 We got up early this morning to head out and get some fishing in. We had such a great time. No real big catches today, 4 Crappie and 1 Sunfish. It's always nice to come home with some to go in the freezer but the main objective is family time.
This picture to left of the Catfish is one that I caught several weeks ago. Imagine my suprise when my rob and hook were set up for Crappie and this monster decided to take a nibble. LOL.
I have never been a real big fishing person, however, my desire to spend quality time with my husband has lead me to learn how to put those gross worms on the hook, to get my fish off the hook, to tie hooks on lines and all the things that his buddies would do if he were out fishing with they guys. I just draw the line at cleaning the fish, I'm just not going to do that. My hubby being the wonderful man he is, doesn't mind that I won't clean the fish. He has been doing it for so long that he is rather fast at it, trying to teach me would just slow down the process anyway.
 This is one of our favorite places to go fish. Along with the fishing there is so many different types of wild life there. It makes it a great place to spend time with the family, enjoy the wildlife and just plain relax. These geese are amazing animals, though they are wild if you happen to have bread they will become your friend quickly. We have learned to watch out though, sometimes they fight with each other and you sure wouldn't want to get in the middle of that.
The pictures below are just random pictures of the area we like to fish in the most and various pictures from different times when we were out fishing. The beautiful little boy is my grandson. That was the first time he ever held one of the fish he caught. As you can see he was a little unsure of it. The funny part is right after the second picture was taken he was so eager to have it out of his hands the nearly threw it in the air just to be able to let go of it. You would have had to have been there to see it, one of the funniest things I have ever seen. The frog in the picture is actually a fairly small frog in comparison to some of the ones they have caught. It hasn't been done yet but there is talk of getting a few of them and trying out frog legs for supper one night. So glad that will be going on at our son's house and not ours because I certainly am not going to eat frog legs. LOL.
I'm getting so frustrated with sleepless nights. I have a decent bed but the darn thing just isn't good enough. One day I need to win the lottery so I can buy an adjustable bed with the heat and massage in it. I think that would make a world of difference. It's this cranky back of mine that won't let me get into a comfortable place and tomorrow I'll want to sleep all day for being so tired. That is not acceptable since we have plans with the family and I just can't stay home and sleep when they are all out together, I would miss them too much.
Now that I got my gripping out of the way, I feel bad for doing it. So many people in this world are in worse situations than I am and when I get focused on self it never helps me at all. When I can focus on others my situation becomes easier to deal with. Someday I would like to do something huge, something that would really matter to people who are in bad situations. I know there are children who can't sleep tonight because their tummys are screaming for food to eat. I know there are men, women and children who can't sleep tonight because of the war going on in their own home. The one place where they are supposed to be safe and are not. I know there are soldiers on foreign soil who can't sleep tonight because of bombs going off all around them or trying to keep their eyes open for snipers.
God please help all those people who are in situations like the ones I just mentioned. Please direct me Father if there is anyway in which I could help any of them. Show me the way, but please make it discreat, as I want no glory for myself but for you and you alone. Amen.
I'm going to go check my words with friends and then try to head back to bed. If you are up reading this as I'm writing it I hope you find rest as well. If you read this at a later time please ask God also to show you a way to help those around us who are in such need. If we all start doing something we can make some of these situations better. Doing nothing will never help.
God Bless you all!
Today feels like such a lazy day. We got up this morning and went out to get all the plants watered, a feat I would never get done without my daughters assistance. She is good to me beyond measure. During the process of getting them watered we thought of some fence pieces we thought would work very well for our new Blackberry bushes. Everything seemed to take so much energy, the heat even early this morning was so thick it just hugged you like an oversized blanket. We managed to get two of them put up and need to locate the stakes to get the other two put up. Not only are they functional, but add a touch of beauty to the yard as well. It makes my heart happy that we didn't use them to build a fence around the garden as planned, I like them this way better.
While we were doing that hubby was putting the finishing touches on our clothes line. Two years ago I believe, daddy, hubby and son had gone to the back fourty and cut down two headge trees that were in excess of 6 foot tall. They brought them up to the house and set them in large holes. This was done so that I would have a clothes line that wouldn't rot away or be flimsy. I laugh to myself often when I see them standing out there, those headge poles will probably still be standing there long after this house has fallen down.
We came inside and daughter started workign on dishes and getting some of the kitchen cleaned up while hubby did the prep work on two huge slabs of ribs for the smoker. I need to go out and get the mail, but walking outside will make me sick. The smell of those ribs will fill my nostrils to overflowing and run right down to my stomuch. Lurching pains of hunger will set in and then I'm liable to get testy to find I need to wait several more hours before they are ready to eat. I was inside repotting some flowers that we had picked up yesterday. They look so cute in their new pots. One we picked up is a form of a cactus and it's called Babies Toes. It was the only one there of that type and I just couldn't leave it. My heart would have been sad had I waited for anothr day to go back and found the Babies Toes had gone home with another.
By the time all of that was done, we all felt as if we had run a marathon of chores, we were hot and exhausted and then we heard a faint cry coming down the hall. "Come here." said the voice. Such a calm and reassuring sound. "Come here and see me, I want to wrap you in arms that will comfort you" the voice was really convincing. Walking down the hall realization set in that it was indeed our beds calling us to come an slumber for a bit. Well, it worked, our beds got what they wanted, a little Saturday afternoon nap. I'm amazed at how intelligent my bed can be and how it knows just the right times to call me so I can seek comfort there. Though it does become a bit of a sticky situation, once in the bed it becomes quite hard to get out. I finally made it out an hour later.
The house is quiet now. Hubby is still resting, his snoring is soft and gentle. He works so many hours and does so much around the house I always hate to wake him. Daughter has headed off down the road to go visit Grams and I'm sitting here at the computer.
I just pulled my Bible over to me so I can continue reading where I left off. Proverbs 1. The next section is verses 8-19. These verses speak about the wisdom passed down from parents to children and how they should wear the things as a cloak. It seems that in Biblical times people often took the teachings of their parents or God and I suppose wrote them down. They would then wear a little leather pouch around their neck or wrist and these things would be inside. However, in this part of Proverbs that it not what it's telling us to do. Wear these things, let these things be who you are, let people around you know that you learned from your parents and the teachings of God by your actions and words. Mom and dad always taught us many lessons but one for example was not to steal. They always said you may not have the nicest things that money can buy but if what you have is paid for with money you have earned then it belongs to you, guilt free, and you can take "some" pride in knowing that you worked hard and earned an item. My folks were always an example of that. Both of them have always worked hard their entire lives. They had jobs, raised three children, had gardens, canned food, ran a cattle farm, planted flowers, cut hay on others land, cut wood for our fireplace and sold the extra. The list could go on and on, they were very hard workers, and I have tried my entire life to be a model of that.
As parents we need to work hard to be the model of the things God wants us to be and do, then teach these ways to our children. With the Grace of God our children will pick that up and run with it. They may turn from some of our teachings for a time but they will return to it. I have faith in that, faith that God will put someone in theirs paths to remind them of our ways, of His ways, and bring them back to it. The ones who try to lead us astray are building traps for themselves, should stealing be their way of life they are setting up the end of their own lives. As with many things it can start out so small and lead to so much. Today it may be stealing a candy bar and tomorrow robbing a bank. One way or the other it is going to lead to bigger crimes if it is not stopped.
My prayer for you all today is that if you know you have things going on in your life that shouldn't be there, things that could be leading you on a path to an end other than God, start today, right now, praying for God to intervene in your life. Get together with a local church, find Christian friends and have them pray for you as well. This road we walk in life has only two ends and most certainly I want you and I and as many people as possible to have our road end at the gates of God's Heaven. I pray also that if you know folks that are headed down the wrong path that you put them in fervant prayer and place their lives in God's hands.
I so hope you all have a blessed day in our Lord today. Be careful out in the heat, enjoy your families and the love that is there and MAKE time today to have Fellowship with your Heavenly Father, he waits for you and longs to have
Have you read through the book of Proverbs? If you haven't I
would like to suggest you take one chapter a day and read that in addition to
any other devotional you are doing. Proverbs is such an amazing read, things
have been made clear to me by reading through these chapters. I have also found
that each time I re-read a chapter I find something new, or a new meaning or
understanding. Proverbs is a never ending read in our household. Once we finish
the chapter we start it all over again.
Verse
2 explains right off the bat the purpose of the proverbs.
"for attaining wisdom and disipline; for understanding words and
insight;
Our entire purpose for reading the Bible should be
for wisdom, however, wisdom can not come without understanding. Wisdom is
knowledge/understanding put to good use.
Verse
3 goes further with this saying;
for acquiring a
disciplined and purdent life, doing what is right and just and
fair"
In order for us to gain the knowledge
the Bible/God's word has for us we must be disciiplined in the study of the
word. To daily be in God's word is a blessing above which I find no greater joy.
I can tell the difference in my days when I start out with God and conversation
followed by time in His word. If this is not a discipline of yours please try
hard to make it so. First thing in the morning is best since it's a great way to
start your day, however, if that is not possible just assure that a day doesn't
go by wtihout it. We should all strive to do what is good, just and fair. Often
times I fail to realize the damage I can do in a day with my mouth. The tongue
is designed to do good, to lift people up, to help them understand and to show
love. Sometimes when human nature takes over and we get upset our desire to do
good can be trashed simply by opening our mouths.
Verse 4
"for giving
prudence to the simple, knowledge and discretion to the
young"
It is amazing to look at some words as
you read the Bible and find that they do not have the same meaning as the word
has today. An example of that is found in verse4, the word simple. In today's
vocabulary simple means something is uncomplicated or straightforward, used in
the Bible it often meant innocent, harmless, honest and open. So if you go back
and re-read this verse and put innocent in the place of simple, then this verse
says to me, instruct the innocent, the young and the children. The men/women of
the Bible are instructed to teach the young boys/girls so they know the ways and
what are expected of them. It is still that way today, we teach our young. The
problem being in today's society that there seems to be a lot less teaching of
God's ways, rather the worlds ways.
Verse
5-7
"let the wise listen and add to their learning,and let
the discerning get guidance, for understanding proverbs and parables, the
sayings and riddles of the wise. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of
knowledge, but fool's despise wisdom and
discipline.
Verses 5-7 go on to tell the wise
to continue to listen, continue to add to their learning. No where is it giving
the indication that with a great deal of study you will one day know it all, it
absolutely is not possible for us to know it all God is so much more than our
human minds can ever try to comprehend. Studying the proverbs and parables are
important, the riddles of the wise are also found in Proverbs. To me they are
very straightforward, if you do this x is going to happen and if you don't do
this then x will happen. The last sentence always gets me, I want to stay in a
daily study to expand what I know and I certainly don't want to be known or
thought of as a fool who had the book of wisdom in her hands and didn't have the
discipline it took to read and understand it.
I have at times fallen off the horse so to
speak and have gone a few days without doing my daily study. It eats at me when
I do this, often times because I've been ill or down with my back. I hope that
you will find as I have that having that daily fellowship time with God and
being in His word will make a very real difference in your day.
Heavenly Father it is my prayer that anyone
reading this today will take Proverbs seriously Father, that they will daily
read and study your word, that they will make time to fellowship with you and
for them to realize Father how you long to fellowship with them. Father please
bless each person reading this today please make their paths as straight as
possible, their troubles few and far between and to keep them in good health. In
all things Father may this be done according to your will. In Jesus Holy Name I
Pray, Amen.
All scripture was
quoted from the NIV The Learning Bible.
I've been down today as the effects of my back do to me at times. I always hate these days and feel so useless. I needed some form of a pick me up so I managed to pull myself out of bed for a few moments to get online and check this second weeks writing contest I had entered. I was so hoping to land in the top 10, it would have made my day. Much to my suprise I didn't land in the top ten, rather my story got 3rd place. Oh the joy, I can't even explain, it was definitely the pick me up that I needed. So now that I have that joyful news I'm going to get back down to bed in hopes that tomorrow will be a better day.
It is funny how things can bug you when you are trying to sleep. I kept thinking of the story section I had added here and was just not happy with it. So I've gone in and deleted it and made it another "blog" as it is easier to work with in that manner.
I'm feeling much better this evening, so hopefully tomorrow I can get in here and share some great things with you. I've gotten out of the habit of reading a chapter of Proverbs daily and I must get back to that. If it is something that you are not doing I would strongly suggest that you do so. It has made an amazing difference in the lives of my husband, daughter and myself.
I will share with you tonight that I'm so happy. Our daughter began work on her first story that will be submitted to an actual Christian magazine. I'm so hopeful that she will write something that touched other kids her ages hearts, that is the purpose of the contest. Wouldn't it be outstanding for her to be a published author at the age of 11. However, whether she wins or loses this will be a great experience for her to see if writing is something that dwells in her soul as well.
You never are to old in this life to make new friends. I've often wondered to myself how would it be possible for me to do that as I spend so much of my time at home. Well I found out today, through a Christian Writing forumn that I go to I've met a beautiful lady. We just had our first hour long conversation on the phone and I can now add her to my list of new friends. On this note I would like to add that some of the social sites and places you can meet people to date, etc, may not be the safest place to meet new people, just be very careful.
That conversation, getting all the plants outside taken care of, God bless my daughter and grandson, and a nice early morning nap have taken up my day so far. I will get to my Bible study in a few moments and come back and share that with you as well. I just felt the urge to sit here and write for a bit. My desk sits right at a window and faces my parents farm. The place that was my security for growing up and being a kid. I so remember the horses I had there, time spent outside just being in nature and the beauty of it all. I long for that carefree time of my life where the days didn't seem to fly by like the breeze. Where my desires were to discover new things in the world around me and the peace I felt walking through the pastures or riding my horses. It's a great thing to be a kid, sadly most of us rush the clock forward to grow up as fast as we can, never realizing what we are leaving behind.
Introducing My New Blog I'm so excited to get this blog started. I have wanted to do one forever and something always seemed to get in the way. Each day I hope to bring some encouraging words to share with you. It seems every time I do a Bible study, whether at home on my own or at our church, Gods shows me things I've never seen before. One of the biggest lessons he has taught me here of late is to lean on Him. No matter the issue, that means if I'm upset, need help or I'm just happy to be alive and enjoying the wonders of his world. Three years ago when I was in an automobile accident I really thought life was over. The surgeries on my back, 4 of them, have left me with a physical disability and chronic pain. I started sliding down the slippery slope of depression. Thanks to the Grace of God and the help of my wonderful doctor we are getting it under control. He has shown me the power of prayer and at a time when I thought that God would only speak to us through his Word I have been shown that he uses many ways to speak to us. A few months ago I was trying to sleep, a thing that often evades me since the accident, it is just hard to get comfortable. On this paticular night I was sleeping well, then I woke up and realized I was thinking about boxes. Why on earth I would be thinking of boxes confused me so I rolled over and went back to sleep.This would continue to repeat itself throughout the night. Finally at 3 a.m. I thought this is enough, so I grabbed a pen and notebook and started writing. I wasn't writing for long and really I had no idea what I was writing. When I finished I put it down and slept better than I had in a really long time. The next morning when I woke up I found this writing and realized it was a letter from God to me and it changed my life. Not only in regards to how I was feeling about things but it reminded me that I've always loved to write and if God could use my writing like that maybe together we could use the written word to help others and glorify God. So I look forward to sharing some of these things I write and my prayer will be that they touch your heart and soul, maybe make you laugh a little, possibly help you with past/present hurts and see how good and amazing our God is.
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