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Thankful from the bottom of my Heart

“Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.” ~ Colossians 3:16 (ESV)

I am inching myself back into the blogging world. Yes, I have been absent for a while — I needed to regroup and figure out what is truly important in life and to me…

So, why I am I writing a thankful post today? I have two wonderful things to share with the blogging community (although one thing is bitter-sweet)…

  • Some of you know that I had a ‘Silent Auction‘ last week on this blog. Although I didn’t get many bids for the print, the ‘winning’ bid is extra special (and bitter-sweet). I want to thank Marsha and CWO for bidding on the print. The ‘winning’ bid was submitted by CWO.
    Here is the very cool part: Darlene placed the bid in the name of all Christian Women around the globe — so in essence – you placed the bid too 🙂 . Since the bid was from the community of Christian women, Darlene requested that the print is not shipped to Canada, but to sweet little Gentry Rose.
    This is the bitter part: July is the last month that CWO is being published. I have known CWO (and Darlene) from the beginning. I truly believe that I would have not made that many connections around the world if it had not been for Darlene following His lead…Darlene, you always will have a special place in my heart…I thank God for you and your commitment over the past 4 years ~ I love you, girl…

  • The other thing that I am truly thankful for is: God gave me a dream and is making it in little pieces reality. I only have shared this with a few of my closest friends, but now I am ready to share with you all. I am trying to build a portrait business. The only part that is hard to have the energy after an 8 hour work day to take portraits and promote my business. But I know that I can dream big with God…If you have time, check out my ‘business’ website: Iris Nelson Portraits…Let me know what you think 😛 …

Thank you for taking time to stop by today. Remember: No dream is to outrages if God is leading the way 🙂 …

Visit my dear friend Lynn at Spiritually Unequal Marriage, to visit other Thankful Thursday participants.
grace_iris1

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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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Excuse the Dust…

God is our refuge and strength,
a very present help in trouble.
Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way,
though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea,
though its waters roar and foam,
though the mountains tremble at its swelling.
~ Psalm 46:1-3 (ESV)

I think I need to ‘undust’ (maybe that is not a word 😆 ) my little corner of the blogging world. I have been away for little while…needed to figure out where I am going with life in general; and blogging in specific.

You see, I wanted always be real on my blog. I wanted to be an encouragement to others. But how could I encourage others, if I myself was discouraged. I think my biggest discouragement came that I couldn’t keep up with all the demands that blogging brings. Due to my job-change in 2006, I was unable to keep up with all the wonderful women bloggers out there…

I also looked at the success of others in the blogging world. That was just plain wrong…I should have just looked at who I am in Him. I totally lost focus on what this blog suppose to be about. About Him and making Him know to a hurting world…If I was to encourage some of my sisters along the way…Praise to Him!!!!

As some of you might know, Max Lucado is my all-time favorite Christian writer. I have quoted Him often here and elsewhere. Currently I am reading some of his books that were republished in one volume – just marvelous! One quote that really stuck from one of the books is my new motto:

“Changing direction in life is not tragic. Losing passion in life is…”
~ Max Lucado, ‘When God Whispers Your Name‘

Yes, I lost passion in life for a little while. I forgot my purpose…Lord, thank you for the not-so-gentle reminder…

Ezekiel-button

What else is new? My wonderful friend Lori is hosting a Bible study 😛 …Please check it out every Friday (just click on the button above — it will take you there). Ezekiel you are wondering? Heavy, but also encouraging to the ones who put their trust in Him…

Oh, and this week I will be reviling something that I have been working on over the last couple of months…So, stay tuned. I am very excited about it 😀 …

Okay, I better up-date my sidebar with a couple of things…Thanks for stopping by today (and thank you for not forgetting about me)…Until next time…

grace_iris1

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Sometimes I wonder…

“The poor man died and was carried by the angels to Abraham’s side. The rich man also died and was buried, and in Hades, being in torment, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham far off and Lazarus at his side. And he called out, ‘Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus to dip the end of his finger in water and cool my tongue, for I am in anguish in this flame.’” ~ Luke 16:22-24 (ESV ~ emphasis mine)

Since I drive about 30 miles everyday to and from work I see a lot of bumper stickers. Some are very offensive; others – I just shake me head. I really wonder what people were thinking when they put silly bumper stickers on their car. This week I saw one that said: ‘Cute as Hell’…I wonder if this person really thinks that Hell is cute?!?

Read the rest of my thoughts on Hell at:

Thanks for dropping in…have a super blessed weekend

grace_iris1