The End of the Year

Well, guys! This is the end of the year… the end of a decade. Did things go the way you expected in the last twelve months? They didn’t for me. If someone told me even seven months ago that I would be writing a BLOG on the internet this year, I would have laughed. Now, however, I can’t imagine my life without this tool.

I originally started this site on Wednesday, July 28, 2010, as a way of educating people about depression. But it seems that God had other things in mind for me… Throughout the last six months, this BLOG has morphed into more of a Daily Devotion site – and that’s something that I will be focusing more on in 2011. I have found that by following the path God has laid before me, I am naturally addressing the issues that may lead to certain types of depression.



I look forward to our journey together next year. God Bless!


Thought for the Day…
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. (2 Corinthians 5:16-17)

2010 is gone… We each are faced with a new year ahead of us. With a new year, there are new hopes and dreams for each of us. Remember - No act is too big for God’s forgiveness. Begin this New Year with the assurance that you are LOVED. You are a CHILD OF GOD!

How high will it go?

Well, gasoline is currently $3.09/gallon in my town. I’m trying not to get too frustrated about it, so I tried to think of a way to rationalize the situation.

Here’s what I came up with so far…

If I calculate a few things I use to a “by a gallon” price, gas doesn’t seem too
pricey.

Perfume - Donna Karan Cashmere Mist Spray, 1.7 oz. ($60) =$4517.65/gal
Bath Soap - Caress Ultra Silkening Body Wash, 15 oz. ($4) =$34.00/gal
Cough Syrup - Robitussin DM Max, 4 oz. ($6.75) =$216.00/gal
Extra Virgin Olive Oil, Olio Taibi, 17 oz. ($50) =$376.40/gal

OKAY! When I looked at those numbers, gas didn’t really seem too high. But when I realized that a gallon of perfume would last me my entire life, and a gallon of EVOO would be in my kitchen cupboard for years before I used it all… it put things in perspective. No matter how you look at - $3.09/gal for gasoline is a lot of money!

My husband and I are pretty lucky – we don’t use our cars that much. For you folks that are forced to drive a lot, and must pay the high prices… hang in there! Hopefully things will get back to “normal” soon.



Thought for the Day:
Jesus died over 2000 years ago.
Nobody has ever referred to him as the late Jesus,
Not even unbelievers.
No where in history.
Nowhere has He EVER been referred to in past tense!
He is the Living God!

Seriously?

I spent most of today lounging on the couch, watching Lifetime Television. Then, my husband comes in and gets possession of the remote. Within two minutes the channel flippin’ begins – AMC, TNT, ABC, etc. Seriously? What is it with guys that force them to change the station every five seconds? Are they afraid they’re gonna miss something?

I remember when I was young… we had two channels on the television that came in good – 3 and 11 – and two other channels that my dad had to go outside and move the antenna around to get in on a windy day – 32 and 41. The only remote my dad had was me! You found something even slightly interesting on tv, you watched it til it was over. Seriously!

Yesterday my three and half year old granddaughter was at our house. She received about TWENTY new toys, that she can keep here, for Christmas. (These toys were from us, her dad, my mom, sister and friends – not just from us.) She played with nearly every single one sometime during the day. Then, last night, she came to me and said she was bored! Seriously?

When I was a child, we got ONE big present for Christmas and a COUPLE of small things. The rest of our presents were clothes. We never got BORED around our house, because if we did, my dad would happily find something to occupy our time. Seriously! (Gosh, I feel like I’m gonna break out in….”and we walked to school, up-hill – both ways” LOL.)

It’s amazing to me how much “things” (and we) change in the years from childhood to adulthood. But, if we don’t lose our sense of humor, I’ll think we’ll be okay.

Seriously.

525,600 Minutes

By the end of this week – Friday night at the stroke of midnight to be exact – each of us will be given 525,600 minutes to spend in 2011. How will you spend yours?

According to the internet, the average person will spend their minutes in the following ways:
7,200 eating
5,508 on the phone
10,920 in the bathroom
175,200 working
153,300 sleeping
43,899 driving
21,900 cleaning house

Just the above items only add up to: 505,428 minutes. And I haven’t even listed the important things yet… like precious moments with family and friends, periods with God (such as church or devotions), and time to take care of yourself. If I take the “left over” minutes (20,172), I only have a little over 55 minutes a day for these things. Something’s gotta give!

I know that some things in our schedules can’t change, but some things definitely can… and if we really look at what’s important to us, we should be able to make some small changes that will have a big impact. For instance, declare one night a week as “Electronic Free Night”… no television, no phone, etc. You’ll be surprised at how quickly you’ll begin to look forward to those nights with your family. Play games, make music or have a romantic date night! Whatever you do, just connect with family or friends… or treat yourself.

Some of our 525,600 minutes we’re given we will have absolutely no control over, but the moments you do… make a memory!

My Hope, My Dream...

Nothing ahead of you is bigger or stronger than the Power of GOD behind you!

I don’t know about you guys, but the last couple of weeks have been a flurry of mixed emotions for me. I have been very excited about Christmas – spending time with family and friends, watching my granddaughter sit on Santa’s lap, the emotion of our Christmas Eve service at Church, watching family open gifts, explaining the true meaning of Christmas to kids – Yes, Christmas has been very exciting… but very tiring and sometimes sad, too.

Winter is a very difficult time for me – for several reasons. First of all, the lack of sunshine and shortened days forced me to have my doctor increase my antidepressants during these winter months. (If you suffer from “seasonal” depression, you know exactly what I’m talking about.) Secondly, as I’ve mentioned before, I have Degenerative Disc Disease and, I’ve had several back and neck surgeries that have left me with painful arthritis in both areas... and fibromyalgia. Unfortunately, the cold weather just makes everything worse.

So, while I was really looking forward to Christmas – and don’t get me wrong… I had a wonderful Christmas – I truly relied on God’s strength to get me through the last couple of weeks. One thing that keeps me going is this Blog. My hope, my dream, is that the time I spend writing these daily posts can make a difference in just one person’s life. No one should ever think they are alone in this world…

The Power of God is always with you!

2011 TWELVE COMMANDMENTS

Okay, everyone. Christmas is over and it's time to start thinking about our New Year's resolutions. Here's the "TWELVE COMMANDMENTS" to get you thinking about what your resolutions could be for 2011.

1. Learn to find the simple pleasures in life.

2. Make the best of your circumstances. No one has everything, but everyone has something.

3. Don't take yourself too seriously.

4. You can't please everybody. Don't let criticism worry you.

5. Don't let your neighbor set your standards. Be yourself!

6. Do the things you enjoy doing... But stay out of debt!

7. Never borrow trouble. Imaginary things are harder to bear than real ones.

8. Since hate poisons the soul, do not cherish jealousy. Avoid people that make you unhappy.

9. Have many interests.

10. Don't spend time brooding over problems and mistakes.

11. Do what you can for those less fortunate than yourself.

12. Keep busy at something!

Author Unknown

A MOM’s Night Before Christmas

T'was the night before Christmas, and in my living room,
The noise was deafening, kinda like a sonic boom.
The stockings were flung by the dog on the floor
The unwrapped gifts were stacked by the door.

The children were wrestling & jumping on their beds,
And hitting each other (with bats) on their heads.
And me in my nightgown, and dad in his briefs,
Had just sat down for a little relief.

When out on the roof there was a noise like no other,
I sprang from the couch, (hoping it wasn’t my brother.)
Away to the yard I ran like a gazelle,
And I slipped on the ice and began to yell.

Ten or twelve inches of new-fallen snow
Covered all the sidewalks and the wind began to blow.
When, what to my weary eyes should I see,
But Santa’s sleigh, crashed right into a tree.

I ran over to him so fast and so quick,
I checked the vitals on Good Ole St Nick.
Then, I looked for footprints, where were the deer?
They had to be some, somewhere crashed here!

"Hey Dasher! Hey, Dancer! Hey, Prancer and Vixen!
Where’s, Comet and Cupid and Donner and Blitzen?
They were laying in the driveway – wrecked by my car.
I hollered, “Hey, Rudolph! How’d you get that far?”

So, they gathered back together, with Santa in tow.
Heading for the sky, they were ready to go.
They left some toys for my kids to play,
Just a few more hours until Christmas Day.

So, I went back inside and fixed us some dinner
Macaroni and cheese, It’s always a winner.
Once we were done, I sent them to bed.
They asked “Why?” - “Because, that’s what I said!”

I cleaned up the house and lit up the tree.
Wrapped up the presents, too tired to see.
I picked up the stockings, hung them on the wall,
Put apples, oranges and candy in all.

I turned on the oven, baking some more
Pies, Hams, cookies, and a few Petit-fours.
The family would be here tomorrow by noon
There’s so much to finish, time’d be over soon.

At 6 am, I climbed into bed,
I fell asleep when the pillow met my head.
The kids woke me at 6:15 on the dot!
Anxious to show me what each of them got.

See what Santa brought me! – They all cried with glee!
But I was so tired, I just couldn’t see!
New toys they each had, things that made noise.
New baseball bats for each of the boys.

When Christmas was gone, I felt kinda sad,
Through all the chaos, it’s wasn’t too bad.
Spending time with the family really was best.
It made it much easier to deal with the rest.

Merry Christmas!

"Belleau Wood"

I heard this "Christmas" song on the radio today - It touched my heart.

(lyrics are written by Joe Henry and Garth Brooks)

Oh, the snowflakes fell in silence
Over Belleau Wood that night
For a Christmas truce had been declared
By both sides of the fight
As we lay there in our trenches
The silence broke in two
By a German soldier singing
A song that we all knew

Though I did not know the language
The song was "Silent Night"

Then I heard my buddy whisper,
"All is calm and all is bright"
Then the fear and doubt surrounded me
'Cause I'd die if I was wrong
But I stood up in my trench
And I began to sing along

Then across the frozen battlefield
Another's voice joined in
Until one by one each man became
A singer of the hymn

Then I thought that I was dreaming
For right there in my sight
Stood the German soldier
'Neath the falling flakes of white
And he raised his hand and smiled at me
As if he seemed to say
Here's hoping we both live
To see us find a better way

Then the devil's clock struck midnight
And the skies lit up again
And the battlefield where heaven stood
Was blown to hell again

But for just one fleeting moment
The answer seemed so clear
Heaven's not beyond the clouds
It's just beyond the fear

No, heaven's not beyond the clouds
It's for us to find it here

In Remembrance

Only two defining forces have ever offered to die for you,

Jesus Christ and a Soldier.

One died for your soul; the other for your freedom.

THE DIGITAL STORY OF THE NATIVITY

This is amazing! I hope you enjoy it.

Is there really a Santa Claus?

I recently spent some time volunteering for a Christmas party in my community. This party was really special. It was a combined effort of many different agencies (Toys for Tots, American Girl Scouts, The Shepherds Shelter, the YMCA and several local churches), coming together to insure that a particular group of families would be ABLE to celebrate Christmas… that children would be receiving gifts, a full stomach, and winter coats this holiday season.

I can’t explain the love that passed through the room that day. Economic barriers were erased as everyone shared the joy of Christmas! When my Pastor gathered the children around and told them the “real” Christmas story – the birth of Jesus – the kids were fascinated. The entire event was amazing. For nearly three hours, time stopped and magic filled the air.

Then, when Santa came to deliver the toys for the children… WOW! I thought the kids were going to burst with happiness. And they weren’t wild and crazy, jumping on Santa and fighting to get up front. Everyone was waiting patiently for their name to be called… so thankful for everything they had been given.

So, I ask you again – Is there a Santa Claus? Absolutely! I saw him reflected in every volunteer’s eyes this past Saturday!

Looking Back

I borrowed this from
Daily Dose of God's Word
At
Barbara's Entourage

Looking Back on Time

Do you know what you were doing a year ago? Ten years, twenty years? This time last year, my husband and I were keeping grandkids. It was cold and it was hard to keep them inside. They are outside kids, and love the trampoline. Socks were ruined, and it kept us busy keeping them dry, clean, and warm - the little boys, that is. This year, they are home. Mom's been home throughout the holidays, so we haven't kept them very much.

I can't remember what I was doing ten years ago, but I am sure it was babysitting my two oldest grandchildren, since their Mom was working then, too. But, I can tell you what I was doing thirty one years ago - waiting on the birth of my daughter, who was born the next day. I thought she was going to be a Christmas baby, and the Doctor assured my husband she'd be after New Year's making her appearance. Listen to the Mother - she knows best!

During this season, over 2,000 years ago, Mary had waited on the birth of her firstborn. We don't know if it was during December, or whether it was warm or cold. But, she didn't have the convenience of a hospital - not even the convenience of her own home and bed, in which to give birth. She was sent from the Inn because they didn't have room. Makes me wonder, if they had known who she was, if they'd have made room. But, she was sent to what we now call a barn, and her child was placed on hay. It's hard to imagine our Savior having to come to earth under those circumstances. But, it shows us that GOD is no respector of person - not even with His Son. He had to undergo the same things that each of us undergo - lived a human life on earth, withstanding the pressures of life, the temptations that we sometimes can't withstand - to become the Savior of the earth.

(I hope you guys enjoyed this as much as I did.)

Quote of the Day

You can never cross the ocean unless you have the courage to lose sight of the shore. ~ Christopher Columbus

Family

Tomorrow we are having my husband’s family here for our annual Christmas gathering. Before we were married, his family didn’t get together for the holidays. My family, on the other hand, has always gotten together, for every holiday – and for birthdays! We even have an annual reunion, for family members on my mother’s side, in a local park. Cousins travel from other states, to spend a couple hours with loved ones that they only see that one time a year… or, of course, at funerals or weddings.

Because of the closeness among my family members, I could not stand for my husband’s family NOT to gather for at least Thanksgiving or Christmas. When we first got married, I even encouraged them to get together several times over the summer for cook outs, etc. I wanted to get to know these people… they were my family now. They really enjoyed spending time together. They just hadn’t seemed to find it important up until then.

Anyway, everyone is coming here tomorrow. It’s kinda understood now that we are getting together... we just call each other to settle on a day and time. I think that everyone would truly miss it if we skipped our gathering. I know I would. Family is important!

Drill Sergeant Therapist

Well, we are snowed/iced in today because of the recent storms, and I’ve been laying on the couch all day – in my PJs, watching the AMC channel on the television. It just so happened that my favorite Geico commercial came on a little while ago… the one with R. Lee Ermey as the Drill Sarge therapist*. As someone who has had several different therapists in my lifetime I can relate to the patient in this commercial… lol.

Because of my history with Manic-Depression, therapy has been an important tool in my life. However, not all my therapists have been a good “match” for me. I have had several that, to say the least, were definitely a bit “unorthodox” in their practices.

Let me explain: Over the years, I have had a therapist that read other people’s cases while talking to me, one that had to “channel” the room with incense before each patient arrived, one that answered each of my questions with “Well, what do you think?”, and one that neglected to show up for over half of our appointments. But thankfully, I never had any like the Geico Drill Sergeant!

I must say, I never gave up on finding a therapist that was a perfect fit for me. As a result, I had a wonderful counselor for 8 years. Unfortunately, I had to switch to another one when my insurance changed 2 years ago. But, I was lucky enough to find a good fit again. And, of course, I always have my faith.

Joshua 1:9
Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.

*To view the commercial, copy and paste this information to your address line - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JhlWddAXSRA

Christmas Traditions

Well, we made it through the “Twelve Days of Christmas”, and we only have ten more days until we actually celebrate Jesus’ birth…ten more days to finish shopping, wrapping and baking.

I’ve always told my granddaughter that Christmas is Jesus’ Birthday, and yesterday, while we were wrapping presents to put under the tree, she asked me, “Where’s Jesus’ present?” Huh! I didn’t have an answer for her. People always leave cookies for Santa on Christmas Eve, but never a gift for Jesus – and it’s His BIRTHDAY!

It made me wonder if we should start a new tradition… maybe wrap up a something special and leave it for Him. And then, I thought, “Well, how would Jesus take His present?” Then, it came to me! Why don’t we leave a bit of ourselves for Jesus on His birthday – That would be the best gift of all for Him. And that’s something even a three year old can understand.

So, this year, in addition to OUR Christmas presents under the tree, we are going to leave a special Birthday gift for Jesus. I’m going to suggest we write what our gifts are on a piece of paper and wrap them all up in a pretty box with a beautiful bow. I’ve decided that my gift will be less time watching television and more time studying devotions, etc. (I’m anxious to see what my granddaughter's gift will be.)

We always read Luke 2:1-20 before we open our presents on Christmas morning. Perhaps this year we can open Jesus’ present once the story is complete – before we open our gifts. A new tradition!

I hope you and your family find a way to bring Jesus into your Christmas traditions.

Kindness...

Finishing up with our twelve days of "gifts" that we all can give to each other - gifts that won't cost us a thing...

On the twelfth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me...KINDNESS.

It seems that people are prone to be nicer during certain times of the year more than others: Christmas, your Birthday, or when a child is born. Heck, even tragedy brings kindness and compassion within a community of strangers. But can you imagine what the world would be like if we offered that type of kindness year-round?
Well, there’s actually a website that inspires you to commit “Random Acts of Kindness”. They even include the TOP 70 acts to get you started! I thought that was a great idea, so I’ve posted some of their information here:

Open the door for another person.
Invite a couple of neighborhood kids over for a cooking class.
Drop off a plant or some home-made baked goods to your local police or fire department.
Donate blood
Open the car door for your passenger.
Add some quarters to a parking meter you notice is getting low.

Read more at: http://www.bukisa.com/articles/247610_top-70-random-acts-of-kindness-ideas#ixzz183FCEllv

“Treat everyone with politeness, even those who are rude to you - not because they are nice, but because you are.” ~Author Unknown

Hope...

Continuing on with our twelve days of "gifts" that we all can give to each other - gifts that won't cost us a thing...

On the eleventh day of Christmas, my true love gave to me...HOPE.

There are two stories of HOPE throughout history when it comes to FAITH.

The first story - From 1558 until 1829, Roman Catholics in England were not permitted to practice their faith openly. Someone during that era wrote The Twelve Days of Christmas as a catechism song for young Catholics. It has two levels of meaning: the surface meaning plus a hidden meaning known only to members of their church. Each element in the carol has a code word for a religious reality which the children could remember.

-The partridge in a pear tree was Jesus Christ.
-Two turtle doves were the Old and New Testaments.
-Three French hens stood for faith, hope and love.-
-The four calling birds were the four gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke & John.
-The five golden rings recalled the Torah or Law, the first five books of the Old Testament.
-The six geese a-laying stood for the six days of creation.
-Seven swans a-swimming represented the sevenfold gifts of the Holy Spirit--Prophesy, Serving, Teaching, Exhortation, Contribution, Leadership, and Mercy.
-The eight maids a-milking were the eight beatitudes.
-Nine ladies dancing were the nine fruits of the Holy Spirit--Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness, and Self Control.
-The ten lords a-leaping were the ten commandments.
-The eleven pipers piping stood for the eleven ”faithful” disciples.
-The twelve drummers drumming symbolized the twelve points of belief in the Apostles' Creed.

The second story - When threatened by Romans in the first centuries after Christ, Christians used the fish to mark meeting places and tombs, or to distinguish friends from foes. According to one ancient story, when a Christian met a stranger in the road, the Christian sometimes drew one arc of the simple fish outline in the dirt. If the stranger drew the other arc, both believers knew they were in good company.

Especially now, in the US, where we are able to worship freely and without persecution, let us all be filled with HOPE!

Compassion...

Continuing on with our twelve days of "gifts" that we all can give to each other - gifts that won't cost us a thing...

On the tenth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me...COMPASSION.

Yesterday afternoon, a group of us from our church got together and went to a local nursing facility to sing Christmas carols. We had originally planned to go "caroling" in the neighborhood that surrounds our church - but it began raining earlier in the day - and we called the nursing home as a last minute idea. As a result, there were only six of us that went. But, each of us that went were abundantly blessed by our decision to attend.

Some of the residents waved to us as we made our way down the corridors of their home, singing "Jingle Bells" or "Silent Nights". It made us smile. But what really melted our hearts, were the ones that would stop what they were doing and start singing along with us. Some would even request a favorite song for us to sing with them.

We went to that nursing facility to bring a little bit of Christmas to the residents lives - to show them some Compassion - and what we found was... the spirit of Christmas. For the hour that we were there, nothing else matter but the joy and acceptance that we all were feeling. It was amazing - we were being blessed when we thought we were going to bless them!

Compassion is a funny thing.

Wisdom...

Continuing on with our twelve days of "gifts" that we all can give to each other - gifts that won't cost us a thing...

On the ninth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me...WISDOM.

Cherokee Legend

Do you know the legend of the Cherokee Indian youth's rite of Passage?

His father takes him into the forest, blindfolds him and leaves him alone. He is required to sit on a stump the whole night and not remove the blindfold until the rays of the morning sun shine through it. He cannot cry out for help to anyone.

Once he survives the night, he is a MAN.

He cannot tell the other boys of this experience, because each lad must come into manhood on his own.

The boy is naturally terrified. He can hear all kinds of noises. Wild beasts must surely be all around him . Maybe even some human might do him harm.
The wind blew the grass and earth, and shook his stump, but he sat stoically, never removing the blindfold. It would be the only way he could become a man!

Finally, after a horrific night the sun appeared and he removed his blindfold.
It was then that he discovered his father sitting on the stump next to him.
He had been at watch the entire night, protecting his son from harm.

We, too, are never alone.
Even when we don't know it, God is watching over us, Sitting on the stump beside us.
When trouble comes, all we have to do is reach out to Him.

Just because you can't see God,
Doesn't mean He is not there.

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

Photo - www.photobucket.com

Forgiveness...

Continuing on with our twelve days of "gifts" that we all can give to each other - gifts that won't cost us a thing...

On the eighth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me...FORGIVENESS.

Matthew 6:14
For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.

Why is it so hard to forgive someone that has truly hurt us? Because we are human. There are no miraculous spells we can say or a certain amount time that must pass that will make forgiveness come easier, either. When we are hurt to our core, we naturally want to protect ourselves – and we often feel that withholding forgiveness from someone insures our protection.

What we don’t seem to notice is this… Forgiveness is a gift that we can give ourselves. When we let go of our anger and bitter feelings toward someone else, we are freeing ourselves. Often times, the person that hurt us isn’t even aware of how we’ve been struggling with the pain they've caused us. In some cases, it may not be necessary for us to face the person again anyway. (Forgiving isn’t the same as forgetting, after all.)

So, maybe this Christmas season, you could open yourself to forgive someone that has wronged you in the past… or perhaps help someone that is struggling with this issue. The peace that follows can’t be described… I know because I forgave someone that hurt me very deeply in my past.

Time...

Continuing on with our twelve days of "gifts" that we all can give to each other - gifts that won't cost us a thing...

On the seventh day of Christmas, my true love gave to me...TIME.

When I was in high school, I belonged to a group called Teens Who Care (TWC). We volunteered at Nursing Homes and other facilities. Even as a teenager I knew that I was doing a good thing, and it felt great to do something selfless for someone else.

One of the ways we can make a difference anytime of the year – not just at Christmas – is by offering a little bit of ourselves to others in need. There are so many organizations that help people (and animals), that you are bound to find something that is a good fit for you.

I have listed some organizations below (in the Kentuckiana area) that you can research. You can also "Google" organizations in your area. Hopefully, you can find somewhere that you would love to give of yourself and your TIME.

The Shepherd's Shelter Inc. - http://shepherdsshelter.org/
The Shepherd’s Shelter Inc., TSSI, is a 501c3 non-profit, faith-based organization founded in 2001 by a small group of caring citizens concerned about the increasing number of Bullitt County families facing a growing housing crisis. The commitment of this grassroots effort has resulted in Bullitt County’s first organized effort to prevent and end homelessness through a continuum of care. TSSI is now providing emergency shelter, transitional housing, permanent housing and supportive services designed to help participants gain a high level of self-sufficiency that will break the cycle of recurring homelessness.

Ronald McDonald House® - http://rmhc-kentuckiana.org/what-we-do/ronald-mcdonald-house/
The first Ronald McDonald House opened in Philadelphia over thirty years ago, inspired by the empathy for families with seriously ill children needing care at hospitals far from home. Ronald McDonald House Charities® was founded to carry out the work of what has become one of the most far-reaching non-profit agencies in the world. Dedicated in memory of McDonald’s founder and children’s advocate Ray Kroc, the Charity now supports about 293 Ronald McDonald Houses serving over 10 million families worldwide.

HOPE for Pets Inc - http://www.hopeforpets.org/
HOPE for Pets is a 501(C)3 non-profit organization. HOPE is dedicated to improving the lives of stray, shelter and companion animals in Bullitt County, Ky. Their programs are designed to eliminate pet overpopulation and provide assistance for pet care needs to the elderly, low-income and special need members of our community. They also offer educational programs and material regarding responsible pet ownership.

Home of the Innocents - http://www.homeoftheinnocents.org/
Since 1880, the Home has provided services for those children and their families in the community facing severe crisis – abused, abandoned and neglected children, medically fragile children and children with autism.

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Kentuckiana - http://www.bbbs.org/
For over a century, Big Brothers and Big Sisters have helped children reach their potential through professionally supported one-to-one relationships with proven results.

Acts 20:35
In all things I have shown you that by working hard in this way we must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’”

Understanding...

Continuing on with our twelve days of "gifts" that we all can give to each other - gifts that won't cost us a thing...

On the sixth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me...UNDERSTANDING.

I have two Christmas mornings from my childhood that really stand out in my mind…
The first one – I was about seven or eight years old, and I could not wait for Santa to come. I had never asked for a doll… NEVER! I wasn’t one of “those” little girls – I was a “die hard” tomboy! But that year I asked Santa for a very special baby. You see, this doll that I had asked for wasn’t just any doll. This was THUMBELINA. She could roll over!

Anyway, about 4:00am on Christmas morning, my sister and I climbed out of our bunk beds, and tip-toed into the family room. The moment my eyes fell on her, I cried. The lights from the tree sparkled and danced on her beautiful blond hair. Her little lips were painted the prettiest shade of pink I had ever seen. I was afraid to touch her. After a moment of letting it soak in that she was really there and she was mine… I pushed the tiny button on her back and she slowly rolled over. I melted! I don’t remember anything else I got for Christmas that year!

The second Christmas morning that really has stayed with me after all these years – The year after Thumbelina… I asked my parents for a dinosaur that roared when you pushed a button on his back, and his arm would shoot off when you pulled a lever on his side. I was ecstatic when I saw him sitting under the tree! My cousin and I spent Christmas day shooting his arm at Thumbelina… lol.

The point I’m trying to make is this – I wasn’t a typical “sugar and spice and everything nice” little girl. However, my mom listened to my wants on my birthday and Christmas, etc. I wasn’t forced to be put in a box that I didn’t feel I fit in. I was given UNDERSTANDING.

As a result, when my son was four years old and wanted a “My Buddy” for Christmas, he got one. Some people discouraged me from getting it for him saying, “Little boys don’t need dolls.” But, I knew my son needed understanding, just like I had years before.

When we give gifts for Christmas, we aren’t really giving Thumbelina dolls or My Buddy dolls; we’re really giving love and understanding to the people that are most important in our lives. That's the best gift to give.

Love...

Continuing on with our twelve days of "gifts" that we all can give to each other - gifts that won't cost us a thing...

On the fifth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me...LOVE.

John 3:16-17
16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.

What a wonderful show of unselfish LOVE by God! How could WE possibly match up to that? We can’t. Heck, we aren’t expected to live up to it. In Matthew 22, Jesus explains what His expectations are of us:

Matthew 22:37-40 37 Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ 40 All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”

So, how do we show love to our “neighbors” this Christmas? Volunteer in a soup kitchen, go Christmas Caroling in a children’s hospital, adopt a family from an “Angel Tree”, cook a meal for a needy family for Christmas, or spend some time with residents in a nursing facility. The love we share will come back at us two-fold.

Friendship...

Continuing on with our twelve days of "gifts" that we all can give to each other - gifts that won't cost us a thing...

On the fourth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me...FRIENDSHIP.

I have a group of woman that I hang out with – we call ourselves the “YA YAs”. We try to go on “retreats” a couple of times a year to learn more about God, the Bible, ourselves, and woman in general. We spend a lot of time talking, laughing, and crying. Over the years, we have really developed deep friendships with each other.

I also belong to the women’s group at my church. Every month, we (about 10 – 14 of us) get together for a meal, a short program, and plan different service projects we can do in our community. We always have great fellowship! Over time, we all have developed great friendships…relationships that are rooted in God’s love.

It’s a great thing to have true friends. It’s so fulfilling when you offer yourself as a real friend to someone else. So, what makes a FRIEND? And when do we cross the line from acquaintance to friend?

According to ezinearticles.com:

Friendship is a personal relationship shared between each friend for the welfare of (the) other.
A friend is one who knows you as a person and regards you for what you are and not what he or she is looking (for) in a good friend.
It is a pure relationship
It is string of love which develops gradually with each others involvement.

My favorite? It’s a string of love! What a wonderful gift to give for Christmas.

Empathy...

Continuing on with our twelve days of "gifts" that we all can give to each other - gifts that won't cost us a thing...

On the third day of Christmas, my true love gave to me... EMPATHY.

I bet everyone remembers where they were when the planes flew into The World Trade Centers on September 11, 2001. New York - a place whose people were once known for their coldness to one another - came together and became a "family" in the face of tragedy. Everyone seemed to see their own sadness in the eyes of everyone they passed in the streets that day.

But, history isn't required to change in order for us to feel empathy for those that live around us everyday. We have so much in common with the people in our communities, regardless of race, social standing, or status. All of us have needs and desires... we each have families that we love... we all have experienced heartache in our lifetime. Our feelings and emotions are similar even if our economic or religious backgrounds aren't.

If we can acknowledge, "I know what you're going through" or "I know how you feel", we can offer something to someone that perhaps no one else has this holiday season... Empathy. Try to remember a time that you felt alone and how much that offering would have meant to you. Let God work through you this Christmas Season.

Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn.
Romans 12:15

Laughter

Continuing on with our twelve days of "gifts" that we all can give to each other - gifts that won't cost us a thing...

On the second day of Christmas, my true love gave to me... LAUGHTER.

What do elves learn in school?
The elf-abet.

What is the difference between the Christmas alphabet and the ordinary alphabet?
The Christmas alphabet has No L.

Why does Santa have 3 gardens?
So he can hoe hoe hoe.

A lot of times, when my family gets together for the holidays (or any other time), we have so much fun... often laughing so hard (at each other) that we end up with headaches or stomach cramps. It's great to be able to let go and be silly.

Laughter is the one thing that we are able to sincerely give to each other... a gift from our hearts. No long lines at the store, no hours worrying if we bought the perfect gift, no stress over credit card bills after the holidays... just genuine time spent with our loved ones enjoying each other! Now that's an awesome present.

My True Love Gave to Me...

Considering Christmas is almost upon us - and the economy hasn't made the big comeback we all had hoped for... I decided to dedicate the next twelve days to writing about "gifts" we all can give to each other - gifts that won't cost us a thing! So, here goes:

On the first day of Christmas, my true love gave to me... PATIENCE.

Today I had a procedure scheduled on my back - some nerve blocks to help reduce my pain levels. They asked me to be there at 10:15am. I also had to have someone accompany me, because I wouldn't be able to drive home after I was sedated. My husband agreed to be my chauffeur.

Anyway, at 11:20 we were still sitting in the waiting room. Now, I had been fasting since midnight last night, and I was starting to get a little thirsty... and a little irritated. So, I went to the reception area and calmly asked them about how much longer it would be - only to find out that the doctor wasn't even there yet!

Well, I maintained my composure. Although, on the inside I was boiling! It even got worse when the other patients in the waiting room told me that this is standard practice for this office. It was all I could do to sit still and keep my cool. (You can ask my mom... she could tell you about the time a doctor's office actually fired me from being a patient!) So, by the time I got back into the prep room, my blood pressure was 160/100.

My husband on the other hand... calm as a cucumber. He knew how nervous I was about this procedure today. He also knew that a lot of my frustration in that waiting room was because of the anticipation I was feeling, and the pain I was experiencing. He was my rock! To be truthful, he always is.

So, for Christmas this year, my gift to him will be more patience. That is a very hard thing for me, so I know he'll really appreciate it!

Colossians 3:12
Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.

Women...

I saw Anita Renfroe in “concert” tonight. She is a Christian comedian from Atlanta, Georgia, the wife of a Baptist pastor and the mother of three children. She became a sensation after her comic rendition of everything that a mother would typically say to her children in the course of a day, set to the William Tell Overture and entitled “Momisms”, was posted on YouTube.* She was hilarious!

It was great to spend some time with other women, and laugh at jokes about women - really let our hair down, so to speak. So often in life, especially at this time of year, we take ourselves so seriously. We try to make everything perfect for our families during the holiday season: perfect gifts, decorations, food, etc. We tend to lose ourselves in the process.

So, sit back and take a deep breath… Remember that it’s okay to give yourself a break. Maybe even hum a Christmas Carol when you feel the stress coming on…

Rocking Around The Christmas Tree
Johnny Marks

Rockin around the Christmas tree
At the Christmas party hop
Mistletoe hung where you can see
Every couple tries to stop
Rocking around the Christmas tree,
Let the Christmas spirit ring
Later we'll have some pumpkin pie
And we'll do some caroling.

You will get a sentimental
Feeling when you hear
Voices singing let's be jolly,
Deck the halls with boughs of holly
Rocking around the Christmas tree,
Have a happy holiday
Everyone dancing merrily
In the new old-fashioned way.

*http://en.wikipedia.org

Thought for the Day

"Faith is taking the first step even when you don't see the staircase."
-- Martin Luther King, Jr

Plugged In

I heard about a great website today… http://www.pluggedin.com/.

“Plugged In Online is a Focus on the Family publication designed to shine a light on the world of popular entertainment while giving families the essential tools they need to understand, navigate and impact the culture in which they live.”
This website offers ratings and reviews on movies, videos, music, television shows, and games – not alphabetically ratings or stars – they actually go deeper into the content of the media and the meaning behind it.

If you’re concerned about what you’re purchasing for your kids or grandchildren this holiday season, you can check it out on this site first. Here’s what is included in their movie reviews:

Positive Elements, Spiritual Content, Sexual Content, Violent Content, Crude or Profane Language, Drug or Alcohol Content, Other Negative Elements, Conclusion

Don’tcha wish everything in life can with this much research?

Courage

"There are people who put their dreams in a little box and say, 'Yes, I've got dreams, of course I've got dreams.' Then they put the box away and bring it out once in awhile to look in it, and yep, they're still there. These are great dreams, but they never even get out of the box. It takes an uncommon amount of guts to put your dreams on the line, to hold them up and say, 'How good or how bad am I?' That's where courage comes in." ~ Erma Louise Bombeck

Erma Bombeck definitely wasn’t a woman that keep her dreams in little box. She went after them with gusto… writing 13 books over her career, becoming a principle player in the final implementation of the Equal Rights Amendment in 1978, participating in Good Morning America from 1975 until 1986, writing columns in various newspapers and magazines from the time she was a student in Junior High until her death. She was a woman that was full of courage.

Where can we get courage like that? Do we need to find something that we’re missing or do we need to lose something that we’re holding on to in our lives?
What would happen if we went after our dreams with the same passion that Erma Bombeck went after in hers? Well, one of two things…

We SUCCEED or we FAIL. Both of those results can fill us with fear.

If I succeed – what then? What will people expect from me from that point forward?
If I fail – then what? Will everyone think “I knew she couldn’t do it anyway”?
These are thoughts that went through my mind when I considered starting this Blog. And then I realized - in both of these instances, I was worrying about what other people would think. I was going to let other people keep me from my dreams!

I decided to go for it and I haven’t turned back. I hope you do the same…

Trust...

Trust – verb: have confidence or faith in

Proverbs 22:19 So that your trust may be in the LORD, I teach you today, even you.

I’ve always enjoyed teaching Sunday school, especially during the Christmas season. For the last 16 or so years, my classes have consisted of 3 year old toddlers to high school seniors. I’ve found that children can have such a hard time imaging adults as babies… but they don’t have any problem envisioning baby Jesus in a manger. Kids can accept and welcome Jesus into their hearts so easily. They trust Him.

When we (grown-ups) were younger, we just knew that we would be taken care of – either by our parents, our teachers, our grandparents, God – someone would rescue us if things got too bad. When we get older, it becomes too easy to turn cynical… to lose faith in mankind – sometimes even in God. Life can become so hard that we feel like we can’t depend on anyone but ourselves. I know - I’ve felt like that myself. But, the thing is… it doesn’t have to be like that!

Comfort can come from within us, but it also can surround us every minute of every day. All we need to do is open our hearts once again and accept the love Jesus is offering us… with that same faith we had as children. Trust is all it takes.

Advent

Well, today is the first day of Advent… the beginning of the Christian year. What an exciting time! This is the season that we celebrate the birth of Jesus, and all the HOPE that the miracle of that moment represents to mankind. I know it can definitely be hard to reconcile “Jesus the baby” with “Jesus the man” he became… the man that hung bloody and broken, dying on a cross, approximately 33 years later.

When each of us were born – swaddled in our blankets in some hospital nursery – I’m sure our family dreamed of how we would change the world. Maybe they imagined we would be doctors, lawyers, firefighters – maybe a president out there among us – no matter what, we were destined for greatness. They, I’m positive, looked in our eyes and saw nothing but perfection. I can’t even imagine what Mary felt when she looked in baby Jesus’ eyes for the first time – what a spectacular gift.

Jesus was God’s gift to humanity, but He also has given us all a unique gift… it’s in our DNA. We are capable of doing great things with these abilities – each one of us. All we have to do is “listen” for Him – He’ll tell us how to use those talents. Utilizing what is given to us is our present back to Him. Maybe that can be the first thing we give for Christmas this year!

Photo - http://www.freebibleillustrations.com/main.php/v/42_Luke/

On Your Knees

(*Something brought you to my mind today
I thought about the funny ways you make me laugh
And yet I feel like it's okay to cry with you
Something about just being with you
When I leave I feel like I've been near God
And that's the way it ought to be...)

My husband and I were on the way to my parent’s house today – halfway there in fact – when my phone rang. It was my son, calling to tell me he had a flat tire and was stranded on the side of the interstate with no spare. Of course, we turned the car around and rescued him. That’s what parents do – even when the child in question is twenty four years old.

I can remember so many times in my life, when I had to pick up the phone and call my family and have them come save me from one disaster or another. No matter what time of day (or night) it was, I knew when I made a SOS call, it would be answered… and I made plenty.

I know that my family has prayed for my health and happiness throughout my life. That thought humbles me. I pray for my loved ones, too… that God gives them what they need… that they carry Him in their hearts… that they are filled with peace… and that they follow His plan for their lives.

(*And you'll never know what it means to me
Just to know you've been on your knees for me
Oh, you have blessed my life
More than you'll ever know.)

*More Than You'll Ever Know ~ Watermark

It’s Over, or Is It?

Well, Thanksgiving is over… what now? Christmas! It’s right around the corner. Today was “Black Friday”. But, I have to admit, I’ve never been one of “those people” that gets caught up in the hype of waking up at 2:00am, fighting hundreds of other shoppers to the department store, freezing in line for 30 minutes or more while you wait for locked doors to be open - only to get to that one aisle where your particular item should be lining the shelves and discover… they are already completely sold out!

To so many people, Christmas is about finding that perfect gift… or maybe about decorating your home in just the right way. I can understand wanting to make Christmas special – especially if you have small children in your life. But, my personal opinion is this… if you really want Christmas to be special – remember the reason for the holiday.

Before we open gifts on Christmas morning we read about the birth of Jesus from the Book of Luke in the Bible. We’ve done this for years – it’s a wonderful tradition that I hold very close to my heart. The story follows:

Luke 2
The Birth of Jesus
1 In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. 2 (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) 3 And everyone went to their own town to register.
4 So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. 5 He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. 6 While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, 7 and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.
8 And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. 9 An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. 11 Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. 12 This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”
13 Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,
14 “Glory to God in the highest heaven,
and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”
15 When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”
16 So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. 17 When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, 18 and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. 19 But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. 20 The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.

So, I guess if you really think about it, Thanksgiving isn’t over at all, is it? Christmas and what it represents is a magnificent thing, and I’m incredible thankful!

Thought for the Day

Never give up, never give in, never quit trying.

A Psalm of Thanksgiving

Psalm 100

1Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all ye lands.

2Serve the LORD with gladness: come before his presence with singing.

3Know ye that the LORD he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.

4Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name.

5For the LORD is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations.

The Time of the Season…

Just a little heads up to the families of the members of this select club to which I belong. What specific group am I implying? Well, if you’ve read this blog for any amount of time, you’ll know that I’m referring to the approximately 18.8 million Americans that suffer from Depression.

Two things are happening - right now - that could change the mood and stability of your loved one…

1) A couple of weeks ago, the time changed. This reduced the amount of time we have daylight available to us every day.

2) We are entering the Holiday Season this week.

Both of these things have been proven to have a negative impact on certain people that suffer from Depression. I, personally, require a change in my medication every winter to help adjust with the change in the sunlight hours. I also have “therapy lights” – they basically trick your mind into thinking that you are receiving increased light stimulation throughout the winter months.

Remember that “seasonal changes” can have adverse effects on people with Depression… it’s a real disease with real consequences. Please be supportive.

Just enough…

Thursday is Thanksgiving. What am I thankful for this year? “Just enough”…

I’m thankful that I’ve had “just enough” heartache in my past, to appreciate the life I share with my husband today.

I’m thankful that I had to spend “just enough” time on food stamps, when I was a young mother (about 4 months), to appreciate the groceries I have in my cabinets now.

I’m thankful that I’ve had “just enough” time struggling with depression, to make me a compassionate advocate to others in need.

I’m thankful that I’ve had “just enough” time in my life feeling totally alone, to appreciate that God has always been with me.

I thank God for “just enough”.

Last Day on Earth

My Pastor asked a question today during his sermon: If someone said to you - “Live life as if today were your last day on Earth.” - What would it mean to you? Without outlining my minister’s entire sermon here, I’ll translate the three options available to that question that I gathered from his instruction this morning.

Option #1
Do nothing. Keep everything Status Quo.
Option #2
Do any and everything that you’ve ever wanted to do without any regard of the consequence of those actions. In other words – “Eat, drink and be merry.”
Option #3
Don’t live like you’re going to die tomorrow. Live like you’re going to live forever… with God! Isn’t that our goal anyway?

Thanksgiving is right around the corner. We (the congregation) had an opportunity to share what we were thankful for during our worship service today. Here are some of the things that were said:

Family, Friends, Church Family, Soldiers, Our Minister, Jesus, God’s Grace… the opportunity to live forever!

Thought for Today

"We all die. The goal isn't to live forever... the goal is to create something that will." - Chuck Palahniuk

Unhauling my U Haul

I was listening to the radio the other day, and heard someone talking about moving trucks. There was a reference made, during this particular show, regarding the fact that WE can sometimes become our own personal “U Haul” trucks. How? Well, by carrying around feelings of hurt, anger or unresolved situations that involve someone else, we basically are “hauling” issues with us 24/7 that are weighing us down.

I really could relate to this. You see, I once had someone in my life that continually hurt me. I carried anger with me constantly regarding this person… and then they died. Even after his death, I still struggled with the feelings I had surrounding our relationship… Until I realized two things: 1) the anger I was harboring was hurting only me and 2) how could I expect God to forgive me of my sins if I couldn’t even forgive people that had hurt me?

I must admit, it wasn’t an overnight – snap my fingers – kind of thing to forgive this person… it took time. And, just because I forgave, doesn’t mean I forgot. (I think that could be irresponsible in a lot of forgiveness situations.) Also, while it would be great to receive an “I’m Sorry” or a change of action on the offenders part before or after the act of forgiveness – I personally don’t think that should necessarily be a prerequisite for the actual act to take place. I feel if I were to place restrictions on someone, I wouldn’t really be offering sincere forgiveness.

So, how do we unload our baggage? How do we unload our U Haul? I’d do it one piece at a time. And, as with everything else, God will be there to help you. He’ll gladly ease your load.

http://www.uhaul.com/
Photo: http://www.fareastgizmos.com/2007/12/

44 going on 4

My granddaughter stays all night at our house a couple times a week, and the more time we spend together, the more I’m convinced that there’s a tiny adult trapped in her 3 year old body! She comes off with the craziest things sometimes. Unfortunately, I think I know where she gets these little sayings of hers.

Now, here’s just one example of what I’m talking about:

Her – “Hey guys, wanna watch Shrek before we go to bed?”
Me – “Honey, we watch Shrek every time. How about we watch something else?”
Her – “Ashully, I wanna watch Shrek.”

Now, where did all that come from?

Me – “It’s time for bed.”
Her – “Let’s read just one more book, Nana”
Me – “Actually, we’ve read two more than we said we were going to read.”

She mimics adults around her all the time! Fortunately, the grown-ups she spends time with aren’t filling her head (and mouth) with the words that I hear some other children screaming at McDonald’s; like “Shut Up”, “Stupid”, or worse.

When I think about it, I'm reminded of the Nursery song “O Be Careful, Little Eyes”. It has the following verse:

O be careful little ears what you hear
O be careful little ears what you hear
There's a Father up above
And He's looking down in love
So, be careful little ears what you hear

The thing is, when it comes to children, we're the responsible ones. The verse should say – “Be careful little mouth what you say” – because those little ears are always listening. Ashully, listening and repeating!

The Path

A friend of mine is moving several states away after Thanksgiving. She’s a very dear person to me and many other people in our church. I’m going to miss her terribly. Not only has she been a great friend… someone that has listened to my joys, worries, plans, and hopes over the years; but, she has been a wonderful example to me and others of what a faithful Christian is expected to be.



I know it won’t take her long to find her “place” in her new church. You see, she is very good at listening for God’s instruction in her life. She is also very good at following the path that He lays ahead of her. She’s dedicated her whole life to His plan. So, the new church in her new community will definitely benefit from her spiritual gifts.



We each have the ability to carry our “gifts” with us… no matter where we are or where we go. God is calling us to follow a path that He designs just for us. Whether we follow it or not is our choice.

Thought for Today

Only GOD can turn a MESS into a MESSage, a TEST into a TESTimony, a TRIal into a TRIumph, a VICTim into a VICTory…

1 Corinthians 10:13 (The Message)
13No test or temptation that comes your way is beyond the course of what others have had to face. All you need to remember is that God will never let you down; he'll never let you be pushed past your limit; he'll always be there to help you come through it.

Turning “IT” over to God…

I know someone that is going through a difficult time right now – they’ve been going through the same issues for quite some time... literally years. If we really think about it, I’m sure we all have known a person like that in our lives. Anyway, this person recently stated that she is ready to turn this particular problem “over to God”. But, I’m concerned about how she is gonna proceed now.

You see, I think there’s a common misconception here: Some people believe that once things are “given” to God, they no longer have any responsibility associated with the outcome. I, personally, have an incredible faith in God and what He is capable of, but I also believe that He works THROUGH us. He provides us with solutions to our problems by guiding us through them. Sometimes He leads us to certain people that can help us in ways that we can’t help ourselves.

I believe when we “hand” our issues to God, our responsibilities are just starting… the hard work is just starting – listening to what His solution is and doing it. However, the healing that follows… Well, that’s the icing on the cake.

The Servant Song

Sister, let me be your servant
Let me be as Christ to you
Pray that I may have the grace
To let you be my servant, too

We are pilgrims on a journey
We are sisters on the road
We are here to help each other
Walk the mile and bear the load

I will hold the Christ-light for you
In the night-time of your fear
I will hold my hand out to you
Speak the peace you long to hear

I will weep when you are weeping
When you laugh I'll laugh with you
I will share your joy and sorrow
Till we've seen this journey through

When we sing to God in heaven
We shall find such harmony
Born of all we've known together
Of Christ's love and agony

Sister, let me be your servant
Let me be as Christ to you
Pray that I may have the grace
To let you be my servant, too


by Richard Gillard
(Song was written as Brother instead of Sister.)

A Strong Person

I received an email the other day that stated…
“A strong person knows how to keep their life in order. Even with tears in their eyes, they still manage to say "I'm ok" with a smile.”

I’m not sure who originally wrote the quote, but the message is pretty clear. It’s a message that is well meaning and thought provoking. But it’s also a message that I find I must disagree. I think a strong person is someone that can look in your eyes and say, “I’m in a bad place right now, and I need your help.”

You see, too many times, I was that person that smiled that “I’m ok” smile - only then to spent hours by myself afterwards, feeling isolated… feeling alone… feeling like no one could possibly understand my heartache. Why? Because I thought that was what strong people were expected to do.

My fear: The message that gets sent around in emails, like the one above, is “Don’t be weak!” As I’ve said in the past, 54% of people polled believe depression is a personal weakness. Could these emails tarnish our thinking in regards to depression or feelings in general.

I know the person that sent me this email was forwarding it to me because they see me as a strong person. They know that many times, even in my life now, I will smile that “I’m ok” smile even when I’m not ok. I know they didn’t read into this email what I read into it. But, then again, they haven’t had the bouts I’ve had with this nasty thing called Depression.

Anyway, what I’d like to say is this:
“A strong person knows it’s okay to say absolutely nothing through tear filled eyes.”

A Change of Self

Very often a change of self is needed more than a change of scene - Arthur Christopher Benson

Back to reality, guys… my vacation is officially over tomorrow morning. However, I’ve had a wonderful week to reflect on some things in my life this week. A change of scenery has made me realize that I need to make some changes in myself – and I’m pretty excited at the prospect!

First of all, I’m determined to learn how to proficiently play a new instrument. I bought a dulcimer, at my husband’s urging, while we were here in the Smoky Mountains. I’ve been practicing and I think it’s gonna be a lot of fun.

Secondly, I’m gonna learn how to say NO when I mean NO. I have a really bad habit of smiling and saying “Yes” on the outside, when I’m screaming “No” on the inside. I’ve got a deep rooted “people pleasing gene” and sometimes it goes into overdrive.

Lastly, I’m gonna do what I can to reach the goals I’ve secretly had for years. For so long, I’ve dreamed of publishing a book. I’m going to pursue that dream full throttle. After all, I’m not getting any younger.

So, after a week of relaxation and self-reflection, I’m ready to get home and get down to business!

Veteran's Day

Heroes
By Jared Jenkins

In war, there are lives risked and lives taken
Men and women giving their best to defend what they love
They defend their country
Their honor
Their people

Some call them soldiers
Others call them heroes
Our veterans have risked their lives for us
They have lived through hell and fought with honor
Many have killed
And regret doing so

For every life, there is a soul
For every soul, there is a life
For those who have died, we show great appreciation and remembrance
For those who live, along with them live the horrific memories of battle
Some, memories of defeat
Some, memories of victory

Our veterans were more than soldiers
They were, and still are heroes

What is your calling?

I met a woman today that believes God has commanded her to quit her job, sell her home and provide almost anything needed to help single moms and their children. Patti Gallo-Bryant was kind enough to give me a little history of how God has worked THROUGH her to make a difference in the lives of so many single mothers and their children.

Gallo-Bryant is founder of Harvest Ministries - a “single mom” ministry that’s run by single moms; owner of Hannah’s Cry (formerly Harvest Thrift Store) - a store catering to single mothers; founder of Single and a Mom Ministry, The Smoky Mountain Alliance for the Unborn, and The Esther Project. She also has started two other projects - To Kenya with Love - which involves opening an orphanage & Hannah’s Cry - a 24-hour prayer line for the unborn. Patti definitely hasn’t put herself (or God) in a box… this woman means business.

The wonderful thing about meeting Patti today… It was clear to see she has an amazing faith in God and she shares that faith with everyone. Plus, she acknowledges that God has given her the ability to do the work she does every day. She doesn’t try to make herself out to be the HERO… even though some would probably say she is one!

What is God calling you to do? What’s your answer to Him?

Info on Patti Gallo-Bryant:
http://www.seymourherald.com/news/2008/jul/15/gatlinburg-woman-extends-open-/
http://www.knoxnews.com/videos/detail/ibelieve-single-mom-ministry/

Seek Justice

Well, as we were continuing our Gatlinburg vacation today, we decided to head on over to Cherokee, NC. While we were there, taking in the sites, we happened upon the Museum of the Cherokee Indian. My husband and I have visited many museums in our years of marriage – he happened to be a History major in college many moons ago - and we both really enjoy learning about the heritages of different people. So, we both were drawn to see what would be offered at today’s experience.

Of course, this museum was set up to show everything from the perspective of the Cherokee people… their sufferings and their triumphs. But, there are other facilities similar to this throughout the world that also show how groups of people have been unfairly treated by other bands of people – For instance, the Jews by the Nazis, slaves by their owners, etc. What are we to learn from our trips to these sites?

I think Isaiah 1:17 says it best… “Learn to do right; seek justice. Defend the oppressed…” I truly believe it is our duty to defend the oppressed. If we do not stop injustice when and where we see it – who will? I can only hope that someone would do the same for me.

SLOW DANCE

Have you ever watched kids
On a merry-go-round?
Or listened to the rain
Slapping on the ground?
Ever followed a
butterfly's erratic flight?
Or gazed at the sun into the
fading night?
You better slow down.
Don't dance so fast.
Time is short.
The music won't last.
Do you run through each day
On the fly?
When you ask
How are you?
Do you hear the reply?
When the day is done
Do you lie in your bed
With the next hundred chores
Running through your head?
You'd better slow down
Don't dance so fast.
Time is short.
The music won't last.
Ever told your child,
We'll do it tomorrow?
And in your haste,
Not see his sorrow?
Ever lost touch,
Let a good friendship die
Cause you never had time
To call and say,'Hi'
You'd better slow down.
Don't dance so fast.
Time is short.
The music won't last.
When you run
so fast to get somewhere
You miss half the fun
of getting there.
When you worry and hurry
through your day,
It is like an unopened gift....
Thrown away.
Life is not a race.
Do take it slower
Hear the music
Before the song is over.

It is said that this poem was written by a teenager with terminal cancer. I'm not sure if that's true or not - but I think it's a beautiful sentiment.

Is that your best offer?

When you’re in Gatlinburg on vacation, you should understand that you WILL be approached for a “Time Share” presentation. The lure of this 90 minute lecture is the following – if you listen to everything they have to offer, they will give you free tickets to an area show. I know this because my husband I fell victim to this madness several years ago… and now we are frequent visitors to Tennessee because – you guessed it – we get to use our Time Share. Yep, they got us!

Well, this year’s vacation to the Great Smokey Mountains was no different than any other in the past five years. The moment we checked into our little two bedroom facility, they gave us the directions to the “benefits” room… that’s code for “Time Share” appointment office - or what they now like to call the “Vacation Exchange Program”. Anyway, I headed over there and set up our appointment because we had two other couples with us that didn’t have a “Vacation Exchange Program”, and, to be truthful, we wanted some discount tickets to Dixie Stampede. So, we set up our allotted time and went about our business.

When the time came for our rendezvous, we all headed over to their office… and for an hour and a half we listened to how great this program would be for everyone involved. Then, we got down to the nitty gritty. The manager came to my friends, “This is the best offer I can give you.” he said. They counter offered. Then for the next hour, we heard that manager, come back with his “best offer”, about three more times, until the price was cut in half from the original asking price.

I know that’s the way business is done, but I couldn’t help but think that this is the way we sometimes negotiate with God, too. We start off by offering our best to Him if He’ll just... save so-and-so… pull our loved ones through surgery… let us get that job – and then when we do get what we want from Him, we forget those promises. At first we offer everything and when everything is said is done – He is lucky to get even half of our “best offer”.

"I'm Sorry"

Four things you can't recover:
The stone........after the throw.
The word.........after it's said.
The occasion.....after it's missed.
The time.........after it's gone.
Author Unknown

Today my husband and I packed up our things in the car, and headed out the door on our vacation. Seven hours later, we finally made it to our destination. Now, that's all fine and good - except for the fact that we realistically could have been where we were going about 2 hours earlier.

Here's the deal... Murphy (and his law) was all up in our business today! No matter what we did, it was wrong:
We went to the wrong restaurant for breakfast... our waitress told us after 45 minutes of waiting that she forgot to put our order in!
We followed the wrong directions... we had to turn around so many times that I thought I was on a Merry Go Round.
We went to the wrong restaurant for dinner... the waiter accidentally hit my husband's elbow with a stack of dishes and his hand was numb throughout our entire meal.

But the worst thing that happened today... Because of the stress of everything going wrong all day long, my husband and I both said things to each other, out of anger, that we both regretted. We allowed the stress we were feeling to get the better of us, and because we didn't have another outlet available - we took our anxiety out on each other! But, you know what? The saying is true... Once the word is spoken, it's spoken.

Thank God, "I'm Sorry" is as easily said.

Crash Test Dummy

I heard a funny thing today… What do you call your first born child? A crash test dummy! I have to admit that I kind of agree with that saying. I had a young mother say to me the other day, “Why don’t they (babies) come with instruction manuals?” I sure felt like that when I was a young mother. I sometimes still feel like that, and my son is 24.

We are given this beautiful, loving creature that speaks a different language than we do, and they can’t figure out how to relay they desires to us. The only thing this little bundle of joy knows how to do really, really well is scream at the top of their little bitty, teeny tiny lungs… and they do that very often. We are taught patience through caring for them.

As they grow, they learn numbers, colors, shapes, letters, and every other thing. And we are taught to see the world the way we used to see it. We reinforce lessons in them and us… we make mistakes with them and carry the guilt inside us. They become a crash test dummy, yet we are the ones with the bruises. Why? Because it hurts us every time we hurt them.

Now, imagine the hurt that God feels when we are in despair. We can turn to Him and let Him carry that burden. His is willing to take our pain and ease our bruises… He loves us because we are His children. He wants to protect us just as much as we want to protect our own children. And fortunately for us, He is much better at it than we are – no crash test dummy here!

Photo - http://www.faqs.org/photo-dict/phrase/4615/crash-test-dummy.html

Trying to please everyone……

Trying to get everyone to like you is a sign of mediocrity.
You’re never going to be able to control what others think, so don’t spend too much time stressing over it.
Instead, work on the things you do have control over… yourself, your emotions, your thoughts and your actions.
Spend your energy in the creation process, and on people who do deserve your attention and love.
Try for a week. You’ll find life’s a lot more rewarding.
~Author unknown

The Scarlet Letter

Today in my morning Bible study class, we were discussing how unfortunate it is that something can happen in your life, and you can become known by that ACT the rest of your life. In the Book of John, there’s a woman that isn’t even mentioned by her “name” because of a mistake she made. This woman will forever be referred to as “a woman caught in adultery”.

If you’re not familiar with the story:
John 8: 3 The teachers of the law and the Pharisees brought in a woman caught in adultery. They made her stand before the group 4 and said to Jesus, “Teacher, this woman was caught in the act of adultery. 5 In the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women. Now what do you say?”

7 When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, “Let any one of you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.”

I couldn’t imagine being known by my past sins. “Oh, here comes the Divorced Sinner!” “Look, there’s the girl that cheated on her math test in 6th grade!” “Get away from the lady that …. ”

Jesus knows all of my past sins, yet He loves me anyway. When I asked Him into my heart, He erased those labels that had held me down for so long. He knew all the sins of the woman in the story above, too. The words He shared with the Pharisees are just as important for us today.

10 Jesus straightened up and asked her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?”
11 “No one, sir,” she said.
“Then neither do I condemn you,” Jesus declared. “Go now and leave your life of sin.”


What label would you be known by? It doesn’t matter. Because of Jesus, I can say to you: “Oh, here comes a child of God!”


Some notes on the Bible story:
The Pharisees weren’t really following the law - The “Law” they are speaking of - the one Moses commanded - stated that the woman should be stoned IF she was a virgin that was promised to be married to someone else AND that the man she was caught with should be stoned, too! (Where was the man that committed adultery with her? Was she a virgin? Was she promised to be married? Where were the witnesses?)
Plus, the problem for Jesus here is two-fold: 1) If Jesus said to stone her, He is breaking the Pharisees law, because Jews cannot command this to be done. 2) If Jesus said not to stone her, He is telling them He doesn’t agree with their Law.

The Privilege to Vote

It was not until 1920 that women were granted the right to go to the polls and vote…

Remember, women were innocent and defenseless, but they were jailed nonetheless for picketing the White House, carrying signs asking for the vote.
Because of that picketing, forty prison guards wielding clubs and their warden's blessing went on a rampage against the 33 women wrongly convicted of 'obstructing sidewalk traffic.'

They beat Lucy Burns, chained her hands to the cell bars above her head and left her hanging for the night, bleeding and gasping for air.

They hurled Dora Lewis into a dark cell, smashed her head against an iron bed and knocked her out cold. Her cell mate, Alice Cosu, thought Lewis was dead and suffered a heart attack. Additional affidavits describe the guards grabbing, dragging, beating, choking, slamming, pinching, twisting and kicking the women.

Thus unfolded the 'Night of Terror' on Nov. 15, 1917, when the warden at the Occoquan Workhouse in Virginia ordered his guards to teach a lesson to the suffragists imprisoned there because they dared to picket Woodrow Wilson's White House for the right to vote. For weeks, the women's only water came from an open pail. Their food--all of it colorless slop--was infested with worms.

When one of the leaders, Alice Paul, embarked on a hunger strike, they tied her to a chair, forced a tube down her throat and poured liquid into her until she vomited. She was tortured like this for weeks until word was smuggled out to the press…

Ladies, did you take advantage of your privilege to vote today?


Check out the facts - http://www.snopes.com/politics/ballot/womenvote.asp

Swiper the Fox

My granddaughter and I were watching one of her favorite cartoon series the other day - Dora the Explorer. Dora has a character on her show that always gets into mischief... Swiper the Fox. Swiper seems to have a compulsion for "swiping" things from other people in every episode, and it's up to Dora and her friends (including us in the audience) to keep Swiper in line.

Anyway, I guess my granddaughter was fed up with Swiper on this particular day, because we had a conversation that went something like this:

HER - "Nana, why are some people not nice?"
ME - "I guess they don't know that Jesus loves them and wants them to be nice to everybody."
HER - "Well, I'm gonna turn into a bird, and fly up to Jesus, and tell Him to tell them people to be nice. Then, I'm gonna turn back into me and come back down here."

Isn't it awesome, at 3 1/2 years old, she had the concept of talking to Jesus regarding the people she was angry with instead of turning her back on them? What a lesson for those of us with a little more years under our belts.

Of course, we don't have to turn ourselves into birds and fly to Heaven to have a conversation with Jesus... All we need to do is open our hearts to Him... and our minds to Him... and our ears to Him. It's not enough to tell Him what WE want. We need to be open to what HE wants, too.

And, of course, keep our imaginations open - remember Jesus said, "For the Kingdom of Heaven belongs to those who are like these children."

Well, Thank You...

Well, I was listening to my trusted “Talk Radio” again today, and I heard someone make a really good point about relationships and compliments. It reminded me about when my husband was in the work force, and he would come home for dinner every night. No matter what I had prepared for us to eat, he made sure to thank me for my effort... and he always told me how much he enjoyed the meal. He would compliment me for what I DID.

Now, you can also compliment someone for what they ARE. My husband tells me quite often how proud he is of me for my creativity. We COMPLIMENT each other. He is not as creative… he is more of a concrete, logical, how does this work thinker. I, as I said, am the more creative of the two. I would rather make a painting of what’s in my mind and he would rather make a chart. As corny as it sounds, we do complete each other.

We both could go through life just doing our own things (in our own ways) – without confirming we’re doing good jobs to each other – but it’s good for our souls to HEAR we are appreciated. Everyone should hear they are valued. So, sincerely tell you friends, spouse, and family members when you see them DOING or BEING something that you admire. It won’t go unnoticed… I guarantee it!

Amazing grace

He Looked Beyond My Fault
Words and Music by Dottie Rambo

Amazing grace shall always be my song of praise,
For it was grace that bought my liberty;
I do not know just why He came to love me so,
He looked beyond my fault and saw my need.

I shall forever lift mine eyes to Calvary,
To view the cross where Jesus died for me;
How marvelous the grace that caught my falling soul.
He looked beyond my fault and saw my need.

“Animal Instinct”

My dogs are laying here on my lap as I type this. Sleeping peacefully… so cute! I realize that if someone were to break into our house, right this very moment, my dogs would probably give their lives to protect me and my husband. However, two hours ago, I definitely wouldn’t have left my dinner plate sitting on the floor and walked out to the mailbox and expected them not to eat my food. I trust my dogs with my life but not my sesame chicken. I have learned through the years that canines are creatures of their “Animal Instinct”.

I’ve learned that humans are creatures of our own “instincts”, too. For instance, every election we are going to have candidates run negative campaigns against their opponents instead of explaining the importance of their own platforms. I have to admit, I felt like I was negative campaigning yesterday… you could probably tell if you read my blog.

I did a little soul searching today and reread Philippians 2:3 “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. 4Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.” What an idea - consider others better than yourself! Even Jesus washed the feet of His disciples… who are we to think we couldn’t do the same.

In the heat of all of this campaign madness, let’s do our best to not get wrapped up in the hatred and anger. I did yesterday, but I think I’ll be ok… LOL.

The Golden Rule

I really, really, really try to follow the rules – traffic rules, game rules, the “Golden Rule”, even unwritten rules – and it really gets my goat when someone else CONTINUALLY goes through life IGNORING the rules. I ask myself constantly, “Why do you care?” The child inside me answers, “BECAUSE, IT’S NOT FAIR!”

It’s not fair that I behave and “so-and-so” can get away with doing whatever they want to do. But the thing that really gets me is this: We both are open to the same privileges in life. How can that be?

Funny thing… tonight I was doing a devotion from Psalm 23 –

1 The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want.
2 He makes me lie down in green pastures,
he leads me beside quiet waters,
3 he restores my soul.
He guides me in paths of righteousness
for his name's sake.

I paused at “He leads me beside quiet waters…” I couldn’t get past that part, and it made me wonder if God was trying to tell me something. Maybe I needed to be “quieted down” and quit worrying about how other people are walking along the crooked road, and just keep myself on the straight and narrow. My “job” is to take care of ME! Unless I want others to put me under the microscope – Well, you know where I’m going with this…

All I know for sure is, I am not capable of seeing everything in anyone's life but mine, everyone has their own circumstances to deal with everyday, and it's not my place to judge anybody. Plus, after all is said and done, I believe I’ll keep my eye on the narrow road and not on “so-and-so”.

A PET'S TEN COMMANDMENTS

Remember that pets can't do a lot of things for themselves, and that they depend on you to make their life a quality life!

A PET'S TEN COMMANDMENTS.........

1. My life is likely to last 10-15 years. Any separation from you is likely to be painful.
2. Give me time to understand what you want of me.
3. Place your trust in me. It is crucial for my well-being.
4. Don't be angry with me for long and don't lock me up as punishment. You have your work, your friends, your entertainment, but I have only you.
5. Talk to me. Even if I don't understand your words, I do understand your voice when speaking to me.
6. Be aware that however you treat me, I will never forget it.
7. Before you hit me, before you strike me, remember that I could hurt you, and yet, I choose not to bite you.
8. Before you scold me for being lazy or uncooperative, ask yourself if something might be bothering me. Perhaps I'm not getting the right food, I have been in the sun too long, or my heart might be getting old or weak.
9. Please take care of me when I grow old. You, too, will grow old.
10. On the ultimate difficult journey, go with me please. Never say you can't bear to watch. Don't make me face this alone. Everything is easier for me if you are there, because I love you so.