Merry Christmas!!

"And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them. But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart." Luke 2:18-19 ESV 

Treasure up the wonder of all things Christmas today friends.... 

Merry Christmas!!

Vintage Gwen Chapel-Drop Your Load!

I love when God gives me a 'nugget' from an everyday, ordinary moment.

This moment might not qualify as ordinary though!

This moment happened a couple of weeks ago when I was picking Lil' Hunkie up from school.  There's a grandpa who brings and picks up his granddaughter. I'm assuming he is grandpa since he sure looks like it. I've observed them before and let me just say....she is quite ornery!

Grandpa was sitting on a bench closest to the door. Once granddaughter made it out the door, he stood up and took a couple steps toward her and when they met, she immediately dropped her back pack at his feet and proceeded to walk away. He picked it up and called after her, almost having to chase after her, which I've seen him do before. 

Now I won't lie, my first thought was she might need a spankin'!

But then God dropped the 'nugget'.

It didn't even take her a second that she was in her caretaker's presence that she dropped her load and walked away, knowing that grandpa would take care of that load! How long do we wait when we are in the Presence of God to drop and walk away from all our burdens? How often do we simply walk away from our load? She did not look back!! She cared not of that back pack!!

The Bible says....

"Cast your burden upon the LORD and He will sustain you; He will never allow the righteous to be shaken." Psalm 55:22 NASB

Man, I want to be so confident in my Caretaker that I let Him take care of my load without looking back! How about you? And I love that by casting our load we are really exchanging it for sustainment and unshakenness! Those might be new words!

Well, here's to new words!

Be blessed lovelies!

Vintage Gwen Chapel-Bless The Lord, Oh My Sword

I love to sing. And that love has been passed to Lil' Hunkie.  I love that it has.  Sometimes he'll just burst out singing songs they do in Children's Church or songs we've done in choir or the worship team.  Sometimes he doesn't quite get the words right. A few weeks ago I caught him doing just that. It was the Matt Redman song 10,000 Reasons and there's a line that says "bless the Lord oh my soul". Well, Lil' Hunkie was singing "bless the Lord oh my sword" and I, without thinking, corrected him, to no avail. But then I did start to think about it.  In Ephesians 6:17, the Bible says that we are to have a sword of the Spirit which is the Word of God.  Meaning, when we speak the Word of God it's like a sword....powerful, confident, strong. Those are the kind of words that should be coming out of our mouth.  And with those words we bless the Lord! So when Lil' Hunkie sings "bless the Lord oh my sword" he's really saying "my words which are powerful like a sword will bless the Lord at all times!"  What a revelation out of a babe! So from now on, I'll just smile and join him in blessing the Lord with our swords.

Vintage Gwen Chapel-A Golden Nugget of Wisdom

Psalm 18:30

 As for God, his way is perfect: The Lord ’s word is flawless; he shields all who take refuge in him.

Lil' Hunkie has been in school for about a month and a half now. And let me just tell you....the morning routine hasn't really smoothed out just yet. There's still whining, etc going on! I realize that I'm in for the long haul on that!

One bright sunny morning while driving to school, into the sun mind you, more whining came, this time that the sun was in his eyes. Well guess what he had in his backpack? Yep, sunglasses.

Whine, whine, whine!

And then came a nugget of wisdom from momma. 

After reminding him he had sunglasses in his bag he kept whining. 

Finally I said...

"Don't complain when you have the solution in your hand."

Golden I tell ya, golden!!

Alright, it was really a nugget from God.

Because at that moment God reminded me that I too, have the solution to the things I whine about in my hand. It's called the Word of God, it's Him. 

He is all we need in every situation.  

Amen? Amen!

Be blessed lovelies!

Vintage Gwen Chapel-Saturday Song

Well here I am again with a song that I just love so much I think you should here it too!

I may be a little late to the Rend Collective train but better late than never!

Sometimes when I'm working I'll get on You Tube and find whole albums to listen too. Well I found a Rend Collective playlist and when I heard "Immeasurably More" I literally stopped working and just listened. 

And fell in love!

Here, you fall in love too....

....and your welcome!!

Ps.  While you are enjoying this today I am actually in Denver for a wedding!

Woohoo! Check out my Instagram for the fun!

Happy Weekend lovelies!

Vintage Gwen Chapel-Spankins' And Prayers

Have you ever got a spankin' from the Lord?

And by spankin' I mean a gentle nudge with the words "Now daughter".

Well I sure have. And recently.  

I play bunco once a month with an awesome group of ladies. Some of us attend church regularly some of us don't but are believers. We always pray over our meal and evening.  Well there started being a pattern of who they asked to pray and even the jokingly, lovingly term "Bunco Chaplin" thrown out. 

Guess who? Yep, yours truly.

And guess what I have done?

Squirmed and joked along and squirmed some more. 

And then I got a spankin!

God was saying "Now daughter there's a reason they ask you."

And I was saying "but God I can get carried away sometimes and these ladies don't see the Holy Ghost filled Jennifer."

And God said "they know you know Me."

And then I thought "I should be honored they want me to do it on a regular basis."

And I am, truly I am.

And so no more squirming. 

No more squirming praying for anyone.  Yes it's uncomfortable when you don't know the person or are in mixed company.  And with God's help I haven't been getting carried away (I get nervous so the Spirit takes over and I can be pretty powerful! God has been showing me I can be both powerful and steady and pray His Word!), I've been steady.  And with the help of the book Prayers That Avail Much. It has some great, great prayers! And not just any prayers but ones that pray the Word.  And there's 2 other volumes! 

I used it last week to pray for some ladies and I can already tell a difference in how I pray. 

How are you at praying in front of others? I know it's not easy! So I encourage you to check out the Prayers That Avail Much books and seek the Lord. Now more than ever we need each other.  And nothing, nothing is too small to be prayed over. God cares about it all! And He doesn't expect elaborate prayers either. Just ones from the heart. I know this from experience. 

Praying for you.

For strength, peace, comfort, guidance, boldness.

In Jesus' Name, amen!

Be blessed lovelies!

Vintage Gwen Chapel-She Shares Truth

Confession time....

I've been working more and I have yet to figure out a new routine! And I tend to be a night owl and it's so hard to break that habit! My husband works 2 nights out of the week and a long time ago when he'd be at work I'd just stay up.  So bad I know! Lil' Hunkie will be starting Pre K in August so I'm gonna have to figure out a new routine pretty quick!  So I've been doing my studying at night and have been loving the She Reads Truth study on Ruth. Today is a She Shares Truth day, I missed the last one and wanted to join in this one since I've been loving the study! 

And what I'm loving most is, the book of Ruth is not just about Ruth. It's so much about Naomi too!

God didn't leave her out, He wanted to redeem her too!

Naomi took a look at her circumstances and renamed herself.  What she was looking at was what she no longer had, not what was in front of her which was a daughter in law so devoted to her that she'd die the same place as her mother in law. 

I've done the same as Naomi.  In every instance I was focused on what I didn't have.

Being single it was a struggle keeping my focus on God and not my singleness, having a miscarriage I wanted to focus on the loss instead of how big God was, and in motherhood I tend to let my failures keep me from the bigger picture, that I am a good mom regardless.  

And in every one of those circumstances I renamed myself....Jennifer the failure. 

But God knew my heart and just like He knew Naomi's heart...that part that still believed God is God no matter what....and He brought forth "treasures hidden in the darkness." (Isaiah 45:3)

While I was single I helped start my church's youth mission trip and spent most of my 20s going on that trip.  That trip still goes on today! I actually get the team ready!

I didn't focus long on my miscarriage loss.  God directed me to name our baby and I have testified about that at church.  I then had someone come to me and tell me that she named her baby too and finally after 20 years she had peace. 20 years!

And motherhood, well I'm still a work in progress and that treasure is still being formed! But hearing "I love you momma", "I sure did miss you momma", "You're the best mom ever!" definitely keeps me thinking I"m Jennifer the good mom instead of Jennifer the failure mom. 

To God, I am and will always be Jennifer My daughter, My servant.

And knowing that helps me keep my focus where it should be, that God is my Redeemer no matter what. 

Happy Weekend lovelies! 

Vintage Gwen Chapel-Lessons from Leviticus

Last month I took a 31 Day Scripture Challenge given by Kristin Schmucker on Instagram. 

The purpose was to read scripture everyday for 31 days straight and share on Instagram.  I was wanting to add more to the She Reads Truth studying I do and so took the challenge but got started a couple of days late.  Geez but at the same time no sweat! So I felt like God wanted me to read Titus. I had no idea SRT would be going through it this month! It's been great seeing others perspective on such a rich but short book!

So then I simply chose a book by how many chapters it had so I could read a chapter a day to finish out the month. Not knowing what I was getting myself into I chose the book of Leviticus.

Uh huh, I did. And I'm so glad I did! Here's why....

1. Leviticus starts out by God laying out how to do sacrifices and what they all mean.  Man I was loving it! Well except for there's blood everywhere. And so I have a deeper appreciate of what Jesus did for me.  Without His perfect blood I couldn't be washed clean and made whole.

2.  I have a new appreciation for God's Word.  Now I didn't complete the challenge reading a chapter a day straight. I work part time and have an almost pre-K guy at home. So sometimes I didn't read my chapter, in particular the days I worked....Monday and  Thursday. So I'd read what I needed to on the other days. And at the end of May I decided to start working more so I can try and help with the grocery bill, so now I'm reading at night sometimes and really trying to read some everyday. But if I don't it's OK.  I simply catch up.  Even with She Reads Truth.  I'm loving just reading the Word and I've struggled with that.

3.  And here's the best part of reading Leviticus.....
In my opinion, the bottom line of Leviticus is God instructing His people to be holy. He really, really wants a holy people.  Yes the Law He set in place dealt a lot with health and hygiene. I shared one day during the challenge on Instagram that God didn't want a people who acted like or looked like Egyptians. Nor did he want a people who acted like or looked like Canaanites.  He wanted them to look like and act like Him.  And you know I never realized that the land of Canaan was so bad, it was a pagan nation!! But it also flowed with milk and honey! And God wanted His people to enjoy that milk and honey but just in a way that was pleasing to Him.  Unfortunately, His people couldn't ever follow the Law and so that's when Jesus came and made the ultimate sacrifice once and for all.
And so that got me to thinking...what part of the Law do we not follow anymore because of Jesus?  And what part do we follow?
Anytime I have deep bible questions like that I turn to the best guy I know...my dad.
So after eating Memorial Day cookout with him I sat down at his dining room table and asked those questions.   And I added that I felt the Law was heavy...I actually felt that about half way through.
His answer could be consider that of someone who is 'old fashioned'.
Why is it heavy? All of God's Word is Law. From beginning to end.
Well I couldn't argue that.
So then he asked me what did Jesus say?
Jesus said to love God with all your heart and your neighbor as yourself.
So when you do that, truly do that, then the part of the Law that you need to live is lived.
We agreed. We also agreed that to this very day God still wants His people to be holy.
Then he told me that I could only do and believe what I thought the bible said.  And I said but I do and believe like you do! And his response was well maybe I didn't teach you right.
And then the tears started down my cheeks.
And I responded with a resounding no you did teach me right.   He taught me the Word! And to love it, and to love God with my whole heart.
And at that very moment, because on a whim I decided to read one of the hardest books of the bible to read, I was very proud to be my father's daughter.
Amazing.
 Amazing things happen because of the Word.  
Thank you Lord.

Let me encourage you...don't shy away from the part of the bible you think is hard to read.  Because it's the Word and it's alive, I promise there's a nugget or two or three in there just for you.  I used my Life Application Study Bible and read the commentary footnotes after every chapter and it really helped to comprehend what I read. Don't be afraid to ask questions. The more you know the Word the more you know God.  And I guarantee God's loving you digging deeper!

Have a great week lovelies!

Vintage Gwen Chapel-Saturday Song

When I find a gooooood worship song I can't help but to share it!!

Really, they are all good but there's certain ones that resonate more to you than others, don't you agree?

I'm sharing a simple version, although the full band by the original artists is fantastic too.

Song: Give Me Faith by Worship on the Porch

Original artists: Elevation Worship

Psalm 119:68 AMP

You are good and kind and do good; teach me Your statutes.

This is a listen to over and over and over again song for me!

Be blessed lovelies!

Vintage Gwen Chapel-Our Remarkable God

Back today with a post for She Shares Truth. When I read the prompt for this last Monday I immediately knew I had experienced somewhat of a commissioned moment just the day before!

I got the opportunity to go to lunch after church with some of my family without my Hunks (Lil' Hunkie was at grandma's and Hunkie wasn't feeling good). My youngest brother has a fairly new fiancee and though she's been coming to church with my brother she's not been around church as long as my family has.  I've not spent much time with her yet and had wondered about her children. So I asked  about them.  Well she immediately started crying and I immediately felt bad to make her cry in public! She has 3 kids and doesn't have custody of them right now due to things that couldn't be helped and wasn't her fault in the past. She told me the whole story right then and there. 

God has been moving in her life. I mean it is plain as day what He is doing for her! She's got a peaceful home and a new job close to that peaceful home with an increase in pay!

And she mentioned that God had been blessing her.  But then came some words that I knew God had a response to in the form of my voice. 

"I just hope He'll work with my kids so I can have them back."

{It was something like that, I know for sure she used the word hope.}

Now first of all, I'm glad she is hoping. But sometimes there's one more step past hope. It's called faith. It's called belief.  

So when she said those words, the Holy Spirit was quick to respond with....

"No, no, God is not done.  He has began a good work in you and will finish it."

More wet eyes.

On both sides of the table.

And my red-headed sister in law saying "Get me outta here!"

Cause she knew God had just spoken and didn't want wet eyes in public too!

And do you know what? God moved in one of her children's situations this past week.

He is simply not done!

I believe God is constantly working but to get to actually see it, well it's remarkable!

Happy Weekend lovelies!

Vintage Gwen Chapel-It's Our Resurrection Too!

"For if we have been united with Him in a death like this, we shall certainly be united with Him in a resurrection like His." Romans 6:5 ESV

As I was reading Romans 6: 5-11 today the thought came in my mind.....

tomorrow is my resurrection day too!

Not that I have done anything at all to free myself from sin but because I am in Christ I get to rejoice in the resurrection also.  I get to experience the revitalization that freedom from sin brings. 

And guess what I get to do today, the silent,sober day? 

I get to be reminded to wait on God's plan. Today is a reminder that it may look like all hope is lost, but God is working in the unseen and that work is mighty. He knows what He is doing.  There's always a "Sunday is coming" in our situations. 

Praying you have the most blessed Resurrection day ever!

Vintage Gwen Chapel-It's Simple

 

1 Corinthians 2:1-5 Amplified

 

"1 AS FOR myself, brethren, when I came to you, I did not come proclaiming to you the testimony and evidence or mystery and secret of God [concerning what He has done through Christ for the salvation of men] in lofty words of eloquence or human philosophy and wisdom;

2 For I resolved to know nothing (to be acquainted with nothing, to make a display of the knowledge of nothing, and to be conscious of nothing) among you except Jesus Christ (the Messiah) and Him crucified.

3 And I was in (passed into a state of) weakness and fear (dread) and great trembling [after I had come] among you.

4 And my language and my message were not set forth in persuasive (enticing and plausible) words of wisdom, but they were in demonstration of the [Holy] Spirit and power [a proof by the Spirit and power of God, operating on me and stirring in the minds of my hearers the most holy emotions and thus persuading them],

5 So that your faith might not rest in the wisdom of men (human philosophy), but in the power of God."

 

The bottom line of these verses..... Salvation doesn't need to be a mystery or some deep thought provoked idea or complicated even.  It's simple, Christ was crucified and we need to know Him as such.  And as Christians we don't need to have enticing and persuasive language to be a witness. What we need is the Holy Spirit operating in us, for the Holy Spirit will be the one to persuade. And when we are persuaded by the Holy Spirit our faith is strong and rests where it needs to...in the power of God.

I made the above graphic on Instagram yesterday and said it was my prayer for the day.  It's my prayer today and really always and I love that I found a prayer out of these verses. For some reason connecting faith with the power of God....resting my faith in the power of God....well it's just burning in my chest.  It's yes and amen. It's a simple prayer that really covers all that we might ever need.  And it's been in the Word all this time!

Thanks God!

 

Have a blessed weekend lovelies!

 {Linking up with SheSharesTruth.}



Vintage Gwen Chapel-The Lord's Charge

"The Lord's Charge to Joshua." 

That's the title to Joshua chapter 1 in the New Living Translation. 

But I'm pretty sure that what God tells Joshua is a charge to us all.

Sometimes to get a deeper meaning of scripture the proceeding verses need to be read. Moses is dead and a very important job is left to Joshua...to lead the Israelites into the Promise Land. And so God just lays it all out.... how this important job is to go...how it will be accomplished....only with trust in Him.

And when God says "Study this Book of Instruction continually, meditate on it day and night..." I can't help but to think He's really saying "have relationship with Me!" "Study and know Me!"

"Meditate on Me!"  See when God says 'study the Word' I take it to mean 'study Me'. 

{John 1:1 'In the beginning the Word already existed.  

The Word was with God, and the Word was God.'}

So right there, plain as day, in black and white, is the key to accomplishing life.

Read the bible. 

Continually. Ouch! Day and night. Ouch, ouch!

But it comes with reward!! Prosperity and success!

And the one thing we find easy to tell others but have a hard time believing for ourselves...

God is with us. Wherever we go.  

Isn't that easy to tell others but a task to convince our selves sometimes?

But God promised. And He doesn't break promises. 

Making the Lord's charge to Joshua my own today.

Happy Weekend!

{Linking up with She Shares Truth.}

Vintage Gwen Chapel-Just Like Jonah

Today's She Shares Truth prompt is Jonah 3 & 4.  And in these 2 small chapters is a lot of emotional ups and downs for Jonah. My favorite words Jonah speaks are the very reason we know of Jonah at all.....

....he knew this of the Lord and that's why he ran away! (And more than likely if Jonah hadn't of run away then we probably wouldn't have the book of Jonah.)  So he finally sets off to obey. But Ninevah is a big city...apparently so big that from one end to the other would take you 3 days journey! Jonah traveled one day in and then started to declare the word of the Lord. And I imagine that, that one day of travel was the reminder of why he ran away, just think of all the bad he saw and convinced himself that "Yep, this place is terrible and needs to perish!"

Now I have never wished harm against anyone.  As a matter of fact when I hear of people talking about what should happen to a criminal my mind usually thinks 'but they deserve a chance at salvation'. Didn't we read in one of the SRT readings that no one is too far gone for God? No one includes criminals. 

Now what I have done is this...

"Oh why is she so perfect? Why does she have to be pretty, and skinny, and talented?"

I'm thinking this is the same as wishing harm against someone. The same thinking as Jonah about Ninevah.

Ouch!

The bottom line is that Ninevah was given a chance at salvation. Took it. And was saved and better yet experienced forgiveness and not just any forgiveness....the God kind. 

Jonah was given a chance at salvation, took it and was saved and experienced forgiveness.

So why would God do that for Jonah and not Ninevah? Why would God do that for me and not Miss Perfect? I'm thankful He wouldn't! If He did, then that would mean that there'd be something I'd have to get right to be forgiven.  And there's not, there is not one thing anyone can do to deserve forgiveness.
Ephesians 2:8 NLT

"God saved you by his grace when you believed. 

And you can't take credit for this; it is a gift from God."

What we do have to do is believe. Believe God saves just like Jonah did,  believe Jonah 4:2...

"you are a gracious God and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love, and relenting from disaster." 

Be blessed!

  

Vintage Gwen Chapel- Oh Jonah!

Recap of Jonah 1 & 2

Don't you just love the story of Jonah? I sure do!

First of all, did you see the map that She Reads Truth shared? Wow! I mean WOW!

Looky here...

source

This puts it in perspective doesn't? And by "it" I mean that no matter where we go, where we try to hide....God is there. Even if there wasn't a storm on the way to Tarshish I truly believe God would have showed up in Tarshish! Man I'm thankful He pursued Jonah! Proof He pursues us!

Second of all, did you notice God work on the men on the boat? 

Amazing that in the middle of a storm, in the middle of what Jonah was not supposed to be doing that lives were still turned toward the Lord! See verse 16 of chapter 1....

"Then the men feared the Lord exceedingly, and they offered a sacrifice to the Lord and made vows."

And lastly, I'm sure you can relate to where we find Jonah in chapter 2....in the deepest, darkest place he's ever been. I recently heard a mother tell her story of losing her 3 year old daughter call this place a black hole. I've had my share of black holes...not many thankfully but I've felt helpless. So Jonah prays. God hears cause He's in the hearing business and out comes Jonah from his black hole. And he knows he's still got to go. And that's the importance of coming out of a black hole....that we go forward....away from the dark.  Action must be done, there's no point in camping on the edge of the black hole! 

Be blessed lovelies!!

Linking up with She Shares Truth.

Vintage Gwen Chapel-Psalm 38

Oh my goodness. 

Is Psalm 38 a downer or what?

It's the perfect example of the lowest of low especially if you read The Message version.  

Verse 17 sums up the whole chapter...

"For I am ready to halt and fall; my pain and sorrow are continually before me." Amplified

Halt and fall.

You know sometimes it takes getting to the place of 'halt and fall' before we realize just how much we need God.  How much He is the only solution to our pain and sorrow. 

And as long as we believe and say verse 15...

"For in You,O Lord, do I hope; You will answer, O Lord my God." Amplified....

then He will make good on Salvation. (Verse 22)

Amen? Amen!!

Linking up today with She Reads Truth for She Shares Truth.

Have a happy weekend!  

Vintage Gwen Chapel-Psalm 130

Joining with She Reads Truth today in their fun new experiment...She Shares Truth!

I am late to the game but that's ok! Basically, they give a scripture, you write/share what you think of that scripture and then you link up on Fridays during Lent. 

Should be inspiring and fun! 

Psalm 130 The Message

1-2Help, God—the bottom has fallen out of my life!

Master, hear my cry for help!

Listen hard! Open your ears!

Listen to my cries for mercy.

3-4If you, God, kept records on wrongdoings,

who would stand a chance?

As it turns out, forgiveness is your habit,

and that’s why you’re worshiped.

5-6I pray to God—my life a prayer—

and wait for what he’ll say and do.

My life’s on the line before God, my Lord,

waiting and watching till morning,

waiting and watching till morning.

7-8O Israel, wait and watch for God—

with God’s arrival comes love,

with God’s arrival comes generous redemption.

No doubt about it—he’ll redeem Israel,

buy back Israel from captivity to sin.

I love reading different versions of the Bible! For study purposes, I really like the Amplified and The Message versions. They are eye opening! I read Psalm 130 in what SRT uses...English Standard Version and then switched to The Message and found myself  chuckling just a bit at the first verse..."Help!...the bottom has fallen out of my life!"...and quickly agreed...yep, I've said that a few times! But I've also said and done the rest of this passage...

Cry, wait, hope, look, wait, and hope.  

And also found the same at the end of all that crying, and waiting, and looking and hoping....redemption.  And not just any redemption but plenteous (in the Amplified), generous redemption!! What a promise! Thank you Lord!

Be blessed today lovelies!

Vintage Gwen Chapel-The Right Time To Worry

Let me ask you a question.  

When do you worry about tomorrow?

At this very moment? 

Immediately when you open your eyes every morning? 

All day long?

Well for the past few months, a couple times a week if not more, within 5 minutes of being awake, Lil Hunkie is asking...."what'd we gotta do tomorrow, momma?"

And it dawned on me recently that my response sounded like I was quoting scripture!!

"I am not going to worry about tomorrow when I just started today!" or "We haven't even gotten through today, why worry about tomorrow, you turkey!"

Matthew 6:25-34 NIV

25 “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? 26 Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? 27 Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life[a]?

28 “And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. 29 Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 30 If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? 31 So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them.33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

So the right time to worry is NEVER! 

Worry is the best form of self torture.  It benefits you nothing and if it benefits you nothing then it's really taking away from you. Lil' Hunkie is 4 and has yet to learn the concept of time.  

What's our excuse? What's mine?

You know what? 

I shall overcome worry by teaching Lil' Hunkie that God will take care of our tomorrows. 

His Word says so.  And I believe His Word!

Be blessed and have a great week lovelies!

Vintage Gwen Chapel-Scripture Spotlight

This past Monday SheReadsTruth started a new reading plan, This Is The Gospel. 

{SheReadsTruth is an online community where we study the Bible together, it's quite awesome!}

Man has it been good!

In Friday's reading one scripture just completely tore me up and I couldn't help but let the tears fall.

1 Corinthians 15:14

"And if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith."

This is how the Amplifed reads....

"And if Christ has not risen, then our preaching is in vain [it amounts to nothing] and your faith is devoid of truth  and  is fruitless (without effect, empty, imaginary, and unfounded)."

Useless, vain, devoid of truth, fruitless, without effect, empty, imaginary, unfounded.

One necessary thing negated those words...

The Resurrection.  

He did rise! He didn't stay dead!

Just let that sink in.

It was probably more the Christ didn't stay dead words that led to the waterworks. I rely a lot on my faith to get me through....right now it's the struggle of being a good parent...it's rough business being a toddler let me tell ya! And so for me to read that my faith is not in vain because He is risen...well it was like a breath of fresh air...like God was saying  "It's all going to be ok".  And at just the right moment that I need to be reassured.  

Will you be reassured with me?

Go HERE to read Friday's devotion.

Be blessed!

Vintage Gwen Chapel-Saturday Song

I don't know about you but a good worship song just does my spirit good.

Tomorrow we are doing a new to us song in church...Holy Spirit by Brian & Katie Torwalt.  

We are doing the Kim Walker-Smith/Jesus Culture version which you just can't ever go wrong with Jesus Culture anything in my opinion!  The Torwalt's are excellent too. I've been trying to learn how to do a harmony part and so I searched good ole You Tube for some help and found a simple, lovely acoustic version that I could listen to over and over and over...

Well I actually did!

You should listen too!

Enjoy and have a Happy Saturday!

Worship on the Porch