Thank you!

I always liked the special color poinsettias.
The white is always so lovely too.

Thank you, (((trish))).

It’s a beautiful plant, especially at this time of year.

A Winter Dawn

Above the marge of night a star still shines,
And on the frosty hills the sombre pines
Harbor an eerie wind that crooneth low
Over the glimmering wastes of virgin snow.

Through the pale arch of orient the morn
Comes in a milk-white splendor newly-born,
A sword of crimson cuts in twain the gray
Banners of shadow hosts, and lo, the day!

Lucy Maud Montgomery

Happy Caturday, Dogurday and Bunnyday, everyone!

Happy Caturday Everyone

It snowed along the coast of Texas this week
...no snow for me. It did get cold.
Have A Good Weekend, FRiends
*HUGS*

Beautiful, trish!

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Outside In?

December 9, 2017

All of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. Galatians 3:27

“Change: From the Inside Out or the Outside In?” the headline read, reflecting a popular trend today—the idea that outward changes like a makeover or better posture can be an easy way to change how we feel on the inside—and even change our lives.

It’s an appealing concept—who wouldn’t want improving our lives to be as easy as a new look? Many of us have learned the hard way that changing deep-rooted habits can seem nearly impossible. Focusing on simple external changes offers hope that there is a quicker path toward improving our lives.

But although such changes can improve our lives, Scripture invites us to seek a deeper transformation—one that is impossible on our own. In fact, in Galatians 3 Paul argued that even God’s law—a priceless gift that revealed His will—couldn’t heal the brokenness of God’s people (vv. 19–22). True healing and freedom required them to, through faith, be “clothed” in Christ (v. 27) through His Spirit (5:5). Set apart and shaped through Him, they would find their true identity and worth—every believer equally an heir to all of God’s promises (3:28–29).

We could easily devote much energy to self-improvement techniques. But the deepest and most satisfying changes in our hearts come in knowing the love that surpasses knowledge (Eph. 3:17–19)—the love that changes everything.

Lord, we’re so grateful we don’t have to rely on ourselves. Thank You for Your Spirit renewing us every day and drawing us closer to You and Your love.

In Jesus, true and lasting transformation is possible.

INSIGHT

How does God’s love transform us? Second Corinthians 5:17–18 tells us, “If anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here! All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ.” As Christians we are already new, transformed creatures through Christ’s death for our sins. But that doesn’t mean our transformation is complete. What’s our part in this transformation? We are to “grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ” (2 Peter 3:18) so that we are no longer “infants in Christ” (1 Cor. 3:1). And we are to no longer “conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of [our] mind” (Rom. 12:2). But we don’t accomplish this on our own. The Holy Spirit is at work inside us. As we “contemplate the Lord’s glory, [we] are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit” (2 Cor. 3:18).

As we pray, read the Bible, and fellowship with God, the Holy Spirit reveals more about Jesus, helps us to love Him more, and transforms us to more closely resemble Him.

SNOW...

It's an Acquired Taste that I have not yet warmed up to...

(((HUGS)))

ML/LTOS

http://www.mysanantonio.com/entertainment/movies-tv/article/San-Antonio-snowfall-blankets-national-TV-KSAT-12416870.php

Now that’s just WEIRD!

It's a pounce-y kind of a day!
Happy Caturday!

lol lol lol lol ...

Good morning!

We in southern WI got an inch of pretty snow overnight.

My dog Moose loves the snow. This is the first time we’ve had snow since we got him in spring.

Cheers to All!

Speaking of beautiful plants, I picked out 2 orchids at Home Depot 2 weeks ago. They were only $6.88 each (half price)! I picked out plants that had 2 flower spikes each instead of one. These things are glorious. I can’t believe how cheap they were. They are the 5 inch size pot.

What a sweetheart!

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Restored Failures

December 10, 2017

The Lord upholds all who fall and lifts up all who are bowed down. Psalm 145:14

A guest band was leading praise and worship at our church, and their passion for the Lord was moving. We could see—and feel—their enthusiasm.

Then the musicians revealed that they were all ex-prisoners. Suddenly their songs took on special meaning, and I saw why their words of praise meant so much to them. Their worship was a testimony of lives broken and restored.

The world may embrace success. But stories of past failure offer people hope too. They assure us that God loves us no matter how many times we have failed. Pastor Gary Inrig says that what we call the Hall of Faith in Hebrews 11 could well be entitled God’s Hall of Reclaimed Failures. “There is scarcely an individual in that chapter without a serious blemish in his or her life,” he observes. “But God is in the business of restoring failures . . . . That is a great principle of God’s grace.”

I love the comfort of Psalm 145, which speaks of God’s “wonderful works” (vv. 5–6) and glorious kingdom (v. 11). It describes His compassion (vv. 8–9) and faithfulness (v. 13)—then immediately tells us that He lifts up those who have fallen (v. 14). All His attributes are expressed when He picks us up. He is indeed in the business of restoration.

Have you failed before? We all have. Have you been restored? All who have been redeemed are stories of God’s grace.

Our stories of failure can be God’s stories of success.

INSIGHT

For the believer, the living God is the ultimate safety net. The psalmist says, “The Lord upholds all who fall” (Ps. 145:14). Despite allowing disappointment, loss, and failure, God provides the power and resources to keep us going when we stumble.

How might you praise God today for His steadfast love that reaches out to you after you fall?

~Welcome To Sunday At Amy's Place~

High Holy Days

Snow so softly falls silent out of the ebony sky
a blanket of forgetfulness over autumn's litter
and small lights strung challenges the stars above
lighting the season on porch, window, and trees

I smile as I walk tonight, for even sadness flees
for now we will celebrate the Season of His Dove
remembering what he would accept for us so bitter
and in doing so, set even my old sad soul to fly.

by WayzataJOHNN

Blessings To All Who Enter Here

Vocal Majority~Deep River

St Olaf Choir~When Peace Like A River

Glad~Arise My Soul, Arise

Dallas Christian Sound~I'm In The Glory Land Way

Providence~Sweet Beulah Land

Mercy Me~I Can Only Imagine

Trevecca Madrgalians~It Is Well With My Soul

Have a blessed Sunday

Blessings
Amen to this wonderful devotion, Rus.
Thank you for starting our day off right every day.