Last Sunday, Last Day in the Year

Today is a special day in the year 2017. It is the last day of the year and the last Sunday of the year. That has to have a special significance in life. Many people will celebrate this day as special by attending New Year's Eve parties. Still, many others will be found celebrating with their church families at the stroke of 12:01. I will be attending worship as is my usual habit today and service tonight, as well.

At Any Rate

Time is steadily moving on. What will you be doing when the last stroke of the year 2017 is pealed? When your march through time has met the road to eternity? For most of us that will happen at different strokes of the clock just as our births did. When our appointed time does come, the world will most likely be going on just as it was in the days of Noah. People were being married, working at their respective trades, etc.

And yes, it will be much like that at the end of all time, won't it? Uhm, hmm, and that is why you often hear me say, "Do what you can, while you can." I add "Because I care because that is what the Lord has told us to do, care for our fellowman.

So

As another year draws to a close, I ever remain HIS servant and my goal for the year is to continue to "Do what I can, while I can because I care." As I told you on my blog for Dec. 27, 2017, I have packed my bags for the journey into 2018. And one of the things that I packed is the scripture James 1:2-5. That scripture says to me that no matter what I go through in the coming year, whether good or bad I am still the servant of a faithful GOD. I am still a beloved sheep of HIS fold. Since Romans 8:28 is still in the Bible, I know that whatever things happen in my life are for my molding or my building. Tough situations prepare me for tougher situations or build up my spiritual repertoire. Peaceful situations just cement my foundation and faith and trust in HIM even more.

In conclusion, take this with you into 2018.

If you are HIS child, come what may, you are in a win-win situation.

And you can take that to the bank with you!

Be Blessed in 2018 and always love your fellowman as you want to be loved.

Doing What I Can, While I Can Because I Care,

Alma L. Stepping On Carr-Jones

I'm Not Too Big!

A little kid wanted to ride the kiddie rides, but the operator deemed him too big for the kiddie rides. The little kid piped up with, "I'm not big, I'm little. I am only ___ years old! My daddy says that my legs grew off and left me." The operator laughingly said, "Okay, son, you can ride this time."

Another Way

The paragraph above uses "big" in reference to age/height. Another way that "big" can be used is in reference to status or social achievement. Rising up the social ladder can be a bit awkward, especially if the climb has been begun without the climber even being aware of it.

Here is an illustration of what is meant. When a person aspires to be a writer and pours his/her heart into the process, after years of stagnation, the climb can just take off. There are clues to let you know that this is happening if you take notice.

Instances Such As

When people start saying things like, "I have a very good friend, and he/she is an author," when referring to you, that is part of your slow climb. Whenever folk get upset with you for not having some of your books with you, that is another sign that things are escalating. Should you have a speaking engagement and folk stand in line to shake your hand, you have another sign. If people come up to you, and instead of saying, "Hello,"  say, "I don't mean no harm, but you need to hurry up and give us the second book to, "Whatever the Name of Your Book Happens to Be'. Oh, and how are you doing today?" Consider that another sign.

At times people will request you to do a particular thing in reference to speaking and tack on, "If you have time. I know that you are busy." At the end of the day, you are who you were meant to be. Stay humble and continue to do all that you can while you can and keep saying, "I am not too big."

Life Lesson

Always remember that you have the gifts that you have by His grace and you were meant to use them for His glory.

Never Too Big

Remain humble, though your travels

May take you far and wide

And always Keep the GOD of PEACE

Close to your side.

 

And always try to do whatever task

Of  you that might be asked

Because an account you will have to

Give of the talents given to you.

Doing What I Can, While I Can Because I Care,

Alma L. Stepping On Carr-Jones

Meant to Be

You have heard the famous words, "Que, Sera, Sera." That is interpreted as, "Whatever Will Be Will Be." To totally agree with the previous statement, I would have to change its wording to say emphatically, "Whatever Is Meant to Be Will Be."  You see, the first statement could imply that "Life gives what it gives, oh well..." In contrast, the second statement point blank says that "Whatever has been written into your life plan is going to happen, no matter what." That last statement gives credence to a HIGHER POWER, GOD, the MASTER PLANNER.

Application

"Whatever Is Meant to Be Will Be,"  tells me, as a person of faith to keep walking on my path because things will work out. It tells me that the belief that I have that, "The Lord will make a way somehow," is a good and true thing to hold on to. In a nutshell, it says to me, "GOD IS, WAS & ALWAYS WILL BE."  The previous statement covers both the good times and the bad times in my life.

As a person who has seen some rough patches on my path, I can tell you that, "GOD will make a way, and I can tell you not to give up on HIM, but to wait." You know what I have found, when life has beaten us down, that is the time that we are most receptive to learning. You know the times I am talking about, the times when you seem to have lost everything that you had and only your life is left because you have nothing else left to give. Those are the times when peace like a river attendeth our way and learning flows over our overheated soul to cool the fiery molding process that has gone on within.

So, I am marching under a renewed banner in 2018 which says:

"The LORD Will Make a Way Somehow and If You Don't Believe Me, Just Watch Because What You See Was Meant to Be!"

Doing What I Can, While I Can Because I Care,

Alma L. Stepping On Carr-Jones

Brr-r, It's Cold!

Temperature right now in McKenzie is a chilly 13 degrees! With the wind chill, it feels like 1 degree. Wrap up out there folks. And please, please when you go outside, don't leave the door open. I never could understand the reasoning behind doing that.

Being Considerate

You know when someone takes a quick dash outside in frigid weather to start the car and then to run quickly back in. It makes me want to say, "Duh! You didn't take the warmth with you but you sure invited the cold in on the occupants of the room that you just left." Of course, me trying to be the person I am, I don't say anything much about it. But when asked about why they continually practice leaving the door open they say, "Uh well, I was only going to be just a sec." Yeah, right!

I call that being inconsiderate, pure and simple. Would you like for that to be done to you? Nope. Then be considerate of your fellowman. What?! Yep, if you don't or wouldn't want it done to you then don't do it to anybody else. It's that simple.

Teaching Point

But, sometimes when life allows us to rise high enough so that we have few, if any peers, we forget to remember to "Do unto others as we would have them to do unto us." (paraphrased from Matthew 7:12, KJV) We forget that law. But, it covers all of us and it covers leaving doors open, talking about one another, envying one another, stealing from one another, lying on one another, in fact, the entire 17th chapter of the book of Galatians is covered.

Saying What?

In conclusion, don't leave someone out in the cold that you would not want to be left out in. Let's be sure to check our lists of positive things to take forward into 2018 and for other things to be thrown out with the trash, just like all of the discarded Christmas wrappings.

I don't like the cold so I won't create a cold environment for the next person. Instead, I will wrap them in Christian warmth and say, "There is a place to which I am going. Wanna go?"

Doing What I Can, While I Can Because I Care,

Alma L. Stepping On Carr-Jones

Properly Equipped for 2018

Packing Up, Getting Ready

If in this past year, you encountered some situations that fairly knocked you to your knees, I hope that you remembered to read James 1:2-4, NASV.

2. Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials,

3. knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance.

4. And let endurance have its perfect result, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.

The passage of scripture quoted above is a good tool to have in your bag or satchel of preparations for the New Year. I did not quote the next several verses, but you would do well to read them, verse 5 in particular. Verse five says that if you lack wisdom, to ask God.

When I Don't Understand

Wisdom is crucial because often in life we just don't understand why things happen as they do. But, if you have the wisdom to trust the Good Lord, then you will believe and know that no matter what comes up in your life, HE will be there. And you know, that is a powerful thing to come to know. That wisdom will carry you on when it seems that you should be beaten down and done. That belief will keep you struggling and striving to reach its source, JEHOVAH, GOD.

HE commands the sea, wind, water, animals, blacksmiths coals, in fact, all of creation. WHO better to take with you into 2018 than GOD, HIMSELF? If you believe in HIM strongly enough, I think that HE knows it and is pleased by it and walks with you. Therefore, I believe that He makes "All things work together for your good." (Romans 8:28, KJV) I touched on this a little bit in "Chopping My Row." The quotation in the previous sentence is paraphrased, but you get my drift.

In conclusion, in 2018, do as my momma used to tell me when I was a little girl, "Baby, take HIM with you everywhere you go." And, folks,  I have been doing that ever since.

Doing What I Can, While I Can Because I Care,

Alma L. Stepping On Carr-Jones

Made My List

Most of us after having eaten more than we should have during the holidays generally start a list of things that we plan to do better in the new year. That not only includes losing the extra weight that we have gained but bettering our spiritual lives as well. Yeah, I have started such a list, too. Some of our lists are mental, and some are physical. For what it is worth, I have been told and have found that when you write such a list down and put it in a prominent place to be seen each day, it helps with keeping a body on task as to the written goals.

My Goals

If the Lord wills one of my goals is to publish three books for this next year to include two ladies inspirational and one children's picture book (by request).

A goal that I set each year is to continue to do what I can, while I can in my service to the Lord. This next year, I want to do a bit more than I did this year. I do not know whether I will achieve those goals or not, but that is my attention.

Why More?

Why not more? The Lord has done and continues to do more for me each day because as this old body gets older, it takes a bit more to get it going and keep it going. Then, too, I know that I am closer today to my homegoing than I was a year ago. But most of all, I do more because I have shed the foolishness of youth and put on the wisdom of the aged. You know the adage, "When you know better, you do better."

Another reason I do more is to encourage by my actions those folk who are doing nothing and satisfied with it. All of us are getting old and building a legacy to be left behind. We need to think before we do or decide not to do things because impressionable folks, young, old and new babes in Christ are seeing what we do/don't do and thinking that what they see in us is okay for them, too. Do you want it to read at the judgment that you led a soul the wrong way?

At Any Rate

That is a topic for another day. Get your paper and pencil, computer or whathaveyou and start your list of good intentions.

Doing What I Can, While I Can Because I Care,

Alma L. Stepping On Carr-Jones

This Is the Day!

Get up, Get up, the tree is calling my name

The lights on the tree sparkle and twinkle so prettily

And the gaily wrapped presents are still there awaiting me.

But, I have to thank my GOD for this special day

That HE has allowed me to see

When I am done, there will be plenty of time

For gift disclosure and gaiety.

Oh, joy, there you are, sleepy head, you made it! Today is the day that the world has set aside to celebrate the day of the birth of the Only Begotten Son of GOD.

Hallelujah! Praise JEHOVAH! On a day like this one many years ago, the process of the redemption of mankind was begun. So, a very Merry Christmas to you and yours and everyone.

How blessed we are!

Doing What I Can, While I Can Because I Care,

Alma L. Stepping On Carr-Jones

Christmas Eve

Ah-h, the joyful anticipation of the morrow. There is nothing quite like that anticipation I think. Just waiting for the few hours to end so that that box under the tree that has been holding your thoughts captive since it was placed there can be opened. Sometimes on that night, children take themselves to bed early so that the morning can come sooner. In our home, it was nothing to be aroused from our slumber by our two children who were eager to get under the tree. We made it a habit to video the opening of the presents. The video offered laughter throughout the following year.

There was paper aplenty when all of the presents

Had been unwrapped and there were smiles all around

Because of what had been found.

Can still hear the giggling and laughter and

Exclamations from those days so long ago

And I can just imagine that we will have a greater joy of fulfillment

When we reach that place to which we all want to go.

But just think, we only had to wait for fulfillment for one year

Now, think about the Biblical characters who were laid to rest

With only promises of what was to come, to hold dear.

We have been blessed to be living in the time after His birth

And so, we meet this season with laughter and with mirth

But, think about making it to our home that is being prepared

That promises to be a fulfillment that will be

All that we have been told it is worth

There will be no comparison to the days of

Joy that we have experienced here on Earth!

Therefore, on this Christmas Eve and Sunday, too

Let's prayerfully thank GOD for all that HE has done

And lift our voices in praise to HIM for the

Gift of HIS only Son!

Bow with me for a short prayer of praise and thanksgiving:

By the writing and reading of this poem, LORD, we are saying that we love YOU because YOU loved us first and proved YOUR love by the giving of YOUR Son. We are thankful to be living in the time after the birth, death, and resurrection of that Son. And we lift our humble voices in thanksgiving and praise to YOU, oh GOD for WHO YOU are and what YOU do. To YOU, be the glory for the things that YOU have done! We are proud to be YOUR servants. In YOUR blessed Son, Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.

Doing What I Can, While I Can Because I Care,

Alma L. Stepping On Carr-Jones

 

What Did I Do?

[caption id="attachment_646" align="alignnone" width="300"] He Was Born to Die to Save Us[/caption]

When I am asked the question, "What did you do with the talents that you were given," I will say:

The love that You gave me

I gave most of it away.

The writing ability that you gave

I used it to encourage and inspire adults and

The teaching ability to instruct children

Through principals of thought how to

Love, learn and by example, the right way to behave.

I used and used my talents until

I had fair used them up in telling

All who would listen about the greatest gift of all

The gift of a loving Savior, Who came to

Lift mankind from the fall.

That His love was so great that He

Willingly took on the form of man

To die once for all sin because He knew

That it would take His powerful blood

Because we would need saving through

Forgiveness over and over again.

Doing What I Can, While I Can Because I Care,

Alma L. Stepping On Carr-Jones

A Gift that Never Gets Broken or Wears Out

Here at the Christmas season, people are busy doing last minute shopping trying to make sure that they have a gift for everyone on their list. Because some people are hard to buy for, and due to the aforementioned waiting until the last minute to shop, plenty of gifts fall into the category of useless/broken/worn out/not my style, etc. Over the years, I'm sure that we have all received gifts that fell into the category mentioned above.

Appreciative

Some of the gifts that we receive are just the ticket, in that they are just what we had hoped for. Usually, we left the person who gave us the gift in numerous ways. We say, "Thank you," profusely, and we keep them and use until they are used up, worn out or broken. Some of the less desirable gifts, we may eventually put in a quiet yard sale or take to the second-hand store. Such is life.

In this season of such giving, wouldn't it be nice to receive gifts that never wore out or tore up or went out of style? That would be great, wouldn't it? Uhm hmm. But you know, we have received one such gift. What is that Gift? Jesus. GOD gave us the Gift that keeps on giving, never goes out of style and never gets used all up. That gift is the gift that reconciles us to GOD. The gift that I am speaking of that Jesus brought to us is forgiveness.

What Does It All Mean?

It means that there is nothing that is not covered by the blood of Jesus as far as our sins go. Forgiveness was here before we were born and will be here after we are gone. It is a gift that is ever-present for us while we yet live. All we have to do is avail ourselves of it.

The blood of Jesus will always be there cleansing us of our sins as long as we live if we remain faithful. That blood will never lose its power. It is the right size for you as well as for me. One size fits all. It covers the sins of the woman mentioned in the book of Hosea, the sin of lying, the sin of stealing, the sin of gossiping, etc. Ever sin is covered. And as long as the world stands that blood will continue to clean us. After death, we will be presented to our God by Jesus as a glorious church without spot or wrinkle.

What A Gift!

Mary's Firstborn! The only begotten Son of God! My, my my! During this season that the world had designated the time to acknowledge and pay tribute to Him, let us be thankful and praise GOD to the highest because of HIS love for us. We are blessed, y'all.

Me, I am going to continue to keep Christmas each day of the year.

Doing What I Can, While I Can Because I Care

Alma L. Stepping On Carr-Jones

You Don't Know

There was a statement in my devotional book, "Power for Today," that grabbed my attention. Here is the statement. "You don't really know Jesus is all you need until Jesus is all you have." That statement brought back to me the feeling of helplessness that I experienced after my house fire. Before the fire, I was what I called pretty self-sufficient, or so I thought at the time. I had graduated college and had settled into a thirteen-year-long teaching career and was living a portion of my dream and was well on the way to achieving the rest of it.

Had bought a set of fine china one year, bought a triple wide china cabinet one year, a brand new riding lawn mower sat in my garage, brand new bikes for my children were in the driveway and so on and so forth. I was buying these things so that when I bought my house, I would not have to worry about paying for them. They were bought and done. Check that off of the list. Had "my stuff" still in the boxes that most of it came in, waiting on my house. As I said, I was wheeling and dealing! Yesiree, I depended on God and me!

Close to Jesus and Knew It

Prayed quite a bit about each new undertaking, didn't bother folks - minded my own business, made sure that I did the right thing most of the time,  asked forgiveness when I didn't, etc. Y'all know the drill.

So, when I got the news about someone's house being afire, you can imagine my attitude. Since there were two of us that had been called to the office, I knew that the house burning down belonged to the lady who was with me. I just knew that because stuff like that didn't happen to me, it just didn't. So, I turned to her to say the appropriate sympathetic thing.

What Did You Say?

Ha! Before I could get the words out, the office manager said, "No, not your house, pointing to the lady, but yours!  I never will forget, I who was pretty articulate at the time, started stammering. With a total look of disbelief on my face I said, "Muh, muh, my house is burning down?!"

Y'all, I could not believe it. I just could not believe it. But, it was so. You can read the rest of the story about my house fire in the book, "Chopping My Row," pp 18-19.

One More Point

Since there was no insurance, there was no way to replace anything. I found out what it was to have nothing, not even a broom straw. But you know what, folks. I had Jesus, and I found out that He was all I needed to get by. All of the things lost in the fire have been replaced several times over. But, there are no boxes of things waiting to be used, nope never again. Fire insurance? Ha, ha, fire insurance poor these days!

Material things do not mean as much to me now and never will again. Now, don't get me wrong. I like nice things, but I can do without them if I have to. The most important thing I learned from my fire, Things don't make me, Jesus does. That's one thing I do know.

 

Best Blessing of All!

Have you ever thought about how it would feel to be allowed to live in the Garden of Eden? I have, and I am sure that most of you have, too. To be able to walk and talk with the LORD, GOD would be the epitome of happiness for me. The knowledge that His love and protection surrounded me and to know that His provisional care was in abundance would be love in heretofore, unknown proportions.

Ahh-h, to Walk and Talk

Wonder how it would feel to be able to talk with the Lord like Adam and Eve did in the garden? Well, I look at it like this. The joy that I would feel would be greater than the joy that I felt when I first read and understood the meaning of Hebrews 4:16. (I cover this in more detail in Lessons 4 and 8 in my book, "Chopping My Row.")  That scripture lets me know that the LORD, GOD wants me to come to him in prayer. And wants me to feel comfortable in HIS presence! It's a  simple thought, but it blows me away.

My joy would be greater than the joy that I had when my mother first told me about Jesus!  My joy would be the ultimate joy.

Say What?

Yep, my joy would be ultimate. I mean think about it for a second. To be able to talk and walk with the Lord would mean that I would have been successful in my earthly journey. It would mean that what the songbird is singing about in the picture above has been accomplished. The meaning would be this. I had taken the Savior up on His invitation to be reconciled to my God and had subsequently lived out my life successfully and had been gathered back to the LORD, GOD and had been told those well-remembered words, "Well done my good and faithful servant. Thou hath been faithful over a few things, enter into the joys of the LORD."

So

So, I join in with the lyrics of the songbird. "GOD and sinner reconciled." That song says in essence that because of HIS phenomenal love for us, He gave us the ultimate Gift of HIS love in the person of HIS only begotten Son to pave the way for us to get back home to HIM. Jesus replaced what was taken away from us through the sins of Adam and Eve in the garden.

In conclusion, be joyous, y'all! This holiday is the celebration of the birth of GOD's only begotten Son, the Gift that allows us to come back to where we belong!

"Hark the herald angels sing."

GOD's love for mankind sent

Jesus down as a Savior to

Save us all and to bring

Man back to where he belongs

What great tidings are in this song

"Glory to the newborn King!"

 

Doing What I Can, While I Can Because I Care,

Alma L. Stepping On Carr-Jones

Christmas Blessing

Yesterday, attended a retired teacher's luncheon at the home of one of my former colleagues, Jessie Ross. Food and good cheer were in abundance as we partook of the sumptuous food and reminisced. Much hilarity could be heard as we told one funny story after another.

I have often told you of the great staff that we had at MMS (MJH) and getting together with them after several years, still proved that point. What a joy to have colleagues of such caliber to get together with during this festive Christmas Season! I thank God for His lovingkindness and all of you.

Be blessed and bless someone else with your smile of remembering His goodness to us.

Doing What I Can, While I Can Because I Care,

Alma L. Stepping On Carr-Jones

Blessed!

No better way to say it...

Ring out the message of His birth and while you are at it, give a smile of Christmas cheer!



Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!

Nine Days Out

[caption id="attachment_844" align="alignnone" width="112"] Remember to Love.[/caption]

In nine days it will be Christmas. Most children will be on their best behavior because they are anticipating gifts. Most adults are on their good behavior because they say things like, "It's the Christmas Season, you know." Then come January, and most of the smiles and good will have gone out of the window.  And it becomes fashionable to be all about self once again.

What About Jesus?

I'm glad that He was not all about self because if He were, where would you and I be? Uhm hmm-m and He is not all about self, even now. How do I know? Look at the Bible. He told us to love the Lord God with all of our hearts and to love others as we want to be loved. That's it, simple as can be. (Mark 12:30-31) Luke 6:31, KJV is another scripture that talks about how to treat our fellowmen.

All Year Long

Show love all of the year and not just in these nine days.

Be blessed.

Doing What I Can, While I Can (in spite of a two-hour delay due to a computer glitch) While I Can Because I Care

Alma L. Stepping On Carr-Jones

The Happiest Christmas

 

A Tree!

The happiest Christmas that I remember is when I was eight years old. This was not a Christmas laced with plenty of materials goods, in fact quite the opposite. This was a Christmas that was laced with a mother's  love and the childhood expectations of a visit from Santa.

I remember that some tree trimming truck had passed our house on the way to the city dump. The driver took the corner too fast, and a big branch rolled off of his truck. Though the branch was a bit misshapen, it was a cedar branch, nonetheless! Can you imagine the joy that I experienced when that truck dropped that branch, and it landed right on the edge of our yard?! I was ecstatic. I felt like Jesus had sent us a tree because I had wanted one so badly!

What did I do, I dragged it into the house and lay it in the front room. It smelled so Christmasy! Closed and locked the front door and pulled the curtain down. Then I set to work. I went out of the back door to a pile of overgrown bricks and concrete blocks that some workmen had left there. And I got four bricks from the pile and took them into the house. Had to make two trips because I could not carry all of the bricks at the same time. I wedged the branch between the bricks, but it would not stand up straight, so I leaned it against the window. It was so tall that the top part of it touched the ceiling. But it still didn't look right. "It is supposed to stand up and not be leaning against the window!," I thought with a wail.

What to Do

I went back out to the pile left by the workmen, and I drug a concrete block out. I tumbled it over and over until I got it to the back steps. Then I struggled and walked it end over end up the back steps and finally into the back door. I shut and locked the back door and sat down to catch my breath. Then after getting me a drink of water from the sink, I tumbled the concrete block end over end all the way down to the living room. I had to tumble it end over end through two rooms, down a hall, and through two more rooms. But, I got it to the front room. I scooted the block over to where the base of the limb was and moved the bricks. The limb was pretty stationery because it had its weight on the floor and up against the window facing. It took some sweating and maneuvering from my eight-year-old self, but I got that limb into the middle hole of the concrete block, and the limb sat upright with a thud. Aha! Now we had a tree, of sorts, that was upright. It didn't matter that it was lopsided. It didn't matter that there were no gifts there because Santa was not due to arrive yet.

Decorations

Every tree worth its salt has to have some decorations. So, I got in Momma's box of icicles and started flinging the silvery strands over the tree. I had to drag a chair out of the kitchen to reach some of the top parts, but I got it done. I wished that I had some Christmas balls to put on the tree, but that was okay. We had a tree, and it smelled Christmasy. It was just fine by me.

I got Momma's white tissue folded paper that was from last year and wrapped some of it around the concrete block. I took the rest of the tissue paper and lay it around the base of the tree like a skirt. Momma had bought one bag of soft multi-colored Christmas candy, and I lay that under the tree.

Imagine the Joy

I can still see the joy in my Momma's eyes when she came in the door and saw that branch-tree. My brothers were just as excited when they came home from playing, too. Momma gave me one of those looks that I was going to come to know well. You know, those "How-in-the-world!," looks.

And Now

That was many Christmases ago, but I have never forgotten the joy and wonder of that branch being dropped at our front door, so to speak. That Christmas helped to cement stars in my eyes that, though they have been rattled and shaken, remain to this day. My point in all of this? I didn't know it then, but I had received my first care package from heaven which was to carry me through many a tough time.

Though I have been blessed with many a Christmas where the materials blessings were plentiful, there has never been one like that Christmas when a tree landed at the feet of a wide-eyed eight-year-old.

Y'all be blessed now, ya hear?

Doing What I Can, While I Can Because I Care,

Alma L. Stepping On Carr-Jones

Don't Believe Me, Just Watch!

A beloved author looked to be sinking fast... When you get to the end of your rope, and all hope is lost, remember that "It is not over until GOD says it's over." The author had a ventilator, a respirator and her numbers were down. That is when the doctors called her family in...

Prayers of the Righteous

Now she is sitting up in the hospital bed signing books! I have seen time and time again how the Lord heals folk because of the prayers of the righteous.  My mother's two favorite words were, "God will!" My Gran Gran's favorite words were, "I declare He will make it alright!"

And Now Me the Third Generation

And now my most favorite words are, "I know the Lord will make a way. Yes, He will!" I have tried Him, and He has come through for me many times. Just this week I prayed for two friends in the hospital, one from a stroke and one from a heart attack.  Now, both of them are getting better day by day. One is talking again and improving daily,  and the other has shed her ventilator and respirator! You cannot tell me that GOD will not answer prayer!

So, I cannot say enough about Him. If I filled up the world with books, it still wouldn't be enough to tell my story! That's why I won't stop. I will be talking about Him when nobody wants to hear it anymore. I will be praising Him as long as I have my being! If you get tired of it, you will just have to tune in to another station because this station is BTPH (Bound to Praise Him.) Hallelujah, y'all, I feel a song coming on. So, I am going to say, "Bless you," end this blog and go on out and belt out a verse or so of, "I Know the Lord Will Make a Way" and a verse or so of "It's in My Heart to Serve the Lord."

Be Blessed as I Continue to Do What I Can, While I Can Because I Care,

Alma L. Stepping On Carr-Jones

"The prayers of the righteous availeth much," (James 5:16 KJV) and if you don't believe me, just watch!

A Mother's Wonderment of It All

To have the joy of expecting a baby has to be one of the greatest joys that a woman can have. During the time that you are carrying your child, you hope that the baby is healthy. And then you think about what his/her contribution to society is going to be. You hope and pray that he will grow up to be God-fearing and a help to mankind.

But

But, to know that you are going to be blessed with a child...and not just any child, but one whose birth was foretold to you by an angel has to have been an occasion for wonderment. I imagine that as a soon-to-be mother, you would spend days pondering over the pronouncement that you had been given.   You might wonder, "Why me?" if nothing else.

Mary

We are told in the book of Luke, verses 26-38 (KJV) that Mary was given such an announcement by the angel Gabriel.  She was puzzled by the announcement and wondered about it, but she accepted it as God's will. How blessed she was among women and what a blessing her Baby proved to be to the world, just as foretold!

Most celebrate the birthday of this gift of God's love, on the 25th day of December, although scholars do not know the exact date of Jesus' birth. I celebrate the occasion of His birthday every day of my life because I am so glad that He came to save a life(s), even mine.

To God be the glory for the things that He has done!

In keeping with the Season, today and always, Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to all!

Out of the Mouths of Babes

A six-year-old decided to pick up a book that he found at his grandmother's house and began reading it. There were several books there, but he chose my book, "Chopping My Row." His grandmother was surprised when he did and so am I.  His grandmother was astounded enough that she videotaped him reading the book. Then she ordered two more copies. I don't know why that baby picked up my book, but I am thankful that he did. I like to think that it was the providence of God.

At Any Rate

Don't know why the six-year-old chose my book, but that action has made the fire burn hotter in my efforts to get my next books finished. I was already in full blown manuscript composing of my next couple of books, anyway, But now, there is an added drive toward the completion of the dual books that I am attempting, to clear the writing table for the children's series that has been in my mind for so long. Then, at last, I can begin my children's book(s) because of that precious little six-year-old.  Another grandmother had previously asked me to do a children's book, as well. And come to think of it, a mother had asked me to do a children's book two years ago!

I Think

With all that has been said, I believe that I need to do that children's book fairly soon. And that is exactly what I am going to do. Why? The children have spoken... Wow! My Lord and my God!

Uh...

That means that in 2018 if the Lord wills, I will publish three books. Oh wow! Y'all pray with me and for me because this lady is going to try to do just that!

Doing What I Can, While I Can Because I Care,

Alma L. Stepping On Carr-Jones

Saved by an "Angel" to Help an "Angel" (cont.)

When we got to the car, my very agitated baby said, "Ah-h-h, di tar." Then I realized what he had been trying to say. He had been yelling for all he was worth, "Get in the car! Get in the car!" Bless his little heart. Well, that day, God blessed both of our hearts through my friend who had yelled for me to get off the tracks.

As I said on yesterday, that was when I was still a young wife and a college student. But now, that baby is a man, and I am a grandmother. My friend and I have remained close through the years. So, when I got a call Saturday night that she had had a stroke, I was very concerned. And what have I always told you to do when you are bothered? Yep, take it to God in prayer, and that is just what I did. I know that the Lord knew all about her, but I reminded Him that this was a special friend to me. I reminded Him that this friend kept me from being overrun by that train all those years ago. So, after worship on Sunday morning, off to the hospital, I go.

At the Hospital

When I got to the hospital to see her yesterday after worship, she was looking okay and was doing better according to her husband. But she was having some trouble accepting what had happened to her, so I used some of the words that God had placed on my mind to put in my book,  "Chopping My Row." She told me that she was really blessed by what I had said to her. I told her that God had seen the entire thing. Here are a couple of points that I made to her.

• 
  

  Job - I reminded her of the book of Job, where the adversary was allowed to touch Job's body but was admonished not to kill him. I told her that since she was God's child that He knew her situation and that the adversary could not do any more to her than God allowed.

  
  


• 
  

  Hairs Numbered - I reminded her of the scripture that says that the very hairs of our head are numbered. I told her that if the Lord knew how many hairs were on our head, He knew what was happening in the head. In fact, all over our bodies.

  
  


• 
  

  Timing - I told her that since her husband drives for a transportation company, but happened to be at home at the time of her stroke, that was no coincidence.  I said to her, "You know the doctor said that if it had been just a short delay in getting you to the hospital, the damage would have been a lot worse." I told her that it was no coincidence that she fell ill at the time that she did. I told her that God looks down the road in our lives and He makes plans for events that are coming up so that we can be taken care of. I told her that His love is not just for the here and now. It covered us before we were born and goes with us now and goes on down into the future preparing our way. She thanked me again, and tears surfaced in her eyes.

  
  

Her Response

She told me that she was just so thankful that I was her friend and had come to see her to make her feel better by the words that I said. I told her that the words that I said were put in my mind by the Lord as a care package from Him just to remind her that He is watching and still cares. I told her to hold on to her faith and trust God like she always has because He sees, He knows, and He cares.

She told me again with tears in her eyes what a blessing I was in saying the words that I had said to her and that she was so blessed to have me as a friend. Then I told her that I was the one who was blessed to have her as a friend. I told her that she was going to have me tearing up in a minute. Then she chuckled a little. Then I thought of another point to leave her with.

Chuckling

Then I launched into the story about the train and the cattails. By the time I had finished the quick story, she was chuckling, and her husband and mine, too. Then I capped my story off by saying to her, "All those years ago, God had you to save me because He knew that He would use the words that He would plant in me to bring you a tender care package from Him. She said, "That is a blessing right there, and you are a blessing." She said that she was going to bless me for that. What she meant was that she was going to help to promote my writing, more. She also said that she was going to do more for the Lord, in so many words.

Did I Know?

Did I know when I wrote my book, that I would be using it to soothe a dear friend of mine, nope.  But God did. He prepared me, folks, so that I could have the words of comfort that my friend would need to shore up her faith. You see, I know it was not a coincidence because I had been looking back over the book, Chopping My Row, as I was putting my next manuscript together for my next book. And I just happened to have been looking back over it, and it just happened to have been fresh in my mind just at the time that my friend needed me! Nunh unh!

When I Left the Hospital

So, I left a copy of my book with her daughter and asked her to read portions of it to her as she could. And you know what else I left at the hospital, folks. I left a joyful, feeling-blessed-lady instead of the downhearted one that I found when I first got there. And with me, I carried a reminder of how the Lord orchestrates the events of our lives and is always with us and will send us a care package just when we need it the most! Isn't GOD good, y'all?! Yes, He is!

Update: She continues to improve.

 

Saved by an "Angel" to Help an "Angel"

Do you have or have you ever had a friend that came as close to being an "angel" as humans can? One who kept a perpetual smile on her face all of the time? Who seemed to have as one of her purposes in life to alleviate unkindness, one who always had a sense of fair play, and who left an unconscious imprint of love wherever she was? I have one such friend. She shall remain nameless so as to protect her privacy, but an "angel," to me,  nonetheless.

How We Met

We met when we were both newlyweds and became fast friends. Lived next door to each other in university housing. Her husband was in school and so was I. Attended the same church and had several other young married ladies in our group of friends. Nevertheless, during the summer time when regular school was out, we found time to go shopping together and various other things. All of the things that we did together seemed to cement our friendship.

I never will forget one day we were going out to find some cattails. If you don't know, cattails are reedy marsh plants with brown furry fruiting spikes. We had seen an arrangement with them in a local variety store and decided to make our own arrangement because the price was too high for the one in the store. At any rate, on this particular day, we were going out to find some that grew along the railroad track not too far from our houses. We found the cattails and were on our way back to the car.

Cattails Found and...

My baby was on the tracks with us and I reached down to pick him up. He was just a toddler just barely learning to talk and had decided that he had had enough of exploring the gravel on the tracks. My baby was a good little tyke and just loved being outdoors if I were alongside him. So we were walking along the tracks, that seldom had a train on it when from around the bend behind us came a train coming full blast. We took off running for all we were worth. I knew that I was a fast runner and I laid it down, y'all! Didn't think about my friend or anything else. Was getting my baby and me off of that track. I was picking my feet up and puttin' 'em down! All I could hear was the rumble of that train behind me!

"Dit di tar!"

Then I heard my friend's voice yell, "Get off the tracks, Alma!" And that is what I did without hesitating. She had already gotten off and saw how close the train was to overrunning me. I had no clue until I got off of the track and before I could turn around, the train went zooming past me! I was horrified and my baby who had been on my shoulder the whole time facing the train started jabbering uncontrollably. Remember, he was just learning to talk, y'all. He kept yelling,  "Dit di tar, dit di tar!" over and over again. (I will continue this blog on tomorrow if the Lord wills.)

 

A Tennessee Christmas

On my last Christmas at home

My Mom said to me

"This is a Christmas to make memories, Son

So that you remember Tennessee."

I left home the following spring

After graduating

To join the navy and to

See what pleasures awaited me.

The journey has had rough spots and the

Road has been sometimes long

But I've always remembered Christmas

In my Tennessee home.

 

A memory of the season,

Alma L. Stepping On Jones

To God be the glory for the things that He has done

Beginning with the things started many Christmases ago.

Need Help?

[caption id="attachment_715" align="alignnone" width="187"] My help comes from the Lord. (Psalm 121:2)[/caption]

Most people at some point in their life need help. If you need help, try prayer. Have been utilizing prayer since I was eight years old. When my mother first told me about the Lord and how prayer works, to me, an eight-year-old, it was like the magic that I read about in my fairytale books, only better. It was better than Cinderella, Snow White or Sleeping Beauty. It was real! And it was mine!

Recapture/Discover

If you can recapture the awe and wonder of a child's faith, if you have lost it, then you can find that closeness to the Lord like I, as an eight-year-old, had. If you have never known Him then when you find the Lord, you will understand what the continual chatter concerning Him is all about. He will become your best friend and confidante. You will discover that you can tell Him anything and you will not hear it whispered in the streets before it has barely left your lips. You will learn to tell Him all of your problems and to wait for Him to solve them. You will find that He will be fixing things for you while you are asleep. And He also will fix things for you before you get to a situation somewhere down in the future.

Sounds Incredulous?

I know, but now you know why I can have that "Pollyannaish" attitude that you have detected in my writing and that my friends and associates know me for. It is incredulous and mindblowing. This understanding of Him is why a woman who has lived to be a grandmother, who has been broken time and again in life can still have stars shining in her eyes. The realization that my help comes from the Lord through prayer is an awesome tool to have.

Everywhere I Go

I have taken that prayerful assurance everyplace that I have gone in life and every place that I will go. When you see me coming, I've got that prayerful assurance with me. If you make me cry, I am talking with prayerful assurance to my Lord. Whatever comes up in my life, I meet it with prayerful assurance that my Lord is already in attendance and is working things out for my good. (Romans 8:28 KJV)

In conclusion, if you need help, try my Lord. I did when I was eight years old and have been leaning on Him ever since. (Some of this is covered in my book, "Chopping My Row." It will inspire you to great lengths.) People are starting to talk about it and the way that it has helped them on their journey.

"My help comes from the Lord." (Psalm 121:2 KJV)

Sweet Peace

There is nothing so settling as peace. Being able to have peace in the midst of trouble and trials is a blessing. Trials come in various forms. One form that I will mention today is having trouble with the physical structure of your house.

Recently, we had to replace the heating unit and repair plumbing in the bathroom. Then there is the roof that needs redoing and the water heater that will allow only 1/4 of a tub of water before turning very cold. Yikes! Brr-rr that is cold. And having no additional heater in the bathroom is taxing, as well. But, taking it all in stride, I keep stepping. Do I like it? Nope, but I can adjust. I tell myself that this too shall pass.

I Don't Know

I don't know why this stuff had to crop up now, but it has and in the dead of winter. But, you know, that is just like the Christian life sometimes. One step forward and two backward, it seems. Somebody might ask, "How can you stand it?" I just lay it all before my God's throne, and I keep moving on.

There Are People

If I put everything in perspective, I realize that there are people who have no heat, food nor houses in this the dead of winter. So, why should I complain about it being chilly in the bathroom or about having 1/4 of a tub of tepid water to bathe in? The scriptures say that the Lord knows my needs before I even voice them, so I make my requests, and then I step on. (Matthew 6:8 KJV) So, too, must you, whether it is finance, health, illness of loved ones, etc. Put your trust in God, my friend, for He cares for you.

In conclusion, I just leave my trials and troubles at my God's throne and take a helping of peace as I sup beside the still waters of His mercy. Ah-h-h, sweet peace.

 

Doing What I Can, While I Can Because I Care

Alma Carr-Jones

Oh! Oh My! Uh, Uh...

"Oh! Oh my, uh, uh..." The previous phraseology is my way of expressing thankful awe. The "..." in the phrase represents the skipper in me taking a pause. Say what?

Well y'all know that I told you that as a child, I used to skip all of the time, in fact, skipped most places I went. I have since told you that owing to the passage of time, that I cannot skip the way I want to. So I skip in my mind. Sound strange to you? That's okay, that's me. That is just the way that I am wired.

At any rate, back to the point that I was trying to make. The phrase that I uttered at the beginning of this blog means that I am almost beginning to be astounded. In a little bit, I will be lost for words for a second or so. I am astounded enough that the skipper in my mind has had to pause and ponder some things.

Why Beginning to Be Astounded?

Well, as I told you on Monday, I was wowed by my seeing the way people had received my book and some of the comments that they made about it. Now I see the hand of GOD further in the way that people are receiving my book, "Chopping My Row." And you know what I say? I say, "Thank YOU, GOD, for your moving mountains out of my way, leveling out valleys and raising the mountain on which I stand."

A Heartfelt Prayer

Thank YOU, GOD

I do not have the words to express

The joy within nor the extent of my happiness

But before the world, to YOU, I want to confess

My love for YOU and my joy at beholding

My writing career's growing success.

I am humbled and thankful, y'all. That is all I can say right now. Me, at a loss for words? Well, yeah...

Determination

To have determination means to have the drive to accomplish something at all costs.

Stepping On

Stepping on

Until I'm stepping gone

Stepping on

Until I'm stepping done

Stepping on

Till I've stepped home.

Step, by definition, means a movement made by lifting the foot and setting it down again in a new position, accompanied by a shifting of the weight of the body in the direction of the new position, as in walking, running, ...

It means not being stationary.

Life, as we know it, is not stationary either because time is ever moving on. We are being moved toward some ultimate end.

I use the words, "stepping on," in the poem above because I want to denote an active player in this game of life. It means that since I know that things do not stay the same even if I am hurt, rich, popular, etc. I still must stay focused and keep moving toward the goal that I have set for my life of having an eternal home with the Lord. Pain, riches, popularity, etc. are all temporal and have no place in the home to which I am going.

So

A set determination is the key, folks. Don't let anything deter you from your goal of making it home to be with the Lord.

Be determined and keep stepping on  in

Your quest to spend eternity in bliss

And not in the place across the abyss.

The Best

Most of us want the best things in life, the best car, the best house, the best children, the best job, etc. Even when we settle, we tend to still aim for the best.

When God gave us Jesus

He gave us His best

And by this Gift from our Father

We can be eternally blessed.

 

However, sometimes I get tired of running

And I'm sure that you do, too

But I think back to the gift of His only Son

And I keep doing all that I can do.

********

Holiday Hope

Peace and joy to you all

This holiday season

And never forget that love

Is the ultimate reason

That God sent His only begotten Son

In a demonstration of how

To do things with a hope of getting

To live in that eternal city above.

So

He has already given us the best there is in this world.

Blown Away

[caption id="attachment_929" align="alignnone" width="185"] Did I just read what I thought I did about my book? Huh?[/caption]

"I was blown away by that..." We have heard that phrase used with regards to several things in life. And we know that the use of that phrase means that someone was really touched and impressed by whatever they are speaking of. Right?

Uhm hmm-m, well I had that phrase used about something that God had allowed me to do. That something was writing and publishing my book, Chopping My Row. I must say that using the gifts that God has given me, I have managed to make people's mouths gape open a time or two in my life. But, it was usually in reference to an oration that I was doing. If you cannot tell, I am starting to be wowed, now.

See What God Has Done

He has taken me up on my word and has allowed me to rise to a higher mountain. What do I mean by that? Well, read on, and I will tell you. Back in 2011, I told the Lord that I loved Him so much that I would stand on top of the tallest mountain in the world and tell of His love for mankind and my love for Him. Then, I told Him that since I could not get to K2, Mount Everest, or one of the other disputed tallest mountains, I would shout my love from the tallest mountain in my world, instead. So, I started writing my blog, hmm, about two to three times a month. It soon escalated to two times a week to finally culminate in my blogging daily.

But He Didn't Stop There

He allowed me to author five books, of which Chopping My Row, is the most recent. Yesterday, a lady asked me what the name of my next book was going to be. Yes, I was shocked, but over the years I have learned not to show that I have been shocked. I told her the name of the book. Then she asked me how I came to choose that particular title for my next book. I explained my choice of title just as I am doing for you. (Later that night and today it hit me that this lady had been thinking about my book that she had just finished. That was why she asked me the questions that she did. Wow, y'all!)

The title, by the way, will be "The Tallest Mountain in My World." Yes, you can surmise how I came up with that title if you look back at paragraph three. I see the hand of God all over this new book as I do in my life. And you can tell that I acknowledge Him by the title that I gave my second book of inspirational verse, "DEI sub Numine Viget," which is Latin for "Under God's Spirit She Flourishes." That is another way of saying I do what I do, not by my power, but by the power of God.

I Remember

Being questioned about my next book made me remember back when I was a little girl, and some of my friends would ask me when I was going to finish a certain story or write another one.  I did not know then, that the hand of God was upon me and that He was preparing me for what I would do much later in my life. Yes, preparing me to write inspirational books for Him! Now, I, am blown away! Told you back in the second paragraph that I was beginning to be wowed, well, it is now full-blown!

So, I Invite You

You, dear friend, are invited to go along with me for the inspirational journey that God has planned for me. In conclusion, it promises to be exciting and fulfilling, I think. Wow!

To GOD be the glory

Forever, as I write my books

And tell my story.

Stop Thief! (concl.)

[caption id="attachment_471" align="alignnone" width="159"] That's Mine! You Bring that Right Back![/caption]

Let me finish my story that I started on yesterday. At any rate, we had been invited to dinner at a local eating establishment by one of the members and his wife. We went, had an enjoyable meal and fellowship together and left the restaurant replete. When we got to the car I went to look in the black bag for my iPad so I could play a quick game of one of my favorite free downloads. I could not find it, so I looked a little harder. Then I realized that it just was not there! My husband, noticing my frantic searching, said to me, “You must have left it in the seat in the building.” (I let him get away with that statement, although I knew that I had not left it anywhere. He was the one that picked up my stuff and my iPad from the seat.)

Where Is It?

So there we went, heading back to the building. Because I was so concerned about getting to my iPad, it seemed to me that that man drove 20 mph all the way to the building! I know that he did not, that's just how it seemed to me. I told him at one point that maybe he ought to let me drive. He just looked at me as if I had two heads and kept on driving. My stomach was in knots by this time.

Well, we got to the building, he got out of the car and went inside to retrieve my iPad. He stayed so long that the first frisson of alarm started to creep up my spine. I unbuckled my seatbelt and was getting out of the car when he exited the building. He had a puzzled and funny look on his face and was shaking his head from side to side.

Jumped out of the car and went into the building, my body starting to become cold and methodically calm. I tend to do that when the situation has become dire, only to go to pieces when the crisis is over. (I have been told that that is the beginning of shock; I wouldn't know, as I'm not a medical professional.) But, we looked the building over, high and low, the restrooms, the basement, etc.… No iPad! I kept thinking, “Where is my iPad? It has to be here. It can't have just up and walked off!”

Drat and Double Drat!

By my being a poetess/writer, to say that I was devastated by the loss of my iPad, does not even begin to cover the situation. The first emotion I experienced was disbelief, then shock, followed by hurt/pain and lastly anger. I, who pride myself on being flexible and leveled-headed, wanted that person "caught and caught right now!"

Calmed down and then started the notification process that you have to go through when something is lost or stolen. Thankfully, I had engaged a numeric code for my iPad, so that gave me some measure of satisfaction, but not much. Not much at all, I tell you.

Proof Is in the Pudding

I had been telling someone the day before the theft, that one of my favorite scriptures is, Romans 8:28. I didn't know just how soon I was going to be thrust into a situation to show just how much I believed that scripture. Well, that Scripture got a workout that week because I kept repeating it to myself. I kept telling myself that, “All things work together for good for those that love the Lord.” So to keep from acting like I felt like acting, I started praying and here is the prayer I uttered:

Now LORD, I don't know how YOU are going to work this out, but I give over to YOUR will for my life Lord. I ask YOU to help me through this day and all subsequent days and make me be able to graciously accept and work through the adverse things that may happen. Please make my faith grow by leaps and bounds as I learn to depend on YOU. Prosper my way so that I may use all situations to your glory. In your name I pray. Amen.

That is the prayer that I prayed. I also added a prayer for forgiveness for what I thought about the thief. (Nope, can't tell you that. That is between the Lord and me. Besides, I have gotten forgiveness for that thought.) Then I stepped on.

Here's What I Learned

If you pray a similar prayer during  your adverse times, you will find that HE gradually works things out. And things won't bother you the way they used to. You will be able to find that joy, that the adversary tried to steal from you. People will start to come up to you and say things like, "How do you stay so calm in situations like this?" etc.

My Positive Reactions

Then, my friend, you will realize what it feels like to have other people watching you and have their faith grow by judging your reaction to things! You might think, “What! Don't watch me! I'm just trying to make it myself!” No, dear friend, you have become a person to emulate.  Yes, that is an awesome responsibility, isn't it? Uhm-hu-m-m, but you will get joy and added strength in knowing that your troubles and botherations have, not only helped you in your relationship with the Lord, but have helped someone else, as well.

In Conclusion

Learn the lesson that I have learned regarding spiritual thievery, which is, "Though the adversary and adverse times might try periodically to steal your joy,  choose to not allow it to happen."  Take consolation from Romans 8:31 and Romans 8:28. Maintain your joy, and solidify your example to others, through your faith in God. And you my brother and my sister, step on. Remember, even when you don't see how or understand why, you have a Father Who loves you and works all things out for your good.

Doing What I Can, While I Can Because I Care,

Alma L. Carr-Jones

Stop Thief!

Let me tell you a little story. But first let me say that you never know what a day will bring, you just never know. That is why I always say BYDWP (Begin your day with prayer.)

I got up coming to worship one Sunday morning and the morning proceeded pretty much as usual, you know morning hygiene ritual, breakfast and the usual 40-minute drive to worship, with me chatting with my husbnd and playing games on my iPad, etc. We had a good worship service and after it was over I had to attend the ladies room. Well, my husband, in the meantime, picked up my stuff off of the seat where I had left it and took it to the car, trusting soul that he is...

 

Yes, you guessed it; he left the car door unlocked and came on back into the building. I exited the ladies room and started toward the exit since I had noticed that the lights had been turned off in the sanctuary. I took two steps toward the exit and remembered, “Oops, my things still upfront on the seat where I left them.” and I turned around to go get them. When I got to where I usually sat, yes I'm guilty of having a favorite seat, like most of you, (tee hee) I saw that the seat was empty, so I surmised that my husband had taken my things to the car for me. When I got to the car the front door was ajar. That surprised me, but I found my purse and my black bag that I usually keep my iPad in, thus no problem, right? Wrong! But I did not know that at the time...  Taken from page 132 of "W.O.W. created w.o.w."

Grab a copy of the book if you want to know the ending of my little story before tomorrow. At any rate, join me tomorrow for the conclusion and the inspirational life application that I learned from it.

For Pondering

Have you ever been the victim of theft? How did it make you feel? Uhm hmm...

Doing What I Can, While I Can Because I Care,

Alma Carr-Jones

I Know the Lord Will Make a Way

[caption id="attachment_903" align="alignnone" width="186"] Has your world turned upside down?[/caption]

Do you ever think about the times that you have been between a rock and a hard place? If you are like me, you don't even think about the actual number that you have been there, but you do think about how you got out of certain given situations. Do you not?

Folk, I Have Learned

I have learned that whatever is going to be is going to be anyway if it is the Lord's will. Learned that no amount of worrying will change any given situation but prayer will. Have turned so many "impossible" situations over to the Lord over the years that I am not amazed that He works them out. But, I am amazed at the fact that He always works things out with such finesse. He chooses solutions that go beyond my wildest dreams. But He said that "His thoughts are not our thoughts, and neither are our ways His ways."

So

I don't fret much, anymore. Am resigned to do whatever His will is and, as I said on yesterday,  I know that He will find a way for me to get it done no matter what hindrances crop up. I wanted to say that to you today that if your life seems to have been turned upside down and you do not know what to do next, or if everything that you thought was nailed down has come loose, don't despair. Don't give up. I know what I am talking about because I have been thrown into the fire and have come out a battle-hardened and stronger soldier for God.

I remember the training that I received from my mother, from Sis. M. Manley and from Sis. SE Hampton that said, "God will fix it, it will work out, and I declare, it will be alright!" Those ladies are all gone now, but the training that they gave me lingers on, and my way of saying what all of them taught me is, "I know the Lord will make a way!"

In Conclusion

Be blessed fellowman. And if you have been trying to figure out how to get out of a particularly squirrely situation, stop figuring. Start praying and wait on God. And while you are waiting and praying, learn whatever lessons present themselves to you through this given situation. Likely, you will be called upon to use what you have learned to help somebody else. So, pay attention and learn your lesson well, after all, you don't want the lesson to continue or to be repeated, do you? Don't be like Jonah, but be like Job, instead. Okay?

Doing What I Can, While I Can Because I Care,

Alma Carr-Jones

Take It with You

Contrary to what the adversary would have you believe, He did not bring you this far to abandon you, now.