It is GOD who BLESSES and TRANSFORMS...

This is a blog for women (not just moms) who:

(1) Desire to be transformed by JESUS' LOVE, HOLINESS, AND GRACE;

(2) Believe that GOD'S WORD is the true Spirit food for HIS HOLY SPIRIT who lives within us;

(3) Submit to GOD and walk this journey of life with HIM transforming us more and more into HIS likeness.

It's a blog about the POWER OF TRANSFORMED LIVES. Let's begin with yours and mine and pass it on... 1 + 1 + 1...

Since GOD's HOLY SPIRIT lives inside a christian, let's choose to be nurtured and transformed by feasting daily on HOLY SPIRIT food - GOD's WORD - The Holy Bible..

My regular posts stopped in 2013, with a major move and the chronic illness and eventual death of our oldest daughter. Yes, we grieve daily, yet I am determined to continue to let the LIGHT of my LORD and SAVIOR shine through me. I have tried to start posting again, over the last few years, but have not been consistent. So, I think the biggest blessing for you and me both will be to intersperse some new posts while revisiting some of the former posts. Let's begin with "Oh, the JOY!" as we head into living through Fall 2019; meeting back here 1-2 days a week.

If you need daily encouragement, you will find plenty by clicky on past posts. When reading earlier posts, you will see that I often posted daily, following this format: ...Sunday in the SON, Meditation Monday, GratiTuesday, Women in the WORD Wednesday, Transforming Thursday, Family Fellowship Friday, Ketchup & Mustard Saturday.


There's a whole lot here! Take your time to browse.

Please come back and visit each week. Welcome!

Because of JESUS, we can be family,

Patti





TRANSFORMED MOMS:MOMS TRANSFORMED

Romans 12:1-2 "Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. 2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect."

Sunday, December 25, 2011

BLESSED BE YOUR NAME...



SUNDAY

IN

THE SON






BLESSED BE YOUR NAME



as sung by Tree63




BLESSED be Your Name
In the land that is plentiful
Where the streams of abundance flow
BLESSED be Your Name



BLESSED be Your Name
When I'm found in the desert place
Though I walk through the wilderness
BLESSED be Your Name


Every BLESSING You pour out,
I'll turn back to praise
When the darkness closes in,
LORD, Still I will say...


BLESSED be the Name of the LORD
BLESSED be Your Name
BLESSED be the Name of the LORD
BLESSED be Your glorious Name
BLESSED be Your Name
When the sun's shining down on me
When the world's all as it should be
BLESSED be Your Name


BLESSED be Your Name
On the road marked with suffering
Though there's pain in the offering
BLESSED be Your Name

Every BLESSING You pour out,
I'll turn back to praise
When the darkness closes in,
LORD, Still I will say...


BLESSED be the Name of the LORD
BLESSED be Your Name
BLESSED be the Name of the LORD
BLESSED be Your glorious Name

You give and take away
You give and take away
My heart will choose to say
LORD, BLESSED be Your Name


Every BLESSING You pour out,
I'll turn back to praise
When the darkness closes in,
LORD, still I'm going to say...




BLESSED be the Name of the LORD
BLESSED be the Name of the LORD
BLESSED be Your glorious Name
BLESSED be the Name of the LORD
BLESSED be Your Name
BLESSED be the Name of the LORD
BLESSED be Your glorious Name


You give and take away
You give and take away

My heart will choose to say,
LORD, BLESSED be Your Name.



~BLESSED~

Friday, December 23, 2011

I AM BLESSED... FAMILY AND FRIENDS...



"The holidays" are here! They can be soooo memorable and sooooo stressful. Before you head into this day/this weekend/this next week, take a moment and read through these few words of inspiration, taken from a book put out by Hallmark, called FRIENDSHIP IS A BLESSING. My friend, Melody, gave me this book about a year and a half ago.



"BLESSED
are they who have the gift of making friends,
for it is one of God's best gifts.
It involves many things,
but above all,
the power of going out of one's self,
and appreciating whatever is
noble and loving in another."




ABC'S of Friendship

A - Accepts you as you are.
B - Believes in you no matter what.
C - Calls you just to say "Hi".
D - Doesn't give up on you.
E - Envisions the whole of you (even the unfinished parts).
F - Forgives your mistakes and shortcomings.
G - Gives of self unconditionally.
H - Helps you without being asked.
I - Invites you to come over.
J - Just wants to be with you.
K - Keeps you close in heart.
L - Loves you for who you are.
M - Makes a difference in your life.
N - Never judges you.
O - Offers you support.
P - Picks you up when you are down.
Q - Quiets your fears.
R - Raises your spirits with encouraging words.
S - Says nice things about you.
T - Tells you the truth when you need to hear it.
U - Understands you.
V - Values you.
W - Walks beside you during the hard times.
X - eXplains those things you don't understand.
Y - Yells as loud as it takes to make you listen.
Z - Zaps you back to reality.



And, if these ABC's are too hard to remember, Charles Swindoll, makes it simpler:

"I A ccept you as you are."

"I B elieve you are valuable."

"I C are when you are hurt."

"I Desire what is best for you."

"I Erase all offenses."


~BLESSED~

Thursday, December 22, 2011

I AM BLESSED... I WILL ENDURE...

TRANSFORMING THURSDAY



The past month or so I have visited with many friends who are Despondant, in Despair, Discouraged, and almost Destroyed... they are ready TO QUIT. I know people who are out of work, had their utilities turned off, lost their jobs, lost their homes, lost a family member... Endurance is not simple!

Please, my friend... DO NOT QUIT! Endurance is not just stamina or strength of will. It requires a dependence on resources that we don't even possess... SOME-ONE greater than ourselves. There is a need for deep breathing... health... pacing... positive thought... against all odds.

This time of year -during the holidays- is so hard. This time of year -when winter has set in and the days are short- is so hard! Hanging in our den are the words:




Life is hard,



but GOD is good!


How did this guy make it up the mountain?


With the life and limb given to him by GOD!

How did this tree maintain it's brillance in the midst of a snowstorm?


It has gotten some nourishment from the sun and water


into it's root system that other trees have not.


How did this little guy get these icebergs to separate?



He did not! He waited in faith, nothing doubting,


for this amazing opportunity to give him passage.






1. Count as BLESSINGS what GOD has given to you.

2. Seek GOD's SON first... He is our "SUN" who is the LIVING WATER.
3. Know that GOD will make a way! There may not be anyway that looks possible, but JESUS can make a way when there is no way!



Depending on where you are in your life right now, I beg you to participate in the encouraging act of ENDURANCE... Either be...





  1. the hands and feet of Jesus to others... provide love, encouragement, food, gifts, etc.



  2. the willing recipient of those who want to minister to you



  3. And while you are doing 1. or 2. or both, count your BLESSINGS and not your troubles!!!!



Today, will find me involved in all three! Join me in ENDURING!




~BLESSED~


‘Come, you who are BLESSED

by My Father;
take your inheritance,

the kingdom prepared for you
since the creation of the world.

For I was hungry and

you gave me something to eat,

I was thirsty and

you gave me something to drink,

I was a stranger and

you invited me in,

I needed clothes and

you clothed me,

I was sick and

you looked after me,
I was in prison and

you came to visit me.'


~BLESSED~

Wednesday, December 21, 2011

I AM BLESSED... TO GIVE AND RECEIVE...



MATTHEW 25



31 “When the Son of Man comes...


HOW?


...in
His


glory,




and all the angels with Him, He will sit...


WHERE?


...on
Hi


glorious

throne.




32 All the nations will be gathered...


WHERE?


...before
Him,



and He will separate the people one from another...



HOW?


...as a

Shepherd

separates

the sheep

from

the goats.
33 He will put


the sheep

on His right

and the goats

on His left.




34 “Then the King will say to those on His right,



WHAT WILL HE SAY?



‘Come, you who are BLESSED

by My Father;
take your inheritance,


the kingdom prepared for you
since the creation of the world.


35 For I was hungry and

you gave me something to eat,

I was thirsty and

you gave me something to drink,

I was a stranger and

you invited me in,

36 I needed clothes and

you clothed me,

I was sick and

you looked after me,
I was in prison and


you came to visit me.’


~BLESSED~

Tuesday, December 20, 2011

I AM BLESSED... CHRIST IN MY EVERYDAY...



I am so grateful that Christ my King humbled Himself to be born in a stable and become a child in a poor family. I believe that although He was born, it was not at Christmas. Yet, I am personally very grateful that both Christ's birth and death/resurrection are brought to the forefront each year by the world.

Quoting a FB friend, "He is the reason for every minute of every day. My family celebrates His birth and resurrection ALL the time..."

Our little town has a banner across it's main street that proclaims, "KEEP CHRIST IN CHRISTMAS". If you sit on the curb and look up, you can see that proclamation above.




This one sign, in this small town in South Jersey, has recently drawn national attention. The Freedom From Religion Foundation is demanding that sign be taken down. Our town disagrees!



Much like the USA, our town was founded on the belief that:



  • Jesus is God, our Creator and King.

  • Jesus humbled Himself to come to earth to show us how to live.

  • Jesus died on the cross to show us how to love.

  • Jesus rose from the grave to show us there is life after death.

  • Jesus ascended into heaven to show us that HE LIVES eternally!

If you read at wikipedia.com, about Pitman, NJ, you will find some of these statements about the beginning of Pitman:



..."The land had an auditorium located on a central
meeting ground, and twelve roads originated from the central area as spokes on a wheel, each representing one of the disciples of
Jesus. "


"...worshipers' tents originally lined each of the
twelve roads, cottages slowly replaced the tents and
formed the foundation of the town of Pitman."


..."In 1904, residents of Pitman Grove voted 122 to 35
for incorporation as an autonomous borough..."



I...




  • live in a nation founded with Jesus Christ in mind...


  • live in a town founded with Jesus Christ in mind...


  • live in a town that celebrates Christmas with Jesus Christ in mind...

Let's all live EVERYDAY with Jesus Christ in mind!!!!!!!!!





I say, "Let's replace that sign on 12/26/11 with KEEP CHRIST IN MY EVERYDAY!!!

















~BLESSED~



Monday, December 19, 2011

I AM BLESSED... GOD SHOWS UP...

MEDITATION MONDAY


Praise to God for a Living Hope!!!!!!!!

Yesterday, "God showed up" in a more accentuated way than usual in our Sunday morning service. My husband preached a sermon entitled, "I ALMOST QUIT!"

On this christian journey, there are things that often get in the way of victorious christian living and our ability to see the blessings we have all around us. God always shows up, yet the Devil would like nothing more that for us to not realize that and become...




  • Discouraged


  • Despaired


  • Distressed


  • Disillusioned


  • Distracted


to the point that we quit.



Steve's wonderful words of encouragement with a reading of 1 Peter 1:3-9:



3 "Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ!


In His great mercy He has given us new birth


into a living hope


through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,




4 and into an inheritance that can


never perish, spoil or fade.


This inheritance is kept in heaven for you,


5 who through faith are shielded by God’s power


until the coming of the salvation


that is ready to be revealed in the last time.




6 In all this you greatly rejoice,


though now for a little while


you may have had to suffer grief


in all kinds of trials.




7 These have come so that


the proven genuineness of your faith—


of greater worth than gold,


which perishes even though refined by fire—


may result in praise, glory and honor


when Jesus Christ is revealed.




8 Though you have not seen Him,


you love Him;


and even though you do not see Him now,


you believe in Him and are filled with


an inexpressible and glorious joy,




9 for you are receiving the end result of your faith,


the salvation of your souls."




~BLESSED~


NOTE: You can join others in listening to Steve's sermon(s) online here.

Sunday, December 18, 2011

I AM BLESSED...




UPDATE: I apologize to those of you who have wondered where I've been this past week. I was having technical problems posting and I did not have the time to spend to figure out how to fix it.


As we finish the year strong, may the remainder of this year's posts be an inspiration to you.



SUNDAY IN THE SON



I AM BLESSED


as sung by Rachel Lampa



I may never climb a mountain

So I can see the world from there

I may never ride the waves

And taste the salty ocean air

Or build a bridge

That would last a hundred years

But no matter where the road leads

One thing is always clear...


I am blessed

I am blessed

From when I rise up in the morning

Til I lay my head to rest

I feel You near me

You soothe me when I'm weary

Oh Lord, for all the worst and all the best

I am blessed



All along the road less traveled

I have crawled and I have run

I have wandered through the wind and rain

Until I found the sun

The watching eyes they ask me why

I walk this narrow way

I will gladly give the reason

For the hope I have today


I am blessed

I am blessed

From when I rise up in the morning

Til I lay my head to rest

I feel You near me

You soothe me when I'm weary

Oh Lord, for all the worst and all the best

I am blessed


You've given me joy

You've given me love

You give me strength

When I want to give up

You came from heaven

To rescue my soul

This is the reason I know, I know

I am blessed

I am blessed

From when I rise up in the morning

Til I lay my head to rest

I feel You near me

You soothe me when I'm weary

Oh Lord, for all the worst and all the best

I am blessed...



~BLESSED~

Saturday, December 10, 2011

BLESSINGS...



SUNDAY IN THE SON

BLESSINGS

as sung by Laura Story





We pray for blessings

We pray for peace

Comfort for family,

protection while we sleep.


We pray for healing,

for prosperity

We pray for Your mighty hand

to ease our suffering


All the while,

You hear each spoken need

Yet love us way too much to give us lesser things

'Cause what if Your blessings come through raindrops

What if Your healing comes through tears

What if a thousand sleepless nights

Are what it takes to know You’re near


What if trials of this life are

Your mercies in disguise


We pray for wisdom

Your voice to hear

And we cry in anger

when we cannot feel You near


We doubt Your goodness,

we doubt Your love

As if every promise from Your Word is not enough


All the while,

You hear each desperate plea

And long that we'd have faith to believe


Cause what if Your blessings come through raindrops

What if Your healing comes through tears

What if a thousand sleepless nights

Are what it takes to know You’re near


And what if trials of this life are

Your mercies in disguise


When friends betray us

When darkness seems to win

We know that pain reminds this heart

That this is not, this is not our home

It's not our home


'Cause what if Your blessings come through raindrops

What if Your healing comes through tears

And what if a thousand sleepless nights

Are what it takes to know You’re near


What if my greatest disappointments

Or the aching of this life

Is the revealing of a greater thirst this world can’t satisfy

And what if trials of this life

The rain, the storms, the hardest nights

Are Your mercies in disguise?


~BLESSED~

Thursday, December 8, 2011

MY SAVIOR MY GOD... CANDY CANE REMINDER...



I'm giving my grandchildren a collection of candy canes this month - one a day for the 12 days of Christmas.












Christmas Candy Cane Poem


~adapted~




Look at a Candy Cane.



What do you see?





The stripes are red,


Like His blood shed for me.



The white is for MY SAVIOR


Who is sinless and pure!



“J” is for JESUS, MY GOD,


that’s for sure!






Turn it around


And a staff you will see









JESUS, THE GOOD SHEPHERD-


loves you and me!










~BLESSED~



MY SAVIOR MY GOD.... BREATHE IN...

TRANSFORMING THURSDAY


Yes! I am an oldest child! Not only am I the oldest, but I was an only child for several years. I was preparing for first grade before my brother, the second child, came along. Yes! I do feel responsible! Responsibility is deeply engraved in my psyche. If I don't meet my "responsibilities" real or imagined, then "guilt" raises its ugly head.

It can be frustrating when I am unable to fulfill all my "responsibilities". This time of year, especially, a mommy and/or grand-mommy needs:



  • a deep reservoir of God's Spirit


  • extra Physical energy


  • clarity of Intellect (mind)


  • understanding/supportive Relationships, and


  • normalcy of Emotions.

Why? Well, haven't you heard? It's the Hectic Holiday season!

The weather here where I live has been torrential rain. I have tendonitis in my leg. My leg is not only very painful, but it is slowing me down considerably. Yesterday, I needed to drive many miles to visit school sites. I needed my hubby to drive me around. I have relied on him for much. Thank you, Steve! Thank You, Jesus!

I have not purchased one gift. Yet, our daughter has stepped in with her "cyber savvy" and taken care of it all. Each year we do the 12 days of Christmas countdown to Christmas. Last night, with my leg propped up I realized that the 12 gifts for each grandkids box were almost complete. Thank you, Jess! Thank You, Jesus!

I want this month to transform into something extra special... peaceful... loving.... memorable... It must start with me giving up control! I have certainly battled feelings of frustration. It's okay that I do not "get everything done". If it's "late" - that's okay! Usually we have our tree up by now. Not one Christmas decoration is up... and our prayer is that we'll have all the grandkids here to celebrate at the end of the month.

BREATHE, PATTI! God is IN control! In fact, I need God IN me calming my Spirit 24/7. I need help for my NEEDS that I bulleted above!

IN-SPIRE means to actually have the "breath of God". BREATHE GOD, PATTI!

IN me is God who provides:

S - piritual transformation for the following:
P - hysical
I - ntellectual
R - elational
E - motional



~IN - SPIREd~


~BLESSED~

Wednesday, December 7, 2011

MY SAVIOR MY GOD... SON OF MAN... SHEPHERD... KING... BLESSED....


This year, we began memorizing "The Beatitudes". Jesus begins His Sermon on the Mount with, "BLESSED are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven." That is not the last time the BLESSING of the kingdom of heaven is addressed in The Beatitudes. Jesus' Sermon on the Mount sets down the principles of kingdom living for His disciples.

The concepts of the "Sermon on the Mount" came up again and again in Jesus' ministry. Consider our new verses for this month as a challenge to FINISH STRONG:


MATTHEW 25



31 “When the Son of Man comes in His glory,
and all the angels with Him,
He will sit on His glorious throne.

32 All the nations will be gathered before Him,
and He will separate the people one from another
as a Shepherd separates the sheep from the goats.
33 He will put the sheep on His right and the goats on His left.

34 “Then the King will say to those on His right,
‘Come, you who are BLESSED by My Father;
take your inheritance,
the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world.

35 For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat,
I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink,
I was a stranger and you invited me in,
36 I needed clothes and you clothed me,
I was sick and you looked after me,
I was in prison and you came to visit me.’




~BLESSED~


Tuesday, December 6, 2011

MY SAVIOR MY GOD... GRATEFUL...




Psalm 65




1 Praise awaits You, our God, in Zion;

to You our vows will be fulfilled.


2 You who answer prayer,

to You all people will come.


3 When we were overwhelmed by sins,

You forgave our transgressions.


4 BLESSED are those You choose and

bring near to live in Your courts!

We are filled with the good things

of Your house, of Your holy temple.

5 You answer us with awesome and righteous deeds,

God our Savior...


~BLESSED~

Monday, December 5, 2011

MY SAVIOR MY GOD... HE MINISTERS TO ME THROUGH MUSIC...

MEDITATION MONDAY



  • Some hours in our lives are tougher than others.

  • Some days in our lives are rougher than others.

  • Some weeks in our lives seem like they will never end.

  • Some years in our lives, it is hard to put one foot in front of the other.

One of those years, in the past decade, found my hours, days, and weeks full of crying out to the LORD. Challenges with family, work, friends, and church literally took my breath away. I would get in my car to head for work and turn on christian radio, "Spirit 95". Invariably, the song that was #1 for 24 weeks that year would be playing: MY SAVIOR MY GOD, sung by Aaron Shust. I would sing along... be ministered to... and then, another song from the top 10 would play. It was amazing how God used those songs to sustain me:


1. MY SAVIOR MY GOD - Aaron Shust
2. HOW GREAT IS OUR GOD - Christ Tomlin
3. THIS MAN - Jeremy Camp
4. PRAISE YOU IN THIS STORM - Casting Crowns
5. I AM - Mark Schultz
6. CRY OUT TO JESUS - Third Day
7. MOUNTAIN OF GOD - Third Day
8. WELCOME HOME - Brian Litrell
9. SO LONG SELF - Mercy Me
10. BREATHE INTO ME - Red

This weekend, as I battled tendonitis in my leg, I sat a lot (with my leg propped up)and listened to christian music:


  • via this blog

  • on my Ipod

  • on my cell phone

  • on my DVR

As I leave the house today, my CD is already set for music of BLESSING.



NOTE: The words to MY SAVIOR MY GOD are on yesterday's post. I am moving some of these top 10 songs of 2006 up to the top of my playlist.


~BLESSED~


Sunday, December 4, 2011

MY SAVIOR MY GOD...



SUNDAY IN THE SON





My Savior, My God


As sung by Aaron Shust





I am not skilled to understand
What God has willed, what God has planned
I only know at His right hand
Stands One who is my Savior

I take Him at His word and deed
Christ died to save me this I read
And in my heart I find a need
For Him to be my Savior

That He would leave His place on high
And come for sinful man to die
You count it strange, so once did I
Before I knew my Savior

My Savior loves, my Savior lives
My Savior's always there for me
My God He was, my God He is
My God He's always gonna be

Yes, living, dying let me bring
My strength, my solace from this spring
That He who lives to be my King
Once died to be my Savior

That He would leave His place on High
And come for sinful men to die
You count it strange so once did I
Before I knew my Savior

My Savior loves, My Savior lives
My Savior's always there for me
My God He was, My God He is, My God He's always gonna be (x6)

My Savior lives, My Savior loves
My Savior lives, My Savior loves












~BLESSED~







Friday, December 2, 2011

FOREVER... FAMILY...



FOREVER FAMILY only happens because of Jesus.


Jesus Christ is...


A uthor of the forever family

B rother in the forever family

C reator of the forever family

D eliverer of the forever family

E ternal Life of the forever family

F aithfulness within the forever family

G oodness, Gentleness, and Grace within the forever family

H umility, Holiness, and Hope within the forever family

I ntegrity within the forever family

J oy within family

K indness within the forever family

L ove and Life within the forever family

M eekness and Mercy within the forever family

N ame of the the forever family

O nly Begotten Son of the forever family

P eace and Purity of the forever family

Q uieter of the forever family

R ighteousness of the forever family

S pirit, Soul, Savior, and Song of the forever family

T ruth and Teacher of the forever family

U nfailing Love and Unspeakable Gift of the forever family

V ictory of the forever family

W ay and Word of the forever family

eX ample for the forever family

Y ahweh of the forever family

Z ealous for the forever family


~BLESSED~


Thursday, December 1, 2011

FOREVER... TRANSFORMED...

.....N..............................D.....

..........O.....................E.........

...............V..........C...............

....................E......................

....................M.....................

....................B......................

....................E......................

....................R......................





~BLESSED~

TRANSFORMED MOM, LISA, REQUESTED PRAYERS FOR HER HUBBY: FULLY RESTORED! FULLY HEALED!