Blue Monday

Happy Blue Monday everyone!

Here we are gathered once again with Sally to celebrate Blue Monday. If you love the colour blue then please go visit Sally at http://smilingsally.blogspot.com/ and sign up. There are lots of blue sites to visit and we have lots of fun along the way.

Today I would like to share some photos of my son Jordan's trip to Portugal. He spent about ten days over there at a Math Conference and was able to get some great shots. He spent time in Lisbon and Porto and he gave me permission to share these with you all. The thing that struck me about all the pictures was how very blue the sky is. It is brilliant, almost majestic!

So, enjoy.........

This is one of the first sights he saw when he landed in Portugal. All the houses had red-tiled rooftops and they all looked very ancient. He thought it was pretty cool.

This is one of the narrow streets one will find in that country.

One of the many chuches he saw. He was amazed at the architecture, noting you don't see this kind of building any more! Some strange looking trees.Some of Portugal's vegetation. I cannot believe the vividness of the blue sky! Isn't it gorgeous?

Entrance to one of Portugal's Botanical Gardens.
A modern mansion built beside an old fort.
An array of different kinds of architecture can be found throughout the country; the old co-mingles with the new everywhere.
Taking a boat ride along the Douro River.
Another church.

Some Portugese currency.Finally, a view of the Atlantic Ocean from the other side of the world; Portugal!
I hope you enjoyed your little tour of the old country. Please take some time to visit Sally and all the other participants by clicking on the link above or the Blue Monday button on my sidebar. Have a wonderful day everyone!

Spiritual Sundays

Hello and welcome to another weekend of Spiritual Sundays hosted by Charlotte and Ginger. Please click on the link http://bloggerspirit.blogspot.com/ or the Spiritual Sundays button on my sidebar to be refreshed and encouraged in your spirit!

Today, I would like to share a devotional from Our Daily Bread. When I read this, it got me to thinking about the different ways people serve God. Some people serve Him quietly in the prayer closet while others such as the pastor, serve God in front of others; spending much time in the public eye. Maybe you lead a prayer meeting or work as the church custodian. Or perhaps your job is in the nursery looking after the little ones so the moms can enjoy the service.

Maybe you're one of those dear people who brings a meal to the new mother who just got home from the hospital with her baby.

Whatever you do, if you do it wholeheartedly as unto the Lord, then your job will not go unnoticed by Him. One thing I am certain of; whatever we do for Christ, whether up front or behind the scenes, is well worth the effort, and He will bless us for it.

I have served the Lord both in the limelight as a pastor's wife and I have served Him behind the scenes, and I have been blessed in both capacities.

I want to encourage all of you who think what you're doing is not important. If your motives are right, then you will be blessed and God will be pleased with your offering.

Today's devotional is called Behind the Building and I pray you will be ministered to by it!

BEHIND THE BUILDING

"Be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord." 1 Corinthians 15:58

Where we were working was hot, dirty, and it smelled bad. We had traveled thousands of miles to do some work projects, and on this day we were painting the back of a classroom building at a school for the deaf.

The only people who would ever see this part of the building would be the guy who cut the grass and any unfortunate person who would have to work on the septic tank.

Yet, as the young adults diligently painted away, one of the girls, Melissa, put it in perspective by saying, "Nobody will ever come back here to see this, but God will see it. So let's make it it look nice." And so we did.

Sometimes we sit at our desk and think no one sees our work. Or we stand at a line assembling item after endless item. Perhaps we take care of crying babies in the church nursery. Or we live the best Christian life we can - without anyone noticing.

Often our work is "behind the building." But if that is what God has called us to do, we need to work with all our heart. As part of our calling to love others deeply {1 Peter 4:8}, offer hospitality and use our gifts to serve others, our task is to work with God's strength to bring praise and glory to God, not ourselves.

The important thing is that God likes what He sees. - Dave Branon

NO SERVICE FOR CHRIST GOES UNNOTICED BY HIM.

NOTE: I have put in a very busy week running back and forth from the hospital, visiting my poor mother. She is not doing very well today and is in a lot of discomfort. She really needs a touch from the Great Physician's hand! I would really appreciate your prayers on her behalf. Thank you and God bless you!