My Daughter

Why is it great to have a daughter?
1. She calls her mom every day.
2. We can talk about girl stuff.
3. She's compassionate.
4. She doesn't send me text messages.....well, not many anyway.
5. We could share clothes if I was skinnier.
6. She likes to sing while I play the piano.
7. When we watch a sad movie together, there's someone to cry with me.
8. It's like having a best friend.

Planting Seeds

One time I went to the local music store to simply buy one music book or a piece of sheet music. When I was about to check out, the salesman asked me if he could show me a couple of used pianos he had in the back. Even though I was only there to buy some music, I loved the brand of piano he mentioned so I said, sure, I always love looking at pianos. So I went back and tried them out and he wasn't pushy or anything, just let me play the pianos. But just before I left the store, he said he wanted me to play this piano they had in the front, a brand new Petrof piano. I had never heard of the brand and so I said, sure -- I didn't see any harm in trying out a piano. But when I started playing that Petrof, it was like piano heaven to me. It felt so different from my own piano and it was so great, like walking on the clouds. I left the store, but for months afterward, I couldn't stop thinking about that Petrof. I tried telling myself that I didn't need it because I already had a piano, but I just couldn't stop thinking about how it felt to play it. I started saving my money and a few months later, I went back to that store and bought the Petrof. That salesman had planted a seed in my mind that grew and grew over time. He didn't push it on me, he simply mentioned it and let me try it out. But he made a sale by planting that seed.

As Christians, we can and should plant seeds by telling people about Jesus. After some time, that seed might get watered and fertilized and then start growing into something beautiful. It's not our job to make it grow, because only God can do that. But our job is to plant, or maybe water and fertilize. My husband didn't grow up in a family that went to church. But when he was a teenager, a lady at his job asked him one day if he thought he would go to heaven if he died. He told her yes, he thought he would because he was a good person. This gave her the opening to explain to him that being a good person wouldn't get him into heaven and she was able to tell him about Jesus and share some Bible verses with him. The seed was planted. It made him start wondering what else the Bible had to say, so he started reading it and he started going to church. So the seed was then getting watered and fertilized. Through all this, he became a Christian. That sweet lady at his job took a few minutes out of her day to plant a seed that grew and resulted in my husband becoming a Christian. And because he started going to that particular church, he met me. It's so neat to look back and see how God works things out in our lives. I don't know about you, but I need to start planting some seeds!

I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God made it grow. So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow. 1 Corinthians 3:6-7

Krispy Kreme and Little Rascals

I don't really have a subject in mind to write about today, so I'll just tell about my weekend. Saturday was a cold, cloudy day, so hubby and I just planned to stay home. He made a fire in the fireplace and we were enjoying a quiet afternoon. I was in the recliner reading my book and he was on the couch doing some schoolwork and that's when my sister called. She asked if they could stop by our house and dry her kids' hair since they had taken them swimming and had a few errands to run. Well, after they got to my house with the nice cozy fire, the kids didn't want to leave. I have a few things for them to play with and they were having fun. So, my husband and my sister's husband went to Krispy Kreme and bought some donuts for us all to eat. Then we all watched a Little Rascals video that's one of my favorites. After visiting for a while, we told my sister and her husband to go ahead to run their errands and the kids could stay and play at our house. We love these precious kids, my nieces and nephew, and I'm so glad that they like coming to my house. We had a fun afternoon. When they started to leave, my sister said they really hadn't planned to make us babysit, and then she said, "I know I'll read all about this on your blog!" So, thanks, Angie, for giving me something to blog about today!

My soul finds rest in God alone; my salvation comes from him. He alone is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I will never be shaken. Psalm 62:1-2

A Plea for Purging and With Blood Comes Cleansing

Yesterday, I got off work at 5:00, hurried home to quickly change clothes and left the house by 5:30 to go to Auburn. My husband took five kids who love A Plea for Purging and my daughter and I drove behind them in my car. I had to hurry so much that I forgot to take my camera so I don't have any pictures or video to share. It was a good night getting to hear the guys play again, and getting to see some friends we've made along this heavy metal journey. I hope my hearing returns to normal soon! I met another mother who was there to hear her son's band, and I also met another lady who goes to these shows with her husband and son because she loves the music. She told me her testimony of getting saved when she was 29 and having to give up all the bad music (like Marilyn Manson, etc.) that she loved and how happy she was to find out that there was Christian heavy metal music out there. Since then she has been going to these kinds of shows and she told me how much she loves Aaron and all the guys in APFP.

The band is on tour with another band that is very big in this music scene, With Blood Comes Cleansing. I love what both of these bands stand for - they stand for Jesus and they say it to the audience. The audience is made up of teenagers, some who already love the Lord, but others who just love heavy music and desperately need the Lord. Most of these kids have a certain "look" or style that might look a little different when mixed in with the majority of teenagers today, but when you get them all together at one of these concerts, they all look pretty much the same. I don't even know how to describe the look, but a lot of them have the exact same haircut parted on the side and swooping down across their forehead, usually with their hair dyed black or multi-colored, and these really tight, skinny jeans, and a certain kind of canvas shoes. I guess they want to be different, but when they all get together at a show they look amazingly the same as each other. I'm just glad that there are Christian bands who feel the call to go out and proclaim the name of Jesus to this small community of kids. If I had a bunch of extra money to spend, I would love to open a venue in my city where kids could come and hang out in a safe place and listen to the music they love, and hear about Jesus.

For the fans of A Plea for Purging (you both know who you are), they put up a video on their my space page from their show two nights ago in Jacksonville. It's near the top of their page. You can watch my boy beating those drums, Andy screaming, John swinging his hair around, Lyle jumping across the stage and Blake playing some of the best guitar you'll ever hear.

Friday Favorites

True Story: It was 5:25 this morning and I was enjoying that last half hour of sleep before time for the alarm, when I heard something. Hubby was asleep beside me, so it wasn't him. Someone was in my house! A light went on in another part of the house and then I see the figure of a man walking into my room! And then I heard the voice...... "hey Mom." It was Aaron. And the rest of the band. He apologized for dropping in unexpectedly and then said that he'd sent me a text. Well, I think you know how a feel about texts, but a text sent in the middle of the night when my phone is turned off, with information that I need before I get up the next morning??? All I can do is just shake my head and laugh! To be honest, I really wasn't surprised that they came since I knew they are playing about 50 miles from here tonight. I'm always happy to see them.

This line of communication that my son chose to use just wasn't open at that time of the night. But I'm so glad that my Father's line of communication is always open no matter what time of day or night. If I wake up in the middle of the night with something weighing on my mind, I can pray right then, I don't have to wait until daylight. If I see one of my kids driving away, I can ask God to protect them and keep them safe. He is always there and always hears my prayers. And what's even better, He already knows what I need before I ask for it.

My Friday's favorite is Amel's post from yesterday, Addicted to Hubby. I love seeing people enjoying their marriage!

Evening, morning and noon I cry out in distress, and he hears my voice. Psalm 55:17

I Got Tagged!

And for once I'm going to play along because this sounds like fun and my last post was way too serious! Warren Peace tagged me on this and so here are my answers.

Four jobs I have held
1. LSM operator for U.S. Postal Service
2. 3rd grade school teacher in a Christian school
3. Clerical job at a medical equipment place
4. Law firm receptionist

Four movies I watch over and over
1. While You Were Sleeping
2. The Wizard of Oz
3. It's a Wonderful Life
4. Imitation of Life

Four places I have been
1. Panama City Beach, Florida
2. Disneyworld
3. Colorado
4. Germany

Four places I have lived
1. The house my parents lived in when I was born (in this city)
2. The house we moved to when I was 11 (in this same city)
3. The house my husband and I first lived in (in this same city)
4. The house we live in now (same city)

Four people who email me regularly
1. My mom forwards me stuff
2. My sister forwards me stuff
3. Jo - sends Sunday's bulletin every week
4. Nobody just emails me regularly

Four favorite foods
1. tacos
2. burritos
3. chicken enchiladas
4. salsa and chips

Four places I'd rather be
1. Rocky Mountains
2. at the beach
3. Smoky Mountains
4. the Alps

Four things I'm looking forward to
1. Seeing my son's band in Auburn Friday night
2. My daughter going with us to Auburn Friday night
3. The weekend
4. Going on vacation with my hubby later this year

Divorce

This subject is on my mind today because of a phone call I received last night. As much as I wish this wasn't true, divorce is a part of our lives, and probably affects almost everyone to some extent. And please know that anything I say about it is not said in any kind of judgmental tone at all. I'm sure that there will be someone reading this who has been through a divorce and I am not looking down on you or trying to make you feel bad in any way whatsoever. There are a lot of people close to me who have been through divorces. I have three sisters and two of them are divorced. My husband has three brothers and all three of them have been through divorces. But no matter how common it is or becomes, I hate it so much because of what I've seen it do to some people I know who had no choice in the matter. I know that in some situations a divorce may become necessary. But the people I have on my mind today were unwilling parties to divorces brought on by the selfishness of spouses who decided to just try out someone new and different -- both after 25 years of marriage. It has caused their whole lives to have to change drastically. They loved their spouses and didn't want a divorce but they had no choice because the spouses left them for someone else. These people were hurt so much in the process, one even going into depression, anxiety, panic attacks and hospitalization several times and now is living on so much medication. The other one was of course depressed at first and spent a little time on medication but was able to get off, and has a good job and is able to be self-supporting thank God. But the one who had to be hospitalized just breaks my heart. It's all so unfair. It's almost impossible to keep a job when you have to be on this much medication and have the severe depression and panic attacks this person has. And all this was brought on by the divorce. It just makes me so sad.

I haven't been divorced and I thank God for that. But from what I've seen, I know that it could happen to me or anyone. I've seen marriages that I thought would last forever fall apart. I sincerely believe that it could happen to anyone if there is not a commitment to make the marriage work and to keep it together. It takes work to keep a marriage together. But the most important thing is commitment. To anyone who may be going through a divorce right now, I am so sorry. I am not here to give advice because I wouldn't know what advice to give. I just wish that people didn't have to go through this pain caused by divorce.

Mal 2:16
"I hate divorce," says the Lord God of Israel..... Malachi 2:16

If You're Over 40, You Might Understand This

To my kids:

I realize that you live in a "text messaging" generation and that sending texts is like second nature to you. And while I love to hear from you in any form, I hope you will understand the difficulties I have with texting. First of all, as you know, I need my reading glasses to read anything, and especially anything on the little cell phone. Therefore, if I receive a text message when my reading glasses aren't readily available, I might not be able to see what you're telling me. But I will try squinting until the words come into focus hoping that no one around sees me because I look pretty funny trying to read without my glasses -- I know this because I've accidentally taken so many pictures of myself with this camera phone while squinting to find the right buttons. And then if you need a response from me, the answer may be quite delayed as I must first find the reading glasses, then figure out how to write a message back, in which I always make a mistake. While trying to figure out how to "backspace" I then lose everything I've already typed in and have to start from scratch again. After about fifteen minutes of trying to text a message back to you, I'll probably just give up and call you. You might want to try that sometime -- it's a great thing these cell phones can do. You can dial a number and actually TALK to the person on the other line and you don't have to do all that typing into your phone and waiting for a response! Works for me 'cause I still have my hearing. It's a great invention -- what will they think of next?

Trust His Heart

Trust His Heart -- Written by: Babbie Mason and Eddie Carswell

All things work for our good though sometimes we can’t see how they could.
Struggles that break our hearts in two sometimes blind us to the truth.
Our Father knows what’s best for us; His ways are not our own.
So, when your pathway grows dim, and you just can’t see Him,
Remember you're never alone.

God is too wise to be mistaken. God is too good to be unkind.
So when you don’t understand, when you don’t see His plan,
When you can’t trace His hand, trust His heart.

He sees the Master plan. He holds the future in His hands.
So don’t live as those who have no hope. All our hope is found in Him.
We see the present clearly, but He sees the first and the last.
And like a tapestry, He’s weaving you and me to someday be just like Him.

He alone is faithful and true, He alone knows what is best for you...

God is too wise to be mistaken. God is too good to be unkind.
So when you don’t understand, when you don’t see His plan,
When you can’t trace His hand, trust His heart.

Awards

Amel gave me this award! Thank you so much, Amel! I hope that you know how much you cheer me up also! I love this picture because I've been watching "I Love Lucy" as long as I can remember and this was one of my favorite episodes!

This award originated from Ann, who elaborated the meaning of this award as such:
"Most of us know who and what cheers us up- what we don't know is how we cheer up others or if we're making a difference in their lives. That's because we let too much time go by without telling those we appreciate how much they mean to us, until it's too late and the opportunity slips away."
"The bloggers I nominated cheer me up like Charlotte from Charlotte's Web, a box of Peanut Butter Panic from Blue Bunny Ice Cream, and a copy of a picture I have in my home of Lucy and Ethel on the job at a candy company."

I pass on the You Cheer Me Up award to my two friends who cheer me up because they are true fans and supporters of A Plea for Purging, Ross and Uriah.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

And Warren Peace gave me this next award.

Here is what he had to say about it...

In keeping with the guidelines of the award, here are three descriptors that I consider key to powerful writing. Honesty, Humility and Honor.
Here's how the award works:
Distribute this award to those people who have blogs we love and can’t live without, blogs where the writing is good and powerful. I thought interested members could kick things off by publishing the award on their own blog, naming five people they would like to give it to, and accompany the image with three things they believe are necessary to make writing good and powerful. The recipients then do the same, passing it on to five other people, and so on.”

I pass this on to everyone listed as my blogger friend!

Snow

We only got a little bit of snow because most of it happened north of here. But it was fun watching it come down while it lasted. The only problem is that when it started I was in the middle of playing at a funeral and I kept looking at the front door of the church during the service to see if it was still snowing. I was having visions of snow covered roads and thinking I would be sliding all around while driving home. But when I got out there, the roads were only wet. It didn't last long because our temperatures weren't quite down to freezing, but here are the pictures. The first is my backyard, the second one is my husband's 1992 Jeep Cherokee. The last picture is one of my sister's family -- they live a few miles north of me and got enough to make a southern style snowman (she had the wrong date on the camera - it was actually January 19).

Get Ready

They said it was coming. They warned us. They studied the atmospheric conditions and determined that there would be a winter storm in the south. And they never wavered in the forcast that this storm was coming to Alabama. We had plenty of time to get ready. Some believed but others were skeptical. Others just didn't pay attention to the forcasters because they didn't care. But even before it reached us, there were signs of its coming. Temperatures dropping, rain turning to sleet and then mixed with snow. The believers had prepared and were ready. The skeptics were not prepared but became believers when they saw the snow. The ones who didn't care realized they should have listened.

He's coming back. We've been told and warned. We have the information at our fingertips to study it and learn from it. Our pastors have been to seminary and studied the prophecies. We've had time to get ready and believe. There are signs all around us that the time is getting closer. Some believe, some don't, and some just don't care. He's coming back, but we have not been given a date. Have you prepared? Are you ready? The believers will be ready. The ones who didn't care will wish they had cared. The non-believers will finally believe, but it will be too late.

Therefore, keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come.....So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him. Matthew 24:42, 44

Winter Storm Watch!

Look at this! We are under a winter storm watch! I am so excited! I can count on one hand the number of times in my life it has snowed here.


I don't mean to take away from my Friday Favorites, but I just got really excited when I saw this weather report! Read below for Friday Favorites.

Friday Favorites

What a week this has been! I've heard so much bad news this week about things going on in the lives of people close to me that I'm just ready for some good news! That's why I've chosen Live Out Loud's post, Observing Life Around Me at Live, Love, Laugh, Hope for today's favorite. It's a fun and lighthearted post that will make you smile and laugh today. Brighten your day by clicking on the link and you'll be glad you did! And just a side note -- scroll down to some of the olders posts and you can see some of the most beautiful photography in the blogosphere.

Job 8:21
He will yet fill your mouth with laughter and your lips with shouts of joy.

Surfing the Internet

I love this sitemeter that I put on my blog a while back. It's sorta like having caller ID on your phone so you can see who's visited your blog. And believe me, I check it faithfully every day. I immediately recognize the ones who visit regularly, but then there are people who found the blog through a google search. Now, this has been one of the most interesting things about it for me. I love reading the search words people use to surf the internet. I've been surprised at how many people have done searches about some issue with their neighbor's dog and came across my blog that way. That's because I did a few posts about a situation with my neighbor's dog a while back. (For anyone who remembers that, everything is good with us and the neighbors and they aren't mad with us). Some others find my blog because they are looking for a prayer for their daughter and I had done one entitled A Prayer for My Daughter. I get a few who are looking for something about Rush of Fools since I have mentioned that group several times. But the search words I get the most excited about are the ones where people type in something about A Plea for Purging. I mean, I have had people from different countries like Brazil, Germany and tonight someone from Chile searching for A Plea for Purging. It just makes me happy to know that they are becoming known a little more so hopefully all this touring they're doing is paying off. But, back to the subject of the sitemeter, I've had a lot of fun with it and I know who you are, where you're located and what internet service you're using!

But with all that information I can get from the sitemeter, it's nothing compared to what God knows about me, you and every person in this world. He knows where we are every minute of the day, He knows what we're doing right and what we're doing wrong, He knows every thought in our minds and every emotion in our hearts, He knows how many hairs are on our heads and He knows when we'll take our last breath. It's comforting to me to know that God is always with me and He's watching my every move. He created us and He loves us.

Lord, you have searched me and you know me. You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar. You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways. Before a word is on my tongue you know it completely, O Lord. Psalm 139:1-4

Meme - It's Great to Be Me!

Kay has tagged me for this meme called It's Great to be Me. It's easy because I just have to list reasons why it's great to be me. It's pretty much like counting blessings. So here goes.

It's great to be me because....

1. I know Jesus and He knows me

2. I am going to spend eternity in heaven

3. I have a husband who loves me more than I deserve to be loved

4. I have two great kids

5. I was raised in a Christian home by loving parents

6. My parents are both living and well

7. I have three wonderful sisters

8. I have a home, vehicles and more material blessings than I can count

9. My husband and I both have good jobs

10. I have a God-given musical talent

11. I go to two great churches

12. My two dogs are the sweetest dogs in the world

13. I am a happy and content person

If you'd like to do this meme, I encourage you to join in. It really makes you stop and think about all the good things in your life.

I Just Wanna Know

I want to know how you came up with your blog title. You have now been tagged to either write a post about this or if you'd rather, just leave a comment and tell me where you got the title for your blog. I actually wrote about mine in my very first post, Blog Title Evolution. I wanted a word that started with a K since my name begins with a K, so I found Klavier in a German dictionary. It simply means "piano". I thought that was the perfect word since I play the piano. The reason for choosing a German word is because my husband and I visited Germany in 2005 and we have a special place in our hearts for that country and some friends there. Also, my husband's father was German. And in case you've never scrolled down all the way to the bottom of my page, you can find a picture of my own "klavier" there!

Is there a reason you chose your blog's title?

The Wrath of God

We love to talk about God's love, the joy of the Lord, the goodness of God, answered prayer and all the things that make us feel good. But not very often do you read a blog about the wrath of God. And as much as we don't like to think about that aspect of our God, it truly is scriptural. I listened to John McArthur's message, A Nation Abandoned by God, on the radio this morning. Focus on the Family aired this message and it was eye-opening to say the least. I won't say any more about it, but as you find the time, please click on the link, A Nation Abondoned by God, to listen to this broadcast. It is 30 minutes long and today's was only the first part. The second part will air tomorrow. Please, if you do take the time to listen, let me know your thoughts on this message!

The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of men who suppress the truth by their wickedness. Romans 1:18

Awards

I would like to publicy thank Cliff for an award he gave me that I have procrastinated about getting posted. Sometimes I get really behind in posting awards because I have limited time to work on my blog and I have to get all those thoughts written down when I have the chance. At the end of the year he gave out his 2007 Top Banana awards and he individualized each of them. I am so very honored to have received this and so thrilled with what he said about me:

I award the Proud Mother-Good Devotions award to Kathy of Kathy's Klavier for her posts that glorify the Lord and keeping us up to date on her son who is a member of the Christian metal band A Plea For Purging.

To have someone say that my posts glorify the Lord is the best thing in the world to me. And to be seen as a "proud mother" well, he is so right about that. Thank you, Cliff, for this award!

Now, I would like to take this opportunity to thank my blogger friends, Cliff of WIXY's Gone Bananas and Warren Peace of Peace of My Mind. They have each so graciously passed this award, Bloggers of the World, on to me and I just want them to know that I really do appreciate it. So, thank you guys for this award!


Now I would like to award "Bloggers of the World" to some people whose blogs I read every day and who have truly blessed my life! Thank you for writing!

Amel of Amel's Realm

Kay of Loop de Loops in La La Land

BP of Raindrops and Rainbows

Sandi of Did You Ever Think About

Sister Sheri of The Leaking Window

Live Out Loud of Live, Love, Laugh, Hope

Juliana of Juliana's Site

Friday Favorites

One of my favorite posts I've read recently was by BP of Raindrops and Rainbows. Please join me in reading her post, Book: The 4:8 Principle. BP has also started her own version of Friday's Favorites and I love it. Check out her blog!

Have a great weekend!

And we also thank God continually because, when you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men, but as it actually is, the word of God, which is at work in you who believe. 1 Thessalonians 2:13

Feeling Inadequate

Last night after I finished with choir practice at the church where I play the piano, I then went over to my own church for a meeting with some other ladies about a bridal shower we are giving in February. This shower is going to be for one of my closest friend's son and his fiance', so I definitely want to be one of the hostesses. I knew before I went that something like this is totally out of my comfort zone, but I didn't realize that it was going to leave me feeling completely inadequate. After sitting around with several women who know how to decorate tables and make beautiful cakes, mints and cheese straws, I wondered why I was even sitting in that room. I really felt like I didn't belong and that I didn't know how to do ANYTHING! I mean I don't even have the nice serving trays and dishes like everyone else has because I'm just not into entertaining with all kinds of frilly stuff. All I know how to do is make a big ole' pot of chili or a bunch of tacos and move out of the way while some hungry guys help themselves. To be honest, last night I felt like a complete failure as a woman and I feared that I've probably passed this on to my daughter.

This morning I was still having these feelings of inadequacy to the point where I could have just cried if I would have allowed it. But almost as soon as I felt like crying, I started asking God to help me change in this area and to help me learn new things. Now here's the great thing about having scripture stored away in your memory; as soon as I started praying, verses about His strength being made perfect through my weaknesses started pouring into my mind as if God himself was talking to me. He said in these verses that his grace is sufficient and that when I am weak, then He is strong. I am so thankful to have the Word of God to comfort me at times like this. After that, my thoughts became more positive and I decided not to let this steal my joy. I'm going to take it upon myself to learn some new things and become good at making at least one frilly recipe that would be good at bridal showers. And then maybe I'll learn how to make one of those bows that you hang on the door for a bridal shower. Maybe I'll get a part-time job with a catering service to learn some things about making food look pretty on a table. I don't know what I'll really end up doing, but I thought of a lot of things I could do to improve myself in this area.

I do want to mention also that when I got home last night, I told my husband how I was feeling and he was so sweet. He hugged me and told me about all the things that I do well -- to him, it doesn't matter whether I can do those frilly things or not, he just loves me the way I am. I thank the Lord for my wonderful husband!

And He said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness." Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ's sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong. 2 Corinthians 12:9-10

Mr. Rogers Neighborhood

I felt like Mr. Rogers today. I wore this nice, professional-looking black suit jacket to work, along with my beautiful Onyx bead necklace my hubby gave me for Christmas. I always try to dress up with a professional look for work, however my clothes usually don't quite look the way I want them to look. But this morning I felt pretty good about my outfit. When I got to my desk I noticed that the collar of the black jacket was bothering me because it comes up too high at the back of my neck. So, I took off the jacket and replaced it with the old worn black sweater that I keep at my desk. That's when I felt like Mr. Rogers. In case anyone is not familiar with Mr. Rogers, it was a show that use to be on public TV. I have no idea whether or not it still comes on. But at the beginning of every show, Mr. Rogers would sing "It's a Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood" and he would be walking into the house, changing from his coat into his sweater, and changing from his regular shoes into his sneakers. That is why I felt like him when I changed into my sweater.

My youngest sister is 12 years younger than I am. When she was a preschooler and I was a bratty teenager, my other sisters and I would tease her mercilessly anytime she would watch Mr. Rogers on TV. Because we were older and so much wiser (ha!) we thought the show was so silly and ridiculous. So, we deprived her of watching something that she probably really liked as a young child because we were so mean. But then when I had my first child, guess what show he liked to watch? He loved watching Mr. Rogers! By that time, I was more mature and I didn't tease him or deprive him of watching the show. And later on after he grew up, he told me that Mr. Rogers always made him feel so peaceful. I know now that it was a great and educational TV show for children to watch. So, Angie, if you are reading my blog, I apologize for teasing you and depriving you of watching Mr. Rogers when you were a little kid. I wonder if you would have turned out different if we had let you watch it. Here is a fun Mr. Rogers website you can let the kids try out.

I have no idea why I just wrote a post about Mr. Rogers. Maybe I just needed to ease my guilty conscience for teasing my sister. But on a truly important note, today my daughter starts her next semester of college. To my praying blogger friends, I would really appreciate your prayers for her as she starts her classes. She is plagued with anxiety, but I know that God can heal her from this and help her through.

Morning

Is anyone other than me a morning person? I love the early morning time and I usually don't have any trouble getting myself up at 5:45 on weekdays. I even wake up early on Saturdays and I love getting up and having the house so quiet while I drink my coffee and read the Bible or read/write blogs. Don't misunderstand me, I haven't quite gotten myself disciplined enough that I am able to always read my Bible before going to work each morning. I am working on that; but I can write this post today because I had enough time this morning to actually read my Bible before having to leave for work. I really want to get to the point where I do it every morning before leaving the house, but it will take a lot of self-discipline on my part.

As I was opening my Bible to read in the book of Matthew, a verse I had underlined in red (in the Psalms) caught my attention. It said, "In the morning, O Lord, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait in expectation." I like that it mentions praying to God in the morning. But I wonder.....after I present my requests to the Lord in prayer, do I really wait in expectation? What does it mean to wait in expectation? Some might say that it means to expect God to answer the prayer the way I want it to be answered. But I think it means that after I present my requests to God, that I know He has heard me and I trust Him with the outcome to be in His sovereign will. And because I know that He will do what is best for me, then I can wait in expectation of seeing God's will worked out in my life. That's totally my own interpretation. I'd love to hear your thoughts on this verse.

The Bible I use at home for my Bible study is one that I would recommend for anyone who wants to dig a little deeper as they read, or for someone who might need a little help with clarifying some of the verses. It's called the Life Application Bible, and mine is in the New International Version. It's really big and thick because there are a lot of footnotes that go with a lot of the verses. I don't take this one to church with me because it's pretty heavy for carrying, but it is perfect for home use when you really want to study the Bible.

**Please see my comment section**

But I cry to you for help, O Lord; in the morning my prayer comes before you. Psalm 88:13

Empty Nest

Five advantages of an empty nest:
1. Food lasts a whole lot longer and you only have to cook for two.
2. The house stays neater and cleaner.
3. You can have the house quiet or listen to whatever music you like.
4. You can walk around the house in your P.J.'s or whatever.
5. You can use the computer whenever you want because it's always free.

If all those advantages are so great, then why am I missing making food for a bunch and having to keep running to the store for more, in a really messy house, and not being able to use my kitchen or computer early in the morning because someone is sleeping in the den?

Apparently, I must prefer my house to look the way it looked earlier today...

Movie

This is a nice movie to watch and will give you something to think about.

http://www.dashpoemmovie.com

Changes

There is something about taking down all the Christmas decorations and cleaning up afterwards that makes me want to change things in my house. Normally, I never change anything or rearrange furniture. But on New Year's Day I guess it just felt like a fresh start and I had this urge to change things in my house. The great part is that I did it all without having to go out and buy new stuff.... I just put away some of the things I'd used before on my mantle and entertainment center so that there was less clutter, and rearranged them to give it a different look. And then I totally rearranged the furniture in my living room (with my husband's reluctant help). After doing all that, moving furniture and the piano, he was not happy with the way it looked and he told me that I might be talented musically, but I sure wasn't talented with interior decorating! Gee, thanks hubby! I already knew that I couldn't decorate, so we'll be changing the living room back to the old way pretty soon.

Speaking of changes, I believe that people often think they have to change bad habits or bad behavior in their life before they can start having a relationship with Jesus, or before they can start going to church or seeking help from Christians. However, it's really just the opposite. Jesus doesn't expect you to change anything before coming to him. Any changes you make on your own would probably be like my attempt to change my living room around. Yes, it looked different but it wasn't a good look and it ended up just being temporary. Jesus wants people to come to him as they are, bad habits, bad behavior and everything, and then let him clean up the mess. The only real changes that will last are the ones that He, our real Interior Decorator, makes. If you need to change something in your life in 2008, come to Jesus just the way you are and let him do the work.

But you know that he appeared so that he might take away our sins. And in him is no sin.
1 John 3:5

Bible Reading

Happy New Year!

I didn't make any New Year's Resolutions, but I woke up this morning with a strong desire to read my Bible and to be more consistent with my daily Bible study. I've noticed that my blog posts are the best when I've been studying the Word. I still plan to write about my life and my family, but I want everything I say and do to always be seasoned with the Word of God. We are so blessed in the U.S. to have free access to Bibles and to churches, yet so many do not take advantage of this. If you don't read the Bible, I would like to ask why not? I think most people would answer this question with the reason of, "I don't understand it when I read it." My response to that is, read it anyway. The Bible is not like any other book. We can't rely on only our own intelligence or knowledge to understand this book. That's because the Bible is not just a book....it is the holy and inspired Word of God. God's Holy Spirit reveals to us the meaning of the Bible as we read it, and as He chooses to reveal. I believe that the more I read it, the more He will reveal the truths that are in the Bible. It doesn't all come to you the first time, or the second time. Just read it and yes, concentrate on what it says, but allow God to show you through his Word what He wants you to know.

No resolutions for this year, but a couple of my resolutions for life are in the verses below.

You are the salt of the earth.....You are the light of the world....let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven. Matthew 5:13, 14, 16

Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone. Colossians 4:6