A Life of Gratitude

"Since, then, you have been raised with Christ,  set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.   Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.   For you died,  and your life is now hidden with Christ in God.   When Christ, who is your life,  appears,  then you also will appear with him in glory." Colossians 3: 1-4 I read Colossians 3:1-4 during my quiet time this morning and I was truly touched by these verses as I pondered them. I believe, in these verses, Paul is trying to remind us who we are in Jesus. After meditating on these verses, I thought I would share my simple attempt at paraphrasing: If we are saved, we are raised with Christ. This means that we are new creatures, dead to the old self, alive in Christ. So, since we are new creatures in Christ, we should set our hearts and minds on the things of Christ. On heavenly things. Not dwelling on the things of this world. When we surrendered o...

Yesterday, while listening to KLOVE, I heard the morning show hosts sharing about their "Love Around the World" ministry. Scott Smith, one of the hosts, will be  traveling around the world sharing love to children in desperate need. Listeners can support this ministry by sponsoring a child that Scott will be in contact with. We can also be a part of this ministry by sending a paper doll and a note to those same children. Did you play with paper dolls as a kid? I did! I remember it distinctly. I would probably play with them now, if I had a little girl to play with! When I heard the idea of sending a paper doll with a note to an impoverished child, I couldn't wait to get home and get started. I knew the boys enjoy it as well. Dylan really enjoyed coloring his paper doll! Dylan's paper doll Evan scribbled but it is still sweet. Putting on the stamp.... We colored the paper dolls, wrote a little note, cut out the dolls, and got them rea...

Who can separate us from the love of Christ?  Can affliction  or anguish or persecution  or famine or nakedness or danger or sword?  No, in all these things we are more than victorious  through Him who loved us. For I am persuaded that not even death or life,  angels or rulers, things present or things to come,  hostile powers, height or depth, or any other created thing  will have the power to separate us  from the love of God  that is in Christ Jesus our Lord! Romans 8:35, 37-39 During my quiet time this morning I studied Romans 8:35,37-39. I've read these verses several times before but as I read these verses today, I feel in love with them. This has to be one of the best promises in the Bible! The passage asks, "who can separate us from the love of Christ?" and then in turn, it answers, "NOTHING!" Wow, that is so reassuring! It also says that no matter what we are facing, we are more than victorious ! Victory ...

On Wednesday night, when Bryan put Evan to bed, they couldn't find Evan's favorite pacifier anywhere. So, since Evan won't use any other pacifiers, he went to bed without his "bappy" (as he calls it) for the first time.  I was worried that we may have a long night but he slept all night! The next day, during nap time, Evan asked for "bappy" and I told him it that it had gone bye-bye. He was totally fine with it. He has now slept through 2 naps and 2 bed times without "bappy!" We weren't planning to get rid of the pacifier until he turned 2 in October but hey, if he is ok with it, so am I! Yesterday Evan mastered climbing out of his crib even though it was lowered as low as it would go! The big problem was the way he was doing it. I watched him climb out a few times and he nearly scared me to death! I thought he was going to fall and break his neck. I actually had to catch him by the foot to keep him from getting hurt. I knew at tha...

My family and I spent the last 5 days participating in Vacation Bible School at Green Street. The boys both had a great time in their classes, Bryan helped lead worship and I taught the 4 year old class. It was a busy, fun-filled week!  I truly enjoyed teaching with two other ladies, Brittany and Meaghan. We had fun singing songs, reading stories, facilitating centers, making crafts and laughing...there was lots of laughing! We had a room full of boys and only 1 girl so our room was quite noisy but overall, VBS in the 4 year old class was a success! By the end of the week, our entire class could recite our memory verse, ("God helps me. I will not be afraid." Hebrews 13:6) and tell us all about Paul! The best VBS teaching team ever Center time Flume races.... Making "storms in a bottle" Today I am thankful for VBS at Green Street. My entire family had a terrific time learning more about God! I am also thankful for the opportunity to mini...

"How happy is the man who does not follow   the advice of the wicked or take   the path of sinners or join a group   of mockers! 2  Instead, his delight is in the  Lord ’s instruction, and he meditates on it day and night. 3  He is like a tree planted beside streams of water that bears its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers."  Psalm 1:1-3 Its amazing how God speaks to each of us in different ways. I was really able to see this today at Bible study.  Psalm 1:1-3 was among the the verses we meditated on during the week and today we shared what we felt God was teaching us through the verses. As everyone shared, I felt God tapping me on my shoulder. One person shared that her Pastor recently taught on these verses. She explained that the word "planted" can mean "transplanted." All week I have been reading this as though "planted" meant that those who delight in the Lord's in...

A year ago today I lost my Grandma Davis. Seven months before that my Grandma Doris passed away. I've been thinking a lot about those ladies today. It is kind of sad to know that both of my grandmothers are no longer with us. I've finally entered the time of my life where I would truly appreciate their help and advice with my little family. Actually, these days, I would grab at the chance to hear their stories about life, listen to them pray, or even just hear them laugh. Its too bad that we don't realize how much others have to offer until the opportunity is no longer available.  In the year since Grandma Davis passed I have tried to follow in her foot steps in a couple of ways. I made her famous Moravian cookies at Christmas and I canned her homemade strawberry preserves this spring. I've also thought a lot about being a "Proverbs 31" woman. Last year, right after she passed, I wrote a blog about Grandma Davis called, "Many women have done wonder...