Rejoicing No Matter What

Did you ever have a day that you woke up and felt really close to the Lord? And you were happy and you knew exactly what you were to do with your life and you just couldn't wait to get started. And then it seems like things began to fall apart.

You wanted to be on the computer to do what you nomally do so that you could get some new things done and your husband was on it. So you started projects or did projects and just as you started to listen to a DVD he gets off the computer. And with a DVD you just can not start where you left off as easily as you can with a CD. So know will have to hear what you listened to all over again.

You go to do your computer project and it just doesn't work. You try everything to get the program on you want to hear on radio and just can not get it until the program is off and then you have a reminder that the program is on.

How about writing your blog and you had a great idea and then because of everything else that happened it just slipped from your mind.

I am a very strong-willed person and I know what is happening and that is Satan does not want me to do what the Lord wants me to do so he is trying his best to stop me by getting me discouraged. But it didn't work. I just told him to flee and that God is with me and so far I got all my devotiions done. I am doing my blog and am on my way to reading my e-mails and doing twitter.

The verse I had for my devotions today is Psalm 118:24 "This is the day which the LORD hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it." Amen!

Happy Day

Today at my church we had an appreciation day for our Pastors. It was great and we also had a guest speaker. This man was in his seventies and has been preaching for 35 years. And he was the kind of Pastor you could fall in love with because he had a genuine love for preaching God's word, loving the people of the local church and many of us asked him if he would be willing to come and be our Pastor as we are looking for a new one. He said that if he was about ten years younger he would come in a heart beat. But he just couldn't take on a new church right now.

We have three Pastors. One works with those who are Seniors (55 and up), one who works with our youth groups, and our Main Pastor. These men are all great and will miss our Main Pastor when we get a new one. He is just filling in for now.

So what I am saying is to appreciate your Pastor and his staff. If they have been chosen from God they are the leader of the church and should be respected.

Loving My Job

Especially today, not many people can say that they love their job. But what is not to love about mine?

I am a writer and I work at a library. I work in the children's department. I get to see and read all the new books that come to the library and be put into the computer so that the patrons can take them out and read them.

When we have our rooms returned after the Town Hall people are gone, we had a flood and our Town Hall took over the library for awhile until they can get back to their offices, we will have story time again. This means that I have two days that I can read to children. One day ages 3-5 and on the other day 2 years-old.

I get to met local authors when they come in and look for books to read and they give me great advise. And my boss is a very compassionate and a very lovely person.

As a writer I also have the Bible to be my guide on how to write. The Lord gives me many examples in just reading His parables. So the Lord placed me just where He wants me for now and I am so thankful for this.

Trusting The Lord

I had an oppuntitiy to put my trust in the Lord this week. It was a little scarry because I didn't know what the outcome was going to be. But the problem that came was something I just didn't know how to handle and I had to believe what God's word said about what was going on.

As it turned out the Lord heard my prayer and knew my heart and that I wanted His will to be done and not mine and it has worked out well or at least a lot better then it would have if I taken the problem into my own hands and did what I wanted to do. It is still not finished yet, the problem, but it is being worked on and with the Lord's help I will continue to trust in Him and do as He ask.

Learning New Things

I love to learn new things. I was so excited when I was reading the book called A View From The Zoo by Gary Richmond and discovered that when a baby giraffe is born it drops six feet to the ground. Then when it gets up the mother makes sure it is ok and then she kicks her baby back down. The reason why is that if they were out in the wild the baby would have to get up and keep going or it may be killed. So the mother keeps kicking down her baby until it can stand on its own without falling down.

Now I know that may not be interesting to most people, but it things like this that I find fascinating. Another thing that I find fascinating is that I can read the Bible every year with a group that I am in and each time I read the Bible I always find something new in it. It is so exciting to see this happen.

So I hope that you enjoy reading your Bible and finding out new things as you go along.

Overwhelmed

Now that I have a blog, Twitter, Facebook and three different e-mails I have become overwhelmed. I have been trying for weeks to clear off my one e-mail account, but I get so far then I have to stop. I said to myself there must be a way that I can do all these things and not be overwhelmed.

Well, I prayed about it and what I came up with is to write down each site on an index card. I put them in an order of importance and then as I do them I place the card in the back of the pile. Then if I don't get to the least important at least I got done what was most important and then I feel like I have accomplished something and don't feel so overwhelmed.

Thank Father for giving me the answer to my problem.

Being A Storyteller

As long as I can remember I always love to make up stories. Growing up as an only child I remember washing dishes and making up stories to a pretend audience. As I grew older I did do storytelling in front of real group of people.

The first time was at a gathering in which there were the mixture of babies, small children, teens, parents, and grandparents. I was so nervous that I forgot to tell them why I had chose the story, The Giving Tree which I think is a great story.

This was a Christian group and if you didn't know why I had picked that story it really did not make a lot of sense. But everyone sat in silence and listened and I wasn't sure if that was a good thing or not. But it did seem to go over well and the Lord helped me to remember the story.

The Giving Tree is a story about a boy and a tree. And how when the boy was small he and the tree were great friends. Then as the boy grew older he went away from the tree and only came when he needed something from the tree. Then as the boy became a man he only visited the tree once-in-awhile. The tree gave the boy everything he wanted and at the end an old man sits on the stump of the tree and that is how the story ends.

I see the boy as a new Christian and Jesus as the tree. And so when a person first becomes a Christian they want to be with Jesus all the time. Then as time goes on they grow apart and then only come to Jesus when they want something. As the person gets older and realizes all that Jesus had done for them at Calvary, and over the years, they come back to Him as a broken person wanting to have that special relationship with Him and never leave His side again.

I still like to tell stories, and now I am writing my own children's story about my pet. So I guess I never have out grown being a storyteller.

Be Still

One of my favorite verses in the Bible is found in Psalm 46:10 and it is in part this: "Be still, and know that I am God..."

I don't know about you but I have a hard time being still in word or deed. I feel like I always must be busy doing something. I just can not set down and be still.

But, I am finding out that is just what I need to do daily. I need just to rest during the day and build myself up so can do the most important things. And I am so glad that the Lord knew that we all would need this verse found in Psalm 46.

Train Whistle Blowing

As I type this blog I hear the familiar sound of a train whistle blowing its signal of one long and three short blasts as it travels down the track. A town is near by and the whistle needs to warn them it's a coming.

Another sound that I will hear someday is the sound of a trumpet blowing. And then the Lord will appear in the clouds and those who have died already will rise first and then those that are still alive will follow and met the Lord in the air. At my age I am not sure which group I will be in but it is going to be great!

Both sounds to me are exciting. The one now of the train whistle and the one coming - the trumpet!

Train Whistle Blows

As I am sitting here typing today's blog and I hear the familiar sound of a train whistle blowing and the rattling of cars as they go down the tracks which are located on a high hill across the river from my home. The whistle starts blowing just before it reaches the small town just down the tracks. The sound carries far and when I here the whistle it reminds me so much of my eariler years growing up as a child.

For my first five years we had a train track right across the street from us. My grandfather worked for the railroad as a conductor so we got all our train rides for free. Then my father worked at a train station loading and unloading the baggage carts.

But most of all it was the actual riding on the train how that was so exciting as we traveled down those bumpy tracks and look out the window and see thing passing by so quickly and then we would arrive at grandpa and grandma's house. Those were the good-old days.

Some day I will be taking another kind of trip. This time I will hear a trumpet sounding out its sound and I will rise up into the air to meet Jesus in the clouds. Oh what a day that will be.

Being Thankful

This morning when I woke up and I was getting ready for my daily morning routine I kept thinking about and telling my Heavenly Father the things that I was thankful for.

He choosing me to be His Child - That still blows my mind.

Caring for me when I am sick or in trouble.

His testing me to see if I really mean what I say. That is the hard one.

Giving me a choice. That way He is not forcing me to do it His way but I do it His way out of love.

These are just some of things that ame to mind and I feel so good when I can just talk to him and not as for anything and have just a very quiet time with Him and know that He is there listening to me as I do with Him.

A Strange Noise

I was sitting at my computer and typing up the notes I had for the Bible Study Group that I am working with on the book of Romans, when all of a sudden I heard this huge banging noise. I had no idea where it was coming from. It didn't sound like it was coming from the room I was in, but it was most diffently coming from upstairs.

I stopped my typing and carefully and slowly began to make my way around the different areas. I didn't think to take a broom or anything so if I did come across some kind of creature I would have something to work with.

I went across the small little hallway and came into our spare room. The sound became louder and louder. I have a doll house on the floor and it is not easy to move ,but I became braver and I started to pull out the house away from the wall. Nothing there but a huge died spider. I don't think that is what was making the noise. But the pounding continued. I pounded on the wall. The noise stoped for a second then it pounded even more. Not seeing anything I decided to go back into my computer room and continue doing what I was doing.

Well, the noise stopped soon after I left the room and I haven't heard it since. But I know behind my walls is a very strong creature trying to make its way out. So I am going to be on the lookout and be prepared to do what it takes to rid this creature.

The verse that came to mind was the Lord is my strength and help in the time of my need. Last time something like this happened I screamed for about five minutes straight until my husband realized there was something wrong and came downstairs and there was a bat in our bedroom. It took me about a week or more to get my voice back.

Can The Protests Last Without Leader's ?

I was looking through the news headlights and came across the one about can the Protests Last Without Leaders? And my first response was no.

There must be some leader, some main theme, and everyone working togerher. One of the problems in this story that the protesters were having isthat drummers came in and they won't stop there drumming. Of course people in the neighborhood are complaining about the noise, there is really no one to get them to not do their drumming. It is a mess.

This is the same way it is in our lives if we don't have a leader, a plan or theme, and working together. As a Christian our main leader is Christ, The Holy Spirit directs us and God has already set up the plan. We just need to follow the leading of our leader and our lives will go a lot smoother and better than having no direction, no one to take orders from, and no theme. And being a Christian we have others to work together with.

I am I glad that I have a leader. I do feel sorry for those who are trying to make a difference in their world they just going about it in wrong way.

A New Season Starts

First, the temperature started to change and we had to put a sweater on or light coat. Pumpkins were being place on steps with or without faces. White sheets starting appearing all over. And the best part were the leaves beganing to change into their brilliant organges, reds, and yellows. The hillsides all around were taking on these colors.

Then, it seemed as as soon as we got these brilliant colors on the trees, rain came, a twenty-an-hour wind started blowing, and the leaves are now mostly on the ground. They still have some of their colors - but not the same.

In Genesis the Bible tells us that one of the first things God did was to make the seasons and I am so glad He did. I like to see, smell, feel the crisp air, see the snow, see the spring flowers and the falls colors.

How about you?

Haiku Poem

Not Feeling Well

Sitting alone no sounds
Headache, cough, aches, pain, asking
For hug from my Lord.

Hot Air Balloon Ride

For our twenty-fifth wedding anniversary people gave us money and at that time hot-air balloon rides were in. I called a person that flew a hot-balloon and asked if he could take us up for a ride. He really didn't want to because it was a windy night - but then he changed his mind. So we meant him on a high hill and started our adventure. And what an adventure!

Animals don't like the sound of the balloon so we saw chickesn going around in circles. Dogs were barking. The sound was go good that we could even hear the sound of fire engines traveling through the city. It was amazing what we could see and hear. We even saw a baseball game being played.

Everything was going well and our ride was almost over. It was scarry going up but to me it was also very scarry coming down. As we got closer to the ground the wind had picked up. We got to the place where we were going to land the basket of the balloon tipped over and I hit my knee on the gas tank. What was really funny was the company was called, "Soft Landings."

As I was floating through the air at what seemed a very slow pace and was looking down I was thinking of the verse where it says that people look like grasshoppers. It's true. They are so small the higher you go up. And I was really amazed how God, in His greatness, can see everyone and hear everyone.

Now, hot air balloons are not so popular and don't see many around but the thing that stays the same is how great our God is.

It's A Bonnie Day

I have a friend who was a nurse and for many years she would say that she would never allow me to come to her ER. She was just kidding, but it seemed like I was at the ER all the time. She said that I don't do anything normal.

I don't get a normal cold, no I have to have chest pains along with it. So when I called my doctor's office today to see if I could get in to see him I was put on hold and soon his nurse came to the phone and said because I had chest pains and would have to go to the ER. So I got myself ready and my husband drove me to the ER.

Now up to this point nothing had ever been wrong with my heart, but I have many illnessness that can feel like a heart problem. I got to the hospital and they hooked me up to the machine and did all the xrays.

This time everything came out well except my heart. My pulse was so high that they had to give me three medicines to get it down. It finally went down but now I have one more thing to add to my list of things that I have wrong.

But you know what? I thank the Lord for the great doctors and nurses that He gave to me to work on me today and that I was directed to go to the ER. I got the medicine that they gave me in the hospital and also a blood pressure machine that tells me all I need to know about what is going on with my body. Because of the infection my blood surgar was up to 248. Never has been that high. But the Lord knows all about it.

Now when something goes wrong in my friend's life she says to me, "I had a Bonnie Day."

Sign Language

One day I was visited a Christian College Library and I notice that there was a sign posted for learning sign language. There was a cost and I am thinking to myself should I take the course. I had taken a few courses earlier at other places. I prayed about and decided to go ahead and do the course.

I had no idea how the Lord was going to use it in my life. We had no ministries near by and it is very difficult to reach the Deaf people if you are not Deaf.

In 2008 I was diagnosed with thyroid cancer. And In July of that year I had my thyroid removed. In doing this they did get all the cancer and I am cancer free which I praise the Lord for. However, one of what I call a side-effect is that when the thyroid is gone all the vocal cords are left open and there is nothing to protect them. Because of this if I talk a lot I loose my voice.

So, now when we sing songs in church I use sign language. I have forgotten some of it so need to go back to the books and refresh my memory. What is so amazing is that the Lord knew all about this and now I can worship the Lord in using my hands and signing my praise to Him. He knows all languages.

So I am so glad that I did follow the Lord's direction and learned the sign language and there are a lot of people who want to learn it also. So there might be a ministry somewhere in this field.

So if the Lord is telling you to do something, and you just have no idea why He would have you do it - just go ahead and do it and He will direct your path.

What Do I Want To Do With My Life?

This morning when I woke up the question came to my mind and that was if I could do anything and had nothing to stop me from doing it, what do I want to do with my life? It kept coming back and I knew the Lord was talking to me as I have started to go backwards in my life and getting very upset because I couldn't seem to finished projects that I started.

There are so many things that I like to do, but I needed to know from the Lord which was the most important thing(s) I should be doing with my life. The answer came to me again, as this is not the first time I asked Him about this issue. Write-craft-read was the answer He gave me.

Let's start with reading. I have just collected a series of books by an author and it is going to take years for me to read them. Should I keep them or not. The Lord answered, "Yes, my child, as these are good stories. They will come in handy when you just want something easy and relaxing to read. Also, my child, it will help you learn new words to use in your writing." Ok Lord that answers that question.

Blogs, Facebook, Twitter what about them Lord? "Pick out the ones that that you can learn from and be committed to. Again you can learn much from other people that I send your way." Ok Lord that answers that question.

What about my crafts? "Again you can use your knowledge and your creativity that I have given you to make things for people that would encourage them. Do them as you listen to your radio programs on your computer. This way you will be working on your crafts and also be hearing my word. In other words, my child, don't be afraid to do things because you think you are not doing what I want you to do. For I keep putting into your mind the projects I want you to do. And I always say to you, JUST DO THEM. No doubting allowed or any kind of double-mindness as I had James write."

"So Lord, I can't even be like Moses and say, "But, Lord!"

"No my child, who made you?" You did Lord and You have a plan for me and I see clearly Your plan for my life now. Thank you for listening to me and helping me to get this all straighten out."

"You are welcome my child and I am always here for you."

My Rubber Ducky

Yes, I must admit I have a rubber ducky and it sits on my computer table and looks at me everyday.

Now you may ask why a sixty-five-year old woman would have a rubber ducky sitting on her computer table. Well, it all happened like this.

I went to a writer's conference in July. And each evening they had a meeting around 7:00 p.m. So someone announced that everyone come and sit up front. So I did. Not really hearing the beginning of the conversation I found myself among many people who were now becoming a part of a duck group.

I stayed and was handed my rubber ducky. The group and the duck is to remind us to write everyday. And this I do, in one way or another. And if I don't feel like writing then all I have to do is look at my ducky and say, "I'm writing today." Who would think such a small strange object could get one to do something? I never thought about it, but I am glad I have it.

I love to write about everyday things and about Bible things. I don't think  rubber ducks are found in the Bible but I know there are all other kinds of creatures mentioned.

So if you are a writer or have a ministry of some sort and you are just not up to doing it just think rubber ducky and that might help you get into what you need to do.

Ring Around The Toilet Bowl

Yesterday, my husband and I cleaned a church that we clean each week. One of my jobs is to clean the five bathrooms that they have. We do them every week and so it is really not a hard job to keep them clean. But the one in the nursery I don't always put the tolilet bowl cleaner in it as it is not used as much as the rest of the bathrooms. I do swish around the water with the brush and clean the rest of it.

Well yesterday as I looked inside the toilet bowl I found that there was just a slight trace of a ring around the bowl. My first thought was, "Your sins will find you out." In otherwords, I need to make sure that each week I put the cleanser in the bowl correctly so that there will not be the ring around the bowl.

Then I was thinking about my spiritual life. How many times that I pass by on little things that I should be doing but don't. Then I become quilty of having something showing that shouldn't be there. For just one example it could be a bad attitude as I have not been thinking the right thoughts. Or reading other blogs and saying to myself, "I wish I could write like that," instead of being content with how the Lord has me deliver the message He wants me to deliver.

So I learned a very valuable lesson by cleaning a bathroom and that is "Whatever I do, do it unto the Lord." Actually He is my boss anyway. And I want to please Him everyday.

My Kids

Most parents believe that their children are the best. And I am no exception. As I looked on my facebook page this morning I saw my son's picture of one of the dogs that he walks for a living. He lives in New York City and it is a very good business walking dogs. He loves it. And in his free time he is a photographer and he is also an artist. When he was young he said that he wanted to be in the military and so in his senior year of high school he joined the Amy Reserves and served for six years as a Civil Affairs Specialist. This is my youngest child.

My oldest child is a full-time mother and has three children which keep her very busy. She wanted to be in TV and since she was in sixth grade she did all she could to reach her goal. And she made it and worked at for a station in Elmiria, New York. While attending church she meant her husband through. And now they has a thirteen-year-old son, a twelve-year-old daughter who went to be with Jesus shortly after her birth, a eight-year-old son, and a six-year-old daughter. They keep her busy, but loves to be a stay-at-home mom.

My oldest son paints cars. He was around his grandfather a lot who loved to work on cars by fixing them and we had a great neighbor who did work on cars for a living. So he got very good training and he is one of the best fixer-upper of cars and does a great job in painting.

The reason I mention my children is that the Bible says we are to train up our children in the way they shall go and they will not depart from it. I believe there are two meanings to this.

The first meaning is that as they begin to grow they usually have some type of talent that shows up in them. So we tried to encourage each child in their talent. The youngest is a wonderful artitist, he loves photographer along with antiques. So he took lessons in art and had a few shows of his own. Our oldest son when to special school to learn how to work on cars along with being with his grandfather. And our daughter did internships at various TV stations and radio stations to get her training.

The second part of the verse means to teach them about God and His ways. That was done also. However teaching and having them learn in their own way are two different things. They went to Sunday School, church, youth groups, Christian school so they received the truth. But two of my children strayed away from God and one stayed with Him. Of course my prayer is that the two that went away will come back as the Word teaches. Much prayer goes up each day for all of my children.

So I feel we need to get to know our children, see their gifts and talents and teach them how to use them for the best and let the Holy Spirit work in their lives to guide them even though they might not want to hear that still small voice.

If you have children like the two that have gone away from the Lord don't give up on them. The Lord sees the whole picture. Just keep praying for them.

Worry

Last evening I went to a writer's group, which I attend once a month, and one of the writer's there had written about worry. Even though she didn't know it I got news yesterday about my thirteen-year-old grandson who hasn't been feeling well for some time. My daughter was able to get him in to see a specialist that works with young people. As it turns out the doctor is very concern about his condition. Not going into details right now I could begin to worry about it if I let my mind go in that direction.

What I am saying is that I have a choice. I could think about the worse things that it could be, or I can give it over to the Lord, who knows all about it, and let Him guide the doctor in what is best to do to help my grandson.

I am going to trust in the Lord and take one step at a time and pray over each thing that comes about. James writes have peace, calmness, and assurance in your hearts when trials comes your way.

It makes a lot of sense to me as I think about it to be calm instead of being stressed out and see what the Lord is going to do for my grandson.

How about you? Which sounds best to you? Peace, calmness, and assurance that the Lord is in control, or stress, worry, health problems and fear.

What Is True Love?

True love is God's love in me.

True love endures long and is patient and kind.
True love it never is envious nor boils over with jealousy.
True love is not boastful or vainglorious.
True love does not display it self haughtily.
True love is not conceited, rude and does not ace unbecomingly.
True love does not insists on its own rights or its own way.
True love is not self-seeking, is not touchy or fretful or resentful.
True love it takes no account of the evil done to it.
True love does not rejoice at injustice and unrighteousness.
True love rejoices when right and truth prevail.
True love bears up under anything and everything that comes.
True love is ready to believe the best of every person.
True love hopes are fadeless under all circumstances.
True love endures everything without weakening.
True love never fails or becomes obsolete.

True love is true affection for God and man, growing out of God's love for and in us.

Trust

Having Good News

I am always happy when I get good news. And in the past few weeks I got a lot of good news. The first, is no more body scans for cancer! My lost two came out negative so am just going to have blood work.

Next, I was told of a supplement that might help me with my running knee. Praise the Lord it has not only helped my knee but has also calm down my fibro. This is great news!

I am able to be back to work and that is also good. It means that the area that got flooded out is cleaned out enough that the Town Hall workers could move back into their building and not having to use the library.

The best news that I could receive is that there is a God. That He loves me so much that He sent His only Son down to earth and then His Son went to the cross and died there for me. He shed His blood for my sins. And the hardest part of all this for Jesus was not the pain from the crown of thorns, the scurging, the lost of blood, but that His Father had to turn His back on Jesus just at the time He needed Him most. That was when Jesus was bearing the sins of the world. Then Jesus died, was buried, and rose again. And then He went back to be with His Father and be able to be back Home.

And Jesus is coming back for me also. Some more good news.  So I have to make sure I am ready to meet Him in the air. And then the best news will be if He says to me, "Well done my favorite servant."