Another bad choice

FUN:

FAITH:

Now the word of the Lord came to Jonah the son of Amittai, saying, “Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and cry out against it; for their wickedness has come up before me.” (Jonah 1:1-2)

If you grew up in church, you know the story of Jonah. God asked him to go to Nineveh, a city of 120,000, to help him save them from their own wickedness.

Like most of us, when we run from what we think is trouble, we often go somewhere we think we cannot be found. So, too did Jonah. He refused to obey God, went to Joppa, and boarded a ship to take to Tarshish, a place where he thought God would never find him.

But as so often is the case, God had other plans for Jonah, and needed to provide a little drama to get him to say, “Yes, Lord”. A great storm arose on the journey home. Jonah’s shipmates blamed him for their demise:

“Why have you done this?” For the men knew that he fled from the presence of the Lord, because he had told them. Then they said to him, “What shall we do to you that the sea may be calm for us?” - for the sea was growing more tempestuous. And he said to them, “Pick me up and throw me into the sea; then the sea will become calm for you. For I know that this great tempest is because of me.” Nevertheless the men rowed hard to return to land, but they could not, for the sea continued to grow more tempestuous against them. Therefore they cried out to the Lord and said, “We pray, O Lord, please do not let us perish for this man’s life, and do not charge us with innocent blood; for You, O Lord, have done as it pleased You.” So they picked up Jonah and threw him into the sea, and the sea ceased from its raging. Then the men feared the Lord exceedingly, and offered a sacrifice to the Lord and took vows.” (Jonah 1:10-16)

The moral here: Sometimes God puts us on our backs (or in the belly of a great fish) to get us to look up. And boy did Jonah ever look up after he ended up in the belly of a fish. “I cried out to the Lord because of my affliction,” Jonah said, “and he answered me.” (Jonah 2:2)

This story, and its message to all of us, is no matter how distant God may seem, or how much trouble we are in, we are never out of his reach. God can deliver us from anything, even when the source of trouble is often of our own making. He can always be found – no matter what the storm.

We often blame God for the troubles that come our way because we know he is an omnipotent God. In other words, he has the power to stop it from coming, so when it does come, it must be his fault. This is flawed thinking. God lets trouble come our way for two reasons. First, it’s through and from troubles that we learn the greatest lessons of life. And because of them, we draw closer not farther from God. Second, God may let the trouble come our way, but we shouldn’t blame him for them.

Most of the time, trouble comes because of the decisions we make. God doesn’t always make it happen. But he does always lets it happen, and figures we are likely to learn something from it. He was right about Jonah. Hopefully, he’s right about us, too. by M. Ruffin

FRIENDS:

Father, We your children don't always realize that our actions grieve you. Please make me aware when the things in my life grieve you and forgive me of those sins. In Jesus' name, Amen

DAILY BIBLE CHALLENGE ~JUNE~

Luke Ephesians Psalms 1 Kings
7. 2:21-40; 4:1-16; 119:49-56; 11
8. 2:41-52; 4:17-24; 119: 57-64; 12
9. 3:1-20; 4:25-32; 119:65-72; 13-14


10 Things To Be Thankful For
1. Knowing where people stand with you
2. Simple sounds like the reverberating of a large bell
3. The thrill of something dangerous. Hang gliding or sky-diving
4. A full freezer
5. The feel of the wind when you're on a boat
6. Carrots, just pulled out of the ground
7. A warm lazy Sunday afternoon
8. Trusting your baby-sitter
9. Laughing at yourself
10. Being able to find the circuit breaker

FOOD:

Times are hard and it's said 'a woman can throw more money away in a teaspoon than a man can with a shovel'. So let's go back to the old ways that were definitely cheaper and prove "them" wrong.

"Almost Hamburger Helper" Mix in a Jar

2 cups nonfat dry milk
1 cup corn starch
1/4 cup beef bouillon powder
2 tablespoons onion flakes
1 teaspoon dried basil
1 teaspoon dried thyme
1 teaspoon black pepper
2 tablespoons dried parsley
1 tablespoon garlic powder

Mix the ingredients together and store in an airtight jar.

Attach the following recipes to the jar:

Chili Mac:
1 lb ground beef, browned and drained
1 c water
1/2 c macaroni noodles (uncooked)
2 cans chopped tomatoes
1 T chili powder
1/2 cup mix
Combine all and simmer 20 minutes or until macaroni is cooked.

Stroganoff:
1 lb ground beef, browned and drained
2 c water
1/2 c mix
2 c uncooked egg noodles
1/2 cup sour cream
Combine all except sour cream. Simmer 20 minutes or until noodles are tender
Stir in sour cream and serve.

Potato Beef Casserole:
1 lb ground beef, browned and drained
3/4 c water
6 potatoes, peeled and thinly sliced
1 c frozen mixed veggies
1/2 cup mix
Combine all and simmer, covered, until potatoes are tender, about 30 minutes
stirring occasionally. Remove cover and cook until excess water is
evaporated.

Quick Lasagna:
1 lb ground beef, browned and drained
1/2 c mix
1 onion, chopped
2 c water
16 oz tomato sauce
3 c lasagna noodles, uncooked, broken in bits
1/4 c parmesan cheese
2 c mozzarella cheese, shredded
Combine all except mozzarella in large skillet. Bring to a boil, let simmer
for 15 minutes or until noodles are cooked. Top with mozzarella. Turn off
heat and let cheese melt.

Where do you put your trust?

FAITH:

Today many fears fill our lives. We fear poverty, sickness, loneliness, death. We fear the dangers of the night and the pressures of the day.

David learned that the only way to be released from fears was to TRUST the Lord. "What time I am afraid, I will trust in thee." He changed the focus of his eyes from his situation to the Lord. Faith replaced fear. He PUT his trust in the Lord. This was an act of his will. "In God have I put my trust: I will not be afraid what man can do unto me" (Psalms 56:11)

Freedom from fear is the result of confidence and trust in God. We may be helpless against fear, but God is not. When trusting God, there is nothing to fear.

Faith is more than believing what God can do. It is trust in the Person of God Himself. "But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that He IS, and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him" (Heb 11:6)..........

One day a father discovered his little boy had climbed an old tree. The limbs were beginning to break under the boy's weight. The father held up his arms and called, "Jump! I'll catch you." The little son considered the offer for a moment. Then, as more limbs began to break, he said "Shall I let go of everything, Daddy, and trust you?"

What a lesson for us. Our Heavenly Father wants us to let go of everything and trust Him. by Millie Stamm

Think about the fears and needs in your life. In what ways have you "let go of everything" and put your trust in God to meet those needs? Pray or write your own psalm of trust to God. Praise him for his faithfulness to you.

You, Lord, give true peace
to those who depend on you,
because they trust you.
So, trust the Lord always,
because he is our Rock forever.
Isaiah 26:3-4

FRIENDS:

Father, Help us today to maintain our promise of faithfulness. We need you most, we rely on you and depend on you and trust you in everything. Our hope and our sights are always on the one thing that will never change, you and your love for us. In Jesus' name, Amen

DAILY BIBLE CHALLENGE ~ JUNE

Luke Ephesians Psalms 1 Kings
5. 1:67-80; 3:1-13; 119:33-40; 8
6. 2:1-20; 3:14-21; 119: 41-58; 9-10

~Ephesians~
I just witnessed a beautiful wedding. The most beautiful I've ever seen. That says a lot since I've seen a lot. Ministers see many weddings. It's a perk of the profession.

Is there anything more elegant that a wedding. Candles bathe a chapel in gold. Families fill the pews in love. Groomsmen and bridesmaids descend the aisles with bouquets of newness and rings of promise. What an occasion.

And nothing quite compares with that moment when the bride stands at the top of the aisle. Arm entwined with her father's, she takes those final steps with him and steps toward a new life with him.

Ahhh, the glory of a wedding. So to say I just saw the most beautiful one is no small thing. What made these nuptials so unforgettable? The groom Usually the groom is not the star of the wedding. The fellow is typically upstaged by the girl. But this wedding was made special by the groom

It was enhanced by something he did.

And who he was made what he did even more startling. You see, he's a cowboy: a stocky fellow who went to college on a rodeo scholarship. but what stood by me was not a nacho calf roper, but a pinch-me-I'm-dreaming boy who'd never seen a bride so gorgeous.

He was composed as he walked down the aisle. He was fine as he took his place at the alter.

But when he saw the bride, he wept.

It was the moment he'd dreamed of. It was as if he'd been given life's greatest gift---a bride in all her beauty. By the way, those are the very words Paul uses to describe the church: a bride in all her beauty.

"He (Jesus) died so he could give the church to himself like a bride in all her beauty. He died so that the church could be pure and without fault, with no evil or sin or any other wrong thing in it" (5:27).

Ponder that verse. Jesus died for a bride. He died so he could be married. This passage anticipates the day when the groom will see his bride---when Christ will receive his church. Jesus' fondest longing will be fulfilled. His bride will arrive.

The letter to the Ephesians celebrates the beauty of the church---the Bride of Christ. From our perspective, the church isn't so pretty. We see the backbiting, the squabbling, the divisions. Heaven sees that , as well. but heaven sees more. Heaven sees the church as cleansed and made holy by Christ.

Heaven sees the church ascending to heaven. Heaven sees the Bride wearing the spotless gown of Jesus Christ.

It's enough to make one weep.
by Max Lucado

FOOD:

Chef Paul Prudhomme's Poultry Magic
Use it when you barbecue, roast, grill, or sauté your favorite chicken, turkey, duck, or Cornish game hens.

1 1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp paprika
1/4 tsp cayenne
1/4 tsp onion powder
1/4 tsp garlic powder
1/4 tsp ground black pepper
1/4 tsp dried thyme
1/4 tsp dried oregano
1/4 tsp rubbed sage
dash cumin

Combine all ingredients in a small bowl. Store in a covered container. Sprinkle on any poultry to taste.

Makes 4 teaspoons

FUN:

Here are some great ways of dealing with the burdens of life:

* Accept that some days you're the pigeon, and some days you're the statue.

* Always keep your words soft and sweet, just in case you have to eat them.

* Drive carefully. It's not only cars that can be "Recalled" by their maker.

* If you can't be kind, at least have the decency to be vague.

* If you lend someone $20 and never see that person again, it was probably worth it.

* It may be that your sole purpose in life is simply to be kind to others.

* The second mouse gets the cheese.

* When every thing's coming your way, you're in the wrong lane.

* Birthdays are good for you, the more you have, the longer you live.

* You may be only one person in the world, but you may also be the world to one person..

*A truly happy person is one who can enjoy the scenery on a detour.

Not Everyone Who Hears Understands

FAITH:

Matthew 12:46 - 13:17

Our Lord warns that the human heart can be so pounded and beaten down with the traffic of sin that it becomes completely insensitive to the gospel. This is the heart that know no repentance, no sorrow over sin, no guilt, and no concern for the things of God. It allows itself to be trampled by an endless procession of evil thoughts, cherished sins, and ungodly activities. It is careless, callous, indifferent, never broken up or softened by conviction or sorrow for wrong doing. this is the heart of the fool described in Proverbs. The fool hates knowledge, and resists instruction. The fool despises wisdom and says in his heart there is no God. He will not hear. His mind is closed. And he does not want to be bothered with a gospel invitation.

Many people have hearts like that. You can shower them with seed, but it just lies there. It does not penetrate. And it does not stay very long before Satan comes and takes it away completely. Each time you try to witness to such a person, you must start again at the beginning.

Dry, hard, soil on the edge of the field does not necessarily signify someone who is anti-religious. Some of the hardest individuals in the world remain on the fringes of true religion. But because sin has so hardened their hearts, they are utterly unproductive and unresponsive to God.
by John F. MacArthur, Jr.

Applying it: How are the teachings of Jesus received by those who follow him? Why is it that some people are unable to understand God's words? Pray for a soft heart that wants to understand all that God teaches.

FRIENDS:

Father, In your word in Zechariah it says, "But they refused to pay attention; they were stubborn and did not want to listen anymore. they made their hearts as hard as rock and would not listen to the teachings of the Lord All-Powerful. And they would not hear the words he sent by his Spirit through the earlier prophets. So the Lord All-Powerful became very angry. Please don't let us be those people Lord. Please keep our hearts soft and our ears open to you. We want to be led by your Spirit and to be your children. In Jesus' name, Amen.

DAILY BIBLE CHALLENGE

Luke Ephesians Psalms 1 Kings
3. 1:39-56; 2:1-10; 119:17-24; 4-5
4. 1:57-66; 2:11-22; 119: 25-32; 6-7

~Luke~
Nearly two thousand years ago a doctor named Luke began a letter to a friend with there words:

Many have tried to report on the things that happened among us. They have written the same things that we learned from others---the people who saw those things from the beginning and served God by telling people his message. Since I myself have studied everything carefully form the beginning, most excellent Theophilus, it seems good for me to write it our for you.. I arranged it in order to help you know that what you have been taught is true. (1:1-14)

Luke and Theophilus shared two loves: a love for Christ and a love for the facts. They didn't want legends, they wanted truth. And so Dr. Luke Begins to sort the truth and report the facts to Theophilus. The result is part letter and part research paper.

It is part letter because it was written for a friend. What a bond must have existed between these two that Luke would labor so! It is part research paper, because Luke had studied everything carefully from the beginning and he wanted Theophilus to benefit from his study.

Can't you envision him in the home of Mary, "Tell me again what happened in Bethlehem." Can't you see him peppering Matthew with questions? "Let me see if I got this parable right." Or on long walk with Peter, " When you denied him the third time, did Jesus know?" With the skill of a surgeon, Luke probes for the truth.

Why?

So his friend could know that what he had been taught was true.

Did Luke have any idea that millions of us would benefit from his study? I doubt it. All he did was share the truth with a friend.

Can you imagine what would happen if we all did the same?

FOOD:

Turkey in the Crock
Ingredients
4-6 lb. turkey breast or 3 lb. boneless breast
1 pkg. dry onion soup mix
1 can whole cranberry sauce
2 tart apples, cored and sliced into eighths
1/2 c. raisins
1/2 c. chicken broth, optional
Directions
Place turkey breast in a large crock-pot; add remaining ingredients.
Cook on low heat for 6-8 hours. Serves 8.

FUN:

SAYING GOODBYE TO MOTHER.......

You don't have to own a cat to appreciate this one! You don't even have to like 'em!

We were dressed and ready to go out for the New Years Eve Party. We turned on a night light, turned the answering machine on, covered our pet parakeet and put the cat in the backyard. We phoned the local cab company and requested a taxi. The taxi arrived and we opened the front door to leave the house. The cat we put out in the back yard, scoots back into the front door.
We didn't want the cat shut in the house because she always tries to eat the bird. My wife goes out to the taxi, while I went inside to get the cat. The cat runs upstairs, with me in hot pursuit. Waiting in the cab, my wife
doesn't want the driver to know that the house will be empty for the night. So, she explains to the taxi driver that I will be out soon, 'He's just going upstairs to say Goodbye to my mother.'
A few minutes later, I get into the cab. 'Sorry I took so long,' I said, as we drove away. 'That stupid old bag was hiding under the bed. I had to poke her with a coat hanger to get her to come out! She tried to take off, so I
grabbed her by the neck. Then, I had to wrap her in a blanket to keep her from scratching me. But it worked! I hauled her fat butt downstairs and threw her out into the back yard!
The cab driver hit a parked car.

Thanks to Cbev for sending this one.....keep those jokes coming folks.

The Importance of the Napkin

FAITH:

The Gospel of John 20:7 tells us that the napkin, which was placed over the face of Jesus at his burial, was not just thrown aside like the grave clothes. The Bible takes an entire verse to tell us that the napkin was neatly folded, and was placed at the head of that stony coffin.

John 20:1-7: [NIV] “Early Sunday morning, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene came to the tomb and found that the stone had been rolled away from the entrance. She ran and found Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved. She said, ‘They have taken the Lord's body out of the tomb, and I don't know where they have put him!’ Peter and the other disciple ran to the tomb to see. The other disciple out ran Peter and got there first. He stooped and looked in and saw the linen cloth lying there, but he didn't go in. Then Simon Peter arrived and went inside. He also noticed the linen wrappings lying there, while the cloth that had covered Jesus' head was folded up and lying to the side.”

Why did Jesus fold the napkin? Is that important? Absolutely! Is it really significant? Yes!

In order to understand the significance of the folded napkin, you have to understand a little bit about Hebrew tradition of that day. The folded napkin had to do with the Master and Servant, and every Jewish boy knew this tradition. When the servant set the dinner table for the master, he made sure that it was exactly the way the master wanted it. The table was furnished perfectly, and then the servant would wait, just out of sight, until the master had finished eating, and the servant would not dare touch that table, until the master was finished. Now if the master was done eating, he would rise from the table, wipe his fingers, his mouth and clean his beard and would wad up that napkin and toss it onto the table. The servant would then know to clear the table. For in those days, the wadded napkin meant, "I'm done". But if the master got up from the table, and folded his napkin, and laid it beside his plate, the servant would not dare touch the table.

Because the folded napkin meant, "I'm coming back!"

John 14:1-3 [NIV] “Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, trust also in me. In my Father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so I would have told you. I am going thee to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and taker you to be with me that you also may be where I am.

When we celebrate Jesus’ coming to earth, living as a man, being crucified as a sacrifice for our sins, raising from the dead and returning to the Father in heaven. Let us remember the folded napkin. HE IS COMING BACK.
by Bob Creamer

FRIENDS:

Father, You have revealed Yourself to me and have called for my complete surrender and yet I shrink back and hesitate. I have given a measure of surrender but have not given You the utter abandonment, without any reserves that You have asked for. I am afraid that it involves too much and is too great a risk. But You say that You love me and will manifest yourself to me. You have given all and so should I . Help me to meet Your measureless devotion with such devotion of my own. In Jesus' name, Amen.

DAILY BIBLE CHALLENGE - JUNE

Luke Ephesians Psalms 1 Kings
1. 1:1-25 1:1-14 119:1-8 1
2.. 1:26-38 1:15-23 119: 9-16 2-3

~First Kings~

The book starts with Solomon and ends with Elijah. The difference between the two gives you an idea as to what lies between.

Solomon might never have been born had it not been for the palace scandal between David and Bathsheba. Not the best of beginnings. He picked up some of his father's traits, both good and bad. Like his dad, he got off to a good start. But like his dad, he had a weakness for women that undid him.

You have to wonder what it was like growing up in a house where your father had several wives and your siblings wore swords to the dinner table. Solomon did well at first, praying for wisdom and building a temple that would have bankrupted most nations.

He took seven years building it. But then he spent thirteen years building a palace for himself. Somewhere around mid-life he got off track. His taste for wives (he was known to have accumulated some seven hundred or so) led him to worship whom they worshiped. This, in turn, led him away from God. His nation followed suit, and even the preaching of Elijah couldn't bring them back.

Not that Elijah didn't try. Toward the end of this book you'll read of the contest between Elijah and the prophets of Baal. In a classic my-God-is-greater-than-yours encounter, Jehovah won hands down. God was exhaulted. But Queen Jezebel, a leading Baal-worshiper, was infuriated.

She ordered Elijah's death, so Elijah ran. He ran until he was so tired and discouraged that he sat down under a bush and said, "Let me die" (19:12).

What does God do with tired servants who want to quit? In a tender moment the God who'd brought fire on the mountain sent food to the prophet and shispered his affection in a "quiet gentle sound" (19:12)

What a Father.

What a book! In between Solomon and Elijah, you'll find it all. Rebellion, corruption, courage, faith. You'll see that their world is much like ours. Things haven't changed much.

And God? God hasn't changed at all. The quiet, gentle sound that encouraged Elijah? Listen as you read. It will encourage you.

FOOD:

Starbucks (Copycat) Chocolate Espresso Pudding

1/2 Cup Packed Brown Sugar.
1/4 Cup Cornstarch.
3 Tablespoons Unsweetened Cocoa.
1 Tablespoon Instant Coffee Granules.
1/8 Teaspoon Salt.
2 Cups Whole Milk.
2 Ounces Bitter-Sweet Chocolate (Chopped).
1 Teaspoon Vanilla Extract.

Combine first 5 ingredients in a medium, heavy-saucepan, stir well with a whisk.
Gradually stir in milk and bring to a boil over medium heat. Reduce heat and simmer 1 minute or until thick. Remove from heat, add chocolate and stir until melted. Stir in vanilla. Pour about 1/2 cup pudding into each of 4 dessert dishes; Cover surface of pudding with plastic wrap. Chill at least 4 hours. Remove plastic wrap just before serving.

FUN:

JUST GIVE ME 2 MINUTES. 2 MINUTES IS ALL I NEED AND I WILL BE GOOD AS NEW!


This was me (except that I am an old dog, not a pup) when the lovely Mrs. Fairchild was here visiting me a short time ago. And this is me now, resting up for her return visit.

Your calling is?

FAITH:

Life is tough enough as it is. It's even tougher when we're headed in the wrong direction.

One of the incredible abilities of Jesus was to stay on target. His life never got off track. Not once do we find him walking down the wrong side of the fairway. He had no money, no computers, no jets, no administrative assistants or staff; yet Jesus did what many of us fail to do. He kept his life on course.

As Jesus looked across the horizon of his future, he could see many targets. Many flags were flapping in the wind, each of which he could have pursued. He could have been a political revolutionary. He could have been a national leader. He could have been content to be a teacher and educate minds or to be a physician and heal bodies. But in the end he chose to be a Savior and save souls.

Anyone near Christ for any length of time heard it from Jesus himself. "The Son of Man came to find lost people and save them" (Luke 19:10). "The Son of Man did not come to be served. He came to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many people" (Mark 10:45).

The heart of Christ was relentlessly focused on one task. The day he left the carpentry shop of Nazareth he had one ultimate aim--the cross of Calvary. He was so focused that his final words were, "It is finished" (John 19:30).

How could Jesus say he was finished? There were still the hungry to feed, the sick to heal, the untaught to instruct, and the unloved to love. How could he say he was finished? Simple. He had completed his designated task. His commission was fulfilled. The painter could set aside his brush, the sculptor lay down his chisel, the writer put away his pen. The job was done.

Wouldn't you love to be able to say the same? Wouldn't you love to look back on your life and know you had done what you were called to do?
by Max Lucado

FRIENDS:

Father, I pray for true repentance, the repentance that occurs when we begin to see our sin from Your point of view, when we see how our sin has broken Your heart. We want to have victory over our sins and we are asking You to show us what our sin does to You so we may really understand how important it is for us to turn away from that sin and no longer grieve Your heart. This will be the test of our sincerity and of the level of our desperation to be right with You. In Jesus' name, Amen

10 Things To Be Thankful For
1. The smell of the beach when the tide comes in
2. Camping
3. Completing a large scrapbook project
4. The sound of the woods in the morning
5. Having a snooze before dinner
6. Fresh shelled peas
7. Listening for that still small silent voice inside you
8. Living each day for itself
9. A secret smile that passes between friends
10. Sunsets

FOOD:

Chocolate Cappuccino Coffee Mix
1 cup powdered coffee creamer
1 cup powdered chocolate milk drink mix (NESTLE QUIK)
2/3 cup instant coffee
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 tsp. cinnamon
1/2 tsp. nutmeg

Mix all ingredients together. Store in airtight container. Use 1 heaping tablespoons per cup of boiling water.

FUN:

THE STUFF WE LOVE ABOUT ARIZONA

You notice your car overheating before you drive it.

You no longer associate bridges or rivers with water.

You can hear the weather forecast of 115 degrees without flinching.

You discover, in July it only takes two fingers to drive your car, because your steering wheel is so hot.

The best parking is determined by shade.....not distance.

It's noon in July, kids are on summer vacation and yet all the streets are totally empty of both cars and people.

You actually burn your hand opening the car door.

Sunscreen is sold year round and kept right at the checkout counter.

You put on fresh sunscreen just to go check the mail box.

Some fools will market mini-misters for joggers and some other fools will actually buy them. Worse.....some fools actually try to jog.

You can pronounce Saguaro, Tempe, San Xavier, Canyon de Chelly, Mogollon Rim, Cholla, Gila and Tucson.

You can fry an egg on the hood of a car in the morning..

You can say "Hohokam" and people don't think you're laughing funny.

You hear people say "but it's a dry heat!"

Your Christmas decorations include sand and l00 paper bags.

You think a red light is merely a suggestion.

All of your out-of-state friends start to visit after October but clear out come the end of April.

You think someone driving wearing oven mitts is clever.

Most of the restaurants in town have the first name "El" or "Los."

You think 60 tons of crushed red rock makes a beautiful yard.

Vehicles with open windows have the right-of-way in the summer.

Most homes have more firearms than people.

Kids ask, "What's a mosquito?"

People who have black cars or black upholstery in their car are automatically assumed to be from out of-state or nuts.

You know better than to get into a car with leather seats if you're wearing shorts.

You can finish a Big Gulp in 10 minutes and go back for seconds.

When a rainy day puts you in a good mood.

You "hug" a cactus only once in your lifetime.

When you have to look up "mass transit" in the dictionary.

A hundred ten in the shade is sorta hot, but you don't have to shovel it off your driveway.

Petrified doesn't mean scared.

The temperature drops below 95, you feel a bit chilly.

You've lived in AZ your whole life and have never been to the Grand Canyon

You would give anything to be able to splash cold water on your face.

You can attend any function wearing shorts and a tank top.

You realize that asphalt has a liquid state.

You realize that snowbirds aren't really birds at all, but just really bad out of state drivers that you learn to hate

Even thinking about not having air conditioning makes you sweat

You travel out of state and any sort of humidity nearly kills you

You have no idea why 48 other states (Hawaii doesn't do it either) insist on changing their clocks twice a year for this thing called "daylight savings time"

Praying the scriptures

FAITH:

1 Samuel 17: Goliath, the Philistine, challenges Israel's army.

When God goes to war, there are no accidents. Just as He uses Gideon and an army of only 300 to rout the Midianite army that was "without number," so He uses a boy with a slingshot to rout the Philistine army. In 2 Chronicles 18:33, "a certain man drew a bow at random," but it "struck the king of Israel between the joints of his armor." There are no accidents when God goes to war.

We can take comfort in this fact in relationship to the spiritual warfare in which we all find ourselves. The obstacles may seem insurmountable. But if we are on God's side, no foe is too great.

PRAYER

· Offer to the Lord this psalm of praise as you rejoice in the power He uses in controlling the events of history:

We have heard with our ears, O God,
Our fathers have told us,
The deeds You did in their days,
In days of old:
You drove out the nations with Your hand,
But them You planted;
You afflicted the peoples, and cast them out.
For they did not gain possession of the land by their own sword,
Nor did their own arm save them;
But it was Your right hand,
Your arm, and the light of Your countenance,
Because You favored them
(Psalm 44:1-4).

· Pause for personal praise and thanksgiving. Pray this confession to the Lord as you seek to keep your life free from sin:

O Lord, do not rebuke me in Your anger,
Nor chasten me in Your hot displeasure.
Have mercy on me, O Lord, for I am weak;
O Lord, heal me, for my bones are troubled.
My soul also is greatly troubled;
But You, O Lord-how long?
(Psalm 6:1-3).

· Confess any sins that the Holy Spirit brings to your mind. Now pause to pray this affirmation to the Lord:

Though I walk in the midst of trouble,
You will revive me;
You will stretch out Your hand
Against the wrath of my enemies,
And Your right hand will save me
(Psalm 138:7).

· As you make your requests known to the Lord, pray for:

· greater courage in the midst of trials,
· your pastor,
· whatever else is on your heart.

· Finally, offer this closing prayer to the Lord:

Your mercy, O Lord, endures forever;
Do not forsake the works of Your hands
(Psalm 138:8).

FRIENDS:

Father, Thank you for calling me to prayer and I know how important this is to my relationship with you. I promise to share my inner thoughts and feelings with you and to Praise and worship You for all that You have done for me. I am so grateful for your answers to my prayers and I need you help in carrying out what you would have me do. I can not do anything in my own strength, but only in Yours. In Jesus' name, Amen.

FOOD:

Crockpot Tamale Casserole

1 1/2 lbs ground beef
1 box Jiffy cornbread mix
1 C milk
1 egg
1 package chili mix
1 can (14.5 oz) diced tomatoes
1 can corn, drained
1 can sliced black olives (optional)
1 C Mexican style cheese

Brown and drain ground beef. In the meantime, mix the next 3 ingredients together. Batter will be thin. Add browned ground beef and next 3 ingredients. Pour into crock pot. Cook on high for 3 hours. Top with olives and cheese, cover and cook another 15-20 minutes.

Notes on cooking....
I cooked mine on high and the edges were a bit brown, as my crock pot cooks a little high, so I would probably cut my time down a bit or cook on low for a longer time. Also, I used half a can of corn and a half a can of black beans, drained.

FUN:

An Old Farmer's Advice:

Your fences need to be horse-high, pig-tight and bull-strong.

Keep skunks and bankers at a distance.

Life is simpler when you plow around the stump.

A bumble bee is considerably faster than a John Deere tractor.

Words that soak into your ears are whispered...not yelled.

Meanness don't jes' happen overnight.

Forgive your enemies. It messes up their heads.

Do not corner something that you know is meaner than you.

It don't take a very big person to carry a grudge.

You cannot unsay a cruel word.

When you wallow with pigs, expect to get dirty.

The best sermons are lived, not preached.

Most of the stuff people worry about ain't never gonna happen anyway.

Don't judge folks by their relatives.

Remember that silence is sometimes the best answer.

Live a good, honorable life. Then when you get older and think back, you'll enjoy it a second time.

Don't interfere with somethin' that ain't bothering you none.

If you find yourself in a hole, the first thing to do is stop diggin'.

Always drink upstream from the herd.

Good judgment comes from experience, and a lotta that comes from bad judgment.

Lettin' the cat outta the bag is a whole lot easier than puttin' it back in.

If you get to thinkin' you're a person of some influence, try orderin' somebody else's dog around.

Don't pick a fight with an old man. If he is too old to fight, he'll just kill you.

Your Estimate of You

A SPECIAL PRAYER FOR OUR MILITARY ON THIS MEMORIAL DAY
Lord and Holy Protector,
you called Abraham and Sarah to leave their homeland
and to journey away from their own people.
Yet you kept them safe wherever they went.
Protect our children, our husbands and wives,
our mothers and fathers, and our friends and loved ones
who now must leave to fight in this war.
Walk by their side and calm any fear.
Be their companion and guide their thoughts;
Encircle them with your light, and keep them from harm;
And when their service is ended, lead them safely home again.
For you, O God, are our shelter in every storm
and our refuge in times of danger.
We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen

FAITH:

For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you. Romans 12:3

With pride as our teacher, we become arrogant and our sense of worth get overinflated. Under inferiority's tutelage, we belittle ourselves into thinking we're insignificant to God and other people. But Paul exhorts us to have a sane or "sound" estimate of ourselves. And we can have such an estimate only as we accept God's view of us.

Pulling all this together, we can draw out four statements of application.

First: Realize you were prescribed before birth. Realize that God made you. You are not just a product of chance, but rather a work of art from the mind of God. He has placed His signature on you with the indelible ink of His image. Nothing about you or the days of your life---even before you had taken your first breath---has escaped the loving scrutiny of your heavenly Father.

For Thou didst form my inward parts;
Thou didst weave me in my mother's womb.
I will give thanks to Thee, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
Wonderful are Thy works,
And my soul knows it very well.
My frame was not hidden from Thee,
When I was made in secret,
And skillfully wrought in the depths of the earth.
Thine eyes have seen my unformed substance;
And in Thy book they were all written,
The days that were ordained for me,
When as yet there was not one of them.
Psalms 139:13-16

Second: Remember that the growth process is still going on. At times we become frustrated with our slow growth and open the door to self-defeat: "I'm no good....I keep making the same mistakes....God is probably sick of me." But Paul tells us, "Hold on. Get your eyes off of yourself, and stay confident in the fact that God is at work in you---even if you don't see it.

FOR I AM CONFIDENT OF THIS VERY THING, THAT HE WHO BEGAN A GOOD WORK IN YOU WILL PERFECT IT UNTIL THE DAY OF CHRIST JESUS. Phil.1:6

Third: Refuse to compare yourself with others. 2 Corinthians 10:5b states: "We are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ." Our feeling of inferiority thrive on those renegade thoughts we allow to pass through our minds uncontested. They can run by so quickly sometimes that we are not even aware of thinking them. To get control of them, we must train ourselves to constantly stand guard at the door of our minds with the truth. Inferiority never rests. It will seize every opportunity we give it to continue brainwashing us with its doctrine of wothlessness. It boils down to this: Will you submit to the lliberating truth of Christ, or will you submit to being held prisoner to the lies of inferiority?

Fourth: Respond correctly to your shortcomings. We all have defects, scars, or shortcomings that we mujst learn to deal with. Paul provides us with a personal glimpse in 2 Corinthians 12:7-9 into how he handled one such problem.

7 To keep me from becoming conceited because of these surpassingly great revelations, there was given me a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. 8 Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. 9 But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me.

From this we can discern three things: first, we can feel the freedom to pray to have these things corrected. Second, if the Lord chooses to leave them with us, we must learn to accept our shortcomings as a way for God to display His power in and through us. Third, Paul points out that the news of shortcoming is not all bad. For it is often in our areas of weakness that we see most clearly the reality of the Saviour's work in our lives.

Feeling of inferiority that have built up over the ears are difficult to overcome. But it can be done! We must resist the pull to place our self-worth, and the worth of others, in the same values the world buys stock in. To do this, we must follow God's advice in Romans 12:2 to renew our minds in His truth. As members of the Body of Christ, we must help one another sensitively and faithfully apply the God-provided truths about our worth. by Chuck Swindoll

Because of our relationship with the Holy Spirit, we can be assured of competence.
John 14:16-17
16 I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper[a] to be with you forever— 17 the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it does not see him or know him. But you know him, because he lives with you and he will be in you.
John 16:13-15
13 But when the Spirit of truth comes, he will lead you into all truth. He will not speak his own words, but he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is to come.14 The Spirit of truth will bring glory to me, because he will take what I have to say and tell it to you. 15 All that the Father has is mine. That is why I said that the Spirit will take what I have to say and tell it to you.
Romans 8:26-27
26 Also, the Spirit helps us with our weakness. We do not know how to pray as we should. But the Spirit himself speaks to God for us, even begs God for us with deep feelings that words cannot explain.27 God can see what is in people's hearts. And he knows what is in the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit speaks to God for his people in the way God wants.

FRIENDS:
Father, What a precious gift You have given me. Your Holy Spirit abides within me and will be with me forever. You are the Spirit of Truth who reveals everything to me. O Lord, help me to always look to You for wisdom. I am dependent on the power of Your Spirit to guide my life and bring honor that I may in turn bless those You have allowed into my life. In Jesus' name, Amen.

FOOD:

Five Minute Ice Cream
Serves: 4
Hands-On Time: 5 Minutes
Total Time: 5 Minutes
What you need:

1 (10 ounce) package frozen sliced strawberries
2/3 cup heavy cream
1/2 cup sugar

What you do:

Combine the frozen strawberries and sugar in a food processor or blender. Process until the fruit is roughly chopped. With the processor running, slowly pour in the heavy cream until
fully incorporated. Serve immediately, or freeze for up to one week.

FUN:


CAN YOU BELIEVE WHAT THIS DUDE LOOKS LIKE WET? HA HA HA