Books

~ Grace Gift ~
Words

Proverbs 25:11 A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in a setting of silver.

I love words, the way they sound, the emotions they evoke; I love a cleverly constructed phrase that makes me laugh, then think; I love poetry and lyrics woven into prose; I love going places I've never been in a sailboat made of words

 

This use to be my kiddos and me, walking home from the library. How we loved time spent in a building of books.

Now, most folks have a Kindle; me too, thanks to my daughter..

:-) 

But there's just something about holding that book, those pages, that little bit of bound -words that makes me smile, still.

 This  brings back memories of the best week of any elementary school year: the annual Book Fair Week, when the library and lunch room overflowed with tables loaded with books for sale and I had money to spend. I get goose bumps thinking about it.

 There's nothing like falling asleep reading a good book/Kindle.
Sweet dreams and happy reading, my friends.

 Spending much time in God's Word; all other books on hold for now.

 “Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do. . . I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 3:13-14).

A Little Faith

Grace Gift
Faithfulness



One who is faithful in a very little is also faithful in much... 
Luke 16:10a

 "I must try and cultivate an eye for life's mercies...And life, while it has its ugly swamps, its vile weeds, and its sharp thorns, has always its fair flowers to charm the eye with their beauty, or to fill the air with their fragrance..." ~ Rev. John Flowers Serjeant 1878

 For we are the aroma of Christ to God
among those who are being saved
and among those who are perishing. 2 Corinthians 2:15

 

 And now we thank you, our God,
and praise your glorious name. 1 Chronicles 29:13

 If we are children of God, we have a tremendous treasure in nature and will realize that it is holy and sacred. We will see God reaching out to us in every wind that blows, every sunrise and sunset, every cloud in the sky, every flower that blooms, and every leaf that fades.~ Oswald Chambers

A Most Beautiful Flower Garden

Grace Gifts

Colors in the garden.

"O Lord, how many and varied are Your works! In wisdom have You made them all; the earth is full of Your riches and Your creatures." Psalm 104:24 

All of nature declares His beauty. 

Thank you, Michelle and Keith for not only taking these pictures but for growing this garden.  

How lovely.

 

"Be exalted, O God, above the heavens; let Your glory be over all the earth." Psalm 57:11

 

   “Then God said, ‘Let the land produce vegetation: seed-bearing plants and trees on the land that bear fruit with seed in it, according to their various kinds.’ And it was so.” Genesis 1:11

 

"All thy works shall praise thee, O LORD; and Your saints shall bless You" Psalm 145:10. 

 "Let the heavens be glad and let the earth rejoice; and let men say among the nations, The Lord reigns!"
1Chronicles 16:31

"I will give thanks unto thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: Wonderful are thy works; And that my soul knoweth right well." Psalm 139:14

There are so many places in nature that testify of God being our Creator. I don't think I can type them all up. I just want to share the joy, praise, and love I feel for  God when I look to His creation. I want to inspire others to look at the work of His hands so that they can experience these same feelings of admiration and praise for our glorious Creator.  I, personally love doing this, and look for things in nature that testify of Him. It brings me closer to God and strengthens my faith.

Another Birthday Buddy

Grace Gift
Essek

Proverbs 17:6
Grandchildren are the crown of the elderly.....

♬ Happy Birthday, little buddy. ♬
We're sad that we live so far away from you and rarely get to see you and your family.
♥ We love you to pieces. ♥
Grandma Patti, Papaw Stan
and The Kitty Cats

Then...........................

and now.....

♪  ♫ ♬ Happy Birthday to you
Happy Birthday, to you
Happy Birthday, dear Essek,
Happy Birthday, to you. ♬ ♫ ♪

What a fun cake.

Blowin' bubbles.

aunts, uncles, cousins and a sister and a brother make for a fun party.

Mama.... what a wonderfully sweet mama...

Standing on top of the world with Mom.

Standing on top of the world with Dad.

Learning to observe signs of nature.

A lean-to they made off the beaten path.

What a wonderful family.
I love them dearly. ♥

Essek, telling everyone a thing or two....
"So now kids, let me tell you...........
Eat cake, laugh and have fun; we're only young once, ya know."

Resurrection morning

~ Grace Gifts ~
Freedom and Grace
✞ Our Savior ✞
✞ Our King ✞

Matthew 28:1-10

Resurrection Morning

1. After the Sabbath, as the first day of the week was dawning, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to view the tomb. ² Suddenly there was a violent earthquake, because an angel of the Lord descended from heaven and approached the tomb. He rolled back the stone and was sitting on it. 

  ³ His appearance was like lightning, and his robe was as white as snow. ⁴ The guards were so shaken from fear of him that they became like dead men.

⁵ But the angel told the women, “Don’t be afraid, because I know you are looking for Jesus who was crucified. ⁶ He is not here! For He has been resurrected, just as He said. Come and see the place where He lay.

  ⁷ Then go quickly and tell His disciples, ‘He has been raised from the dead. In fact, He is going ahead of you to Galilee; you will see Him there.’ Listen, I have told you.”
 ⁸ So, departing quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy, they ran to tell His disciples the news. 
 ⁹ Just then Jesus met them and said, “Good morning!” They came up, took hold of His feet, and worshiped Him. ¹⁰ Then Jesus told them, “Do not be afraid. Go and tell My brothers to leave for Galilee, and they will see Me there.”

The Soldiers Are Bribed to Lie
¹¹ As they were on their way, some of the guards came into the city and reported to the chief priests everything that had happened. ¹² After the priests had assembled with the elders and agreed on a plan, they gave the soldiers a large sum of money ¹³ and told them, “Say this, ‘His disciples came during the night and stole Him while we were sleeping.’ ¹⁴ If this reaches the governor’s ears, we will deal with him and keep you out of trouble.” ¹⁵ So they took the money and did as they were instructed. And this story has been spread among Jewish people to this day.

The Great Commission

¹⁶ The 11 disciples traveled to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had directed them. ¹⁷ When they saw Him, they worshiped, but some doubted. ¹⁸ Then Jesus came near and said to them, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. ¹⁹ Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, ²⁰ teaching them to observe everything I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

It's Not Over, Yet

Grace Gift
It's not over, yet.

 Matthew 27:57-61

The Burial of Jesus

⁵⁷ When it was evening, a rich man from Arimathea named Joseph came, who himself had also become a disciple of Jesus. ⁵⁸ He approached Pilate and asked for Jesus’ body. Then Pilate ordered that it be released. ⁵⁹ So Joseph took the body, wrapped it in clean, fine linen, ⁶⁰ and placed it in his new tomb, which he had cut into the rock. He left after rolling a great stone against the entrance of the tomb. ⁶¹ Mary Magdalene and the other Mary were seated there, facing the tomb.

 

Matthew 27:62-66

The Closely Guarded Tomb

⁶² The next day, which followed the preparation day, the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered before Pilate ⁶³ and said, “Sir, we remember that while this deceiver was still alive He said, ‘After three days I will rise again.’ ⁶⁴ Therefore give orders that the tomb be made secure until the third day. Otherwise, His disciples may come, steal Him, and tell the people, ‘He has been raised from the dead.’ Then the last deception will be worse than the first.”
⁶⁵ “You have a guard of soldiers,” Pilate told them. “Go and make it as secure as you know how.” ⁶⁶ Then they went and made the tomb secure by sealing the stone and setting the guard.

 ✞ The good news is that it’s not over yet. ✞

 ♥ Waiting for Your return, my Lord. ♥

It Wasn't A Pretty Day

Grace Gift
His Death For Our Life

Regardless of the day of the week it fell on, the day was not a pretty one. Many folks believe the day was a Friday....personally, I don't think it was a Friday-how could He have been dead for 3 days and die on a Friday and resurrected  on a Sunday? It's a misconception that needs a deeper look in a future blog entry...but not right now

 Jesus faces the governor. 

Matthew 27:11-14

11 Now Jesus stood before the governor. "Are You the King of the Jews?" the governor asked Him. Jesus answered, "You have said it." 12 And while He was being accused by the chief priests and elders, He didn't answer. 13 Then Pilate said to Him, "Don't You hear how much they are testifying against You?" 14 But He didn't answer him on even one charge, so that the governor was greatly amazed.

Jesus or Barabbas?
Matthew 27: 15-36
15 At the festival the governor's custom was to release to the crowd a prisoner they wanted. 16 At that time they had a notorious prisoner called Barabbas. 17 So when they had gathered together, Pilate said to them, "Who is it you want me to release for you-Barabbas, or Jesus who is called Messiah?" 18 For he knew they had handed Him over because of envy. 19 While he was sitting on the judge's bench, his wife sent word to him, "Have nothing to do with that righteous man, for today I've suffered terribly in a dream because of Him!" 20 The chief priests and the elders, however, persuaded the crowds to ask for Barabbas and to execute Jesus. 21 The governor asked them, "Which of the two do you want me to release for you?" "Barabbas!" they answered. 22 Pilate asked them, "What should I do then with Jesus, who is called Messiah?" They all answered, "Crucify Him!" 23 Then he said, "Why? What has He done wrong?" But they kept shouting, "Crucify Him!" all the more. 24 When Pilate saw that he was getting nowhere, but that a riot was starting instead, he took some water, washed his hands in front of the crowd, and said, "I am innocent of this man's blood. See to it yourselves!" 25 All the people answered, "His blood be on us and on our children!" 26 Then he released Barabbas to them. But after having Jesus flogged, he handed Him over to be crucified. 

 

Mocked by the military.

Matthew 27:27-30

27 Then the governor's soldiers took Jesus into headquarters and gathered the whole company around Him. 28 They stripped Him and dressed Him in a scarlet robe. 29 They twisted together a crown of thorns, put it on His head, and placed a reed in His right hand. And they knelt down before Him and mocked Him: "Hail, King of the Jews!" 30 Then they spit at Him, took the reed, and kept hitting Him on the head.

Crucified between two crimanals.
Matthew 27:32-44

The death of Jesus
Matthew 27:45-56
45 From noon until three in the afternoon darkness came over the whole land. 46 At about three in the afternoon Jesus cried out with a loud voice, " Elí, Elí, lemá sabachtháni ?" that is, " My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me? " 47 When some of those standing there heard this, they said, "He's calling for Elijah!" 48 Immediately one of them ran and got a sponge, filled it with sour wine, fixed it on a reed, and offered Him a drink. 49 But the rest said, "Let's see if Elijah comes to save Him!" 50 Jesus shouted again with a loud voice and gave up His spirit. 51 Suddenly, the curtain of the sanctuary was split in two from top to bottom; the earth quaked and the rocks were split. 52 The tombs also were opened and many bodies of the saints who had gone to their rest were raised. 53 And they came out of the tombs after His resurrection, entered the holy city, and appeared to many. 54 When the centurion and those with him, who were guarding Jesus, saw the earthquake and the things that had happened, they were terrified and said, "This man really was God's Son!" 55 Many women who had followed Jesus from Galilee and ministered to Him were there, looking on from a distance. 56 Among them were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James and Joseph, and the mother of Zebedee's sons.

Dear Lord, I am so sorry; it's the same as if I did all these things to you, myself.
I am so sorry.
Thank You for dying for me, thank You for forgiving me.