Inspirations

Perspective & God is still so good

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Our world today is full of uncertainties. It’s definitely the craziest times I’ve seen in my lifetime. However, through it all do you know who is still here? God. He is answering prayers & fulfilling His promises. I got an email, from a co-worker, the other day. It gave so much perspective to how strong people are. I wanted to pass it along to you all.

‘Imagine we were born in 1900. When we’re 14, World War I begins and ends when we’re 18 with 22 million dead. Soon the Spanish Flu appears, killing 50 million people and we’re only 20 years old. When we’re 29 we survive the global economic crisis with the collapse of New York Stock Exchange, causing inflation, unemployment and famine. When we’re 39, World War II begins and ends when we’re 45 years old with 60 million dead. At 52, the Korean War begins. At 64, the Vietnam War begins and ends when we’re 75. Now, A child born in 1985 thinks his grandparents have no idea how difficult life is.
Today we have all the comforts in a new world, amid a new pandemic. But we complain because we’re being told of the need to wear masks. We complain because we must stay confined to our homes where we have food, electricity, water, good jobs, Wi-Fi, and Netflix! None of that existed back in the day. But humanity survived those circumstances and never lost their joy of living. So, let’s keep our heads up, smile, and be more proud today than ever before.
Let’s make today a Thankful and Safe Day!’ – shared from Paul T. Nucor Tuscaloosa, AL Safety Manager

What an eye opener. With all of the daily struggles these folks had, you know who was still around? God. He has so many promises & blessings for us. If we choose to see them.

Nahum 1:7

The Lord is good,
A stronghold in the day of trouble;
And He knows those who trust in Him. (NKJV)

John 16:33

These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world. (NKJV)

Psalm 34:19

Many are the afflictions of the righteous,
But the Lord delivers him out of them all. (NKJV)

This scripture was read at my Daddy’s funeral. It was read by a minister, that was one of my Daddy’s best friends. It brought such comfort to me. Just knowing that no matter what my heartache is, the Lord PROMISES to bring me out of it. I love that!

Y’all, we are going to make it out of all of this mess the world is in. That’s the good news. And if for some reason, we don’t, we have a home in heaven with the Lord. That’s the BEST news. I hope everyone is having a wonderful week. We are still hunkered down at our house. We are doing our online services & Lord’s Supper on Sunday, studying our Bibles daily & staying home.  Miss Neenee has been cooking all week. She makes the BEST chocolate chip cookies this side of Chips Ahoy. My waist line is telling me to eat a salad. I don’t like to listen, much.

However, please do remember, first & foremost, no matter what,

God is still good.

Praying for you all! Love you all like chocolate gravy & biscuits!

photo credits, Pinterest, Preach the gospel.org, etsy, & memes

 

Prayer & the Corona

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The other day, one of my co-workers asked me,

“Have you been praying more here lately?”

It took me a minute to think of what they meant.

HELLO! The Corona virus, Covid-19, the 2020 Pandemic, the only thing you hear anything about these days…. I answered them with, “Not really. I pray a lot anyways.” Then, I got to thinking, I wonder why I’m not praying more than usual? Because, here are the facts:

We have a disease that’s hit our country, that there is no cure.
It has no partiality, when it comes to who gets it.
Some people are dying.
We are encouraged to stay home & not be around anyone.
The governor, of our blessed state of Mississippi, is slowly but surely opening back up our state. (not that it really matters, because people haven’t stayed out of the local Walmarts AT. ALL.)

So, I guess there’s some things, needing our attention, when talking to God. It’s not that I’m not concerned about where our communities & nation are going. Because here are some facts, as well:

We have a mighty, mighty God.

God is faithful

God will provide a way.

God will take care of us. He always has. 

At the end of the day, God is in control.

Since we aren’t having church services at our church building, me and my house have Bible study at home. Here are some verses that we have found very comforting.

John 16:33
These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” (NKJV)

Romans 5:1
Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, (NKJV)

Romans 15:13
Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. (NKJV)

Colossians 3:15
And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful.(NKJV)

John 14:1-6
Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. 2 In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also. 4 And where I go you know, and the way you know.”5 Thomas said to Him, “Lord, we do not know where You are going, and how can we know the way?”
6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me. (NKJV)

 

Anyone that was ever in my Daddy’s Bible class, was required to memorize John 14:1-6. I am so glad he had us do that. It is so comforting to be able to lay in bed at night, in the moments before I go to sleep, and have those words go through my head. Just one of the umpteen things my Daddy did right in this ‘ol world. He instilled the Word of God in our minds and hearts. I am so thankful for a preaching Daddy & a praying Mama. He knew committing scripture to mind was just one of the ways to find peace in this uncertain world.

I hope you are having a blessed week. Even through the nonsense, sickness, & crazy, the Lord is still there for us. The weather is finally warming up & low & behold, we have even turned the air conditioner on.  Then, we had to turn it back off because it was 41 degrees. (Help us, O Lord) We are going through phases, in opening up our state, but, I can’t say I will ever step foot back in a grocery store again. Grocery delivery has found me & I just may not let it go. Because, well, it makes me feel delighted. And couldn’t we all use a little more delightfulness in our lives? Until next time, I have to be going because I should be washing clothes.

photo credits: Pinterest, www.challies.com

Can the world get any crazier

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What a crazy world we are living in right now. Never in my wildest imagination would I believe in 2020, I would be running around with gray hair, BECAUSE I HAD TO. Or that toilet paper, of all things, would be such a hot commodity. I mean, y’all, why are people not cleaning the grocery store shelves off down the FOOD aisles? I mean if I had my rathers, I would rather eat than anything else. But y’all, I can’t say I have been that upset with all of this. I mean, I am having my groceries delivered, to my house, & going to church in my pajamas. Miss Neenee is home from school. We are not having to run here & yon. And let me tell you, she is cooking for me & her daddy, just like she was our own personal chef. This is what dreams are made of. When our sweet governor took us off of “Shelter In Place”, I made the announcement at home, “That don’t mean us. We are staying right here.” I am delighted to say there were no hissy fits pitched because, let’s face it. We are homebodies.

However, there may be some that are seriously having lots of stress & anxiety from all of the changes the Corona virus has brought about. I read an article that said, “We are all going through the same storm, but not all of us are in the same boat.” How true this is. Some people may have fret, worry, and anxious feelings in their boat. Some people may have the actual sickness in their boat. You just never know. So, how do you deal with these feelings during this uncertain times? Jesus has the answer.

 

Matthew 11:28-29

 Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. (NKJV)

The apostle Paul said in

Philippians 4:7-8

and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things.

I know this all can be easier said than done, but hear me out. This is a process. You don’t just arrive at feeling peace in your soul. It is something you have to work on

Each. And. Every. Day.

With everywhere you turn, being unsettling & disturbing news, it can be hard to keep your mind in a state of peace. However, this is something you have to practice. You have to live a life according to God, pray, be faithful, have faith, & trust God to sort it all out. The problems we are facing today, are much too big for me & you to handle. But with the Lord, we can keep some sense of sanity. He promises us He will not lead us out so far & leave us.

I Corinthians 10:13

No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.

He didn’t say He wouldn’t allow us to be tempted beyond what we wanted, but what we are able to bear. Daddy used to say if God gave you a lot of troubles, that means He thinks a lot of you. I would say,

“Well, sometimes I wish God didn’t think so much of me.”

We would laugh about whatever I was going to him for advice on. He would say something like,

“Worrying about it ain’t gonna do a frazzlin’ thing, but put you in such a shape to where you can’t do nothing for nobody. So, trust God.”

I always thought, “Trust God.” It’s just that simple, huh? But you know, once I started praying, studying my Bible & put my faith in the Lord, it all came about. The peace, the comfort, the calm. It takes humility (which I need a lot more of) & the realization that you can’t control it all, no matter what. The other day, I read on my Bible app., that during the past 6 weeks, the people who run the app, saw God moving in amazing ways. They saw the largest increase, ever, of people searching the scriptures for hope & peace. They saw more than 1.6 million prayers added to the site. People are reaching out & searching. And they are finding it. You can find it, too. All you have to do is open your Bible. Then, you can find that peace that passes all understanding. And man, let me tell you. There’s nothing like it.

I am so glad you came by to visit with me today. It’s been a minute, since I’ve been here. Things have really changed in my life, the last year. My Daddy passed away last April. It’s been a long year, to say the least. And too, Miss Neenee turned 16 & started driving. I have a lot more gray hair & now have 7 grandbabies.. That about sums it up. I hope you will decide to come back sometime. As for me, I have to be going, because I should be washing clothes.

Photo credits: Pinterest

What to do when you are going through a tough time & it’s hot

/ kstrick7 / 2 Comments

Have you ever gone through a hard time? No one is immune to problems & struggles. Sometimes they can be waiting around every corner you turn! Attitude determines a lot of how you handle what is happening around you, or to you. We have to look for the good in everything.  If we can’t find anything good about a situation, then it’s still okay. We just need to be patient. It is necessary, that we all understand, nothing stays the same. If things are not to your liking, if they are going really bad, & I mean REALLY. BAD, it will pass. Nothing will stay the same forever. Just as if things are going wonderful & over the top. Enjoy it. It won’t last.

So, what do you do? Problems are tough. No one enjoys going through difficult things. However, here are a list of things, to hopefully help keep on your mind, as you push through to get to the other side.

  1. God is Good. (Matthew 19:7)
  2. God’s got this. (Proverbs 3:5)
  3. Jesus loves me. (Romans 5:8)
  4. Not today Satan. (James 4:7)
  5. The Lord is able. (II Corinthians 9:8)
  6. At the end of the day, God’s in control. (James 4:15)
  7. God will provide. (Hebrews 11:40)
  8. God is going to sort it all out. (Romans 8:28)
  9. God is faithful. (I Corinthians 1:9)
  10. There’s nothing that’s going to happen today, that me & the Lord can’t handle. (I Peter 5: 7)

When things go wrong, it is so important to do our best, to keep things in perspective, It’s easy to let things get the best of us. Sometimes it’s easy to get down & think things are stuck & never going to get better. That’s just not true. Everything changes. So what do you do in the mean time?

  1. Pray
  2. Count your blessings.
  3. Talk to someone, you trust, about what’s going on.
  4. Put things into perspective, by remembering one of the above phrases.
  5. Press on, don’t stop, & know things will get better.

Something that helps me, more than anything is to remember what I am thankful for. It  keeps me humble & grounded. And remember, what the Lord promises us:

Psalms 34:19 Many are the afflictions of the righteous,
But the Lord delivers him out of them all. (NKJV)

If you focus on the Lord’s truths, you will always be on the right track. He will never leave us with it all to deal with.

Hebrews 13:5 Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” (NKJV)

I also love some advice a dear friend gave me one time. I was going through a rough patch and confided in her. I asked her how she made it through some of the things that happened to her in life. She just laughed & said, “A lot of prayer & a lot of Paxil.” I love this advice. No, I’m not advocating taking drugs. I’m just saying sometimes we need help. And if we have to take a pill, to cope with life, for a time, well,  so be it.  There’s worse things we could do. Don’t forget, in the end, everything is going to be alright. If it’s not alright, it’s not the end.

Y’all. Whoever said, “Oh, I can’t wait for summer!”, back when it was cold, all I can say is here you are. Summer is yours to love & enjoy & make your dreams come true.  I hope it is just delightful wherever you are.  Because when I say, I will take winter any day over this hot, humid, mess, nobody is rolling their eyes now, are they?  Y’all, it’s not even the dead of summer, yet. I kid you not, we have a heat advisory out until 8pm tonight. 8:00 at night. It’s so hot, the kids can’t go out and play. It’s so hot, you melt in a puddle, walking from your house to your car. It’s so hot, that we, as Southerners, remember at this time of the year, why we are working so hard to get to heaven. Hopefully, where there is air conditioning.  Because we have heard tell the other place does not. And we ain’t in on such as that. Until next time, I will be going, because I should be washing clothes.

I am so proud of these young ladies for teaching at Vacation Bible School this year. They are some pretty good kids!

This sweet lady turned 90 years young yesterday. She has been my neighbor,  the one I sit beside at church,  & my friend, for a long time. As Miss Neenee would say, she’s our girl. We love her so much!

5 things to do for a Spiritual Spring Cleaning

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Y’all, the 1st day of Spring was this week. And we have seen glorious sunshine for several days. Let me tell you, that does a number on your winter blues. It’s hard to be too gloomy when you have some bright sun beating down on your face. Don’t get me wrong. I am not mad at winter. Bless his heart. But he brought with him a lot of cold and rain. This needs to stop. I would like to say to winter, as my sweet Mama Boyce would say to a nosy neighborhood dog getting in her flower beds,

“Git out of here! Don’t make me take a switch to you!”

But that might be weird, because winter doesn’t really have ears to hear. Oh well, good idea, though.

When I think of spring, one of the things that comes to mind is spring cleaning. Spring cleaning may consist of washing windows, cleaning out closets, clearing out cabinets, dusting ceiling fans, pressure washing the outside vinyl, knocking down all the cobwebs (I get tired just thinking about it!). But you know something to consider, too, is cleaning out our God given house. Spiritual Spring Cleaning is a purging of the dirt in your heart & life. It helps to cleanse your soul of the trash, that may have accumulated. What’s a better time than spring to get rid of the mess? What kind of messes am I talking about?

Consider these-

  1. Complaining
  2. Gossiping
  3. Envying
  4. Comparing
  5. Consuming
  6. Doubting
  7. Fearing
  8. Hating

These things we should avoid doing and even hanging around places where these things are commonly practiced. They do not lift us up in any form or fashion.

Here are 5 things to help spring clean your spiritual life:

1.  Take a good inventory of your heart. What are the things that need bagged up and trashed first? Start by thinking or “studying” about what changes you need to make. It’s always a good idea to think things through. The apostle Paul suggested this to Timothy in  I Timothy 4:15 Meditate on these things; give yourself entirely to them, that your progress may be evident to all. (NKJV)

2. Make a plan. I have always heard it is wise to plan your work & work your plan. We need to plan ahead on how we are going to react when someone starts gossiping to us or about us. We should decide, ahead of time, to not let the little things irritate us. Plan on how you will decide to handle hard situations, before they happen. Plan on how you will handle a know it all. This way, you will have thoughtfully made an effort to change how you view and react to things in advance. 

3. Take action. One way I love to take action is by making lists. Nothing is better than crossing something off my list. My list might look something like this:

  • Count my blessings
  • Give sincere compliments
  • Study the Bible
  • Thank someone
  • Share with someone how the Lord is working in my life.
  • Sit in the sun
  • Love
  • Be humble and kind
  • Remember if you can’t change it, let it go.

4.  Pray about it. This goes without saying. We should pray always, about          everything.

5.  Practice it daily. Y’all, let’s do our best to have a clean heart. I believe it will not only be a blessing to us, but to everyone around us. It will encourage others & help them to see Jesus through us. God is always working for our good. I love the quote:

Practice makes perfect, so watch what you practice!

Let’s make sure we are practicing things that encourage and not tear down.

I sure hope everyone is ready for the weekend! I know we are. It’s been a long week. My dad had surgery on Wednesday. Then, we’ve had others in our family not feeling so very good. Prayers are appreciated. On a good note, I got to see my big brother this week. It’s always a fun time when we are together. Until next time I should be going because I should be washing clothes.

If you are still wanting more ideas on a Spiritual Spring Cleaning- just click here for another article I wrote.

What’s in your cup & remember how I told you high school was a bad idea?

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You are holding a cup of coffee when someone comes along and bumps into you, making you spill your coffee everywhere. Why did you spill the coffee? You spilled the coffee because there was coffee in your cup. Had there been tea in your cup, you would have spilled tea. The point is whatever is inside the cup is what will spill out. Therefore, when life comes along and shakes you (which will happen), whatever is inside you will come out. It’s easy to fake it, until you get rattled. So, we have to ask ourselves, “What’s in my cup?” When life gets tough, what spills out? Joy, gratefulness, peace and humility? Or does anger, bitterness, harsh words, and reactions come out? You choose! Today let’s work towards filling our cups with gratitude, forgiveness, joy, words of affirmation, kindness, gentleness, and love for others.

Y’all. I didn’t write that above paragraph, myself. It was copied from a post I saw on Facebook. But BOY did it hit home. Did I tell you what happened to me when I went to register Miss Neenee for high school? We were inside the school. She wanted to see where her classes were. And of course I was excited to climb the stairs and walk all over kingdom come (just kidding, I was not). After my new high schooler had gotten her fill of the visions of classrooms, lockers, hall ways, & perfectly decorated bulletin boards, we headed to the car. When we walked out of the building toward the parking lot, we were greeted by 2 enthusiastic and information bearing kids.

One of the boys said to my excited new  high schooler, “Are you a trumpet player?”

In which my trumpeter replied, “Yeah.”

Then, the boy replied, “Well, your car just got hit.”

WHAT??

Evidently, I must have had that look, because here came the band director. Walking from the site of the accident toward me.

There was a short conversation between the band director & I. He briefly told me a young man accidently backed into my car. He said he the young man was very sorry & had social anxiety. Basically, the kid was afraid I was going to come out with all fists flying, pitching a dying duck dog fit about my car. I looked down the way at the worried & scared look on the boy’s face & immediately felt bad for him. I walked down to my car with my daughter following behind me. Even though this was a situation I wish I didn’t have to deal with, I thought it was a teachable moment. As I walked up & looked at the HUGE dent in my bumper,

I looked over at the boy & said, “Are you okay?” He was so nervous.

He muttered out, “Yes ma’am. I’m really sorry.”

I said, “Don’t worry about it. We can fix cars. We can’t always fix people.” I smiled at him & you could tell he felt more at ease. Now when his dad showed up, I’m not so sure what he felt. But his dad & I exchanged pleasantries and insurance information. The law showed up to make their report & as we departed the parking lot, the young man told me again he was sorry. I let him know if this was the worst thing that ever happened to him, he would be ok. Things happen.

Was this an inconvenience? Yes. Was everyone okay? Yes. Could I have showed out and acted a fool? Probably. But what good would that have done? It wouldn’t have changed the fact my car still needed repair. But, what spilled out of my cup, that time, was forgiveness, patience, & hopefully kindness. Do I always act on my best behavior? Probably not. I am human & sometimes I do say & act in a way that my mama would be ashamed of. However, I can get it together every so often, more so than on other occasions.

What’s in your cup today? Is it filled with hate, spite, & an unforgiving spirit? When you are shaken, does your cup spill out bitterness & sharp words? Or does it spill out thankfulness, compassion, & warmhearted actions?

I Peter 3: 8 Finally, all of you be of one mind, having compassion for one another; love as brothers, be tenderhearted, be courteous; (NKJV)

Are your ways prideful & judgmental? Or are they filled with mercy & grace?

Proverbs 16:18 Pride goes before destruction, And a haughty spirit before a fall.(NKJV)

Romans 14:13 Therefore let us not judge one another anymore, but rather resolve this, not to put a stumbling block or a cause to fall in our brother’s way.(NKJV)

Since I have gotten a little older, I seem to be of the opinion, kindness needs to be deliberate & practiced ALL THE TIME. You never know what someone might be going through. And believe me I have never came across anyone without problems. You may be the only light they see in a world of gloom & doom. This world needs love. Why don’t we make an effort to show the Christ like love we would want shown to us? Life is a circle. What comes around, goes around. You get what you give out. So, next time someone gives you a short answer, just smile & kindly thank them. They may have just gotten some really bad news. Or they could just have their cup filled with some stinkin’ rotten things. Either way, your kind heart might just change their way of thinking. If not, you will be still be doing the right thing.

Like my Mamaw used to say, “Don’t act ugly.”

Y’all, can I say we have just been enjoying the fire out of Miss Neenee being in the band? This means we have a reason to go to the football games again. And boy do we love it. We did however make mention how we miss my son-in-law there. He is deployed right now. He loves sports and competition and yelling for our team. So much, that my daughter may or may not have to tell him to sit down before he gets thrown out of the game. He gets a bit riled up. And we love him for it. I hope your weather has been pleasant. Someone said fall is beginning. I’m not sure where they are, but here in northeast MS it is still HOT AS BLUE BLAZES. I hope you all have a relaxing weekend. We will be at the ballgame tonight cheering on our little trumpet player. Until next time I have to be going because I should be washing clothes.

 

Look at that game face.Almost got her to smile.Yes this is a HUGE football helmet with smoke billowing out of it. We are just fancy like that.

Football good times.

photo credits: Facebook, http://www.ellenlandreth.wordpress.com, pinterest

 

 

 

5 things to help you when dealing with illness & being thankful for the little things

/ kstrick7 / Leave a comment

I was talking to a co-worker, the other day. I was sharing how many boxes I had to use to store my 2017 files. Normally, I use about 6. This year, I have already filled up 11 boxes & have more to go. We were talking about how blessed we were to have had a lot of work last year.  It also made me think about my mama & how she thought about work.

If you are new here, you may not know, but my mama passed away in 2002. She had multiple sclerosis. She was a wonderful person, not to mention the best mama in the WORLD. She became ill in her early 40s. So when I hit my early 40s guess what I thought was going to happen to me?? Yep. I got past it & thanked the Lord for it.  Looking back, I learned so many lessons while she was sick. It was a terrible time for our family. But we stuck together. One of the things I remember about my mama was that she worked hard. She worked at home & she worked an outside job. Once she got sick, I can remember on many occasions talking to her about work. There were times I would come in after work & be so tired. She would always tell me to be thankful.  She would say,

” Be glad you can go to work. I would just give anything if I could.”

That has really stuck with me through the years. I think of that when I get stressed or aggravated, at work. I am so blessed to have a good job & thankful I am healthy enough to go to work. When you get sick & tired of work & think how hard you must have it, just remember there’s those out there who would love to be healthy & able to hold down a job. Now that I look back on all those times when my mama was sick, I think of lessons I learned. And that’s something I want to say today. If you are going through a sickness of your own or someone else you love, here are some things to keep in mind:

1. Keep moving. Oh, it’s ok to stop & have a moment here & there. But look for the opportunities to do good.  You will do no good living on the corner of gloom and doom. Yes, it’s a tough deal, that no one wants to deal with. If you use your time to count your blessings & look ahead, things won’t be so grim. At one time, Mama was on the one at church, that you called to report announcements. She would take them down & give them to my Dad for church. She loved talking to people & letting them know they had our support. Find something you enjoy & keep going.

2. I learned just because you have a pain, doesn’t mean you have to be a pain. The nurses & nurses aids that cared for my mama always loved her. She hated to be in the position she was in. And she deeply appreciated those doing for her what she could no longer do for herself.

3. Never lose sight of God. In times of trials, it is so easy to question God & want to know why. There are no real good reasons why bad things happen to good people except that we live in a fallen world where the bad comes with the good. Accept it. It’s reality. We all deal with things we wish we didn’t have to. Keep your faith in God alive & well. Sometimes it’s all we have. Mama went to church even when my daddy would have to get her ready, pick her up & put her in the van, & push her in with her sitting in a wheelchair. That is true love for God.

Job 2:10 Shall we indeed accept good from God & shall we not accept adversity? (NKJV)

4. Look for the happy times. Illnesses are awful. But there is good in everything. I got to spend lots of quality time with my precious mama those last few years of her life. We learned to look for the little things, in our day, to help us make it through. Like getting the mail, the nurse coming, an unexpected guest, cooking special dishes, receiving cards from friends & family or ordering out. I can say, most of the time she kept a good attitude. Which I believe her thankfulness helped keep her grounded with her illness.

5. Keep your sense of humor. I can remember a lot of different times when mama would say, “Don’t that beat all?” Then she would laugh about whatever mess we had gotten ourselves into. Because, bless my heart more times than not, every time we tried to do something I would end up making things twice as hard as they really were. Things that were normally easy, was tough, when she was bedfast. Washing her hair was a total mess sometimes. Because how do you wash someone’s hair in the bed? I usually ended up getting her soaking wet. She would laugh & say she never thought she would have to swim with her gown on.  Laughing would help break up the monotony of the reality of what was really going on.

 Ephesians 4:28  Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labor, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth.(KJV)

I hope you are having a blessed week. It’s been very rainy the past few days. And cold. We have thankfully been in the house! I hope you are somewhere sunny, with balmy wind hitting you in the face. I won’t be too jealous! Until next time, I should be going, because I should be washing clothes.

Click on the free printable to download scripture memory cards for encouragement.

 

photo credit: http://www.meetpenny.com, pinterest

 

 

6 more weeks of winter & God is in control

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Well, unless you have been under a rock, you know by now,

THERE WILL BE 6 MORE WEEKS OF WINTER

That is if you put your weather stock in a groundhog by the name of Puxsutawney Phil. Which of course why would you not?

I also wanted to mention the fact that it’s a good idea to remember at the end of the day God is in control. Oh He may let things get plumb down right crazy but He is always working behind the scenes for our good.

Don’t forget to pray.

I Thessalonians 5:17 Pray continually (NKJV) 

Don’t forget to be thankful.

Ephesians 5:20 always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. (NKJV)

Don’t forget to be grateful.

Psalm 100:2 Serve the Lord with gladness; Come before His presence with singing.(NKJV)

Because just as graciously as we have received the Lord’s care & blessings, it can always be snatched away.

This world is not certain. But God is always there, if we seek Him.

Acts 17:27 so that they should seek the Lord, in the hope that they might grope for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us;(NKJV)

I hope you all have a wonderful weekend. It’s cold here. We’ve had our snow & ice situation back in January. Now, I am on the count down for some warmer weather. AND I DON”T WANT TO HEAR ONE WORD ABOUT HOW HOT IT IS THIS SUMMER. Because after this cold winter, all the summer smoltering weather is long forgotten. Until next time, dear friends, I have to go because I should be washing clothes.

 

One Word for 2018

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I’m not sure if you make New Year’s Resolutions or not. I always bust mine wide open by about week 2. I have always felt like such a failure with my resolutions. Because of that, for the past several years I have made a One Word Resolution.

One Word is a word you remember, pray about, pay attention to, & is basically your courage key to make yourself better in the new year.

This year my One Word is FOCUS.

What does that mean? It means, in 2018,  I will discipline myself to focus intentionally on my life.  I will focus on my work. I will focus on what the Lord is wanting me to learn in all situations. I will focus on others. I will look deeper into God’s Word and FOCUS.

So, who’s with me?  I will tell you, if you want to be a better version of you. If you want to have a plan in the forefront of your mind. If you want to have your life changed, this is for you. This little plan has done all of that for me. Come on & join me in One Word! What have you got to lose?

Here are some other One Words I have had in the past-

Trust

Courage

Pray

Gratitude

I am so glad you came by to visit with me today. I hope you are having a blessed week. Until next time, I have to be going because I should be washing clothes.

If you want to read more about One Word, click here.

5 things to help you through the holidays

/ kstrick7 / Leave a comment

It’s that time of year again. You know the time of joy & peace & love. Also, of depression, uncertainty, & how in the world am I going to get this all doneness? But y’all. How do you make it through the holidays without the annual hair falling out conference (as I have attended for several years)? I have to keep myself psyched up & organized (to a degree, because who am I kidding?) Here are a few things that may help you combat the bah humbug syndrome.

Christy Jordan, over at Southern Plate, has the best printables to stay organized at Christmas. To see these click here.

FREE Christmas Planner Printables

If you need a good  Southern recipe, she has that covered, too.

Whether you are eating, cooking, shopping, or just having a good ol’ fashioned meltdown for the holidays, remember to take a minute for yourself. This is priority. I have found that taking time to stop & study my Bible & spend time with the Lord COMFORTS ME SO.  Here are some verses to consider during this time.

  1. Good news! There’s hope in the Lord. No where else. Jesus came, lived, preached, & died on the cross for our sins. Because of this, we have forgiveness of sins & a home of heaven, if we are faithful.                           Proverbs 14:32 promises                                                                                                   32 The wicked is driven away in his wickedness: but the righteous hath hope in his death. (KJV)
  2. You know that meltdown I was talking about? That’s real. Many dread the holidays because of the fact so much has changed in their lives. Loved ones have gone on. Health problems may keep some from enjoying the holidays, as they always have. There may be family problems, money problems, or any kind of problem that makes a person feel helpless. However, the Lord comes right in with another promise-                                                                   Matthew 11:28 28 Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. (NKJV)
  3. Remember to trust. This was my “One Word” that I focused on this year. And let me tell you, it has really brought me through some tough times. Just knowing God is with me & that He will take care of all my insecurities.   Psalm 46: 1-2God is our refuge and strength,
    A very present help in trouble.
    2 Therefore we will not fear,
    Even though the earth be removed,
    And though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea;(NKJV)
  4. How can you make it without love? Jesus says you can’t. That’s why in the scriptures He continually tries to drive home the message that we as humans need love.                                                                                                                            1 John 4:1111 Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.(NKJV)
  5. And last but not least, expectations are the devil. These kids expect costly electronics, name brand clothes & shoes, the latest gaming system with you know, the expensive games. All of that costs money, right? You know the money that’s so hard to come by.  Make this season about love, joy, & peace. Let’s show our families that they are important. Because it doesn’t matter how fancy your house is, how new your car is, how much money is in the bank. If it costs you your soul, all is lost.                                                        Luke 9: 25 For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and is himself destroyed or lost?  (NKJV)

Y’all. Let’s make this Christmas what it’s supposed to be. Don’t let the burdens of expectations take a hold of you. Pray about it & then do your best with the situation you have. Ask others for help, if need be. Things tend to work themselves out. Don’t fret! I hope you are having a blessed week. I have to be going because I should be washing clothes.

photo credits: pinterest