New Year's Eve's pondering...

I like this baby eagle picture because it is a sweet reminder to me that I am thankful for "new beginnings". Also I might mention that I love children!!!

This picture reminds me that sometimes we just don't get a chance to talk to each other much. Yes, we blog, we face book, we e-mail and once in awhile we even use "snail mail". I know there are a lot of people texting and
talking on the phone. (I am not one of them.)

The main thing I truly miss is the one on one talks that we "can have" with our friends and loved ones. It seemed like in 2010 I just never got enough of that.

Yes, I had my moments of being with the girls in small harbors and book club times - I enJOYed them. Yes, Jill and I got some shopping in and a couple of times even eating out. Lately I have had some good shopping days with Amanda (that was great too). Yes, the holidays where we got together with family. BUT what about making new friends? What about inviting people over just to "hang out". Not much of that happening. Yes, I did meet some new people but I didn't get to know them!

So this picture reminds me that I need to be on the lookout for those moments. Those times that I can search and be open minded - open hearted.

On the dark and cloudy days there are people who need to be out with others for sure - and even myself that is the time I seem to lock myself out, to hold back from seeing anyone. Ah human nature sure is "funny".

YES HUMAN NATURE - not SPIRITUAL, not GODLY...but HUMAN. How I long to soar in Spiritual and godly moments. How I long for more of GOD than more of people. Yet, I know God wants us to have a balance in our lives to go out and seek the weary and the lost. The balance -- I must not ever forget that God COMES FIRST AND UTMOST so I can go out.

As 2011 is right around the corner another year has past, I am sitting here praying for my yearning to last.

Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the body is weak. -- Mark 14:37-38

This morning...

What beauty God gave us all here this morning! In fact the beauty lasted until after lunch sometime. It is melting now because the sun is out - it is a different kind of beauty now. This is outside my work.

When I drove here this morning, I kept on wanting to stop and take pictures, if I knew it was that beautiful I would have left earlier to do it. But as everyone knows, pictures never does justice when it comes SEEING GOD'S BEAUTY in nature!

Here it is, December almost over, 2011 right around the corner. I look back at the year and wonder really where did it go?

I will be going over my journals (my prayer one and the everyday one) for this past year to see what I actually did - just to remind myself and seeing the "prayers" answered. I really look forward doing that. That is why I like keeping these journals. Plus this blog is another way that helped me look back. I looked at the older posts that I posted it was fun!!!

In many ways the members of my church family are more different than we are alike, yet Your love for us knows no human boundaries. We are family. We are Your church, Lord. Unify us with Your love. -- Anonymous.

MOTIVES

The road - where will it lead?
Thank YOU LORD for bringing this BABY into the world!


Jesus carries us, He will help us through.

This morning I was reading Zechariah I felt like GOD hit me with a 2 by 4 - in a good way. This one in particular:

"Ask all the people of the land and the priests, 'When you fasted and mourned in the fifth and seventh months for the past seventy years, was it really for me that you fasted? --Zechariah 7:5

Why did this hit me so hard?

Well, sometimes I do things that I think I am doing for the LORD. I have fasted and I confess many times it did start out with me really feeling close to GOD!!! Knowing I was doing what He wants. Especially the first 2 days. Then after awhile I see how I lose weight, and how much more energy that I have. Now I don't think all that is wrong, but sometimes I look forward to a fast because I know what it will do to me physically.

I need to be more concerned what it does to me spiritually. What is my goal when I fast? What am I really trying to "accomplish"?

When I give God my "first fruits" am I? i know "life goes on" and some months are so busy for me here at work that I can't spend the time with God like the quiet days that I can. January is usually the busiest month for me! Yet, this is the time "we are to give our first fruits". Why this month? We picked it to go along with Jentzen Franklin and his church - maybe right there that is the wrong reason!

Shouldn't I fast when God tells me to? Or at least when I need to have that deeper relationship? Oh my -- I am feeling so convicted now. I am writing this down on my blog not necessarily to share with you but to REMIND myself that I am accountable to others too. I need to know that I am reaching out to GOD - not "you all" or "approval"....Does this make sense?

I know some of you will understand others won't. BUT that really doesn't matter does it? It is WHAT GOD WANTS! It is what GOD wants ME TO DO! How did Jesus handle all of this? He gave, gave, gave....what have I given to the LORD? What have I really given to others?

Is it because it is the end of the year that this is hitting me hard? You know everyone looks back at the year that is ready to end. Am I reflecting? Am I feeling guilty? Am I analyzing myself too death (I have been known to do this)? What do I really "want from God" when I fast?"

Jentzen Franklin explained in his teachings that when one gives their first fruits (and they usually do that in the beginning of the year), God honors that. he knows that when you do it from the heart, you are truly reaching out to Him. Jentzen's church has grown leaps and bounds. His church has helped millions of people throughout the world - especially Haiti. God has truly blessed his church because they have blessed so many others I truly believe that. Even Jentzen Franklin knows that it is not what it is all about. he knows that it says in Scripture that we are to fast and pray! All one has to do is look at the Word. I want to be obedient. I want to FEEL God's love. I want to give God my love. I want........WHAT DOES GOD WANT?????????????????

7 And when you were eating and drinking, were you not just feasting for yourselves? ...9 "This is what the LORD Almighty says: 'Administer true justice; show mercy and compassion to one another. 10 Do not oppress the widow or the fatherless, the alien or the poor. In your hearts do not think evil of each other.' ---Zechariah 7:7, 9-1

Well that is what GOD WANTS!!! He wrote it very clear!!!

CELEBRATION, NO GUILT!!!

Okay people! God wrote me a letter this morning, yes He did. He told me that during this "season I am to be celebrating" with others. EnJOYing the sweets of the holidays. He knows that I know the REAL REASON FOR THE SEASON, but He also reminded me while Jesus was on earth the disciples celebrated! So, now I feel better about eating all those cookies. Yes, I did get carried away some - BUT NOT enough to "beat myself up". He knows that come January I will "get back on track" in more ways than one. I tell you it was like a weight fell off my shoulders. Whew!

Well, I shall leave you with this (it is a letter back to God, but I think He won't mind you all reading it:

Lord, YOU know me! YOU know that I LOVE YOU much more than cookies or other "sweet" things! Thank YOU LORD that I have "friends" and FAMILY to celebrate with during this season. I know there are some out there that do not. You have blessed me in so many ways LORD. I am forever GRATEFUL. I do know Jesus is the reason for the season. I know how much YOU love me. I will remember that the other times of celebrations, I will take care of my body for it is YOUR temple! I pray LORD if there is something YOU want me to do, may I be a "woman that says YES to YOU!!! I love YOU LORD!!! In Jesus' Name. Amen

"Mrs. Kringle's" day - SWEETS TO GALORE!!!

All the "elves". Me pointing at more goodies. You can see to the left of me Linda and to the right of me our manger scene. I took more pictures, I posted them on Face book.

Sweets to Galore
Well Sunday was day of treats!
Not just the service but all the eats.
Cookies, buns, pies, and so much more
Ate them all now I can barely fit through the door.
I was bouncing, talking so fast, shoveling more in
How many cookies does it make to "binge".


I just got back from eating pizza at a "bar". My boss took "us" out for pizza. No, we didn't have a beer. I did have quite a few pieces of pizza. The bar was called "Big Daddys", I guess the owners are friends of my boss. Now, I am sitting here full of pizza. It was nice that the boss took us out though.

The good news is that I did get a 35 minute walk around the halls before I went. I doubt if that really did much good, but I felt good doing it.

I will definitely have to CUT back after Christmas!!! Or New Years!!!!

I got my book that Lysa Terkeurst wrote on the "Made to Crave" - how to crave God more than FOOD. I haven't started reading it yet, but I plan on doing it soon!!! It couldn't have come at a better time.

Our God cares about details.You see it throughout His creation...When you wonder if God is interested in the details of your life, consider the evidence demonstrated in nature. He cares about everything - no matter how inconsequential. ---Anonymous.

I Got my book "Sleep for Success"

"What are the most common causes of sleep deprivation?

The biggest and most prevalent cause is our society's persistent belief that sleep is a luxury rather than a necessity....

Physical effects

Not sleeping makes you prone to:

• Daytime drowsiness
• Microsleeps - these are brief episodes of sleep that you're unaware of and that occur during waking hours. Lasting only a few seconds, microsleeps can produce inattention, resulting in accidents and injury.
• Sleep seizures
• Colds and flu
• Weight gain...lack of sleep lowers leptin levels in the brain and raises ghrelin levels in the stomach. These hormones are responsible for appetite regulation. So when you're sleep-deprived, you're more likely to overeat - craving carbs, sugars, and junk food.
• Diabetes
• Heart disease
• Cancer
• Skin problems
• Poor athletic performance

Behavioral effects:

• Mood shifts, including depression and irritability
• Stress, anxiety, and loss of coping skills
• Socializing less
• Sub-par mental functioning/perception. Whether you realize it or not, losing sleep makes you less efficient at just about every task and , in geral, creates a dulled-down version of yourself, with a duller reaction to negative events, and even a drop in your taste sensitivity.
• Concentration problems
• Difficulties with memory
• Fail to analyze and assimilate new information
• Reduced ability to communicate
• Lower creativity
• Impaired motor skills and coordination" --Dr. James B. Maas

Of course he goes on and explains why we can't sleep etc. BUT what I got out of this entire book was that I never knew so much of "my problems" were caused my lack of sleep.

So, now I will do what he suggests "for me" --- go to bed and get 7 1/2 - 8 hours sleep; if I take a nap it can only be for 20 minutes OR 90 minutes; stay on schedule every day of the week; quit exercising in the morning; exercise at lunch and/or between 5:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. - and a few other things. BUT I have a plan that he doesn't mention in the book. I WILL PRAY!!! I will "calm" my mind by praying and worshipping the LORD. He mentions meditation but when he was on the 700 Club he did tell Pat that he prays.

So, I hope whatever you do in the next few days, IS that YOU get some SLEEP!

"Don't get so busy that you forget to simply be. Sometimes the best way to stop being overwhelmed by life is to simply step back, take a day...or an hour...or a moment, and notice all that God is doing in your life." --Elyn Sanna

REST IN HIM

Made to Crave Website!!!!

http://madetocrave.org/

Check out this new website by Lysa Terkeurst --- you can go on her blog from that site also.

I should be getting my "Made to Crave" book any day now, I am so excited!!! I ordered the DVD set - but didn't order the workbook - I will go back and do that...or maybe wait until it comes to the stores here - it is not out yet....

Right now I am doing her study on my own called "What Happens When Women Say Yes To God" - it is really good!

Women like Lysa, Wendy Pope, and the other Proverbs 31 women - MY SISTERS-IN-CHRIST, I don't have to meet them, I just know that WE ARE BONDED WITH CHRIST!!! And I will meet them in Heaven some day. PRAISE THE LORD!!!

Chapter 4: "You Never Know How God Will Use You Until You Let Him" -- great chapter in the "What Happens When Women Say Yes to God" (okay they are all good - but I just finished that chapter. In this chapter she says, "Write a prayer asking God to make your time with Him more meaningful. Ask God to give you a deep desire for Him." I did!!! Now I await for God to lead me....and I am willing to SAY YES LORD, YES LORD, YES YES YES!!!

"I am not a woman who should be labeled unable. I am a woman on a journey of learning how to make sure my reactions don't deny Christ's presence in me...." Lysa Terkeurst (if you would like to read this book after me - let me know).

NO MORE BLUES FOR ME!!!

No MORE BLUES - I am jumping for JOY today!!!
It may be "cloudy outside and cold" but I am feeling quite happy like the sun shining down on me in here. Why, I am glad you asked!!! It is because I HAD A LONG TALK WITH GOD THIS MORNING and He sweetly reminded me WHAT DECEMBER is all about! It IS NOT about "Winter, the cold, the missing of loved ones (I really miss my MOTHER), ETC. IT IS ABOUT celebrating with the ones that are IN OUR LIVES NOW, IT IS OF COURSE CELEBRATING JESUS' BIRTH!!! IT is so much more!!!

Sometimes I almost "don't want to feel the joy" - crazy huh? What I mean by this:

• we all know someone who is hurting right now.
• we all have someone we miss during the holidays.
• we all have that need to get the "perfect" gift for that "special person/persons"
• we all seem to overeat (well I know a few that don't - I am not one of them.)
• we all know charities will be asking for money and we have to decide which one to give to because it would be "insane" to give to everyone of them asking for it.
• we all know we can't go to every party and sometimes we get hurt because we weren't invited to a party.

Well you get my drift. SO once I acknowledge this I had to say to myself,

"Self, what are YOU doing? Quit your whining, pouting, feeling blue. Get your eyes back on Jesus - your TRUE LOVE, the ONE that is there to PARTY WITH, to hold you when you are 'feeling lonely', the ONE that SAVED YOU for crying out loud! Have JOY, after all Jesus is the reason FOR this SEASON!!! Yes, be sensitive to others and even feel some of their pain--BUT never ever forget why YOU are here! You are here to be LIKE JESUS -- you know the TRUTH!!!"

So after I said that to myself, I feel like this:

I pray that YOU ALL are remembering YOUR JOY and that YOU too can be LIKE JESUS!

Oh, what joy rises in our souls as we realize that God's love and mercy are new every morning! Each day is a fresh start, a new chance. Grace washes over us afresh, like the morning dew. Great is His faithfulness! --- Janice Hanna

Jesus! What a friend for sinners!

Jesus! Lover of my soul;

Friends may fail me,

foes assail me,

He, my Savior, makes me whole.

---J. Wilbur Chapman

The LORD will guide you always; He will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land...You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail. --- Isaiah 58:11 NIV

Do I have the winter blues....

This was "me" yesterday...I just laid around and practically did nothing! I think "I enjoy" these days but when I look back I really don't. I have such a hard time motivating myself when it is cold outside. I got caught up watching TV and taking a very long nap. I watched some football with Jerry - yep, football.

I admit I did have a bad head cold and used a lot of Kleenexes - that didn't help matters.

My poor husband was out in the cold, snow blowing, shoveling...so I felt even guiltier doing nothing. I did make him chili ---so he did have something hot to eat when he got home.

Today, I feel "blah" still. It is so quiet again here at work. I tried to walk on my lunch break - didn't get very far, just couldn't get going. THIS TOO SHALL PASS....Yep, I have got the WINTER BLUES...it isn't even WINTER yet!!! I had better snap out of this!

I had a few pretty winter pictures that I could have put on this blog...but I just couldn't face snow pictures...ha ha. I want to enJOY winter, but how??? I feel so "closed in" literally. Any ideas to "beat the winter time blues"? I would love to hear them.

Tonight I am going to Aid to Women, that might help - to get outside myself....I think I just have too much time to think....

You promise that all bad things come to an end. Until then, Father give me contentment with the blessings I have and faith in tomorrow. Amen

Ready or not, snow is here....

So, on this snow day after we went to the dentist...came home and watched 2 movies -- they were kinda depressing, I got sucked in....Why did I watch them? Both of the movies had someone commit suicide - see what I mean DEPRESSING. You know actually I did get something out of each one of them - I am GLAD to be HOME where I am!!!

I did accomplish something while I was watching those movies - the first one I made 2 dish cloths and 2 scrubbies. The second one I did about 45 min. of exercise, and then went back to crocheting. It is now almost 6 p.m. and I plan on doing more - TV and crocheting. I haven't crocheted in so long, I almost forgot how.

Jerry will be going over to where he works to put salt down and shovel some. He shoveled our driveway and said there were very slippery spots out there so he doesn't want anyone to fall over there. He will have to go over there tomorrow too. I am so glad that I work "inside"!!!

"Happiness is not a reward - it is a consequence.

Suffering is not a punishment - it is a result." -- Robert Green Ingersoll

Okay, I ordered this book....

I ordered this book after watching the CBN clip on it. All this time I have been exercising in the morning and "cutting" back my sleep for it. After watching this "clip" I think I have been doing it wrong. I went ahead and ordered the book because I got a good deal on it at Amazon.com. Sometimes I do "jump" in without thinking things through, but I have always been told that we need our sleep. Even my doctor will ask me if I am getting enough sleep.

Anyway, I went ahead and ordered this book as a "Merry Christmas to Me". I usually do that every year. Of course this will be the 4th book I have ordered for the same reason. ha ha.

Well that is what I wanted to share today...

Are you willing to believe that love is the strongest thing in the world - stronger than hate, stronger than evil, stronger than death - and that the blessed life which began in Bethlehem nineteen hundred years ago is the image and brightness of the Eternal Love? Then you can keep Christmas. -- Henry Van Dyke

COOKIES, FUDGE, OH MY....

This morning I took a half DAY vacation for I could go to the Aid to Women "Christmas Party" for the volunteers. I didn't have my camera...anyway, these pictures show what we sort of had to "eat" - there were so many goodies!!! There were these kind of cookies of course - and one jumped on my plate before I could blink.
They had something like these too.

The best part about the party was when Katie sang, Linda read a story, and Marylin had us all sing Christmas Carols. I think I am actually getting into the Christmas Spirit! We had the party at House of Hope - a wonderful ministry for women who need fresh starts. It is an old historian house fixed up so neat. They had this beautiful tree decorated with pink decorations - it was just beautiful!!! I was so thankful that I was able to go.

I am so blessed to be able to volunteer at Aid to Women - I just "wish" I could give it more time. What a wonderful ministry this is!!! I have talked about this before but I just can't say enough about this ministry!!!

I sing the goodness of the Lord,
That filled the earth with food;
He formed the creatures with His word,
And then pronounced them good.
Lord, how Thy wonders are displayed,
Where'er I turn my eye:
If I survey the ground I tread,
Or gaze upon the sky! --- Isac Watts

THE YEARLY PIE ORDEAL..Friday Night.....

Look at all the happy faces waiting for PIE - Jen, Emma, and CynthiaJeanne got her Candy Cane pie after all

Deb, Amanda, and Janet (barely) -- and that is Jeanne's hand - don't know why she raised it, I think it was on purpose. *grin*

Cynthia and I - I think we are smiling after we ate our pie

Amanda - she says she doesn't like her picture taken -- too bad. I think she is beautiful!!!

My delicious pie - I do mean delicious!!! I also had about 3 bites of the peanut butter cup pie that was passed around - sooo good!!! Our wonderful waitress Wendee (whom I met before - so excited to see her) Also I am holding Candy Cane Pie to take home...yum!!!

Me waiting for my pie to come

The "gang" is all here; Wendee taking the orders.

I accidentally deleted Jill's photo!!! I am not at home to re-post it! Check out FB.

I tell you I had so much fun and I am so blessed to have so many wonderful friends (sisters-in-Christ). Next year we are hoping to even have MORE WOMEN come!!! After all, it is a tradition.....

Christmas means to me....

Christmas means to me that CHRIST is born...even though we are not for certain it was this date. This is the time of year that I am even more thankful than I am at Thanksgiving, because without HIS birth, where would I be? I liked the picture below because it is a special reminder that He was carried in "Mary's womb" - a human mother. Look how precious too that He is holding her finger. It warms my heart to see this and picturing Jesus as a baby. I love that song, "Mary did you know..." - I think that is the name of it. I think she knew because after all the Holy Spirit placed Him inside of her.

Anyway, as each day gets closer and closer to Christmas, the songs playing, people decorating - I like to STOP and think of how much CHRISTMAS really means to me. When I do this I don't feel so bad that we didn't put up a tree and we haven't got any decorations out yet. Of course don't get me wrong - I like Christmas Trees and the decorations! Without "kids" at home, and just Jerry and I - it is just "not a priority" for us I guess. Also I really like seeing the Christmas light around people's houses and I truly like to see a Nativity Scene!

"Don't get so busy that you forget to simply be. Sometimes the best way to stop being overwhelmed by life is to simply step back, take a day...or an hour...or a moment, and notice all that God is doing in our life." -- Ellyn Sanna

Hello - ARE YOU READY FOR WINTER??? I don't think I am or ever will be. It always catches me off guard. It's not like I "hate" winter or anything, it just so hard to go outside and you feel like someone is taking your breath away. You know...

I will keep telling myself that "Spring" is right around the corner. Yes, I have "lied" to myself before. ha ha.

The blogging every day month is over, I shall truly miss the ones that blogged every day. It was like a "break" for me to read them - at times I really did "need a break". I am hoping the bloggers will continue to blog when they get a chance of course - but with the Christmas season I know it will be hard for some.

Tonight I am going to a "dream workshop" deal - I am looking forward to that. I am going to try to figure out why I keep having dreams about my cat Sam and how he gets outside, or I can't find him. I keep thinking it is because Sam is getting old and since we lost George, I just don't want to "lose Sam". I know animals don't live that long and I still miss cats that I have had before. Jill commented to me that she thinks that "people who treat pets as people" are just not right. She doesn't quite understand how much a pet does for a person I think. Especially ones like Jerry and I who don't have kids around - Sam is like our KID!

Okay enough of that. I got carried away there.

I know that it is supposed to snow Thurs. evening and maybe shovels will have to be out...I keep thinking of the "crazy drivers" who forget how to drive in the snow - I hope I won't be one of them. ha ha.

I don't want to miss PIE at Village Inn Friday, so I am so hoping that the roads will be clear! We just never know with Iowa do we? That is part of the "charm" though that Iowa has. Well, ya all take care now and ya all come back - ya here! (Where did that come from?)

Ask in faith, nothing wavering. for he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. -- James 1:6 KJV