JOY!

Singing this morning....
"I've got the joy, joy, joy, joy, down in my heart..
where?
down in my heart
where?
down in my heart!"......

You get the picture...Right?

JOY - keen pleasure or delight; calm delight.

I am soooo thankful today for the calm delight I have in my Lord and Savior!
In the midst of all the "stuff" He has given me His Joy!
Praise His Name!

Determined to keep my focus on all those things that are true and noble and pure and lovely -
(Phil. 4:8) ...
The "joy stealer" isn't havin' any of me today!
Hallelujah!

May your day be filled with peace and joy in the Lord.
May the SON be in your heart!
Blessings sweet ones!
Resting in HIM,
Ruthie

Blessed Assurance....

Do you have Blessed Assurance?

This refrain has been running thru my head this evening...
"This is my story, This is my song,
Praising my Savior, all the day long"...
I could not recall the hymn itself so I "googled it" - what did we do before we had "google" to run to?

It is the hymn - Blessed Assurance written in 1873 by Fanny Crosby - a wonderful songwriter who gave us many (over 8000) old hymns that are so precious to us... Fanny became blind at the age of 6 weeks of age due to the mistreatments of a doctor for a cold and puffy eyes. She chose to live her life with a positive, thankful attitude -

At the age of 12 she wrote these words:
O, what a happy child I am
Although I cannot see!
I am resolved that in this world
Contented I will be.

WHOA!
Ruthie --- how about making theses words yours? "I am resolved that in this world, contented I will be."
Reader - what about you doing the same?

Oh my dear friend!
Jesus is mine!
He has given me all I need!
He gives me Rest!
He gives me Peace!
He gives me strength!
He gives me love and forgiveness!
HE will do the same for you!

I have been on a journey of late and as the days progress I will share with you what Christ has been doing in my life and in me!
I am so thankful for the assurance I have in Him.

Blessings on you this day!
Resting in HIM,
Ruthie

A Day To Remember!

Customer Service...

Hmmmm...
What do you think of when you hear the words "customer service"?
I think of:

• service with a smile
• pleasant conversation
• helpfulness

I have had some experiences in the past 3 days which have me thinking about this topic...

First event was on the telephone - an out-of-town business number was on our phone - not a business that we usually deal with - so I called them back to see who had called and what they might have wanted; the girl who answered the phone was very curt and snapped at me when I asked who had called; told me she couldn't help me at all. I couldn't believe her reaction... guess she was having a "bad day".

Secondly - the next day I had to pick up some treats for our small Group meeting that night so I went into a local large chain Grocery store... I only had a few items so went thru the Express Lane - The clerk never said a word, didn't tell me how much the groceries came to, didn't look at me nor smile... and yet, as I stepped away I overheard her begin a conversation with the gal behind me - a fellow co-worker.

Thirdly - I purchased a watch at the local WM - got it home and the battery was dead... went in the next day and the gal in the jewelry dept. was very gracious, replaced the battery, and answered some other questions for me - went out of her way to get some info for me. All done with a smile on her face and in her voice! WOW!

These events have made me very conscious of MY CUSTOMER SERVICE - I don't "work" anywhere but when I am in the public or on the phone do I portray a smiling face and voice? Do I treat people with respect? Am I kind and gracious in my intereactions?

Oh Lord, I pray for us today - that we would be a reflection of YOU in the world... that in the midst of troubles and difficulties that YOU would shine thru! Give us YOUR grace today! May we seek to develop the attitude of CHRIST in our lives! Thank You, Father, for loving us and showing us the Way!

Blessings on you all this rainy day!

Stay in the Word; seek HIM diligently; and Love Him with abandon. *** Ruthie ***

Celebrating What???

Today is hallowe'en ... an event I don't "celebrate" ...

"To celebrate" means to observe; to commerate with festivities... and I don't participate in this. I am very fortunate to live in an area where we hardly ever see more that 5 children at our door... I do pass out candy to them - is that "celebrating"? I do not wish anyone "Happy Hallowe'en"; nor do I make Hallowe'en cards and such.

I realize that hallowe'en is a fun time for children - a time of candy, games, costumes; a time for scary stories, bobbing for apples, and so on. However, I also believe that there are people who are serious about celebrating the darker side of this event... and that disturbs me. I believe it is a spiritually dangerous time and that we as Christians must cover ourselves and our families in fervent prayer.

And - we must stand firm in the knowledge and belief that God is in control of it all - He is our Security and our Salvation; our Refuge and our Victory!
Praise His Name!

Romans 8: 38-39

For I am convinced that neither death nor life,

neither angels nor demons,

neither the present nor the future,

nor any powers,

neither height nor depth,

nor anything else in all creation,

will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

We are secure in Him!

We are His!

He is Risen!

We are victorious!

Hallelujah!

May you be blessed and safe this day! May your hearts be full of praise and thankfulness to a Loving God!

Resting in HIM,

Ruthie

TRUST

PSALM 13:5-6

But I have trusted in Your mercy,

My heart shall rejoice in Your salvation.

I will sing to the Lord,

Because He has dealt bountifully with me.

MIA!

I have been gone from blogger land for a month -

it has been a hard month for me ... physically, emotionally, spiritually....

for we know that when one aspect of our being is affected, the rest of us is too.

I'll not go into much detail,

suffice it to say that my health has not been what it was 2 years ago ...

actually it's been worse these past 2 months...

I am learning to live with chronic pain and troubled sleep - and all that that entails!

I am learning to say NO -

I am learning to ask for help; to ask for prayer.

I am learning that I am not "wonder woman" to everyone around me.

I am learing to live without guilt -

The guilt comes from not meeting our own expectations and the expectations of those around us.

And - I am learning that all of this is OK.

"There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus" - Romans 8:1

Hallelujah!

And I'm still counting my blessings ....
431. my husband who loves me unconditionally

432. beautiful sunsets

433. a double rainbow - so vibrant and close one could almost touch it!

434. laughter with girlfriends

435. God's grace and healing power

436. my smiling grand-daughter

437. Madison's laughter!

438. watching my daughter be a loving mom

439. safety as I travel

440. morning coffee

441. Hot lobster

442. lunch with hubby and friends

443. Fall flowers from hubby

Psalm 18: 1-2

I will love You, O Lord , my strength.

The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer;

My God, My strength, in whom I will trust;

My shield and the horn of my slavation, my stronghold

Blessings on you this day!

Hold tight to HIM!

Ruthie