"Even The Sparrow Has Found a Home"

"Even the sparrow has found a home, 

and the swallow a nest for herself, 

where she may lay her young--

Even Your altars, O Lord of hosts, My King and My God.  

Blessed are those who dwell in Your house; 

They will still be praising You."  

Psalm 83:3-4

 

I was so blessed and surprised this evening as I sat down in the Secret Garden for little spell, and no sooner had I sat down than this little Chickadee came a calling...

and I do mean literally "calling" for her/his mate.

Not long after I heard the mate responding from the nearby tree.  They were looking me over as if to say, 

"What are YOU doing here in our secret garden hideaway?"

So I just sat very very still and got my camera into position and starting clicking away.

What a blessing!

I was not aware that they were still using this old bird house that sits rather crookedly atop the clothesline post.

 I guess you could say, 

"Be it ever so humble, there's no place like home!"

As we think about this season of Lent, we remember that Jesus also talked about the birds having nests...

(See Luke 9:57-62)

"Now it happened as they journeyed on the road, that someone said to Him, "Lord, I will follow You wherever You go."

And Jesus said to him,

"Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head."

Then He said to another,

"Follow Me."

But he said, "Lord, let me first go and bury my father."

Jesus said to him,

"Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and preach the kingdom of God."

And another also said,

"Lord, I will follow You, but let me first go and bid them farewell who are at my house."

But Jesus said to him, "No one, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God."

Being a disciple of Christ is not for "sissies".  Once a decision is made to follow Christ, 

we may be asked to go places we've never gone before, or to meet people we've never known and may not be too sure we want to know.  We may be asked to leave our families behind and take a leap of faith to go far away and attend Bible College or Seminary, or preach the Gospel to people who speak a language that is foreign to us or have customs that are not familiar to us.  We may never have a house to call our own, and may be asked to live in sub-par housing like this chickadee above.  

I can tell you from personal experience, because we've done this many times over the past 50 years of our married life...when you answer the call of God to follow Him, there's no turning back.  Once you take that step of faith and say "Yes, Lord, I will follow You, ", you may find that you are going places you never dreamed of.  You may say good-bye to loved ones and friends that you will never see again...you may even find that your own children are faced with serious challenges because of your calling...and then you may find that when you are ready to settle down and finally retire, you don't have a nice pension to fall back on or any IRA waiting in the bank, or a nice home to retire in.  I can speak from experience there as well...but one thing I do know, God has never failed us yet.  We have been seriously challenged, we have had to make many moves that were not always pleasant, we've had to depend on others to meet our financial needs when we had not one penny to our names...but JESUS NEVER FAILS.  He has ALWAYS been with us no matter where we went or what we were doing.  Even when it appeared that we had lost our way and were off course for a while...God was there, healing our wounds, soothing our troubled brows, and whispering words of love in our ears...even when we couldn't love ourselves.  Yes, following Jesus, even though He had "nowhere to lay His head", has been the very best decision we have ever made in our lives.  I am so glad that early in our marriage God got a hold of our hearts and called us into His kingdom so that we could serve Him for the rest of our lives.  We sang this little hymn so often, with real meaning and commitment:

Please listen carefully to this message with the song attached below...

I never heard this story before in connection with this song, but in reading the comments below the video, I see many who testify that this is true.  Thankfully, we did not have to sacrifice our family in this way as this missionary did, and I wonder if I could have had such faith in the face of such terror, and I must say I am thankful that God did not allow us to be put to that extreme test.  But we were tested and tried in many ways throughout the years, some that have left scars in our family.  Again, God is faithful, and He has carried us through, and I can still sing this song with all sincerity:

I have decided to follow Jesus;

I have decided to follow Jesus;

I have decided to follow Jesus;

No turning back, no turning back.

2. Tho' none go with me, I still will follow,

Tho' none go with me I still will follow,

Tho' none go with me, I still will follow;

No turning back, no turning back.

3. The world behind me, the cross before me,

The world behind me, the cross before me;

The world behind me, the cross before me;

No turning back, no turning back.

So, during this season of Lent...have you decided "To Follow Jesus...No turning back, no turning back?"  I can assure you it will be well worth the journey.  

Hymn for the Day - A Song for Lent

Good Morning!  As we continue along in our journey through the Lenten season in preparation for the remembrance of Christ's ultimate sacrifice on the cross on our behalf, I would like to revisit this post from many years ago.  Praying that it will be a blessing to you today as well...


Original Post 3/11/2011:

I love to sing the old hymns of the faith...and I want to keep them alive for future generations.  This morning in my devotional time with my husband, we focused on this old hymn as a prayer:

"Out of my bondage, sorrow, and night,

Jesus, I come, Jesus I come;

Into Thy freedom, gladness, and light,

Jesus, I come to Thee;

Out of my sickness into Thy health,

Out of my want and into Thy wealth,

Out of my sin and into Thyself,

Jesus, I come to Thee.

Out of my shameful failure and loss,

Jesus, I come, Jesus, I come;

Into the glorious gain of Thy cross,

Jesus, I come to Thee;

Out of earth's sorrows into Thy balm,

Out of life's storms and into Thy calm,

Out of distress to jubilant psalm,

Jesus, I come to Thee.

Out of unrest and arrogant pride,

Jesus, I come, Jesus, I come;

Into Thy blessed will to abide,

Jesus, I come to Thee;

Out of myself to dwell in Thy love,

Out of despair into raptures above,

Upward for aye on wings like a dove,

Jesus, I come to Thee.

Out of the fear and dread of the tomb,

Jesus, I come, Jesus, I come;

Into the joy and light of my home,

Jesus, I come to Thee;

Out of the depths of ruin untold,

Into the peace of Thy sheltering fold,

Ever Thy glorious face to behold,

Jesus, I come to Thee."

Written by William T. Sleeper, 1819-1904

Wow! Doesn't that hymn speak to you?  This is one of those songs that we often would sing as a prayer of commitment and surrender at the close of a church service.  Even though these words were penned by the composer over one hundred years ago, they are still applicable and powerful to me today.

During this Lenten Season, rather than focus on what you are giving up, why not consider what new insights you can glean from God's Word, the faithful messages found in the hymns of our faith, and other devotional writings as God leads you.  Then, share those thoughts with others throughout your day...whether by email, Facebook, notes written in cards, or by word of mouth in your conversations with friends and loved ones. If we could manage to share a word of encouragement and hope with another person each day, what a difference there would be in our world!

Have a glorious day...and give someone a real hug today.  God bless you real good! (((((HUGS)))))



3/10/2019:  Note to my friends:  I discovered some very unpleasant comments on a few of my recent blogs this morning (spam), so am now using comment moderation.  I will try to get back to each comment as soon as possible. I apologize if anyone happened to see any of those spam messages before I was able to delete them.  Hopefully this will help. I notice that many others of our friends are also having to use comment moderation.     Have a blessed day my friends, and I will catch up with you later as I must get ready for  Sunday School and Church now.

Sermon Notes: Here I Am, Lord

Isaiah 6:8

"Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying:

"Whom shall I send,

and who will go for Us?"

Then I said, "Here am I! Send me."

We sang the following song as a hymn today at church, and it was all I could do to get through the whole song without choking up and crying...

"Here I am Lord"

I, the Lord of sea and sky, I have heard My people cry. All who dwell in dark and sin, My hand will save. I who made the stars of night, I will make their darkness bright. Who will bear My light to them? Whom shall I send? Here I am Lord, Is it I Lord? I have heard You calling in the night. I will go Lord, if You lead me. I will hold Your people in my heart. I, the Lord of wind and flame, I will tend the poor and lame. I will set a feast for them, My hand will save Finest bread I will provide, Till their hearts be satisfied. I will give My life to them, Whom shall I send? Here I am Lord, Is it I Lord? I have heard You calling in the night. I will go Lord, if You lead me. I will hold Your people in my heart.

The disciples were crouched in fear in the upper room...waiting for whatever would come next...fearful that they would soon be the ones to be killed for their relationship with Christ...and then...

A sealed tomb could not hold Jesus in...a locked door could not keep Jesus out...Suddenly everything changed...Jesus appeared in the locked room after His crucifixion and resurrection...He said to them, "Peace be with you." (John 20:19)  Jesus Christ had conquered death...He conquered their fear...and He gave them a job to do...and He gave us, His followers a job to do as well...

John 20:21

"So Jesus said to them again,

"Peace to you!

As the Father has sent Me,

I also send you."

But we are not expected to follow Jesus alone...

John 20:22

"And when He had said this, 

He breathed on them, and said to them,

"Receive the Holy Spirit."

Jesus breathed the Holy Spirit onto the disciples that day...equipping them for service and for all of the things that were yet to come...and Jesus Christ has also breathed His Holy Spirit upon us, filling us with His very Presence...giving us all of the gifts and tools that we need to go forward into the world in His Name...He goes with us...we are not alone.

So, what's next, Lord?  I've been at this place before...many times...and whenever I (we...hubby and I are a team, but You know this already, Lord) heard You calling "in the night", I/we responded, "Here I am, Lord."  And You always took me/(us) at my word, and there was always "a plan"... so, again, here we are, Lord...You know we are retired, right? I have a feeling that is something that is an advantage for You, Lord...not a disadvantage...so...what's next, Lord? 

"Here I am Lord, Is it I Lord? I have heard You calling in the night. I will go Lord, if You lead me. I will hold Your people in my heart."

Stay tuned for further developments...

God always has a plan...

Sermon notes from FUMC Interlachen, April 22, 2018, Pastor A.C. Myers

Precious Promises

Psalm 36:7-8

7.  "How precious is Your lovingkindness, O God!

Therefore the children of men put their trust 

under the shadow of Your wings.

Sand Hill Crane Family Portrait

8.  They are abundantly satisfied with the fullness of Your house, 

and You give them drink from the river of Your pleasures.

Psalm 37:1-2

1.  "Do not fret because of evildoers,

Nor be envious of the workers of iniquity,

2.  For they shall soon be cut down like the grass,

and wither as the green herb."

 (aftermath of the little storm that went through here Sunday afternoon)

Psalm 37:3-5

3."Trust in the Lord and do good;

Dwell in the land, 

and feed on His faithfulness.

4.  Delight yourself also in the Lord,

And He shall give you the desires of your heart.

5.  Commit your way to the Lord,

Trust also in Him,

And He shall bring it to pass."

(Family visiting with our grandson Noah and his girlfriend, who came all the way from Maine to see us on their spring break.) (Note: Noah is our only grandchild, the son of our son Matthew who entered heaven's gates almost four years ago. Noah will graduate high school this June...and we are so very proud of the young man he is becoming.  We know his daddy would be very proud as well. )

"Consecrated, Lord to Thee" - Revisited

(This is a repost from 4/10/2016...so some things have changed...but not this message...and I think it is a great message to share one week after Easter...Has Easter made any difference in our lives? Are we more "Consecrated, Lord to Thee?" than before?  If not, maybe it's a good time to review this little song and the message it brings to our hearts.  May this season after Easter lead us into a closer walk with our Lord after all He has done for us...)

Original Post 4/10/2016:

We sang an old hymn this morning in our Home Bible Fellowship...and I was surprised that not many of our small group were familiar with this song...

"Take my life, and let it be 

Consecrated, Lord, to Thee.

Take my moments and my days,

Let them flow in ceaseless praise,

Let them flow in ceaseless praise.

Take my hands, and let them move

At the impulse of Thy love.

Take my feet, and let them be

swift and beautiful for Thee,

Swift and beautiful for Thee.

Take my voice, and let me sing

Always, only for my King.

Take my lips, and let them be

filled with messages from Thee,

Filled with messages from Thee.

Take my silver and my gold,

Not a mite would I withhold.

Take my intellect, and use

every power as Thou shalt choose,

Every power as Thou shalt choose.

Take my will and make it Thine;

It shall be no longer mine.

Take my heart; it is Thine own;

It shall be Thy royal throne,

It shall be Thy royal throne.

Take my love; my Lord, I pour

at Thy feet its treasure store.

Take myself, and I will be

Ever, Only, all for Thee,

Every, Only, all for Thee."

Amen

Written by Frances R. Havergal, 1836-1879.

Here is a link to a worship version of this song that I think you will enjoy singing along with me.

Do you know what it means to be "Consecrated, Lord, to Thee"?  

Consecration:

"Most often used in a religious context,consecration is the act of dedicating something to God, sanctifying it and making it holy. "

In this case..."Take my LIFE , and let it be consecrated, Lord, to Thee." Therefore, I am asking that my whole life be dedicated to the Lord...set apart for His service...made holy by God's Holy Spirit...My moments and my days...flowing in ceaseless praise! My hands and feet...my voice, my lips, my silver and gold, my very mind and intellect...my WILL...my HEART, and my LOVE...my very SELF...ever, only all for THEE!

Quite a tall order...but when I think of all that Christ has done for me...how He gave His WHOLE LIFE so that I might be forgiven of my sins and have everlasting life...is it really such a tall order? No, rather, it is my joy and privilege to dedicate my life to serving and loving and PRAISING HIM..."Ever, Only, all for Thee!"

How about you?  Have you ever...could you ever...would you ever...ask God to "Take my life and let it be CONSECRATED, Lord to Thee"?  It's a big step...but one that has eternal rewards...and joy everlasting. 

Weekly Sermon Notes..."He Did It For Us"

This week's passage picks up from where we left off last week in Mark 15, continuing with Mark 15:15-29, which is the actual crucifixion of Christ...from the time of being crowned with thorns, being clothed with purple (for royalty) and being mocked, struck on the head with a reed and spat upon...then being led to Golgotha, with Simon the Cyrenian carrying his cross for him...and then being crucified on that cross between two robbers.  This passage stops there, just prior to the gruesome details of His actual death.

(Free Internet Photo)

Without going into all the details, I would like to share with you some of the highlights that stood out for me...and perhaps you can apply these scriptures and thoughts to your own life as well...

1.  As Jesus is crowned with thorns, mocked and treated with such scorn we see that He knows what it means to feel small...to be humiliated...  When we feel small, humiliated and scorned, we know that Jesus has already been there...He knows how we feel...He can truly feel our pain.

2.  Jesus volunteered to take the punishment that was meant for you and me...He willingly suffered the shame and humiliation...He literally died for me.  How many others do you know who willingly died for you...suffered for you, so that you would not have to endure such pain and sorrow?

3.  While Jesus hung on the cross the disciples fled...wondering who would be next...
     Judas betrayed him for 30 pieces of silver...Peter denied him three times...Pilate washed his hands...

4.  We have all been guilty of such things...we have all been broken and in need of forgiveness...
Romans 5:8 tells us :

  "But God demonstrates His own love toward us, 

in that while we were still sinners,

Christ died for us."

"Christianity is the only religion where the leader took the punishment for His followers on the cross..."

"Jesus took the Roman instrument of torture and transformed it to an instrument of deliverance..."

Jesus stood up for us on that day, when He went to the cross in our place...

Isaiah 53:3-6

3.  "He is despised and rejected by men,

A Man of sorrows and acquainted with grief.

And we hid, as it were, our faces from Him;

He was despised, and we did not esteem Him.

4.  Surely He has borne our griefs

and carried our sorrows;

Yet we esteemed Him stricken, 

smitten by God, and afflicted.

5.  But He was wounded for our transgressions,

He was bruised for our iniquities;

The chastisement for our peace was upon Him,

and by His stripes we are healed.

6.  All we like sheep have gone astray;

We have turned, every one, to his own way;

And the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all."

What am I supposed to do with this knowledge?  I can never repay Christ for all He has done for me.

There is one thing I can do...I can share the love of Christ with everyone I meet...I can share His story of love and sacrifice and salvation wherever I go...

I can live for Him Who died for me...

During this service we sang the following old hymn.  My husband remarked to me later that this song brought back such memories for him, and I responded back to him that it did for me also...so many years ago we sang this song and committed out lives to serve God, and we have striven to do so ever since. It just seems that since we've retired, our "service" has been limited...but our heart is still there.  Living for Jesus doesn't stop when we retire...it is a life long commitment that carries us into heaven.

Living for Jesus

By Thomas O. Chisholm

1. Living for Jesus, a life that is true,
   Striving to please Him in all that I do;
   Yielding allegiance, glad-hearted and free,
   This is the pathway of blessing for me.
   • Refrain:
     O Jesus, Lord and Savior, I give myself to Thee,
     For Thou, in Thy atonement, didst give Thyself for me;
     I own no other Master, my heart shall be Thy throne;
     My life I give, henceforth to live, O Christ, for Thee alone.
2. Living for Jesus Who died in my place,
   Bearing on Calv’ry my sin and disgrace;
   Such love constrains me to answer His call,
   Follow His leading and give Him my all.
3. Living for Jesus, wherever I am,
   Doing each duty in His holy Name;
   Willing to suffer affliction and loss,
   Deeming each trial a part of my cross.
4. Living for Jesus through earth’s little while,
   My dearest treasure, the light of His smile;
   Seeking the lost ones He died to redeem,
   Bringing the weary to find rest in Him.
5. 
   

   Refrain:

   O Jesus, Lord and Savior, I give myself to Thee,

   For Thou, in Thy atonement, didst give Thyself for me;

   I own no other Master, my heart shall be Thy throne;

   My life I give, henceforth to live, O Christ, for Thee alone.
6. 
   

(I had a hard time finding a good video of this song, but at least this one has all the words with music.)

Question for me and for you:  What will YOU do with this message?  Will you share Christ's love with everyone you meet?  Will you live for Him, Who gave His life for you?

Sermon notes and thoughts are based on the message given at FUMC, Interlachen, Florida, Pastor A.C. Myers 3/11/18

Fill My Cup (Renewed)

1/20/2018:  This post was originally written on 1/2/2013.  I wish my poinsettias still looked like these...long gone from various years of frosts and freezes...and I wish I still had that cute little cup bird feeder that a friend had given me for Christmas that year, but it met with an unfortunate accident...I keep meaning to make another one like it...maybe this year? But the message below...that's what I wanted to share with you...it just blessed me as I re-read it and thought it was worth renewing for sharing again today.  Sometimes I just run out of words and new things to say, and God takes me back to the beginning and reminds me where I came from...and how far I've come...Thank you, Jesus!!

Original Post: 1/2/2013:

"I will take up the cup of salvation, and call upon the name of the Lord."

Psalm 116:13

When I was a young woman fresh out of high school I had the opportunity to serve as a counselor at our church youth camp.  I spent the whole summer there...trying to become a guide or role model for younger teenaged girls when I was barely a year or two older than they were...and not a whole lot more experienced in the ways of the world or the Lord. I still had so much to learn...and it seemed as though that summer was just the beginning of my real journey into things of the Spirit. 

One memory that has stood out in my heart and mind ever since that summer was a song that became our theme song.  We would sing it at local churches on the weekend in between camps...and it's message carried over into my own personal life and walk with the Lord.  To this day, some 45  50!!!!  (in 2018) years later (Oh my goodness, can it be??? ) this song still evokes memories of that summer...primarily memories of when I fully began to understand what it meant to commit my heart and life to Christ. That summer was the beginning of a life time of service and growth...still growing today.  

Here it is...perhaps it will spark some memories or thoughts of commitment in your heart and mind as well:

"Like the woman at the well I was seeking

For things that could not satisfy;

And then I heard my Savior speaking:

'Draw from My well that never shall run dry.'

Chorus:

Fill my cup, Lord,

I lift it up, Lord!

Come and quench this thirsting of my soul;

Bread of heaven,

Feed me 'til I want no more--

Fill my cup, fill it up

and make me whole!"

There are millions in this world who are craving

The pleasure earthly things afford;

But none can match the wondrous treasure

That I find in Jesus Christ my Lord.

(Chorus)

So, my brother (sister!), if the things this world gave you

Leave hungers that won't pass away,

My blessed Lord will come and save you,

If you kneel to Him and humbly pray:

Chorus:

Fill my cup, Lord,

I lift it up, Lord!

Come and quench this thirsting of my soul;

Bread of heaven,

Feed me 'til I want no more--

Fill my cup, fill it up

and make me whole!"

"Fill My Cup, Lord", by Richard Blanchard, 1959.

My "One Word" and theme for 2013 is  (was):

“presence”

Seeking god’s

Presence

In the ordinary

And

Extraordinary

Places of my life

In 2013

On this 2nd day of the new year, I felt God's PRESENCE in looking at this cup that was a gift to me at Christmas...meant to be a little bird feeder...but it reminded me of holding up my cup to the Lord and asking Him to fill it with Himself.  That is how I want to start the New Year...filled with His divine  “Presence”.  How about you?  Want to join me on this extraordinary journey into the PRESENCE of Christ?  Let's go.   Lift your cup up to Him...He will fill it with His love, His Spirit, and His Presence. What a marvelous way to begin anew.

"Fill My Cup, Lord!" 
John 4:7-29







My "Way"...or "His Way"?...Which Will It Be? Repost 10-14-15

This was originally posted back in July of 2010.  As I re-read it yesterday, I realized that it is still a message that I needed to read again...and I thought perhaps you might appreciate it as well.

Sing along with this old familiar hymn "Have Thine Own Way", as sung by Jim Reeves 

I still love the old hymns...there is so much meaning in these words.

Jeremiah 18:6...."Can I not do with you as this potter?" says the Lord, "Look, as the clay is in the potter's hand, so are you in My hand..."

Those of us who are familiar with the old hymns will remember one of my favorites..."Have Thine Own Way, Lord, Have Thine own way! Thou art the Potter, I am the clay.  Mold me and make me after Thy will, while I am waiting yielded and still."  If I could have a nickel for every time I've sung that song over the past __ years, I might be able to retire...  I can remember singing it as a child, and not fully comprehending what I was singing, but I liked to play with clay, so it made me think about shaping things and playing with them.  Then again as a teen-ager we used to sing this in our youth group as a song of commitment...and I began to have an inkling of what it meant to be "yielded and still", waiting for God to show me what I was supposed to do with my life. 

As I became an adult, I found myself still singing this song, as I asked the Master to "search me and try me..and to wash me whiter than snow...as I humbly knelt in His presence...and I kept asking Him to "mold me and make me" after His will. I knew that I was not yet complete...I was still in need of more reshaping...of my mind, my heart, and my spirit.  It's still an ongoing activity...still incomplete...

Now in my later years I sing, "Have Thine own way, Lord, have Thine own way...Wounded and weary, help me I pray! Power - all -power-surely is Thine! Touch me and heal me, Savior Divine!...and as I yield myself to Him and wait on His leading, He heals and restores my weary and wounded mind, heart, and spirit. 

My prayer now as I approach these "golden years" is that God will still have His own way in my life...that He will "hold o'er my being absolute sway!" I pray that He will fill me with His Spirit..."till ALL shall see -- Christ only, always, living in me!"

You know, if we could make this little song our prayer every day...and truly mean what we say... what a difference it could make in how we approach life...and how we respond to the approach of others who may come into our lives... WOW!  "Have Thine Own Way, Lord!"  (Adelaide A. Pollard, 1862-1934)

I've Got Writer's Slump

Ok, So I admit it...I'm in a slump...a rut...a dry spot in the road.  I've got nothing to say. I'm feeling kind of blue, out of sorts, frustrated, lost. Can't seem to find my groove. My life seems to have hit a detour, I must have made a wrong turn somewhere.  I'm in a daze, fumbling around in a haze.  And it's not even purple.  (does that even make sense?)

Have you ever been there? Do you know what this feels like? Can you help me find my way back home?

No, don't panic.  I haven't gone off the deep end (yet).  I don't think I'm depressed...(well, maybe just a little).  I'm sure I'm not suicidal or homicidal, so don't run for your lives. (yet) ( lol)  

I've just hit a bump in the road and it's thrown me a little off kilter.  No, nothing horrendous has happened, I'm not having a mid-life crisis (it's too late for that...I'm way past mid-life). My husband isn't having a mid-life crisis (been there, done that).  My kids aren't doing anything unusual or weird (that I know of at the present time).  I don't have any major illnesses or diseases (again, that I know of), and I'm still taking my hormones on schedule.

I don't do drugs (maybe I should?) (just kidding)  I don't drink, I don't smoke. I don't chew.   I am a total tea-totaler...(I love tea...hot, iced, herbal, full-bodied, English, Irish, Lipton)

I love Jesus, He loves me.  I love my husband and my family. They love me.  My father is almost 93, and he is showing signs of "signing off" from this life.  I'm trying to prepare myself for that reality.  My mother in law is 87 and has come to live with us, and is having some physical and emotional issues that are creating a bit of stress, and I am trying to adjust.  My middle son (he calls himself "Number Two"), has a very rare and aggressive cancer,  (age 38, married, with one son), but at the present time appears to be in a kind of remission, although not officially called that. According to his oncologist he is doing remarkably well.  So I am relieved and very thankful. My oldest son lives at home with us and needs a  job, but he's been such a help to us I almost hate to see him go out and get a job.  My youngest son is doing fine and hasn't needed our help for a while, so that is a positive sign.  I've survived a full year at a new job that started out very stressful, but has become more manageable and I think I actually know what I am doing. (well, sometimes). 

I say I am a writer.  I haven't exactly written a book , but I have written enough to become a book, if anyone is interested enough to read it. Maybe someday it will actually be a book...If I ever get over this writer's slump I'm in, that is.

Maybe I need to do what Jesus told His disciples in Matthew 16:24-26

"If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.  For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for MY sake will find it.  for what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul?  Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?"  

Lord, I re-commit my life, my soul, and my desires to YOU.  My dreams, my hopes, my expectations...they all are placed in YOUR capable hands.  I surrender them ALL to YOU.  I have no desire for world wide fame or power.  I simply desire to follow YOU...and I give my life to YOU.  That includes my writer's slump and my feelings of frustration and being lost in the haze of this life.  Thank you for what YOU are going to do in my life, and through my life, from this day forward.  Amen.

Now, I am trying to decide, should I post this on my regular blog? Or should I post it on the one where I can actually earn a buck or two if anyone likes it well enough to vote for it?  What would YOU do? Hmmm, wherever this ends up will tell you what I decided.  At any rate, I found something to write about. (Thank you, Lord.)