Yea Me! It's a Blog Award!

My friend Libby at Daily Tidbits gave me this award. I have received awards before and since I am limited in my time here in blog land I have not been able to respond to any. But today I thought "what the heck" and so I am passing it on. The five rules with this award is to confess five things you are addicted to and then to pass it on to 5 other bloggers that bless me with their site.

5 things I am addicted to:

1. God-I am nothing without Him in my life.

2. My husband-I have never known love like this before. I am blessed.

3. Coffee-24/7! I probably have no stomach lining left. One teaspoon sugar and fat-free cool whip and who needs Starbucks!

4. Dove chocolate!

5. The friendships I have made here-I wish I could blog more!!!!

Pass the award on to 5 deserving bloggers.

Elaine at Peace for the Journey

Yolanda at Higher Ground or Joy Comes in the Morning

Teri at A view from the Mountaintop

Pam at Grey Like Snuffie

and of course.....Much 2 Ponder

Be sure to visit them all and Libby and be blessed!

His Maidservant~Pamela

ABC's of the Word..."G"

I love Thursdays! Pam at Grey Like Snuffie host ABC's of the Word. Go here to see all the wonderful scripture bloggers are finding this week with "G" words. It is such a great way to spend time in God's word! Thanks Pam!

This week my word is ....

The King James Dictionary gave some great definitions for GRACE...read through these and soak them in:
* A short prayer before or after meat; a blessing asked, or thanks rendered. (of course)
*Appropriately, the free unmerited love and favor of God, the spring and source of all the benefits men receive from him (Rom 11)
*Favorable influence of God; divine influence or the influence of the spirit, in renewing the heart and restraining from sin (2 Cor. 12).
* A state of reconciliation to God (Rom.5.2).
* Spiritual instruction, improvement and edification (Eph.4.29).

GRACE is associated with many other words such as favor, privilege, honor,and mercy. But there is so much more....

GRACE is dignity:

The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth. ~ John 1:14

GRACE is beauty:

How beautiful your sandaled feet, O prince's daughter! Your graceful legs are like jewels, the work of a craftsman's hands. ~ Song of Solomon 7:1

GRACE is apostleship:

Although I am less than the least of all God's people, this grace was given me: to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ ~ Eph. 3:8

GRACE is justification:

...and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. ~ Romans 3:24

You are who you are because of GRACE:

But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace to me was not without effect. No, I worked harder than all of them—yet not I, but the grace of God that was with me. ~ 1 Cor. 15:10

GRACE is a a gift from God:

For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God.~ Eph. 2:8

We are called to live by GRACE:

Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone. ~ Col. 4:6

GRACE is eternal:

[ Be Holy ] Therefore, prepare your minds for action; be self-controlled; set your hope fully on the grace to be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed. ~ 1 Peter 1:13

GRACE is healing:

And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast. ~ 1 Peter 5:10

GRACE spiritually grows us:

But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever! Amen. ~ 2 Peter 3:18

Yes, GRACE is my favorite word! I cherish the GRACE I accepted and now live in following my brokenness.

Isn't GRACE amazing?

Living by GRACE~Pamela

ABC's of the Word..."F"

I apologize for the lateness of this post. The cabin we were at only had cell coverage when you were standing in certain spots and no computer coverage at all. I love this scripture finding activity hosted by Pam at Grey Like Snuffie. Go here to read the chosen scripture with a word starting with "F" from other bloggers. Thank you Pam for hosting this!

My word is . . . FAVOR. I chose the Old Testament verse to pray over my girls this week, the New Testament verse to pray over Joe and I.

[And the boy Samuel] continued to grow in stature and in FAVOR with the LORD and with men. ~ 1Samuel 2:26

[And Jesus] grew in wisdom and stature, and in FAVOR with God and men. ~ Luke 2:52

FAVOR is defined on dictionary.com as "the state of being approved or held in regard; on the side of; in support of: to be favorable to; facilitate: to deal with, treat, or use gently" but here is the really good definition for favor..."to bear a physical resemblance to; resemble: to favor one's father's side of the family". Ahhhh...to resemble our Father!!

Today I pray you find FAVOR in your Lord...that you resemble Him from the inside and outside.

Enjoy your first day of spring!

His Maidservant~Pamela

Taking Time to Get-Away....

Last week on March 12th my husband and I celebrated our 4th wedding anniversary. What a journey in just 4 years. I feel like we have been married a life time (I mean that in a good way!) and it definitely has not been enough!

We got married around spring break at the college where I work so that every year we can sneak away during this time for a little rest and renewal, not just with ourselves, but with our God. It has become a spiritual retreat for us individually and for our marriage! Again this year we have chosen our favorite cabin in no-where-land for our annual spiritual retreat. I'm not boasting but just sharing in my excitement and to encourage you to do the same. We leave this morning and will not return until Thursday evening. Just the two of us and God (and a little antiquing!). Ummmm! Try to imagine this....

God is always there with us....always. It has been so powerful in the past that it has now become an addiction for us to return. It is so secluded and private...surrounded by God's wondrous creations. As I stand on that dock or walk the land, I imagine the breeze is the breath of God...

...and the smell in the air the aroma of God.

The weather is suppose to be in the 60's and 70's this week. I anticipate spending a lot of time outside soaking in God's presence and seeking Him through my book "Wild Goose Chase: Reclaim the Adventure of Pursuing God" by Mark Batterson.

The warmer weather will not keep us from the hot tub. We have seen some beautiful sunsets in this thing, listened to the night songs of the coyotes or the birds. One year, it was snowing the most delicate and beautiful snow flakes as we sat in it. Isn't it just dreamy?






The women's community Bible study I am facilitating is covered and grandma and grandpa have come in to take care of the girls, but I still feel a bit guilty leaving and partaking in this little peace of heaven. Life will slow down for a few days and this is so very needed for Joe and I. No computer, no whining, no work demands. Just love...lots of love.

When was the last time you got away for spiritual retreat? Not a conference full of of people, but a quiet time searching for God's presence, His voice? Have you ever experience such a retreat with your mate? Praying together, talking. dreaming, loving? I really encourage you in this. Though I have taken a break from blogging to concentrate on our community bible study, I felt as if maybe God wanted me to post this to remind you that He is waiting to meet with you too...in seclusion...at your favorite place. If you don't have one, find a place-or come to Missouri and barrow mine! Take the time!

But if from there you seek the LORD your God, you will find him if you look for him with all your heart and with all your soul. ~ Deut. 4:29

Blessings!

His Maidservant~Pamela

ABC's of the Word..."E"

Here are my verses for ABC's of the Word hosted by Pam at Grey Like Snuffie, my word is EARNESTLY.

O God, you are my God, EARNESTLY I seek you; my soul thirsts for you, my body longs for you, in a dry and weary land where there is no water. I have seen you in the sanctuary and beheld your power and your glory. Because your love is better than life, my lips will glorify you. ~ Ps 63:1-3 (NIV)

What does it mean to be EARNEST? It is an action word which dictionary.com describes as "with a purposeful or sincere intent; serious; determined". Think back to when you became "EARNEST" about your faith and your relationship with God. When did you become purposeful, serious and determined? It came about for me when I became broken of me and broken for Him.

As we are working through the Esther study in our community Bible study, Beth so sweetly stated:

"You cannot amputate your history from your destiny...your past and your future shares the same root--Jesus"!

Does not your past make you want to be more EARNEST in your search of not only more faith but also for your destiny? Your personal destiny? Your destiny as a wife or mother? As a women of God? Our destiny, our purpose in Christ is revealed when we EARNESTLY seek Him and allow Him to use all of who we are..the good, the bad, the ugly...the forgiven, the redeemed, the lovely.

And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who EARNESTLY seek Him. ~ Hebrews 11:6 (NIV)

Lord, I chose to be EARNEST for you. It is the word I chose to live by, not just for today but always. EARNESTLY I will seek you Lord. Grow my faith. Amen.

Be EARNEST ladies!

His Maidservant~Pamela

ABC's of the Word...D

Pam at Grey Like Snuffie is hosting this blessed activity f posting scripture following the alphabet. This week we are searching for "D" words. You can go here to see everyone's postings.

Though Col. 3: 16 is my chosen verse, and the word "DWELL" my chosen word, I can not just give you that verse alone. In order for Christ to DWELL in you requires holy living on our part. The rules to holy living are described in the verses preceding verse 16. This is such a familiar passage but read it again, slowly, mediating on what is and is not a part of holy living, and then focus on what it really is to have Christ DWELL in you!! Be blessed ladies.....

Colossians 3 (NIV)
1Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. 2Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. 3For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. 4When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.
5Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry. 6Because of these, the wrath of God is coming. 7You used to walk in these ways, in the life you once lived. 8But now you must rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips. 9Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices 10and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator. 11Here there is no Greek or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all, and is in all.
12Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. 13Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. 14And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.
15Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. 16Let the word of Christ DWELL in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. 17And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

We are are teachers and modelers of Christ and holy living. This holy living that Christ requires of us can only happen if the scripture is alive and active in us. There is a lot required here for holy living. Maybe it would benefit us to put these rules of holy living into a list format-the "do's and don'ts", something to view on a daily basis to encourage us towards it. Whatever it takes for Christ to DWELL in us, we are to be willing.

I want Christ to DWELL in me, I want to love as He loves, to forgive as He forgives, to clothe myself as He clothe Himself when He ministered to others. I want to experience His peace, His unity, His holiness richly in my life. Don't you? What is the result of Christ DWELLING in us? Others are DRAWN to Him. A beautiful word picture isn't it?

Oh Lord, DWELL in each of us. Clothes us with your holiness so that we may serve others as You would serve them. May the DWELLING of Your presence in and though us DRAW others to You. Amen

His Maidservant~Pamela