Author Archives: admin

Are You in God’s Hands?

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A couple of weeks ago as I was on my way home from church, I noticed a question written on the back of a white car as it was passing me: “Are you in good hands?” Allstate Insurance was also written underneath this question.

As I thought about these words, I began thinking about being in God’s hands. Jeremiah 18:5-6 says, “Then the word of the Lord came to me; ‘O house of Israel, can I not do with you as this potter does?’ declares the Lord. Like clay in the hand of the potter, so are you in my hand, O house of Israel.” We are formed and shaped daily in the potter’s hands; created in His image and likeness.

There is a song by Kathy Troccoli entitled, “My Life Is In Your Hands” and the words of first verse and the chorus are as follows:

Life can be so good
Life can be so hard
Never knowing what each day
Will bring to where you are
Sometimes I forget
And sometimes I can’t see
That whatever comes my way
You’ll be with me

My Life is in Your hands
My heart is in your keeping
I’m never without hope
Not when my future is with You

What a wonderful testament to God’s faithfulness because our future is in the one who holds our hands in His.

Another insurance company’s slogan is a jingle: “Nationwide is on your side.” Along with being in God’s hands, we also have God on our side. He is our comforter, our protector, our healer, and our provider in our time(s) of need. His Word tells us that He will never leave us nor forsake us. Just knowing that He is always with us as we go through various circumstances in our lives is comforting to the heart and soul. He is our hope, our joy, our peace, our confidant, our loving Father!

As we go throughout our day, let us remember that we are continually in God’s hands and that He is always on our side as long as we continue to trust in the promises in His Word.

Blessings,
Yvonne

Nana’s Corner: The Baby Shower

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On Saturday, October 4, we had a baby shower for my daughter at the Tea Mansion in Bellwood. The theme was whimsical woodland animals. For most of the summer months, I hand painted the flowerpot centerpieces, made up the tablet favors for the adults and animal masks for the children who attended, purchased various whimsical woodland animals to use with the flowerpot centerpieces, and created an art print for everyone to sign. When the guests arrived, they selected a victorian-style hat to wear during the three-hour event.

The menu consisted of tea sandwiches, scones with clotted cream, two kinds of tea, white lemon-filled cake, and chips, nuts, and homemade chocolates in various baby shapes from MIDS Candies. Delicious!

Games and prizes were provided by my daughter’s enthusiastic sister-in-law. Everyone also had an opportunity to write down their well wishes to “Baby Bee” (my daughter and her husband do not want to know the sex of the baby until birth).

Gifts were unwrapped followed by lots of ooh’s and ah’s from everyone. Four additional baskets (candles, crafts, writing, and coffee/tea baskets) were awarded to the individuals who had the four special numbers called out during the opening of the gifts. They were all delighted at their selections.

Three hours passed quickly, but the sounds of laughter, excitement, fun, and just a time of relaxation of “getting away from it all” was a blessing to all who attended. The children definitely enjoyed coloring the animal masks and looking through the gift shop.

Yes, the baby shower is over but the memories from that time will live on as the beginning of what is to come with the birth of a precious God-given gift which is to happen within the next few weeks.

Today, I want to give thanks to my daughter’s mother-in-law, Cindy, and her daughter, Chelsea, for helping me put together a most blessed event. Thank you so much for all your patience, love, and support for the past 3-4 months while working on the details of the baby shower.

Blessings,
Yvonne

Book Review: “Breathing Room” by LeeAna Tankersley

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With so much stress in our lives today on a daily basis, LeeAna Tankersley, author of “Breathing Room”, emphasizes that we should not allow outside forces such as stress to control our lives, and that we need to take responsibility for ourselves.

With an upbeat and positive attitude, Ms. Tankersley shares that being at peace with your inner self and discovering your “soul voice” are very important components in finding your “true self.” Creativity is a big part of who we are; and when we are creative, it gives us a sense of being one with our mind, body, and spirit.

Straight forward, candid, and filled with personal stories of her own struggles from time to time on her journey in life, she encourages us to seek the Creator, the one who gives us grace throughout our life’s experiences.

“Breathing Room” is thought-provoking for anyone who struggles with feelings of low self-esteem and inadequacies. It is truly a breath of fresh air and a worth-while read.

Blessings,
Yvonne

Nana’s Corner: Sharing thoughts on becoming a new Grandmother

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I just returned from being in Virginia where I spent time in my daughter’s home while she and her husband attended a wedding out of state. She is approximately 7-1/2 months pregnant with their first baby and our first grandchild. Anticipation and excitement at this prospect is running high.

The night before they left on their trip, we talked about the baby’s room: what color(s) to paint the walls in October when I head back down for a few days, what artwork she wants me to paint on the walls (i.e.tree, animals), and how to arrange the furniture in the small bedroom. I smiled and nodded but realized that she had changed her mind again about the colors in the room since the last time we talked. Tonight as we were talking on the phone was no exception–the colors had changed yet again. I will give an update on this at a later time.

Last week I found a little book entitled “Grand Moments for Grandmothers” by Tina Krause. It is filled with inspirational quotations, scriptures, and devotional readings especially for grandmothers. As it gets closer to the date of my daughter’s delivery, I am sure that these words of encouragement and inspirational thoughts will serve as a guideline to help me be the grandmother that the Lord intended for me to be and to enjoy all the wonderful moments that He has in store for both my husband and myself as we become grandparents.

Psalm 78:2, 4 (NIV) says, “I will utter hidden things from old…We will not hide them from their children; we will tell the next generation the praiseworthy deeds of the Lord, his power, and the wonders he has done. May our lives exemplify all the good things that the Lord has done in our lives so that we can pass them along to our children and grand children.

Blessings,
Yvonne

Reading for October: “A Simple Act of Gratitude” by John Kralik

Scriptures to Live by: Praise and Worship

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Praise: “To say or write good things about (someone or something); to express approval of (someone or something); and to express thanks to or love and respect for (God).” Merriam-Webster

Worship: “The act of showing respect and love for a god, especially praying with other people who believe in the same god; the act of worshipping God or a god.” Merriam-Webster

Praise and worship go hand-in-hand and these terms have been used down through the ages and are still being used in our churches today. There are many ways to worship, such as:

On our knees or in our prayer closets;
With raised hands as we sing his praises, and/or
Sitting quietly before God listening for His still, small voice.

There is no right or wrong way to worship, but we are called to worship and praise God as shown in His Holy Word.

Exodus 23:25-26: “Worship the Lord your God, and His blessing will be on your food and water. I will take away sickness from among you and none will miscarry or be barren in your land. I will give you a full life span.”

Isaiah 25:1: “O Lord, you are my God; I will exalt you and praise your name, for in perfect faithfulness you have done marvelous things, things planned long ago.”

John 4:24: “God is Spirit and His worshippers must worship in spirit and in truth.”

Psalm 68:4: “Sing to God, sing praise to his name, extol him who rides on the clouds–his name is the Lord–and rejoice before him.”

Psalm 71:8: “My mouth is filled with your praise, declaring your splendor all day long.”

Psalm 150:1-6: “Praise the Lord. Praise God in his sanctuary, praise him in his mighty heavens. Praise him for his acts of power; praise him for his surpassing greatness. Praise him with the sounding of the trumpet; praise him with the harp and lire; praise him with tambourine and dancing; praise him with the strings and flute; praise him with the clash of cymbals; praise him with resounding cymbals. Let everything that has breath praise the Lord.”

Psalm 63:1: “O God, you are my God, earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you, in a dry and weary land where there is no water.”

Psalm 103:1-5: “Praise the Lord, O my soul; all my inmost being praise his holy name. Praise the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion; who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.”

Romans 14:11: “‘As surely as I live,’ says the Lord, ‘every knee will bow before me; every tongue will confess to God.'”

Psalm 42:11: “Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God for I will praise Him, my Savior and my God.”

Let His praise continually be on our lips as we worship Him in Spirit and in truth.

Blessings,
Yvonne