Scripture and a Snapshot - The Heavens Proclaim the Glory of God

Linking up with "A Fresh Cup of Coffee"

Psalm 19

“The heavens proclaim the glory of God. The skies display his craftsmanship. Day after day they continue to speak; night after night they make him known. They speak without a sound or word; their voice is never heard. Yet their message has gone throughout the earth, and their words to all the world. God has made a home in the heavens for the sun. It bursts forth like a radiant bridegroom after his wedding. It rejoices like a great athlete eager to run the race. The sun rises at one end of the heavens and follows its course to the other end. Nothing can hide from its heat. The instructions of the Lord are perfect, reviving the soul. The decrees of the Lord are trustworthy, making wise the simple. The commandments of the Lord are right, bringing joy to the heart. The commands of the Lord are clear, giving insight for living. Reverence for the Lord is pure, lasting forever. The laws of the Lord are true; each one is fair. They are more desirable than gold, even the finest gold. They are sweeter than honey, even honey dripping from the comb. They are a warning to your servant, a great reward for those who obey them. How can I know all the sins lurking in my heart? Cleanse me from these hidden faults. Keep your servant from deliberate sins! Don’t let them control me. Then I will be free of guilt and innocent of great sin. May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing to you, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.”

Cathy

Thankful Thursday

 Things I am thankful for in no particular order:

* The beginning of a new year which seems like a good time for a fresh start.  I know God's mercies are new every morning and we can always start fresh any time, but the new year just seems like a perfect time to make sure all is good between me and the Lord and to remind myself how much He loves me and all that He does for me.  

Lamentations 3:22-23 NLT

The faithful love of the Lord never ends! His mercies never cease.  Great is his faithfulness; his mercies begin afresh each morning.

*   Bible reading for 2025 - My plan is to read the complete Bible in chronological order.  I think it's been about 2-3 years since I've read the whole Bible through.  I really want to do that this year and I love to read it chronologically.  So we'll see how it goes.  How are you reading the Bible this year?

*  Hubby preached a really good sermon Sunday he entitled, "A Place Called Wit's End."  Here's a pre-recorded version of that sermon. I am so thankful for the truth He teaches us each week.

*  Cousins.  I love my family and I hope us cousins in this picture and the others we have in this area will be able to get together a little more often in 2025.

I plan on being intentionally thankful and to continue with these Thankful Thursday posts for 2025.  I want to always remember to be thankful for all the Lord has done for me like the song below says,

Count Your Many Blessings

1. When upon life's billows you are tempest tossed,

When you are discouraged, thinking all is lost,

Count your many blessings, name them one by one,

And it will surprise you what the Lord hath done.

(Refrain)

2. Are you ever burdened with a load of care?

Does the cross seem heavy you are called to bear?

Count your many blessings, ev'ry doubt will fly,

And you will be singing as the days go by.

(Refrain)

3. When you look at others with their lands and gold,

Think that Christ has promised you His wealth untold;

Count your many blessings, money cannot buy

Your reward in heaven, nor your home on high.

(Refrain)

4. So, amid the conflict, whether great or small,

Do not be discouraged, God is over all;

Count your many blessings, angels will attend,

Help and comfort give you to your journey's end.

(Refrain)

Refrain:

Count your blessings, name them one by one;

Count your blessings, see what God hath done;

Count your blessings, name them one by one;

Count your many blessings, see what God hath done.

That's all I'll list for today. So what are you thankful for? I would love to know.

Cathy

Wednesday Hodgepodge

Click above to link-up with Joyce.

1. What is a childhood habit or preference you will never outgrow?  Reading.  Mom had such a love of reading and she passed that love onto most of her children.

2. Did you know July is beans month? No  What's your favorite bean? green beans. Your favorite recipe that calls for beans? Soup beans made with Great Northern Beans.  When it comes to chili are you team beans or team no beans? I prefer no beans, but hubby loves the beans and he makes the chili, so I'm okay with beans in my chili.  lol

3. Some historical figures have a tag line after their name, something like 'the brave' or 'the wise' or 'the mad'...what would your tag line be? Cathy, the Questioner. Explain why? Because I'm always asking questions, just ask my hubby.

4. The way to my heart is Kind words of encouragement.

5. The calendar rolls into August this week, but before we go give us four adjectives that describe your July. hot, rainy, fun, family...while these are not all adjectives, they are what I think about looking back over the month.

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

A recent memory verse. And it's been so
true during a hard situation we've been in
and actually still are.

So very true!

Thanks for visiting and I hope you have a great day.

Cathy

Wednesday Hodgepodge

 

1. What's a change you'd like or need to make this year? I've mentioned it before, but definitely I need to eat healthier and exercise more.  

2. Break the ice, on thin ice, ice skating, tip of the iceberg, ice cold...which icy idiom applies to your life right now? Explain. Really not any of them, but let's go with ice cold.  I love to drink my water ice cold and I need to drink more water every day.  I drink more water than I ever have on most days, but there are still too many days that I don't drink enough.  Also, it's supposed to get ice cold next week...like one day they're saying -2 for the low...yuck!

3. What's a project you've been putting off? Will you get to it this month? This year? A purge of stuff from our home.  I've been in the process for awhile, but I hope to get a lot farther along in the process.  I've been sorting and giving away and throwing away, but it's taking longer than I thought.  Who knew, we had this much stuff.  lol 

4. Of the fruits that grow well in winter which ones have you tried? Which is your favorite? pomegranates, clementines, persimmons, passion fruit, pears, grapefruit, lemons, pomelos, kumquats  Clementines, Persimmons, Pears, Grapefruit, Lemons.  My favorite of those is the Clementines.

5. What do you think it means to be courageous? Courage is when you are afraid to do something you do it anyway.

6. Insert your own random thought here. I was listening to an interview yesterday with Joni Eareckson Tada and she mentioned this quote.  It's really stuck with me.  

One example of this is when Christ was crucified for our salvation.  We know God didn't love what happened to Jesus, the beatings, the betrayals, the Cross, but through that He made the only way for us to be re-united with Himself, which He loves. I'm so thankful for that.  "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life." --John 3:16 NKJV

Cathy

The Faith of a Child

My youngest daughter called me yesterday and shared this story.  She's been fighting some kind of infection or something in her eye for multiple weeks.  She's been to the doctor and tried different things and it would start doing better and then come back again.  Her eye would be red and swollen.  Nothing was completely getting rid of it.  She said last week it was getting better and then on Sunday it started back up again.  

That night she asked Colton if he'd like to pray for her eye.  He said yes, so they held hands and his prayer was something like this...God, please heal my mom's eye so she doesn't pass her disease on to others. I guess they both laughed at that, but then he said seriously God would you make my mom's eye better so she could feel better.  

Kerri then told me she woke up Monday morning and her eye was all clear and the swelling gone.  She says it is better than it's been this whole time she's been fighting this.  God is so good and it's wonderful how he hears a child's prayer.

At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Who, then, is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?”

He called a little child to him, and placed the child among them.   And he said: “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever takes the lowly position of this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.  And whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me.  Matthew 18:1-5 NIV

Thanks for visiting.

Cathy

Tuesday 4 - Happy New Year

 

Happy New Year

From Annie: "Happy New year!

Let's  start off the year with some questions about you...."

1. What was your dream job when you were a little kid? Alternatively.. what is a dream date?  I always wanted to be a mom.  But some times I wanted to be an eye doctor,

2. Who is going to play you in the movie about your life?  I have no idea.  But I guess if Doris Day or June Allyson wanted to be, I wouldn't mind.  lol

3.What is the best life lesson you have learned so far?  The good old Golden Rule, "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you."  Of course, the biggest lesson would be to be obedient to God in all things.  Life goes so much better when I let Him rule my life.

4. What is your favorite name for a girl.. how about for a boy?  I really haven't thought about this in a long time, but here are a couple that I like.  Girl - Sarah      Boy - Michael

I'm hoping to take more pictures this year.  Here are a couple from last evening.

I think Lucy needs to visit the groomers.

My new Kindle cover from one of the girls.

I love reading on my Kindle.

Thanks for visiting.  Have a blessed day!  

Cathy

"But to all who believed Him and accepted Him, He gave the right to become children of God."  John 1:12

  

Bits of This and That

 

I was reading another blog and it was mentioned that 2023 was a hard year, but that God had been with them and they were hoping 2024 would be better.  This scripture came to mind so I went and looked it up.  I think this verse is such an encouraging one for starting out a new year.  Deuteronomy 31:8 "And the LORD, He is the One who goes before you.  He will be with you, He will not leave you nor forsake you; do not fear nor be dismayed."  I believe God is already in our days of 2024, preparing the way to help us accomplish the things He wants us to and to help us grow closer to Him and maybe help or encourage others along the way. 

A few things from the past week.  

*  We had a nice Christmas with my mother-in-law and also one of Tracy's cousins and her husband.  We were a small group, but we had a good time together.  Lots of fun stories told and some really good food.  While it was sad, more of the family couldn't be there because of other obligations, we had a great time together,  The girls did Christmas together as both of their husbands were out in the field and/or driving a truck and couldn't be home.  They filmed Colton opening his gifts so we could watch.  It's not ideal, but we've learned to adjust and make the best of things.

*  We spent some time at church this week and I'm learning some jobs that I hope will help hubby out with all the things he does.  He does so much, so anything I can take off his plate is a good thing.  

*  I had mentioned in an earlier post that Lucy hasn't been feeling well and has not been eating very well either.  After taking her to the vet and he checked her out and also did a blood work-up and couldn't really find anything wrong.  He gave her a couple shots and she finally started eating again that evening,  She seems to be pretty much back to normal now.   

    

Here's Lucy sleeping in her bed in the middle of the night last night.  I couldn't sleep, so I got up and grabbed this picture of her in the dark room.  I couldn't see her very well, so I had to kinda guess where she was laying.  I cut off her head, the first time.  lol

*  I finished a good book this week and have started 2 more, but these two will count toward my GoodReads Challenge for 2024.  I had a goal of reading 50 books in 2023 and ended up reading 61.  I plan to set my 2024 goal at 50 again.  

*  We had church Sunday morning as usual (the pre-recorded sermon is posted below) and then we picked up some lunch from Chipotle watched another episode of a documentary on the Challenger and then we both took a nap and I worked on a post for my blog and read some.  We went back to church for the evening service and picked up a piece of hot fudge cake from Frisch's for the last treat of the New Year.  We didn't plan to, but we stayed up until midnight and wished each other Happy New Year and we actually got a text from our oldest wishing us the same.  And then 2023 was over and it is 2024. 

Happy New Year to all.

Cathy

Friday Photos

 

Here are several photographs I've taken this week on our trip.  

This morning prior to sunrise. See the moon at the top of the photo.  This photo does not do it justice.  It's just so beautiful and I feel so blessed that I woke up in time to see it.

Another pre-sunrise photo

The faithful love of the Lord never ends!
His mercies never cease.
Great is his faithfulness;
His mercies begin afresh each morning.
Lamentations 3:22-23 NLT

I hope you enjoyed some of my pictures and I hope you have a wonderful weekend.

Cathy

Currently - March 2023

 

Today it's time for the March Currently Post.  You can link up with Jennifer here, as she is the hostess.  This months topics are Things we are Currently Loving, Starting, Finishing, Trying, and Going.

Currently I am:

Loving:  I'm still loving reading the gospels along with Annie F. Downs.  This month is going to be very interesting.  I just finished todays and I think I'm going to really like it.  First of all, we're reading from the NLT version which is my favorite.  Secondly she will be reading it chronologically.  Now, last year I read the whole Bible chronologically using the YouVersion App.  But this plan she's using is by passages and not chapters.  It's a lot of flipping around in the Bible.  Today I followed along in my Coloring/Journaling Bible and I think that may be a little too distracting.  So, I may choose to just listen to her read it.  We'll see.  Either way, I think it's going to be very good.  

I don't have a link, but look for this wherever
you listen to podcasts.

Starting:  Our Ladies Bible Study will be starting up next week.  We are doing another study by Jennifer Rothschild.  This one is on the book of Amos, an Invitation to the Good Life.  I'm really excited to get started. 

Finishing:  The crochet project I started last month, is coming along and I hope to finish it this month sometime.  I'm also hoping to finish the current book I'm reading.  It's called The Secret Society of Salzburg, by Renee Ryan.  I'm about 3/4 of the way through it.  

Trying:  I'm trying to get back to walking more. I know I've said that before and I do it for a few days and then the weather changes and I let up on it.  But honestly that's a cop-out, because if it's too cold or raining, I could find a place to walk inside.  Okay, March is the month (I hope)!

Going:  No plans to go anywhere in March, but if the weather stays nice, we may take a day trip or two.  Time will tell.

That's it for today.  Thanks for visiting and I hope you have a great day.

Cathy

Thankful Thursday

 

Link up here.

Things I am thankful for this week:

**Beautiful skies and sunsets

  

**Another anniversary - 34 years together with my husband. I feel God blessed me so much by giving me this man.  I think hubby would say the same about me.  Thank you God for letting us meet each other and love each other.  Again, what a blessing.

**Scripture - I am enjoying reading the 4 Gospels along with Annie F, Downs.  In January we read from the NIV version and this month we are reading from the ESV version.  I'm noticing things that I don't remember seeing before.  I just want to know more about Jesus and where better to learn than in the Gospels.

**Ruth Series of Unexpected Grace in our Sunday morning sermons at Church.  Ruth is such a short book, but it is stuffed full of good stuff.

**Reading - I have read about 11 books so far this year and I'm currently reading another good one and I have several in the wings waiting.

**Crocheting - I'm really liking crocheting again and I am so thankful for the ladies that started a group and invited me too.  First of all, I'm loving getting to know them.  I'm so thankful for new friends.

**Journaling/Coloring Bible - I am still enjoying this so much.  This is the one I'm currently working on.  I am so thankful for the grace of Jesus and I can't imagine surviving in this world without His grace.

**New Garage Door Opener - Our old opener was having problems.  It only worked intermittently.  Hubby called a company we have used once before.  The guy came out Monday and several options were give and hubby decided we'd be better to get a new one.  We've had this one for a long time and trying to fix it would have cost almost as much as just putting in a new one.  You don't realize how much you use something until it isn't working any more.  So thankful to have it working again and it's much quieter too.

**Revival - I'm so thankful for the revival at Asbury and the outpouring of the Spirit.  It's so encouraging and I hope lives will be changed for everyone there and then that they will testify and share to all they know and that the Spirit will change many more lives through them.

That is all for today and I hope you have a great day and thanks for visiting!

Cathy

Thankful Thursday

 Good Morning: 

I love to take time to say thanks to God for all He does for me.  This scripture is a favorite this week. The Lord is definitely good and I don't understand how people can go through hard times without Him.  I'm so glad I can talk to Him anytime and anywhere.  You can trust Him for sure always and forever.

**I am really enjoying my journaling/coloring Bible.  Here are some pages I colored from the book of Ruth.  I love the book of Ruth.  It really shows how God is working things out in our life before we even know about the problem we may be facing.

**I'm thankful to have had the time to watch a movie and have a cup of hot chocolate because of a snow day on Monday.  For the first time in many years I am enjoying snow (not necessarily being in it, but looking at it from inside.    It's so beautiful and I don't even mind shoveling it.  Since I no longer have to get out and drive in it to go to work, I can just enjoy the beauty.  And that is what I'm doing.

**Believe it or not, I'm thankful for having a good dentist.  Now, I really, really hate going to the dentist, but I'm thankful that my dentist is good and takes good care of my teeth.  Actually, I've been seeing him for years, but now I'm seeing his daughter.  Nice to keep it in the family.

Waiting Room

That's it for today.  The link-up is here.  Thanks for visiting and I hope you have a blessed day.

Cathy