Sweet Sunday Scripture!!!

It has been a beautiful sunny weekend. 

 I can feel my body energizing with the warmth of the sun and the light of the longer days. 

 I wanted to share this beautiful picture taken a few weeks ago during a snowy day.  

 I love to take pictures of old barns. 

 When I see a barn standing alone. I imagine all the things or treasures stored up inside of them.

You just never know what you might find in a barn these days. 

 They house animals, food, farm equipment, supplies and lots

 and lots of junk or treasures!
One man's junk is another man's treasure!  

 This got me to thinking about how Jesus tells us in scripture to "Stop" storing up or treasuring "things" that have no eternal value.

 I found myself once again in the book of Matthew Chapter 6.

"Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth,

where moth and rust destroy,

and where thieves break in and steal. 

But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven,

where moth and rust do not destroy,

and where thieves do not break in and steal.

For where your treasure is,

there your heart will be also."

Matthew 6: 19-21

Jesus makes a very clear statement about the things we treasure as evidence of what is in our heart.
A treasure is defined( in the dictionary) as:

1. Accumulated or stored wealth in the form
 of money, jewels, or other valuables.
2. Valuable or precious possessions of any kind.
3. One considered especially precious or valuable.

We tend to keep our "treasures" close to us or store them away for safe keeping.

Sometimes we store them away until we need them and losing the opportunity to enjoy them.

One treasure that was meant to share or give-away is the good news of Jesus Christ!

In blog land we see many wonderful treasures that mean so much to each of us.

If you have the wonderful treasure of Christ, have you shared him with someone else?

Others know immediately what you treasure...............

What I surround myself with tells much about what is in my heart.....................

  Lord, empty me of me (the stuff and things) so I can fill myself with you!!!

The one true treasure...JESUS!!!


Blessings!

Patty

Blessed!!!!!

Look at what I received from Teresa over at Grammy Girlfriend.  She posted the book "Unshaken" as a give away and I won.  I was so surprised and really blessed when the package included a beautiful cross and planner/calendar. 

The book is exactly how Teresa described it. I was excited to get the opportunity to read the book after spending around 10 days in Haiti this past summer. I was so blessed by the wonderful testimony that is shared and once again challenged in my faith. 

Again, Thanks Teresa and blessings to you for sharing this book.

Sweet Scripture Sunday!!!

As I watched the birds feeding in my yard this week I was reminded that our Lord takes care of his creation.  We spend much of our life worrying about so many things.  We tend to take matters into our own hands and do not allow the Lord to take care of us as we know he can.  We get "worldly" vision instead of "kingdom" vision.  Very dangerous in today's world.  We look at everyone else around us and get the "why can't I have that or I want that" attitude.  God only promised to give what we need when we need it. 

Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life,

what you will eat or drink, or about your body, what you will wear.

 Is not life more important  than food and the body more important than clothes? 

Look at the birds of the air;

they do not sow or reap or store away in barns,

and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. 

Are you not much more valuable than they? 

Who of you be worrying can add a single hour to his life? 

 And why do you worry about clothes? 

See how the lilies of the field grow. 

They do n ot labor or spin.

 Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 

 If that is how God clothes the grass of the field,

which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire,

will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?

so do not worry saying, " what shall I eat? or What shall I wear?

For the pagans run after all these things,

 and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 

But seek first his Kingdom and his righteousness,

and all these things will be given to you as well. 

Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. 

 Each day has enough trouble of its own.

Matthew 6: 25-34

Lord, help me to focus on what I need instead of what I want!  You have always been faithful to provide all my needs and many times my wants!

Blessings!

Patty

Spring has Sprung

As many of you know I go into the county jail on Mondays to lead a Bible study and twelve step program for the woman in the general population area. 

 I was surprised last Monday as the women filed into the small chapel area all decked out in their new bright pink suits. 

 I wish I could post a picture at this point but no camera's or pics allowed in jail, but I can tell you that "Spring has Sprung" in Jail......

it was great. 

The color looked something like the deep pink in this rose from my backyard.

How refreshing it was to see this beautiful pink instead of the typical jail colors of Gray and white or the burnt orange jumpsuits they have to wear to court. 

 It seemed as if the pink was helping them to forget where they were. I think they almost felt pretty. 

 It just reminded me of how God renews his creation with the season of Spring. 

The trees bud, the flowers bloom and all the dull gloomy days become bright with sun and color. 

 Even in the midst of a dark place he was able to allow a little glimpse of hope.  A little glimpse of Spring.

A jail is such a lonely place.  All the colors around you are dull and gray. 

A jail is a place of separation from the world outside and all the beauty and color of God's creation. 

 I hear this question time and time again, "why do you like to go into the jail?" 

 My answer, "it is not that I like it.  It is what God as told me to do."  I will admit, I do love my time there with the women.

  Even among all the hopelessness and despair. 

There is always one who just "gets it". 

One who God is waiting to transform into the beautiful creation he intended for them to be.

One who feels trapped and closed away from all the world. 

 One who feels confined to the darkness that has taken hold of their life. 

One who needs to hear the Words of truth. 

You might say, a chrysalis awaiting to become the beautiful butterfly. 

I pray, that I will always be faithful to bring the Word of truth to those around me. 
To those who read my blog, in my home and at my church.
I also want to be faithful to take this good news to those who may be behind bars,
the homeless,
to those trapped in addiction, abuse and neglect. 

To let "all" know there is hope and that hope is found in Jesus Christ. 

 He changes everything about us.....our past,
 our failures,
our hopelessness
 and yes even our color....our heart color. 

 He can take the dull gray and white of a heart trapped in the prison of sin and hopelessness
and recreate it into something beautiful!!!

2 Corinthians 5:17

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone and the new has come!

How about you?

Have you allowed Jesus to change your heart?

Blessings!

Patty

It a Sweet, Sunny Sunday!

It may be cold.  It may be cloudy but the "son" is still shining!!!

and that makes it a Sweet "Son"ny Sunday...

I have a Pastor friend who says, "every day is a good day.  Some are just better than others".  I love that positive outlook.



"This is the day the Lord has made, Let us rejoice and be glad in it".

Psalm 118:24

Be Blessed and have a wonderful Lord's Day!

Blessings ,

Patty

It's been a Tasty Tuesday!

Today I got to "hankering" ( I guess it is a Ky word) for some good ole fried chicken. So I got out my trusty  frying pan and went to work.  After dipping my chicken in a egg and milk base and dropping it into my bag of flour mixed with salt and pepper to taste

 and then shake, shake, shake!

 Into a hot pan of oil and a little whole butter added for good measure.......

Now isn't that mouth watering?  Crunchy on the outside.
 Moist and tender on the inside.

Of course you cannot have chicken without fresh hot biscuits...
 So I prepared a pan of those too.

 Of course a little butter on top.

And here it is all together with french style green beans,
mashed potatoes and of course some good ole gravy.......

It has been a tasty Tuesday!!!



Just a reminder;

as good as southern cooking can be nothing satisfies like the goodness of our Lord. 

The daily reading of His Word and the daily guidance of the Holy Spirit is the best recipe for life.

Taste and see that the LORD is good; blessed is the man who takes refuge in him.

Psalm 34:8

Blessings y'all

Patty