Gratitude is Everything

Grateful in the bower on Church St.

 There are teeny, tiny snowflakes falling outside my window. They are coming down in a frenzy; like they can't quite decide which way to fall. Snowflakes in March. It's a good thing and I'm grateful. California needs more snow and rain or we will be facing another draught. That would not be good.

"To stay strong in crisis, you have to exercise your gratitude muscle. Flex your gratitude muscle to fight off fear."  Ann Voskamp

Ann Voskamp's blog today was full of gratitude and very inspiring.
https://annvoskamp.com/2020/03/the-secret-muscle-you-need-to-crush-fear-seize-joy-be-strong-in-a-crisis/

The thing I like the most about her article is being thankful for the little things and taking pictures of those things.
Here's the three things I'm grateful for today:

The teapot elephant from my son and girlfriend. It makes me think of them every morning when I see it on my kitchen counter.

The daffodils in my yard. They are my favorite flower and always make me smile.

My Willow Tree angels. This is one of several I own. I'm sure you'll see more of them in days to come. 

We will get through this crisis with God's help. Be assured He is here in the midst of things. All around us and in us. 

Blessings,

Deborah

God, I long to dance again.

My desire is to move my feet in heaven's rhythm.

I have been stuck for so long in this valley;

Feeling lost and alone.

Would you grant me heaven's song today and the ears to hear?

So that my feet might move and I once again

Begin to dance along with Your love song for me.  Amen

(Sue Johnson)

Hopeful

Hopeful at the bower on Church St.

Trying and scary times. And now we've added a virus.
No reported cases in my county yet. I'm so thankful for that and praying for others.
Those with stock in toilet paper must doing well financially. :)
We'll tell our future generations that 2020 was the year of the toilet paper crisis. I don't mean to make light of the situation, but it seems so silly how people react to any given situation. Terror makes us do funny things.
I'm turning to scripture for strength and hope. One that comes to mind is:

Psalm 34:19
Many are the afflictions of the righteous, 
But the Lord delivers him out of all of them. 

Here are more Psalms of thanksgiving.
Thanksgiving: 30; 32; 34; 40; 65;67;75;92;107;124;92;116;118

Paul tells us in Philippians 4:6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.

Some situations are hard to be thankful for, but we can always thank God for being there with us. He never leaves us. Nothing, no thing, or person can separate us from the love of God. (Romans 8:31-39)

I'm continuing my Lenten studies, just not sharing them daily with you. Today's verse in the Lenten cards devo is Matthew 7:7-11. I also was given Matthew 7:7 to read in my "Jesus Calling," devo. Think God is trying to tell something?

Matthew 7:7-11 New International Version (NIV)

Ask, Seek, Knock

⁷ “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. ⁸ For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.

⁹ “Which of you, if your son asks for bread, will give him a stone? ¹⁰ Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? ¹¹ If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!

(copied from biblegateway.com)

The other Lenten study kit I haven't started yet is called "Bless His Name," by Beloved Society through Illustrated Faith. I meant to share this earlier and forgot, but it's not just for Lent. You can study the names of Jesus anytime. I love the tags!! The colors are just what I like. Here's a peek at the kit.

All kinds of great things to create with! My lighting isn't the greatest this morning, but I think you get the idea of what is included. If I have time later, I want to do a Bible journaling page. I haven't done one of those in over a year. Where has the time gone?

Gratitude:
1. A God who sticks to me like glue!
2. Crafts to keep me occupied in trying times and keep me focused on God.
3. Bible verses to comfort me.

I'm praying for you.
Blessings,
Deborah

Eleventh Day of Lent

Thankful in the bower on Church St.

Day 10's word was testify and today's is saved. They go together nicely, don't they? I will testify that I am saved. So grateful to my Lord for that.

A few of us have a Covenant Group at church where we hold each other accountable to pray and study scripture each day. It's a time to share how our journey was with the Lord the past week and testify to our faith. Some of us read the Bible, others share inspirational books they are reading, and sometimes life happens and studies don't get done. We hold each other up during those times. We've all been there where the good intentions get lost among day to day existence of trying to survive any given day. Life is hard, but the Lord is in each moment in every day and every breath we take.

I try to remember to use the name Yahweh as a breath prayer to calm me when I'm stressed.
       Yah - deep breath in
       Weh - breathe out slowly

Can you feel the calmness coming over you?

Gratitude:
1. I am saved
2. For a blessed life
3. My crazy, goofy cat, Harrison

Blessings,
Deborah

Psalm 65:8
The whole earth is filled with awe of Your wonders;
where morning dawns,
where evening fades,
You call forth songs of joy.

Catching Up Here

Welcome from the bower on Church St.

The only place I need to catch up is here. I've been keeping up with morning studies and my Lenten notebook, just been a little busy to post here.

Time keeps marching on and the hours in a day don't seem to be enough some days. The important thing is keeping up with my studies and coming here is just icing on the cake. Some days the cake doesn't get frosted. :)

I'm loving these crisp mornings and warm, almost spring days. Makes me long to dig in the dirt. Probably won't get that veggie garden in this year, but there are flower boxes to tend to and transplanting to do. That will satisfy me for this year.

Let's see, looks like I need to post days 7-9. Here is what I did.

Day 7 - Rethink Church WOTD was Enter.
Psalm 100:4
Enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise.
Give thanks to Him, bless His name.

Day 8 - Rethink Church WOTD was Spirit.

Day 9 -  Rethink Church WOTD is Teacher.
Matthew 8:19
Then the scribe came and said, "Teacher, I will follow You wherever You go."

Gratitude:
1. My husband
2. My children
3. Lenten studies

Thanks for stopping by today.
Blessings,
Deborah

Matthew 5:16
Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.

Day 5 & 6 of Lent and 65

Celebrating in the bower on Church St.

Now that I'm 65 I feel like I have to grow up. Can't deny I'm an adult any longer. lol
Today is the day. 65. Geesh. How the heck did that happen? In some ways it feels like I was just 25 yesterday and in other ways, maybe not so much. It's been a good journey all in all. I'm normal in that I have a few regrets, but I try not to dwell on them. Can't go back and change them and I have apologized to those I've hurt. I'm going to go forward from today and make it a happy life. That is what I choose. We always have a choice. It's just a matter of attitude and gratitude. So, Happy Birthday to me and anyone else who shares my day! Dr. Seuss does! I feel honored to share my day with him.

Days 5 & 6 of Lent.

Day 5 - Rethink Church Challenge - WOTD was Celebrate.

My thought for today is:
I celebrate, because my God is faithful!! Amen!

Day 6 - Rethink Church Challenge - WOTD is Signs.

I created a page in my Lenten notebook.

Click on the photo for a larger view.
You will never be lost if you go God's way.

Gratitude:
1. Having another birthday
2. Peace in my soul
3. Family and friends to celebrate with!

Blessings,
Deborah

Jeremiah 29:11-13
"For I know the plans I have for you,"
declares the Lord,
"plans to prosper you and not harm you,
plans to give you hope and a future,
you will seek me and find me
when you seek me with all your heart."

Day 4 of the Lenten Challenge

Blessings from the bower on Church St.

Happy February 29th!!

Yesterday normally would have been the last day of February, but we have an extra day in this Leap Year. Do you have something special planned? A party? Out to dinner, maybe? How will you spend your extra day?  I meant to mention it in my post yesterday and forgot. Welcome to being almost 65. Yeah. The brain function ain't what it used to be. lol.

I have a meeting early this morning in the next town. I think when I am done I will take the long way home and look for pictures for this challenge. There are lots of old barns and ranches along that way. Lots of open spaces, too. Could be a great place for gathering some unique photos.

Day 4 - Rethink Church Photo/Poetry Challenge WOTD is Serve.

The first thing that came to my mind was
Psalm 100:2
Serve the Lord with gladness;
Come before Him with joyful singing!

Besides a photo or poetry, you also have the choice of a simple thought. I think I'll keep this Psalm close to my heart today.

Maybe I'll just share a photo, too.

My Pastor serving the day I recently became a member of our church.

Gratitude:
1 An extra day for rejoicing
2. An extra day for giving thanks
3. Gathering with friends

Blessings,
Deborah

2Corinthians 3:5
Not that we are competent in ourselves to claim anything for ourselves,
but our competence comes from God.

Day 3 of Lent 2020

Good morning from the bower on Church St.

Day 3 of Rethink Church's Lenten Photo/Poetry Challenge.

The word for today is command.  I immediately thought of the two great commandments Jesus gave us in Matthew to love the Lord your God with all you heart, mind, strength and soul and the second to love each other. This photo of my grandsons summed up "love one another" perfectly for me.

I'm also keeping track of this challenge in my little Lenten book I'm making with the cards I talked about on Day 1.

I'm really enjoying this journey as I write out the scripture for each day and add things that are meaningful to me, like the lyrics to the song, "The Summons" I shared yesterday.

You can click on each photo for a closer view.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I havent been gardening in a couple of years and I'm really feeling the dirt calling to me this year. I'd like to have a vegetable/flower garden. I want to grow things again. The force is strong in me to be one with the earth. I've always felt close to God when I work in the garden. Life began in a garden way back when. There really is nothing like eating something you grew with your own two hands. Vine ripe tomatoes. I can almost taste their sweetness. Now, if I can just talk hubby into helping me....

Gratitude:
1. Dirt
2. Flowers
3. Fruit and veggies

Blessings,
Deborah

Genesis 1:29
Then God said, "I give you every seed- bearing plant on the face of the whole earth and every tree that has fruit with seed in it. They will be yours for food.

Lenten Challenge

Blessings from the bower on Church St.

I didn't get a chance to come on here yesterday, so I will share Day 1 & 2 of Rethink Church's challenge. The challenge is to post a picture, poem or simple thought from the word they give you for the day.

Day 1 - Led - I wrote a poem

Led

An infant led to God by Mom.
A teenager confirmed.
A grownup led to Christ by Christ,
And finally feels at home.

(copywrite 2/2020 by Deborah Panos Meyer)

Day 2 - Wilderness

Family of ducks on a lake we camped by a few years ago.

Last Sunday we sang the song, "The Summons," at church and yesterday my Pastor said the words at our Ash Wednesday service. The song moves me very deeply. It is Jesus speaking to us. I hope it moves you as well.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o469PRLdbHU

Gratitude:
1. Wilderness
2. Inspiring music
3. Being led to Jesus

Blessings,
Deborah

Colossians 4:2
Devote yourselves to prayer,
being watchful and thankful.

Lent Equals Waiting

Welcome from the bower on Church St.

My favorite quote for today:
   " Thanksgiving is the evidence that we are staying in love with God."
                                                             (by Steve Harper)

Lent is coming tomorrow! I'm getting ready. I have a few things planned and one of them is to study The Lord's Prayer using a kit I got from Illustrated Faith. I love this company! The kit is called, "Thy Kingdom Come," and includes over 40 little cards, a free printable and printables you can buy to go with the set. You can use these in many different ways and this how I chose to use them.

They've broken the prayer into ten stanzas and spend four days on each stanza studying companion scriptures and being creative with the cards. There are blank cards for journaling decorated with pretty florals and some with sayings.
I chose to add them to a small spiral bound notebook. I'll add the cards as I go along, using pages in between for journaling and art.
I'm also planning on doing the challenge I shared the other day and I also purchased another kit I'll share tomorrow.
I haven't been creative with art in this way for over a year and it feels wonderful to be inspired to take this up again.
Stay tuned. :)

Gratitude:
1. Creative inspiration
2. Time with the Lord
3. Bible classes today!

Blessings,
Deborah

Psalm 18:36
You enlarge my steps under me,
And my feet have not slipped.

No Condemnation

Welcome and Blessings!

No Condemnation?!!

Now there is a wonderful thought to take us into the new year!

Through Jesus, there is no condemnation for us.
Blessings and grace abounding!!

Day 56/100 Days of Grace & Gratitude gives us some wonderful scriptures to back this up.

                                               (click on photo for larger view)

Check out the scriptures:

Galatians 5:1

John 5:24

John 1:17

Romans 8:1-2

So many wonderful gifts the Lord has provided for us.

Gratitude

1. Grace

2. Peace

3. Love

4. Mercy

5. Rain

Galatians 5:1

Christ has liberated us to be free.

Stand firm then and don't submit to a yoke of slavery.

Blessings,

Deborah

Day 30/100 Days of Grace & Gratitude

Welcome and Good Morning!

Day 30 - "Bee" available to God at all times. Let Him work through you for His glory!!

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Psalm 100:2
Serve the Lord with gladness....

Blessings,
Deborah

Day 29/100 Days of Grace & Gratitude

Welcome to Day 29!!

God is love.
He doesn't know how to be anything else.
His mercies are new every morning!

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Lamentations 3:22-23
The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases;
His mercies never come to an end;
they are new every morning;
great is Your faithfulness.

Blessings,
Deborah

Day 23, 26, 27, 28/100 Days of Grace & Gratitude

Welcome and blessings!

Well, I missed a few days didn't I?
Yes.
Life sometimes throws a curve ball when we least expect it.
Our family lost another dear member. *sigh*
R.I.P. Doran. You will be sorely missed.

Sharing Days 23, 26, 27 and 28.

                                                    (click on photos for larger view)

I am so thankful for the rain God has been sending to my California!! The fires are contained and or out!! YAY, God!!

Psalm 59:16

I will sing of Your strength and will joyfully proclaim 

Your faithful love in the morning.

For You have been a stronghold for me,

a refuge in my day of trouble.

Blessings,

Deborah

Day 22/100 Days of Grace & Gratitude & Happy Thanksgiving!

Welcome & Happy Thanksgiving!!

I can't believe I got my page done inbetween cooking!!

Day 22.

                                                     (click on photo for larger view)

Matthew 6:8

Your Father knows what you need 

before you ask Him.

He sure does!!

Blessings,

Deborah

                               

Day 21/100 Days of Grace & Gratitude

Welcome and blessings!

Day 21.

(click photo for larger view!

My cursor has gone crazy and won't go back to the side margin. Great.

I'm off to make the dressing and Greek stuffed grape leaves when I leave here. :) 

Psalm 104:10-11

He causes the springs to gush into the valleys;

they flow between the mountains.

They supply water for every wild beast.

Blessings,

Deborah

Day 20/100 Days of Grace & Gratitude

Welcome and blessings!

Day 20. Already. Where is this month going and where has the YEAR gone?!!

So thankful for my five senses and so much more.

                                                         (click on photo for larger view)

John 2:11

He displayed His glory.

Blessings,

Deborah

Day 19/100 Days of Grace & Gratitude

Welcome! I've been shopping and getting ready for Thanksgiving. I can almost smell that turkey roasting! Mmmmm.

Day 19 - God sees the heart, not the outside of us. Isn't that wonderful?!! Doesn't matter what we look like, He still loves us.

                                                (click photo for larger view)


1Samuel 16:7
The LORD said to Samuel,
"Do not look at his appearance
or at the height of his stature...
for God sees not as man sees,
for man looks at the outward appearance,
but the Lord looks at the heart."

Blessings,
Deborah

Day 18/100 Days of Grace & Gratitude

Good morning and welcome!

Day 18.

Fellowship with Jesus is the best!!

                                                    (click on photo for larger view)

1Corinthians 1:9

God is faithful;

you were created by Him

into fellowshop with His Son,

Jesus Christ our Lord.

Blessings,

Deborah

Day 17/100 Days of Grace & Gratitude

Blessings and Welcome to my blog.

Be thankful?
No prob-llama!!

Day 17.

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1Thess. 5:16-18

Rejoice always, 

pray without ceasing,

give thanks in all circumstances;

for this is the will of God

in Christ Jesus for you.

 
Blessings,
Deborah

Day 16/100 Days of Grace & Gratitude

Welcome!

Had to unexpectedly go out of town today. I haven't done anything to my background on my page, but I think for today, I'm going to call it good. I'm running out of time. :)

Day 16 - So thankful for everything I see!

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Psalm 26:3
For Your faithful love is before my eyes,
and I live by Your truth.

Blessings,
Deborah