Thirty-three years ago today, April 14, 1978, I was given a precious gift.

~ Leah Joy ~

Scripture tells us that "Children are a gift from above."

God gives us such wonderful gifts  ~

children and grandchildren included!. 

His greatest gift to us is him! 

Oswald Chambers says, "Eternal life is not a gift from God; eternal

life is the gift of God." Tonight, I ponder his idea that eternal life has

nothing to do with time (how often do we think of eternal life in just that way?).

"Eternal life is Jesus coming to give us an endless supply of life ~

a life that is filled with all the fullness of God (Ephesians 3:19)." 

(My Utmost for His Highest)

A life filled with all the fulness of God!  

Having this endless supply of life is eternal life!

Father, Thank you for the gift of eternal life - the gift of you.

Thank you for a life filled with all the fulness of you.

Thank you for all your wonderful gifts!

Thank you for the gift of children -

and tonight, especially for Leah!

I will greatly rejoice in the Lord,

my soul shall exult in my God,

for he has clothed me with the garments

of salvation.

Isaiah 61:10

Beauty for ashes
A garment of praise for my heaviness
Beauty for ashes
Take this heart of stone
and make it Yours
         ~Shane and Shane~

I am creating my own blog at the suggestion of others. I don't know what each blog will bring, but it is my prayer that each one will be encouraging and edifying to those who read them while bringing glory to the one who bestows beauty for ashes.  Our lives are stories and my story is one of redemption ~ a story of beauty for ashes.  Just as promised in Isaiah 61, God has comforted me in my mourning. He has given me a beautiful headdress instead of ashes; the oil of gladness instead of mourning, and the garment of praise instead of a faint spirit.  All this that I might be called an oak of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that he may be glorified!  How amazing and how great is His love!  Thank you, Father, for bestowing beauty for ashes!