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!!!!

The Love Of God

As I was holding my infant foster grandson in my arms today I was reassuring him that everything was OK. He is a drug baby and has some stomach problems and can be quite fussy at times. He is the sweetest child in spite of his difficulties. One can't help but fall in love with him when you take him in your arms. I must say he is a handsome little guy as well.

When holding him close today, I was softly speaking to him and telling him that everything is alright. Grandma is here and I love you. I will take care of you. No need to worry, Grandma has it all under control. It's OK! I'm right here. Don't cry baby, I've got you. I kept on consoling him in this manner as I have done before and he began to quite down and fell asleep in my arms.

As I sat there looking at this child sleeping peacefully in my arms today, I thought, this is how it is with God and His children. When we are hurting, sick, confused, don't understand certain things, or weighted down with heavy burdens, all we have to do is cry out to God, our Heavenly Father and He will reach down and pick us up. He will console us and speak reassuring words of comfort to us. He will let us know that everything is alright because He is here. He has everything under control and He loves us and cares for us. There is no need for us to worry as long as we are in the arms of God.

If I can love this baby so much like I do, how much more is the love of God? If I will do whatever I can to bring peace and comfort to this child, how much more will God do for His children?

At that moment I felt so close to my Heavenly Father and I felt such peace and comfort wash over me that all I could do was weep tears of joy. I am so blessed to have a God that loves me so much. I don't even want to imagine what my life would be like without my God. He is my everything and I love Him so very much.

Spiritual Whac-A-Mole

Have you ever had to deal with your flesh? Does self ever get in your way? Well every once in awhile I find that self will try to stick up it's ugly head and butt in where she does not belong. OK, so I am human!

I was talking to my sister this past week and I was questioning a situation and asking why? That's right, poor little ol' me was complaining, and I must say, I was doing a mighty fine job too. Can you believe that? My flesh stepped right in and showed it's big ugly face and spoke right up.

After talking with my sister, which is good, for we are a sounding board for each other, I sat back and ran everything through my head on instant replay. I thought on her words of encouragement and her "Now - Now's". Then I thought on how I had been feeling and the children's game, Whac-A-Mole came to my mind. I'm sure most of you are familiar how the game goes. Well, that is what my flesh reminded me of at that moment, that little pesky mole in the game, jumping around on the board of life, sticking her ugly head out, annoyingly, in different little areas of my life. I have been thinking on it the past three days now.

In 1 Corinthians 15:31 Paul said, "... I die daily." That is what I must do. If I don't die daily, then self will raise up it's ugly head. It will start voicing it's ugly opinion. It will start making comments, asking Why? Then before I know it, I will start having problems and they will mainly be with SELF! So what is the solution here? It is time to play Spiritual Whac-A-Mole!!! Grab the sledge hammer, which is the word of God. Every time self sticks it's ugly face out of the hole it was buried in, come down hard and hammer away with the word of God. Kill self once again and put it back down. Yes, we must die daily.

It doesn't matter why things happen the way they do. God has everything under control and that is all I need to know. He has done to much for me to start asking questions now. So if you will please excuse me, I need to go take care of some serious Spiritual Whac-A-Mole business . I am in need of an attitude adjustment. I must go and beat the life out of my carnal man once again in word and prayer so my spiritual man can live as she should. :)

You have a great evening in the Lord!

Lord, You're Welcome

During worship service this morning, Bryce Allard was leading us in song and we were singing:

Lord, You're welcome into this holy place,
Lord, You're welcome into this house of praise,
Lord, You're righteous, glorious, worthy of our praise,
Lord, You're welcome into this holy place.

As we were singing the thought hit me, Am I singing that God is welcome into the building which is the house of God that I am standing in or is He welcome into my heart which is the temple of God? I Corinthians 3:16 "Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?"

Then I asked myself, Am I holy before God? I started searching my heart to make sure that everything was right before Him. For I want Him to be welcome into this holy place which is my heart and life. I must make sure that all is well with my soul. I want to be able to lift up holy hands unto the Lord. 1 Timothy 2:8, "I will therefore that men pray everywhere, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting."

I know that I can not be holy by my strength but with the spirit of God within me I can. Eph 4:24, " And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness."

Lev 11:44, "For I am the LORD your God: ye shall therefore sanctify yourselves, and ye shall be holy; for I am holy..."

1 Pet 1:16, "Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy."

We cannot make ourselves holy. That is the work of God. Yet, you have to be willing to surrender everything over to Him and continue walking a dedicated and upright life before Him. Once you do that then you can be holy as He is holy.

I know that God is living in me, but I want Him to know just how much He is welcome into that special place in your heart. From now on when I sing that song at church or anywhere for that matter, I will be welcoming Him into the holy place of my heart and not just the house of God that we are gathered in. After all, am I not the temple of God?

Oh How Refreshing Is God's Word

Well, here it is a beautiful Saturday morning and it is 73 degrees out right now and I am cleaning my windows and screens and needed to take a break. So I grabbed a glass of ice cold water and sat down in my recliner and was listening to some wonderful Godly music. I thought man this water is so refreshing and taste so good. Then this scripture came to my mind, Psalms 34:8, "O taste and see that the LORD is good..." and right away my mind began to wander off onto the word of the Lord.

Psalms 119:103, "How sweet are thy words unto my taste! yea, sweeter than honey to my mouth!"

Isaiah 28:12, "To whom he said, This is the rest wherewith ye may cause the weary to rest; and this is the refreshing..."

Matthew 11:28, "Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.1:28, "

Phlippians 4:7, "And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus."

Habakkuk 3:18, "Yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will joy in the God of my salvation."

Lamentations 3:21-26 NKJV, "This I recall to my mind, Therefore I have hope. Through the Lord's mercies we are not consumed, Because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness. The LORD is my portion, says my soul, Therefore I hope in Him! The LORD is good to those who wait for Him, To the soul who seeks Him. It is good that one should hope and wait quietly for the salvation of the LORD."

Have a wonderful weekend in the Lord.

Don't Jump Ship

No one would ever have crossed the ocean if he could have gotten off the ship in a storm. Unknown Source

After reading this quote my mind went to the discovery of America. The Mayflower – Their journey was not an easy one. They ran into many hardships, disappointments, and heartaches. But they continued on in pursuit of their dream. After they had found it they went back to tell all and many began the journey to the land of America to get a piece of this dream.

The ships that crossed the Atlantic Ocean from Europe were sailing ships that often had three masts or poles that supported many sails. Passage across the Atlantic Ocean took around two months, depending on the weather. The ships were powered by wind filling the sails with air and pushing the ship along. If the wind was coming from the wrong direction, the ship was blown off course. A storm caused such a fate for the famous Mayflower. It was headed for Virginia, but landed in Massachusetts! The ships were generally small, often less than 200 feet long, and they were made of wood. The upper deck or floor was exposed to the weather and even the lower cabins got quite wet in stormy weather.

Aboard the ship were its crew, passengers, and all of the supplies needed - both for the voyage and for starting a new home. Crates of vegetables and fruit, bags of flour, dried beans, butter and oil and salt, barrels of salted-down meat, and casks of fresh water were brought along for everyone to eat. Chests of clothing, dishes, bedding, and some furniture, building supplies and tools, seeds to plant and farm animals had to be brought along. The ships were very crowded. Families were allowed to cook their food in metal boxes called braziers. But if the sea was rough, no fires were allowed, and food had to be eaten cold.

Ships carrying colonists sometimes had cabins or small rooms below deck for individual families. Cabins were cramped, with barely enough room for people and their belongings. Some ships had cradle-like boxes for people to sleep in so that they would not fall out or bed when the ship rocked back and forth. These cradles were only about five feet long. Water that was carried on board in barrels was for drinking only, so all washing was done with salt water. (Early Colonial America)

I wonder what would have happened if in the middle of the storms everyone would have given up and turned around and went back and said forget it. The seas are too rough and the journey to long and hard to bear. It’s just not worth it. Yet, because there were people who were willing to persevere through the storms of life and the sea, we are here in America today enjoying the freedoms of this fine country.

I am thinking of another country that I am longing to see. Heaven! The journey to that land like the journey to America has its obstacles to overcome. The journey will not always be sunshine and roses. We will have rainy days and nights. We will have to endure the storms of life crashing down around us, disappointments, hardships, and heartaches. When the hard times come, do not jump ship. Stay in the boat. Psalms 30:5, “…weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.” Like the pilgrims, we have everything we need on ship to survive the journey and to make it to the new land. We have the Word of God, which is the map for our journey, a pastor who will lead us and guide us in the right direction, and the fellowship of the saints of God. Most of all, we have God who is the Captain of our ship. We must tell others of the new land and get as many on board ship as possible for this journey.

Just like it was for the pilgrims who stayed with the ship and landed on the soil of America, it will be worth it all for us if we stay in the ship. When we reach the portals of heaven, oh what a day that will be. Revelations 21 and 22 tells us about the gates of pearl, streets of gold, city of pure gold, as it were transparent glass. How the glory of God is the light and there is a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal and that we shall see the face of God and his name will be in our foreheads and we shall reign with Him for ever and ever.

Now is not the time to jump ship. We are nearing the end of the journey. I believe I can see the lighthouse just ahead. Just a little longer and then we will pull into the portals of glory. Then we can step onto the shores of Heaven and hear “Well done!”

Guard Your Godly Reputation

"It takes 20 years to build a reputation and five minutes to ruin it. If you think about that, you’ll do things differently." Warren Buffett

This quote is so true. Just like natural disasters such as hurricanes, earthquakes, and tornadoes that can come along and destroy in less than five minutes what it took you years to build, so it is with your reputation. The bible tells us in Philippians 4:6, "Be careful for nothing;..." We must understand that there are some people that we can not hang out with. We need to make sure that the company we keep is not bringing a reproach upon our name or the name of God. Keeping company with the wrong crowd will definitely destroy a good reputation fast. "Be not deceived; evil communications corrupt good manners." (1 Corinthians 15:33)

There are some places we should not go, even if we are doing nothing wrong. It might appear wrong in the eyes of the beholder. "Let not then your good be evil spoken of". (Romans 14:16) "Abstain from all appearance of evil." (1 Thessalonians 5:22) We must keep our speech pure. "...shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness." (II Timothy 2:16)

When there's talk of doing something which is wrong, take a stand against it. Sometimes we need to simply get up and walk away. We need to be "Providing for honest things, not only in the sight of the Lord, but also in the sight of men." (2Corinthians 8:21) "Neither give place to the devil." (Ephesians 4:27)

It is up to us to protect what God has given us. If we don't make a stand and guard what we have against evil then we will lose it. Satan will set a trap and if we are not careful, we will be caught up in it. So make a stand and do all that you can to protect your reputation in the Lord.

What A Wonderful World

This morning as I went out to open up the laundry room at 6am I heard a bird singing away in the tree and it sounded so beautiful. I just stood there and listened and then I heard another bird and then another one start in. I couldn't help but to look around and just begin to study the beauty of the Lord. I looked up to check out the beautiful blue sky and the white clouds. I looked at the trees and studied the green leaves and the branches. I admired the flowers and smiled as the stray kittens played in the bushes. I watched the water from the sprinklers in one section of the yard as it glistened on the lawn. Then I watched as other tenants started coming out to get in their cars to go to work (not everyone has this holiday off) and we would smile at each other and say hello or good morning. Then I just took a stroll around the complex to check that all was OK and I heard a newborn baby cry in one of the apartments, I saw a couple kissing goodbye at the front door and I thought to myself...What a wonderful world!

Many wonderful memories came flooding back to me at that moment. Like my sister's wedding a year ago last July. She walked down the isle to the song "What A Wonderful World". When my Pastor's wife, Jana Allard's CD came out, she had recorded this song on it. This song has come to claim a very special place in my heart. Every time I hear it, I am reminded that I need to stop and take a moment to look around at the beauty of God's creation. I need to put a smile on my face and make myself friendly and speak to others. If I do this 9 times out of 10 it will be returned to me. Their day, as well as mine, has started out on a bright note. So at the start of every morning take time to enjoy God's beauty. I know that we need to be concerned with the evil of the world that is going on around us. We need to fight against it as well. But don't let it be our focal point. We do not need to fear the things of this world. 1 John 4:4 "Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world." Let's focus on the beauty of God and His mighty acts.

I think I'll just grab a glass of mango juice now and put on Sis. Allard's CD and kick back in my recliner for a few moments and enjoy her singing What A Wonderful World. So smile now :) and have a wonderful day everyone!

I see trees of green........ red roses too

I"ve watched them bloom..... for me and you

And I think to myself.... what a wonderful world.

I see skies of blue..... clouds of white

The bright blessed day....and the dark sacred night

And I think to myself .....what a wonderful world.

The colors of the rainbow.....so pretty ..in the sky

Are also on the faces.....of people ..passing by

I see friends shaking hands.....sayin.. how do you do

They're really sayin......I love you.

I hear babies cry...... I watch them grow

They'll learn much more.....than I'll ever know

And I think to myself .....what a wonderful world

I hear babies cry...... I watch them grow

They'll learn much more than I'll never know

And I think to myself .....what a wonderful world

I think to myself .......what a wonderful world.

One Step Beyond

"Most great people have attained their greatest success just one step beyond their greatest failure."— Napoleon Hill:

This quote brought to my mind the story of Peter and how he had denied the Lord. Yet he was the rock upon which the Lord built His church.

Jesus knew that Peter was about to fail him and he told him so in Matthew 26: 24, "Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, That this night, before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice." Peter responded that he would never deny the Lord even if it meant the he had to die with him.

We do find Peter however, denying the Lord three times as found in Luke 22:55-62, Message Bible "In the middle of the courtyard some people had started a fire and were sitting around it, trying to keep warm. One of the serving maids sitting at the fire noticed him, then took a second look and said, "This man was with him!" He denied it, "Woman, I don't even know him." A short time later, someone else notice him and said, "You're one of them." But Peter denied it: "Man, I am not." About an hour later, someone else spoke up, really adamant: "He's got to have been with him! He's got 'Galilean' written all over him." Peter said, "Man I don't know what you're talking about." At that very moment, the last word hardly off his lips, a rooster crowed. Just then, the Master turned and looked at Peter. Peter remembered what the Master had said to him; "Before the rooster crows: you will deny me three times." He went out and cried and cried and cried."

Just as sure as Jesus was of Peter's failure, He also knew that Peter would repent of his failure, and go on to serve Him in a great way. God had a plan for Peter's life and had not forgotten the promise He had made Peter back in Matthew 16:18, "And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it."

After the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus, we find Him dining with Peter and the rest of the disciples in John 21:12-17. After they had eaten he turns to Peter and ask him if he loves him more than these and Peter replied yes and the Lord told him to feed his sheep. It didn't stop there but the Lord ask him three times. I believe that he ask Peter this three times because Peter had denied him three times. Just like Peter, there will be times in our lives that we will have to prove our love to God as well.

Then we see Peter after his greatest failure, turn around and obtain his greatest success in the Lord in Acts 2:14 "But Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice, and said unto them, ye men of Judea, and all ye that dwell at Jerusalem, be this known unto you, and hearken to my words:" And here is where Peter's ministry began. Read the rest of the chapter at your leisure.

This was the start of a great and mighty work that Peter went on to do for the Lord. That day God's promise to Peter was fullfilled and the church had it's first revival Acts 2:41 "Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls". I wonder what would have happened to Peter if he would have given up and thrown in the towel because of his failure. He could have ended up like Judas in Matthew 27:3-10: " Then Judas, which had betrayed him, when he saw that he was condemned, repented himself, and brought again the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders, Saying, I have sinned in that I have betrayed the innocent blood... And he cast down the pieces of silver in the temple, and departed, and went and hanged himself."

Peter chose to find a place of repentance and he made things right with the Lord. Then he got up, brushed himself off, picked up the pieces, and started over again. That is exactly what we must do. Never, under any circumstances, ever quit. Like Peter, God has a plan for our lives as well, and He wants to use us to do a work for Him. So when we feel that we have gone through what we believe to be our greatest failure, remember our greatest success is just around the corner. Hey people, Quitters never win and Winners never quit!