Samaritan Women Among You

But His Favorite Song Of All

2012-01-04T13:40:00.000-06:00

2012

A place of all things new. A year filled with wonder and excitement and expectations. Drawing closer to the Father and learning to hear HIS voice. Walking closer with HIM as I struggle to know HIS will. I will begin and in that new beginning I will sing, for it is in the praise of HIS people that HE dwells.

I was listening to my music this morning as I worked and this song came on, it caused me to pause, it caused me to dance.

You see, we are spirits with a fleshly body and when our spirit man comes into contact with the Holy Spirit it reacts. It just rose up within me and I could nothing but worship. There is an anointing that cannot be ignore and it shows up in all kinds of places. Today, in a song... I danced.

Praise breaks the yoke of fear and shatters the bondage of despair. It will calm the spirit of angry and dispel the darkness of loneliness. With the song of praise joy will come and you will find that peace will follow. The Holy Spirit of God comes wisdom and knowledge and understanding and all those things can be experienced just by the praise of the heart.

I have some things that I need to overcome and I remember in the past years of my life, praise and a red tambourine delivered me. There is power in the anointing and there is escape in the praise.

I pray that year for you is filled with the song of the Redeemed and .. I hope you dance.

----------- Listen, close your eyes... do you feel that? That is your spirit man responding to HIM. To HIS presence. HE is listening to hear you sing. -------

He loves to hear the wind sing

as it whistles through the pines and mountain leaves

And He love to hear the raindrops

as they splash to the ground in a magic melody

He smiles in sweet approval

as the waves crash through the rocks in harmony

And creation joins in unity

to sing to Him majestic symphonies

But His favorite song of all
Is the song of the redeemed
When lost sinners now made clean
Lift their voices loud and strong
When those purchased by His blood
Lift to Him a song of love
There's nothin' more He'd rather hear
Nor so pleasin' to His ear
As His favorite song of all

And He loves to hear the angels

as they sing, "Holy, holy is the Lamb"

Heaven's choirs in harmony

lift up praises to the Great I Am

But He lifts His hands for silence

when the weakest saved by grace begins to sing

And a million angels listen

as a newborn soul sings, "I've been redeemed!"

'Cause His favorite song of all

Is the song of the redeemed

When lost sinners now made clean

Lift their voices loud and strong

When those purchased by His blood

Lift to Him a song of love

There's nothin' more He'd rather hear

Nor so pleasin' to His ear

As His favorite song of all

Bridge:

It's not just melodies and harmonies

That catches His attention

It's not just clever lines and phrases

That causes Him to stop and listen

But when anyone set free,
Washed and bought by Calvary begins to sing

That's His favorite song of all

Is the song of the redeemed

When lost sinners now made clean

Lift their voices loud and strong

When those purchased by His blood

Lift to Him a song of love

There's nothin' more He'd rather hear

Nor so pleasin' to His ear

As His favorite song of all

Holy, holy, holy is the Lamb

Halleluiah, halleluiah

The Cure---- Powerful.......

2011-11-08T09:58:00.000-06:00

Found this on FB this morning.. I wanted to share it..........

Sweetly Broken

2011-10-25T15:18:00.000-05:00

There are a lot of songs that come along in our lives that touch our hearts, but sometimes there are those songs that change us........ This is one of those songs in my life..........

TO THE CROSS I LOOK AND TO THE CROSS I CLING

OF IT'S SUFFERING I DO DRINK

OF IT'S WORK I DO SING

ON IT MY SAVIOR BOTH BRUISED AND CRUSHED

SHOWED THAT GOD IS LOVE

AND GOD IS JUST

AT THE CROSS YOU BECKON ME

YOU DRAW ME GENTLY TO MY KNEES, AND I AM

LOST FOR WORDS SO LOST IN LOVE

I AM SWEETLY BROKEN WHOLLY SURRENDERED

WHAT A PRICELESS GIFT UNDESERVED LIFE

HAVE I BEEN GIVEN

THROUGH CHRIST CRUCIFIED

YOU CALLED ME OUT OF DEATH

YOU CALLED ME INTO LIFE

AND I WAS UNDER YOUR WRATH

NOW THROUGH THE CROSS IM RECONCILED

AT THE CROSS YOU BECKON ME

YOU DRAW ME GENTLY TO MY KNEES AND I AM

LOST FOR WORDS SO LOST IN LOVE,

I AM SWEETLY BROKEN WHOLLY SURRENDERED

AT THE CROSS YOU BECKON ME

YOU DRAW ME GENTLY TO MY KNEES AND I AM

LOST FOR WORDS SO LOST IN LOVE,

I AM SWEETLY BROKEN WHOLLY SURRENDERED

IN AWE OF THE CROSS I MUST CONFESS

HOW WONDROUS YOUR REDEEMING LOVE AND

HOW GREAT IS YOUR FAITHFULNESS

AT THE CROSS YOU BECKON ME

YOU DRAW ME GENTLY TO MY KNEES AND I AM

LOST FOR WORDS SO LOST IN LOVE

I AM SWEETLY BROKEN WHOLLY SURRENDERED

AT THE CROSS YOU BECKON ME

YOU DRAW ME GENTLY TO MY KNEES AND I AM

LOST FOR WORDS SO LOST IN LOVE

I AM SWEETLY BROKEN WHOLLY SURRENDERED

IM BROKEN FOR YOU

IM BROKEN FOR YOU MY LORD

JESUS, WHAT LOVE IS THIS

I AM SWEETLY BROKEN

In Their Honor - I Forgive Myself...

2011-09-15T12:41:00.000-05:00

In Their Honor- I Forgive Myself

On year ago today I lost my little Mom. 72 days before that I lost my precious little Dad. It has been a year filled with the darkest depression as I have never known. I was totally unprepared for the grief that was fixing to invade my life.

In the 8 years that I took care of Mom and Dad there were some wonderful times and there were a few hard times. As the years passed by their care became more and more demanding and I became more and more exhausted and overwhelmed and yes some days angry.

I allowed some outside influence to determine my attitude sometimes and although thought myself to be more discerning than that, I allowed the enemy to invade the camp and bring turmoil.

I was thrown into being a caregiver

and had to leave the daughter relationship in shadow of taking care of pills fixing 3 meals a day, doctor appointments laundry sickness in the middle of the night.

Day after day as the demand grew to mega proportions the last 6 months was more than any one person could even think to do. However, I was dog determined to keep those two little people together to the end of their days.

Maybe that was unreasonable, maybe, but in the end, with the help of the Lord, no no, with a LOT of help from the Lord they lived side by side with the exception of the 72 days between their death and I am THANKFUL to the Lord that HE allowed me to accomplish that.

HOWEVER

I made mistakes and I had days that me and the personality differences between me and Dad were full blown. There were times that we did not speak for days. I allowed myself to become part of that and not rise above it. Me and Dad were like oil and water my entire life and when he was thrown into a patient, so to speak, relationship with me just caused that oil and water to become magnified.

We had our days.

I knew better, I was stronger than that. The deceiver became the stronger and I struggle with that. Tired and worn out and vulnerable to his influence. There were some days that I just did not rise above it.

There were not many of those days but of course the enemy enhances those memories and not the multitude of days that we laughed.

This past year has gone by so very quickly,

I really do not know where the days have gone. I have accomplished nothing. I have not read much or worked in my shop much, I have not painted the inside of my house as I had planned. I have grieved and I wept bitter tears for my failure and for the loss of my Dad who was my best friend and my mom that always smiled and never spoke a harsh word. I have begged God to forgive me and begged HIM again and again to tell Mom and Dad that I am sorry.

The pain of regret, it is bitter and it is a hot poker that hurts our hearts each days as we allow it.

I am human,

I am a one dimensional creation serving a multifaceted multidimensional Creator that sees the beginning and the end where we only see the what lies just in front of our face.

HE is love personified in HIS son Christ

who loves unconditionally and we love conditionally no matter how hard we try to do the opposite. We are flesh and flesh fails.

HE saw every day of those 8 years

long before I even knew that HE would ask me to do that. HE saw every mistake and ever argument and every tear long before we even had any idea that those years were upon us.

HE saw me, in my weakness

and my humanity and HE knew there were days that I would fail, HE knew that. BUT HE trusted me anyway. What a powerful thought, and it is that thought or should I say that reality that has began to bring healing to my heart. HE KNEW ......

BUT HE trusted me anyway.

Today, I am well on my way to healing and well on my way to picking out paint and beginning to create in my shop. I do not cry much and when I do it is just because I miss them so. The grief has become my teacher and in the midst of it all it has taught me that no matter how we fail and no matter the times that we miss the mark, HE believes in us and if we allow HIM ,

HE will bring forgiveness and healing.

Have you ever wondered how HE heals a heart? I have. It is not a heart of flesh that HE speaks to, or a heart of flesh that HE whispers sweet peace but a heart that only HE sees and only HE can touch.

We are unaware when in the midst of our storm that HE has already begun to heal, but as time passes we know, we feel HIM in the midst of the pain. HE begins to bring healing just as we have asked HIM to.

Today, my heart is healed

and I no longer feel the need to beg HIM for forgiveness, I no longer feel the need to beg HIM for assurance that they are home and safe and well. I no longer grieve for the past failures but I focus on the wonderful wonderful days that HE allowed me to become HIS servant and love those little people as they made their way to being at home with HIM.

Now the task before me, to forgive myself.

To allow myself to be human and understand that no matter how hard we try, we are going to fail as long as we reside in this flesh and blood body.

Today I honor the memory of my Mom and Dad.

I honor their lives with forgiving myself. I honor their lives by living mine. I honor them by forgiving those that caused harm and tears and hurt me during those hard years.

I honor them by being the best I can for my life and I honor them for knowing that I did my very best by them and in the end, they knew that.

I honor you Mom and Dad. You were wonderful kind and loving parents, and I miss you so..

What's Love Got To Do With It?

2011-04-20T09:22:00.003-05:00

WHAT'S LOVE GOT TO DO WITH IT

If we do not believe that Jesus Christ was the Son of God and that he died on Calvary and was buried in a borrowed tomb and that He rose on the third day, then we are wasting our time to call ourselves Christian. Easter is the culmination of everything that Christ lived for. It is the proof of whom He said He was and who He was.

Calvary was not the completed purpose of Christ. Calvary was just the beginning of a Kingdom that will not end. God never intended us to look at Calvary as a means of getting to heaven; heaven is just a by-product of Calvary. Calvary purchased everything that Heaven holds. His kingdom dwells on the earth in the hearts and souls of each of us that are called by His name. The kingdom of God now is within us.

We need not go here or go there to find the presence of God, for the presence of God lives within us, and that was bought and paid for by Calvary. He died so we are no longer under the curse of the law of sin and death. No longer need to live in fear of the death and a place that lies beyond the grave. What Calvary purchased is life. Free from guilt of the past, free from fear of the future. Free for us to grieve but not as others grieve, but to grieve with hope. Calvary gives us the right to love each other as God loved us.

Calvary is the gift of God to a lost and dying world that has no hope to live, let alone die.

If you need a reason to live then Calvary provides that reason. If you need a reason to hope then that hope lies within that wooden cross on Golgotha. We needed a pathway in which to walk and Calvary leads the way. For us to look upon the cross that Jesus died on and wish for a better place is to take away the very purpose for which He came. The bible tells us that He came that we might have life and life more abundant,,,,,,,,,,and then eternal life.

John 10:10

The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.

Jesus did not die so that we could have life some day; He died that we might have life now. Now I know that this following scripture is long, but please take the time to read it, it will melt your heart. What love the Father has for us:

Isaiah 53: 1-6

Who hath believed our report and to who is the arm of the LORD revealed?
For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground: he hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him.
He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not.

Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.
But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.
All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.

Christ died so that we might live now, not someday when we get to heaven, but now.

In Heaven there is no need of healing, there is no sorrow that will break our hearts. Grief cannot enter those gates and there will be no sin or transgressions in that City. God loved us so very much that he put our sin and our transgression upon Jesus. God hung Him on a cross and then turned His back as the sin of the world rushed toward Calvary.

Mark 15:34

And at the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani? Which is, being interpreted, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?

Calvary, a place where God and man met. Calvary a force that tore the veil of the temple from the top to the bottom. Calvary is the spoken invitation for us to come and dine with the creator of the entire universe. Calvary says to the world of the lost and the dying that love conquers all things. Love handed Jesus to the crowd that day, love held Him on the cross. Love is why God turned His back and love is the reason that Jesus chose to stay suspended between heaven and earth. If we are called by Christ, if we have confessed our allegiance to the King of Kings and have not love, then we are as sounding brass and tinkling cymbals.

1Co. 13:1-7

Though I speak with the tongues of men and angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass , or a tinkling cymbal.
And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing.
And though I bestow all my good to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing.
Love suffereth long, and is kind; love envieth not; love vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up.
Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil;
Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; 7 Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.

Love never fails and if we do not love then our journey is in vain.

We have to no longer talk the talk, but walk the walk. We must love in word and DEED. It is the will of Christ in your life. Love not only speaks, love acts.

If we love only those that love us and we are at odds with our families, if we fail to honor our mother and father, if we say that we love God and hate those around us then we are only fooling ourselves. Be not deceived, God is not mocked, and whatsoever we sew we shall reap.

Galatians 6:7

Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.

We must always remember the story of the Last Supper of Christ. It was just before Calvary. He had eaten with the disciples and after eating he got up and poured water into a basin and began to wash the feet of HIS disciples.

We read:

John 13:5 After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples' feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him.

John 13:6 He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, "Lord, are you going to wash my feet?"

John 13:7 Jesus replied, "You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand."

John 13:8 "No," said Peter, "you shall never wash my feet." Jesus answered, "Unless I wash you, you have no part with me."

John 13:9 "Then, Lord," Simon Peter replied, "not just my feet but my hands and my head as well!"

John 13:10 Jesus answered, "A person who has had a bath needs only to wash his feet; his whole body is clean. And you are clean, though not every one of you."

Listen to what Peter is saying. Lord if you are going to wash my feet then please wash all of me. Jesus told HIM that has once been washed they need only to wash his feet.

We are saved by grace and once we have been washed in the blood of Christ we become born again. No longer should we live in condemnation of the sin of our past. There are those among us that would tell us that we as Christians should never again sin. That is impossible! We are human and until we shed this body of flesh and blood we are going to sin. That is what Jesus was trying to tell Peter.

Peter HE said, once you have been washed you need not be washed again but as you journey though this world and you will get your feet dirty. You will sin, but come to me and I will wash away the dirt of the world in which you now walk.

We need to confess our sin daily. We may not even know what that sin is. If it is not Holy it is Unholy and if Unholy then it is sin.

There is a life that we live as believers but during that life we will sin. A bad thought or attitude or anger or envy or strife…….. we could go on. Those things in our lives are a product of sin.

Thus, we have need of our feet being washed by going to the Father and confessing our sin and having HIM forgive us of our human ways and washing our feet. We do not need to once again be born again, but just letting HIM cleanse us from all unrighteous that lives within this flesh that we call our home right now.

HE wants us to understand that as HE goes to Calvary, HE is paying the price of our sin.

HE is washing it away. Our past sin our present sin and our future sin. Washed away. HE knows what sin you will commit tomorrow or next week or next month. HE knows. We are human. Without forgiveness for all our sin we would live in fear. We need not live in fear. HE has paid the price for the sins of the world. Your sin and my sin is paid. We need only come to him with a repentant heart, confess that we fall short of the life we should live. Confess that we are human with human weakness and HE is faithful and just to forgive us for those failures. HE will wash our feet and once again we enter into the Holy of Holy’s to approach the throne with boldness.

Easter season, season of great joy.

HE has paid the price for life today and eternity for tomorrow. A gift from the Father to us. Embrace Calvary with joy and gratitude. HE died…….. We live…….. HE came out of that grave……… we too will come out of our graves…… and ONLY because of HIS blood that we cry out Abba Father.

I pray that you take this devotional in the spirit in which it was written. We all struggle with situations every day that will test the love of God in our hearts. We are hurt and others even hurt those that we love. Even as I write this I deal with emotions that cause the anger in me to rise up. We need to take this Easter season and lay our hearts on the altar of God and allow Him to give us a greater vision of His love.
We are in desperate need of more grace and more understanding. We need more patience and please give us patience now. The world is watching and they keep a close eye on how we treat each other. Jesus even told us that the world will know us by the love that we have for the brethren

John 13:35

By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.

Take time and right the wrongs in your life. Ask forgiveness from those that you have offended and forgive those that have offended. Ask the Father to give you a greater awareness of the love that cost Him Jesus. Let us open our hearts to the love of God that will drive us to our knees and repent with many tears of the hardness of our hearts toward our brothers and sisters.

Embrace your mother and father and thank God for them. Touch that husband or wife as to melt their heart. Kiss the cheeks of a brother or sister. Shake the hand of a stranger and be a stranger no more. Thank your God that there are no boundaries when it comes to redeeming a soul.

What’s love got to do with it,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, Everything.

In Christ

you MUST take the time to listen.....

2011-01-07T20:51:00.000-06:00

Disappointed ? Then Grieve

2010-12-29T23:27:00.005-06:00

AND GREAT EXPECTATIONS BRINGS GREAT GRIEF

When Others Disappoint You------- Grieve------

"Trust in Him at all times, O people; Pour out your heart before Him; God is a refuge for us." Psalm 62:8 (NASB)

I read the most wonderful devotional the other day and it brought understanding to my spirit man. I have put a link at the end of this post if you would like to go and read…….

We as Christians learn many things along this walk with Christ. Lessons learned through heartache are lessons remembered. I have been told many times to expect others to do something is just a way of setting yourself up for disappointment.
I did not listen. Many many times in my Christian walk I have set myself up an many of those times I had disappointment.That is where I have been for the past couple of months now and the grief that the disappointment has brought great grief.

Something that I did learn many years ago but failed to bring it to my memory is that we Christians expect everyone to act according to the Christian standard. Everyone cannot, without the Holy Spirit to lead and guide and direct them they will live according to their nature and not the nature of God.

The Holy Spirit in our lives is there to keep us yes, but HE is also there to lead us,to bring us to repentance. HE is there to bring us to maturity in Christ where self becomes less and Christ becomes more. To teach us to give out of ourselves for others and to think of needs of others before we think of needs our ourselves.

We have been born again. Now we are no long of the seed of Adam, but of the linage of Christ, born of incorruptible and not corruptible. Born with all the attributes of the Christ and imparted to us the gifts of the Holy Spirit by which we bless those around us.

That is the goal of the Holy Spirit, to bring us to the place that we are a blessing and not looking to be blessed.

The world on the other hand an those that abide there do not have the Holy Spirit as a guide and counselor. They are doing exactly what they were born to do. Serve self. We should not expect a Zebra to take on the characteristics of an Elephant.
A Zebra is born a Zebra and is going to act like a Zebra. Those in the world are born of the seed of Adam and contained in that seed is sin and all of the attributes of the human race. We must not and cannot expect them to do or act any other way.

I got caught up in that this past few months and I saw the Father God open doors that was unmistakeably open doors for another to bring about great blessing. I talked and talked about what the Lord was showing me and what the possibilities would

come from going through that door. The Father God was offering a multitude of blessings just behind that open door.

Restoration of a family, a life changing opportunity for the one to whom the door was opened for.Unimaginable blessing and help to the one sitting just inside that door and reconciliation between two women whom have much heartache that could have been mended.

I had NO comprehension of someone not being able to see that open door. I had great expectations and held tight to that, even when everyone around me said that I would just end up being hurt, I held fast. It was only just a few days later that the Father God went a step further and close two door in that persons life. They were unmistakably closed door,with the only way of escape , the open door here. They declined.

I have spent the last 4 months or so with great grief over my great expectations. I have cried and asked the Lord why. Over and over and over...... Why do they not see,why was is right before their eyes and they did not see. We expect others to live and walk as we walk as Christians and they just cannot and we are in the wrong to place upon them something they cannot do. Even if that person is a believer we must not expect them to see what the Lord is trying to show them. We must let the Father God bring them to maturity. That is HIS job.

It is for us to pray that one day they will know the joy that comes by being a blessing to others. I had to repent and then grieve and never again expect others to do what they cannot.I will trust the Father God and the Father God alone for HE never fails and I will pray for the one to whom I expected more than they were able to do.After reading the devotional link below a few times I let go. It was time for grieving for a season but it is now time and for me to move past that grief that my Father God understands, it is time to just let go.

Take the time to read the devotional.

It is very short, but it will bless you as it did me. A link to the devotional. Read it when you get time.

HALLELUJAH!

2010-12-08T09:01:00.000-06:00

HALLELUJAH!

Hallelujah hallelujah hallelujah

hallelujah hallelujah

Hallelujah hallelujah hallelujah

hallelujah hallelujah

For the lord God omnipotent reigneth

Hallelujah hallelujah hallelujah hallelujah

For the lord God omnipotent reigneth

Hallelujah hallelujah hallelujah hallelujah

For the lord God omnipotent reigneth

Hallelujah hallelujah hallelujah hallelujah

For the lord God omnipotent reigneth

Hallelujah hallelujah hallelujah hallelujah

For the lord God omnipotent reigneth

Hallelujah hallelujah hallelujah hallelujah

Hallelujah

The kingdom of this world;

is become

the kingdom of our Lord,

and of His Christ

And He shall reign for ever and ever

And he shall reign forever and ever

King of kings forever and ever

hallelujah hallelujah

and lord of lords forever and

ever hallelujah hallelujah

King of kings forever and ever

hallelujah hallelujah

and lord of lords forever and

ever hallelujah hallelujah

King of kings forever and ever

hallelujah hallelujah

and lord of lords

King of kings and lord of lords

And he shall reign

He shall reign

And he shall reign forever and ever

King of kings forever and ever

and lord of lords hallelujah hallelujah

And he shall reign forever and ever

King of kings and lord of lords

And he shall reign forever and ever

Forever and ever and ever and ever

King of kings and Lord of Llords

Hallelujah hallelujah hallelujah hallelujah

Hallelujah

Thank You

2010-12-01T09:08:00.002-06:00

Thank you Edie........ You are just a blessing.........

EXcuse the Mess

2010-11-30T09:06:00.002-06:00

I am trying to fix my header........ Seems it will not center! Any help out there?

Grace

2010-08-22T08:41:00.001-05:00

It is grace at the beginning, and grace at the end. So that when you and I come to lie upon our death beds, the one thing that should comfort and help and strengthen us there is the thing that helped us in the beginning.

Not what we have been, not what we have done, but the grace of God in Jesus Christ our Lord. The Christian life starts with grace, it must continue with grace, it ends with grace. Grace, wondrous grace. By the grace of God I am what I am. Yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.

D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones

********************************************

It is this grace that I fall upon during my day. It is this grace that keeps my heart living in hope. It is this grace that holds me close when I have no other to hold to....... It is HIS grace.
Have a blessed Sunday my friends..

Through His Death- Restoration

2010-07-20T10:21:00.001-05:00

Monday June 28th they gave my Dad 24-48 hours to live. Tuesday July 29th early in the afternoon everyone was going to go home and take a nap and get something to eat. That left me alone with Dad. He was very conscious and talking and we had a precious two hours just to visit. We talked about a lot of things and laughed and cried. I have been caregiver to my Mom and Dad for many years now and the past year it has been just about 24/7.

You could describe my relationship with my father as oil and water. Never the two to mix and according to my older brother PE it has always been like that. When I was old enough to put two words together and call it a sentence I was at odds with Dad. You see Dad was from the old school where women would keep house and cook and raise the kids and God gave me an attitude and the ability to share that attitude. That did not make for a sweet little daughter that Dad dreamed of.

That Tuesday in the hospital we talked about the difficult times the past three years and I told him he had been quite the little butt. He laughed and agreed. I told him that I had forgiven him for being a butt and asked for forgiveness for being a butt back. We cried.

I believe that God gave me those two hours so it could be just me and my Dad. Not as caregiver but as daughter that was having to say goodbye to her Dad.

Sometime during that afternoon Dad began to feel better and requested to get up and sit in his chair. I was amazed but we called for the PT guys to get him up.

I had been told by my younger son Chris that he had contacted my first born Darryl that lives in Springdale Ak. Now many of you that have followed my blogs know that me and my son Darryl have been estranged for the most part of 23 years now. I have cried an prayed and cried and prayed for many many years now for that relationship to be restored. I think it was sometime last year that I just had all I wanted and told the Lord that if HE could fix it then fine. I was letting go and and I would no longer pray about restoration. Fix it Lord was my last pray regarding my son Darryl.

I had no idea it would take the death of my father.

Sometime early afternoon around 3 or so into the room came both my son Chris and my son Darryl. It was awkward. I think it had been 4-5 years since I had seen him and I just did not know what to say. He first spoke to his grandfather (with whom he shares a birthday December 10) and gave him a hug and then turned to speak to me and asked me if I was going to give him a hug, and hug him I did. I cried.

It was the most amazing couple of hours after that. Dad sat in his chair and laughed and talked and both boys laughed and laughed at the still so strong sense of humor that my Dad always seemed to have.

It was a gift of God to my father and also to me.

Soon the room began to fill with other members of the family and as evening rolled around it was time for Darryl to head home. Me an Chris walked Darryl out the hospital into the parking lot. It was hard to say goodbye, but before he walked from us he asked if he could pray… AND PRAY he did, and by the time he finished we three stood with tears flooding down our faces and the restoration of a mother to a son and a brother to a brother had been accomplished. I cannot tell you what great joy filled my soul and in sorrow we said goodbye but in the knowing that while separated by miles hearts would never be again apart.

My son Darryl sent a text message to me later after having left the hospital. It said in part that even when my Dad was dying he was concerned for me and my two boys. I did not understand the message and later had the opportunity to ask Darryl to explain.

You see, I do not have clear memory of those last few days and it seems that Dad was more concerned about me and Darryl and Chris having time to talk than spending time with him. He told Darryl to make sure and spend time with me and talk. “You have not spent enough time talking” . Chris assured Dad that they would find time to talk but for the moment they were wanting to spend time with him.

He made the statement one more time.

Darryl shared that with me only last night. I cried. Even when so very very ill Dad was watching out for me. Even when he most likely knew that those precious moments spent with his two grandsons would be his last here on earth, his heart was turned toward me and my boys.

My brother Paul spoke at my Dad funeral service and although I do not have it here I so remember the very last statement that he made before returning to Mothers side.

“ In this life, he gave back more than he took”

That was my Dad, in his home going, he gave me a gift most precious. My son Darryl………

Hold fast to your faith, you never know when the Father God will answer.

Chris, Dad and Darryl December 1977

Blog Award

2010-04-30T08:50:00.001-05:00

I have never seen this site before but it was very nice of her to list my Samaritan Women blog as a featured blog this month. Just thought I would share....

Have a blessed weekend........

Blog Award

Myrrh

2010-04-13T09:13:00.002-05:00

Tuesday, April 13, 2010

This Morning's Meditation

C. H. Spurgeon

"A bundle of myrrh is my well-beloved unto me."—Song of Solomon 1:13.

YRRH may well be chosen as the type of Jesus on account of its preciousness, its perfume, its pleasantness, its healing, preserving, disinfecting qualities, and its connection with sacrifice. But why is He compared to "a bundle of myrrh"? First, for plenty. He is not a drop of it, He is a casket full. He is not a sprig or flower of it, but a whole bundle.

There is enough in Christ for all my necessities; let me not be slow to avail myself of Him. Our well-beloved is compared to a "bundle" again, for variety: for there is in Christ not only the one thing needful, but in "Him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily," everything needful is in Him. Take Jesus in His different characters, and you will see a marvellous variety—Prophet, Priest, King, Husband, Friend, Shepherd. Consider Him in His life, death, resurrection, ascension, second advent; view Him in His virtue, gentleness, courage, self-denial, love, faithfulness, truth, righteousness—everywhere He is a bundle of preciousness.

He is a "bundle of myrrh" for preservation—not loose myrrh tied up, myrrh to be stored in a casket. We must value Him as our best treasure; we must prize His words and His ordinances; and we must keep our thoughts of Him and knowledge of Him as under lock and key, lest the devil should steal anything from us. Moreover, Jesus is a "bundle of myrrh" for speciality. The emblem suggests the idea of distinguishing, discriminating grace.

From before the foundation of the world, He was set apart for His people; and He gives forth His perfume only to those who understand how to enter into communion with Him, to have close dealings with Him.

Oh! blessed people whom the Lord hath admitted into His secrets, and for whom He sets Himself apart. Oh! choice and happy who are thus made to say, "A bundle of myrrh is my well-beloved unto me."

C. H. Spurgeon

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This was my morning meditation. How it greatly encouraged my heart. HE is sufficent in all that we need. In HIM is everything and we have need of nothing. I love the last sentence Oh blessed people whom the Lord hath admitted into HIS secrets and for who HE sets Himself apart! FOR WHOM HE SETS HIMSELF APART!

He has set Himself apart for you today............. As a sweet smelling savor.. Ask of HIM what you need..

Myrrh Tree

Resin from Myrrh Tree

Sweetly Broken

2010-04-09T12:41:00.003-05:00

I pray today…….. to be Sweetly Broken

To the cross I look, to the cross I cling
Of its suffering I do drink
Of its work I do sing
For on it my Savior both bruised and crushed
Showed that God is love
And God is just

At the cross You beckon me
You draw me gently to my knees, and I am
Lost for words, so lost in love,
I’m sweetly broken, wholly surrendered

What a priceless gift, undeserved life
Have I been given
Through Christ crucified

You’ve called me out of death
You’ve called me into life
And I was under Your wrath
Now through the cross I’m reconciled

At the cross You beckon me
You draw me gently to my knees, and I am
Lost for words, so lost in love,
I’m sweetly broken, wholly surrendered

In awe of the cross I must confess
How wondrous Your redeeming love and
How great is Your faithfulness

At the cross You beckon me
You draw me gently to my knees, and I am
Lost for words, so lost in love,
I’m sweetly broken, wholly surrendered

Going Home-- Where Real Life Just Begins

2010-04-03T09:15:00.001-05:00

The gift of Calvary in a song.. Take 5 minutes and listen.....read the words as they sing... I think they are what angels sound like.......

....... GOING HOME.....

Explosions

2010-03-23T12:50:00.014-05:00

Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee. Psalms 119.11

But the Comforter, (which is ) the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, HE shall teach you all things, AND bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.

"For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought
into captivity to the obedience of Christ". (2 Corinthians 10:4,5)

Now I listed the three scriptures first and in order of what I want to talk about.

You have heard me speak many times here in this blog of our spirit man. I do that because it is where all things happen. Our outer man dies daily but our inner man is renewed daily. We are alive in our spirit man and in our flesh we have decay.

Jesus told us that HE had to go back to the Father and if HE did not go back then the comforter could not come.

The comforter… Paraclete The form of the word is unquestionably passive. It can properly mean only "one called to the side of another," and that with the secondary notion of counseling or supporting or aiding him. That him is us.

The Holy Spirit , Paraclete is a gift from the Father and that gift is the answered prayer to the Father from the Son. Jesus prayed that the Father would not leave us alone, that HE would keeps us while in this world and answer came in the form of the Holy Spirit of promise.

Holy Spirit brings to our remembrance the Word of God . He leads us in that truth of God's Word. He uses the word of God that WE have hid in our hearts to do the warfare that we so desperately need today.

We can study and we can read and we can memorize (personally something that I have never tried to do) but the human mind is incapable of remembering all those things. As we read the word of God we must understand that it is alive. Unlike other words on a page it is living and it is working in us to accomplish those things that the Father has spoken over us. It is alive and it resides in our spirit man NOT our soul.

Try as we may we are helpless to do anything outside of the power of the Holy Spirit that dwells within us. We are powerless and the sooner in our Christian walk we learn that the greater victories we will experience.

If we read that scripture we see that HE uses the word remembrance. HE will bring to our remembrance the things that Jesus has spoken to us. As we live in the world and as we move though this life we WILL encounter hardships. We will.

NOW

When we fail to read and hide the word in our heart then when life comes at us HE has very little to bring to our remembrance.

First HE needs to bring a revelation of the scriptures that is needed to combat the darkness at hand and then HE can impart to us the weapons of our warfare.

When we hid the word of God in our hearts THEN when life comes at us HE will rise up in our spirit man with the weapons that are not carnal.

When fear comes , and it will, when despair and confusion and grief and any of the attributes of the darkness rise up to consume us and cloud our vision, the Holy Spirit will explode in our carnal minds the weapons needed to win the war, and those weapons is the word that we have hid in our hearts. HE bursts forth above the shouts of the darkness with words of Truth.

Weapons, they are not carnal, they are MIGHTY to the pulling down of strongholds.

I have experienced this many times in my walk with the Lord. I will find myself struggling with life and the bombardment of lies that so easily come from the enemy. I have listened and in floods the fear and grief or sorrow or whatever emotion is triggered by the lies. THEN from within me comes explosions of the word, it comes up from my spirit man and it is ALWAYS the scriptures that are needed for that warfare. Always.

He bursts on the scene of my mind and overrules the lies of the enemy. Sometimes I wonder when in the world I read that scripture or sometimes and most of the time I do not even remember studying that passage.. However, the Holy Spirit remembers and from the depths of my real man he brings truth. Truth to bring comfort, truth to bring counsel truth to bring joy over sorrow and rejoicing over despair. HE comes and HE brings with HIM those things that I have hid in my heart.

HE brings weapons and they weapons that bring every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ.

Study… read…. meditate….. listen…. fill your spirit man with the word and when evil comes, the Holy Spirit will come on the scene with might and power and HE will bring forth the truth that lies within you. HE will bring to your remembrance whatsoever the Christ has spoken. What greater power is there? None…….

Closing For A Few Days

2010-03-16T12:26:00.001-05:00

I am closing this blog for a few days.......... but I will be back....... I am changing the looks of it and need just a bit of time........... I want to start posting here more than at my Life at My House so need a face lift.............

Hugs

BUSY LIFE

2010-02-17T10:40:00.007-06:00

BUSY LIFE

While up and busy with my day and goals to be reached but finding that time is just a vapor and some of those goals will go back to the list and sleep till tomorrow.
We get caught up with what we think is important and the Father God has such a gentle way of bringing us back to reality. Not our reality but HIS.
After all it is HIS dreams and HIS desires and HIS vision for our lives that will bring to us contentment and peace. We so often forget that when we struggle for what we THINK is our destiny. And in saying that, nothing need be said further.
There is no struggle in HIM.

Be still, HE will draw you back to what HE beholds when HE turns HIS eyes toward you.

HE so knows how I love music and I have my Christian station going most of the day. It is a gentle breeze that blows across my spirit while I work. Most of the time not really listening but just letting it works it's magic to my soul.
This morning HE did what HE does best....... HE gentle broke my heart in the words of a song.

Empty Me

I've had just enough of the spotlight
When it burns bright
To see how it gets in the blood
And I've tasted my share
Of the sweet life
And the wild ride
And found a little is not quite enough

I know how i can stray
And how fast my heart could change

Empty me
Of the selfishness inside
Every vain ambition
And the poison of my pride
And any foolish thing my heart holds to
Lord empty me of me
So i can be
Filled with you

Ive seen just enough of the quick buys
Of the best lies
To know how prodigals can be drawn away

I know how I can stray
And how fast my heart could change
Empty me
Of the selfishness inside
Every vain ambition
And the poison of my pride
And any foolish thing my heart holds to
Lord empty me of me
So I can be
Filled with you

Cuz everything is a lesser thing
Compared to you
Compared to you
Cuz everything is a lesser thing
Compared to you
So I surrender all

Empty me
Of the selfishness inside
Every vain ambition
And the poison of my pride

Empty me
Of the selfishness inside
Every vain ambition
And the poison of my pride
And any foolish thing my heart holds to
Lord empty me of me
So I can be
Lord empty me of me
So I can be
Filled with you.
Filled with you
Empty me

Sending hugs to each of you this Lords day.

Mashed Potatoes and KFC

2009-12-07T12:19:00.013-06:00

The world and those that abide there load us down with a plethora of burdens.
If we allow those things to remain on our shoulders it will alter our focus from the Father and our vision will blur.

The Mashed Potatoes Story...

It was a warm summer evening and the boys were off doing their thing with their friends.I was living in Sand Springs, Oklahoma just north west of Tulsa a few miles. It was the year 1983.

I was so restless this particular evening as usual and the apartment was closing in on me. With keys in hand I headed out the door with no particular destination.

Now I have to confess right here that one of my passions is KFC and their mashed potatoes and gravy. I LOVE that stuff! (I have long since refrained from eating much of it as my 62 year old stomach does not digest it as well as once did.)

I ended up that night at the drive through window of KFC and with my extra crispy white meat chicken and my medium tub of mashed potatoes and gravy I proceeded to destinations unknown.

I had not gone far when the tears began to flow, they always did, it was a regular happening in my life. I was in crisis AGAIN.

I was alone again with another set of divorce papers to paper the walls of my heart. He had left many months before and with the fog of the heartache still clouding my mind I was not able to focus my spirit man to the ONE that could heal my pain, or so that was my thought.

Thus I drove, ate KFC/with mashed potatoes and gravy and cried. Have you EVER tried to do that? What a mess. You get grease on the steering wheel and mashed potatoes on your blouse and most likely in your lap! I so wish I had a picture of me that night, I so wish.

At the time of this crisis I was the Y adviser (young women s group from the ages of 16-college or marriage age.) on Wednesday night of an Assembly of God where I attended, I was the assistant singles Sunday school teacher. I was very involved as one of the leaders of the church and I was FALLING apart!

I would learn what might be the greatest revelation of God that night. Let me continue.

As I drove and cried and ate I found myself headed toward a small town where my pastor James and his wife Gracie lived. They were the most influential people in my life at that time and their ministry in that church enabled me to lay a foundation that is sure and steadfast to this day. I am eternally grateful to them and will forever be.
Sitting in their driveway that night, engine running, lights off pondering if I should actually let them see me in this state. After all I was one of his leaders. I was a teacher for goodness sake. Teachers did not crumble, do they and I was crumbling!

With chicken bucket set off to the side and a quick clean up of face and blouse (as best as I could) I found the courage to ring the door bell.

Now you need to understand that even though they were my mentors they were also good friends with whom I spent much time with out of church. Gracie was a hoot and I so loved to run with her out and about shopping. We laughed a lot. I say that so that you will understand the relationship between us so they were not totally blown away when they answered the door. They knew my personality and they knew my passion and they knew my struggle.

As I went in and sat on the couch, Gracie offered me a wet wash rag so that I might put out an effort to compose myself. Not a word was spoken. I do not know how long we sat there. They sitting across from me and me looking off into space filled with such pain.

Then I began. The flood gates opened and my heart poured forth my fears and my heartache and the absence of my hope and the sorrow for even being at their home in the dark of night.
I without hesitation shared with my pastors that I must be the weakest person they had ever known. I could not find myself and all I could do night after night after long endless nights lay on the floor before a might God and beg for help.

I had no intestinal fortitude and I could not deal with the pain and disappointment. I was worthless as a teacher of anyone let alone young women of such influential mentality. I offered to them my resignation and pleaded with them to forgive me for my weakness.

I remember just a few things spoken from that night and one of them was that I thought at I was much stronger than that and how disappointed that I was in such disarray.
During this entire dissertation they spoke not a word. I finished my rant and we all sat silent.

God moved in such a mighty way in the next 60 seconds that my tears subsided and my spirit man was renewed and all my fears were ceased and I knew that I knew that I had heard from God. That quick, that easy and that profound!

James D___ sat forward in his chair and looked at me and he said " Why in the world do you think that you are not doing EXACTLY what is require of you to be the leader that the Lord wants you to be? Why in the world do you think that laying on your face night after night after long night is a sign of weakness and not strength? Why in the world do you think for one minute that I would be disappointed in a child of God that knows where her strength really lies? "

And he sat back in his chair and watched as I processed what he had just said to me.

We sat and talked for another hour before I left their home and headed to mine. The drive home was much different as the drive there. I was able to finish my chicken without the taste of salty tears.

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Matthew 11: 28- 30 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
²⁹ Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.
³⁰For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

How arrogant are we as flesh and blood humans to think that we can take on the weight of our world and not buckle under the pressure. Why in the world do you think that Jesus told us that HIS yoke was easy and HE offers that to us today.

It is ONLY when we take on our burdens and carry them and take the I from HIM and insert that I into me that we get into so much trouble.

I learned something that night that has stayed with me and is embedded in my spirit. It is a truth that sets me free and keeps me free if I will but apply it.

My strength is never greater than when I am on my face before the face of the Father.

Today we rest in Christ and we cast our cares on HIM. He is able to carry those things that weight us down. What ever crosses our path from the darkness of the world it is intended to lead us from the truth of HIS word.

Calvary bore the weight of YOUR world. HE does not intend you to carry that load.
HE speaks to you "My yoke is easy." Put down those things that causes us to bow to the ground under the load take HIS yoke........

FOR HE CARES FOR YOU

Be blessed this day and give HIM your burden.

Cleaning House- Cleaning Spirit

2009-11-18T09:35:00.013-06:00

I have been cleaning out things per the instruction from the Lord. Throwing away things that I just do not need. Letting go of things that I have kept "just in case" I might need it one day. Do you do that? While cleaning out I came across the source of this post. It was a couple of sheets of paper tucked away in a shoe box that I have had for years. I threw it away and in the doing I re-read this post. I was amazed that the very same relationships that I was struggling with two years ago have just this year been released. I am a slow learner.

The Lord has been giving me specific instructions the other day to "clean" up my spiritual life and one of them was to let go of people that have walked away from me. I will listen this time. I have a new vision for my life and struggling with dead relationships is not one of them. My older brother Paul is always telling me that they are a vexation to my spirit. He is right.

This post was from 2007
and something that I found VERY strange...... It was dated November 18 2007.
I think the Father God wanted me to post this again today.

What do you think?
************************************************************

....I am a fan of T.D.Jakes and have read most of his books. Woman Thou Art Loosed is a great book. While cleaning out some old papers the other day I came across an email sent to me by a good friend and mentor a few years ago... (Yes I am a pack rat and keep everything, however this time I am glad that I did.) In this email was some quotes from T.D.Jakes that I want to share with you.... You see I have struggled all my life with low self esteem and an sense of needing to belong. Maybe that is why I have made so many mistakes in my personal choices.

... If you knew me well or if you were around me for any given time you would think that I had all the confidence in the world and I needed no outside affirmation of who I was... but you would be wrong. I cover it up and I cover it up with a very strong personality and I am a bit mouthy... thus I will overcome by being the stronger voice. That is sometimes good and sometimes bad. I think that the Lord has helped me so much in the past few years by giving me Dennis. He loves me as I am and I have no need of proving myself. He is such a gift and he is the example of the love of God in my life......

........ Getting back to T.D.Jakes.... I hate it when I know someone does not like me or accept me and I work hard at trying to change that...... I will talk and do and go out of my way to figure out how to change their minds toward me. My older brother thinks I am crazy...hahahhah and maybe so... There are those that will love and accept me and there are those that will not and that is life........ I just have a hard time letting go... There are some relationships in my life that case me grief because I love these people but cannot reach them.... I try, I really try but everything I do is twisted and turned back to hurt me.......... soooooooooo while cleaning out those pesty boxes of paper I found this............ Tell me what you think:

Let it Go: 2004 T.D.Jakes

There are people who can walk away from you and hear me when I tell you this:

1. If they can walk away let them!

2. Do not talk one more person into staying with you , loving you, calling you, coming to see you, or staying attached to you.

3. Hang up the phone, do not try calling them one more time. ( I started to do that this morning)

4. Your destiny is never tied to anyone that has left you.

5. The bible says that they came out from us that it might be made manifest that they were not for us, for had they been of us, no doubt they would have continued with us. (1 John 2:9)

6. People leave you because they are not joined to you, and if not joined to you, you cannot make them stay.

7. We need to learn the gift of good-bye.

8. Stop begging people to stay. Let them go.

9. If someone cannot treat you right, love you back, and see your worth, let them go.

10. If you keep trying to help someone that will not help themselves , let them go.

11. If you are struggling with the healing of a broken relationship then Let it go!

T.D.Jakes 2004

I have been so guilty of all of these things.... I struggle so hard sometimes with things that I cannot change..... It is just who I am, but this morning after reading this list again I realize that it is a vexation to my spirit man and I need to let go. God has called me to accomplish some things in my life and I am beginning to see those things happen. The energy that I spend with the broken things in my life is draining me of my spiritual life.

.... The relationships in my life that are broken or non existing God will replace. He is able to send us a brother or sister, a mother or father. What ever the need may be He is able.
..... So this Sunday morning I will vow unto the Lord one more time to let go of those things that hinder my spirit and I will look to the Father for those things that I need in my life and if I do not need it in my life I will let it go.

**********************************************

We all have things in our life that need to be released to the Father. In the two years since I had written this post I have released a lot of things and people. It is a learning and healing process, and I see healing in my life and it is strange to say, but my vision is clearing.

God, HE is so smart.

SONSHINE

2009-11-13T09:30:00.004-06:00

What the sunshine is to the flower, the Lord Jesus Christ is to my soul.

Alfred Tennyson

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Let the SON shine........

Obedience-Re-Post

2009-10-30T09:33:00.001-05:00

I read on FB this morning about ministry. It reminded me of this post that I wrote over a year ago. I thought it worth posting again......... Ministry........ right in front of my nose..

Hugs

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...........My ministry. I spent years looking for and waiting for my ministry. Many years ago when I was first born-again there was a powerful woman of God that prophesied over me. I will never forget that day and her words resound in my mind on many occasions. I would teach and preach and minister to wounded women. I would be an instrument of God to touch women of no self worth.

......... I think it was the next day that I began looking for that ministry. I studied for hours and hours. I listened with a hungry heart to every word that came out of the mouth of many ministers on TV and in my local church. Years went by and nothing. I cried, I prayed, I begged for God to "bring me into my ministry" I have a passion that burns within me today for the wounded woman but try as I might I could not find my"niche".

........... The years have come and gone and I have gone through very dark times since then and I have gone through many mountain top experiences. I cannot tell you when I came to an understanding of "my ministry" but thankfully I did. When I was first saved I was a mess and I would have been no help to anyone. There were things that the Lord and I had to work through before I could see Him clearly. I had a distorted view of all things of the Lord but knew that He lived within me and I so wanted to know the truth. I studied.

... Over the years I have been a preacher, a teacher, a leader of many women's groups. I have spoke in front of many and I have spoke in front of few. I have laid hands and anointed with oil and seen God heal. I can tell you that I am in my element when I am standing in front of groups of people large or small. But......... (you knew there was a but coming)

....I have learned over the years that our ministry is not in billboard neon signs. We are not all Joyce Myers' or Kenneth Copeland's. If you study the life of Christ you will see His ministry.

.... He moved through His world never staying still in one spot. His world was small compared to ours but He moved through His world with compassion for the few and compassion for the many. His ministry was to minister to the needs before Him whether it be healing or hunger. He was a healer when healing was needed, He was a teacher when it was called for, He was a provider when the people were hungry. He encouraged when people needed to be encouraged. He was all things to all men. That was who He was and that was His ministry. When He was 12 and found in the temple teaching His words to His mother were "I must be about my Fathers business" What is the business of the Father? It is people.

........ I was set free many years ago when He taught me that today I may need to just encourage someone. Tomorrow I may need lay hands on someone and pray the prayer of faith for their healing. If I come upon someone in need of food I will be called on to give "bread'. That is my ministry, and when I open my ears to His voice and keep my heart obedient to His calling then I find my self slap dab in the middle of a ministry that touches lives on a daily basis. Whether it be here in the blog or if it be on the streets of my small town. When I remain obedient to His voice I am walking in the middle of His will for my life. What a sense of freedom it bring to my heart and spirit man as I lay down at night. For me it is the understanding that when the sun comes up the following morning I need do nothing but walk in my world and be obedient and wait with much anticipation for what He will ask me to do today.

.........My ministry is obedience to His voice.......... He is in charge of the outcome.

PEACE PLEASE..............

2009-10-23T20:41:00.006-05:00

May today there be peace within.

May you trust God that you are exactly where you are meant to be.

May you not forget the infinite possibilities that are born of faith.

May you use those gifts that you have received, and pass on the love
that has been given to you.

May you be confident knowing that you are a child of God. Let this presence settle into your bones,
and allow your soul the freedom to sing, dance, praise and love.

It is there for each and every one of us.

Teresa of Avila

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It is not hard to understand what the world needs now is peace. We go through our days with each of us moving in the paths that we have chosen making the decision both great and small that we will need to repeat tomorrow.

I myself do those things each day, day after day almost in a robotic fashion, but if I stop for just a minute and let myself reflect on the day that has past or the day that is before me out of my mouth come the whispered prayer "just give me peace for this day Father God, I just need peace."

Do you find that is on your lips also. Much more could be requested, but peace is what my heart cries for the most. If only peace, then all else will find rest.

Peace we pray our Father God, peace among the turmoil,

and let us not not forget the infinite possibilities that are born of faith.

THE Heart Doctor

2009-10-13T09:43:00.002-05:00

For those of you that read my Broken Clay Pot here in this blog will understand why this morning is a humbling morning for me.

My son Darryl had heart surgery this morning. It was something that was decided yesterday late after seeing his heart Doctor and the scheduled the surgery for today. It was too far for me to go and the new procedure was going to make the surgery possible without going in his chest.
They go up through the vein in his groin to his heart and patch the hole and he will be able to go home today. The miracles of modern medicine.

I was up a lot last night praying and just thinking about my son. The other son Chris that lives here had made the 5 hour trip yesterday just to be there when Darryl saw the specialist. He of course decided to stay when they decided on surgery today. I waited and waited this morning for word of Darryl. That word came about 9:15........

No hole, the hole that was on the scan yesterday was not there this morning. The Dr had no answer for Darryl, he had no idea why the hole was gone and in medical terms they called it a medical misunderstanding or something like that....... What ever that means. They looked and looked while they were in there and just could not find the hole.

We know where the hole went, we know the God that spoke and healed that heart in an instant in the twinkling of an eye. We know.

While standing at the sink a bit ago and washing some dishes and thanking the Lord for the great thing HE has done, the Lord spoke. "I will continue to heal his heart" was what burst forth into my spirit man. I knew in an instant that it was my Father God and I knew in an instant what HE was saying.

I am humble this morning. When we give over to grief and futility of effort in prayer, HE does not and HE is faithful. I will take what the Father spoke to my heart this morning and I will watch the horizon for my son.........

In Christ

Thought For The Day

Peace of mind should not be an objective of life. More often than not, peace of m ind leads to a state of peace without mind. There are causes that should call us; there are cries of help that should move us; there are people who need us; there are conditions that demand us. Floating around in one's own tub of butter should not be a goal for an intelligent life. Let us find tranquility in the doing, not in the being.

Saul Teplitz

Obedience, Better Than Sacrifice

2009-10-12T10:44:00.004-05:00

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

Our Lord's first obedience was to the will of his Father, not to the needs of men; the saving of men was the natural outcome of his obedience to the Father.

Oswald Chambers

Is that a wonderful statement or what? It is in our obedience to HIM that our ministry is made manifest. No other effort to save a lost world will be as effective as obedience first.
It brings about anointed ministry. Isn't that what we all want?
Have an obedient day.

Broken Clay Pot

2009-10-02T22:33:00.015-05:00

2 Corinthians

For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus' sake.

For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

But we have this TREASURE in earthen vessels that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.

We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair;

Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed;

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We are subject to being tired and weary. We have days that it is ONLY by faith we live and ONLY by faith that we move and ONLY by faith have our being. BY FAITH we rejoice and sing, BY FAITH we speak but there are days that I am weary, and my clay pot is subject to be broken.

We were not designed to carry the weight of the world we are clay pots and inside of this destructible vessel lives the indestructible TREASURE of heaven. The very same spirit, THE SAME SPIRIT, that raised Christ Jesus from the dead live IN ME. In my clay pot lives the third person of the trinity. The Holy Spirit HIMSELF. He brings to me council and direction and wisdom if I will stop to hear.

HE gives guidance in all seasons of my life and HE consoles and ministers to me when my clay pot is under great distress. When the world pushes in on me and fissures begin to appear in my fragile exterior HE mends and heals and strengthens from the inside out. HE so loves my clay pot that HE came to take up HIS abode and constantly reinforce the purpose HE has set before me.

BUT...... I am a clay pot.. I weep and I grieve and I break and have need of mending. I struggle to live yet I die daily. I sometimes hold on to this life with a grip of an iron hand refusing to relinquish my hold for the promise of a greater life.

I am a clay pot with the treasure of heaven encased deep within who I am. HE weeps when I weep and when I dance with my red tambourine HE will dance......... HE is all in all IN ME........ but I am a worn vessel subject to the cruel hand of the world coming to chip away at my exterior. I am a clay pot.

Never meant to be strong and mighty, never asked to do the impossible and never expected to toil without tears. We are clay pots and somewhere deep within the mortal clay that will crumble and return each of us to dust, lives the very person in the trinity that when God spoke 'Let there be" HE moved upon the face of the deep and life was, light was.

The very breath of God lives in my clay pot and because of HIS life in me the days that I crack under the pressure I am reassured that HE is the corner stone and HE is the master potter and in HIS hands I am sheltered. HE is the "I Am" and HE moves quickly to shelter me from being dashed upon the rocks.

Today my clay pot was in shambles and broken I sat and cried out to the only one that can mend the broken clay. My fleshly clay pot is weary and it longs for a place in time that I can feel at peace but just for a while..... I weep.

I heard from my youngest son today that my first born son Darryl had a stroke on Wednesday.
He has a hole in his heart and will see a surgeon in a few weeks.

I pray that my Father God from whom all life flows go before that surgeon and guide the hands that repair that earthen vessel known as Darryl. I have cried more today... Silly me, thinking that the 25 years that we have been estranged would somehow scar over the love that a mother has for a son. Silly me. I weep over lost years and I sob over a son that I need to hold..

I will go to the potter from where my life first started and HE will mend my clay pot from the inside out, and HE will hear the sobs of a mother grieving over a son and HE will go into that room HE will keep watch for me........ I know HE will.......

But HE was wounded for my broken clay pot and my transgressions; he was bruised for my broken clay pot iniquities: the chastisement of the peace of my broken clay pot was upon HIM; and with HIS stripes my broken clay pot can be mended and healed.

And within this vessel of clay is place the TREASURE of heaven.

Parakletos

2009-09-10T08:56:00.004-05:00

"PARAKLETOS"

"The service of the Holy Spirit is that He helps us to distinguish pleasure from happiness and develop real joy. There are many experiences which give us temporary pleasure but do not add up to abiding satisfaction. Their thrills pass quickly, and sometimes leave a trail of regret and remorse. Some of our sense pleasures are like lightning flashes, while true joy is like the sunlight."

Ralph Sockman

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Get to know the Holy Spirit HE is such a gentleman, HE is such a teacher, HE has comes to give comfort. HE is the third person in the Trinity.

THE COMFORTER
Root Form (Greek)
"parakletos"

Summoned, called to one's side, esp. called to one's aid

A helper, succourer, (someone who gives help in times of need or distress or difficulty,) aider, assistant

The Holy Spirit destined to be sent to the apostles after the ascension of Christ to the Father, to lead them to a deeper knowledge of the gospel truth, and give them divine strength needed to enable them to undergo trials and persecutions on behalf of the divine kingdom.

To point all people to Christ. Never drawing attention to HIMSELF. A gentleman.

Are there trials in your life?

HE HAS COME ALONG SIDE.
THE HOLY SPIRIT, YOUR BEST FRIEND.

HIS EYE IS ON THE SPARROW

2009-09-07T11:57:00.005-05:00

SO I KNOW HE WATCHES ME!

Why in the world we we even imagine that HE does not watch and care for us. Why in the world would we be fearful of tomorrow when HE takes meticulous care for each and every creation in HIS hands.

When our lives given over the the one that created the universe then the life that we have is in HIS care. I once shook my fist in the face of God and told HIM I was taking control of my life and NO ONE was going to tell me what to do. HE let me, I spun out of control for years. It was only when I surrendered my life back to the one that knows me the best did life make sense.

I thought you might like to read this.

HE is in control......... ENJOY!

God's accuracy may be observed in the hatching of eggs.

For example:

-the eggs of
the potato bug hatch in 7 days;
-those of the canary in 14
days;
-those of the barnyard hen in 21 days;
-The eggs of ducks and geese hatch in 28
days;
-those of the mallard in 35 days;
-The eggs of the parrot and the ostrich
hatch in 42 days.
(Notice, they are all divisible by seven,
the number of days in a week!)

The
lives of each of you may be ordered by the Lord in a beautiful way for
His glory, if you will only entrust Him with your life. If you try to
regulate your own life, it will only be a mess and a failure. Only the
One Who made the brain and the heart can successfully guide them to a
profitable end.

God's wisdom is seen in the making of an
elephant.. The four legs of this great beast all bend forward in the
same direction. No other quadruped is so made. God planned that this
animal would have a huge body, too large to live on two legs. For this
reason He gave it four fulcrums so that it can rise from the ground
easily.

The horse rises from the ground on its two front legs
first. A cow rises from the ground with its two hind legs first. How
wise the Lord is in all His works of creation!

God's wisdom is
revealed in His arrangement of sections and segments, as well as in
the number of grains.

-Each watermelon has an even number of
strips on the rind.
-Each orange has an even number of segments.

-Each ear of corn has an even number of rows.
-Each stalk of
wheat has an even number of grains.
-Every bunch of bananas has on
its lowest row an even number of bananas, and each row decreases by
one, so that one row has an even number and the next row an odd
number.

-The waves of the sea roll in on shore twenty-six to
the minute in all kinds of weather.

All grains are found in
even numbers on the stalks, and the Lord specified thirty fold, sixty
fold, and a hundredfold - all even numbers.

God has caused the
flowers to blossom at certain specified times during the day, so that
Linnaeus, the great botanist, once said that if he had a conservatory
containing the right kind of soil, moisture and temperature, he could
tell the time of day or night by the flowers that were open and those
that were closed!

Thus the Lord in His wonderful grace can
arrange the life that is entrusted to His care in such a way that it
will carry out His purposes and plans, and will be fragrant with His
presence.

Only the God-planned safe life is successful. Only
the life given over to the care of the Lord is
fulfilled.

Alive and Dancing!

2009-07-27T12:00:00.013-05:00

Times of fear sweeping the nation and hearts of man failing them for fear. Freedom slipping from our fingers, sickness ravaging bodies of those we know and some that we so love. Families loosing everything, despair and grief and fear.. Not knowing of what lies tomorrow... We live, we go about our days.

We pray.

If like me you wonder sometimes is my heart seated and established with the Father? Spirit man loaded down with concerns of the world, life and the darkness that wants compass us. Hearing and listening hard for HIS tender whisper. Looking for signs which HE warns us against. It is in the heart of us buried deep within the man that has been brought alive with the VERY spirit that raised Christ Jesus from the dead.................

That is where HE lives.

The very spirit of my man has been brought ALIVE. Born again, not of corruptible but with the incorruptible. ALIVE in Christ Jesus. Seated in heavenly placed with HIM. Never to die, alive for eternity. Journey through this dark and dusty land, not citizens, just passing through.
God of heaven comes down!

Alive and dancing this morning as I feed my spirit man and give him words and music that causes him to rise above the shouts of the one that would load us down with fear, dancing so that my spirit man can be loosed to praise and worship the one that so loves us.

God, HE lives in the praises. God, HE lives in the dance! God HE lives and because HE lives we will live also! Promises coming to the surface while I dance, while I live........ Promises of peace and love and promises of HIM being with me always. Joy that overcomes the fear and the darkness that wants to steal our peace.

HE is God...

HE is Alpha and Omega.

HE has always been and there is non before HIM.

HE is the last word in this world and HE will have no end. HE is God and HE is all present and all powerful.

Who will we fear?

HE is God that loved us so much HE sent HIS ONLY begotten son just so that HE could give us a hug and walk in the cool of the evening once again. HE is God that created all but sacrificed HIS son to return us to the garden from whence we started.

HE is God, and when I begin to dance my spirit man moves within me and hears the food for his soul and he rejoices and when my spirit begins to worship, I begin to dance.

I am alive in Christ and I dance.

HE is God.

DANCE!

(did you know that I own a red tambourine?)

Tools of The Trade

2009-07-21T08:25:00.008-05:00

I read this email from a friend this morning and my heart was overwhelmed. How many times have I missed brushing someones hair. My mind is full of stuff and my ears are hearing nothing but sounds of a much too busy life. I do pray and I do talk to the Father God but I do long to be more do more. I long to brush someones hair.

Some think that God only live in the large places , that they need to be standing in front of the multitudes, but in fact God is big in the small places and lives are changed in the sheer simplicity of a hair brush.

As I read this article this morning, I so understand my position in the Kingdom of God. I know that due to my circumstances of caring for Mom and Dad I will not find myself sitting in airports traveling the nation and the world, but I will find myself my shopping at Wal-Mart or going down town to the market on Saturdays and Wednesdays. I will find myself at the beauty shop or the waiting rooms of Doctors offices. I will find my self standing with life all around me and I pray this morning to the Father of all life that I will fine tune my ears to hear HIS hearts cry.

It is in the one on one that nations are won to Christ, it is the obedience in the small things that touch a multitude of hearts. God just loves, that what HE does, HE just loves, and in that love that pours from HIS very being there might be days that the task at hand is large, but for the most part the tools required to do HIS will be as simple as a hair brush.
Today, let us each one LISTEN as HE moves in hearts and touches lives through us.

The will of God is simple and it ONLY flows through love...and in the story below, it is Love overwhelming in a simple hair brush.

Take time to read this and if you have already read it, read it again........

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HAIRBRUSH EXPERIENCE OF BETH MOORE AT THE AIRPORT

April 20, 2005, at the Airport in Knoxville , waiting to board the plane, I had the Bible on my lap and was very intent upon what I was doing. I'd had a marvelous morning with the Lord. I say this because I want to tell you it is a scary thing to have the Spirit of God really working in you.
You could end up doing some things you never would have done otherwise.
Life in the Spirit can be dangerous for a thousand reasons, not the least of which is your ego..
I tried to keep from staring, but he was such a strange sight. Humped over in a wheelchair, he was skin and bones, dressed in clothes the at obviously fit when he was at least twenty pounds heavier. His knees protruded from his trousers, and his shoulders looked like the coat hanger was still in his shirt. His hands looked like tangled masses of veins and bones.
The strangest part of him was his hair and nails. Stringy, gray hair hung well over his shoulders and down part of his back. His fingernails were long, clean but strangely out of place on an old man.
I looked down at my Bible as fast as I could, discomfort burning my face. As I tried to imagine what his story might have been, I found myself wondering if I'd just had a Howard Hughes sighting. Then, I remembered that he was dead. So this man in the airport... an impersonator maybe? Was a camera on us somewhere? There I sat; trying to concentrate on the Word to keep from being concerned about a thin slice of humanity served up on a wheelchair only a few seats from me.
All the while, my heart was growing more and more overwhelmed with a feeling for him.
Let's admit it. Curiosity is a heap more comfortable than true concern, and suddenly I was awash with aching emotion for this bizarre-looking old man.
I had walked with God long enough to see the handwriting on the wall..
I've learned that when I begin to feel what God feels, something so contrary to my natural feelings, something dramatic is bound to happen.
And it may be embarrassing.
I immediately began to resist
because I could feel God working on my spirit and I started arguing with God in my mind. 'Oh, no, God, please, no.' I looked up at the ceiling as if I could stare straight through it into heaven and said, 'Don't make me witness to this man. Not right here and now. Please. I'll do anything. Put me on the same plane, but don't make me get up here and witness to this man in front of this gawking audience. Please, Lord!'
There I sat in the blue vinyl chair begging His Highness, 'Please don't make me witness to this man. Not now. I'll do it on the plane.' Then I heard it......'I don't want you to witness to him. I want you to brush his hair.'
The words were so clear, my heart leapt into my throat, and my thoughts spun like a top. Do I witness to the man or brush his hair? No-brainer.
I looked straight back up at the ceiling and said, 'God, as I live and breathe, I want you to know I am ready to witness to this man. I'm on this Lord. I'm your girl! You've never seen a woman witness to a man faster in your life. What difference does it make if his hair is a mess if he is not redeemed? I am going to witness to this man.'
Again, as clearly as I've ever heard an audible word, God seemed to write this statement across the wall of my mind. 'That is not what I said, Beth. I don't want you to witness to him. I want you to go brush his hair.'
I looked up at=2
0God and quipped, 'I don't have a hairbrush. It's in my suitcase on the plane... How am I supposed to brush his hair without a hairbrush?'
God was so insistent that I almost involuntarily began to walk toward him as these thoughts came to me from God's word: 'I will thoroughly furnish you unto all good works.' (2 Timothy 3:17) I stumbled over to the wheelchair thinking I could use one myself. Even as I retell this story, my pulse quickens and I feel those same butterflies. I knelt down in front of the man and asked as demurely as possible, 'Sir, may I have the pleasure of brushing your hair?'
He looked back at me and said, 'What did you say?'
'May I have the pleasure of brushing your hair?'
To which he responded in volume ten, 'Little lady, if you expect me to hear you, you're going to have to talk louder than that.'
At this point, I took a deep breath and blurted out, 'SIR, MAY I HAVE THE PLEASURE OF BRUSHING YOUR HAIR?' At which point every eye in the place darted right at me. I was the only thing in the room looking more peculiar than old Mr. Long Locks. Face crimson and forehead breaking out in a sweat, I watched him look up at me with absolute shock on his face, and say, 'If you really want to.'
Are you kidding? Of course I didn't want to. But God didn't seem interested in my personal preference right about then. He pressed on my heart until I could utter the words, 'Yes, sir, I would be pleased. But I have one little problem. I don't have a hairbrush.'
'I have one in my bag,' he responded.
I went around to the back of that wheelchair, and I got on my hands and knees and unzipped the stranger's old carry-on, hardly believing what I was doing. I stood up and started brushing the old man's hair. It was perfectly clean, but it was tangled and matted. I don't do many things well, but must admit I've had notable experience untangling knotted hair mothering two little girls. Like I'd done with either Amanda or Melissa in such a condition, I began brushing at the very bottom of the strands, remembering to take my time not to pull.
A miraculous thing happened to me as I started brushing that old man's hair.
Everybody else in the room disappeared. There was no one alive for those moments except that old man and me. I brushed and I brushed and I brushed until every tangle was out of that hair. I know this sounds so strange, but I've never felt that kind of love for another soul in my entire life. I believe with all my heart, I - for that few minutes - felt a portion of the very love of God. That He had overtaken my heart for a little while like someone renting a room and making Himself at home for a short while.
The emotions were so strong and so pure that I knew they had to be God's. His hair was finally as soft and smooth as an infant's.
I slipped
the brush back in the bag and went around the chair to face him. I got back down on my knees, put my hands on his knee and said, 'Sir, do you know my Jesus?'
He said, 'Yes, I do'
Well, that figures, I thought.
He explained, 'I've known Him since I married my bride. She wouldn't marry me until I got to know the Savior.' He said, 'You see, the problem is, I haven't seen my bride in months. I've had open-heart surgery, and she's been too ill to come see me. I was sitting here thinking to myself, what a mess I must be for my bride.'
Only God knows how often He allows us to be part of a divine moment when we're completely unaware of the significance. This, on the other hand, was one of those rare encounters when I knew God had intervened in details only He could have known. It was a God moment, and I'll never forget it.
Our time came to board, and we were not on the same plane. I was deeply ashamed of how I'd acted earlier and would have been so proud to have accompanied him on that aircraft.
I still had a few minutes, and as I gathered my things to board, the airline hostess returned from the corridor, tears streaming down her cheeks. She said, 'That old man's sitting on the plane, sobbing. Why did you do that? What made you do that?'
I said, 'Do you know Jesus? He can be the bossiest thing!'
And we got to share.
I learned something about God that day. He knows if you're exhausted, you're hungry, you're serving in the wrong place or it is time to move on but you feel too responsible to budge. He knows if you're hurting or feeling rejected. He knows if you're sick or drowning under a wave of temptation. Or He knows if you just need your hair brushed. He sees you as an individual. Tell Him your need!
I got on my own flight, sobs choking my throat, wondering how many opportunities just like that one had I missed along the way .. all because I didn't want people to think I was strange..
God didn't send me to that old man. He sent that old man to me.
Please share this wonderful story.

'Life isn't about how to survive the storm, but how to dance in the rain!'

Anguish

2009-07-01T09:41:00.004-05:00

If you did not see this over at The Knightly News........See it here.
Listen and weep....... I did.....

My New Look

2009-06-17T17:00:00.003-05:00

Just wanted to brag a bit about my new look! Did she do a good job or what! I will only be posting here a couple of times a month with my devotionals. The other blog is for the "life at my house" stuff......... I really do like this design and the lady at the well with Jesus is one of my brother Paul's art work. He created that for me to match the statue that I was given by Tisha my cousin. Sooooooo I just wanted you to see the "new do."

Devotional will be posted in a day or two........ in the mean time go over and think about signing up for my Pay It Forward. I have one lady and I need three more! You will not be disappointed in what I send......... I promise!

Problems At My House

2009-06-15T08:18:00.005-05:00

If you have tried to go to my other blog you have found that it is a MESS!!!!!!!!! Seems that the three column template that I have is having problems on Photobucket! I cannot fix it as I have no idea how to load a three column template without loosing all my 'stuff" soooooooooooo I will just sit patiently and see if she can get it fixed today!

Have a wonderful day girls........... I will be around to post tonight (if it is fixed) and my new Samaritan Women is just about finished! It is sooooooooooooooo beautiful ! I am anxious for you to see...........

Hey girls, I have gotten some email saying that this blog is fine and it does not seem to be in a mess....... YEP but take a look at the other one!

Life At My House Now that is a mess!

I Am Back.......

2009-06-01T21:34:00.002-05:00

Come over and visit me at My House

Just a Few More Days

2009-05-28T22:54:00.004-05:00

Ran into major problems in my shop Tuesday, Wednesday and today! Bummer .... So my schedule for closing was moved till tomorrow or maybe Monday. Job to finish and the machine decided to eat two shirts! Now I have to reorder and sew them out and deliver them Monday afternoon........... BUT that is ok, as my steps are directed of the Lord!

I will be back this weekend with some fun pictures over on my other blog! I have a devotional started for this one but that will be middle of the week..............

I have found poison ivy somewhere and it is now on the inside of both arms, on my right side, on top of my left hand, on my upper lip and under the bottom of my right boob! Dr has put me on steroids and I am wired to the gill!

hahhahahha Who knows where it came from? I don't..... I can catch it if the wind blows!

Thanks for the sweet emails and comments........... I AM LOVED !

Love ya's and see you this weekend over on the other blog!

Life At My House

*Back to the Blog

2009-05-24T22:29:00.012-05:00

Hey girls, I have gotten several email wanting to know when I was coming back...... Well I will be back the middle of this next week. I have a few things to finish in my shop and then I am closing the doors. I have been busy with other things and talking to the Lord a lot. I will share a bunch with you here and some fun things over at the other blog.

I have missed you EACH and every one and those of you that have kept in touch via email, you have blessed my heart.

I have had such withdrawals from my blog..... I am amazed at how addicted I have become to all of you.............

Love ya and see you Wednesday or Thursday.........

Jeremy Riddle Sweetly Broken

2009-05-18T14:47:00.004-05:00

To the cross I look, to the cross I cling
Of its suffering I do drink
Of its work I do sing

For on it my Savior both bruised and crushed
Showed that God is love
And God is just

At the cross You beckon me
You draw me gently to my knees, and I am
Lost for words, so lost in love,
I’m sweetly broken, wholly surrendered

What a priceless gift, undeserved life
Have I been given
Through Christ crucified

You’ve called me out of death
You’ve called me into life
And I was under Your wrath
Now through the cross I’m reconciled

In awe of the cross I must confess
How wondrous Your redeeming love and
How great is Your faithfulness

At the cross You beckon me
You draw me gently to my knees, and I am
Lost for words, so lost in love,
I’m sweetly broken, wholly surrendered

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Miss you girls!!!!!!!!!!!! Soooooooooooooooooo much!

Finding Mary and Discarding the Bustier !

2009-05-14T09:18:00.000-05:00

A BLOG BREAK

Find out what pleases the Lord. Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. —Ephesians 5:10-11

We learn what pleases those closest to us primarily by spending time with them. By trial and error we also discover things they like and dislike. When it is a relationship we really desire to develop, it becomes fun to make the other person happy.

The Lord has His own ways, too, and He wants us to know them and adjust to them.

We may think they are odd—at first—but the benefits of accepting Him as He is and adjusting to what pleases Him will result in great blessing and peace.

We have the wonderful advantage of having the whole Bible at our fingertips. This surely leaves us without excuse.

Unless we are careful, we will not only begin to take ourselves too seriously, but we will also fail to tune into the ways of the Spirit—simply because we already presume that we know them so well.

For we too must learn—by experience—what pleases the Lord. This means spending time with the Lord and developing a sensitivity to His ways. We must find out what pleases Him.

Excerpted from The Sensitivity of the Spirit (Charisma House, 2002).

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I fear that the past 6 years in my life has caused Mary to go into hiding and I have become Martha. I did not know that I was making the journey from Mary to Martha over these years but alas I was. The enemy is so subtle that we do not see him working in our lives, but he is working in our lives.

I so miss the days that I sat at HIS feet and enjoyed the communion that only HE can bring.

I have become a Martha. I cry more than I laugh, and if you knew me you would know that something was wrong. I am a character with a capitol C. Always have been. I wake up in the morning laughing and going on and that usually grieves most people but that is who I am, or should I say used to be.

I have moved out of HIM and abiding in HIS strength to handle the day to day of our lives and I have moved into myself and my strength and how many of you know that will not work for long.

Two years ago hurrying around trying to get things done, taking care of Mom and Dad and my business and my home and still having two houses to flip and get rid of, I put on my wonder woman suit with it Bustier and boots and dug my heels in and said I AM WOMAN HEAR ME ROAR!

Mary over at Mary's Writing Nook.. I know this made you smile!

This past March, I crashed. It was not a pretty sight. It frightened my brother, not to mention my sweet DH. My roar became a whimper and my boots and my wonder woman Bustier became tattered rags. I had moved into my own strength and it failed me.

While visiting with my sweet Jean just weeks before she went on to be with the Lord. It was words from her sweet lips that tore my heart and exposed Martha. While we talked we spoke of the times when we remolded an old church building and watched as our congregation grew.

We spoke of the many Sunday mornings that we rocked that old church house until the floors shook. We laughed and spoke of the days that God truly met us in a way that we have not seen since. It was then, through eyes cloudy with sickness that she looked me in the eye and asked me what was I so busy doing that I am not doing what HE has called me to? Just what are you so busy with? She has no idea how that impacted my life but I will share that with her one day. I went there to minister to her but God had other plans.

I sat quiet that afternoon after leaving there and I allowed her words to linger in my mind until the Spirit of the Lord broke my heart. Too busy with what? I do not know.

Matthew 6:20 But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal:

I have removed my business sign from my front yard and over the next couple of month I will close my shop. It is very time consuming and I will begin to do some of the things I love and my son Chris is going to take the business. I have moved around some outside swings and my plan is to go out side during the day and just read and talk to the Lord. Too much time has passed since I have spent quality time with HIM.

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There is NO doubt in my mind that the Lord intends me to be here talking of things of the Lord because that was the original reason for my blog. I want to talk of things of the Lord on my blog, but I want new and fresh things, I want the spirit of the Lord to be alive and living in the words that I type. The Lord so wants to bring life into lives that are suffering and hope to those that are hopeless and I want to be a part of that........ So for a short while I am going to spend quiet time with HIM...

Love you each lots and lots and I will be stopping by each of you from time to time...

AND in these days of uncertainty remember : LOOK UP for your Redemption draweth nigh!

P.S.

I have created a new blog next door :) called Life At My House. That is where I will post most of the time about fun things and things going on out here. I will keep my Samaritan Women just for the times that the Lord gives me something to say. I think I will do better if I keep this just for those times. I want in the blog world Samaritan Women to be only food for the spirit.

So go over to my house and put your sweet face in the following place so that you will know when I come back!

Life At My House

Go over and follow my other blog.

Love Ya's.

God In The Text Messaging Business

2009-05-10T22:34:00.005-05:00

Just wanted to interrupt my blog break for just a few short minutes.... Most of you know that I have a son that has been estranged from me for over 24 years now.. I hear from him once in a great while.I have prayed over the years for God to mend our hearts and I hold tight to that hope.
I heard from him tonight for the first time on Mothers day.It was a simple text message but God is in the text messaging business... It was late, around 10:15 or so but it was the world to me.
Just wanted to share that with you my blogging buddies that I love so much. We must ALWAYS remember that when we remove ourselves from helping our Father God , HE will do the work that we so earnestly believe HIM to do...........
It was JUST a text message, but to a mothers heart it was a gentle warm hug from a Father God to reassure her that HE is busy restoring her son back to his mother.

I pray that your Mothers Day was filled with much joy.......

I will be back in a few weeks.....

PRAISE THE LORD AND PASS THE MASHED POTATOES

2009-05-04T10:01:00.003-05:00

Just heard from Kathy my sister. Sandy is out of surgery and the surgeon said it was a piece of cake! Everything went text book and the hole is closed and there is no heart damage as thought there might be. She will be in the hospital for about 5 days. Also they had told her originally that she most likely would not ever be able to have more children as to the stress on her heart but the surgeon said that if she does good for two years there is no reason she cannot have more children.

PRAISE THE LORD.

Thank you each and everyone that prayed! Prayer works! We are so blessed by God to have a circle of friends called bloggers.............. How just like God to mastermind such a thing............ HE knew that the blog was coming and HE knew who HE would send as bloggers.............. What a God we serve.............. Hugs to you each!

Prayer For Sandy

2009-05-03T10:02:00.005-05:00

Many have asked again about Sandy... so that you can pray while she is in surgery. Her surgery is tomorrow morning at 6:00 a.m.
She goes in tonight............ Thank you for the many emails and concern. Thank you for your prayers. I will post as soon as I hear from Kathy. She has promised to call as soon as Sandy is out of surgery.
I will hold my blog break post until after I hear that she is well and out of surgery.

Love ya gals!

Prayer Request and Blog-Give-A-Way

2009-05-02T19:43:00.004-05:00

Most you my friends will remember this beautiful face. Sandy Jackson. She is the daughter of my sister......... She is as beautiful on the inside as she is the outside . She gave birth to a beautiful son 6 months ago now and during that birth they discovered she has a hole in her heart. They needed to wait till she recovered from the C section before doing another surgery. Well it has been long enough and Monday morning in Pittsburgh Pennsylvania she will have open heart surgery to repair that hole.
Kathy (my sister) flew to Pennsylvania this morning, headed to her daughter. The Doctors are all very reassuring that she will be just fine but I cannot even begin to imagine what is going through my sisters mind and what now is going through Sandy's mind as she has a beautiful son and daughter and a precious husband at home waiting.

Please pray for God to guide the hand of the surgeon and please pray that the Father God will hover over her like a hen hovers over her chicks........ Wings of the angels spread over that table where she lays with the protection of all that heaven has......... .. Matthew 23:37

O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, [thou] that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under [her] wings, and ye would not!

Just thought I would put that scripture there so you would know I am not crazy!

Sandy....... a beautiful soul and a precious niece.

************************************************************************************

Now for the Blog Give-A-Way........ Thanks for all the sweet comments........ I wish I had a pillow for each one of you............. But without further ado...............

I used Random.org and out of 33 comments it PICKED........

# 7

and the winner of that cute little pillow is ............... Shirley at MaMa's Place.
Go by and tell her congrats...... She is such a sweet person.........

I will post again tomorrow about my blog break........ there are a few things I want to chat about before I go............... Hugs................

A time for Weeping...... But then GREAT Joy!

2009-05-01T10:28:00.008-05:00

Thou hast kept count of my tossings; put thou my tears in thy bottle! Are they not in thy book? Then my enemies will be turned back in the day when I call. This I know, that God is for me. In God, whose word I praise, in the Lord, whose word I praise, in God I trust without a fear. What can man do to me?

Psalm 56:8-11

The Revised Standard Version

Life knocks us around does it not! BUT HE is faithful to see us when we sob without words and tears fall to fast to control and out of our spirit man comes our groaning that only HE understands and those tears precious to HIM are bottled up.

Even in our utter sorrow with grief that cannot be spoken HE understands.

What a God we serve and what a God that all men need.

Lift up your head oh ye people of God and rejoice for sorrow is just for a short time then there will be much joy in the morning.

Morning will come and morning is soon!

*******************************************************************

Tragedy here in our extended family. Diane, the sweet gal that often cuts mom and dads hair, has lost her oldest son in a motorcycle accident last night. Diane is the sister in law to my sweet sister in law Alpha. I have met and laughed with Diane's son Michael several times while in the beauty shop. He has left a 13 year old son that also lost his mother one year ago.

Diane is broken and in need of prayer...... She is strong in the Lord, but life sometimes is just too hard to bear. Pray for Diane and that precious 13 year old young man that now is without mother or father. Diane is a wonderful grandmother to him and he lives just across the street from her beauty salon. He will be very very well cared for and very very loved.

In Christ

Denise

******Two Year Anniversary Blog Give-A-Way

2009-04-28T01:00:00.005-05:00

Today is my two year anniversary here in the blog.............. Here is the first post from April 28th 2007:

*********************************************************

1 Corinthians 2:16

For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? but we have the mind of Christ.

Philippians 4:8

Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.

The word of God tells us that we have the mind of Christ. Now think on that a minute, the mind of Christ. So, what does He think? We need to study the word of God, we need to hear the word of God. We need to let the word of God so change our hearts that when the enemy comes in and fills our hearts with fear, the word of God will rise up to confront him with the truth. The battlefield is in our minds, so we need to change our minds. Hide the word of God in your heart this day, think on things that are of a good report . God can change our hearts but not our minds, we can change our mind but not our heart. So when we change our minds, God will change our hearts.

Be blessed this day,
Denise

********************************************************************

That was two years ago. My how time flies. I had started a blog a few months before that but did not keep it open. Was having some trouble with other people wanting to run me off and run me off they did........ BUT only for a while.......... My sweet DH kept telling me how much it would help me and give me an outlet for my devotionals. He kept on me and I finally decided to try one more time. How glad I am that he kept after me. I am blessed to have met so many many wonderful friends here. Each one of you add a special touch to my life.

I am going to give a way this too cute little pillow for my anniversary and I will draw a name on Saturday at 12:00 noon my time. Then I am going to take a bit of a break from blogging. I will post the reason on Sunday....... soooooo get your name in the pot and win this cute little pillow......

I have missed coming around to a lot of my blog buddies this past couple of weeks........ so if I have not been to your "house" in a while......get the coffee pot going, I am headed your way this week!

Love you each and every one!

10 Years April 24th ------- WE MET ON THE INTERNET

2009-04-23T08:55:00.030-05:00

A LOVE STORY

Ten years ago today, April 24th........ I heard his voice, and when least expected, God moved. I had been single for 10 years with NO intentions of marrying again......... Been there done that! On April the 1st (April Fools Day) I had to close the doors on my business and file bankruptcy. I was broken. I had worked hard for years and it was not that I could not make money it was that there was just one of me. I was working 12-14 hours a day 7 days a week and I just could not stand under that stress....... I called the bank that had my loan and told them to come get it.. And come and get it they did....... On April Fool's day........... That did not help......,

It was the next day that I was walking in the park, not knowing what to do, no job, homeless (I was living in the back bedroom of a friend but now I had no way to pay her) Oh she was not kicking me out but she had nothing either. I was living on lettuce and fried chicken from Wal-Mart. hahahah now there is a diet. It would last me two or three days.

I digressed, it was the following day and I was walking the park, talking to my Father God. It was a time in my life that I was very close to HIM and could hear HIM speak. (I have lost some of that but that is for another day)

I remember exactly where I was when HE spoke. The park has a walking path and it is 1 1/2 miles around and there are several very pretty places along the path. There is this one spot that you cross over a little bridge with a very small creek flowing under. One of my favorite places along the path. I had been talking to the Lord about my life and what next...

My conversation to HIM was, "do I stay here or do I move to Tulsa where there is more opportunity for jobs?" Do I stay with Sharon or move back in with Mom and Dad in order for me to be able to keep my car for a few more months" I just need direction Lord, just need direction. It was then HE spoke and I was right in the middle of that little bridge. " I have someone for you " was HIS response.

Oh NO! I did not ask for a man was my response.......... How many of you out there know that HE does not argue with us........ Just the spoken word...... Then HE was silent.

The month of April was coming to an end and the only thing I had left from my business was my computer. My friend that I lived with worked nights so it was a good time for me to read and study and renew my spirit. I also during the month of April found a web site called One on One pen pal's for Christians........ I thought it looked pretty good so in I went. Not a chat room as I was afraid of those, but a web site with Christians that were visiting via email. No names or address or even email addresses..... You were assigned a number which kept you safe.

I had several gals that I was talking to and when I would get the guy emails I would just delete them. I did that many days before one day in my email box was an email from a man named Dennis.
I cannot tell you to this day why I did not delete that one but I am sure we all know, but I opened it and read........It was simple and well written and not a lot of "I love to take long walks in the rain kind of crap" Just who he was and what he did for a living and just stopping in to say hello. Well I answered that email............ Long story short........ It was my precious DH....... Dennis Walden.

After a few days of email we both logged onto a chat program called ICQ some of you might know of it , not even sure if it is still around. It was open chat not chat rooms and we began to talk...

Here are the first few days :

April 24, 1999......... I met my husband.

ICQ History Log For:
37192598 Dennis

--------------------------------------
Dennis

4/24/99 5:01 PM

Hi Denise!
Just a quick note to let you know my ICQ # is
37192598.
This is pretty neat ( I'm easily
entertained!).....
Hope your trip to Tulsa was safe and you
enjoyed visiting with family.....Dennis

Denise
4/24/99 5:02 PM

good afternoon,,,, did not go to Tulsa,,,,
Storms..

Dennis

4/24/99 5:04 PM

Sorry you couldn't...weather here is kinda bad
too.. just catching up on house
cleaning...thanks so much for the ICQ tip..I'm
trying to get my niece in Springfield setup
also...

Denise

4/24/99 5:06 PM

wow did not take you long to download and get
started,,,,, I think that you will enjoy this
.... I have many friends around the
world,,,,,LOLO my list gets out of hand some
times and have to go through and delete those
that I have not heard from in a while...

Dennis

4/24/99 5:10 PM

I can imagine...I'm still wading through all
the options and set up stuff.
Need to take a break and go get some
groceries; want to cook meatloaf
tonight, maybe rent a movie or got to Barnes &
Noble for awhile..

Denise

4/24/99 5:11

PM have a great day,,,,, and enjoy your evening

Dennis

4/24/99 5:16 PM

and sometimes you get booted off of ICQ......:)

Dennis

4/24/99 5:18 PM

Happens a lot here too!...you have a great
weekend there Denise.

I'ts nice that we've met and can share some
thoughts along the way..
I'm working tonite at midnite for a couple
hours; only time I can take down
the entire network for an upgrade..

Denise

4/24/99 5:18 PM :)

have great day,,,,,, :) God Bless

And the rest they say is history......... After visiting the rest of the month of April and all of the month of May, we met for the first time at the praying hands in Tulsa Oklahoma on May 29, 1999.

I got there first as he was driving from Wichita Kansas.

I sat under those hands for a very long time it seemed. Then I saw his truck (he told me what he was driving) pulling into the parking lot. My heart raced....
We spoke for just a minute and laughed at how nervous we both were and it was there standing beneath those hands towering over us that he asked me to marry him and gave me a ring.

He knew, he had waited all his life until God told him this is the one. He knew, he had heard from God. I knew.
That was 10 years ago today, and I can tell you that Dennis Walden was sent from God. I had lived in fear of my life for so many years and suffered through abuse for years and years, BUT I always knew that my Father God had a man for me that had his heart turned toward the Father.
God did......... His name is Dennis Walden.

We were married October 17th 1999 at the crystal chapel in Eureka springs Ark. There are not words .............. I will post about that in October...

See the little bench on the left hand side of the base...... That is where I was sitting...

When God moves there is no mistaking................HIS timing is perfect....... HIS voice is unmistakable if you are listening..... HE wants to give us direction , HE wants to give us life and life more abundant. HE loves us...... After many many years of heartache, abuse, dying dreams and a broken heart, HE took a keyboard stroke many hundred of miles away, over a thing called the Internet to give me the gift of Dennis....... I will spend eternity praising HIS name and living out unending years in the presence of the Father God and with my precious Dennis.

I have every one of the ICQ chats from April till October.... There are hundreds of them. I go back every once in a while and read them.. and cry....
They show a beautiful progression of two people becoming one. They are a priceless treasure......

She Dances...

2009-04-20T21:48:00.006-05:00

I cannot see her very well.. She is in the distance.. She has beautiful blond hair that is natural. I have known her for years and she has never dyed her hair. She appears to be dancing! She doesn't dance, or I have just never seen her dance! What a joy to watch her. She is holding hands with an older man that appears to be so enjoying her company.

I think if I stare long enough it is her husband. He appears younger than I remember. There is an older couple sitting over on what appears to be a bench sitting by a lake. I wish I could see them a bit better, but my eyes are turned back to her. She is laughing like I have not seen her laugh in a long time and there she goes again dancing.

What a sight......

Over in the distance is a man moving closer to her and her husband, HE is very familiar to me but I cannot quite see HIS face. As HE moves closer to her I see her dancing cease and she begins to move closer to HIM. She is not distracted now by anything moving around her, she seems to have only one thing on her mind....... To reach this man that is oh so near her now. She reaches out to touch HIS face just as HE touches her arm. She is home, she is well.... She feels no more pain......... She has touched the face of God......... She is where we all long to be............

Jean......... I will miss you, but would never wish you back....

Jean Trobaugh----------

She touched the face of God about 9:37 p.m. April 20, 2009

We Remember.......... April 19, 1995

2009-04-19T18:06:00.006-05:00

Seconds after a truck bomb of nitrite and fuel detonated next to the federal building, a gaping hole was blasted into its side. During that tragic attack on America's Heartland 168 people died.

Lives Lost because of hatred.......... We remember.

Love to you Oklahoma

Rescue Worker

Rebecca Needham Anderson, 37, Midwest City.

Athenian Building (Job Corps)

Anita Christine Hightower, 27, Oklahoma City.

Kathryn Elizabeth Ridley, 24, Oklahoma City.

Oklahoma Water Resources Board Building

Robert N. Chipman, 51, Edmond.

Trudy Jean Rigney, 31, Midwest City.

NINTH FLOOR

Drug Enforcement Administration

Shelly D. Bland, 25, Tuttle.

Carrol June "Chip" Fields, 48, Guthrie.

Rona Linn Kuehner-Chafey, 35, Oklahoma City.

Carrie Ann Lenz, 26, of Chotaw and baby Michael James Lenz III.

Kenneth Glenn McCullough, 36, Edmond.

U.S. Secret Service

Cynthia L. Brown, 26, Oklahoma City.

Donald Ray Leonard, 50, Edmond.

Mickey B. Maroney, 50, Oklahoma City.

Linda G. McKinney, 47, Oklahoma City.

Kathy Lynn Seidl, 39, Bethel.

Alan G. Whicher, 40, Edmond.

EIGHTH FLOOR

U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development

Ted L. Allen, 48, Norman.

Peter R. Avillanoza, 56, Oklahoma City.

David Neil Burkett, 47, Oklahoma City.

Donald Earl Burns, Sr., 63, Oklahoma City.

Kimberly Kay Clark, 39, Oklahoma City.

Susan Jane Ferrell, 37, Oklahoma City.

Dr. George Michael Howard, D.V.M., 45, Vallejo, Calif.

Antonio "Tony" C. Reyes, 55, Edmond.

Lanny Lee David Scroggins, 46, Yukon.

Leora Lee Sells, 57, Oklahoma City.

Jules A. Valdez, 51, Edmond.

David Jack Walker, 54, Edmond.

Michael D. Weaver, 54, Edmond.

Frances "Fran" Ann Williams, 48, Oklahoma City.

Clarence Eugene Wilson, Sr. 49, Oklahoma.

SEVENTH FLOOR

U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development

Diane E. (Hollingsworth) Althouse, 45, Edmond.

Andrea Yvette Blanton, 33, Oklahoma City.

Kim R. Cousins, 33, Midwest City.

Diana Lynne Day, 38, Oklahoma City.

Castine Brooks Hearn Deveroux, 49, Oklahoma City.

Judy J. (Froh) Fisher, 45, Oklahoma City.

Linda Louise Florence, 43, Oklahoma City.

J. Colleen Guiles, 59, Oklahoma City.

Thompson Eugene "Gene" Hodges, Jr., 54, Norman.

Ann Kreymborg, 57, Oklahoma City.

Teresa Lea Taylor Lauderdale, 41, Shawnee.

Mary Leasure-Rentie, 39, Bethany.

Betsy J. (Beebe) McGonnell, 47, Norman.

Patricia Ann Nix, 47, Edmond.

Terry Smith Rees, 41, Midwest City.

John Thomas Stewart, 51, Oklahoma City.

John Karl Van Ess III, 67, Chickasha.

Jo Ann Whittenberg, 35, Oklahoma City.

SIXTH FLOOR

U.S. Marine Corps Recruiting

Sgt. Benjamin LaRanzo Davis, USMC, 29, Edmond.

Capt. Randolph A. Guzman, USMC, 28, Castro Valley, Calif.

FIFTH FLOOR

U.S. Department of Agriculture

Olen Burl Bloomer, 61, Moore.

James E. Boles, 50, Oklahoma City.

Dr. Margaret L. "Peggy" Clark, 42, Chickasha.

Richard (Dick) Cummins, 55, Mustang.

Doris "Adele" Higginbottom, 44, Oklahoma City.

Carole Sue Khalil, 50, Oklahoma City.

Rheta Bender Long, 60, Oklahoma City.

U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development

Paul Gregory Beatty Broxterman, 42, Edmond.

U.S. Customs Office

Paul D. Ice, 42, Midwest City.

Claude Authur Medearis, S.S.A., 41, Norman.

FOURTH FLOOR

U.S. Department of Transportation/Federal Highway

Lucio Aleman, Jr., 33, Oklahoma City.

Mark Allen Bolte, 28, Oklahoma City.

Michael Carrillo, 44, Oklahoma City.

Larry James Jones, 46. Yukon

James K. Martin, 34, Oklahoma City.

Ronota Ann Newberry-Woodbridge, 31, Edmond.

Jerry Lee Parker, 45, Norman.

Michelle A. Reeder, 33, Oklahoma City.

Rick L. Tomlin, 46, Piedmont.

Johnny Allen Wade, 42, Edmond.

John A. Youngblood, 52, Yukon.

U.S. Army Recruiting Battalion

Sgt. 1st Class Lola Bolden, U.S. Army, 40, Birmingham, Ala.

Karen Gist Carr, 32, Midwest City.

Peggy Louise Holland, 37, Oklahoma City.

John C. Moss III., 50, Oklahoma City.

Victoria "Vickey" L. Sohn, 36, Moore.

Dolores "Dee" Stratton, 51, Moore.

Kayla Marie Titsworth, 3 1/2, Lawton.

Wanda Lee Watkins, 49, Oklahoma City.

THIRD FLOOR

Defense Security Service

Harley Richard Cottingham, 46, Oklahoma City.

Peter L. DeMaster, 44, Oklahoma City.

Norma "Jean" Johnson, 62, Oklahoma City.

Larry L. Turner, 42, Oklahoma City.

Robert G. Westberry, 57, Oklahoma City.

Federal Employees Credit Union

Woodrow Clifford "Woody" Brady, 41, Oklahoma City.

Kimberly Ruth Burgess, 29, Oklahoma City.

Kathy A. Finley, 44, Yukon.

Jamie (Fialkowski) Genzer, 32, Wellston.

Sheila R. Gigger-Driver, 28, Oklahoma City and baby Gregory N. Driver II.

Linda Coleen Housley, 53, Oklahoma City.

Robbin Ann Huff, 37, Bethany and baby Amber Denise Huff.

Christi Yolanda Jenkins, 32, Edmond.

Alvin J. Justes, 54, Oklahoma City.

Valerie Jo Koelsch, 33, Oklahoma City.

Kathy Cagle Leinen, 47, Oklahoma ity.

Claudette (Duke) Meek, 43, Oklahoma City.

Frankie Ann Merrell, 23, Oklahoma City.

Jill Diane Randolph, 27, Oklahoma City.

Claudine Ritter, 48, Oklahoma City.

Christy Rosas, 22, Moore.

Sonja Lynn Sanders, 27, Moore.

Karan Howell Shepherd, 27, Moore.

Victoria Jeanette Texter, 37, Oklahoma City.

Virginia M. Thompson, 56, El Reno.

Tresia Jo "Mathes" Worton, 28, Oklahoma City.

SECOND FLOOR

America's Kids Child Development Center

Miss Baylee Almon, 1, Oklahoma City.

Danielle Nicole Bell, 15 months, Oklahoma City.

Zachary Taylor Chavez, 3, Oklahoma City.

Dana LeAnne Cooper, 24, Moore.

Anthony Christopher Cooper II, 2, Moore.

Antonio Ansara Cooper, Jr., 6 months, Midwest City.

Aaron M. Coverdale, 5 1/2, Oklahoma City.

Elijah S. Coverdale, 2 1/2, Oklahoma City.

Jaci Rae Coyne, 14 months, Moore.

Brenda Faye Daniels, 42, Oklahoma City.

Taylor Santoi Eaves, 8 months, Midwest City.

Tevin D'Aundrae Garrett, 16 months, Midwest City.

Kevin "Lee" Gottshall II, 6 months, Norman.

Wanda Lee Howell, 34, Spencer.

Blake Ryan Kennedy, 1 1/2, Amber.

Dominique Ravae (Johnson)-London, 2, Oklahoma City.

Chase Dalton Smith, 3, Oklahoma City.

Colton Wade Smith, 2, Oklahoma City.

Visitor

Scott D. Williams, 24, Tuttle.

FIRST FLOOR

Social Security Administration

Teresa Antionette Alexander, 33, Oklahoma City.

Richard A. Allen, 46, Oklahoma City

Pamela Cleveland Argo, 36, Oklahoma City.

Saundra G. "Sandy" Avery, 34, Midwest City.

Calvin Battle, 62, Oklahoma City.

Peola Battle, 56, Oklahoma City.

Oleta C. Biddy, 54, Tuttle.

Casandra Kay Booker, 25, Oklahoma City.

Carol Louise Bowers, 53, Yukon.

Peachlyn Bradley, 3, Oklahoma City.

Gabreon D.L. Bruce, 3 months, Oklahoma City.

Katherine Louise Cregan, 60, Oklahoma City.

Ashley Megan Eckles, 4, Guthrie.

Don Fritzler, 64, Oklahoma City.

Mary Anne Fritzler, 57, Oklahoma City.

Laura Jane Garrison, 61, Oklahoma City.

Margaret Betterton Goodson, 54, Oklahoma City.

Ethel L. Griffin, 55, Edmond.

Cheryl E. Hammon, 44, Oklahoma City.

Ronald Vernon Harding, Sr., 55, Oklahoma City.

Thomas Lynn Hawthorne, Sr., 52, Choctaw.

Dr. Charles E. Hurlburt, 73, Oklahoma City.

Jean Nutting Hurlburt, 67, Oklahoma City.

Raymond "Lee" Johnson, 59, Oklahoma City.

LaKesha Richardson Levy, 21, Midwest City.

Aurelia Donna Luster, 43, Guthrie.

Robert Lee Luster, Jr., 45, Guthrie.

Rev. Gilbert X. Martinez, 35, Oklahoma City.

Cartney J. McRaven, 19, Midwest City.

Derwin W. Miller, 27, Oklahoma City.

Eula Leigh Mitchell, 64, Oklahoma City.

Emilio Tapia, 50, Oklahoma ity.

Charlotte Andrea Lewis Thomas, 43, Oklahoma City.

Michael George Thompson, 47, Yukon.

LaRue A. Treanor, 55, Guthrie.

Luther H. Treanor, 61, Guthrie.

Robert N. Walker, Jr., 52, Oklahoma City.

Julie Marie Welch, 23, Oklahoma City.

W. Stephen Williams, 42, Cashion.

Sharon Louise Wood-Chesnut, 47, Oklahoma City.

General Services Administration

Steven Douglas Curry, 44, Norman.

Michael L. Loudenslager, 48, Harrah.

Is There a "Understanding God's Ways " For Dummies Book?

2009-04-17T21:19:00.005-05:00

I have been pretty busy this week....My DH is off and we have been building a fence around the back yard. I was in the city on Monday for a medical procedure and slept most of the afternoon on Monday. Even though I was only out about 45 minutes I was wiped out all day Tuesday.

Wednesday was much better and needed to visit Jean. When I drove up to her house there were several cars in the driveway and my heart went up into my throat. It is over I thought. I hesitated to go in as I did not want to interrupt the family at this hour of their grief. As I sat in my car Jeannie Kay (Jean's Daughter) came out of the house and I rolled my window down and beckoned her to the car. I inquired as to the reason for all the cars? She was getting married ! It was a spur of the moment thing and her and Tony (her soon to be husband) were headed to the court house to pick up the marriage license.

One of the things that Jean has always wanted for a very long time was to see her daughter married to Tony and not just living together. They have been together for over 6 years now.
Tony is a wonderful man and when Jean got sick he and Jeannie Kay moved in with Jean to help take care of her. BUT........ Jean always wanted to see them married.

I prayed and prayed last Sunday, Easter, for the Father to take Jean home. I had my cousin Tisha praying with me that Jean would go home that day........ What a glorious day that would be for Jean, to go to see Jesus on Easter Sunday. I can tell you that I was just a wee bit disappointed that it did not happen. You must understand that I love Jean and hate to see her suffer so. Well........... please pass the "Understanding the ways of God for Dummies" book.

Isaiah 55:8 For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD
Isaiah 55:9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth , so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.

If the Lord had answered my prayer, Jean would have missed the wedding of Tony and her daughter. Something that she has prayed and asked the Father for many years.

I went in the house and visited with Jean for about 1/2 hour while others were waiting for Jeannie and Tony to return to the house. The hospice pastor that has been coming over every other day to check on Jean was going to preform the service. They would marry right there in the bedroom where Jean was laying. I had been working in the yard with Dennis before I took a few minutes to go see Jean so I was not dressed for a wedding. It was just for family and I kissed Jean on the cheek and slipped out.

Hospice is there 24 hours a day now and that was Wednesday morning around 11:00. I have not been over there since and will go tomorrow.

Jean has lost her eye sight but she hears real well and still has her sense of humor. I was standing talking to her sister and Jean lifted her hand and made a yakked yak jester with her hand. Me and her sister, Lynett just laughed.

I will not again pray that the Lord take Jean home, I will leave that most important decision in HIS capable hands. How wonderful does the Father love those that love HIM? HE loves them enough to allow us to stay when all others would pray us gone so that we could experience the answer to a prayer that a mother has prayed for years........... HE loves us THAT much.

I am proud of Jeannie Kay and Tony and after this is all over I will take something over there that they can remember for years, but I think the memories of standing in her dying mothers room and giving her a gift that has no price tag.

Thank you Father God that sometimes the answer to our prayer is NO..

It is Friday night and Jean remains....... I wonder what other prayer HE will answer before HE calls her home.

FOR DEENA !!!!!!!! WE CAN DO THIS.......

2009-04-16T21:24:00.012-05:00

Go to Deena's page ! Make a pledge and lets see if we can pledge 5 TIMES the goal that Deena is looking for! WE CAN DO THIS!

click here RACE FOR THE CURE PAGE!

AND PRAY!!! GOD KNOWS HOW TO GIVE US A CURE!

I will blog about Jean tomorrow morning....... It will warm your heart!

Saturday's Sweet Surprise

2009-04-13T18:25:00.011-05:00

After a long day of work in the yard, tired and dirty and ready for a hot bath, but first check the mail. Here I found this envelope. Canada? What did I order from Canada? I am always buying something off of Ebay, but could not for the life of me remember buying something from Canada?

The only thing left for me to do is open that package!

Two of the cutest little egg cups with real eggs decorated and her initial on each egg. Thank you Margaret over at The French Bear

What a blessing these blog friends have become. They are the extension of God's Hands.
In so many cases what is just a simple little gift on one end is a blessing needed on the other.
What a beautiful ministry the Father God is involved in called the Blogs.

Thank you Margaret..... You are a blessing......

********************************************************************
Today I headed to the city for a simple medical procedure. I have a Schatzki ring in my esophagus and every few years or so has to be stretch out. It gets to the point that I have trouble swallowing so need to go see my Dr. He is wonderful and I do not even need an office visit. Just called him on Thursday and I was in and out this morning by 10:00. Just have a little sore throat but that will be gone tomorrow.. I have to eat soft food like icecream and pudding today........ Ahhhhhhhhh that is too bad...... ha!
Remember to pray for Jean... She is still with her here in our world, and I am still praying for her to go home. I will see her tomorrow.

Easter With Jean

2009-04-12T19:25:00.010-05:00

Just stopping in to share with you my morning with Jean. It was a stormy rainy day here in Oklahoma and we had thunder storms all night. It was really a beautifully cool morning with a light rain falling.
I got over there about 10:15..
Jean has moved so close to Heaven that she no long communicates here.. She has no energy to speak and most of the time her eyes are closed.

I took her flowers.

She knew I was there, she opened her eyes for just a moment and smiled when I kissed her cheek. I sobbed and sobbed and could not help myself.

I moved the chair up closer to her bed side and I opened my bible to Matthew and read to her the story of Easter. I read slowly as the sobs would rise in my throat and I need to stop and gain control. After finishing the reading in Matthew I read to her from Isaiah 53:5. It is my favorite book in the bible and one of my favorite scriptures.

But he [was] wounded for our transgressions, [he was] bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace [was] upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.

I then put my cheek right on her cheek and whispered as I prayed. She had little strength but as I prayed she lifted her hand into the air and praised the Father with me. I cried and my tears fell on her face. I whispered to the Father that she was tired and ready to go home. I whispered to the Father that she has a Father and a Mother and a husband waiting.
I sat for a long time just holding both her hands.. She would grip tighter when I started to leave or move.
At one point I sang to her......... Amazing Grace and In The Garden... Now I am not a singer so it was just a joyful noise. She just laid there and did not move.

Then something happened...... I began to pray in my heavenly language. I pray in the natural and I pray in the spirit.. When I began to speak in tongues her eyes opened wide and she looked at me...... Wide eyed. She watched me closely as I prayer........ It was the most amazing thing.. Her spirit was hearing my words and understood the language. Her spirit man understood! Her spirit is alive and well and ready to go to the Father.

........ How precious a time it was.......

I sat quiet for a long time and she slipped in to a sound sleep... I kissed her on the cheek and I knew that I would not see her again this side of heaven.

He's Alive

2009-04-11T21:00:00.001-05:00

What's Love Got To Do With It?

2009-04-09T08:59:00.003-05:00

Easter it is the culmination of everything that Christ lived to do. We that call ourselves Christians and name the name of Christ as savior and Lord believe that HE died and HE rose again on the third day. It is the core of our faith and the center of everything that springs hope in our hearts. HE died yet HE lives, just as this body of ours will die yet we will live.

Calvary, the beginning of a new dispensation. Dispensation of Grace replaces the dispensation of the law. We moved from sacrifice and law to freedom and grace. Calvary..... The focal point of our vision and the heartbeat of our faith. My spirit man sobs with joy when the reality of Calvary permeates into my soul. Calvary ----- Where life begins not ends.

Calvary the completed work of Christ. HE did the dying and HE tells us now to do the living. HE walked the path of obedience and HE freely hung on that cross. Calvary is not the end of the work that Christ came to do but the beginning. Calvary where the kingdom of God now comes to live on earth in the hearts of every believer...

Luk 17:21 Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you.

Calvary.. the promise of life and life more abundant. We all long for heaven but Christ says to us live now. We were reconciled back to the Father and all the goodness that HE brings with that reconciliation. Life NOW.........

Calvary is the gift of God to a lost and dying world that has no hope to live, let alone die. If you need a reason to live then Calvary provides that reason. If you need a reason to hope then that hope lies within that wooden cross on Golgotha. We needed a pathway in which to walk and Calvary leads the way. We look upon the cross that Jesus and rejoice in knowing that life as God sees it began on Calvary. We can approach the throne of God with boldness. HE came and died so that we might LIVE now and rejoice in that freedom that he bought.

Calvary, a place where God and man met. Calvary a force that tore the veil of the temple from the top to the bottom and gave us entrance into the throne room of God. Calvary is the spoken invitation for us to come and dine with the creator of the entire universe. Calvary says to the world of the lost and the dying that love conquers all things. Love handed Jesus to the crowd that day, love held Him on the cross. Love is why God turned His back and love is the reason that Jesus chose to stay suspended between heaven and earth.

Take time this Easter weekend to see the Kingdom of God in your life. Ask the Father to give you a greater awareness of the love that cost Him Jesus. Let us open our hearts to the love of God that will drive us to our knees and repent with many tears of the hardness of our hearts.

Embrace the life that was bought and paid for on Calvary and share that life with those around you. Touch a heart and a life and when we do we are bringing the Kingdom of God to one more life, to one more soul. We are telling the world that Calvary is life. Calvary is freedom from fear. Death has no hold and Heaven is ours. Thank your God that there are no boundaries when it comes to redeeming a soul.

What’s love got to do with it,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, Everything.

Girls have a blessed Easter weekend.. I will go over to see Jean tomorrow and again on Sunday. I want to sit and read her the story of Christ, the risen Savior.

Love you each and every one..

We Finally Spoke About The Unspeakable....

2009-04-08T15:32:00.012-05:00

I just go home from spending time with Jean. She grows weaker. There is considerable change from the last visit.
I shared with her about the last week of Christ.. So many interesting things about HIS last week. I have studied Monday and Tuesday but have not looked at Wednesday yet.
I was going to post them each day but days get away far too quick anymore.
As I sat and talked to her about the reason that Jesus went in and cleaned the temple of the money changers on Monday before HIS crucifixion, she sat wide eyed and listened just as she did many years ago while sitting under my teaching. I smiled as I would see her eyes light up when the truth hit her........

Anyway, back to Jean.

She now has no energy to cough to keep her lung clear. There were a couple of minutes today that I wondered if I were going to have to grab her up and call for help. I cried.
Today we spoke of the unspeakable things. The what if's. I asked her that if I do not see her again on this side, will she promise to be at the gate when I get home. I will want to see her. She cried.

I talked about her chimes that she hears. I shared with her that I believe that she is closer to heaven than she is to here and that made her smile. We both agree that she is moving daily toward the Father.. We both just smiled.

I may be out of line here but I have started praying that the Father God take her home on Easter Sunday! Now HE can do as HE pleases but what a day that would be.

She then asked me to help her daughter. An only child, bit of rebellion still at the age of 39 but she is lost. She has not yet given her heart to the Lord and Jean is grieved that she is having to leave her before she knows that she is going to be ok. I promised. We both cried.

I hugged her neck once and then again. I held her hand for a long time and told her again how I loved her. I cried and told her I was sorry that I was crying. She understood and then she cried again. I think it is not so much of her home going as it is missing her and hating to see her struggle so.,

As we sat and talked, things were going on in my spirit man and I have made some life decisions. I find that the Father God will move in just when we least expect it and HE will come through a door that we did not ever know was there. While sitting there listening to Jean, HE was doing a work in MY heart.

We talked about the victory that Easter brings and how I would miss her so.

I do not know is she will be here tomorrow. She cannot eat or drink. She is sleeping more and more. I pray that the Father will just let her sleep, and then wake up at home.

I have shared with her the gals here on the blog and she would have loved to been a blogging buddy with each of you. I am looking for a good picture of her.. I will post it for her home going...

She has the heart of a lion and the spirit of a dove. I pray that the Father take her home soon.

I will see her again....

Sounds From Across The River Jordan..

2009-04-03T20:49:00.007-05:00

Can you believe that I found a picture with that caption? How God is that...
you will understand when you read.

I spent some time today with my friend Jean. She had just received some pain medication so she was in and out while we talked. She is much more frail than the other day and the weakness in her body is considerably worse. She laughed but not enough strength to talk, so I talked...... I am good at that. We did not talk about much just chit chat. I sat and watched her drift off to sleep and then awake and smile when she saw my face. I studied her precious face so that when she slips away I will be able to recall that smile.

This is something that is so moving to my spirit man that I do not know what will come from this experience. I kissed her on the cheek when I left and she quickly fell off to sleep. I cried when I left again. Can't help it.

She is more with the Father God than she is here I am sure of that. She keeps hearing chimes. Every once in a while her eyes will open wide and she will look around and she will say........."did you hear that, did you hear those chimes?" It makes spirit bumps run up and down my spine even now. She is hearing something that the others in the room cannot hear. It makes me cry.

Our Father God is so in love with us that the closer we get to home, HE allows us to hear bits and pieces of the heavenly choir. I know this is a fact, I know it. She is hearing sounds from the place where no sin is allowed. Her spirit man is tuned into sounds that only those that will soon walk with HIM can hear. It is sounds reserved for those that are moving closer to the home not made by flesh and blood.

She hears the cymbals or bells played in unison by the angels that continually see the face of the Father. She is hearing the wind rushing through the branches of the tress that line the river of living water.......... She is hearing something. I wish I could hear it with her, but it is reserved only for her spirit man.

I left her not knowing if I will see her again this side of the Jordan River, but with the full assurance that I will walk and talk with her again another day.

Pray for my friend Jean...... Her healing is close.

Shirts, Shirts and More Shirts

2009-04-03T09:04:00.002-05:00

I had told you that we had a very busy weekend making shirts. This is the 6th year that I have had the Special Olympics job. We have a community called McCalls Community about three miles from town, built out in the woods and it has about 10 different cottages for the Special Needs adults here in southern Oklahoma. They go to the Special Olympics every year and I have been blessed to do those shirts again this year.

This year we had 345 shirts............Whew!!!!!!!! I do the design and email it off to a company in Kansas and they create the design on transfer paper and send it back to me in about 8 days. I have been using this company for many years now. I used to have my own screen printing equipment and would direct screen print right on to the shirt..... It takes up a lot of space and it is messy and requires a lot of clean up. So a few years ago I sold all the equipment and went with the company in Kansas and now they have all the mess and clean up and I just have to have a heat press.

I count and sort the shirts into sizes for my sweet husband and good looking son Chris, and then when the shirt is finished I fold and mark it off the list. It is a good production line. We started on Friday afternoon and worked for 4 hours and then worked another 8 hours on Saturday and then another 4 hours on Sunday.

Thought you might like to see what my shop looked like all weekend.

Chris is standing at the heat press. It runs at 375 degrees and is very high pressure. I am not able to use the press any more because of my back. So the guys do this part of the job. This design is cold peel which mean that the design has to cool before you take the transfer paper off. Some designs are hot peel and the paper has to come off right now........... so without going into detail, this one is cold peel and after Chris takes it off the press, Dennis uses my lint brush to smooth it down for about 30 seconds and then he removed the paper. I was standing on the other side of the counter ready to take the shirt and fold it.

This is Chris pressing a shirt. It stays in the press about 15 seconds. That "lid" is very hard to close thus, they will not let me near it. They are the good guys.

Chris has the responsibility of getting that design straight on the front of that shirt. I you were standing here you would see that the design is visible through that paper. Thus he knows just how far down from the front of the collar that the top of that design should go, rule of thumb is four fingers, so it takes him several seconds to place the design.

You can just barley see the "orange" through that paper.

This is kind of hard on the back for these tall guys, my sweet hubby was "bent over" like that for three days.... He had a bit of a back ache for a couple of days following.

They are a hoot, and the camaraderie is the fun part of this job. I listened as they talked about every thing under the sun.
(look at the pile of shirts at the end of the table, and that was after about 8 hours of work)
WHEW!!!!!!!!!

AND 125 of these shirts had the name on the sleeve, (I forgot to take a picture of that) so in actual fact there were 470 shirts to press....... So glad we are finished! (I think the guys are too!)

Don't know where Dennis was with this shot, Chris is cooling off the design before peeling the paper.

Here is the design up close. I hate that the color of the shirt looks so dark, but the shirt is a military green. They wanted the "M*A*S*H look this year. They were really pretty.
The silver color is called "Silver Shimmer" and it has a bit of a sparkle to it when the light or the sun hits it. Gave it a "dog tag" look. The orange is a very bright orange..... It sure looked good on that green shirt!

Look at that face............... A job well done...... Now it goes to me and I fold it and mark it from the list. (the heat mark you see here will be gone by the time I fold the shirt)

Shirts were delivered on Monday morning and they were thrilled. Another year behind us and I spent all day Monday and Tuesday cleaning up my shop.

There is a good profit in screen print shirts and I have been designing and printing since 1994. Chris started helping a few years ago to make extra money and he is thinking of taking the business over completely. I want to quit and make my dolls and other primitive items but just do not have the time with all the other jobs. I have given him till the end of the year to decide and then I am going to close the doors. I think he will do this, the only hard thing is learning the graphics. I use Corel x3 and am fixing to upgrade to Corel 14. I have been using Corel since 1991 and started with Corel 3. I have been approached several times to teach Corel here in town but I have declined. I have enough on my plate. It is a wonderful graphics program but hard to learn.

BUT He is a smart kid and he could really make good money part time.
We have another job next weekend but it is only 65 shirts but it is front and back so we call it a 130 shirt job.

Without telling all, this was a lot of work but the profit is WELL worth it. !

Hope you enjoy the pictures.............

I am up and going to work in the shop.......... I have shirts to do.................Ha!

An Award

2009-04-01T21:13:00.015-05:00

Thank you Mama Bear over at Bears In Exile
Such a special award........

Here is what is said about the recipients of this award.

"These blogs are exceedingly charming. These kind bloggers aim to find and be friends. They are not interested in self-aggrandizement. Our hope is that when the ribbons of these prizes are cut, even more friendships are propagated. Please give more attention to these writers.

Deliver this award to a few bloggers who must choose a few more bloggers and include the message.

Thanks Mama Bear!

I pass this on to Annette over at Just Annette........ Donetta over at A Life Uncommon,
Shirley over at MaMa's Place, and Deb over at Riding Free with Deb
and Rowann at Antiques In Old Town

These ladies are there every time I open my email. Each of them have sent email of encouragement during some hard times........ It does not mean that there are not many of you out there that I love............ sooooooooo just know that each are special to me!

Thank You Shirley & Mary

2009-04-01T08:54:00.000-05:00

The month of February and March is a bit of a blur. I was in a give-away over at Mary's sometime in the month of February or March not sure. Anyway I WON!! It is an autographed first edition book from Miralee Ferrell.

I have NEVER had an autographed book from ANYONE............. I was so excited to receive this in the mail. I had talked to Mary about giving it away after I read it but she talked me out of that! She is right........... It is a treasure............ I hope to read it this next week. I have had three books started and need to finish the last one this week. THANKS Mary and I am soooooooooo sorry it has taken me so long.

This one came from Shirley over at MaMa's Place. We had chatted back and forth and she knew that I just love GWB so she finished this book and sent it on to me. It was just an affirmation of what I knew all along. He IS a Godly man and his heart is turned toward the Father God. His being in the White House was ordained by God and he understood the awesome responsibility of the job. I have about 6 pages to finish and will do that this weekend. I will pass this one along next week sometime. I know that there are MANY of you that feel the same way about this great man. Thank you Shirley.

Got to go... another busy day in the shop. I am having much trouble with Mom and will post on it later. Not sure what to do so am praying about her. Not sure it is the dementia or just Mother.
Blessings to you each and all.

I Got Chewed Out!

2009-03-31T08:23:00.020-05:00

What a weekend....... So busy ........... I will have pictures tomorrow............. Went to see Jean again Monday and we had such a great visit! I thank you for letting me vent the other day, you are wonderful!

Jean was in great spirits and we laughed and laughed and she chewed me out good! She and I have always had such a wonderful relationship. I was her teacher/pastor for several years during the friendship.

She reminded me that the gift that the Lord has given me was not given to be put on the shelf. She told me that she has been praying that the Lord knock me along side the head! We laughed and laughed. Such a beautiful spirit. She made sense and I listened as she reprimanded me.

I do miss teaching and ask anyone around here.......... Ask anyone, I will get started at the drop of a hat!

Anyway, my sadness and anger and questions about why are gone and I know that she is so in Love with the Savior that before her last breath is expelled from her lungs, she will be in the presence of the Lord. What a beautiful promise we have.

I will take to heart what she told me and instead of blessing her yesterday, she blessed me. Isn't that just like the Lord!

On the second note.......We (Chris and Dennis and myself) did 345 shirts this weekend for Special Olympics! I have pictures ! I will share that tomorrow.............

Got to go....... I have shirts to embroidery...... Have a blessed Tuesday.........

I Just Need To Talk.....

2009-03-29T20:46:00.009-05:00

I spent 2 1/2 hours with Jean yesterday. It broke my heart but my face never revealed my sorrow. We laughed and cried and reminisced. We talked about the church that we remolded inside and out and we laugh we we spoke of the guys putting up the sheet rock. We talked about the singing and how we miss that today and how the old wooden floor shook as we danced....... I cry now trying to related to you my heart.

I am guilty of one thing here in the blog world. I do not always share all my heart. I keep a lot under wraps for the fear of exposing too much of my heart. I do not know why, it is just the way I am. However, tonight as I sit here sharing with you my visit with Jean I will share a bit more than I usually do.

I am angry and I am filled with sorrow and I have cried a lot today while outside working in the yard. I want to know why she is sitting in that small bedroom in that hospital bed, oxygen tube feeding pure oxygen to her body. She is not able to eat and is down to nothing but skin stretched over bone and no hair but those beautiful eyes have not changed.

She is not able to get up and go freely to the kitchen and make herself a peanut butter and jelly sandwich, she could not eat even if she could get there...........

I have prayed, and when she was first diagnosed, I prayed and I have prayed every time the Lord has brought her to mind. I have rejoiced each time the tumor went away. I have thank the Lord for her each time she has called and wanted to know how I WAS!

I am here and well and outside so enjoying God's gift of the day and laughing with my husband and enjoying the presence of my son Chris as the two of them work in the yard, yet I cry.

When I left her yesterday I prayed, but I did not pray for God to heal her, I prayed and thanked the Lord for the gift of her. I prayed and reminded God of HIS promise to walk with us through the valley of the shadow of death. I spoke of the outward man that will perish and the inner man that will grow strong. I prayed............. but I did not pray for healing........ Why? Do we limit God by what our eyes see and is God saddened by that sight that we call reality. I do not know. I am a born again, spirit filled believer in the most high God . I believe that HE does heal today, But I did not pray for that healing for my friend Jean.

The God that made man out of dust , the same God that set the stars and the moon is space and told the earth to rotate on its axis is not afraid of cancer, HE does not tremble at its name. It is no more to HIM than a hang nail but we look it the face of cancer and we fear. I hate that and I cry. I feel guilt and anger and sadness. I feel that somehow I have failed her or did not do all. I am sure that all of these feelings are normal, but to me they are something I have never felt. She is young, only 64. She should have years..........

I cry for Jean, I cry for those here in the blog that are suffering and hurting because of that demon disease and I want to know why when we pray they are not all healed. Why? I do not know, but my Father God loves me enough to let me rant and HE loves me enough to know that my heart hurts and HE loves me enough to know that I do not understand YET I put my full trust in HIM.

The few hours with Jean felt like only a few minutes and the mantle of a teacher that the Lord placed upon my life years ago came to the surface and at one point I was almost preaching and we talked of the things of God. I was her teacher/ pastor for several years and she loves to get me started.

I shared with her the vision that God gave me while sitting in the ER with mother.............. How HE sees the spirit in us and and the spirit in us grows stronger each day as the outward man perishes........... She shouted for joy as it ministered to her spirit man and she cried as she understood how profound that revelation was to her. I touched her spirit...... I cried. I have no understanding of her suffering, but I have an understanding that her spirit is alive today and will be more alive tomorrow. Her spirit man is not sick and grows anxious to see the ONE that gave it life. She is listening for her name to be called by the Savior of her soul.

She is the most gracious women I have ever known and I have never heard her speak one word against another human being. She talks with her hands and even yesterday they were expressive and moving as they always have. She has beautiful skin as she always has and even in her weakened state she is full of joy and faith and hope for her passing....

She is my friend, but more she is a child of God and HE loves her more than I can understand or comprehend. I do not know why, but maybe it is not for me to understand but to just hold fast to the promises that HE has left us. I believe.

I promised her that I will be back on Monday. If she is still her on Monday we will talk and laugh, if she has gone home before I get there, I will rejoice that she is finally healed.

Thanks for listening. I just needed to talk.

Sorrow last for only the night, but joy comes in the morning.

Shalom..............

I Always Knew I Was Blooming!

2009-03-28T21:34:00.003-05:00

You Are Blooming Flowers

You are an optimistic person by nature. In even the darkest times, you are hopeful about the future.

You feel truly blessed in life and can sometimes be overwhelmed with emotions.

You have an artist's eye. You are always looking for beauty in the mundane.

You have a good sense of aesthetics, especially when it comes to shapes and color.

What Part of Spring Are You?

My Friend Jean

2009-03-26T20:37:00.003-05:00

This is the river Jordan..........

This is someone being baptized in the river Jordan... My friend Jean will soon cross over the river Jordan and be baptized into life.......

Some of you were reading my blog back when I told you about my friend Jean. She has fought a courageous battle with pancreatic cancer. I have not been over to see her in many weeks now due to my illness and Mom and Dad being in the hospital. I spoke with her today and she will soon see the Christ face to face.

Four and a half years ago they gave her two years to live. She has fought and prayed and laughed and cried during this past years. Her sweet husband died suddenly a year ago and it was such a shock to everyone. Thus she has been alone to fight this fight for over a year now. They can do no more treatments and Hospice has come in and morphine is being administer daily. She can only drink two ensures a day and her precious earthly body if failing.
I will go see her tomorrow and read to her from the bible. Jean and I have been friends for over 30 years now and I was blessed to be a pastor of a church many years ago when she and her husband Nelson were baptized.

I will cry tomorrow to see her fading away but I will remember what the Holy Spirit spoke to my spirit man just days ago........... though the outward man perish, the inner spirit is renewed daily.

I just do not know what to say to her......... I will miss her so.......... She is the most gracious person I have ever met. She talks with her hands and we have laughed and laughed about that over the years. She never, never has one bad thing to say about any other living thing. She has loved and has loved out of a pure heart all the years that I have known her.

Say a prayer for Jean. I feel in my spirit that she will be flying away from this painful body very soon.

Love you girls!

Hahahahah!!!

2009-03-24T22:02:00.002-05:00

As income tax time approaches, did you ever notice: When you put the two words 'The' and 'IRS' together, it spells

'THEIRS'

Just a little something to brighten your day!

Gooooooooooooooooood Morning!

2009-03-24T07:33:00.008-05:00

Hey sisters! ............. I am here......... Things are looking up here at the Walden Funny Farm............... Mom is great! Dad is dad! ha! I am better....... Have had migraine for 3 days but I think it is on its way out........... I have not had migraine in 3 or 4 years now...... They are stress induced!

WONDER WHERE THIS ONE CAME FROM!

BUT!!!!!!!!!!!! I am well enough to laugh! Just wanted to let you know I am here and I am going to get out and read today! We have dark skies and thunder boomers and rain, just the kind of day to pile up in my comfy chair and read your blog and say hello!

I found this in my email this morning and HAD to share!

Think of the Father as a spring of life begetting the Son like a river and the Holy Ghost like a sea, for the spring and the river and the sea are all one nature. Think of the Father as a root, of the Son as a branch, and of the Spirit as a fruit, for the substance in these three is one. The Father is a sun with the Son as rays and the Holy Ghost as heat. The Holy Trinity transcends by far every similitude and figure. So, when you hear of an offspring of the Father, do not think of a corporeal offspring. And when you hear that there is a Word, do not suppose him to be a corporeal word. And when you hear of the Spirit of God, do not think of wind and breath. Rather, hold your persuasion with a simple faith alone. For the concept of the Creator is arrived at by analogy from his creatures.

John of Damascus

Another Day for R & R

2009-03-21T09:45:00.005-05:00

Our R & R fell through............ we were back in the emergency room this morning with Mother........ Her temp started up 101 and called home health and they said ER.... thought maybe the pneumonia was back and worse............. We left at 4:30 and got home at 9:30......... Her pneumonia is better but still there and now she has a nasty UTI.......... that was causing the fever............. sooooooooo more medicine............... She is very dehydrated so I need to take her something every hour...... even if it is only 6 ounces............ anyway............. I need to go take a nap now..................

Just a Litte R & R

2009-03-20T22:33:00.008-05:00

The picture below is of the praying hands at the ORU campus in Tulsa. See the little benches in front of the hands. This is where I met my precious Dennis almost 10 years ago. Right under those hands......... I will post about it in April. It is a story to tell.................

My sweet hubby and I are going to take the day and go to Tulsa tomorrow. Brother PE is coming in to stay with the folks. We will only be gone one day and be back tomorrow night. Going to go and run around a bit and then have dinner with my son Chris and his girl............ I am looking forward to just driving a while...... eases my mind......... Mom is better with the bronchitis and is on a new medicine to help with the dementia. It will take about a week to see any effects...... I am hopeful.....

Have a blessed Saturday girls....... I will take some pictures...........

A Quick Glimpse

2009-03-16T19:18:00.009-05:00

I sat across the little room from her, we were waiting on the Dr to return with her discharge papers. She had come home from the hospital just hours before and now at 3:00 a.m. we were again sitting in the emergency room of the local hospital. Hallucinations , they started Sunday evening around 9:30 p.m. sister Kathy called me concerned. I in turn called home health and their recommendation was emergency room. Could be bad reaction to the new antibiotic or it could be mini strokes. She was worn out, I was worn out, my sweet husband that was sitting outside in the waiting room was worn out. We had been there since 10:30 p.m. and after many more tests and blood test and x-rays and CT scans she was pronounced "just fine", and diagnosed with
Sundowners syndrome.
Have you ever heard of that? I have not, but now I know. You can click on the link above LATTER if you would like to know.
However, although very interesting, it is not the subject of this post.

As I sat across from her in the wee hours of Monday morning, I studied her face. I watched her very carefully and traced with my eyes the lines that the years have etched in her face. My mind drifted back many years ago when a much younger Denise studied the face of another precious little lady by the name of Ida. She was my grandmother, my mothers mother. I remember her face that day as though it was yesterday. I remember the lines that life had also etched upon her skin. I miss her......... but I digress.

Earlier in the evening after bringing Mom home from the hospital and getting them settled in and asking Kathy to stay one more night, me and Dennis settled in for what we thought would be the first quiet evening in a while. We watched the last 30 minutes of some movie and it was the very last 5 minutes of that movie that would moved my soul while sitting in that little exam room at the hospital.
I used to find it amazing when God would do something so strange, but over the years I have come to the understanding that God is God and HE can touch us in such an unusual way that there is no doubt that it is God.

I studied her face. She sat quietly. Mom is a very passive person and even at 3:00 in the morning and after so many tests and long hours of waiting she sat and laughed and talked about times in her youth. My heart broke while watching her laugh and speaking of times that I could not share. She was somewhere else, she was young and running around the old farm house with her brothers Edward and James. Yet the woman that I saw was old and tired and nearing the end of life. It was at the moment that I flashed back to the last five minutes of a movie earlier in the evening. There were about 6 or 7 young boys around the age of 12 and 13 running down a long hall way headed out double doors. They were dressed in jeans and tennis shoes and leather jackets and letter jackets. They raced each other to the doors jumping to see who could touch the ceiling. Laughing and shouting and wrestling each other as they race to the doors. They were young and full of life and laughter. There are no lines of life yet etched on their face. They hit those double doors at the end of that long hall and out into the sunshine they ran. I remember watching them and my mind drifted back to my youth and how simple life was.

It was then that the Holy Spirit exploded in my spirit man these words.

2 Corinthians 4:16 For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward [man] is renewed day by day.

As I sat there hearing these words in my inner man I was overwhelmed with the love of the Father. I am thankful that in times of sadness and fear of the future, HE moves quickly to bring comfort.

How can we possible understand the joys that await us, for ear has not heard and it has not even entered into our minds the joys that HE has prepared. Yet, sitting there that early morning HE gave me a quick glimpse into what awaits us. I smiled as I continued to watch her run and laugh and remember her youth, and even in the heaviness of the moment HE brought to me such great light.
HE loves us and HE is ALWAYS closer than then breath that we breath. HE brought great comfort to my heart in an instant.

Our flesh bodies are perishing, we know that, but our inner man, the spirit man, the real us is growing in strength and wisdom and being renewed each day........Renewed how? By the breath of God by the life of Christ...........It is the life of Christ that gave us new life and it is that life that each day renews us......... We look on the outward man.......... HE sees the inner man and HE sees renewal...... HE sees life.
It cause me to cry, HE does not see my mom as I see her, HE sees her young and full of life and vitality and HE sees her renewed and strong in spirit.........

I rejoice in the knowledge that my mom's name is written in the Lambs Book of Life and each day as her outer man withers, her inner man grows strong and when time comes to be loosed from the bonds of this perishing body she will burst forth into the sunshine......

HE gave me just a quick glimpse, HE is a good God.

Thank You

2009-03-16T12:44:00.004-05:00

Just wanted to stop in a minute and say thank you to all of those that sent cards and emails to encourage me. I have many things to say regarding the past two weeks. Mom is home and her and Dad are better. Sister Kathy has gone home today and we are taking today to just regroup. I will post latter tonight or tomorrow.......... God moves in mysterious ways HIS wonders to preform...........

Thank you again to those that have been faithful to check in on me........... You are so loved!

Mother

2009-03-13T15:59:00.006-05:00

They have put Mother in the hospital. Took her to the ER this morning.. Home health came out to see how she was doing and told us to get her to the ER. I am glad that she is where they can take good care of her. She was not getting better here at home.

I seem to be getting better and that is a good thing. I am still needing breathing treatments every 4 hours and they seem to be doing some good.

Dad came home yesterday and brother PE is over there cleaning their house and watching Dad. He got some help for Dad until Sunday so I should be able to help Dad by then. I also have a good friend that has offered to come in and help Monday......

Pray for Mother, she is very sick.

My mental state is better today , I had a melt down last week.... Just a bit much for me to handle on my own. I hope to be back blogging soon, but right now all I want to do is sleep.

Thanks for the prayers........ I know you are praying......

Trusting In His Promise

2009-03-12T11:48:00.007-05:00

Hey girls....... Just posting short note. I have had relapse and headed back to the Dr today. My brother PE came to the rescue and got me some help for the past two days and I have been able to stay at home. It has helped but Dad is coming home today and Mother is no better.

I have just finished 10 days of antibiotics and because I cannot swallow pills, I have been putting them in yogurt! Come to find out, I should not be eating or drinking any dairy product 2 hours before and 2 hours after this antibiotics or it will lessen the effect! Wonderful........... Why is that not on the label! So I am guessing that a second round is in order. I am just too tired to blog right now but wanted to check in...... I will catch up over the weekend........ Thanks for all the prayers and keep us on your list...... I am so praying that mother turns the corner here soon. I will need to call in some help for the weekend.

I am trusting in HIS promise ...........

Up date....

Me and Mom went back to the Dr today. New round of antibiotics for her and antibiotics for me with a cortisone shot. Mom and Dad are taking breathing treatments till Monday and then it is back to the Dr for me and her. Mercy! This is a nasty bug..... My older brother PE has come through for me again...... He is paying someone to stay with Mom and Dad till Sunday. I will have two more days that I can rest and see if this new antibiotics is going to help. Maybe I will feel like getting out on the blog tomorrow or Saturday and do some reading.
Hugs to all my sweet friends that have sent their prayers...

Mom At The ER

2009-03-09T00:27:00.004-05:00

Just got Mom home from the ER. She has bronchitis and with a couple of little spots on her lower lobe in her lungs that COULD be the beginnings of pneumonia. She got to coughing and wheezing so I just took her on out to the hospital. Dr thinks that we caught hers in time.......... They gave her a breathing treatment and the little nurse gave her an antibiotic on an empty stomach so half way home mom is so sick at her stomach. Bless her heart........ She has had a bad day.
Soooooooo It is 12:30 and just getting home, mom is in bed and I am listening to her till she goes to sleep. Dad is still very sick in the hospital. The little nurse listened to my lungs and said I am all better, so that is good news...............

Going to take a long trip when I get these little people better........... a long trip!

Sunday Morning

2009-03-08T10:44:00.004-05:00

Just a quick update...........

I seem to be better.. Slept all night last night for first night in 9 days.. That is a good thing.......... Mom is here with us as she cannot stay by herself. She is the most passive person I know (makes me wonder where in the world I came from) You put her in a chair with a good book and she never utters a word... Put her to bed about 10:00 and she slept like a baby. They keep their house so hot they do not sleep well, and our house is cool....... We keep it about 68 at night... Piled covers on her and she slept good.

Thank you for all the sweet emails and comments yesterday. I am relying on the Lord heavily right now. If it were not for my older brother Paul and his sweet wife Alpha things would be almost impossible. I can call him at the drop of a hat and he is here. The Lord knows that we need help and my Father God has given me a wonderful brother and SIL, Alpha. She is really not SIL, she is the sister I never had and she is a precious person to me.

Spoke to Dad last night and he is very sick and very afraid. Please pray for him. Dr said that his right lower lung is dark with pneumonia. I cannot go to the hospital to see him as I am still taking predispose and if you know anything about that it lowers your immune system. Have to stay away from all sickness if possible. PE and Alpha will go up there today sometime.

Again, thanks for the prayers and I will be back around next week. I have several post ready about the written word of God.

Love to you all and health to all those that are sick with the same thing. Heads up girls........... Jesus is our resting place.

Happy Birthday To Me.......

2009-03-07T08:58:00.007-06:00

Update.......... We have had Dad taken to hospital in ambulance .. He has pneumonia. Thanks for your prayers....:

Well, today I am official Social Security! Checks start in May! WHEW!!!!!!!! There were times in my life did not know I would live this long.......... !! ha!

I am better today but in no wise able to go out......... My sweet hubby brought home movies last night for this weekend. A beautiful card was waiting for me when I finally got my self out of bed.......... Medicine seems to be kicking in and chest seems to be loosening up. I sound a lot worse than I am now......... Dad is very sick and we are watching him close. It will be ER for him today if he is not better, and they will for sure admit him.
I am very thankful for every birthday. There were years that I would cry and be depressed for days especially the 50.

Today I am thankful to the Lord for each day. The Lord blessed me with Dennis about 10 years ago now and the last ten years has made up for all the years before. How grateful I am to the Father God for 62 years of life.......... I will rejoice and be glad......... Thanks for all the prayers and I will take pictures of a couple of things that I have received this past week maybe tomorrow.:

I have taken my medicine for today and need my first breathing treatment now then another cup of coffee and it is off to my easy chair.

Love you gals a lot!

(I would share a piece of cake with EACH of you were you here!)

Sick and Sicker

2009-03-05T22:45:00.002-06:00

Girls....... I am still so sick and really appreciate all your prayers...... I am trying to rest but Dad now has bronchitis and was getting him in and out of Dr. yesterday and new medicine today...... Mother is in a terrible state and something is causing her to claw her arms and legs till they bleed.... they have put her on a nerve pill today. They say it is her nerves and nothing else.....She has her left arm so red and bleeding that I needed a nurse to come and look........ I feared she had blood poising............ but thankfully just raw from her nails........... Nurse suggested to me that I cut her nail back as far as I can . I will do that when I am better......... bless her heart....... her short term is down to about 3 minutes..... .I discovered that when I do not stand and watch her take her medicine she throws it in the sink. I had to cancel her appointment with the neurologist because of my sickness on Monday......... now it will be anther 3 weeks...........

I spent most of the day over there with them getting medicine and calling nurses and Dr's........ I just covet your prayers as my breathing is still tough and I am supposed to be resting after these breathing treatments......... I know you will pray.................My birthday is Saturday and looks like I will spend it right here with my sweet DH and my breathing machine............

I will be in and out of here some but mostly will rest tomorrow...........

My Friend in India Needs Your Prayers

2009-03-03T23:08:00.004-06:00

Some of you will remember that I have a precious friend name Chris that is a missionary in India.. He is taking the gospel to the people of his Nation.......... I heard from him tonight and he is very sick with the chicken pox....... Please pray for him......... He is doing a work among the poor of his nation that is bringing the love of Christ into many lives................

God will hear us and God will heal him............

Dad at Comedy Barn!! WATCH IT!

2009-03-03T13:19:00.004-06:00

You have got to watch this! Do not stop in the middle and turn your speakers up!!! I laughed till tears were rolling down my face.!!! It is worth every bit of the 9 minutes...............!!!

It was sent to me from Sandy over at Flip Flop Floozie

WATCH IT! YOU WILL NOT BE SORRY FOR THE TIME YOU SPENT!

update from my Dr. I have pneumonia ..... So he has ordered bed rest...... in my comfy chair is fine. Lots of reading for me the rest of this week...........

Trip To The ER

2009-03-03T00:07:00.002-06:00

Just got home from the Emergency Room.... guess I am a not getting better......... Had a bronchial asthma attack and bronchial tubes filled up.....
They were wonderful when I got there and got me in pretty quick.. Dr took one look and listened to my chest...... Got a big old shot of cortisone to clear my lungs, a big old shot of antibiotics to clear the infections. Chest x-ray and then a breathing treatment. Kept me a couple of hours until my breathing got better.. Sent me home with cough medicine and Medrol dose pack (6 days of cortisone) antibiotics for 10 days. I have my own Nebulizer (breathing machine) here at the house and have to use it three times a day until I get to breathing better.

Thanks for the prayers and I would appreciate you praying a bit longer.......

Big Toe

2009-03-02T09:12:00.002-06:00

Did you know that when you are right in the throes of the flu the hair on your big toe can hurt!

(OK so I need to shave my toes)

My HARVEST !!!!

2009-03-01T11:54:00.009-06:00

Oh I am so sick here! But wanted to share with you my harvest !!!!
Had to laugh so wanted to share the laughter...........

4 years ago when we fist moved out here to the country, I found 4 asparagus plants at the local flower shop and being the avid "got to be in the dirt" person I had to plant them. I was told by several people that they are hard to grow so not having any faith in my gardening ability I put them on the south east corner of my house.....thinking that they would not live so no need to worry about them being so close to the house...
I have babied them and studied about them and fed them and talked to them and even prayed about them........ They are beautiful in the summer with their feathery appearance (they would look too good in a hanging basket) But alas never bearing any delectable fruit of the vine........I gave up hope and thought maybe I would put them in a different place, maybe in a hanging pot!

Me and my DH just love asparagus........ Smothered with cheese........ YUM!!!!!!!!! So in order to dine on the tasty veggie, I have to go to Wal-Mart and pay a high price for our addiction............

BUT I was wondering around the yard the other day and walked around to the south east corner and brushed away the leaves that the Maple tree had spread across the yard and what do you think I found!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Asparagus !!!!!!!!!!!

hahhahahhahahah

I am going to cook it today for my DH....... I will sacrifice myself the delectable morsel !

I am headed back to my easy chair with my Vicks and my Vaporizer and dream about an increase in my harvest! .........

I hope you had a little laugh ........

No Sweat.........

2009-02-28T12:17:00.007-06:00

The Clothing of the Priests in the Temple

Eze 44:17 And it shall come to pass, [that] when they enter in at the gates of the inner court, they shall be clothed with linen garments; and no wool shall come upon them, whiles they minister in the gates of the inner court, and within.
Eze 44:18 They shall have linen bonnets upon their heads, and shall have linen breeches upon their loins; they shall not gird [themselves] with any thing that causeth sweat.

Romans 8:2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death

The Old Testament Law the Priest had to wear garments made of linen so they would not sweat...

New Covenant : You are set free from the law of sin and death so don't sweat it!

I will be missing a few days, I awoke this morning in the grip of bronchitis. I am headed to my comfy chair with my study bible and my vaporizer and my Vick's Vapor Rub...
Hugs

What Do I Do With This?

2009-02-27T08:52:00.013-06:00

Is this beautiful or WHAT!!!

Thanks for sending Shortybear...............

Take it if you wish!

Now back to my original post!

Ok.. My sweet DH built this last summer thinking we were going to make a fence around the pool with many of these panels. BUT when we discovered the cost of each panel and how many it would take, we changed our minds!
Sooooooooooo I have this wonderful panel sitting in the shed waiting for a home. It is very well built with a top shelf and plastic lattice. This is 4'x4'. It will last for years.. When I see it I see blue morning glories and white moon vine. Maybe those two combination with yellow iris in front of the morning glories... So where to put!
Here is some ideas.......... TELL ME YOU THOUGHTS!

I will of course paint it so keep in mind a color.......... The lattice will of course remain white.......
Where or where do I put!

Remember the pictures from last year where we had to remove two HUGE trees from the front of my house......Alas they were dead and falling apart.......... But that has left my front yard as bare as a babies butt...... My mail box is exposed to the world....... I am thinking the panel right behind it with the yellow iris and moon vine and morning glories? Or is it too big for that? What ya think?

BUT!!!!!!!!! Here is my shop sitting back by the new fence (didn't he do a good job!) That panel would look good back there in the corner with the moon vine and morning glories! What ya think?

Now wait a minute! Here is the front and side of the north side of the fence ! What about it sitting right there on the corner with the stuff on it with yellow iris in front! Yeah ! That would look pretty ! BUT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Here is the front of the fence facing west and wonder if I should put that on the inside of the fence right in the corner for me to see when I am out in that pool? It would be hidden from the public but I could enjoy! Decisions, decisions !
AND my DH is fixing to build the fence on the south side of the house just like this one and enclose the pool before the cover comes off ( I so fear that Mom will walk all the way around the house and fall in the pool) Soooooooooo the fence needs to go up soon! Then of course I will have another blank canvas for that panel! Oh the decisions I must make!

AND don't ya just love that fence! We will be staining it this summer and painting the house! I will take lots of pictures !

Now you have all the information that you need ........... What ya think?
***********************************************************************************

I found this quote in my email this morning.......... How true it is!

Whatever keeps me from my Bible is my enemy, however harmless it may appear to me.

A. W. Tozer

It Is Just That Easy

2009-02-25T09:29:00.008-06:00

It is just in the choices we make. We choose to do what is right and do what is "as unto the Lord'. It is in the choice to follow HIM and do HIS will. We want to make it more difficult than it really is.
It is a known fact that we do exactly what we want to do. That is a fact. We make
choices every day in all types of situations. We choose.

I stood in my shop the other day musing over some issues that we are having in the family and in my musing I was talking out loud to my self. I want my walk with the Lord to be stronger, said I out loud. I want the supernatural to be in my life the natural. I want to talk to HIM and hear HIM answer once again. I want my walk to take me to places that will marvel me and leave me speechless. I want to pray a fervent prayer and see the God of this Universe move in the lives of those in my family that so need the Lord. ( The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.)
I WANT.........

Then I stood quiet listening again to the words that I just spoke out loud. Knowing that I was speaking some to me and some to the Lord. I stood silent.

It is in my choice that I see these things come to pass. I am the one that will make the decisions in my life change. If I REALLY want HIM moving in my life greater than HE has ever moved then it is in my decisions that will see those things come to pass.

You see I have stood in the pulpit and preached the gospel and I have seen
lives changes, I have taught the word of God with power and authority and watched as HE moved through the crowd and touched hearts.
I have laid hands on the sick and seen them recover and I have stood silent in the presence of the most HIGH GOD and had need of nothing.
I miss the move of God in my life. Even as I type this out tears roll down my cheek as I remember the feelings of being in unity with HIM..... It is my choice from this day if I see these things returned to my life, my choice.
It is just that easy.......... HE stands ready to walk with me and talk with me ..... HE stands ready... I stood there in my shop, and I made my choice that will bring me to that place that my heart seeks...........
Make that choice in your life......... You will never be the same........