Here I am!! Did you miss me? I began working on this on Monday, as I should have, but didn't get it done. I tried working on it again Tuesday, but the time got away from me.

We had invited some friends and family over for a BBQ on the 4th and I had a long list of things I needed to get done. Since I started doing the scrip fund raiser for the band two years ago there are some things around here that got neglected. So, in a way, I was doing two years worth of work in just a couple of days.

Then, we ended up having a problem with the phone line that we use for the computer. It went dead. We went around to all the connections and tried to track down the problem. It turned out to be our answer phone, or the cord leading to it. It was the very last thing we checked.

My prayer partner is coming over this morning and I will get this online after she leaves. [NOTE: We ended up having a thunder storm and our power was out for three hours... but now it's up!]

Speaking of my prayer partner, have you ever had one? My spiritual walk is greatly enhanced by having a prayer partner. We get together once a week. We get strengthened, edified, and recharged on a weekly basis. It is wonderful. When we aren't able to get together there is a noticeable difference!

We share the things we've learned from God. We share scriptures that have become extra meaningful. We pray for each other and for the things that are important to each of us. Like I said, we become recharged on a weekly basis.

I also have a friend that I've met on the 'net. She and I meet on ICQ and laugh, share, pray, and praise together. We are Internet prayer partners. We are trying to arrange a regular weekly "date" to meet.

We are not meant to be separate and alone in our walk with the Lord. He wants us to get together and teach each other, exhort each other, edify each other, and to spend time with Him... WITH EACH OTHER!

There was a period of about three weeks when I was unable to meet with my prayer partner. My Internet friend was without a computer for that same length of time. My friends I fellowship with that go to our church were sick or busy for that same length of time. It was awful! It made me learn to truly appreciate the fellowship and support of my spiritual friends!

I'm pretty much taking it easy today. I've worked so hard around here lately that I need a time of renewing and refreshing and resting. Our bodies weren't designed to go go go all the time! I want mine to last a lot longer, so am going to be good to it today!

Please be sure to email me or sign my guestbook! Like I said, God wants us to get together. He wants us to edify each other. If you've been touched, I'd sure appreciate a touch back!

Link to the 7/5/01 Bible study.

I didn't update this Monday because I was so late last week. I thought I should give last week's Bible study one more day. Well, that and I got busy planning our vacation trip.

My husband coaches high school football as well as teaches. What happens is we end up having a two to three week window for our summer vacation. We have to wait until summer school is out and have to be back in time for football the middle of August.

We usually go to the Colorado River for a week every summer. This year our youngest son is going to Europe with the high school band during our vacation time. So, my husband and I are going to do something different. We are going to drive to Colorado to visit his brother. We got a decent income tax return and were finally able to buy a camper for our pick up.

I've been looking on the Internet for sights to visit, campgrounds, and scenic routes. I'm putting together a notebook. It's taking a lot of time, but it is fun. It is making me excited to get on the road. I just wish we had four weeks instead of nine days on the road. I have to narrow down my choices and it isn't easy!

I think the best thing is that my husband and I are going alone together.

Oh my goodness! I forgot to put this online yesterday! I worked on it and intended to put it up after I went to the grocery store and totally forgot! Couldn't be my age

Could it???

Here's something exciting to think about. The Holy Spirit is in you. Everything you have read in the Bible is in you. The Words are ALIVE. The Holy Spirit is ALIVE. The Holy Spirit is God in you. Contained within the Holy Spirit is power, strength, love, peace, joy, and all things that make God who He is. There are a lot of things within you that are alive.

You can choose to focus on the things of the world, or you can choose to focus on the things of God that are within you. Are you feeling anything stirring?

Why do I keep doing this web page? Because God told me to put it here and He hasn't told me to quit. He gives me scripture to use and gives me things to say. Oh, the results are that people are edified. That is my blessing for being obedient.

Link to the 7/11/01 Bible study.

OK! We're back on schedule! It's Monday and I'm doing the Bible study. Well, I guess I shouldn't get too excited until I put it online. After all, I finished it and didn't put it online last week. (I guess I can't be too critical the next time my son does his homework and forgets to turn it in, can I?)

I have found that I can find God in the midst of pandemonium. When I am so confused, mad, crestfallen, sad, nervous, or just plain upset and things are whizzing by me out of control I begin calling out to God. "Lord, please help me!" "Help me to focus on You." "Please wrap me in Your arms." "I need You!"

The things that caused my distress begin to fade into the background. Peace begins flooding over me. I've even felt like I was wrapped in His embrace, protected from the things that bothered me.

I started this out saying I can find God in the midst of pandemonium. Well, God was not lost nor missing. He was right there with me in that pandemonium. It was me that had not stayed in touch with Him. Had I been continuously abiding in Him I would not have gotten to the point where I was having to cry out for help. I would have only had to ask Him for advice, direction, or just would have listened to what He wanted me to do.

It is my own fault when I get into situations that are stressful. It is because I am trying to handle things on my own, or I have chosen not to be keeping my mind focused on God. He has everything I need before I even need it!

Did you know that God knows how to fix computers, copy machines, cars, and all other things? What a WONDERFUL God we serve!

Food for thought: Do you think God gets lonely when we ignore Him?

Link to the 7/16/01 Bible study.

What a surprise I got last Monday!!! My oldest son, who lives in Nashville, had told me to stay home on Monday because he was sending me something. Well.... he sent me himself!!!

He has a friend who drives a truck and hitched a ride. My poor brain took hours to get over the shock of seeing him walking up the driveway!

My son came to see me because he loves me. He wanted to surprise me because he knows that I love him, too. He wanted to see the joy on my face when I first saw him. He knew he would be welcome here. He knows I will always welcome him with open arms.

God is like that, too. He is wanting to have you "visit" Him. He is overjoyed when you choose to spend time with Him. He always welcomes you with open arms. He will never tell you to come back later. He will never tell you to make an appointment. Any time you seek Him He allows Himself to be found. Any time you want to talk to Him He listens. What a wonderful Father He is!

Last week I talked about finding God in the midst of pandemonium. Let's talk about it again a bit as it is something that affects all of us since we live in this world that is full of distractions, problems, danger, and more.

We don't know what will happen tomorrow. We don't even know what is yet to happen today. Everything may look like things are going well yet disaster can strike in a blink of an eye. What would you do if you found out that someone close to you had just died in a car collision? What would you do if you found out that your home burned to the ground? What would you do if you found out you no longer had a job?

There is only one thing that is secure, dependable, and unchanging in this world. It is God. Nothing that happens here on Earth will knock Him off His throne. Nothing takes Him by surprise and nothing changes the fact that He is God. Now, how does that help you when disaster strikes?

God can hear your cry of pain. He can hear your tiniest whisper for help. He is right there with you in the midst of it all. He has the strength you so desperately need. He has the peace for which your soul is screaming. He has the answers to the questions that arise in your mind. He has the comfort that can overcome fear, anger, despair, depression, and confusion.

However, if you haven't developed a personal relationship with Him in the "good times" then you will have difficulty finding Him in the bad times. It's not that He is lost, it is just that you won't recognize His touch or His voice. You won't be able to focus on Him as the turmoil will overwhelm your mind. His voice is a still, small voice and is easy to miss in the "good times" and would be much more difficult to hear in the midst of pandemonium!

If we have spent time learning more about God then when our human brains are crying out for an answer as to why something bad has happened our heart will be comforted with the peace that passes all understanding. Our minds may never understand, but we can rest in God, knowing He can turn something horrible into something beautiful. We will be able to rest in the peace, comfort, and joy that He can provide us even though we don't understand the reasons for what has happened.

Practice spending time with Him. Throughout the day, speak to Him. Ask Him his opinion on things. Ask Him if He's there. Thank Him for something you see that is beautiful. Thank Him that you made it through the day safely. Keep drawing your mind back to Him off and on throughout the day.

Spend time in your Bible. Instead of picking up the paper to read, pick up your Bible. Get up earlier in the morning if you must. Pick up your Bible instead of the television remote control. Find out more about the things He has done. Find out more about His personality. Let Him teach you about Himself and about the things He does.

Did you know that God made you for a reason? Did you know that you have an important job to do? Did you know that your doing that job (or lack of doing it) is affecting at least one other person and probably quite a few people?

Food for thought: Why did God make flies? ;-)

Link to the 7/23/01 Bible study.