Blessings Series: #3

**First, I have to point out I did take my weight loss ticker off of my blog. But, I didn't do it because I've stopped working out or anything. In fact, I had a FANTASTIC aerobics session with Stephanie yesterday and let's just say I'm feeling the effects of it this morning! It was awesome! Anyway, I took the ticker off because I am not really showing my weight loss on the scale and it's a little frustrating. I want to change the ticker so badly, but it's slow going. I was telling a friend I wish they had a ticker for fat to muscle loss or inches lost because that's what happening, I think...because I know ALL of you were so interested and totally noticed the ticker was gone, too!**

Okay, digression over...this Blessings Series post will be short, but oh so amazing (not the post, but the blessing).

I posted yesterday about it being the start of the Lenten season and what that means. If you didn't get a chance to read that post, I encourage you to.

I mentioned I was starting the Lent Reading Plan on Biblegateway.com. So, I started it yesterday in the first chapter of Matthew and continued today through the sixth chapter. I just have to say it really has me thinking and pondering and feeling. I also have to say that several times during my reading, I switched back and forth between different versions of the Bible, which was really interesting. I mainly used The Message, but switched between New Living Translation and the Contemporary English Version occasionally.

So, in this installment of the Blessings Series, I will say I am blessed by this Reading Plan and by Biblegateway.com in general.

Check it out!

No Mere Coincidence

As Christians, I don't think many of us believe in coincidences. I know I don't. This idea has never been more applicable to me than at this point in my life. I'm pretty sure it isn't because God all of a sudden started putting these events into my life. I know it is because I have drawn closer to him and I can see them better. I want to tell you about one of these God-things that just happened. I am doing a bible study online with 3 strangers and my sister-in-law through the LPM blog. Living Proof Ministries is Beth Moore's ministry and a group of women (any woman in the U.S. who participates in the blog at all), affectionately termed "Siestas" is having a summer bible study. We are studying "No Other Gods" by Kelly Minter. Anyway, I created a blog for the study and am SO excited to "get to know" the other four women in our group, and to get to study with my beloved SIL, Dawn. So, I get on the LPM blog to leave a comment about how our "meeting" went last night, the first day of the study, and to tell Beth about our group and our new blog. I leave my comment, start scrolling down through the other comments and reading and looking at the pictures next to them, and all of a sudden, I see a familiar face and I SERIOUSLY GASPED OUT LOUD! I know Sarah in a few ways...first, she was from San Antonio, and I was from a little town West of there, and she dated one of my best friends in high school. Second, she was roommates with my cousin at A&M and we all lived in the same dorm...yes, we were Underwood Hotties! Lastly, when she was in Uvalde for my cousin's wedding, she and Greg stayed with my parents for the weekend (that was over seven years ago)!

So, I went to her blog and got to see her brand new baby boy, Grayson and see what she has been up to and where she is!

Oh, if I could convince all of the world to blog, it would be a dream fulfilled! It has been such a blessing to me in so many ways and a ministry to both myself and others.

Some of you reading this blog know Sarah, so go check out her blog and leave her a word of encouragement! And even if you don't know her, I know her blog would be an encouragement to you...check it out!