God's Paintbrush

Recently, while driving on I-70 and I-68, through Ohio, West Virginia, Pennsylvania, West Virginia (again), Maryland, and West Virginia (yet again!), I was amazed at all the beautiful colors on the trees. It was like God had taken out His paintbrush, and had created a masterpiece...all around us! It was absolutely beautiful!

Then I started thinking~

• None of those trees were exactly the same, just like we are not all "the same".
• Each tree had a special color, just like we all have special gifts. What is/are your special gift(s)?
• Each tree points to God, just as we should point others to Christ.
• Every tree declared God's glory, just as we ought to praise Him for all He has done!

I am so thankful that I have been given the opportunity to see God's paintbrush this fall...and I am also thankful that He reminded me of these simple truths.

Have you seen some of His paintings?

Jesus Calls Us

Every once in a while, I like to share a hymn that is a blessing to me. The following hymn is not one that we normally sing in our church, but it is beautiful! You can download the music here. The poetess also wrote All Things Bright and Beautiful and the Christmas hymn, Once in Royal David's City.

Jesus Calls Us

by Cecil Frances Alexander

Jesus calls us o’er the tumult

Of our life’s wild, restless, sea;

Day by day His sweet voice soundeth,

Saying, “Christian, follow Me!”

Jesus calls us from the worship

Of the vain world’s golden store,

From each idol that would keep us,

Saying, “Christian, love Me more!”

In our joys and in our sorrows,

Days of toil and hours of ease,

Still He calls, in cares and pleasures,

“Christian, love Me more than these!”

Jesus calls us! By Thy mercies,

Savior, may we hear Thy call,

Give our hearts to Thine obedience,

Serve and love Thee best of all.

Matthew 4:19~And he saith unto them,

Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.

Thank you for stopping by today. Have a wonderful Thursday!  :)

What A Friend~

We have in Jesus! And what a great privilege we really do have as Christians to talk to Jesus and "cast our cares upon Him, for he careth for us." I hope you have a wonderful Wednesday!

What A Friend We Have in Jesus

~by Joseph M. Scriven

a poem written to comfort his mother who was living in Ireland, while he was in Canada

What a friend we have in Jesus,

All our sins and griefs to bear!

What a privilege to carry

Everything to God in prayer!

Oh, what peace we often forfeit,

Oh, what needless pain we bear,

All because we do not carry

Everything to God in prayer.

Have we trials and temptations?

Is there trouble anywhere?

We should never be discouraged~

Take it to the Lord in prayer.

Can we find a friend so faithful,

Who will all our sorrows share?

Jesus knows our every weakness;

Take it to the Lord in prayer.

Are we weak and heavy-laden,

Cumbered with a load of care?

Precious Savior, still our refuge~

Take it to the Lord in prayer.

Do thy friends despise, forsake thee?

Take it to the Lord in prayer!

In His arms He'll take and shield thee,

Thou wilt find a solace there.

From a 4th grade reading book

Of all the subjects to be held during the school day, Oldest Daughter absolutely loves reading class! In her spare time, if she has a book, she is one happy gal! Books are friends, and she can go anywhere in the world! From where does she get her love of reading?!?! Hmmm...I wonder. :) Sweet Hubbie calls both of us (lovingly) bookworms.

This little poem is in one of her readers, and I thought I would share it with you.

Little Words of Kindness

Anonymous

A little word in kindness spoken,

A motion or a tear,

Has often healed the heart that's broken,

And made a friend sincere.

A word, a look, has crushed to earth

Full many a budding flower,

Which, had a smile but owned its birth,

Would bless life's darkest hour.

Then think it not an idle thing

A pleasant word to speak:

The face you wear, the thoughts you bring,

A heart may heal or break.

Dear Lord, help me today to speak kind, helpful words!

Draw Me Nearer...

We recently sang this beautiful hymn in church and it is my prayer today...

Draw Me Nearer

written by Fanny Crosby

I am Thine, O Lord,

I have heard Thy voice,

And it told Thy love to me;

But I long to rise in the arms of faith

And be closer drawn to Thee.

Refrain:

Draw me nearer, nearer blessed Lord,

to the Cross where Thou hast died.

Draw me nearer, nearer, blessed Lord,

To Thy precious, bleeding side.

Consecrate me now to Thy service, Lord,

By the pow'r of grace divine;

Let my soul look up with a steadfast hope,

And my will be lost in Thine.

Refrain

Oh, the pure delight of a single hour

That before Thy throne I spend,

When I kneel in prayer, and with Thee, my God

I commune as friend with friend!

Refrain

There are depths of love that I cannot know

Till I cross the narrow sea;

There are heights of joy that I may not reach

Till I rest in peace with Thee.

Refrain

Faithfulness

"May all your troubles be as short as your New Year's resolutions."

as seen on a local church sign

While at first glance, that quote is "cute", it made me start thinking.

How often has God spoken to me and pricked my conscience about something?

Of course, I quickly vowed to do better, and then just as quickly failed at it! I want to be a faithful Christian woman~not one that is swept from one thing to another. I want to be faithful in all things!

I've said several times that I don't like making resolutions...setting goals is more beneficial for me. One goal I am thinking about and working on this year is FAITHFULNESS.

• I want to continue being faithful in God's house.
• I want to be faithful in reading His Word~not just when it's convenient, but every. single. day!
• I want to be faithful in my ministries. Not just doing them in my own strength, but covering those ministries in prayer and seeking God's help and wisdom.
• I want to be a faithful friend and spouse to my sweet Hubbie~faithful to meal plan, clean, cook, clip coupons, etc. (I think you get the picture.)
• I want to be a faithful daughter, sister, and friend.
  

The more I think about the word faithfulness, the more ways I want to perfect this character trait in my life. With God's help, I know I can be more like Christ!

Here are just a few verses that are helping me:

Psalm 36:5~Thy mercy, O LORD, is in the heavens; and thy faithfulness reacheth unto the clouds.

Lamentations 3:22-23~It is of the LORD'S mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.

I Thessalonians 5:24~ Faithful is he that calleth you, who also will do it.

And one last passage~this is one of my favorites. Although the word faithfulness is not mentioned in these verses, the thought is there...

Philippians 3:13-14~Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

May I be found faithful this year!

Plans for the week...

Here it is Monday evening, and I have not posted yet!!! The day just seemed to fly by. Ever have those kind of days?

We have a busy week with schooling, celebrating Hubbie's 35th birthday, and finishing up decorating the house.

We will be celebrating his birthday tomorrow since we have other plans for Thursday...on the menu will be poppy seed chicken, and for dessert--that homemade cheesecake that I wrote about here. Of course, it will have cherry pie topping. Yum! I hope you all have a great evening.