Ordinary Days?

      Another day. A seemingly ordinary day. What makes a day ordinary? Ordinary is very much
 the same as common. 

  _____________________________________________________________
       {Common means......
                       Not distinguished by superior or noteworthy characteristics; average:}
                                       ___________________


When I think of the hope that lies wrapped up in the gift of a sunrise.. This is not ordinary~


         Perspective ~



          As I mentally walk through my day, how can I find the extra-ordinary... the miracle...

   the beauty...a message...some inspiration...a reminder to be grateful...within my waking hours.

                                                             ***********

Putting my bed back together in the morning is not something that I particularly enjoy...

but the blessing of a warm home and a comfortable place to take rest is something

I am thankful for.




                              The LORD does not give us common things...
                        
As I eat an apple while I write.... it is SO crunchy.. red and smooth on the outside...

I bite into the cool, crispness of the grainy white...

It is so sweet and juicy. ___________  I enjoy it..

                           It was formed from a bud on a tree..and grew into the fruit God created
                                                   for us to taste and say.. that is the best apple~

                                       Thank you, God....

My daughters are so willing to serve by tidying the kitchen after a snack...they do it every day...

without complaining. I am so blessed by the heart that God has given them...

a heart that sacrifices to do for others...

Our dishwasher has been empty for over a year ... It doesn't work...

 ___________ We chose not to have it repaired...
There is an awareness of each other as we fellowship around the washing of the dishes..

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I am surrounded by the extra-ordinary...

As I take the time to look beyond the surface of seemingly common things...my heart will become

                        tuned in to the richness of the life that

                                                God has given me to embrace.. live...cherish... and...
             

                   find beauty in.



I am sure there are things that I am missing....


I would be so blessed to hear about your experience of finding the extra-ordinary treasures

in your Ordinary things....

Osama Bin Laden and the Work of the Cross

“I mourn the loss of thousands of precious lives,

 but I will not rejoice in the death of one, not even an enemy.

 Returning hate for hate multiplies hate,

 adding deeper darkness to a night already devoid of stars.

 Darkness cannot drive out darkness:

 only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate:

only love can do that.”

 (Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.)

Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

Romans 12:21

*****

 

The Islamic fundamentalist leader Osama bin Laden (born 1957), a harsh critic of the United States and its policies, is widely believed to have orchestrated the 1998 bombings of two U.S. embassies in East Africa, as well as the October 2000 attack on the USS Cole in the Yemeni port of Aden. But it is his role as the apparent mastermind of the September 11, 2001, attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon that have made bin Laden one of the most infamous and sought-after figures in recent history.

 

World Book Encyclopedia  2004

*****

 I think it is a fair assessment to state that Osama Bin Laden

hated the United States. He was a wealthy man with

many political powers and connections; He used

 these powers for targeting those that he hated.

 Knowing that Osama Bin Laden is no longer among the living,

has brought great relief to many. He was considered to be a hero and a great leader by some;

To others, he was "an evil" to be brought down.Today many are mourning his death,

while others are glad that he is gone.

The question that I want to ask, is how does God see him? Didn't Jesus die for him as well

as for you and me? On the spectrum of sin, where does he stand? Is his sin

somehow less atoned for? Is it darker than mine?

 

 

 Jesus came for all; God sent him for all.

 

Should we as Christians be glad that Osama is dead? After all,

 wasn't he a very evil man that displayed his hatred

by killing innocent people?

 

Or should we be mourning his death; A sinner who had not found his way to

the mercy of the cross? One that Christ walked the path of shame, and pain and death

to redeem? Do we have the right to reject the work of the death

and ressurrection of Christ? To dismiss the sacrifice that was made out of love?

 

 

Do we justify his death according to his evil deeds?

 God makes it clear that there is noone

 that deserves eternity with Him.

All have sinned and fall short.

 

These are tough questions. And it is understandable that

 there are those who hate Osama Bin Laden. I understand perfectly.

I have felt hatred in my heart towards people who have

maliciously meant to harm my family because of their

own vengeful feelings.

 

 

 

But hatred is an emotion and our emotions

change with circumstances.

 

God and His love NEVER change.

And His word never changes.

 

 

If we allow our feelings to dictate what is right, are we

not stamping a "VOID" on God's Word.

His Word is the truth in every circumstance.

Can we allow blessings and cursing to come out of the

same vessel?

 

******

I am not saying that I have attained  these things; I have not by far.

But if my heart and home, my intentions and actions,

my thoughts and my words are not washed

by the Word of God and His truth,

and I claim to be a Christian,

then I am a hyprocrite and the work of the cross,

on my behalf, was all in vain.

 

 

 

 I know of the power of His grace and mercy in my life

and I am grateful. I know that my past would be my present if it

were not for His blood that was shed for the full and free forgiveness

of my sin.

I Am Persuaded

I Am Persuaded

Tornado Victims~ How You Can Help

The way God designed our bodies is a model

for understanding our lives together as a church:

 every part dependent on every other part,

the parts we mention and the parts we don't,

 the parts we see and the parts we don't.

 If one part hurts, every other part is involved in the hurt,

 and in the healing.

 If one part flourishes,

every other part enters into the exuberance.

1 Corinthians 12:26

We have lit a candle in our home

 to remind us to pray for those who are

 left suffering in the

 in the aftermath

of last weeks powerfully,

deadly storms.

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Here are some ways you can help!
_______________________________________

                                   

The greatest stated needs at this time are labor and finances.

The families are trying to salvage anything they can.

They are spending hours each day just trying to clean up and

gather items of any worth.

This work is exhausting both mentally and physically.

There are MULTITUDES of very large trees, beams,

 timbers and walls that have to be cut up, disassembled

 and moved! Could you possibly offer your

strong arms and backs?

 

You can help by sending finances or gift cards.

Would you consider offering your time?

Storage is badly needed. There are many supplies coming in

 but NO place to store these items.

The address for the Crawford family is:

Kathy Brodock

P.O. Box

Oneonta, Al. 35121

The Crawford's were able to salvage most of their clothes.

The Lee family can recieve help through:

Providence Church

401 S. Carol Ave.

Morton, Il. 61550

(The Lees are the family that lost their father and husband.)

There are MANY families in the area who have

needs. If you desire to help the Lees in particular,

please state this on your check or money order.

Remember any amount can be used and will be a blessing

to these families.

Thank you so much!

God Alone is Enough~

There are so many things to pull at my heart and distract me.

Places to go.. things to do..projects to work on.

Good things.

But even good things can blur my focus.

Good things can crowd out my time and snatch

away my energy.

The looming shadow of business can

darken my perspective.



There are cares of the day that I

 allow to rob me of peace..

Unresolved questions that

can stir up anxiety.

Leftover housework that pushes

 me to over-tiredness..

I have to work on remembering~

That nothing can bring me satisfaction..or peace
apart from God.

There is nothing MORE...

Than God.

 He alone is enough.

WAIT and listen, everyone who is thirsty!

Come to the waters; and he who has no money, come, buy and eat!

 Yes, come, buy [priceless, spiritual] wine and milk without money

 and without price

 [simply for the self-surrender that accepts the blessing].

Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread,

and your earnings for what does not satisfy?

 Hearken diligently to Me, and eat what is good,

and let your soul delight itself in fatness

 [the profuseness of spiritual joy].

Incline your ear [submit and consent to the divine will]

 and come to Me; hear, and your soul will revive;

and I will make an everlasting covenant or league with you,

even the sure mercy (kindness, goodwill, and compassion) promised to David.

Psalm 55:1-3 

 

 

 

 

 

 Rest in Him. Trust in Him.  

 

 
We don't embrace the Catholic doctrine, however,
we have found John Michael Talbot's music to be uplifting
and encouraging. We hope you are blessed as well.