Spiritual Sundays

Hello friends and welcome to Spiritual Sundays.

My hubby and I just finished watching "Fireproof," a wonderful movie about a young couple who was going through a rough marriage. We highly recommend it to every married couple; especially those who are going through a troubled marriage.

In this day and age when marriages are breaking down all around us, I am so very thankful for my own. Hubby and I have been best friends since we were seventeen years old and we're closer now than we ever were. We are blessed! That's not to say we haven't had our share of problems; we just chose to work through them instead of giving up, and we laugh a lot. Of course, the Lord has always been in the center of our marriage and with His help, we have always been able to overcome whatever came our way.

I believe one problem couples face today is they don't marry with 'forever' in their hearts nor do they seem to marry 'for better or for worse' any more.
Marriage today is almost akin to what we used to call 'going steady.' If it doesn't work out, then you call it quits and move on to the next romance.
That is not God's way!

A marriage is a covenant agreement between two people in the sight of God, and I believe with all my heart that a marriage can survive, indeed be a happy one, if both parties will do their best to make it work and trust God for a miracle.

In our years of ministry, we have counseled many couples who were having marital problems. We have witnessed in our own family how bad a marriage can get and we saw how God turned it around. It takes godly determination, patience, trust, but most of all love; God's kind of love to make it work.

The Bible clearly states that a woman is supposed to look after the needs of her family, that's including those of her husband. The Bible also states that a husband is supposed to love his wife as Christ loved the Church. Now that's a lot of loving! Read 1 Corinthians 13:4-13.

The movie "Fireproof" is all about loving in the midst of the storm. Give it a watch, you'll be glad you did!

PUT CHRIST FIRST IF YOU WANT YOUR MARRIAGE TO LAST.

Please click on my Spiritual Sundays button on my sidebar and it will take you to other wonderful testimonies and stories. Bless you Charlotte and Ginger for hosting this every week. The Lord bless you, all my bloggy friends, and may He make you a blessing today!

Pink Saturday

Happy Pink Saturday Ladies~

I am having so much fun sharing my pinks each week, aren't you? The variety of pinks out there is simply amazing! Thank you Beverly, our gracious hostess, for inviting us all to participate in this activity every week!

I have three more pinks to share with you.....

My first contribution is a lovely warm fuzzy scarf that a dear lady at our last parish knitted for me. Wouldn't you agree, it's the perfect shade of pink?

Then there is this wonderful rose coloured throw that my dear auntie knitted for me. Can you see all the detail in it? It really is a beautiful warm cuddly throw!

My last pink of the day is a bucket full of posies. I love flowers, both real ones and faux, don't you? The bucket is silver with gold handles and gold trim. Do you think I should paint it white?

I have visions of it painted white with a gauzy ribbon tied around it and an ornament dangling from it! Perhaps an Eiffel Tower; what do you think?

Paint it white or leave as is? Let me know what you would do!

Well, those are my pinks for this week. I am having a Give-Away next week so please do drop by and check it out!

Click on the link to go visit other lovely pinks & have a wonderful weekend! http://howsweetthesound.typepad.com/my_weblog/

My 100th Post

Hello dear bloggy friends~

Would you believe this is my 100th post? Yesterday I treated all my bloggy friends to my Snowflake Award and today I'm going to tell you about my Give -Away in celebration of my 100th post.

I cannot believe that I've posted one hundred already! Either I love to talk or I just have a lot to share; I don't know which. Ordinarily, I'm a very quiet person.

In any case, next week I will be posting about my Give-Away and I will show you the items I will be giving away. There will be a few rules you will have to follow in order to enter the Give-Away, so stay tuned.

In the meantime, enjoy this day and remember to give thanks for all the blessings the Lord has poured out upon you!

Hugs~ Sandi

"I will praise You, O Lord, with all my heart;

I will tell of all Your wonders.

I will be glad and rejoice in You;

I will sing praise to your Name, O Most High"- Psalms 9:1-2

A Special Award to All My Bloggy Friends

"The Snowflake Award"

Good Morning and Blessings from me to you~

When I started my blog in October, I had no idea how many wonderful bloggy friends would come by to visit.

You have been so kind, and encouraged me in so many ways that I wanted to express my appreciation to each one of you.

I wanted something unique to share with you and so I created this award for this very special occasion~ my 99th post!

The "You're one-of-a-kind" Snowflake Award came about like this:

One time I was in a church group where we played a game and we were to give each other a gift that would speak of our feelings toward one another. My gift was from a long time friend.... It was a snowflake!

My friend went on to tell me why I was being given the snowflake, and I was so touched by the sentiment~

A snowflake is exquisite, and there is only one like it. It is one of God's most beautiful creations; just like you!

So, I thought a snowflake would symbolize how I feel about each one of you.

If you are one of my followers, or you are on my list of Favourite Bloggers, or if you have been by to visit and you really enjoyed my blog, please take this Snowflake Award and post it on your blog. All I ask is that you let me know you have received my gift.

Thank you for making me feel welcome and my blogging experience so enjoyable!

God bless each and every one of you!
Big Hugs~ Sandi

Spiritual Sundays~ Winter Blahs

Good morning and Happy Spiritual Sunday!
As some of you are aware, I have had my son, his wife, and their five month old baby here for the past two weeks. Life has been rather busy so I haven't been blogging much lately and I wondered what, if anything, I could share today.
While reading a devotion from "Our Daily Bread" the other day, I came across this wonderful reading and thought I would share it with you today.

Don't forget to click on the picture on my sidebar to go to other Spiritual Sundays testimonials and stories. The Lord bless you!

CREATE WINTER

I love living where there are four seasons. But even though I love settling down with a good book by a crackling fire when it's snowing, I must admit that my love for the seasons grows a little dim when the long gray days of winter drone on into February.

Yet regardless of the weather, there is always something special about winter: Christmas!

Thankfully, long after the decorations are down, the reality of Christmas still lifts my spirits no matter what's happening.

If it weren't for the reality of Christ's birth, not only would winter be dark and dreary, but our hearts would be bleak and have nothing to hope for. No hope for the freedom from guilt and judgment. No hope of His reassuring and strengthening Presence through dark and difficult times. No hope for a future secured in heaven.

In the winter of a troubled life, the psalmist asked, "Why are you cast down, O my soul?" The remedy was clear: "Hope in God, for I shall yet praise Him for the help of His countenance"

{Ps. 42:5}. In C.S. Lewis' tales of Narnia, Mr. Tumnus complains that in Narnia it is "always winter and never Christmas." But for those of us who know the God who made the seasons, it is always Christmas in our hearts!- Joe Stowell

When our lives are heavy laden,

Cold and bleak as winter long,

Stir the embers in our hearts, Lord;

Make Your flame burn bright and strong.- Kieda

LET THE REALITY OF CHRISTMAS CHASE AWAY THE BLAHS OF WINTER.

Pink Saturday

Good Morning everyone~ It's Pink Saturday again!

I have been busy with my family the past two weeks and didn't know if I would get a chance to participate this week or not, but here I am!

My first pink contribution this week is a large print which hangs on the wall in my living room. I just love the way the pink roses lend a soft romantic feel to the room.

I also have this china egg with pretty pink flowers on it which was a gift from a friend.

It is the perfect place to keep a special piece of jewelery, like this little pink roses pin.
Have a wonderful Pink Day and be sure to click on the link to view more pinky sights. Thank you Beverly at http://howsweetthesound.typepad.com/my_weblog/

Happy Pink Saturday ~ Happy Valentine's Day

Happy Pink Saturday ~ and Happy Valentine's Day!

Thank you Beverly at How Sweet the Sound for hosting Pink Saturday.

Here are my pink contributions for Valentine's Day~

A pink phone. No, it's not a Princess phone; but it is pink nonetheless!

This heart-shaped bottle of scented bath oil was a gift from my son.

This beautiful piece of cranberry glass was a wedding gift from my aunt and uncle thirty some years ago.

What are you doing for Valentine's Day? Hubby & I are babysitting baby Zachary so his Mommy and Daddy can go out for a nice dinner. Please click on the link for more Pink Saturday treasures and enjoy a lovely Valentine's Day weekend everyone! http://howsweetthesound.typepad.com/my_weblog/

"Happy Valentine's Day" from my heart to yours!

The Guest Room is Ready!

The guest room is ready for my son and his family, and we are anxiously awaiting their arrival!
This is also a continuation of some of the changes we have made in our home over the years.

This used to be my son Jeff's room. We have taken it and redecorated it for our guests.
A pale blue on the walls and pretty linens on the bed. The $5 headboard was a find at a garage sale which was once a dark wood, then we painted and distressed it. The chest of drawers had belonged to my son Joel. It had previously been a dark wood and is now a fresh white with some distressing on it. I think it looks much better!
The white swan, beside the chest of drawers, is a stuffed toy that Joel made me when he was in Junior High School.
We took out the old ceiling light fixture and replaced it with this little white hobnail glass chandelier. Where there was once a blue swivel rocking chair and a round table, dressed with pretty battenburg lace, now sits a play pen awaiting the arrival of baby Zachary. This will be his crib for the next two and a half weeks.

If my son's flight is on time; we should see them around midnight. It's going to be a long day and a late night!

This will most likely be my last post for a few days. I am getting close to my 100th post after which I will probably have a surprise for you. Stay in touch and in the meantime, the Lord bless you all. Hugs ~ Sandi

Spiritual Sundays

Happy Spiritual Sunday! Thank you to Charlotte and Ginger who host this wonderful inspirational post. Please click on the Spiritual Sundays button on my sidebar to go to other wonderful inspirationals. God bless you today!

Today I would like to share with you a short story my daughter-in-law Joanna sent me yesterday.

THE TEACUP

There was a couple who took a trip to England to shop in a beautiful antique store to celebrate their 25th wedding anniversary. They both liked antiques and pottery, and especially teacups. Spotting an exceptional cup, they asked, "May we see that? We've never seen anything so beautiful."

As the lady handed it to them, suddenly the teacup spoke, "You don't understand. I have not always been a teacup. There was a time when I was just a lump of red clay. My master took me and rolled me, pounded, and patted me over and over and I yelled out, "Don't do that. I don't like it! Let me alone!" But he only smiled, and gently said, "Not yet!"

Then WHAM! I was placed on a spinning wheel and suddenly I was spun around and around and around. "Stop it! I'm getting dizzy! I'm going to be sick!" I screamed. But the master only nodded and said quietly, " Not yet."

He spun me and poked and prodded and bent me out of shape to suit himself and then he put me in the oven. I never felt such heat. I yelled and knocked and pounded at the door. "Help! Get me out of here!" I could see him through the opening and I could read his lips as he shook his head from side to side, "Not yet."

When I thought I couldn't bear it another minute, the door opened. He carefully took me out and put me on the shelf, and I began to cool. Oh, that felt so good! "Ah, this is much better," I thought. But, after I cooled he picked me up and he brushed paint all over me. The fumes were horrible. I thought I would gag. "Oh, please stop it! Stop!" I cried. He only shook his head and said, "Not yet!"

Then suddenly he put me back in to the oven. Only it was not like the first one. This was TWICE as hot and I just knew I would suffocate. I begged. I pleaded. I screamed. I cried. I was convinced I would never make it. I was ready to give up. Just then the door opened and he took me out and again placed me on the shelf, where I cooled and waited and waited, wondering, "What's he going to do to me next?"

An hour later he handed me a mirror and said, "Look at yourself." And I did. I said, " That's not me; that couldn't be me. It's beautiful. I'm beautiful!!!!"

Quietly he spoke, "I want you to remember, then," he said, "I know it hurt to be rolled and pounded and patted, but had I just left you alone, you'd have dried up. I know it made you dizzy to spin around on the wheel, but if I had stopped, you would have crumbled. I know it hurt and it was hot and disagreeable in the oven, but if I hadn't put you there, you would have cracked. I know the fumes were bad when I brushed and painted you all over, but if I hadn't done that, you never would have hardened. You would not have had any colour in your life.

If I hadn't put you back in the second oven, you wouldn't have survived for long because the hardness would not have held. Now you are a finished product. Now you are what I had in mind when I first began with you."

The moral of this story is this: God knows what He is doing for each of us. He is the Potter, and we are His clay. He will mold us and make us and expose us to just enough pressures of just the right kinds that we may be made into a flawless piece of work to fulfil His good, pleasing and perfect will.

So when life seems hard, and you are being pounded, and patted, and pushed almost beyond endurance; when your world seems to be spinning out of control; when you feel like you are in a fiery furnace of trials; when life seems to "stink", try this.

Brew a cup of your favourite tea in your prettiest cup, sit down and think on this story and then, have a little talk with the Potter.

Pink Saturday

Happy Pink Saturday~ Thank you Beverly at How Sweet the Sound, for hosting this fun meme.

Today I have a couple of pink things to show you.

This is Penelope. She was the first ceramic piece I ever made. She was a lot of work but worth it when I finished her! She is about 14 inches tall and she is wearing her gorgeous pink summer dress and carrying her pretty lacey bonnet adorned with two lovely pink roses, in her hand. She has big blue eyes and wears a little locket around her neck. Her ringlets are tied up with real ivory satin ribbon in the back.

Then there is this little Pink Lady or Pinkie thimble. I have Blue Boy also. When I started to collect thimbles, I couldn't find a Pinkie to go with Blue Boy so my father special ordered it from England for me.

One of these days, I'll show you my complete thimble collection. There are only the two pink ones in the collection so I think I had better save the collection for another day other than Pink Saturday. You will have to stop by my blog to see them.

Enjoy your Pink Day everyone and please do check out other lovely pinks by clicking on this link http://howsweetthesound.typepad.com/my_weblog/