Three Tiers, Past and Presennt

 I enjoy having a three tier shelf.  I like finding different arrangements for each month.  My first one was wrought iron, it was easy to decorate but the circumference was just a little too small, making it hard to fit some things.

Here it is for Valentines several years ago.

My new three tier, a Christmas gift to me, from me!

This is the top shelf, the 'guest of honor' is my little mug sent to me by a sweet blogger years ago.

This is the middle shelf, 'guest of honor' here is my tear bottle given to me by Tammy and my little bottle of holy water from the Vatican.  This was a gift from my son's girlfriend some years ago.

Psalm 56:8

“You keep track of all my sorrows. You have collected all my tears in your bottle. You have recorded each one in your book”

The bottom shelf is where I placed the Happy New sign I made from scrabble pieces.

It looks nice on the bar and I hope to change the items each month.  I like it so much more than the wrought iron one.

As every new year comes I have this same problem.  What will be my word for the year, what will be my focus!  I don't know why I struggle with this, for the Lord always sends it to me.   Just now I was searching for something else to share with you today.  I found this poem and as I was reading I found my 'special words!'

A New Year's Plan

I tried to think of a clever new phrase—

A slogan to inspire the next 365 days,

A motto to live by this coming New Year,

But the catchy words fell flat to my ear.

And then I heard His still small voice

Saying, "Consider this simple, daily choice:

With each new dawn and close of day

Make new your resolve to trust and obey."

"Don't look back, caught in regret

Or dwell on the sorrow of dreams unmet;

Don't stare forward anchored by fear,

No, live in this moment, for I Am here."

"I am all you need. Everything. I Am.

You are held secure by my strong hand.

Give me this one thing—your all in all;

Into my grace, let yourself fall."

So, at last, I'm ready; I see the way.

It's to daily follow, trust, and obey.

I enter the New Year armed with a plan,

To give Him my everything—all that I am.

--Mary Fairchild

My special word for 2023 . . .

Trust and Obey

Until Next Time

Abide Wednesday

This is from Francis Chan.

I've read several of his books and enjoy his teaching.

"Do you know that nothing you do in this life will ever matter, unless it is about loving God and loving the people He has made."

"If I could speak all the languages of earth and of angels, but didn’t love others, I would only be a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal.

If I had the gift of prophecy, and if I understood all of God’s secret plans and possessed all knowledge, and if I had such faith that I could move mountains, but didn’t love others, I would be nothing.

If I gave everything I have to the poor and even sacrificed my body, I could boast about it; but if I didn’t love others, I would have gained nothing." - 1 Cor. 13

John 13:34 - 

A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. 

How do we find that kind of love, by ABIDING in Him.

Until Next Time

John 16:33

I've given a lot of thought into a 'special' word for 2018. . .there are so many to choose from. . .but nothing seems to be speaking to my heart.  Last year I couldn't decide on a special word either, instead the Lord gave me a special phrase, "Live Life Joyously."  I must say those three little words were a constant reminder that JOY is a choice, something we choose to do in Christ Jesus.

Source: Yahoo Images

2017 brought a little trouble to our life and God has been faithful to light our path.  I was listening to the radio the other morning and someone was speaking on John 16:33..

These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”

It was then I knew my special word for 2018 would be this scripture, it truly touched my heart. 

KIJC

King Jesus Is Coming

Live Life Joyously

I'm not choosing a 'special' word for 2017....I'm choosing a special phrase!!

Live Life Joyously

I'm not talking about being happy, I'm talking about having joy in my heart.

Of course being happy is wonderful, but having the joy of knowing God in your heart surpasses happiness!!

The word “happiness” actually comes from the word “happenings.” Our happiness is then connected to our happenings, what is happening around us. If our happenings are miserable we are not going to be happy.

Joy is so different from happiness. Where happiness depends on what is happening, with joy it doesn’t matter what’s happening. While happiness is greatly affected by circumstance, joy is rooted deep within. Joy is a deep, enduring confidence in God, and that's what I want....a deep, enduring joy that comes from having confidence in God.

Romans 15:13

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.

1 Peter 1:8-9

Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls.

Linking With Create With Joy

Until Next Time
Looking forward to 2017
and Living Life Joyously!

Surrender

.....to give oneself up, as into the power of another; submit or yield.

Finally, I've chosen my 'special' word for 2016, I should say, the Lord has chose my word for 2016.

It's amazing how God speaks to us, out of the blue....bam....He's put something right on your heart.

I will always strive to be in complete surrender, to submit myself, to yield all I am to my Lord and Savior,  Jesus Christ.

I Surrender All

All to Jesus I surrender,

humbly at His feet I bow.

Worldly pleasures all forsaken,

Take me Jesus, take me now.

All to Jesus I surrender,
make me Savior wholly thine.
Let me feel the Holy Spirit,
Truly know that thou are mine.

All to Jesus I surrender,
Lord I give myself to Thee.
Fill me with thy love and power,
let Thy blessing fall on me.

I surrender all, I surrender all,
All to Thee my Blessed Savior,
I surrender all.

Submit yourselves therefore to God.  Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

James 4:7

       
Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.

 Matthew 11:29 

And he said to all, "If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.

      Luke 9:23       

Listen to the Olso Gospel Choir
sing "I Surrender All."
Click Here

Heavenly Father,
let us always surrender our lives
to Your Glory.
Amen

Until Next Time
Hope your SonDay is happy and blessed.

Patience

Patience is a wonderful thing and yet, can be a struggle.  It seems we are always in a hurry, wanting what we want right now!

I am learning to STOP....and remember, God is in control and His timing is perfect.

 May you be strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy, giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light.

Colossians 1:11-12

It's a beautiful morning here in SE Texas.  The weather is cool, the sun is shining, and life is good! 

Until Next Time
Hope you're enjoying great days!

Mary

Patience

If there's one thing I've learned in my older years, it's patience.  Years of experiencing  life's ups and downs will certainly teach you that you're not in control of everything, in fact you're in control of very little.  The good news ~ God is in control!
I  love this definition of patience:
 "Patience is a calm endurance based on the certain knowledge that God is in control."

 

 

It's wonderful to have a God that walks with us in the 'ups' and carries us in the 'downs,' teaching us patience and understanding in all things.

 

This is a great quote by Russell Moore:

There's something about patience that God deems necessary for our life in the age to come.

 

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Patience is the companion of wisdom.

 

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Patient endurance is what you need now, so that you will continue to do God’s will. Then you will receive all that he has promised.

Hebrews 10:36 NLT

Patience: My special word for 2015

Until Next Time

 

 



Waiting in Line

This study by Polly Gwinn was sent to me by my sister-in- love, it reminded me of my special word for 2015~Patience.

We can’t escape waiting, much as we’d like to. Murphy’s law says that no matter what lane of traffic we switch to, the other goes faster. And how is it that the cashier who’s never touched a cash register takes over as soon as I get in line? And I don’t even want to mention waiting in airports. Waiting is part of our lives.  My pet peeve is getting a hair dresser right out of beauty school and I am her first hair cut (and sometimes her last)!

Waiting is part of our spiritual lives. Waiting isn’t Murphy’s Law but God’s law. I’m waiting for him to heal family members. Waiting for him to change me and help me. Waiting for God to work in my children. Waiting for guidance.

 

Lamentations 3:24-26 says, “The Lord is my portion,” says my soul, “therefore I will hope in him.” The Lord is good to those who wait for him, to the soul who seeks him. It is good that one should wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord.

Waiting is an act of faith. Because in waiting for the Lord, we are saying, Lord I trust in you. I hope in you. I have confidence that as I wait, you are being good to me and you are acting on my behalf. I’m trusting you for grace to come.

Faith waits confidently for the Lord to fulfill his promises.  God’s word is filled with promises of future blessings. Promises we must wait for. Promises for our children. Promises to give us all we need to glorify him. Promises to protect us and keep us. Promises we wait for in faith.

 James exhorts us, Be patient, therefore, brothers, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, being patient about it, until it receives the early and the late rains (5:7). Farmers wait in patient faith. They don’t go out and dig up the seeds every day to check if they’re growing. They trust that the rains have activated them underground and they’re growing. There will be a harvest. That’s how we wait for the promise of the Lord’s coming. We don’t see it, but something is happening. The Lord will come.

That's how we wait in faith for God.  God is at work in my children. At work in me. Like the rain at work in the seeds in the ground. And someday there will be a harvest. While we are waiting, keep watering God’s promises by prayer and thanksgiving. Ask God to fulfill his promises. And thank him that he will. Thank him for the grace that is coming.That’s how we wait in faith for God.

Waiting is an act of faith. While we are waiting and trusting, God is working.

 

Until Next Time

Patiently Waiting and Trusting

Mary

 

Patience...I need Patience!

Today I got lots of practice at being patient ~ patient/patience my special word for 2015.  A chain of events that I'm now laughing about.  I had a doctor's appointment at 2:45, I was there, in fact I was 10 minutes early.  I sat in the waiting room for 40 minutes.  I would cross one leg and then a few minutes later cross the other...have you ever noticed how time drags when you're waiting?  Eventually they put me away in an examining room, yes I said 'put away,' because that's what it feels like to me.  Put away and forgotten! After 35 minutes the doctor comes in, visits with me for 10 minutes, TEN minutes, and I'm done.  Patience, I must have patience.

 

 

 

We're now in the car and off we go to get prescriptions filled.  The weather is awful, pouring down rain, I just want to get home.  We arrive at CVS and we're in line at the pharmacy. There's this young man in front of us. he bends over to touch his toes and his shirt rides up and his britches ride down, we get half-mooned.  Patience, I need patience...I just want to get home!

 

 

On the road again, we're starving and Luby's is on the way home.  We stopped to get a bite to eat and everything's going well...I thought....I get my food from the tray to the table and then I look for the server, I needed some pepper sauce for my spinach.  He was talking to another customer...and talking and talking and talking.  I think they knew each other, in fact I think they were friends, very good friends.  I got up and got my own pepper sauce, no tip for him.  Patience....I need patience...I just want to get home!

 

 

Six o'clock and we're home at last!  First thing I take the dogbabies out, oh dear, it's still raining and they hate to get wet. They go to the end of the porch, stop and head back to the door.  No babies, you must go poop and pee.  Back to the edge of the porch and back to the door, after lots of scolding they went on out in the yard and took care of business.  Patience....I need lots of patience!

 

 

It's such a contradiction ~ we plead for patience when what we really want is the granting of our wishes so we don't have to be patient anymore.

Karon Phillips Goodman

Your Late Again, Lord (2002)

 

 

For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise.

Hebrews 10:36 KJV

 

Until Next Time

Thank You Lord, for the Blessed Assurance that You won't give up on me!

 

 



SonDay Scripture

(Taken from the Internet)

The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.

II Peter 3:9

((Hugs)) and Blessings
Mary

Patience

“Patience is the ability to idle your motor when you feel like stripping your gears.”
     Barbara Johnson

 

Patience. It's amazing how we find ourselves so short of patience at times. It has become a rare commodity in our culture. Frustration builds when the elderly person in front you walks too slow, or the "fast food" line takes too long, or we have to wait on anything! Patience really is a virtue and it is so important to build it into our lives. Doing so allows us to endure the difficult and savor the grand. Let us all choose little by little, moment by moment to be patient. Just one time today, when that frustration builds, take a deep breath and be patient!

The Duggar Family Facebook Page 

Until Next Time
Breathing deep and learning patience!

 

Out and About

We're getting out today to run some errands.  I saw this message from Joyce Meyer this morning and just have to share.  Not only did it give me instructions for today, it zoomed right in on my special word for the year.

Practice patience everywhere you go today. You will encounter people who are irritating, but being patient with them shows them the love of God. ~ Joyce Meyer

 

 

We desire that each one of you show the same diligence to the full assurance of hope until the end, that you do not become sluggish, but imitate those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.

Hebrews 6:11-12

 

Until Next Time

Lord, let me be as patient with others as You have been with me.

 

 



Special Word for 2015 ~ Patience

I absolutely want God's best for my life.  This year and hopefully all years to come, I will focus on being more PATIENT in waiting for Him to work His will in my life.  I have found over the years, that He is working when we don't even realize it.  As we're waiting He's already got things in motion, doing a mighty work in our lives.

 

Patience ~ my 'special word' for 2015.

 

 

 

God’s Word teaches us to be patient in all things, no matter how insignificant or important they may be. The importance of patience can be seen from its listing as one of the fruits of the spirit in Galatians 5. Haven’t we all heard that good things come to those who wait?

 

God knows that many of us may find it difficult at times to remain patient.

 Trusting in God and waiting

 ~ having patience ~ 

for Him to work in our lives will bring the reward of His will for our lives. He is faithful to give us our answers in due season and has promised that patience will indeed bring plentiful blessings to our lives.

Note to self:  Sometimes we think 'no' is an unanswered prayer.  'No' is an answer.  Sometimes what we pray for is not according to His will for our lives.  It's important to me to end my prayers with ~ 'Thy will be done.'
  
This is where I had planned to enter a scripture about patience.  As I was writing the above paragraph the following scripture came on my heart.

 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 hope and a future.
Jeremiah 29:11

Be patient and wait for His plans in your life.
 

Until Next Time

 



 

Love

My special word for 2014 is LOVE.  As the year is coming to a close it's time for one last
'love post.'
 

John 13:34 is sometimes referred to as the
11th commandment.

A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another.

It's easy to love your family and your close friends, but that's not what the scripture says...we are to love one another...one another is everyone...as Christ loves us.  Now just think about that...a little overwhelming isn't it?
  That kind of love is something I need to work on.  How about you?  It's something we should  want to do, something Christ tells us to do and if we search deep enough, it's something He has equipped us to do.

 

I found these words in my praise journal.

God's love has no boundaries,

It's flowing everywhere.

He has enough for everyone,

And even some to share.

So take a heaping handful,

And give some out each day~

Speak it by your actions,

And with the words you say.

As you share His love with others,

He'll make it multiply.

For God's love has no boundaries,

There's an infinite supply.

Author Unknown

 

Until Next Time

 

Whatever a person may be like, we must still love them because we love God.

John Calvin