Serene Sunday

As I sit here at work, outside the window it looks cold and the rain has been drizzling all mornin.g The leaves are starting to change, but the majority of them are still green. I love the feeling of Fall of the year. Perhaps it is because I know that without my Lord, Fall would be such a depressing time in my life with the trees becoming bare. But the Lord gave ys sycg veaytiful colors as to savor while this transition is taking place and we have the promise of knowing that in the Spring it will all become new again. Remember the video I shared before of "All Things New Again".
Many of you may not know that I am in school now. After much prayer and thought, I have decided to persue my dream of becoming a Nurse Practitioner. It is amazing to look at the course I have thought of when it comes to a career. All through school I wanted to be a teacher, then I decided by the fate of the Lord to go to Nursing School. I finished my associate's degree and thought that's all the Lord wanted me to do, but now I know better. My Lord has allowed me to have my dream of teaching, whether it be the students that I teach as an instructor at the college part time or my patients. He is also allowing me to do more. Once I finish my Bachelor's Degree, this program should bridge right into the Master's and I will be able to have a whole new teaching relationship with my patients and with future students.
As I balance the roles of wife, mother, daughter, nurse, teacher, and student with being a Child of the King, tenacity is a key word. "Tenacity is more than hanging on, which may be but the weakness of being too afraid to fall off. Tenacity is the supreme effort of a man refusing to believe that his hero is going to be conquered...Remain spiritually tenacious. Oswald Chambers, My Utmost for His Highest"
This type of tenacity comes from the Lord, the Heavenly Father who is the only one capable of this type of gift to his children.

Verse of the Day: "Blessed is a man who perseveres under trial; for once he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him. " - James 1:12
The verse of the day is dedicated to a special friend of mine. Natalie, I am fighting for you the best I know how, through my prayers to our wonderful Lord.

"Fear not, for I am with thee, and I will bless thee" - Genesis 26:24

As I sit here in the Dr's office, the devil is trying to take over and place fear in me! I guess it figures, if you are a Christian, that's what it going to happen!
THANK GOD, I have this blog to turn to. I can log in and praise the Lord and that just makes that old devil fight harder, but that doesn't mean that he will win! Oh no, my LORD is taking care of me.
You see, my God can do anything. I do mean anything. If you are down and out or even outright convinced that things are just awful, my God can change them. Everytime I have lab work drawn, I remember this. I always think of it as - my blood work could very well be x even when they draw it, but if my Lord sees fit, when they get the results back in that short amount of time - all can be well.

Isn't God's Word wonderful? How nice is it that when we need something, we only have to go so far? I wanted a Bible verse as I sat here and the one up top is what I go!

We're Home and HOT HOT HOT

"For the wages of sin is death; but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord" (Rom. 6:23).

First of all, I would like to thank God for not only giving us traveling mercies, but a WONDERFUL weekend together as a family. We ended our weekend yesturday with the Sunday School picnic where I managed to get a lovely sun burn after going the whole weekend without one! Although it is pretty uncomfortable and has my skin feeling tight, a thought went through my head as I was lying in bed awake last night... "Hell is hotter than this!"

That really did come out of no where, but it sums up the hot weather that we have had and the burning feeling that is on my back and shoulders! On Saturday our car thermometer read 109 for the outside temperature at the lake! Still, Hell is hotter that that!

How wonderful that since we have the gift of God, we may have eternal life instead of the never ended death and torment that come with the wages of sin!

Thank You God that you have delievered us that we may have eternal life through you. You have delivered us from the wages of sin and saved us once more! ~Amen.

God Bless You,
Mary

Thank God It's Friday?

“Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.” –James 1:17

I just heard one of the students at the college where my husband works walk by and say, “Thank God it’s Friday”, and it got me to thinking. We hear people say Thank God that it is Friday or that the weekend is here, but how often do we hear, “Thank God it’s Monday”?
God gave us 6 days of the week to work, play, and enjoy, then the 7th to love and serve HIM. How sad is it that we sometimes do not stop to thank Him for our gift of a new day. It is a common mistake and we often overlook it, but each DAY is from him. “Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.” –James 1:17

Thank you God for this day. Although it is Friday and the beginning of the weekend, Lord we praise you for no matter what day it is, you made it and gave it to us! In your glorious name – Amen.


As a side note – my husband and I are taking our little girl on a small weekend trip and desire your prayers for a safe trip.

God Bless You,
Mary

His Shield

"He will shield you with His wings. He will shelter you in His feathers. His faithful promises are your armor and protection." - Psalm 91:4 (NLT)



I can feel this verse. Have you ever just felt something after you read it? It's like you don't just read it, but it sinks into you deep down...The Lord truly watches over us, doesn't He? The following verses:

"Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. "And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints...." Ephesians 6:10-18

talk about the whole armor of God and this verse tells us that His faithful promises are your armor (and protection). Now really read that, not just His promises, but His FAITHFUL promises! You and I can promise with good intentions, even with the best of intentions, but our Lord - He FAITHFULLY promises.

Thank you God that you cover us with Your wings, that You give us an unwavering calm. Lord we know that calm can only come from You. Help us to remember where to turn when our faith begins to weaken - for it is us Lord, not You that is weak. In Your Holy name - Amen.

God Bless You,
Mary

Short Thought

I love this quote and wanted to share it with you:

“When I stand before God at the end of my life,I would hope that I would not have a single bit of talent left and could say: ‘I used everything you gave me.’ “
Erma Louise Bombeck

Have a wonderful day - remember..."This is the day the Lord has made...Let us rejoice and be glad in it..."

God Bless You,
Mary

Coming Back!

Due to some technical issues, Picked With Love has been down for a while. I hope to have things up and running again by the first of June!

God Bless You,
Mary