tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10226705440984230932024-03-05T02:58:07.329-08:00Chasing RabbitsPathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13564082033103905705noreply@blogger.comBlogger40125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1022670544098423093.post-88846090818387421902014-11-11T10:41:00.002-08:002014-11-11T10:41:57.576-08:00<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt;">In honor of Veteran's Day, I thought I
would repost an amazing personal experience I had while visiting the Vietnam
Veterans Memorial in Washington D.C.</span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">The Wall</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">In 1999 my husband, James, and I
traveled to Baltimore for a medical meeting.
While there, we visited Washington, D.C.
One thing I’ve always wanted to see was the Vietnam Veterans Memorial or
“The Wall” as it is sometimes referred to.
I had no idea the effect that visit would have on my life and how God
would use it.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt;">The very first day we visited The Wall,
it was overwhelming.</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt;">I didn’t realize
how big it was or how many names were on it.</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt;">
</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt;">There were 58,169 names carved in that granite wall.</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt;">My mind just couldn’t take it all in.</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt;">There were letters and flowers and teddy
bears propped up against it; expressions of love and gratitude everywhere.</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt;">People were taking pieces of paper and raking
a pencil across the engravings;</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt;">a sketch
of the names would appear on their paper; they call it “name rubbing”.</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt;">Everyone seemed to want a piece of it.</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt;">The whole thing was just an enormous
emotional experience for me.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">We went back to the hotel and I said to
James, “I wish I had thought to tell my brother we were coming here. I could’ve gotten a name from him and brought
him back a “rubbing”. But then I said,
“That’s okay, I’ll just pray and ask God to give me a name. Maybe He’ll want me to pray for someone who’s
still missing in action or family members of someone who died.” I somehow believed God would be faithful to
do that for me. As I began to pray about
this, the name “Tom” kept coming to my mind.
“Tom. Tom.” Later I said to James, “I think his name is
Tom.” James said, “Who?” I said, “The name God gave me, it’s
Tom.” “Hmm,” he mumbled, “Thomas.” I said “No, it’s not Thomas, it’s Tom.” Again James said, “Thomas.” Well by now, I’m starting to get a little
upset because this name had come to me from God and He was very specific; the
name was Tom – NOT Thomas! I said,
“Tomorrow, when we go back, I’m gonna find Tom’s name and get a name rubbing of
it.” James said, “Now there are over
58,000 names on that wall, how many Tom’s do you think there are?” I said, “I’m going to open one of those books
and the “Tom” God wants me to have is just gonna jump off that page; you’ll see!”</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">So, the next day we went back to The
Wall and I started on page one of the “big book". They have these big books on site that
includes every name that has been carved on the wall and exactly where on the
wall each name can be found. In a few
minutes James comes over to me and his face was almost as white as a
sheet. He looks at me with tears in his
eyes and he hands me a piece of paper.
Written on the paper was:</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Tom Thomas Rank
– CPL Service – AR DOB 12/19/45 DOD 8/28/68</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">New Philadelphia, Ohio Panel 46W Line 54</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I just began to sob. I picked up my sketch pad and followed James
as he began to look for Tom’s name on The Wall:
Panel 46W, Line 54. I handed
James the sketch pad. As he began
rubbing the pencil across the engraving, the name Tom M. Thomas appeared. We both just stood there. I didn’t know whether to shout for joy or
fall to my knees! It was a true “God
moment”.</span> </div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt;">About 3 ½</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt;">years later (6/3/03), an advertisement came
on TV for a website that would allow you to communicate with the veteran’s
loved ones.</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt;">I was so excited, I couldn’t
wait to share what God had done with someone who knew and loved Tom.</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt;">I went into the website and left the
following message:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“It was approximately 3 ½ years ago that I first visited The Wall; for
some reason, Tom’s name has stayed with me – I have been praying for your
family ever since. I have a ‘name
rubbing’ framed and hanging in my foyer for all to see – I ask others to pray
for you, too. I would love to have a
photo of Tom to hang with his ‘name rubbing’.
Please contact me…”</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Five months later (11/9/02), I received
a response from a woman, named Marsha, who had been a friend to Tom’s
mother. Among other things, she wrote:</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt;">I didn’t know Tom very well because he
went into the Army shortly after I met him, but I knew his mother and family
for 30 years.</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt;">His mother passed away a
couple of years ago…I can tell you that I was with his mother the morning the
Army Chaplain visited to tell her of Tom’s death…Tom’s sister-in-law was pregnant
at the time and on the day he was put to rest she had a boy and they named him
Tommy Michael Thomas – he looks just like him.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Imagine how blessed I was! So I responded immediately with my own
story. Marsha then sent me a copy of
Tom’s memorial and an article that had appeared in the local newspaper. Tom had only been in the Army for 7 months
before he was killed; he was 22 years old.
His mother received the Bronze Star, a Purple Heart and 5 other medals
in his honor.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">But that’s not the end of this story…</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">On March 8, 2004, two years later, I
received an email from an address I didn’t recognize. The subject line read: “Tom Michael Thomas”. For a moment, I think my heart stopped
beating. It had been 16 months since I
had received my first email regarding Tom.
I opened it and read, “…I don’t have a photograph of Tom, but I was with
him to the end. I was his medic…”</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">In that moment, I was so crushed, so
blessed, so humbled all at once. I
imagined that one moment in time – Gary (the medic) cradling Tom in his arms
like a baby; Tom asking Gary to tell his mother how much he loved her. It was too much, too much…</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">All of a sudden my heart went out to
Gary. What a nightmare war must be! Gary was a medic; men were dying in his arms
almost daily. How helpless he must have
felt. Did he know Jesus? Did he feel His presence?</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">As I began to respond to his email I
struggled with whether I should make references to God or not. If he’s not a believer, I might loose him and
I wanted to get to know him better. I
wanted an opportunity to minister to him.
But then I thought, this might be my only opportunity – go for it!</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">And so I did…I told my story. But while I had Gary on the line, so to
speak, I took another opportunity…I wrote:</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Thank you, Gary Stolp, for all you did
for me in Vietnam. Thank you for your
courage. Thank you for your
sacrifice. God bless you! P.S.
Tell me more about yourself."</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Gary and I corresponded a couple of
times that week. I want to share just a
little bit of our conversations with you.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Gary writes: “…Tom was an infantryman. He was a good guy; always willing to share
his rations. He died defending his
brothers in B Company out in the middle of nowhere on a hill overlooking a
valley…”</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">My response: “As I read your words, ‘He died…out in the
middle of nowhere…’ a great sadness came over me. Then I realized, he may have been ‘in the
middle of nowhere’ but he wasn’t alone.
You were there, ‘…with him to the end’.
Thank you for being there for Tom, Gary.
Thank you for being there for all those men. When they were hurting, when they were
frightened, you were there. What a
comfort that must have been to them all.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">One month later, April 28, 2004, William
Thomas (Tom's brother) sent me a letter with 2 photos of Tom. In the
letter, William was grateful that Tom’s memory lives on; he worries that Tom
will be forgotten. </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I imagine that is the fear of everyone
who has lost someone to war. The sad
truth is, we do forget. </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">At church yesterday,
all those who have ever served our country were asked to stand before the
congregation. As the 8 men from 3
generations stood humbly before us, we were asked to go forward and personally
thank them for their service and sacrifice.
There were hugs. There were
tears.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">In the name of the freedoms we enjoy –
and take for granted – I ask you to do the same. Thank a veteran. Thank an active duty soldier. Thank a police officer, a firefighter, a
member of the Coast Guard, etc. - anyone who has served and sacrificed for you
to live and worship freely; anyone who is charged with keeping our homes and
our children safe. It will cost you
nothing but it will mean everything to them.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The medic who was with Tom Thomas when he
died sent me something he wrote for a reunion of the boys of B Company in May
of 1999. I sent him an email last night
asking him for permission to share it with you.
His reply: “I hope it
communicates some of the feelings medics have.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><i><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Ode to a Fallen Grunt</span></i></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">by Gary (Doc) Stolp</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The grief I feel for you my friends, I
never can fully let go.</span></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">You were there one day: and then you
were gone, and no one can really explain the why of it.</span></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I loved you as a brother and more – oh
so much more.</span></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">You shared my loads; and I gave you the
affection I could.</span></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">But you, you gave your all for me and for the other
brothers there and here; </span></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">And for others who will never know nor
really appreciate the kind of brother willing to risk all – </span></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">To ultimately give all.</span></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I feel so empty.</span></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The times, the places, the faces, and
names are all being eroded by the sands of time.</span></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I wish I were more so I could honor you
more.</span></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">You all deserve so much more than I can
ever give you. </span></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">If only I could remember better the
kindnesses you gave.</span></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The times you switched rations, ‘cause
you knew I couldn’t eat ham and lima beans.</span></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The times you carried part of my load
‘cause you saw I was ready to fall.</span></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The time you told me: “Doc, you remind me of my Mom; she’s the only
one that cared for me like you do.”</span></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">You warmed my heart, when it was cold.</span></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">You made me feel like I was an intimate
part of your family, if only for a little while.</span></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I withheld part of me while I knew you.</span></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I was so afraid that I could not do my
job if I became too close.</span></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">And by being more distant, I now have
this big hole in my heart for you</span></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Because I don’t know how to tell you
what the time we spent together means to me.</span></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I can only tell you that I would never
trade it for the safety of staying home.</span></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">My Brothers, Fallen Brothers,</span></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I carry a little bit of you with me
every day.</span></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">How can I ever let you go?</span></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">You would never let me go.</span></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">You watched my every step along the
way.</span></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">"Follow me! " </span></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">"Don’t step there Doc, it’s booby
trapped!"</span></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">"Walk in my steps, it’s safe
there."</span></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">You were so courageous my Brothers.</span></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">And I was always afraid that you would
find out the fears I carried around inside.</span></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Fear that I could not do the things
that needed to be done.</span></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Fear that I would let you down.</span></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Fear that I would lose you,</span></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">More afraid of really living than
dying.</span></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">There’s a wall,</span></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">A wall with your name on it.</span></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">If only I could remember all those
things I should, I could meet you there.</span></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">But there’s another wall, </span></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">And behind that wall all brothers meet
together</span></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">In another time and another place.</span></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">And in that time and place,</span></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">We shall get to know one another again.</span></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">There’s a Father over all brothers.</span></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">His memory does not fade with the
changes of time</span></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">And He will heal all sorrows and wipe
away all tears.</span></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I love you, Brothers, like a brother</span></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">And I miss you.</span></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Doc</span></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></i></div>
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Pathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13564082033103905705noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1022670544098423093.post-10361474554608630812013-01-01T12:46:00.000-08:002013-01-01T12:46:10.624-08:00<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Isaiah 43 - God is doing a <i>NEW THING</i>! </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">So much in this world seems to be wrong; I suppose I could begin a list, but that would take all day and the weight of it would blind me to the <i>NEW THING</i> God has already begun in my own life, in my church, in my city, in my state, in my country, and in the world. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Instead of thinking on those things let's CHOOSE to look FORWARD, to run the race with CONFIDENCE, to be BOLD, to step out in FAITH, to dare to HOPE, to claim VICTORY!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span class="text Isa-43-19" style="background-color: white; position: relative;">"I will make a pathway through the wilderness.</span><br style="background-color: white;" /><span class="indent-1" style="background-color: white;"><span class="indent-1-breaks" style="line-height: 0;"> </span><span class="text Isa-43-19" style="position: relative;">I will create rivers in the dry wasteland.</span></span><br style="background-color: white;" /><span class="text Isa-43-20" id="en-NLT-18502" style="background-color: white; position: relative;"><sup class="versenum" style="display: block; font-weight: bold; left: -4.8em; position: absolute; vertical-align: top;">20 </sup>The wild animals in the fields will thank me,</span><br style="background-color: white;" /><span class="indent-1" style="background-color: white;"><span class="indent-1-breaks" style="line-height: 0;"> </span><span class="text Isa-43-20" style="position: relative;">the jackals and owls, too,<span style="line-height: 0px;"> </span></span></span><span class="indent-1" style="background-color: white;"><span class="text Isa-43-20" style="position: relative;">for giving them water in the desert.</span></span><br style="background-color: white;" /><span class="text Isa-43-20" style="background-color: white; position: relative;">Yes, I will make rivers in the dry wasteland</span><br style="background-color: white;" /><span class="indent-1" style="background-color: white;"><span class="indent-1-breaks" style="line-height: 0;"> </span><span class="text Isa-43-20" style="position: relative;">so my chosen people can be refreshed.</span></span><br style="background-color: white;" /><span class="text Isa-43-21" id="en-NLT-18503" style="background-color: white; position: relative;"><sup class="versenum" style="display: block; font-weight: bold; left: -4.8em; position: absolute; vertical-align: top;">21 </sup>I have made Israel for myself,</span><br style="background-color: white;" /><span class="indent-1" style="background-color: white;"><span class="indent-1-breaks" style="line-height: 0;"> </span><span class="text Isa-43-21" style="position: relative;">and they will someday honor me before the whole world."</span></span></span><br />
<span class="indent-1" style="background-color: white;"><span class="text Isa-43-21" style="position: relative;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></span></span>
<span class="indent-1" style="background-color: white;"><span class="text Isa-43-21" style="position: relative;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">In 2013, let us walk as sons and daughters of The King of kings. Let us CHOOSE FREEDOM over bondage, JOY over hopelessness, LOVE over hatred, FAITH over fear. </span></span></span><br />
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<span class="indent-1" style="background-color: white;"><span class="text Isa-43-21" style="position: relative;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Let VICTORY be our heart's cry in 2013!</span></span></span><br />
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Pathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13564082033103905705noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1022670544098423093.post-16981022837032004962012-11-07T11:28:00.002-08:002012-11-07T11:28:32.705-08:00<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">The king's heart is like a stream of water directed by the LORD;</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">He guides it wherever He pleases.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"> </span>Proverbs 21:1 </div>
Pathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13564082033103905705noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1022670544098423093.post-82910517889382136602012-09-11T13:37:00.001-07:002012-09-11T13:37:20.411-07:00Have You Forgotten?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />Pathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13564082033103905705noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1022670544098423093.post-89424719429332201902012-08-22T14:54:00.001-07:002012-08-26T20:02:04.795-07:00The Death of a Vision<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">We all have some idea or "vision" of what our life is to be like, what career path we're going to take, where we want our kids to grow up... Many of you have followed that vision to the letter and are exactly where you planned to be at this point and time. Some of you, however may not be anywhere near where you thought you'd be, yet here you are; we call this</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">"the death of a vision". </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The death of a vision can leave us with an incredible sense of loss. Bill Gotthard said, "Sometimes God leaves our vision dead and never revives it; this tells us it was not <i>His will</i> but of <u>our own</u> making. Sometimes He renews and fulfills our exact vision and sometimes He brings to life something similar, but different."</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">In John 12:24 Jesus says, <i><span style="color: red;"><b>"...unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But, if it dies, it produces many seeds."</b></span></i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">God has a special purpose for all of us and He equips us for that purpose. We all have desires, ambitions, and special talents. When we are able to visualize, by faith, what God would have us do with these ambitions or talents, we see</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">"the birth of a vision".</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Look at the birth of the vision in John 12:24, as it pertains specifically to the grain of wheat. We see that a grain of wheat has a "vision" of reproducing itself and many more grains of wheat. The death of the vision comes when the grain falls to the ground and dies. At that point, it seems impossible that the vision of producing more grains of wheat can ever be fulfilled. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">We can very easily become discouraged when our vision dies; when we see no possibility for coming back, of having our marriages restored, our careers resurrected, etc. We have to remember that if the vision is <i>God's</i> to begin with, He <u>will</u> be faithful to complete it. We just have to wait on Him and trust Him. We <u>have</u> to walk by faith and not by sight.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The loss of anyone or anything that matters to us can trigger the grief process; the closer the relationship or the more we've invested (of ourselves, our time, our money, our hopes, our dreams), the deeper the loss.</span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Five Stages of Grief</b></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>1 - Denial - "this <u>can't</u> be happening"; "there's <u>got</u> to be some other explanation"</b></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>2 - Anger - wanting to fight back, place blame, get angry at someone, even yourself for allowing </b></span><span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>"it" to</b></span><b style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> happen, even God; bitterness.</b></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>3 - Bargaining - attempting to make deals with God to stop or change what's happening.</b></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>4 - Depression - an overwhelming feeling of hopelessness, frustration, unforgiveness, mourning.</b></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>5 - Acceptance - finding the good that can come out of loss; finding comfort and healing; finding</b></span><b style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> forgiveness and peace.</b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="color: red; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">"The eyes of the LORD watch over those who do right; His ears are open to their cries for help...The LORD is close to the brokenhearted; He rescues those who are crushed in spirit." </span>Ps. 34:15 & 18</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><u>God sees</u> what you're going through right now. <u>God hears</u> your cries for help.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Psalm 84:6 says that there are <span style="color: red;"><i><b>"refreshing springs and pools of blessing when we walk through the Valley of the Weeping"</b></i></span>.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">How precious is that?! My commentary on these verses says, "Growing strong in God's presence is often <b>preceded</b> by a journey through barren places in our lives...The person who loves to spend time with God will see his/her adversity as an opportunity to <b>re-experience</b> God's faithfulness."</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">It's hard to say how long we might experience any one stage of grief, but the fulfillment of the <u>God-given</u> vision is a <i>promise</i>; He <u>will</u> complete what He began. The fulfillment of the vision is not dependant on <i>where</i> we are in the grief process. We may not, however clearly be able to see God's hand until we've completed the acceptance stage. After all, hindsight is 20/20.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">"The fulfillment of the vision"</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> in John 12:24 is seen as the harvest springs up out of the very process of what <i>appeared</i> to be the death of the grain that fell to the ground. </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">In Isaiah, God says (and I love this), </span><b style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i><span style="color: red;">"...I am about to do a brand new thing. See, I have already begun! Do you not see it? I will make a pathway through the wilderness for my people to come home. I will create rivers for them in the desert!" </span></i></b><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> (43:19)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>God is doing a "new thing"! He's "already begun!" </b>God says He's making "a pathway through (what feels very much like) the wilderness" and He's "creating rivers" for us in this dry and weary land. </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The word "create" here is the same word used in Genesis 1:1 -<i> bara</i> - it means "out of nothing". God's not fixing your <i>old</i> vision, He's creating a <b>brand new vision</b> - <u>He's already begun</u>!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">But wait...there's more good news...</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Not only is God creating a new vision for you by way of a new job, new love for your spouse, new appreciation for life, etc...</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">God is doing a "brand new thing" <b>inside</b> of you also - in your heart and in your mind!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Charles Stanley said, "What the mind thinks governs everything." </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Look back at The Five Stages of Grief...Your loss drug you through denial, anger, bargaining, and depression <i>all</i> of which separate us from God. Those thoughts/feelings originate in the mind and find it's way to our hearts where bitterness and unforgiveness can easily take root.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Step into the "refreshing springs, and pools of blessing", my friend.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> God's "new thing" has begun!</span></div>
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Pathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13564082033103905705noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1022670544098423093.post-21795901752047682442012-05-28T14:23:00.000-07:002012-05-28T14:23:22.952-07:00Time<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">One more school year under our belt. Next week, Moi will begin his sophomore year. Where has the time gone? I was looking through some old pictures this morning; I sure miss those baby/toddler years. Fat little cheeks, no wrists or ankles...precious! Now he's as tall as I am; a most handsome young man. While I miss those early years, I am most proud of the man he is becoming. </span><br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-sq_DSohNK3M/T8PrvhDsaEI/AAAAAAAAAMU/iFNUc3sNm6I/s1600/2012-05-28_15-56-50_330.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-sq_DSohNK3M/T8PrvhDsaEI/AAAAAAAAAMU/iFNUc3sNm6I/s320/2012-05-28_15-56-50_330.jpg" width="194" /></a><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">Life goes by too quickly. Days turn into weeks, weeks turn into months, and months into...decades. My granddaughter is graduating from kindergarten, my oldest grandson is going to be in the 6th grade, and my baby boy will be 3. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">On my dresser is a photo of myself and my great-grandmother; I must have been about 4 years old at the time. Four...that was 55 years ago, but it seems like just yesterday. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">So, where <i><b>does</b></i> the time go? </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">It rests in photographs, letters, and in our memories. It lines the walls in beautiful frames, and fills the pages of family albums. Time can be found in boxes filled with 8mm reels, VCR tapes, and DVDs; cards, letters, and journals kept in dresser drawers, desks, or shoe boxes in the closet. It's found in the lines on the faces of those we love, in the old boots that sit next to the fireplace, the worn rocker/recliner, or the handkerchief in my dresser. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">In short, time never really goes anywhere. It sticks around reminding us of where we came from and the road we've traveled.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">While antique shopping with Moi this weekend, I saw many photographs of men, women, and children that looked to have been taken in the early 1900's. Looking at them, I realized that even when we are gone and forgotten by those we have loved, time never forgets. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">Time - amazing.</span></div>Pathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13564082033103905705noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1022670544098423093.post-56570130022368220312012-05-10T11:52:00.000-07:002012-05-10T11:52:06.732-07:00Exhaustion<div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">I am going to do something I don't do too often, I am going to share with you how I </span><b style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: x-large;"><i>really</i></b><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"> feel today...</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">I have had a rough 4 weeks. I have found myself busier than I like to be and I am exhausted - physically, emotionally, and therefore spiritually exhausted. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">How does that happen? I didn't wake up 4 weeks ago and say, "Let me see how much I can cram into the next 4 weeks. Let me work myself into such a state of exhaustion that I can't think about anything else but how tired I am." I didn't say any of those things, but clearly I didn't pace myself or take time for myself and my family somewhere in the midst of all that could not be avoided either.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">Admittedly, I am all about the task; a task driven individual who actually works better under pressure. I often wait till 5 days before my deadline to kick it in gear and, oddly enough, I seem to derive some kind of satisfaction in the midst of the exhaustion I complain about. How warped is that?!?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">Surely you can relate.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">I know that I am not unique. I have talked to countless women over the years who do not pace themselves, do not take care of themselves, and always put others first. I am curious to know if men are the same. I know my husband works hard at his job and when he comes home, he changes clothes and heads for the barn. He does say, however, that working outside is his "therapy". That doesn't make sense to me since he works so hard outside that he has been on the verge of heat exhaustion too many times. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">Rarely do I go for a mani/pedi, I even hate to stop long enough for a haircut; I spend the entire time thinking about all the things I should be doing. I have several hobbies, but I don't make time for them. Did I mention I don't have a job outside the home. <b>I am a stay-at-home mom!</b> What would my life be like if I did work outside the home! OMGoodness...can't go there.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">The big question is, do I <i>need</i> to be this busy? The answer is a resounding <b><u>NO</u> ! </b>That's the really sad part. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">So, how busy is too busy? </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">For me, "too busy" is when I miss a doctor's appointment because I haven't looked at the calendar for the past 2 weeks. "Too busy" is when Moi doesn't have any clean jeans and my husband has to go to Walmart to buy new underwear and socks because his are buried under 6 loads of dirty laundry. "Too busy" is when the bill collectors begin calling because the unopened mail is somewhere on the desk I keep dumping stuff on to get it out of my way. "Too busy" is realizing I only put mascara on one eye and can't remember if I used deodorant. "Too busy" is forgetting to take my medicine or brush my teeth because I was distracted and wasn't able to follow my usual routine. "Too busy" is smiling and saying everything's fine when what I really want to do is sleep for the next 24 hours, soak in a hot tub, and have a good cry.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">I am blessed to have a wonderful husband who doesn't mind tripping over laundry, eating out, or supplementing his needs from Walmart. He has always encouraged me to take more time for myself. Maybe I should listen to him. Things are slowing down. </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">Yesterday I was able to (and gave myself permission to) sleep in; thank You, Lord! I spent some time with "the babies" (my youngest grandchildren) and cooked a beautiful meal for my entire family and a precious friend; it was a wonderful day! Today the housekeeper is here doing all the things I have not been able to (bless her, Lord, she's so good to me). So today I am just going to relax - at least until it's time to fix dinner. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">This week I was reminded of what I already know full well, our days are numbered; we are not promised tomorrow. There is no better time for me to start slowing down than now. Maybe I'll start a new sewing project or go antiquing. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">What about you?</span></div>Pathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13564082033103905705noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1022670544098423093.post-38331056611371685162012-04-03T12:52:00.000-07:002012-04-03T12:52:10.890-07:00Easter<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">It's not about Easter bunnies, chocolate or otherwise. It's not about little ducklings or chicks, cute as they may be. It's not about hiding plastic eggs filled with candy...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">It's about an empty tomb! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">It's about victory over death and the grave! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">It's about hope!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">It's about life everlasting!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">Obviously, you can celebrate any way you choose, just please "remember the reason for the season"; remember the power of the resurrection. Don't let the true meaning get lost in baskets of Easter eggs and candy. Our children should know that Christ gave His life for them, but that death could not hold Him. </span><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: x-large;"><b><i>He lives!</i></b></span></div><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"><br />
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<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">Love to all, </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">and may you be filled with </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">the TRUTH of God's Word </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">as you celebrate </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">Resurrection Sunday.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"><br />
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</span></div>Pathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13564082033103905705noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1022670544098423093.post-82771035940011433822012-03-22T15:08:00.000-07:002012-03-22T15:08:23.949-07:00Time Flies<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">My Addie Grace is playing T-Ball - WoW! Seems like only yesterday, we were going to Emily's (her mother) first softball game and now she's old enough to have a baby playing ball. Has it really been THAT long? </span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5VkdFOVVJf4/T2ueJ9uF9BI/AAAAAAAAALo/ktk-df3fcog/s1600/pocket-watch-Vintage-Image-GraphicsFairywh+(2).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5VkdFOVVJf4/T2ueJ9uF9BI/AAAAAAAAALo/ktk-df3fcog/s320/pocket-watch-Vintage-Image-GraphicsFairywh+(2).jpg" width="269" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">"Time flies!" Where <i>does</i> time go? One day you're opening Valentine Cards and the next day you're opening Christmas presents. One day I was young, slim, perky and the next day I'm old, fat, and sagging! So time not only flies, it takes everything with it!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I was reading Ecclesiastes 3 today, "There is a time for everything, a season for every activity under heaven." I said, "This sounds like a statement of FACT, Lord. So how many hours are <i>really</i> supposed to be in a day? Did we get shorted? Because I'm finding it difficult to get 'everything' done." I'm sure God chuckled because He knows that HIS idea of the things that really <i>need</i> to be done today is not at all the same as MINE. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Ooh, and then I moved down to verse 6...(the first part of this verse is for you, Floyd, "A time to search and a time to lose.") Ok, here it is..."A time to keep and a time to throw away." "Obviously You haven't shared this verse with James or Moi, Lord, because they don't throw away ANYTHING! Or maybe they think they will be in a perpetual state of '...a time to keep...'!" Seriously, James always has an empty box (or boxes) of some kind in his closet and Moi always has trash in his.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Isn't it funny how we pick out the verses that fit our situation and use them to justify a point we want to make? Even better is when we actually go <i>looking</i> for a scripture to back us up. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">But that's another post...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Where </span><i style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">does</i><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> time go? </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Jim Croce sang, "If I could save time in a bottle..." If we <i>could</i> save time, roll over what we haven't used today, what would we do with it? Would we find more work to do? Would we spend it with our families? Would we rest? Be creative? Vacation? Watch TV? Pray? Just pass the time doing - nothing? It's an interesting thought.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Love this: Harvey MacKay wrote, "Time is free, but it's priceless. You can't own it, but you can use it. You can't keep it, but you can spend it. Once you've lost it you can never get it back." Sooo true!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Someone said, "Make every second count." <u>IF</u> I've done this right (and the operative word is "if"), I've been alive about 1,832,267,308 seconds (give or take a second or two). I'm sorry to say that I have <b><u>not</u></b> made every second count. I have wasted valuable time on foolish things with no eternal value. And right about now, I'm sure you're saying, "And you're wasting my time with this post!" Hey, </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I didn't choose </span><u style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Chasing Rabbits</u><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> as a blog title by accident!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Seriously, time <i>is</i> valuable and while we are here (in this place) we are to take advantage of every opportunity to love and be love (Christ) to others. As we see in Ecclesiastes 3, God's timing is ever so perfect. If we allow Him to order our day, set it aside for <b>His</b> express purpose, there <i>will be</i> time for all. I pray that you will join me as I strive to turn my days over to the Lord, the One who created time, to do with as He pleases. </span><br />
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</span>Pathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13564082033103905705noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1022670544098423093.post-76620195609429131722012-03-16T10:59:00.000-07:002012-03-16T10:59:40.456-07:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-DHwDzcPiKcA/T2N7ou66ZWI/AAAAAAAAALg/lLBlNDdZpdA/s1600/sow+love.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-DHwDzcPiKcA/T2N7ou66ZWI/AAAAAAAAALg/lLBlNDdZpdA/s320/sow+love.jpg" width="315" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">Not long ago, while perusing Pinterest, I ran across a blog on Random Acts of Christmas Kindness. It got me to thinking that there's no reason why we can't (and shouldn't) perform random acts of kindness every day, even if it's just opening a door for someone. I would really like to incorporate this in our homeschool schedule. I'm thinking that maybe once a week, we could purpose to practice a random act or two while on our way to appointments or running errands.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">I've found it's the little things people appreciate the most. It's very common for us to rally around someone who is ill, having surgery, or has just lost a loved one. What seems to be UN-common is doing little things for people "just because". </span><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">The hope is that what what we sow in love we will reap in love.</span></div><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">I thought it would be fun to have you help us come up with a list of random acts that would be fun and inspirational to share with others. I have included a link to the post I mentioned so you can get a better idea of what I'm talking about here. If you happen to be participating in an activity like this already, I hope you will share your stories with us. If not, I hope this will inspire you to get your own family involved in reaching out to others through random acts of kindness.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: x-small;">( </span><a href="http://tsjphotography.com/blog/random-acts-of-christmas-kindness-summary/"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: x-small;">http://tsjphotography.com/blog/random-acts-of-christmas-kindness-summary/</span></a>)Pathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13564082033103905705noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1022670544098423093.post-88970954640665574572012-02-20T14:00:00.000-08:002012-02-20T14:00:35.949-08:00Silence is Golden<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8Wqa8F0HJZM/TznjKLziUoI/AAAAAAAAALE/ij9uLWWwdcI/s1600/125104201650mpHK.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" sda="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8Wqa8F0HJZM/TznjKLziUoI/AAAAAAAAALE/ij9uLWWwdcI/s200/125104201650mpHK.jpg" width="162" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Is it right to question God?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Whether it's right or wrong, I know God understands our hearts when we ask a question like this. Remember, He is our Father; our Daddy. The fact that we feel comfortable enough to climb up in His lap and ask the hard questions is proof of the amazing connection we can have with the very One who created us.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Right now so many in my circle of friends are dealing with loss, or impending loss. More often than not, someone will ask the question, "Why?". How can we, as mere mortals, answer a question as big as that? The answer is, we can't. We want so badly to do or say the right thing that will bring comfort and begin healing that we often say the wrong thing; sometimes we just need to be still. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">So why do we try? Why do we continue to make feeble attempts to say anything at all? </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">It's OK to just be silent, sit quietly, and pray.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Many years ago I had a young friend who lost her husband to cancer. Because she was a good friend, I had the freedom to ask her "stupid" questions like "What <i>should</i> we do in these circumstances?". She told me that as a Christian, she already knew exactly what the Bible said regarding loss, trusting God, faith, etc. and believed it with her whole heart. What she <i>really</i> needed was someone to hold her, cry with her, hear others tell stories about her husband and smile with fond memories of him. I've tried to remember this and apply it as much as possible; </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I have also drawn from my own personal experiences of loss. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">A few weeks ago, one of my son's lost his half-brother in a motorcycle accident. It was a devastating loss for that family. This week a sweet little friend of mine lost her baby boy shortly after birth. It is a horrible thing to have to bury a child, I know because I have also buried a child; a son. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Anytime bad things happen, especially to children - our own children, we want to know <i>why; </i>we NEED a reason. We somehow think that if we had a reason it would be easier to accept, it would ease the pain. But would that really be the case? The loss would still be felt, the hole in our lives would still be there. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The only place I know to go from here is Isaiah 55: 8, "My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways, declares the Lord."</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The bottom line for me is that there are some things we just have to accept by faith.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Let me assure you that regardless of how desperate your situation is, joy <b><u>does</u></b> come in the morning; we <b><u>wil</u></b></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b><u>l</u></b></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">see beauty in the ashes one day. God's promises <b><u>are</u></b><i> </i>true; you can trust Him.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>Weigh In:</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Because everyone's "love language" is different...I think it would be helpful for us to hear from those of you who have suffered loss. What <i>should</i> we have done or said to you, during your time of grief, to make things easier? What is the <i>wrong</i> thing to do? </span><br />
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</span>Pathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13564082033103905705noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1022670544098423093.post-10488840492714023602012-02-13T19:32:00.000-08:002012-02-13T19:38:21.831-08:00Heartfelt School Day Memories<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
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</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">Do you remember the parties we used to have in school to celebrate Valentine's Day? </span><span style="font-size: large;">I sure do. The first week of February was spent making and decorating envelopes made from construction paper. The day of the party we would walk around the room depositing valentines for each student in the envelope which, on this day, hung on the back of our chairs. We would take our envelopes home after the party and enjoy them. Once or twice we even covered and decorated a shoe box and cut a slit in the lid to receive the cards. I remember how much fun it was to see all the different kinds of cards; seldom did I ever get two that were alike.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"></div><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNrz_olqgh9sEOpS-0BfvLulMvN8-1PlfY_KxywRc4pD_zDgcJJ5Eh9_kbar3-BrKmglhxRbxLoekKTSmlyJf_KQCW4vSGIMeW_3b4o_OLg3yK5_yOae0S35H29nfUPPcvnR_Wq6ZQsGf2/s1600/card6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; display: inline !important; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNrz_olqgh9sEOpS-0BfvLulMvN8-1PlfY_KxywRc4pD_zDgcJJ5Eh9_kbar3-BrKmglhxRbxLoekKTSmlyJf_KQCW4vSGIMeW_3b4o_OLg3yK5_yOae0S35H29nfUPPcvnR_Wq6ZQsGf2/s400/card6.jpg" width="270" /></a><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">I wish I could say that I had kept all of those cards, what a wonderful keepsake they would have made, but sadly I didn't. Because of my love for all things old, I have found myself collecting vintage valentines. I really love to see the original sentiments written on the back (I have even occasionally found a date or two written next to the signature). I love imagining who "Sam" might have been and who wanted him to be her valentine.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFiCTYNRxhRMNNgeGAslkiqky0IwlO2YcscMwXIYb0d-jt0qa9383WXqSnTcu5KxDu8vnpZivkRkJVJqyICaKLWAwL-VS9AeFNpVwJZxHnhWBfIX8w7BZ4jf1TVBSZ_9YeOPu86azvDrDw/s1600/cute-puppy-valentine.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFiCTYNRxhRMNNgeGAslkiqky0IwlO2YcscMwXIYb0d-jt0qa9383WXqSnTcu5KxDu8vnpZivkRkJVJqyICaKLWAwL-VS9AeFNpVwJZxHnhWBfIX8w7BZ4jf1TVBSZ_9YeOPu86azvDrDw/s320/cute-puppy-valentine.jpg" width="260" /></a><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Kids are still having valentine parties and giving away little cards they have picked out themselves and scribbled their names on the back. I'm not sure how much longer this will last, but it would be a shame to think that by the time my grandchildren are my age they would not have these sweet memories to look back on.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4mlPjPDnxeQmAHjU6mLFj1azY0NbveK36UBVDvpewVVfXuL37uBy0N8G9lMq0CVaqA8AXh2eIF7P5FvYGuN9iu64MnF-v24STeniRht3tWGqGbP1aX3EkwFvHakHhcZfMSbG4loXwCZwx/s1600/free-vintage-valentine-card-popcorn-and-red-heart.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4mlPjPDnxeQmAHjU6mLFj1azY0NbveK36UBVDvpewVVfXuL37uBy0N8G9lMq0CVaqA8AXh2eIF7P5FvYGuN9iu64MnF-v24STeniRht3tWGqGbP1aX3EkwFvHakHhcZfMSbG4loXwCZwx/s320/free-vintage-valentine-card-popcorn-and-red-heart.jpg" width="243" /></a><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Here are a few more of the vintage valentines I have been collecting. Maybe you'll see one you remember from your childhood; I hope it brings back heartfelt school day memories.</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjR_gnhyphenhyphenr37XzrUwrlLA9kotJyjlnm6R9Z7HQauywTIRa7gwn682io5xqtn3J4OlAIVtUPFSt2fAXMswYI3Awu-O_sy0nqf6K_B-TB7cJ8D12qCjm9AlGqcXZyhUJZzRTzhZlvPHxdS0bz/s1600/valentine-10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" sda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjR_gnhyphenhyphenr37XzrUwrlLA9kotJyjlnm6R9Z7HQauywTIRa7gwn682io5xqtn3J4OlAIVtUPFSt2fAXMswYI3Awu-O_sy0nqf6K_B-TB7cJ8D12qCjm9AlGqcXZyhUJZzRTzhZlvPHxdS0bz/s320/valentine-10.jpg" width="268" /></a></div><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">This is an interactive valentine. If you pull the tab at the bottom, his tongue will go in and out and his eyes will uncross. </span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">I hope your day is spent with the people you love!<br />
Happy Valentine's Day</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">And this, of course, </span><span style="font-size: large;">is my favorite!</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>Pathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13564082033103905705noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1022670544098423093.post-77953950839003328112012-02-01T08:15:00.000-08:002012-02-01T08:15:36.372-08:00Vintage Toys<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I love vintage; vintage furniture, vintage paper, linens, books, jars - basically everything - vintage. If it has cracks or rust, I love it even more! I especially love vintage children's patterns. When my girls were little, I made their little dresses with pinafores and pantaloons. Poor things, having to endure their mother's passion, but they were so precious I couldn't resist!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I love vintage toys, too, especially trucks. The old metal toy trucks are really hard to find and in great demand. When I see them reasonably priced, and the key word here is "reasonably", I usually snatch 'em up. I'm seeing vintage trucks used in all of the latest magazines to decorate bookshelves, coffee tables, etc. I have a photo of a table setting that included an old dump truck holding silverware - I love that idea! Here are photos of my own little vintage trucks...</span><br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0YbZqm7cjTg/TyLbCLRtdpI/AAAAAAAAAJc/IKpgRoCiJ-0/s1600/trucks3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0YbZqm7cjTg/TyLbCLRtdpI/AAAAAAAAAJc/IKpgRoCiJ-0/s320/trucks3.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Aren't they great! Now, look at these little plastic cars, buses, and trucks; wouldn't they look cute on the top of cupcakes for a children's party? I don't remember where I got these, but I am in love with them! </span><br />
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</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Crib toys are another of my favorite things; in the 1920's and '30's they were called cuddle toys. These were stuffed animals or dolls that did not have buttons or beads for eyes and any ribbon or string had to be sewn into place so as not to strangle or choke baby; for these reasons, these toys were considered safe for the crib. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I ran across some vintage patterns for crib toys a few years ago and thought it would be fun to make some for gifts...it quickly became an obsession. I purchased one pattern, modified it to get the effect I was looking for and began to sew. When I got tired of making elephants and puppies, I began using coloring book pages for patterns. You can modify, increase the size, cut out the individual pieces (like the ears, tail, etc.), add a seam allowance, and you're good to go. I ended up with about 20 or more of these little cuties; after giving many away, these are the ones I have left...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">As you can see, my crib toys are made out of scrap fabric, vintage embroidered linens, vintage tablecloths, quilt tops, anything big enough for my designs. I embroidered the name of each on their backside, their bellies, or the back of an ear. Choosing names for each one of them has been great fun; I try to draw from some of the older names in my family tree to keep the vintage theme going.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Designing and making these critters has given me such pleasure, but not as much pleasure as giving them away. They are as unique as the little ones who receive them. We, too, are unique; designed by the Master; created to love and be loved. Imagine the joy the Father had in creating us, His children; tiny hands and feet, little nose and lips, fashioning us in His image... </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">As you go about your day, no doubt rushing to get from one place to the next, meditate on this...You were fearfully and wonderfully made; His masterpiece. His love is without condition and stretches throughout eternity. If you are His child, your name is carved in the palm of His hand; you are His. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">What a beautiful picture!</span></div>Pathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13564082033103905705noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1022670544098423093.post-74836888563421866232012-01-16T08:29:00.000-08:002012-01-16T08:29:57.164-08:00Sew Blessed<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">For as long as I can remember, whenever we would go camping, take a weekend trip, or a long vacation I have always carried a sewing basket with an unfinished, hand-pieced baby quilt with me. The only time I ever work on this quilt is when I am away from home; consequently it takes me about a year to finish one! I just like my hands to be busy when sitting around.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirLOcHiU5U6yNhTuPvLkuCd3hnO01sGrDUdagsX22aRT7GbR5Aq42BMtT7Ij4h5SH5EkzHC8XsZCt_ZDouTeJCWrxs4zjJZ2DVb-wJmltDDAKp6hzqhqCHgI-PJnir5f9Jeq6VvmnpsdSK/s1600/addison+sewing.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirLOcHiU5U6yNhTuPvLkuCd3hnO01sGrDUdagsX22aRT7GbR5Aq42BMtT7Ij4h5SH5EkzHC8XsZCt_ZDouTeJCWrxs4zjJZ2DVb-wJmltDDAKp6hzqhqCHgI-PJnir5f9Jeq6VvmnpsdSK/s320/addison+sewing.jpg" width="240" /></a><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">This past summer James and I spent some time in Destin, Florida with all of our children and grandchildren and, as usual, I took along my little quilt. One day as I was working on it, my Addie Grace decided she wanted to sew with me. She took out all the little quilt squares, stacked them, folded them, made designs with them, lined them up in nice little rows - over, and over, and over again. Who knew those little scraps of fabric could be so entertaining! While we worked, we talked about all kinds of things...sewing, swimming, chasing beach crabs, Barbie...it was a very sweet time for me.</span><br />
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</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Sometime before Christmas, I was cleaning out my closet and found a little picnic-style basket that had once held a child's tea set; I kept it because it was just too sweet to throw away. In it I put some sewing cards and yarn. The next time Addie Grace came to spend the night, I presented her with her own sewing basket and told her it was time she learned to sew. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I began to teach her how to tie a knot, how to weave the yarn in and out of the sewing cards to form "stitches" and how to finish off the yarn on the backside of the card. I was sure she would get bored easily and want to quit, but she loved it. So much so that she finished all five of them! By the time she completed the third card, she was tying her own knots and finishing the backside of the card all by herself. She was so proud, she insisted that I take her picture after she completed each one. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Addie Grace is a very fast learner. I have a feeling it won't be long before she is ready to take the next step in sewing. It will be so much fun to be able to share this part of my life with her.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; text-align: center;">Having a similar experience with my grandmother has left me with precious memories, but none can compare to the memory of sharing something with my own granddaughter that generations of women in my family have learned from each other. I pray that we will have many more times of sewing and sharing together and that these memories will be as precious to my Addie Grace as they are to me. Thank You, Lord, for I am sew blessed!</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLKFq749fF2IibGwPNOlsnAqRFb2LtAi6x46yR4MLk3LO3Lyo7EuJ-zCAR0BkvTwLwIRcSc8ZS5af-pbH55WcRugrqyQz2CFijpMv9VJxUewbkhQS4EFthe3mqW0irIlqcDtK7w0PUrc1d/s1600/addie+pig.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLKFq749fF2IibGwPNOlsnAqRFb2LtAi6x46yR4MLk3LO3Lyo7EuJ-zCAR0BkvTwLwIRcSc8ZS5af-pbH55WcRugrqyQz2CFijpMv9VJxUewbkhQS4EFthe3mqW0irIlqcDtK7w0PUrc1d/s320/addie+pig.jpg" width="178" /></a></div><div><div><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
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</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I hope this post has inspired you to share a memory that you have with your child or grandchild.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div></div></div>Pathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13564082033103905705noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1022670544098423093.post-32207669164253925682012-01-04T06:56:00.000-08:002012-01-04T06:56:47.760-08:00She's Still With Me<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQWDMcOxdMaYXlKf2ncBVjfH9qAxDmmhkQB5Ht3wHTvbHAB2-lUX4BdJzRRFU9milRdCMYVXs6vxXRlPTcfM44k9hrt1q-ro4rv92VcZoELyptrod5mWbwIBVswiaxm1BaHcH-DxvW3O4H/s1600/young+yoma.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQWDMcOxdMaYXlKf2ncBVjfH9qAxDmmhkQB5Ht3wHTvbHAB2-lUX4BdJzRRFU9milRdCMYVXs6vxXRlPTcfM44k9hrt1q-ro4rv92VcZoELyptrod5mWbwIBVswiaxm1BaHcH-DxvW3O4H/s200/young+yoma.jpg" width="185" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">This is Mammaw. I found this photo of her several years ago in an old box of crocheted doilies. I'm not sure how old she is here; if I had to guess I would say very late teens or early twenties. She looks very pretty in her pearls and straw hat doesn't she?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">When I was about two years old, </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Mammaw </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">moved in with my mother to take care of me while Mother worked to support us all. The life lessons and experiences learned while in </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Mammaw's</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> care would be used to help shape the mother and grandmother I would later become.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Mammaw had a very hard exterior. She was always very serious and task oriented, a strict disciplinarian, and a very hard worker. She didn't laugh much but when she did, her whole body shook and she would have to remove her glasses to wipe the tears that ran down her face. As a teen, she herded cattle with the men of her family, wore jeans and boots, and smoked hand-rolled cigarettes. As my Mammaw, I rarely saw her out of a dress even while working in the yard. Her hair was pin-curled every night before bed and her face powdered every morning. Clearly, there were many sides to Mammaw.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">At a very young age, Mammaw taught me how to iron, cook, and sew. These were not my chores (in fact, I didn't have regular chores), these were skills Mammaw insisted every young girl needed to learn. I remember her having me cut out five-inch squares of fabric, pin them together, and hand stitch them; tiny, very deliberate stitches. When I was seven years old, Mammaw gave me my first electric sewing machine for Christmas; A Singer "<i>sewhandy </i>electric" model 50D. (I still have this machine.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The first thing I learned to sew on that machine was a pillowcase for my doll. I wish I still had that pillowcase, or at least a photo of it. It wasn't much but the idea was to learn to use the machine itself. I don't remember when I graduated from the little machine to a "real" sewing machine...Mammaw's machine. I do remember, however, that the first thing I made on Mammaw's machine was a red gingham apron complete with red rick rack. </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">At the time I was being taught how to sew, a lot of work was done by hand such as facings, hems, rick rack, or other trim, etc. To this day, I love handwork, in fact, I probably make extra work for myself by hand stitching as much of a project as possible; it's very relaxing to me.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I find that I go through sewing seasons; moments in time when everything in my world is just right (in my eyes), affording me the opportunity to drag out the ole' needle and thread and perhaps a yard or two of fabric. Cutting, pinning, tiny stitches transport me to another place in time. There are few good memories from my childhood; this is one. As I take a stitch, in my own hands I see the hands of my grandmother complete with age spots and arthritic fingers. I can't help but </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">smile...</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Mammaw'</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">s still here with me.</span><br />
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</span>Pathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13564082033103905705noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1022670544098423093.post-90977812275407798522011-12-30T03:29:00.000-08:002011-12-30T03:29:00.635-08:00My Prayer For The New Year<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">As we are only steps away from the New Year, I wanted to take just a moment to share my prayer for you, for all of us really, for the coming year. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">It seems it is sometimes easier for us to love the ungodly than it is for us to love our own brothers and sisters in Christ.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And so, I pray that God will give us all a heart full of love, and grace, and great mercy for one another.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">I pray that our love for the lost will grow stronger with each passing day. I pray that we will begin to see through the eyes of Christ, listen with our hearts, and speak with words tendered by love. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I pray that husbands will begin to love their wives as Christ loves the church.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I pray that they will take the role of Priest in their home seriously.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I pray that the hearts of fathers will be turned toward their children and that they will teach their sons, by their own example, what it means to be “a man after God’s own heart”. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I pray that wives will begin to walk beside their husbands instead of in front of them, allowing their husbands to fulfill the role that God has given them as the head of the household.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I pray that mothers will become more nurturing and that their daughters will learn from them what it is to be a godly wife and mother.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I pray that children will learn to respect the authority God has placed over them in the home, in their schools, and in their community.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I pray that they will enjoy just being children while they can.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I pray that they will develop a hunger and a thirst for God that is insatiable.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I pray that the church will become what God intended it to be.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I pray that leaders will bow their knee before God now so that our country might be saved.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">One of my favorite scriptures is found in Isaiah 43:15-19, “I am the Lord, your Holy One, Israel’s Creator and King…Forget the former things, do not dwell on the past.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is nothing compared to what I am going to do.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For I am about to do a brand-new thing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>See, I have already begun!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Do you not see it?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I will make a pathway through the wilderness.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I will create rivers for them in the dry wasteland.”</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I know I have shared this with you before and I’m sure I will be sharing it again because I believe God wants to do “new things” in us every day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This scripture has been on my heart all week, I guess because I have friends who have been wandering around in the wilderness for most of the year.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I want you to see that your Heavenly Father has already begun to make a pathway for you and to create rivers and springs of fresh water to quench your thirst.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Nothing God has done for you in the past can compare to what He is about to do.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Hold on to this promise.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">May God bless you and your family in the coming New Year and may you grow closer to Him than ever before.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Amen.</span></div>Pathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13564082033103905705noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1022670544098423093.post-42805348050127093932011-12-07T08:14:00.000-08:002011-12-07T08:14:33.342-08:00Merry Christmas!<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">It's a beautiful December morning here in the Big Thicket! The sky is clear, the sun is shining brightly through the trees, and it's 32 degrees outside - perfect!</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">As we approach Christmas, I find the days getting shorter and my list getting longer. I wanted to take just a minute to remind us all to remember that this should be a season of great joy. The very essence of the spirit of Christmas is one of peace, patience, kindness, joy, love, giving, and great hope. Please don't get so caught up in all the buying and planning and partying that you forget the reason we celebrate this season. The Christ child brought with Him the hope of glory; let this be foremost in your mind as you spend time with family and friends. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Make this Christmas special. Use the story of Christmas to witness to the store clerks, bank tellers, waitresses, fellow shoppers, everyone you might come in contact with as you plan for that special day of celebration. Purchase gifts that are meaningful to the recipient; perhaps something that reminds them of a special time or event in their lives. I just read (on Pinterest) about a family that performs random acts of kindness for the first 24 days of December. This is something Moi and I are considering for next Christmas.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Make memories; reinforce traditions. Every year, my husband reads the story of Christmas before we open gifts. Every Christmas I add a new bell with the date written on it to each stocking. We try to watch one Christmas movie every day; our very favorite is "Christmas in Canaan". </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Start a new tradition.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">In short, enjoy your Christmas holiday! </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">From my family to yours, may your Christmas be filled with love and laughter, peace and comfort, and may you rest in the truth of this Christmas: "For God loved the world so much that He gave His one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life." </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">John 3:16</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Be blessed!</span><br />
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</span>Pathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13564082033103905705noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1022670544098423093.post-47241216800080115972011-11-29T11:30:00.000-08:002011-11-29T11:30:25.412-08:00Happy Birthday!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: x-large;"><b>Saturday, my baby boy turns 15...15! </b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuZUmVBkOgzprx7-ERlCXY4_XWCuoG7Ty8Cs8LEQ50YvfjzxcBHFK6-lgGrivb_2Y32j2Kaghx1obYsKTJxKHy_d1Sy2ccDHFw77s8J6gaRsWDHYvMdeRjURlp4uD8VzymaCUzHksXOM0Q/s1600/IMG00054-20101022-1408.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuZUmVBkOgzprx7-ERlCXY4_XWCuoG7Ty8Cs8LEQ50YvfjzxcBHFK6-lgGrivb_2Y32j2Kaghx1obYsKTJxKHy_d1Sy2ccDHFw77s8J6gaRsWDHYvMdeRjURlp4uD8VzymaCUzHksXOM0Q/s320/IMG00054-20101022-1408.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I have mixed feelings about this milestone. On the one hand, what a blessing to see him becoming such a fine young man. On the other hand, I miss those baby days! Either way, it has been an honor and a blessing to be able to watch him grow in grace and the knowledge of the Lord. </span><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>Thank you, Jesus, for blessing us with Moises!</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0OUd8lLRxG4JMy_ATD-m2aR-JyDdFPcjsLqlJm-PaPVt1apQCdpdQ0NQY6bU4CWA5IAJh2id1L8YuZP0sSkGIv_auL_k_tnBDmk-uQbwV15uNROZIgTGfD62hE3JSj-1uAqH1atn8q5bb/s1600/Gordo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="248" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0OUd8lLRxG4JMy_ATD-m2aR-JyDdFPcjsLqlJm-PaPVt1apQCdpdQ0NQY6bU4CWA5IAJh2id1L8YuZP0sSkGIv_auL_k_tnBDmk-uQbwV15uNROZIgTGfD62hE3JSj-1uAqH1atn8q5bb/s320/Gordo.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: x-large;"><b>Happy Birthday</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: x-large;"><b><br />
</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: x-large;"><b>Moi,</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: x-large;"><b><br />
</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: x-large;"><b>I love you !!</b></span></div>Pathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13564082033103905705noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1022670544098423093.post-22812810489875227272011-11-21T08:55:00.000-08:002011-11-21T08:55:18.433-08:00The Spirit of Thanksgiving<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Sometime in August, I noticed stores in our part of the world making room for Halloween decorations (or Hell-oween as I like to call it) and before the Helloween decorations could be removed, room was being made for Christmas ornaments. I suppose there's nothing wrong with that EXCEPT...squeezed between the two were sparse amounts of Thanksgiving (mostly fall) knick-knacks. This, to me, is a reminder that to a large population Thanksgiving doesn’t really count for much. I get that it doesn’t turn as much profit as Helloween, Christmas, or Easter but what really breaks my heart is that we miss the “spirit” of the Thanksgiving season altogether. Be honest, if I said “Thanksgiving”, you would say “turkey, dressing, and pumpkin pie!” Am I right? It’s all about the food! <o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Why is Thanksgiving so special to me? Why not Christmas or Easter? We celebrate the birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ, on Christmas Day; His death, burial, and resurrection are celebrated on Easter - what holidays could possibly be more important than these? Clearly none of the other holidays carry as much significance as these for most Christians, however I think Thanksgiving should be reevaluated. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Imagine a day, just one day, among 365 set aside for one purpose alone…to be still and reflect on all God has given us. Psalm 40:5 says, “…If I had to recite all Your wonderful deeds, I would never come to the end of them.” It would be awesome if we made an effort to do this daily basis, but let's be honest...we don’t. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Thanksgiving is a national holiday. Most people usually have a couple of days off during this time; kids are out of school the entire week; families make plans to share a meal together, etc. Can we just forget about Christmas this week? Can we, instead, focus on creating an "atmosphere" of Thanksgiving in our homes? Instead of fighting the mall traffic or planning for Black Friday can we just be still? Can we enjoy the peace (and humility) that comes from reflecting on God’s provision, His grace, His mercy, His unconditional love, His blessing? <o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Last night I attended a community-wide Thanksgiving service in town. Ten churches of various faiths came together in one accord, for one express purpose – to worship God with praise offerings and heartfelt expressions of Thanksgiving. We were challenged to look back, take an inventory of our lives, and thank God for His blessings. I challenge you to do the same this week. Be still, look around you, what has God done in your life this past year? Give thanks.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">May your heart and home be filled with the spirit of Thanksgiving today and every day! </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Architect, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>Pathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13564082033103905705noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1022670544098423093.post-10586357791076889162011-10-31T13:17:00.000-07:002011-10-31T13:17:11.504-07:00He who dared bravely, bravely died.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-y9lGjPHQvig/Tq7-FzP3McI/AAAAAAAAAEk/DhBEUMDQvQY/s1600/mammaw%2527s+poem.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-y9lGjPHQvig/Tq7-FzP3McI/AAAAAAAAAEk/DhBEUMDQvQY/s640/mammaw%2527s+poem.jpg" width="379" /></a></div><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Some time ago, I was going through a box of my grandmother's photos and I ran across this piece of paper. It looks like a poem or the words to a song; it's in her handwriting. There is no title, no author. I have tried to find some information about it on the internet, but have been unsuccessful. Could it be that it was my grandmother who wrote it? If you have any ideas, please let me know.</span>Pathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13564082033103905705noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1022670544098423093.post-79485867865529926582011-10-11T10:30:00.000-07:002011-10-11T10:30:35.810-07:00Love<div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">While doing some research on the word<em> love</em>, I ran across this anonymous quote:</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><em><strong>"The world moves for love; it kneels before it in awe."</strong></em></span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">I somehow find this quote very intriguing. I'd like to hear your thoughts...</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-WGE-LGQQ0fQ/TpR7maAh6dI/AAAAAAAAAEU/gi9yuTaGcz8/s1600/Beautiful+love+wallpaper+14.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150px" kca="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-WGE-LGQQ0fQ/TpR7maAh6dI/AAAAAAAAAEU/gi9yuTaGcz8/s200/Beautiful+love+wallpaper+14.jpg" width="200px" /></a></div>Pathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13564082033103905705noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1022670544098423093.post-42952079600695099102011-10-05T12:50:00.000-07:002011-10-05T12:50:05.125-07:00Which Jesus do you follow?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/m1rqb1BG4JU?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>Pathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13564082033103905705noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1022670544098423093.post-28739819026182323412011-09-13T09:20:00.000-07:002011-09-13T09:20:45.073-07:00What Is Faith?<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I am soooo not a TRUE blogger!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was afraid this would happen at some point – not having the time to write.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s not like I don’t have anything to say, I have started a total of 39 blogs (that’s 39 different topics) and have not been able to finish even <u>ONE</u>!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now that’s sad.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">So for the sake of putting <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">something</i> out there, I thought <u>we</u> (we as in you <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">and</i> me) would talk about faith.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Faith is something that most people struggle with from time to time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Just when you think you’ve mastered it <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">WHAM!</i> you find yourself blindsided by yet another faith-shaking situation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">So, what is faith? </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The most quoted verse regarding faith is Hebrews 11:1, “Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things unseen.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Charles Spurgeon said, “Faith goes up the stairs that love built and looks out the window which hope has opened.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">What a beautiful picture!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">How do we get faith?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Romans 10:17 says, “Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Paul says in 2 Corinthians 4:18, <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“We fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.”</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">“…we fix our eyes…”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What does it mean to <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">fix</i> your eyes on something?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The word <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">fix</i> actually means to concentrate but it also means to <u>attach</u> or place <u>permanently</u> – well there’s the problem right there.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our eyes are not <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">permanently attached</i> to God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When we live in a state of communion with God, faith comes naturally.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Imagine communion/fellowship with God as an umbrella of protection shielding us from the elements of anxiety, doubt, and fear; once we step out from under that umbrella, we are vulnerable.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If we’re going to navigate our way through this wicked world, we are going to have to “…walk by faith, not by sight” (2 Cor. 5:7), but in order to do that we will have to master the art of fixing our eyes on Jesus and not on our circumstances.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">How much faith do we need?</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Well, Matthew 17:20 says “…If you had faith, even as small as a mustard seed, you could say to this mountain ‘Move from here to there,’ and it would move.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Nothing would be impossible.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Did you know that a mustard seed measures only about 1/20th of an inch in diameter?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If it takes so little to move mountains, then why is it we struggle so with faith?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> Surely we can russle up 1/20th of an inch or so...</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Henry Ward Beecher may have had the answer to why we struggle with faith...He said, “Every tomorrow has two handles.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We can take hold of it with the handle of anxiety or the handle of faith.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He understood that faith is a choice.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Even as Christians it’s sometimes easier to give in to those things that challenge our faith than to fight.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We would never say with our lips that we <em>choose</em> to believe that God is not able, but in the end isn’t that exactly what we’re doing when we give in to fear and doubt?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I will confess to you that my greatest struggles are not with the big, earth-shattering, life-changing things.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My biggest struggle with faith is with the small things.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Is God not on the throne in the world of small things also?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Of course He is!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The challenge for me is to put ALL things into God’s hands, to let Him be Ruler of ALL – my schedule, homeschooling, my thoughts, my tongue, <u>every</u> part of me.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">What about you?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Do you struggle with faith?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Do you struggle with big things, small things, all things?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Do you pray as often as I do, “Lord, I believe; help my unbelief!”?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Or perhaps you have a specific story of faith.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> I love it when we come together to share our stories; it's such an encouragement. I hope you'll take the time.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Take a look at some of these great quotes on faith:</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">“Faith is not the belief that God will do what you want.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is the belief that God will do what is right.” Max Lucado</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">“Sorrow looks back, worry looks around, faith looks up.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Anonymous</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">“For those who believe, no proof is necessary.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For those who don’t believe, no proof is possible.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Author Unknown</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">“Faith is like radar that sees through the fog – the reality of things at a distance that the human eye cannot see.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Corrie ten Boom</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">“Faith is the strength by which a shattered world shall emerge into the light.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Helen Keller</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">“Where faith is there is courage, there is fortitude, there is steadfastness and strength…Faith bestows that sublime courage that rises superior to the troubles and disappointments of life, that acknowledges no defeat except as a step to victory; that is strong to endure, patient to wait, and energetic to struggle…Light up, then, the lamp of faith in your heart…It will lead you safely through the mists of doubt and the black darkness of despair; along the narrow, thorny ways of sickness and sorrow, and over the treacherous places of temptation and uncertainty.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>James Allen</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">“Now we shall possess a right definition of faith if we call it a firm and certain knowledge of God’s benevolence toward us, founded upon the truth of the freely given promise in Christ, both revealed to our minds and sealed upon our hearts through the Holy Spirit.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">John Calvin<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Without faith it is impossible to please God…”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Paul</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><br />
</div>Pathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13564082033103905705noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1022670544098423093.post-76280292049330155952011-08-28T12:03:00.000-07:002011-08-28T12:03:21.039-07:00I Miss My Time With You<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Georgia','serif'; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I didn’t grow up in the church.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I didn’t know God’s Word.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was in my early 30’s before I ever went to Youth Camp; the truth is, I think I got much more out of Youth Camp at 30 something than I ever would have in my teens.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Those Youth Camp trips were some of the best times of my life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There is nothing sweeter than watching a gym full of kids raising their hands in praise to the Lord, tears streaming down their cheeks, the altars full, teens of all ages rushing to the front to find out what they have to do to be saved.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Imagine an entire week set aside for no other purpose than to develop a closer walk with Jesus.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The energy is electric!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Georgia','serif'; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">To this day I can’t tell you the name of the camp, the name of the speaker, or any of the texts that were used that week.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What I can remember is one quote; one quote that will stay with me forever…</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Georgia','serif'; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">“When you get up in the morning you will find that God has been sitting on the end of your bed for hours just waiting for you to wake up so He can talk with you.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Georgia','serif'; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Chew on that for a little while…</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Georgia','serif'; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">We’re in the process of building a new church, I’m talking about an entirely new work; it’s an incredibly exciting time for all of us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But with a new church comes responsibilities that some of us haven’t had in a while.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>More room means more classrooms.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>More classrooms mean more teachers, more students, more teams, discipleship training, prayer meetings, Bible studies, VBS, ministries, custodians, etc.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The busier we get “working for the Lord” the harder it can get to carve out one-on-one time with Him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Georgia','serif'; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">This reminds me of an old Larnell Harris song, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">I Miss My Time With You</i>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Really think about these lyrics as you read them.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: 'Georgia','serif'; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">There He was just waiting in our old familiar place, </span></span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: 'Georgia','serif'; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">An empty spot beside Him,</span></span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: 'Georgia','serif'; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Where once I used to wait </span></span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: 'Georgia','serif'; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">To be filled with strength and wisdom </span></span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: 'Georgia','serif'; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">For the battles of the day.</span></span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: 'Georgia','serif'; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I would have passed Him by again </span></span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: 'Georgia','serif'; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">But I clearly heard Him say,</span></span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Georgia','serif'; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Chorus:</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: 'Georgia','serif'; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">“I miss My time with you, </span></span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: 'Georgia','serif'; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Those moments together.</span></span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: 'Georgia','serif'; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I need to be with you each day </span></span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: 'Georgia','serif'; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">And it hurts Me when you say</span></span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: 'Georgia','serif'; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">You’re too busy, </span></span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: 'Georgia','serif'; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Busy trying to serve Me.</span></span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: 'Georgia','serif'; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">But how can you serve Me </span></span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: 'Georgia','serif'; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">When your spirit’s empty?</span></span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: 'Georgia','serif'; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">There’s a longing in My heart, </span></span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: 'Georgia','serif'; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Wanting more than just a part of you.</span></span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: 'Georgia','serif'; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">It’s true, </span></span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: 'Georgia','serif'; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I miss My time with you.”</span></span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: 'Georgia','serif'; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">“…you’re too busy trying to serve Me…” </span></span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: 'Georgia','serif'; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></i><span style="font-family: 'Georgia','serif'; line-height: 115%;">Service in the church…<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When we become saved, all we can think about is serving God; we’re ready to go to work, to do something, anything for God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We find ourselves taking on any job or position that’s available because we’re excited and we want to be a part of this wonderful organization, to make a difference for God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I can’t tell you how many times I have taken on a job or a position because no one else would take it or because it was a great idea and I wanted to be a part of it. The problem with that was I never consulted God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I never considered my spiritual gift or my talents.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Before long I began to find myself experiencing a kind of emptiness.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My job/position would then begin to feel like more of burden than a blessing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I couldn’t quit because there was no one else to take over; so I stayed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I would then become more and more ineffective in that ministry; my prayer life would suffer, my attendance might decrease, my ideas diminish, and ultimately my ministry would fail - not to mention how much my family would suffer because of my attitude.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sound familiar?<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"></i></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: 'Georgia','serif'; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“…My efforts have no meaning when Your presence isn’t there…”</span></i><span style="font-family: 'Georgia','serif'; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Georgia','serif'; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I would begin to find myself kind of disconnected with God, my first love.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We HAVE to stay connected.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When we’re connected, we know what God’s will is.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We know what job we’re supposed to take or even if we’re supposed to take on a job at all.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When we’re seeking God’s will we know which direction to take.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When we’re connected, God blesses us and the ministry.</span><a href="" name="_GoBack"></a></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Georgia','serif'; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">God has blessed each one of us with specific gifts and talents needed to make sure the church operates efficiently.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The problem here is, we don’t know what our gifts are so we work outside of them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We also don’t know how to say “no”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We are afraid it might make us appear somehow less spiritual, less cooperative, less _____ (you fill in the blank).</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Georgia','serif'; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">We can find ourselves, over time, just “doing” church.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Serving God turns into doing “busy work” for God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We can have the best intentions; after all we’re doing honorable things.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However, those particular honorable things may not be on God’s agenda or it may not be God’s timing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Georgia','serif'; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">When we get so busy that we don’t even notice God sitting at the foot of our bed, when we rush right past Him to get to the next task, we have a problem.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: 'Georgia','serif'; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">“…but You’ll provide the power, if I take time to pray.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ll stay right here beside You and You’ll never have to say, ‘I miss My time with you…’”</span></span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Georgia','serif'; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">This is from the second verse (which I did not print).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When we are maintaining that connection with God, we automatically begin operating out of the “overflow”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No longer are we doing things our own way and in our own strength.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When we surrender, our schedule becomes His schedule, our agenda His agenda. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Georgia','serif'; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Occasionally my prayer has been, “YOU order my steps God.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In that moment, I truly mean it – BUT – if you will notice I said OCCASIONALLY; this is not a prayer I pray daily.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am the self-proclaimed Queen of the Schedule.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A couple of blogs ago, I mentioned to you that God is dealing with me on the issue of control.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My schedule is one of those areas of control.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When we were leading mission trips years ago, the key word was “FLEXIBILITY”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(In fact, I think I was the genius who came up with that!)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I struggled with it then and I struggle with it now.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Going with the flow” has never been one of my virtues.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Georgia','serif'; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">The bottom line here is that I struggle just like you do.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I struggle with quiet time, Bible study, commitment, service, and ministry; all of it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However, experience has taught me that I don’t have to “struggle”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I can just maintain a steady connection to my heavenly Father and the overflow of His grace, and His mercy, and His love will spill over onto all these areas through me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Georgia','serif'; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I just need to wake up and welcome my Father who waits at the foot of my bed.</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/XtDoQUQuQBQ?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><div style="text-align: left;"></div>Pathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13564082033103905705noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1022670544098423093.post-91526759009237340902011-08-08T10:33:00.000-07:002011-08-08T10:33:39.469-07:00My Mother's Rules on Fashion<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfr3ZFmCuO02-q2RimJp2Bz5MBZ6hdKeddAXBNI0l48SzwqKxzwqB4ohGa33foyUSJS0JAuJ9jT3OzsckOr0pvN_wu5MIoNzOymTw2d3w9KUrx72G5SIqfmT_PeP1tLEyYaWT_8_0Vwzqh/s1600/SCAN0023.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320px" naa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfr3ZFmCuO02-q2RimJp2Bz5MBZ6hdKeddAXBNI0l48SzwqKxzwqB4ohGa33foyUSJS0JAuJ9jT3OzsckOr0pvN_wu5MIoNzOymTw2d3w9KUrx72G5SIqfmT_PeP1tLEyYaWT_8_0Vwzqh/s320/SCAN0023.JPG" width="195px" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">1)</span><span style="font: 7pt 'Times New Roman';"> <span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: small;"> </span></span></span></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">ALWAYS wear a slip under a dress or skirt.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span> Every woman should own at least 1 white FULL slip and 1 white HALF slip; 1 black FULL slip and 1 black HALF slip.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>White is to be worn under light colors and black for darker colors.</span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"> 2)<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span>White is NOT worn BEFORE Easter or AFTER Labor Day.</span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"> 3)<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span>Shoes should NEVER be a lighter color than your slacks.</span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"> (i.e. white shoes/black slacks is a definite no-no)</span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"> 4)<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span>Purses should ALWAYS match/coordinate with shoes.</span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"> 5)<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span>NEVER leave the house without wearing lipstick and earrings.</span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3ruZz5QzVQDMxcAUo_BKqE1qizLDVUWd1DKI0YWCrofyXTZBxJ8dNdYI3UvxR_U-r9_bYxtDy8ZAsu6OFPg7saLCP6MVXi6YojINUPsBW2pG-NFzJcuMAc5-YXuryFhj8kSLkvRGDgYiA/s1600/SCAN0021.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320px" naa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3ruZz5QzVQDMxcAUo_BKqE1qizLDVUWd1DKI0YWCrofyXTZBxJ8dNdYI3UvxR_U-r9_bYxtDy8ZAsu6OFPg7saLCP6MVXi6YojINUPsBW2pG-NFzJcuMAc5-YXuryFhj8kSLkvRGDgYiA/s320/SCAN0021.JPG" width="182px" /></a></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><br />
</div><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">6) A little perfume goes a LONG way.</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">7)<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span>Shoes should ALWAYS be polished.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Pay special attention to the HEELS of your shoes; they are the last thing seen as you walk away.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">8)<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span>ALWAYS leave the house with CLEAN underwear and a DIME in your shoe.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">9)<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span>LEARN to sleep in curlers and DON’T skimp on hairspray.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">10)<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span>NEVER chew gum; you’ll look like a cow.</span><br />
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<div align="center"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">Lyma Clair</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt 0.25in;"><br />
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</div>Pathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13564082033103905705noreply@blogger.com10