Lord Prop us up.......

I got this in a email and wanted to share this with everyone. I now there are many times that I need God to prop me up. I hope you all enjoy this one.

LORD PROP US UP...

Every time I am asked to pray, I think of the old fellow who
always prayed, “Lord, prop us up on our leanin' side.” After
hearing him pray that prayer many times, someone asked him why he
prayed that prayer so fervently.

He answered, “Well sir, you see, it's like this...I got an old
barn out back. It's been there a long time; it's withstood a lot
of weather; it's gone through a lot of storms, and it's stood for
many years.

It's still standing. But one day I noticed it was leaning to one
side a bit.

So I went and got some pine poles and propped it up on its leaning
side so it wouldn't fall.

Then I got to thinking about that and how much I was like that old
barn. I've been around a long time.

I've withstood a lot of life's storms. I've withstood a lot of bad
weather in life, I've withstood a lot of hard times, and I'm still
standing too. But I find myself leaning to one side from time to
time, so I like to ask the Lord to prop us up on our leaning side,
'cause I figure a lot of us get to leaning at times.”

Sometimes we get to leaning toward anger, leaning toward
bitterness leaning toward hatred, leaning toward cussing, leaning
toward a lot of things that we shouldn't. So we need to pray,
“Lord, prop us up on our leaning side, so we will stand straight
and tall again, to glorify the Lord.''

If you stare at this barn for a second you will see who will help us
stand straight and tall again. Do You See HIM?
Pass this on to others who might need Proppin’ Up!

do you notice the picture of Jsus on the barn?????

Compassion vs. Spanking (FUNNY)

Compassion vs. Spanking



Most people nowadays think it improper to spank children, so I have tried other methods to control my kids when they have one of 'those moments.'

One that I have found very effective is for me to just take the child for a car ride during which I say nothing and give the child the opportunity to reflect on his or her behavior.

I don't know whether it's the steady vibration from the car, or just the time away from any distractions such as TV, Video Games, Computer, IPod, etc.

Either way, my kids usually calm down and stop misbehaving after our car ride together. I believe that eye to eye contact during these sessions is an important element in achieving the desired results.

I've included a photo below of one of my sessions with my son, in case you would like to use the technique.

















This works with grandchildren,
nieces, and nephews as well...

Happy Sunday and Poem

I hope you all had a great Sunday. We had a great service today. We are getting ready for revival starting Thursday to Sunday with Dr.Peter Ruckman from florida.

Here is a poem I like and wanted to share it.



THE MASTER'S CARD


I'm sure you've all received applications for credit cards in the mail.
However, I'm here to advertise a different card.
You see, my life is a product for others to see.
I'm a card carrying representative for
The Master's Card.

That's right,
The MASTER'S CARD.

Let me tell you about it.
There are no finance charges, no payments due.
My bill has already been covered...it's a prepaid deal.
I couldn't afford the price,
so Jesus stepped in and paid it for me.

My Name is written on the card for all to see. It is accessible twenty-four hours a day from anywhere in the world.
The MASTER'S CARD
has so many benefits it's hard to list them all.
Let me share some of them with you...
you might want to apply for a personal card yourself.
Just for starters there is
UNLIMITED GRACE.
That's right, there is no preset limit to the amount of grace you receive from
The MASTER'S CARD.

Have you been looking for love in all the wrong places?
Then, look no farther than
The MASTER'S CARD.

It offers the greatest rate on love that has ever been offered.
The MASTER'S CARD
gives you access to many "members only" benefits.
Want real joy despite the difficulties of life?
Apply for
The MASTER'S CARD.
Want a lasting peace? Apply for
The MASTER'S CARD.
Looking for something you can always rely on in a jam?
The MASTER'S CARD
is perfect for you. Another great thing about
The MASTER'S CARD
is that it never expires and will never be cancelled.
Once you're a member, you're a member for life...
eternal life, that is.
Membership has its privileges, you know.

So why not apply today?

It's only a prayer away.....

When Your Heart is Hungry

When Your Heart is Hungry

by Linda Spangle, RN, MA

It’s been one of those days! You’ve peeked into the refrigerator three times since lunch. You want something to eat but you can’t figure out what you want. How about some ice cream? Maybe the leftover birthday cake. Perhaps you should go downtown for a pastry and coffee at the cute French bakery.

You have this sense of yearning and food sounds like an easy answer. But in reality, the hunger isn’t from your stomach—it’s inside your heart. Instead of eating to fix this hollow feeling, you need ways to nurture and comfort yourself and renew your spirit.

Recognizing heart hunger

With heart hunger, you don’t usually get a specific food craving—you just start thinking about eating. As you search your cupboards or the refrigerator, you’re unsure of what sounds good at the moment. You just know you want “something.”

Eventually, heart hunger sends you toward foods that are soft, smooth or creamy textured, such as ice cream, doughnuts or pasta. It can also make you want comfort foods or ones related to fond memories or happy times.

Heart hunger usually stems from empty emotions, such as feeling depressed, discouraged or lonely. It can show up when you’re bored or restless, as well as times when you’re feeling hurt, disappointed or let down. You can also experience heart hunger when you’re longing for things you can’t get such as attention or appreciation.

Heart hunger foods can even sneak into your life without you realizing it. For example, do you eat a bowl of ice cream most nights before going to bed? For many people, ice cream connects back to childhood memories or to nostalgia for family connections. Soft foods such as doughnuts, cinnamon rolls or brownies may be filling the empty spots left by a broken relationship or disappointments in life.

Will eating change it?

When you start craving sweets or other heart hunger foods, ask yourself, “What’s making me feel empty right now? What am I missing or needing in my life?” Are you feeling alone and wishing you had more friends or a new life partner? Maybe difficult situations have left you tired and discouraged or feeling depressed. Perhaps you don’t have much challenge or meaning in your life, making you bored or restless.

Before you reach for the first bite of comfort food, think about what’s empty or missing in your life, then ask yourself, “Will eating change this?” Of course, sometimes eating does make things better, at least for a while. But in reality, food won’t fix a hungry heart. Your real life is still there, filled with the same emptiness as before.

Filling your heart

When you’re facing empty emotions, you don’t need to pound on your pillow or exhaust yourself with exercise. At the first signs of heart hunger, seek out things that feel nurturing or comforting such as a warm bath or a massage. When you feel sad or lonely, you might find solace in listening to music or reading a good book. If you get bored easily, consider learning a new hobby or taking a class to awaken your brain.

Build a nurturing break into your day. Grab your favorite book of poetry or pull out your needlework, then slip on your headset and disappear into the music. Within a few minutes, you’ll have renewed your spirit instead of harming your waistline.

Tips: Create an “instead” list for heart hunger

Build a list of things you can do “instead” of eating when your heart is hungry. Here are some ideas to get you started. Whenever you need comfort, nurturing or love, reach for these “insteads” and take care of what your spirit really needs.

• Get outdoors. Plant flowers, dig in your vegetable garden, go for a hike or do other activities that involve nature.

• Hug or hold somebody and enjoy the healing power of touch. You might consider volunteering at a senior living center. Once you get to know the people there, hug them each time you visit.

• Get a massage. If that’s not an option at the moment, massage your own hands or feet with lotion scented with jasmine or lavender.

• Light lots of candles. Create a healing environment by using candles of varying sizes and shapes as well as your favorite fragrance such as bayberry or vanilla.

• Buy yourself a greeting card and pretend it came from your best friend. Write a love note in it and sign it. Mail it to yourself, then look forward to receiving it in a day or two

When You Don’t Care Anymore

When You Don’t Care Anymore

by Linda Spangle, RN, MA

A couple of days ago, one of my clients decided she was done with dieting. Her explanation was, "Regardless of what I said last week, I just don't care anymore. I don't care about sticking with my diet or exercising. And I certainly don't care about working on my emotions or any other issues that I'm supposed to fix in order to manage my weight!"

Do you ever have times like that? When the weather is hot and sticky, you're tired of eating grilled chicken on a bed of lettuce, and your stress is going up because the kids are out of school for the summer, it's easy to throw up your hands and insist, "Losing weight is too hard, and I just don't care anymore!"

So you eat a triple-dip ice cream cone, skip your workout and buy junk food instead of salad ingredients at the grocery store. But even as you rip open the bag of chips, somewhere deep inside, you know you aren't ready to give up.

If you're struggling with "not caring," don't assume there's something wrong with you or that you lack willpower or self-discipline. Instead, take a look at what might be causing your emotional dip and figure out how to pump yourself back up.

Here are three easy steps to help you start caring again.

1. Figure out what’s bothering you

When you don't feel like sticking with your diet plan, it doesn't mean you don't care about losing weight. Instead, it's usually a sign that something else in life requires your attention. Think about what's demanding your energy and focus right now. Perhaps you're stressed and overworked. Or maybe you're dreading the rest of summer being filled with bored kids, vacations and out-of-town guests.

2. Do it anyway!

You don't stop being a parent because you're not in the mood. In the same way, you don't have to stop caring about your weight just because you have other things on your mind. So with your diet plan, widen the boundaries or relax the rules if you need to, but don't drop out of the game.

3. Focus on actions, not feelings

Don't assume you have to wait until your motivation returns. On days when you don't “feel like it,” get methodical about your dieting efforts. Eat some fruit instead of potato chips. Drag yourself out the door and take a walk. Even five or ten minutes of activity can brighten your mood.

At the end of the day, the outcome will be the same. Even if you didn't “feel” like doing these things, you still made progress!

Statue of Liberty "Good song"

I really like this song and wanted to share it with those who visit my blog.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=dEbl3cOcWqw&feature=
PlayList&p=63063C34CA24501F&playnext_from=
PL&playnext=1&index=75

Church bulletin boards

The Fasting & Prayer Conference includes meals.
----------------------------
The sermon this morning: 'Jesus Walks on the Water.' The sermon tonight: 'Searching for Jesus.'
----------- ---------------
Ladies, don't forget the rummage sale. It's a chance to get rid of those things not worth keeping around the house. Bring your husbands.
--------------------------
Remember in prayer the many who are sick of our community. Smile at someone who is hard to love. Say 'Hell' to someone who doesn't care much about you.
--------------------------
Don't let worry kill you off - let the Church help.
--------------------------
Miss Charlene Mason sang 'I will not pass this way again,' giving obvious pleasure to the congregation.
--------------------------
For those of you who have children and don't know it, we have a nursery downstairs.
--------------------------
Next Thursday there will be tryouts for the choir. They need all the help they can get.
--------------------------
Irving Benson and Jessie Carter were married on October 24 in the church. So ends a friendship that began in their school days.
--------------------------
A bean supper will be held on Tuesday evening in the church hall. Music will follow.
--------------------------
At the evening service tonight, the sermon topic will be 'What Is Hell?' Come early and listen to our choir practice.
--------------------------
Eight new choir robes are currently needed due to the addition of several new members and to the deterioration of some older ones.
--------------------------
Scouts are saving aluminum cans, bottles and other items to be recycled. Proceeds will be used to cripple children.
--------------------------
Please place your donation in the envelope along with the deceased person you want remembered.
--------------------------
The church will host an evening of fine dining, super entertainment and gracious hostility.
--------------------------
Potluck supper Sunday at 5:00 PM - prayer and medication to follow.
--------------------------
The ladies of the Church have cast off clothing of every kind. They may be seen in the basement on Friday afternoon.
--------------------------
This evening at 7 PM there will be a hymn singing in the park across from the Church. Bring a blanket and come prepared to sin.
--------------------------
Ladies Bible Study will be held Thursday morning at 10 AM. All ladies are invited to lunch in the Fellowship Hall after the B. S. Is done.
--------------------------
The pastor would appreciate it if the ladies of the Congregation would lend him their electric girdles for the pancake breakfast next Sunday.
--------------------------
Low Self Esteem Support Group will meet Thursday at 7 PM. Please use the back door.
--------------------------
The eighth-graders will be presenting Shakespeare's Hamlet in the Church basement Friday at 7 PM. The congregation is invited to attend this tragedy.
--------------------------
Weight Watchers will meet at 7 PM at the First Presbyterian Church.. Please use large double door at the side entrance.
--------------------------
The Associate Minister unveiled the church's new campaign slogan last Sunday: 'I Upped My Pledge - Up Yours.'

HANDY LITTLE CHART - GOD HAS A POSITIVE ANSWER:

HANDY LITTLE CHART - GOD HAS A POSITIVE ANSWER:

YOU SAY
GOD SAYS

BIBLE VERSES
You say: 'It's impossible'
God says: All things are possible
( Luke 18:27)
You say: 'I'm too tired'
God says: I will give you rest
( Matthew 11:28-30)
You say: 'Nobody really loves me'
God says: I love you
( John 3:1 6 & John 3:34 )
You say: 'I can't go on'
God says: My grace is sufficient
(II Corinthians 12:9 & Psalm 91:15)
You say: 'I can't figure things out'
God says: I will direct your steps
(Proverbs 3:5- 6)
You say: 'I can't do it'
God says: You can do all things
( Philippians 4:13)
You say: 'I'm not able'
God says: I am able
(II Corinthians 9:8)
You say: 'It's not worth it'
God says: It will be worth it
(Roman 8:28 )
You say: 'I can't forgive myself' or ‘Shame on’
God says: I Forgive you
(I John 1:9 & Romans 8:1)
You say: 'I can't manage'
God says: I will supply all your needs
( Philippians 4:19)
You say: 'I'm afraid'
God says: I have not given you a spirit of fear
( II Timothy 1:7)
You say: 'I'm always worried and frustrated'
God says: Cast all your cares on ME
(I Peter 5:7)
You say: 'I'm not smart enough'
God says: I give you wisdom
(I Corinthians 1:30)
You say: 'I feel all alone'
God says: I will never leave you or forsake you
(Hebrews 13:5)



PASS THIS ON. YOU NEVER KNOW WHO MAY BE IN NEED
The first sentence is pretty powerful!

God determines who walks into your life....it's up to you to decide who you let
walk away, who you let stay, and who you refuse to let go.'


Father, God, bless all my friends in whatever it is that you know they may need
this day! And may their lives be full of your peace, prosperity and power as they
seek to have a closer relationship with you. Amen.

The Cracked Pot.

~~ Arthur Unknown ~~

A water bearer in India had two large pots, each hung on each end of a pole which he carried across his neck. One of the pots had a crack in it, and while the other pot was perfect and always delivered a full portion of water at the end of the long walk from the stream to the master's house, the cracked pot arrived only half full.
For a full two years this went on daily, with the bearer delivering only one and a half pots full of water in his master's house. Of course, the perfect pot was proud of its accomplishments, perfect to the end for which it was made. But the poor cracked pot was ashamed of its own imperfection, and miserable that it was able to accomplish only half of what it had been made to do. After two years of what it perceived to be a bitter failure, it spoke to the water bearer one day by the stream.

"I am ashamed of myself, and I want to apologize to you." "Why?" asked the bearer. "What are you ashamed of?" "I have been able, for these past two years, to deliver only half my load because this crack in my side causes water to leak out all the way back to your master's house. Because of my flaws, you have to do all of this work, and you don't get full value from your efforts," the pot said.

The water bearer felt sorry for the old cracked pot, and in his compassion he said, "As we return to the master's house, I want you to notice the beautiful flowers along the path." Indeed, as they went up the hill, the old cracked pot took notice of the sun warming the beautiful wild flowers on the side of the path, and this cheered it some. But at the end of the trail, it still felt bad because it had leaked out half its load, and so again it apologized to the bearer for its failure.

The bearer said to the pot, "Did you notice that there were flowers only on your side of your path, but not on the other pot's side? That's because I have always known about your flaw, and I took advantage of it. I planted flower seeds on your side of the path, and every day while we walk back from the stream, you've watered them. For two years I have been able to pick these beautiful flowers to decorate my master's table. Without you being just the way you are, he would not have this beauty to grace his house."

MORAL:
Each of us has our own unique flaws. We're all cracked pots. But it's the cracks and flaws we each have that make our lives together so very interesting and rewarding. You've just got to take each person for what they are, and look for the good in them. There is a lot of good out there. There is a lot of good in us! Blessed are the flexible, for they shall not be bent out of shape. Remember to appreciate all the different people in your life! Or as I like to think of it-if it hadn't been for the crackpots in my life, it would have been pretty boring and not so interesting....

great poem " This Time....."

I got this from one of the sites I'm on and wanted to share it.

Inspiration for the professional dieter!!!

This Time..........

Another diet we're about to endure,
but this time we'll do it, of that we are sure.
We've tried all the others without much success,
but this is the one to get into THAT dress!

For years we've tried hard to lose excess weight,
and we now have the answer to looking just great.
For us no more 'chips' or 'Big Mac' on a whim,
we want to look good and we'd love to be slim.

We joined all the clubs where we'd regularly meet,
but when we read all the can't haves we'd go home and 'greet'
They said don't have this and they said don't have that,
so we'd paid all that money just for a chat!

We all have a wardrobe from size 12 up to 20,
and big, baggy jumpers of which there are plenty.
A drawer of small undies is a dream we all know,
so those big ugly knickers really must go!

With time passing quickly and teenage years gone,
we have no more excuses to rely upon,
The one about 'puppy fat' ran out long ago,
so this time it's business, let's give it a go!

Copyright; Angela Convery