Happy New Year!

Cannot believe it is late January 2012!
The holidays have come and gone, and by now many people have failed at their attempt for some kind of New Year's Resolution. I try not to make those anymore...however this year I told myself I am just going to try to make healthier choices. Food, fitness, TV, movies, books, friends, life! I want to live a healthy life.
As I embark on this "empty-nest" life...I realize that it is so easy or maybe just lazy to let the bad stuff in. Depressing news, violent movies, french fries, carbs, whatever the culprit is, I am going to work on cutting those bad things out! If I can eliminate even half of them I will have succeeded in my resolution.
So if any of you out there are sticking to your New Year's Resolution, congrat's! If not, join me! Eliminate one negative unhealthy thing today, turn off the news, drink water instead of that coke, make brown rice instead of white, stop and thank God for your blessings instead of whining about something you don't have.
Happy New Year, let's make 2012 a healthy, happy one! :)

Trust God's Grace

I do not set aside the grace of God; for if righteousness comes through the law, then Christ died in vain. Galations 2:21
This is today's scripture in my daily devotional (The Confident Women Devotional)Joyce Meyer.
She discovered years ago that every time she became frustrated it was because she was trying to do something herself, in her own strength, instead of putting her faith in God and receiving His grace (help). If I had a dime everytime I too said this! I always try to do everything myself, change myself, my family, my situation, my finances, whatever....and often am frustrated because things are not turning out like I want or expect, not my results. After struggling and struggling on my own, I finally give it to Him and only then do I see the results and and become free of the craziness of trying to do it all by myself. Why do I not just give it to Him in the first place? Thank goodness God is so patient. I'd like to say I'm learning, but daily I still try to do it myself. At least I have the wisdom now to know that nothing is done without Him, He is in charge. So give it up people, you can't go it alone, don't even try. Give it to Him, go to God in prayer and ask for help, for His blessing, His guidance, and then you will get answers, and peace.

All This Free Stuff is Destroying Us

I received this email forward the other day, I think it's brilliant.

The folks who are getting the free stuff,don't like the folks who are paying for the free stuff, because the folks who are paying for the free stuff can no longer afford to pay for both the free stuff and their own stuff.

The folks who are paying for the free stuff want the free stuff to stop, and the folks who are getting the free stuff want even more free stuff on top of the free stuff they are already getting!

Now... The people who are forcing the people who pay for the free stuff have told the people who are RECEIVING the free stuff, that the people who are PAYING for the free stuff, are being mean, prejudiced, and racist.

So... The people who are GETTING the free stuff have been convinced they need to hate the people who are paying for the free stuff by the people who are forcing some people to pay for their free stuff, and giving them the free stuff in the first place.

We have let the free stuff giving go on for so long that there are now more people getting free stuff than paying for the free stuff.

Now understand this. All great democracies have committed financial suicide somewhere between 200 and 250 years after being founded. The reason? The voters figured out they could vote themselves money from the treasury by electing people who promised to give them money from the treasury in exchange for electing them.

The United States officially became a Republic in 1776, 235 years ago. The number of people now getting free stuff outnumbers the people paying for the free stuff. We have one chance to change that. In 2012. Failure to change that spells the end of the United States as we know it.

September 11-10 Years Later

Wow, I have been watching the news and specials that have been on all week in regards to the anniversary of 9/11. Most of us will never forget that day, I know I won't...but on the other hand it seems like most of us have. Look where we are after that terrible day in history and only 10 short years ago. Who could have ever have imagined that people would be seriously arguing about letting any religious prayer be part of the memorial service? What's a memorial service if you are going to leave God out of it completely? We live in a country where the overwhelming majority of people identify as Christian or have a religion, and clergy were some of the first people to respond on 9/11 to minister to victims. Why aren't they welcome today? It's like I've said before, we are so busy being "politically correct" that we are leaving God out of everything. Are we better off today than yesterday? Are our streets safer, our schools better, our morals at a higher standard? I know what some people think, if you have one religion represented you have to have another, and that is where people are divided. But I think they make it much more complicated than need be. I am Christian. I'm okay with a Catholic Priest, a Christian Pastor, a Mormon Bishop, a Jewish Rabbi, a Protestant and yes even an Imam coming together and giving a blessing, saying a prayer, seeking God in this mess we have made of everything. After all, if we don't start leaning on God and putting it in His hands, how will we ever be a great nation again?

Greetings Bloggers and Friends!

Okay, so can't seem to keep up with the blogging thing....I love to write, but who has time? Just thought I would throw a few random thoughts out there for you to read:
The stock market-can 2012 get here soon enough?
Crime-no one even pays attention anymore...
30 soldiers die in helicopter crash....I pray for their families.
Summer blockbusters that I have actually seen:
Cowboys and Aliens-OK
Captain America-OK
Planet of the Apes-probably was good, I didn't like it, too sad and stressful.
Crazy, Stupid, Love- I loved it!
Fort Worth-HOT
Sidney-?
Looking forward to- UNC Football, Ryan's wedding, Kauai (hopefully) and winning the lotto.....Happy August People, more to follow. :)

Valuable to God

A certain rich man died and the question was asked at his funeral, "How much did he leave? "He left it all," was the reply.
Often, I hear someone introduced this way: "This is Bob and he works for....." as if where a person works or what a person does determines his or her value.
Yet God does not judge us by our success. He loves each person the same. Your value and mine does not come from what we do, the clothes we wear. the house we live in, or the type of car we drive. Our value comes from the fact that God made us and loves us, and Christ died for us. Our value comes from the fact that He adopted us into His family, and we are now His children forever.
Don't depend on possessions or position for your identity. Get your identity from Christ, for you are of infinite worth to Him.
I've been been reading Hope for Each Day by Billy Graham a daily devotional, this is what I read today.....sometimes I'm moved more than others...this was one of those days. So I thought I'd share.

Sidney

No one ever said getting old was easy. What the *&%$? Not sure this is what I had in mind.....stuck in Sidney, Nebraska. Do any of you even know where Sidney is? I didn't. But, here I am. Working to do my share in the economic crisis...yes we are all in it. I find myself working in small town America. It is a one horse town where everything revolves around Cabela's. Everyone here works for, is married to someone who works for, or is related to someone who works for Cabela's Sporting Goods. This is their headquarters. It's also farming country, lot's of farmers who most likely shop Cabela's. There is a Walmart, a Subway, an Arby's, Mc Donalds and a Perkins. Everyone shops Walmart, because it's the only place to shop. Unless of course you need a fishing rod or tent, then you would go to Cabela's. The people here are friendly, the women a little frumpy. Their fashion dated. But somehow when you look at them, you know they put God and their families first, love their country and your sure they can make a mean cinnamon roll. And Gravy, these country women can always make good gravy. As much as I don't want to be here, I think everyone should have to spend a little time in a one horse town. You learn that there are still a lot of hardworking people who aren't afraid of getting their hands dirty, people who don't sit behind desks in cubicles stuck to a computer. People who actually watch sunsets, make real lemonade, go to church on Sunday, and are proud to be an American. And yes, make killer gravy.