What are You Thankful For?

(Photo by Jenny Dake)

Life on the farm is nothing short of AMAZING!!!  Is it work?  Oh, yes, it is...more so for my parents still than us, as they still farm wholeheartedly.  

                              I would not take anything for my upbringing and my children's raising and teaching from the farm.  The life lessons instilled, from a baby in a playpen in the dairy barn, (which I don't remember :) ) to learning to work together and loving it, are invaluable.  

             Priceless...

Give thanks for where you are today as we enter this Thanks-Giving season; it is the reason for joy, True joy, from our God and Creator.

On the farm, and out of doors, you get to really see God's handiwork ALL around. 

"You are my God, and I give thanks to You;

You are my God, I extol You.

Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good;

For His lovingkindness is everlasting."

Psalm 118:28-29

Do you live on a farm, in the city, America, other countries?

Where do you see Jesus at work today?

What are 3 things you are grateful for this day?

Always Experiencing Him,

Jody

Waiting Here for You

So, I fall again.  How is it, "For the good that I want, I do not do, but I practice the very evil that I do not want."  Romans 7:19

I read on, "But if I am doing the very thing I do not want, I am no longer the one doing it, but sin which dwells in me."  This fallen, sinful nature stays just under the surface, rearing its ugly head.All.The.Time...and back up to verse 15 Paul states, "For what I am doing, I do not understand; for I am not practicing what I would like to do, but I am doing the very thing I hate."

How easy it is to fall off God's path He has for us.  We have been in Romans; this is what our family is reading this month, well, the month of February, but I do believe we could stay there an entire year.  We will stay there for March too...can't get enough of a good thing, right?  I need it imprinted on me, in me, around me.  Just as the Jewish people wore their phalactaries on their foreheads, yes, I need it.Right.There...pressing in to remind me I am His; His Spirit is in me, and I must die, die to self, die to me.  He will guide me.

"For if you are living according to the flesh, you must die; but if by the Spirit you are putting to death the deeds of the body, you will live."

"For all who are being led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God."  Romans 8:13-14

There are times when I simply do not know what to ask of God.  I do not have the words, I do not know how to pray...that is when, "In the same way the Spirit also helps our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words;

And He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He intercedes for the saints according to the will of God."  Romans 8:26-27

What a glorious promise.  God, Himself, as The Triune God, uses His Spirit to intercede on my behalf!  He will pray for me when I have no words, when only tears come, when sorrow is too deep to express, when sorrow over my sins is to deep to bear.  He hears, He knows, and He prays for me, interceding for me.

"The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit;

A broken and a contrite heart, O God,

You will not despise."

Psalm 51:17

So, in Romans 12 and verses 1 and 2, Paul tells us, "Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship.

And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect."

David and Paul, men of two different times, knew what God desired, what God wanted of them, and though fallen men, they trusted in the God who knew them better than they knew themselves.  As we read, learn, study, and draw from their wisdom, we too, lean on the same God who knew them and us before we were even conceived.  

As David states, 

"You will make known to me the path of life;
In Your presence is fullness of joy;
In Your right hand there are pleasures forever."
Psalm 16:11

"I have set the Lord continually before me;

Because He is at my right hand, 

I will not be shaken."

Psalm 16:8

"Lead me in Your truth and teach me,

For You are the God of my salvation;

For You I wait all the day."

Psalm 25:5

Let your prayer for this day be, "Lord, I am waiting here for You."  And give Him all praise and glory for all things!  For He alone is worthy of any praise we offer.

Always Experiencing Him,
Jody

Winter

***Enjoy pics of the previous snow and ice***

"My heart is steadfast, O God, my heart is steadfast;

I will sing, yes, I will sing praises!"

Psalm 57:7

Always Experiencing Him,
Jody

Open the Eyes of My Heart Lord

No words can express what I felt when I watched this autistic boy singing the high praises to our God.  He was also born blind, and now lives with an uncle, such a wonderful, loving, family.  Just watch, and give praise along with him.  So wonderful!

We have no excuses not to sing, to give Him praise and all the glory He deserves, so listen, and lift up your eyes, which you can probably see out of, and give God the glory for all He has done!

"Sing to the Lord a new song;

Sing to the Lord, all the earth.

Sing to the Lord, bless His name;

Proclaim good tidings of His salvation from day to day.

Tell of His glory among the nations,

His wonderful deeds among all the peoples.

For great is the Lord and greatly to be praised;

He is to be feared above all gods.

For all the gods of the peoples are idols,

But the Lord made the heavens.

Splendor and majesty are before Him,

Strength and beauty are in His sanctuary."

Psalm 96:1-6

Always Experiencing Him,

Jody

A Cup of Hot Chocolate

"Be still and know that I am God..."

Psalm 46:10

Are you taking time to be still today?

With His Word on your lap?  

A cup of hot chocolate or hot tea?

Always Experiencing Him,
Jody

A Day in Pictures

Be encouraged today, be grateful for simple things, love life.  Love. Just. This. Moment.  Love someone close to you and lift them in prayer, smile at a stranger, and be a blessing.

"Praise the Lord!
Praise, O servants of the Lord,
Praise the name of the Lord,
Blessed be the name of the Lord
From this time forth and forever.
From the rising of the sun to its setting
The name of the Lord is to be praised.
The Lord is high above all nations;
His glory is above the heavens.

Who is like the Lord our God,
Who is enthroned on high,
Who humbles Himself to behold
The things that are in heaven and in the earth?
He raises the poor from the dust
And lifts the needy from the ash heap,
To make them sit with princes,
With the princes of His people.
He makes the barren woman abide in the house
As a joyful mother of children.
Praise the Lord!
Psalm 113 

How did you encourage someone today?

Did you pray for a loved one?

Have you smiled more today?

Praise our God!

Always Experiencing Him,

Jody

Autumn

(A gift from a sweet friend)

"If you walk in My statutes and keep My commandments so as to carry them out, then I shall give you rains in their season, so that the land will yield its produce and the trees of the field will bear their fruit."
Leviticus 26:3-4

"Behold, how happy is the man whom God reproves,
So do not despise the discipline of the Almighty.
You will come to the grave in full vigor,
Like the stacking of grain in its season."
Job 5:17, 26

"He will be like a tree firmly planted by streams of water,
Which yields its fruit in its season
And its leaf does not wither;
And in whatever he does, he prospers."
Psalm 1:3

"Preach the word;
be ready in season and out of season;
reprove, rebuke, exhort, with great patience and instruction."
2 Timothy 4:2

Autumn is absolutely our family's favorite season of the year.  The colors of the changing leaves, the gentle, cool breezes, cooler temperatures, open windows, fires at the fire pit with friends, weenie roasts, hayrides, hooded sweatshirts, boots, scarves, hot chocolate and even our hot teas taste better in the fall season.  We love it!  

God is so very good to give us the beauty we are surrounded with, especially in the area of our farm.  We are so grateful and thankful for His goodness.

What is your favorite season?

What do you love about fall, and do you have plans to celebrate this season?

Tell me how God has blessed you this past week?  

Always Experiencing Him,

Jody

Redeemed

"As for me, I know that my Redeemer lives."

Job 19:25a

"Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart

Be acceptable in Your sight,

O Lord, my rock and my Redeemer."

Psalm 19:14

"Christ redeemed us from the curse of the Law.

So that He might redeem those who were under the Law, 

that we might receive the adoption as sons."

Galatians 3:13a, 4:5

Be encouraged this day, another day to live in God's grace and His wonderful mercy.

Always Experiencing Him,
Jody

I Shall Sing

"But as for me, I shall sing of Your strength;

Yes, I shall joyfully sing 

of Your lovingkindness in the morning.

For You have been my stronghold

And a refuge in the day of my distress.

O my strength, I will sing praises to You;

For God is my stronghold, 

the God who shows me lovingkindness."

Psalm 59:16-17

Always Experiencing Him,

Jody

My Strength

"I love You, O Lord, my strength."

The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer,

My God, my rock, in whom I take refuge;

My shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.

I call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised."

Psalm 18:1-3a

"Make me know Your ways, O Lord;

Teach me Your paths.

Lead me in Your truth and teach me,

For You are the God of my salvation;

For You I wait all the day.

Psalm 25:4-5

Be encouraged today friend.  We trust in the One who is able to lead us through all our daily battles.  He is with you and will carry you through.  Lean on Him and trust His Name, the name of Jesus.   

Let me know how you find your strength to carry on and what Scriptures He speaks to you where you find comfort.

Always Experiencing Him,
Jody