Get On The Waiting List For A Smart Car

Yet another way to save money! In today's economy and with gas prices soaring higher than ever, Americans are looking for ways to economize. The Smart Car is one way to do so, but don't let the small size fool you! There is plenty of room inside (I've been lucky enough to be in one!), and it has a lot of "get up and go". The waiting list is long, so HURRY!

Metro Atlanta Gas Prices Drop

Check it out! And while you're at it, if you haven't heard of gasbuddy.com yet, you should check it out. You can find local gas prices in your area, and even report prices you see around town. Plus they have tips on fuel economy.

Acai, The Perfect Berry

Acai has been touted as "the perfect food" because of its dense nutritional value. As with any newfound health treasure, everyone is jumping on the acai bandwagon. There are many products containing acai, but what level of quality are you getting? DON'T BE FOOLED!

Our product has the best acai available in the United States. Acai and the other fruit used in The Perfect Berry beverage is harvested at its peak and processed quickly to preserve the valuable phytonutrients and antioxidants. The fruit juices and purees are combined and flash pasteurized, which further preserves the fruits nutritional integrity.

What you get in the end product is a healthy beverage, chock full of what your body needs. Aside from the fiber, you get your daily requirement of fruit nutrients in just 2-4 ounces per day.

Questions? Contact us for more information:
E-Mail: bernadette@theperfectberry.com
Phone: (678) 542-9816

Your Neighborhood and Your Weight

I never thought about it before, but it makes perfect sense. If you live too far away from everything you need access to an a daily basis, you're more likely to drive. Even once you get out, your walking pattern will be less because your trips "to town" will be fewer, especially with today's gas prices.

Share Your Birthday?

Happy, Happy, Happy Birthday!
http://cosmos.bcst.yahoo.com/up/player/popup/index.php?cl=8962743

It was hard enough for me to share my birthday party/cake/attention with my younger brother, whose birthday is one week after mine. And my son has to share his with Jesus (actually, it's the day AFTER Christmas). So I cannot imagine what it would be like to share the exact same day as TWO siblings!

Can Cell Phones Cause Cancer?

Can Cell Phones Give You Cancer?
http://cosmos.bcst.yahoo.com/up/player/popup/index.php?cl=8962732

Scary to think that this modern convenience that has changed so many lives could actually be harming us. Common sense dictates that too much of a good thing can make it bad.

Thankfully, I don't like holding a phone close to my face, so I use my bluetooth, and text whenever possible.

OUCH

My world, as I know it, is coming to an end. Just when I'm getting my old junk cleared out, something new comes along to take its place. No, I'm not cluttering up my life again. The person I love very dearly & have always held in the utmost regard, who has always been there for me is making the biggest mistake of her life, and she knows it. I have no words that can derail this inevitable trainwreck.

I feel hurt, betrayed, and used. I feel as though my past is being flung in my face, a gross reminder of where I've been. Somehow I can deal with this when it's someone else, but with her, it's PERSONAL. I've lost my only confidante, the one person in whom I could trust to keep a secret. The person I called with the most private of prayer requests (mine & others'). Now I have no one but God.

This should not be a bad thing, but I still feel the loss as if a death, and in a way, it is. It is the death of the one I held most dear in my life. The most consistent, constant, stable person in my family. The one with whom I've never had cross words for as long as I can remember. The one I looked up to, and wanted to emulate. I am so disappointed.

Technology Withdrawl

Okay, so it's not a total technology withdrawl, but I'll be away from my computer from today until sometime Wednesday. While I do have unlimited access to the Internet from my new phone (thank you, Sprint!) I haven't quite figured it all out yet. Therefore, I won't be able to add content to my various pages. I will, however, be able to check e-mail, which is cool.

I'll just have to take my trusty notebook with me and make notes about what I'll be doing to my web pages once I get home. Maybe this will be a good time for some old-fashioned brainstorming!

Another Reason Not To Play Video Games

I've known since the early days of Pac Man & Space Invaders (remember ATARI?) that video game playing & the addiction that comes with it are dangerous. There are numerous articles declaring the detrimental effects of gaming, whether it's using one of the popular game consoles or playing interactive games online. Desocialization, aggression, and physical ailments are a few of the ever-rising effects, not to mention the personal relationships that are disintegrating due to the tunnel vision gamers acquire.

Everything in moderation. Easier said than done.

Killer app: Game consoles contain hazardous chemicals

Don't eat your Xbox, says Greenpeace

By Ben Silverman

The next casualty in the console war might be you.

In their new 'Playing Dirty' report, environmental organization Greenpeace found that all three home video game consoles - Sony's PS3, Microsoft's Xbox 360 and Nintendo's Wii - tested positive for a variety of hazardous chemicals, including polyvinyl chloride (PVC), beryllium, bromine, and phthalates.

The latter, found in relatively high levels in both the Xbox 360 and PS3, are not permitted in components of toys or childcare products sold in the European Union. However, game consoles are not classified as toys and therefore are not subject to existing legislation.

"Whether game consoles are classified as toys or not, they can still contain hazardous chemicals and materials that could harm humans. The technology is available for the manufacturers to design out toxics and produce greener game consoles now," said Greenpeace's Dr. Kevin Brigden in a press release.

The report found that all three systems also contained significant levels of bromine, a chemical linked to impaired memory functions and other health problems. One of the phthalates found in the 360 and PS3, a chemical called DEHP, is also known to interfere with sexual development in mammals, especially males.

Hold on -- you don't need to start wearing a cup made of reinforced steel every time you play Halo 3 just yet. Greenpeace points out that the three console manufacturers have "avoided or reduced uses of individual hazardous substances in certain materials within their consoles." Nintendo's Wii showed no traces of beryllium in its electrical contacts, the Xbox 360 used fewer brominated materials in its housing materials and the PS3 circuit boards were bromine-free.

"Our test clearly shows that a greener game console is possible, said Casey Harrell, Greenpeace International toxics campaigner. "By combining the best practices of each console design, we could replace most of the hazardous chemicals found in these game consoles with toxic free materials."

And whatever you do, don't dump your broken 360 in the trash. The group has further identified game consoles as key contributors towards a growing waste product called "ewaste." Once console have reached the end of useful life, the group said, game consoles are "often dumped and end up in unsafe and dirty recycling yards in developing countries, where toxic contents harm both the environment and the health of workers."

YUCKY!

Giant beetles seized at Pennsylvania post office

2008-05-14 18:38:11

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Customs agents seized more than two dozen giant beetles — some the size of a child's hand — from an overseas package after postal workers heard the insects making scratching noises.

The large bugs arrived last week from Taiwan at a post office in Mohnton, about 50 miles northwest of Philadelphia, in a box whose contents were labeled as toys, gifts and jellies, officials said Wednesday.

But the postmaster suspected the package contained live organisms and notified authorities, according to the U.S. Customs and Border Protection agency. The package was sent to Philadelphia, where it was X-rayed and then opened.

"The specimens were some of the largest of their kind, and some of the largest I've ever seen, averaging five to six inches in diameter," John Plummer, an agency agriculture specialist, said in a statement Wednesday. "They are highly destructive insect pests that can cause extensive damage to fruit and vegetable crops, trees, shrubs and turf grasses."

In all, authorities found 26 Hercules, rhinoceros and Goliath beetles. It is illegal to ship live beetles into the United States without a permit from the Department of Agriculture.

Seven of the beetles were in containers labeled by gender, which means they could have been intended for breeding, customs agency spokesman Steve Sapp said Wednesday.

The sender and recipient have been identified, Sapp said. An investigation is under way, but no decision has been made whether to file charges, he said.

"It's the way of the future."

Funny how things that have gone out of style seem to creep back in!

High gas prices drive farmer to switch to mules

2008-05-21 19:51:01

MCMINNVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — High gas prices have driven a Warren County farmer and his sons to hitch a tractor rake to a pair of mules to gather hay from their fields. T.R. Raymond bought Dolly and Molly at the Dixon mule sale last year. Son Danny Raymond trained them and also modified the tractor rake so the mules could pull it.

T.R. Raymond says the mules are slower than a petroleum-powered tractor, but there are benefits.

"This fuel's so high, you can't afford it," he said. "We can feed these mules cheaper than we can buy fuel. That's the truth."

And Danny Raymond says he just likes using the mules around the farm.

"We've been using them quite a bit," he said.

Brother Robert Raymond added, "It's the way of the future."

New In The News

Another bit of good PR for the company!

http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/idealmedia/bw0508/index.php?startid=18

Guilt & Conscience

An old drunk staggered into his home and collapsed on his floor. His faithful old dog snuggled up to him and waited for him to wake up.

Suddenly, around midnight, the dog began to bark. It barked and barked. It was the last thing that old drunk wanted to hear. He stumbled to his feet, grabbed a wooden chair and threw it at the dog.

To read the rest of the story, and the blog in its entirety, go HERE

I Love My Phone!

This Palm Centro is the best phone! I love being able to talk, take pix & vidz, access the net at high speed, email from anywhere, make notes to myself, manage my schedule; this phone does it all! I can even get directions if I'm lost. It also expandable memory - go figure - and I can carry pdf files, word docs, & more! Have I mentioned that it's also nice to look at?

I have to admit that although I wanted a new phone, I didn't want to shell out the bucks (that my hubby works so hard for) for one. And if I did, I didn't want a cheap one that did nothing. Not being sure if I was going to continue in our current MLM endeavor, but certain that I could be conducting business of some sort, I chose the Centro. Of course, we also upgraded to a plan with unlimited talk time, unlimited text, and unlimited Internet & media as well.

It took a little getting used to, but now I can easily navigate through the menus even while I'm on a call. I can conserve the battery life by powering down the phone's wireless capabilities while still being able to access all the non-wireless applications. How cool is that?

Empty Me

I heard this song for the first time today, and WOW! This guy stole lines from my daily prayer. It's what we should all be praying, "For we all stumble in many things." James 3:2(a) . Our goal each day is to seek God's face, and in doing so, we have to put aside our individual selves (our flesh, or sin nature) and replace it with the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23).

Today, think on Psalm 139:23-24 Search me, O God, and know my heart; Try me, and know my anxieties; 24 And see if there is any wicked way in me, And lead me in the way everlasting.

And btw, I had no idea who this guy was until I searched for the lyrics. I don't watch American Idol if I can help it!

Empty Me - Chris Sligh

I've had just enough of the spotlight
When it burns bright
To see how it gets in the blood
And I've tasted my share of the sweet life
And the wild ride
And found a little is not quite enough

I know how I can stray
And how fast my heart could change

Empty me of the selfishness inside
Every vain ambition and the poison of my pride
And any foolish thing my heart holds to
Lord, empty me of me so I can be filled with you

I've seen just enough of the quick buys
Of the best lies
To know how prodigals can be drawn away

I know how I can stray
And how fast my heart could change

Empty me of the selfishness inside
Every vain ambition and the poison of my pride
And any foolish thing my heart holds to
Lord, empty me of me so I can be filled with you

'Cause everything is a lesser thing
Compared to you, compared to you
'Cause everything is a lesser thing
Compared to you, so I surrender all!

Empty me of the selfishness inside
Every vain ambition and the poison of my pride

Empty me of the selfishness inside
Every vain ambition and the poison of my pride
And any foolish thing my heart holds to

Lord, empty me of me so I can be
Lord, empty me of me so I can be filled with you

filled with you

Lord, empty me

One Day . . .

It's funny how easy it is to brush off a string of occurrences as a strange coincidence, even when you don't really believe in coincidence. For the past week or so, Ps 84:10 has come into my field of vision many, many times. The most recent was in a blog by our pastor's wife, in regard to her son, which prompted me to read the entire song (text color & bold are my emphasis):

1How lovely is your dwelling place,
O LORD of hosts!
2My soul longs, yes, faints
for the courts of the LORD;
my heart and flesh sing for joy
to the living God.

3Even the sparrow finds a home,
and the swallow a nest for herself,
where she may lay her young,
at your altars, O LORD of hosts,
my King and my God.
4 Blessed are those who dwell in your house,
ever singing your praise!

Selah

5Blessed are those whose strength is in you,
in whose heart are the highways to Zion.
6As they go through the Valley of Baca
they make it a place of springs;
the early rain also covers it with pools.
7They go from strength to strength;
each one appears before God in Zion.

8O LORD God of hosts, hear my prayer;
give ear, O God of Jacob!
Selah

9 Behold our shield, O God;
look on the face of your anointed!

10For a day in your courts is better
than a thousand elsewhere.
I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God
than dwell in the tents of wickedness.
11For the LORD God is a sun and shield;
the LORD bestows favor and honor.
No good thing does he withhold
from those who walk uprightly.
12O LORD of hosts,
blessed is the one who trusts in you! - ESV

It's funny that even though I had heard the Chris Tomlin song many times, I had no idea what the word "courts" was; I simply couldn't make it out. Then I heard it clear as a bell one day, and it made perfect sense. Amazing how God shows his hand at seemingly odd moments. But back to the meaning of verse 10 . . . How awesome will it be to be in the presence of God, even for one day? From the brief glimpse of heaven I had one night in a dream (SO intense!), I cannot imagine what it will be like. Nothing else matters but the fact that I will be in His divine presence, basking in the light of His glory. The intensity will be far beyond any "high" we could possibly reach here on earth. Just thinking of it often sends me into tears of longing for that day.

Lord, help me to keep this in mind as I go through each day. Help me stay focused on YOU, and the day when I will no longer have to seek your face, because we will be together in heaven!

And Baby makes . . .

Happy Mother's Day: Woman pregnant with 18th child

By JILL ZEMAN, Associated Press Writer Fri May 9, 5:25 PM ET

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. - It's a happy Mother's Day for an Arkansas woman — she's pregnant with her 18th child. Michelle Duggar, 41, is due on New Year's Day, and the latest addition will join seven sisters and 10 brothers. There are two sets of twins.

"We've had three in January, three in December. Those two months are a busy time for us," she said, laughing.

The Duggars' oldest child, Josh, is 20, and the youngest, Jennifer, is nine months old.

The fast-growing family lives in Tontitown in northwest Arkansas in a 7,000-square-foot home. All the children — whose names start with the letter J — are home-schooled.

Duggar has been been pregnant for more than 11 years of her life, and the family is in the process of filming another series for Discovery Health.

The new show looks at life inside the Duggar home, where chores — or "jurisdictions" — are assigned to each child. One episode of the new show involves a "jurisdiction swap," where the boys do chores traditionally assigned to the girls, and vice versa, Duggar said.

"The girls swapped jurisdictions, changing tires, working in the garages, mowing the grass," she said. "The boys got to cook supper from start to finish, clean the bathrooms," among other chores.

Duggar said she's six weeks along and the pregnancy is going well. She and her husband, Jim Bob Duggar, said they'll keep having children as long as God wills it.

"The success in a family is first off, a love for God, and secondly, treating each other like you want to be treated," Jim Bob Duggar said. "Our goal is for each one of our children to be best friends, and everybody working together to serve each other makes that happen."

The other Duggar children, in between Joshua and Jennifer, are Jana, 18; John-David, 18; Jill, 16; Jessa, 15; Jinger, 14; Joseph, 13; Josiah, 11; Joy-Anna, 10; Jeremiah, 9; Jedidiah, 9; Jason, 7; James, 6; Justin, 5; Jackson, 3; and Johannah, 2.

___

On the Net:

Duggar family Web site: http://www.duggarfamily.com

Discovery Health site: http://health.discovery.com/convergence/duggars/duggarfamily.html

FireProof

My New Centro

I got a new phone yesterday! AC decided to break down & get me a new one, plus upgrade our plan so we don't have to worry about minutes (that's the thing about "free incoming"). WE settled on the Centro, and boy, is it nice! Has all the cool web features (web, e-mail, gps), a keypad that will take a little getting used to, and a touchscreen. The clarity seems to be good. I only hope the battery life is going to impress me!

April 23, 2008

I had breakfast with Melody & Chloe this morning. I had cream of wheat, and they had their usual kibble & water.

It's been a fairly quiet day, finishing up laundry I started yesterday & having to fix the screen yet again because Chloe won't bark when she wants back in. So now she's in the crate napping & Mel's up in the middle of the bed while I sit here answering e-mails & such.

Tonight is choir practice for music AC & I won't even be here to sing, as we'll be in TN working on the house. The upside is that we'll hear Randy Bane on Sunday morning as he kicks off revival at New Salem Baptist Church!

tomorrow morning AC has another appointment with Dr. Marty, and I'm praying he'll be able to cap the tooth without doing a root canal. Partly because I don't want him to go through that pain & the partly because we both have more work to be done & don't want to eat away at all the money in our HSA account all at once! Mostly I'll be glad he has no more pain, regardless of whether the root canal has to be done or not.

Do Unto Others - Part II

How do you pick & choose to whom in your life you will be kindhearted? How do you decide which of your family members is worthy of your respect & devotion? What is your method in determining which of your friends will be your "best" friends? How can you so easily turn your back on the ones who have loved you, provided for you, and made the most difficult sacrifices for you?

Luke 6:32-33 "But if you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. 33 And if you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners do the same."

If we, as Christians, are only nice to those who are nice to us, then we are no better than all the unbelievers in the world! How will the "not nice" people ever learn to be nice?

If I only reached out in love to those who have shown love to me, what a small world I would live in! I guess with the life experiences I've had, I can be gruff and a bit untrusting(?) at times. But in my defense, I've trusted to the point that I've been hurt deeply many, many times, and those hurts all happened before I had the love of my Savior, Jesus Christ. He has shown me (mostly through His Word) that I can love and I can trust, and most of all that HE loves me even if no one else on earth does!

I love so many people who don't return that love. Some of them know who they are, and others don't even realize (or care about) the hurt they cause my heart. Yet I choose to keep on loving them, even though I don't particularly like them sometimes or don't always agree with the way they choose to behave. I don't expect them to love me back, because we are not to expect anything in return. My reward will be in heaven, when the Father looks at how well I loved others, even the ones who are difficult to love.

Do Unto Others - Part I

How do you pick & choose to whom in your life you will be kindhearted? How do you decide which of your family members is worthy of your respect & devotion? What is your method in determining which of your friends will be your "best" friends? How can you so easily turn your back on the ones who have loved you, provided for you, and made the most difficult sacrifices for you?

Most people have the attitude that "If they're nice to me, I'll be nice to them;" this is the world's view. But the Bible says in Luke 6:31 (and it's a direct quote from Jesus) "And just as you want men to do to you, you also do to them likewise." In other words, "Treat others as you would like to be treated."

How many of us actually practice this? I believe it's easier to be kind to strangers than to those who are closest to us. Perhaps this is because there is so little at stake. One can bestow kindness upon a stranger - be it food, or money, or assistance - and be gone. Nothing more is required, right? WRONG! What most of us fail to do is follow up. Oh, it's great to say you did something nice for someone, but how did your action(s) change their life? Do you ever follow up to see if their needs are still being met, or if they have other needs? If the person(s) involved is not a believer, did you share the Gospel of Christ with them? Did you invite them to your Sunday School class or to church? Did you pray with/for them? Can you even remember their name(s)?

It's less obvious to see the needs of those who are closer to us, those with whom we interact on a daily or weekly basis. What acts of service do you do for your loved ones? We take for granted that the struggles we see are a normal part of life, and think there is nothing we can do to help. Truth is, if we paid more attention to those in our own household (i.e., our family members) we could find numerous ways to help them. The most obvious thing to do is pray. Intercessory prayer (praying on behalf of others) is a privilege, and should be a part of our daily prayer life. Asking God's strength for the person who is struggling or hurting is asking his blessing on them. Stepping in to help without being asked can be an incredible burden lifter. Think before opening your mouth to ask "favors" or make demands. Take into account what they may be facing that day (things you may not know about). In short, be a little unselfish with your time.

It would be great if everyone performed random acts of kindness ("See a need, fill a need"), but the reality is that while many hear the call to help a brother or sister in need, very few individuals actually heed the call and take action. Make a conscious effort to be kind to someone - whether it be a stranger, and acquaintance, or a loved one - every day for a month. Keep a log so you can remember to pray for each one daily. Then review it at the end of the month to see how you did. You'll be surprised at how much - or how little - gets accomplished!

Bring On The Wrinkles!

I received one of the best blessings this weekend. We went back to TN so AC could visit w/his folks & finish up some work in the shop for a friend. While he was doing that, I did some running around town with my mother-in-law, Phyllis. Among our many stops, we decided to go to the nursing home where one of our church members has been for quite some time.

Now I'm not sure how old "Mamaw" Gladys Pierce is, but she's led a very full life. She always had a kind word, and was quick with witty comebacks to everyone's kidding around. The love of God was written all over her face. I sat in front of her and her daughter, Sue, at church for several months. I looked forward each service to her hugs - good, strong, "I mean it!" hugs - before, during & after church. Right around Thanksgiving (I think), she became ill & was having trouble with her heart. She was in & out of the hospital, and Sue was having to deal with working while her mother was ill.

Well, as often happens, meaning to get over to see her never happened. Then AC & I moved to GA, and our weekend visits home left little time to go see her. So when Phyllis asked if I'd like to go, I jumped at the opportunity. Let me tell you, I wouldn't have traded those 40 minutes for a visit with anyone else on earth! I don't think she knew who we were, but the joy in her face at having visitors was evident. We kidded around, hugged, talked about the Lord, and prayed, and we even got her playing some memory exercises for a bit. Phyllis is a name freak, so she asked Gladys what her mother's name was. Gladys' answer? "Guess." So we guessed, asking for the first letter of the name, and as we got closer, she would tell us so.

I marvelled out loud at how soft her hands were while I held one in my hand & rubbed it against my cheek. She said, "Want to know what makes them so soft?" Of course, I said, "Yes." "Wrinkles!", she replied, with a sly little grin. What a hoot!

We asked what she had eaten, and after telling us, she said what she'd really like is some pinto beans & cornbread, and some milk. We said we'd check into getting some for her, and she said she wouldn't be there to eat it. When we asked why, she pointed toward heaven & said, "I'll be up there." I laughed & cried at the same time, telling her I was jealous that she was going to the banquet table!

As it came time for us to go, she asked if we could finish our errands later. (Breaks the heart, doesn't it?) I said that if we stayed, I'd have to crawl up there beside her & snuggle up, to which she replied, "Why don't you?" So I did, for just a moment.

Don't miss out on moments like this! Go out of your way, make time to visit somebody, spend time you think you don't have to make someone smile. You'll not only make them feel better, but you will, too! Life's too short to be so busy that you miss out on life's little moments.

Truths to Set You Free!

From the book, "Lies Young Women Believe". My response/reaction in italics . . .

Truths to Set You Free!
(more to be found in the book, which I haven’t bought yet!~B~)

When I feel far from God and am tempted to feel He doesn’t love me - God loves me and wants me to have His best (Rom. 8:38–39) I am reminded daily of His love for me when I read his Word each morning.

When I feel ugly and fat - God created me a masterpiece (Ps. 139:14) I have to remind myself of this daily, due to a lifetime of listening to the world view of beauty. That world view is vanity, which is itself a sin.

When I feel rejected - God accepts me through Christ (Eph. 1:4–6) God’s acceptance is the only one that matters!

When I feel anxious about my circumstances - God can be trusted (Ps. 37:5) I have no fear of what the future holds, because I know that God is in control of my life. He does what he must to refine me like silver.

When I feel like I can’t handle a problem I’m facing - God’s grace is enough for me (2 Cor. 12:9) Again, God is in control! I don’t have to like what’s happening, but I know He has a purpose.

When I feel like my potential is limited by my past - My past does not have to control my future (2 Cor. 5:17) My past is exactly that - the past. It is not who I am now, nor what I will become. I have learned from my mistakes and am determined not to make them again. {I Corinthians 15:10(a)But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain . . .", Luke 7:47}

When I want to blame others for my responses - I am responsible before God for my behavior, responses, and choices (Ezek. 18:20) Playing the blame game is not for Christians. We all must choose, and thus suffer the consequences, but praise God! He is willing to forgive once we confess & repent. {Psalm 86:5, I John 1:9}

When I feel that submitting to an authority will steal my freedom - The greatest freedom I can experience is found by submitting to God-ordained authority (Titus 3:1) Submission does not mean being a slave or doormat or punching bag for someone. Submission is part of obedience. Once we put aside our fear of domination and the arrogance of pride, submission comes easily.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I love all my girls - those to whom my body gave life, those who were born of the man I love, and others who I have come to know over time, no matter your age. You ALL have value; you are ALL precious, not only to God but to me. I would give my life for any of you, if I knew it would bring you into God’s arms. I’ve been down the rough road of life, living without Christ and the guidance of the Holy Spirit. But now I have the power that comes from relying on the Almighty God, my Creator, my Protector, my Healer, my Deliverer, which enables me to greet each new day with a smile, regardless of circumstance. I know He is by my side all through the day, ready to help me face whatever obstacles come my way.

You can have that, too! If you are too ashamed to ask me or anyone else how, just talk to Him! You don’t have to pray a formal prayer; just talk to Him and ask forgiveness. Let Him lead you. It’s easier than you think.
<3

Devotion, Part II

I don't know what was better - watching Megan & AC fishing or watching our dog, Chloe, follow AC around the pond. Chloe is an overweight daschund, and for that reason instead of caller her a wiener dog, we call her a sausage.

Her devotion to AC is such that she cries pitifully when le leaves for work, church, or even to go outside. She absolutely MUST know where he is, or she is distressed. Her excitement upon his return is comical, complete with high-pitched squeals and a tail that looks like it will wag right off her rear-end.

Just as amazing (but not as surprising) is AC's devotion to his younger daughter Megan. They have a bond that is different from any other father/daughter combo I know. As she struggles for independence like any normal teenager, he tries to give her a certain measure of fr3eedom while maintaining his parental responsibility to look after her best interests. The trials they have been through over the past few years - both before and after I came on to the scene - have been an exercise in strengthening their bond. This comes through faith & trust in God as well as one another. Little things like fishing or playing guitars & singing make memories neither of them will soon forget.

I got in trouble!

I have two myspace accounts - one for personal use & one for networking with my fellow MV independent distributors. Today, after posting a bulletin about the product being on the news, along with a link to the video, I received an email from corporate advising me that my networking page was out of the boundaries of company compliance. In reviewing my site, I only found one reference to the product name, and one picture with the name, along with a link to our company provided (& personally paid for) replicated website. I am therefore deleting the page in order to avoid having to forfeit our distributorship. Anyone who wishes to remain on my friend list can find me at www.myspace.com/ackaty.

Riculousness!

Found this at WSB's site:

Vasectomy Perfect For March Madness, Docs Say

Last Minute Travel

Hubby called just a few minutes ago, and it looks like we're making a trip to TN this weekend (a.k.a. in a couple of hours!) I can't wait to get there & see the surprise on his parents' faces!

Half a Life

I do several devotions, and one really stood out today. It had a quote from Phillips Brooks, who said, "When you discover you've been leading only half a life, the other half is going to haunt you until you develop it." That was ME as little as 4 years ago. I was incredibly lost, filling my days & nights with as much activity as possible (much of it unwholesome), yet I still felt that something was missing. Until that day on my back porch when I was all alone and God softened my heart & opened my eyes, and I was filled with His presence. My life was forever changed that day, Praise God! Oh, not all of my former self fell away at once (still dealing with some of that!), however major changes took place, and I began to feel that I had value (not as a prideful thing), and that things would be okay. Jesus filled the void in my life, and I no longer feel like something is missing. Thank You, Lord, for saving my soul. Thank You, Lord, for making me whole. Thank You, Lord, for giving to me Thy sweet salvation so rich and free! -"Thank You, Lord", Words and Music by Mr. and Mrs. Seth Sykes

Francine Rivers "Unafraid"

My sister just got me hooked on an author, Francine Rivers. With one novella, she captivated me for two days, I cried, and I got a fresh perspective on the life of Jesus and his mother, Mary.

In the fifth novel of the series, entitled "Unafraid," Ms. Rivers delivers the imagined life of Mary, who was to become the mother of Jesus Christ. Mary is depicted as a devout Jewish girl with a hunger & thirst for God. While I am not of the Jewish faith, I can certainly identify with her desire to be close to God, to understand to will for our lives, for the struggle between flesh & spirit. Mary is depicted as human, yet willing to trust in God.

Some things that stuck me as I was reading:

Mary to Joseph, "Hasn't God always chosen the weak to confound the strong?" and "Think of him. God never chooses as a man would choose." These two sentences grabbed me & made me think. God chose ordinary people, sinners, the most unlikely characters on earth to be his messengers. Why did he do this? to teach us that one need not come from a high station in life, nor have worldly goods or knowledge in order to be effective in His service. Ordinary folks such as you & I are able to carry out His will as well as anyone willing to heed the call of His voice. God's choices confound the world (and often the saints) because we think within the confines of what we "know" - our earthly knowledge & experience. We place boundaries on what we think can be accomplished, not realizing that with God, ALL things are possible!

Joseph speaks of " . . . a return to the relationship Adam had with the Lord in the Garden of Eden." This is what we all desire, whether we're aware of it or not. That communal relationship with our creator is what is missing in our lives. Even though we can enjoy His presence through prayer & reflection on His Word, we have so many other things clamoring for our attention that we do not fully focus our attention on Him. How wonderful it will be to simply bask in His presence, sitting in adoration worshiping him constantly and being filled with joy!

Jesus has told Mary, "Each must choose." She struggles between physically following her favored firstborn and remaining with her other children, who doubt Jesus' claim to be the Son of God. "She must say yes to God and stop counting the cost. Even if it meant giving up her children." She has reached a point where she must follow her heart and hand over her grown children to God, trusting Him to open their eyes & hearts to the truth. This is not an easy thing to do, as many of us parents know all too well!

As Jesus is in the temple, "calling out," so to speak, the scribes & Pharisees: "Mary had never seen Jesus angry, and she trembled a the sight of his wrath." His wrath. These two words reminded me in a HUGE way that Jesus is God! And God's wrath is not to be taken lightly. His wrath destroyed entire cities, tribes, and nations, even the world, save Noah, his sons and their wives.

As Pilate is forcing the masses to choose which prisoner to release: "'Barabbas!'" They wanted violence and bloodshed. They wanted rebellion & hatred against Rome. 'Barabbas!'" The Savior, the Redeemer, the King that most of Israel was anticipating was expected to be a leader of bloody revolution, not of peace & love & righteousness. Ms. Rivers also makes a statement about Pilate's washing of his hands as a mockery of the Jewish ritual of hand washing. I had never thought of it that way before, and while I'm not certain this is historically accurate (the meaning, not the actual washing), it certainly lends a new perspective to the incident. Something to think about and possibly research.

Mary is contemplating the journey of her life, and determines that she is no longer impetuous & impatient, but simply eager for what God will do. We often desire a hasty reply to our prayers & pleas, forgetting that everything happens in God's time, not ours, for He knows what is best. She reflects: "Will you obey, no matter the cost?" "Today I say yes. And today, and today, and today, until there are no more todays left." How profound! An excellent illustration of how we must daily choose to say, "Yes!" Daily we must choose to submit ourselves to His will.

Mary comes to the realization of "How small her dreams had been." This goes back to what I mentioned earlier, that we cannot in our human frame of mind, fathom all that God can do. We can only imagine so big, but He is capable of so much more than that! I, for one, and excited to see just how big He can be!

This book is a very good read, and I highly recommend it. I can hardly wait for Susie to finish the one on Bathsheba so I can start it!

Baby Showers

There was a time I enjoyed things such as baby showers. Back when my kids were being born, I didn't have much of a social life beyond my husband's buddies coming over to hang out. Therefore, I didn't have many folks around to do such a thing as throw a shower for me, although I did have one with the first child, because I was going (reluctantly & sporadically) to my dad's church. It was small, but I liked it nonetheless.

Over the years, I've grown used to saying, "I can't come, but here's a gift." Of course, there are always a few that you just CAN'T get out of, like a close family member's. The other day I went with my sister to a baby shower for her former neighbor, who also happened to be my former neighbor because I lived with my sis for a year. I don't know her well, but I like her well enough, and Sissy didn't want to go alone. (I love doing ANYTHING w/my sissy regardless.)

Susie knew a few people there, but none really well enough to chat with. So we piled up our plates with yummy finger foods and discussed the possible ingredients of some of them. Then we played a few games we've all played before, just with different characters. Thankfully, the guest of honor zipped right through opening the gifts while her twin sister recorded them. My goodness, baby clothes & accessories have come a long way from when mine were due to be born! How did I ever nurse without a Boppy or feed my milk without the bottles that are designed to mimic mom? My kids went around in onesies & drawstring bottomed gowns except when we went to the occasional church service or family get together. They didn't have toys to stimulate their brains or seats to hold them up at the dinner table. That's what mom & dad (& grandparents & aunts & uncles) were for!

Probably the most fun for me was the creativity some folks had with their gifts. The "pacifier" we pinned to our shirts - which could be taken away if anyone caught us saying "baby" - were made of two wintergreen LifeSavers hot glued together with a gumdrop glued to the end. One gift was wrapped with a metal plate on the outside of the box (under the paper) so that magnetic letters could spell out baby's name. Another creative person had their child draw a picture of the impending newcomer & his siblings, which was placed in a lovely frame that had the new child's initials glued to it at the bottom - PRICELESS! Coming away with those ideas for future gifts and some new recipes - along with the QT spent with my sister - were worth every ooh & ahh that night.

Pet Devotion

My husband, A.C. & I have a Daushund. Her name is Chloe, and she is overweight, due (mostly) to her being spayed a few years ago. Instead of calling her a weenie dog, I call her a sausage. She is Daddy's Girl, all the way. For some reason, she gets SO excited just to see him come through the door, her little tail not just wagging, but turning around in circles. All he has to do is say, "I love you" and she finds her voice. She will bark in her high-pitched voice until he calms her down. (She also sings along with the "SpongeBob SquarePants" theme song.) She sleeps on his side of the bed, all the way under the covers at his feet.

A.C. acquired Chloe a couple of years before we met. She lived in the same house for her first couple of years, until he & his ex-wife got divorced. He, his daughter, and Chloe moved to his parents' home. Shortly after that, he & I met & made plans to marry. So I moved into the home Chloe knew & loved (while he stayed at his parents') & began preparing for our new life together.

Our home was on a hill, just inside the city limits. In the summertime, you couldn't tell there was anyone around, except for the occasional noise of a car or dogs barking. Our home couldn't be seen from the street, so we were somewhat secluded. There were many trees and all kinds of wildlife - squirrels, foxes, raccoons, birds - could be seen at any given moment. Chloe loved our home on the hill so much that even though she would be excited to go "bye-bye", she would start whining once we got going down the road. On the return trip home, she would start whining & get so excited she (& we) could hardly stand it. By the time we hit our driveway, she was ready to jump out of the window while the car was still moving.

AC recently decided to take a job in GA, so we had to leave TN. There arose the dilemma of what to do with Chloe, as we would be staying with my sister & brother-in-law, and we weren't sure how things would go. My sis-in-law, Angela, was kind enough to do a trial run before we left, and all went well at first. THEN we came over for her son's 18th birthday party & when it was time to leave, OH BOY! Chloe got excited thinking she was going home with Daddy! WE had to have someone leave the room with her, then sneak out. Well, she got so depressed over the next couple of days that we had to bring her home.

My step-daughter was going to split her time between GA & TN (starting w/TN) so we decided to leave Chloe there for the time being. We knew we would have to either bring her with us or have her put to sleep. After talking with my sister, we opted for a trial run in GA. Well, things went okay at first. We came & went with no major incidents. Then came the day I left her in our bedroom & went bowling w/Sissy & her boys . . . I returned home to find the carpet in front of the door in shreds (in patches). I wanted to die of embarrassment!

We started putting her outside when we left. That was okay, until she decided to climb up the back stairs (not an easy feat for an overweight sausage!) and tear through the screen! Now we have a crate to put her in when we leave, and she cries, even when I put her daddy's music (he sings) on for her. Poor lil' sausage!

Last night A.C. & I left to go to Home Depot. Sissy was giving her dog, Melody, and Chloe a treat as a distraction. Well, Chloe went for it - until she heard the door close. Then she squealed at the top of her lungs as we ran for the car & closed the garage door behind us. Of course, she was happy as could be, red tail wagging furiously as daddy asked if she wanted to go outside. Funny thing is, this morning as I was preparing A.C.'s lunch, I noticed her treat on the floor near the door. She forgot all about her treat because we (or HE, rather) left.

Makes you think about the devotion pets have to their people. WHY do they love us so much? Is it just because we're there? Is it because they know we will feed them & take them outside? Is it the belly rubs & snuggles? I love it, but I just don't get it. Do they love us the same way we love one another (only less selfishly)?

God Answers Prayer

I had been praying for quite a while for relief for my husband with regard to his work and our finances. I was also asking God to bless AC in all he did. Right before Christmas, we were presented with an opportunity that seemed too good to be true - a job for AC with my brother-in-law's company, the chance to learn a new trade, and a place to stay during the transition.

The hard part in all this is that taking this job meant leaving the only place he'd ever called home. AC's family has lived for generations in Cleveland, TN, and they're all pretty much still there. We prayed, and God opened every door that needed to be opened to enable us to make this change. The one part that was hardest was figuring out how to do this with Megan, my 16 year old step-daughter, who lives with us. We ran through several scenarios, and while each one seemed feasible at the time, one by one they all fell through.

Still praying, and enlisting the prayers of even more believers, Megan has finally decided to move to Loganville to be with us on a permanent basis. She believes this is where God wants her to be, and I feel the same way. (Although I must admit that the selfish flesh part of me wants her here regardless.) There are so many opportunities for her to grow in her faith, through church, her music, and the new friendships that are developing with girls her own age who share her beliefs.

I know God's hand is in this. Too many good things have already happened for it NOT to be His work. Oh, Satan is hard at work, too, trying to steal our joy by manipulating circumstances, but we're not letting him get in our way. We're going to continue to praise God for the good he's doing in our lives, and for the lessons learned through the hardships, too. We'll keep praying for the chance to give God the glory & honor He so richly deserves.

Today I spoke w/Meg, & she's wanting to stay in TN & get a job at Target. I don't feel like it's the right thing for her to do, but I'm going to PRAY & let her father handle this. I understand her wanting to stay near her family, but I feel she's not giving God a chance to work the way He wants to in her life.

Megan is now in GA with us. I'm hoping that the reasons she gave for making this decision are not impulsive. There is so much for her to experience, so much possibility for growth as a Christian as well as a person in general. The exposure to people & experiences she would never have in Cleveland are such that many would gladly trade places with her. There is a tremendous positive influence available that I hope she will welcome.

My God is so good! I cannot begin to say how much I love Him! I know that he is working in our lives in a powerful way. I only hope that I can bring him honor & glory, that he so richly deserves! My heart is full to overflowing with thanksgiving and love for him.

Selfishness

This devotional was in my inbox last week. The colors on the words are my addition to Dr. Dollar's exposition. The comments at the end are mine.

Wednesday, February 13, 2008

Yield To Love Dr. Creflo A. Dollar Love and selfishness are the two greatest forces in life. A person chooses to walk in one or the other every day. What many people call love really isn't love at all. Real love-which is agape love or the God kind of love-is unconditional, limitless, selfless and is not based on emotions. It is extremely tolerant. Unfortunately, most people operate in selfishness. They live in human, emotional love, which has limits, is conditional, requires pre-qualification and has to be loved before it can love. Selfishness is the root of all sin, which is based in fear. As a result, our society is experiencing a tremendous amount of lawlessness, perversion and sin. Families are being destroyed because people are engaging in human, emotional love rather than taking the time to learn about and develop in agape love. Selfishness in the home can creep up in so many subtle ways, particularly between a husband and wife. If you are married, here's a newsflash-it's not all about you! Everything in life should not focus around you and your needs, but rather the needs of your spouse. It is important to find balance and compromise within relationships in order to maintain peace in the home. You can kick selfishness out of your home. How? Yield to love. Jesus gave two commandments that are the foundational principles for every commandment in the Bible: "...love the Lord thy God with all of thy heart, and with all thy soul and with all thy mind... love thy neighbor as thyself" (Matthew 22:7,39). When you keep the law of love, you fulfill all of the laws written in the Bible. Have you made the decision to walk in love so that you will fulfill Jesus' commandment and allow God's spiritual principles to work in your life? Or have you chosen to operate in your own way of doing things? Things don't just happen. Life is a series of decisions that ultimately determine your future. One very important decision every person should make is to be an expression of God's love on the earth. There are two laws that govern life: the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus, which is love; and the law of sin and death, which is selfishness (Romans 8:2). Like curtains on a curtain rod, your deliverance, answered prayers, healing and faith all hang on the rod of love. If you are not walking in God's agape love, then you are limiting what God can do in your life. I encourage you to take the love test by reading 1 Corinthians 13:4-7. After reading this portion of Scripture, you will know to what extent you have-or have not-yielded your life to love. .. BEGIN MP3 FOOTER - Creflo Dollar --> ..> ..> .. Dr. Creflo A. Dollar is the senior pastor of World Changers Church International, 25,000 member church in College Park, Georgia. He is committed to changing the world one person at a time, and his award-winning "Changing Your World" television broadcast reaches nearly one billion homes worldwide. Visit www.CrefloDollarMinistries.org to learn more.

(1) This line hit me pretty hard. Selfishness is something I've been fighting with my entire life. As the eldest of 5 children, I had nothing of my own,a nd was always made to share. As a parent, you naturally give/share everything you have. I like to share, but it's kinda nice if folks share back (not that I "do" in order to receive - it's just the flesh nature to say, "What about me?") and I seem to know a lot of people who are takers, not givers. I realize that my selfishness comes from fear - fear of having nothing, fear of being alone, fear of not being accepted. Therefore, I pray daily for God to help me in this area; I have to yield my self over to Him so He can love others through me.
(2) So true! I've said many times throughout my life, even before I was saved, that the things I went through shaped the person I became. There are SO many decisions I wish I could have a "do-over" on. The fact is, however, that those decisions eventually led me to accept Christ, for which I am eternally grateful! I am able to identify with others - both lost & saved - and because of my life experience I am able to minister to them with compassion instead of judgment.
(3) Without love for others, everything we do is in vain. The world will still turn, the sun will still set, people will still do what they do & be who they are, even if we do not love them. But how many lives could possibly be changed if each of us took just one day to be kind to EVERYONE, even those whom we usually avoid or casually dismiss simply because it's easier to do so than to try to love them as Jesus would?
I want to learn to love others well, following in the footsteps of my Lord & Savior, Jesus Christ!

Roasted Marshmallows

Last night was so much fun. After dinner, we all went outside & my wonderful B-I-L made a fire in the fire pit. AC & I, along with Dan, Susie & the boys roasted marshmallows, talked & laughed, and we even tried to get some songs going, until about 11:30; that's when we girls decided to call it quits! The guys stayed outside until the fire died down.

The point is that in doing such a simple thing as making a fire outside, we were able to enjoy not only the company of one another (which we do already) but also the outdoors - the fresh air, the night sky, Melody & Chloe chasing whatever dogs chase outside in the dark. God's creation is a marvelous thing, most of which we quite often take for granted. I'm thankful for the opportunity we had to enjoy a bit of it last night.

Prayer Requests

This will be an ongoing, continually updated blog. Having so much family & two churches makes the prayer list long.

Telesa Kendall: our GA pastor's wife has been diagnosed with breast cancer. The good news is that she shouldn't have to go through chemo or radiation. She will have to undergo a double bilateral mastectomy, which should eradicate the cancer from her body. We are praying for a miracle of healing as well as for strength for the family during this time.

Johnny Pettit: my step-daughter's boyfriend's father. He had a massive heart attack Wednesday night. Doctors performed surgery and found a tumor. It is my understanding he also had some internal bleeding, although I'm not sure of the cause. This morning it was confirmed that the tumor is cancer. I do not know at this time the location of the tumor. I also do not know if Mr. Pettit is a believer.

Nina & her son, Joseph: a teacher at my nephews' homeschool weekly group. I don't know her specific need, but the Lord knows & I'm praying for her peace & healing, whether it's physical or emotional.

Denise: another teacher at that school - health problems/pain; family

Kelly Shearrow: my oldest child (24). She may have diabetes, which would explain several problems she's had in the past. She had her sugar checked yesterday afternoon, and having had only cup of coffee with sugar early in the morning & not eating during the day it was 131, which has her concerned.

Sweetness

My 7 year-old nephew made me breakfast this morning. He got out a Little Debbie HoneyBun & put some fresh raspberries on top. This child did this without any prompting, hinting, etc. - just out of the blue! How many kids do you know today (or even adults for that matter) who would make someone a special treat "just because"? I am blessed!

120 year old woman?

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/23173016/

This story is exciting! "Relatives said she has 10 sons and one daughter, her eldest, now in her late 80s. She has about 120 grandchildren, 250 great-grandchildren and 20 great-great grandchildren, they said." I hope the government will be able to verify this woman's age.

We should all be able to live this long, however I believe that our poor dietary habits inhibit us from doing so. If we treated our bodies the way God intended us to instead of saturating our systems with chemicals & processed foods, we'd not only live longer but have a much better quality of life.

Losing a Son

My friend Sarah lost her son, Kelly at 2 a.m. this morning. Not a great way to celebrate Valentine's Day. There is a measure of comfort in knowing that he was a believer and is now in heaven. At 40 years old, he had just started a new job a few months ago, and was a newlywed of only 2 months. He suffered 3rd degree burns over 70% of his body in the Dixie Crystals plant explosion last week.

I cannot imagine losing my son. I have my daughters and my step-children, but Eddie is my ONLY son. There are times when I'm reading my Bible and meditating on God's sacrifice of his only Son, or of Abraham's willingness to give up his cherished son, and my simple human mind finds it hard to grasp.

My son, while not walking in the path of righteousness, is still a joy to me. We have had our ups & downs, especially through his early teens, but we are closer now than we have ever been. He has never been ashamed to say he loves me or show affection, even in front of his friends. He's quite handsome and charming, is blessed with a good sense of humor, possesses tremendous creative artistic talent, and uses his manners (at least when he's around me and my family). I cannot imagine my life without him, even though he lives in another state.

I know I would lay down my life for any of my children (including my steps), but to permanently give them up on purpose? I like to think that if God asked me to make that sacrifice, I would have the faith to do as He asks. It's hard enough to step aside when they are in trouble after I've asked God to do what He must in order to bring them to Him.

My heart goes out to Sarah, as well as her new daughter-in-law, her other children, and everyone else who lost Kelly as a vital part of their lives. My thoughts are with them as they grieve, and I pray that they will have the strength to cope with their loss. Perhaps they will even be able to celebrate that Kelly is now with our heavenly Father. Nothing happens without cause, and it is my hope that through this tragedy someone will come to know Christ, or come back to Him.

MonaVie News

Check out the latest story on MonaVie by a TV news station:

http://www.fox4florida.com/global/video/popup/pop_player.asp?ClipID1=2175125&h1=MonaVie&vt1=v&at1=News&d1=199200&LaunchPageAdTag=News&activePane=info&playerVersion=1&hostPageUrl=http%3A//www.fox4florida.com/Global/story.asp%3FS%3D7842182&rnd=60962355

Yet another plus for the MonaVie opportunity!

http://www.theperfectberry.com

Happy Valentine's Day

This morning, I was hoping my hubby would hit the snooze button just one more time, as I had gotten to bed quite late last night. It was already almost 5:30, so of course he didn't. Realizing I had to wake up (I really don't, but I love to be up when he leaves for work), I said, "Happy Birthday, baby."

His reply, "How about Happy Valentine's Day?"

"Yeah, that too."

Gotta love sleepy talk!

I Don't Like Being Sick

I finally got what everyone else has been carrying around for weeks, and it stinks! My head is stuffy & I have a runny nose & my eyes are burning. BUT . . . I have no fever or GI distress, so that's a good thing.

I am, however, thankful that I have a fully functional immune system, which appears to be working. Pray that this will be short-lived, as my sister & her family are coming home from vacation and I don't want them to get my little germies!

Ever Notice?

As soon as you start praising God for all He's done, along comes Mr. devil trying to steal your joy. No sooner did I thank the Lord for answering specific prayers then along comes another "crisis". Nothing is ever in-between with us; it's all out warfare or straight up peace.

One thing I've learned in my short time as a believer (and this is what got my attention in the beginning) is that God can handle it all, whereas I can't handle a simple task on my own. Whatever I try to do on my own - no matter how grandiose my plan or how well-executed it is, somehow it will not turn out as I expected.

God puts us through challenges in life to strengthen our character and to give us knowledge to help others at a later time. So what do I do? I'm not going to get depressed & start worrying about it. I pass along the vital info for others to agree with me in prayer, turn it over to God (asking him to help me deal with the situation gracefully), thank Him for his kindness towards me, and wait for His reply.

Kelly Got a Job!

My daughter Kelly landed a job yesterday afternoon. Kelly is my miracle child, and she's been quite the test of the strength of my faith in the past few years. Let me explain just a little:

Kelly was born with a rare neuromuscular disease. She was born with what was called "floppy infant syndrome," a generic term for lack of muscle/muscle control. The consulting physician told her father & I that she would not live, due to a highly elevated level of muscle protein in her bloodstream. At the time, I was not a believer, but I agreed to let others pray for her, and decided that I would enjoy whatever time I had with her. The MDA has been a tremendous help to us over the years, although we have never gotten a definitive diagnosis. Today, she is an active 24 year old young woman who uses her wheelchair to get around when there is a lot of walking to do. One cannot tell that there is anything "wrong" with her just by looking at her.

Kelly is very intelligent, is easy to get along with, and loves people. Other than her limited mobility, she's pretty much "normal". (That being said, think of "normal"in terms of rebellion as well.) However, she has a lazy streak that I believe she has cultivated over the past few years to almost an art form. She has been on SSDI since she was 2 years old, and as an adult, has maintained that "income" so as to have the freedom to do whatever she likes whenever she likes. She has only held one full-time job, and that was short-lived.

The fact that Kelly has decided to work is a major milestone. She has been living with friends in Colorado for almost a year, and was planning a vacation to Florida to visit with family and friends. Her cousin is having a baby, and Kelly hasn't seen her father, brother or sister in some time. The decision to take this position instead of a vacation is a mature decision, and I'm proud of her. She made this choice on her own, without prompting from her parents or friends (whom she usually call upon for advice/support in such matters).

YAY, Kelly! And thank you, God!

Insomnia

I'm not quite sure why, but I'm having trouble sleeping. The past few nights I have tossed & turned like I haven't done in years. The alarm is on, I've had no caffeine, I'm not eating late (we go to bed about 9 p.m. these days), and I'm not exercising before bed. The room is cool & comfortable & there are no distractions. I also don't nap during the day, unless I'm ill.

I've never had trouble getting to sleep before; I just had trouble staying asleep. When I started drinking MonaVie last March, I started sleeping well again. I'm not sure if it's because I've cut back on my juice or if it's the stress of the move, or if it's because I may be catching AC's cold (which could be due to not enough MonaVie!). Whatever the case, I don't like it!

After a night spent looking at the clock for what seemed like every 15 minutes or so, I finally got out of bed & went to the living room at 4:30. I sat in the comfy chair & started praying. Usually when I do this, I'll wind up nodding off. Well, that didn't happen today. So after praying for everyone I could think of, I got my shower, fixed my tea, and started my daily devotions earlier than usual. So far I'm not really sleepy, but I'm sure as soon as the sun peeks its head over the horizon I'll be ready for a short nap.

This is old

My Utmost for His Highest, May 5

"Never sympathize with a soul who finds it difficult to get to God, God is not to blame" - Oswald Chambers

I saw myself in this phrase this morning. As one who came to the Lord later in life (age 38), I was quite familiar with the excuses for not making the decision to follow Christ. As a new Christian, I often did sympathize with my lost friends and loved ones, making excuses for their doubt and unwillingness to change. Over time, I have agonized over these lost souls, crying for hours on end and feeling a burden so heavy on my heart it seems that sorrow has become a part of my daily existence. As I mature daily in my faith, I am learning that all I can do is go where the Holy Spirit leads me, present the truth of the Gospel, and turn those to whom I have shared with over to God. I will continue to pray for them and continue my witness through testimony and by example, but it is not my job to agonize over the state of their souls. I am merely an emissary of Jesus Christ, his disciple, carrying out his command to continue the work he started.

Good Night

After all I went through in setting this up, I have no energy left to write. So I'll just say, "Good night & sweet dreams."

Until morning . . .

~B~