DOGWOOD TREES

If you think I'm going to post about the dogwood legend, you will be disappointed. Since today is Thursday and it has been a very, very long time since I have posted anything to this site, it is time for a Thankful Thursday with JC.

Today I'm thankful for relevation from my maker through the only tree in my back yard. You see recently my husband & I had twenty trees cut from our lot. Leaving only one pecan tree in the front and a tiny, mis-shapen dogwood tree in the back. This weekend the dogwood tree seemed to just explode with blossoms. I've always loved dogwood trees and have heard the legend all my life. It is a legend with no biblical support that I can find. However, it sounds good and the petals do remind me of the cross, the nail prints, the blood, the crown of thorns and the price my Saviour paid for me. Sunday afternoon when I decided to take some pictures of the dogwood, another thought came to me. Maybe, I had heard this before but it seemed new to me somehow.

Have you noticed that the dogwood blossoms always point up to heaven. To take a picture you have to be higher than the limb the blossom is on. I was stunned with amazement. From any angle all the blossoms pointed up. On my way to and from work the past few days I've been studying the dogwood trees I pass. All blossoms face up as if giving praise to their maker. Isn't that AWESOME.... TOO.... COOL.....FOR WORDS.

I crawled underneath the low branches and pointed the camera up into the tree and this is what I got. You know how you ponder things and then a relevation comes.

Later in the day, I was half thinking and half praying. Just talking to the Lord in my head, telling him about the dogwood tree as if he didn't know. I really think I heard the Lord speaking to me. The message was that I should lift my head when I praise and pray so He can see my face. I've always thought it was an act of humility to bow my head and close my eyes when I pray. Now, I'm lifting my face to Heaven in praise, adoration, and humility when I pray. Just felt like sharing this with you today on Thankful Thursday with JC.

What are you thankful for today????????


Father, God, thank You for Your still small voice that speaks so tenderly to me. I long to be obedient to You and bring You honor in all I say and do. Today I lift my hands, I lift my voice, I lift my open heart, I lift my face to You. I pray Father that each person that reads these words will know the sound of Your voice and experience the relevation, joy, grace and love that only comes from You. Amen

An Attitude of Gratitude

"Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise; be thankful unto him, and bless his name." Psalm 100:4

A few days ago a precious friend of mine posted the following on face book:

"and my God loves me enough to trust me with an unbeliveably uncertain last year and it was a gloriously painful gift." Am I thankful? to the point of tears.

Just prior to this statement she expressed thankfulness because "my sister is hearing the heartbeat of our precious new niece/nephew today" "my family loves me" and some other "good things".

Friends, I ask myself, "Am I thankful that God loves me enough to trust me with painful, uncertain situations?" Yes, I am, when I receive all things concerning me, as a precious grace gift straight from my Father's loving hands. Now I have typed myself into the Glory Zone again!!!

"Father, I enter your presence in awe, knowing that your love for me and my blog friends, is tailored just for us right where we are in life today. I chose to rest in that love today. In Jesus Loving Name, I pray." Amen

The Way He Sees me

"and in Him you have been made complete." Col. 2: 10

I get so excited when God speaks directly to my heart. A few days ago I set out to pick myself a bouquet of flowers out of my zinnia bed. A precious friend had given me a very colorful teapot for my birthday and that teapot was the vase for my bouquet. I needed just the right color yellow, orange and pink blossoms for a perfect bouquet. As I was picking on one side of the bed I spotted a beautiful yellow blossom on the other side so I go over to pick that special one. As I got close to it I dicovered that a few of the petals were missing and I said to that blossom," Oh, you are not as pretty as I thought", and then just left that blossom and went on to another one. Along the way I cut off a few dead blossoms and threw them away!!! (you know where I am going with this, don't you?)

Yes, God spoke directly to my heart. "My Princess, you always look complete to Me and I will never throw you away. I see you complete in My Son. You are always beautiful in my sight."

My precious blog friends, He sees you the same way...go ahead and smile...it's OK!!!

"Father, I thank you for loving and cherishing me the way you do. Make your love real to each person reading this post today. In Jesus complete Name, I pray."Amen

Happy 4th of July

God Bless America!!!

Have a Happy 4th of July holiday....enjoy Jesus as you enjoy your family, friends and food. All are God's gift to us.

Father, you truly will bless America as your children humble ourselves and pray and turn from our wicked ways. Make your presence known in a special way to our troops serving their country both at home and on foreign soil. In Jesus Name, I pray." Amen

Tuesdays with Tiz

Joy or Happiness

"Rejoice in the Lord Always and again I say rejoice!" Phillipians 4:4

What is Joy? Can I always experience Joy as God instructs me to do?

Joy is a fruit of the Spirit so every believer in Jesus Christ has Joy. We have the kind of Joy that convinces unbelievers that Christ can make a difference in the life of a believer. Joy is not a good feeling or comfortable surroundings. Joy is a Person...Joy is Jesus!!!

"Joy is the flag flown over the castle of our heart announcing the King is in residence."1 That statement makes me all happy inside!!! Is the flag of Joy flying over the castle of my heart?? Yes, because the King is in residence!!! Yes, I have typed myself into the Glory Zone again!!

Happiness is dependent on happenings so even as believers we are not always "happy" but we can know Joy in the midst of unhappy circumstances. Do I hear a Praise?

"Father, I praise you as the Joy of my heart. I thank you that You are my Joy. I pray that each person reading this post today will experience You as their Joy today no matter what is going on in their life. In Jesus Joyous Name, I pray." Amen

1. Chuck Swindoll, "Laugh Again, a study of Phillipians"

Tuesday with Tiz

Heaven and Hell

My church has been in a Sunday through Wednesday revival this week.

Tuesday night our speaker spoke on Heaven. Oh, friends, the description was so vivid you could just bask in the beauty of Heaven. I could taste the heavenly food and smell the heavenly flowers. Heaven, a real place where there is no pain or suffering of any kind.

And then Wednesday night he spoke on Hell!!! Friends, the description was so vivid you could smell the smoke and hear the cries of the occupants. Hell, a real place where there is nothing but pain and suffering of all kinds.

As I have thought about those two sermons, I ask myself the question, "Did I receive Jesus Christ as my personal Savior so I could go to Heaven or so I could avoid Hell?" My answer is "No". If there was not a Heaven to go to or a Hell to stay out of, I would still want to be a Believer in Jesus Christ. He is my life!!!. Heaven will be my future glorious home, meanwhile, I will walk the Victorious Grace Walk with Him day by day!!!! Do I hear a praise?

"Father, I praise You for who You are. I thank you that as a Believer in Jesus Christ, I have the assurance of Heaven as my final destination, plus, I have You as my Life today. I pray that everyone reading this post today will have the same assurance. I also pray that they will experience YOU in their daily walk. In Jesus precious Name, I pray. Amen"

Tuesdays with Tiz

He is Risen

"He is not here, for He has risen, just as He said." Matthew 28:6a

The words of a great old hymn, which we sang in church at Easter time, have gone round and round in my head today..."I serve a risen Savior"

The chorus goes like this:

He lives, He lives, Christ Jesus lives today!
He walks with me and talks with me along life's narrow way.
He lives, He lives, salvation to impart!
You ask me how I know He lives?
He lives within my heart.

(if you know this song, stop and sing it...you can google it...music and all)

Praise God, we serve a RISEN Savior. This risen Savior is ALIVE...This risen Savior has given us His Life...This risen Savior is all we need to experience the abundant, victorious life He purchased for us. Glory!!!

Enjoy Easter...Enjoy Jesus because He enjoys you!!!

"Father, I praise you for giving us a Risen Savior. I pray that each person reading this post today will enjoy and rest in you as they celebrate Easter. I thank you for the blessing of celebrating the death, burial and resurrection of your Son. In The Name of our Risen Savior, I pray." Amen