{ No Thanks }

Did you happen to see this little "sign" that I posted on Facebook and Instagram yesterday?

Just a short time after I posted that I picked up my Journey to read the devotion for the day, but actually was a day behind. God must have had that planned all along.....

for me to be a day behind, I mean.....

because the lesson learned went right along with the little sign above.  The "extra" reading led me to Matthew, Chapter 14, verses 22 and 23. Verse 23 just kinda jumped off the page  - but let's back up first and see what was happening. Jesus had just received word that John the Baptist had been beheaded and He wanted to be alone in His grief.

verse 13 - "As soon as Jesus heard the news, He left in a boat to a remote area to be alone. 

But "the crowds" (large group of people - isn't God amazing?) heard where He was headed and followed on foot from many towns."

In the next verses, we read the miracle of Jesus feeding the crowd of 5,000 men (plus the women and children) with only 5 loaves of bread and 2 fish.  

Then, comes verse 23.....

"After sending them home (the crowd of people), 

He went up into the hills by Himself to pray. 

Night fell while He was there alone."

Jesus needed time to Himself!

He understands that I'm an introvert and how I can often get anxious around people (more with folks that I know than strangers) and I crave time alone.

Jesus gets me!

Because He made me!

I love how He took me from the little humorous sign that holds so much truth about my personality into His word where He spoke His love into my heart!

Ain't God good?

Oh, yes He is!!!

(don't forget to check out my giveaway on Monday's post)

{ Wednesday's Word - Wait }

wait

stay where one is or delay action until a particular time or until something else happens

My Mom had a 10:00 appointment yesterday and we were told to arrive at 9:30.  I'm not sure why the 30 minutes earlier requirement unless it's just in case the doctor is running ahead but does that ever even happen with doctors?  So, we check in at 9:20 because I'm ALWAYS early.  We were finally called back at around 11:00.  The doctor came in the exam room about 11:25 and we were finally headed to the car at close to noon.

Whew!

That's just about the longest I've ever waited at the doctor's office. In his defense, he had an emergency surgery earlier in the morning and besides that, he's an awesome doctor!

But, guess what?

Neither of us got too upset.

Oh, I did get a bit antsy and kinda paced the exam room because I don't do well just sitting. I wonder if they noticed how clean and tidy the table where the sink is located was, magazines all stacked neatly, placards for items to purchase lined up tallest to shortest, and the pictures on the wall no longer crooked!

Okay, I'll stop right there because this is all about waiting, not being OCD!

Do you mind waiting?

For me, it depends on what the wait is for.

Like a little kid waiting for Christmas, I can sometimes get quite impatient.  The most frustrating form of waiting is when you receive info late on a Friday afternoon and have to wait until Monday to get the matter resolved!

But, do you agree that the worst form of waiting can often be when we're waiting on the Lord to answer a prayer, to change a situation, to intervene, to take away our grief and pain? 



Guess what?
He's right there in the waiting!
He's working it all out for the absolute best for us, even when we don't see that.

And, how do I know this?

Experience, Y'All!

HOPE your Wednesday is wonderfully blessed!


(don't forget the give-away on yesterday's post)

{ Blog Anniversary Giveaway }

Hey, sweet Friends!

I'm only a little over a week late from my blog anniversary of May 18th but wanted to have a giveaway to say "thank you" to those who take the time to stop by and leave me such sweet comments and encouragement.  I've met some of the most amazing Christian ladies through blogging and feel like we're best friends. I know you all have prayed for me and vice-versa and I've even sent a few of you private messages requesting prayers for personal struggles.

Here's what I'm giving away.....

A devotional for those of us who maybe struggle with feeling beautiful from time to time, a memo pad with a small pen attached and a prayer box filled with small slips of paper to write down names or situations to be prayed for.

(notice I had a color theme going on)

Here's the inside of the prayer box.....

 All you have to do to enter the drawing is leave a comment on this post. I'll pick a winner later in the week!

Thanks again for your love and friendship and prayers!

{ Remembering and Honoring and Thanking }

Take some time to remember and honor and thank if you can those who have served our country to provide us with the freedom to do whatever we choose to celebrate this day!

(giveaway postponed until tomorrow to honor Memorial Day)

{ Friday Foto Friends #131 }

It's good to be back hosting our Friday Foto Friends Link-Up! Again, thank you for letting me take a little break. I mentioned yesterday that I'll be having a giveaway because of a blog anniversary, but I'm gonna wait and share that on Monday!

I took these fotos of the baby robins on Saturday before Mother's Day. Late in the evening on Mother's Day, I told Pappy that I needed to go check on "my" babies and they were gone! There was barely enough room to hold the four little birdies!  

And, here's Momma (or Daddy, I'm not sure) making sure I don't do any harm to their kiddos.....

It's just amazing that a bird can create this.....

Not the clearest foto but here's one of the hawk before her babies flew away.....  

A blackbird taking a bath..... 

The wisteria blossoms didn't last very long before the heat got to the blooms.....

I'm pretty sure this is the first time we've had double red hot pokers and there were two like this.

Doesn't it look like a "red hot" heart?

An extreme close-up of a clematis!

.

Have a great weekend, Sweet Friends!

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{ I'm Baaaaack! }

Hey, Sweet Friends!

Tomorrow is FRIDAY and that means FRIDAY FOTO FRIENDS!

Yes, we're back up and running!

I'm sorry about last week.....

life just got a bit messy and full and I was stressed to the max and I couldn't get the camera/computer to cooperate and so I just gave up and went to bed. I'm pretty sure I needed the break and most definitely the rest. Thank you all so much for understanding!

PLEASE come visit and link up with your FFF post and because I just recently celebrated a blog anniversary, I'm gonna be having a giveaway, too!

HOPE to see each of you tomorrow!

{ Wednesday's Word - Expectation }

expectation

a strong belief that something will happen or be the case in the future

1. a belief that someone will or should achieve something

I'm being prompted to be a bit transparent, so for today's thoughts let's focus on the second definition!

 I set my expectations REALLY high when it comes to how I think others should act/say/do and guess what that way of thinking does?  It sets me up for great disappointment. If you read my post yesterday, one of the notes I took at Saturday's podcast was.....

Recipe for disaster - unmet expectations

You can just imagine how fast I jotted down that note because it was like the lady on the big screen was pointing her finger directly at me.....

because God told her to!

For most of my life,  I think that's been my way of thinking. There are those who have the attitude of "live and let live" and for whatever reason when I was created, I wasn't given that train of thought. 

So, guess what I've discovered!

We're all different!

(are you saying "duh", Deb?)

God created each and every one of us with different characteristics and traits and gifts. One of mine is the gift of mercy and if others don't show mercy the way I do or how I think they should, then boy howdy, I can get really upset over it. I have to back up....take a breath....and realize that their spiritual gift just might not be the same as mine and I've got to grant GRACE!  Also, I have no idea where their head or their heart is at, what's going on in their life because I'm selfishly focusing on my own troubles! And, who am I to think that I can live up to other's expectations of me?

But, did you grasp what I just said?

GRACE, Y'all!

The same thing that God grants me each and every second of each and every day!

{ Delighting in the Word }

I went to a simulcast with Jess Saturday morning by Elyse Fitzpatrick, Women Delighting in the Word, and I couldn't stop taking notes. What I jotted down aren't things I don't already know but were worthy of repeating to my weary soul. My takeaway was something that God's been whispering to my heart for about 18 months (to let Him be enough) and served as yet another confirmation! 

I'm sharing my notes with Y'all in HOPE's that maybe they'll be helpful to someone else.....

and so I can go back and read them again.....

and again!

The Bible - God's love letters

NO ONE here on earth can answer my heart's cry

Jesus answers the deep heart sadness

We often read our Bible's hoping God will like us

Suffering always comes before glory - 

life on earth is a life of suffering

Don't read the Bible as a "how-to" manual for a pleasant life

God will use intensely painful circumstances to bring about His glory!

As a sinner, grab the hand of a fellow sinner and run to Jesus!

My identity is not in my husband

My treasure is not here on earth

Recipe for disaster - unmet expectations!

(Y'all, I could write a book on this one)

Jesus destroys all my enemies - the enemies of my soul!

The Bible brings JOY - only when we read it as the story of His redemptive LOVE for His people!

Jesus is reigning as Sovereign King - and as my husband!

All Jesus sees in me is purity - not what I see 

(and for that I say, thank goodness - very low self-esteem)

The only one in heaven with scars is Jesus!

Prayer - Lord, open my mind to understand the scriptures so my heart will burn within me!

The message of the Bible - repentance and forgiveness of sins!

Lay all your deadly "doing" down - 

don't trust in it!

Prayer - God, be merciful to me a sinner. I cannot judge my own heart. I throw myself wholly on Jesus!

Justification 

 Just as if I had not sinned - 

just as if I had always obeyed!

Jesus always hung out with the lowest of the low of women, saying "you are welcome here"!

God works continuously to bring broken people to redemption!

Jesus identified with me - He's a good husband!

One of my favorite statements made.....

I'm more sinful and flawed than I ever believed -

I'm more loved and welcomed than I ever HOPEd!

{ Friday Foto Friends }

Hey, Friends..... 

I'm so sorry but I won't be able to host our Friday Foto Friends link up this week.

Hope everybody has a great weekend! 

{ Wednesday's Words - Old Sayings }

 I ♥ "old sayings"!

Bite the Dust - Psalms 72:9

The Blind Leading the Blind - Matthew 15:13-14 

By the Skin of Your Teeth - Job 19:20

Can a Leopard Change His Spots - Jeremiah 13:23  

Cast the First Stone - John 8:7 

Drop in a Bucket - Isaiah 40:15 

Eat, Drink, and Be Merry - Ecclesiastes 8:15 

Eye for Eye, Tooth for a Tooth - Matthew 5:38 

Fall From Grace - Galatians 5:4 

Fly in the Ointment - Ecclesiastes 10:1  

   Go the extra mile - Matthew 5:41  

The Love of Money is the Root of All Evil - 1 Timothy 6:10  

Nothing but skin and bones -Job 19:19-20 

The Powers that Be - Romans 13:11  

Pride comes before a fall - Proverbs 16:18 

Put words in one’s mouth - 2 Samuel 14:3 

Rise and shine - Isaiah 60:1 

Scapegoat (from the Old Testament Law) - Leviticus 16:9-10  

See eye to eye - Isaiah 52:8  

Sign of the times - Matthew 16:3  

Strait and Narrow -  Matthew 7:14 

Twinkling of an Eye - 1 Corinthians 15:52

There’s nothing new under the sun - Ecclesiastes 1:9 

Wash your hands of the matter - Matthew 27:24  

 Wit’s End - Psalm 107:27 

Wolves in Sheep’s Clothing - Matthew 7:15 

One of my favorites.....

"Red sky at morning, sailor take warning.

Red sky at night, sailor's delight"

Matthew 16:2-3

And, one from my Momma.....

"If I live and nothing happens"

(which I find myself saying a lot in my old(er) age, too)

Happy Wednesday, Friends!

{ Sweet Confirmations and Gentle Reminders }

My "Wednesday's Words" for last week were "Love Language". When I opened up my Journey early Saturday morning to read the day's devotion, the title was "God's Love Language" (obedience)!

My word to focus on in 2018 is "Dwell".  I've been doing a devotional based on Philippians 4:8 (40 Days to a Joy-Filled Life, by Tommy Newberry) and as I read my Journey this morning and looked up the extra reading in my Bible, I was once again reminded to "think this, not that".....

Snow and Company - Etsy

Sweet confirmations and gentle reminders!

Have I mentioned how much I ♥  

 the Journey magazine?

{ Friday Foto Friends #130 }

I haven't had a chance to get fotos this week, Y'All, so I'll just share these two.....

My latest flag I hung because I also filled up the hummingbird feeders. I took this foto from my "happy place".....

the front porch swing!

There's always that one!

😄

It's unreal how fast these baby robins are growing. 

I'll try to share another foto soon.

HOPE your weekend is great!

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{ Wednesday's Words - Love Language }

Love Language

Words of Affirmation: Expressing affection through spoken affection, praise, or appreciation. 

Acts of Service: Actions, rather than words, are used to show and receive love. 

Receiving Gifts: Gifting is symbolic of love and affection. 

Quality Time: Expressing affection with undivided, undistracted attention.

Physical Touch: (enough said)

Words of Affirmation

Acts of Service

Quality Time

Gifts

Physical Touch






What's yours?
(my #1 - "Words of Affirmation"
#2 - "Acts of Service")