Ready Set Goooooooooooooo!

Rehearsal last night til 10pm. I loooove to sing! I'll miss our jam session on Tuesday night because I have to go to an overseers meeting. I'll get back in time for coffee and goodies, I think.

Mike and I planted our shrubs this afternoon. I got a mock orange bush at the flea market. I love white flowering stuff. I couldn't afford a dogwood, so I settle for the $9 shrub.

I have the loveliest hummingbird that comes in the morning and evening to the feeder. It's a she. Her wings are just vibrating the air.

We've been invaded by rabbits. A family of four played around in our driveway. One was so exhausted from running in circles, 'she' just sprawled out in the dirt. Animals are such un-vain (probably NOT a word) comics.

I had planted yellow pansies in my flower pots around the gazebo. Their pretty faces make me smile.

'And what is so rare as a day in June...then, if ever, come perfect days.'

I had to memorize that poem in high school...ages ago. It's never left except the author's name. I could look it up but...

How cool!

Oh my! I did it again...

Hi everyone. I'm still with you and not raptured. I AM en-raptured by all of the stuff you'all seem to get posted everyday. I've been busy with some challenges at FW's. Came in 9th place this week and 6th place a few weeks ago in the intermediate level. I really haven't caught on to what they're looking for as winners. I really don't care. I like to write what the Holy Spirit puts on my heart. This week's topic is 'abundance'. I'm already spinning the tale but only in my head.

Been working on my guitar and singing. We've a jam at a nursing home next Wednesday.

OOOOOH! TODAY'S MY 35TH WEDDING ANNIVERSARY, TOO! YAHOO!

Remember the song "Looks like we made it" (country version). People never thought we would but we've had a blast.

And Spookie! Here's hope. He's been to church once a month for the past three. God does answer prayers. He is faithful!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Be back soon.

Oh my! It's been awhile...

Sorry everone! Life caught up with me this weekend.

Saturday night we jammed in our 'new' basement studio. My grandkids came down with the chicken pox on Monday and last night we jammed again.

It is such fun, learing to play instruments especially when you have other people with like desire. I think we started around 7 pm and no one left til 10:30.

Even my dog enjoys the music. She guards the 'mosh pit'. Sometimes though, we catch her napping. I don't know if that's because of the sounds or she's just tired.

I tossed and turned all night, reliving the music and fun. When my husband got up this morning I told him 'I'm too excited to sleep.' (TV commercial about Disney)

If anyone out there is bored with their life, learn to play guitar. It's a blast.

WHEW!

It's the third week in a row that I've entered the writing challenges on Faithwriters. They keep my mind busy with writing. They sure aren't on the top 40 list but at least I am putting something on paper (or computer screen, anyway).

Had music practice last night. They're encouraging me to sing louder but I don't want to step on anyone's toes.

My husband and I love the song by Josh Turner called 'The Long Black Train'. I can't believe that my husband loves and sings a Christian song. God sure does find the exact way into a man's heart. My husband's is music.

If we leave it up to God, He moves through the desires of those He's trying to reach. It may be through video games, songs, books, science or whatever a heart desire is crying.

Will I never cease to be amazed even though I know God is above all and in all.

The more I know of Him, the more there is to know. Praise God, You're amazing!

Public Display

We'll we did it! My husband and I debuted at a local nursing home on Saturday.

Thankfully we weren't alone and the rest of the group carried our feeble attempts as backup.

Inexplicable joy filled our hearts as we watched the residents tapping their feet, clapping their hands and singing along. We may have been out of tune a few times but they wanted more.

We felt that we gave them a little of the sunshine of remembered times and tunes. Many wanted to know when we were coming back.

We only lost one resident during the performance. The ambulance attendents came and took one out on the stretcher. They assured us it was a routine pickup and nothing more. As they wheeled out the gurney, the one attendent danced a jig out through the doors and into the hallway. What fun!

It's a Dandy

This spring is truly blessed by God, that is, unless you have allergies.

The trees are engulfed with masses of blossoms turning trees into total color.

I hope for abundant fruit this summer. I can't wait for cherries, blackberries and pears. But that will mean that the season has started its downhill climb to fall and winter.

One thing for sure, we have piles of dandelions. How can my mown yard have myriads of yellow bursts and the wild fields have just a little?

Does that mean that the more exposed you are, the weeds grow all the more? I don't know. It sure is tough to get rid of them...dandelions.

I'm just going to enjoy the month of May. May flowers, brought by April showers, refresh my soul and cause a stirring of adoration for my Creator.

Even if they are just dandelions, the Lord God made them all.

Nailed!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

'Tis the season of prom. Prom, prom....prom.

This world is getting scarier all the time. Have you seen the new fashions?

Where are the parents when these girls make the dress decisions? I can't imagine schools letting girls in the door with their stomachs and thighs showing.

I came across this picture, the other day and wondered how a person could balance themselves.



Agree?

Apprehended At Last

Someone has been eating my young hosta plants.

He exposed himself yesterday evening and we got him on film.

HURRAY! USA!

Ya know, I'm getting very tired of the news and politicians these days. I'm fed up with the propaganda fed to us about the war in Iraq.

There was a time that it was honorable to support our troops in their efforts to give freedom to some one else. It was patriotic to be in the military, to serve your country.

There are also people who say we are a country that will disintegrate from within, as most 'empires' have in the past. Sure, we're experiencing a lot of internal problems, mostly of our own making.

One aspect that cannot be denied, is that the MAJORITY of Americans are inherently STRONG, MORAL, COURAGEOUS AND PATRIOTIC. It is an undeniable fact that we can and will rise up together to defeat any threat to our country.

We all want peace and isn't peace worth any cost? Isn't the laying down of our personal lives for the lives or life of another, valuable? Of course it is.

Without the laying down of ONE life for the lives of ALL, we would have no hope of a BETTER life to come. It's what we are all striving for, if we are honest with ourselves.

That's the problem...SELF. The power-hungry want it all. They want control.

But, that's where they go wrong. You cannot control the 'will' of a person. The person has to give up their 'will'. There is no way anyone can do that because they always maintain possession of their will.

One thing about Americans...you can kick us, abuse us, attack us, buy us out, accuse us, threaten us, defeat us...BUT WE WILL ALWAYS GET BACK UP TO FIGHT ANOTHER DAY. And watch out...because the old saying goes: Beat me once...shame on you, beat me twice...shame on me. We don't like shame because we have pride in what we stand for as a country.

Americans still believe that we are One Country Under God. Just take a look at the pictures below, courtesy of Ray "Bubba" Sorensen, artist.

I'm told that there is a huge rock near a gravel pit on Hwy.25 in rural Iowa. For generations, kids have painted slogans, names, and obscenities on this rock, changing its character many times. A few months back, the rock received its latest paint job, and since then it has been left completely undisturbed. It's quite an impressive sight. Be sure to scroll down and check out the multiple photos (all angles) of the rock. I thought the flag was draped over the rock, but it's not. It's actually painted on the rock too.

Legacies

Do you ever wonder how you look to others? I do.

Can they see Christ in me?

As I wandered through the flea market on Sunday morning, I came to a stand with a lot of books. The seller had arranged the books on a table, along with jewelry and little oddities.

My husband asked her a question about a cd she had for sale.

She said 'I don't know. They were my sister's.'

Just from what she said, I assumed that her sister has died. I looked closer at the books and thought 'Is this her legacy? Is this all that is left behind for a stranger to get a glimpse into her life?'

She certainly had a seeking heart. Her book interests were laid bare to the world. Such topics as Buddha, inner peace, healing, how to get in touch with your inner self and so forth. I only saw one book about God.

A man standing next to me purchased a gold cross for $40 from the seller. Was that her sister's too?

I would have liked to know the story of this woman. If there was an ending, I hope it was salvation.

When I'm gone, what will my belongings tell others who didn't know me? Will they look at my writer's manuals and say 'She should have read them more'?

Will they find my unfinished cross-stitch pieces? How about the treasured items of jewelry from my mother?

I hope that they 'read' more than earthly objects. I pray they know that I knew Jesus.

Sign in a Diner

Serendipi-Teas

Morali-tea
Securi-tea
Sereni-tea
Integri-tea
Hones-tea
Loyal-tea
Fideli-tea
Sinceri-tea
Humili-tea
Humani-tea



Thanks for sharing a 'cuppa' with me today.

Who

Who is it lurking

On the edge of time
Ever just out of reach?

At the corner of my eye
A passing shadow
I turn…..but where?

A scent on a breeze
Stirs a memory of my soul
I turn…but where?

A soft touch
On the apple of my cheek
I turn…but where?

An elusive wisp of thought
Circling in my mind
I turn…but where?

A melodic note
From some song
I turn…but where?

Who is it just afar,
A step away, beyond the touch?
I turn….it’s Jesus.

Merciful One

Judges 10:13-16 “But you have forsaken me and served other gods, so I will no longer save you. Go and cry out to the gods you have chosen. Let them save you when you are in trouble!” But the Israelites said to the Lord, “We have sinned. Do with us whatever you think best, but please rescue us now.” Then they got rid of the foreign gods among them and served the Lord. And he could bear Israel’s misery no longer. (NIV)

How many times have we turned away from God and worshiped other gods? Our world creates advertising to lure us into desires that become our needs.

There are many comforts today that use to be just ideas. We have been overtaken by ads that claim the fulfillment of any desire. These have become our ‘other gods’.

God will let us go our own way until those ‘gods’ own our worship. Then He will turn away and allow sin to wreak havoc in our lives. Let the other gods save us. When we knock on wood or burn it in the fireplace, call upon that wood to save us.

But God will raise up those who remind us of Him and His saving grace for repentance and mercy. Listen to the prophet for he will tell you of your errors.

Repent, therefore, and confess our sins. Then tear down those idols we have cast for ourselves and turn to the Living God.

Then, our miseries, He will bear no longer.

Dropping the Word

“The Lord was with Samuel as he grew up, and he let none of his words fall to the ground.”
Lord, forgive me for ‘letting your words fall to the ground’. Many times I have heard you and many times I have discounted what You said. Open my ears that I may hear and my heart that I might gain understanding. Continue to speak Lord, for your servant is listening. Your Word is food to my soul. Help me to receive and store up the Truth of You. I want to capture every morsel within my being. In Jesus Name I ask and thank the Lord of all.

"Just" A Path

Scripture: “In the days of Shamgar son of Anath, in the days of Jael, the roads were abandoned; travelers took to winding paths.” Judges 5:6 NIV

The above verse could read as “In the days of George Walker Bush, son of George Herbert Walker Bush, in the days of Laura, the churches were empty; worshippers compromised their values.”

The churches of today are empty of worshippers, true worshippers in Spirit and in Truth. The attendees are compromisers, those who try to live in the world and change what God says in His Word, adapting to their lifestyles.

In much of the world, I see where the laws of God are tested daily. Human cloning, embryo stem cell research, same sex marriages are just some of the issues.

We do take the winding paths. We, the travelers on the paths of righteousness, pussyfoot around the inherent truth of life. With our apathetic stances on these important issues we open our selves to satan and fail to speak what we know to be the truth.

If we would just stick to the ‘paths of righteousness’ He will ‘make our path straight’. When we take to the winding paths, we’re treading on dangerous ground.

Grab It

“Agreed,” they answered, “We will only tie you up and hand you over to them. We will not kill you.” So they bound him with two new ropes and led him up from the rock. As he approached Lehi, the Philistines came toward him shouting. The Spirit of the Lord came upon him in power. The ropes on his arms became like charred flax, and the bindings dropped from his hands. Finding a fresh jawbone of a donkey, he grabbed it and stuck down a thousand men.Judges 15:13-15

In this story Samson allowed himself to be captured by the men of Judah. (The Philistines ruled over Israel and the Lord raised up Samson to deliver Israel.)

The men of Judah found him in a cave in the rock of Etam. Bound by new ropes, his own brothers would deliver him to his enemy.

We too, may be facing a situation that is ‘new’ to us. It may forcibly try to lead us, leaving our Rock of hiding, to our destruction.

Then the enemy will come at us shouting! The enemy can only make a lot of noise, for we are covered by the Blood of Jesus. He roams about ‘like a roaring lion’ seeking someone to devour. It’s up to us to realize he is just smoke and mirrors, not able to 'lay a finger' on our bodies.

When we stand on our rock of salvation, He will provide us with fresh weapons. The Spirit of the Lord will give us the power to resist, the fire to burn off the ties that bind. He will also give us a ‘fresh’ or new weapon that is specifically designed to bring victory in our time of need.

All we need to do is to ‘grab’ the provision and ‘strike down a thousand men’. Our deliverance is at hand!

Workin' Day

Today I'm staying home. I need to get more stock on my ebay store and decided to do it today. I borrowed a mannequin from Bonnie and worked all morning taking pictures. I really should have picked a rainy day. It's gorgeous here.

Tonight I'm attending a writer's workshop at the local college. It's for non-fiction writers.

I seem to be drawn to non-fiction writing more than fiction and it's easier for me to write.

Maybe this 'season' will open new avenues of thought as I draw closer to the Lord for inspiration. Prayer before thought is the best way to write.

Effective Fervant Prayer

If you have never heard of David Wilkerson, I would recommend that you find out about him.

He pastors the Times Square Church in NYC and publishes a monthly newsletter called the "World Challenge Pulpit Series".

The words that he sends forth from God have blessed me each time I get his newsletter and sometimes it's the attached letter with it.

This month his words were about 'The Lord Has Promised to Deliver You'. He spoke about how David wrote Psalm 34 after God saved him from his own foolishness when he entered the Philistine town of Gath, ruled by King Achish. He faked insanity, which was feared by all as they thought they were demons, to save himself.

As he was faking the insanity with wierd movements and frothing at the mouth, he was praying inside...silently, fervently and passionately.

God heard him and delivered him back into the land of safety where he fled to a cave and penned the psalm of thanksgiving and deliverance.

Many times I have prayed silently and not even a 'prescribed prayer'. It has been just one word at times...HELP! Other times it was maybe five words, whatever.

Quote from Pastor Wilkerson: Sometimes the loudest cry is made without an audible voice.

God has answered them. He answered them swiftly and more acurately than I could have imagined. My brain wants to be totally surprised at his deliverance, but my heart knows it with a calm peaceful acceptance and thankfulness.

Praise God that He just takes care of us, even the smallest details of our lives. He is truly with us always and will never leave us or forsake us. We'll leave Him before He'll leave us.

It order to be called a 'deliverer' you must be one. God is the Deliverer.

Daved declares, "I sought the Lord, and he heard me, and delivered me from all my fears... The angel of the Lord encampeth round about them that fear him, and delivereth them... The righteous cry, and the Lord heareth, and delivereth them out of all their troubles... Many are the afflictions of the righteous; but the Lord delivereth him out of them all" Ps.34:4, 7, 17, 19.

Quenched Thirst

Judges 15:18 “Because he was very thirsty, he cried out to the lord, “You have given your servant this great victory. Must I now die of thirst and fall into the hands of the uncircumcised?” Then God opened up the hollow place in Lehi, and water came out of it. When Samson drank, his strength returned and he revived. So the spring was called En Hakkore, and it is still there in Lehi."

We know the battle is the Lord’s and we are His instruments. When we finally see the deliverance and are wearied from the battle, the Lord will send refreshment to revive us. It is necessary to continue in strength for there will be another conflict, but take heart for He is with us.

One of the most interesting details in this account of Samson is the name of this spring that God brought forth out of a rock. It means ‘caller’s spring’.

Call out to the Lord and He will bring rivers of living waters when He hears our cry.

Dear Father, we call out to the Living Water. This war has left us dry and thirsting. Thank you for the victory. Revive us, oh Lord. Pour out your Grace and Mercy upon us. In Jesus Name. Amen

Monday Monday

A new day has dawned. The birds are at the feeder and the sun has barely risen.



I have a squirrel, with white ears and black circles on his/her belly, that visits my feeder rock. He is quite a messy eater and very territorial. Today, I inadvertantly scared him away, but, I know he'll be back.

On Saturday, one squirrel was so angry at the lack of his kind of food that he took the top of my wooden feeder and tried to carry it off to his tree. He got halfway down the yard and another squirrel came by. I'm sure he told him that he was being silly and vindictive. Needless to say, they started carousing and both took off towards the trees.

Easter gave me a yellow-shafted flicker to watch. Even though he is of the woodpecker family, he likes to dig in the yard for grubs and other things.


Speaking of Sunday, God gave me another gift.

I had been praying for my husband to come to church with me and He worked it out...totally.

My mom, who usually goes with me, went away with my sister. My granddaughters, three of them, went to their other parents. My husband and I went to his parents on Saturday night. Everything was out of the way.

I got up on Easter morning and my husband asked what time was church. I told him 10 am because I attend Sunday School. He said 'Well, I have some time before we go to do some other things.' He went with me. Hallelujah!

My husband is not one to express his emotions, much less his faith. But in church, when Pastor Dann gave communion, he said 'We believe that only Christians should partake of communion. If you aren't one, please let the plate pass you by.'

My husband took communion, so I believe that is his 'statement of faith'. He thoroughly enjoyed the service and the people whom he hasn't seen for awhile. He even remembers the sermon.

God is so good to give us the desires of our hearts...sometimes when we don't even ask anymore. Maybe that's when God enjoys making our day.

Imagine...

The iniquity of the whole world was cast upon Him. He became sin for us so that we might live with Him. He came into the world as a whisper and the whisper of death could not hold Him. Now, it's our turn to spread the whisper of Him to the world. He lives. In Him there is no darkness. Where He is, there is only light. The Light of the world is here.

Share...

Imagine...

Imagine...

Imagine...

One day until your crucifixion...

Imagine...

Two days until your crucifixion...

Imagine...

Three days until your crucifixion...

Imagine...

Four days until your crucifixion...

Friday Nite Blues

Had a great time last night jammin' to some tunes with friends.

They were much more accomplished on the guitar than my husband and I. We learned a few new things and enjoyed the whole night.

Fellowship is so important. It makes you realize that you're going to spend eternity with a ton of people and you might better get to know them now.

What fun to have similar gifts and yet used so differently.

I even woke up with a skit in mind, playing guitar in front of a ton of people. "God...that's not me, not the real me, anyway." On my own, I would never have the courage to do anything like that. With God, all things are possible.

I just wanted to give you this picture, too. I got it in an email and it expresses some of the peace and joy that I have with my Lord Jesus Christ.

In the Middle

My bible studies have been leading me through Job.

I hate to say it, but I'm in the middle of the book and can't wait for God to speak and set everyone straight. I guess that's why God wrote the book...to show us that everything takes time, even our trials.

I don't like sourpusses, pessimists and doomsayers. I love confidence, optimism and hopefulness.

So I guess that's why I look for those things in amongst all the gloomy words. I choose to hope and be happy.

Look at these jewels I found in the 'middle':

Job 26:14b 'how faint the whisper we hear of him!' That's what it's like to believe in God. It's so subtle that we have to strain to be aware of Him at all times. We never hear Him audibly. We can't touch or feel Him. But we believe He's there. Sure He gives us things to remind us of Him, but, of Himself...where is He? It is just a whisper...the still small voice. Oh, how glorious!

Job 27:3b 'the breath of God in my nostrils.' Yes, I need the breath of God in my nostrils more than ever. May it never leave me, nor forsake me. It just makes my lungs happy!

So, these are my ramblings for today. Hope you enjoy them. Peace be with you and yours.

June 6, 2006 or 06/06/06

With all the conversations about the end times, this date has become the newest point of interest.

So many people are noticing the '666', which, according to the Bible, is man's number for the antichrist.

People freak out if their groceries total to $6.66, they rip up checks with the number 666 in it and they totally refuse to have anything to do with the number.

One person told me they received a dollar bill with 666 in the serial number and they just had bad luck the whole day.

Let's see what the Bible has to say about the number '666'.

Revelation 13:11-18 (NASB) Then I saw another beast coming up out of the earth; and he had two horns like a lamb and he spoke as a dragon. He exercises all the authority of the first beast in his presence. And he makes the earth and those who dwell in it to worship the first beast, whose fatal wound was healed. He performs great signs, so that he even makes fire come down out of heaven to the earth in the presence of men. And he deceives those who dwell on the earth because of the signs which it was given him to perform in the presence of the beast, telling those who dwell on the earth to make an image to the beast who had the wound of the sword and has come to life. And it was given to him to give breath to the image of the beast, so that the image of the beast would even speak and cause as many as do not worship the image of the beast to be killed. And he causes all, the small and the great, and the rich and the poor, and the free men and the slaves, to be given a mark on their right hand or on their forehead, and he provides that no one will be able to buy or to sell, except the one who has the mark, either the name of the beast or the number of his name. Here is wisdom. Let him who has understanding calculate the number of the beast, for the number is that of a man; and his number is six hundred and sixty-six.

Now, I'm not an expert on the Bible nor am I a mathematician. But I do know that it's been almost 2000 years since this Book has been written and no one has been able to identify the beast.

There are many rumors: the sum of the letters of Hitler's entire name came up to '666' is just one of them. Do a Google search and you'll find tons.

Understand what the Word is telling us. YOU WILL NOT BE ABLE TO WORSHIP ANYTHING OTHER THAN THE BEAST. YOU WILL NOT BE ABLE TO BUY OR SELL WITHOUT THIS DISTINGUISHING MARK.

The Word is telling us to be observant and understand the times. Don't be carried away by signs and wonders. Look to the Word, pray for understanding and don't worry. God has it all under control. Judge everything by the Cross.

Wednesday Morning

Just in case you wanted to know this:
On Wednesday of this week, at two minutes and three seconds after 1:00 in the morning, the time and date will be

01:02:03 04/05/06.

And Here....It....Is....

It arrived just the other day...

No. That's a line from a song.

My new Bean Blossom Morgan Monroe F-style Mandolin.

Of course, I am selling my a-style on ebay. The sound is very different on the f-hole mando. It's a little more throaty.

Now, if I can get my best friend, BONNIE THE SEAMSTRESS, to shorten my leather strap, it'll be great.

I almost bought an electric model but I found a great deal on a Fishman bridge pickup. Anyway, it's hard to find a black electric mando without spending a lot of money.

At least I don't have my husband's condition, 'gas', which in mandolin terms is 'mas'.

And for those of you who don't know the terms, they are:

GAS - Guitar Acquisition Syndrome
MAS - Mandolin Acquisition Syndrome

God Gives Forever

In the middle of the night, I heard these words "God gives forever". Not 'for ever', that would change the meaning, but 'forever'.

He has given us forever with Him. How amazing.

God gave His Son so that we might live forever with Him wherever He dwells.

He gives. He gives us forever.

Forever is for us

Thirty Days Hast September, April......?

Last fall we purchased hanging flip 2006 calendars for our congregation.

As we were filling in the days and scheduling speakers, we got to April and discovered, not only that April didn't have the 30th but that 31 was in its place!

The most amazing thing was that when we called the calendar company, they told me they would reprint them.

HELLO! It's the end of March! And HOW LONG will it take you to print them? Could we possibly have them by June so that the rest of the year would be correct?

Finally, they settle for giving us a discount on next year's order.

Now...what will I do when the 29th is over?

Batman & Robin To the Rescue!!!

Here's a cool chalk drawing by Julian Beever



Keep in mind that this drawing is on a flat sidewalk. Julian is standing on the sidewalk. The drawing is so 3 dimensional it looks totally realistic. He's awesome!

Cool Beans

Love One Another
"...and this scar I got from the chair of the board during the battle of "guitars in the sanctuary" in the early 80s."

Report from the Pastor Search Committee:

We do not have a happy report to give. We have not been able to find a suitable candidate for this church, though we have one promising prospect. Thank you for your suggestions. We have followed up on each one with interviews or by calling at least three references. The following is our confidential report.

ADAM: Good man but has problems with his wife. One reference told us how he and his wife enjoyed walking nude in the woods.
NOAH: Former pastorate of 120 years with no converts. Prone to unrealistic building projects.

JOSEPH: A big thinker, but a braggart; believes in dream interpreting and has a prison record.
MOSES: A modest and meek man, but poor communicator; even stutters at times.
Sometimes blows his stack and acts rashly in business meetings. Some say he left an earlier church over a murder charge.

DEBORAH: One word --- Female.
DAVID: The most promising leader of all until we discovered the affair he had with his neighbor's wife.

SOLOMON: Great preacher, but serious woman problem.
ELIJAH: Prone to depression; collapses under pressure.
HOSEA: A tender and loving pastor, but our people could never handle his wife's occupation.

JONAH: Told us he was swallowed up by a great fish. He said the fish later spit him out on the shore near here. We hung up.
AMOS: Too much of a country hick. Backward and unpolished. With some seminary training, he might have promise; but he has a hang-up against wealthy people.

JOHN: Says he is a Baptist, but doesn't dress like one. May be too Pentecostal. Tends to lift both hands in the air to worship when he gets excited. You know we limit to one hand. Sleeps in the outdoors, has a weird diet, and provokes denominational leaders.
PETER: Too blue collar. Has a bad temper, even said to have cursed. He's a loose cannon.

PAUL: Powerful CEO type and fascinating preacher. However, he's short on tact, unforgiving with young ministers, harsh, and has been known to preach all night.
TIMOTHY: Too young.

JESUS: Has had popular times, but once when his church grew to 5000, He managed to offend them all; and his church dwindled down to twelve people. Seldom stays in one place very long. And, of course, he is single.
JUDAS: His references are solid. A steady plodder. Conservative. Good connections. Knows how to handle money. We're inviting him to preach this Sunday in view of a call.

A pastor thought that the reason he had no one coming to the altar week after week was because his sermons were too short. The next week he decided to preach for an hour and a half. Sure enough, 18 people came down the aisle to the altar to lay down after the first hour of preaching. He thought it was odd, though, that none of them got up after he was done.

Church-Lite
Has the heaviness of you old fashioned church got you weighted down? Try us! We are the New and Improved Lite Church of the Valley. Studies have shown we have 24% fewer commitments. We trim off guilt as we are Low-Cal... low Calvin, that is. We feature a 7.5% tithe, a 35 minute worship service with 7 minute sermons. Next Sunday's sermon is on the Feeding of 500.

When the ark came to rest on Mt. Ararat the occupants were more than ready to leave. Noah made one last sweep and found a despondent snake in the hold.--"Why are you sad and why haven't you left?" asked Noah.--"Because I'm so inadequate" replied the snake.--"Inadequate?" queried Noah.--"Yes" continued the snake, "The Lord commanded that we go forth and MULTIPLY and I'm an ADDER." (by David Palmer)

Why was Boaz free?
He was ruthless

How many Apostles can you fit in a car?
All of them. It says in Acts "...they met in one accord."

First Dog with a name?
Moreover
Moreover, the Dog came and licked his sores.

Monday Mornin' Comin' Down

So, here it is...another work week.

The sun is shining and the temp is expected to climb to 50 today. Maybe spring has really sprung.

I learned to play a new song last night...'Horse With No Name'. It really takes me back to the 60's when my sub sailor husband and I lived in an 'off-the-base' trailer park.

The band, America had just started to eat up the charts and I was still jammin' to Janis Joplin and Melanie. Who knew that I would eventually learn guitar in my 50's. Regression is beautiful...sometimes.

Think about it, you 30 year olds, when mid-life crisis hits it's a good idea to have a pre-plan in place.

My husband went through the bar phase years ago. After a few life lessons, he channels his energy into guitars. Keeps him home nights.

So, to make a marriage even more interesting, it's important to share in creative activities.

As soon as all the bridal gowns go, the sound room is coming alive.

I just need to get ideas on how to do the walls and ceilings.

Growth comes by learning. That's what God says.

Blessings Upon Blessings

Today we had a women's clothing exchange day at church.

Such excitement as the women 'oohed' and 'aahed' at the variety of clothing.

One woman said to me, "Sister, look! I got two bracelets. I've never had anything like this before."

So many times, we overlook the people closest to us. We forget to see their needs and forget to look for them, too.

You know, it's not really 'all about me'. It's 'all about them' and what you can do to help life be a little kinder to those less fortunate.

We tend to forget how rich we are compared to some.

Most of the time, people don't let you see their need. It's not that we are suppose to be able to 'read their minds' but to be more aware of them.

It's wonderful to pray for someone but if you can, supply an unspoken need.

The blessing is two-fold. Your generosity blesses them. Supplying their need swells your heart and makes everything a little brighter for yourself.

Go ahead. 'Make their day.'

Here We Go Again...

As most of you know (or don't know) I've been playing the mandolin since last summer. I can finally switch the easy chords effortlessly, sounding like I'm playing a song. I enjoy the mandolin only, sometimes the higher octave sound is too high to sing along with.

So, my husband, who is an avid Ebayer, gets this Washburn cutaway guitar in black with metal flake delivered on Friday. Well, it's just the cutest thing. Thin body and a little shorter than a regular 6 string.

While it's not like the mando in size, I feel really comfortable hold it.

Today I accomplished several chords and played a song! A little choppy, but the tune was there.

I notice the difference in strings between the mando and guitar. My fingers just scream after a session. Swollen and tingly, they can't wait to get back to playing.

So on to my next adventure.

They say the more you learn, the more brain cells you can afford to lose when you get elderly. I'm workin' on it.

What is stranger than fiction?

I pondered this question today.

Stanger than fiction is...

...when the truth is wrong.
...that I pay taxes on something that has already been taxed again and again and again.
...when I had a real mind moment with my dog. We were thinking the exact same thing at the exact same moment.
...that my shoe size is a 6, dress size a 6, pant size an 8, shirt size a small, hat size 6 7/8. Who comes up with these numbers?
...the name Faith and faith can mean a person's name and a belief. Is a person named that because they have a belief? Or is a belief because of a person named the same?
...that cats talk to their prey when they think the prey can't see or hear them, especially through a window and their tail slaps the glass.
...that all musical instruments have the same notes...but you have to play them all differently to get the same note.
...that we're all worried about the depletion of our forestry all over the world but I get at least one credit card offer a day with three or four pieces of paper inside and a return envelope. Where's the conservation in that?
...when I clean out my closets to make room and then go buy more clothes because I don't have anything to wear. (not me)
...that I order bridal gowns from China, sell them on Ebay and then they are sent back over to Asia. What gives?
...that a word can never be used once.
...that we breathe the exact same air that's been here since the beginning of time. Where else would it come from?
...that the same water I drink today will return to the earth (in some form) to be recycled for future generations.
...that as I think about these things, someone else somewhere has thought the same.

Shop A Holic

.
I went to the mall today to exchange..well, some items that are unmentionables, and found the greatest sales.

Sears had racks of sale items priced from $2.99 and up. We're talkin' sweaters, tops, suit jackets, skirts, pants, pajamas, nightgowns, robes, shoes..

Oh, shoes! All their Land's End boots were on sale. I found 1 pair of zip back, khaki, for $4.99. I also got a pair of the short booties with a side zip (in the dark red, of course) for $7.99. Such a deal!

I stopped in at the Bon Ton and found my favorite slacks for $6.95!

End of season sales are just the best! I love to stock up for the next year.

When I get my clothes out for that time, it's like presents appearing out of nowhere!

BTW, I did stop at another store (Burlington Coat Factory) and got a cool blazer with matching skirt. Although, not on sale, their everyday low prices were a bargain

New Words from an Old Text

I just recently purchased a NASB (New American Standard Bible) version of the Bible. Experts say that it's the most literal translation of the Hebrew texts. I'm a strong believer in the NIV (New International Version) Bible because it's easy to read and understand. My mind doesn't have to wrap around 'thees' and 'thous'. Neither version that I have has them and the NASB is just as easy to read for gaining insight.

The differences are subtle but sometimes it's the way the text is switched around that plays on my ears with new meaning. They say the Word is 'new' everyday with fresh understanding in the most minute ways.

Reading in Proverbs 12:14 I'll show you what I mean.

NIV From the fruit of his lips a man is filled with good things, as surely as the work of his hands rewards him.

NASB A man will be satisfied with good by the fruit of his words, And the deeds of a man's hands will return to him.

Now most people would say that they both say the same thing. I think they do but with a difference of application.

In the NIV version, 'a man is filled with good things' infers that he would be satisfied but doesn't state it. In the NASB it says 'he will be satisfied with good by..'.

The second part says the same thing, too, only reads with more definite action.

It may be just me. I enjoy reading other versions, but these two seem to speak to me the best.

What say you?

Think On This

"Make God laugh. Tell him your plans." - Ken Hall

Today's Word

'Some days you're a bug...

...some days you're the windshield.'

How To Gain Divine Wisdom

I asked the Lord to teach me how He wants me to learn from Him. He gave me this scripture:

Make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to
goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to
self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to
godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. For
if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will
keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge
of our Lord Jesus Christ.
-- 2 Peter 1:5-8



If I make the effort to add these attributes to my faith I will learn effectively and productively about Him.

New Logo

Just a Dream Away

“There’s no place like home.”
“There’s no place like home.”
“There’s no place like home,” the crickets chorus in my ears.

There’s the door...just a few more steps. Reach for the knob, turn slowly. I know how to do it but…I can’t…quite…reach.

The eerie darkness falls heavily, blanketing the night sounds. My thoughts and fears turn inwards, sapping strength needed to push onward.

I stretch, yearning for the feel of the cold metal. Gasping and grasping, I struggle to move my feet through the sloppy thickened mud. With each step the mud layers itself to the bottom of my soles, unsteadying my footing. Sweat pours down my face, salting my eyes and blurring my vision.

I’m almost there, almost inside, safety and security millimeters away.

Home sweet home.

My hands swipe at the blackened air, as if to tear the veil to see the light. I touch the knob just as something knocks hard against my arm. Arrows of pain shoot up to my shoulder. Terrified I turn and close my eyes, waiting for the next blow.

His nails pierce my scalp. With a yelp, I open my eyes to see a large ball of fur waiting to attack again. “OK” I moan. “I’ll get up”. For a moment I cuddle my pillow, rejoicing in the daylight.

It’s time to rise and face the day.

The cat’s hungry.

You may be a Pharisee if...

I had to pass this along...

You may be a Pharisee if…

The demons say, “Jesus we know, Paul we’ve heard of, but gracious, down here, you’re a punch line!”

You’re willing to be merciful – once.

You call the recent discovery of porno on your computer “Research.”

The prostitutes in town think your name is John.

You may be a Pharisee if…

Everyone outside your circle, and most within it, are wrong.

You wistfully refer to public stoning as “the good ole days.”

You secretly loathe humility and wonder why Jesus gets all the attention during worship.

You may be a Pharisee if…

You and you alone can correctly interpret the Bible.

God’s still, small voice has come to sound exactly like you.

You pray, “Thy will be done,” and people wonder why you’re talking to yourself.

You may be a Pharisee if…

Finally, on that great and terrible Day, you’re shocked to hear, “Depart from me. I never knew you!”

For SheepTrax.com, I’m Bryan Hupperts.

A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words

Picture of the Day


From Pastor Bob: "Amongst all of the junk we get over the internet, occasionally we get something like this. It was just too good not to send around."


This is the best.

ALL CREATION SINGS!

Ha Ha Ha Ha

I came across this joke the other day and thought I'd share:

Once upon a time, these two women were talking and the one asks the other how many times she's been married, and the reply was 4.

'Four times!' exclaimed the first woman, why so many?

So the other woman says, 'Well, I first got married when I was very young, and I married this wonderful man who was a banker. However, one day just a few weeks after we were married, his bank was robbed and he was shot and killed.'

'Oh my gosh, that's terrible' the first woman said.

'Well, it wasn't that tragic. Soon after that, I started seeing another man who performed in the circus. He was really a great guy, but he lived pretty dangerously because he performed his high-wire act without a net. Well, a few weeks after we got married, he was performing a show and suddenly a gust of wind came by and knocked him off his wire and he was killed.'

'Your second husband was killed too?!!? That's horrible!'

'Yes, it was terrible, but at the funeral I fell in love with the minister and we got married soon after that. Unfortunately, one Sunday while he was walking to church, he was hit by a car and killed.'

'Three??? Three husbands of yours were killed? How could you live through all that?'

'It was pretty tough, but then I met my present husband. And he's a wonderful man. I think we'll live a long happy life together.'

'And what does your present husband do for a living?'

'He's a mortician.'

'A mortician? I don't understand something here. First you marry a banker, then a circus performer, then a minister, and now a mortician? Why such a diverse grouping of husbands?'

'Well, if you think about it it's not too hard to understand...
One for the money...
Two for the show...
Three to get ready...
And four to go!'

What's New

What Fun!!!! I just opened my Ebay store to sell off my inventory from my closed bridal salon.

The ReFinery

YAHOO! Spring is here!

Yesterday, I noticed a tree in my yard for the first time. I've lived here five years and just thought it was another poplar or some other kind.

But, as I walked towards it, I noticed that it looked to be in bud. The late afternoon sun shone through towards me, making the branches glow with gold.

The closest branch to the ground was held about a foot over the reach of my arm. I couldn't believe my eyes when I finally jumped high enough to grab the end of the branch.

Snapping off the tip, I beheld a wonder of wonders. I had tried to plant a tree like this many years ago and it never took root. I had cared for the sapling like a child, but the tree never grew.

The Bible says that God knows the desires of our heart. He surprised me with this tree in the midst of all the changes in my life.

The pussy willow is in bloom in my yard. Just another reminder from God that 'all is well' and that He's real close.

Waiting and Waiting and Waiting and Waiting

'A mind is a terrible thing to waste.'

I didn't say it, someone else did. But I agree.

'The more brain cells you use, the more you have to lose.'

I didn't say that, either. I also agree.

I have worked at quite a few different types of jobs. I learned to fight fires, take pictures, roller skate, ice skate, type, make donuts, pick corn and many other activities.

Now, that I've reached another milestone in my life, I find that learning new things is harder because of all the choices available.

Should I write? What? Fiction? Non-Fiction? Humor? Mystery? Sci-Fi? Short stories? Poetry? One-liners? Fluff? Deep stuff? And the list goes on and on and on and on.

I'm trying the mandolin. Too bad I can't find a bluegrass teacher near my home. I really have the desire to learn but I just need the guidance to play better. Chords are no trouble at all. Rhythm works good, too.

Just to sit down a plink a tune along with the radio or music station seems to be such a mystery but so close as if I could just reach out and remove the veil. 'Seeing through a glass darkly', I believe is the expression. Yeah, it's Biblical.

So it comes down to this: What is my purpose, other than to please God?

I've tried so many things; 'master of none'.

What desire did God place on my heart, so long ago, that I've forgotten. Way back in grade school, what did I want to be when I grew up?

Well, here I am. All grown up, yet so short of the goals I believe God has for me. I'm just swingin' along, going here and going there.

Don't get me wrong. I do some things well. I've been married 35 years this year. My husband is unsaved but I believe he's the man that God chose for me. My husband isn't a saint but he's very good to me.

I have 2 lovely children, all grown up and doing the best they can and three beautiful granddaughters that go to church with me.

What to do? Just wait and see.

Where To Go

I just received a daily devotional from Pastor Steve Gray.

Here's what he said: "All my life I have heard people say, 'Follow Jesus!' But nobody bothered to tell me that he was actually going somewhere."

"Jesus entered the temple area... Matthew 21:12a


Is that why the Kingdom of God is not growing? As I look back, I can remember lots of people telling me the same thing. 'You must receive Jesus as your Savior, then you will be saved from the pit of hell.'

Hmmm. There's a lot of truth in Pastor Gray's message. Where did I think I was going? Where WAS Jesus going?

He says 'I am the Way, the Truth and the Life.' I believe that. But have I ever realized that the way with Jesus is to go somewhere?

Put into this context it makes me wonder. Shouldn't I be telling people this? Isn't this why the world is searching?

The answer is 'Yes, Jesus is going somewhere.' That 'somewhere' is the destination that He has in mind for you. In Jeremiah 29:11 NIV he says 'I know the plans I have for you,' declares the Lord, 'plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.'

So there it is, He has a plan just for me. No matter how sinful or hurtful to others I have been, starting with TODAY (the day of 'before I was formed in my mother's womb') He has a personal somewhere just for me.

He goes on to say in Jeremiah 29:12 'Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you.' Yes, I did call upon Him and He has definitively answered me so that there was no doubt on my part.

Next in 29:13 'You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you,' declares the Lord, 'and will bring you back from captivity.' What captivity was I in? The soul-wrenching fear of the unknown future that no man can explain or testify that he's seen except Jesus Christ.

God has a plan for my life, IF I allow Him to proceed unhindered by my self. In this day and age, it's all about self-satisfaction and self-seeking and user-friendly and self-desiring. There's no way that I can satisfy the desires of my heart, fully, because I am incapable of recognizing a true desire from a false one.

God KNOWS the desires of my heart. It is HIS desire to fulfill them. This is where Jesus is going...to the place where I am fully satisfied within my soul.

'As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, Oh God' the psalmist declared. My soul longs for the communion of the garden. And as the psalmist continued 'Deep calls to deep in the roar of your waterfalls', my soul calls out to God.

Yes, Jesus is going somewhere. He is going to fulfill Himself within me so that I am fully satisfied within. The terror of this world has no hold on me anymore. I KNOW without a doubt I am going with Him.

If you're searching for that some place, start with Him. He'll lead you. He'll never leave you nor forsake you. He is Life.


Seek Him at All About God

A Musing

Just sitting here, going over the past week and thinking about what's ahead.

I've overcome some temptations and fell prey to a couple. All in all, I still feel victorious. I threw off a yoke of oppression, too.

I have an article to write that is half done. A challenge entry needs to be in by Monday 9 am, not even started. Curious, that's the topic...start.

It's amazing how you can look at the days gone by and wonder what did you accomplish? Hours turn into days and days into weeks and still...where did they go? What did I do in all that time?

Is there any quality to carry forward into the future? Something I said or did, is it still alive waiting to alight and manifest as good? Where am I going and how do I get there are the questions tonight.

'Everything that is has been before' is a quote from the Bible. Even the air we breath has been here from the beginning. The same air that Adam and Eve breathed is still here, the same dirt, the same water. The Earth hasn't lost even any molecules, unless they went to the moon on a rocket. That's even up for debate, the moon trip, I mean.

So then, my words, that I speak out into the atmosphere and into someone's hearing, are going forward. They enter another's mind, rumble around and then are spewed back out into the air. How many times has a word circled the earth?

My actions directly affect the people around me. I impact them. They would not be the same if they had never met me, they would be different and maybe indifferent.

My life would be totally different without my daughter or son. Without my son, I would not have my grandchildren.

Doesn't that make me want to be different? To be a person that influences others for good instead of bad?

When I'm in a prayer group, how can I ever be critical of a person with whom I've stood before Jesus. We are all interceded for daily by our Savior and what right do we have to be their accuser for some mundane insignificant problem we have with them personally.

Oh well, God will make it clear to me someday. I will wait.

Tales of a Groupie

My husband had his first gig!

He has been so faithful to learn to play guitar. Every day he practices and practices and practices. Each night he plays for about two hours, strumming chords and pickin' tunes.

Each of my children now have a guitar in their homes, just in case he visits. Then, he strums and picks for them.

My daughter is now a kindergarten teacher. Her class is studying the letter 'g' so she invited my husband to play his guitar for them. I tagged along on Monday to see his first concert. Of course, I sat in the mosh pit and took pictures.

The children are so bright and honest. They asked him if he plays on stage, or does he have a band? One sweet brilliant child said 'I think you play very nice.'



They sang along with his pickin' 'Twinkle, twinkle little star', totally drowning out the instrument. Then, my daughter (the teacher) got out little instruments for them to play the rhythm. She didn't have enough to go around so the rest had to use their hands to clap. Amazingly, that was ok with them.

What a joy to listen to the sounds of kids.

WOW!

I'm really losing it!

Time for me to get back into the swing of things. There's a writers' conference in 6 months and my writing has been nil!

Let's see.

What's been happening?

Oh, yeah. I closed my bridal shop at the end of October. Halloween, whatever. Not really devastating it was nonetheless emotional. Boo Hoo. Tears for fears and all that.

I LOVE BEING HOME. My husband and I built a new home 5 years ago and this is the first that I've been able to enjoy it during the daylight hours. Very cool.

Of course, I'm not idle at home. I still have tons of bridal stuff. Ebay loves me. They even send me a message at the end of every month: PAY UP SUCKER! Not really.

Anyone need any wedding gowns? My husband NOW wants to turn the basement into a music studio. Why didn't he wait till I had sold everything? No, he's using it as an incentive to sell, sell, SELL!

Maybe I could 'paper' the walls and ceilings in white and ivory satin. I wonder how acoustic that would be?

My Herschel manuscript didn't get picked up by the publisher. Boo Hooooo. Another time, another publisher. I'm not giving up. Maybe the home schooler publishers would be a better option. May - convention time!

My mom's struggling with dementia. It put a damper on the holidays but as long as she's healthy and happy, I'm happy. I get her to church every Sunday and I'm confident that the Holy Spirit is speaking volumes to her. For He did not give her 'a spirit of fear, but of power, love and a SOUND MIND' (emphasis mine).

My sister says she sleepwalks. I had a doctor say that there's no such thing. Hey, when you see it with your own eyes, doc, I guess you'll believe.

That's what I tell people when I talk to them about Jesus Christ. When you see Him with your own eyes you'll believe. How do you see Him? Well it's like this. He's the only God who answers you. All the other gods are dead, dead wood. You just ask Him anything, He'll show you.

Oh, and don't believe it when they say there are many paths to the One, True God. NADA! Only one - Jesus. He's the Way, the Truth, and the Life.

Even when I do something wrong and I know that God does not approve, He's still the only answer. There's no where else to go! How could I? Once I (or you) have tasted the sweet wine of Him, nothing else will satisfy.

Nothing else does anyway.

Am I rambling? It's fun!