sweet nuggets from the Lord

I love the small lessons that God teaches me throughout the week as I study and ponder on His marvelous Word. Sometimes it may be just a scripture that really speaks to my heart at that particular moment or it may be a sweet nugget of truth that I come across in my bible study and reading. 

In Exodus 34:6, the LORD reveals Himself to be compassionate, gracious, loving and faithful. That verse is packed with power as we contemplate what those descriptions of our LORD entail. He is compassion! He is love! He is grace and He is faithfulness! All of those attributes of God are things that we can't be without Him. We can't love without His love. We certainly can't grace others without that amazing grace that He bestows upon us first. We can't have compassion without the awesome compassion of Christ and we can not have faith without the pure, perfect faithfulness of our God. 

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All idolatry and disobedience comes when we begin looking for satisfaction apart from Christ. We will never find rest in the things of this world. We will never find peace in the accumulation of material possessions. Satisfaction doesn't come from any place but from the LORD. We have to learn to be content in Him and only Him. He alone has to fill our every longing and our every need. Only when we come to that place of perfect peace in our Savior, will we ever be able to be used of Him for His Kingdom.

Satan can keep us disengaged from God when we allow him to distract us from the things of the LORD. He is the ultimate deceiver and deception is a trap that will render us ineffective to do the work that God has called us and purposed us to do. We must keep our focus on Him. Our desire has to be to glorify God in all things. Our desire has to be obedience to Christ in all things no matter what the cost.

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The perfect righteousness of God makes our unrighteousness so obvious....

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We need to drink deeply of His precious Word and allow it to saturate and drench us with a fresh infusion of faith. A fresh infusion of His Spirit. And be ready for Him to do a new thing in us and through us!

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"So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God"

(Romans 10:17)

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When the doctrine of the Love of God is not balanced with an understanding of the Fear of God, there is a problem! We must have a holy fear of who He is and what He does. He is the all-knowing, all-seeing, ever-present, ever-loving, thrice Holy God. The King of kings. The Lord of lords. He is the alpha and the omega. He is the first and the last. He is and He was and He is to come!! Hallelujah my friends! He will NEVER leave us nor forsake us. He will comfort us and grant peace to us. He will lead and guide. He will love and protect. He will cover and restore. He is THE almighty and He is GOD!

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God's grace empowers and enables us to live a life of Holiness and obedience to the untouched and unmatched authority of God.

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Thank you, Lord, for the sweet handfuls of purpose that you dropped in my path this week. Thank you for growing me and thank you for pruning me when needed. I love you and I praise you and bow my heart humbly before you in pure adoration and worship. 

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Handfuls of purpose and grace dropped into my lap this week!

Happy 5th birthday Bryton!!!

2 brothers and a sister...

"O give thanks unto the LORD; for He is good;

for His mercy endureth forever."

(Psalm 118:29)

Laylah is certainly one blessed little girl. She has two big brothers who are madly in love with her already. They love to hold her and they are quick to tell you that she is their baby.  They both wanted to hold her yesterday for their first picture all together. So, of course, Ashlie had to let them take turns and they each got their wish. And even though Sawyer was holding her in the first picture, you will notice that Bryton had her feet in his hands. 

Laylah was wide awake for just a little while today when I went to visit.  I took advantage of this opportunity to get a picture with her eyes wide open. She didn't stay awake for long, but I certainly enjoyed holding this little sweetheart for several hours while she slept, and just marveled at the miracle of life in my arms. I thanked God for all 7 of my grandchildren and the blessing that they are to me and to my husband.

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The faithfulness of God never ceases to just blow me away. He is the biggest thrill of my life and I am so overwhelmed most of the time by His goodness. He has generously graced me and my family more than we could ever deserve. I thank Him for His sweet mercy upon us and even though we are so undeserving, because of Him we are worthy. We are a family rescued by grace and blessed beyond measure. I pray that we will live our lives for Him and that we will honor Him in all that we do and say. May I forever reverence the magnificent name of the LORD. May I worship Him in Spirit and in Truth.  He is Jehovah. Yahweh. Creator. He is Hashem.

important things

We have spent the last few weeks getting things ready for an important event. Both of Ashlie's boys got some much needed haircuts.

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Ashlie had a few baby showers and got lots of amazing little girl things.

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The boys gave mama's belly one last hug!

And one last kiss....

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We spent time playing with those sweet boys in our last week before their sister makes her arrival!

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And of course, Nana had to make just one more tutu for that little princess...

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And now the countdown begins. I should be laying eyes on that precious baby girl in about 3 1/2 hours.... I don't think my heart can take it....

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"But the LORD is the true God,

and an everlasting King"

(Jeremiah 10:10)

family filled thankful thursday

I am thankful for Greg and the ability to join him for our own Thankful Thursday post.

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** I am thankful for all my grandchildren and am very thankful that they all love each other.  They may not always get along, but they do love each other! ha!

(Mercie R. and Bryton H. reading together on Sunday)

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** I am thankful that my daughter Ashlie and her husband, Cody, celebrated 4 years of marriage yesterday. They went out to eat and I got to keep Sawyer while Cody's mom kept Bryton. Ashlie won't leave the boys much so it was fun to get to keep him without her being here!

We played animals.

He played the piano and I'm sure he was praising the Lord.

Came home from church and took a good bath and played until the water was cold.

I got to wrap him up in a baby towel, slather him with lotion and get him dressed in his jammies. There is nothing quite as sweet as a good smelling baby in his jammies.

Ahhh.. no words for this. Just pure bliss. Pure love. Pure joy.....

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** I am thankful for God's word. I have so many verses highlighted in my bible and a stack of index cards on my desk filled with scriptures. I also LOVE my new index card binder! It is so cool!

(did you get one Yolanda????)

I love God's word!

"That they might set their hope in God, and not forget

the works of God, but keep His commandments."

(Psalm 78:7)

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 **I am thankful for my husband. I love being a preacher's wife. I love being married to my pastor. I am so glad that he is an amazing father to our 3 girls and super Papa to our 6 grandbabies.

We've been together 25 1/2 years. We must be doing something right!

** I am thankful that God continues to bestow such undeserved mercy and grace on me and my family. He is the biggest joy of my life. The greatest treasure I could ever find. Thank you Lord for sending Your precious Son to this earth to die on the cross at Calvary, so I could have forgivenses for my sins and thank you for giving me eternal life.

Time-Out for Restoration

Have you ever been in time-out or have you ever put one of your children in time-out? The definition of time-out is: a brief suspension of activity.

For some strange reason, time-out takes on a whole new meaning when it is being enforced upon your grandchildren. My perspective of what a time-out really is has been altered by my ‘Nana instincts”.

One day last week Ashlie and the boys were at my house and Bryton was being just a little bit too helpful with Sawyer. (in other words, he poking poor Sawyer in the eye with his finger). Ashlie had told him a few times already to leave his baby brother alone. Well, I think that Bryton was having some hearing problems that day because I know that if he HAD heard, he would have obeyed : ) But much to my dismay, he didn’t obey and got sentenced – I mean, sent to time-out.

Well, this Nana is not real up to date on exactly what time-out is supposed to consist of or entail. So as my precious little grandbaby was sitting in the chair facing the door, I thought he looked a little forlorn and perhaps a bit lonely. I also thought he looked quite cute and sweet as he just sat there very quietly looking at the door. I decided that it was a good photo opportunity as he doesn’t hold still very long under usual circumstances. Ahem… wrong decision. I was just snapping away and Ashlie was like – “Mama! What are you doing? He is in time-out! NO pictures…” So after just 1 more quick shot which I posted above... I put my camera away.

Well, my little fella just looked so pitiful sitting there, so I thought a little song would help pass the time… We had just got started clapping and singing “I’ve got the joy, joy, joy, joy down in my heart….” when Ashlie said “Mama, this is a time-out! He is not sitting there so you can entertain him. NO singing…”

So I had to go and sit down. No singing.. no pictures. I guess I really didn’t give it much thought to what time-out was all about. It was meant to give him the opportunity to think about what he had done and to realize the importance of listening to his mama.

I understand that my daughter is teaching Bryton about obedience. I know that this is important for him. When we learn the necessity of obeying our parents at a young age it enables us to comprehend the necessity of obeying Christ when we are older. I am sure that God has looked down upon me many times and said, “that girl just needs a time-out” In fact, I am pretty sure He has actually ordained a few of them in my life!

“Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right.” (Ephesians 6:1)

The good thing about a time-out is it enables us to reflect on the past. It enables us to repent and regroup. And then we are better equipped to re-enter this thing we call life and be more determined and more purposed in our calling as Christians.

God leaves us in a time-out for our own good. He knows that it will be a time of growth. He knows that we will arise from it with a new outlook and a new spirit of obedience. He knows that it is not a time of separation, but a time of restoration.

I don’t want to force God to put me in any more time-outs. My desire is to be obedient and mindful of Him and His Word. I love Him, therefore I will keep His commandments.

“If you love me, keep my commandments” (John 14:15)

Thank you Lord, for the Truth of your Word. Thank for you putting me in time-out when I need it and for allowing me to arise from there and be more determined and more committed to You and Your commandments.

Locked or Unlocked

My youngest daughter has had her hands full this last week or so since she brought Sawyer home from the hospital. Bryton is still in the process of getting used to having a baby brother and he is still learning how to be gentle. He loves to be right where the baby is and sometimes that means he gets a little too close for comfort.

I was talking to Ashlie this morning and she was about to take a bath. She was telling me that Sawyer was asleep and she was putting him in his crib in his room. She said she would then put Bryton in the bathroom with her and lock the door. She said she would also lock her bedrooom door. I asked her why she had to lock both doors. She said that way if Bryton got the bathroom door unlocked and ran out, by the time he got the bedroom door unlocked also, she could get to him before he got to the baby! I laughed until I hurt myself! It just struck me so funny as I could picture it in my mind.

I thought about it off and on during the day and the more I thought about it, the more the Lord showed me myself in that picture. I can see where there have been times that I may have been headed down the wrong path and God had to shut and lock a door to keep me from going through it.

Then I thought about a few times when I may have gone out that door anyway and God probably felt like he had to lock more than one door to keep me from going any farther and doing any more damage. He had to lock that door to keep me safe and perhaps to protect others in my path!

I pray that I will be more discerning of His voice and His direction. As I seek Him and His will, I pray that I will take the time to listen so that I can hear clearly. I pray that God won't have to lock any doors to keep me on the right path. My desire is to hear Him speak and then follow where He leads.

Thank you Lord for your presence. Thank you for your continuing mercy upon me. You are the King of Glory. You are Mighty and Powerful. You are worthy.

"Show me Your ways, O LORD; Teach me Your paths" Psalms 25:4

Happy 2nd Birthday Bryton

Look where God brought you! From a sick baby to a healthy 2 year old! Praise Jesus!


Happy 2nd Birthday to my little Bryton! It is so hard to believe that you are already 2 years old. What a blessing you have been in your Nana’s life.

You are so full of life and energy. You run full speed ahead most of your day! Not only are you very energetic, but you are so loving. You love to give hugs and kisses and little “I love you’s”. My heart melts when I hear you say “Nana”. I love it when you and mommy spend the night and in the morning we drink coffee together. I love to read you stories. You won’t let me turn the page until you have examined every inch of the illustrations. I love you, Bryton.

You have been blessed with such loving parents. Your mommy will hardly let you out of her sight! Your daddy watches you play with such joy and wonder in his eyes. In a few short weeks, you are going to be such a great big brother!

When you were born 2 years ago, (3 weeks early) you gave all of us quite a scare. Within minutes after you emerged, the nurse had a mask on your little blue face and was calling the NICU for a bed and a canister of oxygen. Her only words were spoken calmly. “He’s having a little trouble breathing”. I have never felt more fear in all my life. I immediately went out into the hallway to tell your Papa and all those waiting, “Pray”. I was then filled with a sense of peace and I knew that you were in the hands of the one who formed you and that He would take care of you.



You spent 7 days in the NICU with various issues and problems, but now you are a healthy little boy and doing great!

You are such a blessing to me, Bryton. My sweet little fella. My little ‘b’. Have a happy birthday little one.

Oh - the joys of being a grandmother. Thank you, Jesus for allowing me that joy.