A Good Tree

             This is a good tree to plant in your mind.  Don't we all want more of the good things and less of the negative factors in life.
             'Fear less, hope more.'  Revelation 21;8  ''But the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters and all liars—they will be consigned to the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death.”   We have no reason to fear when God is on our side and more importantly that we are on His side.
             'Eat less, chew more.'  Proverbs 23;20  ''Do not join those who drink too much wine, or gorge themselves on meat.'  Take time to enjoy the smells and taste of your food because it sure beats that feeling of fullness afterwards.
            'Whine less, breathe more.'  Numbers 11;1  ''Now the people complained about their hardships in the hearing of the Lord, and when he heard them his anger was aroused.''  There should be more gratitude in our attitudes.
           'Talk less, say more.'  Ecclesiastes 6;11  ''The more the words, the less the meaning, and how does that profit anyone?''  Keep it simple and to the point.
           'Hate less, love more.'  Luke 17;4  ''Even if they sin against you seven times in a day and seven times come back to you saying ‘I repent,’ you must forgive them.”  We should forgive others as quickly as we want God to forgive us.

Funland

               

                Today we had a family fun day at Funland at Burns Park.  Can you have 'too much' fun?  Hmm, I used to think not but maybe so today.  I LOVE amusement park rides but I haven't been on one in years.  I want to go to Magic Springs but I thought I needed a little test to see if my body still loved the thrill.... it does.
                 When we parked, I saw Charlie Blevins get off the Tilt-a-Whirl.  He and Vera were there with their granddaughter.  We visited with them a little bit before they left.
                 First, my Dad and I rode the Tilt-a-Whirl two times in a row.  I loved it and felt like a kid again.  My mom took pictures.  Then we rested under the pavilion a little bit because it got hot quick out there.  We talked with the Funland director.  She had never had a disabled rider before.. my dad did have to lift and carry me onto the rides.  Then we rode the Scrambler two times in a row.  My mom rode in the second round.
                So then we bought refreshments, a Sprite and a snowcone.  This is when we should have left, but I wanted to ride one more time and my mom was going to join us.  The ride looked the same, but it was different.... it was now the ''Tilt-a-Hurl''.  Somehow I got seated wrong and I winced with pain in my rear with every turn.  After a couple of minutes, my Dad signaled the operator guy to stop.  I was thinking it was for my relief, but no.  My dad jumped up quickly, headed for the rail, and won the puke prize of the day.  After getting a coke, a lady asked him if he was okay?  He said yes and asked her 'Did everybody see?'  She said 'Probably so.'
               We headed home and my dad got me a free Tutti Frutti cup of butter pecan and birthday cake frozen yogurt.   Yumm.... perfect ending to the day is what I would say.

Foto Friday

Visiting Twylia with Charlene

Cara stopped by to visit

My dad on the White River

Dave and my Dad trout fishing

Susan's birthday party
She got the 60 gold necklace

Cathy visited Tuesday

Understanding

        While I was in Texas, I saw a sign that said, ''I can explain it to you, but I can't understand it for you.''  Some just don't get what we are trying to say at times.
        First, we have to be humble enough to seek wisdom.  Nobody likes a know it all,but a humble heart has a listening heart as well.  James 1;5  ''If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.''
        Secondly, we find wisdom in God's truth.  Job 28;28  ''And he said to the human race, “The fear of the Lord—that is wisdom, and to shun evil is understanding.”
        Thirdly, we gain understanding.  ''I gain understanding from your precepts; therefore I hate every wrong path.''  When we know better, we do better.
        Education is the key to success and that includes knowing what God's word says for our lives to be successful.  His thoughts are above ours so we must not be swayed by anyone's thoughts that don't align with His.  Only fools are wise in their own eyes.

Swamped

           Are you feeling overwhelmed by the demands of the world on you?  Do you feel like this, that and the other should have been done yesterday?  Do you feel alone even when you're surrounded by people?
           What do you cling to in times of trouble?  Fear, self reliance, others?  God's promises are true, faithful, never ending, and unchangeable.  When we doubt where this world is headed, we should turn to the Scripture verses that give us hope, reassurance and victory in the end.
           ''I will never forsake you'' is the promise that we should remember in all of our trials.  John 3;16 is the promise of salvation and deliverance for those who believe in Jesus Christ.  ''I have prepared a place for you'' is the promise of your eternal home with Him.
           After I had written this blog, my internet went out.  My friend, Cathy, came to visit at 3pm and brought me a box from Israel of  'God's promises for you.'  I love that God used both our thoughts together today for His good.  ''Standing, standing, standing on the promises of God my Savior.''

What's It About?

Ephesians 2;10  ''For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.''

             When we humble ourselves, we realize that the world does not revolve around us.  We are just a piece of the puzzle in God's plan.  We are here to fulfill His plans for us first.  The order of importance in our lives should be God first, Others second, and Myself last.
             Our 'good works' are a result of the salvation He prepared for us.  With a Christ-like attitude, we begin to think of how we can help others and share God's love.  There are no coincidences, but God appointed opportunities.
             When you think about today's events, did you embrace an opportunity for God to use you or did you close the door to someone?  'Take my life and let it be consecrated all to Thee.'

Foto Friday

 

Prepared For

          I like surprises, if done in a good way and not a scare tactic.  This verse above makes me anxiously await my future in heaven.  Indescribable is how I would summarize this verse.
         I think the verse also applies to our journey here on Earth.  Years ago, my mind certainly wouldn't have conceived the idea of me living in the basement, where lawnmowers and paint cans used to be stored. He knows what we need and when, therefore preparing for all of our needs.
        Can you look back at your past and see how faithful His preparedness has been to you?  Yes there is a prerequisite for the place He has prepared for you in heaven.... to love Him... above all else.

Training

              For most people, vacations are a get away from the stresses of life.  It is a way to be free from the daily responsibilities that we usually have.
              My vacations are always good but my level of dependency on others is also magnified.  It is a concentrated level that is not easy to accept.  I am grateful for the help because I couldn't have such adventures without the assistance.  Dependency is a crash course in patience, gratitude, grace, mercy, more patience, self control, and thinking of others first.
              It takes no effort to see the bad in our circumstances but seeing the good is a matter of a trained perspective.  There is good to be found in everything but you must look for it.

Oklahoma Texas Trip

            I'm back from the land of no internet.  We left last Thursday for Thackerville, OK and got there about 930pm.  We stayed at the RV park at the Winstar Casino.  Friday we went to the outlet mall in Gainsville, TX, which is only 5 miles away.  It was mostly closed down but we made the most of the few stores still left.
           Friday night, Charlene and I went to the John Mellencamp concert at the casino.  He played all of his greatest hits and rocked the house.  I did a couple of twirls and danced my heart out.  A 'friendly' guy who liked my free spirit gave me a high five and a hug after the concert was over. We had great seats but had to move to an even better spot when everybody stood up.
           After the concert, we went out to the lobby to look for concert tshirts... none found.  So we saw a lady with a tshirt and she said they were inside the concert area.  We went to go back in and Security would not let us back in for ANY reason.  We went to another door and got the same response.  I was beyond frustrated.  So a guy coming out saw I wanted in and held the door for me.  I took off in there with no hesitation.  As I quickly surveyed the room for tshirt sales, Security was yelling at my deaf ears 'Ma'am, MA'AM, MA'AM'.  I saw nothing so I went back out where Charlene was.  She said they didn't know how determined I can be.. or maybe she meant stubborn...ha.
             Saturday we drove to Frisco, TX.  While en route to IKEA, I saw the indoor skydiving center.  I so wanted to do that but they were booked up for the next two weekends.  So we shopped at IKEA and a crafty antique marketplace.  We also ate at In n Out Burgers, which I had heard of but never seen.
            We had a great time.  Thanks to my mom and dad and Charlene for making the trip possible and fun.