Principles for Our Possessions - One Day at a Time

Our Sunday School lesson today had a great message. Matthew 6:19-21 "Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasurer is, there your heart will be also.

A new member of a Bible study group asked the leader, "How can anybody keep from worrying these days?" Good question. In a society full of poverty, disease, and starvation, Jesus' listeners asked the same question. Then, as now, we cannot stop feelings of worry and panic. However, we can decide to trust God and act according to His will so that the panic does not overwhelm us.

Jesus told us four things to do to feel secure and free from worry. First, don't trust the material world for security; earthly wealth will fail. It's like hanging heavy weights on thin string--the whole structure will come crashing down. Jesus tells us to store up the heavenly treasures of faith through a life of prayer, Bible study, and a close relationship with Him.

Second, avoid the worry habit. Money problems, a job loss, or a medical diagnosis of cancer can cause even the strongest person to panic. Usually, however, we worry about things that might happen, but then don't. Constant worry shows a pattern of distrust in God's ability to meet our needs.

Third, look at nature. As Jesus said, the God who takes care of the birds and the wildflowers will meet our every need. when worry and panic set in, we must remember God met our needs before. The God who cared for us then has not changed or gone away.

Finally, live one day at a time. Jesus said the Father would provide daily bread--resources to deal with each day's problems. When you drive at night, the car headlights illuminate only the portion of the road directly ahead of you. Likewise, for each day's troubles, God will provide the light you need.

Jesus does not mean that we are never to plan ahead. Just as you service your car regularly, some long-term preparations for the future are necessary--insurance and retirement savings, for example. But we must not let the future control the present. The life God gives us is one day at a time.

A Weekend Full of Blessings!

Working all year, leads up to the delivery of the FFA Toy and Food Drive to the needy families in Vernon Township. Saturday, December 20, was no different. Well, it was different than in past years, as to me, each year is different. This year we had less time to get everything together for the delivery. School was in session till Friday at 3 p.m., there was a basketball game on Friday night that took our high school cheerleaders and boys basketball team to Madison Shawe. Fortunately, there were many that stepped in and helped do a 2-day job in less than 6 hours! Again, I stressed over this, for nothing! A couple more grey hairs were added to my head, when I didn't need to worry at all! ;-)

All the fruit baskets were completed on Friday



The large, medium, small, and pee-wee boxes were packed and waiting for delivery



At 8:45 a.m., FFA President Cody Brasher delivered his instructions to his fellow members, fire department members, and other volunteers who showed up to help.



Once Cody was finished, everyone stepped up and started loading the fire trucks



The fire trucks were loaded with all the food and toys!





Once loaded, the trucks pull out, lights flashing, sirens blaring, and smiles on all the faces













After a few hours, you could again see the floor of the FFA Adviser's, Linda Maxie, room



One of the highlights of the day is when all the food, toys, coats, and cheer baskets have been delivered, everyone comes back to enjoy some chocolate milk, orange juice, hot chocolate, grape juice, and to share their stories, and always a few tears!



At the end of the day, you are exhausted from all the work that goes into making this day a success. But, just hearing and seeing the joy on the recipient's face makes all the aches and pains worth it!

Already, I'm looking forward to the 2009 delivery!

A Christmas Tree?

I'm beginning to think my husband and son have spent too much time at the Clarksville, Indiana Bass Pro Shop. Why do you ask? Well, this is a close up picture of my 2008 Christmas tree:



Yup, those are fishing bobbers, a fish stringer, and if you look close, you can seen some spent shotgun shells as the Christmas lights.

We're a pretty happy family!

It's Official

The National Bureau of Economic Research let us know today that America is in a recession! The NBER also said on Monday that the U.S. has been in a recession since December 2007!

Wow! Like we didn't already know that!

There might have been some that didn't realize this as there was over 14 billion dollars spent on Black Friday. This is up almost 1.5% from last year!

Since the NBER waited until the Monday after Black Friday to announce the recession, I'm wondering if any of the 14 billion purchases will be returned for a cash refund?

The last two recessions (1990-1991 and 2001) lasted eight months each, and only two of the 10 previous post-Depression downturns lasted as long as a full year, according to the NBER.

Maybe with someone actually saying the U.S. is in a recession, this will be the start of a new tomorrow. Hopefully, it will happen that quickly.

Thankful

It’s that time of year again where we are suppose to count our blessings and be thankful for what we have. One of my favorite hymns is Count Your Blessings. It seems like most church’s sing that around Thanksgiving. Ours was no different Sunday, as we sung it too.

I like to be thankful every day for what I have, not just on Thanksgiving. God, family, friends, a home, food, money, and the list could go on for eternity. No matter who we are, all of us should be able to find at least one thing in our lives to be thankful for.

To all my family and friends, I wish you, not only a happy Thanksgiving, but happiness to infinity and beyond!

How To Be A Good Friend

When I received the mail today at work, and was filing through all the junk items, I ran across something I thought was interesting. It is a flyer from RIPEA. (Retired Indiana Public Employees Association)

In the Editor's Corner there is a list of fun facts, trivia, and other information. One that caught my eye this morning was 'Ways to be a good friend':

*Spend time together

*Be there in good and bad times

*Don't keep score

*Pay attention to the little things that you do together

*Be positive

*Bake some cookies and share them

I could add to this list, but for now, these are good ones to reflect on!

The Chosen

All of us have been in a situation where we have been the last one chosen, or maybe we were not even considered for the position at all.

Both situations hurt the person who realizes they were not good enough.

Overcoming the rejection is a long, slow process. Life’s short. People need to realize after the game, the King and the pawn go in the same box.

Some People Just Don't Like Me

That's right! Can you believe it?

Just as I get to work this morning, at about 8:00 a.m. the phone rings. I answer it, in my always pleasant voice. The female on the other end of the line asks if Norman is working. I say, "Who's calling please?"

Screaming at the top of her lungs, she responds, "IT DON'T MATTER WHO THIS IS IF HE'S THERE!"

Well, hmmmm, I guess it does matter who you are, to me it does, and probably to Norman too. What if there is someone in front of you wishing to speak to him? What if he already has someone in his office? Should I interrupt him? What if he's in the restroom and your wait time is going to be longer than you expect?

How I really wanted to respond and what I really wanted to say, I didn't.

After a short pause, I asked the caller if she would be able to hold. I placed the phone on hold, went to Norman's office and told him he had a phone call on line 1.

After I found out who it was, I wasn't surprised. Guess there is hatred in the world!

Oh, well, it's their problem, not mine! :-)

JJ Rocks

Today on Judge Judy's show she used one of my favorite sayings:

"If you tell the truth, you don't have to have a good memory"

How true that is! If more people followed this rule, wouldn't life in this world be perfect?

Prejudice

From Wikipedia:

The word prejudice refers to prejudgment: making a decision before becoming aware of the relevant facts of a case or event. The word has commonly been used in certain restricted contexts, in the expression 'racial prejudice'. Initially this is referred to making a judgment about a person based on their race, religion, class, etc., before receiving information relevant to the particular issue on which a judgment was being made; it came, however, to be widely used to refer to any hostile attitude towards people based on their race or even by just judging someone without even knowing them. Subsequently the word has come to be widely so interpreted in this way in contexts other than those relating to race. The meaning now is frequently "any unreasonable attitude that is unusually resistant to rational influence".[1] Race, sex, ethnicity, sexual orientation, age, and religion have a history of inciting prejudicial behaviour.

I did not make any hasty decisions.

I did not say anything about any one's race, religion, or class.

I do not have any hostile attitude towards anyone.

I do, however, understand history.

The United States Constitution Bill of Rights, 1st amendment reads:

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

This is America and I live in this country which is free! People, including you and me, are free to express their opinions under our 1st amendment rights.