671-685

So fun to wake up with a joyful spirit and a grateful heart

Still counting my gifts

671. five guys fries with the golfer

672. noticing the blue, blue sky while on a bike ride

673. “I love you nana”, voice mail left

674. girls gathering to bless a single mom due to deliver her second child Friday

675. prayers prayed

676. Friday afternoon and evening spent in Stillwater with the golfer

677. a soft pillow to lay my head on each night

678. waking up to a day with nothing on the calendar

679. dishes done and a clean kitchen

680. clothes hanging on the line

681. the sun shining down on the garden in back

682. coffee on the patio

683. my bible open ready to hear from God 

684. A pretty table set and steak made on the grill by the golfer

685. a surprise way of loving on a friend

Thirty One Days of Power

In Thirty-One Days of Power: Learning to Live in Spiritual Victory, authors Ruth and Warren Myers focus on praying the word of God. I believe that prayers that are laced with scripture are the most powerful prayers that can be prayed.

I have found some of the daily readings over the 31 days to be particularly helpful. One worth mentioning is Day 25 because at times I struggle with the use of my time. Ruth and Warren have stated in prayer format “May I let You show me how to use my time, where to focus my attention and how to handle my emotions.” This is a great prayer for me to remember to pray often throughout my day.

One of the other things I like about this book is where the authors have left journaling space at the end of their reading where I can personally write. In this space I often date and write in specific names and circumstances as I make them a matter of personal prayer for that day.

Finally, at the end of this little devotional is a wealth of information regarding Spiritual Warfare that is well written primarily because the Warrens have used not only their own words but the words of Christ.

I recommend this book, especially for those who want to learn to pray Scripture or those who find themselves in a spiritual battle.

(*disclaimer* I was given this book at no cost from Multnomah in exchange for my honest opinion about this book. All opinions are mine and mine alone!)

From Sunday and remembering it on Monday

Many powerful thoughts from yesterdays message entitled

Crazy Affection (Phil. 1:7-11)

but one with a lot to think about and practice ...

Paul's circumstances are never the thing that dictates

how he thinks and feels.

His relationship with Christ is!

Today I am praying for ... 

Real Love

True Love

Love that is filled with knowledge and discernment and that approves what is

truly excellent, pure, and blameless!

linking up here:

http://nebraskagraceful.blogspot.com

And grateful for:

667.  clean sheets hung on the clothes line

668.  sharing french fries with the golfer at 5 guys

669.  overnight with the grandkids

670.  an inside place for prayerwalking  on an extremely hot day

 linking up here too:

http://www.aholyexperience.com/

What I Wore Wednesday

Today I had this great idea to steal someone else's idea for a Wednesday post! Hence the same title that is used at times over here ....



Be sure and check out this young mom, Stacey's blog ... amazing ...


I had a great time tring on a few items from my closet 'cause it has cooled down a bit in Minnesota for a day a two.

Here I am sporting a target tank, from 3 years ago layered with a Gap, 3/4 sleeve. on sale. white. top. (do you ever get those lttle pin size holes in Gap clothes after you have washed them a couple of times? What;s with that? Glad you can't notice it in the pic) Finally I dressed up a bit by putting on a Delias, passed down from my daughter, skirt..

Trying a few new things; took this of me in my kitchen mirror!

Captured how great my grey hair is coming in along with the beautiful gold earrings and necklace from the golfer

The flow of the skirt along with a beauty of a blooming  flower in our small but significant garden at our town home.

And what might you find yourself wearing this Wednesday?

Have an outward  beautiful day!

Blessings, Beth

Thursday Attitude Change Leads to Friday Writing

Linking up here and if you want to join along here are the rules ...

http://thegypsymama.com/

Want to take five minutes with me and just write without worrying if it’s just right or not.
Here’s how we do it:

1. Write for 5 minutes flat with no editing, tweaking or self critiquing.
2. Link back here
 http://thegypsymama.com/
 and invite others to join in
3. Go and tell the person who linked up before you what their words meant to you. Every writer longs to feel heard.
OK, are you ready? Give me your best five minutes for the prompt:

Grateful…

START

Grateful for an attitude change yesterday ... to be totally honest I have had a sometimes, "poor attitude" summer. The hard part for me is that I have been unable to explain why and what has hit me other than low energy. Because of  no energy,  there have been times, when I have not wanted to do anything. But yesterday was a  change of attitude and

I found myself grateful for time spent with friends praying early in the morning
and strawberry picking with my daughter and grand kids
and  helping my daughter make strawberry Jam
and spending time with the golfer
and an evening out with my daughters, before my youngest travels to Fort Leonard Wood

Grateful for an attitude change that led me to the act of being (in relationship) rather than the act of doing (checking off things on my to-do list)

FINISH

633.-666. in the count to 1000 gifts

It's been awhile since I have linked up with Ann's but I am still countng and am still extremely grateful ... today I am grateful for the most important freedom I experience and that is Freedom in Christ ... Happy 4th of July!


633. Your grace in which I stand

634. He keeps me from Satan’s influence

635. good writing times

636. good reading times

637. good praying times

638. selfless love from a friend, always asking me how I am doing.

639. losing sleep but only because of having grandchildren overnight

640. a sunny day with outside play

641. salad for dinner

642. everything green

643. waking up to the singing of the birds

644. a powerful time of worship

645. a powerful time of prayer

646. a much desired summer break

647. sunny days

648. bike rides

649. a trip to Lanesboro

650. bike riding with my husband alongside of the Root River (breath-taking)

651. prime rib and baked potatoes

652. time spent in the word

653. wrong day for training so an unplanned time with Kelley and the kids singing and dancing and reading books.

654. girl’s group in my home

655. for some beautiful times of sleep mixed with prayer and more sleep and more prayer

656. reading the word outside in the sunshine

657. knowing as I hear the water that You are the Living water

658. a good weather day for the golfer and his friend

659. putting on my armor everyday

660. “date night” with Pru

661. ice cream cones shared with my granddaughter

662. a finger nail and toe nail painting time during date night

663. the amazing freedom we celebrate in America

664. Music In Plymouth shared time with fellow believers

665. Fireworks that light up the sky

666. In Him I too am being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit.

All Are Welcome Here

I wanted to jump in on 5 minute Friday this week but the more I thought about the word the further away I got from participating. I just could not think, relate or write from the prompt of the word "welcome". So I decided to not write but in the back of my mind the word was still simmering. After class today I was inspired to write the following so ... even though it's a bit late, I'm glad I simmered on the word and this is it for five ...

Start

Well, are you underweight
or are you overweight?
How about slow
or are you fast?
Do You find yourself a
fault finder or
do you see the good in yourself?
Do you eat too little
or maybe too much?
How about exercise?
Do you hate it
or do you like it?
Well, it really doesn't matter 'cause all are welcome each Saturday at the fitness class my oldest daughter Lisa teaches. Old or young, physically not fit or physically fit all are welcome here. All are welcome here to this one hour workout for your body, mind and spirit.

So grateful to find the kind welcome of my Sati friends each Saturday.

Finish
Here's the rules if you want to jump in late with me ....

Want to take five minutes with me and just write without worrying if it’s just right or not. Here’s how we do it:

1. Write for 5 minutes flat with no editing, tweaking or self critiquing.

2. Link back here and invite others to join in {you can grab the button code in my right side bar}

3. Go and tell the person who linked up before you what their words meant to you. Every writer longs to feel heard.