Odds & Ends

                                            

Hello J~land!  Hope everyone is having a good morning.  I wanted to make an entry real quick before I get caught up in the job-hunt thing again.  Since several folks have asked for an update on things here at home, here goes.

Pete still seems to have more bad days than good ones.  We still don't know what's wrong.  Now there is no insurance, but even if there was.....where would we go?  What would we have done?  He's trying to find something he can do close to home or even at the house.  Then perhaps he could work when he felt good and wouldn't have to when he didn't.  He's applied for his unemployment compensation.  I think this is only the second....no third....time he has ever used it.  But it will be at least 3 weeks before he gets a check, assuming everything goes smoothly.  He has been inquiring into the price of junk iron and such.  To see if we can sell something for some ready cash.  The money well is sure 'nough almost dry!

 

I have resumes out all over the place.  Texas does have a wonderful site run by the workforce commision.  Was supposed to interview for a job last week, but me and the guy played phone tag all day instead.  It is not as close to home as I would like, but it sure sounded like my kind of job.  I've even completed a form for emergency aide.  But there are only four people running the office for all of our county, so that will take up to two weeks for and answer!  So we'll probably get an answer from everywhere all at once and then have to go about changing/updating everything we told everyone based on the new info and will probably then have nothing?!?!   lol 

 

Okay, so now I don't know about you, but I need a good laugh.  I much prefer David Letterman over Jay Leno.  (Dave's voice greets me when I sign on or get e-mail!)  Pete is a Leno person, though I am slowly swaying him toward Dave.  But Jay did have a good one-liner here:

"Today is the 24th anniversary of the IBM personal computer. Experts say it revolutionized work and made people more pro- ductive at the office. Except for the six hours a day they are emailing friends, sufing the Internet, and playing solitaire!" --Jay Leno

And borrowed from ArcaMax, don't you just love it when.....

You can never put anything back in a box the way it came.

Your tire gauge lets out half the air while you're trying to get a reading.

A station comes in brilliantly when you're standing near the radio but buzzes, drifts and spits every time you move away.

You wash a garment with a tissue in the pocket and your entire laundry comes out covered with lint.

You set the alarm on your digital clock for 7pm instead of 7am.

The radio station doesn't tell you who sang that song.

You rub on hand cream and can't turn the bathroom doorknob to get out.

You can't look up the correct spelling of a word in the dictionary because you don't know how to spell it.

You had that pen in your hand only a second ago and now you can't find it.

You reach under the table to pick something off the floor and smash your head on the way up.

Yep!  I am guilty of all of the above.  What about you?

Now let's get serious and see what word the Word has for us today.  Lord knows I need it.  The book of James is considered to be the "proverbs" of the new testament, for it is full of moral precepts.  James was the brother of our Lord and apposed his claims while he lived on earth, but came to believe in Him after the resurection.  "Dear brothers, don't ever forget that it is best to listen much, speak little, and not become angry, for anger doesn't make us good, as God demands that we must be."  James 1:19 & 20 TLB  It's not a sin to be angry.....but it is hard to be angry and not sin!  Miscommunication can cause anger and hurt.  Let us communicate accurately with one another, never be vague and don't jump to conclusions.  Say what you mean and mean what you say, but wrap it all up in the context of love.  Four little words from this verse can go a long way in helping us to avoid anger......listen much, speak little.

May God bless your day in Abundance!

(graphics from Peachtree Accounting software)

Good Morning to You!

                                              

Good Morning Friends!  I love this little graphic.....there are so many among you that I count as a real and good friend.  It never fails to amaze me how connected you can feel to folks you have never met, some you've never even seen a photo of.

We had a good weekend.  Pete received his final check in the mail Friday.  Now it's the "what do we pay....what do we let slide?" game.  We had lots of company.....family.  Some of Pete's nephews thier wives and children.  Bubba had a fun time on a church trip to Artesian Springs.  And I had a good and refreshing Sunday in Children's Church and then in "Big" Church Sunday night.  And would you believe I finally made a round by all the journals!  I may not of commented.....or only left one, but I made it by all of you and read myself up to date.  You are more work than job-hunting!  lol   ;)

Today I have a busy day.  I got a call regarding a resume I submitted.  Need to turn in an application for jobs at a local hospital (clerical).  Fax a resume to another lead.  Too much to do in one day when you factor in the housework and the supper cooking, etc. 

 

Let me introduce you to a good journal.  The journal is Friends in HIM.  I absolutely loved her August 11th entry!  Angel Rose almost always has something to uplift you......or to get you pumped up!  Go by and visit, and be sure to read the August 11th post.  

So, I'll get to the Word.  Today we are in 1st Timothy, Chapter 2, vs 8.  "So I want men everywhere to pray with holy hands lifted up to God, free from sin and anger and resentment."  TLB   A man, or woman, can believe the Word of God completely, yet live a life far from it's Truth.....Beware!  Cleanse your heart with confession and admission of sin....then bring your praise and petitions before the throne of God.  Sin, anger and resentment hinder our relationship with God....not just our relationships with others.  If you feel like your prayers are hitting the ceiling, spend a little time in the "confessional".

 

Those who fix their eyes on Heaven will not be distracted by the things of the earth!

Back to School!

                                                         

Good Morning!  I hope ya'll have missed me like I have been missing you!  Sorry, but finding work is a full time job!  More of a job than working.  And getting the kids back in school was time consuming, also.  Running to stores.  Meeting new first grade teachers.  Picking up Jr. schedules.  Taking advantage of free school supplies.  And in the middle of it all, Bug asked me to take her to spend her Birthday money.  So I spent one afternoon in Wal-mart while she looked at every item on the toy isles.  Then on our way to the craft section we passed the fish aquariums.  Bug had to look at all of them.  She fell in love with a calico goldfish.  (Her Aunt Mary had given her a pair of goldfish last year on her birthday....but one is since deceased.)  So all this little girl with more money in her wallet than Mama bought was a goldfish! 

 She thought the one back home might be getting lonely.  Isn't she precious?!?

Since it is the season for going back to school, I thought I would share a little story that was passed to me by my friend, Monica.  Ladies, I had tears streaming down my face when I finished it!  Well, actually, by halfway through it.

As she stood in front of her 5th grade class on the very first day of school, she told the children an untruth. Like most teachers, she looked at her students and said that she loved them all the same. However, that was impossible, because there in the front row, slumped in his seat, was a little boy named Teddy Stoddard.



Mrs. Thompson had watched Teddy the year before and noticed that he did not play well with the other children, that his clothes were messy and that he constantly needed a bath. In addition, Teddy could be unpleasant. It got to the point where Mrs. Thompson would actually take delight in marking his papers with a broad red pen, making bold X's and then putting a big "F" at the top of his papers.

At the school where Mrs. Thompson taught, she was required to review each child's past records and she put Teddy's off until last. However, when she reviewed his file, she was in for a surprise.



Teddy's first grade teacher wrote, "Teddy is a bright child with a ready laugh. He does his work neatly and has good manners... he is a joy to be around.."



His second grade teacher wrote, "Teddy is an excellent student, well liked by his classmates, but he is troubled because his mother has a terminal illness and life at home must be a struggle."



His third grade teacher wrote, "His mother's death has been hard on him. He tries to do his best, but his father doesn't show much interest, and his home life will soon affect him if some steps aren't taken."



Teddy's fourth grade teacher wrote, "Teddy is withdrawn and doesn't show much interest in school. He doesn't have many friends and he sometimes sleeps in class."



By now, Mrs. Thompson realized the problem and she was ashamed of herself. She felt even worse when her students brought her Christmas presents, wrapped in beautiful ribbons and bright paper, except for Teddy's. His present was clumsily wrapped in the heavy, brown paper that he got from a grocery bag. Mrs. Thompson took pains to open it in the middle of the other presents. Some of the children started to laugh when she found a rhinestone bracelet with some of the stones missing, and a bottle that was one-quarter full of perfume. But she stifled the children's laughter when she exclaimed how pretty the bracelet was, putting it on, and dabbing some of the perfume on her wrist. Teddy Stoddard stayed after school that day just long enough to say, "Mrs. Thompson, today you smelled just like my Mom used to."



After the children left, she cried for at least an hour. On that very day, she quit teaching reading, writing and arithmetic. Instead, she began to teach children. Mrs. Thompson paid particular attention to Teddy. As she worked with him, his mind seemed to come alive. The more she encouraged him, the faster he responded. By the end of the year, Teddy had become oneof the smartest children in the class and, despite her lie that she would love all the children the same, Teddy became one of her "teacher's pets.."



A year later, she found a note under her door, from Teddy, telling her that she was the best teacher he ever had in his whole life.



Six years went by before she got another note from Teddy. He then wrote that he had finished high school, third in his class, and she was still the best teacher he ever had in life.



Four years after that, she got another letter, saying that while things had been tough at times, he'd stayed in school, had stuck with it, and would soon graduate from college with the highest of honors. He assured Mrs. Thompson that she was still the best and favorite teacher he had ever had in his whole life.



Then four more years passed and yet another letter came. This time he explained that after he got his bachelor's degree, he decided to go a little further. The letter explained that she was still the best and favorite teacher he ever had. But now his name was a little longer.... The letter was signed, Theodore F. Stoddard, MD.

The story does not end there. You see, there was yet another letter that spring. Teddy said he had met this girl and was going to be married. He explained that his father had died a couple of years ago and he was wondering if Mrs. Thompson might agree to sit at the wedding in the place that was usually reserved for the mother of the groom. Of course, Mrs. Thompson did. And guess what? She wore that bracelet, the one with several rhinestones missing. Moreover, she made sure she was wearing the perfume that Teddy remembered his mother wearing on their last Christmas together.



They hugged each other, and Dr. Stoddard whispered in Mrs. Thompson's ear, "Thank you Mrs. Thompson for believing in me. Thank you so much for making me feel important and showing me that I could make a difference."



Mrs. Thompson, with tears in her eyes, whispered back. She said, "Teddy, you have it all wrong. You were the one who taught me that I could make a difference. I didn't know how to teach until I met you."



(For you that don't know, Teddy Stoddard is the Dr. at  Iowa State Methodist in Des Moines that has the Stoddard Cancer Wing.)

Isn't that amazing!  We truly never know what may be occurring in another's life or the difference a little kindness or respect might make. 

For our word on the Word today (or maybe I should say this week? lol) we will go to Colossians 3:8.      "...but now is the time to cast off and throw away all these rotten garments of anger, hatred, cursing, and dirty language."  TLB  The apostle Paul, who wrote this letter to the Colossians, had never actually been to Collossae.  The people there had a lot of worldly thinking mixed into their new Christianity....astrology and majic among them.  So Paul was writing from prison to encourage and instruct them on Christian living/thinking.  If we want to "put away" these rotten garments, then we have to focus on things from above....things of God:  peace, love, blessing.  Pure thoughts will go a long way to help us miss the hazard of these sins.

May God bless each one that passes here, until we meet again!

Jobsearch!

So, let me update you quickly.  We went for the results on Monday.  Everything in the CT scan showed to be fine.  No sign of tumors, past strokes, nothing.  So the ENT Doc said to use two sprays for 3 months and come back to see him.  We are exploring/researching on our own the long term effects of being on those pump inhibitors and the causes/effects of vitamin deficiency.  Pete still has good days and bad days.  Financially it is starting to get critical around here.

Took ol' Bubba to the High School to pick up his new JUNIOR schedule.  Looks like he got a good one.  The rest of the time this week I have been getting myself registered for work with the official state site and a great local source of all things classified.    Made a new updated resume.  Called some old contacts.  I spent a full day one day.  It is almost like I have gone back to work already around here......behind on laundry, messy kitchen, house in disarray.  By this time next week the little angels will be in school.  I think I am glad of that.....though I know I am wishing precious time and years away!

I hope to get around to some journals over the weekend, read, comment, catch up a little.  I sure miss you guys! 

 

 

 So let's go ahead and look into the Word for our word today.  Again in Ephesians:  "Let there be son sex sin, impurity or greed among you.  Let no one be able to accuse you of any such thing.  Dirty stories, foul talk and coarse jokes - these are not for you.  Instead, remind each other of God's goodness and be thankful." 5:3 & 4  Many of us would never dream of telling an off color joke, of speaking foul language.....but do we accept it around us and in our midst?  Do we politely, kindly ask that those around us refrain from such things?  By "letting it slide" or being quiet are we not conferring our approval on such behavior.  I propose that we should so well mirror Christ to the world around us that most would be ashamed to even think of doing such things around us!  And for the few brazen enough to go ahead, we should ask them to refrain or seek to limit our exposure to them.  If you lie down with dogs you will get up with fleas.  If we tolerate the unacceptable, then we are one step closer to being unacceptable in our own behavior.  The pivital question is always......are we mirroring Christ or the world?

This time there is a word on the Word

 OKay!  So here I am, again, finally.  This week has been a topsy-turvy one.  We go Monday to get the results of Pete's tests he managed to take.  I take Bubba to get his Jr. year schedule on Thursday.  I find myself going into the job market again after 6 years at home.  Wish me luck!  I haven't had time to compose myself and come up with anything witty or inspiring.  I am glad tomorrow is my Sunday to sit out Children's Church.  Though it is a blessing, I think I need the fellowship and exhortation of adult worship this week.   I want to at least leave you with a word on the Word.  So here goes.  "If you are angry, don't sin by nursing your grudge.  Don't let the sun go down with you still angry - get over it quickly;  for when you are angry you give a mighty foothold to the devil."  and "Stop being mean, bad-tempered and angry.  Quarreling, harsh words, and dislike of others should have no place in your lives."  Ephesians 4:26 & 31, TLB.  Oh, my!  If I am not in control of myself, and I am not allowing the Holy Spirit to control me, guess who must be running the show?!  Yep, Satan himself.  God knows our nature and so does Satan.  God knows we will get angry and feel anger.  His way of dealing with it is for us to lay the problem at His feet and let go of the emotion.  To let go of resentment.  Satan also knows our nature and he desires that we hold on to our anger.  That we mull what caused the anger over and over again in our minds.  That we work ourselves into an ever increasing self-justified rage.  That we not rest until vengeance has had its fill and all around is destroyed.  The next time you are mistreated, and feeling like you need to get back at someone, just remember that no one can mistreat us more than we have mistreated God.  Yet, he has chosen to look the other way and forgive and forget all we have done.  If you are His disciple you  can chose to strive for no less a response.   God bless all my wonderful J~land friends!

A Bag of Nails

Hello to all!  Today I am passing on to you another story from Gods Work Ministry E-mail.  This so fits the study on words and anger we have been doing together!  (For more stories, poems and testimonies visit the website - just click the link in my sidebar.  Or just go by and sign the guest book, let Bro. Savaya know how much the things he prepares & I share mean to you.)

A LITTLE BOYS TEMPER     There once was a little boy who had a bad temper. His father gave him a bag of nails and told him that every time he lost his temper, he must hammer a nail into the fence.   The first day the boy had driven 37 nails into the fence. Over the next few weeks as he learned to control his anger, the number of nails hammered daily, gradually dwindled down. He discovered it was easier to hold his temper than to drive those nails into the fence. Finally the day came when the boy didn't lose his temper at all. He told his father about it and the father suggested that the boy now pull out one nail for each day that he was able to hold his temper.   The days passed and the young boy was finally able to tell his father that all the nails were gone. The father took his son by the hand and led him to the fence. He said "you have done well, my son, but look at the holes in the fence. The fence will never be the same. When you say things in anger, they leave a scar just like this one."   You can put a knife in a man and draw it out. It won't matter how many times you say I'm sorry, the wound is still there.   Make sure you control your temper the next time you are tempted to say something you will regret later.   Author Unknown  

Today's journal is practically brand-spanking new!   Loris lives in South Florida with a hubby, two boys and a new baby girl.  Her entries to date have been a potpouri of news, reflection, celebration and chit-chat.  You can check her out at  Leave a Brilliant Light Behind.  Welcome to J~land, Loris!

 

 Now for our own look in the Word, we go to Galatians 5:20.  But I encourage you to check out the whole passage of 5:13-26 and study the Fruits of the Spirit vs the Works of the Flesh.  "...hatred and fighting, jealousy and anger, constant effort to get the best for yourself, complaints and criticisms, the feeling that everyone else is wrong except those in your own little group - and there will be wrong doctrine,..."  Habitual anger springs from a fleshly world-view.  If we have been crucified with Christ, then our "flesh" has no more rights than a corpse!  Habitual anger breeds sin, and sin has no right to "flurish" in the lives of God's children.  How many pounds of nails are you planning on buying today?

 

Blue Monday...After a Good Weekend

                                         

Well, is it just me, or does it really seem like forever since I have posted and browsed J~land?  Guess I'll make this a newsy, catch-you-up sort of entry.  First, thanks to the many who stopped by and wished Pete a Happy Birthday!  You are all too sweet.  I think he has as good a birthday as anyone who had to work that day could have.  I fed him Rib-eyes and baked potaotoes for supper, with some wonderful fresh baked yeast biscuits my sister brought him.  Bubba did a bunch of yard work for a present, and Bug designed him her own card.  I gave him his favorite cologne, which he was out of.

Thursday and Friday there just wasn't much too me........did practically nothing.  But Friday evening Pete came home with a birthday surprise for Bug........a brand new 20" bike!  All metal....in a teal blue with lavender accents.  She was so very excited!  On Saturday, her birthday, Pete and Bubba had to go get passes to hunt in the park near the house this year, and he stopped of at the grocery and bought her a birthday party:  cake, meat for the grill, paper plates, sodas, ....everything.  Mama didn't have to do a thing!  That was one little girl who sure felt special!  As if she weren't already excited enough about turning 6.  Throughout the afternoon and evening family dropped by and brought her presents....mostly money, she's now independantly wealthy.  And in the evening we all enjoyed some great food cooked over an all pecan wood fire.  Pete was on call, but thankfully never had to go.  Unfortunately for him, the evening ended with another of those really bad headaches.  Me and the kids picked up the mess. 

Sunday was just another relaxing rather lazy day.  We had rain again.  More is expected today.  Wonder if we are officially out of our drought now?

I want to make a confession.  A while back, I was helping Bug look for something purely fun and mindless to do on the PC.  Non-educational.  Just for kicks.  I found her a game and we played.  She enjoyed it and did fairly well at it.  So I put it on the favorites.  We went back to play several times.  Well, now I am hooked on Zuma.  I play a game or two of it almost every single day!  Why, I don't know.....it's not like I am actually good at it.  Is it because it is mindnumbing?  Or is this just an expression of my inner child?  Or a throw back to my Asteroid zapping days in the late 70's?  Well, there you go....now you know.  I feel better.

 Today I'd like to ask all of you to welcome a Sister in Christ to J~land.  One who knows her REO Speedwagon.  ;)  (See Comments)  Gwynn is also a wife and mother, trying to be committed to Him in the Small Things.  Stop by and draw some courage and inspiration from her, or leave her a little of your own.

 

  The Word today is "Dear friends, never avenge yourselves.  Leave that to God, for he has said that he will repay those who deserve it. {Don't take the law into your own hands.}  Instead, feed your enemy if he is hungry.  If he is thirsty give him something to drink and you will be "heaping coals of fire on his head."  In other words, he will feel ashamed of himself for what he has done to you.  Don't let evil get the upper hand but conquer evil by doing good."  Romans 12:19-21, TLB      At first I thought this needs no illiteration.  But then I could hear some of you saying, "oh, sure.....I know old so and so will just take my kindness and never feel guilty."  So, I say to you remember that God's timetable is not ours.  I am sure some will never feel guilt or remorse in our lifetime.....but there is a Day coming.  A day when every knee will bow and every tongue confess.  If they have no remorse towards us or God now, they surely will then!  But it will be a little too late.  So please heed God's Word.  For your sake not to be caught up in strife.  And for their sake, that they might have even the opportunity to see and too repent the things they have done, before it is ever too late.

Someone's a Little Older!

It's my Sweetie Pete's Birthday!

                           

Yes, he is gettin older.....but in many ways he is getting better!  In case you stop by:  I love you!

 

Sharing a little ArcaMax humor with you again related to marriage in honor of my hubby's birthday.

What's That Restaurant?

An elderly couple had dinner at another couple's house, and after eating, the wives left the table and went into the kitchen. The two gentlemen were talking, and one said, "Last night we went out to a new restaurant and it was really great. I would recommend it very highly."

The other man said, "What is the name of the restaurant?"

The first man thought and thought and finally said, "What is the name of that flower you give to someone you love? You know... the one that's red and has thorns."

"Do you mean a rose?"

"Yes, that's the one," replied the man. He then turned towards the kitchen and yelled, "Rose, what's the name of that restaurant we went to last night?"

A Noise

My wife has not spoken to me in three days. I think it has something to do with what happened on Sunday night when she thought she heard a noise downstairs.

She nudged me and whispered, "Wake up, wake up!"

"What's the matter?" I asked.

"There are burglars in the kitchen. I think they're eating the tuna casserole I made tonight."

"That'll teach them!" I replied.

 

Hunting, sort of....

Shelia walked into the kitchen to find her husband, Fred, stalking around with a fly swatter.

"And what are we doing?" she asked.

"Hunting flies" he responded.

"Oh? Killing any?" she asked, with a smirk.

"Yep! Got 4 males, 3 Females," he replied.

Intrigued, she asked. "How the heck can you tell?"

"Simple." He replied, "4 were on a beer can, 3 were on the phone."

 

Like horses?    Dream of wide open mountainous spaces?  Take a stroll by windshadow walks.  MaggieMae and her hubby have a 1940's farmhouse in Oregon.  When they are not working, they are often out on the trails for a ride.  Maggie often shares pictures of these excursions or of flowers and grandchildren.  Happy trails!

 

  I fancied this little picture because it reminds me that we need the whole armour of God to stand against the onslaught of the dragon.  (And we all know who he is!)  I'll be absolutely honest with you, I seem to be three steps forward and two steps back many days.  But we are not commanded to win only to strive......the victory belongs to Jesus! 

Today's Word takes us over to the good doctor Luke's gospel, Chapter 22:63-65, on the night of Christ's arrest by the temple guards:  "Now the guards in charge of Jesus began mocking him.  They blindfolded him and hit him with their fists and asked, 'Who hit you that time, prophet?'  And they threw all sorts of insults at him."  I ask whom do we want to be like?  The guards or Jesus?  The guards mocked and ridiculed.  They were mean in spirit and in action.  Jesus uttered no reply or rebuke.  He took his mistreatment with quiet determination towards the cross of calvary.  A line from a hymn seems to apply, "But the question comes to me, when I think of Calvary, is Jesus be satisfied with me?"  Remember, Christian literally means little Christs.  Does the term fit?  Only by His all sufficient Grace!

 

Told to Pray

I want to start with a great big   to everyone who prayed for Pete and I yesterday.  Your prayers were certainly heard!  We have no answers yet, but I was greatly encouraged by this doctors attitude, seeming open to any and all possibilities.  He is scheduling Pete for several more CAT scans of his head.  Pete is managing to work and function, but has had a severe headache for days.....so please keep him tucked in your prayers.

Another way I know your prayers were effective is our journey too and from the doctors.  If there was an obstacle to slow us down, we got it!  Construction on our road.  Large trucks carrying oversized loads.  Rain.  Trains crossing.  Extremely slow people in no passing zones.  You get the picture?!  But Pete remained calm through it all and we reached our destinations safely!  Henceforth, proof of your prayers working.

Now to the highlight of our trip!  This is where today's title comes into play.  As we were leaving the doctors (5th floor) and entered the elevator, another couple on board were talking to each other.  As I heard their conversation I also heard a voice clearly in my head say "Pray for them."  And the image came into my mind of me walking over to them, laying a hand on each of their arms and then praying out loud for them there in the elevator full of people.  I don't know if that was a command or simply to make the prayer experience more real for me in my own mind.  But I regret to say, I stood in place where I was.....YET I did proceed to pray for them in my head and heart.  For healing, health, strength....you name it.  After we were outside the building I shared my experience with Pete.  He didn't comment, but he didn't "humph!" me either.  So you see, God is at work in many a different way!  Who knows how many people who cross your path today may say a prayer for you?  Will you say one for them?  I desire to be ever more obedient, that the next time I will walk over and lay hands on, if so impressed.

 

 Today's new journal link is to another Brit.  Sue is a legal secretary to a major corporate law firm.  Now in all honesty, I don't share her views on the paranomal that she embraces, but then again is there anyone with whom I share all views?  At Stories from Sue you will also find humerous entries, thought provoking entries and a few heartwarming entries.  If this sounds like your cup of tea, stop by and give her the once-over for me!

 

 Today we settle in at Matthew 15:18 & 19:  "But evil words come from an evil heart, and defile the man who says them.  For from the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, fornication, theft, lying and slander." TLB  Once again these are words directly from our Saviour.  Getting to the heart of the matter, so to speak.  If we are hearing evil words come from our mouth, then we had best check our heart condition.  Do we know Christ as Lord and Savior?  Are we allowing the Spirit to guide us?  Are we in the Word and vigilant in prayer?  Is there unrepented and unconfessed sin hiding there......pride, unforgiveness, disobedience?  Go to the Doctor today and get a comprehensive heart scan. 

May we be found obedient today!

Barbara

 

 

A Hunting Story

Waking to continuous news coverage of the bombings in England was so deja-view the morning of 9/11.  If you haven't yet, please say a prayer for  the many who have been affected by this.

As for life in Caneyhead......it is rolling along.  A calm, pleasant week.  We have had many much needed showers.  The little foal is doing well.  Pete decided to call him Thomas Stanley, after a relative.  He seems to name most of his animals after relatives.  It is meant to be an honor, though a sometimes humorous one.  We have been sighting many deer lately.  They are really out and about.  My sister, Edna, and I are planning to take my two kids to Galveston sometime this month.  It is about a two hour trip, including ferry time.  Bubba has been to the sea shore, but never across to the island.  Bug has never seen the ocean and it is one of her greatest hearts desires.  In general Pete is doing well.  But he does have an appointment next week with the sinus doctor (ear and nose man).  Please pray with me that we find something there that can be helpful to him.  And that's about it on the homefront.  Today I am going to share with you another gem that Monica shared with me.  I like it for two reasons.  One it has a redneck flavor to it.  Second it has a lot of spiritual truth in it.  Hope you enjoy.

 There once was a man who had nothing for his family to eat. He had an old rifle and three bullets. So, he decided that he would go out hunting and kill some wild game for dinner. As he went down the road, he saw a rabbit.  He shot at the rabbit and missed it. The rabbit ran away.  Then he saw a squirrel and fired a shot at the squirrel and missed it. The squirrel disappeared into a hole in a cottonwood tree. As he went further, he saw a large wild "Tom" turkey in the tree, but he had only one bullet remaining. A voice spoke to him and said, "Pray first, aim high and stay focused." However, at the same time, he saw a deer which was a better kill. He brought the gun down and aimed at the deer. But, then he saw a rattlesnake between his legs about to bite him, so he naturally brought the gun down further to shoot the rattlesnake. Still, the voice said again to him, "I said 'Pray, Aim high and Stay focused."  So the man decided to listen to God's voice. He prayed, then aimed the gun high up in the tree and shot the wild turkey. The bullet bounced off the turkey and killed the deer.
The handle fell off the gun and hit the snake in the head and killed it. And when the gun had gone off, it knocked the man into a pond. When he stood up to look around, he had fish in all his pockets, a dead deer and a turkey to feed his family. The snake (Satan) was dead simply because the man listened to God.

Moral of the story:

Pray first before you do anything, Aim and shoot high in your goals, and stay focused on God.

Never let others discourage you concerning your past. The past is exactly that "the past."

Live every day one day at a time and remember that only God knows our future and that he will not put you through any more than you can bear.

Do not look to man for your blessings, but look to God only.

He has prepared in advance for you, in your favor.

Wait, be still and patient: keep God first and everything else will follow.
   Today's journal:  Follow single mom, Rachel, as she struggles from day to day in triumph and tragedy asking the question  What can you do?  Rachel has a big heart and a lot of baggage (don't we all!), and writes from that with honesty.  Lend your encouragement and cheers to Rachel and her daughter Olivia.

 

 The first time I ever read todays scripture it sent chills thru me.  It is part of the Sermon on the Mount, yet you seldom hear it mentioned.  "But I have added to that rule, and tell you that if you are only angry, even in your own home, you are in danger of judgement!  If you call your friend an idiot, you are in danger of being brought before the court.  And if you curse him, you are in danger of the fires of hell."  Matthew 5:22  TLB  Did you get chills also?  This was our precious Lord elaborating on the commandment not to commit murder.  Very sobering indeed.  I have nothing to add to this, except please meditate upon it and pray accordingly. 

(Roses from Microsoft Outlook Express stationery collection.)

Okay AOL.......Don't mess up my entry!

Okay, this is a little different.  I didn't do hardly any journal reading over the holiday weekend.  So I spent this a.m. catching up.  Along the way I found several journals with things in them I found so interesting I am going to link you to them.  And if God smiles on the ISP today, prehaps it will all show up!  Yesterday's boo-boo also ruined my Redneck/Oilfield Dictionary I was trying to update.  So one day soon I'll go back and repair that  -  Good Lord willing and the creek don't rise.  Now without further ado, here's the links:

Donna had two awesome links up.  One all the picture buffs should enjoy, and the other a great new blog about blogs! 

http://journals.aol.com/deveil/PictureoftheDay/entries/1205

http://journals.aol.com/livewebblog/liveweb/

Plus she had a hilarious entry about a set of keys gone missing!

http://journals.aol.com/lacaza3/sweepingthecobwebsofmymind/entries/1139

If you are into quizes, Cynthia had a good one about religious beliefs linked to her journal at:

http://journals.aol.com/sistercdr/Sortingthepieces/entries/1590

And if you have not had enough Independance Day yet, go read this fascinating entry Terra made about what all our forefathers went thru after they so boldly signed the Declaration:

http://journals.aol.com/terra19728/8ISENOUGH/entries/1172

 

Today's Official Journal Mention is life at our house.  Kelley is an warm, friendly, Christian wife and mother of three girls.  They are recent transplants from sunny California to Indiana.  She often includes some clean little funnies in her entries. She has only been journaling about as long as I have, so I know she would welcome some traffic.   

And shall I try again on yesterday's Word? (Get behind me now Satan!)  I know it won't be exactly what I said yesterday, as I compose as I type.  "Son of Dust, tell them that the Lord God says:  Your fathers continued to blasheme and betray me when I brought them into the land I promised them, for they offered sacrifices and incense on every high hill and under every tree!"  Ezekiel 20:27    Does our lifestyle blaspheme and betray God?  Do we offer ourselves to every notion that comes along?  Do we compromise Truth?  Do we sacrifice righteousness for the sake of tolerance?  The New Testament equates how we live our lives with our "conversation".  What we do, how we think, how we live, treat others, when we stand, when we bend, .......it all comes together to make our conversation.  So what's your conversation saying? 

 

The 4th is Fast Approaching!

Here we are with the 4th of July fast approaching. I may not post again until next week. For sure I won't continue with all the regular features until then. I want to just share a few thoughts with you as this holiday approaches.

For all of it's ills......for the controversies I still believe I am priviledged to live in the greatest nation on earth! I know I have it better on any given day of the week than most of humanity, and for that I am grateful......to God and this nation. Some rile and rant continually agianst most everyone and every thing here. And I do tend to agree with Meryl Haggard reguarding those folks. But I am fearful that in the name of protectionism we may be setting aside some of our most precious priviledges. For instance this legislation regarding the burning of the flag. I love our flag. My heart swells with pride when I see it. It embodies all I hope and all I believe about this country of ours. I would never be irreverant to it. But it is a symbol. A symbol not only of what we should be, but of the government of our nation at any given point in time. I just can't see making it illegal to burn the flag in protest. Free speech about our government and what it is doing and where it is headed is fundimental to our citizenship. (Not free speech to shove profanity down my throat.....but that's a whole 'nother topic.) Somehow, I perceive that when we make this grafic display of disagreement illegal, we will all be losing a big chunk of that free speech. Personaly, I had rather see the flag burnt in protest by someone who is trying to get his government's attention to a problem or a plight than to see it left on a flagpole in someone's front yard in the rain. The former is reminiscent of the spirit of patriotism, while the later screams disrespect. Of course, should the cause be just enough and the situation dire enough to warrant it, any patriot would risk charges and jail to stand against tyrany. Just my thoughts andreflections, to get you thinking.

Now let me leave you with some humor to lighten the mood! I just loved this from ArcaMax......they did an excellant job of "reading between the lines."

Job Market

If you're in the job market right now you might want to familiarize yourself with the Human Resources Lingo...

"COMPETITIVE SALARY"

We remain competitive by paying less than our competitors.

"JOIN OUR FAST-PACED COMPANY"

We have no time to train you.

"CASUAL WORK ATMOSPHERE"

We don't pay enough to expect that you'll dress up.

"MUST BE DEADLINE-ORIENTED"

You'll be six months behind schedule on your first day.

"SOME OVERTIME REQUIRED"

Some time each night and some time each weekend.

"DUTIES WILL VARY"

Anyone in the office can boss you around.

"MUST HAVE AN EYE FOR DETAIL"

We have no quality control.

"APPLY IN PERSON"

If you're old, fat or ugly you'll be told the position has been filled.

"NO PHONE CALLS PLEASE"

We've filled the job; our call for resumes is just a legal formality.

"SEEKING CANDIDATES WITH A WIDE VARIETY OF EXPERIENCE"

You'll need it to replace three people who just left.

"PROBLEM-SOLVING SKILLS A MUST"

You're walking into a company in perpetual chaos.

"REQUIRES TEAM LEADERSHIP SKILLS"

You'll have the responsibilities of a manager, without the pay or respect.

"GOOD COMMUNICATION SKILLS"

Management communicates, you listen, figure out what they want and do it.

Have a Safe and Happy 4th!

Spanky, Darla and Our Gang

If any of you have a memory of "Our Gang" let me tell you that they are alive and well here in Caneyhead! Bubba and a younger cousin, from thru the pipeline, have cleaned-out a small corner of the woods in the back and made it into clubhouse central. They are there everyday......almost all day long. There is a table. Bubba bought a tarp to put up for shelter from passing showers, a can of Deep Woods Off. Cinderblocks ringing a fire-hole for a little light at night and smoke to ward off insects. He's even hooked up some battery-powdered radio out there. So, those two, plus Bug, and a man down the roads grandson are wiling-away the days in good-old lazy summer fashion. Bug has traded in her cool summer shorts, for jeans each day so she can tote the pocket knife her Bubba gave her in a ritual Spanky and the crew would have been proud of. But there is some strife amongst the membership, as bug wanted to bring the white kitten there to pet and she was told this was a dogs only club. I'm sure Darla could sympathize.

"Spanky, will you swing me before we have lunch?"

"Sure Darla!"

"Hey, Romeo, what about your promise to the He-Man Woman Haters Club?!"

And REO Speedwagon breaks into "She Doesn't Like Tough Guys."

Hey! The British are coming! The British are coming!.........No....not redcoats. Not even the Beatles. It's Jeanette's Jottings! If you think Brits are stuffy, you have to go and visit Jeanette for awhile. This housewife and grandmother is full of vim, vigor and wit that will perk up your day. There is plenty of boasting about her grandchild, and lots about her garden (which is gorgeous and very English.!) Plenty of humor and some ghostly, gouly tales like only England can generate.

Now for the Word on our Words. From Ecclesiastes 7: 8 & 9 "Finishing is better than starting! Patience is better than pride! Don't be quick-tempered -- that is being a fool" Leave itto Solomon (the Preacher) to be blunt and to the point. You can never eat a meal you do not finish. Impatience stems out of pride, "You are wasting my time....how dare you treat me like that?!" Short fuses and hair-triggers end up only hurting the innocent.

Redneck Computer Glossary

So today has gotten of to a good start. I feel in control of my house. Bubba and Bug are doing well.....guess you can say it is a good day in the neighborhood. Not long ago, I shared with you a common practice in these parts about having to give a geneology for every person brought up in conversation. Today, let me clue you in on the proper edicate for visitin'.

In general, there is no invitation needed to visit, just the urge to stop by. If the company arrives at or near mealtime you should always ask them to join you, even if you don't have enough. Unless they know you real well, they will decline this invitation. If you are visiting a man, (especially if you are a man) you will likely spend the whole time outside. If you are lucky, there will be lawn chairs and a fire, maybe some country classics to listen to on the radio of one of the trucks. Other times, especially if you have caught the man just arriving home, you will spend the entire visit standing around the bed of a pick-up truck. This keep the drinks (cooler) and the trash (bed of the truck) both real handy.

Now if you are a woman going to visit a girlfriend, you will most likely end up perched on a stool near the kitchen, or a chair at the table, while she goes on with her cooking and dishwashing. You may even be handed potatoes to peel, or some such thing. Occasionally you may get to sit on her couch while she folds laundry. And if you catch her at a rare free moment the two of you may enjoy sitting on the front porch together over a cup of coffee.

Special rules apply....though unspoken....to situations where say a man is attempting to visit another man and only the wife is home. The visitor will never walk inside unless he is very close kin. The wife will meet him at the door or out in the lawn. He will either leave a message with her for the hubby, or if she knows hubby is due home soon, he might just sit a spell on the tailgate of his truck and wait for him. Or he may wonder around outside and look at the livestock or the gardenwhile he waits. Yep, you'd be hard put to get any man worth his salt to enter a home with the man of the house absent.

And if you didn't find this humorous enough, check out the Redneck Computer Glossary from ArcaMax:

"Hard drive" - Trying to climb a steep, muddy hill with 3 flat tires and pulling a trailer load of fertilizer.

"Keyboard" - Place to hang your truck keys.

"Window" - Place in the truck to hang your guns.

"Modem" - How you got rid of your dandelions.

"ROM" - Delicious when you mix it with coca cola.

"Byte" - First word in a kiss-off phrase.

"Reboot" - What you do when the first pair gets covered with barnyard stuff.

"Network" - Activity meant to provide bait for your trout line.

"Mouse" - Fuzzy, soft thing you stuff in your beer bottle in order to get a free case.

"LAN" - To borrow as in, "Hey Delbert! LAN me yore truck."

"Cursor" - What some guys do when they are mad at their wife and/or girlfriend.

"bit" - A wager as in, "I bit you can't spit that watermelon seed across the porch long ways."

"digital control" - What yore fingers do on the TV remote.

"packet" - What you do to a suitcase or Wal-Mart bag before a trip.

Linda lives at the base of the mountains in Upstate New York. Hard for me to understand how she can be somewhere in New York, when for all the world to me, her journal seems to say she is a redneck! (lol) She has two lovely children and knows (has met) David Hyde Pierce! If you haven't been at the base of the mountains yet, go by today, and tell her Barbara sent you!

In the Word again, we'll finish up with Proverbs today. In 29:11 we are told, "A rebel shouts in anger; a wise man holds his temper in and cools it." When you feel anger starting to well up inside, the best thing you can do is to say as little as possible, get away from the person or situation if at all possible and pray! Bathe it in prayer. Then you are ready to handle it.....though you may find there is nothing left to handle!

Proverbs 30:11-13 gives us, "There are those who curse their father and mother, and feel themselves faultless despite their many sins. They are proud beyond description, arogant, disdainful." If we start looking at the sin in others, we may begin to feel sinless......look at Jesus instead! Now how are you feeling? Still cocky? Or humbled. Likewise if we give in to every temptation to speak our minds bluntly, the repetition can numb our sensitivities. That is why we need the Holy Spirit to help us see our sin in it's true light. What we do once may be a mistake....what we mistakenly repeat will become a be-setting sin. Ruining our fellowship with the Lord and stealing our joy!

Lastly, Proverbs 30:33 could be a quote from Dr. Phil. (lol) "As the churning of cream yields butter.....so anger causes quarrels." I had an aunt that had a cow and actually churned her own butter from her own cream. It doesn't happen in an instant. You have to work at it a while. Likewise, sometimes we mull something over and over until we work ourselves into a tizzy. Then we are spoiling for a fight. If you don't want butter, best leave your hand off the churn! Don't want a fight.....let it go.

Spread them around!

There's Life in that there Pond!

Gosh, I hope eveyone had a good weekend! Ours was of the slow and lazy sort. Saturday, Bubba worked on cleaning up the mess from the fallen tree limb. Cut it up and burnt it. Pete laid up and slept all day long! Sunday was a wonderful day of refreshment for me. Started with me and the kids going to church. Then Bubba and I went to town while Bug stayed home with Dad, who sat at the picnic table and read his Sunday paper and then took a rest in his hamock. I came home and started supper. Bubba and Bug ended up going out to fish in our scummed-up old pond. I felt merry inside to see Pete join them there. And soon Pete and Bug came through the kitchen door with a 6" long catfish! Could hardly believe Bug caught that in our pond! It was a thrill for her. And daddy seemed rather tickled by her accomplishment. Glad to say too, that they took it back to the pond. (lol)

I recieved a real blessing in Evening services. We had a guest preacher as the pastor is on vacation. And he spoke on doing a spiritual checkup.....to weed out unwanted things and get rid of stubborn or unkown sin. Guess I spend entirely too much time on this PC as I immediately begin to think of it like running a virus scan......checking each file. Make sure there are no unwanted files or programs. Like lying, cursing, envy, pride, unforgiveness, jealousy, cheating, strife, lust. Deleting and purging them thru confession. And optimizing the programs that we do want to run, to function their best: like witnessing, giving, loving, encouraging, serving, ministering. God wants us running at optimum performance, for the task is large! And we should focus our energies as He designs and designates, for He doesn't want our system to crash. Anyway, I feel revived.....like I just upgraded to 256RAM!

Today, I want to direct you to a journal that I know many of you already know. Jackie's journal was the first one I found the first time I was on AOL. After I came back to AOL, and first went looking for journals, I could not remember the name: Small Town Life. But fortunately I found it again thru a list on another journal's sidebar. Jackie shares the adventure and sacrifice her family makes as her husband serves us in the military. (Their newest baby boy was born on Bubba's birthday! - May 9th) If somehow you've not been there yet, I urge you to stop by and get to know this young mother of three, holding down the fort in Kentucky.

More on our words and the Word. "An angry man is silenced by giving him a gift!" Proverbs 21:14 - In the new testiment we are urged to be kind to our enemies. Often times when we are kind or do something nice for someone who is angry or mean toward us, it out right confuses them! They are dumbfounded and at a loss for how to react. Instead of responding in kind to anger, look for a way to calm them, defuse them with kindness. "Better to live in the desert than with a quarrelsome, complaining woman." Proverbs 21:19 - Ouch! If you are constantly complaining, chances are you will soon find yourself alone. "Keep your moth closed and you'll stay out of trouble." Proverbs 21:23 - So Mama was right when she said if you can't say anything nice then say nothing at all!

Say one nice, positive thing to everyone you see today!