I GOT AN AWARD! Deborah from lyricdevotions.com was so sweet to send this to me. She has indeed been a blessing to me. I feel a kindred spirit with her. Like Deb - my one desire is to lift up the Name of Jesus and to be a blessing to others. I pass this award on to: 1.Karla - Ramblinroadstoeverywhere.blogspot.com 2.Rachael- Rachelgoing@blogspot.com 3. Holli - hollikeeperofthehome.blogspot.com 4.Naomi - nomijill.blogspot.com 5.Dorrie - dezello.blogspot.com 6. Elaine - mineebenezer.blogspot.com 7. Cora - Hiddenrichessecretplaces.blogspot.com Take time to check these out. I am sure they will bless you as they have blessed me.

You can do it!

I opened the "junk room" door today. Do you have one of those monstrous things? I was afraid to look to long for fear that I would get depressed. It's one of those rooms in the house that you pitch everything to sort out later. I have been waiting for "sorting day" to come. Really, it is supposed to be a sewing/ironing and scrap-booking room. I thought someday I would get it organized. I have a pile of stuff to go, one to decide whether to go or not, boxes of books etc. to go through, some stuff the kids wanted to store for a "little while. "Can anyone tell me what a little while is?" They don't seem to know. No- what I am really waiting for is a mood, a certain mood, that if I don't care ever see this stuff again- and then just start pitching. But I need to get it out the door! I mean the outside door and out of sight so I won't change my mind. Now I know the silly stuff is nothing but sentimental and it is sooo hard for me to let go. It's like letting the last child go when they start school. It hurts, it aches so much that if I start thinking of who gave it to me - I just might start crying. So how do I get this stuff out? Just wait for the mood or start throwing into bags to take out? I seem to have a big problem with this particular room. If you have any good suggestions please let me know! I sure would like to look in there and just see my sewing cabinet, ironing board and clothes that need ironing in neat piles. I even bought the three department bin to keep ironing separate. Maybe, just maybe - I need to shovel it all out and start over! Maybe I should take the "dare" of this little poem. Somebody said it couldn't be done, but he, with a chuckle, replied. That 'maybe it couldn't, ' but he would be one who wouldn't say so till he tried. So he buckled right in with a trace of a grin on his face. If he worried he hid it. He started to sing as he tackled the thing - that couldn't be done and he did it. Somebody scoffed, O you'll never do that, at least no one has ever done it; But he took off his coat and he took off his hat and the first thing we knew - he'd begun it. With a lift of the chin and a bit of a grin, without any doubting or quitting; He started to sing as he tackled the thing that couldn't be done and he did it. There are thousands to tell you it cannot be done, there are thousands who prophesy failure. There are thousands to point out to you one by one - the dangers that wait to assail you. But just buckle in with a bit of a grin, then take off your coat and go to it. Just start in to sing as you tackle the thing - that cannot be done -- and you'll do it. I chuckled to myself as I typed this poem. Now - what coat will I wear and what hat will go with it? I got it! I can go to the thrift store and find what I need! But, wait a minute - Me thinks that may be the part of the trouble! I just wonder how many thrift things are in that room? Guess the only way to find out is to tackle it! Oh yes, I have to sing! But would someone please tell me how? Better than that - you are invited to come help me do it. I might have to put blinders on and let you do the pitching. I just know the e-mail will be filled up by tomorrow! LOL

JESUS IS ALL WE NEED

Last week I was reading Psalm 18 and thought "What a Great God We have!"

I will love thee, O Lord, my Strength. The Lord is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer;

my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation,and my high tower

I will call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised. (v. 1-3)

Sounds like He is all we need! First of all He is my Rock. My Solid Foundation! I guess one of the first song I was taught as a child was "The foolish man built his house upon the sand ." We know what happened. The rains came and because the house did not have a solid foundation the house came tumbling down. But, "The wise man built his house upon a rock." This house had a solid foundation and the storms and rains came but it stood fast.

" So build your house on the Lord Jesus Christ and the blessings will come down. The blessings come down as the prayers go up - so build your house on the Lord"

I am so glad HE is my Rock. When the storms of life come we can stand firm. One of my favorite songs is: HOW FIRM A FOUNDATION.

How firm a foundation, ye saints of the Lord, Is laid for your faith in His excellent Word. What more can He say than to you He hath said, To you who have refuge to Jesus have fled. Fear not I am with thee, Oh be not dismayed, for I am thy God I will still give you aid. I'll strengthenthee, help thee, and caused thee to stand, Upheld by My gracious, Omnipotent Hand. When through the deep waters I call thee to go, the rivers of sorrow shall not overflow. For I will be with thee thy trials to bless, And sanctify to thee thy deepest distress. E'en down to old age all My people shall prove, My Sov'reign, Eternal, Unchangeable Love. And when hoary hairs shall their temples adorn, Like lambs shall they still in My bosom be borne. The soul that on Jesus hath leaned for repose, I will not, I will not, desert to the foes. That soul, tho' all hell should endeavor to shake, I'll never, no never, no never forsake. Not only is He my Rock, but He is my Fortress and Deliverer. We can hide behind Him and know that He will deliver. My God, in Whom I will trust. We might think we have earthly friends that we can put our trust in, but most of the time we find that they fail us. But not My God. He never fails. He will not desert us to the foe. He always has His eye on us in the midst of the storm. My mind just went back to the hurricane Katrina that did so much damage in South Louisiana. We got some high winds that blew down trees all in our yard. Our yard was covered with debris and tree limbs that had snapped off. A big tree fell across the back of our house and touched the meter box and the very corner of the house. But as my we looked at the damage - not a shingle on our house was damaged. The storm was all about us, the evidence was there, but the Lord had protected us and our home. Then a couple months ago we heard on the news that a tornado would be in our area in a few minutes. In a tornado there is not time to prepare. Suddenly the sky got real dark, the winds picked up, trees started snapping. As I looked out the bathroom window I saw a big oak tree coming down next door where out two grandsons were. We really did not know what to do or which room to get in. We would go to the back of the house and trees were coming down, debris was falling, the rains were coming down hard. But do you know what our main concern was? Our two grandsons next door! My husband said he was going after them to make sure they were okay. Fallen trees were everywhere. Electricity was out. Electric wires were down. As my husband started out to check on the boys, who were teenagers, he was blocked in every direction. Finally he said: "I'm going to try and get through the back around the fence." This time he made it and brought the boys to where we were. As the tornado passed and we looked out - all we could see were fallen trees all over. We could not see the grouud anywhere. But the Lord had His eye on us and all of our houses were safe. He protected our lives and property as winds almost 1oo miles an hour passed over. The tornado did not touch down but just passed over. I thought how the Lord was our Fortress and Deliverer! And how He will always find a way to help us, as Grandpa was trying to find a way to help the grandsons. I think he would have given his life for two boys that day. But I glad I know One who not only gave His life for us, but He rose up from the grave that we might have Eternal life. Then He is My Buckler, the Horn of my salvation and my High Tower. Having Him to protect is all we need. The next verse is really the one we need to take note of. "I will call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised." He is worthy of all our praise! Take time today and praise Him for Who He is, for What He is and for what He has done. He deserves our praises! Verse 30 says: "As for my God, his way is perfect, the Word of the Lord is tried, he is a buckler for those that trust in him."

OVERALLS OR OVERHAULS?

Andrea, our great-grandaughter This is a picture of Andrea with her Pawpaw's overalls" on. The picture on the right is a pair of what the old farmers call overhauls. Is it overalls or overhauls? What did they overhaul, I wonder? I think Paw-Paw Rick probably overhauled a few of his little trucks, maybe. They, (the overalls, not trucks) have a flap in the back which button up. Just in case! The ,what I call, overalls was a pair that my Dad bought for our son, Rick, around 1961. I know you Moms know what they are. Rick's son wore them when he was around two years old. There is a picture somewhere of Christopher with them on. But I could not locate it. As I was going through my cedar chest I came across the overalls and brought them to my grand daughter, Bridget. Bridget is Rick's daughter and Christopher's sister. She put them on Andrea and took several pictures. Then we sent them to Paw-Paw. You can imagine his delight! Rick does not have any grandsons yet. As Bridget was putting them on Andrea she found the back had a diaper pin in it. I thought how many years that diaper pin had been there! It had a duck head and was still in good condition. In 1961 we did not know what pampers were. I can tell you today that the old fashion diapers and pins were the best. Nothing like taking an old fashion clothesline and penning diapers double on it. I can see them flapping in the breeze now. Then getting them folded just the right way. One way for girls - another way for boys. Does anyone remember this or am I just too old to be blogging? We had three or four dozen diaper and sure saved a lot of money. Hey, you money savers, get you some old fashion diapers. Saves a bunch! Try it for at least 6 months and see how much fun they are! Try flapping them in the breeze and folding them. Have fun! I just know you are going to do it! Pampers are too convenient. But it's a thought, anyway.

GREAT GIVE AWAY

Check out Deborah's great give away. She has several blog's that are such a blessing. This give away will help promote her books and new CD of songs she has written. She has several different blogs. Go check them out while you look at her give away. Mention that you heard about the give away on my blog and I will get my name in more than once. You can comment on her blog for the give away. Listen to her songs that she has listed. They are such a blessing. I couldn't get her blog to post here so just look on my side bar at SONGS FROM MY JOURNEY AND CLICK ON IT. It will bring you to her blog.

Prayer

How important is prayer in your life? How important it is to spent time with the Lord each day! Personally, I am afraid not to pray! It leaves us open as a prey for the enemy to attack us during the day. I have copied in my Bible sayings I often hear. I am not sure who wrote them but I find them helpful to remember. One is: When the weakest saint gets on his knees - the devil trembles and shakes. Why? Because the devil knows that in prayer is where the victory is won. Another saying is: Watching sights the enemy, but praying fights the enemy. Through out the Bible we read about different kinds of prayer. I am reminded of Moses in Numbers 11: 1-2 "And when the people complained, it displeased the Lord: and the Lord heard it; and his anger was kindled; and the fire of the Lord burnet among them, and consumed them that were in the uttermost part of the camp. And the people cried unto Moses; and when Moses prayed unto the Lord, the fire was quenched." Here we see such a privileged people complaining! Hadn't God just send a deliverer and gotten them out of Egypt? Out of bondage and on their way to a better land and life! I don't think Moses heard all the complaining but God did. Suddenly God got enough and sent judgment. Who did they turn to then? Moses, who was their advocate! Moses prayed and God prevailed on their behalf. Moses had power with God. This was a prayer that God would remove judgment on the people. Because Moses prayed - judgment was removed. There is a prayer of forgiveness. Prayer of repentance and salvation, then a prayer of praise. So many different kinds of prayers that we read about in God's Word tells us - we need to pray. How many times when we are weighed down with problems do we call upon the Lord? We are like the children of Israel. We know who our Advocate is so why do we wait to call upon Him just when we need Him? I realize He is always there to hear our prayer, to lift the load of the thing that we are so anxious about. But when He comes through - do we take time to praise Him for answered prayer? So often we miss out on a blessing and we feel so out of sort because we did not bring our cares to Him. I am so glad that He is concerned about us and He wants to answer prayer but we go on and try to sort life out on our own. Hey! We have a God! He wants us to brings all our concerns and cares to Him. Jeremiah 3: 33 is God's phone. "Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and shew thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not." Matthew 7:7-11 "Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock and it shall be opened unto you. For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened. Or what is there of you, whom if his son ask bread, will he give a stone? Or if he ask a fish, will he give him a serpent? If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts uto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaveb give good things to then that ask him? In Banners of the Christian Faith, we fined an illustation of this truth. When Queen Victoria was opening the Town Hall of Sheffield, she had put into her hand a little golden key, and she was told as she sat in her carriage that she only had to turn the golden key and in a moment the Town Hall gates of Sheffield would fly open. In obedience to the authority of experts who gave her the directions, she turned the golden key, and in a moment by action of electric wires, the Town Hall gates of Sheffield flew open. Exactly in the same way Jesus Christ must know one thing, if He knows anything, and that is, what opens heaven's gates, and in his teachings he reinterated over and over again, as if he thought that this was the things we should find hardest to believe; "Ask, and it shall be given; seek, and ye shall find, knock, and it shall be opened unto you." And I say that if we are justified in believing in the divinity of Christ, then we are justified in going a step further and saying that His authority is good enough to make us believe that the golden key of prayer, if we use it, will open the gates of heaven. ASK, SEEK, KNOCK , Three laws governing our prayer life, three steps into the very presense of Almighty God. Asking implies the dependence upon God, the coming to him as needy. Seeking speaks of endeavor, constraining us us to search until we find. Knocking carries the idea of importunity, the unwillinness to let God go until He He blesses us. Are we asking, are we seeking, are we knocking? The song writer says: What a Friend we have in Jesus, All our sins and griefs to bear! What a privilege to carry, Everything to God in prayer! O what peace we often forfeit, O what needless pain we bear, All because we do not carry, Everything to God in prayer. We teach our children the little song, Whisper a Prayer! Whisper a prayer in the morning, Whisper a prayer a noon; Whisper a prayer in the evening, To keep ypur heart in tune. God answers prayer so why not use the resource that He so willingly gives us. Begin the day with the Lord and you will be amazed at how must better your day goes. I always try to end with this prayer: "Let the words of my mouth, and the meditations of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O Lord, my strength, and my redeemer." Psalm 19:14