Why I go to church & what’s up with all the rain?

January 14, 2015January 14, 2015 / kstrick7 / Leave a comment

If someone were to ask you, “Why do you go to church?” or “Why don’t you go to church?” what would your answer be? Some folks may not go to church because they have had a bad experience there. Some may not go because they just don’t feel the need to. Some may not go because they don’t know how important it is. You may say I go to church because I want my kids to go. Or some may go to church because that’s what their parents did. Others may go to church because they are Christians & it’s the right thing to do. Today, I want to talk about why I go to church.

First, I want to go to heaven. With that, I believe Jesus created us to be social creatures. He was with His friends, a lot. He was a preacher to audiences of thousands on several occasions. He fellowshipped with many & hung around with a group of guys, most of the time. It goes without saying, we need to be with other like-minded folks.

The Hebrew writer gave a commandment in Hebrews 10:25

²⁵not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching. (NKJV)

What assembling was he talking about? Worship service & whenever else the church decides to meet. That commandment was given to me, you, & whoever else is a child of the Lord. With that, I have a responsibility to the Lord to be with my group, the church, when they meet. Not because the Lord is trying to be mean & keep me from sleeping in on one of my days off. Or because He doesn’t want me to catch my favorite t.v. shows. He knows us. He made us. He knows we are like those that made the golden calf to worship, when Moses didn’t come down from the mountain quick enough. (Exodus 32) He knows we have to be reminded of His love for us & His purpose for us. What better way than by taking the Lord’s Supper every first day of the week? I Corinthians 11: 22-26

²³For I received from the Lord that which I also delivered to you: that the Lord Jesus on the same night in which He was betrayed took bread; ²⁴and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, “Take, eat;^[b] this is My body which is broken^[c] for you; do this in remembrance of Me.” ²⁵In the same manner He also took the cup after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood. This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.”²⁶For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death till He comes.

He knows we need each other to help each other along. Life is hard. Sometimes we may not have a physical family on Earth, we can count on. He knows we need to know we aren’t in this thing called life alone. He knows what I need. Which is the company of others. He knows I am stubborn & if He did not tell me to do something, I might not do it. One reason I go to church is because I want to go to heaven.

Second, I need the support of the church. I need people who love me & know my heart. I need people who I can count on in this ol’ world. My church family is that. Those are some good, salt of the Earth people I am with at each meeting. If I need anything, they are there for me. They are there to support me when things are good. They are there to see me through when things aren’t so great. I need that fellowship.

Acts 2:42 And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers. (NKJV)

We had a lady that came asking for prayer on Sunday night. Her grandson prayed for her & his family. It was truly God at work. The young man was tearful & hurting. He prayed a short prayer for help to make it through their hard time. I know the Lord heard it. Some of us didn’t even really know the grandmother or grandson. But that did not stop us from standing in line to tell her we were there for her & her family. That we loved her & that the Lord loved her. And it don’t matter if anybody in that church house knew those people or not, they needed help & prayers. That’s what we are there for. When I am involved in church, I never have the feeling that I don’t have anyone to turn to. Feelings of hopelessness aren’t common. I know there are people in my life that care about me. Those are people from my church. As a matter of fact, I kinda like those people. When I say kinda I mean REALLY love my church peeps. Another reason I go to church is I need the support of Godly people.

Third, I want to help my family go to heaven. I believe it is just as much my responsibility to raise my family spiritually healthy as it is to raise them physically healthy. If I don’t tell my loved ones about the Lord, who is? If I don’t try to teach my family about Jesus, they may just believe anything anyone tries to tell them. Whether it be true or not. And that’s not good.

I go to church because I want my kids to learn about Jesus & become spiritually strong. I want to give my kids the best chance they have at knowing the Lord & going to heaven one day. And isn’t that all we can hope for? No matter what is going on around me, I have to make sure I am a good example. I can’t expect my kids to love the Lord, if I don’t. I can’t be disappointed that my kids don’t study the Bible & go to God for help, if they don’t see me doing it. Still another reason I go to church is to help my family go to heaven.

Fourth, I go to church because I NEED it. I need to hear the preacher tell me what I should be doing & how Christians should act. Not that I don’t know, but because I’m just human. I need reminding, continually. I need to see my brothers & sisters in Christ. I need to feel the comfort & warmth of being with God’s people. I need forgiveness. I need to remember what it’s all about. I need to sing songs & pray prayers. I need to listen to scripture read. I need to be held accountable for my life. I need my faith strengthened. Just like the members of the early church had the same need:

Acts 14: 22 ²²strengthening the souls of the disciples, exhorting them to continue in the faith, and saying, “We must through many tribulations enter the kingdom of God.”(NKJV)

Humbly, I need to remember Jesus died for me on a cross from my sins. If I am not there, all these things may begin to seem not so important. And these things are the MOST. Important. Things. Ever. Last but not least, I go to church because more than anyone, I need it.

Thank you for listening to me tell why I go to church. Please don’t think I look down on people who don’t go to church. I’m just telling you, though, if you don’t you are really missing out. The blessings you receive & the standard of living is like no other. On a random note-I cannot even handle hearing people say they don’t go to church because of the hypocrites there. There are hypocrites that go to the grocery store & Walmart. Does that keep you from going to one of those places? I will tell you like I tell my kids. Church is a public place. Anybody can go. That means there may be some hypocrites there.

My father-in- law used to always say this,

“You can either go to church with hypocrites, or you can go to hell with them.”

I don’t think I have to say much else past that.

I am so glad you stopped by to visit with me today. I hope you are having a good week. I hope it is warm & sunshiny wherever you are. Because it is NOT here in northeast Mississippi. However, I will choose to think of the long, stiflin’ hot, muggy, humid days of summer & thank the Lord for a little cold weather. We have had our fair share of rain.

I don’t even know what our weather is doing anymore. Rain. And lots of it. Cray. Until the skies are full of fluffy clouds and bright sunshine again, I have to be going because I should be washing clothes.

You don’t have to go to church, you get to go to church.

photo credits: heartprintsofgod, http://www.cedarspringschurchofchrist.org,www.exclusiveblend.wordpress.com,pinterest

One Word for 2015

January 5, 2015January 5, 2015 / kstrick7 / 2 Comments

I had been thinking about my One Word for 2015. In 2014 it was Pray. With that, I focused my year on prayer. With prayer always being in the forefront of my mind, I saw things in my life start to change. I am so glad I took the time to focus on prayer. It has made the world of difference. So, it goes without saying, while I was doing all this praying, I began to feel more thankful. It has truly been a humbling time. I gave it some thought (with some help from my friend Falen) & have declared Gratitude as my One Word for 2015. I want to keep this thankful vibe going. It sure does make things more peaceful in my life. When I am thankful, I become richer. I become happier. I become more humbled. I become mindful of the fact, I don’t “do” all of this myself. I have Someone greater, wiser, & more concerned about me than anybody else, watching out for me. That’s where the peace of mind comes in. Realizing the Lord cares for me. Little ol’ me! That makes me feel good. Like chocolate gravy & biscuits good.

I saw where Falen had announced her One Word on Facebook. I immediately commented as to where she snagged her beautiful button. She made it. And because she is AWESOME on a daily basis, she offered to make me one. Here it is:

From this One Word, I will focus on being thankful & grateful this year. I can’t wait to see what 2015 has in store for us! God’s blessings were all over the place last year. I know He will bless us in 2015. And p.s. THANK YOU Falen for taking your time to create this gorgeous new addition to my side bar!

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

I hope you have made some goals for 2015. I have my list & want to do my best to put them into action. I am even doing a Bible study with Melanie over at Only a Breath . I know it will bless my heart. Go on over & get your daily dose of blessings, too. Until then, I have to be going, because I should be washing clothes.

The best gift you can give to your kids & how it’s never too late

December 17, 2014December 17, 2014 / kstrick7 / Leave a comment

When I think of Christmas, I think of kids. I don’t know about you, but Christmas was always a special time at our house. Homemade cookies, candy, parties, toys, & family were the best memories I have. As a child growing up, I always had the security of a good family. I never knew what it was like to go to bed hungry or not know I was loved beyond belief. I was very blessed. It humbles me to know what a wonderful childhood I had. It could have very easily been another way. You don’t pick who you are born to. Thankfully, I was born to two precious people, who had a way with a feisty little girl.

At this time of year, I get to thinking about what would be the best presents, for my kids, at Christmas. What special memory can I give them about this time of year? I came across this article & wanted to share it with you. It is the best gift you can possibly give your children all year long.

We should conduct our homes so that children will remember:

Daddy & Mama were kind to one another (Ephesians 4:32).
Home was a happy place, governed by the law of love (Psalm 119:165).
Each child was treated fairly and required to obey his or her parents (Ephesians 6:1-4).
Sunday was a day of worship (Acts 20:7).
The Bible, God’s law, settled everything (Psalm 33:4).
Home was a place where friendships were dear, but truth was dearer (Proverbs 18:24, 23:23).
Although mama & daddy worked hard, they took time to read the Bible daily & pray (Hebrews 10:22).

There is still time for many of us to create good memories for our children & grandchildren. One of the best things I remember growing up, was how special church was to my family. At the church we went to, my Daddy was the preacher, my Mama a Sunday School teacher, my Papaw a song leader, who they also called on to pray & serve the Lord’s table, my Mamaw cooked for those in need, was at every service (with the rest of us), & loved our church family dearly. I had aunts, uncles, & cousins that were also serving the congregation. It’s funny, I never really thought of this being one of my Daddy’s jobs. It was just my life & I have been so blessed to have lived it. Me & my brother did have some requirements. (Some of which were perhaps a smidge challenging to an active/high spirited/could not keep her mouth shut/curious type child).

We were to be attentive.

We were to be dressed properly (hair combed, teeth brushed, & in our Sunday best).

We were to be cordial & kind to others.

And never, ever, ever were we allowed to go to the bathroom close to the end of Daddy’s sermon.

Doing this would possibly create a need to walk back to our seat while the invitation song was being sung. That was Daddy’s moment to help those that needed prayer, baptizing, or other spiritual assistance. My Mama was not going to interfere with one of her kids walking up through there, appearing to come forward. (We sat on the front bench.) So, she made sure we went to the restroom & got a brief drink from the water fountain in between Sunday School & Worship Service. I haven’t had to have therapy or counseling due to this, so I’m sure it was just an inconvenience we lived through. As a matter of fact, it taught us to watch what was going on & be aware of other people’s feelings. Not just a great memory, but good upbringing. Sometimes at church, I see kids & adults walking around during the invitation song. I’m like, “Wow, my Mama would have never had that.”

We may not have had the very best of everything life had to offer. But we had a stable, loving family. That’s what I strive to provide for my own kids & grandkids. Is it perfect? No, but they know they are loved & we are here to support them in all the ups & downs of life. That’s more memorable than any Ipad, Dr. Dre’s Beats, or 4 wheeler.***

I do hope you were raised with wonderful memories at Christmas. If not, it’s not too late to be the person who makes special memories for others. Children are a blessing from God. We should always treat them as such. That means not letting them by with everything in the book, teaching them to be respectful, & honest. However, that starts with us, first. My prayer today is that you will have the courage & braveness of heart to do right & good. Not just for others sake, but for your own, as well. I know of some adults, who as children, did not have a regal upbringing. However, now their parents have come around & taken care of their own problems. They have become wonderful grandparents & not to mention a great support to their kids. It’s never too late.

I hope you are having a wonderful & magical holiday season. We are ramping up for a big couple of days at our house. There will be family visiting, kids squealing in delight, & we will be cooking. A lot. It goes without saying, my usual New Year’s resolution of losing weight will be on my list. As for now, I have to be going, because I should be washing clothes.

Mr. Sweetie Pants having his cake batter & banana, too- in his undies, nonetheless.

Mr. Sweetie Pants having his cake batter & banana, too- in his undies, no less. That’s how we roll.

photo credits: pinterest, Thomas Kincaid collection, & my trusty Iphone

Parts of this was taken from a House to House, Heart to Heart bulletin.

***On a side note, I am not trying to be disrespectful to those who buy expensive gifts for their kids. I am just saying all those things can break, be stolen, or wear out. The things you instill in your kids can never be taken away from them. Just a thought.

Raising a peacemaker & this is what my Thanksgiving looked like

December 4, 2014December 4, 2014 / kstrick7 / 1 Comment

The other day, I got a phone call from the school. It was my Miss Neenee. She began telling me she was in the nurse’s office. (Which from my experience, has never turned out good.)

She said she had been hit by a boy in P.E. They were playing basketball. They were both going up to catch the ball. The boy slammed into her, to get the ball. Then, the ball hit her in the face. All of that commotion broke her glasses & left a cut on her eyebrow.

She started by telling me,

“Mama, I’m in the nurse’s office. I cut my eye playing ball & broke my glasses.”

“You cut your eye? Your eyeball?” I was just a smidge panicked.

“No, the outside close to my eyebrow. And it’s bleeding.” She said.

“It’s bleeding???” Now, full blown anxiety & confusion has set in. And apparently, I sounded too frantic, because the nurse got on the phone.

The kind nurse reassured me she was not bleeding profusely. That she took a lick on the eye & her glasses were broken. She put the Miss back on the phone. I asked her did she need to be picked up & she did not.

After we got home, I asked her, “Who was this boy & what did you do when you got hit?”

Well, first she cried. Then, she went to the nurse’s office (accompanied by one of her besties, no less).

“What happened with the little boy?” I pressed.

“He kept saying he was sorry & he said he would buy me some new glasses.” She said

“Well, what did you do to him?” I quizzed.

“Umm, nothing. He said he was sorry. A bunch.” She replied.

Really? No big throw down? No show down amongst the 5^th & 6^th grader P.E. students? If it had of been me, I would have probably had to smack some heads. You can’t push somebody around & get by with it. Then, I thought about what Jesus said, in His sermon on the mount:

Matthew 5:9

“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God. (ESV)

Matthew 5:38-39

³⁸“You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ ³⁹But I say to you, Do not resist the one who is evil. But if anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. (ESV)

By Miss Neenee just letting it go, she became a peacemaker, like Jesus is talking about there in verse 9. She passed on the opportunity to retaliate. She turned the other cheek. Perhaps I could learn a lesson here. Maybe we all could. Keep your temper & anger in check. It’s what Jesus would want us to do.

I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving. We most certainly did. I was off work for 4 days. Out of those 4 days I saw my kids & grandkids every day. That’s a lot of happiness for me. I even got to keep my grandbabies for some of that time. Fun was had by all. I hope you have a wonderful week. As for me, I have to be going because I should be washing clothes.

Some Thanksgiving highlights:

My Daddy & sister in law

Me & my big brother

Jay-Dub & Livie – sweetest nephew & niece ever

Daddy & Livie

Livie & Miss Neenee

Thanksgiving breakfast sorta agrees with us.

Star of the show- brined, smoked & ready to eat. Best. turkey. ever.

Some of the Thanksgiving dinner. The rest continued around on the other side of the counter. Whew! We were full!

Here’s some Thanksgiving kids. Coincidentally, they do not like turkey. However, are stuffing their little faces with the “chicken” we had.

Two of my sweet boys

When you can’t find the butterflies for the Elefun game, you try to make other things fly out of his nose.

Like cups or guns….

And here was the guilty culprit! Look at that sweet face. Now, how many times do you think he gets in trouble at Grand & Pap's? If you said none, you were right.

And here was the guilty culprit! Look at that Mr. Sweetie Pants! Now, how many times do you think he gets in trouble at Grand & Pap’s? If you said none, you were right.

photo credit: pinterest

Happy Thanksgiving from I should be washing clothes

November 27, 2014November 26, 2014 / kstrick7 / 1 Comment

I wish for you a blessed Thanksgiving holiday.

From- I should be washing clothes

photo credit: freegreatimages.com

Why I like Thanksgiving & being thankful for what you already have

November 25, 2014November 25, 2014 / kstrick7 / Leave a comment

I Thessalonians 5:18 in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

As everyone knows, that does not live under a rock, this Thursday is Thanksgiving. I have always liked Thanksgiving for many reasons. Here are a few:

1. I get to see my family that I love. Especially the ones from out of town. I am turning into my Mamaw. If it’s a holiday or Sunday dinner, my loved ones are required to be at my house. And if not, I just won’t ever understand what else could be so important that you could not have your feet under my table for that time. I just love them that much.

2. Thanksgiving is leisure time. Not like that other holiday that is coming up next month. Thanksgiving is cooking & eating & visiting. You are really not required to do anything except cook, eat, & visit. That’s easy. Oh & watch the Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade & football games. Plus, we enjoy a little Just Dance, on the Wii, at our house as well. Miss Neenee’s usual response when I play is,

“Mama quit. You are embarrassing yourself.”

3. We eat our way through the whole holiday. I begin by hosting Thanksgiving breakfast. We fill our bellies full of biscuits, Mama’s breakfast casserole, quiche, homemade Danish, bacon, sausage, & various & asundry jellies, preserves, & whatever else I can come up with. Then, once that’s over, we go for the meal with the star of the show- the smoked turkey. There’s dressing(not stuffing), cranberry sauce, beans, corn, salads, shells & cheese, casseroles, rolls, so much I can’t name it all. And desserts that will make you want to slap yo’ mama & draw back at your daddy. **On a side note, speaking of which, my Daddy has already proclaimed his Thanksgiving day plans are to eat breakfast at my house, then, go back to one of the bedrooms & sleep until we wake him up for dinner. ** I love a well thought out plan.

4. Me & my sweetie get to cook together. It just all comes full circle. We love to eat. So, cooking together makes it just that much more fun.

5. No stressing out. I have my menu made weeks in advance. I get my groceries bought up. We plan when we are cooking what. We execute our plan. If anything goes amiss, it’s ok. It’s all family. They don’t care. Not like Christmas. My hair will be falling out before Christmas Eve. Seriously. It happens every year. You don’t have to worry about presents on Thanksgiving or making sure everything is just right. I leave that for next month.

So you see, I try my best, to celebrate Thanksgiving the way it should be. Being thankful for what the Lord has so graciously blessed us with. I read an article that has suggested showing gratitude is a lot more healthier for us than not being thankful- even for the everyday things. You can read 20 Mind Blowing things about Gratitude here. I do want to mention Bro. Brad preached an excellent sermon on Sunday- pinpointing being thankful. He said he had read a story about a preacher that was always thankful. He said one of the negative Nancy’s of the congregation came in thinking there was no way the preacher would find anything to be thankful for that day. It was nasty outside. Raining, wind blowing, terrible weather. When the preacher got up to pray, he said,

“Thank you, Lord, that not all days are like this.”

What a wonderful attitude of gratitude. There is always something to be thankful for. The blanket on our bed, that keeps us warm a night. The roof over our heads. Hot water. Shoes. Our sight. Things that oftentimes we take for granted. We as a society are so funny. Because you know what the day after Thanksgiving is- Black Friday.

Sad, but true.

I am glad you stopped by to visit with me today. I so hope you have a wonderful Thanksgiving. Like every year, I will be so happy to be surrounded by friends & family. However, will be missing my Mama, too. She loved a celebration. No matter what it was for. Happy Thanksgiving, ya’ll!! Until next time I will be going because I should be washing clothes.

photo credits: someecards.com, tilhecomes.org, thanksgiving scripture

Why we have pain & suffering & yes, I’m a band wagoner

November 12, 2014November 11, 2014 / kstrick7 / Leave a comment

Do you ever ponder the question why? Why do we have pain & suffering? Why do bad things happen to good people? Why are there starving people? If God is all He says He is, then why do all these terrible things exist? I think I found out.

This morning, I was listening to Matthew 26 & 27, on the way to work. The scripture was at the point where Jesus was prepping his disciples of what is fixing to happen to Him. Jesus was getting ready to suffer beyond belief. Not only was He going to be crucified on a cross for our sins, His very best friends in the world, were one by one turning their backs on Him. Judas betrayed Him. (Matt. 26:25) Peter denied Him. (Matt. 26:74)

The other disciples ran off & left Him.

Matthew 26:56 ….. Then all the disciples forsook Him and fled.

And now, He was being hung on a cross. Jesus begged God to rethink His plan. But, ended up praying

Matthew 26:42 ….“O My Father, if this cup cannot pass away from Me unless I drink it, Your will be done.”(NKJV)

I think I’ve got problems. My problems will never match up to what Jesus had going on. I haven’t ever been treated the way Christ was. So, I start to ask myself

“Where was God?”

Why did He let this awful thing happen to His own Son? It was God’s plan to save mankind. He knew what He was doing. Why does God allow bad things happen in the world? It’s in His plan. Job said in

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

We are so willing to take all the goodness God gives. However, just can’t understand when bad things come our way. God gave His only Son for our sins. He let Jesus go through some awful things. Remember that then next time you ask God, “Why me?” Why not you? He crucified His own Son for our own good. He may let some less than pleasing things happen to us, for our greater good. It’s all in His plan. He has promised He will never allow satan to tempt us over & beyond what we are able to handle. The apostle Paul wrote in

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.

We have to trust in God to take care of us. Even in the worst times, we have to have enough faith to say, “I have some big problems, but I have a really big God that’s going to see me through it.” Always remember, God promised us a safe landing, not an easy passage. He allowed His own Son to die on a cross. I am fairly certain that turned out pretty good for me & you, huh? That was God’s plan. We just have to trust Him. He’s got this.

I hope you have had a good week. We had a wonderful time with my family in Oxford, Mississippi, this past weekend. We may or may not have had the biggest tailgating tent at the entire Ole Miss campus. Just sayin’, it was pretty fabulous. Normally, I could care less who is playing ball. But this year, yep, I’m on the band wagon! :)I love being with my family. I got home just in time to be with more of my family. This grandparent gig we have going on is the cat’s pajamas. We play all day & it’s a good thing. I always get a wonderful night’s sleep on Sunday. (Not that it has to do with all the running around those kids have me doing.) Until next time, I have to be going because I should be washing clothes.

Not that ya’ll care, but this is where the tailgating fun is.

Inside the Hotty Toddy Hangout…

If I were a bettin’ woman, I bet this guy was pretty tired when he got home. He did this every time Ole Miss made a touchdown.

Lovely cousins

These sweet girls had such a good time together.

Me & my Miss Livy

Time change is for the birds & my secret sister

November 6, 2014November 5, 2014 / kstrick7 / Leave a comment

Ooohhh, the time change……..Really, is this change necessary? I mean, at work Monday around 2:30pm, I thought it was time for me to go home. Imagine my surprise. Since, I work until 5pm, that was definitely upsetting for me. Next time they take a vote for cancelling daylight savings time, will someone let me know? I perhaps have a strong opinion about it. Thanks ya’ll. Because time change is hard.

Isn’t it wonderful the love of the Lord never changes? It is a very constant thing for those who are His. Do you wonder sometimes if Jesus still cares? He does. He never changes. We all get discouraged. We all have struggles. It’s every day, for some of us. Not just occasionally. It is nearing the time of year that is, harder than normal, for us folks who have lost loved ones. Times come when you feel you just can’t go on. It may be the loss of a job, loss of a loved one, a divorce, or sickness, whether it be you or someone you care about. Things happen. Things that we don’t plan for. Change happens. But, I am here with some good news, the Lord is here for us. The whole time. Not just for the parts that are easy. He will be with you as long as you will let Him. He wants us all to have a home in heaven. Now, that’s a change I am happy about. I will gladly change my earthly address in exchange for a heavenly home.

David talks about his own troubling times in Psalms 30. David had a man killed, so that he could take his wife. David & his new wife had a baby & the baby died. (II Samuel 12) David was so full of grief. He called on God. He knew His love was there. Never changing.

Psalms 30: 2

Lord my God, I called to you for help, and you healed me. ^{v. 3}You, Lord, brought me up from the realm of the dead; you spared me from going down to the pit. (NKJV)

The Lord obviously loved David. He was right there for him. Even though David did wrong, God came back to him, when he repented.

Psalms 30:5

For his anger lasts only a moment, but his favor lasts a lifetime; weeping may stay for the night, but rejoicing comes in the morning.(NKJV)

Have you ever stayed up at night & wanted relief? Didn’t things look much better in the morning? David found favor with God. God made sure he was there for David. Why? Because God’s just awesome like that. He’s a dependable. He never changes. And after the baby died, David went to worship the Lord. David was changed. He knew the same Lord that allowed bad things to happen to him, was the same Lord that blessed him. He knew God was going to take care of everything. And He did.

Thank you for stopping by to visit with me today. Did you know it’s only 3 weeks until Thanksgiving? I am so excited! I can’t wait for all of our family to be together. There is ne’er a dull moment with my bunch. There will be lots of cooking, eating, & fun times. And too, my secret sister, from the Only a Breath encouragement project, sent me a card this week. She wrote a beautiful scripture in it. Do you know where it was from? Psalms 30. I had been reading & studying that very scripture the same day I got the card. Now tell me the Lord didn’t just send me a friend! I hope you have a wonderful rest of the week. Until next time, I have to be going because I should be washing clothes.

photo credits: deposit photos, pinterest

Confessions of the I should be washing clothes blogger & what Ebola doesn’t care about

November 3, 2014November 3, 2014 / kstrick7 / 2 Comments

I have a confession to make.

I am not as awesome as you think I am.

There. Now you know. Oh, I know it seems like I have everything in the world together (Please don’t talk to my friend Jen about this. She knows me too well.) That I have the perfect life. (Refer to the last statement in parenthesis.) I am always totally put together. (Ha. Haaa. Haaaaaa.) I never let the occasion pass that I don’t always say & do the appropriate things, at the right time. I never leave anything to the last minute & am on time for everything. (Ok. I really have to stop with it now.) And you all know what a total math whiz I am. (Ok. Seriously, that’s the last one.) Whew, glad to clarify all that. Those who know me, know I have my share of flaws. As I get older, I begin to reflect on what it is all this life stuff is about. Because c’mon. I had some things I wanted to do in life. I’ve done some of them. Other things have just fallen by the wayside. That’s just reality. Most importantly, I am a put-ter off-er. I always think there’s more time to do better, change my life, or help make other’s lives better. The bad news is there’s really not more time.

The other night, at church, Bro. Brad gave a thought provoking talk about how today is the day. We can make excuses from here to yon on why we can’t do something. He said there are many that are not in a right relationship with God, that think, “I’ve got time.” Folks that say, “When I make more money, I will give more to the Lord.” Then, they are blessed with more & it seems they take up another payment on something they could not live without. Bro. Brad brought to our attention the only reason people don’t own a pet elephant is because we have never been offered a deal for zero down & make monthly payments. ( That Bro. Brad can be pretty comical.) His point was, we shouldn’t let stuff get in the way of our relationship with the Lord. We may say, “I will work more for the Lord, when I have more time.” When the kids get older, when my job slows down, when I don’t have so many other activities going on, such as kid’s soccer practice, softball games, basketball games, being a taxi to your kids. When all of that stops, I will devote more time to the work of the church. Let me tell you. Time doesn’t stop. If you don’t make a way to do things now, the time has past. And guess what? Yep, you know. You never get that back. That’s why we must figure out a way to maintain a balance.

II Corinthians 6:2

For He says: “In an acceptable time I have heard you, And in the day of salvation I have helped you.” Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation (NKJV)

It’s to our ultimate advantage to be faithful to the Lord. So many times I see people not attend church services because all of their other activities have them worn to a frazzle. I heard a preacher say one time, when you start missing church, you can bet it won’t be long until more & more things hinder your spiritual life. Let me tell you, sweet friend, the ol’ devil has his ways to keep us from doing the Lord’s will. Many times, it’s not one big thing that happens. It’s more of a slow leak than a big blow out. That’s why the small things matter.

I know sometimes people search for something, in life. They are looking for a purpose. I am happy to tell you, you need not look any further. Jesus is it. There are so many things out there that tries to make you believe happiness & contentment comes from this world. If I only had a new car, a better house, more money in the bank, a bigger t.v., then things would be better.

Umm, not really.

Ebola doesn’t care how much money you have in the bank. You can still be inflicted with a dreaded disease, even if you have a 72” big screen t.v. Then, what becomes important? Relationships? People who will take care of you & help you through hard times? Many times your relationship with God takes a front seat. God should be our first choice at all times. Not our last resort. The apostle Paul talks about how matters of the heart, really matter. Especially when it comes to love.

I Corinthians 13: 4-8

Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; ⁵does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; ⁶does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; ⁷bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails.

Faith, hope, & love are very important. It’s a good thing to choose to make those a part of your daily life. Don’t think you have time to make things of your heart right. The time is now.

Solomon was the wisest man & had great wealth. He had access to all the things of the world. It was unbelieveable! The Queen of Sheba was so curious of his riches & knowledge, she paid him a visit. Afterwards, she had this to say:

II Chronicles 9: 5 & 6

Then she said to the king: “It was a true report which I heard in my own land about your words and your wisdom. ⁶However I did not believe their words until I came and saw with my own eyes; and indeed the half of the greatness of your wisdom was not told me. You exceed the fame of which I heard.(NKJV)

After all the glitz & glamor of having everything he could ever wanted, the wise Solomon gave the recipe of what our whole existence is about.

Ecclesiastes 12:13

Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God and keep His commandments, For this is man’s all.(NKJV)

So, if Solomon is giving us the answer to the meaning of life, why don’t we take heed? It’s like we have found the answer, but we often times keep looking somewhere else for what life is all about. We must act now to make things in our life right & know we are not promised the next minute. At the end of your life, what will really matter? Whatever you have been putting off, take that step of faith. The Lord will be there to walk with you. It’s time.

I hope everyone has had a blessed week. With this past Friday being Halloween, I had my share of sweet trick or treaters! We trunk or treated at church Wednesday night. The kids had a great time. And then we had that thing called setting your clock back an hour on Saturday night. We really need to quit with the time changes. Just make it one way & leave it, is what I say. Oh well, another time no one consulted with me. Until they do, I have to be going because I should be washing clothes.

photo credits: love printables, behance.net,tolavishlylove, justsaynototoxicrelationships

Making the decision to be kind & I need a new microwave

October 15, 2014October 14, 2014 / kstrick7 / Leave a comment

Decisions, decisions. We all have to make them. Sometimes decisions can be hard. Evidently it was for the sky this morning. It could not decide if it was going to storm or if the sun was going to shine.

If you look closely, you can see the sun was trying to shine. But, we were driving right into some ugly looking clouds. Strange, I know. With the sky being so indecisive this morning, it made me think about a story, my Daddy has always told about my Papa Clyde. There was a time, he had a chance to make a life altering decision. You will be very surprised at what he did.

My Papa Clyde was a sharecropper. He & my Mama Boyce had 10 children. They obviously had to make the most of their earnings. However, they were always willing to share what they had with others. One time my Papa Clyde started to notice the fuel in his farm tank was running low. He would get more fuel added in, then before he could turn around, the level was back down. He had an idea of what was going on. So, he waited & after dark, he took his post out by the fuel tank. Before long, one of his neighbors wandered up the dirt path, with a gas can & hose. Papa Clyde sat there & watched as the guy started to siphon fuel out. When the time was right, Papa Clyde walked up to the man. The man was obviously startled. The man immediately started apologizing to my grandfather. My grandfather said,

”Look you are going to have to stop this.”

The man regrettably agreed,

“I know Mr. Clyde, I am so sorry. I won’t steal no more of your gas again.”

Papa Clyde looked sorta puzzled & said,

“I mean yer gonna hafta quit siphonin’ this out. You could get hurt doin’ that.”

The man didn’t know what to think. Papa Clyde said,

“Looky here. This is the spout. Let me see yer can.”

With that, Papa Clyde took his gas can & showed him how to operate the fuel tank. After he filled up his can, he handed it back to the man & said,

“Now that you know how to get it out, just help yourself, anytime you need it.”

Needless to say, Papa Clyde did not have any problems with this man stealing gas again. Ever.

I have told that story to several different people. I have had some say,

“I would have shot anybody trying to steal from me.”

My grandfather did not choose that. That day he decided kindness was the best medicine. It puts me in mind of how Elisha, in II Kings 6: 8-23, handled the Syrians.

The Syrians were a bad bunch of people. They were trying to go to war against Israel. Elisha would have none of it. He had an idea. First off, when the Syrians surrounded the city, he asked the Lord to blind them.

II Kings 6:

¹⁸So when the Syrians came down to him, Elisha prayed to the Lord, and said, “Strike this people, I pray, with blindness.” And He struck them with blindness according to the word of Elisha.(NKJV)

Next, he led the army to Samaria. v.19

Once there, Elisha asked the Lord to make them see again. When the soldiers regained their sight, the king of Israel asked Elisha could he kill them.

²¹Now when the king of Israel saw them, he said to Elisha, “My father, shall I kill them? Shall I kill them?”(NKJV)

However, Elisha has another plan. Elisha chooses kindness. He told the king to make a great feast for them. After that, Elisha sent them back home. Do you know what happened after that? They never darkened Israel’s door step again.

²³Then he prepared a great feast for them; and after they ate and drank, he sent them away and they went to their master. So the bands of Syrian raiders came no more into the land of Israel. (NKJV)

Don’t you imagine it took some courage for Elisha & my Papa Clyde to stand up to people who were wronging them? I would think it would take a level of maturity, that is not seen often enough, & a love for your fellow man to react in kindness. I have to admit, I am not sure I would have reacted in love & kindness in either of those situations. However, with these 2 wonderful examples I have, I hope to be reminded of their mercy, kindness, & forgiveness, when someone treats me without regard. You have heard

“a little bit of kindness goes a long way.”

Well, today, my friend, you have seen where it did.

I am so glad you came by to visit with me today & listen to me ramble about making wise decisions. I hope you are having a wonderful week. Mine will get better when I get a new microwave. Mine has tore plumb up! We have missed the clock on it more than anything. My husband has threatened to sit his alarm clock on top of it. Until I get to shop for a microwave, (which will be more decisions for me) I should be going because I should be washing clothes.

photo credits: bowtierecords.BlogSpot.com,vendio.com,pinterest