What are you reaching for? 1/22/16

The pic below shows Bob & I reaching for a box of Kleenex that got out of our reach last night. We laughed & finally Bob used something to bring it closer so he could reach it. I thought it was so funny to see our fingers reaching out for the box of Kleenex that I said, "Let me take a pic of our fingers reaching." Then as I pondered on this pic this morning, I felt that God was saying, "What are you reaching for in your life?" Are you reaching for those things which are ahead (Phil 3:13NKJV)or are you reaching for things that will leave you behind and unbelieving? (John 20:27NKJV) Thank God we have a Savior Jesus who loves us and died for us and said to Thomas, "Reach your finger here, and look at My hands; and reach your hand here and put it into My side. Do not be unbelieving, but believing," (John 20:27 NKJV) All it takes is a mustard seed of Faith that even JESUS will give to you, if you will just reach out to Him.

2015 December 8th

Ephesian's 1:7-8 I just read this verse for my quiet time with the Lord! Verse 5 says, For 

He foreordained us (destined us, planned in love for us) to be adopted (revealed) as His own children through Jesus Christ, in accordance with the purpose of His will [becaused it pleased Him and was His kind intent]---[so that we might be] to the praise of His glorious grace (favor and mercy), which He so freely bestowed on us in the Beloved. God my Abba "Daddy" is SO good and loves ALL OF HIS CHILDREN IN THE BELOVED JESUS HIS SON WHO WAS SACRIFICED FOR OUR REDEMTION BACK TO HIMSELF.  

Breakfast at JChristopher's

Bob & I have started going to Breakfast or should I say Brunch on Sat mornings after he gets out from playing racquet ball at LAFitness. We have been going to the city area of Woodstock Ga and eating outside if the weather permits. Today, Nov 28, 2016 was one of those unusually beautiful fall days in Georgia that welcomed us to the outside dining experience. Mine and Bobs favorite breakfast dish is the triditional which includes eggs, bacon, grits and bread and Bob always substitutes a pancake for his bread. Today was such a warm & sunny day and as I sat there I felt the sun on my shoulder so I turned and beheld this beautiful image in my eyes and I couldn't resist taking this gorgeous photo. I love the fall season! Just wished it would last a little longer.

 ❤️Linda 11/28/15

facing rejection

12 years later I find this letter in a folder that my husband marked 'Cards from Family'! Wow, he has saved ALL the cards from his family! Well, in 2003 he must have been going through his own personal struggle of life and I must have been promted to rewrite a devotion for him to encourage him.  

We will ALL face personal rejection and personal criticism too. The question is posed, "How will we meet (rejection)/criticism"? Jesus gave us His life as an example for us during our struggles here on earth. Hopefully you will read this short devotion and be encouraged to fulfill God's purpose for your life.

 May God bless you on your life journey!  I love you ALL!!!

♥️Linda/ 8-6-15

A Christmas Blessing using the meanings of our 13 Grandchildren's names

Top Row: Lindsey Elaine, PawPaw & Nana-ChaCha, Austin Clay, Lance Wesley, Grant Joseph.

Second Row: Holland Timothy

First Row: Ansley Michele, Gabriel Joseph, Grace Noel Emerson, Robert Benjamin,

Jackson Travis, Leanna Joy, Mylinh Isabella. (The baby doll that Grace is holding represents Emerson, our 13th Grandchild that will be born in May 21, 2013, Lord willing!)

Using the meanings of our twelve Grandchildren’s first and middle names,
 this “Christmas Blessing” was written for you…

May you ‘regard with respect’ The Lord's ‘bright light’ on the ‘great’ ‘islands’ and

                       Austin                              Elaine              Grant  Lindsey

‘meadow’ ‘lands’ where He has placed your ‘mortal’ body to ‘multiply’ the life of Jesus.

  Wesley  Lance                                      Clay                Joseph

May your ‘inner soul’ walk in ‘joy’ in the 'fields' of life with God’s gift of ‘grace’.
                   Mylinh              Joy          Ansley                                Leanna

May His ‘likeness’ in you be your ‘might’. May you shout praises with ‘honor’

               Michele                     Gabriel                                     Timothy

to God from the highest ‘ridge lands’. May the ‘oath of God’ with His ‘bright fame’

                                        Holland                    Isabella                    Robert

and His righteous ‘right hand’, rest His ‘favor’ on you as you celebrate the

                              Benjamin              Grace

‘gracious gift of God’, on the ‘day of birth’ of His ‘Son’ Jesus Christ.

        Jackson Travis                  Noel              Emerson

MERRY CHRISTMAS 2012 AND HAPPY NEW YEAR 2013.

WE HAPPILY ANNOUNCE THAT "EMERSON VAN TRUONG"
 OUR 13TH GRANDCHILD IS DUE MAY 21, 2013.

Hung and Emily are the proud parents, and Holland, Isabella and Benjamin are the shouting siblings!

the three gifts

Have you ever wondered what the three gifts that the three wise men brought to the Baby Jesus were representing? Well let’s take a closer look at these three gifts and see what God was showing us.

The First Wise Man brought Gold to the Baby Jesus. Gold is a precious metal that is worth a lot of money, in those days and now. A gift of Gold was given to Kings. The First Wise Man knew that Jesus was a King. Jesus is our eternal, everlasting King for now and when we go to Heaven.

The Second Wise Man brought the baby Jesus Frankincense. This was an oil that when it was burned the fragrance went up to Heaven for God to smell. God wanted them to do this for Him while they prayed to Him. After Jesus died on the cross for our sins and rose from the dead three days later, He is our fragrance that God smells for us instead of our stinky sins. Because of what Jesus did in obedience to God’s command, we can now go boldly before God’s throne and pray directly to Him through Jesus our Savior.

The Third Wise Man brought the baby Jesus Myrrh. Myrrh is an oil that was used to dress the body after death. This gift was a foreshadowing of Jesus’ life. The baby Jesus would grow up and live on earth and die for our sins and rise from the dead on the third day. Because He did this in obedience to God’s command, we now are clothed in His “robe of righteousness”. This robe covers ALL of our sins from the beginning of the world until we pass away from this world to Heaven.

The next time you see someone on the street holding a sign that says, “Buy Gold”, remember that first gift of Gold that was brought to the baby Jesus; the King of Kings was brought Gold on his Birthday to testify to the world that He is the King of Kings on earth and in Heaven.

The next time you pray to God, remember that second gift of frankincence that was brought to the baby Jesus. And the only reason you can pray to our Holy God and come boldly before His Throne, is because Jesus died on the cross for your sins and rose again so you can live forever.

The next time you put on your robe at night, remember that third gift of Myrrh that was brought to the baby Jesus. And remember that you have a robe of righteousness to wear everyday, when you repent of your sins and ask Jesus to come to live in your heart as Lord of your life. 

(this was my way of giving 3 gifts to our grandchildren, Ansley & Gabriel on 2011 Christmas night at our house)

your touches of love...

You enfold me in Your water.

You surround me in Your steam. You warm me in Your sun. You refresh me in Your breeze. You delight me in Your clouds. You bless me in Your rainbows. You restore me in Your sunrises. You comfort me in Your sunsets. You awe me in Your whirlwinds. You strengthen me in Your storms. You draw me in Your Touches of Love! I love you Abba with all of my heart soul & mind and I thank you for all your love to me and embracing me in all your different ways! ~ L L L H Psalm 8