We all make mistakes. Maybe mine can help you.

I became frustrated about something. In my frustration, I said things, that I wish I had not said to people I did not mean to hurt. I feel I 'marred' my testimony to them, 'if I ever had one in the first place' and feel bad about it.

I feel like a failure, for this is not the first time this has happened. A failure, as a person, a friend and as a witness for Christ.

I told myself, I should just stay away from people and then I would not take a chance of doing that again. I am a loner, anyway, so I should just stay home and never leave the house.

But, I cannot, for I like to go to church, I need to shop and want to go see my relatives and friends.

What do I do?

I sat to read my Bible and turned to Psalms, reading my highlighted portions and it reminded me of my refuge and strength. No matter what happens in my life, God is there for me.

But, I try to let Him lead in my life, so, why did He let me say those things and act the way I did? I don't know why. However, I have to go on from today and continue to trust Him and not be afraid. And if I let it keep me from people, then the enemy has won! I do not want that to happen.

I do not say this for people to 'pat me on the back', etc. I say it so others can be helped in a similar situation, my dear friends  in the Lord. God bless you.

 

Psalms 51

2  Wash me throughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.

3  For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me.

4  Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight:

 10  Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.

11  Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me.

12  Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit.

13  Then will I teach transgressors thy ways; and sinners shall be converted unto thee.

 17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.

 Psalms 55

17  Evening, and morning, and at noon, will I pray, and cry aloud: and he shall hear my voice.

 Psalms 56

 3  What time I am afraid, I will trust in thee.

4  In God I will praise his word, in God I have put my trust; I will not fear what flesh can do unto me.

9  When I cry unto thee, then shall mine enemies turn back: this I know; for God is for me.

10  In God will I praise his word: in the LORD will I praise his word.

11  In God have I put my trust: I will not be afraid what man can do unto me.

 Psalms 57

 1 Be merciful unto me, O God, be merciful unto me: for my soul trusteth in thee: yea, in the shadow of thy wings will I make my refuge, until these calamities be overpast.

2  I will cry unto God most high; unto God that performeth all things for me.

 Psalms 61

 1 Hear my cry, O God; attend unto my prayer.

2  From the end of the earth will I cry unto thee, when my heart is overwhelmed: lead me to the rock that is higher than I.

3  For thou hast been a shelter for me, and a strong tower from the enemy.

4  I will abide in thy tabernacle for ever: I will trust in the covert of thy wings.

 
Psalms 62

 1 Truly my soul waiteth upon God: from him cometh my salvation.

2  He only is my rock and my salvation; he is my defence; I shall not be greatly moved.

3  How long will ye imagine mischief against a man? ye shall be slain all of you: as a bowing wall shall ye be, and as a tottering fence.

4  They only consult to cast him down from his excellency: they delight in lies: they bless with their mouth, but they curse inwardly.

5  My soul, wait thou only upon God; for my expectation is from him.

6  He only is my rock and my salvation: he is my defence; I shall not be moved.

7  In God is my salvation and my glory: the rock of my strength, and my refuge, is in God.

8 ¶  Trust in him at all times; ye people, pour out your heart before him: God is a refuge for us.

 

Psalms 57: 5 & 11 "Be thou exalted, O God, above the heavens; let thy glory be above all the earth."

I bought a box of Sun-Maid Raisins this week. On the back is a free down loadable cookbook /  history of the co book. Very interesting. Check it out, if  you like cookbooks or history!
Free Sunmaid Cookbook

Well, another year has passed and another year for me doing this blog. I have thought about closing it several times, but have not. I have not written as much as I want ... and who really cares, anyway! Not, that I want people to tell me they do. It was just a phrase to say. Anyway, I enjoy the blog and after we finish with our building maybe I can post more and get back into reading others' posts. I miss that. However, our room is looking good and ... almost done! Maybe by March ... and that will make a year working on it.

Well, Happy New Year, y'all.

Just some thoughts from me today.

I have been thinking, recently, how the world expects Christians to live up to their expectations of what a Christian should do and should not do. Each person thinks a little differently, the same as each Christian lives a little differently from other Christians. I don't think I know two Christians who 'believe' exactly the same on how they should live the 'Christian life'. We have been in several churches through the years with our travels and moves and have not had two pastors who agree totally the same in that area. No wonder Christians and the world are confused about how we are to 'behave'. And, it is frustrating when we can't reach out to someone when they think we are not living up to their expectations!

What in the world would Christians be able to do to influence the world if they did not have to live up to the world's expectations?


 
Christian- 1. of, pertaining to, or derived from Jesus Christ or His teachings.

4. exhibiting a spirit proper to a follower of Jesus Christ.

 (from: http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/Christian?s=t)


 The devotion from ICR today lists some things the Bible expects us to live by.

Four Commands by John D. Morris, Ph.D. | Nov. 26, 2012

"Honour all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honour the king." (1 Peter 2:17)

Our text today gives four commands for believers to obey, each of which is difficult but nonetheless "is the will of God, that with well doing ye may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men" (v. 15). It comes in a lengthy passage (2:11-3:12) that discusses the matter of authority and a Christian's proper response to it. Ponder each command:
Honor all men. This could be translated, "Give honor to all." While the verb is the same as in the last command, its verb tense is not the same, here indicating a continued, conscious choice to do this, while honoring "the king" indicates the development of a lifestyle of showing respect to civil authority. Evidently our day-to-day encounters with sinful "men" require us to be continually choosing to regard them with honor and dignity. "Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves" (Philippians 2:3).
Love the brotherhood. Our agape love--God's kind of unselfish, undeserved love--should extend, on a habitual basis as seen in the verb tense, to all believers. "See that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently" (1 Peter 1:22).
Fear God. A lifestyle marked by a reverential fear of God is in mind here. "The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge" (Proverbs 1:7). "Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the Lord, and depart from evil" (Proverbs 3:7).
Honor the king. As mentioned above, this is to be a life's commitment, continually recognizing the God-given authority of human government (1 Peter 2:1-14).
"Having your conversation |i.e., manner of life| honest among the Gentiles: that, whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation" (v. 12). JDM

Four Commands (ICR)

This is a magazine that has an article our son-in-law wrote. It is his first! And we are proud of him and his ministry! Russell Migl, family pastor at Our Lord's Community Church in OK City, OK.

Impact Magazine Page 15

"If just a cup of water I place within your hand
Then just a cup of water is all that I demand," (whole song listed below)

Sometimes, I want to do much more than I can do. God has given me what talents and abilities that he has seen fit to give me and sometimes, (most times), I can only do a little bit of the many ideas I get, to help others. Today, the choir sang this song and God helped me to focus on that line above and gave me peace, that it is ok that I don't do all the things others do to help people and bless people. If all He gives me strength to do is a little bit, then He will bless that little bit. Praise God!!!

... And maybe if I quit trying to do more than I can do, I won't be so tired that I miss out on those 'cups of water' he blesses me with, to share!

lyrics from the hymn: "Follow Me" by By Ira Stamphill

I traveled down a lonely road and no one seemed to care,
The burden on my weary back had bowed me to despair,
I oft complained to Jesus how folks were treating me,
And then I heard Him so so tenderly,
"My feet were also weary upon the Calv'ry road,
The cross became so heavy I fell beneath the load,
Be faithful weary pilgrim, the morning I can see,
Just lift your cross and follow close to me."

"I work so hard for Jesus" I often boast and say,
"I've sacrificed a lot of things to walk the narrow way,
I gave up fame and fortune; I'm worth a lot to thee,"
And then I heard Him gently say to me,
"I left the throne of glory and counted it but loss,
My hands were nailed in anger upon a cruel cross,
But now we'll make the journey with your hand safe in mine,
So lift your cross and follow close to me."

Oh Jesus if I die upon a foreign field someday
'Twould be no more than love demands, no less could I repay,
"No greater love hath mortal man than for a friend to die,"
These are the words he gently spoke to me,
"If just a cup of water I place within your hand
Then just a cup of water is all that I demand,"
But if by death to living they can thy glory see,
I'll take my cross and follow close to thee.

I have noticed during the past few years that our society is using the word troop to mean an individual military person. I kept thinking it was not the correct usage so finally, this morning, looked it up in my dictionary. Being my copy is a 1986 version, I looked at the online dictionary to see if the usage had changed. It had not. The meanings at both resources are:

troop noun

1. an assemblage of persons or things; company; band.

2. a great number or multitude: A whole troop of children swarmed through the museum.

3. Military . an armored cavalry or cavalry unit consisting of two or more platoons and a headquarters group.

4. troops, a body of soldiers, police, etc.: Mounted troops quelled the riot.

5. a unit of Boy Scouts or Girl Scouts usually having a maximum of 32 members under the guidance of an adult leader.

 

troop·er   noun

1. a horse-cavalry soldier.

2. a mounted police officer; a police officer on horseback.

3. state trooper.

4. a cavalry horse.

 

All four novels by Belinda Jo Adams is now available at Hattie's Books in Brusnwick, Georgia. ... again! They were sold out. :)
http://www.hattiesbooks.com/

I signed up for a book sale in my hometown. Sept. 29th at St. Peter's Church Campus at the corner or 8th and Center Streets from 10-4. I will be featuring Lure of Alaska, but have all my books for sale then.

Local authors     Look for my photo on the 8th row down, last photo.

A few years ago, I was sitting in church flipping the pages of my Bible, looking for something. My teacher saw me and asked what I was looking for. I said, "The Serenity Prayer." She smiled and said, "Now, Belinda, that is not in the Bible." Boy, did I feel foolish. :)

This morning, I wrote a version of it in my own words, but am not sure if I should post it, for .... is it copyrighted? ... and if so, is my version mine? and ok to post? hummmmmm

Serenity Prayer

Used to .... long time ago in the computer world.... I could click on a folder in my email program and highlight all the mail in that folder and then save it as a file. One long text file, but they were backed up ... if needed to be. Then, in their updating things, it was not more. My hot mail keep box was getting fuller and fuller. Then, tonight I figured out how to save them again and empty the folder.

How to backup hotmail emails
select all in a folder (each page of them)
select print option from toolbar
when box comes up with the file in it, select all then copy and paste it into a notepad file.

That's it.

I made laundry detergent again this week. I think that makes about 4 or 5 times in the past 2 years since I discovered it. Wow, the money we have saved!

I also hung clothes on the line. I didn't do this for any 'health' or 'saving money' issues. I did it because since we built the back room, but not finished it, we don't have a place for the dryer to vent. I took a basket full to mom's a couple times, but it has been so sunny and not smoky and no pollen, I thought I'd try it the old fashioned way.I had forgot how fresh-smelling they are when they have been dried on the line outside.

What is inside our mobile home wall?

Being we are remodeling our house, we took the siding from our mobile home to use on the back wall of the new room. I was surprised what was underneath the siding. Looks like cardboard to me. I wondered it that was all there was. Then, we noticed places where it was cut, for them to install wiring (?). So, I lifted it and did see some insulation.
So, if you are wondering what may be inside your mobile home wall, look at these photos. Ours was built in 2008.