Just A Few Years Ago

I liked the old ways, when

Moms were at home. Dads were at work.

Brothers went into the army. And sisters got married BEFORE having children!

Crime did not pay;Hard work did; And people knew the difference.

Moms could cook; Dads would work; Children would behave.

Husbands were loving; Wives were supportive; And children were polite.

Women wore the skirts; And Men wore the pants.

Women looked like ladies; Men looked like gentlemen; And children looked decent.

People loved the truth, And hated a lie;

They came to church to get IN, Not to get OUT!

Hymns sounded Godly; Sermons sounded helpful; Rejoicing sounded normal; And crying sounded sincere.

Cursing was wicked; Drugs were for illness; And divorce was unthinkable.

The flag was honored; America was beautiful; And God was welcomed!

We read the Bible in public; Prayed in school; And preached from house to house

To be called an American was worth dying for; To be called a Christian was worth living for; To be called a traitor was a shame!

Preachers preached because they had a message And Christians rejoiced because they had the VICTORY!

Preachers preached from the Bible; Singers sang from the heart; And
sinners turned to the Lord to be SAVED!

A new birth meant a new life; Salvation meant a changed life; Following
Christ led to eternal life.

Being a preacher meant you proclaimed the word of God;
Being a deacon meant you would serve the Lord;
Being a Christian meant you would live for Jesus;

And being a sinner meant someone was praying for you!

Laws were based on the Bible; Homes read the Bible; And churches taught the Bible.

God was worshiped; Christ was exalted; And the Holy Spirit was respected..

Church was where you found Christians On the Lord's day, rather than in the garden,
On the creek bank, on the golf course, Or being entertained somewhere else.

I still like the old paths the best!

Shots

Conner and Hailey went for there last shot's Tuesday. It was nothing short of what we expected. The lady came out and asked who wants to be first. Hailey jumps up and says me me me. So there she went not having any idea she was about to get poked four times. Hailey sits down in the chair.
Nurse- "now this is going to hurt a bit but you need to stay still ok"

Hailey- "ok" looks at the needle, done with the first one.

nurse- "here's number two."

Hailey- sitting still as could be, "oh that hurt, "shakes her head

Nurse moves the the other arm, "two more honey here's the third one "

Hailey- "oh that hurt again" mind you there are no tears and shes still calm

Nurse- "wow your doing so good."

Hailey- "yea I'm not a baby I'm 4 "

Nurse- "ok 4th one and last."

Hailey- "ok that's enough no more." Then gets up and walks off with out a tear.

Nurse- "ok Conner your turn. Your lucky you only have to get three your sister had to get four."

Conner- Starts screaming and kicking ...... 15 min later 2 bent needles 4 pocks

nurse- "wow glad thats over"

We then walk out to the car, with three kids so glad they didn't have to get poked. The fourth one saying mommy it dosn't hurt, I'm big. I'm sure you know how Conner went out. He did relize he wasn't going to die befor we got home. It helped mommy Makayla sat in the back with him reminding him she loved him, and he would be ok. Jesus would take the pain away soon.

The Invisible Women.

Excerpt By Nicole Johnson

It started to happen gradually…
One day I was walking my son Jake to school. I was holding his hand and we were about to cross the street when the crossing guard said to him, “Who is that with you, young fella?”
“Nobody,” he shrugged.
Nobody? The crossing guard and I laughed. My son is only five, but as we crossed the street I thought, oh my goodness, nobody?
I would walk into a room and no one would notice. I would say something to my family, like “Turn the TV down, please.” And nothing would happen. Nobody would get up, or even make a move for the remote. I would stand there for a minute, and then I would say again, a little louder, “Would someone turn the TV down?” Nothing.
Just the other night my husband and I were out to a party. We’d been there for about three hours and I was ready to leave. I noticed he was talking to a friend from work. So I walked over, and when there was a break in the conversation, I whispered, “I’m ready to go when you are.” He just kept right on talking.
That’s when I started putting all the pieces together. I don’t think he can see me. I don’t think anyone can see me.
I’m invisible.
It all began to make sense, the blank stares, the lack of response, the way one of the kids will walk into the room while I’m on the phone and ask to be taken to the store. Inside I’m thinking, “Can’t you see I’m on the phone?” Obviously not. No one can see if I’m on the phone, or cooking, or sweeping the floor, or even standing on my head in the corner, because no one can see me at all.
I’m invisible.
Some days I am only a pair of hands, nothing more.
Can you fix this?
Can you tie this?
Can you open this?
Some days I’m not a pair of hands; I’m not even a human being.
I’m a clock to ask, “What time is it?”
I’m a satellite guide to answer, “What number is the Disney Channel?”
I’m a car to order, “Right around 5:30, please.”
I was certain that these were the hands that once held books and the eyes that studied history and the mind that graduated summa cum laude – but now they had disappeared into the peanut butter, never to be seen again.
She’s going…she’s going…she’s gone!
One night, a group of us were having dinner, celebrating the return of a friend from England. Janice had just gotten back from a fabulous trip, and she was going on and on about the hotel she stayed in. I was sitting there, looking around at the others all put together so well. It was hard not to compare and feel sorry for myself as I looked down at my out of style dress; it was the only thing I could find that was clean. My unwashed hair was pulled up in a banana clip and I was afraid I could actually smell peanut butter in it. I was feeling pretty pathetic when Janice turned to me with a beautifully wrapped
package and said, “I brought you this.”



It was a book on the great cathedrals of Europe. I wasn’t exactly sure why she’d given it to me until I read her inscription. “To Charlotte, with admiration for the greatness of what you are building when no one sees.”
In the days ahead I would read, no, devour, the book. And I would discover what would become for me, four life-changing truths, after which I would pattern my work:

• No one can say who built the great Cathedrals—we have no record of their names.
• These builders gave their whole lives for a work they would never see finished.
• They made great sacrifices and expected no credit.
• The passion of their building was fueled by their faith that the eyes of God saw everything.

A legendary story in the book told of a rich man who came to visit the cathedral while it was being built, and he saw a workman carving a tiny bird on the inside of a beam. He was puzzled and asked the man, “Why are you spending so much time carving that bird into a beam that will be covered by the roof? No one will ever see it.”
And the workman replied, “Because God sees.”
I closed the book, feeling the missing piece just push into place. It was almost as if I heard God whispering to me, “I see you Charlotte. I see the sacrifices you make every day, even when no one else does. No act of kindness you’ve done, no sequin you’ve sewn on, no cupcake you’ve baked, is too small for me to notice and smile over. You are building a great cathedral, but you can’t see right now what it will become.”
At times, my invisibility feels like an affliction. But it is not a disease that is erasing my life. It is the cure for the disease of my own self-centeredness. It is the antidote to my strong, stubborn, pride.
I keep the right perspective when I see myself as a great builder. As one of the people who will show up at a job that they will never see finished, to work on something that their name will never be on. The writer of the book went so far as to say that no cathedrals could ever be built in our lifetime because there are so few people willing to sacrifice to that degree.
When I really think about it, I don’t want my son to tell the friend he’s bringing home from college for Thanksgiving, “My mom gets up at 4 in the morning and bakes homemade pies, and then she hand bastes a turkey for 3 hours and presses all the linens for the table.” That would mean I’d built a shrine or monument to myself. I just want him to come home. And then if there is anything more to say to his friend, to add, “You’re gonna love it here.”
As mothers, we are building great cathedrals. We cannot be seen if we’re doing it right. And one day it is very possible that the world will marvel, not only at what we have built, at the beauty that has been added to the world by the sacrifices of invisible women.

Blessed to be kept

I Am a ‘Kept‘ Woman.

You see, there were a few times when I thought I would lose my mind,
But GOD kept me sane. (Isaiah 26:3)

There were times when I thought I could go on no longer,
But the LORD kept me moving. (Genesis 28:15)

At times, I’ve wanted to lash out at those whom I felt had done me wrong,
But the
LORD kept my mouth shut. (Psalm 141:3)

Sometimes, I think the money just isn’t enough,
But GOD has helped me to keep the lights on, the water on, the car paid, the house paid, etc.., (Matthew 6:25 -34)

When I thought I would fall, HE kept me up.
When I thought I was weak, HE kept me strong! (I Peter 5:7, Psalm 25:20, Matthew 11:28-30 )

I could go on and on and on, but I’m sure you hear me!
I’m blessed to be ‘kept.’

SPOKE TO ME TO DAY

TAKEN FROM SISTER HURST BLOG, SPOKE TO ME; HOPE IT SPEAKS TO YOU

God is not a respecter of persons but He is a respecter of principals. He has plans for everyone to accomplish great things. Don’t believe anything other than Jer. 29:11(Amplified Bible)–For I know the thoughts and plans that I have for you, says the Lord, thoughts and plans for welfare and peace and not for evil, to give you hope in your final outcome.

Here are a few principals to help you start today!



1. Work Like it is up to you and pray like it is up to God! Work hard and pray hard! God wants to help you more than you want His help.


2. Have a concise plan of where and what you want to accomplish. Write it down in detail. Then write down how you think you will accomplish it.


3. Do 5 things every day that drives you in that direction.


4. ASK for help. Surround yourself with a team of people who share your passion.


5. Contact someone who has already done what you want and ask for them to coach you. Be willing to do what they ask.


6. Align yourself with the authorities in your life.


7. Be grateful for every opportunity that comes your way and give 110% like it is where you already want to be.


8. Take risk. Sometimes when you live on the edge you will fall off but you will miss 100% of the opportunities that you never try! The worst thing that could happen is most likely where you already are.


9. Take serious action today. Don’t wait one more day!


10. Do what you love! Most likely your gift is in someway connected!

Jesus Is

I came across this incredible list of what my Jesus is in each book of the Bible. I did not compose this myself but I found it so powerful that I felt like posting it on my page.

Genesis---He is the Creator God
Exodus---He is the Redemmer
Leviticus---He is your sanctification
Numbers---He is your guide
Deuteronomy---He is your teacher
Joshua---He is the Mighty Conqueror
Judges---He gives victory over enemies
Ruth---He is your kinsman, your lover, your redeemer
1 Samuel---He is the root of Jesse
2 Samuel---He is the Son of David
1 Kings and 2 Kings---He is the King of Kings and Lord of Lords
1st and 2nd Chronicles---He is your intercessor and High Priest
Ezra---He is your temple, your house of worship
Nehemiah---He is your mighty wall, protecting you from your enemies
Esther---He stands in the gap to deliver you from your enemies
Job---He is the arbitrator who not only understands your struggles, but has the power to do something about them.
Psalms---He is your song and your reason to sing.
Proverbs---He is your wisdome, helping you make sense of life and live it successfully.
Ecclesiastes---He is your purpose, delivery you from vanity
Song of Solomon---He is your lover, your Rose of Sharon
Isaiiah---He is the mighty counselor, the prince of peace, the everlasting father, and more. In short, he is everything you need.
Jeremiah---He is your balm of Gilead, the soothing salve for your sin-sick soul.
Lamentations---He is the ever-faithful one upon whom you can depend.
Ezekiel---He is your wheel int he middle of a wheel, the one who assures that dry dead bones will come alive again.
Daniel---He is the ancient of days, the everlasting God who never runs out of time
Hosea---He is your faithful lover, always beckoning you to come back, even when you have abandoned Him
Joel---He is your refuge, keeping you safe in times of trouble.
Amos---He is the husbandman, the one you can depend on to stay by your side.
Obadiah---He is Lord of the Kingdom
Jonah---He is your salvation, bringing you back within His will.
Micah---He is judge of the nation
Nahum---He is the jealous God
Habakkuk---He is the Holy One
Zephaniah---He is the witness
Haggai---He overthrows the enemies
Zechariah---He is Lord of Hosts
Malachi---He is Merciful
Matthew--He is king of the Jews
Mark---He is the servant
Luke---He is the Son of Man, feeling what you feel
John---He is the Son of God
Acts---He is Saviour of world.
Romans---He is the righteousness of God
1 Corrinthians---He is the rock that followed Isreal
II Corinthians---He is the triumphant one, giving victory
Galatians---He is your liberty, he sets you free
Ephesians he is head of the Church
Philippians---He is your joy
Colossians---He is your completeness
1 Thessalonians---He is your hope
11 Thessalonians---
1 Timothy---He is your fatih
11Timothy He is your stability
Philemon---He is your benefactor
Hebrews---He is your perfection
James---He is the power behind your faith
1 Peter---He is your example
11Peter---He is your purity
1 John---He is your life
11 John---He is your pattern
111 John---He is your motivation
Jude---He is the foundation of your faith.
Revelation---He is your coming King. From the beginning of the world to its end, there is no place you can look and not see jesus. He is everywhere. He is everything. He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together (Colossians 1:17)

Taking Action On The Nudge

Happy New Year to everyone. I haven't posted yet this year. So I would like to start of with that.

Do you ever wonder if that small little nudging you feel waaaay down deep inside is from God or just you? How do you tell the difference? And if you follow that nudging, even if it is just from you and not God...is that OK? And if you don't follow that nudging, even if you know it is from God and not you...is that OK?

I struggle with this sometimes. I want to do the right thing. I want to be obedient. But I don't do the right thing and I am disobedient.

Sometimes the nudge is to do something easy. Sometimes it is to try something new. Sometimes it forces me to think about stepping out of my comfort zone.

When I don't do anything, I use the excuse that I don't know if the nudge is from God or just me. I use the excuse of "praying about it" so I don't have to move into action right away. Or I just plain ignore it.

This is something I want to do better this year. I want to be ready to do what I feel God is asking me to do. To not be afraid. To stop ignoring and to start doing.