I love samples

I enjoy the samples of food items at Sam's and other stores. You taste before you buy and calories don't count on a sample.
Several times I would go to the Starbucks inside a grocery store and order a latte'. They would have a little bowl of chocolate covered coffee beans there to sample. Loved them.

One day when I went in they had a plate of fruit. Not as good as chocolate but okay. I had one piece and it was so good I was getting another when the lady checking out turned around and said "Are you enjoying my lunch." She bought this fruit at another counter and had set it down to pay for her coffee.  Oops! I didn't know. She didn't see the humor in this. I told her "I am so sorry, let me buy you more." She said kind of huffy, "No thanks" and walked off. I felt bad....but I did get 2 pieces of fruit out of the deal.

"Lord you have assigned me my portion, and my cup, you have made my lot secure" Ps. 16:5
Elizabeth Elliot wrote "I know of no greater simplifier for all of life. Whatever happens is assigned. Every assignment is measured and controlled. As I accept the given portion, other options are cancelled. Decisions become much easier, directions, clearer and my heart quieter. A quiet heart is content with what God gives. Contentment is accepting God's control over all of life's circumstances."

SPRINGTIME

If you need to, bring your cotton balls

We went to a funeral of a sweet Christian lady who was Glen's aunt. The preacher told about a conversation that had taken place between them where she had complained about the music in the services. She asked "Why do we have to have drums and guitars and loud music? All we need is a piano, an organ and hymnbooks." 

The preacher said he answered her with a question. "Do you have grandkids?" She said yes. He asked if she would be willing to listen to this music if it could reach children like her grandkids and get them in church. She answered immediately Yes, I would. Even if I have to bring cotton balls.

Later in the year she couldn't drive to church herself so she got Brian, her grandson to take her. He started staying for church and said he liked the music. He eventually became a Christian. Brian died in a motorcycle accident the year before she died.

 Maybe we all need to be willing to change to reach more for Christ.

"For my Father's will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in Him shall have eternal life and I will raise Him up at that last day." John 6:40

Kung fu Duck

This was our duck, Fred. Fred is dead. Can't say I am sorry. Regardless of being the animal lover that I am, it was time for one of us to go. Fred was fun to be around him for several years, but he got crankier as the years went by. Like some people I have met in life. 

Our romance was over when Fred had started coming up behind you and pecking your leg. It made me mad when he got mine but when he got grandchildren and my older dog, he declared WAR. THEN when he got Glen, he got war. We were in the front yard and he came up behind Glen and got him on bare leg. Glen saw red. He whirled around and kicked at Fred. Instead of backing up, Fred flew up at Glen's face. I took off and landed up on the porch. I wanted a safe place to watch this action. Now, I'll admit I was laughing and I'm sorry (well, I'm not) but this was funny. The next thing Glen did made me cry laughing. Glen assumed a fighting stance--one leg behind the other and arms and fist extended like a kung fu warrior. He started bouncing and moving a little like Ali. I hollared there is a stick behind you. Without taking his eyes off the enemy, my warrior reached behind him and grabbed the stick. Fred suddenly flew at him again. Glen connected with a home run hit. Fred flew backwards for a ways before he hit the ground (didn't know ducks can fly backwards). But he was a smart duck. He left to fight another day. When he rounded the corner his feathers were sticking out everywhere, he was walking a little crooked and was heading for the barn. I clapped for my hero. 

Afternote---We found Fred dead in the yard a few months later, but not from that battle. He was a little nicer his last few months.

Place of Shelter

"Fear and trembling have beset me; horror has overwhelmed me. I said, "Oh, that I had the wings of a dove! I would fly away and be at rest--I would flee far away and stay in the desert; I would hurry to my place of shelter, far from the tempest and storm."

"When darkness seems to hide His face,

 I rest on His unchanging grace.

In every high and stormy gale, 

my anchor holds within in the veil.

A Ride with Wheels

I haven't rode with Glen on his Honda Gold Wing much. But I have come a long way from "I never will" to--"okay I will ride some but I still scared." But I do enjoy it. 

We had one ride this summer that will always be a special memory for the rest of my life. We went with 5 other couples on what started out a small ride to Holly Springs. Walked around a festival and shopped a few stores. The ladies all laughed and each got a press on tattoo. Now these are "older" church ladies. Fun. Didn't want the day to be over so we went to Oxford Ms. Shopped more. Talked of going home but instead went to Sardis Lake. Finally at 8 pm we made it back near home and stopped and ate Mexican.  We all hugged when we left and hated the night to be over. One man came up and hugged Glen then me.

Why is this such a special memory? Because the next day this man was going out to cut his grass and died suddenly from an aneurysm in the lung.

 He and his wife were such a special couple. They both were so much fun and laughed at everything. He led the prayer at our meals. Talked of how they had loved each other since high school. They talked of going the next day to hear their son preach. I keep remember his laughter and love of life.  He never thought the next day, he would be with his Lord. 

His wife had bought a t-shirt at the festival. This is the verse that was on the back.

Psalm 73:26 My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.

This picture was taken a few months before and he had rode with them. They had lost another in their group to cancer.

Life is short and so uncertain.

Finally, A Ride

Wonderful ride. Seventy degrees. It was very muddy but a beautiful day. The winter wheat is in and it is a green that even Crayola crayons can't duplicate. 

Traveling Light

Doesn't it sometimes feel like we have the weight of the world on our shoulders. This tree is standing in our pasture. It is holding the entire weight of the fallen tree. Reminds me the verse in Matt. 11.

"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and burden in light." Matt. 11:28-30.

(Song--Traveling Light)

Well I was doubling over the load on my shoulders

Was a weight I carried with me everyday

Crossing miles of frustrations and rivers a raging

Picking up stones I found along the way

I staggered and I stumbled down; Pathways of trouble

I was hauling those souvenirs of misery

And with each step taken my back was breaking

'Til I found the One who took it all from me

Down by the riverside (Down by the riverside)

I laid my burdens down, Now I'm traveling light

My spirit lifted high I found my freedom now

And I'm traveling light

Choose Joy

"Happiness is like a thermometer. It is external. It is reactive and reads what is going on around it. On the other hand, joy is like a thermostat. It is internal, yet you can set it on "joy". It doesn't matter what is happening in your life, you can choose to have joy because Jesus is in you and He is in control. I have the peace that passes all understanding. No matter what my circumstances are, I have joy."  (quote from 

Dr. Adrian Rogers)

"Let all who take refuge in You be glad, Let them ever sing for joy. Spread your protection over them that those who love Your Name may rejoice in You." Ps. 5:11

It skipped a generation

My daughter is a wonderful person. Great daughter, wife and mom. Just not a horse person. I don't hold that against her. She loves fabric stores, decorating  (Just like my Mom did). But horses make her sneeze. (Fabric stores make me sneeze)
But my granddaughter is a different story--in some ways she is like her mother 

And in other ways she loves animals especially horses like me..

When she comes to our house she begs to get Gracie out to ride. I know how it feels to dream about riding so I usually give in. 

One time when the ride was over she said hold me close to  Gracie. I did and she held Gracie's ear and said "I love you". Then told me "I am full now".
Haven't you ever had a ride that you could say, " I am full now."

My Favorite verse

I know that my Redeemer lives, and that in the end He will stand upon the earth. And after my skin has been destroyed, yet in my flesh I will see God. I myself will see Him with my own eyes—I and not another. How my heart yearns within me! 

Job 19:25-27

A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words

 This picture tells a wonderful story. I asked my aunt what my Granddad was reading while sitting under a peach tree in the yard; she replied “his Bible”. She said she had seen him do this so often, sitting out under a shade tree alone reading the Bible. It humbled me that he would choose his Bible  to relax and spend time reading. I thought of the many hours I have wasted watching the television, playing on a computer or reading a book. 

She recalled when he was saved. My grandmother had been very sick with typhoid fever. He had decided to start going to church because so many people had been praying for them. When an invitation was given at the end of services, whoever had been praying for you would go and stand beside you with their arm around you and pray.  (that would get your attention) During  one revival, there was suddenly shouting and praises. She looked over to where her daddy was sitting and realized everyone was rejoicing because her daddy had just got saved. The whole church was so excited because they had been praying for so long. After he was saved,  he worked and served in a church the rest of his life. 

In our lives we often wonder how something good could come out of sickness and death. But we can’t see the whole picture like our Lord does. We may never know certain reasons why a disaster has happen till we get to Heaven. His Word tells us His ways and thoughts are higher than ours. Perhaps if my grandmother had not been sick, they might not have seen the need to go to church and become Christians. Instead they saw God’s love demonstrated to them by the community around them.  Once they became Christians, they taught their daughters to love the Lord. Their daughter taught me. I taught mine and she is teaching hers. 

"Future generations will be told about the Lord. They will proclaim His righteousness to a people yet unborn." Ps. 22:30b-31


"But the plans of the Lord stand firm forever, the purposes of His heart through all generations." Psalm 33:11

Do You See A Pattern Here?

Does she look sorry?

The Day I was a Hero

I was telling friends this story the other day--I remember it so well.

My daughter and 2 grandchildren and I were in Florida for vacation.
We had been to the beach and come back to the pool before calling it a day.  Both grandchildren had taken swimming lessons and could dog paddle in place but couldn't swim.

We were getting out of the pool and gathering up to go in. I had put on my cover up and flip flops and looked up and my grandson had jumped in the pool and was under. I called out my daughter's name. She turned and said "Mom, he can swim." I thought "yeah right" but she refused to act. I threw down my bag and jumped in clothes, flip flops and all. I grabbed him and held him close to my bosom (well where my bosom should be)..... Then I looked and saw my grandson walking around.  I slowly looked down unto the biggest scared eyes I have ever seen. I had rescued a young boy who had been diving and jumping off the diving board. His looks was one of sheer terror--"Lady, what are you going to do to me." I let him go but he swam quickly away before I could apologize. I hope I didn't traumatize him too much. I squished my way to the side and slowly climbed out. No applause to welcome me, just my daughter's laughter.

Stand Firm

Several times when I am reading my Bible, these words stand out to me. --Stand Firm


"Stand firm and hold on to the teachings we passed on to you." 2 Thess. 2:15
"It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm then and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery." Gal. 5:1
--The way to stand firm is to keep our eyes on Christ, to remember this world is not our home and to focus on the fact that Christ will bring everything under His control (copied).
"So if you think you are standing firm be careful that you don't fall." I Cor. 10:12

"You will stand firm without fear." Job 11:15b--Do you realize that Job endured the entire ordeal without ever knowing he was in the middle of a match between God and Satan. He had no idea of the faith God had shown in him. Don't you think Job would have had a easier time if God had said "Listen son, I know this is horribly painful but something much bigger than you know is at stake here. You stand firm." (from Beth Moore-Believing God)

"Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the Lord will bring you today...The Lord will fight for you ; you need only to be still." Exodus 14: 13---

Four Lessons When Something Bad Has Happen

(copied)

1. Fear not (vs. 3) Do not be afraid

2. Wait--stand firm

3. Be still--the  Lord will fight for you

4. Quit telling everybody-tell God vs 15-"Then the Lord said to Moses 'Why are you crying out to me." 

Allow God to take the lead. God will fight for us. We just need to trust. 

Trust His heart when you can't see His hands.

The Bee Story

Everybody has a story that can make you laugh or shudder. Our bee story makes me and my riding gang do both. We often bring it up and talk about it.

We had been riding several hours already and decided to go to a nearby trail that went around a lake. Now this trail doesn't say-- no horses it simply shows that bikes and hikers are welcome. We went with the "no ask" policy. It didn't take us long to find out that the trail was narrower so your knees were taking a beating and the bridges that crossed the ditches didn't look strong enough for horses. Starting to realize this trail wasnt' exactly "horse friendly."

Our first mishap was trying to cross through a big ditch. It didn't

look that muddy. My cousin's son stepped his horse in it and the horse sunk immediately up to his belly. He stepped off the horse and tried to pull him out but the horse struggled and sunk deeper. I had seen this movie. I started visioning a helicopter and a sling. But evidently we were able to get him out.
So deciding it was time to get out of Dodge, we turn to go back. I learned something. Being third in a trail ride is not a good thing. The first two horses stirred up a nest of bees. Gracie  started jumping around and I thought fire ants at first. Then I saw the swarm. I yelled "BEES". Got their attention. Gracie and I turned and ran back down the trail and they ran the other way. I was being stung repeatedly and so was Gracie. She was jumping and bucking and throwing me up against trees. It was like riding the Walmart bucking horse plugged into a two-twenty outlet. I was finally able to get off her. I led her and we ran some more. One stop I heard my cell phone and grabbed it.

Meanwhile on the other side of the bees, a rodeo was going on also. Two statements were said there that can make us giggle now. One was when one of them was running and leading her horse and she jumped a ditch and the horse almost jumped on her. She turned to another and said, "We are in a real mess here." We repeat those words often. The other was when my cousin finally stopped running  and she turned and saw I wasn't with them. She turned and in her best John Wayne imitation screamed "We've got to go get Breeennda!" My hero. Before she could run her son grabbed her arm and quietly said--"I've got her on the phone." Oh.  But I couldn't talk. The bees had caught up so I ran again, not realizing that I had dropped my phone.  This was going downhill fast.

I finally lost the bees and one of my gang came through the woods to find me. But I still didn't have my phone. So he takes Gracie back and tells his mom to start calling me. I ran back and forth through the woods hearing a ring and running one way then another way.  Finally I found it and walked back down the trail doing a wide berth  where I thought the bees were. I met up with the gang back at the entrance to the trail that doesn't have a sign saying "Horses Welcome"

 So after a seven hour ride, we slowly head home, tired, grumpy and stinging and itching. What a ride!

Be Patient

 I felt about an inch tall. My Dad has Parkinson and he lives alone. We all make daily trips there to care for him. His legs must be wrapped every morning to prevent swelling. Sometimes, especially on Sunday, I wheel around that drive on two wheels and go in like a whirlwind. My Dad's fast gear is gone. Parkinson took that from him. He has to struggle to stand and then remain standing till his legs get the message to move. In medical terms it is called freezing.
 I really don't feel any impatience with this. He is doing everything he can. But there was something simple that happen recently that I learned from. I was bringing him home, had groceries in the car and he was getting his keys out. He was moving them around in his hands and I reached for them. He just quietly said, "I was trying to give you the right key."--What was so important that I had to take keys out of his hand?
"Lord, help me to be wise and patient. Don't let my actions rob Dad of what dignity he has left. He has been such a good Dad and so patient with me all my life."

"Buddy"

We are simple folks, my husband and I. We don't do well with remembering names. So early in our marriage we got a little weanie dog and needed a name for him.  My Dad's favorite horse was named "Buddy" and that is an easy name to remember. Buddy it is.

A few years later, we had a colt born that we raised. Hummmm...Buddy would be easy to remember.

Then we had a daughter born sooo.......naw we aren't that bad.

But that original name has come around again. When we got our new weimariner last summer, we didn't even consider any other name--hey little buddy.

Doesn't it remind you of "this is my brother, Darrel and my other brother Darrel" from the Bob Newhart show.

"Cast Your Cares"

Cast all your cares

My Mom died of cancer last year. A godly woman who shows us how to love and live. She loved her Lord and her family. Going through her Bibles was a joy and a life lesson for my sister and I.

God's Word has a clear path for life and for eternity. Mom's written words illustrated her belief in the Word and her prayers for us.  Through all her personal writing, we found repeatedly this verse-

"Cast all your cares on Him because He cares for you." 

I Peter 5:7

Another verse was

"Cast your cares on the Lord and he will sustain you. He will never let the righteous fall." 

Psalm 55:22. 

Here are a few more treasures that Mom had wrote in her Bible

• We can endure life's wrongs because we know that God will make all things right.
• When you learn to turn your confidence toward God and cast your cares on Him, you can be calm in the mist of Life's demands. 
• In the stillness of the morning, before a busy day, how sweet to be alone with God through His holy Word and prayer--let Christ be first in the your thoughts in the morning and last in your thoughts at night.
• Our character is measured by what we do when no one is looking.
• Before you go to bed turn your worries over to God. He'll be up all night. (Ps. 121:3 "He who watches over you will not slumber.")

She had several prayers wrote in there--here was one 

"Heavenly Father thank you for the love and compassion you show me on a daily basis. Help me to demonstrate that kindness to others."

Mom, you did.

Verses to Start My Morning

"Set your mind on things above not on earthy things." Col. 3:1
"Set a guard over my mouth, O Lord Keep a watch over the door of my lips." Ps. 141:3
"May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight O Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer." Ps. 19:14