Eli-WHO?

(DISCLAIMER: This picture is a year and a half old....my hair looks a lot better!!!)

Hey, y'all!


I've been deep into His Word this week at Wendy's website studying the book of Job. Yes, the Old Testament character who was so obedient to God. He was blameless and a man of integrity. One day, the Accuser asked God if he could test him. He wanted to see if bad things happened to Job, would Job still honor and fear God. Job did pass the test! But, he went through TERRIBLE, TERRIBLE trials. His children were killed. His servants and livestock were killed. His wife left him. He had awful boils all over his body. People spit on him, and the list goes on. And yet, he still claimed that he had done nothing wrong --Job was innocent before God. Job simply wanted God to tell him what he had done because there had to be a reason all of this had happened.


Now Job had three friends. These friends, after finding out what had happened to their buddy, came to the city gate where Job was and sat with him in silence for a week. Can you imagine not speaking for an entire week? Mercy!


Then, the three friends tried to help him figure out what sin he had committed for all of this to have happen. They inquired, and Job defended himself. This banter went on for quite awhile. (Many chapters, people! Many chapters!)


Remember, this was happening in a public place where others were walking by and hearing their conversation. Personally, I think I would have found a quiet little cafe in the land of Uz and hung out there to discuss all of this! Just sayin'!


Finally, another character enters the conversation. His name is Elihu. Elihu's name means "He is my God." Well, first Elihu tells Job and his three buddies that he has been listening and has not said one word because he was younger and since they were older, they SHOULD be wiser! Listen to this young whipper snapper:


"I am young and you are old, so I held back from telling you what I think. I thought, 'Those who are older should speak, for wisdom comes with age.' But there is a spirit within people, the breath of the Almighty within them, that makes them intelligent."


Did you listen to that last sentence? Really listen? As young as Elihu was, he "got it!" He realized that the Holy Spirit lives in our hearts and is the one who gives us spiritual wisdom. He was trying to get this across to Job and company!


Elihu goes on to say: "For God is greater that any human being. so why are you bringing a charge against Him? Why say he does not respond to people's complaints? For God speaks again and again, though people do not recognize it. He speaks in dreams...He whispers in their ears and terrifies them with warnings. He makes them turn from doing wrong; he keeps them from pride."Job 33: 12-17


I don't know about y'all, but I believe that Elihu was on to something! He knew how to listen and hear the voice of God. He had the gift of discernment. And, he was willing to share that gift with Job. Would Job accept this gift? I'll find out in tomorrow's reading of Job 34!


My question for you all is do you have an Elihu in your life? Someone who sits back, observes, listens, prays, and then speaks what the Lord has place on their heart for you? I DO! She's in the picture with me! I am blessed that several of my close friends could have their middle initial E. --as in Elihu! This chickadee is my accountability partner. We pray together, share together, laugh together and cry together. She helps me stay focused especially on my ADD days!Everyone needs an Elihu in their lives!


Praying that you ask God to send your Elihu to you soon! And if she/he's already there, tell them how thankful you are that they truly listen to you!




Sweet blessings,

Scripture and a Snapshot

I wanted to share this photo that I took last Sunday morning at Isle of Palms, SC. This was my Sunday morning worship time with the Lord. I showed up, camera in hand, and He showed off in a mighty way! Wow! It was worth the wait and the cold temperatures! I hopped out of bed, literally threw on a huge coat and hat, grabbed my flip flops(I always wear flipflops on the beach whether it's 100 degrees or 30 degrees!) and headed to the beach. And, my pink polka dot flannel bed pants/pajama pants were not as warm as I had hoped! I did not include a picture of my ensemble, but you can imagine!



God's beauty never ceases to amaze me. From sunrises to sunsets to majestic mountains and the never ending tides. From microscopic insects to hydrangeas to hoot owls. From a baby's birth to a new tooth coming in. All of these are His creation and His to share with us. What a blessing we receive each day.

Join me at Katie's for more Scripture and a Snapshot posts.

Sweet Blessings,

Sweet Shot Tuesday

If you could see the look on Child #1's face as he rares back to throw that snowball, you would be able to visualize the amazing snowball wrestling match that took place in our yard yesterday. Back yard, side yard, front yard....everywhere. They had a glorious time rolling around in the snow! Join me at Darcy's for more fun pictures today!


With a new year upon us, many of you have made New Year's Resolutions. I chose not to! I am
instead looking at one word to be my goal this year. So many of you had a "word" for the year weeks ago. I didn't! Why didn't God give me a word? Well, you have to ask, which I did. But you also have to listen! And that means being quiet enough to hear Him! Last week while running, I received my word!



Pursue.



Not pursuing food or exercise or great shopping deals. Nope, pursuing Him! I have been chasing after Him for some time now. Chasing was not exactly the word that best described how I felt. It was pursue. I am pursuing His Word so that I can better know Him and try to be more like Him in my days to come. I want to have the joy and compassion and peace and self control and love that we hear about in Galatians. It is not something that I can do alone. I need to rely on His strength moment by moment. Staying in His Word with Bible Studies is a wonderful way to be connected. I am again reading through the Word with Wendy Pope this year and loving it! Also, I will be starting a study next Tuesday on Ephesians at church. We sorta got snowed out today!


So, how are you going to pursue the LORD this year? Bible Studies, retreats, mission work...share with me!


Sweet Blessings,

Happy Birthday, Edie!

Those of us who have been around bloggyland for awhile see names and blogs on a daily basis. Although we may never have the opportunity to meet these precious people on this side of heaven, we can reach out to them via the internet 24/7.

Through online Bible studies, decorating ideas, cooking, crafting, and photography tips, I have truly been blessed! I mentioned the other day that my friend's husband became a new Christian right before Christmas to my Hubby. He asked me, "Now how do you know each other?" Well, it's through blogging! When you connect with others and develop relationships, you want to spend time with those friends just as you do your real next door neighbors.

Sometime back, I was reading a blog and the writer mentioned a great kitchen re-do that we just had to visit! So, I joined the other bloggers and went directly to Edie's blog--Life in Grace. I fell in love with the decorating ideas and most importantly, with Edie's heart! She is such a busy mama! She's another of you all that home school--bless your hearts! Y'all are on a pedestal in my book!

So, another friendship blossomed. Right before Christmas, I was horrified to read that Edie's home had burned to the ground. But praise the Lord, the entire family (including the dogs!) escaped unharmed. My heart just wanted to be in Tennessee with them and help! I felt helpless! I'm here, and she's there! So, after reading this post this morning and learning that it's Edie's birthday, I wanted to send hugs and love to her via my blog. I hope that you'll hop over and visit a while with her. Some of her friends "hijacked" her blog so we can send her birthday wishes. Pretty cool!

Edie, praying that the Lord will bless you today! That you will feel His warmth and love all around you. You have touched the hearts of so many women in bloggyland by showing them how to be the hands and feet of Christ. You are a gift to us! I hope that one day, we can meet and do lunch! Preferably here in the south. If not, there's a place down the streets of gold that holds a table for friends. Happy birthday, sweet friend!

Love ,

2010---The good, the bad, the lovely!

Happy New Year's Eve everyone! In just a few hours, we'll be headed to a party to watch Carolina play in a bowl game and ring in the new year. Actually, we probably won't make it to midnight....I'm tired from a long run this morning, and Hubby went for a long bike ride. Sad when you get old!!!

Just visited Facebook to see how my friends in cyberspace are doing. One of my sweet peeps, Leah, had a great question on her wall. She asked what was the most memorable thing about 2010. I would love to hear your answers to this! So, get comfy and spend a few minutes reflecting on the moments that have made an impact in your life this year. (Leah, if you have the same question on your blog, please forgive me! I really liked it!!!)

My memorable moments (is that redundant?) include reading through the Bible for the first time ever (see Wendy Pope, for tomorrow we start again!), attending an awesome ladies' retreat (gIRL gathering at Black Mtn.), speaking to a lovely group of ladies at a nearby church, and seeing my photography business grow according to God's plan.

The other is going through the first year without my Daddy. It was a year ago last week that he passed away. But, glory! He's celebrating Christmas again in Heaven.

Share your memories with us! And, have a blessed New Year!

Sweet Blessings,

Merry Christmas, Y'all!

Last Friday, I had the pleasure of hosting a Christmas dinner for some precious friends. One of these darling gals lives way up in Virginia, and I haven't seen her since last year. Even though my week was very hectic, I slowed down and made time for these wonderful women of faith. We laughed, ate....and ate some more, and simply sat in the presence of each other for hours talking and planning our next marathons. We never did decide on one that we could all run together. One is planning her daughters' weddings (yes, 2!). Another is busy teaching high school. One is very involved in her church work. And another is working around her son's senior year in high school--prom, graduation, etc.

Everyone is in a busy season it seems these days. How many errands can you run before lunch? How quickly can you get in and out of the grocery store? How many loads of laundry did you wash and dry today (folding them up doesn't count!!)?

How many times did you talk to Jesus today? How many phone calls did you make? How many prayers did you lift up to the Lord before bedtime? How many texts did you respond to?

As Christmas approaches (and I am NOT done with my shopping or baking, thank you!)
I encourage you to stop. Sit. Pray. Listen. Take out that Bible and turn to Luke 1. Slowly read the words, one at the time. This is not the time to speed read! Let the meaning sink in. Ponder the words that God has placed before you. What does He want you to see, to hear, to remember? Enjoy this Christmas time. He has given us the most wonderful Gift ever. The gift of Jesus...who loved us so much that He died for our sins so that we might spend eternity with Him. Now that, my friends, is the best Christmas present ever.

Sending all of you hugs and love from my little corner of SC.
Merry Christmas!

Sweet Blessings,

Christmas Gift Ideas!!!

Hey, y'all! Is it cold enough for you? Mercy! It's freezing down here in the south! I don't do this kind of weather!

Hope that some of you have thought about Christmas presents by now! There are only 19 days left until Christmas. I should be in a panic because I only have a few purchased. But, I refuse to let it get to me ( call me on the 24th, and we'll see if a panic attack has set in or not!)

Ok, time to share some fun gift giving ideas for those of us on a Bu-Jay. You have less than a week to find something really cute and fun and special for some of your closest girlfriends. You have wracked your brains out trying to come up with an original idea...you have done the Bath and Body Works lotions (which I LOVE!!!), candles, ornaments, etc. You need something new...vibrant...exciting. Are y'all getting the picture? I need some ideas!! Quickly! But this is something that we can all benefit from!

List two or three items under 20$ and the store where they can be purchased (online stores/etsy are great options!) Let's see what we can come up with that will relieve a little stress. On your mark...get ready... go!!!

1) Half of a pound cake on a nice plate from Target, Marshalls, etc.
2) A plug- in from Scentsy and some bricks to go with it in a cute drawstring pouch (Contact your nearest Scentsy rep.)
3) A new cookbook (You know where to get these! Church ones are the BEST!) and a cute Christmas spatula( Cracker Barrel, Target)

Ok--your turn! Impress all of us with some really cool ideas...quickly!


Sweet Blessings!