He is Risen.
He is Risen, Indeed!
This morning, when I looked across the worship center at First Baptist Plainview, I saw a river of pinks. Pink is the color of the Season, reminding us of God's compassionate Love!
Easter is about new clothing representing the newness of life. Let us dress ourselves in you, Lord.
Happy Easter!
First Baptist Church had their egg hunt today and our grands x 3 had a fun time.
Oh, my mother could sew. She learned from her mother, but she was a much better seamstress. The inside was as pretty as the outside. I am three in this photo, and I think you can tell that I love my Easter dress! It's a dress with ruffles, a cape, and a purse. All designed and sewn by my mother. My hair was pulled up into a fancy doo! I'm ready for church!
THE RESURRECTION
We hold so close to our hearts
The cross where Jesus died,
But so much more than the blood-stained cross
Is that Jesus came back to life
The stone's been rolled away;
The tomb lay open and bare —
They looked for Him, and then the angel said
That He is no longer here
Oh, what joy they must have felt
To see Him just once more,
To eat with Him, to drink with Him,
To receive Him back as Lord
So much did He accomplish
Through His death upon the cross
And in His rising from the dead,
He reconciled us back to God
Nothing else could bridge the gap
That sin had wrenched apart —
Now we can freely go to God
And receive Christ in our hearts.
I'm so excited to have one Peony plant of 3 planted make it. I hope we see blooms!!! The hex behind it is a piece of the Hilton Hotel floor.
Dads and daughters typically have a special connection. I was hugging the neck of a sweet friend who is traveling this loss journey. It is a sentimental journey, for sure. This journey is a visit to a place that was once very familiar, and that brings back precious memories.
We do not have many photos of my dad. Like me, he preferred not to be in the pictures.
We were married in the chapel of First Baptist Church in 1975. I love this photo of my maternal grandfather, Hugh Etter, My dad, John Dayton, my brother, John Dayton, and his son, Carey Dayton.
Thinking about my dad. Praising God for my growing up home. Cherishing the sweet memories, yet wishing there had been more time. I was 40 when he entered his eternal home ... twenty-nine years ago.
Say what you will about the wind and the dust, but this is what moved the early pioneers to endurance strength. I've heard all of the bad about living where we live, but we rise from what we endure. Hard times are what God uses to push us to the finish line.
Call me Prairie Praise. There is a song, I Will Praise You in This Storm...and I'm thankful that I can lift my hands in praise. He is with us.
(I do not own the rights to this video, music, or lyrics, but aren't they amazing!)
Last evening, a beautiful woman I call a friend was celebrated as the Woman of the Year in Plainview, Texas. Sheron Collins lives a life that exemplifies offering compassion and care as she leads. She is not waiting for accolades. She is simply following Christ's calling on her days.
I love this photo!
Gloria is her friend who nominated her, and I'm so glad I got to meet her at the Chamber Banquet. Phyllis, Sheron, and Gloria—I'm surrounding myself with Godly women!!!
Kay Phillips, Sheron's mentor, Sheron, her husband, Jimmie, and Gloria.
Just Do What You Do!
This little guy got his first haircut. His beautiful red curls are gone. He is growing up! I love this photo of him. Maybe one day he will run this business!
"I love people who make me laugh. I honestly think it's the thing I like most, to laugh. It cures a multitude of ills. It's probably the most important thing in a person." ―
Today, I stopped at a local resale shop because they had a book cart outside. I enjoy browsing books for that unique find. I bought three excellent books. One book is A Harmony of the Gospels by A. T. Robertson, M.A., D.D., LL.D., LITT.D.
Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. Matthew 11:29
Its Copyright is 1922. What I love most about the book is that it belonged to Norman Wright, a fellow member of First Baptist Plainview! His phone number was CA33135, and his name was signed on the inside cover. There are so many handwritten notes; it is a great find.
The first page I flipped to was a list of the Twelve Apostles according to each Gospel Writer.
As I read these names, the message that I found is that the lists are the same but not necessarily in the same thought or recall order by each writer. We understand foremost that Jesus was and is the leader. He alone is the Harmony Maker. I find it interesting how each one listed Simon Peter first. They each had a recall of him deserving this position. Then Judas Iscariot is listed last, most likely because even though he was a part of the group, he most likely was not who they would pick to lead had they been picking a leader. Since the order of each list varies by listing and name in some instances, it shows me that some make a different impression on one over another. And some are known by this name or that but are the same person. The one thing they all had to have in common was to have known Jesus since John the Baptist. They all walked with and were taught by Jesus, just like Believers today.