NANA

How true this is.  so many forget it or think they are the only ones who matter.  We all need to remember we don’t matter to everyone and try not to care about the malicious people who try to ruin our lives. 

 Chin up and only care about the ones who matter.  Pray for the others, but don’t let their attitude toward you be important to the point of distracting you from your true purpose here on Earth, serving God.

God loves us all and sees all, so even if you think you are sneaking and doing things to others that no one will ever find out about, God sees you and you’re gonna pay a very stiff price someday according to his word.  As he said, not a direct quote…….”as you have done to the smallest of these, even so have you done to me”….. so think before we act, if we are trying to demean or degrade someone, we are doing it also to Jesus, his words, not mine.  All the Bible thumpers who think they are greater instead of lesser in the kingdom and can treat anyone anyway they please and hide it and get everyone to believe in them needs to think about what Jesus said.  Quoting scripture doesn’t make you a follower, living the word does. 

 Just some random thoughts.

If you are a Diamond or you are on the Diamonds roster and did not receive a private message from me yesterday, please send me, Tanis, or Isabelle a message.  I don’t think I had everyone on my buddylist.  Thanks.

Why do people, especially people who proclaim to be good, moral, people of faith look for the bad in people?  It sees as though sometimes they try to take someone apart and question everything they stand for.  They find fault with their actions as well as their words.  Why do people do this?  Whey can’t we all love and get along?  I am having problems with this lately and just needed to vent.  Let’s everybody get along as God intended his children to do and stop picking apart everything each other says and does.  Lets work through these life changes together.

I dedicate this poem to my wonderful friend Linda/Poet.

Pray, dont’ find fault with the man that limps

or stumbles along the road.

Unless you have worn the shoes he wears

or struggled beneath his load.

There may be tacks in his shoes that hurt

Though hidden away from view.

or the burden he bears placed on your back

might cause you to stumble to.

don’t sneer at the man who’s down today

Unless you have felt the blow

That caused his fall or felt the shame

that only the fallen know.

You may be strong but still the blow

that was his if dealt to you

in the selfsame way, at the selfsame time

might cause you to stagger too.

Don’t be too harsh with the man that sins

or pelt him with word or stone

unless you are sure - yea, doubly sure -

that you have no sins of your own.

For you know, perhaps,

if the tempter’s voice should whisper as soft to you

as it did to him when he went astray

it might cause you to falter too.

Let’s all try to be a little bit more sympathetic to others.

Let’s try to live life with a clear conscience.

Let’s not judge others.

Let’s treat everyone like we want to be treated.

Let’s act as Jesus would want us to act.

let’s not just talk about it.

Let’s really do it!

Starting right now!!

I guess we all have different answers to that question.  I would be interested to hear some of them, especially from nameless people who I don’t think know the meaning.  For me, a friend is someone who is there for me, cares about me and would be there in a heartbeat if I called her.  There to hold my hand, cry or laugh with me, whatever I needed at the time.  I think we all know people like that.  A friend is also someone who doesn’t condemn others when they screw up royally.  now that is a friend, someone who can “forgive”  like God forgives.  Someone who truly understands that Jesus Christ died for our sins and we should be as forgiving as Jesus was when he forgave those who persecuted him.  WOW!!!  Now that is a statement, but if we’re followers, claim to be “Christ”ians, then we are to forgive, are we not and to love each other and not judge and condemn over anything but turn the other cheek.  Hmmm….yep that would be “Christ”like  but so many only want to talk the talk.  When it comes to walking, they walk the other way and that to me is the epitome of NOT being a friend.  Just my thoughtful rambles. 

This week has made me stop and think about the shape this world is in and the shape it is getting into.  Wednesday morning a local church burned, still waiting to find out but most likely arson.  Church building was a total loss.  Pretty bad, huh?  Just a little while ago I got news that the church I attend burned to the ground about three o’clock this morning.  They think it was set.  It is an old country church, out in the middle of nowhere.  I’d say it burned quickly.  Over a hundred years old build out of chestnut.  Devasting is the only way to describe what I am feeling right now.  Please remember the Mount Pleasant Church of Christ in Warren County Kentucky in  your prayers, they lost their building Wednesday.  also remember the Mt. Zion Church of Christ in Richardsville Ky also Warren county in your prayers.  We are devastated by the news that this building is on the ground, but I know the church is us, not the building and Mt. Zion along with Mt. Pleasant can have a new building, we have the same church.  We have each other.  Thank you so much to all my buddies.  Love you guys. 

I got this in an e-mail this morning and it really does say it all.

This says it all?:

Time passes.

Life happens.

Distance separates.

Children grow up.

Jobs come and go.

Love waxes and wanes.

Men don’t do what they’re supposed to do.

Hearts break.

Parents die.

Colleagues forget favors.

Careers end.

BUT…….

Sisters are there, no matter how much time and how many miles are between you.  A girl friend is never farther away than needing her can reach.

When you have to walk that lonesome valley and you have to walk it by yourself, the women in your life will be on the valley’s rim, cheering you on, praying for you, pulling for you, intervening on your behalf, and waiting with open arms at the valley’s end.

Sometimes, they will even break the rules and walk beside you…or come in and carry you out. Girlfriends, daughters, granddaughters,

Dauthers-in-law, sisters, sisters-in-law, Mothers, Grandmothers, aunties, nieces, cousins, and extended family, all bless our life!

The world wouldn’t be the same without women, and neither would I.  When we began this adventure called womanhood, we had no idea of the incredible joys or sorrows that lay ahead.  Nor did we know how much we would need each other.

Every day, we need each other still.

I was instructed to pass it on to all the women who help make my life meaningful and I just did.

(dedicated to my twin sister, who is the epitome of all these things, love you)

I had never really thought about me being able to inspire someone until I received a message earlier from my dear twin who told me I was the inspiration for her blog today, be sure and read it.  I still am not sure where she got that idea from unless she thought she sent the message to someone else. :)  It did get me to thinking though.  We do all inspire someone.  Maybe we inspire them to exercise or to change their eating habits or even to do something good just for them.  Some people inspire me to try to be a better person, a better friend, and a better buddy.  I can’t think of anyone who inspires more people than my twin.  She is such a caring soul, one who there is no doubt about it, loves her Lord, loves her family, her friends and her buddies.  I could not imagine her not liking someone or seeing the good in someone.  I have tried lately to force myself to not have bad thoughts about people.  To look for something good about everyone.  It might even be he/she has such pretty eyes, right before POW, now they look like a raccoon.  Seriously though, look around you, see where you might be able to spread some inspiration for the good in all of us.  If we all inspire others to look for the good within themselves ans spread that around, maybe the world will become a better place.  Thanks twin and all my buddies, you all inspire me to do better.  Now if I would just get off my butt and do it.

I have a prayer request.  I met a little boy in Iowa via the internet.  He is four years old with a twin brother.  His name is Coleman and he has Neuroblastoma, i think I got that right.  He has been in treatment and had a stem cell transplant.  they did a spinal tap and MRI last Friday, his mom got the call yesterday that there is a tumor on his brain and several along his spine, and the spinal tap was positive.  He and his parents need your prayers and positive energy going his way.  Please, please remember Coleman in your prayers and thoughts.  I am going to pass on his carepage, I know Peggy won’t mind, she will appreciate all the prayers they can get.  www.carepages.com and the page is colemanscott.  Thanks everybody, you’re awesome.

Depends how you look at it I guess.  I know several people who tell themselves when they get to a certain goal or lose a certain number of pounds, they will get a reward…….like if I drop 20 pounds I’ll get a new pair of jeans, something like that.  So I got to thinking what I could use to motivate myself.  I’m pretty broke so it will be hard to decide.  But I was wondering if some of you might use something like that and what your rewards are.  I’d love to have some of your ideas.  Who knows, we could help each other here.