A True Miracle of God!

God truly blessed me in the most unexpected way today! While getting a package ready to ship, some of the shredded paper fell out of the bag and onto my floor. When I was reaching down to pick it up, something heavy was in the small pile, and I thought I was going to faint when I saw what it was!
MY ENGAGEMENT RING - missing since January of 2008, and I never thought I would see it again!
Bill and I turned this house upside down, looking through all my bags of packing materials; we looked outside in the yard - everywhere! I searched all over the office and parking lot where I worked, and even offered a reward for it's return. We filed a police report, should it turn up at a pawn shop. I was sure that somebody else was now wearing my ring, and that I'd never see it again...
After finding my ring, I was shaking and couldn't hardly breathe, and was trying to find my phone so I could call Bill, and then my phone rang - it was him, and I could barely get the words out that my ring had showed up!
We will be taking this beautiful ring to a jeweler to get it sized, so this never happens again!\

THANK YOU*THANK YOU*THANK YOU *JESUS*! :)

Janelle

Thankfulness

One of the first things I wanted to teach my children when they were just beginning to talk, was to say "Thank You". Not only is it common courtesy, but it also shows gratitude to someone for what they've done.
Today's passage goes right along with that - it's from Colossians 3: 15 which says, "Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body, you were called to peace. And be thankful".
We as believers are referred to as the body of Christ, with him being the head. We each have a part in the body, and if one part fails to do what it's supposed to do, then chaos comes into play. Our first priority is to love one another, which brings about the peace of Christ, and makes it to where we all function as one body, and lives are changed because of that. The last part of that verse is a short sentence which simply says, "And be thankful".
Do we show and/or tell the Lord daily "Thank You" for all he has done, and is continuing to do in our lives?
In I Thessalonians 5:16 - 18, it says, "Be joyful always, pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Chris Jesus".
There is one very small word in that passage that has one very large meaning - "in". It doesn't say to give thanks FOR all circumstances, but IN all circumstances. I take this to mean that no matter what we face, we are to give thanks, because the Lord himself is in the midst of that with us, and he will see us through.
Take time today to thank the Lord for who he is, and for what he's done.

Janelle

Confidence in God

Today, I'm taking a passage from the New Testament in the book of Philippians, Chapter 1:2-6.

I have a very dear friend, who I consider family, who has been going through a very rough time lately, and when I asked the Lord today what to share on here, this is what he showed me. This is my prayer not only for him, but for all those who I have had the pleasure of crossing paths with throughout my life.

"Grace and peace to you from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ.

I think my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers, for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being CONFIDENT of this, that He who began a good work in you, is faithful to complete it until the day of Jesus Christ".

True grace and peace can only come from above. Paul is telling us in this letter to the Philippians that they need to remember that God doesn't start something that he doesn't finish; and we should be at peace because of that.

In our lives, we all face difficult times. Sometimes it makes us question our salvation, sometimes it allows satan to throw our pasts up and bind us in fear and torment. THIS is when you really need to have this verse buried in your heart and mind, and when the voices of torment come your way, speak out this verse with CONFIDENCE - God gave me a new life, and he will see me through until the day I am reunited with Jesus face to face.

Like Paul, I thank God every time I remember ALL of you.

Have a very blessed week, and remember that Jesus promised us that he will never leave us or forsake us - he's just a breath away, and is waiting for you to call out to Him.

Janelle

Thought for the Day

I like to read a chapter each day from the book of Proverbs, and the thought I'd like to share today is this:
"Don't wear yourself out to get rich; have the wisdom to show restraint. Cast but a glance at riches, and they are gone, for they will surely sprout wings and fly off to the sky like an eagle."
Proverbs 23: 4 - 5

I, like many others, have had to go back to work in the past few years, due to the economy getting so out of hand. I also at times, have put my focus on "if I work more, I will have more money to have more, to do more".....it's when I've allowed myself to focus on the wrong things, that I find myself absolutely miserable!
All it takes is a good dose of going to the "poor" part of town, to a homeless shelter, a children's hospital, and things quickly get put into perspective. Most of us are far richer than we think; if we have a shelter over our heads, we should be thankful, for there are many who sleep under the stars. If we have food on our table, we should be thankful, for there are many who have to dig in the garbage to feed their families.
I am resigning from my job in two weeks and although I know that I will have to cut back on some things, I will have peace of mind at the end of each day. I also know that God has promised all who believe in Him, that he will provide all we need. Key word - NEED. It doesn't mean he doesn't ever give us any of our wants; he surprises me all the time with little things I don't expect! I want my trust in Him, and dependency to be not in how much money I might have saved in the bank, but in the promise that He is here with me and will provide for me.
I will be able to get back to sewing more, drawing more, and having the time to do whatever He leads me to do in the community.
Have a great day!