My own series of unfortunate events

It all started innocently enough. I can honestly say, out of all the possible life altering outcomes, the end result was something I was totally unprepared for. Life is funny like that. Curve balls are randomly thrown to spice things up a bit. What begins as simply fun quickly becomes unplanned complexities and life altering.
Friendship can be that way. When you begin a friendship, it often is not premeditated. A random meeting of two strangers, an innocent conversation, a connection...the rest of the story is determined on the events that follow. The days, weeks, months, and years that follow. Each conversation a building block for the growing relationship. A blossom of beauty with no thorns in sight.
Reality is the thorns are right there, under the blooms and leaves. Thorns are a very real part of all relationships, and its how the thorns are dealt with that determines the result.
Christians are taught forgiveness and love without end. Jesus lived that way.  Families stay together with the glue that Jesus provided, love and forgiveness, and ultimately friendships are tested by these also.
When a friendship fails the test, and love and forgiveness are no longer enough, one of the people must choose to severe the bond. The one severed is left feeling broken, used, and forgotten. It is a desolate feeling. Many more people have experienced this than we realize, because it is this result that causes a person to retreat into themselves and fear all other relationships will subsequently finish the same way. This thought process is common, and yet a large misconception. Each individual must choose love and forgiveness...Jesus.....OR bitterness and grudges...Satan. It truly is so black and white afterwards, and yet during the unfortunate event of a severed friendship, ones thoughts are focused on that pain, that friends rejection, the lies...
Detoxification of the mind can repair the damage done by a severed friendship. Gods word has truths that will heal. He is the final answer. Take it from one who experienced it firsthand.

Hamburger Chowder

1 1/2 pound hamburger meat
3 -4 med potatoes, diced and boiled
1 med onion, chopped
1 can cream of mushroom soup
1 1/2 c milk
3/4 c shredded carrots
1 c cooked rice
2-3 beef bullion cubes
2 c water
Salt and pepper to taste

Brown hamburger meat and onion. Season to taste. In a stock pot, cook potatoes. Drain. Add all other ingredients. Bring to a boil. Serve with yeast rolls.

Great is thy Faithfulness

Godly Woman Daily Great is Thy faithfulness, oh God my Father;
There is no shadow of turning with Thee;
Thou changest not, Thy compassions, they fail not;
As Thou hast been, Thou forever wilt be.

Great is Thy faithfulness! Great is Thy faithfulness!
Morning by morning new mercies I see.
All I have needed Thy hand hath provided;
Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me!

Summer and winter and springtime and harvest,
Sun, moon, and stars in their courses above
Join with all nature in manifold witness
to Thy great faithfulness, mercy and love.

Great is Thy faithfulness! Great is Thy faithfulness!
Morning by morning new mercies I see.
All I have needed Thy hand hath provided;
Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me!

Pardon for sin and a peace that endureth
Thine own dear presence to cheer and to guide;
Strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow,
Blessings all mine, with ten thousand beside!

Great is Thy faithfulness! Great is Thy faithfulness!
Morning by morning new mercies I see.
All I have needed Thy hand hath provided;
Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me!

Great is thy Faithfulness -Selah
www.onlinechristiansongs.com
Great is Thy faithfulness, oh God my Father; There is no shadow of turning with Thee; Thou changest not, Thy compassions, they fail not; As Thou hast been, Thou forever wilt be. Great is Thy faithfulness! Great is Thy faithfulness! Morning by morning new mercies I see. All I have needed Thy hand ha...

December 2012

I just can't believe 2012 is almost over...that 2013 is days away. Indescribable. Paige is a Junior...can't believe she will graduate next year. Ugh. Proud of her. She is in Beta club, draws very well, making really good grades, teaches childrens church, substitute teaches Sunday school, and is taking Spanish, English, algebra II with trig, physics, Amarican History and is a kindergarten student aide for Mrs Miller this year. She is already accepting college information packets.
Kaegan is in 6th grade. He went to Space camp in Huntsville Al this year. He is on the A/b honor roll and loves science. He plays the drums and just started playing guitar really well.
Perry is 1 st grade. He is on the A/b honor roll, is reading well, and sings awesome. He loved his field trip to the Montgomery Zoo this year!!!
Our babies are growing up so fast. The older two are both taller than me, and Perry isn't far behind.
God has been soo good(;

No turning back

Chorus I can't turn back, I won't turn back, come too far to turn back now.

Can't turn back, won't turn back. come too far to turn back now.

Verse I've come too far from where I used to be, (no, no, I can't turn back). Since I met the Lord, I've been set free, (no, I won't turn back).

Things I used to do, I don't do anymore, places I used to go, I don't go anymore; I''ve come too far and I can't turn back.

Bridge 1 Come too far.

Bridge 2 Come too far, I, come too far.

Come too far, I can't, come too far.

Come too far, I can't turn, come too far.

Come too far, I can't turn back.

Vamp 1 No turning back.

Vamp 2 Can't turn, won't turn

The church and the world

The Church and the World walked far apart On the changing shores of time, The World was singing a giddy song, And the Church a hymn sublime.

“Come, give me your hand,” said the merry World, “And walk with me this way!” But the faithful Church hid her gentle hands And solemnly answered “Nay!

I will not give you my hand at all, And I will not walk with you; Your way is the way that leads to death; Your words are all untrue.”

“Nay, walk with me but a little space,” Said the World with a kindly air; “The road I walk is a pleasant road, And the sun shines always there.

Your path is thorny and rough and rude, But mine is broad and plain; My way is paved with flowers and dews, And yours with tears and pain.

The sky to me is always blue, No want, no toil I know; The sky above you is always dark, Your lot is a lot of woe. There’s room enough for you and me To travel side by side.”

Half shyly the Church approached the World And gave him her hand of snow; And the old World grasped it and walked along, Saying, in accents low:

“Your dress is too simple to please my taste; I will give you pearls to wear, Rich velvets and silks for your graceful form, And diamonds to deck your hair.”

The Church looked down at her plain white robes, And then at the dazzling World, And blushed as she saw his handsome lip With a smile contemptuous curled.

“I will change my dress for a costlier one,” Said the Church, with a smile of grace; Then her pure white garments drifted away, And the World gave, in their place, Beautiful satins and shining silks, Roses and gems and costly pearls; While over her forehead her bright hair fell Crisped in a thousand curls.

“Your house is too plain,” said the proud old World, “I’ll build you one like mine; With walls of marble and towers of gold, And furniture ever so fine.”

So he built her a costly and beautiful house; Most splendid it was to behold; Her sons and her beautiful daughters dwelt there Gleaming in purple and gold.

Rich fairs and shows in the halls were held, And the World and his children were there. Laughter and music and feasts were heard In the place that was meant for prayer.

There-were cushioned seats for the rich and the gay, To sit in their pomp and pride; But the poor who were clad in shabby array, Sat meekly down outside.

“You give too much to the poor,” said the World. “Far more than you ought to do; If they are in need of shelter and food, Why need it trouble you?

Go, take your money and buy rich robes, Buy horses and carriages fine; Buy pearls and jewels and dainty food, Buy the rarest and costliest wine.

My children, they dote on all these things, And if you their love would win You must do as they do, and walk in the ways That they are walking in.”

So the poor were turned from her door in scorn, And she heard not the orphan’s cry; But she drew her beautiful robes aside, As the widows went weeping by.

Then the sons of the World and the Sons of the Church Walked closely hand and heart, And only the Master, who knoweth all, Could tell the two apart.

Then the Church sat down at her ease, and said, “I am rich and my goods increase; I have need of nothing, or aught to do, But to laugh, and dance, and feast.”

The sly World heard, and he laughed in his sleeve, And mockingly said, aside: “The Church is fallen, the beautiful Church; And her shame is her boast and her pride.”

The angel drew near to the mercy seat, And whispered in sighs her name; Then the loud anthems of rapture were hushed, And heads were covered with shame.

And a voice was heard at last by the Church From Him who sat on the throne:

“I know thy works, and how thou hast said, ‘I am rich, and hast not known That thou art naked, poor and blind, And wretched before my face;’ Therefore from my presence cast I thee out, And blot thy name from its place.”

"...you shall be holy to Me, for I the Lord am holy, and have separated you from the peoples, that you should be Mine." Leviticus 20:26

"Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness? And what accord has Christ with Belial? Or what part has a believer with an unbeliever? And what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For you are the temple of the living God. As God has said: 'I will dwell in them and walk among them. I will be their God, and they shall be My people.' Therefore 'Come out from among them and be separate,' says the Lord. 'Do not touch what is unclean, and I will receive you. I will be a Father to you, and you shall be My sons and daughters,' says the Lord Almighty.” 2 Corinthians 6:14-18

by Matilda C. Edwards

Free falling story

Close friends, family, people you care about...all share one very important thing...love. Love is forever...no matter what.
That said...it is harder than anyone can imagine when you see someone make really stupid choices. It's so hard to see them free fall into their impending disaster. Nothing can prepare a girl for that. Nothing.
I have experienced it in a general way before...someone I knew. Someone I cared about. But never a confidante. The pain is indescribable.
I had to walk away...and honestly...ball my eyes out. It is a death in the worst way...when someone chooses the path to destroy themselves.
Hours and hours we spent in talks, trust growing, I really thought it would not end...that it could not end. Then I heard the first lie my dear one told about ME. Others followed and soon noone was exempt from the poisonous venom coming from a once sanctified mouth.
All I can do is love from a distance, and pray in earnest.
My.love.will.not.end.ever.but.I.refuse.to.watch.someone.self.destruct.
I do not have the strength to endure that pain daily, or even very often.
I must pray long and hard before meetings with the now time bomb.
Free falling never ever ends well....when you cut off your parachute.