September, 2000

All Around Home

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Just A Thought By Staff Writer Sharon Barrett When you change the sheets on your bed and put fresh ones on. You get into bed and it smells so sweet like fresh flowers, the sheets are cool to the touch, and you feel so secure, and warm, and sleep comes easy to the mind. God's love is the same way, when you crawl into His arms you feel safe and secure, sleep like a baby, and his love smells so sweet like fresh flowers, it warms you whole insides. When was the last time you crawled into the Lord's arms and slept feeling this way? "The shortest distance between a problem and a solution is the distance between your knees and the floor. The one who kneels to the Lord can stand up to anything."

Cover Page Christian Comedy Education Essays, Etc. Health Home Letters Marriage Parenting Poetry/Art Stewardship Sites to See Work Extra

Ode to Joy - The Trash Truck
By Michele Albertson

This morning was beautiful here in Podunk, and I say that affectionately....:) Got up with the chickens and saw the brightest glow through my closed bedroom blinds and had to get up to see what the commotion was about.

It had rained, and the earth was fresh. Humid. But fresh. So I made some coffee, and sat at the table. Have any of you ever had a conversation with an imaginary foe your really having problems with and you rehearse what you'd say if only they'd give you a chance to let them have it?

Well, that was what happened this morning. Yepper. Coffee, anger and self-pity - what a great breakfast blend, eh??? I don't think Folger's makes that one... And right after I'd read my daily devotion too!!! (*.*)

After I thought I'd talked out all the aggression, I got dressed and decided that I'd go for my walk before it got too hot. While working a good stride, here comes trash truck...

Darn, I thought, this truck is taking his time getting across, I need to cross the street and keep this stride....

So, I lose him, and go about my business, got those arms up, swinging myself to and fro, breathing and conentrating on my foes and wondering if they cared about the wrong they'd done me as much as I DID.....

Then the trash truck shows up again, and follows me half a block, we're competing to get to the intersection quicker than the other..... I make it in a trot and walk away victoriously....

Proud of my victory, I walk vigorously to the next block and do some more complaining in my thoughts.

The trash truck shows up again. Cuts me off at the next intersection. It stays in front of me and tears away, leaving the tantalizing aroma of garbage and deisel fuel in it's wake. (Do you all see where I'm going with this???)

I walk in a huff, disgusted with the trask truck and flailing my hands to rid "my atmopshere" of the fumes and such....

Then it hit me.

Nobody really wants to see the garbage truck. But we want the trash picked up. They leave the cans laying all over the yard, but at least the trash was picked up.

As Christians we don't want any garbage in our lives, and we take it to the Altar, to the cross and claim that we're going to let go. So, the garbage man comes to take it away, and before he's got it off the curb, we're picking through it again. Or chasing the thing down the road! (Hee heee, I can see that)

We want our lives clean, and we claim to take out the trash, but then fill up our minds with more of the same..... then complain while the thing follows us around... why not, we're dragging around enough with us that it has to!

Okay, Lord, I got it. Leave it at the curb. I'm not changing anybody, I can't even change myself, praise God, I'd mess that up too! (*.*)

Now, the repairmen are here this afternoon, and trying to figure out how to unclog my air conditioner pipes.... and will probably have to go through the ceiling or floor of my apartment into the dude's down below.... Okay, Lord, what's this picture going to be?

Domestic life never ends... thank God! He uses all kinds of everyday circumstances to paint pictures of what's going on in our lives.... mine is the garbage truck, and the clogged pipes....all the same kind of message, don't ya'll think???

Blessings and laughter- Michele

The Ten Cent Miracle
By Michele Albertson

My husband's on vacation this week, much needed - he graciously took the laundry to be done while I cleaned house yesterday - try not to be tooo rigid in my routine but I must stick to something to keep some structure.... so he left, dirty socks in tow.

I like to start my apartment off clean for the week ahead, it stays cleaner that way! Anyway, I get in moods to arrange a piece or two of furniture and there's not a whole lot I can do because of the entertainment center and computer set up - but I realized after taking the bookshelves to the guest room and making room for my husband's keyboard, that we needed extra seating. When the kids are here, the couch is easily spent with two kids and it leaves two of us out of a seat, and out of luck....

I said in passing to my best friend Paula that I'd like to find a chair or loveseat, nothing new, but clean and safe. That day we went garage saling and after visiting one, I realized I really didn't need anything, and didn't have but a buck or two so I might as well just go home...

THEN we saw another sign for another sale, so off we went. It was nice getting out of the house, so why not? We pulled up to one that said EVERYTHING 10 CENTS! So we rummaged around and found a few handbags, a book bag and then I saw a pretty rocking chair.... SOLD it said. Hmmmm.... then she pointed out behind me this little loveseat, I saw no price tag.... Surely it wasn't a dime, too?

Sure enough, the lady said it was and we talked a bit about the Lord and His mysterious ways in meeting what seems to be a menial or casual request. Nothing is menial or casual when it's a need. We hauled the thing home, cleaned it up and surprised my husband with it. He couldn't beleive that it was a dime.... he bragged on it to the kids when they came that night and I look at that silly little sofa and admire....

It isn't that we beleive for just material things.. it's that we beleive that the Lord loves us enough to do it. It was the perfect witness and a testimony I was just telling a friend two nights before.... and it happened for me. Okay, everything is an event in my life... but I look for Him, and I find Him in every part of my life!

Handy Hints
From: Shabalynn

Keep potato chips in the freezer. They keep for just ages and only take a minute to thaw at room temperature.

OLD WIVES TALE BUT, OH, DOES IT WORK GREAT!!!
Do you have a tooth ache and have to wait to go to the Dentist? Try this, it is amazing. What happens is the salt draws the pain right out!!! Gather an old face cloth, or clean rag, safety pin, salt and a frying pan. Put about a cup of salt in the cloth, fold it over so the salt doesn't leak from it. Pin it closed and put in frying pan. Heat until warm (Hot as you can take it, Salt has to get warm to hot) and put to face outside where tooth hurts. In minutes tooth ache is gone! You can reuse the same salt & cloth over again.

A dash of salt enhances the taste of tea, coffee and oatmeal.

Gelatin sets more quickly when a dash of salt is added.

To keep milk past it's expiration date add a pinch of salt to a gallon. The salt slows the rate of bacteria growth

Ice cream container sealed in a plastic bag will stop ice crystals from forming when it is in the freezer.

Potato chips all stale and yucky? Pop them in the microwave for 30 to 60 seconds, let stand for two minutes and they'll be crispy again.

Quick Whipping - A teaspoonful of cold water added to the white of an egg causes it to whip more quickly while increasing the quantity.

Measuring Honey - Measuring honey with a spoon is easy but getting it all off the spoon is another matter, so first rub the spoon with margarine.

Dropping Cookie Dough - To get cookie dough to drop without sticking dip the spoon in milk first.

Sticking Cake Layers - Cake layers sticking to the bottom of the pans? Put them back in a warm oven for a short time. The layers will then come out without a problem. Or, try lining the bottom of your pans with waxed paper.

Homes Filled with Jesus
A song by Dixie Phillips

Hey Everybody!

Please keep us in your prayers. My husband is a pastor and September 8th & 9th we host a 2-day, all day Gospel Sing. It runs from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. ~ both days. We are trusting for the Presence of the Lord to be on those grounds. There are so many people who need JESUS! God has richly blessed the Gospel Sing for which we are eternally grateful. We just covet all your prayers. PEOPLE NEED THE LORD!

I wrote a song a while ago ~~~ I'd just like to share the lyrics with you..... I have such a burden for the homes
in our world.

HOMES FILLED WITH JESUS

1. Sometimes I pray for earthly things that I don't really need
Material gain, prosperity just add to my heart's greed.
But tonight I come with a humble heart and I bow before Your throne.
This time what I'm asking for is a Godly home.

CHORUS
A home that is filled with JESUS
A home where the husband loves his wife.
The family that prays together is
the family who stays together.
Give us homes that are filled with JESUS!

2. To have a Godly home I must be a Godly wife
Lord, fill me with Your Spirit
May Your love flow through my life.
When the winds begin to blow
Help me keep my eyes on You
Every storm that our home faces
Lord, we know You'll see us through.

TAG
And the children that You send to us
Are precious gifts from You.
Lord, help us to raise them
In the way You want us too
For the family who prays together
Is the family who stays together
Give us homes that are filled with JESUS!

Last tag
Lord, we need homes that are filled with JESUS!

God bless you and may God bless your home!
Lovingly,
Dixie

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