E~ W~ W~ , Virtual Baby Shower, & Birthdays...

Each Wednesday, I will be sharing a verse or words to a song that minister to me!

If you'd like to join in on "Encouraging Words Wednesday", let me know and I will gladly provide your link on my post!

First, I would like to THANK the sweet and talented Pearl, for making this beautiful graphic for my new weekly post! Didn't she do a wonderful job!?!

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"Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus"

I was blessed to be brought up in a Christian home, and was in church most Sunday's from the time I was an infant! But on the downside, you sometimes start to take things for granted. For instance, beautiful old hymns sung week after week. Going through the motions and the songs, without much thought to what you are really singing, glazing over the true meaning and power of the words. Maybe I am the only one guilty of this! :)

One such song is "Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus." I can't begin to estimate the times I've sung that song. Enough that I no longer need the hymnal for the words. About a week before David's accident, we sang this song, and this time it seemed to bury itself deep in my thoughts. The distant words seeped from my inner being over the next few days..."Turn your eyes upon Jesus..." This came at an unanticipated busy time in my life, and I was feeling terribly overwhelmed and stressed. After David's accident, these words took on an even greater meaning....

Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus

V.1 ~ O Soul, are you weary and troubled?

No light in the darkness you see?

There's a light for a look at the Savior,

And life more abundant and free.

Chorus ~ Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus,

Look full in His wonderful face,

And the things of earth will grow strangely dim,

In the light of His glory and grace.

~~~

In the midst of all of our troubles and worries, this sweet hymn, written by Helen H. Lemmel, in 1918, reminds us that we need only to turn and cast our eyes on Jesus. All the things that are causing our weariness will grow strangely dim, they really won't seem that important anymore. And just how important is what we value as much? I imagine looking towards that Cross, with blinders such of a horse. Not very poetic, but effective nonetheless. I pause to think of all the things that keep me personally, from focusing on Jesus. Some distractions that I am guilty of falling prey to, seem like worthwhile priorities, but are they really? When I fail to keep my eyes cast upwards, awareness of my troubles grow and multiply in magnitude. As this hymn bellows in my mind, I imagine Jesus, gently tilting my chin upward to Him, and saying look here to Me, dear child! And the words of the verse from Hebrews 12:2, take on an even greater meaning...."Let us fix our eyes on Jesus."

Other Related References ~ Matthew 6:33, Isaiah 45:22, & Colossians 3: 1-3.

I hope you received a blessing and encouragement from this old hymn, as I did!

If you'd like to read more Wednesday devotionals, go on over to Jan & Tom's Place for "Come to Jesus" Wednesday. (see my sidebar for link)

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A dear blogger friend, Heather, from Hopscotch & Hydrangeas, is expecting her third child, a precious baby girl!

Since it is customary to throw the Mommy~to~be a Baby Shower in the last month of her pregnancy, I thought it would fun to host a Virtual Online Baby Shower for Heather and baby Cali!

You are invited to join me in celebrating this wondrous occasion.

To participate, please prepare a "baby shower post" dedicated to Heather and Cali, on Friday, July 25th.

You all are so very creative, let your imagination run wild! "smiles"

Some Ideas for your Post: Pictures of baby gifts, (our virtual presents to Heather & Cali); Words of encouragement, wisdom, and well wishes; Pretty baby girl graphics. And for you party~planning savvy gals, you might post baby shower decorations, eats and drinks...and tasty shower recipes!

Please leave me a comment by Wednesday, July 23rd, if you plan to participate. Your post will need to be up and running by Friday, the 25th. I will post all links to the participating blogs on mine! As this will be a "progressive party," I encourage you to visit each other and partake in all the festivities!

You are welcome to use the graphic above and transfer it to your sidebar!

Please help me spread the word!

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July Birthdays

Two very special women in my life have birthdays this month. My late maternal grandmother B. and my mom.

My grandmother B. would have been 95 today. She passed away 2 1/2 years ago on Valentines Day!

Below is a picture of my grandmother and mom at my wedding....

My grandmother is the baby girl in this picture. She later had a step-baby brother, who is the only one of them living.

Grandma with her brood, and a few extras. Mama was the youngest of seven, and wasn 't born at the time of this picture...

Ashley and David with Grandma at her 90th Birthday...

Mom and Grandma...

At the chance Mom might see my blog, I will not tell you her age, but her Birthday is the 22nd of July. Here she is on her 1st Birthday!

And this little cutie below, is my best friend and love of my life, Kevin! His birthday was on the 2nd. His birthday was on the same day as David's surgery, so we unfortunately did not do a lot of celebrating this year!

Happy late Birthday, I love you!

Don't forget to come back tomorrow and I will resume my tour of the Lake House!

Thank you for all of your kind comments, so far! A lot of effort and sweat went into this project! :) ~Rhonda