Thankful

     As I said yesterday, I have been having a trying couple of weeks.  Things haven't only been hard, but have been awful.  I could, if I would let myself, get down, but I am not going to do that.  What I am going to do instead is count my blessings, which are many.
     I am blessed.  I have a roof over my head.  Tonight, before I wrote this, I had a hot meal.  I have three wonderful kids, two beautiful daughters and a handsome son.  I have a wife that loves me, takes care of me, and is there for me when I need her.  I have been blessed with a great Mother and Father in law, whom I get along well with.  I have a Mother that is still alive, and in reasonably good health, who I get to see every day.  I may not always have what I want, but I always seem to have just what I need.
     I have many friends, and I have family.  Many of my friends I consider family, and many of my family I consider friends.  I have a brand new Bible that I got for Christmas.  It has large print, which makes it a lot easier for me to read as my eyesight diminishes.  I have grown to treasure this new Bible, much as I treasured the ones before it.  I have gray hair, which I used to cover up, thinking that it was a sign of growing old.  I have come to count it as a blessing, a symbol that God has given me years of wisdom after my years of youth.  I have a beard, which has gotten shaggy.  I am thankful for it two fold.  One, it is a symbol of my faith in a prayer that I have had for a while.  Secondly, it keeps my face warm.
     I am thankful for those people who have been with me through all of my years, through good times and bad.  These are people who have seen me at my best, and at my worst, but still love me.  I am thankful each day that I check on my blog, and see that someone has read it, or has "liked" the link that I put on facebook.  I am thankful for each and every person that comes up to me and tells me they read the blog and enjoy it.  That makes it worthwhile.  I am thankful for each and every person that stops and says a prayer for me when I ask it.
     Most of all, I am thankful that God gave His only begotten Son to die on an old rugged cross, so that I might be saved.  Many days I feel as though I, more than others, am not worthy.  There is a song that I sometimes sing at church, and the words go like this.....I'm just a sinner saved by grace, when I stood condemned to death, He took my place, now I live and breathe in freedom, with each breath of life I take, loved and forgiven, back with the living, I'm just a sinner saved by grace.   That is what I am most thankful for.

Finding Favor With God

     This is my first blog of the week for good reason.  This has been a rough week, a rough few weeks actually.  What I have to share with you has been weighing heavily on my mind for a while, and I didn't want to rush my thoughts out until I was ready, and could give it the justice it deserved.
     Times like I have had lately, well, they are tough times, but also times of great joy in suffering.  When times are toughest, those are the times I grow closer to God.  One of the things I have been praying about lately, besides the needs of my friends and loved ones, is finding favor with God.  In times of my introspection, the Holy Spirit has kept the story of King David in my mind, and today I finally gained some insight into what God was trying to tell me, and what He wanted me to share.
     Many times we feel like we are too small and insignificant for God to care about us, to use us, and to show us favor.  Maybe that is how David felt.  David was, in the eyes of the world, nobody who would stand out.  Samuel, in fact, looked upon Eliab and was sure that he was the one.

⁶ And it came to pass, when they were come, that he looked on Eliab, and said, Surely the LORD'S anointed [is] before him.

⁷ But the LORD said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for [the LORD seeth] not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart.

    Samuel then went through all of Jesse's sons, save for David, thinking that surely one of them was the anointed one.

¹⁰ Again, Jesse made seven of his sons to pass before Samuel. And Samuel said unto Jesse, The LORD hath not chosen these.

¹¹ And Samuel said unto Jesse, Are here all [thy] children? And he said, There remaineth yet the youngest, and, behold, he keepeth the sheep. And Samuel said unto Jesse, Send and fetch him: for we will not sit down till he come hither.

     David was out keeping the sheep, not even invited to the sacrifice.  David, it would seem  was the least of Jesse's sons.  But David, the one who loved The Lord, was the one that God chose.

¹² And he sent, and brought him in. Now he [was] ruddy, [and] withal of a beautiful countenance, and goodly to look to. And the LORD said, Arise, anoint him: for this [is] he.

¹³ Then Samuel took the horn of oil, and anointed him in the midst of his brethren: and the Spirit of the LORD came upon David from that day forward. So Samuel rose up, and went to Ramah.

     I can only imagine that David, while he was tending the sheep, did as we all would probably do.  I would imagine that David talked to The Lord, and wondered why he was not invited to the sacrifice.  Little did David know what God had in store for him.  God knew from the beginning that David would be king, David only knew that he loved The Lord.  I imagine David felt insignificant that day, just a lowly shepherd, the least of his brothers.  God had other plans for David though.
     How often  do we wake up with the realities of our world bearing upon us, thinking that we are so insignificant that God would not have plans for us, and doesn't notice us?  If we will only love The Lord our God with all of our hearts, then we cannot fathom the plans that God has for our lives.  It may not be today, or the next, but God will, in His perfect time, work all things out to the good of those who love Him.  Even though we may feel small, and insignificant, we are all precious in His sight.  Open yourself up to God's will in your life, and let Him use you.

My Prayer For The Day

     Dear Lord,
     Today, when I feel the need to complain, please remind me:

When I complain about not having what I want to eat, remind me of those who have nothing to eat at all:
When I complain about my clothes not being new, remind me of those who have no warm clothes at all:
When I complain about my roof leaking, or my power bill, remind me of those who have no place to call home :
When I try to put off reading my Bible to watch television, or some other distraction, remind me of those who are at risk of death for even having a Bible :
When I complain because of some ache or pain, remind me of those who are facing sickness:
When I complain because someone doesn't like me because I mention you, remind me of those who will die today for your sake:
When I complain about having to go to work, remind me of those who have no job:
When I complain about  being tired, remind me of those who can get no rest:
When I complain about anything at all, remind me of the example of Jesus:

I hope today that you will take the time to think about those who are less fortunate than we are.  Pray for those who will die today for the cause of Christ, for those who are hungry, cold, and alone.  Take one day, and instead of praying for what we WANT, pray for what others NEED.  Take time to pray not for ourselves, but for others.

This One Goes Out To A One Eyed Dove

     Where I work we have a game we like to play with each other to help the days go faster.  What we do is go up to someone like we have something very important to share.  When we have their full attention, we start singing a song in the hopes of the song getting stuck in their head.  I did this to a friend the other day, singing the REM song, The One I Love.  My friend responded that when he first heard the song, he thought the words were, "this one goes out to the one eyed dove."  We both won that round, he had the song in his head, and I had those words stuck in mine.  In honor of that, here are some misunderstood lyrics that I have found, for your enjoyment.

     I'm in love, I'm all shook up / I'm in love, a Marsha cup
     There's a bad moon on the rise / There's a bathroom on the right 
     I bless the rains down in Africa / I get my brains down in Africa
     Excuse me while I kiss the sky / Excuse me while I kiss this guy / Excuse me while I kiss this fly
     Pour some sugar on me / Bird song chulagon me (I have no idea what a chulagon is)
     Now I've had the time of my life / Now I've had a time with your wife
     Some day the mountain might get em / Some day the mountain lion get em
     Kin folk said Jed move away from here / Ken Ford said Jed move away from here
     It's an Eminence front / It's an M&M's lunch
     She's got a ticket to ride / She's got a chicken to hide
     The answer my friend is blowing in the wind / The ants are my friend, they're blowing in the wind
     Feel the beat from the tambourine / Feel the heat from the tangerine
     No one knows what it's like to be the bad man / No one knows what it's like to be Batman

     
    
    
    
  

Maybe

     Maybe I am old fashioned.  I believe in respecting my elders, respecting the church, and honoring the dead.  I think it is a shame that people can't turn their phones off long enough to worship God any more.  I think it is offensive that people can't take their bluetooth headsets out of their ear long enough to pay respects to the dead in a funeral home.  I do not understand why it is that people that are dressed to the nines all week long, show up to church looking like they just got out of bed.
     Maybe I am too new fangled.  I don't believe that whether or not I get into Heaven is going to depend on which translation of the Bible I use.  I don't think it offends God if I don't wear a jacket or a tie to church.  I am a lot less offended by a woman wearing a decent pair of pants to church than I am a woman wearing a short skirt. Sometimes I even let my beard grow out, I really hope God doesn't mind.
     Maybe I was wrong about a lot of things.  Maybe my Dad knew a lot more than I gave him credit for.  Maybe I should have taken more time to listen to the things he was trying to tell me, instead of trying to convince him I knew what I was doing.  Maybe I should have been more serious about life, instead of wasting my youth on frivolous pursuits.  Maybe I should have studied longer, played harder, and enjoyed those loved ones that I now miss a little bit more.
     Maybe instead of looking at what is wrong, I should be looking more at what is right.  Maybe instead of complaining about wrongs, I should be working harder at making things right.  Maybe I should look for the good in people, look for a reason to trust and believe in people more.  Maybe I should give more second, even third chances.  Maybe I will have the chance today to tell somebody about Jesus, and how He made a difference in my life.  Maybe He will make a difference in theirs.
     Maybe I should spend more time with my children.  I would give anything for just a few moments with my Dad.   Maybe I can be the kind of Dad my kids can be proud of.  Maybe I can become a better friend, a better son, a better husband, and a better man..  Maybe it's not too late.

Quick Monday

     No particular topic to cover at length, so more rambling.  Tim Tebow is beginning to grow on me.  I have to admit, I have never been a big fan, but you have to admire someone who stands up for his beliefs like he does.  It is refreshing to see someone who has morals, and ideals, make a splash in the sporting world.  Found this info on facebook,concerning Tim Tebow's first playoff game,

Tim Tebow's favorite bible verse is john 3:16...today he threw for 316 yards,averaged 3.16 yards per carry and took plays from a man named john

Speaking of sports, I am embarrassed to be an Atlanta Falcon fan after yesterday.  That was awful.  Like another Falcon fan said, it might be time to jump on the Tebow train now.
     The other day my family was traveling down the road, and my wife and I were talking about marriage.  We were discussing people who renew their vows.  Our 6 year old son heard us talking, and started asking us questions about what it meant to be married.  We were doing our best to explain it to him, and my wife tried to explain the wedding vows.  My son said "Mama, I know all about vows, A.E.I,O,and U."
     If you enjoy my blog, please take a moment and click on one of the adds on the page.  It doesn't cost a thing, and would help me a lot.  Like I said, not much to say today, hope you all have a great Monday.
 

I Love You, Man

  .  I was finishing up a quick conversation with a friend of mine the other day when he said something that caught me by surprise.  I have known this friend for several years, we have worked together, mostly have quick meaningless conversations, but occasionally have deeper talks.  This time we had a work related conversation, but had finished and were joking around with each other.  We had been picking at each other for a few minutes, and were about to go our separate ways when he simply said, "you know I love you man."

     This caught me off guard.  I gave him a quick laugh, and we went about our business.  I couldn't stop thinking about it though.  It wasn't something that made me uncomfortable, because I knew what he was trying to say.  It did bring up a lot of thoughts and questions in my mind.  Why is it so hard to say "I love you", and what is it that makes us love each other? 
     We all know about love for our families.  That is a given, but what about others in our lives.  For me, the answer was surprising.  The more I thought about the people in my life, my family, my friends, the more I realized that I had done a very bad job of telling most of them just how I felt.  There are a multitude of people in my life that I have a genuine love for, people that I look forward to seeing, people that I admire.  Very, very few of them have I ever told just how special they are to me. That's sad.
     I wish I could say that I was going to change all of that, and that I was going to let each and every person that is special in my life know just how I feel, but I know better.  That's not how life works.  Most people would not be comfortable hearing those words, and there is always the chance that I have a much higher opinion of them than they do of me.  I'm not willing to take those kinds of chances.  Besides, I am a guy, and we just don't do those things.
    I guess in the end that is why what my friend said threw me off for a moment.  It's a guy thing.  Other than times of great joy or sorrow, we normally don't express ourselves like that.  Maybe that is why what my friend said the other day meant so much to me.  It wasn't something he thought about, it was just something that came out.  That is the best sentiment, when it comes from the heart.

God Bless The Lunch Ladies, Again

     A few months back I wrote a post titled God Bless The Lunch Ladies.  I will be the first to admit, even though it was done as a tribute to all of the lunch ladies I have had the priveledge of knowing through the years, it was written with a distinctly humorous slant.  I went back and read the post again, with the events of the past few days in mind, and today that post has become again one of my all time favorites.

The Lunch Ladies

     My wife works in a school cafeteria.  Her exact job title is School Food Service Personnel.  I call her a Lunch Lady.  The title Lunch Lady is more fitting, because it is a title that I say with love and respect.  I am proud of my wife, proud of the woman that she is, and proud of the job that she does.  The past couple of days, I have heard the words lunch lady said by different people with more respect and admiration than I have ever heard, and it makes me proud.  Unless you have ever actually gotten to know one of these women, you will never understand the love and dedication that they have for the kids they feed.  For most of them, it is more than just a job, it is a calling, and a love.
    I have had the pleasure of knowing many women that have done this work through the years, and many of them have left an indellible mark on me.  Some fed me when I was in school others I knew from other places, but all of them are and were great women.  Sitting here now, in the quiet of my room, the names and faces come back to me with great admiration and love. Jerri Weaver, Eva Nell Woods, Linda Pettyjohn, Joyce Ozment, and many others that I have had the pleasure of knowing.  These are and were great women of strong character and faith.
     One fact that most people don't realize is that lunch ladies don't make a lot of money.  Most do it for the love of the job.  Most of them could make a lot more money, with more respect, and better recognition doing what they do in the private sector.  They do it to be around the kids, and to be a part of their lives.  It is especially gratifying to me when a child sees my wife out and comes up to her to say hi.  Many of the kids are now adults, but still take the time to say hi.  The kids know how special these women are.  My wife has been doing this job for a while now, and has watched these children, yours and mine, grow up.  My wife can tell you their names, what they like to eat, what they don't like, and many other things about them.  It amazes me.  She, like most other lunch ladies, loves the kids.
     In the first entry I did about lunch ladies I made a comment, and it holds even more true today than when I wrote it.  The passage said simply, " I hope that in Heaven there is a special dinner just for lunch ladies, where everyone they served can come together and feed them.  That seems only right."  It rings even truer today than the day I wrote it.  God bless all of the lunch ladies, you deserve it.

Joyce

Joyce, a special lady.

     Different people have different ways of dealing with things.  My way is to put words on a computer screen.  I am going to work through something, and I am going to take you along with me as I go.  This is a special entry, for a special person. 
     Many people come and go in our lives, and truth be known, the majority of them that are not family, or very close friends, stay on the periphery of our everyday lives.  Sadly, we seldom take time to truly cherish those special people we often come across until it is too late.  Tuesday, a special person went home to be with The Lord, and in some small way I just want to give her the recognition that she never got when she was with us.  Joyce Ozment was that special person.
     I first met Joyce many years ago.  When I first met her, she was one of "the sisters." That's what everyone called them, hardly ever Joyce and Shirley, just "the sisters."  They were inseparable.  A few years ago Shirley died, and Joyce went on by herself.  I never really knew Joyce until she went to work with my wife.  Joyce became a lunch lady.  Anybody who has been with me since the beginning of this blog knows that I have an affinity for lunch ladies.  With Joyce working with my wife, I got to know her better.
     The one thing that would stand out as soon as you met Joyce was that she was friendly.  I doubt there were very few people that ever met her that don't remember her.  Joyce had a genuine love for people that shone brightly.  There are not many people like that in the world now.
     Most people that didn't get to know Joyce would not know just how much she would do for others.  She was always willing to lend a hand, and to help out whenever someone needed anything, never asking for anything in return.  For her, the helping was the reward.  Joyce was a fixture at the local flea markets.  That was her love.  The thing that always amazed me about Joyce was that most of the time she was giving away more stuff than she was selling.  My kids would do as most kids when they go to the flea market and look at toys.  Joyce always had some small toys, and the kids would stand and check them out while Joyce and my wife would talk.  The majority of the time, Joyce would tell the kids to pick them out a toy, or some trinket, and would let them have it.  I know that my kids were not the only ones. 
     Joyce was also very active in her church.  That in itself is good, but her activity in the church was not for recognition, but borne out of her genuine love for her Savior.  I have no doubt in my mind that in an instant, Joyce was standing on streets of gold with Jesus.  I also have no doubt that the first words out of His mouth were, "well done my good and faithful servant."  Rest in peace Joyce, this world is a lesser place tonight, but Heaven just got even better.

Pet Peeving

     I have a new pet peeve.  Actually, it is something that has bothered me for a while now, but just recently has reached critical mass.  When I was younger I thought it was cool, but now it just seems silly.  I was watching the Giants - Cowboys game the other night, and when it happened I almost blew a fuse.  I am talking about the segments at the start of the game when they show the players, and they say their names and which college they attended
.     I am sure anybody that has ever watched a football game knows what I am talking about.  The announcers will say something along the lines of, "let's meet the Giants offense," then we will have each player say his name, and his college, such as..... Eli Manning, quarterback, Ole Miss.   This would all be fine and good during a college all star game, but for the life of me I can't understand why it makes sense in a professional football game.  I would think that just saying their name and position would be better, or if not position, then maybe hometown.  It really does annoy me to no end.
     Maybe it would have made sense back when players actually played 4 years of college before turning pro, but that doesn't happen very often either. Most players now do not spend enough time in college to even get tied to the schools the way players of the past did.  Years ago players were more closely identified by their college careers

     I can just imagine if the real world was like sports.  I can just imagine the first day of school. The principal calls an assembly, and announces to the students, " Now, let's meet our 2011-2012 teachers."  Stepping out from behind the curtain, the 60 year old grey haired teacher says......"Myra Dumples, Science, Jacksonville State.".

Movie Migrane

     There has been a lot of talk lately on the news about movie studios.  The movie studios would have you to believe that they are going broke, because people are either buying pirated copies of the movies, or are waiting until the movies come out on DVD.  While this may be true to some extent, the movie studios have to accept some of the blame for themselves.  Like everything else in life, movies have outgrown the common man.
     Friday, my wife and I decided to treat our 3 kids to a movie.  They had been wanting to see the new Alvin and The Chipmunks movie, so we decided to give them one last treat for Christmas.  The last few times we had splurged for a movie we had went to the drive in, which was $15 a car load, and took our own snacks.  This time, we were going to the theater for a matinee.
    I knew that movie prices had skyrocketed, but never imagined what I was about to encounter.  The price to get into the movie, for the matinee, was $6.75 per child, and $7.00 per adult.  Before we had even set foot inside the theater, we were out $34.25.  Now, I have a decent job, and make decent (not good, just decent) money, but this was still about 3 hours worth of work, for 87 minutes of movie, and almost 30 minutes of previews.  This had me amazed, but what I saw next made me downright floored.
    The kids of course wanted popcorn and a drink.  We walked up to the concession stand to check out the prices.  Earlier in the day, when I was looking for movie times at this theater, I had run across a coupon for the concession stand.  The coupon was for a small coke and a small popcorn for $7.  I thought there had to be a misprint. I was wrong.  The price of a small coke at the stand was $4.50.  I was having sticker shock by this time.  A small popcorn was $5.75.  Needless to say, the kids got gum out of my wife's pocketbook to snack on during the movie.
     This is just one more small joy that has been priced out of affordability for the average family now.  I know that my family can hardly afford to put out $35- whatever to go see a movie very often.  This is truly a shame.  As for my family, we will stick to cable TV, On Demand, and RedBox for our movies from now on.  Maybe the movie studios and cinemas should take a long hard look at their ticket and concession prices to see why most families are no longer going out to the movies.