SPRINGTIME IS HERE!

LENTEN ROSES. Bowing their heads at 4:24 CST to welcome spring!

Maybe we should all bow our heads in worship for the Creator. 

He changes time and seasons. (Daniel 2:21, ESV)

There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heavens: (Ecclesiastes 3:1, NIV)

Springtime is one of my favorite.

GRACIOUS ME!

Gracious Me!

Goodness Gracious!! 

Gracious Sakes...or gracious sakes alive!

All phrases I heard while growing up in western Kentucky. 

Such phrases were indicative of surprise. "Where has the day gone."

These days I find myself saying those same phrases I heard, especially from my grandmother, Mama Davenport. Often I add "Oh my" to the list. It's surprise with a bit of negativity laced with disappointment. Think, guilt.

Oh my, I can't keep up with ANYTHING. OK, that's an exaggeration but.....iPhone, Laptop, books, white out, things I use often and need to keep up with around the house.

Oh my, notes, are all over the house except the one I need.

Oh my, these days it takes me longer to do less.

Oh my, guilt hangs in my closet far too easy for me to reach & put on. (I know this because a sweet friend in the faith admonished me, in love of this very act,) 

How grateful I am that God's word says, 

"There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus." (Romans 8:1)

Gracious me.....how grateful I am for that reminder! I'm pouring my cuppa guilt-TEA down the drain.

IMPORTANT EXERCISE

Exercise is important! 

Exercise can be difficult to incorporate into one's daily schedule.

Exercise with another can be an encouragement.

Exercising with another, aka fellowship, is essential for growth, from physical to spiritual! 

Fellowship, sharing time in God's word laced with prayer and physically coming alongside others in their struggles of life is an important earthly exercise with an eternal result. (Acts 2:42, 44)

PRAY! PRAY!! PRAY!!!

Definitely a "pray day."

Need joy? Need confidence? Need love? Need discernment? Need sincerity?

Add these attributes to your prayer life!

Pray! Pray! Pray!....to the Glory and Praise of God!

FROM MANY TO ONE

Many hands....from toddlers to nonagenarians. (ages 90-99)

....to One work of art, created by tiny fingers to wrinkled, dare I say gnarled ones, pasting scraps of colored paper, some with Scripture verses on a drawing sent from a Japanese artist. 

All the nations you have made shall come and worship before you, O Lord, and shall glorify your name. (Psalm 86:9)

From many First Evan participants of a collaborative art project to reach one nation with the gospel message.

BAPTISM!

BAPTISM!

What a day! What a thrill!

Martin, came to his mama and told her he had Jesus in his heart. 

In his own way, he asked her if he could be baptized. He had witnessed his sister's baptism. 

Also, through his Sunday School at Bellevue Baptist and BSF classes he had learned what that meant.

It was his way of telling others that he had invited Jesus Christ into his heart. A public testimony of his faith.

My prayer for Martin today, "May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit." (Romans 15:13)

BAPTISM!

What a day! What a thrill!

QUAD SQUAD

Praying friends come in many combinations and from different seasons in life. 

I'm blessed to have family, along with friends from elementary school, widows, neighbors, Sunday School, H2H, church, mission and transition "zoom" prayer teams, Prayerful Wonderwomen for Ukraine and college & Pi Phi chums. 

I need lots of prayer warriors.

Praises for a recent retreat with my "Quad Squad" college chums at Full Circle Ranch---

.....&  my own bedroom sanctuary with all the accoutrements for my morning cuppa before..... 

....a morning walk to the sounds of goats, chickens, cows and birds in flight! Later a bull strolling behind his keeper, Sam and a ride on the "whoopie"* acting like teenagers!

Did  I mention surrounded by 600 acres. with the original log cabin (circa, old) a "She" shed which became a garden room, great for devotional times......

a home with 6 fireplaces, 4 "sitting" porches, one with a bed swing and lots of rocking chairs, a wood burning fireplace and lots of comfort....

....calmed by a serene view of horses.

From almost an entire day in PJs to lunch at Marcy Jo's and a 3 hour Bible Study led by Dr. Mark Houston.

Thank you Doris, Winslow and Joyce Ann for this much needed respite for your ailing friend. God's Quad Squad....always there for each other!(Acts 2:42)

*whoopie --ATV often called a quad bike; how about that!

REFRESHMENT!

A generous person will prosper; whoever refreshes others will be refreshed. (Proverbs 11:25) I want to be such a  friend! Don't you?

Anne B. certainly qualifies in my life.

Yesterday she was praying for me as I traveled home! I know she was.

This morning I started my day with a "treat" from her.

A chocolate pillow cookie, though it probably has a more exquisite culinary name, and my cuppa Assam. Anne calls it browniest cookie.

A perfect lift for my travel weary bones! 

True refreshment from as friend as I open God's Word for more refreshment!

ON THE ROAD AGAIN!!

On the road again in the driver's seat of hubby's 4 Runner (GULP!) 

First time I had driven on the interstate in 2 1/2 years. Yet, so excited to join up with my ever praying Quad Squad.

But God....gave a BIG blessing of surprise en route! Who else could orchestrate a roadside meeting of a mom from TN with her New York son!

What a great God I serve whether at home or on the road!

WISE WORDS!

Perfect prepositions make all the difference! 

There is nothing I can do without you. 

                    This is my dependence.

There is nothing I cannot do through you. 

                    This is my confidence.

There is nothing I will not do for you. 

                    This is my obedience.

(Frank Fortunato, 2/26/2023)

WORDS OF WIDSDOM! Enough said!