Something to Smile and Maybe Chuckle About

NO WINE

I was walking down the street when I was accosted by a particularly dirty and shabby-looking woman who asked me for a couple of dollars for dinner.

I too out my wallet, got out ten dollars and asked, "If I give you this money, will you buy wine with it instead of dinner?"

'No I had to stop drinking years ago', the homeless woman told me.

Will you use it to go shopping instead of buying food? I asked.

'No, I don't waste time shopping', the homeless woman said. 'I need to spend all my time tryng to stay alive'.

Will you spend this on a beauty salon instead of food?

'Are you NUTS'! replied the homeless woman. I haven't had my hair done in 20 years!'

'Well, I said, I'm not going to give you the money. Instead I'm going to take you out for dinner with my husband and me tonight.'

The homeless woman was shocked. Won't your husband be furious with you for doing that? I know I'm dirty, and probably smell pretty disgusting.

I said, 'That's okay. It's important for him to see what a woman looks like after she has given up shopping, hair appointments, and wine.'

This was e-mailed to me by a friend. I thought it was funny.

IS TODAY PINK SATURDAY?

No, today is not Pink Saturday. It isn't even Saturday but since I just changed my background to pink I thought I should post something pink here. I love pink you know.

I made this cross stitch pillow right after we moved here - about 19 years ago. I keep it in my doll room now but it was originally in the family room. 

GO SARAH!

GRANDMA GOT RUN OVER?

I remember when this song came out. I loved it. Our family laughed every time we heard it. I mentioned the song to my mother (who was the grandma). Everybody in the family called her Granny - even sisters, nieces, nephews, and even me, her daughter. She didn't think the song was a bit funny. She didn't even smile. I think she was irritated that we thought it was so funny. What made it even funnier is that she had a great sense of humor and laughed at just about every thing.  That was many many years ago. 

 

Anyway, a friend sent us a link to Christmas songs and this was on there so I clicked on it. This is a cute version of the song and I wanted to share it with you. Here is the link to the song: http://heavens-gates.com/fifties/grandmagotranover.html

SPIRITUAL SUNDAYS

I have already posted a Spiritual Sundays post on my other blog but when I got up this morning and looked at my e-mails this was one of them. It was so good that my first thought was to share it on S.S. At first I thought I'd use it next Sunday and then I thought "No, it's too good to wait a week. I'll post it on my other blog." So here it is.
I guess this meant more to me also because I have seen this lady on Fox News so many times. 

Chosen for Love
with E.D. Hill

"By this the love of God was manifested in us, that God has sent
His only begotten Son into the world so that we might live through Him."
(1 John 4:9)

When I was pregnant with my third child, I developed a very severe form of Hepatitis. The doctors tried all sorts of medicines and told me that my pregnancy complicated things. They were severely limited in their efforts to save my life because there were things they
couldn't do with a pregnant patient. Even so, I rejected the suggestion that I abort my baby.

The medical outlook was grim. I was told that if I was able to carry my baby to term, it was likely that my drug therapy would leave the baby mentally or physically challenged. There were no guarantees that I  wouldn't miscarry or the baby wouldn't be stillborn.

I was fighting for my life and the life of my unborn child. I felt so helpless. Even at one of the top hospitals in the nation, the doctors simply couldn't do anything. None of us was in control of my circumstances.

When you're successful in life and your career, it's easy to start feeling like that's the most important thing. It's easy to start believing that you control your own situation and create your own success. But lying in the hospital, I suddenly realized that I wasn't in control. The most intelligent, best-educated doctors in the country had no control. Nobody had any control. Whether my baby and I lived or died was ultimately up to God. It was His choice.

When you get down to it, what do any of us do that earns us the right to demand that God should step in and save us, as though we deserve it? It's a gift that He gives. Too often we don't accept the fact that life is a gift. Life is a gift to be treasured.

In my career on FOX News, I see so many stories that shock me. In one story, there was a drag race with stolen cars where a pedestrian was hit. This story ran several times because the lack of humanity was amazing. The person who had been hit lay in the road and nobody walked over to check on him. One would hope that this person was left lying in the street because nobody else was around, but that wasn't the case. The sidewalks were filled with people walking, going about their business. At one point, someone does walk over and peers down at the injured person, then simply walks away.

There is a person down, and the instinct of every single human being should have been to go to that person's aid. Yet that is not what happened. We have created a society and a generation where people don't want to get involved. They wait for someone else to take responsibility to help another human being. The lives around them aren't valued highly.

At one point during my hospital stay, I realized that I wasn't thinking about my job or success or any of the things I had thought were so important. I was thinking about my children. I was wondering who would help them grow to become the type of adults who value the truly valuable --  people.

Jesus, when asked which commandment is the greatest, spoke of love.
"You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind." (Matthew 22:37) Jesus then said, "You shall love your neighbor as yourself. There is no other commandment greater than these." (Mark 12:31)

In a conversation with the disciples, Jesus told them that He had chosen them. "This I command you," He said, "that you love one another." (John 15:17)

Jesus focused on people. He valued us so highly that He willingly went to the cross to suffer and die on our behalf. His love is such that had He seen a hit and run victim, He would not have callously ignored his plight.

God chose us for love. He chose us before the foundation of the world. He chose to arrange it so that we could stand before Him, holy and blameless. Because of His love and kindness, He predestined us to be adopted by Him.

Think of it. The Lord made a choice, and that choice is us. Before everything, He chose to value us enough that He sent His only begotten Son to live among us, and die for us.

The Lord chose to save me and my baby. I gave birth to a beautiful, healthy baby boy in spite of my illness and the doctors' prognosis. I frequently tell my son, "Not only did God step in and save me for a greater purpose but He specifically wanted you on this earth because you shouldn't be here."

In walking me through my own personal Valley of the Shadow of Death, God showed me how deeply He values me and all people. Not only did He give me life, but He gave me LIFE!

This Week 

Ask the Lord to show you how valuable you are to Him. Know that He chose you, and ask Him to make that deeply real to you.

Prayer
"Father, sometimes I doubt how much you value me. Sometimes I don't value others as I should. Please forgive me. Please help me to know, deep in my heart, how much value You place in me and help me to value others as You do. Amen."

E.D. Hill joins James and Betty on LIFE TODAY tomorrow (Monday) to discuss her latest book "I'm Not Your Friend, I'm Your Parent: Helping Your Children Set the Boundaries They Need...and Really Want."

MERRY CHRISTMAS Y'ALL

Click to play

MY DOLL BLOG

I just received a blogger award for my Dolls Dolls Dolls blog and I posted my Show & Tell for this week on that blog --- sooo, if you haven't been there in the last day or two, you might want to jump over there for a look. The award is so neat. I love it.  A blogger called Tardevil gave it to me. That should peak your curiosity. 

I also would like to remind you that the linky will be up tomorrow for Spiritual Sundays. We hope you will consider joining us by posting your inspirational/spiritual posts and going there to find the links to others.

NEW SPIRITUAL SUNDAYS WIDGET

Ginger just made a new widget for our Spiritual Sundays blog. You can see it on my sidebar. We have had a lot of lovely comments on that blog. I'm so glad Ginger had the idea of starting it. It is blessing a lot of people but especially Ginger and me. If you haven't been there click on the little birdies on the sidebar to go there.

The new widget is easy to get the code and copy it to your blog, so we hope many of you will want to add it to your sidebar. 

GIVE THANKS WITH A GRATEFUL HEART

GIVE THANKS FOR ALL OF GOD'S BOUNTIFUL BLESSINGS!

TURKEY SHOOT

Here's something fun to do. They say it is a stress reliever. I'm not sure about that, but I thought it was fun. It's a TURKEY SHOOT. Just click HERE and let the fun begin. My highest score was just over 10,000. 

I went back after I posted this and played it again and got over 12,000. I'm getting better. 

SPIRITUAL SUNDAYS

Today for Spiritual Sundays I decided to post this unique perspective on the 23rd Psalm.

I hope you will click HERE to go to Spiritual Sundays for links to more spiritual/inspirational posts. Or you can click on the Spiritual Sundays link on my sidebar.

I received this in a recent e-mail from an old friend.

The Lord is my Shepherd = That's Relationship! 

I shall not want = That's Supply! 

He maketh me to lie down in green pastures = That's Rest! 

He leadeth me beside the still waters = That's Refreshment! 

He restoreth my soul = That's Healing! 

He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness = That's Guidance! 

For His name sake = That's Purpose! 

Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death = That's Testing! 

I will fear no evil = That's Protection! 

For Thou art with me = That's Faithfulness! 

Thy rod and Thy staff they comfort me = That's Discipline! 

Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies = That's Hope! 

Thou annointest my head with oil = That's Consecration! 

My cup runneth over = That's Abundance! 

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life = That's Blessing! 

And I will dwell in the house of the Lord = That's Security! 

Forever = That's Eternity! 

Face it, the Lord is crazy about you.

Note from me: Let's face it, doesn't that cover it all. What blessed assurance. That reminds me of the old hymn "Blessed Assurance". 

THANK YOU GINGER

I continue to find new things to be thankful for. Ginger surprised me with this wonderful gift that just came in the mail. She knows I love Thomas Kinkade, and I love this Kinkade mug. I can hardly wait to try the Pumpkin Spice coffee. I know I will like it. And isn't that a cute little card? It looks like a real cup of tea. Ginger is not only a relative, but a great blogging friend. Thank you so much, Ginger. 

DATES, PRUNES & FRESH BREAD

Today is Thankful Thursday. I've already done a post on my Charlotte's Weblog blog for Trim the Tree Thursdays, but we just got home from Sprouts and I was thinking to myself how thankful I am for all the good food that is available to us in the U.S. Specifically, I was eating a fresh sweet prune and thinking about doing a post for Thankful Thursday.  

I've always liked prunes, but I wasn't "in love" with them, but since I've discovered the soft fresh plump ones at Sprouts, I think I'm in love. I know I'm in love with their fresh Medjool dates. I did a post about them a while back. And, I love fresh baked french bread. Another favorite thing of ours is okra and Sprouts is about the only place I can always find it. Tonight we're having fried okra and left over goulash from last night - and french bread, of course.

Ginger of Enchanting Cottage asked me if I was blogging on both of my blogs now. I told her it was her fault that I was "hooked" on blogging. She's the one that got me started. Now she's taking a break from it and has not been posting except on her Sunday blog for Spiritual Sundays. I'll bet she doesn't take a very long break though, cause breaking the blogging habit isn't easy. 

Thanksgiving is just a week away. I have so much to be thankful for that I couldn't begin to list everything. So, right now, I'll just limit it to dates, prunes and french bread - and okra - and left over goulash.

Go visit Iris at Grace Alone for lots of links to Thankful Thursday posts.

TURKEY FACTS

How much do you know about turkeys? Here's a little fun test you can take to find out how much you really do know. I'll confess I didn't do too well. The questions are pretty hard. 

Here's the link: http://home.aristotle.net/Thanksgiving/trivia.asp

A NEW AWARD

I just received this lovely award from BP at Raindrops & Rainbows. Thank you, BP. I am honored that you chose me to receive this award. It's called Marie Antoinette ~ A Real Person Award. The rules for this award want you to reflect who awarded it to you, display the icon, and pass it along to seven (7)other bloggers.

BP regularly reads my blogs and comments on my posts. She is always an encouragement to me.

I just passed on another award on my Charlotte's Weblog blog and chose 5 people for that. So, I'm passing this award on to those same 5 people, Smiling Sally, Connie at Down on the Farm, Baba's Blog, Jeanette at Jen's Chronicles, Beverly at How Sweet the Sound and adding Ruthie at Just Ruthie, and BJ at Sweet Nothings.

SPIRITUAL SUNDAYS

I posted a Spiritual Sundays on my other blog yesterday, but this morning I read something that I also want to share so decided to post it on this blog. It's pretty neat actually - having two blogs - no actually three - no actually three and a half. I share half of the Spiritual Sundays with Ginger. 

Anyway, here's my new post. It was a blessing to me and I hope it will be to you.

Giddy as a Schoolgirl
with Captain Chris Plekenpol

"...your Father knows what you need
before you ask Him." (Matthew 6:8)

Constant battle can definitely wear on the soul. We long for a time
when we don't have to talk about IEDs (improvised explosive
devices), snipers, and RPGs (rocket propelled grenades).

In the wake of the death of my first soldier, SSG Vaillant, I was
longing for one of those moments. I had that faraway feeling that
comes when you've been beaten down emotionally. I prayed,
"Lord, give me someone to talk about You with. I'm dying
here."

I walked into my TOC (tactical operation center) and found another
captain there. I am situated in an old Royal Air Force base tower. It
was the control tower during the times that the British Air Force was
here in the early 1930's, and it provides the best line of sight
in the camp. So it also has the best communications range. The other
captain saw my Message Bible on the table and started reading it.
After a moment he asked, "Is this yours?"

I nodded. Then he became giddy as a schoolgirl and talked about how he
had never seen anything like it. He went on to explain that his wife
had just given birth to his first son and it forced him to think about
some sobering realities. We then talked for about an hour about what
it meant to figure out God's will. What an incredible
conversation.

As he was talking, I could just feel God. I actually had to hold back
the tears. Why was I crying over a conversation about God's
will? I was emotionally and spiritually starving, and He fed me. I had
been used to feasting in a Christian environment, but now I was in a
place where not everyone automatically voiced their love for Jesus. I
found my soul very hungry. So in one conversation, God reminded me
that He is capable of providing for my needs. I love that.

When I am running on empty, God always comes through. David wrote:
"God, investigate my life; get all the facts firsthand.
I'm an open book to you; even from a distance, you know what
I'm thinking. You know when I leave and when I get back;
I'm never out of your sight. You know everything I'm going
to say before I start the first sentence. I look behind me and
you're there, then up ahead and you're there, too your
reassuring presence, coming and going. This is too much, too wonderful
I can't take it all in!" (Psalm 139: 1-6, The Message)

What a powerful thing it is to know that God knows when I am hurting.
He knows when I am at my limit and I just need a little grace.

Grace. So perfect. So pure. So God. That is what He delivers. Often in
life we are running on fumes. No matter how much we desire godliness,
we can find ourselves in a rut...or even a desert. Even though all
we want is His closeness, we wonder if He hears our cries.

The truth is, He does hear you! He knows what you need. He's
more than willing to help. Just ask Him. Where are you? Are you
feeling low, beat down by an unending series of crises? Do you find
yourself reeling emotionally and spiritually? Do you feel as though
God is not there, or not paying attention? Do you know that Jesus has
experienced those same feelings? Did you know all He wants from you is
for you to ask Him for help with an honest heart that acknowledges its
weaknesses and need of a Savior?

Remember: God loves the honest heart.

This Week
"Pour your heart out to the Lord and ask for His help."

Prayer
"Lord, I need Your help! My heart hurts. My feelings are telling
me many things, but You promise to stay with me always. You know
what's going on in my life. Nothing I'm dealing with is a
surprise to You. Please help me, and help me see Your help.
Amen."


Adapted from "Faith in the Fog of War: Stories of Triumph and Tragedy
in the Midst of War" by Captain Chris Plekenpol, during his 2004 tour
of duty in Iraq as a tank company team commander. Hear Capt.
Plekenpol's stories on LIFE TODAY this Veteran's D, Tuesday November 11.

If you haven't read my other Spiritual Sundays post, you can click HERE to go there. Have a wonderful Spiritual Sunday.  -  Charlotte

THE POWER OF PRAYER

I have a recommendation. I just went to Katherine's blog Power of Prayer to read her most recent post in response to the recent election. I agree with it 100% and wanted to let you know about it. You can click HERE to go to that blog. 

WHAT ABOUT THE FUTURE?

I was reading a post on Joel Rosenberg's blog. He said some things that I have been thinking but didn't know how to put it into words. He wrote this a few days ago after the financial meltdown was at its worst. Here is what he had to say. I think he said it well.

1. Are there prophetic implications of this financial crisis? It is hard to be definitive. The U.S. does not show up specifically in any end times Bible prophecies. But this fact alone raises a sobering question: If we are really in what the Bible describes as “the last days” before the return of Jesus Christ, then how is it possible that the United States of America — the wealthiest and most powerful nation on the face of the planet in the history of mankind — does not play a significant, notable role in Biblical end times events? The honest answer: I don’t know for certain. But here’s what I wrote in Dead Heat (p. 154): “What Bennett had never really considered carefully until now was the possibility that something else might devastate the American people, rendering them ineffective heading into the last of the last days. A financial downturn on Wall Street. The sudden collapse of the dollar. The beginning of another Great Depression. A series of devastating earthquakes. Or hurricanes. Or other natural disasters, like a tsunami. [Or ] the most cataclysmic terrorist attack of all time — five nuclear warheads. And there might be more to come. None of it was clearly prophesied in the Scriptures. Not that he could find. But perhaps he should have foreseen the neutralization of America by more carefully reading between the lines. If so, what else was he missing? What exactly was coming next?”
2. Finally, let us consider the possibility that the Lord is allowing this economic meltdown in part to shake our confidence in anything but a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. Is it possible that God is trying to shake us loose from trusting in our wealth, from trusting in our political leaders, from trusting in our own ingenuity and our own hard work? Is it possible that He is trying to get us to shift our focus from worldly, materialistic things to how much He loves us, and the truth that the only person we can truly trust in life to never leave us or forsake us is Jesus Christ? Is it possible that He is trying to get us to read the Bible more, and the stock tickers less? To pray more, and to worry less? To store up our treasures in heaven, and not concentrate so much on our treasures on earth? Anyone who is feeling fearful during this turbulent economic times would do well to meditate on the words Jesus told His disciples in Matthew 6:19-33, “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal; for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also….No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and despise the other You cannot serve God and wealth. For this reason I say to you, do not be worried about your life, as to what you will eat or what you will drink; nor for your body, as to what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air, that they do not sow, nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not worth much more than they? And who of you by being worried can add a single hour to his life? And why are you worried about clothing? Observe how the lilies of the field grow; they do not toil nor do they spin, yet I say to you that not even Solomon in all his glory clothed himself like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, will He not much more clothe you? You of little faith! Do not worry then, saying, ‘What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will we wear for clothing?’ For the Gentiles eagerly seek all these things; for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.”

Perhaps one of the things God is showing us is that we need to depend on him more. We can't depend on the government. Actually we can't depend on anything or anybody in the final analysis except HIM.

DISAPPOINTING TIMES FOR ME

The final count is not in as I write this, but I am very disappointed with what looks like the inevitable outcome of the election. I think that a large majority of people did not really know what they were voting for. They were just mesmerized by a smooth talking politician.

God doesn't always answer our prayers the way we want him to. He looks ahead at the big picture that we can't see. We know by reading the Bible, that many times he lets his people be defeated and even taken into captivity because of their actions and their attitude toward him and his laws.

One of the things that comes to my mind is that I have to be reminded that our time on earth is temporary and Jesus said that his kingdom is not of this world. I don't know what is ahead for America. I just pray that the liberal left will not be allowed to take more of our religious liberties from us. They have already taken God out of our schools to the detriment to our students and our country. Abortion is allowed and approved by our government. I'm not sure we can expect God to bless us as a nation any longer.

I like what Edward Fudge wrote in an e-mail that just came in a few minutes ago. He writes a daily column that he calls gracEmail. Here is a quote from him:

We live during an interim on God's calendar, a defined but unknown period of time that began with a significant event and that will end when Jesus comes again. This is the period of God's conquests, which began when Jesus was enthroned at God's right hand in heaven and will continue until the last enemy, death, has been destroyed (Psalm 110:1). It is simultaneously the period of heaven's reception of Jesus, which will end with the redemptive restoration of all things spoken by the ancient prophets (Acts 3:20-21). In both respects, we live between the Already and the Not Yet.

Because the exact time of the End is unknown, we fully engage the world in which we live. But because the End can arrive any day, we hold all earthly things lightly rather than tightly. Paul once expressed it like this: "This is what I mean, brothers: the appointed time has grown very short. From now on, let those who have wives live as though they had none, and those who mourn as though they were not mourning, and those who rejoice as though they were not rejoicing, and those who buy as though they had no goods, and those who deal with the world as though they had no dealings with it. For the present form of this world is passing away" (1 Cor. 7:29-31, ESV).

God calls us out of the world to go back into the world for the sake of the world. We believers are God's salt-and-light brigade, not his society of separated hermits. But we are like firefighters in the station house -- sleeping, working, eating, yet ready every moment to respond immediately to the call. This does not mean that we live inauthentic lives, merely going through the motions with our minds and hearts elsewhere. It does mean that every earthly circumstance, relationship and event is transitory, and that we keep that in mind lest we become so attached to anything that leaving it when the time comes causes unbearable pain. Nothing here is permanent. Nothing now is ultimate. Yet, for God's sake, every occasion is significant and ever person is important. You can click HERE to go to Edward Fudge's website.

I wish every person in America had seen the video below before they voted. It might have made some stop and think instead of blindly following their "new messiah". We need to pray for our country like we've never prayed before.

SO GOOD I HAD TO SHARE IT

Only in America would you find a totally biased press focus on Palin's so-called $150,000 wardrobe but totally ignore Barack Obama's spending more than $600,000,000 trying to get elected.

Only in America could Barack Obama, the leading candidate in the Presidential election, sit in a racist, radical church for more than 20 years and never hear the rantings of his lunatic Pastor, yet still be considered "brilliant" by the liberal press and public.

Only in America can a Presidential candidate (Barack Hussein Obama) SAY he is Christian, yet chose a MUSLIM name for himself as a grown man in college.

Only in America (while we remain in a contracted war with Islamic terrorism and have lost close to 10,000 lives in the war and terrorist attacks over the last 20 years) can a man even carry the name of BARACK HUSSEIN OBAMA and still be considered a legitimate candidate for President.

Only in America can a man who began his political career in the home of a known domestic terrorist, (who also bombed the White House and Pentagon and says he wished he would have done more) be considered a good candidate for President because he is "articulate" and "charismatic".

Only in America can one candidate (Palin) who is the Governor of the largest state in the U.S. be called "inexperienced", but the opposing candidate for President (Obama) be called "ready for the job" with one term in the U.S. Senate.

Only in America can a leading candidate for President (Obama) promise to lower taxes for 95% of the population when only 60-70% pay taxes in the first place, yet still go unchallenged with his rhetoric and actually be believed by a portion of the voting public.

Only in America can a candidate who is favored by the Islamic states, Farrakhan, Chavez, Castro, Iran, Korea, Colombia and other terroristic nations be considered a legitimate choice for President.

Only in America can a candidate (Obama) be rated the most liberal Senator in the U.S. , claim to be "moderate" while he is running for President, and yet still go unchallenged by the so-called U.S. media.

Only in America can a radical, bigoted, hateful racist (Louis Farrakhan) who has likened White people to "the Devil" and embraces a religion which says that whites are "descendants of the devil", call Obama "the Messiah" and a "great hope" without people abandoning their support in droves.

Only in America can a Presidential candidate (Barack Obama) claim he is going to reduce the income tax (1 TAX) on people who make less than $250,000 a year, then raise 8-10 OTHER TAXES we all pay, either in direct taxes or taxes that are passed on in the increased cost of goods and services resulting from theses increased taxes, and still be considered trying to help the "middle income" families of America.

Only in America can a man who is not even constitutionally eligible to hold office be so close to winning the Presidency. Barack Obama's father was not an American and his mother was not a legal resident long enough before he was born to qualify him as eligible for the Presidency. Where is the so-called "Press" of this country?

Only in America can a man who is not eligible for selection to the FBI because of his past terrorist associations be close to winning the White House.

AMERICA IS STILL A GREAT COUNTRY

The following quote is supposedly from David Letterman. I find that hard to believe, but whether it originated from him or not, it is "thought provoking". Here is the e-mail that I received this morning. 

      - Charlotte

No matter what your political convictions are this is an eye opener ... What a thankless people we are!!!

David Letterman, on President Bush. (Surprising)

David Letterman wrote this; it's the David we don't often see ...

'As most of you know I am not a President Bush fan, nor have I ever been, but this is not about Bush, it is about us, as Americans, and it seems to hit the mark.'


'The other day I was reading Newsweek  magazine and came across some Poll data I found rather hard to believe.  It must be true given the  source, right?
The Newsweek poll alleges that 67 percent of Americans are unhappy with the direction the country is headed and 69 percent of  the country is unhappy with the performance of the President. In essence 2/3 of the citizenry just ain't happy and want a change. So being the knuckle dragger I am, I started thinking, 'What are we so unhappy about?'

A. Is it that we have electricity and running water 24 hours a day, 7 Days a week?

B. Is our unhappiness the result of having air conditioning in the summer and heating in the winter?

C. Could it be that 95.4 percent of these unhappy folks have a job?

D. Maybe it is the ability to walk into a grocery store at any time  and see more food in moments than Darfur has seen in the last year?

E. Maybe it is the ability to drive our cars and trucks from the Pacific Ocean to the Atlantic Ocean without having to present identification papers as we move through each state.

F. Or possibly the hundreds of clean and safe motels we would find along the way that can provide temporary shelter?

G. I guess having thousands of restaurants with varying cuisine from around the world is just not good enough either.

H. Or could it be that when we wreck our car, emergency workers show up and provide services to help all and even send a helicopter to take you to the hospital.

I. Perhaps you are one of the 70 percent of Americans who own a home.

J. You may be upset with knowing that in the unfortunate case of a fire, a group of trained firefighters will appear in moments and use top notch equipment to extinguish the flames thus saving you, your family, and your belongings.

K. Or if, while at home watching one of your many flat screen TVs, a burglar or prowler intrudes, an officer equipped with a gun and a bullet-proof vest will come to defend you and your family against attack or loss.

L. This all in the backdrop of a neighborhood free of bombs or militias raping and  pillaging the residents. Neighborhoods where 90% of teenagers own cell phones and computers.

M. How about the complete religious, social and political freedoms we enjoy that are the envy of everyone in the world?

Maybe that is what has 67% of you folks unhappy.

Fact is, we are the largest group of ungrateful, spoiled brats the world has ever seen. No wonder the world loves the U.S. , yet has a great disdain for its citizens. They see us for what we are. The most blessed people in the world who do nothing but complain about what we don't have, and what we hate about the country instead of thanking the good Lord we live here.

I know, I know. What about the president who took us into war and has no plan to get us out? The president who has a measly 31 percent approval rating? Is this the same president who guided the nation in the dark days after 9/11? The president that cut taxes to bring an economy out of recession? Could this be the same guy who has been called every name in the book for succeeding in keeping all the spoiled ungrateful brats safe from terrorist attacks? The commander in chief of an all -volunteer army that is out there defending you and me?

Did you hear how bad the President is on the news or talk show? Did this news affect you so much, make you so unhappy you couldn't take a look around for yourself and see all the good things and be glad? Think about it ... are you upset at the President because he actually caused you personal pain OR is it because the 'Media' told you he was failing to kiss your sorry ungrateful behind every day.

Make no mistake about it. The troops in Iraq and Afghanistan have volunteered to serve, and in many cases may have died for your freedom. There is currently no draft in this country. They didn't have to go. They are able to refuse to go and end up with either a ''general'' discharge, an 'other than honorable'' discharge or, worst case scenario, a ''dishonorable" discharge after a few days in the brig.

So why then the flat-out discontentment in the minds of 69 percent of Americans?

Say what you want, but I blame it on the media. If it bleeds it leads and they specialize in bad news. Everybody will watch a car crash with blood and guts. How many will watch kids sell ing lemonade at the corner? The media knows this and media outlets are for-profit corporations. They offer what sell s, and when criticized, try to defend their actions by 'justifying' them in one way or another. Just ask why they tried to allow a murderer like O.J. Simpson to write a book about how he didn't kill his wife, but if he did he would have done it this way ... Insane!

Turn off the TV, burn Newsweek, and use the New
York Times for the bottom of your bird cage. Then start being grateful for all we have as a country. There is exponentially more good than bad. We are among the most blessed people on Earth and should thank God several times a day, or at least be thankful and appreciative.' 'With hurricanes, tornados, fires out of control, mud slides, flooding, severe thunderstorms tearing up the country from one end to another, and with the threat of bird flu and terrorist attacks, 'Are we sure this is a good time to take God out of the Pledge of Allegiance?'

-David Letterman
 

SMILE

Let us pray for our election as they did in India.

Praying for the Upcoming Election

God interveined in India. Let's pray for his intervention in our election

Patrick Joshua is the Director of the National Prayer Network and a father figure to the prayer movement in India .

Because of a special burden for our nation, he visited the United States twice in recent months, including a trip to Houston . Patrick believes the U.S. is at a very critical time in history, the impact of which will be felt around the world. During his visits, Patrick told the story of God's intervention in India in 2004, in response to the fervent, united prayers of His people. At that time, political forces had mobilized with the intention of turning their nation in a direction that would make it almost impossible for Christians to share or practice their faith. Those forces had the momentum and the numbers as the Christian population in India is a minority – by some estimates representing only 6% of the 1.1 billion people in the nation. The situation was desperate.

Many thought it was impossible. So they turned to the God of the impossible and began to pray. In cities and states across their nation, a movement of united, fervent prayer arose, but with a unique focus. They weren't praying for particular candidates or political parties. Instead they were praying for the person of righteousness, the person of God's choosing, to be elected in every elected office.

Right up until the day of the election every poll and pundit predicted the election would be a landslide for those who were opposed to the gospel. When the votes were counted, however, the results revealed a different story. In district after district those candidates and political allies who opposed the gospel had been soundly defeated. At a national level they were out of power. Needless to say the press and the pundits were stunned. No one saw it coming.

So what happened? It seems God heard the cries of His people and touched the hearts of the voters as they went into the voting booths. Some believe a corporate conviction came upon the people and they indeed voted for the person of righteous, the person of God's choosing. This was seen most dramatically in the states and regions where prayer was the most concentrated and fervent. In one of those states, laws that restricted the advance of the gospel were immediately repealed. While our situation is certainly different, Patrick believes we are at a critical crossroad. He has encouraged us to follow a similar pattern in prayer for our upcoming election.

Here's the pattern for prayer as we approach our election.

Prayer Guide for the Election Begins with Heart Preparation: Come into God's Presence with Worship. Thank God for his great mercy and many blessings. Ask God to extend his mercy to us and to our nation. Pray for the upcoming election.

1. Those running for office nationally: Instead of praying for specific candidates or political parties – Pray that the person of righteousness, the person of God's choosing, would be selected in every congressional district, every senate race and for the office of President.

"Righteousness exalts a nation but sin is a disgrace to any people." Proverbs 14:34

2. Those running for office at the state and local level: Pray that the person of righteousness, the person of God's choosing, would be selected in every elected office at the state and local levels.

" When the righteous thrive, the people rejoice; when the wicked rule, the people groan". Proverbs 29:2

3. Those voting: Pray that each person voting will be convicted to vote for the person of righteousness, the person of God's choosing, in each elected office and in each ballot initiative. Pray for God's Presence to overshadow each person as they make their decision.

"The Spirit of the Lord will be upon him – the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and power, the Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord – and he will delight in the fear of the Lord. He will not judge by what he sees with his eyes, or decide by what he hears with his ears" Isaiah 11:2-3

4. Those involved in the election process: Pray that every official involved in the election process would serve with honesty and integrity of heart.

"The Lord abhors dishonest scales, but accurate weights are his delight." Proverbs 11:1

5. Those praying: Pray that God would empower intercessors and people across the nation and around the world to call out to Him day and night in extraordinary prayer during this season.

"And I will pour out on the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem a Spirit of grace and supplication." Zechariah 12:10

6. The Church: Pray that the Church would be fully awakened, engaged and empowered during this critical season. Pray that we would understand the urgency and importance of this election and the implications for the advancement of God's purposes in our nation and around the world.

"The zeal of the Lord Almighty will accomplish this". Isaiah 9:7

7. Our nation: Pray that God's plans and purposes for our nation would be established during this election season. Pray that we would be a nation who follows God and is a blessing to the nations of the earth.

"Your Kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven". Matthew 6:10

I didn't realize how much I would still be using this blog but today after visiting Amanda Bowers' blog I just felt like I had to share this with as many people as possible. It is so good. I hope you will watch this video and then pass it on to as many people as you can. This is so important.

I'VE MOVED

Yes, I have started doing most of my blogging on my new blog and I hope you will visit me there, but first -- please check out the post below. I know that quite a few people are still coming to this blog and I thought it would be a good place to post today.

TIME FOR CHRISTIANS TO SERIOUSLY PRAY

As stated above, I am doing my posting on a new blog now, but I see that quite a lot of people are still coming here to this blog and so I want to post the following admonition I received today in a forwarded email from a good friend. I totally agree with these thoughts and I have been praying many times every day about this situation, but I think we cannot pray too much and I want to encourage more people to really think seriously about the situation at hand. Voting is just a few days away. I did not write this, but I wish I had.

This is ONLY for those people who believe in the power of prayer... Can we?

Will we?

I was very dismayed when, recently, a member of my Church said to me with great resignation that she was afraid Obama will take the presidency. These words came from someone that in the past has been a great prayer warrior.

What is happening was my question!! Why are we Christians settling for the loss of our Christian heritage, not issuing a battle cry and falling to our knees and taking our country back?

We allow ourselves to be stripped of the right to pray at school functions and in school, we have the Ten Commandments removed from government places and are told we cannot pray publicly or proclaim Christian principles, all the while providing public prayer places for Muslims. We allow Muslim mosques to operate in America funded by Saudi Arabia , and proclaim anti-American, anti-Christian threats and terrorism.

What in the world is going on and why are we being so apathetic? Why aren't we praying? Our God is an Almighty God who is waiting patiently for us to raise our voices to heaven to stop the tide of the anti-Christian actions in our world today.

Now we have a charismatic, albeit inexperienced, candidate for president that does not respect our flag and refuses to wear one on his lapel except when it becomes politically expedient, and whose own wife and pastor that he loves profess to have strong anti-white feelings, and

we sit back and say 'it is a given, we can do nothing' ????

There has never been a time in 2000 years that we can do nothing, never a time that we must sit back and allow the evil in men's and women's hearts to take over our world! We should be afraid, very afraid because our apathy is leading us to perdition. It is time for all Christian Americans to raise the battle cry and take our nation back!

Maybe McCain on his own cannot defeat Obama, but our God can and He will if we take to our knees in prayer and raise a mighty cry to the heavens. We have the power to change the course of this election and to keep a man as suspect as Barak Obama from leading our country to who knows where with his message of 'change'; a change which I fear will be away from our Christian ideals, and away from Christ, and further away from one nation under God to one nation under Allah.

We are great at passing stories and pictures around the internet, but where are our prayers and prayer warriors praying to stop this tide of Barak Obama? We can bring our country back to its Christian roots and stop the undermining of our country by Muslims. We can stop our country from being 'under Allah' but we must begin to pray; to pray as our country and our lives depended on it because they do. We can stop all these atrocities against God's commandments that have taken root in our country through something as simple as sincere prayer, a call to God to deliver us, to protect us from the evil that is upon us.

OK, prayer warriors, here is your challenge... Start those prayer chains. Get the spiritual power working on our behalf and stop Barak Obama the proper way, by calling on our God to save us from the deception that charismatic preaching is using to lead us on the wrong path. Stop those who would take God out of our country and our government. Raise up good men to lead us and protect us. But we should not rest on our laurels and allow ourselves to be taken further off the path of Christianity and to have God removed from our presence in our schools, courts,

government and businesses.

Invite God into the fray. Ask that His power rest upon us and give us the victory. Ask him to raise up a mighty army to defend us and to protect our country as he did in days of old. Let us be victorious beginning NOW. The battle is His but we must call on Him without ceasing and

unite our voices and hearts in prayer and fasting.

Please pass this around to all people of prayer that you know and maybe, just maybe, we'll bring a victory for us and ultimately for Him. AMEN!

WHAT WOULD JESUS SAY?

Jesus said "Come follow me and I will make you fishers of men."

The question is not "What would Jesus say, but what DID Jesus say". 

"I am the way, the truth, and the life, no one comes to the Father but by me." John 14:6

"If you love me, you will keep my commandments." John 14:15

"Those who believe in me, even though they die, will live, and everyone who lives and believes in me will never die." John 11:25-26

Please click on the Spiritual Sundays picture to go to that blog where you will find other bloggers who have posted spiritual/inspirational posts on their blogs. We would love to have you participate as well.