IN HIS PRESENCE AND FULL OF JOY

"YOU WILL SHOW ME THE PATH OF LIFE; IN YOUR PRESENCE IS FULLNESS OF JOY; AT YOUR RIGHT HAND ARE PLEASURES FOREVERMORE."
PSALM 16:11

MY PRECIOUS FRIEND, PAM, IS IN HIS PRESENCE EXPERIENCING THE FULLNESS OF JOY TODAY.
OUR HEARTS ARE SAD BUT I AM CONFIDENT WE WILL PRAISE THE LORD TOGETHER IN HEAVEN.
THIS IS A JOURNAL PAGE I DID LAST WEEK....JESUS CARRYING MY SWEET FRIEND, CLOSE TO HIS HEART. SHE IS WEARING ORANGE PAJAMAS BECAUSE ORANGE IS THE KIDNEY CANCER COLOR AND SHE LOVED IT!

PRAY FOR HER FAMILY AS THEY WILL MISS THIS PRECIOUS, GENTLE PROVERBS 31 WOMAN.

THANK YOU FOR THE CROSS

EASTER AND FOCUSING ON THE CROSS!
THANK YOU FOR THE CROSS
A POWERFUL SONG PRAISING OUR POWERFUL LORD.

LISTEN TO IT HERE!!!!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=azYQqzoEjgU

THESE ARE SOME PICTURES I TOOK OVER THE LAST SEVERAL MONTHS AS I WAS FOCUSING ON THE CROSS AND LEARNING TO WALK IN EXPECTATION AND PRAISE EACH DAY.
I BEGAN TO SEE CROSSES EVERYWHERE! DID YOU SEE THE CROSSES IN EACH PHOTO?
TRY CAPTURING SOME PICTURES YOURSELF....IT IS SUCH A BLESSING.

THANK YOU, JESUS, FOR THE CROSS.
HAVE A BLESSED EASTER CELEBRATING OUR RISEN LORD.

"GOD KNOWS WHERE TO PLACE US TO ENCOURAGE US IN OUR FAITH."
Ann Hilyer
The Book of Ruth
A Story of Redemption (Bible study notes)

This is so true in my life today. Thank you, Linda Dennis and Clare Whitlock, for inviting me to a Bible study today. Ann Hilyer taught the Book of Ruth, a story of redemption.

I needed encouragement and God placed me in the middle of His Word and truth and surrounded by a large group of encouraging women. I felt as if I was Ruth, gleaning truth in His harvest. I was reminded that Jesus is my Kinsman-Redeemer. "The price has been paid in full for every moment and every event in my life to be redeemed by the Lord Jesus Christ. The problem is that we tend to call on Him only when we cannot handle things. The challenge is to see and know Jesus
Christ as your practical Redeemer revealing Himself at every turn."

Oh, how I want to be yoked with Him. To see Him because no matter where I go, He is there! Do you remember I said in a post earlier that sometimes I have to duct tape myself to the cross to stay put and not run away?


"God loves to take the broken, devasting places in your life and redeem them."

I was reminded that God was able to work through Ruth's demeanor because she was willing to submit to whatever God told her to do. Her attitude was submissive and rejoiceful. This has been something I have been doing over the past several months as I have been reading Ann Voscamp's book, One Thousand Gifts. I love to take pictures of my God moments. Thanking Him in all things....seeing His light reflecting fruit in situations that are dark and sorrowful. (Clare reminded me of that today! Thank you Clare!) I am adding a picture I took in my kitchen....reflection of fruit in the darkness.

Well, these are a few ways the Lord has encouraged me today. Just wanted to share my heart. Soon I will be posting pictures of my most precious grandchildren....the way God showers my life with daily blessings....I live 4 mintues away from them. Thank you God.

Praising the Lord, my Kinsman-Redeemer
Singing the contemporary song, My Redeemer Lives and dancing around the room!!!
Katie

P.S. My precious sister in Christ, Pam, is coming home from the hospital today to start hospice care. Keep praying for her family.

CHECKING MY IN BOX

I HAVE TWO DEAR FRIENDS WHO ARE BATTLING CANCER.

LATELY THEY BOTH HAVE BEEN TOO WEAK TO REPLY TO MY E-MAILS OR CALLS.
I LEAVE MESSAGES. I SAY, “I AM CONCERNED ABOUT YOU. I E-MAILED YOU, CALLED AND LEFT MESSAGES ON YOUR PHONE, SENT WORD THROUGH WRITTEN WORDS ON CARDS, SENT LOVE THROUGH FRIENDS……STILL, NO REPLY.”

MY HEART IS BROKEN FOR THEM AND I WANT TO HEAR FROM THEM. TO HEAR THEIR VOICES....TO LET THEM KNOW I LOVE THEM AND AM HERE FOR THEM. TO ASK THEM HOW I CAN COME ALONG SIDE THEM IN ANY WAY!

DO YOU THINK GOD FEELS THE SAME WAY SOMETIMES?
HE GOES TO MEASURES WE CAN NOT EVEN SEE TO REACH OUR HEARTS AND STILL, NO REPLY.

YESTERDAY I HEARD FROM BOTH OF THEM. PAM’S DAUGHTER E-MAILED ME TO SAY MY SWEET FRIEND IS TOO SICK TO TALK, WRITE, RESPOND. I KNOW HER HEART. I KNOW HOW MUCH SHE DEPENDS ON HER PRECIOUS SAVIOR TO CARRY HER. HER WORDS OF DAYS AGO SPEAK TO MY HEART AND I CAN PRAY FOR PEACE FOR HER NOW.

JUDY, MY OTHER PRECIOUS FRIEND, ANSWERED THE PHONE YESTERDAY WHEN I CALLED TO LEAVE A VOICEMAIL. I WAS ELATED TO HEAR HER VOICE AND LISTEN TO HER SAY HOW THE LORD HAD CARRIED HER THROUGH A VERY DIFFICULT HOSPITAL STAY BUT SHE WAS IMPROVING DAILY. HER COUNTS ARE UP AND MY JOY IS UP TOO!!!

I AM THANKFUL I HAVE A SAVIOR WHO IS ALWAYS LISTENING FOR MY CALL, ALWAYS CALLING ME TO DRAW NEAR TO HIM AND LISTEN TO HIS HEART. HE HAS SENT WRITTEN WORDS OF ENCOURAGEMENT AND LOVE TO ME THROUGH THE BIBLE. HE IS THERE FOR MY FRIENDS AND THAT GIVES ME COMFORT.

WE ALWAYS HAVE A MESSAGE IN OUR IN BOX FROM HIM….. HE IS THERE AND EXCITED WHEN WE LISTEN AND RESPOND.

I AM PRAYING FOR BOTH OF MY DEAR FRIENDS, PAM AND JUDY, AND ASK YOU TO ALSO
PRAY. THIS SILO COVERED IN WISTERIA WAS TAKEN NEAR JUDY’S HOME. SHE IS IN MINNESOTA NOW AND CAN’T SEE ALL OF GOD’S GLORY GROWING NEAR HER HOME HER IN NEWNAN. IN FACT, THEY HAD 10 INCHES OF SNOW LAST WEEK.

I CALL IT GROW DEEP AND HIGH - HOPE STORED AND GROWING FOR US ALL. HANG ON!!!!

OFF TO CHECK MY IN BOX!

RESTING

Faith doesn't make anything happen - faith rests on something that has happened.-Malcolm Smith


My heart is singing this old song this morning.

Jesus I am resting, resting
In the Joy of what Thou art;
I am finding out the greatness
Of Thy loving heart.
Thou hast bid me gaze upon Thee,
And Thy beauty fills my soul,
For by Thy transforming power
Thou hast made me whole.

Have a blessed day.
Katie

Being Pruned

Do you ever feel as if you are being pruned by God? It doesn't have to have a negative connotation. Pruning is not just done when we are being unfruitful, it is
also beneficial to make us bloom more and make our blossoms fuller. I promise I am not making this up!

I love the verses in Romans 15 that talk about being in the vine. REMAIN (ABIDE)
in me and I will remain in you. Jesus tells us, "I am the vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful."

I often feel like I need to be duct taped to the VINE to make me not run away while
this is happening. Resting, remaining, abiding and trusting the Gardener is hard.

I went the the Newnan master gardener sale yesterday. Everyone in Coweta county was there! (Yes, this is an exaggeration.) The line to check out was right in the middle of all the plants people were pushing and shoving to get to. This is not an exaggeration. We all wanted these plants because the master gardeners know what they are doing...besides, the plants are very cheap!

Bob and I kept looking at each other thinking, do we really, really want to put up with this to get these little plants? Couldn't this have been done another way?
We want a beautiful, blooming garden, but really!

Sometimes, I question the Lord too. Couldn't this be done another way? I think I know how to organize my life better! I do not like to wait. I do not like to be pruned. I do not like looking ugly while I am waiting for new growth. Do I really trust Him with His best for my life?

Well, being 63 has it's benefits....a lot of years to look back and see that the real Master Gardener knows what He is doing.....He is sovereign, faithful and trustworthy. He is my Abba Father and cares for me.

I made this little scripture picture after reading Romans 15. Hope to have some pictures of mature fruit soon!!!!

Have a blessed Sabbath.

Draw Near to ME

How exciting. My heart began to race as I opened my new blogsite this morning. My daughter, Amybeth, had started her mom's blog last night and put on my "scripture picture." Draw near to me is the title because I am finding I can draw close to the heart of God as I doodle or paint each day. In my early morning quiet times, as I read His Word, it comes alive on paper through my childlike drawings. I love to look for what I call, God moments, M & M's to my heart and soul. Seeing God in everyday situations and circumstances. Like a three year old having a temper tantrum or deep in play with their legos , I stop when asked, "Would you like some M & M's?" With wide eyes and an expectant heart, I say, "Of course!" Join me on my pilgrimage to the heart of God. Opening my eyes and heart to the Lord through written words, drawings and paintings, and photography. Finding God in M & M moments. P.S. I will add the M & M picture when Amybeth shows me how!!!!!