The heart shaped twig wreath

This heart twig wreath has hung in our bedroom for many years. I am sure I do not dust it as often as I should. But nevertheless, it hangs in our room year after year.

Because we are fixing up our bedroom, Ken recently took it outside and gave it a good spray down. ( I told him I usually put it in the shower - but he knows it is not often enough.)

Today I asked him if he remembered the story of how we got that wreath. Perhaps his mind was on what he was doing on computer, but he stopped and said he didn't have a clue. I was slightly disappointed, for I was sure he would be able to fill in the blanks of my own faulty memory. You know how love has a way of finishing each other's sentences? Well this becomes a hoot as time goes by.

All I remember is we lived in Escanaba, MI and had gone into a flower shop to pick out an arrangement for someone. While waiting for our arrangement to be made I looked around the shop and I spotted this lovely twig heart wreath on the wall. I commented to Ken how much I liked it (I love hearts), but the price was HIGH, so I kept looking around.

Soon we left the shop with our arrangment.

It was later that day Ken went back to the shop and bought the heart wreath to surprise me.Although I do not remember all the details, I remember the LOVE I felt the moment he surprsed me with the wreath. To think that he had LISTENED to me, and made a SPECIAL EFFORT to go back and get it....meant ALOT. I felt loved.....and I am LOVED!

The wreath hangs in our bedroom, not getting dusted as often as it needs, and the story fades in our memory....but our LOVE is not fading. Thank you LORD!

Outside our Church

I stand amazed at God. He is so faithful.

Alot of things have been coming against me lately and I have been fighting discouragement. The irritant is outside our Church, but coming from "friendly fire". I have not given in to it more than seconds at a time, yet STILL it knocks repeatedly on my mind's door.

Just when my seconds are tempted to turn into minutes, God has a way of showing up in some pretty neat and creative ways!

The enemy has a way of catching me by surprise too, and that is why it often hurts so. Surprised at who the enemy is using to bring torment. There ususally seems to be an element of surprise in friendly fire, catching me off guard.

MY LORD tends to do this also. In ways that I least expect it, HE shows up....in very creative ways....HE shows up.

Amid my mental battle, I received an email from a lady I barely know. I may have seen her twice for a few moments of time. Her email said that she and her 7 year old daughter would like to contribute to our puppet ministry! They would like to make or purchase a puppet and donate it to our ministry! I cannot tell you how much that SHOCKED me. She has enjoyed reading my posts about the Puppet ministry on our Church Facebook page!

Today she emailed to say they decided to purchase THREE puppets for us and they put in the order today! I am left speechless (well almost) but certainly humbled at GOD.

The enemy is using people outside our Church to bring discouragement into my life.

MY LORD is using people OUTSIDE OUR CHURCH to bring JOY into my life!

So who am I going to give attention to?

I choose to give attention to the one who LOVES me, laid down his life for me, rose again for me,and lives within me! I plan to serve HIM with all my heart and MIND until I see HIM face to face.

Thank You, Lord