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Showing posts from November, 2011

Unity: The Best Ingredient

Unity was the best ingredient in our Thanksgiving Dinner Celebration. I have been inspired as I read posts about others' Thanksgiving holiday and decided to write one of my own today. When I woke on Thanksgiving, it was so dark and cold and quiet in my kitchen, but a pot of coffee and the Word of God warmed my body and my soul. I read Psalm 133 which speaks of unity among family and how pleasing it is to the Lord. It’s like precious oil poured on Aaron’s head and runs down his robes. Imagine being cloaked in unity and the Lord saying He bestows his blessing! This message had a wonderful ring to it and I prayed for unity as the day began. It manifested in most surprising ways! Our cousin, Wayne, woke up showing me the house slippers he packed because he feels so at home at our house. Dice woke up early and cooked us a hearty breakfast of bacon, biscuits and gravy. The guys watched a cooking show after the parade and displayed their research dressing the 22 lb. bird with stuffi

This Balm is Divine

If I could package a divine healing balm and wrap it real pretty and tie it with a bow, I would. I would give it out as gifts to all my friends and family who are hurting as we enter the holiday season. It was last week, in fact, when I came home late in the evening and discovered as I got ready for bed that the left side of my lip was sore and puffy and felt lacerated. I remembered a Christmas gift my good friend and mentor, Helen, gave me years ago so I went into my medicine cabinet to find it: Bag Balm! Helen told me that it always works and heals quickly. I rarely get cold sores or lip sores so I forgot all about the balm. It has amazing properties and just like Helen said, it worked thoroughly and effectively. By morning, my lip was healed. But there’s a greater healing. For several months now, our Life Group has done an intense study on the Blood of Jesus. His Blood is powerful. It changes people and situations. It restores the prosperous and the poor. It improves circ

Random Blessings

Here it is the week before Thanksgiving and excitement is building as I plan my menu, polish the silver, shop for groceries and clean the guest room. But I want to pause and focus on my blessings once again and thank God for them. I’m calling it “random blessings” this week! I met with my prayer sister yesterday. After lunch at a Mexican restaurant, we sat in the park across the street and enjoyed a beautiful fall day with strong sun and gentle cool breezes. We had a powerful afternoon time of prayer in the crisp outdoors. It looks like I can possibly close a sale tomorrow. I’m so thankful to be able to have a big sale to work on as the holidays begin. What a way to end the year. Our Tuesday night “Life Group” has been a great time of fellowship and renewing our minds. We have been discussing the Blood of Jesus focusing specifically on Knowing it, Believing it, Appropriating it and Expecting it. Our group is large; about twenty of us meet in a large home with

Couldn't Wait to Hug My Vet

I couldn’t wait. It’s a day early but I gave my husband Dice, a Viet Nam Vet, his card with a great big hug. The card was perfect. The front read: “Thank you for serving in the Navy” over a photo of a naval fleet out at sea. Dice liked it. He pointed to an aircraft carrier ship, way too familiar, having served two tours in the South China Sea on a Carrier. He explained how the carrier was a vulnerable ship and was protected by other war ships as they all traveled together, just like on my card. I was also able to give a warm hug to my friend Al, a veteran, while at lunch with him this week. My girlfriends honored him with a meal and we expressed our gratitude for all he continues to do for our nation’s veterans. Al, at 72, has fulfilled two-thirds of his childhood dream of walking across our great nation! In 2009, he walked from California to Ocean City, Md and in 2011, from Florida to Maine. Al pushes a cart decorated with flags and encourages veterans as well as firefighter

Unchangeable!

I’m thankful today that I live in the Verde Valley in Arizona. Although I love big cities, this climate is a good fit for me; I feel healthy here. The temperatures dropped radically while I was out in the country this weekend. It was cloudy but I threw my camera in my purse anyhow and snapped away as I drove around. I like this picture of the cliffs. It reminds me of the caves David hid in when Saul was after him in 1 Samuel 26. The passage refers to the wilderness of Judea, a desolate area by the Dead Sea. The hills have deep gorges. I can just imagine the fun the kids must have had when they decorated this tree! Adds a little color to the desert, don’t you think? The Pampas Grass is blooming all over now. A cold front moved into our state a few days ago. It’s been chilly and nice! Sweater weather is here. I look cold! Last weekend many people set their clocks back. Now my TV shows are off schedule and when I call my family in California, I have to remember they are one h

Maybe We Need A King

I hung up the phone and wanted to do cartwheels all over my office and dance, too. I had been talking with my boss for about ten minutes when he referred to Jesus as King of everything! The economy has hit us hard here in Arizona, especially in the housing industry. Our office has sold homes consistently nonetheless, so our owner calls often to discuss business. In our conversation this week, he referred to our current white house administration. Then Mr. Boss said this: “I’m thinking that maybe we need a king this next election.” And I said: “Oh, no Boss! What if we don’t like him? We won’t be able to vote him out in four years! The only king I would consider is King Jesus.” Then he said: “Jesus is already king; He’s king of everything!” Today, I’m thanking God for this conversation. I’m thanking Him that down deep inside, I realize that my boss knows the King of Kings and I can’t express how liberated that makes me feel. We share the same hope! 9-10

Friday Funnies ~ Thanksgiving Dinner Conversations

Suggestions to Liven Up Thanksgiving Dinner 1. Load your plate up high; take it to the kitchen, toss it all in the blender and take your "shake" back to the table. Announce that it's the new Thanksgiving Weight Loss Shake. 2. When everyone says, in turn, what they are thankful for, say, "I'm thankful I didn't get caught," and refuse to say anything more. 3. Bring a date that only talks about the tragic and abusive conditions known to exist at turkey farms. 4. During mid-meal, turn to Mom and say, "See mom, I told you they wouldn't notice that the turkey was past the expiration date. You were worried for nothing." Wishing you a wonderful Friday. For more smiles, go to Homesteader's Heart

Thankful for Hair Color and Faith

I’m thanking Jesus today that He cares about everything in my life big and small! My “read through the Bible” plan this year has me in one of the gospels every single day. I see over and over again how faith pleases Jesus and He easily can heal, deliver and teach. But I also see how disappointed He is when people do not believe. This difference made a change in me. I want to believe Him, to please Him. I made a faith declaration and it came true, but it is kind of funny. I hesitate mentioning it for fear it makes me look like a tightwad. My husband took me to lunch this week and on the way, I asked him to stop at Walgreens my favorite drug store for hair color. I mentioned to him that I didn’t have my coupon file but needed color and will just run in and buy a box. His reply surprised me. He said: “Why don’t you believe for a sale?” “Okay, I said. I’ll make a faith declaration!” I was just in the store two days ago and the brand I buy was full price, but that afternoon it was

Gratitude Affects Attitude

Being thankful changes us! One of my favorite Thanksgiving memories happened several years ago when I was asked to share in the program at our town’s Thanksgiving service held at the high school auditorium on Thanksgiving Eve. My youngest daughter was attending the high school; simultaneously, I was attending the weekly Moms in Touch meetings praying for the high school, our kids, their curriculum, and their teachers. I felt honored to represent this successful ministry in our little town and talk about it in the assembly. I saw the troubled kids who got help, the rebels who got caught because we prayed and the opportunities that arose to share our faith with our kids’ teachers. Those teachers knew we loved them and we wowed them with big fancy luncheons. I polished my speech. I was enthusiastic and assumed that my excitement would ignite my audience and perhaps even increase our membership! However, time was running out and something was definitely lacking. I stopped and a