Our Hunting Camp

Today I made it to fitness fusion. We did lots of squats, lunges, reaches, one-legged stuff. We did a cardio workout with our dumbbells. Clint is my trainer on Fridays, and Clint just loves to be a smarty-pants and give me a hard time. We do an ab workout to the old 60"s song "Wipeout". You know the song. Well on part of it we are doing crunches, and then whenever the music changes, we go into a bicycle ab workout- you know, elbow to the opposite knee. I debated on going swimming this morning and I did not get away from the house soon enough. Yesterday I talked about doing some workout, and NEVER made it to do anything. Yes, I feel so guilty. I am trying to get away right now to go to our hunting camp. I am taking my mountain bike, and maybe I can get a ride in. I am also taking my sewing machine along with my Bible study. I love being out there with my family even though it will only be dh and my youngest son. My older son may make it out there. My dd and sil will not be here this weekend. It is fun to be out there with the other members of the club. I am not a hunter. I just do not want to kill a deer. I certainly do not have any problem with anyone else killing one. I do love to eat venison. I have grown up with my father and brother being hunters and then married a hunter. I have fond memories of going to the deer lease when I was a child. I am thankful that my husband has taught my sons gun safety and they will know how to provide for themselves as well as defend their homes should that ever (God forbid) happen. So all of you be careful this weekend if you are hunting or getting out for Halloween.

Washington D.C.

Today we are praying for the leaders, churches, and Christians of Washington, D. C., and also for American Samoa (U.S. Territory). We continue to pray for soldiers, sailors, marines airmen, and guardsmen of our Armed Forces, thanking God for their service and asking Him to bless them with strength.

I was listening to Joyce Meyer on the radio the other morning. I only caught the end of her message. I love to hear Joyce Meyer preach. I'm not going to get into her theology on certain things, nor debate anyone about female preachers. I think she is just such a regular person when she speaks. She is not eloquent in the least. She has a rough voice (like someone else I know), and she is just so direct. She was talking about the homonyms- presents and presence. She was saying some people just worship God for what He does for them. (presents) When we should worship Him just because of Who He is- presence. She told a story of a woman who contacted her ( I assume someone who had donated to her ministry), and the woman said, " I want my money back." Joyce says, " What, what are you talking about?" She says, " I want my money back, it's been two weeks now since I told God what I wanted and I haven't gotten it, so I want my money back." Joyce says, " I didn't know God was for sale." I say all this because I not only pray for these states, but I also tell God what I want. Does that mean that God is still God if the future events don't turn out like I want? Could God still work regardless of who we elect as President? Does God want us to pray for the next President if it was not our candidate? Yes... yes... yes... God can do whatever He wants. He is God, and He has a plan. It may not be our plan, and we may not understand, but no matter what happens... I 'm trusting God, and I still know that He is going to do mighty things.

My Third Post

Gosh... my third post for today. Believe me I have not been on the computer all morning. I am now on my third load of laundry, I have my chicken casserole all ready for tonight's dinner, and I have paid my bills. I am much slower than what I used to be, but I do still get things done. I just got word from my doctor's office. My bone density test is normal. Yea!! My stress test was good!! My blood work was good!! Now one more thing.... the dreaded.... colonoscopy. I will make this appointment soon. I have not made it for my exercise today yet. I hope I get it in.

Cool Fall Morning

I am loving this cool fall morning. The temperature is in the 40's, and it feels great. I have not turned my heat on in the house. I am preferring to sleep under a warm blanket, and then get up and put on windpants and a sweat shirt. I know my guys are looking forward to deer hunting this weekend with these cool temperatures. They never like it to be hot when they deer hunt. I love venison. My husband processes the deer himself, and mixes the ground meat with brisket fat. It is still lean meat, but has a great flavor. In fact, we still laugh about when my daughter was a young child and we had beef steak ( not deer backstrap ) for dinner on a rare occasion. After eating several bites, she said, " Momma, this meat tastes funny." Now I do not like straight ground venison. It has to be mixed with some beef fat. I love deer sausage and deer cutlets. I love knowing that these animals have eaten in the wild and have not been pinned up in a nasty processing plant and given some kind of inoculation. Yes, I do still eat beef, but my point is I do like venison. I do try to eat healthy, but I am just like the average American, and I love hamburgers and French fries. I have gotten back on my habit of eating oatmeal each morning. I plan to try to eat it 5 days a week, and then I can have something else like eggs or waffles on the weekend.

Today, I am again trying to catch up on some of my reading. I am still trying to finish the Daniel Bible study that I started 6 months ago. Also, I am reading some of my last month's World magazine. Are you familiar with this magazine? It is a news magazine much like Time or Newsweek, but it has a Christian worldview. I like the news in it, and I like the editorials. I get to learn about other defenders of the faith, books in review, movies in review, and what is going on across the world in regard to Christianity. You sure cannot read that anywhere else.

Yesterday I went to FF. We did alot of walking lunges, walking squats, lifting the medicine ball, extending the medicine ball, planking with one foot off the ground. This morning when I woke up, I had some sore muscles. I mean... it wasn't tremendously sore, but nevertheless, I did feel something. But I thought to myself, " Gosh, I am only a little sore. I remember when a workout like yesterday would have had me in agony when I tried to sit down." I need to do something today cardio-wise... a bike ride.... a swim.... a walk. Hmm.... I better get off this computer and get busy.

Wisconsin and Wyoming

So today we are praying for Wisconsin and Wyoming. We are praying for the leaders, churches, and Christians of these states. We also are praying that Christians in the workplace will demonstrate exemplary ethics and shine as witnesses for Christ. Matthew 5:16 says in the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.

Washington and West Virginia

Today is Day 25, and our prayer today is for the states of Washington and West Virginia. We are praying for the leaders, churches, and Christians of these states. Today we again pray for the police officers, prosecutors, defenders, judges, and Justices of the Supreme Court, that they would be vigilant in service and wise in judgment.

I have never been to either of these states. But I know that they have the same problems that we have in the state of Texas. We are all in need of God's wisdom. We are all tempted to do things that are unpleasing to God. I pray that God will quicken our spirit to know sin as it comes to us. Sometimes we don't even recognize it in ourselves. I ask God always to show me what he would have me do as well as what he would have me not do. Thankfully, God is not through with me. Sometimes his correction can be quite painful. Many times we can see the bad in other people but not recognize it in ourselves. Thank you God that you are in the people-changing business!!

Living Proof Ministries

Well, those of you that know me know that I love the Beth Moore Bible studies. I have been doing them for about 12 years. I have done just about every one of them, and many of them I have done more than once. I just consider Beth a great mentor. I feel she is truly annointed by God. She is a Texan who speaks our kinda talk. She is a mom; she is humorous, and she is very smart. God continues to use her in discipling others . So I just found her blog and wanted to post it so that others could link on to this. If you have never done a Beth Moore Bible study, then you have missed out. She is very indepth, and you will learn alot.

Swimming

Yesterday before FF, I went for about a 30 minute swim. Swimming is just hard work. I think it is because you have to not breathe the entire time, but hold your breath. I swam yesterday about 16 laps which is 800 yards. When I come to the end of the pool, I would just tread water and turn around and I kept this up the entire time. I want to be able to swim like I am in a lake which has no sides to it. The temperature outside was cold, the temperature in the gym was warm, and the pool was a good temperature. Of course, I have to put my legs in and kick and kick and kick before I plunge in and begin my swimming. I would like to make myself get up there early in the morning before my FF and before work. However.... I just don't know if I will make it.

I'm Done

Okay, I'm done with the television show "House". You know... I loved to watch this show. The main character House was so obnoxious, but I still liked to watch him. I guess because he would say things to people that I would like to say sometimes. But he is a total arrogant A_ _. I loved watching how they would figure out what type of disease the person had. But last week- ugh... double ugh.... they had one of the doctors who is a female making out with another female. Yuk! double yuk! You know they could insinuate that a person was gay, and even say that a person was gay, but showing that. No!! absolutely not!! I am not going to watch two females kissing each other!! So I am done with House. Good-bye!!!!

What is it about?

What is this blog about? Well, I began with the focus of exercise for middle-age people. I wanted to diary some of the things I do and learn, and that has been the focus of this blog. Periodically I have thrown in things I think about or things I do, just stuff. But as of late this blog has turned somewhat to things that are not "stuff". I have listed the states along with other requests that I along with many others have been in prayer for. So what is prayer? The best way I describe it is me talking to God. Does God talk back? Well, I have never heard God speak to me in a voice that is audible. But that does not mean He could not do it. After all.... HE IS GOD!!! So how does God speak to me? Well, since I have His Holy Spirit dwelling in me, this is how He talks to me. As I read His word, He speaks to me. As I talk to other people, He uses them to speak to me. As I face different circumstances, He speaks to me. So I make no apologies regarding the direction of this blog. It is how God leads me that I write. And with that, I must say this- if you don't believe in any of this about God speaking to you, or if you don't believe that He is the one true God, or if you don't have a desire to know Him better, or if you don't really love Him.... then ask. Yes... ask God to speak to you. Begin today to pour your heart out to Him. Ask Him to give you the desire to know Him better, to love Him. And if you don't know Him and think " I don't believe in any of this God stuff," then I ask you to just say, " I don't believe in you, but I am asking anyway in all earnest if you are really real God, would you reveal yourself to me because I really do want to know that you are real?" See what happens.

I have to say that along with prayer does come change. And these last few weeks of fervent prayer have taken me on a journey. I am thankful to friends who along side of me have cried along with me for this nation. One of my friends "just happened" to stumble on a blog that has tremendous truth. I ask you to go and read this blog and read the post from this man entitled" I am not voting for a man." His blog is www.randyalcorn.blogspot.com Now I must warn you... there are two videos on this blog. The first one will warm your heart. The second one.... well.... it will tear your heart right out of your chest. So I give you this warning ahead of time. You will not be the same after viewing this video. What have you thought about and how have you felt when you viewed the videos and photos of the Jews' Holocaust? Did you feel sick to your stomach? Then you have an idea of what I am describing. Before you vote, I ask you as my friend, my neighbor, my fellow countryman, my brother or sister in Christ to visit this blog. Don't stop reading until you have read it in its entirety.

I have neglected posting the states we have prayed for. Today is Vermont and Virginia. In days past, it was Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas and Utah. Let's continue to pray for our President, Vice President, Senators, Representatives, and Judges. May they all seek the Almighty God in the decisions that affect all of us. May God have mercy on this nation if we continue this path away from Him.

My Stress Test

Friday morning I arrived at my appointment to have my stress test. My appointment was at 11:00 so I saw no need to grab anything to eat. I had my breakfast at 7:00. I should be through quickly to go to lunch. NOT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! They did not get me into the room until well after 12:30. According to my age, for me to get to 100% of my heart rate, they would have to get me to 166 beats per minute. I got on the treadmill and if you have had one of these, then you know that they start it out at a normal walking pace, then they increase both the speed and the incline. Meanwhile the technician is watching the numbers on the computer screen. And she periodically checked my blood pressure. I only went to phase 3 because she got me to 104% for 3 minutes. The doctor had asked her why she did not go longer and she told him that I was at 104%. I don't know if that meant that they should have had me on longer or not. The strange thing was although I was becoming winded, I never did sweat. I mean.... this was not hard. My spin class would have me dripping wet on my face, the back of my neck, my clothes. Was it because I did not stay at this rate for very long? Or did I just really get my heart rate up at that spin class? Anyway... there was not a great, good, fair, or poor. He said it was either good or bad, and I was good. I knew it was going to be fine because I have not had chest pains from exercise. I really think it is caffeine or stress.

Planning

My plans today were to get up really early and go swim and then on to FF. And what did I do? I turned that alarm right off. I made several excuses, but my biggest problem was that I did not PLAN. You see today at 11:00 a.m. I am having a stress test. I live 10 miles from town so going and coming is 20 miles- a gallon of gas- hence, about $2.79, not to mention the wasted time of driving. So if I went to my exercise, then I would have to wait until my appointment time for my stress test. That was no problem. But I also planned to go to lunch with my mother and then go to our hunting ranch. I plan to spend the night there and stay all day on Saturday. So... I need all my stuff for all of these places, and I did not get it all packed up last night. Therefore, that is what I am doing this morning before I go to the stress test. I so try to be organized, but I am not very good at it. I find that planning is so important in so many areas- exercise, what we plan to eat, and how we spend our time. We can do so much better when we plan!! I think I will mark this down definitely as one of my goals that I hope to improve on. I certainly don't want to become absorbed in my planning and drive people around me crazy, but I want a happy medium of being a better steward of everything- namely my time.

Oregon and Pennsylvania

Today we are praying for the leaders, churches, and Christians of Pennsylvania. We are also praying for the teachers and administrators of our educational systems, that they would be positive, God-honoring influences in students' lives. Do you remember when you thought your teachers were right up there next to God? I remember when I was young seeing my teacher out shopping. I was so stunned to see her out in public. I mean... I guess I just never thought of her as being like a real person. But she was still the same in public as she was in school. She still was dressed very nice with her hair fixed and she had a smile on her face. She acknowledged me and I thought I was so special. What power teachers have in a child's life. Like I have stated before, many of my dear friends are teachers as well as my daughter. These I mention love their jobs- they love teaching and their students despite the struggles they encounter. Pray for ALL the teachers you know today!

Ohio and Oklahoma

Today is our 19th day of prayer. We are praying for the leaders, churches, and Christians of Ohio and Oklahoma. We also are praying for a spiritual awakening across the nation, that the Gospel would be communicated across the full spectrum of American society and that Americans of all ages, races, and backgrounds would be drawn to Christ and receive His life and salvation. I found out about 20 years ago the difference between "revival" and "awakening". A revival has to do with people who are already Christians. Those that have put their faith in Jesus and follow Him as their Lord and Savior. You must already be a Christian to be revived. Awakening is when people for the very first time come to know Christ as Lord and Savior. There have been times in England and in this great country of ours that there has been an "awakening. And that is what we are praying for today.

North Carolina and North Dakota

Today we are praying for the leaders, churches, and Christians of North Carolina and North Dakota We are also praying for the candidates for public office, that they would be moved by God to seek what is honorable, just and moral.

Yesterday I swam for about 41 minutes. I swam 28 laps. The first four I touched the way and pushed my way off from the bank, but the other 24 I swam without every touching the bottom or the sides, and I swam nonstop. I am still having to swim all different ways to make it though. Today I am on my way to fitness fusion. Gotta go.

New Mexico and New York

Today we are praying for the leaders, churches, and Christians of New Mexico and New York. We are also praying for the soldiers, sailors, marines, airmen, and guardsmen of our Armed Forces, thanking God for their service and asking Him to bless them with strength.

I am about to head to the pool. It is hard when it is cold in the morning to jump into a cold swimming pool. Yes, it is heated, but it is not warm enough for me until I get going. Then it is on to work for me. Have a great day!

Fitness Fusion

Today was a great day at Fitness Fusion. We did alot of cardio workout today which included holding dumbbells and doing lunges, squats, along with curls, hooks, shoulder lifts, tricep workout. Gosh... it was just a good overall workout. There was one member who was having a diffcult time with the workout. Normally, she is gungho and doing the workout with no problem. But today, she was moaning and complaining and she soon realized her problem. She was totally calorie-depleted. There are different schools of thought on this- eat before exercise, don't eat before exercise, eat protein, eat fruit. But what Xand suggested is protein with a small amount of fat. He suggested having around 300 calories before our workout. When we meet on Wednesday, we will see how our class member fairs and take note of what she had for breakfast. Since I am no longer doing the spin class, I have been sorta negligent on Tuesdays. Hmm..... what to do tomorrow? I may swim, or I may walk at the mall, or I may go to a local neighborhood and either walk or run, or I may just skip it. We shall see.

Behind Again

I am behind again on posting the states we are praying for. Some of you are skipping this, and some of you are praying for these. Don't gripe if you are not soliciting the most powerful source available. Saturday we were praying for the states of Missouri and Montana. Yesterday was Nebraska and Nevada, and today is New Hampshire and New Jersey. We continue to pray for the leaders, churches, and Christians in these states. Why Christians? Well, it seems like these days just say that you are trusting God, or that you believe in the power of prayer, or that you are a follower of Jesus Christ. And what do you get? Well you are made to feel like you just asked the Easter Bunny for something. You believe in fairy tales, or you are weak and stand back and do nothing. I intend to continue to pray because I have faith in God. Regardless if the outcome is not what I want, I know that God will set up our government. I believe this by reading His Word. He sets up good kings and bad kings, and He brings them down too. Christians are the target of jokes, hatred, and hey.... talk about intolerance. We are not allowed to say we believe this is the Way, even though that is what Jesus said. For us to believe otherwise is to deny Him as being the Truth. We are tolerant to let you express yourself along with your beliefs, but don't ask me to say that it is right. If that is what you consider is intolerant, the fact that I say it is not true, then yes... I am intolerant. But for you to tell me that I can't say it, then it is you being intolerant of what I believe. Okay... back to my prayer- we are also praying for our Representatives and Senators who serve in the U.S. Congress, that they will govern with God-honoring discernment and preserve the freedoms we enjoy as Americans. We are praying for those who serve as police officers, prosecutors, defenders, judges, and justices of the U.S. Supreme Court, that they would be vigilant in service and wise in judgment. And finally, for the genuine conversion and successful rehabilitation of those who have committed crimes. Yes, I do believe in prayer. I have personal testimony to know the power of God. He has changed me... I am still a work in progress... He continues to work on me, thank you God!

Minnesota and Mississippi

Today we are praying for the leaders, churches, and Christians of Minnesota and Mississippi. We are also praying for our individual communities, specifically for their safety from conflict and crime. May there be peace within your walls and security within your citadels. Psalm 122:7

My swim yesterday turned out better than I expected. I did put the wax in my ears and the cap on my head, and I was able to swim without my head or ears hurting. I am like going back to square one with this swimming. You know- down there freestyle, and back either left side, right side, breast stroke, or back stroke. I did go 24 laps. But will I ever be able to swim nonstop freestyle? I know I just need to push harder, but I just don't know if I have it in me or not. Well.... I am on my way to FF. Have a great day!

Massachusetts and Michigan

Today we are praying for the leaders, churches, and Christians of Massachusetts and Michigan. Also we are praying for God's kingdom come, His will be done for each of our lives and our families.

I am on my way to swim. I am not doing this often. The water has bothered my ear. I am wearing the wax stuff in my ear today along with my swim cap so maybe this will help with the cold water. When you don't swim for awhile, it is really hard to get going again. My pregnant daughter has quit her running and kickboxing and is now swimming. She is up to 12 laps. She is keeping active and hopes to until the baby comes.

Maine and Maryland

Okay, I am about to head out to my FF class, and I wanted to quickly get this in for all of you prayer warriors who are doing this special prayer for our nation and want to get started. Today we are praying for the leaders, churches, and Christians of Maine and Maryland. We are also praying for the President and the Vice-President. We pray that they would be guided by God and that their decisions would be wise, and that their leadership would be principled.

Kentucky and Louisiana

Today we are praying for the leaders, churches, and Christians of Kentucky and Louisiana. We are also praying for the children and youth of America. We pray that God will grant them protection of body, soul, mind, and spirit, and fill them with godly desires and true hope.

Catching Up

Well, I need to catch up and explain my absence from my prayer requests. All I can figure out is the past couple of days I have had a light case of the flu. I have been nauseated, achky, feverish, tired, and just plain felt bad. I am starting to feel better, but I am still not up to par. I had noticed toward the end of the week I was feeling rundown and just tired. So, I guess that I just picked up some sort of virus. So that being said, let me backtrack.

Saturday-This day was our prayer for Hawaii and Idaho. We also included on this day praying for the soldiers, sailors, marines, airmen, guardsmen of all Armed Services. We thank God for their service and ask Him to bless them with strength.

Sunday- This day was our prayer for Illinois and Indiana. We pray for all candidates of public office that they would be moved by God to seek what is honorable, just, and moral.

Today- We are praying today for the leaders, churches, and citizens in Iowa and Kansas. May there be a great awakening across our nation. We pray that all American Society would hear the Great News about Jesus and all would receive His life and His salvation.

Florida and Georgia

Today our prayer is for Florida and Georgia. We are praying for the churches to deepen its committment to prayer and never cease to call upon God.

In the morning, oh Lord, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait in expectation. Psalm 5:3

Evening, morning, and noon, I cry out in distress, and he hears my voice. Psalm 55:17

I have posted watchman on your walls, O Jerusalem; they will never be silent day or night, You who call on the Lord, give ourselves no rest. Isaiah 62:6

Exercise Accountability

Today when I woke up, I tossed around the idea of just skipping my fitness fusion class. I mean, I am not going full force with my routine like I have previously done. And I thought, what the heck, I have things to do here at home. But I said, "No, no, no!!!!!!!!! What are you doing here? Get yourself up and get moving." When I arrived at my class, there was only one other member present. I was about 3 minutes late. The trainer was going over some site specific exercises that this other member of the class wanted to target. He was all ready to get this small lesson and head to the house. Then I threw a kink into his plans by arriving. In a few short minutes another member straggled in. The early arrival was sunk. There was no backing out now because he would have been so scorned by the rest of us. After we had finished our class, he thanked me for coming to class, and thus prompting him to remain and suffer with us. Now I am not accountable to him, nor him to me. I cannot depend on him to make sure I am in class, nor vice-versa. This just reiterates the fact that exercise does require accountability, but to whom? We must ultimately be accountable to ourselves. Make up your mind and commit yourself to a plan. Hey... I am giving myself a pep talk. I know I need it. I know I will feel better after I do it. I know that my being there, it helps others to keep going. And hopefully, anyone reading this is also encouraged to keep on keeping on.

My foot is continuing to improve. I do hope to be doing more before too long. Right now there is no way you could say that I am training. But I am still being active, just not 100%. So don't stop what you are doing. Remember you are doing your body good.

Connecticut and Delaware

Today we are praying for the states of Connecticut and Delaware. I have never been to either of these states. I had a great aunt and uncle that lived in Connecticut. He was a caretaker for a person of wealth in this state. He was German and my aunt was Swedish. My maternal grandparents were both Swedish immigrants who met at Ellis Island. But back to prayer- I am praying today for these leaders of these two states- the Governors all the way down to the city councilmen. I am praying for the citizens as well so seek God's wisdom in the decisions they are faced with each day. And let's face it... we are faced with decisions each day when we can choose to do the right thing or the wrong thing. What is the wrong thing? The thing that would displease God? We are faced with temptation to benefit ourselves or to receive pleasure. We are faced with temptations to explode on people because we don't like what they did or said. But today is the day I have set aside not only to pray for people I know, but to pray for the leaders, citizens and churches in Connecticut and Delaware.

California and Colorado

Okay today our prayer focus is on California and Colorado. Pray for the leaders, citizens, and Christians of these states. May God convict hearts of sin and the people turn to God for all wisdom. I am trying to get up early enough to get on the computer to write these so that those of you who are prayer warriors will be praying all day long when it comes to your mind. I am about to head out to FF. I am still taking it easy with the cardio because of my foot. Have a great day!

Arkansas and Arizona

Today we are praying for Arkansas and Arizona. Also we are praying for our U.S. representatives along with our Senators. May all of these seek God as they make decisions that affect their state and our nation. We thank God for men and women of integrity when this business is so tempting to corrupt so many. We pray that they will resist this temptation and seek God's leadership in all they do. We also pray for their families who "lend" them to us for this civil service.

Cleaning Out

I am in the process of cleaning out my books. I have too many books. Cookbooks, self-help books, home-schooling books, children's books, collectible books, all kinds of books. I have books that were gifts, brand-new books, antique books, resale shop books, second-hand bookstore books, garage sale books, numerous books. So before I get rid of some of them, I am trying to read them. Here is one that stayed on the best-seller list for quite awhile. It is called All I Need To Know I Learned In Kindergarten by Robert Fulghum. It is a very quick read and I really like the very beginning of the book which I will quote now.

All I really need to know about how to live and what to do and how to be I learned in Kindergarten. Wisdom was not at the top of the graduate-school mountain, but there in the sandpile at Sunday School. These are the things I learned:
Share everything.
Play fair.
Don't hit people.
Put things back where you found them.
Clean up your own mess.
Don't take things that aren't yours.
Say you're sorry when you hurt somebody.
Wash your hands before you eat.
Flush.
Warm cookies and cold milk are good for you.
Live a balanced life-learn some and think some and draw and paint and sing and dance and play
and work every day some.
Take a nap every afternoon.
When you go out into the world, watch out for traffic, hold hands, and stick together.
Be aware of wonder. Remember the little seed in the Styrofoam cup: The roots go down
and the plant goes up and nobody really knows how or why, but we are all like that.
Goldfish and hamsters and white mice and even the little seed in the Styrofoam cup- they all
die. So do we.
And remember the Dick-and-Jane books and the first word you learned- the biggest word of
all-LOO

Praying for Our Nation

For 30 days beginning yesterday, our church along with many other churches have begun specifically to pray for our nation. We are praying for people to seek the Lord's wisdom. For those of us that are Christians, we are praying that the Holy Spirit direct us when we go to the polls. We are praying that our churches will be a shining light in this world. That we will be the salt in the world. We are praying that a revival will come forth among believers. And we are praying for an awakening- this being that lost souls will come to know the One and Only God Jehovah. During these 30 days we are praying specifically for individual states. Yesterday we prayed for the President and the Vice-President. Today we are praying for Alaska and Alabama. So any of you believers reading this are invited to join collectively with many of us around this nation and pray today for Alabama and Alaska. I will post each day on the states we are praying for. My desire is to follow God. My desire is stand with Him on what He believes. My desire is to please Him in all that I do. And yes... this is quite a struggle for me. Because you see... I am like most other earthly beings.... I am constantly at working pleasing myself... doing what feels good to ME.. putting myself first... so yes.. this is not something that comes naturally, but only by God changing my heart, my will, and my mind.

Ramblings

People that know me know that sometimes I can ramble. People that know me know that sometimes I can say something quite profound. Sometimes it is just a thought that I absolutely know that comes from God Himself. That being because I am not so smart to come up with alot of profound ideas. And yet... sometimes I can say a thought that does not necessarily come from God but just from my own experiences, circumstances, etc. So that being explained, here is my rambling for the day. I am finding out more and more that people really do not care what I have to say or what I think or how I feel...... unless.... they ask me. I need to learn to just keep my mouth shut and not offer what I think or give my opinion... unless they say, " And what do you think of this?" Or... " And how do you feel about this?" Then it is still a toss-up if they really do want to know. Somehow I just need to remind myself of this. Here is an example.. in my exercise class my trainer was talking about the three aspects of physical health- diet, aerobics, and strength training. Class had finished and there were only three members plus the instructor. Somehow I thought it my "duty" to just add one small minute comment that took all of 3 seconds for me to say. I just added, " Fitness comes with aerobics and strength training, but weight loss depends on diet." Say that aloud. How long did it take for you to say that? Yet another member of the class thought it was necessary for me to know that they did not want to hear what I said, but let the instructor talk. Oh, it was not said totally rude, but the message was clear. "I do not want to hear what you say so shut up." I know just how they feel. I have thought the same thing before at a weight watchers meeting. Only it was comment upon comment by someone who I did not really want to hear what they thought. But oh.... I am so thankful that I do not have to regret saying something rude to that person. No, my feelings are not hurt. She was right. Alot of times no one really cares what someone else is thinking. So.... I am vowing to keep my opinions and ideas to myself, unless I am asked. Those of you that know me... well.... I have a big task ahead of me.