The Choice Is Yours

"With everything that has happened to you, you can either feel sorry for yourself or treat what has happened as a gift. Everything is either an opportunity to grow or an obstacle to keep you from growing. You get to choose." (Unknown Source)

"There are times in everyone’s life when something constructive is born out of adversity…when things seem so bad that you've got to grab you’re fate by the shoulders and shake it." (Unknown Source)

The above quotes are definitely true. I need to grab my fate by the shoulders and shake it really hard. Then I need to grab a hold of the horns of the altar and not let go until I break through. For I will be honest with you, this brain tumor has really taken me on a emotional roller coaster ride. I have my ups and downs with this thing. More with the medication I believe, than the tumor itself. Just to type this blog has really been a challenge. Talking for that matter is a challenge at times. I can't seem to process my words. What I am thinking I can not process either in speech or typing. My mouth and fingers can not process my thoughts. In others words, my word processing is really a mess. At times I will stutter or stammer or just can't seem to get anything out that I am trying to say. When typing, I will type things backwards and I spend more time correcting my spelling than anything else and I lose my train of thought really fast these days. So blogging has not been easy for me of late. That is why I have not been posting. I have sat down to do so but I have gotten so annoyed because I can't focus and the spelling is horrible so I just get up and walk away.

I have been so frustrated for several weeks now with this in-ability to communicate. My word processing functioning ability is being slowed by the tumor and the medication. Then I realized I am facing adversity here. I have been prayed for. I believe God is going to take care of me. I must not give in to doubt. I will grab my fate by the shoulders and shake it. Something constructive will be born out of my adversity for the Kingdom of God just like it did for Joseph in Genesis 50:20; "But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive".

I must not let my frustrations get the best of me for I know that God has everything under control. I choose to treat what has happened to me as a gift. It is an opportunity to grow and not an obstacle to stunt my growth. Romans 8:28 says “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose”

I will overcome, for this too shall pass!

God Bless You All and have a Happy New Year!!!

Dreaming Of A White Christmas

http://www.thecompassgroup.biz/merryxmas.swf

MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!

Send It On Down

Here is a little something I received in my e-mail I thought you might enjoy. Just click on the link below and check it out. Scroll through slowly and read the message as you listen to the song.

Enjoy!

http://meltingpot.fortunecity.com/lightsey/788/senditdown.html

Now that you know what you are suppose to do, you can go to Sunday services and worship. As you send up your praises unto the Lord, He will send down his blessings on you. You should all have some powerful services tomorrow if you follow these instructions. No excuses now is there?

Lord bless you all and may you have a wonderful Sunday in the Lord.

This explains it all....

Wooden Shoes

News of January 16, 2003:
Dutch Firm To Make Wooden Running Shoes



EINDHOVEN, THE NETHERLANDS - The Dutch have always been known for their wooden shoes, although for centuries they have been strictly a tourist item - not something that anyone would wear. Until now, that is. Kwinkslag Shoes, one of The Netherlands' approximately 40 shoe companies, has developed a wooden athletic shoe that some say may give even Nike a run for its money. Based in the high-technology city of Eindhoven, Kwinkslag Shoes has until now produced comfortable shoes for office workers.

Groot Henrik, Kwinkslag's president, explains that the new shoe uses high technology and European design to combine durability, comfort, and style. "We use a new thermoplastic wood composite for the sole, and multiple layers of specially treated paper-thin Ethiopian ironwood for the body of the shoe. Decorative strips of polished rosewood and oak trim provide the beauty of wood in a comfortable and naturally anti-bacterial setting." Kwinkslag is also developing lightweight wooden covers for the shoes, which look just like the original Dutch wood shoes that are carved from a single block.

"Imagine running a race, and being passed by a guy clattering by in wooden shoes," Henrik chuckles. "Maybe losing wouldn't be so bad, if you couldn't stop laughing?"

Now you are probably wondering why I posted this old article. Well, I will tell you. Night before last around 11:30pm, while on my hands and knees, I was picking up some diapers that had fallen under the end table. When backing up, still on my hands and knees, (Lord help me, I am so clumsy) I some how managed to slam my left foot into the recliner breaking my toe next to the little toe. Yep, told you I am clumsy. Who else do you know that can break a toe while crawling around on their hands and knees? You see this is not the first time I have broken a toe. It is the 5th time to be exact. So my husband has threatened to by me a pair of wooden shoes and make me wear them at all times.

About one and a half years ago my daughter was getting ready to take my grandson to school. With a baby in her arms, she was locking the front door and Caleb was walking ahead of her with a smaller foster child and she heard Caleb say, "Uuumm, Mom"? His tone let her know something was wrong. As she turned around she found the S.W.A.T. Team surrounding her children and charging towards her. Of course she freaked and they said, "Mam where are you going?" and she replied, "To take my son to school." By this time they had her and the children completely surrounded and and were moving them towards the street. They told her to get into her car quickly and leave and don't come back. They had reason to believe that there was an armed fugitive in the apartment right next to hers. They helped her get the children in her car and belted them in as others stood guard. Well needless to say she was pretty shook up. She got Caleb off to school but could not get back to her apartment for some time. She had no bottles or diapers with her and both babies were crying, hungry and wet.

The office, where I live, is located in the back and my daughter called me on her cell phone and said she needed diapers and bottles for the babies and needed me to get them to her. I keep extras at my house so I got them together and was going to have one of the officers pass them to her over the block wall of the complex behind us. We live right by the wall so it would have been easy for me to get the bottles and diapers to her that way. Well as I opened up the garage door (I was running and had no shoes on and really needed the above running wooden shoes) and slammed right into my husband's tool box breaking three toes on my right foot. The toe next to the little toe was totally sideways and laying cross ways on top of the little toe. The middle toe and little toe was cracked. I stopped dead in my tracks. It literally took my breath away. I thought I was going to pass out. Yep, clumsy, that's me. Twice I have broken my little toe by crashing into the corner of the couch as I came around the corner of the living room. Once I ran into the door frame of the bedroom. Do you agree with my husband and think I need to wear wooden shoes at all times as well? If I must wear wooden shoes then I want a variety of colors. I also want those soul inserts, what are they called? Dr Scholl's? Need that comfort you know. Got to be gelling.

Well, after shutting off our complex like they did and then forcing everyone out of the apartment, and doing a thorough search, guess what? FALSE ALARM! There was no such person in said apartment. The tenants in that apartment were very good tenants. So where ever they got their information it was WRONG!!! It was like a 3 hour ordeal. I blame the three broken toes on them that day. If they had not surrounded our apartment complex and shut us off like they did I would not have been in such a hurry to get bottles and diapers to the babies. Now I feel justified as to why I broke my toes that day. I am not to blame. After all, the duty of a grandmother called. On the other hand, as for the broken toe I now suffer with, well I honestly can not figure out how in the world ANYONE can brake a toe while crawling around on their hands and knees. But, I did it. I guess you can say it is just another one of those special talents that I have been blessed with.

Under The Weather

Good morning everyone! I just checked my e-mail and there were a couple of messages as to where I have been and why I have not been posting. Sorry I did not answer your questions sooner but I have not been able to function well enough to do so. I have been ill for about 3 weeks now. I started out with the flu. Then I got bronchitis, which triggered my asthma. I finally went to the doctor last Wednesday and received two lovely shots in the arm and loads of meds that I have been pumping into my system. Well, after a week of that I did not get any better so I had to go back to the doctor yesterday only to be told that I now have pneumonia. He wanted to admit me to the hospital but I refused to go there. I don't want to spend my b-day (which is tomorrow) in no hospital. So I am suppose to be on complete bed rest and lots of fluids and meds. Not on the computer. Don't tell on me OK? It's just that I miss reading all of your wonderful postings and sharing my thoughts with you and I do feel somewhat better after the shot I received yesterday. The breathing treatments he has me on are also helping, although my arm is really really sore from the shot.

As soon as I am up to par, I promise to return to blog ville and share a thought with you that has been on my mind.

God bless you all and have a great day.

He Saw What I Could Be

"Treat people as if they were what they ought to be and you help them to become what they are capable of being."

By: Goethe

When I read this quote it brought to my memory the song my pastor sings, "HE SAW WHAT I COULD BE". When Jesus looked upon us, when we were yet sinners, He truly looked at us as we ought to be and not as we were and then He helped us to become what we are capable of being.

But he saw not what I was, He saw what I could be
When he reached his hand to where I was

He took a chance on me
For all he had to hope for, Was just a possibility
Still he saw not what I was, He saw what I could be

Thank you Jesus, for looking beyond what I was and seeing a possibility. Thank you for taking a chance on someone like me. Thank you for seeing what I could be and for making me what I am today. For all that I am is because of you. Now in return, I want to reach out to others and see them as you see them. I want to treat them as if they were what they ought to be and help them to become what they are capable of being by leading them to you Lord. I want to look beyond what they are and see what they could be in you.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING

Look Upon The Fields

John 4:35; "Say not ye, There are yet four months, and then cometh harvest? behold, I say unto you, Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest."

We have been praying for revival at our church. God is moving in a mighty way. This past Sunday evening we had an awesome service. The power of God came down and the people of God responded in a beautiful way. There were several in the altars and we had a wayward child of God come home and it was a precious sight to behold as she began to speak in tongues once again. I am expecting more backsliders to come home. I am looking forward to seeing new faces to receive this precious gift of the Holy Ghost. I am desiring to see lives changed. But we, as the children of God must do our part. We must take the seed to them. We must spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ. The fields are white and ready to harvest.

We each have a field of our own to harvest. That field is right in front of our eyes. These fields are our job sites, our schools, our neighborhoods, our communities. Each of us are responsible for our own fields. We must work them ourselves. We have been provided with the tools we need to get the job done. Acts 1:8 "But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth."

The bible tells us in Luke 14:23; "And the lord said unto the servant, Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled." I believe that God is calling His church to fill His house with hungry souls so that He can do what He does best, Deliver, heal, restore and save souls. He is in the soul saving business, is He not? Our mission is to:

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

God did His part. Question is , Are you willing to do yours?

If the answer is yes, then reach out to the souls that you come in contact with. We run into souls everyday. Do we take the opportunity to tell them about Jesus and invite them out to the House of God? If not, then now is a good time to start for the fields are white and ready to harvest.

In Honor of Our Veterans

I know that Sunday was actually Veterans day but since Monday is being observed as a holiday in their honor, I would like to post a poem that I wrote in honor of our Veterans.

VETERANS

V – Valiant men and women - Fought for you and I

E – Engaged in battle - Knowing they could die
T – Tall they stood - For what they believed
E – Encouraged by their love - For this country
R – Remembering loved ones - Back at home

A – Anticipating hugs - Not knowing how long
N – Never the less - For their country they stood

S – Service to America - They gave all they could

Jolene Mendoza

11-12-2007

**Note** If you have not been to Shirley Buxton's blog site and viewed the Salute To Veterans, click on the link below to her site and check it out. It is worth watching. http://writenow.wordpress.com/2007/11/11/i-salute-the-veterans/

DE-STRESS!

I went to see my neurologist this past Thursday for a follow-up and he told me that he felt that the tumor was stable and growing at a very slow rate if at all. PRAISE GOD! He did tell me, however that he was concerned with the amount of migraines that I am still dealing with. There is a mass of blood vessels on the right side of the back of my head that swell and stretch every time I suffer with what they call these "complicated migraines" that cause me to have temporary paralysis to the left side of my body that last any where from 2 hours to 78 hours.

His concern is that one of these days I am going to have one of these attacks and the vessels will rupture and I will have a massive stroke. So he said I am to stay STRESS FREE. I really wanted to laugh at that. I mean we live life, right? Life is full of stress. How is that possible? He went on to tell me that when I feel any type of stress beginning to come on, then I need to learn how to DE-STRESS. How in the world am I to do that? He said that I am to turn and walk away. Doc said that if I needed to get in my car and drive away from what is causing my stress then do so. Whatever it takes, I need to learn to De-stress. He told me to be aware of any body signals that would alert me that stress is starting to attack me. Like tightness in my neck and shoulders. Any type of headaches coming on. Any signals like that. I need to be aware of these type of warnings and then heed those warnings and take action against them.

So I Began to think on De-stressing. How does one go about it? Well, some people like to work out. They go to the gym and exercise. My youngest daughter is a 911 communications center dispatcher supervisor and let tell you that is one stressful job. She goes to the gym and works out after a hard day at work. She says it helps her to release a lot of stress. She also likes to go for pedicures. She says it relaxes her. Or she just likes to go shopping. My oldest daughter is a foster mom and also holds down a full time job working with severely handicapped children who are in wheelchairs and she has to do most everything for them. She loves her job and loves working with these children. It is hard work and she has to do a lot of lifting. She De-stresses by finding a good book to read in a quite place and she kicks back and reads with her radio playing softly in the background. Or she will play her piano. Sometimes she will put her kids in the stroller and go for a brisk walk or she will play a game with her 6 year old son. That is her way of De-stressing. My son works in Corrections and he likes to De-stress by just be totally alone some where quite and peaceful after a hard day at work. Maybe he will go for a quite drive in country just to get a way from it all or he will just go home and crash in his room. I enjoy doing art work, decorating bulletin boards, and reading. Just let me do something creative and play some Godly music in the background and soon I am feeling much better. Some people like to play golf. That helps them De-stress. Whatever works we need to do it in order to De-stress.

I got to thinking about this in the spiritual realm. There are times that we get stressed out spiritually. When we feel the pressures of life begin to bear upon us and we find that we are struggling in our walk we need to De-stress. If we don't find a way to De-stress in the Lord we will start floundering around and things will just get worse and eventually we will have a spiritual stroke.

My pastor just preached a great message recently on "Stop Struggling" He said that when we are struggling we are not leaning on or trusting in God. Pastor compared it to when someone is drowning and you are trying to save them, the person being saved must relax and let you save them. They can not fight against you or you can not help them. They have to relax and trust you and let you do what it takes to get them to safety. That is how it is with God. We need to trust in God and let Him be in control.

Brother I. H. Terry once told me, "Sis why pray when you can worry?" I looked at him and said, "Didn't you get that backwards?" he replied, "Yes, but unfortunately, so does everyone else. People would rather worry, than pray and leave it in the hands of God. So, I ask why pray when you can worry?" Made me think, that's for sure.

The problem is, a lot of us go to the altar and pray and ask God to take care of a situation for us. We ask for His help and plead with Him and then when we get through praying, we get up, grab the problem and place it back upon our shoulders and walk away with it instead of leaving it there upon the altar for God to take care of. What is wrong with us? Do we not believe that God is well able to take care of the situation? Evidently not or we would have left it there for Him and Him alone to deal with. When we pick that problem back up and walk away with it, we are saying, "God, I think I can do a better job at solving this than you can and then we just make a bigger mess of things than what they already are.

It is time to quit flapping around with the chickens who can barely get their feet off the ground. All they do is go around squawking all the time. Then there are others who do a little better and they fly around with the sparrows. But why not let it all go and quit struggling like my pastor said. Hey I'm talking to myself as well. I am going to let it all go because I don't want to flutter around with the chickens and I don't want to fly around with the sparrows. I want to soar with the eagles. I want to rise above it all. I am going to let go and let God be in control of it all. I am going to De-stress spiritually in the Lord.

How does one De-stress in God? Fasting and prayer, reading His word, faithful attendance to the House of God. Godly fellowship, listening to Godly music, 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." We do not have time to think on negative things. When we think on negative things it causes stress. We must think on Godly things and that is the key for Godly things are positive. When we are positive in God we will be able to stay De-stressed spiritually and then we will begin to soar with the eagles.

So just like in the natural, heed the warning signs. When you see and feel the stress coming on, give it to Jesus. Matt.11:28.says; "Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest." When you go to Him, give Him your problems and burdens and leave them on the altar. Do not pick them back up and carry them away with you again. Quit struggling. Let go and let God. Quit flapping around with the chickens and quit flying with the sparrows. De-stress and let's soar with the eagles.

Propelled By Our Discomforts

M. Scott Peck:
The truth is that our finest moments are most likely to occur when we are feeling deeply uncomfortable, unhappy, or unfulfilled. For it is only in such moments, propelled by our discomfort, that we are likely to step out of our ruts and start searching for different ways or truer answers.

I have pondered on this quote for several days now, probably because it hits home. I have been feeling deeply uncomfortable, unhappy, and unfulfilled lately. It is as though I have been stuck in a rut. I feel as if I have been idle to long and that is not good. I am talking about feeling this way in my spirit.

We've all heard the saying, "An idle mind is the devil's workshop." When we become idle and don't do anything to get out of that state of mind that is when destruction will come to our soul. Here's what the bible has to say about idleness: "By much slothfulness the building decayeth; and through idleness of the hands the house droppeth through." (KJV) If a man is lazy, the rafters sag; if his hands are idle, the house leaks. (NIV) Ecclesiastes 10:18

Then the bible goes on to say: "Slothfulness casteth into a deep sleep; and an idle soul shall suffer hunger." Proverbs 19:15

"Besides, they get into the habit of being idle and going about from house to house. And not only do they become idlers, but also gossips and busybodies, saying things they ought not to." (1 Timothy 5:13)

One can be on the same level in God and not go any higher in Him only for so long before you become stale spiritually. If you stay there and don't do anything about it you become idle in your walk with Him. You won't grow any deeper or climb any higher in Him, you will become lax in your spirit. You will then become negligent, careless, sloppy, and laid back spiritually. You will then become comfortable in that state of mind. Then you will start to stagnate. Next you will begin to decline, fester, and rot within your spirit.

I do not want to shrug off this deep uncomfortable feeling that I feel in my spirit. For it is the hand of God trying to get my attention. Telling me to move on up a little closer to Him. Climb up higher. Grow closer to Him. Get a deeper walk with Him. Yesterday's walk isn't good enough. What He has for me now is even better than before. I must climb higher and higher each day. My walk must get deeper and deeper in Him each and every day.

It's just like swimming. I don't just get my feet wet, I jump in head first. That is the way it has to be with God. We must jump in head first. Let's get in to deep waters with the Lord. We must let Him surround us. I don't hang onto the side of the pool or stay where my feet touch the bottom of the pool when I go swimming. I like to get out to where I can swim. That is the way it has to be with God. I must get into deep waters with the Lord. I don't want a shallow walk with Him. I want a deep deep walk with the my God.

I thank God that He has stirred my heart one more time. But I ask that He doesn't just stir me but that He changes me as well. I don't ever want to become comfortable in my walk to the point that I find myself stagnating, festering, rotting, and declining spiritually. I want to be propelled by my discomfort so much that when I fall into a rut it will make me climb out of that rut and I will go in search of a deeper and closer walk in HIM. I will make sure that I am doing HIS will and not mine. I want to be open to HIS call and be willing to say yes Lord to whatever it is He ask of me to do. Maybe I have been holding back. But now I am letting it all go. I am yours Lord. I hold nothing back. I hold NOTHING back.

The Interview With God

Below is an e-mail that my daughter sent me. I thought it was beautiful so I wanted to share it with you. Click on the link below and then click on view presentation. I hope you enjoy it.

http://www.theinterviewwithgod.com/popup-frame.html

Isn't is good to know that He is there for us ALWAYS?

Anger - Is It Worth It?

Frederick Buechner:
Of the Seven Deadly Sins, anger is possibly the most fun. To lick your wounds, to smack your lips over grievances long past, to roll over your tongue, the prospect of bitter confrontations still to come, to savor to the last toothsome morsel, both the pain you are given and the pain you are giving back -- in many ways it is a feast fit for a king. The chief drawback is that what you are wolfing down is yourself. The skeleton at the feast is you.

Anger, I have seen this cause a lot of people lose out with God. It has eaten them alive. I don't ever want to let anger get the best of me. I ran across the following scriptures and they go well with the above quote and I would like to share them with you.

What to do when you feel Angry:

(James 1:19-20 KJV) Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath: For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God.

(Ephesians 4:26 KJV) Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath:

(Proverbs 15:1 KJV) A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger.

(Matthew 6:14 KJV) For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you:

(Proverbs 14:29 KJV) He that is slow to wrath is of great understanding: but he that is hasty of spirit exalteth folly.

(Proverbs 16:32 KJV) He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty; and he that ruleth his spirit than he that taketh a city.

(Ecclesiastes 7:9 KJV) Be not hasty in thy spirit to be angry: for anger resteth in the bosom of fools.

(Romans 12:19 KJV) Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.

(Proverbs 25:21-22 KJV) If thine enemy be hungry, give him bread to eat; and if he be thirsty, give him water to drink: For thou shalt heap coals of fire upon his head, and the Lord shall reward thee.

(Hebrews 10:30 KJV) For we know him that hath said, Vengeance belongeth unto me, I will recompense, saith the Lord. And again, The Lord shall judge his people.

(Ephesians 4:31-32 KJV) Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.

(Matthew 5:22-24 KJV) But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire. Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath ought against thee; Leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift.

.(Proverbs 14:16-17 KJV) A wise man feareth, and departeth from evil: but the fool rageth, and is confident. He that is soon angry dealeth foolishly: and a man of wicked devices is hated.

(Colossians 3:8 KJV) But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth.

.(Psalm 37:8 KJV) Cease from anger, and forsake wrath: fret not thyself in any wise to do evil.

Even if you feel you have a right to be angry, do you really have a right? No one had a right to be angry anymore than Christ did when He was on the cross and yet all he said was: "...Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do..." Luke 23:34

Remember this: by Elizabeth Kenny:
He who angers you conquers you.

Lord, help me to be more like you!

Hold Fast To Your Dream

Hold fast to dreams, for if dreams die, life is a broken winged bird that cannot fly. (Lanston Hughes)

I looked up the word dream in the dictionary and the best definition for it was a fond hope.

"For in hope we have been saved, but hope that is seen is not hope; for who hopes for what he already sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, with perseverance we wait eagerly for it." Romans 8:24-25 (NAS)

That same hope that delivered us from sin and gave us a new start in life will some day come and take us to a better place. So when things get rough and the way grows dim don't lose sight of what lays ahead.

"Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;" Titus 3:16

While we are waiting for His returning there is still a work to do. We must reach out to a hurt, lost, and dying world. While doing so, we will face much opposition and many trials and tribulations. Don't let it get you down. "And let us not be weary in well-doing; for in due season we shall reap if we faint not" (Galatians 6:9).

When the way gets rough that is when we call upon the name of the Lord. Psalms 121:1 reads; "I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help." When He comes to your rescue then you can say: "Therefore did my heart rejoice, and my tongue was glad; moreover also my flesh shall rest in hope:" Acts 2:26

What is my dream, my hope? That one day soon I shall rise to meet Him in the air to live with Him forever more in a better place called Heaven. I will hold fast to my dream. I will not let it die. I must not become a broken winged bird that cannot fly.

He is our hope, our strength, and the wind beneath our wings. Remember, "But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint."

Hold fast to Him for He is our Hope - our Dream!

Losing A Friend

This is a very touching story about life, death and friends. It's certain to strum your heartstrings and touch your soul.

I'm still choked up over it:

'

'

'

'

PETE, Is that you???

Still Standing

STILL STANDING

When I first came to Jesus
And repented of my sins,
He gave me blessed forgiveness
And such joy and peace within.

I felt such strength and power
Come upon me like never before,
I was sure I could endure anything
That life would bring and more.

But standing in the shadows
Waiting for a chance to make me fall,
Was Satan, the prince of darkness
Who longs to destroy us all.

So, as I began this journey
On the straight and narrow path,
I've faced much opposition
From the enemy of wrath.

There have been many disappointments
Come upon me through the years,
I’ve had a lot of heartaches
And shed a lot of tears.

I have faced moments in my life
When I thought I couldn’t endure,
But then I felt the hand of Jesus
Reach out and make my steps sure.

On the road of life we travel
One thing I know for sure
Trials and tribulations
Are waiting to be endured

So when disappointments come my way
And heartaches upon me fall,
This one thing I know for sure
Upon His name I’ll call.

When things look dark and dreary
And the way is growing dim,
I can call on Jesus
And on Him I can depend.

So go ahead Satan
I know my soul you wish to destroy,
But you had better watch out
For the angels that God will deploy.

These angels come in many forms
And on their knees they fall,
They are the precious family of God
And on His name they call.

For when the way gets rough
And the load to heavy to carry,
They go before the Savior
And on my behalf in prayer they tarry.

Then my Savior up above
Sends down His angels to war,
Against the powers of evil
And victory to me He restores.

And though I’ve had much opposition
On my way to that safe landing,
I’m overjoyed and happy to say
By the grace of God, I’m still standing.

By Jolene Mendoza
March 7, 2007

Grandma, Can I Blog?

Below is a letter that my grandson is dedicating to his favorite blogger, Alice. I wrote it down on paper before he went to school this morning under his strict observation and just now finding time to get it posted. When he comes in from school he loves to check out her blog site to see if she has anything new. He is such a little scientist and her postings are right up his alley. http://catsmeow150.blogspot.com/

When there is a new posting he gets so excited and whatever she has posted about we have to do an online search to find out more info about that topic. For example when she found that brown widow spider Caleb was ecstatic. We spent 2 days doing research about that spider. Thanks Alice! I dreamed about spiders for days. He was in heaven I won't tell you where I was :(

Here is Caleb's letter to Alice:

Hi Alice (waving), I wish I could go to your house but grandma said you live to far away. Bet I could find a lot of bugs at your place cause of where you live huh? Oh, grandma said I'm not spose to bet. My grandma said that my pastor is bestest friends with your pastor but I don't member your pastor but grandma does. She said he comes to preach here sometimes. I hope I get to go to science camp like your girl did when I get bigger.

I like to read your blogs. They are the best. You write intrestin stuff like about animals and spiders and stuff like that. I liked the spider and it's egg the best. That spider's egg was really cool. Some of grandma's other bogger friends have done some neat science stuff too that grandma helped me do. I can't member their names though. Gotta go to school now. Bye

My Best Friend

I would like to dedicate the following poem to my best friend, Patty Fields. We have known each other since 1980 but became fast friends in 1984. She has been with me through thick and thin. When I am feeling down all I have to do is pick up the phone or drive over to her place or have her come to my place and we laugh so hard that by the time our conversation or visit is over I am so uplifted and rejuvenated that I am ready to go on.

When I found out about my brain tumor, after I contacted my pastor's wife, I went straight to Patty's house and we made so many jokes about the situation and laughed so hard that I was finally able to drive the 30 to 40 minutes it takes to get home. She knows how to lift my spirit. Her husband sat in the living room and shook his head but he put his two cents in here and there as well and made us laugh even more.

Please keep her and her husband in prayer. Patty's husband has cancer and I want to see a miracle in his life. Though Patty has problems of her own, she is still there for me as well. Yes, she is my Best Friend!!!

My Friend
by Kim Crow

You are my friend,

trusted and true;

And this is for everything

and all that you do.

When the light seems so far

and times are so low,

You reach out your hand

to give me a place to go.

When I find I can't make it

and the mountain's too high,

You give me your wisdom

and help me to try.

You've given me hope

in times of despair.

You do this for me,

because I know you care.

You make me laugh

when there are no smiles,

Even though we're separated

by the miles.

So let me tell you this,

My Friend,

If you ever need me,

I'm here 'til the end.

I give you my love

my hand and my heart,

And from your friendship

I'll never part.

For everything

and all that you do,

I want you to know

I'll do the same for you

So, when your days are black

and your nights are long,

And it seems like

everything will go wrong -

I'm there by your side

you're never alone.

I'll be there for you

to help lead you home.

So, My Friend,

as you can see;

You're very special,

especially to ME! ! !

The Pumpkin Example

Here's an e-mail I received today:

Being a Christian is like being a pumpkin.

God lifts you up, takes you in, and washes all the dirt off of you.

He opens you up, reaches deep inside and scoops out all the yucky stuff -- including the seeds of doubt, hate, greed, etc.

Then He carves you a new smiling face, and puts His light inside of you to shine for the entire world to see.

Seeking Advice

If you are going to take up your pastor's and pastor's wife's time in seeking their advice about a situation then make sure that you have prayed before doing so. Why? you may ask. So that when you go in to talk to them, you will have an open mind, heart, and spirit. Then you will be ready to hear and receive the advice from the man of God and his wife that you need for the situation that you are facing in your life. If you are not going to be willing to accept what it is they are going to tell you (whether you like what they have to say or not, because sometimes it is a tough pill to swallow) then don't bother wasting their time or yours. I have found that if I pray before counseling, I can swallow that bitter pill much easier with the spirit of God than if I try to swallow it with a carnal attitude. Yes, with a carnal attitude I must say it gets lodged in my throat and just won't go down and becomes very bitter and causes spiritual heartburn.

Pastor and Sis Brain Allard, I love you both very much. Your words of wisdom mean a lot to me. Sis Allard, you really asked me a lot of questions last night that made me stop and think, REALLY think. Thank you! There was one comment you made about one situation that I was not surprised you said because God already told me the same thing so I knew it was coming. Pastor, you spoke the very words my neurologist told me about another situation. Another confirmation. Yes, I must make some changes.

This is Pastor Appreciation Month and we have already had an appreciation get together at church for you and your family pastor, but sometimes I feel it is so little in comparison to all that you and your family have done for us. I said your family because every time you or Sis Allard has to counsel, visit someone in the hospital, do a funeral, wedding, or whatever for one of us in the church, your children have to give you up to us for that time period. They sacrifice their parents, so that we can have your service for that time frame that by all rights, should be theirs. I will never be able to put in to words just how much I love and appreciate you and your family.

Ephesians 4:11-12; "And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ."

I found the following below when I was reading somewhere and I copied it and saved it because I thought it was good. I can't remember where I got it but I do want to share it with you.

The ministry of a pastor is one of the five-fold ministry gifts to the church:

A Pastor will be one whose voice the sheep recognize through an inner spiritual sense.

A Pastor will be sensitive to the sheep, “sit where they sit” and identify with them.

A Pastor will “call his sheep by name,” having personal contact with them.

A Pastor will lead the sheep into fresh pastures of the Word which he searches out.

A Pastor goes before the sheep as a leader and they are happy to follow him. They know he will not lead them astray, because he leads by example in attitude, word and lifestyle.

A Pastor rules the sheep with love, not with force or cruelty. They naturally return his love.

A Pastor is willing to stay with the sheep when he sees the wolf coming.

A Pastor is always on the alert for “other sheep” to bring into the fold.

A Pastor recognizes that there is only “one fold,” and that his flock is just part of that fold.

A Pastor recognizes that the sheep are not his, but they belong to the Chief Shepherd.

A Pastor ministers healing to the flock, seeking out the lost and binding up the broken.

A Pastor uses the rod (correction) and the staff (direction) to lead his sheep.

A Pastor protects the sheep from their enemies – and sometimes from themselves.

Hebrews 13:7 reads "Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves:for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you".

We need a Pastor and I thank God for mine and his family.

Just Listen And Obey

I had been having severe pain in my neck, so my primary doctor gave me several injections of cortisone, over a period of time, in the area where the pain was located. Then he decided that it was time to do an MRI of my neck to see what was going on in there. My insurance first wanted him to do x-rays. So he did. Nothing was found except a lot of swelling. So they said he could do a cat scan. So he did that. They still refused the MRI. So after arguing with them for about 3 months he decided to send me to a neurologist. He said that the insurance never denies them an MRI. So off I went to see the Neurologist.

When I got to the neurologist's office he began to ask me many questions. Where is your pain located? Do you have head-aches? Where are the head-aches located? How often do you have them? On and on went the questions. I thought they would never end. I thought good grief dude. I came in here to get a simple MRI of my neck and I am getting the third degree. Enough already!!!

So after being put under the spot light, (so to speak), he leans back in his chair and says, "I want to do an MRI of your brain." Well that took all!!! My doctor failed again. He sends me in here to get an MRI of my neck after fighting with my insurance for 3 months and thinks he is going to outsmart them by sending me here and now this nut wants to do an MRI of my brain and not my neck.

I looked at him and very politely said, "Sir, the pain is in my neck. I feel as though I am being rung out like a dish rag at times and can't take it." I get numb down my left arm and feel like thousands of pins and needles are pricking me between my shoulder blades. I am sure there is something going on in my neck. At times I want to take my head off and through it across the room."

He is sitting there writing on his note pad and it doesn't look as though he is even listening to me. I sat there for a few moments in total silence. About the time I am about to ask if he heard me he looks up and says, "I understand Mrs. Mendoza but I do not like the answers to some of my questions. They tend to cause me some worry. For now, I am writing you a prescription for physical therapy for you neck and I want an MRI on your brain as soon as possible.

"Doctor, I have had cat scans before and MRI's of the brain in the past and everything was fine. I have complicated migraines that causes temporary paralysis to the left side of the body that last anywhere from 2 hours to 78 hours. I know what is wrong with me. I have seen 7 different neurologist in the past including the specialist in San Francisco and they have all given me the same diagnosis. The pain here today is in the neck." He asked me when I had my last cat scan and I told him about 6 weeks ago. He wanted to know if he could take a look at it and I told him sure go ahead.

"Like I said Mrs. Mendoza, I understand you have pain in your neck but again, I have reason to believe we need to do this MRI of your brain." At this point I felt like telling him I don't have a brain and it is a waste of time. So let's just get on with the MRI of the neck thank you very much. But I knew I was going to get nowhere with him. He just thought he knew it all just because he went to school and had some degree title attached to his name. So I took my little prescription paper in hand and left.

I got in the car and shoved the prescription in my purse and drove away thinking all the time what a waste of my time and my doctor's it was to even go there. Then the Radiology place called to make an appointment with me for the MRI and I actually put it off for two weeks. They told me the doctor wanted me to come in sooner but I told them they had to wait two weeks. I was really considering not going in at all. Then I received a phone call telling me that the neurologist had looked at my cat scan and wanted to know if I had gotten my MRI yet and I said no. They wanted to know when I was going to get it done and so I told them soon. The doctor got on the phone and proceeded to tell me that he saw a spot on the cat scan that he felt needed further checking into so I needed to get that MRI done as soon as possible.

I honestly have to say it did not concern me at all because they had found a spot once before and then decided it was from an old injury and the spot he was talking about was in that same area located in the back of the head. I decided to go ahead and get the MRI over with and move on. Then maybe he would give me an MRI of my neck. You all know the outcome of that MRI report as I have already posted on that in "Life With A Brain Tumor"

I have been thinking back on this conversation quite a bit lately and I must say, BOY WAS I WRONG! It is his calling in life. He does this everyday. This doctor knows what to look for and he sees the signals and he knows the warning signs that signal when something is not right. Something is wrong and we need to get on it right away before it is to late. He can detect that things are not as they should be in a person's life just by the way they answer the questions he ask. The way they walk and talk.

That is how it is with our Pastor. He is our spiritual neurologist. That is his calling. He knows when there is something wrong in our spirit. The man of God in our life can discern when things are out of balance in our walk with God just by the way we walk, talk, attend the house of God and the way we worship when we are in the house of God.

The pastor can tell us what it is that we need to do and we will argue "But pastor I don't have a problem with that" We don't see what he sees. Like pastor preached the other night, he is up on the wall watching for our souls. He can see much further than we can. That is what he is suppose to do. When he comes to us and tells us that we need to stay away from something or someone or we need to change something in our life, we need to listen. If we don't we are headed for spiritual disaster. The pastor will then tell us that we need a spiritual MRI. We need to find an altar and let God search our hearts, minds, and souls for anything that is not like God. That is a spiritual MRI. Then we need to under go surgery and let God remove all those things from us that are not like him.

If I had not gone to get the MRI I would not have found out about the tumor while it was small. It would have continued to grow and then it could really cause me some serious problems and maybe even death. Now that we know it is there the doctors will be keeping a very close eye on it. I am on medication and will be having MRI's to monitor the growth. If it becomes alarming to big I will have to under go surgery. It is a good thing I listened to the neurologist. I could have walked away and said "Nonsense, I don't need this MRI. I am fine the way I am." It is the same way with our walk with God. Listen to your pastor! Listen to God! Get the tumor of sin out of your heart while it is small before it grows into something that consumes your life and overpowers you to where you no longer have control of your own life or even worse causes you a spiritual death.

Bottom line is, my neurologist was right and SO IS YOUR PASTOR. So don't become a Pain In The Neck! We need to learn to JUST LISTEN AND OBEY! My niece, Yvonne Hinshaw wrote a poem that sums it up like this:

Hush The Blood Is Speaking

I heard it calling and beckoning me
Let me cover you child and set you free
Instead of listening I turned up the music of life
I was happy where I was to heed the voice would bring strife

What is this you ask that is speaking to me?
It’s the blood that is flowing from Calvary
I watch as it trickles from the cross to the ground.
I turn to run and get away from the sound

I don’t need you I cry I’m fine this way
But the blood continued calling everyday
You need this my child you can’t live without blood
Let life flow through you from the crimson flood

I tried to talk louder to drown the noise out
But the blood cried louder it began to shout
You can’t silence me no matter how strong your will
The louder you get I’ll get louder still

Just hush when the blood is speaking and let it work in you
For the blood will be your strength in everything you do
Without my blood you will spiritually die
Just let me cover you I heard the blood cry

I finally stopped running I had become so weak
I heard a voice whisper I have the strength that you seek
I turned to look and there was the blood
I knew I couldn't out run Calvary’s flood

I cried out cover me with the blood so strong
Let it cover every sin every wrong
I’m tired of running and tired of seeking
I heard a voice say hush when the blood is speaking

TRICK OR TREAT?

Here is a picture of a bulletin board I did for our junior Sunday School class about six or seven years ago. I ran across it this morning and since it is October I thought I would share it with you.

Satan wraps sin up in such a beautiful package and makes it looks so good that if your are not prayed up it will make you just want to reach out and grab it. He promises you the world. He offers you riches, wealth, fame, and fortune, you name it, it's all yours. Once you partake of it you will be enticed to go a step further and further into sin. Before you know it, you are so deep into sin and so bound that you can't seem to get out of the mess you have gotten into. You say it won't happen to you. That you won't go that far. I've got news for you. Once he gets his claws into you, you are his. Satan will take you further than you ever intended to go and there is nothing you can do about it. 1 Timothy 6:9-10; "But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition. For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows."

Satan promises you all the treats in the world but all you will ever get from him is nothing but the dirty tricks he has up his sleeve and they will lead you down the road to destruction. Yes, he will take you for the ride of your life. Oh it will be fun at first but when you get to the bottom, for all his rides lead downward, the worse is yet to come. He will tear your life apart and there will be nothing left but broken bits and pieces. What starts out as fun will end in total fear and disaster.

My advice is stay as far away from Satan and sin as you can. When he comes around flirting with you, you better rebuke him in Jesus name and draw as close to the Lord as you can for that is our only hope of escape. 1 Timothy 6:11-12; "But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness. Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life..."

We need to flee from sin. James 4: 7 reads; "Submit yourselves therefore to GOD. Resist The Devil, and he will flee from you." 2nd Timothy 2:22; "Flee also youthful Lust: but follow Righteousness, Faith, Charity, Peace, with them that call on The LORD out of Pure Heart."

So don't be tricked by the devil. Stay with the Lord and be faithful to Him and when this race is over you will hear Well done thou good and faithful servant enter in and you will receive the treat of being with Him forever and ever in that wonderful place called Heaven.

The choice is your. You choose- Trick or Treat? Satan or Jesus? Hell or Heaven?

"Life With A BrainTumor"

Back in August I posted a blog "IF YOUR KNEES ARE KNOCKING".

It was about the two types of fear talked about in the bible. One being the Spirit of Fear and the second is the Fear of the Lord.

Before that, I posted a blog about "HOW WILL YOU RESPOND?"

This being about two big forces at work in our lives, external and internal. We have very little control over external forces... (such as tornados, earthquakes, floods, disasters, illness and pain.) What really matters is the internal force. How do I respond to those disasters? Over that I have complete control. (by Leo Buscaglia)

Since then, 11 days ago, on September 27, 2007, I was informed by my neurologist that I have a brain tumor located in my left frontal lobe on the area that controls my speech and word processing. I was told that it was the size of the upper part of my thumb.

I went to the doctor by myself to get my results because I really felt that they were negative. So when the doctor told me the news I almost fell out of my chair. I told him "YOU'VE GOT TO BE KIDDING!" I just sat there without moving and very calmly looked at my doctor. But within I felt as though I had fallen overboard from a ship deep into the ocean and the waves were crashing around me and I was being sucked under and I couldn't breathe. I could not get back to the surface in order to get air. Then I felt numb all over. My head was ringing and I lost all sense of direction. I told myself this can not be happening. I could see the doctor's lips moving but I could not hear a word he was saying. All I remember was that he told me I needed to see a Neurosurgeon and that they would make me an appointment.

I left his office in a daze. I stood outside but I can't remember for how long. Then I knew I needed to talk to someone and the first person I contacted was my Pastor's wife. You might be asking why not your husband or your children, or even your pastor? I don't know why. All I know is that when I grabbed my phone it was Sis Jana Allard that I was led to for strength at that moment and I thank God for her because she has been there for me from that moment on. What a blessing she is in my life. She doesn't pity me but she encourages me and helps me to regain my strength in the Lord and that is what I need more than anything. When I begin to feel a moment of panic arise I send her a text message and she will respond and I know on my behalf she sends up a word of prayer with me and I am immediately strengthened in the Lord. THE SPIRIT OF FEAR DOES NOT BELONG IN MY LIFE AS A CHILD OF GOD!!!

I went to Sunday morning and evening service as though nothing was wrong. But by Monday night prayer I was desperate for a touch from God. Sis Allard came up to me two or three times and made a couple of comments to me and then she asked if it was OK to tell the church and I said yes. So pastor told the church about my tumor and immediately they surrounded me and prayed for a miracle on my behalf. Sis. Allard made the comment to everyone about the size of my tumor being a bite size and she said that every time we sat down to eat that we were to claim in Jesus name as we ate that we were eating that tumor away and it was going to shrink. I must admit that I was strengthened after the church prayed for me. Thank God for my church family.

I’m So Glad I’m A Part Of The Family Of God;
I’ve Been Washed In The Fountain,
Cleansed By His Blood!
Joint Heirs With Jesus As We Travel This Sod,
I’m So Glad I’m Apart Of The Family Of God.

I saw the surgeon this past Friday, on October 5th. I was informed that my tumor is definitely not cancer PRAISE GOD!!! It is also the size of my upper pinky finger and not my thumb. To God be the glory. It is smaller than we thought. So at this time there will be no surgery. The surgeon said that the neurologist will be keeping a close eye on me and that I will have another MRI in February. If the tumor has not grown to much then there will be another MRI in June. If it has grown considerably, then I will be looking at brain surgery sometime in the near future. He did tell me that though it is not cancer we do need to keep an eye on it to make sure it doesn't grow any larger because if it does it will begin to put to much pressure on the brain and can cause serious complications. But as for now it is best to leave it alone.

My request is that you will join my church and I in prayer that God will heal me of this tumor. I know that God can heal me but if I have to have surgery, then I ask that you pray that the hands of the surgeon will be guided by God.

I know that Satan hath desired to sift me as wheat. Luke 22: 31) I must understand that my strength lies in the power of God. (Eph 6:10) and I must be strong in the Lord, and in the strength of his might. I Know that the battlefield is in the mind. I must put on the armor of God in my mind as Paul instructs me in 2Corinthians 10:4-5 ("For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;"

Tumor or no tumor, there is still work to do for the Lord. I cannot be overcome by the spirit of fear. I MUST stay strong in Him. I must remember that: "The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid? (Psalms 27:1) “For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.” (2 Timothy 1:7) The only fear I will allow in my life is what I found in Psalms 86:11; "I'll will worship in joyful fear." (Message Bible)

Foods That Fight Spiritual Cancer

4 foods that fight cancer

Learn which foods reduce your risk of cancer and which you should avoid.

When I read this article right away I thought of spiritual cancer and how it destroys the soul of man. Just like in the above article where it tells us which foods reduce our risk of cancer and which we should avoid, so it is in our walk with God.

There are things that we should and should not partake of as a child of God. If we want to live a healthy life as a Christian, then we should be eating the right foods. We need start with the word of God. We need a healthy balance of God's word in our daily walk with Him. We should be reading Godly literature. Things that are uplifting to the soul. Stay away from reading things that are not clean and up lifting. They will only put impure thoughts into your mind and heart and bring spiritual cancer into your life that will destroy your soul.

Next we need to make sure we add prayer to our diet everyday. Miss out on prayer and we begin to lack on some very important nutrients in our life. Prayer is like receiving an x-ray to see if there is anything that needs to be removed from your life before it can bring any harm to you. Make sure that you add some Godly music to your diet. It sure helps to relieve the stress in your life and bring relaxation to the soul. Listening to the wrong kind of music will lead you to entertaining the wrong kind of spirits. I guarantee that.

Godly communications is very important. "Be not deceived; evil communications corrupt good manners." (1 Corinthians 15:33) Laughter! Proverbs 17:22 "A merry heart doeth good like a medicine." Yes, laughter is like the dessert after a fine meal. A bitter person will shrivel up and die. Heb 12:15 "Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled;" KJV

So when you sit down at the table of life to eat, make sure you are eating from the correct food group. Eat what is healthy and good for you spiritually. Do what ever it takes to avoid getting spiritual cancer. Make sure you visit the x-ray lab of prayer daily for an examination to make sure that all is well. Make sure you top off each meal with a good dose of laughter. It will make for a good ending to a great meal. They always say an apple a day keeps the doctor away, well how about laughter each day keeps the stress away. I know I always feel better after a good hearty laugh. Try it, you just might like it.

How Great Is Our God

Have you ever had one of those days where you are so emotionally and physically exhausted that you just want to crawl in a hole somewhere and hide from everything and everyone? Then you think; "Oh man, I have to cook dinner, clean up the mess, get ready and go to church, put on a smile as if I am full of energy and all is well."

So you make it to church and you're just so tired and the service starts with prayer and then you feel a little tingle and then song service starts and then you begin to feel the warmth of God move within and before you know it, you're not as tired as you were when you walked through the doors. Isaiah 28:12; "...This is the rest wherewith ye may cause the weary to rest; and this is the refreshing..." The more you praise Him, the more you become refreshed in the Lord. As song service moves on, the spirit of God strengthens us and lifts us up and we no longer feel the way we did when we entered the doors at the beginning of the service. We are renewed in the Holy Ghost.

It is like taking your car to the garage for a tune-up when it is running sluggish. Well that is how it was for me tonight. I was running sluggish. I needed a tune-up in the Holy Ghost. When song service started, Pastor led us in the song "How Great Is Our God" and let me tell you I felt the power of God come down and move in a soft soothing way and I received the fine tuning in my spirit that was very much needed. Yes, on a Wednesday night, Bible study service! I can not understand people who do not like bible study night. It is absolutely my favorite. Don't get me wrong. I like Sunday night shouting services. But it is the bible study services where the meat and potatoes are served. That is where you get your strength to grow and stand against sin and the forces of the enemy. I enjoy bible study messages where I get the word in such a way that I can take it home and really chew on it for a while and digest it and apply it to my life. Mmmm Mmmm Good!!!

I thank God for a good church to go to and a Pastor who will preach God's word the way it is written. The church to me is my spiritual garage. A place for me to go so that I can stay tuned, filled up and ready to go up.

All I know is that I serve an awesome God. He is my everything. Without Him I am nothing. He is the love of my life - The joy of my soul - The rock of my salvation - The breath that I breathe - The hope of my life - The song that I sing - The spring in my step - My shelter in the time of storm - My way maker when there seems to be no way - My healer - My provider - My friend - My Lord and My God.

How great is our God,
sing with me
How great is our God,
and all will see
How great, How great
Is our God

Sit On Your Anger

When you are angry with someone, it helps to sit down and think about the problem.

When I received this email I thought it was so cute . But the more I looked at it and thought on it, the more my mind pondered on the following scriptures:

Ecclesiastes 7:9; "Be not hasty in thy spirit to be angry: for anger resteth in the bosom of fools." KJV

Proverbs 12:16; "Fools have short fuses and explode all too quickly; the prudent quietly shrug off insults.: Message Bible

Proverbs 14:17; "The hotheaded do things they'll later regret; the coldhearted get the cold shoulder." Message Bible

Proverbs 14;29; "Slowness to anger makes for deep understanding; a quick-tempered person stockpiles stupidity." Message Bible

Proverbs 19:19; "Let angry people endure the backlash of their own anger; if you try to make it better, you'll only make it worse." Message Bible

Proverbs 22:24-25; "Don't hang out with angry people; don't keep company with hotheads. Bad temper is contagious - don't get infected." Message Bible

Proverbs 15:18; "Hot tempers start fights; a calm, cool spirit keeps the peace." Message Bible

Proverbs 29:22; "Angry people stir up a lot of discord; the intemperate stir up trouble." Message Bible

Proverbs 16:32; "He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty; and he that ruleth his spirit than he that taketh a city." KJV

Unlike the dog in the picture, who is sitting on the cat, whom he is angry with, we need to sit on our anger before our anger gets out of control. If our anger gets our of control then it causes us and those around us a lot of heartache and trouble.

The above scriptures speak about those who can and cannot control their anger. I want to be like those who can control their anger. Not noted as one who stirs up a lot of discord and trouble. I don't want to be pegged as a person who stockpiles stupidity. Please God, do not let me be known as a hotheaded, contagious, and infectious person.

Lord help me to have a cool spirit that keeps the peace. Matthew 5:9: "Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God." (KJV) I want to be slow to anger so I can make for deep understanding. Help me to be prudent and quietly shrug off insults. After all insults are only words spoken by people who have a low self esteem and the only way they can feel good about themselves is to put others down.

I must make sure that my life is where it should be in God so that if I do get angry I will do what it says in Ephesians 4:26; "Be ye angry and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath:" ( KJV ) I want to make sure that I make and keep things right with my brother and sister in the Lord and even my family and my God.

Yes, anger can be very destructive. We must learn how to control it or it will destroy us. So when you get angry because you feel that you have been done wrong, don't worry about getting even. Just remember this, "Vengeance Is Mine, I Will Repay Sayeth The Lord" Romans 12:19 (KJV) Leave everything in the hands of God and keep the right attitude. Don't let your anger cause you to lose out with God. It's not worth it.

I Plan To Continue...!!

Just wanted you to know............and hope you don't mind!

There have been many, many times when I may have disturbed you,

Troubled you,

Pestered you,

Irritated you,

Bugged you,

Got on your nerves

Sent too many emails,

But today I just wanna tell you that...


I plan to continue...!!

That's right, I can't just sit on my talent now can I? Are we not to use our talents to the fullest? Well, I am using mine! I have discovered that I am great at being ornery and so therefore I am going to use my talent to the fullest because I don't want to lose it and someone else get what was intended for me. :)

So if you have any talents out there let me give you a word of warning...use 'em or lose 'em. ;-)

Lighten up! Enjoy life! Laugh awhile! Proverbs 17:22 reads; "A merry heart doeth good like a medicine..."

So why don't you join me while I sit back and bask in a large dose of merriment? I guarantee it will make your day a much brighter one.

You have a wonderful Sunday in the Lord!!!

My Little Scientist

Let's get a closer look

My grandson just turned 6 years old two

weeks ago. He claims he wants to be a scientist when he grows up. I believe he would make a good one. Caleb loves to study sea creatures, dinosaurs, all reptiles especially snakes, wild animals, and every kind of insect you can imagine. He also loves to study the stars and all the planets. For Christmas last year he received a telescope, microscope and a Star Theater 2/Space Projector. He loves going to museums, the zoo, and to see the animals and exhibits at the fair, and science fairs. I believe the science fair is his favorite.

Tether Ball Anyone?

Hey, Cool ball!!!

This child will come up to me at times and say "Grandma, did you know such and such?" and I will look and him and wonder where in the world did he learn that? He is usually correct in his observations as well. When I ask him where he learned these things his response is, "Duh! I have a brain grandma, I know how to use it and I can figure these things out." I just look at him and feel like saying , Well excuse me for asking! But instead I smile and say, "That's good Caleb. It is good to think and use your brain." I caught him eating in his room one day and I told him, "Caleb, you can't be eating in your room like this or you're going to get bugs in here" and he replied, "That's OK grandma, I collect bugs. It will be easier to catch them that way." What ever am I to do with this boy?

Mom, Look At This!

The itzy bitzy spider, Hee hee hee !!!


Caleb is always asking me to let him go to Alice's blog. He just loves the critters that she writes about. Whenever she post something new he gets so excited. I must say though that it takes us on a journey online to do more research on whatever her topic is about. I can hardly wait until he gets in from school today to see what she has posted to her site now. Though I am not excited about her topic, for I hate spiders, I know he will be ecstatic.

Petting the Stingray

Feeding the Giraffe

My prayer is that one day he will develop a love for God and a desire to study the word of God as he does his science projects. I pray that he develops a hunger to know more and more about the word of God and God himself as he does for the creations of God. I tell him, "You know Caleb, God created the snakes,bugs, snails, and spiders that you find so fascinating or the stars that you love to study, and etc. etc.

And now for some lava.

And there she blows!!!

Somehow I hope to put a hunger for God and a knowledge of God in his little heart, so that if he does grow to be a scientist, he will understand who the Creator is of all the wonderful things he loves to study. There is nothing wrong with being a scientist. I just want to make sure he understands who the Creator is and then he will really appreciate the fullness of creation and Creator alike.

Get that snail out of my house and go wash your hands ten times with warm soapy water and then some. RIGHT NOW!!!!