Live Life.

Today was a truly enjoyable day for me.

I understand we are supposed to rest on the Sabbath.

Some people consider weeding to be work.

I find it an enjoyable task....a hobby that brings me joy.

I also love hanging whites on the line on a sunny day.

Since I work during the week, I take advantage of the sunshine when I can.

My clotheslines were full of curtains, and sheets today...drying, and being bleached by the sun.

I don't mean to offend anyone by "working" on Sundays....I am the type of person that likes to use every minute I can to accomplish something.

I find it difficult to just sit still.

By the end of the day, I am ready to fall into bed and rest.

Live each day the fullest you can,

not guaranteeing there'll be a tomorrow,

not dwelling endlessly on yesterday.

JANE SEYMOUR

Life is difficult sometimes.

We go through situations that we wish would just be over.

Life is such a brief journey.

I read this in Max Lucado's book "In the Eye of the Storm"......He who "lives forever" has placed himself at the head of the band of pilgrims who mutter, "how long, O Lord? How long? (Psalm 89:46 NIV). 

"How long must I endure this sickness?"

"How long must I endure this spouse?"

"How long must I endure this paycheck""

Do you really want God to answer? He could, you know. He could answer in terms of the here and now with time increments we know. "Two more years on the illness." "The rest of your life in the marriage." "Ten more years for the bills."

But he seldom does that.  He usually opts to measure the here and now against the there and then. And when you compare this life to that life, this life ain't long.

Our days on earth are like a shadow. 1 CHRONICLES 29:15 NIV

After I hung the curtains, and put the fresh sheets back on the beds, I noticed the shadows from the sun getting lower in the sky.

The bedrooms had a warm feeling to them.

The daylight was ending, and evening was starting.

My heart felt joyful.

I knew evening was an extension of the day.....I had more "time" to enjoy....things to do. 

Teach us to number our days aright, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.

PSALM 90:12

The wise don't expect to find life worth living, they make it that way.

What we need is not new light, but new sight; not new paths, but new strength to walk in the old ones; not new duties, but new wisdom from on High to fulfill those that are plain before us.

Live your life while you have it.  Life is a splendid gift-there is nothing small about it.

FLORENCE NIGHTINGALE

I am convinced beyond a shadow of any doubt that the most valuable pursuit we can embark upon is to know God.

KAY ARTHUR

xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo

Rainbows and a Promise.

Good Sunday morning!

I'm excited about this post this morning, because I'm sharing something that always brings my heart joy......Rainbows.

Roxy, from Living from Glory to Glory, was telling me about the rain they had experienced, and afterward she saw a rainbow.

That subject always quickens my spirit.

My bible is not just "The Good Book".....it's a "Katuba".

A  Jewish bridegroom's written promises to his bride at the time of the engagement.

These promises are written down for her to read. She can hold them in her hands. She can be comforted, and encouraged by the words as she waits for her groom to return for her....and they can be wed.

My bible is a tangible book of promises written to me, by my Groom....Jesus.

I can hold it in my hands, touch it, read it, be comforted, and encouraged while I wait for my Groom to return for me as the Bride is raptured up for the Marriage Supper of the Lamb.Rev.19:7-9.

That's what a rainbow is to me....it's tangible.  I can't touch it with my hands, but I can see it with my eyes, and know in my heart that it was created by God as a covenant, or promise, to Noah that the waters shall no more become a flood to destroy all flesh.Gen.9:15.
Verse 16 says:and the rainbow shall be in the cloud; and I will look upon it, that I may remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature of all flesh that is upon the earth.  Verse 17:and God said to Noah, This is the token of the covenant, which I have established between Me and all flesh that is upon the earth.
When I see a rainbow, it's not just a pretty arch of color after it rains.....it's a real thing....a promise from God.
 I seek rainbows out after a storm. They reassure me that He is there through it all.....maybe looking at that same rainbow, and remembering His promise.
xoxoxoxoxoxoxo 

Nothing Like a True Friend.

Insomuch as any one pushes you nearer to God, he or she is your friend.

FRENCH PROVERB

This is My commandment, that you love one other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one's life for his friends. John 15:12-13 NKJV

For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son. John 3:16 NKJV

We have friends that come into our lives for just a season.

They walk in, then walk out....for the short time they were there, they may have made a profound impact on our lives. We don't understand where they went, or why they went. God knows. They are willing vessels, used for His Glory....meant to draw us into a relationship with Christ Jesus.

It takes a lot of obedience, courage, faith and love to build these kind of relationships for Christ.

*Having someone who understands is a great blessing for ourselves.

Being someone who understands is a great blessing to others. JANETTE OKE. 

Then there are the people that "really" know us.....*We should all have one person who knows how to bless us despite the evidence. PHYLLIS THEROUX.

These are the friends that you will have for the rest of your life. You're welded together by love, trust, respect or loss~or simple embarrassment.

Your hearts sing in harmony.......Don't walk in front of me~I may not follow.

Don't walk behind me~I may not lead.

Walk beside me~And just be my friend.

Reliable friends who do what they say are like cool drinks in sweltering heat~~~refreshing! 

PROVERBS 25:13 THE MESSAGE.

A friend hears the song in my heart and sings it to me when my memory fails.

*A friend understands what you are trying to say...even when your thoughts aren't fitting into words.

ANN D. PARRISH.

*I cannot count the number of times I have been strengthened by another woman's heartfelt hug, appreciative note, surprise gift or caring questions...my friends are an oasis to me, encouraging me to to go on. They are my well-being. DEE BRESTIN.
*Rich is the woman who has a praying friend. JANICE HUGHES.
For the women that have blessed me with their friendships....I want to thank you for your care, compassion, honesty, and love.
I thank God for you.
Debbie
xoxoxoxoxo

Prayer.

Open wide the windows of our spirits and fill us full of light: open wide the door of our hearts that we may receive and entertain Thee with all the powers of our adoration.*Christina Rossetti.

There isn't a certain time we should set aside to talk about God.

God is part of our every waking moment.*Marva Collins.

When I'm visiting with my youngest daughter Melissa, and her husband Kevin, it's natural for us to talk about God most of the time we are together.

It's not intentional...it's just the normal conversation for us.

It's like that with prayer.

There is prayer before meals, and prayer before bed......and.....

Whenever there is a need, we feel free to sit down and start praying together....whenever, where ever.

Before Kayla's gymnastics meet, she and I sat in the bathroom and prayed together.

Romans 12:10 NKJV says....Be kindly affectionate to one another,...

fervent in spirit, serving the Lord:

rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing steadfastly in prayer:

distributing to the needs of the saints,

given to hospitality.

After a while you are in constant communication, or fellowship with God, and you almost forget to pray.  For me, anyway, devotion, and meditation time is different than fellowship time.

While driving downstate to see the kids, I can be talking to God just like I talk to the Mister.

Other times I might be praying about something in particular, or someone.

That is difficult to do while driving, because I can't really concentrate on what I am doing, and pray effectively...other than to shoot up a quick arrow prayer.

Prayer is an ordinary, everyday thing.

People who pray want to share a life with God...to love and be loved.

To speak and to listen.

To work and to be at rest in the presence of God.

If a care is too small to be turned into a prayer then it is too small to be made into a burden.

You will make your prayer to Him,

He will hear you.

Job 22:27 NKJV

When we call on God,

He bends down His ear to listen,

as a father bends down to listen to his little child.*Elizabeth Charles.

Then there are the times when things go wrong, and good things don't happen. When our prayers seem to have been lost. Those are the times when God is most present.*Madeleine L'Engle.
Our God is faithful.
Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.Psalms 119:105.
In His Love.
Debbie

Seashells and Lavender open for business.

It's been laid on my heart to re-open Seashells and Lavender as a blog to journal my spiritual journey.

It won't be a blog that shares decor ideas(Lakehouse does that)....but hopefully minister to the hearts, and spirits of others, as well as cause me to draw closer to Jesus Christ, my first love.

I've been lacking in the accountability department.

Hopefully this will help to keep me faithful with my devotions, and scripture reading.

I'm a Christian....this will be non-denominational as far as sharing.

If you need prayer....request away!

*You're blessed when you're content with just who you are~no more, no less. That's the moment you find yourselves proud owners of everything that can't be bought. Matthew 5:5 The Message.*

Contentment is not the fulfillment of what you want, but the realization of how much you already have.

*It is always wise to stop wishing for things long enough to enjoy the fragrance of those now flowering. Patrice Gifford.
May we realize the blessings in each, and every day. Pray that the Lord open our eyes to see the treasures that are there, in front of our face...before the sun sets, and we lose yet another 24 hours of life seeking for that perfect tomorrow.
In His Love.
Debbie