So True

I got this in an email and decided to post it here.




Minorities

We need to show more sympathy for these people.

* They travel miles in the heat.
* They risk their lives crossing a border
* They don't get paid enough wages
* They do jobs that others won't do or are afraid to do.
* They live in crowded conditions among a people who speak a different language.
* They rarely see their families, and they face adversity all day every day.

I'm not talking about illegal Mexicans; I'm talking about our troops! Doesn't it seem strange that many Democrats and Republicans are willing to lavish all kinds of social benefits on illegals, but don't support our troops and are now threatening to defund them?

I Stand In Awe Of You

I Stand In Awe Of You


You are beautiful beyond description
Too marvelous for words
Too wonderful for comprehension
Like nothing ever seen or heard
Who can grasp Your infinite wisdom?
Who can fathom the depth of Your love?
You are beautiful beyond description
Majesty enthroned above *

*And I stand, I stand in awe of You
I stand, I stand in awe of You
Holy God, to whom all praise is due
I stand in awe of You.

You are beautiful beyond description
Yet God crushed You for my sin
In agony and deep affliction
Cut off that I might enter in
Who can grasp such tender compassion?
Who can fathom this mercy so free?
You are beautiful beyond description
Lamb of God who died for me *

You should be able to listen to the song by clicking on the link above. I hope it works for you as it only works in the USA. Please let me know you USA'ers if it doesn't work for you.

Nuts Anyone?

I saw this over at Pam's blog, so I took the quiz and here it is.

You Are a Hazelnut

You are very unique and distinct. You may even freak some people out. Most people don't really know how to interact with you. You get along best with anyone who is super sweet. But you really do get along with almost anyone. You just need a chance to wow them.

What Nut Are You?

Commissary Savings

As I mentioned in the last post, I went to the commissary earlier this week. I just had to tell you about some great deals I got. I saved $37 and change in coupons alone and a lot more in sale prices. Crest toothpaste, several different varieties, was on sale for $1/tube. I had 25 coupons for $1 off making them free. I had to restrain my self and it wasn't easy but I only took 5 of them home. The killer cereal deal I mentioned in the last post was this. Buy 3 boxes of Kellogg's cereal and get 1 gallon of milk free. Any brand any kind of milk. Well, Rice Krispies were on sale and I had coupons for $1 off making them something like 67 cents each and my hubby's favorite Raisin Bran Crunch was on sale for the same deal and of course I had another $1 coupon. So I got 3 large boxes of cereal for less than $2 and got a free gallon of milk. We buy the German milk that you keep in your cupboard until you need it and then refrigerate. It's like Parmalat in the States. It's 90 cents for 1 quart and I got 4 of them thus saving $3.60. How cool is that! 3 boxes of cereal and a gallon of milk for less than 2 bucks! Other cool deals were 2 18 count packs of Kotex for 29 cents each. They weren't on sale but I was out of them and had 2 coupons for $2 off so it was still a great deal. 5 boxes of pizza rolls for 45 cents each. 2 bottles of St. Ives body wash for something like 35 cents each combining coupons and sales. A large bottle of Coffee Mate flavored creamer in my favorite flavor for about a dollar. Maxwell House coffee, the large can, was on sale for $5.99 and I had a coupon for 1.25 off so I got 2. There were other deals but those were the killer ones. I was quite excited about them. Anyone else get any good deals this week?

For more Super Saturday Savings see Money Saving Mom.

Help When You Need It.

The other day I went to the commissary. I hadn't been to the commissary in oh I don't know 2 months? (We've been eating at the mess hall a lot as I have not been up to cooking) That morning I woke up on the wrong side of the bed. Not incredibly uncommon for me but still I was in a particularly foul mood. That mood persisted all day. Couldn't ditch it. I sat there in the car cranky as could be and prayed something to the effect of,"Lord, I really need a blessing today. I don't want to feel this way. I just need your help right now." Fast forward about 5 min. I'm in the commissary investigating what turned out to be a killer deal on cereal and milk and a lady I don't know came up to me asking about my coupon book. She said, "I know this sounds strange, but you just look so nice and approachable." She wanted to know about how I get my coupons and how to use them and my book and savings etc. All things I'm very passionate about. So I gave her a short tutorial, showed her where the coupon box was in the commissary and explained my strategy of using coupons combined with sales to get rock bottom prices or free. She thanked me and went on about her business. Now who doesn't like getting compliments? Pulled me out of that mood and fast. I can't tell you how amazed I was again at how well Jesus knows me. He knew just what I needed and when to send it. He had already started answering my prayer before I prayed it. I know this because the woman was already on her way to the store when I prayed. Then, a few minutes later another lady said to me something to the effect of Wow, you're really organized and asked a few questions. Both ladies were very friendly and both mentioned how nice and approachable they thought I seemed. lol Now, yes the thought did cross my mind,"Yeah nice and approachable as a rabid pit bull," but, it just amazed me how a few kind words from a stranger could make such a difference.

Does God Laugh?

We all know that "Jesus Wept". The book of Luke tells us about how He wept at the grave of Lazarus. But, does God laugh? Of course I suppose so since He created laughter and He is everything but this is why I ask.

We had a situation the other day that I may blog about at a later time. Now, anyone who knows me knows that the battle of the tongue is one that I will have until Christ comes for His own. I have been the queen of telling people off if they need it and of course I have always been the one to decide if they need it or not. If you're one like me you know exactly what I mean. So anyway, days ahead we knew this situation was coming. I had been praying about it since I first knew. The last time I prayed about it before the situation came, I asked the Lord to help us (me) glorify Him and that we (I) should act like a child of King of Kings. A few hours after this situation came and went, (I didn't do too bad but it could have been better) I was bringing take-out home and I began to think about how I'd done and how it hadn't gone quite as well as I'd hoped. (God was definately there. It could have been much worse.) I thought of the prayer I'd prayed and wondered(with my history)if God hears this kind of prayer from me and has a Godly little chuckle out of it. I wonder if He calls over the angels and says, "Angels you gotta hear this one! It's her again! She's asking for tongue control again! You know she isn't gonna let me hold her tongue!" Now please understand I'm not being disrespectful to God. I mean no disrespect at all. I just wonder from time to time if God just sits there and chuckles and says, "Oh daughter. if you'd just let me you could not imagine the things I could do for you and with you." It sounds a little sad really, but then I think too that God says, "She fails a lot, but she's still in there trying. When she falls down she's quit wallowing in it and cries out to me for help. She has faith. She knows I wont fail her. She's trying to be like Jesus. She gets attacked a lot, but she holds on." My Father knows me so much better than I know myself. Which of course is why I think He laughs when He hears some of my prayers. Does anyone get what I'm saying?

WOW!

Ok I saw this one on Pam's blog and I'm posting my results here. I have to say I'm quite amazed. This one seems to be right on. lol I even wear clogs quite a bit. They're common here in Europe.

You Are Clogs

You are a solid and down to earth person. You seek – and almost always achieve – a really sound balance in your life. You are stylish yet comfortable. Mellow but driven. Excited yet calm. You are the perfect mesh of contradictions. No matter what happens, you have the ability to stay well grounded in your life. People know that they can truly depend on you. You should live: In Europe You should work: At a company dedicated to helping the world

a href="a href=">http://www.blogthings.com/whatkindofshoeareyouquiz/">What/a Kind of Shoe Are You?/a>

Blessed Be The Name Of The Lord!

That's the song I woke up singing this morning. Not so strange you might think, but let me go back a few days.

Wavy lines as time moves back.

Sunday morning I awoke early mad at the world. Now typically I'm not a cheerful morning person anyway. I'm generally grumpy and cranky and definaltely want to be left alone. (Currently I really wish the spell check thing on here would get it's act together) I was resentful toward my husband and the more I thought about it the angrier I got. (He certainly did not deserve all the anger and resentment building up) Then it hit me. It's Sunday morning. Because of being in the hospital, I have not been to church since Palm Sunday. I realized that the Lord must have something for me at church for me to be in such a foul mood. This is not the first time I've been dangerous on a Sunday and when I've allowed it to overtake me I've missed out on what God had planned and spent the next week kicking myself. I prayed about it. Telling the Lord that I didn't want to be so angry etc. So I cuddled up with Alan and told him I was mad and wanted to kick the cat and be in charge of the world so stupid things would stop happening etc. Alan found this quite amusing. A long story short my mood disapated. We went to church. (Our first time at the new post) I could feel the Spirit of the Lord there and He had such freedom! I've missed that so much! We had such a wonderful worship service. I was so blessed by it.

Wavy lines as we go back to the present.

Each day so far the Lord's Spirit has been so close to me. My heart has sung His praises as the day goes by. You see I'm not a happy morning person to the point where when I see one I think, "freak". So for me to wake up singing is a miracle in deed. Blessed be the Name of the Lord! May His Spirit be close to you today.

Quick Post

This week I go to work with Alan every day but Friday. He is attending a commanders course and there is a companion course for the spouses. Today was very tiring and my back is sore and tired so I'll sign off for now. I hope all y'all have a great week.

Eminence or Pre-eminence

Over at Cherish The Home, Michele had a musing on a recent sermon from her church. It has affected me in such a profound way that I feel today I must share it.

Speaking of church our Pastor preached from the book of Colossians (one of my very favorite New Testament books) and one thing that really stood out to me from last night's sermon was when our Pastor read Colossians 1:18b:"And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence. ~ Colossians 1:18 (emphasis mine)Our Pastor then asked us, "Does Christ have preeminence in your life or do you only give Him the eminence in your life?" He then went on to explain the difference as eminence is when you give Christ a high place in your life, which sounds pretty good. However if He has preeminence then Christ is above everything and everyone. He doesn't just have a high place in your life, He has the center, most important place in your life. Hmm, lots for me to ponder here....

Having read this I realized that the Lord has been given eminence in my life but not always nor even often preeminence. I have always (since I've been saved) held the Lord in a place of honor and never blasphemed Him. That's not to say I haven't sinned many many times and fallen flat on my face, but looking back it seems that I've put the Lord on a priority escalator in my life. Sometimes He is going up and some times He is going down and other things are going up. The point I'm making is that recently through my illness these months, through the trials with our adoption and other things I've searched Him out more and more. I've sought to claim that intimacy with Him that the Spirit within me craves. When I read her post it hit me. He has always had an important role in my life, but not always the most important role. I keep taking my eyes off the prize. Oh I see Him in my peripheral vision but my focus keeps turning to other things and then I find my self sitting there confused with all these other things. That word confusion always rings a bell in my head because it reminds me that "God is not the author of confusion, but of peace..." 1 Corinthians 14:33. It is then that I realize that I have lost my focus and must refocus on Him.
So now on to how to give Him preeminence or place Him above everything and anything in my life. I don't know all the answers to that one but now that I know the lack and see the difference, I can allow Him to show me all the things that I have put in front of Him and together we can change it. I confess I find it a little scary or intimidating because I'm a very practical person and I have always been disgusted with those who are so heavenly minded that they're no earthly good. You know the ones I mean. They see someone poor or sick and they say "I'll pray for you" but they wont deliver them a bag of groceries or bring them some hot soup. But then the Lord reminds me that "Faith without works is dead" (James 2:26) and I'm not that kind of person anyway and chides me a bit saying "Faith daughter. Trust me. Would I do that? Would I want that?"

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your paths straight." (Proverbs 3:5&6) Another way of saying He will make your paths straight is to say He will direct your paths, and honestly He will never direct you down the wrong path.

So, this has been a long one, but it's what's on my heart this morning as I arise.

Sorrow

Today we awakened to the news that a friend my husband served with in a former unit was killed in Iraq due to and IED. Captain Ulises Burgos-Cruz was a husband, friend and soldier. He was one of the people in that unit that my husband truly liked and respected. Cpt. Burgos was one of the good guys. I remember my husband coming home with funny stories about him, and always with a smile on his face. Alan has the ability to know very quickly the heart of a person and he liked the heart of Cpt. Burgos. I did not know his wife well, but my heart goes out to her. She is in my prayers and I ask if you think of her to send up a quick prayer on her behalf. I can only imagine the pain and grief she is suffering. I understand she is expecting their first baby this summer.

This makes the third personal loss for me in this war.

http://www.inrich.com/cva/ric/news.apx.-content-articles-RTD-2008-04-09-0173.html

http://iraq.pigstye.net/article.php/UlisesBurgosCruz/

http://www.kwch.com/Global/story.asp?S=8134276

Comment Moderation?

I have been recieving spam comments and I will not tolerate them. Today I have enacted the function that requires the commentor to enter symbols in order to leave a comment. I wish to have your input. Do you prefer this or would you prefer comment moderation where I approve comments before allowing them to post. I ask because I know plenty of people really dislike having to put the symbols to comment so please do it, just once, for me and let me know.

Thank you to all who have so graciously prayed for my recovery. I start my first day of physical therapy today at 1500 which is 0900 east coast time USA.

In other news, I had my first experience in using my new German washer and dryer last night. The washer is a front loading model and that's a first for me as well. I must say, it certainly gets the clothes clean, however it takes 2-3 hours to run the washer alone. The dryer takes slightly less time. I'm thinking this will necessitate doing a load of laundry per day just to keep up. That's ok though because I have been so blessed to have my W/D on the 2nd floor where the bedrooms are! That's right girls! No more toting baskets of laundry up and down stairs! Woooo Hoooo!

Well, I'm off to catch up on the rest of your blogs. Have a wonderful day!

I'm Back

I'm finally out of the hospital after a 16 day stay. It's so good to sleep in my own bed. The surgery was successful and I woke up from surgery in less pain than I went in! lol How often does that happen. Thank you all for all of your prayers and especially for the prayers that went up for Alan. He had to move us while I was in the hospital and had so very much to do that he got little sleep. He was unable to be with me the day of my surgery and it was the first time I've ever gone into surgery alone. I was a bit nervous about it, but then I realized that God was there and I never need truly be alone. I'm off a lot of the medication and so now it hurts a bit, but I am able to walk without pain albeit slowly. I look like I have a zipper up my back. DH suggested I but it on the blog but I have declined to do so. That's more of me than anyone need see. lol So now I am in our new home of Vilseck, Germany. It is a wonderful house, and I will tell more about it as the days go by. Right now I'm off to bed again. Thanks again for all your prayers.