Breaking Free

Hello, Friends,
I want to change my template, but am struggling with it! Will have to wait until later when I have more time to figure it out.

Anyway, just wanted to write a short blog about our Ladies' Bible Study. We are presently doing a series by Beth Moore entitled "Breaking Free." Wow! I would highly recommend it. Beth draws from the book of Isaiah, using the scriptures to show that we can be set free from anything! Be it sins in our past, guilt, hurts and abuses from others, addictions, bad habits, you name it! It is exactly what I have personally needed in my life. I have struggled with the basic truth of forgiveness of sins, yet it is really true that Jesus wanted to forgive my sins so much that He gave His lifeblood for me! I give Him glory and honor for that truth.

Are you struggling with something in your past? Is there a sin, an abuse done against you that is haunting you? I would suggest that you run to Jesus and ponder these words...
"The Spirit of the Lord is on me,
because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim freedom
for the prisoners
and recovery of sight for the blind,
to release the oppressed,
to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor."

"Nothing Compares..."

I just set my DVD player to play again the song "Shout To the Lord" with the beautiful "Rhapsody in Blue" done by Anthony Burger!! Wow...how could anyone think that we evolved from a monkey? To see and hear this man play for God's glory, how could anyone not see God's handiwork? There is one phrase that I want to bring out..."...nothing compares to the promise I have in You..." Think about that...we could be healthy, wealthy, have position, have whatever our hearts desire, even have the best husband...yet none of that even comes close to what we can have in Jesus!!! I needed this reminder...been a bit blue lately about some different things in my life...none of that lack or perceived lack really matters...if I have Jesus...I have ALL I need!!! "Nothing compares..."to His presence, His peace, His purpose in my life..."nothing compares"...to the wholeness and fruitfulness I can know in Him...praise Him, friend..."nothing compares"...to Jesus!!!!

Excitement on a Friday night!

Last evening, I was here at home for a quiet evening. I was setting at my laptop with my headphones on, watching, of all things, Perry Mason. Love those old shows! As I was watching this old fashioned, crime solver program, a crime of sorts happened here! All of a sudden, a very loud, house shaking event occurred. I began running upstairs to see if my Grandma or her husband had fallen. They came running downstairs thinking that something had blown up down here. Orville ran outside and discovered a pick up truck had smashed into the corner of the house. Our next door neighbor, Brad and wife Nancy had also heard the noise and already discovered the truck and called emergency personnel. I went over to the truck thinking as a nurse, perhaps I could offer help, but the doors on the truck were locked. The man inside was apparently unconscious and his air bag had deployed. Soon, sirens were sounding and an ambulance, fire truck and various other police cars were setting outside. They were able to get the man to unlock the door to the truck and after much ado, placed him on a stretcher. He was awake enough to tell them his name. He was taken to the hospital and a tow truck came to take the truck away. It was totaled! Two local TV stations came by and spoke with us. I even made the 10 pm news! I'm so grateful that no other person was involved in what could've been a fatal accident for someone. God allowed him to hit the house and not someone else.

Promises for Obedience

Recently I began a study of the book of Proverbs. I have been looking at Chapter three. What rich promises we see that will come to us if we listen to "wisdom" (the Lord) and do what His "law" (the Bible) says. Just think about this for a few moments...vs. 1..."length of days and long life and peace they will add to you...find favor and high esteem with God and man...He shall direct your paths...it will be health to your flesh and strength (drink or refreshment) to your bones...your barns will be filled with plenty and your vats will overflow with new wine." I don't believe in a "prosperity gospel," but there is something to the idea of living honestly and carefully before God and man.
How often when a crime is committed, it is very clear that had the people involved been living a careful life before God, they might not have lost their life or received the ill will of another. Yes, we live in a wicked world and the affects of sin fall on all the righteous and the wicked, yet, I believe these promises give us some general expectation of what our lives may be like if we listen to the Lord and obey His Word!

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year! A new year is a blank slate, just ready for us to write on. We have a choice as to what we will write, and how we will tell the story of our lives this year. While we can't control all of the circumstances which happen to us, we can certainly control our attitude and responses with the help of the Lord. One thing I plan to do Monday morning, is to get back on track with Weight Watchers. I really like the leader of the Monday morning meeting. She is very entertaining and fun. She told us several weeks ago about an apron that she was given at a past Christmas before she had lost weight. The apron would not fit to tie around her! She was appalled at herself. Now, she is an attractive women who is in control of her food choices. That's where I need to be headed...in control. The holiday season makes "being in control," so hard!!! What do you plan to change in this new year?

Christmas Happenings...

A belated Merry Christmas to everyone! A Happy New Year, as well. It has been a very busy month, but filled with many fun and lovely events. I was happy to be able to attend the annual Kansas City Brass Concert which is held each year at the Country Club Christian Church in Kansas City, MO. In 2003, my family and I attended this, and it has become a tradition. They are all members of the Symphony, and so funny!!! The Christmas party at the assisted living where I work, was a neat event! Our director, Phyllis and her husband Frank, were Mr. and Mrs. Claus. The residents loved it! A very nice gift is given to all of the residents, and they sang Christmas songs and carols together as well as enjoyed sweets. Our annual Wright family Christmas gathering is always so nice. My Uncle Nathan and his wife, Renee, always organize this, and it's a great way for us all to take time to be together. This year, instead of going to a restaurant, we met at the Gregory Hills Church Family Life Center, and enjoyed a wonderful breakfast buffet cooked by my brother Jonathan, cousin Darric and others. It was the best buffet in town!!!! There's still more Christmas to come, as my immediate family will not have our celebration until January 2! So, I have a few more things to purchase, and hope to get some after Christmas bargains!!!!

God's Providence

O LORD, thou hast searched me, and known me.

Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising, thou understandest my thought afar off.

Thou compassest my path and my lying down, and art acquainted with all my ways

Do you believe in God's providence? I do, and after you read this, I hope you will! I have been using a SunCloud infrared, electrical heater for several years in the basement apartment that I rent from my Grandmother. The house is more than 50 years old, and was not wired for our modern appliances. I have been using a converter to plug the three-pronged heater into a two-pronged wall outlet. For several days prior to Saturday, December 5, I had been smelling a "hot" smell when the electrical heater would run. Then, it was Saturday. My mom and dad were coming over to help me do some things, and while they were there, I asked my dad about the heater and the hot smell. He took the filter off of the back of it to check and see if it was dirty. It was okay. Around this time, the heater cycled on and the hot smell started. At first, it wasn't so strong and he didn't smell it too much if any. Then, it got stronger. A short time later, fire began coming out of the area where it was plugged into the wall! You talk about action! I, stupidly, ran into the kitchen and started getting water to put on it and was hollering around about it being on fire. My dad, thankfully, went to the outlet where the fire and smoke were coming out of, and began hitting at it with his hand. He managed to yank the cords that were plugged into the wall out and the fire stopped! Thank God! The smoke alarm did not go off. We were left with a melted and burned converter and a cloud of soot and smoke. It was a miracle. Had this happened when I was sleeping, or my Grandma and I were gone, we would not have a house standing today. My Christmas tree was very close to the outlet and it would've probably caught on fire very soon, or at least some of the ornaments. The wooden window seal just about the outlet had a black area on it, and it would've most likely caught on fire eventually. I'm grateful that it happened just at the time my parents were there. Had it happened while I was home alone, I would've possibly thrown that water on it, and might have electrocuted myself! So, God worked it all out to happen just at the "right" time! It's as if He thought, "Okay, this fire is going to happen, the laws of nature tell that. If this happens at the time when she is asleep, or gone, it will be tragic. I will arrange for her parents to come by at just the right time. I'll keep it from catching on fire until that moment. Her dad will know what to do." He was looking out for me. When I doubt His loving care, I should recall this near tragedy and remember His faithfulness to me! When I feel alone and discouraged, I should remember that all my days are numbered by Him and they aren't up yet! He still has work for me to do. He is so good. There is a lovely chorus which goes along with this very well.
"He is good, He is good, His love endures forever.
Give thanks to the Lord for He is good.
He is good, He is good, His love endures forever.
Give thanks, for He is good..."

Yes, God was very good to me that day and I give Him glory and honor!