ALL Things!!!

Romans 8:28

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him,

 who have been called according to his purpose.

I've claimed this verse of scripture so many times lately, then yesterday while listening to the Billy Graham radio station in the car, Pappy and I heard a message based on it.   Since he was early for an appointment, we were able to sit in the car and get to hear the ending of the message.  But, I want to share a little something that happened to us on THANKSgiving day that totally made these words ring true.  

I've lost count of how many years I've taken deviled eggs to the get-togethers we have with Pappy's family.  This year was no exception, so last Wednesday night I boiled my eggs so that I could get up Thursday morning and "devil" them.  I got them all peeled and about that time Pappy came in the den and sat down and we were talking about something as I worked.  I got the "egg salad" part all finished and it suddenly dawned on me....I had also mashed up all the whites, too, so I had nothing to put the filling into.  At first I panicked....imagine that!!!  Pappy had to go buy me a couple dozen more eggs and I had to start completely over....but....I couldn't figure out what in the world I was gonna do with all that egg salad.  You know our friends who take the mission trips to Uganda I've told y'all about?  Well, Mr. Edd's Mom passed away early THANKSgiving morning.  I had already planned to take food to them on Friday, but I called Ms. Kathy and asked, "do you all like egg salad?".  Her answer was "yes".....so it didn't go to waste.  What at first looked like a big mess up turned out to be a blessing?  I just wonder if God didn't have that planned all along when I got sidetracked and wasn't concentrating on the task at hand.  It doesn't matter....because it all worked out "for the good of those who love Him"!!!

Ain't God good?

Oh, yes HE is!!!

In HIS Most Precious Love....and with mine, too!!!

Blessings,

Deb

I hate it when that happens!!!

I don't like to use the word "hate"....but don't you just dislike it ever so much when you have to be corrected....reprimanded...."called out"?!?!?!  I didn't like it as a child....and think I like it even less as an adult 'cause after all....well, I'm an adult and I should know better!!!  

So....what's up this time, are you asking?

Yep....you guessed it....God is having to put me in the corner....take away my toys....stick me in time out.....make me stand at the chalkboard with my nose in a ring!!!

Did you get a visual of all of that?!?!

Did you laugh?!?!?

A couple of weeks ago, Ms. Patrice at Everyday Ruralty asked a question on here weekly meme 

"Chats on the Farmhouse Porch".   

One of the questions was about watching soap operas.   When I worked full-time (this topic keeps coming up for some reason)....the ladies in the office watched The Young and The Restless every day at lunchtime.  I live just down the hill from where I worked, so I came home for lunch a lot, but sometimes I would take my lunch and watch it with them.  Well, you know it doesn't take much to get hooked on those things....okay, maybe not for some weaklings like me. When I quit work and was home most days, I would turn it on out of habit....a very bad habit, I might add.  I still watch it occasionally, maybe once or twice a week....but....a lot of days I'm not at the house and I'll get home right as it's going off....and every time that happens I feel in my spirit that God worked it out that way for a reason. He does not want me filling my mind and heart with that garbage any longer.  He stopped me from listening to secular music several years ago (please know if you do and God ain't got on your case about it, then that's great....

....but He won't allow me to do it)!!!

So....here I am....having to be transparent once again to y'all!!!

I've come to a conclusion....I've gotta be the most disobedient, dysfunctional, distressing  CHRISTian in the State of Tennessee....okay, on the entire planet!!!

(don't you love when you can describe something in 3's using the same first letter?!?!...;-)

I was reminded of this scripture as God touched my heart about always filling my mind with "such things"!!!   I like that the little sign looks like it was written by a child....

....'cause God has to get on that level with me quite often....

....even at my age!!!

And....for the record....as I typed this....I was home when the show was on....and I didn't turn on my TV!!!   But....before you start giving me any accolades.....ask me about this time next month how I'm doing!!!  

And, I mean it....PLEASE do....hold me accountable....

....'cause Sweet Friends, I need all the help I can get!!!

In HIS Most Precious Love....and with mine!!!

Blessings,

Deb

Change is Good!!!

image credit

Hi, Sweet Readers!!!

Some of you might not have a clue that I've been trying to keep up with 3 blogs.....this one, one with my crafts, and also one where I post pictures of things that catch my eye from time to time.  This week has been a struggle for me and I kinda had a brain storm yesterday afternoon that I should just combine all 3 into one.  I got so excited when I was able to import every single post from the other two  blogs into this one....which gave me a total of almost 2,700 posts....YOWZERS!!!

Anyway....I'm excited to see what God has in store since I followed His prompting to make this change.  I had struggled a couple of days with what to post and had almost decided to just give up blogging altogether.....when this idea hit me out of the blue.....but isn't that how God works sometimes.....just BAM and the thought hits and we wonder why we didn't think of that all along and then we realize that it had to be His idea and in His time!!!!!

So.....I HOPE y'all will stick around to see what God has up His sleeve!!!

Since all 3 of the blogs are combined, I have a feeling that each day's post will be quite different....maybe not what you usually see just on Jeremiah 29:11!!!

And....if you're stopping by from Wise Old Owl, or 2012 in Pics.....then, I would be most appreciative if you would become a follower here at Jeremiah 29:11!!!

The little sign above asks,

"Are You Happy?"

You bet I am!!!

Thanks, Lord, for Your guiding hand!!!

In HIS Most Precious Love....and with mine!!!

Blessings,

Deb

Telling the truth!!!

This verse of scripture sums it all up about telling the truth, 
the whole truth, 
and nothing but the truth.  


Zechariah 8:16-17
But this is what you must do: 

Tell the truth to each other.

Render verdicts in your courts that are just and that lead to peace. 

Don’t scheme against each other.

Stop your love of telling lies that you swear are the truth. 

I hate all these things, says the Lord. 

Enough said!!!


In HIS Most Precious Love....and with mine!!!

This is how I feel.....

.....about our GRANDsons!!!

Our boys are on "Spring Break" this week and we've been spending some time with them.  Pappy and I had passes to the Rainforest Adventures....and they both disliked it so much!!!  So glad we didn't pay full-price to get in.

Why did they not like it?

One word....SNAKES!!!

Nannie wasn't so fond of them, either, though!!!

The main thing is that we  were together....having fun!!!

Nannie and her pride and joy!!!


On our way home the boys were being loud and I was trying to get them to be a little quieter.  The older one spoke up and said.....
"I'm just praising God".
Now, how in the world do you argue with a statement like that?!?!?
;-)


Proverbs 17:6a
Grandchildren are the crowning glory of the aged.


Hope you're having a great week, 
Sweet Reader!!!


In HIS Most Precious Love....and with mine!!!

If You're Happy and You Know it....

.....say AMEN!!!

Do you ever just feel so happy and joyful you could burst?!?!

I think I'm still on a spiritual high from our services at church yesterday!!!

That, and.....have you ever prayed for something....possibly for years....and you finally get a break-thru and know that God has been listening and has heard and answered....

....in HIS time?!?!

Me, too!!!

So today, I'm singing this little song!!!  

I love all the sweet, precious children in the video!!

(don't forget to turn off my PlayList above before listening/viewing)

Hope all of you have a Marvelous Monday!!!

In HIS Most Precious Love....and with mine!!!

Real Friends!!!

WARNING:

LONG WINDED POST!!!

I've came across so many things lately that have to do with friendship.    When Jess was little, she used to call everybody her friend.  It was very difficult to make her understand what the true meaning of friend is.  I'm not so sure that I understood it myself until I got much older.   My Momma used to tell me that we were to love everybody, but that didn't mean we had to like them.  I remember telling her that made no sense....but I know now that the love we have is a CHRISTian love....and not liking them is disapproving of how they live/act/talk!!!   

It's so very difficult when we have to break off relationships. 
Sometimes neither party is actually at "fault"....they just drift apart . Then, there are those friendships  that just seem to pick up where they left off, no matter how many years go in between seeing one another.   And, there are some that I truly feel were destined to fail from the beginning.  The older I get the more I find it important to keep people at arm's length....at least until we get to know them better and discover whether we can actually put our trust in them.  That realization came from being  "burned" by people I thought were my friends.   It's so very sad to be used.  I remember when I was in high school, I had a major crush on a fellow who was in the same homeroom as a friend of mine.  She told me to come to their homeroom class to visit her so I could be near him.  I remember telling her that I couldn't do that because I felt it would be using her and she told me how much she appreciated that.   

Have I always handled every friendship that well? 

I'm pretty certain I haven't!!!

A lady told me once that she is friends with everybody.

I don't believe that is possible....we can be friendly....and love others....but not true friends with everyone!

When it's time to end a friendship....I feel the Holy Spirit will let us know.  That happened to me.  I kept feeling in my spirit that something just wasn't right.  As I shared my feelings,  I was made to feel like I was paranoid....but I knew in my heart of hearts that something was wrong.  Later on....God led me to find out that those feelings I had were definitely from HIM.  That experience taught me to trust my instincts more....others' opinion less....and realize that His Holy Spirit will truly lead, guide, and direct!!!

Recently, I've thought a lot about the people in my life who really matter....

....my true friends and family members who are supportive!!!   I learned so much about true friends when my Mamaw died and since Pappy lost his job.  

Misfortune shows those who are not truly friends.

~~~Aristotle~~~

Why the change in attitude, you might be wondering.

I'm not sure myself....other than perspective!!!

Trying to see things from God's perspective....other than a self-centered one!!!
I've always thought that if I tried hard enough, I could "fix" most everything!
But....sometimes God doesn't want me to try that hard....
....He wants me to let go and let Him handle the situation....
....and just continue to pray for all involved!!!

I sincerely HOPE....that for my remaining years....I'll concentrate on those people in my life who really matter....instead of the regrets of things that didn't work out like I thought they would....or should....and realize how very blessed I am!!!

Romans 8:28

And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them. 

Hope you have a great Thursday, Sweet Reader!!!

In HIS Most Precious Love....and with mine!!!

I think I can....

 ....I think I can....I think I can!!

When my Mom was in ICU, as I walked into the hospital one morning....already tired and it was still very early in the day....
....this verse of scripture came to mind....

I can do all things through Christ 

which strengtheneth me.

Philippians 4:13

That verse kind of reminds me of....

The Little Engine That Could.

He had confidence that he could get the job done....that even carrying a heavy load that he could....with effort....make it up the hill.

Same with me....but my confidence is not in my own strength, or efforts....
....it's entirely....

"through Jesus who gives me strength"!!!

So....my mantra will have to be....
....I know I can....I know I can....I know I can....
because HE says so!!!

 HOPE you have a great weekend, Sweet Reader!!!

In HIS Most Precious Love....and with mine!!!

A time to laugh and a time to cry!!!

 I had the privilege of having a "girl's night out" with our precious daughter this past Saturday night, going to see Ms. Chonda Pierce  and Mr. Warren  Barfield.  If you ever get a chance, you've got to go to one of her concerts.  She is so real and down to earth....and is she ever funny....but is very serious about our Jesus and sharing Him with others!  As she shared some events in her personal life, one of those things was her battle with depression.  She gave the best analogy of a CHRISTian being depressed that I've ever heard.  A lady told her that as a CHRISTian she shouldn't have to be under a doctor's care for her depression....and she told the lady that she should remove her eyeglasses and drive home that night without them!!! 
;-)
Often when we share what some people perceive as a "shortcoming"....or a "fault"....it can be used against us.  Because of my own admission of my battle with depression in the past....I've been described as having a "woe is me" attitude....or that I'm in a "blue mood".  Maybe it wasn't realized....or at least hoped....that I wouldn't find out those things were being said about me.  Often others use information they find out about us to make themselves feel better about how they act in certain situations....in other words, the one with the "problem"....gets the blame.

I am....who I am....and I'm so grateful that our precious Lord and Savior loves me!!!
It was a blessing to attend this concert and to be able to hear things that I could relate to in my own heart....not only in her humor....but also in her daily trials and troubles and her walk with our sweet Jesus!!!


If the Lord asks you to share things about yourself with others....please know that it isn't always easy and that sometimes those things will be used against you.  But God....will be there to help you and guide you every step of the way!!!

HOPE you have a great Monday, Sweet Reader....and there are lots of happy moments today to bring a smile to your face....and put a song in your heart!!!

In His Most Precious Love....and with mine!!!