Happy SONday!

 I hope you are having a wonderful SONday today! We are so blessed to be able to worship God freely in our country, and I pray that NEVER changes!  

In case you aren't able to attend church where you live, here is a link to our Sunday worship service. Our pastor records his message each week ahead of time, and our choir also records our special music for the day so that those who aren't able to attend in person can worship with us.

If you'd like to sing along with our song, or at least be able to understand all the words to this very beautiful song, here are the lyrics to "And He's Ever Interceding"

"Someone to go the extra mile, just like a mother caring for her child;

A friend who sticks thro’ think and thin, 

no matter what you’ve done or where you’ve been.

Just like one great big family; a stronger, older brother He will be;

So quick and ready to defend, the younger, weaker to the end.

And He’s ever interceding to the Father for His children

Yes, He’s ever interceding to the Father for His own.

Thro’ Him you can reach the Father, so bring Him all your heavy burdens;

Yes, for you He’s interceding, so come boldly to the throne.

Just like sheep we’d gone astray, struggling ‘neath a debt we could not pay;

Not ever hoping to renew the love and fellowship that we once knew.

But He began to intercede, crying, “Father, please forgive, I plead;”

And as the nails pierced in His hands, God once again reached out to man!

And He’s ever interceding to the Father for His children

Yes, He’s ever interceding to the Father for His own.

Thro’ Him you can reach the Father, so bring Him all your heavy burdens;

Yes, for you He’s interceding, so come boldly to the throne.

So come boldly to the throne. So come boldly to the throne."

Such a powerful message of comfort and hope and love...to know that Jesus is always interceding on our behalf to God the Father...and He's always there, ready to carry our heavy burdens, "so come boldly to the throne!"

I am sure you will also enjoy the sermon from the book of James 1:17-27.  One particular part of this message that I got was from verses 22-25, about being a "doer of the word and not hearers only".  Sometimes we HEAR the Word of God and we think we have done well to hear it...but if we don't put it to use in our hearts and lives, then we are deceiving ourselves into thinking we are okay because we went to church and heard a nice sermon.  We are supposed to be applying what we have heard to our own personal lives and being changed by God's Word day by day...we should be acting upon what we have heard and reaching out to others with the love of Christ in whatever way possible.  

I think this past year with the restrictions we have been living under, we have kind of given ourselves an excuse to not become involved too much in other people's lives. It is very convenient to hide behind a mask and use "social distancing" as a way to keep from reaching out to those who may be lonely, hurting, or in need of some human companionship.  But there are ways to still encourage one another even without the physical connection, (even though we still need that connection more than we realize).  Phone calls, cards, visiting with appropriate safety procedures in place...whatever the need may be.   We have not been given a pass to ignore the plights of those who may need our help in whatever way we are capable of doing.  I am preaching to myself here.  Writing our blogs can be a way of reaching out to others with words of hope, love and even some much needed laughter.  Let us focus on ways to encourage and uplift one another as much as possible...we all need it!

I know there may be some who don't fully appreciate or understand my recent "obsession" with a cute little dolly named Lily Grace.  But I hope if you have concerns for my sanity or if I may be lapsing into senility...please at least come over and visit with us first before passing judgment too quickly.  Lily Grace was a gift who has become a gift to many others with her winsome, happy, joyful ways. She has been such a blessing to me in the enacting of looking at life through the eyes of a small child again...and I hope and pray she will be just that for you as well.  I don't know how long I will be able to keep up with her as she certainly has more energy that I do...but for however long God will continue to provide the enthusiasm and imagination to make her little adventures come to life in a way that is uplifting to others, I will do my best to share them with you!  

Here's Lily Grace all dressed up for Sunday School today. 

Remember what Jesus said in Matthew 18:2-4:

2. "Then Jesus called a little child to Him, set him in the midst of them, 3. and said, “Assuredly, I say to you, unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven. 4. Therefore whoever humbles himself as this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven."

Here is a link to her latest adventure entitled "God Made Everything Beautiful".  I hope you will take the time to come along and enjoy this little adventure with me. 

Hope you have a wonderful day!! Come see us again soon, okay?