Thankful Thursday: Friendship!

PROVERBS 27:9
Oil and perfume rejoice the heart; so does the sweetness of a friend's counsel that comes from the heart.

Today I am so very thankful for Godly Friendships. I have an amazing on line group of ladies that are passionate about the gospel and have a heart for Christ and other woman that are hurting or in need. Today is our one year anniversary together!
It doesn't seem possible that Claudia started our group a year ago. Thank you Claudia for your dear sweet heart. I put the picture above because I just felt like it represented what I would love to do with this group of ladies. We have never met in person but we have certainly grown to love each and every heart in our group. One day it would be amazing to share that big ole cup of coffee with them as well as aface to face meeting!

I'm also a part of a cell family at our church "The Bridge" that has become my FAMILY! They have helped keep me grounded and focused on TRUTH and the GOSPEL.........

Thanking God today for a wonderful group of friends - or should I say FAMILY! :)

Hugs,

Holly

SUMS IT ALL UP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Quote by John Piper:

Love must be God-centered, or it is not true love; it leaves people without their final hope of joy.

Leaving the past in the past?

"Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing!"
Isaiah 43:18,19a

I'm not sure about the rest of you, but I have always struggled in this area. The past has many HAPPY MEMORIES as well as SAD MISTAKES that I wish I could go back and change!

So many days I feel like Paul when he says:
For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate.

Today my thoughts are for lost loved ones who are very dear to my heart! I pray that they realize they are lost! So many times I go back to the past and desire for things to be like they once were. Then I have to focus on what is true?
What does God desire for TODAY?

Then I can rest in the Lord and trust that as long as I'm living my life for him that he holds tomorrow. I don't have to try and figure it out because he already has ALL THINGS UNDER CONTROL and the only thing I have to focus on is loving him with all of my heart and loving others the same way he loved me!

So for today I won't dwell on yesterday, but I will remember it and praise the Lord that I'm not who I once was but becoming who he had planned me to be. Desiring to have a heart that others can see CHRIST through!

Praying today for our family and friends that they will have ears to hear and the holy spirit will soften their hearts to answer his call!


Holly

Beauty for ashes

Just had to share this devotion today:

Jesus came to give us beauty instead of ashes. To transform the
ashes of our life into something beautiful -- for His glory.

As I was walking one day, I came upon a tree. It was short,
twisted, and poorly shaped. Obviously, it had faced many storms
and had suffered greatly. To be honest, the tree itself, was
ugly.

But that day something transformed that ugly tree into
something gloriously beautiful, and very pleasant to look at.
It was covered with little pink flowers. In fact, the tree was
bursting with life coming from inside its gnarled branches.

As I looked at the tree, enjoying the beautiful sight, it
reminded me of us as believers -- who may not be very desirable
on our own -- but with Jesus' life and love flowing through us
-- we become glorious creatures.

So no matter how twisted and ugly you may have become because
of the storms of life, if you allow Jesus to live and manifest
through you, everyone will see beauty instead of ashes and
ugliness.

JEREMIAH 17:7-8 NLT
7 "But blessed are those who trust in the LORD and have made
the LORD their hope and confidence.
8 They are like trees planted along a riverbank, with roots
that reach deep into the water. Such trees are not bothered by
the heat or worried by long months of drought. Their leaves
stay green, and they never stop producing fruit.

Tuesday's Thoughts!

ROMANS 5:5 NKJ
5 Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has
been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given
to us.

Even though we have the love of God in our hearts, we still
have to choose to allow it to control our actions and reactions
toward people. In this, as in every area, we must look to the
Lord for His help.

Today I woke up with this over whelming feeling of God and his amazing LOVE!
Thinking about how that love affects our attitude toward others here on earth....
I realize today that the only way I love others is only because Christ loved me first
sooooooooooo much! I don't know WHY HE LOVED ME? I'm blown away that he does.
From my seat's view... I would think.. Man... that girl messed up sooo bad and blew it.... Let her figure it out and deal with the mess..... But he didn't....
God held out his arms, called me back and forgave me! How much more should I do that same for others!

Today I CHOOSE to love like Christ loves................Unconditionally and praying each and every day for his love to shine through me and to use me whenever and wherever he CHOOSES!

Just felt the need to praise God today and voice it OUT LOUD! What a MIGHTY GOD WE SERVE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hugs,

Holly