One of our engagement pictures from 1974 in a friend's backyard. I can tell you that his leisure suit was tan and my shoes were Bernardo.

There is a lesson found in this picture. When the winds of life blow us off course, be stuck to Jesus!

Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him. James 1:12

I've been reading. Some things that I heard...

Our lives are written with purpose from a place; walk it out in prayer.

In every situation, we have a choice, a direction, we get to choose. We also have a choice to pray over every decision. Do we?

We can be in chains, but the clarity of purpose as a Believer will deliver a servant's heart.

We are seasoned with salt so that the savoring for the Savior is full of flavor.

One, and how the needs of the one outweigh the ninety-nine.

Evil doesn't care what pain you're in. God does.

Belonging comes before identity. Ownership births purpose. Someone speaks whose we are, and out of that, we become who we are. It's just the way the heart works. In Eden, we walked in the cool of the evening with a Father who, by the very nature of the conversations and time spent together, answered our heart's cry. It was the product of relationship. But out here, somewhere east or west of the Garden, beyond the shadow of fiery walls, we have trouble hearing what He's saying. And even when we do, we have trouble believing Him. So we wrestle and search. But regardless of where we search and how we try to answer the question or what we ingest, inject, or swallow to numb the nagging, only the Father gets to tell us who we are. Period. The Water Keeper by Charles Martin

I have learned in my nearly 66 years of life that it is not random. Everything has a purpose. Every person that crosses our path is there for a reason. Things happen to teach and grow us; good things and the bitter bad. The journey is hard, real hard, lots of days. God is faithful, though. There is the peace that only one who believes can know. There is joy found in serving others over self. Without hesitation, one who gives sacrificially has created a life pattern designed by a relationship with their mentor, Jesus Christ. This is the desire of my heart.

I want to serve humbly. I want to truly see the people God has for my day. I want to radiate His love in whatever way He leads.

You weave a story...

Two spiders, a bird, and a bee.

I do not excel in most things I try. I'm not an athletic person, and I'm not uber-competitive. I do enjoy seeing others find success and compete, though. In high school, I tried dropping an encyclopedia on my foot to bruise it, so I would have an excuse not to create a Christmas song dance assignment where we had to perform it in front of the P.E. class. I liked archery and did win a medal, probably the only medal I ever received! I don't feel like I missed out on anything either. I liked everyone. I had a very happy life. Still do! Choose joy!!!

Sometimes when you're feeling important
Sometimes when your ego's in bloom
Sometimes when you take it for granted
You're the best qualified in the room

Sometimes when you feel that your going
Would leave an unfillable hole
Just follow these simple instructions
And see how they humble your soul

Take a bucket and fill it with water
Put your hand in it up to the wrist
Pull it out and the hole that's remaining
Is a measure of how much you'll be missed

You can splash all you wish when you enter
You may stir up the water galore
But stop, and you'll find that in no time
It looks quite the same as before

The moral of this quaint example
Is to do just the best that you can
Be proud of yourself but remember
There's no indispensable man

I came across these framed words at an estate sale today. They are profound. I do believe that we remember people who nurtured into us. I do believe we are all worthy and equal through the blood of the Lamb. But if life was a bucket of water and we are taken from it ... there is a ripple, and then it settles to still once again. What we do in this life can't be taken with us when we die. Everyone is replaceable, indispensable. Through the Living Water, we find the hope we need to tell the one story that nurtures new life—the story of Jesus and His great love.

The diversity of volunteerism creates ministry opportunities with people you are not around day-to-day. It blesses my life.

A book I'm reading states that the word sinner grew out of an archery term in the thirteenth century. In both Hebrew and Greek, sin means “to miss the mark,” and it is an archery term in both languages. Of course, this is a fiction book so believe what you will. Sounds like a good lesson to me.

In Genesis 4:7, we read,  ^"If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must rule over it.”

Sin is missing the mark. It is letting our guard down to the things the world says are important.  I think the scripture above tells us that if we do what is right, accepting Christ, we WILL be accepted, but if we refuse Christ's call, look out! And, we must stay on high alert through a close relationship with Jesus in our daily walk. The love of Jesus extends deep and wide following salvation.

As followers of Christ, we have hit the "bullseye" with God's grace gift of salvation, including the promise of eternal life. We submit to His love and grow in Hesed, based on obedience, and grow to understand agape, founded in unmerited grace. Agape love is the unconditional, self-sacrificial love of love Jesus, our example.

I have been creating an art piece. I love how God works within me and through me. He pulls my thoughts together with focus. This art piece is not finished, but I find it interesting that the shade variations created a bullseye pattern, and the words I was given to dwell on today started with an archery lesson. 

Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. Colossians 3:16

"The gift of music ability, God, did not deliver to me. Even more important why I dwell there in my inadequacy to praise Him, full of Glory."

Since I was a little girl, I praise my Saviour with internal praise when I am gathered together with others in worship. I can't sing according to the world's standard, but this does not limit my praise. Just because you can't see my lips move or hear my song does not mean that my soul is not singing.

I grew up on hymns. There is nothing so rich and filling; the hymns of my youth. We have a Baptist Hymnal, and I enjoy pulling it out and singing praises to my Heavenly Father, who cares not if I sound good to the masses. Oh, how he loves you and me.

It is so wonderful to find hymns that we did and many we did not sing repetitively that are newer to me, on sites like YouTube, and to be able to sing along in the privacy of our home. 

I embrace the gift and ability of others who share their beautiful music; I love to listen. I enjoy hymns, and I enjoy the praise and worship genre of today. However, when I listen to the more defined "chant" style found in historical praise songs, I am humbled to understand and remember that God doesn't condone the world but speaks into it, individually but with purpose; the Alpha & Omega. I am humbled that He included me. It is my joy to praise him.

(I do not own the music or lyrics)

This is most likely the picture that changed everything; redirected our children's path from cowboy to city slickers. LOL, Aren't they adorable? I loved them then; I love them now! Yes, this WILL, in fact, embarrass them.