10-14-08 thru 16-08

It's been a few days since I last posted.

Tuesday afternoon, we received a knock on our door.  A dear gentleman, Gene, from a few doors down, came to tell us of a couple in the park who lost their dog after she chewed up a bottle of meds yesterday.  When they got home and found her, they rushed her to the vet in Independence, but she didn't make it.  We thanked Gene for letting us know, and we put on our shoes and headed over to the Bligh's to check on them and see if there was anything we could do for them.  Mrs. Bligh was still visibly shaken from the ordeal.  Bob was being strong and not showing emotion but he was talking about Jazz.  They both had wonderful things to say about the vet they took her to.  I had met Bob and Jazz a few days ago and regret that I didn't have my camera with me.  She was two years old, white with black speckles.  Here's a pic of Simon Bligh.  Bob says if you want a watchdog, don't get a greyhound.  They are so kind.And Sadie Bligh... she's 12 years old and not feeling to well.We love meeting new friends, but we regret the circumstances that brings about these meetings occasionally.

Wednesday morning, we arose early and were on the rode to Norman, OK by 7:15 am.  Don's Uncle Eddie's went home to be with the Lord on Saturday, 11/11/08, after a long bout with heart disease, COPD and diabetes.  His wife is Don's mother's sister who is only 10 years older than Don.  Don and Bernice grew up together and and very close.

We had an early dinner with LaNae, Mike and Blaine.  Lydia was at swimming lessons and was spending the night with a friend.  It was so good to get to spend a little time with them.  We got to hear all about Mike & Blaine's father/son camp-out with their church and how Blaine got lost... it still scares Blaine to talk about it.  Didn't make Mike feel real good when it happened either. They debated on the way home whether they would tell Mama that Daddy almost lost her son.Mike was pretty nervous about surgery he's having on his shoulder the next morning.  We prayed for him. [He came through the surgery with flying colors and the doctor said the spurs weren't as bad as he thought they were going to be... one little spur is still very painful and he had more than one little one.] After dinner LaNae had to go to class for an anatomy exam. [She felt like she did really well on it... we prayed God would give her instant recall.]  All too quickly was our time with them over.  Our evening was happily spent playing dominoes with Mama Trudy. We were all tired and went to bed before 10:00 pm.  We had had a tough day and Mama had been busy all day and had not taken one nap... she usually takes two... so we turned in.

Thursday, we drove up to Cedar Valley RV Park just west of Guthrie, OK to visit Dennis and Sally Maloney, CRM General Director.  [If you're interested in purchasing an RV park, this is a beautiful park with about 90 sites, wrapped by a golf course and it's going to be auctioned off on October 30th.  Grab your check book, you can probably get it at a really good price! This is a view from the Maloney's RV of part of the golf course.  The park is up on a hill and you can see for miles.  Really pretty.] They are there resting and visiting family until Sunday, at which time they will head for there winter ministry destination of Alamo, Texas. As we drove through Guthrie, I couldn't take all the pictures of the beautiful old homes along the way, but there are some really nice ones.  I think I recall that Guthrie has a Home Show, annually.  I sure would love to see inside these homes.  Sorry, this one is a little blurry... we were moving, you know.  They are all so well preserved.Our firemen friends will appreciate this picture of an old fire station. (I almost missed it.)And the church buildings were plentiful.  Here's the First Baptist, the Methodist (with dome) and the Presbyterian Church (tall building beyond the Methodist church) all together. We headed west on Hwy. 33 toward Cushing, OK.  We crossed the Cimarron River at least three time... it sure is winding. The Arkansas River, pictured here, flows right through Tulsa.Here are a few pictures of north Oklahoma countryside. We saw several areas that have been destroyed by fire in the past summers. 

We arrived back in Coffeyville around 4:00 pm, in time to be home when Sally brought the mail and checks from the Express Personnel office in Independence.  A few folks came by to get their mail.  Tomorrow is my long day as Amazon.com workamper employees may pick up their checks from 9:00 am - 6:00 pm. from me, so being tired, we were ready to turn in.

"Being transformed into Jesus' image is a lifelong process.  Ask God to help you cooperate with Him in strengthening the family likeness."- Dr. Charles Stanley

"He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High..

>>an update I wanted to share<<

Amen!

October 13

BIBLE MEDITATION:
“A merry heart maketh a cheerful countenance.”
Proverbs 15:13

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:
What is a smile? Here is something from an anonymous source: “A smile costs nothing, but creates much good. It enriches those who receive it without impoverishing those who give it away. It happens in a flash, but the memory of it can last forever. No one is so rich that he can get along without it. No one is too poor to feel rich when receiving it. It is rest to the weary, daylight to the discouraged, sunshine to the sad and nature’s best antidote for trouble. Yet it cannot be bought, begged, borrowed or stolen.”

ACTION POINT:
When you get dressed this morning, don’t forget to put on a smile. Wear a smile all day from the inner joy that only Jesus can bring to your heart. Don’t feel an inner joy? Then, ask for one!

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Well praise be to God!  I'm off to the laundromat in town... with a smile!

Sunday in Coffeyville

Church was good this morning, numbers were down due to people starting work that were present last Sunday.  We are discussing having a Saturday night worship service for those who work the day shift and are unable to attend church on Sunday morning.

The message was "Reaching Out" with text from Matt. 25:33-40.  Driving through this town will grip your heart.  There is much poverty here and we are praying  for God's leading in how to be a part of His hands and feet here.  These blank lots represent over three hundred houses that were destroyed in the 2007 flood.  We have heard that the City of Coffeyville will give you a lot if you will build a house, to specifications, on that lot.

Don was hungry for a "hot meal" as opposed to a sandwich, I guess, so we supported another local establishment, El Charro, Authentic Mexican Restaurant. I was amazed at all the hand-painted decor....outside and...inside.Don trying to decide which hot meal he wanted. More artwork... this is one out of a row of windows up where the wall meets the ceiling.  These paintings on glass were amazing and I wished I could have taken a picture of each one, but there were many of them.. all different.I think the artist misspelled 'Cancun.' The gentleman that checked us out said a lady hand-painted all the El Charro Restaurants and that she was expensive.After lunch (the spinach enchiladas were very good), we drove around.  The house I previously posted a picture of... this is a better view. Wouldn't you love to see inside this house.  Wonder how many rooms there are?I'm only showing pictures of houses that are pleasing to the eye.  For every house like this, there are twenty that you or I would not live in, unless we had no choice.We found the hospital.  Actually, Don has been here before.  Grandson Taylor, was born here.It's a pretty big hospital.The Sherwin-Williams Plant.Due to the refinery that is here, there are a lot of railroad tracks, also.There's a dead tree in this picture.  I'm surprised that there are any trees alive here due to the flood and oil spill.These are pictures of the refinery, from the street, of course:Levees have been built around the refinery in case of another flood.This is the Verdigris River just east of the refinery... the banks are much eroded from the flood.The river bottom area covers thousands of acres.Further out from town.We came to the small community of Liberty where this old church building is for sell.  The building is small, but looks to be in good condition.This is a sad commentary on the condition of the entire community.More ravages of the flood.We enjoyed our short drive, even though it was sort of depressing.  There is beauty in this area and there is pride, courage and a resolve to rebuild.  Out of 53 businesses destroyed, seven have re-opened for business.

We watched the Cowboys get beat by the Cardinals.  This has not been a good weekend for Don's favorite teams.  And that's all I'm going to say about that.

Did I mention that it was very windy here today.  I thought it was windy in Oklahoma, but so far, it's been just as windy here in Kansas.

Hey, DeAnn, my right eye is doing that swelling thing again tonight.  It has to be allergies, with all this wind.  I'll double up on grapeseed extract.

I've enjoyed reading everyone's blogs tonight.  Snookie got caught up... she's a busy lady now that she's activities director at Quail Run.  We're are thrilled that her team is coming together like a well oiled machine, like a hand and glove, like a pocket on a shirt... you get the picture.  We know she will do a great job for all the folks at QR! 

And then there's that bunch in Florida... having fun in the sun.  Wonder if Dave and Darlene are all set up yet?

My niece, the piano player, reminiscing about her college piano instructor in her post made me wish I had known her or better, learned to play the piano under her instruction.  Playing the piano sure would come in handy for us in this ministry.

Congratulations to Cathy and Jack on the birth of their new grandson, Nicco.  We pray baby and mother are doing good.

We haven't read anything new from Sharon and Tom in quite a while.  C'mon Sharon, we need to hear from you.

I'm compelled to ask you all to pray... get alone, sit quietly, listen to your heart and pray.  That is my prayer, tonight, for each one reading this. 

Easily entertained in Coffeyville

Yes, it only takes a small thing like a kitty on top of our 5'er to entertain us and our neighbors.  From inside, we watched Callie climb a tree beside our 'house' ... we knew she would probably be on the roof, so I grabbed the camera and go outside.  Yep, there she is, happy as a queen on top of a mountain.For a minute, we thought she would going to come down the ladder. But in true cat fashion, she changed her mind.  She's there on top of the slide-out.  Her owner is in the blue.He coaxed and coaxed, but she ignored until she was ready to come down ... the same way she went up.Safe and sound on the ground with eight happily entertained people going back to their respective dwellings.  Yes, we are easily entertained.

The Rapture could happen at any time now, maybe today.

I Thessalonians 4:13-18 (NKJV)

13 But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep, lest you sorrow as others who have no hope.

14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus.

15 For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep.

16 For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first.

17 Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord.

18 Therefore comfort one another with these words.

1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 (New Living Translation)

"...did you know that so many biblical clues have coalesced concerning end-time prophecy that not a single event needs to happen in order to begin the countdown to planet earth's final days?  The countdown will begin with the Rapture of the church -- when Jesus Christ appears in the sky to call all true believers (living and deceased) to himself (1 Thess. 4:16-17).  When that happens, the Holy Spirit will be removed from earth and the Antichrist will become publicly known (2 Thess 2:1-12 [<click to read this!]).  And then, to put it literally and biblically, all hell will break loose on the earth.

     The clues are clear:  The Rapture of the church could happen today.  I urge you not to ignore the signs God had given in abundance for all who have eyes to see and ears to hear." (quote from Dr. David Jeremiah)<<check out Dr. Jeremiah's new book:  What In The World Is Going On? >>Excerpts from the book<<

[Dr. David Jeremiah is a pastor that Don and I respect very much.  We receive his devotional magazine monthly and listen to him on the radio/TV when we can.]

Do you pick up pennies?

Wow, something to think about...

You always hear the usual stories of pennies on the sidewalk being good luck, gifts from angels, etc. This is the first time I've ever heard this twist on the story.

Gives you something to think about.

"Several years ago, a friend of mine and her husband were invited to spend the weekend at the husband's employer's home. My friend, Arlene, was nervous about the weekend. The boss was very wealthy, with a fine home on the waterway, and cars costing more than their house.
The first day and evening went well, and Arlene was delighted to have this rare glimpse into how the very wealthy live. The husband's employer was quite generous as a host, and took them to the finest restaurants. Arlene knew she would never have the opportunity to indulge in this kind of extravagance again, so was enjoying herself immensely.
As the three of them were about to enter an exclusive restaurant that evening, the boss was walking slightly ahead of Arlene and her husband.
He stopped suddenly, looking down on the pavement for a long, silent moment.
Arlene wondered if she was supposed to pass him. There was nothing on the ground except a single darkened penny that someone had dropped, and a few cigarette butts Still silent, the man reached down and picked up the penny.
He held it up and smiled, then put it in his pocket as if he had found a great treasure. How absurd! What need did this man have for a single penny? Why would he even take the time to stop and pick it up?
Throughout dinner, the entire scene nagged at her. Finally, she could stand it no longer. She casually mentioned that her daughter once had a coin collection, and asked if the penny he had found had been of some value.
A smile crept across the man's face as he reached into his pocket for the penny and held it out for her to see. She had seen many pennies before! What was the point of this?
'Look at it.' He said. 'Read what it says.' She read the words ' United States of America '
'No, not that; read further.'
'One cent?' 'No, keep reading.'
'In God we Trust?' 'Yes!' 'And?'
'And if I trust in God, the name of God is holy, even on a coin. Whenever I find a coin I see that inscription. It is written on every single United States coin, but we never seem to notice it! God drops a message right in front of me telling me to trust Him? Who am I to pass it by? When I see a coin, I pray, I stop to see if my trust IS in God at that moment. I pick the coin up as a response to God; that I do trust in Him. For a short time, at least, I cherish it as if it were gold. I think it is God's way of starting a conversation with me. Lucky for me, God is patient and pennies are plentiful!
When I was out shopping today, I found a penny on the sidewalk. I stopped and picked it up, and realized that I had been worrying and fretting in my mind about things I cannot change. I read the words, 'In God We Trust,' and had to laugh. Yes, God, I get the message.
It seems that I have been finding an inordinate number of pennies in the last few months, but then, pennies are plentiful! And, God is patient.."  Author unknown

[thanks to Art for sending this to me]

New 'Blogger' Feature

I have just added "Blogs I Am Following" to my Blogger Dashboard.  It's easy.  Just log in and go to your Dashboard.  All the instructions are there. 

Sweet!  I have a "follower"... some one who follows Baker's Blessings.  Welcome to Michele!  She is the sweet mom of three year old Abby, who we have been praying for as she endures chemo treatments for leukemia.  Abby's dad is Brent Riggs who is the author of SeriousFaith.com which is linked to my blog in my favorites on the right.  You will be able to visit their family blog and check on Abby.  Thanks to everyone for your prayers for this precious little girl.