I'M STILL YOURS... IN FAITH... IN HOPE... IN LOVE......

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Last Thursday and Friday I shared with you briefly about the Power of 3. Since then, I've been thinking about it more. I'm so thankful for the simplicity in this amazing little concept.

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3 in 1 God:

God the Father,

God the Son,

God the Holy Spirit.

The Power of 3!

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3 sided triangle:

the strongest shape in architecture.

The Power of 3!

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December 3:

the day of my birth.

The Power of 3!

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3 grand children:

C, P, & K!

The Power of 3!

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1, 2, 3:

for teaching the steps to learning something-

First! Second! Third!

The Power of 3!

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1, 2, 3:

Ready! Set! Go!

The Power of 3!

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These 3 remain:

Faith, Hope, and Love...

but the greatest of these is LOVE.

The Power of 3!

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I'm thankful today that God very simply gives me the power to make a difference.

• Today, I'm thankful that I can share my FAITH with 3 people.


• Today, I am thankful that I can give HOPE to 3 people.


• Today, I am thankful that I can be the LOVE of Jesus to 3 people!

MY PRAYER IS THAT THEY PASS IT ON... PAY IT FORWARD... IT'LL MAKE A HUGE DIFFERENCE IN OUR WORLD BEFORE THE END OF 2010... BECAUSE THERE IS THE POWER OF 3!

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DAY 1: 3

DAY 2: 3 x 3 = 9

DAY3: 9 x 3 = 27

DAY 4: 27 x 3 = 81

DAY 5: 81 x 3 = 243

DAY 6: 243 x 3 = 729

DAY 7: 729 x 3 = 2,187

DAY 8: 2,187 x 3 = 6,561

DAY 9: 6,561 x 3 = 19,683

DAY 10: 19,683 x 3 = 59,049

DAY 11: 59,049 x 3 = 177,147

DAY 12: 177,147 x 3 = 531,441

DAY 13: 531,441 x 3 = 1,594,323

DAY 14: 1,594,323 x 3 = 4,782,969

DAY 15: 4,782,969 x 3 = 14,348,907

DAY 16: 14,348,907 x 3 = 43,046,721

DAY 17: 43,046,721 x 3 = 129,140,163

DAY 18: 129,140,163 x 3 = 387,420,489

DAY 19: 387,420,489 x 3 = 1,162,261,467

POWER OF 3!

I'M STILL YOURS...THROUGH SUFFERING...

MEDITATION MONDAY

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I shared this picture, of the two trees, recently on this blog. Yesterday, Steve shared it at the beginning of His sermon. He asked for people in the audience to tell what they saw in the picture and then he'd make some connections. A few of the connections that he made were:

1. We don't see that there is a huge root system that allows these two trees to stand strong together. The roots are where the trees receive their nourishment... the roots are the supporting foundation of the trees...
2. We don't see the multiple stages of growth that have entertwined the roots, branches, and leaves of these two trees. Through the good times and the bad, the trees have grown together.
3. We don't see the storms (suffering)... all the lightning, thunder, wind, rain, snow, hail, etc. that these trees have endured.
4. We don't see the beginning of these two trees. So, we don't know if someone put the fence there before or after they were planted. What we see is that in spite of barriers between the two trees, it did not stop them from staying connected.
   

I have always loved the book of 2 Corinthians. Recently, when we wrote our favorite scriptures on the foundation of the new church building, I included verses from 2 Corinthians as part of those I wrote. Yesterday, in Steve's sermon, I had an "Aha! Moment" or two or three or more that will help me to articulate more reasons about why I love this book:

1. "One of the greatest books on participating in the divine nature of God is 2 Corinthians."
2. "The book of 2nd Corinthians uses 456 personal pronouns... by far Paul's most personal letter..."
3. "It's a book that teaches us that suffering transforms us and changes us from the inside out!"
4. The book talks about the The Spirit or the spirit in over half of it's chapters... a key word in this book is COMFORT... the Holy Spirit is our COMFORTER...
   

Paul starts out the book with GRACE and PEACE and then quickly goes to TROUBLES/SUFFERING and COMFORT:

2 Corinthians 1:2-8

• 2 Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
• 3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort,
• 4 who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God.
• 5 For just as the sufferings of Christ flow over into our lives, so also through Christ our comfort overflows.
• 6 If we are distressed, it is for your comfort and salvation; if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which produces in you patient endurance of the same sufferings we suffer.
• 7 And our hope for you is firm, because we know that just as you share in our sufferings, so also you share in our comfort.
• 8 We do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about the hardships we suffered..."

Steve reminded us that God is not our "Genie in a bottle", but He is God Almighty. He is not here so that our wish is His command. In fact, He is not in our lives for the purpose of making us happy, but to make us HOLY! Suffering has a way of molding and shaping God's people into HOLINESS! It is an invitation to participate in the very nature of God... taking each hurt or wound, accepting it, and using it to minister to others: WOUNDED HEALING!

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The two trees? They stand together, protecting each other (somewhat) from the elements. Their root systems are entertwined. They have suffered much together, but stand firm in spite of barriers.

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For meditation? Connect the following:

1. This post


2. This week's scripture memory


3. This week's theme song


4. The 6 points over on the right sidebar that are underneath the picture of the Potter's Hands and the Clay.

I'M STILL YOURS...

SUNDAY IN THE SON

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I'm Still Yours lyrics

as sung by Kutless

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If You washed away my vanity

If You took away my words

If all my world was swept away

Would You be enough for me?

Would my beating heart still sing?

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If I lost it all

Would my hands stay lifted

To the God who gives and takes away

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If You take it all

This life You've given

Still my heart will sing to You

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When my life is not what I expected

The plans I made have failed

When there's nothing left to steal me away

Will You be enough for me?

Will my broken heart still sing?

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If I lost it all

Would my hands stay lifted

To the God who gives and takes away

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If You take it all

This life You've given

Still my heart will sing to You

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Even if You take it all away

You’ll never let me go

Take it all away

But I still know

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That I'm Yours

I'm still Yours

Oh, I'm Yours

I'm still Yours

I'm still Yours

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LET MY WORDS BE FEW... YOUR GRACE IS SUFFICIENT...

When our kids were little we celebrated the 12 days of Christmas... a gift for 12 days in December leading up to CHRISTMAS. This week I brought numbered bags for Chloe and Kaleah, enough for two 12 days of Christmas - 12 days for each - 12/1 to 12/12 and 12/13 to 12/24. Perry will get his to begin on 12/12.




On day 3, yesterday, which was also my birthday, Chloe opened her Day 3 bag to find 2 craft kits. There was enough to make 3 holiday magnets for her and 3 for Kaleah (snowmen, santa penguins, and Christmas stockings). Chloe and Gigi (me) had a great time putting them together (with a little help from Daddy).



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We went out for Mexican food and enjoyed some Christmas lights on the way home...
Daddy and Mommy worked together to swaddle Kaleah for the night so that maybe she would have some relief from her colic.

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We made a quick stop at Chik-fil-et for lunch, on our way to the airport today.

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Gigi had an awesome time with her LOVIES... I praise You, Jesus, for grandaughters who are learning to love You! My prayer is that they and their cousin Perry come to know You and (like our scripture memory says this month), to know that "YOUR GRACE IS SUFFICIENT."

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LET MY WORDS BE FEW... THREE...

3

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THREE

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3rd

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THIRD

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December 3rd

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We have 3 grandchildren... 2 girls and a boy. Our grandson is Perry. Perry was born on June 3rd. That means that today, December 3rd, is Perry's half birthday! Perry was born on my half birthday! That means we are birthday buds! Yay for 3 grandkids! Yay for the 3rd of June and the 3rd of December! I love you, Perry!
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Pops and Gigi were driving up Hwy. 95 from Baltimore toward Philly on Sunday and smiled when we caught a glimpse of PERRYVILLE! We just had to take this shot.

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So, I'm hanging out with the two grandaughters for a few days (and their daddy and mommy). It's after midnight and poor Kaleah has the colic. She has the attention of the 3 adults in the house. We've taken our turns swaddling her, walking her, rocking her... but bouncing works the best! Daddy's getting pretty good at it.

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Mommy's a pro!

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Chloe is being a super big sister helper. She decided it was her job to put the ornaments back on the tree that had fallen off!

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She helped Gigi and Daddy fix one of Daddy's favorite suppers!

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While we cut up the 3 veggies for the PEPPER STEAK: green onion, green peppers, and tomatoes.... we played the music from this playlist and sang along to "...let my words be few... Jesus, I am so in love with you!"

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Ahhhh! The sweet aroma! What an awesome meal! What a very awesome family!

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I plan to post more tomorrow about the birthday celebration AND something very special that happens in the month of December for the grand kids! Stay tuned!

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LET MY WORDS BE FEW... 3...

TRANSFORMING THURSDAY

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This is a very special Thursday. In many ways, it's transforming for me. I have so many blessings! It transforms my attitude when I count them. I love the number 3 for several reasons. Lately, in my classes I've been talking with my students about the "Power of 3" within the context of what we have learned this semester in the field of education. Of course, there is much more to it beyond how it relates to education.

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Did you know that the strongest shape in architecture is the 3 sided triangle - THE POWER OF 3!

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Did you know that Steve and I have 3 grandkids and that I am with two of them today? And, that tomorrow is a very special day for the other one of them?

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As I saw and held our 3rd grandchild for the first time I was once again reminded of the love of our LORD. I babysat Kaleah Faith today and was able to keep her entertained with her 3 little hanging toys:

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Big sister, Chloe Mae, carried around her 3 cups (one with water, one with juice, ad one with snacks) and made sure they were close by at all times. Ahhh - THE POWER OF 3! She has made me smile continually today with her 3 word phrases, "Thank you, Gigi!" and "Bless you, Gigi!"

• Have you ever seen this movie about the "power of 3"?
  
  
  
  
  Did you know that the most TRANSFORMING thing about the POWER OF 3 is this:
  

1. God, the Father

2. God, the Son

3. God, the Holy Spirit

I'm excited to share more with you tomorrow about the POWER OF 3. Until then, may our God richly supply your needs as you are transformed more and more into His likeness.

LET MY WORDS BE FEW... MY GRACE IS SUFFICIENT...

Our December scripture memory has fewer words than most months. Thank You for Your grace, Jesus. Let my words be few! Jesus I am so in love with You!

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2 Corinthians 12:9-10

• "But He said to me, "My GRACE is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness."
• Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me.
• That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties.
• For when I am weak, then I am strong."

Let's practice verse 9-a together today:

• Who? "But He said to me,"
• What? "My GRACE is sufficient for you,"
• Why? "for my power is made perfect in weakness."