Cover to Cover... I'm so excited about the...

I'm glad to be reading our Cover to Cover readings of the Bible this week with Bev and the girls. We are finally reading The New Testament! I find it impossible for these next verses not to linger. They mean more to me today than ever before. It's a great time for you to join us in the readings.

Luke 1:26-38

The Birth of Jesus Foretold

In the sixth month, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin's name was Mary. The angel went to her and said, "Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you."

Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. But the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favor with God. You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever; his kingdom will never end."

"How will this be," Mary asked the angel, "since I am a virgin?"

The angel answered, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God. Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be barren is in her sixth month. For nothing is impossible with God."

"I am the Lord's servant," Mary answered. "May it be to me as you have said." Then the angel left her.

Mary was honored to be chosen. May we trust God with our lives like she did! I am so grateful for The Holy Spirit and the fact that N-O-T-H-I-N-G is impossible with God! I can't tell you how glad I am that our readings have brought us to The New Testament. I am hoping I will have an easier time understanding. Thank you for reading along with me and for listening to me complain when I just didn't get it in the Old Testament! Have a great week!

Much love,

Angie xoxo

A great movie

Hey, Friends!

If anyone is looking for a movie to go to this weekend or in the near future, I recommend you see Fireproof. It's definitely the best movie I've seen in a long time! You can see the trailer here. We went straight there to the bookstore to buy the book. Now I want to see Facing the Giants.

I hope your day is going well. It's really feeling like Fall here in Michigan and I'm sure we will need the heat turned on this week! The trees are changing and looking beautiful!

Much love,
Angie xoxo

Thankful Thursday...He's still the same.

In the midst of the chaos in this world, it's comforting to know our God never changes...

In the midst of my friend losing her dad this week, it's comforting to know He's still the same.
In the midst of a loved one not feeling well this week, it's comforting to know He's still the same.
In the midst of worry people in Michigan are experiencing regarding the possibility of losing their jobs, it's comforting to know He's still the same.
In the midst of confusion a loved one is having about Jesus and surrendering his life to Him, it's comforting to know He's still the same.
In the midst of conflict within families, it's comforting to know He's still the same.
In the midst of loneliness some loved ones are experiencing, it's great to know He's still the same.
In the midst of a scary diagnosis, it's comforting to know He's still the same.
In the midst of stress, it's comforting to know He's still the same.

In the midst of whatever you are going through this week, I hope you are grateful for the comfort of knowing He's still the same.

Much love on this Thankful Thursday,
Angie xoxo

More than beautiful

Isaiah 33:17
Your eyes will see the king in his beauty and view a land that stretches afar.

Me on the beach in Aruba.

Bird in South Africa.

John and Meghan trying to pose for a Christmas card.

Leopard cub in South Africa.

Sunrise Haleakala Maui, Hawaii.

Hawaii from our helicopter.

Sunset Ludington, Michigan

I haven't been able to get this thought out of my mind today. I find it impossible to adequately describe the beauty in any of these pictures with words. Today my husband and I went for a walk and watched a butterfly flying around a beautiful wildflower. The sight was amazing. So many times I don't even stop to notice. Yesterday as I drove to work I saw the most beautiful sunrise with the sun peeking through the clouds in a perfect circle. How do we adequately describe the beauty to someone? We need to experience it for ourselves. I cannot wait to experience Heaven for myself one day as it will be more beautiful than I could ever imagine or explain

It is even more difficult to describe the unfathomable (Is that a word?) love He has for you and me. It's a lot easier to describe the beauty we see with our eyes than the beauty we feel in our hearts! His love is so much greater! I'll be amazed and so will you!



Love,
Angie xoxo

Cover to Cover...I'm here for you.

Psalm 107:28-30

Then they cried out to the LORD in their trouble,
and he brought them out of their distress.

He stilled the storm to a whisper;
the waves of the sea were hushed.

They were glad when it grew calm,
and he guided them to their desired haven.


I have to be honest. I've been in my own little world this week. I've had a lot on my mind. My concerns seemed bigger than God, even though I knew it wasn't true.

Last night I was going to do a post telling you I am unable to keep up with reading the Cover to Cover readings of the Bible. I had decided I'd have to be okay with giving up and had so many excuses ready. Well, I decided (with nudges from the Holy Spirit) to scan the readings quickly, when I came across the above verses in Psalm 107. I am so sure those words were there just for me. How can I quit when those words grabbed my heart? They meant a lot to me last night when I read them, but today they mean even more. I am glad He stilled the storm to a whisper. I can hardly type this without tears.

Someone special in my life brought these next verses to my attention. They weren't part of my plan, but they were in God's plan. I want to add them to this post so I won't ever forget our time together today.

Romans 12:9-21


Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves. Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Share with God's people who are in need. Practice hospitality.

Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited.

Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God's wrath, for it is written: "It is mine to avenge; I will repay,"says the Lord. On the contrary:
"If your enemy is hungry, feed him;
if he is thirsty, give him something to drink.

In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head."Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

God is so good to me. He sends just the right people in my life! He is such a gentleman and knows exactly what He is doing!



Much love,
Angie xoxo

This is my plea...

Eph 5:14
for it is light that makes everything visible. This is why it is said:
"Wake up, O sleeper,
rise from the dead,
and Christ will shine on you."

How can we stand when...?
We don't have the luxury to give up!
He is our strength. Our strength is never in people or circumstances.
I love how He is... the "head lifter".
Look up sisters!

Have a good weekend, friends (and family)!
Love you all,
Angie xoxo

Thankful that...

...GOD is in control so I don't have to be!

Giving it up again this morning!
By faith...
Love,
Angie xoxo

Stand Up

Praying every morning...

By faith...
Angie xoxo

It will provide the healing

Praying for loved ones...
Will you Pray with me?

Thanks so much!
By faith...
Angie

Cover to Cover... His love endures forever!

Psalm 118

1 Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good;
his love endures forever.

23 the LORD has done this,
and it is marvelous in our eyes.

24 This is the day the LORD has made;
let us rejoice and be glad in it.

25 O LORD, save us;
O LORD, grant us success.

26 Blessed is he who comes in the name of the LORD.
From the house of the LORD we bless you.

28 You are my God, and I will give you thanks;
you are my God, and I will exalt you.

29 Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good;
his love endures forever.

It's another one of those weeks when I'm grateful I heard this Psalm through a song before reading it in my Bible. How could it possibly not be the one that lingers this week in our Cover to Cover readings of the Bible? It's never too late for you to join Bev and the girls. Click here to find the readings! I know you are all so familiar with this one. I just need simple today!

God was especially good to us this weekend by orchestrating a visit from our friends who came in from Houston and were able to escape Hurricane Ike. Unfortunately they cannot get home to check on things until early in the morning. Apparently they still don't have power. Please keep them in your prayers!

I'm praying God is the center of all of our lives and in the lives of our loved ones (especially one in particular). He knows who he is... Please, Lord invade his life!

Love,

Angie xoxo

We HAVE a winner...

Kat, from Justabeachkat is the lucky winner of my friend, Lisa Jander's book, Dater's Ed. Congratulations, Kat! Please e-mail your address to me so I can send it to you... probably for your grandchildren. :) Thank you so much, girls for sharing your dating stories. I thoroughly enjoyed each one of them! Thanks also for supporting my friend during this exciting time!

Much love on this rainy Sunday,
Angie xoxo

Cover to Cover... No one else above Him

Once again I almost didn't do the reading. It's still officially Monday so I think I will have time to do a little Cover to Cover insight if I hurry. I loved how this week's readings included Psalm 126. I will never forget the first time I read in the Bible what I had heard so many times before regarding reaping and sowing. I had no idea it was Biblical.

Psalm 126
When the LORD brought back the captives to Zion,
we were like men who dreamed.

Our mouths were filled with laughter,
our tongues with songs of joy.
Then it was said among the nations,
"The LORD has done great things for them."

The LORD has done great things for us,
and we are filled with joy.

Restore our fortunes, O LORD,
like streams in the Negev.

Those who sow in tears
will reap with songs of joy.

He who goes out weeping,
carrying seed to sow,
will return with songs of joy,
carrying sheaves with him.

If you could see my Bible right now you would see the many notes I took on these verses. I think I have totally lost it because I just took a picture of them! I took the notes while listening to Beth Moore explain them like only she can do (or I should say, God said through her) and have them dated. Apparently I thought I needed to understand these Words in the depths of my soul. I'm pretty sure God wanted me to see this again today. "Nothing is as good as feeling the Joy that God and I made it through this...!!!" I had 3 exclamation points!!! God and I have gone through a lot together. I wrote this, too. "You'll never know Him until you know Him all yourself!". The LORD has done great things for me! How quickly I forget.

We need to remember to sow the seed of God's Word, (especially in times of tears), so we will reap a harvest of Joy!

I hope you never forget what He has done in your lives!

Much love,

Angie xoxo

Book Giveaway... Dater's Ed

I am SO proud of my friend, Lisa Jander, author of her newest book, Dater's Ed that was recently published for students and parents to assist in the dating process! According to Lisa, "Dater's Ed is to dating what Driver's Ed is to driving!" She has worked so hard on this book and it's finally out to the public! The only problem with her writing this book is that it's gotten in the way of our coffee dates! She has been so busy scheduling book signings and speaking engagements all over the state and beyond!

I thought it might be fun to give away a copy of her book, so you can be as blessed as I was when I read it! I have no idea how to arrange a giveaway, but if you post a comment here, telling me about your most memorable date, next Sunday (September 14) I'll have my husband pick a name out of a hat and I'll send it to the lucky winner!

I cannot tell you how proud I am of you, Lisa!
Much love,
Angie xoxo

p.s. You'll love this book even if you are already married or think your kids are too young (or old) to date! :)

I'm so...

I am Thankful for my accountability partner, my daughter coming in town for a wedding, my son doing well in college and my husband putting up with me!

Proverbs 27:17
As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another.

Oh, and I'm also Thankful for you!
In Jesus' name!
Angie xoxo

NEVER abandon??

This is my 314th post and it wasn't until today that I finally "get"it...

These sayings came to mind this morning during my quiet time... "Hurt people hurt people". "Rejected people reject people." "If you don't feel loved first by God you can't possibly love others". "He doesn't love himself, so how does he expect others to love him?" Well, the same is true when it comes to forgiveness. " If I don't feel forgiven, I won't be able to forgive others".

In her book Jesus 90 Days with the One and Only, Beth Moore asked if I have a hard time accepting forgiveness--either God's or anyone else's and what I believed was the source of my difficulty. Usually my focus has been on whether I have forgiven someone, not the other way around. My answer was yes to her question and it all comes down to believing. When I've asked for forgiveness, I really don't believe they forgave me. In my past they eventually left me. I think people say they forgive, but still count it against me and will later use it to reject me. That's where my perfection and approval addiction come into play. I feel I must be perfect because if I'm not they will reject me. By the way, I probably do the same thing to myself when I come up short or disappoint someone. That's getting pretty deep.

It's time for some true healing to take place. That's why I love (and need) God's Word in my life. He is truth. He can be trusted. I found the word "forsake" 82 times in the Bible thanks to Bible Gateway. It's just strange how I am supposed to believe God (who I cannot see) when people (who I can see) have abandoned me when I wasn't perfect.

Mark 15:34
And at the ninth hour Jesus cried out in a loud voice, "Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?"—which means, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?"
Even Jesus asked this question. If He felt abandoned and still had Faith in His Father, I guess I can too!

Psalm 94:14
For the LORD will not reject his people; he will never forsake his inheritance.
I am an heir of God.

I'm so thankful for His Amazing Love!
By faith... I want to Believe He'll never leave me or abandon me.
Love,
Angie xoxo

This is such a...

ridiculous post... You may want to go on to the next one...
I've been in a mood for a little while and I've needed an attitude adjustment. I finally figured out the problem. There is NO problem. Everyone should be so lucky! I feel like King David when he pursued Bathsheba on the roof top. If I remember, he was bored so he got himself in big trouble. Today was my added day of vacation and I haven't gotten a lot accomplished. I should be cleaning right now, but am sitting on this computer. I have issues! I won't bore you with all of the details. I just know I need The Holy Spirit today more than ever! I pray you aren't able to relate with me today. If you are anything like me, you'll want to listen to this song...



I Praise God right now that my life is going along smoothly and I just need to cherish this time of Peace instead of making up problems. There are so many people with real challenges that I should be embarrassed to admit to being so shallow. Please forgive me! I promise I'll go to work tomorrow!
Much love,
Angie xoxo