Babies and Gardens

Babies and gardens help us to slow down,
to be still,
to be filled with wonder,
and to know that God is God.

"Be still and know that I am God." (Psalm 46:10)

Thank you, Lord, for helping me to know.

Gifts from God:
11.  beauty of a baby's face, and fingers, and feet
12.  cradling her in my arms and calming her so her mother could enjoy lunch
13.  feeling again the enormous blessing of life
14.  my sweet husband making lovely flower arrangements in teapots for a friend's luncheon
15.  this dear friend's vibrant gift for encouraging and cultivating beauty
16.  the angelic manner of her caretaker, Angie
17.  remembering them having lunch with us here last December
18.  Sarah calling to contemplate sky-diving
19.  Benjamin feeling better soon
20.  the beginning of the praise band

With gratitude,
Sally

Take Delight

Psalm 37:4

"Delight yourself in the Lord;
and He will give you the desires of your heart."

I received a note today from a friend
that reminded me how good it is
to take delight in the little things.

I think that when we take delight in the little things
we are really delighting ourselves in the Lord.

And, somehow, it is when we take delight,
in the little things and in the Lord,
that we receive the gifts our hearts desire.

God gives the gifts all along.
He gives the little things and the huge things.
But it is up to us to take delight,
to realize,
to thank Him,
and to receive our hearts' desires.

God knew I needed to be reminded today
how good it is to take delight in the little things.

I'm grateful for this friend that reminded me.

Gifts from God:
1.  pretty purple peacock card with a message written in purple ink
2.  entertaining mother-daughter angels, Ann and Tracy, who lift our spirits
3.  providing refreshment during the lunch hour
4.  Margaret thinking I'm funny
5.  remembering how Mama made me laugh
6.  Sarah and Joe, a magnificent marriage
7.  beautiful Beth's birthday
8.  chills, when touched by the Spirit
9.  thinking of my brother playing and singing a song for my mother
10.  big trucks that take our trash away every Wednesday and the fellows that drive them

With gratitude,
Sally

Rescue

Psalm 118:6,19

"In my distress I called upon the Lord,
and cried to my God for help;

He rescued me,
because He delighted in me."

Over and over my God has rescued me.

It is amazing to think, really almost unbelievable, that the Lord delights in me.

But He does.

He has shown me every day in countless ways that He delights in me.

So, once again, I am in distress.

And, once again, I am crying to my God for help.

And deep down inside I know that, once again, He will rescue me.

Because, truly, He delights in me.

That is amazing grace.  Over and over.

Gifts from God:
11.  my Lord and my God who delights to rescue
12.  making tomato sweet onion pies
13.  "like mother, like daughter"
14.  Joseph's good first day on his new job
15.  the truth and hope of "Love Lifted Me"
16.  tuition graciously provided
17.  hearing the compassion in Sarah's voice
18.  looking forward to a date with Vic
19.  sweet Mrs. Sampley bringing lemon cookies with the recipe
20.  she looked so pretty in her blue floral blouse and angel necklace

Thank you Lord for the gift of giving thanks.

With gratitude,
Sally

Thanksgiving

"Let us come before His presence with thanksgiving!"
                                                               -Psalm 95:2

Giving thanks to God draws us close to His goodness and grace.

Giving thanks to God opens our eyes to His light and His love.

Let's give thanks to God today.

Gifts from God:
1.  early morning hours with the Lord
2.  writing here again after more than a month
3.  Taylor's kind encouragement to keep writing
4.  freshly bathed dogs
5.  getting lost in a good story
6.  a grieving mother's sacrifice of praise
7.  the healing power of friendship
8.  three generations of men out to lunch together
9.  singing in the shower
10.  fresh fruit

Friends, thank you for being with me here.
I am glad to be back.

With gratitude,
Sally