AT DAYS END

Is anybody happier because you passed his way?
Does anyone remember that you spoke to him today?



Sunset over Gulf of Mexico, Naples, FL

The day is almost over, and its toiling time is through;
Is there anyone to utter now a kindly word of you?

Can you say tonight, in parting with the day that's slipping fast,
That you helped a single brother of the many that you passed?

Is a single heart rejoicing over what
you did or said;
Does the man whose hopes were fading,
now with courage look ahead?

A full moon shines on winters leafless branches

Did you waste the day, or lose it? Was
it well or sorely spent?
Did you leave a trail of kindness, or a
scar of discontent?

As you close your eyes in slumber, do
you think God will say,

"You have earned one more tomorrow
by the work you did today"?
John Hall

Bag of Cement

Car and Dump Truck in Tunnel
As a man was driving down a road he spotted a bag of cement that had apparently fallen out of the back of a truck.

Not wishing to see a perfectly good bag of cement go to waste, he stopped to pick it up believing he could get some use out of it.

But when he reached down to pick up the bag, it was surprisingly heavier than he expected due to the fact that it had solidified into an immovable piece of cement.

The bag of cement was created to be used for a specific purpose, but because it never reached its intended destination, it became a useless rock.

Just like that bag of cement, many people appear to be useable on the outside; but when God tries to draw near to them, they have hardened their hearts to his love and purpose.

Fortunately for us, it is never too late to listen to the voice of God. He can soften our hearts through His saving grace.

Of all the pursuits open to men, the search for wisdom is most perfect, more sublime, more profitable and more full of joy.

Thomas Aquinas
David Jerimiah
All Posters

I pray that your heart has been softened through His saving Grace
Mimi

Hubby Tag

I read this on Midnight Musings and thought it would be a fun way to tell you a little more about my life...


1. Who is your man? Joe

2. How long have you been together? Married 48 years

3. How long dated? 2 years

4. How old is your man? 73 years young {he is much older than I am :0) }

5. Who eats more? He eats all the time!!!

6. Who said “I love you” first? He did

7. Who is taller? He is taller

8. Who sings better? He sings better!!! (He also plays the guitar)

9. Who is smarter? I am!!!

10. Whose temper is worse? HIS!!

11. Who does the laundry? Both of us (He does His clothes and the bed linens & towels)
I do my clothes and the doggie's towels/linens)

12. Who takes out the garbage? I pull and tie the bags...he takes them to the outside cans..

13. Who sleeps on the right side of the bed? He does

14. Who pays the bills? I do... I am much tighter with the money...(actually I can pinch a penny until it squeals)

15. Who is better with the computer? Me...

16. Who mows the lawn? He does ... but I wish we could find a good (and cheap) lawn service

17. Who cooks dinner? He does on the days I work...I do the other days (I work 2 days a week)

18. Who drives when you are together? He does ...He still thinks I can't drive well...

19. Who pays when you go out? He does

20. Who is most stubborn? I am quietly digging in my heals.. while he is very outspoken with his opinions.

21. Who is the first to admit when they are wrong? I am... he never admits he is wrong!!!

22. Whose parents do you see the most? Neither...they are all in Heaven (We are the old folks now)

23. Who kissed who first? He kissed me first

24. Who asked who out? Actually neither!!!

25. Who proposed? He did...

26. Who is more sensitive? We are both pretty sensitive...but he shows it more...

27. Who has more friends? He does...He never meets a stranger!!!

28. Who has more siblings? I do...


29. Who wears the pants in the family? Definitely him (just ask our daughters and son-in-laws)

30. How did you meet? On a blind date...

Time for Jesus

Bus at a Bus Stop, Placa Espana, Barcelona, Spain

I knelt to pray but not for long,
I had too much to do.
I had to hurry and get to work
For bills would soon be due.

• So I knelt and said a hurried prayer,

And jumped up off my knees.
My Christian duty was now done
My soul could rest at ease.....

All day long I had no time
To spread a word of cheer
No time to speak of Christ to friends,
They'd laugh at me I'd fear.

• No time, no time, too much to do,

That was my constant cry,
No time to give to souls in need
But at last the time, the time to die.

I went before the Lord,
I came, I stood with downcast eyes.

For in his hands God! held a book;
It was the book of life.

God looked into his book and said

"Your name I cannot find
I once was going to write it down...
But never found the time"

Author unknown

Book of Life

Take Time for God
Mimi

On Your Anniversary

Sunset Beach

Wishing you some quiet time
to embrace the slow,
sweet movement of years,
to look back on where you've been,
and appreciate where you are...
Totether!

Curve in Road of Highway 32, Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Tennessee

Wishing you some quiet time
to honor every step
of the journey you've taken,
every turn in the road
that has led you here...
Together!

Two Adirondack chairs on a scenic overlook
Wishing you some quiet time
to look ahead and anticipate
all the wonderful years to come
and the ways you'll share them....
Together!

Happy Anniversary Jodi and JR

Love Mom and Dad

Pride And Discouragement

We try to keep it inside, but it's something we can't hide, it's our foolish pride. Who are we to stake claim to what we don't own, to get credit for what God has shown. Through our minds and our hands, He empowers all our plans. Give God the credit and glory, for the success story, and the contract signed, according to His deadline. Correct people when they give you the praise, tell them it's God's hand they should clasp and raise. When they place you on the throne, let them know that you've done nothing alone. Through Him, He makes a way for our triumphs every day. Proverbs 29:23 A man's pride brings him low, but a man of lowly spirit gains honor. Getting rid of Pride; Sometimes when you look at a word, you see another contained within the word. In this case, you can see the word rid right in the middle of the word pride. Maybe you've never noticed it before. However, when you see it, you see it for a reason. God may be showing it to you to make a point. If your pride springs from anything other than Christ's saving work in your life, then it's probably time you thought about getting rid of your pride. As you fill with pride, your faith in God deflates. Remember that all things are made possible by God who works through you.

When you are Discourged

Morning Prayer Most honorable Father, prayerfully I ask for a spirit of mindfulness today of all that you have done for me. Regardless of what I face today, Lord, I pray that I will keep my eyes, mind, and spirit uplifted and focused on your goodness. Lord, thank you for keeping me looking up. Amen REMAIN ENCOURAGED BY TAKING THE "DIS" OUT OF DISCOURAGE. Seek comfort with God. Let Him handle your battles, troubles, and conflicts. Remember that in the midst of life's problems, He never forsook Paul and David, Peter and Abraham, Stephen and Moses. He will be just as faithful in your own life. You may think you have tried your hardest, but until you call upon God, your burden will remain. Stop struggling with things that only the strength of God can overcome. With every challenge, you have the opportunity to experience greater growth in your faith and your walk with God. God uses the most painful trials to keep you reliant and faithful. His love does not keep you from challenges, but sees you through them clearly. Don't let problems get you down-- let them remind you to look up. Count your blessings, see the ones around you now, and get away from your depressed thoughts There is no problem too big for God to handle, but He can't help if you don't hand it over to Him. Psalm 42:11 Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God. Psalm 55:22 Cast your cares on the Lord and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous fall. Psalm 62: 5-8 Find rest, O my soul, in God alone; my hope comes from him. He alone is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I will not be shaken. My salvation and my honor depend on God; he is my mighty rock, my refuge. Trust in him at all times, O people; pour out your hearts to him, for God is our refuge.

Mimi

Understanding Shingles

Shingles is caused by a reactivation of the "varicella Zoster Virus" which is the same virus that causes Chicken Pox (a painful rash). The words "Shingles" and "Zoster" both translate into the word "belt" which describes the pattern of the rash of blisters as they appear on the body -- generally a band on one side of the body.

After you've had chickenpox the virus lies dormant in your nerve cells next to your spinal cord, sometimes for decades. Years later, the virus may reactivate as "Shingles. When it becomes active, it travels down the nerve fibers that extend to your skin, and a rash develops.

Unfortunately, it isn't yet known exactly what causes the virus to become active again. An important factor, though, is the immune system, which helps keep viruses at bay. Shingles tends to appear when your immune system is weakened. For example, the chances of getting shingles are higher as we get older. But other things can also weaken, or suppress, the immune system's ability to fight infection, such as HIV, anticancer and transplant drugs, stress, and depression.

You cannot catch shingles from someone who has it. However, the rash that occurs with shingles sheds the same varicella zoster virus that causes chicken pox and may be contagious. So, if you have not had chicken pox or have not been vaccinated against the virus, you can develop chicken pox (not shingles) if you come in contact with someone who has shingles. People with shingles can transmit the virus only if the Blisters have broken and the virus is transmitted when skin- to- skin contact with broken blisters occurs.

An outbreak of shingles usually lasts about a month. However, sometimes the pain of shingles does not go away as quickly, or disappears for a short time and then returns. This pain may last for months, and even years. This pain after the shingles rash has healed is a condition called postherpetic neuralgia (PHN)

PHN is the most common complication of shingles, and the pain of PHN can be long-lasting and debilitating. Often the pain of PHN is accompanied by intense emotional feelings such as frustration, depression , and irritability.

Early treatment can help shorten a shingles infection and reduce the risk of complications, so consult your doctor as soon as you notice signs or symptoms of shingles. Pain medication, antidepressants or anticonvulsant medications may help provide relief until the pain subsides.

The Signs and symptoms of shingles may include:

• Pain, burning, tingling, itching, numbness or extreme sensitivity in a certain part of the body.

• A red rash with fluid-filled blisters that begins a few days after the pain.

• Fever
• Headache
• Chills
• Upset stomach

Typically, the shingles rash occurs on only one side of the body. It often appears as a band of blisters that wraps from the middle of your back around one side of your chest to your breastbone, following the path of the nerve where the virus had been dormant.

Sometimes, the shingles rash occurs around one eye or on one side of the neck or face. Treatment is especially important when a rash develops near your eyes. An untreated rash in this area could lead to an infection of your cornea, which may cause temporary or permanent blindness.

Although the shingles rash may resemble chickenpox, the virus typically causes more pain and less itching the second time around.

Until the shingles blister scab over, avoid physical contact with:

• Anyone who's never had chickenpox.

• Anyone who has a weak immune system

• Newborns

• Pregnant women (A chickenpox infection can be dangerous for a developing baby.)

If you develop shingles, take good care of yourself: Keep the affected area clean. Apply cool, wet compresses to relieve pain. Get plenty of rest.

info courtesy of Mayo Clinic.com and Novartis website

This is a re-post done especially for someone I love

Mimi

I Looked

I looked upon a farm one day,
That once I used to own;
The barn had fallen to the ground,
The fields were overgrown.
the house in which my children grew,
Where we lived for years-

I turned to see it broken down,
And brushed aside the tears.



Abandoned, Overgrown House

I looked upon my soul one day,
To find it too had grown
With thorns and nettles everywhere,
The seeds neglect had sown.



Hand over Brush
The years had passed while I had cared
For things of lesser worth:

The things of Heaven I let go
While minding things of earth.

To Christ I turned with bitter tears,
And cried, "O Lord, forgive!



Elderly woman sitting alone by open window

I haven't much time left for Thee,
not many years to live."

The wasted years forever gone,
The days I can't recall;


Christ Showing the Way

If I could live those days again,

I'd make Him Lord of all.

Theodore W. Brennan

images:
courtesy of all posters

Make Him Lord of Your Life
Mimi

Happy New Year

Happy New Year, Waking up the Moon

As we ring out the old year and ring in the New
I pray that each and every one of you
have a wonderful year 2009!

Many of us have some real challenges facing us in the coming year...

But we can know that God will be with us and will walk with us and hold our hand
through each obstacle and challenge that we may face during the year
2009

For I, the Lord thy God, will hold thy right hand, saying unto thee, Fear not; I will help thee. (Isaiah 41:13)

Happy New Year!!

Mimi