~Then Sings My Soul Saturday~ Finally Free

For more, see Amy @ Signs, Miracles & Wonders

I haven't participated in this meme in some time. Keep a lookout for information on a blog give away soon!

Blessings!

Cheryl

~Friday Funnies~

The Lost Preacher
A young preacher was contacted by the local funeral director to hold a grave-side committal service at a small local cemetery for someone with no family or friends. The preacher started early but quickly got himself lost, making several wrong turns.

He arrived a half-hour late, the hearse was nowhere in sight, and the workmen were eating lunch.

The pastor went to the open grave and found the vault lid already in place. Taking out his book, he read the service.

As he was returning to his car, he overheard one of the workmen say: "Do you think we should tell him it's a septic tank?"

Ice Fishing
There were two old boys from Alabama who love to fish, and they wanted to do some ice fishing. They'd heard about it up in Canada, and they took off up there. The lake was frozen nicely. They stopped just before they got to the lake at a little bait shop and got all their tackle. One of them said, "We're going to need an ice pick."

So they got that, and they took off. In about two hours, one of them was back at the shop and said, "We're going to need another dozen ice picks."

Well, the fellow in the shop wanted to ask some questions, but he didn't. He sold him the picks, and the old boy left.

In about an hour, he was back. Said, "We're going to need all the ice picks you've got."

The bait man couldn't stand it any longer. "By the way," he asked, "how are you fellows doing?"

"Not very well at all," he said. "We don't even have the boat in the water yet."

For more Friday Funnies, see Kim @ Homesteaders Heart

Have a great weekend!
Cheryl

~Thankful Thursday~

Thankful for good MRI results.

For more Thankful Thursday, see Lori's Reflections

Have a great Thursday!

Cheryl

~A Grateful Heart~

Jan is finished with all her testing for this month. I'm thrilled to report that all is the same. NO GROWTH!

"Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.

Daily trusting in God--acknowledging that He is the one source of all good gifts and success and the ONLY safe refuge when life is difficult--steers us from the dangers of pride and despair.

Jesus once pointed to a little child and said, "I tell you the truth, you must change and become like children. Otherwise, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. The greatest person in the kingdom of heaven is the one who makes himself humble like this child" (Matthew 18:3-4). A child's humility is one of trust--it pleases God when we trust Him as a child trusts and depends on his father.

James points out that trials test and prove our faith (James 1:1-3), but we don't have to wait for challenging moments to begin trusting God with our entire life. The good news is that with complete and total trust in Him, He directs our steps in the most fulfilling paths for our lives.

James 1:1-3

How to Live as a Christian

"1From James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ.
To all of God's people who are scattered everywhere in the world:

Greetings.

Faith and Wisdom
2My brothers and sisters, when you have many kinds of troubles, you should be full of joy,
3 because you know that these troubles test your faith, and this will give you patience."

2 Corinthians 12:9
9 But he said to me, "My grace is enough for you. When you are weak, my power is made perfect in you." So I am very happy to brag about my weaknesses. Then Christ's power can live in me."

God Promises He Will:

Hear Our Prayers ~ Psalms 18:6
Refine Us ~ Zechariah 13:9
Give Us Refuge ~ Isaiah 4:5-6
Eventually End Our Trials ~ Isaiah 19:20

Thank you for joining in prayer!
Love,
Cheryl

Faith, Fear & Praying Boldly

Hi All,

I did get a call from Jan about 5:00 p.m. today. They were in Ennis, Texas and called to get Ennis' weather report for tonight and earlier tomorrow to see whether they needed to go ahead and go on to Houston.

I would ask that you continue to take this to the throne of God. Specifically asking: peace, excellent results, wisdom for the doctors, wisdom for Jan & Gerald and lastly for safe travel. Please pray that Jan will remain positive with a bright outlook on her future.

Here is a bit of something about Faith and Fear:

"The antidote to suffocating, stifling, stagnating fear is simple faith."

"If the Lord be with us, we have no cause of fear. His eye is upon us, His arm over us, His ear open to our prayer. His grace is sufficient, His promise unchangeable." Written by John Newton."

So don't worry, because I am with you. Don't be afraid, because I am your God. I will make you strong and will help you; I will support you with my right hand that saves you." Isaiah 41:10

"One of the greatest promises of God is that we don't have to face our fears alone. He is always with us; never will He forsake us (Hebrews 13:5). In fact, when we truly experience His love, fear is cast away (1 John 4:18). Why? Love is what must be present for trust to flourish."

God will:
Help you in trouble ~ Psalms 46:1-2
Provide your needs and give you peace ~ Philippians 4:6-7
Eliminate fear ~ Leviticus 26:6
Give boldness ~ Proverbs 28:1

Since we truly experience His love, we can walk boldly, with a sense of confidence to God and let Him handle all the anxieties that trouble us.

Please pray that our family will remain steadfast in our Faith and that we will not give in to Fear. Nothing can rob you of joy, confidence, optimism and opportunities more quickly than a spirit of fear.

"I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge --that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God." Ephesians 3:17-19

Laurie Ann @ A Magnolia Heartbeat posted Monday, 01/26/09 on Boldly Approaching the throne with our requests/desires... If you have not seen this post, please check it out. Thanks Laurie

~Bolding approaching the throne of God with Faith~

I made another necklace tonight while I was trying to keep busy.

~Ice, Travel, & Most of all PRAYER~

Hi All,

Our Monday brings us ICE. With a good possibility of more icy conditions in the next days. Janet and Gerald were going to leave tonight for MD Anderson, but left about 9:30 this morning. Before they got out of their small community, they saw cars that had flipped, wrecks and so forth. When I talked to them they had made it through the icy roads and were dealing with rain.

So, please pray for safe travels. This visit at MD Anderson was supposed to be for well baby check, as the oncologist calls it, but Janet has been experiencing headaches, so they are going to have an MRI Tuesday at 5:45 and I believe see the oncologist Wednesday. We are praying these headaches do not mean growth.

So, I would ask that you join us in prayer asking for safe travels, fantastic results, and PEACE for Jan. This diagnosis/journey has been weighing heavily on her lately.

Here is some more jewelry.

Have a great Monday!

Cheryl

One summer evening during a violent thunderstorm a mother was tucking her small boy into bed. She was about to turn off the light when he asked with a tremor in his voice,"Mommy, will you sleep with me tonight?" The mother smiled and gave him a reassuring hug. "I can't dear," she said. "I have to sleep in Daddy's room." A long silence was broken at last by his shaky little voice: "The big sissy."

Locked Car Door
A woman was at work when she received a phone call that her daughter was very sick with a fever. She left her work and stopped by the pharmacy to get some medication. She got back to her car and found that she had locked her keys in the car.
She didn't know what to do, so she called home and told the baby sitter what had happened. The baby sitter told her that her the fever was getting worse. She said, "You might find a coat hanger and use that to open the door."
The woman looked around and found an old rusty coat hanger that had been thrown down on the ground, possibly by someone else who at some time or other had locked their keys in their car. Then she looked at the hanger and said, "I don't know how to use this."
So she bowed her head and asked God to send her some help. Within five minutes an old rusty car pulled up, with a dirty, greasy, bearded man who was wearing an old biker skull rag on his head. The woman thought, "This is what you sent to help me?" But, she was desperate, so she was also very thankful.
The man got out of his car and asked her if he could help. She said, "Yes, my daughter is very sick. I stopped to get her some medication and I locked my keys in my car. I must get home to her. Please, can you use this hanger to unlock my car?"
He said, "Sure". He walked over to the car, and in less than a minute the car was opened. She hugged the man and through her tears she said, "Thank You So Much! You are a very nice man."
The man replied, "Lady, I am not a nice man. I just got out of prison today. I was in prison for car theft and have only been out for about an hour."
The woman hugged the man again and with sobbing tears cried out loud, "Oh, Thank you God! You even sent me a Professional!"

What do you think of this necklace and earrings. I made them earlier this week.

For more Friday Funnies, see Kim at Homesteaders Heart

Have a great weekend.!

Cheryl

~Thankful Thursday~

For more "Thankful Thursday," see Lori's Reflections

Have a "Thankful Day."

Cheryl

~Prayer~

Jan has been having problems with headaches. These started after her return from MD Anderson. Here is the link to Jan's blog where she is asking prayer. Grammy's Journey.

So, I'm asking for prayer for this to be nothing more than allergy or sinus problems, but also for peace of mind, courage, hope and love.

Thanks

Cheryl

Philippians 4:12-13 ~ "I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. 13I can do everything through him who gives me strength."

At Home

I've taken on a new endeavor. I've signed up with a company called At Home America.

This month that are having a HUGE sale. 60%+ off a lot of things.

If anyone is interested, you can click on the above link to my website. Once you get there, on the left hand side, there is a Attic/Outlet. If you click on that, it will take you to a page that there is Sale. Once you click on the sale button, it will take you to all the things on sale.

Also under Tools, on the left hand side, there is Online Catalog. This has the new catalog that came out in January. You can order online. There are ways you can earn free product and discounted products. They have a lot of great "homewares." I received 3 boxes of their products last Monday. I also have catalogs and would mail to anyone interested.

If anyone is interested, but please do not feel obligated.

Have a blessed week!
Cheryl

~Friday Funnies~Fashion

For More Friday Funnies, see Kim @ Homesteaders Heart.

Have a great weekend!

Cheryl

~Word Filled Wednesday~

For More WFW, see Amy @ The 160 Acre Woods.

Have a great Wednesday!

Cheryl

~The Cracked Pot~

A water bearer in India had two large pots, each hung on the end of a pole which he carried across his neck. One of the pots was perfectly made and never leaked. The other pot had a crack in it and by the time the water bearer reached his master's house it had leaked much of it's water and was only half full.

For a full two years this went on daily, with the bearer delivering only one and a half pots full of water to his master's house. Of course, the perfect pot was proud of its accomplishments. But the poor cracked pot was ashamed of its own imperfection, and miserable that it was able to accomplish only half of what it had been made to do.

After two years of what it perceived to be a bitter failure, it spoke to the water bearer one day by the stream. "I am ashamed of myself, and I want to apologize to you." "Why?" asked the bearer. "What are you ashamed of?" "I have been able, for these past two years, to deliver only half my load because this crack in my side causes water to leak out all the way back to your master's house. Because of my flaws, you have to do all of this work, and you don't get full value from your efforts," the pot said.

The water bearer felt sorry for the old cracked pot, and in his compassion he said, "As we return to the master's house, I want you to notice the beautiful flowers along the path."

Indeed, as they went up the hill, the old cracked pot took notice of the sun warming the beautiful wild flowers on the side of the path, and this cheered it some. But at the end of the trail, it still felt bad because it had leaked out half its load, and so again the pot apologized to the bearer for its failure.

The bearer said to the pot, "Did you notice that there were flowers only on your side of your path, but not on the other pot's side? That's because I have always known about your flaw, and I took advantage of it. I planted flower seeds on your side of the path, and every day while we walk back from the stream, you've watered them. For two years I have been able to pick these beautiful flowers to decorate my master's table. Without you being just the way you are, he would not have this beauty to grace his house."

Each of us has our own unique flaws. We're all cracked pots. But if we will allow it, God will use our flaws to grace his table. In God's great economy, nothing goes to waste. Don't be afraid of your flaws. Acknowledge them, and you too can be the cause of beauty. Know that in our weakness we find our strength.

Author Unknown

Have a blessed Tuesday!

~Simple Messages~

We sat outside in the waiting room on a long wooden bench. Big metal, double doors separated us from our final destination. The familiar warning signs indicating that radiation was prevalent in the area was posted along several walls and on the big doors. Week after week we took our seats, almost silently. Sometimes the same faces would nod to one another, but usually there was a stillness and the endless time spent waiting until a name was called......then the doors would open briefly to allow the patient to enter. This was the routine.

As the holidays approached, someone in the hospital decided it would be "cheery" to decorate these doors with Christmas wrapping paper and run ribbon up the middle and across to simulate a present. It was a genuine gesture of kindness, but somehow it seemed oddly peculiar.

But, one day, as we all sat there in silence, I saw a small corner of wrapping paper still taped to the door. Someone had forgotten to remove all of the paper. Here it was nearly Easter, I thought, and Christmas paper was still in our presence. So....I reached down to remove the torn and tattered corner.

Then, something caught my eye. The word "JOY" was imprinted on this small scrap of paper...paper barely large enough to contain these three letters. I was weary and tired and drained. How, I thought, could one find "JOY" in any of this? Certainly, I felt no such feeling. There was no trash container in sight, so I put the scrap of paper into my purse, thinking I would discard it later.

Months passed. There were good days, and not so good days. Consultations, decisions, hospitalizations, appointments. Then one day while waiting outside these same doors I decided to go through my purse and discard some of the items that so mysteriously seemed to collect in my handbag. At the bottom of my purse, I found the small scrap of Christmas paper. "Joy" it said. Yes, I remembered where it came from.....from right over there on that big metal door. Here it was nearly Easter. It seemed years had passed since Christmas. How strange that I still had this paper in my purse.

As I held it in my hand, I prayed: "Dear God, please be with my son today as he takes his final radiation treatment." It was a simple prayer, but sincere. A few moments later I was escorted into the doctor's office, and subsequently joined by my son. It was evident the news was good, for there were smiles on the doctors' faces. There would be no further radiation treatments. The scans indicated the tumor was gone. I've kept that small scrap of paper in my wallet as a reminder. God had sent me a message.....months before. I just didn't know it.

Seventeen years have passed, and today I will be babysitting three little boys.....my son's sons. As I look at them and recall this time so many years gone by.....oh, the joy that fills my soul! Thank you God for that simple message you sent my way so long ago, printed on torn Christmas paper. I thank you for the joy and love you show me daily....in so many different ways.

Written by our friend Mary Fischinger about an
experience she encountered while her 17-year
old son was fighting cancer.

~Friday Funnies~

Little old church painted


It seems that there was a little old church out in the countryside: painted white and with a high steeple.One Sunday, the pastor noticed that his church needed painting. He checked out the Sunday ads and found a paint sale. The next day, he went into town and bought a gallon of white paint. He went back out to the church and began the job.He got done with the first side. It was looking great. But he noticed he had already used a half gallon. He didn't want to run back in town and being the creative person that he was, he found a gallon of thinner in the shed out back, and began to thin his paint.It worked out great. He finished the remaining three sides with that last half gallon of paint.That night, it rained: it rained hard. The next morning when he stepped outside of the parsonage to admire his work, he saw that the first side was looking great, but that the paint on the other three sides had washed away.The pastor looked up in sky in anguish and cried out, "What shall I do?"A voice came back from the heavens saying, "Repaint, and thin no more!"

Enjoy! Have a great weekend!

For more Friday Funnies, see Kim @ Homsteaders Heart

Cheryl

~Word Filled Wednesday~

For more WFW, see Amy @ The 160 Acre Woods

Have a great Wednesday!
Cheryl

~Waiting For God's Answer~

More than that, we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us. - Romans 5:3-5

The Christian life would be easy if the space in time was small between when you first believe God's promises and when you receive what He promised. If you could read about it one day and get it the next, Wow - wouldn't that be great!?

But life's not like that.

The hard part is in the waiting between God's promise and His answer; and even harder, when the waiting comes with uncertainties.

Where's this going? Where am I going to end up? What's my future look like?

The reality is, we just don't know how circumstances will play out and it's this not-knowing that crushes us. We doubt because we don't know. We worry and despair because we don't know. We falter and sometimes fail - all because we don't know. If only we knew how this trial was going to end, we would be okay. But we don't.

We all have areas of uncertainty where we need to hold tightly onto what God has said while we wait for Him to work. I couldn't go forward another day if I didn't believe what He told me. So here's what we each must do: We must review His promises all the time. We must remind ourselves that our faith is in God and not in what He does for us. He knows what He has promised, He can't lie, and He can't forget. He will deliver on time, all the time. Who else can make promises like that?

God knows that it's hard for us to walk by faith. So He assures us, I'm not going to leave you wondering what I'm going to do. I don't want you to be overcome by fear. So I'm going to make some promises to you so that you can get through the difficult days. You don't have to take your view of life only from what you can see happening right in front of you. You're not imprisoned by the crazy talk someone is putting into your head that you know isn't true. Hang onto the things that I told you.

And while we wait, God builds our faith.
by: James McDonald

Have a blessed Tuesday!
Cheryl

~New Year~

I saw an interesting sign on a church marquee on Friday while I was out. It said, "The new year is a gift from God. Use it wisely."

Here are some thoughts I ran across in regards to the new year:

* Give people more than they expect and do it cheerfully.
* Memorize your favorite poem.
* Don't believe all you hear, spend all you have, or sleep all you want.
* When you say, "I love you", mean it.
* When you say, "I'm sorry", look the person in the eye.
* Believe in love at first sight.
* Never laugh at anyone's dreams.
* Love deeply and passionately. You might get hurt but it's the only way to live life completely.
* In disagreements, fight fairly. No name calling.
* Talk slow, but think quick.
* Remember that great love and great achievements involve great risk.
* Treat others as you want to be treated.
* Invest in all relationships and they will grow, but if you put in nothing, you will get nothing out.
* Say "bless you" when you hear someone sneeze.
* When you lose, don't lose the lesson.
* Remember the three R's: Respect for self; Respect for others; Responsibility for all your actions.
* Don't let a little dispute injure a great friendship.
* When you realize you've made a mistake, take immediate steps to correct it.
* Smile when picking up the phone. The caller will hear it in your voice.
* Spend some time alone.
* Open your arms to change, but don't let go of your values.
* Remember that silence is sometimes the best answer.
* Read more books and watch less TV.
* Live a good, honorable life. Then when you get older and think back, you'll get to enjoy it a second time.
* Trust in God but lock your car.
* A loving atmosphere in your home is so important. Do all you can to create a tranquil harmonious home.
* In disagreements with loved ones, deal with the current situation. Don't bring up the past.
* Read between the lines.
* Share your knowledge. It's a way to achieve immortality.
* Be gentle with the earth.
* Once a year, go someplace you've never been before.
* If you make a lot of money, put it to use helping others while you are living. That is wealth's greatest satisfaction.
* Remember that not getting what you want is sometimes the blessing.
* Remember that the best relationship is one where your love for each other is greater than your need for each other.
* Judge your success by what you had to give up in order to get it.
* Approach love and cooking with reckless abandon.
--- And most importantly -----
* Pray. There's immeasurable power in it.

There is so much to gain in life with just little effort.

Cheryl