Silver and Gold Friends

"Make new friends,
but keep the old.
One is silver,
the other is gold..."

Today, I'm thankful for the gifts of my Forever Friends, and for the Spirit that binds us!

These are the gifts I received yesterday:

416.  A Facebook message from a "golden" friend introducing me to another song with the same title as the one I posted. 

417.  A visit with a "golden friend", my "Bible study mentor. We can pick up just where we left off, a year and a half ago, we speak the same language, I love her heart. I am moved by her passion. I left with a knitted hearts dishcloth and a scrumptuous recipe I can't wait to try - Cupcake Bites - simply sinful! They are like chocolate truffles...Maybe I'll share the reciple. ;-)

418.  Walked four miles while talking with a silver friend. It was a beautiful fall day to enjoy together.

419  Spent the evening with a circle of silver friends. These are precious women I meet with every week to share what God is teaching each of us, to hold each other accountable to live according to His Word, to encourage each other to "hang in there", and keep the focus on the One who is able to do abundantly more than we could ever ask or imagine!

 

Why Go to Church?

"And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near." (Hebrews 10:24-25 ESV)

These are a few of the blessings I received because I was in "church" yesterday-not in any particular order: 

410. Getting to hear a young man share his gift of music as he shared a piano solo during corporate worship. It is a huge encouragement to see families involved in worship, serving the Lord and His people together; their love for the Lord radiates and invigorates! 

411. Talking to a young gal who would like to learn to knit. (She is desperate, if she's asking me, but I would LOVE to spend time teaching her the little that I know.)  :)

412. Encouraging others and being encouraged to "fight the good fight, finish the race, keep the faith". 

413. Catching up with friends who have been traveling or recovering.

414. Getting lots of hugs. (We need 4 hugs a day for survival, 8 hugs a day for maintenance, and 12 hugs a day for growth. ~ Virginia Satir)

415. The blessing of being led in worship through the gift of song:

Amen!

Led with Stong Hands

409. This week I was blessed to listen to my husband's end of a difficult telephone conversation.  I came away praising God for the work He has done in my husband because I observed a godly (not perfect) man who has been transformed by the grace of God, speaking with great patience and restraint, love, and wisdom - Biblical wisdom.

There is nothing more appealing to me, a woman who loves the Lord, than to see my husband walking with Him, growing in Him, and leading under His authority.

"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come." (2 Corinthians 5:17 ESV)

Lord,
I am in awe and forever grateful for your grace and mercy to us, who are lost and without hope in this world. Thank you for the change you've made in my life and in those most precious and dear to me.  Lead me in your way, everlasting!  Amen!

Sometimes It's the SimpleThings

These seemingly simple things are treasured gifts in the busyness of this life I now live.

399. Getting a full 8 hours of sound sleep - two nights in a row!
400. Being able to finally leave work on time.
401. The excitement of receiving vacation details and confirmation packets in the mail.
402. Relaxing, face to face (well, foot to foot) and talking with my hubby under the cozy cover of one of our wedding afghans, without any other distractions-no t.v., radio, projects...
403. An invitation to join another family's Thanksgiving dinner and celebration.
404. Washing floors and doing household chores while listening to an exciting Michigan Football game on the radio. Brought back lots of memories of my high school Saturdays on "the farm" in Fenton.
405. Working in the kitchen side by side with my mom, baking an apple pie from scratch as we caught up on life.
406. Watching my dad and hubby having some side-by-side time, sighting in firearms off the deck, and the look of pride on my dad's face as his first shot was reported a bullseye!
407. Enjoying leftovers with company - more like enjoying company while eating leftovers. No need to get fancy after a busy day of chores.
408. Corporate worship and the confirmation of the Lord's Word to me all week through song:



My Scripture memory for this week:
"Jesus said to her, 'Everyone who drinks of this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again. The water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.'"(John 4:13-14 ESV)

Lord, I know you are more than enough - help me live like you are more than enough!

The Gift of Freedom

Blessings I'm counting today...

391.  Having the freedom to work out of my home.
392.  Getting a paid "Holiday" from work just to vote!
393.  Living in a country where I have the freedom, the right, the responsibility, and indeed the privilege to vote - to have my opinion count in the selection of the leadership of the greatest country in the world!
394.  Getting a tip from a friend about how to get coupons for Restaurant Deals and Discounts!
395.  Enjoying a leisurely lunch with a friend.
396.  An amazing dessert that isn't even chocolate! (And enough to feed four easily! A take home treasure.)
397.  A brisk walk in the brisk fall afternoon with a dear friend and her dog. I miss my Lucky. :-(
398.  Three calls from my daughter friend just to catch up on life. :) <3

I had to go to my archives to find this song, but it's been on my mind all day:

"Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God." (Romans 13:1 ESV) 

Masks - What Are We Afraid Of?

The lesson for today's family worship was about wearing masks - the premise is that we all do it. We heard about three types of masks - reasons we wear masks:

     1) To try to emulate others to be what WE WANT to be, 

     2) To "fit in" to our society and what other people want us to be,

     3) To look more spiritual than we are...

The challenge was to think of which mask I am wearing, and get rid of it this week; be who GOD wants me to be - who He created me to be, because God doesn't make junk! He designed me perfectly and has a plan for my life. That plan and purpose doesn't necessarily come without pain and discomfort as he sculpts me perfectly for the work He has prepared just for me!

God’s Chisel « Videos « The Skit Guys

Gifts received today - 

386. Family Worship Service at Life Fellowship Chapel.

387  God's chisel at work in me - He loves me and cares enough for me to change me.

388. Removing masks today at home...life is just plain hard, right now, but it's ok. We have each other and Jesus walks with us.

389. Ladies' LIFE Monday night - new study, Living Free by Beth Moore. No coincidence that what we get in worship complements what we study in LIFE Group.

390. A relaxing afternoon at home.

"Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect." Romans 12:2

God's Plan NOT My Plan

Well, life is quite different these days, since I started back to work full time, as a permanent employee for the NEW General Motors. This wasn't in my plan - it wasn't in my wildest dreams - to be back to work as a Materials Engineer for a large company after 20 years as a stay-at-home mom. No, it wasn't my plan, it was God's plan, and I am beginning to see some of the work He has prepared for me;
     it's scary,
          it's exciting,
               it's exhausting,
                    it's humbling,
                         it's challenging,
                              it's overwhelming
                                   it's in HIS hands!

"Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the Lord that will stand." Proverbs 19:21

I can't begin to relate all the blessings I've experienced these past few months, but here are a few...

386. All expense paid travel to places I've never been.
387. Experiencing restaurants I would never step in on my own - the price tag would keep me at a distance.
388. A dinner cruise around Manhattan.
389. The awe of seeing the Statue of Liberty for the first time...and then again all lit up at night.
390. The beauty of the New York Skyline lit up at night, understanding how it got it's nickname, "the city that never sleeps" (and being Glad that I don't live there!).
391. Meeting fun people from all over the world - everyone say, "We're GLOBAL!"
392. Feeling those "professional" skills starting to come back.
393. Confidence building.
394. Helpful suppliers.
395. Coming home to dinner on the table. (Role reversal!)
396.  Awed anew by blazing fall colors against a clear blue sky.
397. Coming home from a long week away on business to find a cozy fire, dinner cooking, and open arms waiting for me!
398. Having an opportunity to get to know my co-worker who comes from a very different culture and has very different beliefs than me.
399.  "Knowing that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose." Romans 8:28