Sweet 16!

Happy 16th Birthday to another dear sister, Josie!

A couple years ago we were driving in the van. As we were driving past a Walmart that had a greenhouse  I remarked.. "Wouldn't it be cool if we owned a greenhouse exactly like that?" "It would look like we owned the biggest green house!" Josie rolled her eyes, looked at me and said without missing a beat "It would look like we owned Walmart!"
That's Josie for 'ya! :)


16 random facts about Josie.....


....1. She's the one who keeps me straight, even when her sides are bursting with laughter!
2. she sees things either right or wrong, nothing in between.
3. She can't stand jello. (I don't blame her... yuck!)
4. She could eat a whole can of whipped cream!
5. She's my outside companion.
6. She can sing REALLY good.
7. She's a lot of fun to be around after 12:30 AM. ;)
8. She can run super ooper fast!
9. She biked into the back of our vehicle once. ;)
10. She's also good at math.
11. She is very sensitive to other's feelings.
12. Her favorite color is green
13. She plays the violin like a pro.
14. She and I could spend hours solving the world's problems.
15. Mandarin Oranges are something she could do without. :)
16. Most importantly, she loves her Savior!

I LOVE you, Josie!


Trust in the LORD, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed.
 Delight thyself also in the LORD: and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.
Commit thy way unto the LORD; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass.

 And he shall bring forth thy righteousness as the light, and thy judgment as the noonday.

 Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for him.....

The stranger walking beside you....

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 * I was planning on writing this around Easter, but didn't get to it... Forgive my lateness. :)




Who is Jesus Christ
The question echoes down Emmaus Road
Dead or raised to life
The same doubts spoken first so long ago
When a stranger came
To two men on their journey
And it was not long before
Their broken hearts were burning

Somewhere between where you are and Emmaus
A stranger wants to come and walk with you
Somewhere along the way your heart will be burning
Drawn into the holy flame of truth
Right now He may be a stranger to you
What will he be when your journey's through
Somewhere between where you are and Emmaus
The Savior wants to walk with you

Some ask Him in to stay
As night falls on their own Emmaus Road
Some push Him away
And never see the mystery unfold
But those who take to heart the word that has been spoken
As He breaks the bread of life their eyes will open

Words and music by Gary Driskell, Marty Hennis, David Handbelt and Jeff Silvey.

Are we not like those two men of the road?

We read the Bible, but doubt it’s every word. We hear Christ’s voice, but do not recognize it, because are hearts are blinded to the truth, and strangers to faith.

This perfect Stranger is walking beside each one of us.

It is our choice whether we allow him to remain a stranger to us. Talk to Him. Hear the truth in His every word.

Invite Him into your life. Let your heart burn…. Burn for the truth!

 …….The Savior wants to walk with you.

What is there to say.... ???

Miss Razzle Dazzle, you melt my heart!

  

Halls ring with echoes of laughter
Long after they've come and gone
For the memory of a tiny face and playful grin
Still brings a smile, reminding us again
That children are a treasure from the Lord

 Songs sweetly sung by the cradle

Prayers whispered just before bed
And we taught them "Jesus loves you" in a simple song
And we pray they won't forget their whole life long
Children are a treasure from the Lord
Those bright and trusting eyes
Seem to take us by surprise
And they see what others older seem to miss
May the gift of faith they hold
Grow as they grow old

May they always know God will never let them go

Words and music by Jon Mohr, Phil Naish and Greg Nelson

Story Time!

There once was a little girl who wanted with all her heart, a pearl necklace. It just so happened that her birthday was coming up... She begged and begged her parents, day after day, for a pearl necklace, till finally the day of her birthday arrived. She opened all her presents eagerly, hoping to find the pearl necklace. She looked around once more, but alas gave up dismayed... Then... her daddy pulled a small package from behind him, and handed it to the the little girl. Her heart thumped wildly... Could this be the pearl necklace she had dreamed about day and night? She leaped up with excitement, and gave her daddy a giant hug! This had been the BEST birthday ever, because she received her dream.... a pearl necklace.
Well.... a couple of years went by, and this little girl continued to treasure the pearl necklace as if she had just received it. She wore it almost everyday, and kept it underneath her pillow every night. Eventually this pearl necklace began to look very old and worn out, but the little girl hardly noticed. Then.... one day.....
Her daddy came to her and asked "May I have your pearl necklace?"
The little girl wasn't quite sure what to say..... Was her daddy serious? Then, again he asked very solemnly, "May I have your pearl necklace?" The little girl couldn't believe her ears. Her daddy knew how much she loved her pearl necklace, how could he be so uncaring as to ask her for her precious pearl necklace? Her daddy softly said I'll give you a little bit to think about it." The little girl cried, then prayed, and cried all over again. Then she new what she should do.... The little girl walked over to where her daddy sat and held out her hand to him, the hand that held the little pearl necklace. "Here you are daddy." She watched as her little, worn out pearl necklace, slipped softly into her daddy's pocket. Then suddenly, her daddy reached into his other pocket, and drew out something beautiful and shiny..... A new beautiful and genuine pearl necklace. It glistened and shone as the sunlight gently hugged it. The little Girl exclaimed with tears running down her cheeks, "Oh Thank you daddy! Now I know why you wanted my old and dirty pearl necklace."

Story adapted from a Bright Lights conference illustration 

I think we can each identify to this little girl (whether male or female.)
How many times do we stubbornly hold on to what is, to us, the most wonderful thing. Then, when God asks for it, we feel like an injustice has been done. We think.... "He knows how much I love it, He Himself gave it to me, and now He's taking it away!??? But finally we yield, and the moment that we place our wants, needs, desires, and our seemingly perfect dream in his hand. Then that is the moment he reaches out and gives us his perfect, and beautiful dream.

Isn't God SO good?

Isaiah 55: 8-9

 For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD.

 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.

All things Beautiful

Ecclesiastes


.....He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the hearts of men; yet they cannot fathom what God has done from beginning to end......


In His time, in His time
He makes all things beautiful
In His time




                                 

Lord, please show me every day
As You’re teaching me Your way
That You do just what You say In Your time, in Your time
You make all things beautiful
In Your time

Lord, my life to You I bring
May each song I have to sing
Be to You a lovely thing