Bonnie Lynne

This is for you!

I don't believe in luck or coincidence. I believe God brings people together to give an uplifting bit of encouragement to someone who needs it! I'm not totally sure of your circumstances Ms. Bonnie, but stand firm. Hold God's Hand and take refuge in Him. "The Lord is good, a refuge in times of trouble, He cares for those who trust in him." (Nahum 1:7)

Like you said, God is in control of this situation. "Be still, and know that I am God." (Psalm 46:10); "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." (Jeremiah 29:11); "Do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own." (Matthew 6:34).

It's not easy going through "character training" at any given moment and I could tell you were really stressed. Not only should you be grateful for the good things in your life, but also remember to "Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you." (Luke 5:44). That will help you from becoming bitter. I will continue to pray for you when God brings you to mind. Perhaps blessing me with a new-to-me purse will be just the reminder I need. Thank you!

Rejoice With Me!

1. Thank you, Lord, for showing us your standards of right and wrong in your love-letter (Holy Scriptures) to us.

2. Thank you, Lord, for courageous Christians willing to stand up for the right even when it bites.

3. Thank you, Lord, for your love and care for us. Nobody can ever take that away! "Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? . . . For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord." (Romans 8:35, 38-39)

4. Thank you Lord for putting people in our path that we can pray for. Thank you for opportunities to minister to them with a kind words, because everyone has trouble in their lives from time to time. "Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles. , so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God. (2 Corinthians 1:3-4)

5. Thank you Lord, for short seasons! We know that WINTER IS NOT FOREVER! *smile*

The Tree of Life

Tree hugging = Last fall, when the maple tree up the street was in its glory, I wrote a post about it along with a photo and said I didn't know I was a tree-hugger. Since then it has become more apparent, that indeed I'm a tree-hugger, but not in the way most people think of it.

Celebrate with Trees = Something our pastor said recently about the "tree of life" stuck with me. On one level one hears and understands that phrase "tree of life" meaning the cross, but often times things drift in, but don't stick, however, I liked his phrasing, it stuck with me and I ruminated over it several times. It was after I set up two boards on Pinterest, one being Christmas trees and the other with photos of crosses, that I suddenly realized that I could combine the two. We celebrate Christ's life with trees! A Christmas tree at his birth and a wooden cross symbolizing his death at Easter.

The Cross = Then something was said during our service this last week about a big wooden cross we sometimes use during the year that is stored in our sacristy. It's so tall that it has to be laid on its side. Once, when I was cleaning storage areas in our church building (Psst! I hate to say this, but people don't put stuff away even in churches), I had to step over the cross beams on my way through the room. I didn't make it, but instead crashed to my knees. I've always been clumsy and we had a minor earthquake back there! LOL!

Immersion in the Word = I got to thinking about how all these ideas relate. You know the cross, the tree of life, is used to bring us to our knees. I got a great object lesson about that when I really fell over it! It also got me into the Word again as I had to go look up verses listed in my concordance pertaining to the cross, knees, trees, branches, fruit, leaves, roots, wood, etc.

Hug Trees With Me!

1. Thank you Lord for the tree of life! Help me thrive like a green leaf!

2. Thank you Lord for answered prayers and your protection from alluring traps laid down by the wily one!

3. Thank you Lord, for the fellowship we enjoyed in small group last Sunday night! We learned about each other's courting days, our engagements and weddings and laughed at all the funny things that happened to us as each one relayed their stories. One common thread was that we had met our future spouses through church-related activities!

4. Thank you Lord for your distribution of creativity! I've enjoyed looking at all the eye candy on Pinterest.

5. Thank you Lord for women-who-follow-Christ online friends. I recently discovered that the Sisters In Christ Card Challenge blog that I knew is defunct and I have one friend who has stuck to me like a burr from when I participated. Bless Merry, Lord! Lord knows, she's blessed me with her contagious enthusiasm for life!

I used Mary Engelbreit's artwork to illustrate my point, however the top portion was added by me.

I Am So Thankful

Author Unknown.


For the teenager who is not doing dishes but is watching TV,
     Because that means he is at home and not on the streets.
For the taxes that I pay,
     Because it means that I am employed.
For the mess to clean after a party,
     Because it means that I have been surrounded by friends.
For the clothes that fit a little too snug,
     Because it means I have enough to eat.
For my shadow that watches me work,
     Because it means I am out in the sunshine.
For a lawn that needs mowing, windows that need cleaning, and gutters that need fixing,
     Because it means I have a home.
For all the complaining I hear about the government,
     Because it means that we have freedom of speech.
For the parking spot I find at the far end of the parking lot,
     Because it means I am capable of walking and that I have been blessed with transportation.
For my huge heating bill,
     Because it means I am warm.
For the lady behind me in church that sings off key,
     Because it means that I can hear.
For the pile of laundry and ironing,
     Because it means I have clothes to wear.
For weariness and aching muscles at the end of the day,
     Because it means I have been capable of working hard.
For the alarm that goes off in the early morning hours,
     Because it means that I am alive and have a  reason to get up.
And finally . . .
For too much e-mail,
     Because it means I have friends who are thinking of me.