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Thankful Thursday ~ Joy

“And now my head shall be lifted up above my enemies all around me, and I will offer in his tent sacrifices with shouts of joy; I will sing and make melody to the Lord.” ~ Psalm 27:6 (ESV ~ emphasis mine)

Ever feel like skipping, jumping, smiling, dancing – all at the same time? Oh, what a sweet ‘feeling’ joy is. I wanted to share first the definition of the word ‘joy’ from Webster with you, but I don’t agree with their definition.

You see, I think (my personal opinion), joy comes from the inside and not from outside circumstances…So, this week I would like to share with you my joy…

  • Thank You, Lord for the joy You have put in my heart. Knowing that You have sent your son to redeem me, to spent eternity with You, makes my heart beat faster — skip for joy…

  • I am thankful for my beloved and the joy in our marriage. Especially after I read this interview he gave here. You have to understand, my beloved is a manly man – not a lot of ‘mooch’ – know what I mean. I know he loves me (he tells me every day), but to see how he talks about me outside our own walls, gives me joy…

  • I am thankful that the Lord allowed me to raise a son. He is doing well for himself. He truly is our pride and joy…

  • I am thankful for Christian women on the internet. I love reading how they find joy in following the Lord…

  • I am thankful for the joy in children. I watched a little girl the other day as she was dancing on the sidewalk. The joy on her face was hard to miss…

  • I am thankful for cameras. It gives me joy to ‘record’ the glorious splendor around me…

  • Last but not least, I am thankful for Fall. My favorite season. With joy, I am looking forward celebrating the birth of our Savior…

What are you thankful for this week? Please do share with us all by leaving your link below.

Thank you for stopping by today. Remember: joy comes from the heart — let you heart ‘spill’ out this week…

Thankful Thursday Participants

1. Melanie
2. Lynn (Spiritually Unequal Marriage)
3. Felicity (The Voice of FMLL)
4. Serendipity Park
5. To Know Him
6. Nancie
7. BP @ Raindrops & Rainbows
8. Bugzmommy
9. Laurie @ womentakingastand
10. Rocks
11. Denise
12. Mary
13. Yen
14. It’s All About Him!
15. Debra
16. Mariposa
17. heidi
18. Laurie Ann
19. Tammy W (Munchkinheads)
20. Jennifer @ Through The Storms of Life
21. Susan @ Forever His
22. he & me 3
23. Peggy@aMazingGrace
24. Jill
25. Heather
26. mom2my9 (Vintage Potato Sack)
27. Pia @ My Life’s Journey
28. Willnette
29. Daphine
30. Kristi-KikisCorner
31. Peggy
32. Eyeglasses & Endzones
33. Bobbi Jo
34. Crystal @ News from the Zoo (Freedom)		 35. Amy (Kings Table)
36. Beth@The Accidental Pharisee
37. Esthermay
38. Nancy @ Homemade Blessings
39. alihsee @ remember the moments
40. Lori ~ Simple Life at Home
41. mama meji
42. Willow
43. Kim
44. AniqueAnik
45. Deidre
46. Schotzy
47. Melissa, Multitaskingmama
48. Stacy
49. Patricia@TypingOne-Handed
50. Tammy ~@~
51. Jerri @ Jerri’s Journey
52. Liza’s Eyeview
53. Denise @ Teacups and Time
54. Gina@chatswithanoldlady
55. Chocolate and Coffee
56. Halfway To A Dozen
57. Sherry(@myjourney)
58. Chelsey at Joyfully Living
59. Tracey @ Cheese and Whine
60. Lisa
61. Speaking from the Heart
62. Devita
63. Newlyweds
64. Debbie @ Heart Choices
65. Lynn
66. Alicia, The Snowflake
67. Mellissa – wondermommy
68. Angel (House is Sold)		 69. Ruth A Stiles
70. Tami @ The Next Step
71. Elisa
72. Michele
73. Dana-from chaos to Grace
74. kristine
75. Lori @ Front Porch Legacy
76. Sab@Seeds of the Heart
77. Bonnie @ Thugater
78. pam @ Without Fear
79. Tracy @ Thirsty for Him
80. lambofHisflock
81. Daniel’s Mom
82. Mrs. Cuddles
83. Heather @ Not a DIY Life
84. Kathleen Marie
85. Chel @ Chasing Contentment
86. Paula
87. Marsha
88. Linda
89. Cheryl
90. Vanessa
91. Gail
92. bvoylesal@aol.com
93. Kathy @ Joyful Journey Journal
94. Kim @ Scattered Stones
95. Miss Ellie for feelin’ feminine
96. Mommy Magee
97. Sherry
98. Jack’s Mommy (10 Things I am Thankful For)
99. JesuLalaine
100. Stacy@His Way…Not Mine
101. Hopeful Spirit
102. Tessa @ Jesus-Filled Hope

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Little on my Lighter Side

Yesterday my friend Laurel posted 7 facts about herself. I thought, since I haven’t done a ‘fact-about-me’ for a very, very long, I join in on her meme 😛 …
So, here it goes…

  • I shop daily for groceries. It works much better for the two of us — stopping at the store on my way home.

  • Our son calls me a ‘tree-hugger’ (what ever that means). I bring my own grocery bags to the store — I refuse to use plastic/paper bags. I guess it has to do with my up-bringing in Germany. I am used to bringing my own bags.

  • I can not stand red sauce on pizza. I like my pizza with lots of cheese, EVOO, tomatoes, and basil.

  • I am compulsive-obsessive. Every bowl, plate, paper has to be straight – I can not stand when things are out of order.

  • I like to wear high-heel shoes 🙂 – Believe it or not, but they are more comfortable than my tennis shoes (maybe I need a better pair of tennis-shoes 😉 ).

  • I like publishing my blog on WordPress, but it is a pain to keep current with their constant up-grades/up-dates. I still will not go back to Blogger.

  • I will not shop at ***Mart, because of their tactics with their suppliers. Many American companies (small and large) had to close their doors because of it. I could write an entire blog about this subject matter — but not tonight.

So, did you read something new you didn’t know about me? If you are posting some facts about yourself, please do let me know in the comment section. I would love to get to know you a little better.

Have a blessed evening and as always…

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Walk the Talk

“Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart
be acceptable in your sight,
O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.” ~ Psalm 19:14 (ESV)

As I had mentioned last week, my friend Lynn got me going with her post about “Edgy Christianity“. One book she had mentioned on her list was titled “I am fine with God…It’s Christians I Can’t Stand”. I have not bought/read the book, just took a peak at Amazon to read the first chapter…

One major annoyance to the unsaved population is that we try to impress our moral points with force on them. Do we? Do we point out what is wrong in their lives rather than to point to the cross of Salvation? Are we hypocrites? Modern day Pharisees?

“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you clean the outside of the cup and the plate, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence. You blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and the plate, that the outside also may be clean.” ~ Matthew 23:25-26 (ESV)

Sadly part of me has to agree. You see, the world does not see the ‘average’ Christian, but the high profile preachers/teachers/tele-evangelists. How many have we seen preach moral points “Do this, don’t do that”? How many of them later stumbled over the exact issue (sin) — fell from their high horse?

My point is that we all are sinners (believers and unbelievers). We are all in need of a Savior. We are not saved by our own works, but by the grace of God:

“For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.” ~ Ephesians 2:8-10 (ESV)

You see, good works is not what brings us to saving faith. Good works begins after we have been saved. Are we no longer a sinner after Christ reached down to save us? By no means. As for me, I sin daily. Do I want to? Of course not. But I am human. God gave me free will — sometimes I make wrong choices. Does God love me less because of the choices I have made? No, but I can not be in someones face because of their sin.

So how can we share the Gospel without self-righteous talk? Get out of the way…Walk the talk with His guidance and strength. Let us admit to our own sinful nature. Share what Christ has done in us. Only Christ can change hearts — we don’t have the power to do that. Let me close with a quote by St. Francis of Assisi:

“Preach the Gospel at all times, and when necessary, use words.”

Blessings to your weekend and as always…

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Wear Waterproof…

“Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.” ~ Psalm 23:4 (ESV)

Do you worship Him besides Sundays? I hope you do. There is nothing better to get prepared for your day ahead than to worship Him in the morning. Turn up the volume of your radio (or favorite praise CD) – lift your hands in praise.

As I was driving to work this morning, the radio station played Matt Redman’s song “You Never Let Go”. When Matt started to sing the refrain, I could not help but turn up the volume, raising my hand in praise (at the stop-light). Tears of joy rolled down my face singing with Matt:

“O no, You never let go,
Through the calm and through the storm
O no, You never let go,
In every high and every low
O no, You never let go, Lord You never let go of me.”

God sends us daily reminders that He is with us every single day. Through a Bible verse; through a song you might hear; or even a simple note from a dear friend…He will see you through the valley. One thing I do suggest: wear waterproof mascara. I am glad that I did this morning 😛 …

Be blessed today and as always…