A New Year Start ~ Stength for Today and Hope For Tomorrow !

 

 A beautiful Friday Morning Devotion

 

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As Your Days…

As your days, so shall your strength be.
Deuteronomy 33:25

Recommended Reading Deuteronomy 33:24-27

Only one man is listed twice among the presidents—Grover Cleveland. He served two non-consecutive terms, so he’s listed as the twenty-second and the twenty-fourth president. Cleveland was a Presbyterian preacher’s kid who was trained in Christian truth. He faced a lot of troubles in office, but was considered honest. His dying words seem to have summed up his life: “I have tried so hard to do right.”

Cleveland had a motto he lived by, and it hung directly over his bed where he would see it every night on retiring and every morning when awakening. He once said, “If I have any coat of arms and emblem, it is that.” It was a verse of Scripture—Deuteronomy 33:25: “As your days, so shall your strength be.”

That’s a verse for you too. As we face a new year, none of us knows the challenges ahead. But if we have God, we have the passion of God’s power and strength within us. He will give us strength for each new day. In Him, you’ll always find strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow.

At home or abroad, on the land, on the sea, as thy days may demand shall thy strength ever be.
From the hymn “How Firm a Foundation,” attributed to John Keene.

 

Devotion By: Dr.David Jeremiah, Shadow Mountain Church, El Cajon, Ca

 

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Wishing you all a Beautiful New Year .. May your Strength be enough to walk through each day and may you have bright hope for all your tomorrows of this New Year. Our Lives can be overflowing and with joy and yet equally overflowing with sorrows .. God never told us life would be easy but he did promise to help us through it.  I know sometimes there are great chasms where we have felt like God is not there, or does not hear us, but I have learned that he is there and he does here. These are times he requires our patience and trust in him. A time for growth in our life.

 

Isaiah 40:31

But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.

 

The Lord is always there through our times of unending joy to the moments of our deep sorrows and pain, we may not always "feel" his presence but he is there. He will give your strength for today and Hope for tomorrow...

 

Blessings .. Saa

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

~ Devotion ~ Our Daily Bread........... and a Devotional Giveaway !

 

Good Saturday Morning to you all ...

 

Well it's a Hot Humid Day here already .. supposed to hit 100 degrees and I wouldn't be surprised if it actually ends up hotter .. Hope you all are enjoying a cooler day wherever your neck of the woods is !

 

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Have you ever had one of those moments where a single word stands out to you more one day than it ever has before ..

 

Well I had one of those days today !

 

 

As I was reading one of my daily devotions ... the actual devotion was just about that "DEVOTION" ..

 

What the word actually means ..

 

 Ezra had devoted himself to the study and observance of the Law of the Lord, and to teaching its decrees and laws in Israel.
Ezra 7:10 (NIV)

 

 

Here's an excerpt from this mornings devotion:

 

Are you familiar with phrases about having our daily devotions? Where did that term originate? We don't know when the word devotions was first used for our periods of Bible study and prayer, but it's appropriate. The word devotion means "earnest affection for a person or a cause." It's a better term than the word commitment. We can be committed to a cause out of sheer duty; but to be devoted implies commitment plus affection.

 

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I love how that excerpt defines devotion as "earnest affection for a person or a cause" because that's how I feel about my Dear Sweet Lord Jesus !  ..

 

However when reading my devotions in the morning be they in book form or e-mail .. I won't say I thought of them as sheer duty ... but it was something I did before starting my day because I wanted too, because it was a tool for learning, because it helped me through my day, but I never formed the thought or word affection with it .. however there is true affection in all of my reasons for reading my devotions and being committed to doing so each day ...

 

As I have grown older words and their meanings have grown more important to me. We have become a society that throws words around that have significant meaning yet we use them so lightly or in ways that are inappropriate. I love learning the true meaning and definitions of words it helps me see and understand things clearer in life.

 

 

One of our Favorite Devotions here at Sweet Magnolias Farm .. is

 

"Jesus Calling" By Sarah Young

 

 

 

 

About 10 or 12 years ago ..I can't remember the actual date or Year .. we were going though some rough times in our family. I had been earnestly praying , reading my bible and searching for God's answers and for his help to walk me through the dark valley we were living in .. I went to Wal-Mart..yep good ol' wallymart ... I imagine for groceries or incidentals .. and I wandered onto the book aisle something not unfamiliar for me to do ..I have always enjoyed reading for pleasure and learning.  I was searching through the books and I saw this Jesus Calling Devotional .. Picked it up flipped through the pages to see what it was all about ..landed on a devotion ..read it .. and it was meant to be .. God Spoke to my heart that day right in the aisle of Wal-Mart through one devotion off the pages of this book .. and I was reminded once again he was with me and would indeed walk me through the difficulties we were facing. And Yes he did .. it was a long journey but it was worth the uphill battle that ensued for nearly 2 years ..and in the end we came out better for it.  Of course I purchased the book that day .. and all these years later I love it as dearly as the day I purchased it ..

 

Since then I have also purchased Sarah Young's second devotional .. Jesus Today

 

 

It's also a beautiful devotional to start or even end your day with .. at one point I was reading Jesus Calling in the morning and Jesus today before going to bed each night ..

 

 

 

Have you ever read the story in the front of the Jesus Calling Book about how Sarah Young came to write "Jesus Calling" .. if you haven't it's a must read ! We have the original devotional "Two Listeners" which Abbey found in an antique mall that inspired Sarah.

 

 

If you are wanting a devotion that speaks to the heart .. messages sent from God .. then Jesus Calling and Jesus Today are what you are looking for ..

 

There are several places that offer them for sale online .. Christian book.com  offers them individually or the pair HERE

 

I think Wal-Mart, Sams Club and even recently they were at Costco for your brick and Mortar shops .. and I'm sure others also.

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 And If you want to try your luck ..

 

you can enter the giveaway below ...

 

There are no mandatory requirements for entering .. if you would like to share about this giveaway that's completely up to you .. Otherwise all you need to do is enter below by using your FB info or your e-mail ..neither of which will be used for any purpose other than picking and contacting the winners.

 

Please only Enter if you are in the contiguous 48 states.

 

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There will be 2 Lucky Winners which will each get the Pair of Devotions ..

Giveaway will end on Saturday September 13th

Winners will be notified Saturday Septemer the 13th and will have 24 hours to claim their prize .. if not claimed in 24 hours a new winner will be picked.

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

STRESSED ... spelled backwards is Desserts ... Our Daily Bread

 

 

 

Do you ever find yourself "STRESSED" ? That's like asking do you ever find your Hungry Or Tired .. As hunger and tiredness comes naturally to the body it seems for generations "Stress" seems to be part of our lives too. It's almost or should I say for some become a natural part of our everyday living .

 

 

 

 

 

I can attest to feeling stress on a daily basis. Stressed to get orders out on time, stressed to provide each client we have with an order they will love, stressed that housework is not getting done, stressed to save money, STRESSED .. it seems over any little thing that I can possibly turn into stress. You see it comes naturally to me .. I was raised by two people that taught me how to stress .. A dad with an A type personality and a mom that worked against the world to provide us with a Donna Reed home .. thinking she had to be lovely and perfect and have a perfect home all the time.

 

Thankfully Mom recognized later in life that having a perfect home and life was a fairy tale and that the normal stress of a normal life without adding the perfection of  a Donna Reed life was more than enough in an of itself.

 

Dad well he's changed ALOT over the years .. but I think his DNA just has a stress button that is always pressed no matter what. I must admit he tries not to stress but he still all these years later .. even retired without a job to call stress ..still stresses over the little things in life and even more over the big things. But he's much better than he was.

 

I think we all have stress in our life .. some less and some more and I think we all can agree we wish the stress would just be gone.

 

I think stress can be self induced many times .. we think about things and play scenarios in our heads that we "THINK" Could happen ... Or we enter situations with black or negative thinking ..

 

And then other times stress finds us. Rather it be through a loved one that is ill, a car that you need for commuting that just broke down and you don't have the finances to fix it, so it goes on the credit card with the list of other stresses adding up on it, The teenage child that has found the worlds ways more important than how they were raised and is rebelling, A friendship that is suffering and on an on.. STRESS just seems to creep in and in some instances RUN into our lives ...  and starts Running our lives. There's probably a song out there titled " Livin' on Love" ..but it seems instead we are all "Livin' on Stress" when in fact we should be "Livin on the the Love of the Lord"

 

 

So what does the Bible say about "STRESS"

 

 

Do not worry about anything. But pray and ask God for everything you need. And when you pray, always give thanks. And God’s peace will keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. The peace that God gives is so great that we cannot understand it (Philippians 4:6-7,

 

 

I think the first line do not Worry about Anything is probably the biggest hurdle we all face. How do we not Worry about anything. Is  that like saying .." have an oh well who cares attitude about life" .. just toss it all to the wind and where it all falls there it will be and who am I to care ?

 

I don't think so.  I'm the first to admit I have not conquered Stress or Worry. But with all that's in me each day I do my best for that day .. to do what the next portion of the scripture shares .. " And when you Pray always give thanks" ... First I pray... and then I give thanks.  Going to God in prayer over any stress or worry is the first thing we should always do .. He knows our hearts and our needs and all he wants us to do is come to him and ask.  And he want us to be thankful for all things the good and the bad.

 

How easy is it to be thankful for all the good things in life when as we say "Things are going Right." But how much more does it take to be thankful for what we call the "Bad things in life " ???

I've been through some really rough patches in life .. One time in life that I will always remember that is etched in my mind and on  my heart forever .. it was a dark time when I seriously felt nothing good would ever happen again and was God really there.  I didn't give up on God ..and you know what he never gave up on me .. for 2 Years .. I prayed and Gave thanks for everything and I mean everything .. and I asked God to teach me whatever life lessons I needed to learn through this season of life .. And I can say without question  I found a peace during that time and in the end .. Life came out much better than I could have ever imagined. His gifts that were awaiting me on the other side of that huge mountain I had to climb ... "Were so worth it all"  I still thank him to this day for that 2 year period of what I call darkness in my life.  So Praying and Constantly all the day Long finding everything you can to Thank the Lord for, something as simple as "lord thank you for the glass of water I'm drinking"..and just as the scripture says next " And God's Peace will keep your heart's and Minds" ..  If not for prayer and thanksgiving I look back on that time and wonder if I would not have gone crazy .. his peace truly kept my heart and mind sane to endure the mountain I had t climb.

 

So yes we are going to experience stress in our lives  ..but it's what we do to combat the stress and to diminish it, is what counts ..

 

Pray and Give Thanks

 

Lord You know my life inside out .. you know the stress that I create and the stress that creeps into my life.. Please help me to overcome these stresses and help me to not allow them to overtake my mind and my life. You are my Peace in times of trouble .. teach me the lessons you want me to learn and help me grow in wisdom. Give me the courage to be Thankful for all things .. in your Name Amen

 

 

I am ever so thankful .. for so many things in life.. the roof over my head, an indoor bathroom, running water, food in my refrigerator and pantry, money to pay bills, a car to get us where we need to go, my health, my family, my work, friends, my dog,  and so much more ...

 

Can you make a list of things you are thankful for ..??? and Thank the Lord all the day long for those and any others that come to mind .. Thank him over and over and over ..never quit being thankful. And thank him for  the stresses too .. we can learn from those.

 

If you are feeling STRESSED or  STRESS  has found you .. sit down and have some DESSERT ...

 

 Some Prayer and Thankfulness are a like sweet honey to the soul and will fill you up with his peace of mind and heart

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And of course if you're like me I'll add a few cookies in right after ..

 

Wising you all a beautiful day and week ahead .

 

 

 

Our Daily Bread .. Girlfriends in Christ

 

 

 

Do you have a daily devotional you enjoy ?

 

As many of you have seen on my sidebar my favorite devotional is "Jesus Calling" by Sarah Young.

 

I recently purchased her newest devotional "Jesus Today" while on a trip to Costco. I was surprised and delighted to find them in their book section. I have also been enjoying this newest devotional and would recommend it as much as "Jesus Calling" especially if your walking a hard road in life right now as Sarah wrote this newest one while facing a very long term illness, and that most definitely comes through in the daily devotions.

 

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About a Month back my friend Christie e-mailed me this great online devotional she wanted to share with me .."Girlfriends in Christ"

 

I loved it so much and found that it was a daily devotional delivered to your e-mail box and signed up immediately ..

 

Each day I thoroughly enjoy it .. without doubt it's food for the soul .. it's a way to start out a beautiful day to fill the tank if you will , to put on the armor of God ..to ready yourself for whatever the day may bring.

 

Today's devotional I really loved ..because Sharon who wrote today's devotional uses her flea market find to give us a visual look at how God works in our Lives .. and I wanted to share that with you all today ...

Source: theoldpaintedcottage.com via Sweet Magnolias on Pinterest

 

 

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June 11, 2013
Shabby Chic Refinishing
Sharon Jaynes

 

Today’s Truth

If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!

(2 Corinthians 5:17, NIV).            

 

Friend to Friend

Junk. That’s what my family and friends thought of most of my purchases. But to me, they were treasures waiting to be revealed.

When I was in my late teens, I had an unusual fetish for beat-up antique furniture. While most of my friends were at the mall shopping for clothes, I was at estate sales, flea markets, yard sales, and auctions hunting for antiques. Often, when I brought my purchases home, my family would roll their eyes and say, "I can't believe you paid money for that old piece of junk." But I never saw my purchases as junk. They just needed a little work…okay, sometimes a lot of work. But I loved the shabby chic projects!

At one estate sale I spied a little drop leaf kitchen table with three spindle-back chairs. I could just imagine a sweet little older lady spending many years sitting at that very table drinking her morning coffee or perhaps her afternoon tea. I could almost hear the faint whispers of thousands of conversations from generations past. The set was painted a hospital green, but I saw that it had great potential. Obviously the other bidders didn't recognize a treasure when they saw one, because ten minutes and $35 later, the set was mine.

I brought the dinette set home, all excited about my great buy, and couldn't understand why no one else shared my enthusiasm "Sharon, do you realize how much time and energy it is going to take to make that old green rickety table look even slightly presentable?" they asked.

 

 At that point in my life, I had a lot more time than money, so the time wasn't a problem.

Refinishing furniture is a dirty, grueling task. First, I stripped off the paint with paint remover and discovered that not only had the table been green, it had also been blue, and before that white. But underneath it all was pure walnut.

The paint remover raised the grain of the wood, so I had to go back and sand it smooth. If the sanding isn't done well, the finished product will always be a little rough. A few joints were loose from wear and tear, so I glued them back together. Then I applied a warm walnut stain which deepened its color and made the beautiful pattern of the wood grain stand out. Finally, I applied a polyurethane coat to seal and protect the piece.

As I worked I began to think of the old broken table as a symbol of my own life. I was also on the auction block, and God had purchased me with His Son’s precious blood. I had layers and layers of my old self that had to be stripped away to reveal the beauty hidden beneath. This raised my grain, but God sanded me with life experiences and trials to remove the rough edges. He glued my loose joints and mended my broken pieces, for He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds. Then He put a sealer not only on me but in me – the Holy Spirit who brought out the beauty of who God created me to be.

After I finished refurbishing the old table and chairs, I sat in the garage thinking about all that God had done in my life. My mom opened the door, looked at the old table, and said, "I never thought something so ugly could turn out to be so beautiful."

I said, "Amen."

Where are you in the refinishing process? It’s never really over, this side of heaven. But as we listen to God day by day, He will show us what needs to be stripped off, sanded away, and polished smooth to be all that He has created us to be.

 

Let’s Pray

Dear Lord, I was such a mess before You transformed me. Thank You for restoring my soul, renewing my spirit, and redeeming my life to become Your treasured possession…a true work of art.

In Jesus' Name,

Amen.

 

Now It’s Your Turn

Read 2 Corinthians 5:1-21 to learn more about your refinishing process.

Think back over the past year. What has God used as His sandpaper to refine your rough edges?

What has God used to glue your broken pieces back together?

What has God used to polish your shine?

 

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You can Sign up for the "Girlfriends in Christ"  devotional ... HERE  Just look in the top right of the page for the sign up.

 

You can visit Sharon's Blog HERE

 

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Wishing you all a beautiful and blessed week ..and that God's refinishing process in your life like mine is making you a beautiful Person on the inside and the out.