God's winter beauty

A cold winter day at the beach, Olcott Beach, Lake Ontario.  Brrr, brrr!  Actually was warmed up to about 37 degrees, but that wind was making it feel much colder and this was a warm up for us.  Back down to the 20's this week, from up from the single digits we've been having.  I just felt so cooped up I had to get outside and take a few photographs. 

Enjoying His creation even in the cold temperatures you can find beauty. 
Blessings, Michelle

Coffee for your Heart

Today's theme:  is "You're Loved", from Holley Gerth, linking up over here:  http://holleygerth.com/youre-loved-coffee-for-your-heart/

Grab your coffee, smoothie, tea, lemonade, water bottle, or milkshake and sit and soak in these beautiful words form His book.

Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God.  Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God.  Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.  This is how God showed his love among us:  He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him.  This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.  Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.  No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made compete in us.  --1st John 4:  7-12

Amazing how much our Father loves us, no one can take that away from you, relish in it, give Him thanks and praise and glory!

Blessings my friends, xoxo Michelle, loved by God

Coffee for your Heart

I'm joining in with Holley Gerth each Wednesday for the "Coffee for your Heart" Encouragement Challenge for 2014. Today is the first. Make sure you stop over and visit all the other great links. http://holleygerth.com/


This week Holley's prompt was: “What encouraging words do you want the people you care about to hear as they begin a new year?”. So grab your coffee, tea or water bottle and spend some time filling your heart and mind with the good stuff.


Reading through scripture these verses spoke to me: Jude 1:1-2 Christians everywhere--beloved of God and chosen by Him. May you be given more and more of God's kindness, peace, and love.


What an awesome way to start the new year to mediate on how we were chosen by Him and that we are His beloved, isn't that beautiful, doesn't that make you smile and feel good. To wish you this New Year more and more of God's kindness, peace and love, who doesn't want more and more of that, yes please! Amen.


Blessings, Michelle, child of God, chosen and beloved.


Sorry no photo, having problems with blogger loading one, :(

Gates of Pearl-God Sized Dreams

Excitement, excitement for me, because Gates of Pearl is a project I've been working on for a very, very long time and am so happy to finally complete my small dream.   I have all my loves into this, love of God, love of  photography, love of quilting, love of knitting/crochet, love of stamping,  love of reading, love of flowers all combined together.

 I'm not a writer, so creating a book is really just a love of photographs and words from the Bible (http://zondervan.com/bibles) and some other's written inspiration, photos with scriptures along with a couple of prayers and inspirational pieces.   I've created this into 3 separate books (which can be ordered in softcover or as an e-book)  from HP Magcloud :  http://www.magcloud.com/browse/issue/609976

 I thank my heavenly Father for the inspiration and gift of creation and Holly Gerth (http://holleygerth.com/) for the encouragement through "God Sized Dreams".

As always, anytime you try to encourage other's, which I hope that this does, it always comes back and refreshes yourself.    Blessing to you, Michelle

 

Christmas-stamping, decorating, baking

Merry Christmas, here's what I've been doing that's partly kept me from blogging.  Just a quick post with photos, not much text on my way to Xmas eve chruch service.  Wishing you all a wonderful  Christmas.  (He came to seek and save the lost, amen!)

Merry, Merry Christmas....I'm counting my blessings, the greatest gift of all John 3:16, thank you Father!
Michelle

Texture Tuesdays-fabulous fall

Fabulous Fall...love the color of this season, love the thanksfulness of the season, the food, and family.
Linking up today with Kim for Textures Tuesdays, I used Kim's textures kristen, and paperscript.
http://www.kimklassencafe.com/thecafe/

A beautiful fall day at the park, I only had a few minutes to snap some pics, but how can you go wrong with such scenery.

I find great comfort in these words, my friends {especially after listening to current world new events}. Praise God, for his loving kindness.  Blessings to you and be a blessing, Michelle

God Delights In You

Apple Carmel Ice Cream Sunday...delightful!

God Delights In You

If God had a refridgerator, your picture would be on it.  If He had a wallet, your photos would be in it.  He sends yo flowers every spring and a sunrise every morning.  --Max Lucado

You're the apple of His eye and the delight of His heart.

He pays even greater attention to you, down to the last detail - even numbering the hairs on your head!  Matthew 10:30  The message

I did manage to get a few apple pie fillings frozen and a apple pie made and some applesauce frozen also, before the move, took a break from packing.  I'm sure I will be glad I did during the next few months.

If I'd had more time and engery I would have canned some applesauce, something for next year to add to the pantry will be canned applesusce...there's only so much freezer room.

All this and no photos of the whole apples...isn't that funny.  At this point I'm lucky I even photographed this at the time.  Tomorrow will be two weeks I'm in the "new to us" house that we moved into.  I was in my last house for 23 years and I can't beleive how much work it's been, but I'm so happy to be here, a new beginning.   Praise God for blessing after blessing, his love endures forever more!      --Michelle

You Make a Difference-Bikes in Bloom

....one of those from DaySpring {words, photos my own}

You Make a Difference

God is using you for His special purpose.
To Shine His light.
To Share His love.
To Shape His people.

You are making a difference in ways you don't even realize.  And you're very much appreciated.

God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all time, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.
2 Corinthians 9:8

Bikes in bloom from the summer, part of a garden show each year.

Wasn't this a fun little tour, a different kind of garden walk.  Next year, I will have a bike in the garden!

Blessings, Praise God, Michelle

by Grace Alone-stamped card

By Grace Alone

Do you wonder if God sees what you're walking through?

He does.  Not casualy, but in detail-with a love that will sustain and strengthen you with every step.

Search the book of the Lord and see all that He will do; not one detail will He miss.

Isaiah 34:16 TLB

God has everything you need today.

God wants to be involved in everything you do today. 

God has a purpose for everything you face today.

There is no one else as interested in everything that concerns you, as the God who loves you with all His heart.

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.  Philippians 4:6 NIV

http://www.dayspring.com/  This is the link for dayspring, this is one place that I get signed up for to get emails sent and the above is taken from one of those, I find them enoucraging.

I stumbled upon this card design and fell in love with it, I've made about 25 of them up to send out, they are so much fun to do.

Have a wonderful Lord's day, blessings, Michelle