New Hope & New Beginnings On New Year!

Hope you all had a glorious Christmas! May the coming New Year bring joy, love and peace to all .May cherished moments outweigh our pain, sorrow and fears…..
May we live in a world at peace surrounded by God's love.
God bless!

                      Happy New Year !
 May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.  (Rom. 15:13).
Visit Spiritual Sundays for more NEW YEAR'S Blessings, hosted by Charlotte and Ginger.

T'was The Night Before Christmas Not a Sign of Baby Jesus

T'was the night before Christmas
and all through the town
Not a sign of Baby Jesus
was anywhere to be found.
The people were all busy
with Christmas time chores
Like decorating, and baking,
and shopping in stores.
No one sang "Away in a manger,
no crib for a bed".
Instead, they sang of Santa
dressed-up in bright red.
Mama watched Martha Stewart,
Papa drank beer from a tap.
As hour upon hour
the presents they'd wrap
When what from the TV
did they suddenly hear?
'Cept an ad.. which told
of a big sale at Sears.
So away to the mall
they all flew like a flash
Buying things on credit
and others with cash!
And, as they made their way home
From their trip to the mall,
Did they think about Jesus?
Oh, no... not at all.
Their lives were so busy
with their Christmas time things
No time to remember
Christ Jesus, the King.
There were presents to wrap
and cookies to bake.
How could they stop and remember
who died for their sake?
To pray to the Savior
they had no time to stop.
Because they needed more time
to "Shop til they dropped!"
On Wal-mart! On K-mart!
On Target! On Penney's!
On Hallmark! On Zales!
A quick lunch at Denny's
From the big stores downtown
to the stores at the mall
They would dash away, dash away,
and visit them all!
And up on the roof,
there arose such a clatter
As grandpa hung icicle lights
up on his brand new step ladder.
He hung lights that would flash.
He hung lights that would twirl.
Yet, he never once prayed to Jesus...
Light of the World.
Christ's eyes... how they twinkle!
Christ's Spirit... how merry!
Christ's love... how enormous!
All our burdens... He'll carry!
So instead of being busy,
overworked, and uptight
Let's put Christ back in
Christmas and enjoy
some good nights!

Author Unknown

It is good to remember, that Christmas is not only about shopping, cooking, making cookies, decorating the house. It is good to have this special time in the year, to remember, that the Christ can be newborn each day in each of us.
Merry Christmas to all. May the love of Jesus Christ fill your hearts with joy and peace at Christmas and always.
Visit Spiritual Sundays for more weekend blessings, hosted by Charlotte and Ginger.

 Jesus is the reason for the season.
 Without including "Christ" there is no holiday!
                      Merry Christmas!

Life is busy......

Life is so busy these days. We always seem to have so much that we need to do, specially now getting ready for the Holidays.  Every now and then we need a reminder, like the story below, that we should take time to slow down, think, be with loved ones and to take time with God.


Enjoy.

A young and successful executive was traveling down a neighborhood street, going a bit too fast in his new Jaguar.
He was watching for kids darting out from between parked cars and slowed down when he thought he saw something.
As his car passed, no children appeared. Instead, a brick smashed into the Jag's side door!
He slammed on the brakes and spun the Jag back to the spot from where the brick had been thrown.
He jumped out of the car, grabbed some kid and pushed him up against a parked car shouting, "What was that all about and who are you? Just what do you think you're doing?"
Building up a head of steam he went on. "that's a new car and that brick you threw caused a lot of damage that will cost a lot of money to repair. Why did you do it?"
Please, mister, please. I'm sorry, I didn't know what else to do," pleaded the youngster. "I threw the brick because no one else would stop,,,," Tears were dripping down the boy's chin as he pointed around the parked car.
It's my brother," he said. "He rolled off the curb and fell out of his wheel chair and I can't lift him up."
Sobbing, the boy asked the executive, "Would you please help me get him back into his wheel chair? He's hurt and he's too heavy for me."
Moved beyond words, the driver tried to swallow the rapidly swelling lump in his throat. He lifted the young man back into the wheel chair and took out his handkerchief and wiped the scrapes and cuts, checking to see that everything was going to be okay.
"Thank you and may God bless you," the grateful child said to him.
The man then watched the little boy push his brother down the sidewalk toward their home. It was a long walk back to his Jaguar....a long, slow walk.
He never did repair the side door. He kept the dent to remind him not to go through life so fast that someone has to throw a brick at you to get your attention.
God whispers in your soul and speaks to your heart. Sometimes when you don't have time to listen, He has to throw a brick at you.
It's your choice:
Listen to the whisper....or wait for the brick.
                                                    Sweet Blessing,
                                                        Virginia
Visit Spiritual Sundaysfor more weekend blessings, hosted by Charlotte and Ginger.

Thanksgiving

The Truth is we can make all the plans we want and busily carry them out but it is only by the grace of God that we live each moment and are able to do the things we do! This Thanksgiving remember not to ask for what we need but to give thanks for all He has given to us…..

Prayer of Thanksgiving


God of all blessings,
source of all life,
giver of all grace:
We thank you for the gift of life:
for the breath
that sustains life,
for the food of this earth
that nurtures life,
for the love of family and friends
without which there would be no life.
We thank you for the mystery of creation:
for the beauty
that the eye can see,
for the joy
that the ear may hear,
for the unknown
that we cannot behold filling the universe with wonder,
for the expanse of space
that draws us beyond the definitions of our selves.
We thank you for setting us in communities:
for families
who nurture our becoming,
for friends
who love us by choice,
for companions at work,
who share our burdens and daily tasks,
for strangers
who welcome us into their midst,
for people from other lands
who call us to grow in understanding,
for children
who lighten our moments with delight,
for the unborn,
who offer us hope for the future.
We thank you for this day:
for life
and one more day to love,
for opportunity
and one more day to work for justice and peace,
for neighbors
and one more person to love
and by whom be loved,
for your grace
and one more experience of your presence,
for your promise:
to be with us,
to be our God,
and to give salvation.
For these, and all blessings,
we give you thanks, eternal, loving God,
through Jesus Christ we pray.
 Amen.

I will praise the name of God with a song,
And will magnify Him with thanksgiving.
           ~Psalm 69:30~

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone. I hope you all have a blessed day with family and friends!

                                                            
Visit Spiritual Sundays for more weekend blessings, hosted by Charlotte and Ginger.

What could possibly be more astonishing than a sunrise?

The display itself is magnificent beyond belief, and yet it goes virtually unnoticed by millions each day.
Beyond that, the meaning of the sunrise is even more spectacular, because it heralds the dawn of a new day, a day filled with bright possibilities.
In an unimaginably vast expanse of nothingness, the sun which lights our every day is the only source of warmth and light within trillions of miles. The distance to the next closes star we cannot even comprehend, much less traverse in a thousand lifetimes. And yet here we are....warm, bright, full of life and energy.
The sun appears around the horizon each morning and makes it all possible.
When you find yourself ready to complain about what you don't have, stop for a moment to consider what incredible things you do have. And resolve to make the most of it all.

New day, new blessings. Don't let yesterday's failures ruin the beauty of today. Blessings of God are new every morning. Today has its own promise of love, forgiveness, joy and success.
                                                          Virginia

The Fragility of Life

Life is so fragile we never know day to day what it will bring. I'm a hairstylist and because I’m in daily contact with many people I come face to face with all their joys and unfortunately their pain.
It is their pain that touches my heart every day, I have witnessed from my clients and in my own life that something can happen in a second that can change a day of pure joy into a day of painful circumstances.
Yesterday one of my favorite clients came in for her monthly appt. and right away I could see something was wrong. Well, I was shocked when through tears she told me that one of her sons died. Her son was only 47 years old, left a wife and a 5 year old little boy. He died unexpectedly of heart failure.
It is these stories that I encounter daily that reinforce my belief that we need to live each day as it is our last, trust in God and do our best to treasure each moment. Not an easy task but something we should strive for. We ( I ) sometimes waste so much energy worrying, obsessing or getting upset at things that I have no control over, or if I’m really honest, are so insignificant and unimportant. Unfortunately it seems to take something huge and usually devastating in your life or in someone else's to realize what you have around, taking a good look at the things that matter most in life, appreciating them and holding on to the important things as you let go of those that aren't as a reminder of the fragility of life. Even when you do realize those things sometimes it is all too easy to lose your way again and get caught up in everyday life, and forget how fragile life is, ours and those whom we love.
So let's LIVE. Live as richly as deeply, as bravely, as boldly, as intensely and fully as we can, believing that there is not a moment in life that is not breathtaking, precious, and extraordinary.
“Life is fragile – handle with prayer.”

 The Serenity Prayer

God, give us grace to accept with serenity
the things that cannot be changed,
Courage to change the things
which should be changed,
and the Wisdom to distinguish
the one from the other.
Living one day at a time,
Enjoying one moment at a time,
Accepting hardship as a pathway to peace,
Taking, as Jesus did,
This sinful world as it is,
Not as I would have it,
Trusting that You will make all things right,
If I surrender to Your will,
So that I may be reasonably happy in this life,
And supremely happy with You forever in the next.
Amen
This is the Full Original Copy of the Serenity Prayer
by Reinhold Niebuhr (1892-1971)




















Many people die with their music still in them. Why is this so? Too often it is because they are always getting ready to live. Before they know it, time runs out. ~Oliver Wendell Holmes

 
Don't ever save anything for a special occasion. Being alive is the special occasion. ~Author Unknown

Visit Spiritual Sundays for more weekend blessings, hosted by Charlotte and Ginger.
                                                          Sweet Blessings.
                                                               Virginia

“Choose Your Attitude and Trust in Jesus"

I firmly believe that a positive attitude starts by having a strong faith in Jesus.We should thrive to have a positive attitude not because we believe in the power of positive thinking, but because we are trusting in God.. We accepts the pain or the problem we are having at the moment and then move on to embrace the good and the beauty in our lives.

Attitude Determines Attitude

I woke up early today, excited over all I get to do before the clock strikes midnight. I have responsibilities to fulfill today. I am important. My job is to choose what kind of day I am going to have.
Today I can complain because the weather is rainy or I can be thankful that the grass is getting watered for free.
Today I can feel sad that I don't have more money or I can be glad that my finances encourage me to plan my purchases wisely and guide me away from waste.
Today I can grumble about my health or I can rejoice that I am alive.
Today I can lament over all that my parents didn't give me when I was growing up or I can feel grateful that they allowed me to be born.
Today I can cry because roses have thorns or I can celebrate that thorns have roses.
Today I can mourn my lack of friends or I can excitedly embark upon a quest to discover new relationships.
Today I can whine because I have to go to work or I can shout for joy because I have a job to do.
Today I can complain because I have to go to school or eagerly open my mind and fill it with rich new tidbits of knowledge.
Today I can murmur dejectedly because I have to do housework or I can feel honored because the Lord has provided shelter for my mind, body and soul.
Today stretches ahead of me, waiting to be shaped. And here I am, the sculptor who gets to do the shaping.
What today will be like is up to me. I get to choose what kind of day I will have!
by Author Unknown
 
Trusting Jesus
Edgar P. Stites
 
Simply trusting every day,
Trusting through a stormy way;
Even when my faith is small,
Trusting Jesus, that is all.
Refrain:
Trusting as the moments fly,
Trusting as the days go by;
Trusting Him whate’er befall,
Trusting Jesus, that is all.
Brightly doth His Spirit shine
Into this poor heart of mine;
While He leads I cannot fall;
Trusting Jesus, that is all.
Singing if my way is clear,
Praying if the path be drear;
If in danger for Him call;
Trusting Jesus, that is all.
Trusting Him while life shall last,
Trusting Him till earth be past;
Till within the jasper wall,
Trusting Jesus, that is all.


Visit Spiritual Sundays for more weekend blessings, hosted by Charlotte and Ginger.
                                                 Sweet Blessings.
                                                     Virginia

We can start living in the kingdom now!

Matthew 6:33-34 "But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. "Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble. (NKJ)

Today, we need to seek the Kingdom of God, do the business of the Kingdom of God, and God's will because all the other things will fall into place.
Worrying about tomorrow wastes your time and energy, depletes your emotions, and doesn’t accomplish anything.
We prepare for the future kingdom by living in it now,spreading Jesus' love 
                               Sweet Blessings,
                                              Virginia
Visit Spiritual Sundays for more weekend blessings, hosted by Charlotte and Ginger.

One Day At Time

Todaay I will delete from my diary
two days: yesterday and tomorrow.
Yesterday was to learn,
and tomorrow will be the consequence
of what I can do today.
Today I will face life
with the conviction that this day
will not ever return.
Today is the last opportunity
I have to live intensely,
as no one can assure me
that I will see tomorrow's sunrise.
Today I will be brave enough
not to let any opportunity pass me by,
my only objective is to succeed.
Today I will invest
my most valuable resource:
my time,
in the most transcendental work:
my life;
Today I will spend each minute
passionately to make it a different
and unique day in my life.
Today I will defy every obstacle
that appears in my way,
trusting I will succeed.
Today I will resist
pessimism and will conquer
the world with a smile,
and a positive attitude
of always expecting the best.
Today I will take the time to be happy
and will leave my footprints and my presence
in the hearts of others.
Today, I invite you to begin a new season
where we can dream,
that everything we undertake is possible
and we fulfill it,
with joy and dignity.

                                                    ~~~~~~~~~~~
Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. (Matthew 6:34 Bible NIV)

                                                     Sweet Blessings,
                                                           Virginia

Pictures of Spain

It was my first visit to the beautiful country of Spain and I felt in love with the place, the people and the architecture.I took lots of pictures but what I loved the most was takeing pictures of doors as they are like taking pictures of the face of a building, they are designs that have stories to tell and which reveal the distinctive color palette of the city. Here are a few pictures, mainly of doors, but also including some of balconies and windows.

                                                Sweet Blessings,
                                           Virginia

Back From Vacation.......

I am having a difficult time transitioning back from vacation. I had an amazing fifteen days in Spain
I need to get my non-vacation groove back…..

Spain is a beautiful country and ideal location for vacation .Anyway here’s a few pics from my Spain holiday and will be posting again soon!

                                                Sweet Blessings,
                                          Virginia

Hi, everybody,

I’m packing my suitcase to leave for my 3 weeks vacation! : )

Where am I going?

Well...

But before I go may I  leave you with one thought…

remember,

Life is a precious gift, love is a wonderful gift, and laughter is a glorious gift. So live life to the fullest, love with all your heart, and laugh as much as you breathe.


                                   Sweet Blessings,
                                 Virginia

The greatest Commandment

Love may only be a four letter word, but its one of the most powerful words you can use and can change another person's life forever.
When Jesus was asked, "Teacher, which is the great commandment in the law?" he replied, "'You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind' - this is the great and foremost commandment, and there is a second like it, 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself'. The whole Law and Prophets hang on these two commands." (Mtt 22:37-40, Mark 12:28-34).
Love is mentioned well over 350 times in the Bible. I’m sure God must be trying to tell us something. Jesus is always the living example of God’s commandments. He doesn’t just tell us things like “Love your neighbor,” or “Pray for those that use you,” he demonstrates those commands himself. As he hangs on the cross dying, he asks God to forgive the very people who are crucifying him. We are to love as Jesus loved....not a easy task but one we should pray daily…..

Love
"God is love; to do his will is to scatter love in handfuls of blessing on a weary world." - F.B. Meyer

"Joy is love exalted; peace is love in repose; long-suffering is love enduring; gentleness is love in society; goodness is love in action; faith is love on the battlefield; meekness is love in school; and temperance is love in training." - Dwight L. Moody

"Love accepts the trying things of life without asking for explanations. It trusts and is at rest." - Amy Carmichael

"The world does not understand theology or dogma, but it understands love and sympathy." - Dwight L. Moody

"Love is the beauty and the strength of all societies and the great pleasure of our lives on earth." - John Bunyan

“Most of us want very much to be loved. Perhaps we are not concerned enough about loving.” – Erwin McDonald

“Divine love never remains idle, but manifests itself in service to others.” – Lehman Strauss

“Love ever gives – forgives – outlives -- And ever stands with open hands. And while it lives – it gives. For this is love’s prerogative – To give – and give – and give.” John Oxenham

His love has no limit; His grace has no measure;
His power, no boundary known unto men;
For out of His infinite riches in Jesus,
He gives, and gives, and gives again.
– Annie Johnson Flint

I’m going on vacation so I won't be posting at all … Blogging will be empty for the next three weeks while I’m relaxing , letting God’s grace find me away from the computer, work and everyday responsibilities.
 It will be a great, and needed, break. I will miss you all !
                                 Love, love, and more love
                                       Sweet Blessings,
                                              Virginia

Visit Spiritual Sundays for more weekend blessings, hosted by Charlotte and Ginger.

White Wednesday

These are some pictures of my master bathroom, this is one of my favorite places to spend a bit of time. I’m surrounded by a lot of white so I thought I would share it with you today for White Wesnesday.
                                    click photos to enlarge

I am linking with Kathleen at Faded Charm for White Wednesday.....    Go over to visit Kathleen and all the others for more whites inspiration!