Once you became a Christian and gave your life up to God.. You became a member of His family! John 3:3
You are adopted... Romans 8: 15-16
the All-powerful, Omnipotent God became your heavenly Father!
As His child we have free access to Him just as if He was our earthly father. We can talk to Him about anything. our joys, our grief, our accomplishments , our thanks, our problems, our illness, whatever you heart needs help or encouragement about we can go to Him!
It is because He loves us and cares for us.. because His Spirit resides in us, we can cry out to Him "Abba. Father" ( Daddy)! And we will truly feel His love sooth our aching hearts!
Galatians 4:6
He is a personal God!
The Lord has appeared of old to me, saying: 'Yes I have loved you with an everlasting love' (Jeremiah 31:3).
He loves righteousness and justice; the earth is full of the lovingkindness of the Lord
When He saw how wicked the people on earth and become ...And the LORD was sorry that he had made humankind on the earth, and it grieved him to his heart.
At times, we find that God can show His anger.:And the Lord said to Moses . . . 'Now therefore, let me alone, that my wrath may burn hot against them and I may consume them' (Exodus 32:10,11).
The Bible says that God has a will or self-determination. He is free to do whatever He chooses. The psalmist wrote. But our God is in the heavens; he does whatever he pleases. (Psalm 115:3).
The Scriptures teach that God has the ability to show mercy.Then God saw their works, that they turned from their evil way; and God relented from the disaster that He had said He would bring upon them, and He did not do it (Jonah 3:10).
We count those blessed who endured. You have heard of the endurance of Job and have seen the outcome of the Lord's dealings, that the Lord is full of compassion and is merciful
Thank you, God, for being so personal, with your love, your caring, your concern for our well being, your good gifts, your healing mercies, travel mercies, your interest, your compassion, your faithfulness. And so much more!! We love you so much!
Today I'd like to share another beautiful bridge we saw in Scotland and drove over on our way to Inverary Castle..
Ok, so I do consider God to reside above the firmament, even though I know He is everywhere, all the time.I suppose the skies are just so beautiful and peaceful, it helps to calm me and opens my mind and heart to be able to commune with the Living God! And once I really started thinking about this two way communication, I thought about how bridges connect one place to another… just how important they are for bringing people together.. The bridge pictured below,
again is the Dunkeld Bridge beside which we walked and day dreamed about the beauty that Scotland offers. And that day I fell in love with these beautiful, hundreds of years oldedifices that connect one side to the other. And that brought me right back to prayer ..My point is this. …as easy as it is to cross over a beautiful bridge, it is so much easier to cross the expanse of the firmament or simply cry out to our living, interested, and awaiting God in prayer!
Prayer is a Privilege! God actually invites us to talk to Him. Talk..have a conversation with Him. It doesn’t have to be a memorized, or rote mantra of words appealing to His supremacy! Not at all. But He desires us to come to Him in many other ways…Real ways… perhaps with the joy of a glorious day, or with pure love in your heart with thanksgiving for answered prayers, or crying out in anguish for healing or serious situations that come upon us! The main thing is though to come to Him in prayer!
Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God." Philippians 4:6
God wants to hear from us. And He wants to respond to us many times through the power of the Holy Spirit. Yes, it is a two way street.. and when He speaks to us in His small , dear voice we receive it in our heart , not by hearing, but by knowing. It may be an ‘open door’ that had been closed, or suddenly you know the direction in which He is leading you, or you know in your heart that His love for you is so encompassing and faithful that you can trust Him for whatever answer comes your way! Sometimes His answer may not be exactly what you wanted in your limited understanding but He answers with all knowing omniscient understanding. I have learned that He is absolutely faithful in all things! I can trust Him!
Hebrews 4:16Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.
Phil. 4:6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.
Neh.1:3-4 They said to me, “Those who survived the exile and are back in the province are in great trouble and disgrace. The wall of Jerusalem is broken down, and its gates have been burned with fire.”
4 When I heard these things, I sat down and wept.For some days I mourned and fasted and prayed before the God of heaven.
Jeremiah 32:17Ah, Sovereign LORD, you have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and outstretched arm. Nothing is too hard for you.
Malachi 3:6I, the LORD, do not change.
Psalm 65:2 You who answer prayer, to you all people will come
James 1:17 Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.
James 4:2 ye have not, because ye ask not.
Prayer affects what the Lord will do but, does not change Him. God never changes and His Will is perfect.. If we do not get what we ask, it is because what He does have for us is better than what we had asked and is best for us.. even if at the time it seems not to be. God is Omnipotent and Omniscient. All powerful and all-knowing! Trust Him!
Very mild weather to start the week, too warm for my liking. More seasonal by the end of the week! Monday -partly sunny, 66/48 Tuesday - cloudy 69/59 Wednesday -thunderstorms, 69/44 Thursday -partly cloudy, 55/35 Friday - cloudy, 45/29
Saturday-partly cloudy, 49, 35
♥♥ As I look outside my window ♥♥ Well, I am looking out my bedroom window at 4:30am. Unfortunately, I am wide awake and, of course, messing around on line, but I am cheered by looking out th3 window because our back neighbor v really celebrate Christmas with many lights and he keeps them on all night ; I find them encouraging. I wish more neighbors kept lights on all night.
♥♥ Right now I am ♥♥ Well, I was awake a couple of hours from 3-5 am so I am pretty slow to get out of my cosy bed. So I am enjoying Fox and Friends this morning!
♥♥ Thinking and pondering ♥♥
Lately I have been thinking a lot about the new emphasis on some of my blog posts. As many of you know, back in the fall during a time of deep reflection, I heard the Lord tell me to use some of my blog for His purposes. Starting this year I am writing every other day for Him, and using the others three days for my regular blogging. I am excited because He has directed me into my new focus.. prayer, and he has graciously given me a beloved hook to introduce each new concept. This makes me very excited about where he is leading me!
♥♥How am I feeling ♥♥
Mainly, it is good to be home. We spent 10 days away counting travel days.. away having a wonderful time celebrating with our precious family, but I think at this age, changing environment has a a definite impact on the body. The drier air, change in home heating, and the outside climate has effects, especially on me.. I have pretty severe allergies and sinus problems and so I returned home with quite an upset head! We are pushing moisture into our bedroom which is helping so much.
♥♥ On the breakfast plate ♥♥
I was defintely in an oatmeal mood and I am still waiting for my coffee, but dear Lynn has been busy on other important things this morning. I think he was expecting me to stay abed longer, actually!
♥♥ On the dinner plate ♥♥
Saturday I created a fabulous Chinese stir fry supper and we have just enough to kick in more veggies to create yet a lovely supper for this evening!
♥♥ What I'm wearing ♥♥
I am going for comfort today! Nowhere to go, I hope, so I’m wearing a long sleeve knit pullover knit shirt with gray knit lounging pants. Very cosy this morning. It isn’t that cold for January, as this morning it is already 44 and the sun is bright!
♥♥ On my reading pile ♥♥
Our church is encouraging everyone to read thru the Bible this year as a means of unity and solidarity I suppose you could say, and the plan is also the plan the Gospel Coalition provides. Once you sign up there they send you that day's reading in email which I find quite helpful. They, also, offer audible which I prefer from actually reading. If you go to the above website the link for the readings is at the bottom of the page. I am still reading a beloved book. Gently and Lowly by Dane Ortlund. This book is about Jesus heart and love for His children. It is a must read for all believers. I am, also, beginning a new book, Praying the Bible by Donald S. Whitley. We begin a study on Sunday nights beginning next week at church!
♥♥ On my TV this week ♥♥ Well, I am disappointed that the Christmas movies are over. I really enjoyed the GAC network and am thank ful for the alternative! Nothing specific to speak to at this time.
Creative Update:I am having fun following the Sketch- book Skool YouTube videos. I started my sketchbook journal on our Scotland trip and I find it so enjoyable! If you like to draw check out those videos!
♥♥ Looking around the house ♥♥
I am not planning to take the Christmas decor down until Epiphany. I love to just sit in the living room by the fire to read the Bible or one of my books to read!
♥♥A Favorite Vlog ♥♥
I just love the Poetry of Slow Life. This vlog is so enriching and beautiful. I especially loved her Christmas videos. But she so appreciates the simple things in life!
♥♥ To Do List ♥♥
Do a bit of meal planning
some daily reading
Continue setting up my new year planner my daughter gave me
I absolutely love Ruth Chou Simons books , artwork etc. This planner is gorgeous and a delight to open each day! Thank you, so much, Amanda!
Amanda also gave me an array of personal cosmetics .. some for (whispering )Aging skin
But I need to create a special place to store but more importantly use my new products. There is ,also, a product for ( thinning hair) and last but especially not least a set of special tweezers to rid my chin if you know, ( whiskers)
Allergy shot and Bible study
Dine out with friends
Put the laundry away..
Only a loving daughter knows what a mother needs and I really do appreciate her thoughtfulness! Love you, Amanda!
♥ ♥ From the camera ♥ ♥
Baking mince meat pies
gathering around the table
Candle lighting service in Boston
Beautiful Christmas decor
Beloved sweeties!
Birthday girl ripping into her gift!
Delightful look on our sweetheart's face.. Love these moments!
Devotional:
TRUE HAPPINESS
The Bible makes it clear that true happiness comes when you and I are right with God. When we are yielded to Christ and His will, then we can experience true happiness—inner peace and unspeakable joy. Are you right with God today? Are your sins confessed to Him? Are you living surrendered to the Lordship of Jesus Christ?
Blaise Pascal, the seventeenth century mathematician, physicist, inventor, writer, and philosopher astutely said, “There is a God-shaped vacuum in the heart of every man which cannot be filled by any created thing, but only by God, the Creator, made known through Jesus.”
Let me encourage you to take sober inventory of your life today. Are you trying to fill the inner vacuum with health, wealth, achievement, or the like? Those things will never make you truly happy; they will never satisfy the deep longings of your soul. The only One who can do that is Jesus.
Start your year off right by bowing your knee and your life to King Jesus. Give Him first place in everything … for that is the key to true happiness.
It is a new year and a bit of a new focus here at on Wings of Eagles. Sunday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday will be days I will continue for the Lord…. Mainly, because I hope not to be so repetitive, but attempt to keep things fresh. I will, also, continue with some of my favorite blogging posts where I have made so many wonderful friends through the years.
So we are now actually on the cusp of the new year 2023! If one believes all the hype of the doomsday sayers, we are in for a wild ride. I won’t recount all of the crazy prophetic words I have seen and heard in the past few months about the apocalypse 2023 will be! But that is mainly, because, I will not give them yet another voice on my blog. Here is the banner under which I stand:
Our God is preeminent, He is supreme! He is all-powerful,and in complete control of all things! He is Omni- present, He is everywhere at all times. He is omniscient.. all knowing, all seeing, all wise! And the most important thing of all is He loves me, He cares for me and works things for my good because I am His child; I made my confession of faith to Him as a young adult and He has been for me ever since! Has everything in my life been perfect? No, because I live in a fallen world! And I am a sinner, saved by His grace. But when I sin, I am compelled to repent and seek forgiveness for my sin and He is faithful to forgive me . He never ever denies me as His child! And He is the giver of good gifts. But as the good Father He does allow things in my life to grow my faith and teach more about His faithfulness. Therefore, I know I can trust Him with what ever He allows in 2023. I have learned to be covered in prayer which shields me from the blunt force of the winds of evil in the world. My main emphasis to begin this new year is the study of prayer.
Over the next several posts I will be sharing about various elements of prayer. Mainly, that prayer is a privilege, is personal, and is powerful! Obviously, you might imagine that God’s Word has a lot to say on the topic, so we will learn a lot with each new post! I am really looking forward to it! So Happy New Year!
Welcome to Saturday: 9. What we've committed to our readers is that we will post 9 questions every Saturday. Sometimes the post will have a theme, and at other times the questions will be totally unrelated. Those weeks we do "random questions," so-to-speak. We encourage you to visit other participants posts and leave a comment. Because we don't have any rules, it is your choice. We hate rules. We love to answer the questions, however, and here is today's questions!
1) In this song, the lead singer admits he leaves the light on when he goes to sleep. Do you leave any lights on in your bedroom? Or do you prefer it completely dark? We leave a nightlight on in our room and the bathroom.. at our ages several trips to the bathroom each night demands a lit trail! 🥴
2) He sings that he can't stop wondering where his old girlfriend is. Do you know whatever happened to any of your exes? My first boy friend moved to Florida with his family where lived until he sadly passed last year. Others moved away, who knows where.. and one was a teacher in Nashville, but sadly passed about 5 years ago. I won the blue ribbon in every way when I married my dearest, Lynn!
3) He says this is the last song he'll ever sing to his girl. What's the last song you sang? I sing praise songs to God during my bedtime prayer time. It is just what comes into my mind. Where were you when you sang it? In bed!
4) Edward Bear was a Canadian group who took their name from Winnie the Pooh. As written by A. A. Milne, Edward Bear was Pooh's "proper" name. Pooh's favorite food was honey. Is there a food you can't get enough of?I have a sweet tooth. Just anything. A bite of sweet calls my name. I have to really be careful. A tiny bit at a time!
5) In 1972, when this song was popular, Disney's Winnie the Pooh was quite a celebrity in his own right, appearing on the cover the 1972 Sears Christmas Wish Book. That year, kids asked Santa for plush Pooh, Tigger and Eeyore. Did you have many plush toys as a child? Yes, If yes, do you still have any of them? I do not have my original dark brown teddy bear, but when I was a much younger adult a dear friend who makes the most gorgeous plush toys gave me a bear with a beret. I called him Francois , and we inseparable for a time. When. Just in my private time. I didn’t take him to work, but .I told my students stories about him. I have always been a storyteller!
6) Enough about 1972! I loved 1972.. the year I got married! Let's look back on 2022. What's something you learned or rediscovered in 2022? I learned to never take a loved one for granted!
7) Can you think of a moment in 2022 you'd like to do over?This past Christmas was amazing so I’d love to get to relive it, over and over again!
8) What are you looking forward to most in 2023?I look forward to a planned trip with our family perhaps during a school break we plan to go to Lancaster, Pa, to see the Sight and Sound Theater!
9) Random question: Who received the last email you sent?my friend, Gerri!
I am remembering a beautiful area where we stayed in Scotland ….we wanted to have easy access to the Isle of Skye, so we stayed in a fabulous manor house known as Duncraig Castle which was nearby the coastal town of Plockton!
What a fabulous place to stay. We were there two nights and being a Bed and Breakfast, the most beautiful breakfast was included. It was hard to leave our accommodations, but the Isle was calling us. I shared about being at the Old Man of Storr last week.. When we left there we had our granddaughters with us to take to dinner at the town of Plockton, but the further we drove the stormier it became! The clouds really filled in and lowered. we knew we were in for some rain, at least!
The Plockton peninsula is so delightful! The terrain is magical!
The town itself is built close up to the quayside. The road , considered Main Street , I suppose, is a one lane road with cars parked along the sidewalks.
There was no available parking out front of the Plockton Hotel where we had our dinner reservation, so we parked down where the fishermen park when they embark to sea! And the sky opened up in earnest.
We ran for it.. arriving to our pub-like accommodation like a few drowned rats!
