15:1 - A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger. - The footnote in this Bible says, “Anger is removed by a gentle response, but a heated response fuels the flame.” That certainly is true. When you don’t mirror the anger of another person, it calms the situation and the anger subsides. Gentleness is the anger diffuser. J

15:2 - The tongue of the wise useth knowledge aright: but the mouth of fools poureth out foolishness.

God bless all who read this!

Well, I have been dancing away! :) The scale hasn't shown any change, so far, but I know nothing happens overnight. Well, unless you count the overnight pains in your feet and lower back from stomping and jumping. Ha ha. I don't mind it though. I will get used to it, and it's all worth it. Plus, I really do enjoy it, being that it's also a game. Like I have said before, I like to be able to "conquer" and master games, so this may very well be the exercise that I'll stick with really well.

Since I've been doing this, I've just been praying that God will help me with my weight loss, and health. I'm also praying that he will help me to make the best decisions, and teach me how to make a plan, but not just for this, for everything. I'm not the most organized person, but I would like to be.

I can definitely see how God is helping me. Yesterday, and today, I have been keeping a mental log of the foods I have eaten and the calories that they have, in order to really make the best decisions. It sort of keeps me accountable that way, and helps me to really think through my food choices before I just dive into something and pig out. Before I have eaten anything, I have looked at the labels a little more closely to read about the calories, serving sizes, and ingredients. Like today, for example, I looked and saw that just ONE pop tart has 200 calories! And that is just for ONE! We all know that they put TWO in that little package, and who among us just eats the one? LOL So, you're talking about using up 400 calories if you eat the both of them.

Well, I ate probably 3/4 of one, so that's about 150-200 right there. I gave some to my little girl, because she was going nuts watching me eat it without sharing, and I gave the other one to my husband who was home on his lunch break. He's the one that eats those anyways. I only have one once in a blue moon. I don't know how he can eat those every day. They are a little too sweet sometimes.

Anyways, just being conscious and cautious about my decisions is helping me to make better choices. It certainly did when I went shopping for food today. I did my best to pick things that were good, and avoid the bad foods so I could have a "no fail environment." "You can't eat what's not there," Dr. Phil says. ;) He's right. I won't eat stuff that will sabotage myself if I don't buy it to begin with.

So, I just finished a serving of carrot sticks, with a half of a serving of lite ranch dressing. So, that right there was only 70 calories. MUCH BETTER! Less calories, more filling, and MORE nutritious! Once my body gets over the craving phase, I won't want bad foods anymore. It's like with milk....I can only drink skim. I can't stand other kinds of milk. I guess what I am wondering is how long it takes for a good habit to replace a bad one and be a staple of your life.

I know this is a weird blog entry, but it's one of my occasional "just me" type of entries. Still, I hope it helps someone. God really does help you, even in the stuff you wouldn't really think of connecting him with. I mean, you don't normally think of God saying, "Don't eat that cookie." ;) Though, as I was shopping today, when I saw things I knew wouldn't help my goals, I felt him nudging me, gently, to keep on moving and to choose things that he wants for my body to be nourished on.

So, cheers to good health, and may God continue to aid me, and everyone else, who is striving to become healthier! God bless all who read this!

If anyone has ever watched the bonus features on a DVD movie, then they will know what I mean when I say a LOT goes into making a movie!! It's especially true when you got a movie like "The Chronicles of Narnia: the Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe."

When someone makes a movie, there is a LOT of planning and meticulous details to think about. You have to have the sets, lights, music, costumes, make-up, effects, actors, and all the research and know-how. You also need a special team to undertake all the numerous tasks that there are.

Anyways, we got the special four disc edition of Narnia for Christmas (which I HIGHLY recommend!). Today, I watched the disc that had all the extra stuff. It played the whole movie, while they explained about all the stuff they did to make the scenes like they were, and showed story boards, effects, and behind the scenes stuff. It was facinating!

As I watched I was just thinking to myself how complicated it all looked. Endless amounts of attention had to be paid to such details that the viewing audience never thinks of. For a movie to be successful, it has to be believable and well-made, and that only happens when you have a team working their hardest to make it accurate. So, they spend countless dollars and hours of research and time in making a movie that will only last 1-2 hours. But, the end product is worth it.

You might be wondering what I am getting at. I promise you, there is a point, and here it is:

When I was watching all their tedious work, down to every color, fabric, set, and detail, I was thinking about how it takes all those people so much work to complete something so grand. Movies don't make themselves, it is PEOPLE who have to make them.

Likewise, this world didn't get made by itself. GOD had to make it. If a MOVIE is THAT complex, my gosh, how much MORE complex is the whole WORLD and everything in it??! Yeah. Kind of makes you go "hey, whoa!" doesn't it?

Even when they were animating the lion for the film, they said there were over 14,000 controls to move the animated lion....700 controls were for the face alone!

Now, think about every single aspect of the human body, or any living breathing organism for that matter. You got all sorts of body systems working together simultaneously to make up one being. Isn't it a wonder how it all works?! Now, do you think that any human or living being just "happened" from a big bang and "evolved" into this WHOLE WORLD?? Um, no. That's IMPOSSIBLE!! This world is FULL of intricate details. And, just as we see in the "behind the scenes" stuff, no great thing comes about by itself. It takes a great designer to create what you see on screen, just as it takes a GREAT CREATOR to design what is on earth.

One final thought before I close. Even a movie as grand and as powerful as Narnia will still have its flaws. Humans aren't perfect, and there is always room for error. I'm sure there were things that went wrong, and whether the audience knows it or sees it, who knows. But, I do know one thing. It took HUNDREDS of people to make a 2 hour movie over a long period of time. It took God the simple sound of his voice to make all that you see here. Ponder that one! God bless all who read this!

Many of you have probably seen those dance games where you step on the arrows and dance to some music. Some people have even lost weight doing that.

Well, that's what I'm banking on! :) The other day, I bought "Dance Praise," which is the dance pad game with Christian music. I had always wanted one, but never got one because I wasn't fond of the secular music. But, now that they make one with Christian music, I seized the opportunity!

It is quite fun, and I enjoy it! The game itself even has an exerise option to show you how many calories you burn and stuff.

So, in addition to pilates, this will be my cardio, and what better way to get it than this?! This is something that I don't think I will get bored with. LOL The key to exercising is to make it fun, so you stick with it. This is DEFINITELY fun! I can dance, move, sing, and praise the Lord all at the same time! I LOVE IT!

So, here's to dancing myself slim, and the accomplishment of my health goals this coming year. Hopefully, I will be a much slimmer me by this time next year. :) So, anyone going for these same types of goals, I say go for it! I support you! Anyone wanting to support me, I welcome it too! Thanks!

Well, it's after midnight. I've been on here for quite a while now, just talking to people on IM and sending Christmas comments to many of my friends. As I do this, I look around me and realize that I've got a mess in my sink, my living room, hampers, and in my inboxes that haven't been touched. But, that makes me happy and humbled. Why? Because, a full sink means I have had food to eat. Exploding hampers mean that I have clothes on my back. A messy living room means that all of us have been blessed by the generosity of family who have given to us this Christmas. And, full inboxes means that I have friends (or solicitors that WANT to be my friend. LOL).

Anyways, I have an endless list of blessings. I just get awed by it when I think of all that God has given me. My list would roll out the door if I wrote them all down, and no blessing is too small to be counted!

Yeah, this may sound corny, but I count all of you as blessings to me. Every person I have ever met, whether they have meant harm or good, has been a blessing to me. They have made me who I am in one way or another, and I am grateful for that. All have served a purpose in my life and have given to me, things that have been essential to my growth, whether praise or persecution.

Among all these gifts, I am most grateful for the gift that was born in a stable over 2000 years ago. As long ago as that seems, it's really not that far away. The gift is still here today, and that gift is Jesus.

It's impossible to outgive God, but what I have, I will give back to Him; as an expression of my thanks for all he has given me. Being thankful is more than just saying the words, or a momentary sliver of reflection, it's an attitude and way of life.

Have you stopped to really count your blessings? How thankful and blessed are you? Stop, ponder, and be amazed! Every single thing around you is a gift. Look at every shirt, pair of jeans, piece of furniture, full dinner plate, number on the thermostat, and every single article you possess as you sit here and read these words on a computer screen that God has blessed you with to stay connected to your friends and family. It makes you feel so loved when you bask in the realization that God loves you and has been so kind to you.

It may be December 26th now, but Christmas isn't over. Christmas is year round. Everything it was on the day Jesus was born is what it still is today, and then some! Just because we pick one day to really think about and celebrate it, doesn't mean that it ends there. No. It's only the beginning! Carry Christmas all year through! Likewise, any holiday, whether it be Easter, Thanksgiving, or even a Birthday, they all have meaning and significance. They are to be cherished and treasured within our hearts so that the meanings they hold might last for always.

In closing, I would like to leave you with an awesome link that I got from Susan, who is on my top friends on my myspace list (www.myspace.com/missa_loves_the_lord )  as the "former call girl." She is one of the recent blessings that God has graced me with. Her testimony is amazing, and she has a heart of gold and such passion for the Lord. She had this on her page; a link contrasting Jesus and Santa Claus, and I just wanted to share it with you because it really touched me. It really puts a fresh look on Christmas. (Please click here: http://www.eakles.com/50better.html )

So, with all that being said, Merry Christmas everyone; today, tomorrow, and forever!! Hallelujah to the King! God bless all who read this!

Well, I got everything wrapped up. Well, almost everything. I have two gifts yet to wrap,....as soon as I finish making them. LOL And, my brother's gift to wrap too. Then, I'm done. ;)

Tomorrow, we have a family gathering. Then, Sunday, we have another one, plus a Christmas Eve service (maybe even two if we get out of the first one in time to go to my Dad's church, which is my old home church). Then, we'll go back to my Dad's to open gifts with them. Oh yeah, by the way, my Dad is home from the hospital now. He is in some pain, and it's hard to get around, but I know that with a lot of prayers, and pain medication, he will be back to himself soon. :)

Then, on Christmas day, we go to my Aunt's, which I am looking forward to. Then, we will attempt to go to two different gatherings on my husband's side. LOL Gosh, our poor kids will be so tired from all this running around. I'm sure we will too. It's hard having divorced families. But, families are a blessing, no matter what. Even if they don't love you back.......but I won't go there. :) I love all of them no matter what! Therefore, I will continue to have the true Christmas spirit and have the light of Jesus within me, no matter who attempts to be a kill joy. Ah yes, there are some in "every family," I know. ;) Oh well. "Extra Grace Required." He he. Lord, help me!

Anyways, in case I don't post on here in a while, be safe and MERRY CHRISTMAS! As busy as we all are, let us all make sure to take some real time to sit down, pray, and thank God for his gift to us. Happy Birthday Jesus! God bless all who read this!

Proverbs 14

14:6-7 - A scorner seeketh wisdom, and findeth it not: but knowledge is easy unto him that understandeth. Go from the presence of a foolish man, when thou perceives not in him the lips of knowledge. - It’s one thing for a person to ask for advice and wisdom. But if they are not open minded, especially to the instruction of the Lord, they aren’t going to grasp and understand what you will tell them. It may seem plain and simple to us, because we know the Lord and we know that following his ways are best, and bring us the best life possible. Those that do not know God don’t understand this. So, sometimes, you just got to let them go. You have “go from the presence” of those foolish people. It’s not saying you don’t care, but you can’t force someone make the right decision, no matter how insistent you are. We need to learn when to quit; myself included. Sometimes, you just have to walk away, and just pray.

14:30 - A sound heart is the life of the flesh: but envy the rottenness of the bones. - A heart at peace is health for your body, and health for you life. But bitterness, anger, envy, and every fruit of the sinful nature decays your spirit and your life.

14:31 - He that oppresseth the poor reproacheth his Maker: but he that honoreth him hath mercy on the poor.

Thank you to everyone who prayed for my Dad. I know that all of our prayers paid off. The whole day was really something.

We had to get up really early. We dropped the kids off and then headed up to the hospital. We waited with my Dad to go in for the surgery (which affects his arm, but the actual incisions were in his back to repair some vertabrae).

In addition to my husband and I, my step-mom, brother, and the pastor and his wife were there. I think having all of us there to support him really meant a lot to my Dad. I can only recall one other time where he was really choked up. Dad doesn't typically show a lot of emotion, but he got us all dabbin' our eyes and using the kleenex. He let us know how much he appreciated all of us being there, and how much he loved us. It meant a lot to see the softer/vulnerable side of him. I felt like I really saw some deep emotions from him that really came from his heart. (Don't you just love it when men let go of the "macho" image and actually show what's in their heart?)

We all prayed together, and I just felt an awesome peace and a weight lifted off of my shoulders. And, after we left so he could get his surgery underway, I went to the little chapel to pray. I stayed there for most of the time, praying, and listening to Jeremy Camp music; just praising and praying to the Lord. I also had a Gideon Bible with me, and I read some awesome verses in Psalms 20 and 21 that really reassured me. God is truly awesome! He is a counselor, comforter, healer, and deliverer.

Dad made it through the surgery. We were all so relieved. Not that we thought the doctors couldn't do it or something, but because we were concerned about my Dad's breathing, because he has sleep apnea, and has weight issues. But, they said it would rather smoothly considering what needed to be done.

He will have to stay there a little longer than he thought he would, but as long as he is being taken care of, that is all that matters to me. :) I'm just grateful that God is always there for us. I could really feel his presence. So, thanks again to all my brothers and sisters who helped out in prayer. :) You are loved and appreciated. I thank you! oxoxoxo Keep praying for a good recovery, and that this will strengthen his faith, and help him to make good decisions for his health and weight in the future.

I love my new study Bible! :) It is no wonder that the KJV is the best translation. It goes deeper into the meaning of the Word because it's the most accurate translation. I'm getting so much out of it, and God is working on me a lot. I am really starting to rebound from all the "blah" that I've been feeling lately.

I also think you will be pleased to see some less lengthy entries. LOL The Lord keeps telling me that I don't have to be "all or nothing" all the time, and that I don't have to share EVERY LITTLE THING that is in my head. LOL So often, I feel that if I don't post the whole Proverb, or whatever, that I will be cheating someone out of something, or that I would be skipping over something important. But, it's not so. Everyone absorbs things at different times, (and is often better when it's SIMPLE and in small doses) and what God speaks to me doesn't mean that everyone has to hear it. They will hear it in their own time. However, when I do take time to study His Word, there will be things that I feel like I should share....which doesnt have to mean that it's the WHOLE THING that I have read. ;)

So, with that in mind, here are a FEW things that I decided to share from Proverbs 13. If you want to read the whole Proverb, you can go to www.biblegateway.com or read it from your own Bible. :) I pray for personal growth for everyone! God speaks to everyone differently! I pray you will be blessed!

13:3 - He that keepeth his mouth keepeth his life: but he that openeth wide his lips shall have destruction. - A close watch needs to be kept on the tongue. Words are a fragile thing. Help me to strive for cautious speech. Give me the discernment and discipline I need to know when and when not to speak and do things.

13:4 - The soul of the sluggard desireth, and hath nothing: but the soul of the diligent shall be made fat.

I'm hoping to read in Proverbs again and post later on. Right now, I am just finishing up with some of my Christmas gifts. I'm almost done with all of that.

As much as I love the holidays, and the get-togethers, and everything, it will be nice once it is over. Being that we have divorced families, we have twice as many people to see, and places to go.

Tonight is going to be a fun night, though. :) My brother is visiting from South Carolina and he is at my Dad's house right now. We are all going over there tonight to have some pizza, and watch my Dad's "Classic." It's a tradition. Every year at Christmas time, we watch "Scrooge." It's one of my Dad's favorites. This is the version that has Albert Finney in it. Probably the best version there is. ;) (Albert Finney....... tremendous actor. You know, the guy that was Daddy Warbucks in the movie Annie.)

So, that's what we're doing tonight. Then, I suppose I will come home and work on more of my Christmas projects, post some Bible verses, and prepare for tomorrow. Tomorrow, we have to get up early, drop the kids off at the grandparents, and go to the hospital to support my Dad's surgery (on his arm). So, we'll be praying. If ya'll wanna pray too, it would be much appreciated. :)

Well, kudos for me for a short blog. LOL I'll be posting later! Pray for my Daddy, and pray for me, if you would. God bless you!

Ok, I think I'm getting back to my old self. I just have been out of it lately. Too much going on, but it will all be ok.

I think today's Proverb has especially helped me, and I read it in my new KJV study Bible that my Mom gave me for Christmas. :) Couldn't have gotten a better present! THANKS MOM!

12:1 - Whoso loveth instruction loveth knowledge: but he that hateth reproof is brutish. - Closed thinking definitely is a downfall. If you aren’t open enough to accept help and instruction from other wise people in your life, you are only hurting yourself. It goes both ways. Sometimes, I’m the stupid one, other times, I feel that the people I try and help are the stupid ones. LOL Well, not really “stupid,” just stubborn. Yeah, I can be stubborn too. Who isn’t? May we all be so wise as to listen and discern wisdom from God and others!

12:2 - A good man obtaineth favor of the Lord: but a man of wicked devices will he condemn.

I just read an article that really made me think. It concerns the future of America, and the world.

I'm talking about our morals, our values, our foundation. We've got to preserve and develop it! How can we do that? We do that by getting involved, and by conquering the culture that shapes us. If you want to know more about it, read the article at the bottom of this blog entry. Then, you can check out Ryan on my top friends list www.myspace.com/missa_love_the_lord . He has his heart in the right place, and is part of the uprising of young people taking our power back!! Man has he got a testimony!

READ THIS, PEOPLE!! THEN, TAKE ACTION! GET MOBILIZED AND TURN THE TIDE! HEAVEN IS COUNTING ON YOU! GOD BLESS ALL WHO READ THIS!!

 http://headlines.agapepress.org/archive/12/112006a.asp

Once again, I apologize for not posting as consistently as usual. Hopefully, I will post a Proverb on here momentarily. But right now, my daughter is half-aseelp on my chest and typing is a little uncomfortable at the moment. LOL So, this will be short.

I will post something in a little while. Until then, check out my two bulletins. I made two little e-cards and put my kids in them, and they are so funny! He he. God bless you all! Be safe out there as you do your CHRISTmas shopping. (Yep, emphasis for a reason....... keep the CHRIST in CHRISTMAS everyone. Don't forget HIS Birthday!)

God's timing never ceases to amaze me. I'm sure there are those of you that can relate. How many times have you gone to church with something on your mind, and then, the pastor just "happens" to be talking about that very thing you need help with? It's happened to me before, and it happened again today. However, it's more than just happenstance. Anyone that knows God also knows that this is something only he could have orchestrated.

You may have read my earlier blog where I mentioned that I had an upcoming situation where I would really need the Lord's help in dealing with an unmentioned "something." ;) I don't know that I will totally detail what that something is, because a someone could always "happen" upon it and read it. What I have learned today, though, is too important not to share, so if the person or persons that this situation involved happens to see it, then that's fine.

Now that I have said all that, I will get to the bulk of what I need to say. It regards church today. It was titled, "The Kingdom Firm 'Helping injured people for over 2000 years.'"

Everyone is familiar with personal injury lawyers and ads on tv. Our pastor used that to show us some things about how we work with others, socially, in life. Generally, we have a certain principle in this world that goes something like "If you do something for me, I'll do something for you." Also, "If you wrong me, than I have a right to wrong you back." But, of course, "Two wrongs don't make a right," and "An eye for an eye makes the whole world blind," which is what he was trying to get at. He explained how Jesus tells us in Matthew 5:38-42 that we should "turn the other cheek."

Turning the other cheek is hard, especially if you feel someone deserves to be chewed out in return for whatever they have done to you. Our pastor illustrated this by his own experience. He told us a little story of how he was working with a construction crew, and one of the guys said, "Hey, little man, come here." I guess I never really thought of our pastor as all that short, but it struck a chord with him and he was pretty mad inside. So, he thought to himself, "If I'm little man, then you're the invisible man." Thus, he refused to really interact with that person.

Once again,  God's timing is perfect. Shortly before he was to preach this sermon, he said that sure enough, he had to work with the invisible man again. He could just feel the hardening of his heart when he realized this guy was on the job. He realized, though, that he had to talk things out with "invisible man." So, he did.

Just like the forward that I posted earlier on my blog about "Letting go," our pastor also had to let things go. He had to let go of the "personal injury" that "invisible man" inflicted on him, just as all of us should do also.

Everyone has difficult people in their lives, whether it be people that irritate, hurt, or hate you. Those can be very hard people to deal with. So, HOW do you deal with them? Well, as any personal injury lawyer will tell you, you've got "rights" and you deserve to know your rights. Here are the "Kingdom Bill of Rights" as our pastor put it:

  I. You have the right to remain vulnerable.

 II. You have the right to give the shirt off your back.

III. You have the right to do more than is expected of you.

IV. You have the right to give graciously.

V. You have the right to step into the flow of God's Kingdom.

Eye opener isn't it? Probably not what you expected. It probably makes you roll your eyes and groan, as it did me momentarily.

So, what does all that mean? Well, to break it down a bit, it means that when someone behaves in such a way as to hurt you, you should remain vulnerable and neutral. That's a hard one, but it's the best road to take. It takes a lot more character to be silent then it does to run your mouth and fuel the fire. It's especially best because, generally, that is what the other person wants to do is to start something. And, if they can't get a reaction they want, it "puts out" that fire.

Remaining vulnerable drains the anger out. Proverbs 15:1 says this:

 "A soft answer turneth away wrath; but grievous words stir up anger."

This kind of attitude and behavior heals. It also brings conviction on the hearts of those who are wronging you. That's why the Bible says in Romans 12:17-21:

 "Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men. If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men. Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord. Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head. Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good."

Revenge and paybacks just keep the cycle going. LOVE stops the cycle. LOVE covers over a multitude of sins (Proverbs 10:12, Proverbs 17:9, 1 Peter 4:8).

The rest of the principles go hand in hand with the first. When we "give the shirt off our back," "do more than is expected of us," "give graciously," and "step in the flow of God's Kingdom," we are being peacemakers among ourselves. After all, God is merciful and gracous to us, even when we don't deserve it. Therefore, as hard as it is, we must do likewise. It also heaps the coals on their heads. It's hard to continue hating someone that is nice to you. ;)

Rick Warren once said that some people in our lives are EGR (Extra Grace Required). We all deal with people that take a little more patience and understanding. So, what I do to get me through it, is try to look at the heart.

The heart is the source. It's the communicator. That's why Jesus talks to our hearts. That's where the deepest feelings and thoughts are. So, when we look at a person's heart, we can better see what it is that shapes their good or bad behavior. Then, we can concentrate on the good things, and feel compassion for the bad in order to love them through the circumstance.

I think the biggest question in all of this is, "Do you have what it takes to love?" In a culture that abuses and overuses that word, it has lost it's real meaning. REAL love is unconditional and sacrificial, and not based on loving only those that love you back. The person and/or persons that have wronged me may or may not really love me back, but it doesn't matter to me. I am making a choice to love, because God loves me, and his love abounds and is freely given to me. Therefore, my love, forgiveness, and compassion must also about on my EGR's. ;)

I WILL overcome evil with good. I WON'T grow weary of doing good, even when I want to give up. I WILL continue to be God's ambassador. I REFUSE to let EGRs bullly or intimidate me.  I will be light; I will be love; and I WILL NOT let them make me bitter or angry, and change who I am. I choose LOVE! GOD BLESS ALL WHO READ THIS!!!!

11:1 - A false balance is abomination to the LORD: but a just weight is his delight. - Don’t cheat. Be honest.

11:2 - When pride cometh, then cometh shame: but with the lowly is wisdom.

I will get back to posting some more from Proverbs. I haven't been good about that lately. This has been a very odd week. I just can't get motivated.

Maybe I just need a good kick in the pants from someone. LOL I don't know. Someone please wake me up. ;)

Anyways, I promised I would write something good. So, what I will write about is something that came to my mind earlier that I thought I should address.

.............

In High School, I listend to a lot of different kinds of music. At the time, I really didn't know much about Christian music, or the artists. I just listened to what was popular, and the same stuff everyone else did; nothing excessively profane, although my favorite CD was Alanis Morrissette's "Jagged Little Pill." I couldn't get enough of that, for whatever reason.

Anyways, that all changed when I went to church one day, and we had a special speaker. Her name was Jennifer Rambo, and she was talking about Teen Mania Ministries and how it had changed her life. She also talked about giving up secular music.

Personally, I didn't know what she was talking about, because I had never heard that term before. But, as she went on, she talked about how she threw away all of her CDs that weren't Christian music. Her Dad asked her why she would do that. After all, she could have sold them and got money from it. She explained that if it was bad for her to listen to, then why would she want to make money off of it and give it to someone else to listen to and pollute their mind?

She had many valid points, and I talked with her after church. She prayed with me and when I got home, I took a very bold step. I broke and threw away many of my CDs.......the trashiest ones anyways. I didn't totally throw all of them away just then, but sometimes, growth comes in small steps.

Anyways, I threw away a bunch of junk, including some I had just gotten for my birthday that was only a short while before. And, yes, I even broke my Alanis CD. As hard as it was, I knew that after examining the lyrics, agendas, and messages that they were sending, I just couldn't listen to it anymore. I didn't want that stuff shaping who I was. It had to go.

Little by little, I started listening to better music. My mom ordered some Christian tapes with various artists on them, and that is how I got started on good music. (There are always good bands that have the same kind of genre and sound that you are looking for. Look for the Christian alternatives to your favorites. Shatter the stereo-type that Christian music is just a bunch of pipe organs. LOL) Then, we got several CDs from a CD club and my music collection began growing.

Then, came the BIG turning point. Some of my friends and I decided to burn a lot of our CDs one night. I missed out on thier bonfire, but invited them over to watch me burn mine. I took the rest of my "secular" CDs out to the fire pit; to a white round concrete holding area. (Don't know how to describe it). I put all my CDs in there and lit it.

We were all astonished to see what happened before us. The fire just roared and CONSUMED the CDs like nothing I have ever seen and the smoke just billowed and rose to the sky! (Oh yes, the Lord is a consuming fire!). ;) So, my friend commented that he had NEVER seen CDs BURN like that, because they don't typically burn well, or that quickly.

Being that it was night time, we couldn't really see what was left afterwards. So, I was amazed when I went out the next day and saw that there was little to nothing left. Not only that, the white round concrete thing looked like it was all rusted and falling apart. LOL I was just in awe.

I have no doubt that God took that music. And, when he takes, he also gives. I surrendered my dependency on that addicting, destructive "popular" music, and in it's place, God showed me that he BURNED and ERASED the bad stuff in my life. Just as he does when he takes away our sins and gives us a new start.

 Ever since then, I have been listening to Christian music. My collection of music is now even more numerous, I believe, than my old collection of junk CDs. Yeah, and I thought that I could never do that since I didn't know many Christian artists. Couldn't imagine throwing all that familiar garbage away to listen to a limited selection of new artists I had become fond of. God sure showed me didn't he? :)

Not all music is "bad" but I would venture to say that a vast majority of it isn't good for us. The messages in songs today talk about sex, drugs, alcohol, violence, and glorify all sorts of immorality. To think that all those messages don't impact you would be foolish. ("What goes into a mind comes out in a life.")It's like my pastor once said, "All music is good, it's the lyrics that are the problem."  I have always remembered that, and not just as it pertains to music. We need to be careful about the stuff we allow our eyes to see, because they bcome part of our heart and mind. TV, music, video games, magazines, etc. all shape who we are and influence our outlook on life, as well as our own behavior and moods.

Think about the messages that you are listening to, and the songs that get "stuck in your head" that you can't help but sing. What songs are truly worth singing/repeating?  I challenge everyone to rethink their media choices. What kind of life and influence do you want to be? Is your choices helping or hindering your impact? Think about it.

I can truly say that throwing away all that music and replacing it with what I listen to now has changed things for me. Listening to music that talks about REAL LOVE (GOD'S LOVE) and encouraging things REALLY makes a difference in how you feel and I want to feel uplifted, encourged, joyful, and full of love. That's something you won't get in mainstream culture.

If you want something more; something truly fulfilling and wonderful, think about what you are putting into your head. Like Jesus said, "If your eye causes you to sin, gouge it out..." which is another way of saying, remove the stuff in your life that is keeping you down spiritually, emotionally, physically, whatever. It's not easy, but it can be done. I did! :) God bless all who read this!

Sorry all. I know I'm behind in posting. I will post something later tonight, and it'll be a good one to make up for the days I have lost. I promise. ;)

Right now, I got to get a few things done around here. I got to get something made for dinner too, before we go see my Grandma. At least, I hope we can still go see her. Mitch is getting off late again. Overtime. Oh well, we need the money this time of year anyways. So many expenses right now, but we'll get through it.

My computer has been on the slow side and was acting up last night. Wouldn't do crap so I couldn't write last night. I don't know what the deal is. One of these days, I need to puchase some more RAM or something. Even though we have DSL this thing is still sluggish, (just like me lately, lol) and nothing I do seems to help, either with me, or the pc. Argh!

Awesome words of wisdom! To read it all for yourself, you can visit www.biblegateway.com Here are my notes on Proverbs 10:

10:1- The proverbs of Solomon. A wise son maketh a glad father: but a foolish son is the heaviness of his mother. - That’s for sure! You don’t want to make your momma cry! ;) Make God, and your parents, proud! Be smart!

10:2-5 - Treasures of wickedness profit nothing: but righteousness delivereth from death. The LORD will not suffer the soul of the righteous to famish: but he casteth away the substance of the wicked.

He becometh poor that dealeth with a slack hand: but the hand of the diligent maketh rich. He that gathereth in summer is a wise son: but he that sleepeth in harvest is a son that causeth shame. - Treasures acquired from ill-gotten gain won’t profit you in the long run; neither in this life, or the life to come. The Lord rewards the righteous. Even if he is poor in this life, he will be rich in the next. But, while we are here, we must make the most of our talents. We must not be lazy. Remember the story of the grasshopper and the ants? Be an ant! Don’t be a lazy grasshopper that is left out in the cold because he refused to prepare in the summer.

10:6-10 - Blessings are upon the head of the just: but violence covereth the mouth of the wicked. The memory of the just is blessed: but the name of the wicked shall rot. The wise in heart will receive commandments: but a prating fool shall fall. He that walketh uprightly walketh surely: but he that perverteth his ways shall be known. He that winketh with the eye causeth sorrow: but a prating fool shall fall

Sorry that I am late in posting today. We had to get up early to take our son to the hearing clinic, then shopping, followed by speech therapy. It truly has been a busy day, considering that we had to use my Dad's vehicle. Why you may ask? Well, first of all, the back window broke. We got that fixed on Tuesday. Then, the van itself started acting funny. It's the spark plugs and wires and stuff. Not too bad of a fix, but when you figure in all that labor and diagnostics,........ yeah. But, Dad offered to let that be our "Christmas present" from him. LOL Works for us! We got all we need. The rest are just "wants" so I couldn't really care if we got actual presents. Mitch and I don't really get each other much of anything anymore. After all, we give to each other year round in many ways; including stuff too.

Anyways, I am thankful for broken glass and engine problems. Not all things are good, but they work out FOR good. (Romans 8:28) I'm grateful for that. I'm glad that God allowed these bad things to happen when they did because they happened in the driveway of our home and not on the highway while driving. That glass broke as a result of some kind of chip in it, and it was destined to break at some point. I'm glad it happened sitting in the driveway, and that we and our babies were kept safe.

So, thank you God for letting it happen this way, even though it is a rough time in the year. It always seems to happen in Nov./Dec. It never can wait until tax refund time. LOL Well, at least it wasn't a thousand dollars or more like the last couple years were (which was when we had the Taurus). I guess trading it off for this van still didn't save us from some kind of annual car repair curse! Ha ha.

Oh well, thank God for family..... namely, Daddy! ;) Just know that in all things, God is still good. I'm not bitter, I am glad. I can't even explain how happy I am about it. It could have been so much worse, in so many ways. It could have been more costly, not just in dollars, but in lives. Glass breaking in blowing in while driving would not have been good, neither would having an engine die on a busy road with our two precious babies.

God saved us, once again, from something more dire. I have no doubt. He is always watching out for us. I can just imagine Him saying, "Ok, van, I know you are ready to quit on them, but not just yet. Inevitably you will break down, but you will do it when they are safely home.I will make you last until then." Thank you, Lord, for allowing our car to break down in the safety of home, and not the highway. I praise you in all things, for you are good. Amen.