The Presence of Process

‘I know the plans I have for you’, declares the LORD;

‘Plans to prosper you and not to harm you,

Plans to give you a hope and a future.’

Jeremiah 29:11

The purpose and the plans of God are an awe-inspiring thing 

We are all born with potential - 

Yet, our potential and the plans of God for our lives generally involve a process before they come to fruition.

I was listening to an old message yesterday and started with this quote:

‘Potential can only be revealed if process is embraced’ 

Bishop Tony Miller

Jesus was born as a man with the potential to be Savior of the world. Yet even He had to embrace the process.

He had to embrace the process of His walk through life, the process of betrayal and/or abandonment from those closest to Him, the process of public humiliation and crucifixion, the process of separation from the Father, the process of death and ultimate resurrection to life in order for His potential to be realized and actualized.

It has been my experience that the LORD will never initiate a plan for my life which does not require my involvement and participation.

It is in submission to His plan and His process that His purpose is revealed in my life.

The great thing is I have the opportunity to choose - 

We have the opportunity to choose.

‘If you are willing and obedient,

          you will eat the best of the land.’ Isaiah 1:19

‘I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore choose life, that both you and your descendants may live.’ Deuteronomy 30:19

Have a Blessed Day!

in the kitchen

 ‘For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory’  II Cor. 4:17

 

It has been a while since I’ve written –

But, as I sat at my desk praising the LORD this morning, this dropped on my heart

That picture above is a picture from my kitchen

I am starting a business and needed pictures for my website

The point is to show some of what goes into our products –

We select the finest ingredients that we can: vanilla, sugar, flour, salt, milk, butter

On their own, each of these ingredients is not that appealing –

            Not even the butter which is unsalted

And who really wants milk without a slice of cake or some cookies on the side?

 

However, when all of those ingredients are combined and mixed with other components; when the eggs are separated; when the mixture is beaten, laid into a mold and placed into a heated oven to bake – it creates something truly amazing!

 

If you take out too late – it will burn

If you take it out too early – it will be under-cooked and ruined

Precision is key - It must stay in a precise amount of time

This is true of baking and other forms of cooking as well

 

Mother’s Day is approaching this Sunday

This is my first mother’s day on this earth without my Mom who is now residing in heaven

I’ve been thinking about her a lot lately – and shedding some tears

            I miss her something terrible!

They are great memories. And one of my favorites is when she lived with me and my sons. My Mom did not bake a great deal. However, she was an amazing cook. And whenever she would cook, I would wait until she was not watching and sneak a taste out of the pan before it was done. 

I recall times when I burned my fingers, tongue or the roof of my mouth trying to hurry to eat it before she would catch me. Yes, I was [and sometimes still am] an impatient being . And when she would catch me, she would slap my fingers and say, ‘Get out of that pot! Out of my kitchen!’ Now – that was funny because it was actually my home; but it was unmistakably her kitchen when she was cooking in it.

 

I recall one instance where the LORD spoke to me after one of those exchanges with my Mom. And this is what He spoke to my spirit:

‘That is exactly how you are with Me at times. I am preparing something amazing for you. But you are impatient – sneaking into the pan, not getting the full effect of what is being prepared [because it is not finished yet] and hurting yourself in the process. If you will wait, you will receive My best – something delicious.’

 

You see – the process [the ingredients, in baking and cooking; the trials in life], they are all needed to bring about something magnificent. You may be experiencing bits and pieces which, on their own, are unappetizing. You might be frustrated, feeling beaten by life and circumstances. You may be weary from the amount of time required or parched from the heat and the cooking/baking process.  Yet, it is all a part of the plan, process and product of The Master Baker who says to you today, ‘I know the plans I have for you … plans to prosper you and not to harm you, to give you a hope and a future.’ Jeremiah 29:11

 

Rest assured that the LORD is working all things together for your good

          And for His glory

He is in the kitchen and He is fixing you something beautiful ... something beautifully delicious!

 Have a Blessed Day!

 

‘I am going to do something in your days that you would not believe even if it were reported to you.’

Habakkuk 1:5 GWT

spring time

‘Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.’  

Isaiah 43:19

Springtime –

It is a brand new season;

A time for flowers and trees to bud

A time for things which laid dormant through the winter

          to spring to new life

A time for planting in anticipation of the showers of Spring

It is a wonderful time of the year – naturally and spiritually

It is the time of year where we reflect upon the sacrifice of Christ;

            But more importantly upon His resurrection

His death would have been meaningless if He did not rise again – but He did!

So it is with each one of us individually

The instances of death  - dreams, hopes, desires - it would all be pointless without some sort of redemptive quality

As such, we have this assurance from the LORD: ‘I will give you back what you lost in the years when swarms of locusts ate your crops. It was I who sent this army against you.’ Joel 2:25GNT

He will give beauty for ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning, the garment of praise instead of a disheartened spirit. [Isaiah 61:3]

This is not a word for everyone – for there are seasons for everything … ‘a time to every purpose under heaven.’ (Ecclesiastes. 3:1) To you I say, ‘wait on the LORD and be of good courage. Wait patiently for the LORD.’ Psalm 27:14 Your time is coming.

However, if this is your 'now' word, you will know. It will resonate deeply in your heart and soul with what the LORD has been whispering to you of late. It will ignite a passion, excitement and mind-boggling anticipation, causing hope to spring to life in a tangible way. To those of you, I say, get ready! The LORD [not myself] says, “Look … See! Be astonished! Wonder! For I  am doing something in your days – you would not believe it if you were told.” Habakkuk 1:5 

Have a Blessed Day!

 

‘… the old is passed, behold all things are made new.’

II Corinthians 5:17 DRB

love life

‘Do not love the world or the things in the world’

How do you love life without loving the things of this world?

You understand and recognize that every day is a gift –

It is bestowed upon us by the One True & Living God

It is easy to get distracted with the things of the world because we have to dwell within the systems and structures of this world

Yet our joy is found in the love of God and in loving the life He has given us

‘I am come that they may have life, and that they may have it abundantly.’ John 10:10

Jesus desired that we would have a wonderful life – an abundantly rich life

Yet so often we waste the days, taking for granted the precious moments we have been gifted

It is not say that everything in life is ideal –

We do not love life because everything is perfect

We do not love life because we have everything we desire

We simply love life because God saw fit to breathe life into us – to share another day with us, here, in the earth ... until that glorious day when He calls us home to spend eternity with Him forever

There is a saying that rather than count the days, we should make the days count

I agree wholeheartedly and would add that we should count the blessings in those days

I hope you had a blessed day today – 

And I pray that you took some time to really love the life God has given you

 

Have a Blessed Evening!

 

‘‘Keep yourselves in the love of God …’

Jude 1:21

REST

Good Morning!

I pray all is going well with you this morning –

Hopefully, you have been able to get some much needed rest this holiday weekend

Rest – it is an important element which often gets overlooked

It is so essential to … REST

I know that it sometimes feels as though there is no time to REST –

Yet, our bodies [and our lives] cannot function properly without times of refreshing

There is a story in the book of I Kings which tells of a day in the life of the prophet Elijah:

‘He sat down under a solitary broom tree and prayed that he might die.’ I Kings 19:4

 

Here we have a mighty man of God, on the heels of a great victory

            He had called down fire from heaven … and it fell! I Kings 18:38

Yet, here he is one chapter later completely despondent

What happened?

The battle had exhausted him and left him utterly undernourished – spiritually & physically

And what was God’s prescription?

What grand solution did Jehovah-Rophe, the LORD who heals, offer?

REST, EAT, GET IN THE PRESENCE OF GOD

‘Then he lay down under the bush and fell asleep. All at once an angel touched him and said, “Get up and eat.” … He ate and drank and then lay down again. The angel of the LORD came back a second time and touched him and said, “Get up and eat for the journey is too much for you.”' I Kings 19:5-7

 

THE JOURNEY IS TOO MUCH

We have not had to call down fire from heaven –

Yet many of us have felt that the journey through 2020 has been too much, ‘way too much’

But – take heart

Despite the reality of the challenges, there still remains a REST

‘Thus far, you have survived 100% of the toughest moments life has thrown your way.’

 

LIKE AN INFANT

I had a discussion a while back with my friend where I was sharing the importance of REST

I told her there are times when I get restless, impatient and downright cranky;

            whining and sometimes crying; wanting to be consoled and left alone all at once

In those moments, I shared with her, I imagine a scene plays out in heaven…

The angels are gathered around the throne and they are completely perplexed:

‘My LORD, WHAT is wrong with her?!’

And I imagine the LORD calmly responding,

‘She’s fine … she just needs a nap. She’s tired and hungry and she needs her Heavenly Father.’

 

It used to be that way when my sons were infants. It was not often but they would have those moments when they would start to get ‘fussy’. They were tired, or hungry [sometimes both] and they needed REST! Sometimes all they needed was to know that I was close by, that I was present ...and then they could REST.

 

It is amazing what a little rest will do – emotionally, spiritually and physically

It also helps our perspective, so we may see more clearly

But the act of rest it is not a one-time occurrence

We must be intentional about seeking out regular moments of rest & rejuvenation

Forty days after that encounter with the angel of the LORD, Elijah was in a cave;

And the LORD came to him where he was:

‘The LORD said, “Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the LORD, for the LORD is about to pass by.” I Kings 19:11

Even if you are too weary from the current journey and for the next journey,

The LORD will meet you right where you are

He is the Omni-Present One …there is no escaping His presence

 

HIS PRESENCE IS KEY

The refueling – whatever that may look like – is great

            Water, food, exercise, prayer, meditation

The rest – in all its forms – is helpful

            Naps, sleep, sitting in silence

But the getting in the presence of the LORD – it is absolutely essential

His presence is key!

 

This morning –

Whether you only have today or the remainder of this week heading into the new year;

Be intentional about carving out meaningful moments of rest, in His presence

Take time to pursue and enjoy REST –

recovering from the present journey and preparing for all that is to come

 

Have a Rest-Filled & Blessed Day!

‘He gives His beloved rest.’  Psalm 127:2

‘The LORD provides for those He loves, even while they are sleeping.’ Psalm 127:2

REJOICE!

Good Morning!

I pray all is going well with you this morning –

It is the middle of the week

And, the message today is short and sweet: REJOICE!

Remember it is not about where you are or what you have –

Jesus was born in a manager yet was still abundantly blessed

There are a million reasons to REJOICE!

Have a Blessed Day!

‘Shouts of joy and victory resound in the tents of the righteous: 

“The LORD’s right hand has done mighty things”’

Psalm 118:15

‘Rejoice in the LORD always; again I say, Rejoice!’  Philippians 4:4

THANKSGIVING ... YES, THANKSGIVING!

I pray all is going well for you this morning –

It is five days until Christmas

It is actually hard to believe we are almost there

I was talking to my youngest son a couple of days ago and he said,

‘This has been the longest and shortest year ever’

I would have to agree with him

However, whatever has transpired, there are so many reasons for THANKSGIVING

 

It is a bit odd to title a message ‘THANKSGIVING’ at this time of year

However, the giving of thanks is not dictated by a day on the calendar

It is not relegated to a specific time of year

No, true gratitude is constant …

It can and should be expressed as often as the feelings of thankfulness arise

 

There are so many reasons and opportunities to give thanks –

Do you have peace in your home? Give Thanks …

Do you have a home? Give Thanks …

Did God breathe into your lungs all through the night? Give Thanks …

Did He wake you up this morning? It is reason for Thanksgiving …

We possess many blessings – if we will but take the time to notice them

 

This year has been challenging for many –

And you may say that it has been a year of great loss individually

I understand – it has been a challenging year for me as well, one with great loss

Yet I choose to thank the LORD for His goodness and His faithfulness.

Everyone has something to be thankful for

 

‘Rejoice in the LORD always. Again I say: Rejoice!’ Philippians 4:4

 

The reason for the season –

Over the years I have heard that phrase shared as a means to help people focus;

It is often spoken to remind others that Jesus is the reason for the Christmas season

But the truth is, Jesus is the reason for every season

‘God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.’ John 3:16

 

The only thing that sustains us from season to season …

            Is the love, grace and mercy of the LORD God Almighty

            Made possible because of the life, death & resurrection of Jesus

His birth would have been meaningless without his life, death & resurrection,

            without Him conquering the power of death, hell and the grave

And He did that for us!

That is certainly a cause for THANKSGIVING!

 

So, ‘Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.’ I Thessalonians 5:16-18

 

Today – my prayers are simple

I pray that your awareness would be heightened

I pray that you would recognize and appreciate all the ways the LORD is blessing you

I pray that you would take time to express your gratitude for His most precious blessing –

            JESUS CHRIST

 

‘For unto us a Child is born, to us a Son is given,

And the government will be on His shoulders and,

He will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.’ Isaiah 9:6

 

Have a Blessed Day!

‘Thus far the LORD has helped us … ’ I Samuel 7:12

PEACE

Good Evening

It is the middle of the week -

Although it is nearing the end of the day, it is still Wednesday for many of my friends

The middle is such an interesting place to be …

You are not at the beginning but you are not close to the end either

I guess that is why Wednesdays are viewed as a sort of victory day;

If you can make it through, you are well on your way to the weekend –

                For rest, relaxation and PEACE

 PEACE is an amazing thing

I would take meager living and peace in a home over wealth and chaos any day

PEACE is a sustaining force when you are in the middle of a trial

PEACE is a stabilizing presences when it feels like all is shaking and unstable

PEACE is a guiding path when you are in the middle of a process

                It is a source of direction when you are traveling unfamiliar paths

 

I like the definition found in my concordance:

 

 PEACE, SAFETY, PROSPERITY, WELL-BEING, INTACTNESS, WHOLENESS –

 

That is pretty powerful … and all encompassing!

 

In fact, that word for peace is found in Judges 6:24

It is the basis for one of the names of God – Jehovah Shalom, the LORD our PEACE

The LORD our PEACE

The LORD our SAFETY

The LORD our PROSPERITY – not just the One who prospers us;

                The One who not only causes us to be blessed but Who is our great blessing

The LORD our WELL-BEING

The LORD of INTACTNESS – the state of being unimpaired, flawless, ultra-perfect, without defect

The LORD of WHOLENESS – complete, harmoniously whole, unbroken, undamaged

 

Those are qualities beneficial for the middle of the week or the middle of a trial –

and everywhere else around and in between

He is the LORD who has and does and IS everything we need

 

That must be why He tells us in Psalm 100:2 to lift up songs of joy –

                After all, He does inhabit the praises of His people [Psalm 22:3]

Wherever God is, so too are all of His attributes –

                Peace, Safety, Prosperity, Well-Being, Intactness, Wholeness

 

So – whether you still have a few hours left in the middle of your week;

Or whether you have already begun the trek toward the weekend,

Why not travel that road with the God of PEACE, Jehovah-Shalom

It will certainly make any journey more enjoyable and satisfying

 

I pray you are having a blessed holiday season –

Have a relaxing and PEACE-FILLED evening

  

God Bless!

‘… the LORD provides for those He loves, even while they sleep’ Psalms 127:2

2020: Happy Mother's Day

Happy Mother’s Day!

I pray all is well today and that your day is off to a great start

It is certainly not like any Mother’s Day we have experienced before –

I am actually unable to see my Mom today – this Mother’s Day;

There is still a strict non-visitation policy in place due to COVID-19

                Yet, I am thankful knowing that she is safe

There is no person like a mom

There is certainly no person like my Mom – and I love her and miss her so much!

Yet I know there are several people missing their moms today 

My heart goes out to all those who have lost their mom –

                Whether it was due to this virus or other reasons

I pray that the LORD would comfort you …

Mother’s Day is always special to me –

My youngest was almost a Mother’s Day baby – he missed it by four hours

He turned twenty-six yesterday! I can hardly believe it … the time is flying

But he is not the only reason Mother’s Day is special,

I have three somebodies who make being a mother … an absolute joy

Mother’s Day is a day for me to honor my sons

It is a privilege to share life with them – 

It has taken on a whole new dimension being 'sheltered in' with them; 

They have not changed –  my awareness of all the reasons I appreciate them has

They bless me in ways they will never fully know

Proverbs 31 speaks of a woman of great character –

She rises early, manages her business and supplies for her household

I can relate to those aspects – even as I lack in many other areas

Yet one area where this is no shortage or shortfall,

‘Her children rise up and call her blessed …’ Proverbs 31:28

My sons still do that – they call me blessed

Despite all the twist and turns, the stumbles and failures – they still bless me

In many aspects, they look on me with the eyes of their Father – their heavenly Father

Our love for one another is mutual and ever-lasting

What a blessing!

TODAY –

I pray, whether you are spending time with your mom or away,

Take some time to reflect on the blessing she has been and still is

If you are a mom, this Mother’s Day,

Take some time to reflect on the blessing that your children are

‘Children are a gift from the LORD; they are a reward from Him’ Psalm 127:3

Be Blessed this Mother’s Day –

I send the warmest wishes your way … today & always

Happy Mother’s Day!

a legacy of faith

Good Morning Friends

Happy St. Patrick’s Day!

Many will be celebrating this day a bit different today … in the midst of COVID-19

However, I have always celebrated it a bit different

Today is my Nana’s birthday!

I still reflect with fondness the days that I spent with her – helping in the kitchen

I was always right up under my grandparents when we went to visit

My Nana was born in 1906 and went home to heaven when I was ten years old

And, while it doesn’t seem I had a great deal of time with her,

She is a very big part of the reason I have a firm foundation of faith

She taught me what it was to fear the LORD –

Not to be afraid of Him, but to have a holy reverence for Him

A couple of days ago, I wrote about us trusting the LORD, making note:

HE IS STILL ON THE THRONE – HE IS STILL IN CONTROL

Yesterday was a challenge for me – for reasons I will not go into right now

However, I think back to my Nana who taught me to trust the LORD no matter what

He is Holy and fully trustworthy!

THEREFORE –  I rejoice as Habakkuk the prophet did

 ‘Though the fig tree does not bud and no fruit is on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though the sheep are cut off from the fold and no cattle are in the stalls, yet I will exult in the LORD; I will rejoice in the God of my salvation! The Sovereign LORD is my strength; He makes my feet like those of a deer; He makes me walk upon the heights!’ Habakkuk 3:17-19

AND I KNOW –

·         Jesus has prayed for me that my faith would not fail [Luke 22:32]

·         There is a whole heavenly host of witnesses cheering me on and encouraging me to keep running this race [Hebrews 12:1]

I like to believe that my Nana is front-and-center … blessing me from afar

May you also be blessed – today and always

 Happy St. Patrick’s Day

& Happy Birthday Nana!

2020: CHERISH THE DAY

Hi There!

I pray your weekend has gone well

And hope you are enjoying a relaxing evening –

My weekend has been one of rest and relaxation.

I watched the conclusion of one of the most interesting series I have watched in a while.

It is a Korean drama, simply entitled, Chocolate

Now – I am not generally a crier [not for movies anyway]

However – this show has brought me to tears more times than I can count

But – I love it!

And – it was this show which inspired me to write today

Although – I am trying to work on writing on a more regularly scheduled basis

I still struggle with writing when I do not have something absolutely pressing on my heart

What can I say? That process – and myself in general – are still a work in progress

In any event, and without giving out the end of the show,

I would like to share a quote from the show which grabbed my attention.

The context of the quote is not completely relevant –

                Because the quote has the ability to stand on its own merit

Standing on a beach, with the waves crashing in the background, one of the characters makes this poignant declaration:

“As if today is your last day,
and as if you know that this moment will never return,
cherish  every single moment that comes by ladies and gentlemen.
The day you wasted today –
is the tomorrow that someone who died yesterday so badly wished for.”
~Tae-Hyun

This touched me intensely and immensely.

It touched me because it is all about the value of life.

It touched me because it is something that I am realizing is so vitally important;

It is something that I know I need –

this need to value the days which the LORD blesses me with

It is something where I am developing a keen awareness of the need for – intention.

You see, making the most of each day will not happen by accident.

I must make a choice to focus on the people and things that matter most.

I must make a choice to appreciate the people who the LORD has blessed me with. 

Psalm 90:12 says,

‘Teach us to realize the brevity of life, so that we may grow in wisdom’

I know, from scripture, that our life is but a vapor and then we are gone. [James 4:14]

Therefore, each day is a special and precious gift – one which must be protected.

I am learning how to better establish & maintain healthy boundaries –

And, I am finding there a few things I value as much as peace in my life.

Even so – it is all a process – one which I noted earlier is a work in progress.

And, I hope to get in some meaningful practice over the next few days.

I am off work this entire week.

I am taking some time – just for me.

And, I intend to make the most of every day and the opportunities they present.

Spending time with the LORD, spending time with my sons, spending time with my Mom;

Spending time with me and for me –

Writing in my journal, counting my blessings, reflecting on the things that make me smile

I pray that you will make some time as well –

                Time to focus on the people and things which truly matter to you

Tomorrow is not promised to any of us

Therefore, we must live, laugh and love – every opportunity we have

                Counting as blessings the things which make us smile,

                Being a blessing by helping others to find a reason to smile.

I pray you have a blessed evening and an amazing week!

God Bless & Much Love

2020: HE'S FAITHFUL

Hi There!

I pray your weekend has gone well

And hope you are enjoying a relaxing evening –

My weekend has been just what I desired – a time of rest, reflection and relaxation

That is why I would take a quick moment to share something from my devotional this week

Earlier today, I was spending some time with my eldest son

And, I was sharing with him about some thoughts that have been  present lately

I have been thinking about this life-journey – with all of its twists and turns

In all that thinking, I thought about the countless challenges we have faced

And I shared with my son, how thankful I am and how truly blessed we have been

                In spite of all the challenges

There is something about taking the time to TRULY consider how things could have been

Indeed, when most people start to engage in those kinds of thoughts,

                They think about how things could have been better ‘If I only I had …’

During this time of year, it is easy to get caught reflecting … but not in a good way

Well this weekend, I have been reflecting on the blessings of the LORD

I look at my sons – and I say ‘I am blessed’

I stand on my feet in the morning – and I say ‘I am blessed’

I lie my head down at night under the roof of my home – and I say ‘I am blessed’

Please do not misunderstand, things are not perfect - not by any stretch of the imagination

I could focus on the negative and difficult situations

However, I choose not to focus and dwell upon those things

I choose instead to focus on the goodness and faithfulness of God.

Even as I wait …

Even as I work toward and eagerly await the manifestation of many things –

some things I have been believing for a while –  

I am confident because I have His promise.

Yes, I can boldly proclaim like David:

‘I rejoice in Your promise as one who finds great spoil’ Psalm 119:162

The New Living Translation says, ‘I rejoice in Your word like one who finds great treasure’

I rejoice in His promise –

Because His word is better than a treasure chest filled with gold

Because His word is richer than a mine filled with diamonds

It never diminishes and value and can never be stolen away.

‘God is not a man that He should lie, not a human being that He should change His mind? Does He speak and then not act? Does He promise and not fulfill?’ Numbers 23:19

His entire reputation rests on His faithfulness to His word, on the truth of His word

As such, ‘He esteems His Word above His Name’ [Ps. 138:2]

And we know there is not a single word that proceeds from His mouth that returns void;

No, it goes forth and accomplishes that for which it was sent [Is. 55:11]

Be encouraged tonight –

If you have a promise from the LORD, you already have everything you need

When He freely and generously promises, He is guaranteed to faithfully fulfill the same

HE IS SUCH A FAITHFUL GOD & A LOVING FATHER

HE’S GOT THIS … AND HE’S GOT YOU!

Have a Blessed Evening &

A Fabulous Week!

2020: New Day ... New Year

Happy New Year!

What a blessing it is to see a another year arrive…

And I am filled with a confident expectation this year –

            For myself  for all of you,

            That it will be a year of peace and prosperity

My prayer for you this New Year –

      Is that the blessings of the Lord abound all throughout 2020

May your steps be made sure everywhere this year takes you

May the Lord place a hedge of protection around you

May your heart be filled with joy

May your home be filled with peace

May your year be filled with precious moments

with the people you love - and those who love you back

Happy New Year & God Bless

THANKS GIVING 2019: Happy Thanksgiving!

Good Morning Friends!

Gobble, gobble, gobble – 

These words resonate in my ears every Thanksgiving

It is what my Auntie Barb always says every Thanksgiving Day

And she always sounds SO CUTE & joy bubbling out of her ... like it always does

ME –

I am up early and have not slept most of the evening;

Cooking, cooking, cooking!

But, I absolutely LOVE to cook so it is a pleasure

I am also up praying that your day is off to a great start –

That this Thanksgiving Day 2019 will be a joy-filled one;

And that if you are traveling this Thanksgiving Holiday – that you will be safe

THANKSGIVING is such a special day

HOWEVER – 

This is not where our giving of thanks begins … or where it should end

I hope during this series, that we have discovered –

WE HAVE SO MANY REASONS TO BE THANKFUL

EVERY DAY – there is something which should cause us to GIVE THANKS;

EVERY SEASON – should be a time for THANKSGIVING

COUNTLESS REASONS – abound, reminding us WE ARE BLESSED & SHOULD BE GRATEFUL

Let us not allow our heart of gratitude be relegated to a season or a day

Let us GIVE THANKS every day!

I am so thankful for you this morning!

Praying you have a tremendously blessed day –

Happy Thanksgiving & Much Love in Christ!

‘Rejoice always, pray continually,

                Give thanks in all circumstances –

for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus.’ I Thessalonians 5:16-18