Last night was an emotional evening. I attended visitation at a funeral. What made this emotional was it being my EX Family. After coming home alone - my children were supporting their Father.... I was left with such anxious feelings. Having this over whelming feeling I should be there to? I was married in this family for over 22 years. I believe I was well over all issues involving them.

Truth is. I still love this family. No matter what. They will always be dear to my heart. Today I can be thankful for that. It doesn't matter what has occurred in the past. Only that TODAY - I can love them still. I can pray for them still with a sincere heart.

Today I'm thankful for the Love of Christ that has so changed my heart. I have NO BITTERNESS. How amazing is that? I don't care what was done to me. What peace God has brought to this heart of mine!

I love this quote: Change is inevitable but change for the better is a full time job!

The apostle Paul, after exhorting the Philippians to be "anxious for nothing", tells them, "By prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God."(Phil. 4:6).

TODAY I AM SO VERY THANKFUL FOR HIS LOVE IN MY HEART~~~~

Wednesday Gratitude

I'm joining Heidi at Heart of Home for Wednesday Gratitude today.
Today I'm thankful for the many blessings of the Lord. He has blessed me with
an amazing family that I love dearly.

I have two beautiful grand babies - Levi and Grace. they are both 13 months old with only two weeks between their ages. SO CUTE and at that super fun age.

Blessed with the beauty of living the country life with wide open space and the opportunity to praise God while being right in the middle of his creation!

I feel so extremely blessed to be able to just walk down the country road and see the beauty of the sunset or the beauty of a clear night sky with the bazillion stars at night - (hee hee) is that even a real word................

How could any one look at creation and not KNOW and BELIEVE that there is a GOD?

Psalm 91:1
The heavens declare the glory of God; the sky displays his handiwork. 2 Day after day it speaks out; night after night it reveals his greatness.

Grateful today for God's grace and mercy, even on a sinner such as I!

Blessings,

The Love of God

Yesterday was a hard day for family members. My Ex Husband’s Grand Father passed away. The hard part is this: My children barely knew this man. I wish they had gotten to know him better and I am partly to blame for this as well.

My heart is going out to my ex-husband today in a great way. I’m not sure what is bringing these emotions out so strongly but I am certain that God is in control of ALL THINGS. I know many may find this photo odd in comparison with the Love of God. But my ex husband is a farmer and raises cattle and this picture spoke volumes to my heart. Just as this Momma cares for her new born baby - This is how our heavenly Father watches over us as well!

My Daughter spent the evening with her Daddy last night and she realizes this has touched him in a huge way. My prayer today is that God would draw David to him at this very moment. That David would realize how special he is in God’s heart.

1 Peter 5:6-7
Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.

Oh that this would occur in him. I pray that today – He know the awesome LOVE OF OUR SAVIOR…………………………………… Please pray along with me that God would do a mighty work in this family and they feel the comfort of our dear Lord.

God’s word shall not lie:

Psalm 34:18
The Lord is close to the broken hearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.

Psalm 55:22
Cast your cares on the Lord and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous fall.

Praying that their hearts know the presence of God this day!

In Jesus precious name I pray,

~Thankful For God's Way And Not My Own~

"P.S. I shared this post on Heart to Heart with Holley."




Nellie – It’s Not About You!

I’m not certain how many of you remember Nellie Olsen from “Little House On The
Prairie” series? She was the Daughter of Mr. Olsen that owned the local
Mercantile store. Nellie was very spoiled and consistently demanded her own way, thinking only of herself. Not many people could remain her friend for very long. It didn’t take long for her consistent ugliness to wear thin.

Why the history lesson on Nellie Olsen? Well, because I was a NELLIE in many ways. I haven't ever been mean like her, however - Nellie can come out in our character in many different ways. Before the Lord finally got my attention and had me focus on the problem areas, my life was ALL ABOUT ME! How could I be prettier? How could I become more popular? How could I get the basketball star in High School to go out with me? How could I have the perfect children? How could I get my husband to do what I desired? What was wrong with everyone around me?

Then the Lord allowed many painful lessons in my life in order to help me see that his purpose for our lives has nothing to do with US but has everything to do with HIM…… If you have picked up this book I can assume that you to have finally come to the place that you are more interested in his plan for you life than you are in what your desires are.

One day a very dear friend looked me in the eyes and said “Nellie, no one feels sorry for you any longer – look at how your actions may have hurt this person instead of just focusing on the consequences of your own actions!” WOW……. And this was my best friend? Little did I realize, she was in fact my best friend that loved me enough to share TRUTH!

My hope and prayer is that through my life lessons I can share with you the glorious way that God loved me in spite of me!

The saying “Often God has to shut a door in our face so that he can subsequently open the door through which he wants us to go”……. Well, let’s just say this is a motto for my life!

Thanking God today for the blessings of HIS TRUTH and for sending people into my life to share it~

Hugs,
Holly

Will You Be Different?

God has been challenging my heart lately with this question? Will I take the chance to stand out? Be different from the crowd? Be a true follower of Christ?

I have always struggled in this life with pleasing other people. Even at the cost of my faith! I have been uneasy with these choices in life! I want to be pleasing to the Lord and STILL HAVE ALL OF MY FRIENDS IN LIFE. Can you relate to this at all?

Luke 9:23 rings loudly in my heart today:
"If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.

MUST DENY HIMSELF! Strong words.... I'm called to be different and to make a difference while here on this earth. Its my prayer that through Christ - He will make a difference in the people I come in contact with! Use me Lord and strengthen me to do YOUR WILL.......

John 15:18-21

“If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. Remember the word that I said to you... If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you... because they do not know Him who sent Me."

I finally desire to be the red and white cow in the picture above. Not just be "One of the herd"....... God hand picked each and every one of us for HIS KINGDOM PURPOSE and today I am challenging each of you to BE DIFFERENT from the rest......

"Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind" (Romans 12:2 NIV).

God Bless,
Holly