Monthly Archives: April 2013

What Will The Stones Of Your Pathway Say?

IF the stones of this pathway represented your life from beginning to end,

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 what would they say?

 She lived with grace, love, hope, faith, or mercy?

How would you want to be remembered? 

 

If you are like me, you might have the same desire at the moment when the end of our path/life comes, to want to leave a legacy of our time spent on this earth being defined by more than just someone saying, “she was a mother and a wife or she had an important career.” No, I hope what most of us want is the ultimate reward of God telling us “well done good and faithful servant” and desiring our children and grandchildren to treasure the moments of who we were and how we lived our life. 

If we desire this, then I believe we need our children and loved ones to see us abiding in truth and living to love the way God intended us to love.  Our loved ones need to see our love for Jesus rooted in the truth of God’s Word and in prayer and not just by loving Him with the experiences of life.  WE need to bring about what we believe from our hearts and minds to make it to our hands and feet.  To walk out this love every day.

This reminds me of a story of a dear friend who posted a bumper sticker on her car that reads “Walk in Love.”  She often shares how she is now held accountable by her driving and interactions to others as to show love and kindness to everyone.  She is “walking in love.” Not that she needed much help in this department because she is one of the most loving people I know.  And let me add this girl knows grace very well!

In order, for us to live out love every day we need to live a life of faith, mercy, grace, hope and love. Serving and living every day to be more like Christ, accepting His love and knowing how He loves us, so we can carry this love trait through life living it out to others.  First, I firmly believe that until we know and soak in His love, then can we love others with grace, hope, and love the way He loves us.

Where are you today with this desire of leaving a legacy of God’s love? 

Are you seeking God to help you meet this desire?

Are you seeking His love and walking in love?  

Do you truly know HOW MUCH HE LOVES YOU? (If you don’t, why not ask Him to show you how much he loves you and keep on asking Him to show you everyday until you feel it.) 

My prayer is that God himself has been sowing the seed of His powerful word in our hearts and minds. Also I am praying we are seeking Him with every ounce of our being, so we can leave a well lived legacy behind to our future families and have the ultimate heavenly reward.  

As Paul says in 2 Timothy 4:7,8

“I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, and I have remained faithful. And now the prize awaits me—the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give me on the day of his return. And the prize is not just for me but for all who eagerly look forward to his appearing.”

I encourage you to soak in His LOVE today, get yourself deep in the Word and be in constant communication with Him.

What will the stones of your pathway read?

May God’s grace be with you all!

 Sorry for the different font~I cannot figure out how to fix the problem.  It’s funny how it did not show up this way until I posted this post.  Anyway Holley is setting up a Dream God-Sized Dreams today over at her blog.  Go over to her blog spot and be a part of all the encouragement today.God-Sized-Button

 

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Grateful for What He Created

Did you ever just look at something in amazement? Staring at it for a while and saying to yourself “this is so beautiful.”   Like the brilliant colors of a sunrise or sunset, the bright blue ocean water, a water fall or a tree blooming in the spring with its awesome flowers in array of colors? Did you take the time to thank the painter and sculpture today of all of this beauty?

This past week my husband and I had the pleasure to adventure on the island of St John.  The blue water and green mountains in front of us were “breath taking.”  God’s creation is so beautiful here in the states, but on this Caribbean Island it was even more BEAUTIFUL.  Getting out into the outdoors makes us grateful and thankful to God for His AMAZING creation.  It helps us to be more attentive to His presence feeling the gratitude for His awesome power.  After being in doors all winter being in the outdoors does our minds and bodies so good to be out amongst the beauty that surrounds us.

 

Do you notice when you are outdoors this brings you a thankful spirit for all He has created?

Do you thank Him for His beauty?

Do you feel His presence more of the time when being outside versus inside?

 

I can speak for myself saying yes to these questions, but sometimes I do take some of life for granted.  I think we all could say that we would want to take less for granted and have a thankful, grateful spirit living every moment thanking Him for our surroundings and the many blessings He bestows upon us. So let us put on our thankful and grateful spirit and be in His presence each and every moment thanking Him for all of our blessings. Thank Him for the sunset tonight, the sunrise tomorrow and the flowering trees and flowers.  Time spent with good friends and family. Be thankful for your health-we should not take it for granted for we do not know when something could go awry in our wonderful made and complex bodies.

 

This past week we were very blessed to see the beauty of St John and we would like to share some pictures with you.

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The lush green mountains with the blue ocean surrounding it!

 

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                   Looking down on Coral Bay

 

IMG_0070                             The Beauty of Trunk Bay

 

IMG_0037                                                Love the blue water

 

 

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We do not want to forget His creation and beauty under the ocean too!

 

I also took some pictures around our property of the trees and flowers blooming when we arrived home.  Their beauty is also breath taking!

 

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                          Pink and Pretty Flowers

 

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     Flowering Trees

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            Love me some yellow tulips

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Beautiful even if it is leaning!

 

I am going to take less for granted and make sure I take every opportunity to thank Him for the blessings  I can see and the blessings I cannot see!

Imagine the beauty that awaits us in Heaven!
Mary

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Friends….Summer…Food

 

I wanted to share some tablescapes this morning from summers past.  I have been thinking lately about doing some entertaining this summer.  I thought it would be neat to share with you some pictures of my past years of ‘Summer Entertaining.’

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This picture is from last August when I had some girlfriends over to celebrate one of their birthdays.  We had a fun girls’ day hanging out by the pool and eating some good food.

As you will see in many of these pictures on this post, I use the same white plates, but use different salad/dessert plates to change up the color.

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Two years ago I had some friends and neighbors over that go to our church for a fun just Girls’ Night.  We ate good food and just hung out together catching up with each other. It is so fun to just meet face to face and talk.  So much joy in this!  With social media I think we lose this part of seeing each other and keeping up with our most treasured friends and neighbors.   In 2 John 1:12 it tells us~

“I have much to write to you, but I do not want to use paper and ink. Instead, I hope to visit you and talk with you face to face, so that our joy may be complete.”
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This next exciting gathering was held here last July.  We had a surprise party for a dear friend who was turning 70.  On the outside I put mason jars with flowers and put arrangements of flowers on the tables. I included candles for when the sun went down.   The inside tables were decorated with her favorite things.  Shoes, color, and purses.IMG_6369 IMG_6366 IMG_6368 IMG_6367 IMG_6364 IMG_6363
Here are some random pictures of how I decorated from various events from the past two summers.IMG_6431 IMG_6429 IMG_6433 IMG_6428 IMG_0242 IMG_0341 IMG_0338 IMG_0240
It is so much fun having people over and being able to just sit and relax with them.  Hear their joys, their stories, and their sufferings their having to endure.  I love sharing life with them!
This last event I will share with you was so much fun.  Last year I had donated a “Garden Party” for our annual church Missions Auction.  I am doing this again this year and this is why I am thinking about entertaining again for the summer.  Seven women were the highest bidders and were my guests here on a hot Summer night in June and seven more will be here this year at the end of June.  Two of my friends were so sweet to be able to help me serve the food for last years party. With hosting another “Garden Party”  this year it makes it nice to have these pictures to reminisce.  Here are some pictures from that night in early July 2012.  A beautiful evening that even was with a full moon.
Ahhh….Cannot wait for some summer evenings to sit and relax with good friends again!IMG_6192
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Remember it is not about how it looks as it is about “FACE TO FACE.” Sharing life together!
Linking to Between Naps on the Porch for Tablescape Thursday

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