Friday, January 30, 2009

Prayers & Kind Words

Thank you precious Sisters in Christ and friends...the comments and prayers are a tremendous blessing. I will print copies for my mother.

I left a couple of relatives out of the obituary which will appear in the Houston Chronicle today and tomorrow. Hopefully I can correct the obituary for tomorrow's edition.

I hope I have not forgotten to call or notify anyone...

We will sing many of dad's favorite songs tomorrow:

How Great Thou Art
Amazing Grace - My Chains Are Gone
Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing
Holy Holy Holy Lord God Almighty
How Great is Our God
This is the Air I Breathe
I Love You Lord & I Lift My Voice

If any of these are one of your favorites, I hope the words get stuck in your head and you sing a little today with joy in your heart.

Love, Annette

Wednesday, January 28, 2009

Dad

My father, dad as I called him died tonight as he was having an X-Ray. Though somewhat stunned, and saddened, I know he is in heaven with our Lord and King. Last week we were talking and he said he had always had Christ but didn't strive to be Christ like until very late in life, he didn't understand how important it was to live like Christ. My father was a man of integrity and honour all his life. He was a policeman and served his community upon retirement in various charities. I loved him very much and because he was such a loving, caring father to me, I have a very healthy understanding of our Heavenly Father's love and care for us.

If there is one thing dad could say to you, it would be make Christ your Lord and Saviour and go out and serve Him with love in your heart.

I will be dark for the next few days. I thank you for all your prayers these last months.

Love, Annette

Beth Moore Bible Study

I finally made it to Bible Study last night, met Annette G and a couple of her friends and heard a powerful message on our inheritance as Christian women. The praise and worship was wonderful and strangely enough it only took 45 minutes to get home, a new record. I didn't really speed too much.

Beth Moore asked what the 1st question we would ask someone who called and said we were to receive an inheritance...Annette and I said - who died...most people said how much, a few said what did we inherit...as she pointed out we could inherit someone's guinea pig (always wanted one as a child), someone's debt...may not be money or property.

Do a search of your concordance for the words inherit and inheritance, the Bible has much to say about it. We are heirs of Abraham, check out what God promised him in Genesis. We are also heirs of Christ Jesus...this is a small but vital portion of our inheritance:

Now when Jesus saw the crowds, he went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to him, and he began to teach them saying:

Blessed are the poor in spirit,for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are those who mourn,for they will be comforted.
Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,for they will be filled.
Blessed are the merciful,for they will be shown mercy.
Blessed are the pure in heart,for they will see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers,for they will be called sons of God.
Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness,for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

Life may not always be pretty, but our spiritual inheritance is always beautiful. Press in to Jesus, let His words and promises wash over you afresh today. Rest in Him, He loves you more than anyone else and it's a perfect, healthy love.

Have a blessed day!

Tuesday, January 27, 2009

Mrs. Beamish

If you come from a liturgical background and remember when the peace was added to the service, I think you will find this video hilarious. I was fortunate enough to be in church in England when it was added, most people were appalled the Church of England (C of E) added it. Enjoy...

Monday, January 26, 2009

Prayer for my Sisters

Heavenly Father,

You know the situations my sisters in Christ are facing. I ask You to give them wisdom and discernment in these situations. If they are asking for confirmation, I ask You to send it so they do not miss Your answer.

Lord as they wait, I ask You to fill them with Your peace which trancends all understanding and fill them with patience.

I ask You to fill them to overflowing with Your love for people, I pray they are Your vessels as they go about their lives today.

I ask You to refresh the mentally, spiritually, and physically tired sisters.

Please fill their lives with blessings from heaven this week.

I thank You for putting these women via the Internet into my life. I thank You I met Annette G in person and I await the day I meet the rest of them.

In Jesus' Name I pray. Amen.

Sunday, January 25, 2009

God of Wonders by Third Day

I dedicate this to my friend and her family, her father died earlier this week. He served in the Air Force for 50 years. He was in the Canadian Air Force at the beginning of WWII because the U S Military said he was too young to enlist. I appreciate his service to our country and the world.

Friday, January 23, 2009

Obedience & Unmentionables

It's funny now, but it was not funny January 8, 2009. You will not believe what I am about to share with you, but I share so much, why not share this too.

January 7, I was in bed watching TV trying not to fall asleep because I wanted to do 1 more load of laundry when the load in the washer was finished. The machine beeped, I got out of bed, put the wet laundry into the dryer but did not start it because it would wrinkle if I fell asleep. I put every bra I owned in the washing machine on the hand wash setting and decided to throw all my socks in as well, pulled my drying rack out of the laundry room so I could hang up said unmentionables and socks when the washer beeped.

I went back to watching TV and fell asleep, the Lord woke me up and said in a still, quiet voice Annette hang up your laundry. I said I will in a minute. He said it again, I said I will in a minute Lord. Guess what, I didn't do it. I turned off the television and fell asleep.

The next morning I overslept (of course He knew I would), I woke up at 6:15am, I made coffee turned the dryer on and moped I overslept and wondered how I could get ready for work and read my daily Bible readings. As I dressed, I thought oh no - you didn't hang your bras up to dry Annette, your socks are wet...so now I am late and braless (and at my age, gravity is not my friend) and will have to wear loafers instead of boots...I thought I will have to bite the bullit and put the bras and socks in the dryer. I threw them in, drank more coffee, and got the call to take my dad to the hospital. (The Lord knew the call was coming, He tried to make a stressful morning a little easier for me.)

If I had obeyed the Lord on the simple task of hanging my bras and socks up to dry, I would not have sat in the ER on 1 of the coldest days of the year with a 1/2 dry bra on under my blouse and I would not have been sockless...

How many times do we say we want to hear from the Lord, we want to be used in ministry and then hear from Him and don't do what He instructs us to do. His instructions are to bless us, not make us feel small or inferior. He instructs out of His love for us.

I would be wise to take heed to the following Bible verses:

Listen and hear my voice; pay attention and hear what I say.

Those who obey his commands live in him, and he in them. And this is how we know that he lives in us: We know it by the Spirit he gave us.

Take it from me, if the Lord instructs you to finish your laundry, do it!

Wednesday, January 21, 2009

Aunt Ginny


My aunt Ginny is one of my closest friends and I am going to share her big news on the Internet...I told her I would post it, wonder if she believed me? She's getting married to a wonderful man we'll call Cam.

Aunt Ginny lived in Houston for a few years in the late 90's and returned to England in 2002 if I remember correctly. I was so blessed by her presence in Houston, but sorry it was because she was caring for her father who was frail and elderly at the time. We had lots of fun dinners, laughs, and great conversations about the Lord.

She will be living in the Los Angeles area after her marriage. I already see us meeting in Colorado, visiting each other in person at least twice a year. Hope Cam can see this as well. I am so looking forward to meeting him.

I was going to scan one of my favorite pics of aunt Ginny and photoshop some puffy bridal veil onto her head as well as some kind of wedding dress, then photoshop some terrible dress onto a pic of her daughter,my cousin Ginger...you know something in Prell green or some sickly shade of yellow. But alas, I didn't do it. I got this picture off her employer's website: Life Church ,her son in law and daughter are the pastors...

It's so wonderful to share joyous news...

Tuesday, January 20, 2009

Big Happenings Today


My father is being released from the hospital today. I am so thankful to the Lord for my earthly father and for all the prayers you offered up on my dad's behalf. I ask the Lord to bless each and everyone of you.

America will have a new president today. It doesn't matter which candidate we voted for, we are Americans. Let's pray President Obama is a man filled with God's Wisdom, led by the Holy Spirit and his decisions are right in God's sight. Please pray for his protection.

This is a day the Lord has made and I will rejoice and be glad in it and I remember when it's all said and done, it's Thy will be done, not Annette's will in the Name of Jesus.

I pray as this is a new day for our country, we truly unite in the love of Jesus and we are a nation which serves the Lord and not ourselves. I pray America blesses God.

Monday, January 19, 2009

More with Less



As many of you know I dislike cooking - INTENSELY! I have watched my grocery bill climb over the last few months while buying less and not cooking much. You have no doubt experienced the same thing. My friend Anna Marie told me about a cookbook she used when her husband Jack was in seminary, More with Less. She began using it again, she has saved at least 40.00 per trip to the grocery store the last two trips. I thought wow - 80.00 a month in savings to feed two people. I ordered the book from Amazon.com and it arrived Friday.

I will plan a week's worth of menus and grocery shop. I am interested in the recipes as well as the savings. There are recipes for carnivores and herbivores in other words steak and potato people as well as vegetarians.

It is vital we are good stewards of all the Lord provides us, the more I save the more I can sow into the Kingdom. (I can also buy more Palmer's Age Spot Serum, it's working...and is less than 10.00 per bottle.)

The Bible says:

Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.

I want to sow generously with a cheerful heart.

Saturday, January 17, 2009

This Is My Father's World, Fernando Ortega

An updated version of a hymn I used to belt out as a child. Dad and I were taking trip down memory lane today and I thought of my days (5yrs old to 9 yrs old) in the Westbury United Methodist Choir...did I ever make a joyful noise unto the Lord.

Friday, January 16, 2009

Abraham, Isaac & Future Generations

Gen 22: 7 -13: Then Isaac spoke to his father Abraham and said, "My father." And he replied, "Here I am, my son." Isaac said, "The fire and the wood are here, but where is the lamb for the burnt offering?" Abraham answered, "God Himself will provide the lamb for the burnt offering, my son." Then the two of them walked on together. When they arrived at the place that God had told him about, Abraham built the altar there and arranged the wood. He bound his son Isaac and placed him on the altar, on top of the wood. Then Abraham reached out and took the knife to slaughter his son. But the Angel of the LORD called to him from heaven and said, "Abraham, Abraham!" He replied, "Here I am." Then He said, "Do not lay a hand on the boy or do anything to him. For now I know that you fear God, since you have not withheld your only son from Me." Abraham looked up and saw a ram caught by its horns in the thicket. So Abraham went and took the ram and offered it as a burnt offering in place of his son. And Abraham named that place The LORD Will Provide, so today it is said: "It will be provided on the LORD's mountain."

God provided the ram because Abraham honoured the Lord and was obedient to Him. For his obedience and reverence, Abraham was further blessed, he is the father of many nations and we are his heirs.

Verse 18 And all the nations of the earth will be blessed by your offspring because you have obeyed My command."

Thankfully we are redeemed by the shed blood of Jesus and are no longer called to make animal sacrifices; we should live sacrificially to the Lord and be a blessing.

We never know through our obedience to God who is blessed in the present and who will be blessed in the future. Who knows how many of us were prayed into the Kingdom by ancestors praying for future generations. Live as someone who is a blessed heir of Abraham and be a blessing!

Thursday, January 15, 2009

Memory Verse 2

For my 2nd memory verse of 2009, I chose: Jesus wept. I am just kidding, I learned that one back in 1965 or so. I chose I Sam 16:7 in the Holman Christian Standard Bible:

But the LORD said to Samuel, "Do not look at his appearance or his stature, because I have rejected him. Man does not see what the LORD sees, for man sees what is visible, but the LORD sees the heart."

I want to be reminded only the Lord sees the heart.

Wednesday, January 14, 2009

It's a New Day

Someone made a mistake with the IV and gave too much liquid and or meds to my father which set off a chain of events. He began having trouble breathing, he turned blue, and his entire body was cold to the touch. He was put on oxygen, had a chest x-ray which revealed he had pneumonia. He has been moved to ICU. I cannot tell y'all how disappointed we were yesterday. I felt very deflated, but not as mentally deflated as my father. He was so ready to come home.

Just like any day, you have a few plans to do normal things, Bible Study at 1st Baptist Houston with Beth Moore began last night, without me I might add. I am not complaining but disappointed. I am way more concerned about being with my father than Bible Study. I took my disappointment to the Lord and told Him - I am disappointed. Of course He already knew it, but it was important for me to tell Him all about it, just as it is important to tell Him about the sins I commit. I had some yesterday. I wanted to call a doctor names and ask him how he'd feel if I messed up the dosage of his IV. I have since repented and prayed he not make errors with any other patient.

As I rummaged through a desk drawer last night looking for a notepad, I found the little cards which I had torn out of the back of my Believing God workbook years ago. Think God wasn't speaking to me!

So today, I do ask for more prayer for Charles and my mother Barbara. She is so tired. But I also ask you to join me in praising our God, the Lord God Almighy, the Great I Am, Jehovah-Nisi - Our Banner, Jehovah-Rapha - the God Who Heals, the God Who Is and Was and Is to Come!

Praise God in his sanctuary; praise him in his mighty heavens.
Praise him for his acts of power;praise him for his surpassing greatness.
Praise him with the sounding of the trumpet, praise him with the harp and lyre,
praise him with tambourine and dancing, praise him with the strings and flute,
praise him with the clash of cymbals, praise him with resounding cymbals.
Let everything that has breath praise the LORD. Praise the LORD.

Tuesday, January 13, 2009

It's All in a Name

I had this silly thought as I sat in the ER cubicle the other day with my dad. The doctor's name was written on a board - Dr Psyk. Odds are the "P" is silent. I wondered does it rhyme with sick or like? Does anyone else have these odd thoughts at weird times?

Monday, January 12, 2009

Mission Bend United Methodist Church

Spent an amazing weekend with Jack & Anna Marie Sheffield, the Pastor Jeremiah Booker and his wife Petrella, Mission Bend UMC congreation members, Mary Ann, Susan and a few others as Jack preached and Anna Marie taught on healing. I want to assure you God still heals today.

Friday night my mother mentioned she had not taken her blood pressure medicine since Wednesday night. I told her not to have a stroke because it would be too embarrassing to show up to the healing conference with both parents in the hospital.

So many people left church this weekend feeling so much closer to the Lord and knowing He loves them. His perfect love is an amazing thing. If we could only love like He does.

There is much written about love through out the ages, one of my favorite passages from the Bible pertaining to love is:

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when perfection comes, the imperfect disappears. When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me. Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known. And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.

And yes, Anna Marie and I looked like Bobbsey twins in black and purple outfits...

Saturday, January 10, 2009

Who's on First, What's on 2nd...

My mother was so tired Friday morning when I talked to her that we had a little miscommunication. I asked what time dad was transferred to the medical center she said sometime after midnight. She said the doctor put his foot down over no beds being available and said it was not right to keep dad here. Unfortunately - she meant here as in the ER for over 18 hours and by transferred she meant from the ER to a room in the Sugar Land St. Luke's. Who's on 1st?

I hopped in my car Friday around noon to pick her up after his test...with the intention of going to the Med Center which is about an hour away at that time of the day. I called as I was barreling down the highway and the switchboard operator at St. Luke's Med Center did not have my father listed as a patient...so in a very Christ like way, I thought idiot, you should be able to spell his last name, it's only 4 letters, and I called back to get another operator...well she could not find him either. Uh-oh, where is my dad! This would have been a good time to repent, but no...I decided to call the St. Luke's Hospital in Sugar Land, lo and behold - my dad was admitted there...I discovered this as I drove past it at 70 mph. Have I repented yet? No. I decided to go to Lifeway and pick up the workbooks for the Bible Study which begins in my home on Monday. I arrive at Lifeway and pick up the workbooks and shop a little and never contemplate repenting.

I called my dad's room on the way back from Lifeway (no, I had not repented yet) and told her I would be there shortly and would come up to the room. I visit with my dad for about an hour and bring my mother home and decide at 2:56pm, it's time for lunch. As I ate lunch, I looked out the window and decided it was a good time to repent. I should have done it sooner. Lastly I asked the Lord to bless the woman who is not an idiot.

Funny how we can be such good Christians when life is going well, but when there is situation - someone immediately becomes an "idiot" when they don't have what you need or give you the answer you want.

Scripture tells us:

Jesus answered, "Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans because they suffered this way? I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish.

But this is how God fulfilled what he had foretold through all the prophets, saying that his Christ would suffer. Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord, and that he may send the Christ, who has been appointed for you—even Jesus.

yet now I am happy, not because you were made sorry, but because your sorrow led you to repentance. For you became sorrowful as God intended and so were not harmed in any way by us. Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death. See what this godly sorrow has produced in you: what earnestness, what eagerness to clear yourselves, what indignation, what alarm, what longing, what concern, what readiness to see justice done. At every point you have proved yourselves to be innocent in this matter.

Have a blessed day ladies, dad seems much better so I will be a prayer minister today at the healing weekend and hopefully will not call anyone an idiot on the way to church!

Thursday, January 8, 2009

Anniversary

1 year ago today I rushed my father to the ER; he was critically ill, though we did not know how ill at the time. He spent 8 months in the hospital because of a serious error a doctor made and admitted it to us. (The hospital should have taken care of the bill, but that is digressing from the story.) This is an anniversary we planned not to celebrate.

Today I rushed my father to the ER at the St. Luke's Hospital in Sugar Land. He's still there, he sent me home to work for a while. I cannot work, I am going back up there at 3:00pm. When a bed becomes available he will be transferred to St. Luke's at the Medical Center in Houston. My father's name is Charles. Prayers are needed and appreciated.

I am going to delay the drawing for the book give away until Monday. I will draw the winner's name and post it then.

I want to say to you, God is ever faithful, He never drops us in the grease. His Word tells us:

He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed.

I read the Beth Moore 5 Statement Pledge of Faith on Ang's blog this morning, I thank the Lord for the timely reminder:

God is Who He says He is
God can do what He says He can do
I am who God says I am
I can do all things through Christ
God's Word is alive and active in me.

I know: Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows...

Wednesday, January 7, 2009

Bobbsey Twins

Many times Anna Marie Sheffield and I show up for healing weekends in nearly identical outfits. She called us the Bobbsey Twins, I was thinking more like Dorks for the Lord. Last Sunday our jackets were made of the same fabric but different colours because I changed mine at the last minute. We have been out of town and emerged from our respective hotel rooms and laughed because I have on black pants and a red blouse and so does she. I was asked if we coordinated our outfits and assured the women we did not, we have never shopped for clothes together. Anna Marie and I are such close friends and have the same taste in many areas of our lives especially in the colour and styles of clothes we wear. (Except I hate Birkenstocks (sp?) and she loves them.)

I want to be such good friends with Jesus that I have His taste. I want to love our Heavenly Father as much as He does. I want to love people the way He does, I want to see people the way He does. I want to lose my appetite for things in this world that do not matter.

John 15: 1-8 says:

"I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. "I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. If anyone does not remain in me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you. This is to my Father's glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.

This year I want to abide, to remain in Jesus so He will abide and remain in me. I am tired of trying to do it on my own. I want to bear much fruit to my Father's glory.

Have a great day ladies...and enter the book give away by leaving a comment on a recent post....

Love, Annette

Monday, January 5, 2009

12th Night Give Away

It's the 12th night, the last day of Christmas so...for the last time until December - Merry Christmas! I thought (my husband shudders when I begin sentences with I thought or I have been thinking) it would be a great time to have give away. The winner will receive a slightly used New York City Ballet Workout DVD, just kidding, the winner will receive Kidnapped, written by Dee Henderson. Cold weather makes me want to read and drink hot chocolate or a cup of tea. Post a comment and make sure I have your e-mail address if it's not in your blog profile. Participants must be in the USA or Canada. I will make exceptions for anyone serving in the US Military. I will draw the name on Friday.

I was a prayer minister at The Little White Church yesterday in Barker, TX which is now just barely outside the Houston City Limits. The church is on a ranch, Longhorn cattle were roaming around. When you drive through the gate the sign reads if the cows are out close the gate. I smile every January when I see the sign. The Rev. Jack Sheffield preaches there the 1st Sunday in January. Lots of people were healed. One young man wanted prayer for his foot, Jack asked if I could sit down on the floor and lay hands on his injured foot while we prayed. I thought I will need prayer to stand up! We prayed and I was able to stand w/o assistance. I will do the New York City Ballet again tonight, that way as I told Linda - I can bathe, take an Alleve and fall into bed and whine to the Lord about my aches and pains after I have done it instead of getting stiff at my desk during the day.


I have learned by 1st verse of the year, Psalm 29:11 NKJV - The Lord will give strength to His people, the Lord will bless His people with peace. I keep repeating it on posts to make sure I really know it.

Time for more coffee and to get some laundry done before work. Have a blessed day. Here's a great word for us, a portion of Psalm 91 from the Amplified Bible:

HE WHO dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall remain stable and fixed under the shadow of the Almighty [Whose power no foe can withstand]. I will say of the Lord, He is my Refuge and my Fortress, my God; on Him I lean and rely, and in Him I [confidently] trust! For [then] He will deliver you from the snare of the fowler and from the deadly pestilence. [Then] He will cover you with His pinions, and under His wings shall you trust and find refuge; His truth and His faithfulness are a shield and a buckler. You shall not be afraid of the terror of the night, nor of the arrow (the evil plots and slanders of the wicked) that flies by day, Nor of the pestilence that stalks in darkness, nor of the destruction and sudden death that surprise and lay waste at noonday. A thousand may fall at your side, and ten thousand at your right hand, but it shall not come near you. Only a spectator shall you be [yourself inaccessible in the secret place of the Most High] as you witness the reward of the wicked. Because you have made the Lord your refuge, and the Most High your dwelling place, There shall no evil befall you, nor any plague or calamity come near your tent. For He will give His angels [especial] charge over you to accompany and defend and preserve you in all your ways [of obedience and service]. They shall bear you up on their hands, lest you dash your foot against a stone. You shall tread upon the lion and adder; the young lion and the serpent shall you trample underfoot. Because he has set his love upon Me, therefore will I deliver him; I will set him on high, because he knows and understands My name [has a personal knowledge of My mercy, love, and kindness--trusts and relies on Me, knowing I will never forsake him, no, never]. He shall call upon Me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him. With long life will I satisfy him and show him My salvation.

Saturday, January 3, 2009

Rigor Mortis



I think rigor mortis has set in...I did part of the New York City Ballet Workout today, all I can say is ay chihuahua, I need an Alleve...maybe 2 and healing prayer.

It's a shame I have let myself become so unfit, it's also a sin, but I am forgiven and the Lord will help me as I endeavor to become physically fit as well as more spiritually fit. Just as a ballet dancer conditions her body by training in the ballet studio several hours a day 4 to 6 days a week, we must condition ourselves spiritually.

I am so excited women all over the world are learning at least 24 Bible verses this year. I noticed on the Living Proof blog many women are learning 5 to 10 verses this week. I balked when I thought about learning that many verses, then I realized while attending school I learned numerous poems and passages of Shakespeare because I was conditioned to learn. I also had to memorize a Bible verse each week and could learn it at the last second before chapel when we recited the verse.

I think we may surprise ourselves at how much better we become at memorizing Scripture as the year progresses so I will refrain from calling anyone an overachiever, but I will call all of us over comers.

For practice, I am writing my verse again in the New King James Version, Psalm 29:11:

The LORD will give strength to His people; The LORD will bless His people with peace.

To my northern sisters, stay warm this weekend. I have to take an Alleve and soak in Epsom salts.

Thursday, January 1, 2009

I Pray 2009 Will Be a Year Filled with Love, Joy & Blessings!


It's 2009...though I was mightily blessed in 2008, I am glad to see it gone...

These were my goals in 2008:

Read the entire Bible in 2008.

Take a spiritual inventory through out the year - was I growing in Christ? Practice the presence of God daily...see Him in ordinary events through out the day, stay in fellowship with Him during the day.

Sit quietly in His presence each morning before prayer and time in the Word. (You know - be still and know He is God)

Walk at least 2.5 miles a day at least 4 days a week and ride my bike 10 miles once a week. (I did this for years.)

Lose 30 lbs.

Donate excess clothes, towels, kitchenware, etc to a local charity. Clean out the physical house which makes for a better spiritual house in my case.

Participate more in the Lions Club and do more prayer ministry.

See Valerie (my dear cohort in crime since 5th grade) at least once a month in person.

Not become annoyed with my mother. (Karen B. do not repeat that! I may tell people you rolled your eyes at the hospital when she said she did not micro manage everything. Oh, wait - I rolled my eyes too and she caught us.)

My goals were a mix of the heavenly and worldly weren't they...

Can I just say among friends - HA - I accomplished few of these things.

I read the daily Bible readings until January 12, dad had been hospitalized for 4 days at that point, I got behind and never caught up.

Did not walk any where or ride anything other than in a car or elevator for months. My bike is in the garage somewhere...

I gained 30 lbs (now I need to lose 60lbs) and bought some larger clothes.

Did not attend any Lions Club meetings from January through September or participate in their fund raisers etc. (Dad and I made the Oct/Nov/Dec meetings.) I have begun turning in volunteer hours again.

I was a prayer minister several weekends in 2008.

I zoned out a lot in hospital waiting rooms and lost a lot of time with the Lord as a result. Though I did pray for people and their families as they came into the ER and listened to many people vent in waiting rooms at the hospital, my listening to their story helped them and kept me from dwelling on myself.

Some of the blessings of 2008 were:

Making bloggy world friends - Leslie, Karen, Annette, Wendy, Mitzi were the ladies I "met" 1st in blog land and now I have met many more. I met Annette in person in November and saw her again in December...will attend Bible study with her this year.

I am going to be a prayer minister the 1st 2 weekends in January and I suspect a few more weekends during the year.

I walked a mile today, I am starting out slow, don't want to be too sore to walk tomorrow.

I joined Weight Watchers.

I will read the Bible this year with Karen and whoever joins us, I am looking forward to it.

I will donate clothes etc to Helping Hands this year. (As my god son Alaric says - donate what is surplus to requirement. Does anyone know of a way to donate fat which is surplus to requirement?)

I will also see my best friend Valerie in person more than 3 times in 2009.

I am practicing God's presence and see Him in more ordinary things of life and I want to be a vessel of His love where ever I go. I find I pray more during the day, mainly short prayers or short periods of praising Him through out the day. I am committed to learning Scripture this year with over 2300 Siestas.

Joy is my word for 2009. I will be filled with joy, the Lord's joy is my strength.

I hope no matter what happens in our lives in 2009 we see the blessings that occur daily, we stay connected to God through out the day every day this year. I pray 2009 is a wonderful year for you ladies. One day we will all meet and I think will have one Texas size gab fest.

I want the following Scripture to permeate my very being PS 29:11, NKJ:
The LORD will give strength to His people; The LORD will bless His people with peace.

I am now going to sit outside and watch Goldfinches and Chickadees while I drink more coffee.


Happy New Year Y'all!