A LOVELY GIFT

I have so much catching up to do!!!! Here goes one.

Way back on July 26th I was blessed to be the winner of a $40 Gift Certificate that Becky, of The Keys to the Cottage, had on a drawing on her previous blog.

It took me quite a while to select an item I wanted. There were so many items to choose from.

There is a young couple from our church getting married next month and I wanted to get a nice gift for them so I decided to get this:

A thermometer that reads the room temperature with different colored floating balls with the temperature on an attached tag. My daughter, Suzette, has one of these in her home and I have always admired it.

For weddings I like to give something along the "pretty" line, rather than something "practical" (like towels or sheets) so it is something they can have for years and remember receiving it from us. I have things like that in my home from 50+ years ago and I treasure them.

Thank you Becky for drawing my name. Thank you CSN Stores for offering the free Gift Certificate. Thank you God for yet another of your many blessings.

Best wishes Dream & James

I'm attending her bridal shower next Sunday :o)

SELLING OUR 5TH WHEEL

To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven. Ecclesiates 3:1



We have loved our 5th wheel. It has given us many happy memories of places we've visited and things we've seen.



It's been parked in our back yard for the past several years and the Ecclesiates verse above indicates that this season of our lives are past and it is time to sell it. It is not an easy thing to do.....but it is the "season".

1998 Designed Jayco

Front view showing the two slides outs. The living/dining area & the bedroom.

The beautiful oak woods and the interior.

The oak table & chairs with padded seats. One of my favorite features. I don't care for the booth style.

Here are all the details if per chance any of you, who read this blog, would be interested or know any one who might be interested.

1998 Designer Jayco with XL Package

One owner top of the line You’ll not find a nicer RV for the price. Ready to take south for the winter or just to make your dreams come true.

Per NADA: $12,400 Average Retail - $10,240 Low Retail
Our Price - $11,300

31’ & 2 slide outs – living/dining & bedroom. INSIDE: Beautiful oak cabinets, day/night shades, oak table with 4 individual padded chairs, fold down sofa bed, am-fm stereo radio with clock, alarm & tape deck, front and rear dual speakers, recliner, designer refrigerator featuring real oak door panels, micro-wave, ceiling fan, cedar lined full size closet w/sliding mirror doors, bedroom side cabinets & drawers with cedar lining, dressing table with matching padded oak stool, decorative lighting fixtures, central heat & air, full size shower with skylight, porcelain toilet. OUTSIDE: fiberglass exterior, XL exterior graphics, roof rack & ladder, 18’ retractable awning, slider windows at the end of the SuperSlides, TV antenna, satellite dish, cable outlets, main storage compartment has 12-volt interior light and pass-through capability, outside shower capability, electric front jacks, scissor stabilizer jacks, auxiliary battery, spare tire and carrier.

All original paper work and instructions manuals will be included.

SPIRITUAL SUNDAY 2010 - #11 - A Christian - What would you do?

A big thank you to Charlotte for this wonderful forum to share. Go here to read the many other posts.

A CHRISTIAN

Several years ago, a preached from out-of-state accepted a call to a church in Houston, Texas. Some weeks after he arrived, he had an occasion to ride the bus from his home to the downtown area. When he sat down, he discovered that the driver had accidentally given him a quarter to much change. As he considered what to do, he thought to himself, "You'd better give the quarter back. It would be wrong to keep it." Then he thought, "Oh, forget it, it's only a quarter. Who would worry about this little amount? Anyway, the bus company gets too much fare; they will never miss it. Accept it as a 'gift from God' and keep quiet."

When his stop came, he paused momentarily at the door, and then he handed the quarter to the driver and said, "Here, you gave me too much change...' The driver, with a smile, replies, "Aren't you the new preacher in town?" "Yes" he replied. "Well, I have been thinking a lot lately about going somewhere to worship. I just wanted to see what you would do if I gave you too much change. I'll see you at church on Sunday.

When the preacher stepped off the bus, he literally grabbed the nearest light pole, held on, and said, "Oh God, I almost sold your Son for a quarter."

Our lives are the only Bible some people will ever read. This is a really scary example of how much people watch us as Christians, and will put us to the test! Always be on guard -- and remember -- You carry the name of Christ on your shoulders when you call yourself "Christian."

WHAT WOULD YOU HAVE DONE?

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I want to ask the true Pray-er's who read this to join in standing and praying with us about our daughter and our son's family. Please go here, my previous post, for details.

A TIME OF TESTING!!!

My last post was about Vulnerability.... little did I know just how vulnerable our family would become.

First, we are dealing with some serious issues in the recent marriage of our son, Marc, and Deann. It is very hard to blend 2 families, especially when there are 5 children between the ages of 9 & 15!!! They knew that going in. Overall it is going well but they are having some on-going concerns with the oldest, our 15 year old granddaughter.

Second, we spent all day today in the hospital with our oldest daughter, Suzette. They drained a large amount of fluid off the right lung and also did a biopsy of an area. They let her go home for the week-end and we will get the report on Monday.

Who's report will we believe? WE WILL BELIEVE THE REPORT OF OUR LORD.

I ask that all you who read this blog and are prayer warriors to please stand with us and pray for our daughter, Suzette, and Marc's family.

II Timothy 1:12 - "For the which cause I also suffer these things; nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day." KJV

"But I have no regrets. I couldn't be more sure of my grounds - the One I've trusted in can take care of what he's trusted me to do right to the end." The Message Bible

My word for 2010 - VULNERABLE

This is the word the Lord gave me on 12/30/09 as my word for the year 2010. Here is the post if you'd care to read it.

VULNERABLE

adj (Latin vulnus, a wound) - 1) That can be wounded, or injured. 2) open to, or liable to be hurt by, criticism or attack.

I love the way God warns us and protects us about various things. He is such a good and faithful God to me in all ways. But, I have to admit, even though He warns and prepares us, ....still......often times I am taken unawares. I was taken unawares this week.


This is the scripture He gave me then:


"So I stationed armed guards at the most vulnerable places of the wall and assigned people by families with their swords, lances, and bows. After looking things over I stood up and spoke to the nobles, officials, and everyone else: "Don't be afraid of them. Put your minds on the Master, great and awesome, and then fight for your brothers, your sons, your daughters, your wives, and your homes."

Nehemiah 4:13 The Message


Yes, I am VULNERABLE. But, He has placed those strong and dear to me to whom I could go to for Godly counsel and I did. Thank you Lord for those strong in The Word and Faith who I can turn to who uplift my arms for the battle. Thank you Father God that YOU are always the answer, the way and the more than enough God for me.

A GREAT GIVE-AWAY

If you'd like a chance to win this beautiful pendant then go here to put your name in the drawing.

I don't participate a lot in blogging about other people's give-aways but this is such a lovely, very unique piece that I wanted to do so today. Hope one of us wins!!!!! :o)

The Tender Solicitude

"But the very hairs of your head are all numbered." Matthew 10:30

What a promise is this! All that befalls you, to the very numbering of your hairs--is known to God! Nothing can happen by accident or chance. Nothing can elude His inspection. The fall of the forest leaf--the fluttering of the insect--the waving of the angel's wing--the annihilation of a world--all are equally noted by Him! Man speaks of great things and small things--but God knows no such distinction.



How especially comforting to think of this tender solicitude with reference to His own covenant people--that He metes out all their joys--and all their sorrows! Every sweet--and every bitter--is ordained by Him. Even "wearisome nights" are "appointed." Not a pang I feel, not a tear I shed--but is known to Him. What are called "dark dealings," are the ordinations of undeviating faithfulness. Man may err--his ways are often crooked; "but as for God--His way is perfect!" He puts my tears into His bottle. Every moment His everlasting arms are underneath and around me. He keeps me "as the apple of His eye." He "bears" me as a man bears his own son!



Do I look to the FUTURE? Is there much of uncertainty and mystery hanging over it? It may be, much foreboding of evil. Trust Him! All is marked out for me. Dangers will be averted; bewildering mazes will show themselves to be interlaced and interweaved with mercy. "He keeps the feet of His saints." Not a hair of their head will be touched.



He leads sometimes darkly, sometimes sorrowfully; most frequently by cross and circuitous ways, which we ourselves would not have chosen; but always wisely, always tenderly. With all its mazy windings and turnings, its roughness and ruggedness--the believer's is not only a right way--but the right way--the best which covenant love and wisdom could select.



"Nothing," says Jeremy Taylor, "does so establish the mind amid the rollings and turbulence of present things--as both a look above them and a look beyond them; above them--to the steady and loving hand by which they are ruled; and beyond them--to the sweet and beautiful end to which, by that hand, they will be brought." "The Great Counselor," says Thomas Brooks, "puts clouds and darkness round about Him, bidding us follow at His beck through the cloud, promising an eternal and uninterrupted sunshine on the other side." On that "other side" we shall see how every apparent rough blast has been hastening our boats nearer the desired haven.Well may I commit the keeping of my soul to Jesus in well-doing--as unto a faithful Creator. He gave Himself for me. This transcendent pledge of love--is the guarantee for the bestowment of every other needed blessing. Oh, blessed thought! my sorrows are numbered--by the Man of Sorrows; my tears are counted--by Him who shed first His tears, and then His blood for me! He will impose no needless burden, and exact no unnecessary sacrifice. There was no unnecessary drop in the cup of His own sufferings; neither will there be in that of His people. "Though He slays me--yet will I trust in Him!" "Therefore comfort one another with these words."



(John MacDuff, "The Words of Jesus")



I copied this from my dear friend, Sandra's, Water Colour Dreams blog. I trust it will bless you as it blessed me.