Growing Joy

I’ve got joy, joy, joy, joy down in my heart.

Where?

Down in my heart, down in my heart.

I’ve got joy, joy, joy, joy down in my heart.

Down in my heart to stay!

That’s a chorus I remember singing as a young girl in Sunday School. Little did I realize that the stories I was learning about Jesus and His love for me were planting seeds of joy in my heart.

“But the fruit that comes from having the Holy Spirit in our lives is: love, joy, peace, not giving up, being kind, being good, having faith, 23 being gentle, and being the boss over our own desires. The Law is not against these things.” Galatians 5:22-23 NLV

Joy: to experience great pleasure or delight REJOICE.

I can hear someone asking, “Kristi, do you expect me to be happy all the time? That’s just not possible.”

Let’s let the Bible answer that question.

“Be full of joy always because you belong to the Lord. Again I say, be full of joy!” Philippians 4:4 NLV

“Or the one who hates me will say, ‘I have power over him.’ And those who hate me will be happy when I am shaken. But I have trusted in Your loving-kindness. My heart will be full of joy because You will save me. I will sing to the Lord, because He has been good to me.” Psalm 134:4-6 NLV

“Our hope comes from God. May He fill you with joy and peace because of your trust in Him. May your hope grow stronger by the power of the Holy Spirit.” Romans 15:13 NLV

 The angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. See! I bring you good news of great joy which is for all people. 11 Today, One Who saves from the punishment of sin has been born in the city of David. He is Christ the Lord.” Luke 2:10-11 NLV

“You will show me the way of life. Being with You is to be full of joy. In Your right hand there is happiness forever.” Psalm 16:11 NLV

 The Lord is my strength and my safe cover. My heart trusts in Him, and I am helped. So my heart is full of joy. I will thank Him with my song. ” Psalm 28:7 NLV

We can be joy-full when people hate us or when they treat us badly. Joy is not predicated on our outward circumstances. It is a condition of the heart.

 For every tree is known by its own fruit. Men do not gather figs from thorns. They do not gather grapes from thistles. 45 Good comes from a good man because of the riches he has in his heart. Sin comes from a sinful man because of the sin he has in his heart. The mouth speaks of what the heart is full of.” Luke 6:44-45 NLV

When we plant seeds of joy because we belong to the Lord and dwell in His presence, our heart will produce joy no matter the circumstance.

I looked up the word joy in the NLV, New Living Version, this morning and found 444 verses on joy. That’s a lot of seed and it will produce a big harvest. Time to start planting.

Let’s Grow Some Fruit

We’ve just finished almost 6 weeks of teaching on love and yet it’s going to be the first seed we’re going to plant in our garden.

“But the fruit that the Spirit produces in a person’s life is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these kinds of things.” Galatians 5:22-23 ERV

Before we look at planting seeds of love, I want us to examine what type of seed we are putting into the soil of our hearts.

Fruit trees are a perpetual seed meaning each season they produce fruit. Some seasons they will produce larger fruit but there will be less of it. Some seasons they produce a lot but the fruit is smaller. Perpetual seed.

Vegetable seeds are annuals. They grow for one season; produce a crop and they die. We don’t want to be producing annuals in our lives.

Then there are the perennials. Technically, fruit trees and bushes are perennials but most often that term refers to flowers that bloom all year round or that go dormant and come back year after year.

I like that the Scripture doesn’t say that the “vegetable” the Spirit produces is…, no, the Holy Spirit produces fruit in our lives. Big difference.

Love.

“So these three things continue: faith, hope, and love. And the greatest of these is love.” I Corinthians 13:13 ERV

Since the Bible names love as the first fruit and calls love the greatest characteristic we shall start there.

“Fill us with your love every morning. Let us be happy and enjoy our lives.” Psalm 90:14 ERV

“What I teach will give you a good, long life, and all will go well for you. Don’t ever let love and loyalty leave you. Tie them around your neck, and write them on your heart. Then God will be pleased and think well of you and so will everyone else.” Proverbs 3:2-4 ERV

“He said, “Teacher, which command in the law is the most important?”

37 Jesus answered, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and most important command. 39 And the second command is like the first: ‘Love your neighbor the same as you love yourself.’” Matthew 22:36-39 ERV

As I pointed out the other day, God’s word is the seed we are given to plant in our hearts.

“And what about the seed that fell on rocky ground? That is like the people who hear the teaching and quickly and gladly accept it. 21 But they do not let the teaching go deep into their lives. They keep it only a short time. As soon as trouble or persecution comes because of the teaching they accepted, they give up.

22 “And what about the seed that fell among the thorny weeds? That is like the people who hear the teaching but let worries about this life and love for money stop it from growing. So it does not produce a crop in their lives.” Matthew 13:20-22 ERV

The verses above are good seed and they WILL produce but they need to be protected. All the seeds of God’s word do.

Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life.” Proverbs 4:23 NLT

Now, let’s start planting and watch the seeds grow!

In Debt to Love

Dave and I have worked for many years to get out of debt and to stay out of debt. Thank God for the blessing of being debt free. There is one debt however that we will never be able to wipe off the books; it will always be on the balance sheet.

 Let love be your only debt! If you love others, you have done all that the Law demands. ” Romans 13:8 CEV

Each and every one of us are in debt to love.

Love is hard. It requires work and it isn’t for the faint of heart. The good news is that we haven’t been left on our own to pay this debt. We have been given help for each day.

 God’s Spirit makes us loving, happy, peaceful, patient, kind, good, faithful, 23 gentle, and self-controlled. There is no law against behaving in any of these ways.” Galatians 5:22-23 CEV

There’s an urgency to be loving. The world is becoming more and more selfish; self-centered ambition drives so much of what is being done. Several years back there was a campaign to encourage people to do random acts of kindness.

What happened to that? Did you know that Jesus taught the same thing?

“The man replied, ‘The Scriptures say, ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, strength, and mind.’ They also say, ‘Love your neighbors as much as you love yourself.’ …

But the man wanted to show that he knew what he was talking about. So he asked Jesus, ‘Who are my neighbors?’

30 Jesus replied: As a man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, robbers attacked him and grabbed everything he had. They beat him up and ran off, leaving him half dead.

31 A priest happened to be going down the same road. But when he saw the man, he walked by on the other side. 32 Later a temple helper came to the same place. But when he saw the man who had been beaten up, he also went by on the other side.

33  A man from Samaria then came traveling along that road. When he saw the man, he felt sorry for him 34 and went over to him. He treated his wounds with olive oil and wine and bandaged them. Then he put him on his own donkey and took him to an inn, where he took care of him. 35 The next morning he gave the innkeeper two silver coins and said, ‘Please take care of the man. If you spend more than this on him, I will pay you when I return.’

36 Then Jesus asked, ‘Which one of these three people was a real neighbor to the man who was beaten up by robbers?'” Luke 10:25-27 CEV

Each one of us have been the man who was beaten and left on the roadside and if it weren’t for God’s unconditional love, we would be dead.

“Now I tell you to love each other, as I have loved you. 13 The greatest way to show love for friends is to die for them. 14 And you are my friends, if you obey me.” John 15:12-14 CEV

The debt of love is great. Christ freely gave to us, let’s be good Samaritan’s and freely give to those in need!

The Greatest of These

I know you’ve probably heard that often quoted phrase, “The greatest of these is love”. I completely agree. At the beginning of that verse are two other virtues which play an important role as well.

 Faith makes us sure of what we hope for and gives us proof of what we cannot see.” Hebrews 11:1 CEV

Hope works with faith which works with love and the greatest of these is love.

“For now there are faith, hope, and love. But of these three, the greatest is love.” I Corinthians 13:13 CEV

I have the following verses written in the back of one of my Bibles.

 I say this because our hope of being right with God comes through faith. And the Spirit helps us feel sure as we wait for that hope. When someone belongs to Christ Jesus, it is not important if they are circumcised or not. The important thing is faith—the kind of faith that works through love.” Galatians 5:5-6 ERV

God has created us with a spiritual DNA of hope, faith and love.

We all have a hope for something/Someone greater than ourselves to help us through this life. No one is a “self made” man or woman. No matter how hard we try to be completely independent we rely on God.

Let me explain. We depend on our body to function properly; our heart beats and circulates blood throughout our body – life giving blood. Our lungs process the air we breathe and fill that blood with oxygen that is needed for the reproduction of cells. I could go on, but you get the point. We rely on God, knowingly or unknowingly, because He’s the one who causes our body to work in concert with itself.

We hope for a better future. Our hope builds our faith; without faith we cannot please God.

“It’s impossible to please God apart from faith. And why? Because anyone who wants to approach God must believe both that he exists and that he cares enough to respond to those who seek him.” Hebrews 11:6 MSG

Our faith brings us to God. The One who not only created us but also cares for us and loves us.

 God loved the people of this world so much that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who has faith in him will have eternal life and never really die. 17 God did not send his Son into the world to condemn its people. He sent him to save them!” John 3:16-17

God’s love devised and implemented a plan for mankind to be reconciled from our sins. His was a plan of love! Not willing for anyone to perish and go to hell, He sent His Son to be our Savior.

We hope for a better life, we put our faith in God and His love never fails us. Our hope, our faith but His love.

The greatest of these is love!

Time With Dad

I got up this morning thinking about my dad. He’s been in heaven now for almost 20 years, 19 years tomorrow, as a matter of fact.

Times with him were special. He worked out of town a lot, so I treasured the days he was home. Dinner around the table, playing a rousing game of 42 (dominoes), times when I got to go along on the hunting trips and sitting beside him on a riverbank or the shore of a lake as we fished.

Special times.

I miss the times we talked. I also remember the tone in his voice when I was about to get a spanking for something I had done wrong. Growing up wasn’t always easy but it was always loving.

Dave asked me last night if I felt I had a happy childhood. I did. His wasn’t.

Regardless of the experiences we have/had with our earthly fathers, the relationship we have with our heavenly Father is one of unconditional love, forgiveness, acceptance and guidance/correction for our well-being.

Our son would follow Dave through the alfalfa fields trying to match his steps stride for stride, he wore his hat like his dad and the same kind of boots. Then when he got older Dave would take him to his surf competitions. Now the two of them enjoy fishing trips and just being together. Father and Son.

Our girls still call Dave daddy. When they write him notes or call on the phone it’s always “Daddy”. He would read to our youngest daughter when I was at work and comb her hair in the mornings if I had to go in early. Our oldest daughter had him chaperone her sweet 16 party and they went ice skating – then there were the times they went horseback riding together.

Times with Dad are special! They make an indelible impact on our lives and just because we may not have our earthly dads with us any more, we most certainly have our Heavenly One who desires to have us spend time with Him.

“Do as God does. After all, you are his dear children. 2 Let love be your guide. Christ loved us and offered his life for us as a sacrifice that pleases God.” Ephesians 5:1-2 CEV

“Since you are now God’s children, he has sent the Spirit of his Son into your hearts. The Spirit cries out, “ Abba, Father.” 7 Now you are not slaves like before. You are God’s children, and you will receive everything he promised his children.” Galatians 4:6-7 ERV

Make a commitment to spend time with your Father this year. He loves spending time with you!

“Jesus understands every weakness of ours, because he was tempted in every way that we are. But he did not sin! 16 So whenever we are in need, we should come bravely before the throne of our merciful God. There we will be treated with undeserved kindness, and we will find help.” Hebrews 4:15-16 CEV

A Joy Filled Life

How’s the Christmas shopping going? Have you purchased all the gifts you intend too? Are they wrapped and under the tree? Are you excited about seeing the faces of those you are giving too?

I really think that’s how God feels. He has given us so many perfect and wonderful gifts. I think His heart is filled with excitement and anticipation as He waits for us to discover each precious gift.

I know my heart is filled with gratitude this morning; God’s amazing love is overwhelming; His peace passes all understanding (that means I can’t figure out how I can have so much peace when things seem anything but peaceful) and His grace (giving me what I don’t deserve) is so marvelous!

Each one of these wonderful gifts are waiting for us. They are wrapped in gold wrapping (the color of my kingly inheritance) and topped with bright red bows (the color of the blood He shed for me). Each day I have the opportunity to receive these gifts anew; each day I have the opportunity to share these gifts with others; each day I have the joy of saying thank you to my wonderful Father who has given these gifts to me!

“But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ.” Ephesians 4:7 KJV

“May you have more and more of His loving-favor and peace as you come to know God and our Lord Jesus Christ better. He gives us everything we need for life and for holy living. He gives it through His great power. As we come to know Him better, we learn that He called us to share His own shining-greatness and perfect life. Through His shining-greatness and perfect life, He has given us promises. These promises are of great worth and no amount of money can buy them. Through these promises you can have God’s own life in you now that you have gotten away from the sinful things of the world which came from wrong desires of the flesh.” II Peter 1:2-24 NLV

Through our relationship with Christ we have become God’s children. Through our knowledge of God’s word we learn about the inheritance and the blessings, gifts, He freely gives to each one of us.

“Faith in Christ Jesus is what makes each of you equal with each other, whether you are a Jew or a Greek, a slave or a free person, a man or a woman. 29  So if you belong to Christ, you are now part of Abraham’s family, and you will be given what God has promised.” Galatians 5:28-29 CEV

The gifts we receive from our Father have no expiration date; they don’t need batteries or a charger. They are powered by His unconditional and everlasting love.

Merry Christmas!

Not Like the Other

Do you remember the little song from Sesame Street, One of These Things is Not Like the Other? Well, this basket of fruit has one thing, unlike the others.

Not all fruit is the same.

Paul writes to us in Galatians about the fruit of the Spirit.

“But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!” Galatians 5:22-23 NLT

These are all good fruit. In fact, Paul says there has never been a law written against any of these characteristics. Who’s going to condemn us if we have loving, joyful, patient, kind, good, faithful, gentle and self-controlled. These are good things, but…not all fruit is good like this.

 A good tree can’t produce bad fruit, and a bad tree can’t produce good fruit. 44 A tree is identified by its fruit. Figs are never gathered from thornbushes, and grapes are not picked from bramble bushes. 45 A good person produces good things from the treasury of a good heart, and an evil person produces evil things from the treasury of an evil heart. What you say flows from what is in your heart.” Luke 6:43-45 NLT

Patience is a good fruit. Impatience isn’t.

Think about that. I heard Joyce Meyers say this years ago.

It’s true – “I” don’t have time to wait; “I” could do it better; “I” deserve to be treated better than this; “I” told you to do it “my” way. And it goes on and on. Most of our objections around things that make us impatient start with I.

How contrary that is to God’s character! He waited for just the right time to send Jesus. Jesus walked this earth teaching the same thing over and over, the love of God and restoration to Him, and still people didn’t get it. And now God is waiting again, He is not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.

“The Lord isn’t really being slow about his promise, as some people think. No, he is being patient for your sake. He does not want anyone to be destroyed, but wants everyone to repent.” II Peter 3:9 NLT

Those of us who know a little something about “end-time” prophecy are watching the events unfolding in our world today with great interest. As far as we can tell, events are lining up according to Scripture for the Lord’s return.

But let’s not get impatient!

We need to continue to be the examples of God’s love and forgiveness that He has placed us in the world to be. We need to be producers of good fruit. We need to be like Jesus.

He knew time was short; soon He would be crucified but instead of lamenting His fate, He continued to serve with an unselfish love.

“It was almost time for the Jewish Passover festival. Jesus knew that the time had come for him to leave this world and go back to the Father. Jesus had always loved the people in the world who were his. Now was the time he showed them his love the most.

2 Jesus and his followers were at the evening meal. The devil had already persuaded Judas Iscariot to hand Jesus over to his enemies. (Judas was the son of Simon.) 3 The Father had given Jesus power over everything. Jesus knew this. He also knew that he had come from God. And he knew that he was going back to God. 4 So while they were eating, Jesus stood up and took off his robe. He got a towel and wrapped it around his waist. 5 Then he poured water into a bowl and began to wash the followers’ feet. He dried their feet with the towel that was wrapped around his waist.” John 13:1-5 ERV

How many times has the Lord been patient with our failings, our shortcomings, our wanderings. He has been there to pick us up, welcome us home and encourage us to “go our way and sin no more”.

And now He is asking us to become patient with ourselves and with others. To show them the same love and compassion He has shown to us. When we are patient, we are Christ-like and our lives will reflect His love.

“My brothers and sisters, you will have many kinds of trouble. But this gives you a reason to be very happy. 3 You know that when your faith is tested, you learn to be patient in suffering. 4 If you let that patience work in you, the end result will be good. You will be mature and complete. You will be all that God wants you to be.” James 1:2-4 ERV

Let’s remove the character trait that is not like the others, impatience, and patiently love those around you today!

Listen & Learn

“Come to me with your ears wide open. Listen, and you will find life. I will make an everlasting covenant with you. I will give you all the unfailing love I promised to David.
See how I used him to display my power among the peoples. I made him a leader among the nations. You also will command nations you do not know, and peoples unknown to you will come running to obey, because I, the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, have made you glorious.” Isaiah 55:3-5 NLT

Ears wide open. Years ago, we heard a preacher use the phrase “Got your catchers on?”. He was talking about the two appendages we have on either side of our head. We actually used this same phrase when we were about to tell our kids something important.

So, get your catchers on.

Yesterday I shared a verse with you that was life changing to me. I had grown up knowing that the Jewish people were God’s chosen. The Lord did so many miracles for them; they were given so many promises. And then one day as I was reading, I saw these verses:

“I ask you again, does God give you the Holy Spirit and work miracles among you because you obey the law? Of course not! It is because you believe the message you heard about Christ.

In the same way, ‘Abraham believed God, and God counted him as righteous because of his faith.’ The real children of Abraham, then, are those who put their faith in God.

What’s more, the Scriptures looked forward to this time when God would make the Gentiles right in his sight because of their faith. God proclaimed this good news to Abraham long ago when he said, ‘All nations will be blessed through you.’ So all who put their faith in Christ share the same blessing Abraham received because of his faith…13 But Christ has rescued us from the curse pronounced by the law. When he was hung on the cross, he took upon himself the curse for our wrongdoing. For it is written in the Scriptures, ‘Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree. 14 Through Christ Jesus, God has blessed the Gentiles with the same blessing he promised to Abraham, so that we who are believers might receive the promised Holy Spirit through faith.” Galatians 3:5-14 NLT

(at this point let me say, If you haven’t read the book of Galatians, especially chapter 3, this would be an excellent time to read it)

Because of Christ’s death on the cross, we who are Gentiles (not Jews) have come to receive the blessings and promises that God made to them. Amazing!

Why?

“Today the Lord will conquer you, and I will kill you and cut off your head. And then I will give the dead bodies of your men to the birds and wild animals, and the whole world will know that there is a God in Israel! 47 And everyone assembled here will know that the Lord rescues his people, but not with sword and spear. This is the Lord’s battle, and he will give you to us!” I Samuel 17:46-47 NLT

“The king was overjoyed and ordered that Daniel be lifted from the den. Not a scratch was found on him, for he had trusted in his God…26 ‘I decree that everyone throughout my kingdom should tremble with fear before the God of Daniel. For he is the living God, and he will endure forever. His kingdom will never be destroyed, and his rule will never end. 27 He rescues and saves his people; he performs miraculous signs and wonders in the heavens and on earth. He has rescued Daniel from the power of the lions.” Daniel 6:23,26-27 NLT

The show of power and strength that David displayed against Goliath was for one purpose – “the whole world will know that there is a God in Israel!” The deliverance of Daniel in the den of lions was a testimony that “He rescues and saves his people”.

Isaiah said God wants to use us to display His love to the people of the world. It’s a promise.

Hear what God is saying. Do you have your catchers on?

The Price is Paid

For the next few days we will be going through Isaiah 55. It is a wonderful chapter, filled with promises of God for those who love Him.

A couple days back we talked about heart health. I truly believe that one of the biggest worries people have concerns finances. Worried when they don’t have enough and when they are financially prosperous, they worry that they may lose it.

“Is anyone thirsty?  Come and drink— even if you have no money! Come, take your choice of wine or milk— it’s all free! Why spend your money on food that does not give you strength? Why pay for food that does you no good? Listen to me, and you will eat what is good. You will enjoy the finest food.” vs. 1-2 NLT

When God, the Father, first established a relationship with Abraham, the man who would be the father of the nation of Israel, God promised to be his provider.

“Abraham named the place Yahweh-Yireh (which means “the Lord will provide”). To this day, people still use that name as a proverb: “On the mountain of the Lord it will be provided.’…18 And through your descendants all the nations of the earth will be blessed—all because you have obeyed me.” Genesis 22:14-18 NLT

Because of our relationship with Christ we have become a descendant of Abraham and the blessings and promises God made to him are also available to us as his descendants. Paul, the Apostle, wrote this:

“Through Christ Jesus, God has blessed the Gentiles with the same blessing he promised to Abraham, so that we who are believers might receive the promised Holy Spirit through faith.” Galatians 3:14 NLT

The Lord delivered Abraham’s descendants from the bondage of Egypt and He provided for them while they wandered in the desert.

“Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good!  His faithful love endures forever…For he satisfies the thirsty and fills the hungry with good things.” Psalm 107:1, 9 NLT

One of the first teachings Jesus gave is what many call the Sermon on the Mount. A multitude was following Jesus – they longed to hear what He had to say. So, from the mountainside Jesus delivered this message:

“Those who are hungry and thirsty to be right with God are happy, because they will be filled.” Matthew 5:6 NLV

and His message continued

“That is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life—whether you have enough food and drink, or enough clothes to wear. Isn’t life more than food, and your body more than clothing? 26 Look at the birds. They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for your heavenly Father feeds them. And aren’t you far more valuable to him than they are?…So don’t worry about these things, saying, ‘What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?’ 32 These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs. 33 Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.” Matthew 6:25-33 NLT

We are more precious than the birds. When we give our lives to Christ, we become children of God, most high.

Thirsty?

“…Jesus stood and shouted to the crowds, “Anyone who is thirsty may come to me! 38 Anyone who believes in me may come and drink! For the Scriptures declare, ‘Rivers of living water will flow from his heart.’”39 (When he said “living water,” he was speaking of the Spirit, who would be given to everyone believing in him. But the Spirit had not yet been given, because Jesus had not yet entered into his glory.)” John 7:37-39 NLT

Come drink. Our heavenly Father has provided for our needs!

Living the Dream/Plan

Those of you who know me know that Dave and I have been living with a particular dream for about five years now.

We’ve never been on an exotic vacation, in fact, we’ve only been on a handful of actual vacations. But one warm summer day, we came across a series of travel videos on the islands of Greece. I had never seen such beautiful turquoise water, it was breathtaking, literally. The quaint towns, the local residents and those iconic, white-washed buildings with blue doors drew me in.

Greece has over 200 hundred inhabited islands, rich in history. They also have a Biblical connection. The Apostle Paul, Titus, Barnabus and Luke traveled there bringing the message of Jesus to the uttermost parts of their world. John, the apostle, was exiled to the island of Patmos and it was there he received and wrote the Book of Revelation.

And we will be leaving for Greece on Friday.

“You are now children of God because you have put your trust in Christ Jesus. 27 All of you who have been baptized to show you belong to Christ have become like Christ. 28 God does not see you as a Jew or as a Greek. He does not see you as a servant or as a person free to work. He does not see you as a man or as a woman. You are all one in Christ. 29 If you belong to Christ, then you have become the true children of Abraham. What God promised to him is now yours.” Galatians 3:26-29 NLV

One in Christ!

Wherever we are, whatever we do, God wants us to be focused on who we are in Christ and to experience unity with like-minded followers of Christ. One of our plans is to attend a Greek Orthodox service and join in their worship of the Lord.

“For I know the plans I have for you,’ says the Lord, ‘plans for well-being and not for trouble, to give you a future and a hope. 12 Then you will call upon Me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you.” Jeremiah 29:11-2 NLV

We will be gone most of September. I plan on sharing the adventure with you, but I don’t know if that will be every day. We ask for your prayers as we travel, this will be our first international flight.

We know we will enjoy the people, the food, the beauty and we are thankful to be going on such a wonderful journey. Ten years ago, I would have never thought we would experience anything like this but here we are ready to pack our suitcases and be on our way.

This is the day that the Lord has made. Let us be full of joy and be glad in it.” Psalm 118:24 NLV

One thing I’ve come to know is that each day is an adventure with the Father just waiting to unfold!