Reflections of the Heart

Introducing the newest Grandbaby - KayLynn Ann Grace  Born January 8, 2014 to Ron and Beckie Mitchell.  Elijah and Nate now have a little sister to protect and love.  Kelsie and Samantha make 5 all together. God Bless this family.

9/10/2010   Noah ​Violence filled the world! Wicked, perverse and evil were the continual imaginations and thoughts of mankind.  The Lord was angry! He grieved and promised the destruction of mankind, and all other living creatures. “And it repented the Lord that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart” (Gen 6:6).  Furthermore, the Lord goes on to say, “I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth; both man, and beast, and the creeping thing, and the fowls of the air; for it repenteth me that I have made them” (Gen 6:7). A dooms day message for certain! However, a message followed by a breath of hope for just one scripture away the writer declares, “But Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord” (Gen 6:8). ​Who was this man that stood out in the eyes of God, finding grace in the midst of an evil and perverse world?  As the rest of his generation partied, and performed evil acts and lived lascivious lifestyles, Noah was just and per...

Pitch black sky, twinkling stars and crisp autumn air was what I experienced when I left my home at 5:30am. As I looked up and gazed at the Big Dipper, I wondered if the Lord allowed the stars to twinkle this morning just for me. Nocturnals would say they love the brilliant night skies, however I am a diurnal otherwise known as a lark, and I truly enjoy the brilliance of the morning sky. I embrace the freshness of the early morning hours. I am truly thankful that the Lord allows me to experience the brilliance of the shining morning stars. The scripture says that he (Jesus) is the "Bright and Morning Star!" (Rev. 22:16) As the sun rises in the East, He paints the sky with marvelous hues that are new each day. The beauty of each sunrise is unique. Every day is a new beginning; a new opportunity to grow closer to the Lord. Embrace life and look up. Is is possible that the bright and morning star that you see is Jesus?

Friday, November 11, 2011 I captured this picture of the moon following a dynamic prayer service during the "Call to War" conference at Antioch the Apostolic Church in Arnold, MD.    The sight of the shining moon was breath taking. Joanne

Authors Tony Townsley and Mark St. Germain have cleverly put together a short story teaching children the dynamics of finances. This witty book should be on the shelves of every home with small children 5-8 years of age. The book is wonderfully illustrated and teaches the discipline of giving, saving, and spending. The story centers on a young boy who receives three cups for his birthday.  His parents explain that they will begin giving him an allowance and will help him divide the allowance each week into each of the three cups; one for giving, one for saving, and one for spending.  The boy begins to understand the meaning giving and how it feels to help someone out.  Later his mom takes him to the bank to deposit the money he has saved where he learns about interest earned.  His spending money is eventually used to buy the baseball glove and a little something for his sister. I would recommend this book to any parent.  It is never too e...

Gabby, God's Little Angel - eBook, is a precious story that shows how much God loves His children. Gabby, God's angel in training, accepts her assignment to watch over a little girl named Sophie. Sophie, the typical active little girl, likes to frolic and play and soon becomes a challenge for the unexperienced Gabby. In the end, Gabby accomplishes her mission and keeps Sophie from falling off of her pony. The story reinforces Psalm 91, reminding the reader that God will "...put his angels in charge over you."   The e-book is easy to read and the pictures are cute and colorful. I loved the different fonts, especially the large, bold fonts that caught our attention that the message was important. My 6 year old loves technology and is rewarded by being able to use the I-Pad. This little e-book fits, and I would recommend it for any child who likes computers.

While visiting my aging mother, I opened the refrigerator for a drink and could not believe my eyes. Moldy cheese, shriveled potatos, fermented juice. You get the picture. To my amazement, she became very agitated when I suggested cleaning out the refrigerator and throwing out all of the out dated items. It concerned me that she may be consuming food that was spoiled. Expiration dates are placed on products to preserve good heath. When the Israelites were fed by mana from heaven, they were instructed to gather the mana daily. Each family was to gather only the amount necessary to provide food for one day, the exception being the day previous to the Sabbath. On that day they were instructed to collect a portion to provide for two days. Like many of us, the warning was not heeded by all and the mana that was left until morning grew worms and stank (Exodus 16:19-20). God had placed an expiration date on mana! Frugal living. Just the sound of that simple phrase brings an unco...

Gina McCool leads the Pentecostals of Alexandria in a song of worship

Have you met my newest grandson?  Introducing Nathaniel Reid Mitchell.  Nate was born on June 16th.  Beckie and  Ron now have 2 sons!  Add Kelsie and Sammy and you understand why they had to buy a mini-van!  God has truly blessed.               Elijah is now a big brother!

Wondering......... Snow cones are a sure sign that summer has arrived!  My favorite flavor is egg custard.  I guess my tongue would turn orange.  Do you choose your flavor by color or taste? 

" We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights,that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness." Thomas Jefferson What an amazing declaration! More than a year after the outbreak of the American Revolutionary War in 1775, the Continental Congress adopted the United States Declaration of Independence which was a formal declaration explaining why our original 13 colonies should be independent from the rule of Great Britain. The Declaration of Independence was signed by 56 representatives from 13 colonies uniting together for the common cause; turning their vision of freedom into reality. Proclaiming independence from Great Britain and their union to each other, the thirteen colonies became thirteen independent states united together as one nation, now separated from the law and taxes of Great Britain. The Bible teaches the truth of Thomas Jefferson's pr...

Alas, mid-March.  The lion has entered with a loud roar; the lamb is making his way to a more surreal season. New life blossoms and familiar sounds of baby birds and the crack of the bat are sure signs that a new season has spung.  Seasons come and seasons go.  Life is full of change.  Just as sure as the continual motion of time, life's changes are steady and many times unpredictable.  Solomon penned his explaination of the seasons of life in Ecclesiastes 3: 1 There is a time for everything,    and a season for every activity under the heavens:   2 a time to be born and a time to die,    a time to plant and a time to uproot,   3 a time to kill and a time to heal,    a time to tear down and a time to build,   4 a time to weep and a time to laugh,    a time to mourn and a time to dance,   5 a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them,    a ti...

Introducing Gabriella Neveah!  The newest addition to our family.  This is my third grandchild and there is another on the way.  Each one is special in their own way.  A true gift from God; each with their own personality and giftings.  I am truly blessed!

Tick-toc, tick-toc the clock continues to move life forward. Life is full of bells and whistles, alarms and horns.  We have been programmed to believe what they say!  The alarm on our clock sounds and we rise from our slumber.  The red engine light comes on and we seek a mechanic.  The lunch bell rings and we head to the cafeteria.  A fog horn blasts and the ship turns away from land. This year, let us put aside all of the bells and whistles, horns and alarms and seek out the voice of the Lord himself.  Alarm clocks may malfunction and the batteries may wear out on our horns and whistles, but the Lord in sovereign,  He is always present, waiting for you to listen.  Slow down a little and seek the Lord.  He may not blow a loud horn to get your attention, but listen for the still, small voice.  He will never steer you wrong.

"A friend is one who reaches for your hand and touches your heart."  Today, I am thankful for my friends and I am determined to be a friend who touches hearts.

Before U were thought of or time had begun, God stuck U in the name of His Son.. And each time U pray, you'll see it's true, You can't spell out JesUs and not include U. You're a pretty big part of His wonderful name, For U, He was born; that's why He came. And His great love for U is the reason He died. It even takes U to spell crUcified. Isn't it thrilling and splendidly grand He rose from the dead, with U in His plan? The stones split away, the gold trUmpet blew, And this word resUrrection is spelled with a U. When JesUs left earth at His Upward ascension, He felt there was one thing He just had to mention. "Go into the world and tell them it's true That I love them all - Just like I love U." So many great people are spelled with a U, Don't they have a right to know JesUs too? It all depends now on what U will do, He'd like them to know, But it all starts with U.

Life is unpredictable. Change happens during a wink of the eye.  One minute your are smiling and the next you are crying.  I have pondered these things and have come to the understanding of the scripture in James 4:14, " whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away."   Today I will purpose myself to live, love, laugh.  I will be a blessing and not a burden.  I will give the gift of a smile and a meaningful touch.  I will purpose to do good and flee evil.  I will bless the Lord and sing praises to His name. And if my life ends today as a vapor, I will live an eternity with the Lord.  May your life be a blessing to others.

Today I was pondering the season's in the life of my family.  Holidays have always been a time of making special memories.  2010 has brought many challenges from raising my grandaughter to taking care of my aging mom.  My husband is approaching 70 and my two daughters are pregnant, both with their second child.  Working full-time, caring for family and serving in my church keeps me busy to say the least.  I was thinking that I would not "do" Thanksgiving this year because of all the work it affords and I only have Thursday off of work.  Then, I began to ponder.....   I have decided that no matter what, I cannot keep from having a full-house on Thanksgving!  I would have a blank page in 2010's memories book.  I would miss the comotion, the laughter, the happy faces, and the spilled gravy!  God has blessed me with my home and my family, so why not fill it up and make memories?

  I am beginning to understand the heart of God!  Each child born holds a special place in my heart.  I wondered after the first grandchild how I would ever have room in my heart to love a second.  Then, the second grandchild arrived and I found out that there was certainly room for more.  I have two girls who will both deliver a child in 2011.  I am anticipating what special place each of them will hold in my heart! I also need to add, the grandchildren that have come from marriage.  I have six of them.  They also are very dear, although they are not always near!  From my grands we have been blessed with two great-grandchildren.  How blessed we are!