Country Church Music - From the Heart

Greetings dear friends and family,

For the past few weeks our grandsons and I have been watching the caterpillar we have in a clear container go through many changes. It ate, grew, and shed its skin several times. Last weekend it slowly made its way up the side. Later when we looked at it, it had made a little silk like mat. The caterpillar has eight pairs of legs yet it only used one pair to attach itself to the mat.

It hung there upside down for about a day in the shape of the letter J. The next day I watched in amazement as it shed its skin one last time. It hung there twisting and turning as it worked off the old skin. All that was holding it in place was that little mat. Soon the old skin fell off and underneath was the chrysalis. Inside which the caterpillar will transform into a butterfly.

What are we attached to? Do we attach ourselves to the things of this world or do we by faith attach ourselves to the hope we have through Jesus.

Jesus holds onto us even tighter as we face the struggles in our lives. He will not let go no matter how much we may twist and turn. His love will hold us firmly in place as we cling to him in faith till that day when he shall come again.

Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. Hebrews 11:1

Let us pray: Loving God, fill us with a faith so deep that no matter what we may face we are able to feel the power of your love holding us tightly. Help us to share our faith and your love with others so they too can have the hope that comes from believing in you. In your name we pray. Amen.

With love from the heart,

Diane

Greetings dear friends and family,

As I have sat here pondering what to share I noticed a card I have with the word blessings on the front of it.

I could share with you all of the blessings in my life. But instead I encourage you to pause and count the many blessings in your own lives as I count mine. And then let’s give thanks and praise to God for them.

Praise the Lord! How good it is to sing praises to our God; for he is gracious, and a song of praise is fitting. Psalm 147:1

Let us pray: Praise God, from whom all blessings flow; Praise him, all creatures here below; Praise him above, ye heavenly host; Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen.

Have a blessed week.

With love from the heart,

Diane

Greetings dear friends and family,

This past spring two flowers emerged in one of our flowerbeds. At first we were unsure what they were. Soon it became clear that they were milkweed plants. As many of you know, the Monarch Butterfly is dependent upon the milkweed for survival. Several Monarchs have found the plants. I’m hopeful that some will eventually lay their eggs there so we can watch the larvae feed off the leaves and begin the process of transforming into a butterfly.

At our baptisms a transformation began. We became heirs of the kingdom and dependent upon Christ for survival. He is the bread of life. He gave his life upon the cross so that one day our transformations will be complete. Thanks be to God!

I am the living bread that came down from heaven. Whoever eats of this bread will live forever; and the bread that I will give for the life of the world is my flesh. John 6:51

Let us pray: Heavenly Father, you have claimed us as your own. At times we forget that and become lost and feel all alone. We hunger for your mercy, love, grace, and peace.  Feed us with the bread of life so that we may be transformed not only now but for all eternity. In your name we pray. Amen.

With love from the heart,

Diane