loved sharing this new experience...

My morning meanderings...it was our first year living in the woods in a camper. I felt like a small child each morning, like seeing everything for the first time. Every morning...a fresh, new experience.  I will never forget. I am extremely grateful. Thank you for sharing it with me ❤

Please continue to join me @ alifelyingdown.blogspot.com. I love having you travel with me. Maybe together we can uncover precious gems of our past, making our present ever so shiny, that leads a way to a glorious future.

always living loved,

sammie jean

David's words are mine exactly,...

But me he caught-reached all the way

from sky to sea; he pulled me out

of that ocean of hate, that enemy of chaos,

the void in which I was drowning,

They hit me when I was down,

but God stuck by me,

He stood me up on a wide-open field;

I stood there saved-surprised to be loved!

God made my life complete

when I placed all the pieces before him,

When I cleaned up my act,

he gave me a fresh start,

Indeed, I've kept alert to God's ways;

I haven't taken God for granted.

Every day I review the ways he works,

I try not to miss a trick,

I feel put back together,

and I'm watching my step,

God rewrote the text of my life

when I opened the book of my heart to his eyes,

2 Samuel 22: 17-25 Msg

beautiful, beautiful, beautiful,

sammie jean

illuminate what's right in front of me...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eD_xQNhBlfM

   My friend recently shared with us on our little weekend getaway, words from Anne Graham Lotz. She shared that Anne was in a place in her life that she didn't "feel" God as close as she once had. He spoke to her spirit that there was sin in her life. She gave 10 things that cause us to distance ourselves from Him. #1 on the list was in regard to gratitude. What blessings or answers to prayer have you neglected to thank God for? Big one. I guess that's why it's #1. A grateful heart. That's where the rubber meets the road so to speak. I was listening to this song during my walk this morning and the words, "Jesus when you speak to me, I hope I'm listening to you, hope this heart of mine receives, show me what you see, illuminate what's right in front of me." Jesus, are you a stranger or a friend? That touched my heart. Dear Lord, help me to have a grateful heart; so grateful that I place priority on hearing your voice over any other voice. So grateful, that I always remember all the things you've done for me and that I am always looking hard to see what's right in front of me...(even all those little things.)

Jesus, you are the best friend I have ever had,
sammie jean ❤

I FEEL 8 FT. TALL ⌣

Hope you do you too!!!!

have a great day 💞
sammie jean

Without Vision my people will perish Proverbs 29:18

When my BFF's and I got together recently, I shared a devotion about how important it is to spend time in prayer creating a vision board or focus board, whichever you prefer to call it. Some people might do it at the beginning of a new year; a New Year's Resolution sorta. I have never been one to make New Year resolutions but reflection about our lives is always a good thing. I always just kept mine in my mind before, only recently have I started writing them down. I didn't spend a whole lot of time on presentation or the way it looked, I just wrote it on a piece of paper in my journal. I think the time spent in soul searching, prayer, and meditation is far more important. After researching a little I found that some people like to creatively make a board to hang up so that it is visually accessible. Either way it should depict our dreams, hopes for the future; our vision. In that way, we can always be mindful of and prayerfully pursuing it. It's a great way to help get priorities in order. It might seem a little legalistic, but just think about it, anytime we do something in our daily life we purposely pursue it to get it done. We either make a list or we are mindful of it all day; whether it be a grocery item that we need from the store or a reminder to get our oil checked, we make a list or keep going over it all day in our mind to try and not forget it. It helps us. It helps keep us focused. Isn't it amazing how we will sit down and take the time to make a grocery list but want give any thought to a vision for the future or even the year. Isn't our life much more important?  Well it took me a while but I finally realized that it is. Very important. I thought about all the times in my life that I was just floundering around. No real vision for my life at all. I just went through my daily routine. Whatever happened, just happened. Thank you Lord that you were always present in every moment, even when I wasn't. I understand now, so very well that without a real vision for my life, I just exist...I am not becoming. With vision and purpose in my life, I can become the Godly wife, mother, grandmother, friend, unique, one of a kind person that you created me to be. I have to stay focused on the things of God; mind, body, and spirit. They don't just happen. I have to pursue them. I have to be disciplined in my bible reading, prayer life, my thoughts, what I eat and how much I exercise. I want to be the virtuous woman and wife that is worth far more than rubies. (I recently added to my board Proverbs 31) I want to be a good steward of everything that God has given me. That includes my body, my time, and my resources. I also have hopes and dreams. Desires of my heart. I can't help but think about some of my dreams. Being the romantic that I am, Italy was the place I always wanted to visit. It was a dream to go with the person that I loved. After a rocky marriage, divorce, and being single for almost 11 years it seemed very unlikely. Not to even mention the cost. Sorry to say it, but I doubted that I would ever be able to afford it. See, although it was an unlikely dream, I had no idea what God had in store for me. It was the farthest thought in my mind that he was going to give me a man that loved me enough to help make all my dreams come true. It wasn't his dream at all. In fact he was very nervous about going out of the country but he did it for me ❤  I always dreamed of having a cabin in the mountains. Once again, there were many times that it looked like there was no way that it would ever happen. Nevertheless, I kept dreaming about it. Almost out of the blue, I started feeling a stirring to sell our home and within a month it was sold. We were in the mountains when I got the phone call. I still get goose bumps thinking about it. We started pursuing the dream a little harder; praying about it, saving money, searching for houses on websites. It took almost 30 years to happen, (both dreams.)  But, they did! I have other hopes and dreams; dreams for our children and grandchildren. I have dreams of doing missions in other countries. I have learned to never give up on my dreams no matter how things look. Even though there are deep valleys to walk through, curves in the road, and even a few gully washers at times, (if it's God's will), I believe it will happen.

Thank you God for giving me the desires of my heart 🏠💑 

This verse in Habakkuk 2 was an eye opener for me.

And the Lord answered me, and said,

Write the vision, and make it plain upon tables,

that he may run that readeth it.

 For the vision is yet for an appointed time,

but at the end it shall speak, and not lie:

though it tarry, wait for it;

because it will surely come, it will not tarry.

sammie jean ❤

HE 

IS RISEN

forever grateful,

sammie jean

i want to be different...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xUT4trsrBCw&list=RDMMxUT4trsrBCw

My favorite song right now... l love, love this ❤

I want to be different...I want to be changed ❤
sammie jean

from the hiding places on the mountainside...

  How beautiful you are Jesus!

  Thank you for loving me! Thank you for saving me! Thank you for healing me! You are my safety. You are my protection. I find my confidence in you!  I find my joy in you! You are the only one I seek. You are the reason I live. For in you I find life...life now and forevermore. 

sammie jean

While out working in the yard in North Carolina, this little flower caught my attention growing from the cleft of the rock.

My dove in the clefts of the rock, in the hiding places on the mountainside, show me your face, let me hear your voice; for your voice is sweet, and your face is lovely.

Song of Solomon 2:14

I didn't earn it. 

I don't deserve it.

 There is nothing that I did or could ever do

to deserve this unmerited favor.

I just have to believe it.

I believe 💜

sammie jean

thanks for the reminder...

Always remember:

#1. When God puts something in your heart to do, do it ❣

#2.  People around you will not always show the same enthusiasm.

#3.  Do It Anyway ❣❣❣❣

sammie jean

you will always have my heart...

Looking down the road, there it was, right in front of me...

couldn't help but think of the five "M's" in my life. You will always have my 💕

Symbolically, you will have the mountain top experiences, and they will be wonderful; but it's the valley in the middle where you really learn the love of  Father God. Jesus is and always will be the greatest gift of your life.

 trusting you Father,
sammie jean

your words are life...

LORD, HELP ME SPEAK WORDS OF LIFE TODAY IN EVERY CIRCUMSTANCE...

bald eagle in the tree top

So is my word that goes out from my mouth; It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it. Isaiah 55:11

in the sunshine state?

FROZEN SHUT...

     

best way I know to start the day...

take a different path...

AS THE SUN SETS ON 2017...   

                           

                                                 what a fantastic year!!!!!!!

I was thinking...how can I best describe this year?  It would just have to be, don't be afraid to take a different path. Sounds brave doesn't it? But, for almost the first time in my life, I can say... I did that. It was not easy. I'm not good with changes. Territorial changes especially.  I don't know if growing up in the same house for 18 years; with same school, same grocery store, same friends, had anything to do with it or not. I do like variety in my daily life however.  I cook different things; make up my own recipes. I like spur of the moment trips. I love surprises. Small kinds like that. But, big changes...I haven't been as flexible. I don't really like to make decisions. I don't know if that stems from being afraid of making mistakes or what. Well this year...we made a change. A huge change. We had no idea that when we made the first little move how quickly everything else would start to move; selling our house weeks after putting it on the market. I've learned a lesson in control. To let go a little. For me...it's really difficult. I think when you have made so many mistakes in your life you try so hard to control the little bit you have left. We all know what that is though. Fear.  I love how Jesus taught this to his disciples. "Step out of the boat," he told them. Well, guess what? It was nothing like they thought it would be. Just like they had to learn, we had to learn too. So, that's what we did. We stepped out of the boat. We took a different path this year. One I have never known before. The surroundings were different. Everything was different. We downsized. We sold everything. Well almost everything. We went from a 1400 sq. foot home to a small camper trailer. Yet it feels like we are living bigger than ever before. We are having so many new experiences. A new church. New friends. Involved with work in Uganda and other parts of Africa. Prayerfully a mission trip in 2018. Involved in a local pregnancy center. Bought a cabin in North Carolina, sweet, christian, friends there. And as if that wasn't enough new for one year, we just found out that we are going to be grandparents again after 12 years (by the time the baby comes.)  It is absolutely mind-boggling. Only God could have done all this! I have really learned this year that He does expect us to take the first step. You and I both know that the first step is the hardest one to take. I'm praying that I have grown enough that the next step I take won't be as difficult.That this measure of faith that I have, will carry me through to the next step....wherever that might be. I love the analogy of "taking a different path". It has been so relevant in my physical and spiritual walk this year. I have taken so many new paths. I have thought about it often. In fact, all year long. It all started this year on my walk every morning down the little dirt path to and from my new house. Or I should say my little camper in the woods. This path has been very peaceful. Peace like I haven't known in a very long time. We found a new path while we were in North Carolina. It led us to a beautiful river, flowing over rocks along its way. There I found a rock with "forgive" written on it. It was a reminder to me of Jesus' grace and mercy in my life. Because of His great love for me, I can forgive others. My family has been down the path of forgiveness this year. Like the river that we saw, it has been so refreshing.  I really have learned this year that there are special treasures down paths that I take. I am so grateful for the gifts that I found down each one. I know now that I will never know what is down the path unless I go looking. I also know that chances are slim that someone will push me out of the boat. I have to step out intentionally.  Jesus promises, He will always be with me. He will never leave or forsake me. What else do I need?

Here's to "new paths" in 2018,     
sammie jean

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!

My "new" path in North Carolina