Coffee and Tea with Me

I just finished reading Genesis again after more times than I can count. Yet, I can hardly read about Joseph in the Bible (Gen 37-50) without weeping. It is such a beautiful, remarkable story of redemption! God turned a whole family around. Not only did He redeem Joseph but he changed Judah from being the one to sell Joseph into slavery, to pleading for Benjamin’s life and offering himself as a slave in Benjamin’s place. That is an amazing turn around and it gives me hope! So much trouble in one family turned around for good. God used what was meant for evil into good. (Gen. 45:3-5,7-8) God is our Redeemer and He is in the business of redeeming. We are all imperfect people who have imperfect parents, imperfect children, imperfect siblings, friends, co- workers, husbands and wives! In the midst of evil, all of our sorrow and pain and trials, God is living and active. He loves us! He is for us! He is powerful and good and He does good and righteous things! 2 Cor 4:17 and 18 tel...

Even though it has been a couple of months since Elisabeth's 16th birthday, here are a couple of beautiful pictures of my sweet daughter and a picture of her traditional strawberry cake, which I got from her blog.  http://leakes.wordpress.com/2013/06/22/a-birthday/  I am so thankful for Elisabeth and her joy and laughter. She is so sweet and thoughtful. On her birthday she often gives her family gifts! This year she made homemade soap and wrapped each one special for each of us. She loves to write letters and cheer people up with encouraging notes. She is a blessing and I am so thankful for her. I love you Elisabeth!

Years ago when my daughter Priscilla Joy  was about 5 years old she came up to me and said,” Mommy, you know how some people are really sweet?” “Yes,” I said. “Well, I am spicy!” We got a good laugh out of that but thought about what an accurate description that was for her. Today is Priscilla’s 18 th birthday and she has been spicy ever since! I can not believe how fast time has gone. We have been so blessed with her life. I am so thankful for my spicy daughter Priscilla Joy,  who is filled with the Joy of the Lord which leaks out of her! She is a beautiful fragrance of Christ! I love you Priscilla! 2 Cor 2:14-17 14 Now thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and through us diffuses the fragrance of His knowledge in every place. 15 For we are to God the fragrance of Christ among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing. 16 To the one we are the aroma of death leading to death, and to the other the aroma of life leading ...