In Times Like These

Wandering in the wilderness

2011-09-27T13:32:00.001-05:00

“Patience is waiting. Not passively waiting. That is laziness. But to keep going when the going is hard and slow – that is patience.” ~ Anonymous

Ok, so I’m in a season of life where I’m just waiting for the next big thing to happen. I feel like I’m listening to God’s promptings and being obedient by doing what I feel I’m being called to do. However, it doesn’t seem like there’s really anything happening. Even the little things going on don’t seem to be coming together for a means to an end. It’s hard to be patient when you feel like you’ve been waiting and wandering in the wilderness without even a bread crumb trail to lead you into the promised land. Truth be told, there are days I probably wouldn’t even recognize a bread crumb trail if the entire loaf of bread was waved in front of my face!

Despite my personal frustration, I know many of you have been in a similar place in life at some point where waiting and being patient is difficult at best. We’re all such a bunch of control freaks that it’s hard to let go of our lives long enough to let God lead us in the direction in which He wants us to go. However, when we do finally feel like we’ve let go, we expect Him to lead us directly to the end of the path for the answers we’ve been waiting to see or hear. I know you’ve heard this expression before: “Getting there is half the fun.” Sometimes I don’t know if I totally agree with that phrase, but I do agree we need to step outside of ourselves long enough to realize that there is much more going on behind the scenes of our lives than we can even fathom. So for now, I’ll simply work on my patience and try to find the joy along this journey called life. Won’t you join me?

Romans 8:24-25 says “If we already have something, we don’t need to hope for it. But if we look forward to something we don’t yet have, we must wait patiently and confidently.” Make a list of the things you are impatient about today. Then pray for the strength to patiently await the results you are hoping to receive.

Be Excellent!

Commitments and Complications

2011-09-26T13:44:00.002-05:00

Commitments and Complications

Some of my greatest heroes, both in the past and in the present, are people who have stood by their promises when part of those they love has been stolen from them by disease or disaster.

With every commitment comes complications, but the ultimate test is not the complications but our faithfulness to our word.Making and keeping promises is one of the things that distinguisheshumans from animals. It is also what separates good people from badones.

Yes, I can imagine some promises that should be broken. What if I am ajunior-high kid who promises his buddy to help get even with somebody who hurt his friend's feelings by trashing his bike or computer? Then I realize that I've promised to do something wrong. Break the promise!You had no right to make it.

Adults sometimes get in those situationsas well. Think first. Then speak. Yes, I can imagine some good promises made in good faith that may be broken. Suppose a woman accepts a proposal to marry -- only to discoverover the few months prior to the wedding date that the relationship is a big mistake. Better to be honest and suffer embarrassment or break his heart now than create the long-term heartache and eventual failure of a formalized commitment.

However, the general rule about keeping promises cannot be formed by exploring the exceptional cases. And the principle that holds a society together is that we must keep the promises we make to one another.Employment contracts, land sales, bank notes, installment loans --these formalized contracts about "things" require documentation and signatures. We enforce them in courts.Then there are the adult promises we make to one another. They shouldbe regarded as even more important to our integrity as human beings than the contracts we sign about mere things such as cars or money.

Arethey?

A Christian leader recently made negative headlines with his televised comment about keeping promises. A caller asked what advice to give afriend who had begun a romantic involvement with another woman after his wife began suffering the dreadful effects of Alzheimer's disease."I know it sounds cruel," he said, "but if he's going to do something,he should divorce her and start all over again, but make sure she has custodial care and somebody looking after her."The speaker's on-air partner asked about the traditional -- and biblical -- vow to love and remain together "in sickness and in health"until death parts them. "If you respect that vow, you say 'til death dous part,'" he continued. Then he added: "[Alzheimer's] is a kind ofdeath."

Lots of things are "a kind of death" -- ranging from bankruptcy to paralysis from an auto accident to disfiguring cancers to Alzheimer'sdisease. That's why we make promises and are called by God to keep them. That's how we take uncertainties out of the lives of the people we love. That's how we preserve integrity in complex and painful times.

This is what the Bible says about making promises: It is better to say nothing than to make a promise and not keep it (Ecclesiastes 5:5 NLT). Amen.

Waddle Or Fly

2011-09-07T08:49:00.002-05:00

Waddle Or Fly
By Elizabeth Gunter Wallace

There is something stirring about watching geese fly in perfect V-formation across the sky. Their flying south for the winter is poetry in motion. It is who God created them to be. It looks effortless, but for them it is a lot of work. I am not sure if this is a phenomenon just in the southeastern United States or if others experience this, but in our area many retail or office parking lots have become home for a flock of Canada geese. I am sure it started off innocently enough. A flock of geese on their natural migration route got a little weary, so they decided to take a break in a parking lot. At first they grazed on the grass in the medians, and then they discovered random food that someone dropped. Soon the parking lot become more and more appealing. Why spend all that time flying back and forth when we can make a pretty good life right here? Sure, we will miss out on flying across the bright blue skies, in rhythm with our Creator, but we've got French fries! In my car the other day I watched in amazement as Canada geese once again stopped traffic as they took their leisurely time walking in front of me. They were completely unfazed. I wondered how long it took them to get de-sensitized to the large metal objects on wheels that could crush them. Did they used to run scared? When did walking across a parking lot become normal? As the goose parade continued, I noticed at the very back of the line a baby goose doing its best to keep in step with the others. Unbelievable. This baby goose was born in a parking lot because these adult geese aren't flying like they are designed to. So this baby is growing up thinking a parking lot is the natural habitat for a goose! Just as condemnation of the geese began to swell in my heart, God gently tapped me on the shoulder. "Don't you do the same thing when you choose to live from your soul because living in your spirit is too much work and discipline? Don't you have days where you choose French fries in the parking lot over my beautiful design for you? When you choose to live in your soul instead of soaring in your spirit, it impacts not only you but others. How many baby geese are following you in your earthbound parking lot?" All of a sudden, my bird-watching was getting a little too convicting. We all have situations when our soul is dominant. It will happen because none of us reaches complete maturity this side of heaven. But where have we gotten so comfortable that it feels normal to live in less of who God made us? What are those familiar places or relationships that cause us to so easily slip into old patterns without even realizing that we have stopped soaring and we are now waddling on asphalt?
May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through.
May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless
at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
The one who calls you is faithful and he will do it.
1 Thessalonians 5:23-24

Father, forgive me for being satisfied with anything less than the fullness of what you designed for me this day spirit, soul, and body. Show me the areas where I have settled for the familiarity of "less than." I choose to fly to higher heights. By your grace, I will soar in your magnificent design of me.

A day in the life of Mrs. In style

2011-09-01T16:56:00.002-05:00

Larry came into my room and said, "Get up and pray!" Have you ever noticed that when you are in a hurry it takes forever to get your clothes on. I sleepy walked in and Larry said, "Someone has painted our roll up door." The words said, "Heroin sold here with a phone number. Larry called the police and made a report and it was also given to the NAR unit.

The rest of the day went as usual. I put 2 months of checks in Quick Books. I felt very accomplished. I read a few post but did not up ride. I have done a lot of reading. I went to to the bank and pick up lunch. Had a great conversation with Autumn. We got the wood making machines finished. I am now dressed to go to church. I am wearing a red top and pants with a yellow jacket. Call me Mrs. In style,

Life is beautiful

2011-08-29T16:22:00.001-05:00

Isn’t Life Beautiful?

The longer I live the more beautiful life becomes. - Frank Lloyd Wright
The early-morning quiet is my time for reflection and prayer. The silence provides a suitable tabernacle for my soul. In the stillness, I consider the day to come.
My thoughts drift from the necessary and to the spectacular. I consider my day’s schedule, the tasks to accomplish and the appointments to keep. After checking off the must-dos, my mind goes deeper. It goes to a place absent of urgency – it goes to a beautiful place.

Our lives can be anything we choose to make them. We can struggle with the complexity or we can delight in the simplicity. We can be overwhelmed by the ugliness or we can celebrate the beauty. I choose to look for the beauty.

As the day begins, I pause and remind myself that what I have today can be taken away tomorrow. This is my life complete with setbacks and disappointments, but it’s also full of love and beauty. Gripping my coffee mug with both hands, I close my eyes and say a prayer of thankfulness.
I open my eyes to see our guest rising in the eastern sky and before starting my day I ask myself, “Isn’t life beautiful?”
Finding beauty
I make the choice to see beauty and it blesses my life. This perspective gives me the power to appreciate every detail I care to acknowledge. This power is the perfect conduit to happiness. It’s the small things, as well as the large, that create my beautiful life.
Here’s a properly-sized window for you to look through. Perhaps if you do, you will become reacquainted with the beauty that is already a part of life:

I notice the sun breaking over the trees. It looks like a curtain rising on a new performance. Recognizing my stage is being unveiled for another day is a beautiful sight. The sound of my heart beating still strong and capable of enduring just about anything. The rhythmic vibration feels beautiful.
After showering and dressing for work, I walk back into the bedroom stop look in the mirrow wink and say goodmorning. For a brief moment I look into my eyes and smile yes I am beautiful.
Driving to the office is my chance to listen to any song I want. I select a song and then allow the words to go deep inside so I can take in their beautiful melody.
At work, my time is typically spent solving problems. Behind each problem is a person revealing their amazing beauty.

As my children grow older I’m finding more pleasure in being their mother. A telephone call from Mark telling me about a new business opportunity, receiving a text from David (grandson) with a question, talking baseball with Landon (grandson) or getting a hug from Autumn are the most beautiful things that happen to me during the day.

Returning home, I flip on the news and start preparing dinner. The warmth of my home fills my spirit with beautiful comfort. Some evenings I read my mail and try to find time to upride my sisters, but on all evenings I experience the beautiful healing the words bring me.

As the day draws to an end, I find myself in a beautiful place. Falling asleep the question swells inside me again, “Isn’t life beautiful?”
Before I drift to sleep, I hear my answer. It is clear, confident and full of promise. My answer is my choice. It is based on how I choose to see my life.

My answer is yes.

Life is beautiful
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IN THE KINGDOM OF GODDESS HOOD THERE IS NO COMPETITION

2011-08-23T16:27:00.003-05:00

In The Kingdom of Goddess Hood There is no CompetITIN

Female Hysteria

2011-08-22T17:29:00.004-05:00

Female Hysteria and Creepy Old-Timey Vibrators

LADIES...Are you exhibiting any of the following symptoms:--Trouble sleeping?--Fluid retention?--Irritability?--"A tendency to cause trouble"?Yes, yes, yes and oh yes?Let's see, according to my medical book, circa 1895, you have a clear-cut case of Female Hysteria. (Men with similar symptoms will need to diagnose themselves with some other old-timey disease .

May I suggest "dairy fever" or perhaps "dropsy"?)In the 19th century, as many as 75% of middle-class women were estimated to suffer from hysteria, but luckily medical science was there to help them. Doctors treated hysteria with "pelvic massage" until the patient reached "hysterical paroxysm." In modern times, we know "pelvic massage" to be "the doctor jerking off his patient" and "hysterical paroxysm" to be "orgasm."
The procedure as a whole is now known as "grounds for a lawsuit."Doctors of the day were happy to provide such a treatment, as it provided a steady stream of paying customers (patients were advised to come in weekly for their treatments). It was all good, except for one thing, doctors found the actual manipulation of their patients genitals to be tedious and tiring. According to the highly entertaining Wikipedia entry on Female Hysteria : "The technique was difficult for a physician to master and could take hours to achieve 'hysterical paroxysm.'" (The physicians' widespread befuddlement at mastering these basic lady-pleasing skills puts Marrying a Doctor much lower on the To-Do list.)
The doctors were saved from the arduous task of trying to make these damn women come, already, by the magic device, the vibrator. The first of these "massage and vibratory apparatus" was patented by American physician (USA! USA!) George Taylor and was--and I can scarcely stand to type this--steam-powered. (The resulting billowing smoke making this perhaps the least discreet form of masturbatory tool.) Soon, physicians' offices were outfitted with electric vibrators, allowing doctors to get the job done in a matter of minutes instead of hours, and allowing most of mankind to stay blissfully ignorant about female orgasm until about the 1960s.

By the early 1900s, these miraculous health-giving electric vibrators started showing up in the American women's home. In fact, vibrators were one of the earliest electric home appliances invented, showing up ten years earlier than the vacuum cleaner or iron. Regular old, non-pervy companies like Hamilton Beach and Sears Roebuck were in the lucrative business of selling vibrators to housewives. There photos in the1918 Sears Roebuck and Co. catalog. "Very useful and satisfactory for home service," it says, vaguely, hoping you get the idea. Vibes were openly marketed in catalogs and women's magazines. The ads weren't directly saying, "Put this on your wang" but they did refer to its "wonderfully refreshing" effect. Read one ad: "Can be used by yourself in the privacy of dressing room or boudoir, and furnish every woman with the essence of perpetual youth." The home vibe was a thrifty purchase, too. With doctors charging $2 to jack you off, the $5.95 portable home vibrator would pay for itself after only three uses.

According to this one dude, Mike, who collects antique vibrators , there were also air-powered and hand-cranked device. I don't understand the physics of the device, but Mike explains that there is "a plunging motion of the center disk." I know it's supposed to be an erotic device, but I see this and think of the twisting motions of a hand mixer, the voluminous bushes of 1800s-era ladies, and well, I can venture a guess as to why we don't all have Macuara's Pulsocon Hand Vibrators stashed in our nightstand drawers.If you, like Mike and--apparently, me--are fascinated by these old devices, by all means make haste and check out the online Antique Vibrator Museum they put up at Good Vibrations. There is an educational video, plus photos of all sorts of creepy-ass, early electrical vibes. Like, look at this 1902 Hamilton Beach model, the "Type A":

The Hamilton Beach, Type A, 1902I mean, Good Lord! The giant motor! The thick cloth covering the cord! And is that an oil can in there? The Type A looks loud--roaringly loud, jackhammer loud. But most importantly, electricity back then was scary. I wouldn't even be brave enough to use a toaster from those days, much less put some shorting-out, spark-shooting, scary new-fangled doodad on my nether regions. I don't care how "wonderfully refreshing" it's supposed to be.As all this new information (scary old vibes! hand cranks! hysterical paroxysm!) rattles around in my mind, I find that I keep going back to the 19th century doctor's office and this strangely sexless sex between doctor and patient. Were either of them aroused by what was going on? Did the females see the doctor breaking out his Hamilton Beach 4000 or whatever and feel a thrill of anticipation, or just the kind of dull disinterest one would experience while watching a mechanic change the car's oil. And I wonder about the women's orgasm. If they were not told it was pleasurable, did they experience it as pleasure, or as just a release, akin to finally getting to pee on a long car trip?

Conscious Community

2011-08-22T12:57:00.000-05:00

Conscious Community

5 Types Of People.

1. True believes in me = Show me Art of appreciation, and is cheering me on.

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2. Way Shower = Similar journey but further down.

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3. Messenger = Shows how it is done and helps equip for journey

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4. Confident = She/he has my back, a close trusted friend.

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5. Na Sayers = keep at a distance. When they say you cannot do that, You say yes I can.

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May a list of those you know and list in what category they go. Some can be in one or more categories.

6. Everyone Else
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What to do when you feel cranky

2011-08-22T12:50:00.000-05:00

What to do when you feel cranky

6 Things to do when you feel cranky

1. Acts of Animist good.
2. Thank you Jesus, thank you Jesus.
3. Look in mirror and say with a wink I deserve this.
4. Do the Visiting Dignitary.
5. Make list of gratitude.
6. Brag, brag, brag.

I AM A PRINCESS ON THE WAY TO MY THRONE

2011-08-10T14:00:00.000-05:00

I am a princess on the way to my throne.

I am a magnet for all kinds of deep wonderment

I am a wunderkind, oh oh

I am a pioneer, naive enough to believe that

I am a princess on the way to my throne

The above lyrics from the Alanis Morissette song Wunderkind have been a constant in my head since she sangs the song so beautifully For some reason both the melody and the lyrics of this song have become a kind of anthem of sorts for me the last month or so. In fact even my son has decided it is one of his favorites.

I was thinking today about what it is I love so much about these lyrics and why they speak to me so loudly and so deeply. What I have figured out (I think) is this; these lyrics represent a piece of what I feel my mission is in this life. On the road to reconnecting with my own Essential Self, I have not only found a greater sense of inner peace and a greater sense of self worth than I have ever experienced before but I have also discovered a greater sense of my true feminine essence, beauty and power. I truly believe that as a woman, I AM a magnet for all kinds of deep wonderment and I AM a princess on the way to my throne!!

This feeling and belief has ended up serving me greatly in all my roles: Mother, Sister, Girlfriend, Daughter, Friend, even my role as daily Starbucks patron has been positively affected! The point being is that it has affected how I show up in the world and therefore what I get back in return! What a gift.

So many of the women I have encountered and continue to encounter in my life through work or friends or fellow moms or however we connect are absolutely INCREDIBLE women! I feel like when I meet these women that they are instant kindred spirits and I have the ability to see through their outer shells of stress and pain or “pretend” happiness and into their core. What I see inside there often is a wee little spark. It is a spark of spirit, it is a spark of light, it is a spark of desire, it is a spark of joy and it is a spark that is absolutely DYING to turn into a fire.

My belief is that it is my mission and purpose to be part of the inspiration for these women to truly come into themselves in a way that allows for a life of incredible gratitude and joy. To help them to see what I see. The incredible power, the unbelievable beauty, and the amazing strength. First to see all that within and then to CELEBRATE it. Pretty damn cool.
To being a magnet and a princess because you absolutely know deep down that you are!

MY MANIFESTO OF TRUTHS

2011-08-10T09:55:00.000-05:00

My Manifesto of Truths

I am…
flawed in all ways I am meant to be.

ready to embrace the lessons my spirit chose to learn.

meant to follow my heart and soul to my truest desires.

no longer willing to wait for my happiness to begin.

able to believe I am absolutely enough in each moment.

at times, almost paralyzed by the love I have for the people and experiences in my life.

finally wise enough to know that my body & bank account do not define me.

perfect, even when I fail miserably and publicly.

a brilliant gorgeous & incredibly sexy work in progress.

wildly in love with my spirit and my essence even when I feel blue.

willing to be not right, not perfect and not graceful if that is what it takes.

at peace with not always knowing the outcome of living and loving fully and truly.

open to continue healing, learning and growing even when it includes mighty doses of discomfort.

finally able to say “I’m not ok” and ” I need help”.

beginning to understand there is a finish line.

already the winner.

Day 5 Create Your Character Board

2011-08-06T10:44:00.000-05:00

#30BBM Day 5 – Create Your Character Board
Welcome to Day 5 of Be a Better Me in 30 Days Challenge!
Day 4 – Day of Virtue: Kindness Review

Yesterday’s task was on kindness – embodying the virtue of kindness, and being that beacon of light and love to everyone you see.

How was your experience on Day 4? Many of you have posted amazing acts of kindness and shared beautiful experiences of how you touched others’ lives in your special way yesterday. If you haven’t, be sure to post your results .

Know that no matter how small or big the act is, no matter how your kindness was received, your intention has planted a seed in the person’s heart. This seed will soon bloom into something beautiful, which only time can unveil.

Are you pushing yourself to the next level?
While it’s great that many of you are already doing acts of kindness by default, the whole point of 30BBM is to push your boundaries to the next level.

Which means, rather than saying: “Oh, I already did some kind acts yesterday/today, hence my work for Day 4 is complete”, challenge yourself with: ”In addition to the kind acts I already did/are doing, what more kind acts can I perform to others? How can I be an even kinder person? How can I push my kindness to the next level?”
In the former, you remain the same person as you are; in the latter, you grow and become better. Only by constantly challenging your limits will you become the better you, the ideal you that you seek.

Day 5: Character Board
Today’s task will take about 30 min – 1.5 hours, depending on how much time you wish to spend on it.
Today’s task is about character boards.

What is a character board? It’s a totally new concept I created for 30BBM, referring to a collage of words and/or pictures that represent our ideal self .

If you’re thinking this sounds like the vision board , you’re absolutely right! They are similar in concept – While the vision board relates to our goals and dreams, the character board relates to our highest self (in character traits). Both serve distinct purposes.

The objective of the character board is to embody the essence of who we want to be in 1 spot (be it a corkboard, A4 paper, desktop wallpaper, digital image, etc), such that we are constantly reminded of our highest vision of ourselves. This helps to spur us onto action every day. This is part of using the environment to reinforce our goals .

Not only that, it’s incredibly inspiring to have a character board! We can talk about wanting to cultivate positive traits like patience, compassion, kindness, etc, but having them presented in words and images before us makes it so much easier to visualize. It makes your goal to be a better you more real than it already is, and lets you know that this is who you’re going to be as you continue on this path.
The character board, while seemingly simple in concept, is a powerful tool in helping you become your ideal self. (Just as the vision board is a powerful tool for achieving our goals and dreams.) For today’s task, we’re going to create our character boards!

Your Task: Create Your Character Board!
In the next 30 min to an hour, you’re going to have your very own character board! Are you excited? I sure am!
Identify your 5 core ideal traits.
Refer to what you wrote for Day 3: Discover Your Ideal Self . Pick out 5 most important traits you want to attain as your ideal self. These are the 5 traits you’re going to focus on in your board!
You can have other traitstoo, just that you’ll be placing the biggest attention on the 5 core traits.
Select the format you want for your character board.
Your board can come in any form, really. You can hand write/decorate on A4 paper (easiest), create a digital image (using Photoshop / GIMP / Powerpoint / Word), use cut-outs from magazines and form a collage on cardboard, get a corkboard specially for this purpose, etc.
Use whatever format that works best for you. As I mentioned above, my past character board(s) was just a simple slide in MS Powerpoint – no images and no jazz. It did what it needed to do for me. Remember this is about creating a board that works for you, and not about doing busy work.

Search for images that reflect your ideal traits.
Search for 2-3 images per trait, for your 5 core traits (Google Images or Flickr works great!). If you have more than 5 traits you want to highlight, feel free to search images for them too.
If you don’t want images, you can just make it a text-based board. It’s perfectly fine!
Print out the images if you’re making a hard copy board.
Create your board!

Write “Ideal ” in the middle of the board. Example, “Ideal Sarah June”.
Then, write your 5 core traits around that.
Supplement each trait with its corresponding set of images.
Now, create your board! Do whatever you deem fit here – let your creative juices flow!
That said, I have some broad suggestions which you can follow if you want:
Share your board when you are done!
You can upload your image(s) here: Photo Bucket Flickr , after which they’ll provide a working link where others can download/view the image.

Tomorrow, Day 6, will be a break day. This way, those who’ve not finished the previous tasks or signed up later can catch up. It’s also a day where those who are up to speed can focus on the discussions and get to know each other better. Stay tuned!
Day 5 Reflection for 30BBM
Is there anything you learned today?
If so, what is it? Write it down.

BBE DAY 4 DAY OF KINDNESS

2011-08-05T11:29:00.000-05:00

Day 4: Day of Kindness

“Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a harder battle.” – Plato“Do right. Do your best. Treat others as you want to be treated.” – Lou Holtz“A man never stands as tall as when he kneels to help a child– The Knights of Pythagoras

On a scale of 1-10, how kind do you think you are?

Reason being kindness is such an integral part of being human, and living a better life. Without kindness, the world will be a dark, gloomy place.

Imagine people stuck in their worlds, refusing to lend helping hands to others. Imagine people who have no care in whether you’re sick, injured, or dead. Imagine people who will not lift a finger to help you, even when you’re in need. Imagine everyone who only fend for him/herself, never for others around them.

How will you feel in such a world?
Will you like it? Why or why not?
Will you want to be in a world like this?

For me, I see kindness as an essential part of life. If we live in a world where kindness does not exist, then I rather not be part of this world. For everything will be empty and void of life. Everything will be mechanical and dead. Rather than color and life, we’ll be living in a world of grey.

For today’s task, let us bring light into the world of others. Today is all about being kind to others.

Your Task: Be Kind Today
Imagine you’re standing before a room that’s bursting with warm, golden light. The light is so bright that you can see it bursting through every opening, every nook and cranny from inside the room to the world. It’s literally overpowering everything in your surroundings.
As you walk up to the door, you see the word “Kindness” written on it. This is when you realize this is a room filled with pure, sheer, unadulterated kind energy.

Your task today:
Step into the room.
Imagine yourself being basked, from head to toe, in the pure, kind energy. The light is so powerful that it penetrates into your body and reaches into the core of your heart.
As it does that, it somehow unlocks something inside you, deep in your soul. Suddenly, a strong beam of light starts to shine from inside your heart, first illuminating your whole body, and bursting into the world out there.
This occurs for a good 5-10 seconds, before the light fades away. You’re now radiating a positive glow; an luminescent aura that. There’s no doubt about it – you’re now a different person from before you stepped inside. You’re now filled with kindness, inside and out. Every fiber of your being, every cell in your body, is now filled with pure, kind energy.
Today, you are a beacon of kindness. Exemplify kindness in everything you do, every thought you have, every action you take. This means…
Being kind to everyone you see.
Going out of your usual zone to help others.
Smiling at strangers, even they aren’t smiling at you first.
Saying hi / Greeting everyone you see.
Doing something special for someone / others, without reason.
Loving others as if they were you.
Share the kind acts you intend to do today.
This is intended as a personal pledge so you’ll commit yourself to action.
Report back at the end of the day (via replying to your comment thread) with your experience, findings, and revelations if any.

KNOWING YOUR IDEAL SELF DAY 3 BBE

2011-08-03T08:48:00.000-05:00

Day 2 Review: Understand Your Negative Traits

Yesterday we looked at our negative traits . We gained an understanding on why we have those traits. We gained clarity on why we want to change these aspects of ourselves. And we identified baby steps on how we can get started on that right away.

I want to thank all of you for being so earnest, so open, so unadulterated in your sharing. Be it weak communication skills, tardiness, poor time management , lack of self-confidence , procrastination , indecisiveness, a short-temper, laziness, being judgmental, harshness, rudeness , being too serious, fear of making mistakes, selfishness, being critical , lack of focus, being disorganized, clinginess, arrogance, negativity , being anti-social, over sensitivity, it takes awareness and courage to put this out there and admit (to yourself, above all else) that these are areas you need to work on.

Enough with denying, running away , avoiding “ugly” traits about ourselves, because that only perpetuates the problem. Today marks the point where we live a life of honesty, of truth, of integrity. Today marks the point where we start living true to our highest self, where we become who we’re meant to be.
Now that we’ve laid our undesired traits on the table, today we’re going to create our ideal self.

Day 3: Knowing Your Ideal Self

Today’s task will take about 30-45 min.

Have you ever envisioned how your ideal self is like? How is he/she like?
Is he/she someone who is joyous, carefree, always smiling and happy?
Is he/she full of love, always spreading joy and love to everyone around him/her?
Is he/she passionate about life, driven and fueled by a hunger and thirst for betterment?
Is he/she tough, determined, persistent, never to back down in the face of challenges?
Is he/she full of strength and courage, and not afraid to go after all of his goals and dreams?
Is he/she assertive, confident, and not afraid to stand up for what he/she believes in?
Is he/she graceful, beautiful, and full of light?

Is he/she eloquent, sociable, and able to express him/herself freely, without restrain?
Back when I first worked on becoming a better me, I created an image of my ideal self.
I asked myself the following: What is my ideal self like? What do I see as the highest version of me? What does it mean to me, to be someone who is a 10/10?

From there, I imagined someone who is very positive, full of love and GRACE. I imagined her to be beautiful, both on the inside and out. I imagined her to be patient, nurturing, and warm. I imagine her to be feminine, demure, gentle and kind. I imagined her to be emotionally generous , always giving, and never asking anything back in return. I imagined her to be extremely kind and compassionate. I imagined her as a beacon of love, light and joy in the world – emanating love and light no matter where she is and where she goes.

When I pictured this ideal self, I couldn’t help but smile. I felt an inner state of peace and calmness. I knew this was the person I wanted to become. I knew that becoming such a person would give me more joy than anything else. And from there, I set forth to become such a person.
Your ideal self is someone whom you see as the highest you. What is your ideal self like? What do you see as the highest version of you? What does it mean to be someone who is 10/10? This is what we’re going to do now.

Your Task: Identify Your Ideal Self

Take out a new piece of paper and answer the following questions:
What is your ideal self like? Describe him/her as much as possible. Below are some helping points:

What traits does he/she possess?

What are his/her values in life?

How does your ideal self conduct him/herself around others?

How would you assess this ideal self on a scale of 1-10?

It should be a 10/10 – else it’d not be your ideal self!
If it’s not 10, redo Q1 until you get a 10/10 score.

What are 3 baby steps you can start right away to live in line with your ideal self?
Take action on them right away!

Schedule them in your calendar if they are time-based.

Day 3 Reflection for 30BBM
Is there anything you learned today?
This can be about yourself, other people, or other things in life.
This can be related/unrelated to the task, inspired by answers by other participants, inspired by the discussions in the community, due to something that happened in your life today that’s outside of 30BBM.
If so, what is it? Write it down.
Share Your Answers!
What is your ideal self like? What traits does he/she possess? What can you start doing today to become your ideal self?
Share your answers with the others in the comments area ! Check out others’ comments and share your thoughts!

Dau 2 UNDERSTAND YOUR NEGATIVE TRAITS

2011-08-01T16:53:00.000-05:00

2: Understand Your Negative Traits

Todays answers will take 3/4 to 1 hour to complete

Yesterday, we assessed ourselves earnestly. We rated ourselves on a scale of 1-10, on how we saw ourselves against our ideal, highest vision of ourselves. We explored ourselves thoroughly, looking deep inside and sieving through the traits deep inside us in the process.
Last but not least, we identified 5-7 traits which we want to work on, moving ahead.

All of us wrote down different traits. Abrasiveness. Desire for approval. Being quick to judge others. Laziness. Selfishness. Poor time management . Procrastination . Low confidence . Being critical . Being negative . Emotional stinginess . Self-hate. Being fearful . Being high strung. Shyness. Anti-social. Aloofness. Skepticism. Cynicism. Arrogance. Insecurity. Lack of self-discipline . Indecisiveness. Being disorganized. Weak communication skills. Judgmental. Presumptuous. Greedy. Self-centeredness. Impatience . Lack of focus .

While we may not be proud of these traits, it’s important to acknowledge them first and foremost, which is the point of the last step of yesterday’s exercise. Because awareness is the first step towards growth. As long as we refuse to acknowledge a certain trait, say arrogance, we can never improve in that area, even if we may be the most arrogant person in the world.
So what do we do with these negative traits, after identifying them?

The first thing I want you to know is that you shouldn’t reject them. Meaning – Say you hate that you are lazy, self-conceited, and disorganized. Rather than hate these traits about yourself, and beat yourself up over them, accept that you have these traits. Accept that you are lazy. Accept that you’re self-conceited. And accept that you’re disorganized. Accept that these make up who you are currently, and these are not things you’re proud of.

The reason why I say that is because resistance will only cause internal conflict, which prevents you from truly improving. The age old saying of “What you resist will persist” is very true in this case. The more you deny that you are X trait, say, lazy, the lazier you’ll become. The more you deny that you’re self-conceited, the more self-conceited you’ll become. And the more you deny that you’re disorganized, the more disorganized you’ll be. That’s because denying doesn’t solve the problem – it only makes you think the problem is not there , which further aggravates it.

What should we do about our negative traits? The first step is to understand them. Understand why we think we possess this X trait. Understand why this trait bothers us so, so that we have a clear reason for change. Then from there, have an immediate plan to change things around.
Which is what we’re doing for today’s task. Today, we’ll look into our undesired traits, such that we can begin the first step to becoming the better us.

Your Task: Understand Your Negative Traits

Take out a new piece of paper.
From the list of 5-7 traits you wrote on Day 1: Assess Yourself , pick out 3 key traits you want to work on this month.

Write down the 3 traits on your paper.

For example, if you have biggest issues with being presumptive, being fearful of taking action, and being fearful of criticism, your 3 traits will probably look like this: (1) Presumptuousness (2) Fear of taking action (3) Fear of criticism.
Feel free to pick more than 3 if you want! 3 is the minimum.
Rank them in order of 1-3, with #1 being the top trait you want to work on.

Starting with the first trait, answer the following:
Why do you think you are ?
Taking an example for Presumptuousness:
Why am I ? Because I think I know better than others. I often assume things about other people (and events), which later turn out to be untrue. I judge people based on certain actions they do, even though these actions may not be indicative of their full character/personality.

Why do you want to change this trait?
Continuing from example on Presumptuousness:
Why do I want to change this trait? Because it causes issues, such as having conflicts with people, creating unhappiness in others, assuming things only to realize they are wrong later on, and so on. These are things I want to avoid, because they are unnecessary in the grand scheme of things. They create problems which can be avoided if I’m not presumptuous in the first place.
What is one baby step you can do today to change this?
Continuing from example on Presumptuousness:
What is 1 baby step I can do today to change this? I will ask more questions rather than assume things – i.e. going by the motif of “When in doubt, ask”. I’ll give others the benefit of the doubt even if things go wrong. I’ll start to think positively, rather than negatively, of everyone I see today.
Repeat step #3 for the other 2 traits.
Schedule the action steps (your answers to step #3.3) in your August calendar.
Do this if the steps cannot be actioned on today.
This ensures what you plan gets translated into reality and commits you to action.
Again, feel free to write as much as you want! The more, the better.
Day 2 Reflection for 30BBM
Is there anything you learned today?

This can be about yourself, other people, or other things in life.
This can be related/unrelated to the task, inspired by answers by other participants, inspired by the discussions in the community, due to something that happened in your life today that’s outside of 30BBM.
If so, what is it? Write it down.
Share Your Answers!

Assess Yourself BBM Day 1

2011-08-01T15:27:00.000-05:00

#30BBM Day 1 – Assess Yourself

This is Day 1 of “Be a Better Me in 30 Days” (30BBM) August 2011 Challenge.!

This month of August is going to be a month of change and conscious action. For the next 30 days, we are going to be working on a series of tasks to build our character and work towards our ideal persona. I want you to bear in mind that August is the month to Be a Better YOU. This means that regardless of what you do, people you meet, situation you’re in, I want you to challenge yourself on how you can make something better (even if you’re handling everything very well). Then, apply that insight right away. Because being a better us happens every moment, every second – not just limited to doing a specific task on a specific day from a specific course (30BBM).

I want you to commit yourself fully to 30BBM. Chunk away redundant, less important tasks you have in August right now and dedicate yourself to the daily tasks in 30BBM. Don’t even give yourself any excuse or reason to skip any day’s task. Know that no matter what happens, all of us are here to support each other, so share everything openly in your daily post.

30BBM is meant to be a “Live”, community-driven challenge, so don’t just read the tasks quietly every day and disengage from the community. You’ll experience little like this. Rather, share your results. Read what others have to say (We have a huge group of participants and you definitely don’t need to read all the comments – just a small handful is fine). Reply to the ones that resonate with you. Post a helpful note to 1-2 fellow participants if you can. If everyone of us does this, we’ll take away so much more from this experience. The more we share, the more we’ll be able to learn.

Imagine all of us inside one, large, beautiful, magnificent room right now, basked in glorious, golden light – all eager to be a better us, all yearning to push our growth to the next level. The passion each of you have for your growth is overwhelming me, truly. I’m incredibly touched by your never-wavering commitment towards betterment, and I’m very honored to be here with you on your growth journey.

If you haven’t yet, set aside an hour every day (in August) for the daily tasks. I recommend to set it first thing in the morning, such that you can read the task at the start of the day, and you have the rest of the day to do the task.

That said, this is exactly what I relish in (publishing personal boundaries and what is “defined” by others as possible), and this is what I invite all of you to do in 30BBM as well. Because it’s precisely when one is made to do what he/she is normally accustomed to do where real growth occurs.

Day 1 – Assess Your Personality

Today’s task will take about 30-45 min.

“Men of genius are admired, men of wealth are envied, men of power are feared; but only men of character are trusted.”Alfred Adler

As you know, 30BBM is to be a better us. It’s created so we can develop our character, to weed out our bad character traits, to build new, desired traits, to cultivate universal values, to re-discover ourselves – so that we become the highest person we can be proud of.

When I was in university, I didn’t like myself very much. While I was very good in what I did and put my 110% in everything I was a part of, be it in my studies, in my fashion design work , my extra-curricular activities, my project work, and was overall a very well-rounded, high performing, and highly accomplished individual (compared to the peer group), there would be often times when I wasn’t happy with how I was, on the inside.

For example, I hated how I was always so critical of others . It was great in that this part of me pushed boundaries and created the best results each time, but I often ended up having a strong distaste for people I worked with on projects (usually people who were not as committed, did things at the last minute, etc), even though I really just wanted to make pure, unadulterated connections with everyone, regardless of who they were or how they were like.
I hated how I had such a hard personality – that as much as I wanted to be a kind, pure, warm individual, that I would come across as rude, brash, masculine, critical, pinpointed, against my better wishes, because I deemed these as repulsive traits.
I hated how I was selfish – always thinking about myself and my needs in life, rather than for others.

I hated how there would be times when I would be negative and complain about every single thing, rather than get a grip of myself and get a handle of the situation.
I hated how I was such an emotionally stingy person, always looking for positive affirmations and emotional displays from others, rather than doing that myself.
I remember at that time thinking – If there were things about my personality that I didn’t like, why not work on it directly as a goal ? For if there was one thing I was good at, it would be setting goals , identifying action steps , and achieving them .

And that I did. I started assessing my character. I identified the things I liked about myself, and the things I didn’t like about myself. Thereby, I thought about the ideal traits I wanted to possess – the ideal persona I wanted to achieve. I then created a plan plan to integrate these traits, one after another, and set off to make them a part of me. Every day, I would make a commitment to live through to my ideal traits.

For this week, we’re going to be working on the series of steps above – one at a time. For today’s task, you’ll be assessing yourself.

Your Task: Assess Yourself

The first task of 30BBM is to assess your personality.
Take out a pen and a piece of paper, and answer the following questions:
If you were to rate yourself on a scale of 1-10 (in terms of your personality), how much would you rate yourself? Would you give yourself a 1? Would you give yourself a 10? A 3? A 5? A 7?
Be as honest as possible. You know yourself the best. While people can only know you by how you behave and what you choose to say, you know all the thoughts that goes through your head the whole time. Are you the person others think you are? Or are you someone else? No body knows the real you better than you.

Many people think that giving yourself a score of 1-2/10 means you dislike yourself. That’s complete bullshit and it can’t be further away from the truth. Your score merely indicates how far you see yourself from your potential, ideal self (which is a 10). The bigger the gap, the higher you see your potential for growth.
So if you put yourself as 1/10, that means you see huge potential to be better – which makes it easy to be a better you. On the other hand, those who rate themselves as 9/10 or 10/10 often don’t grow much – because they already think they’re good enough. Which is fine by itself, but I believe most of us who joined the challenge do so because we recognize growth is transcendent, and there can never be an end point to how good we can be.

Why did you give yourself the score in Q1?
State down specific reasons why – At least 3-5 points to explain your score.
Elaborate as much as you can. The more you write, the better.
Now, write down 5-7 traits about yourself you want to work on.
These can be traits you don’t like about yourself, or traits you are okay with but you want to eradicate because they serve no value to you.
Remember, elaborate as much as you want. The more you write, the better.
Question 3 is actually a lead-in for Day 2′s task. Tomorrow, we will be delving into the character traits we want to work on (ergo looking deeper into your Q3 answers) – so stay tuned.

Day 1 Reflection for 30BBM

For each 30BBM task, we’ll have a quick reflection session. This is to identify and collect our learnings and reflections, rather than just do the task for the sake of doing it.
Is there anything you learned today? (Be it about yourself, or about other things.)

If so, what is it? Write it down.

A Soundtrack for my Love

2011-07-15T11:46:00.000-05:00

A Soundtrack for My Love.

Before you start thinking I'm about to pull out Marvin Gaye's "Let's Get It On" and seranade him, I think you should know that I have taken another lover.

The potato vodka has been temporarily replaced by a new, sweeter man.And that man is....Mr. Nutella.Once again, Laps introduced him to me. It all started the other night...I came home from a rough day of work. It was an extra long day, and so I flopped on the couch and put my arm over my eyes.

The next thing I knew, Laps was waving this buttered bread in front of me, except it wasn't butter. It was some sort of chocolate-looking spread."What is this?" I demanded."Nutella. Just try it."So I did.And then I made him make me another one.Which he did.Because I'm the boss.Obviously.I seriously could not get enough of the stuff in my mouth. Soon after, Laps kept catching me moaning while I loaded the hazelnutty goodness onto spoons. And when I wasn't eating it,
I was thinking about it.

Later, the answer to every question someone asked me was, "Nutella."

This proved quite awkward whilst at the gynecologist the other day. Yesterday after school, I came home and immediately grabbed another loving spoonful.

When Laps proceeded to give me a hard time, I told him I was going into the kitchen to make sweet love to the Nutella.

His response? "Leave the spoon." I decided that I should make a soundtrack to listen to whilst eating my new love.

Without further ado, and in no particular order, here is said soundtrack. Enjoy, friends, and get lickin'!1. I'll Make Love to You Boyz II Men (Yeah, that's right. I'm bringing them back.)2. You're the Inspiration Peter Cetera3. You Were Always on My Mind Willie Nelson4. When I Think About You, I Touch Myself The Divinyls5. Truly, Madly, Deeply Savage Garden6. Pour Some Sugar (Nutella) On Me Def Leppard7. U Got It Bad Usher8. Afternoon Delight Starland Vocal Band9. Forever Your Girl Paula Abdul10. Candy Shop 50 Cent11. Do That to Me One More Time Captain and Tennille12. Saving All My Love for You Whitney HoustonAm I missing any songs? Please let me know. I want this soundtrack to be absolutely perfect. Nutella deserves it.

2011-07-07T11:03:00.000-05:00

We must remember our power.
We are stronger than our circumstances. We can influenceand transcend our environment.
Our natural ability to reason plus the intuition we were born with are invaluable tools that can help to bring us out of undesiredcircumstances.
One major issue that holds a lot of Seekers back is the belief that they are not worthy to receive something better. Before anything of greater value can come in to our lives we must begin to believe we are worthy of people, circumstances and a life that has greater value.
If we are keeping ourselves stuck in an abusive or toxic relationship, what will begin to change that is our thoughts and belief that we are worthy of happiness within our relationships.
If we lack the financial abundance we desire, the belief that we are more valuableis core to changing our situation.
Once we have the thoughts and beliefs of greater self-esteem, then we can begin to take action. Action from this place may look like breaking up with a person we are in a toxic relationship with. It may look like continuing our education to learn greater skillsthat will set us free financially. Or it might look like simply charging more for our products or services because we have come to realize how valuable they truly are.
Action might also look like moving, either to a new part of town, the state or to a whole new city or country.
It is in our thoughts of unworthiness that we create a life that is out of harmonywith what we truly desire. Slowly, day by day, as we change our thoughts from thoughts of unworthiness to worthiness, from doubting our dreams and intuition to believing,we will begin to take subtle different actions. These actions will eventually addup one at a time until we don't even recognize our life anymore.
We all want something to change in our lives. We want to grow. We want to evolve.
We want love.
We desire abundance.
We must begin by acknowledging our worth. We are not worthy because of a degree, an honor or a grade. We are all equally worthy to live this kind of elevated lifestyle because we are all Loved children of The Uni-verse. We must each realize that we are already worthy and then begin to take action from this place of already being worthy, while at the same time honor the worthiness of everyone else we meet.We are powerful beings. Let us step into that power today and declare our worthinessas already existing.

Are you feeling worthy today?~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Love Fu

2011-06-29T14:13:00.000-05:00

Those that challenge you the most are also your greatest teachers.

Thank them, for they are the ones that call you to live your highest potential.

They are the opportunity for you to face yourself, your fears and those parts of you that you don’t like, for they will expose it.

They are the opportunity to see how you stop loving and to love bigger.

They invite you to live the books, your prayers and your spirituality.

Often when we are faced with a challenging individual, we get angry. We might defend our point, want to fight, be righteous, judge or collapse in fear.

Most of all those that challenge us, give us the opportunity to love.
But we must first shift our perception, how we view the situation and that person.
Here are some steps:

1 -Shift: See that person/situation as a gift. They are the opportunity for you to grow and love more.

2 – Let go: Give up being right and commit to being FREE. Nothing/No one is worth your happiness or peace. Life is way too short.

3 – Realize: They are reflecting something for you to see, a part of yourself that you need to own, an old wound that you get to heal and let go.

4 – Responsibility: Take the focus off of them, take responsibility and learn your lesson. Embrace it. Graduate from the experience and move on.

5 - Release: Accept the person exactly as they are. Perhaps that might mean you will need to let them go from your life or shift the dynamics of your relationship. Stop fighting what they are.

6 – Communicate: Either communicate with them directly if appropriate or simply bless them and let them go within your own heart. Since everything is energy and we are all interconnected, the good vibes that you send that person will affect them.

7 – Appreciate: Acknowledge your growth and learning. Focus on what you received, and the person you became as a result, rather than what was taken.

Remember: When someone attacks you, they are in a lot of pain. And even though it is directed at you, it most often isn’t about you. It isn’t personal, even though it seems that way and they might even feel that way.

You can choose to fight fire with fire, but this only creates more devastation. When someone attacks you, they want to engage you in a fight. If you attack back, you are now caught up in a vicious cycle.

Even if you win the fight… no one really wins. Let go. Focus on freedom and resolution.

It takes two people to fight. When you don’t engage the attack energy, soon your adversary will be left fighting with her/himself. Then the energy will dissipate.

If you drop to the level of your “attacker”, you perpetuate the cycle of endless negativity. Your “attacker” will try to use your energy to keep a war going. But if you don’t engage, then there is no resistance. They will have no fuel to keep fighting you with.

If someone gives you a gift, but you decline to accept it, to whom does the gift belong? It still belongs to the other person!

Rise above it. Disengage. Step to the side. Redirect. Live your freedom.
So, practice Love Fu. Then “Peace” is no longer just a sweet T-shirt slogan. And Love is not just some nice mantra. But Love becomes a daily reality and the opportunity in action for you to live.

Summertime Yumminess

2011-06-29T09:55:00.000-05:00

Summertime Yumminess

1) Cooking squash stir fry this afternoon…this has become a summertime tradition for us & I absolutely love it! And they’re oh so yummy

2) big smooches on little girl cheeks. Scrumptious.

3) the sound of rain

4) Veggie steamers cooked in garlic/white wine yummines.

5) an amazing new recipe I tried this evening…so so good–risotto with asparagus, snow peas, squash, Parmesan, shallots, white wine, lemon–so delicious.

6) a brand new book that I can’t wait to read.

7) good friends

8) I so appreciate it when I went to the hospital saw Kelly and Greg enjoy each other after the birth of Lucy.

9) a little time to have a conversation with Larry without 2 dozen interruptions

10) Kleenex…So necessary when the joy of a new born

My Day June 28, 2011

2011-06-28T16:54:00.000-05:00

I have been busy today. Busy doing nothing. I had a disagreement with Autumn on Sunday and my nerves have been upset ever since. She is so mixed up about so many things and usually she takes my word over others. However this time she said some things that I knew she had been brained washed with and I tried to help her see the truth.....Oh! well there are time you have to just let things go.

The baby was born (kelly's baby) on Sunday and she is beautiful. She was given my nick name, Lucy. Now I have a dog and a baby named after me. That is so sweet.

I am going to the hospital tonight and visit with her.

In Appreciation of My Body

2011-06-24T14:45:00.000-05:00

Below is a wish for myself

It is the future of me, as I become.I did it for me. I did it for my daughters.
I stood before the mirror. Naked. I had scars and I still have scars. Scars that can be seen by the eye and scars embedded deep within.
The beauty was always there but my eyes could not always see it.It took love and it took time. It took acceptance. It took love.Love. Love for me. Love for my daughters.
But my weight and my rolls kept me at bay. I looked in the mirror. Naked. And I finally saw. Me. I am a spirit I have a soul and I live in a body. But my body is my home in this life. Its health, its strength, its vitality is paramount to feel joy, to feel pain, to be. It is the eyes through which I see, the hands through which I touch, and the mouth through which I taste. It allows me to see love, to feel love, to taste love.
In that moment I looked and I looked and I looked. I looked with love, with care and with compassion. I cried. I understood. No matter size, no matter shape, no matter moment, this body carries me. This body houses me, and this body deserves me.That was the moment it all changed. That was the moment I decided to feel love. To be love. That was the moment I first uttered these words aloud:

May I be filled with loving-kindness
May I be well
May I be peaceful and at ease
May I be happy
From that day forward, I began my mornings with those words, I ended my days with those words, and I repeated them in the moments of self doubt and in moments of pain. Slowly and surely I bathed myself in compassion, in the compassion I readily gave to others but rarely gave to myself.
Things began to change.No longer did food take mindless prominence in my life. It was integrated in a joyful and loving way. I took pride in my food and created meals with love. Gratitude and thanks were spoken before food was eaten. Farmers were acknowledged for their time and energy and my girls came to learn from where our food came.And I ran but no longer from myself.
I ran because it was love in motion. My heart beat loud in my chest. My breath strong, rhythmic, urging me forward. My legs slowly felt stronger, the jiggle dissipating. I felt strong and worthy. As I ran and as I nourished myself a strange thing happened. I realized it wasn’t about my weight. It was about my worth. I felt joy readily and I allowed myself to feel pain. And, the weight---it came off. And I walked tall and proud.The chip bag crinkles loudly now. No longer do I shamefully sneak cookies hoping no one will notice. No longer are candy wrappers hidden in bedside table drawers. I eat them, blissfully enjoying each bite. And yes, there are still moments of weakness, moments I am not mindful, moments I am not compassionate. But I acknowledge those moments now, and I repeat to myself:

May I be filled with loving-kindness
May I be well
May I be peaceful and at ease
May I be happy.

2011-06-23T16:43:00.000-05:00

June 23, 2011

Nobody born automatically goes to Heaven. Instead, you were born traveling straight down the road to Hell. It is Jesus our Savior who SAVES us from that road to Hell and puts us in the direction of Heaven. That is why it is called "being saved." He is rescuing us from something. He is rescuing us from our sins which send us to that final destination of hell.

For example, let's say you are out in the ocean and drowning. Wondrously, you see a boat drawing near. The boat captain throws out to you a life preserver. You know that if you grab hold of that life preserver it will save you from your terminal destination which is drowning to death. It'd be a huge misconception if you thought you were already pre-saved and wouldn't eventually drown.

Grabbing hold of that lifeline of salvation is a choice that you and me and we all have to make. It is a choice, our own decision, on whether we choose God's eternal rescue or not. If you are swimming out in the ocean and you push the life preserver away, it is you who choose to die. It is you who choose to drown. It is your choice. Jesus in John 3:36 teaches this reality, "Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life. But whoever rejects the son will not see life, because God's wrath remains on him."

If you haven't already, choose to be saved today. Turn to Jesus your Savior and ask Him to save you from your sins and the just sentence of Hell.

While there may be a lot of misconceptions about the afterlife and how we get there that are meant to cofuse the reality of it all, we can learn what the real deal is in the Bible.

CELEBRATE THE MAKING OF ME

2011-06-11T18:24:00.000-05:00

A SIMPLE PATH TO THE MAKING OF ME

"I never had a policy; I have just tried to do my very best each and every day."

Abraham Lincoln

I was invited to play softball on our local team. I had played for years and always was the picture. This year was different. I had not played in a couple of years and did not know if I still had the edge.

I was nervous driving to my first game. Did I still have it, What if I can't pitch like I use to?

The questions buzzed my mind.

My turn up to bat, this was my weakest position. I got a base hit. Going for one isn't bad, but I would like to knock it out of the ball park one time.

After the game, I changed out of my uniform. Once finished, I tossed my bat and glove over my shoulder and strolled out of the dugout without much energy. I don't see the girl waiting for me.

"will you teach me to pitch like you?" the young girl asked.

I patted her on the head and said, "Sure."

On the way home, I thought about the game. I am a good pitcher, because I can consecrate but my batting was upsetting to me. Time to hit the park.

Larry, suggested to me that the reason the girl asked me to teach her to play wasn't because I had a great game, but because I was in the game.

CELEBRATE THE MAKING OF ME. Celebrate the long hours I had put into pitching. Celebrate how I hit softball after softball until my hands bleed. Celebrate the times I am on the practice fill instead of in front of the television. Celebrate how softball is making me into a lady of passion.

Sometimes the simple path to the making of me isn't defined by one great moment, but by all the moments when the more difficult choice is made.

Love Yourself Without Becoming Full of Yourself

2011-02-10T09:38:00.000-06:00

I am beating the same old drum a little different
Do I know how to truly love myself?
Or am I so engrossed in myself to the point of being vain and arrogant?
There is this phrase – proud as a peacock, which is used to refer to someone who is excessively proud and full of themselves. Are you/am I a peacock.

Just how much one should love themselves.
The answer is there is no limit.
We should love ourself so much that you could eat ourself!
For years I did not understand this concept of self-love. I was brought up to believe that it’s not good or “nice” to put myself before others.
Louise Hay talks about this in her book You Can Heal Yourself , where as a child at parties, she would always let others get the cake first. And of course she would end up with none.
Self love is about putting yourself first – we can consider the needs of others too, but not at our detriment.
And we all do this – I am a classic case.
In the past, I have so often given my energy and time to others and there has been a huge imbalance. So no more.
So putting myself first is one aspect about self-love. But what if people go the other way? At what point does self-love become selfish and arrso full of themselves that you could hardly be in their presence for too long. I have a sister who believes that the whole world revolves around her– and that she is better and more beautiful, and above everyone else.
However, here’s the thing – such people are actually the ones who are really short on self-love. And that’s why they need to have external social indicators and all that peacocking to prove their worth to themselves and others.
“An empty man is full of himself.” – Edward Abby
There is this anecdotal story of the time when Gandhi met the King of Great Britain in London and he wore his simple wrap around cloth.
A journalist asked Gandhi, “Mr Gandhi, did you feel under-dressed when you met the King?”
Gandhi replied, “The King was wearing enough clothes for both of us!”
So I ask myself – am I so full of myself that I have covered myself with all this external clothing and peacock feathers?
Also, remember that self love is not about being narcissistic !
True self love means being totally comfortable in our skin and not ever wanting external vindication of our being and worth.
True self love means being kind and loving towards ourself no matter what.
It’s all about coming to the realisation that there is nothing wrong with me, and that we are perfect just the way we are.

Loving ourself is all about doing the right things for your mind, body and soul. Here are some simple ideas to get you started:-
Go for walks in the park. Even better if you can do in the early morning
Eat healthy food only – remember we are what you eat. So eat organic food as much as you can. Cut out junk food completely
Drink alcohol in moderation – or none at all
Pamper ourself daily and often – gentle massage, bath, whatever you fancy
I look for friends who energise me . We are who we associate with. AND THAT MY DARLING IS YOU.
I work at de-cluttering life. This is a big one for me.
I am very mindful of myself – I watch my self talk.
I Get plenty of rest. Listen to my body and accordingly sleep more or sleep less
I Cut down on late nights, I limit myself to 2 late nights a week
I am on alert fo activities that really make me come alive
I connect with my inner child – I am learning to chill out more and be childlike .
If you have additional ideas share with me.. I am Learning how to really pamper myself and to make myself feel good.
I Boost my self-esteem as much as I can – applying daily the 9 powerful ways to boost your self esteem I wrote about earlier this week.
An easy way of finding things I truly enjoy is to check in with myself. Pause and ask myself it it feels good or not.

When Enough Really Is Enough

2011-02-08T08:45:00.001-06:00

When Enough Really Is Enough

There are times in my life when I have really gotten to the end of my rope, shouting out to the Universe, or whoever will listen, "ENOUGH IS ENOUGH ALREADY!!!" One more "growth opportunity" and I'll just go crazy. When will it ever end so I can live in peace, happiness, and harmony?
Ever been to that point? I certainly have.
It is often during these times of feeling that we can't take it anymore that the grace of the Divine takes over and shows us the way.
When we finally get to the point of surrender, a release occurs. When the need to control has been exhausted, we let go. It is the letting go that creates the new opening.
Some of my most difficult trials provide the fuel I need to really begin to shift my lives in a new direction. If things always remained the same, stagnation would sink in. Growth cannot happen when things have become stagnant. A still pond begins to get stinky. The wind, waves, currents, and constant fluctuations are what keeps the flow going.
Although we need to be shaken up sometimes in order to wake up from our habitual state of sleep-walking, there does come a time when I have become paralyzed, unable to even move. It is during these times that our vulnerabilities surface and we have no choice but to allow Divine help to come in. Enough is enough and we just can't possibly go on the way we have been.
A blessing is occurring here.
The shift is happening.
It is a time to embrace rather than try to force away or get rid of. What we resist really does persist.
When things really have gotten to be too much to handle, I surrender to the divine within me, ask for help, open up to all the assistance that is right there at my side, just waiting for me to give the word. I will notice that people start to come into your life to offer guidance and help, I am led to the information that I need, and what once seemed to be too much to handle will begin to dissipate, allowing a brand new way of being to take place.
When I have lost touch with what matters most to me, I turn to the tools of Spring Cleaning, Bragging, Gratidues, favorite frames and desires and our wonderful world of Sister Goddesses,who offer support and sometimes just being there.

2011-02-05T11:14:00.001-06:00

World Best Trained Man

2011-01-19T12:31:00.000-06:00

I got the above title from non other than Mama (Regina) When she was married her husband Bruce, would hold classes with us, and that is what he was know as. Now on with me!!! All of you know by now that I have a son (Mark). Mark and I have always had an open relationship. In his teen years if he had any girl problems he would come to me and we would discuss the challenges he was having. Relationships change and as they did so he would come to me and again we whould have an honest look at his side of the problem as well as hers. His girl friends would also come to me for advise. Mark at 16 started dating Benita. Benita soon learned to call me when they had a problem.I would set Mark down and explain how Benita felt vs how he felt.My knowledge in the man Psyci. kept these two together all through high school.A 4 year term in the Army, and her getting her educational degree. The marriage did not last and when he came home from the Army a year later they divorced.The two years he was in the Army Benita had no contact with me.When Mark came home he found out she had been seeing other men while he was gone. The next marriage I developed an enduring relatioship with Jennifer, and still love her till today.When she and Mark would have problems, she would call me and we would talk things through.She would call Mark and plan a time for them to talk with me present.Through my sheer desire for them to live together and raise Autumn (granddaughter).I was very much her mother, more so than her biological mother.When the truth that she was a lesie came out, it was to me Mark turned.She thought she had this hid from me, and was shocked when she found out I knew. I can say, through Mark's Marriages and relationships he has always been open with me and sought my advise in time of distress. Just this week he called for advice on what to do with his present relationship. I always taught him to be a gentlemanto be kind, and considerateand remember that men and womenare very different and see thingsthrough different eyes. I get a kick out of it and a big smile when I hearhim talk to his sons, and he is repeatingthe things he learned at his Mama's knee.

The Secrets of Attractiveness

2011-01-16T14:10:00.001-06:00

The Secret of Attractivemess

"For attractive lips, speak words of kindness, For lovely eyes,

week out the good in people, For a slim figure share your

food with the hungry, For Beautiful hair, let a child run their fingers through it

once a day, For poise walk with the knowledge that you never walk alone.

People, more than things, have to be restored, renewed, revived, reclaimed,

and redeemed. Remember, if you ever need a helping hand, you will find one

at the end of each of yours arms. As you grow older, you will discover

that you have tow hands one for helping yourself and the other for

helping others." Audrey Hepburn

I love this quote by the lovely Miss Hepburn, because as much as I

believe in treating yourself well, I believe it is equally important to share that

love with others. Service, to those you love, or total strangers, helps to build your

strength, and apppreciatins for what you have.

Happy Day

2011-01-11T13:03:00.000-06:00

National Champs

2011-01-10T19:34:00.000-06:00

Today is January 10, 2011

We are in the middle of an ice storm. many were not able to catch their flight due to ice.

We see things as we are

2010-03-30T14:09:00.000-05:00

We see things as we are

Perception is very important. It's so easy for me to think that things are a certain way and that everything is in my control. It's so easy to believe that things are a certain way for a reason that we cannot begin to effect, but this is simply not true. One of my favorite quotes is: "We don't see things as they are; we see them as we are." The construction of our individual worlds, and the people, places, and opportunities in them, is completely determined by our perspective.

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The mood I'm in that day, The the things that have happened to me in life, the way I was raised, the things I have learned (or not learned as the case sometimes maybe), all affect how I view the world and, in turn the actual state of my world.

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It is easy to forget how much my personal perception impacts my day-to-day life. Simply taking a step back and thinking about a situation, person, or emotion from a different perspective can completely change it. However, I often get so caught up in the moment (living in the present -- which is good, to a point) that I often forget that it is through my eyes that this moment exists. The way I see it, the spin I put on it, is up to me. Every minute of every day there is a chance to see things from a million different perspectives.

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I remember a time when I had a discussion with someone, felt as if I understood him or her, and then later found out that I was completely wrong in your interpretation. Interacting with other people are difficult precisely for this reason -- I see things through my unique view. To realize this is exciting -- just think of all the ways to see the world! -- but it is also overwhelming. If I seeing things slightly different, how can I ever communicate effectively with another? Anyone who has ever been in a friendship, relationship, or had parents or siblings knows that communication is difficult -- no matter what. But one way I can make it easier is to think about how the other person might be seeing the world. Yes, this can be dangerous; making assumptions almost always comes with risk, but it can be helpful to at least recognize that another person may not be viewing the world the same way you do.

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This recognition can also help us realize that we have the opportunity to choose to view the world differently. For years and years, I chose to view the world through a half-empty glass, always focusing on the negative. Seeing the world this way, for whatever reason, came naturally to me, but it made my life (and the lives of those around me) much harder than it needed to be. Long before I had ever read the quote above, I came to realize that it's up to me to change how I see the world. Of course it is much easier to go with my default negative point of view, but I am much happier when I choose to look at the world through different lenses. My world, and the worlds of those who interact with me, are completely impacted by the perspective I choose to take. It's not always easy to choose the positive perspective, but I find that every time I do, the world around me improves.

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Even if we cannot choose the "right" perspective all the time, it is important to at least be conscious of the fact that there are multiple perspectives, not only in the world, but within ourselves. Though at times it may be difficult, we have the power to change our views of the world, and even the smallest, slightest change can have a huge impact on our lives.

Celebration of Spring

2010-03-25T12:55:00.000-05:00

"The seasons have changed & the days are getting longer. we wake up to the sunlight & go to bed with the warmth of the season filtering in through open window screens. the seasons change, we change. we grow, we move on. we learn new things each day; ways to be better people, ways in which we are strong, ways that hurt. each day we are given a chance to start new, to dissolve past regrets, to become the person we truly want to be. we are incredible creatures & we exist for a reason. each & every one of us. it may take years, decades, to discover this reason but it’s there! it’s there. perhaps it’s like love, we only find it hidden when we stop searching. it comes to us. we are incredible creatures, never forget that." You Are Remarkable
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For those of you living in America, Saturday was the official start of spring. Where I live it's really starting to feel like springtime (which isn't always the case this time of year) and it's wonderful! Though summer will always be my favorite time of year, I hold a special place in my heart for spring because it means that in only a few short months summer will arrive, and this weekend I had a chance to take in the beautiful weather and enjoy the beginning of a new season. As I was indulging in the elements of spring, I got to thinking about the best ways to enjoy this time of year. It sometimes seems like one minute it's winter and the next it's summer. So, for me, it's important that I take advantage of this time of year while it lasts. Here are some ideas I came up with for enjoying the spring-y weather:

Ways to Enjoy Spring

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Take a long walk.
Set up a picnic.
Wear flip-flops.
Open your windows.
Snap photos of the season.
Sit outside at a restaurant.
Engage in spring cleaning.
Buy (or bring out) a fun, new outfit.
Pay attention to nature.
Visit the zoo or park.
Go for a drive.
Celebrate with friends.

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Spring is the gateway to summer and I'm so happy that it's finally arrived. The more I think about it, the more I realize that there are many, many more ways to enjoy spring. I'd love to hear about them so feel free to share your springtime ideas with me.

How are you taking advantage of spring?

What are your favorite ways to enjoy the season?

Home coming

2010-03-17T17:58:00.000-05:00

March 17, 2009.Today is Daddy's home coming. I know that sounds strange, we usually say home going.I like to look at it as a coming, coming back to the one who died for us.He loved St. Patricks Day, and God loved him so much he let him come home on his favorite day.Can you see it, a holiday, and in some cultures gifts are given. Daddy got the best presenthe will ever receive..Since my last post, things have been happening, and I have just let them happen.Larry has a saying, "It is what it is."I went a week without a computer, while mine was in computer hospital, and sad to say she is still not working correct..I last wrote about our first call, and it was everything and more than expectation.I fly to NYC this Friday for my first of five classes. Yaaaa.I talk to Autumn every day and can't wait to call her from New York. She is having boy problems. I have offered to gather all the boys up and move them to Alaska, she thinksI am mean..Larry has left for church, and this is the first night I have been alone this week..Oh! yes, I heard this on TV kinda worldy but here goes.This character was married to one brother and pregrant with the other borthers child.A friend, asked her "I you could paint the perfect picture for you to be living in what would it be?".I thought about this and I painted in my mind the perfect picture for my life.Everything would stay the same here in my apartment. I would have a house southof Birmingham that I owned and I could go there on weekends, and any time through the week when Larry was getting on my nerves. I would be free to live where I wanted to with out a hassle. This is my supreme desire..A wise Prophet said, "Ask and it will be given unto you..I am so looking forward to this manifesting.I may not talk to you again untill I get back from NY, I will catch up with you then.

Pink Heels

2010-03-03T14:36:00.000-06:00

Tonight, it starts, the beginning of a dream I have waited for for over 3 years.Mystery begins. Tonight is the first of many phone calls, next is my first of many trips to NYC I have my ticket purchased,all I need is to pack my suitcase. I am praying for good weather and an uneventful flight. I believe a few of the things we will be hearing lots about are:GraditudeDesire listBraggingSpring cleaning I have been trying to come up with my theme song. I am still blank on this one. My desires for this class are:I want to fall in love with the very essence of being me.Lear how to love life with purpose and passion.Being excepting of those who have different values than me. Keeping in step with things, I am grateful:For the bed I sept in, the roof over my head, the carpet and tile under my feet,the shoes, the refrigerator that keeps my food cold, the car that I drive, my job,my friends. I am grateful for the stores that make it so easy to buy the things I need,the restaurants, the utilities, services, and electrical appliances that make my life effortless.I am grateful for the magazines and the books that I read. I am grateful for the chair that Isit on, and the pavement that I walk on. I am grateful for the weather, the sun, the sky, therain, the snow, the birds, or lack there of. I am grateful for my family and friends. For the air I breathe, and so much more. I desire:Autumn to be living with us, for healing and piece of mind. I desire for Mark's court isues to be over so he can return to his home. I desire for us to have many fun days this summer as we go about reconstructing his house. I desire for Autumn to be able to visit with us. I desire for Larry and I to be living back in our house that we live in before the divorce. I desire health and healing for Larry's body. I desire for Jim and Jeal to have a healthy baby. I desire continue protection for David during and after his deployment. I desire for Landon to find a good job so he can support himself. I desire good transiction for Mother going to a nursing home. I desire for Mother's posession to be handled with grace and love. I desire forgivess between my sisters.I desire a hot sassy group of sister goddesses to play with here in Birmingham. I desire a 25%increase in business. I desire to wear high heels again, to loose 50#. New glasses, and teeth. I am so looking forward to tonights call it is the beginning of lots of, rockingand rolling, dancing and flirting, living and loving,going higher and higher.

Peace and Clean

2010-03-01T11:00:00.000-06:00

I woke this mornign peaceful. I was able to spend some quiet time before starting my day.I was in my office not giving much thought to anything except what I was doing. Suddenly it doned on me, the air is clearer, and the energy in the room has changed. I stopped and meditated on this wondering the difference. .Then it hit me, sickness had left our house. Sickness dries up energy. Energy cannot performe where a contray emotion exist..I am sure some of you are facing sickness, or some other form of trial. Our attention of course must go to these problems that have attached themselfves to our life. Jesus has assured us that his will is for our wholeness, in every area of our life. If we have a problem we are to call for the elders of the church, letting them pray over us anointing us with oil and the pray of faith will save the sick. I cannot write any more now, Larry is wanting me to go get lunch. Later

Week of 22nd

2010-02-28T19:00:00.000-06:00

My week has been petty much in the norm for me.I went to my networking group Thrusday night. I was greated by our leader Mark and was able to ask him some questions that had been troubling me..I got my hair cut, and conversation with hair styles was very invergratering, Her father is full blooded Black Hawk Indian. She has been married 11 years and want to have a baby..Saturday was spent talking with Autumn. A little over an hour in the am and over 1 1/2hours in the pm..Today I went to church, this was my first time at this church. I liked the people and Pastor Mark was teaching. Looking a the schedule I think there will be some programs I will be interresting in. Time will tell..

cycle of life

2010-02-28T18:43:00.000-06:00

Page Jessie Loxley 12 years ago our grnaddaughter broung home a tiny, litter of the pack puppy. When larry saw her he knew we were in for a ride. I was off to wal mark for the necessary supplies. We needed a name. Two little girls in our life one was named page, and the other was jessie, loxley was just a girls name. so we called her pj loxley. some called her pj me encluded and others called her loxley. She was the bully of the condo conplex where we lived and we knew she needed a place to roam yet be protected. The perfect place became available and she went to live with Larry's mother. She had a fenced in yard and she could run and chase whatever and was very happy there. Larry's moter died around 3 years ago, and pj came to live with us. This has not been the best place for her as she was in all the time. She was a terrie and they are very active dogs.She has been sick, very sick for the last month are longer. The last few days she had lost controll of her body fluids. Larry told me this morning if she was not better tomorrow he was taking her to the Vet, and let them send her to dog heaven. Today she lost all controll and was using our house as a bathroom, she could not help it, but all controll was gone. When I go home from church Larry was here keeping close watch on her.She was in her bed and seemed to be okay. Around 2pm Larry went to check on her, he let out a dad gum it, real loud, I knew something was very wrong. Larry said, "Call the Vet, it is time."We carried her to the dog hospital, she was laying lifeless with her tongue hanging out.Larry passed her to the dr while I filled out the necessary paper work. OUT PJ IS IN DOG HEAVEN She was 12 years 14 days young. I don't know how you believe, but I believe if we ask God he will give us our anamils in heaven. Yes, I believe there will be animals in heaven. No dogs are not immortal, but some how God will allow us to have a dog with the same mannerism, looks andlove as the ones we have down here. I just wanted to write this in honor of our PJ

What would your sign say?

2010-02-24T18:09:00.000-06:00

My name is suppose to be at the bottom of this post. When I copyed this oh, well you see where it is

The police have a mechanism for checking how fast people drive by using something called a radar speed sign - a sign that flashes your speed as you drive by. I was driving down a neighborhood street when I came upon one of these signs. What would I see if the sign didn't flash my speed, it flashed my thoughts - the actual thoughts I was thinking in that very moment. I was so amazed by this thought, what if others could see my thoughts, thoughts.

What life would be like if each of us had a flashing "thought meter" on our street. Just imagine. Each day, as I traveled to work or to and from errands, I would be able to catch a glimpse of what I was thinking. As I consider this idea, what thoughts would I see on most days? Would a majority of them be positive, life-enhancing thoughts, or worrisome ones that steal my energy?Lately I have found myself in the latter category, I refuse to be alarmed. The truth is most people live with a majority of less-than-desirable thoughts running around in their heads. I however am not most people I will not beat myself up, I will slow down and focus on getting a better reading on the meter :). This plan begins with awareness. I have had awareness take hold of me by setting my intent on the 30 day challenge of fasting from negative thoughts about myself and others. Oh! the monsters that have come out of the closet!

So today I am bragging:
I am happy
I deserve it
I am worth it
I'm committed to loving me
When I honor myself the world shifts around me
I am brilliant
A am proud
I am sexy
I am allowed to use my power to shine
to attract my greatness

Desires:
To spend time with Autumn
For Mark's court case to be put off
To move back to my home
To loose 20#
Mills to be healed
Peace for Electra and her husband
PJ (our dog) to have an easy transition to dog heaven

Living with purpose,

Sister Goddess Ju-i-lous

Musing

2010-02-23T18:43:00.000-06:00

Just random thoughts today.Today is day 5 of my 30 day challenge from doubt, fear, critism (sp)I have been to the Chiropractor today and all went well. I talked to Bonnie about her observation of Mother. She said, "She had never seen someone just set and stare like she was doing, and not able to engage her in conversation."I know I had a good weekend with her. She really doesn't want the baby sister to come see her because as she said, "She doesn't want to come and I don't want her too." Her words not mine.The other sister has scolded her so much that she really does not want her to come either. Strange, I am the one she hurt the most in life, and now I am the one she wants to stay with her. She begs me not to leave, and she will exercise with me when I am there. This is all a mystery to me. I have been able to stay with my challenge today. I am dancing in the rain, but keeping my shirt dry. There is so much to muse over, and I am thankful today that I do have the ability to think and reason things out.

If Evil breads evil does Love bread love?

2010-02-11T17:21:00.000-06:00

“May the Lord judge between you and me. And may the Lord avenge the wrongs you have done to me, but my hand will not touch you. As the old saying goes, ‘From evildoers come evil deeds,’ so my hand will not touch you.”
I Samuel 24: 12, 13
N.I.V.

EXPLORATION

“Evil Breeds Evil”

“In all men (and women) is evil sleeping; the good man (or woman) is he (she) who will not awaken it, in himself (herself) or in others.”
Mary Renault

Has someone done something evil that has caused great hurt to me or those I care about?

How did I respond to the act committed against me?

“The smallest revenge will poison the soul.”
Anonymous

INSPIRATION

“Revenge is an inhuman word.”
Seneca

In his famous novel, Moby Dick, written in 1851, author Herman Melville wrote these words which reflect a great truth, “Ah, God! What trances of torments does that man endure who is consumed with one unachieved revengeful desire.” I don’t know if the author of these words had read the Psalms or for that matter, the Biblical account of David’s life, however, if he had, I certainly think he could have come to the same conclusion as David. Revenge is for fools. As author Francis Bacon so aptly penned, “A man that studieth revenge keeps his wound green” and I’d add that this sentiment applies directly to women, as well.

After all David had suffered at the hand of King Saul, when given the opportunity to take events into his own hands and get back at the king, in the most eloquent words, David looked Saul in the eye and told him, “I will not touch you.”

But this wasn’t all David said to Saul. He also informed Saul that the judging would be left to God. A lesson you and I need to be reminded of frequently. We don’t know all the facts or circumstances surrounding events and individuals. For us to think we have all the knowledge needed in a given situation to render our judgment perfect and unerring is both ridiculous and arrogant.

With this fact deeply engrained in his mind, David told Saul that God, who knows all, would be the final judge.

And then David continued with one last thought. The Message Bible states the phrase in
I Samuel 24: 13 this way: “Evil deeds come from evil people.” In other words, revengeful deeds also come from revengeful people. Hurtful acts committed against one person are done so by hurtful people.

The way Jesus translated this text in the New Testament is simply this: “Therefore by their fruits ye shall know them” (Matthew 7: 20).

It’s so easy in the world in which we live to want to get even with someone who does evil to us. If a Saul chases us, falsely accuses us and lashes out at us, we long to set the record straight. We want to balance the scales. And much of the time there’s good reason for wanting to get even. But as we seek to take vengeance into our own hands, we only wound ourselves more. In fact, the evil we direct at others leaves a scar on our own lives.

Not long ago I read a beautiful little prayer written by an unknown author. The words of this prayer are a true reflection of David’s words to Saul, “I will not lay a hand on you.”

“Anything, God, but hate;
I have known it in my day,
And the best it does is scar your soul
And eat your heart away.
Man must know more than hate,
As the years go rolling on;
For the stars survive and the spring survives,
Only man denies the dawn.
God, if I have but one prayer
Before the cloud-wrapped end,
I’m sick of hate and the waste it makes.
Let me be my brother’s friend.”

“The only people with whom you should try to get even are those who have helped you.”
John E. Southard

AFFIRMATIONS

“Despise Not Any Man That Lives”

“Despise not any man that lives,
Alien or neighbor, near or far;
Go out beneath the scornful stars,
And see how very small you are.
The world is large, and space is high
That sweeps around our little ken;
But there’s no space or time to spare
In which to hate our fellow men.
And this, my friend, is not the work for you;
Then leave all this for smaller men to do.”

Walter Foss

Birthday wishes for Debra Feb 11, 2010

2010-02-11T16:18:00.000-06:00

Happy Birthday Comments
2.0 Myspace Layouts

Today is Debra's birthday

I thought all my friends will join me *n wishing her a happy

Birthday

I remember mother going to the hospital to have her. She was the first of my sister to be born in a hospital. Debra is 10 years younger than me. Little did I know this little baby would become a very important part of my life. Not only is she my sister, but I was the one to care for her. She called me mother and I was the one to carry her when we went shopping. I would have ladies come up to me and ask if I was her mother. Yes, in more ways that one I have been her mother.

She is now the grandmother of 3 little girls.

She has a full time job, and enjoys motor cycle riding and fishing.

So Happy "52"

She has not called me today, I am waiting to call her because I had her Birthday present sent in to her via UPS, and do not want to spoil the supprise.

Thank you, SF Bath Salt Company

Tuedsay 2-9-10

2010-02-09T17:36:00.000-06:00

Happy Tuesday,

Today I have been just floating around, not wanting to do much. I did make a big batch of soup, other than that I have not done anything. So I got the idea of being Thankful for slow
things. Things that we might not other wise consider

Slow things to observe for inspiration:
Clouds floating
Plants growing
A seed starting
Syrup pouring
Honey squeezed
Sailboats without wind
Snails
Sloths
Worms
Herons
Small children walking
Old women sewing
Pregnant women
Ice cream trucks
Kiddy Carnival rides
Non performances
Icicles dripping
Candles burning
The tide coming in
Snow falling
Slow down activities:
Walk through snow
Slow-dance
Row boats
Listen to someone you love
Eat pomegranates
Ride the bus
Travel by hot air balloon
Talk to people with Southern accents
Make wine
Hand-sew
Bake bread
Walk home
Make sun tea
Bake a cake
Hand-make clothing
Visit cemeteries
Wait in lines
Soak in the bathtub
Pick berries
Bird-watching
Paint portraits
Ride Ferris wheels
Watch Trotsky films
Save money
Sip hot tea
Make snow angels
Walk in the woods
Ride Gondolas
Slow-kiss
Now have you slowed down with me too.
Hope you have a joyous and happy Tuesday,
June

Fun in the Sun

2010-02-08T15:50:00.000-06:00

glitter graphics

I am ready for warmer weather. Sleeting and snowing for Thursday and Snow for Friday.

I am ready for things to warm up. I am already obsessing about the weather next month when I go to NYC...... Whe need things to warm up

Sunday, February 7, 2010

2010-02-08T15:15:00.000-06:00

Christian Glitters
2.0 Myspace Layouts

My First Mermory

2010-02-06T16:24:00.000-06:00

My First Memory

I was in the yard drawing in the dirt, when my mother called to me from the poarch.

Mother said to me, "What would you say, it I told you you will be having a little brother or sister?"

I do not remember what I said, but I think I said, "I wanted a little sister." I do not know why this is my first memory. I do have someone memories of looking at my hand and feet prints in the cement walkway. I can remember skipping around and just doing nothing. My next memory was the night my sister was born. Henry and Avis our neighbors came to see us, and I thought nothing about it, and did not know Avis was a midwife. I was setting in the front room on the setee with Henry, I do not know what we were talking about, but I told him I had something to show him, jumped up and he stopped me and said I could not go to my part of the house because my sister was being born.

We lived in the house with my Daddy's parents. The house had two large rooms across the front and there were two large rooms across the back. They were built so the house was in an L shape. There was a porch that we along the front of the house. The first large room was Ma's kitchen, there was a wood stove for cooking and a long table for her large # of boys to eat at. The next room was their setting and sleeping room. When you walked into the room from the kitchen to your left was a chair, that Ma Sina set out, and there was a window where she set, Next after the window was a wood stove, then another window, and setting by it was a sette (we call them love seats today.) If you turned and looked away from the windows was two full beds, with a space between that went into a bedroom in the back. The bedroom to the back was Grandma Sene's room. Going streight into this room, was her bed, and that is all I can remember about that room.

Entering this room about half way turn left was a door that went into the fourth room. This was the room where my sister and I were born. Sometime and I do not know when Daddy built a small room behind this on which was the kitchen. We had no running water or bathroom. I do remember going to the outhouse, and I have no memory of having a slop jar.

In our setting room was two beds, one for mother and daddy and one for me and my sister. Walking into the kitchen on the left was the stove and on he opposite wall was the sink. Looking right was the table, and the referigrator. I do have a memory of mother washing something in the sink. I also remember Pa bringing the fresh milked milk and wanting to drink it, but mother would not let me, because it had not been stringed yet. Stringed, is where you take a cloth and place it over jar and pour milk through, staining out anything that should not be in milk.

My only other memory was waking up one morning and looking under the pillor to see if the tooth fairy had left me money for my tooth. The tooth was gone but there was no money and I cried, and cried. Mother told me to search again and sure enough the money was there.

I can recall playing in the back yard when a ma chicken got after me. I just always seem to be in the yard playing. I remember Uncle Willie coming to see his brother my Pa and them setting under the shade tree talking. He was always talking about church and getting kicked out ( I still have this visual picture of him being litteraly being picket up and I see a foot kicking him out) and I always felt sorry for him. I also remember him talking about the end of time and how he knew based on his knowledge of the Bible that the world would end and I figured it up and I would be 34.

I do remember years later she was at the sink doing something and she saw a snake and called out the back door for me to go get Johnny to come help. I did not hang around to see it they got it out.

Angel on your shoulder

2010-02-04T17:51:00.000-06:00

New post over at Footsteps of a Prodigal

2010-02-04T14:02:00.000-06:00

Circles I keep going around in circlesWill this challenge never end?Why do my trials repeatthemselves?Not much more can I withstand! Then I call upon the heavens'God's grace attemds as I pray.The lesson becomes crystalclear:My thoughts do me betray. I have expected to go in circles.In my heart I did not believe.That everything could be differentAnd my trials did I relive. Now I will envision better pathsFor my successful life tp tale.In times I will expect the best andA better lir3 my thoughts will make. For as a man thinkethIn his heart of hearts is he.God grants according to desireWhat we expect will certainly be.

How to be more mindful

2010-02-02T17:14:00.000-06:00

February 02, 2010
how to be more mindful

One of the simplest ways to find happiness on a daily basis, in any situation, is through mindfulness. The first time I recall consciously practicing mindfulness was probably about five years or so ago when my cousin introduced me to the concept. She didn't label it mindfulness; she was simply trying to give me some advice on how to fall asleep. (This was a point in my life when I was constantly stressed and was taking quite a bit of Benedryl every night to get myself to sleep.Not healthy.) For whatever reason, I'm not the best at recalling details, but for some reason this memory sticks in my mind so vividly. My cousin and I were lying in her childhood bed at her parents house and she was explaining this amazing sleep-inducing tactic to me. It was simple enough, but it had never occurred to me before and I found it so enlightening. To this day, I still use it to fall asleep.

It goes like this: Instead of focusing on all of those thoughts rushing and racing through your mind at bedtime, focus on your five senses. As you're lying in bed, ask yourself, "What do I hear? What do I see (hopefully blackness because your eyes are closed)? What do i feel? What do I smell?" Perhaps this wouldn't work for everyone, but I swear, every time I try this technique I fall asleep. Now, it's important to think about these things in detail (which may be why it's a great exercise for me and wouldn't be so great for others. This tactic may not work for everyone, but it's certainly worth a shot.

And, of course, that lovely little intro leads me into today's topic:

mindfulness. According to Wikipedia (a quite credible source if I do say so myself!), mindfulness is "a mental state, characterized by concentrated awareness of one's thoughts, actions or motivations." Mindfulness is the idea of being aware of what is going on around you (and inside you). So often we go through life just going, going, going -- and we don't stop to look, touch, smell, listen, think. When we start becoming mindful of the world around us (and, trust me, this is not easy and in no way am I able to practice mindfulness as often as I would like), I begin to see things different. I understand, and appreciate, the world around me more. For example, I hate rain. HATE it. I also hate the cold. Today I woke to a cold, cloudy, rainy day a day of the gloom! I was unhappy. I was irritated. I was feeling that glum, gloom-ridden Eeyore attitude with every bone in my body. But then I reminded myself to be mindful. I started looking at the rain as it splattered on my car and I thought about how lucky I was not to be out in the rain. I thought about how much the rain looked like tears rolling down the windowpane; this was a sad thought, but it was a beautiful one as well. Sure, I still hate the rain and I long for the next sunny day, but being mindful of it made it a bit more bearable.

Being mindful is especially important when it involves -- surprise! surprise! -- your mind. It is so easy to have thoughts and to act and react without really thinking. I have to think about my thoughts in order to make them productive. Say, for example, I feel angry Larry. I choose to embrace that anger and yell at a coworker, who really has done nothing seriously wrong. Bad situation, right? Well, if I had chosen to take my anger and, instead of acting on it, thought about it, I may have reacted differently. It's easy to let a thought or emotion take over. It's easy to just say to myself "I'm angry." What's hard is being mindful of that feeling or thought. It's much more difficult to say to myself, "I'm angry because..." or, harder still, to ask myself, "What's really bothering me? What's really at the heart of this feeling?" Being mindful of of my mind is difficult. It causes mw to think about topics and emotions I may not want to think about. But, in my experience, it only makes things easier in the end.

I'm not always mindful of my thoughts and feelings (though I hope some day I will be able to be), but when I am I find that my actions are much more appropriate and, overall, I'm much happier. When I stop to think about what I'm feeling or thinking, I realize that it's not usually what it seems. There's usually more. It's usually complicated. And, yes, sometimes it's a pain in the ass to think about situations or feelings I don't feel like dealing with. But finding out what my feelings mean or thinking about why I'm thinking about a certain topic usually leads me to a greater understanding of myself, which only brings about more happiness in my life. Knowing me better means knowing the world better, something Ioften take for granted.

.
Mindfulness is not easy, but it's worth trying out -- even on the small things. It's important to be present, to be in the moment, and mindfulness is a tactic that makes life not only easier, but more interesting.

Dancing with my circumstances

2010-02-02T16:17:00.000-06:00

Today is why not Wednesday Why not notice the RICHES in my life CAUGHT up in the effort to make money, I can forget to notice how rich I already am.Today, I will will be aware of the many valuable things I have are. Who are the people who love me and give my life meaning?What aspects of my life creates fun and adventure?As I remember all the riches of my life,I will see how wealthy I really am. Treasures are everywhere.Today I am going to notice hidden treasures.Maybe ot wo;; be an old man's joy while he retrieves a ball from the streetfor some yound children or savoring the taste of an ice-cream cone.By seeing the small treasures of life. I will receive their riches. To love and be loved are priceless treasures.Today, I will see what loving and being loved do for me.How do my expressions of love for others nourish them?How does experiencing the love of others nourish me?By noticing the gifts of love.I will see how rich I am. We can suffer because others do not fulfill our desires and expectations.Today, I will discover how my desires and espectations make me disappointed with life.I will recognize that by wanting life to be a certain way.I create my own suffering by resisting what is.Instead of resisting today,I will dance with my circumstances.

Monday Febuary 1, 2010

2010-02-01T12:57:00.000-06:00

Today has been just one of those days where I do not want to do anythingI have been searching the computer for things to read.

I had a relaxing week end at mother's she is weak and we are having to help her to the bathroom, she has had a few miss haps this week. Mark and I did go get groceries and that is about all we did. Mother would send me to the store for sandwiches. I went Sunday and got fried chicken from Jack's. I cleaned the house before leaving. I came home to find PJ (our dog) sick, she was throwing up everywhere. She is 12 years and it want be long before she goes to dog heaven. In the mean time we will love and take care of her.

Self Love Sunday

2010-01-17T21:29:00.000-06:00

This day started off delicious. Writting my sensual Saturday post got me going.I had the night all to myself, so I endulged myself. Had a wonderful night sleep. Woke up this morning still desiring more. I gave myself another round of fantastic loving. .I had no plans for the day, and as Julia Roberts said, "I was flying by the seat of my pants."I decided to go to IHOP for breakfast. I ordered ham and eggs with hash browns and twoblue berry pancakes. I took my time enjoying each bite..I came back home to Larry eating lunch in the living room. I wanted the day to myself.No plans, me and peace..I called Bonnie, keeping in close contact since her husband died. We talked for almost two hours.She is mad at him for leaving her..Called Cathy, she was not a home..I read for the rest of the afternoon..Why am I having such a time of being alone today?.

My desires of this week.

Book my flight to NY

Pay bills

Talk to Autumn as much as I can

complete all my homework from the class I start Monday night

Grateful for

the good report we received from Mothers doctor

good conversation with my sister Debra

Mark, installing my TV in my bedroom

My Job

Larry

this board

Mama Gena

I Think I Made His Back Feel Better

2010-01-16T16:33:00.000-06:00

How I learned to arouse myself. Over seventy-five percent of all women, including me, admit to discovering masturationthe same way. We became sexually stimulated by simply rubbing up against something--a pillow, perhaps a big stuffed toy, for me it was nothing more than a quilt on mothers bed, I was talking to my cousin and moving around, and then something felt good, so I moved again.I have been hooked ever since. My sexual fantasy for this Sensual Saturday I undress him and ask him to lay face down on the bed. I stand where he can watch while I peel down to bra and panties, then I climb on top. Mmm, isn't it nice to straddle the powerful muscles in his back back? Tension melts away as I massage warm oil into his skin. Then ask him --- Do you want to help me have an orgasm? Then I need you to stay very, very still.... I pull off my lingerie. He'll love the velvet touch of my bare breasts as I stretch out across his back. I slide my ands down his arms; braid my fingers into his own. I keep moving, keep touching. Make love to his back. I rock my hips in slow, small circles, pressing my mons directly against his tailbone. I am looking for a certain spot, a place that's just right for my clitoris to snuggle into to. I will know it when I find it! Now I can stroke my own fire. Let my aching clit set the pace as it rubs against his oil soaked skin, up and down and around. When I find that special place, that groove -- then I start moving faster. He can't see me, so I let my fantasies run wild. And let him know what's happening...whisper in his ear that I am getting close, and closer. I pinch his nipples, stick my wet tongue in his ear, breath on it and do it again. I hold him tight! Let him feel every twitch of my orgasm. I have now become the bedmate men dream of --a woman who can get all the foreplay she wants... All by herself! Sourses The Hite Report Shere Hite CosmopolitanThe Nice Girls Guide To Sentual SexNancy Kalish I think I made his back feel better---Marlyn Monroe----after a private meeting with JFK

new direction

2010-01-16T14:23:00.000-06:00

I am getting ready to go in a differnet direction with this blog This is the year I am devoting to loveing my-self. It is in loving we become able to love.You will know them by the fruits they bear.Jesus said.

Happy Monday

2009-06-15T03:18:00.000-05:00

Monday Comments
Myspace Comments
I will not be posting today at the well, but I wantedto say hi, to everyone

2009-06-11T14:58:00.001-05:00

Buying a Cow

A farmen had been taken advantage of several times

by the local car dealer. One day, the car dealer

informed the farmer that he was coming over to purchase

a cow.

The farmer priced his cow as follows:

Basic cow..............................................................$499.95
Shipping and handling......................................................$35.75
Extra Stomach..............................................79.25
Two-tone exterior.....................................................$142.10
Procuce storage compartment................................$126.50
Heavy-duty straw chopper..............................................$189.60
Four-spigot/high-output drain system........................................$149.20
Automatic fly swatter.....................................................................................$88.50
Genuine cowhide uphoistery.............................................................$179.90
Deluxe dual horns........................................................................$59.25
Automatic fertilizer attachment.........................................$339.40
4 x 4 traction drive assembly.............................................$884.16
Pre-delivery wash and comb...................................................$69.80
FARMER SUGGESTED LIST PRICE.................................$2843.36
additional dealer adjustments...................................$300.00

TOTAL LIST PRICE (including options): $3143.36

My First Blog Award

2009-06-11T13:27:00.000-05:00

My First Blog Award

I was unable to copy cut and past the picture

Thanks to Raye Ann at Heart of the Home for the One Lovely Blog Award.

Now I am asked to pass on this reward to other wonderful blogers who have blessed me

Angela at Beacoming me. net

Elaine at Peace for the journey

Pia at piasjournal

Amy at Gods work in progress

Paula at His way are not ours

Now it is your turn. Accept the award and post it on your blog. Do not forget to thank the person who gave it to you and a link back to their blog. Then pass the award on to other newly; discovered blogs that have blessed you. Remember to leave them a comment to let them know that you are giving them this award.

Wednesday Word of Prophecy

2009-06-10T11:07:00.000-05:00

I would really appreciate your thoughts. It appears that all is getting quickly set for the Ezekiel 38 war NOW, with the big exception of peace in Israel. I can’t get over how quickly prophecy is moving fast-forward every single day, especially since the change in the oval office. To me, it seems more like the world is preparing for the Ezekiel 38 war rather than the Psalm 83 war, but I could be missing something.
I read on your web site that Psalm 83 doesn’t specifically say there will be a war with those countries, and you gave some other possibilities, but the surrounding countries are certainly just as much a threat to Israel as those listed for the Ezekiel 38 war.

Also, I’m wondering whether you still think a Psalm 83 war is imminent with several years in between the Ezekiel 38 war. The way things are moving, I can’t IMAGINE there are SEVERAL years left before the Ezekiel 38 war.

A. As we see preparations for Ezekiel 38 dominating the headlines, I think it tells us that Psalm 83 is even closer. Remember, Ezekiel 38 requires that Israel be living in a perceived state of peace. That won’t happen until Hamas, Hizbollah, Lebanon and Syria are no longer threats. And since Ezekiel didn’t mention them, it stands to reason that they’ll be neutralized first. I think that’s what’s being described in Psalm 83.

Since Psalm 83 doesn’t come right out and say Israel’s neighbors will be defeated in battle, it is possible that they could make the threat go away with a peace treaty of some kind. If so it would have to hold through Ezekiel’s battle and the Palestinians would have to agree to give back the area between Jerusalem and Jericho to provide the burial ground that Ezekiel 39:11 calls for.

There only has to be sufficient time between the two battles for Israel to become convinced that peace has finally arrived and they can relax. Because as you know, they’re described as a peaceful and unsuspecting people in Ezekiel 38:11.

Tuesday Together (In the Word)

2009-06-09T08:38:00.000-05:00

Good morning, we are a group of ladies reading the Bible.

Reading The New Testament, Psalms and Proverbs.

This weeks reading Ephesians 2-6, Psalms 45-55 and Proverbs 13

My musing is from Ep.3:16

I Had always prayed on my knees, but when I became pregrant with my daughter, I was all stomach, and was unable to kneel down. I feared that God would not hear me pray. I came a cross the following poem about a group of Christians who were arguing about this.

One insisted that the only way to pray was on your knees.Another insisted that it had to be standing with bowed head. A third asserted that the only way to pray was to be seated in a chair looking up to God. One, who till then had been silent, told of an incident in which he accidentally fell head first into into a well. While he was hanging there upside down, he prayed a prayer which he said was the most effective he had ever prayed! So it isn't posture that is important.

....That according to the riches of His glory...Eph. 3:16RSV

God's glory is God's being, God's person. He himself is his own riches of glory. And when God wants to display his glory he shows you himself. He reveals what he is like.You are not going to some cold, distant being -- sitting up on some remote Mount Olympus somewhere, his eyelids in contemptuous indifference to your needs -- to ask for help. You are coming to a tender, concerned, loving Father, who is deeply involved with you, who wants you to grow, who is concerned about your welfare, and who will not leave you in some state of arrested development. That is what Paul sets before us sets before us in this prayer.

...he may grant you to be strengthened with might through his Spirit in the inner man,

The Spirit dwells in the inner man, although that is true. Rather, the idea here is that the Spirit might infuse his own strength into your inner man. Well, what is your inner man? You and I are of course familiar with this distinction between the outer man and the inner man. We take care of the outer man carefully. We dress it, we feed it, we comb it, we pat it, we primp it, we wash it, we dry it, we smear it with cream. We are always concerned with the outer man - the body and its needs. But we are also aware that there is an inner man.

The inner man is the spirit, the human spirit. And it is here that God begins the work of recovery -- not in the soul, in the spirit. Not in the realm of our feelings, in other words, but in what phychologist would call the realm of the subconscious, the deep-seated part of our life, the fundamental elements of our nature. You know that when you are really discouraged, really broken-hearted, and have given up the way your condition is often descriped as dispriited. That is an accurate term. You have become dis-spirited. Your fundamental nature is dissatified, discontent. It is not merely a question of temporary boredom. That would be in the realm of the soul. But this is something which touches the spirit, right at the very deepest level of human life.

This is where recovery must begin. And what the apostle tells us here is the capability of the Creator himself, our loving Father, to give us a fresh infusion of strength by his Spirit into our spirit into the inner man. In First Corinthians 12, speaking of believers, Paul says, "by one Spirit we are all baptized into one body (We have been made members of the body of Christ). and...made to drink of one Spirit," (1 Corinthians 12:13 RSV). That is what our human spirits are for -- They are to drink of the Spirit of God, so that the Spirit of God is able to refresh us and revitalize us. Just as taking a drink refreshes your body, so drinking of the Spirit refreshes your spirit, at the deepest level of your life.

Now, that is not the realm of feeling. Less not get hung up on this. In the process of spiritual recovery;, but always wanting an instantly good feeling. We seek some instant sense of relief. Well, relief will come, but it doesn't start there. It starts down at the level of the spirit, and may be nothing more than some conciousness of reassurance that things are going to work out eventually.

This beginning step is not your responsibility, it is God's. Doesn't that help? You don't have to start it. He does. All that is necessary is that you ask him for it. You ask, or someone else asks on your behalf -- one or the other. Paul prayed that these Ephesians might have this granted to them. And they could have prayed for themselves, if they had known what to pray for, because a prayer is nothing but a cry of helplessness: "God help me." When we ask on this level, God promises to give.

Remember what Jesus himself taught in that great passage on prayer in Luke 11, at the end of the story of the importunate friend: "What father among you, if his son asks for a fish;, will instead of a fish give him a serpent?"(Luke 11:11 RSV). Would any earthly father do that? Would he tantalize, torture his son that way? " Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion?" (Luke 11: 12 RSV). What kind of a father would do anyghing like that? "No, of course not," Jesus says, "neither will God." If you then, who are evil know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more..." (Luke 11:13aRSV). Do you feel the force of his argument? ...how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!" He is not talking about how to be indwelt by the Spirit, but about how to recover from losing heart. The way to start, is toask God to grant you that your spirit will receive a new infusion of strength, that you can drink again of the river of the Spirit of life which is in you, and that your spirit will be restored so that you begin to operate as God intended you to. You won't feel this, necessarly. We sharply feel what occurs in the soul, but only sort of deeply sense things taking place in our spirit. Paul prays that God may grant you to be strengthened with might through his Spirit into the inner man.

Thank you for your visit today. For more Tuesday Together in the Word see DeeDee over at I have no greater joy.

At the well Have you been Overlooked

2009-06-08T08:07:00.000-05:00

Our study today at the well is Have You Been Overlooked?

1 Samuel 16:1-13

God had told Samuel to go to the home of Jessie, that one of his sons would be the next king of Israel.

Each of his sons passed in by and Samuel said, "God has not chosen one of them, are you sure there is not another one."

David had not been invited (he was overlooked.)

In studying this I saw something I had never seen before. David was not invited because he was ILLEGIMATED. Psalm 51:5 Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin my mother conceived me.

I think David was a constant reminder to his father of what his mother had done, so, David found peace away from the family taking care of the sheep

His family may not have cared: but God knew:

Where he was, where he was going, and what he was going to do.

This excites me, God knew that David would become the greatest King that Israel would ever had. David so loved the Lord, that he danced before him with all his might. God promised him that he would have forever an son to set on his throne. That was fulfilled in Jesus. Now hold on. In the 1000 year reign of Jesus on the earth David will be setting on the throne ruling Israel. Jesus the nations with a rod of iron.....David ruling the 12 tribes of Israel.

My pastor has encouraged us to study the story of David.

Rahab - 2 bit hooker....saved the Israelites and her family....God knew

Noah - Average Guy....Beacame a ship builder.

Timothy - Mom was a Jew, Dad was Greek...halfbreed....God knew

Easter - Beauth queesn who stepped up one day....saved the Jewish race....God knew

Francis was born in New Your on March 24, 1820. In May of 1820, when she was only six weeks old, she caught a cold, and her eyes became inflamed. The regular physician in Putnam County, New Your, was out of town, and a man posing as a doctor gave her the wrong treatment. Within days, her eyesight was destroyed. Francis became blind for life. A few months later, her dad became ill and died. Her mon, widowed at 21 hired herself out as a maid while Grandmother took care of her. Before she was ten years old, she had memorized most of the New Testament and more than 5 books of the Old Testament. She got the opportunity to attend the New York Institute for the Blind. She went on to write some of the biggest hymns ever: To God be the Glory, I am thine O Lord, Pass me not, Rescue the perishing. Other people may have overlooked her BUT GOD KNEED WHERE SHE WAS.

The questions are: Have you been overlooked? Yes, more times that this I want to remember.

How did I feel? Hurt and I knew, I could do a better job, then the one chosen.

How did I react? I cried all the way home.

What can I do as a Titus 2 women, be sure I do not overlook the important things (or people) in my life. I have learned to give it to God, for the word says, "a Persons work will make room for them" I have learned to give it to God.

1st Super Sign

2009-06-02T18:57:00.000-05:00

Wednesday

Word of

Prophecy

"Now learn this lesson from the fig tree: As soon as it twigs gets tender and
its leaves come out, you know that summer is near. Even so, when you see all these things, you know that it is near, right at the door.
(Matt. 24:32-33)

The fig tree is one of the last trees to bud in the spring, so when it begins to get leaves people know that summer is right around the corner. There'll
be no more false starts, no more cold snaps. Summer is not certain and soon.
Jesus used this analogy to tell people who'll be on Earth at the time that when they see these things he described beginning in Matt. 24:15, they'll know that His coming really near.

Here we go

"But you, O mountains of Israel, will produce branches and fruit for my people Israel, for they will soon come home. I am concerned for you and will look on you with favor; you will be plowed and sown, and I will multiply the number of people upon you, even the whole house of Israel. The towns will be inhabited and the ruins rebuilt. I will increase the number of men and animals upon you, and they will be fruitful and become numerous. I will settle people on you as in the past and will make you prosper more than before. Then you will know that I am the LORD. I will cause people, my people Israel, to walk upon you. They will possess you, and you will be their inheritance; you will never again deprive them of their children." (Ezekiel 36:8-13)

also read Isaiah 11:11Amos 9:14-15

The first super sign that we are in the time just before the rapture is
the birthing of Israel as a nation in 1948.

As far back as the wilderness wandering, the Lord had foretold of Israel's
diaspora (Deut.28:64-68) Because of their disobedience they would be driven from the land. After an extended period of time He would bring them back, not because they deserved it, but because He had given His word. Their return would be a sign to all the world.

read Ezekiel 36:24-32

The valley of dry bones

The hand of the LORD was upon me, and he brought me out by the Spirit of the LORD and set me in the middle of a valley; it was full of bones. He led me back and forth among them,and I saw a great many bones on the floor of the valley, bones that were very dry. He asked me, "son of man, can these bones live?"

I said, "O Sovereign LORD, you alone know."

Then he said to me, "Prophecy to these bones and say to them, "Dry bones,
hear the word of the LORD! This is what the Sovereign LORD says to these
bones: I will make breath enter you, and you will come to life. I will attach tendons to you and make flesh come upon you and cover you with skin, I will put breath in you, and you will come to life, then you will know that I am the
LORD." (Ezekiel 37:1-6)

Picture yourself standing in a large valley whose floor is strewn with bones.
They are bleached and dry. It looks like they've been dumped there some time ago left, as if who ever did it had no further use for them.

In what looks like an animator's dream, the bones slowly begin to rise and join themselves together from the feet up to the skeletons, each bone in its proper place. Tendons appear and begin to snake along the bones attaching themselves to make the bones move. As each one connects you hear the
clicking sounds of the tendons conducting tests, making the bones move
on command. Muscles and flesh begin to cover them and finally skin spreads out along limbs and around torsos, enclosing the muscle and flesh and giving the bodies a finished, though lifeless, form. (Ezekiel 37:7-8)

Read (Ezekiel 37:9-10)

Tuesday Together The Overflowing Life

2009-06-02T09:32:00.000-05:00

Welcome to TUESDAYS TOGETHER (in the WORD).
The Scriptures often refer to the word "riches." Paul frequently makes mention of the "riches of Christ. In one place he says his greatest joy was to declare "the unsearchable riches of Christ." The gospels make frequent mention of "treasures." Jesus talked about "laying up treasures in heaven."
We have within our bodies, Paul says in Second Corinthians, "a treasure in
earthen vessels, that it may be evident that the power is not from us but from God." That inner treasure is what makes the Christian life rich, zestful, and worth living. "A well of living water," as Jesus put it, "springing up within." That is what will refresh our spirits."
"I want you to know how strenuously I am exerting myself for you and for those at Laodicea, and for all who have not met me personally. My purpose is that they may be encouraged in heart and united in love, so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge." (Colossians 2:1)
The apostle's purpose for writing is stated very clearly there. He specifically wants to enrich their lives, encourage their hearts, and enable love to spread throughout the congregation. But do not overlook the process! There is an unfortunate chapter division here that separates verse 1 from the closing verse of chapter 1. These two verses actually belong together. In verse 29 of chapter 1, Paul says, "To this end I labor [or, I toil], struggling with all His energy, which so powerfully works in me. And I want you to know how strenuously I am exerting myself for you..." Notice how he calls attention to the effort and toil he was putting into this matter of bringing the Colossian Christians into vitality, excitement, and a sense of adventure.
You may ask, how could a man who is chained to a Roman guard day and night, in the city of Rome, a thousand miles from Colossae, so toil as to help the Colossians? Paul does not tell us here but elsewhere we are given ample information as to his method. Earlier in this letter he talked about laboring continuously in prayer for them. That is one way he toils for them---through frequent prayer.
I want to stress again the tremendous importance of praying for one another. You can do all the right things to help someone, but if his attitude is wrong nothing you do will serve to assist him. What can change that? It is your praying for him! Prayer can change the heart and mind, the inner attitude. It is a powerful force to transform an atmosphere and make something acceptable when otherwise it would appear to be dull and uninteresting. Paul prayed ("agonized" is the word) for these Colossian Christians over and over again, even though he had not personally met most of them. Also, it is evident from his letters that he was alert to every word of information about them. When Epaphras brought news to the apostle in Rome about the church at Colossae, Paul questioned him and extracted from him all the information he could in order that he might know how to pray for the Colossians. That is an indication of his special concern for them.

Notice that Paul's immediate goal is to encourage the hearts of the Colossians and to unite them in love. I confess I am rebuked by that, because too often I find myself ready to jump on someone and try to straighten him out on the spot. It is a great lesson to see how Paul seeks to lift their spirits first and to cause them to appreciate one another. It indicates that building a relationship with individuals is the true way to go about helping them. Have you ever tried to help someone, only to find your efforts fell on deaf ears? The apostle indicates the right way to help is to find something encouraging to say first. None of us like to be corrected by a negative approach. We first need a word of encouragement, as the apostle so beautifully demonstrates here.
Then, when the apostle has lifted their spirits, they will be able, he suggests, to experience the excitement of understanding the mystery, which is "Christ in you, the hope of glory." Occasionally I meet people who seem to be turned onconstantly by Scripture. They discover a new, fresh verse every morning. But others find the Bible dull and boring. That is probably because they have not fully understood what it is saying. When you grasp what the word of God is saying on how to handle life it becomes exciting. It puts zest into living. It gives you the sense that you are not alone, that you don't have to handle your problems by yourself, or that you don't have to lean heavily on human advice, though God often provides help in that way. The main thing is, are you reckoning upon the wisdom of your Lord? He put you in a certain situation and he will work it out as you turn to his Word. Out of that Word come wisdom and understanding. I ran across a quote last week that puts this well:
Why is it that the older one grows, the more topsy-turvy the wisdom of Christ appears, and yet the more it appears to be wisdom? He seems to be looking at life upside-down. He tells us that the poor have security, the mourners will be happy, the sexually deprived will be fulfilled. It seems, by the wisdom of this world, as if he got everything the wrong way around. But live a little bit, and one discovers that this is not necessarily the case at all. If the world is inverted, then the only way to see it clearly is upside-down.
This is why the Scriptures are different than any other book. They say things that are difficult and seemingly impractical, and yet are the very essence of realism, wisdom and sanity. For instance, in Romans 12 the apostle Paul says, "Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them." Have you ever tried that in traffic? It looks like an impractical solution, but if you try it you discover you have touched on something you did not know was there. You will have a different attitude to irritations. You will be relaxed and calmer, and not get upset so easily. You can get through the commute hour a lot easier. That is the wisdom Paul is talking about. It is not to stuff your mind with theological ideas, but to discover the secret of how to handle things, how to stay sane and sober, joyful and thankful, in the midst of the pressures and difficulties of life.
A second reason for Paul's concern is that he is very much aware of how easy it is to miss these hidden treasures of wisdom and knowledge in Christ by being misled by false teaching. In these verses we have the first clear hint of what was threatening the Colossian Christians.
"I tell you this so that no one may deceive you by fine-sounding arguments. For though I am absent from you in body, I am present with you in spirit and delight to see how orderly you are and how firm your faith in Christ is." (Colossians 4-5)
"Fine-sounding arguments" reveal Paul's concern lest they be easily deceived. This is one of the major problems all Christians must face. The word for "deceived," literally translated, is "to reason beside something." If the target is the truth, there is something alongside it that looks very much like the truth, and one begins to focus upon that, rather than the truth. That is one of the favorite weapons of the devil. To be deceived is to think you know that something is right, but it is really wrong. Truth and error look almost the same, but one is a counterfeit. In these days when we have so many counterfeit and imitation things around we are used to be being deceived and do not feel alarmed about it any more. Plastic looks like metal. Flowers are made of silk. We are daily touching things that are but imitations of the real thing. But imitations have obvious limitations. If you start regarding them as real you are in trouble. That is what Paul is worried about. A quotation from J. I. Packer puts this very well:
Sad experience shows that bad theology infects the heart with misbelief and unbelief, the spiritual equivalents of multiple sclerosis! Many who ran well have been progressively paralyzed through ingesting bad theology, and the danger remains. Theological expertise can feed intellectual pride, turning one into a person who cares more for knowing true notions than for knowing the true God, and that is disastrous.
This is also true of personal ambition, the lust for power, love of fame, and pride of race or position. All these things are like narcotics. We run after them and we are encouraged by the world to do so. But they are substitutes, counterfeits of the real thing. What Paul desires is that all may discover the real life. This struggle is, in essence, a struggle between two gods: the great god, Self, and the true God of man, Jesus. We hear much today of self-realization, self-actualization, self-development, self-discovery, self-esteem, and self-love. Self is really a disguised god! It sounds right to us. We do not want to hate ourselves. Yet there is a "self" that is very wrong.
There is a note of encouragement here in these words. Paul says there are two things about the Colossians that delight him and encourage him to believe that it will be difficult to deceive them by the false teaching in their midst. Here are his words:
"For though I am absent from you in body, I am present with you in spirit and delight to see how orderly you are and how firm your faith in Christ is." (Colossians 2:5)
Two things help against being deceived: first, a well ordered, disciplined life. The spirit of our age says, do whatever you feel like doing, respond to whatever you like. Deny yourself nothing. Paul, however, delights that the Colossians are orderly and disciplined. They make themselves do right whether they feel like doing it or not. A disciplined life will always be hard to deceive. I have always wanted to be able to play the piano, or some musical instrument. I envy people who are able to sit at a piano and play it, seemingly without effort. But I cannot do that, because I have never disciplined myself to study and practice music. Thus, I have no freedom in this area. Almost any discipline will help us resist error and Paul compliments the Colossians on their orderly life, for it makes them resistant to deceit.
Second, the apostle delights to see how firm is their faith in Christ. They understood clearly that it was Christ who held them, not they who held Christ. When they strayed, he would send someone to them to point it out to them, or stop them by some circumstance that would make it difficult for error to take root among them. A strong faith in the presence of Jesus is a powerful bulwark against being misled.Paul closes with an admonition which I consider to be one of the greatest passages in the New Testament:
"So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness." (Colossians 2:6-7)
I would urge you to memorize those verses. Here is a guide to an exciting, zestful life: "Just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in him." Obey him, follow him, converse with him, draw upon his grace, lean on him, look to him for comfort. That is how to "continue to live in him."
Three things have happened to you, says Paul. You have been "rooted" in Christ. (These are all passive participles, meaning these things have been done to you.) Like a deeply-rooted tree, you have been planted in Christ and those strong roots will hold you. Secondly, you have been "built up" in him. Not only are the roots going deep, but you are growing up as well. You are increasing in faith and experience. And, thirdly, you have been "strengthened" in the faith. You have tested it, put it to work in your home, in your neighborhood. You have had to face problems which were tests, and your faith was strengthened by them.
As those three things take place, we are to add one more: we are to be "overflowing with thankfulness." Be grateful to God for everything he has given you, no matter what it is. Have you learned yet to be thankful in everything? That means you do not grumble, complain and criticize. You cannot have it both ways. To be thankful means to find something in every situation for which you can genuinely be grateful.
The great Bible commentator, Dr. Matthew Henry, once was robbed as he walked along a highway Afterwards he told his friends there were four things for which he gave thanks. First, he was grateful that he had never been robbed before. After many years of life this was the first time he had been robbed and for that he was grateful. Secondly, he said, "Though they took all my money, I am glad they did not get very much." That was something to be thankful for. Thirdly, he said, "Though they took my money, they did not take my life, and I am grateful for that." And finally, he suggested, "I am thankful that it was I who was robbed, and not I who robbed." There was a man who had learned how to be "overflowing with thankfulness!"
Have you ever learned to talk to yourself and ask yourself questions? If you read the Psalms you will often find you are listening to a man talking to himself. "Why art thou cast down, O my soul? And why are thou so disquieted within me?" The psalmist is standing at the mirror shaving, feeling blue, and asking himself, "What's the matter with you? Why are you like this?" That is a good thing to do.
When you ask yourself questions about yourself you must also ask, why didn't worse things happen? Look beyond what has occurred and realize it could have been much worse. Then discover all the things which God has supplied and which you have been taking for granted: his care, his love, the shelter of your home, the fact that you have a little money in the bank, the fact that your children love you, or your parents love you (whatever fits your situation), and begin to give thanks for those. If you do, something will happen: you will find yourself turned on about everything. You will find life filled with zest, vitality and excitement.
For more devotions see Dee Dee at I have no greater joy.

2009-06-01T13:58:00.000-05:00

Delight Yourself in the Lordand He will give you the desires of your heart.Ps 37:4 I looked up the meaning of these words and was thrilled by what I learned. Delight = desiring, delighting in, having pleasure in "if you are willing,""if it pleases the." "you wish for," "delight in," "a willing mind." So if I am having pleasure in, if it pleases me, and I am of a willing mind,He will give me the desires of my heart. It all depends on my a lookingforward to being in HIS presence. Making love with HIM. But the meek shall inherit theearth and shall Delight themselves in the abundance of peace.Ps. 37:11 Who are the meek? Those who are gentle, gentleness. Abundance = multiply, great, much, abundantly,pleanty. Peace = at ease, quietness, prosperity, quiet, prosper, wealthy. So if we are looking forward, longing with great anticipationto spend time with HIM, and we are of a gentle nature we willbe multiplied, and live a life of ease in quietness experienceinggreat abundance. Now I can handle that

Delight

2009-05-30T11:34:00.000-05:00

See my post Monday.

What does it mean to delight

Yourself in the Lord?

America in Prophecy

2009-05-27T03:49:00.000-05:00

Wednesday
Word of
Propheacy

. A popular Canadian prophecy teacher who lectures all over the world once said, "that Americans are the only ones who wonder why they’re not mentioned in the Bible. He thought it was due to our arrogance." I think it’s more along the lines of your comments. America has been a great country, and is currently the only world empire in the sense that we influence the decisions of other countries, sometimes even imposing our will on them.

But the 200 years of our existence is only a small fraction of the 2600 years of Gentile Dominion. In the context of Nebuchadnezzar’s statue, we’re but one of the remnants of the 4th Kingdom, Rome, filling a small portion of the time between its first life as the legs of iron and it’s second as the ten toes of iron mixed with clay.

You see Rome was never really conquered in the classical sense. It fell as a result of its own decay before transforming itself into the Holy Roman Empire that ruled for nearly 1000 more years. Since then various of its components have had their time in the sun first Spain, then England, and now the US which is a part of Rome by virtue of being a former colony of England’s.
But soon the revived Roman Empire, a ten nation confederacy represented by the ten toes, will once again be pre-eminent and America’s dominance will end just like all the other gentile empires before us.

The good news is that a fifth Kingdom, one that will never be destroyed or given to others will arise and will crush all those who came before it. This kingdom will be set up by God and will endure forever. Being a believer, even though you currently reside in the US, you’re a citizen of this kingdom and like the rest of us are anxiously awaiting the return of our conquering King.

At The Well Walk the Walk

2009-05-22T11:21:00.000-05:00

Walking the Walk

Creating wholesome entertainment in Hollywood isn't easy. Neither is following in the footsteps of one of the most beloved, and recognizable father figures in TV history. But that is exactly what director Michael Landon Jr. has done. Michael Landon Jr, says, "My father wore several hats; I got to see him as a writer, director, producer and actor. And it was definitely the directing part that interested me the most."

landon had the kind of childhood so many kids dream about. "I grew up on the set of Bonanza, he says."
"They were magical times for me. "I mean, my dad was playing a cowboy! Riding horses, shooting guns, getting bad guys. "I have amazing memories of walking in his footsteps, he walked the walk and if any one challenged him, he had the grit to face up to what he believed."

Gen 5:22-25 And after he became the father of Methuselah, Enoch WALKED with God 300 years and had other sons and daughters. One day Enoch was WALKING with God; then he was no more, because God took him away.

WALKING
with God
................In His ways...Jos 22:5
................Uprightly....Pr 2:7
................In newness of life Rom.6:4
................Not after the flesh, but after the Spirit...Rom 8:1
................In love, following Christ...Eph 5:2
................In the light, as God is....1 John 1:7

We have the testimony that Enoch WALKED the WALK. The account of Noah we learn that Noah was a righteous man among the people of his time, and he Walked with God.

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The discussion questions are:

Why is the "way we live" so Important?

Why does Paul tell Titus to first teach the older women to
"be reverent in the way they live" before they can train younger women?

Think about your own life, do you have mentors you can LOOK to....
watching them live their live reverently, AND, are there others,(children,
younger women in the church, friends of your children) who are watching
you live out your life?

Is there a difference between what you SAY and how you LIVE?

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The way we live is important, because others are watching us, and we may be the only Bible
they will ever read. I do not want anyone to miss the blessings of God, because I was not
WALKING the WALK.

We guide by our life, if we do not Walk the Walk we become a stumbling block to those
we are trying to teach.

The main mentors that I had growing up have all gone to heaven, however I do have mentors
my own age that I look to for guidance and knowledge in my WALK.

I know my greatest critic is Mark, he calls me on the carpet if I do not WALK the WALK.
He knows me from a son's view, and the training I have given him. My greatest joy is watching
him WALK the WALK. The other day he and I got into a discussion on prophecy. A few days later
he called me and said "I was talking to a neighbor and explaining how the things that are happening
in our world was a fulfilling prophecy, and he had no knowledge of this information."
I could hear the tickle in his voice as he shared this with me. He was passing on the information
that I had shared with him, thus helping someone else along the way.

I try to do as I say...but some times I tell my children do as I say not as I do. I say this in a joking way and
they do not think much about it. However I know that I do not WALK a perfect WALK,
"and if I think I do I am deceiving my self, and the truth is not in me."
That is what the apostel James said.

Wednesday Word of Prophecy - ( 1 )

2009-05-19T19:02:00.000-05:00

Wednesday
Word of
Prophecy

How Soon the Rapture?

Jesus' disciples on the Mount of Olives when He told them of the coming destruction of the temple shortly before His passion and crucifixion, asked Him, “When will these things happen, and what will be the sign of your coming, and of the end of the world?” (Matthew 24:3). Jesus answered them with a list of signs that would mark the time of His coming, but stated, “Of that day and hour no man knows, not even the angels of Heaven nor even the Son, but the Father only.” (Matthew 24:20). But though no man knows the exact time, Jesus did indicate that those living at the time would know when it is near. There are other clues scattered about the Holy Scriptures which, when all put together, can give us a pretty good idea of when it will happen.
Number one sign: The fig tree. When it buds and brings forth leaves, Jesus said you know summer is near at hand. “Likewise, when you see all these things begin to come to pass, know that it is near, even at the door.” (Matthew 24:33] The fig tree is a symbol of Israel. The number one sign of all these signs is the regathering of Israel as a nation. Virtually the entirety of end time prophecy concerns Israel as a nation, in the land God gave them. From 70 AD when Titus overran Jerusalem and the Jews were dispersed across all the known world until 1948, there was no nation of Israel. Thus during that interval none of these prophecies could have been fulfilled. Now with Israel back in the land, we are seeing increasingly rapid fulfillment of these signs Jesus gave. Everything hinges on Israel as a nation back in the land God gave them.

Birth pangs:

Jesus likened the signs of the approaching end to birth pains. They start subtly at first, and increase in frequency and intensity as the hour to give birth approaches, becoming most intense and most frequent just before the mother gives birth to her baby. Like birth pains, so shall these signs of the end increase in frequency and intensity as the end approaches.

The days of Noah and Lot:

As it was in the days of Noah so shall it be when the Son of man returns. (Matthew 24:37) “In the days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, building and planting, and paid no heed to what was coming until the flood came and took them all away. (Matthew 37-39, Luke 17:26-27). Two things characterized the days of Noah and Lot, (1) an overflow of violence and wickedness (Genesis 6:11-12), and (2) everything was business as usual right up until disaster overtook the people affected (Luke 27:27-30). In both cases those involved were warned beforehand, and chose to ignore the warnings. So will it be with the world when Jesus returns.
Violence. Just 20 years ago it was rare that you heard of multiple murders. Then there was Columbine, some 20 or more students murdered in cold blood by a pair of crazies. Then there was the massacre at a university in Virginia, over 30 students murdered by a fellow student gone mad, who even locked the doors shut so no one could get out. Today, such mass killings have become so commonplace they don't even make front page news any more. Not to mention the massacres that take place routinely in some third world countries, and women raped and killed just because they disagree with those ruling them. The world is rapidly becoming as it was in the days of Noah.

Wickedness and immorality:

In the past few years, morals have been thrown to the wind. Homosexual conduct, condemned by God, is now glorified and defended by the world. And so is promiscuous sex of any kind. Gays march in the streets, proud of their sin, and demanding not just their rights, but that they be made a special privileged class. Greed is pandemic. Trafficking and use of illicit drugs is on the rise, and with it crimes committed by addicts to support their habit, and violence and killing among those who are selling the stuff. Senseless murders have become common place. Good is being called evil, and evil is being called good. The world is heading in the same direction as Sodom and Gomorrah in their day.

False messiahs and false prophets:

Many will come in that day saying, “I am Christ,” and will deceive many (Matthew 24:4-5). We just recently recently elected a president whom some people in the world are calling a “messiah”, and I have not heard him disclaim it. And it appears he is leading this country straight down the road to socialism and ruin. One day soon one will come in his own name, claiming to be the Christ, and the world will follow him and proclaim him God, but he will be the devil incarnate instead.

Wars and rumors of wars:

It has been said that there have been more wars in the 20th century alone than in all of history past. There is warfare going on between tribes and ethnic groups today, and there will be more wars with increasing intensity as the end approaches.

Earthquakes:

While there have been earthquakes all down through history, there has been a steady increase in the frequency and intensity of quakes in recent years. A magnitude 9 quake in Indonesia in 2004 generated a huge tsunami with waves up to 100 feet high which flooded coastlands as far away as the east coast of Africa. Between the quake and the tsunami over 230,000 people died. It was the longest quake in history, lasting nearly 10 minutes. (Wikipedia-Indian Ocean Earthquake) Earthquakes in China, Pakistan, Italy and elsewhere have also killed thousands and caused widespread destruction in recent years.

Famines:

While there has been no famine in the US as yet, there are famines in other parts of the world, and it would only take a few bad harvests before there would be famine here.
Pestilences-AIDS is rampant in many parts of the world, and there is no known cure for it. An outbreak of swine flu in Mexico at this moment has disease control experts worried that it could turn into a worldwide pandemic. This virus is said to be like none ever seen before, a hybrid of bird, swine and human flu, all rolled into one virus. Some are saying it was deliberate and the virus was genetically engineered, not natural.

The sea roaring and men's hearts failing them for fear:

Hurricanes have become more frequent and more intense in recent years. Just a few years ago there were three category 5 hurricanes in a single season, two of them making landfall in very close to the same area, along the Gulf coast. Katrina hit New Orleans causing tremendous damage, with even more when levees failed, flooding much of the city. Rita hit further west only a short time later, again causing extensive damage. Tornadoes have been on the rise too. In just the first quarter of 2009 there have been more tornadoes and tornado outbreaks than in a normal year.

The kicker: Jesus told His disciples, This generation (the generation that sees the beginnings of these signs) will not pass until all is fulfilled. In other words, the generation born when these signs began will still be alive when everything prophesied has come to pass. All this is prophesied in Jesus' Olivet discourse with His disciples, found in Matthew 24 and Luke 17, shortly before He was crucified.

But this is not all. There are other clues as to the timing of the rapture elsewhere in the Bible.
1 Thessalonians 5:9 tells us God has not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord, Jesus Christ. 2 Thessalonians 2:3 tells us the antichrist cannot be revealed until there be a falling away (the literal meaning of the Greek actually speaks of a departure, a moving away-the rapture of the saints) first. Verses 7 and 8 speak of a restrainer Who must be taken out of the way before the antichrist can be revealed. Would this not be the Holy Spirit, living in the saints, restraining evil? When the church is removed in the rapture, this restrainer will be taken out of the way leaving the way clear for the antichrist to reveal himself, not before.

The book of the Revelation is divided into three parts. Jesus instructs John to “write the things you have seen, the things which are, and the things which shall be hereafter” (Revelation 1:19). The things you have seen—the vision of the seven candlesticks, the vision of Jesus and His appearance, and holding seven stars and a sharp two edged sword going out of His mouth. The things which are—the seven churches John was instructed to send letters to. The things which are to come—all John saw after he was caught up to heaven in Revelation 4:1.

In the message to the church of Philadelphia, a picture of the believing church of today (Revelation 3:7-12) Jesus promises them, “Because you have kept the word of My patience, I will also keep you from the hour of trial that is to come upon all the world, to try those who dwell on the earth.” (V 10). This “hour” can be none other than the great tribulation, and Jesus has promised those who have faith in Him that He will keep them (us) from that hour.

In Revelation 4:1 John sees a door opened in heaven and hears a voice telling him, “Come up here, and I will show you the things that must be hereafter.” Immediately John is in the spirit and sees the throne of God and 24 elders seated around the throne. These 24 elders speak of Israel and the church, 12 of them representing the 12 tribes of Israel, and 12 representing the 12 apostles of Jesus. There is no further mention of the church on earth until we see them coming with Jesus on white horses at the battle of Armageddon, strongly suggesting that the church is no longer present on earth during this interval.

Revelation 11:7-10 tells of the killing of the two witnesses who have brought plagues upon the earth for the past three and a half years, and states that all the world will see their dead bodies lying in the street for three and a half days. Just 50 years ago this would have been impossible. Now with satellite TV anything can be broadcast from anywhere in the world and picked up and the images transmitted worldwide in just a matter of seconds.

In Revelation chapter 13 we have the vision of the antichrist and his system, in which there will be one world government and one monetary system, the latter requiring one to receive a mark in his hand or on his forehead, without which no one will be able to buy or sell. There has been within just the past six months or so an exponential speedup of movement toward a one world government and a one world monetary system, and the technology is already in place to make the mark of the beast enforceable—RFID chips and electronic funds transfer. All that is needed is for someone to design the infrastructure to put the two together, and with the technology already at hand it would take only a short time to do that. Without the mark (or RFID chip, as the case may be) on your person the machinery won't work, and there will be no way to carry out any kind of monetary transaction.

In Daniel 12:4 the angel speaking to Daniel after telling him to seal up the book till the time of the end, tells him in that day many will run to an fro, and knowledge will increase. Just 200 years ago the fastest means of travel was horseback, top speed maybe 40 miles per hour, and that only for a relatively short time. Computers, telephones, television and many other things we depend on today weren't even dreamed of just 100 years ago. Commercial airliners can whisk people around the world in hours on trips that would have taken months just a century or two ago, and astronauts are whirling around the globe every 90 minutes at some 17,000 miles an hour. And the prophecies Daniel was told to seal up until the time of the end are now being understood.

From all of the above it appears certain that we are in the hour prophesied by Daniel, Jesus and others. It is the end of the age of grace, the end of time for the church on earth. It appears that everything is setting up for the political and monetary system that will be in force during the great tribulation, and everything could be put in place very quickly. With modern construction techniques, even the tribulation temple could be built probably in a matter of months.

When Jesus gave the sign of the fig tree, he stated that the generation seeing the start of all these things, the regathering of Israel, will not pass away until all He prophesied is fulfilled. It has been 61 years since Israel was re-established as a nation in modern times. The great tribulation will run for seven years. If 70 years is the lifetime of a generation, and all must be fulfilled in that time frame, and it has already been 61 years, that leaves only two years to the start of the great tribulation. The rapture is imminent. There is no other prophetic event that has to precede the rapture, though some may, such as the war of Psalm 83 and/or Ezekiel 38-39. And since it is apparent that the rapture must precede the tribulation, how much sooner must our exit be?

Just a quick disclaimer here. I am not trying to set a date for the rapture. Only a fool would do that. Jesus said no man knows the day nor the hour, and neither do I. But He did say we would know when the time was at hand, and based on the Scriptures and current events and trends I believe that time is here.

Jesus warned us to be ready. To those who are not watching, He will come as a thief in the night to steal away his jewels, the church. Those of us who are His are not of the darkness and will not be caught by surprise, we will know when the time is at hand.

If you have received Jesus into your life as your Lord and Savior, you are ready. When that day comes, you will be among the missing on Earth, gone to be with Jesus where He is. If you have procrastinated or refused to receive Jesus as Lord and Savior, that day will catch you as a thief, and you will be left behind in a world of total chaos, to go through the great tribulation. It will be a time of strong delusion and many will be deceived into irreversible damnation. While it will be possible to be saved during the tribulation it will probably be at the cost of your life. Even so, better to be saved, get your head chopped off and spend eternity with Jesus, than to keep your life for a time, and in the end burn in the lake of fire for eternity.

The Gospel in a nutshell:
All have sinned, and the punishment for sin is death and eternal torment in hell.
Jesus took your hell for you on the cross, in your place, to keep you out of hell.
You must receive Him to receive His salvation. Just invite Him into your life, and walk with Him.
Bible verse to think about: “Therefore be ye also ready, for in such an hour as ye think not, the Son of man cometh.” (Matthew 24:44.)

Don't miss it!

Tuesdau Together in The Word

2009-05-19T07:32:00.000-05:00

It was Dec. 6, 1970 at 12:25 on a Sunday. I use to joke, she came at the right time to avoid going
to church. 3 months later she became very sick, and the doctors could not find what was wrong
with her. A year later we found she was mentaly impaired. We were facing one of the most
trying times in our lives. Forward 26 years she went home to heaven. I rejoyced in knowing she could now walk and talk and do all the things she was denied her on earth.

The scripture that gives me hope, and makes me rejoice is:

_____________________________________________________

My friends, we want you to understand how it will be for those

followers who have already died. Then you won't grive over them

and be like people who don't have any hope. We believe that Jesus

died and was raised to life. We also believe that when God brings

Jesus back again, he will bring with him, all who had faith in Jesus

before before they died. Our Lord Jesus told us that when he comes,

we won't go up to meet him ahead of his followers who have already

died.

With a loud command and with the shout of the chief angel and a

blast of God's tru;mpet, the lord will return from heaven from heaven.

Then those who had faith in Christ before they died will be raised

to life. Next all of us who are still alive will be taken up into the clouds

together with them to meet the Lord in the sky. From that time on we will

all be with the Lord forever. Encourage each other with these words.

1 Thes. 13-18

________________________________________________________

When I was around 10 I was setting by the bed side of a beloved uncle.

He had been unresponsive for days, and it had been days since he

had been awake. He was laying there so quiet when all of a sudden he

sat up, looked up, lifted his hands like a baby lifting her hands asking

to be picked up, and said, "Papa oh Papa." He laid back and was gone.

I believe he saw his Papa, and that his Papa had come to carry him to heaven.

I have a strong belief that, a fellow believer or an angel comes to make

our transition easier.

I am not saying I rejoyced and sing Psalms of praise.

The 1st year, everything seemed to be okay, by the second year

everything came unglued. I had a breakdown, and suffered

for a long, saying things like, "parents do not bury their children,

children bury their parents. For a long time I was so confused

that I would call my granddaughter my daughters name).

I always had this blessed hope, and knew Lisa was with Jesus.

I have my first post on Footsteps of a Prodigal.

This is a blog devoted to "praying prodigals home."

Please join me at www.footstepsofaprodigal.blogspot.com

Titus 2 at the well Being busy at home

2009-05-17T14:27:00.000-05:00

Being busy at home

I started not to meet you ladies at the well today. I am in a time of my life where
I am not as busy as I was when I was a young mother of 2. My weeks were busy
with ball practices and games, boy scouts. You name it and Mark was in it. Lisa
was a very sick little girl and the challenges I faced with her, well I do not want to
rehash that. I worked out side the home and had a husband who could not keep
his pants on.

Lisa was placed in a home when she was 5 1/2 years old and this was almost more
than I could bare. She went to heaven when she was 26. Mark has married and he
has 2 little girls, and 2 bonus sons.

As I said above I was not going to post, because from my observations most of you
are young enough to be my children. I was talking to Mark today about this post
and how I had nothing to give. He was shocked and said, "If any one has something
to contribute it is you."

SO HERE IS HOW MY WEEK GOES:

I have been in business for over 20 years, this takes up about half of my time.
Sunday nights I go to a prophecy class at church. Wednesday I go to a teaching on
the major doctrines of the Bible. On Thursday nights I go to another prophecy class.
I guess you can see I am very interrested in end time events and I keep up with
the news and how it fits with Bible prophecy. I also write a teaching each week
on subjects pretaining to end times.

I just found out that one of my grandsons is having a baby. The timing is not good
as he is waiting orders for his second deployment.

My grandchildren range in ages from 22 - 15. So we have the weekly events to attend
with them.

I getting tired just writing this.

Mark wanted me to speak of my giving.

Most of my adult life I did not have anything,
many times the only thing I had to eat was a peanut butter sandwichs.I was always
faithful in giving and church attendance and teaching Sunday School and ast. pastoring a church. I can testify that my morning has turned into rejoicing. For the
many years that I had nothing, God has blessed me with plenty (there is a great story
to God'sfaithfulness here). WhatMark wanted me to share is this I give my salary
away. I find a needy family and I support them untill they can get their feet on the
ground. Larry and I are now helping a friend who has found out he has cancer. We
are looking for a car for him to drive himself to the hospital. When he is too weak
we drive him. He has a family but they will not help him.

I have a sister who is disable, and I talk with her each day, sometimes for hours.
I am mentoring a young lady who is reaping for the thing she has done.

I find the computer very challenging, and most of the time it takes me twice as long
to write a post. I am saying this because in addition to the above things I do, I also
spend hours with this new found buddy. My spelling is bad and I have not learned
how to edit my post. Sweet Laurie emailed me the directions on how to edit, but
when I tried it, it just would not work for me. I have spent hours trying to learn
how to post a UTUBE on my blog. I guess I need to go take a computer class.

At The Will -- Getting to know You

2009-05-04T07:16:00.000-05:00

Getting To Know You

Good Morning, it is so nice to see each of you today. I am thrilled to be learning more about you. That said, " Lets get started. " My Turn.

I grew up in the country, nearest town was 7 miles away. I am the first for 4 daughters. No brothers. I got married at 16 (I married the devil (really not enought
time to share this here,) I am however writting about my life on Walk with me
Wednesday.) Mark was born when I was 19, three years later I had Lisa.

Lisa was born with many problems. She cried the first year of her life, we were told they could not find the problem. When she is a year old, come back and we will do further test. That was a very hard year.

One year later, she was back in Childrens Hospital.

The day I was to go to receive the news about my little baby's condition. I also received the news that my husband and my mother were having an affair. I was given
the proof and it could not be denied. This shows how the devil works trying to destroy my life. On the way to receive the worse news a parent could receive, I got
a speeding ticket. THE NEWS, LISA'S BRAIN HAD STOPPED DEVELOPING WHEN SHE WAS 3 MONTHS, SHE WILL ALWAYS BE THREE MONTH's.

This started a 26 year struggle for her and a living hell for me.

I never missed a church service from as long as I can remember. This church was where I meet my future husband. He never missed. It seemed like a match. However
for me there was something missing. I became very ill and cried all the time. One Sunday a cousin of mine came to see me and said " If you will go to church tonight
the Lord will heal you." That night I was healed by the wonderful power of God, and my burdens rolled away and I had a love for Jesus that I had not experienced before.
For me this was the beginning of the most wonderful love relationship I have ever
experienced.

I was so in love with my Lord, that I spent hours in prayer and Bible study. The strength I gained from this relationship has substained me through the many life
destroying trials I was to go through. I was called into a teaching misistry.

This call and my fervent desire to please my Lord, brough much persecution from
upon me from my family.

Seeing the hand of satan on my family, I would walk and pray with my hand on my stomach asking God, "That if my son was going to grow up and not serve his to please take him before he was born." I can testify that God has answered my prayer. This however came through much trial and testing.

Lisa was a different story and I saw the hand of God move in our life in many ways
during her 26 years she was on this earth.

I did get a divorce and now was faced with new trials. The church I went to taught that you could not get a divorce......so.....I was. I started reading the Bible with different eyes, and came to believe as I still do that this church was very much in error.

5 years later I remarried and moved to the largest city in our state.

From a little girl I had wanted to live in the city. I also would watch planes flying over head and say I want to fly. My greates joy was to have a career and fly from city to ciry . Larry was a man of the many talents. He had his own business and was very wise in the things of life. He opened up to a new and wonderful world for me. He was
devoted to God. We meet at church and 9 months later we were married.

My dreams of travel were coming true. I opened my own travel agency, and my desire to fly was fulfilled and is still being fulfilled.
So many wonderful stories to tell about this marriage, however all was not perfect, he came from a background of devil worship and the mafhi He was glad I was a strong christian because I would need to be, together we were a team, and have seen many victories inour life.

He has one son living in Flordia, who is still mixed up in this dark religion. Every time Larry is in contact with him we have a satanic attack on our life.

This story is not all doom and gloom..I hope you can see the hand of God in my life.

Lisa is safely at home with Jesus.
Mark has become a wise son that has suprised me with his wisdom.
My desires to see the world, have my own business, have a devoted companion, who
will love Jesus as I do have come true and are still being fulfilled even as I write.

What satan ment for harm, Jesus has turned for my good.

I have found this board to be an outlet for me to speak. I would like to make lots of
friends, to share with. I am challenged at how to work this new internet and do not
know how to down load pictures or much of anything else. Please bare with me as
I learn.

Rowing Your Boat

2009-05-01T03:11:00.000-05:00

Rowing Your Boat

Two blondes were driving along a road by a wheat field

when they saw a blonde in the middle of the field

rowing a row boat.

The driver blonde turned to her friend and said "You know -

it's blondes like that that give us a bad name!"

To this, the other blonde replies "I know it,

and if I knew how to swim, I'd go out there and drown her."

Today is Funnie Friday for more fun go to Kim at

Homesteaders Heart.

Happy Friday!!

Footsteps of a Prodigal

2009-04-30T14:15:00.000-05:00

This is a new blog I am starting. More later. Just trying out my button.

Tuesday Together In The Word

2009-04-28T08:11:00.000-05:00

DeeDees

In the letter of 1Peter we find Peter having much to say about suffering. He shows how it can be a way of serving the Lord, of sharing the faith and of being tested. The letter was written to Christians scattered all over the Northern part of Asia Minor. In this part of the Roman Empire many Christians had already suffered unfair treatment from people who did not believe in Jesus.

And they could expect to suffer even more.

Peter was quick to offer encouragement. His letter reminds the readers that some of the Lord's

followers may have to go through times of hard testing. But this should make them glad, Peter declares, because it will stregthen their faith and bring them honor on the day when Jesus Christ returns (1:6,7).

Peter reminds them that Christ suffered here on earth, and when his followers suffer for doing right they are sharing his sufferings (2.18-25; 4.12-19). In fact, Christians should expect to suffer for their faith (3.8-4,19).

____________________________________________________

Sunday night in our service our pastor talked about the swine flu that

was spreading all over the world. He was teaching on Prophecy

in the Bible, and this disease was just the beginning of things to come.

He then said, "And it is going to get worse, things are going to get

very bad before the Rapture takes place."

God does not do anything instantly, he usually does them over a

period of time, and we become so use to them that it just seems

normal.

I don't know about you but I do not like to suffer, and I find no joy

in looking forward to what is coming on the earth.

But as Jesus said, "These things must needs be to confirm

scripture.

____________________________________________________

Because of who God is and because of what God has done by raising Jesus Christ from death, Christians can have hope in the future. Just as Christ suffered before he received honor from God, so will Christians be tested by suffering before they receive honor when the Lord returns. Peter uses poetic language to reming his readers of what Christ had sone:

Christ died once for our sins.

An innocent person died

for those who are guilty.

Christ did this

to bring you to God,

When his body

was put to death

and His Spirit

was made alive.

(3.18)

Called To Mentor

2009-04-26T20:38:00.000-05:00

April 27th, 2009

A call to Mentor

Great subject but what is a mentor? Mentoring is when someone who has "been

there, done that" takes someone who is "getting there, doing that" under

their wings. Let me repeat that. Mentoring is when someone who has

"been there, done that"

takes someone who is "getting there, doing that" under their wings.

I define mentoring this way for two reasons. First, mentoring isn't as much about age as it is about experience. As Barnabas mentored Paul, the two men very well could have been similar in age but Barnabas had the experience with a relationship with God that Paul didn't have. Second, often when we think about being a mentor, people are very quick to discredit themselves because they haven't "lived a good enough life."

In reality though, it is often the people who have made the most mistakes that have

the most to offer in a mentoring relationship. Again, Paul is a great example of this seeing that before he became a Christian, he killed Christians for a living. If Paul

can be a mentor, pretty much anyone can.

I had the most wonderful mentor growing into adulthood. I have been thinking alot about her

in preparing for this class. She mentored me during one of the most horrible time of my

teenage years. I would go see her, and she always had a word that would encourage me.

Now That Is A Good Mentor

I took a class via computer and telephone. The home office for the class was New Your City. During this class I had a mentor who before me had taken the class and was to offer me guidence and answer my questions.

I received a call from her, she was very short and said, "I my name is Judy and if you have any questions call me. Her is my number". That was the last I heard from her and she was so abrupt that I did not call her.

Now That Is A Bad Mentor

I was asked to be a mentor for the next class. I was determined to show the teachers of the

class what a mentor should be like.

I received a reputation for being one of the best big sisters (mentor). Everyone wanted me to be their big sister. Students for this glass were from all over the US and Europe. I made life time friends.

I had this little sister from Reno, Na. She was loved by everyone encluding me. She was one of the most giving person I have ever meet. She would call NY for counceling paying $400.00

for a thirty minute session. Money was not a problem for her. She was high up in Reno

governmant. She would call NY for a session and they would tell her one thing. She would call another day and they told her something different.

She would call me so confused and up set at herself for paying all of this money when I was giving her better advice.

I received a call from her one day asking "If I would fly to Reno and spend several days with her,

she would pay for everything."

I was so excited, I was going to Reno, and see this wonderful sister that I love so dearly.

She meet me at the airport, and off we were going to have a wonder few day of fun.

.
I THOUGHT

We were driving to California. We stopped at the grocery store and she bought a large bunch of grapes. I did not think anything of it.

The first thing I wanted to do was put my toes in the Pacific Ocean. I saw she had the grapes.

"What are the grapes for, I asked."

"You never go to the gods with out offering a peace offering, she said."

OH! WHAT HAVE I GOT MYSELF INTO?

She explained and taught me how to offer the grapes to the gods of the ocean.

She broke off a group of grapes and sent praise to the god.

She then offered them to me for me to send praise to the god.

I swalled hard, took the grapes and said. "IN THE NAME OF JESUS, AND

IN THE POWER OF HIS BLOOD I OFFER THESE GRAPES AS A PRAISE

OFFERING."

We took turns and continued this ritual untill all the grapes were gone.

We walked back to the hotel in silence. Her to her room, me to mine.

Two hours later we went down to dinner. She asked, "me too explain to her

just what I was doing on the beach. She had heard of Jesus and knew he was

a teacher but that was all she knew."

I explained the plan of Salvation. She was amazed and said, "She had never read the

Bible."

She then shocked me. "I am a witch of the highest order, we do not believe in this

Jesus. We believe in mother earth, and the god of the ocean, and the god of trees

I know there is recarnation, beacause I have lived before. I believe you and I were

catholic sisters in Ireland in another life."

I looked in her eyes, and with the power of the Holy Spirit said to her, "that she needed to repent,

and turn from satan." She said, "And if I do not what will happen to me?"

I simply stated, "You will not go to heaven!"

There is much more to this story but for time sake I will stop with that.

I will add however she did not repent on this trip.

I came home, and when Larry picked me up at the airport. I told him. "You are looking

at a modern day Paul."

He wanted to know if I was afraid with my encounter with the witch. I was able to honestly

say, "No I was not afraid." I am glad she had the gospel preached to her. It may be her

only chance.

Having a mentor and being a mentor is very important in my life.

The challenge to us today is to prayerfully consider the two questions of.

How can we mentor in ways that are pleasing to God?

How can we be sure the word of God is not maligned in the way we mentor and learn?

For more wonderful examples of mentoring come join with us

AT THE WELL

Thankful Thursday Provision

2009-04-23T08:42:00.000-05:00

I love Christ's last five words in Luke 13:32 "I will complete My work"

Not "I will complete My work if all the conditions are right."
Not "I will complete My work if you cooperate with me."
Not "I will complete My work if I'm still alive."

"I will complete My work "It that simple. The New International Version renders His statement, "I will reach my goal." No ifs, ands, buts about it.

"I will." Period.

Beloved, find security in the fact that nothing is haphazard about the activity of God. He has a goal, and He has a definitive plan that is to be exectued precisely according to His will.

You no doubt noticed Christ's symboilc phraseology in this verse, as well. In a sense, Christ spoke in the style of a parable. When He spoke of the of the miracle activity He would be doing "today and tomorrow," followed by "the third day," He spoke not in the immediate sense but in a future tense. Because of our hindsight advantage, we hear the unmistakable hint of the three days beginning with the cross and ending with His resurrection. In essence, Christ said, "I have a goal. But very soon that goal will be accomplished."

Perhaps Christ's use of the words "today," "tomorrow," "and the third day" suggest three segments of time in our lives as well. Today is our now. The third day could represent the ultimate fulfillment of God's goals for out lives. And tomorrow could represent every moment between now and then. He works in us, too.

Christ's return message to Herod emphasized that nothing could turn Him from His goal. Heither Herod nor any other power pose a threat to the plan. They would be used only as puppets to fulfill it. When we live our lives according to God's will, no Herod in the world can thwart our efforts at reaching God's goal.

Not a Herod of sickness, nor a Herod of crisis. Not even a Herod that seems to hand us over to death.

I am thankful for the Provision Christ had before the foundation of the earth.

I am thankful He has all my steps recorded in a book before I was born.

I am thankful for His provision to deliver me from wicked and evil men, those who do not have faith.

I am thankful for his provision and plan to deliver us from evil ones (2 Thes 3:3).

I am thankful I can put my trust and know He has provided everything I need according to His riches in Glory.

The Meeting

2009-04-22T08:11:00.000-05:00

Chapter 2

He had to walk a mile across the fields and woods to catch his ride. Expectantly waited for the bus to carry him not only to the movies but to his first date with
Ashley.

David was from a family of means. His great-great grandfather had come to the new world with his family. They purchased many acres and started raising cattle and children. She was of a delicate nature and the hardship of the new world were too much. She longed to return to England, where her family had servants. She could
take it no longer so she asked her husband to take her back home. They were booked
on the next ship, leaving behind the children. This is all we know of her. We do not know if she ever looked back with yearing to see her boys. Only eternity will tell.

I don't know if any of you can remember the country store over at Providence community. Just behind where the store sets, use to be a 5 story house which was owned
by David's great-great grandfather.

David's parents were wealthy land owners. They had cattle and acres of cotton as far
as the eye could see. Pa. was the local vet. and also the local barber. He was loved and respected far and wide.

David meet up with Ashley at their appointed place and time. Neither one of them cared much about the movie, it was only an excuse to be together.

All week Ashley bragged to anyone that would listen about the date she had with David. Not only was he handsome he lived on a plantation with hired hands to pick the cotton, and cattle to raise. If that were not enough David had a job working at
Pure a bionic plant in Alabaster.

She was very annoying to be around. She had told the story so many times the whole family knew it by heart. For Abigal it was salt in a wound.

True to herself Abigail was plotting a way to take what was another's and make it hers.
Jealously was raging, the embers were burning hot. Yes she was her twin, but who cares she knows she could make him happier than that mousey sister of hers. They
were identical and he would never now (until it was too late) that she was not Ashley.

She had kept it a secret from Ashley. That she had found a book in Papa's chest..
The blood in her vains burned hot as she looked at the pictures. When Daddy made his
advances it did not frighten her it only stired the yearing inside of her. No, he did not frighten her. What frightened her was the excitement stiring within. She knew there
were exciting things to experience and she yearned to know the secret.

The plan slowly formed. She knew how she was going to get out of the house and make it to the movies to meet David in Ashley's place. She first talked her mother into inviting Aunt Betsy to come for a visit and please bring the children. Abigail
knew Ashley could not stand for her to be unhappy so the charade began. So she
became unhappy, pouted, lips poked out, and walked around all week with her head hung low. She knew Ashley would do anything to make her feel better. Now the scene was set she just needed to carefully put everything into action.

Aunt Betsy arrived for the weekend along with her 2 little boys and 1 girl. Mary was less than a year old, and need constant care. Ashley love children, and her favorite joy was taking care of little Mary.

Ashley was always protective and gave into Abigail when she wanted something. She knew something was very wrong. Okay enough is enough. Abigail what is wrong?
You have been sad all week. Abigail said "I have worked all week and you know I deters taking care of children they get on my nerves. I don't want to spend my Saturday night baby setting. I want to go to the movies."

Moved with desire to her sister of her sister Ashley said, "I will watch the children and you go to the movies." The only thing I request is you tell "David why I could not meet him." Behind Ashley's back Abigail was grinning, "Yes I will give David your message.

Saturday afternoon came and just as planned Ashley (Abigail) was waiting for David at the bus station. When he saw her his eyes lit up and a big smile was on his face.
He was naturally shy, but he had nothing to be concerned about Abigail took the conversation (failing to admit that she was not Ashley). They headed toward the movie. Taking their place with popcorn and a drink. the movie was rolling the room was dark. David was smitten, Ashley was everything he had hoped she would be.
He slowly put his arm around her shoulder. She snuggled closer.

David knew, he just knew this is the one, the only one for him. They went for a walk
after the movie. The streets were alive with young lovers walking hand in hand.
David wanted privacy when he.....he had something on his heart that was so big he was not sure he would be able to get the words out. Ashley, I love you will you marry
me.

She acted shy and coy and said "Yes." There is something I have to tell you. Ashley did not want to come tonight so I came in her place. I knew you would not know the
differance and I so wanted to get out of the house. "It doesn't matter" David said,
You are the one for me your name doen't matter.

David grabed Abigail around the waist and twrilled her around and around. They were so happy and in love.

Abigail said,"It is June (1945) and I do not want to wait can we get married next weekend?" Of course this was wonderful declaration he so wanted to get married
as soon as possible. She was so beautiful, and she would be his for all time.

Now the farm, the cattle, the fields of cotton .....and yes the job that would buy her anything she wanted would be hers. She would lap it all up like a dog laps up water.
And just like Daliah in the Bible, he would never be aware of her true nature.

Ashley was so use to taking second place to Abigail that she took the news well.
After all Abigail was always the chosen one. She was Daddy's favorite. She always
had the boys chasing after her, so why not have David also.

Daily in His care

2009-04-21T09:29:00.000-05:00

To day we are meeting with DeeDee over at Together in the Word. We have a reading
plan, and from this plan we choose a scripture that speaks to us.
.
The scripture I am excited about is from Psalm 37: 18-19.
.

.

They won't be in trouble

when hard times are bad,

and they will have plenty

when food is scarce.

Sunday night our pastor gave us the following hand out,

I want to share it with you.

AN URGENT MESSAGE

An earth-shattering calamity is about to happen.

It is going to be so frightening, we are all going to tremble - even the godliest amoung us.

David Wilkerson continues: for ten years I have been waring about a thousand

fires coming to New York City. It will engulf the whole megaplex, encluding areas of New Jersey and Connecticut. Major cities all across America

will experience riots and blazing fires - such as we saw in Watts, Las Angeles,

years ago.

There will be riots

fires in cities worldwide.

There will be looting-

including Time Square.

What we are experience now is not a recession, not even a depression.

We are under God's wrath. In Psalm 11 it is written

If the foundatins are destroyed, what can the righteous do?(vs 3)

WHAT SHALL THE RIGHTEOUS DO? WHAT ABOUT GOD'S PEOPLE

A word to David Wilkerson from the Lord:

If possible lay in store a thirty-day supply of not perishable food,

toiletries and other essentials. In major cities, grocery stores are emptied in an hour at the sign of impending dister.

As for as our spiritual reaction, we have but one option. This

is outlined in Psalm 11.

We "flee like a bird to a mountain."

The above verses in Psalm 37 promises

of God's protection.

I will say to my soul: No need to run...

no need to hide.

This is God's righteous work.

I will behold my Lord on his throne,

with his eyes of tender,

loving kindness watching over every step I take-

trusting that he will deliver his people through:

floods,

fires,

calamities,

tests,

trials of all kinds.

Loving Your Children

2009-04-13T09:19:00.000-05:00

I have given much thought and prayer to this discussion.
________________________________________
.

Todays topic for discussion over AT The Well is love your children.....

The descissin questions are:

Discuss openly your thoughts about this study.

Do you have anyghing to add?

Do you remain concerned about something?

__________________________________________

Most parents love and care for their children, but sometimes a child may not know she is loved. She may feel that no matter what she does, her parents don't love her.

Other times, she may think that her parents only love her when she is good.

Being loved is not the same as feeling loved. It's not enough to know that you love

your child...

you must be certain that she knows it!

To love your child is to let her know you love her.

Many times for a child, the small things are what counts

A smile,

a hug,

and your presence can let him know you love him.

On the other hand,

your tone

of voice,

words,

or gestures can give your child the wrong message.

If you are always in a hurry, your child will think that you are too busy

to pay attention to him. If you only show that you love him when he does

something to please you, he might start to feel that you are not happy to have

him.

Children who don't feel loved behave very differently from those who do.

A child who feels loved is not afraid to try new things, and he knows that if he

fails, he can count on his parent's support. These children don't need to try hard to prove to themselves and to others that they are worthwhile.

In loving our children we should be sure that your child feels loved:

Be careful about what your words and actions might say,

Don't wait till they till she does something tho please let her know

you love her anyway.

Be Patient and understanding about her mistakes.

For example, if she spills the milk several times, instead of assuming that she's

is doing it on purpose, try to help her by giving her a smaller glass.

Don't criticize her in front of others.

Take time daily to listen and talk to your child and show interest in her activities.

Don't be afraid to touch your child,

hug her,

and kiss her.

let her know that no matter what happens, you will always love her.

_____________________________________________

We worry about what a child will become tomorrow,

yet we forget that he is someone today.

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Thankful Thursday ---- Sisters

2009-04-08T16:12:00.000-05:00

Having a sister is like having a best friend you can't get rid of. You know whatever you
do, they'll still be there.________________________________________

.
If you don't understand how a woman could both love her sister dearly and want to wring her neck at the same time, then you are probably an only child._________
.
Sisters is probably the most competitive relationship within the family, but once the sisters are grown, it becomes the strongest relationship.___________________
.
If sisters were free to express how they really feel, parents would hear this" "Give me all the attention and all the toys and send Patricia to Grannies to live.__________
.
Sweet is the voice of a sister in the season of sorrow._____________________
.
On this Thankful Thursday I want to express thankfulness for my sisters. I as so blessed to have three of them.
Patricia only 4 years younger than me.....we still laugh and enjoy our childhood.
Debra ten years younger than me.....she is one I can always depend on....
Darlene 20 years younger than me....she is the sweet one...I so enjoy our telephone
calls.
This last year and 1/2 has been trying on all of us, but together we will make it.

Walking Wednesday Beginning

2009-04-08T07:52:00.000-05:00

I could not find the button to post

I have been for a long time wanting to write the

history of my family..I have always been told it would

make a great book.

Thank you so much for offering me a place to do so.

They were identical twins. The fun they had pretending to be the other one.

School was a blast and what fun they had with others trying to guess who's who.

Even their parents were uncertain if the right girl was receiving the

compliment or punishment.

One of the twins was protective, loving and supportive of the other.

The second twin however had a different temperament. She only love herself

and wanted everything the other twin had. She was conniving and deceiving.

Their mother's mother died when she was young, and she lived with her brothers

and sisters, never receiving the love she so desperately needed. She always

said, "No one showed me love so, I do not know how to show love."

She and her husband had 4 girls and 2 sons. She was not emotionally there for

her girls and even worse when it came to her sons.

Their father, was fun loving, out going and gone most of the time. He was a

womanizer and did not care who knew it. One of his daughters told me. "He had

made a pass at her, but she was able to ger away from him."

He moved from Georgia to Alabama. I am not sure how they meet, but I do know

she lived in Fungo Hollow, which if any of you know the area is a road behind

Lowe's in Pelham.

They meet and married and moved to Calera. Calera was a very thriving city,

About 3 miles on hwy. 25 going toward Montevallo on the right hand side of the road is an old grave yard and there is a rock with the words stating this is the center of

Alabama.

Calera had a saloon on the north end of town, 2 cafe's one on each side of the street. Bear's Department store was there and next door was Bear's Grocery store. A

barbers shop was next with the barber's poll outside (that I have hit my head on

many times). There was Donivan's 5 and dine and a drug store. However the

most importand was the movie theater.

The movie theater was the gathering place. The young girls dressed in their Sunday's

best and the gentlemen were all spruced up looking for the one who would

make their heart go pitter patter.

It mattered little what was playing. the movie was not what they were watching.

Can you imagine the fun Ashley and Abigal had watching as the boys stared

as if seeing double. Blue green eyes, brown hair and a figure that was the

envy of all the girls and the desire of the boys. It could be easly said,"They

were the prettiest girls and could have their pick of the guys. This was intriguing as they searched the crowd for Mr. Right.

One afternoon a tall blue eyed, wavy blond hair guy got off the bus on his way to

the movies. There he meet a beautiful girl namey Ashley. The smile on his

face, and the shy look on her face had a story to tell of it's on.

The Life That Pleases God

2009-04-06T08:32:00.000-05:00

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As we gather together At The Well our discussion is about Older Women. I was praying about
what to write and wanting to open my heart when answering the study questions. If I could
convey anything to younger women it would be Pleasing God....so join me on my journey.

What does it mean to live alife that pleases God?

1. The life that pleases God is one that bears fruit.

The idea of "bearing fruit" is not one that is foreign to us. If we purchased a gruit tree,

planted it, and took care of it we would expect it to yield fruit.

Jesus says the same is true of people who profess faith. He says, "Watch out for false

prophets. They come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves.

By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pirk grapes from thornbushes, or figs

from thistles? Likewise every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit"

(Matt. 7:15-17).

How can we tell if someone is professing to be a believer, but isn't a believer? We can tell by watching their lives. If there is not a change in their living then we can conclude thate is no change in their soul. Out heart and our lives go together- they are not seperate. It takes time for the tree to mature. Like the tree over a period of time we should be seeing a difference in the way people live.

The person who is living to please God will begin to see a change in their values and we will see a change in their behavior.

Those living together outside of marriage will get married.
Those cheating others will begin dealing honestly.
Those who have been abusive in their speech will move toward kindness.
Those who were known for using others will begin serving others.
Those who relished tearing down others in their whispering will now seek to build them up.
Those who had hoarded their resources will begin investing their resources in the work of the Lord.

2. The life that pleases God is one that yearns to know God better.

One will keep on growing in knowledge of God. We can spend all our time getting information about God, but that is not the same as having a relationship with Him. One who pleases God yearns to know Him so they can please Him more.

3. The life that pleases God is the life lived Gratefully.

Have you ever noticed how much we complain?

We complain about the weather (when we should be grateful to be alive).
We complain about our income when we should be grateful that we have an income.
We complain about how our food is cooked (or how long the waitress takes) when we should be grateful we have food.
We complain about other believers (they aren't as spiritual as we! We're the only one doing it right) When we should be thanking God that all members do not have the same function.
We complain about traffic when we should be glad we can travel with such ease.
We complain about the crouds in the store (when we should be glad we are able to shop).

You get the idea. We thank God for what He's given while at the same time feeling He should have given us more. We seem to think that if Gof really love us we have:

less problems
more money
more stuff
more influence
less illness
more good times
less difficult times

Graditude begins when we realize we do not deserve the inheritance that has been reserved for us. We should spend every waking moment being grateful that God has taken our dead end life and set it on the course for eternity. We must think often of where we would be if He had not drawn us to Him.

Our attitude of gratitude grows as we learn to open our eyes to the blessings we take for granted. When was the last time you thanked God for

the breath you are able to take
the blue sky
song of a robin
for the Bible
fellow believers
songs that lift your soul
for a warm home
for your family
for the trials that give us perspective
grateful for the blessings we take for granted

We also grow in our gratefulness as we see how wonderful our Savior is.

In conclusing:

The life that pleases God.....

Bears fruit

Grows in knowledge of God

Lives gratefully

Four Terrible Horsemen

2009-04-02T15:09:00.000-05:00

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Four horsemen

The sixth chapter of Revelation brings us to the beginning of judgment of the wrath of God. It is not an easy passage to teach, but it is part of the content of blessing promised to those who read and keep the prophecies of this book (1:3).

I watched as the Lamb opened the first of the seven seals. Then I heard one of the
four living creatures say in a voice like thunder, "Come!" I looked, and there before
was a white horse! Its rider held a bow, and he was given a crown, and he rode out
as a conqueror bent on conquest (Revelation 6:1-2 RSV)

There is much dispute as to what this rider on the white horse represents. Pastor Mark teaches this rider
is Jesus.

When the Lamb opened the second seal, I heard the second living creature say,
"Come!" Then another horse came out, a fiery red one. Its rider was given power
to take peace from the earth and to make men slay each other. To him was given
a large sword. (Revelation 6:3-4 NIV)

This rider is easy to recognize. It is war, of course, but not war between great armies --at least not at first. The word for slay is really the word "slaughter." It is a reference to civil war or civil anarchy where mobs of people group together to attack and destroy other people whom they do not like. In the days when John wrote they obvious did not have any of the modern weapons of warfare we have today. In that day a sword
was a powerful weapon of destruction. It is with good reason that many commentators have seen this as
a picture of the awesome power of a nuclear bomb, something that destroys enormous numbers of people.
If you read the 38th and 39th chapters of Ezekiel you will find a vivid description of such warfare, where
armies come down out of the north into the Holy Land and are decimated by what appears to be radiation
sickness. It is powerfully protrayed for us in those accounts. Then we have the third seal opened, in Verses 5 and 6.

When the Lamb opened the third seal, I heard the third living creature say. "Come!" I
looked, and there before me was a black horse! Its rider was holding a pair of scales in
his hand. Then I heard what sounded like a voice among the four living creatures,
saying, "a quart of wheat for a day's wages, and three quarts of barley for a day's wages,
and do not damage the oil and the wine!" (Revelation 6:5-6 NIV)

Most scholars take this to be a reference to widespread famine on the earth. But perhaps this is not referring to famine because in the next sea, as we will see, famine is specifically mentioned as part of a
judgement. What else causes terrible shortage and creates high prices do that people cannot buy adequate amounts of food? It is inflation; economics out of control; panic in the market place! During the
days of the Weimar Republic in Germany after World War I, there are pictures of people taking ten thousand of German marks bills, loading them into wheel borrows, and taking them to market to buy a single loaf of
bread. That is what runaway inflation does. It makes money worthless. That in turn becomes an excuse for the rigid control over buying and selling which we find in Chapter 13 when, "no one can buy or sell without the mark of the beast," (Revelation 13:17) That brings us to the fourth seal, in Verse 7:

When the Lamb opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth living creature
say, "Come!" I looked, and there before me was a pale horse! (The word actually is
chloros, from which we get the word chlorine, a pale green horse, like chlorine in color.)Its
rider was named Death;, and Hades was following close behind him. They were given
power over a fourth of the earth to kill by sword, famine and plague, and by the wild
beasts of the earth. (Revelation 6:7-8)

This rider is named "Death" and floating along behind, was a figure that is identified as "Hades," or Hell.
Death takes the body and Hades takes the soul. There are four forms of death that are related to this attack. Firs, the sword, which here is not war but murder; individual assault upon one another. It is people
taking the law into their own hands and murdering other people without regard to justice or law. With murder comes famine and widespread starvation.When civilization begins to crumble, the defenses of mankind against disease are lost as well.

The wild beast of the earth multiply, and are subject to attack by these predators. The account says that a "fourth of the earth" is given over to the four attacks. There are approximately seven billion people on the earth today this means a forth of this number would be decimated by disease. It is a picture of a desolated earth caused by man's hatred and barbarity.

When he opened the fifth seal, I saw under the alter the souls of those who had been
slain because of the word of God and the testimony they had maintained. They called
out in a loud voice, "How long, Sovereign Lord, holy and true, until you judge the
inhabitants of the earth and avenge our blood?" Then each of them was given a white
robe, and they were told to wait a little longer, until the number of their fellow servants
and brothers who were to be killed as they had been was complete. (Revelation 6:9-11 NIV)

John sees a great crowd which no man could number, from every tribe nation and language of earth, standing before the throne, all ;having been killed for their testimony. They are given a white robe and told to wait until their brethren would also be killed.

Notice the prayer these martyrs pray. It is a call for vengeance. These martyrs under the fifth sear are not living in days when God patiently endures the injustices of men. These are days of judgment; days when wrong doers are being called to account, the time of vengeance. The prayers, then, of God's people reflect the mind of God at that time.

I watched as he opened the sixth seal. There was a great earthquake. The sun turned
black like a sackcloth made of goat hair, the whole moon turned red, and the stars
in the sky fell to earth, as late figs drop from a fig tree when shaken by a strong wind.
The sky receded like a scroll, rolling up, and every mountain and island was removed
from its place. (Revelation 6: 12-14 NIV)

This is a vivid description of chaos in nature! The whole natural world goes on a rampage.

These six seals have carried us almost to the very end of the whole seven-year period. We have been swiftly moving through this dramatic period. After the great tribulation, nature will be upset by some cosmic phenomenon. Perhaps it is the approach of an undetected heavenly body that will upset the gravity of earth.
Volcanoes will begin to spout lava; great earthquakes, much larger that the ones just experienced, will rumble through the earth; the stars will appear to be falling from the sky; the darkening of the sun and the
moon will result from the ashes and dust caused by these phenomena. (read Luke 21:25-27)

It will be a time of terror and anguish throughout the earth. That will be the effect of this on the people?

Then the kings of the earth, the princes, the generals, the rich;, the mighty, and
every slave and every freeman hid in caves and among the rocks of the mountains.
They called to the mountains and the rocks, "Fall on us and hide us from the face
of him who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb! For the great day of
their wrath has come, and who can stand?" (Revelation 6:15-17)

In that day, those who refuse to believe have reached a stage where they cannot believe. They are in such terrible fear and pray; to the rocks to destroy them. They; will manifest openly and publicly what they feel privately and secretly today. It is a strange phenomenon, but it is easily confirmed , that every unbeliever is convinced in his own hear that death is somehow an escape into oblivion! Somehow they think they can escape the terrible consequences of their evil by dying. That is why people commit suicide. They believe they are escaping their problems, that there will be no consequences beyond death. But he Word of God
assures us this is not true: "It is appointed unto man once to die and after this the judgment, (Hebrews 9:27) also see (John 3:36)

Isaiah puts his finger on the reason for these judgments. It is "the pride of men shall be humbled," (Isaiah
2:17 NIV) The pride of man--this terrible lust within us :
to be in charge
to be in control of our lives
to be in control or other peoples lives
to run everything
to be the center of our own little universe
to judge everything as to whether it pleases us
or displeases us
that is the pride of man. Grace can humble it. The sight of God's Son dying in our place ought to make us see the evil of our hearts. But, if grace does not humble us, ultimately judgment must.