Passing on our passions.

What are your passions?

What do you love doing?

Spending time with our families is usually at the top of our list, right?

Of course, God is at the very top of our list when it comes to our passion, love, and eternal focus....is He not?

For some of us, it takes years to realize once we put God number one in our lives, then everything else falls into place.

When our priorities are in order, the desires of our heart naturally fall into place.

My Grandma loved to cook and bake, and she was good at both.

It brought joy to her heart when her family enjoyed the dishes, and desserts she lovingly prepared for them.

Every holiday we all looked forward to the many pies Grandma would bake: apple, pumpkin, cherry, mincemeat, etc.

Whenever I spent time with her, Grandma was always making something.

I learned to cook, and bake; and I love doing both for my own family.

Something else I learned was how important reading the Bible was to my Grandma.

When I was visiting her at the cottage, everyday at 1:00 was her time to read.

I could sit and listen to her read the Scripture, or go outside and play for an hour.

When I got older, I could listen, or go take a walk.

We would talk after wards.

Grandma told me about how she prayed for all of her grand children's salvation.

She loved Billy Graham. Grandma watched his revivals whenever she could see them on television.

I know some of my siblings, and cousins did not like Grandma....for whatever reasons they have.

Yet, there are others that love her as I do.

I hope to be that witness to my own grandchildren that my Grandma was to me.  I want to be that prayer warrior for my family that she was for us.

I ask to be an example, to my daughters, of a Godly woman.....like Grandma was for me.

I hope to pass on the desire to serve each other, even if it's a passion for baking and cooking  for family members...not just at special events, and holidays...but when it's needed during difficult times. Or, just because.

While doing something we love, spending time together, hopefully we will remember to share our faith in God. Letting our loved ones know where we stand.

Telling them what our focus is.....Who is number One in our life, and why.

Having the courage to pray with our family members.

Thanking God for the blessings, and provisions, and each and every person in our life.

Taking the opportunity to lead them to the truth about Jesus.

Spending time with our loved ones, and passing on those things we love to do, our passions.....can reveal so much more about ourselves than we could ever imagine.

Blessings.

Debbie

xo

Trust

Situations and circumstances in our lives cause us to question, and become anxious.

We look for answers, and wonder why bad things happen to seemingly good people.

Why are adverse situations allowed?

If we pray....why aren't our prayers answered the way we expect them to be?

If we believe that God is sovereign over every aspect of our lives, then we should be able to TRUST Him in all situations.

When we find ourselves doubting....open up the Word of God!!

The Sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God, is able to slice between the soul (mind, will and emotions) and the spirit.

The Holy Spirit is able to separate between the flesh, and the spirit.

He can impart knowledge, and wisdom to our spirit.....through the Word of God.

Building up our faith, and trust.

Proverbs 3:5 says, "trust in the Lord with all thine heart (spirit); and lean not unto thine own understanding (flesh)."

Our own understanding draws us back to the flesh (soul: mind, will and emotions).

We need to trust in Jesus with our whole heart (spirit).

verse 6 says, "In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy paths." 

Trust is like a staff you can lean on as you journey uphill with Jesus.  If you are trusting in Him consistently, the staff will bear as much of your weight as needed. Lean on, trust, and be confident in Jesus with all your heart and mind. 

Even in those times when we don't see the answer....we trust that God is working, and His timing is the BEST!!!

The outcome is in His Hands.

Be careful for nothing; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.

And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:6-7.

Remembering....I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me. Philippians 4:13.

It's all about the way we look at situations.  

Of course, we get concerned, grieve, cry out to God.....Are we looking with a Godly perspective? or through the eyes of our flesh?

Hopefully, we will Stand Our Ground Where Hope Can Be Found (O' Lord by Lauren Daigle).

Debbie

xo

Coincidence?

Do you believe in coincidence?

I don't.

I believe we are exactly where we are supposed to be at just the right time.

Maybe it's for a lesson in humility, or to be used in some other capacity..... to show God's love and mercy at a time needed most for someone else's benefit. 

Have you ever found yourself clothes shopping in a place that you rarely shop at for clothing?

Surrounded by people that you don't necessarily hang around with?

You could hear the conversations of the people around you....their needs.

You realize the lack in their wallets, and pockets, and purses.

You become thankful for what you have, and humbled by the lack all around you.

As an elderly woman counts the change in her purse to see if she can afford the shirt she would like to purchase hanging on the rack at the thrift store.....you are aware of her dire situation.

The woman is excited that she has just enough money to pay for the shirt.

If she buys the shirt, she will have no money left in her pocket book.

How long before she gets more money? for the bus, for food, for.....anything?

$4.68.

That's all she had.

When she walked out of the store with her second-hand shirt, she still had the $4.68  in her purse.

God put me in that thrift store at that very moment, for that very purpose......

It wasn't a coincidence....it was His plan.

God's timing is perfect. He takes care of the smallest details to care for His children. 

Sometimes He will work on one's pride, putting us on our knees, to reveal what it is to be used to bless a brother or sister....even in the smallest ways.

Debbie 

xo

So many things.......

As I sit and reflect over the past year, and beyond.... I am thankful for the blessings I have been given.

There have been many BIG things I am grateful for! and so many things that I don't want to take for granted.

When we were kids, our grandparents lived on a lake. Spending Summers with them gave me some of my best memories as a kid. Our grandparents were kind, giving people. My grandma was like the woman in Proverbs 31, and I was determined to grow up and be just like her!

Even as I grew into adulthood, I spent a lot of time with my grandma and grandpa.

We would all bring our children up north on weekends to stay at the lake.

Now I wonder how fun that was for poor grandma and grandpa....lol.

That is a huge reason Jim and I chose to live up north on the water. We wanted our own grandkids to have those same memories that I had growing up at the lake.

As the grandkids are getting older, they are more involved in sports. It's difficult to have them come up like they used to when they were little.

Some still come up and stay over Summer, and we LOVE having them here!!

We hope their memories are filled with fun, laughter, and love.

I still hold the trips to France dear to my heart.

So long ago, yet still fresh in my memory.

I cherish all the times spent learning to sew at Grandma's house.

She even gave me her little Singer sewing machine when she couldn't use it anymore.

Now, my granddaughter, Charlotte, is a lover of sewing. I bought her first machine, and she has already graduated to another!

She is also a baker...of course, we had to get her a Kitchen Aide mixer when she was seven.

Going to thrift shops, and flea markets are favorite things to do.

I am blessed to have my youngest daughter that loves to do those same things.

If she finds something that she thinks I will enjoy, Melissa will pick it up for me....how wonderful is that???

I am happy to have a husband who accepts my quirky likes.

I bring home the silliest things sometimes.....yet my hubby will pretend to be excited for me as I empty a bag of treasures found at a flea market.

My children, and grandchildren are so sweet to me, as well.

Our family likes taking trips to Frankenmuth.

When we go, we always take photos.

For Christmas this year, sweet Sadie gifted me with one of those photos in a lovely frame for a keepsake.

Another thing I am thankful for is finding a church family.

We searched for many years of living up here, met some really nice people....yet didn't find that one place to call "home".

Until this last year.

I was apprehensive, at first. I kept things low key....not wanting to get too involved.....but the Holy Spirit was pulling at my heart, and I could not resist His calling.

The more I went to church, and Bible study, the more I wanted to hear.

My spirit was hungry, and HE was feeding me.

I finally surrendered, and gave control to God. 

It is wonderful to be involved.....even in the smallest ways.

It is my desire to be used, by God, for the Kingdom...in whatever capacity HE DESIRES.

It's been such a great thing to have our friends from back home here.

They moved to their place up north.

We are overjoyed to be able to fellowship with them on a regular basis again!!

I am hoping I don't take anything for granted in the year ahead.

From the big things, to the little things.

God has blessed me throughout my whole lifetime....and I have not recognized His love and mercy enough.

I pray my eyes are opened to see, and ears to hear all the things the Lord does!!!

The new friendships being born of the Holy Spirit these past few months have helped me beyond measure.

Reconnecting to blogging friends has been remarkable!

The support here is heart warming.

My girls and son, and their families are the loves of my life.

What would I do without Kelly, Erin, Melissa, and Todd?

Each and every grandchild is a precious gem.

I would like to have a more positive outlook this year. See the good, instead of dwelling on the negative.  Seek joy, in all things. Realize the blessings. Be humble, not prideful. Most of all....walk in love...….even when I don't feel like it!!!

Debbie

xo

Christmas memories.

The memories from Christmas are still fresh in my mind.

The parties.....so many parties.

Family.

Laughter.

Gifts from the heart.

Time spent with the people that mean so much to me.

Sitting in front of the fire, with the Christmas lights on, listening to Christmas music.

Appreciating the Reason for the season.

Basking in the Joy of the holidays.

Holding on to the moments, one at a time.

It all goes by so quickly.....so quickly....you cannot relive the moments.

They are fleeting.

Then, they are gone.

Christmas morning you get the news.

A young family member is gone.

A life cut short.

No advance notice. No note. No illness.

Found Christmas Eve. 

Leaving a young wife, and two babies...…..shattered.

A whole family, lost and torn to pieces.

How can you make sense of what people choose to do?

Who can answer the "why"?

The ripple effect from one act goes out farther than what anyone can imagine.

It's just too overwhelming to try to figure out.

So where will we find healing?

Come unto Me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

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. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light .Matt. 11:28-30.

And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Phillip. 4:7

Through all of the grief, the questions, the confusion....there is one constant.....The ONE that understands the pain.  The One that never leaves us ,nor forsakes us.

As we move on from the holidays, and family members slowly heal from the loss of their loved one, hopefully we will keep each other lifted up in prayer.

Love to all.

Debbie

xo