It Is Finished

My neighbor, passed last night, after only a few hours at home.  That's where she wanted to be and they brought her home.  It's hard to accept and I'm only a neighbor, but when that final time comes, it's very harsh on all who are near.  I will miss waving to her, when I drive by, and pray that her family will find comfort in the fact that she no longer is in pain.  Now, they must find ways to move forward, in life and accomplish goals that she hoped they would.  
So long, neighbor.....RIP

Something Beautifullllll

2018

As we search our thoughts about, this past year and remind ourselves of things, gone by. Let us also look forward to the coming year with hope and love in our hearts, as we reach a milestone and move on to another. Remember the one's we've lost and the one's yet to come, for our future depends on the new one's that come to us from now on. God bless you all and may you have wonderful peace, this coming year, no matter what we may face.
God's peace and love to you my friends and readers.......
Nita

Everywhere, Lately

Lately, it seems so many a passing on to their Heavenly home.  Many have passed, but not to a Heavenly home, because they just didn't know the Lord, or even care to.
We've lost one of our personal family members, and there are many who also have lost family members. 
In the last few days, the news has reported close to 10+ deaths of individuals, who are known nationwide/worldwide, in one fashion or another.  It is my wonder, whether our Lord is ridding or rescuing the one's he is taking from this world?
As I look at the recent list of those who have passed, I see one or two, who may have not lived well enough to become a citizen of Heaven.  Sad is the word, that can only be used, since many of us are glad, these people are no longer with us. 
Sad, is the word we use when looking at the reason some others passed.  Be it health matters, or just passing because it was their time to go.
Utmost condolences, go to family, friends and coworkers involved in these people's live.  Prayers, for all who have dealt with the sadness of watching their loved one, fight a disease or illness, only to grow weak from it's onslaught.  God, knows what he's doing, and I find comfort in knowing this.......

Request for Prayers

It is with deep sadness that I request your prayers, for my brother in law and sister.  He is going through the hardest part of cancer at the present and if the chemo doesn't stop it, then we will lose a very sweet man..........I call all the prayer warriors, to put Don on your list and call the powers of God's Almighty hand to be at work in his life.........
My sister is in need of prayer, for her comfort and strength as she deals with this situation.  Keep her lifted up, in Jesus Name.......... I thank you........

Prayers For the Family

The posting on Facebook this morning gave her reports of her husband's going home.  He is now free of pain, and she must look toward the future as it develops.  Her life has been a good one and now she faces it alone, to embark on a different journey.
The loss of her husband will be felt by all who knew him and his family.  My condolences to each one, as they go through the present grief and decisions.  Prayers to my friend that she may live in comfort knowing she did her best..........

God is Good

Have you ever been out somewhere and thought you had left something cooking on the stove?  Well, it's not the first time I've rushed home to find whether or not made such a mistake.
About 5 years ago, I did and there was a big mess to clean when I got back.  Boiled eggs that have blown up all over the place, don't smell too great.  It's takes a few minutes to find all the broken shell parts and get them cleaned up. 
Recently, I found myself driving when the thought came to me that I might have left a pan on the stove and it would be red hot, if I did.  I could see all types of things happening, like the house catching on fire.
I started praying while driving as legally as I could to get back, and thanks to the Lord, he answered prayer.  The pan was cold and the stove was off..........a sigh of relief came across me as I thanked him for his goodness.

I'm not into the Buddha, thing but I really like this quote.....it's down to earth and real.

Give Thanks

A time to reflect on years past, and things that were very important to us. A time to be thankful for the things we have and if able, to share the things we have with others, less fortunate. 
This week you will be gathering with your family to be together again, on this occasion. It may be the last time for some of your family to be with you. It may be a new beginning for a few of you. Either way, this will be a time for you as a family to make memories, as you have on previous occasions. 
Each year, one or two of the members aren't able to make it, for one reason or another. One of my sons, lives out of state, and won't be here. Another may have other family members to be with at this time. So, we will be thankful for the family members that do get to drop by and enjoy the day as well as we can. 
Once again, let us remember to thank the Lord for each day he has given us and for a great healthy coming new year.

Quilt of Life

Before each of us laid our lives like the squares of a quilt in many piles; an angel sat before each of us sewing our quilt squares together into a tapestry that is our life. But as my angel took each piece of cloth off the pile, I noticed how ragged and empty each of my squares was.  They were filled with
giant  holes.  Each square was labeled with a part of my life that had been difficult, the challenges and temptations I was faced with in every day life.  I saw hardships that I endured, which were the largest holes of all.
I glanced around me.  Nobody else had such squares.  Other than a tiny
hole here and  there, the other tapestries were filled with rich color and the bright hues of worldly fortune.  I gazed upon my own life and was disheartened. My angel was sewing the ragged pieces of cloth together, threadbare and empty, like binding air. Finally the time came when each life was to be displayed, held up to the light, the scrutiny of truth.  The others rose; each in  turn, holding up their tapestries.  So filled their lives had been.  My angel looked upon me and nodded for me to rise. My gaze dropped to the ground in shame.  I hadn't had all the earthly fortunes.  I had love in my life and laughter.  But there had also been trials of illness and wealth, and false accusations that took from me my world, as I knew it.  I had to start over many times.  I often struggled with the temptation to quit, only to somehow muster the strength to pick up and begin again.  I spent many nights on my knees in prayer, asking for help and guidance in my life..  I had often been held up to ridicule, which I endured painfully, each time offering it up to the Father in hopes that I would not melt within my skin beneath the judgmental gaze of those who unfairly judged me. And now, I had to face the truth..  My life was what it was, and I had to accept it for what it was. I rose and slowly lifted the combined squares of my life to the light. An awe-filled gasp filled the air.  I gazed around at the others who stared at me with wide eyes. Then, I looked upon the tapestry before me. Light flooded the  many holes, creating an image, the face of Christ.  Then our Lord stood before me, with warmth and love in His eyes.  He said, 'Every time you gave over your life to Me, it became My life, My hardships, and My struggles. Each point of light in your life is when you stepped aside and let Me shine through, until there was more of Me than there was of you.'

May all our quilts be threadbare and worn, allowing Christ to shine through!

I thought this was beautiful and wanted to share it with you as a friend did with me.........

5 Dead Including Gunman

Once again our nation is reeling from the attack of a terrorist in a one man ordeal.  Two locations were attacked leaving 4 military and the gunman dead.  Reports have it that a lone gunman drove up to both places in a silver Mustang convertible.  Shots were fired into both facilities by this gunman, leaving many businesses on "lock down", until the areas were secured.
We offer prayers to the families, friends and coworkers of the slain.  May God comfort them and give them strength to move through the following days after this event.

So Sad

In the last few days, a person took his life for whatever sad reason.  He was husband to my oldest daughter's childhood friend.  It seems that this man had been experiencing many health problems through the past few years, along with emotional problems as well.
When the woman left to find safety from his domestic outbursts, he began to regress and thus lost his will to live.  I know how sad this must be for his family and friends.  The reality of knowing you couldn't help someone during their emotional bouts, is a hard thing to accept.
As for the wife, she knows that even though there was good, there was also too much bad to deal with.  Her life being safe was a very important issue, when he would loose control of his actions.  Yet, she will live with the sad fact that the short time they were together, didn't give him the emotional help he needed.  I pray God's comfort, understand and peace for everyone involved in this time of  sadness. May this poor unhappy man, rest in peace!

I'm Sad

The whole world watches as the story progresses with the now hospitalized Bobbie, who is the daughter of the late Whitney Houston.  It seems to be that fame and fortune is just too much for people to handle and with good reason.  Being in the front of cameras all of your life, can take it's toll on young people.  I often see the children of famous people trying to cringe away from the cameras as they maintain behind the famous parent.
Here once again, we see a drug related case, where the world today has pressed the pressure on the one's who are there to entertain us.  This person, was born into the fame and fortune, without a choice.  Surviving must have been a very hard thing to do, when even the parent wasn't able to make it.  My heart goes out to the people who now wait on the doctors to give them notice and the friends who are unable to help.  May God rest her soul.

ROSE

The first day of school our professor introduced himself and challenged us to get to know someone we didn't already know. I stood up to look around when a gentle hand touched my shoulder.
I turned around to find a wrinkled, little old lady beaming up at me with a smile that lit up her entire being.
She said, 'Hi handsome. My name is Rose. I'm eighty-seven years old.
Can I give you a hug?'
I laughed and enthusiastically responded, 'Of course you may!' and she gave me a giant squeeze.

'Why are you in college at such a young, innocent age?' I asked.
She jokingly replied, 'I'm here to meet a rich husband, get married, and have a couple of kids...'

'No seriously,' I asked. I was curious what may have motivated her to be taking on this challenge at her age.
'I always dreamed of having a college education and now I'm getting one!' she told me.

After class we walked to the student union building and shared a chocolate milkshake.
We became instant friends. Every day for the next three months we would
leave class together and talk nonstop. I was always mesmerized listening to this 'time machine' as she shared her wisdom and experience with me.

Over the course of the year, Rose became a campus icon and she easily made friends wherever she went. She loved to dress up and she reveled in the attention bestowed upon her from the other students. She was living it up.

At the end of the semester we invited Rose to speak at our football banquet. I'll never forget what she taught us. She was introduced and stepped up to the podium. As she began to deliver her prepared speech, she dropped her three by five cards on the floor. Frustrated and a little embarrassed she leaned into the microphone and simply said, 'I'm sorry I'm so jittery. I gave up beer for Lent and this whiskey is killing me! I'll never get my speech back in order so let me just tell you what I know.'
As we laughed she cleared her throat and began, ' We do not stop playing because we are old; we grow old because we stop playing. There are only four secrets to staying young, being happy and achieving success. You have to laugh and find humor every day. You've got to have a dream. When you lose your dreams, you die. We have so many people walking around who are dead and don't even know it! There is a huge difference between growing older and growing up. If you are nineteen years old and lie in bed for one full year and don't do one productive thing, you will turn twenty years old. If I am eighty-seven years old and stay in bed for a year and never do
anything I will turn eighty-eight. Anybody can grow older. That doesn't take any talent or ability. The idea is to grow up by always finding opportunity in change. Have no regrets. The elderly usually don't have regrets for what we did, but rather for things we did not do. The only people who fear death are those with regrets.'

She concluded her speech by courageously singing 'The Rose.'
She challenged each of us to study the lyrics and live them out in our
daily lives. At the year's end Rose finished the college degree she had
begun all those years ago.
One week after graduation Rose died peacefully in her sleep.
Over two thousand college students attended her funeral in tribute
to the wonderful woman who taught by example that it's never too late to be all you can possibly be.
These words have been passed along in loving memory of ROSE.

REMEMBER, GROWING OLDER IS MANDATORY. GROWING UP IS OPTIONAL. We make
a Living by what we get. We make a Life by what we give. God promises a safe landing, not a calm passage. If God brings you to it, He will bring you through it.

'Good friends are like stars.......You don't always see them, but you
know they are always there.'

Easter Lilies...

The lilies........of Easter...

When a man is thirsty we don’t attempt to analyze the problem, we give him water. Likewise, when we are faced with problems we simply need to fill ourselves with the promises of God.

Rise Again

And it is written...........

Prayer

Prayer is one of the best free gifts we receive. There is no cost, just a lot of reward. Make sure you pray, and pray believing God will answer. May today be all you need it to be. May the peace of God and the freshness of the Holy Spirit rest in your thoughts, rule in your dreams tonight, and conquer all your fears. May God manifest himself today in ways you have never experienced? May your joys be fulfilled, your dreams be closer, and your prayers be answered. I pray that faith enters a new height for you; I pray that your territory is enlarged. I pray for peace, healing, health, happiness, prosperity, joy, true and undying love for God.
Bless you all during this day and throughout the coming year.....