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Thankful Thursday ~ Friends

“No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you.” ~ John 15:15 (ESV ~ emphasis mine)

Did you know that Jesus calls you ‘friend’? Isn’t that cool? I am so thankful that God sent His Son to make us His friends. Not only did Jesus came to teach us about our Heavenly Father, but He also laid down His life for His friends…

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(Photo is courtesy of Debbie from Heart Choices – thanks Debbie)

Monday I had the chance to reconnect with Lori from Lori’s Reflections and meet Debbie from Heart Choices. You know what is cool? When you blog with women like Lori and Debbie (at LWG) and you have lunch together. We had a marvelous lunch, talked up a storm 🙂 – The best thing is that you don’t really have to ‘warm’ up, because you have a common friend in Jesus. I know Lori for almost 4 years now; every time I get together with her, we share what ever is on our mind. Debbie is just as sweet in person as she is on her blog :)…So, I am thankful for the sisterhood of believers. I will talk about the ‘sisterhood’ a little more on Friday at LWG…

If you have a chance, connect also with other women that are not your immediate friends from church or your neighborhood. There will be a blogger meeting in Florida this fall. Angie and Marsha (two other ladies from LWG 😀 ) put together a blogger meeting in October. To find out more about it, please visit their special site “Free to Be Me“. Really, there is nothing more exciting to chat in real life with blogging friends.

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

Thank you for stopping by today. Remember: you have girlfriends around the world with your best Friend ever as your ‘Connector’…

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Thankful Thursday Participants

1. Amy – my tudor house
2. Rocks@Made To Worship
3. Angie K.
4. Lynn (Spiritually Unequal Marriage)
5. Lisa@ BlessedwithGrace
6. It Feels Like Chaos
7. lily valley karen
8. debi @ Who Says 8 is Enough?
9. Barbie
10. My Life’s Adventure
11. JesuLalaine
12. Debbie @ Heart Choices
13. Janujennifer
14. Pia
15. Serendipity Park
16. Denise		 17. AMAZING GRACE
18. Chris
19. GRACE
20. Kim @ Homesteader’s Heart
21. hip Chick
22. angela
23. Jen S.
24. Laurie @ Women Taking a Stand
25. Chocolate and Coffee
26. mizhelle
27. Rita @ Following31
28. Jerri @ Jerri’s Journey
29. Loren
30. Tanya
31. bp
32. Raise Them Up		 33. Noreen
34. Jana@Life with The Leonard’s
35. Carla
36. Oklahoma Nicole
37. becky aka theRAV
38. Michele
39. Lisa @my little corner
40. Kathy C.
41. Kitchen Stewardship (being a SAHM)
42. Connie
43. TerritoryMom
44. Marsha
45. Donetta at a life uncommon…
46. LaDonna
47. Karen
48. Erica

Learn more about Thankful Thursday here.

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Happy 4th of July



July 09 Desktop, originally uploaded by eph2810.

America is celebrating its Independence today. Although I live in this country for the past 18 years, I still have my German citizenship…

I contemplated on freedom this past week…a different kind of freedom. I am glad that I am set free by the Truth that John describes in his Gospel.

What does freedom mean to you in this day and age?

Thank you for stopping by today. Have a blessed and safe 4th of July weekend…

grace_iris1

PS: If you click on the above image, you can download the desktop (for personal use only ~ do not claim this as your own creation)

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Announcing New Hostesses for
Thankful Thursdays

My sweet sisters in Christ,

Yes, I am going to take a leave of absence from my personal blog. Thankfully, two of my sweet sisters in Christ have stepped forward and agreed on hosting Thankful Thursday.

Lynn from ‘Spiritually Unequally Marriage’ and Laurie from ‘Women Taking a Stand’ are not only your new hostesses for Thankful Thursdays, but also are contributing writers for ‘Laced with Grace’. Lynn will be your hostess this month of March, Laurie will host in April, than back to Lynn and so on…

I am not sure if I will be back writing here — that depends on where God is leading. I will continue to write for Laced with Grace as well as administering our group devotional blog.

If you have any questions regarding Thankful Thursdays, or would like to drop me a note, you can use my contact form 🙂 …

‘For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven’ ~ Ecclesiastes 3:1 (ESV)

Blessings to you and yours, today and always…

grace_iris1

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Thankful Thursday ~ Looking Back

“For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.” ~ Jeremiah 29:11 (ESV)

Yes, I am glad that 2008 is behind us; I am looking forward to 2009. I would love all of you to join us at Laurel Wreath’s Reflection over the next week to share your hopes, dreams, or goals for 2009. To find out more about our ‘New Year’s Meditation’, please read Laurel’s post here…

Last week I had asked you to look back on 2008 to share what or who had the most impact on you in 2008? I know, looking back is sometimes painful, but you know what; even in painful times there is always something on the horizon that we can be thankful for…

I have shared with you the passage of Jeremiah because it was ‘my’ verse for 2008. Believe me, the verse has been very vital to me in 2008 — I have clung to it like nothing else. I know that I needed to grow; I just didn’t like painful part.

  • Lord, I am thankful for your pruning in 2008. I didn’t like it, but I know that I needed to get rid of some stuff. Why, Lord, does the issue of pride always rears its ugly head? Will this be my thorn until I enter eternity? I sure hope not. Please help me in 2009 to be more aware of it; help me to nip it when it starts…

  • Lord, I am thankful for our marriage. Although we had some waves hitting our marriage, I thank You for keeping a hedge around it to protect it from evil forces…

  • Lord, I am thankful for our son’s growth this year. Lord, this was the most painful experience for me this past year; to let go and let You handle the rest. I know I should be glad to have our son all grown-up, but it is hard to let go. Lord, I thank You for the strength You gave me to keep going…

  • Lord, I am thankful for friends that speak the truth. Yes, it sure is not easy to admit failures, but I rather have truthful friends than someone who is just saying nice things…

  • Lord, most of all, I am thankful for Your faithfulness. The days I didn’t feel like doing much, You reminded me that I needed to let Your light shine. For when I was weak, Your Word gave me the strength. When I felt low, You reminded me of the sacrifice You made sending Your son to rescue me…

  • Lord, last but not least, I am thankful for the book “3:16”. I believe ‘picking apart’ the passage of John 3:16 has made it clear to me that You do not wish that anyone perishes, but that all who believe can be saved. Yes, I have read the passage more than once, but the impact it had on me in 2008 is indescribable…

What are you thankful for this week? I hope you share with us by leaving your link below. Remember: God has a plan for you – to prosper you and not to harm you – believe my sweet friend!!!!

Blessings to you today and always…

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