YouTube - what if His people prayed - casting crowns - worship video

YouTube - what if His people prayed - casting crowns - worship video

State of Tennessee "Career Center"

You know, they can name it what they want to make all of us feel better about ourselves, but Unemployment is Unemployment. For someone who's never been let go from a job in my entire working career, its an eye opening experience. Most everyone in the building has been there numerous times and can tell you exactly what's going to happen next. Of a room full of people there were 3 of us who'd never filed for unemployment before. By nine in the morning, there were probably 30 people and when number 31 came in, she told him it was a 5 hour wait. I was number 25 and that was getting there at 8:00 when they opened? Figure that one out...there are "carry over people" who they let in at 7:30 to get in line first. Then there are people who come in for assistance in finding a job, they're required to fill out a form and sit and wait until someone can counsel them and send them out on an interview, so in a room that holds 40, 20 were there for that and 35 were there for filing for unemployment.

Now its lunch time and number 22 is called back. We're all starving, because its taking so long, and they suddenly call back 6 of us into a conference room. This is under the premise that "they" want to help us get outta there faster. After 10 minutes, we discover that two of the people had not recorded their reason for dismissal correctly. See, only the laid off people could be in this "fast track" meeting. Once she talked to me, it was less than 5 minutes to get all she needed and give me what I needed. So, why do you think it took 4 1/2 hours to meet with 21 people? I have my suspisions, but that will be another blog.

I am planning to write a letter to Govenor Bresdesen and ask him why in the world Tennessee doesn't follow the rest of the states' lead and have a phone registration process. Evidentally (from one of many conversations while waiting) TN is the only state that is still in the middle ages. I know that might mean closing some offices and streamlining a process that has evidenally become too combersome for the small and aging workers, but, I believe I pay taxes in this state and the salaries of these folks and I vote for a reduction in staff and a telephonic process for unemployment. Anyone Second that emotion?

Well now that I've registered, there is a week long waiting period before I will call in and then another week before I get a check which is at the max for me, at $275. per week. If I remain unemployed for 5 weeks, I'll get that first week, but, if I get a job before 5 weeks, then I never see that first week's pay. I don't think that it will break the bank, but that seems cheesy, not to get that money, another note on the Bredeson memo....

At any rate, I've interviewed for two and spoken with another one who'll set up an interview for a third and I've been out of work a week. So, By God's grace, I'll not be unemployed for my $275. Its all good, and God is good, the State of TN is weak with their policies and procedures.

CD's List

CD - This is for You

A – Age: 50
B – Bed: Queen
C – Chores You Hate: Cleaning the toilet
D – Desert You Love: M&M Sonic Blast
E – Essential Start Your Day Item: Coffee with vanilla creamer
F – Favorite Actors: Tom Hanks, Will Smith, Roy Scheider (RIP)
G – Gold or Silver: Silver
H – Height: 5’8”
I – Instruments You Play: Played the flute from 10 – 13 yrs (none now)
K – Kids: 4 including step children and 3 grandbabies
L – Living Arrangements: In a beautiful home with two living areas shared with my Mother.
M – My Name Is: Cody's Mom
N – Nicknames: Net, Netters, Netski, Nettie
O – Overnight hospital stay: Gallbladder surgery, C-Section, Knee Surgery
P – Pet Peeve: My 70 lb puppy Gunner, figuring out how to open my drawers and getting stuff out.
Q – Favorite Quote: 2 Cor 1:20 For how many so ever be the promises of God, in him is the yea: wherefore also through him is the Amen, unto the glory of God through us.
R – Right or Left Handed: Right
S – Siblings: 1 Brother (deceased)
T – Time you woke up today: 4:00am
U – Unique Habit: Watching the 1st 48 hours
V – Vegetables You Hate: Mustard Greens ewwww
W – Wishing for: To win the lottery
X – x-rays You’ve Had: Chest, Knee, Teeth, ankle, Shoulder,
Y – Yummy food you make: Chicken Enchilada Casserole
Z – Zodiac Sign: Libra

Interesting Day

Today, my son was sick, my mom was still stuggling with her cough, I started coughing yesterday and it got worse today, and I ended up staying home with him hoping to head off at the pass any potential flu. Cody seems better tonight, and will probably go back to school tomorrow. Although I'd like to have a day of rest, I'm not sure whether I'll be heading back or not. While I rested today, I worked on a slide show for the Church, I used a trial presentation software, that I will purchase now because its a breeze to work with and once I have the downloaded purchase, I'll be re-doing the slide show, but this is a sneak preview. Then at 4:00, I got a call that our assoc pastor's daughter was in an accident with their only vehicle, and she's about 11 weeks pregnant, but Praise God, she is fine, a little bruised up, but otherwise OK. They'll be checking her further, but they were not concerned based on her injuries. The Lord watches over doesn't he? We know that He'll be using this for good, no matter what it seems like right now, its exciting to wait and see what he'll do from this. Enjoy the video.

Why Is Worship Important? | Living Water Christian Church, Parkville Missouri (Kansas City area)

Why Is Worship Important? | Living Water Christian Church, Parkville Missouri (Kansas City area)

Why do we worship. An excellent picture of the need for worship.

There it goes again....

Why is it that people become so defensive when the truth is revealed? Is it guilt, fear, self consciousness? It's no secret that people who are battling weight problems have many reasons for the battle. Its a war of sorts, battling our circumstances, our environment, our culture (or subculture) of excess, poverty, something. There's always a reason. And yet, the greatest reason of all, ourself never gets considered. There has to be a selfish motive for striving for success. in whatever endeavor we're tackling. With weight issues it has to be that we desire health for ourselves more than that next donut or french fry. We have to find the place in ourselves that says I won't do it, I won't leave my family because of a lifestyle I chose to live over their needs and wants.

We're bombarded with messages on every front, have this chocolate, you deserve it, but wear a size 0 to be acceptable. Plus sized models are doing eveything they can to convince this world that skinny is not all that, yet, skinny is required for acceptance no matter how many times they make a splash on the magazines or TV. They're like the poster children for some sort of disability. It's no different than when people would say, "she's got such a pretty face, if she could just lose some weight." The one thing they have done for us is provide a large choice of clothing, that's good, right. Or would it be better if we didn't have that choice, that if we were going to stay overweight, we would be forced to wear black or brown pants and some style of shirt in various colors. Since we're in a nation of largely overweight people at an all time high per capita, could it be because we're allowed to choose to stay this way. I know that the plus models and activists are preaching that they are just as healthy and some more than the skinny anorexic models, but wait til they're 45 or 50 and it all catches up with them.

People have to know that no overweight person chooses to be over-weight. It limits your opportunities whether social or physical or in a career. No matter how much we say it, its not all about "what's inside a person." Or maybe it is, what's inside an overweight person is generally not healthy either physically or emotionally or both. Living in the south its more evident that most places. I've not had bad health, I've always had great blood pressure, blood sugar, chloresterol, and so on, until 50, its like a switch turned off that was keeping me there and now my body said enough is enough. We're going to fall apart now. Thanks for taking such good care of me, now you'll suffer for making me carry all that weight around all those years.

Well, now I'm beginning to ramble. Though I don't have the wisdom I wish I had, I do have vast experience in this subject matter and pride always comes before a fall, for those who are near their goal and wish to stand in judgement of the rest of us who are struggling.

Dog Owners and Vacations

Our son is a new father of a bouncing baby boy, who they've named Younger Lee Gage Mann. This new life is in Montana, a mere 1883 miles from our home which might as well be a million. We're desperate to see this new grandbaby and be part of his life, and then the dilema. We are beginning a plan to go there and then there's the Mann K-9 brigade, Bitsy (the princess), Baxter (in the pic above), Shorty the old mann, and Gunner, the Christmas dog at my blog. I love these guys, but they sure do affect every aspect of your life, if you want to travel, you have to find them a place to stay that doesn't break the bank or take them with you. Taking with only works when camping, and we've not done that with Gunner yet (perish the thought). So checking around, a minimum $20 per day per dog, that's 4 x $20, or $80.00 per day for a minimum 10 days, $800 to board these fuzzy chillens. I just can't figure it out, but I'll be working on it. With the cost of gasoline, boarding the fuzz and eating and sleeping, It will be 2009 before we can save up enough....any thoughts?

INTERNET FRIENDS

I've discovered something about myself. I really enjoy meeting new friends on the internet that I would otherwise never have met. I like being a cheerleader for someone who I've grown to care about, though I've never seen nor met. I love being able to pray blessings into someone's life, and the knowledge that I can make a difference with my prayers for that person. CD - you know who you are. Whats so great, is that I am blessed by this as much as those I pray for. The Lord continues to teach me how I have been blessed to be a blessing, I want that so much in my life, to bless others, not with monitary blessings, but with those on a much higher level. Thanks Jesus, you've amazed me once more with your grace and mercy.

It has to hurt really really bad to get better?

Now what kind of twisted logic is that? I've been suffering from a "strain" type of injury in my shoulder/upper arm for about a year now. I finally decided to have it looked at, lo and behold, I had "tendonitis" for A YEAR?! OMG, the doc said I could take two pills a day and go to Physical Therapy or, have a shot. Well I'm no wanny, but, I'd heard about these "shots" and I was none to anxious to have this horrific pain they have talked about. So I opted for the pills. I hate taking pills, and am not very good at it, I forget often, so needless to say the pill thing wasn't working. Also, the thought of 6 weeks of PT did not appeal to me at all, so I called, cancelled the PT and asked the Doc to give me the shot this past Monday morning. Well, it hurt a little when he gave it to me but really, no big deal, but, by the end of the work day, my arm felt worse than it had before the shot, it hurt so bad, I had trouble sleeping that night, "cortisone, thy name is EVIL." Anyway, I hurt so much that it was hard to even pull up my pants, put on my coat, I felt like it was never going to stop. But, here it is Wednesday and my arm doesn't hurt at all. What's up with that? Why should something so good have to hurt so bad to make you not hurt? Who ever came up with this solution, thanks for the relief. I think I've figured it out, I really haven't stopped hurting from the original pain, but the pain from the shot was so bad, that I just think it quit hurting? Yeah, maybe.

Friday "finally"

This has been quite a week. Here we are in February already. Its amazing how some weeks just drag and others speed by so quickly, this was a drag week, not to be confused with a drag queen. That's a whole different blog post. Anyway, we're working on our 5th grade science project this weekend for the science fair (notice I said WE'RE). I'm pretty sure what we're going to do, but I may let them come up with it tomorrow. It should be fun, if we can keep Gunner out of the project long enough to get it done. Ahhh Gunner, what a mess. He's like the kid you never wanted to have, but can't seem to keep him outta the house, he just won't run away. (jus kiddin, I love gunner, thus his Christmas pic on my post). But a 75 lb, not quite a year old kid, oh I mean Labradoodle kid, is just, oh, you know, a pup in grown up dog fur. Wish us luck on our science project...

Monday Blues (not)

What a great day, feel like I got alot accomplished. And, I got a call from Nike wanting to talk to me about a position in EHS. You never know what tomorrow will bring. I know that no matter what happens with QW, the Lord has my back and we'll all be fine. Its all good.

Sunday Afternoon

Another glorious service in the Lord. We had a visiting pastor who'd been through some stuff, but the Lord has brought him out and has brought our churches together for a purpose, we don't know what that purpose is yet, but what an opportunity to reach the area with the two of bodies of believers working together. His group came to hear him and lead the worship and it was a blessed Holy Spirit filled ser vice. Pray for Pastor Eddie and his church, the Fountain of Living Waters church as the Lord continues to do His work there.

Death & Taxes

CLICK ON MONKEY TO SEE WHERE EVIL SHOULD GO....

God works in miraculous ways. THAT Church is blessed and now we can move forward because He is in control. We won't have a cloud hanging over us any longer. Now we can focus on the task at hand. THANK YOU JESUS for your many blessings, and compassion and grace. Now we pray that the people who have come against us will be blessed with your mercy and grace as well, and that somehow their lives will be turned around because of the work You have done on behalf of THAT Church. What others meant for evil, You have made good.

Closed for Business

Well, after watching the stock plummet from $14.00 to $0.17, the company has filed for Chapter 11, reorganization. We could see it coming, but how sad. I really love working here, and even though this is the case, I'm not concerned or upset, because the Lord gave me this opportunity and I've learned things I can take to my next job that he'll provide as well.

Thank You Jesus for this chance to build my self esteem, to know that I have value on my job, and that I don't have to be protected by someone because someone else wants to eliminate my job. Isn't it great that there is a place for everyone, and you just have to find it.

Thanks for the blessings Lord.

Weekend Ends...

There goes the microsecond, as we ease into the final minutes of the day, we prepare for another week of challenges. Thank you Lord for this wonderful day in you. Thank you for waking me up this day and walking with me throughout the day, and meeting me as I worshipped you. Be with my wonderful Husband as he works to provide for his family, protect him on the road give him extra energy to get there and back to me. I'm so blessed with my family, my church, my job and my life. Help me to be a blessing to someone tomorrow, let me show someone You.

Another Week Gone

Isn't it amazing how quickly time goes by. You work hard all week just waiting for the weekend that last a microsecond then your back to working hard all week for the microseconds in your life. I know we should try harder to think of those weekdays as their own microsecond and enjoy each for its own blessing, Lord help me appreciate each day more in you.

My Friend Lynn is Moving to Muscle Sholes or is it Shoals, what is a Shoal?

I have a wonderful friend, Lynn, who I've know for many years, becoming friends while working together and remained friends after going separate ways. We always try to have lunch together at the very least at Christmas, and this year we weren't able. She called yesterday to tell me that they had finally sold their house after having it on the market twice and the last one since August of 2007 and they were moving to Muscle Shoals in 2 weeks. I hate that we won't have our lunches together and catch up on all that goes on through the year, and that I won't be able to be there for her if something happens to her husband Ralph. But I'm happy that she'll be closer to her sister and other family and she'll have someone to lean on.



I pray for Lynn's protection throughout this move, and Ralph's health. I pray the Lord places his angels watch around her and her family and that they find God's peace where ever they go.


God Bless you Lynn!

Monday Morning Quarterback

In my previous life, I was a huge football fan, I knew all the players and positions and teams and could pick a winner with the limited experience I had. I always hated the Monday Morning Quarterback, "If Only so and so had done such and such." As if they had all the answers, after the fact. That old saying "Hind sight is 20/20" always applies when they lose or lose the point spread.

This is true in our Christian walk as well. Isn't it always easier to stand on the sidelines, on Monday morning, and say if they had only done such and such, if they hadn't given into temptation, if they had read the Bible more, if they had been in church more, etc... "If I had only, blah, blah, blah."

We cannot walk in another's shoes, we cannot know what another feels, we can barely know what we will do in a given situation, but one thing we do know, that we have a God who's grace provides and who's not a Monday Morning Quarterback. With Him, we always get a do-over. And with Him, walking beside us, guiding us, we can be the winners, the closer we get to the down, the easier it is to not have to have 20/20 hindsight.

Classic Old Pews with Character

Today I bought two old pews for $50. They're from a Methodist Church in KY. They have a bit of water damage from a flooded basement, but that only lends to the character of these pews. Imagine who may have sat on these pews. Maybe a Grandmother who prayed for her family to come to know the Lord, maybe a mother who'd lost her husband in the war and prayed for strength to raise her children alone. Maybe a young boy who would grow up to be a mighty man of God leading many souls to know the Lord.

Its an exciting thought that these pews will now be put in a church where many more children of God will sit worshipping the Lord and hearing His voice into the next generation of believers, of worshippers, of future soul winners for Him.

The pews of That Hope for many more to know Him.

I Hate Tornados

What is up with this weather, I hate tornados. We acutally, for the first time ever since I've been in Memphis, had to hit the tornado shelters at work. We no sooner got the employees into the shelter and they cancelled the warning. Crazy stuff. I much prefer earthquakes, a little shake rattle and roll is much better that twist again like we did last "winter."



I've been very sleepy lately, don't know what's up, other than the weather. Can't seem to shake the tiredness even with Caffeine. Just want to rest a bit, wish I had a couch in my office and a curtain, lunch would be sleepy time.



I wrote a poem, here it is:



The Heart of the Father

Broken dreams, broken trust, broken people
And the Father weeps
Broken faith, broken bonds, broken prayer
Still the Father weeps

Father cries I will make you whole once more
Just remember the cost
Then the arms of the Father will open at the door
For the broken heart of the lost

This life that we are given
Short and racing quickly by
Is filled with grace freely given
From the blood shed when His son died.

The world’s persuasive powers
Draws hearts with thoughts untrue
But the Heart of the Father hidden in the heart of all
Beats steady still in you.



Rnet 1/9/08

If its Tuesday, it must be Bartlett

Last night we had a phenomenal service, though the weather and illness kept many away, the Lord used that time to bring us closer together and have a time to share with the core group. Thank you Jesus. He is doing such wonderful things in all our lives and you can see His hand in everything. None of us can hardly wait until we are making a difference in the community, its hard in the flesh to wait, but as we have all come to realize, when we wait, He really shows out. His blessings overflow so that we can't contain it, and we learn so much in between. Thank You Jesus for slowing us down.

(pastor dave this is for you)
"Kings will be your guardians, And their princesses your nurses. They will bow down to you with their faces to the earth And lick the dust of your feet; And will know that I am the LORD; Those who hopefully wait for Me will not be put to shame. " Isa 49:23

January in Millington

OMG - 70 degrees on January 8, 2008. The sky is ominous and very, tornadoish. I hate tornado weather, give me an earthquake anyday over tornados. The worst part of tornados is you never know when or where they're going to touch down. You aren't guaranteed any safety in your home, because as you know, they take out whole subdivisions.

Tornados are like some think of sin, it creeps up and steals your security with no warning. Jesus died to save us from such fears. God's grace covered us from the tornado's of sin in the world. He gave us wisdom to search His word and His heart for the truth. There's that place in our heart that desires a closeness with our creator, and Jesus leads us there.

So though I hate tornados, I'm not afraid for my salvation, because I know that His grace is sufficient.