Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good. His love endures forever. — Psalm 136: 1, 26
The sky was blue and the sun was out.
Our time outside was refreshing.
The flowers and plants Kirk tends are growing abundantly.
Our Mexican lime tree is dropping 20-30 limes each week.
And our neighbors shared their lemons and tangerines with us.
We are blessed.
And we give thanks to God.
He is good.
His love endures forever.
Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. — Colossians 3:2
Here's my friend Kelly, sitting on the edge.
Abby and Kirk and I hiked up here several years ago.
Then Abby and Kirk hiked it again a few times.
We got some great pictures of them.
God asks us to set our minds on things above instead of on earthly things.
It's much easier to do that when we're outside marveling at God's creation.
Help me to set my mind on You, O Lord.
I always thank my God for you because of his grace given you in Christ Jesus. — 1 Corinthians 1:4
I often fail, but it's humbling.
God gives me everything.
He watches over me and comforts me.
He keeps His promises to me.
There is nothing he cannot do.
I always thank my God for you.
He has given us His grace through Christ Jesus.
We are blessed.
Let us come before him with thanksgiving and extol him with music and song. — Psalm 95:2
Today we are thankful for a wonderful time with family, even though we were missing quite a few of them.
Our prayers are with those who couldn't join us.
Lots of prayer requests in our extended family.
And we thank God for the ability to bring our concerns and praises to Him in prayer.
He listens and answers us when we cry to Him.
Abby picked out this centerpiece that matched our tablecloths and napkins perfectly!
We are thanking God for beautiful flowers created by Him!
I will praise God’s name in song and glorify him with thanksgiving. — Psalm 69:30
We actually started last night with our church service for Thanksgiving eve.
A worshipful time to thank God and praise His name in song.
Today we had our families over for dinner.
Steve made twice-baked potatoes.
Liz made cracker corn, brussel sprouts, cauliflower, and cranberry sauce.
Abby made a chocolate pie for Carly so we could celebrate a day late.
We are grateful to God for giving us a loving family, good food, and great friends.
Happy Thanksgiving!
Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. — Matthew 22:37
But not to just acknowledge others.
Instead, to love and care for them.
With all of our heart, soul, and mind.
With all we have, we are to love them.
That is often easier said than done.
It's probably not even possible without His help and guidance.
You were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God. — 1 Corinthians 6:11
We were justified in the name of Jesus.
And we have been filled by the Spirit of our God.
Today Kirk was out in the yard.
Our neighbor took this great picture of him.
And he even got the full moon in the background.
Soaring high above Cowles Mountain.
Amazing.
You also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. — 1 Peter 2:5
She treated me to Greek food at cafe Athena. Yum.
Then we walked around her neighborhood, admiring the new construction.
And the tangerines on her tree.
She has a green thumb.
Here are some of the air plants she grew.
We are being build into a spiritual house.
To be a royal priesthood, offering sacrifices to God.
We have an advocate with the Father—Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world. — 1 John 2:1-2
Poor Abby has to work.
Today we remember the veterans who have sacrificed for our country.
They act as our advocates for our countrymen.
We have an advocate with the Father in His Son, Jesus.
He is the atoning sacrifice for my sins.
And not only for my sins but also for the sins of the whole world.
Since we live in a broken world, it's a huge comfort to know that Jesus is our advocate.
But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. — 1 Peter 2:9
Now fear the Lord and serve him with all faithfulness. — Joshua 24:14
We had a great time with 11 of our friends who drove and flew over to join us.
Here we are at dinner Saturday night before going to hear Sting.
This is one of our tables - the other was in the next room.
We had a delicious dinner and fun conversation.
So blessed to have such a great group of friends.
All of whom serve the Lord and fear Him.
But whoever does not have them [these qualities] is nearsighted and blind, forgetting that they have been cleansed from their past sins. — 2 Peter 1:9
My friend ordered a whole pizza, and Kirk got to enjoy the leftovers! Yum.
A very fun way to end my work week and start my vacation.
God calls us to add to our faith.
Goodness, perseverance, self-control, mutual affection, knowledge, and love.
Without these I'm just nearsighted - and I really am.
Without these qualities I'm blind to God's goodness in my life.
When I'm not exhibiting these qualities, I'm ignoring the sacrifice Jesus made for me.
I'm forgetting that He has cleansed me from my past sins.
To godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. — 2 Peter 1:7-8
These qualities will keep us from being ineffective.
They will keep us from being unproductive in our knowledge of Jesus.
Saturday when Abby and I went to Fashion Valley, we were greeted by this Christmas tree.
It wasn't even Halloween yet, and the Christmas decorations were up.
It seems strange to celebrate so early.
But we do want to remember the birth of our Savior.
Every day - not just during the Christmas season.
For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness. — 2 Peter 1:5-6
And at times it seems impossible without His guidance.
He gives us situations where we need to persevere.
And at times we can't keep going on our own.
Last week I prayed with and for a coworker who was struggling in many ways.
She was broken downhearted, and defeated.
I asked God to wrap a hedge of protection and love around her.
And this morning that prayer was answered, and she was surrounded by support and love.
When she shared with me this turn of events, I mentioned that it was a complete answer to the prayer I had prayed over her last week.
Our God is an awesome God.
He loves and cares for us.
He is adding daily to my faith.
And God is teaching me self-control, perseverance, and even godliness.
Thank You, Lord!
His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. — 2 Peter 1:3
Last night we had about a dozen kids dressed up and excited to trick or treat.
Friday we had our office party and my team dressed up as 50s.
We won the group costume contest.
God. has given us everything we need for a godly life.
Help me to shine your glory and goodness throughout the week.
