30 day Blessing challenge

     This is the challenge-for 30 days starting November 1st through November 30th-you will pray and ask God to show you someone you can be a blessing to.
     What you do for that person each day is up to you. It doesn't have to be big, cost a lot of money and might even be free.  It might be a note, a call, a visit, bake some cookies, take them some flowers, make them a meal, watch their kids, the options are endless.  The only given is you give for no reason other than to be a blessing to someone else.
     Let's see at the end of 30 days what God has done through you, me, all of us.  Will you meet me in this challenge?  Comment below if you are taking the challenge, post on your blog if you have one or your facebook page or you can comment on my facebook page at

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Living-Life-With-The-Loves/201693106596152 

At the end of 30 days I will pick one person from all that took and met the challenge and will send them a little blessing in the mail. You just need to let me know here or on my facebook page you are participating and I would also love to hear how it goes.  So will you take the challenge with me?

God bless,

Pat

****Who Can You Bless Today?****

I am issuing a challenge to anyone who reads this.  The challenge is whenever you read this, stop and pray.  Ask God who you can be a blessing to today.  Blessings don't have to cost a lot and might even be free but to the one receiving it, it might mean the world.  SO will you take the challenge?

God bless,

Pat

~Heart Gifts~

     

 Have you ever heard of heart gifts?Heart gifts are gifts that would cost nothing or next to nothing. The only thing is that the gift has to be thoughtful and from your heart!  

     Think about what your talents are and how you can bless others with them. Can you sew, can you cook?Use the talents God has given you. For example, maybe you have 3 large apples sitting in your refrigerator right now. How about pulling out your small saucepan and make some nice cinnamon apples for your elderly neighbor down the street? What a wonderful little heart gift that would be! What about the young woman with 3 kids and a husband who just got out of the hospital? What would it mean to her to have you bring a simple crock pot dinner and dessert to her door? Maybe you have flowers in your yard-pick some and take them to the lady who just lost her husband.  Pick up a drink from Sonic for you and the friend who has been seeming down, stop by for a quick visit and give her the drink.  Send a card to someone you have been missing at church. I am off to see what I can do and who I can bless.

Your challenge for today is to think of a heart gift and pass it on!

God bless,

Pat 

Encouraging Women

There is nothing like having friends who accept you while encouraging you to be 

all that you were created to be.

 

     As ladies we go through so much.  We are wives, mothers, sisters, daughters and more and all have expectations from us.  No matter how much you love it all, sometimes it gets hard and you get bogged down. What would it mean if someone noticed and just did a little something to say I care, I noticed, I am here?

 

     It doesn't take a lot of time or money to encourage someone but it might mean a whole lot. Send a short note, make a call, stop by for a short visit or so many other ideas. One thing we can all do is pray but don't just pray but let them know you prayed.  It is not what you do but just that you did.  

     God has really been keeping this on my heart.  This morning I got on facebook and one of the first things I saw was a friend had posted an encouraging little something you could make for a friend.  I am already thinking of who I could do it for.  I am sharing the link as you might want to do this for someone and also she has lots of other great ideas and resources

 

http://www.made2bcreative.com/blog/?p=6216.

God bless,
Pat

~Fears~

    

What time I am afraid, I will trust in thee.  Psalm 56:3

     I have been working on a devotion for church for a ladies meeting.  I am also doing a bible study with some friends.Both of them have to do with fears we might have.  It has all forced me to look at some fears I have.  
     I have also learned that by holding onto these fears I am holding back in my trust with God. I also have realized that these fears affect my relationships with others.  My fears help form who I am and what I do, where I go and just about all areas of my life.  I may have known this but I have never faced it in the way I am now.  We all have fears of something but we should give those fears to God, we should trust in Him.
      Do you have fears you are holding onto?  Are they affecting your relationship with God, your family, your friends?  I challenge you to stop and think and look hard at your heart, they might be affecting you and even others much more than you think.

God bless,
Pat

Jesus didn't throw the clay away!

     Recently our pastor, Bro J.D.  preached a sermon on the Potter and the Clay.  I have heard this preached many times but this time it really made a big impact on me.  I want to share some of my notes from that sermon with you and I hope it will be a blessing to you too.
     Jeremiah 18:1-6 was his scripture text but the part that really spoke to me was verse 6b Behold, as the clay is in the potter's hand, so are ye in mine hand,.  When a potter is making something from clay, he chooses what the vessel will be.  God already chose before we were born what He wanted us to be.  To make that vessel the potter has to mold it and make it. As we live our life and things that we experience  or happens to us helps to mold us and what we become.  If we read Gods word, attend church and live for God we will be molded into a vessel of honor and we can be an honor to God.  If we live in the world and the trash it has to offer then the vessel will not mold correctly.  As the potter molds his vessel he chips away the clay that does not smooth or mold well, this is when God removes the sin from our life.  Sometimes the potter must add water to the clay to help it become what he wishes it to be.  For us to become who and what we should we need to have the Living water applied and that is the Word of God.  To get this water we need to have a daily walk with God.  We don't eat just once or twice a week and we need to get in Gods word more than just at church so God can mold you.  Just as the clay yields to the potter we need to yield our lives to God.
     Are you letting God mold you and make you, is the Water getting applied daily and are you becoming a vessel of Honor or are you just a clump of useless clay?  Remember the potter does not throw away the clay and God will never give up on us so you can let the Potter mold you starting now, will you?

God bless,
Pat

Simple Ways You Can Show Your Husband You Love Him!

 I think I have a pretty good marriage but I think we can always make improvements.  I have read lots of articles about different date night ideas and stuff but I was looking for something more.  I wanted simple little ways daily I could show my husband I still love him. Little things that I could do any day or every day.  We have been married for over 25 years and we are almost to the empty nest stage of life. Letting him know he is still important to me and I want to spend time with him is becoming even more of a big deal for me.
     I came up with a list of simple things that you can try no matter what stage of marriage you are at. Have fun with this list, try them and repeat often and see what happens.

1.  Cuddle-this might be a few moments when you go to bed or when you get up.
2.  Watch how you speak to him-this is especially important to Moms of little ones.  You are home all day telling them what to do and not to do.  He doesn’t need a Moma, he needs a wife.
3.  Do what makes him happy-watch his favorite game on TV even is sports is not your thing.  Make a fave meal or special treat.
4.  Give him space-sometimes they need to spend some time just doing what they want-watching sports, playing a game or a guys night for him and his friends. Give him a few minutes when he gets home to distress.
5.  Pray for him-pray with him if he will and definitely pray for him.  Men face lots of pressures and temptations daily. If you are not praying for him, who will?
6.  Compliment him-tell him he looks good, he smells good, etc
7.  Put a note in his briefcase, lunchbox and tell him you love him and miss him when he is gone.
8.  Make home a place he will want to come home to.  Do a quick clean up right before he gets home, have his fave drink waiting on him etc
9.  Kiss him, sometimes a quick smooch or a long passionate one, let him know he is still the one for you.
10.  Don’t nag-find the right time, place and way to talk to him about things you need to discuss.

     These are just a few ways you can show your husband you love him.  I am sure you can think of others. One we can all do is never stop saying I love you.

God bless,
Pat