God continues to tell me during my devotions that He is still working on me.  This song expresses well what the end result will be; I am and will be a masterpiece for him.  Recently one of my former students traveled to Paris and was able to view the “Mona Lisa,” a masterpiece from the hands of the artist Da Vinci.  When she posted the picture online, I was amazed at the skill of this master artist.  How much more should I be in awe at the work of God in me?  Lately, He has been speaking to me about humility in my life.  Honestly, I grew up proud of my academic achievements and all that I was able to accomplish.  This was due in no small measure to a mother who expected me to always come home with all A’s on my report card, even if I had no clue how to do the math problems.  With some very astute tutoring, I was able to pass algebra with a C, that later became a B, but I just couldn’t do that math as well as my mom expected me to.  I had to ask for help from others, a humbling experience for someone who was a “scholar.”  (That was according to my classmates.) But it wasn’t true humility because I was still proud of everything else.  I didn’t meet true humility until the night I was saved; I read the Book of John and saw for myself the sacrifice of Jesus and how unworthy I was of His blood being shed for me.  That changed my life for all time.  Yes, God is still working on me; there are many times when I put myself first and think of how much better I could have done things.  But I always come back to the fact that I am a sinnner saved by grace, nothing more and nothing less.

At the right time, God will lift me up.  I don’t have to go around “tooting my own horn” and telling everyone how they should do things my way because it it better.

I love this quotation from C.S. Lewis because it tells me that it is okay to think well of myself.  After all, I am God’s creation, a Child of the KIng.  But my main focus in my life should be on others, not myself.  Have you thought of someone else today?  I am trying hard to do an act of kindness daily, not so that I can brag later about what a good person I am, but so that I can give glory to God for helping me to help others.  Are you learning humility or another characteristic that God wants to perfect in you?  Are you also becoming His “Masterpiece”?  That and all that God has for you is my prayer for you today.  God bless you for reading this post!  

This was an outstanding, make-you-feel-good Christmas story that includes a child who needs a family and acceptance for her affliction.  There is also the man and woman who have a broken relationship and who need to forgive.  Donna VanLiere’s books are a mainstay that start my Christmas season each year, and I highly recommend this clean read to those who want to start their holiday with a tingly feeling that God is alive and well and working in the hearts of people.  I fell in love with the town, its traditions and its people, especially since the author made me feel as if I were right there with them.  

Disclaimer

Disclosure of Material Connection:  I checked a copy of this book out from my public library on the Overdrive App.  I was not required to write a positive review, so the opinions expressed are my own.  I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 “Guides Concerning the Use of Testimonials and Endorsements in Advertising.”

I have this book on my Nook, but I listened to it on my Libby App and thoroughly enjoyed it. I have read most of Terri Blackstock’s books in the past, so I was delighted to find her Moonlighter series available to listen to as I exercise each day. This is the story of a family in crisis, caught in the middle of a killer’s desire for revenge against the family. Cathy, Holly and Juliet are determined to find the real killer so that their brother Jay gets released for the crime of killing his wife. I really enjoyed the story and especially the fact that it was a clean read without the use of foul language and overly descriptive scenes of the murder. Fans of Terri Blackstock will be enthralled with this suspense novel that draws you into the story from the beginning until the satisfying conclusion.

Disclaimer

Disclosure of Material Connection: Although I own this book on my Nook, I listened to the audiobook on my Libby App, so I had checked it out from the local library. I was not required to write a positive review, so the opinions expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 “Guides Concerning the Use of Testimonials and Endorsements in Advertising.”

(The five-star image is courtesy of Clipart.com and was found by doing a Google search.).

I know that you have been in a group of people and someone asks why you believe the way you do. Or they ask where you go to church and why you go there. Or they ask why you seem happy or full of joy after a traumatic event. Or you are just in line at the store and start chatting with someone. You may as well tell them why you don’t mind waiting in line…after all, what you are really waiting for is the Lord to return. Everything else pales in comparison, right? So, here is the Scripture for today.

If somebody asks you to explain your faith, are you ready to explain it. Do you know the Scriptures well enough to give a well-founded and thorough explanation for your faith in the Lord? I am working on this and I hope that you are, too. Many people in the world are lost and don’t know it. You have the map to eternity and need to be able to share it with others.

Here is the Scripture that I found in my Bible study earlier this week that has the answer that others are seeking. God’s mercy has saved us; Jesus was the firstborn, raised from the dead, and because of His resurrection, we can expect one day to inherit an eternal life in Heaven that no one on earth can take away. I think these verses say it all. I’m sure that there are other verses that you all use to share your faith. I haven’t used this one yet, but it will be the one that I use the next time I have an occasion to share my faith. I want people to know that Jesus is the reason I live, the reason I have to hope for the future. I want others to know that He is my everything. I hope that you awaken each morning with praise on your lips for the Father who has provided a way of salvation for you. Praise His Holy and Marvelous Name!

https://youtu.be/_eQd3K2Fxp4

I subscribe to daily devotional from Our Daily Bread and Devotionals Daily. These are the images that I received today, and I just want to share them with you in the hope that they will bless you as they have blessed me. Happy Thanksgiving! Be thankful every day!

#Challenge

Here are the rules:

Come up with as many quips, idioms and weird sayings as you can think of. Comb or memory (or someone else’s) or the internet for old or new; or, make up your own!

Weave them into any kind of story–fiction, non-fiction, humorous, serious, thoughtful or fluff–to post on your blog.

Tag whoever you want to. Notify your tag.

Thank you mwsrwritings.com for nominating me. I will do my best to entertain you. It’s a fun idea and tag, but I’m not sure that I can do it very well.

Thanksgiving Meal

Well, it’s here! Thanksgiving Day! It’s time for a big parade (on the TV, of course) and for the men in the family to relax and watch some football. And what will I be doing? I will be preparing for the big meal, in the kitchen, of course! To everything there is a season and this is the season to be in the kitchen cooking, for a while. So, first thing to do is make a pie. I will sort through the apples to make sure there is not a rotten apple in the bunch. Who wants to make a pie with rotten apples? Then, peel, cut, dice, season, put in the pie crust and bake. I want to make a pecan pie, too, but those nuts are a tough nut to crack with my old arthritic hands. So, apple and pumpkin pies it is!

Next, it is time to make the turkey. I’m so glad that it’s a relatively new one and not a tough old bird that I have to wash and season. Oh, yeah! And I have to remember to take out the innards. I forgot that one year and there was quite a smell in the kitchen! I have to add salt of the earth to the bird that everyone else will eat. I can’t have salt on my food, so I use other seasonings. I want everyone’s turkey to be finger lickin’ good.

Finally, I know I have to make a cake because we plan on celebrating my husband’s birthday while our son and his family are here. With pies, stuffing, potatoes, sweet potatoes, green bean casserole, gravy, rolls, cranberry sauce, and turkey, it’ s hard to believe that I still have to put icing on the cake. But our granddaughter Iris loves to lick off the icing, so I might as well get that done for her benefit.

Once all of the cooking is done, the family will arrive, the table will be set (with paper plates of course), and we will all sit down to eat. All of the food is just a drop in the bucket for all of the things that we have to be thankful for this year. Don’t forget to say thanks for all of God’s blessings! “God bless us, every one!” And God bless my readers on this special day set aside to enjoy family time and to thank God!

I nominate:

Tittle Thoughts

Train Today to Reap Tomorrow

Jess Kidding

Please do not feel obligated to participate, but if you have time and think it would be fun, I hope you do.

Happy Thanksgiving to All!

Today in my devotional from the YouVersion of the Bible, this quotation was shared from Watchman Nee:

“Our prayers lay the track down [on] which God’s power can come. Like a mighty locomotive, his power is irresistible, but it cannot reach us without rails.”

Image from unsplash.com

Image from merriamwebsterccom:

Think about these images the next time you are praying! I was blessed by this quotation and hope that you will be, too.

Christmas To Do List…

Christmas To Do List…

— Read on sunshinysasite.wordpress.com/2018/11/21/christmas-to-do-list/