A red cat's eye marble.

You remember not long ago I told you about my uncle David. Uncle David meant a lot to me, and I never will forget the kindness he showed me as a child. A red Cat's Eye Marble. Yes a Red Cat's Eye Marble. Such a very simple thing, but something that made a little girl's face light up every time she saw it. Now I've got you wondering, what in the world, don't I? Well you see, when I was around 8 years old as many children did, I would play marbles with the neighboring kids. I had a red cat's eye Marble, and to a 8-year-old Girl that red cat's eye marble was a beautiful thing, and I thought a lot of it. I decided to give that red cat's eye marble to my uncle David, so it would remind him of me when he saw it. Uncle David said he would always keep it in his change pocket, and that way when he pulled his change out of his pocket, he would see that red marble and think of me. Every time uncle David came to visit, he would pull that red marble out of his pants pocket to show me that he still had it.
That meant the world to me. I'm telling you this story because I want to remind you that children are very impressionable, children remember. They remember the wrong things you do to them, and they remember the nice things that you do for them. A little act such as keeping an object that a child gives to you may mean the world to them. While it may not mean much to you. And too, the same could go 'I guess' for adults. I still have small trinkets in my drawer where people have given me out of love. And every time I look at them, I remember the love that me and that person shared.
I know once I'm gone, it will be trash to whoever cleans my drawers out. But all those little trinkets mean the world to me.
Until next time, God bless and God save.

Another one. lol

I have finally finished sewing this quilt top together. It has took me well over a month. I used to be able to do something like this in 2 to 3 days. I am really trying to boost my energy level, but it's slow. I am going to get there with the Lord's help. Now comes the job of putting it together and quilting it.
All in all I consider myself very blessed to be where I am today, considering all that I've been through. And still I think about all the others having such hard times. I think about the ones that did not make it. As I say, I am so very blessed. I start my radiation treatments the first part of May, please keep me in your prayers, that all will go well.
Until next time, God bless and God save.

If you'll remember yesterday, I was talking about the books that God keeps. It reminded me of something that happened in the nursing home years ago. This elderly woman," Elsie Norris" was a resident at the time. She was in a vegetative state and did not speak or move. Her husband was there with her every day. He spent many hours each day with her. The love that he showed her was just incredible. One Sunday morning as Willard and I were there to give the Sunday school lesson, Mr. Norris walked over to me and asked me if I would mind reading one of his wife's poem's as his trembling hands held the subject book full of his wife's writings, I took it from him, went and set down with it. I went through the book to find a poem to read, I read it over silently before I was to read it aloud. What was in the pages of that book touched my heart. You see, the book not only had poems in it, it also had letters to God. I picked a poem to read and read it during the Sunday school lesson. Ms. Elsie had the most beautiful smile on her face as I was reading the poem that she had written most likely many years before. After the Sunday school lesson I talked to Mr. Norris about the book. He said that he had a box full of them at home. He told me that each day his wife would write a poem or a letter to God. Think about it, every day that sweet woman would sit down and write either a poem to God or a letter to God. She has left those prayers and poems for her husband and her children to read. Her children can now read those writings and see how much their mother loved God.
Ms. Elsie died about three years ago. Mr. Norris doesn't come into the nursing home anymore. I don't know what ever happened to him, but I know he must still miss his wife tremendously. I pray that God will comfort him during his lonely hours.
Can you imagine leaving something like that for your husband, your children and even your grandchildren to read long after your death? Quite an extraordinary woman she must've been.
Until next time, God bless and God save.

Books

Did you know that God keeps books? Psalms 56:8 You tell my wanderings: put you my tears into your bottle: are they not in your book? There's no telling how many books that God keeps. We know that God keeps a book and in it, the record of our sins, and then erases those sins from its pages once we accept Jesus as our Redeemer. We know that there is a book titled Lamb's book of life. In this book are written the names of all that have excepted Jesus Christ, as Lord, as Redeemer, as Savior. And I guess you might say that, that is the most important book of all. You can believe that there's more than one way to heaven, but friend let me tell you this. If your name is not written in that Lamb's book of life the gates of heaven will not open for you. Jesus said"
John 14:6
Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me."
Now I have read the Bible through and through many times, and never in my reading or my studying of the Bible have I ever found any place where Jesus lied. So Jesus says he's the only way unto the father, the father being in heaven, and I repeat, if Jesus is not your Lord then the gates will remain closed. It is getting nearer and nearer for Jesus' promised arrival in the clouds. Where all his disciples will meet him in the air. We'll have brand-new bodies that will never hurt or never die again. We will be with our Savior Jesus Christ forevermore. Search your souls to make sure that you're ready for His arrival.
Until next time, God bless and God save.

Willard and I have had a long day going to Chapel Hill, and waiting, and waiting, and waiting. And then the ride home. Both of us are extremely tired, but both of us are extremely happy.
Now you can say you don't believe in miracles anymore if you want to. Willard and I both strongly believe that miracles. We have received a miracle ourselves. Do you remember me telling you that I had a tumor on the adrenal gland of my right kidney that were showing ''hot'' on pet scan as cancerous? And then, another pet scan showing cold as noncancerous. Last week, the doctor took a biopsy to see. The biopsy showed no cancer cells. You can believe what you wish, but I firmly believe that it was cancer and through the prayers of my friends and family and my prayers along with theirs that God took away the cancer from my adrenal gland.
I am scheduled ''contingently'' for May the 6th to be marked for radiation of my cervix, plus Dr. Morris went ahead and scheduled me for radiation on that day too"" contingently"" that is. It all depends on Dr. Varia, who will be doing the procedure, and his schedule. These procedures are inside radiation and last 4 to 5 hours. They are extremely painful. So please keep Willard and I both in your prayers.
I'd like to thank Diane once again for my hat from New York, thank you, I love you Diane.
Until next time, God bless and God save.

New hat from NY

First of all I'd like to show you all my new hat, all the way from New York city. Diane Jackson once again is showing her wings, because she surely is an angel. It's nice when you have friends like her who are so unselfish and so caring. Diane, you have once again brought those happy tears to my eyes. Thank you again from the bottom of my heart for the hat, and the love that you showed in getting it for me. Just the fact that you thought of me while on vacation in New York has brought tears to my eyes.

I take it from the picture on Facebook, that Diane and Glenda Raynor both had a great time while they were in New York. Which I am so glad of because Diane and Glenda both deserve it. Both of them are outstanding people.

Thanks again Diane, I love you.
Until next time, God bless and God save.

The news coming out of Milledgeville, Georgia today revolves around a 6-year-old kindergartner who threw such a violent tantrum that school officials called police, who handcuffed her for her own safety.
Some commenters said they're outraged at the notion of a kindergartner in handcuffs, but many others are lining up behind the commenter who said the girl was plenty old enough to know right from wrong: "This child needs to know there are consequences to your actions."

Okay, you know what I'm going to say already don't you? It's my opinion that most likely this young lady has been raised without the knowledge of God. Most likely she doesn't know right or wrong according to the Bible. Okay so here it is, they took God out of the school so she was unable to learn about God there. I feel like going up to Congress in Washington DC, stomping my foot at them, and asking them what do they expect. If a child does not learn about God at home, and cannot learn about Him at school, then where can this child find God.
Many parents who claim to be Christians never talk to their children about God. They never tell the old old story of Jesus and His death on the cross to save us from our sins.
I still cry every time I think about my unsaved children and grandchildren. I see some of my grandchildren believing nothing except what will satisfy them at the moment. As do their parents. They don't think about anything past today. They don't think about their eternal life at all. I pray every night with tears running down my cheek that my children and grandchildren will find Jesus Christ, and they will claim Him as Lord and Savior. It's my earnest prayer that not only my children will, but every mother's child.
People look at your child. Do you love that child enough to save his soul? Do you love that child enough to keep them out of hell? Teach them before it's too late, before the world teaches them.
Until next time, God bless and God save.

Esther's Stewart, Willard's aunt, was put in Golden Years Nursing Home a couple of years ago. I got to know her personality somewhat better while she was there. She was truly a God-fearing woman. I remember her in some of Willard and my visits. I remember one time in particular, right in the middle of Willard giving his Bible lesson, Esther stood up and pronounced to the whole room that she had to go. She stood there before she left and praised God, telling the whole room how good God was to her. She had did this on many occasions. She seemed to love the Lord tremendously. Most times when we went to her room to visit her, she would always say during the conversation, that she would be going home in the springtime. Well, Ms. Esther Stewart went home Saturday, the 14th of April at approximately 10:00 AM. Yes, it was springtime.

I can only imagine what her mansion looks like. Yes, Ms. Esther Stewart went home to be with the Lord. I can almost see in my mind's eye Jesus meeting her at the gate. I can almost see her as her sisters and her brother welcomed her. I can almost see her mother and father as they put their arms around her. She has all eternity to be with all of them now.
Now, a prayer request. Charlotte, Esther's daughter is in the hospital. Charlotte has a medical issue that is a lifelong issue. She is trying to adapt to her new circumstances. And while doing so, in the hospital, her mother dies. The medical issue was heartbreaking in itself, but now she has lost her mother. That was the second heartbreak. The third heartbreak, because of her medical condition she is unable to attend her mother's funeral. I can't even imagine how broken she must feel at the moment. Please, put her on your prayer list, and keep her in your prayers.

Until next time, God bless and God save.

I've heard many people Speak about being in church to serve the Lord. Now please, don't get me wrong, I believe in going to church to fellowship with other Christians. But going to church is not having a relationship with God. There are many people setting in church pews that are lost because they truly believe that they are saved. There is one gentleman that I know of, that has been going to the same church every sense he was born. This man thought that he was saved because as a child he received Jesus as his Lord and Savior. He was in his 40s when he realized that he was not truly saved. Going to church to fellowship with other Christians is a wonderful thing. But we must remember that just because one is setting in a church pew every Sunday does not necessarily mean that that person is saved.
I'm writing this because of a statement that I saw on Facebook. The statement was" if Jesus comes tonight will He find you in church, or will He find you in the world too busy for the Lord.
It doesn't matter where Jesus finds you. It matters the state of your salvation. Is Jesus your Lord? Is Jesus your Savior? If you can say yes to these questions, then when Jesus comes he will take you home to be with Him!
Having a relationship with the Lord is letting him into your life. Through prayer, through talking with the Lord, through reading his Word. These are just a few of the things involved in your walk with Him. Faith is the key and love is the doorway. You must first have faith that Jesus Christ died on the cross for your sins. Once you believe that and walked through the doorway of his salvation, you'll want to get to know him. You'll want a closer relationship with Him.
I walk with Jesus by my side every single day. Due to my health I am unable to attend church.
I love Jesus with all my heart, not going to church does not change that love and will not.
Until next time, God bless and God save.

I wrote something approximately 12 years ago, and found it in the bottom of a drawer today while I was looking for something else. As I sat reading it, I thought" it is so relevant no matter whether it was 12 years ago, or yesterday.
Am I up to the challenge?
One day while watching my son play a videogame, I noticed that he would set the game on easy play. And that he would always win. So I asked him why he didn't set it on normal so it would be more challenging. His answer was," then I might lose".
This got me thinking, do we as Christians have our control set on easy? Do we take the easy path? Do we just do things, we know can be done easily? Do we hinder God from working in our lives, because we are afraid that we may fail? Not very long ago I witnessed a woman working with a youth group in summer vacation Bible school. It was the last Sunday, and all the classes got up to tell what they had learned. I don't remember even what she was doing, or what she was saying. I only remember how bad her hands were shaking. As she stood talking I had so much adoration for her. Even though she was scared, she made herself stand before an audience, and do what she needed to do. And I believe God will bless her tremendously for it.
Even as babies, when we take our first steps we often fall, we often fail to take those first few steps without falling. But we always got back up and tried again. Considering the vast wisdom of God, aren't we all still babies in Christ Jesus? If we try and we fail, won't Jesus help us back up? Won't he hold our hands so we can take those first few steps in our endeavors?
I only hope when I am challenged to do God's work, that I stand the test. Not caring whether I may fall, not caring that I may fail. Not caring what others may say or do. Having complete faith in the Lord. Knowing that he will take care of me. Jesus accepted his challenge and saved the souls of all who would receive him as Lord and Savior. Can we accept our challenges? God has already provided us with the strength we need, all we need do, is find it. Matthew 6:7 But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking. 8Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him. A Psalms 38:9 All my longings lie open before you, O Lord; my sighing is not hidden from you.
Until next time, God bless and God save.

I know a lady that has lung cancer, and the last I heard she is in treatment, but is still smoking. Now I know that you and I both at first were thinking how could she be that stupid. Oh, but wait a minute. Are we saying that we have never done anything like that? It's the old, old story in Genesis all over again. Remember, Eve, how the serpent came to her and tempted her?
Genesis 3:1
Now the serpent was more subtle than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden? When I was a teenager, I too started smoking. Thank God, I had good sense enough 15 years a go to quit. I have fallen into temptation many times in my life.
Haven't you ever seen a piece of cake that looks so delicious, and you knew you shouldn't, but you ate it anyway. Haven't you never saw a pair of shoes, or piece of jewelry or anything else that caught your eye, and even though you knew you could not afford it, you bought it anyway. That's falling into temptation.
You know, the longer I live, the more I realize that human beings are not much different from one another. We all have our desires and we are all tempted, and we ''all" fall into temptation every once in a while.
This lady I know, I'm not criticizing her. I'm praying for her. I'm praying for her to overcome this evil disease, cancer. I'm praying for her to put out of her sight the temptation of smoking. I'm praying most of all that she knows the Lord Jesus Christ as her Lord and Savior.
People, let's stop criticizing one another and start loving one another as Jesus wanted us to. You know, that was Jesus's greatest desire, that we love one another.
Until next time, God bless and God save.

Weldon called this morning to give Willard a message. Weldon told Willard that he and Kay were going to pick strawberries. I told Willard to ask him if he would buy us a bucket full and we will pay him when he got here with them. To my surprise, not only did he delivered the strawberries, but Kay and also baked me a pound cake to go with them. Weldon said that the strawberries and the pound cake were from the both of them for my birthday. I thought this was so sweet, and it has really touched my heart.
Weldon and Kay both are two of the most sweetest people that I know. As I said many times before, Christ can be seen in them. They show Christ light shine with their generosity and their lovingkindness.
Thank you in Weldon and Kay, from the bottom of my heart. I love you both. 2nd Peter 1:7 And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity. 2nd Peter 1:8 For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Until next time, God bless and God save.

My very sweet daughter-in-law Kim Horton Hicks, Bobby's wife put this on Facebook today. It is so true. Many people on this earth only think about the blessings that come their way. They never think that they may be someone else's blessing. It reminds me of a story that I heard long ago that Pastor Donald Harris told. I hope that I remember the story correctly since it's been many years since I heard it. If I get anything wrong, and someone else knows the story, please tell it. Is a very heart moving story. I begin the story.
There was a couple who were unable to have children, so they decided to adopt. The couple had tried for many years to have children without success. They were getting on in age where adopting would be more difficult here in the United States. They decided to go to Russia to adopt. They adopted a beautiful little girl. Upon getting home with their little princess, she suddenly grew very ill. The father and mother sat by their daughter in the hospital room day and night. They prayed to God for the little girl to get well. But as the days went by, their little angel only got worse off. The mother enters into the chapel at the hospital and prays this prayer.
God in Heaven, we prayed so hard to have a child. We waited for years and years for you to answer our prayer. The mother continues her prayer with these words. God in heaven why did you give her to us, if you're only going to take her away.
The minister of the chapel heard the mother's prayer. Knowing that she needed some answers, the minister walks over and sits beside her. Asking her, would it be all right if he talked to her some, with tears streaming down her face she nods her head okay. The preacher began with a question for the mother. He asked, do you believe that God answers all prayer? The woman shrugs her shoulders and through bitter tears, answers I use to. The minister tells the mother that God did answer a prayer, but it was not her and her husbands prayer that God was answering. The little girl knew that she was dying, which the orphanage in Russia purposely concealed from the couple. The little girl prayed that before she died she would have a mother and father who really loved her and cared for her.
You see, the minister had already spoken to the little girl one day when the parents were not there. She had told the minister of her prayer and that God had answered that prayer.
So you see, sometimes we're the answer to God's prayer instead of the beneficiary of prayer.Ephesians 1:9 Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself:
Until next time, God bless and God save.

If you can't say something nice…….Zip it.

If you can't say something nice...... zip it.

Not long ago, I was unfortunate enough to run into a lady that gossips and back stabs just about everyone she knows. I listened as she gossiped about this person and that person. Unfortunately she used the Bible, God's holy word in her endeavor to stomp all over people's character. She'd say things like, so and so is shacked up with so and so, and then she would quote Scripture of the awful sin they were committing. I was very surprised that she didn't say her usual to me. Her usual comment would be "well Joan, I see you're still fat". She has a very sharp tongue, that will cut a person to shreds.
She even talked about other people who talked about people, LOL. It's really not funny. She really cannot see herself as others see her nor as God sees her. All the other people with their sins, their shortcomings, she's glad to announce to the world. But her own sins, she just doesn't see.
James 1:26 if any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man's religion is in vain.
James 3:5 even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Rehold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth!
James 3:6 And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell.
James 3:8 But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.
Romans 3:13 their throat is an open sepulcher; with their tongues they have used deceit; the poison of asps is under their lips:
These are some verses that I really would love to quote to her, if I thought it would do any good. But you know the people, the ones who think they can do no wrong. It's just my own opinion but I believe she is one of those. But there is one thing that I can do for her. I will definitely pray for her.
And when Jesus gets a hold of her, then she'll understand.
I went many years thinking and that I was living all right, thinking I was living a Godly life. But one day, Jesus took hold of me, and made me face the mirror of my own life. I truly did not like what I saw. Ever since then I have tried my best to follow Jesus, and be as much like him as I can.
Being a Christian, a true born-again Christian, is not the easiest life to live. First you are forgiven by Christ's, that's the easy part. Then you in turn have to turn around and forgive others. That's not so easy sometimes. Sometimes it's an everyday process of forgiving, then getting angry and hurt because of the same thing that you were supposed to have already forgiven. Then you forgive all over again. Everyone that has ever hurt me in any way, I have forgiven. But tomorrow, when one of those old hurt resurfaces, I will forgive again.
I've even learned to love the unlovable. Yes even this lady, I love. It's her that I love and not her own wrongdoing. We have to separate the person from the sin, and love the person.
Well, I think I've made the point, tongues can hurt!

Until next time, God bless and God save.

Many people who do not believe in God, will say that they cannot believe in anything that they cannot see or touch.
Okay I'm talking to these people.
There are millions of planets, suns, moons, asteroids, in space. Most can only be seen by a telescope. Especially since the Hubble telescope, there has been many of these seen. In fact new galaxies that we never knew were there, have now been seen. If you have seen the pictures of these that were taken via Hubble telescope, then you know how beautiful God's creation is throughout all the galaxies. Before Hubble telescope, these were unseen by human eyes. Just because we did not see them, does not mean they were not there. Before Hans Lippershey invented the first workable telescope and microscope, mankind was in the dark about many things that have been created by God.
There are millions upon millions of galaxies yet to be seen, even through Hubble. Just because we cannot see them, does not mean that they are not there. There are millions upon millions of microbe organisms unseen by the human eye. Just because we cannot see them does not mean that they do not exist.
God is not going to come waving his arms, screaming here I am. And your disbelief does not cause me not to believe.
Romans 3:3 For what if some did not believe? Shall their unbelief make the faith of God without effect?
The only one you affect in your disbelief is yourself. But let me ask you this. What if you're wrong? What if God and all the things written in His holy Scripture are true? What if heaven and hell do exist?
Faith is a conscious choice. If you have to be shown then why have faith at all? For if you have to be shown, faith is not needed.
Hebrews 11:1 now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
Hebrews 10:23 let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering;" for He is faithful that promised;"
Hebrews 11:3 through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.
Things just did not up and appear just because we now have telescopes and microscopes. They have always been, since the beginning of creation. And whether you believe or not, like I said before, is a conscious choice. I chose to believe. Once I chose to believe, then God came to abide in my heart, and although I cannot see him I feel his presence abiding with me always.
You see, first must come faith.

Until next time, God bless and God save.