Are the plants laughing?

Jan 31, 2017 Palm Desert, 80 degrees yesterday!

Wow what a day yesterday!   I played volley ball at the pool but before they got set up, I met Missionaries from British Columbia.  They had been called out of Chicago to full time ministry to the Natives of Copper Island, BC Canada.  They were on vacation with their family of 4 children (two African American, adopted).  They said they were a part of African American churches before going to Canada.  I shared the live stream of out church, www.FTHCM.org.  I invited them to Bible Study and dinner but they had already left the park.  They have a Christian fishing camp and camps for Children.  They catch big fish, check out their website: www.adventurelearningministries.com.

In the afternoon I was invited to go to a buffet dinner at, what I later found out was a Casino, (YIKES!) I was invited by my next door neighbor and two of his buddy's and 4 women.  

I remember EP sharing a message way back called "Are the plants laughing at us?"  His message was that in Genesis 1:28-29 God instructed us to subdue the earth (take authority over) which included the plants.  He further showed that most of the things that we struggle with, (addictions, greed, etc... are PLANT BASED) money, drugs, food, cigarettes, marijuana, alcohol, etc...  We have allowed them to take dominion over us, instead of taking dominion over them.  So...the plants are laughing at us!

We had to walk through the Casino to stand in line for about an hour in a smoke filled environment for a "two for one" buffet.  It was good food and the line was just as long after we finished.  I was respected as a Grandma Swann should be.   After we finally sat down, it was a pleasant meal, until I let the ice cream plant (via the cow), take dominion and appear over my fruit.  So, I couldn't judge the others who were missing their behavior.

Tonight is live stream Bible study at 4:30 our time, so I will turn down "Taco Tuesday"(3 Tacos for $1.50) that I was invited to, by the same crew.

My Bishop of my base Church in Maryland will be in Las Vegas this Sunday and my Grandson I adopted in Las Vegas said he would be there.  Great news!

We can't change the past

Jan 30, 2017

It's still summer, 75 degrees today, sunny and warm. WOW!  (I told you, after every winter, comes a spring!)  Some of us  "choose" to be in winter, way past the season.  "Winter" comes in our life, no matter how we try to avoid it, but we don't have to "live" in the "Winters" of our life, we can choose Spring or Summer and appreciate the winter time to reflect and acknowledge God's grace and goodness, especially in the "Winters", of our lives.  It is not what happens, it is what we do with it.  We can choose to better ourselves in the "Winter" to prepare for the "Spring" when things are growing and springing up to distract and "take over" our attention and our lives.

Eric Worre said,"There is a difference between pain (winter) and suffering.  We can't always choose the pain, but we can choose not to suffer."  Are we suffering because of our choice to do so?  WHAT? Why would we choose to suffer? I don't know.  That's it, I don't.  Well, maybe we didn't know we had a choice.  Well, now you know the truth about pain and suffering, what will you choose?  You control the suffering part.

When my son got killed on the street (shot 7 times in the back, at age 33), we had a choice, to live in the "who did it", "why did it happen?, " "why did God allow it?" instead of "why did Satan do it?", "Why was his life cut short?" the grief, letting the Winter "freeze us" so that the devil killed more than our son or to realize that we may never know the answers until we get to heaven and then, who cares?  We will all be together again, and no one will care then. 

He had accepted Jesus as his Savior, he went home to heaven, it is done, we miss him but if we look at that carefully, that is even selfish. (I'm just saying). So what do we do with the emotions?  We took action.  We prayed for a harvest at the home-going .(23 people got saved).  We forgave whoever shot him, and prayed for their salvation. (We never found out who did it, it is OK, God knows, we don't have to).  So even though it seemed like a terrible thing, and it was an; "all things work together for good." thing and we won't even know all of good things until we get to heaven, then we probably won't care then either. Romans 8:28 So bottom line, there is a season for "Winter", we go through it, glorify God in the going through, silence the devil and bear fruit in it. (My husbands last message). 

When my husband passed over 4 years ago, I decided not to grieve because I didn't have time.  I was left here on earth to finish my work, Floyd finished his.  We had a wonderful 43 years of marriage, the last 6 years were the best, when we were going through the "winter".  God showed us so much of what was important and what wasn't.  When my husband went home to Jesus, I  missed him, but then I realized that was a waste of time and very selfish.  So I received the comfort and the joy that Jesus gave me and I chose to "finish" my work.

I don't know all of what He has for me but I am getting that information on a "need to know" basis.  It is OK, I am loving my life, Jesus and me and all of my "Grandchildren" and God's children.

The word for the day in Our Daily Bread was:

"We cannot change the past, but God is changing us for the future."

Yesterday after church, I rested and later heard a knock on my door.  It was a man staying here in the park, he and his wife were from Canada.  He came because he was referred by my "go to for help" guy next door. He had neck pain and Andy and his friend had gotten a sample from me of Shaklee's "Joint and Muscle  Pain Cream" and he told him to come and ask me about it.  We talked for awhile and he left with samples, a product guide and information.  He was already taking Cosco supplements, all the right things but probably synthetics (they are cheap for a reason).  That was fun.  I love sharing Jesus and Shaklee.

Later, I walked around the Park (in the dark) but it was a nice night and I ended up at the pool where a couple I had met before were swimming.  It seemed like a good idea to swim at night when it is not so crowded, I may try it, the pool is open until 10 PM.

Hello Summer!

Jan 29, 2017

                                                         

Summer is here!  72 degrees going up to 78 today,  beautiful sunshine, clear skies and snow on the mountains through the palm trees, just like I pictured it!  Woopee! 

It was beautiful yesterday too.  I went to the pool and played volley ball in the pool, I hadn't been in the sun for so long, that I forgot to put sun screen on and I couldn't stay the whole time but I was able to get three games in.

I got a liuttle tan but not a burn. Thank God!  Now can do it right next time.

After volley ball, I washed clothes and later I met a little girl (about 10 years old) who asked me if I was going to the entertainment after the movie here at the park.  I ask her if she was going to be in it and she said yes, so I decided to go.  I arrived, and the Entertainment was a family group from Canada, a husband and wife, a son (teenager) and the little girl.  They were good musicians and vocalists.  The first song was about Jesus so I thought I was in the right place.  The next song was a worldly song that began to grieve the Spirit of God in me.  I had this debate going on between the loyalties to the little girl and guarding my heart from the worldly songs they sang, The Spirit of God won and I left.  Sometimes we have to make hard choices.  It was especially hard when I saw them in RV park church this morning.  They had a crowd around them, so I couldn't talk to them. 

Sun, Jan 29, 2017

I got a disturbing call from a friend in another RV park that had their first Bible Study.  She shared with me that the whole discussion was "in search of the truth" of who Jesus was.  The leader said He didn't believe in the Trinity, that Jesus was not God (3 in one).  She shared that she knew the truth and gave the scriptures that proved it, and they did not receive it, so she left. (Good for her!)

I woke up this morning in time enough to hear streaming live from the Parent church in Maryland.  Rev. McLaughlin give a great message:   The title was, "I must be Comforted by the Knowledge of Truth".

It was right on time for me. 

What I received was as follows:

          Knowledge: to understand clearly, not a stranger to it, no doubt, be clear and certain (of the Truth), no uncertainty.

To be comforted through knowledge, I must be filled with:

·        The knowledge of His Word. (have reverence and respect for God)

·        The knowledge of His Son and His Holy Spirit.

              A.  We keep His commandments (They are not optional)

              B.   Follow His statutes (how to do it)

                        We do what we are supposed to do because we                             want to manifest God's love.

              C.  Accept His judgments (Correction is a manifestation                                of God's love and judgment is a built-it                                               consequence, even before we commit the sin.

To be comforted through knowledge, I must be filled with God's Wisdom.

          Wisdom:  The ability to apply that knowledge in a   Biblical way that gets beneficial results. (effect)

          Wisdom is when you connect what you know of God's     of the Will of Godord to what you are doing, then you are living like a       Child of God and we are:

                   A.  We are effective Witnesses ( A person with                          first hand knowledge)

                   B.  We are a consistent Witness.(not up and down,                             like a rock, steadfast, can be counted on, a person                           God can use.)

                   C.  We are a credible Witness.(Apply God's Word                              so our lifestyle shows it).

When I am filled with the understanding of the Will of God:

·        I will understand how I operate.

·        I will know the will of God for my life.

·        I can overcome the world ( because Jesus did)

·        I will conform to the likeness of Jesus.

                   A.  We will comprehend what was. (What was in                       our lives).

                   B.  We will comprehend what is> (I am saved,                           delivered and set free).

                   C.   We will comprehend what is to come.(Heaven,                    a crown of righteousness)

ALL OF IT WORKS BY THE POWER OF THE HOLY SPIRIT!

                            

I then went to the RV Park Church and received another awesome message.  Pastor Jack was fired up because the Lord had healed him of chest pains yesterday. 

He shared: 

That we as Christians, should progress everyday, stand tall and be the light that others can see. We have a fountain of life in us, We are he light of the world.  There is always time to share the power of God that radiates in our lives.  LIFT UP JESUS AND HE WILL GIVE YOU THE WORDS.

Psalms37

If you live the radiant life, (purity) people will come to you, you won't have to go to them.

It was good to see some of the people I had seen before Christmas.

OK, off to the pool with my (Shaklee) sun screen.

The The geese said "good bye".

Flourish2finish blog#50

 Jan 28, 2017

It's sunny here in California and this is my 50th blog, in 3 months of journey, we should celebrate! 

Wow, 61 degrees today. Definitely a "pool day" today.  Yesterday, I drove back here to Palm Desert, and it was beautiful!   I was thinking, all the way, "I haven't seen these mountains before."  Then I remembered, it was raining, foggy and the visibility was "none" for mountains before. BUT NOW!  It was only a little over an hour drive but was it spectacular! 

Because of the rain, the hills and fields are a beautiful spring green,  I saw some flooding of the valley fields, (which looked like blue lakes) with a flock of white cranes at the edge. In contrast were the high  mountains dark blue, in the background, with snow on the top!   While I was watching, a tumble weed tumbled through the crowd of cranes! Awesome!

As I entered Palm Springs, I was amazed to see what seemed like thousands of tall Wind Turbines (windmills). (In Palm Springs? Who knew?) I looked it up, and discovered this from Google: It is called a wind farm, and the hot air from the desert mixed with the cold air from the tall mountains creates wind.  They are tall because there is more wind as you get higher. 

OK, here is how it works, First, a wind turbine blade works sort of like an airplane wing, blowing air passes around both sides of the blade.  The shape of the blade causes the air pressure to be uneven (higher on one side, lower on the other) and that's what makes it spin.  On the top there's a weather vane that's connected to computers that keeps the Turbine turned toward the wind.  The blades are attached to a shaft, attached to gears that increase the rotation up to about 1,800 rpm.  At that speed, a generator can produce a lot of electricity.

OK, end of lesson on alternative power sources.   They were interesting.  Somebody needs to discover how to convert the wind generated by trucks, cars, motor homes etc. into more efficient use of gas, batteries, and electric cars. (I'm just say'n).

I had a visitation by the geese before I left.  Two geese landed on my roof and two were on the shed next door.  I got a picture of the two on the shed with a shadow of the two on the roof.  They made a lot of noise, pecking, stomping, and flapping for about an hour.  They didn't pay any attention to me banging on the ceiling to scare them away. I gave up and prayed that they would not do any damage, about five minutes later, they flew away.  The geese had always been around, but never intrusive before, I guess that was their way of saying good bye, they didn't know I would be back.

 I was able to go outside without a jacket for the first time since I have been in California (I think).  It took quite a while to find a site.  After driving around and everything was full, I was praising the Lord that He would find me the perfect spot, is it ever!  Right at the entrance where everybody comes in and goes out, near the pool, near the laundry, near where the church services are. near all the activities and the dumpsters.  Wow, you can't beat God!  The bonus is that I have the Shaklee magnetic sign on the front side door and everybody coming in or going out of the park, walking, walking their dog(s), biking, going to the many activities, ALL SEE THE SIGN.  I can sit here typing and see them go by looking at it.  Great exposure!  This is a very busy spot, seeing all the comings and goings is better than TV.  There are 445 sites here and it is a very popular site in the winter, lots of palm trees, but the fruit is gone from the citrus trees. (sad face).  I already have a "go to" helper right next door that was assigned to me by the park ranger.  He said, "If you need any help, Andy will help you," and he pointed him out in his hearing, and we introduced ourselves.  He apologized for having to leave to go somewhere, but said he would be back.  It looks like he might be a full-timer here with his Father and "Dangerous dog" sign.  He explained that the sign was for the people in his coach, not his dog. OK?!

 Jesus is my best defense.  He never needed a dog or a gun for defense, His defense is mightier than a two edged sword. Heb 4:12... even able to discern the thoughts and intentions of the heart."  So, I am thoroughly protected and I don't have to walk Jesus, (He walks and drives with me) or feed Him, He feeds me and He doesn't have fleas! Wooopee! what a deal!

Leaving the ducks

Jan 27, 20017

Today, I am leaving the ducks, and the geese, going back to Palm Desert.  Expect it to be warmer there, however my expectations aren't worth much.  Many of you were asking if I was close to the mud slides in California.  Since I don't watch the news, I don't know where they were, but where I am, there is nothing to slide off of, pretty flat.  I am actually in the middle of what used to be dairy farms (some still here), but it is slowly being taken over by housing.  People come here to get away from the city and it is becoming one.

My new friend dropped be off yesterday to get my nails and a pedicure done (much needed) while she went to the Doctor.  She came back to my house and I shared Shaklee with her.  She has been using some of the products that I shared with her and seems to be getting results already.  We took some before pictures and will share them at the appropriate time.

We saw the Southern California Mountains, high ones near San Diego, who knew?  With snow!   Beautiful!  The older I get and the more I learn, I am beginning to realize, the less I know.

I need to get out of the box and "Enlarge the place of my tent", Isaiah 54: 2-3

Ok, off to Palm Desert.

Flourish2finish blog #49

Jan 27, 20017

Today, I am leaving the ducks, and the geese, going back to Palm Desert.  Expect it to be warmer there, however my expectations aren't worth much.  Many of you were asking if I was close to the mud slides in California.  Since I don't watch the news, I don't know where they were, but where I am, there is nothing to slide off of, pretty flat.  I am actually in the middle of what used to be dairy farms (some still here), but it is slowly being taken over by housing.  People come here to get away from the city and it is becoming one.

My new friend dropped be off yesterday to get my nails and a pedicure done (much needed) while she went to the Doctor.  She came back to my house and I shared Shaklee with her.  She has been using some of the products that I shared with her and seems to be getting results already.  We took some before pictures and will share them at the appropriate time.

We saw the Southern California Mountains, high ones near San Diego, who knew?  With snow!   Beautiful!  The older I get and the more I learn, I am beginning to realize, the less I know.

I need to get out of the box and "Enlarge the place of my tent", Isaiah 54: 2-3

Ok, off to Palm Desert.

Tribute to Charles

Jan 25, 2017

WHAT? THE SUN!!!? It is beautiful and 43 degrees but feels like 51 at 10 AM, and sunny all day! That's what I'm talk' in about!  Praise the Lord, back to the pool today! (I just talked to a friend is DC and she said it was 57 degrees there, what's that about???)

I was able to extend my stay here in Menifee, CA until Jan. 27th so I can go directly to Palm Desert until Feb 10th then I will be back here to Menifee, Calif. for a week until the Feb. 17th. (which will allow me to attend the Anniversary of the Pomona FTHCM Church, whoopee!).   That is as far as I know now, and that could change.

I went to town (Menifee) yesterday with Sue, a new friend here in the RV park.  I went to the Dollar Store and the grocery store and we had lunch.  Enjoyed the day, then came back home to hear the live stream of the FTHCM Church Bible Study from Maryland.  Awesome!

I received that, we as Christians, need to live in a judgment free zone. (we aren't to judge others, we don't have all of the facts or the truth). 

God is the judge, the righteous judge-He's right! He has all the facts and the truth and His sentence is righteous.

I received some sad news yesterday, one of our long time (40 year) Shaklee friends in our organization, went home to be with the Lord.

I will share his remarkable Shaklee story.

Charles Briscoe age 97

Arrangements by:

Thornton Funeral Home

3439 Livingston Rd,

Indian Head, MD 20640 (Bryans Road, MD)

Funeral services:  Friday Morning, Feb 3, 2017

Sacred Heart Catholic Church

St Mary's Ave.  LaPlata, MD

Viewing: 7:30-8:30 AM,

Tributes: 8:30-8:50 AM

Service 9 AM

11 AM burial,- Cheltenham, MD

Repast (To be announced)

We, his Shaklee family are so blessed to have known and loved Charles Briscoe and we will miss him greatly, he was an icon in our Shaklee organization and most of us considered him a friend.  At age 97 he went home to be with the Lord, living a rich full life of family, neighbors and lots of Shaklee family and friends.  He was active and healthy, well into his 90's and only recently had some falls that slowed him down.  Below is the Shaklee story of her parents, as told by their daughter, Jane, seven years ago when Charles was 90.  Jane Short is a successful leader in our Shaklee organization.

In 1974, my parents received immediate improvements in their health.  My mother, Dorothy Briscoe, had been ill throughout my entire childhood and adult life.  Thanks to our wonderful Shaklee Products, I had the pleasure of seeing her enjoy good health for twenty-six years.  What a change!  It was as if I met my mother for the first time.  She was happy, energetic, and loved her Shaklee Products.

          Due to the death of her father at an early age and a long-term illness of her mother, she grew up living with whoever would take her in earning her room and board by working in their homes.  She was not permitted to attend school, no matter how much she begged.  When she was an adult she attended first grade through high school.  At the age of 72 she earned her High School diploma and was valedictorian of her class!  That same year she also got her drivers license for the first time so she could drive her Shaklee Bonus Car. 

          My father, Charles Briscoe, suffered from ulcers, hypertension, and a heart attack which required a triple by-pass surgery.  He was diagnosed with prostate cancer, for which he refused treatment.  His physician strongly suggested that if he was not going to have any of the traditional treatments, he would need to become a vegetarian, which he did for 2 years. He began using massive amounts of Shaklee Products twice daily.  He also eats a healthy diet daily. He is in great health today, only on one medication (and is taking the lowest dosage and takes only one half of that pill).  At the young age of ninety he still mows his lawn, drives his car every day, does volunteer work with several organizations, travels, and talks Shaklee every day!

My Shaklee story

Jan 23, 2017 Menifee, CA

Hopefully you were busy over the weekend too.  I went to the pool on Saturday and met some more people, it was a beautiful cold day but it stopped raining for afternoon so it was nice, the pool was a little cooler, I guess because of the rain.  This is so much fun and everybody has a story. 

Sunday, Jan. 22,2017

Bro.M and Sis.C came to get me for their Church again.  It poured down rain all day.  It is about the same weather they are having in Maryland and DC....so why did I go South? (Smile).  They had a meeting after church and I was able to fellowship with some nice ladies from the Church.  After the meeting we went out to lunch at a place where you could watch the football game and we saw Atlanta beat Green Bay, I try to root for the underdog.  We went back to their house and watched the other game so I know that Atlanta and New England will be in the Super Bowl, should be an interesting game.  They graciously took me by a grocery store and I got my groceries for the week.

I also had listened to a training video that helped me to re-write my Shaklee story.  I realized that I had a new one to add to the original one and I needed to get it together.  I will let you see it, if you have comments or corrections, please let me know.  I would like it to be compelling and effectively communicate my heart.

My Shaklee Story

My husband and I were introduced to Shaklee by my parents in 1974. They were in poor health, (Dad had heart trouble, arthritis, blind in one eye, and Mom had allergies and had to take shots 2X weekly and was 144 lbs over weight).  After 6 months of Shaklee product usage, Dad had an EKG done and no heart problems, no problems with his arthritis, and read a paragraph out of a newspaper with his "blind" eye.  Mom didn't need her shots anymore and over the next year she lost 144 lbs, on the Shaklee weight loss plan, and kept them off for the rest of her life.  From the time they shared Shaklee with us, for the next 25 years, they took no medication, traveling the world on Shaklee and with us, having a great time changing peoples health and lives (earning 11 Bonus cars, along with us) and building a Shaklee business.  Mom passed at age 89 and Dad at age 96 both in their right minds, they finished and went home to Jesus.

We were very excited about the results we saw in them and us, Floyd with more energy, arthritis gone, and me with increased energy, PMS issues diminished greatly and allergies relief with the use of the Shaklee products. We started sharing and others received results, they started sharing and they got results, etc....

That was when we decided to build a Shaklee business. After 2 years working our Shaklee business part time, we noticed three pay periods (every two weeks) of checks, from our jobs, lying around that we had forgotten to take to the bank (pretty good from living payday to payday before Shaklee!).  So we quit our "good Government" jobs, in Social Work, to work our Shaklee business full-time. We worked together for 38 years building and mentoring over 100 other leaders to success in our organization, to the point that we, and our first Business leader in our group, were recognized as Shaklee Millionaires.

In 2006, my husband became ill, and I was his caregiver for 6 years. We could not work our business; however, the Shaklee business wouldn't die. The residual income from the Shaklee business we had built, sustained us and the comfortable lifestyle we were accustomed to (which included payments of $1,100 per month for a 40 foot diesel motor home, and a house payment).

After fighting a good fight, my husband, finished his course, and went home to be with the Lord in 2012.  When he passed away, my income decreased, and over time, I experienced serious financial set-backs trying to keep things going, including returning the Motor Home back to the bank in a "voluntary repossession." The bank sold it at auction and came back on me for the difference of $74,000.

Through it all, I learned to trust God! I had no stress, anxiety or worry, knowing that the Lord would provide for me (even when I got down to my last 8 cents to my name!) AND HE DID!  Jesus is my peace, comfort and joy!  He loves me, has my best interest at heart, protects me, provides for me and HE KNOWS THE FUTURE!  What a deal!

In 2016, I decided to start over!  I sold my house and bought another Motor Home, just my size (31 ft)!  Now I am debt free, house free, and (40 years of) stuff free!   I am a full-time RV-er, traveling, at age 74, and loving it, just Jesus and me, and He is enough!

I am so blessed to have the Shaklee products in my life, I breezed through menopause with about 3 hot flashes and very few other symptoms, I am medication free, have reversed my bone density loss back (from 3 yrs ago)to 100%, and I feel great! I see so many people in my travels that are hurting financially and hurting in their health, minds and their bodies.  I have an answer, so I have renewed my activity and energy in sharing Shaklee again, as a means to help others to be healthy, and help them increase their income to be a blessing to others! 

I am excited about my future!  My vision is to reach 100 million people in my lifetime, with a way of independence from this "world's system".  I am thrilled with the opportunity to share what the Lord is doing for me, and to work and share my Shaklee business from "the road", is such a Blessing!

The life-long connections with people, over the years, have been amazing! I would encourage you to join me in making a difference in others lives.   I would love for you to join me and enjoy some of the benefits (health, car payments, free trips and income) that Shaklee has to offer! (The free trip is to China next year, whoopee!) In the 42 years I have been enjoying the Shaklee products, and sharing the products and the opportunity with others, I feel like I have just begun!

My desire is to Flourish to the Finish:  To grow luxuriantly, to thrive, to succeed, and be a remarkably significant example and inspiration for others to be healthy, (where no prescription medication is necessary) and help them see their God-given potential, and build a lifestyle of amazing possibilities, drawing others to greater heights, leaving a legacy for future generations to follow.  You too can Flourish to the Finish with me!

It is a mindset!

Monday

It was raining today also so I stayed in and worked on Shaklee.

Are you hungry?

Jan, 20, 2017

It is raining and blustery today and the streets have water standing in them so it is hard to navigate them walking without boots.  I don't think I have them on board, maybe under the bed.  I have a storage area under the queen sized bed that holds a lot of stuff.  I haven't looked in it for awhile, probably won't today, it's complicated with the chair on the bed etc...

Where do the ducks, geese, etc.. go in the rain?  It is very quiet here now, I kind of miss their honking (or whatever geese do) and  quacking..  I have a tree beside me that the leaves have been falling off of (I guess this is fall here) and the rain and the wind will probably finish it off today.  I spoke with my "Sis" in Mississippi and she said it was 75 degrees and beautiful there.  WOW!

Even without a car, the Lord provides for all of my needs.  So far, it has not been necessary and it has saved me lots of money.  Not just for the rental car but the money I spend when I go out.  Interesting, if we stayed "put" sometimes we could probably save a lot of money.  Hey, I think I will estimate what I would have spent going out, and put that amount in savings, just to see.....

I said I would share some more of what God gave me on the 18th:

Question?  Is what I am doing with my life, truly important to God? 

          Have I slipped off course (even just a little bit)?  God understands, yes,       but is it His best?  He loves us, yes, in our mess, but isn't it His plan   (as with any parent) to love us out of our mess?  But, our will reign's,         God gave us our will, so we could choose, but, He can't go against it.

          Who schedules and arranges and plans of our day(even the little stuff)?          Do we acknowledge Him in all our ways?  Do we include His input,       and obey it, and yield to His plan.  As Christians, we are to be Christ-      like, can he trust us to represent Him in such a way that they see     Christ in us ("THE HOPE OF GLORY") and want to be saved and     like Him too?

          We can run, but we can't hide from God.  He loves us from a place         of righteousness.  He can't look at, be a part of, or participate in, sin.           Sin is anything that misses the mark.    He is waiting for our return.  We will be held accountable for what we do.  Only Jesus can make it           right between us and God.  He is our mediator, go-between, our          example and our Savior because He paid the price for us.

This got to me!  I had allowed a little drifting in the area of the struggle I have had for years, with food.   I let a little "sin" (missing the mark) get into the plan I had with the Shaklee 180 weight loss plan.  I had gotten off course just a little and I know that it can lead to the old patterns which lead to the "old" body.  I was able to recognize it and (with Jesus and the Holy Spirit's help), arrest it early. Now I am back on track and even though I was only off a little, (a "good excuse" smile). Galatians 5:9"A little leaven, leaveneth the whole lump" (a little yeast, makes the whole lump of dough rise).

Our Episcopal Pastor said. "Choices are long lasting and life changing",

Based on that, I said:

          Our WILL, rules,

          We get to choose.

          Of choices, there's only two,

          Right, or not right, it's true.

         

          THOUGHTS cause our choice!

          Think right, and we'll rejoice.

          Our choices always last long,

          Especially when we're wrong!

Let's watch our thinking, monitoring our thoughts, and what we hear and see that cause our thinking, it will determine our life. Grammy thought for the day.(smiley face)

         

I said I would let you hold me accountable for my weight loss plan. WHERE WERE YOU WHEN I NEEDED YOU?  I know! YOU WERE PRAYING FOR ME!  Thank you for your prayers, I feel them.  It is like a big protective bubble around me.  OK the results are in:

I have been on the plan since before Thanksgiving.  My goal is to be on this plan of eating right, for life.  Slow but steady is my weight loss goal, with the emphasis on steady!  Sometimes I start THINKING that I should be loosing faster, start comparing to others who are loosing faster, etc.. and I could get discouraged and quit. 

I WILL not let my thoughts discourage me, I WILL control them, and think correctly! OK, I'm done.

Total weigh loss   8 1/2 lbs

Total inch loss (measuring in 9 places) 24 1/4 inches

Blood Pressure this AM 139/97 (No meds)

Exercise:  Aerobics in the pool, 3 X weekly

I FEEL GOOD! JOYFUL, PEACFUL, SETTLED AND FULFILLED!

Tip: Sometimes if I feel hungry, I am actually thirsty and a glass or two of water will satisfy.  Try it, it could work for you too.

Do you have a "God Box?"

Jan 19, 2017

Yesterday I met two of my neighbors, both Christians, one is from here in California and she had just skyped a German exchange student she had in her home, who received the Lord while she was here in America at their home.  She was so excited because the German student was enrolled in a Bible College in South Africa. 

I went to the pool and met some more people. One man was 83, a Christian, and full time.  He got out of the pool just as I got in and I joked with him about that, he came over later and said, when he sees a beautiful lady, that they usually fall in love with him so he had to get out.  Cute, and hasn't lost it!  He said he would be at Bible study, if he didn't forget. (He forgot)

 I also met a couple at the pool who identified where they were from in Oregon, by the Winery's and the breweries in the area.  This is such fertile, diversified, friendly, interesting place to meet people!

I went to Bible Study here at the park (the first time I went I was the only one).  It was supposed to start at 7 PM.  There were 2 older couples there and they were waiting for the "Leader" who, they said was not scheduled last week but they thought he would be there this week.  They chit-chatted a while and no one else came.  After a while, they were talking about leaving so I ask if I could share something the Lord had given me that morning.  They seemed eager to hear.  I shared John 17:1-5 Jesus talking about finishing His work.  Then I shared Psalms 92:14 about my Flourish to the finish, then one of the Ladies stood up ready to go, agreeing that we all are here because God is not finished with us.  I started to continue with what God had given me that morning, in the process I said: "Sometimes we don't trust God..." Before I could finish, she interrupted and said "Speak for yourself, I trust God"!  I said I was not trying to accuse only to be inclusive.  She was obviously offended and left.  I was happy that she trusted God. So much for Bible Study!  That broke it up and we all left.  I just have to love everybody!

So I will share with you what God gave me yesterday.

Do I (we) really love God?   Really, or do I (we) use Him to get what I (we) want?  Do I (we) have Him in my (our) box?  Is He just the size, has just the capability, the power that we decide, or believe He has?  Do we limit God to our "God box"? (Watch out, He may jump out and do some amazing things, or even ask me (us) to do some amazing things.)  WAIT, ME? But, but, but:

          "I'm too busy doing stuff, accomplishing goals, working my job, working my Ministry, enjoying life,  doing me, doing my have to's, to do God's amazing things."  Are we afraid of God's power (Holy Spirit) working in and through us?  What if He has us do stuff outside of our comfort zone?  Embarrassing stuff, like laying hands on folks for deliverance, healing, casting out demons, (you know, all the stuff Jesus did)?  He did say we would do "greater works than these", didn't He? John 14:12

Ok, this is good stuff, but I have more, that He gave me, but too much at a time can overwhelm. More later.

Someone told me that the Inauguration is tomorrow, see, I hear about the news!   Only what I need to know, don't plan to watch.  "They' said it was going to rain all day today and tomorrow here.  Well the sun is shining beautifully and the sky is a blueCloud.

I'm going to the pool!

WATCH OUR THOUGHTS

Jan 18, 2017

I'm still in Menifee, CA.  I went to the pool yesterday, delightful!  From the pool, I could see snow on the Mountains and people sunbathing for tans on the deck of the pool.  I haven't found the desire to try to get a tan, I value my skin and it's usefulness to me in living my life in it.  (smiley face).

At 3:30 Sis C came to pick me up, we went to an organic eatery and I had an organic turkey sandwich on multigrain bread, two slices of fresh orange and two carrot sticks and a half of a (delicious) sugar free brownie made with maple syrup and honey.  I was satisfied and it was good. 

We went to her business office and Bro M picked us up for Bible Study at FTHCM in Pomona, CA. (Sis. C has her own business as a Family Therapist).

Bible Study was awesome and it was great to see Pastor and Sis. Owes.  They had not seen Bro M and Sis C since 2003, so they were happy to see them to along with most of the others there that knew them, and hadn't seen them either.  The church is beautiful and a lot of upgrades have been done since I saw it last and most all, of it was done by the congregation (including upholstering the pews!).  The infrastructure at work!

The Message was right on:

Subject:  Laying aside every weight.

·        We need to be aware and recognize the things that hinder us from being Complete in Jesus.

It could be a "minor" adjustment that, like in a building project, it can affect the outcome, if it is not corrected early.

·        We need to be grounded in the Word of God (fixed).  Things around us  (houses, cars, Church buildings are naturally grounded (or the electricity would zap us), we should be grounded in the Word of God because it is a safe place, (keeps us from being zapped by the world).

·        Whatever we believe in, we will support, stand for and sacrifice for. (God did all three when He chose to send Jesus to live and die for us). Do we do that as Christians?  Are we really believers?

·        II Corinthians 10:3-6  Identify the weights:

1.     Things that are contrary to the will of God.

2.     Things that are "higher" with us, than God.

3.     Imaginations, that are ungodly, they come to us continuously, we need to cast them down, continuously.

4.     Disobedient thoughts (bring them into captivity).

                        Thoughts produce actions

                        Actions produce results

                        Results produce consequences.

                        Consequences, (the way we handle them) determines our conduct.

                        Conduct puts our Character on display.

                                  WATCH OUR THOUGHTS!

          5.  Things that effect us emotionally and spiritually. 

·        What do we do with the weights?

          1.  Lay them down (we can't carry them).

          2.  Cast them down. (Cast all your cares on Jesus)

          3.  Put them off (Put off the old man)

          4.  Bring them down. (Bring the flesh under subjection to the Word

                of God)

WE WERE MADE RIGHT (By Jesus) so... WE ARE ABLE TO DO RIGHT!

After Bible study they stopped me by the 99cent store and I got groceries.

Today is beautiful, bright and sunny, and I will try the pool again, it is supposed to rain for the next two days.