The gift of receiving a card – such a powerful blessing. Plus a new giveway!!!!

Last week I met a sweet woman named Sue for lunch.  I had met her years ago when I was speaking with Reminders of Faith and recently at a Blessings Unlimited Gathering I was leading.  As soon as I saw her, I knew that I knew her and after a few minutes I was able to connect who she was and how I knew her – I was delighted to reconnect with her.

When we met for a bowl of soup, I so appreciated our conversation.  Typcially, I am really good at asking questions of people that product a lot of conversation.  But Sue made sure she asked about my life and she listened well.  I found myself going deeper about my faith and feelings with her.  She just listened and that encouraged me.  It was a special time for me as I felt ministered to by her interest in my journey over these past couple of years.

Today, I received a card in the mail from her (not an email, but an actually DaySpring card).  The message on the card was about HOPE.  Each section of the card ministered to me through scripture, the saying on the front and inside of the card and even the story on the back.  To top if off, Sue had added a few torn pages from her devotional and a small magnet.  At the bottom of the page, she wrote a personal message to me, that I was on her mind and what she saw in me as we shared our lives over a simple bowl of soup…

..”As I read my devotional this morning your were on my mind ~ remembering your words about peeling off the layers in your life.  What I saw as we talked was the beauty underneath that only comes from time spent with our awesome God.  You are one beautiful woman “…

Encouragement, Acceptance, Love, Friendship and Hope were delivered to me through these gift of a card. For 44 cents, the price of the card and most importantly the time taken to write, Sue  ministered to me today.  

The gift of a receiving a card is such a powerful blessing.  Unlike an email or Facebook message, it can be held in your hand,  read over and over again, and be tucked away to be read again.  Who is on your mind today that God is encouraging you to minister to with a card?  I hope that soon (today, maybe?), you will give and receive this blessing.

Blessings Unlimited Heather and Holley Encouragement Card Set

Blessings Unlimited (a DaySpring Company) has exclusive DaySpring Cards.  The Encourgment Cards are my favorite collection!  I especially love the yellow umbrella card (the message it commincates is powerful).

You can order Collections of DaySpring Cards through Blessings Unlimited, here are the card collections that are offered…

Thinking of You Cards

Birthday Greetings Cards

Fun Birthday Cards

Sympathy Cards

Blank Cards

Tomorrow on this blog, I will be giving away a set of the Heather and Holley Encouragement Cards.  To enter the give away, be thinking of who you would send an encouragement card to and be ready to leave a comment about who that would be when you come back tomorrow (please share this with your friends, who knows maybe you will receive one the cards that they win).

Blessings,

 

 

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The 2 questions everyone is asking

Lately, everywhere I go (and every email I receive) the same 2 questions have been asked of me over and over.

How are the wedding plans coming along?

How are you doing with so much going on in your life right now?

For those of you who might not be aware of what is going on in my life right now, here is the scoop.  In 5 days, our family will be taking our youngest daughter to Moody Bible Institute located in downtown Chicago.  I have experienced this journey of taking my daughters to college 2 times before and I know that it hurts my heart.  The difference this time is that after the wedding, there will no longer be a daughter living at home with us.  It is such a bittersweet mothering experience – because I am so proud, glad and excited for Audrianna as I know that this is where the Lord is leading her.  I know that she is ready for college and that she is going to love it.  Yet, my heart breaks because I love being a Mom and having my daughters with me.  But, I did not raise her to stay with me forever, so it is time to let her go. 

The wedding plans are coming along amazing well.   Laryssa is very organized and has things well under control.  There has been no mother-daughter fights (a few hurt feelings a time or two, but nothing major) and it has been a fun journey together. The guest list is growing and we only have a few people that we have not heard from, dresses are being fitted, and the rest of the details are in place.  I still have a few jobs to do, but I know that I will get them done.  I have a very mature daughter who is ready to be married.  But once again, that long time friend of mine, the bittersweet mothering emotion is occasionally rearing its head .  I love Josiah, the young man Laryssa is marrying.  I have prayed for him all of Laryssa’s life.  I know that she is ready to be married, that she is going to make a wonderful wife and that their home will be a home of faith.  Yet, on September 5, when she is no longer just our daughter – I know that I am going to be happy and sad.  Then on September 7, when they leave for their new home in California (and I am not sure when we will be together again) I know my heart will hurt again.

And in the midst of all of these 2 live events – my husband will be turning 50 on the day we move Audrianna into her dorm and we will celebrate our 28th wedding anniversary on Josiah & Laryssa’s wedding day. 

So the words written above does answer the first question of how the wedding plans are coming along.  Trust me when I say that it is going to be a special day/weekend for Josiah & Laryssa, our family and friends.

As far as how I am doing, I am ….

taking it one day at a time,

having an occasional cry session,

talking each day with 2 daughters heading in 2 different directions,

supporting and encouraging my wonderful husband who is working hard to make all this happen,

trying to spend time with the one who truly understands me – my Heavenly Father

and enjoying each day trying to recognize how special this time together really is.

“Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful. …  Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders (and your college age daughter and almost married daughter – my translation) ; make the most of every opportunity. Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.” Colossians 4:2,5-6

 

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Tuesday 10 – No matter what happens, 10 reminders that God is still in control

By the end of today, there are going to be people who feel that all hope is gone.  But here are 10 reminders that God is in control no matter who is elected..

Tuesday 10 – No matter what happens, God is still in control

1. The moon and sun are continuing on their cycle without our help.  “As long as the earth endures, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night will never cease.” Genesis 8:22
2. God knows about all of His creation and is caring for each aspect (humans, animals, earth, etc). “How many are your works, O LORD! In wisdom you made them all; the earth is full of your creatures.  There is the sea, vast and spacious, teeming with creatures beyond number- living things both large and small.  There the ships go to and fro, and the leviathan, which you formed to frolic there. These all look to you to give them their food at the proper time. When you give it to them, they gather it up;when you open your hand, they are satisfied with good things.” Psalm 104:24-26
3. Our bodies are still able to function – breathing, walking, talking, thinking and all the things that we don’t even realize are going on are still occurring.  “His eyes are on the ways of men; he sees their every step.”  Job 34:21
4. God’s presence is always with us – His promise to leave leave or forsake us is true.  “God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.” Hebrews13:5
5. God’s care on every aspect of our lives remains – right down to the numbers of hairs we have on our head.  “And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. So don’t be afraid..”  Matthew 10:30-31
6. Heaven is a real place that we believers can count on spending eternity enjoying unity with our God.   “In my Father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you.  I am going there to prepare a place for you.  I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.”  John 14:2
7. God is aware of everything that is happening – from our tiniest thought to the election of a new president.  “The Lord knows the thoughts of man…” Psalm 84:11 & “By me kings reign and rulers make laws that are just”… Proverbs 8:15
8. There is no need to fear – God know each of our fears and asks us to trust Him for everything.  “When I am afraid, I will trust in you.  In God whose word I praise, in God I trust; I will not be afraid.” Psalm 56:3-4
9. God’s promise that nothing is impossible with God – this promise has not changed.  “For nothing is impossible with God.” Luke 1:37
10. God’s plan to offer salvation to all of mankind through grace is still in effect.  Because of this I am fully forgiven by the blood of my Lord Jesus and am in fellowship with God.   “For He has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son He loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.” Colossions 1:14

“Some trust in chariots and some in horses,  but we trust in the name of the LORD our God.” Psalm 20:7

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What I know to be True no matter how I feel

As I promised in the last post, here is my list of God’s truths that I have to review all the time especially when I start to believe lies such as I am a failure or there is no hope…. 

• God Loves me with an everlasting LOVE – Jeremiah 31:3  “The Lord appeared to us in the past saying; “I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with loving-kindness.”
• God will NEVER leave me or forsake me – Hebrews13:5 ….”because God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.”
• I am fully and forever FORGIVEN and REDEEMED by Christ’s blood – Colossions 1:14 “For He has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son He loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.”
• My real home is in HEAVEN and there is a special place prepared for me there – John 14:2 “In my Father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you.  I am going there to prepare a place for you.  I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.”
• Life is so hard and that is just the way that it is, but God collects all of my tears and saves them.  He feels my PAIN and knows me intimately  – Psalm 56:8 (New Living Translation) “You keep track of all my sorrows.  You have collected all my tears in your bottle.  You have recorded each one in your book.”
• God has PLANS and a PURPOSE for me – work that He planned in advance just for me – Jeremiah 29:11 “For I know the plans I have for you,” declared the Lord, “Plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”
• I can TRUST God completely.   I can not even trust myself or those I love, but I can trust God no matter what – Psalm 56:3-4  “When I am afraid, I will trust in you.  In God whose word I praise, in God I trust; I will not be afraid.”
• All CREATION is His and it worships Him – Colossians 1:16 “For by Him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities: all things were created by Him and for Him.”
• God is more interested in growing my FAITH than making me comfortable – Colossians 1:10-13 …”that you my live a life worthy of the Lord and may please Him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God being strengthened with all power according to His glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience and joyfully giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light.”
• All I do is for GOD”S GLORY – it has nothing to do with me –Matthew 5:16  “In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.”
• Nothing, absolutely nothing is IMPOSSIBLE with God- Luke 1:37 “For nothing is impossible with God.”

Psalm 25:4-5

“Show me your ways, O Lord, teach me your paths: guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long.”

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