LPM Scripture Memory Verse 17

anybody else want or need a heart to know Him? I'm claiming this one as a promise I want to see fulfilled...

There's something bittersweet about watching your man-child head off to school with all the usual "guy" stuff--sideburns he hopes no adult will notice, shirt tail hanging out, backpack tossed carelessly over one shoulder--and a big yellow gift bag with artfully arranged tissue paper (courtesy of his sister) concealing carefully chosen birthday gifts for his girl.

Where does the time go?

Sunday

Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the Word,
Ephesians 5:25-26



May each of us allow the Word to cleanse us this day...

LPM Scripture Memory Verse 16

Remember this?

Now she looks more like this...

last time I saw her, she slept. And slept. And slept. Apparently all that sleeping is good for growing tiny puppies into much bigger puppies. She's still a doll, though.

we'd probably prefer locusts...

You'll be happy to know that there's a possibility of flash flooding again today. That's on top of the flash flooding/heavy downpours from yesterday (not to mention the flooding from last week.)

(courtesy of the CJ)

I'm trying to remember that we usually are paying to water our lawns/plants/trees this time of year. (Remember--thorns have roses.)

One Thousand Gifts...a Journey

Some people are always grumbling
because roses have thorns;
I am thankful
that thorns have roses.
Alphonse Karr

Like most, there are days when I struggle to have a grateful heart. Some days seem heavier than others. However, I'm coming to believe that on those days, finding that which I am grateful for is a gift, a day brightener of sorts. And truthfully, as I review the day, I often find it wasn't as heavy as I thought.

This week my list includes:

a prayer of thanksgiving that no lives were lost during our "surprise" flash flooding...
(picture courtesy of the weather channel)

heartfelt prayers of dear friends as I took the boy to the doctor on Monday...

blessed sleep...

sounds of laughter coming from a room that hasn't had much laughter recently...

cupcakes!

the comfort of a well loved Bible...
(if you can't see the words, they say, "Then you will call and the Lord will answer; you will cry for help and He will say: Here am I.)

much needed vacation days...

the hope of accomplishing things around the house...

more wedding plans...

the antics of our pond frogs...

What are the "gifts" in your life recently? Won't you consider writing them down and sharing them?

Sunday

You're blessed when you stay on course,
walking steadily on the road revealed by God.
You're blessed when you follow His directions,
doing your best to find Him.
Psalm 119:1-2 (MSG)

waiting for the locusts...

You may remember our visit with hurricane Ike last September. Or perhaps our epic battle with the white blanket of death in January? Well, apparently our tango with weather anomalies is not over. Yesterday we had a brush with "flooding of biblical proportions." (weather channel's phrasing, not mine.) Two storms brought up to nine inches of rain to our fair city. (6 inches fell in one hour, setting a new record. Yippee!)

The basement of the main library downtown flooded. Unfortunately, it contained the server for all the libraries computers, the computers for the newest branch (set to open Monday), new books, reserves that were shipping out to other libraries and countless other items.

These are the bookmobiles. Obviously they have some issues as well.

An apartment complex close to the book store was struck by lightening during the storm. Fortunately, no one was hurt but these apartments were completely consumed.

This is the race track at Churchill Downs. Fortunately there's quite a few days before the first Saturday in May.

Flooded streets...

Flooded businesses...

However, I guess if you can't beat the rain, you might as well drag out the kayak and make the best of it.
I hope you are staying dry where you are!
(pictures courtesy of the CJ & weather channel)

One Thousand Gifts...

I've pondered this thing called "gratitude" as I've begun my my list of a thousand gifts. I sought the definition of gratitude and had to smile at the footnote that instructed me to "see grace." (Is that not the truth?) When I searched here, I was delighted to find this instruction from our Lord in the Message--"Your cleansed and grateful life, not your words, will bear witness to what I have done." I need no other encouragement. I want my life to be one of gratitude that reflects and honors Him...I want others to see Him through His work in my life.

These were just a few of the things that I've been grateful for this past week:

...for the care of an older sister as she reads to her younger brother late into the night, hoping to bring him some comfort as he wrestles with illness.

...for the delicate shades of color as a new plant blossoms in our little corner of the world.


...for the comfort of knowing that believers are praying as we struggle through a difficult time.

...for a husband who enjoys creating beautiful things and spent days creating a tropical garden in our not-so-tropical backyard.

...for family who comes to our aid when we have no idea how to unclog an air conditioner line or fix a broken part on a car or caulk a bathtub.

...for unusually cool days this July. I've seen so many glorious skies, uncluttered by the sweltering heat and smog that normally smothers us this time of year.

...for Isaiah and the fact that his love and obedience of God outweighed his fear of what man would do to him as a prophet. Each year as I read through this book, I see so many beautiful pictures of the God who pursues us that I cannot help but be grateful. (and hope that I too might be just as obedient.)

Won't you take a moment today and write down the gifts He has blessed you with? It just might change the way you see your life...

Sunday

My soul yearns for You in the night;
in the morning my spirit longs for You.

Isaiah 26:9

LPM Scripture Memory Verse 15