THANKFUL THURSDAY...the gift

So many times this time of year, people put the emphasis on the gift ~ not just the actual gift but the presentation of the gift. You know ... the wrapping paper, the gift bag, the tissue, the ribbon and the bow. We forget that it is not about the outer shell of the gift but it is what is inside that is important.

We are much like this when we try to be something that we are not - often times we forget that God has placed gifts in each of us that we can use for His glory. But we get so wrapped up in the "packaging", we think we can't sing well enough, or play an instrument well enough or we stumble and stammer when we speak. God is not looking for the "perfect" package, only a willing and an obedient vessel.

PSALM 85:12 "The Lord will indeed give what is good."

What gift have you been given from God? Today on Thankful Thursday, I am thankful for the gifts that God has placed within me to use for His Glory and I pray that I will be found to be a faithful and obedient "package" that He can use!

Our host today is Laurie at "Womas Taking A Stand" The above text is what she wrote. Join us in linking up overthere...

• I'm THANKFUL that i receive the biggest gift Tha Lord can give me HIMSELF for my SALVATION....Thank you Father for Your son.
• Thank You Lord that You put LOVE in me to share for YOUR GLORY in this world.I pray that your love will always be in and around me.Take away ALL that is standing in the way to make your love grow and stay in Jesus Name
• Thank You with the gift of PATIENCE in my life for the elderly......let it grow in me in more aspects of my Life...
• Thank You for all the Christmas Memories You brought to my mind again yesterday,also gifts put in side of me with everlasting worth!
  
• Thank You for the gifts/blessings You gave me this week Lord....financial,oppurtunity to have a short get-away, health.....no flusymptoms...no shoulderpains..not withstanding the cold weater
• Thank You for my kids and husband and the GIFTS You put in there Life......Pray that they will blossom out and bring you more and more Glory in Jesus name

Sonya at "Truth4the Journey " host also an TT so if you can't get enough by sharing and giving God back our GIFT OF THANKS GIVING...head over than also to her place or link-up to both places!

MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!

Christmas Memories....~ Join in....!!~

This evening i read an christmas memory post from Christy Rose at The Secret Life of an American Wife and Mom.

Who was tagged by the initiator of this fun  christina, @ luvin this life

Reading those memories  made me remember one of my 1st post last year......So i make it more appealing now i learn some more tricks to compile a post....and join in the fun of sharing our memories...

1 MY 1st Christmas in Europe...
My first 2 winters in Holland where the two last seasons in history of the " Elfstedentocht" That is like a marathon skating through eleven city's in the north of Holand on nature ice.........
So you could imagine that it was freezing cold especially as an child from the tropics.........
For me i spend Christmas with a family wiith 3 sons and the mother was Dutch and the father from my birthcountry Surinam
It was only laughing,eating,sleeping and presents.......NOTHING about Christ........
I missed my granny's the most.the warm weather and the christmaseve service.........

2 " My home is my castle"
When i had my own space in the "big city" of Amsterdam not anymore in a student flat but a one room appartment
I decorated it ...looked for a verry small tree and made my own x-mas home. Nobody understand why i wanted to be in my own home by myself etc.......
Around that time i was verry active in the youth group and choir of the Moravian Church Amsterdam so i loved to have x-mas with my church youth family. I remembered my niece who came to visit me with her newbornbaby my " Godchild" ( i don't know if this is the good eng. word ).I made a beautifull picture with her beside and not under " My tree" LOL I wished i could put that picture on here, I remember it untill today so vividly that i got x-mas visitors and this year it was 18 years ago bc the baby turned 18 last october

3 The 1st christmas with my own baby under the tree
My baby girl Ife who turned 10 last month...was that baby ten years ago.....
And it was a verry special x-mas my parents came over so it was my 1st x-mas with them in Holland and now not only as their daughter but as a wife and mum......
We had the 2nd day of the new year after that x-mas a big "baby welcoming celebration" that is a celebration that is held esp for your 1st child in my husbands culture. He is from Nigeria......
When i digitalize all my pictures oneday and i'm still blogging i will make a blog about it.......
I discovered around that time more about my dh's background and how family and social relationships are build up and sustained in the African culture....Relatives and friends came from over the border for this celebration.........

4 Christmas in Surinam

This happened two times since i came to Holland in 1985.Both not planned but due to circumstances unexpectedly going to the Lord of my grandfather of 80th years i believe 13 years ago and In 2004 of my great-aunt( grandmothers sister) who raised my mum.
I put them both as one memory bc of what strucked me both times is rally of the community and family in times of sorrow to help with organizing the funeral and the evenings of singing with the family and bringing of food and drink in those evenings.
There was no sadness but celebration of life and the hope knowing of meeting again!
The experience of this made me appreciate this of my "roots" culture so to say....
I saw so opposite in western society ...........also with younger generations from my country who grow up in Holland.......
The Christmases after was special bc we celebrated Christ birth through who we have hope after dead who we experience more closer in times of sorrow and THE LOVE He shed in our hearts we could feel it between us as a family.
My grandmother was so strong after my grandfathers death and gave such a testimony of Christ in her life who will help her through........
My aunties funeral was a celebration of a life of 90th years well spend in Service for the community as an optricien and farmacist and establishing the SOS children village and an Old-age house as an honour to her mother who had it as a dream.
She never married but had a lot of children as she said.....
Her faith in The Lord was also strong and she played organ every sunday in church........
I'm so proud that i got examples of verry strong blackwoman who served the Lord with their talents and who where blessed with long life..

I think the last tree memories will have links with my two granny's also and an 3th who still is a life and who will be God willing 90th years coming years. She was like a nanny who grew up with my grandmother and great-aunt....
She came in their house to have a better life in the city than with her parents and helped the mother of the house ........
She stayed and as she said "She pledged to the mother of the house " to take care of my great-aunt who only wanted to study and travel the world and serving community..........Her mother worried who would take care of her...........

5 Christmas memories with "Nene Dina" as i called her.....

She nursed me often and filled in the gaps when my mother was very busy ( she took after my great-aunt Es only got married with my dad)
Ne ne Dina had a listening ear to me and learned me how and when to fold my hands and why...........How a lady must behave ,what to wear to church etc.......
So X-MASS EVE as i can recall i went ALWAYS with her........
My parents where no church goers....Sundays i was always picked up by my great-aunt and this lady ( Yes she was driving a car.......She was the 1st black woman in Surinam with a car...)

We both where dressed in white and the only decoration could be red ribbons in my braids LOL
Singing all those Christmas carols and the hide was that everyone get a candle and the lights went out while singing the song " Morgenster na donkre nacht" ( transl. Morningstar after darknight) { This song is above..}
After the service we wished eachother Merry Christmas and walked to my great-aunts house above the farmacy in the middle of the town.......
That evening i think now was the free( from work) evening bc the house was made ready for all the nieces and nephews and other kids to come over and than was an children x-mas celebration hold..
Trees, presents a mistletoe..Aunty Es played organ and we sang or play a x-mas play....drinks and food ( all brought by family....and friends or what she got from business relations....)

6 Christmas preperations to give to others

Weeks maybe months before this great-aunt Es and now also my Grand-mother plan to make presents for lonely people at home......And to sell as fundraising to buy presents for kids who mostly don't get presents..
Also the parts to make the christmas decorations and or presents came frequently from friends from abroad who my aunty asked to fundraise....
I remember boxes with pine tree apples...,Ribbons., Spomge to stick the greenery and candles in
I wrap a lot of white candles with red ribbons.And made table decorations with candles and greenery.
Christmascards where made different styles...
My grandmother love to do embroderie so table clothes where made.......
At last a christmas market could be held in front of my aunties pharmacy.....
And i bake together with nene Dina christmas cookies also to sell all for fundraising.....

7 My last Christmas with my grandmother and her Youngest sister ( aunty Agnes)

This was in 2004 the x-mas after Aunty Es funeral a week befor Christmas.
My grandmother was housebound and her younger sister lived already that time in the Old-age House what was established in honour for their mother...
My mother told me an x-mas service was held for the elderly i think it was 20 or 23th of december....
I planned to celebrate this evening with this aunthy who was a little bit cut out of contact with family bc of her living in this old-age house...she also never married and had no children and she was a little bit the spoiled babysister. As i understand she had some learning disabilities but this aunty was the "street wisest" so to say........
My grandmother was the only one of the 3 sister who married
Anyway i said i want to bring my grandmother to celebrate x-mas with her sister bc only the two where left over from a family of 8..........
I convinced my granny and used my skills to lift her up,putting her in the car and hired a wheelchair......
people in the old-age house where so happy to see her ( bc some she knew... before) Her sister was so happy and all of us.
We made an 4 generation picture( Granny-mum- me and my dd ) under the picture of my great-grandmother so in fact it was 5 generation....
The service was awesome and made more special bc electricity went out and the whole service was by candlelight....
little did we know that this would be the last Christmas for those two sister. In May aunty Agnes went to the Lord and my grand-mother went 16 of november just the same date as her DH years before. We where all surprised but i knew in my heart God knew all and planned all details
This x-mas was for me an beautifull fare-well memorie of them both. I felt at peace with this memorie like God combined the opportunity to make this memory with them and to say goodbye like that in the flesh instead of going to their burial as closer of their life.
With my great-aunt was different she asked me if i could come on her 90th birthday..i said it wasn't possible due to school holidays so i told her i book for december and she said oke and died just a week before my booked day....

In all those memories i can say .......God is so Good and i'm thankful, he gave me all those memories........

I copy and past this "7 memories post" so it was a little lenghty but i hope you enjoyed it......

Christina our initiator say's

What traditions were you apart of?  What traditions do you incorporate into your Christmas now?
I want to have this spread around.  I think reflecting on the REAL reasons why Christmas is so much more than gift-giving or receiving continue to make the Holiday ALIVE to us!  By making Christmas a LIVING Holiday, I believe we truly feel the Joy that Christ would have us feel during our celebration of His Birth.

The Rules:
Write a Christmas Memories blog.
Include the link to my original blog somewhere in your blog.
Tag five other bloggers.
Then return to this blog's comments and paste the link to your Christmas Memories blog.

I am taking a liberty in tagging some of you, but please, even if you have not been tagged, feel free to share as well and then leave the link in my comments so I can come share in your Joy!

1. Holly from " Broken for God " 
2. Leigha from "Leigha's Loft"  
3. Yolanda at "Joy Comes in the Morning "  
4. Vikki from " Molding a lump of Clay " 
5. Lynn from " My Growing Walk "
   

Christmas blessings to all of you!

WFW ~ Greeting of PEACE .........~

FILL YOUR CHRISTMASwith MORE ofTHE PEACE of JESUS&HIS WORDS
VISIT all WFWsWORD FILLEDWEDNESDAY
with our hostessthis week
Christy @ Critty Joy

3th Sunday in advent readings ~ JOY ~

Zephaniah 3:14-20

 ^14-15So sing, Daughter Zion!
   Raise the rafters, Israel!
Daughter Jerusalem,
   be happy! celebrate!
God has reversed his judgments against you
   and sent your enemies off chasing their tails.
From now on, God is Israel's king,
   in charge at the center.
There's nothing to fear from evil
   ever again!

God Is Present Among You

 ^16-17Jerusalem will be told:
   "Don't be afraid.
Dear Zion,
   don't despair.
Your God is present among you,
   a strong Warrior there to save you.
Happy to have you back, he'll calm you with his love
   and delight you with his songs.

 ^18-20"The accumulated sorrows of your exile
   will dissipate.
I, your God, will get rid of them for you.
   You've carried those burdens long enough.
At the same time, I'll get rid of all those
   who've made your life miserable.
I'll heal the maimed;
   I'll bring home the homeless.
In the very countries where they were hated
   they will be venerated.
On Judgment Day
   I'll bring you back home—a great family gathering!
You'll be famous and honored
   all over the world.
You'll see it with your own eyes—
   all those painful partings turned into reunions!"
         God's Promise.

Isaiah 12:2-6

 ²"Yes, indeed—God is my salvation.
   I trust, I won't be afraid.
God—yes God!—is my strength and song,
   best of all, my salvation!"

 ^3-4Joyfully you'll pull up buckets of water
   from the wells of salvation.
And as you do it, you'll say,
   "Give thanks to God.
Call out his name.
   Ask him anything!
Shout to the nations, tell them what he's done,
   spread the news of his great reputation!

 ^5-6"Sing praise-songs to God. He's done it all!
   Let the whole earth know what he's done!
Raise the roof! Sing your hearts out, O Zion!
   The Greatest lives among you: The Holy of Israel." 

Philippians 4:4-7

 ^4-5Celebrate God all day, every day. I mean, revel in him! Make it as clear as you can to all you meet that you're on their side, working with them and not against them. Help them see that the Master is about to arrive. He could show up any minute!

 ^6-7Don't fret or worry. Instead of worrying, pray. Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns. Before you know it, a sense of God's wholeness, everything coming together for good, will come and settle you down. It's wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the center of your life.

 Luke 3:7-18

 ^7-9When crowds of people came out for baptism because it was the popular thing to do, John exploded: "Brood of snakes! What do you think you're doing slithering down here to the river? Do you think a little water on your snakeskins is going to deflect God's judgment? It's your life that must change, not your skin. And don't think you can pull rank by claiming Abraham as 'father.' Being a child of Abraham is neither here nor there—children of Abraham are a dime a dozen. God can make children from stones if he wants. What counts is your life. Is it green and blossoming? Because if it's deadwood, it goes on the fire."

 ¹⁰The crowd asked him, "Then what are we supposed to do?"

 ¹¹"If you have two coats, give one away," he said. "Do the same with your food."

 ¹²Tax men also came to be baptized and said, "Teacher, what should we do?"

 ¹³He told them, "No more extortion—collect only what is required by law."

 ¹⁴Soldiers asked him, "And what should we do?"

   He told them, "No shakedowns, no blackmail—and be content with your rations."

 ¹⁵The interest of the people by now was building. They were all beginning to wonder, "Could this John be the Messiah?"

 ^16-17But John intervened: "I'm baptizing you here in the river. The main character in this drama, to whom I'm a mere stagehand, will ignite the kingdom life, a fire, the Holy Spirit within you, changing you from the inside out. He's going to clean house—make a clean sweep of your lives. He'll place everything true in its proper place before God; everything false he'll put out with the trash to be burned."

 ^18-20There was a lot more of this—words that gave strength to the people, words that put heart in them. The Message! But Herod, the ruler, stung by John's rebuke in the matter of Herodias, his brother Philip's wife, capped his long string of evil deeds with this outrage: He put John in jail.

3thSunday in Advent !

Sunday, December 13


Third Sunday of Advent

Watchword for the Week
Bear fruits worthy of repentance. Luke 3:8

Zephaniah 3:14-20; Isaiah 12:2-6
Philippians 4:4-7; Luke 3:7-18

Bless the Lord, who redeems your life from the pit, who crowns you with
steadfast love and mercy. Psalm 103:2,4

These are the words of the holy one, the true one: I am coming soon; hold fast
to what you have, so that no one may seize your crown. Revelation 3:7,11

May we experience our salvation and call to love one another, O Lord, our
Redeemer, through the birth, teaching, death, and resurrection of Jesus. In his
name we pray. Amen.

Belated THANKFUL THURSDAY and FEARLESS FRIDAY!

It is amazing how days can "fly" away...I suppose to make an thankful thursday post yesterday and today an Fearless Friday post.....BUT my days went TOTALLY differently since wednesday night after my sons soccergame.My son got spiking high fevers in his sleep that evening.....and i was looking forward to 2 full days of morningshifts.....and had planned evening christmasshoppings with the kids.......During my work things happenend unexpectedly .....



Not withstanding feeling a little overwhelmed...tired and behind with things ( will not tell you what still need to be done .....christmas decoration is done by me after the 5th of december an Dutch Celebration)...I am thankfull for all big and small blessings in this week!

Lord i THANK YOU that i may know that all is in YOUR hand that You have the control of our lives

Thank You Lord for leading me to blogging exactly last sunday 1 year ago

Thank You for being able and staying healthy to do my job with the elderly in this "season of flu"

Thank You Lord for giving me insight and patience to help my daughter with extra home work....Lead us through this last period to her exams in february.....

Thank You for bringing down the fever of my son........

Thank You today for making a way that i still got my papers complete in 3 days time to go to an Christmas market in Belgium coming sunday....This is my christmas present.....

Thank You lord in advance that i may know that you will make a way that we can manage with our budget to go to different school-,work- and church activities

I Thank You in advance also that we may know that Christmas 2009 will be SPECIAL full of Joy of the birth of Your Son and our Savior than and now over and over in our heart!

Thank You for Your PEACE amids of worlds turmoil !

That brings me today to FEARLESS FRIDAY............Yes Lord THANK YOU for saying that we can be FEARLESS


I tell you the truth, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loose in heaven. Again I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything you ask for, it will be done for you by My Father in heaven. For where two or three come together in My name, there am I with them. Matthew 18:18-20


“They do not fear bad news; they confidently trust the Lord to care for them. They are confident and fearless and can face their foes triumphantly.” ~ Psalm 112:7-8 NLT

"Then if my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sins and restore their land." 2 Chronicles 7:14 NLT



For me this Friday is just gone it is past midnight ...but still wanted to make this blogpost and know my readers and fellow bloggers lift you all up in prayer. Had know change to look around at the prayer request but probably tomorrow during the day.......

Wish you all an Godfilled weekend. Keep close to Jesus Christ........and I pray that He will enlighten our EYES to stay where He want us to be and to see what is important.


Leave you all with 

A Christmas Prayer

Loving Father,
help us to remember
the birth of Jesus,
that we may share in
the song of the angels,
the gladness of the
shepherds, and the
worship of the wise men.

Close the door of hate
and open the door of love
all over the world.
Let kindness come with
every gift and good desires
with every greeting.

Deliver us from evil by the
blessing which Christ brings,
And teach us to be
merry with clear hearts.

May the Christmas morning make
us happy to be Thy children,

And the Christmas evening
bring us to our beds with
grateful thoughts, forgiving
and forgiven, for Jesus' sake.
Amen!

author-Robert Louis Stevenson
(1850-1894)

WFW ~ CELEBRATING SEEING A GREAT LIGHT ~

.

A Great Light

The people who walked in darkness
have seen a great light;
those who dwelt in a land of deep
darkness, on them has light shined.

Isaiah 9:2 (ESV

Isaiah 9:2 (The Message)

 ²The people who walked in darkness
   have seen a great light.
For those who lived in a land of deep shadows—
   light! sunbursts of light!

Since i joined WFW in March of this year nearly everytime and today was not different .It happens that i search for an Word what i find interesting in the bible.....I'm so happy that i discovered biblegateway.com to scroll through easy and to copy and past. (LOL) and i end up being surprised about the picture i find with it in google search!!

I find doing this captivating and the same time God's work is coming to life and i remember automaticaly the picture and the context of the verse with it.....Frequently itmakes me read more than the initial vers

Today the word CELEBRATION was in my head.....It is an week of celebration overhere because "My Journey" exsist 1 year in blogland!

But i felt an nudge......while thinking it over this morning........" YES IT IS TIME TO CELEBRATE......THE MONTH OF CELEBRATION....THE CELEBRATION OF THE BIRTH OF CHRIST.......JESUS....."!

There came an conversation my friends like many conversations happen in this year ESPECIALLY when i join in the midlle of the week THE WFW meme and the TT meme.......!!

Because God's spirit God's HOLY SPIRIT start talking....and it is up to us who want to be filled with it and be used by HIM to share light and all gifts He gives us with others......

Friends  talking about my experience of this year reflecting on the effect of WFW......

Is that there is a lesson EVERY week for me to learn...to reflect about what am i doing with this Word.....There is a difference an responsibility with it when you share God's word with others......to make it an part of youreself

I was thinking is it living in me.........I really experience JESUS coming ALIVE  in my thinking and spurring me on to CHANGE in different ways.....And doing nothing with the word made the HS really grieving

I believe that working in me changing me while blogging  was God's purpose to lead me to have the desire to start a blog......!!

What gave me this NUDGE what i talk above is the follow-up of the above verse where the word CELEBRATION is found in (MSG version)!!

3-7You repopulated the nation,
   you expanded its joy.
Oh, they're so glad in your presence!
   Festival joy!
The joy of a great celebration,
   sharing rich gifts and warm greetings.
The abuse of oppressors and cruelty of tyrants—
   all their whips and cudgels and curses—
Is gone, done away with, a deliverance
   as surprising and sudden as Gideon's old victory over Midian.
The boots of all those invading troops,
   along with their shirts soaked with innocent blood,
Will be piled in a heap and burned,
   a fire that will burn for days!
For a child has been born—for us!
   the gift of a son—for us!
He'll take over
   the running of the world.
His names will be: Amazing Counselor,
   Strong God,
Eternal Father,
   Prince of Wholeness.
His ruling authority will grow,
   and there'll be no limits to the wholeness he brings.
He'll rule from the historic David throne
   over that promised kingdom.
He'll put that kingdom on a firm footing
   and keep it going
With fair dealing and right living,
   beginning now and lasting always.
The zeal of God-of-the-Angel-Armies
   will do all this.

 

I am AMAZED....I can tell you THIS is what HAPPENED 2008 years ago but i see it is happening today.............We see the signs around us......and we see and feel JESUS closer than ever before...growing in our hearts........

Do you long like me to PREPARE the way.....work on renew it build on it...For HIM?!!

HE IS our...... Amazing Counselor,
   Strong God,
Eternal Father,
   Prince of Wholeness.
His ruling authority will grow, ( in our hearts)
   and there'll be no limits to the wholeness he brings.

 

 

This is my "Christmas prayer" for myself and for all of you.

 

Blessings

Godsown /Bernice

Home of WORD FILLED WEDNESDAY withAmydeanne @ the160acrewoods.com
VISIT all WFWsWORD FILLED WEDNESDAY
with our hostessthis week
LORI

 

CELEBRATION ~ AWARDS for FRIENDS ~

 

Thank you Andrea from ARISE 2 WRITE for these awards  you gave this week to your friends who come to your blog . I am honored to be called your friend  and your comments and friendship means a lot to me.

This week is CELEBRATION WEEK overhere at  My Journey so getting the "Circle of Friends Award" and "The Lemonade Award" is given on a perfect moment .

What is an celebration without friends........

In this one year of "My Journey" i came across a lot of blogs....follow some and join everyweek some meme's.Meeting sisters ( don't feel left out brothers)  who shared there friendship to me  through there comments is an blessing and encouragement and i thank God for bringing all of you on my way.....

I had an list of blogs who i want to mention this week so grab both or one award because each of you deserve them!

• Lea from "ShabbyOldePottyShed" was one of my 1st commentors .AND i receive an very special "Pay it Forward" present all the way over the ocean . Visit her unique and inspiring blog i can a sure you that you will never regret this.
• Edie from "Rich Gifts" because of her give away of an blogmakeover.......My interest was caught what this is making a blog and make it apear attractive and or inspiring.......Well i send her a lot of emails if i was doing it right etc..LOL. Well thank You Edie.......for the encouragement......
• Denise from "Shorty Bears Place".....Thank You for ALL the visits and encouragement and i feel so blessed to came accross your blogs..Yes it is plural....she has another blog "Free to be me" This precious sister in Christ her signature's says what she stands for and proclaim without ceasing: Denise...Warrior for Jesus and My Dad is The God-Father!
• Sonya at "Truth4the Journey" this precious sister gather blogger around her "ThankfulThursday" meme.Her meme was the 1st i joined the 1st month my blog was opened.....ThankYou for gathering us every week and sharing life on your blog.

• Beth from "WarmHarte" her personal blog but i met her 1st on mondays for an biblevers memorizing meme B(asic).I(nstruction).B(efore).L(eaving).E(arth) what i linked up with on mondays at."The Power of Your Love" Thanks for hosting...your comments and prayer...And you know i have you  and all the coming events the coming weeks in my prayers.
• Peggy from "AmazingGraceMazesandMessesMiracles" Do you hear the name of this blog for the 1st time? I hope not but in case please pay her a visit you will NEVER regret your visit...It is full of encouragement and God's Word....HIS AMAZING GRACE flows from her blog your way while reading.Thanks peggy for everything!
• Angela from "FreeSpiritHaven" your place is indeed an HAVEN and for me an place to come over always on fridays for FEARLESS FRIDAY. Thank you for sharing yourself with bloggers and for STANDING in THE GAP with prayer.
• Lynn from "SpirituallyUnequalMarriage" who i just met more frequently this fall on her blog...Thanks for your encouragement and prayers
• Lisa Shaw from "Sharing Life with Lisa" I just see you gave away the circle of friends also but still i put your blog here.I love lisa's encouragement and down to earth style and being always there to pray for bloggers.thank You sister.
  

Well all of you who come to "My Journey" and your name is not above can consider yourself in this circle of "blogfriends" so if you feel to grab the Award button do not hesitate....

Here are the rules for the awards:

1. Put the logo on your blog or post.
2. Nominate blogs

3. Be sure to list and link your nominees within your post.
4. Let them know they have received this award by leaving a comment on their blog.


A 5th rule is atached with the "circle of Friends Award"...Tell 5 things what you LOVE to do.....


I nearly forgot that one.......

1. I'm an terrible "night owl"......My blogs are mostly written late in the evening....Want to change it to write them on my free days in the morning.
2. I love to see GOD'S WORD written out ( so a lot of papers and diary's with written word) or as you notice i love to see it on my blog
3. MUSIC....MUSIC......that is an essential in my day........and is what God uses a lot to minister to me....
4. Well this has an link with 1....I love to sleep...I'm not proud of it but i NEVER get bored in bed LOL....
5. I love ( have an heart for) elderly
   

Andrea who gave me these awards mention her thoughts while pondering the Lemon Award and love that and will leave you with those thoughts!

As I pondered the lemonade award. I thought of how each of us have or are experiencing lemons in our lives. That makes us understand each other. We are all in some way kindred spirits.

What do we do with all the lemons? Do we allow them to rot in our midst or do we make lemonade and share it with others. As I pass this lemonade award to each of you, I pray you will make lemonade and share it with the less fortunate around you.
Let's not allow a single lemon to rot and stink up our lives! Get to squeezing, dear friends. Take all the "yucky stuff" in your life and make lemonade!

READING GODS WORD TOGETHER...........IS CELEBRATION!!

I celebrate this week  reading together GODS WORD is celebrating with you!

Be blessed,

Tuesday, December 8


Psalm 140:6-13 Amos 8,9; Revelation 10

You let people ride over our heads; we went through fire and through water; yet
you have brought us out to a spacious place. Psalm 66:12

The Lord Jesus Christ gave himself for our sins to set us free from the present
evil age, according to the will of our God and Father. Galatians 1:4

Lead us, O heavenly Father, to abandon the cares of yesterday and embrace the
way of life. Lead us to embody the way of love and to let go of old hurts and
cherish the power of your forgiveness. Amen.

Well i  read those verses out of my Moravian dailytexts or today in the MESSAGE version. I link the verses up with the translation.
The words of AMOS sticked and ring  in my head..........

Amos 8

 ^11-12"Oh yes, Judgment Day is coming!"
   These are the words of my Master God.
"I'll send a famine through the whole country.
   It won't be food or water that's lacking, but my Word.
People will drift from one end of the country to the other,
   roam to the north, wander to the east.
They'll go anywhere, listen to anyone,
   hoping to hear God's Word—but they won't hear it.

 ^13-14"On Judgment Day,
   lovely young girls will faint of Word-thirst,
   robust young men will faint of God-thirst,
Along with those who take oaths at the Samaria Sin-and-Sex Center,
   saying, 'As the lord god of Dan is my witness!'
   and 'The lady goddess of Beer-sheba bless you!'
Their lives will fall to pieces.
   They'll never put it together again." 

Amos 9

 ^5-6My Master, God-of-the-Angel-Armies,
   touches the earth, a mere touch, and it trembles.
   The whole world goes into mourning.
Earth swells like the Nile at flood stage;
   then the water subsides, like the great Nile of Egypt.
God builds his palace—towers soaring high in the skies,
   foundations set on the rock-firm earth.
He calls ocean waters and they come,
   then he ladles them out on the earth.
         God, your God, does all this.

 ^7-8 "Do you Israelites think you're any better than the far-off Cushites?" God's Decree.

    "Am I not involved with all nations? Didn't I bring Israel up from Egypt, the Philistines from Caphtor, the Arameans from Qir? But you can be sure that I, God, the Master, have my eye on the Kingdom of Sin. I'm going to wipe it off the face of the earth. Still, I won't totally destroy the family of Jacob." God's Decree.

 ^9-10 "I'm still giving the orders around here. I'm throwing Israel into a sieve among all the nations and shaking them good, shaking out all the sin, all the sinners. No real grain will be lost, but all the sinners will be sifted out and thrown away, the people who say, 'Nothing bad will ever happen in our lifetime. It won't even come close.'

Blessings Like Wine Pouring off the Mountains

 ^11-12 "But also on that Judgment Day I will restore David's house that has fallen to pieces. I'll repair the holes in the roof, replace the broken windows, fix it up like new. David's people will be strong again and seize what's left of enemy Edom, plus everyone else under my sovereign judgment." God's Decree. He will do this.

 ^13-15 "Yes indeed, it won't be long now." God's Decree.

    "Things are going to happen so fast your head will swim, one thing fast on the heels of the other. You won't be able to keep up. Everything will be happening at once—and everywhere you look, blessings! Blessings like wine pouring off the mountains and hills. I'll make everything right again for my people Israel:

   "They'll rebuild their ruined cities.
   They'll plant vineyards and drink good wine.
   They'll work their gardens and eat fresh vegetables.
   And I'll plant them, plant them on their own land.
   They'll never again be uprooted from the land I've given them."

    God, your God, says so.

 
 

BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION !! ~ First pictures and christmas blogpost! ~

This week is a week of celebration and remembering that "MY JOURNEY" is 1 year old!! 
I plan to give you everyday An "heart present" and your coming everyday makes the celebration more fun because a party by yourself is no party!

This whole week i put the 1st writings and compiling postings again in the "lime-light"...

What an time it was with "sweating"...fearing...doubthing...making blogs and email to other bloggers ALOT of questions who where after looking back now simple problems...LOL...

Thank You all who remember this beginning time of " My Journey "

This is the 1st picture and information on this blog

To read more about this building and how God use this picture to tell me something you can read here

Christmas memory and another picture

So are you enjoying and celebrating with me while looking back into memory lane of 1 year ago....

This post is my present to you my friends....A present to see God's hand in EVERY detail of your Life!!

Blessing

"Godsown on her Journey"

HAPPY BIRTHDAY..........!!!!

This week is  a milestone for me. Because it is exactly one year ago on the 6th of December i start making my 1st steps in setting up an blog and blogpost .....WOW..... It’s only because of God’s inspiration, guidance and blessing that this blog is one year old! It’s my “Blog-aversary” …love that name!

My JOURNEY was birthed....and came to life a long the way .....

God inspired...guided and blessed me ....He brought all of you and used all of you to encourage and leaving comments to me to go on blogging...( I really didn't had any plan...lol...,but HE had....)

Thank You all so much

Stay an part of MY JOURNEY and let's praise God together and celebrate my "1st blog-aversary"

Thank You  Lord for this mile-stone....i did not know YOUR plan but i followed and obeyed.....

Keep on blessing me along the way and guide my thoughts and hands to make this blog an blessing for others and bring HONOUR to Your Name Father.This i pray in Your sons name Jesus Christ.AMEN.

A New Dream" // Readings: Lesson Malachi 3:1-4, Epistle Phlippians 1:3-11, Gospel Luke 3:1-6

Malachi 3

The Master You've Been Looking For

 ¹ "Look! I'm sending my messenger on ahead to clear the way for me. Suddenly, out of the blue, the Leader you've been looking for will enter his Temple—yes, the Messenger of the Covenant, the one you've been waiting for. Look! He's on his way!" A Message from the mouth of God-of-the-Angel-Armies.

 ^2-4But who will be able to stand up to that coming? Who can survive his appearance?

   He'll be like white-hot fire from the smelter's furnace. He'll be like the strongest lye soap at the laundry. He'll take his place as a refiner of silver, as a cleanser of dirty clothes. He'll scrub the Levite priests clean, refine them like gold and silver, until they're fit for God, fit to present offerings of righteousness. Then, and only then, will Judah and Jerusalem be fit and pleasing to God, as they used to be in the years long ago.

Philippians 1:3-11

A Love That Will Grow

 ^3-6Every time you cross my mind, I break out in exclamations of thanks to God. Each exclamation is a trigger to prayer. I find myself praying for you with a glad heart. I am so pleased that you have continued on in this with us, believing and proclaiming God's Message, from the day you heard it right up to the present. There has never been the slightest doubt in my mind that the God who started this great work in you would keep at it and bring it to a flourishing finish on the very day Christ Jesus appears.

 ^7-8It's not at all fanciful for me to think this way about you. My prayers and hopes have deep roots in reality. You have, after all, stuck with me all the way from the time I was thrown in jail, put on trial, and came out of it in one piece. All along you have experienced with me the most generous help from God. He knows how much I love and miss you these days. Sometimes I think I feel as strongly about you as Christ does!

 ^9-11So this is my prayer: that your love will flourish and that you will not only love much but well. Learn to love appropriately. You need to use your head and test your feelings so that your love is sincere and intelligent, not sentimental gush. Live a lover's life, circumspect and exemplary, a life Jesus will be proud of: bountiful in fruits from the soul, making Jesus Christ attractive to all, getting everyone involved in the glory and praise of God.

Luke 3

A Baptism of Life-Change

 ^1-6 In the fifteenth year of the rule of Caesar Tiberius—it was while Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea; Herod, ruler of Galilee; his brother Philip, ruler of Iturea and Trachonitis; Lysanias, ruler of Abilene; during the Chief-Priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas—John, Zachariah's son, out in the desert at the time, received a message from God. He went all through the country around the Jordan River preaching a baptism of life-change leading to forgiveness of sins, as described in the words of Isaiah the prophet:

   Thunder in the desert!
   "Prepare God's arrival!
   Make the road smooth and straight!
   Every ditch will be filled in,
   Every bump smoothed out,
   The detours straightened out,
   All the ruts paved over.
   Everyone will be there to see
   The parade of God's salvation."

THE CANDLE OF PREPERATION.......CHRIST IS THE WAY.......~Second Sunday in Advent~

Sunday, December 6


Second Sunday of Advent

Watchword for the Week
Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, for he has looked favorably on his people and
redeemed them. Luke 1:68

Malachi 3:1-4; Luke 1:68-79 Philippians 1:3-11; Luke 3:1-6

Show me a sign of your favor. Psalm 6:17

God added his testimony by signs and wonders and various miracles, and by gifts
of the Holy Spirit, distributed according to his will. Hebrews 2:4

For the gifts you have given each of us, O Creator of all good things, we are
indeed grateful. May we follow the guidance of the Holy Spirit in the use of
these gifts. Amen.

( Out of Moravian dayly Texts) 

The Second Candle (The Candle of the Way)

The second candle shows that Christ is the Way. Humans are lost in sin and Christ is the Light sent into the world to show them the way out of darkness.

I found an beautiful poem let it be our prayer in preperation for Christmas!His birth in our hearts.

———-

I am not worthy, Master and Lord,
that you should come
beneath the roof of my soul;
Yet, since you in your love for all people
wish to dwell within me,
in boldness I come before you.

You command “Open the gates!”
Gates you alone have forged;
And you will come in
with love toward all, as is your nature.
You will come in and enlighten my dark reasoning.

I believe you will do this,
for you did not send away
the harlot who came to you with tears,
nor cast out the repenting publican,
nor reject the thief
who acknowledged your kingdom.
You did not forsake the repentant persecutor,
the apostle Paul, even as he was.

But all who came to you in repentance,
you counted in the band of your friends;
You, who alone lives in glory forever,
now and unto the endless ages.

— St. John Chrysostom (347-407)

 

 

 

For more spiritual sundays click on the button

Blessings.

THAN SING MY SOUL SATURDAY ~ OH COME LET US ADORE HIM~

This song in my native language was on my heart and i found it sang by an artist with an special voice Brian Bijlhout  a blessing from the Lord to him.

Help me lifting him up in prayer that he will use his voice to honour the Lord with it.

The pictures in the video explain the lyrics

But you all sing an english version from it what comes close.....

This one i love also sang by an artist who's songs stay in our hearts Elvis Presley

ENJOY more THEN SINGS MY SOUL SATURDAY songs

with

Amy @ Signs, Miracles and Wonders

Amy says, "It's time to get into the spirit of Christmas!" so why not JOIN US!