thankful

  • Thankful For Trees

    Then God said, “Let the earth sprout vegetation, plants yielding seed, and fruit trees on the earth bearing fruit after their kind with seed in them”; and it was so.  The earth brought forth vegetation, plants yielding seed after their kind, and trees bearing fruit with seed in them, after their kind; and God saw that it was good.…Out of the ground the LORD God caused to grow every tree that is pleasing to the sight and good for food.”
    Genesis 1:11-12; 2:9    NIV

    thankful for treesI’m Thankful For Trees because trees produce apples and, apples are my favorite snack; next to licorice, jujubes and dark chocolate.

    When I was a kid I could eat a whole bag of Macintosh apples after school.  It was hard to keep enough apples around for me.  If we didn’t move so often my parents could’ve planted an apple tree and saved some money!

    Trees Are For Beauty

    Thanksgiving Scripture-Genesis 1_11-12 _2_9Genesis starts off telling us trees are for beauty.  There is no more beautiful a scenery, none more, “pleasing to the sight” than an autumn forest.  Trees provide shade from the beating sun. The leaves and bark trap airborne toxins and purify them; filtering out the carbon, producing clean oxygen for us to breathe.  Their fruit produces food for people, birds and animals.

    Isaiah talks about how God created trees to be cut down to provide wood for us to make furniture and provide fuel for fire.  Fire from wood produces heat to keep us warm, drawing friends together while it cooks our food.  Trees are visual reminders of the changing seasons. I hope you re-read this paragraph and think of all the ways God provides for us, just through trees.  I pray you never look at trees the same again. 1

    I believe God gave us trees as a picture revealing truth about His character and how He is our provider. Click To Tweet

    So get outside and enjoy the colorful fall trees.  Break out the camera and take some photos of the changing leaves.  Warm yourself by a campfire and enjoy the heat while you visit with friends eating s’mores.  Know that God created these majestic creations for your use.  Be careful not to worship them or place them in greater value than God says, but always remember to stay, Thankful For Trees!

    Prayer

    Father…Thank You the trees.  Help me to never overlook them again, but view them as reminders that You are my provider.  Your provision is constant like the fruit of a tree.  Help me to live thankful for You and Thankful For Trees.  In Jesus Name…Amen  

    Drawing from the well

    1. Genesis 1:11-12, 2
    2. Isaiah 44:4, 14-15
    3. Isaiah 60:13
    4. Psalm 52:8

    Soul H2O bookIf you liked the refreshing in this #SoulH2O devotion, you’ll love my latest Soul H2O Devotional book: 40 Thirst Quenching Devotions for Women.

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    Post in the Comment Section below and bolster the faith of someone else!

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  • Amazing People

    I thank my God every time I remember you.”
     Philippians 1:3 NIV

    amazing peopleOn this Canadian Thanksgiving weekend, I was blessed to spend time with so many people I love.  I know that Thanksgiving was started by the early settlers to thank God for the abundant harvest of food He provided for them. Although, I LOVE food, this year my heart is overwhelmed in thankfulness for all of the amazing people in my life.  Friends and family are what makes my heart full this year.

    Amazing Bestfriends

    I realized just how blessed I am when I was able to spend time with two of my closest friends Lise and Wendy.  There’s four of us #fabfour in this friendship group and we missed having Rachelle there, but it’s hard for us to coordinate everyone getting together since we don’t all live in the same country anymore.

    These girls have been my prayer partners for the past few decades (Oh how I wish I could say we met in preschool right now).  We’ve been there for each other through thick and thin. We are praying, fasting, eating, laughing…lots of laughing, parenting, challenging, encouraging and cheering each other on to follow hard after God.

    I never would have made it through my desert times without these girls... Click To Tweet

    If it wasn’t for these beautiful women, I wouldn’t strive so much to reach for my dreams .

    philippians 1:3I feel a real affinity with Paul’s words in this verse. I thank my god every time I remember these girls. Paul wrote the verse while in prison.  When Paul was at the lowest point in his life he recognized and thanked so many people from the church in Philippi.  Just like Paul experienced, it’s the amazing people in our lives that are God’s greatest blessings.

    Let thankfulness fill your heart as you take the time to think about how friends and family have blessed your life.  Be like Paul and write something to let the amazing people you love know how thankful you are for them.

    Prayer

    Father…I thank You for putting amazing people in my life.  I’m a better person because of their influence.  Help me not to take them for granted.  Please give me the words and courage to express to them in writing how grateful I am, thanking God for them today.  In Jesus Name…Amen


    Soul H2O bookIf you liked the refreshing in this #SoulH2O devotion, you’ll love my latest Soul H2O Devotional book: 40 Thirst Quenching Devotions for Women.

    #Dare2Share

    Write something down to tell how your friends and family have helped you get through the hard times in the  Comment box below.

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  • THANKSGIVING

    Wishing all of my American friends a blessed Thanksgiving Day!  Hope you let your Worship Leaders and others who inspire you know how much you appreciate them!
    (See Monday’s Devotional “Every Time I Think Of You“, Just click on the words)
    Here are pictures from our Canadian Thanksgiving back in October.   Just like the American Holiday, only sooner!  It gives our stomachs longer time to recover and prepare for the BIG Christmas Feast  🙂

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  • Every Time I Think of You…

    “Come face-to-face with God, and give thanks; with loud and joyful voices, praise Him in songs.”
    Psalm 95:2 (The Voice)

    every time i think of ypouDuring this week of thanksgiving our attention is rightly given to God and all the blessings He brings into our lives.  God does so much for us!  With the pace of life we live, we often don’t slow down enough to appreciate all that He has done, so the holiday of Thanksgiving is a great time to slow us down and turn our focus to our great God!

    When Nehemiah was rebuilding the city of Jerusalem he reminded the people of how “long ago, in the days of David and Asaph, there had been directors for the musicians and for the songs of praise and thanksgiving to God.” (Nehemiah12:46-47,NIV)  He reinstituted the positions of Worship Leaders because he recognized the power of putting our focus on God and thanking Him for all He has done.  Nehemiah and all the people knew that only God could have rebuilt Jerusalem.  We need to open our eyes and see where God is at work rebuilding our lives!

    Time to Think and Give Thanks

    Psalm 95:2 (The Voice)Many of our churches today are blessed with Worship Directors and teams of gifted leaders who by using their words, worship and talents help us to direct our focus on God and how amazing He is.  Everyone knows someone who by their very life encourages others to see how good God is.  Take the time this week to live out 1 Corinthians 1:4-6 and let your Worship Leaders or others know how their lives direct you to focus on God and thank Him for His goodness and their influence in your life.

    “Every time I think of you…I thank God for your lives of free and open access to God, given by Jesus. There’s no end to what has happened in you—it’s beyond speech, beyond knowledge. The evidence of Christ has been clearly verified in your lives.”

    1 Corinthians 1:4-6 (The Message)

    Prayer

    Father…it is with a grateful heart that I come to you today.  You are such a good and wonderful God.  I thank-you for placing people in my life who, by their very lifestyle, direct me to put my focus on you and all your benefits!  Help me to live my life in a way that inspires others to thank-you! In Jesus name, Amen.


    Soul H2O bookIf you liked the refreshing in this #SoulH2O devotion, you’ll love my latest Soul H2O Devotional book: 40 Thirst Quenching Devotions for Women.

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  • Beside Joel & Book Signing–Indigo Book (St. Clair Shores store)

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    Todd and I were so excited to have WATER IN THE DESERT beside Joel Osteen’s books!  Joel and Victoria Osteen’s ministry has been such an encouragement to us.  Hope to one day meet them and thank them!
    A couple week’s later  I had a book signing at this store.  My first Indigo/Chapters book signing.  This is a gorgeous store in the Windsor/Tecumseh area.  The staff was so helpful at teaching me how to do book signings!  Great help from my daughter Shelby and her friend Tamara setting up.
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  • Beside Joel & Book Signing–Indigo Book (St. Clair Shores store)

    IMG_2175IMG_3018

    Todd and I were so excited to have WATER IN THE DESERT beside Joel Osteen’s books!  Joel and Victoria Osteen’s ministry has been such an encouragement to us.  Hope to one day meet them and thank them!

    A couple week’s later  I had a book signing at this store.  My first Indigo/Chapters book signing.  This is a gorgeous store in the Windsor/Tecumseh area.  The staff was so helpful at teaching me how to do book signings!  Great help from my daughter Shelby and her friend Tamara setting up.

    IMG_2314 IMG_2315

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