Wednesday, June 25, 2014

Blessings at the Beach

Recently my family and I had a brief vacation at lovely Amelia Island, Florida. We were able to rent a house located right on the beach, so the ocean was always in sight.
Besides sightseeing, eating delicious food, and spending time on the beach, one of my greatest blessings on the trip came from sitting on the deck of the house, admiring God's creation. As I gazed out at the vast Atlantic Ocean, I was reminded that that huge body of water didn't "just happen" but was created by the Lord. The white, fluffy clouds in the bright blue sky, the seagulls swooping down to catch a fish, and the tall sea oats growing along the sand dunes were all created by God.
That same God created you and me, and He loves us more than we could ever imagine.
As I thought about all that the Lord has created, and how much He loves me, I was again reminded of how very blessed I am.
I'm so thankful we had a family vacation at the beach, and so very thankful I was reminded of how much the Lord has blessed me.
     Blessed is that man that maketh the Lord his trust.  Psalm 40:4

Wednesday, June 11, 2014

No Matter What

As a Christian, one thing I've learned and know to be true is that no matter what I'm going through, or how I'm feeling, Jesus is there.
Whether it's a health crisis, loss of a loved one, frustration from broken appliances, or a happy time such as the birth of a child or a celebration, HE is always right beside me.
Last week I was reminded of this truth as my week included deep sadness over the sudden death of a sweet friend. So unexpected and so tragic---except for KNOWING she is in Heaven now, so that's a comfort.
Then the next day I experienced frustration---as we had some major plumbing issues, that resulted in spending almost $1000 and leaving holes in our bathroom walls. Ugh! Certainly not a catastrophe, but just an aggravation.
A few days later I felt excitement and happiness, as our family celebrated 2 birthdays and we welcomed home relatives who'd been living in Hawaii! How wonderful it was having my family together in my home on Sunday---celebrating with good food and laughter.
Throughout that range of emotions and happenings last week, one thing was constant: Jesus was with me through it all. And the wonderful thing is, He ALWAYS will be, no matter what.
     But my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.    Philippians 4:19