Magical Monday (what's a "M" word for "50 mph wind"?

In our Bible study and prayer time this morning, a couple of verses "jumped out at me."  We were reading 2 Corinthians 1.

First, the perfect answer to "why does God allow His people to suffer?" is answered in verses 3-7.

"3 All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is our merciful Father and the source of all comfort. 4 He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us. 5 For the more we suffer for Christ, the more God will shower us with his comfort through Christ. 6 Even when we are weighed down with troubles, it is for your comfort and salvation! For when we ourselves are comforted, we will certainly comfort you. Then you can patiently endure the same things we suffer. 7 We are confident that as you share in our sufferings, you will also share in the comfort God gives us."

Not only will we be able to relate to the suffering of someone else, we will be able to say, "When this was happening in my life, I turned to God and He brought me through it and He will do the same for you when you turn to Him." Revealing the love of Jesus to someone who is suffering will bring them the comfort they need.

Next, have you ever wondered why people say, "AMEN!" when they agree with something a preacher is preaching?  Here's the answer:

"20 For all of God’s promises have been fulfilled in Christ with a resounding “Yes!” And through Christ, our “Amen” (which means “Yes”) ascends to God for his glory."

"Amen" means we agree wholeheartedly that Christ IS the fulfillment of all of God's promises. [insert "YES" and a pumped fist!] And God, our Father, loves to hear our acknowledgement of Jesus Christ, our Savior.

A prayer for daughter, LaNae, to do well on her Microbiology and Anatomy exams today would be greatly appreciated.  The acing of these exams will bring her one step close to becoming a surgical nurse.

Don and I went west a few miles this morning to Caney, Kansas, to have lunch at the Caney Kitchen.  It was an enjoyable experience. 

When we first sat down, Don noticed a sign on the wall that stated:  ~~"When did my wild oats turn into shredded wheat?"~~

Why did I immediately think of Rick?  (Love ya, Buddy!)

And then two couples came in together; one couple was apparently the senior parents of the first couple.  Now, I'm an incurable people person; people just intrigue me and I really wasn't eaves-dropping, it's just that they sat down at the table right next to us.  So, I over heard the man say to his wife as he was pointing to his hand, obviously at a sore or something, "What's this?"  The senior parent across the table said in her best "well, dummy" voice, "Looks like a hand to me."  It was the personality dynamics present that made me almost spew my food when I heard this.  Location situation? Maybe, but it was funny. 

A little later, the wife asked the husband if he thought the movie he was watching last night was stupid and he said, "That movie would have to get a lot better than it was to even be stupid."  Entertaining folks.

Look around, listen discreetly, there's something to make you smile every day.  And those who live near Rick have a special advantage.  If Rick doesn't make you smile, you need to have dirt shoveled over you. 

Did I mention that the wind is blowing like crazy here today? Gusting to almost 50 mph.  The Quantum may leave the ground any minute. It's still better than what they say is coming tomorrow: snow.

This is the big house that is part of an estate in Caney, Kansas.  There was a carriage house and servants quarters on this property. Beautiful home. Dogs that will ride on the back of a flat-bed truck amaze me. We were on Hwy. 166 coming into Coffeyville from Caney when we passed this truck. The Coffeyville Wal-Mart is not a supercenter and we noticed a "For Sale" sign on the property.  Now we're wondering where they're going to build another Wal-Mart here. Maybe they're not?

Random Thought of the Day:

The Food Channel was on this afternoon and one of the cooking stars was making something that needed sugar and butter and she said it needed to be blended until the "two were one."  Hmmm. I wonder what the symbolism of the wedding cake is?  Google-time.  Well, the history of the wedding cake goes waaaay back, but I didn't find the symbolism that I was searching for.  Everything I found regarding the wedding cake sounded, well, superficial.  Doesn't it seem obvious to you what a wedding cake would symbolize or is it just me?  Can the ingredients of a wedding cake ever be separated and returned to their original form?  I think not.  Hence, the perfect symbol of a Christian marriage:  "... 'For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh'? So they are no longer two, but one. Therefore what God has joined together, let man not separate." (Matthew 19:5-6) Wouldn't it be wonderful if every marriage was as inseparable as the ingredients in the wedding cake? (You will never look at a wedding cake the same and neither will I.)