Tuesday, December 16, 2008

Safe at home

Have you ever been so scared that all you could do is cry? Tonight was one of those nights for me. I went to Muncie for a Christmas dinner, at Olive Gardens I wouldn't miss a chance to eat there it is one of my all time favorites!! I knew going over there that it could be risky business but I was determined! I had had a bad day at work, in fact yesterday and today weren't good, so I really wanted to get away and enjoy the company of some of my church family. The fellowship was wonderful got to meet and get to know people I only see at a glance at church, the meal was wonderful, portabella mushroom stuffed ravioli yummy( yes I know Mindy that is not on my food list but is anything at Olive Gardens?) Anyway I was smart enough to put a piece of cardboard on my windshield when I went in and when I came out~~~~~~~~~~~~~ well it was kinda stuck to the window and the rest were covered in ice. I filled up with gas before leaving Muncie only $1.59!! that was a good thing, then it was out to the road. MY oh MY!! By the time I got to the by pas I was so scared all I could do was cry. I couldn't remember one single bible verse about Fear so had nothing to fall back on. I know that part of the reason for the tears was because it was roads like that that took my husband's life. I have never been afraid of driving in any kind of weather that is why I am usually the one to drive, but tonight alone on the road was different. I had JOY FM on and wished that tonight they were playing praise and worship songs instead of Christmas songs which I dearly love. Finally I prayed Lord please get me home safely. At that point the songs began to calm me down and my phone rang, a friend who was willing to talk to me all the way home till I parked in the garage and turned the Jimmy off. God answers prayer.
I knew Sunday when I said YES to something that God is asking me to do that I would begin a battle like no other. It seems like all kinds of things go wrong, my emotions are all off the charts, and this Monday was a Monday like no other. Today things just kept getting worse so I texted a friend and simply said PRAY she did and guess what things began to calm down. I know when eternity comes it will all be worth it but I sure don't like this process of being molded and fired, broken and molded again!!!!! =:)
Does anyone out there have a really good verse to rely on when fear grips you so strongly that cry is all you can do? If you do will you share it PLEASE?

Monday, December 15, 2008

Kids Zone yesterday was awesome!!! I needed a reminder that God is in control and guess what their verse is this month?!?! Jeremiah 29: 11 my personal verse: the Lord says"I know the plans I have for you plans for good not disaster, plans for hope and a future!!! Thank You Jesus for your reminder.
As I was bringing up wood for the fireplace I thought about all the preparations that need to be done for so many things in the near future and my mind went crazy and hasn't stopped yet. Got to set things in motion for Christmas and New Years, for New Orleans, summer, for the house winter etc. I am trusting God for some BIG answers to some BIG questions I have.
More on all this later. Got to go to work now, plenty of preparations to do there for the next 8 days too!!!
Have a GREAT day!!

Wednesday, December 10, 2008

It's almost time for the alarm to go off only I don't need it. I went to bed at 11 so tired I figured I would sleep way past the 5:30 alarm, instead at 1:30 I woke up wide awake and couldn't get back to sleep. I hate nights like this, there is nothing on TV, I can't concentrate on a book and I don't even have any new emails to read!! What's a lady to do? Well I did read some devotionals I get daily on the computer and I read some things that I have written down so now I want to share some with you.This is from Girlfriends in God; How much do you know about the 3 Wise Men? Were there really only 3? Were they really Wise men? Kings? Magi? How old was Jesus when they arrived? Did they get there on Christmas night or was Jesus a toddler when they arrived? Apparently, God did not think the details were important, what was important was the gifts they brought.
Gold stood for the riches of a king. Jesus was the King of Kings.( Revelatations 19:16)
Frankincense was incense used by the priests in the temple worship. Jesus would be ourt high priest who would go before the Heavenly Father and intercede for us. (Hebrews 4:14)
Myrrh was a perfume used in burial services, pointing to Jesus' death on the cross - a holy sacrifice for our sins (Romans 5:8)
Now it's your turn. I gave this challenge to our growth group, Make a list of the ways that Jesus is your King. Make a list of the ways that Jesus is your high priest. Make a list of the ways that Jesus' death and resurrection changed your life.
Give these sentences some thought and see what you come up with.

Something else I realized this week: My Bible is FAT!!!! Not fat from all the stuff I keep in it but fat from use! You know when you first get your bible how slim and trim it is? How all the pages kinda stick together and they seem so fragil? After years of reading and studying the pages seem to get tougher and the book gets fatter, I am glad that my bible is getting FAT.
Could I use that same thought process when it comes to my weight struggle?Hummmmmmmmm

Saturday, December 6, 2008

I'm Back!!

Bet you wonder where I have been don't you? Well I have been lost in a sea of pain, loneliness, confusion and wondering who I am for the last year and a half but today I realized how far I have come and that I am my old self yet a new person at the same time. I cooked today and I enjoyed it!! Except for holidays I have cooked very little and if I had to take something somewhere I would just go buy it but not today. As you can see in the picture I made Beef Enchiladas, Poppy seed Chicken Casserole, and Candy Bar brownies. I got to lick the beaters, haven't done that in a long time. The brownies are out of this world, I even think they may give La Donna's candy bar brownies a run for the blue ribbon!! Yes I sampled the casseroles too, well I can't take them somewhere if they are gross now can I! The kitchen was a mess I can't cook and keep clean, boy do I love my dishwasher!!!
Now we come to the snow; do you see the plant here? It is still alive and green. I love this plant because it thrives in the heat of summer yet keeps on giving in the cold and snow. I have no idea what it is called I only know what it looks like that's how I buy it each spring!

I used to love snow I mean really really love it but now that I have passed another year I like it less and less. I really don't like the cold more than the snow, could we have a white Christmas and have it be 75?
This is where I enjoy being now. By the fireplace with a book and a cup of coffee or hot tea. This is where I have my devotions in the morning and where I chill at night. I love being able to sit and gaze at the tree and the dancing fire. Wish I could have a fireplace in the bedroom too so I could go to sleep watching the flames.

I had the chance to talk with a long lost friend today, she lost her husband of 32 years a couple of month ago and when she saw me she almost ran to hug me. As we were talking I realized just how far I have come on this journey and I am seeing some of the ways God is using me. Isn't it exciting to be used by God and realize it?!?!?! She is a Christian and is surely questioning why she is a widow, as she said " I'm too young to be a widow" as we talked we shared how God has given us verses from his word that has gotten us past different roadblocks on this road. I was able to share with her that even 22 months later it hurts but I am able to move forward again, to laugh, to serve and know that it is okay.
As I thought about that encounter in Walmart today I am reminded of how many times I have had the opportunity to share my faith in the last few months. Before I was so shy about talking about what God had done for me but now it's different. I can share in the isle at Walmart, I had the chance to share with someone at a dance-yes at a dance, imagine talking about God at a dance! In emails I have had the chance to share how my faith has brought me from devastation to new life. I did not see all this until today when he showed me where I have been, he still hasn't shown me where I am going but that's okay cause I am now enjoying the journey!
If you are uneasy about sharing your faith like I was I would like to tell you that you don't have to have fancy words, you don't have to preach, all you have to do is be yourself. One door that opened for me this week was when someone asked how I could have such a smile, a sparkle in my eyes and a glow about me. Wow I didn't realize that I was that way but it opened the door for me to say " It's because of my faith in God" how simple was that? Just take the moment and run with it and be proud that you have a God that is alive and caring and is taking care of you.




Monday, December 1, 2008

I really don't have much to say tonight, I am house sitting for my good friend, being loved by her two dogs. I was catching up on my emails and came across this I think that it is really good and makes me think of how wonderful heaven is going to be and the potluck meals that are already going on there.

December 1, 2008 Pot Luck Sharon Jaynes
Today's Truth "May they be brought to complete unity to let the world now that you sent me and have loved them, even as you have loved me." (John 17:23 NIV)
Friend to Friend I recall as a young child, rocking on my grandma's front porch and listening to the ladies from the mission society gossip about the "heathens" whose church was across the street from theirs. It always puzzled me because the "heathens" were such nice people and their church looked just like grandma's church. As far as I could tell, there was no difference. Both believed in Jesus, wore funny hats on Sundays, and sang the same hymns. And both had great pot-luck dinners.
How did the church come up with the notion of the famous pot-luck supper (alias, covered-dish dinner)? I personally think it all began in Matthew chapter 15. The first covered-dish gathering was a great success as Jesus served more than 4,000 men (not to mention a few thousand women and children) and had leftovers to boot. All this came from one little covered dish. Actually, it was a covered basket. This was, after all, before the advent of Corning Ware.
Later the Baptists followed His lead and the next thing you know, all denominations are celebrating a multiplicity of occasions with every variety of casserole known to man, but the twenty first-century church isn't being caught simply serving up fish and chips. We have taken the notion of "breaking bread" and run with it. Not only do we break bread, but we crunch fried chicken, munch fresh veggies, scoop casseroles, slice pies, cut cakes, and sip coffees. We chew the fat while chewing our food and extend the right hand of fellowship while our left hand extends the serving spoon. No matter how much food walks through the doors, none ever goes to waste, but much goes to the waist. I'd say that covered-dish dinners are one of the most cherished rituals in the church today!
Our Sunday school class's annual Christmas party entailed such an event. It was at the home of Dr. and Mrs. Marshall McMillan. The class consisted of 150 people in a church of 1,600. It's a little difficult to be intimate with 150 congregates on Sunday morning, so the Christmas party was a great time to chat with people you didn't normally have a chance to visit otherwise. Because people tend to sit in the same seats each week, I had never really seen about half of the class.
The Christmas party was designed to remedy that problem. The McMillan's home was beautifully decorated with holly, spruce and magnolia clippings. It was filled with the sights, sounds, and smells of the season as well as the incoming aroma of the many deliciously prepared meals. In an effort to provide crowd control and proper traffic flow, our host, Marshall had posted directional signs around the house. One sign read "COATS," with an arrow pointing up the stairs to their daughter's room. Another read "HOT FOOD," with an arrow pointing toward the kitchen.
Marshall was doing a great job at his post as official greeter and traffic police.
"Hello, how are you?" He greeted two ladies and one man as they made their way up the front steps with dishes in hand. "You can take your food into the kitchen and then follow the arrows to the coat room."
The obedient threesome followed directions well and then headed to the name tag table, but a warning light was flashing in my mind.
"Marshall," I said, "Who are those people? I don't recognize them."
"I don't recognize them, either," he answered. "But you know our class is so big. Maybe they sit on the opposite side of the room and we just haven't noticed them before."
They looked like they could have been one of us. They seemed to know the drill, but something was wrong with this picture.
"Marshall, go find out who they are," I urged.
He approached the trio, who were now looking a little bewildered themselves. "Excuse me. You are here for the Sunday school Christmas party, aren't you?"
"Yes," they answered. However, their "yes" sounded more like a question than an answer. Then they asked, "This is the Sunday school class for First Baptist Church isn't it?"
"No, ma'am," Marshall answered. "This is the party for Forest Hill Presbyterian. You folks are at the wrong party."
The three embarrassed Baptists quickly reclaimed their food, once again followed the arrows to the coat room, and high-tailed it out of the McMillan's house to another Sunday school covered-dish gathering a few doors down.
Won't heaven be an interesting place? One big perpetual brightly lit Christmas party: a celebration of new birth. No covered dish required because He will sit us down at His banqueting table which He has prepared for us. One great thing about this party will be that when the Baptists stumble into a room full of Presbyterians or when the Episcopalians walk in on a bunch of Assemblies of God folks, no one will feel out of place. We will all say, "Welcome! And come on in. Take your coat off and stay a while - an eternity, for that matter. You're definitely in the right place."
Let's Pray Dear Lord, I'm not even sure how all this business of denominations started in the first place, but I do know that You specifically prayed that we would have unity among the Body of Christ. Help us to put away our differences and focus on what is truly important -- Jesus Christ and Him crucified.
In Jesus' Name, Amen

Sunday, November 30, 2008

My Thanksgiving

I don't know what I am thinkinging half of the time when my grandkids and nieces and nephews
attatck me! I can't say no to them, so my weekend was spent with 9 kids ages 7 to 15 eating, playing and sleeping at my house! The first few pictures are bedtime which didn't happen Friday night till 1 am Sat. morning and Sat. not till 11pm. The two oldest girls were the lucky ones cause after all, girls need their space! so they got the extra bedroom.

One boy in the recliner, one girl on the couch,


Lets see there is one boy waaaaaaaaay over there on the loveseat, then a lounge chair held another boy, then 2 cots one boy one girl, then the blow up mattress for the oldest boy! You had to step very carefully in my living room.



The next few pictures are the kids bringing wood to the house and raking leaves. I told them they were earning their dinner.!!







This is my adopted granddaughter She is really my daughter's niece but since I am grandma to everyone else so what is one more!! Isn't she precious?
Finally this is my daughter all dressed to ride the motorcycle in UC's parade of lights Friday night. I was a bit jealous as I would love to have been on the back of that bike!!

I also got to spend some time with Glen's sisters and their husbands we celebrated Jo's birthday late and mine early. It was fun catching up with them finding out about their grandkids and them asking about my dating life which is pretty much no existent at this point!! We laughed about that and lots of memories of Thanksgiving and Christmas past.
Sunday morning topped the weekend off getting 9 kids ready for church then my sister and husband came and we all went to my church all 13 of us!! They are all now delivered home and I am catching up on things here. My Michigan daughter got a web cam this week so yesterday and today I was on my laptop watching my grandkids up there, sure helps missing them so much. We still have some bugs to work out but it will come. Oh yes! the older kids set me up with a MySpace page!!! I have absoultely no idea what I am doing but it was fun watching them do things and making fun of me for being so dumb!!!! What a fun time.
I love family and I am so glad that God allowed me to be a daughter, mom, sister,sister-in-law, grandma and aunt. There is just nothing like the blessings of having those you love around you laughing and sharing the bounty and blessings from God. Can you hear anything? Do you hear the silence? There is no one here but me and the animnals but you know what I am not alone. I am okay with that right now, I can hear Jesus when he wants to talk to me now. I will listen for his voice in the quietness and know that all is well, he has it all under controll.
Until later have a great week!


Thursday, November 27, 2008

Thanksgiving day

Stop telling God how big your storm is. Instead tell the storm how big your God is! My screen background says;" Christ is not valued at all unless he is valued above all" Augustine
Putting up the Christmas tree tonight I broke 3 glass ornaments. I've been collecting glass ornaments for 12 years and never broke one till now. Why now? Then the tears came and something in my head and heart said" Broken Dreams", perfect life gone~~~~ but is it really?
Did I really have the perfect life? Well of course I believe it was as close to perfect as possible but was it? I listen to Christmas CD's and gaze at the tree with all it's colors. I look around and see the oil lamps we collected together. I see pictures of motorcycle trips, vacations, wedding pictures the last church pictures we had taken,all beautiful memories and then my eyes fall on another wall. This wall represents the future~~~ pictures of my 8 grandchildren. One of the frames says;"GRANDKIDS can FILL a space in your HEART that you never knew was empty" The plaque above it says;"I have learned that being with those I love is enough" Another saying I have in my living room states"Life isn't about waiting for the storm to pass. It's about learning to dance in the rain"
Lord Thank you for reminding me how blessed I am. Jesus please comfort all those who have lost precious family members. This is a tough time of year for us, show us the future and remind us of your promise in Jeremiah 29:11. Amen

Wednesday, November 26, 2008

Shoes!!!


I wore a pair of shoes today for the first time in 6 weeks! My foot is screaming but I am afraid to take the shoe off until I craw into bed. It is a funny feeling having something so restrictive on my foot again and I have to learn to walk correctly again too. I have been favoring that foot since July 18th and the rest of my body is paying for it now. I wonder if the chiorpractor will ever get me straight again!!
While learning to walk correctly I am reminded of how off balance I am when I don't listen to Jesus. When I put aside my bible, don't pray as much, try to solve my problems on my own; my life is pretty much a mess. Then when I get back to reading the healing words of my Jesus and I start sharing with him about my thoughts and hopes, dissapointments and frustrations, my life begins to take a turn for the better. Only problem is that Satin really gets nervous and starts throwing stones my way, even a slippery banana peal sometimes. I am learning to recognize that these things are not from God BUT he does use them to teach me.
How about you? Do you have some relearning to do too?

Tuesday, November 25, 2008

The countdown has begun!!!

It is no secret that I love the holidays especially Thanksgiving and
Christmas. I love them because it is a time when I can show others, especially my family how much I love them. I don't care about gifts but I do care that they know that no matter how disapointed I may be for one reason or another my love never changes. I love them unconditionally because they are my family. I woke up this morning thinking about God's unconditional love for me. My devotions this morning centered around God's love for me, Pastor Kris's message Sunday talked about God's love, I got some emails today that talked about God's love--- do you think that God is trying to tell me something?!?! Sunday we were asked to give over the areas in out lives that we have been keeping from God I thought I didn't have any till we started praying--- yep I got some of those areas. I asked him today to help me to hold up my end of the deal in trying to let him handle things---- this is hard. I have tried to handle things on my own for such a long time, but my father in heaven showed me that he loves me and he will help me. So in my excitement of the upcoming holiday season ( did I tell you I LOVE the holidays?) I am learning to let God take over my hidden rooms in my heart and let him control and lead, can't wait to see what comes next!!

Help Me!!

As you can see my background is a bit messed up! Mindy and I tried to change it to a holiday design but something happened and only part of it worked. Can anyone tell me how to fix it or a place to find a new one that is easy to do? I am not good at all these techinal things.
I was reading Mila's blog and deceided to take up her tagg first the book thing.
1) I love reading books written by Thomas Kinkade he has a series going and also writes a Christmas edition I have everyone so far.
2) My mom and sister in law read all my new books befor I get a chance to.
3) Beverly Lewis, Jan Karon and Janette Oke are close seconds.
4) I love my Life Application bible I can read it and apply the lessons easily especially with the explinations at the bottom.
5) I also have several versions 6 different ones I think
6) I have given away to my son in law one of my bibles, and each one of my grandchildren have their own bible geared to their age.
7) In the suspense catagory Robin Cook tops them all!!

Now for some facts about me:
1) I am only 4'10" and I hate being short but have learned to joke about it.
2) I had my first broken bone this summer at 55 yrs. old
3) I learned to ride a motorcycle at age 52 what in the world was I thinking?!?!
4) My Monday morning fix is a diet vanilla colke from Haines drug store soda fountain! There's nothing like it!!
5) When I was younger I swore I would NEVER let animnals in the house much less let them sleep with me----- guess what!!
6) In 1971 when I first got married we could bring home 4 sacks of groceries for $25 and ate for 2 weeks like we were rich!!

Saturday, November 22, 2008

Good morning all it is 6:25am on Sat. morning and I am headed off in this cold like several others (who are already there unloading the truck) to distrubute Angel Food. You either have to be crazy or really in love with Jesus to do this! I started with Angel food when it started a few years now when we went to another church to pick up our order, it was cold then and the truck was late and we had no idea what we were doing,we have come a long way. If you have never been involved come try it out it is an easy way to serve our LORD and the fellowship is great too.!
M first devotional of the day left me with some things to think about as I continue my journey back to N.O. L.A. and I want to post it for you to think about too.

Yielding to His Lordship
Day 218

God is not a therapist; He is not just someone you approach to make it through a difficult time. He is Lord and Savior. Your greatest joy will come when you yield your whole life to Him.

"Know that you have to leave it up to Him, and you have no control over life or death—that's what sustained me through it all," says Gretchen, whose husband died.

When you honor Him as God, you are better able to accept the circumstances of life.

"Woe is me for my hurt! My wound is grievous: but I said, Truly this is a grief, and I must bear it" (Jeremiah 10:19 kjv).

Father, yielding to Your Lordship is difficult for me, but I want to give my every thought and effort to You, not just to get me through the rough times, but as an act of worship to You. Amen.

Friday, November 21, 2008

I have a hundred things running around in my mind tonight and it all started with this prayer: Mighty God, I am not content to continue in my own simple ways. I want to know You as I have never known You before. I read this in a devotional and now I can't stop thinking! I have started asking God about New Orleans- I wasn't going to go this year to allow someone else to go BUT my niece said she really wants to go back-yes I told God if he wanted me there then have Lacey choose N.O. and not N.Y.answer #1 now I pray "God start preparing my heart now for what you have for me then" I must admit that I am both excited and scared because each year God has taken me a little farther out of my comfort zone, and I wonder what he will ask of me this time. I wonder where he is leading me and I asked him but he only reminds me of the verse he gave me almost 20 months ago;Jeremiah 29:11 "For I know the plans I have for you," says the LORD. "They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope" then I read the following verses; 12 "In those days when you pray, I will listen. 13 If you look for me wholeheartedly, you will find me.14 I will be found by you," says the LORD.
I am reading the book The Shack and although I am having trouble with some of it today something popped up that makes me think. When someone is drowning it is pretty hard to save them if they don't trust you. Jesus says that all he asks is when I start to sink, let him rescue me.In otherwords stop fighting and let me do my job!! How often do I fight against the waters of life when all I have to do is relax and trust Jesus? Then something else was mentioned;It is not my job to change people, it is my job to LOVE them and let God do the changing. How often do I find myself wanting to change someone to fit what I think is the right mold? I'm afraid that I have done that far too often so I am going to try to throw away the molds I think people should fit into and let God do the changing and I will pray for a more loving heart. I also was reminded that I need to use the SFGTD file much more often;incase you don't know what that means it is Something For God To Do.
If you think of me sometimes pray that I will be willing to step further out of my comfort zone and do what he asks of me. I am sure that life is about to get exciting!!!!

Wednesday, November 19, 2008

Random Thoughts

Lots of things running around in my mind today.
Smart machines at Curves -those machines work me to death!!! At the end I had burned up 484 calories, maxed out all my muscles and had 0 energy left. I didn't need the computer to tell me that!! Good thing is I am doing it right oh yes and I lost 3 pounds this week!!
It's cold outside- I used to love the snow and cold but something happened when I hit 50 cold just doesn't get it anymore and while snow is pretty they can keep it up north!
Sunday was just as wonderful as I expected- The music was energizing, PK's message was thought provoking to say the least. Then off to Muncie with a friend to see the movie Fireproof what a wonderful movie well worth seeing more than time. The off for some early dinner/late lunch at Bob Evans they have some really great comfort food!!
I got flowers this weekend! So nice to have pretty live flowers in the cold winter. Thank you Tom.
I can't believe it is Wed. already I haven't gotten nearly everything done at work that should be done by this time. I have news letters to run, fold and mail. Hope I can get some volunteers for this big job, got the bulletin to print and fold. OH YES this week is Payday!!!!!!!!!!!! Can't tell I'm excited about that can you?!?!?!?!
Through all that has been going on this week I have still had time to sit and listen to God, through music and through my Tuesday night growth group. These girls are really loosing up and asking some deep questions. I thought about how God has taken me down paths that I did not want to go and definitely would not have chosen on my own. But by traveling these roads I have learned so much especially about God's love for me. I see the picture of the Footprints in the Sand and realize that he is carrying me most of the time. Will I ever be able to walk along side of my Lord? I don't know if I will here on earth but I know I will when I get to heaven. Will I ever stand on my own two feet or am I supposed to? I don't know, I have so many questions of Why? How? When? Am I asking too many questions Lord? Best thing about it is that he never gets angry at me for asking the questions even the same ones over and over, it's a good thing he has more patience than I had with my girls!
Well I think it is time for jammies and a caffeine free diet Pepsi. I just talked to Parker and he was eating a chocolate fudge pop tart! doesn't that sound good?!?! Nite All

Sunday, November 16, 2008

Surprises

I can't believe that it is Sunday already but it is and I am ready to worship!! On Sunday morning I bounce around with anticipitation for church I kow that I will be closer to the Lord on Sunday than anyother day. When I am at church the devil can't get anywhere close to me it is like there is a big wall around me that only God can penetrate. I love the music that we are allowd to sing now, don't get me wrong the old hymns are wonderful but for this "baby boomer" the upbeat worship is much more meaniful.
I titled this surprises because my week has been full of surprises the biggest is the surprise my mom and I gave my sister in Ashland,Ohio Friday night. See Sis turned 35 on the 14th and I think mom was missing her as much as she was missing mom. So we took off after I got off work Friday and headed to Ashland. Her youngest Blade was the first to see the car but didn't recognize it cause mom had gotten a new one. When we got to the door and he opened it he yelled Aunt Jean!!! Grandma!!!! my baby sister turned from her computer and with sheer surprise yelled MOMMY!!!! It was such a joy to see this and once again feel the love of family. I am writing this through teary eyes as I remember how much bigger my family used to be and how quickly it can change, so driving 3 1/2 hours for a hug and a smile is worth every min. of the drive. Another surprise was ice on the road! I am not ready for this weather and as we were driving home we were in rain, and snow and slush and then all of the sudden the road was ICE! I was so thankful that my guardian angels were on duty because at one point all I could see was mom's new car going across the median !!!! But just as we hit the edge of the road the car gently came back and somehow got back over in the lane of traffic that was not iced up!! I looked behind me and the car following us was doing the exact same thing!! Mom doesn't know how weak my knees were at that moment but God was there as he is everytime I start slipping and sliding. Someone told me this week that they could see God shine through me, that has been my prayer for a long time that when I meet someone they will see Jesus through me. Now I know that he is working in and through me, what a great feeling that is.
Well it's time to get ready for worship and an exciting day. It's SUNDAY =:)

Monday, November 10, 2008

I love Sundays!!!!

Girls day away, yes we had such a fun time here is Rita and I getting our teeth whitened! Aren't our smiles beautiful?!?! We had massages, tasted all kinds of
goodies, bought Christmas presents, laughed and laughed, ate chocolate covered cherries and dark chocolate malted milk balls, and laughed and laughed. Yes what a stress relieving weekend!!



It wasn't too long ago that I dreaded the weekends, it was our special time, time when we just enjoyed each other. But all that changed one Friday in March 2007 and I haven't been the same since,BUT today I realized that I again love Sunday!! Church was awesome, Pastor Debbie you were awesome! The praise and worship was just way too cool I felt myself smiling as I sang praises to my Lord, Yes our (my) God is an Awesome God!! I continued as I traveled home with the Cd's cranked up then I just popped it out and took it inside and played music all afternoon just jamming away with Chris Tomlin, Amy Grant, Mandisa, Point of Grace, Twila Paris, Paul Baloche and on and on! I even picked up Boots and danced with him----- he wasn't impressed!!


I decided that I wanted to go barefoot so I shed the boot and shoe, the doctor really didn't mean wear the boot ALL the time did he? Well about 2 hours into my wonderful afternoon I realized that yes he did mean all the time, oh how my foot hurts. Oh well only about 2 1/2 weeks then maybe Shoes! =:)


The count down has begun for the holidays!!! Yes this year I am pumped for the holidays, I love the cooking, family gatherings, church services, shopping, TV specials I just love this time of year!!! I don't have any plans for Thanksgiving because we will have ours on Sat. following to allow my daughters to spend time with their families sooooooooo I think I just may stay in my jammies and watch the parades on TV. Glen wasn't much for parades so we usually watched a movie instead, so I will watch the parades and be thankful for all that I am blessed with!! Sounds like a plan to me!!!


Sunday, November 9, 2008

Just catching up and thinking



Ok Mila this is my 6th picture a huge apple basket at the Logenburger basket place. My sister set up a pink ribbon bus tour for my mom, sister -in-law , myself and her this Sept.. We try to do something just for us at least once a year in the past we have gone to Little Nashville in Brown County but deceided to change directions this year and go north. We had such fun just hanging out, spending the night in a hotel and just being away from all the normal life stuff (for sis she really needs this she has 5 kids, a mother-in-law and a husband all living in the same house!!!!) Sis I really don't know how you do it but I do know that God is surely on your side!! Love Ya.

Saturday, November 8, 2008

It's gotta be a "Girl Thing"!

It is Saturday morning and I have been up since 5am did you read that right? 5 am who in their right mind would get up on a Sat. morning when it is cold and you could stay snuggled up in the comforter? Well if you are a woman and you love being with your friends, and you are still a kid at heart, and you love craft and hobby shows then you understand! Today I get to spend the entire day with my best friend, her daughter -in -law (who is also my friend) and a friend of hers. We are going to Indy to the Christmas Craft and Hobby show and I am soooooooooooo excited! I love the holidays and this year I am looking forward to getting back into life with them. Thanks giving and Christmas are such special times of the year to spend with family and friends, and although last year was hard to feel the spirit God has brought me a long way and has again allowed the wonder of the holidays to well up inside me. I am so very blessed in my life, I have a home and car, lots of family who I love dearly, a ton of friends, a bestest friend in the whole world.I am blessed to be a mom to 2 wonderful daughters and I am a grandma to --well there are 8 for sure and then well I know of at least4 more who call me grandma!! I have a great, growing , alive church and have the privilage of working in Kids Zone, Angel Food, Food Pantry, Bible School,WOW! I know what it feels like to be dumped and how it feels to have been loved so deeply that you can't imagine life without him. I have been blessed to know the pain of death, divorce, abuse so that now I can help others to survive. I have a God who is alive and is living in my heart and life, without him none of the above would mean much.
So as I go off to have a good time with my friends and enjoy the blessings I have, why don't you also take a few min. and count your blessings? You will be amazed as you look at life what you will find as blessings.

Wednesday, November 5, 2008

Need Washing?

I love it when the rain is warm and is washing away the dirt and crud out of the air. I love the smell of a gentle rain and how it smells after the rain. When I was little I did like to play in the rain and when my girls were little we would go out and play in the puddles. We had one place where the puddles if we had a heavy rain would be deep enough for them to actually swim! Oh the fun! Now in my grown up years I worry about how I look if I get wet but after reading this email again I think I will look at rain in a whole different way AND I may just get out and run cause I know I need washing!!!!

NEED WASHING??

A little girl had been shopping with her Mom in Target. She must have been 6 years old, this beautiful red haired, freckle faced image of innocence. It was pouring outside. The kind of rain that gushes over the top of rain gutters, so much in a hurry to hit the earth it has no time to flow down the spout. We all stood there under the awning and just inside the door of the Target.

We waited, some patiently, others irritated because nature messed up their hurried day. I am always mesmerized by rainfall. I got lost in the sound and sight of the heavens washing away the dirt and dust of the world. Memories of running, splashing so carefree as a child came pouring in as a welcome reprieve from the worries of my day.

The little voice was so sweet as it broke the hypnotic trance we were all caught in 'Mom let's run through the rain,' she said.

'What?' Mom asked.

'Lets run through the rain!' She repeated.

'No, honey. We'll wait until it slows down a bit,' Mom replied.

This young child waited about another minute and repeated: 'Mom, let's run through the rain,'

'We'll get soaked if we do,' Mom said.

'No, we won't, Mom. That's not what you said this morning,' the young girl said as she tugged at her Mom's arm.

This morning? When did I say we could run through the rain and not get wet?

'Don't you remember? When you were talking to Daddy about his cancer, you said, 'If God can get us through this, he can get us through anything!'

The entire crowd stopped dead silent. I swear you couldn't hear anything but the rain. We all stood silently. No one came or left in the next few minutes.

Mom paused and thought for a moment about what she would say.

Now some would laugh it off and scold her for being silly. Some might even ignore what was said. But this was a moment of affirmation in a young child's life. A time when innocent trust can be nurtured so that it will bloom into faith.

'Honey, you are absolutely right. Let's run through the rain. If GOD let's us get wet, well maybe we just needed washing,' Mom said.

Then off they ran. We all stood watching, smiling and laughing as they darted past the cars and yes, through the puddles. They held their shopping bags over their heads just in case. They got soaked. But they were followed by a few who screamed and laughed like children all the way to their cars.

And yes, I did. I ran. I got wet. I needed washing.

Circumstances or people can take away your material possessions, they can take away your money, and they can take away your health. But no one can ever take away your precious memories...So, don't forget to make time and take the opportunities to make memories everyday. To everything there is a season and a time to every purpose under heaven.

I HOPE YOU STILL TAKE THE TIME TO RUN THROUGH THE RAIN.

They say it takes a minute to find a special person, an hour to appreciate them, a day to love them, but then an entire life to forget them. Send this to the people you'll never forget and remember to also send it to the person who sent it to you. It's a short message to let them know that you'll never forget them.

If you don't send it to anyone, it means you're in a hurry.

Take the time to live!!! Keep in touch with your friends, you never know when you'll need each other -- and don't forget to run in the rain!

Sunday, November 2, 2008

What a weekend!!










I am waiting on the Colts game to start we HAVE to beat the Patriots or I will never live it down with my son - in - law!!! Please Payton pull out all your magic!!
This has been a busy week I got to go back to work and by the weekend I was so glad not to go. Being off for 2 weeks is the same no matter what job you have you always have to figure out what did and didn't get done and then pick up and go. I am back on top now so Monday should be great! I spent Sat stacking wood with my mom we now have enough wood at the house to get me through at least a couple of weeks by then hopefully the boys will be around to help bring up another round. Then Parker James came and spent Sat. night and Sunday with me. What a time we had from going to my HOG chapter meeting, going to Meijers and examining all the toys, games animinals food and oh yes we got a movie Journey to the center of the earth, what a fun movie. Then Grandma deceided that I wanted some fresh flowers so I treated myself to flowers helps me to remember that spring will be back!! Today we went to church and another week in Kids Zone that will wear you out!! I love working with the kids they have so much energy and yet they will admit to having needs that only God can meet. I love reading their prayer cards and praying over them, sometimes the tears just fall when I read their concerns. We are learning about imagination and courage. Just imagine what God can do if we just let him good lesson for us adults too isn't it? I played fooze ball? with Kenedy and another little guy and got beat bad!! After clean up we were off to Muncie to Chuckie Cheeses now Parker and I neither one have been there before but oh the fun we had!! The pizza was pretty good and low and behold they had a good salad bar and yes caffine free diet Coke how much better could it get!!!???? After 2 hours I convinenced him it was time to go to the Mall for grandma to have some fun!! Yeh Bath and Body for another treat. We went to visit someone who I haven't seen for some time and discovered that she is in the hospital so tomorrow I will go back to Muncie to visit her I know her time is short and I want to be able to see her again before she doesn't recognize me. There were several gas stations with gas at $1.97 !!!! Then we headed home and that is when I noticed God's beautiful paintbrush at work. The sky was so pretty, and the trees wow I was so afraid that our fall would be colorless but the trees are becoming beautiful reds and golds. The color and smells are the best thing about fall. Thanks giving is just around the corner and this year I can see all I have to be thankful to God for.

Thursday, October 30, 2008

Okay God I get the Message!!

I have been sharing with you about my lessons on Trust and today more are coming my way soon as I got up this morning I was hit!!! I set my alarm for 5am, it is tuned to JOY FM I fade in and out for the first hour listening to the praises of the Lord it helps start my day on the right foot. Somewhere around 6 Naomi has the verse of the day and today it is Psalms 27: 14 Wait patiently for the Lord. Be brave and courageous. Yes, Wait patiently for the Lord. Then it is time to read my devotional from the Upper Room the scripture? 2Kings 5: 1-14 talks about a guy named Naaman and that to be healed of Leprosy all he had to do was go to the Jordan river and dip himself 7 times, but he was so upset because he wanted the prophet to wave a magic hand over him. When he finally trusted he was healed. The thought for the day "God is worth trusting!" The last thing that has come up so far is my birthverse, there is this cool website birthverse.com that Naomi was talking about this morning and so I went to look up mine it is Hebrews 12:2 and this is what it says; Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
When God sets his sites on you there is not much you can do to avoid him, especially if you are seeking to be the best daughter ever. There is something that I really want to happen but now I am seeing that it will only happen when I give complete trust to my Lord and Savior. My personel verse Jeremiah 29: 11 "I have a plan for you" Lord help me to wait and trust you for your perfect plan for my life. I want to rush ahead and do it my way cause I wanted it yesterday, but you know best and I am trying my best to trust you alone.

Wednesday, October 29, 2008

Learning to Trust

I like to read, and I read a lot of different things including online devotionals. One thing that God has been trying to get me to do is trust him. In these last 2 1/2 years he has really been working on me starting with knee surgery,then quiting a good stable job, to volunteering at a christian school, to actually working for pay at the school, loosing the love of my life, back to only volunteer status with unemployment. Then unemployment runs out and what did he do? He handed me a job in a church just 5 blocks away, then allowed me to do a stupid thing like break a toe and tear ligiments, having to have surgery and now back to work. I say all of this to let you know that I could have done one of 2 things either give up or trust him. Fortunately however weak it is at times I have learned to trust God, I just read this devotional and wanted to share it with you
.Understanding God's WaysDay 195"Understanding the ways of God with my little finite mind would be like a little corpuscle in my big toe trying to figure what I'm thinking in my mind," said Dr. Bill Bright. "I can trust Him; I don't have to understand." Why do humans feel the need to understand and to be in control of everything that happens in their lives? This reaction may be human nature, but that does not make it right. At the beginning of time, man was created in the image of God (Genesis 1:26-27). But man was tempted by Satan to sin and failed the test. Since that time humans have continued to be tempted and to fall. This is our sin nature. All people are born sinners; we are born to want to take control and have the upper hand in our lives. But we are doomed to failure. This is why Christ came as the God/man to earth. He came to live, die, and rise again as payment for the sins of all people for all time. Only a sovereign God could possibly do such a thing and be successful! If you believe this about Christ and surrender your life to Him, you will receive the benefits of His work of salvation. You do not need to fully understand Him, just believe in Him and trust Him in all things."But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us" (Romans 5:8)."Christ died for our sins. . . . he was buried, . . . he was raised on the third day. . . . He appeared to more than five hundred [witnesses]" (1 Corinthians 15:3-6)."I will put my trust in him" (Hebrews 2:13).God, You are good, and I trust You in all things. Amen.
Isn't it awesome-we don't have to understand, just believe and trust!! I want to understand but I don't have to, just believe he has it all under controll. What a relief!!

Tuesday, October 28, 2008

There are a few of you that worry about me learning to do new things especially with tools and ladders. When I made the comment this week that I was going to climb the ladder and put up the curtains there was panic and comments like Don't get up on that ladder with your foot. Well
just want you to know that even though I did lean heavily on the ladder and occasionally forgot and stood on my toes I did get the rod up yes it fell twice till I got it right but it is up and I once again have conquered my fear of not being able to do something. Soon very soon I am going to tackle the garage and learn to use the power saw!!

Where is God when I need him??

Ever ask that question? I have almost daily I want him to take me by the shoulders and look me in the eyes and say"Brenda this is exactly what I want you to do. Don't try to alter it just do it!" Today while I was reading my emails this one came across and it makes me think.



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Walk by Faith, Trusting God
Day 193

"For we walk by faith, not by sight" (2 Corinthians 5:7 NASB).

You are called to walk by faith, especially when there are unanswered questions in your heart. You are to trust God, even when you do not have the explanations you feel you need.

Dr. Joseph Stowell says: "If you look at your problem and then look at God, you always end up throwing stones at God for the problem. If you look at God first and look at your problems through Him, through His sovereignty—that He is in control of everything, that He has permitted this in your life for a reason, that He is a just God, that He will settle the score for you—you will see that He is an all-powerful God who can turn this situation to that which is good and right.

"So the way to avoid the vulnerability of these nagging questions that distance you from God and make you liable for Satan's attack in the midst of your despair is to really focus on what you know to be true about God and to live in the exclamation point of that truth, not in the question marks of what you don't know about your problem."

Faithful God, I must look at You first. Teach me about Your goodness and sovereignty. Teach me to see the big picture and not just the pebbles of my unanswered questions. Lord, I'm willing to try. Amen

Yes Lord I am trying to look at you first, but you made me human and sometimes it is so hard because I want my answers now not tomorrow, or next week or next year but now. Help me to slow down and listen,( but oh please don't make me have more surgery or broken bones!)
On a lighter note I went back to work yesterday and it really felt good to be back out with the public. The day was chaotic,My boss wasn't there, my internet is down, I would have known my boss wasn't coming in if my internet had been working, I couldn't find needed papers from the last 2 weeks, the accountant wanted tax papers for payroll that I didn't have the foggiest idea what he was wanting and on and on but hey the time went fast and I survived!! I really love the Life of Brenda no matter how crazy it is!!! Yes and I got pictures of my Michigan babies , I would show you but can't find where the computer downloaded them! Here we go again! See ya next time.

Friday, October 24, 2008

Upbeat day!!







Yesterday was just such a great day! It was a pretty day and I got to spend it with some really special people namely my mom and 2 of my grandsons. It is always a good time when I get to spend time with my family and I am fortunate to have an awesome mom still living and still getting around as good (even better right now) than me! It is amazing how much my mom is becoming like me!!! Thats my story and I'm stickin to it!!



I got my stitches out yesterday and the incision looks great but I get to wear my wonderful boot for 4 more weeks, good news is I get to go back to work and back to curves. Beth's fella Bud fixed my Jimmy for a fraction of the cost that a dealer would charge me. Thank you Bud!! I picked up the boys after all this and we got to make personel pizzas and had chocolate soy milk. then we played with legos and watched movies a wonderful evening.



My best friend got a good report from a breast biospy which was an answer to prayer.



Even though I had an issue with my checking accounts, ever put the same checks in 2 check books and then write checks? Well let me tell ya it doesn't work!! Then the insurance that I had canceled last month took out a payment this month!!! I still don't have that one straightened out. God is good and he is alive and walking with this lady! There is something else good brewing but that will have to wait for a different time to be revealed!!



My granddaughter turned 12 today Happy Birthday Taylor I love you.



Have a great day all.

Wednesday, October 22, 2008

God is always here

I read this this morning and boy did it hit me right between the eyes!!!

What to Do With the Whys?
Day 190

"What do you do with the whys?" asks Kay Arthur after her husband committed suicide. She answers, "You have to lay them at the feet of Omniscience and, by faith, leave them there and say, 'If You want to show me why, God, fine. If not, I'm going to cling to who You are and what You promise.' When you're asking why, and you're in the dark, and you don't have any reasons, you are to cling to Him in hope. He is the God of all hope. The thing that you have to realize is you are here for a much larger purpose than you realize."

Hope in God, knowing that your questions may not be answered. Each day make a point to look beyond your situation to the all-knowing God of truth, who will not leave you nor fail you. Learn about His attributes and cling to them in hope. The path of life that you travel is different from what you expected, but He will guide you.

"I will lead the blind by ways they have not known, along unfamiliar paths I will guide them; I will turn the darkness into light before them and make the rough places smooth. These are the things I will do; I will not forsake them" (Isaiah 42:16).

Lord, I am truly in the dark, and it scares me. In my fear, I lash out wildly. Shine Your light in my heart. Lead me along this new path. Amen.
I have a new way to look at things now and a reminder that " your ways are not my ways"

Last night at bible study we had something awesome happened------ everyone in the group prayed!!! We encouraged each one to just say a one line prayer even let them choose one of the requests to pray for. How wonderful to see each lady realize that all you have to do is just "talk " to God and even greater is that they all prayed more than one line!!! This was probably one of the best times we have had in a long time. It lifted my spirits tremendously, Satin will not keep me down for long at this rate "I am fighting back!!"
Have a great day everyone!

Sunday, October 19, 2008

just thoughts

I don't want to go to the alter, I don't want to cry in front of everybody, God I can do this without --------okay God you win. This is just a contunuation of the battles that I have been fighting this week and today continued. I have not cried this much in a long time, satin is working overtime on me right now.
I told my child to leave a marriage, that she deserves better. I have never said that before and I am sorry God for telling her this but I believe it to be true and she will never find her way back to you if she stays. I am afraid for her and her children's safety, Lord please please protect them.
My dryer is eating my clothes! Guess I will find a way to hang them to dry.
My TV only has color when it wants not when I want! Oh well who needs color anyway?
My turn signals don't work on my Jimmy. I checked the fuses and that didn't fix the problem. Great no paycheck, got to figure another way.
Now I need 2 new gutters , great still no paycheck!
I am doing one thing right I tithe every check I learned the lesson about 3 years ago what happens when you don't tithe. Guess that is why I am not worried about not having a paycheck right now. God has provided so far why should I doubt him now?!?!?!
As pastor Kris spoke this morning I started counting my blessings; a home, a SUV, a bike, friends, family,church,job,............... the list goes on and on I am truly rich.
Lord show me where you want me to be, show me how to climb out of this valley I am in right now. Show me who I am and who you want me to be.

Saturday, October 18, 2008

The Shower




Above you see my newest protection and you also see a picture of my shower and then one of my wonderful friend's Mila and Jack Frost. A handicap shower complete with a stool, ledge to put my foot up and a handheld shower head. If you were a clutz like me which one would you prefer right now? Thanks so much guys for allowing me to sit in your shower and allow the hot water to wash away the dirt. Thanks to Jan for giving me a better method of protection,cling wrap and waterproof medical tape, the foot remained dry!
I wondered what God wanted me to take from this episode other than gratitude for such dear friends. His answer is this very simple thought; "Just as the water washed away the dirt and the cling wrap protected your foot so to did the blood of my son which was shed for you washed away your sins and now is protecting you. All I ask is your gratitude and service."
Good nite all.

Wednesday, October 15, 2008




I can't sleep. I hate it when I can't sleep, I was so very tired and didn't feel good so I went to bed early and for about 1-2 hours I drifted in and out of dream land and now here I am it is 11:45 pm and I am wide awake! I have been sleeping a lot this week being, down is boring for me but necessary because I don't know how to stop. I am happiest when I am busy with the grandkids,helping others be it at work or the food pantry or angel food or what ever. I love to give but find it very difficult to receive. I have prided myself for not asking for help in this last 18 months but God is showing me that it is only fair to allow myself to be blessed sometimes too. Today I received food and money, God also allowed for a check I had written to be returned which I was going to use for Christmas but is now used to meet my financial responsibilities. I say all of this because when I opened up my emails tonight the following story appeared and it reminded me of how the children of God are to be and how my church family and my blood family has treated me this past year and especially the last few days.



A holy man was having a conversation> > with the Lord one day and said.> > > > 'Lord, I would like to know what> > Heaven and Hell are like.> > > The Lord led the holy man to two> > doors.> > > > He opened one of the doors and the> > holy man looked in. In the middle of> > the room was a large round table. In> > the middle of the table was a large> > pot of stew, which smelled delicious> > > and made the holy man's mouth water.> > The people sitting around the table> > were thin and sickly. They appeared to be> famished. They were holding> spoons with very long handles that were strapped> to their arms and> > each found it possible to reach into the pot of> stew and take a> > spoonful.> > > > But because the handle was longer> > than their arms, they could not get> > > > the spoons back into their mouths.> > > The holy man shuddered at the sight> > of their misery and suffering.> > > > The Lord said, 'You have seen Hell.> > They went to the next room and> > opened the door. It was exactly the> > same as the first one. There was the> > large round table with the large pot> > > > of stew which made the holy man's> > > > mouth water. The people were equipped> > > > with the same long-handled spoons,> > > but here the people were well nourished> > > > and plump, laughing and talking. The holy> > > > man said, 'I don't understand.> > > > It is simple,' said the Lord.> > > > 'It requires but one skill. You see> > they have learned to feed each> > other, while the greedy think only> > of themselves.'> > > > > > When Jesus died on the cross, he was>thinking of you.


Now on the funny side you know with me there has to be something funny going on and this is my wild idea for the week. I needed a shower really bad, you know the sponge bath just doesn't make you feel clean so I deceided to take a shower, but how can I do it without getting the dressing wet? My brain went to work and I entered the bathroom with a roll of aluminum foil, a plastic walmart bag and a whole hand full of rubber bands. I wrap the foot as snugly as possible with the foil, and put some rubberbands around for holding it in place and sealing. Then on goes the plastic bag, making sure there were no holes in it I slipped my foot into it and proceeded to put a ton of rubberbands on to make sure that no water could possibly enter. I gently climbed into the shower ( last thing I wanted was for my mom to find me fallen in the shower without a stitch of clothes on!) and turned on the hot water oh how good it felt! Thing is I just got my hair wet when I realized that my foot had a strange feel to it, Yep you guessed it somehow the water found it's way past all the protection I had used! Well I finished the shower with one foot proped up on the side of the tub real safe let me tell ya! I got my gear off as soon as possible and got the hair dryer out and started trying to blow dry the dressings. I thought I might have succeded but to my dismay walking across the floor I could see that I was leaving a foot print not a good sign. I now have a new dressing , do you think the doctor will notice in another week? We will see. Makes me think that even the best protection is not good enough unless it is excuted by the professionals, and the best professional is God he has provided me with all the protection I need for this life here on earth so why oh why do I try to do things my way? Anyone else in that same boat?!?!

Sunday, October 12, 2008

Patience


Hello everyone beautiful feet uh? My Michigan grandkids wanted to see the before and after of my surgery so guess I will share some thoughts with you too.
Do you know how important your big toe is? It keeps you balanced! and when it gets all bent out of shape it really messes things up especially walking barefoot! Not only did I walk on the side of my foot which is making my right hip hurt but I kept getting it caught on things. Put my shoe on and everything was great but take away that support and things go to pot! I was thinking about how this relates to being a Christian and a part of the body of Christ. It takes visuals for me to learn and like I said when God wants to talk to me he has to stop me, sometimes he has to stop parts of the body to give others a chance to work or heal. I see this when churches split up and go their separate ways. I came from a church that split after we left and the damage that was done looked unrepairable but God is taking that split and using it to make 2 stronger churches. Look at what happens when natural disasters occur and then people especially God's children come in and spread his love and compassion. Look at our church and how the love and support of each person that attends supports others and makes us stronger. It takes lots of patience to grow up and strong, and it takes lots of support, just like the shoe supported my foot until it could be fixed the body of Christ could, should and does support it's members while they heal and grow strong again. Way to go FFC!!!! And thanks to who ever you are that chose to bless me today the tears I shed were of a grateful heart, Thank you!

Thursday, October 2, 2008

Sunset

Did anyone see the beautiful sunset tonight? This is 2 Thursdays in a row that I have been followed by one of God's most beautiful creations big, big round orange fire ball of sun. The clouds range from orange to yellow to dark blue to orchid to light blue. The sun itself was like this really clear orange ball. I did not have my camera again but I can tell you that it was a beautiful reminder of our savior and one day we will all be riding off into that beautiful sunset. I will be on the Harley how will you be traveling?!?!

Tuesday, September 30, 2008

The Reveal





Well my Michigan daughter tonight said that it was high time to show her what the room looks like so I took pictures and amd sending to her,meanwhile I figured since you all have been following the progress I would show you too. Only some minor details to finish up but I think it looks pretty good. Next step is putting away all the stuff that is stuffed in all the other rooms, seems like all I do is move things around but never really get things cleaned up. Sometimes life seems like that too, we move things around to get through another day or maybe just another hour. While I am trying to declutter my home I am also trying to declutter my life,learning to say NO, trying to set some priorities, and trying to catch up and then stay ahead of the game. I don't know about you but I procrastonate especially when I don't know what to do first, then I am rushing around at the last min. trying to finish the task at hand. I get upset with myself for being so unorganized because I know things would be better if I would "get it together" My goal is to have my home and my life put together so that when the unexpected arises I will not be thrown completely off course. I think that God is trying to do that with my spiritual life too, leading me to read my bible more, to pray more and to put him first more. I know that when I am in the right place with the Lord then other things will fall into place because I have my priorities straight. Not an easy task in this world of business but that is where my path is leading even if it is winding, hilly and rocky-------- such it is in the life of Brenda!!