Spring

I am so ready for spring. Winter hasn't been that long, but I'm still tired of it. Easter is 41 days away. I love Easter eggs, daffodils, birds singing waking me up at 4:00 in the morning, milder temperatures, the excitement of new life. Part of me dies in the winter, and comes alive again in spring. My plan this year is to go for walks again in the park. I pray that my legs stop giving me problems and allow me to do that.

Repent

After reading the Bible all the way through, I believe the key word is repent. Pharaoh didn't repent, even after all those plagues including the death of his son. I think Jesus would have forgiven Judas if he had repented. In the book of Revelation, during the tribulation, people will not repent and turn to God.

Jesus said: "... except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish." Luke 13:3

Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord;
And he shall send Jesus Christ, which before was preached unto you:
Whom the heaven must receive until the times of restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began.
Acts 3:19-21

But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,
Even when we were dead in sins hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)
And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:
Eph. 2:4-6

Repent, trust Christ, and be saved!

Christmas rules

1. Remember Jesus is the reason for the season. Don't leave him out. It's His birthday. Don't forget to read the Christmas story in your Bible. Put some money in the Salvation Army kettle. It's the least you can do.

2. Don't spend too much. An inexpensive gift given with thoughtfulness and love is more valuable. Remember if you charge it you have to pay it back.

3. Don't wear yourself out doing too much.

4. Don't expect too much.

5. After Christmas, write down how you want next Christmas to be, and plan ahead.

6. Don't forget to say

Merry Christmas!

First Class

I am so proud of my step son Paul jr. After only 6 years in the Navy, he has made First Class Petty Officer! He will be stationed in Norfolk, Va.

My personal Christian testimony

I thought it was time to give you the story of how I was saved. I grew up as a Catholic. I was baptized in Holy Ghost Byzantine Church. At the age of eight my family moved and joined a Roman Catholic church. There I made my First Communion. I did not need to be confirmed because in the Byzantine church you are confirmed at the same time you are baptized. I loved being Catholic, of course I didn't know anything else. I loved the church, the prayers, the Mass. I loved God. I spent my little allowance on religious children's books that I read. I didn't need to be reminded to say my prayers.
As I grew, I started questioning the church, about the pope being the leader of the church because he was just a man, and about saying your sins to the priest, and other things. So I quit the church. I was married in the United Church of Christ, and I liked it. But, I started having anxiety attacks about dying and going to hell. I knew I was not good enough to go to heaven, and I did not want to go to hell where Hitler and other bad people were. I was so afraid to go to sleep, I might die in my sleep. I had attacks anytime during the day. It was bad and I didn't tell anyone.
God put into my hands just the right book for me. It was a book called "Are you saved? If not, why not?" The question was a good one. The answer: "No, I am not saved, but why not?" I knew about Jesus, that He died a long time ago, but I didn't know that He died for me so I could go to heaven to be with God. He already died for me! He took away all my sins. Well, the Holy Spirit came into my soul and turned on the light, and I understood, and I got saved that very moment. You see, I couldn't save myself. I loved God but I wasn't saved. I needed it to be personal. That's what it means to have a personal relationship with Jesus. Now, I can say "Yes, I am saved, because Jesus saved me." I know I will go to heaven to be with God, and Jesus, and all the other believers. If you are not saved, why not? Let the Holy Spirit turn on the light and believe that Jesus died for you, personally.

My eLouai doll

Since everyone else is getting one, here's mine.

Restaurants

I always knew there was a difference between bars and restaurants. Bars serve alcohol with food on the side. Restaurants serve food with alcohol on the side. I am reading J. Vernon McGee's books "Thru the Bible". He gives an illustration about this. He said once he drove all over the city for a restaurant that didn't serve beer, because his evangelist companion wanted one. They finally found one and the evangelist got sick on the food. Nowadays, it's really hard to find a good restaurant that doesn't serve alcohol. He says, "Separation from the world does not mean that you cannot go into a restaurant that serves liquor." I agree with him. I think, what will people say if they see me coming out of the restaurant? "She had a meal." What will they say if they see you coming out of a bar? Probably, that you were drinking alcohol because people go into bars to drink alcohol. That's the difference. I don't drink and I never have. I used to go into bars with friends, but I always felt very uncomfortable. I don't belong there. I believe the Lord convicted me about that. It was wrong for me to be there.

First Snow

Well, tonight was our first snow of the season. It came down heavy at times. I was glad I didn't have to be out. I don't like to drive in it, especially when I don't have a good car to drive. The car I drive is not a good car for snow or ice. The snow is covering the ground. Some people get to move away for the winter. Sometimes I envy them. It's going to be a long winter. :(

Happy Halloween

My husband Paul and me in 1995.

Me and my grandchildren Jess and Andrew in 1996.

Love Me or Leave Me

I just watched the movie Love Me or Leave Me with Doris Day. She played the famous 20's singer Ruth Etting. The dvd also has two short movies R. E. was in. Ruth Etting sang nothing like Doris Day, but she did have a wonderful, sweet and bird like voice.

Red tulips

Fall can be pretty, but I long for spring.

Pink tree

Daffodils

Laura Ingalls Wilder

I read a wonderful story about Laura Ingalls Wilder in an old copy of Ideals magazine. I loved her books and of course the tv series, Little House on the Prairie. I will give you one of the paragraphs from this article.

Late in life Wilder wrote a letter about how much the world had changed since her childhood. But she saw some things as constants. Her words describe in perfect simplicity the philosophy that lay behind each and every one of her books: "The real things haven't changed," she wrote. "It is still best to be honest and truthful; to make the most of what we have; to be happy with the simple pleasures and to be cheerful and to have courage when things go wrong." These plain and truthful words embody the spirit of Wilder's writing, certainly, but they are testaments to something far greater--the spirit of the American pioneer. Wilder's philosophy, after all, was not unique or of her own invention. What makes her books so very compelling is not that they are the story of one family, but that they tell the story of countless nameless, faceless pioneer families who lived and died without notice, but whose courage and perseverance opened the American West and shaped our nation.

Alcohol

I want to know why the tv newcasts keep pushing alcoholic drinking on us. Practically every day they are telling us how good alcohol is. Most of the time they tell us women to drink, today they told men to drink. Apparently there is a minor health benefit, but then they have to qualify it by saying to drink moderately, and don't smoke and keep your weight normal and eat a healthy diet and get exercise along with the moderate drinking to get the benefits. What is moderate drinking? How many people stop after one drink? How many drinkers can say they follow all the other recomendations for good health? I am a non drinker and I am not going to start drinking now just because the news media can't think of anything else to tell us. I think they are justifing their compulsive habit. I also know that alcohol is addictive and potentially very harmful to the person drinking and to anyone who is around them. I won't go into drunk driving or family abuse. I'll say it again, How many people can quit after one drink?

A Loving Heart

In Margaret Walker's novel Jubilee, Vyry, the mother, speaks of her commitment to love.
"Keeping hatred inside makes you git mean and evil inside. We supposen to love everybody like God loves us.
"And when you forgives you feels sorry for the one what hurt you, you returns love for hate, and good for evil. And that stretches your heart and makes you bigger inside with a bigger heart so's you can love everybody. You can lick the world with a loving heart."
Pulpit Digest

Google Earth

If you haven't tried Google Earth yet, you are really missing something! I flew over my house this afternoon, then on to Disneyworld, and then over to California, and over the Pacific to China. You can go anywhere! You can see buildings, cars on the roads and people walking. Fantastic. Yesterday, I flew over Niagara Falls. This is so fun. I can't believe it. Amazing. I knew about it but I never used it until now. Just think, while I am walking down the street, I could be having my picture taken by a satelite and shown all over the world. You can also go to Yahoo satelite.

This is me.

About John Wesley

This is an article I cut out of someplace.

John Wesley's Record

John Wesley traveled two hundred and fifty thousand miles in forty years; preached forty thousand sermons; produced four hundred books; knew ten languages.
At eighty-three he was annoyed that he could not write more than fifteen hours a day without hurting his eyes, and at eighty-six he was ashamed that he could not preach more than twice a day.
He complained in his diary that there was an increasing tendency to lie in bed until 5:30 in the morning.

Evangelical Methodist

Trust And Keep On Trying

Don't feel you're a failure when doing your best
It may be your faith is being put to a test
Just keep right on trying, Pray "God lead the way."
Trust His Almighty Power and don't go astray.

He loves us, He wants us, He bids us Come All
Bring Him all our troubles, He answers our call
His answers may differ to what we've in mind
But, He sees the future so, trust and you'll find

His ways though not our ways are all for our good
If we follow His teachings and live as we should
He will not forsake us, but stay by our side
He will not forsake us He will provide!
(the Vendor)