Look Up

We all have the same number of hours in a day, but those who did not sit in front of a TV can get so much more done in 24 hours. Lauren chooses to spend some time each week at Cross Fit. In my book, it sure is better than sitting in a chair surfing FaceBook or playing computer games. There is some personal social contact  with others that a person misses when his or her nose is in a devise.

Watch this and perhaps you will understand where I'm going  here.

Who Knew?

This has been a trying day. Lots going on with people I know and love. 

Was so glad to take my mind off trials and watch 24 tonight. It was the episode that was broadcast last night. We watched it quite late after Life Group. 

I'm comforted that God planned that even though we would have hard tests, bad times, he would take care of us and even help us carry our burdens. There is always light at the end of the tunnel.  God is always there for us, covering us with his wing. Shielding us from that which would be too much for us to handle.  He makes sure  there is some joy in our lives when we love Him and keep his commandments.

Knowing that I'll soon be seeing this little fellow and his big brother is keeping me going these days.

We are so thankful for their sweet smiles.

Impatiently Waiting

Maggie has routine that she likes to keep in the mornings. She isn't hungry when she first rises. She is much like me, it takes her a while. Neither of us drink coffee. I suppose that is our problem. Anyway the morning this was taken, she was laying in her accustomed spot on the foot stool, when her daddy came home from the "Y" much earlier than usual. She heard a noise, she looked toward the door. When she was sure it was the garage door opening, she jumped down and ran to the door. However, Ron was fiddling in the garage, gathering tools for a job. She was walking the floor waiting for him.

You could see in her eyes the questions as she waited very impatiently.

I don't think she got the trait from me, but I'm not a patient person. I expect that people will be punctual. I expect that a person will do what he/she knows to be right. I just expect too much out of a society of 'me firsts'.  I am impatient, knowing that our nation needs to stop spending money it doesn't have and won't be able to have for generations.

It is voting Day tomorrow. Please don't stay home. It is so important to show you stripes this election.

Just Us Girls

Chelle went with some of her friends to a place called  Dabble Studio where they first made a quiche. While it was in the over, each 'girl' painted her own interpretation of a city scape. It was a unique place, at least I had never heard of anything like it before. The girls had a good time.

The following Bible passage struck me differently this time I read it.   

if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.

Read at Bible Gateway

Read all of 2 Chronicles 7

I had always thought it would take the majority of our country to turn back to God before he would save us.  However, this time the phrase, "if my people, who are called by my name turn back to God" stood out to me. His people who are called by his name would be the Christians. So, if the Christians in this nation would only take a look at themselves and discover that they have strayed from the word of God, and return to obedience to His word, He would save our nation.

That's is more likely that having those who are intrenched in sin and who hate God or do not even believe in Him, turning completely around and following our Lord, Jesus.

We as Christians should stop everything right now and access our lives to determine if perhaps we should  change our ways before it is too late to save our nation.

i

Fruits of the Spirit

I was glad to learn a new digital technique, using the patten stamp and blending. This was the first layout on which I used the method.

It makes me feel good to continue to learn new things as I work with Photoshop Elements.  I do wonder sometimes though how bad my memory would be if I didn't make an effort to keep it in high gear.

Tonight by making my last choice , self-control,  I understand that I am a spiritual being...I will be drunk only by joy. I will be impassioned only by my faith. I will be influenced only by God. I will be taught only by Jesus. I choose self-control.

My list of choices :

LOVE    JOY    PEACE   PATIENCE    KINDNESS    GOODNESS    FAITHFULNESS    GENTLENESS    and SELF CONTROL.

These are called the fruits of the Spirit in  Galatians 5:21-23.

iPhone?

It was Easter morning. I was fixing breakfast and listening to the story of the empty tomb. I didn't turn it on. I don't do that, but it was on and I was listening intently. Then Ron laughed! He  did! I was aghast. "How  can you laugh at that, Ron? What is wrong with you?"  Well, this is one of the ways we are the total opposite. Not that he would laugh at something so serious, but that he can read something while something else is playing loudly.  Supposedly he is ADD...has always been. His brother will say to him, Earth to Ron, to get his attention when he is so far away mentally that his eyes glaze over.  On the other hand, if someone is talking, if music it playing...no matter what, I have to listen. I can't ignore sounds.  Therefore I have to have total quiet to read.

So why is it, he is ADD and I'm not? I don't get it. He can cut out all in order to complete a project. I have to have quiet. It must be that we are both ADD, just in different ways.

If  I were to go to school today, I would be totally out of it. I would fail. I can understand why some have so much trouble in school. The classrooms  that I've seen lately are totally a mess. There is so much going on at once that a person who had trouble focusing would not be able  to get anything done. I'm glad I went to school when I did . While I did quite well, today, I would be lost.

Back to Sunday morning. Ron was reading email. That is why he laughed. He had completely tuned out the Easter story on his iPad. 

This type of thing drives me crazy. Ron will turn on the TV when he enters the room, but rarely ever turns it off. I don't know how to turn on the TV. I have no need to do so. But I quickly learn how to turn off TVs, iPads, computers, radios, stereos, etc. 

Please give me some peace and quiet, so that I can think.

Tonight I'm choosing gentleness. Nothing is won by force. I choose to be gentle. If I raise my voice may it only be in praise. If I clench my fist, may it only be in prayer. If I make a demand, may it be only to myself. I  choose to be gentle.

LOVE    JOY    PEACE    PATIENCE    KINDNESS    GOODNESS    FAITHFULNESS    GENTLENESS.

pipSquigz

Oliver starts early with his Fat Brain toys. I love this bright eyed boy and can hardly wait to give him a big hug.

My writing may be disjointed this evening; but I have several thoughts,  things  that have crossed my path recently, that I'd like to share.

Number 1 is an Old Chinese Proverb that arrived with my Wordles puzzle this morning...

"If we don't change our direction, we're likely to end up where we're headed."   Now that is a scary thought after looking around and seeing which way the wind is blowing right now. It seems that no matter what good people do, other louder and more obstinate people jump up and do two things to take us back in the opposite direction.

We had Ladies' Bible Class this morning and our much esteemed leader, Paulette, taught us another lesson on joy...being joyful in the midst of whatever is happening in one's life.   This one had to do with what complaining does to ones joy and the joy  of those around us. She showed us a video of a man who had a collar around his neck, similar to a dog's collar associated with an electric fence. Whenever the poor man would make the slightest complaint, he would get shocked. You can imagine how many times he got shocked in less than 10 minutes..  It was being used to teach us how often we complain. The Bible verses also let us know that our father God in heaven was very displeased with those who complained in Bible days. Hence we can expect the same today.

We have an assignment of writing something for which we are grateful both morning and night for a week.  I am truly blessed that I can think of many things for which I am thankful.  I am trying my best to not complain, but to be grateful.

I've been writing about choices one can make. Tonight  I'm thinking of the choice to be faithful.

Today, actually tomorrow, I will keep my promises. My debtors will not regret their trust.  My associates will not question my word. My husband will not question my love and my children will never fear that  I will stop caring for them.

I choose faithfulness.

    LOVE    JOY    PEACE    PATIENCE    KINDNESS    GOODNESS    FAITHFULNESS