A Thought

Sitting here with the glorious sunshine pouring through my window, I have been thinking about various people who I know are hurting for one reason or many reasons. AS I contemplated on their situations,I caught myself wondering yet again why I am not so burdened down with my own problems. I have many stresses and issues and problems, yet I don't feel upset or worried about them. Then I wondered if maybe I wasn't caring enough or sensitive enough. The more I thought on it the more my favorite hymn kept ringing forth in my heart and thoughts. God brought it to my attention again this morning, and I keep singing the refrain over and over. " It is well with my soul"...
A sweet young lady gave an example to me the other night as we talked about problems and prayed together. She said if you have your hands curled up into a fist, God can't hold them or give you blessings. Are you holding onto your hurt? Are you refusing to let go of your burdens, and trust God to take care of them? So much has happened in a brief amount of time in our own lives. Every day is uncertain here on earth, but my future is sealed and certain in Heaven. I can rest on the fact that my troubles and trials can make me stronger, bring me closer to God,give Him glory, and make me a better Christian... but only if I reach my open hands out to God and say " Here- take my burdens and YOU deal with them, because I sure can't!"
So yes, I do care about the pain you are going through, yes, I am praying for you, but I will not wallow in my own pain and hurt, for then God can't use me to bless others...
1 Peter 5:7 "Casting all your care upon Him, for He careth for you."
Open your hands and hearts to God today, and allow Him to give you peace in your valley.
Love y'all
R

Across the Miles

Is your testimony and faith so evident that others come to you for help or a prayer need? I am humbled and amazed when someone trusts ME to pray for a serious situation. I do not take it lightly, and I try as hard as my human failings will allow me to honor that request.
I came across this song this morning that Ted put on my new phone.
I do not know the author, neither do I know who is singing it, but I hope it will bless you and help you.
ACROSS THE MILES
All around this world I've traveled through
In all I've come to find, the ties that bind can come unraveled
I try to face some lonely times, but when I'm tired and feeling low
What a comfort it is to know
Across the miles there's someone praying for me
Across the miles there's someone on their knees lifting my name to the Lord above
In joy and pain I can feel the love and see you smile - across the miles
Life can be so complicated as I travel down each road
When kindred hearts are separated it gives us each a chance to grow
And even though I am so far away
I am reminded every day
Across the miles - there someone praying for me
Across the miles there's someone on their knees lifting my name to the Lord above In joy and pain I can feel the love and see you smile across miles...
If Ted and I can pray for you in any way, please leave us a comment or a private message...

Suthenisms

I love the very last part of this, for those of you dear folks who accept us for who we are.. bless your heart.. for those of you that just don't get it.. well... bless your po little heart too!
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Suthen-isms:
____
Only a Southerner knows the difference between a hissie fit and a
conniption fit, and that you don't HAVE them, you PITCH them.
_____
Only a Southerner knows how many fish, collard greens, turnip greens,
peas, beans, etc., make up a mess.
_____
Only a Southerner can show or point out to you the general direction of
yonder.
_____
Only a Southerner knows exactly how long directly is, As in: 'Going to
town, be back directly.'
_____
Even Southern babies know that Gimme some sugar is not a request for the white, granular sweet substance that sits in a pretty little bowl in the
middle of the table.
_____
All Southerners know exactly when by and by is. They might not use the
term, but they know the concept well.
_____
Only a Southerner knows instinctively that the best gesture of solace
for a neighbor who's got trouble is a whole messa fried chicken and a
big bowl of cold potato salad. If the neighbor's trouble is a real
crisis, they also know to add a large banana puddin!
_____
Only Southerners grow up knowing the difference between right near and a right far piece. They also know that just down the road a piece can be anywhere from 1 to 20 miles.
_____
Only a Southerner, both knows and understands, the difference between a redneck, a good ol' boy, and po white trash.
_____
A Southerner knows that the word fixin can be used as a noun, a verb, or an adverb.
_____
Only Southerners make friends while standing in lines, ... And when
we're 'in line,' we talk to everybody!
_____
Put 100 Southerners in a room and half of them will discover they're
related, even if only by marriage.
_____
In the South, y'all is singular, all y'all is plural.
_____
Southerners know grits come from corn and how to eat them.
_____
Every Southerner knows tomatoes with eggs, bacon, grits, and coffee are
perfectly wonderful; that red eye gravy is also a breakfast food; and
that fried green tomatoes are not a breakfast food.
_____
When you hear someone say, 'I caught myself lookin'', you know you are in the presence of a genuine Southerner!
_____
Only true Southerners say sweet tea and sweet milk. Sweet tea indicates
the need for sugar and lots of it -- we do not like our tea unsweetened.
'Sweet milk' means you don't want buttermilk.
_____
And a true Southerner knows you don't scream obscenities at little old
ladies who drive 30 MPH on the freeway. You just say, 'well, bless her
heart' and go on your way.
_____
And to those of you who are still having a hard time understanding all
this Southern stuff, ... bless your hearts, I hear they're fixin' to
have classes on Southernness as a second language!
------
And for those that are not from the South but have lived here for a long
time, all y'all need a sign to hang on y'alls front porch that reads 'I
ain't from the South, but I got here as fast as I could..'
____________

Now...... Shugah, send this to someone who was raised in the South or
wish they had been and If you're a Northern transplant, Bless y'alls
heart. We know you got here as fast as you could.

Ponder this...

I am re-reading a favorite series of mine from Dee Henderson. This book is entitled "The Protector". Here is a short excerpt that I hope will make you think, whether you are skeptical,apathetic,or desensitized, I pray this will reach out and change your perspective.
"I don't see a contradiction in God's actions. People die physically from sin and the evil that pervades the world. Jesus knew that. He chose to lay down His life to save us. And God the Father let Jesus make that choice, not because He didn't love His Son, but because He had decided in turn to express His own love for His Son and raise Jesus from the dead. God honored the sacrifice His Son made."...Jesus made a huge sacrifice. But I think God the Father actually made a larger one. He let the one He called His beloved Son be humiliated and murdered. Can you imagine how hard it was to sit on His hands and allow that to happen? He wasn't being contradictory. God was in agony, but He loved us enough to allow it to happen."
" Look at the anger God feels against anyone who rejects what His Son did. Hell is a mild word for the reality. Based on what Revelations says, when God the Father acts at the end of time it is going to be unlike anything mankind has ever seen. Men will beg to be spared that wrath. God loves His Son, and He's going to call the world to account. Every knee in heaven and earth will bow to the fact Jesus is Lord, and if they don't do it by choice, they will do it in judgment."

John 3:16 For God so LOVED the world that He GAVE His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him, should not perish but have everlasting life.

The choice is yours...