Make My Monday With Mrs Nufon

Good morning to ya, ladies!

This past week has flown by with all its business. Here we are at the start of another week an I’m wonderin if I’m really ready for it.
So maybe ya might pardin me as I take another sip of coffee. And if ya feel the need, feel free to join me.
I found a little fun for ya’ll on an others site.
So here is a little picture fun.
See if you can find the face.

Now if ya have a love for the strong stuff like me, ya-- might be understanding how some of the following things could truly happen. But if any of the following are makin a stop by yur house--
chil, I’m thinking it is time ta--PUT DOWN THAT CUP and if ya can,
slowly walk away.

You Know You've Had Too Much Coffee When . . .

* You can type sixty words a minute with your feet.
* Instant coffee takes too long.
* You chew on other people's fingernails.
* You answer the door, before people knock.
* You sleep with your eyes open.
* You go to sleep, just so you can wake up and smell the coffee.
* You don't even wait for the water to boil anymore.
* You're the employee of the month at Starbucks - and you don't even work there. * You help your dog chase its tail.
* You lick your coffeepot clean.
* You go to AA meetings just for the free coffee.
* You're so wired you pick up FM radio.
* You have a picture of your coffee mug, on your coffee mug.


I'm off ta run some errands and pay those pesky bills.
I'm thinkin my little coffee boost will be helpin these ol legs of mine.
Take care and don't furget ta--

GO WITH JESUS!

Are you the tree?

The Tree

Deep in the woods, is a green pasture where an old apple tree stands. Many seasons have passed since the tiny seed was first planted. Great anticipation went with that seed into the ground. Other tiny seeds also
went into the ground, each planted with tender care.

However, as the young trees began to appear above the ground many became food for the animals of the forest. Others were merely trampled by those searching for something better. Only one small tree survived when a kind stranger built a small fence made of stones.

Through the years, the tree was almost lost by those wanting to take advantage of what the tree had to offer. Some came in search of food making holes in its limbs. Others simply wanted to make use of its strong branches for a seasonal home.

One summer almost all was lost as strong winds damaged limbs and roots. The tree seemed determined to survive as it poured its efforts into what was left of its body. That year there was no fruit as it spent time searching the soil for the nutrients it needed for repair.

For a few years, no new growth was evident. Each spring new leaves would appear and in the fall, they would be lost. Eventually the tree began to grow and fill in the gaping holes. Fruit appeared again - and in the process, it fed the birds of the air and its dropping apples nourished the ground.

During harvest that year, the stranger wore a huge smile and carried a bushel for gathering fruit. He was so proud of the old tree. He had fought faithfully for this tree, although the tree had no knowledge of the fight.

In those years when the tree looked as if it would not make it through to the next year, he had faithfully trimmed off the dead branches to make sure the roots sent nourishment only to that which needed to live. When drought came, he had come during the cool of the evening to bring water for the struggling tree. Many times, he had come just to sit with her and enjoy her company. Now that she was strong and healthy, he came to gather the fruit she bore. He would savor the fruit and then use the seeds to help produce many more fruit bearing trees.

------------------------------------------------------------------------
Life may not always be a spring afternoon. In order to get to those times of refreshment and new birth- many times we must face a life that is full of endings. If we remember that our God provides beginnings new each morning, maybe the harshness of the hard times will remind us that God makes all things beautiful in His time. Let us concentrate
on what will bring a smile to the Masters face, not on what this world needs from us. Everyday stretch forth your arms and allow the Son to produce in you that, which will please the Father.

I Love You- you are a sweet smelling fragrance

On this day when it is proper to say - I love you
I wanted to remind you that I too love you.
I watch you daily.
In the morning as you rise I glance lovingly on your face.

I look forward to the day when we will walk hand in hand
And enjoy the world I created just for you.
As you go about your day I love the conversations we have.
I love the sound of your voice.
And your words of praise
Bring such joy to my heart.

I wait with anticipation for your reaction to the blessings
I send your way.
And when you raise your heart to me in thanksgiving
I want to roll the clouds away.

Soon I'll send my Son to bring you home.
And as my love washes over you
And melts the world away-
You will then know
I love no one more than You.



My heart is full of love for you guys today. Thank you for all
 your sweet comments and prayers. Rudy was a great suggestion. I bought
it for my husband about a year ago. Every time he watches it --he cries.
I guess that is why I love him-he has a tender heart. And Holly, one day I
would love to take you up on that tea. I might even drink it sweet-
usually I use the pink stuff.
I posted this  for ya'll today because I want to remind
each of you just how great our Daddy's love is for each of you.

And 'Nise--I love being called precious one.
How blessed we have been by our Father to have found a body of women
who love to share the love of God
and they love to be loved.
My heart is full.
May you feel that love today. And may you know that I thank my God
on every remembrance of each of you.
Your actions today have brought a sweet smelling fragrance before the throne.

"Thank you God for blessing my girls the way they have blessed me!"

Casting all your cares

Although last night I did not feel like going to church, I went anyway. I thought maybe something would be said that would lighten my heart.
Yesterday was the day we started the paper work for my husbands Dad to enter the Nursing Home. My husbands brother came in to help with the process. It was so hard on all of us--but the boys had an extremely hard time. I have never seen my husband so broken.
And you know--when our husbands hurt-we hurt. How I wanted to fix it all.

So I went to church looking for a little relief. The service was good.
But I left with with a heavy heart.
I tried all the little tricks we try to change our moods. I spent some time thanking God. You know, to get my mind off me. Didn't notice any change.
So then I tried some music. I put in a C.D by Selah.
I tried to sing and worship but the weight in my chest did not leave.
Finally I called out to God.
"God I need you", was my cry.
Still no change.
Finally in my minds eye I took my heart and held it out to Jesus and said--"Help me please!"
At first I noticed no change.
And then it occurred to me-- I could once again breathe.
I also noticed that there were tears streaming down my face.
And, oh the peace.
Sweet peace.
Relief was flooding my heart.
And what love filled my soul!

My precious savior and friend was there.

Casting all your cares on Him for He cares for you!

Standing in the cleft of the ROCK covered by His hand.

Ever feel like you are on somebodies hit list?
Like things are constantly going wrong?
Ever wonder if God remembers you are on His side?
Sometimes we feel like God has withdrawn his protection or maybe something
just slipped by him.
Events mount and you may start to believe that God has forgotten about you.
Be encouraged---God is still in control.
He is working from a set of blue prints that have the perfection of God stamped on them.
Nothing touches you that He does not allow.
Here are some thoughts from Elisabeth Elliot on this subject matter.
It is amazing how God is using her devotionals each morning to speak to my heart.

The Power of Darkness

When the chief priests, temple officers, and elders came to the Garden of Gethsemane to arrest Jesus, they succeeded only because a sovereign God permitted them to succeed. Jesus pointed out that He was teaching daily in the Temple, yet they never laid a finger on Him. Now they were after Him with swords and staves. "But this is your hour, and the power of darkness is yours" (Lk 22:53 JBP). Who gave them that hour? Who allowed them the power to capture Him? It was God, without whose leave not even a sparrow can fall to the ground. God is omnipotent, never slumbering, just, righteous, and forever in control. He was not taken by surprise. All was working then, as it is always working, into a pattern for good.

Our own difficulties often appear to be random. Our tragedies look wildly uncontrolled. They are not. They are subject. Limits are set. God is quietly at work, standing in the shadows, ceaselessly watching over His children.

"The light shines on in the dark, and the darkness has never mastered it" (Jn l:5)

Now doesn't that allow you to relax in the hands of your Father?
Nothing catches Him by surprise.
He saw the past, present, and future--before they happened.
Ever thought about this?
If God can read your thoughts, He can read Satan's too.
Nothing catches our DAD by surprise!

Stand clear--- He's dynamiting in them there hills today!

A Smooth Path

The work of heavy highway equipment is to smooth the way for travelers by exalting valleys, making low the mountains and hills, straightening the crooked. Obstacles--trees, rocks, houses, even mountains themselves--are put out of the way. This is what the Lord can do for his travelers (it is promised by the prophet Isaiah), but He does it without fuss, and in response to the one who simply thinks of Him: "Think of Him in all your ways, and He will smooth your path" (Prv. 3:6 NEB).

The mind can build barriers, produce huge obstacles, collide with boulders of impossibility. Strangely and wonderfully, when we turn our thoughts to Him with whom nothing is an impossibility (and to turn thoughts takes an act of will), He smoothes the path for us. We find it possible, maybe even easy, to move forward.

Don't waste time, energy, perhaps sleep-time, thinking of all those rocks in the way. Think of Him. Think of Him! You may find your path suddenly smoothed.

Seems to be a trend to the devotionals that I am getting by email. Yesterday, the idea that God is working at creating something don't understand and I need to patiently trust Him.

Today--don't waste time worrying about what He is busy doing. Keep you eyes on the hills from where your help comes from and He will makes the paths straight and He'll get you where He wants you.

So if you hear a lot of loud noise-don't be concerned-it's just God setting off the dynamite to clear the path.

There's Victory In Them There hills

This is a view into my backyard.
Mounds of mud and debris from the old house. Last week out from the mud we began to see color.
Roses straining to bear their fruit from under clay and mud.

Kind of like us?

-----------

Into our lives some trials will fall

We see them each day

We've encountered them all
They may bow down our head
Or fill our hearts with dread
But when our Master says stop-They will all bend their knee

Because when victory is nigh-He has the final decree

So look unto the hills
for victory is nigh
"There's victory in them there hills"
Is our victory cry.

Into our lives a little mud will fall--
But out from the cracks
Our master is still able to beauty call

Here is a little beauty that answered His call with an
AMEN!

Second Post Monday

I guess I should just assume that on Monday's there will be at least two posts.
That is the way it has been happening.
Mrs Nufon is fun but I have had some things this weekend to deal with so I would like to talk about it. Honestly, I was a little upset with God.
You see, we had some plans and they seemed to us to be what God would expect of us. My father-in-law is 91 years old, my step-mother-in-law, 81. Now, they have been married for 16 years and are now at the point they need help they don't want. We have always said that by the time they needed this type of help we would have a home for them to come to. We even bought plans for our new home to include a room for them.
Now the time has come for them to need that room and it as ya'll know, it is not ready for them. The solution -something I said I would never do- put them in a nursing home. My father-in-law, Mr Bert is still in good health, although he can not see very well and of course he wants to be with his wife. And Mrs Nita, my mother in law, is having problems with dementia and her daughter says she is placing her in a nursing home.
This weekend my heart was breaking and so was my husbands. He has such a tender heart and this was just not something he thought he would have to deal with either. In all honesty I was a little aggravated with God. How could he allow this to happen? Why now? Why, if he knew this was going to happen would He have not allowed us to have the house ready?
Questions, questions and more questions.
This morning I posted my Monday post and then decided to have my devotional time before I caught up on other emails. This was my devotional from Elisabeth Elliot this morning.

Will God Explain Why?

We sometimes imagine that God must eventually "sit us down" and "explain" his mysterious ways to our satisfaction. Let us suppose we have never seen a skyscraper. We discover a whole city block surrounded by a board fence. Finding a knothole, we peer inside. Huge earth movers are at work; hundreds of men in hard hats are busy at mysterious tasks; cranes are being moved into place; truckloads of pipes and cement are being unloaded. What on earth is happening? There is nobody around to answer our questions. If we wait long enough, nobody will need to. When we see the finished building, all the incomprehensible activity becomes comprehensible. "Oh! So this is what that was for."

"I shall be satisfied when I awake, with Thy likeness" (Ps 17: 15 AV).

I wanted an answer from God----I guess I got it.

Thank you Lord.

We will wait.

Thank you for patiently answering my questions in such a loving way.

Make My Monday--------- With Mrs Nufon

Good morning dearies.
I do so hope yer Lord's day was a beautiful one. This one is going to be a quick one. Seems I hav a little list ta take care of today-so i'll be movin right along. Here is a little humor from the south. I'm born an bred southern so I' m gessin it'll be alright to be havin a little fun with the things we do.
And in case yer wonderin who's really responsible for yer protection- ya might take a gander at who's fallin in close behind me. In the Good Book in the 91st chapter of the book of Psalms, you'll find that God gave him the job ta be watchin over me in the case I might stumble. And thats a good thing -because the old bones are gettin a tad brittle.

Have a blessed day and don't furget to hug yer youngins.

HOW TO INSTALL A HOME SECURITY SYSTEM IN THE SOUTH

1. Go to a second-hand store and buy a pair of men's used size 14-16 work boots.

2. Place them on your front porch, along with a copy of Guns & Ammo Magazine.

3. Put a few giant dog dishes next to the boots and magazines.

4. Leave a note on your door that reads:

"Hey Bubba, Big Jim, Duke and Slim, I went for more ammunition. Back in an hour. Don't mess with the pit bulls - they attacked the mailman this morning and messed him up real bad. I don't think Killer took part in it but it was hard to tell from all the blood. Anyway, I locked all four of 'em in the house. Better wait outside.

"Cooter"

Does my heart hurt?

Last night I became aware of the knowledge that my mentor's father had passed away suddenly yesterday morning. I was crushed. Every time my heart thinks of her and her family-I hurt. No, I have never met her personally. And, probably will not meet her until we get to heaven. But she has touched my heart in ways that only God and I know. So when she hurts I hurt. Why?--because I love her.

I asked God to put His love in my heart. A love that would allow me to love people the way He does. After all we are told we will be known by our love --right?

Today I feel love and pain. But that is o.k. because it will always happen this way. It is a good thing. With love comes feeling, and with feeling, an ability to stay in contact the heart of God. When His heart hurts so will mine.
So today I love and today I hurt.
Here is a little devotional I received by Elisabeth Elliot.

No Love Without Grief

Tell us, fool, who knows more of love--the one who has joys from it or the one who has trials and griefs? He answered: There cannot be any knowledge of love without both of them.

(Ramon Lull, The Book of the Lover and the Beloved)

When I imagine that I want to learn to love God--and to love my husband and others whom God has given me to love--let me test the desire of my willingness to accept trial and grief. If I can welcome them--Yes, Lord!--and believe God's purpose in them, I am learning the lesson of love. If I cannot, it's a fair indication that my desire to love is a delusion.

So today reach out in love. Christ did. Remember that He bore our grief so that in love we may bare another's.

Stars Singing?

Years ago I began to wonder if creation had an awareness of God the way we do. The birds sitting in the tree singing out their song--are they sing for someone? Mayby they just like to hear their own voice. We do sometimes. But that thought just did not sit well with me because I don't think they are capable of pride.

So, I would often hear their voices raised so beautifully and I would wonder, if we could still communicate with them like Adam, what would they be saying? Would we find that they are thanking God for their worms, or that they are just singing-- Holy, Holy, Holy, like the angels.

I think that they may both be the case. Years ago someone said that even the stars are singing out the praises of God. Stars singing? But they have no mind.
In the book of Job we find that the Bible says they do sing.
I thought, well maybe it is just figurative language. Here are the verses.
The Lord is speaking to Job--
Job 38: 6-8
On what were its footing set,
or who laid it cornerstone--
while the morning stars sang together
and all the angels shouted for joy?

Now science would have probably and have probably scoffed at the Bible in the past for saying such a foolish thing. But God in the book of Isaiah, tells us that His ways are higher, His thoughts are higher than our thoughts. And yet, they still have thought
the things of the Bible as foolishness.
For shame!

Two days ago as I came into my Yahoo home page, this is what I saw. The picture of the sun above and this article. Notice the first sentence.

Snagging orchestra seats for this solar symphony would be fruitless, however, as the frequency of the sound waves is below the human hearing threshold. While humans can make out sounds between 20 and 20,000 hertz, the solar sound waves are on the order of milli-hertz—a thousandth of a hertz. Astronomers have recorded heavenly music bellowed out by the Sun’s atmosphere.

The study, presented this week at the Royal Astronomical Society's National Astronomy Meeting in Lancashire, England, reveals that the looping magnetic fields along the Sun’s outer regions, called the corona, carry magnetic sound waves in a similar manner to musical instruments such as guitars or pipe organs.

Making music
Robertus von Fay-Siebenburgen of the Solar Physics and Space Plasma Research Center at the University of Sheffield and his colleagues combined information gleaned from sun-orbiting satellites with theoretical models of solar processes, such as coronal mass ejections.
They found that explosive events at the Sun’s surface appear to trigger acoustic waves that bounce back and forth between both ends of the loops, a phenomenon known as a standing wave.

I think we all remember learning in school that the sun is just a big star. Over several thousand years ago the earth was going about its business praising God. It still is in some ways.

Sometimes we complain about having to walk by faith and not sight.
We ask God just to show us that He is real. Science belittles us for our beliefs.
How awesome is it that God would reveal a truth from the Bible to scholarly people, so that the truth and glory of God would be revealed to us through the very mouths of those
who have apposed us?
A little bit of faith--- becoming sight!
How cool!

Can you rejoice? 2nd post-suprises in the first!

Can You hear me now?

In the mornings, as Julia is getting ready for school, we like to watch Joyce Meyers. I love that she is able to see a strong Godly female role model. She likes Joyce, and if I forget it is time for her to come on, Julia will remind me with a statement something like this, "Isn't it time for that lady to come on?".

This morning Joyce was talking about the Prodigal son. She was talking about how the father was so glad the son had returned and how he had special gifts to give him. I don't remember reading anywhere that the prodigal said, "No, keep the gifts I am too guilty to enjoy them". Although you know he thought it. But, you know the older brother made a point of pointing that out.

Joyce said, (and I paraphrase)--there are things that God is going to give you and you don't have to feel guilty or not enjoy them because of someone else. They don't know where you have been or even the depth of what that gift from God cost you.

I have soooooo walked this path!
The last several years have been full of amazing gifts from God. Those things have not been physical, like a car or a new home, rather they have been mental and emotional. Things like the ability to love and trust. Not only Him, but people around me. I praise Him for that and you can believe I am going to talk about it. The other things is an understanding of scripture and a desire to see others understand it also. Truth is freedom. God's word brings freedom!

This week I left group a little discouraged. God is speaking to me-- so I spoke. Now, I understand that not everything that God is teaching me is for everyone else. But, should I not be able to be excited about what God is saying and speak about it. Yes, if God tells me to hold it to myself, I do.

I love God. I want others to know that they can get beyond themselves and get lost in Him. I have not arrived. But, if we who have walked on-- do not open our mouths to tell how we got where we are---then we hide the truth.

I was over at Thus Far The Lord Has Helped Me, and she was talking about beating ourselves up in our thought life. She pointed out that He already took the beating--we don't have to. Yes, you are going to be persecuted--that's a promise. So I guess the real point is, are you willing to take a beating to be able to sing the praise of our Master and King?

Will you be willing to open your mouth and not care what those in bondage say?
I am where I am today- because someone opened her mouth and spoke of freedom. Something that I thought and said could never happen. I'm sure if I had been able to speak those words to her face, it would have hurt. But now I am free and I love her for it.

God does not tell us it won't hurt. The truth is not ours--it is His gift to people. Would you, in love, be willing to tell the truth and enjoy the gift God gave you---- even if it hurts?

Sorry for my rambling--hope this makes sense.

Sniff, Sniff -- ^i^ am touched!

It still amazes me that people stop in to listen to the mind wanderings of Sharon G Brumfield. My husband will tell you that even he does not always "get" where my thoughts are going.
But you will never know how your comments bless my heart and expand my mind. I love being a part of this blogging world and I love even more getting to share a little bit of your lives.
I have met some fantastic Ladies.
One of those ladies that I am just getting to know has given me the Thinking Blogger Award. Her name is Halfmoon Girl and she can be found at Halfmoon Happenings--
how cool are those names?
I am touched and honored. Maybe a little embarrassed because the post she loved so much was something I was almost too embarrassed to post. Mom, told me body functions are just not something us ladies are supposed to talk about. Sorry mom, do dogs count?
So, now the process begins. I am to pick out 5 blogs that make me think.
They all make me think.
That is my life--thinking--sometimes I do it too much. Anyway, I going to list the rules like I am supposed to--but then I am going to wander off course a little. Instead of ---well you'll see.

Here is what I have to post.

The participation rules are simple:
1. If, and only if, you get tagged, write a post with links to 5 blogs that make you think

2. Link to this post so that people can easily find the exact origin of the meme

3. Optional: Proudly display the 'Thinking Blogger Award' with a link to the post that you wrote

In no particular order, here are the blogs (and bloggers) that Make Me Think, and why I chose them:

Some of ya'll know I have tried never to have to do things the way everyone says you have to. So here is my little try to stand and and be different.
I would like to list some blogs--click on the names and you will be taken to the article that made me think. Then if you start thinking--you might just want to bookmark that blog and go on back for another visit. When you go--tell them where they can find their award. Will you help?
Good. I thought I could count on some females to spread the word. How did I know? Yes, I have the same female tendencies. No wonder Jesus first appeared to women--He knew they would get the news out. I know, that's an old one-but I love it every time I hear it.

Laced With Grace

Crownlaiddown

Dee's Weight Loss Journey

Thus Far The Lord Has Helped Me

Fruit In Season

Soul Reflections

Sunny Susan

Shalee's Diner

Life Is Not A Cereal

I'm A Drama Momma

O.K., I am being long winded and I am going to stop. There are so many more that I could list. But if I go on and on you won't have time to go and visit.
So, remember your job is to go and tell. Yes, about Jesus- but right now you just need to go tell these ladies they got a Thinking Blogger Award. Now don't forget to tell them where they got it from. And, yes, give them a high five.
NOW--------GO!

Thankful Thursday

With all the evidence of the workings of Satan and his forces I am going to use this post to thank and praise my God. The Bible tells us that God inhabits the praise of his children. Let's bring Heaven down as we lift our thankful hearts to heaven.
HE GOOD AND HE IS WORTHY OF OUR PRAISE!

1. I am so thankful that God brought my prodigal son home, Monday Night. He was gone for almost two months. I thank God for showing him what life can be like out from under
the shadow of God's wings.

2. I am thankful for all those that God brought by to join me in prayer and fasting for Lauree and Her husband Robert. God has been moving and I thank Him that He lets me
walk by faith and not by sight.

3. I thank God for the hearts of the powerful women of God that He has brought into my life. Beth Moore, Joyce Meyers, Holly, Dee, Lauree, Linda, My Mom, 'Nise, Sting My Heart, Fruit In Season, Lois, Loyce, Amanda, Lynn,---this list could go on and on.

4.I want to thank God for this situation with Robert. Because God allowed us to participate in the HIS burden for Robert--God has fulfilled the promise He made in the Bible to give me back what Satan stole from me. When I was young Satan took my sense of security and my ability to fully trust anyone-especially men. As we sat in church last night and talked about the spiritaul battle that is at hand and how God was teaching us that in order to be able to truly fight we must be pure-I realized He had also taught me something else. I have learned that I can trust and be secure with my pastor--not because of him but because of the man of God that God is making him. That my not seems like a big deal to some, but when your sense of security was stolen by the actions of "godly men"--it is huge.
So I thank God for His promises.
I thank God for the burdens God is willing to share with us.
And I thank God for men who are willing to be "souled out"
To my Master and King!

5. I thank God that He has made me the woman I am today and He is not finished yet!

Thrusday A Call For Prayer For Virginia Tech

Holly, at Crownlaiddown has an excellent post on an article written by Dennis Rainey of Family Life. His daughter who is a college student, because of an enormous burden for those hurt by the shooting at Virginia Tech has stepped forward and asked people from all over the world to join her campus in prayer today at 7:00 p.m. The following is an excerpt from the conversation between Laura and her Dad that started it all.

Romans 12:21 to her: "Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good."(Spoken by President Bush about the incident at V.T.)
“The Scripture gives us resolute purpose: "Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good."
I then challenged Laura to take the lead with a few student leaders on campus to join with her and organize a campus-wide prayer meeting Thursday for the Virginia Tech students, faculty and families.
There was silence on the phone.

After a few moments, my adventuresome, "go for it" daughter, Laura, declared, "I got it! I'm on it! I'll do it!"
I had a few more words of encouragement and we said goodbye. I concluded by asking her to keep me posted on what was going on.”

The following was posted on The Campus Crusade website. Let’s remember to join with them in prayer at Today at 7 p.m. There is also a place on the web page where you can let them know you are praying.

A Call to Prayer

In times like these we desperately need God - we need God to meet with us, to comfort us, and to give us perspective. We need to look heavenward to the One who can give grace and pour out His mercy in our time of need.
In view of this, the leadership of Campus Crusade for Christ invites you to join together sometime this Thursday in a concerted gathering to call on God. Perhaps you could invite others in your community to join together with the staff, students, alumni, and laypeople throughout our country to call on the Lord to work in this very difficult situation.
I also think it would be an incredible testimony and blessing to the Virginia Tech community to know there has been such an outpouring of love demonstrated by prayer.

What To Pray For On Thursday
The staff at Virginia Tech have asked us to specifically pray for the following things:
The families of the students who were killed
The students who were injured and still in the hospital
Four students that were involved with Campus Crusade were killed. Please pray for their families and friends.
Survivors of the shootings who witnessed the horrors of that day. Pray for God’s grace and comfort
Pray for wisdom for the CCC Staff and other campus ministers and pastors as they seek to counsel and love the hurting students

A Puzzle Solved

As some of you know we are living in a camper while we are waiting to rebuild our house that we tore down in December. How is 24/7 camping? Not bad. You would be amazed what you can do without when you need to. Honestly the only thing I miss is my 15 minute showers. Why? Because now the hot water only last 6 minutes, so ya got to get it done and get it out. I've got a washer and dryer and my refrigerator in a shed that my husband built-yes, I have a handy man. It even has cable and a sofa bed in it. Now I know you are probably having horrible visions in your mind but it was either this way of life or $1,200 to 1,700 a month for rent.
To me that would be like throwing my new wood floors or a professional oven down the drain. And girl, I do so want a professional oven in my new house. Guess I have a little of the chef in me still.
About a week ago I was out doing laundry and Julia was in the camper watching something on T.V. when all of a sudden she came taring into the shed in a panic. She informed us that there was a high pitch noise going off in the camper and that it had even scared our 14 year old, deaf Boston Terrier. Now if you have ever been in a larger travel camper you notice that they have you fully set up with all kinds of alarms, should something malfunction. There is of course the fire alarm and the carbon monoxide alarm and an alarm for a propane leak.
By the time I got to the camper there was no alarm going off. She showed me which one had been flashing and it was the one for the propane. Now I am a little concerned--I can see the morning headlines, "Family found dead in camper because of a propane leak". Or better yet we survive, but we provide a fourth of July bonfire for our neighborhood several months to early.
Trying to appear calm I tell her that maybe it was just testing itself and if there is a problem it will go off again. The light on it is now green saying everything is fine. Strange?
So two days pass and it is about 3:00 in the morning and I am startled awake by the sound of a loud (did I say loud?) excruciating, piercing alarm going off. YES, once again the propane alarm is going off. Hubby, who is like our Dog Rusty(no he is not 14-just half deaf) is not alarmed because the high pitch is almost to high for him to hear. Don't ask me to explain that. From what I understand when you have problems with you hearing-- some levels of sound go first. Yes, my voice is in that range. And, no I don't even have a high pitch squealing voice. Any hoo, I digress. So I go taring across the floor almost tripping over Rusty and start trying to get the alarm to go off. Someone told me once that a spider walking across theirs set it off. So I pulled it out from the wall and blew on it and it stopped. Once again we have a green light. So, I waited a minute to see if it would go off again, and nope still have green.
Most people would probably not have gone back to bed but I thanked God for the safety of my family and Rusty and went back to bed.
As you can imagine I tried to rack my brain as to what could be setting it off. Maybe the electricity flickered and it was resetting itself, maybe the spider thing--who knows. I just prayed that whatever was setting it off would stop or we would figure it out.
The next day I was sweeping the floor. Rusty is lying on the floor all spread eagle, in the way of course. The problem with a deaf, did I mention blind, 14 year old dog is that you are not going to get him to move quickly and no amount of talking to him is going to get him to move either. So as gently as I could I bent down and laid my hand on his head, to nudge him awake, just about the time he felt the need to release a little ---hmmmm----stomach pressure. I popped back up, overcome by the immediate need for some fresh air and then it happened. Yep, the propane alarm started going off.
Now we have known for a while that our old dogs digestion was enough to set off a feeling of complete revulsion or disgust in our family and yes , sometimes a unknowing guest. But, the dealer failed to tell us that when it comes to the propane alarm, BEWARE THE DOG!
Mystery solved!

And now you know the rest of the story!

Third Post Today--the last-- I promise

I was reading today in Isaiah 55 for my women's Bible study.
Two of the verses caught my minds eye.

v8."For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the LORD.
V9. As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts."


With the recent events of Virgina Tech, there are many people who are trying to wrap their thoughts around the thought that God allowed this to happen and why- He would do that. There are so many pat scriptural answers that could put a quick "lid" on this boiling pot of endless questions that race through our minds. We have to say, STOP--there are no answers, not now anyway.

Remember when Lazarus died and Jesus was met by their grief? What did he do?
He wept.
So we sit with those who mourn and we weep for their hurt and their loss.
We pray for those that we can not touch, that God himself will touch them in their time of grief. And He will. Remember when Jesus was suffering so in the garden?
God sent angels to minister to them.
At this moment I am sure there is a air traffic jam in Virgina and all the states affected by the loss yesterday. Can you hear the sounds of angels wings?
Even those who did not loose a loved one can be comforted.
So if you are hurting--I am sorry. May the God of comfort let you know that each tear you cry He is keeping them in a bottle in heaven. Some of those tears may be his as he comes to weep with you.
I pray you are comforted by the one who loves you more than life itself.

2nd Post today--don't miss the first one!

This came to me by way of my sister--thank you Jeannie for the laugh!

20 Ways to Maintain a Healthy Level of Insanity

1. At Lunch Time, Sit In Your Parked Car With Sunglasses on and point a Hair Dryer At Passing Cars. See If They Slow Down.
2. Page Yourself Over The Intercom. Don't Disguise Your Voice.
3. Every Time Someone Asks You To Do Something, Ask If They Want Fries with that.
4. Put Your Garbage Can On Your Desk And Label It "In."
5. Put Decaf In The Coffee Maker For 3 Weeks. Once Everyone has Gotten Over Their Caffeine Addictions, Switch to Espresso.
6. In The Memo Field Of All Your Checks, Write "For Smuggling Diamonds"
7. Finish All Your sentences with "In Accordance With The Prophecy."
8. Don t use any punctuation
9. As Often As Possible, Skip Rather Than Walk.
10. Order a Diet Water whenever you go out to eat with a serious face.
11. Specify That Your Drive-through Order Is "To Go."
12. Sing Along At The Opera
13. Go To A Poetry Recital And Ask Why The Poems Don't Rhyme
14. Put Mosquito Netting Around Your Work Area And Play tropical Sounds All Day.
15. Five Days In Advance , Tell Your Friends You Can't Attend Their Party Because You're Not In The Mood.
16. Have Your Coworkers Address You By Your Wrestling Name, Rock Bottom.
17. When The Money Comes Out The ATM, Scream "I Won!, I Won!"
18. When Leaving The Zoo, Start Running Towards The Parking lot, Yelling "Run For Your Lives, They're Loose!!"
19. Tell Your Children Over Dinner. "Due To The Economy, We Are Going To Have To Let One Of You Go."
20. And The Final Way To Keep A Healthy Level Of Insanity.......Send This E-mail To Someone To Make Them Smile.

It's Called Therapy

A Word From Above

I have soooo much I would like to say. But I am going to post the verses that God gave me this morning and if I get a chance to write more--I will.
Father- I pray you open the eyes of our heart so that we can hear Your voice above the call of the world. Make us like your Son , Jesus.

Ezekiel 36: 22-29

"Therefore say to the house of Israel, 'This is what the Sovereign LORD says; It is not for your sake, O house of Israel, that I am going to do these things, but for the sake of my holy name, which you have profaned among the nations where you have gone. I will show the holiness of my great name, which has been profaned among the nations, the name you have profaned among them. Then the nations will know that I am the LORD, declares the Sovereign LORD, when I show myself holy through you before their eyes.
"'For I will take you our of the nation I will gather you from all the countries and bring you back into your own land. I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean; I will cleanse you from all your impurities and from all your idols. I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your hear of stone and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws. You will live in the land I gave your forefather; you will be my people, and I will be your God. I will save you from all your uncleanness.

This morning if you need a heart of flesh that is able to follow His decrees and keep His laws--call out to Him while He may be found. In these last days He is looking through out the earth for a people He can put His heart in. A people whom He can show Himself HOLY through so that the world will know --HE IS LORD. He will give you a heart of flesh if you hold your heart of stone up to Him.
He wants to hear you and answer according to His will--but you must act.

Today in My Utmost For His Highest and I quote,"Don't give up because you have been blocked and confused once--go after it again. Burn your bridges behind you, and stand committed to God by an act of your own will. Never change your decisions, but be sure to make your decisions in the light of what you saw and learned on the mountain."



And for those of you praying for Lauree and Robert---- this was given to her through a web site and she asked me to pass it on.

IT IS I

"Be of good cheer: it is I; be not afraid." Mark 6:50

Listen, then, to the voice of Jesus in the storm. It is I who raised the tempest in your soul, and will control it. It is I who sent your affliction, and will be with you in it. It is I who kindled the furnace, and will watch the flames, and bring you through it. It is I who formed your burden, who carved your cross, and who will strengthen you to bear it. It is I who mixed your cup of grief, and will enable you to drink it with meek submission to your Father's will. It is I who took from you worldly substance, who bereft you of your child, of the wife of your bosom, of the husband of your youth, and will be infinitely better to you than husband, wife, or child. It is I who have done it ALL.

I make the clouds my chariot, and clothe myself with the tempest as with a garment. The night hour is my time of coming, and the dark, surging waves are the pavement upon which I walk. Take courage! It is I. Don't be afraid. It is I—your Friend, your Brother, your Savior! I am causing all the circumstances of your life to work together for your good. It is I who permitted the enemy to assail you, the slander to blast you, the unkindness to wound you, the need to press you! Your affliction did not spring out of the ground, but came down from above—a heaven sent blessing disguised as an angel of light clad in a robe of ebony.

I have sent all in love! This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God. This bereavement shall not always bow you to the earth, nor drape in changeless gloom your life. It is I who ordered, arranged, and controlled it all! In every stormy wind, in every darksome night, in every lonesome hour, in every rising fear, the voice of Jesus shall be heard, saying, "Be of good cheer: it is I; be not afraid."-------Octavius Winslow

I pray the blood of Christ over all who read this. I pray that being firmly rooted and grounded in Him you would understand the depth of love that He has for you. That you would look neither to the left or the right but that you would continue to walk by faith and not by sight.

You are blessed sister --walk in it!

Mrs Nufon and a Friend

Good morning dearies. Hope ya'll had a blessed Lords day. I'm still floatin frum the Spirit hoverin yesterday in our little temple. Our pastor was a dancin and our hearts wer touched to say the least.
Ya might of noticed that I have a gal totting along with me today. If ya can't tell she is a cheary little friend. Goodness me, I guess I should be doin a proper introduction for ya'll. Mrs Waterloon, I would like to introduce you ta my Monday mornin girls. And girls it would be my plesure ta give you sum proper introductions to my best girl --Mrs Waterloon. Wanda and I hav cum through some real tough spots together. Ya know, those days when ya wanna give Mr Right the what for. Mind ya-- those years have purty much vanshed with my brown hair-but dont ya know my shoe still itches for a back side every now an again. So Wanda thought it might make us a little easier ta understand if our men folks might have a few helpful hints as ta what were sayin when we speak.

My Dear Mr Waterloon, has since passed on beyond those pearly gates in the sky but I do think if this list had been posted on our frig he might not have thought that women were from mars. He tried, he really did. He used to say, "I think God was joken in a cruel way when He gave me you minus the manual". Well I know it is a little late but now he knows that in place of a manual God gave him a 24/7 hot line. Sometimes ya just need to hear a voice.

WORDS WOMEN USE

1.) FINE: This is the word women use to end an argument when they are right and you need to shut up.

2.) Five Minutes: If she is getting dressed, this means a half an hour. Five Minutes is only five minutes if you have just been given five more minutes to watch the game before helping around the house.

3.) Nothing: This is the calm before the storm. This means something, and you should be on your toes. Arguments that begin with nothing usually end in fine.

4.) Go Ahead: This is a dare, not permission. Don't Do It!

5.) Loud Sigh: This is actually a word, but is a non-verbal statement often misunderstood by men. A loud sigh means she thinks you are an idiot and wonders why she is wasting her time standing here and arguing with you about nothing.
(Refer back to #3 for the meaning of nothing.)

6.) That's Okay: This is one of the most dangerous statements a women can make to a man. That's okay means she wants to think long and hard before deciding how and when you will pay for your mistake.

7.) Thanks: A woman is thanking you, do not question, or Faint.
Just say you're welcome.

Now in case ya haven't noticed Wanda has a touch of sarcastic humor in her bones. I'm thinkin that is why we tend ta get along so well. What is it you younger folk say, "I get her".
Now I know yer busy about this new week but I have ta leave ya with a little funny from me. So ya already know we girls do what we do well--dontcha know God made us that way--so here is a little funny ta celebrate that its a fact.


A fellow got up one morning and decided he no longer was going to shave himself, he was instead going to the barber for his morning shave.
The town barber also happened to be the local pastor in town. When the guy walked into the barber shop the barber/pastor was not there, he was out on a pastoral call but his wife Grace was in the shop.
The man said to Grace, "I want a shave." Grace told him to climb up in the chair and she gave him a shave. When Grace was finished he asked her how much for the shave and Grace said, "Twenty dollars."

"Twenty dollars, that seems a little steep," the guy replied.
Grace said: "That's my charge."
So the guy gave her $20 bill and went on his way. The next morning when he got up he went to the mirror and looked and his face was as smooth as when he was shaved the day before. He checked the following the day, same thing, a week went by, two weeks and his face stayed as smooth as a baby's face.

Finally after the third week he stopped back in the barber shop and Grace happened to be there. The guy said to her: "Grace, I can't believe I still don't need another shave. You did some kind of magnificent job."

And Grace replied, "Well, you have been shaved by Grace and once shaved always shaved!"

What a knee slapper that was. And that'll do it for now. Dontcha wished it was once happy- always happy? Well I'm guessin we'll have ta wait till eternity. Until then- and hoppen the creek don't rise-- will just have ta meet back here next Monday for sum more grins.
Don't forget ---
Go With God!

Born For The Light

Belial, first noticed her when she was quite young. The messengers never seemed to leave her side, not that it was unusual- but it did not happen often. He realized that she listened and that she contemplated what they told her. They would spend hours talking to her. He wondered what secrets they were sharing in their whispers. Although she was young, they were preparing her.
Distractions were his game - so he began to make the rules. He sent people into her life to tell her she was not important, and others who would often belittle her looks and her learning abilities. Soon he saw her withdraw and become self-conscious. If he could get her to think more about herself than what they were telling her, he could win. Content that he had won for the present, he moved on to more important matters.
Over the years he came back to see what was happening. He missed when they showed her how much she enjoyed teaching. And was quite unaware of her thoughts drifting to deeper things when others were content to see just the surface. Unaware of the hunger that was growing inside her- Belial, was content just to see she had grown ashamed of who she was.
He became a little concerned when, in her teens; she took an interest in the intercessors world. He decided to disturb her by sending individuals that held deceptive views on life. He knew he could not get past the guards so he would send others to touch her life. Men entered the picture, and with them, confusion. Now lost in turmoil and pain, he knew he could leave her once again.
Throughout her twenties he was quite happy with her progress. She found that being married and a mother was not what she had expected, so she left her husband and child. She ran straight into the arms of a career. He sent great success her way and she became wrapped up in this new life style. He could see the restless look in her eyes, and he sighed in satisfaction.
And then her husband was back, and she changed jobs. He did not like change, but he assumed he won the game, based on her life and its turmoil. If he had not ensnared her with success then he would try and distract her with failure.
What he did not count on were the new people, those people from her past that belonged to the whisperer’s world. Each time he saw her speaking to them he felt his power slipping. She began to go to church on her day off, and he could feel the other power begin to build. He would see drifts now and again but when he saw the despair in her eyes she would turn back to The Light.
He could tell by her eyes that she knew what had been planned for her. She now began to speak with a fervor that most of her type did not like. They tried to stop the message by hurting her, but the power was now too great. What he feared had come.
They’d been teaching and preparing her to wake those who slept. Now, when she opened her mouth he heard the words of The Triumphant One. Many times she spoke in a hesitant way- but when she opened her mouth The Light shown forth.
The first time it happened he fled in haste for he knew the power of that light. He thought that maybe it had scared her too, because it was quite awhile before he saw it again even from the distance.
The battle to destroy her was now over. Now the messengers fought battles for her at the command of their Master.
The glow was now evident even when she did not speak; Belial knew she had been consumed by The Light. He had lost this battle. Now that The Light was spreading, there would be many more battles.
He must stop The Triumphant One!

S.B.

Standing on the rock.

Today the sickness of sin has knocked at my door. It bids me let it in so it can pretend it is my friend. But, I know who has my best in mind. The one who watches with ever seeing eyes. He neither slumbers nor sleeps and He sees when I weep. Though the wicked one bids me follow him I will stay close to the side of my FRIEND.
And so you may laugh at me now as I go through this trial. But when I step securely on the Masters side, you will see how your schemes failed and died.
He is the rock on whom I stand all other ground is sinking sand. When this world with it's storms begin to blow it will be to Him I will forever go.

Sweet, Sweet Lord

I Love you my sweet , sweet , Lord.
Let your words fill my heart
May they pump through my veins.
As they flow, let them wipe away decay.
As they rush to my brain,
May they forever stay
Just a thought away
While in the world I am delayed.

May you stand strong in the one who holds your future!

Family, Paint, and Seafood--What A Day!

Well, As you can see I got in on a
little home improvement today. Julia was missing her cousins and I my sister--so it was the perfect excuse to go for a visit while all were out of school. Jeannie has been in the process of redoing her kitchen for about a year. But, with work and a comic book /game store they own and run and thee boys -- time is very limited. So I put on my painting clothes and we headed to the country. The kids had fun playing outdoors and watching Jumanji--and we hit the paint.
We finished up a little before 5 and now the kitchen is ready for my Dad (hint, hint) to come put down her tile. Or maybe Jeannie and I will just have to give it a shot. Any hoo, we had fun and it was nice to catch up since we don't see each other very often.
Then it was time to head home and pick up dinner. I did not feel like cooking so it was time for a little seafood. Any one from our area, that likes seafood, loves this time of year. There is plenty of seafood to go around and the prices are lower. Since we enjoy having fried seafood very seldom-- it was time for some boiled.
No one does boiled seafood like Louisiana!
We do it the best--makes me kinda of sad for the rest. No one does it half as good as us.............. baby, baby we're the best.......... Remind you of a song? :)
We used lemons, plenty of garlic, and a spice seasnoning that makes your nose run. O.k, that is kind of gross--but you get the idea. Don't wipe your eyes or............. before you wash your hands.
But you have to try our seafood once at least.
My hubby likes the crabs, they are too much work for me. I like the shrimp and boiled red potatoes. We throw corn and red potatoes and sometimes sausage (andoullie) into the boiling pot.
Maybe some time during the season I can use my Christmas present (I got a huge boiling pot and all the accessories) and boil up a huge batch of crawfish. I'll make sure and get pictures.

They are good ---I promise they really are!

Let The Learning Begin!

I found myself thinking that I needed to place a post today that was light and fluffy.
Why?
Because yesterday was a little on the serious side and I am feeling a little on the serious side. Kind of like the pendulum swing--serious one day/silly the next.
But the purpose of my blog is not to entertain. It's purpose is---to be able to share my mind wanderings. And then, if someone wants to jump in and add a little---bring on the, "reasoning together".
In the past being able to reason with people is where I have learned the most.
Someone once called me a "provoker". At first I was a little miffed at this label until they explained what they meant. The idea is that I like to throw something into the picture that makes you stop and really take a second look at what you always thought you knew. And then if you will go there---take time to rethink what you are thinking and the actions those thoughts are causing. Sometimes that can be aggravating and some people just don't want to go there.

But, it is the way I grow. God says something to me that is different from what I have always thought and I am thrown off balance. I jump up and say, but God, you know that is not the case. And He says, Oh, are you sure? And then I cry and jump and say, O.K., then tell me what is true. And then----- silence.
At this point in time when this happens, it does not surprise me. But, it used to drive me crazy.
Now I know it is learning time. Time to pull out what I think I know about something and begin to look at it from every possible position. Sometimes I discover that it was not what I thought it was. Sometimes I find that now what I thought something meant has changed slightly because I have grown in Christ. And at other times I have been blown away by new depth of understanding about something I thought I understood.

What a teacher He is. He knows what He placed in me--and if I let Him He will pull it out. Sometimes that process is times consuming and painful. But when I have learned the lesson---
I can then say, "How Great Thou Art".

So at this time in my life--I'm in one of those teaching phases.
I am looking forward to an incredible new understanding. An understanding of what, you ask.
I'm not sure. But, I can promises you this, It is going to be above and beyond what I could ever think or imagine. How could it be anything else coming straight from the hand of God?

And if you feel like reading some more Here is the little tidbit by Elisabeth Elliot that started these thoughts today.

Detours

When Pharaoh let the people go, "God did not guide them by the road towards the Philistines, though that way was the shortest.... God made them go round by way of the wilderness towards the Red Sea" (Ex 13: 17, 18 NEB).

The direct route would save time as well as wear and tear on the people, but God had something infinitely more important than economics in mind--He wanted the people to be able to sing the song of praise of chapter 15--"The Lord is my refuge and my defence...my deliverer. He is my God and I will glorify Him; He is my father's God and I will exalt Him" (Ex 15:2 NEB). They sang this song because they had firsthand experience of God's power and deliverance. Pursued by all the chariots and horses, cavalry and infantry of Egypt, they had passed through the Red Sea in safety and seen the enemy drowned. They would have missed this glorious lesson if they had taken the short road.

When we are puzzled by delays and detours, let us think about the great purpose of life: to glorify God. The lessons He wants to teach us "in the wilderness" are priceless means of providing us with a song we could not otherwise have sung: "In Thy constant love Thou hast led the people!" (Ex 15:13).