I know God is never late

and I know He has a plan for us. But I'd be less than honest if I didn't admit to the fact that I don't understand what the plan is right now. I have moments of concern, fear, doubt. My heart tells me God loves me and my mind chooses to believe it's true.

here are the facts:
the bills are paid until feb 1
we are at the end of our earthly, financial resources
as of today, no job offers have been made
God is good all the time and all the time God is good

Sometimes I am better at resting in His care than others. I guess it is time to exercise my faith. I'm already sweating a little so it must be working. ;-)

peace.

home on an icy eve

staying warm, enjoying the unrushed time that bad weather brings. gives me time to think, read, rest. it also gives me time to count my blessings.

as you know, we are in a time of uncertainty. jim is continuing to pursue a job. the bills are paid through february 1. and yet....

i live in freedom.
i live in abundance.
i live in joy.
i live surrounded by more wonderful people than i ever thought possible.
i live in a country where i can worship God wherever, whenever, with whomever.

and i will. Thank you God for your abundant grace, abundant sacrifice, abundant provision, abundant blessing, abundant guidance, abundant care, abundant wisdom. abundant gifts.

you have given us your abundant peace that passes all understanding.
thank you.

peace.

see you later stacy

i went to the funeral of stacy today. only 40, she finished her battle with cancer and went to heaven. she leaves behind her husband of 15 years and 2 young daughters. she also leaves behind a legacy of joy, music, talent, incredible kindness, and zest for life.

i looked around the church today and saw people of all ages, all walks of life, all races, all coming together to mourn our loss and celebrate the life of this incredible lady.

each day we are given 86,400 seconds to live. at the end of the day, there is no carry-over. if they were dollars we would spend them with abandon. shouldn't we live and love in the same way?

welcome to your reward stacy. Jesus welcomes you with open arms and i know you'll recognize him, you spent your life knowing him.

peace.

It's all in how you look at things...

my good friend kristy shared this with me today and i loved it!


There once was a woman who woke up one morning,
looked in the mirror,
and noticed she had only three hairs on her head.
'Well,' she said, 'I think I'll braid my hair today.'

So she did and she had a wonderful day.

The next day she woke up,
looked in the mirror
and saw that she had only two hairs on her head.
'H-M-M,' she said, 'I think I'll part my hair down the middle today.'

So she did and she had a grand day.

The next day she woke up,
looked in the mirror and noticed
that she had only one hair on her head.
'Well,' she said, 'today I'm going to wear my hair in a pony tail. '

So she did, and she had a fun, fun day.

The next day she woke up,
looked in the mirror and noticed
that there wasn't a single hair on her head.

'YAY!' she exclaimed.
'I don't have to fix my hair today!'

peace.

today is my dad's 70th birthday...

so i thought i'd give him a call and wish him Happy Birthday!

and here's how it went:

~ring~
~phone picked up, fumble, cuss~

d: hello?
g: Hi daddy it's Glynis
d: oh well hello there
g: i wanted to call and say Happy Birthday!
d: why?
g: because today is your birthday, you're 70!
d: you're 70?
g: no, you are. Happy Birthday!
d: ok, and also, those, you know, um, walk things, um, :cussing:, well, they broke and I need new. ok?
g: sure dad, we'll take care of it...and Happy Birthday!
d: what? is it your birthday?
g: no dad, it's yours, you are 70.
d: you're 70?
g: yes dad, love you. bye now
d: ok, be careful

~hang up~

anyway, Happy Birthday dad, you're 70 and i wish you all the best.

peace.

today's devotion

Thank you God and Max Lucado, once again.

God’s Good Timing

“God will always give what is right to His people who cry to Him night and day., and He will not be slow to answer them.” Luke 18:7

Why does God wait until the money is gone? Why does He wait until the sickness has lingered? Why does He choose to wait until the other side of the grave to answer the prayers for healing?

I don’t know. I only know his timing is always right. I can only say He will do what is best…

Though you hear nothing, He is speaking. Though you see nothing, He is acting. With God there are no accidents. Every incident is intended to bring us closer to Him.

peace.

what a ride!

i've determined that regardless of the plans i've made, the most i can sometimes do is decide hands up or hands holding on. you know, just like on the roller coaster.

everyone says the ride is more fun with your hands up. i tried it on the batman ride at six flags and they were right. of course i was strapped in over the shoulders with my feet dangling, so really, how would i fall out?

i think God cares for us in the same way. He knows us, He loves us, He protects us and He doesn't ask us to ride hands up without knowing we are safe in his loving arms.

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future." Jeremiah 29:11

so here goes, hands off the rail, wind in your face, turn loose and see how wonderful the ride can be!

peace.

three of the reasons

my life is so full.

i am blessed to have an awesome husband, a terrific older daughter and an amazing younger daughter. i am surrounded by extended family and friends. most of all God is woven throughout our lives in ways i cannot comprehend and His blessings are better than i've ever dreamed.

i pray for each and everyone to know His love, feel His mercy, receive His gift.

peace.

from sherry and roz

i know it's a day late, and i'm probably a dollar short, but it's all good!! hope you get a giggle!

peace.





'Twas the night before Christmas, I'm glued to the tree.
I'm wondering what Santa brought just for me.
Could it be cardstock or chipboard or lace?
Or a Cricut, I said, with a smile on my face.


And that's when I heard him, "Hi Santa, " I said
"You know... good little girls should be in their beds."
"I know I should Santa and now I've got caught.
But I was just so excited to see what you brought."


"Well, let's take a look in this room where you work.
He shook his head quickly, And left with a jerk.
I heard him exclaim as he put it in gear.
"You've got enough crap, I'll see you next year!

It's gonna be a HUGE Christmas!!

i've heard lots of people talking about how they won't be able to "do" Christmas this year. or they won't be able to "do much" for Christmas this year. WELL, I am planning a huge Christmas this year and this is why.

Jim is still unemployed, my dad's alzheimers has taken a turn for the worse, we have friends who are struggling with jobs-kids-life-etc, my great uncle has cancer and we have dear friends oversees in the heart of the war.

But that's just stuff.

"For God so loved the world that He sent His only Son and those who will believe in Him will not perish, but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved." John 3:16-17

"Thanks be to God for his gift that is too wonderful for words." 2 Corinthians 9:15

"Every good action and every perfect gift is from God. These good gifts come down from the Creator of the sun, moon and stars, who does not change like their shifting shadows." James 1:17

You have the love of your heavenly Father and the gift of His son Jesus Christ. If you haven't accepted this gift yet, now is the time. All you have to do is accept it, admit you need it, admit you want it and open your heart for it. It's that simple. It's the ultimate Christmas present!! Have a humongously huge Christmas this year with the gift that lasts for eternity!

peace on earth and good will to all men.

Merry Christmas!

exercising my trust muscles...

i have to admit that i have no problem believing God answers prayers. i pray for others all the time, full of faith that God hears and answers. He provides, protects, loves, supports, etc....

today, i'm struggling with the thoughts that God also does this for me. He sees me, loves me, hears me, wants good things for me. having an earthly father that failed miserably, it is sometimes difficult to trust my heavenly father. and yet i know He loves me.

so i'm exercising my trust muscles today, allowing my faith to grow, knowing that the God who created heaven and earth sees me.

peace.

life is like the weather in Oklahoma....

the forecast right now is 60's today, climbing to the 70's this weekend and then plummeting to below freezing with sleet/freezing rain (what's the difference?) on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. Highs in the 20's.

don't you sometimes feel life is like this? beautiful and sunny for days and then without notice, freezing cold or stormy or unbearably hot! one phone call can swing the "temperature" of life. one unkind word. one life change.

i'm sure this is why God tells us in Hebrews 13:8 He is the same yesterday, today and forever.

i'm holding on to that today while the weather is sunny so i don't forget when the weather changes...

peace.

God is for You

This was in my little desk devotional one day this week...Total credit to God and Max Lucado.

"He will rejoice over you. You will rest in his love; he will sing and be joyful about you." Zephaniah 3:17

God is for you. Turn to the sidelines; that's God cheering your run. Look past the finish line; that's God applauding your steps. Listen for him in the bleachers, shouting your name. Too tired to continue? He'll carry you. Too discouraged to fight? He's picking you up. God is for you.

God is for you. Had he a calendar, your birthday would be circled. If he drove a car, your name would be on his bumper. If there's a tree in heaven, he's carved your name in the bark...

"Can a mother forget the baby at her breast and have no compassion on the child she has borne?" God asks in Isaiah 49:15. What a bizarre question. Can you mothers imagine feeding your infant and then later asking, "What was that baby's name?" No. I've seen you care for your young. You stroke the hair, you touch the face, you sing the name over and over. Can a mother forget? No way. But "even is she could forget,...I will not forget you," God pledges. Isaiah 49:15.

from his book In the Grip of Grace.

beautiful sunset

interesting weather patterns seem to bring out the best and the worst in the elements around us. i think this one qualifies as part of the best. taken with my iphone over Lake Hefner. not edited at all, those were just the colors of sunset. Great job God!!

peace.

thankful days

in these days of thanksgiving and abundance we are still faced with the lack of a job. it is interesting to be thankful and seeking. thankful and unsure. thankful and peaceful in the midst of the unknown. so i've decided to focus on the things i am sure of.

i am sure God loves me. John 3:16 "for God so loved the world He gave his only son for those who would believe in Him would not die but live forever with Him."

i am sure that God has a plan. Jeremiah 29:11-13 "for I know the plans I have for you says the Lord. plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future. when you call on me and seek me with your whole heart, I will be found by you."

i am sure that i am of great value to God. Matthew 6:25-31 "why do you worry about the stuff of your life? the birds do nothing and yet God feeds them. why do you worry about clothes? the lilly of the field is just beautiful, God made them that way. How by worrying can you change anything? o you of little faith, don't be anxious. seek God and He will provide."

like the old hymn says..."for i know whom i have believed and am persuaded that He is able to keep that which i've committed unto Him against that day." i have trusted Him with my soul, my life, my all...our livelihood is a small thing in comparison.

God knows our needs and He is faithful. of this I am sure.

peace.

btw...the scripture above is my language not an exact translation.

i'm discovering something....

no matter how old i get, i am still surprised by people. sometimes good, sometimes, not so much.

i need to learn to watch my words more carefully, to not be quite as trusting. a flippant comment, made in fun, not to be taken seriously--can be reported back with great intent to harm. too bad really....especially when you think you are on the same page...with people you trust.

oh well....my pollyanna self is just sad about it. don't worry my friends, it was none of you. no real harm done except to my rose colored glasses...i think the lense is definitely broken. ;-)

peace.

sneak preview

so for those ephemerites that read my blog, this will be a sneak peek. for everyone else, this was a challenge issued by my art group and due this wednesday. i kind of like how it turned out. it's a shadow box. hope it makes you smile.

peace.

Life is good

so it's been over a week since the news about jim's job. in that time, we celebrated our 25th wedding anniversary. i've noticed a couple of things during this time.

people are amazed we are still happily married after 25 years. we've never seperated, never cheated, we've enjoyed our life together so far and feel very blessed. our lives are not perfect, but perfect was never our standard.

people also seem amazed that we are not stressed out about the job. we are truly at peace. yes, i'm sure. yes, i'm being honest. no, i'm not just being strong. God really is in control. we rest in that knowledge. we know he'll provide.

if you see my twitter, you'll see the thought for the day today. i really think it's a great cornerstone to build on. Perfectionism doesn't make you perfect, it just makes you feel inadequate.

i am only able because God makes me so. i am only strong because God is strong in me. i am only joyful because the joy of the Lord is my strength. if you are struggling, read His Word, hear his voice, let Him love you. and then rest in Him.

peace.

a new journey

the news came friday, jim's job no longer exists. in some ways it is good news, and in others ways quite a challenge.

he worked for great people, but the vision for what was to happen did not always seem to coexist. seemed to cause much frustration on both sides. i know i'm being generic, but i don't want to say anything that could be construed as negative. they really are terrific people and we enjoyed knowing them during jim's time with them.

so the journey to a new employment place begins. we trust God has a place and a plan for jim. we know that jeremiah 29:11-14 is truth. we'll rest there for now.

please pray and thanks for praying.

peace.

blue sky

at last year's Downtown Arts Festival I took this pic with my phone. It's a art piece, not a real tree and I love that they put a bird's nest in the tree. The sky was beautiful that day and a perfect backdrop to the colors of the tree.

enjoy!