Look At The Birds!

Yesterday, as I was pulling out of the garage, I noticed these sweet little footprints in the light snow that had fallen overnight.  Perfect little impressions.  A reminder to me of God's care... for some of the littlest of his creation -- and for ME.

"Look at the birds of the air;

they do not sow or reap or stow away in barns,

and yet your heavenly Father feeds them.

Are you not much more valuable than they?"

Matthew 6:26 NIV

Inspired

On Saturday, I got to hear Sheila Walsh speak.  What an honor.  She is such a sweet woman of God with such a tender heart, and I always go away from her conferences feeling so extra-specially loved by God.  During this talk, she shared that she has committed Psalm 143:8 to memory, and every morning when she wakes up (before she even gets out of bed) she says this verse back to the Lord.  Inspiring, yes?

Speaking of inspiration, I continue to be so inspired by Laura and the SOCKS FOR SANDY campaign that she started.  She has collected LOTS of packages to pass along to the victims (check out the photo of her loaded van, below).  The shipment that Laura received on Friday filled two giant mail bins!!!  Exciting!  She's doing a great job of keeping everyone updated too!  You can check out The Official Socks for Sandy Facebook page for all of the latest!

The latest news is that hats, gloves, and mittens are no longer a need.  Socks ARE still needed, and the latest request is for new packages of underwear.  EVERY SIZE is needed!

Click HERE to get to Laura's blog where she puts all the FAQ's & updates.

Today, I am thankful for:

1. people who inspire us to do better

2. those who have served or are currently serving in our military -- and for their selfless sacrifice on my behalf.

Thought: (spotted on Pinterest)
I cried because I had no shoes... until I saw a man with no feet. Life is full of blessings. Sometimes we're just blind to see them.

Philippians 4:8

Sometimes circumstances have a way of dragging me down... making me feel sorry for myself, or frustrated, or just sad.  There's nothing worse (for me) than when my kids are sick, and we've really been battling sickness this (school)year!

For me, it truly has to be a conscious decision NOT to let this stuff get to me, and to try to rise above it.  This scripture reminded me this morning:

So today, I'm choosing to think about all of the things I can praise God for.  Keeping my mind on true, noble, just, pure, and lovely things will surely lift my spirit!

What Bible verses help you keep things in perspective?

Scripture and a Snapshot 4.15

What can wash away my sin?

Nothing but the blood of Jesus.

What can make me whole again?

Nothing but the blood of Jesus.

♪♫  ♫♪

Oh, precious is the flow

that makes me white as snow;

no other fount I know,

nothing but the blood of Jesus.  

Scripture and a Snapshot 3.25

As a follower of Jesus Christ, I can reflect the light that comes from him,

and be a light to the world as well.

I'm linking up with Katie @ Katie Lloyd Photography for:

Hebrews 13:2

I Corinthians 10:31

Happy Thanksgiving 2011

Psalm 95:2-6

"Let us come before him with thanksgiving

and extol him with music and song.

For the LORD is the great God,

the great King above all gods.

In his hand are the depths of the earth,

and the mountain peaks belong to him.

The sea is his, for he made it,

and his hands formed the dry land.

Come, let us bow down in worship,

let us kneel before the LORD our Maker;"

2 Corinthians 5:17

I John 4:10

"This is love:

not that we loved God, but that he loved us

and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins."

I Stand in Awe of You

You are beautiful beyond description

Too marvelous for words

Too wonderful for comprehension

Like nothing ever seen or heard

Who can grasp Your infinite wisdom?

Who can fathom the depth of Your love?

You are beautiful beyond description

Majesty, enthroned above

And I stand, I stand in awe of You

I stand, I stand in awe of You

Holy God, to whom all praise is due

I stand in awe of You

You are beautiful beyond description

Yet God crushed You for my sin

In agony and deep affliction

Cut off that I might enter in

Who can grasp such tender compassion?

Who can fathom this mercy so free?

You are beautiful beyond description

Lamb of God who died for me

words and music by Mark Altrogge

Galatians 6:2

Taste and See

What are three things you're thankful for?

I'm thankful for:
1. The certainty of knowing where I will spend eternity.

2. A surprise visit with a cousin who is passing through town.

3. The song "Blessings" by Laura Story.  It makes me think,

and brings me to tears every time.

Isaiah 40:31

Psalm 95:6-7

Matthew 24:35-36

Psalm 96:12

"Let the fields

be jubilant,

and everything

in them.

Then all the trees

of the forest

will sing for joy."

(NIV)

Happy Easter!

He is risen!

He is risen indeed!

Ecclesiastes 3:1

Matthew 6:25-34

"Therefore, I tell you, do not worry about your life,
what you will eat or drink;
or about your body, what you will wear.
Is not life more important than food,
and the body more important than clothes?
Look at the birds of the air;
they do not sow or reap or store away in barns,
and yet your heavenly Father feeds them.
Are you not much more valuable than they?

Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?

And why do you worry about clothes?
See how the lilies of the field grow.  They do not labor or spin.
Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor
was dressed like one of these.
If that is how God clothes the grass of the field,
which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire,
will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?
So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?'
or 'What shall we wear?'
For the pagans run after all these things,
and your heavenly Father knows that you need them.
But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness,
and all these things will be given to you as well.
Therefore do not worry about tomorrow,
for tomorrow will worry about itself.
Each day has enough trouble of its own."
(NIV)

Worry doesn't add a single hour to our lives
(as the scripture says),

but worry can rob us of our JOY.
Let tomorrow worry about itself!

Matthew 6:19-21

¹⁹Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth,

where moth and rust doth corrupt,

and where thieves break through and steal:

 ²⁰But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven,

where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt,

and where thieves do not break through nor steal:

 ²¹For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
(KJV)