HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!

I just want to take this opportunity to thank all of you for stopping by this year and wish you all a very happy New Year!

Looking forward to good things in 2007. Will post my resolutions later this week.

Do the FROG thing. (Fully Rely on God)

Question: Three frogs are sitting on a Lilly pad. One frog decides to jump off. How many frogs are left on the Lilly pad?
Answer: Three

Let me explain. One frog "decided “to jump." But there is a big difference between deciding to do something and actually doing it. The difference is COMMITMENT. Commitment can be defined as a promise, pledge, or vow. These words are much stronger than plan, desire, or intention. These words are serious and demand response.

Once the frog is airborne you can say he is committed.

It is that time of year again, when many of us will make resolutions for the coming year. We will start out with gusto only to lose steam as the days pass by. Then enthusiasm will dwindle because we did not make true commitments, we only had good intentions.

Like the frog, we must get airborne to change decisions into commitments. We must depend on our heavenly Father to strengthen us spiritually, physically, and mentally. We can accomplish all that we set out to do as long as He is our strength.

We must take to heart the words of Zechariah 4:6.
"Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the Lord of Hosts."
We must echo the Apostle Paul and declare; "I CAN do ALL things through CHRIST who STRENGTHENS me."

Praying for you to have a Happy and Prosperous New Year, PT2006

The Day After

Okay, I know I've been lax with the holidays and everything. Time to get back to normal I suppose. Everyone I've talked to has had this crud. I hope you and your family are well. We did have a great Christmas getting together with family. I haven't taken everything down yet. Sort of took it easy today between typing. Yes, it's back to work for me. And I have CWGIII for another week until school starts back, so naturally I'm doing the night shift thing.

We've been outside in the cold setting up his fake deer so he can target practice with his B.B. gun. He got the gun last year, and this year asked for a fake deer to shoot at. I just hope no one thinks it's the real deer and starts shooting into my yard. Maggie sure hated it. She ran around barking at it and snarling. We had to take it down after target practice to keep her from taking it apart.

He also got a Dukes of Hazzard remote control car and a Roboreptile and a bunch of other things he probably didn't need. They kept him pretty much occupied yesterday, but today, he was a bit subdued. My guess is he's all partied out. I know I am. And it's back to the diet for me after today. All the rich food has taken its toll on me.

So how was your holiday? Leave me some comments and let me know. I trust all is well.

MERRY CHRISTMAS

We've all been sick this week around our house...coughs, fevers, aches and pains. But hopefully we're on the mend and can enjoy Christmas. Haven't felt like posting. Spent today trying to get my house ready for company over the next two days. We'll have a country ham breakfast with the Greens and then have my sisters and their husbands and my nephew over Christmas Day night. Tomorrow we're visiting my grandparents at the nursing home. In case I don't see you all, I wish you all a very happy holiday and the merriest of Christmases. Can't wait to hear all about your get-togethers and such. All my love, Cindy

The Doctor Will See You Now

The doctor will see you now" are words seldom heard today. When they are spoken the "now" hardly indicates the time you will actually be seen by the doctor. I have had enough experience lately to know how the term "patient" came to refer to the one seeking medical attention. It takes a mountain of patience to stay the course beginning with the appointment and ending with a face to face encounter with the doc.

Waiting rooms are merely a tool to compensate for the physician's limitations. He is limited as to how many patients he can see and treat within an interval of time. He is also limited by the unpredictable number of interruptions he will receive in the course of a day. And as is true for all humans, there is a limit to how much he can physically, mentally, and emotionally endure.

I am so glad that I serve a God that can be touched with the feelings of my aches and pains--a God that is never too busy, distracted, or tired to take my call. Jehovah Rapha has no secretaries or waiting rooms. No appointments are necessary to see Him. He will allow no interruptions when He is tending to my needs. I have His full attention when I talk to Him.

There is no case too hard for Him-no mutating strain(viral or bacterial) that He can not eradicate, no emotional or mental anguish He can not cure. He even knows just how to treat those ailments with no name, origin, or apparent cause. Pain is no match for Him! Psalms 103:3 makes it clear that the Lord is the one who forgives all our sins and heals ALL of our diseases.
No wonder He is called "The Great Physician".

If you have a need today, I can testify: "The Doctor will see you now". PT2006

Just Sharing a Bit

Here's my baby. Doesn't he look all grown up? Next project is a digital camera. Perhaps that would make a great anniversary present in June.
I really meant to have more pics, but CWG, Jr. has informed me that it costs money every time I upload from the cell phone. You mean that's not included in our package?? LOL. And it's a tedious process for me anyway. Sorry there's not more to see here. But thanks for stopping by. See post below for a pic of my new piano.
Here's my tree. The pics aren't great, because I transferred them from my cell phone.

Ho! Ho! Ho!

Santa's come early around here. Guess I've been good enough. Whew! I've been playing this little gem since Friday night when I got it. Found it in the classifieds and got a U-haul that night to get it home. I had it tuned to 440 concert pitch today, and it sounds wonderful. The technician said it was almost new. Can you believe it? I wish I could find a way to play a bit and record it for you. If anyone knows how, let me know.

The gentleman we bought it from gave Chase three brand new John Thompson First Grade books. They are exactly the same books I learned on, and I had a lot of fun showing Chase one of the ones I had had all these years. With the exception of stickers and penciled notes, it was exactly the same. I hope he gets as much pleasure from music as I have through the years.

Now we can have Christmas carols on Christmas Day!

What's in Your Wallet?

Every day the headlines feature liars, cheaters, murderers, mischief, criminals, and all manner of evil. Television is filled with more of the same. No wonder so many people today are battling depression and suicidal thoughts. Statistics have shown that the number of suicides increase during the holiday season. Many of the despondent see no reason to rejoice. They believe they are without hope.

As we celebrate this Christmas season, we need to reach out to those who are down and out, those with limited income, those who are imprisoned, hospitalized or shut in. More importantly, we need to go out of our way to testify to those who are lost. We MUST declare the Good News of our savior Jesus Christ.

We say,"Jesus is the reason for the season", but do we explain that statement? Do we take our listeners from the manger to the cross? Yes, there are many who think the mention of the cross taints the celebration; yet without the cross, there would have been no need for his birth. We must take advantage of every opportunity. We must say as Peter did in Acts 3:6; "Silver and gold I do not have, but what I have I give you." He could have well said, WHO I have, I give to you.

Jesus in your heart is of far greater value than anything you could have in your wallet. Many times it is easier to give a buck or two, than it is to spend time with the needy. Yet time is of the essence. Take time to 'tell it on the mountain', tell it in the streets, tell it in the grocery store, tell it at work, tell it to all you meet; that Jesus Christ is Lord.

Thank you all for your prayers. I am on the mend and looking forward to getting back to work. Prayer is the best medicine with physical therapy running a close second. (smile)

PT2006 12/13/06

Useful Info

With winter comes the evil, dreaded dry skin and mucous membranes--sore throats and coughs, all that nasty stuff. We tend to turn up our thermostats and all that dry hot air just dries us out. CWGJR has sleep apnea, and we have found that he has to use a humidifier attached to his nasal BI-pap machine to find relief in the winter. He has sleep apnea, and that little machine has done him wonders. And I don't have to hear him snore anymore. It supplies warm, moist air to his nasal passages and lungs directly and has helped him immensely. And since I've noticed CWGIII with a dry and red nose as well, I imagine a room humidfier for his room is in order.

Humidifiers come in a variety of sizes, prices, and brands. Sometimes it can be confusing as to what you need. Do you need one in your bedroom only? Or one for the whole house? What brand is best? Did you know there is an optimum humidity level that's best for your home? I didn't. I was reading at
complete guide to buying a house humidifier and found a wealth of information on humidifiers including desirable features and brand comparisons. If you have the same winter time troubles, you might want to check out the information. There are many other useful links on those pages that can point you in the right direction.

Shop But Don't Drop

Well, you know how I hate shopping at Wal-mart this time of year. I love their prices, but I hate the hassle. Ever since the advent of computers and ebay I've shopped online. I know some of you are squeamish about putting your credit information out there, but if you use a fraud protected credit card and a secure site, you'll be fine.

The year I had CWGIII, I was just too tuckered out to shop. I was delighted to find many items online that came with free giftwrapping. It saved my life. That was the year I ordered Charles a cologne giftpack from Fragrance.com. They sent me an e-mail a day or so later saying it was backordered. But guess what? They sent an even larger bottle at the same price. How cool is that?

I've found a site that I like that I think is helpful...
www.StealDeals.net You can shop by store, coupon, category, or item. They have lots of brand name stores, and they put it all there together for you. The site has been up and running for 18 months, and it's easy to navigate. You can really save some money if you take the time you would have spent in line at a store and search online. Not to mention save your feet and sanity.

This year I found that crazy looking
Roboreptile and a Darby Dog. The key to online shopping is to make sure you do it early enough for the items to get to you before Christmas. Or if you're a procrastinator, pay for overnight delivery. But I warn you it will cost you, and you'll probably lose out on the savings you got with your coupons.

I think I got some great deals. Don't ever pay full price for stuff you can get cheaper. Trust me on this one. It's worth it.

Prayer Requests

I have some needs in my family I'd like to share:

My sister, pt2006 is down in her back and off work for a couple of weeks. Please pray for a healing touch so that she is able to get back to her life and enjoy the holidays.

My grandfather (the one in the nursing home) has full blown pneumonia and has been in the hospital for over a week now. He needs God's intervention.

As usual, continue to pray for my husband a full time job with benefits. Times are financially hard. This Christmas will be a little better than last--at least I'm working regularly. But we really need a miraculous intervention.

Continue to remember my friends' mother who has breast cancer. She is finished with her radiation and just waiting to see if it helped.

My husband's father's weight is improving thanks to buttermilk and cornbread. His mental state is about the same. An acquaintance saw us out shopping the other night and said they saw him out walking to the store and that he walked out in front of about five cars while crossing a busy intersection. This worries me greatly. We finally have meals on wheels set up, a home health nurse, and a CNA to bathe him and do small housekeeping jobs. This is helping out some. But as you know, with Alzheimers things will not get any better unless God intervenes. Pray for his safety and God's will in this situation.

I do feel a bit selfish about asking about my personal needs, but I realize I can't carry these burdens alone. I encourage you to share your own needs here and those of others you know. There is power in numbers and power in prayer.

Today's Sweet Drive-by Advice

Lately my hubby has been dabbling around in used cars. He seems to think that by buying them cheap and overhauling them a bit he can make a profit. I'm skeptical, but to avoid a fight I've let him do it. (Laughs at the word, "let") We've found a useful site that maybe you would enjoy, if you're like us and never buy new. (An automobile depreciates thousands as soon as you drive it off the dealership lot.)

You can find Cars For Sale in these Used car and truck classifieds. You can list your auto for free. 10 pictures and unlimited text. No credit card is ever required, and your listing stays active until sold. And it's 100% free.

The search function is easy to use. You can search by price, mileage, year and newest. You can also search by location, if you're looking for a car in your area.

You can find the crash test ratings, fuel economy, and recall information, which is hard to find on most used car sites.

There's a loan calculator, insurance quotes available, and auto shipping quotes. There are also reviews you can read, which we found helpful. We looked up our Sebring and our Aveo. It even tells you if your model has had any recalls.

Just passing along that little bit of info in case any of you are looking for a Christmas present for your teen or yourself. As you may have noticed, I'm trying to boost my readership a little bit with more varied content and outgoing links. I'm also experimenting with Google adsense. I'll let you know how that turns out.
used cars

My Spanish Angel

Good morning ladies and gentlemen. I trust your holiday shopping and preparations are going well. Last night, at the insistence of CWGIII, we put out Christmas lights. Well, at least on his little cabin. That didn't seem to be too big of a hassle. I love Christmas lights, but I can't stand taking them down in the bitter cold of January. We wrapped the porch posts and outlined the side facing the road. He has one of those prelit grazing deer, a bell, and a "Feliz Navidad" sign. It looks quite festive out there. Thanks Aunt Carla for helping out with donating part of the lights. The rest I got off the clearance table at Fred's and Dollar General, so not too big of an investment. Couldn't find a "Merry Christmas," so "Feliz Navidad" will have to suffice. However, my son is getting some Spanish instructional CD's for Christmas, so it's kind of theme-related.

Yes, CWGIII wants to learn fluent Spanish. I suppose he shouldn't have too tough of a time with it. He said his first word at 3 months, believe it or not. And it was "book." I remember taking him to work to show him off at 4 months and the girls couldn't believe he could say "good." They said he was just cooing, until I said, say, "Good juice." And he said "Good jooo." It was obvious he was mimicking my mouth movements and sounds, whether or not he knew what he was saying. He hasn't stopped talking since. Such words and phrases as "facetious", "obsessed", "evidently", "eventually", "realistic", "in my estimation," and "by my calculations," have crossed his lips in the recent months. And I just sit in amazement that a seven-year-old is talking to me like a grownup. What are they teaching in schools these days? Or is it because he lives with a writer and a salesman and is an only child? Could be. Childen repeat what they hear, I have to remind myself. Boy do I need reminding. It's like that new country song I heard the other day, "I've Been Watching You," by Rodney Atkins. They watch us when we slip up, and they watch us when we do good.

But really, his language skills are coming along nicely. And I must brag, he's been a straight-A student this year so far. Charles and I were talking about this last night when he was telling me about a young boy that graduated college in one year. His name was David Bahn, and the story ran in the January issue of Kiplinger's. I promised CWGIII at the first of the school year a $100 if he made it the entire year without anything lower than an A. I might have to pay up. But at that, if he does it every year, $1200 is a small investment for a valedictorian and free ride to college. Some of you may disagree with this method, but in my house bribery is not a dirty word if it gets positive results. We just use it sparingly. (Mama don't have that much cash to dole out regularly anyway.)

Someday maybe he'll be bilingual or multilingual. Someday he may be an ambassador or maybe even President! Yes, I have big dreams for my little man. But for now, I'm content to watch him bask in the glow of a prelit reindeer and smile as he turns to me and says, "Now we can get a whole bunch more to cover the whole house." Sigh. The joys of motherhood.
Tags: Christmas lights
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Feliz Navidad
Holiday

Ever Wanted to be a Fly on the Wall?

Okay, I have a question for you all today. I was thinking about it this morning as I was surveying the garbage in my garage that had been scattered everywhere. Was it Maggie? Our neighbor's dog, Wiggles? A raccoon or possum? Or even the wind? Short of sitting up all night or catching the culprit red-handed, there's really no telling. I do know that I've never seen Maggie bother the garbage. Even after it's been dumped out. I am tempted to blame Wiggles right off the bat, but what proof do I have? None so far. If I had a security camera, then the puzzle would be solved. But I wouldn't go that far just for a little garbage.

One year when my son was two, some pranksters cut the cord to his blow-up snowman in the yard and moved it to a yard a street over. Not a nice thing to do. And boy was I mad that they had destroyed it by cutting the power source. Once again, no proof. And kind of spooky that someone had been so close to the house and us not know it. Kind of like the other day when someone left the back door unlocked and my sister and brother-in-law came in and made themselves at home. Not that I minded them being there, but the thought that anyone else could have been in and out and me not even realize it. Spooky. But I ramble. Here's the question for the day.

Is it ever acceptable to use a spy cam or hidden camera? Would you have any qualms about placing one in your home if you thought something was going on that shouldn't be? What about at your business? Is this a serious invasion of privacy if it's in your own domain? Do you trust your babysitter? If you run a business, do you trust your employees? Would you go that far to make sure that your family and possessions are protected?

And then of course my mind wandered to the whimsical side of the question. What if you could catch the culprit who spilled the unknown substance on your freshly shampooed carpet? Or find out who left the glass of coke on your dresser to make the unsightly ring? What about finding out who put the red sock in the washer with the whites? Who broke that what-not on the mantle and set it back just so? Who keeps spitting toothpaste in my sink and not rinsing it out? Ughhh. Of course I know the answer. There's only three of us in my household. Most of the time I can figure it out by process of elimination. Oh but to have that coveted proof. There would be no more, "But mom..." or "I dunno, honey." And Maggie would be off the hook.

Of course, I'm not blameless. The other day I went to the fridge and thought, Hey, who drank all my Lipton Green Tea? And the answer is, no one in the house drinks it but me. Had to be me. Unless of course I'm being investigated by the CIA, and they've helped themselves to it while they surveilled my home. Somehow I don't see the boys in black chillin' on my sofa with a cold one while they install a stealth camera in my dusty silk plants. But hey, as long as they don't touch my hidden Dove chocolate stash, we're cool.

Pray Unsaved Souls into Heaven

Sometimes you just have to PUSH your way through! I'm not talking about the holiday sales crowds. I'm talking about the "light and momentary afflictions that are not worthy to be compared with Christ's sufferings". I'm uncertain of the orgin of the acronym, but I use it a lot. Pray Until Something Happens!

Pray until something happens! Pray until something changes! Pray until someone changes! Pray until something gives! Pray until you change! Pray until you get a breakthrough! Pray until it becomes natural to pray. Pray until......

The Apostle Paul said it so simply, "Pray without ceasing". No exceptions, no qualifiers, no excuses. If the great preacher, teacher, evangelist, missionary, pastor, Apostle needed to PUSH, then I know I need to do the same. Above the Apostle Paul, I read of Jesus in the garden. He asked the Father to let the cup of death pass him by if there was any other way to fulfill God's will. Didn't Jesus also say to the disciples, "Watch and pray that you enter not into temptation?"

Temptation is but one reason to pray; sickness is yet another. But dear readers, the most important need to pray is in regards to lost souls. Time is short; Jesus is soon to return. He is not willing that any should perish, so why do we slack in prayer? It is truly his will for us to Pray Until Something Happens to bring the lost to the knowledge of his saving grace.

Worship Wednesday is brought to you by pt2006. Thanks sis!

Unique Ideas Make for a Special Wedding Day

My neice recently got married, and I have to say a few things have changed in the 10 years since I married. More and more brides are having non-traditional or unique weddings, music, favors, and attire.

Jennifer had a gorgeous wedding, but it was like none I had ever been to. For starters, my son Chase was the ring bearer. Nothing unusual about that. But he was pulling the 14-month-old flower girl in a decorated Red Flyer wagon down the aisle. I had to hold my breath from the back of the sanctuary where I was prompting the bridesmaids. But all went well, and little Riley didn't tumble out head first as I had imagined.

There were no traditional wedding songs. Jenn came down the aisle looking radiant on the arm of her father, Ken, to "I Loved Her First." Her bridal gown was traditional ivory, strapless with a fingertip veil. For accent there was a long chocolate sheer sash over her shoulder that fell down the front of her gown. It was much prettier than I imagined when they first told me about it.

Her colors were ivory and sage. She had sage and ivory napkins and a sage colored wedding cake that looked like a wedding gift in three tiers. Inside it was wonderfully surprising chocolate cake.

On each of the tables in the reception hall, there were little bells attached to cards that had little thank you poems on it. You can go to this link to find cheap but elegant wedding favors:cheap wedding favors. There were white lights strung across the ceiling of the fellowship hall and hurricane globes with pillar candles on the tables surrounded by floral wreaths in ivory and sage.

When the bride and groom left the church still dressed in their finery, instead of birdseed or the old standby rice, the couple ran through a corridor of bubbles. The pictures turned out wonderful. And I'm sure they were both grateful not to be picking little grains out of their scalp all night.

Overall, it was one of the prettiest weddings, and although I'm partial, one of the prettiest brides I have ever seen. And the ringbearer, well he was the most handsome guy there, bar none. I'm just glad he chose to wail til a couple weeks after the wedding to play barber. Yes, he did. His hairline is now about 3 inches higher. Sigh. Well, he's still handsome...I suppose I'll cry when his day comes.

Tried in the Fire

While reading over at Writer...Interrupted, I was struck by the first thing on the Top Ten List for Writers. Patience. Here are some thoughts I jotted down.

My grandmother always told me that if I prayed for patience I would have tribulation, because tribulation worketh patience. However, David said: Search me, O God, and know my heart; Try me... and see if there is any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting." Psalm 139:23


James 1:2 My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations;
James 1:3 Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.

James 1:4 But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.

I do believe the trying of our faith brings us patience. When we ask God to search us and try us -- to see if there be any wicked way in us that needs to be ferreted out, we are opening our hearts for him to do his spiritual surgery in our lives. And as we all know, sometimes recovery from surgery is painful. The end result is a healthier body. In other words, it helps us to survive. The tribulations we have may cut. They may make us uncomfortable for a season, but the time we spent alone with God in the Recovery Room brings sweet healing and inspiration.
I want my Recovery Room experience to bring about it's perfect work in my writing and in my life.

I think my grandmother was saying to be careful in what you ask God for, you just might get it. When asking for patience, we are asking for God to teach us. It is not up to us to question His methods. God allowed Job to be tried and found him to be faithful. When his wife in effect said, "Just curse God and go on and die already," she was short-sighted. She couldn't see the long-term benefits of this shaping of Job's life. God was not wanting to destroy Job. He wouldn't allow Satan to destroy him. God wanted to perfect Job. And Job was rewarded in the end. He learned some valuable lessons about God--and the folly of leaning to one's own understanding. His friends thought they knew what God was doing. His wife thought God had given up on them, and I'm sure Job sat in his ash heap and wondered, "God, what in the world are you doing?" But out of the ashes there came something beautiful as Job was perfected.

Did Job pray for patience at some point before all this began? Was that how it all got started? I don't know. I do know he was a righteous man. And that he surely wanted to please God. He knew he was being tried in the fire. Job 23:10 says, "But he knoweth the way that I take: when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold."
vs 14: "For he performeth the thing that is appointed for me: and many such things are with him." Job 42:10 "And the Lord turned the captivity of Job, when he prayed for his friends." Job's suffering was used to help bring the repentance of his friends, so that what Satan meant for harm only served to increase the kingdom of God. The funny thing about Satan is that he just can't accept that no matter what he does, he will never have the power that God has. His wits are no match for the Almighty's wisdom. He can never triumph.

I am encouraged today by the book of Job. If it's been awhile since you've read it, take time today. You will be inspired, blessed, challenged, and thankful.

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Happy Trails to You

Who wants to celebrate? I LOST 14 LBS THIS MONTH!!!!!!!!!

There are two things that I really miss since I've been an adult and gotten old and fat. One is riding a horse and the other is riding a bike. Some day I'm going to lose enough to do both again. Of course, nothing beats the feeling of gallopingthrough an open field wide open with the wind in your hair and the smell of leather and horsesweat and honeysuckle making you high. But if I had a second choice, this little baby pictured above would be it.

Isn't she pretty? I love the retro look, the little pink seat, and of course the basket just makes it complete. Oh and those pretty fenders! If I had a bike today, it would be this one. I just love the girliness of it all. If you go to beach cruiser blog,you can see all the different styles they have, or even help them decide on their newest looks. You will be impressed with the many different types of beach cruisers they have available. And I'm sure some of you are looking for a great Christmas present for your youngster or your health-conscious brother-in-law.

What is your favourite color? What should be the color combination? You can decide different color for frame, rims, fenders and seat. But for me, I think this one is perfect just the way it is. I think I would a midnight blue with silver fenders and black seat too, though. The possibilities are endless.

No, it's not as good as riding the trails Roy Rogers style, but hey--we can't all be Dale Evans.

Roy Rogers
rel="tag">Dale Evans

Come Out, Come Out Wherever You Are

John 6:35 reads like this: "I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst."He speaks of giving everlasting LIFE to those who will believe in Him. Again in John 10:10; Jesus says, "I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly."

Only the TRUE believers can worship TRULY. True believers have a sincere gratitude for being rescued from a life of sin. Worship is all about reverence, admiration, and love. It is a humble service rendered in appreciation for all that God gave when He gave His only son. It is not rendered in a mere obligatory way rather it is freely given from the heart of the redeemed.

With salvation comes the promise of everlasting life. That life is now and in the hereafter. Worship should be a part of our present as certainly as it will be in our future. The book of Revelations gives a picture of worship that can be used as a pattern for us today. In chapter 4 we read of the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders. Verse 8 states that they never cease to say; "Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty, who was, and is, and is to come." Revelations 5:12 puts it this way: "Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain, to receive power, wealth, wisdom, strength, honor, glory, and praise." Verse 13 adds, "forever and ever".

We should worship with all of our being; mind, body, will, and emotions. Any thing less and we are like a beautiful sanctuary that is empty and lifeless. We have potential and capacity but we are void of the service we were created to provide.

He has given His all, shouldn't we give ours?

--Worship Wednesday is brought to you by PT2006. Thanks!

Update

I have had a sick child the last couple of days--stomach virus. Today he is finally better and probably will go back to school tomorrow.

I have managed to get a day's worth of typing in since 2:30 this afternoon and clean the bedroom carpet. We steam cleaned the living room last night and still have four rooms to go. Trying to get it in good shape for the holidays. And no, I don't have my tree up yet. That will be probably another week in coming.

I have nothing philosophical or inspirational to impart today. My body and my mind are weary. I just stopped by to let you know I haven't forgotten you and have made a short pass through some blogs. If I haven't been by yours, it's nothing personal. I'll get to it sooner or later. As rewarding as it is to work from home, when you have a sick child it becomes a challenge. For all the family members that have called and I haven't had time to talk, I'll call you back tomorrow.

What's in a Name?

A simple way to praise another is to add a title when you address them; one that describes a quality trait or attribute of their status. The Psalmist spoke of God as Jehovah-Elyon, the Lord most high. Not a polished paragraph of accolades, just a simple addition to the name Jehovah. The meaning is one that parallels the commandment; “thou shall not have any other god before me”. There is none higher than God.

“I will praise the Lord according to His righteousness; and will sing praise to the name of the Lord most high.” Ps.7:17

I have taken the first three words of this verse and used them for my screensaver. I find it helpful to remind myself to praise. In Sunday morning services, it is easy. When everything is running smoothly, it is easy. When I have extra money to spend, it is easy. You get the point. You all know the opposite of these times; Monday mornings, rough times, and the day just before payday. These are the times when I need a reminder.

Lately, those reminders have come in the study of the names of God. Jehovah-Elyon has been a perfect addition to my prayers, for it reminds me of how all of my problems are beneath the LORD MOST HIGH. None are greater than He.

The Psalmist gives another reminder in Psalms 100:4. “Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, and into His courts with praise; Be thankful unto Him and bless His name.”


The Apostle Paul adds; “In everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.”

Instead of saying have a Happy Thanksgiving, I say give your THANKS HAPPILY! Remember to PRAISE! PT2006

A Long-Winded Letter

I've got a new post up at Writer...Interrupted. Well, it was new yesterday. I've been buried under work after coming off a very busy weekend. My neice got married Saturday on Chase's birthday, and CWGIII was a ringbearer, CWGJr officiated, and I ran the soundboard and cued the bridesmaids. It was a gorgeus wedding, but I'm glad it's over. After the wedding we celebrated my baby's birthday at the Mexican restaurant in town. Then on Sunday we drove down to Jackson, Tennessee to celebrate with my side of the family. After getting to have two parties, my son finally forgave Jenn for planning her wedding on his birthday. I think.

I've had more computer problems to the tune of $130. I had to get a new power source for the Compaq laptop. Please remember to unplug your laptop before moving. Those cords are very delicate as are the inner workings of the jacks you plug them into. I know, I recently killed Hewlitt-Packard. They sautered the contacts back, and it lasted all of 5 minutes. Thankfully I had my hubby's newer Compaq for backup when that happened a few months ago. And then yesterday is when the power source on it failed. But a couple hours later and a little bit poorer, I was back in business. The snafu put me behind by two hours, and I completed one file at midnight last night. I just completed the other a few moments ago. Neither was late, but I'm exhausted.

Add to that gearing up for Thanksgiving, and you have a recipe for exhaustion, which it seems many of us are dealing with--and the holidays aren't even here yet. I'm making a couple of Coconut Raisin Chess pies, a Coconut Chess pie minus the raisins, and a homemade banana pudding complete with meringue. Lord willing, if I live that long. We are taking food to my Grandpa in the nursing home, then having lunch with my sisters, then traveling back to Paris to have supper with my hubby's family. Whew! Pray for us as we travel.

I'm thanking God this week for a full-time job in Paris with benefits for my husband. No, it hasn't materialized yet. But I figure I'll get my thank-you in early, God. I know you have something better for him. He's getting so worn out and depressed over this situation. I know you have a master plan. I know it isn't easy for him, and Lord, he's so hard to live with when he's miserable. Please, please intervene. I'm worried about his health and state of mind. God, you can fix this.

I'm thanking God for health, for the good reports I got at the doctor's this month, regardless of the weight and cholesterol issues. Thank you, Lord that there were no critical test results. Thank you for giving me strength for another day and the days to come.

I'm thanking God for my family and extended family. I have wonderful family members. I so enjoy getting to see all of them and visit. And I'm getting new family members as well. Welcome, Ryan, to our family. (Jenn's new husband).

I'm thanking God for a son who is making straight A's. We have to fight over homework and piano lessons, but he gets them done. When he woke up on Saturday I asked him, "How's the birthday boy?" And he said without missing a beat, "It's been a great 7 years!" What a precious gift I have in him. Thank you God for keeping him safe at school each day.

I'm thanking God for meeting my needs. What a wonderful God we serve.

I could go on and on and on. And this week I will remember more blessings to give thanks for as we approach Thanksgiving Day. Please take time to count your blessings and give thanks for them to the One who gave them.

And now, I'll quit my blabbering and get to that laundry that's been piling up and make that grocery list. Good thing I'm sending CWGJr. to Wal-Mart. I sure do hate it this time of year. (But THANKFUL we have one.)

Holidays
Wal-mart
Precious gifts

HAPPY BIRTHDAY CHASE!!!

Seven years ago today I lay in a hospital bed with a fetal monitor strapped to my belly, an IV in my arm pushing Pitocin, a blood pressure cuff strapped to my other arm, and a nurse's hand up my vagina saying, "Poop a watermelon." I know, I know that part sounds hilarious now. But all I could think of at that moment was if giving birth was like pooping, I was severely constipated.

After 14 hours of labor, 6 hours of that pushing and straining to get my "watermelon" out, the kind doctor suggested forceps. I was adamently opposed. I did not want my poor baby's face to be all smashed and bruised. But the doctor won out. And still, my "watermelon" refused to budge. He tried the suction thingie with no better results.

Finally, in desperation I screamed. "Get him out, now!" which seemed to garner much better results. Within twenty minutes I was prepped and in surgery. Within 15 more minutes, my bundle of joy had arrived. He was no watermelon. He was my gorgeous 8 lb. 2 oz. baby boy. I got to kiss his little forehead before they put me out to staple me up. My husband got to carry him to the nursery and give him his first bottle. To this day when my husband and I argue, guess who is on his side? That's right. My baby bonded first with his Daddy. The one with the formula always wins.

Later on after arriving home I finally got to review the video. I got to see the parts I missed while I was in the Twilight Zone. There never was a Papa more proud. And that child sucked down 2 oz. before you could blink an eye. Yep, no doubt about who is father and mother are.

I got to see everyone's reaction on the tape. I'm still a little jealous that everyone was gone by the time I got to my room at 10:30 that night. But I'm so glad someone had the forethought to tape it. My grandmother held my tiny son in her arms. She looked at him so sweetly. And she prayed over this blessed new life.
My husbands' family took turns burping and cradling. My sister sucked the mucous out of his mouth with a bulb like a pro. And finally, my mom got to hold him. She had been ever so patient, knowing she would be at the hospital when everyone else had left. I never will forget how proud she was. She had waited a long time to become a grandma. Both my sisters had been married 9 years and produced no offspring. I felt justified that this was payback for both of them marrying the same year, leaving me at home and single. There is a God. Laugh.

When I got back to my room, they let me hold him. I never knew what joy a baby could bring. True, I felt like I had been through combat. My body was bruised and sore and exhausted. All I wanted to do was sleep for hours on end--and watch this little bundle of joy. I would keep waking up and saying, "Ain't he pretty, Mama."
He had the most beautiful head of hair. That was the biggest surprise. Was it worth all that laboring and pain and nine months of throwing up, losing 40 lbs, having 27 staples, and breaking out from the anesthesia? You bet it was.

You know what? Even though seven years have passed and my beautiful boy is now in First Grade, I feel as if I were back in that room, marvelling at God's blessed creation all over again. It's his birthday today. But I got the best gift. Happy Birthday, Son. May God Bless your life in countless ways. I love you with all my heart

Can You Hear Me Now?

The Prophet Isaiah declares that we all like sheep have gone astray. He may have well been thinking of the people of his day and time. Yet his words ring still ring true in this 21st century. Again, it seems that my theme will be on righteousness. Today's post has for its text Jeremiah 23:6 and 33:16.

Jeremiah begins chapter 23 with a word of judgment from the Lord concerning the corrupt religious leaders of the time. Then the Lord declares his salvation to the remnant of His flock. He speaks of bringing them back to their pastures and how they will again be fruitful and increase.

“In his days Judah will be saved and Israel will live in safety. This is the name by which he will be called: "The LORD Our Righteousness." Jeremiah 23:6 NIV This verse is repeated again in Jeremiah 33:16 following a description of the restored people of Israel.

The picture is of a people that will be known by the name, Jehovah-Zidkenu; The Lord our righteousness. They are a joyful, glad, thankful family of worshippers. They are no longer afraid or terrified of their enemies. Their fortunes will be restored and their families will be intact. Once again they will be in the safety of His fold.

Oh, what joy to be made righteous by the hand of the Lord! To know that each one is special to the Good Shepherd as we pass under His hand. (Jeremiah 33:13) He counts us one by one, knows each of us by name, and is pleased to call us His own.
Can it be any clearer? We can only be righteous through Him. John 10:27 sums it up this way; "My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me." KJV

He is calling; "Can you hear me now?" 11/15/06 PT2006

Happy Anniversary

I didn't realize it, but November 11th marked my first anniversary of blogging. Has a year gone by already? I look back at my situation a year ago, and indeed I'm grateful that things are a little better these days. We're slowly making a comeback. I'll admit, I was scared out of my mind about losing our home and everything else we had worked for in out 10 years. But here we are, a year later. I have to say it's made me stronger. When you look back and see where you've been and how far you've come, you have a lot more faith and strength to face the days ahead.

Some good things have come from it. I've gotten many new friends. I've written a novel. I've spent a whole lot more time talking to God about things. I don't take things for granted like electricity and gasoline--and family. In short, I've done some stretching and growing. But I've got a long way to go.

If you're new here and have no idea what I'm talking about, just take a peek back at some of last year's posts. The last 12 months have been stressful to say the least. But for everything and every person we lost, God has brought something new and beautiful back into our lives. And sometimes it's not people or things He gives you back...sometimes it's a testimony. I want to thank Him publicly. He's never left my side.

Thy Word Have I Hid in My Heart--

Was thinking of Jeremiah. About how he was thrown in the dungeon. In the mire. And how he was brought out of the pit with rotten rags. And about how he let God use him through this experience to prophesy (minister, if you will) to others during this time. The song, "If it Takes a Valley" comes to mind as well.

I get to feeling sorry for myself sometimes...like what a rotten place I've found myself "thrown into." Like how unfair it seems. How sometimes it's hard to catch a break. How everything seems to come the hard way for us. Yes, it's a hard road sometimes. It's a valley. And sometimes the word valley is a euphemism for it when it's actually a dungeon full of muck and mire. A disgusting mess.

I can tell you, I talk big in the blogosphere. Here, I'm Superwoman. Invincible. Unflappable. But stop for a moment. And look past the screen--I'm human. Cut me, I bleed. Tempt me, I cave. Anger me, I push back. I know what it means to be in the mire, weighted down by daily cares, by sins that so easily beset us, by apathy -- by depression. And I have to remind myself daily that I am not alone in this life--maybe even not alone in the dungeon. Some of you have been there too, I know. I've read your blogs.

What keeps me going, what keeps me sane, what keeps me alive is knowing that it's temporary. Knowing that it's for a season. That I am not forsaken. That there is no valley or dungeon low enough that God can't reach. When I feel like a failure, when I feel unworthy, when I feel inferior -- HE IS THERE.

This afternoon I was looking for my long-forgotten stamp collection. It's here somewhere. Probably the attic. What I found in the process was every Bible I have had since about the age of 8. All of them worn, the pages coming unglued, underlined, dated, dog-eared. The journey of my life is underlined and dated in these. Someone else might not be able to see it in the margins, but I know it's there. Time and time again I've turned to His word for comfort, for guidance, for peace -- and for correction. What in the world would I do if I found myself in a dungeon and had no Word hid in my heart, no foundation to keep me stable, no landmarks set for me by my parents and grandparents and most of all Christ to follow?

I close my eyes and I remember sitting in church next to my Granny. I would play tic-tac-toe or doodle and listen to her sing. I would watch her mark the text in her well-worn Word. I hear her praying. I found my little Prim dress in the cedar chest, my Honor Star cape, and a handkerchief from my wedding. I found a crocheted shawl Granny made that I wore in a church Christmas play. And I found that first Bible. And in that Bible, just like my current Bible, the words remain --32 years later: Jeremiah 31:33" I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they will be my people."
His Word will stand forever. Though our circumstances change, and we find ourselves in difficult places, HIS WORD REMAINS. He is faithful. His mercy endureth forever. And his love is everlasting. Amen and Amen.

Just Do It (Even if you're a day late)

Worship Wednesday:
Due to a technical e-mail glitch, this post was received at 18 minutes past midnight, making it technically a Thursday Thought. Anyway, it's a good read.

As noted in last week’s post; the righteous are the people who consistently live in right standing with God. When one is in right standing with God then he will be in right standing with his fellow man.

One illustration of the two relationships resembles a plus sign or a cross. The vertical line is the relationship between man and God. The horizontal line represents the relationship of man to man. When the form of the cross is correct, the lines are intersecting at right angles. The view of the cross is distorted when the lines are skewed.

The key to being righteous is keeping the cross in view. One must keep both the vertical and horizontal lines straight. When the horizontal line lists, care must be taken to check the condition of the vertical line. It is certain when the vertical line sways the horizontal will also be affected. The cross of Calvary; love, mercy, forgiveness, sacrifice with pure motive; will always be the pattern to follow to get one’s cross in its correct form and to put relationships in the right angle.

The 23rd and 24th verses of Matthew chapter 5 give one example of making the angles right. The NIV reads this way: “Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to your brother; then come and offer your gift.” Again the Gospel records this observation; “Anyone who does not love his brother, whom he has seen, cannot love God, whom he has not seen.” I John 4:20

The RIGHT thing - just do it. 11/08/06 PT2006

Busy Week

Under deadline this week on two heavy projects with bad audio. Waiting for PT2006 to send me Worship Wednesday installment. It's rained this week, so I've been doing mini workouts indoors. Lab work came back high cholesterol, which I expected. Otherwise, so far nothing else to report on the medical front. Sorry I haven't been around much. Will get back in the groove when things slow down.

IMPORTANT GIRLY STUFF***

I just got back from having my breasts mashed, my body invaded, my arms stuck, and pride wounded. Yep, annual physical about six months late. Besides the fact that I'm old and may be going through early menopause (they're checking hormone levels, etc.) I have gained 40 lbs. over the last 16 months. I told you I'm a stress eater. Doc says, "Get moving!" So Diane, I'm going to start that walking in the mornings. I'm going to say Monday through Friday when I get back from taking Chase to school at 7:30a.m. before I start my work day. She said to start slow with about 15 minutes. I wanted to tell her that that's probably all my fat body could do right now. She suggested Weight Watchers, but money's tight right now. I'm going to check into it.

As for the mammogram, it went okay. It's not too painful for me -- must be all the padding. I laugh every time they put those little b.b. pasties on your nipples. But I have a real good tech who makes you feel comfortable. She told me mine weren't the biggest she's had by far. Some people have to have two and three films to get their entire breast. And I thought mine were a chore to drag around! But seriously girls, get your mammograms. I have a family history of breast cancer, a double whammy with both my grandmother and mother having had it. I am fully aware of what cancer can do to a person. And the sad part is that the type my mom had a high success rate if caught early. Her doctor told her it was eczema. Don't ignore any rashes on your breast or nipples, and don't take eczema for an answer. Get a second opinion. THIS IS IMPORTANT LADIES!!! I know you dread it, you put it off, you hate it. But just do it.

I also have an aunt that is a breast cancer survivor for, I don't know probably 20 years. She caught hers, went through chemo with the attitude of a champ, and with much prayer beat it. She is one of the most productive and wonderful women I know. I'm thankful to have had her all these years. I love you Aunt Ramona!

As far as the Pap smear goes, nothing like gettin those feet up in those stirrups and chatting about the kids is there? I lost all my modesty when I was pregnant. No sense in being shy when they see a hundred vaginas a day. Mine's clean, and I'm proud to say that when they asked me how many partners I had had in the last 10 years I could say 1. She said they don't hear that often. Too much information, you say? Well I guess I've gotten less sensitive in my old age. (I'll 41 Saturday, and hubby is taking me to Memphis overnight without CWGIII. I'm so excited !!!) Besides that, I think too many times we don't talk enough about these health issues. We shy away from talking about them because we're embarrassed, but I have to tell you, our girls and boys these days need to be informed. And informed properly, not with street knowledge.

As for the blood work, I had a wonderful tech this time who actually listened when I told her she would need a butterfly needle. She got it on the first try. Much easier than aiming urine into a little specimen cup, I'll tell you that much. But enough of that. Pray for good results. I can't afford to be running back and forth every month or to be on expensive medication. Don't get me started on prescription costs. LOL.

No Worries, Mate!

“The name of the Lord is a strong tower, the righteous run into it and they are saved.” Proverbs 18:10 KJV

I’m sure you haven’t heard of anyone running into a strong tower lately-- a strong storm or a water tower maybe. The King James Version is a bit awkward for many, yet I’m still partial to it. For those unaccustomed to the King’s English, I offer the New Living Translation. “The name of the Lord is a strong fortress; the godly run to him and are safe.”
Additionally the Amplified Bible clarifies what is meant by “the righteous”. It adds "consistently upright and in right standing with God."

Rather than dwell on how to remain in right standing with God, I would like to focus on “the name of the Lord”. Perhaps we will pick up with the righteous motif next week.

Throughout the book of Proverbs we read of the Lord as a deliverer, rock, shelter, and hiding place. Our text is the only reference in Proverbs to the “name of the Lord” being a place of safety. The “name of the Lord” is the writer’s way of speaking of the total character of God. One has only to look to the Patriarchs of Old to find the names of God. Each reference to a name of God is given as a reflection of God’s character in the circumstances faced by the Patriarch.

With Abraham we can say, Jehovah Jireh is my provider. In the book of Exodus, Moses declared Him as Jehovah Nissi, the Lord our banner. Again, we must transition from the KJV to a modern application of this title. Simply put, the Lord leads us victoriously in battles, trials, temptations, and all confrontations with the enemy. The list of the names of Jehovah includes many more that we may deal with on a later date.

The “Name of the Lord” is His reputation. He has never failed. He will never fail. He has never lied. He will not lie. He has never left the “righteous” begging for bread. He has and always will supply. What He has promised, He has always delivered. When we run headlong to Him with our arms reaching for Him, He meets us with arms that are strong enough to carry us all the way through whatever trial we are facing. Truly we are safe in His care. As a certain actor would say it, “NO WORRIES, MATE!" --PT2006

PT2006 is my big sister, Carla. She has an Associates degree in Medical Lab Technology and also has studied at Southwestern Assemblies of God Bible College in Waxahachie, Texas. She and her husband Dale have been married for 15 years and are a loving aunt and uncle to my son, Chase, who is rotten because of her. She is new to the blogging scene, and at my encouragement has been gracious enough to provide us with our weekly Worship Wednesday post.

Notes from Rose Hill

This morning I've spent about three hours writing on From the Dust of Rose Hill and have gotten about 1800 words in. It's slow going but hopefully good work. I've lost a journal, it seems, that has nearly a chapter's worth of work in it. I have so many strewn about the house and cars, so I'm hoping to find it soon. It irks me when I lose things.

This WIP is coming to me in disconnected visions. When I get one, I write it, even if it's out of order. The morning's work consisted of working on the ending and the beginning, and I have found that having the two files side by side has helped me coordinate the two and come full circle. Gwen, Sonny's anorexic and drug addicted sister has made her entrance to the story line, and Sonny is facing a grim decision.

I have a character outline of sorts for each of my five main characters which is helping quite a bit. And I have constructed a loose outline for the entire work, actually two. We'll see which one wins out as we go along. I really need to get to researching the whole Viet Nam era and also the Iraqi war. I'm finding it a bit hard to get motivated for that, but I hope to get some new books from the bookstore on those subjects. A relative of mine was reading Letters from Nam at the campout the other night. At least I think that was the title. I might have to borrow that book or find it on Amazon. I don't think it's a recent release, but I don't really know.

On the homefront, it's a quiet rainy day in Paris. I'm hoping the weather will clear up so that we can take CWGIII trunk or treating tonight up at the church. They haven't sent me any transcription for today, but I sent off a huge file last night. I think God was giving me a nice day off to work on the book. So how's your day going or been?

Carnival Begins

If you haven't mosied over to the Carnival of Christian Writers, it's well worth your time to do so. I didn't have a post included in this particular round, but I will as soon as my work schedule allows me time to get that done. There are some great posts included from what I've read so far. Gina has done an outstanding job coordinating this, so please take time to read and comment and maybe even join!

Dry Bones

This past week my son had to pick his favorite Bible character and dress up like him for Awanas. He chose Ezekiel, and he was the only Ezekiel at the party. I took pictures but haven't gotten them developed yet. He wore a black robe and a peach-striped towel on his head. I painted a mascara beard and moustache on him, and he toted a long stick. And of course I thought he was the most adorable one there.

Ever since Wednesday night I've had the story of Ezekiel on my mind, particularly this scripture: Chapter 37, Verse 11 Then he said to me: "Son of man, these bones are the whole house of Israel. They say, 'Our bones are dried up and our hope is gone; we are cut off.' 12 Therefore prophesy and say to them: 'This is what the Sovereign LORD says: O my people, I am going to open your graves and bring you up from them; I will bring you back to the land of Israel. 13 Then you, my people, will know that I am the LORD, when I open your graves and bring you up from them. 14 I will put my Spirit in you and you will live, and I will settle you in your own land. Then you will know that I the LORD have spoken, and I have done it, declares the LORD.' "

I admit I've been in a dry place--and for far too long. I've been discouraged over our hunt for a home church. It's been a year now, and we are still kicking around local churches like we were square dancing and the caller has called for a partner change. This past Sunday we decided to give the local Assemblies of God another chance. The last time we visited a few years ago there were about 15 of us. This past Sunday there were about the same. And even though we had a good service and a good message, my heart was grieving. This should not be, I told myself. What has happened here that has crippled this congregation? The Sunday before that we attended the church where my son goes to Awanas on Wednesday nights. I can't do this every Sunday, my soul whispers. This is dead and dry, and I just can't sit here and pretend I'm happy. I can't tell you how many different churches we've attended over the past year. They can't all be dead, can they? It's me, isn't it God? I'm not where You want me. But where is that, God? And why is it so difficult to figure out? And why is it that it's such a struggle?

This morning my heart is heavy. I've been going and taking my son to church, because that is what you're supposed to do. I was taught you don't miss church on Sunday. No matter what is going on in your life, on Sunday morning you get up and go to church. On Sunday night you get up and go to church. On Wednesday night, you get dressed and you go to church. I hear in my head my mother's voice, "Get up and take that boy to church." And I hear my reply to her, "Mama it's so hard. You never faced the question of where. That issue was settled for you the day Granny and Papa joined Gregory's Chapel." And until I turned 22, that was the only church I had ever known. When I moved away to another town, I drove the 60 miles home on the weekends to be there. When I married, we joined a local church and were very active there until things happened beyond our control and we were left homeless again. Again we found ourselves driving the 60 miles back to Gregory's Chapel. But my son is in school now, and we just can't do that now. You don't know what you got 'til it's gone. What we take for granted today may be gone tomorrow. And it's left a gaping hole in my heart. And in my life. And until this situation is resolved, I can have no peace.

I hear my Granny's voice, "What's important is that you go. Get in there, get involved, and serve the Lord." She's right. She's oh so right. "Just back yer ears and do it, Cin." I hear my sister's voice, " A double-minded man is unstable in all his ways." I don't want to be double-minded. I need clarity. I need resolve. I need stability. Lord, grant me the courage to just back my ears and do it. Lord, don't leave me cut off. Bring me up out of this grave and breathe life in me again. I'm in this valley of dry bones, God. And I can't see my way out. But I know You will not leave me. Breathe new life into these bones God. Settle me in my own land, Lord. Don't leave me cut off.

There's way too much at stake.

WORSHIP WEDNESDAY

Today I will post the first of a new series, Worship Wednesday by guest blogger, PT2006. I hope you enjoy these mini devotions and that they bless you as you go about your day. If you enjoy her post or have something to add to the discussion, please feel free to post comments.

“The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord: and he delighteth in his way. Though he fall, he will not be utterly cast down: for the Lord upholdeth him with His hand.” Psalms 37:23, 24 KJV

The book of Psalms contains a variety of petitions, prayers, and praises. Many of them can be recited today as applicable to this generation as they were in ancient times. Many a comfort can be found in the book of Psalms. Just as the original compositions soothed a raging King Saul, they soothe a variety of maladies today.

I like the way the Contemporary English Version translates these verses: “If you do what the LORD wants, He will make certain each step you take is sure. The LORD will hold your hand, and if you stumble, you still won’t fall.”

God does not always show us what lies ahead in our lives, but through His Word he shines a light on our path. As we are faithful to listen to Him and follow in the way He leads, we can walk sure-footed regardless of the terrain. Even on the boisterous seas, Peter found a solid place to walk as he kept his eyes on the Master. When his focus became dim, he began to sink. But Peter was not utterly cast down, for Jesus took hold of his hand and lifted him out of the water.

Take courage today and know that as long as you do what the LORD wants, He will hold your hand and keep you from falling. --PT2006

Highlights

My sister finally sent me the highlights of the Eat Thou Honey conference held recently in Cordova, Tennessee:

Friday night, Dr. Paula White delivered a "BIG" Word. BIG is the acronym she used for Blessings In God. For her text, she chose Luke 1:26-37. Her opening statement was this: "If you can make it happen, it is not of God". She added that we must make room for the BIG in our lives. Her outline followed these things concerning "The BIG". The "BIG" has been spoken, it has been demanded, it has been declared, and it has been delivered. She posed this question, “Are you in position to receive "The BIG"? She took the biblical account of Mary mother of Jesus and paralleled it with our receiving the BIG in our lives. She illustrated the point with her personal experiences with mail order packages. You can speak your order, demand your order, it can be declared as sent and delivered, but you will miss out on receiving it if you are not at home when it arrives. She equated the "you may pick up your package" notice with the grace of God. He has left a note, your package is available, if you want it, you must pick it up for yourself. Stay in position, make room for the "BIG", God will deliver as He has promised.

Pastor Darlene McCarty took Galatians 6:9 and I Corinthians 1:9 for her text. She preached a message that complemented the message of Dr. Paula White. The common thread though out her message was one concerning our position in Christ. She quoted Tommy Tenny as saying; "God pre-positions you for favor to position you in favor." Her admonition to the audience, "Stay in position"! She cited the biblical examples of Leah, Hannah, and Esther. She wrapped up with a paraphrase of Psalms 22:3 about God being enthroned on the praises of His people. She added, for God to become enthroned on our praises, He has to come down from His throne on high. He must step out of His heavenly habitat to fulfill His word. When we do our part He does His.

Friday night's message was entitled "Why won't people pray?" Pastor Darlene Bishop took Philippians 4:6 for her text. She emphasized the portion that states: "everything by prayer". She spoke of three types of prayer; the delight prayer, the desire prayer, and the desperate prayer. She used King Hezekiah as an example of what prayer can do. Firstly, he prayed a prayer of delight. He recalled the goodness, faithfulness, and magnificence of God. Secondly, his prayer was one of desire. His desire or request was for an extension of life. Thirdly, his prayer was a prayer of desperation. He prayed for God to give life in spite of the "word" the Lord had already spoken to him through the Prophet Isaiah.

Pastor Bishop's exhortation included this statement: "If you talk to God on a regular basis, then you won’t need to ‘work’ Him up, or call Him down." As an aside to the message, she added; "women can be anything they want to be and do anything they want to do, but they can not be the head". She went one step further and declared, "when men take their rightful position, the glory of God will fall."

Sounds like we missed some good messages. Maybe next year!

The Case of the Missing Socks

Okay, Lisa and I have discussed this before. Well, it's happened to me again. One day this past week CWGIII could find neither clean underwear nor socks for school. (I normally lay his clothes out, but this time I had been caught up in transcription work late at night.) Now because I do laundry almost every day that rolls besides Sundays (and sometimes Sunday, if it's really bad), I knew that the child had clean clothing--somewhere. I argued this point with him to no avail. Finally when I went to check his underwear/sock drawer I had to agree. There were none to be found. There were the standard strays but no matches. Hm. And I had just bought him a six-pack of both undies and socks. Where could they be?

A quick trip to the dryer got him a pair of underwear and socks, but I noticed that in that load there were no others. That's odd. Really odd. So I begin the search. Under MY bed mind you--where the little scamp watches primetime, there were about four pairs of socks--all dirty. Under his bed there were three more. Okay. Looking better. But what about the undies???
I looked high and low--no undies. I said, "Son, what are you doing with your underwear when you take them off before your bath? Aren't you putting them in the laundry room?"
He assured me he was, that I just wasn't washing them, which is NOT the case, because there were none there to wash. Sigh.

Well, I don't know why, but it didn't occur to me to check his other drawers. I mean, when I put his clothes away while he's at school I always put them in the sock/underwear drawer. And please, don't make the mistake of calling it a "panty drawer," MOM!!! "Can't help it," I reply,"old habits die hard." (I grew up in a house full of girls, for Pete's sake.) Anyway, to make a long, drawn out story even longer, the missing new undies and several more pairs of socks were finally found stuffed down in the next to the bottom drawer underneath his jeans and shirts. When asked about this my son replied laughing, "Oh there they are. I forgot where I hid them." (Don't ask me why he's hiding them. I never got that out of him. Probably thought it funny. Or maybe he thought he wouldn't have to wear them if he hid them. Who can figure out a six year old? Laugh.)

So now his drawer is overflowing. I can quit blaming the dryer, even though I know for a fact it does eat them occasionally. And I guess I can be relieved that he's only hiding his own and not some teenage girl's. The day that happens I think I will just faint. But that's a different post.

Reminders

11:50 p.m. and just finished a long file. Yippeee, I got more work waiting in the wings for tomorrow. Thank God for work!

Just a reminder: Be sure and check in over at Violet Voices for my latest post there, entitled "The Boss is In." Also, Gina over at Writer...Interrupted, the other blog I write for is starting a Carnival of Christian writers. Go here to participate.

Also, be on the lookout for a few guest appearances here and there. You just never know who might turn up sipping Coca-Cola or coffee beneath my wonderful wreath. Soon I will be celebrating my one year blogging anniversary. Can you believe that?

If you haven't stopped by here before or in a long while, take time to browse around. There are some oldie but goodie posts throughout the year that I think you'll like. Remember to visit my friends' blogs over there in the sidebar. And please do send your friends on over. I love finding new blogs to read.

Midnight and all's well. G'nite friends.

Rose Hill Update

In case anyone's keeping up with my current WIP, I haven't given up on it. If you'll notice on the bar graph at the bottom of the left hand column, I have just a tad over 5,000 words done. This is due mostly to the fact that I am getting regular work these days that I can't turn down. It pays the bills. And I must admit I'm at a standstill in the plot process.

The first novel I had pretty much mapped out completely before I began except for a couple of twists I added near the end. This one seems to be going much slower. Perhaps it's my reluctance to deal with the subject matter. Maybe the urgency is not there like it was with the first book. I don't know what it is exactly. I think it lacks focus. Last night I worked on a scene with Gwen in it that explores the dark innerworkings of her tormented mind. It was not a pretty scene. But life is not pretty at times. And how do I paint her out of the ugliness and into the beautiful light that is in finding her Redeemer? And how do I paint her brother, Sonny, the one who has already come to the Cross and found his way home but is struggling with Gwen's jealousy of him and her addictions that are destroying the family? He knows he should love Gwen into the Kingdom,. but Gwen is making life hell for everyone. What to do...I wring my hands in uncertainty. Family dynamics are not my forte. I should be an expert on dysfunctionality by now. (Is that a word?)

It's good for me, I suppose, to explore these things. I want to know what makes Gwen tick. I want to know what made Sonny different, more open to receiving Christ. They had the same childhood -- or did they? I want to know why Sonny can so readily lay down his burdens and give them to Christ and what keeps Gwen holding onto them, needing them so. These are the things I'm struggling with in the book. Sonny has his own struggles, his own bad memories of war, his own bad childhood memories to deal with. And now that his mom has died, he has the burden of keeping what's left of the family together. Will he be able to? Will Gwen find the path that leads to God? What secrets are unfolding throughout the course of the book and the 40 years it spans?

I'm overwhelmed. I'm still in the mulling stage and trying to write too. Once I figure it out I'm hoping the work will go faster. And no, I haven't sent off From Pharaoh's Hand yet. I'm deep into the revisions. Every time I read an author's suggestions I try to go back and look at my manuscript in light of those suggestions. I keep finding weak spots. I need an editor to mark it all up in red like my high school English teacher, Ms. Hawks, did. That's the only way I can tell if I'm getting anywhere. I wanted to have it submitted to at least one place by my own deadline of January 20, 2007. That will be a year to the day that I started. It's been an exciting journey. But it ain't over yet. Let's hope it's the start of a wonderful thing.

Mission Memories

My sister just returned from the Eat Thou Honey Conference in Memphis, Tennessee. And since I didn't get to go, I'd like for her to share with us a rundown of the conference -- speakers, singers, blessings, lesson, etc. From what little she's shared with me, I'm sure a good time was had by all. Here is a link where you can read about Darlene McCarty, a dynamic and powerfully anointed servant of God. She and her husband were over the Youth of Tennessee in the Assemblies of God when I was in my early teens and young adult years going to church camps and youth conventions. Their ministry had a profound effect on my life, and I am grateful for the many sacrifices they've made throughout the years. I am glad God has blessed them and continues to bless their ministry.

It was during my teen years that Randel and Darlene introduced me to the world of Missions through the AIM program. When I was 16 I went with a group of teens led by Randel and Darlene and others to Leon, Mexico. I saw firsthand the impoverished conditions of the people living there. We did street witnessing and choir performances and saw many souls brought into the kingdom on that trip. I went on three other AIM trips in the following years: Montego Bay, Jamaica; Christiana, Jamaica; and Nassau, Bahamas. I know those don't sound like missionfields but believe me when I tell you that beyond the manicured beaches and tourist spots there lies a hurting, impoverished people that are hungry for the truth the Word.

In Montego Bay we stayed at a missionary's home and did tent services at night at the foot of the street. During the day we would go into the hills and witness door to door. Sometimes we would pass children playing barefoot in the dirt, a knobby cow grazing near a hut, a Rastafarian dealing marijuana. I will never forget the sight of those Blue Mountains as Air Jamaica touched down on the short runway over the ocean. Angie Johnson Griffin and Mike Glover were my witnessing partners. We ended the week by climbing Dunns River Falls in Ocho Rios.

The following year, I believe it was, we stayed in the center of the island in the Assemblies of God Bible College. I remember the New Year's Eve service at the Green Pond church in particular. We had all divided up in groups and attended different churches so that we could minister to more people. It was a beautiful way to ring in the New Year.

One of my most vivid memories of this trip was taking off from the airport at Montego Bay and circling over Kingston for what seemed like an eternity. I knew there was a problem before the pilot ever announced it. I could see bluish green liquid streaking my window. We were not gaining altitude. Jack Simon, the minister sitting by me and who is now a missionary in Colombia, South America, joked and shut the window. I wrote in my journal and prayed. The pilot said we would be landing in Kingston. Our landing gear was stuck in the out position, which is good that it wasn't stuck inside. We were leaking hydraulic fluid. We landed safely. They fixed the plane, and we took off again. IN THE SAME PLANE. When the plane finally landed in Miami or Nashville (I can't remember which ) we broke out into a chorus of God Bless America. This ole gal was never happier to be on American soil.

The trip to Nassau was just as memorable. We saw many lives changed there as well. I remember riding to services in the back of a furniture truck. I remember a double rainbow in the sky. I remember serving in the children's ministry. I remember the straw market. I remember Golden Gate Assembly of God where we ministered on New Year's. I remember singing, "Come on ring those bells. Light the Christmas Tree." The one common thread I remember is Randel and Darlene being there, our fearless leaders. And the Spirit of God that led them.

When you pray, pray for our pastors, our leaders, our missionaries, our workers in the field. They have an eternal impact on souls. They reach thousands of youth and adults that we could never reach. They give their lives to the Master's service. Please uplift them daily. And give. They need our support.

The Sound of Wishful Thinking

Recently I blogged about finding old sheet music and how that brought back beautiful memories of my piano teacher, Mrs. Choate. I am reliving those days and moments with my son now. He is in his second month of lessons and doing quite well. I sit and listen as he practices. Often he will ask me to play through the entire piece for him, so that he can hear the melody. We have a Yamaha keyboard that we use.

( I had a relative question why I was paying good money to someone else to teach him when I could have myself. But I think he will learn more and listen more to someone else than Mama. I think it's money well spent.) But back to the keyboard.

The keyboard is okay for learning where the notes are. It is horrible for learning interpretative skill. You just can't learn the softness and lightness of finger pressure needed to elicit certain sounds, even with weighted keys. I don't care what anyone tells you, a piece of equipment that runs off electrical current can never, NEVER duplicate the sound of hammers hitting strings. I have played both, and I prefer the actual piano over the keyboard. I am a purist when it comes to sound quality. If I had my druthers, I would have a baby grand sitting in my front room.
I can't afford one unless I find one secondhand somewhere. But I am looking.

I miss playing. I drove my family crazy practicing as a child. When I was about 12 I started playing for church services. I would play the piano or the organ, whichever spot was vacant. Whenever I would get the blues I would play. It seemed to soothe the beast inside, much like David playing for Saul. I left the old upright at Mama's when I married. My sister offered to bring it to me, but it's a huge instrument and sadly worn out. There are several keys that no longer play. And if you know anything about piano repair costs, that is not a cheap repair.
And so it sits there in my sister's living room sad and forlorn and silent. I used to be adament about her getting rid of it, but I told her recently it was okay, that I was searching for a replacement. Sometimes you just have to let go of the past and look forward to new dreams.

So Santa, I'm putting in my list early this year. You think you can find me a bargain somewhere? I'd settle for a small console if the sound was good. And I promise I've been good this year. Christmas, yikessssss!!!!! It's just around the bend.

Please Pray for the Vieres

My dear friend Diane from Prayers for our Prodigals is going through some hard times. Her mother-in-law is critically ill. Please visit this link for updates. There is a link to a video there as well. Please take a few moments to view the message and say a prayer for the Viere family.

Nightsongs

Somewhere in the distance an old hoot owl is standing guard, his pale yellow eyes searching the darkness, his voice punctuating the soft summer night. Crickets are chirping in the undergrowth, and the bullfrogs are chiming in from across the pond. As if to answer, the trees rattle in the evening wind, and I shiver as I feel the night settling in. Another day has passed. Another sun has set.

I feel the cool dirt beneath my bare feet as I help the cedar swing along, it’s rusty chains creak out a rhythm to the symphony that surrounds me--that sweet soothing serenade of the night. The stars all sit and wink from above a few scattered clouds as the moon makes jewels of the crystal dewdrops on the grass.

My spaniel Maggie lies at my feet and licks her paws and pants. She smells something--a squirrel or rabbit and runs full speed across the drive, her nails clicking on the concrete. Her bark is quick and sharp and not at all afraid. A neighbor’s Labrador joins her in the pursuit, and the opera turns to a wild cacophony of yaps, growls, and snarls. The object of their disgruntlement harbored safely in a nearby tree looks down with beady eyes. Disinterested now, Maggie runs to me and licks my hand.

“Good girl,” I whisper. “Now settle down. Stay with Mama for awhile.”
A flash of light startles me as a brief flicker of lighting begins in a purple cloud above. The wind is picking up speed. A low rumble in the distance. Another streak of startling light, and then a fierce deafening clap of thunder causes me to jerk and Maggie to whimper. A drop of rain hits the awning over the swing, and then another, bouncing off the awning with muffled splats. A brief pause of silence ensues, and then a torrential downpour begins--drenching the dirt beneath my feet, soaking my pants legs, blowing the awning up and away. This is God meeting the needs of the thirsty soil. This is God watering his garden in the cool of the evening, blessing his handiwork--causing it to grow and flourish.

Eventually the brief storm abates, and the cadence slows to a steady , almost reverent rain. The earth soaks up the life-giving water. Maggie drinks from a nearby puddle as she shakes the droplets from her coat. I shake my soggy head in reply and laugh the laugh of a naughty child who has been dancing barefoot in the rain. These are the sounds of God. All of creation is His orchestra, and I am the awed and honored guest of this, His ever-changing, ever-beautiful, ever-so-holy masterpiece called life. Another day has passed. Another sun has set. And I am forever grateful to be one of the instruments of His will.

Band Aids and Big Toes

I have a Band-Aid on my big toe. I cut it on a piece of glass in the kitchen floor from one of my many mishaps. I was thinking this morning about how we sometimes just slap a Band-Aid on things and expect that to automatically fix it good as new. Like when you say, "I'm sorry," but you don't really mean it. You just want to end the argument. Or you don't want to admit that what you said or did was that a bad. But you know what? If you don't doctor that wound, take the time to baby it a bit and keep it clean, what does it do? It gets infected. It might even fester. Ewww. It might even have to be -- gulp -- amputated like my little Maggie's toe. Sometimes even with all you do, the damage is irreversible.

It's so important to be mindful of the words we choose. In the blink of an eye we can let things slip out that we can't take back. We can try to make amends, but the memory we've impressed will always be there. I'm guilty. I've said my share of ugly things. Why is it that we seem to feel so comfortable in saying exactly what we think especially with our closest loved ones? Shouldn't we be protecting them and nurturing them? Shouldn't we esteem our spouses as parts of ourselves and realize we are only doing harm to ourselves? I'm preaching to myself here. And no, the hubby and I haven't had a knock-down-drag-out today. It's just something that's on my mind.

Marriage is WORK. (That's for the benefit of all you single guys and gals out there.) And as I've stated before, I've grown lazy in a lot of areas of my life. And why is it when we do that, when we grow a little bit apathetic and cold that we look for someone else to blame? Truth is, my husband has his faults. All husbands do. What's even more shocking is that we wives have even more--more than the gray hairs we coat with Clairol to cover them up. But does Clairol fix them? No, it HIDES them. Just like this beige piece of stretchy elastic on my toe. I can't see the wound. But it's there. Covering it up doesn't make it go away any faster. It just keeps you from seeing it.

It's only when we allow the Holy Spirit to intervene that the healing begins to occur. Sometimes it cuts deep to the heart of the matter. Sometimes it is very, very painful to get out all that festering sin. We don't want to admit that we caused a wound -- or maybe that we received a wound at someone else's hand that we can't forgive. We have to deal with these things. Slapping a Band-Aid over it doesn't cut it.

I'm convicted today -- convicted by a Band-Aid on a big toe. Doesn't God use some of the oddest things, some of the simplest things to teach us?

Forever and Ever Amen

Please pray for Diane at Prayers for Our Prodigals. Her mother-in-law is in the hospital in serious condition. The family needs strength, mercy, and peace. I believe God is working on her prodigal through all of this. The Lord is able.

As I was driving home from taking Chase to school this morning, the song, "Places to Go and People to See" came on the radio. I'm not sure if that's the correct title, but if you listen to Southern Gospel, you've heard it. It talks about being homesick for heaven. This time of year is especially hard for me. I lost my mom in August and my Dad in October. And, as you've read before, I lost my grandmother this past July. Sometimes it seems I have more family over there than here. But that's not a bad thing. Heaven is home. It is a comforting thought to know that they are waiting.

I've also had missing bloggers Lisa and Mike on my mind today. It's been over a month since they've posted. And I know it may seem silly to worry. They may be busy. They may just be taking a blogging break. Could be that their computers are down. I don't know. But I miss them. And I pray that if anything is wrong that God will be there to help them with it.

I'm praying today for my father-in-law and my grandparents. I know they have some lonely days and days that they just don't feel good. I know that they would love to see us every day and have us with them more. God give them a good day today. God help me to show them I love them more.

I pray today for the families of the Amish girls. They never dreamed this could happen to their children. So much pain and shock they must be feeling. Surround them with your peace. Help them to forgive. God help those that are left behind to find comfort in You.

Be with my child at school today. Help him to learn a lot and to be a good student and friend. Watch over him, and protect him against evil. Lord, our children face a battleground every day. Be with him there. Protect my husband on the road and give him a good day. Be with all my extended family, each one. God you are good. Your grace is sufficent.

Be with me today as I work. Help me accomplish my goals and do it cheerfully. Renew my strength and my determination. Enliven me with your energy. Help me to be a blessing. And may all who stop by here feel your presence in their lives today.

In Jesus' precious and holy name.
Amen and Amen.

New Blog Look for an Old Blogger

Doing the happy dance this morning. Dave, my writer friend over at Writers in the Mist has fixed up my new blog image, and I couldn't be more pleased. It gives it a bit of a punch that it lacked. Thank you Dave for taking the time to tinker with my template. If you've never visited Dave or Writers in the Mist, take a few minutes and mosie on over. You'll like both blogs.

I'm going to keep this post short and sweet, as I have tons of work to get done this morning and absolutely TONS of laundry to go with it. As far as the campout goes, I'm getting too old and fat to sleep on the ground. This was the first time I'd ever really camped out other than the back yard. Putting up the tent was quite an experience. And it was no small tent. We bought a 7-man tent, so that it would accommodate a king-sized air mattress and Chase's cot. We got it on sale at Sears for 54 dollars, which I thought was pretty good.

I spent about four hours in the tent tossing and turning before having to take the 1/4 mile trek to the potty at 1 a.m. By 2 a.m. I had to make the trek again, (This is not unusual for me at home, but I don't have to go that far. LOL) and I ended up in my chair by the fire. I stayed there until sun up. It was fun watching the little and big faces pop out sleepily one by one. My little one woke up at 5 a.m. and missed me, which woke up a few more in the camp. I was only a few feet away, but I guess he thought the bears had gotten me. And yes, there are sometimes bears in Henry County, though I doubt there were any out there that night. Some adult said there was a big snake spotted in a tree, but I wondered if that was just to keep the boys out of the woods. I know it kept me out of them.

Cooking outdoors was fun. We had hamburgers and hotdogs and baked beans. The leader sent me and my husband back to town to get these supplies for our bunch--about 90 folks. We were running around Wal-Mart on a Saturday afternoon (and you know how harrowing that can be ) while the kids back at camp were on a one mile hike. I don't know which is worse come to think of it. You should have seen us with the three buggies. Chase was toasting marshmallows for breakfast at 5 a.m. I know, not the healthiest of breakfasts, but hey, we were camping. And by this time, I didn't have the strength to argue with him.

Besides the hike they got to shoot dog food into pails with slingshots, play tug of war, have a rain gutter regatta competition, and make pirate, I call them, "do-rags," eye patches, and parrots. They all wanted to be Dirty Dan, whoever that is. Maybe some of you can fill me in. They put on skits at the night council meeting around the campfire. Overall I think Chase had a great time. So much for keeping this short and sweet. Just too much to tell.

My favorite part was sitting around the fire and gazing up at the stars at 4 a.m. (And listening to the snores coming from the tents.) It's still debatable though, whether or not this old gal will be doing it again any time soon. (Next campout, Spookoree, is in October, which will be even colder.) Motherhood...ah the joy.

So that's where I've been. Now I've definitely got to get back to the grind. Tell me about your weekend. I missed you.
--Cyn

Swamped

Swamped with work this past week every day. Boy Scout family campout last night. No sleep and come home to more work. Slept 5 hours and got up and have worked all evening. Still not finished. Will tell you all about it probably tomorrow afternoon. Tuesday a.m. deadline...