Beautiful Sunday Morning

It is so beautiful this morning! Clear blue skys, cool spring temps, and the promise of a warm afternoon. I took my cup of coffee out to the back deck and just soaked in God's creation! What a wonderful way to start the day...

Our Tobiosho Japanese Maple, which was planted last fall, has survived the winter and is in full leaf. You can see the Fall color HERE.

My daughter's favorite Gerbera has surprised us with two new blooms! ( I thought it was a gonner.)

Even the pansies from last year's dish garden have miraculously appeared from the neglect of winter and were greeting me with faces upturned to catch a ray or two!

God's word tells us in Psalm 19: 1-4a, that God's creation is a testimony to all people everywhere!

1 The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands.
2 Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they display knowledge.
3 There is no speech or language where their voice is not heard.
4 Their voice goes out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world.

I hope you can get outside & enjoy God's world today!

Be Blessed, Chris

Where's your focus girl?

God gave me one of those "aha" moments in my quiet time this morning. I am using a daily devotional by Sarah Young, "Jesus Calling". It has been a real blessing. The devotionals are short, but always just what I need to hear.

This morning, it was all about where we place our focus. I loved the author's analogy!

Just as a spinning ballerina must continue to return her gaze to a certain point to maintain her balance, I must keep returning my focus to Jesus during my day to maintain my balance! Gaze too long at my worries or circumstances, and I become dizzy & confused.

Thank you Lord for being the unchanging One!

~Hebrews 12:2

"The King & I"

The “King & I” retreat was wonderful. 57 women, young & old, met for a time of teaching, praising & revival. We laughed, cried, hugged, prayed, sang and learned what it truly means to be a daughter of the King!

Our speaker, CJ Rapp is a beautiful woman, both in countenance & grace. The words she brought to us were convicting, comforting, based in scripture, and for me, life-changing. I could have spent a week listening to what God had laid on her heart for us! I learned that she had been in regular contact with our Women’s Ministry Director and that she had asked about each woman who was attending and had prayed for us! Is it any wonder that God uses her in such a mighty way?

I am still reflecting and praying about what I received from the Lord this weekend. But one thing I wanted to share was so moving, such clear illustration of our worth in the eyes of God.

As CJ was teaching on man’s creation, in God’s likeness from the dust of the earth (Genesis 1:27 and 2:7) she knelt on the floor before us and created one of the most powerful images I have ever seen.

To paraphrase CJ:
“Picture God kneeling to the ground, scooping a handful of dust and lovingly forming a ball that was to become Adam’s head. Then he carefully sculpted eyebrows & eyes, a nose, a mouth then ears. As a parent adores gazing their child, God continues to form Adam’s body, his arms & legs. When He has finished His perfect design, He takes Adam’s face in His Hands and breathes the breath of life into his nostrils. As Adam opens his eyes, the first thing he sees is the face of pure love, his God & Creator!”

This struck me like a lightning bolt! My heart was so filled with joy, awe & thanksgiving!

Thank you Father for using CJ to give me a small glimpse of your boundless love!

And CJ, thank you for allowing God to use your words to touch me so deeply!

Lord, how greatly you filled my heart and increased my understanding of your love for me, this weekend! Thank you for giving me a new sense of self-worth, for loving me just as I am. Help me to believe that I am beautiful in your eyes. I promise to guard my heart so that when negative self-talk or hurt feelings try to shake that belief, I will remember that You knew and loved me before I was formed in my mother’s womb. Thank you for the greatest gift of all, my salvation! How glorious, that one day, I will look into that same face of pure love! In Jesus’ precious name, AMEN!

Women's Spring Retreat

I am so busy & very excited!

I have been preparing for our Women's Spring Retreat for several weeks. Now it is crunch time! The retreat starts Friday evening. This, alongside my full-time job and my Tupperware Business, and I am meeting myself coming & going!

Our theme this year is "The King & I". Our speaker, CJ Rapp will be speaking about what it truly means to be a daughter of the King of Kings. I have been praying that God will transform my heart, and that the women of our church will be drawn closer to Him and to each other.

I have been responsible to prepare the retreat booklets and name tags. I am pleased with them. The booklet is 28 pages and contains everything from the scheule information to the devotional on Psalm 139. The name tags are so cute and have a little bling too! (We ARE Princesses, after all! *Ü* )

I thought you might like to see a photo of the booklet cover and one of the name tags.

I would be so grateful if you would take a minute to pray for our retreat and for me. May God do a mighty work this weekend!

Thankfully, Chris

Sanctified Sunday

"Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in you. Show me the way I should go, for to you I lift up my soul."
(Psalms 143:8 NIV)

I wish you a blessed Sunday in your homes and churches! Chris

Photo for Fun!

My daughter Melissa and I had our photo taken at Church yesterday. I thought you all might like to put a faces with the names...

I am a very lucky mom! Melissa is a wonderful young woman who loves her Lord and serves as a Sunday school teacher for our 2nd -3rd graders.

She quit a very good job with the state to move home and finish her BA so that she can be a teacher. She graduated Cum Laude last May. Now, she is about 4 weeks from completing her credential work. Not the best of times for a brand new teacher, but she is confident God will lead her where she is meant to go!

She is such a blessing to me!

Thankfully, Chris

Easter Blessings!

He is not here; he has risen, just as he said.

Matthew 28:6 NIV

Hallelujah! Jesus, my Savior lives!

Lord, I thank you for my own salvation & I pray that many will come to know your saving grace in my own church and in churches around the world this Sunday! Holy Spirit, urge them to come. Preachers, "tell the old, old story of Jesus & His Love"! In Jesus' precious name, Amen!

Dear friends, I wish you and your families the blessings of Easter, Chris