Never Give Up

     What does 'never give up' mean to you?  To me, it means determination and perserverance.  I have been this very mouse so many times in my life.
      I think we can learn alot from this mouse.  Let's begin with setting a goal for yourself.  No one can achieve the things you want, for you.  It takes drive in you to follow thru despite the obstacles along the way.
      The mouse has also suited himself with protective gear for the obvious danger ahead.  'Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.'  Have the 'truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.  Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.'  We can stand firm in our faith, when we are prepared for the battles that are guaranteed to come.
     To the mouse, he also knows cheese is good for him.  So this points to the fact of never grow weary in doing good.  Galatians 6;9  'Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.' 2 Thessalonians 3;13 'And as for you, brothers and sisters, never tire of doing what is good.'  I cannot tell you how much doing for others will reap benefits for yourself as well.
     So if you ever hear 'never give up' from someone, remember it means many things.  Plan for your future with purpose, prepare yourself for the obstacles, and to do good in all things.

Who Am I?

      1 Chronicles 16;16-17  “Who am I, Lord God, and what is my family, that you have brought me this far?  And as if this were not enough in your sight, my God, you have spoken about the future of the house of your servant.''   Have you ever thought about this prayer of David's for yourself?  He not only has blessed our lives here but has our eternal home in place too.  I think of the lyrics, 'what can we give to you oh God for everything you've given to us?'  We are so blessed and yet we are so ready to throw a pity party when a little hardship arrives.  As the caption above states He is always there to save you from both the seen and unseen dangers of this life.  
     The answer to those first lyrics is 'we offer our lives to you oh God for everything you've given to us.'   God gets great joy when we use our lives to fulfill His purposes.  His peace will cover our anxious thoughts when we doubt our abilities to do what we've been called to do.  Isn't it a good feeling to sing 'His love endures forever,' when you can truly believe it, feel it, enjoy it and share it in your life?
     So when you ask 'Who am I?' remember that you are one of His sheep and the Shepard is with you, even with the wolves all around.

It Made Me Do It

     Okay, so this is a good representative of me when I'm on prednisone.  I do not share or split meals when I'm on this medication, like I normally do.  If I'm not busy breathing, you'll probably find me eating.  Yes, this steroid medication puts food on my mind front and center.  This is a common side effect of this drug but it may seem more pronounced in me because the change is so extreme.
     Do you have an excuse you use for uncontrolled behavior?  'The devil made me do it?'  'The flesh is weak.' We must distance ourselves from things that put us at risk for sinful behavior, whatever that may be.  An alcoholic once said, I had to give up everything that I associated with drinking in order to avoid the urge to give in to the sinful desire.  We all have the self-control needed within us but we must choose to use it.  Turning our burdens over in prayer reinforces our awareness that we cannot do it alone.
    'Do you know my Jesus?  Do you know my Friend?  Do you know that He loves you and will till the very end?'  Those lyrics are a comforting thought to believers.  The world is full of ways to side track you from the narrow path and it's easy to blame something else for our downfall behavior patterns.  Let us instead of blaming, give Jesus the credit for keeping us from the pitfalls of our journey.... till the very end.

How We Learn

    The way we learn is an individual characteristic, usually visual or audible.  I personally am a visual learner and have always preferred reading something myself as opposed to being read to.  Our brains just respond differently to things according to our genetic wiring.  There is no one way, right way to teach everyone the same thing.
    When witnessing to others, we must approach them on their level. 1 Corinthians 3;2  ''I gave you milk, not solid food, for you were not yet ready for it. Indeed, you are still not ready.''  Sometimes our head knowledge can be so overwhelming to another person, that their heart doesn't even get touched.  Our words should be encouraging not boastful.
    Our lives are full of tests to teach us the lessons of life.  Wouldn't it be nice to learn those the first time, just like 2 plus 2=4.  Our learning curve is subjected to the fall of man, sin. Those trials and tests tho strengthen our faith thru adversity.  We see more clearly our need for a Savior, when we recognize our dependency.  From intouch.org, ''from God's perspective, suffering is what produces faithful Christians. If we all had lives of ease without opposition, trials, or pain, we'd never really know God, because we'd never need Him.''  
    The lessons will continue until all our tests are all over one day.  Keep learning something new each day from Him.

Way Back Wednesday...Stubborn

     Now does that look like the face of stubbornness?  I think not but there's more than meets the eye, I assure you.  I'd love to have this natural, sun kissed Coppertone tan with the sun bleached blonde hair again but I think I've only retained the stubbornness of this girl.
    One of the first signs of stubbornness is the clenched fist of a newborn.  The retaliation to be pushed out into a new world from the womb.  What is happening?  This cannot be good.  We all like our comfort zones and change is not usually a welcomed thought.
    How was I stubborn?  Well we'll just describe one story here.  At this same age, probably 8, my mom arranged to have my picture taken at an Olan Mills type of place.  I got ready in my blue tube top and shorts.   I thought I looked pretty cute and wanted to show off my tan.  This outfit was not what my mom had envisioned for a studio style portrait.  I can remember the argument but I don't remember how I got my way, except thru stubbornness.  It did turn out to be a good picture that showed off more of me than my clothes.
     Stubbornness can be a positive or a negative feature in each of us.  We can stand firm in our beliefs and stick to what agrees with our values.  We must not demand our ways on others but just let them hear an alternative view.  We are all too stubborn in our 'surrendering all' to the Lord because of our desire to do things our way.  Stop and consider today what your clenched fist is shaking at and try to surrender it to Him.

The Word

     I said I wasn't going to write this blog because there was just too much to refute, and yet I feel I must say something.  I watched part of Barbara Walter's special on 'Heaven.'  There were so many man-made theories discussed that I can see how an unbeliever wouldn't know what to consider.  A common theme throughout the program was about living a good and decent life.  The existence of both heaven and hell was questioned.  As a Buddist Richard Gere thinks heaven and hell are right now, depending on your life's circumstance. I don't think this program was necessarily helpful but instead a bombardment of man's ways of living on made-up knowledge to justify their way to a peaceful eternity.
    The Bible is the most tested, researched proven book in the world for the longest time.  Our questions are all answered in His Word.  For every false remark in this program, there is scripture to refute it. Look it up and investigate the truth. 'We are saved by grace, not by works.'  God knows how weak our minds and flesh are, that's why He gave us a guidebook to follow.  The arrogance of people to think they have it all figured out on their own is a death trap.
    Read, follow and trust in His Word.  Faith in yourself is worthless, Faith in Him is priceless.

Timing

     Well the forecast included a much needed rain today but so far it's a no show here.  We had the thunder but no form of water from the sky to go with it.  Does that lead me to believe it's never going to rain or does it mean just a longer wait?  God supplies all our needs at His appropriate timing.  It is our job to have faith in that promise and to trust that He knows best.
     Waiting on the right timing for things teaches us patience, self control and perserverance.  If it's worth fighting for then it's worth waiting for..whatever the case may be.  A friend is now between jobs and is waiting to hear whether God will keep them here or take them to a new place to live.  I'm sure the wait has not been an easy one.  Sometimes its easy to take the guaranteed road than to just surrender to His clear direction with time.
     We could disillusion ourselves with a rain dance by thinking we have any control over things.  We could rush decisions without the Lord's will in mind.  We should tho pray for our needs and trust in His provisions all the time.

No strength of our own, nor goodness we claim;
Our trust is all thrown on Jesus’ name:
In this our strong tower for safety we hide;
The Lord is our power, “The Lord will provide.” —Newton

Out of Patience

     We've all had times where our patience has run out with a person or circumstance.  The devilish side of us becomes more visible.  True for you too?  Okay well I'm going to share one of my stories on this topic.. yes, there's more than one to pick from, ha.
     As I've told you before, I developed a blood clot in my leg in 1996.  Well the doctor recommended putting a greenfield filter in my femoral vein to prevent any clots from breaking off and going to my heart or lungs in the future. I'm not allowed any sedation because it affects my breathing.  They said it was a simple procedure and practically painless so I agreed to it.  Well I don't know where they got this guy to do the procedure but it must have been from the School of Hard Knocks.  It felt like he was stabbing me with that filter every chance he could as it went thru my vein.  My patience was out the door and so was I if I had the strength to get off that table.  I didn't but I had enough strength in my left arm to throw the pulse/oxygen monitor across the room.  I was labeled uncooperative and sent back up to my room upstairs in the hospital.  The doctor came to talk to me about the importance of completing this procedure.  I insisted on some form of sedation before I'd agree to round 2.  They gave me something that they give pregnant women so its real mild but worked.  The filter got put in and I was loopy enough that all I cared about was where my nightgown was..lol.  Seriously, I asked that about 5 times in 2 minute intervals.
      There is a balance to be met between patience and strength.  Some times it's best to walk away and remove yourself from the situation.  Time to think can keep you and your devilish side out of trouble.

False Hope

     As I've regained some of my strength this year, I've ventured out a little more.  I can't say it's all been without a little fear of needing to cough.  So on occasions where I thought I might get in a compromised state of breathing, I've put my cough assist machine in the back seat of the van.  Just knowing it was there was a reassuring thought.  On all those situations, I never needed to use it.  Well, the other day I wanted to shop a little after eating and thought I'd feel better if I could cough with the machine.  Thankfully, I wasn't in a desperate situation because the machine wouldn't work.  The inverter wasn't supplying enough power to run it.  So all those times of driving around with reassurance in the back seat was just false hope.  My true reassurance and hope is in the Lord's protection over me.  The blessings we don't even see at the time should be counted along with the one's we do see.
     Are you riding the wave of life with false hope?  Are you counting on your good works, your wealth, or your status in life to save you?  Do you pick and choose to believe the parts of the Bible that you can reason out in your own mind?  These are all forms of false hope. Psalm 25;5  ''Guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long.'' Psalm 25;21  ''May integrity and uprightness protect me, because my hope, LORD, is in you.'' Psalm 31;24  ''Be strong and take heart, all you who hope in the LORD.''  Our only true hope is our faith in God thru His Son, Jesus Christ.  


    [From odb.org] “God has been my shepherd all my life to this day” (Gen. 48:15 NIV). Though clouds surround the present and I do not know what the future may hold, I have the assurance that the Shepherd will show me the way. My task is to follow Him in love and obedience, and trust each step to Him.

Waiting

     Do you think it's possible for any of us to really master patience?  I think I'm a patient person until something makes me impatient and then I'm back to ground zero.  Why are we in such a hurry?  We think we've got places to go, things to do and people to see.
     I can tell you every time I travel, I'm reminded why I'm not a traveler.  Oh I like to go to new places, it's the getting there that drains my patience allotment.  As we were at a standstill on I-40 from Memphis the other day, I had a whole conversation in my head about what I'd like to say to the highway department.  'I can't remember a time in my whole life that a drive to and from Memphis has been pleasant,' 'How come other states have night workers and we don't?'  Anyways, you can see how the mind can dwell on the negative.  My mind should have been on just getting home safely, instead of quickly.
     My patience has also been tested this week by being sick.  You can get sick at the drop of a hat but the healing process is a waiting game that drags on and on.  I'm resting, taking meds and have a prayer circle in place so when is it going to be over?
    As odb.org pointed out today, we need stops and pauses in our lives.  Just as stoplights and yield signs slow us down, so do trials in our lives.  We need those paused moments to let off on the accelerator of life and look to the One who controls it all.

Called to Serve

   
    Who hasn't had this feeling come across them?  You just sat down from getting all your stuff done and then you get called to do for someone else.  Too busy, too tired, too much for me?  We can always find an excuse but aren't we called to serve others?  Yes, 'serve one another in love.' Galatians 5;13.  Who is the greatest example of service... Jesus.  'The Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many.' Mark 10:45
    Whether we get an actual phone call of a need or just a whisper from the Holy Spirit, we should listen to that voice and act on it.  If you don't do anything for others, you may just serve as a warning to others on how not to be.
    The members of our body work together as a whole and so should the body of believers. Asking for help is a humbling act in itself so a gracious 'of course, I can' is the best response.  Remember, the chair will be there when you return but serving opportunities may only knock once at your heart door.

Way Back Wednesday... To the Veterans

     This is me at about 12 on one of the submarines in Mobile, AL.  Was this the foretelling of me being a Navy wife one day?  Nah, we were in the Navy Air division, no ships.
      Today is the 4th of July so I want to salute all the service men and women from the past and present with this post.  Freedom is never free, just like everything else.  The military service calls for not only your ability and strength but often time away from loved ones.  As indebted citizens, we owe our veterans a heartfelt thank you and helping hand when needed.
     'Freedom does not give us the right to do as we please but to do what pleases God,' from odb.org.  Those who have ultimately sacrificed all for us to live freely on a daily basis surely wouldn't want us to take that freedom for granted.  People all over the world are fighting for the kind of freedom that we have here in the U.S.  We are blessed to live in such a country as America.  We are also blessed to have a voluntary supplied military of men and women to defend us as a nation.
     Go out and thank a veteran today.

Bless Our Nation

     Our founding fathers of our nation knew the importance of the blessing of God in its formation.  How far we have strayed from that is almost too great to describe.  Even in my short lifetime, the changes are widespread.  'In God we trust' is still on our currency but is it true?  The liberal movement to take God's name out of schools, public areas and everywhere shows the arrogance of self-reliance.  Will we not be punished for arousing the Lord's anger?  As I'm reading 2Kings now, it tells how different kings and nations either did evil in the sight of the Lord or followed the Lord's will.  What would our account be written as in the annals of America?
     How do we counteract these evil forces?  We must witness to others and the next generation.  We must stand firm in our faith thru all the trials we encounter.  We must elect officials with values like our own beliefs.
     The following is a letter and commentary from my friend, Twylia.  It is a letter between two WWII soldiers that shows the power of sharing your belief in God.

''“Dear Buddy,

Just a note to tell you some good news.  Forty years ago while we were trapped in a fox hole thinking each shot would be the last, I heard you say “The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want.’  Two weeks later when you were hit in the eye with that hand grenade and we were prisoners and couldn’t get you any help I heard you whisper, “The Lord is my Shepherd again”.  Then as we were able to get you to the river and strapped you to a log to float you down to a first aid station, thinking we were telling you good bye for the last time, you clasped my hand and said, “Elmer, the Lord is my shepherd I shall not want”.  Sunday I went to church and the choir sang, “The Lord is my shepherd”, I remembered you saying it so much.  As the choir sang, I heard the Lord say, “Elmer I am your Shepherd”.  Earl, I ran to that alter and fell on my knees and poured out my heart to Him in prayer.  Now I can say as you did He truly is my Shepherd.  As you will well remember, I was an alcoholic but those words you whispered never really left me.  I want you to know, son, the seed you planted over 40 years ago are just now beginning to blossom.  You lived such a good life before us, we love you for it.  Thanks for witnessing to us even when we were drunk, but most of all thanks for living a Christlike life.  I will always be grateful for you.  Earl, I know this will be hard for you to believe, but I am a changed man.  Thanks again my great buddy for your faith, prayers and friendship.  I will be looking forward to seeing you at the reunion in August.  There aren’t too many of us left.  I am looking forward to telling the gang this year that “The Lord is my Shepherd.  Praise his Holy name”….Love, Elmer.

.

 Never underestimate the power of a seed.  We may never even see some of our seeds sprout here on this earth, just like Earl, but we will know about it in heaven.  The hearts in each generation will pass on to the next generation.  Psalm 145:3-7 says, “Great is the Lord and highly to be praised; And His greatness is unsearchable.  One generation shall praise Thy works to another, And shall declare Thy mighty acts.  On the glorious splendor of Thy majesty, and on Thy wonderful works, I will meditate.  And men shall speak of the power of Thine awesome acts;  And I will tell of Thy greatness.  They shall eagerly utter the memory of Thine abundant goodness, And shall shout joyfully of Thy righteousness.”  Are we praising, declaring, meditating, speaking, telling, uttering, shouting?  Are we passing it on?  

      Have a happy 4th and may you be blessed by the seeds you plant.  Pray for our leaders and our nation to turn to God for direction so that America will be blessed and bring Him all the glory.

Winds of Life

     Who needs a fan to beat this heat?  I have a couple of friends who just bought air conditioners to get a little relief.  I can't imagine life without a/c or heat.  I know people do it but I'm thankful I don't have to.
     Do you ever feel like the dog above?  When the winds of life are hitting you so hard in the face, that you can't even see clearly.  When you're just trying to stand firm and hold your ground?  Romans 8:26  ''In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans.''  Psalm 68:19  ''Praise be to the Lord, to God our Savior, who daily bears our burdens.''  These are two verses from which we can remember Who can calm the winds.  Do we doubt Him like the disciples in the boat, when they woke Jesus up during the storm on the sea?  I'm sure there is evidence in your own life from the past where He has calmed the storms on your behalf.  Trust and obey for there's no other way.
     What is worse than being blind?  Losing your vision.  We must avoid the oasis of this worldly life and keep eternity in full focus.
     As one of my favorite songs says, ''Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path.''

FBF PRAYER REQUESTS--JULY 2012

FBF MISSIONARY PRAYER REQUESTS...JULY 2012


LESLEY WOLFE---

1.       Due to the recent mercenary raids/attacks in southwestern Ivory Coast, which is the Kroumen region of the country (the Glaro are a part of the Kroumen ethnic group), there is a lot of tension right now between the two major, non-Kroumen ethnic groups who also live in this region and the Kroumen.  Long story short, these two non-Kroumen groups feel that the Kroumen are behind the recent mercenary raids/attacks, the purpose being to run them out of the region so that they (the Kroumen) can confiscate their plantations (i.e., cocoa and palm).  This tension has taken hold in our village, too, and is serious.  In fact, three meetings have been called in the last couple of weeks (two by government and military officials, and one by our village elders) to try to address and correct this notion that the Kroumen are wanting to rid their area of these two other ethnic groups.  It’s a serious issue, with each ethnic group now fearing the other.  Please be praying that these two other (and major) ethnic groups will hear and believe what the Kroumen (and in our case, the Glaro) are telling them --- which is, they have no desire or intention of either harming them, chasing them out of our region, or confiscating their plantations.    

2.       With the recent deployment of more military and UN forces in our area, the villagers in Beoue (“my” village) are feeling safe.  They tell me that all is fine there now and want to know when I’m coming back.  My ‘son’, who lives in another town on the coast and is going to school, called me today to tell me that he’d had the same dream twice, which was, someone was telling him that it was now okay for me to return to the village.  I told him that that was great, and that I’d let my NTM leaders know about his dream and see what they have to say!!  For the time being, I’m still on the coast.  I don’t know how long I’ll be here.  But I’m thankful for my accommodations, and the fact that the work of translation can and is continuing from here!!  And I have so many, many things to be thankful for…..like your prayers and concern.  Thank you.

MARTIN AND HANSY TUOHY--

1. Reformation Resurrection camp (10-13 of July). May the teaching (I think the topic is evangelism) be clear and the believers receptive and determined to obey. This is a camp organized by a Reformed Baptist church and attended by believers from Denmark, Norway, Sweden and Germany.

2. As we continue to seek Gods direction for our family: patience, diligence in seeking His face, faithfulness in the day to day ministry opportunities.

MONICA SERNATINGER--

 

1. Please, pray for Jean, Jamie's sister. Recently she had eye surgery and since, she has asked four times for Jamie's last message. I have just finished transcribing it into Spanish and translating it into English. May the Word of God speak to her heart and be saved. I will also be sending it to the rest of Jamie's sisters, Judy and Jessica, and his brother Charlie, Mom Ann and Aunt Janet. Thank you for praying for these precious souls.

2. Please, pray Javis and his dad Rafa. They will be going out of town to work for three months, and will be coming home only on Sundays. They will be surrounded by three other relatives and other men that drink heavily, and in the past have been a great stumbling block for Rafa. May the Lord sustain them. Thank you for praying.

 

BOBBY AND NAMATHA AVILEZ

 

1.       Pray for an extra mile attitude among the House of Hope Staff

2.       Pray that more of our children would embrace the Truth and walk in it. Pray that the Lord would help them to see the sinfulness of sin!

3.    The donations to the orphanage at House of Hope to increase  immediately since they cannot pay for necessities with the recent big drop in donations.     For Wisdom for what to do.       For the Lord to send a church interested in the Shan orphan kids in Thailand.

 

TED AND PRISCILLA CLARK

JULY 8--‐14  Please pray for the young girls camp(13--‐17yrs.) taking place this week.  Pray for the work of the Lord in the lives

of each of the 40 or so girls who will be attending this camp.

JULY 15--‐21  This week is the young boys camp.  Pray again for the Lord’s work in the heart of each of these 50  young men, that

this week would be a turning point in the lives of many, leading to salvation and a greater commitment to and love for the Lord,

His Word and His work.

Avoid the Impulse

     Haven't we all felt like quoting this caption with a passionate tone in our voice?  We've all got the 'I told you so' persona somewhere inside of us.  For some it may be close to the surface while others have it hidden deeply. I gave a friend of mine, who is a teacher, a sign that says ''Its my way, or the hallway.'' lol  So in some authoritative positions, this is appropriate. I can tell you from experience in losing my independent abilities, that giving that power over is not easy.  Sure I've had my routine ways of doing things and for someone else to defer from that and do it another way is not always easy to swallow.  Micromanaging tho is not a becoming feature.  It can backfire.
     We all make mistakes and hopefully learn from them.  God could certainly use this quote against us at judgement but He won't. His love carries no record of wrongs because we are cleansed as white as snow through His Son's blood.
     Let us point the Way to others without pointing the finger. Remember, we are all a work in progress within His timing.

Strength

Psalm 147; 10-11  'His pleasure is not in the strength of the horse, 
    nor his delight in the power of human legs;

     the Lord delights in those who fear him, 

    who put their hope in his unfailing love''





     This was from my daily Bible reading today.  It reminds me of the fact that God gave me all the physical strength He desired for me and that is enough.  He cares more about my heart for Him than anything my hands could ever perform on this earth.  Even tho our strength from of ourselves will fade, our strength thru and in Him should become stronger and stronger.
      I also included this caption in reference to all the battles fought in the Bible.  If God was not with them, then a defeat was inevitable.  As we attack our daily battles, we too must have God on our side.  We are as small as this chiuahua but with God, we have a firm foundation beneath us.
     Yes, ''at dawn we attack'' the struggles of each new day but His mercies are new each day.  Great is Thy Faithfulness.

At What Cost?

     Can you relate to this caption?  I'm not talking about pet accidents at your house but an unrestrained force within you.  Sometimes our end goal of something is more important to us than the destructive path we took to get there.
     How we approach someone with advice can speak louder than the actual words spoken. There are several Proverbs on the value of a soft, kind spoken word rather than a harsh one.  Proverbs 15:1  ''A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.'' 
     Our actions without words can cause the same destructive path.  I think of car chases where innocent people are hurt because the cop won't let the criminal go at whatever cost.  There needs to be some thought put into how we handle things before we act upon them.
     Our emotions can take us on a bipolar rollercoaster path too.  As in our sermon from last night, self control and waiting for the right time can keep us from going off track.  We can get so fired up, that we can question where the words are coming from, truth or feelings?
     The means to an end has important meaning in itself, not always justifying the end.

Way Back Wednesday--Ride On

 









    This is me at about age 9 on my cousin, Jamie's pony--Blackie.  I remember this vividly because it was so much fun riding the pony in their front yard.  It makes me want to go ride down at Hearts n Hooves down the street right now.
     Life is like a horse.  You are riding along thinking you've got it all under control and then without warning, you're knocked to the ground.  The falls remind us of how little power we really have.  Trying to guide our lives without God's direction is like riding bareback with no grip on anything.  Your hands should be gripped on the reins of God's word.  It will guide you wherever you go.
    I hope your happy trails are guided by His light.

Chattanooga 2

   








     When I left you yesterday, we had finished day one of the trip.  So Friday, we went to see the Chattanooga Choo Choo.  What used to be the former train depot is now an historic hotel.  They have old train cars that have been converted into hotel rooms, 2 per car.  The Choo Choo train was the first train to connect the North to the South, via Cincinnati to Chattanooga.  
     Well while we were there looking around, we kept seeing these fancy street rod cars drive by...loudly.  There happened to be a National T-Bucket car show behind the hotel.  These are all hand-built kit cars.  One guy said you can give the same kit to 3 guys and come out with 3 different cars.
     The weather was hot, 98 average, so during the heat of the day we went to Tennessee's biggest mall, Hamilton Place.  I thought I had hit the jackpot when I left with 3pairs of jeans and 2 shirts.  Apparently, I'm too tall and too small.  I had to return 3 of the items.
     Later that night, we went to ride the Incline Railway.  It's the steepest railway in the world.  It is not handicap accessible so my dad carried me on and I left my scooter there.  You can miss out or adjust to the circumstances.  The ride is smooth and fun, it just looks intimidating.  A great view.  They say you can see 7 states from Lookout Mtn.
     Now it's 10pm, are we going to eat dinner?  We went to an italian/greek restaurant called Portofino's.  It is excellent.  My dad and I split chicken florentine canneloni..yum..and my mom had chicken parmasean.  We met another family there from Columbia, MO.  They gave us their bruschetta as they left.  It was sooo good, I had it for breakfast the next day.
      So Saturday begins with the I-75 Flea Market.  It was not impressive and literally means flea market.  Was it a waste of time?  No, I bought 3 skirts for 5 bucks each and my mom bought some dishes.
     After we returned my stuff to the mall, we cruised around downtown and went to Coolidge Park.  There is a carousel down there that was built in 1874.  It closed an hour before we got there so I didn't get to ride it.  We walked around down there for awhile, probably more than my dad's feet had in mind.
     My friend, Betsy, had told me about Clumpie's Ice Cream shop and it was down there so we went.  It was no secret that this was a good place because there was a long line.  Yes, it's worth the wait and I got a '1/2 Pint' t-shirt that called my name.  You might be thinking, I thought ice cream made her cough?  Yes, it does and it did but sometimes you just have to bite the bullet and hope for the best.
      Sunday we drove back and despite us leaving early and gaining an hour, the terrible traffic past W.Memphis got us back at 1130pm.  We all had a great time and made some good memories.

Chattanooga 1

sea dragon

 

    Well last Wednesday was the first day of summer so we headed to Chattanooga, TN for a summer vacation.  As always before we head out on a big journey, we pray for safety and blessings for the trip.  I can say we had a great time and no problems.
     We got off to a late start, 2pm, but that's not unusual for us.  As they say, that's the way we roll.  We arrived at 230am EST.  This was our first trip with a GPS and the guide chick is good but not perfect.  So she took us thru a trailer park in these wee hours of the morning at first instead of the rv park, a few feet further down the road.  We get to the rv park without a reservation and proceeded to trespass and take an open spot.  They didn't care the next day and even tho they were booked up, they found us a spot.
     So Thursday, we went to the TN Aquarium for four hours.  It is quite impressive with a freshwater building and a saltwater building.  Its much more than fish.  They have turtles, frogs, snakes, butterflies, penguins, jellyfish, seahorses, birds and more.  You start at the top floor then cascade down ramps to each floor with different exhibits.  My two favorite things were the sea dragons and the penguins.  The sea dragons look like the creatures from the movie, Avatar.  I'd never seen anything like it.  The penguins were so playful.  They even had a baby penguin there.
     Later that evening, we drove to Lookout Mtn to catch the sunset.  We also drove around to check out the sites on the mountain.  One of which was the Craven house.  Its a battle site where the Union took possession of a key territory.
     I'm going to continue my trip story on tomorrow's post.  I've included some pictures from this first day on here.  So see you tomorrow.

Comments

     I want to thank all of you who read my blog.  I enjoy the feedback I get in the comments section.  Sometimes they are better than what I wrote but they always complement the blog as backup.
     This is a how-to post in case you want to comment but don't know how.  The easiest way is to click 'comments', type in the box your thoughts with your name, then select 'anonymous' under profile, then click 'publish.'  There is a security confirmation that follows.
     I just wanted to put this out there for those that have told me they have wanted to write but are unsure of it.  I'm also happy to post comments for people who email or facebook me, as I do now.
     Looking forward to hearing from you.

Seek His Face

     Are you one who likes to stick their head in the sand or do you face the music head on?   We probably all do a little of both.  The serenity prayer says it best, 'help me to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can and the wisdom to know the difference.'  Some things in this life are just purely scary and we like to just put it out of our minds and maybe it'll go away.
     A friend of mine recently made the decision on her own to move to assisted living.  I can understand how frightening this decision was to consider and be made.  I admire her self-imposed direction in her life, instead of waiting to be a victim of circumstance.  She faced the fact that her age and strength were becoming a more significant factor in her daily life and she changed what she could to live more safely and happily.
    We must face the fact that at some point we will each die, but we can change our eternal destiny.  Be wise and seek His face.

Psalm 27:7-9

^'' Hear my voice when I call, Lord;
    be merciful to me and answer me.
 My heart says of you, “Seek his face! ”
    Your face, Lord, I will seek.
 Do not hide your face from me,
    do not turn your servant away in anger;
    you have been my helper.
Do not reject me or forsake me,
    God my Savior.''

Way Back Wednesday---Feeling Small

   I think this picture was in Galveston, TX when I was about 4 or 5.
     Do you ever feel this small in this big world?   I do when I am in a big crowd or think of all the billions of people on this earth.  I wonder how one person can make a difference?
    Well, one person did make an eternal difference--Jesus.  He became flesh and bore our sins on the Cross.  God also made each of us to carry out His purposes on this earth in a different way.  We are important to Him and we're no small thing in His eyes.
    So don't ever feel small because you were built with a big idea in mind.  He knows all about you inside and out.     Luke 12;7  ''Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.''  As we grow in our lives, we should grow in Him.

Discuss It

     Okay, this could turn into a touchy blog but I'm going to try to keep it calm, cool and collected.  Do you have a closed mind or are you willing to at least hear another side?  I can agree to disagree on topics but I want my side heard.  Some people are more than willing to tell you what they think but then have a deaf ear and a far away look when it's your turn.  Can I just say, I hate that!  I know people like this and therefore I avoid certain subjects with them because my point is mute to them.
     I think debate is good.  I think it can strengthen your beliefs because you have to explain why you think the way you do.  Discussing things can point out false teachings.  I like things to be validated with proof and not just believed because someone said it.
     An open mind can also lead you down the wrong path tho.  Many churches have an 'open door' policy and have accepted cultural ideas that aren't biblical.
     So I guess what I'm trying to say is stand your ground but don't shut the other person out.

Starting Each Day

     I think I should tape this to the ceiling over my bed so I can awake to it each day.  It would be a wise move on our part to ask for help as we begin our day.  We humble ourselves when we recognize our weaknesses and draw strength from Him.  My friend tells me when she has a bad day, its usually because she didn't start her day with quiet time with the Lord.  The every day world, we call life, bombards us with stresses that can only be dealt with properly by the fruit of the Spirit.
     Ask and you shall receive is His promise.  When we try to handle it on our own, we are set up for calamity and failure.  Step into His Word before you step into the world.

Anxiety

     In general I can remain calm under pressure but on occasion I can turn into 'anxiety girl.'  I probably watch the news and save it to my stored memory to recall it when appropriate.   I think this side of me only comes out when it involves somebody close to me.
     Not too long ago, before I went to bed my dad said he had to meet someone early the next morning.  Well even though I'd never met this person, I had preconceived ideas about them.  So I prayed that night and the next morning that my dad wouldn't get murdered.  I thought about going with him and I'll give of myself on about any cause, but just don't ask it of me before 10am, okay?  lol
     When our dog, Jack, goes on one of exploring escapades, I can turn into anxiety girl until he returns.   I think of how he might have been run over, caught somewhere by his collar, or stolen by research thieves.
     All of this worry has no benefit.  Be anxious for nothing, but in everything prayer and supplication.  As the song says 'Let the peace of God reign.'   We must turn over to Him what we cannot control and leave it to Him.  If I'm going to leap somewhere in a single bound, let it be my voice to His ears.

HAPPY FATHER'S DAY, DAD

     Happy Father's Day to my Dad.  Yes, I admit I'm a spoiled daddy's girl.  He does his best to provide me with everything I need or just want. He used to go on many business trips and always brought me something back.  One time, I think from Denver, he brought back on the plane with him a life size Papa Smurf.  I bet that got a few looks, lol.  I can say he was strict enough for me to never consider sneaking out my easily accessible bay window as a teenager but generous enough to teach me about the joy of giving.  We are alot alike in that we are few on words, think over things too much at times, have a humorous wit and we are both genetically earmarked.  I love you, Dad.

Vacation

     Most of my church is leaving for Rock Haven church camp tomorrow.  The kids look forward to it every year.  It is a chance to get away from the hum-drum of everyday life.  It is also a chance to learn more about God's word and apply it in daily life.  Even tho friends are there, it is different to be with each other for a whole week.  I think this frog reminds us to not let little arguments get out of control but to let things go.  We must pack wisdom to take with us on trips, as well as clothes.   Remember, you may be the only Bible some people ever see.

Truly Live

     Some people think that living a Christian life means a mundane, boring, and restricted life.  That is certainly not the case.  I would ask 'what sin is it you don't want to give up that is worth risking eternity for?'  I'm not saying the Christian's life is sin-free but instead forgiven.  With our Savior by our side, we are freer to experience the joys of life and handle the hardships.
     I had a discussion with a friend about this very topic.  According to her, the life she has is self built and self attained.  She is uncertain of eternity and feels this life may be all there is.  She wants to live it up in this life with her rules as her guide.  Well that's foolish thinking.  Hebrews 11;1  ''Faith is the confidence that what we hope for will actually happen; it gives us assurance about things we cannot see.''  Everything comes from God or He allows it to draw you to Him.  As the ant prepares for harvest, we too must use this life to prepare for eternity, not selfish gain.  God has prepared a place for believers but are you prepared to go there?
     You can live to the fullest with less fear when your burdens are laid at the Cross.

Exaggeration

     Do you know people who embellish the truth?  It makes you doubt some of the things they say in general.  Now did this little rabbit see a real giant carrot, a plastic carrot, a carrot grown in Alaska or is it a carrot he dreamed up?  I wonder if he's trying to rally the other rabbits into Mr. McGregor's garden with his impressive tale.
     When we are known to be truthful, people will take you at your word.  Exaggeration tho can lead to distrust.  Is exaggeration an attempt to get attention?  I'd rather hear your story, even if it's boring, in truth than with false embellishments.
     There is also the 'one-up' factor.  Some people feel the need to tell their better story as soon as yours is over.  I hate that.  It gives the impression that you didn't even care about the first story but that you just want to tell yours.  The Bible says do not boast on anything but the Lord.
     Just tell it like it is and say 'and that's that.'  No more and no less equals out to be just enough.

     Proverbs 12;19  ''Truthful lips endure forever, but a lying tongue lasts only a moment.''

Way Back Wednesday---Happiness

     What a way to wake up!  I wish I could say this is how I get up each day but that is not the case.  I can say that this is how I envision the happiness I will feel when I get to heaven.  I was probably about 4yrs old here with not a care in the world.  I didn't care about a fancy bed or room, but was humble enough to be happy to wake up to loving parents.  Was that the age for me to not yet know the ugliness of this world?  Children at this age are often trusting, forgiving, and oblivious to the dangers of this world.  When we come to know our Savior, we too can turn to Him to regain these characteristics.
     Matthew 18:2-4  ^''He called a little child, whom he placed among them.  And he said: “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever takes a humble place—becoming like this child—is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.'' 
     My desire is to be like this little girl again, who is filled with love.

Forgiveness

Psalm 130;3-4  ''If you, Lord, kept a record of sins,

    Lord, who could stand?  But with you there is forgiveness,
    so that we can, with reverence, serve you.''

     This was one of the verses in my daily Bible reading today and I thought this caption went well with it.  I think this verse not only points out our sinful nature but the forgiving nature of God.  There is no one but God that is good so we need His saving grace.  His love for us keeps no record of wrongs.  We want that kind of forgiveness for ourselves but do we give it to others?  I read yesterday that 'forgiveness is a promise not to use the sin/hurt against them in the future.'  Woah, now.  I've forgiven people of things but to never ever recall it to them.. hmm, can I do that?  How can we ask for what we're not willing to give to others?  You can't.  We are to forgive just like God has forgiven us.

     We are like this little kitten.  We know what we've done and the guilt can hold us back.  Forgiveness can free us from those burdens.  Aren't you glad that with a repentant heart God will not turn from us in continued anger?  Have you ever thought  'well sorry, just isn't good enough.'  We can never repay our debt of sin ourselves with good works, good behavior, or good words.  The Law in the Old Testament could never be lived up to.  Only one way was our debt paid, Jesus' death on the cross.

    Acts 13;38  “Therefore, my brothers and sisters, I want you to know that through Jesus the forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you.''

Don't Give Up On It

     Okay before I begin this story, let me preface it by saying my professor wasn't terrible.  I took Physics in high school so I wasn't too worried about taking it in my first semester in college.  Well it was a whole new ball game at college level and some courses are to weed out the weak.  Well my first physics test was humbling to say the least.  My test score was 20, yes out of 100.  ACK!  How could one recover with a start like this?  Well it was comforting to know that my score was the average for the whole class.  The professor put his ego in his pocket and took part of the blame for the low scores.  He retaught the material, retested us and we all got  dramatically improved scores.  I respected the teacher for doing this and took his class for physics 2 also.
     Failure is a given in this life at times, even when we try.  Should we give up at the first opportunity?  No.  It is our chance to learn and improve from our mistakes.  I certainly had some classes that it would have been easier to drop and try something else but I never did.  I'd rather have a hard earned C than an easy A, if it involved not quitting.
     Don't give up when the waters get rough, just keep paddling thru it.  ''Some thru the water, some thru the flood, some thru the fire but all thru the Blood.  Some thru great sorrow but God gives a song, in the night season and all the day long.''

Urgency

     There are times in our lives when the sense of urgency leaves no time to explain.  Sometimes we just have to   trust and act on instinct.  I'm going to share one of those stories with you today.
     After I moved back here, I could still transfer independently from my scooter to a chair.  One day my parents were outside and I attempted to get in my recliner to watch tv.  I put my portable phone on the chair, just in case.  Well the case turned out to be that I got stuck in mid-air between seats.  My foot got caught on the bottom of the scooter.  So I assess the situation, I can't swing back to the scooter seat and if I just fall then my leg will not give and break.  So, I called 911 with one hand while bracing myself with the other.  The 911 operator couldn't hear me so I just hung up and redialed over and over.  The cop soon came in our driveway and told my dad 'someone keeps calling 911 from this address.'  My dad took off running for the basement with no further explanation needed.
      One day there will be no time left to explain the importance of putting your trust in Jesus.  Your time will be up and your name will be in the Book of Life or not.  God will not permit you to explain why you never chose Him.  He will just say 'I never knew you.'  The urgent time is now.