 

55%

The Midland

 

20%

The West

 

14%

Boston

 

0%

North Central

I saw a link to a test that tells you what your accent is!!!

As you can tell, mine was pretty much spot-on, 

considering I live in East Tennessee!!!

How 'bout you?

Do you think you have an accent.....

or not?

You can click here to find out what yours is!!

We all probably pronounce words differently,

depending on what part of the country....

or the world.....

that we're from.

But.....as a child of God, 

there are some qualities of our speech that should be similar.....

Ephesians 4:29

Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, 

but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, 

that it may benefit those who listen.

Proverbs 16:24

Gracious words are a honeycomb,
    sweet to the soul and healing to the bones.

Breathing in Jesus,

Deb

Wednesday's Word - Smile.....

Breathing in Jesus,

Deb

The Common Cold.....

.....of the soul!!!

That's an explanation of depression given by Dr. David Jeremiah.

He went on to explain that, yes.....

CHRISTians get depressed.

The GOD-thing to me was.....

I turned the radio on at just the right moment to hear Dr. Jeremiah's comments!!!

He explained that most of the time our depression comes from one of two sources.....

an event that happens in our life

(death, divorce, etc.)

a hormonal imbalance

As I've shared with y'all in the past, 

I have suffered from depression for a big chunk of my life.....

and not just my adult life, either.

My own personal experience with depression started at a young age.

In the past I've taken medication.....

and my doctor.....

who is a CHRISTian, by the way.....

explained to me that taking meds for depression is no different 

than a pill you would take for diabetes, 

or high blood pressure!!!

(praise the Lord, I've been medication free for almost 3 years)

If you suffer from depression.....

NEVER allow somebody to try to tell you to just get over it.....

or, that it's a sin for you to be depressed because you're a CHRISTian.

Keep in mind that Job, David, Moses, Jeremiah....

and even more of the major characters in scripture suffered from bouts of depression!!!

Just read the Psalms that David wrote.

How often was he in a "miry pit"?

Remember Paul and his "thorn in the flesh"?

That's how I've explained my battle with depression!

For me, I can't help but wonder.....

is this how God keeps me humble?

2 Corinthians 12:7b-10

So to keep me from becoming proud, 

I was given a thorn in my flesh, 

a messenger from Satan to torment me and keep me from becoming proud.

  Three different times I begged the Lord to take it away.   

Each time he said, 

“My grace is all you need. 

My power works best in weakness.” 

So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses,

so that the power of Christ can work through me.  

That’s why I take pleasure in my weaknesses, 

and in the insults, 

hardships, 

persecutions,

 and troubles 

that I suffer for Christ. 

For when I am weak, 

then I am strong.

Breathing in Jesus,

Deb

(can you tell I kinda like Winnie the Pooh? ;-)

Monday, Monday.....

Monday.....

it's probably the most dreaded of all seven days!!!

Lots of folk think of it as the first day of the week.....

but, that's actually Sunday!

I heard a minister say once that Monday's wouldn't be dreaded nearly as much.....

if Sunday's were spent worshiping the Lord!

Maybe he meant that filling up our Spiritual tanks on Sunday.....

will help us have more get up and go come Monday morning!!!

But....for me.....

I've gotta fill up that Spiritual tank.....

every single day!!!

Psalm 90:14

Satisfy us each morning with your unfailing love,
so we may sing for joy to the end of our lives.

Breathing in Jesus,

Deb

SONday Morning Song - Give Me Jesus.....

You can have all this world.....

Just give me Jesus!

Breathing in Jesus,

Deb

Wise Old Owl Designs

Our pastor and his wife are brand new grandparents to baby Willow.

 HOPE this hat keeps her sweet little head warm this winter.

Breathing in Jesus,

Deb

Friday Foto.....

This has always been one of my favorite family pictures.

Although I don't quite remember ever being that young!!!

Pappy, Nannie and Jess - 1981

Breathing in Jesus,

Deb

It was time.....

Pappy and I have been married over thirty-six years.  

Thirty-four of those years, we've spent in the same home.  

Over those three decades, plus four.....

we've accumulated an enormous amount of stuff.

We've had yard sales over the years.....

but still there was way too much junk in our home.

I'm not sure what happened, but I just got really sick of it.

So, about a month ago.....I started cleaning out.

I have NEVER  gotten rid of stuff like this.

I'm not exaggerating.....

but, I think I've taken to the thrift store.....

and given to our church.....

close to twenty bags of clutter.

That's embarrassing to even admit.....

that I allowed our home to get that cluttered.

Somebody asked why I don't have another yard sale.

I just felt God telling me to bless others with what He has blessed us with!

It seems that with each bag I fill up.....

something just releases within me, too.

It's like I'm not only cleaning out my home....

but I'm also decluttering my heart and mind!!!

Ecclesiastes 3:1,6b

 For everything there is a season,
    a time for every activity under heaven.
       A time to keep and a time to throw away.
   

Breathing in Jesus,

Deb

Wednesday's Word - Joy.....

Psalm 34:4-6
I prayed to the Lord, and he answered me.
    He freed me from all my fears.
 Those who look to him for help will be radiant with joy;
    no shadow of shame will darken their faces.
  In my desperation I prayed, and the Lord listened;
    he saved me from all my troubles.

Breathing in Jesus,

Deb

On the radio.....

Our two oldest grand-boys were on the radio last night.
Ms. Laura West asked them to participate in her weekly radio broadcast.
Ms. Laura is a Christian comedian and if you're local, 
and ever get a chance to see her.....
don't miss it!
She was at our church a couple of months ago and she's just simply amazing.
You can click here to go to her site and learn more about her ministry!

Pappy and I kept the two "little's" while the boys were "on the air",
and we listened as they were asked questions about their lives.....
and about God.  Oh, how our hearts swelled with emotion.....
and, yes, pride.....
as these precious little souls were so open and honest about Jesus!!
(and about some other things their Daddy and Momma probably wished they hadn't talked about)

Kids will be kids!!!....;-)

Ain't God good?
Oh, yes He is!!!

Ms. Janine, Sam, Ms. Laura and Sawyer

Proverbs 22:6
Train up a child in the way he should go: 
and when he is old, he will not depart from it.

Breathing in Jesus,

Deb