I'm taking things a bit slower today and just really rethinking who I am and what matters most. As I was pondering this, I went to go visit my sweet sister, Darlene @ Live Well Wednesdays and was very encouraged!

We hit a huge milestone today in our family...our oldest son, Michael just got his driver's permit! We're so excited for him! And we're so proud of the young man of God he's becoming....as so is our youngest son, Kevin! We're blessed beyond measure and we're so grateful to our gracious, merciful and kind Father God for granting us so much joy on this side of Heaven!

"Remember not the former things, nor consider the things of old. Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert."
~ Isaiah 43:18-19

Today also marks another victory in Christ I'd like to share....I've lost all the weight I wanted to! With the help of my physical illnesses (who'da thunk it!) I've lost all 15 lbs. I was striving to lose!

I've chosen to take Darlene's wise counsel and spend more time in God's Word, standing firm on His promises and worshiping Him in all His glory...and well, here I am...spiritually more fit and physically....well, less of me...in EVERY way! Praise be to the LORD God Almighty in whom alone is all victory and pure joy is found!

Be encouraged sisters to press on, especially when it's tough and choose to give glory and praise to God during your most painful moments and you too will see the shackles of this world and all its temptations break and fall before you, so that you can dance with joy in the presence of your Savior, Christ Jesus our Lord!

I've recently been thanking God constantly for the special relationship He has granted my boys. They've been best friends since the day our youngest was born and they're convinced they will be until the day they die. We believe them!

The middle picture is our youngest son's first day of Kindergarten and our oldest son's first day of 2^nd grade. Big brother was so proud to have his little brother finally attending school with him. And little brother was just as proud and excited to be going to the same school as his really cool, big brother! This picture was taken eight years ago and their not so little anymore.

The two pictures on the side were taken from our trip to CO a couple of summers ago. We'd have more recent photos, but I'm just not really quick with the camera and very rarely remember to bring one anywhere I go.

Our wonderful sons are now 13 ^1/2 and almost 16 years old. My how time flies when we're having fun....and we sure are! We rejoice in our Savior and thank God constantly for what He has done for us!

Soon, Michael will be getting his license and the first thing he said is, "I can't wait to take Kevin everywhere! We're going to have such a great time together! It's so great that we're brothers, and best friends too!" All of Michael's friends hang out with Kevin and have always welcomed him as part of their group. They always have. It's like Kevin's got a whole band of big brothers! His big brother wouldn't have it any other way. Michael has always had only one rule if you wanted to hang out with him, "My little brother comes too, or no one comes." And it's just always been that way!

For more blessings today in God's Word, visit Amydeanne at the 160 Acre Woods!

rejoicing in God's miracles
while

I strongly encourage everyone to go to this conference and forward this information on to anyone you love or almost love!


This is going to be an amazing conference where you will be totally saturated with the Word of God! Truly, for a Child of God, one of the most exciting things is to totally immerse yourself in His word with total adoration and praise!


This conference will quench your thirst, satisfy your hunger and draw you deeper and closer into a more intimate relationship with our Lord Jesus Christ!

And hey, don't forget to bring the kids! Especially if you have teen or tween-agers! This will be such an encouragement for them to stand strong in Christ in this twisted and crooked generation they live in.

Today at Cafe Chat, Kim applies a very poignant question to us in accordance with Colossians 3:23-24 which commands us to "work heartily" in all things remembering it is Christ Jesus we are serving, not men. Below is the question she asked us to meditate on and consider:

For me personally, I truly believe this passage of Scripture, but I don't always succeed in remembering it. I find that when I am not careful to fill myself with my spiritual food - the Word of God, I am weak and make myself susceptible to all the "viruses" (personal affinities and worldly cares) that cause my mind and heart to become defiled by the wiles of my flesh. I was reminded of this yesterday over at our dear sister Sheila @ Meditations and Confessions of a Homemaker blog when she quoted Amy Carmichael:

"If monotony tries me, and I cannot stand drudgery; if stupid people fret me and
the little ruffles set me on edge; if I make much of the trifles of life, then I
know nothing of Calvary love."
~Amy Carmichael

"A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another."
~ John 13:34-35

"As the Father has loved Me, so I have loved you. Abide in my love."
~ John 15:9

"This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you."
~ John 15:12

When Christ sent out His disciples to be His light to a dark world, He commanded them:

In conclusion, Colossians 3:23-24 brings me to the position of my greatest strength, - on my knees, before the Throne of Grace; on my face, overwhelmed with humility and gratitude for Christ who willingly suffered, took my blame and saved my wretched soul from every bondage of sin: the wicked, dark and selfish desires of the flesh; Satan's hold on me; the susceptibility to deception (because I now am indwelt by God's Holy Spirit); and eternal damnation in Hell as due and just punishment for my crimes against my Holy, Righteous and Good God.

And what is my answer to my Lord's commandment to me to love others (especially those in the Family of God) as He has loved me, and to freely and generously share all the talents, gifts and abilities He's given me for the edification of the Body and the salvation of the Lost?

Your grace and mercy You have poured out to me, through the generosity of Your Son's atoning sacrifice, by the shedding of His holy blood, for the salvation and sanctification of my soul. Therefore my heart cries out to You:

"What shall I render to the LORD for all His benefits to me?
I will lift up the cup of salvation and call on the name of the LORD,
I will pay my vows to the LORD in the presence of all His people."
~ Psalm 116:12-13

For LORD, who am I that I should expect payment, gratitude or anything for a bondservant's work? (Luke 17:7-10)

Teach me Lord, to work diligently to build up Your Body and seek earnestly to save the Lost, of whom I once was.

As children of the Most High God, we are all commanded to die to self, live as Christ (Galatians 1:10 & 2:20), with no regard to self-satisfaction, self-glorification or even a simple "Thank You". For we must always consider, that if whatever we do, we do it for the Lord Jesus, then why would we ever expect repayment for our work or a "Thank You."? Does God owe us payment for anything? And should He thank us for doing just what we were told?

About 3 years ago, I was in sales and was so flustered with doing well. I had a sign of the company I was representing up on the door frame of my "office" area. Without my knowledge, my darling husband took my business sign turned it over and with a black sharpie wrote: JESUS. My wonderful husband said, "I put this up here for you, to help you remember who you are always working for, no matter what you're doing."

owing God everything, and expecting nothing,