Eternal Investment

If you write upon paper, a careless hand may destroy it.

If you write upon parchment, the dust of the centuries may gather over it.

If you write upon marble, the moss may cover it and the elements may erase it.

If you grave your thoughts with a pen of iron upon the granite cliff, in the slow revolving years it shall wear away and when the earth melts, your writing will perish.

Write then, upon the heart of a youth.

There engrave your thoughts and they shall endure when the world shall pass away and the stars shall fall, and time shall be no more.

For the heart is immortal and your words written there shall live through eternity.

Author Unknown

THE LORD AND I

 
One day I felt so overwhelmed with work and worry. I could not quiet my mind and relax, so I began to call out to God to help me. This is the prayer I prayed:
Lord, when my life seems to be spinning out of control, help me to stop and smell the roses. Help me to savor each moment and not rush them on my way to another time or place. Help me to take the time to see—really see—what all you have blessed me with and truly feel your love in my heart. Help me to be still and hear your small still voice.
When I paused and asked Him for help here is what He said to me:
“My child, I love you and want to enjoy your company. Just come and sit with me and tell me about your day. I am here for you. All you need to do is slow down and enjoy being with me. There is nothing you do that does not interest me. Remember, you are my child and I am your father. I love you. Come to me and rest.”
After praying this prayer, I shut off my computer, went into my living room and just sat there. I felt the peace of His love as He encircled me in His loving arms. My worries left and we just sat there with our arms around each other—the Lord and I,

Outlive Your Life by Max Lucado

Will the world be a better place because you lived? 

I have read several books by Max Lucado and enjpoyed each and every one of them.  This one is no exception.  It is an easy read written Lucado's familiar style of bringing biblical principles to fit out lives today.  Lucado uses the book of Acts as the basis for this book.  I enjoyed the entire book but Chapter 9 and Chapter 10 really hit home with me.

Chapter 9 challenges us to "Do Good Quietly."  When I was in high school (that is too many years ago to remember anything clearly).  I do, however, remember one incident clearly.  I was valedictorian of my graduating class.  Coming from a family of six children did not leave much money for many new clothes.  One day while we kids were in school and my parents were at work, someone left a new dress hanging on our door.  There was no name of who had left it but it did have a note with my name on it.  I still remember what the dress looked like.  I never found out who my "angel" was but I do remember her act of kindness.  It made a difference in a young girl's life.  Because of her kindness I try to pay it forward.

Chapter 10 challenges us to "Stand up for the Have Nots".  Sometimes when we see a dirty homeless person we tend to walk the other way.  I know I have been guilty of this.  We need to step out of comfort zones and do what we can to help someone who does not have as much as we do.  Although one person cannot save the world we can help to save one person.

Some of Lucado's other challenges include:
Get out of your shell.  We cannot isolate ourselves from the suffering in the world.
Work with others.  Individually, we can't do much but as a group of believers working for the same goal we can accomplish much.
Recognize Jesus in needy people.  As Jesus said "feed, visit, clothe, and doctor those in need and you do unto me."
Don't give up on people.  Don't give up on people.  Keep doing good for people even when they seem to be unloveable.

I found this book to be inspirational and motivating.  I whole-heartedly recommend this book to anyone who wants to make their life count for the good of humanity.  I enjoyed the book so much I purchased the participant's guide to the book.

I received this book in exchange for an honest review  of this book from Booksneeze, Thomas Nelson's blogger review program.

Another Day on the Edge

Well, it's Monday again here on the edge. After getting the kids to their respective schools, I attended my exercise group. Quit laughing, I am still able to touch my toes, barely. I went to kindergarten for computer lab-hey, I volunteer there. I already know the basics of computer use. I then paid the bills, and attended the kindergarten "tea" and book fair. By then, my teenager called and needed something she had forgotten to take with her this morning, so I had to take that to school for her. After all this is taken care of I really need to go home and clean house. That done, I planned supper for the "crew" and found I needed to go to the grocery store. Arriving home once again, I remembered that 2 of the darlins' had basketball games,sooooooooooooo after rounding up uniforms and washing them, I sat down for a minute. The next thing I knew the teenager was home and shaking me awake. Was this day a dream (nightmare). No, I saw the pile of receipts and exercise clothes thrown in the corner of my bedroom. Oh well, at least I have made it through another day of life here on "the edge."

I hope your Monday went smoother than mine. But even if it didn't--I hope you remembered to stop and thank God for your blessings He gave you today.

Until next time, this is "life on the edge."

Missed Signals

Said the Preacher to the farmer: "Do you belong to a Christian family?"
Farmer: "No, my folks are the Jones, they live two farms down the road."
Preacher: "No, i mean are "you lost?"
Farmer: "No, I've been here 30o years."
Preacher: "I mean, are you ready for Judgment Day?"
Farmer: "When is it?"
Preacher: "Could be today, could be tomorrow."
Farmer: "When you find out for sure, let me know. Me and my wife will probably want to go both days."

I read this in a church newsletter. I needed a "funny break" after the hard weekend. I had 2 extra kids (I had total of 6 kids: 4yr old, 5 yr old, 6 yr old, 7yr old, 8 yr old and 15 yr old.) On top of that I had to get our income tax filed.

But God was with me all the way. He made sure I kept my sense of humor.

Until next time--that is life on the edge.

Leading by Example

I think that as moms (grandmothers) we must let our children see us live our life to glorify God. We must live that life in private at home as well as in the public sector. I once heard a wise man say "live your life in such a way that you would sell your parrot to the town gossip."




Saying one thing to our children and living the opposite is only confusing to our children. If we tell them it is wrong to lie or steal and "bring home office supplies" or have the children tell the telephone caller "I'm not home" is only broadening the gap between a good example and actual living.



Our children have enough pressures and problems to deal with at school today without wondering why Mommy tells them to live one way while she is doing what she is telling them to never do.



Our children need us to show them how to live--not just tell them.

This is something I pray about every day and trust God to give the strength and wisdom to help my grandchildren see me "walking the walk and not just talking the talk."