Care Packages

Care Package
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Years ago, our church gave partial monthly support to a missionary, who was serving in Korea. 

About that time there was made available to the American public, “Care Packages” with assorted food items that could be donated, and sent overseas. 

The packages were made up of selected military surplus food from our country to those in other lands.  After World War II many were starving in Europe and this was a cooperative effort to meet a need.

You could choose the address for the box to be sent, so our church women’s ministry group had a good idea.

To me the $10 donation seemed to be an excellent price for food and shipping, plus it would bless our missionary.  Thinking along these lines, I ordered a gift parcel, and paid the amount required and placed her address on the order. 

Next I wrote an airmail-letter to our missionary to alert her to expect the gift. 

At that time a quick way to communicate over-seas was by e-letter.  It was a blue one piece of paper that included postage, and when your letter was written, you folded it, sealed and mailed it.

Several weeks later, we received a thank you from our missionary and an explanation. 

Apparently for personal reasons, she felt guilty in accepting the food package for herself.  Perhaps she felt unworthy, and thought the food should go to someone who was more in need than herself.

She told us of a Korean Pastor with a large family who were suffering lack, and she had been able to bless this family with the parcel.

Perhaps this was God’s way to supply a need for the native pastor’s family, and we did not question her motive, although at first we did not understand. 

After giving it much thought we realized this was the best way to go. 

 

Also it allowed our missionary the opportunity to share with another minister, which she might not have done except for our care package. 

God works in mysterious ways.

 

Milestones (repost) Another Birthday

 

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We check the milestones usually at each decade; some are more difficult to embrace than others.

At ten years old we believe we are big stuff! We have the world by its tail!

Twenty takes us out of the teen age years. Time for serious thought.

Thirty is usually a tough and thorny mile stone and often a depressing Birthday to celebrate! We are expected to act more matured now!!

At age forty we can be 39 for the next ten years!

Fifty is the time AARP invites us to become a “Senior Citizen,” and often there are discounts allowed for certain pleasures.

Sixty is the time we approach retirement and (hopefully) expect to slow down a bit. 

However, I sought a new career at age 60 and embarked back into the world of business to work another 12 years.

Seventy is very close to the allotted time that God says he has given to us for our days.

Eighty is a rather large number. However in my spirit I am still young although my body does not always agree.

May is the month I celebrate my birthday, I am resting smack dab in the middle of the milestone of Eighty years young. I have joked that possibly at this age, I may be officially considered an old lady. ”NO," said one of my friends at church, "82 is still young."

The Bible tells us that as our days, so shall our strength be, and I am claiming that scripture for myself.

Long life to you all, and may you enjoy good health, happiness and the treasures of many friends and loved ones all of your Birthday celebrations.


 

Winds of Change

Wind of the Holy Spirit
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Gleaning from Pastor Jerry’s sermon, on Pentecost Sunday.  He was reading from Acts 2:1-21 about the account of those congregated in the Upper Room, as they were obeying the words of Jesus to seek for the Holy Spirit.  

The setting was the festival of harvest and people from many nations were present in the city.

Actually the followers of Jesus did not know what to expect, and were somewhat surprised when a strong wind blew over their midst, and tongues of fire set upon each of them. 

They began to loudly speak in foreign languages about the wonderful works of Jesus and were praising God. 

 

Others down in the street could hear them, and many were puzzled, and some mocked and made fun. 

The amazing thing was that these unlearned men were speaking in languages unknown to them, but understood by the foreigners present.  “What meanest this,” is all they could say. 

* Even today in our society, many avoid spiritual phenomena’s and are afraid to seek the Holy Spirit.  Instead they wonder why their church is dry without life and substance.  They have forgotten that it is the Holy Spirit that gives life. 

 

* Yet all over the world in groups and on individuals, the Holy Spirit is falling anew and afresh upon earnest seekers!

Peter began to explain that this event was prophesied in the Old Testament, and the promise of the Holy Spirit was available to them on that day. 

 

The promise would extend unto their children and their children’s children. “Your sons and daughters will see visions and prophesy,” proclaimed Peter. 

 

Five Thousand were added to the church on that day.

Pastor Jerry likened a church confirmation prior to membership to this event that birthed the Christian Church. 

 

This was a confirmation of another comforter promised by Jesus who would guide them and be in them as well as with them.

Pastor mentioned that we cannot duplicate the exact happening on the day of Pentecost, which is probably truer than it should be. 

 

* But as I thought about Pastors remark, I realized that each and every one of us – today - - can and should have our own personal Pentecost.

Finding a place to seek God, and invite his Holy Spirit to baptize you with an anointing for service.  When the fire falls, allow it to burn out the dross, when the wind blows, allow it to sift the chaff.  When your tongue desires to praise God with another language, allow the Holy Spirit to praise God through you.

Perhaps it is time to raise our sails and to move with the Wind of the Spirit.

* Words in red are mine

This post is shared with Charlotte’s Spiritual Sundays

 

Snacks for Quick Energy (repost)

Rasins and Nuts a great Snack
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 Fresh fruit is wonderful for a snack, but do you always have it available at all times? 

If you are a working person on the job, or a student at school, you may find fresh fruit difficult to carry with you. 

When I was a teen age girl, there were times during the month, when I felt extremely weak and so very tired. 

 

Many times I was almost in a faint. 

I am a fair skinned person, and my complexion was always pale after a very debilitating health problem when I was about 12. 

 

Too many silver fillings caused my liver to rebel and my skin turned brilliant yellow.  After about a month, I was better and able to return to school but continued to be weak.

My mother decided that she would wrap up a handful of raisins and add them to my sack lunch.  Usually I saved the raisins until mid afternoon just before my long walk home.  That snack was what saved many a day, and the infusion of iron gave me added strength.

Later in life, we met a woman who kept a supply of almonds on hand.  Each day she would snack on a handful of these delicious nuts.  She counted out nineteen almonds.

If you have school age children, you may want to consider purchasing the small mini snack zip lock bags. They are just large enough to contain a handful of almonds and raisins, so your child can easily carry it in their purse or back pack. 

 

In the late afternoon they can retrieve their precious snack and enjoy a quick fix of energy. 

Your child will especially need this snack if they have after school sports or other after school activities. 

As Christians, there are times when our faith seems to wobble and be weak.  Perhaps it is time for a quick snack on the Word of God.

Carrying around a big Bible may not be the thing you want to do, but you can carry small index cards with your favorite scripture verses printed on them.  Here are a few good ones!

Always practice Gratitude:  Psalms 100:4  Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name.

Feeling afraid, worried, or depressed?  Take a look at:  2Timothy 1:7  For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.

Are you anxious?  Hebrews 13:5  Be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave you, nor forsake you.

This post is linked with Ann Kroeker’s  Food on Fridays  

Do visit her site and gather up some delicious and nutritious recipes.

Children’s Books?

This post has been shared With Ramona at: Create With Joy

The theme is Children’s Books

Children's Books
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During the depression era, books were a luxury, and our family did not even own a picture book.   

 

My husband says the same thing, that out on the farm, food was most important, and shoes and clothes came next. 

 

He cannot remember ever owning a book until he was in school and could purchase those "Big Little Books," for a dime.

I can remember my mother playing patty cake with me, and singing lullabies, such as rock a bye baby in the tree tops, and the wind blowing the cradle falling down as she would pretend to catch me. 

As I advanced and was placed in Sunday school, there were pretty pictures about the Bible story on a large roll, and we were given a small card with the same picture on it to take home. 

My first introduction to books was the school readers, which we were not allowed to take home.  My wise first grade teacher could see my fascination with books, and she gave me the job of alphabetically shelving the books by author.

As I learned to read, mother would walk us to the local library and we were permitted to take home five books.  Most of them were “How to do crafts” and such to keep us occupied.

Each evening mother would line up the three of us, and she would read the funny papers, and a continued story about Uncle Wiggly, a white rabbit. 

Still we did not own a book.

I can remember my mother using small “free” recipe books from Crisco and Spry that we used inorder to learn how to make cookies and baked goods.  Her other recipes were hand written handed down from her mother.

My cousin Walton brought us children some comic books that he had finished reading, and from those we traded with children in our neighborhood for other comic book stories.

At age 12 my mother gave me a Bible for learning all the books of the Bible. As far as I can remember that was my first real book. 

It was not necessary to purchase books, because the school and our local library had all the books we needed.

When our first child came along, at my baby shower, one of the gifts was a large picture book with many of the farm animals in it.  Our son loved to look at that book and say the names of each animal.  That book was a well worn treasure.

The small Golden books were inexpensive and I did purchase some of them for our children. 

Today I try to purchase books written by my friends, and am having a problem finding time to read some of them. 

There are so many interesting stories on the internet that these often take first place.

Find some awesome posts Shared with Nantawa Bennett at Happy Friday 

What Are Your Weaknesses?

Weak or Strong?
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At my daughter Judie’s suggestion, I joined a class of, “Seniors,” who were looking for work.

My previous work experience for many years had been working for my husband.  It had been awhile since I needed to write a resume, or appear for a job interview.

Our teacher taught us to find descriptive words about our work ethic that we could claim as true, such as “dependable, trustworthy, team player, follow instructions,” and such.

She suggested we include some of these strong words in our resume.  She had us watch a movie on an interview to give us an idea what we were in for.

Another thing she did for us was to give us a clue as to “hard questions,” we might be asked on an interview.  Here are a few that we might expect - - -

What do you plan to be doing in five years?

Why should we hire you and not someone else?

What are your strengths? 

What are your weaknesses?

While we were enjoying the class our teacher brought in a guest speaker from the local hospital.  She explained there are over 200 jobs in a hospital besides being a Doctor or a Nurse.  She listed several of the available jobs, and it caught my attention big time.

I applied for the offered “Health Class,” that required me to show up for an interview just like applying for a job.

Yes, they asked many of the “hard questions, and”My answers were,

In five years I plan to be working in the Health Field in this county.

You should accept me because I am dependable and follow directions. 

My strengths are that I am a fast learner and I am a team player.

Next came the question I had been fearing, “And what is your weakness?

I looked the interviewer in the eye and spoke up boldly.

 

“My weakness is chocolate.” 

 

She laughed, and said, “Mine is chocolate too.” 

That clinched the interview and I was accepted.

 

Sharing this story with Rosilind in Croatia, at

Wednesday R & R

Click HERE to enjoy more uplifting Blogs via the T.G.I.F Link up Party at Bible Love Notes  

 

MY WEAKNESS

This post has been shared at the One Word Carnival.  The word is WEAKNESS

MariAnna is hosting the carnival this week. 

 

Award Image courtesy
photobucket.com

Bargains, discount price and the word FREE light up my life.  Therein lays my weakness. 

Many years ago, I received in the mail a letter that promised an easy way to make me a millionaire.  YES !!

All I had to do was send a dollar to the top name on the list along with a recipe, remove the top name and move the other two names up and place my name on the bottom. 

 

Then make 100 copies and send them off to friends and family, or purchase a mail list here.

I purchased the mail list and did as I was asked to do.  Soon I began to receive dollar bills in the mail.  Oh what fun?  My weakness increased - - more - - more!

Also in with some of the dollars there were other offers similar to the recipe letter. 

 

Soon I created my own mail list of people who were gullible like me and would go for these "Get rich schemes." 

Just like blogging, it took awhile, but soon I had a following. 

 

The offers were no longer one dollar but became much larger investments, and more expensive products in multi-level.  I wasn’t making money, but someone was!!

Diligently I worked for several years hoping to catch the golden ring, 

Yes, I probably made a few dollars, but honestly, my expenses in postage and unwanted products outweighed my profits.

It was my weakness to believe what looked like a sure thing.

I discovered much later that I had been scammed.  I had been lied to by the experts!!

When I finally came to my senses, I made myself a vow to never again become involved in any thing that looked or smelled like a chain letter, party plan or multi-level. 

Not even a “Special Blogger Award Button,” that requested me to do a list of things.

Today I choose NOT to accept the beautiful award buttons that have been offered to me by many of my blogger friends. 

The reason is because the button asks me to share seven or eleven things about myself, and to pass on the lovely award to seven or eleven other bloggers requesting them to do likewise in a chain effect.

 
Perhaps I have left some sweet ladies with hurt feelings when I try to be polite as I refuse their “gift.”  I hope no one has ever been offended by my decision.

I trust they will understand that this is a personal thing with me, and I refuse to feed my weakness in this manner. 

 

Instead I will use my weakness to go bargain shopping on E-Bay!!  (Smile)

This post is shared at: Tell Me a Story

Also linked with Jen at:  Soli Deo Gloria