TRUST THE POTTER

JEREMIAH 18:3 KJV THEN I WENT DOWN TO THE POTTER'S HOUSE, AND, BEHOLD , HE  WROUGHT A WORK ON THE WHEELS.

I KNOW I SAID THIS IN A PREVIOUS BLOG POST. I HEARD A SONG LAST WEEK, WHILE DOING SOME  THINGS AROUND THE HOUSE. THAT SONG WAS ''JUST A SONG'' I WAS KIND OF LISTENING TO.... BUT THEN I STARTED REALLY LISTENING TO THE TRUE WORDS AND MEANING TO THE SONG.... IT WAS REALLY GREAT, AND ONE I FEEL LIKE WAS IN HIS PERFECT TIMING FOR ME TO HEAR LAST WEEK... HE MAKES NO MISTAKES.... IT HAS BEEN ON MY HEART AND MIND, AND I HAVE BEEN REALLY BREAKING DOWN THE CHORUS IN MY HEAD. A GROUP THAT I SING IN AT CHURCH IS GOING TO LEARN IT, I HOPE IT WILL BE A BLESSING TO OTHERS, AS IT HAS BEEN TO ME.

TRUST THE POTTER
** GIVE HIM EVERYTHING  TO HIM, LET HIM MOLD YOU AND MAKE YOU INTO SOMETHING GREAT...
** HE CONFORMS YOU TO WHAT HE WANT YOU TO BE.. (in HIS image)
HE KNOWS WHAT'S BEST FOR ME!!!
**HE IS LOOKING OUT FOR YOURS AND MY BEST INTEREST, AND WHAT IS HIS WILL FOR MY LIFE.
** WE HAVE TO ENDURE THE '' WHEEL''!!!! 
HE HAS A PERFECT PLAN THESE EYES CAN'T SEE!!! 
**HE HAS A PERFECT PLAN FOR OUR LIFE, AND KNOWS US BY NAME, AND KNOWS OUR PAST, PRESENT, AND FUTURE!!
HE'S THE POTTER, I 'M THE CLAY, HE KNOWS JUST HOW MUCH I CAN TAKE!! 
** SOMETIMES, WE DON'T WANT FOR HIM TO MOLD US A CERTAIN WAY, BECAUSE WE WANT EVERYTHING DONE ''OUR WAY''!!! THIS IS A BIG ONE FOR ME.. I THINK I AM VERY INDEPENDENT!! BUT I REALLY AM WEAK!!!
** HE KNOWS OUR PRESSURE POINTS!!!! 
WHEN I FACE THE FIRE AGAIN, I WILL TRUST THE POTTER'S HAND!!! 
** WE NEED TO BE SUBMISSIVE TO HIS WILL AND ''WHEEL''. IT TAKES TIME, BUT IN THE END, WE CAN BE A BEAUTIFUL AND GREAT DISPLAY FOR HIM.

ISAIAH 64::8 KJV BUT NOW, O LORD, THOU ART OUR FATHER; WE ARE THE CLAY, AND THOU OUR POTTER; AND WE ARE THE WORK OF THY HAND.  

THIS ALSO MAKES ME THINK OF ANOTHER SONG, A DEAR FRIEND OF MINE SINGS,'' HE DIDN'T THROW THE CLAY AWAY.''

A vessel of HIS honor, I am today, all because JESUS didn't throw the clay away!!!

this is a wonderful blessing!!!

A time and Season

EVERYTHING  has a SEASON.. ..

Ecclesiastes 3:!  To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven.

Is it WINTER IN your life?????????????

i want to start by saying this is mainly for me.. i need to be reminded of all of this today.. blogging is a way for me to VENT my true thoughts, and feelings about the things in my life.. At the same time, I never want to be a hinder on anyone.. I have a heavy burden for something tonight.. the LORD knows ALL about it, and even knows the outcome of it all... I know in HIS perfect Season and time, HIS will, will be done... This is just me journaling... so here goes................lol :)))

I like to sit by the pool and watch the water, I really like to watch the wind blow through the trees.. This reminds me that Fall IS SOON upon us... we have had a rough, hotttt, summer.. but i do love the summer time. i LOVE the summer fruits and veggies fresh from the garden.. tonight, i picked cayenne pepper, a tomato, and some banana pepper.. by the end of the week, we should be picking green beans, and some cucumbers..yumm!!!  I am amazed how EVEN the way it looks outside, you can ''kind of tell'' the season we are in.. This also puts me in to another  mode.. our spiritual season....

sometimes we go through times in our lives that puts us in different seasons... just saying for example, when I think of WINTER, i think of COLD, DARK, RAINY WEATHER.... BUT then SPRING is just around the corner... hmmmmm... we may be in a winter time in our lives, when everything seems dark, LONELY, AND COLD.. we have NOWHERE TO RUN AND HIDE to get WARM... oh, but we do.. The Lord is there with open arms to welcome us, and provides warmth beyond comprehension... He lets us snuggle up to Him and DEPEND ON Him... this is really amazing!!!  and SPRING is here before we know it.. when i think of spring, i think of light and hope... EVERYTHING NEW.... WOW!! HE knows when to send the winter, but really shows us HIS true WORKS with His handywork of everything NEW AND beautiful... He does all this for us!!! Summer  comes and we can bask in ''HIS light'', knowing we are an example of His beauty..... and He made us, and is helping us through every trial.. We can shine for His good and for His glory.. the HOTTNESS of summer dies down to the coolness and crispness of Fall..and oh, the beauty of this season.. To me, this is probably my FAVORITE SEASON.. it shows us God's beauty of colors.. i love that  Every leaf is DIFFERENT.. and it is.. the colors , red, orange, and yellows.. are bright and broad.. this REMINDS me that He brings different things in our lives to BRIGHTEN our lives... to show us he is in control.. and when we are brought through our trial, a bigger, brighter picture is there, waiting on us to see the beauty of it all.. and His hand through every time and season in our lives..The seasons change, and I am thankful they do.. think of living in COLD, DARK, RAINY conditions FOREVER!!! this is not a season i could be stuck in.. This makes me think that even though winter may be here, ''spiritually'' it will be just short time, and SPRING is here before we know it!!!.thank God HE KNOWS when to change ''our season''!!!!!!  i am thankful for His FAITHFULNESS.. it is certain and very promising through the ''real seasons'' of all the months of the year, but most all, through the ''seasons'' of MY LIFE!!!!

birthdays and blessings

I'LL TRUST THE POTTER'S HAND, HE KNOWS WHATS BEST FOR ME!!  HE HAS A PERFECT PLAN,  THESE EYES CANT SEE, HE'S THE POTTER , I 'M  THE CLAY, HE KNOWS JUST HOW MUCH I CAN TAKE, WHEN I FACE THE FIRE AGAIN, I WILL TRUST THE POTTER'S HANDS.

wow..what great words!!! just sitting here this morning , enjoying my delicious muffins with cream cheese, and oh, so good Starbucks..    Let me just say, if you love Starbucks, then spend some extra money, and buy some for the home... it is AWESOME to have ANYTIME you want, without having to leave your home!!!!!! As i am sitting here blogging, that song above came on the radio... the words are just beautiful. (( ''HE knows whats best for me!! )))   if that song did NOT say anything else, that would be enough.. Glad to be reminded of this today!!

i need to get up from here to get ready for church.. we had a fun weekend, got to go fishing some friday.. we did not catch anything, but it was still fun hanging out with my hubby... it came a HUGE STORM, and we had to leave.. we went to a favorite place for supper before heading home...,  and today , we are celebrating my nephew, Drake's birthday!!!  He is growing real fast!!! He will be in the fourth grade this time!!!
Happy birthday, Drake!!

Thank You LORD

i am waking  up this morning to find out about the Colorado movie theater shooting... wow... things just keep getting worse every day.. I am overwhelmed at how a heartless person can take innocent, young lives... People are cruel!!! They need Jesus!! I am praying today for the families of these victims, and I am  very glad they have this person in custody, so  that he can no longer do this!!!

This makes me thankful today to the Lord for all His many blessings. My ''Grattitude Attitude'' today is in place.  Some blessings today include, my hubby arriving from work this morning, SAFE!! and at home with me!!! A good morning hug and kiss!! Thankful for a yummy breakfast that he prepared for me and him!! Thankful for our home, and our little piece of land we have here... It still amazes me that the Lord preserved this just for us.. in HIS time... Thankful for the ''basic things''.. like water, AIR CONDITIONER!!!!!!, and power!!! We have  had a a lot of power outages in our area lately, due to really bad storms.. Thankful HE has kept us safe. I am thankful for our garden.. I know that is  kind of crazy.. but I am thankful for it.. It has had a SLOW start, because it was soooo dry, but we have got some much needed rain, so it has kind of had a growth spurt over the past few days.. We have gotten cucumbers, tomatoes, and peppers of the vines this week..

2 Thessalonians 5:18 KJV In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.

This makes me aware to NEED to be more thankful. Often I struggle with the WILL of God concerning my life. I definately know that it IS the WILL of Him to be thankful.This is commanded!!!! ,According to this verse in 2 Thessalonians. When we are thankful,it is much more easier to praise the Lord for the things He has done for us. I, sometimes, worry about what iS going to happen tomorrow, before I am even thankful for the things that have happen, or will happen today!!! I need to work on that, because I know He is in control of it ALL.. past, present, and FUTURE!!!
I found this poem and it describes my true feelings today.....

THANKSGIVING is more than a day in November, That students of history are taught to remember, For while we still offer the traditional prayer, We pray out of habit without being aware, That the pilgrims thanked GOD just for being alive, For the strength that HE gave them to endure and survive. Oh, teach us, dear GOD, we are pilgrims, STILL, Subject alone to  YOUR guidance and Will, And show us the way to purposeful living, So we may have reason for DAILY THANKSGIVING!!!!!

Thank you Lord for your blessings on me and my wonderful family.. Your goodness amazes me everyday!!

CHRISTmas in JULY!!!!

 Luke 2:11 KJV  For unto you is born this day in the city of David, a Saviour,  which is Christ the Lord.

Merry CHRISTmas!!! yes, I said it!!! It is CHRISTmas in July, here at the Simple Gift. Here it is, EXTREMELY hotttt...!! My family and I just returned from our annual family beach vacay. We have enjoyed yummy meals, long lounges on the beach, homemade ice cream, shopping, eating, playing games, eating..., swimming, oh, and I forgot, eating!!!!! We had a fabulous time, but would have enjoyed it more, had my parents came. They did not make it this year.. It did not seem right without them.. While we were there, we often talked about how Christmas was just around the corner!!!! It just seems like I just got all my decor back up in it's corner in the attic!!!I have already seen decorations out for this season!!! YIKES!!! This seems unreal..

Last year at Christmas time, I was seriously just going through the motions!!! I love Christmas time, but did not feel like celebrating at all... My heart was NOT in it.. I had just lost my grandmother, at the end of November.. All I could think about was her being gone, and how we would NOT be celebrating with her this year... I had just celebrated with her Thanksgiving just a few weeks before.. It was a wonderful Thanksgiving. I never imagined the LOSS our family would feel without her. I could only think back at our ''LAST'' Christmas together, and all the good times we shared, our time of gift exchange, pictures, etc. This is HARD!! AND believe me, it STILL is. I have to depend on the Lord to help me through it, and He has, but I still miss her so much.  I can only reflect on our happy memories, the great experiences I had with her in the kitchen, and knowing that it is temporary!!! My family and I will see her again.

I am looking forward to Christmas this year. I don't have to wait to December 25.. I can celebrate it 365 days a year... We took our youth choir to sing at this nearby church, back in the early spring. My Mother is the youth choir director. While we were there, our choir sang, ''I CALL HIM LORD''..... i was singing with them too, it was such a sweet, spirit of  God, that I felt there that night.. It kind of made me feel like it was Christmas again.. I was singing all these words about Jehovah, MESSIAH, mighty GOD and KING!!!!  AND it wasn't just a Christmas carol, or just a crazy kid's Christmas play.. IT was REAL.. it  WAS real to me..IT is amazing to know that HE is LORD.. and HE provides for ME!!

''and the angels called Him JESUS, born of a virgin, Mary called Him, JESUS, but I CALL Him LORD!!!''

That was a beautiful song, even still is, and It doesn't have to be just at Christmas!!!

So, as I sit here , I am still feeling IN the CHRISTmas SPIRIT... i am anticipating it!! I am keeping my memories of Past Christmas's in my heart.. But I  know my Grandmaw had the best Christmas EVER this past year, and will continue!!!  Merry Christmas ''in July'' Everyone!!!!

 I BOUGHT THIS SWEATER FOR MY GRANDMAW,SHE LOVED IT, AND ALWAYS LOOKED SO PROUD AND FESTIVE WHEN SHE WORE IT!!!

this is her Christmas tree.. this was the last time it was put up.... so pretty!!!!

BY HIM

What comfort by HIM do we win,

Who made Himself the price of sin.

To make us heirs of Glory??

To see this babe, ALL innocence,

A martyr born in our defence:

Can a man forget this story?? - Ben Jonson

Show ME some SMILES!!

Matthew 7:12 KJV Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets.

Why smile???? HMMMM. let's see... Because you woke up this morning, you can walk, talk, and obviously read this!!! You are breathing!! If you are a Christian, your Heavenly Father is with you EVERY STEP of the way.. That's ENOUGH!!! SMILES:))) are contagious!!! If OTHERS see you smile, they will want what you got  and wonder why YOU ARE SMILING??!!!!!! 

If you DIVIDE one smile:) between two people, you SUBTRACT tension, and ADD some joy!!! Usually the ORIGINAL :) SMILE  has been MULTIPLIED several times.

we can smile, knowing the LORD IS ON OUR SIDE!! HE'S ''GOT THIS''..!!!! amen!!

We can always find reasons to smile. We often do NOT FEEL LIKE IT!! but, when you start to think of how bad it could be,but it is not, we can smile!! Sometimes, we grow weary, tired, depressed.. when these things happen in our lives, or in my OWN life, I start to count MY blessings... SMILES RETURN INSTANTLY!!!! Start thinking about things that are dear to your heart, things that make YOU happy.. a large ''gut laugh'' from your  kids, a wonderful family outing you have recently had, a time in your childhood, that was your most favorite.. ALL THESE THINGS ARE INSTANT SMILE:)))) STARTERS!!!!

one of the best reasons to smile, is knowing JESUS as your LORD AND SAVIOR!!!

*****a SMILE is a LIGHT in the WINDOW of a FACE!!! *****

why do you fret and sometimes weep??

GOD, His promises HE will keep!!

He that hath in you begun a good work,

will see it IS DONE!!

therefore, LOOK UP!! and SMILE!!! :))))

GOD is your FATHER, 

YOU are HIS child!!!!

Philippians 1:6 KJV Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ.

What SUNSHINE is to flowers, SMILES are to humanity.

HAHAHA!!! and after all of this... it makes me want to sing a song I have heard from my childhood, and still hear it today.. it  is like this.....

SMILE A WHILE, AND GIVE YOUR FACE A REST, LIFT YOUR HANDS, TO THE ONE YOU LOVE THE BEST, THEN SHAKE HANDS WITH THOSE NEARBY, AND GIVE TO THEM, A SMILE!!!!   :))))))))))

i think it's time to SMILE AWHILE!!!

wanna-be CASTAWAY?

Looking out over the ocean this morning, i am amazed at the hand of the Lord. How??? HE could create this universe in a short 6 days, is beyond my comprehension. The ocean, how it comes in and out, time after time, amazes me.. How every wave is different, How there is just tons AND  tons of water..How it can be sooo calm, but rough the next day or even hour amazes me!!! How many grains of sand on the shore.. How EVERYTHING SEEMS SO PEACEFUL, TRANQUIL.... the Lord CREATED THIS ALL!!!  I often wander what it would be like to be on a deserted island..ALL BY YOURSELF.. you would be a castaway.. NO ONE WOULD KNOW WHERE YOU WERE. some would think this would be great.. you would be away from IT ALL!!! i kind of think i would like it.. It makes you  think.. what items would/ could you bring?? what would you do for food?? i mean, coconuts, and mangos ,and bananas might would get old after a while!!!! your survival skills definately would be put into play.you would need food, shelter, warmth..etc.. In looking at this, I am glad we are not CASTAWAYS with Jesus.. Although, we can be out of the WILL of God, He never cast us away, He still loves us, in spite of it all.

Psalm 9:10 KJV And they that know thy name will put their trust in thee: for thou, Lord, has not forsaken the that seek thee.

Another thing to ponder is, if no one was there with you, you would still have to survive.. with God's help, He would be there to help handle any situation.. He WOULD send the rain, the food, shelter, warmth.. for survival, according to HIS will.

I can be calm and free from care on ANY shore, since GOD is there. - Jeanne Guyon

happy 4th

 Happy 4th everyone!! hope you all got to enjoy some good food, fun, and fellowship sometime today.

BLESSED IS THE NATION WHOSE GOD IS THE LORD.

disguised blessings

When troubles come , and things go wrong, AND days are cheerless, and nights are LONG, We find it so easy to give into despair, By magnifying the burdens we bear. We add to our worries,  by refusing to TRY,  to look for the RAINBOW , in an overcast sky. And the BLESSING God sent in a darkened ''DISGUISE''  .Our troubled Hearts fail to RECOGNIZE , Not knowing God sent it NOT  to distress us, But to strengthen our FAITH and redeem us and BLESS US!!!!! - Helen Steiner Rice

sometimes we have disguised blessings in our lives. it may be something that you have done, not really wanting too.. but  you did anyway. it could be out of your own service to your church, or family. it could just be a time spent with your family member, not knowing it was YOUR LAST!!! it could be a simple word spoken to another person, and in return, a friendship was BORN. it could be a ''thinking of you'' card when someone is at their lowest... it  has many faces, but disguised blessings in my book, are things that could or would be done , not knowing what would happen in return, and not EXPECTING anything back.I have witnessed several ''DISGUISED BLESSINGS'' in my own life, just over the past few weeks. Some of these , I hope to share in the future. God sends the rain, but also HE makes every Rainbow, perfect. Not ALL rainbows look the same, but are colored just right. this kind of makes me think of the ''disguised blessings'' HE gives us. They are always in His perfect timing, and designed to BLESS us when we don't want to even LOOK for the rainbow. i want to see all the colors in the rainbow, and be strengthened , and let HIS disguised blessings be revealed to me in HIS time...

Genesis 9:14 KJV And it shall come to pass, when I bring a cloud over the earth, that the bow shall be seen in the cloud.: 15 And  I will remember my covenant , which is between me and you and every living creature of all flesh; and the waters shall no more become a flood to destroy all flesh.