Category Archives: Thoughts to Ponder

Feb9

Time For A Joke: Wisdom Of 5th Graders

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Fifth Grade Assignment

Wouldn’t this be great if it was taught in every school.

A fifth grade teacher in a Christian school asked her class to look At TV commercials and see if they could use them in 20 ways To communicate ideas about God.

Here are some of the results:

God is like.
BAYER ASPIRIN
He works miracles.

God is like.
A FORD
He’s got a better idea..

God is like.
COKE
He’s the real thing.

(This is great)

God is like.
HALLMARK CARDS
He cares enough to send His very best.

God is like.
TIDE
He gets the stains out others leave behind. …

God is like.
GENERAL ELECTRIC
He brings good things to life.

God is like.
WAL-MART
He has everything.

God is like.
ALKA-SELTZER
Try Him, you’ll like Him

God is like.
SCOTCH TAPE
You can’t see Him, but you know He’s there.

God is like..
DELTA
He’s ready when you are.

God is like.
ALLSTATE
You’re in good hands with Him.

God is like.
VO-5 Hair Spray;
He holds through all kinds of weather

God is like.
DIAL SOAP
Aren’t you glad you have Him? Don’t you wish everybody did?

God is like .
The U.S. POST OFFICE
Neither rain, nor snow, nor sleet nor ice will keep Him from His appointed destination.

God is like.
Chevrolet. . . .the heart beat of America

God is like Maxwell House. …. .
Good to the very last drop

God is like.
B o u n t y . . . .
He is the quicker picker upper. . Can handle the tough jobs. ..
And He won’t fall apart on you

God is like
The Energizer Bunny
He Keeps Going, Going, and Going

***Author Unknown****

Feb9

365 Moments Of Gratitude – Thankful For A Legacy Of Love

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Today would have been their 68th wedding anniversary. My Grandmother and Granddaddy shared something beautiful together – LOVE. These two were such a beautiful example of love and family. My Granddaddy passed away eight months ago, and I miss him so very much. To live an entire lifetime in love with another human being – priceless! I thank God for giving me such wonderful examples of standing beside the love of your life – through the thick and thin. I know their life wasn’t always easy, but it was worth it.

I am beyond grateful for the legacy of love that my Granddaddy, together with my Grandmother, has left us as an example.

**For those of you who pray, I’d like to ask you to pray for my Grandmother always, but today especially – as she is missing the love of her life on this special day. I know he was everything to her.**

Feb8

365 Moments Of Gratitude – Thankful For Family Time

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What included running errands and accomplishing missions also included smiles. Today, we had lots of things to accomplish while out and about. We also got the opportunity to play games together and just have fun. I really enjoy the simple things in life. Sitting here, watching kids laugh and smile — priceless!

I’m grateful for the time to unwind and just spend time together as a family.

Feb7

365 Moments Of Gratitude – Thankful For Little Cuddles And Hugs

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I don’t like being sick, and I certainly cannot stand when my children are sick – but I LOVE the healing nature of hugs and cuddling. Today, my youngest wasn’t feeling well. When she feels less than stellar, she will generally just want to lay around and rest. Today was no exception – however, the “laying around” was ON me! She would come up to me and just want up – simply to be held. And, you know what I did? I held her. I don’t like that she isn’t feeling the best, but I love the healing nature of cuddles and hugs.

I am grateful to be a mom!!

Feb6

365 Moments Of Gratitude: Thankful That God Never Gives Up

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I’m still so very much a work in progress. But, I’m thankful to be His work in progress. Thanking God today for never giving up on me…and for helping me love like He loves, and for never ever seeing anyone as a lost cause.

I recently had a conversation with someone. They were talking about a “friend” who they literally see as a lost cause – even to God. I was very quick to note that NO ONE is truly a lost cause.

I’m grateful beyond words to a God who does not ever give up on ANYONE – not you, not me, and not that person you cannot begin to offer grace to because…Yes, even them. God loves each and every one of us – His precious creations.

Thank you, God, for not ever giving up on us!

Feb5

365 Moments Of Gratitude: Thankful For Boldness

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Today I am simply grateful for boldness. I am finding that, the more I ask God to help me have boldness, He responds. I’ll be telling a story, mid-sentence even, and realize I’m talking about Jesus, healing, prayer, etc – without so much as a second thought. Where I was shy, and wouldn’t speak my heart out of fear of “what if…” or “what would they think, say, react…” I am now finding the words are there. The boldness to speak them – also there. Thanking God today for all He is, and for helping me become all that I can be through Him.

Feb4

365 Moments Of Gratitude: Thankful For Peppermint Thieves

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With this being winter (codename: cold and flu season) I have armed myself with some “tools” to keep myself and my family healthy. I recently wrote about the essential oil, Thieves, which I credit with helping whatever ailment was attempting to invade my body. Well, yesterday, I had the opportunity to put the oils to the test again.

Armed with prayer and oils, I attacked the ailment. I’ve never had the flu before, so I couldn’t be sure what I was experiencing. But, I woke up not feeling well yesterday. I hadn’t gotten enough sleep the night before, so attributed it to that. But, the way I felt – purely exhausted beyond words – went beyond the normal lack of great rest symptoms. As the day wore on, my body felt weaker and weaker. I was achy. After lunch, we went shopping for a short time, and all I could do when I got home was crawl into bed. It was at that point that I realized that I hadn’t done anything proactive to try and help my body fight.

I rubbed Peppermint on my stomach, and also used Thieves. It was soothing, but I was still exhausted, and overall just not feeling well. I had a fever, but it stayed under 102. I stayed in bed for the remainder of the evening. This morning, between the hours of two and four, I was up and in the bathroom. It was no fun. The research I did gave lots of suggestions on combating the flu, or flu-like symptoms. Throughout the day, I used some peppermint, but mostly Thieves. My favorite addition to the mix has been Peppermint and Thieves together in a refreshing water drink.

Very early this morning, I made a doctors appointment, cause I was sure this would last longer than I was willing to put up with on my own. Though, through prayer and I’m sure the healing nature of he oils, I am now symptom free / feeling fine! I feel well enough to have cancelled my appointment as well.

I am thankful to God as the Great Physician, our Healer – as well as His gift (therapeutic grade essential oils) to humanity!!

Feb3

365 Moments Of Gratitude: Thankful For The Shield Of Faith

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Are you protected? This message is powerful, and really is important. It shares the importance of being fully protected…with the belt of truth, the breastplate of righteousness, the shoes of peace and now the shield of faith. All imperative. I am thankful to God for His protection.

Feb2

365 Moments Of Gratitude: Thankful For Fun At The Pinewood Derby

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Today, just like this timeframe every year, is a day met with much anticipation. My boys are both in the Cub Scouts. Each year, they get the opportunity to participate in the Pinewood Derby. This is where these little pine blocks of wood have been turned into little racing machines. You get to handcraft a little car to race against your peers. You get to design it from the block of wood to the final paint finishing.

In previous years, we have approached the Pinewood Derby to just have fun. Yes, they wanted to win, but they were more interested in the car design than the fastness of said design. This year, we knew the recipe for a winning design. So, the choice became theirs – did they want a car that looked neat, or a car that went really fast. As we’ve determined for the previous several years, you can’t always have both. They both had fun, and also raced really well. One child took first place in three of four races (2nd place in the one not placing first), and my other child took first place in all four races he competed in. They both came in second place in their grouping. Out of the entire Cub Scout Pack, one child came in 5th place, and the other 10th place overall.

As you can imagine, they were both thrilled. This was my oldest child’s last year as a Cub Scout. It made his day to walk away with a trophy. No, it wasn’t first place, but he did not care. He had fun, and he won something.

I’m thankful for a day of fun and smiles shared by many.

Feb1

Spotlight on Chris Habermehl: All Things New

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Chris Habermehl is a humble person with a heart of gold. He loves God, and he loves people. He is the worship pastor at Skyline Church in O’Fallon, IL. His newly released CD entitled “All Things New” has many songs that will connect you with the heart of worship. Have you picked up a copy yet? You can order through his website. It’s also available for download at iTunes or Amazon.

One song in particular, “All Things New” is beautiful, and holds great meaning to me. There is so much hope in the music and message contained in this song. This song is comprised of some beautiful instrumentals and vocals alike. God has blessed Chris with talent like no other. His heart and love for God and loving people enough to create music that connects them with God points back to his character. He is someone I am honored to call friend.

This is a song that reached out and touched me – right where I was. The lyrics are my hearts cry to our God larger than life. All of it. It’s pertinent in every way to me. “My heart is overwhelmed.” I often feel this way. I cannot imagine His amazing love. God has such crazy, unrelenting love for each of us. It can honestly feel overwhelming. Even when I don’t feel worthy, His love is redeeming. That’s the thing. I’m NOT worthy, but through Him, I’m precious. And, you are too.

As I mentioned previously, I was recently (January 6th) baptized, and this song just speaks volumes to me – especially in light of and in the timing of that. It speaks of being in despair and how God reaches deep within, lifting up my head, not letting go — and then being made whole. God takes each and every one of us from whatever place we come to Him and turns us into new creations — beautiful in His eyes. He lifts us up, and never lets us go. He makes us clean – all dirt washed away. He loves us that much.

He, and He alone can make all things new. This song so sweetly captures the heart of God and His love for us. That love is life changing. He makes all things new.

Thank you, Chris, for allowing God’s heart to flow through your music. This CD will touch the heart of many people.