God is like ...

GOD is like BAYER ASPIRIN ... He works miracles.

GOD is like a FORD ... He's got a better idea.

GOD is like COKE ... He's the real thing.

GOD is like HALLMARK CARDS ... He cares enough to send His very best.

GOD is like TIDE ... He gets the stains out that others leave behind.

GOD is like GENERAL ELECTRIC ... He brings good things to life.

GOD is like SEARS ... He has everything.

GOD is like ALKA-SELTZER ... Try Him, you'll like him.

GOD is like SCOTCH TAPE ... You can't see him, but you know He's there.

GOD is like DELTA ... He's ready when you are.

GOD is like ALLSTATE ... You're in good hands with Him.

GOD is like VO-5 HAIR SPRAY ... He holds through all kinds of weather.

GOD is like DIAL SOAP ... Aren't you glad you have Him.
Don't you wish everybody did?

until I’m in the presence of the most awesome garden ever

Yesterday, I spent some time outside in the warmth of sunshine. I suppose the day felt like an itty-bitty, teeny-weeny, minuscule piece of heaven on earth.

I enjoy my garden, enjoy getting my hands in the dirt, enjoy planting flowers, enjoy caring for them, enjoy watching them grow, enjoy their beauty. But, no matter how carefully I tend to and watch over these incredible plants, it’s the love of God that sustains these, His stunning creations. Yes, He made their beauty for me to enjoy......

Of course, if I throw seeds willy-nilly in the direction of unbroken dirt, or pitch them under the storage building, or walk all over them, what can I expect? If I have delicate, tender seedlings, but don’t plant them in good dirt, don’t gently cover the roots, don’t water them, don’t protect them, what can I expect? If I trample my garden, if I neglect my garden, if I ignore my garden, what can I expect? Yes, I’ll have nothing to admire......

God gave me everything I need to have a magnificent garden. It’s up to me to accept His gift, it’s up to me to take care of His gift, it’s up to me to use His gift, it’s up to me to share His gift. Yes, it’s up to me......

Without God, I wouldn’t have a garden. Eventually, my garden will wither and die. In the mean time, I’ll continue to enjoy my garden, until I’m in the presence of the most awesome garden ever, and marvel in its splendor for eternity......

The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God stands forever.
Isaiah 40:8 NAS

the dandy, dandy, dandelion

the little lady and the dandelion seeds...

The earth brought forth vegetation, plants yielding seed after their kind, and trees bearing fruit with seed in them, after their kind; and God saw that it was good.
Genesis 1:12 NAS











God made the dandelion and said, "It is good. The dandelion’s bloom is like a spot of sun to make my children smile. It is plentiful so they can eat the leaves and still never lack for flowers." He smiled when the seed ball popped up. "Yes, my little children will have fun with that, and look at all the fresh seeds for my songbirds weary from the winter. Yes, it is good."
(Unknown source)

poppy wouldn't dress like this for just anyone

bbq

Barbeque (barbecuing) is not a method of cooking food on a grill outside.
Instead, the proper name for that activity is grilling or grilling out(side).

Barbeque (bbq) (bar-be-que) is a food you eat. BBQ is cooked many different ways. My favorite good 'ole NC bbq is hickory smoked slow cooked pork. And, I like mine chopped.

This video clip is dedicated to the love of my life. Oh, that's my sweetie, not the bbq.
Hope you enjoy.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ubTQfr_tyY

and it was very good

This past Friday, sweetie and I went for a drive. Our destination was up to God’s Country – also known as Watauga County, NC. Would you believe the main reason for the trip was to eat a late lunch at Woodlands? That’s sort of the truth. Actually, our freezer was empty of Woodland’s barbeque and had to be restocked. My sweetie is a barbeque fanatic, addict, maniac, well, you get the idea.

I love to see the mountains in early spring. Every imaginable hue of green stretched over the hills and gaps and ranges and valleys and ravines. Tiny buds and delicate flowers in shades of red and yellow and blue and purple were sprinkled over the expansive landscape. A few patches of remaining snow peeked thru the otherwise fresh, new growth. Crystal creeks and pristine streams drifted peacefully by. The promise of another new season hung in the air.

A cool, rainy morning became a warm, sunny afternoon. The panoramic views displayed nature at its best. As I breathed in the pure mountain air and breathtaking views, I saw a little glimpse of heaven. Once again, the majesty of our Creator was revealed in the splendor I observed.

God saw all that he had made, and it was very good. Genesis 1:31 NAS

the Word

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God did not write a book and send it by messenger to be read at a distance by unaided minds. He spoke a Book and lives in His spoken words, constantly speaking His words and causing the power of them to persist across the years.

A W Tozer

lost? use your GPS

A GPS tracking system is a device that indicates where on earth you are and gives directions to your destination. It can solve the answers to these questions:
1. "Where am I?"
2. "Where am I going?"
3. "Where are you?"
4. "What's the best way to get there?
5. "When will I get there?"

There's also another GPS system. If you're lost, it shows directions to the way you should go. This GPS system is: God's Plan of Salvation! It’s also known as the Roman Road, the road to salvation.

The Roman Road is a detailed map for our salvation and eternal life with God. Just follow these steps:

1. We must realize we are all sinners and need forgiveness, and that we don’t deserve God’s gift of salvation.
Romans 3:23: for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,

2. God sent Jesus to die for us because He loves us so much. When we were still sinners, He died for us.
Romans 5:8: But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
4. Without Jesus, we'd die an eternal death. If we repent our sins, and accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior, we'll have eternal life with Him.
Romans 6:23: For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

5. We must admit our sins, and ask God to forgive us. We must believe that Jesus died and rose again to save us, and ask Him to live in our hearts
Romans 10:9-10: that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation. Romans 10:13 for "WHOEVER WILL CALL ON THE NAME OF THE LORD WILL BE SAVED."

If you want to receive Jesus as Lord and surrender your life to Him, then ask Him to save you. To accept Jesus as your Savior, ask God from your heart, in a simple prayer, such as:

Dear Jesus,
I believe you are the Son of God and that you died on the cross and rose again to give eternal life. I ask you to forgive me of my sins and I give my life to you. I turn from my sins and receive you as my personal Savior. Thank you for saving me. Amen.

Welcome to God's family!
Now that you've prayed the prayer, what's next?

Tell someone about your decision to live for Jesus. Find a local church to help you grow in your faith, to worship, and for fellowship with other believers. Spend time with God every day by reading and studying the Bible, praying to grow in your faith and trust in Him.

Salvation is a gift and a way of life. God has given us this plan because He loves us so much and does not want us to die, but to live with Him forever...

*(Somewhere, I came across the GPS, and thought it was the coolest acronym for God's great love and gift of grace and salvation. When studying the Roman Road, I found numerous variations of scriptures and versions of the steps to salvation. I drew from many of these Bible verses and plans, and summarized in my own words.)

time alone...with God

Spend time with God, in prayer and in praise and in worship...
The chorus of ‘Word of God Speak’ (by Mercy Me) speaks to me...


Word of God speak
Would You pour down like rain
Washing my eyes to see
Your majesty
To be still and know
That You're in this place
Please let me stay and rest
In Your holiness
Word of God speak

Immanuel

In last Sunday’s sermon, the pastor pointed out that Jesus felt unloved and unappreciated and used. I thought about that several times this week, and added other feelings I think Jesus may have felt. (I’m not including positive emotions here.)

Have you ever felt unloved?
Have you ever felt unappreciated?
Have you ever felt used?

denied?
sympathy?
tempted?
betrayed?
distressed?
deserted?
troubled?
pain?
rejected?
anger?
grief?

I’ve experienced each one, and Jesus identifies with them all. All of them, and so many more.

Sometimes I ‘forget’ that Jesus was fully man and fully God. Jesus was man. Yet He was man without sin. He shared the emotions of man and understands what we feel. He was one of us, but did not sin.

He was one of us! It’s wonderful to have a Savior who knows me so completely! Immanuel!

"BEHOLD, THE VIRGIN SHALL BE WITH CHILD AND SHALL BEAR A SON, AND THEY SHALL CALL HIS NAME IMMANUEL," which translated means, "GOD WITH US."
Matthew 1:23 NAS

Emmanuel, Emmanuel.
Wonderful, Counselor!
Lord of life, Lord of all;
He’s the Prince of Peace,
Mighty God, Holy One!
Emmanuel, Emmanuel.

every path has its puddle

For each and every choice I make, there can be benefits or detriments, positives or negatives, encouragements or discouragements, joy or sorrow, good or bad, or...

Sometimes, while walking along my path, I come upon a puddle. Sometimes the puddle is large and deep, and sometimes it’s shallow and miry, and sometimes it’s wide and murky, and sometimes it’s shiny and slippery, and sometimes...

I have a choice to make. I can walk around it or I can walk thru it, I can jump across it or I can run from it, I can face it or I can turn away, I can...

My path and my puddles, no matter what I face, when I fix my eyes straight down the path, God is always there. I’m never alone, God is always there, loving and teaching and guiding and comforting and forgiving and strengthening and blessing and listening and speaking and...

all the children of the world

and He took them

in His arms and

began blessing them,

laying His hands

on them.

Mark 10:16 NAS