Are you afraid of the dark?

• Phonophobe- fears of noise
• Carcinomaphobia- fears of cancer
• Paedophibia- fear of children
• Nyctohylophobia- fear of dark wooded areas, or forest at night
• Pyrophobia- fear of fire
• Taphephobia- fear of being buried alive
• Telephonephobia- Fear of telephones (which I know I don't have)
• Papaphobia- fear of popes
• Lachanophobia- fear of vegetables
• Entomophobia- fear of insects
• Eosophobia- fear of dawn
• Clinophobia- fear of beds
• Gynaephobic- men that fear women
• Triskaidecphobia- fear of the number 13. Arnold Schonberg suffered from this phobia he dies 13 minutes from midnight on Friday the 13
• Arachibutyrophibia - the fear of peanut butter getting stuck to the rook of your mouth
• Zoophobia- fear of animals
• Tonsurphobia- fear of haircuts
• Xenophobia- fear strangers or foreigners
• Phobatriviaphobis- fear of trivia about phobias
  

Useless Information...But it makes you think

1. No president has been an only child
2. The longest inaugural address by the U.S. president was given by William H Harrison. It was an hour and forty-five minutes long during an intense snowstorm. One month later he died of pneumonia.
3. Adolf Hitler was Time's Man of The Year in 1938
4. Adolf Hitlers great-great-grandmother was a Jewish maid
5. Catherine the Great relaxed by being tickled
6. Christopher Columbus had blond hair
7. Cher's real name- Cherilyn La Pierre
8. Tom Cruise's real name- Thomas Mapother
9. Tom Hanks is related to Abraham Lincoln
10. Alfred Hitchcock did not have a belly button
11. A single violin is made of seventy separate pieces of wood
12. The word checkmate used on chess come from the Persian word Shah-Mat, which means "The king is dead"
13. Approximately 60 circus performers have been shot out of cannons. At last report 31 of them have died.
14. People in Iceland read more books per ca pita than any other people in the world
15. 70% of Americans eat McDonalds everyday
16. Coca Cola was originally green
17. The bible is the #1 shoplifted book in America
    
18. The book of Esther in the bible is the only book that does not mention the name of God
19. The bible has been translated into klingon
20. Minnows have teeth in there throats
    

Mani and Pedi Time

OK, so it is very rare that I splurge on myself. I love to splurge on other people but I hesitate when it comes to myself. But I caved in while I was in Arkansas and got me a manicure and pedicure. I was just so relaxing.

Have you ever noticed that when you are in an atmosphere like that, there is always some kind of drama. Well it started right when we got there. A pretty young lady walked into the shop wanting a fill-in. She wasn't in the salon for a minute and a lady runs in after her and says "Is that your car?" and the young lady replied "yes it is"....."Well can you move it please, its Saturday and that is our busiest day at the store". The young lady replied "well there are no signs saying where I can and cannot park"...."But you have to move your car its a rule". The young lady goes outside and they have a few choice words, she moves her car, and comes back into the store. As she is sitting there getting her nails done, she tells the owner of the situation and doesn't forget to mention that her intention was to go into the pet store when she was done to get a gift for her dog and set up a grooming appointment. But now that young lady refuses to go to that store ever again. The shop lost a customer all because they were not thinking of the full picture.

Proverbs 19:22 What is desired of a man is kindness, 1 John 2:6 He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He walked

We have to remember to always show ourselves friendly. I know we are not perfect, but no one never said that we couldn't strive to be perfect. Every time we are in a store we should have a smile on our face and be ready to strike up a conversation with anyone at anytime. Jesus has commissioned all believers to go to the most distant and remote place on a earth, as well as to our next door neighbors, to spread His love and His word. Matthew 5:16 (NKJV) says, Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven. We want people to come to church, to be saved, and know who Christ is, but we cannot do that if we don't let them see what he is doing through us. Now we shouldn't have to go around and let people know who we are and what church we go to, what we believe, and why we are the best little thing on Gods green earth :)....They should be able to see it with us not even opening our mouths. We have to strive to be the vessel that God can use. I know it is hard when you are standing in a long line at the grocery store and the cashier is taking forever, she is complaining, and does not even speak to you.....but what if you looked past all that and smiled and just said a simple hello....you could turn her world upside down. I am sure she is not going to remember the lady before you that was rude, didn't speak, or complained......but she will remember the one lady who just had a sweet spirit. You never know, she may show up at your church one day, and what will she say about you? Will her memory of you be of cheer, or will she hope she had not walked into that sanctuary. We never know what is going on with people but we do need to remember how we are to respond. Let our light shine through. This world needs a change and it starts with you.

You are not responsible for what other people think, say, or do - but you are responsible on how you react and respond. - C.H. Abernathy

Faith not Fear

Fear...What is the first thing that comes to your mind when you think of fear? What is the thing that you fear the most? Take a moment and think about it......Most people (Christians) will saying weather they are going to heaven or hell is there biggest fear. But why, Why do we fear at all?

Fear: a distressing emotion aroused by an impending pain, evil, danger, etc. (Random House College Dictionary)


Psalm 23: The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.


2 Chronicles 20:17 Ye shall not need to fight in this battle: set yourselves, stand ye still, and see the salvation of the LORD with you, O Judah and Jerusalem: fear not, nor be dismayed; to morrow go out against them: for the LORD will be with you.

2 Timothy 1:7 says, For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. If the Lord did not give us a spirit of fear, the why do we have it....

Fear almost comes naturally to us. The enemy loves fear. It is something the he knows he can use against us. We have let fear control our lives. We have let it come into our homes.... (IE)telling the children to be safe, and don't talk to strangers. Yes these things are good, and children do need to know right from wrong, but what we need to teach is faith not fear. Pray with them and let them know that we need to continually serve God and trust in him. Teach them that the Lord will keep us safe as long as we are in the center of Gods will. Everything happens for a reason and God makes no mistakes. Marriages have been destroyed because of fear, fear of infidelity. It drives us insane. It makes us worry, stressed and then the next thing you know, we can't seem to have a day with an argument. We have let fear into our churches. People ask "Why is the church not growing? Oh, something must be wrong with the Pastor..." WRONG! Something must be wrong with us! And it is....We have fear, fear of embarrassment, and rejection. You may be sitting in a service and the Lord speaks to you about a ministry of some sort, or a fundraiser, an outreach program, a saint in the church that may be in need....Do you do something about it? Most likely the answer was "No...but...." Why? Why did we not do what the Lord had laid upon our heart?....because...."Well I don't know if that was the Lord speaking to me or my flesh" blah blah blah...honey let me help you out...IT WAS THE LORD!!!!......The devil is not going to tell you to start a jail ministry, raise money for the youth to go to Rally's and conferences, raise money for missionaries, or take a saint out for lunch because they are lonely. He (satan) wants you to sit at home and watch reruns of "Do Nothing". He gets no glory out of you doing the work of the Lord, but it does put a smile on his face when he watches as a child of God sits on the pew and does nothing. The Lord lays these things on our hearts for a reason.....Or you may even say..... "Well I can't do that I will leave that up to the Pastor or the youth leaders"....God laid it on your heart so obviously He is wanting you to do something. Now don't think for one second that I have always done what God has asked me to do....I have been one of the ones that has said, I am not qualified for that, or what if I invite them to church and they so no......It is fear, we all have it but we have to overcome it. I remember a few months ago I was in a Goodwill with 3 others ladies. One of them a pastors wife and another a missionaries wife. Wonderful examples of women of God. I had sorta drifted off to search the store myself. I found myself at the back of the store looking at books, which I never do. As I stood there, I felt as though someone was watching me. I glanced over and there was a lady that was walking toward me and just staring. I continued to look through the books. She then came and stood beside me, I could feel her spirit pulling at me, something told me that she wanted to talk. (I say something, because like you, I felt like it was my flesh talking). She finally spoke and said "hello" and I spoke back. I then turned and made my way back to the front of the store. After that, I was no longer comfortable. The Lord had basically just slapped me. I should have talked to her. I could have helped her....but I thought to myself, I am nobody. If this lady has a need, Lord you need to send her to another one of the ladies from the church, they are more qualified then me. I felt awful, so I started praying and asking God for forgiveness. I had not obeyed Him. I prayed and asked the Lord to lead her back my way, or help her to find someone to talk to. No more then 5 minutes after I had said that prayer, I looked up and saw her talking to the missionaries wife that was also there. I felt relief. Although it wasn't me, she found someone that could help, and God found someone He could use. (If you won't let Him use you, He will find a replacement) Now there was no prayer meeting, or laying on of hands....All she needed was someone to talk to. She needed some guidance and direction and didn't know where else to turn. God is not only going to use us at an altar, or a prayer meeting....He will use us anywhere. But we can't have fear. It can and will destroy our ministry if we let it. We have to learn to put our trust in the Lord. God does not call the equipped, He equips the called. Isaiah 43 says "But now thus saith the LORD that created thee, O Jacob, and he that formed thee, O Israel, Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art mine." God makes no mistakes. He did not call and redeem the wrong person. We are His and He will not forsake us. When He called us, He knew exactly what he was doing and we have to trust that. Our prayer should be, that we trust Him and that we may be more sensitive to His will. You can't go wrong as long as you are in the center of His will.

Sometimes you just got to stop and pray!

Sorry it has taken so long to write, I have a computer available to me. I was on a little mini vacation in Southern Illinos we Jason and his family. We had such a great time, but sometimes in the middle of all that you have to pray.





Yesterday morning, before I was even fully awake, I got a phone call. It was a girlfriend of mine. She was so upset. She was having a problem with her daughter, mother and her "baby daddy". Even tho' I am hundreds of miles away from her, I tried my best to help out the best way that I can. I talked to her and told her what I felt was the right thing to do. I told her to pray about it and about the whole situation, and so would I. I hung up the phone with her. And it clicked, "you should have prayed for her right then, when she was still on the phone"...but God I am on vacation, I need to get a shower and get dressed before everyone gets up.....lol.....Don't you hate when God makes you feel bad about something that you "should" have done....lol...So you know what porobably came after, prayer. I didn't call her back, but I did pray for her about her situation.



Later that day, I get a phone call from home. I have a cousin who was born and raised in church and has strayed away. The phone call informed that he had been jumped twice in one day and that it had upset my grandmother greatly. Of course I called everyone to see how they were doing and to give a word of encouragement. I stopped and prayed for my cousin and his salvation.

I said all that to say this...You have to be ready in and out of season. You never know when God needs you to stand in the gap.....During this whole time I was thinking how can I pray for others needs when I have needs of my own. But I did, I put everything else first. God brought a sweet peace to my situation so that I could be used where he needed to use me. So be ready to be used!!!

In His Hands

Ok this week has been really strange for me....I have this feeling that God is trying to tell me something! Have you ever had that feeling, and you just want to say "God just tell me what it is you want me to learn from this and it will save both of us some time" lol....Well I have been feeling like that all week....Its weird because I am not sad, or mad, or upset, or depressed, but I feel something weighing heavy on my heart. I do have so many questions for God and I almost feel that instead of telling me what he wants in my life, he is setting up a test for me. I love it when you know its coming but at the same time, I don"t because as you know I am not a very patient person. Its funny how God likes to choose a different method everytime he wants to tell you something.



I only want one thing out of this life, and that is to be in the center of Gods will. That is all that matters. If we are in the center of Gods will then it all will work out in the end. I think back to a sermon I heard a few months ago. This sermon changed my life and I don't think I will ever forget what was said. during the sermon I remember saying to myself "I want only to be in Gods will" over and over again in my head.



The preacher talked of how we need to be able to put our lives in Gods hands. Let God lead you where he wants you, and do with you as he pleases. If you get this into your head then, Guess what, It will all work out. We try to much to take control ourselves. Sometimes we think that we are putting it in Gods hands but at the same time we are trying to lead Gods hand. We cannot do that. God has to be in complete control. A lot of times we worry over nothing.



Since the sermon, I have tried my best to put it all in Gods hands. I feel like I have lived a stress free life for the last few months. I have been open to what ever God has in store for me. I mean, of course there will be some curve balls, because there are some things that God just wants to see how you handle it.

Try it, just where ever the Lord sends you, or whatever he has you do....do it! Don't question him. You will find that life is a whole lot easier then when you try to control it. Lets face it we all want to take control, it natural. But we have to be humble and submit to God. He is the one in control, and he needs no help.