Don't put off until tomorrow....

Have I ever mentioned I am a world class procrastinator? Well, I am! It's not something I'm proud of, mind you! It just seems I keep putting things off. Not the real important things like laundry, or cooking and dishes...but the little things. Papers piling up, minor mending that needs to be done, or pressing that blouse that I rarely wear, but would look nice with a particular skirt and would give me a different outfit to wear once in awhile.

Don't we all do this to a certain extent? Some of us just make a bigger habit of it than others.

The one thing I put off too long has caused me much grief for the past two years! Tuesday, the 5th, was the 2nd anniversary of my brother's unexpected death. I have gone over and over in my mind the past two years all the times I could have picked up the phone and called him. All the things I wish I had said to him. The birthdays when I didn't send a card. I loved him so much, but was so "busy" with my own things....I just put off staying in touch with him more. It wasn't like we never saw each other or talked, but we just didn't do it enough. We were so close when we were growing up and...then we grew up....we both had our families and traveled in different directions. We had different interests...our children had different interests and we were just busy. Now I would give anything to just hear his voice....hear the silly giggle he had...hear him say, " Hey Sis...how're you doin?"
My life is richer because of him. After losing him I am also more aware of things I used to take for granted. And I pray I never take anyone or anything for granted again!

So to you, my little brother....I love you, miss you, think of you every day and am counting down the days until I see you again!! You were the best brother anyone ever had!

Jerry Wymon Moses - 6/27/51- 2/5/06

One Woman's Opinion

I came across this article ( see below) in a paper my husband gets called " Pulpit Helps", and haven't been able to get it off my mind. I have to tell you that I am troubled by some of the things I see going on in our churches these days in the name of religion and worship. I know worship comes in different forms. Some people raise their hands and praise God in services...I have no problem with that. Many churches have testimony services...don't have a problem with that either...some sing hymns...others praise and worship songs...I love both! However, there are things going on and people with attitudes about who Jesus is and how we ought to worship that are not scriptural.

So many times I see so little reverence in churches and among God's people.

God is holy...He is not a " good old boy" the way some people would like to portray Him. He's there for us 24 hours a day, but many seem to be misled or misunderstand that He is still the God of the universe. He is still holy.

I have a problem with the "head banging" ( so called Christian rock) music that many of our youth are listening to. I taught the youth class at our church for several years and this is what I told them about their music. ....If it appeals to the flesh I can't see where it would be of God. If it appeals to the spirit...then yes, I would say it is from God. God teaches us to be different from the world. If you walk like a duck, and quack like a duck...then you must be a duck. I want to walk and talk like Jesus. I want to be different than the people who associate themselves with the things of this world. I know He loves us even when we're not so lovable ( which, many times, is pretty often), but we are to strive to be like Him.

Jesus is my Savior...and yes, my friend. But when I think of Him and all He did for me at Calvary and all He does for me each day of my life...I want to fall at His feet and worship Him...He's my friend, but He's not my buddy. I love Him and adore Him and worship him! He is worthy of all honor and praise! Let's give Him our very best!

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JESUS IS NOT JUST A BUDDY

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We are living in a day when men think they can rush into the presence of God and treat the Lord Jesus as if He is just a buddy. May I say to you that He is high and holy and lifted up. If He should appear in your church next Sunday morning, nobody would rush up to Him, nobody would become familiar with Him. Everybody would go down on their faces before Him. That is the picture the Word of God gives. No one was as close to Him on earth as was His disciple, John. John would come to Him and make suggestions. The Lord Jesus never asked for advice, nor did He follow man's advice, but John was there to give it. Then in the Upper Room, John even reclined on His bosom. He was familiar with Him. But, my friend, when he saw the glorified Christ on the Isle of Patmos, he fell at His feet as if dead( Rev. 1:17) He did not rush into His presence.

You and I deal with a holy God.

From Isaiah -His Call and Commission

by J. Vernon McGee~Thru the Bible Radio

It's that time again....you know what I'm talking about!! Yep! New Year's Resolutions! But guess what!? I stopped making them long ago. Why, you ask? Because I never keep them, that's why!

This subject was brought up in our Sunday School class yesterday. The question was asked " What is the main resolution most people make?" You guessed it, I bet! Losing weight! Well, you all can see my pretty little bear here, can't you? This is what I tell my hubby ( and even told my doctor! once...LOL). That's my story and I'm sticking to it!!

Finally back to my blogging...

Been gone a long time I know! I had just barely gotten this blog up and going when, as my last post said, I had to begin helping my mom take care of my dad. Then on September 4 we had to admit him to one of our local hospice homes. He was there exactly 5 weeks when he died on October 9. It was a daily struggle for him and for us as well. I don't think there was a day that he didn't tell us he wanted to die. He questioned the drs. and nurses as to why he couldn't just die. His body was worn out and he was so miserable. I prayed every day we were there that God would just call him home. But things don't always go the way we want them to. God has His own timing in everything.

It has been a hard stuggle for my mom as she has dealt with being alone now. The holidays have been especially hard for her. I would say that they have been for me as well, but I would be lying. It was a great relief and blessing for me that he was finally at peace. That may sound strange to some, but when someone you love is that sick and has suffered for any length of time, I truthfully believe that deep inside you have to be happy for them if they were a Christian and prepared to meet God.

So as a tribute to my dad and others who are spending their first Christmas with their Heavenly Father , I want to share a poem that was shared with me. I don't know the author, but if anyone reading this does, if you'll let me know, I'll be glad to give credit to them.

My First Christmas In Heaven

I see the countless Christmas trees around the world below

With tiny lights, like Heaven's stars, reflecting on the snow.

The sight is so spectacular, please wipe away the tear

For I am spending Christmas with Jesus Christ this year.

I hear the many Christmas songs that people hold so dear

But the sounds of music can't compare with the Christmas choir up here.

I have no words to tell you, the joy their voices bring,

For it is beyond description, to hear the angels sing.

I know how much you miss me, I see the pain inside your heart

But I am not so far away, We really aren't apart.

So be happy for me, dear ones, You know I hold you dear

And be glad I'm spending Christmas with Jesus Christ this year.

I sent you each a special gift, from my heavenly home above

I sent you each a memory of my undying love.

After all, love is a gift more precious than pure gold

It was always most important in the stories Jesus told.

Please love and keep each other, as my Father said to do

For I can't count the blessings or love he has for each of you.

So have a Merry Christmas and wipe away that tear

Remember, I am spending Christmas with Jesus Christ this year.

I pray you've all had a blessed Christmas and will have an even better new year!

I don't like change....

Call me dull...boring...set in my ways! But I don't like change. But God uses different things in our lives to bring about growth and to keep us on our knees! I'm at that place in my life where I'm

" changing places" with my parents! My dad is in the last stages of his life after battling with heart disease for more than 25 years. Open heart surgery, 3 heart attacks, and 3 pacemakers in all of those years. Now he's pretty much bedfast. So....I am closing down my daycare to help my mom take care of him.

I have been doing daycare for the most of the last 30 years and it will be difficult to not have children around me every day Monday through Friday. But, I really don't have a choice at this point. With my brother's death last year , I'm all they have left. It's not that I don't love them or don't want to take care of them. I just hate losing my kids and I love being at home. I'm an introvert, I guess you might say. I prefer keeping to myself alot. Not to the point of it being unhealthy. I do love being around other people as well. My parents, my kids and grandkids, the people in our church, and most of all my husband. I just love being in my own home.

But they need me right now. They've always been there for me, and now I want to be there for them. And....if my mom doesn't have some help she'll soon be down and then I'll have both of them to take care of...which will probably mean the nursing home. And I don't want that to happen if we can aviod it.

So...change is necessary at this point. And I'll deal with it. God will give me the grace and strength I need to face each day. He has never failed me. I trust Him with everything I have and every member of my family. I don't know what tomorrow holds, but I do know Who holds tomorrow!

Whew! Busy week!

But a good week! We had our " Save the Planet" Crusade with Jamey Ragle! He is sooooooo good! If you're reading this ( I feel like I'm talking to myself here all the time) and you ever have the opportunity to hear this man take it! He is so blessed by God with the ability to communicate to others the truths of God's Word! Especially the youth. And can do it quite comically, too. We had a three night crusade and I was wishing it could have gone on all week( even as tired as I was).

Then yesterday my mom calls and says my dad seems to be getting worse. He has battled heart disease for more than 20 yrs. now and is going downhill pretty quickly the past few months. He had the new pacemaker/defibrilator put in in March and it has been a downhill battle ever since. But he did want some fish yesterday and his appetite seems to still be pretty good. Husband and I went by the fish and steak house and got plates for him, my mom and the two of us. He seemed to really enjoy his. Then I took my mom to the drugstore for refills on their meds and she needed to do grocery shopping as well, so we did that, too. Husband stayed with my dad. We'll be going back over this afternoon to check on them and do a few more things for them. We've got to figure out how to rearrange their living room furniture so my mom can order a hospital bed for him. It will help her that she won't have to be pulling on him to help him get in and out of bed.

We've been getting lots of peas from the garden. I've put 78 bags in the freezer. That will be more than enough for us. Took some to 2 of our ladies in the church. There are some that need picking this morning, but husband is gone with our youngest son to pick up a dog and I have far too much to do inside the house today. We've offered them to some of the neighbors, but they don't want to pick them, so I guess they'll just dry up. Nah.....husband will most likely get out there when he gets back and pick them to give to someone.

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Isaiah 41:10~ Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.

The Lord's Day!

I love Sundays and being able to gather with other believers in God's House! My pastor husband brought a wonderful message this morning entitled " Is Your All on the Altar?" . His scripture reading was from Romans 12:1 - " I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service."

Do we even consider that God holds our very breath in His hands? What kinds of sacrifices are we willing to make to see the Kingdom of God move forward?

As my dh preached this morning....God wants our 'firstfruits' not our 'leftovers'. He wants first place in our lives. He must come before husband, wife, children, mother, father, brother, sisters....serving Him must come before attending that family reunion, or Sunday dinner at Grandma's. When revival efforts are going on in your church, He must come before that tv program you would like to stay home and watch. When it comes time to go back for the Sunday night services, forget that skiing trip you had planned!

We have 6 days a week....more than 300 days a year that we can do the things we enjoy. There are 144 hours in a week. Surely we can sacrifice 5 or 6 of those to attend the Sunday morning, evening and mid week services in the church of our choice. Surely we can sacrifice 30 minutes or an hour a day for personal Bible study and prayer. Surely out of the 24,365 hours we have in a year we can take a few minutes here and there to speak to someone about their eternal destiny.

He took a beating and sacrificed His own life so that we might have a way to spend eternity with Him one day. We can't work for our salvation, but when we become a child of the King, we can surely let Him know how much we love Him by serving Him faithfully!

Remember ....He gave the very best thing He had....his own precious Son...so that you might escape the horrors of hell. Give Him the best of yourself! When you fail to serve Him with all your heart, soul, and mind, you break His heart.

A pastor gets discouraged when every message God gives him seems to fall on deaf ears. You expect your pastor to be faithful in the calling God has placed on his life. You have a calling on yours as well. Step up and place your all on the altar. Be all that He calls you to be! He loves you so much!!

God bless you as you serve him!