Today Is A Blessing

We celebrated one of our Thanksgivings this past Saturday. 🦃  We went around the table and each said what we were thankful for.  It was very nice; everyone said things that were sweet and wonderful to hear (we should do it at every dinner!)
I had thought of mine that morning during my "knee time" and of course a blog idea followed!

In the past week each of my children, while driving their vehicles, had what could be considered (especially by the Momma!) "close calls". Little things that could have easily been big things.
One had to swerve to avoid getting hit by a car that was leaving a driveway, another hit slush that pulled her into the opposite lane (thankfully with no on coming traffic), and the third, on his way to work, avoided several deer only to hit one shortly after.
I thank God that they were " little" things in light of some of the tragedies that have happened locally in the last several weeks. (There have been several fatal car accidents)
So I praise God for my kid's "almost accidents" knowing that it could have been way more serious. Have you heard people say "when it's your time, it's your time."?
And I guess I have to agree...though I always include "we still need to be smart and prudent with our choices and behavior!"😊

So I was grateful it wasn't their "time" and if you are reading this today I am grateful it hasn't been your's either!
But if our "time" hasn't yet come...why?  Is there a reason?
Well, as for me, I believe, if we wake up and have a whole new day in front of us...it isn't because we get to finish that project or that "to do list" or climb that work place ladder, get our Christmas shopping done, etc etc...though at times our gracious God allows us to do all those things and more....the most important reason we are here TODAY is to love and serve our Lord and Savior...in all those things and in everythings else we do.
He has more for us to do here!  For some that may seem a daunting idea.  But maybe it is not a BIG "take up your banner and lead a cause" sort of thing...and maybe it is. But what I do know is that it is  in how we live each day, in our daily lives, our jobs, our relationships or in the BIG that you might be called to do!

📖  Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, Colossians 3:23
We are called to "take up His banner.....our cross EVERY DAY" and follow Him.
📖 Then he said to them all: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will save it. What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, and yet lose or forfeit their very self?  Whoever is ashamed of me and my words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of them when he comes in his glory and in the glory of the Father and of the holy angels. Luke 9:23-26


In all that we do, in every way that we behave, act and react; 
(these next verses were directed toward wives, but what if we look past the direct implication to a bigger picture)
📖  Wives, in the same way submit yourselves to your own husbands so that, if any of them do not believe the word, they may be won over without words by the behavior of their wives, when they see the purity and reverence of your lives. Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as elaborate hairstyles and the wearing of gold jewelry or fine clothes. Rather, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight.       1 Peter 3:1-4

Those around us (especially those closest to us) who do not believe can be won over by our attitudes not our words!   You are here to love God and as we live that out, reflect Christ to others!

📖 “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?”  Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.'  This is the first and greatest commandment.  And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.' Matthew 22:36-39

With all we are and all we have ….Love like Christ....to the best of our ability Live like Christ

📖Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. Romans 12:1-2

We are here, right now, for a reason....

📖 He has shown you, O mortal, what is good.
    And what does the Lord require of you?
To act justly and to love mercy

    and to walk humbly  with your God. Micah 6:8

Be humble enough to understand we are here to serve, how ever that looks for each of us! We are here for each other.

And when we are done our service here, how ever many days that may be, we will spend eternity with Christ who is seated at the right hand of His Father!

 📖   my cup overflows.

Surely your goodness and love will follow me
all the days of my life,
and I will dwell in the house of the Lord    forever. Psalm 23:6

📖“His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’ Matthew 25:21

🙏 My prayer is; you count every day a blessing and go and...

  📖  Serve the Lord with gladness!    Come into his presence with singing!  Psalm 100:2

📖 But if serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve,...….. But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.”

Joshua 24:15