Showers of Blessing

There shall be showers of blessing:
This is the promise of love;
There shall be seasons refreshing,
Sent from the Savior above.
Daniel Whittle

I will make them and the area around My hill a blessing: I will send down showers in their season--showers of blessing. 
Ezekiel 34:26

Wind and Waves

Even the wind and the waves obey Him!

Mark 4:41

This pond adjoins the property where I live. I saw so many flocks of birds today even with the very strong wind we had. I cannot imagine being out on the sea in wind and high waves. It reminded me of the story of Jesus calming the sea.

Kaedyn's Pics

My granddaughter takes lots of pics when she visits me. She aims for really unflattering pics of me most of the time LOL. This one is through a water bottle she had just emptied. I think it is kinda cool!

I thought this was a good one: Christmas lights reflected in the window at twilight.
My little decorator is going to be mad next week when she comes to visit and all the decorations are gone! We may have to decorate early for George Washington's birthday!!

Prayer for America's New Leaders

Christmas is behind us now and we start counting down to 2017 and the U.S. inauguration January 20. This is a time to really pray for the transition ahead.

Father God, Please put new hearts and a new Spirit into all of our leaders. Take away the hearts of stone and give them hearts of flesh that are sensitive, tender and responsive the the Word of God. My our leaders recognize the voice of the Shepherd - the King of Love - and discern and expose the deceptions of the enemy,

I pray that our leaders will follow in the footsteps of King Josiah. When they hear the Word of God, it will grip their hearts. They will obey it and will declare it to the nation. [2 Kings 23]

Blessings

Lord, be gracious to us.

We long for You.

Be our strength every morning,

Our salvation in time of distress.

Isaiah 33:2

The Lord bless you and keep you.

The Lord make His face to shine on you

and be gracious to you.

The Lord turn His face toward you

and give you peace,

Numbers 6:24-26

God's Hand

credit

If I climb upward on the rays of the morning sun

or land on the most distant shore of the sea

where the sun sets,

even there your hand would guide me

and your right hand would hold on to me.

Psalm 139:9-10 

Hark the Herald Angels Sing

Hail the heaven-born Prince of Peace!

Hail the Son of Righteousness

Light and life to all He brings,

Risen with healing in His wings.

"Hark the Herald Angels Sing" was written by Charles Wesley, the 18th child of Samuel and Susanna Wesley. He was born on December 18, 1707.

Bill Federer has written an interesting article about the origins of favorite Christmas carols published on Charisma News.

http://www.wnd.com/2016/12/extraordinary-origins-of-everyday-christmas-carols/

Good News

Hark how the heavenly anthem drowns

All music but its own

I bring you good news

of great joy!

White as Snow

When I was substitute teaching in public school, I noticed that God is left out of the conversation. I was instructed not to sing any Christmas songs with the children, not even Jingle Bells.  But, thankfully, one little first grader was okay with praising the Lord at school. As we were going out to recess, we saw a few snowflakes sifting down. She burst out in song, "Oh, precious is the flow that makes me white as snow. No other fount I know. Nothing but the blood of Jesus!"

This is all my hope and peace,
Nothing but the blood of Jesus;
This is all my righteousness,
Nothing but the blood of Jesus.
Robert Lowry

The Song the Angels Sing

For lo, the days are hastening on,

By prophet bards foretold,

When with the ever circling years

Comes round the age of gold;

When peace shall over all the earth

Its ancient splendors fling,

And the whole world give back the song

Which now the angels sing.

The word 'SING' appears 121 times in the Bible.
The most recorded command in God's Word is
 'SING TO THE LORD".

There is an eternal song of rejoicing in Heaven.
We can choose to sing along.

Imagine the day
when the whole world gives back the song
which now the angels sing.

Glory to God in the highest
and on earth peace among men
with whom He is well pleased.
Luke 2:14

The Best Gift of All

Jesus said: 

I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. 

And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give.

 So don't be troubled or afraid.

John 14:27 NLT

The Gift of the Present

Someone said that continually bemoaning the past, or dreading the future, is just a way to get out of hearing and obeying God right now....Ouch.

Lord, Thank you that you have given me the gift of the PRESENT! Help me to enjoy Your presence and love the people who cross my path today - one at a time.

Loving My Neighbor

I love this picture of two birds NOT of the same feather sharing a twig in the snowstorm. Does it seem like when stormy weather comes that people pitch in and help one another...neighbors who may have never even stopped to chat in good times?

Christmas is for Receiving

Did you ever know someone who would not receive a gift from you?  I had an MIL who would not accept gifts from me, even if I went to great lengths to get the very thing she said she wanted. It made me feel awful. There was an episode on "Everybody Loves Raymond" where Ray discovers Christmas gifts from years past piled in his parents' basement, still in the original unopened boxes, because they "couldn't understand high tech stuff like tape players". It was funny on the sit com, but hurtful in real life.

It made me think about the fact that Christmas is a time for RECEIVING as well as for GIVING.
How must God feel when people refuse the wonderful gift of His Son?

I read this beautiful quote from Dale Evans Rogers:
"Christmas is giving. But Christmas is also receiving. In the Bible it says, 'As many as received Him, to them gave He the power to become the sons of God...' As many as received Him! When we understand that, we understand that receiving can be even more important than giving - at Christmas!
When we receive Christ, we experience completely the gift that is Christmas."

Imitation

Watch what God does, and then you do it, like children who learn proper behavior from their parents. Mostly what God does is love you. Keep company with him and learn a life of love. Observe how Christ loved us. His love was not cautious but extravagant. He didn't love in order to get something from us but to give everything of himself to us. Love like that.
Ephesians 5:1-2 Message

There was a man in our worship band at church who played the guitar with his little four-year-old son right beside him on the platform every week playing his toy guitar. It was sweet to see that the son had all his Dad's moves down, and even his facial expressions.

Let me be a shadow in Your light

Just a small reflection of a greater love

Let me be a shadow in Your light

That falls on the lost and the lonely

Lenny LeBlanc

I saw this photo online and I had to share it!

The caption said: Hen comforts kittens in storm.

Through Cloud and Sunshine

My heart goes out the the people left homeless by the wildfires around Gatlinburg TN.

I couldn't get to sleep Tuesday night and watched lived coverage as 14, 000 people evacuated with very little notice. I guess this seems more real to me because I have visited that area and it is not too far from my sister in north Georgia.

I listened to my son Cameron this morning leading worship
 in the prayer room.
He was singing;
The only thing that's going to keep us in the hour of trial
 is God's voice.

I need Thy presence every passing hour.
What but Thy grace can foil the tempter's power?
Who, like Thyself, my guide and stay can be?
Through cloud and sunshine, Lord, abide with me.

Henry Lyte  - Abide With Me 

Feeling at Home

This is my childhood home in Georgia, Mother and Daddy built it when I was a baby and I lived there until I married. I still dream about good times I had in that house with little sister Mildred and big brother Larry.

Larry and me, at home on Christmas Eve, 1950.

It began to snow on Christmas eve, and Mother begged her doctor to let her take me home from the hospital. We arrived home late after Larry was in bed, and the next morning, he found a little sister under the Christmas tree, along with his new cowboy suit.

At Christmas we read about there being no room at the inn for baby Jesus.. What an honor that Jesus' desire is to make our hearts His home.

Soothing Instrumental - Peaceful Sunsets

Being Thankful - My Chief Task

King David appointed Levites to minister before the ark of the Lord and to celebrate, thanking and praising the Lord, the God of Israel.... David entrusted to Asaph and his brethren the singing of thanks to the Lord [as their chief task]: 

O give thanks to the Lord, call on His name; make known His doings among the peoples! Sing to Him, sing praises to Him; meditate on and talk of all His wondrous works and devoutly praise them! Glory in His holy name; let the hearts of those rejoice who seek the Lord!
1 Chronicles 16:4, 7-10

Song of Moses

They sang the song of Moses,

the bond-servant of God,
and the song of the Lamb, saying,
"Great and marvelous are Your works,
O Lord God, the Almighty;
Righteous and true are Your ways,
KING OF THE NATIONS!
"Who will not fear, O Lord,
and glorify Your name?
For You alone are holy; for
ALL THE NATIONS WILL COME AND WORSHIP BEFORE YOU,
FOR YOUR RIGHTEOUS ACTS HAVE BEEN REVEALED."
Revelation 15:3-5 NASB

Thanksgiving Night

On Thanksgiving evenings Mother and Dad would take us kids to downtown Atlanta to Rich's Department Store. As the sky grew dark, we'd stand in the street with the crowd waiting for the lighting of the Great Tree that sat on top of the five-story crystal bridge.

Choirs from Atlanta area stood on each bridge. The floors would light up one at a time and each choir would sing a familiar carol. For the finale, a soloist would begin to sing "O Holy Night". All the floors would light up at once and every voice would join in singing, "Fall on your knees. O hear the angels' voices. O night divine! O night when Christ was born". At that moment the huge tree would be lit and everyone down in the streets would gasp in delight.

After I was married and had kids, we started a tradition of turning on the lights of the Christmas tree at our house on Thanksgiving night.

Precious Name

My children loved to watch the movie The Best Christmas Pageant Ever. In it, a little girl named Imogene, who has never been to church before or heard the Christmas story, is practicing to play the part of Mary in the children's Christmas play. When she hears the prophecy from Isaiah 9: He shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace, she innocently asks, "With a name that long, how will the kid will ever get out of first grade!"

Imogene was beginning to understand how precious the Name of Jesus is!

John Newton penned these words in 1779.

How sweet the Name of Jesus sounds
In a believer’s ear!
It soothes his sorrows, heals his wounds,
And drives away his fear.

Jesus! my Shepherd, Husband, Friend,
O Prophet, Priest and King,
My Lord, my Life, my Way, my End,
Accept the praise I bring.

Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved. Acts 4:12

Keep On Praying for Unity

The glory that you have given me I have given to them, 

that they may be one even as we are one, I in them and you in me,

 that they may become perfectly one,

 so that the world may know that you sent me 

and loved them even as you loved me.

John 17:22-23

Keep on praying in the Spirit (Eph 6:18).
This is a short clip of a beautiful chorus: MAKE US ONE

  

Honoring Veterans

"We will also finally take care of our great veterans who have been so loyal, and I've gotten to know so many over this 18-month journey. The time I've spent with them during this campaign has been among my greatest honors. Our veterans are incredible people."

President Elect Donald Trump, 11/9/16

Be Glad

Let the heavens rejoice, let the earth be glad;

    let the sea resound, and all that is in it.

Let the fields be jubilant, and everything in them;

    let all the trees of the forest sing for joy.

Let all creation rejoice before the Lord, for he comes,

    he comes to judge the earth.

He will judge the world in righteousness

    and the peoples in his faithfulness.

Psalm 96:11-13

I will bless the Lord

I will bless the Lord at all times;
His praise shall continually be in my mouth.
My soul shall make its boast in the Lord;
The humble shall hear of it and be glad.
Oh, magnify the Lord with me,
And let us exalt His name together.

Psalm 34:1-3

Praying for our nation

Cameron on left with other missionary friends

This is from my son Cameron in New Jersey:

This week our house of prayer is doing a 3 day solemn assembly. If you are not familiar with that term, it just means a call to prayer. We will have people and teams praying 24/7 for our nation at this critical time around the election. Regardless of political agenda, we can all agree that our nation needs God! We have invited the greater church community in our area to participate. So far we have 9 churches that will be joining us!

If you would like to join in with us online, you can stream it at ihopeg.org.

I know many believers, churches, and other houses of prayer around the country are also praying fervently this week.

Even as we cry out for mercy on our nation, may we have our hope and faith in Christ alone.

"The lofty looks of man shall be humbled, The haughtiness of men shall be bowed down, And the Lord alone shall be exalted in that day." Isaiah 2:11

Much Grace to you,

Cameron

Howdy NEIGH-bor!

A horse pasture borders the property where I live. 

This guy is like me, he grazes all day!

I'm joining Eileen at Saturday's Critters.

Revive US Again

Many places of worship are having solemn assemblies this weekend

 to pray for the election and our nation.

Will You not revive us again,

That Your people may rejoice in You?

Show us Your mercy, LORD,

And grant us Your salvation.

I will hear what God the LORD will speak,

For He will speak peace

To His people and to His saints;

But let them not turn back to folly.

Psalm 85:6-7

All glory and praise

To the God of all grace,

Who hast brought us, and sought us,

And guided our ways

Very beautiful rendition of one of my favorite hymns.

Friday Foto Friends

My son moved to a new location nearer to his church in New Jersey. He was thrilled to find this peaceful park and walking trail nearby.

Happy One Year Anniversary to Friday Foto Friends. and Debbie at Breathing in Grace.

Light and Life

The way of the righteous
is like the first gleam of dawn, 

which shines ever brighter
until the full light of day.

Proverbs 4:18

I listened online to a Christian in a country that is hostile to the gospel of Jesus Christ. She said many there are hearing the Word of God and placing their faith in Jesus Christ, knowing they are surrendering all and putting their lives in danger. Yet these new believers are quickly becoming bold witnesses and leaders in the underground churches. http://www.joelstrumpet.com/?p=8458

Now Christ Jesus has come
to show us the kindness of God. 

Christ our Savior
defeated death and brought us the good news. 

It shines like a light
and offers life that never ends.

2 Timothy 1:10

Your Name, O Lord

Yes, in the path of Your judgments, O Lord,

we wait expectantly for You;

our heartfelt desire is for YOUR NAME

and for the remembrance of You.

Isaiah 26:8 Amplified

Your Name is a strong and mighty tower
Your Name is a shelter like no other
Your Name, let the nations sing it louder
'Cause nothing has the power to save
But Your Name

Paul Baloche

Sure-footed

Saddle oxfords were all the rage when I was in high school. I begged  Daddy to buy me a pair, but when I put them on the next morning, on my skinny legs they felt like ten-pound weights!

I was so proud of my shoes, but it was pouring rain as I jumped puddles from the bus to the front door of Milton High, trying to keep them clean. As soon as I stepped into the wet foyer, my feet flew out from under me, and I found myself staring up at two strong athletes who set me back on my feet.

Well, I've never been accused of being especially graceful, and I remembered that incident when I read in the Psalms that God helps us in our Christian walk by making us sure-footed when we try to follow in His footsteps.

It is God who arms me with strength,
And makes my way perfect.
He makes my feet like the feet of deer,
And sets me on my high places.
Psalm 18:32-33

I followed this little deer all the way to the end of the sidewalk yesterday
 before she disappeared into the bushes.

My Song to Jesus

God raised You up

And set You on high
Over all creation
Earth, sea and sky.

Exalted above every earthly king
God's precious, priceless offering
Forever Your song of praise we'll sing
Jesus, name above all names.

From the outer reaches of deepest space
To a tear-stained altar in a humble place
Your mercy extended to the human race
Has shown us the glory of God.
Karen Rice

Evening Shadows

I remember warm sunny afternoons when we were kids, raking piles of leaves, the scritch scratch of the prongs of the rake, the smell of smoke as PawPaw burned his brush pile at the edge of the street.
Before long the sun would drop below the tree line, and the air would get a sudden chill. We'd hurry up the street toward home - our mouths watering for the gingerbread and baked apples that Mother would have in the oven.

I am linking today with Good Fences

Sunlight

Incredibly gorgeous Saturday in southern Indiana.

An old hymn came to mind as I walked at the park:

Walking in sunlight all of my journey,
over the mountains, through the deep vale;
Jesus has said, "I’ll never forsake thee,"
promise divine that never can fail.

Henry Zelley

My Decorator Was Here

 Kaedyn visited me this week and decorated my bedroom window. 

Here is the Bible passage she is memorizing this week:

For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome. For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—
our faith.

1 John 5:3-4

It was so refreshing to see her joy and childlike faith after all the ugliness in the news the past few days. I pray for our nation, especially the children.

Colorful Walk and a Mischievous Squirrel

I was thrilled to see so much color today on my walk at the park. Early morning, warm sun, gentle breeze - quiet and peaceful...I went to throw away a paper cup, and a feisty squirrel jumped out of the trash can and scared me silly. I tried my best to follow him and get a pic. I kept circling as he inched around and around a tree trunk keeping me just out of range. I believe I heard him chuckling under his breath!

 He won. This photo is from wikimedia!
It reminded me of chasing my little sister Mildred around the house when she was little.
I couldn't catch her either!

Savoring the Season

I am taking in all the bright colors and warm sunbeams I can. 

Praise be to the name of God for ever and ever;
    wisdom and power are his.
He changes times and seasons;
    he deposes kings and raises up others.
He gives wisdom to the wise
    and knowledge to the discerning.

Daniel 2:20-21

Shout for Joy

I will not forget you. I made your rebellious acts disappear like a thick cloud and your sins like the morning mist. Come back to me, because I have reclaimed you. Sing with joy, you heavens, because the Lord has done this. Rejoice, you deep places of the earth.

Break into shouts of joy, you mountains, you forests and every tree in them. The Lord has reclaimed Jacob. He will display his glory in Israel.  

Isaiah 44:21-23

Roses in October

I thought the roses at the park would be gone by now, but there they were this morning to greet me!

Along with a flock of noisy geese.

Schoolhouse Memories - 1950's

Does anybody remember the icky glue and paste we used in first grade back in the 1950's? And the slimy bar of Ivory soap that was on the sink in the girl's rest room?

But I'll have to say I had some wonderful teachers and great friends .

My brother just went to his 50th class reunion, and mine will be next year!

Here is my class photo from third grade. I'm directly in front of the teacher.

When I asked my 7 year old granddaughter to guess which one was me, she pointed to Mrs. Wallace!

How Precious

How precious also are Thy thoughts unto me, O God!

How great is the sum of them!

If I should count them,

they are more in number than the sand.

When I awake, I am still with Thee.

Psalm 139:17

How precious to me are Your thoughts O God
And how precious to me are Your words
When I meditate on You and sing Your praise
My heart knows the reward

Whatever is righteous
Whatever is pure
Whatever is lovely 
Endures...

These are the thoughts that You have for me
The fruit of Your goodness and love
These are the thoughts that You have for me
The fruit of Your goodness and love

These lyrics were written by my son, Cameron Hill

Counting My Blessings

One night recently, I tossed and turned until after midnight. Then I remembered an old song: "If you're worried and you can't sleep, just count your blessings instead of sheep, and you'll fall asleep counting your blessings."

I tried thinking of something to thank God for that began with each letter of the alphabet. I got as far as the letter C, and was sound asleep.

My granddaughter and I were thankful for bright sunshine yesterday with a cooling breeze.

Treasures in Each New Day

A familiar feeling comes over me

about this time of year.

I'm eager to soak up all the rays

Before they disappear.

I love the splash of color

That autumn's frost can bring.

It's the last party of the year

Summer's parting fling,

But there's a sense of loss

When I see the fading flowers.

Like them, I dread the dimness

Of shortened daylight hours.

Yes, I'll enjoy the pumpkins,

The fall festival downtown.

I'll revel in the confetti

of leaves swirling 'round.

Then I have to admit

I wouldn't want it any other way

Than the cycle of the seasons-
Hidden treasures in each new day.

Karen

Sprucing Up for Fall

I am blessed to have kind neighbors. The ladies here in the apartment building are getting in the mood for autumn. Here are some pics of their door decorations.

My granddaughters helped me decorate my refrigerator door. They made leaf etchings with crayons and construction paper and I cut them out.

The quote and magnets are from I Corinthians 13:13

So now abide faith, hope, and love, these three. 

But the greatest of these is love.

It is beautiful here in Indiana today. 

Hope you have a wonderful weekend.

Path

My son Cameron attended a prayer retreat last weekend and sent me these photos from New Jersey.

I will instruct you and teach you in the way which you should go; 
            I will counsel you with My eye upon you.
Psalm 32:8

Comfort

In the multitude of my anxieties within me,

Your comforts delight my soul.

Psalm 94:16-19

Praying for those affected by the terror attacks.