Memories

This morning, my husband said to me, "We need to clean off that refrigerator." I responded with,"This is a place for memories." And it is.

There are things on that refrigerator that has been there since my daughter was in elementary school and then after her children were born. She turns 40 on Tuesday, so that tells you about how long a couple of those things have been on those doors. And I will not do away with them. The little furry dog on the top of the left hand door was made by my daughter when she was in early elementary school.

There is a picture on the right hand door on the bottom that my granddaughter drew 4 or 5 years ago as she sat at my kitchen table. There is a snowman on the left door that one of the older kids made in school. There is a 4 generation picture at the top of the left hand door that has my mother, me, my daughter, and her daughter when Heather was about 3 years old. And she turns 21 in March.

I have two friends who have passed away whose memories are on those doors. One was a woman I sang with at church. She made little fly swats that had a real-looking fly on them. I have one on the door. Also, another friend from Australia sent me several things, one of which was a magnetic map of Australia and these two things are at the top of the right hand door.

There are memories of Bible school when my daughter's oldest son and daughter would come and go to VBS at the church. They would make something and bring it home to me. Well, some of those things are also on the door.

There are memories from bus tours I took with my mother to different places including New Orleans and Pigeon Forge. There is a guitar that I got at the Alabama Museum in Fort Payne, AL last summer. Also Bill's sister gave me the little piano which plays a tune. She had given him a computer, but it got knocked off and broken. She later gave him a Mr. Fixit. It hangs just below my daughter's two oldest children (they were about 4 and 5 there).

There are so many memories hidden beneath the things on that door that I could not begin to throw them away. Maybe they look ragged or perhaps even distasteful to some, but to me, they are precious memories.

I am a keeper if lots of memories of both my children and my grandchildren. When I pass the refrigerator, I can always think of them and what they mean to us. And I know that, when you display what they have made or given to you, it warms their hearts. My daughter has taken after me and has a refrigerator with probably more displayed than me.

Technorati Tags: Memories, Children, Pictures

The Christmas Tree

Most of us want a beautiful Christmas tree for Christmas. And we are among those who love a pretty tree to decorate for Christmas. I love to see the lights burning and the children (now our grandchildren) gathering around the tree, waiting to open the presents that have accumulated there.

This year I have yet to get my tree up and decorated. But, believe me, it will be there before Christmas morning. I suppose this is the latest I have waited to put mine up.But I've had things that I had to do that have kept me from doing other things I really want to do. Hopefully, tomorrow night I will be able to get the tree up and decorated. I even bought a new one this year with limbs that just drop down from the trunk - no more of this having to place each one in the trunk. And this one is pre-lit and no more having to string up to 10 strings of lights! It really gets tiresome! So I thought I'd make it easier to put up and easier to take down. The decorations are no problem - just those lights got to me last year.

But the one Christmas tree that I found so nice was one that has been growing in a yard in Tuscaloosa, AL, since 1968 when the owner of the place first set the seeding out on his lawn. Now, 42 years later, the Christmas tree, which has grown to 50 feet, is once again lit for all to see. Oh, it came with a price since they had to hire a crew to put up all the lights. But it makes them feel good to know it is now lit after 42 years! Check this tree out in Tuscaloosa, AL.

Technorati Tags: Christmas tree. Tuscaloosa, AL

Hopefully, I am back!

I just realized I have not posted an article since September. And I've been posting very sparsely this year due to other commitments. I hope I can post more often this month and the next year.

It is getting close to Christmas which means we will all be busy. I don't know about you, but I haven't bought one gift, nor have I put up any decorations. I have good intentions but just can't seem to get up and put them up. But I will have them up before Christmas, I promise. My grandkids would be very disappointed if I didn't have a Christmas tree up even if it didn't have a thing under it! One year, I put out a very small one and they were very disappointed.

I wish each of you a MERRY CHRISTMAS. May God bless you this Christmas season and all through the New Year.

Season of the Heart

1 John 4:9 In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him.

During this season, you see people everywhere, fighting the traffic and the crowds to get just the perfect gift for a loved one. Or perhaps they are trying to decide if they should buy a specific gift or just give a gift certificate. Either way, they are out there in the hustle and bustle of the holidays; some don't feel the least bit in the mood - just doing this out of habit. Then there are others who live for 'gift giving'...it puts them in the Christmas spirit to be able to shop!

Most people love the Christmas season and what it stands for, but some can't see beyond the Christmas trees, the beautiful lights and the expectation of gifts. How do you view Christmas?

What a heart God had when he sent his 'only begotten Son' to this earth 2000 years ago, to live as a man, to know the hurt and pain that you and I do - yet he lived a spotless life, and was crucified so that we could live without sin and one day live with Him eternally. WHAT a 'love' of the people GOD had to send His Word to us in the flesh, how unselfish - and this is the way we should live our life today - unselfish to the point that we want others to have what we would live, whether it be a gift, or maybe the spiritual gift of salvation through Jesus Christ our Lord.

The Season of the Heart means to me to be the season in which we truly show our love to others - unselfishly, unequivocally - with fervor!! We should be so 'in love' with our God that our faces shine with 'his presence'.......our eyes should 'light up' for Him!! People should recognize us as having something they want!! And we should be ready to share Jesus with them when we are approached!!

Written ©December 22, 1998 by Barbara Sanders. All rights reserved.
Copy only with permission.

You be the Judge

I was sent these two articles from my close Christian friend. I knew some of these things were happening but had no idea at what lengths pastors will go to get young people in church or to an 'on-line' church.

It doesn't matter what tactics they use to try and win the young. Only the TRUTH of GOD is going to hold them. When one is won through the Word of God, it will hold him. I do not believe someone drawn to a church through such tactics will be long in the church. It takes a true life-changing experience with God to make you want to leave your old life and join His kingdom! When God woos a person, it doesn't take anything extra to win him/her. Such tactics, to me, undermines the truth of God. It belittles the foundation to which one is trying to win the lost. And I do not believe God is amused at the way some pastors are trying to build their church.

Wanna Be Cool Christianity - Sacrificing Authentic for Hip

The Perils of Hipster Christianity

Technorati Tags: Christianity, Cool Christianity, Hipster Christianity

Remembering 9/11

Little did we know that September 11, 2001 was going to be a day like no other day in American history. Early risers had nothing to warn them of what was about to happen in the early morning hours of that Tuesday morning.

I was sleeping a little late that morning. My husband was in the computer room and had the television on watching Fox News. He immediately came and woke me up when the plane hit the first tower. I got up and went to the television. Our first impression was that it was an accident, but the next few minutes we found out it was a terrorist attack. When the second plane hit the second tower, it was just too surreal! The emotions were all over the range; this could not be happening in America. Yet, there we were watching live television, the towers crumbling, smoke filling the downtown area, and people running for their lives.

Our eyes stayed glued to the television for the entire day. We did not realize that the tragedy had just begun. We new the nation was under attack, but we didn't realize just how bad things were going to get before the end of the day. Nor, did we know how many lives would be lost. The people behind the attacks were dead set on destroying as much of the United States as they could. And, they never gave a thought to how many lives they were destroying. In fact, I am sure they did not care. Their satisfaction was born out of pure hatred for our way of life and the freedoms we have here in America.

One event after another began to happen. First the Twin Towers were hit and began crumbling, and then the Pentagon was hit by the third plane. The nation was expecting a hit on the White House as well. But the fourth plane was deterred by some very brave citizens that did not want to see others killed by these terrorists. They took matters into their own hands. They began to call relatives to let them know what was happening and they would not be coming home. They sacrificed their lives to save thousands of others that may have been killed had the plane been able to make it's way to it's destination in Washington, D.C. Instead, they caused the plane to go down in a field in Pennsylvania.

The death of all those thousands of people on that day left many grieving relatives behind - spouses, children, parents, friends. And it still has to be a terrible thing to remember, knowing those loved ones had no chance to survive such a terrible tragedy. Little did they know that morning, as they arrived for work, that their lives would be in jeopardy in just a matter of minutes. The passengers boarding those other two planes had no idea that they would not arrive at their respective destinations, and that their lives were hanging in the balance when they sat down in their seats.

As we go forward after this ninth year after this terrible tragedy, I pray that this country never has to undergo another day like that day in our history. But we have to be extremely cautious in the way we look at our every day actions, knowing that the enemy is right ready to hit us again. It doesn't matter that we have done nothing to cause the attacks other than being a freedom-loving country. May GOD keep us safe from more terrorists attacks.

Technorati Tags: 9-11 Tragedy, New York City, Pennsylvania, Twin Towers

Please read......

Group Seeks to Censor Gospel of Christ

Cat fight on the Left: "I hear these people saying [Obama's] like George Bush. Those people ought to be drug tested. I mean, it's crazy. ... The professional left ... will be satisfied when we have Canadian health care and we've eliminated the Pentagon. That's not reality." --Robert Gibbs, criticizing the White House's own base -The Patriot Post

Time is running out

I have often heard the saying that we came here dying. And that is essentially true. We grow day by day from a baby into adulthood. But we aren't really promised the next day.

I was sent an article by a friend this morning. The article talked about how we often put off things that we would like to do and may bring us much joy, but we give excuses as to why we can't do such things.

I know we've all been caught in the excuse realm. I say 'I need to clean house before I can ask friends over'. Or, I would go shopping, but I don't think I have the money to spend right now.

We pass up going to visit relatives we haven't seen in a long time. And, before long, the relatives are gone and we haven't visited them yet. We never know when that person, or even we, are going to pass from this life.

We had put off a vacation for years until this summer. I told my husband I was going on a vacation near our anniversary even if he didn't come. And, about two weeks before our anniversary, he called me from work and said, "decide where you want to go for 3 or 4 days". So we took off and had a good time. After all, the money, if there is any left (after this administration's actions) will go to our children, and we will have been denied any benefit of our hard work, if we do not go out and enjoy some of it! I decided it was time, whether we thought we could afford it or not, to go on a vacation, even a short one. And he has promised we might even take one to Branson, MO, this Fall!

But, seriously, we never know when our appointed time will be to leave this world. Time is running out if you don't know the Lord. Don't let it slip upon you without realizing the love that Jesus Christ can bring to your life.

Ecclesiastes 3:2, "A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted;"

Technorati Tags: Time, Death, Life, Joy

Red Skelton's Pledge of Allegiance

XPmedia.com - Upcoming Elections In America

XPmedia.com - Upcoming Elections In America

Rick's comments on Obama Proclaiming June 'Gay Lesbian Bisexual and Tran...

America definitely needs CHANGE!

We need leaders with integrity, love of the Constitution and the law, compassion for the people back home, loyalty to their families, and the love of truth! Seems most of these is missing in most of our leaders in Washington D.C. today.

We have heard about so many marriages going on the rocks because of a politician cheating on his wife. I know Washington does not lay claim to all of the adulterers, but they have their fair share. It just seems, during an election year, they come out of the woodwork.

So do those who cannot seem to tell the truth, or realize the truth shall find them out. Case in point - Attorney General Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut. Seems he had 5 deferments from the military, ending with him getting a spot in the Marine Reserve in 1970. This was during the Vietnam War. He used that to tell people that he served in the Vietnam War, which is untrue. He never left the US while in the Reserve. But he apparently felt comfortable telling people he did on several different occasions. But it finally caught up with him when he had an interview on Monday.

• In an interview on Monday, the attorney general said that he had misspoken about his service during the Norwalk event and might have misspoken on other occasions. “My intention has always been to be completely clear and accurate and straightforward, out of respect to the veterans who served in Vietnam,” he said.

You can make a mistake, but when you deliberately twist the truth, then it is a lie. How can one be 'completely clear, accurate, and straightforward' when the truth is no where to be found in the comments? I think Blumenthal was very misleading in his statements to the veterans as he has been over the years.

• In 2003, he addressed a rally in Bridgeport, where about 100 military families gathered to express support for American troops overseas. “When we returned, we saw nothing like this,” Mr. Blumenthal said. “Let us do better by this generation of men and women.”

When he made the statement above, he knew that he had never been in Vietnam and that he certainly was not in the Vietnam War.

Hopefully, change will come in the November election. Today, in some of the primaries, we saw change coming! People are outraged at things going on in Washington with their total disregard for what the people of America want. They get in office by saying things people want to hear. Then, when they get in Washington, they do what they do best - forget the people back home and do what they want to do!

Not all politicians are without integrity. Some even READ the laws before they vote for them. But, for the majority, they need to be replaced with true conservatives - those that believe in the sanctity of marriage, pro-life, Constitution, smaller government - not those with a forked tongue. The problem is they speak what they think you want to hear during a campaign and then become turncoats upon winning the election. That is why we need to really pay attention to what they say, and learn all we can about each candidate. Then use our wisdom to pick the best candidate we can to do the job in Washington.

Pray or not to Pray

I have always been under the notion that, if you want to pray, doesn't matter who is around, you pray. You don't need to take a survey to see if they agree with your beliefs or you agree with theirs. After all, you are praying to GOD, not to the people around you. HE is the one who hears your prayers and answers them or doesn't answer them. Only HE can make a difference, no matter what you are praying about, not another human being.

Seems Janet Porter of Faith 2 Action was criticized for praying at the Lincoln Memorial on May Day. Apparently, she didn't follow protocol as some thought she should. She prayed with people with whom she wasn't in full agreement. It was said that some of the things she had prayed for 'wasn't in the Bible'. I would say there are lots of things not in the Bible but that doesn't mean we can't pray for them, such as our states, our families, and all the things with which we come in contact in our lives daily that have an influence on our lives.

It would do every Christian good to pray for our country which is in dire need of prayer and help from God! He tells us in 2 Chronicles 7:14, if his people who are called by his name, would humble themselves and pray and 'seek HIS face', he would hear from heaven, forgive our sins, and 'heal' our lands. Thank goodness there are still those that are not afraid to stand up for the gospel regardless of the consequence like Janet Porter.

Romans 1:16, "For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek."

I commend Janet Porter for 'sticking to her guns' and not letting the actions of others slow her down or stop her from doing what she felt called to do. She may have lost her job at the VCY America network, but God has something better in store for her!

Technorati Tags: Janet Porter, Prayer, VCY America

One Day at a Time

As we grow older, there comes a point where we can't do things we used to do. We just aren't '16 again' like I told my husband today. We want to do things, but we just aren't able to bend or maneuver or even hold out long enough to do them.

It is so easy for an older person to strain a muscle or pull something in their back when trying to pick up or throw things. We were putting out Decoration flowers at the cemetery today and my husband picked up a limb and threw it. Of course, he somehow threw it in away to hurt himself. I am not supposed to bend completely over, but, instead, stoop to do things near the ground. I caught myself bending over from the waist. I often do this without thinking. When I broke my hip 9 years ago, I was told not to bend from the waist, but habits are hard to break! So, when we do foolish things, we pay for them. We hurt.

Tomorrow is Mother's Day. I stay with my Mother during the day 5 days a work. My brothers take over on the weekends. But, today, my husband and I put out the flowers for Decoration which always falls on Mother's Day, the 2nd Sunday in May. I decided to go to my Mother's and give her the Mother's Day gift and card I had bought. My son and his wife is taking us out to eat after church. Then I will go back to the cemetery and take pictures for her. I had forgotten my camera today.

And, just talking about all this makes me tired. We just stay going all the time and never really have time to sit down and rest. I do what I feel like doing in my house and have learned how to not worry about it - that is, until someone is coming! Then we are busy beavers! But nobody is coming to my house this weekend. My daughter's daughter has to work tomorrow, so they aren't coming. They live over an hour away, and it would be late by the time they would get here.

Right now, I have clothes in the dryer and clothes in the washer. When they quit, I have more to put in. Seems we never get through. My husband spends every minute he can when he's not working cutting grass, weed eating and taking care of our cars. He was going to change the oil today, but we haven't been at home long enough for him to do that. So I guess, we will wait for another day.

How about you? Are you in a run all the time like us? Do you ever get rested before you have to start something new?

Technorati Tags: Day, Time, Rest

Have we lost our Connection?

It seems most people on the Internet are 'connected' in some way to something. It might be on MySpace, Facebook, or one of a number of other friendly places to meet people. We get involved in each other's life or perhaps we get entangled in the online games or the virtual farms or other businesses on Facebook.

Now there is Swagbucks which I love. And believe me, it can be addictive, trying to search to find Swagbucks in order to add up to enough to buy something or a gift card you can actually use on the Internet. It is definitely not a scam, but it is a way to stay 'connected'..........that is, connected to the Internet.

I was sitting here this morning wondering just how many of us are so connected to the Internet that we have lost our precious connection to the one and only God of creation - the Savior of our lives, the God of more than enough. I know I am guilty of sitting down in the chair and picking up the laptop and 'playing' for hours. I am usually tired when I do this after having spent all day at my aged Mother's home, helping her and just keeping her company.

But our 'busy days' should never keep us from connecting with God. We should be able to 'connect' to him on some level any time of the day. I do find myself just amazed at my surroundings when I am out driving and say 'thank you, Lord.' We should be blessing him more each day we live. We could never give him the thanks that He so deserves for giving his life to save ours.

1 Chronicles 16:34, "O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good; for his mercy endureth for ever."

Psalms 30:12, "To the end that my glory may sing praise to thee, and not be silent. O LORD my God, I will give thanks unto thee for ever."

Articles worth reading.

Here are some great articles that I thought would be a good read for those who haven't come across them.

God in our Classrooms
Pigs at the Trough
J.C. Watts says Christians should repudiate extremist groups
Judge rules National Day of Prayer Unconstitutional

Technorati Tags: News

A Mother's Love

(Derived from watching THE PASSION)

There is something about a Mother’s love for her children. From the day of conception, there becomes such a love for that child that she would do anything for it. As the months go by, the love grows, until one day that child is with her. She can hold and love on it all she wants. It never enters her mind that her child may some day leave her.

Think back to Mary, Mother of Jesus. The Angel telling her she would bear a child and call him Jesus visited her. She wasn’t married and had never known a man. But she was willing to do what the Lord asked of her. She truly had a Mother’s heart, not to question the will of God.

Mary watched her son being beaten to death. Oh, what agony she must have felt just watching her child being punished for something he did because of who he was. He was the I AM, but his accusers did not know he was actually telling the truth. But Mary knew.

She saw him struggle to carry that heavy cross on which he would later be crucified up the hill to his destiny. She would watch him fall again and again, getting up and bearing that burden on his back. She watched as Pontius Pilate turned him over to the very people whom accused him, realizing his fate was in his hands. They took him into the common hall where everyone was gathered. They mocked him, spit on him, tore his clothes from his body and put a crown of thorns upon his head. All the while, Mary watched.

As I watched The Passion, I hurt for Mary. Tears welled up in my eyes, knowing what they had done to Him and how it had made Mary suffer. After all, Jesus was her child, although she knew what he would have to go through. Nevertheless, it hurt her deeply. She had a Mother’s heart and that heart ached to bear the pain, but she knew it was meant for Jesus to go through what he was going through. He promised her he would make things new.

All those who had part in the persecution of Jesus had no idea the pain Mary was going through. They didn’t know what their actions were causing – for the love that flowed through the veins of Jesus was unknown to them. They didn’t realize they were not only killing the innocent son of a Mother who’s love ran deep, but the One who would bring salvation to a world of lost and dying sinners.

John 10:17-18, "Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again. No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father."

He Did It All For Me - Music Video

I'm a Citizen of Two Worlds

The Love of God

Romans 5:5, "And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us."

Romans 8:39, "Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord."

2 Thessalonians 3:5, "And the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God, and into the patient waiting for Christ."

It's Darkest before Dawn

One moment it is dark, and the next moment, we see light. This is the dawning of the day.

And this could be the outcome of the Health Care bill tomorrow. The vote will come tomorrow afternoon. Right now, they say they have the votes to pass the bill. But the truth will not really be known until the actual vote comes up.

There have been many changes in the way they are going to vote. It has been said that they were going for the Reconciliation Bill first. Then they were going to vote on one bill to get enough to vote for the passage. That way they would not have to say they actually voted for the Health Care bill, but it would still be ‘considered’ voted on. I thought this was kind of hypocritical! Either you vote on the actual bill with a yea or nah, or you haven’t voted on it at all. You can’t say you’ve done something when, in fact, you haven’t.

Right now, the House is saying they have the votes. But, apparently they don’t, or the President would not be coming to Capital Hill to talk to the Democratic Caucus. He is still campaigning for ‘president’, trying to get this ‘so-called’ important bill passed so his presidency won’t be lost. I hate to tell him, but it doesn’t matter whether it is passed or not, there will be lots of losses for his people come November. I don’t think that the people of this country will forget that their preferences on this situation have been completely ignored.

Those of us who are Christians do need to keep praying that Congress will listen to their constituents back home and adhere to their wishes. We need to pray for the President to get wisdom and guidance for what this country really needs at this time, which is not the complete re-overhaul of our health care, but to fix the things that are wrong. We definitely do not need a complete government take over which is going to happen if this bill passes.

In Joshua, He tells us to be strong and very courageous.

Isaiah 41:10, "Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness."

The Lord is with us all the time, even unto the end of the world. Let’s keep praying that this bill does not pass. Right now, I am listening to Nancy Pelosi, Speaker of the House, talking to the Caucus in front of the President. You could not help but hear her say, “We will be making history”. And, I feel this is the only reason they have pushed to get this bill passed, to ‘show’ the world that they can do what nobody else has been able to do. And the reason it hasn’t been done is simply because the people do not want it. SO continue to PRAY!

NOTE: If this bill is so good for all of us, then why doesn't the Congress and the President add themselves to it?

Proof that this health-care bill sucks

Technorati Tags: Health Care Bill, Votes, Democrats, House

Declaration of Independence

The Declaration of Independence, written in 1776, was the beginning of the independence of the original 13 colonies from Britain.

I found some great information on a website which is entitled The Declaration of Independence, 1776.

More information can be found at these sites:

Did you know?
Declaration of Independence

There were 56 signers of this document, but they all did not sign on the same day. Only two, one of which was John Hancock, actually signed on July 4th. More signed in August and September. The last to sign the document was Thomas McKean of Delaware. It's been said he signed 5 years later, but it is also thought that perhaps the printer did not include his name when it went to press.

Last signer to die

Technorati Tags: Declaration of Independence, Signers, Thomas Jefferson, John Hancock

How Great Thou Art

Be Prepared

This morning when I got up, I turned on the television only to find that an earthquake had hit the country of Chile. Although it was a 8.8 on the Richter scale, it did not do as much damage as the one in Haiti. But, still it was a devastating event for those involved.

I have been watching this all day, waiting to see the damage that might be done to Hawaii with the tsunami. Seems as though they escaped without any damage. But it still may hit other places on the Pacific coast of the US and also Japan. There could yet be major damage from this earthquake and tsunami.

There was no way the people of Chile could have been prepared for this earthquake considering it happened in the middle of the night. It caught them all off guard. But the people of Hawaii knew the tsunami may hit them, so they made sure they had the necessary things to carry them through. And they were warned far enough ahead in order to move to higher ground.

The Bible tells us to be prepared. We never know when our time will come to leave this world. We also do not know the day nor hour of the Lord's return. The Bible tells us that those endure until the end will be saved. We need to hold on to His Word and be watching for His return every day.

What do you consider RICH?

Each of us has his/her own concept of rich. And I am probably correct in saying that most of us consider ourselves rich when we have great material wealth in this world. And that would leave lots of us out of the category of 'rich'. At least, it would me.

What does rich mean to you? Is it the attaining of a big bank account? Or, does it lie in that big home and beautiful furniture you now own? Does it mean that your family has blessed you beyond measure with happiness? Or perhaps it means your life - that you are alive today and that exemplifies 'rich'?

Any of the above may make you feel rich. But I love to think I am rich simply because I know God lives within me and that He is the reason I know where I will spend eternity. Being rich materially may satisfy us for awhile, but there is always a longing for 'more'.. we never seem to get enough of material things. But, with God who is the beginning and the end, the great I AM, we have assurance that there is an afterlife and we will be spending it with Him. I had rather be a rich man with God in my life than be a millionaire. In fact, I consider myself a millionaire in God! His blessings mean more than any earthly material thing could ever mean.

Proverbs 10:22, "The blessing of the LORD, it maketh rich, and he addeth no sorrow with it."

Looking ahead

Most people on the Internet use MySpace, Facebook, or a number of other online sites to keep in contact with friends. We share our lives online!

Have you ever stopped to think what would happen if one or all of these sites shut down? Would you continue to converse with these friends, either in email or over the phone? How many of them would you quickly lose contact with?



This morning, I opened my computer and tried getting into Facebook. Only Facebook says my account is unavailable for maintenance and will not be available for probably a few hours. What did we do before Facebook, MySpace, or the other sites? We have gotten so hung up on these means of staying in touch or playing games that it is really upsetting when we lose the ability to get into these sites.

But, have you ever imagined that the Internet altogether had shut down and you weren't able to do anything online? What would you do? Can you remember what held your interest when you did not even have Internet access? We've had Internet since it became the way to communicate. Of course, there was no Facebook or MySpace back then. We communicated with people on forums, not necessarily our friends, but acquaintances we came to know through the computer. Even today, I still communicate with some of those people from way back then. But, also today, I have friends I've met through other means on the Internet, and I've met a few of those. But, better still, I can keep in touch with some through their web sites or blogs and through email.

Another thing I think about is the emails we write versus snail mail. I used to be an avid writer, keeping in touch with lots of people through regular mail. It has been so long since I actually wrote a letter and sent it through the email. The closest that I come to doing that is through Christmas or birthday cards! No doubt my penmanship has suffered! But surely my fingers have gotten stronger by exercising them daily on this laptop!

There has been talk of a charge to use the Internet. Would you be online if they start charging for using the Internet? With the economy like it is and my being a senior citizen, I suppose I'd have to decline. I sure would miss the Internet and the many things I have gotten used to here, but if it meant the difference in eating or playing, I'd have to take eating. My body needs more energy than my mind! I suppose then I could start to remembering the 'good ole' times'! What about you?

Technorati Tags: Internet, Facebook, MySpace, Laptop, Computer

Pernell Roberts, last star of Bonanza dies

Bonanza was one of our favorite television programs back in the 1960's. Roberts played the older son, Adam Cartwright, of Ben Cartwright, played by Lorna Greene. Dan Blocker, who played Adam Cartwright's middle brother, Hoss, died in 1972, during the running of Bonanza. Greene died in 1987. Michael Landon, who played Little Joe, died in 1991.

Pernell Roberts died on Sunday, January 24th, at his Malibu home, of cancer, according to his wife. He was born in Georgia.

Technorati Tags: Bonanza, Pernell Roberts, Adam Cartwright. Cancer, Malibu

Thank you, Sean Hannity

Today, I was listening to Sean Hannity's radio talk show. He had a caller that was trying to tell him he needed to change his 'tone' if he wanted to be effective. I had missed the first part of the guy's call, but knew immediately he was a liberal when I heard that. Learned later too, that he had a PhD.

Hannity spent a long time trying to get the man to give him specifics where he had been wrong. He never gave a reason, just made wide generalities. Hannity told him he could not believe that a man with a PhD couldn't give him at least 3 specific cases since he was making the charge.

The caller went on to say that we needed to be tolerant of the President and let him make his mistakes. I thought, man, you are out of touch! To me, there is nothing wrong with the truth, something lots of people don't want to hear. If we continue to tolerate all the government hands out without making a sound, then we deserve what we get! But I'm one for opening our mouths, and letting them know that we don't appreciate the way things are being handled, the out-of-touch Congress that thinks we private citizens are stupid and should keep our mouths shut - that they know what is best for us.

I am so glad we have people like Sean Hannity, Rush Limbaugh, Bill O'Reilly, Glenn Beck, Dennis Miller, Laura Ingraham, and others who take time to listen, seek out the truth, and then let the public know the real truth. The majority of the media has been lax in saying anything contrary to what the President says. But these men (and women) have the courage to go against the grain and report the truth. It's just that some cannot 'tolerate' the truth.

Technorati Tags: Sean Hannity, Conservative, Liberal

Thank you, Supreme Court

Supreme Court Rules That Constitution Means What It Says

Tragedy

I cannot see how anyone can watch the tragedy in Haiti and not be moved. How someone could get upset because America is sending help their way is beyond my imagination! But there are people in this world that begrudge us sending any help to other countries.

This afternoon, a man called in to a local radio show and complained about the government sending any money to Haiti. He could not understand why they'd send money over there when 'the health care plan' had not been passed yet. He equated the need for a health care bill here in the US with the overwhelming needs of a devastated Haiti.

I have sat here and watched show after show of people who have been hurt or those who have lost loved ones. Also, there are those who are missing that they think may be alive and others who have just today been rescued. When you see a father standing over his daughter who has been hurt, and another daughter who had died, it hits home. This man wished God had just taken his life instead. The one daughter alive had been unable to get medical assistance. There is just not enough to go around right now.

Another couple shown tonight are headed home to America. They aren't leaving Haiti simply because they want to. They have made their home in Haiti for about 5 years, helping others there. But they had young children and said, with tears in their eyes, that their family had to come first.

Watching such a tragedy in another country is hard on those of us who are unable to help. But we can send them our prayers. They need so much, but right now, they need comfort more than anything. Most have lost everything they own. Some are waiting to hear if some of their family is still alive. This has to be taking a toll on them above and beyond anything we can imagine. So let's all hold them up in prayer that God will turn this tragedy into a new beginning.

Haiti earthquake: destroyed housing in Port-au-Prince.
Photograph: Logan Abassi/Getty Images

• Psalms 46:1-4, " God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof. Selah."
  

Haiti...Hurt and Hope

Technorati Tags: Haiti, Earthquake, Tragedy, Prayer

Happy New Year

Today is the first day of 2010, the first day of 'the rest of our lives', as I've heard all my life. I got up thank the Lord for yet another day of his blessings. Each day is indeed a gift from Him above.

Here is some reading for beginning the new year.

Texas Teachers warned against being being 'heterosexist'

Unrest in Iran: The Vindication of George W. Bush

War? What War?

Resolved: Tell the Truth

Another Year is Dawning

Living Fearlessly in 2010