Count Your Many Blessings

Hymns.  They reach down to the deepest part of your soul.  No matter how many years it has been since you have listened to them, it seems a mere impossibility to forget the strong words of Truth and Faith.
I think every hymn is my favorite...but there are those that are my favorite.favorite!

How very easy it is to feel lost in this world...keeping track of wrongs, having lack of purpose and direction, busyness and a sense that the good days are forever gone and have regretfully been replaced with the bad days.  This is so far from the what God has for us!



When upon life's billows
You are tempest tossed
When you are discouraged,
Thinking all is lost
Count your many blessings,
Name them one by one
And it will surprise you
What the Lord has done.

Count your blessings,
Name them one by one
Count your blessings,
See what God has done
Count your blessings,
Name them one by one
Count your many blessings,
See what God has done.

Are you ever burdened
With a load of care?
Does the cross seem heavy
You are called to bear?
Count your many blessings,
Ev'ry doubt will fly
And you will be singing
As the days go by.

When you look at others
With their lands and gold
Think that Christ has promised
You His wealth untold
Count your many blessings,
Money cannot buy
Your reward in heaven,
Nor your home on high.


So, amid the conflict,
Whether great or small
Do not be discouraged,
God is over all
Count your many blessings,
Angels will attend
Help and comfort give you
To your journey's end.

Words by:  Johnson Oatman, Jr.

I hope this encourages you today!!
If it is hard for you to list your blessings...maybe you can take a short walk around the block and talk to Jesus and ask Him to bring blessings to your mind as you hum a hymn of old.

This picture is a hint as to what is going on in our little family.  There is much more to come.

Photo Credit:  Jessica Lyons Photography

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Happy 20th Birthday, Laurissa!

It is almost 4 in the morning and I have just given you your birthday kiss. Twenty years ago today, I gave you the first of many many kisses, I whispered the first of many many "I love You's" and I held you close to my heart where you will always be treasured.

As you are now on the road to being a young woman, I wanted to give you something that you could hold dear as you grow more and more dependant on God for His wisdom and direction for your life. No matter how much advice and comfort I offer you, it is God's Word that will forever be full of perfect direction and comfort!

The words of Horatio Spafford have always been a favorite of mine...and it is a story you LOVED listening to on ODYSSEY as a little girl!

Lauriss, know that no matter what God has in store for your life. It is He who gave you life here on this earth and who has given you eternal life. No matter where you are and no matter what the circumstances may be...you, sweet child, will always be able to say without any hesitation..."it is well with my soul."



It Is Well With My Soul

When peace like a river, attendeth my way,
When sorrows like sea billows roll;
Whatever my lot, Thou hast taught me to know,
It is well, it is well, with my soul.
Refrain:
It is well, with my soul,
It is well, with my soul,
It is well, it is well, with my soul.
Though Satan should buffet, though trials should come,
Let this blest assurance control,
That Christ has regarded my helpless estate,
And hath shed His own blood for my soul.
My sin, oh, the bliss of this glorious thought!
My sin, not in part but the whole,
Is nailed to the cross, and I bear it no more,
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul!
For me, be it Christ, be it Christ hence to live:
If Jordan above me shall roll,
No pang shall be mine, for in death as in life,
Thou wilt whisper Thy peace to my soul.
But Lord, 'tis for Thee, for Thy coming we wait,
The sky, not the grave, is our goal;
Oh, trump of the angel! Oh, voice of the Lord!
Blessed hope, blessed rest of my soul.
And Lord, haste the day when my faith shall be sight,
The clouds be rolled back as a scroll;
The trump shall resound, and the Lord shall descend,
Even so, it is well with my soul.
Horatio Spafford



May you continue to grow in God's grace and know His peace that surpasses all understanding!

I love you, little miss Lauriss!

*Pictures taken by my ever-talented bff, Kim Harris! Thank you, bunny!
















sHARED WITH: RAISING HOMEMAKERS

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The Hot Water Bottle

I don't think I have ever posted two posts in one day...but my momma called me this morning and read this story to me. I just had to share it. It is a reminder to listen to God when He speaks. It may not make any sense at the time, but an obedient, willing heart is what God is seeking out!




THE HOT WATER BOTTLE - A True Story By Helen Roseveare, Missionary to Africa

One night, in Central Africa, I had worked hard to help a mother in the labor ward; but in spite of all that we could do, she died leaving us with a tiny, premature baby and a crying, two-year-old daughter.

We would have difficulty keeping the baby alive. We had no incubator. We had no electricity to run an incubator, and no special feeding facilities. Although we lived on the equator, nights were often chilly with treacherous drafts.

A student-midwife went for the box we had for such babies and for the cotton wool that the baby would be wrapped in. Another went to stoke up the fire and fill a hot water bottle. She came back shortly, in distress, to tell me that in filling the bottle, it had burst. Rubber perishes easily in tropical climates. "...and it is our last hot water bottle!" she exclaimed. As in the West, it is no good crying over spilled milk; so, in Central Africa it might be considered no good crying over a burst water bottle. They do not grow on trees, and there are no drugstores down forest pathways. All right," I said, "Put the baby as near the fire as you safely can; sleep between the baby and the door to keep it free from drafts. Your job is to keep the baby warm."

The following noon, as I did most days, I went to have prayers with many of the orphanage children who chose to gather with me. I gave the youngsters various suggestions of things to pray about and told them about the tiny baby. I explained our problem about keeping the baby warm enough, mentioning the hot water bottle. The baby could so easily die if it got chilled. I also told them about the two-year-old sister, crying because her mother had died. During the prayer time, one ten-year-old girl, Ruth, prayed with the usual blunt consciousness of our African children. "Please, God," she prayed, "send us a water bottle. It'll be no good tomorrow, God, the baby'll be dead; so, please send it this afternoon." While I gasped inwardly at the audacity of the prayer, she added by way of corollary, " ...And while You are about it, would You please send a dolly for the little girl so she'll know You really love her?" As often with children's prayers, I was put on the spot. Could I honestly say, "Amen?" I just did not believe that God could do this. Oh, yes, I know that He can do everything: The Bible says so, but there are limits, aren't there? The only way God could answer this particular prayer would be by sending a parcel from the homeland. I had been in Africa for almost four years at that time, and I had never, ever received a parcel from home. Anyway, if anyone did send a parcel, who would put in a hot water bottle? I lived on the equator!

Halfway through the afternoon, while I was teaching in the nurses' training school, a message was sent that there was a car at my front door. By the time that I reached home, the car had gone, but there, on the veranda, was a large twenty-two pound parcel! I felt tears pricking my eyes. I could not open the parcel alone; so, I sent for the orphanage children. Together we pulled off the string, carefully undoing each knot. We folded the paper, taking care not to tear it unduly. Excitement was mounting. Some thirty or forty pairs of eyes were focused on the large cardboard box. From the top, I lifted out brightly colored, knitted jerseys. Eyes sparkled as I gave them out. Then, there were the knitted bandages for the leprosy patients, and the children began to look a little bored. Next, came a box of mixed raisins and sultanas - - that would make a nice batch of buns for the weekend. As I put my hand in again, I felt the...could it really be? I grasped it, and pulled it out. Yes, "A brand-new rubber, hot water bottle!" I cried. I had not asked God to send it; I had not truly believed that He could. Ruth was in the front row of the children. She rushed forward, crying out, "If God has sent the bottle, He must have sent the dolly, too!" Rummaging down to the bottom of the box, she pulled out the small, beautifully dressed dolly. Her eyes shone: She had never doubted! Looking up at me, she asked, "Can I go over with you, Mummy, and give this dolly to that little girl, so she'll know that Jesus really loves her?"

That parcel had been on the way for five whole months, packed up by my former Sunday School class, whose leader had heard and obeyed God's prompting to send a hot water bottle, even to the equator. One of the girls had put in a dolly for an African child -- five months earlier in answer to the believing prayer of a ten-year-old to bring it "That afternoon!" "And it shall come to pass, that before they call, I will answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear." Isaiah 65:24

Helen Roseveare a doctor missionary from England to Zaire, Africa, told this as it had happened to her in Africa. She shared it in her testimony on a Wednesday night at Thomas Road Baptist Church.

{The story my momma read to me was from Eternal Perspective Ministries}

How comforting to know God hears our prayers!

Love to YOU!

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The Gift of Prayer

Awhile back, my hubby and I were talking about praying for our children. We have done blessing cards for years, but most times they are in the hallway closet. My hubby keeps them there as he gets them out to pray blessings over the children before going to work since the closet is right between their bedroom doors. We only have one set and as we were talking we were thinking about how we needed to be even more dilligent about praying for our children.

My dear friend, Marina, came over for a visit and she had just been given a 31 day list of prayers to pray throughout the month. God is in the details, isn't He? I was so grateful for just that little bit of encouragement we were needing! Now, we both have our own copies and are both praying the same thing for our children throughout the day.


I am constantly reminded of what a humbling job it is to be a parent. I am always making mistakes, not always modeling Christ to my children, and having to say I am sorry way more than I would have ever hoped to do as a Momma. But I am thankful for the gift of prayer and for our children to have full confidence that no matter how we fail as parents, it is God's grace that is extended to them. When there are life decisions to make, it is God who will give direction. When friends are in need of comfort, it is through prayer that the right words may be spoken. When bodies ache and hurt, it is through prayer that they can feel the gentle touch of the Healer. When it is forgiveness they need, it is God who is already seeking to forgive and to restore.


31 Biblical Virtues to Pray For Your Children {Bob Hostetler}


1. Salvation. “Lord, let salvation spring up within my children, that they may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus, with eternal glory” (Is. 45:8, 2 Tim. 2:10).


2. Growth in grace. “I pray that my children may grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ” (2 Pet. 3:18).


3. Love. “Grant, Lord, that my children may learn to live a life of love, through the Spirit who dwells in them” (Gal. 5:25, Eph. 5:2).


4. Honesty and integrity. “May integrity and honesty be their virtue and their protection” (Ps. 25:21).


5. Self-control. “Father, help my children not to be like many others around them, but let them be alert and self-controlled in all they do” (1 Thess. 5:6).


6. Love for God’s Word. “May my children grow to find Your Word more precious than much pure gold and sweeter than honey from the comb” (Ps. 19:10).


7. Justice. “God, help my children to love justice as You do and act justly in all they do”
(Ps. 11:7, Mic. 6:8).


8. Mercy. “May my children always be merciful, just as their Father is merciful” (Lk. 6:36).


9. Respect (for self, others, authority). “Father, grant that my children may show proper respect to everyone, as your Word commands” (1 Pet. 2:17).


10. Biblical self-esteem. “Help my children develop a strong self-esteem that is rooted in the realization that they are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus” (Eph. 2:10).


11. Faithfulness. “Let love and actions” (Dt. 31:6).

12. Courage. "May my children always be strong and courageous in their character and in their actions" (Dt. 31:6).


13. Purity. “Create in them a pure heart, O God, and let that purity of heart be shown in their actions” (Ps. 51:10).


14. Kindness. “Lord, may my children always try to be kind to each other and to everyone else”
(1 Thess. 5:15).


15. Generosity. “Grant that my children may be generous and willing to share, and so lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age” (1 Tim. 6:18-19).


16. Peace-loving. “Father, let my children make every effort to do what leads to peace” (Rom. 14:19).


17. Joy. “May my children be filled with the joy given by the Holy Spirit” (1 Thess. 1:6).


18. Perseverance. “Lord, teach my children perseverance in all they do, and help them especially to run with perseverance the race marked out for them” (Heb. 12:1).


19. Humility. “God, please cultivate in my children the ability to show true humility toward all”
(Titus 3:2).


20. Compassion. “Lord, please clothe my children with the virtue of compassion” (Col. 3:12).


21. Responsibility. “Grant that my children may learn responsibility, for each one should carry his own load” (Gal. 6:5).


22. Contentment. “Father, teach my children the secret of being content in any and every situation, through Him who gives them strength” (Phil. 4:12-13).


23. Faith. “I pray that faith will find root and grow in my children’s hearts, that by faith they may gain what has been promised to them” (Lk. 17:5-6, Heb. 11:1-40).


24. A servant’s heart. “God, please help my children develop servants’ hearts, that they may serve wholeheartedly, as if they were serving the Lord, not men” (Eph. 6:7).


25. Hope. “May the God of hope grant that my children may overflow with hope and hopefulness by the power of the Holy Spirit” (Ro. 15:13).


26. Willingness and ability to work. “Teach my children, Lord, to value work and to work at it with all their heart, as working for the Lord, not for men” (Col. 3:23).


27. Passion for God. “Lord, please instill in my children a soul that ‘followeth hard after thee’
(Ps. 63:8, KJV), one that clings passionately to you.”


28. Self-discipline. “Father, I pray that my children may acquire a disciplined and prudent life, doing what is right and just and fair” (Prov. 1:3).


29. Prayerfulness. “Grant, Lord, that my children’s lives may be marked by prayerfulness, that they may learn to pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests” (Eph. 6:18).


30. Gratitude. “Help my children to live lives that are always overflowing with thankfulness and always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ”
(Eph. 5:20, Col. 2:7).


31. A heart for missions. “Lord, please help my children to develop a desire to see your glory declared among the nations, your marvelous deeds among all peoples” (Ps. 96:3).


May You be encouraged to pray for YOUR children!


Shared with: simple country life, titus2sday

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A Man for All Seasons

I saw it.
With my very own eyes.
I saw a face full of fear.
Lips that quivered.
A heart that was broken.

Never...never did I think this beautiful face would be marked with eyes that were so full of tears.
Tears of joy...usually...not tears welling up from a grief-flooded heart. They had no where left to go.

What do you say?
What do you do?
How do you offer comfort?

All I could possibly do was to listen. To listen some more and to be silent.

No longer did she feel loved
No longer was she cherished.
No longer was she the love of his life.

She was lonely...for the first time really, ever.
She was afraid...of what laid ahead of her...for her family, for her children.
With one small conversation and with very few words given, she no longer had her identity. It was as if it had been stolen and given to someone else in exchange.

Right there...as her tears no longer could be shed, she had two choices to make

1. To trust God, and to walk by faith...knowing that she would have to trust in One who could not be seen or touched.

2. To walk by sight...using her weak legs to walk the jagged trail, while grasping for every willing hand to help steady her now frail and mostly trembling soul.

People disappoint.
Friends and family dig deep for encouraging words, but in the end, they are empty words of hope.

...this dear, sweet LOVE has taught me oh.so.much.

Isn't it easy at times to share words of advice we think is best?

Dear friend of mine, God is working on your trust.
You are loved by a God who loves you.
You are chersished by HIM...
and you are the love of HIS life!

Let Him be your MAN for all seasons.
It is HE who is "overflowing with joy, intimate with sorrow, hospitable to sinners, nemesis of evil, tempted in all ways, innocent of all wrongdoing, at home in lonely places, the life of the party,one who turns water into wine, just because He can, who multiplies loaves and fishes, just because He cares, but who denies help to his cousin John as he languishes in prison, who indeed, refuses to help himself when he staggers in a desert or groans from a cross. He goes up on mountains and down in valleys. He preaches to thousands but takes time for any lone beggar, weeping whore, groveling invalid, writhing demoniac, pleading father. He leaves banquets to visit the sick ward. He is silent when talking would help His cause, and talkative when silence seems most prudent. HE is rude with bullies and phonies and prigs and, at the same time, tender with loosers and seekers and penitents.

HE is with us when we soar on wings as eagles, and probably even when we wingsuit jump, and with us, too, when we can't walk for fainting...and everywhere in between."
{"man for all seasons" and quote by Mark Buchanan}

"But blessed are those who trust in the Lord and have made the LORD their hope and confidence."
Jeremiah 17:7

Your mourning will be turned to JOY!!

With all our love!

{THANK YOU DEAR PENNY for the book! I am loving it!}

Shared with: titus 2sday, women living well, our simple country life

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Speed Bumps

This afternoon, I so enjoyed a visit with my new friend, Kristen. What a refreshing afternoon. She has the most beautiful garden and I even got a quick science lesson on her "girls"... the worker bees...who reside in the most adorable bee hive! She referred to it as the HILTON! If I were a bee, I know I would never want to move from the sweetest of homes.

In talking to her, I was reminded of God's abounding grace and the comfort He supplies in our darkest of days! Once again, I am posting from the archives, but it is always a wonderful thing to know that God's mercies are NEW every morning...Love to YOU Kristen, and thank you for the yummy tomatoes and honey!



Have you ever had something in your life that brings you so much joy and then, as circumstances change, THAT VERY THING that brought about joy suddenly brings about fear and pain?

Years ago, as our neighborhoods started to expand, and traffic patterns were altered, new houses went up, new roads, new lights and new signs. A small stretch of road added SPEED BUMPS! I thought it was ridiculous, but there they were one morning as the children and I were already running late for school. Talk about one more inconvenience!

The "Pollyanna" in me decided right then and there that those speed bumps were going to be another reminder for our family to slow down and to pray! To this day I still have vivid memories of our children's innocent little voices praying with such sincerity. We prayed for everything: sick friends, teachers, special privileges...like ice cream after school, lonely friends, friends without Daddies and Mommies, the "blueberry lady" who sold her land, animals. You name it! I looked forward to those speed bumps. They were a comforting reminder that no matter how hurried we are in our lives, Jesus is NOT! He is never in a hurry. He is ALWAYS there waiting for us and He loves it when we slow down and talk with HIM.

Several months ago, I was in a car accident and my BIG TAHOE absorbed any discomfort a healthy, strong body might feel in going over those bumps, but let me tell you, my "new" car is much smaller, and the suspension is TIGHT. My sore and achy body can feel every inconsistency in the road, let alone the pain that radiates through my body when we go over bumps.

I have started taking different routes, longer routes...any road I can find where the ride is smooth. At times, when I am going somewhere new or different and I see an unexpected bump, it causes instant fear of the pain that shoots from my hips all the way to my neck. Something I had come to find comfort in is now something I avoid and fear.

Tonight, on our way home, I felt like God was wanting me to Trust HIM. This Speed Bump in my life is not something to be avoided. It is going to be HIS teaching tool in my life. The only difference is this: He is in the driver's seat and I am the immature and weak child praying in earnest. I am completely inadequate, but with God's power I am able to overcome the difficulties I face, and I, too can trust my God who is sufficient. Out of this experience, I know that the same way I loved hearing my children pray, He loves hearing me come to Him.

It dawned on me, even though they are much older, I am still teaching them. They are still observing. I may never have this opportunity again to let my children know that the same God who has been listening and answering our prayers (NOT ALWAYS THE WAY WE HAVE PRAYED FOR!)over the years is completely capable of alleviating my fear and pain or in giving me the courage to deal with it differently. He has a purpose and a plan...he wants me to slow down and to trust in HIM. Don't avoid the SPEED BUMPS in life...because with Him we are Never without HOPE.


"Come to ME, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light."
Matthew 11:28-30.

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