Camp Peniel - Ladies Spa Weekend

For a number of years a committe of committed Christian women have put together a yearly Ladies Spa Weekend at our local Christian Camp - Camp Peniel. Women will come to this event from all over the province and sometimes from other provinces... so for some it is a yearly renewal of earthly relationships, as well as with our God! And for others it is the beginnning of new earthly relationships - and a new relationship with God!

Peniel means "face to face with God" - over the years many women have come face to face with God in this most magnificent place.

Of course, a Spa weekend would not be complete without lots of food, fun and pampering!

Here are some of my blessings from this past weekend:

421. Hugs, Hugs, and more Hugs.

422. The lake - like a mirror - not a ripple anywhere.

423. Sunshine and warmth on Saturday - after a week of damp cold weather - God knew!

424. A star-filled night sky with a 3/4 moon.

425. Worshipping with my daughter.

426. Interpretive Dance - Amazing! Her testimony thrills my soul!

427. Karen - travelling the journey of breast cancer - surgery, treatments, and all that entails. Asking us to allow her to have a great weekend, thus revealing all to us at the very beginning! Such a courageous young woman.

428. Young teens working together as a team to clean up after us; set tables; wash dishes; and join in the fun with a skit and a game.

429. Holding a 6 week old baby girl! Oh, it's been a long time since these old arms have held a baby. So sweet and so precious! A miracle from above!

430. Fireworks - Amazing!

I so enjoyed this past weekend... and hope to partake in many more of the same.

Blessings to all you sweet readers out there...
Praying for God's Hand to be on you and for His love and joy to be in you!

Resting in Him,
Ruthie

September Counting....

I am awed by HIS Presence around me.... His Peace and His Joy!
He Blesses me so.... me who is so undeserving of His blessings!
He loves me - He loves you!
I pray that you too may see Him everywhere!

410. A weekend get-away with the girls.
411. Learning to color with Copics
412. The most magnificent rainbow I have ever seen - a full arch; bright colors; so close I could almost touch it!
413. Church on the beach.
414. Apple pie and ice cream
415. Laughter - so much laughter that the tears flowed!
416. New babies
417. Innocence of children
418. Madi saying, "I love you, Grammie."
419. A good nights rest
420. God's Presence in the midst!

Resting in HIM,
Ruthie

The Miracle of New Life!

I love this picture - this sweet little innocent babe being held in these strong, weathered hands!
A miracle for sure!

"Before I formed you in the womb I knew you" Jeremiah 1:5
Oh my! He knows each one of us BEFORE we were conceived! How amazing is that?
Do you marvel at His love for you? His unfathomable compassion and grace?

Scriptures tell us that He even knows the number of hairs on our head!

As we hunker down and wait for Hurricane Earl to hit us with whatever he has on store.... rest in the knowledge that God is in control - focus on the miracles in your life - YOU being the main one. Give Him glory and praise and worship Him.

Blessings on you today!

Resting in HIM ----- *Ruthie*

counting higher....

I'm continuing to count my blessings...

400. Cool, morning air and sunshine

401. Madi saying to Grampie and me, "You guys laugh a lot."

402. Making pickles

403. The house smelling of pickles being made

404. Waking up to a crash of thunder and the rain coming down!

405. The morning after a rainstorm - freshness in the air.

406. Having hubby call me ``Dew``

407. a brand new puppy with those puppy-dog eyes

408. A fan blowing air on me

409. Meeting unknown women and making a connection with them.

Blessing to you, sweet readers!
Ruthie

You Are Enough!

When you hear those words "you are enough" what passes thru your mind?

• Yah! I AM the best = Pride
• No way-not me. I'm not enough; and never will be = Self-condemnation

There is a road between these two - pride and self-condemnation - where one must travel. On this road we have a companion - Jesus Christ. The truth is HE has made us "enough" thru HIS shed blood. When we accept Christ as our Lord and Savior He makes us "enough".

Think for a moment what a "prideful" life looks like - always concerned with self; puffed up; no one is any better than me, and so on. Pride destroys relationships - it is very difficult to spend a lot of time with a prideful person and feel good about yourself or them.

Think for a moment what a "self-condemning" life looks like - always concerned with self; deflated and melancholic; everyone is better than me; I will never measure up to any standards - not even my own. Self-condemnation also destroys relationships - no one wants to continually spend time at a pity-party where there is no joy or love or pleasure found.

The world tells us that aging should be avoided so you must color your hair; take out the wrinkles with botox or surgery; have breast implants to keep the breasts from sagging; have liposuction to keep other parts from getting flabby; workout 3 + hours a day to "stay in shape" - get those abs built up. The world tells us we are never enough when we compare ourselves to all the pictures we see in magazines and on TV etc.

The world tells us we will not have enough success unless we claw our way up the ladder to mega bucks per year; in the process neglecting our spouses and children. We must live in a new house with 2 or more cars in the yard... etc. Financial wealth and possessions will make us enough.

The world tells us that 'contacts' will make us enough - who we know - who we socialize with - will make us enough.

The world says that we must love ourselves, have good self-esteem and never let anyone see that we aren't "perfect" in all things.

I want you to know that YOU ARE ENOUGH!

You are enough reason for God to sacrifice His Son on the cross so that you don't have to face eternal life in hell. God - the creator of all things; the Master of the Wind and Rain and Sun and Moon and Stars loves you - YOU ARE ENOUGH!

John 3:16 - For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.

God, in His goodness, wants you as His child -

John 1: 12 - Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God.

God, in His mercy and grace, forgives the shame and the pride, the self-condemnation and the puffyness - Colossians 3:13; Matthew 6:12; Luke 6:37

I am reminded of the shining faces of the parents of a newborn son - beaming with joy and love - this mom stays at home and loves her children with Christ's love; teaches them; guides them; builds them up in the Lord. She and her hubby have a success in their life beyond measure - never to be measured by the world's standards. THEY ARE ENOUGH! and they know it!

I am reminded of the one who shares of all she has (which is very little), and the one who shares of her bounty - both know they are enough.

I am reminded of myself - who once thought I wasn't enough - I didn't measure up to the worlds standards - but thru God's grace and love I have found that I am enough! Hallelujah! His Word tells me over and over just how much I am enough!

Dear ones, I pray today that you too will find - thru Christ in your life - that YOU ARE ENOUGH! God loves you and desires HIS best for you - that may not be as the world desires but it is so much better. If you haven't already done so, I pray you will give your life over to Him today. If you have done so and find your self living with condemnation and self-pity - talk with a mature Christian who can lead you thru the Truth of God's Word.

YOU ARE ENOUGH!

Blessings on you *Ruthie*

I'm still counting.....

I can't seem to write anything these days - except for all the things I am grateful for! I am continuing to count and record them all... I trust you are doing so as well!

385. Ummmmmm! home-grown free-range chicken and hodge podge with local veggies!
386. The sun as a "fire-ball"
387. Meeting a goal...
388. Ice cream with friends
389. Talking with Madi on the phone.
390. Teddie wanting to play.
391. A crispness in the air
392. No humidity
393. Sharing lunch with a friend
394. Rooster crowing!
395. Cattle "moo-ing"
396. Teddie learning a new command!
397. A clean house
398. Praise music - lifting a heart of praise and worship to HIM
399. A video sent by my S-I-L from his "iPhone" - Madi and the family vacationing in PEI...

Praying for His peace and grace to fill your days!
Resting in Him
Ruthie

Continuing To Count My Blessings!

On this beautiful sunny afternoon -

with the birds singing and Teddie sleeping,

I am thankful for:

• Whispering in Madi's ear of my love for her
• Singing with Madi in the car
• Healing tears
• Quiet
• Hubby's laughter
• My wonderful daughter
• Seeing more than 50 geese in flight!
• A sleeping puppy
• A work of Art - a spider's web!
• Seeing a "home-town" boy make it big with his music.
• A good book.

Always remember to Thank God for His hand in your life! ** Ruthie**