God Speaks

Every time I go to church at The Branches @ FFC God speaks to me and most of the time it is a scolding! Just like my daddy used to do only not so harsh but to the point. The Blacks were there today and I could feel the passion they have for reaching the people of Jamaica for Jesus. I was impressed with Aaron's comment that he doesn't know how many they have reached for Jesus but that doesn't matter cause all they do is what God tells them to do they are OBEDIENT. OBEDIENT is such an intimidating word and a difficult one to do,why? Why is it so hard to do what we know is the right thing to do? Why are we so afraid to step outside of our box? Why do I cry because I want to be involved in God's work and yet I sit on my duff in my own world wondering why things don't get better for me?
God spoke to me today and basically said "Yea of little faith" I don't make enough money to pay my bills and yet God is saying "give" Give what? I work and I try to take care of a house and property the best I can. I have been harvesting the bounty of the season to supplement the the sometimes empty freezer and fridge. I share my time with grandchildren and my mother, I have no time or money,Give What Lord?
His answer was so simple "Give me you" Let ME take care of things, let ME take care of you" I hear this and yet I am afraid to be OBEDIENT. I am trying Lord I am trying.

Sifting through the ashes

I am sure that sounds like a fire and in a way it is. I have begun some serious spring cleaning and in doing so am having to go through the last of Glen's "stuff" to some that is all it is but to me that "stuff" represents a life that is lost to me but found to Jesus. I am happy where I am in life right now, I have a good life even with it's struggles but I find that I miss the life I had for 5 wonderful years. How do you decide what to save and what to throw away, what would the grand kids want from grandpa ? How will my future relationships be affected by what I choose to keep and toss? How will I feel when I toss memories. I find myself very confused at this moment but am comforted by emails I have received since Glen's death that reminds me that I am not alone EVER!
Jesus is here holding my hand and wiping my tears as I do this task and I am so thankful that he is cause I can't do this alone. I am again reminded about Jeremiah 29:11 That God has a plan for me and my future and it is for good not evil. Thank you Jesus for standing by me always.

Bugs

Well the H1N1 has hit my family too.Taylor my granddaughter just turned 13 on Sat and also contracted the virus the same day. She has fought a temp of 105.5 all day today but her mom called and said no trip to the hospital as the temp down to 99 hopefully it will stay down. What a birthday present right? I haven't got my shots yet dr didn't have them when I called they didn't have them yet. Delema do I keep trying or take the chance that I am immune? From last year's experience with pneumonia I know that I am not immune from germs. In the same way I am not immune to all the dangers in the world just because I am a Christian and just because I work in a church doesn't mean I am safe. Without going into a lot of detail a couple of weeks ago I got a phone call at work not one that you would expect a church to get. This person was in Missouri but called a church in Winchester, Indiana just by going on the internet and picking a church. Why my office? Why me? How did I keep my witts about me? Was I scared? Not while on the phone but later YES!!! I had to learn to lock my doors and windows, not be alone for a while I felt like a prisoner in my own home. I didn't like that feeling and still now I am more careful about noticing my surroundings.
Pastor Kris is talking about HOPE and giving it to others, I been thinking about how my experiences could give someone hope. God takes us down paths that we don't like sometimes so we can be able to help others that may have to walk that same path someday. Your paths are different than mine, some have sickness, financial difficulties,injury,loneliness, joys,triumphs and so on. The lessons we learn can when used by God bring HOPE to others because they can see Jesus through our lives. Take some time to think about those paths and how they can help someone else.

A Time for Change?

It is September not one of my favorite times of the year because I know when school starts and the days begin to cool off that winter is on it's way. Fall is beautiful with the changing colors of the landscape and I got to thinking this morning that there are some things in my life that need some changing so I am setting some goals. Some of these will be noticeable to anyone who is around me especially those in Wed. night weight loss class. All summer long I have been a slacker, we have been doing so many fun things that I let the exercise and good eating slip into non existence, anyone else guilty? The scales and my clothes are giving me a good hint that I better get back on the band wagon. I finally got back to church too it is so easy to place the importance of other things or people before God and that too is not a good thing, so I told my special someone that I was going back to church be it in Farmland or Anderson, I miss the fellowship and the messages from God that Sunday morning brings. I am praying for no distractions in church, it is so easy to watch those around us and miss what God has for us.
In my devotions this morning the author was talking about setting a goal to beat your record, it is much easier to focus on just one thing and beating that record (goal) than it is to look at a big picture. We don't reach our goal on the first day of practice, it takes lots of patience and practice, a couple of stumbles and maybe even a fall but with perseverance we can arrive! So today it is one step at a time. Oh by the way I did start yesterday learning to ride a passenger on my motorcycle! Steven was brave enough to jump on the back and we drove around a country mile and I didn't spill him or the bike Thanks Steven!!!!

Sorry

don't know why it posted twice you only have to enjoy once we are still hot and some are sunburned. While I am posting the others are at the wall feeding the homeless I stayed behind to care for Toni as the heat got the best of her today. The temp today was 93 but the feels like temp was 105 with 51% humidity nothing can keep cool even our freezers and refrigerators are not working up to par!!! well while everyone is out of the building I am going to take advantage of a cool shower. Till tomorrow

Make a Smilebox slideshow

New Orleans slide show

Make a Smilebox slideshow

New Orleans day 2

Today was a busy day at Car, penters House II My crew first worked in the tool room organizing all the power tools, nuts, bolts, nails, plumbing and electrical supplies. Some of us made a trip to Crescent City to the grocery to get lunch, supper and breakfast supplies, I am getting used to driving in this town and the big van so far I haven't backed into a thing!!! Next I was handed a challenge Judy comes in and says that she wants to see me Ok says I and she leads me to a dark closet full of all kinds of craft supplies and then she says "I hear you want to do a bible school, here is a closet full of stuff you can use anything you want in here" I am like but what program do I use, where is the material? The material is what ever God lays on your heart. Oh boy am I in a pickle now! But as picture number 2 shows 5 ladies stepped up to the plate and said we want to help what can we do? We have some craft ideas in mind memory verses in mind and a theme!! Please pray with us that this will all fall together. Judy said that her goal is to take me outside my box even further and she knows she just did!! The picture on the left is the 3 members on this trip that were on the first New Orleans LA trip we went back to visit Crescent City Baptist church to see all the changes, it now has bunks in every rooms and the air works and all bathrooms work!! What a change!!! The last picture is our group which is becoming our family by the end of the week we will know eachother very well and new friendships will form and old ones will be strengthened.
Good night!!

New Orleans 09 Sunday

The day has finally arrived we are on our way to New Orleans LA. My third trip here and every year I am excited to get down here and see what has been happening and what God has for me this time. We had a relatively uneventful trip down except for having to leave Lisa and Evan at the Edinburgh outlet mall to be picked up by family, Lisa and Kenny our thoughts are with you. This year I get to be a driver with Dennis being my co-pilot. Sharon and I tend to drive at the same time and since we both have lead feet it works great I get to get some of the "desire for speed " out of me!! The picture out the window is of the median in Alabama of the wild flowers these happen to be black eyed susans such a beautiful site along with the magnolia trees and other wild flowers. We arrived at Carpenters House II about 10:15 pm Indiana time but we gained an hour so it is really a little after 9 pm we were on the road for what seemed like days but somewhere between 16 & 17 hours. When we got out of the van at our home for the week we quickly realized that we are not in Indiana, it is HOT here even at night! Luckily the girls have air conditioning sorry guys. Well everyone wants to go to sleep and they just turned the lights out on me so I too will say goodnight. See you tomorrow.

Saying Goodbye

The past
couple of weeks have been a whirlwind of activity at my house. The kids were home from Michigan what a joy to spend time with Taylor, Caleb and Ethan! My daughter and her husband chose for my mother's day gift to clean the garage and have a sale to clear out all the many tools that Glen had collected, they knew that I had not been able to face that task, so they did it for me. You would think that selling a bunch of old tools many that I had not idea what they were would not be such a big thing but it hit me like a ton of bricks. The thing is that they are just tools and the memories that are attached to them are still mine. Several of the tools were sold to someone because they belonged to Glen or his dad Eddie, it wasn't because the guy needed the tool but because it brought back a memory of a time that was spent with one of these men. This makes me think about how I spend my time and what kind of a memory am I leaving for those I come in contact with. Is my life one of good memories or are there things that would be best forgotten? I hope that one day when the girls have to go through my things they will find joy in the memories, hopefully they will forget all the spankings, time out, groundings etc. they got and focus on the positive like family dinners, Christmas morning, vacations, church camp, youth group etc. I challenge you to stop and think about what your life reflects and the memories you are making, I for one am going to keep focusing on making life more positive and fun for myself and those I spend my time with, life is way too short to be a grump!!!!
Well I am off to finish some packing only 2 more days till we leave for New Orleans, LA tune in often as I will try to update you each day as to what my day has been. I have no doubt that each one of us will experience something new and God will again work in our hearts and lives. Can't wait!!!!!!!!

It must be spring!!

It surely must be spring cause I went to mom's tonight and got bunches of Lilac and my house smells so good!!! I have been really busy doing all kinds of things but my favorites are working outside in the yard and flowers, and as the picture shows enjoying Gage and Parker play ball and yes dancing! This picture shows the closest that I have ever been to Elvis he was really good for a young kid and this was only his second time preforming in public. "Let's Get Movin" is going really good too it is great to see the support system being built and encouraging that the ladies want to continue after the first 6 weeks, way to go girls! We had 2 new ones this week, had some success stories and some not so successful weeks but we are warriors and we will conquer!!!
I talked to Charles in New Orleans tonight and I am so excited to get down there, some of us will be working with the children doing some sort of bible school and hoping to hand out children's bibles and bible story books. God laid this on my heart 3 months ago and am thrilled to see it coming together.
Well it is approaching bedtime so I will say good night to all sleep tight!

''Let's Get Movin' !"

Do you remember the story of Moses in Exodus chapter 3&4 when Moses told the Lord that he was not eloquent in speech and slow in speech? God asked him who gave him his mouth? Then he said" now go; I will help you speak and will teach you what to say." Well tonight Brenda had a Moses moment! I was so scared but Jenny and Lisa prayed and I spoke! I have little idea of what I said I just know that the words flowed from my mouth and I didn't break down and cry! I am so proud of the 12 ladies who were there they made it all the way through the video and they didn't complain! Way to go girls!!!!!
We are learning that exercise doesn't have to be boring it is fun, if you are interested come join us on Wed. 6-8pm I promise you will have fun and I will hopefully remember what I said!!!

Rainy days

I do not like rainy dreary days they do things to me and most of the time it is not good! Days like today play with my emotions, I tend to doubt my choices,my abilities, my confidence,the plans that God says he has for me, I cry a lot and waste a lot of energy hiding how I really feel from everyone but my best friend,( no use trying to hide from her she sees right through me!) I am getting ready for another challenge in my path tonight. Tomorrow we will start "Let's Get Moving!!" I am not really good at exercising and even worse at watching my diet, so why was I chosen for this task? I don't know but there are a couple of others who have offered their help so as a team we will move forward on this project that God has designed. I learned in Perspective class that God works in teams, he also uses what ever we have in our hands to do his work I look at my hands and ask what do I have to work with? All I see is empty hands that are ready to do his work, I can put in a DVD, I can clap and dance to the music this is where I will start. On my last weight loss endeavor we got a Lego block and it says LET GOD I look at it often and sometimes I am successful most of the time I am not.That is where I am right now trying to let go and let God,right now though I think I had better try to get some rest since I keep falling asleep typing this!!!!

When God is about to reposition your life know that the devil will beg in to attack!
This was the first thing I read on an email today and it really struck me. I have really been struggling with alot of personal stuff lately, then my MI daughter and family have had sickness, surgery and other house problems. Then my granddaughter ran away from home last night causing fear in our hearts, thankfully she is found and is ok. Stress is a part of life today, do you remember being a teenager? I do and even 40+ years ago it wasn't easy. As teenagers we are torn in so many directions, so many choices good and bad, peer pressure, hopes and dreams, people who influence you both good and bad. You are not old enough to be called an adult but too old to be a kid no wonder they are so confused!
As I write this I think of myself and I think I am not that much different as an adult! Being single again adds different kinds of pressuers many of the same ones that teenagers have, we as singles want to be a part of something/someone. We want to be loved and cherished, to be liked by everyone. We too have all kinds of choices some good and some bad only difference is that we don't have our parents to come bail us out and we really don't want our parents involved! I was reminded again last night that we have someone who can help if we ask, within minuets after I got myself and friends together to pray she was found and was safe. I do not know where it will go from here but I do know that God is in it and when I do not know what to say he hears my heart.

Little bit of this -n -that

What do you do on a Sat. night? Well it depends if I don't have a date (& I usually don't!) and there isn't a dance and the grand kids happen to be free you spend the evening with the them and have a ball. A couple of weeks ago I took 4 of my grand kids to my HOG chapter meeting at MCL in Richmond they are a hoot to watch choose food especially the boys, man can they eat!!! I am not sure what they thought of grandma as it was wear your leathers night and I had on my very first pair of leathers- red chaps and read fringed jacket no I didn't get a picture but let me assure you I could be seen a mile away! I was also excited because I can now wear them it has been 5 years since I was able to get into them! Then we went to the movies to see Bedtime Stories but the movie had already started so we got our tickets back to the mall to hang out. While we were there they decided to get our pictures taken in one of those little booths I have never done anything like that so here we go and here are the pictures. My grand daughter who is 14 said "I always have fun with you grandma!" Boy did that feel good!!
I looked at the calendar today and we only have 13 weeks till we are in New Orleans! It seems from one year to the next it is so long then all of a sudden it is here. I am really looking forward to what God has in store for us this year it is always something exciting, sometimes scary and always a learning experience.
Perspectives class is equally interesting a lot of the information goes right over my head but I do retain some! This week we talked about getting to know the culture of the people that you are going to serve. It is so important to understand their ways before you try to lead them to Jesus, if you don't halfway understand each other it can be very confusing.Only 4 more weeks of this class then what will I do with Monday nights? I am sure the yard and warm weather will take care of that. Isn't it just beautiful outside today?
Well that is all the rambling I have to do today time to jump in the shower and run!!!
BYE

Friends

I looked up the meaning of a friend tonight this is what Funk & Wagnalls has to say about friends: One who is personally well known by oneself and whom one has warm regards or affection; intimate. One who belongs to the same nation,party etc.as oneself;also one with whom one is united in the same purpose, cause.
Tonight I experienced true friendship the kind that is deep and united. Several of my friends banded together in prayer for me then took turns keeping me busy. People who care to be the shoulder to cry on, who lifted me up to our father in prayer for strength and comfort. Proverbs 13:20 talks about who your friends are say much about you Proverbs 17:17 says" A friend is always loyal and a brother is born to help in time of need"NLT I am so thankful for my friends some new and some who have been there for as long as I can remember. I wonder how people who don't have friends cope with, get through or survive the difficult times in their lives. Who do they turn to for comfort? I know the answers to some of those questions and if it would not be for my friendship with a loving GOD and the people here on earth he has put into my life I too could be on the wrong side of the tracks.I just want to say thank you for banding together for a common cause and I will be there for you too just say the words and I will be there.

This will probably be a short post tonight one because the weather is playing games with my wireless and two I am ready to lay back down. Yes I say back down cause as some of you know I have been in bed all week with pneumonia!!! I tell you I will be glad when warm sunny weather arrives and I can be outside and away from all the germies!!! I have been sick for almost 3 months now longer than I have been sick in 8 years!!! I am getting really tired of this.Tonight I felt good enough to read my bible some and read a passage in James that really jumped out at me. In James 4:17 it says
"Remember. it is sin to know what you ought to do and then not do it." Well duh we all know that right? Then I read the explanation of that verse......it can be a sin to avoid someone when you know he/she needs your friendship, to do an act of kindness, or service or restore a relationship. We all know it is a sin to tell a lie, but it can also be a sin to know the truth and not tell it. WOW now I am thinking how many times a day do I sin? How many times have I known I was supposed to do something and didn't do it? What kind of opportunities have I missed? I am going to try to be more aware of things I should do and do them, I have learned to pray when someone comes to my mind but am not so good at acting on some other things. How about you how many times do you ignore a feeling or nudge,what are you missing?
Well my body is telling me I have pushed enough today and I need to rest for all the coughing I will be doing in the morning!!!! Nite all

Questions

Perspectives class is over for another night and again I am challenged. One of our speakers said "When you get comfortable with your Christian life, get ready because God is about to upset it again!" I am not sure that was his exact words but I got the message and my comment at that moment was "I want to be comfortable for a little while. God I have had enough turmoil for a while." Now I have more questions than ever!!! Am I too comfortable where I am? Am I too comfortable with New Orleans missions? Am I going to be asked to leave my family? What if I meet someone and they have other goals and plans that God has given them? ( I am sure that God has the prefect one whose goals and plans match perfectly) What if it is somewhere that has dangerous illnesses, creepy bugs (especially spiders)or snakes, or a really hard language, or war/conflicts, what if............ couldn't I just serve you God right here in Winchester, Indiana or at least in the states?

My Day Off January 28, 2009

Make a Smilebox slideshow

Random thoughts

How do you like my unbirthday gift? Some very dear friends thought of the Harley Girl in me and gave me these sheets I LOVE THEM!! Got my motor running and gave me spring fever--or should I say riding fever!!!
Thanks Guys


The second picture is of the book that represents the class I am taking with some others from FFC. I was told that if I took the Perspectives class my life would change forever. Then Monday night we were told that if you are getting comfortable with where your life is right now get ready because it is about to change!! Now wait a min. I have had so many changes in the last two years I want to be comfortable for a little while!!! Then I saw the video on Mila's blog about Jamacia and last week on New Orleans and my heart is really being tugged on. So many people needing so much help, but what do I have to offer? That is what I keep asking, what is it that I am supposed to do, where is my place in all of this big wonderful plan that God has to bring glory to his name? The answer to those questions are yet to come, I only know that I want to go, I want to be used by God I want to serve him. I want to be brave and bold, I am not like that on my own so I know it will be a "God thing" when it happens!