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His Splendor & His Beauty


“The worth and excellency of a soul is to be measured by the object of its love.” a Henry Scougal quote (from The Life of God in the Soul of Man ), quoted by John Piper in The Pleasures of God.

I had my post written last night and wanted to publish it this morning. When I got up this morning, the post from last night sounded lame – so I deleted its content and started from scratch…

I am so thankful that Laurel gave us a couple of hints with this quote. I really liked what she said on Sunday: “2. Scougal suggests that your worth and character are ultimately determined by what you delight in.”

What do I truly delight in? I delight in beauty. I am not talking about fleeting beauty – I am talking about His beauty, His splendor around us.

Some of you who visit this Blog for a while know that I enjoy photography – actually I love photography. My favorite subject: nature. I just marvel at the things around me. Mountains, sunsets, oceans (which are a little further away 😀 ) and the occasional cactus – yes, there is even beauty in a cactus.

Have you ever stood at the rim of the Grand Canyon? Breathtaking. Have you ever seen the sun kiss the mountain when it sets? Amazing. Have you ever seen a cactus in bloom? Wondrous. Have you ever watched the ocean hit the sand? Soothing. Ever ‘hunted’ a butterfly with the camera? Beautiful…

Sometimes we are just too busy to recognize His splendor around us. Yes, I truly delight in the works of His hands – capture them with my camera.

“Great are the works of the Lord, studied by all who delight in them.” ~ Psalm 111: 2 (ESV)

The most beautiful thing I delight in though is His work at the cross. Because of His love for us, He spread out His arms to make a way to spend eternity with Him…

“The works of his hands are faithful and just; all his precepts are trustworthy; they are established forever and ever, to be performed with faithfulness and uprightness. He sent redemption to his people; he has commanded his covenant forever. Holy and awesome is his name!”
~ Psalm 111:7-9 (ESV)

Lord of Heaven and Earth. I praise Your holy name for the splendor You have created for us to enjoy. I love watching Your hands work and showing off Your splendor. Lord, accept my gratitude for the work of Your hands at the cross. Thank you for spreading Your arms wide open to welcome me home. In the precious name of my Lord and Savior, in Jesus’ name I pray ~ Amen.

Please visit my friend Laurel to read her take and the thoughts of other women on this week’s IOW quote.

Blessings on your day and as always…

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Blessed be Your Name


“Blessed Be Your name
When I’m found in the desert place
Though I walk through the wilderness
Blessed Be Your name…”
~ Matt Redman

This summer has been a little harder than usual. Not only has the heat taken a toll on me, but many changes in my personal life have taken or are still taking place.

Lets take for instance that our son has his first ‘real’ job. He makes great money–he wants to move out. Some days he is a little on the ornery side. Thank goodness for prayer – that is all I can say…

Than there are major changes going on at my work. The entire accounting department will be restructured. There are many people in the department that are hurt, are irritable; some have left the company. Myself–well after 25 years of accounting, there is a certain burnout that comes to the surface. Although I don’t dislike my job, I am just tired; tired of adding numbers and fixing other people’s mistakes. Thank goodness for His presence in my life…

There are other demands too–like cooking, laundry, keeping the house clean…and have I mentioned the heat? You don’t feel like doing much, especially after a long day of work you just want to veg out. Your brain is fried – literally. You can’t think of any new dishes to make (mostly BBQ, so the house doesn’t get any hotter). You don’t feel like picking up a book, because you read the same sentence twenty times before it hits your brain and you actually understand what you are reading. If I don’t read my Bible first thing in the morning – forget it!!!! His Word will not stick.

What truly has gotten me so far through this summer is music. Even when the noggin doesn’t work, it still can receive the message, His message. I have found myself having a good cry driving home listening to Matt’s song “Blessed be Your Name”. Don’t get me wrong, it was a good cry — you know — the cleansing cry we women sometimes need to release the tension?

Years ago, I would have not listened to His comfort through His Word, or even a message through music. I would have just gotten frustrated, turn against everyone…But since He called me back into His flock, I know where I can turn when I need a lift. To be honest with you, I don’t know how I have ever done it without Him by my side…

My message I want to get out today with my IOW post? Don’t give up. No matter what hits you, He will carry you through. I know that some of you are battling sickness, have marital problems, have wayward children. We are stressed because of our responsibilities we have as wives, mothers, and employees. There is one Rock we always can lean on — our Lord, Jesus Christ.

“I love you, O Lord, my strength.
The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer, my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. I call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised,and I am saved from my enemies.” ~ Psalm 18:1-3 (ESV)

Lord of Heaven and Earth. I know that sometimes things need to happen in order for us to follow Your will and not our own plans. I praise your name – Blessed be Your Name, my Rock and my Shield. In You alone I find refuge. In the precious name of Jesus ~ Amen

Blessings on your day and as always…

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Thank you so much for taking part in this week’s IOW. Please leave your link below…looking forward reading your take on the lyrics.

In “Other” Words Participants

1. Crystal@God is in Control
2. Kimberly
3. Loni@Finding JOY in the Morning
4. Miriam Pauline
5. Emmyrose
6. Sarah @ To Motherhood and Beyond
7. ellen b
8. Karen (Changed by Love)
9. Laurel Wreath
10. Tami @ the Next Step		 11. Chocolate and Coffee
12. Lana G!
13. Rachelle G.
14. Heather
15. Angie
16. Terri Sue
17. Janna Rust
18. Bonnie Winters
19. Rosemarie
20. Karen Gillett		 21. Season’s Of My Heart
22. brandybuzz
23. lori @i will take it lord..
24. Jen @Scraps& Snippets
25. Tara (Destiny Driven)
26. kpjara
27. Hopeful Spirit
28. Beloved

Learn more about In “Other” Words here.

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Time for IOW


This upcoming Tuesday I will be hosting “In Other Words”, a meme that originated on Christian Women Online.

I have not chosen a quote by a famous literature writer, but from a song that hopefully many of you know…

“Blessed Be Your name
When I’m found in the desert place
Though I walk through the wilderness
Blessed Be Your name…”

The song “Blessed be Your Name” by Matt Redman had a huge impact on me this past summer. I hope and pray that some of you will join me Tuesday to share your thoughts on these lyrics.

Blessings to your up-coming week and as always…

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Every Single Day


“Relying on God has to begin all over again every day as if nothing yet had been done.”
~C.S. Lewis~

The Webster dictionary defines “rely” as “to be dependent” or “to have confidence based on experience”.

The “confidence based on experience” is what really got to me.

You see, there a couple of areas in my life that I take to the throne of grace every.single.day. For a while I thought that there is something seriously wrong with me. Although I know that I can rely on God’s faithfulness to take care even of the littlest things in life, some I still hold onto.

One of my all-time favorite Bible study was Beth Moore’s “Believing God”. At one point we had to put down a time line to recount God’s faithfulness in our life. From the age of 8 until now, God was there every step of the way. I might not have seen His provision at times, but when I look back—His hands were there to guide me. Even when He moved me from Germany to Arizona…

I know that I can trust my Lord with everything in my life…maybe some areas I just need a little longer to leave at the foot of the cross.

“As for you, O Lord, you will not restrain your mercy from me;
your steadfast love and your faithfulness will ever preserve me!”
~ Psalm 40:11 (ESV)

Lord of Heaven and Earth. I pray that I will be able to leave the things I still hold onto at the foot of the cross very soon. Thank you Lord for allowing me to come to you on a daily basis to help me get rid of some riff-ruff in my life. I am trusting in Your mercy. In the precious name of Jesus, my Lord and Savior, I pray. ~ Amen.

Thank you for your participation this week. Please add your link below…

In “Other” Words Participants

1. Laurel
2. Linda
3. Gwen
4. Tara (Destiny Driven)
5. Denise
6. Amy Grant
7. Hummie
8. JHS
9. Rosemarie
10. Miriam Pauline
11. Shannon – CMA		 12. dana
13. Cheryl
14. Jenny
15. Karen (Changed by Love)
16. Karen G
17. ellen b
18. Allison @ Simple Christian Living
19. Nina
20. Amy
21. The Small Scribbler
22. Hopeful Spirit		 23. Angie
24. Lana G!
25. Sharon @ S.W.M.A
26. lori
27. Faerylandmom
28. Tami
29. Cyndee@Riezzee’s Place
30. Chocolate and Coffee
31. Bonnie Winters

Learn more about In “Other” Words here.

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My dear sisters, I am sorry that my thoughts might not connect tonight and don’t make sense. As I was writing my post for this week’s quote, we received a call from my MIL. My Sweetheart’s cousin’s wife died in a horrific car accident in Flagstaff, Arizona. Their little 4-year-old daughter survived the accident with a fractured arm, leg and skull. Please keep my Sweetheart’s cousin in your prayers as he morning the loss of his young wife. Please also keep their little girl in your prayers, as she now is growing up without her mom…Thank you…

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