For Everyday Blessings ~ Work Week

Okay, enough is enough. I am taking some time to get some work done.
I leave you this prayer until I return.

For Everyday Blessings

Dear God,
Open my eyes to the beauty of this day.
The yellow of an egg yolk in a blue bowl.
The scent of bacon frying in the pan.
The soft caress of the morning breeze.
The sound of children at play.
Awaken my senses.
Let me see, hear, and feel the beauty around me.
And be aware of the presence of the Great Artist in my everyday world.

Thank you LORD for everyday blessings.


Man goes out to his work
And to his labor until the evening.

Psalm 104:23

Amazing Grace

I just love to worship and glorify my Lord in song. I know it's not the best but here I am singing one of my favorites, Amazing Grace.



Praise the Lord! For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves it is the gift of God. Ephesians 2:8

Prayer Request

To all of my wonderful followers,

A dear friend of mine from my Sunday school class died this past Sunday and the funeral is today. Please keep her family and friends in your prayers on this difficult day. Thank you.

With all of His Love,

Brian

Do Not Worry

Look at the birds of the air;
they do not sow or reap or store away in barns,
and yet your heavenly Father feeds them.
Are you not much more valuable than they?

Matthew 6:26

Word Filled Wednesday is hosted this week by Susan at Forever His. Visit her blog for more visual inspiration!!

In Uncertain Times, God Teaches & Leads

God is always with you through uncertain times
and He wants you to learn and grow
from these experiences to draw you closer to HIm.

Leave inexperience behind, and you will live;
pursue the way of understanding.
Proverbs 9:6 Holman CSB

But grow in the grace and knowledge
of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
To Him be the glory both now
and to the day of eternity. Amen.
2 Peter 3:18 Holman CSB

Daily Affirmation

How Can a Single Affirmation Provide Power?

I saw this video the other day and began thinking about how positive affirmation can be a powerful tool in our lives. This little girl is so cute and her affirmations are full of love.

This got me to thinking that sometimes we try to make things so complicated especially when we begin to use pages of scripture to make these affirmations in our lives. I am not saying that we should not study the Bible but I began thinking how this affirmation does not have to be so overwhelming and complicated. This is especially true if your affirmation is based on the Word of God. There is amazing power to discover from simply meditating on a single Bible verse.

Meditating on the Word does NOT have to be a struggle!

Start by choosing a verse that seems to jump out at you, or that you connect with. You may not even understand why you are feeling attracted to that particular verse. Just go with it and start the process of planting it in your heart. The Psalms is a great place to find affirmations Bible verses.

Write the verse down and personalize it as your own affirmation. Keep it with you and read it to yourself as often as you think of it. Meditate on it and confess it as much as possible. Record yourself reading it and listen to it over and over.

Even if you don’t think it will have an effect just do it anyway. Why? Because we are told that God’s Word will not return void. You can have confidence that when you speak it, it will be accomplished and prosper. (Isaiah 55:11)

I challenge you to keep it simple. Grab hold of a verse from the Word of God. Make it your own and discover the life changing power you can have from a single affirmation.

May you continue to experience growing prosperity and love in your life!

~ Sunday Song of Celebration ~

Casting Crowns ~ Praise You In The Storm



If you would like to join this Sunday Song of Celebration please post your music video or audio track on your blog in order to praise, honor and worship our Lord, Jesus Christ. Be sure to grab the button in the sidebar. Then add your link in the comments below so I and others can visit and celebrate our Lord through song!


Sing to the LORD, all the earth;
Proclaim good tidings of His salvation from day to day.
1 Chronicles 16:23

Storms

I did not know His love before, the way I know it now.
I could not see my need for Him, my pride would not allow.
I had it all, without a care, the "Self-sufficient" lie.
My path was smooth, my sea was still, not a cloud was in my sky.

I thought I knew His love for me, I thought I'd seen His grace,
I thought I did not need to grow, I thought I'd found my place.
But then the way grew rough and dark, the storm clouds quickly rolled;
The waves began to rock my ship, I found I had no hold.

The ship that I had built myself was made of foolish pride.
It fell apart and left me bare, with nowhere else to hide.
I had no strength or faith to face the trials that lay ahead,
And so I simply spoke His name and bowed my weary head.

His loving arms enveloped me, and then He helped me stand.
He said, "You still must face this storm, but I will hold your hand."
So through the dark and lonely night He guided me through pain.
I could not see the light of day or when I'd smile again.

Yet through the pain and endless tears, my faith began to grow.
I could not see it at the time, but my light began to glow.
I saw God's love in brand new light, His grace and mercy, too.
For only when all self was gone could Jesus' love shine through.

It was not easy in the storm, I sometimes wondered why.
At times I thought, "I can't go on."I'd hurt, and doubt, and cry.
But Jesus never left my side He guided me each day.
Through pain and strife, through fire and flood, He helped me all the way.

And now I see as ne'er before how great His love can be.
How in my weakness He is strong, how Jesus cares for me!
He worked it all out for my good, although the way was rough.
He only sent what I could bear, and then He said, "Enough!"

He raised His hand and said, "Be still!" He made the storm clouds cease.
He opened up the gates of joy and flooded me with peace.
I saw His face now clearer still, I felt His presence strong,
I found anew His faithfulness, He never did me wrong.

And now I know more storms will come, but only for my good,
For pain and tears have helped me grow as nothing ever could.
I still have so much more to learn as Jesus works in me;
If in the storm I'll love Him more, that's where I want to be!

Author Unknown


Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of
many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith
develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work
so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.
James 1:2-4

Then they cry unto the LORD in their trouble, and he bringeth
them out of their distresses. He maketh the storm a calm, so
that the waves thereof are still. Then are they glad because
they be quiet; so he bringeth them unto their desired haven.
Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for
his wonderful works to the children of men!
Psalms 107:28-31

Fun Friday Meme

Today I’m participating in Fun Friday Meme suggested over on Faith Writers by Lynda. Basically, I’m supposed to answer a few questions about my own writing. If you would like to participate you can find the details here.

1. What’s the last thing you wrote? Besides the comments I have posted on other peoples blogs and my thoughts of some of the articles and videos I have posted, I wrote a poem for Mother's day on Oldman's Poetry Corner for my mother and I wrote the rough draft for my monthly column.

Was it any good? My mother really enjoyed it and I have had positive comments from other people so I would have to say yes.

What’s the first thing you ever wrote that you still have? I have a story I wrote in grammar school about a rooster.

Write poetry? Yes, I love to write poetry!

Do you type or write by hand? Like Lynda, I almost always type though I do write ideas down by hand as I have them especially when it comes to my poetry. For poetry, I will take the lines I have written by hand and then go to the computer and finish the poem.

Do you save everything you write? Yes, I save almost everything I write.

Does music help you write? Not really, I usually work in quiet.

Do you even show people your work? Yes, all of the time. I do have a couple of people I will share my work with before I share it with the world on occasion but it really depends on what I am writing. My poetry I usually share with a friend of mine who is a poet to get her advice before I share it with the world.

Do you want to write for a living? I want to!

Have you ever written something for a magazine or newspaper? Yes, I write a monthly column on health and fitness for a local newspaper.

The last thing you’ve had published for pay? I've never really been paid for writing except for a very small amount for the health blog I wrote for Today.com before they were bought out by MSNBC and the Today Show.

Fiction Writers…

Where do you get ideas for your characters? From people I have known but mostly from my imagination. A single character may have attributes of different people.

Are you a Pantser or a Plotter? I'm like Lynda again here I am totally a Pantser. I get a basic idea and run with it and see where it goes as I am writing.

Have you ever written sci-fi, fantasy, or horror? Yes, when I was younger but nothing recently.

Ever written romance or teen angsty drama? No, not really. There may be some romance in my story but I would not call it a romance story.

Genre of choice? Mystery, epic adventure, and drama.

Do you favor happy endings, sad endings, or cliff-hangers? I like happy endings though with twists and turns especially at the end.

Quote something you’ve written. The first thing to pop into your mind.

Buzzing, Screaming, Ringing Loud
Why disturb my dreaming cloud
Don't you know I want more sleep
Just five more minutes I won't fall deep

This is taken from The Nagging Alarm Clock, a fun poem I wrote last year.

OK IT'S YOUR TURN! I’m tagging all of you to copy and paste this FUN FRIDAY MEME onto your blog. Don’t forget to come back and let me know. I’ve love to check it out.

Fliers, Runners & Walkers

Faith doesn't exempt us from life's seasons; it just enables us to go through them victoriously.

Isaiah 41:9b-10 "I said, 'You are my servant'; I have chosen you and have not rejected you. So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with My righteous right hand."

Isaiah 40:31 "but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. they will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint."

If you're a flier -- If you're being blessed by God and experiencing success beyond your natural abilities, enjoy it. But always remember, your ability to fly comes from God -- not you. Forget that, and down you will go!

If you're a runner -- Thank God you're still in the race. Don't compare yourself with high fliers or you'll get discouraged, and don't compare yourself with walkers or you'll become proud. Just keep running and your time will come.

If you're a walker -- Keep putting one foot in front of the other. some days pain, discouragement and fatigue make it impossible to fly high or run; all you can do is walk without fainting, and even that's hard. No problem; give yourself permission to be where you are. Walking counts with God. When it's the best you can do -- it's enough!

For more inspirational videos visit Oldmanblurts YouTube.