Scripture Thursday Announcement

Last week’s post about balancing priorities had me thinking about various aspects of how I spend my time.   Jan linked up a beautiful scripture card this week with the following verse:

 To every thing there is a season,
and a time to every purpose under the heaven.
Ecclesiastes 3:1

After prayer and careful consideration, I’ve decided not to continue the linky party each Thursday.  I will continue to have a Scripture Thursday Devotion each week; however it will be without the link ups. 

I am not leaving you hanging with no place to go with your projects and happily encourage you to participate in the following scripture linky parties shown below.  Please visit their blogs for guidelines.

I hope you won’t be disappointed and understand that seasons come and seasons go.  These three ladies below do an excellent job of hosting weekly link ups.  There are many more as well.  You might check out my pinterest board for other places.  Blog Linky Parties

I’m so pleased with all who have linked to Scripture Thursday and hope you’ll continue to visit, and continue to use scripture in your work.  I’ll be back on Thursday with a new scripture, devotion and free graphics to share with you.  Thanks so much.  I appreciate all of you and your comments.  ~ Abby

Monday Musings with Naomi

Word Art Wednesday with Karen

Scripture Sunday with Wendy

Freebies for You

Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.
Matthew 5:8

Free Scripture Vintage Postcard

Isn't this postcard a beauty?  I did no alterations other than adding a border.  Nothing makes me happier than to see an old postcard with God's word on it.  Just look at the pink petals of the roses, it's as if you could touch them.  Just click on the image for a larger size, right click and save to your computer.  

One more day to add your scripture project to Scripture Thursday.  A new linky party is posted each Thursday.  A place to link any project you've made in any medium that has scripture from the Bible.  A prize is now offered each week to one of the participants.     Scripture Thursday 

The image below is an old postage stamp quilt that I scanned.  The entire quilt was made by hand with the tiniest little stitches.  The images in this post are free to you from my collection.  I only ask that you don't sell the image itself or sell it in a digital collage sheet.  Click here for more info about my images  

Free Postage Stamp Quilt Graphic

Here's the same graphic below in sepia-tone.

Free Postage Stamp Quilt Graphic

I am nearing 200 "followers" and over 125 that follow via email.  I am grateful to all of you, your kind comments, encouragement and your delightful blogs that inspire me. 

I'm planning a giveaway, which I'll announce by the end of the week.   If you are inspired by this blog, or don't want to miss a freebie, you can sign up to receive an email when I post.  Look on my sidebar not far under the sea of happy faces, "Blog Post Notifications" an you'll see where you can sign up.  


Have a delightful day my friends.  Don't forget to stop back here on Thursday for another Scripture Thursday.  I have something a little different planned for that day and I'm really excited to share it with you.  


Be sure to email me a link if you've made something with one of my graphics so I can add it to my pinterest board.

Scripture Thursday ~ Times and Seasons

And He changes the times and the seasons;
He removes kings and raises up kings;
He gives wisdom to the wise
And knowledge to those who have understanding.
Daniel 2:21 NKJV
New England is defined by its colorful fall foliage.  I live in Maine and the magnificence of the fall season is shown when the leaves of the trees turn shades of reds, yellows, gold, and even purple, before they fall to the ground.

I have recently been anticipating a visit from my sister and brother in law who I haven’t seen in a year.  They are traveling from New Mexico and picked this time of year so my brother in law could photograph some of the spectacular foliage. 

free scripture printable

Obviously, it’s God’s creation that changes the colors of the leaves and bares the trees before the winter season, but not surprisingly, there is a scientific explanation for why the leaves change color in the fall.  I like to visualize it as the hand of God creating another masterpiece for the entire world to enjoy.

I vaguely remember from high school science class that it had something to do with the chlorophyll in the leaves.  I decided to research the subject and here’s what I found out:

Chlorophyll is a green pigment in the leaves that absorbs red and blue light from the sun. The shortening days and cooler nights that fall brings, interfere with the process and cause the chlorophyll to break down.  When this happens, the green colors of the leaves fade, causing some to turn yellow, others red, purple or maroon.

free scripture printable

As this verse tells us, God is in control of the times and seasons.  There’s a reason for everything He does, even if it’s just for our pleasure. We’re also told that he is sovereign, which means he is in total control of everything happening in this universe. 

No matter what may happen in this world, He is in ultimate control. As you witness every day, the creation functions as God intended, with the exception of mankind and that is because we have a free will. God wants us to use our free will to accept and follow his plan for our lives.  Just look at how well it works out for the creation and all its interdependent relationships.  We serve an awesome and wonderful God worthy of our wholehearted devotion and trust.

Free vintage postcard ~ Catherine Klein

This is my Father’s world, and to my listening ears

All nature sings, and round me rings the music of the spheres.

This is my Father’s world: I rest me in the thought

Of rocks and trees, of skies and seas;

His hand the wonders wrought.

This is my Father’s world. O let me ne’er forget

That though the wrong seems oft so strong, God is the ruler yet.

Hymn ~ This is My Father’s World

Maltbie D. Babcock, 1901

Have a wonderful day my friends.  Thanks for taking the time to visit my blog and leave your thoughts.   If you didn't see last week's Scripture Thursday post, I have a new page on my blog which has many of the Scripture Thursday devotions in one place.  You can find it here:   SCRIPTURE THURSDAY DEVOTIONS or by clicking the page at the top of the blog. 

 

If you don’t follow this blog via email and don’t want to miss a single devotion, or free graphic, you can click on this link to sign up.

Little Birdie Blessings by Email
 
This post is linked to:
This post is linked to: Word Art Wednesday,   Monday Musings, Deep Roots at Home, Fellowship Fridays ,   Titus Tuesdays, Hearts4Home Whatever you want Wednesday Faith Filled Friday  Wholehearted Home 

Free Vintage Valentine Postcards

And this I pray, that your love may abound
still more and more in knowledge and all discernment.
Philippians 1:9 (NKJV)

 You can give without loving.
But you cannot love without giving.
 Amy Carmichael

 

 Love is like a beautiful flower which I may not touch,
 but whose fragrance makes the garden a place of delight just the same.
Helen Keller

Love that is shared is a beautiful thing-
It enriches the soul and makes the heart sing!
Helen Steiner Rice

Thanks for stopping by today my friends.  The vintage Valentine postcards in today’s post are free for you. Just click to open a larger size, right click and save to your computer.  

There’s still time to link your scripture projects to this week’s Scripture Thursday.  Any project in any medium that has scripture from the Bible may be linked.  New linky party every Thursday.  A book of Encouragement poems by Helen Steiner Rice will be drawn from this week’s participants.  The winner will be announced on Thursday.  Click below for the Scripture Thursday post.

Scripture Thursday Linky Party ~ Love One Another

I hope you have a delightful day.  

Scripture Thursday ~ Light of the World

I am the light of the world.
He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness,
but have the light of life.  John 8:12b (NKJV)

I love to photograph God’s creation and usually my camera isn’t far from me.  Living in Maine, there is ample opportunity for beautiful photos.  One particular day I was visiting a cottage by the sea as the sun was going down.  I didn’t have my camera with me, but remembered I could use my phone to take pictures.

Breaking all the rules of photography, I pointed the phone directly towards the sun and started clicking.  I didn’t look at the pictures until later and when I saw the one below, I gasped. 

free for personal use or sharing

I’m not sure what you see in it, but I see Jesus as the light of the world, and thought right away of John 8:12, today’s verse.   Others have said they see a cross.  Either way this photo of God’s creation is a reminder that HE is indeed the LIGHT OF THE WORLD.  

You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden.   Matthew 5:14 (NKJV)

In heaven there is no need for light.

There shall be no night there: They need no lamp nor light of the sun, for the Lord God gives them light. And they shall reign forever and ever.  Revelation 22:5 (NKJV)


The city had no need of the sun or of the moon to shine in it, for the glory of God illuminated it. The Lamb is its light.  Revelation 22:23 (NKJV)

God refers to His word, the Bible as a light that guides us.   Another photo below that was a gift from God.  My husband taking in some of God's awesomeness with a path of light before him. 

Your word is a lamp to my feet And a light to my path.  Psalm 119:105

The reason I have “Scripture Thursday” each week is to bring more awareness to the wonderful promises God has for us in his Word. The Bible is the best self-help book you could ever read. 

free png file for personal use or sharing

I can’t imagine my life without the Lord.  He’s been there for me time and time again.  He’s my rock, my fortress, my all in all.  If you’d like to know more about what God can do for you in your life, Proverbs 31 Ministries explains it well here: Do You Know Jesus?

I’ve written quite a few “Scripture Thursday” posts now, and they often get buried in my blog never to be seen again unless someone goes on a search.   I’ve had the idea for awhile now to put them all in one place on a blog page. 

So…. Drum roll…….

I’m VERY excited to show you the new page.  Which can be found at the top of my blog page or by clicking below.

SCRIPTURE THURSDAY  

I’m still working at getting all my posts added but here is a good number of them in order from newest – oldest.  If you’re new to my blog, you may want to look through the titles and see what jumps out at you to read.  

Thanks so much for visiting me.  I appreciate all of you and your comments.  If you don’t follow this blog via email and don’t want to miss a single devotion, or free graphic, you can click on this link to sign up.

Little Birdie Blessings by Email
 
You can also find me here:
Facebook ~ Little Birdie Blessings
Facebook ~ Little Birdie Blessings for Moms
Facebook ~ Graceful Guidance for Girls
Little Birdie Blessings on Pinterest

This post is linked to: Word Art Wednesday,   Monday Musings, Deep Roots at Home, Fellowship Fridays ,   Titus Tuesdays, Hearts4Home Whatever you want Wednesday Faith Filled Friday  Wholehearted Home

Scripture Thursday ~ Trials ~ Part 2

But he knows the way that I take;
when he has tried me,
I shall come out as gold.
Job 23:10

I’m continuing the subject of trials from last week’s Scripture Thursday devotion.
I was pleased to see so many of you share in the comments,
scripture that helped you through a trial. 

I have a mentor that I’ve never met, but she’s been a great encourager to me over the years.  Her name is Joni Eareckson Tada.  If you are not familiar with her, she has a huge ministry reaching out to those who are hurting in one way or another, especially people with disabilities.  What makes her remarkable is that she’s paralyzed from the neck down.  A diving accident in her teenage years left her confined to a wheelchair, unable to even use her arms.   

She said in a recent devotion:  God's ways are so much higher than ours; He has the capacity to look at the world through two lenses - through a narrow lens and a wide angle one. When God looks at a painful event through a narrow lens, He sees the tragedy for what it is. He is deeply grieved. In Ezekiel 18:32 he says, "I take no pleasure in the death of anyone." God feels the sting in His chest when a child dies of cancer or a husband is killed in an accident. However, when God looks at that same event through His wide angle lens, He sees the tragedy in relation to everything leading up to it, as well as flowing out from it. He sees a mosaic stretching into eternity - it is this mosaic with all its parts, both good and evil, which brings Him delight.

Have you ever heard of the expression, trial by fire, I think of it compared to today’s verse:

In its natural state, gold is mixed with other metals and impurities.  It goes through a refining process which begins with melting the ore down in a furnace heated to 1850 ºF.  This is the temperature at which gold melts.  The second process is the binding.  Once gold is molten, a special flux is mixed to make it more fluid and bind the impurities together.  When poured into a mold the impurities which are called slag rise to the top.Once the impurities are separated from the gold, the slag is then broken off.  The steps are often repeated many times for greater purity.  The process of refining gold has not changed for hundreds of years, technology hasn’t improved it. 

Just as gold, the furnace of affliction has a way of purifying Christians and making us more like Christ, by getting rid of the slag in our lives.  

These have come so that your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire —may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.
1 Peter 1:7 (niv)

God wants us to lay our burdens on Him and rest in His love.   It’s God’s responsibility to refine us and purify our lives.  Only our refusal to submit to his will can hinder this process in our lives.  God simply asks that we trust him.

Here are some of the "go to" scriptures left in last week’s comments.  Isaiah 40:31, Psalm 46:1-2, 2 Corinthians 12:9-10, Romans 8:28, Philippians 4:4, Psalm 23:1-3. 

Thank you so much for stopping by and for all your comments.   It is my hope and prayer that you’d pick up a little encouragement here as you persevere through whatever trial you’re facing.

Last week’s Scripture Thursday ~ Perseverance Through Trials, Part 1

The scripture graphics in this post are free for you.  

This post is linked to:
This post is linked to: Word Art Wednesday, Women in the Word Wednesdays, Hearts 4 Home Thursday,  Proverbs 31 Thursdays, Monday Musings, Deep Roots at Home, 

Scripture Thursday ~ Featured Friends for Mother's Day

Who can find a virtuous woman?
for her price is far above rubies.
Proverbs 31:10

Mother's Day History:  The campaign to make "Mother's Day" a recognized holiday in the U.S. was started by Anna Jarvis, and became successful in 1914.  It is celebrated all over the world.  Traditionally, a person offers a gift, card or remembrance toward their mothers, grandmothers and/or maternal figure on Mother's Day. ~ Wikipedia ~
My friend Karen at Papercraft Memories, regularly makes free WORDart.  You can click on the scripture graphic below to visit her blog and download without the watermark.

Papercraft Memories ~ Visit to download without watermark

 

My friend Stephanie from The Enchanting Rose Blog, has offered to be a guest today featuring her Scripture Jar.  I saw this previously on her blog and loved the idea.  I thought it would be perfect to share as we approach Mother's Day. It would also be a nice idea to have children make one to help with their memorization. 

In Stephanie's Words:

Scripture is wonderful to have out at all times since it's not always possible to get to a Bible.  With all that has taken place in my life recently, I thought now would be a perfect time for me to make one for myself and family members.
It's amazing what verses of love, encouragement and comfort can do for a sad heart.

It's always better to think upon that which is pure, lovely, and of good report (Philippians 4:8).  When I keep my thoughts on Christ I am keeping myself from falling into deep sadness and troubled thoughts.

My mom likes posting verses on her bathroom mirror, in cupboards and in closets.  I love visiting her because I know I will find a verse when I open a cupboard door.

With this jar, all you have to do is pull out a stick and the verse and reference are written on it.  A great way to be blessed and renewed while on the go.  Also a great way to memorize Scripture.

It's very easy to make and will make your life more full with God's sweet blessings.

Items needed:

glass jar
paper
Mod Podge
large Popsicle sticks 
paint
paintbrush
marker
hot glue gun/glue
lace
waxed paper

Lay your Popsicle stick on wax paper and apply a coat of paint.  (Or you can use colored sticks or keep them plain. I wanted a soft green color so I painted them).

While drying, cut the paper to fit around the glass jar and apply Mod Podge to the jar; firmly press paper onto it.  Apply lace with hot glue around the top edge of the jar.

Paint the other side of the Popsicle sticks, let dry.  Write out desired verse onto one side of the stick and the reference on the other side.

I cut out a border and flowers using a paper punch.  It added a nice touch to the middle of the jar.

Blessings to you, friends!
~ Stephanie ~

The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: but the word of our God shall stand forever.  ~ Isaiah 40:8 ~

Thanks so much Stephanie and Karen for sharing your talents here this week at Little Birdie Blessings.   I pray you all have a blessed Mother's Day. 

If you missed last week's Scripture Thursday, you can find it here:

Scripture Thursday ~ Mothers of Influence

This post is linked to: Monday's Musings, Word Art Wednesday, Hearts 4 Home, Encourage One Another,  Hope in Every Season, Free Pretty Things for You,

Scripture Thursday ~ Be Still

Be still,
and know
that I am God.
Psalm 46:10a

Be still....  

                   and know.........

                                       that I AM GOD.......

I'm finding the need to do that today.  So will leave you with some of my favorite scripture graphics I've made over the year.  You can find them at the end of this post.

If you missed my last post, which was on Christmas Day, I'd encourage you to read it, titled THE CHRISTMAS LETTER.  It's heartwarming and full of spiritual inspiration, written by a mom of three.  You can click on the photo below to be taken to it

. 

You can find most of my previous Scripture Thursday posts here, all in one convenient location:

Scripture Thursday Links

Some of my favorite Scripture Graphics.  Free for personal use or sharing. 
Click for larger size, right click, and save to your computer.

Some of these graphics were made using WORDart from Karen at Papercraft Memories.   Check it out for lots of free Scripture WORDart.  Thanks Karen!!


Thanks for stopping by today, may you all have a blessed new year season.