Friday's Fave Five #579

Welcome to Friday's Fave Five.  During this anxious and stressful time that the whole world is experiencing it is good to pause all the negative news and remember the good things that are still happening all around our lives.  Finding our blessings that God gives us in our everyday is like an anchor that keeps us from getting caught up in the swirl of fear and negativity that is so easy to fall into when something like this happens.  Please join us as we purposefully reset our focus and with thankful hearts to God, the giver of all good gifts, we find the blessings in our last week.

~ the cross ~  today is Good Friday and that brings with it many thoughts and reflections of gratefulness for what Jesus has done.  The cross is not just a fashion statement or a piece of gold jewelry.  The cross is the very expression of true love, His love for you and me poured out to the full.  Jesus could have called on the army of angels from heaven to rescue Him but love kept Him on that cross.  Because of Christ's death on that cross I have forgiveness and redemption, I have not just a religion but the ability to have a relationship with God, I am His child.  The cross is where sin was defeated.  The cross is the very sign of a Christian's faith.  I am very thankful that thru the obedience of Jesus, he turned that horrible scene of my redemption into a triumph.  And it's not just for me, it's for you too.

~ online concert ~  this is one of my favorite groups and they were actually supposed to come to Calgary this spring but had to cancel their Canadian tour.  I was excited to see they did an at home concert last week and have enjoyed watching their hopeful message and songs.



~ Sunday miracle ~ I have been really struggling with the closing of my dayhome and how I can not just hide away at home and not be reaching out in some way to my "neighbor".  But through a stuffed moose that was leftover from last year's Operation Christmas Child, God orchestrated a little miracle for me, for a little girl who lost her beloved moose and prayed that he would be kept safe until found and returned to her, for a mom who needed some hope  and a dad who was a brand new believer and needed to know that God cared personally for his family.  It was an incredible moment of 2 strangers who shared a touch of God in their lives in the midst of a pandemic.  And it was awesome and something I will never forget.  

~ smoked meat gifted and delivered ~ Last Saturday our good friends txted us and said they were going to make a delivery of smoked ribs and pork loin that they were cooking up in their smoker.  What a blessing that was!  Though we wished we could have shared the meal together it really touched us that they thought of us and blessed us with their gift.  
~ spring warmth ~ The last two days have been absolutely gorgeous with yesterday reaching 17*C (62.6*F).  We have been outside and enjoying that lovely sunshine and warmth.  We went on a long top of the coulee walk and got some gorgeous pictures of the high level bridge and the river valley.  And we were able to give my mom a hand and rake some of her lawn.  It is supposed to spring snow this weekend, so I am so thankful for those two days of wonderful warmth and sun.  

What have your favorite blessings been this week?