Seasons of Opportunities

Gratitude: A Prayer and Praise Coloring Journal  invites you to bring creative journaling and the calming act of coloring into your quiet time with God. This beautifully designed interactive prayer book from Tyndale’s Living Expressions collection helps guide your thoughts as you pray about concerns such as health, overcoming stress, personal relationships, and more. Gratitude  gives you a way to celebrate and give thanks to God for the many blessings he provides. Filled with over 100 designs to color, plenty of space for journaling and sketching, and 40 needs-based prayers,  Gratitude  helps you express your devotion to God with your whole heart! Available on Amazon

Daniel 2:20-23a Praise be to the name of God for ever and ever; wisdom and power are His. He changes times and seasons; he sets up king and deposes them. He give wisdom to the wise and knowledge to the discerning. He reveals deep and hidden things; he knows what lies in darkness and light dwells with Him. I thank and praise you, O God of my fathers: 

This Sunday is Homecoming Sunday at our church. I am so blessed to be part of a congregation where my church is my family! But when I think of homecoming, I think of heaven!  Growing up on the mission field, then returning to a country that should have been home, when you feel like at times your heart is elsewhere, is not always easy; and at times you feel lost and alone. You feel like you are always split between two places and people that you love. I am so thankful for a Friend who never leaves me nor forsakes me, and who is right now preparing for my homecoming day! In heaven, I will not only be reunited with all my loved ones that have gone on before, but also those that are here on earth that I cannot be near and may never see again. "Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.   In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.   And if I go and...

"Remember these things, O Jacob, for you are my servant, O Israel. I have made you, you are my servant; O Israel, I will not forget you.   I have swept away your offenses like a cloud, your sins like the morning mist. Return to me, for I have redeemed you." Sing for joy, O heavens ,  for the Lord has done this; Shout aloud, O earth beneath . Burst into song, you mountains , you forests and tall trees , for the Lord has redeemed Jacob , he displays his glory in Israel . ~Isaiah 44:21-23 The book of Isaiah is one of my favorites.  God reminds His people that they belong to Him, that He forgives their sins. If nothing else, that is a reason to sing and shout!  Right outside my window this morning trees are changing colors already. God's creation is an amazing reminder of who He is. He deserves all our praise, every day. There is so much to praise Him for. Count your blessin...

Hezekiah (king of Judah) is facing a tough opponent, who is not only threatening him, his people, but is also mocking his God. What does he do?  "Then he ( Hezekiah) went up to the temple of the Lord and spread it out before the Lord. (the letter the messengers brought him from the opposition) And Hezekiah prayed to the Lord: O Lord, God of Israel, enthroned between the cherubim, you alone are God over all the kingdoms of the earth. You have made heaven and earth. Give ear, O  Lord and hear; open your eyes, O Lord, and see; listen to the words Sennacherib has sent to insult the living God... Now, O Lord, deliver us from his hand, so that all kingdoms on earth may know that you alone, O Lord, are God."  What do you do when faced with opposition? Is your first stop on your knees before God? Do you see it as a way for God to be revealed to those around you? Before Hezekiah made his request - he praised God. Is that my attitude when things get tough? Is it yours? No ...

We are created for God's glory... Even every one that is called by my name: for I have created him for my glory , I have formed him; yea, I have made him.   ~ Isaiah 43:7 To do all things for his glory. Whether therefore ye eat or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God. ~ I Cor. 10:31 He is glorified through our praise. Whoso offereth praise glorifieth Me: ~ Psalm 50:23 What praise do you have to offer today? I am praising Him for the blessing of a great day with my family yesterday and my daughter who just turned six. It is all because of Him - My God and my Heavenly Father!

Psalm 115 Not to us, O Lord, not to us but to your name be the glory because of your love and faithfulness. Why do nations say "Where is their God?" Our God is in the heaven He does whatever pleases Him.

Psalm 4:8 In peace I will lie down and sleep, for you alone, Lord, make me dwell in safety. Psalm 3:5 I lie down and sleep; I wake again, because the Lord sustains me.   I love Scripture. I love how God brings to mind His Word when we need it. After a minor incident that happened last night, while I was sleeping, this morning I am just so thankful for God's protection. For the fact that HE does NOT slumber or sleep, but is watching over us, and our loved ones when we need to rest. God is so good, and I can rest in Him. Psalm 121: 3,4 ... He that keepeth thee will not slumber. Behold, he that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep. My God is always on alert!

Deuteronomy 10:21 He is your praise,  and He is your God, who has done for you these great and awesome things which your eyes have seen.   I would love to hear something great and awesome He has done for you!

Exodus 15 Then Moses and the Israelites sang this song to the Lord . vs 1-3 They said: I will sing to the Lord , for He is highly exalted; He has thrown the horse and its rider into the sea. 2  The Lord is my strength and my song; He has become my salvation. This is my God, and I will praise Him, my father’s God, and I will exalt Him. 3  The Lord is a warrior; Yahweh is His name. vs11-13 Lord , who is like You among the gods? Who is like You, glorious in holiness, revered with praises, performing wonders? 12  You stretched out Your right hand, and the earth swallowed them. 13  You will lead the people You have redeemed with Your faithful love; You will guide them to Your holy dwelling with Your strength. vs 17-18 You will bring them in and plant them on the mountain of Your possession; Lord , You have prepared the place for Your dwelling; Lord, Your hands have established the sanctuary. 18  The Lord will reign f...

Psalm 135 Praise the Lord. Praise the name of the Lord; Praise him, you servants of the Lord, you who minister in the house of the Lord, in the courts of the house of our God. Praise the Lord, for the Lord in good; sing praise to his name for that is pleasant. I know that the Lord is great, that our Lord is greater than all gods.

Psalm 63:1-5 God, You are my God; I eagerly seek You. I thirst for You; my body faints for You in a land that is dry, desolate, and without water. So I gaze on You in the sanctuary to see Your strength and Your glory My lips will glorify You because Your faithful love is better than life. So I will praise You as long as I live; at Your name, I will lift up my hands. You satisfy me as with rich food; my mouth will praise You with joyful lips

Verses from Psalm 9 I will praise thee , O Lord , with my whole heart ; I will shew forth all thy marvellous works . I will be glad and rejoice in thee : I will sing praise to thy name , O thou most High . But the Lord shall endure for ever : he hath prepared his throne for judgment. And he shall judge the world in righteousness, he shall minister judgment to the people in uprightness. The Lord also will be a refuge for the oppressed , a refuge in times of trouble. And they that know thy name will put their trust in thee : f or thou, Lord , hast not forsaken them that seek thee. Sing praises to the Lord , which dwelleth in Zion: declare among the people his doings . What is He doing in your life? I would love to hear you declare it!

Psalm 95 Come, let us shout joyfully to the Lord , shout triumphantly to the rock of our salvation! 2  Let us enter His presence with thanksgiving; let us shout triumphantly to Him in song. 3  For the Lord is a great God, a great King above all gods. 4  The depths of the earth are in His hand, and the mountain peaks are His. 5  The sea is His; He made it. His hands formed the dry land. 6  Come, let us worship and bow down; let us kneel before the Lord our Maker. 7  For He is our God, and we are the people of His pasture, the sheep under His care.

Psalm 7:17 I will give thanks to the Lord because of his righteousness;      I will sing the praises of the name of the Lord Most High.

Psalm 34 I will bless the Lord at all times: his praise shall continually be in my mouth My soul shall make her boast in the Lord : the humble shall hear thereof, and be glad. O magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt his name together. What are you praising God for today?

Psalm 150 Praise the Lord . Praise God in his sanctuary;      praise him in his mighty heavens. Praise him for his acts of power;      praise him for his surpassing greatness. Praise him with the sounding of the trumpet,      praise him with the harp and lyre, praise him with timbrel and dancing,      praise him with the strings and pipe,   praise him with the clash of cymbals,      praise him with resounding cymbals. Let everything that has breath praise the Lord . Praise the Lord