Heart Choices: 2010-06-06 -->

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My Birthday Card to Greg


I just wanted to share the card I made for my husband Greg's birthday yesterday.  It was such fun to do and ...he loved it!

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TSMSS ~ Before the Morning



It's Then Sings My Soul Saturday when I link up with Amy of Signs, Miracles and Wonders.

I had no choice.  I had to post this song today.   I heard Josh Wilson sing it on the radio only once but I couldn't get it out of my head all week.  Has that ever happened to you?



BEFORE THE MORNING LYRICS - JOSH WILSON

Do you wonder why you have to,
feel the things that hurt you,
if there's a God who loves you,
where is He now?

Maybe, there are things you can't see
and all those things are happening
to bring a better ending
some day, somehow, you'll see, you'll see

Chorus:

Would dare you, would you dare, to believe,
that you still have a reason to sing,
'cause the pain that you've been feeling,
can't compare to the joy that's coming

So hold on, you got to wait for the light
press on, just fight the good fight
because the pain you've been feeling,
it's just the dark before the morning

My friend, you know how this all ends
and you know where you're going,
you just don't know how you get there
so just say a prayer.

And hold on, cause there's good who love God,
life is not a snapshot, it might take a little time,
but you'll see the bigger picture

Repeat chorus

Once you feel the way of glory,
all your pain will fade to memory
once you feel the way of glory,
all your pain will fade to memory
memory, memory, yeah

Repeat chorus

Com'n, you got to wait for the light
press on, just fight the good fight
because the pain you've been feeling,
it's just the hurt before the healing
the pain you've been feeling,
just the dark before the morning
before the morning, yeah, yeah
before the morning

Don't you just love those lyrics?

Blessings and love,

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Friday Funnies ~ Kids Say and Do the Funniest Things




It's Friday Funnies and I'm linking up a bit late with Kim of Homesteader's Heart.  But I guess late is better than never and ...I needed a good laugh today.

Kids say and do the funniest things!

My friend Lisa always has a handful of quotes from her grandson Jackson.


Lisa wrote on her Facebook profile about the latest "Jacksonism" she heard at lunch.

Jackson: "I'll have to be strong when I get married."
Mah-Mah: "Oh, really? Why will you have to be strong?"
Jackson: "To carry the bride to the house. You know, stuff that people do like that."

The boy is planning ahead. ;-)

And here's another "Jacksonian" after Lisa picked him up from Day Two of Vacation Bible School.

Jackson: "Mah-Mah, I had a good day today. No problems, no issues."

She's thinking that she ought to attend VBS, too. ;-)

My brother Steve and sister-in-law Barb found this photo of my niece Kristin.  They scanned it and added it to her Facebook page. 

Of course, all of those photos are fair game for Aunt Debbie, right?

Kristin was dressing up in her mom's wedding gown.  Isn't she adorable?  I think she was practicing for the big day.


Kristin is now engaged to Kevin.  This is one of their engagement photos.  Aren't they cute together?

Kristin has grown up but I still think she's adorable.  I know she will make a beautiful bride.

Don't forget to smile and laugh.  It's good for the heart and soul.

Blessings and love,



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Friday Photo Flashback


Friday Photo Flashback
 It's Friday Photo Flashback when I link up with Alicia of More Than Words.  We share a photo from pre-digital days. 

I have so many photos in boxes and I'm slowly scanning them into my computer.

This photo probably dates back to 1997 or close to that time.  It's my husband Greg and me.  My parents were visiting from Florida so we took them to dinner at Mancuso's restaurant in Scottsdale.   Unfortunately, the restaurant is no longer open.  I loved their ambiance and Northern Italian food. 

I wish I could locate the photo I had of our whole party.  We were so happy that Greg's mom joined us for this occasion too.

By the way, it's Greg's birthday today so I wanted to wish him a happy birthday on Heart Choices.  Love you sweetie!

Blessings and love,

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Word Filled Wednesday ~ My Rock


It's Word Filled Wednesday when we share God's Word through a photo combined with a verse from the Bible.

I took this photo of the Lone Cypress along 17 Mile Drive.  Carmel, California is one of my favorite places to visit.  I love to see the  beauty of God's creation.  The ocean waves crash against the rocks.  It's a beautiful sight to see.

This photo brought to mind the 2 Samuel verse.  God is my rock and my fortress.  I'm learning to take refuge in Him ...through the storms of life.

Visit Internet Cafe Devotions for more Word Filled Wednesday.

Blessings and love,


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God is My Rock and Fortress



In the midst of uncertainty, I choose to trust God.
In the midst of anxiety, I choose to remember His promises.
In the midst of sadness, I choose joy.


Studying Ann Spangler's book "Praying the Names of God" has been such a help to me during this time of ongoing challenges.  As I realize how big my God is, I know He is faithful, my Rock, my fortress and protector.  

Nothing is impossible for the Sovereign Lord and ...I choose to keep my focus on Him.

I want to thank you for your kind comments on my previous post "Do You Ever Feel Overwhelmed?"

I'm so thankful for the blogging community who is always there to offer words of encouragement and at times correction.  I am a committed life long learner.  I've not arrived and have much to learn so that I may continue to grow more like Jesus.  If it takes trials to refine me, then I want to be open to that too.

I am less overwhelmed today!  :) Woo hoo!

Sending blog hugs to each one of you!

Blessings and love,

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Do You Ever Feel Overwhelmed?


(Google Images)

Do you ever feel overwhelmed and tired?  That's what emotional stress can do to a person ...including me.  This picture is how I've been feeling lately.

My friend Kathleen of Sassy Granny had invited me to join her for church yesterday.  Palm Valley Church was celebrating their first services in their new facility; a very large auditorium like building in Goodyear, Arizona. 

I almost backed out because of how I was feeling.  But at the last minute, I elected to go. 

I'm so glad I attended this service.  There was a sense of excitement in the air at Palm Valley Church.  Everyone was smiling and very welcoming to me.  I spotted Kathleen in the crowd.  

How could I possibly miss Kathleen's smile?  She was like an angel in white as she took me in her arms and gave me a hug.  I don't know about you but that means so much to me when I'm feeling so weary.

We sat with Kathleen's home group and I was warned that it might be loud.  The music started playing and a young man was rapping.  (You can see this first song for yourself, if you click here.)  As I looked up at the screens, the words he was saying were giving glory to God.  The style may not have been what I'm used to in church, but I have to say there was standing room only and this was only one service out of three.  I loved seeing all of the young people singing to the Lord, no matter how loud this Southern Baptist gal might think.  :)

Have you ever gone to a church service and felt like the pastor was speaking directly to you?


Pastor Greg was talking at me or at least that's how I felt.  Can you guess what the title of his sermon was?

When You're Feeling Overwhelmed

I think God has a sense of humor.

He was preaching out of Daniel 6.  Daniel had been taken into captivity from Israel as a young boy when the Babylonians invaded.  Fast forward to years later and now there was a Mede king named Darius in charge.  He promoted Daniel as one of three administrators to rule throughout the Kingdom.  Daniel  distinguished himself among these administrators and you know what always seems to happen.  They were jealous and tried to find fault with him.

They tricked King Darius into signing a law.  Anyone who prayed to any god or man other than the king in the next 30 days would be thrown into the lion's den.  Daniel was in the habit of spending time with God.  He prayed three times a day in his upstairs room.  This was something he did on a daily basis.  Despite the new law, Daniel continued in his usual habit.

Daniel was arrested and thrown into the lion's den.

Daniel trusted God ...no matter what.

I can only imagine how I'd be feeling in the midst of ferocious lions licking their lips staring at me.  Oh my; talk about feeling overwhelmed.  (Somehow my situation doesn't seem so earth shattering by comparison.)

I'm sure you know the end of this Bible story.  God shut the lions' mouths so they couldn't hurt Daniel.  The king was so glad when he saw that Daniel hadn't been harmed.  And the best part was that King Darius now issued a decree that in his kingdom the people must fear and reverence the God of Daniel.  He acknowledged and saw for himself how the One Almighty Living God rescued Daniel and had power over the lions.

In the midst of feeling overwhelmed and challenged from so many fronts, I just pray that I would be a Daniel. 

Pastor Greg gave two application points in this message:
  1. Develop the habit of spending time with God.
  2. Determine to trust God.
Well, I have to say that I'm already in the habit of spending daily time with God.  I've written many blog posts on Heart Choices about my early morning time with the Lord.  May I encourage you to begin this habit today?

On the second point, trusting God is a major theme in my life this year. 

Trust and obey! 

Do you think God is trying to drive this home for me?

After the service, Kathleen took me with her as she had to speak with Lori, the pastor's wife.  The whole family was there as the crowd was dispersing.  After introducing me, Pastor Greg, his wife Lori and Kathleen joined together and prayed for me.  Oh what a blessing that was for me!

I have to say that God is so faithful.  He is my Rock and my refuge.  No matter what may happen, He provides me with His presence and His strength for each new day.

I know exactly where to go when I'm feeling overwhelmed.  And for that I'm so grateful!

Blessings and love,

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