The Day Sally lost her Head

 [At our writers' group Christmas party we did a little writing. We each started a story and then the each paper was passed to the next person. Each added a few lines after only reading what the writer before them wrote, but not what all had written before them. We enjoyed the laughs that followed in trying to read them all. This is mine...or at least the first paragraph.]

The flowers bloomed beneath her window. A bumble bee fluttered from blossom to blossom. Sally reached her chubby hand toward the yellow daisy, but the bee flew away.

Please, don’t go.” She sobbed “I wanted to play with you. I don’t have anyone to play with.”

Friendless, she continued to search the garden for a companion. A butterfly flitted nearby, but was too fast to catch. 

Arts and Crafts Fair

Saturday, November 17th

  Handmade  purses,  watercolor

       tile art,  wood turning,

   small furniture, bottle lights, 

 beaded jewelry, hair accessories,

    Christmas ornaments, and...

 

 

Merrie Hansen and

Angela Meyer

Will sign copies of

“The Benefit Package”

 

 

 

Trinity United Methodist Church

9:00am - 3:00pm

 7130 Kentwell Lane, Lincoln, Nebraska

(one block east of 56th and Pine Lake Road)

 

 

Now that the Voting is over…

"Everyone must submit to governing authorities.

For all authority comes from God,

and those in positions of authority

have been placed there by God." Romans 13:1 nlt

Thank You! Thank you for praying and fasting for the 2012 US elections. The outcome is God’s will for His purpose. HE places all elected officials in their positions of authority.

I VOTED TODAY...did you?

 

"Providence has given to our people the choice of their rulers, and it is the duty, as well as the privilege and interest of our Christian nation, to select and prefer Christians for their rulers."   ~   John Jay, (1745-1829), Founding Father, Patriot, Statesman and First Chief Justice of the Supreme Court

America's Godly Heritage

“My heart is breaking

as I remember how it used to be:
I walked among the crowds of worshipers,
    leading a great procession to the house of God,
singing for joy and giving thanks amid the sound

of a great celebration!” Psalm 42:4 nlt 

What if our Founding Fathers had stayed home? What if they never tossed the tea into the river? What if they hadn't stood their grounds for what they believed to be good, true, and righteous? What if we Christians stay home and do not cast their VOTES in election 2012?

Two Weeks

"You are the light

that gives light to the world. 

A city that is built on a hill

cannot be hidden.” 

Matthew 5:14 ncv

Two weeks ago, I joined about 40 others to pray for our nation and the upcoming election decisions. It was a solemn experience. We focused on five areas: financial matters, global connections, the justices, government authorities, and those serving in the military. At each station, we read scripture and then prayed as the Spirit led us. Several times from different pray-ers, one confession was repeated…including by me.

17 days and still praying

 

“Then Mordecai told them to return this answer to Esther, Do not flatter yourself that you shall escape in the king’s palace any more than all the other Jews. For if you keep silent at this time, relief and deliverance shall arise for the Jews from elsewhere, but you and your father’s house will perish. And who knows but that you have come to the kingdom for such a time as this and for this very occasion?” ~ Esther 4:13-14 Amp  (my emphasis)

A David Psalm of Benefits (Psalm 103)

“O my soul, bless God. From head to toe, I’ll bless his holy name!

O my soul, bless God, don’t forget a single blessing!”

Psalm 103:1-2 msg

Entitled to Exercise the Right to VOTE

“…‘The one who rules righteously, who rules in the fear of God, is like the light of morning at sunrise…a morning without clouds…the gleaming of the sun on new grass after rain.’ 2 Samuel 23:3-4 nlt

"When you become entitled to exercise the right of voting for public officers, let it be impressed on your mind that God commands you to choose for rulers, "just men who will rule in the fear of God."

The preservation of government depends on the faithful discharge of this duty; if the citizens neglect their duty and place unprincipled men in office, the government will soon be corrupted; laws will be made, not for the public good so much as for selfish or local purposes; corrupt or incompetent men will be appointed to execute the laws; the public revenues will be squandered on unworthy men; and the rights of the citizens will be violated or disregarded.

“What” instead of “Why”

“Your beauty and love chase after me every day of my life.
I’m back home in the house of God for the rest of my life.” Psalm 23:6 msg

Sue’s story

I met Sue at our church Christmas program rehearsal a few years ago. God drew us together as we both arrived at the same time in the parking lot an hour early. We chit chatted we as walked into the building and to our dressing rooms to get ready. Then, she began opening up to me about her life and her family.

Her face changed expressions several times as she told her story. First, Sue’s eyes danced with delight as she shared the chronicles of her relationship with Roger. He was her “knight in shining armor,” rescuing her from the pain of an emotionally abusive marriage and difficult divorce of a few years earlier.

34 Days and Praying for America

^“It is a trustworthy statement: if any man aspires to the office of overseer, it is a fine work he desires to do. An overseer, then, must be above reproach…” 1 Timothy 3:1, 2 ncv

"If America is to survive, we must elect more God-centered men and women to public office – individuals who will seek divine guidance in the affairs of state." ~ Billy Graham, evangelist

First Timothy 3 has a wonderful list of requirements for elected officials—and I know it is a rare find, indeed, if someone meets this bill a hundred percent—but it gives us a guide.

34 days until Election 2012 – PRAY – FAST - VOTE

A Prayer for Healing

To preserve our blessed land we must look to God... It is time to realize that we need God more than He needs us... We also have His promise that we could take to heart with regard to our country, that "If my people, which are called by my name shall humble themselves, and pray and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land."

Let us, young and old, join together, as did the First Continental Congress, in the first step, in humble heartfelt prayer. Let us do so for the love of God and His great goodness, in search of His guidance and the grace of repentance, in seeking His blessings, His peace, and the resting of His kind and holy hands on ourselves, our nation, our friends in the defense of freedom, and all mankind, now and always.

Election 2012 - 36 days

“Then I turned to the Lord God and prayed and asked him for help.

To show my sadness, I fasted, put on rough cloth, and sat in ashes.

I prayed to the Lord my God and told him about all of our sins...

Lord, listen! Lord, forgive! Lord, hear us and do something! 

For your sake, don't wait, because your city 

and your people are called by your name." ~ Daniel 9:3-4, 19 ncv

“So long as the people do not care to exercise their freedom, those who wish to tyrannize will do so; for tyrants are active and ardent, and will devote themselves in the name of any number of gods, religious and otherwise, to put shackles upon sleeping men.” ~ Voltaire [François-Marie Arouet de Voltaire] (1694-1778) French writer, humanist, essayist & deist 

EXERCISE YOUR FREEDOM AND...

Absent but okay

“Though I am absent from you in my body, my heart is with you,

and I am happy to see your good lives and your strong faith in Christ.” Colossians 2:5 ncv

It has come to my attention that I have not blogged for a few weeks. A reader contacted me to ask “is everything okay?” I’ve been absent, but everything is fine.

 

My focus has been upon an upcoming speaking engagement…one a bit bigger than I’ve ever done. The deadline for turning my Power Point presentation and handouts to the ministry team was Monday of this week; so my blood pressure rose a bit in recent days to meet it.

I will be speaking at our women’s “What’s in your bag” retreat October 12^th & 13^th. Eighty to a hundred women are expected, and I desire to speak God’s message clearly in the three 45-minute sessions.

(Your prayers are greatly appreciated.)

However, you may get sick of me in the next 6-weeks as I will begin a new blog series tomorrow—September 26^th, 2012.

"What in your bag" Women Retreat, sponsored by Capitol City Christian Church

Brain Fog

“…I called to the Lord. 

I cried out to my God for help.

From his temple he heard my voice;

my call for help reached his ears.”

Psalm 18:6 ncv

“There are times when we are firing on all cylinders, when we feel alert, focused and on the ball and inevitably these times see us being highly productive and creative and achieving a lot.

Don’t exasperate your children

Raising children can be exasperating.

I know; I raised two sons with the help of a wonder, wise husband and encouragement from supportive family and friends. Believe me there were many days when I looked for a padded wall to pound my head against. And, when those moods struck me, I probably exasperated my children.

American Bible Challenge

Reminder and update
Check out Jeff's dailies
http://gsntv.com/shows/the-american-bible-challenge/jeffs-weeklies/

Don't forget to tune in Thursday night

I am s-o-o-o excited about the "The American Bible Challenge" premiering Thursday, August 23, on the Game Show Network! 

I love game shows!

I love Jeff Foxworthy!

and, well, duh...I LOVE THE BIBLE!!!!!

Tell your family and friends

Check your local listings

Mark your calendars

Pop some popcorn

Tune in & watch

Give God the glory!

Honor, Respect, Obey

“Honor your father and your mother, as the Lord your God has commanded you, that your days may be prolonged and that it may go well with you on the land which the Lord your God gives you.”

Deuteronomy 5:16 nasb

This past Sunday, my husband, his siblings, and their families gathered together at the church of their upbringing to honor their parents. Most of them no longer attend this church, but as their dad encouraged them to gather on the first anniversary of their mother’s passing, they honored him (and her) on the first anniversary of his passing to his heavenly home.