Life's Fleeting Moments

When we were children, we thought that a long life was in front of us. We never gave a thought to dying. Of course, we would reach those great ages, as we saw them through our young eyes, sixteen and twenty-one. At sixteen, we knew we would be able to drive. And, when we reached twenty-one, we were considered adults. We never got beyond the thought of growing up and living a long life.

As we grow older, we realize days pass by quicker, the week isn’t as long, and the next year rolls around ever so quickly. I’ve noticed that the year now passes very quickly for me. We’ve always heard people say ‘it’s Christmas in July’. Well, now, seems even Christmas in December comes around twice as quick as Christmas did when we were children. I know the time is the same, but life is much busier as we grow older and time does seem to pass quicker.

Our neighborhood, which is like other neighborhoods, has lost many older people. It’s hard to turn loose of them, having known them for so long. Looking at their home when we pass by reminds us that life ends some day for us all. Perhaps it is quicker for some than it is for others. But none of us are promised tomorrow. James 4:14 tells us that life ‘is a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.’

Technorati Tags: Life, Moments, People

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

Ending the year 2008

There are only three days left in 2008. I know many of us feel like the days, weeks, and months have just flown by. I remember, when I was younger, it seemed Christmas would never get here. Time just hung in space. Now, since I'm older, it seems time passes by entirely too quickly. It seems the summer has just ended and yet, the New Year is about to begin.

Our only granddaughter finished High School in May. She started to work in June and will start college next month. Our son and his wife had their second child, another son, who was born in July. He had to have surgery in November and did great. His brother turned 10 in November, too. Both of our daughter's younger sons play soccer. The youngest played for the Premier traveling team in the fall, then he started playing basketball. The older one is playing inside soccer this Winter. He is also on the Varsity Soccer team at school. They will be playing in the Spring. They have both been here since Christmas, but the younger one had to go home today to be at basketball practice the next two days.

And, today, I had a first! We have had a 3 Wheeler since our daughter was 12. She turned 38 today. Well, the little boys Daddy bought them a 4 Wheeler last summer and it is here in our basement. The chain keeps coming off. The older son was up on the hills riding this afternoon and the chain came off. Now, I've never ridden on the 4 Wheeler and didn't want to, although I love the 3 Wheeler. It is bigger and easier to handle for me. But, there was nobody here to help him get it back to the basement. So, he asked me to come help him. He got the 3 Wheeler and chained it to the front of the 4 Wheeler and off we went. It was scary, not having control of the vehicle you are on! It wouldn't stop quick enough and I was either running beside him, trying to not hit him, or hitting him. And I broke the cover over the back light on the 3 Wheeler by hitting him when I couldn't stop. But, thank goodness we made it down across all those hills, bumps, and between the trees without having a wreck. I know he thinks his Nanny is a poor driver. He kept saying, 'don't get scared', but he's not my age, and he doesn't have a 'bionic' hip! I broke my hip 7 years ago and have a complete hip replacement and I had thought I didn't really want to try that. But I'm glad it's back in the basement and they won't have to go after it when my husband gets home tonight.

I hope everyone has had a wonderful and prosperous year in 2008. And may the Lord bless you with a wonderful life during 2009. Keep Him in your plans and He will surely do that.

Technorati Tags: 2008, New Year, 2009, God

Two Days after Christmas

It is now Saturday and we are still eating left overs. I have to admit I am upset because the potato salad didn't last long enough. But the story of that is the fact my son always has to have some to take home. He took more home this year than usual, although his wife doesn't eat it. Then, he came by and ate lunch with us today!

Two of my daughter's sons stayed over with us Christmas night. They are still here but may be going home in the morning. They have been busy playing basketball and riding the three wheeler and four wheeler. There are mountains of red mud that the contractors for the bingo hall had built behind our house and these boys have had a ball riding up and down those mountains and through the red mud! I have been busy washing blue jeans and jackets, trying to get them clean for them to ride again! Thank goodness it's in the 70's here today or they'd be ruining another hoodie! I had a time getting red mud out of one of their grey jackets. The youngest son got a new Alabama hoodie and he had worn it out there and it was splattered with mud. I just knew it wouldn't come out, but, thank goodness it did!

I have been lazy the past two days, only doing what I had to do. I've cooked a little (waffles, scrambled eggs, sausage for supper last night and waffles this morning for the boys), but the rest of the time, it's been leftovers or hot dogs. Tonight, it will be left overs again. I even have some left over chili that I could serve up.

I really need to wash my hair since my beautician didn't work yesterday, but I've been too lazy to do it today. I hate to have to fix it myself anymore. If my beautician ever quits, I don't know what I will do. My grandson also love for her to cut his hair, but she's not in the shop this weekend, so he's missed the chance to get it cut. He has to be home before 3PM Monday for basketball practice, and she doesn't work again until Tuesday. So that's out for him.

Technorati Tags: Christmas, Leftovers

Was your Mother pro-life?

To me, that is an easy question to answer. At least, my Mother gave birth to all three of the children with which she found herself carrying in the womb. I must have gotten my pro-life stance from her as I had two children. My daughter had four and my daughter-in-law has had two. Abortion was never in the equation. I find it ironic that these people advocating abortion had a mother who was pro-life, especially at the time of their birth. Do they not realize, had she been pro-abortion, that they would not have been here? But, she gave them the chance at life, the life they want to take away from those babies they carry in the womb, even right up to the time of birth.

It seems that women who want the ‘right to choose’ are going against Palin, not on the issues, but because she is pro-life and she ‘might’ try to press her beliefs on them. I don’t see the job of the Vice-President as going after women who don’t have her beliefs.

I heard a couple women talking today, one of them Kirsten Powers, on Fox News. They were saying that they didn’t like the way people were jumping on her as a woman, but then they turned around and said she didn’t speak for women. One said, ‘what did the feminists fight for, and here she wants to take it away?’ They don’t understand we all have the right to have our opinion and make our own choices. That seems to have been lost in the mix of the discussion. I think they realize it would take everyone in Congress to over turn Roe vs. Wade, yet this is what they think the McCain/Palin campaign is going to do.

In fact, the right to choice is what Nancy Pelosi has said in her speeches. She, as a Catholic, went against the teaching of the church when she said that she didn’t think that the Catholic Church had an answer for when the right to life took place. She was called on this by an archbishop and told that the right to life started at the moment of conception. I had a Catholic friend back in the 60’s that always said they did not believe in abortion. So, apparently Pelosi hasn’t been paying close attention to her church teachings.

Pelosi, who has served as a Democratic representative from San Francisco for nearly 22 years, elicited strong protest from the Catholic clergy and laity when she said on Meet the Press that the church has been indecisive on when life begins. She also argued it doesn't matter what the correct answer is, because a woman's right to an abortion trumps an unborn baby's rights, regardless of when his life begins.

Linked at Conservative Cat
Third World County

Technorati Tags: Pro-Life, Conception, Abortion, Nancy Pelosi, Birth

DAILY KOS hit a new low!

Apparently, Daily Kos thinks anything goes when a person becomes a candidate for office, especially a woman. In this case, it's John McCain's choice for vice-president, Sarah Palin, Governor of Alaska. Palin had a son born in April who has Down Syndrome. They knew this through tests before the baby was born. They refused to abort the child although the doctors advised them to do so. I applaud her for her convictions! Every child is precious in the sight of God and that of the parents.

But, then you have Daily Kos which makes the birth of this child their business. They are advocating that perhaps she didn't give birth to this child, but it's that of one of her teenage daughters. They are saying that she faked her pregnancy and didn't look pregnant in a 6 months photograph. Well, let me tell you something, Daily Kos! I was one of those women who didn't show much, either! With my second child, my husband's mother told him that he'd be bringing me back home because I wasn't more than 7 months. Well, I had my daughter 1 hour and 15 minutes after arriving at the hospital! I think this is going a little bit beyond respectable reporting! Accusing them of lying about this baby is a very low blow! And, it's not only damaging to the family, but to her daughters. It is accusing them of promiscuity.

I learned about their accusations when a friend sent me an article on Newsbusters.

These are just a few of the over-the-top posts on DailyKos concerning the lies that Palin faked her pregnancy. This is the sort of garbage we see everyday from the haters and rumormongers on extremist leftist sites like Kos and the Democratic Underground, even Huffington Post, for that matter.

Linked at Conservative Cat

Technorati Tags: Daily Kos, Sarah Palin, Baby, Accusations

Nostalgia strikes a note

Sometimes in life, nostalgia pushes a button and you find yourself looking back into the years gone by. How wonderful it is to have the memory of so many pleasant happenings in our life. Even the unpleasant memories bring back the longing for the yesteryears at times.

Today, a bunch of friends had been emailing about what we drink – ice water, tea (sometimes how, sometimes iced teas), and coffee. One friend I have the pleasure of knowing is a writer, although unpublished. I have the pleasure of being able to present some of her work on my web site. She got wound up in nostalgia today and sent us the link to one of her stories, Invitation to a Tea Party. As I reread this story, it brought back so many memories of when I was a child. There were not many girls around near enough for me to play with when I was young. But I still had my ‘tea parties’, if only with my dolls. I loved to set up my table on the front porch and enjoy my teatime. And, like Ruth, the author of the above story, our porch was also covered on one end with a beautiful, climbing wisteria bush that my Daddy’s mother planted there when the house was built. That wisteria bush is still living, although it has since been moved to the side of the house, since the front porch was taken in for another bedroom in later years.

Other memories are of the many nights my younger brother and I joined a cousin and a friend under one of the street lights on our road. We lived in a small country town, and, at the time, the roads were not paved. We would join each other for a round of marbles. Now, I was a tomboy in that respect! I loved to shoot marbles and I was good at it. We often played under a neighbor’s light or perhaps at my grandparents out the street. And, being kids, we played until we were made to come in the house.

I was also a tomboy when it came to playing basketball! We had a goal in our yard where we spent countless hours shooting at that hoop. Often times, I had rather play basketball than go eat! Many times Mother would have to tell this one young person they had to go home so I could come in for supper.

I am old enough to remember when our town got phones in our homes. I also remember sitting on the bank (which, at the time, seemed so much higher than it does now) in my parents front yard, watching the paving crew pave our road. The smell of the hot tar was terrible, but the pavement was a joy for those of us who loved to ride bikes. But, it was not so good when, during the summertime, the sun made the tar all soft, and it got between our toes and on our feet. Having to try and get it off was no easy chore.

Has nostalgia rose up within you lately?

Linked at Conservative Cat

Technorati Tags: Nostalgia, Tea Party, Memories

Character Traits

Laura Ingraham is running a poll on the one character trait most needed in a presidential candidate. She has listed

1. Honor
2. Integrity
3. Courage
4. Honesty
   

It didn’t take me long to pick out the trait I feel is most needed in a Presidential candidate. I was brought up to be honest. We raised our children to be honest. When you are honest and lies aren’t in your vocabulary, you never have to back up one lie with another to try and stay ahead. You never have to worry to whom you told your last lie because you are a very honest person. We have lived that throughout our lives and it has served us well.

I believe, when you are honest in all things, then the other three, integrity, courage, and honor, will follow. People will take note that your character is impeccable. They won’t have to second-guess your decisions. Oh, there will be times when the devil perches on your shoulder and whispers in your ear that you don’t need to be ‘that honest’ – don’t listen. Sometimes honesty does hurt. You may have to tell someone something that will not be pleasant, but do it in love. Don’t rush to judgement with any circumstance.

And, when all is said and done – you have lived your life in honesty, stuck to strict moral and ethical codes, and had the courage to be honest with everyone. That is when you gain the honor of being a person who never lets life get in the way of being a moral, decent, uncorrupted human being! You may not be rich in worldly things, but you are rich in what counts!

Technorati Tags: Character, Honesty, Courage, Integrity, Honor

Parenting

Parenting is not always an easy task. There are so many ways one can go wrong. But, scripture says to ‘train up a child in the way he should go and, when he is old, he will not depart from it’. (Proverbs 22:6) That does not mean you will not have conflicts along the way, or the child will love you through it all. It means that, in the future, he will come to realize that you were trying to make sure he develops into a well-rounded adult, able to function in an adult world.

Our children weren’t allowed to do everything they asked to do, or go everywhere they wanted to go. In fact, they weren’t able to hang around all the kids that they may have wanted to hang around. I suppose you can say we were strict parents. And, we got flack from our kids, at times. I often got the comment, “but ‘so and so’s’ Mom lets so and so do such and such.” I followed up with, “but I’m not so and so’s Mom; I’m yours.”

Well, we were strict to a point. We allowed them to date at 16, even by themselves. In fact, we always felt it was usually safer for teens to be alone on a date than with others who might pressure them into doing things they would not ordinarily do. But, they always knew we might check on them at any given time, and I did. They never knew when it might be, so they had better be where they should be when I called. Otherwise, they faced discipline they may perhaps not like! They had curfews and they always respected them. We weren’t perfect parents, but we tried our best to bring them up in a good environment and teach them to respect themselves and others.

Bringing up your children to have good manners, to not smoke, drink, do drugs, or go to wild parties has its rewards. After our son got out of school, into college and working (he worked a full time job during college days), he called home one night to tell us how he appreciated how he had been brought up. He told us that had he not been taken to church and taught right from wrong, that he could have been a drunkard, doing drugs, homeless, and on the street. Seems he had come in contact with a former classmate that had not faired so good in life.

Even if a child strays after being parented correctly, there is hope. God’s Word is truth. I put full trust in what He has said about a child not departing from the truth when he grows older. A child usually returns to their childhood faith in later years, even when they don’t follow it in their earlier years. So, if your child has strayed, don’t give up. Hold on to God’s promises, and pray that his path crosses that of another Christian who can be guidance back to God.

Technorati Tags: Parenting, Child, Guidance, God, Promises

Pet peeves

There are so many pet peeves - but there is one that just irritates me more than any other. That happens to be the anonymity that some use in order to attack others through email or comments on a blog.

If a person has a problem with something I write, it would give them more credibility if they emailed me with the name and a way to get in touch with them. Then we could discuss what they see as a problem. I have had numerous people email me to discuss certain things on my web site, but also more felt it was necessary to downgrade me through anonymity. I just received one email calling me a 'complete faggot' because they disagreed with my page on the Potter controversey.

I am wondering if this is a teenager or perhaps a disgruntled adult. I've had many adults tell me how good these books are and how they do not have anything wrong with them that they wouldn't let their children read. We all have our opinions on everything. What I wrote reflects how I would feel, but I also give lots of links to other sites that are more indepth with explanations. There are also those links to the pros and cons of the Potter books. Either way, if you want credibility in my sight, please give me your name and the ability to make a response. Otherwise, I just view this as juvenile and that doesn't mean I am passing this off as a child writing. Adults are sometimes juvenile in their approach with such things, as well.

Linked at Conservative Cat

Technorati Tags: Anonymity, Pet Peeves, Email, Comments

First grader suspended for sexual harassment

Give me a break! What child of six knows what sexual harassment is? This world has gone wild when it comes to the ‘No tolerance’ rule in our schools, especially with these little children.

Apparently, a child touching another because the other child had touched him (in playing – wouldn’t you expect this in this age group?) causes such a stir among the teachers of first graders now days. At least, it does in Brockton, Mass., where a six-year-old boy was suspended for three days from school. The child was afraid the police was coming to get him. He had no idea what he had done wrong. Why do we have to scare these little children with ‘adult’ worries? No doubt this child was doing nothing but touching this little girl back when she touched him. But the teacher took her word that ‘he touched my skin’ to mean he was sexually harassing her!

We need to get a grip! Children will be children until they grow into teenagers. They will be teenagers until they learn how to be adults. Some children never learn because we pressure them into growing up long before they are ready. They don’t understand the adults’ worries and concerns. I think adults worry too much about children and their way of playing. Heaven help this child if they ever engage in a game of ‘doctor and nurse’! He will be ushered into reform school until he is 18!

We are stealing our children’s innocent years by teaching them things for which they are not ready. Some assume children at this age should be told about sex, sexual harassment, etc. But, I assure you, unless you are doing things you shouldn’t be doing in front of your child (or others are), and they aren’t watching unsuitable programs on television, they don’t understand half of what they are being told. There is a time to teach children about sexual harassment, but hopefully, it is not at the age of six! Keep your hands to yourself should be a rule taught to these children. And, if they are continually touching others inappropriately (which I doubt this boy was), then you have a talk with him about minding – not remove him from his school room of first graders (his friends) and make a spectacle of him in front of those children!

Linked at Conservative Cat

Technorati Tags: Children, Innocence, Sexual Harassment, First Graders

Minorites need our sympathy

I just received this email talking about the minorities and wanted to share it with everyone. I thought it was very appropriate for the nation today!

MAXINE SAYS THIS ABOUT MINORITIES:

We need to show more sympathy for these people. They travel miles in the heat. They risk their lives crossing a border. They don't get paid enough wages. They do jobs that others won't do or are afraid to do. They live in crowded conditions among a people who speak a different language. They rarely see their families, and they face adversity all day, every day. I'm not talking about illegal Mexicans; I'M TALKING ABOUT OUR TROOPS!

Doesn't it seem strange that many Democrats and Republicans are willing to lavish all kinds of social benefits on illegal's, but don't support our troops and their families with sufficient healthcare, rehabilitation facilities, retraining and education when they return.

Linked at Conservative Cat
Don Surber
Third World County

Technorati Tags: Sympathy, Maxine, Minorities, Troops

Proud to be an American

Copyright Graphics by Irene
The last few days we have heard the commentary on a statement made by Michelle Obama. In a campaign statement, she said, "for the first time in my adult life, I am proud of my country." I have no idea where she's been all her life to just now find a place where she can be proud to be an American. The freedom we have in this country should make each of us be proud to be an American! No other country has the freedoms we do.

Just a few of the words from Lee Greenwood's song "I'm Proud to be an American" should make everyone stop and think what it means to be an American.

And I’m proud to be and American,
where at least I know I’m free.
And I wont forget the men who died,
who gave that right to me.

And I gladly stand up,
next to you and defend her still today.
‘ Cause there ain’t no doubt I love this land,
God bless the USA.

Michelle Malkin writes a good piece on the subject entitled "Michelle Obama's America and mine".


Another thought provoking post is over at Third World County entitled "Change is good?".


I cannot picture myself being born and growing up in a different country than America. We have opportunities here that people in other countries would love to have. No wonder you find so many migrating/immigrating to America to live out the dreams they have. Sure, there are hardships here, problems, high costs, etc., but tell me a place on this planet that doesn't have problems? Outside of heaven, you will not find a place that is totally peaceful and not hit by the plague of problems. But, here in America, we have a chance to make a difference. The question is, 'what are we going to do about it?' WE are America and we can make a difference, if we make the right choices. Heaven help us if we 'make a change just to make a change to make a point'.

Linked at Conservative Cat

Technorati Tags: American, Proud, Change

Judge for yourself

Valentine's Day has just passed for the year and we won't have to deal with it for another year. But, some don't like dealing with it period. In fact, when googling for a specific topic, I came across the blog Life in the Fast Lane. The first post that came up was 'Anti-Valentine's Day - Love Really Stinks'.

Now, being a happily married woman, I have to disagree with this post. Oh, I understand that some single people, and even perhaps those that don't want to buy their spouse something for the occasion, have problems with Valentine's Day. But, you can dislike VDay, but please don't try to tell me love stinks. Love is definitely not about Valentine's Day, no matter what anyone says or what your heart tells you. If love depended on VDay, then most of us would definitely be in trouble! It is nice to get something special, but it is not a prerequisite for whether I love my husband or not. My husband-to-be (then) sent me a box of candy from Texas where he was stationed in the Air Force back in 1964, the year we were married. And, I can probably count on my fingers how many times since I have gotten even a card from him on VDay. And, the love has not stopped. He is not one for cards, holidays, etc. And, over the years, I have come to accept that being his nature. I'm not ready to declare that 'love stinks' just because he is not at his best romantically on VDay.

Whatever the day of the year, I choose to be happy. It does not take Valentine's Day, a secular holiday, to accomplish the task. Whether it is someone you date, about to be married, or married to now, they should be the determining factor in the love relationship - not some holiday man has set aside. Heaven forbid that someone would want a divorce based on their spouse not recognizing Valentine's Day and bringing them a gift. Be happy that your spouse returned home to you! Be happy they are well and not sick. Be happy that they chose you over all the others they could have chosen. And, if you are single, thank the Lord that He has given you another year in which to show love. In showing love for others shows that you are considerate of the feeling of others and in return, the love will come back to you.

Linked at Conservative Cat
Third World County

Technorati Tags: Valentine's Day, Love, Holiday

A Chance to help the needy

I found this neat way to help feed the needy when I was over at Neil's Notes reading. Click on the icon at the side and go to Free Rice. Then click on the correct definition of a word. And, with each correct answer, they will donate 20 grains of rice through the United Nations to help feed the hunger in the world.

Technorati Tags: Free Rice, Hunger

Hillary's Proposed Health Care for Everyone

Do you really want to wait for months for surgery? Do you actually want government to take over your health care? If you do, then vote for Hillary Clinton for President. You might just get what you are after. Watch the video.

A Short Course in Brain Surgery



Linked at Conservative Cat

Technorati Tags: Health Care, Hillary Clinton, Canada, America

Home at last

Home at Last
Each of us comes here with a purpose and a destiny. We may never fulfill our purpose in this life, but each of us will fill our destiny. Some of us may fill it earlier than others.

We buried my cousin on Thursday. She had lived a life of 77 years. She had been a Christian practically all her life. She had been the pianist in my hometown church and also had a beautiful voice that she used for the Lord. She didn’t get married until later in life, but I think God had her life all planned out. She never veered from serving him, and one day, God called her to be a minister’s wife. She fulfilled those duties wholeheartedly. She truly enjoyed being in the ministry, serving as her husband’s helpmate in the ministry, and also as a pianist and singer.

At her service, you could tell she was deeply loved and appreciated. So many spoke of her love for the Lord, her love of her husband, and of the church. They talked about how she stepped in to help in any way she was needed. Many people, from churches in which her husband had previously been pastor, came to pay tribute to her.

Although she knew one day her life would come to an end here on earth, she used each minute of her life to follow in the steps that God had planned. I remember when I was young how she went to church when her parents never went. I think she led them both to the church and to the Lord by her obedience in the ministry God chose for her.

She fought the disease of the mind, Alzheimer’s, a long time. Both her Mom and Dad were afflicted with this terrible disease. Her Dad died first and her Mom followed three years later. She once told my mother that she was fighting with all her might not to give in – that was several years ago. I had last seen her about a year ago at another cousin’s funeral. She still knew me but didn’t know this cousin’s two sons and I had to show them to her and go with her to speak with them. As she progressed, I know she realized what was happening and it must have been a frightful trip for her to make, realizing she was following down the path after her Mom and Dad.

The disease may have taken away most of her ability to live life to the fullest, but it did not take away her ministry. Someone told me just the day after her death that she had visited this man’s family restaurant about two months ago. Although she didn’t know anyone, or seem to know what was going on, she got up and played the piano! The disease works on people differently. But, I believe God had a purpose in her life that she filled until she was no longer able to move those fingers or perhaps even get out of bed.

As we grow older, we realize that our time is growing nearer. If I could be half the person she was in fulfilling my purpose in this life, I would be happy. I know she will hear ‘well done, thy good and faithful servant’.

One song sang yesterday at the service was It Is Well With My Soul. And there is no doubt in my mind that it definitely was. She used to sing a song that said, “If I could help somebody along the way, then my living would not be in vain”. From the testimonies of those who knew her, she definitely did not live life in vain! She touched so many lives through her ministry that she knew of and perhaps many more that she will only learn of in Heaven.

Technorati Tags: Home, Life, Destiny, Ministry

An angel of light - subtle satan

There is much talk about the Harry Potter books being a bad influence on our children. Now comes The Golden Compass, a movie derived from the works, His Dark Materials trilogy, by British writer Phillip Pullman.

How easily is it to be deceived? Well, the Bible says that ‘satan himself is transformed into an angel of light’ (II Corn 11:14). This should immediately give us cause to be concerned when it comes to our children and what they read or view. Their peers or other things they come in contact with so easily influence their minds. Parents have to be very cautious and involved in everything their children do in order to combat the subtle ways of satan.

I recently wrote an article about The Golden Compass, wondering if it was really a movie we needed to watch. I presented some thoughts and findings of Peter Hitchens. Here are two more great blog entries where you can learn more about the movie and Pullman’s works and perhaps get a good view on just how subtle satan can be.

• What compass are you following?
• About “His Dark Materials”

Christians are ‘in this world, but not of this world’. I believe it would behoove us to take every precaution to teach our children the Truth of the Word, so, when they are presented with things such as the above, they will be able to make the right decisions. Too often our youth are not well versed in the Word and are not equipped to come against the things of this world and the deception that satan sets before them.

Linked at Conservative Cat
Church and State
Pursuing Holiness

Technorati Tags: Angel, Satan, Deception, The Golden Compass, Bible, Truth

Are you getting old or just growing up?

My age is ‘rising’ in numbers, but I do not view myself as getting old. I believe old is a mentality we sometimes take on. It has been mostly set in our minds that, as we approach a certain age, we are getting old. As the old saying goes, ‘I refuse to get old. I’m only getting better.’

Today’s women and men look far younger than those that I remember when I was a youngster. Times were harder back then, and people were broken down in body because they had to work so hard, especially if they had a big family and had to do manual work.

I told a friend today that I love the verse that says ‘calleth those things which be not as though they were’ (Romans 4:17). I used to see my Mother have terrible hot flashes and I always said I would never have them. And, I haven’t.

I hear people say “MY” arthritis is getting me down. Well, I don’t have arthritis and I never would want to OWN him! I tell them to tell ARTHUR to go elsewhere.

Today, I was sent a poem called ‘The New Alphabet – 2007’, in which they give the senior citizen an aliment for every letter in the alphabet. Well, I refuse to have all those ailments. Of course I have an occasional pain in my knee or my back, but I’m not going to be saddled with something that will keep me from doing the things I love to do. My mother is 90 years of age, never had arthritis, so why should I? She does have a problem with her lower back and knees at times, and she doesn’t get around like she did a few years ago. But I’d be happy to have those if I were to live to be 90+. But, right now, I’m not saying I’m old – because I’m of the opinion that we are only as old as we think – not as we feel. Many young people have more problems than I’ve ever thought of, so we can’t say those things come only to the older generations. I’ve had many people to tell me that I am not as old as I say I am, and I love to hear that. I’ve been told that some people I graduated from high school with look ten years older than me – same way with my husband. That’s nice to hear, too. I don’t care if those people have bad eyesight or not. I just know that I don’t consider myself old, although I do love to take the seniors discount!

Linked at Conservative Cat
Church and State

Technorati Tags: Age, Seniors, Young, Old

A compassionate President

I don't know your feelings about our President, but, I, for one, admire him for the compassion he shows and his down-to-earth presidency. The following tells me lots about the man, George Walker Bush, President of the US.

By CALVIN WOODWARD Associated Press Writer

President Bush told the author of a new book on his presidency that "I try not to wear my worries on my sleeve" or show anything less than steadfastness in public, especially in a time of war.

"I fully understand that the enemy watches me, the Iraqis are watching me, the troops watch me, and the people watch me," he said. Yet, he said, "I do tears."

"I've got God's shoulder to cry on. And I cry a lot. I do a lot of crying in this job. I'll bet I've shed more tears than you can count, as president. I'll shed some tomorrow."

Technorati Tags: President, George Bush, Compassionate, Tears