Karla's Korner

Counting My Blessings....

I enjoyed a great Thanksgiving day with my family...
I am so thankful for them...
and wanted to take a moment to tell you...
how thankful I am for you too!

Happy Thanksgiving my friends!
Hope you took some time to count your blessings
and give thanks to the Lord from whom all blessings flow!

Love and God-hugs...
Karla

Traditional Thanksgiving?

This year Thanksgiving will be very different for us. It will be at our house...
and I'll be fixing the traditional turkey with mashed potatoes and gravy...
but that's where traditional will end.

Mike's sister Cindy and her husband Kerry are now "snowbirds" and have gone
south for the winter... and Gary, our son-in-love, will be in Nevada with our
youngest granddaughter for a soccer tournament!  My heart is sad.

But life changes, doesn't it?  People we love leave our lives... some only for
a season but some forever... and they leave empty chairs at the table and
empty holes in our hearts. But gratitude is a sweet taste of grace that can
help fill that emptiness... with memories of holidays past and the blessings of
today. And it is true that an attitude of gratitude helps chase the blues away!

So I'm giving thanks with a grateful heart. The turkey is in the refrigerator...
Michelle and Alexis and our niece...Cindy's daughter Monica.. will be coming.
And I've been asking God if there's someone else who needs a family to
celebrate with... maybe a man so poor Michael won't be so outnumbered!

But what about you? Traditional Thanksgiving holiday this year or is it a new
season for you too?  Whichever way... let's give thanks to God together!

with love and God-hugs...
Karla

Do You Ever Talk To Yourself?

We all talk to ourselves, don't we?
I know I do... and so did David the psalmist.

Psalm 103 is one of my absolute favorites, where, in essence, David does
a little self-talk to help him refocus on the things in life that really matter.

He basically says to himself...
"Now listen self... hear me my soul. Despite what's going on in the world,
stop right now... and bless the Lord. Don't forget all He's done for you,
my soul. Think about those things and give Him glory!"

David goes on to count his blessings, naming them one by one.

So next time your soul is downcast, try this:
tell your soul to take a break from the pain, the frustration, the worries
and woes... and consider the good that is in your life, and
bless the Lord... let all that is within you, bless His holy name!

love and God-hugs...
Karla

Giving Thanks...

Sometimes we can take our bodies so for granted can't we?  I know I can.
But when something goes awry... you instantly become more aware of how
fearfully and wonderfully and intricately our bodies really are made!

Recently my sweet husband had some problems that led us to visit the doctor
and if you know my dear man... that means it must be serious.
After a few tests and poking and prodding... the problem was found.
When we asked the doctor what caused it... he said... old age and ornryness!
Boy... did he have my husband pegged!!

Well... today I am givng God much praise and thanksgiving that the problem
was not as serious as it could have been... and is treatable with diet!
Totally God's grace... and we're giving Him the glory!  Yay God!

Thank You Father... for creating our amazingly incredible bodies!  We know
they are only temporary dwelling places while we're here Lord... but we also
know we need to learn to take better care of them so that we can live the
lives You've called us to. Thank You Jesus for hearing our prayers and saving
Michael from what could have been so much worse! We give you all the glory! 
Amen.

Enter His Gates...

I've been reading through "Give Thanks" and wanted to share one of the
my favorite stories with you. I know it's a little longer read... but the
symbolism of the painting is shared in the last paragraph...
so don't quit reading to early... and may your hearts be filled with praise!

Have you ever thought about what an incredible privilege it is for ordinary
people, folks like you and me, to enter into the presence of Almighty God?
Humbling to consider, to say the least.

Almighty God is holy… sinless, perfect, pure.
There’s absolutely no dirt hiding in the corners or under the carpet.
We, on the other hand, are... sinful, imperfect, and impure...
from carrying our sin nature in our hearts and rubbing shoulders with the world.

Yet, because God loves us and longs for relationship with us,
He invites us to come to Him just as we are.
We are not required to clean ourselves up or dust ourselves off.
We are not obligated to attain some of level of spiritual success
or perfection in order to gain access to the King.
We are told simply to enter with thanksgiving. How can this be?

This invitation is almost inconceivable until you draw near
and see the bloodstains on the gate
and remember who went before you to prepare your way.
The gate is open wide, and the crimson stains call out the price that was paid
on the cross so that you could gain entrance into God’s throne room.
You can do nothing to earn your entrance or to open the gates any wider.
You can only say ‘Yes’ to God’s invitation, accept Christ’s payment by faith,
and enter His gates with thanksgiving.

Thank God today for the blood of Jesus,
for it is only by His blood that we are able enter into His presence.
Love and hugs...
Karla

So Many Blessings...

Here we are in November already... can you believe it? Thanksgiving is right
around the corner and that makes this month a good time to really focus
in on all we have to be thankful for... don't you think?

The Bible tell us...

So since there's no schedule... we can praise Him and give Him thanks...
all day... every day... and for anything and everything!  Yay!

So for today Lord... I want to give You thanks for the gift of being able...
to SEE... my computer screen which allows me to write and create this blog.
to HEAR... the voice of a friend and her encouraging words over the phone.
to TASTE... the rich black coffee of my morning brew.
to SMELL... the aroma of toasted bread at breakfast this morning.
to FEEL... a hug and kiss from my hubby before he left for work.
to KNOW... that You Lord created me in this way to be able to
experience You and the life You've given me in so many different ways.
I am blessed.



Hmmm... I might just do this throughout the month.
It definitely makes you think of things you might otherwise take for granted,
doesn't it? So how about you? 
Would you like to join me and share the things you are
thankful for that you can see, hear, taste, smell, and feel?
Just leave a comment... or a link to your blog if you post your own...
and let's join our hearts and voices and  give God thanks!

Strawberry Yumminess...

I love surprises and that's what arrived at my door last Friday...
a whole box of these yummy chocolate dipped strawberries!

Aren't they gorgeious?  Almost too pretty to eat!
They were a gift from my publisher and his wife...
such sweetness... both the fruit and the friendship!

Enjoying this yummy gift of kindness made me think
about the sweet Fruit of the Spirit that is ours in Christ...
about tasting the goodness of the Lord through the friends He gives us...
and about how blessed and thankful I am to have both.

I love these kind of moments... God moments...
when He uses something like a strawberry to remind me to stop
and reflect on the really important things in life and give thanks.

Have you had any of those kind of moments lately?
They are sweet aren't they?

Hoping you have a chocolate covered strawberry moment
in your life today my friend!
love & God-hugs... Karla

By Special Request... Autumn Blessings Journal Cover...

Another special request from my new friend Jeanette... an art design she
could use to put on the front of inexpensive, already-made journal for
their women's fall retreat that would carry the same theme as the bookmarks.
So here it is... an "Autumn Blessings" Journal Cover Art Digital Download!
and I must say that being a resource for their women's ministry has brought
me great joy and hope to do more of this in the future!

The smaller design will fit the journals they already bought, but I also wanted
to do a larger size that fits the composition notebooks you can pick
up at the dollar store.  And just imagine all the other fun gifts and retreat
goodies you could make by simply resizing this art including magnets, tags,
greeting cards, stickers, framed prints, plaques, and more!


This is the one I made using the dollar store composition book...


but of course... I had to embellish mine a bit with lace, ribbon, glitter and
some little black jewels in the centers of some of the flowers... but even
without the extras it makes for a very pretty place to truly "Bless the Lord"
by jotting down some of those amazing Autumn Blessings God pours out
into your life... from the mundane to the marvelous!

I started writing in mine this morning and am so encouraged by what God
showed me in His Word to help stir up my praises... can hardly wait to share
it with you tomorrow! 

Love and God-hugs to you my friends...
in His love and for His glory...
Karla

Thankful for the Flush!

Hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving and were able to take a few minutes
to count your blessings and truly give thanks.
My friend Becky counted a bunch... and her list really makes you think about
so many of the things we so easily take for granted... it's inspiring!

And speaking of taking for granted... when was the last time
you thanked God for indoor plumbing and a flushing toilet? 
Well, it's been at the top of my list recently!

One of the reasons we got such a good deal on our new house was because
one of the previous owners had built our wonderful four car garage right on
top of the drainfield for the septic and thus the septic had failed!  Duh! 
Hmmmmmm... that means...
No Septic = No Flush!
So for the first three weeks of owning our new home, we drove in from
Battle Ground, worked on the house, took potty breaks at
Jack in the Box up the road and then went back to Battle Ground to sleep.

Our hearts were overjoyed the day the truck arrived with a new septic tank!

It was amazing to watch them lift it up over the fence...

And gently lower it into place!


The drainfield was installed in trenches...


transforming the side yard from this...

to this... and it will stay this way until next spring.
It is now slightly mounded in the center but I am just soooo thankful they
were able to hide all the mess  behind the fence... thank You Lord!

But the most exciting part of the day came when they told us we could use
the toilets and sinks! Thank you Jack in the Box for being there when we
needed you but thank You God for our own working septic system
and all the men who played a part in getting it installed!

So for today ladies...

I'm giving thanks for the flush! How about you?


"Every good and perfect gift is from above..."
James 1:17

Blessings and love and hugs...
Karla

Giving Thanks...

I've been silent for a very long time... I know.

So much has happened in the silence... so much I'm eager to share with you.

But for today... I just wanted to pop in and say...

HAPPY THANKSGIVING
for it is a good thing to give thanks to the Lord!

And I am thankful for you... your faith and friendship...
your comments and camaraderie...
your love and encouragement...
and for you not giving up on me in the silence.
I'm back... and blessed to be so.

LOVE & HUGS...
Karla

30 Days of Thanksgiving... Day 27 - 30

Day 27... Remembrances



I am so thankful that God has given us memories... sometimes mine doesn't
work so well and there are certainly some things I'd rather not remember. 
But I am so encouraged when I can look back and remember the times
when God answered my prayers or showed Himself mighty on my behalf
or intervened in an unexpected way. It's these remembrances
that give me hope and build my own faith because they remind me
of how great God is and how much He cares for me.

Give_Thanks_Day 5_Forget Not

Day 28... Christmas

I was just thinking today about how much I love Christmas.
I love just about everything about Christmas... the lights, the decorations,
the Christmas carols, all the yummy foods, the gift-giving! 
Yes... there's some wrong stuff about Christmas but that's the way it is with
everything... but there's more right with Christmas than there is wrong
from my perspective. And the most right thing is the celebration
of the birth of Christ.. His coming to this earth and
walking among us so we could know Him and love Him.
And there's something about the season that softens people's hearts
to the message of God's love.
So much to be thankful for as we enter the Christmas season!! 
So thankful!!

Day 29... My cat



Okay... I don't totally understand the whole pet thing but I have one
and her name is Abigail when she's in trouble and Abby when she's not.
Michelle gave her to me for my birthday four years ago.
She can be such a nuisance but she can also make Michael and I laugh
hysterically! Today... despite the fact that I had to run across the room
to keep her from pushing the camera off the table... 
I am thankful for how her childlike antics add a bit of lighthearted fun
to our empty-nester home.

Day 30... Sisters in Christ




I am soooo thankful for my sisters in Christ... both near and faraway...
knowing that we have a relationship different than any other.
I was just talking to a friend about how amazing it is that you can
get on an airplane, sit next to a total stranger
and by the time you land at your destination you are hugging
and kissing each other like you've known each other forever...
and as far as I know that could never happen apart
from being sisters in Christ.
We are family... our hearts woven together by the Holy Spirit...
and for that I am thankful.

Today I am thanking God for you...
not just that you come visit me here at my blog...
but I'm thanking Him that because He loves you sooooo much
that He wooed and won you to Himself
and because at some point in time you made a decision
to give your life to Him... to be His... to be His daughter...
which makes you my sister!  And for that I am thankful!! 

I pray that He has used this 30 Days of Thanksgiving
to prepare your heart to celebrate
the coming Christmas Season with great joy and a grateful heart!!

Love and hugs...
Karla

Give Thanks Radio Spots... Day Four

Thank God for being the Lover of our souls!

Give_Thanks_SPOT_4

30 Days of Thanksgiving... Day 26... Giving Thanks!

Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!
May your day be blessed and your heart be full
of thanksgiving and praise to God!

Today I am thanking God for those first pilgrims who suffered
much so that we could call America our home sweet home...
thank You Lord for watching over them and keeping them safe!

  We will be spending the day with family at sil Cindy's house.
(minus Michelle and her family who are at Gary's mom's in CA)
I'm looking forward to visiting with  some family members
we haven't seen for quite awhile and savoring some yummy
foods we only get to eat once a year!

How about you? Where are you going? What are you doing
to make this day a special day?
Wherever you are... whatever you do... God bless you!

Love and hugs... xoxoxo
Karla

Give Thanks Radio Spots... Day Three... God's Plan

I am SO thankful today to know that God has a plan for my life.
Even when things don't make sense or go the way I want them to,
knowing that God is control, gives me the hope, peace
and the strength I need to keep on keeping on!
He has promised if we trust in Him... and not ourselves..
keeping our eyes on Him and not our circumstances...
He will direct our paths...
He will unfold our future and His plan before us one step at a time
as we walk with Him... not that's something to be thankful for!!

Give_Thanks_SPOT_3

Give Thanks Radio Spots... Day Two

One little moment... a few words of encouragement...
can be a light in the darkness...
a beacon of hope... changing the course of one's life...
forever!

Give_Thanks_Moment_Day_2

Give Thanks Radio Spots... Day One

A few weeks ago I drove over to the KPDQ Christian Radio station in Portland
and recorded five 60-second radio spots which will be airing every day
of this week on a number of radio stations across the country
as part of our Give Thanks celebration!

KPDQ is airing them at 4:30 every afternoon and other random times
during each day. I was hoping to get a list of stations across the country
so you could listen locally if possible but alas... no list was available...
so for those of you who don't live near here I thought I'd share these
Give Thanks Moments with you here...
just click to listen and be encouarged!

A_Give_Thanks_Moment

30 Days of Thanksgiving... Day 18 - Day 23

Day 18... Wednesday... Humility

I am thankful for knowing I'm not perfect
and being okay with it even though it is always humbling!
My perfectionist self so wanted to blog 30 days in a row.
My less than perfect self just cannot do it.
It's so freeing to know that none of us are perfect!
Now that's something to be thankful for!!
I'm still so sorry if I've let any of you down.
Thank you for loving me anyway!



Day 19... Thursday... Opportunities

Regarding the interviews... soooo thankful!
I had such a great time with the last three...
great hosts... great questions... great opportunities
to encourage others and point them to Jesus!
You will laugh when I tell you I was actually sad they were over.
I grew through them and was truly beginning to have a good time!
I hope you're thankful for the opportunities God gives you to be a
blessing to others... even when it is out of your comfort zone!

Day 20... Friday... Michelle's Studio Sale

My daughter's Studio Sale started last night, the 19th
and I am so thankful she invites me to come and bring
my books and whatever else I want to sell.
It's such a fun time of visiting with folks I don't see often.

I am also thankful that my paper mache snowmen ornaments sold.
Aren't they just TOO CUTE?!?!?
I took eleven and sold ten... not too shabby.
If we don't sell the house this week I might try to make a few more!
I may even put a few on Etsy!
I also sold a few prints and books as well.
It's such a blessing to know other people like what you create!


Day 21... Saturday... Hope

Most of the day was spent at Michelle's Sale
and most of the evening was spent spiffing up the house
for another showing... this time would be the second time for these folks.
I know... not supposed to get excited until they sign on the dotted line
but still... a little excitement stirs up hope.
So thankful for hope!

Day 22... Sunday... The Holy Spirit

Church was good. Message was about the person of the Holy Spirit!
So thankful for the work of the indwelling Holy Spirit in my life and
so looking forward to Him doing even greater things in the days to come...
and not just in me and through me but in and through you...
and in and through my church and in and through yours!

The folks came and looked at our house... now we wait.
Thanking God for the fruit of the Holy Spirit... patience!



Day 23... Monday... Patience and More Prayer

Still waiting. We were told the buyers will make their decision today.
Ours is still in the running but they were hoping for tile in the kitchen
and hardwood floors rather than carpet. Understandable.
Negotiable. So we wait.
Waiting can be treacherous! Thank You Lord our hope is in You!
So grateful to be able to pray not only for ourselves but for the folks
who come to look at our house... wanting not only God's best for us
but also sincerely wanting His best for them too. It really helps.

And for you...

And as always... I am so thankful for all of you who have been joining
me for these 30 days and all the heart touching comments and emails
I've received from you! I'm sorry for not being able to answer every one
of you right now but I will try in the days to come.
Just know this... you are loved and appreciated!!


xoxoxo
Karla

30 Days of Thanksgiving... Day 17... Stretching & Faith

Okay... I know that may seem like a funny thing to be thankful for
but that's what I'm thankful for today.

You see... I was brought up to be fearful.
If you might get hurt... you just didn't do it.
I never rode a bicycle or climbed a tree.
I was afraid of people... afraid of failure...
afraid of being the center of attention.

Being who I am today has not come easily... and God gets all the glory!
Overcoming fear required a lot of stretching...
stretching of faith in God and in who we are in Him.



God has been stretching me these past few weeks.
I have been doing phone interviews to promote my new book
and interviews are waaaay out of my comfort zone.
I get sick before almost every one.
I know you might believe that but it's true.
Giving an interview is very different than speaking up front.
As a speaker, I'm in control. In an interview, I'm not.
I never know what questions they will ask of me
and I tend to be a slow processor rather than a quick thinker.

But I'm stretching... and growing and almost even liking it.
Almost. We'll see come morning.
We live on the west coast. I have a live interview at 5:23 a.m.
my time!!  That means up at 4:30 to insure my brain will be awake! 
Oh my!!  I'll let you know how it goes!

Thank You Father for loving us enough to stretch us.
We know stretching is good for us... it builds faith muscles.
Help us to be strong and courageous... to trust You to enable us
to do whatever You ask of us and when we do... we know..
that it is then that You are most glorified! Amen.

30 Days of Thanksgiving... Day 16... Laughter

I am so thankful for both my granddaughters.
They are each so uniquely different and delightful!
I am blessed because of them.

The younger one has been given a special gift...
the ability to bring laughter into a room,  and joy into the  heart!
She loves to talk with an Irish accent and even has a little comedy routine
she's worked up that will tickle your funnybone everytime you hear it!


She and I spent a creative day together last weekend and the joy
still lingers as I look at her handiwork and remember all the laugh outloud
moments we had while she was here.

A merry heart does good like a medicine.
Proverbs 17:22

Thank you Lord for laughter... and for those You've placed in our lives
to tickle our funnybones and bring joy to our hearts!

Oh yes... she also has her mother's entrepreneurial spirit and plans on selling
her magnets and art prints at Michelle's studio sale this weekend!
She's a hoot and I am so thankful for the joy she shares!

30 Days of Thanksgiving... Day 15... Church

As much as I wanted to blog every day this month...
some days it just doesn't happen...
usually because life is busy with family and friends...
which is a good thing and something to be thankful for!

Yesterday... Sunday... was one such day
with the highlight being church!
It was a great message, great worship, great prayer time...
and all topped off with lots of hugs and a few sweet kisses!
Sometimes I think we take church for granted...
I know I do.

Not so much the building...
but the freedom we have to gather together
in the Name of the Lord and worship Him openly.
We can still sing out songs of praise to our God
and read from our Bibles in public without
fear of being arrested, imprisoned, or killed.
We can still post blogs about how great Jesus is
and join hands and hearts to give Him glory through cyberspace!
We don't know how long this will last...
but, for now, it's a blessing I am thankful for.

And even though we... God's children... are the real church,
I'm also thankful for the building... our gathering place.
I'm grateful to those who clean it and care for it.
And I am thankful for those God has placed
in leadership in the church... for those who lead
us into God's presence through singing...
for those who lead us into His truth through teaching.
I am thankful for each person in your church and mine
who are using their gifts to serve and bless and glorify
the our Lord and Savior... for we are His church.

Thank You Lord for inviting me to be a part of Your church...
for Your glory! Amen.

30 Days of Thanksgiving... Day 14... Creativity

I've heard people say they're not creative. I don't believe it.
God says we are made in His image and He is One VERY creative God!
His creativity can't help but spill over onto and into us.
Some people are creative cooks, decorators, teachers, or gardeners.
Some create cozy homes... others successful businesses or ministries.
Moms mold and shape children of great character.
Creativity just looks different on different people. Like my daughter.

Today I want to thank God for creativity... mine... yours... and Michelle's.
I wanted to mention Michelle's in particular... not only because she's my
daughter... but to tell you a little story about her creativity.

When she was about 5 years old, I was in an art class
when they invited in a child development teacher as a guest.
She suggested, if you had small children in your life, to encourage
them to be more creative by throwing away the coloring books.
Why? So that they could learn to create outside the box...
outside the confines of predetermined lines on the page.
She also suggested taking the wrappers off the color crayons
and breaking them into different lengths and letting them
color on large sheets of newsprint to give them more room.

I did.
And today Michelle is SO creative and God has blessed her
as both a successful artist and business woman.


I thank God for that day so long ago when God used that teacher
to speak to my heart and turn the course of Michelle's life.
I thank Him for Michelle's willingness to create outside the lines
even when some folks don't like her style.

I also thank Him for encouraging me to live and dream and create
outside the box more and more... allowing Him to color the pages of
my life outside the lines of my own limited imagination.

How about you? Where does your creativity shine?
How about your children?
Take a moment today to thank God for His creativity
that flows in us and through us... and be blessed.



Also... if you live near Battle Ground, WA and would like to check out
Michelle's creativity first hand, she is having a studio sale next
weekend and it's sure to be a good time... check it out here!

30 Days of Thanksgiving... Day 13... Taste

Yummy and delicious!
Don't you just love those descriptive words?
They can almost make your mouth water!



What would life be like without the gift of taste?
I am SO thankful that God not only designed us with the need for food
to nourish our bodies but also with the ability to enjoy the food we eat!
What an amazing Creator God!!
He tucked little taste buds in our mouths so we could delight
in the flavors He created!

In my book, Give Thanks, I've included a few recipes to help you enjoy
this gift of taste... not only for yourself but also for giving!
The recipe for Harvest Home Cupcakes with Creamy Caramel Frosting
is just one of the recipes I've shared.

How wonderful to be able to take so many tasty ingredients and combine
them all together...




 
and bake them... okay... the oven is another thing to be thankful for...



and dollop them with some sweeter than sweet frosting
and savor the flavors!

God also designed us with spiritual taste buds in our hearts!
But we were not only created with a hunger and thirst for good food & drink
but also with a hunger & thirst for the good things of the Lord.

Every morsel of love and grace, every bite of His truth and drink of His Spirit,
is sweet to the palate of the soul and nourishing to the spirit.

Taste and see that the Lord is good!
Psalm 34:8

Thank You Lord for the gift of taste...both earthly and heavenly...
and as we savor the flavors... may we give You taste of Your goodness...
and always give You the glory! Amen.

30 Days of Thanksgiving... Day 12... Prayer

Making up for yesterday... but every day...
I thank God for prayer!


(image from "Down a Garden Path")

It is incredible when you think about that the God
of the universe cares enough to listen to our words and our hearts!
I am so thankful that I can bring my needs... and the needs of others
before Him and know He hears me.
I am so thankful to know that when I ask Him to forgive me, He does.
I am so thankful that when I need His wisdom and I'm willing
to submit to His ways, I can trust Him to guide me.
And I am thankful to know the God from whom all blessings flow...
because when my heart overflows with thanksgiving, I know
who it is who deserves... and gets... all my praise!

And even more amazing is that God wants to talk to us
if we're willing to listen. Sometimes He speaks to us
through His Word, a thought, another person, or a simple
sense of His presence. I love it when I hear His heart or His voice!
There is no greater joy!

Talking to the God of all creation is a privilege we might
sometimes tend to take for granted.
Will you stop today and just thank God for this incredible privilege
and what it means to you?

30 Days of Thanksgiving... Day 11... Grace

Have you ever disappointed a friend?
Not lived up to her expectations? I have.
In fact, I've lost friends because they were not able to forgive
my shortcomings or, in some cases, accept me for who I am.

I remember a particular time when I disappointed a friend.
I had forgotten to do something I said I would do
and even though it was unintentional, she had every right
to be upset. But instead of being angry, she said with a smile...
"It's okay, I give you grace."
Hearing those words was like sweet music to my ears.
I was forgiven and accepted... even though I had failed!

Grace is unmerited favor. It is God's gift
of unconditional love, forgiveness, and acceptance...
even when we don't deserve it!
We are all imperfect people, and we all make mistakes.
I need grace! You need grace! We all need grace!

And grace is a gift that keeps on giving because just like my friend,
when we accept this gift from God through faith in Jesus,
we are able to share it with others.

Heavenly Father... Your grace is AMAZING and we are so thankful
today that You have extended Your grace to us.
And because we are so undeserving, it makes us even more
thankful because we know it's only because You LOVE us!
Fill us with Your grace so much so that we can't help but give it away!

30 Days of Thanksgiving... Day 10... Service

I wasn't able to post yesterday because Typepad was having a little glitch...
but, trust me, I was thankful...
thankful for my husband being able to put air in my tire...
the one with the nail in it...
just enough air to get me to Les Schwab who fixed my poor leaky tire!
What's amazing is that they not only will fix your flat even if you did not
buy your tire from them but that they do it with a smile!



Don't you just LOVE service with a SMILE?  I know I do!
So yesterday I was thankful for the service and the smile I got
from Les Schwab and from Blue Castle Coffee where I visited with
my friend Jean while my tire was being fixed!



And, of course, it made me think!
Whether we serve the public in our jobs or not,
we've all been called to a lifestyle of service...
it is our full-time job... 24-7!
And our boss... well... He's God!
And when we serve others... we are really serving Christ...
whether it's serving a meal, offering help to the needy,
yielding in traffic, or taking time with your kids.
And I'm guessing He's counting us serving with a smile.

"The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth,
whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine,
you did for me.'
Matthew 25:40

Heavenly Father... thank You for all the people who serve the public
through their jobs. Sometimes we can take them for granted
and not even show them how much we appreciate their
service. Help us to be more mindful and appreciative Lord.
Remind us to smile at them and say "thank you."
And Lord help us as we serve You to do it with a happy heart,
not begrudging the opportunities to do good,
but to serve with all our hearts as unto You.
And Lord, most of all, we thank You that You came, not to
be served, but to serve... and You are our greatest example of all!

30 Days of Thanksgiving... Day 9... Color

I once took an art class where the instructor invited his students outdoors.
It was a gray and dreary day... as it can often be in the great northwest!
He asked us to look up at the clouds and tell him what colors we saw.
The response was almost a unanimous "GRAY"... duh!
He asked us to look again and let our eyes linger longer.
A more intentional survey of the heavens revealed a rainbow array
of subtle pinks, purples, blues and a touch of green hidden...
waiting to be noticed... in the clouds above!

The heavens declare the glory of the Lord
but so often we do not see His beauty because we're not looking for it.

Lord... You are a colorful God!
Open our eyes to see... and be thankful for...
the colors of the rainbow You've so graciously surrounded us with.
It is amazing how many hues of green there are in the trees and
bushes that line the streets...
the shades of brown, red, gold and orange that decorate the fall landscape...
and the bright colors of the food we eat...
lime green, lemon yellow, tangerine orange and cherry red!
Yes Lord... the heavens and the earth colorfully declare Your glory!
Amen

30 Days of Thanksgiving... Day 8... Healing

Pastor Russ explained this morning that our heart is who we are.
And to some degree we are all broken. We all have wounded hearts.
Hearts that have been injured by abuse... lies... betrayal... divorce.
The list goes on.
But Jesus came to heal broken hearts... and broken people.

Some people seem to be more broken than others.
Maybe the abuse was more painful. The vessel more fragile.
The wound deeper.
But the lie is always the same... you are unloved and unlovable.

I have believed that lie. Lived that lie.
Allowed that lie to imprison my heart and almost destroy my life.

And then I met Jesus.
And the truth of His love began to replace the lie and my healing began.
You see, the truth is, I am... and you are... loved and lovable.
God loves us unconditionally and forever.
He loves us so much that He sent Jesus to rescue us... and He died doing it.
But we have to believe it. We have to receive it. We have to live it.
And we have to allow His love to set us free and restore our lives.



Healing is a journey but it's worth every step.
Today, with tears in my eyes, I give thanks to God
for sending Jesus to this earth to heal broken hearts...
mine... and yours.

Thank You Lord! Amen.

30 Days of Thanksgiving... Day 7... Light

I was at my desk, working on my computer this afternoon,
when I looked up to see this incredible display of light
dancing in the treetops outside my office window!
My heart sang to the same melody as I thanked God for this blessing.
I was so aware that a moment earlier or later... I would have missed it.

I am so thankful for light and how it displays the glory of the Lord
whether it's brilliant sunlight, peaceful moonlight or twinkling stars!

I am not only thankful for the lights in the sky
but also for the lights that help make my house a home...
electric lights, flickering candles and logs burning in the fireplace.

But most of all... I am thankful that God is Light
and that He sent Jesus to be the Light of this world
and the Light of my life... and yours!

The Lord is my Light and my Salvation;
whom shall I fear?
Psalm 27:1

I am not the same person I used to be because of His Light.
When God shines His Light... the Light of His Word and His love...
into our hearts, darkness has to leave. Lies give way to truth.
Hate gives in to love. Worry yields to faith.
Death surrenders to Life. And we are changed forever.

And just as the sunlight brilliantly broke through the storm clouds today...
and danced in the treetops... so He does in our hearts.

Today Lord, I pray for the Light of Your Word to continue to be my guide
and the Light of Your Love to shine brighter than ever
in me and through me for your glory. Amen.

30 Days of Thanksgiving... Day 6... Peace

Before I met Jesus I was a worrier.
I worried about everything.
And if there wasn't something real to worry about,
I'd make something up.
You do that too. I know you do. We all do.
God calls it "vain imaginations"... worrying about things
that haven't happened yet or may never happen.

And then I read Philippians 4:6...
Do not be anxious for anything, but in everything,
by prayer and petition, with THANKSGIVING,
present your requests to God.
And the PEACE of GOD,
which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts
and your minds in Christ Jesus.

God doesn't want us to worry... He wants to give us peace.
But I can pray and walk away and still not have peace.
So can you.
But I have learned, through this verse,
that the key to receiving and walking in God's peace...
the part we tend to read right over.. is with THANKSGIVING!



God's peace can be ours as we thank Him for who He is
to us, for us, in us, and through us...
for His presence, His promises, His power, and His plans...
because, when we do... our focus shifts from our problems...
real or imagined... and back to our God who is able to take
care of whatever concerns us today, tomorrow and always!

Today I thank You God for Your peace that passes all understanding
as we trust in You! We love You Lord! Amen.

30 Days of Thanksgiving... Day 5... Water

There are so many things I am thankful for, it's hard to choose.
So I was asking God to bring something to mind He wanted me to share.
I stepped into the shower! Ahhhhh... can you see my smile?

I've shared my story before... but maybe you haven't heard it.
Michael, Michelle and I lived in Alaska for four years.
Three of those without running water! Oh... I think I heard you gasp!!

It's hard to imagine what it would be like to live without running water and
indoor plumbing, isn't it? We hauled the water we needed for cooking
and cleaning in five-gallon cans and heated it on the stove.
Our outhouse was about a thirty-foot walk from the back door, which seemed
like a mile at thirty degrees below zero! And the local store was the place
to go for weekly showers, laundry, and catching up on local news.

I can still remember moving into our first house after coming back
to the states. I was SO excited!  Not only did water come out of the faucet,
but the water was hot! I smile now just thinking about it!

For us, moving to Alaska had been a lifestyle choice.
For many others in this world however, living without running water,
is not a choice at all. In fact, a great percentage of people on this planet
drink and bathe and wash their clothes in filthy, contaminated water.

Interesting how giving thanks can humble your heart at the same time.
It's one of God's ways of watering us... of allowing His Spirit
to move in us and through us... making our hearts more compassionate...
and our souls more like well-watered gardens for Him
and for the blessing of others.

Heavenly Father... forgive us for taking our creature comforts so for granted.
Thank You Lord for clean water... and indoor plumbing! Stir our hearts
today to pray for and find ways to help those who are without clean
water for it is vital to life. And MOST OF ALL Father,
we thank You for the living water that flows in us and out of us
through faith in Your Son Jesus Christ. Amen.