Well, it is still a day to be thankful … every day is, right! … so I thought I’d better move on into Friday … but I notice that it is just about over {my sister and brother-in-law came by and we spent some time talking with them so this post was just a little delayed} … still, old news can be good news!  Hope you’ve all had a day of blessings!  First of all, thank you for your hugs, and prayers!  I’ve been so blessed by every one!  It’s very comforting to know others who have gone through similar situations with their children, and know just how a person can feel!  Thank you, all, so much!! 

Good news … yesterday, {which was Thursday, if you’re not reading this until Saturday} a dear friend of mine, Marcia, got to see Ian and Tim for breakfast in Pismo Beach!!  She had flown out to California last week to see some of her family, and decided to check with them to see if there was a possibility of getting together.  Well, it worked out beautifully!  We had talked by IM on Tuesday, and she let me know that she would be seeing them on Thursday.  Ian called me yesterday, and told me they were on their way to meet her, and it being a 2 hour drive for them, he wanted to ‘share the scenery’ with me over the phone!  He’s done that before, and it gives me a chance to ‘see’ where he’s been!!  It sounded beautiful, as has all of the other places he’s been to.  

We hung up after a little bit, and a couple of hours later, Marcia called and I couldn’t get to the cell phone in time, I was on another call on the house phone, and couldn’t hang up quick enough, so I missed her call! :o(  I tried calling back as soon as I ended the other one, and she said, “Awww, if you had called just a couple of minutes earlier…..”, and as I stood there sadly thinking I’d missed him, she handed the phone to him, and he said he just wanted to play a joke on me!!  Ha, ha!!!  Anyway, it was a nice ‘joke’, I suppose … but, he said they had a great breakfast at a place called The Spyglass Inn on Pismo Beach!!  Look at those pictures!  He’s asked us to come visit so we can see where he’s staying, and so he can introduce us to his new friends.  We’ve been talking about it, but it’s not always easy to get away, especially this time of year with our busy show schedule!  But if we do, we’ll have to visit this restaurant, maybe stay a night ‘at the “inn”! Anyway, I checked out the menu … he said he had Eggs Benedict, one of my favorites, and that looked pretty reasonable in price … the rooms for an overnight stay, with an ocean view … a different story.  We might ought to bring the tent and camp on the beach!!  Lol!!  Is that even allowed these days?? 

As we were talking I kept hearing the wind in the background … he said they were on the beach enjoying the ocean breezes!  They had forgotten the camera (  but, PTL, Marcia had hers, and took alot of Ian and Tim, and they also recruited a kind soul to take pictures of them all together!  As soon as she gets back home here, and gets those to me, I’ll post them!  Still waiting on all of the ones from their drive out there, and from Lake Hume, and …. etc, etc.!!  {One thing I’m learning out of all of this is ‘picture’ patience!!}  Before we hung up, he said it was so good seeing someone from home, and he wished I could have been there too … but he did have a great time with Marcia, and I’m so glad she was able to be with them!  Her two sons, along with Ian and Tim, practially grew up together and are all good friends!  Can’t wait to hear her side of the story on their visit!  You know how boys are … I asked him if he had a good time when I typed to him today, and he said “absolutely”… oh, and that he had the Eggs Benedict … I was hoping for a little more info, but that’s about all I got out of him on IM … one-liners!!  )  He sure didn’t get that from me, did he?!!  Lol!!   I’m sure he’ll tell us about it later … on the phone!  Okay…that’s all for now!  But, again, thank you so much … I really do appreciate all of your prayers!  

If anyone has been following this study on Psalm 23, I’m posting verse 5 below.  Hope you all have a great weekend!  I think we are headed to the Irish Fest downtown tomorrow.  It’s supposed to be a beautiful pre-fall day, and we’ve  never been.  They have it every year … every thing Irish … and hubby being Scotch, Irish, and Welsh, wanted to go see what it was like.  Hey, they even have sheep herding, huh (?) … downtown??  in the city?!  This we just have to see!!   

 Hugs,
        ~ Deborah <><

                                                       

PART V ~ PSALM 23~
THE LORD IS MY SHEPHERD
by Lura Langenback

 ~ PSALM 23 ~
THE TABLE IS FULL!  YOU ARE INVITED TO EAT.
Rest, relaxaton, and a good meal.  What more could you want?

“Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies:
thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.” vs. 5

Up to now, we have seen that the whole Psalm has centered around peace, rest, and safety.  Nothing changes in this verse.  The Shepherd walked with us through the valley of the shadow of death.  He led the way up to this table.

Once again, picture this with me.  You have walked through the valley and dark places with the Shepherd leading the way.  Coming through the woods, there appears to be an oasis ahead.  The Light is brilliant.  This wonderful place has a beautifully set table with all types of your favorite foods and drinks.  No matter how fearful you were, now it is quite peaceful.  Despite the fact that you know there are wild animals all around, enemies hunting you down, and the darkness holds much fear, still you know not to be afraid.  The Shepherd has prepared this time of rest for you.  He has placed a table in front of you so that you can have a meal, even with danger all around.  The assurance is that, no matter what the fear, no matter the problem, the Lord is with you.  He is a constant in your life, even if you are not consistent with Him. {Amen!}  Think for a moment what it would be like to be in the midst of a hurricane.  Right smack in the middle is the eye of the storm.  Have you ever been there?  I have.  It is so peaceful that you wonder how such a storm could possibly be raging around you.  More often than not, you let your guard down during a meal, become more relaxed then.  Can you feel the peace in this scene?

The next part of the verse talks about anointing your head with oil.  Unless you know the history there, it does not make much sense.  In the hotter climates, such as the desert places, the custom is to put oil on the body to prevent excessive perspiration.  Usually mixed with perfume, it gives a truly delightful, refreshing, invigorating feeling.  Athletes would anoint their bodies before a race.  Throughout the scriptures, we see the anointing of the oil of the Holy Spirit.  The picture is of refreshment, not only physical, but also mental and spiritual, as well.  How do I know this?  Because the whole scene is about relaxing, refreshing, renewing.  When you are relaxing in whatever manner you chose, you are allowing yourself to let go of the problems and worries of the day.  Restoration of the spirit, soul, and body come.

You’re enjoying your meal when you notice that regardless of how much you drink, your cup never seems to go down.  It is always so full that it runs over the top.  I am quite sure almost everyone gets the idea that this is the bottomless cup.  Years ago, restaurants used to charge for one cup of coffee but you could have as much as you wanted.  The Lord’s cup is bigger!  From His point of view, the cup represents giving to you a neverending supply.  I see that as such a beautiful thing.  God’s grace and love are a free gift, a bottomless cup that overflows.

So, exactly what does all of this mean to me and to you?  Looking at the full picture so far, we have protection in the form of the Lord Jesus Who is the Shepherd.  We have peacefulness, rest, renewing of spirit, mind, and body.  Relaxation.  Of course, we can not forget the meal and drink that never go away.  The anointing of the oil on the body is for refreshment and restoration since the fluids are less likely to leave as quickly.  The picture is quite breathtaking after all.  But still, what does it mean?  Taken as a whole, not only is the Lord involved in your life, He is also caring for you … as long as you want Him to, that is.  Spiritually, each thing is a symbol of what the Lord does for all of us.  We are to give Him our concerns, worries, cares.  He will walk with us through whatever it is we are going through at the time.

This does not mean that He will ‘get you out’ of things that you put yourself into through sin, but He will help you get past the problem.  His Grace is never-ending, His love everlasting, His peace is not of this world.  When you get ahold of that fact, you learn that you have already won! 



PSALM 23:  1–5
The Lord is my Shepherd; I shall not want.
He maketh me to lie down in green pastures; He leadeth me beside the still waters.
He restoreth my soul; He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for His name’s sake.
Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil; for Thou art with me; Thy rod and Thy staff, they comfort me.
Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies;
Thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.

    

 It’s Thankful Thursday everybody!  What are you thankful to Him for today?  Think on those things that you are blessed with … then praise and thank Him!  –If anyone is wanting to finish reading what Lura Langenback wrote on the remaining 3 verses of Psalm 23, I’ve posted verse 4 below, and will post the last two in the next two days.  

Our weather is beautiful here … I opened the door this morning, and wanted to run for my winter jacket!  I smell someone’s wood smoke right now, coming in through the window!  We need to call a chimney sweep and get ours cleaned out for the season!  I don’t think my trusted ’Double D Swivler’ could take on that monumental task!!  Ha, ha!!  Anyone know a good chimney sweep?!

I heard from Ian yesterday … do you mind if I cry a bit on your shoulders?!   He will be taking some college courses while in California, and will not be home to stay, now, until very possibly, March!  They have found an apartment to rent for 6 months, and will be moving out of the RV and into more comfortable quarters!  I told him, ’please don’t get too comfortable’!  He told me not to worry, he would be coming home … just not as soon as I had hoped!  He is excited about learning so much … he knows it’s hard for me, and he said, “yes, mom, I’m having fun, but do you realize how many times I wish I could get in the car and come be with you and dad?”  I cried, and repented for not seeing how he might be feeling too!!  I just didn’t realize how hard it is for him, from time to time, as well!  I so appreciate all your prayers for him … for his safety, for his spiritual growth, and that He is doing God’s will in all of this!  Also say a prayer for me … as I said, this isn’t easy … but I’m comforted knowing he’s in God’s hands, He has a plan for Ian, and that’s the safest place he could ever be!  I pray you all have a most blessed “Thankful Thursday’!  

 Hugs,
~ Deborah <><  

 You’ll find some nice photos in the contest @ iliveinmycamera  – 
and some great pictures of ‘Storms’ over at Betsaflygallery! 
If anyone wants to get involved … the directions are posted there! 
Think about joining in on the fun!! 


 THANKFULNESS ~

“Make a joyful noise unto the Lord all ye lands.
Serve the LORD with gladness, come before His presence with singing.
Know ye that the LORD He is God: it is He that hath made us, and not we ourselves;
we are His people and the sheep of his pasture. 
Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise;
be thankful unto him and bless his name for the LORD is good;
His mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations”! 
- Psalm 100 {KJV}

As believing Christians, we are blessed beyond measure.  God sent His only Son to die for our sins.  And, God has given us the priceless gifts of eternal love and eternal life.  We, in turn, are instructed to approach our Heavenly Father with reverence and thanksgiving.  But, we may sometimes fail to pause and thank our Creator for the countless blessings He has bestowed upon us.  When we slow down and express our gratitude to the One who made us, we enrich our own lives and the lives of those around us.  Thanksgiving should become a habit, a regular part of our daily routines.  Yes, God has blessed us beyond measure, and we owe Him everything, including our eternal praise. 

God has promised that if we harvest well with the tools of thanksgiving,
there will be seeds for planting in the spring,
- Gloria Gaither

Why wait until the fourth Thursday in November? 
Why wait until the morning of December twenty-fifth? 
Thanksgiving to God should be an everyday affair. 
The time to be thankful is now!  
- Jim Gallery

“I will praise the name of God with a song,
and will magnify Him with thanksgiving”.
- Psalm 69:30 {KJV}

Dear Lord, Your gifts are greater than I can imagine.
May I live each day with thanksgiving in my heart and praise on my lips. 
Thank You for the gift of Your Son and for the promise of eternal life. 
Let me share the joyous news of Jesus Christ,
and let my life be a testimony to His love and His grace.  –Amen

 

PART IV ~ PSALM 23 ~
THE LORD IS MY SHEPHERD
by Lura Langenback


 ~ PSALM 23 ~
IN THE VALLEY…IS IT DEATH OR LIFE?

Are you gripped with fear?  Now there is hope.

“Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.” vs. 4

If you have joined us for the other verses in Psalm 23, you have noticed that God wants us walking in His path, enjoying His peace and rest.  He is the Leader and provider of that rest and peace.  Did you also notice that He talks about that in the first three verses?  The Lord is the Shepherd.  Please take a moment to think about this before going on to the next verse because the theme has not changed at all.

“Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death“.  It is important to notice that the words ‘yea, though’ mean ‘even though’, or you could say ‘despite the fact that’, and it would be accurate as well.  Then, ‘I walk through the valley of the shadow of death’.  Did you see the assurance right at the beginning of the verse?  It says ‘even though’.  No matter what I may be facing, I still have that peace that I saw in the first three verses.  ‘I really do need that assurance if I am going to walk through a valley of death, right?’  But it does NOT say that!  Most people think the verse reads ‘walk through the valley of death’.  No, it says ‘walk through the valley of the SHADOW of death.’  Did a shadow ever hurt anyone?  So many folks are running from shadows.  If only we could grasp what the Lord is trying to get across to us. Take another look at the verse.  We are walking THROUGH this valley, not setting up camp, not building a house, not even visiting a relative.

I am reminded of when I was a child, with a childlike imagination, trying so hard to go to sleep.  It was dark.  There were shadows everywhere, some even looked like monsters.  Under the bed lived the dragons and ghosts that might leap out to get me, if I relaxed for just a second.  When I was really scared, I called out to my parents.  They came in, turning on the light.  What happened?  The shadow monsters disappeared!!  There were no dragons, no ghosts.  The best part was that they reassured me that I was in no danger, that they were right in the next room if needed.  God is telling us that He is even closer, right here, right now watching out for you, taking care of you, turning on the Light for you!  When you seek God first {Matt. 6:33}, He gives you the assurance that you will find Him.

“I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.“  Now how in the world can the author say that they will fear NO evil?  He {David} had the assurance that God was with him, no matter what.  Again and again, God tells us ‘Fear not’ …

Some of those ‘fear not’ verses are:
Gen. 15:1, Gen. 21:17, Gen. 26:14,
Exodus 20:20,
Deut. 1:21,
Joshua 1:8,
I Kings 17:13,
Isa. 41:13,
Matt. 1:20,
Luke 1:30, Luke 2:10,
Acts 27:24. 

There are 63 verses in the bible using just the words ‘Fear not.’  I gave you a few.  See?  The Lord is with David and he knows it.  He says ‘for thou art with me.’  His comfort, rest, and peace is in God, that He is walking with him all the way THROUGH the valley of the shadows.  We have not been given THE spirit of fear …

“For God hath not given us the spirit of fear;
but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.“  -  2 Timothy 1:7

It is very important to see that God is not interested in having you in fear for any reason.  In fact, He is quite clear that He does not want fear to be part of your life at all.  What comfort!!!

…”thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.“  The rod is used for protection, or defense, and the staff is for guidance, for steadiness.  If we have God’s rod and staff, then it follows that we would be able to use those items.  How?  We seek God first.  He provides protection, peace, rest.  He has been saying this throughout the Psalm.  He has not let us down, has not run away from us.  He’s helping us THROUGH the situation, the shadow of death.  Or you could say that He is giving us the Light to go through the situation.  What an AWESOME God He is!!  What a wonderful Jesus Who is the Shepherd that leads us.

Throughout this Psalm, there is comfort, rest, and peace.  God is NOT giving us fear.  Tell Him if you are gripped with fear, and feel like you are living under a dark cloud!  Do not allow another day to go by without seeking Him.  He is your Shepherd!


PSALM 23: 1–4
The Lord is my Shepherd; I shall not want.
He maketh me to lie down in green pastures; He leadeth me beside the still waters.
He restoreth my soul; He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for His name’s sake.
Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil;
for Thou art with me; Thy rod and Thy staff, they comfort me.

Tomorrow Part V
~Psalm 23:5 ~
THE TABLE IS FULL … YOU ARE INVITED TO EAT!

In rememberance …

**For a wonderful tribute please see believe_dream_imagine’s site!

Remembering September 11th
I wanted to share some things I found with you on this day of rememberance…
below that is my original post.

Words seem so inadequate at a time like this. BUT let us all
remember at a time like September 11th this year no words will ever be enough so
just try to give someone a hug or a smile. Let them know you love them and care
for them. And today, listen to the Lord’s directing and leading
and let Him give you the words IF they are needed to comfort them.
He cares so much for all of us and wants to comfort us
in only the way that He can by the leading of the Holy Spirit.



Bible Verses of Comfort:

“The LORD is good, a strong hold in the day of trouble;
and he knoweth them that trust in Him.”
~Nahum 1:7~

“But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are
asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.”
~1 Thessalonians 4:13~

“Then shall the virgin rejoice in the dance, both young men and old together:
for I will turn their mourning into joy, and will comfort them,
and make them rejoice from their sorrow.”
~Jeremiah 31:13~

“But now thus saith the LORD that created thee, O Jacob, and he that formed thee,
O Israel, Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name;
thou art mine. When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee;
and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest
through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither
shall the flame kindle upon thee.”
~Isaiah 43:1-2~

Quotes of Comfort:

“Grief is a process by which we are allowed to value the loss, and be healed of
the loss, so that our life can go on. Just as the body
knows how to heal a cut, so the spirit uses the process of grief to heal
the injured parts of our soul. It is as grief is the scab that permits the healing.”
-Source: Reverend Leigh Early quoted in the book
Strength for Today by Sharon Broyles from the November 11th Devotional

“The melody that the loved one played upon the piano of your life will never by played quite that way again,
but we must not close the keyboard and allow the instrument to gather dust. |
We must seek out other artists of the spirit,
new friends that will gradually will help us to find the road to life again,
who will walk that road with us.”
-Source: Rabbi Joshua Liebman from “Peace of Mind” and
mentioned in the book “Good Grief” by Granger E. Westberg

Prayer of Comfort:

“Lord, the storms come, and we cry out in our agony that
life is unfair. We doubt your love and question your goodness.
And the pain often blinds us to the rainbows of your presence.

The fear that life will never be good again keeps us
clinging to the shreds of what we had instead of allowing
you to build a new and deeper life out of our brokenness.

Help us, Father, to remember these darks days the
things we know to be true of you, the things that seem
so easy to believe when life feels good.

Help us to cling tenaciously, to the promises that your
love is unfailing, your strength is made known in our
weakness, and you will never leave us or forsake us.

Give us the grace to offer up to you our tear-stained
praises for being our anchor in the storm.
Amen”

PART II  ~ WEEKEND UPDATE



This is a man we met at the Heartnut Festival who was more than
willing to share a bit of his life with us … I loved photographing him!
He didn’t mind one bit!  I was glad!

Well, how was your weekend, and Monday!  I sure hope all you Grandparent’s out there had a wonderful Sunday!  I do look forward to the day when I’ll be a ‘Mamaw”!  On Saturday, we did get to go to the Heartnut Festival, but due to the storm that came up, we were only there for about an hour, and just missed the ‘French and Indian War’!  My husband had the prison ministry Saturday night, and so much good is coming out of this for the guys that are in there … the ones who have come to know the LORD, may be behind prison walls, but in their hearts they are truly free!  My hubby is planning to start a Xanga soon, so he’ll be sharing things from his heart, and about the ministry on his site!  I love it when the husbands get involved on here! 

We also set up at a small coin show this weekend, for a few hours.  It was fairly profitable … enough to fix the car!!  Although, the car was faithful to us all weekend … started every time … so we’re not sure what is wrong with it, if anything!  My vacuum cleaner also decided to take a vacation, but my dear sister, who can do just about anything, fixed it for me!  She is such a special blessing in my life!  VCs are expensive these days … at least for a good one, anyway!  So, do any of you have a favorite brand that you use … just for future reference, if someday it can’t be fixed!  I’ve been through a few over the years, and personally, I’d love to go back to hardwood floors, and a dust mop!!  The one I have now is an older model Dirt Devil … with swivel wheels!  Yippee!! )  Some have those Swiffer’s out there, well, now my trusted Double ‘D’ Swiveler is on the job again…for now anyway!  But I am thankful that she fixed it for me … I don’t like being without a VC, either!  Hey, those dust bunnies were thinkin’ they were in the free and clear …. no way!!  Hmmm, maybe my sis could take a look at our car and figure out what is wrong with it!!  I bet she could too!   

Have a great day, and I’ll post the last 3 studies from Psalm 23 beginning tonight.  Finally, I wanted to share this photo slide with you from our trip to the Heartnut Festival.  The crowds were way down, and we did miss the ‘battle’, but it’s interesting to see how they lived back then … the sites and sounds of a reinactment camp … the smell of the wood smoke … the leaves crunching underfoot … there’s nothing like it!  They said on the weather today, that by the end of the week we may see lows in the 40′s during the night, and daytime highs in the 60′s!  Autumn is upon us!  They also had an area for children, and of course the infamous elephant ear wagon … and he actually passed it up this time!  I’m glad … it’s healthier not having it!  I had bought a book on Friday called, “The Seven Pillars of Health” — by Don Colbert, MD..  It is an excellent book on how to get started on a healthier lifestyle!  An easy read!  At the festival, I also bought a pink hooded sweatshirt with the Colts logo on it … couldn’t resist!  Besides, I love wearing sweatshirts in the fall and winter!  I couldn’t get too many photos, due to the storm that came in, and being on Slide, they tend to be a little blurry, but here are a few of some of the camp sites, and people in costume that I caught at the festival …  

 Have a blessed Tuesday!
Hugs,
~ Deborah <><

Another photo contest is going on over at iliveinmycamera.
The theme for this week … ‘CAMERAS’.
I have one entered, so go vote for your favorite!

Also, over on Betsaflygallery, where the theme for the week is ‘STORMS’,
you’ll find some terrific photos … I’ve also posted one there as well …
hope you all have a wonderful day!

 Happy “Grandparent’s Day”



“Only take heed to thyself, and keep thy soul diligently, lest
thou forget the things which thine eyes have seen, and lest
they depart from thy heart all the days of thy life: but
teach them thy sons, and thy sons’ sons;”
~Deuteronomy 4:9~

Grandparents Day is Sunday September 9th, 2007 Let’s look at the History of “Grandparents Day”: “The impetus for a National Grandparents Day originated with Marian McQuade, a housewife in Fayette County, West Virginia. Her primary motivation was to champion the cause of lonely elderly in nursing homes. She also hoped to persuade grandchildren to tap the wisdom and heritage their grandparents could provide. President Jimmy Carter, in 1978, proclaimed that National Grandparents Day would be celebrated every year on the first Sunday after Labor Day.” ~Source National Grandparents Day Official Site~ To learn more about the History of the Holiday visit their “How Grandparents Day Began” page. There is no doubt at all! Grandparents are indeed a blessing from the Lord! They bring special memories to our minds and hearts. What a wonderful gift Grandparents are. Not just to the Grandkids but to the parents too! GRANDPARENTS Grandparents bestow upon their grandchildren The strength and wisdom that time And experience have given them. Grandchildren bless their Grandparents With a youthful vitality and innocence That help them stay young at heart forever. Together they create a chain of love Linking the past with the future. The chain may lengthen, But it will never part… ~Author Unknown~ “But the mercy and loving-kindness of the LORD are from everlasting to everlasting upon those who reverently and worshipfully fear Him, and His righteousness is to childrens’s children; that such as keep his covenanant {hearing, receiving, loving, and obeying it} and to those who {earnestly} remember His commandments to do them. {imprinting them on their hearts}.” ~ Psalm 103:17 ~ To all those precious Grandmamma’s and Grandpappa’s out there… …be ever so blessed, and enjoy this special day! Hugs, ~ Deborah <><

    

 Hope you all had a fantastic faithfilled Friday!  We had humidity and rain here, so it was a good day to stay inside and work on a few things!  I’m hoping that the weather is nicer for the weekend!  I’m going to take a break over the weekend from the lessons on Psalm 23.  I’ll pick it back up with lesson 4 on Monday.  I hope you’ve been getting a nugget or two out of them! 

Got anything special planned for the weekend?  Weather permitting, we’re going to a French and Indian War!  It’s a reinactment camp at the annual Heartnut Festival at Camp Atterbury!  They have demonstrations, crafts, great food, and those infamous elephant ears!  I’ll get pictures!  I have quite a few now that I want to post, so I need to have ‘photo week’, maybe ‘photo month’, to get them all in!  We also have the annual Penrod Art Festival that we’re considering as well.  It’s an outdoor art show at our state museum, with artisians from all over the country, exhibiting their artwork.  That includes things like pottery, metalart, drawings, paintings … all sorts of interesting things.  They have outdoor music, as well, and beautiful grounds to roam … now, if there’s any chance of rain, that one is definitely called off!  Can’t blame them … I wouldn’t want my artwork ruined either!  Our car is causing us some problems, but we hope it makes it through the weekend … it’s been at the mechanics for 2 days and they couldn’t figure out why it would start sometimes, and not others!  It’s either the starter, or the ignition!  So when we go somewhere, we have no idea if we’ll get home or not!  I was hoping it would ‘mess up’ while they had it!  It didn’t … it figures!!  They said they couldn’t fix it, or figure out what exactly was wrong until it didn’t start again!  Makes sense, I guess!  I’m certainly no mechanic … but I do sense when something doesn’t feel right with the car!  So we are taking a chance going anywhere!  But we’re going anyway!  I’ll take my good walking shoes just in case!  Good thing we have AAA!!  Its a great car … Buick LaSabre … but it’s getting up in years, and needs that extra TLC!  So am I!!  Well, you all have a great weekend, whatever your plans include … and I’ll leave you with a short devotional that I read today.  Bless you all!

 Hugs,
~ Deborah <><

A picture I took from White River Arts Garden
They have a beautiful butterfly exhibit!





‘Don’t Cut Someone Else’s Cocoon!’

A man found a cocoon and brought it home to see how a butterfly will hatch out of it.
At last, one day a small hole appeared in the cocoon.
For several hours the man had been watching the butterfly trying to squeeze its tiny body through the hole. 
Suddenly, the butterfly seemed to stop pushing forward. 
The man thought that it had stuck in there.
So he decided to help the butterfly get released:
he took the scissors and cut the rest of the cocoon so that the butterfly could come out of it.

Soon the butterfly appeared.  Its body was swollen, and the wings were wrinkled.
All its life the butterfly had crawled on its swollen body with wrinkled wings.
It could never fly. 
In a hurry the man did not realize that the problem
and certain struggle to get released from the cocoon were in God’s plan. 
In that way the liquid from butterfly’s body was transferring into its wings so that
it could fly immediately after getting released from the cocoon.

Just like a butterfly must struggle to get released from the cocoon and then fly,
we also must struggle to become who we are to be. 
Sometimes we want God to take the struggle out of our lives and remove the obstacles from our ways. 
But just like the man made the butterfly crippled, we also might become crippled in our lives. 
God does not remove all the obstacles and difficulties from our lives. 
He promises to be with us in times of difficulties and use them to strengthen us,
make us better and stronger.

“The LORD will give strength unto his people;
the LORD will bless his people with peace”.
-Psalm 29:11-

“Fear thou not; for I am with thee:
be not dismayed; for I am thy God:
I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee;
yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.”
-Isaiah 41:10-

PART III ~ PSALM 23 ~
THE LORD IS MY SHEPHERD    
by Lura Langenback

~ PSALM 23 ~
RESTORATION, RIGHTEOUSNESS, AND PEACE

“He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the
paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.“
{Psalm 23:3}

This verse is so amazing because it has so much comfort in it.  In the first verse, we learned that the Lord is our Shepherd, so the ‘He’ would be that Shepherd.  He has put us into a place of peace and rest.  He gives us the comfort of leading us. If we can only get hold of this revelation, we can grow in the Lord so much.  If the Lord is doing the leading, if He is the One giving us the peace, if He is the One giving us the rest, then it follows that He is the One Who is carrying the load of our lives.  We are at peace.  In this incredibly fast and hectic world, that is such a comfort as long as we give all of our cares to Him.

1 Peter 5:7 …
“Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.“

When the Lord puts us into this place of peace and rest AND we cast our cares on Him, what do you suppose happens next?  Verse three says that “He restores my soul”.  In the Amplified bible it states that ‘He refreshes and restores my life (my self)’.  What a blessing of God!  Just think a minute about your life.  How would it feel if you could have time to just relax, be refreshed, and have your WHOLE LIFE restored?  What would restoration of your life mean to you?  I can not tell you this one.  Right now is a good time to stop and meditate about this word ‘restore’.  Ask God what ‘restore’ means to Him.  (note: the word ‘meditate’ means to think about, to think through.)

Remember the story of Joseph in Genesis?  After he had been taken into captivity, gone through a number of years of difficulties, Pharaoh set him as governor over the land with all the authority of the Pharaoh.  There were seven years of plenty but then a famine spread over the land.  At that time, his father sent his brothers to Egypt to find food because they had heard that there was plenty.  Although they did not know their brother, Joseph, he recognized them and gave them not only food but returned their money to them.  That is a type of restoration from God.

Genesis 42:25 … 
“Then Joseph commanded to fill their sacks with corn,
and to restore every man’s money into his sack,
and to give them provision for the way: and thus did he unto them.“

Within the laws of God in Exodus, Leviticus and so on, He shows us over and over what He thinks of restoration.  If something happens to the goods of a person, He commands that they be restored to the owner each and every time.  The Lord commanded that lands be restored as well.  The prophets and apostles teach this as well.  Where did they get this from?  From God.  It is His nature to restore and revive.

2 Samuel 9:7 … 
“And David said unto him,
Fear not: for I will surely shew thee kindness for Jonathan thy father’s sake,
and will restore thee all the land of Saul thy father; and thou shalt eat bread at my table continually.”

But then, He looks, not only into our physical or financial situations, but also into our spirits and minds.

Psalms 51:12 … 
“Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit.“

Isaiah 57:18 … 
“I have seen his ways, and will heal him: I will lead him also,
and restore comforts unto him and to his mourners.“

Take the time to check out the bible concerning this word ‘restore’.  It will give you a revelation of Who God is and what He is interested in doing in your life.  Think about what would happen in your life if your spirit, your mind, your body, your finances were all restored to what they should have been, if only……. Now you are getting a small idea of what God has for you.

The next part of the verse is “he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake“.  Notice that He is not telling you to GO in the paths alone.  He LEADS us in that path.  It is such a comfort to know that God is not throwing us onto the path and saying to us ‘go on.  Get on that path and walk the straight and narrow.  And when you mess up, I will lower the boom.’ No, no, no.  He also tells us that the path we are on is the path of righteousness.  What does that mean?  Too many people think that they have to work at being righteous.  Without God, this is impossible. Righteousness is a GIFT of God.  He gives it to you when you become His child by asking forgiveness for your sins and then asking Jesus into your heart.  But what does ‘righteousness’ mean?  It means to be walking in uprightness and right standing with God. This is not something you can earn.  It is a gift. I can not stress this enough.  Again, this is a good time to stop and think about what this word means to God.

A good picture of righteousness, as God sees it, is the story of Abraham.  More than once in the Bible, it tells us that God counted Abraham as righteous.  Did Abraham sin?  Of course he did.  But God saw him in a different Light than we see ourselves.  Study how God treated Abraham.  This is our heritage.  Later, it tells us that if we are Abraham’s seed then we are heirs and joint heirs with Jesus!!! {Romans 8:17, Galatians 3:29}

Genesis 15:6 … 
“And he believed in the LORD;
and he counted it to him for righteousness.“

Romans 4:3 … 
“For what saith the scripture?
Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness.“

Romans 1:17 … 
“For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith:
as it is written, The just shall live by faith.“

Jesus talked about it too, mentioning it many times.

Matthew 6:33 … 
“But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness;
and all these things shall be added unto you.“

God is telling us that if we will let the Shepherd lead us, then we will walk in the path He has chosen for us, He restores us even in the midst of trouble.  But how in the world do I do that, you enquire?  Ask Jesus into your heart.  Put all your care on Him, for He cares for you.  Talk to God each day, asking Him about everything.  Read your Bible, study, and think on the scriptures you read.  Does this bring on righteousness?  No, that was a free gift you got when you asked Jesus into your life.  But now, when you start seeing what God is teaching you, the scriptures become seeds that are planted into your heart.  When you begin to think about them, talk to God.  Soon you will see things that God has been telling you for years.  It will be brand new to you but it will burst into your heart like fireworks on the 4th of July. Continue to read and think about it.  The Word of God works like that seed.  It germinates and grows.  It continues to grow as long as you ‘feed and water’ it.

Do not stop with just the verses we have given you here.  Check out what ALL the scriptures tell you about that word. Do NOT take our word for what we tell you.  Go to your Bible and prove it out.  Let each scripture be a witness to the others. 

PSALM 23: 1–3
The Lord is my Shepherd; I shall not want.
He maketh me to lie down in green pastures; He leadeth me beside the still waters.
He restoreth my soul; He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for His name’s sake.


Tomorrow Part IV
~ Psalm 23:4 ~
IN THE VALLEY — IS IT DEATH OR LIFE?

 Well, how was your day?!  I chased dust bunnies all over the place!  Those critters are allusive!  I did manage to catch a few of them!  Ought to put ‘em on E-bay … wonder how much they’d bring in?!!  Our electricity went off, again,  and my computer went off in the middle of typing a comment, and I lost that … it was long, too, and my mind isn’t young anymore! 

We watched the Colts vs. Saints game last night!  The Colts did a beautiful job … 41 to 10!  I think they are going to do very well this year!  Never was much into football, and my interest is peaked a little, with the hometeam having won the Superbowl last year!  Talked to Ian last night…he sounded good … but I do miss him so much!  He may be taking some college courses and may not be home until February (  I’m hoping he’ll be home for christmas!  Well, I’ll end this with a few smiles for your Friday!  I hope you all have a blessed day!  So, any special plans for the weekend?!  I’ll share mine tomorrow!  

 Smiles:   

A little girl asked her mother, “Can I go outside and play with the boys?” Her mother replied, “No, you can’t play with the boys, they’re too rough.” The little girl thought about it for a few moments and asked, “If I can find a smooth one, can I play with him?”

A boy had reached four without giving up the habit of sucking his thumb, though his mother had tried everything from bribery to reasoning to painting it with lemon juice to discourage the habit. Finally she tried threats, warning her son that, “If you don’t stop sucking your thumb, your stomach is going to blow up like a balloon.”  Later that
day, walking in the park, mother and son saw a pregnant woman sitting on a bench. The four-year-old considered her gravely for a minute, then spoke to her saying, “Uh-oh … I know what *you’ve* been doing.”

A Sunday school teacher asked her little children, as they were on the way to church service, “And why is it necessary to be quiet in church?” One bright little girl replied, “Because people are sleeping.”

Be Thankful for Victory
J. M. Averils

But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you.
1 Corinthians 15:57-58a

Being thankful means having a grateful heart for your blessings.  Often when we talk about blessings, our list includes things like our family, jobs, homes and other tangible items.  However, what about the intangible things?  It is important to focus on them as well.

Let’s start with being thankful for victory.  No matter what we don’t have, what is going wrong or what has disappointed us, as children of God, we can walk victoriously every day.  Jesus is walking with you right now; He may even be carrying you.  It is through Him that you can have a victorious life.

When you accept that truth, you will have the power to stand firmly no matter what you are going through.  The storms may come, but you will not drown.  The problems of life may bend you, but will not break you.  You may feel as though you are in the furnace, but you will not burn up.

It is not an easy thing to be thankful for the challenges of life.  Sure, we know that it is through times of challenges that we often get our biggest blessings.  Still, while in the middle of a problem, it may be difficult to see the good that will come on the other side of that problem.

This is where your faith and trust in God comes into play.  The Word of God says that you will have victory through Jesus Christ.  Stand on His Word and let nothing move you.  This is a great step in cultivating a grateful heart.

A Challenge:
Set aside time to think about all the things you’re thankful for, including the problems, challenges and concerns that God is helping you to have victory over.  Then say a prayer, thanking Him for the blessing of victory.

“I asked for Strength – 
… God gave me difficulties to make me strong. 
I asked for wisdom – 
… God gave me problems to solve. 
I asked for prosperity – 
… God gave me brain and brawn to work. 
I asked for courage – 
… God gave me dangers to overcome. 
I asked for love – 
… God gave me opportunities. 
I received nothing I wanted –
I received everything I needed. 
My prayer has been answered — Thank you, God” 

“Thank you, dear God
For all You have given me,
For all You have taken away from me,
For all You have left me.”
–author unknown

Those blessings are sweetest that are won with prayers and won with thanks.  —Thomas Goodwin

**Hope you all had a great ‘hump day’!  It was hot here again, and I’m looking forward to those cool fall days, the sound of crisp leaves crunching under your feet, the smell of wood smoke in the air!  It won’t be long now!  Below is Part II of the study on Psalm 23.  I was blessed with the comments from yesterday, and, I hope you find something here today that will encourage you again!  I’ll see more of you later today as I continue to visit and catch up!   

Have a ‘Thoroughly Thankful Thursday’ in Him!  

Hugs,
~ Deborah <>< 

As promised: 
PART II ~ PSALM 23 ~
THE LORD IS MY SHEPHERD
by Lura Langenback 

~ PSALM 23:2 ~
GREEN PASTURES AND SMALL CREEKS
 
“He maketh me to lie down in green pastures:
he leadeth me beside the still waters.”.
{Psalm 23:2}

There are many, many verses in the bible that give a feeling of comfort and peace but this one seems to bless us beyond that by showing a picture of heaven, yet this is on earth.  We know that because later in the Psalm, it talks about enemies near us.  That cannot be in heaven.  There are no enemies there.

An immediate picture of the country comes to mind.  You are walking in a field of grass with trees on a cool, breezy summer day.  The light wind is just enough, not too much.  The grass is so green and soft, you could lie down and take a nap, or run your feet through it.  It is so quiet that you hear the birds singing and the crickets chirping.  There are no sounds of the city, no traffic at all.  Slowly, you sit under a tree, lean back and just enjoy the day.  The breeze blows quietly through the leaves of the tree, making the smallest rustle.  With reverence, you whisper because you do not want to disturb the solitude.  This is truly a place of God, His workmanship.  And just how do you know that?  Because there is Peace.  Do you feel that peace when you think of this place?

He leads me beside the still waters.  Think about that creek or small river running through the meadow, quietly moving along.  You sit next to it, putting your hand into the water.  Its so cool and refreshing that you just have to dip some out to taste it.  With your hand still wet, water dripping everywhere, you bathe your forehead.  The coolness of it is felt immediately and you are refreshed again.  Does this whole scene sound glorious, peaceful, beautiful?

In the new covenant, we are told we have a well of water springing up inside of us {John 4:14} and that there is also a river of living water coming out of our bellies {John 4:37-38}.  The Lord uses water to show us the Holy Ghost as you will see when you read the next verse:  “He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. {But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified}  The still waters are a type of the Holy Ghost in this verse.  In John 14:27, Jesus tells us that He is giving us His Peace, not the worlds peace.  That peace is temporal, corruptible, not stable.  But the Peace of God passes ALL understanding, keeping our hearts AND minds through Christ Jesus {Phil 4:6}  One more thing here.  Let us translate those Greek words.  The word “Christ” is a Greek word that means “The Anointed One and His Anointing”, so we read it that way.  “The Anointed One” Jesus makes a lot more sense when you read it in English.

So what are we saying then?  God will put us in a place of Peace, HIS Peace, even in a time of trouble.  The first verse declares that the Lord is my Shepherd.  That means that He is the leader, the Master.  We are to follow His lead because He knows where we are going and we do not.  He promises, through this verse, to lead us into a quiet, restful place, even in the midst of trouble.

Psalm 32:7 declares “Thou art my hiding place; thou shalt preserve me from trouble; thou shalt compass me about with songs of deliverance. Selah.”  So, if your hiding place is not a meadow or a grassy place, then wherever you go for the peace, please think on that now.  Also, please remember that God has not written this Psalm for death. There is NO death in these verses.  The world has grabbed hold of the words “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.“ to mark death in the verse.  That could not be farther from the truth.  We will discuss this later in the study on that verse, but one thing you need to notice and meditate on as you read this whole Psalm … it says that you are walking THROUGH the valley of the SHADOW of death.  It isn’t death, its a shadow.  Not stop and visit, walk THROUGH it.  You are passing it by.  This Psalm is for the peace of God to be planted deep into your spirit, showing you that the stress of this world is NOT your heritage in the Lord, nor your inheritance!  Today, walk in your inheritance of His Peace!  



PSALM 23: 1,2
The Lord is my Shepherd; I shall not want.
He maketh me to lie down in green pastures; He leadeth me beside the still waters.


Tomorrow  Part III
~ Psalm 23:3 ~
RESTORATION, RIGHTEOUSNESS, AND PEACE

 

I hope you’ve all had a wonderful weekend!  We had a blessed one ourselves!  I was getting some pictures ready to post … and I would have had them today, except I’ve had some computer woes, so I decided to post this devotional study I read that breaks down Psalm 23 verse by verse.  It is lengthy, so I’m going to do it over the next 6 posts.  I liked the way she broke down each word in the verses … it just makes it become so much more meaningful!  I hope you get a nugget, or two, out of it to bless you as you read it over the next few days!  It’s one of my favorite Psalms! 

I will be around visiting later today, and getting more pictures ready to post!  I’m also waiting on pictures from my son!  They had a blessed weekend spending it at Lake Hume Christian Camp for a college seminar.  It was a time of spiritual refreshing for the students before they headed back to school!  Ian and Tim were invited by the church to go along, as well!  They were glad they did!  Well, you all have a wonderful Wednesday…aka. Hump Day!  See ya all soon! 

 Hugs,
~ Deborah <><


~ PSALM 23 ~
THE LORD IS MY SHEPHERD    
by Lura Langenback

Introduction:
Doing a bible study is the fastest way to learn more about scriptures in the bible.  I want to explore a variety of things all within the Bible, also called the Word of God.  The strangest thing happens when I prepare a study for others.  The Lord gives me things to learn for myself.  What a blessed time I have!  Then I am expected to share these things with you as well.  Sometimes it will be better to break each verse down, looking into the meanings.  Other times, taking it as a whole would be better.  Before I go further, thank you for reading this.  I pray that you learn something new, even if you find out that my secret is that I cannot really write!  My Father is doing the writing.  Thank You, Lord!

In the first study, we will check out Psalm 23.  This has to be one of the most misunderstood chapters in the whole Bible.  The plan is to break it down, verse by verse.

More often than not, we hear about the 23rd Psalm when we attend a funeral or at least when someone has recently died.  It has been assumed by people that this Psalm is related in some way to death because it is mentioned in the Psalm itself, but is it really mentioned like that?  Is it really about death?  That could not be further from the truth.  This is a Psalm of steadfastness, of faith going through difficult times, and of the tender Mercy of the Lord Who walks with you through it all.  But how can this be, you ask.  I have always heard that it had to do with death.  Hey, I saw “War of the Worlds”.  That preacher was praying the 23rd Psalm when he was killed by the aliens.  That is the prayer that you pray when you are heading for death, right?  Every time I see a movie, they pray that prayer when they are about to die.  Is that what it is about?

In case you have wondered about this very thing, I have started a study on the 23rd Psalm that I am making available.  All our lives, we have heard this Psalm.  In Sunday school, we are even expected to memorize it.  People say it when nothing else comes to mind.  But do we really know what it means?  When someone recites the Psalm, usually they are just repeating it, without actually understanding it.  So, we are going to study what it actually means.  We will take it verse by verse, breaking it down into separate studies. I invite you to join me. 

Day I
“The Lord is my Shepherd; I shall not want“.

When you read this beginning verse, what does it say to you?  For years, I read this verse never getting anything out of it because I did not look for anything IN the verse.  As a child, I had memorized the whole Psalm, yet it meant nothing to me because I did not take hold of what the verses were actually saying.  But recently, it came alive!  And now I see so much in that one verse that it will be difficult to keep it down to a few paragraphs.  When you can get excited about reading scripture, then you are growing in the Lord.  However, if you are not excited now, just wait until you start studying this Psalm.

I noticed that this verse describes the relationship between the Lord and me.  In addition, it tells me what the rest of the Psalm is all about.  What do you mean?  Take a closer look at the verse as if you had never seen it before.  Do not allow your preconceived ideas in because you will not see anything new that way.  “The Lord is my Shepherd“.  It lets me know who He is as well as who I am to Him.  “I shall not want.”  This shows me that it is personal and that He provides for me.  But now, I did something with this verse that I do not usually do.  I put the emphasis on a word in the verse and read it that way.  What absolutely amazes me is that each word can stand alone in the verse.  What am I talking about?  Okay, take any one of the words in the verse and emphasize it.  For instance,  “The LORD is my Shepherd; I shall not want.”  What does this tell you?  It tells me that this is the LORD, the Creator, the Alpha and the Omega.  He IS the Lord.  Now I will do this with each word and see what happens.

1)  The——-With this word emphasized it means that He is THE Lord. 
There is no One but Him.  It does not say “many” or “one of”. It says THE.

2)  Lord——-This word means that He is Lord, the Creator.
He is the Ruler of all. And He is Who He says He is.

3)  Is——-Here we notice that the word IS means that it is present tense.
It is not something that happened in the past, but IS right now.

4)  My——-Ah, now this word makes it very personal. He is MY Shepherd.
He is personal to me.  That means that this verse is promised to ME!  Hallelujah!

5)  Shepherd—–This word is power packed because it means that He is all that a shepherd would be to his sheep. 
A shepherd is a protector, a provider of food, shelter, and care that all stay close and are not lost. 
He is everything to the sheep and is usually the only individual that they see for long periods of time. 
A relationship forms between shepherd and sheep.
They come to depend on him for everything and he provides it for them because he cares what happens to them. 
They are valuable to him.

6)  I——One word can mean so much. 
This one means that this verse is very personal, not to be taken lightly.
It belongs to ME.  Praise God!

7)  Shall——Now here we have a word that means it is not in the past.  It is not only now but also in the future.
We also have a surety that it WILL happen because the word “shall” is a definite statement.  It means “guaranteed”.

8)  Not——-This one means that NEVER will I have a need that is not taken care of,
as long as I accept the promise of the Lord that is in this verse.

9)  Want——-The word does not mean that I can go asking the Lord for just anything and He will provide it,
but it does mean that needs are met.  It also means that, as with any loving Father, He will give you things that you desire.
But the main thing about this word is that if you accept this promise, you will never have need of anything that the Lord
does not provide.

When I started to see these things, it was a real eye opener for me.  NOW that verse means something personally.  I can see that as long as I understand and take hold of this promise, I will have Someone to guide me through everything.  He will be with me during all problems but, even when there is no difficulty, the Lord is with me.  He is my comfort and my Hiding Place, my Rest.  With Him in my life, I have no needs that will go unanswered.  Most important of all, He is there for me when He asks me to do things, to walk with me every step of the way.  What an AWESOME God we serve.

Now, what do YOU see? 


Tomorrow:
Part II ~ GREEN PASTURES AND SMALL CREEKS

 P.S.  I entered a photo again this week over at iliveinmycamera …
the theme is ‘doors’ and there are some pretty great pictures over there …
go check it out and vote for your favorite door! 

  ~ HAPPY LABOR DAY ~

~In both the United States and Canada~
Labor Day will be celebrated Monday, September 3, 2007.

 Labor Day, the only legal public holiday in September,
comes on the first Monday of the month in Canada and the United States.
After Labor Day, most children return to school.

“Even a child is known by his doings, whether his work [be] pure,
and whether [it be] right.”
~Proverbs 20:11~

Jesus said, “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are
heavy laden, and I will give you rest”
~Matthew 11:28~

 

“Man goeth forth unto his work and to his labour until the evening.
O LORD, how manifold are thy works!
In wisdom hast thou made them all: the earth is full of thy riches.”
~Psalm 104:23-24~

   “And he called his name Noah, saying, This [same] shall comfort us concerning our work
and toil of our hands, because of the ground which the LORD hath cursed.”
~Genesis 5:29~

“What profit hath a man of all his labour which he taketh under the sun?”
~Eccelesiastes 1:3~

 
“Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labor,
working with his hands the thing which is good,
that he may have to give to him that needeth.”
~Ephesians 4:28~

“That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing,
being fruitful in every good work,
and increasing in the knowledge of God;”
~Colossians 1:10~

“Every man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall
be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is.
If any man’s work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward.
If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss:
but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.”
~1 Corinthians 3:13-15~ 

Here are two identical verses about LABOUR:

1. “Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work:”
~Exodus 20:9~
2. “Six days thou shalt labour, and do all thy work:”
~Deut 5:13~

Hope you all have a blessed, and relaxing Labor Day in Him!
I’ll be back to catch you all up on my weekend,
and to read about yours, on Tuesday!

Hugs,
~ Deborah <><