Saturday, March 28, 2009

Be Thou My Vision

I pray you have a blessed Sabbath.

Friday, March 27, 2009

Siesta Memory Verse

It's almost time for our next Siesta Memory Verse. How can that be?

Last year I wanted to learn 12 new verses and decided to learn the verse listed each month on my Living Proof Ministries 2008 calendar. It had been years since I really endeavored to learn Scripture and not paraphrase it in the Annette Texan Version. I rushed my father to the ER 01/08/08 which set off a chain of events and drama as many of you know. He was hospitalized for a total of 10 months in 2008 due to a doctor's error and died 01/28/2009. It was a long year, I did not memorize Scripture. Last December I decided enough's enough, I am memorizing Scripture. And then Beth Moore challenged us to do it, just the accountability I needed.

A couple of times a verse has popped out at me. A couple of times I thought my verse will be God is love or Jesus wept. March 1st a couple of verses jumped out at me, I thought maybe that's it, maybe not, it's 2 verses. I attended church that night as a friend's guest...the 2 verses were in the sermon, the next day they were in a devotional, you know what - Eph 4:2-3 were it...March 15, Ps 19:1-3 jumped out at me. I thought 3 verses...Lord you are kidding, He wasn't. Linda used them in a post and my priest used them in the monthly newsletter - they were it!

Eph 2:2-3 -Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.

Ps 19:1-3 -The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they display knowledge. There is no speech or language where their voice is not heard.

I don't have my April 1st verses yet, but I know I will, I think they will pertain to Easter and if it's more than 1 verse, as I discussed with Ang today - I believe all things are possible through Christ, I will live it out and believe I can learn several verses.

Y'all have a great weekend and be waiting for the Lord to lead you to the Scripture you need for your life or a situation yet to come.

Love, Annette

Wednesday, March 25, 2009

A Little Drama

As some of you are aware, I made a little error while transferring my blog list to blogs I follow Monday afternoon. I deleted the blog list before I had transferred all the information into the Blogs I Follow...thankfully, through comments left on my blog and via Facebook, I located all the info and everyone that was on my blog list is now on listed in my profile...whew, I thought Annette, it wasn't so very long ago your ancestors thought drama was fighting Native Americans in central Texas...and a generation before that, some of my ancestors fought white men...why was I going to let lost Blog addreses upset me so? I don't have a UBoat heading my way, I am not in the line of fire in Iraq, I am not in ICU hooked up to machines...But I reacted to losing the info as if it were the most dramatic thing in the world.

Funny how such a little thing can almost steal our joy, can make us tense for a few minutes. In the grand scheme of things, this was an inconvenience, not a tragedy.

The point of all this...hold on to your joy...don't let anything from the trivial to the big stuff steal it.

The Bible tells us:


When I said, "My foot is slipping," your love, O LORD, supported me. When anxiety was great within me, your consolation brought joy to my soul.


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.

Monday, March 23, 2009

It's Monday

How in the world is it Monday again...so soon...wasn't it just Friday. It was a beautiful weekend in Southeast Texas. A little windy for boating or fishing but perfect weather for just about anything else you wanted to do outdoors.

I spent Friday evening at the rodeo with 2 of my nieces instead of at home cleaning out a closet. I have wonderful nieces and nephews..., went to the rodeo finals with Valerie Saturday afternoon, and attended church with my mother and then headed to our favorite local, Mexican restaurant Larry's. Most of the waiters still expect to see dad walk in the door with us on Sundays.

My husband was in Matagorda over the weekend, all of the bluebonnets are alive and thriving, which makes me very happy. I will go down in a couple of weeks and add verbena, salvia and maybe black eyed Susans.

Stay in the Word this week, praise the Lord through out the day not because of what He has done or what He will do for you but because He is the Great I Am, Who loves you so much He gave His only Son so we might live eternally. We find these words in John 6:

35Then Jesus declared, "I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never go hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty. 36But as I told you, you have seen me and still you do not believe. 37All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never drive away. 38For I have come down from heaven not to do my will but to do the will of him who sent me. 39And this is the will of him who sent me, that I shall lose none of all that he has given me, but raise them up at the last day. 40For my Father's will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day."

Sunday, March 22, 2009

Friday, March 20, 2009

Thursday, March 19, 2009

Another Foggy Day

Since Monday, our mornings have been extremely foggy. It's has not begun to burn off yet. Come on sun!

Sometimes our minds are foggy due to medication, illness, stress, fatigue, but thankfully our Lord Jesus helps us through the fog. He carries us in times of trouble, He carries us through illness, He carries us through stress, He carries us through the death of a loved one.

His word says:

"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.

Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, "Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you." So we say with confidence, "The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?"

But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

"Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?

I know this can be easier said than done, there is freedom in casting our cares and worries on Him. Let Him carry you and or your loved ones, that's His job, He is Savior - we are not. So let go and let God.

Wednesday, March 18, 2009

Sleep

I woke up a few minutes ago and smelled something. I walked out to the kitchen, my husband had left the oven on, I turned it off, got a drink of water and realized I am wide awake.

The dogs are sound asleep, he is sound asleep...I suppose this is not a good time to tell him about the oven, so I will live out one of my Siesta Memory Verses, Eph 4:2-3, Be completely humble and gentle, be patient bearing with one another in love, make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.

Monday, March 16, 2009

Drought

I am so thankful for the rain we received Thursday through Sunday night. I hope we receive more next week. So much of Texas is in serious drought. My area became dry after Ike hit which is common after a large hurricane moves through an area. It takes a lot of moisture out of the area when it moves inland.

We too are in drought when we do not stay in the Word. If we remain in a drought like state for long, we are in serious fire danger...the enemy is just waiting to throw a fiery dart. We may be so spiritually dry we cannot quench it with our shield of faith because our faith level is so low our shield is small.

Spend time in the Word, it brings life, it builds our faith, we begin to really believe what God says to us and we live it. Drink from the well...


John 7:37-39

On the last and greatest day of the Feast, Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, "If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him." By this he meant the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were later to receive. Up to that time the Spirit had not been given, since Jesus had not yet been glorified.

Sunday, March 15, 2009

God of Wonders by Third Day

In keeping with my Siesta Memory Verse, I chose this song to post. Worship the God of Wonders today, the Lord of all Creation, praise Him for Who He is, make a joyful noise!

Friday, March 13, 2009

Cold,Wet Weather



It's not often you have to wear a jacket and muffler indoors in March in Southeast Texas. Reliant Stadium must not have a heater, cold air was blowing last night, felt like the air conditioner. I knew it was cold when some of the cowboys were wearing coats as they warmed up their horses in the arena.

I am so thankful for the rain which arrived yesterday and continues today. Much of the state is receiving rain for the 1st time in months. I pray we continue to receive rain, gentle, nourishing rain for the land and wildlife, no floods.

My husband is in West Texas, the ice has thawed and they are receiving rain today. Hope it's still raining in Linda's neck of the woods.

I have picked out my Siesta Memory Verses for March 15, how is it almost the Ides of March!!!

Psalm 19:1-3, NIV

The heavens declare the glory of God;
the skies proclaim the work of his hands.
Day after day they pour forth speech;
night after night they display knowledge.
There is no speech or language
where their voice is not heard.

Can't wait to see what verses many of you choose. Have a great weekend.

Love, Annette

Thursday, March 12, 2009

Spring Weather

Funny thing in March, the weather is quite unpredictable. It was 80 yesterday, the high today is 53 with rain and tomorrow it's 49 with rain. We won't have snow like some of you, which is good since the flowers are blooming. I will resume hoping for snow in Nov.

Political views change. Politicians change opinions frequently. Gas prices go up and down. Nothing is constant, life change be like shifting sand on a beach. (Bet Ang wishes she was on one right now!)

Thankfully God never changes, He is constant and true, He is ever faithful, His mercy knows no end, His grace is always sufficient. His Word says:

Nevertheless, God's solid foundation stands firm, sealed with this inscription: "The Lord knows those who are his," and, "Everyone who confesses the name of the Lord must turn away from wickedness."

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.

All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our sinful nature and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature objects of wrath. But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved.

Ladies let us live as though our house is built on a firm foundation, as people who receive mercy and have been saved by grace. Through Jesus we are new people, not dead in sin but alive in Jesus. Go out and spread His love today.

And can you believe it is almost time to pick another Siesta Memory Verse!!!

Wednesday, March 11, 2009

Azaleas


I love azaleas!

Tuesday, March 10, 2009

Reflection of Christ

As little girls we were all familiar with the words - Mirror mirror on the wall, who is the fairest of them all? As we grew older, we most likely began to check our reflections in the mirror very seriously. Had we applied our flavored, roll on kissing gloss correctly? I think it was made by Maybelline. What about our eyeshadow? Our blush? Our hair, how did our hair look? Oh no, did we see a blemish?

Funny, now I look in the mirror each morning as I apply make up, curl my hair, and I try not to look at it again until the next day. It seems there is always a new wrinkle, age spot, some sort of sun damage revealing itself to me.

I am now interested in reflecting Jesus, not myself. It's not about Annette, it's about Him. Do I reflect His love, His grace, His compassion? Do I ever evangelize in my daily life? Do my actions bring Him a good witness or make people think - oh yeah, typical Christian - self righteous, hypocritical, etc. Have I lost my focus on Him? Am I focused on the world and life issues? I want to reflect Him, I want Him to say - Well Done Annette - my faithful servant. Don't wish you had a prayer group meet at your home. Don't wish you invited someone to church. Do it.

I want to live the following passages out in my life:

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.

Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord's glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.

I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.

Sunday, March 8, 2009

Thursday, March 5, 2009

Pictures

If the wind is not blowing too hard today, I will take a couple of pictures of the flowers. The white flower in my avatar is a freesia. The freesia blooming in my yard is hot pink with a yellow throat.

Spring in southeast Texas is very pretty. The one bad thing is when the oak pollen covers everything in a very special shade of yellowish-green. It causes 99% of the population to sneeze, but it's worth it because the oak trees provide shade in the summer and we need it. They usually withstand hurricanes and storms with the exception of tornadoes. I look forward to the azaleas blooming.

Storms of life come and go, some last longer than others. Sisters, remember the victory is won. Our Savior Jesus Christ won the battle for us. The time we spend on earth is a blip on the radar compared to the time we will spend in heaven - which is our real home.

The Bible tells us in II Cor 4:13-18

It is written: "I believed; therefore I have spoken." With that same spirit of faith we also believe and therefore speak, because we know that the one who raised the Lord Jesus from the dead will also raise us with Jesus and present us with you in his presence. All this is for your benefit, so that the grace that is reaching more and more people may cause thanksgiving to overflow to the glory of God.

Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.

Wednesday, March 4, 2009

Freesia & Larkspur

I am so excited (it does not take much), my freesia and larkspur are blooming.

Tuesday, March 3, 2009

Is God Speaking to Me?

Last week as I thought about a verse for the March 1, Siesta Memory Verse, Ephesians 4 was dropped into my heart. I read the chapter and chose verses 2 & 3. As I thought about it the next day, I wondered if these were the verses...I received a post card in the mail from am friend inviting me to a church service this Friday night. Some of what he wrote reinforced Eph 4:2-3's message. I thought OK, they are the verses. Yesterday my devotional began with Eph 4:1-4, and the writer emphasized verses 3 & 4 before going further into chapter 4.

God spoke to me through His word, then a friend, and lastly a devotional. I received confirmation not only once but twice. He speaks to you too. We must listen or we may miss what He is saying to us.

He speaks through His word, sermons, songs, other Christians and obviously He responds to our prayers. Ask Him for confirmation and clarity. There is nothing wrong with that.

Jesus said - My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand.

Sunday, March 1, 2009

Cold Morning

This could be our last cold morning in the greater Houston area until Oct. or Nov. There is a little frost and a cool breeze from the north. The cardinals and wrens are singing away, one cardinal was singing around 5:47 am today, guess he or she was getting their praise on.

I am about to take a walk and then get dressed for church.

Is anyone else blown away by the fact it's March 1!!!!!! I cannot believe it's been 1 month since dad died. Part of the experience seems like it was years ago and part of it seems as if it was literally yesterday. My friends from school, the neighborhood, work, and the blog world have been such a blessing. I am so grateful for all of you, so thankful the Lord put you in my life. I pray the Lord blesses each and everyone of you.

Have a blessed Sabbath, worship the Lord, take His joy and love with you where ever you go and share it with people. Go ahead, get some praise on. (and don't take anyone's pew...)

Love, Annette


Let everything that has breath praise the LORD. Praise the LORD.