Why I love fall & what’s on everyone’s mind

October 3, 2017October 3, 2017 / kstrick7 / 2 Comments

Y’all. I hope you are having a wonderful week. I know this weather has just showed out these past few days. The humidity is all but gone & there’s a crispness in the air. I can put pumpkin spice creamer in my coffee again. People are decorating their yards. I saw some of the cutest kids, you’ve EVER seen, at church Sunday with their smocked pumpkin brother/sister outfits on. (Those grands of mine really are the cutest!) We are planning a trip to a fall festival in a couple of weeks. The leaves are starting to turn. And I know the colors will just be gorgeous! I just LOVE FALL.

Now, to get to what is on everyone’s mind. I know your heart has been heavy, just like mine, with the awful shooting that happened in Las Vegas. I pray for the families of the ones hurt,and the ones that lost their lives. I pray for the ones that were helpers in their time of need. I pray for the ugly hearts of those that plan & bring about such destruction. There are just no words for how hard this hits everyone as a nation. It’s devastating.

I know so many people just ask, “Why?” And then again the same anger starts coming out of our hearts and we want to know where God was. Why did God let this happen? We just want answers & want someone to be accountable for this mess. That’s just human nature. That’s how God wired us. However, we just need to remember- no matter how dark a situation can be, good can come out of it. And that’s where God is. He is the good that comes out of tragedy. He will always triumph over evil.

I Kings 19:11-12

¹¹Then He said, “Go out, and stand on the mountain before the Lord.” And behold, the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind tore into the mountains and broke the rocks in pieces before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind; and after the wind an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake; ¹²and after the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire; and after the fire a still small voice. (NKJV)

When I looked at those pictures, on the internet, I saw people running crazy. I saw scared people, people who didn’t know which way to turn. People trying to get away from the gunfire. Then, I saw the police & first responders coming in to help. I saw people helping other people. And I bet you, I just BET YOU, no one was asking if they were a democrat, republican, what their views were on the national anthem, or if they ever picked cotton. You see, all this division the media is honing in on is nonsense. I just don’t believe it’s really out there in the masses, like they want you to believe. I don’t believe we live in a country with hate right around every corner. I believe in the scripture

Galatians 5:9 A little leaven leavens the whole lump. (NKJV)

Because if you look around & notice, there’s a lot of good going on everywhere. It’s just a few that are trying to bully & make us afraid. But if you live in Jesus, there’s no reason to fear. Even if they go to the extreme of killing you, they are sending you home to be with the Lord. That’s what we are all working toward, anyway, right???

Matthew 10:28

²⁸And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell. (NKJV)

Don’t live in fear. Let the Lord shine so bright in you, that there’s no room for any kind of darkness to come in.

I hope you are having a blessed week. Please be in prayer for all of the evil that’s happening in our world right now. But, thank the Lord, too for all the goodness. Until next time I have to be going, because I should be washing clothes.

When you want to take your 1st grader to the homecoming game to cheer with the big girls, because they went to mini cheer camp. Then, you realize she IS one of the BIG GIRLS & this is her last middle school homecoming. (Insert lots of tears here.)

If you want to read more about where God is in time of trouble, click here, here, or here.

photo credits: http://www.thrivinghomeblog.com, http://www.villageoflohrville.com, pinterest

Because you prayed & fall is in the air

September 8, 2016September 8, 2016 / kstrick7 / Leave a comment

Y’all. When we left church last night, it was dark outside. I didn’t know what was going on. Normally, it’s still daylight & hotter than a firecracker. However, a sweet lady, that was walking out with me, knew exactly what it was.

She said, “The seasons are changing. The days are getting shorter.”

AND THIS HEAT. Surely, there’s an end in sight. (Happy dance inserted here). I know I have sweated more this year, than I have in a long time. And I don’t even hardly ever go outside. Ever.

I came across a wonderful devotional in Our Daily Bread. I wanted to share it with you.

What do you do with your worries? Do you turn them inward, or turn them upward?

When the brutal Assyrian King Sennacherib was preparing to destroy Jerusalem, he sent a message to King Hezekiah saying that Judah would be no different from all the other nations he had conquered. Hezekiah took this message to the temple in Jerusalem, and “spread it out before the Lord” (Isa. 37:14). He then prayed and asked for help from Almighty God.

Soon afterward Isaiah the prophet delivered this message to Hezekiah from the Lord: “Because you prayed about King Sennacherib of Assyria, the Lord has spoken” (Isa. 37:21-22 nlt). Scripture tells us that Hezekiah’s prayer was answered that very night. God intervened miraculously, conquering the enemy forces outside the city gates. The Assyrian army didn’t even “shoot an arrow” (v. 33). Sennacherib would leave Jerusalem, never to return.

Three words in God’s message to Hezekiah—“Because you prayed”—show us the best place to go with our worries. Because Hezekiah turned to God, He rescued him and his people. When we turn our worries into prayer, we discover that God is faithful in unexpected ways! —James Banks

Father, please help me to turn my worries into prayer. My problems are better in Your hands than in my own

Wow! If that’s not incentive to be in prayer, I don’t know what is. I have a prayer journal, that I write names in to pray for. I am thinking of revamping it to be more in depth with it. I am hoping it will make me more aware of people & situations. Y’all, I am so guilty of getting caught up with my problems & not thinking about what others are facing. Hopefully, this will be a good way to keep other’s needs fresh on my mind & heart. I will share this with you, when I put it together.

I hope everyone has had a great week so far. We had a nice Labor Day. My husband out did himself, again. He grilled ribs, fish, a pork butt, & bar-b-que bologna. Everyone was definitely full, when they left the house! Hope the rest of your week is just wonderful! Until next time, I have to be going, because I should be washing clothes.

If it looks like the younger is taller than the older, well, it’s no optical illusion. Miss Neenee has finally passed her sisters in height!

Got to see this lovely young lady. She is truly, truly one of us. She “gets” our sense of humor & loves us, even though we are a bunch of crazies.

And on Labor Day this guy ate so much we about had to roll him out the door. Unless his heart doctor is reading this, then, we made sure he only ate salads and not pork to clog up the rest of his arteries. We are just caring people like that.

photo credits- tumblr

You missed the point & the dreaded time change

November 4, 2015November 4, 2015 / kstrick7 / Leave a comment

How many times have you seen people in life that miss the point? While they may be well meaning, their words just don’t help the cause? I have, first hand, seen people who would rather lash out & “let somebody have it” rather than extend a hand to help. I have seen those who get in a tiz & their knee jerk reaction is to tell somebody off. I have actually had someone tell me before, when I have tried to help them see their anger was not beneficial, say to me, “Well, at least they are going to know what I think.” Really? In situations when people are maybe not making the best choices & they need our help- they really don’t care what you think. Being angry with someone for their mistakes & expressing such to them is missing the point. I know we are all human & want what’s best for our loved ones. And yes, sometimes you may want to just shake them & say, “What were you thinking??” All the lecturing & yelling & bawling & squalling will not change the fact that this person needs our love, not our tempers flaring. I truly believe if we reach out a hand in love, we will get a much more positive response than if we are throwing a hissy fit. We need to be showing Jesus through us. How can we do that if we are angry & ranting & raving? We can’t. We all make mistakes. We all miss the point, from time to time, to show Christ’s love. If we have done that, we should pray & ask the other person to forgive us. The apostle Paul talks about true love in I Corinthians 13.

Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. ²And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. ³And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned,^[a] but have not love, it profits me nothing.

⁴Love 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.

⁸Love never fails. But whether there are prophecies, they will fail; whether there are tongues, they will cease; whether there is knowledge, it will vanish away. ⁹For we know in part and we prophesy in part. ¹⁰But when that which is perfect has come, then that which is in part will be done away.

¹¹When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child; but when I became a man, I put away childish things. ¹²For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known.

¹³And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love. (NKJV)

I love this girl dressed up for Halloween as “Queen of the Nerds.”

This chapter is full of useful & necessary information on how to treat others. From what I can tell, these are commandments. Not suggestions. Let’s be sure we treat them as such. Instead of beating someone over the brow with our version of what they should be doing, we all need to try speaking kindly & understanding where they are coming from with their decisions. A lot of times, I can be more tenderhearted if I know why someone is doing what they are doing. Believe me, there are just some people who need guidance. Even & especially grown men & women. And sadly, some still will not change, even though you go to them in love. That’s not your fault. You have done your part & done it correctly. Continue to show them love & keep them in prayer. Hopefully, they will turn to the Lord before it’s too late. But listen, don’t worry about this. If the Lord could not turn everyone’s heart to the right thing, what makes you think you can? It is what it is. Do your part, with love & move on.

One more thing, you may be asking, “What is “the point” you speak of?” When I refer to missing the point, I am meaning this is your prime opportunity to show Jesus & His love through us. Please, please, please, do your best to not miss the point!

I am so glad you came by to visit with me today. We have had a nasty stomach bug going around our house. I have been able to avoid it, so far. Well, you know there are somethings a stomach bug won’t even chance. Ha. Hope your week has been full of fall weather & pumpkin spice. Oh yeah. And the time changed. What about that daylight savings time that just jumped up & ran off? Still. Not. Over. It. And just to add to your anxiety, Christmas is only 7 weeks away. Love you like candy canes & chocolate covered cherries! Until next time, I have to be going because I should be washing clothes.

I possibly relate to this a little too much.

Do you have FOMO? I know I do!

October 2, 2012 / kstrick7 / 1 Comment

I saw a commercial the other night on t.v. that got me to thinking. It was talking about FOMO (Fear Of Missing Out). We have so many things that are a part of our daily life- due to FOMO. I know I have FOMO. I check my Facebook page to see if anyone has commented on anything noteworthy or has tagged me in a post. I look at my phone, from time to time throughout the day, just to see if someone texting me or has called me. I have to hop on Pinterest to see what is new in the world of crafts, funny sayings, fashion, recipes, home décor, & the like, because I don’t want to be the last one to know what’s happening. I have to check my email, read the articles on Yahoo & scan the blogs I love- just to make sure I am up to date.

Then, there are cell phones….need I say more?? Why is that I cannot go anywhere without my phone? I mean I take it room to room with me, at home. I have it while I am driving, at the store, at work, at church (on silent of course), wherever I am I have my phone. Texting is a whole other entity in itself. There is a campaign going on with AT & T telling people – “It can wait.” Why? Because people have a fear of missing out, more now, than ever before.

There’s one appointment, that we do not have to worry about missing out on. The Hebrew writer tells of it in

Hebrews 9:27-And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment.

If we miss death, then we will meet the Lord in judgment.

I Thessalonians 4:15 For we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep.

For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout with the voice of an archangel and with the trumpet of God, And the dead in Christ will rise first.
Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord.
Therefore comfort one another with these words.What a wonderful thing to look forward to. I admit, I seriously have a bad case of FOMO. But am so happy I won’t have to miss out on seeing Jesus one day!
I am so glad you stopped by my blog today. I hope you are having a great week. Fall weather is in the air & it’s making the days much more bearable. Welcome October! I am so glad to see you! I have to be going now, because I should be washing clothes…..