Rough And Smooth Side of Stones

I like to do crafts. Right now I am working on making paper weights using titles.

Not to long ago we went to a thrift shop and I found some glass pieces that look like stones except they are in different shades of blue. They were a little dirty and smelly and so I put them in a dish and soaked them in water with a little dish soap. When I dryed them off today they were just beautiful.

I found that the solid colors were very rough and had a design on them. When I turned them over they were very smooth and no design at all. The same thing with the see-through glass ones. Rough on one side with white swirling through the glass, but on the smooth side it was plain.

It made me think about our lives and what God does to us. We can be very rough and he smooths us out and makes us very bright and beautiful. Or we could be going along in our lives and be very smooth and polished looking like we have it altogether and then God roughs us up and makes us more beautiful. It all depends on how you look at things.

Either way God is still working on us and giving us what ever beauty treatment we need at this time.

Meeting Our New Neighbors

I have been wanting to meet our new neighbors for the last two weeks, but their schedule and mine were not compatible until yesterday.

My husband and I looked out our front window and we saw that our neighbor's dog was loose. We wanted to contact our neighbor, but he sleeps during the day as he works nights. I went over to his front door anyway hoping I could wake him-but to no avail.

I called my former neighbor to see if I could get a phone number, but his business was not opened yet and he didn't answer the phone. So I didn't get very far going that way.

My husband went for a walk and I decided to be brave as I saw the dog go into our other neighbor's garage. I thought that I would have enough time to get to the back door of the dog's house and knock on it as my neighbor could hear me if I used this door. But as it worked out the dog was faster than I was and before I knew it the dog was barking and headed toward my body.

I knew that this dog was being trained as a Police dog I knew enough to be calm and not try to run or move. The dog was barking so in a calm voice I kept saying to it, "Keep barking." I was hoping this would wake up my neighbor and He would come out and get the dog. It worked. The dog did keep barking long enough so that his owner did wake up and looked out the window to see a woman standing still with his dog not leashed up.

The dog started to go after me again but I said in a very sharp voice, "No." The dog turned around and so as quickly as I dared to I walked up to my back door and got in my house.Then I looked out the door and saw that my neighbor had the dog and was taking him to their side door to put it their celler.

The neighbor came around to the back of the house. I went out and told him what had happened and that we were trying to get his attention so he could get his dog in the house. He was so happy but sad at the same time for he thought that this was not the best way to met his new neighbors.

We talked for a few minutes and then he gave me his phone number so that if anything like that happened again or anything else happened that we would be able to get a hold of him.

I just never know what is going to happen to me in a day. I was just so glad that the Lord protected me and I knew about the dog's training and knew that I was to talk calm at one time and tell him no in a sharp voice another time so that I was not hurt.

The Bible

I don't know about you, but I like to read a lot. I have not read novels or fiction much in the past but now I have found some nice Christian writer's in which I enjoy reading their stories.

I find it amazing that if you take the Bible and divide it up into chapters as you would a regular book it doesn't take that long to read a chapter or a whole book.

What I find that takes the longest to read the Bible is that I have to stop and analyze what I read. Sometimes I only get to read one word and I am off looking up that word and seeing what it means in Hebrew or Greek (Stong's Concordance). Sometimes I get through a whole chapter but have every word is underlined so when I go back through my Bible I see that section. Sometimes I may only read a verse and meditate on what it is saying.

So reading the Bible may take a longer time to read, but really the books themselves may be shorter than a fiction or non-fiction book you may read.

So if I want light reading I read my fiction. But if I want a deep study and to learn more about God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit I turn to my different versions of the Bible and enjoy the study.

A New Season Is Upon Us

Actually it seems like Christmas season came before Thanksgiving this year has it has been so much in the last few years.

But this year to me it feels more like Christmas, an old fashioned Christmas. With real cheer and joy in it and not so much fakeness to it.

I do hope all of you had a good Thanksgiving Day. Ours was quiet but nice. Last evening our youngest son and his girlfriend came and visited with us for a few hours. They live in New York City and don't get home much. So it was great to see them.

Our son works for a person who owns a Dog Walking Service. And our son was telling us all the funny stories that happen while he either goes to pick up the dogs or brings them back or while walking them. It was so funny to listen to him. He loves the job and the dogs and they get along great. Our son also has a photography business and is an artist. So New York City is the place for him.

I wasn't planning on talking about our son but he is so great to have around. We have two other children that are great to have around also. Our oldest son paints cars and repair cars and he is great at his job. And our daughter is a full time mom with a 13 year old, soon to be 9 year old and a 7 year old. Which at this time are getting a little restless and since the since the 7 year old is a girl and the other two are boys it is funny to watch them. Our granddaughter can be as tough or tougher and as loud as her brothers. Then at times she is so sweet and a real girl's girl.

I love being a grandmother and a mom.

Happy Thanksgiving Day

Maybe this year Thanksgiving Day is going to be different. It is for our household. Maybe your family are not able to make it to see you for one reason or another.

Maybe you have losed a loved one and it is going to be an empty place at the table and in your heart.

God knows what you are going through whether it be good or sad or even bad. Tell Him your heart-He will hear you. By doing this you will have God's peace which is far more wonderful than your mind can understand.

His peace will guard your heart and mind as you live in Christ Jesus.

Thanksgiving Time

This is the time of year in which we think even more of being thankful for things that we have.

When I was doing my devotional "Sharing The Bible Together" I came across the verse Deuteronomy 8:10 which says, "When thou hast eaten and art full, then thou shalt bless the LORD thy God for the good land which he hath given thee."

I had never thought about praying after my meal and thanking the Lord from where my food came from. I think this is a great idea? How about you? Do you think it is a good idea?

Retirement Time

Psalm 71:9
"Cast me not off in the time of old age; forsake me not when my strength faileth."

Some people when they are of retirement age (65), like I am, want to retire from their job and think of just having a relaxing time when they retire. Maybe take a trip by boat or go cross country in a camper and see the world.

The person who wrote Psalm 71 was not asking the Lordto have him retire but in fact--just the opposite. The writer did not want to be put on the shelf or be put him aside but he wanted to keep going with the Lord's help.

That is the way I feel. I do have a part-time job at a library and helping my husband clean a church. I am a writer and love to do create things and do blogging and twitter and read.

I don't think at this time the Lord is wanting me to retire and do nothing but to keep on doing the things I am doing and to enjoy the gift of sharing with others what He is sharing with me.

Added Part To Old Saying.

For those of you who remember your mother saying, "Always make sure you have clean underware on as you may be in a accident and need to go to the hospital." Well I have two other things to add to that.

The first, if you are a woman and you have hair on your legs and haven't shaved lately start doing it now for if you have unshaven legs and you need to be admitted to the hospital it becomes an embrassment.

Second, also make sure that you have clean socks on also. Dirty socks are not very good things to be seen either.

I know all this because I unexpectly landed in the ER room on Wednesday afternoon and they kept me and I got home Saturday afternoon. I didn't get my legs shaved--but I made sure my husband brought along clean socks to go in. In the meantime I got some slipper socks to wear.

I just wanted to post tonight to let you know why I hadn't posted since Wednesday and I am going to give myself some time to heal a little more before I write again. It still hurts to sit for a long time and to type.

So don't go away but should be up and around and doing much better by Tuesday. But will let the Lord decide when He wants me back to typing.

PS
Had chest pains so they had to do all kinds of test to make sure wasn't having heart attack. As it turns out I wasn't and I praise the Lord for this. It turned out to be a gastro infection and it was shooting pain into my chest and back.

It's Supper Time

I am usually the one that wants to eat but I need some new receipes. I am getting tired of the same old meals. I know I can go onto the computer and get some or go to some of my receipe books but just haven't gotten to it yet.

It is sort of what it is like when I don't get to my spiritual food. Sluggish, tired, and just don't know what to read or study.

I guess I best get going and eat better diet in both areas of my life and then will fell a whole lot better.

November

I enjoy the month of November in which I can see the bare trees. Yes, I think bare trees are beautiful. They look so majestic just standing there and reaching up to the sky which makes me think of God the Creator.

I enjoy the smell of wood smoke coming the chimney.

Then people have decorations up for fall and Christmas. It is a little early for Christmas decorations, but in our area the weather has been good so might as well get the decorations up before the real cold and snow come.

November, of course, is the month we celebrate Thanksgiving. And I have so much to be thankful for this year. And also a tradition in my house is that I get to play Christmas music. To early for decorations but not to early for some of the music.

And one more thing that takes place in November is my granddaughter's birthday. She will be seven already. Where does the time go. It just seemed like yesterday that she was just born.

Disapponted

According to The New Roget's Thesaurus In Dictionary Form disappointment means: balked, chargrined, disgruntled, frustrated, let down, disillusioned, dischanted. Sometimes we are disappointed in a person. We don't want to be disappointed in this person or the things that they do - but it happens.

You know what? God is sometimes disappointed in us sometimes. And so when a person here on earth does something that has frustrated us, or let us down we still can love this person because God still loves us. And when we disappoint Him He forgives us and that is what we need to do with the person that has disappointed us.

We all still have the sin nature and because of this we have a choice between doing the right thing or making a wrong decision.

So love the one who has disappointed you as God loves you. As the Bible says," love covers a mulitude of sin."

In A Hurry!

About twenty years ago I found out that I had ADHD. This means that I can not stay at one thing for a long time. That is why I have three books I am reading right now. I also find that there are a lot of things I want to do but I usually need to finish a project all the way through at one time or it doesn't get finished. Does anyone also have this trouble? I have medicine for it but now my insurance doesn't want to pay for it. So either I have to change the medicine, which I don't want to do, or pay full price which I am not sure what would be. This is another story in itself.

With the medicine I find that I have slowed down some and can do more things but still need to slow down some more, relax, and enjoy life more. So I don't finish something, I can go back and do some more later if I train myself to do so. Does it sound like I am trying to talk myself into this?

Well I do need to slow down some and that is going to be one of the things that I will be working on.

Moods

Some days I wake up and the morning is just wonderful and the day starts out good but by the end of the day I may be crying over something.

Some days I wake up and am grouchy until I fully wake up and then it is a great day.

So moods are strange. Sometimes I feel depressed for no reason at all and then the other side of the feeling I am happy and at peace with myself, God, and living in general.

I guess one can not be happy all the time but I sure do like it when I am happy and rejoicing over everything that I have. It is a great feeling.

Writer Friends

In the last few months I have been making new friends. People that have things in common with me and we enjoy talking about those things. One group of people is my old/new writer's group. I say old/new because about ten years ago I belonged to this group but it was under a different name and met in a different place. But when I went to a Writer's Conference in my area I met a person who invited me to her writer's group.

When I arrived I said to myself "I know some of these people." It was some people from the writer's group that I belonged to before. I was excited as these people knew how to write and they also knew what red pens were for. Along with the older group some new people have joined. And they are also very talented people. And once I get to no how to put on blogs I, I will add to my blog their blogs so you can read what they have to write. Still learning this new system of communication. But I enjoy each one and am thankful for them.

God wants us to have friends that we can share things with. In this group I share my writing skills or lack of them and asking for help to improve my writing. Some other friends are there for me for help when I am sick or a Bible Study Group who prays for me.

So be very thankful for your friends. And I am very thankful for those who read this blog. I love sharing things and I find this a very good way of doing it and hoping you are being blessed, maybe laugh a little, and come closer to the Lord through these postings.

Prayer

When I am with people I feel I need to use fancy words when I pray. Do you feel that way? But when I am just talking to God my Father between ourselves I just pray as if He was right next to me and talk to Him in plain English. Psalm 139 tells me that He knows all about me so I can ask Him and tell Him all that is on my heart and He listens.

There is one lady that I listen too on one of the radio program from Chrisitian Women Affiliate that always starts out with Daddy. That is special to me.

So next time you go to pray just say, Father, can we talk now? And you will have that calmness and His Presents and just talk to Him. But also listen to what He has to say. He does talk to us. He might remind us of a verse or message. Different ways He talks to us.

Psalm 136

I don't usually do a whole portion of Scriputure on this blog, but today when I was doing my daily devotional, the chapter I came to was Psalm 136. I soon learned that at the end of each verse the phrase his mercy endureth for ever found.

So I took a closer look at the verses and discovered some other things which I would like to share with you.

• Give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good.


• Give thanks unto the Gods of gods.


• Give thanks to the Lord of lords to him who alone does great wonders.


• The Lord's wisdom made the heaven, the earth was stretched out above the waters and the great lights were made. The sun rule the day and the moon and stars rule the night.


• The Lord smote Egypt;s firstborn and brought out Israel from among them.


• With a strong hand and with a stretched out arm He divided the Red sea into parts and made Israel to pass through the midst of it. But He overthrew Pharaoh and his host in the Red sea.


• The Lord led His people through the wilderness in which He smote great kings.


• He slew famous kings and gave the land as an inhertence to Israel.

O give thanks unto the God of heaven: for his mercy endureth for ever.

Missionaries

I did not grow up in a Christian home and it was not until I was nineteen that I accepted the Lord. And then the people that I was around were not missionary-minded people. So I must admit that I have not been as missionary-minded as I should be.

But yesterday at church we had a family that shared with us their ministry as missionaries. And in the morning service he went through the Bible and showed us how to pray for missionaries which was a big help.

If I can get a pray card or sign up for newsletters or get the newsletters from church then that is another way that I can pray for our missionaries. They are very special people in that they go through a lot especially if they are working in a foreign field. Have to learn customs, language, and change of weather etc.

Of course it was mentioned that we are all missionaries because we are around people that maybe no one else is and we can share by our actions or words what the Lord means to us.

Graphic Designer

Since the 1980's I have wanted to do graphic designs. I worked for papers that did advertisements and it always fascinated me how they did this. I did have an opportunity to do some graphic art work but for not to long. They said I was to slow.

But one of my main goals is to do cards 21/2 by 31/2 size and print Bible verses on them and decorate them and hand them out. Also I do paperweights and would like to have some graphic designs on them also.

I got a graphic arts program which is Shop Pro 8 and I just need to sit down and take the time to go page by page and understand how it works. So in this blog I am asking for prayer if this is what the Lord would have me do that I would be able to learn how to do it and do a good job that would honor Him.

I thank you ahead of time and if anyone has any suggestions would be glad to hear from you. Anyone is welcome to write comments on any of the blogs or join up and be part of this blog. Love to hear from you.

And I want to thank those who do read this blog. I appreciate you taking the time to do so.

Laughter

I am afraid that I don't laugh enough. I love it when I can laugh and it is great fun to be around people who laugh. I have a co-worker that you can always tell when she has come to work as you can hear her laughter throughout the building.

What makes you laugh?

Laughter is a good medicine as the Bible tells us and it costs a lot less than going to the doctors for depression.

So have a good laugh today!

Appreciation

Opening a car door for me. Opening doors in a room for me. Helping me put on my coat, buying me something he knows that I would like for no reason at all. Helping me with dishes or other house work if I am not feeling good. When we are walking somewhere, my husband always walks so that he is next to the road or street so he can protect me from danger. These are all the kinds things my husband does for me which is showing his love for me. I say thank you and I let him know that I appreciate him very much for doing these loving things and that I love him very much.

There is another person that I appreciate very much and that is God. He formed me and made me just the way that He wants me. And He also takes care of me and protects me. And I also thank Him and tell Him that I love Him also.

It is nice to be appreciated.

Being Real

Every time I do my devotion Sharing The Bible Together, which can be found 0n facebook, or when I write on my blog I want to come across as being real.

When I read the verses that I am typing they all reach out to me and I want to live the life that I am typing. I don't always do it, but it is a real goal that the verses that I type each day would be hidden in my heart and when I need help in a time of trouble or rejoicing I can at least quote the verse.

The Lord means a lot to me and my Heavenly Father and the Holy Spirit they are so special in my life. Without them I would not be here today. They have brought me through many rough times. And I am so thankful that God chose me to be one of His children.

A Place To Think

Do you have a place that you can go to just to think about things? I do and it is my second-hand stationary bike. It is down in my cellar and when I want to think about what I am going to write about for this blog I just hop onto my bike and start to peddle. It is relaxing, it is good for me, and it is just such a quiet time for me.

I hope that you have a quiet place that you can go to and just be still and hear God's still small voice and that you listen to that voice and I know if you do you will have a much better day.