F is for Family - Blog Hop Friday

It's blog hop Friday, and my thoughts are especially tuned to family right now. This is a photo of my dear husband, our two sons, daughter-in-law, and our first grandchild. As you can probably tell from the photo, it was taken at Christmas.

This week is F for Family since changes are ahead in our little family. On September 10th my youngest son will be heading to boot camp with the United States Navy. We are so proud of him and his decision to serve in the military. We'd appreciate your prayers for him as he enters this new endeavor, and for us too as we enter our empty nest years.

I praise God for the privilege I've had to be home with my guys all through their growing up years. It's a decision I've never regretted. The years have passed in a blink of an eye.

If you are able to, be sure and hug a family member today and let them know how much you love and appreciate them.

When was the last time you let your family know how much they mean to you?

E is for Excellent - Blog Hop Friday

Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.

Philippians 4:8 

It's blog hop Friday again and this week is E for excellent. I've been thinking about this word all week, particularly in the way we should approach our work and our thoughts.

I like the way Colossians 3:22-25 is worded in The Message.

Servants, do what you’re told by your earthly masters. And don’t just do the minimum that will get you by. Do your best. Work from the heart for your real Master, for God, confident that you’ll get paid in full when you come into your inheritance. Keep in mind always that the ultimate Master you’re serving is Christ. The sullen servant who does shoddy work will be held responsible. Being a follower of Jesus doesn’t cover up bad work.

Scriptures like these make me pause and think about the way that I look at the tasks before me, especially ones I don't enjoy doing. Would those watching me say that I'm working with excellence?

Is my thought life what it should be or am I dwelling on stresses, hurts, etc.? Or am I instead choosing to think about things that are 'true, noble, right, pure, lovely and admirable'? Am I taking time to concentrate my thoughts on the Lord and what He has done in my life? Do I glory in just who He is?

How about you? When was the last time you chose to dwell on excellent? 

Throw Off The Weight

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith.
Hebrews 12:1-2a

Last night my husband and I watched snippets of one of those weight loss programs. In the little bit that we saw, I was struck by the fact how we each seem to have 'weight' that we hold on to. It can be physical pounds, or just the emotional baggage that we carry and refuse to release. It can be hurts from our past that continue to seep back into our thoughts. It's things that grip us with a vengeance and refuses to let us go.

But yet, from the scripture above, we have the solution to the weights that hinder, snare, trip us up, and entangle us. The answer to our problems is 'fixing our eyes on Jesus.' Only Jesus is the prescription for our 'weight' problems.

When was the last time you sought the Great Physician and made a point of running the race? 

D is for Delight on Blog Hop Friday

Trust in the Lord and do good;
    dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture.
Take delight in the Lord,
    and he will give you the desires of your heart.

Commit your way to the Lord;
    trust in him and he will do this:
He will make your righteous reward shine like the dawn,
    your vindication like the noonday sun.

Psalm 37:3-6

I've been thinking all week about what the topic should be for this week's blog hop. There are so many wonderful things that start with the letter D. But God kept continuing to place on my heart the word 'delight'.

Dictionary.com defines delight as 'a high degree of pleasure or enjoyment; joy; rapture'. 

I ask you, and myself, "How often do I experience joy, pleasure, enjoyment, or rapture when it comes to my relationship with the Lord? Is it something I encounter every day? Week? Month? Or does it only happen when something goes the way I was hoping and planning. Do I only delight in the Lord when he gives me the desires of my heart, or do I also delight in Him during those tough times when I don't think I can handle one more thing going wrong?"

I honestly can say that this is a topic to wrestle with and examine and strive toward. This scripture from Psalm 37 also says that when we commit to the Lord and trust in Him, "He will make your righteous reward shine like the dawn, your vindication like the noonday sun."

How are you doing at delighting in the Lord? What do you need to change in your life to get to that point?

 

 

C is for Christ - Blog Hop Friday

For a child will be born for us,
a son will be given to us,
and the government will be on His shoulders.
He will be named
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Eternal Father, Prince of Peace.
The dominion will be vast,
and its prosperity will never end.
He will reign on the throne of David
and over his kingdom,
to establish and sustain it
with justice and righteousness from now on and forever.
Isaiah 9:6-7


It's blog hop Friday. Welcome!

C is for Christ. He is the reason that I live. If it wasn't for His death on the cross for my sins, I wouldn't have hope for my future. He is the most important thing in this life.

I'm a believer and follower of Christ. I desire to faithfully serve Him and be a witness for Him. It's why I write - it's my way of spreading the word about Him and His abundant love for us.

If you were asked today, "Who do you serve?" what would be your answer?

B is for Blog

Welcome to Blog Hop Friday!

I figured today was a good day to look at B for Blogs. :) Perhaps the topic is more-so on my brain since my critique partner and I have been working feverishly to launch a blog of 25 writers called Stitches Thru Time. If you are interested in checking it out, here's the link. We are having a slew of prizes and giveaways for the month of August.
http://stitchesthrutime.blogspot.com/

What kind of blogs do you read? What kinds of posts pull you in and tug at your heart? Are there any blogs you avoid? Any you recommend?

Share your thoughts this Friday.