Thanksgiving - Day 2

Today I am thankful for the privilege of living in a country where I am free to vote my convictions.

It was raining as I pulled into the parking lot of the Community Center this morning. I had valid reasons for staying in the car. I had to be at work...and did I mention it was raining?

As I sat there trying to talk myself into waiting until later today (or quite possibly not voting at all...after all, it's only ONE vote, right?), out of the corner of my eye I saw a young couple walking across the parking lot, sharing an umbrella and pushing a baby stroller. Suddenly I felt a little embarrassed about my hesitation and crawled out of the car.

Voting is not convenient. There are often long lines and rain. But I smiled as I left the building this morning, proud of myself for making the effort, proud of the young couple for inspiring me, and proud to be an American, where my one vote does indeed count.

Thanksgiving All Month - Day 1

I am taking a cue from a few of my friends who are posting 30 days of Thanksgiving this month. Of course there are multitudes of things that I have to be thankful for, so that part should not be hard. The challenge will be to actually log-in and post on my blog every day for 30 days. Once upon a time that was not a challenge at all, but alas, that was before Facebook stole my affection. So here is Day One:

I am oh so thankful for the children in my life. My precious daughter and four grandsons fill my heart with joy. Last Saturday I had a chance to babysit three of the four grands and we all had such a good time together. I will post some photos so you can share in the joy with us.

New Game

BK and I have discovered Skip-Bo Jr. and what fun we have had playing almost every night.

Our friend Anne bought the game for BK and she has become quite the dedicated player. This is a great card game for her age. Not only does it reinforce number sequence skills, but it teaches strategy as well.

My two oldest grandsons came over last night and we taught them how to play. Before the first game was over, we were all laughing and having a great time.

I recommend this game as one to add to your family's game box. If you don't have a family game box, I recommend that you start one of those too. The memories that are made sitting around a table having fun together will last with our children a lifetime.

New Beginnings

When I received a comment from a sweet friend this morning on my last post, I realized that it has been several months since I have written and my blog seemed to be in a perpetual state of mourning. An update is definitely in order.

Summer was a time of healing and self-discovery. Whenever there is a major change in our lives, I think it forces us to redefine who we are. I have come through all of this with a new appreciation of my determination not only to survive, but to thrive. However, I could not have made it to where I am in my journey without the Lord's grace and goodness as He watches over me. Good friends, lots of prayers mixed with hugs and laughs...this is the recipe for healing in community.

My circumstances are much better now. I was able to sell my house and I am working five days a week at a non-profit and a church. I am renting part of a house from a precious friend, who has become more like family to BK and me. I am at a new church that is closer to where I live and the Word, worship and fellowship there are changing my heart.

Change is never easy, but I am settling into my "new normal" quite well. I am content, at peace and very thankful.

The Death of a Marriage

I have heard it said that divorce is like a death. I believe that is true.

When a man and woman commit their lives to each other, a bonding is suppose to take place. In Mark 10:8, the Bible says "The two shall become one flesh; so then they are no longer two, but one flesh."

When something happens to rip and tear them apart, it does feel like a death. The grieving is real. I am speaking from experience.

My divorce will be final this week. I neither wanted, nor expected my marriage to end, so I am having to face the reality of the situation. Fortunately, I have friends and family who are helping by offering their love and support. My faith offers hope when there doesn't seem to be any.

I understand that it will take time to process all that has transpired in the last few months. I am trying very hard not to let bitterness make a home in my heart, because in the end, only I will be hurt by its powerful effects.

But grieve I must...and grieve I will...for the death of the life I will never fulfill.

Looking For The Light

It's dark in my world right now, but I am so glad that I know The Light.

Please pray.

I Am One With Him in Spirit

But he who unites himself with the Lord is one with him in spirit. (1 Corinthians 6:17 NIV)

I am united with the Lord, and I am one with Him in spirit.

I have been thinking a lot about freedom lately. It seems that there are so many people living in bondage - even in the Christian community. Freedom often seems like an elusive dream.

According to scripture, when we unite ourselves with the Lord, then we are one with Him in spirit. That is huge. Think about that for a minute. We are ONE WITH HIM.

I don't claim to understand everything that encompasses, but I know that even if I can't wrap my head around it completely, that doesn't change that fact that it is true.

I remembered another verse that goes hand-in-hand with this one.

Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. (2 Corinthians 3:17 NIV)

If we are one with Him in Spirit and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom, then our freedom is fully secured through Him.

Right?

Then I can't help but wonder why so many of us are still in bondage. Is it just unbelief? Or could it be that the very thing that holds us in bondage is the thing that we depend on to help us make it through the day and we cannot imagine living life without it?

I am united with the Lord, and I am one with Him in spirit.

Spirit of the Living God
Break the chains that have me bound,
My heart's desire is to worship You
No other comfort can be found.

Spirit of the Living God
I need courage to depend on You alone,
These idols I've built in my heart
Have displaced You from the throne.

Spirit of the Living God
Who lives inside of me,
I want You to be my all-in-all
And make my spirit free.

I Have Been Justified

Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ (Romans 5:1 NIV)

I have been justified.

It is fitting that this particular post is being written today since tomorrow is Good Friday. My justification was purchased by Jesus when He died on the cross at Calvary. He willingly paid the price for my sin because I could not.

But before Good Friday, there was a Thursday night of betrayal and agony. He met with his disciples and revealed that one of them would betray Him. Then He took his closest friends to Gethsemane, where He agonized in prayer over what His Father was asking of Him.

"Abba, Father," he said, "everything is possible for you. Take this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will." (Mark 14:36 NIV)

He knew what faced Him. He knew the physical pain He would have to endure. He knew the crushing rejection He would face when His Father turned from the sin He would carry. He knew the fear and despair that His friends and family would endure.

He knew...and He obeyed.

I am so thankful for His obedience.

I am so thankful that I have been justified.

I Am a Friend of Jesus Christ

I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master's business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. John 15:15 NIV

As a disciple, I am a friend of Jesus Christ.

Today I am pondering what it means to be a friend.

Friends want to be known and accepted for who they really are.

Friends want to spend time together.

Friends are there for each others when times get hard and to share a laugh when times are good.

Friends are loyal to each other.

Jesus is my friend and I am His...or am I?

I'm afraid that I am often found guilty of being unfaithful to that friendship, but He is always faithful. What an awesome privilege to call him friend.

I Am God's Child

But as many as received him, to them gave he the right to become children of God, [even] to them that believe on his name. John 1:12 ASV

I am God's child.

As I begin the journey to rediscover my identity in Christ, I can't help but think how easy it is to be a little flippant when we utter those words - I am God's child.

I mean, perhaps it should at least give us pause to think about how wonderous it is to be a child of the Creator of the universe, the Alpha and Omega, the Beginning and the End.

He is my Father and I am His child. He loves me with an everlasting and unconditional love that will endure until the end of time.

I have access to Him 24/7. Not only can I go to Him with the desires of my heart, He wants me to depend on Him for everything...just as my daughter depends on me to take care of her.

The storms are raging in my life right now. Those close to me know that the future looks uncertain. I do not have all the answers. In fact, I'm not sure that I know all the questions.

But I am God's child and I know that He will take care of me.

For today, that is enough.

Who I Am In Christ

Years ago, Mike and I discovered Neil Anderson's book Victory Over the Darkness. This is such a powerful book that discusses how Christians can find freedom from bondage through knowing their identity in Christ.

Bondage is such an insidious thing. It rarely attacks all at once, but rather beckons...entices...little by little, until a person has relinquished control and their freedom is stolen.

The world has other names for the condition, such as addiction, or even disease, but it is bondage. There are many things that people use to help them handle the stresses of life and to attempt to escape; cigarettes, drugs, alcohol, food, sex, even Internet "relationships."

The first step to find freedom is to realized (or remember) who we really are, because of who God is. Anderson compiled a list of Bible verses that affirm who we are in Christ. It is a great resource to read out loud daily in the process to renew our minds.

In the next few days and weeks, I will be featuring each of these verses. If you can't wait and want to see the whole list in it's entirety, click here.

If you would like to join me in the journey to rediscover who we really are and take back any area of our lives that the enemy has stolen, I hope that you will take a few minutes to leave some comments so that we can encourage each other.

Lord, You're Holy

I love this song. It's one of my all-time favorites.

What makes this video even more special is that the woman who is signing the song has Down's Syndrome. Watching her sign and praise the Lord had me in tears.

What's for Dinner?

This is a new recipe that I tried tonight. It came out pretty good.

Baked Chicken & Potatoes

2 - 3 lb. boneless chicken
3 large russet potatoes, cut in large chunks
1 can petite diced tomatoes, drained
2 tbsp. parsley
1 tsp. basil
2 tsp. garlic powder
Salt and pepper to taste
1/4 cup Parmesan cheese
3 tbsp. vegetable oil

Preheat oven to 375. Place chicken and potatoes in pan. Sprinkle tomatoes, parsley, basil, garlic powder, salt and pepper over the chicken and potatoes. Lastly, sprinkle with the oil and grated cheese. Bake for 1–1 ½ hours or until chicken is done.

My CVS Deals

I just LOVE a bargain! Today's deals came from CVS. Here is what I got:

4 boxes Kellogg cereal - sale price 4/$10 minus two $1 off 2 boxes coupons = $8, plus I got back $5 Extra Care Bucks (final price $3.00)

2 bottles Pantene shampoo - sale price 2/$6.97 minus $3.00/2 coupon = $3.97, plus I got back $2 Extra Care Bucks (final price $1.97)

This sale ends Saturday and the coupons I used came from the Sunday paper.

Have you found any good sales lately?

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