I'm Baaaaaccckk...I Think.

Greetings! Well it has been almost a year since I have posted anything on this blog. Not sure why. I enjoy writing and do it often on my computer, saving thoughts, ideas, stories. So it's not that I have stopped blogging...just stopped posting. Again, not sure why. This past year brought us our second grandchild, such a blessing! This year also took my Mother-in-law. I have spent much time pondering this life and death thing. The one think I have learned is there is no stopping it. Every day people are born and every day people die. Fact. While making arrangements for her funeral my attention was brought to a great poem entitled "The Dash." To read it please go to www.linda-ellis.com, it will be worth it! I am giving a great deal of consideration concerning "my dash", if I get it figured out I will let you know. More to come...

Happy New Year

I cannot believe it has been 2 months since my last post...can't believe it's going to be 2015! The one good thing about 2015 is that it is one year closer to 2016 (election year, haha)! As this year comes to a close I have been pondering the whole "resolution" thing. I usually don't make New Year's resolutions because I don't like to set myself up for failure. However, I decicided to do a little research this year on the "Christian's Perspective" of New Year's resolutions. By far, I found this to be the best. I use the website http://www.gotquestions.org/ quite a bit, they seem to have the answers to everything and back it up with scripture...see what you think. Question: "What sort of New Year’s Resolution should a Christian make?" Answer: The practice of making New Year’s resolutions goes back over 3,000 years to the ancient Babylonians. There is just something about the start of a new year that gives us the feeling of a fresh start and a new beginning. In reality, there is no difference between December 31 and January 1. Nothing mystical occurs at midnight on December 31. The Bible does not speak for or against the concept of New Year’s resolutions. However, if a Christian determines to make a New Year’s resolution, what kind of resolution should he or she make? Common New Year’s resolutions are commitments to quit smoking, to stop drinking, to manage money more wisely, and to spend more time with family. By far, the most common New Year’s resolution is to lose weight, in conjunction with exercising more and eating healthy. These are all good goals to set. However, 1 Timothy 4:8 instructs us to keep exercise in perspective: “For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come.” The vast majority of New Year’s resolutions, even among Christians, are in relation to physical things. This should not be. Many Christians make New Year’s resolutions to pray more, to read the Bible every day, and to attend church more regularly. These are fantastic goals. However, these New Year’s resolutions fail just as often as the non-spiritual resolutions, because there is no power in a New Year’s resolution. Resolving to start or stop doing a certain activity has no value unless you have the proper motivation for stopping or starting that activity. For example, why do you want to read the Bible every day? Is it to honor God and grow spiritually, or is it because you have just heard that it is a good thing to do? Why do you want to lose weight? Is it to honor God with your body, or is it for vanity, to honor yourself? Philippians 4:13 tells us, “I can do everything through Him who gives me strength.” John 15:5 declares, “I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.” If God is the center of your New Year’s resolution, it has chance for success, depending on your commitment to it. If it is God’s will for something to be fulfilled, He will enable you to fulfill it. If a resolution is not God honoring and/or is not in agreement in God’s Word, we will not receive God’s help in fulfilling the resolution. So, what sort of New Year’s resolution should a Christian make? Here are some suggestions: (1) pray to the Lord for wisdom (James 1:5) in regards to what resolutions, if any, He would have you make; (2) pray for wisdom as to how to fulfill the goals God gives you; (3) rely on God’s strength to help you; (4) find an accountability partner who will help you and encourage you; (5) don’t become discouraged with occasional failures; instead, allow them to motivate you further; (6) don’t become proud or vain, but give God the glory. Psalm 37:5-6 says, “Commit your way to the LORD; trust in him and he will do this: He will make your righteousness shine like the dawn, the justice of your cause like the noonday sun.”

Good Morning Life!

This morning I made a decision to avoid the news. Instead I watched Joyce Meyers. Her message this morning was to meditate on God's word. Give God 1st place in your life. YES! That's how it should be, He should be 1st place in our lives. Turn off the news, clear your mind, open your heart and meditate on God's word. Funny-my scripture to memorize for the week is Colossians 3:2, "Set your minds on things above, not on things on the earth." There ya go...

Lord Help Us...

There are far too many things to even write about today...Ebola, ISIS, our borders, political correctness, watching our country's constitutional foundation being destroyed, debt, the list goes on and on and on. But here's the deal, there will always be bad news to report, there will always be disease, there will always be a "bad guy"...our current administration is full of lies and deceit, corruption and all about self. What ever happend to "we the people?" Whatever happened to elected officials serving the people, in the best interest of the people, protecting the people, it's not about sides, this is not a football game. It's not about Democrats beating Republicans, or Republicans beating Democrats...we have taken our eyes off the country and it's people. It's now all about personal agenda, special interest groups, and greed. Unless this country turns to God and humbles itself things will get worse before it gets better. I am praying for our nation, for our politicians (all of them) to get back to doing what's right, to choose good, to do what's best for all of us, white, black, red, or purple. There is hope...many have forgotten that. II Chronicles 7: 14 "If my people who are called by my name will humble themselves, and pray and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from Heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land."

Good News for Christians!

In today's environment and chaos is so easy to get discouraged as Christians. Sometimes it feels like we are so few...but fear not! Christianity is the world's largest religion, with approximately 2.2 billion adherents, known as Christians. Most Christians believe that Jesus is the Son of God, fully divine and fully human, and the saviour of humanity whose coming was prophesied in the Old Testament. Consequently, Christians refer to Jesus as Christ or the Messiah. (wikipedia)

Thought for the Day...

"The problems we face today are there because the people WHO work for a living are outnumbered by those WHO vote for a living."

On that final day...

1.... God won't ask what kind of car you drove. He'll ask how many people you drove who didn't have transportation.. 2.... God won't ask the square footage of your house, He'll ask how many people you welcomed into your home. 3.... God won't ask about the clothes you had in your closet, He'll ask how many you helped to clothe. 4... God won't ask what your highest salary was. He'll ask if you compromised your character to obtain it. 5.... God won't ask what your job title was. He'll ask if you performed your job to the best of your ability. 6... God won't ask how many friends you had. He'll ask how many people to whom you were a friend. 7.... God won't ask in what neighborhood you lived, He'll ask how you treated your neighbors. 8.... God won't ask about the color of your skin, He'll ask about the content of your character. 9.... God won't ask why it took you so long to seek Salvation. He'll lovingly take you to your mansion in heaven, and not to the gates of Hell. 10.... God won't have to ask how many people you shared this with, He already knows your decision.