“Praise the Lord! I will thank the Lord with all my heart as I meet with His godly people.”

Psalm 111:1

This verse was on the bottom of the page where I wrote my Joy Dare list in my gratitude journal today. What a joy it brings to my heart when I spend time with people who love God.

Whether it is having fun at the zoo, taking dinner to a friend who has lost a loved one, grilling out with friends or counseling a friend on the phone who is going through a difficult time; when I am in the presence of someone else who loves God His Glory, His Love & His Goodness shine forth.

I pray that you too have godly people around you.

Continuing to count the Joy Dare #1120 - #1132:

·      Beautiful day at the zoo

·      Overcoming my fear of heights with my daughter

·      Hike in the woods with friends

·      Popcorn, icees & cotton candy

·      Oreos on the way home from the zoo = happy kids

·      Life is Good! God is Good!

·      Working in the yard as a family

·      Kids playing in the sprinkler

·      Playing baseball as a family

·      Frozen yogurt to cool off on a warm afternoon

·      Grilled bratwurst after baseball practice

·      All 4 of us snuggled up in bed watching a movie

·      Sleeping in

Linked today with Ann at A Holy Experience

In His Calm,

Mary

Intentional

 Intentional...

In January as I thought & prayed about what my "One Word" challenge was going to be this year God led me to Intentional - deliberate & purposeful.

The focus on being intentional has led me to be more deliberate & purposeful with

• my prayer life for my husband, my family & for my self
• praising God for Who He Is
• focused attention on friendship
• and making memories and living in the moment with my family.

As I have spent the summer focused more on my family I have not posted as frequently as I would have liked. But the memories, laughter & fun with my kids and husband have been what we needed.

The kids will be going back to school during the next two weeks. As I prepare them for school I will also be praying for what God has in store for The Calm of His Presence. I want to be Intentional here too. I want this little corner of the blogging world to be a source of Calming reassurance in your crazy day.

So until my posts become a bit more regular again I pray that you will feel God's Calming Presence in your life and that you will know HIS TRUTH!

In His Calm,

Mary

Thankful Thursday ~ Friend on the rainy days

She sits quietly. A presence felt but not heard. 

You know she's there but you don't have to say a word. Her heart aches because your heart is torn in two. She gently lays a soft hand on your shoulder as you cry tears of anguish, lending a kleenex to wipe away the tears.

She may not know the pain you feel but her presence beside you gives you the comfort in knowing there is a friend who will be with you in the hard, rainy days. 

And for that you are grateful.

But the two of you are not alone.

There is another friend who is there. That friend is Jesus. He says, "Be Still & Know I am God".  His presence will calm your heart and calm the storm. You may not see him or hear him, but his presence is with you.

"Your path led through the sea,

your way through the mighty waters,

though your footprints were not seen."

Psalm 77:19

And for that you are grateful.

Continuing the Joy Dare #495 - #512

• pumpkin spice coffee
• an hour of sleep after a long night
• catching up with a friend
• books from Daddy's childhood that my daughter takes to school
• watching birds build a nest outside my window
• red breasted robin sitting on my windowsill
• reflections of candle light in water
• tired eyes after sitting up with sick & scared children
• quiet moments alone
• growth in the hard, painful moments
• dinner around the table even if the meal is a flop
• storm-filled night leading into a grey, dreary morning
• knowing God carried us through the storm before
• friends who are with us in the sunny days & rainy days
• being sure of the salvation of those we love
• pain from a sliced finger
• ring with the memory & love of 2 wonderful ladies in heaven
• a son who is able to do his homework at his desk

Taking the Joy Dare of counting 1000 gifts with Ann at A Holy Experience 

In His Calm,

Mary

Thankful Thursday ~ Climbing Mountains

"A friend loves at all times,

and a brother is born for adversity." 

Proverbs 17:17

 

Take a look around you. What are your friends like? When you have times of difficulty in life are your friends there to help you? Do they pray with you? Do they stand up for you when others are attacking you? Do they hold you up when you feel like you can't bear the weight of the stress any longer? Or do they become busy when you need a helping hand, not willing to sacrifice when their friend is in need?

Last weekend Jeff & I climbed a mountain with some friends. The trail was called rattlesnake trail. There were steep grades, crooks & bends and thankfully benches where we stopped to catch our breaths along the way. We encouraged each other & cheered each other on for making it up each challenging spot. As with most hikes the last stretch was the hardest. As my friend's husband helped her climb the rocks we stood above encouraging her to keep moving. The view at the top was worth it!

As we stood on the rocky mountain top I marveled & thanked God for His magnificent creation. I should have been exhausted because that  is the first form of exercise I have done since my surgery 5 months ago. Instead, I was invigorated & pumped.

I love that I had that moment with my husband & friends. I realized as I stood overlooking the valley that these friends had not only been with me as we climbed this physical mountain but they had also been with me and Jeff as we climbed a mountain in our family.

They, along with other friends prayed for us as we faced a health scare with our daughter. Even when it inconvenienced them they offered a helping hand with our son, rearranged work schedules to sit with us during tests or were the listening ear we needed.

God has blessed us with friends we can do life with. Not only are they our brothers and sisters in Christ, but they have become part of our family as well.

Thank you Lord for blessing me with friends who show me your Glorious Love.

My prayer is that you too, will have friends who sticks with you in adversity.

Counting One Thousand Gifts #225 - #235

• time away with my husband
• scaling mountains - in nature & in life with friends
• bright red, orange & yellow leaves
• crystal, shimmering, early morning dew
• lazy saturdays
• little voices singing praises to our Lord
• big brother reading a devotion to his little sister
• perfect, sunny weekend
• yard work
• learning to say no
• early morning coffee after a sleepless night

Counting 1000 gifts with Ann at A Holy Experience 

In His Calm,

Mary