Seven Degrees of Me: life

Showing posts with label life. Show all posts

Friday, May 21, 2021

Journey and a scam

Words aren't really coming to me this morning "on topic" so I thought I'd just tell you about something that happened yesterday and see if the rabbit trail makes it back around to the main theme.
I've been getting to know people on Twitter, mostly Christians. We praise God, share Bible verses, and lift each other up. Last week a woman reached out to me through Twitter's private messaging system, asking about my faith, about being saved. She is supposedly from Switzerland, and supposedly only has a few weeks to a few months to live. I was thrilled about this opportunity and shared my testimony with her.
We wrote back and forth for several days, always talking about God and faith. She asked me to pray for her daily as well as people in other countries who are fighting Covid. Then, she asked me to email her because she was wanting to step away from Twitter. I was praying that she wouldn't ask me for money, that this wasn't all a scheme of some sort. Imagine my disappointment when I received an email from her that was obviously a form letter she has sent out countless times before, talking about "funds".
Most people would just walk away at this point, but I feel compelled to find out more. How can someone try to scam others under the guise of loving Jesus? It sickens me. Then I think of all of the prosperity gospel "leaders" and I realize what their horrible example tells the world: 'it's okay to turn the gospel around for your own financial gain.'
I let this really bring me down yesterday but today, I'm giving it up to God, asking Him to guide whatever words I use to respond to her. Circling back around from the rabbit trail...God put us here to build relationships with one another and to bring glory to Him. It's going to include meeting people who misrepresent His love and grace. We need to pray for them and love on them as well. This is our journey. This is our hallelujah.

Praise the Lord!

Praise God in his sanctuary;

praise him in his mighty heavens!

Praise him for his mighty deeds;

praise him according to his excellent greatness!

Praise him with trumpet sound;

praise him with lute and harp!

Praise him with tambourine and dance;

praise him with strings and pipe!

Praise him with sounding cymbals;

praise him with loud clashing cymbals!

Let everything that has breath praise the Lord!

Praise the Lord!

Psalm 150:1-6 ESV

You may also like:
"Record Your Days" January 3, 2018

The Preacher spoke about this life and about time as a commodity, measured in days. He was speaking on Psalm 90 and suggested that we record each day as a means of numbering our days "that we may gain a heart of wisdom". This is my new project for the New Year. It will bring focus to accomplishing something each day, no matter how small or seemingly insignificant, ...

"Seen or unseen" April 24, 2019

I've read these verses several times over the years but still, this morning got something different from them. It probably has to do with reading scripture in light of what's happening in life at this moment. That's how we find answers to life's questions...

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Please join me this week in praying for the Church. Pray that we focus our attention on our purpose and goal in this life. Pray that we keep our eye on the prize. Everyone, every single person will live forever, will have eternal life, but it's where they will spend eternity that needs to motivate our action each and every day.

I'll post daily reminders on:

twitter @7DegreesOfMe

Instagram @7DegreesOfMe
Pinterest Prayer Group #7thHourPrayerPower

Facebook group 7th Hour Prayer Power

#ThisIsMyHallelujah #7thHourPrayerPower #eternallife #eternity #heaven #home #greatcommission #gospel #life #death #revival #church #purpose #spiritualgift #scam #socalledChristian #prosperitygospel

Thursday, May 20, 2021

Every day is a hallelujah!

I'm focused on Donnie Allen this week. His life and his ministry are inspirational to everyone who knew him. A friend posted, "I never met someone who had such a strong desire to preach the gospel to everybody you came in contact with. I pray that I can receive that passion as well." This is also my prayer.
I'm also focused on his #ThisIsMyHallelujah (See Monday's post). To be able to turn such a difficult journey into a hallelujah is so awesome, and so Christlike. Donnie was such a true image-bearer for the Lord.
According to dictionary.com "Hallelujah" means, "God be praised." As a noun, it is an "expression of worship or rejoicing."
Every day we should shout, "Hallelujah!" Every day is a hallelujah!

But, as it is written, “What no eye has seen,

nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined,

what God has prepared for those who love him”—

1 Corinthians 2:9 ESV

I'm sharing this song, "Hallelujah." It is not the original one written by Leonard Cohen, that mixes religion and sex. Kelley Mooney rewrote the lyrics, with the permission of the original author to tell the story of the Gospel. This rendition is sung by sisters Callahan and Cassandra Star Armstrong. All of the links in this paragraph tell the story of the song and video.

Monday, May 17, 2021

This Is My Hallelujah

Our dear brother in Christ, Donnie Allen, passed away yesterday afternoon. He will be deeply missed. Words just cannot express how much. He touched so many lives during his stay here on earth that I am in awe of him. To live a life that dedicated and focused on Christ should be an inspiration to us all. We have this real-life example of why we're here and how we're to live.

Donnie and Amanda created a Facebook group when they started this bone marrow transplant journey in order to keep all of us informed. Its hashtag is #ThisIsMyHallelujah and Donnie used it as a means to inspire and share his passion for Jesus. It was as much a means to share his spiritual journey as it was his physical one. Even with everything he went through, he put Jesus first. The group has over 1,000 followers.

Additionally, those posts have been shared in other groups, and by other individuals. I can only imagine the breadth and scope of people that Donnie reached through this platform. He and Amanda shared the gospel with countless people in Cleveland, as well. What a testimony to God's plan for our lives that He uses situations both good and bad to secure more souls for heaven!

Amanda wrote:

It is with a very painful heart that I tell you all that Donnie Allen passed peacefully today Sunday May 16 at 430pm surrounded by his family.
Donnie’s journey is now complete and he has been healed and is in the arms of Jesus.
I thank you all for the many hours of prayers said on our behalf and ask that you now shift your prayers towards our family and the coming days ahead.

I feel like I've written often about grief and dying over the past fourteen months, but like I've said, it's a clear sign for the Church to get serious about revival and bringing as many people to Christ as possible. This week I would like for us to focus our thoughts and prayers on "the hope." It is my hope that this will remind us why we're here. This is just a pitstop in our lives because Earth is NOT our home.

He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.”

Revelation 21:4 ESV

Sunday, December 27, 2020

The perfect gift

Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above,
coming down from the Father of lights
with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.
James 1:17 ESV

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Please join me this week in praising God for sending His only Son and allowing us to share in that experience through the teachings of the Gospels (See Luke 2:1-7). Praise Him for all of the new lives He brought into this world in 2020 and for giving us that 'breath of fresh air' when we needed it most. Let us pray for the health and welfare of all of those born this year and their families. May they dwell on the joy and miracle and blessings of new life.

I'll post daily reminders on:

twitter @7DegreesOfMe

Instagram @archadia27
Pinterest Prayer Group #7thHourPrayerPower

Facebook group 7th Hour Prayer Power

#7thHourPrayerPower #BibleVerses #bible #baby #miracle #blessing #love #life

Saturday, December 26, 2020

Out of the mouth of babes

Out of the mouth of babes and nursing infants

You have ordained strength,

Because of Your enemies,

That You may silence the enemy and the avenger.

Psalm 8:2 NKJV

Some good commentary can be found at EnduringWord.com

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I'll post daily reminders on:

twitter @7DegreesOfMe

Instagram @archadia27
Pinterest Prayer Group #7thHourPrayerPower

Facebook group 7th Hour Prayer Power

#7thHourPrayerPower #BibleVerses #bible #baby #miracle #blessing #love #life

Wednesday, December 23, 2020

Before you were born

My husband will notice people's nametags wherever we go and greet them by name. So, to the cashier at the grocery, the waitress, the teller,...he'll say something like, "Good morning, Judy! What a beautiful name! Did you know that God knew your name even before you were born?"
I admire his ability to share God and the gospel with everyone. He seems to do it so easily and so smoothly. When I've commented about it, he tells me that, 'you just have to look for an opening.' He also tells me that it gets easier with practice.
This particular introduction is especially wonderful because it lets people know that they are special, unique, and loved by God, the Creator who knew them even before they were conceived. While we aren't all appointed prophets to the nations like Jeremiah, I feel like the Bible verse is still relevant to all of us because we're all to share the Good News everywhere we go, therefore we are all God's messengers.

“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and

before you were born I consecrated you;

I appointed you a prophet to the nations.”

Jeremiah 1:5 ESV

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I'll post daily reminders on:

twitter @7DegreesOfMe

Instagram @archadia27
Pinterest Prayer Group #7thHourPrayerPower

Facebook group 7th Hour Prayer Power

#7thHourPrayerPower #BibleVerses #bible #family #baby #born #miracle #blessing #love #life

Tuesday, December 22, 2020

Fearfully and wonderfully made

For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother's womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well. My frame was not hidden from you, when I was being made in secret, intricately woven in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them.

Psalm 139:13-16 ESV

I came across Charles Spurgeon's commentary of these verses: “If we are marvelously wrought upon even before we are born, what shall we say of the Lord’s dealings with us after we quit his secret workshop, and he directs our pathway through the pilgrimage of life? What shall we not say of that new birth which is even more mysterious than the first, and exhibits even more the love and wisdom of the Lord.”

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I'll post daily reminders on:

twitter @7DegreesOfMe

Instagram @archadia27
Pinterest Prayer Group #7thHourPrayerPower

Facebook group 7th Hour Prayer Power

#7thHourPrayerPower #BibleVerses #bible #family #baby #born #miracle #blessing #love #life

Monday, December 21, 2020

The miracle of life

Amid all of the illness and the unprecedented number of lives lost in a single year, there have been many, many blessings of babies being born. Every time I heard of a birth, ... it's kind of hard to describe the feeling - almost like a breath of fresh air; a brief moment of calm, of normalcy.
I thought during this week of celebrating the birth of our Lord and Saviour, we might pray for all of the babies born this year and remember how blessed we are to have such a loving and merciful Creator to watch over us and guide us through this life. He knows each one of us intimately, even each hair on our heads. He has a plan for our lives.
Even among death, life continues and is renewed, just as even among graves, flowers bloom.
I found this bible verse which I must have read many times, but it never stuck out in my mind as a 'wow' kind of thing until today. I've been blessed to give birth twice, and aside from the effect of accelerated hormones, it's really an emotional experience. On one hand, I had this human being growing inside of me and that's its own miracle. On the other hand, I was anxious for the child to be born - anxious as in, couldn't wait, but also in nervous about how she would change my life and uncertain if I was up for the challenge. There was also the anxiety of childbirth - because of the curse, it is extremely painful, but we forget the pain. If we didn't, we would never have more than one child.

When a woman is giving birth, she has sorrow because her hour has come,

but when she has delivered the baby,

she no longer remembers the anguish,

for joy that a human being has been born into the world.

John 16:21 ESV

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I'll post daily reminders on:

twitter @7DegreesOfMe

Instagram @archadia27
Pinterest Prayer Group #7thHourPrayerPower

Facebook group 7th Hour Prayer Power

#7thHourPrayerPower #BibleVerses #bible #family #baby #born #miracle #blessing #love #life

Monday, September 7, 2020

The Elevator

As some of you know from last Thursday's post, I haven't had a great week (or two), but even when things seem to be overbearing, God usually steps in with something to make us smile.

Wednesday morning I pulled in the parking lot and the woman parked next to me was putting on her mask. She waited until I stopped my car before getting out. We made eye contact. I got my stuff out of the back seat and so was no more than 3 car widths behind her as we walked across the lot. When I got to the building door I saw the elevator door was open and assumed she would hold it for me, but she didn't. Even if there was some chance that she didn't know I was right behind her, the way our lobby is laid out with mirrors, she would've seen me walking in the door AND she would have heard me open the door.

This is the slowest elevator on Earth (everyone says so), so I was a little perturbed that I was going to have wait for it to inch up to the 5th floor, let her off and then crawl back down to the lobby. I was grumbling to myself how rude it was of her not to hold the elevator for me, and what's wrong with people?! Then, I took a deep breath and said a little prayer, apologizing to God for making such a big deal out of something so trivial. I changed my attitude and thought maybe she tried to hit the 'door open' button but accidentally hit the 'door close' one instead. Maybe she was depressed and didn't want to hear my cheery, "have a nice day," as I left the elevator on the 2nd floor.

It wasn't but a few seconds after I finished these thoughts that the elevator dinged. I was shocked. That was fast! And then, the door opened, and the woman was still on there! We both looked completely surprised. She said, "I don't know what happened. The elevator just stopped and then went back down. That's never happened before!"

I got on the elevator grinning from ear to ear. I knew what happened. Isn't God awesome?!

#faith #life #humor #GodWink #GodThing #prayer #patience

Friday, March 27, 2020

On Being Essential

A New Normal - part 3

Over the last two weeks, I really wanted to be an encourager, an inspiration, a spiritual cheerleader of sorts to anyone I came in contact with, whether on social media or by phone or even in person, but I just haven't been feeling it really, at least not consistently. I thought it was because I've been sick (for 14 L-O-N-G days!) which is probably a lot of it, but today I had an epiphany.
However, first, I want to tell you my pre-epiphanies, in case any of them would apply to someone else. My mental and emotional symptoms were depression and high, high anxiety - as in I would get in 3,000-5,800 steps a day just from pacing. I knew I wasn't scared or nervous about the pandemic because I find peace in my faith. Although I did realize from my "be still" time, that I needed to focus more of my time, thoughts, and activities on God.

So, I started with a physical assessment: I looked at how much coffee I was drinking: 5 cups a day, same as always (I know, I know). Maybe it was from going off NyQuil, but that never happened before. It could be a lack of sleep because I haven't slept well in at least a week. But none of that seems to warrant so much anxiety.
Since it involved depression, it had to be mental in some way, especially if it wasn't spiritually or physically related. I knew it couldn't be that I'm stuck at home because honestly, that's ideal for someone like me. It very well could have been because my calendar was clear for the first time in forever. So, I got out my to-do list and added in things I want to accomplish during this time period and my anxiety reached new levels, so that wasn't it.
Then, I dug a little deeper...loss of community. That's probably a big one for a lot of people. So I reached out to my church family and set up some Zoom meetings; my Pastor started making some prayer videos which helped me feel better, but it still wasn't enough; it wasn't the cure.

After another night of no sleep, I woke up this morning and decided to start from scratch. I laid in bed and tried to still my mind but my restless dreams kept coming to the foreground. They were dreams about work, family, church...and I began to feel an overwhelming sense of guilt. Guilt for not working, not earning a paycheck, not seeing my family, not serving in the church and who knows what else was involved that I didn't remember dreaming about. I have spent my entire life taking charge, no - actually more like taking "control" of situations (at least in my mind), handling and caring and protecting others and I can't do that in the midst of a world controlled by an unseen and unknown enemy (which sounds a lot like Satan, but at least we know him and how he operates and how to defend ourselves against him); one that spreads and infects and kills at such a rapid pace that no one can get ahead of it.
Even though all of this is completely out of my control, it is what has been weighing on me. I feel helpless. I'm not essential personnel in any respect. Maybe that's a pride thing, but I like to think it's a longing of my recently discovered servant's heart. There are some volunteer opportunities, but I am still sick and have basically been sick off and on since last November, so I don't consider going out into the physical world to be an option, really.

So, how to fix this...
- I want to put more time and effort into reaching out to people.
- I will allow myself to feel that even something as simple as a daily bible verse may help someone; it may be just the message that someone needs to see from our loving Father.
- I will understand that staying home is my job for now and I will try to use this time as an opportunity to bring honor and glory to God in ways that I'm sure He will share with me.
- The hardest one for me is that I will quit judging myself based on life before the coronavirus. Actually, I want to expand that...I want to quit judging myself, and quit worrying about what others think of me - I hate that I've ever cared. People have been making fun of me my whole life for one thing or another and instead of developing a thick skin, it just made me more self-conscious. Well, enough is enough. What God thinks of me is my only concern and He knows I'm not perfect and He loves me anyway. His judgment is the only judgment that matters.

This is now part of my new normal.

Sitting down, Jesus called the Twelve and said,

“Anyone who wants to be first must be the very last, and the servant of all.”

Mark 9:35 NIV

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A New Normal - A blog series dedicated to my ability (or inability) to live through this unprecedented period of time - one of a coronavirus, covid-19, pandemic, social distancing, shelter-in-place existence.
Part 1 A New Normal
Part 2 Be Still
Part 3 On Being Essential

Wednesday, March 25, 2020

Be Still

A New Normal - part 2

God has been urging me, pretty relentlessly, I might add, to just stop and be still. For some reason, I've been fighting Him for days before finally realizing that I didn't have the strength to keep doing that.
After talking to a few people, I realize that I was fighting being still due to anxiety. Until this coronavirus took over, I was pretty busy, as in work all day and then some sort of meeting or gathering or activity most evenings. This virus cleared my calendar and that was kind of daunting.

See all the X's? (The rest I blurred)

Not that I could possibly ever be bored because I always have a massive to-do list of cleaning, organizing, correspondence, plus I'm working(? if you can call it that) on several books, plus prayer time, and bible time and online friends and groups, etc... Oh, and I consider myself an introvert so having this time alone should be ideal, but still, there was anxiety. I think you've probably all seen that post on FB:

That was what I felt like God was saying to me and I'm so embarrassed to admit that I did not relent to just being still, even though I knew that's what He wanted me to do.
Today, He made it so I just couldn't put it off anymore (thankfully). So, what did He want to tell me? One - write this blog post. Encourage everyone to stop what they're doing to try to cope, to try to help, and just be still. Open your mind and let Him in and He will guide you, and give you comfort and peace to get through this most unusual period of time.

And two - well, it's a little complicated so all I could do was sketch it out. You take away from it what you want, but I believe the short of it is, let go of the problems of this world and keep your focus on God, Jesus, the Holy Spirit. "Focus" came to mind 3 times, that's why they're circled, so I think that's the most important part. Keep your focus where it should be. We keep wanting to root ourselves in this world, but it is so very temporary. Focus on your eternal future by utilizing your spiritual gift(s) that God has chosen specifically for you to do His will. Through that, you will find peace and joy and comfort and courage for your soul.

Take today and just, BE STILL.

Be still, and know that I am God;

Psalm 46:10a

Friday, March 20, 2020

A New Normal

While going through cancer, there was a phrase that was used at every turn, "a new normal." Every phase of treatment involved learning to adjust to "a new normal." Me, who does not like change, had to face a constantly wavering way of life. I couldn't even count on how my body was going to react to each round of chemo because every treatment brought with it new challenges, and side effects. Each treatment compounded the previous one so that I was more fatigued and was out of commission for a longer period of time.
During this time, I lost my hair and gained a lot of weight (steroids). Simple things, such as taking a shower, were exhausting. Medical bills piled up as my income decreased. I managed to work part-time, thankfully. At each turn, I had to look at the new situation and evaluate how to handle it. Did I want to give into my body or did I want to press on through the fatigue? Did I want to hide because of my changed appearance or did I want to live and laugh and enjoy life? What did I need to do to accomplish those things? What was my inspiration? Where was my joy? I re-evaluated questions like that all the time and at each fork in the road formed a new normal in which I could live and be content and even happy.
Not that this peace and contentment were always present. Like I said, things were constantly changing. Mentally and emotionally, I was all over the board. Spiritually, I grew. My faith and trust in God's sovereignty, along with the outpouring of love and support that I received, made it all bearable. People were praying for me from multiple countries; they sent cards and gifts to brighten my day and lift my spirits. So even through the "bad", there was a whole lot of "good."

My reasons for bringing this up now are probably obvious:
1) During this time, we need to be flexible. We need to find and adjust to "a new normal."
2) We need to be that outpouring of love and support for others so that even through these trying times, people will be able to see the "good" that shines through the storm; they'll be able to see that Christ lives in us and is here with us.

Over the next several days, I'll offer suggestions and insight and encouragement for how to find your new normal and together, by the grace of God our Father, we will get through this and come out stronger than before.

Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication,

with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God;

and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding,

will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

Philippians 4:6-7 NKJV

Saturday, January 19, 2019

Snowmageddon

Everyone braced for round 2 of snow this weekend, a storm that was supposed to add 3" to 12" of snow on top of the remains of our 8" deep snow storm last weekend. It was all supposed to begin around 4 in the morning, but as of 4 p.m. we still just have rain. Not that I'm complaining, I just feel like we were set up to see fireworks but all we got were some sparklers. It's a bit of a letdown, especially when you consider all of the events and plans that were changed or canceled today because of this impending snow-doom.
For me personally, it's difficult, because once I have a plan in place, even if it's a plan to do nothing, it's difficult for me to change it. I'm not terribly spontaneous. Since we didn't see snowmageddon today, my guiltless pleasure of hanging out at my parents' house and writing all day had me feeling guilty at the prospect. So, I ran a couple of errands this morning, but I never could get into writing (until now, of course...if this counts as writing). I spent the better part of the day changing my blog theme. If you can't tell what's different, I'll tell you: I changed the top scene from one of snow-covered trees and street sign to one of just snow. I changed all of the fonts of everything and fiddled with the colors. Looking at it, it doesn't really seem like it should've taken hours to come up with, but it did and I can't get that time back, so I might as well let it go. I was thinking of adding more categories to the left, but that just seems like too much effort right now.
Okay. Just checked in with The Weather Channel and apparently, this storm is real and even has a name: "Snow Storm Harper" and everyone North of here got snow and supposedly, we're going to get it tonight instead of last night.
It's probably difficult to predict the weather, but what's so sad (& yeah, it's funny, too) is all of the checking in with reporters in various locations, standing in the rain, telling us that the snow will be arriving at some point in time, and they'll be there when it happens, and that it is in fact, snowing somewhere at this very moment, however, they don't have any reporters in those locations to show us snow. What they should do is spin it like "Rain in January? How crazy is that?" and make that the story instead of, "We predicted snow and by golly, we're going to stay out here until we get some." It kind of reminds me of Linus waiting for the Great Pumpkin.
Tomorrow I'll wake up and eat my words probably, but for today, I'm under-impressed.

Monday, December 31, 2018

Encouragement for the new year

I've been wanting to say something to you to comfort you or inspire you, but the words just haven't been flowing recently. With this being the last day of 2018, I feel like it's important to leave this very difficult year behind and face the new year with words of encouragement and hope. I'm thinking of you, lifting you up in prayer, and holding you in my heart. I empathize with your pain and suffering and understand the depression and anxiety that results from everything you've been through. I also know that it seems like your suffering is compounded daily by many smaller problems, problems that at any other time would be manageable but are now too overwhelming to deal with. Know that you will get through this, that tomorrow will be a little bit easier, and the following day a little easier still. Once you stare down one problem, the next one will be a little more manageable. You will heal. You'll find a new normal.

The above note is addressed to you, my family, friends, acquaintances:
To you who lost a spouse, a parent, a child, a friend.
"Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted." Matthew 5:4 NIV

To you who are facing divorce.
"The LORD is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit." Psalm 34:18 NIV

To you who no longer have a place to call home.
“And Jesus said to him, “Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head.” Matthew 8:20
“O LORD, you hear the desire of the afflicted; you will strengthen their heart; you will incline your ear.” Psalm 10:17

To you who live in poverty, including the working poor, the retired, or the disabled.
“I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. I can do all things through him who strengthens me” Phil 2:12-13
“And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.” Phil 4:19

To you who know someone in jail.
He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God. Micah 6:8

To you who have been abused physically, sexually, verbally, or emotionally.
A bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out. In faithfulness he will bring forth justice; he will not falter or be discouraged till he establishes justice on earth. Isaiah 42:3-4
The Lord loves righteousness and justice; the earth is full of his unfailing love. Psalm 33:5

To you who cannot speak up for yourself, seek advocacy. Advocates:
Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute. Speak up and judge fairly; defend the rights of the poor and needy. Proverbs 31:8-9

To you who live in a dysfunctional family.
Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister is a liar. For whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen. 1 John 4:20

To you who suffer from physical or mental pain/disease.
He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away. Revelation 21:4

To anyone and everyone in need of encouragement.
I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world. John 16:33
We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. 2 Corinthians 4:8-9
The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. Deuteronomy 31:8

Sunday, December 9, 2018

My daughter's birthday

Saturday was my oldest daughter's birthday and we had a full day of fun! First, we went back to Handmade Holiday at the Yellow Cab Company and finished our shopping.

Then, we went to Sky Asian Cuisine and ate some amazing sushi (California roll, Shrimp Tempura, and American Dream rolls shown). My only regret is that I didn't have enough room for dessert.

Finally, we finished out the day at the Proto Buildbar in downtown Dayton. They have 3D printers and workbenches where you can make some amazing stuff. They also have the Guinness book's largest claw game (I can't believe I didn't take a picture of it) with a joystick about as tall as me.

What a great day!

Got my first Ebates check

I got my first Ebates check!!! (I tried to blur the info but kind of made a mess of things)

I was really hesitant to sign up for this but I figured, what the heck?! I'm shopping at these websites anyway, why not get a bit of that money back? I can't even imagine how much money I've missed out on because I waited. If you've ever considered signing up, please use my link so I get a referral bonus and you'll get $10 after you spend $25 through them. It's super easy to do. If you have any questions, just let me know.

Here's my referral link. Thank you in advance!

Honor the face of an old man

Do not rebuke an older man but encourage him as you would a father,

younger men as brothers,

older women as mothers,

younger women as sisters,

in all purity.

1 Timothy 5:1-2 ESV

“You shall stand up before the gray head

and honor the face of an old man,

and you shall fear your God: I am the Lord.

Leviticus 19:32 ESV

Saturday, December 8, 2018

The next life

Therefore we do not lose heart.

Though outwardly we are wasting away,

yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day.

2 Corinthians 4:16 NIV

Friday, December 7, 2018

Handmade Holiday

I just got home from Handmade Holiday at the Yellow Cab Company in downtown Dayton, and I plan on going back tomorrow!

First stop was Smokin' Bee-Bee-Q Food Truck. I got the brisket pieces which they advertise as "meat candy" and they didn't disappoint! For dessert, I had a soft pretzel covered in cinnamon and sugar and it was so delish that I'm getting another one tomorrow. Lauren (GirlAboutDayton) got their macaroni and cheese with special sauces to spice it up just right.
Then it was time to check out all of the great vendors inside. It was difficult not to buy something from each one (but since I'm going back tomorrow...) There is so much to choose from and make wonderful, unique gifts. Check out all the info on their facebook page.
Tomorrow, December 8th is the last day. See you there.

Retirement age

I've been told by nearly everyone I know who has retired, that it isn't what it's cracked up to be. People get bored quickly and miss the comradery of co-workers and clients. They miss having somewhere to go every day, and they miss being needed. So many people identify with their job that when that job is gone, they lose their identity and essentially, they lose themselves.

Here, in the U.S., it seems like there is no time or patience to deal with the older generations. Fifty years old is considered (even if it's just jokingly) "over the hill." When sixty-five was set as the official age of retirement, it seemed to set a standard by which to gauge a person's abilities. Once you're sixty-five, it's your time to retire, whether you want to or not; you're no longer useful in the workplace. I think it's influenced how society looks at the capabilities of anyone over sixty-five. Is it really the best fit for our seniors to be greeters at Walmart?

My parents are eighty-years-old and their faculties are still pretty sharp. It's funny (kind of)...if I'm talking to my dad, he'll tell me something that my mom said that makes him worry about her mind. If I'm talking to my mom, she'll confide in me that Dad forgot something she supposedly told him repeatedly. As far as I can see, their minds are at least as good as mine.

My final sentiment is this. Treasure the older members of your family, friends, and neighbors. Somehow find the time to visit, or call, or at least drop them a card so they know that someone is thinking about them. What I hate more than anything is people who are disrespectful, even angry, who don't help when asked all because the senior in their life is having trouble remembering things and it's frustrating. These same people will then cry and mourn and grieve when that person passes away. Don't wait until then to show you loved someone. It's meaningless after the fact.

Do not cast me off in the time of old age; forsake me not when my strength is spent.

Psalm 71:9 ESV