I Will Walk With You

                                                                          Heb 12:1-9

A story is told on a young man called Jeff. Jeff worked summers for a farmer whose farm was located in a valley a short distance from his home. He would rise up early, walk through a ravine or mountain pass and down into the valley for the day's work.

One evening, as Jeff was returning home, he heard footsteps behind him as he approached the pass. Knowing that robbers sometimes hung out there, he walked faster. The faster he walked, the more rapid become the footsteps behind him. His hands grew clammy from perspiration and his heart beat more rapidly. Finally, a familiar voice pierced the darkness, "Jeff, is that you? I'm your father, and I've come to walk with you!"

What comfort and assurance. "I'm your father, I've come to walk with you!" to help us understand the nature of our relationship with Him, God chose the term "Father" to give us an example. Imperfect, yes, because so many have fathers who have disappointed them, yet in that relationship I see qualities, which, when sifted from human weakness, help us understand how much our heavenly Father cares for us as His children.

A young woman, who had been often abused by her father, once told me, "If God was anything like my natural father, I would want nothing to do with Him," and understandably so, but God's nature assures us of His love, care, and protection, often when we least see or understand it.

Have you ever had the experience of taking your child to the doctor, and holding the child firmly as the doctors’ needle pricked his finger to draw blood? The searching, questioning eyes of the child seem to ask, "Why do you allow me such pain if you love me?" Yet the child clings to his Father, even when his understanding is imperfect. In the same manner, we must trust the loving heart of our heavenly Father.

We must never doubt our Father's love and concern when difficulty and hardship come our way. Through these trials we must still hear His voice saying, "It's your Father; I've come to walk with you."

I you have never known the joy of Father God coming along side you and being there for you please make haste to run to Him. He will never leave you or forsake you!

Romans 10:9-11
"That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved. 11As the Scripture says, "Anyone who trusts in him will never be put to shame."

Romans 5:8--Acts 3:19--John 1:12

Amen!!

God with Us!

  “The Virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel”
(“God with Us”). Matthew 1:23; (NIV)

This promise was fulfilled as spoken by the prophet Isaiah; in Isaiah 9:6-7; “For a child is born to us, a son is given to us. The government will rest on his shoulders and he will be called: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, and Prince of Peace. His government and peace will never end. He will rule with fairness and justice from the throne of his ancestor David for all eternity. The passionate commitment of the Lord of Heaven’s Armies will make this happen!” (New Living Translation)

The true meaning of the season we call Christmas is, “God is with us.”
That is a true statement that should be present in our hearts all year.

God kept His promise when He touched earth in the flesh of Christ to save us from our sins and provide for an entrance into His presence. Wow, what love and grace He has shown to us. “IMMANUEL, GOD IS WITH US!” That is the accurate meaning of Christmas.

In this world there is so much attention on material things, an effort which pulls us away from Jesus and His birth. The principal objective of our devotion should be on Christ Jesus. He came to redeem mankind from the slavery of sin; He lovingly demonstrated His magnificent grace and incredible love with His presence among us. It is the most awesome miracle of all times. “Immanuel, God with Us.”

The Old and New Testament tells us of Jesus birth, about the baby in the manger who is the son of David, the Messiah. He is the eternal Son of God, conceived by the Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary, in whom all peoples on earth are blessed.
I just wish everyone would understand and embrace Him.
Immanuel" is a word of assurance among God's people; it gives us hope. Whatever the conditions become, we know that God is with us. Paul makes that real clear, “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.” (Rom 8:38-39) He is with us NOW! Therefore, we can "approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we will receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need" (Hebrew 4:15-16).
                                  
That is the message of hope for the Christmas season, all year long and for all eternity; God is with us! Therefore with calm assurance that He is here, enjoy the season; plan big and love with the thought in mind that time is short-lived and we must enjoy whatever God places before us. Go light your world! God is here.

“The grace of the Lord Jesus be with all. Amen" (Rev 22:21).

Merry Christ-mas
Joanie

Happy Thanksgiving

November and December are the two months that I love to cook and make a lot of my desserts; Cakes, cupcakes, pies, cookies, puddings and the list goes on.

It seems we jump from Halloween to Christmas and there is just not enough time to enjoy the Thanksgiving Spirit that we all need to cherish.

Thanksgiving Day is about home and family to me. It is synonymous with things that can be found in our own homes. I love a fireplace, being busy in the kitchen, children and grandchildren, homemade rolls, pumpkin pie and a million calories.

Thanksgiving should be a time of reflecting upon the faithfulness of God and thanking Him for all things big and small that He has given to us. The meal, the memories has a way of blocking the times of pain that we have had to endure in the days behind us. It just ushers in a spirit of gratitude, love, and genuine joy once we feast around that day together and everything else seems to fade into insignificance.

Thanksgiving also is packed with national nostalgia. It takes us back to the simple life that our forefathers lived and depended on to exist. Thanksgiving just brings a renewal to me of thankfulness and patriotism, a reflection inside that seems to say, " I am proud to be an American."

Take a lot of pictures and enjoy your family even if it is just two of you. We are making memories and that will be very important to us later. Today will be tomorrow's memories.

I really pray for you to have a wonderful Thanksgiving Day.
Joanie B

Yesterdays Memories

Yesterdays Memories

Your Yesterdays is the path that leads you into your tomorrows
There are a lot of memories in these few pictures.

With two of grandsons in Branson, MO.

As I grow older I am more and more aware of life and how it must be seized every moment. Tomorrow is only today as it passes by so swiftly. I hardly can take in 24 hours and then I find myself in another day. Where did it go? Time marches on, that is for sure. There are times I like to reach back and pull up some of my yesterdays. It often is jolted by something around me that will put me back in time for a few minutes. I do love reminiscing at times. I cannot help but Praise God for walking with me through my past, present and future.

Nostalgia, is that yearning to step back into the time tunnel and stroll down memory lane, trying to recover the unrecoverable. Today we live on a street called Memory Land, I guess that fits me well. I guess that is why I enjoy listening to the old song, "Sentimental Journey." I do not believe in living in yesterday but I do think we should enjoy the memories both good and bad. They have been learning experiences that have led me this far. God uses all things to teach lessons to us.

Here is where Nostalgia sometimes starts:

A quiet visit to the place where you where raised.

The smell of Christmas, the tree and all the trimmings.

Thinking how you met the love of you life.

Dating and getting to know each other.

Family and Friends talking about how it use to be.

Music and melodies of your past.

Singing the Song of your Alma Mater.

A barefoot walk along a sandy beach.

Looking over childhood photos will sure put you back in time.

A newborn baby.

An old letter, bruised with age signed by the one who loves you.

Climbing mountains,Weddings, Graduations, Diplomas, hearing certain poems.

Raising children and all the enjoyment they bring, school days, picnics,

trips, hugs, laughter, tears, church, teaching them about God and praying over them.

Watching your children grow up and leave home.

Saying goodbye. The list is endless. We can stop and go back, I love the fond memories of my yesterdays.

However, I love today and very excited about tomorrow. Why? God is in it.
Thank the Lord, it is His love that sustains us and arranges our tomorrows.
His love will send our way that which is best for us. I can smile every time I read Romans 11:33; “Oh, what a wonderful God we have! How great are His wisdom and knowledge and riches! How impossible it is for us to understand His decisions and His methods!”

Gloria Gaither said something that I remember, "In spite of everything, when I look back at where I have been, I see that what I am becoming is a whole lot further down the road from where I was."

God's Word says, "Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away." James 4:14 ( Now, is that not the truth.)

Remember, what you are doing right now will be a memory for tomorrow.
Making Memories. Make it a good one!
Joanie B

Denver and Joanie

 Psalm 96:2 ‘Sing to the LORD, praise his name; proclaim his salvation day after day."

This blog is about family, cooking and articles that I write. I hope  you enjoy my family pictures.

All for His Glory' 
Joanie