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An Evening Prayer of Thanksgiving
So much of the time my prayers turn into requests. Every now and then, it is good to just come to my heavenly Father to just thank Him for His goodness toward me. Come to say an evening prayer of thanksgiving without wanting to ask Him for anything in return. You are welcome to come along beside me while I pray. I’m sure you have things to thank Him for as well. Dear Heavenly Father, I come to you thanking You for all You have done. Your mercies and faithfulness have been great concerning me. I enter your gates with thanksgiving and your courts with praise. You are…
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Apple Cider with Essential Oils
I find that there is something comforting about warm drinks. Cups of hot flavored coffee and rich, creamy chocolate cocoa are two of my favorites. Hot cups of apple cider can also be just what the doctor ordered on a crisp fall day or a wintry afternoon. I recently discovered that I could make apple cider with essential oils and have added it to my list of favorites. With a cold front moving in that brought much cooler weather to my area, it was a perfect time for a restful afternoon and some delicious apple cider. I found that a steaming cup of apple cider all curled up with a…
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God Will Lead Us to Where We Can See
Have you ever faced something in your life that made you question the goodness of God? Have you wondered if your eyes would ever see good things happen in your life again? If you answered yes to either question, I have good news. Although God didn’t promise we would never walk in darkness and face challenging situations, He did promise He would lead us to where we can see. God will lead us where we will see his goodness and his promises fulfilled. The reality of life is that there will be times we will walk in incredible light. A light so bright it will light up our path,…
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Apple Dumplings
My deck is parked right in front of a beautiful mountain view. I love watching the leaves change colors in the fall. It is probably one of my favorite things about fall aside from apple desserts. Personally, there is just something about the taste and smell of apples cooking on a crisp evening that makes me love fall weather. Recently, I came across a new recipe for Apple Dumplings that I just had to share. Over the years, my family has enjoyed my Mom’s fried apple pies and considered them one of our favorite apple recipes. My dad especially loved them, and a plate of her famous pies never lasted…
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He Finds Us Even in Car Lines
An unexpected wait at the drive-thru at my bank worked to be in my favor. It allowed me to take a much-needed time out to talk to God about something that had started to weigh me down in spirit. It also taught me the lesson that He never loses sight of us. He finds us even waiting in car lines. A morning that was heated and rushed had left my heart in tatters. It left me reeling from coming up short in something I had been so working on. As hard as I had tried, I had failed. Again. I looked around at all the dead brush left from…
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Autumn Cider Pork Chops
When you come from the south, you grow up surrounded by mouth-watering food and good company. Pork Chops has long been a family favorite. Pork Chops with Gravy and biscuits was one of my sweet daddy’s favorite meals. I grill them from time to time, but they have never been one of my favorite meals. That is until I tried the following recipe for Autumn Cider Pork Chops. The recipe is super easy to make, and when I use Pampered Chef RockCrock slow cooker, my leftovers go straight from the crockpot base to my refrigerator. This process makes warming up leftovers the next day a breeze. The…
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We Don’t Have to Carry It All: In the Field with Samson
Did you know that you don’t have to carry it all? If you are like me, you can easily convince yourself that you do. Then, right after, allow other people to convince you of the same. I can completely wear myself out somewhere between my Enneagram 4 perfectionist tendencies and my zeal to please people. I can easily carry the weight of the world on my shoulders until I break under that weight, worn out and spent. The thing is, I was never supposed to carry all that weight on my “own” shoulders. So, first, God reminds me that He isn’t condemning me because I fail to be perfect. No,…
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Where You Go I Will Go: In the Field With Ruth
You will often hear me make birthday and Christmas statements that I don’t know what to buy for certain loved ones. I find it challenging to find a special unique gift for people who already have everything. Unfortunately, too many “special and unique” gifts over the years have left me running out of ideas. My search for the perfect gift often leads me off the beaten path to find that ideal heart gift, all the while I forget the most important one is readily available. Time spent together can’t be duplicated or overshadowed. And yet, such a priceless gift is overlooked. A gift that God himself highlights in scripture. A…
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Remember My Chains: In the Field with Apostle Paul
Have you ever wondered why God allows suffering? Have you ever asked why a loving God would allow you to live as if chained to a hardship on purpose while others go free? I admit I have asked my share of those questions. My questions led me to spend some time in the field with Apostle Paul and explore our Key Verse: “I, Paul, am writing this greeting with my own hand. Remember my chains. Grace be unto you.” Colossians 4:18 (ESV). Join me in the field with Apostle Paul as we Remember His Chains. The enemy loves to see us struggle with things we go through in this life.…
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Our Suffering Produces Crowns
God has promised His people great joy and peace in this life. But, He also promised our life would not be pain-free. Our Lord has promised a crown of life laid up in heaven for those who persevere amid pain and suffering here on earth. So we will find it worth all we go through when we get to heaven because our suffering produces crowns. I have a friend who knows how much I love flowers. I could have spared her the expense if she had only asked. Even though my outdoor plants seem to thrive, indoor plants are a different story. I tend to forget them and never water…