NEVER TOO OLD

 The Grandbaby and I are great friends.  Or at least we are most days.  

While we were on the mountain trip, The Grandbaby and I shared a bed.  (We called it a vacation sleepover.)  We do this every time she sleeps over at our house, too.  It is a ritual.   The three of us say prayers at our bed, then she and I get settled in bed and she says, "Lay on your arm."  At that point I throw out my arm and she puts her head on it and snuggles close.  Let me tell you, that is an action that still causes my heart to pitter patter all over the floor and rejoice with thankfulness for the blessing of her.  It's that certain way that she fits there that is peaceful to the both of us.  We talk over what we will have for breakfast the next morning and any other important conversation then we drop right off to sleep.  What she doesn't know is that when she falls asleep, I talk to Jesus about her and pray for her future and that she makes good friends and good choices.

The last night on the trip, it was the same ritual, but this time instead of talking about other things, The Grandbaby said to me, "Do you think I will ever be too old to lay on your arm?"  Wow.  What a deep question!  I told her that I thought she would never be too old for that.  I explained that as I get older, my arm might not be as strong, but we would always be able to be close enough to snuggle and most likely, she would ALWAYS fit on my arm no matter how old we both are.  Then she fell right off to sleep.

I realized as she lay there sleeping that is exactly how Jesus is to me.  I will never be too old to put my head in his lap spiritually or hold tightly to his hand spiritually.  I can't tell you the times that I literally felt as if I had my head in his lap and I could almost feel him rubbing my head in comfort as I was so distraught with fear and sadness.  Many times this feeling is so real.  

I'm not naive enough to think I will always be The Grandbaby's "cat's meow" so to speak but I do believe she and I can and will remain close in various seasons of life as we pass through those seasons.  And, by the same token, I am certain that Jesus will always be close enough to hear me when I pray and give me that comfort my soul so needs daily.  His Word gives me comfort and peace and my prayers as I talk to Him help me through life.

I pray I never take the love of The Grandbaby or the love of Jesus for granted.  Both are priceless treasures.

Consider......

ANOTHER YEAR ALMOST PAST.....

Yes, 2023 is almost over.  As I have said often before, time is a thief.  One of the mysteries of life is WHY time passes so quickly as one ages.  I looked at the prior post before this and it was dated November 3...almost two months ago.

Granted, my life is vastly occupied and busy with many of my necessary commitments.  Other wannabe commitments kind of fall by the wayside.  Thanksgiving was good with the exception of no Thanksgiving post on this blog which made me look grossly ungrateful.  I am not grossly ungrateful.  My heart overflows with gratitude hourly.   And now Christmas is over and the New Year just two days away. 

The Husband and I got sick the first couple of weeks of December which threw us off, me first then him 2 days later.  It was a nasty virus that prompted me to visit our neighborhood urgent care.  And yes, when folks say it takes one longer to recover from any medical thing as one ages, they are correct.  I also had five weeks of PT on my right leg and knee.  With all the Christmas festivities, the time just got away.  There were Santa visits, Giving Tree programs, Christmas parades in the rain, a nice Amy Grant/Michael W. Smith concert gifted to me for my birthday for me and The Girl by The Girl, Christmas Eve services, and so much more. This year I did not send Christmas cards as usual (postage was a budget cut in my house this year), my internet was down for three days, then as soon as it was fixed my 18 year old double oven died (prompting me to have repairman send part to Texas for rebuilding and not to return until after Christmas), and a few days later the dishwasher wouldn't wash the dishes.  From a miraculous viewpoint, that oven part came in the very day (Thursday before Christmas) right before the repairman came to fix the dishwasher.  Talk about feeling like I received THE gift of the season, I was excited.  Then after the dishwasher was fixed and the oven part reinstalled, the part didn't work.  Uh huh.  It. Didn't. Work.  At this point, I was not ready to discount miracles, just was ready to accept the Christmas miracle would not be my oven working for Christmas.  The very next day (Friday before Christmas) I got a call that the genius owner of my repair shop (That is NOT sarcasm....he is so smart and his business great....call me if you need a recommendation.) had figured the problem with the oven part and the repairman came again at 2:15 the Friday before Christmas and gave me a working 18 year old double oven.  So yes, there were Christmas surprises...expensive ones, but miraculous surprises all the same.  

The main thing I want to say in this post, even though I have talked only about "things", is that no matter what happens, the reason for the season is still Jesus and I'm so grateful we in our family never forget that.  

The Husband and I had a trip in the mountains with The Girl, The Son-in-Law and The Grandbaby.  It was a sweet time of family.  One day was a day that involved shopping and indoor mini golf.  The problem is that during that golf game where I was scorekeeper only, I stepped back with my right leg and my heel caught The Grandbaby's boot toe.  I felt an excruciating pain in the faulty right knee and leg and have had a terrible problem walking since that time.  I am glad I had my cane in the car but the pain remains excruciating.  I will be seeing my good hip/knee doctor on Wednesday.   Even with  that it was a good time with good cold weather.  I thought you faithful blog readers might enjoy some pictures.  Maybe in the new year, I will retrieve some of my wise blog posting.  Until then, I will share photos and wish you a happy new year!

Concert fun...

Successful gift to make happiness....favorite shampoo... 

a much needed hair dryer...

and a scrapbook of first year photos for The Grandbaby....

Always a song and a birthday cake for Jesus...

Mountain fun....

Engrossed in Night at the Museum...

This is Us...

Happy New Year!

ANOTHER....

 Seen on a sign:

"God has no need for Plan B."

Consider.....

GOOD ADVICE

 The Girl has given me a Halloween treat today.  She bought little paper sayings to add to her "treats" this year....just another way to share Jesus and HIS Word.  As soon as I saw this one as a choice, I grabbed it.  It spoke good advice to me.  I thought you blog readers would enjoy as well.  I love it!

WHERE ARE THE ANSWERS?

Well, the title of this post sounds like a game show, doesn't it?  Hear the question, have the right answer, and load up your winnings to take home, right?

I'm here to tell you that life is not a game show,  I hear the questions, am empty for right answers, and have no winnings.  Or...so it seems.  Then I take a closer look at life.

For all of you faithful readers, you may have noticed I have not posted a new post in over a month.  Yes, over a month.  This thing called life has kicked me a bit.  This afternoon I sit to reflect.

The unanswered questions and the fears have stacked up way over my head at times.  There have been fears of health problems, there have been untimely family passings days apart, there have been decisions regarding health issues of those I love and care for, and that's not even counting all this political mess that seems much further away from me.

My Pray Without Ceasing Friend has taught me more about continually praying without ceasing and I'm getting better....not near where she is in her prayer life but closer.  When someone asks me to pray for a need in their life (and they have often lately), I just stop then and pray for them.  And then when I think of them again or pray again, I pray for them again.  I have thought and wondered if Jesus gets tired of hearing me over and over and over and over and as I reflect and see HIS provision in all these areas lately, I'm pretty sure HE never tires of me.  I am one blessed girl to be the girl of such a Heavenly Father that is so loving and good.  

So, where are the answers?  They come directly from the Word of my Heavenly Father.  I have felt awed amazement when I have opened my Bible numerous times and turned exactly to the scripture that fits my need.  I got goosebumps, yes goosebumps, when  Isaiah 41:10 and Psalm 27 were read in Sunday School assembly last Sunday.  Those were two particular scripture answers I had just read the day before.  Coincidence?  Nah.  Even in my devotion book, "Streams in the Desert" by L.B. Cowman there was a direct answer to an issue I had struggled with.  On the exact day after I struggled with it.  Coincidence?  Nah.

I have also found encouragement which I saw as an answer of sorts when twice last week I received texts from two different people from different areas of my life saying I was on their heart and they wanted to check on me.  I was so humbled.  Coincidence?  Nah.  

So with all that randomness I will tell you that amidst all the fears, all the sadness and grief, and all the uncertainties, my Jesus has provided for me in HIS promises because I know HE never lies and HE never leaves and HE always is there providing HIS best even though I can't see that through my vision of life somedays.  I can rest and be assured of HIS promises!  

And that, my friends, is where the answers REALLY are!

Consider....

I WISH, I WISH, I WISH....

Do you remember as a child wanting something and wishing and wishing and wishing for it?  Maybe you got it, maybe you didn't.  The wish within you was so great and constant.  Maybe it's only me that had wishes, but I don't think so.

Of late, my memory doesn't serve me very well way back.  Sadly.  I had some good times "way back".  Or at least I think I did.  I was thinking today as I cooked supper about my school days.  I remember one didn't wear pants and that only came permissible when I was in high school and the temperature got below eight degrees.  And then, it had to be a PANT SUIT....none of these jeans or such as that.  A matching PANT SUIT.  Kids today would refuse to go outside the house in such--just as I refuse to go out of the house in some the ridiculously small items kids wear today.  I remember The Girl's middle school assistant principal would have an index card to measure the length of the shorts and, uh huh, if they were shorter than that index card, a mama was called to bring longer clothes.  Happily I never got one of those calls because, according to The Girl, she had the strictest parents in the whole school.  That's probably truth but she turned out okay.  And anyways, none of that really matters in this post.  I tend to ramble as I don't remember.  

I always seem to ponder the last Sunday's sermon or Sunday School lesson and I was pondering the lesson from last week.  It was talking about how Jesus looks and how we all will look after we get to heaven.  Well, I'm not here to go into any kind of theological debate.  I'm not much of a debater.  In school if I even thought I would have to speak in class, I would shake in my penny loafers.

I was thinking of how I wish many things....go with me here, I'll get to the connection with the lesson.

I've wished I was pretty.  I've never been pretty and I know it.  Acceptable looking but not really pretty.  And I'm okay with that.  Really.  Gorgeous looks are very over rated.

I've wished I weighed much less.  Granted now, I'm 48 pounds lighter than I was ten years ago but I long to lose 7.25 more pounds.  Maybe I will, maybe I won't.

I've wished I had more patience with certain things.  I know what the scripture says about patience and I try.

I've wished I had less anxiety about many things.  And yes, I know Philippians 4:6, 7 and I can quote it but still I often fail with the less anxiety part.  Guess that means I don't practice what I preach.

I wish I could find more time or maybe I should say better time management.  Everybody still has 24 hours in a day so there you go.

As the Sunday School lesson gave me food for thought, I began to wish for more important things.

I wish people can see Jesus in me.

I wish I would be kinder like Jesus.

I wish I was more loving like Jesus.

You get the point, I'm sure.  The list could go on and on and on.  As for what we will look like in heaven, I don't have that answer.  I know that I will be like HIM.  The Bible clearly says so.  And that's good enough for me.  Just as one of our choir songs at practice last night says:

"My eyes shall see King Jesus when He comes in clouds of glory.  If I am sleeping, I'll be awakened from the grave.  And if I remain, I'll hear the trumpets' joyful sound!  I didn't see Him go up but I'll see him when He comes down.

And I'll be like Him.  I'll be like Him.  Though I don't know just what I will be, I'll be like Him.  I shall see Him as He is and that's good enough for me.  I'll be like Him, when He comes down!"

I wish someday to see Jesus and I know I will.  But until then, my heart will sing on....

This has certainly been random, huh?  :)

Consider.......

TAKING GOD AT HIS WORD

These few weeks since my last post, I'm still walking by faith, not by sight.  It seems that scripture just keeps coming to my mind, my heart, and my readings.  I guess that means something for sure.

My favorite devotion book is "Streams in the Desert" by L. B. Cowman.  This devotion book was given to me a few years ago by a dear, dear friend and I have found that I never tire of it and it seems to know exactly what my heart needs on any given day.  I'm imagining that the hand that wrote those words had a direct link with the Heavenly Father.   

This past week I purchased a "sequel", "Springs in the Valley".  The interesting thing to me is that L. B. Cowman was a female.  And not only was she a female, but a female from many, many, many years ago.  She was a pioneer missionary with her husband in Japan and China from 1901-1917.   In 1960 on Easter Sunday at age 90, she came face to face with the God she had served for nearly a century.

As I've struggled the past few weeks in many areas of life, I have tried to go to the scriptures, learn new ones, and practice familiar ones.  As I have heard said, I have prayed the scriptures.  I know the Lord has maybe gotten tired of hearing this over and over from me, then I determined maybe he's not tired.  He doesn't grow weary of hearing the needs of his child.  So I keep practicing scriptures and hiding them in my heart.  

Tomorrow's devotion (yes, for some reason I read ahead) talks about a woman who prayed and prayed and prayed for her son to come to Jesus.  She would pray over her washtub as she scrubbed the clothes.  Long story and I won't give any names, but her son did come to Jesus and became very famous.  You would recognize his name if I shared.  He led many others to Jesus also through the ministry he served.  The devotion ended by saying "All this resulted because a mother took God at His Word and prayed that her son's heart might become as white as the soapsuds in the washtub".    The phrase "took God at His Word" was in italics and really hit me.  

One of the scriptures I have gone back and back again to is one of my favorites in Romans 4 and it says "Abraham staggered not at the promise of God".  I have tried so hard to be like Abraham and stagger not at the promise of God.  Shucks, there are so many promises of God, I can't keep count!

All I and others have to do is BELIEVE.   

Consider....

WALKING INTO TODAY

 Good early morning, faithful blog readers!

I've had a problem for the past week getting my mind settled to write.  Shucks, let's be real...I've been struggling with my thoughts in many directions.  You see, The Husband had a very faulty abnormal stress test and got an appointment before that day even remotely ended for a heart cath and stenting procedure.  I so hoped the ablation would do the trick.  It obviously didn't.

My own heart has prayed and prayed since that day and I know my Heavenly Father knows how thankful I am and my "wants" for this day and for The Husband.  The scriptures help me, too....

"Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.  And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus."   Philippians 4:6,7

A couple of days ago, I was so very overwhelmed.  I think I have spoken of that often in this blog.

"...when my heart is overwhelmed, lead me to the rock that is higher than I...for thou hast been a shelter for me."   Psalm 61:2, 3

I believe, though, that the one I will take with me utmost in my mind and heart today is the one read by our Sunday School Superintendent (who just happened to be The Girl) yesterday....

"...for we walk by faith, not by sight..."       2 Corinthians 5:7

Okay so those are my thoughts this early morning.  We have to be to the big city heart hospital by 6 am so I will head along....walking right by faith.  Whatever you are facing today, I will encourage you to walk into today by faith.  It and the faith-giver always makes for the best walking.

Consider....

WITH LIBERTY

 "Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not 

entangled again with the yoke of bondage."     

Galatians 5:1

44 YEARS

I'm thinking all you blog readers will surely be glad when I stop writing about "years".  This should be it for a good while.

It was on this day 44 years ago that The Husband and I became a family of two.  Yes, we were married in the "old" church (as folks at our church call it now that there's a "new" church).  We were fairly young and foolish and obviously in love.  You can look on this date's other posts in the archives and see photos of us in our young and foolish times.

As life deals, there have been many tough times in the past 44 years.

The sickness and health vow has been tested too many times.

Wrong decisions have been made on occasion.  

And so much more negatives.

On the other hand, The Husband and I have proven faithfulness to each other, to family, to church, and most of all to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  Can I say we have done that constantly?  Absolutely not, but we have done it the best that we could.  A life situation right now (yes there are many) have caused us to look again at our integrity and happily, we find it alive and well.  Truth is very important.  

44 years ago, the Lord had a plan.  It was a plan based on prayers and hopes and faith.  And it was so the best plan for The Husband and me.  I am blessed to sit here and type this in the same kitchen I cooked in 44 years ago.  The set up and decor has changed but the most important things--the cooking and food--has not.  That's like marriage, I think.  We all change.  Now the hair is grayer, the body is weaker, and the health begins to decline but the important things--love, most of all--has not changed.

I am blessed.  

32 YEARS

If you look in this blog's archives, I think I am correct that you will find a post on this day June 21 for every year of the blog's existence.  I will even say that this is most likely a happy birthday to this blog as it was begun on June 21, 2012 with a post titled "Celebration".  So happy birthday to this blog!

More importantly, what a blessing it is to document 32 years since The Girl's Type I Diabetes diagnosis on this day!  I still remember that day as clearly as it were a few minutes ago (nowadays I have to ponder what I did yesterday).  I remember the navy t-shirt she wore with her beautiful navy checked shorts....and those bangs!  Oh, the terrible things I did to her hair as a child in the name of beauty!

I see great things today in the medical world in many areas but especially in diabetes.  That's what is closest to my family so maybe I notice those things more.  Insulin pumps, sensors that read blood sugars without finger sticks, more available tasty foods, and so much more are there for those with this disease.  When discussing my mother's diabetes and shots with her and my dad yesterday, my mind recalled that for many many years I mixed two insulins in one syringe two times every day...and later on The Girl did it more often than that.  Now insulin goes into the body via a thin tubing inserted and is dispensed and dosing figured with a button to push.  I'm so so grateful for all these things.  So.  So. Very. Grateful.

I was also remembering how that in the beginning of the disease for The Girl, it was emphasized that the treatment was a "team" consisting of the patient, the patient's family, the endocrinologist, and the family doctor along with other specialists such as eyes, feet, and pharmacy.  These days things have changed even more, and maybe not necessarily for the better, as much medical is an issue one has to take care of themselves.  However, the Girl's Endocrinologist is fabulous, knowledgeable, and oh so caring.  The PCP who diagnosed her all those years ago is retired now, but has been supportive even still.  Blessed we are!

With that said, diabetes is a personal disease.  I had to remember that although our little family of three was always affected, and then when The Girl married, The Son-In-Law was affected, ultimately it is The Girl's disease.  In support of her and her disease, it became a bit part of us.  And ultimately, she doesn't let diabetes control her but accepts it, does her best to control it, and even instead of saying "Why me?", she says "Why not me?"  I really look back and find it to be normal.  

To say I am proud of her and the fine woman she has become would be a gross understatement.  This blog and its many posts about her would attest to that.  I know life with diabetes is not easy but has become a way of life.  I will honestly tell you that when I see her smiling face and her healthy looks, my heart overflows with joy.    Take a look....

Pure Joy.  Beauty.  Love.  

I read something the other day that stuck hard with me.  It said something like "Having faith when the answers to your prayers are exactly what you want is easy.  It's when those answers are not what you want that faith becomes really real."  That saying made me think.  

As I thought about my own prayers over the past 32 years, I know that I have asked for a cure for diabetes in The Girl's lifetime.  I have asked for the ability for her to control her diabetes decently.  I have asked for healthy eyes and feet.  She usually tells me when she's hurt her foot and follows that with "and the best thing is I FELT it!"   It's the little things but I know that no matter what I pray and what the answer is, I know the one who controls it all and that is my Lord and Savior.  The best thing about The Girl is diabetes or no diabetes, HE is HER Lord and Savior also!

So on this day, I rejoice that I can write a little about my girl, her diabetes, life with diabetes, and how to cope.  Life is good. 

Face this day with real faith and joy and consider....

A BUSY BUNCH OF TIME AND EMOTIONS

I cannot believe it's been over a month since I posted.  When I think of the reason for (as The Grandbaby would say) "none" posts for a month, I am speechless.  It's a simple reasons of busyness, fatigue, and inability to keep up with it all.  Truth.

So here I am on a Sunday afternoon with no grand post title and no in depth thoughts.  I just wanted you to know that I am still "here".  This afternoon finds me a bit emptier of mind and things to do.  In fact, even though it's late afternoon, I wouldn't argue if a nap stopped by my way.

So much going on in the lives of the retired two that live in my house.  There have been some sad times for those we love in losses of friends' parents and others.  Moving up to heaven is not a bad thing for the one moving, but the ones staying behind get very sad.  

There have been some doctors' appointments, as usual, for The Husband, me, and The Aging Parents with even more being the last couple weeks of this month....4 to be precise.  The Husband's heart is doing ok, or so we think.  His cardiologist's appointment at the end of the month should be enlightening.  My appointment a couple of weeks ago with my hip surgeon's PA let me know I am now traveling on the road that, when I reach the end of it, will mean a new left hip to match my still fairly new right one.  I will travel on until then.

There's been last month of school events of The Grandbaby that has allowed The Poppa and me to attend.  There was field day and lunch.  Such fun for all of us and such a blessing for The Poppa and me to get to go.  I've attended many a field day in my lifetime, but The Poppa hasn't and has really enjoyed it.  There have been sleepovers, sewing, Legos, cooking, and Barbie playing with The Grandbaby.  

Growth in many ways.  Last year she wouldn't get her head or face wet.....Look at this year.....

The Grandbaby's first sewing project.  She wanted to wear it to show and tell day at school and she did!

The past month has been filled with VBS craft pre-work.  The two oldest volunteers in VBS last week were my buddy (who is older than me) and me.   I guarantee you that we certainly felt our age but really enjoyed both the time together and the time with the children.  It's all in working together.  VBS was wonderful with a large number attending and souls being saved.  And I was blessed also with a decent blood sugar on ice cream night so I got to eat REAL ice cream!  A multi dip blessing of a week.

Yes a blessing of a week...month...year...lifetime...

My mind fails to recall everything.  May mind does, however, recognize from whom my blessings stem....my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  

Thanks be to HIM for all things.  As the psalm and song says, "Bless the Lord, O, my soul!"

I'm looking forward to returning with some enlightening thoughts and stories but for now, I will go to welcome the nap that is coming by my house.  Will talk soon!

11 YEARS

Today marks eleven years ago I woke with a myriad of emotions.  It was the day The Girl would be marrying her prince.  I guess one of the first memories of the day was when I went early to have my hair done, The Girl and The Husband went to the basketball court to shoot baskets.  I remember thinking and even saying to The Girl, "You are going to shoot baskets with your wedding manicure?"  To which she replied, "Yep!"  And that is just how The Girl is....not letting the things that matter fall to the wayside of life.  Do I mean the manicure?  No, I mean the time with her daddy.  We must prioritize the things that REALLY matter.  That's a sermon for another day.

When I think of The Girl and The Son-In-Law and the life they share, I don't really think much now of that May 5 eleven years ago.  I think of REAL life now.  I think of the times of joy and the times of fear.  I think of the times of smiles and the times of uncertainty.  Yep, REAL life.  And the common factor of all of these is the fact that the life of The Girl and The Son-In-Law has began and continued with their Lord and Savior Jesus Christ in the very center.  To HIM be the honor and glory for everything.  You blog readers know that HE is at the top of my priority list and you may tire of knowing that, but hey, it is what it is and thankfully, HE is what HE is and it's because of HIM that we all can rejoice in ALL things....be it eleven years or more or less.

If you want photos from eleven years ago, there are plenty on other posts for this day on other years.  Everybody looked pretty nice on May 5, 2012.  Today, though, I want to give you descriptions of them now...in real life.   They are:

The Waffle House

Marshmallows in the fire pit

A Sunday School teacher deacon and a musician

Dusty and Cody Rhodes (at least one of them plus the half-pint who lives with them)

Fabulous, caring parents to that half-pint above

Dollywood

Collinsville Trade Day

Toyotas

Grass and flowers

Hot Dogs and Brussel Sprouts (not on the same plate)

And most of all, they are love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, and temperance.

It's as a coffee cup of mine says, "The days are long, but the years are short."

Happy Eleven Years!

A HEART THAT SINGS

A heart that can sing?  Yep.

I didn't realize until this morning that it has been a good three weeks since a post.  There would be good reason for that delay.  My favorite holiday was celebrated and we continued to rejoice; however, The Husband's heart continued to fault.  He had heart ablation on April 20, has made it to three days after his designated week's recovery period and only had two heart rates since ablation over 99 and they weren't much over 99 so I continue to rejoice.  I will spare you the not so fun part of this heart episode.  

Yesterday at church the choir sang what is right now my favorite medley song.  It had those old Southern gospel songs of "When The Roll is Called up Yonder", "Do Lord", "I'll Fly Away", "What a Day That will Be", "Until Then", and "The King is Coming".  I love all those songs, some more than others.  They remind me of heaven and that's a very happy thought.   

My favorite song in the group is "Until Then".  It says, "...but until then my heart will go on singing.  Until then with JOY, I'll carry on.  Until the day my eyes behold that city, until the day God calls me home."  That song gets me teary every time.  Every. Single. Time.  

It made me consider that I've been so bogged down with worry and fear (which I talk about on this blog regularly and yes, I say there's no need for it, but alas I admit my sin), that singing just hadn't been going on in my heart.  Then the other day I caught myself humming along as I did stuff here at home.  And more than that, I noticed I was humming.  It somehow gave me energy and peace that the cares of this life are not only handled by me, but noticed and handled by my heavenly Father.  As I have said this, He's got this.  Shucks, He's got everything.   

I think the best one to appreciate a singing heart is that same heavenly Father.  He loves to hear us sing in the good times, in the bad times, and all the time.  He doesn't even care if we are in tune or not.  Just sing. 

"Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and humans and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord."   Colossians 3:16

Consider....and hum a little tune.

HE IS RISEN!

Today dawns my favorite "holiday" of the year, Easter Day!  I celebrate today because that borrowed tomb where Jesus was laid to rest is empty.  Yes, empty!  Jesus arose from the dead just as he said and lives today!

Because HE lives, I can face tomorrow.  

Because HE lives, all fear is gone.

Because I know HE holds the future,

Life is worth the living just because HE LIVES!

Let's rejoice, praise, and celebrate!  Jesus IS alive!

AND THEN WHAT?

I find nothing in the Bible to document what happened the day after Jesus was crucified.   I only speculate in my mind.

I imagine daily life went on as usual for some.  Maybe there was talk on the street when people met, "Hey, did you see THAT?"

I always like to think of some others already mentioned earlier in the week.  The Mary who had the devils cast out, the lame man, the blind man, Jarius, those 5000 men who were fed along with the women and children, the graveyard guy who had the devils cast out, the eleven disciples, Pilate, and Mary the mother of Jesus.  There HAD to be grief.  GRIEF.

Then I think about Barabbas and the centurion.  Barabbas, a convicted murdered waiting to die, and now he is free and forgiven.  Did his life change or did he continue on doing wrong?  And the centurion who was at the crucifixion and said, "Surely this was the Son of God."  Did he change for the better in his belief?  These are answers we will never know but I like to think that there was a Jesus difference in their lives as there has been in mine.

On this in-between day, I want to share a couple of scriptures for thought.

From the Old Testament:

"Who hath believed our report? and to whom is the arm of the Lord revealed?

For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground: he hath no form nor comeliness, and when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him.

He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not.

Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet, we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.

But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed."   Isaiah 53:1-5 (KJV)

And from the New Testament:

"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through him might be saved."  John 3:16, 17 (KJV)

Never lose hope.  Sunday's coming.

Yes, on this day in-between....consider....

THE GREATEST LOVE ON THE DARKEST OF DAYS

Before I sat down to write this post, I read the scripture about the happenings on this day.  My eyes filled with tears as I again recognized the horror that Jesus went through.  Willingly.

Jesus was led away from the garden to where the high priests and scribes and elders were assembled.  They were waiting.  They got what they wanted.  Jesus.  I was thinking as I read this, for all their efforts to capture Jesus, all of this was God's plan.  

Peter followed from aways back to the high priests' palace and joined himself among the servants to see the end.  I wondered if Peter thought Jesus would just walk away and life would go on or if he truly realized this was what Jesus had spoke of so often to his disciples.  

In the "proceedings" there were two false witnesses that appeared.  

Jesus was then spit in the face and struck with the palms of various hands. 

As Peter sat, a girl came and said, "You were with Jesus."  Peter denied with "I know not what you say".  He went out to the porch.  Another girl saw him and said, "This fellow was with Jesus."  Again, Peter denied, this time with an oath and said "I know not the man."  After awhile there came several that stood by him and said, " Surely you are one of 'them'....your speech betrays you."  And Peter, cursing and swearing, said "I know not the man."  Immediately the cock crew.  At that sound, Peter remembered, he went out and wept bitterly.  True repentance involves bitter weeping, doesn't it?  I think from the scriptures after all this that Peter's repentance was real as was the forgiveness he received as he did the work of his Lord.

On the other hand, Judas also feels guilt and took back the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders.  He admitted his sin but the chief priests and elders who didn't pay any attention to him or his guilt.  Judas left and hanged himself.  Sin takes a toll.  

Jesus was taken before the Pilate and answered nothing.  It was tradition that at the feast the governor was accustomed to releasing a prison.  The chief priests stirred up the people and when asked by Pilate if he should release Barabbas or Jesus, they said Barabbas.  As for Jesus, it was "crucify him."  Yes, the exchange of a murdered and criminal for the holy Son of God.

Jesus was whipped, stripped, and attired in a scarlet robe.  

A crown of thorns was put on his head.

He was mocked.

He was spit upon.

He was smote on the head with a reed.

After that they put his clothes back on him and led him away to crucify him to Golgotha, a place of a skull.

They gave him vinegar to drink.

They crucified him.

They cast lots for his clothes.

They put a sign "THIS IS JESUS THE KING OF THE JEWS."

He was crucified between two thieves.

There was darkness from the sixth hour unto the ninth hour.  I imagine that all those around from the haughty smug chief priests down to the followers of Jesus all KNEW something was different and the darkness kind of quieted down all those around.  I can almost see it as very eerie and scary.  After all, Jesus, the LIGHT of the world, was about to die.  About the ninth hour, Jesus cried, "My God, my God, why hath thou forsaken me?" (Matthew 27:46 KJV)  Jesus, both God and man, felt all the pain of the human body as he suffered on that cross--the sins of the world on him.   Jesus cried once more with a LOUD voice and then he died.  

The veil of the temple was torn from top to bottom, the earth did quake, the rocks rent, graves were opened and many bodies of the saints which slept arose.

The centurion said, "Truly this was the Son of God."

At the evening, Joseph of Arimathaea went to Pilate and begged the body of Jesus.  He wrapped the body in a clean linen cloth and laid it in his own new tomb.

It was a cruel gruesome death suffered by Jesus.  I wish I could explain it better, but the Bible says it all.  What I can tell you is that Jesus showed the greatest love he could show by taking our sins upon himself and laying down his life for me...and for you...for us. And I can tell you that I believe it ALL!

It seemed like the end but remember as my favorite Easter t-shirt says, "A lot can happen in three days."

Consider....

NOT MY WILL, BUT THINE

Gethsemane, a garden at the foot of the Mount of Olives, is the place where Jesus and his disciples went after their supper together.  

Jesus told the disciples to sit there while he went and prayed.  He took with him Peter, James, and John and was very sorrowful and downhearted.  He told them, "My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death: tarry ye here, and watch with me." (Matthew 26:38 KJV)

The Bible goes on to say that he went a little farther, and fell on his face and prayed, saying, "O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt."  (Matthew 26:39 KJV)

The gospel of Luke says that an angel appeared to him from heaven, strengthening him.  It also said he was in agony and prayed so earnestly and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground. 

He came again to his disciples and found them asleep again and he left them and went away to pray the third time.  After that he came to his disciples and told them to "Sleep on now; and take your rest: behold, the hour is at hand, and the Son of man is betrayed into the hands of sinners.  Rise, let us be going: behold, he is at hand that doth betray me." (Matthew 26:46, 47 KJV)

While he was speaking, Judas came and along with him were many with swords from the chief priests and elders of the people.  The sign was to be a kiss.  So Judas came to Jesus and said, "Hail master" and kissed him.  Then they came and put held Jesus and took him.  Jesus went willingly.

When I read these passages, my heart cries from the sadness of that dark, dark hour.   Oh, so many, opposites are displayed.  You have a beautiful place of peace....then it becomes an angry sinful place of betrayal.  You have a loving master.....yet sleepy disciples.  You have a willing heart for the Father's will.....yet you have the human-ness of the desire of "if it be possible, let this cup pass from me".  Then you have the surrender and love of the one true Jesus who says, "not my will, but thine."  It fills my heart again and again that Jesus did all this for ME....for YOU....for us ALL!

Consider....

PETER

One of the great leaders of the twelve followers of Jesus was the disciple, Simon Peter.  He always seemed to be at the forefront of all the goings on in that time.  I believe Jesus even said to Simon Peter at one time, "Thou art Peter and on this rock I will build my church..." (Matthew 16:18)  Yes, I think we could say that Peter was one of the bold disciples.

After the supper was ended, Jesus and Peter had a conversation.  As I have said on this blog before, this passage of scripture is one of the scariest to me.  I think I will give you the passage straight from the Bible.  It goes like this, beginning at Luke 22:31:

"And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat:  But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren.  And he said unto him, Lord, I am ready to go with thee both into prison, and to death.  And he said, I tell thee, Peter, the cock shall not crow this day before that thou shalt thrice deny that thou knows me."  Luke 22:31-34 (KJV)

Peter so reminds me of myself. 

I'm certain, just as Jesus said of Peter, that Satan desires to have us all and sift us like wheat.  But we can take comfort and be assured, the Lord has PRAYED for us that our faith fail not.

I tell the Lord over and over.... I will stand for you.  I will share your gospel.  I would never deny you, Lord.  Yeah, right.  I've failed in that so many times, I lose count.  Opportunity after opportunity to tell others about my Jesus.  Yes, just by being quiet, I often deny.  The great thing is that I am able to feel conviction about the denials and can strive to improve with each day.  

Consider....

SUPPERTIME WITH FRIENDS

One of Jesus' disciples, Judas, was visited by the enemy who put in his heart to betray Jesus.  Judas went in to the chief priests and made the offer of betrayal.  The chief priests were so very glad to have his help....this Jesus was causing trouble to them and their plan.  (Somehow that sounds a bit like our world today, doesn't it?)  Judas came to an agreement with them to betray the Lord for thirty pieces of silver, roughly $3840.  When I ponder this, I often find that I "betray" the Lord for much less on occasion.   

Jesus wanted to share the Passover with his disciples.  He gave instruction for the upper room and all he said fit right in place.   

In the evening he met in that room with his twelve disciples.  These were the guys who followed him faithfully, saw all the miracles he did, even were involved directly in the miracles he did, was taught by him of the important spiritual things and so much more.  Yes, even Judas was there among the disciple friends.

Jesus took the bread, blessed it, brake it, and gave them to eat saying, "Take eat, this is my body."

Jesus took the "cup", blessed it, and gave it to them saying "This is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many."

I don't find where Jesus ate the bread or drank the cup as "I will drink no more of the fruit of the vine, until that day that I drink it new in the kingdom of God."  That's a good research project for you readers to check me on that.

Jesus also said during suppertime that one of the disciples would betray him.  They all questioned that.  Judas ran out.

Suppertime around my table when I have family and friends is a time of joy together, a time of conversation, and love.  I want the food I prepare to be decent to eat but that's not the biggest deal around my table.  It's the love and joy.   I tried to compare how this supper of Jesus and his friends felt.  Then I remember when we celebrate communion at church and remember what Jesus did for us.  Sometimes my heart rejoices more than at other times but the times of great rejoicing are when I TRULY remember that "He is the bread of life....I will never go hungry" and "His blood covers it ALL."  That is true worship and strength for life here along with expectation of the eternal life we are gifted with because of Jesus.

Consider...

FOREVER CHANGED

Today I want to put some food out for thought about Jesus and the good he did.  I remember as a child always learning that "Jesus went about doing good."  

I start today with thoughts of Jesus who has been on earth doing all these miracles.  There's the Pharisees and the Sadducees who are surely non-believers and I find them almost jealous of Jesus' "popularity".  This kind of reminds me of the enemy when the Lord's work is being done and the Lord is being praised but that's another sermon for another day.

My thoughts have gone today to those to whom HE became special.  

I think of Mary who had those devils cast out.  Her life was changed.

How about the young man in the graveyard who was possessed?  Jesus came by and his life was forever changed.

Then there's the blind guy who was blind since birth but Jesus restored his sight.  And if one is blind since birth, think about it.  That person doesn't know what sight even looks like.  Can you imagine?  Then when he was questioned, he said, "I don't know how he did it but I do know that I was blind and now I SEE!"   Forever changed.

How about the lame man who was told to take up his bed and walk?   He picked up that bed and took off walking...maybe he even ran.  Life changed.

How about Jarius whose precious daughter was dead but now lives?  She's back with him at the supper table.   Life changed.

How about the hungry 5000 men not counting women and children who were fed until their stomachs were packed full from five loaves and two small fishes?  And there were leftovers!  Life changing food for the body and the soul.

And how about sweet Mary, the mother of Jesus, who always knew He was to be special?  Bet she pondered in her heart all those years.   Forever changed.

So many more lives witnessing miracles and life changing events that seemed unbelievable.  Forever changed.

How about you?  Have you been forever changed by Jesus?  I surely have as a young girl when I asked HIM into my heart and believed on HIM as my Lord and Savior.  Now 58 years later, HE is still that and so much more to me!

Yes, I am forever changed!

Consider.....

BECAUSE OF HIM

It's been almost a month since I have blog-written.  I have been busy with medical issues with my parents and since mid-March, The Husband has been experiencing heart issues with a five day stay at a very large big city heart hospital.  His problem is not yet resolved.  He has a heart ablation scheduled in two to three weeks.  If you are a pray-er, I encourage you to do so. 

Yes, I have been physically and mentally exhausted and running on empty.  Way, way empty.  

When I sat down today just to look at the calendar, I realized that we are a week away from my favorite "holiday" of the year--Easter!  With that realization, I took some time to still the crazies of my life and think about this and what it means to me.  I recalled the Easter Sunday, what has it been?  Three years ago when we were had no organized church services to celebrate this wonderful day.  The Husband and I had our own sunrise/sonrise service on our front porch and it was no less precious.  No less precious because the one we celebrate is still alive today!  Our lives with medical issues and heart ablations and inflation and sin and so much more CAN be good in spite of all these distractions.  It's all "because of HIM". 

Because of HIM, we can trust more.  

Because of HIM, we can love more.

Because of HIM, we can walk thru valleys safely and climb the mountains ahead with strength.

Because of HIM, we can rejoice in times of hardship.

Because of HIM, we can choose joy, even when we are running on empty.  Way, way empty.

Because of HIM, we can praise and praise and praise.  And then we can praise some more.

Because of HIM, we can be courageous and fear not.

Because of HIM, we CAN face tomorrow.

As in years past, I invite you to read from the scriptures this week for holy week and remember exactly what our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ did for you, for me, and for all of us.   As in years past, I am going to attempt to post every day....just my thoughts as they relate to this season of sadness and ultimately, this season of joy.  I invite you to check in, especially every night as I hope to have written by then.  

Most of all during this season, I invite you to worship with thanksgiving and joy our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ who died and rose again for ALL for us!

Scripture choices are:

Jesus rides into Jerusalem.....Matt 21:1-11; Mark 11:1-11; Luke 19:29-40; John 12:12-19

The Last Supper with the twelve....Matt. 26:17-30; Mark 14:12-26; Luke 22:3-39; John 13

Sold out....Matt 26: 1-16;  Mark 14:1-2, 10-11:  Luke 22:1-6

In the Garden....Matthew 26:36-56; Mark14: 32-52; Luke 22:39-53; John 17, 18:1-11

Guilty?.....Matthew 26:57-75; Mark14:53-72;  Luke 22:54-71; John 18:12-27

A Dark Day....Matthew 27:1-66; Mark 15:1-47; Luke 23; John 18:28-42

The Tomb....Matthew 28; Mark 16; Luke 24; John 20

I will also invite you to read my Holy Week posts for 2022, beginning with "Eggs and the Resurrection", from April 10, 2022 through the following week until resurrection Sunday 2022.

Consider....

ALIKE THOUGHTS TO PONDER

Two on my list of favorite sayings pretty much mean the same thing and I was thinking of them this week.  I thought you blog readers might enjoy pondering them also.

Your talk talks and your walk talks but your walk talks more than your talk talks.

Your actions speak so loudly I can't hear what you say.

Consider....

AUDITS AND ROOT CANALS

My wish of writing regularly seemed to have vanished by the wayside.  

This week has been excruciatingly hard in so many various ways, I will choose to not share any of them.  Trust me.  When I say excruciatingly hard, it's truth.

As I was in conversation with my accountant's new employee today, we spoke of my many years' business relationship with his employer.  I voiced that I had always tried to understand what I could when our company was in business and do it as right as I could.  Mainly I did this as I never wanted to endure an audit.  I still don't.  My long time accountant is very aware of this dread of mine.

In my adult life, I have always tried to avoid a root canal.  To date, I have never had one but I know that in life, it's never too late so I continue to want to avoid a root canal.  My long time dentist is very aware of this dread of mine.  He even mentions in some fun on occasion.  Audits and root canals are NOT fun.

With audits and root canals, I can just try to do the best I can to avoid by being truthful with my information and taking as good a care of my old teeth as I can.  Sometimes, though, in spite of all the very best one can do, dreads become reality.

I have determined that life is a lot like that.  So many things happen as we grow into various seasons of life that change our circumstances, change our plans, and change us.  Often these various things happen in spite of us.  As with audits and root canals, we can only do the best we can to avoid but deal if they happen.  That's just truth.  

No, on this day and hopefully no other day will I experience an audit or a root canal but if I do, I will deal.  By the same token, I will deal with life as it deals it's hand as well.  The positive thing in all of these is that I have a heavenly Father whose promises are true and is faithful.  I'm thinking you regular blog readers might weary of hearing about what my heavenly Father can do, but I assure you....I can do NOTHING without HIM.  I hope you can say the same.

Consider....

BIRTHDAY CAKE--SUGAR FREE

 As The Girl enjoyed her one day late sugar free birthday cake I made her yesterday, she was recalling that it was a far cry from that very first one in 1992 (AD-After Diabetes).  Oh, it was so so sad that I cried.

This one was DELICIOUS!  My wedding cake baker friend taught me the secret and now I'm here to share with you along with a pictorial.

You can see my ingredients....prepare the cake just as the box back instructs.

Frosting for a 8" two layer cake takes 2 envelopes of dream whip whipped together with 1 cup milk and a teaspoon or so of vanilla extract (for vanilla pudding).  Whip until stiff peaks form, then add the large powdered pudding instant sugar free mix and beat again.  At this point you might need to add some more milk or it could be too thick to spread well.  Be your own judge. 

I think different pudding flavors can be used but I have only used vanilla--which gives you a yellow frosting.  

I think it would be good in 13 x 9 pan also with frosting on top.

Last night, The Girl gladly left two pieces of the cake here and the rest went home with her.  Amazingly, I was blessed at 3 p.m. today with a double digit blood sugar.  It rarely happens.  I made myself a cup of decaf coffee and put my piece of cake on a pretty plate, sat in my recliner and ate it as I watched Hot Bench on TV.  The Husband and I only watch quality programming, you see.  

So yummy!  Try it, you'll like it!

42

On this day 42 years ago at 11:59 a.m., The Husband and I received new names.  Our sweet baby girl was born so we became Daddy and Mama.  Best. Names. Ever.  Well maybe Poppa and Neema are a close second?  

Mercy,  how can I be the parent of a 42 year old???  It's living proof that time does fly.  Trust me.  It's as that saying goes, "The days are long, but the years are short!"  So so true.

The Girl has brought unmeasurable joy to our lives and all the lives she has touched in those 42 years.  For all you who know her, I thought you might enjoy knowing that she did get into some mischief during those years.

As all you regular blog readers know as I write her merits each year on this date and June 21, The Girl is a beautiful example of pure goodness....and I don't say that just because I'm her mama.  As her mama, I can tell you she's had her days otherwise but most of the time her worst of days is still good.  I can't determine whose genes make her that way as The Husband and I both are not as full of kind goodness as she is.  

My heart is filled with gratitude for her and for the blessing to her of her dreams of a husband and a child, both who love her BIG.  The Girl has endured hard times with health issues.  She is full of grace for others.  She serves her family and her Lord so very well.  She says she's even getting a smidgen of gray hair.  Duh.  So with that said, life is giving her normal.  :)

The lives of The Girl's parents is blessed big just from being given the privilege of being HER parents.  

I understand The Girl spent her last night of being 41 celebrating the heart holiday with her family at one of their favorite restaurants.  Speaks volumes to her pleasure of simplicity and I thought this picture showed a happy woman of healthy beauty.   (And as a side note of celebration, the hanging front tooth of The Grandbaby in this photo just came out in her morning waffle on her mama's birthday.)

So with this birthday of 42 years, I think The Girl is worthy of this scripture....

"Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies...

Favor is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that fears the Lord, she shall be praised."

Proverbs 13:10, 30

So Happy Birthday sweet girl!  Our love for you overflows....

Blessed big.

FLOWERS OF THE HEART

Valentine's Day originated as a Christian feast day honoring a martyr named Valentine.  There's a lot more historical information I don't care to go into but you can google it if you do want to educate yourself more.  Bottom line is that these days, Valentine's Day involves hearts, flowers, and most of all....love.    

It's been about ten or so years since I posted my favorite reading for this day.  I cut it out of the newspaper one day as it spoke to me.  It was written by a wise woman named Judy Elliott, just to give her the credit she certainly deserves.  It was titled "More Than Hearts and Flowers" and reads like this:

"The 14th of February fell a week to the day after I married.  I rushed home from my teaching job, threw a clean cloth on a card table, tied red streamers on my new husband's chair and popped up an 8 x 10 Valentine by his plate.  Then I waited for him to burst through the door, a bouquet of red roses in his arms.  I threw together a heart-shaped chocolate cake from a mix and squirted red icing on the top.  Newly-wed dessert with high expectations.

Finally, my groom showed up, a little late, but worth the wait I told myself.  He took one look at the table and blanched white.  He had forgotten it was Valentine's Day.  No card.  No flowers. No candy.  I was crushed.  He tried making polite conversation but I wasn't having any part of it.  I dished up his dinner like it was prison food, plopped down in my folding chair and answered his "What's wrong?" question with all the maturity of a 22 year old bride.  "Nothing,"  I sniffled.  "Absolutely nothing."  I pouted for three days, played the martyr and made both of us miserable..........

.....Seven years went by before, walking a sick baby in the night, I realized it was Cupid's day and I had forgotten to get him a valentine.  It was his chance to whine, but he didn't.   By then we were way past a candlelight dinner...I was scrubbing Gerber's oatmeal off the kitchen floor and he was taking his turn folding diapers.  If he had brought flowers home, I would have had a sinking spell, knowing we needed the money to pay the pediatrician.......

....The same fella who forgot to remember me with a card on our first Valentine's Day together turned out to be a man who saw me through my mother's final illness and never left my side at her funeral.  He rocked babies with earaches and drove carpools to Brownie meetings.  All told, he probably spent four years of his life sitting on bleachers, watching swim meets and tennis matches.  And when I had an operation, he stretched out on the uncomfortable chair by my bed and stayed at the hospital.

He'll never surprise me with a diamond ring in a box of Cracker Jacks...and he's yet to mention I can no longer fit into a size 8 dress.  I'm a slow learner, but I finally realized it takes more than chocolate, valentines or roses to take care of the heart."

I REALLY relate to this so much.  My 44 year Valentine has blessed my life and made my world happy.

I pondered hearts and flowers this morning when I awoke.  I thought, "If one could smell hearts, they would surely have the sweet smell of flowers."  I thought of what hearts represent in their sweetness.  It's a common thing now to send a text and put a heart at the end.  One can choose their own colors but for the most part, I choose the red.  That receiver of the text knows that I care.  There have been times I have sent a heart as the only thing on the text and they STILL know.  The Grandbaby LOVES to draw hearts on everything as she states her "I love you" with those hearts.  My "heart" pitter patters all over the floor as I receive many of those written joys.

The flowery "smell" of a heart can mean...

love for that person

caring for someone

a feeling of comfort to the receiver in times of sadness or uncertainty or pain

a knowledge to the receiver that they are so loved

and SO SO much more.

And that just is just a sampling of the flowery "smell" of a heart.  It all comes down to senses.  Smell is something you can't see.  Smells can be good.  Smells can be not so good.  The feeling of emotion is not something you can see either.  I know for myself, and I'm betting for you too, it doesn't take much to bring to mind a time when your "heart" hurt so badly and something or someone came along and gave such comfort and peace to that troubled emotion of the heart.  

You blog readers know, too, that my greatest love just right right above my family is my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  HIS love is the greatest love of all.  And HIS comfort to my sometimes aching heart offers the grace and mercy I don't deserve but get anyway and the peace I seek for my troubled heart.

So take some time today to "smell the hearts".  I tend to say physical hearts and flowers are very over-rated but the hearts and flowers you FEEL inside are the best!

"And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling savor."    Ephesians 5:2" 

Happy Hearts' Day!

Consider....