Thursday, June 20, 2013

June 19, 2013 - Pray for the Farmers

Thought for today: Someone must plant, cultivate, and harvest or there will be no bread for the table. Praying for farmers and their families.

Isaiah 28:26 & 29 - (26) "The farmer knows just what to do, for God has given him understanding." (29) "The LORD Almighty is a wonderful teacher, and he gives the farmer great wisdom."

As you pray each day, please remember all the farmers and their families in your prayers. Farming isn't an easy job and has a multitude of dangers and potential for body maiming, life ending accidents. A reminder of this today as a teenager in Eastern Kentucky lost his life when he lost control of the tractor he was driving and it turned over. So instead of cursing the farmer and his/her equipment you are stuck behind on the road, lift them up in prayer for safety as they do their work. When you see the fields of wheat glistening in the sun, or the corn stalks lifting their faces to the sky, or the soybeans looking like a carpet of green, pray for the one who planted, cultivated, and will soon harvest the crop.

My sisters' families are farming families, and my Grandpa Thompson was a farmer, so yes, this is something near and dear to my heart. But even if there weren't farmers in my family, I would still be praying. Too many tragic stories of lives lost, bodies torn, and family farms going broke, to not lift this industry and the people who choose it in prayer.

~ Have a blessed day! 


The pictures below are of my middle sister heading to our folks to do some work, and one of her and my niece (her daughter) doing hay bales last year.  Love my family farmers!!

    


A Year Gone By...

Wow, I just checked in and it's been a year since I began this blog.  It only takes one look to see that I'm a little slow at this blogging game!  Ha! Guess we will see how I do this year when June 2014 hits.  I have put small "blogs" if you will on my Facebook posts.  I wish I had thought to put them here then I would have looked like a better blogger.  Oh well, upward and onward.  I would like to share a post I put on FB yesterday that is near and dear to my heart.  Check it out in the next post.

Have a blessed evening!

Monday, December 17, 2012

The Evil Men Do


The tragedy at Sandy Hook school in Newtown, Conn. last Friday has touched us all.  I admit I have to limit how much I watch of the coverage because it becomes so depressing.  How do parents deal with the loss of a child, especially an unexpected, horrific death that comes out of the blue.  I hear people on TV on Facebook and all over asking what can we do to prevent this from happening again, etc.  Unfortunately, no matter what we do, something like it will happen again.  Why?  Because we have pushed God aside in our world, especially in America.  He's been told He isn't needed or wanted or believed in.  So He gives man over to his reprobate mind and fleshly desires.

Our world has a sickness, it's called sin and sin begets evil.  Evil thoughts, evil intentions, evil desires, evil actions.  We blame illnesses, disorders, parents, other people, etc.  But the father of all lies, satan, whispers into the ears of sinful man and seeks to kill, destroy, and harm everyone in his path spiritually, physically, mentally, and emotionally.  He uses those who shut out Christ. He uses many methods and tricks.  We can try to invoke safeguards and other efforts.  But ultimately it's a heart problem and only the Light within that is Jesus Christ the Lord can heal the problem. 

See these verses below.  These come from the New King James Version of the Bible.

Genesis 8:20-22 -- 20 Then Noah built an altar to the Lord, and took of every clean animal and of every clean bird, and offered burnt offerings on the altar. 21 And the Lord smelled a soothing aroma. Then the Lord said in His heart, "I will never again curse the ground for man's sake, although the imagination of man's heart is evil from his youth; nor will I again destroy every living thing as I have done. 22 "While the earth remains, Seedtime and harvest, Cold and heat, Winter and summer, And day and night Shall not cease."

Matthew 12:35 -- A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good things, and an evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth evil things. (Agaiin in Luke 6:45)

Matthew 15:19 -- For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies. (Again in Mark 7:21-23)

John 3:19-20 -- 19 And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.  20 For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed.

Romans 1:28-32 -- 28 And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things which are not fitting; 29 being filled with all unrighteousness, sexual immorality, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, evil-mindedness; they are whisperers, 30 backbiters, haters of God, violent, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, 31 undiscerning, untrustworthy, unloving, unforgiving, unmerciful; 32 who, knowing the righteous judgment of God, that those who practice such things are deserving of death, not only do the same but also approve of those who practice them.


2 Timothy 3:13 -- But evil men and impostors will grow worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived. 

1 John 3:12 not as Cain who was of the wicked one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his works were evil and his brother's righteous.


What we are told to do.

Hebrews 3:12 -- Beware, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief in departing from the living God;

Ephesians 5:15-16 -- 15 See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, 16 redeeming the time, because the days are evil. 


Ephesians 6:13 -- Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.


1 Thessalonians 5:15 -- See that no one renders evil for evil to anyone, but always pursue what is good both for yourselves and for all.


1 Thessalonians 5:22 -- Abstain from every form of evil.


Wednesday, July 18, 2012

The Empty "Pen"

Apparently blogging is not something I excel at - surprise, surprise.  My aunt used to tell me that I should be a writer because I wrote some poetry growing up and had a moment or two of creative writing pop out of me.  And I admit, I've toyed with the notion from time to time, that's why I decided to give blogging a try.  But apparently my creative, witty, and inspirational "pen" is empty or pretty dried up.  LOL  Most of the things I've done in life haven't been consistent or long-lasting so why should this be any different.  Suppose I will keep it up for a while longer and maybe something will moisten up the "ink well".  In the meantime, there are plenty of other wonderful blogs on the internet to inspire, build up, encourage, and give us all a laugh or recipe idea. 

Good day, friends!  I hope your Wednesday hump day is all you want it do be.

                                                                       ~  Tami

Wednesday, June 27, 2012

Looking Beyond Lemonade

Today has been a little tasking emotionally and slightly physically.  I stated on my Facebook post that I had been given some of life's lemons and I'd probably be making lemonade in deference to the old adage.  Little did I know when I posted that that I would get to more hits with lemons!  Things do come in threes they say.  First, let me say that the "lemons" I received are not earth shattering or life threatening.  There are far worse things I could be experiencing but it was a triple shot day and I was a little knocked off kilter by the first one.  The second two turned out to be a blessing in disguise, thank you, Lord!  So here's what happened and yes, it could be much much worse, so I'm not having a pity party just a little observational conversation.  #1... My new co-worker of a little over 4 months told me that she is taking a position in another department and her last day is in two weeks.  Whoa, was not expecting that information in any way, shape or fashion.  Poor girl, my initial reaction was to burst into tears!  The tears were two-fold.  First, immediate panic of "I can't do both of our jobs!!"  The university I work at isn't approving requests to fill open positions in a rapid manner or at all leaving many office workers doing the work of two or three people.  We just filled this position at the end of February after my original co-worker retired at the end of last year.  Secondly, the tears were because I love working with my new co-worker.  She is young, bright, funny, easy going, easy to talk to and work with etc.  I know why the other office (higher up) recruited her.  She's good at what she does and has a bright future ahead.  Anyway, once she left and I did some more crying and much praying for strength and wisdom behind my closed office door, I cleaned myself up and got on with the work day.  #2... My husband called later in the afternoon to tell me that our washer, which has been sickly for quite sometime, was finally gasping it's last breaths and I should stop at the local store in town and pick out a new washer and have them deliver it tomorrow.  Okay, no problem, I knew that one was coming in the near future.  Second hit wasn't too damaging.  I then had a meeting with my boss to discuss filling our upcoming open office position.  After telling him about the washer death knell, I jokingly told him that I was waiting on the third thing to happen since things seem to happen in threes.  #3... A half hour later I'm sitting down in the Dean's office getting ready to talk to the administrative assistant about the upcoming open position when my cell phone rings with the hubby's ringtone.  I excuse myself to get it and tell him I will call him back in a minute.  His reply, "Hurry, I have a problem here."  Since he is home recuperating from full knee replacement surgery, my first thought was that he had done something awful to the knee etc.  I called him right back and asked what the problem was and he tells me the washer water line broke and water was all over our utility room.  Area carpet on the floor and all other throw rugs were soaked, etc.  A huge ball of something dropped in my stomach to say the least.  With a quick, prayerful thank you that he wasn't physically injured, I headed back up to the office to tell my co-worker I had to leave now etc. etc.

As I am driving home, I'm doing some more praying.  Asking for wisdom, strength, for the Lord to get glory in all circumstances, and letting the Lord know that I knew this was all in His hands.  Called to check on things at home and my stepson was able to stop by after work on his way home and was in the process of cleaning up the water mess in the utility room.  I love that boy!  Stopped and purchased washer and made arrangements for next day delivery; get home, grab towels etc. and begin helping with the clean up process; old washer removal to outside, etc.  The hubby was able to get hold of a plumber and he arrived and fixed the water lines.  We took a break to eat supper ... thank you Pizza Hut!  Floors dried and I got to sweep all that yuck that accumulates beside and behind washers over the years out as well as spray bug spray etc.  After a little too much spray inhalation, I went outside to sit in the swing and soak up the fresh air, do some more praying and talking with my Lord and enjoying the evening as it cooled off.  The washer and water line break were blessings in disguise because if all that had happened in the morning while they were trying to deliver and install the new washer it would have been a far worse mess.  My stepson would have been at work and unable to help as well.  The Lord knows what needs to happen and when, so we are thankful for that little bump in the road.  Also, David's physical therapist had showed up about the time the water line broke, and bless her heart, she pitched in and helped get stuff up off the floor and followed David down to the cellar to turn off the water.  I pray the Lord blesses her in special way for her help.  God is good!!  We try to find the positive in the negative.  And we thank the Lord that the funding was in the savings to pay for the washer and the water line repairs... again His provision.

Now back to the contemplation of the lemons.  I got to thinking about the old adage "When life gives you lemons make lemonade" and began wondering what other things lemons might be good for.  You know, looking beyond lemonade.  Of course, a web search for "things to do with lemons" was performed.  So on a lighter note and perhaps a helpful one, here are some other things you can do with lemons besides make lemonade.  These are from the following web site:  http://naturalmothersnetwork.com/healthy-eating/the-versatile-lemon/
  1. Got a sore throat? Add lemon juice and honey to some sage tea and gargle it before going to bed.
  2. Freeze the juice in ice cube trays for later use.
  3. Polish copper by rubbing it with a lemon juice-soaked cloth and buffing it dry.
  4. Make a refreshing tea, with lemon, fresh mint and lemon grass.
  5. For a mild, stain-free bleach, soak your delicate clothing in a mixture of lemon juice and baking soda for at least half an hour before washing.
  6. Make a simple but delicious risotto, with mascarpone, parmesan, black pepper and plenty of lemon zest, garnish with wild rocket.
  7. Add half a lemon to the dishwasher load for sparkling, spot-free, clean-smelling dishes.
  8. Infuse your favourite oil with lemon peel: Warm 250ml olive oil and the rind of two lemons over a very low heat for 15 minutes, then allow to cool before decanting it into  a stoppered bottle. Delicious on salad greens
  9. To remove lime scale, hard water or soap residue rub taps, draining boards and even porcelain with lemon.
  10. Cut a lemon in half and sprinkle baking soda on the cut section. Use the lemon to scrub dishes, surfaces and stains.
  11. Exfoliate and clean your feet by mixing up some lemon pulp and brown sugar and get rubbing! Rinse and moisturise.
  12. Use the power of lemon as a natural furniture polish - combine 1 part lemon juice with 2 parts olive oil.
  13. For ink spots on clothing, apply lots of lemon juice to the stain as soon as possible. Wash the garment in normal cycle in cold water.
  14. Another all-purpose cleaning solution: combine lemon juice, vinegar and water in a spray bottle.
  15. Make Natural Mothers Lemon Curd
  16. Clean earrings by placing them in a saucer of lemon juice.
  17. Dry lemon or orange peels can be used to freshen drawers.
  18. Make French Lemon Macaroons for a loved one.
  19. Make a facial scrub with sugar and lemon juice for cleaner and softer skin.
There you have it!  Trust me there are plenty of other sites as well.  Point is when life gives you those lemons, look beyond their face value and see what else can come from them.  Many times it is something positive, helpful, and good.
                                          ~~  Tami ~~


Tuesday, June 26, 2012

"I Have An Awesome Life."

This photo was on my Facebook wall yesterday from PURE Ministries and my heart just melted so I had to repost on my FB page.  I put a comment of "Jesus loves the little children, all the children of the world" underneath.  Why?  Because He does love all the children.  In Luke 18:16, it says, "Then Jesus called for the children and said to the disciples, "Let the children come to me. Don't stop them! For the Kingdom of God belongs to those who are like these children." [New Living Translation]  Sadly, we live in a society that does not truly value these small lives.  From the ones willing to kill them in the womb, to the ones who beat them down physically and emotionally from the time they are small, to the ones who desire to do unspeakable things to them or sell them into slavery, we are a world that does not protect our children.  Yes, there are individuals, families, and organizations who are fighting for and trying to save our children but as a whole we (the world) are letting children down.  I see more concern, television advertising, posts, etc. about the well being of animals and pets than I do for children.  And don't starting hating, I don't advocate or think animals and pets should be treated badly either.  But when we care more about the killing of baby seals than we do of our own unborn children that is shameful.  I don't typically express some of my opinions in a public forum but this photo of this precious little girl touched me and I wanted to share my thoughts here.  Agree or disagree, that is fine.  Our children should not be disposable whether pre-born or born.  Look around you at the children in your lives, in your church, in your community, do you see a face that needs to be told they are "fearfully and wonderfully made"?  Take the time to encourage a child today.

Psalm 139:14 ~ "I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Marvelous are Your works, And that my soul knows very well."  [New King James]




If you would like to know more about PURE Ministries, check out their Facebook page:
https://www.facebook.com/PureMinistriesZW

"God doesn't make junk." 

                                                      ~ Tami ~

Monday, June 25, 2012

Crossroads Class Session for 7-1-2012

Hey, gang!  Alrighty, the session for 7/1/2012 is entitled "Relating Well, Relatively Speaking".  The goals for the session are: 1) to understand roles, relationships and wisdom for families; 2) to be motivated to pursue or improve family relationships; and 3) to begin to understand parenting and marriage according to God's timeless wisdom.  Also, pick a verse of your choice from this session to memorize and meditate on.  


Here are the Bible readings for this week:  I'd like for you to write down your thoughts about each day's verse(s), or at least one or two, to share in class for discussion.
Monday, 6/25 > Proverbs 18:22
Tuesday, 6/26 > Proverbs 23:15-16
Wednesday, 6/27 > Proverbs 27:8
Thursday, 6/28 > Proverbs 14:1
Friday, 6/29 > Proverbs 19:26   [Side note: Today David & I have been married 16 years! Time flies!]
Saturday, 6/30 > Proverbs 25:24
Sunday, 7/1 > Proverbs 23:26


Just for fun:  Which TV family would you have most liked to have grown up in?  Why?
[The above taken from Proverbs: Uncommon Sense, Session 3]

If families weren't important to God, He would have never created the family nor told Adam and Eve to be fruitful and multiply.  Family dynamics and behaviors are mentioned throughout the Old and New Testaments.  We have examples of righteous, godly families and examples of dysfunctional families in Scripture.  Marriage relationships are outlined in the Scripture and God's intention for the marriage relationship is clear.  Proverbs is filled with verses for husbands/fathers, wives/mothers, and children.  I know that there is no perfect family and many people grow up in homes that are horrific examples of dysfunction, but the Lord has set guidelines and given wisdom in these relationships.  If we study His Word and heed His wisdom and teaching and follow in obedience, we can help pave the road to a better family relationship for our own families to come.  It is especially important for you all at the stage of life you are at now, before entering into marriage, to study and prayerfully seek the Lord for His will, His guidance and wisdom for what kind of husband, wife, father, mother, you should seek to be in Him.  Search out marriage and family relationship books by solid Christian authors before you say I do or are even close to it.  To be forewarned is to be forearmed!  LOL  Seriously though,  look before you leap and take seriously God's ideal for marriage and the family.  It should be a matter of much prayer and conversation with the Lord.  You need to prepare now to become the man or woman God has planned to join to another.  Or if God calls you to singleness, seek Him to fill that place in your heart and life that would be for a mate.  You can create a family of your own even as a single by cultivating relationships with other singles who seek to serve the Lord, being an active part in the lives of children helping them to know the Lord, etc.  Remember that Jesus Christ was single!


Here are some books to check out from Christian authors:
"The 5 Love Languages" by Gary Chapman
"Things I Wish I'd Known Before We Got Married" by Gary Chapman
"His Needs, Her Needs -- Revised and Expanded" by Willard F. Harley Jr.
  Note: David & I had to read "His Needs, Her Needs" as part of our pre-marriage counseling.  I'd read it
  before you get that far even.  Doesn't hurt.
"What the Bible Says about Love, Marriage, & Sex: The Song of Solomon" by Dr. David Jeremiah
"A Handbook for Engaged Couples" by Alice Fryling, robert Fryling
"Love for a Lifetime: Building a Marriage That Will go the Distance, Updated Edition" by Dr. James Dobson
~Any of these, plus many others, can be found at www.christianbook.com or your local Christian bookstore.~


Check out these web sites to read about relationships, singleness, marriage, and families.  Some are for women and some for men, some for all:
http://www.focusonthefamily.com/ -- Focus on the Family
http://www.wholeheart.org/ -- Whole Heart ministries with Sally & Clay Clarkson
http://www.crosswalk.com/ -- Crosswalk a site with devotionals, articles, etc. (on all topics)
http://www.stormieomartian.com/ -- Stormie Omartian  [her books, "The Power of a Praying Husband" and "The Power of a Praying Wife" will open your eyes.  David & I have both read them.]
http://www.garychapman.org/ -- Dr. Gary Chapman: Marriage & Family Life

Alright gang, there it is, plenty to read for Sunday and plenty to contemplate for the future.  The most important that to remember is that the Lord must be the Head of you and your relationship.  A godly relationship takes three: the Lord, you and your significant other.

Have a great week!! ~ Tami