Wednesday, June 27, 2012

Mickey's Garden/God's Bounty


boun·ty  (boun-tee)


1.  A premium or reward, especially one offered by a government.  There was a bounty on his head.  Some states offer a bounty for dead coyotes.
2.  A generous gift.
3.  Generosity in giving. 
The above is Dictionary.com definition of BOUNTY

  My definition is:   God's blessing to Mickey's toil.

This is what he picked and brought in to me today!!

 23 LUSH tomatoes
 Running over bowl of patio tomatoes - I actually pick these !!!! 
 2 little & 6 jumbo cucumbers
Vegetable bin 1/2 full of new potatoes

We also have home grown lettuce he picked earlier in the frig....
SO
Tonight we'll have one of our favorite summer meals.
BLT's 
& grandson, Aric, he with us to share the meal.  I fixed him French Toast for breakfast.

II Corinthians 9:11
Being enriched in every thing to all bountifulness, which causeth through us thanksgiving to God.  KJV

This most generous God who gives seed to the farmer that becomes bread for your meals is more than extravagant with you. The Message 


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Sunday, June 24, 2012

Oksana's Visit

This is our 17 year old grand-daughter, Oksana.  Marc, her dad, flew her in Saturday, the 16th, from Indiana where she has lived with her mother the last year and ahalf.


The above 2 photos are one's from her fb that I asked her if I could "steal/borrow".

 Here she is Father's Day on this "contraption" that Bennie has that you hang upside down in.  Suppose to help your back.  She was fixing to swing back up on her head.
 Oksana & Aric (with Mickey's arm :o) and Lori (Bennie's daughter-in-law) fixing a plate for her 2 1/2 year old son, Max at Father's Day celebration at Jacque & Bennie's.  With Bennie as the wonderful Chef.


Yesterday, Saturday, June 23rd, I had the joy of taking my girls out for a treat at the nail salon.  Daughter Jacque got a manicure and a pedicure.  Granddaughter, Oksana got a full set of nails put on with a pretty cool shade of green on the tips.  Grandma Susan got some pretty red polish on her pedicure.  Then Jacque treated all of us to lunch.  How blessed to get to spend this special time with my girls - but missed Suzette :o(  


No pictures at the Nail Salon or lunch with this post because we're having some computer problems and can't down load them right now :o(


Oksana will be visiting for 3 weeks - surely is good to see her and get to spend some time with her.  


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Friday, June 22, 2012

Wealth vs proverty

1/2 of the "battle" (and I really hate to even call it that) is in our minds and in our perceptions.  If any one of us could spend just a week in MOST of the world we would realize how wealthy we are - materially.  But true wealth is not measured in "things" but in love, joy, peace, satisfaction, family, friends, a close walk with God.....I could go on and on.

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The 180 Degree Christian

My 7th book for 2012 is:


Sorry for the dark gray area around the book.  Don't know how to operate my new Epson copier as far as the picture cropping is concerned :o(

Carter Conlon, the author, is Senior Pastor of Times Square Church in New York City.  This book sort of builds on The 10 Second Rule, which I have blogged about several times and am currently teaching as a small group study, but did not have the same impact on me.  He does st forth a clarion call to worship the true Christ of the Bible.


Quoting from page 161:  "We may very well be the generation that Malachi spoke about - the generation that is going to bring Christ to reputation again.  Even so, it all begins with a personal choice.  You
still must decide for yourself - are you in, or are you out?   Which image will you follow?   Will you follow a Christ that allows you to be sensual and self-indulgent, or will you follow the Christ who Moses did, giving himself to lead the children of Israel.  Paul asked the Corinthian Church, 'Examine yourselves.'  Moses asked, 'Who is on the Lord's side?'  I urge you to stop and consider today where you stand."


I agree, we are probably the generation which will see Christ's return.  I agree, that a lot of what is being preached in many churches is a watered down gospel and not the gospel, or the Christ of the Bible.  I agree, it is time we take a strong stand as Christians and be prepared for persecution unless our nation makes a full and complete turning from the way we are headed.


I know who's side I'm on.  I trust you have made your choice.
It is a personal choice.


  

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Wednesday, June 20, 2012

Did You Know?


I received the following e-mail from my good friend Don and wanted to share it here on Penless Writer 

DID YOU KNOW? 



I.   As you walk up the steps to the building which houses the U.S. Supreme Court you can see near the top of the building a row of the world's law givers and  each one is facing one in the middle who is facing forward with a full frontal view ... It is Moses and he is holding the Ten Commandments !

II.   As you enter the Supreme Court courtroom , the two huge oak doors have the Ten Commandments engraved on each lower portion of each door.

III.   As you sit inside the courtroom, you can see the wall, right above where the Supreme Court Judges sit, a display of the Ten Commandments!

IV.   There are Bible verses etched in stone all over the Federal Buildings and Monuments in Washington , D.C.

V,   James Madison , the fourth president, known as ' The Father of Our Constitution ' made the Following statement:   'We have staked the whole of all our political Institutions upon the capacity of mankind for Self-government , upon the capacity of each and all of us to govern ourselves, to control  ourselves, to sustain ourselves according to The Ten Commandments of God.'

 VI.   Every session of Congress begins with a prayer by a paid preacher, whose salary's been paid by taxpayers since 1777.

VII.   Fifty-two of the 55 founders of the Constitution were members of the established Orthodox churches in the colonies..

 VIII.  Thomas Jefferson worried that the Courts would overstep their authority and instead of Interpreting the law would begin making law an oligarchy: the rule of few over many.  How then, have we gotten to the point that everything we have done for 220  years in this Country is now suddenly wrong and Unconstitutional?

 Lets put it around the world and let the world see and remember what this great country was Built on The Holy Bible and belief in GOD!

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Monday, June 18, 2012

Father's Day 2012

Another wonderful family celebration -
  We had told Mickey the kids were taking us out to dinner and we were to stop and pick-up Jacque & Bennie.  

 When we arrived - this MENU was taped to the outside of the storm door. 

Bennie hard at work in the kitchen preparing the entire, wonderful meal.  He is a great cook and he had prepared boneless breaded pork chops before and it is Mickey's favorite.


The loaded plate - YUM!

Grandpa Mickey with 17 year old grand daughter Oksana, and 13 year old grand son Aric.
Oksana had flown in from Indiana the day before.  So wonderful to see her.  Marc & Aric had seen her in February for their birthday celebration to Grey Wolf Lodge but we had not seen her since last July. 

Mickey opening the lovely, soft green golf shirt from Marc.  Sorry for Josh's body in the shot - with my new printer/scanner I don't have a crop feature - at least that I have found yet!!!

In addition he received this Certificate of Appreciation which reads:  In honor of this certificate it's bearer shall be entitled to two lunches with his youngest son where ever and when ever the bearer pleases and all at the expense of his youngest son.

On June 17th, 2012 in recognition of invaluable contributions to raising another generation of Joyces and passing on the values so important to being a courageous, insightful and honorable individual.  
Signed and Dated 6/17/12 by Marc Joyce, Oksana Joyce & Aric Joyce. 


Plaid shorts & a white golf shirt from daughter Jacque with a card which read:
From your Daughter 
Dad, I always know how much you care...
I know it in a million ways,
by a million and one little things you do.
And I've always thought of you as the most special, loving,
and caring father in the world.

You'll never know how much it has meant to have a father just like you.  And even though I don't say it often enough,
I love you, too... I always will.

Signed:  Happy Father's Day - I love you dad with all my heart, Jacque - Bennie

Marc - opening his present from his son, Aric.  A sports watch.
Mickey & I went up to Owasso Wednesday and took Aric out to lunch and then he went shopping, with his own money he's earned from mowing the yard.  This is his first ever gift he'd purchased with money he has earned.  

Had to include this picture of the 4 pets banished to the backyard as we were eating.  The large black dog is Bennie's dog Mattie (the only girl)  The little dog to the left is Jacque's dog Mr. Moore.  The brown dog is Jessica's dog and the other little white dog in front is Julie's dog (Julie is Jessica's room mate).  Jacque & Bennie were dog sitting as Jessica & Julie were in Las Vegas.

I did not try and get any group pictures:  There were 11 of us present. The Fathers:  Mickey, Bennie, Marc & Josh (Bennie's son)- Jacque, Oksana, Susan & Lori (Josh's wife), Grandson Aric, and 6 1/2 year old Daden & 2 1/2 year old Max (Bennie's grandsons).  

 We left about 5:30.  Bennie & Jacque followed Marc to his office and helped him move 3 bookcases and a 2 drawer cadenza he had purchased from his employer to his home in Owasso,  They stayed and visited until 8.


It was a wonderful Father's Day with the family we love.  Thank you Jacque & Bennie for hosting. Suzette we missed you so.     


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Sunday, June 17, 2012

MY FATHER

This is a tribute to my father, Henry Harrison Errett, better known as H.H. Errett.


I first posted this in February, 2007 but wanted to republish it here as a tribute to my wonderful father in celebration of Father's Day.  I re-posted it June 21, 2009 and am once against posting it today, 3 years later, on June 17, 2012.
Next to my Lord & Savior, Jesus the Christ, my father and the things he taught me, the examples he lived out in front of me, has had, and continues to have, the most influence in my life.

I loved my father dearly. I was what you commonly call a "daddy's girl". I was, and am, very proud of my father. What he accomplished, who he was as a person and what he meant to me and my mother.

My father was born September 23, 1885 in Pennsylvania. He was the youngest of 8 children, 5 girls and 3 boys. As a very early child he and his family traveled from Pennsylvania to Kansas by covered wagon. As near as I can calculate the family must have traveled about 1250 miles in that covered wagon. I have no idea how long it took them to make the journey. Upon settling in Kansas my grand-father began farming. The two older sons in the family remained farmers and stayed in the same area of Gridley, Kansas for their entire lives.

My father did not want to be a farmer and left Kansas and ended up in New Mexico. The story of how that transpired I do not know. In 1918, at the age of 33, he served in the 5th New Mexico State Legislature. He was married and had two daughters. He became a widower when his wife died of TB.

On September 19, 1935, 4 days before his 50th birthday, he married my mother, Pauline Dickey Banta. My mother was a young widow with a 10 year old daughter named Marion. My mother was only 29 years old at the time of their marriage. This made her 21 years younger than my father and only a few years older than his two daughters from the first marriage.

I came along 2 years later. At the time of my birth my father was 52 and my mother was 31. I was born in a small town just north of Santa Fe, New Mexico, called Espanola. We moved to Santa Fe when I was only a few months old and I was raised in Santa Fe.

My father was in the Real Estate & Insurance business. H.H. Errett Real Estate. His office was on the second floor of the Ganns building on the Plaza. The picture above was taken walking the sidewalk in front of his office. It so represents him: walking briskly, papers in hand, pens in pocket, hat on head, pipe in mouth and dressed in business attire. He was a very fast walker and consequently so was ,and am, I. Mother use to always be saying, "You two slow down and wait for me". During my entire life I never saw my father dressed in casual clothes. Only one time, when we visited my maternal grandparents in Missouri and we went swimming and he put on some overalls to swim. He was always dressed like this or with an added suit jacket.

My father, like so many of his age, had lost literally everything during the depression. He had started over at the age of 50 and was quite successful. He provided a very wonderful life for me, my sister Marion and my mother. My father was just as wonderful a father to Marion and loved her and treated her as his very own. He had twin grandchildren, a boy and a girl, who were 1 year and 2 months older than I. It was always interesting when they would come to town to visit, which wasn't very often because their father was in the oil business and they lived in Peru, South America. They, being a year older than I, naturally were a head taller than I. So here was my father with these three children saying, "These two taller ones are my grandchildren and this littler one is my daughter"!!!

My father was very outgoing and social. He was a Deacon of the First Christian Church which he attended until his death. He was active in the Optimist Club of America and served some as the President. He loved to play pool and could quite often be found doing so. He was somewhat active in politics and a staunch Democrat. He was a totally honest man, and had an outstanding reputation with any and all who knew him, regardless of their status. There is a Errett Street in Santa Fe named after him.

He had a very full and happy life and died on June 17, 1972 at the age of 87. I was only 35 years old and my mother was 66 . My biggest regret is, because of his advanced age when I was born, our two younger sons never really knew him.

My reason for writing this is two fold. I just find it so interesting if you think about how much life has changed in America and in society in general from his birth until now. During a span of two generations we have gone from covered wagon days to super-sonic jet travel. Telephone's with an operator putting through the calls on a switchboard, and party lines. His office number was 616 and our home number was 1520W. The "w" representing we shared that party line with another family. The older lady next door was always picking up the phone and listening to my calls!! One, usually large, radio in the living room where everyone would gather around to hear the news or a few shows. I remember when we got out first black and white TV. What a big day that was. Cars with running boards and no air conditioners or radio. Wringer washing machines and clothes lines. Old Underwood typewriters. He would have no concept of me typing at this computer and this little tribute going literally around the world. Pipe organs at church. He would be very surprised with the many instruments used today to praise his God. Praise and worship songs in addition to the old standard hymns he knew so well. His two favorites were "The Old Rugged Cross" and "In The Garden". The fast pace of life. Stores used to be opened only Monday through Saturday and then only from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Nothing was opened on Sunday. Most roads were dirt and the highways were 2 lane. I could go on and on but you get the picture.
Thanks for listening. to this "daddy's girl" reminisce about her father.

When I posted this 2 years and 4 months ago I had NO IDEA the changes I would be seeing in the world we live in that have occurred just during these 24 short months. I know that my father would be more horrified than I am at the turn of events and direction that our country and our world are taking. I was re posting this in honor of my father, but re-reading it made me so much more aware of just how very fast we are seeing our country deteriorate. I'm glad he did not live to see what I am seeing.


As I re-post this again THREE years later, I am even more horrified at the terrible changes that we are observing in our great country.  Morally we are truly getting close to what the Bible speaks when it says, "As in the days of Noah........"  We are coming up on a VERY important election this November.  PLEASE - I beg you, study the candidates and vote for the people you think can turn our country back to being a GODLY nation.  I am thankful for this little blog that makes me so aware of how fast things are changing in my lifetime. 

I love you daddy. You were the best father I could have ever asked or hoped for.

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Saturday, June 16, 2012

The King's Kitchen Update & Arlene

For the past 3 summers, 2010, 2011 and now 2012, we have had the joy of having Arlene, who is a school teacher and who attends First Baptist Church, volunteer to help us in the kitchen during her summer break.

Well, this time I'm happy to announce that since Arlene has retired from teaching, after 38 years - WOW,  we now have the blessing of having her help not just for the summer but she won't be leaving us in the fall!!

Pictrued left to right:  Mickey, Arlene, Sherry, Susan
Kent, who is the other permanent 8:30 a.m. kitchen crew, is not in this picture as he was with The Mission Team in El Salvador last Tuesday when this was taken. 

Arlene not only brought her sweet self back to us but gave Sherry and I gift sacks containing Bath n Body Works foaming hand soap.  Mine was Warm Vanilla Sugar - Delightful!!!

Through last Tuesday, June 12th, we have averaged delivering 50 meals a week to the shut-ins.  We have 5 teams of  2 people on each team .  Sherry has keep our food purchases down to an average of  $1.65 per meal.  Our supplies, this year, have run $.15 a meal or a total of $1.80.  We are greatly helped keeping these per meal costs down by 4 different woman volunteering each week to bring desserts and by a great portion of our bread being donated to us by Panera Bread.  

The King's Kitchen is truly a result of MANY hands and hearts having a part in this ministry.  You each know who you are and we, and these shut-ins, are blessed beyond measure by you.  
Many thanks to you all!!!!! 


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Monday, June 4, 2012

Mug Rugs

Winning a drawing of a lovely Blog give-away is always a treat.  So when Angie had a drawing in April for her darling Mug Rugs (isn't that the cutest name!) I was thrilled when my name was drawn.  Not only did she draw my name but she let me select the color Mug Rug I would like for her to make.  I requested blue and white.


Today the mailman brought me a parcel with these two darling Mug Rugs.  Each shape that Angie quilted on them is a different, cute design.  I especially like the tea cup.  Not only did she send me the prize of the Mug Rugs but she also sent the dainty hand-made counted cross-stitch book mark.  The amazing thing is that the verse she selected, Psalm 119:105 Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path, is the very verse  I have been using in the new Real Christianity small group class that I have just begun on May 6th.  I absolutely love the way God does things like that!!!!  She also included a cute lined paper note pad and a lovely hand written card.  

Thank you so very much Angie for all of it.
Now, I wish some blog friend would drop in so I could serve them coffee or tea and a pastry of some kind on my new Mug Rugs!!  Who might that turn out to be?????

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Saturday, June 2, 2012

LovingOutLoud.x #2


 Mickey ready to go ~~
This is what he's taking ~~

This is what he's doing ~~ Taking his Marten Bird House, and all the necessary equipment to install it, over to surprise a good friend!!  This friend has just moved into a new home, but has also been going through a very hard, difficult time with a son just having surgery for a cancerous brain tumor and not given a good prognosis. The friend was so totally moved and shocked with this gift and show of love.  

Mickey dug the post hole, planted the post and installed the birdhouse.  AND Susan forgot to take any pictures of the results of it sitting in the back yard on the beautiful green grass.  What's with me and the "finish-up" pictures any more??!!!

This was all done Memorial Day around 5 p.m. when we arrived without them having a clue why we were "dropping by".  I got the leisure of visiting with her in the nice, lovely new home, where it was cool, while Mickey was working so hard on this 97 degree day. .  The friend was working in the garage on a project there.  This was the post he posted later that evening on his fb so we know how much it meant to them: 
"Well I've known for a long time that their is angels all over. We have 2 right here in Coweta, they came to our house today and did a wonderful deed for us. Just know they are walking among us. Thank you Lord."   No, not angels but just Christians doing what we, as God's children, are suppose to do.  






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Friday, June 1, 2012

LovingOutLoudx #1 and The 10 Second Rule

What's all this about?????!!!!!  Following God~~

What an exciting year 2012 has been so far - and we still have 7 months left!!!  I not only love God with all my heart but HE continues to amaze me in how HE works and moves among HIS people.

Our Pastor Steve began the first Sunday in 2012 with a series titled:  ALL IN - then he did a series on VISION - and he just finished with the 3rd series this year - LIVE TO GIVE.  In addition, on Wednesday nights he has been doing a series PENTECOST & THE MODERN CHURCH which just ended this past Wednesday night.  

So very much has been, and is being birthed at Coweta Assembly of God and it is so very exciting.
  
 
After reading The 10 Second Rule book, in February,  I felt like The Lord wanted me to start a Small Group class on Sunday mornings to teach this principal.  I posted all about this process here, so won't repeat it. The class was named by Pastor Steve as Real Christianity - "Living out the heart beat of Christ" and after being promoted for about 6 weeks we had our first session on May 6th.  I asked Kent to join me and he and I are acting as felicitators.  As of this past Sunday there are 37 attending.  God is doing a great work in ALL of us through this class.  It is exciting to watch, see and be part of.  I'll be posting on it along the way I'm sure :o)  The stories that people are already sharing are amazing.  God it truly at work in US!!!

Another great idea, that came forth from a young man, Anthony,  in our congregation, was to make a card that could be handed out by our congregation when we do show forth the Love of God in an Act of Kindness.  They decided to call it LovingOutLoud. 


This is the card that was developed - Isn't it great?  So simple, yet so profound and directs 90% of the attention to GOD with only our name pretty small in the corner.

This card works in so well with The 10 Second Rule and also as God is moving on people who attend CAG to show forth The Love Of God in big and small ways.  When you do something for someone you just hand them a card at the end to let them know that it is all because of God.  Mickey & I have been privileged to hand out 4 of these cards so far.

Another NEW ministry that is just being birthed, (announced this past Sunday) as a result of  Pastor Steve's messages stirring us, is LOVE OUT LOUD.  This young couple, Josh & Tracey will be taking 5 to 10 baskets (filled with food, or toiletry items, or goodies of various kinds - they'll decide) each month out and placing them on a strangers porch in our community with just a note in them.  What a great, wonderful idea!!!

God is truly getting us: 1) out of our comfort zones!!! -  2) out from the confines of  the Church building - 3) out into our community & 4) to truly be Jesus hands, feet, eyes, ears & mostly HEART.

All of this is IN ADDITION to the many ministries that CAG is already involved in:  Klothes Kloset, The King's Kitchen, Bridge Builders, Girls Ministry, Royal Rangers, Co-ed Volleyball, Men's Basketball, a ministry of helping to repair houses (that is yet to be named!) & a Mission's Team leaving for El Salvador June 8-16.  Yes, we are very happy, and blessed, to be part of such a loving, dynamic Body of Believers.

I'm excited about what God is doing.
Go - and do likewise!!!!

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