Here it is Saturday Morning. Where did the week go? Mostly I was lying around this week. My sciatic nerve was inflamed and causing a lot of pain. I went to the Chiropractor twice this week and also had therapy. The pain is much better.

We had a supper with those that had read their Bible through for the year 2008. I amazed that so few read their Bible ~ well, at least don't read it through! It's not like we have a handful at church. On Sundays we run close to 300. This was an incentive to get people reading the Bible.

I'm sure others read here and there, but have never read it through.

The supper was not a reward for reading the Bible but just a fellowship for those who do. Compared to the size of the church ~ the number was very small that read their Bible through.

2Timothy 2: 15 "Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing tha word of truth."

Hebrews 4:12 "For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart."

In Ephesians 6:17 "And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. " The Word is part of the Christians armor.

The devil does not want us to pray. That is on our list of priorities. We eat breakfast and then have our devotions. We try to read with a open heart so God can speak to us through the Word. Sometimes praying is not the easiest thing there is to do. But pray, we must.

So often we come with all our burdens. The Lord does want us to bring our burdens to Him ~but~ we should try thanking Him first for all His blessings, it is much easier to bring our budens to Him. Even in our darkest hour we can find something to praise the Lord for.

I find that family devotion is not enough for me. I need that time alone with the Lord. I like to meditate and study and enjoy the presense of the Lord. I want that comfort that can only be found in Him.

Sometimes I read and have to stop and start again. Why? Because my mind is on a dozen and one things I need to do that I probably wouldn't get done anyway.

We need to prepare ourselves for a sweet time of fellowship with the Lord.

I know I'm nuts sometimes ~but~ I have even moved over and made a place for the Lord and just tell Him I want Him to sit right next to me.

It's like I can just lean on His breast and tell Him that I love Him. Then tell Him all my cares, my disappointments or whatever is on my heart.

I have taken the certain Psalms and actually prayed David's prayers.

Whatever way you can find to communicate with Him ~ that is what you need to do.

I keep a devotion book and a prayer journal handy. But the main thing I keep handy is The Word of God. I know we have a list to follow each day with our Bible Club, but I find I have to find different ways . I like to dig into a certain subject and just learn.

A few questions to ask youself as you read The Word:

1. What does this passage say or tell me about God?

2.What does it tell me about the Holy Spirit, our prayer partner?

3. What does it say about avoiding sin?

4. What about our attitude towared people?

5. What about His promises to us?

We could go on , but the Bible will speak to us if we take the time to listen.

Find something "special" in The Word that you can carry with you throughout the day. Share with someone what you found in the Word.

Just read the Bible!! The children's song says:

Get the bible reading habit

And just keep right at it.

Until you read the Bible through, clear through.

100th Post

Guess what? I just realized last night that this will be my

100th Post since April of 2008 ~ not counting the ones I have written on the writers KJV Blog. I started out not even knowing what a blog was. My niece help me set up Meditation and Memories and I have just written exactly what the title says: meditation and memories.

I have been in the Word with some devotions, then down memories lane with memories as a child. Enjoyed writing it all.

I have leared quite a bit about blogging the ten months that I have been on. Still have plenty to learn.

I have met many friends. I would especially like to say thanks to my niece Karla for setting this up for me and helping me along and straightening up messes that I have made.

Also, thank you Deb B. for helping me and encouraging me so many times. For your concern and thoughtfulness. Your songs, cd's and books have been such a blessing.

Then, I want to thank Cathy S. for helping me and e-mailing me to help me learn to do some things. I can always count on her.

For those of you who sent comments ~ thank you! I wish more would comment. It does boost the moral and may be the thing we need to encourage each other to keep blogging.

Then for all of you who prayed for me and with me concerning my health issues and my Mom and things that I was going through ~ that you did not know about ~ thank you so much!

God is helping.

I have met many other friends and have tried to comment on your post as you write. To all of you who pass by and don't leave a comment ~ God bless you anyway! I love you!

Always, Aliene

Chickens versus Eagles Part 3

EAGLES PART 3 Thanks to my brother at Ozarkcountryparson.blogspot.com He has let me use his material for the Eagle story. If you missed Part 1& 2 go back and read them first. Then head over to his blog. I know I may be cutting of my resource of material but he has some good stuff on there. I want to point out several spiritual truths that are suggested to us by the flight training process of the little eagle. Mother Eagle spreads her wings and commanding her eaglets to step out on them and firmly grasp a feather in their beak. The two wings of the parent eagle can be likened to the Word of God, both the Old and the New Testaments.The feathers can be thought of as the individual promises found in the Word of God. Father Eagle spreads His Word before us and commands us to step out on it, grasping firmly to the promises of God.Just as little Eagle experienced an unexpected shaking that caused him to lose his hold on Mother Eagles’ feather, even so, God's eaglets may experience a shaking of their faith life that can cause them to lose their hold on the promises of God they have been clinging to. Don't despair! Don't get frustrated! Don't throw up your hands and quit. This can happen when you're in the process of training to be an eagle believer. Just as the parent eagle watches over her little ones to make sure they don't fall to the ground when they lose their hold on the feathers while in training; even so God the Father Eagle watches over His own to keep them from falling to the ground when they lose their hold on the promises of God while in training to be an eagle believer. He lifts them up to try again.Just as the parent eagle continues to work with their young until they are fully trained - even so Father God continues to work with His young."He who began a good work in you will carry it onto completion..." Philippians 1:6.God doesn't want us to settle for a barnyard walk. He's determined that we're going to mount up with wings as an eagle. I close with this poem by Bill Harvey. Eagle Free An eaglet in its downy nest surveyed the scene below. And asked with zest, "Oh Mother, I would know . . . Will I someday begin to fly as high and far as you?" The answer came, "Of course you'll fly, for that's what eagles do" Highborn you are and high you'll stay, and higher still you'll go, And never know an earthbound day, nor crawling to and fro, Now dashing down, now soaring high . . . Now floating on the air. Now flying where you will to fly. Now free to do and dare. I'll take the down from out the nest and let the thorns protrude. I'll let the thorns disturb your rest and halt your nesting mood Then soon you'll climb upon the edge and stretch your pinions out You'll totter on the eerie ledge and ponder space and doubt, Then with a wing I'll knock you off to flounder, flap and fly And with a swoop, I'll pick you up and never mind your cry I'll put you on the perch again, then knock you off the nest To see if you will stand the strain and stand the acid test. I'll give you opportunity to prove that you can fly. And then a final chance to see if you will fly or die. I'd rather rugged, jagged rocks would claim you as their own Then bear the taunts, and jeers, and mocks that say you've never flown. But fly you must, and fly you will, and conquer gravity. And know the zephyr's golden thrill and fly for all to see. My eagle child, this word I give: keep looking to the sky. For though an eagle flies to live - an eagle lives to fly.

Deliverance

" Who delivered us from so great a death, and doth deliver, in whom we trust that he will yet deliver us." 1Corinthians 1:10" Can you see what this scripture just said? Past tense, present tense and future tense! Who delivered! I am so glad He has delivered me from the past. I deserved to die and go to hell, but in His loving mercy ~ He took my sins to the cross and nailed them there. They are gone ~ never to be remembered against me again. I thank the Lord for sins forgivened. Also, He has delivered me from the on slaughts of Satan. Man, is the devil on the job in these last days. I know we talk a lot about the attacks on our youth, but may I say that he is after us all. Paul was writing just before this and said in verse 8 how he was "pressed out of measure, above strength, insomuch that he even despaired of life." Have you ever felt that you had more than you could bare? This last week was one the hardest that I have faced in a long time. (I should say that we have faced, for my husband was right there with me.) We had a terrible disappointment concerning a child, we had decisions to make that really broke our heart, we were lied to, disrespected, had to made a decision that broke our hearts, accused of things we did not do. We felt kind of like Paul, pressed out of measure! I don't think we were to the place where we despaired of life but the devil sure fought. Did I feel like going to church and teaching my class? No! Did I do it? Yes, because I know that is where I find strength. I know that is where I get help. I ask the Lord to help me to teach my class without breaking down. He did exactly what I ask! I made it through the whole day and night because He delivered. He has always come through for us when we ask. Then the scripture said: Who doth deliver! That's today, right now! Is He helping? I guarantee! We just brought it to the Lord this morning and laid it on the altar. Like Paul says elsewhere, "I die daily." Someone said, why should we worry when we give something to the Lord. Why lay awake at night and worry? It belongs to the Lord and if He wants to stay awake and worry it's His business. Of course, we know He doesn't do that, but I think the point was to just leave that burden with the Lord and let Him work. Well, He has deivered today and will keep on. Then it says, He will yet deliver. That means I will face things tomorow that I can't handle, but knowing that He is in the delivering business ~ I will face the trials as they come. Sure we will be tried, and tried over and over again. But we know our God! Like Paul, maybe we can be of comfort to someone else that may follow. Has the Lord delivered you from sin, is He yet delivering today, will He deliver tomorrow? If we let Him! what about that load that you may be carrying? Will you let Him deliver you? Man, the load surely is lighter when we surrender everything to Him. I don't know what tomorrow may bring ~ but this one thing I know ~ he will deliver. Praise His Lovely Name!

Chickenlife versus Eagle life ~Part 2

PART 2 ON CHICKEN LIFE VERSUS EAGLE LIFE As an eagle stirreth up her nest, fluttereth over her young, spreadeth abroad her wings, taketh them, beareth them on her wings: Deuteronomy 32:1 Let me briefly share with you the parent eagle's method of training their young to fly. The mother eagle watches until the eaglets in the nest are fully feathered. When she thinks they have matured sufficiently she begins to "stir the nest". With her strong beak she will start tearing out everything in the nest that makes it soft and cozy for her young. She removes all the padding of rabbit fur and animal skins, making the nest so uncomfortable and miserable her little ones don't want to stay in the nest any longer.She then begins the process of helping them develop strength in their wings. She hovers near the nest and begins flapping her wings furiously. As they watch her do this, the little eaglets will begin to imitate the mother by flapping their wings also. They seem to know that this is what they are supposed to do. Just before she takes her eaglets out on their first solo flight, she will perch on the edge of the nest over her young and inspect them. Noticing that they have loose feathers sticking out all over them, she knows they must first be removed if the little eagles are ever to fly. So she begins to beat her wings, causing a mighty blast of wind to blow upon the eaglets. Soon all the loose feathers have been blown from them and they are ready for their flying lesson. Let me pause for just a moment and ask you these personal questions. Are you identifying with the little eaglets "stirring of the nest" experience? Lately, have you found yourself experiencing the discomforts of the stirring of your nest? Is there an awareness that something just isn't right, but you're not sure what it is? Is your comfort zone being threatened and are you a person who doesn't like changes? Are you uncomfortable and worried about it? Have you considered that just maybe it's God stirring your nest? That it's His way of telling you that you've stayed in the nest too long and that He doesn't want His eaglets to be nest dwellers all their life. It's too confining - too limited - and too "ho-hum." God doesn't want His eaglets to be nest sitters. They were meant to fly. Sometimes God has to tear up our nest to get us in the air.Have you experienced the strong winds of the Holy Spirit's convicting power blowing into your life recently? Has God been dealing with you about the "loose feathers" in your life? Has He been speaking to you about things in your life that affects your spirituality and drags you down? Things that you know you should be taking action on, but are neglecting to do? Look up! Be encouraged! It is your Jehovah Father Eagle working in your life to help you get rid of your "loose feathers." He's getting you ready to mount up with eagle wings. He wants you to quit fluttering around in the nest and to learn how to spread your wings of faith and fly. Let's return to the story.When Mother Eagle sees that the loose feathers are blown away, she then spreads her wings out and gives forth a certain scream. Somehow the little eaglet know that it is a command to step out on one the mother's wings and firmly secure itself with its talons, and then with its beak, take hold of one of the big strong feathers. Mother Eagle, making sure little eagle is securely set on her wing - lets out another scream and launches off the edge of the nest into space. She begins to ascend, the little eagle holding on for dear life. The eaglet has never experienced anything like this before. He's going places he's never gone before. He's seeing things he's never seen before. It's thrilling! But just as he's having the time of his life, Mother Eagle suddenly flutters her wings and shakes him loose from her wing - right in the middle of the air - hundreds of feet from the ground. It's solo flight time!When Mother Eagle shakes the little one loose, she doesn't say, "Well, you're on your own now, see you around," and fly away. No, she doesn't do that, but she slowly begins to circle around the surprised little eaglet keeping a concerned watchful eye on him as he flounders and flutters trying to fly for the first time. Furiously, he flaps his wings, he turns somersaults, he does everything to try to stay aloft, but slowly he starts to lose altitudes. When Mother Eagle sees her little one get dangerously close to the ground, she swiftly swoops down, snares him with a taloned claw, and carries him upward to a great height and starts the process all over again. Each day she repeats this, until finally the little eagles wings have become strong and he is able to stay aloft riding the air currents, soaring as effortlessly as the parent eagles do.

Have God stirred your nest lately?

Eagle Life versus Chicken Life

"They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings as eagles.."Isaiah 40:31 My brother gave me permission to use whatever I wanted on his sermons. As I read this message I thought how interesting and thought provoking it was to learn more about the eagle. In this scripture God is showing us that we can’t depend upon man to deliver us but that we need to depend upon the Lord for help and strength to live the Christian life."They that wait upon the Lord..." (instead of on others or on ourselves) "...shall renew there strength and mount up with wings like eagles."He gives strength and power to His people and helps them by enabling them to help themselves. He will help the willing, those who, in humble dependence upon him, help themselves, and those who do their best. Look at God’s method of developing eagle type of Christians eagles. n the scriptures, God has likened His people to many things. For example, they are described as being like branches on a vine, trees by a river, lights on a hill, sheep, salt, runners in a race, wrestlers, soldiers, and as our text in Isaiah implies - eagles. Look at facts about the eagle's way of life, and from them, discover some spiritual truths that will aid us in becoming "God's Eagle Christians." Before we get into God’ s Eagles we need to realize the frailty of the human life. He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength. Even the youth shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall: Isaiah 40:29-30 A time to be born, and a time to die. Ecclesiastes 3:2 From the time you took your first breath you began to die. The older I get it seems the faster time is going by. Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away. James 4:14 Man is only on a stage of life and the play is over before he knows it.We are called upon to live but one day at a time. The only absolutely sure prediction we can make is that most of our predications will be wrong. We do not know what the future holds but we do know who holds the future. As we live through this life that has been given to us by Almighty God we find that we are unable in our own selves to find strength to make it day after day. If we learn to wait on the Lord, He will give us power to make one day at a time. But they that wait on the Lord shall renew their strength. God chose an eagle as the bird to symbolize the Christian. I'm really glad that it's the eagle and not one of the other birds that God chose to identify us with. He could have likened us to a variety of other birds if He had so desired, and rightly so, because we display many of their characteristics. Take the chicken for example. I know something about chickens. As a child, I remember the time when we had chickens. I'm glad God said we are to become like eagles and not chickens.Let me give you some chicken facts to show you why. Chickens are crowd followers. If a chicken sees a bunch of chickens running across the chicken yard, he will take off after them. It doesn't matter that he doesn't know where they are going or why they are going there. He follows along because he doesn't want to miss out on anything the majority is doing. Chickens just naturally squabble and fight over things in the chicken yard. If one finds a nice juicy bug to eat, suddenly they all want it. They will chase each other all over the chicken yard, trying to take it away from another. They are funny that way. They can walk all around a bug or a grasshopper and not pay any attention to it, but the moment one decides he wants it, at that moment, they all decide they want it and the chase is on. Chickens go through what is called molting time (losing their feathers). Many times when this happens other chickens peck them until they are all bloody. (Reminds me of some church folks.) They have no interest in the heavenlies. They are content to live in the chicken yard, walking around with their eyes on the ground, scratching in the dirt looking for something to eat. Most of them will never try to fly. They are earthbound birds. Oh, they will act like they want to fly but at the best they can only fly a little ways. I think you can see now why I'm convinced that living the chicken life can never compare to living the eagle life. Chicken living is so limited - so confining - so predictable and so boring. However, living the eagle life - that's another story.When we hear the word "eagle", our minds envision an eagle soaring in the atmosphere, effortlessly riding the wind currents high above the earth; majestic in appearance. He is king of the sky, master of his domain. With keenness of eye, he spies his prey and swooping down to earth with tremendous speed, and sharp strong talons set, it snatches up its meal and soars back to its nest to feast. Eagle Facts: Reach speeds of over 150 miles per hour Soar to heights of 1/2 miles Dive at speeds of 200 miles per hour Glide at altitudes of over 2,500 feet 7 foot wing span 12 pounds in weight Keen eye sight - can spot a rabbit at 2 miles 270 degree peripheral vision Acute depth perception It's strength enables it to carry well So many more facts are found about Eagles, but I don't want to make this too long. The interesting thing is how they teach the little eaglets to fly. First the mother eagle stirs up the babies nest. Takes all the cushion out of the nest. All they feel is sticks and pricks. (God has to stir our nest often.) Then the mother finally pushes the baby off the nest, watch as he flapps his little wings and sees him going down. She then spreads her big eagle wings, swoops right under that little scared baby and brings him to safety. Isn't that what the Lord does for us. We are flapping our wings, scared to death that we can't face tomorrow with all it's trials and burdens. When we are to the end of ourselves, the Lord swoops down with a bucket full of grace and assures us He is by our side. I am so thankful for His Grace.

God's Protection

"Have I not commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee withersoever thou goest." I'm so glad the Lord goes with us in every situation in life. All we have to do is look for Him. Sometimes we go about trying to tell the Lord how to work. Do you think He listens to us? No way! After awhile in all our struggling ~with us getting absolutely no where~ it seems the Lord says: "You 'tend to your business and I will "tend to mind." In other words, get out of the way so I can work! We need to sit back "be still" and let God be in control. Sometimes there are dark clouds on the horizon, maybe sickness, death, wayward children, other situations in life that we can't see a way out. But God knows! He watches over us and is ever Present with us. I don't really like the dark!~ Just a little ray of light can dispell the darkness in a dark room. We can put our trust in the Lord and be of good courage. I like the scripture in Psalm 34:7-9 " The angel of the Lord encampeth round about them that fear Him, and delivereth them. O taste and see that the Lord is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him." (I stole this illustration from my preacher brother) The passengers on the bus watched sympathetically as the attractive young woman with the white cane made her way carefully up the steps. She paid the driver and, using her hands to feel the location of the seats, walked down the aisle and found the seat he’d told her was empty. Then she settled in, placed her briefcase on her lap and rested her cane against her leg.It had been a year since Susan, thirty-four, became blind. Due to a medical misdiagnosis she had been rendered sightless, and she was suddenly thrown into a world of darkness, anger, frustration and self-pity. Once a fiercely independent woman, Susan now felt condemned by this terrible twist of fate to become a powerless, helpless burden on everyone around her."How could this have happened to me?" she would plead, her heart knotted with anger. But no matter how much she cried or ranted or prayed, she knew the painful truth her sight was never going to return. And all she had to cling to was her husband Mark. Mark was an Air Force officer and he loved Susan with all of his heart. Finally, Susan felt ready to return to her job, but how would she get there? She used to take the bus, but was now too frightened to get around the city by herself. Mark volunteered to drive her to work each day, even though they worked at opposite ends of the city. At first, this comforted Susan and fulfilled Mark’s need to protect his sightless wife who was so insecure about performing the slightest task. Soon, however, Mark realized that this arrangement wasn’t working - it was hectic, and costly. Susan is going to have to start taking the bus again, he admitted to himself. Susan was horrified at the idea of taking the bus again. "I’m blind!" she responded bitterly. "How am I supposed to know where I’m going? I feel like you’re abandoning me." Mark’s heart broke to hear these words, but he knew what had to be done. He promised Susan that each morning and evening he would ride the bus with her, for as long as it took, until she got the hang of it. And that is exactly what happened.For two solid weeks, Mark, military uniform and all, accompanied Susan to and from work each day. He taught her how to rely on her other senses, specifically her hearing, to determine where she was and how to adapt to her new environment. He helped her befriend the bus drivers who could watch out for her, and save her a seat. He made her laugh, even on those not-so-good days when she would trip exiting the bus, or drop her briefcase.Finally, Susan decided that she was ready to try the trip on her own. Monday morning arrived, and before she left, she threw her arms around Mark, her temporary bus riding companion, her husband, and her best friend. She said good-bye, and for the first time, they went their separate ways. Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday... Each day on her own went perfectly, and Susan had never felt better. She was doing it! She was going to work all by herself! On Friday morning, Susan took the bus to work as usual. As she was paying for her fare to exit the bus, the driver said, "Boy, I sure envy you." Susan wasn’t sure if the driver was speaking to her or not. After all, who on earth would ever envy a blind woman who had struggled just to find the courage to live for the past year? Curious, she asked the driver, "Why do you say that you envy me?"The driver responded, "It must feel so good to be taken care of and protected like you are." Susan had no idea what the driver was talking about, and asked again, "What do you mean?" The driver answered, "You know, every morning for the past week, a fine looking gentleman in a military uniform has been standing across the corner watching you when you get off the bus. He makes sure you cross the street safely and he watches you until you enter your office building. Then he blows you a kiss, gives you a little salute and walks away. You are one lucky lady." God watches over us in just the same way. We may not know He is present, we may not be able to see His face, but He is there nonetheless! (Be encouraged in this thought.) God loves you even when you are not looking! We can face the future with certainty! We can face each day knowing God is with us! "How Firm a Foundation" Fear not, I am with thee, Oh be not dismayed, For I am thy God, I will still give thee aid. I'll strengthen thee, help thee, and cause the to stand, Upheld by my gracious Omnipotent Hand.