Beautiful Blessings Capture Them Today!

I love this time of the year.  The trees are so beautiful, their leaves changing to such brilliant colors.  I was on my way to work this morning and pulled up to the stop sign and saw a beautiful yellow and orange tree across the street.  No one was coming so I pulled out my phone and snapped a few pictures.

I got a little bit excited thinking about the other pretty trees I saw each day on my way to work over the past few weeks.  Every time I saw them, I thought, I need to remember tomorrow to have my camera out and capture the beautiful red color of these leaves.  They are so breathtaking.  Day after day I would round the bend, and see such beauty, and day after day, I forgot to be prepared to capture it.  Today is the day - I can't wait to get to that bend, I've got my camera out and I am ready!  Yippee!  Well, I headed down the road thinking, I've got to be careful and go slow.  I don't want to cause an accident just from trying to get a picture of trees.  Sitting at the red light, I looked around and thought, good, I only have one car behind me, if I go really slow, he will probably just go around me.  The light turned green, and off I went as slow as a granny out for a Sunday drive.  He  zipped around, probably wondering what in the world I was doing.  Ok, today I am going to be ready!  I checked the phone to make sure it didn't lock up - no, my camera was still there on the screen.  I leaned it against my steering wheel, positioning it just right to capture all that beautiful color.  Here comes the little bend in the road - Ok, I'm rounding the corner - click, click! 

Well the photo above is similar to what I should have captured.   But, Oh man!  All that color was gone!  I waited too long.  All the leaves had fallen off and most of them were blown away.  I procrastinated and put off until tomorrow what I should have done the first day I saw them.  We can miss out on some pretty special opportunities if we put things off until later.  Yes, this was not really that big of a deal, but sometimes we miss out on the blessings God puts before us.  We are not guaranteed a tomorrow, so whatever God puts in front of you, remember to do it now and do it well. 

This is what I captured - the beauty was gone!

"Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with your might; for there is no work or device or knowledge or wisdom in the grave where you are going." Ecclesiastes 9:10

Prickly People

So who doesn't know someone prickly?  Someone that can just get under your skin and irritate you to no end.  I have run across my share of people like this and I'm sure you have too.  I'm so glad God has a great sense of humor and a way of putting me in my place from time to time.  My original thought for this blog was to mention "those" people, to discuss you know "that type" of personality.  Ha!  You'll never guess who was one of "those people" last night!  Yep - ME!  I'm sure my family will atest to the fact that I was not only prickly - but a great big brat!  I came home and all was well, until dinner time decisions had to be made.  I misinterpreted something Charles said and got irritated for nothing.  I really don't know now why I felt so angry and for a few minutes - I didn't want to let that anger go.  I wanted to be angry.  I was growing bitter and angrier from something that was a total misunderstanding.  Bitterness can grow and grow not only harming ourselves but also those around us.  If I would have continued with my attitude it would have gotten more and more difficult for me to ask for forgiveness but also for those around to actually forgive me for acting the way I did.  I don't want to lose God's loving favor or be the cause of others losing favor because of bitterness.  God's grace has such great power and effect in our lives.  Some people choose to remain a prickly porcupines letting bitterness overtake their lives.  Unfortunately, they don't recognize the change in themselves and eventually do not care, becoming more ineffective, insensitive and spirtually dying.  They often become slaves to the bitterness and sometimes even physically ill.  God doesnt' live in bitterness, He lives in grace.  He wants us to choose grace not bitterness.  Praying I never stay a porcupine and that you don't either.  If you are bitter or unforgiving about something - let it go, forgive and move on - there is great freedom and reward in forgiveness!

 My personal Bible preference is KJV, but I often like to read different versions to help me understand the verse a little clearer

Hebrews 12:15



 (KJV) - 15 Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled

(ESV) ¹⁵See to it that no one fails to obtain the grace of God; that no "root of bitterness" springs up and causes trouble, and by it many become defiled;

(MSG) ^14-17Work at getting along with each other and with God. Otherwise you'll never get so much as a glimpse of God. Make sure no one gets left out of God's generosity. Keep a sharp eye out for weeds of bitter discontent. A thistle or two gone to seed can ruin a whole garden in no time. Watch out for the Esau syndrome: trading away God's lifelong gift in order to satisfy a short-term appetite. You well know how Esau later regretted that impulsive act and wanted God's blessing—but by then it was too late, tears or no tears.

 (NLV)¹⁵ See that no one misses God’s loving-favor. Do not let wrong thoughts about others get started among you. If you do, many people will be turned to a life of sin.

 (NLT)¹⁵ Look after each other so that none of you fails to receive the grace of God. Watch out that no poisonous root of bitterness grows up to trouble you, corrupting many.

(ERV)¹⁵ Be careful that no one fails to get God’s grace. Be careful that no one loses their faith and becomes like a bitter weed growing among you. Someone like that can ruin your whole group.

If you are wondering how Little Mrs. Prickly was made...

 I love nature and the little things we find on our walks.  It wasn't too long ago we found these great acorns and prickly little balls that drop from a Sweet Gum tree. 

As promised from yesterday's post-

Here is the answer to how many arils were in our pomegranate...

764

Pomegranate

We bought a pomegranate the other day at Central Market and was surprised when Becca said she doesn't remember ever eating one.  I didn't realize it has been so long since we purchased one.  I thought it would be fun to slowly reveal to her the treasure that was inside.

The Fruit with a Big Surprise Inside

A little Peek Inside

Voila!

 

Little Pockets of Protected Red Seeds called Arils

Thin little membranes called pulp separate and protect the arils

Wanna take a guess on how many Arils were in our Pomegranate?

We played a little guessing game...this is what we each of us guessed!

Charles - 800

Rhonda - 1000

Chuck - 600

Becca - 507

Check tomorrow's blog to see the results!

Do you have a guess too? 

We love pomegranate!  It is delicious and addicting.

A Few Fun Facts about Pomegranates

One of the oldest fruits in existence

Frequently used in Christian Art - one example was on the columns and pillars of Solomon's temple

another example was on the High Priests garments

provided refreshment for hot dry areas - like in the Holy Land

Some Jewish Bible scholars believe the pomegranate was the forbidden fruit in the garden of Eden

Once picked it stops ripening but becomes more flavorful if stored for awhile

Thought to have heart healthy antioxidants, helps to keep platelets from clumping together to form dangerous blood clots and has cancer preventing effects

Contains a high concentration of antioxidants...provides potassium, fiber, vitamin C and niacin

Entire Pomegranate is only about 100 calories

A great  reference showing something I found interesting...  Of all the fruits there are in this world, the pomegranate is listed as one of the fruits that are special products of the Promised Land in Deuteronomy 8:1-9.  God prepared such a beautiful and bountiful land - they just had to follow His lead and obey His commands to get to the place He had so specially prepared for them.  

Deuteronomy 8  - KJV

 ¹All the commandments which I command thee this day shall ye observe to do, that ye may live, and multiply, and go in and possess the land which the LORD sware unto your fathers.
 ²And thou shalt remember all the way which the LORD thy God led thee these forty years in the wilderness, to humble thee, and to prove thee, to know what was in thine heart, whether thou wouldest keep his commandments, or no.
 ³And he humbled thee, and suffered thee to hunger, and fed thee with manna, which thou knewest not, neither did thy fathers know; that he might make thee know that man doth not live by bread only, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of the LORD doth man live.
 ⁴Thy raiment waxed not old upon thee, neither did thy foot swell, these forty years.
 ⁵Thou shalt also consider in thine heart, that, as a man chasteneth his son, so the LORD thy God chasteneth thee.
 ⁶Therefore thou shalt keep the commandments of the LORD thy God, to walk in his ways, and to fear him.
 ⁷For the LORD thy God bringeth thee into a good land, a land of brooks of water, of fountains and depths that spring out of valleys and hills;
 ⁸A land of wheat, and barley, and vines, and fig trees, and pomegranates; a land of oil olive, and honey;
 ⁹A land wherein thou shalt eat bread without scarceness, thou shalt not lack any thing in it; a land whose stones are iron, and out of whose hills thou mayest dig brass.

Now for yesterdays answer  - did you figure it out? 

How much money would be raised if every envelope was filled with the dollar amount listed on each envelope?  From numbers 1-144 

$10,440 is correct!

Seeing Red!!!

Ha - did you think I was mad about something!  Well - I'm not mad at all!  The red I'm seeing today is pretty awesome and amazing and it came in threes.  The first red I saw was just after midnight. It was something created by my sweet husband.  Every few months he replenishes our supply of spaghetti sauce, and wow is it amazing!  I am so thankful that the Lord blessed me with a wonderful husband that has a passion and great talent for cooking.  We all love the day he cooks up a fresh batch. The aroma in the house just makes our mouths water and causes our tummies to growl.
 

Ready to be Filled

Wow that Aroma - Yum!

What a Rich Red!

It's Gotta be Homemade!

 

It is delicious as always - we had it over stuffed shells for lunch!



The second red I came across today was at church this morning.  It was the great red envelope project for the teens upcoming mission trip to the Dominican Republic. It is a fund raiser that was tried last year which had great success, therefore, they did it again this year.  They put 144 envelopes out and each one has a different number on it starting at 1 and going to 144.  The members that feel led to give then take an envelope and put the dollar amount that matches the number on the envelope.  The money that is received is divided up and applied to the needs for those going on the mission trip.  Last year this was a huge blessing for all who went, and we are praying for a great response.



Ok - so here is a little trivia for you - if they fill all of the envelopes - how much money will be raised to further the cause of sharing Christ?

Red Envelope Fund Raiser



The third red for us today was the pomegranate.  I will tell you more about that tomorrow.

Super Chicken



Major and Super Chicken

Major got himself a new toy today!  SUPER CHICKEN!  Poor little Major, he is worn out after playing with his new little buddy.  He has a sling shot built in and crows like a rooster when we send him flying.   Now if we could just train Major to make him crow when the sun comes up, it would make us feel like we were living out in the country.  We will see how long he lasts - Major loves his stuffed animals, but isn't always the most gentle with them.

Sometimes we can be the biggest super chickens!  We worry about so many things, some of them small and some huge.  I read something recently that might change your perspective a little bit, I know it changed mine.  God tells us to trust Him over and over in the Bible.  If we trust Him, we should be able to give Him control of anything and everything in our lives.  Just let go and recognize that He is God.  It is His world we are living in, He made it and controls it.  When we pray, we should lay out our concerns before God.  We can pour out our hearts and talk with Him openly about all things, since He knows what is in our hearts already.  If we  thank Him for the answers that He has set in motion long before we can even discern the results, our whole state of mind will change.   When your new requests come to mind again, continue to thank God for the answers that are on the way.  If we keep on stating our concerns to God, we will live in a state of tension.  When we thank Him for how He is answering our prayers, our mind-set becomes much more positive.  Thankful prayers keep our focus on His presence and His promises.   
(sorry, I don't have the author of the source - it was from a devotion passed on to me from a friend)

Psalm 62:8
Trust in him at all times; ye people, pour out your heart before him: God is a refuge for us. Selah.

 



Happy Veteran's Day

 A celebration to honor America's veterans for their patriotism, love of country,

and willingness to serve and sacrifice for the common good

Thank you seems so inadequate. We do appreciate all that you have done and are doing to make our country safe and free! We are very proud of your sacrifice for us.

We often take for granted the very things that most deserve our gratitude.  Friday mornings usually begin with my girlie time.  We get together for breakfast, prayer, Bible time or simply chatting about our week.  It is such a time of refreshment and encouragement.  There are weeks we laugh and giggle and just cut up about life, but also weeks when we pour over our Bible and pray for each other and things going on at the time.  It is so wonderful to be able to go to a public restaurant and have the freedom to read our Bible out loud to one another about a verse that touched our Spirit, or pray without fear of being arrested or tortured for our beliefs.  Charles and I often get into discussion with the kids about how fortunate we are to live in our wonderful country that offers such amazing freedoms.

May God Bless America and all it's Veterans!





Grampa - Army



Granddad - Navy

 



Great Granddad - Army



Great Uncle Leeroy - Navy

Great Uncle Lester - Navy

Thankful

Wow...What a statement!
What if you woke up today with only the things you thanked God for yesterday?
One of my friends posted this on facebook a while back and it really made me stop in my tracks and thank God immediately for the many blessings he has provided.  I am so thankful for my wise and loving husband, Charles and our sweet, beautiful, & hardworking children too - Chuck and Becca.  My list is incredibly long of the things I'm thankful for, but I just wanted to list a few at the top of my list!
My Salvation
Honorable and Handsome Husband
 Spectacular Son
Delightful Daughter
"Perfect" Parents - well they are wonderful to me
Blessed with the two Best Brothers
Glorious Grandparents that showed so much love
In-Laws that are not in-laws but just like my very Own
Nifty Nieces and Nephews
Fabulous Friends
Magnificent Major
I could go on and on but thought I would share the lyrics to a song I love,
 sung by the Hooker Family that says it well - I Have Been Blessed!

Verse 1:
When He moves among us all that He does all of His mercy and all of His love
and the pen of the writer could write everyday even this world could never contain
how I've been blessed

Verse 2:
The warmth in winter the flowers in spring the laughter in summer and the changing of leaves
the food on my table a good place to sleep clothes on my back and shoes on my feet
I have been blessed

Chorus:
I have been blessed God's so good to me precious are His thoughts of you and me
no way I could count them there's not enough time so I'll just thank Him for being so kind
God has been good so good I have been blessed

Verse 3:
Arms that will raise a voice that can talk hands that can touch and legs that can walk
ears that can listen eyes that can see oh I've got to praise Him as long as I breathe
I have been blessed

Verse 4:
A father and mother who nurtured and raised a brother and sister memories made
our pastor to lead us the altar to pray stripes that can heal the blood that can save
I have been blessed

Chorus:
I have been blessed God's so good to me precious are His thoughts of you and me
no way I could count them there's not enough time so I'll just thank Him for being so kind
God has been good so good I have been blessed

Verse 5:
We live in a country the greatest on earth our flag stands for freedom and what it is worth
she stands in the harbor Miss Liberty calls all have gave some but some have gave all
for me to be blessed

Verse 6:
He's my shoulder to lean on when I am down the rock where He leads me when I'm overwhelmed
the place where He hides me under His wings He's not just a song He's the reason I sing
I have been blessed

Chorus:
I have been blessed God's so good to me precious are His thoughts of you and me
no way I could count them there's not enough time so I'll just thank Him for being so kind
God has been good so good I have been blessed

The moon was so big, bright and beautiful tonight and the sky was so clear.  I wish the photo would have captured it better.  Becca took one too - caught her shooting the moon - will check out her photo tomorrow.

She had a wonderful blessing today!  If you know Becca, you know she loves everything artsy!  She was hired by my sweet friend to be their photographer for the afternoon.  What an amazing opportunity - she loved every minute of it.  I can't wait to check out her pictures and work with her on editing them this weekend.  Thank you Bill and Tracey for thinking of her and helping her get closer to her mission trip goal!