I’ve been thinking about you all … how is your week going?  I know I’ve been absent quite a bit lately, with all our busy-ness this time of year with our shows … among all the other things that seem to be keeping us hoppin’ these days … but, I haven’t forgotten about any of you, and I hope you can bear with me for the next couple of months!  Yes … the next couple of months!  I’m going to do my best to get around to you here very soon … so, hang in there!  I do miss you all!  I’ve also been having some computer troubles the past few days … things running very s-l-o-w-l-y … and music/videos not playing right.  I need an expert, because I’m no computer whiz!  It’s all Greek to me … I did find an ad for a computer repair company called ‘GiP’, which stands for …. ready for this … ‘Geek In Pink’!   Yep, but I haven’t checked it out yet … I’m hoping they make housecalls!  They are right here in town! 

Well, we had a full, and wonderful weekend.  Saturday we went to a friend’s daughter’s wedding, and it was very sweet.  I didn’t get as many photos as I would have liked … but I’ll share a few soon.  It was a beautiful day, so, after the wedding we went to the little tourist town, just a few blocks away, and enjoyed a walk, and dinner while there.  Sunday we had a great day, with our early morning Bible study class, then after church we had a pitch-in with the ‘bestest’ food!  We all got our fill, that’s for sure!  After that, we went to my sister, and brother-in-law’s, house and spent some time talking and playing cards. 

Monday and Tuesday were catch-up days here at home with laundry and cleaning … nothing too exciting!  Later tonight, I’m going to a Bible study class at church that is called ‘First Place 4 Health’ … anyone ever heard of that one?  I wasn’t there for the first session, but this one is called ‘Moving Forward Together’, and that’s a link to their home website.  It encourages us to develop a deeper relationship with the Lord, and with other women in the church, and is a total-wellness program … teaching us how to achieve physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual wellness. (…and lose weight along the way … yay!!  I need all the encouragement I can get in that area … thinking of taking a ‘before’ photo before I start!) Many of the ladies I’ve talked to have been so blessed by this study, and they encouraged me to come this time.  I’m looking forward to it!  If anyone has ever heard of this, or have ever gone through it, let me know your thoughts. 

This Friday night, and all day Saturday, is the DOVE Midwest Leaders Gathering that’s held every year, and it just so happens that our church is hosting it this year.  Then of course, again, church on Sunday.  It’ll be another full weekend!  The weather here was cool for awhile but has warmed up for a bit the past few days … they say much cooler weather is coming once this front passes, but it’s bringing rain, unfortunately.  We lose the leaves to quick when that happens!  I’m hoping to get some fall photos before this next week is over … I hope you’re all enjoying your fall weather where you are … so, what’s it like in your neck of the woods?  I love this time of year, but, it passes all too quickly for me!

Well, I think that’s about all for now … I pray that you’ll have a great week and weekend … I’ll try to get back here soon to update, but, between now and then, I’ll be around to visit and catch up with you.  I’ll leave you with a devotion I read recently … it’s wonderful the blessings we receive when we seek Him with our whole heart!  Seek Him only today, and be blessed!  

Hugs,
    ~ Deborah <><

 
“The Name Of The Lord is To Be Praised”

“God does not hold resentment or bitterness in his heart when I fail to tell him of my love for him but his heart aches for that intimacy with me.  He does not need my love to complete him; he is complete within himself.  However, he longs for all my heart, all my mind – all my undivided devotion to be his as he draws near to me.”

Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. ~ James 4:8

From Spurgeon’s ‘Faith’s Check Book’.
The nearer we come to God, the more graciously will He reveal Himself to us. When the prodigal comes to his father, his father runs to meet him. When the wandering dove returns to the ark, Noah puts out his hand to pull her in unto him, When the tender wife seeks her husband’s society, he comes to her on wings of love. Come then, dear friend, let us draw nigh to God who so graciously awaits us, yea, comes to meet us.

Did you ever notice that passage in Isaiah 58:9?  There the Lord seems to put Himself at the disposal of His people, saying to them, “Here I am.”  As much as to say — “What have you to say to me?  What can I do for you?  I am waiting to bless you.”  How can we hesitate to draw near?  God is nigh to forgive, to bless, to comfort, to help, to quicken, to deliver.  Let it be the main point with us to get near to God.  This done, all is done.  If we draw near to others, they may before long grow weary of us and leave us; but if we seek the Lord alone, no change will come over His mind, but He will continue to come nearer and yet nearer to us by fuller and more joyful fellowship.

~ Reflection ~
God promises to be found when sought after with our whole hearts. 
How wonderful then, that it is He who places that longing within us. 
It is He who gives our hearts of stone to be hearts of flesh. 
Glory to God that He is merciful to draw us near! 
Praise to the Lord that He first loved us! 
Live now, as righteous, taking heart in the gospel joy of the Lord!