Smiling!

Praise God for giving us so many things to  enjoy!  I remember hearing words that said something like ‘God could have made everything black and white but He chose to give us colors of all kinds to enjoy’.  Consider the blessings we have, all so undeserving!

Yesterday I opened my email to this encouraging picture my husband made.Love, love, love his creativity!  Finally, I think the fig production is slowing down.  Fresh figs, preserved figs, dried figs — all are happily in their keeping places now with just a few figs per day (6-8) ripening on the trees.  The oat-fig bars I made were soooo good I am told (I’ve completely lost my sense of smell and taste but that’s another whole story and challenge).  You can find the recipe I used on my Pinterest account at Sharyn Balogh under sweets. Below are pictures of God’s bountiful produce.  Praise God for giving us so many things to  enjoy!  I remember hearing words that said something like ‘God could have made everything black and white but He chose to give us colors of all kinds to enjoy’.  Consider the blessings we have, all so undeserving!  On to making cinnamon apple chips with the rest of the apple pickens’, then to finishing a baby quilt, preparing for an overnight with one of our grandsons and meeting with a dear friend.   I pray your day is blessed with a heightened sense of God’s love for you.  Focus Heavenward!

Author: Sharyn Balogh

You know it's difficult to write about yourself. The most important fact I can disclose is that I'm saved by God's grace through faith in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. My desire is to live a life honoring to God in response for the gift of salvation I've been given. This is so much easier said than done! I struggle daily with right choices, right words, right thoughts, and right actions. My best and only defense against sin is the power of God in me and for that I am inexpressibly thankful. I have three amazing grown-up children who have responded to God's call in their lives along with their spouses. One of the great joys of my life is knowing my children and their families strive to serve and follow God. My grandchildren are another wonderful joy in my life! My husband and I are blessed with four beautiful grandchildren to date with another expected very soon on September 12th. We also are thankful for the comforting knowledge that an additional three of our grandchildren, a set of twins at three months gestation and a little boy, Isaac, at four and a half months gestation, are in our Savior's presence. I have attended the same church since the day my eyes were opened to Truth over thirty years ago. How fortunate it is to have been led by God’s hand immediately to a church body that follows the Bible, no man-made doctrines, just the Word clear and strong. My husband is my best friend, my confidant, my encourager, and I still can't believe how blessed I am by his example of love and generosity towards everyone around him. He is God-fearing, compassionate, and kind and I have learned so much from him. I am a daughter to my almost 92 year-old mother, sister to three brothers, a wife, mother, mother-in-law, grandmother, aunt, great-aunt, neighbor and friend. That means, whomever is reading this, we probably have something in common! I love every unique role I have been placed in. I'm frequently stretched and sometimes feel like silly putty that wants to bounce right back into my comfort zone. My greatest ambition is to be a follower of Jesus; a light that shines for Him at all times, in all circumstances. So, there it is, a bit about me. I guess I was able to write about myself after all! However, my existence cannot be defined without Jesus Christ, my Lord and my Savior. His love has permeated my life to His glory and my eternal thankfulness.