Memories.....

We have Easter flowers blooming in our yard that came from my Papaw and Mamaw's old home place.  Pappy dug them up the year after Mamaw passed away and this is the first year they've bloomed for us.  I picked a few and placed them in a mug Pappy bought me for Valentine's Day, along with some sweet smelling hyacinths that came in a basket of flowers I got many years ago from Pappy and also from my Aunt Katherine. 
It's so sweet to think back with fondness about those special people in our life!!!

How about you?  

Do you have flowers growing in your yard that you "inherited", or were a gift, that remind you of a precious loved one, or a friend?!?

Psalm 143:5

I remember the days of old.
    I ponder all your great works
    and think about what you have done.

Breathing in Jesus,

Deb

SONday Morning Song - Count On Me.....

I have a best friend!!!

She's ALWAYS there exactly when I need her.

She listens when I whine and cry and complain.....

and I try to do the same for her!!!
We laugh together, too!!!
(although we have to be careful 'cause we don't want to get her in trouble on her job.....;-) 

We both know that God totally ordained our friendship.
We have so much in common.....
it's like we were cut from the same bolt of cloth!!!

One night last week she sent me this song in an e-mail!

Like I said......

she's my bestie.....

and I love her bunches!!!

Proverbs 27:17

Iron sharpeneth iron; 

so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend.

Breathing in Jesus,

Deb

Letting go.....

It's absolutely awesome the mercy and grace that God extends to us. I've been struggling with something for a very long time. Some days, I think I've got it conquered, then whammy....it hits me full force.  Not sure what happened yesterday.....I wasn't even praying about the situation.....but all of a sudden....bending down in the foyer to adjust the heat on the little infrared heater....I felt it leave me.  It was like a weight had been lifted from my shoulders.  You see, I'm a bit of a worry-wort....and a deep thinker....way too deep of a thinker!  And, although, yes I'd prayed a lot about this situation....and gave it to God (or did I?).....somehow I thought He probably needed my help to come up with a solution!!!
LOL!!!
There really wasn't a solution.....
other than to "let go and let God"!!!

A short time later, Jess called about something that had happened previously in the day and she commented that I was handling it well!!!

I'll let y'all in on a little secret.....

it totally wasn't me.....
remember, I'm Ms. Worry Wort.....

it was the Holy Spirit letting me know.....

God's got this!!!

Thank you, Lord, for your patience with me!!!

Breathing in God,

Deb

Friday Foto.....

Be still my heart!

Have you ever seen a more handsome 8 month old?

Even his shirt tells it like it is!!!

Thank you, Lord, for the blessing of all four of our grand's!!!

Hope y'all have an awesome weekend.....

and remember to keep on.....

Breathing in Jesus,

Deb

Turbans.....

Answer to Tuesday's Trivia Question:

Daniel 3:19-21

Nebuchadnezzar was so furious with Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego that his face became distorted with rage. He commanded that the furnace be heated seven times hotter than usual.  Then he ordered some of the strongest men of his army to bind Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego and throw them into the blazing furnace.   So they tied them up and threw them into the furnace, fully dressed in their pants, turbans, robes, and other garments.

I remembered this question from many years ago.
I did the bulletin at the church we attended at the time and asked a different question each week along with the answer to the previous week's question!!!

So.....
did any of you find the answer?

Breathing in Jesus,

Deb

Wednesday's Word - Kindness.....

Breathing in Jesus,

Deb

Tuesday Trivia.....

How about some Bible trivia?

Where in the Bible is it mentioned that men were wearing hats?

(hint: the word used was another term for hat)

If you know the answer, 

send me a personal message at......

wiseoldowldesigns@comcast.net!

Answer on Thursday!!!

Breathing in Jesus,

Deb

Taming my tongue.....

I follow Smoky Mountain Christian Village on Facebook and they post some of the neatest little "signs".
This is one I saw one day last week.....

Then, the very next morning, my Jesus Calling Devotional had this to say.....

"Pause before responding to people or situations, 

giving My Spirit space to act through you.

Hasty words and actions leave no room for Me;

this is atheistic living.

I want to inhabit all your moments ----

gracing your thoughts, words, and behavior."

But did I listen?
Uh....not very well.
I'm still a work in progress!!!

Psalm 141:3

Set a guard over my mouth, Lord;
    keep watch over the door of my lips.

Breathing in Jesus,

Deb

SONday Morning Smile.....

I love my Kindle.....

(thanks again to my precious friend, Dawn)

and I love to read books on my Kindle.

But.....

for me personally.....

I cannot join those I see at church using their tablet,

 or cell phones to read scripture from.

Maybe I'm an old fogey, or behind the times.....

but, I still carry my Bible to church with me.

How 'bout y'all?!?

2 Timothy 3:16

All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives.  It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right.

Breathing in Jesus,

Deb

Friday Fotos.....

Every now and then Pappy and I will get lunch on the way home from church and stop at Carter Park and have a little picnic.  That's where this picture was taken.  It was a bit cool that day and we ended up eating our lunch in the car!

And, y'all know how much I love Rocky Valley.

I stopped in the middle of the road one day recently and took this picture.

It's an old farmhouse down at the base of "Piney Mountain".

What I loved most about it was the clothes waving in the wind on the clothesline!  

(click on pictures to enlarge)

HOPE everybody has an awesome spring weekend!!!

Breathing in Jesus,

Deb

Thought Provoking Thursday.....

If you're a blogger.....
why do you blog?
What prompted you to start a blog?
What types of blogs do you like to read?
Do you have more than one blog?
Do you sometimes feel like this little sign says.....
to blog, or not to blog.....
that is the question?

Breathing in Jesus,

Deb

Wednesday's Word - Valuable.....

Breathing in Jesus,

Deb

Ouch.....

I looked out the door this morning and saw that a rather large tree limb had fallen out of the tulip poplar in our front yard and landed right smack dab on top of the jonquils blooming underneath it!  

Although those flowers are beautiful.....

just hanging out underneath the tree blooming.....

minding their own business.....

they were still the "victim" of that tree limb falling out of the tree above them.

I was reminded of this verse of scripture.....

None of us are exempt from trials and troubles.....

but the key is to just keep on.....

Breathing in Jesus,

Deb

The Legend of the Shamrock.....

Long ago, when Ireland was the land of Druids, there was a great Bishop, Patrick by name, who came to teach the word of God throughout the country. This St. Patrick—for he was indeed a saint—was well loved everywhere he went. One day, however, a group of his followers came to him and admitted that it was difficult for them to believe in the doctrine of the Holy Trinity.  St. Patrick reflected a moment and then, stooping down, he plucked a leaf from the shamrock and held it before them, bidding them to behold the living example of the "Three-in-One." St. Patrick used the shamrock to explain the concept of the Holy Trinity of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. The simple beauty of this explanation convinced these skeptics, and from that day the shamrock has been revered throughout Ireland.

(courtesy of Irish Blessings)

Happy St. Patrick's Day, Sweet Readers!!!

Breathing in Jesus,

Deb

SONday Morning Song - Do Something.....

Pappy likes this song.....
so we're back to a song this week.....
just for him!!!

Breathing in Jesus,

Deb

Friday Foto.....

What's that old saying?

If you don't like the weather now, just wait 24 hours.

That's exactly what it's like living in East Tennessee!!!

We had absolutely beautiful weather last weekend....

highs actually got up into the lower 70's!!!

Then, the bottom fell out and the temperature dropped about 40 degrees....

and this is what our beautiful Smokey Mountains looked like yesterday!!!

(photo credit Ron and Sandy Giddis 

WVLT Volunteer TV Facebook Page)

Psalm 148:7-13
Praise the Lord from the earth,
    you creatures of the ocean depths,
  fire and hail, snow and clouds, 
    wind and weather that obey him,
  mountains and all hills,
    fruit trees and all cedars,
  wild animals and all livestock,
    small scurrying animals and birds,
  kings of the earth and all people,
    rulers and judges of the earth,
 young men and young women,
    old men and children.
Let them all praise the name of the Lord.
    For his name is very great;
    his glory towers over the earth and heaven!

Breathing in Jesus,

Deb

I am not ashamed.....

So....I was driving down the Interstate yesterday listening to a CD that Pappy had in his truck and found myself really worshiping.....

singing along.....

raising my hand up 

(one hand....had to be careful driving).....

when the thought crossed my mind that I wondered what the people behind me, or passing me, thought might be "wrong" with me.....

and this verse of scripture immediately came to mind.....

And, when I searched to find that verse, I also found this little "sign".....

So, Sweet Readers.....

I'm here to announce....

I.AM.NOT.ASHAMED 

of the gospel of JESUS CHRIST!!!

Breathing in Jesus,

Deb

Wednesday's Word - Wait.....

Breathing in Jesus,

Deb

The least of these.....

Sometimes, it's just the little things.....

"the least of these".....

that brighten our day!!!

Since a pretty day was predicted this past Saturday,

Pappy and I planned on doing some work in the yard.

Before I got started, he suggested that I run.....

okay drive.....

(old, overweight, bad kneed Nannie's don't run).....

to the local Dollar General to pick up a couple of things we needed.

(and a "couple of things" turned into 3 bags full, plus a gallon of milk)

I was already dressed to work outside, 

so I was one hot mess.....
(which, by the way, doesn't mean I was looking HOT, but quite the opposite).....

hair tied up, visor on, wearing sweats.

Well, wouldn't you know it, a neighbor was there shopping, too.

She was in line ahead of me and paying no attention, until I spoke to her!

As us girls sometimes do, I apologized for my appearance!

We chatted while she was checking out and continued to talk while the young girl 

(have you noticed the older we get the younger everybody else looks?).....

okay, I'm getting off subject.....

(another sign of old age).....

but anyway, we chatted and as the girl bagged up the things I purchased,

my sweet neighbor took each bag off the rack and placed them into my buggy.

That totally touched my heart!!!

And, made me wonder.....

did I look THAT bad!!!

(just kidding....sorta)

Her "good deed" reminded me of this verse of scripture:

Matthew 25:40

“And the King will say,

 ‘I tell you the truth, 

when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters,

 you were doing it to me!’

Thank you, Ms. Carla, for your kindness!!!

May you be blessed!!!

Breathing in Jesus,

Deb

Have a Great......

Happy Monday, Sweet Readers....

and hope the rest of your week, month, year.....

and life.....

is AWESOME!!!

I BELIEVE it will be if we just keep on.....

Breathing in Jesus,

Deb

SONday Morning Word.....

I've felt a nudge to start changing up my SONday morning posts occasionally!!!

I've seen this quote by C.S. Lewis all over the place in the last few weeks.....

so you know what that means, right?!?!

I do BELIEVE God's speaking a word to my heart!!!

James 5:16

Confess your faults one to another, 

and pray one for another, 

that ye may be healed. 

The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.

Breathing in Jesus,

Deb

A sign of spring.....

Snapped a pic of daffodils blooming beside the tree in our front yard!

Spring can't be too far off....

can it?

Song of Solomon 2:11-12

Look, the winter is past,
    and the rains are over and gone.
  The flowers are springing up,
    the season of singing birds has come,
    and the cooing of turtledoves fills the air.

Breathing in Jesus,

Deb

Friday Foto.....

(click on photo to enlarge)

A few weeks ago, on a sunny, warm Sunday afternoon, Pappy and I took a little drive up to Douglas Dam.  This picture was taken from the overlook. I love how it shows the dam and Douglas Lake and also the majestic Great Smoky Mountains in the background.  If you look really close, you can also see the American flag flying at the top of the dam. What a privilege to live in such a beautiful part of the country!!!

Psalm 98:7-9

Let the sea and all that fills it,
the world and those who live in it, resound.
  Let the rivers clap their hands;
let the mountains shout together for joy
 before the Lord,
for He is coming to judge the earth.
He will judge the world righteously
and the peoples fairly.

Breathing in Jesus,

Deb

I Give Up.....

(this is going to be my go-to verse of scripture during Lent)

Although my "religion" doesn't actually practice Lent, I think it's something that each of us should do as a child of God (my personal opinion).  I prayed about what to give up during this season and several things came to mind, but I didn't really feel in my heart that God was asking me to give up those things.  

Then, I received this in an e-mail yesterday and realized these are some things that I can give up and would be pleasing to God!!!

Things to Give Up for Lent 

(and the rest of the year, too)

  GIVE UP grumbling! 

Instead, "In everything give thanks." 

Constructive criticism is OK, but "moaning, groaning, and complaining" are not Christian disciplines.

 GIVE UP 10 to 15 minutes in bed! 

Instead, use that time in prayer.

  GIVE UP looking at other people's worst points. 

Instead, concentrate on their BEST points for a change. 

We all have faults. 

It will be easier for people overlook OUR shortcomings when we overlook THEIRS first.

  GIVE UP speaking unkindly.

 Instead, let your speech be generous and understanding.

It costs so little to say something kind and uplifting.

 Check that sharp tongue at the door.

  GIVE UP your hatred of anyone or anything! 

Instead, learn the discipline of love.

"Love covers a multitude of sins."

 GIVE UP your worries and anxieties! 

Instead, trust God with them. 

Anxiety is spending emotional energy on something we can do nothing about...like tomorrow! 

Live for today and let God's grace be sufficient.

 GIVE UP TV one evening a week!

Instead, visit someone who is lonely or sick. 

There are those who are isolated by illness or age. 

Give someone a precious gift, your time!

 GIVE UP buying anything but essentials for yourself! 

Instead, give the money to God. 

The money you would spend on the luxuries could help someone meet their basic needs. 

We are called to be stewards of God's bounty, not consumers.

(Inspired by Tim)

Breathing in Jesus,

Deb

Wednesday's Word - Lent.....

Lent:
The 40 weekdays from Ash Wednesday until Easter observed by Christians as a season of fasting and penitence in preparation for Easter.

Breathing in Jesus,

Deb

Thankful Tuesday.....

I went for some blood work yesterday.

Pappy isn't feeling well, so he was able to take me.

For that I was so grateful, since ice/snow was in the forecast,

and I was so dreading driving myself.

There are two different people who take blood at my doctor's office.

One is a fellow who is absolutely awesome.....

the other is a lady who may, or may not hit the vein on the first try.....

and, I'm difficult to stick.

There were probably 6 people called in ahead of me.

Each time the lady came to the door and called their name that it was their turn.  

When my name was called.....

it was the fellow who is so good.

And, I couldn't believe it.....

I did not even feel the needle go into my arm!!

Ain't God good?

Oh, yes He is!!!

Thank you, Lord, for smiling on me.....

each and every single day.....

and I'm so sorry for the times that I completely overlook that it was You!!!

Breathing in Jesus,

Deb