August 31, 2010.

Well, it's the last day of August! Autumn will be here very soon and it is my favorite season of the year. I am not a fan of hot weather, but just love the cool brisk fall air. Temperatures in the 50's and 60's....just love it! That was one reason Chris and I got married at the end of October. The cool air and the fall colors.

This October it will be our 25th wedding anniversary. Twenty-five years...it just doesn't seem possible. We have had good years and bad years as most couples do, and I wouldn't change any one of them. Sure, you wish the bad times did not happen, but those times are just part of life.

Chris started his new job this week. He is working at a local gas station chain called Family Express. It does not pay a lot, but the job is full-time and I honestly think he is going to really enjoy working there. He loves working with people and at gas/convenience stores you deal with people all the time. Getting used to his new schedule will take some time. It may affect some of our activities at church, but it's just something we are going to have to deal with. The one thing he is really concerned about is the Disciple I class we are involved in. I'm hoping perhaps we can move our class time around whatever times he is working...we'll just have to see.

I bought a new Bible to use in my Disciple I class. I've been wanting to buy a parallel Bible, but really couldn't afford the one that has like 6 versions in it. I was looking around the Christan Book website and found one on sale that had The Message and NIV in it. It is the whole Bible and even states it's in a larger print. (which I can really use since I went to a bifocal) Even though finances are tight right now, I went ahead and ordered it. 19.99 wasn't too bad a price and I'm awaiting it's arrival. I'm familiar with the NIV Bible and am intrigued by The Message so I think this will be a good choice.

Who would know that I would someday be excited at the arrival of a new Bible!!!!

Chris has been using a Bible he had as a kid...The Way. I think all of us who grew up in the 70's had a The Way Bible. He has used his so much, it's falling apart and is even missing the first section of Matthew. I went onto Ebay and found an identical copy of this Bible and bought if for a whole 5.00. He is going to be so surprised when it arrives!!

August 30, 2010. Verse for today.

Moses said to the LORD, "O Lord, I have never been eloquent, neither in the past nor since you have spoken to your servant. I am slow of speech and tongue." Exodus 4-10

When Moses spoke to God at the burning bush...he sure did doubt his ability to do as the Lord asked him to do!

August 29, 2010.

I haven't been real good about keeping my blog current. Partly cause things have been busy, partly cause just haven't taken the time. The last few nights I have not slept very well and last night was no different. Woke up at 2AM and laid there for the longest time unable to get back to sleep. Now, I'm sitting here feeling slightly brain dead and just have no energy. Ugh...I hate this feeling. And so much to do today. When I feel like this, I just want to stay home, stay in my pajamas and frump in front of the television.

But, today is Celebration Sunday at church. All services are combined into one and then there is a carry-in afterward. It's a wonderful Sunday, I just hope I get some energy to help me enjoy it. Then, this afternoon is our Disciple I class at 4.

Ok...off to take a shower and hopefully that will help to wake me up a bit.

August 24, 2010. Verse for today.

But, Lot's wife looked back, and she became a pillar of salt. Genesis 19:26.



One of the bad girl's of the Bible. See what happens when you don't listen!!!

August 23, 2010. Verse for today.

After these things the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision. "Do not be afraid, Abram, I am your shield; your reward shall be very great." Genesis 15:1


In my Disciple I class we are in Genesis and the section we are in this week is Covenant. This reading was on the covenant between God and Abraham.

August 21, 2010.

It's been a fairly busy week. Despite losing his job last week, Chris and I have been coping fairly well. He has been sick with a bad bacterial infection in his lungs all week, but yesterday and today has not run a temperature. He's now just coughing, coughing and more coughing. Being sick, plus the losing his job part has made for a very depressed husband..but, he seems to be perking up. He has landed a full-time job at Family Express. It's only a clerk position...paying 8.00 an hour, but it's full-time and after 6 months he will be eligible for benefits. This is the kind of company where you can work your way up. He also has a job interview at the local college here in town. That is the job he really wants, so we are praying that he does well at the interview. But, either way...he does have a job. The power of prayer does work!

I've been busy this week working both my jobs plus a lot of things in the evenings at church. Last night we had our Family Fun Night there. We did have a small turn-out, but we had a great big fun time! Today, it's stuff around the house, errands and we are working the movie at the cinema tonight. Little extra cash there and we get to do it again tomorrow night.

Rudy-dog seems to be doing better. He is still on an antibiotic for the infection in his sinus and he is now on a prescription antihistamine....which is fairly expensive. It seems to be working, so if our vet keeps him on it I will see about buying it through the swine vet clinic I work for. That is one nice perk about working there. I can purchase medications for my dogs and get them for cost. So, if this turns out to be a medicine he is put on for long-term, I will buy it there. This stuff is like a dollar a pill and he is currently taking 4 a day. I should be able to get it for half that cost...I hope.

I've been frustrated with my weight. I am at the heaviest I've been in probably 10 years. I'm frustrated with that, but I'm also tired of dieting! Why does it have to be so hard! I have been walking a ton this summer and my friend who I walk with has the same frustrations that I do. I'm sure it's partly age..being in our 40's I think the hormones are just working against us. It's just not fair.

August 19. 2010. Verse for today.

"O, that my head a spring of water, and my eyes a fountain of tears, so that I might weep day and night for the slain of my poor people! Jeremiah 9:1.


The section read for today in Jeremiah was rather depressing. There was much deceitfulness, lying evil in the world....you could not even trust your own family.

August 18, 2010. Verse for today.

"As long as the earth endures, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night, shall not cease." Genesis 8:22

This is what God stated after the great flood was over. He said he would never again curse the ground because of humankind.

August 17, 2010. Verse for today.

Then the Lord God formed the man from the dust on the ground. He breathed the breath of life into the man's nostrils, and the man became a living person. Genesis 2:7



I am in my second week of Disciple 1 class. As I was out on my walk this morning, I thought it might be neat to try and post a Bible verse from each day's reading. Yesterday I read Genesis 2 and 3.

August 16, 2010.

I haven't posted here in a few days. It's amazing how fast your life can change in just a matter of days. Chris lost his job on Thursday. I guess I've never experienced such a feeling of helplessness when he came and told me that he had been let go. After leaving The Doghouse and everything that happened there, to now him being unemployed. I did have a momentary feeling of panic, but since that day I've just been kind of quiet and trying to sort things out.

The practical side of me is doing the figures in my head with the money we have as to how long we will be OK with our bills if he does not find a job right away. The bummer is, he does not qualify for unemployment. Mainly due to the fact while we owned The Doghouse he was not paying himself a true paycheck. We would right ourselves a check now and then, but it wasn't drawn like a paycheck so consequently the government has no record of him working for the 4 years prior to the radio station job. I always had a feeling that was a bad decision, but he based this on my brother who does the same at his restaurant.

So, anyway....trying to put my faith in God on this situation. I'm better today, not quite as worried. But, the economy and job situation is not good...so just praying right now that he finds some kind of work before the end of September. In my figuring bills and money on hand, I think we'll be OK till then. The one hitch in this will be Rudy and the tests that are waiting to come back on him. At least our vet is working with us on the bill so we don't have to pay everything upfront. More later.....

August 13, 2010. Verse for today.

"So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand." Isaiah 41:10

A nice scripture during difficult times.

August 11, 2010.

It's been a fairly eventful week. A member of our church passed away unexpectadly on Monday. The whole church was and still is in shock. This family is one of the nicest families there is and they have been through so much in the last year or so. With one daughter fighting breast cancer at a very young age, and the man himself dealing with two knee replacements. It just seemed that they had reached the turning point of things looking up when "BAM' a sudden death.

It's times like these that most folks begin to question their faith and they ask the eternal question..."why?" That has to be one of the hardest questions faced by a minister. I truly would not know how to answer it. Sure, you can say...well, it's the will of God. But, when you are the person who has lost a loved one...that is not what you want to hear.

The only thing I know, it's a true, unfailing faith in God that can get you through these things. While it doesn't seem fair that your loved one was taken from you so abruptly, you also have to remember that they are now walking with the Lord. You can't help but wonder what that will be like. Walking with the Lord and seeing heaven. The words to the song, "I Can Only Imagine" come to mind. I'll have to use that song in a future post here. But, for now....can you just imagine what it will be like! From what I heard, this gentleman simple did not wake up from a nap. At least not in this world...so, can you imagine what it would be like to go to sleep and then wake up in another world. In heaven...where you have Jesus and God welcoming you! Wow.

August 9, 2010. Verse for today.

"He that putteth his trust in the Lord shall be made fat." Proverbs 28:25 KJV


I swiped this from Liz Curtis Higgs Facebook page today. As she says...this explains everything!!!! Haha.

August 7, 2010.

Ok, here is an oldie moldie song to share. I have long been a fan of John Denver. Way back when I was a teenager, I would play and play his songs on a guitar that I taught myself to play. I no longer have a guitar and no longer play. I never played very well, being self taught I did not teach myself very well. But, I played well enough that when nobody was around I could play and sing my favorite John Denver songs. While this song was never really a favorite at that time, I have come to have a new found liking of it. I'm sure many folks have never heard it so I hope I can find a recording on You Tube.

I also have to go on record here and confess...the day I heard John Denver had died I actually cried a little. I was so grateful that two years prior I got to see him in concert in Merrillville. It was a fabulous show, just John and two percussionists. He sang for almost 3 hours. So, anyway...here are the lyrics to Gospel Changes. It is from his album Poems, Prayers and Promises.



The Prodigal Son, he'd been away a while,
he was working his way back home now over many a ragged mile.
When he finally crossed the river and his father saw him near,
there was a joyful sound, for all the world to hear.

I listened to what the Good Book said and it made good sense to me,
talking about reaping what you're sowing, people trying to be free.
Now we've got new names and faces, this time around,
Gospel changes, Lord, still going down.

Jesus, He did not doubt His gifts, though He knew that He had not long to live.
He took care of the business of teaching us how to fly,
then He bowed His head and laid down to die.

I listened to what the Good Book said and it made good sense to me,
talking about reaping what you're sowing, people trying to be free.
Now we've got new names and faces, this time around,
Gospel changes, Lord, still going down.

Jerusalem I see you standing high,
but if you lose your salvation, there'll be no tears left to cry.
Now some men worship a Golden Calf while others are bought and sold,
and if we live like that, brother we'll pay the toll.

I listened to what the Good Book said and it made good sense to me,
talking about reaping what you're sowing, people trying to be free.
Now we've got new names and faces, this time around,
Gospel changes, Lord, still going down.
Yeah, yeah, yeah, Gospel changes, Lord, still going down.

Gospel Changes click to listen.

August 7, 2010. Verse for today.

"For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek." Romans 1:16

August 6, 2010.

Lots going on right now. Tonight our church is having a Spaghetti Dinner as a fund raiser. They are turning the fellowship hall into an Italian Restaurant and Chris and I will be the waiters. It's going to be fun.

This Sunday we begin a class at church called Disciple I. It's quite a long class and will go well into the Spring. It requires a lot of in depth reading of the Bible and meetings once a week. I am very much looking forward to the challenge of this class. I did take a class last summer in which we read the Bible in 90 days. But, this class will be different. I'm hoping to understand things in the Bible more. The other class was pretty much just reading the Bible, Disciple 1 is studying the Bible.

Then, Rudy is not doing well. The bacterial infection we've been battling in his nose just doesn't seem to be improving much. He's been on an antibiotic for over a month. He's sneezing has gotten worse and this morning he began sneezing out blood again. He's also had terrible diarrhea since yesterday...which he had a few weeks ago. I'm beginning to think it's related to the infection. Stuff from your nose does drain down into your stomach. Anyway, the vet wants to do another X-Ray. We just don't have the cash. My mom is loaning us 100.00. The vet is going to work with us as well...allowing us to make payments. But, to help the situation I've again looked at what I can unload here at home. Last month I had a garage sale to raise money. Today I'm going to sell half of my exercise DVD's. There is a lady on Ebay who has bought them from me in the past. I've sent her an email and gotten a list together. Hopefully she'll give me at least 75.00 for them. I even contemplated selling them all, I have probably over 50 DVD's. I'm going to see what she'll give me for the list I sent her. This way I can add some money to the 100.00 my mom is loaning us.

Chris is going to look through his shed tomorrow. I know he has tons of tools out there he never touches. We can start putting these things on Ebay if I can just motivate him to clean things up out there.

Ok...enough babbling........

August 5, 2010. Verse for today.

"Do not merely listen to the word so to deceive yourselves. Do what it says." James 1:22.



Good verse...something to challenge us all!

August 2, 2010. Verse for today.

Do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. Matthew 6:34

I stole this verse from today's Upper Room. It is one I read quite often...and try to follow it's advice!

August 1, 2010.

Can it really be August already? The summer is almost over. I am someone who does not like very hot weather, so I do welcome the coming of Autumn. Autumn is my favorite season with October my favorite month. I look forward to it every year.

But, it has been a busy summer! And I cannot believe I have kept this blog going since the end of April.

The next Emmaus walks are coming up in October and I have been asked to help on the music committee. I am very much looking forward to this!!! October is going to be a busy month. There is the women's Emmaus walk, the men's Emmaus walk which Chris is attending. Then, the first weekend of the month I will be attending a women's retreat with a long-time friend from high school. Not to mention the preparation for the walks themselves. I hope the retreat I'm attending won't interfere with any of the Emmaus preparations. I didn't even think about the fact that weekend is so close to the walks. It's going to be a busy, busy month.

Our minister this morning preached on taking our given talents and using them to spread the word of God. I have tried doing this, though it is not always easy. We gave our God-daughter her first Bible this past weekend. It was a cute Bible geared towards little girls who are her age. She did seem to like it and I do hope she reads it. Her parents do not attend church regularly...perhaps this might spur them to do so. Whether it does or does not...I at least feel I have planted a small seed in this young girl.

Ok...more later....just some rambling thoughts I wanted to post for today.