tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-67833867557334103032024-03-16T13:52:41.542-05:00Coffee and CobwebsQuiet Time with the LordAprilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13123237408941307180noreply@blogger.comBlogger188125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6783386755733410303.post-85237563093053325132023-11-15T13:01:00.000-06:002023-11-15T13:01:46.140-06:00Everything I Need to Know I Learned From My Granddaddy<!--[if !mso]>
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<![endif]--><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span>Some things should be taught in schools. Some things are
taught only by grandfathers, and boy, did <span>mine </span>teach me some <b>valuable</b> life lessons....<br /><br /><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><b><i>Your family matters.</i></b><br /></span><br />
"I wouldn't take a plug nickel for her." I didn't know what a plug nickel was, but it sure sounded valuable. My Grandaddy made me feel
important. He would take me places and proudly tell anyone who would listen
that I belonged to him. Regardless of the fact I was an illegitimate child of his
only daughter, and everyone in that small town knew it, he was not ashamed of
me.
<i>I always felt a little taller when I was with him. </i><br /><br /><span style="color: #ffa400;"><b><i>Children are people, too.</i></b><br /></span><br />
After Grandaddy retired from the paper mill, he was only 52, so he took a
part-time job at the local Highway Patrol office as a janitor/maintenance man.
If Granny and Mama were working, he took me with him to work. I was under his
feet; I was in his lap; I was holding his hand; I was asking questions. Never
once did he get aggravated. Instead, he shared his coworkers and friends with
me<span>. He </span>taught me how things work. He answered all my questions.
<i>He taught me
that children have a real place of importance in the world. </i><br /><br /><span style="color: #ffa400;"><b><i>A nap a day keeps the doctor away.</i></b><br /></span><br />
If Granddaddy was home during the day, he always took time for
an afternoon nap. He let me crawl up in his lap and hold me in his
chair until we both fell asleep.
<i>He taught me
that sometimes rest is crucial to gain strength for the
journey. </i></span><br />
<span><i> </i></span>
</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCoTJXctMfGzdWTOSkRy4F_Kl1hdBBemiNvMBZy7xwxabuWsP_J1CDbIwHtYJmIIbpjNqDJB3A5fEU600bz2rP5YE-ZDLfa9Fen_ywFgaeRgf43VzQDw59uqm-3JXrSBWA33c_wjewCo0/s1600/granddaddy.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="307" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCoTJXctMfGzdWTOSkRy4F_Kl1hdBBemiNvMBZy7xwxabuWsP_J1CDbIwHtYJmIIbpjNqDJB3A5fEU600bz2rP5YE-ZDLfa9Fen_ywFgaeRgf43VzQDw59uqm-3JXrSBWA33c_wjewCo0/w400-h307/granddaddy.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /><b><i><span style="color: #ffa400;">Kindness matters.</span></i></b><br /><br />
Granddaddy was genuinely nice, and everybody loved being around him.
When he was talking to others, I remember how he would always ask about <u>them</u>
first.
<i>He knew that to have a real relationship, you had to care more about
others than you did yourself.</i> He treated everyone the same, from secretaries to state troopers to mayors
and garbage men. His sweet spirit was contagious; I remember the smiles and laughter he always drew out of others. <br /><span style="color: #ffa400;"><br /><b><i>Bad things happen to good people.</i></b></span><br /><br />
I stayed every day with my Granny and Granddaddy when I was little. One day, we
were all working in the garden, and Granddaddy decided to go inside the garage
to mix up some bug spray for the garden. As usual, he rarely went anywhere
without me being his shadow, so I followed him. I watched as he put the
insecticide solution in the metal can and screwed the lid with a built-in
handle pump back on the container. As he leaned over and began pumping to mix
up the solution and get it ready to spray out of the attached hose, the
pressure started to build inside the can. Granddaddy unknowingly pumped one too
many times, and suddenly, the metal lid violently exploded upwards, hitting him
in the jaw and knocking him backward and immediately unconscious.
<br /><i> </i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><i><b>I was only four years old. </b></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><span>I was standing two feet away, and I remember the blood was everywhere.
<br /><br />
I remember his glasses lying on the ground near his head.
<br /><br />
I remember crying uncontrollably and not knowing what else to do because I was
in shock, so I just stayed by his side.
<br /><br />What seemed like an eternity later</span>
<span> (although it was only several minutes), he came to and whispered through his bloody mouth,
"Go get Mary." I turned and ran as fast as I could out to the garden
where Granny was still working. She must have seen my terror and wasted no time
getting back to him and calling the ambulance. Granddaddy lost several teeth
and broke his jaw that day.
<br /> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: medium;">About a week later, he returned from the hospital, and I was scared to go near him.
He looked different. His jaw was wired shut. His face was swollen. He finally
convinced me that he was still my Granddaddy, and I ran to his open arms and
let him hold me.
<i>He taught me bad things can happen, but not only does the
human body heal from trauma, but so does the human spirit. </i><br /><br /><b><i><span style="color: #ffa400;">It's okay to be different.</span></i></b><br /><br />
As a child, I was a tomboy through and through. My Granny wanted me to be
prissy, put on dresses, and play with dolls much more than I did. Year after year, I asked for a toy truck and a race track for Christmas.
Instead, I got dolls, socks, and underwear.
<br /><br />
A few weeks after my fifth Christmas, Granddaddy called me down to his house
and said he had a surprise for me. He had made with his own hands and scrap wood--a toy truck for me! It
was the most beautiful toy I had ever seen. It had wooden wheels that really
turned, a spacious cab, and a long bed perfect for hauling my daily nature finds.
Granddaddy didn't care that I liked "boy" toys;
<i>he always
encouraged me to be Me. </i><br /><br />
To this day, it is my most treasured Christmas present. When I had my own children, I begrudgingly let them play with it, knowing that Granddaddy would have wanted me to share
and that he would love knowing how much they enjoyed it. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">My children and grandchildren have used it to haul their favorite farm and jungle animals from room
to room. It is a testament to the quality and durability of that handmade
truck, some forty-five years later. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: medium;">
</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRz-QVvTvZpg_H4eM29PSKiSxQPtgdHevbybkvpD4pBxW9sL2O25ddQ09eZkghO8vtYm4mid1c4rLLzJ6hs80FDbWTnVGZUcQ7eXpu2JWRzAW_PbNWKYqzXTlWPfrFdb8GCug_pzFHTNU/s1600/toytruck.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRz-QVvTvZpg_H4eM29PSKiSxQPtgdHevbybkvpD4pBxW9sL2O25ddQ09eZkghO8vtYm4mid1c4rLLzJ6hs80FDbWTnVGZUcQ7eXpu2JWRzAW_PbNWKYqzXTlWPfrFdb8GCug_pzFHTNU/w400-h300/toytruck.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><br /><b><i><span style="color: #ffa400;">Never leave a man behind.</span></i></b><br /><br />
As a single mom, I once took my kiddos to see my grandparents in Clyde, North Carolina, as often as possible. While visiting
one summer, my then seven-year-old son Connor was playing on a local playground and fell from the monkey bars and broke his arm. We rushed him to
the emergency room, and as is the case with most ERs, he had to wait an excruciatingly long time for his arm to be set. Knowing they could do nothing but
wait, my sisters and Granny decided to go home and come back and get me
when we were done.
<br /><br />
When the doctors sent me out of the exam room some two hours later to set Connor's broken arm, I walked into the waiting room to find that
<u>someone
had decided to stay.</u> My Granddaddy offered his
handkerchief and his strong shoulder for me to cry on as I listened to my
little boy screaming in pain in the room next door. When we finally got Connor
back home and settled in, I heard Granddaddy scolding every family
member for leaving me alone at the ER. I still have the handkerchief he gave me
that day.<i> It reminds me that being strong for someone during a crisis is
a beautiful gift. </i><br /><span style="color: #ffa400;"><br /><b><i>Tobacco barns smell divine.</i></b></span><br /><br />
Okay, so this is not a life lesson, but it is one of my most memorable smells
of childhood. Do you have
<i>smell</i> memories? Well, I do, and I remember
going with Granddaddy up to the tobacco barn on the side of the mountain where
we lived to check on the drying tobacco leaves. Granddaddy farmed tobacco as
another form of income. In the NC mountains, tobacco farming is a staple crop of the state. The barn was dark and damp, but the
sweet smell of tobacco permeated my senses when I walked in. I remember staring
up at the huge leaves draped over the beams, reflecting the sun shining through
the purposely separated slats in the barn walls. <i>Did I mention how great
it smelled in there?</i></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS8fRvk5lbglnQ8_10JRmyzHTHnqPxzgjGhUqdwiV_92uOrEiGlq7LENXiUBab51DIgiYQIDAX8_WmO9Qye7TTY4M0-_LURIFmUKn6aBjF7ah47n8Lzp9pTvbIq5UuTptwPkbObxiolAg/s1600/tobacco+barns.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS8fRvk5lbglnQ8_10JRmyzHTHnqPxzgjGhUqdwiV_92uOrEiGlq7LENXiUBab51DIgiYQIDAX8_WmO9Qye7TTY4M0-_LURIFmUKn6aBjF7ah47n8Lzp9pTvbIq5UuTptwPkbObxiolAg/w270-h400/tobacco+barns.jpg" width="270" /></a></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span><br />As old as I am, I miss my Granddaddy with an ache that is deeper than
words, but I feel his 'ministering spirit' around me, and I live by his life
lessons every single day. . .
<br /><br /><b><span style="color: #ffa400;"><span>"<i>Are not the angels all ministering spirits sent out in the service
of God for the assistance of those who are to inherit salvation?</i>"
</span>Hebrews 1:14 </span></b>
<br /><br /><b><br />
<br />
</b></span>
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="blogger-post-footer">This copyrighted article was originally published on www.coffeecobwebsandcurriculum.blogspot.com. If found published elsewhere, this material has been illegally scraped and should be reported to maomdegree@gmail.com”</div>Aprilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13123237408941307180noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6783386755733410303.post-76557708884993134212023-03-23T09:30:00.009-05:002023-08-24T04:49:55.776-05:00Life360 and the Circle of God<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: white; font-family: arial;">If you have children or loved ones who are of
driving age, you may already be very familiar with the popular app called Life360.
It is designed to allow users to keep track of their loved ones in real time.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="color: white;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: black; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 107%;">It </span>uses GPS and cellular technology to pinpoint
the exact location of family members and send notifications when they reach a
certain destination or leave an area you’ve predetermined. For example, I have
a “circle” set up for my college-age daughter when she arrives or leaves a
100-ft radius of her off-campus apartment or her place of work. It allows me a
bit of peace of mind during this season of her life, and for someone like me
who often suffers from anxiety around fear of something happening to my loved
ones, this is a welcome supplement to my constant prayers. </span><span style="color: #20124d;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8idZ9IDQceUSe-k8DgABwlQGsfCrpoSM4iLWznApYKHLV6eBi5jPjYnqlI2636A_9XtXbKtE6GHxli15U_fS7Mm8pAIN9xyXUlYspGdsi4lBlJURHX4FMKLlChAiJnNflu7_THN4QSCU9MHQTCKJWWtm9RotiCKnSsH0IfyPwryqS9ygaFnqpsGCS/s1303/Screenshot%202023-03-23%20at%209.22.47%20AM.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1303" data-original-width="828" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8idZ9IDQceUSe-k8DgABwlQGsfCrpoSM4iLWznApYKHLV6eBi5jPjYnqlI2636A_9XtXbKtE6GHxli15U_fS7Mm8pAIN9xyXUlYspGdsi4lBlJURHX4FMKLlChAiJnNflu7_THN4QSCU9MHQTCKJWWtm9RotiCKnSsH0IfyPwryqS9ygaFnqpsGCS/s320/Screenshot%202023-03-23%20at%209.22.47%20AM.png" width="203" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p></p>
<span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="color: white;">During a recent prayer time, I read the following verse, and it struck me how God has His own Life360 system: <br /><br /></span></span><p style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="color: white;"><i>“But you are a <b>chosen people,</b> a royal priesthood, a holy nation, <b>a people belonging to God</b>, that you may declare the praises of <b>Him who called you </b>out of darkness into His wonderful light.” 1 Peter 2:9 (emphasis mine) </i></span></span></p><span style="color: white;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><br />I mean, come on, what a great circle of destination to be in! You and I are a “chosen people” smack dab in the middle of God’s grace! This amazing circle of privilege and unmerited favor is not because believers are better than others; it’s because He loves his children so much. Much like the setting in which Peter wrote these words, the popular leaning of our current culture depicts Christians in a negative light, so being reassured that we are safe within the Circle of God 24/7 and set apart is extremely comforting. He chose us, and this choice represents our salvation. <br /><br />As I check my Life360 app each day, I am now even more comforted knowing my loved ones are not only safely within the circles of destination set for them here on earth but they are also encompassed by an even larger circle of God.</span></span><span>
<span face=""Source Sans Pro", sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span></span></span><div><br /></div><div><br /><div>©2023 Coffee, Cobwebs, and Curriculum. All rights reserved. All
text, photographs, artwork, and other content may not be reproduced or
transmitted in any form without the written consent of the author.
www.coffeecobwebsandcurriculum.blogspot.com
Follow me on Facebook or Twitter! Links can be found in the right sidebar of this blog! </div></div><div class="blogger-post-footer">This copyrighted article was originally published on www.coffeecobwebsandcurriculum.blogspot.com. If found published elsewhere, this material has been illegally scraped and should be reported to maomdegree@gmail.com”</div>Aprilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13123237408941307180noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6783386755733410303.post-50681872627060493992022-08-25T06:56:00.004-05:002022-08-25T07:07:36.761-05:00Home is Where the Heart Is<div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">Where we
live in Mississippi is out in the country, on a pothole-filled county road that
runs between our house, Hannah and Adam's house, and Adam's parents and
sister's houses. The maximum distance between all four places is about 100
yards, give or take. Hannah's three kids run between the four houses at all
hours of the day, and we know that if we can't find a rugrat underfoot, they
will be at one of the four places.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">But because
people are crazy fast drivers out on these country roads, we also have trained
the kids to be very careful when crossing and walking near the road. Y'all—when
I tell you people fly <b>so</b> fast down this road, it is not at all an
understatement. Sometimes, they hit the potholes so hard and fast that I see
their heads hitting the ceiling of their cars from the impact!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">And because
of that Daytona 500 Speedway factor, one of us adults will make sure the kids'
treks between houses is a safe one. One day recently, Tate (6) asked me to
watch him walk down to Big Mama's house (his other grandma), so I stood in my
front yard as he started down the hill to her place. Usually, he takes off
walking/running and doesn't give me another thought. But on this day, for some reason,
he walked a bit more slowly, and every few steps, he would look back over his
shoulder to make sure I was still watching him. He would see me, smile, and
keep on truckin'. The entire length of his walk, he would repeat that check-in
process. And every time, he would find me in the same spot--waving, watching,
and smiling at him.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">Even when he
reached her yard, he looked back and made sure I was there, and just before he
disappeared into her garage, he stopped and waved his little hands wildly while looking back up the hill at me. I
laughed and waved back at that little goofball, then headed back inside.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikXomUrgHhmdxda_oDb0rsdrtv_2MBnJxeWpNktabha1pBoCbR2raXDJk6hyedwdCrAXGAWP8dezbg6m_jZglcJ-rN1kF5wtCLqkYExZpoYL5-B1BihUHhBmkyyrQ09tXVkvxBmQJ_fttd6oa2SiuQFXF2RZ6K0l1jXn4oSU0MLe2q6wDwBhQkKYV_/s2100/tate.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2100" data-original-width="1575" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikXomUrgHhmdxda_oDb0rsdrtv_2MBnJxeWpNktabha1pBoCbR2raXDJk6hyedwdCrAXGAWP8dezbg6m_jZglcJ-rN1kF5wtCLqkYExZpoYL5-B1BihUHhBmkyyrQ09tXVkvxBmQJ_fttd6oa2SiuQFXF2RZ6K0l1jXn4oSU0MLe2q6wDwBhQkKYV_/w300-h400/tate.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">That little speck inside the circle is my Tate! </td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">We all need
that, don't we? That assurance that someone cares about where we are going,
whether we will get there safely, and that we can always, always return home
for a smile and a hug. My youngest at college, on the precipice of her next big
adventure, still wants to know I will drive down for a lunch date and a Mama
touch. My adult son, now building his own family, still touches home plate
several times a week by calling to share little and big news. The nightly
FaceTime sessions with his baby boy are the highlight of this long-distance
Granna's evenings. My oldest, living right across the street, still wants to go on daily walks with me. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">We all need
to be needed, and we all need to have a place and a heart to call home and to
call our sanctuary. I am so thankful the Lord, in His goodness and grace, has
equipped me to be that for my precious family, just as He has been for me. God
longs to be our home plate as well, and no matter how far we are walking, we
can always look back over our shoulder and find Him there, waiting, watching,
and waving from His front yard. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"> </span></p></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiVnS7jjlNl9FQO07l3-4IlZ2KGC6FGd2w405XUpIoaA3lbVcCzlyf-jjh2myDJrElDbEq03bUrhH9E3E4FhVLH5rxV_sNr0Nzf4C6qKR2kc3CddnG4j6ku0QELEFRFBkbWz8O2z64k-nI0PkNZSY3UaIjGXxXlg-fSkU2sYbZaDtYSbuHykcpNsy8/s3024/IMG_6664.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2872" data-original-width="3024" height="380" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiVnS7jjlNl9FQO07l3-4IlZ2KGC6FGd2w405XUpIoaA3lbVcCzlyf-jjh2myDJrElDbEq03bUrhH9E3E4FhVLH5rxV_sNr0Nzf4C6qKR2kc3CddnG4j6ku0QELEFRFBkbWz8O2z64k-nI0PkNZSY3UaIjGXxXlg-fSkU2sYbZaDtYSbuHykcpNsy8/w400-h380/IMG_6664.jpg" title="And the Lord replied, “I myself will go with you and give you success.” Exodus 33:14" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>©2022-2023 Coffee, Cobwebs, and Curriculum. All rights reserved. All
text, photographs, artwork, and other content may not be reproduced or
transmitted in any form without the written consent of the author.
www.coffeecobwebsandcurriculum.blogspot.com
Follow me on Facebook or Twitter! Links can be found in the right sidebar on this blog! <div class="blogger-post-footer">This copyrighted article was originally published on www.coffeecobwebsandcurriculum.blogspot.com. If found published elsewhere, this material has been illegally scraped and should be reported to maomdegree@gmail.com”</div>Aprilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13123237408941307180noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6783386755733410303.post-79757613517251030252022-02-11T07:05:00.012-06:002022-02-22T06:05:43.052-06:00A Tale of Two Women<div><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: "Garamond",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"> </span></b></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst"><b><span style="font-family: "Garamond",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">~*~</span></b></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst"><b><span style="font-family: "Garamond",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">The result of an affair, she was
an illegitimate child born to a single mother.
She grew up in a confusing, dysfunctional home. </span></b></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle"><b><span style="font-family: "Garamond",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">She was beaten up on the daily by her older
sisters, being subjected to near suffocations and intentional near drownings. </span></b></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle"><b><span style="font-family: "Garamond",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">She was sexually abused repeatedly by her teenage cousin. </span></b></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle"><b><span style="font-family: "Garamond",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">Riding in the family car each day, she would study the faces of her
mother and sisters, looking for cracks along their jawlines, absolutely sure
they were wearing masks. She was convinced she had been kidnapped because of how out of place she felt. She kept waiting for her real family to come find her. </span></b></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle"><b><span style="font-family: "Garamond",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">Her mother got remarried to an emotionally-absent
man, and this now 7-year-old little girl was even more confused about what love meant. </span></b></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle"><b><span style="font-family: "Garamond",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">The family began moving all around the United
States, and she ended up attending eight different schools before high school
graduation. </span></b></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle"><b><span style="font-family: "Garamond",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">She developed debilitating
migraines. </span></b></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle"><b><span style="font-family: "Garamond",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">One of her older sisters
became an alcoholic at age 14 and the abuse to this now 11-year-old little girl
became worse. <o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle"><b><span style="font-family: "Garamond",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">The first guy who said he loved
her, she married. At 19 years old, she
thought this would be the key to her happiness. She was wrong. Five years later, he left her for his
hairdresser. </span></b></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle"><b><span style="font-family: "Garamond",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">Now a single mom with two
young babies, she became obsessed with exercise. She thought, "If only I look a
certain way, I will be accepted and happy." Bulimia became a way of life. The
acids took a toll on her body and her mind. </span></b></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle"><b><span style="font-family: "Garamond",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">She decided to go to counseling. The
counselor encouraged her to date again. She took a chance and was date raped by the first guy she met. Reeling, she went back to counseling for help. This same counselor decided he alone could
save her and convinced her of such. She wanted to be saved. She believed
him. She married him. Five months later, he left her. </span></b></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle"><b><span style="font-family: "Garamond",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">Jobless, penniless, broken, and ashamed. She was a little girl <i>lost</i>. <o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle"><b></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhq9WQCev-6Qck7H8-Xdcy14QFTM_0JpYiL43_1Cl8mmN199uYCU_tIEQqr9JYIMN5OXiIMcggcbprtV4ACujdmjrr3byeNLVxNx1OF6u-rlMos5ePnYcvdMfzG5d3jXPYPMRzOQgTdruQwoDlrlGPIMrWgG45rvDxSapcZXy8pAHlkqD0iMUTW4yz9=s1920" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="1920" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhq9WQCev-6Qck7H8-Xdcy14QFTM_0JpYiL43_1Cl8mmN199uYCU_tIEQqr9JYIMN5OXiIMcggcbprtV4ACujdmjrr3byeNLVxNx1OF6u-rlMos5ePnYcvdMfzG5d3jXPYPMRzOQgTdruQwoDlrlGPIMrWgG45rvDxSapcZXy8pAHlkqD0iMUTW4yz9=w640-h426" width="640" /></a></b></div><b><br /><span style="font-family: "Garamond",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></b><p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-family: Garamond, serif;"><span style="font-size: 18.6667px;"><b>~*~</b></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle"><b><span style="font-family: "Garamond",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">Loved immensely by her
grandparents, a little girl found sanctuary in the only two people she could
trust to love her unconditionally. </span></b></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle"><b><span style="font-family: "Garamond",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">While being sexually abused by a
monster, Jesus mercifully protected her mind.</span></b></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle"><b><span style="font-family: "Garamond",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">While being held down by her bullying
sisters, she was given the spiritual and physical strength to hold her breath long enough to live
through each episode. </span></b></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle"><b><span style="font-family: "Garamond",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">Forced to move
more times than she could stand, God gave her amazing friends in every single
town. He even gave her substitute
mothers who loved her without manipulating her emotions. </span></b></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle"><b><span style="font-family: "Garamond",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">Her failed teenage marriage resulted in two
beautiful humans who kept her sane and gave her a reason each day to crawl out
of the fetal position. As a parent, she
broke generational curses of abuse. She strived to be the parent she had needed as a child. </span></b></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle"><b><span style="font-family: "Garamond",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">She
found an amazing Christian counselor who graciously coached her to cling to the
only One who could heal the brokenness. </span></b></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle"><b><span style="font-family: "Garamond",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">God
even granted her the courage to face her rapist; she forgave him, a little bit
for his sake but mostly for <i>her</i> peace. </span></b></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle"><b><span style="font-family: "Garamond",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">Her sisters are now her best friends. </span></b></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle"><b><span style="font-family: "Garamond",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">And just when she had given up on ever meeting
someone who would protect her, God sent her a linebacker of a human to knock
down the walls of her heart. With this
man, she gained a beautiful marriage that mirrors Christ's love for His Church, a cuddle-bug brown-eyed bonus daughter, and the beautiful gift of their shared baby girl. </span></b></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle"><b><span style="font-family: "Garamond",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">She
became a foster mom to ten precious newborns. </span></b></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle"><b><span style="font-family: "Garamond",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">She became a living kidney donor to a stranger. </span></b></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle"><b><span style="font-family: "Garamond",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">She became a grandmother of beautiful, precious grandbabies. </span></b></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><b><span style="font-family: Garamond, serif;">She is loved. She is a little girl </span><span style="font-family: georgia;"><i>redeemed</i>.</span><span style="font-family: Garamond, serif;"> <o:p></o:p></span></b></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle"><b></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhjKwBCJB-KBwk8g3-RaTvEISPCzdHknG64ybvIzXgW4OjT3AwJApQ1ZtNBwtVXsM1TDUfdE447mhL0Hrp52hi7G0LVb8JL7zhLY38ERfgu7IgaXPH5uhTSk736591aMkKzTGV_PVjG7QIX3A2Bex9lAJPqmw9rYITCuoMGbByyBfcFVuJ9jiIavCmp=s5000" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="5000" height="384" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhjKwBCJB-KBwk8g3-RaTvEISPCzdHknG64ybvIzXgW4OjT3AwJApQ1ZtNBwtVXsM1TDUfdE447mhL0Hrp52hi7G0LVb8JL7zhLY38ERfgu7IgaXPH5uhTSk736591aMkKzTGV_PVjG7QIX3A2Bex9lAJPqmw9rYITCuoMGbByyBfcFVuJ9jiIavCmp=w640-h384" width="640" /></a></b></div><br /><p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle"><b><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: "Garamond",serif; font-size: 18pt; line-height: 107%;">"The Lord will work out HIS plans for my
life." Psalms 138:8 </span></b></p></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>©2022 Coffee, Cobwebs, and Curriculum. All rights reserved. All
text, photographs, artwork, and other content may not be reproduced or
transmitted in any form without the author's written consent. www.coffeecobwebsandcurriculum.blogspot.com </div><div class="blogger-post-footer">This copyrighted article was originally published on www.coffeecobwebsandcurriculum.blogspot.com. If found published elsewhere, this material has been illegally scraped and should be reported to maomdegree@gmail.com”</div>Aprilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13123237408941307180noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6783386755733410303.post-41664980091213332822021-07-25T21:07:00.026-05:002021-08-03T09:19:39.137-05:00Bear Hugs<div style="margin: 0in;"><h2 align="center" style="text-align: center;"><br /></h2>
<p style="margin: 0in;"><span style="color: #0e101a;"> </span></p>
<p style="margin: 0in;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #0e101a; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">After a recent youth group retreat, on which I was a
chaperone, many of our church members tested positive with the dreadful Covid-19 virus. It spread quickly through our group and was <b>a muddy end to a wonderful week</b>. Thankfully, the cases were all mild, but unfortunately, my Abbey was one of the
first in the group to get sick. So upon returning home, we immediately went into
quarantine mode. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="margin: 0in;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #0e101a; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> </span></p>
<p style="margin: 0in;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #0e101a; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">That quarantine meant that our grands, who live across the
street, were unable to come in and out of our door fifty
times a day, per their usual routine. <b>Technology and loud mouths to the
rescue</b>—we FaceTimed daily and yelled to each other across the yard to stay
connected all week. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="margin: 0in;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #0e101a; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="margin: 0in;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #0e101a; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">One evening, about dark, I heard a knock on the door. Abbey
answered it to see Swayze (7) standing there. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="margin: 0in;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #0e101a; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> </span></p><p style="margin: 0in;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #0e101a;">“<b>I need to see Granna, please</b>.” I heard her little voice quivering. </span></p><p style="margin: 0in;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #0e101a;"><br /></span></p>
<p style="margin: 0in;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #0e101a; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">I got up and went outside on our porch where she was waiting, to almost be knocked down by her little arms grabbing me around the waist in the <b>biggest, sweetest bear hug</b> I think I've ever gotten. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="margin: 0in;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="color: #0e101a; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br /></span></span></p><p style="margin: 0in;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="color: #0e101a; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">She had <b>reached her limit </b>of days away from her Granna—the seven
days we were gone to camp plus the four days (at that point) we had been
quarantined on our return. She had just gone long enough without the physical touch she craved
from me. We stayed in that embrace for several minutes. </span><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="color: #0e101a;">Once she felt ready to let go again, she ran off to happily play in the yard. </span></span></p>
<p style="margin: 0in;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #0e101a; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> </span></p>
<p style="margin: 0in;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #0e101a; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><b>It was a precious, precious moment for me. </b><o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="margin: 0in;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #0e101a; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br /></span></p><p style="margin: 0in;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCaQQYCTiL4W32wZA79E8iPAqjjhQSTRXX7p81XxNk3sgGIbqLkmHX0iC01HTqIa9dupygOnajOrxoZg6BCforiPEvxzoeJ7zDtvOJ1ZWhVh_3YQSeHfw9x0KfsdInnKwSOl_-P-f45KY/s640/sway.jpg" style="background-color: white; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCaQQYCTiL4W32wZA79E8iPAqjjhQSTRXX7p81XxNk3sgGIbqLkmHX0iC01HTqIa9dupygOnajOrxoZg6BCforiPEvxzoeJ7zDtvOJ1ZWhVh_3YQSeHfw9x0KfsdInnKwSOl_-P-f45KY/s320/sway.jpg" /></a></div><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span><p style="margin: 0in;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #0e101a;">I later thought about how that made me feel—wanting to be
wanted, <i><b>needing to be needed</b></i>. We are all wired for those emotions, aren’t we?
How much more must the Lord feel that way about His children?! How
often do we go days on end without reconnecting with God?</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0in;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #0e101a; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> </span></p>
<p style="margin: 0in;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #0e101a; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Technology may temporarily soothe our short attention spans, but
<b>it does not fill the hole in our souls</b> that are only satisfied with a deep and personal relationship with the Lord. </span></p><p style="margin: 0in;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #0e101a; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br /></span></p>
<p style="margin: 0in;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #0e101a; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">If you have been in quarantine from your reconnection time with
the Lord and running around doing a million other things besides talking to
Him, reading His word, or <b>just being quiet before Him</b>, maybe today is a good
time to stop and knock on His door again. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="margin: 0in;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #0e101a; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> </span></p>
<p style="margin: 0in;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #0e101a; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><b>I promise He will embrace you with the biggest bear hug your heart can know. </b><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="margin: 0in;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #0e101a; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> </span></p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOjRc_48tmipC9au9I6XAF5eYdFtPfJ98uGqobvrN52b1G0ZgDQmI11jqtB9VMH8Hf2wDbp-wuLzJlFwezuqKBiDOsTg7cGtN4W5-KVCuX0BxBKBm2GpyquM0PSKfAzAo9WaUw6YntaJY/s883/matt77.jpg" style="background-color: white; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="883" data-original-width="600" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOjRc_48tmipC9au9I6XAF5eYdFtPfJ98uGqobvrN52b1G0ZgDQmI11jqtB9VMH8Hf2wDbp-wuLzJlFwezuqKBiDOsTg7cGtN4W5-KVCuX0BxBKBm2GpyquM0PSKfAzAo9WaUw6YntaJY/s320/matt77.jpg" /></a></div><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span><p style="margin: 0in;"><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></p></div><span style="background-color: white;"><div><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div>©2021 Coffee, Cobwebs, and Curriculum. All text, photographs, artwork, and other content may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form without the author's written consent. </span><div class="blogger-post-footer">This copyrighted article was originally published on www.coffeecobwebsandcurriculum.blogspot.com. If found published elsewhere, this material has been illegally scraped and should be reported to maomdegree@gmail.com”</div>Aprilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13123237408941307180noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6783386755733410303.post-36160561114611919832018-07-04T19:23:00.002-05:002021-07-24T11:03:50.339-05:00A Rose by Any Other Name<span face="Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Are you familiar with the story of Jacob in the Bible? </span><br /><span class="text Gen-32-27" id="en-TLB-813" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "verdana" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif"><br /></span></span><div><span class="text Gen-32-27" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "verdana" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif">"What is your name?” the Angel asked. </span></span><div><span face=""helvetica neue" , "verdana" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif">“Jacob,” was the reply. </span></div><div><span face=""helvetica neue" , "verdana" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif">“It isn’t anymore!” the Angel told him. “It is Israel—one who has power with God. Because you have been strong with God, you shall prevail with men.” </span></div><div><span face=""helvetica neue" , "verdana" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif" style="font-size: 16px;"><br /></span></div><div><span face=""helvetica neue" , "verdana" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif" style="font-size: 16px;">Genesis 32: 27 - 28 </span><br />
<span face=""helvetica neue" , "verdana" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif" style="font-size: 16px;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ1li8JpmLyRmPt_UFk1hP36TQQgF5kI8y8ctO61HUg5sicUthPt5TCfs8f5dYbRwEqc7vtRaTiIlTnxY7dFSflOhlyySKpARCsVUOMvZYEHQqbYnX3pmsB4e13K1baSfDMhHz-G4-Rvk/s1600/jacob-wrestling.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="795" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ1li8JpmLyRmPt_UFk1hP36TQQgF5kI8y8ctO61HUg5sicUthPt5TCfs8f5dYbRwEqc7vtRaTiIlTnxY7dFSflOhlyySKpARCsVUOMvZYEHQqbYnX3pmsB4e13K1baSfDMhHz-G4-Rvk/s320/jacob-wrestling.jpg" width="254" /></a></div>
<span face=""helvetica neue" , "verdana" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif" style="font-size: 16px;"><br /></span><span face=""helvetica neue" , "verdana" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif" style="font-size: 16px;">J</span><span face="Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">acob, that deceiver, cheater, and schemer, wrestled all night with an angel (some translations say it was God himself) and had earned God's new name of grace--'Israel'. This story is so, so poignant to me. I see myself in Jacob. I see myself, not as a schemer and deceiver, but as one who spent too many years <b>not using my gifts for God's glory</b>, just as Jacob did. Despite my stupid, selfish actions, God still looked on me as worthy of blessings and grace. Oh, <u>so much</u> grace!</span><br />
<span face="Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><br /> <span face=""helvetica neue" , "verdana" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif">I will confess that the last few years, Satan has been mocking me and taunting me with my old names--Divorcee', Not Good Enough, Ugly, Disappointing, Failure. </span></span><br />
<span face="Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "verdana" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif"><br /></span> <span face=""helvetica neue" , "verdana" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif">But it is not God telling me those things! It's that stupid liar demon we know as Satan, and in my humanity, I let him win sometimes. I get overwhelmed by the disgust of my sins and I let the guilt carry me. You all know what that "one button" is that Satan can push to get us upset, right? And man, oh man, how he loves to push mine! </span></span><br />
<span face="Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "verdana" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif"><br /></span> <span face=""helvetica neue" , "verdana" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif">So, how do I overcome it and walk in the grace bestowed upon me? I've found the following habits have helped me the most: </span></span><br />
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<li><span face="Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Hide verses in my heart which will help me. Write them, hang them all over the house, say them, share them, memorize them, <i><b>pray</b></i> them. </span></li>
<li><span face="Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Talk to someone I trust who can help me realize what is happening in the spiritual realm. </span></li>
<li><span face="Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Focus on the blessings right in front of me which prove God's grace has never left my side, not even for a minute. </span></li>
<li><span face="Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Seek the Lord's face when the enemy attacks--you know, like, every. single. day. </span></li>
<li><span face="Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Pray, pray, and then pray some more! </span></li>
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<b style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: blue;"><em style="box-sizing: inherit; font-family: lora, baskerville, georgia, times, serif; font-size: 16px;">"After all, what can we ever gain in forever looking back and blaming ourselves if our lives have not turned out quite as we might have wished?" </em><em style="box-sizing: inherit; font-family: lora, baskerville, georgia, times, serif; font-size: 16px;">~Kazuo Ishiguro from <span style="box-sizing: inherit; text-decoration-line: underline;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Remains-Day-Kazuo-Ishiguro/dp/0679731725/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1525440027&sr=8-2&keywords=remains+of+the+day" rel="noopener" style="box-sizing: inherit; overflow-wrap: break-word; transition: all 0.3s ease 0s; word-wrap: break-word;" target="_blank">The Remains of the Da</a>y</span></em></span></b></blockquote>
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<span face=""Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">God's love is not restricted to when I think I've performed well. He loves me even when I make mistakes and fail! And He loves you, too. Today. <b>Right where you are</b>. No matter your past; your looks; your weight; your race; your bank account balance. Please take a deep breath and rest in His love today, and I promise to do the same. ♥</span><br />
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©2018-2021. Coffee, Cobwebs, and Curriculum. All rights reserved. All text, photographs, artwork, and other content may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form without the written consent of the author. www.coffeecobwebsandcurriculum.blogspot.com Follow me on Facebook or Twitter! Links can be found in the right sidebar on this blog!</div></div><div class="blogger-post-footer">This copyrighted article was originally published on www.coffeecobwebsandcurriculum.blogspot.com. If found published elsewhere, this material has been illegally scraped and should be reported to maomdegree@gmail.com”</div>Aprilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13123237408941307180noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6783386755733410303.post-51287855145149082452018-04-29T21:39:00.001-05:002021-07-24T10:59:59.053-05:00Choosing Contentment<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;">Philippians 4: 12: "</span><span style="font-family: inherit;">I have learned the secret of contentment in every situation, whether it be a full stomach or hunger, plenty or want." </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">My sweet grandbabies often spend the night with me, and they are early risers, much to my I-really-need-my-coffee-before-interacting dismay. One rainy morning last week, Swayze (age 3) asked me why it was raining outside. I quickly and sleepily answered, "I don't know, Baby. You'll have to ask God that question." </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkD38EkXNoNBFlxj1VsRV0QQx53bflx1a3ZTYQSwOwnwAcvYuM0hhNZR-1jJLIT9nfy7Nn2hywaMjZLlWR2l-9rustq6e3c80Ppsd2s0SGUDxtcS9GkwqpZAT20RnruEUD36QTL0SC7ZA/s1600/IMG_7186.JPG" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkD38EkXNoNBFlxj1VsRV0QQx53bflx1a3ZTYQSwOwnwAcvYuM0hhNZR-1jJLIT9nfy7Nn2hywaMjZLlWR2l-9rustq6e3c80Ppsd2s0SGUDxtcS9GkwqpZAT20RnruEUD36QTL0SC7ZA/s320/IMG_7186.JPG" width="240" /></a><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">With a serious look on her face, she immediately looked up to heaven and, with a very loud whisper, asked, "God, why it 'waining' outside?" She paused and then looked at me. "Granna, I not hear him. Why He not answer me yet?" Bless her heart! I assured her that God <i>had</i> indeed heard her, and I proceeded to take more time to answer her question about why the earth needed rain. She was satisfied and went back to playing. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">How many times do we get frustrated when God doesn't answer our questions <i>immediately</i>? I am embarrassed to admit that I am pretty impatient when it comes to answers of any kind, especially those from God. I think God should answer on <b>my</b> timetable. I mean, don't <b>my</b> problems heavily outrank the rest of the world's? Mmmmhmmm. . . s</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">ometimes I let the frustration over His delayed answers mar the current happiness I have at my fingertips. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPZnTnfD7ZMDZq_HWJXnTqIQaGHAomso4N700LmpH36qIjj5_vXhcelzZlKQO9z75UwAcAQFZ1TNyf1FYum-OnDQDxJJO_tFmVfD7oN2VECFM4uKr3wAVtG_cDPcPlmQxm2Rx3itxSPlI/s1600/waiting.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="557" data-original-width="846" height="131" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPZnTnfD7ZMDZq_HWJXnTqIQaGHAomso4N700LmpH36qIjj5_vXhcelzZlKQO9z75UwAcAQFZ1TNyf1FYum-OnDQDxJJO_tFmVfD7oN2VECFM4uKr3wAVtG_cDPcPlmQxm2Rx3itxSPlI/s200/waiting.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">I'd be happier if God would answer me the same day instead of making me keep on praying for things which seem so simple for Him to answer, like: </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">~Why won't our prodigal child Lauren would let us be a part of her life?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">~Why can't</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"> Abbey breathe deeply without struggle?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">~</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Why haven't You healed my migraines? </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">. . .the list goes on and on and on. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><i>But what if God never answers another one of my prayers for as long as I live?</i> What if He never heals Abbey's asthma or my migraines, or what if he never changes my current lot in life. Can I learn to truly be content? </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129;">One of my favorite authors, C. S. Lewis, said: <i>"If you think of this world as a place intended simply for our happiness, you find it quite intolerable; but if you think of it as a place of training and correction, it's not that bad."</i> In the Philippians verse above, Paul says he had to <b><i>LEARN</i></b> to be content. To learn anything takes practice. Hard days and unanswered prayers offer that practice, I suppose.</span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNRH6PQSm080rZSXZIFkm_L7VfJSND0MLeRB5ShoHNLFeU2R5Un42WOiGsdB9WpIbvht6riHKTqxM_n6CH0Z3pZ-ZF112XaY8IoIu07Avf7gmd4YTpIgfln8UHPy8eQ3T7LNmrtAV_oX4/s1600/018.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNRH6PQSm080rZSXZIFkm_L7VfJSND0MLeRB5ShoHNLFeU2R5Un42WOiGsdB9WpIbvht6riHKTqxM_n6CH0Z3pZ-ZF112XaY8IoIu07Avf7gmd4YTpIgfln8UHPy8eQ3T7LNmrtAV_oX4/s400/018.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129;"><br /></span></span> <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Recently, I asked my husband Michael: "If God never changes anything for us, and this is the way things will be for the rest of our lives, will you be happy?" He, without hesitation, said, "Yes. I would be more than okay with it." He is content. He enjoys what he's doing. Does he wish we had more working capital? Absolutely. But is he satisfied that we'll be okay no matter what? Absolutely. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Contentment is really a state of accepting that God's plan for your life is <i>exactly and always</i> the <u>very</u>. <u>best</u>. <u>thing</u>. And relaxing into that knowledge can release so much worry and doubt and discouragement. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">I am learning, slowly but surely, that true contentment is sincerely acting with the grace which has dramatically changed my heart. I don't have to care if life goes exactly the way I want, as long as I have Him.</span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><b><span style="background-color: white;">Psalms 17:15: "But as for me, my </span><span style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box;">content</span><span style="background-color: white;">ment is not in wealth but in seeing You and knowing all is well between us. And when I awake in heaven, I will be fully satisfied, for I will see You face-to-face." </span></b></span></div>
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©2018-2021 Coffee, Cobwebs, and Curriculum. All rights reserved. All text, photographs, artwork, and other content may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form without the author's written consent. www.coffeecobwebsandcurriculum.blogspot.com Follow me on Facebook or Twitter! Links can be found in the right sidebar on this blog!<div class="blogger-post-footer">This copyrighted article was originally published on www.coffeecobwebsandcurriculum.blogspot.com. If found published elsewhere, this material has been illegally scraped and should be reported to maomdegree@gmail.com”</div>Aprilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13123237408941307180noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6783386755733410303.post-21658713537637937072018-04-08T07:54:00.004-05:002018-04-08T07:56:54.129-05:00Scripture and a Snapshot--4/8/18<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5VI1ejUL9PtcKADKozxSpeYD0Y7dLGBRQRrokvqxohxZlIE8Ix6fV44-67Vf8Ne1uvosOr21-ljz6lJnGTRDIdjBiQYq_UlUVtklLNFnIM5NqH3YPSbQMNHfjzWrDS1gbs6dPgifYxhI/s1600/021.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5VI1ejUL9PtcKADKozxSpeYD0Y7dLGBRQRrokvqxohxZlIE8Ix6fV44-67Vf8Ne1uvosOr21-ljz6lJnGTRDIdjBiQYq_UlUVtklLNFnIM5NqH3YPSbQMNHfjzWrDS1gbs6dPgifYxhI/s640/021.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "verdana" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">"Abraham named the place “<b>Jehovah </b></span><b style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">provide</b><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "verdana" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><b>s</b>”—and it still goes by that name to this day." Genesis 22:14</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "verdana" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">~***~</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://www.glimpseofourlife.com/2018/04/scripture-and-snapshot.html" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="240" data-original-width="196" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHPw9Kt9z6WfCLn8b8hpJ3Hbsaxo7i4ix-Gnx3nXDq6Br-SvOTNHOCCsKX2pLOglwMtR9PWqObPotu_G7dNSNYGdsEBeAyK0WBTW3RFPljnftsWt7Ef84QHNoQxpAcKvo9k-_zWLo3Q3g/s1600/Scripture+%2526+A+Snapshot.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "verdana" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">Joining Jennifer and other amazing bloggers over at <a href="https://www.glimpseofourlife.com/2018/04/scripture-and-snapshot.html" target="_blank">A Glimpse of Our Life</a>! (click the box to see more photos and scripture!) </span></div>
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©2018-2020 Coffee, Cobwebs, and Curriculum. All rights reserved. All
text, photographs, artwork, and other content may not be reproduced or
transmitted in any form without the written consent of the author.
www.coffeecobwebsandcurriculum.blogspot.com
Follow me on Facebook or Twitter! Links can be found in the right sidebar on this blog! <div class="blogger-post-footer">This copyrighted article was originally published on www.coffeecobwebsandcurriculum.blogspot.com. If found published elsewhere, this material has been illegally scraped and should be reported to maomdegree@gmail.com”</div>Aprilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13123237408941307180noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6783386755733410303.post-34137145944232124432018-02-08T10:35:00.003-06:002021-07-24T11:07:06.096-05:00If Jesus Went "Live" on Facebook<br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">If you've been on Facebook for any length of time, you've seen individuals, news channels, and business pages who go "live" to reach their audience. My daughter does this several times a week to sell her Farmasi makeup brand in real time. It's a pretty neat concept, and it has been a super successful way to interact with the audience. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3SBEegZBTCbubh59rQEv8b-LAIBDk5yjYKUDgymnheWnP0m-zgh3gNliE5pZweLU14p_XbjgXeuqKpOVNyfyRr51iGZGlj7FA00mzHOlAhqssXd_is5o90EZUMrWD2JQbITjeq5FNtCc/s1600/Turn-Facebook-Live-Notifications-Off.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="442" data-original-width="800" height="110" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3SBEegZBTCbubh59rQEv8b-LAIBDk5yjYKUDgymnheWnP0m-zgh3gNliE5pZweLU14p_XbjgXeuqKpOVNyfyRr51iGZGlj7FA00mzHOlAhqssXd_is5o90EZUMrWD2JQbITjeq5FNtCc/s200/Turn-Facebook-Live-Notifications-Off.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Technology never ceases to amaze me. </span></b><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">So, it got me to thinking. . . what would a "Facebook Live" from Jesus Christ look like? </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">How cool would it be to see a notification pop-up which says "Jesus Christ is now live in Heaven"?!! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Clicking over to His post, what would you like to see? </span><br />
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<li><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">A strong warrior, fighting off the demons of hell who seek to destroy all goodness? </span> </li></ul><br /><ul>
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">A gentle shepherd, talking lovingly to a group of children?</span></li></ul><span style="font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif; font-size: x-large;"> </span><br /><ul>
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">A healer, reaching out and touching the hurting to provide instant relief? </span></li></ul><span style="font-family: georgia, times new roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span><ul>
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">A tour guide of sorts, showing us around the portals of heaven and giving us a sneak peek into the eternal glory to come? </span></li></ul><span style="font-family: georgia, times new roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span><ul>
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">A messenger of the angels, letting us know our loved ones are safe and happy? </span></li></ul><span style="font-family: georgia, times new roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span><ul>
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">A one-on-one session where we can share our problems and get instant answers? </span></li>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><b>Oh, the possibilities! </b>While it is so fun to imagine, let me encourage you that Jesus is even closer than a Facebook post. Through the Holy Spirit, through the Word, and even </span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">in those times when it seems that God is doing nothing--He is still the sovereign Lord of all creation, and He is constantly at work, bringing about the completion of His perfect plan! And one perfect day, we will see Him face to face--<i>no laptops needed</i>! </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">For now, I'm off to check my Facebook notifications. . . </span><br />
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<span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="color: blue; font-size: large; font-weight: bold;">"Then Jesus told him, “You believe because you have seen me. But blessed are those who haven’t seen me and believe anyway.” </span></div>
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©2018-2021 Coffee, Cobwebs, and Curriculum. All rights reserved. All
text, photographs, artwork, and other content may not be reproduced or
transmitted in any form without the written consent of the author.
www.coffeecobwebsandcurriculum.blogspot.com
Follow me on Facebook or Twitter! Links can be found in the right sidebar on this blog!<div class="blogger-post-footer">This copyrighted article was originally published on www.coffeecobwebsandcurriculum.blogspot.com. If found published elsewhere, this material has been illegally scraped and should be reported to maomdegree@gmail.com”</div>Aprilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13123237408941307180noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6783386755733410303.post-90524010181721573942017-12-13T20:56:00.000-06:002017-12-13T20:56:23.670-06:00Flickering Lights <span style="font-size: large;">As most of you know, my hubby is a carpenter, and while I have zero carpentry skills, I can attempt to help a tiny bit so he can focus on the important things. Yesterday, as I was busy sanding some cabinet doors for him over in my little corner of that big warehouse, I kept seeing this pesky fluorescent light directly above me constantly blinking on and off. Off. On. Buzz, buzz. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">For several days, actually for several weeks, it's been mocking me. I'll be working away, my work station all lit up and my aging eyes enjoying the extra help. Then boom--without warning, I can't see what I'm doing. It really makes me crazy! </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij2A8_ojnGPfYWEJcdKb3LhvZRObhgtWEmtLzt1Y2-87D15a5KFWpoc_tXQYnPS1XYeetpuTg4uv0DK7MS97YtEJYAUwLiQmkN0RD29s0U2z21vQiOjYc5T9oj-WS1l5IGTW5fbl64Hts/s1600/2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="852" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij2A8_ojnGPfYWEJcdKb3LhvZRObhgtWEmtLzt1Y2-87D15a5KFWpoc_tXQYnPS1XYeetpuTg4uv0DK7MS97YtEJYAUwLiQmkN0RD29s0U2z21vQiOjYc5T9oj-WS1l5IGTW5fbl64Hts/s400/2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">The humming of the ballast in the unit certainly reveals a deeper problem--even if the light bulbs are changed and the ballast is neglected, the problem will not be fixed. New light bulbs in dying ballasts will only be a temporary repair. The entire ballast and bulb must be replaced, and because that is not a 5-minute repair, it hasn't been done yet and the light is still flickering and still annoying me. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>But as God loves to do with the commonplace things in my life, He reminded me of the metaphor that flickering light offers. </b></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAWsgUGHFwXxv_RHnuS0KDnyBgqF7IVMccMqBlf88Cj3vfh_vbESjoVtNlAjhWepdUbKL-Bii4mzgujvbgi6T_wxz6IRmIZ-Ohc6n5d640zFX3eZ8X0Y_Qp35NPA4M_AVF85SjUcGT2nI/s1600/031.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAWsgUGHFwXxv_RHnuS0KDnyBgqF7IVMccMqBlf88Cj3vfh_vbESjoVtNlAjhWepdUbKL-Bii4mzgujvbgi6T_wxz6IRmIZ-Ohc6n5d640zFX3eZ8X0Y_Qp35NPA4M_AVF85SjUcGT2nI/s320/031.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I can find myself ignoring the humming of the Holy Spirit's voice in my daily life and I can push aside His call on my heart. Christians</span><span style="font-size: large;"> can change our clothes, our hair, our home, our church, but none of that will change the final outcome if we don't change <b>from the inside out</b>. If </span><span style="font-size: large;">we ignore the flickering long enough without giving attention to His call, or without obedience and prayers, we will no longer shine--no matter how many outward things we do or say to try to make it seem okay. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Our lights will only shine with its fullest capacity when we look to His example and allow His voice to be the foundation of our earthly missions. Change that ballast! Let your light shine! </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="background-color: white; color: blue; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;">"Jesus said to </span><span style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: blue; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;">the</span><span style="background-color: white; color: blue; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;"> people, “I am </span><span style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: blue; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;">the</span><span style="background-color: white; color: blue; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: blue; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;">Light</span><span style="background-color: white; color: blue; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: blue; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;">of</span><span style="background-color: white; color: blue; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: blue; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;">the </span><span style="color: blue;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;"></span></span><span style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: blue; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;">world</span><span style="background-color: white; color: blue; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;">. So if you follow me, you won’t be stumbling through </span><span style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: blue; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;">the</span><span style="background-color: white; color: blue; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;"> darkness, for living </span><span style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: blue; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;">light</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="color: blue;"> will flood your path.” </span>John 8:12</span></b></span></div>
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©2017-2018 Coffee, Cobwebs, and Curriculum. All rights reserved. All
text, photographs, artwork, and other content may not be reproduced or
transmitted in any form without the written consent of the author.
www.coffeecobwebsandcurriculum.blogspot.com
Follow me on Facebook or Twitter! Links can be found in the right sidebar on this blog! <div class="blogger-post-footer">This copyrighted article was originally published on www.coffeecobwebsandcurriculum.blogspot.com. If found published elsewhere, this material has been illegally scraped and should be reported to maomdegree@gmail.com”</div>Aprilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13123237408941307180noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6783386755733410303.post-66022865236720769032017-10-08T18:55:00.008-05:002024-03-15T21:01:01.364-05:00Morning Glories and the Beauty of God<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">I’ve always been an early riser, and with that comes some
wonderful benefits...<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<li><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">I get the first cup of coffee.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">I get to see the sunrise over the pasture.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">I get to pray without distractions.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">I get to be still enough to listen for God’s voice.</span></li>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Yesterday, as usual, I woke up early and walked outside to
feed the doggies and to take a deep breath of fresh (muggy) air. Along the fence row, I saw
the beautiful morning glories bursting from the vine along the chain link. For some unknown reason, this species of
flower only blooms in the pre-dawn hours and then dies shortly after
sunrise. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Look closely at a morning glory
vine, and you’ll see that different blooms open up each day and then die. If you’re not up early enough to see the new
blooms, you’re out of luck for the rest of the day. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo3c4AwnUEGmffcUqYLVt2xqMc0VgHY3twzxNVsFCZ4BsBVmMwe5OcvXMwJvJmDotDbEVAIJHSihoGGdoSveY6gEbr4iRzBd0drhMdrrOHF6sWZp20DnwjChCymYioqq_1MBCHo3XpTA8/s1600/morningglory.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo3c4AwnUEGmffcUqYLVt2xqMc0VgHY3twzxNVsFCZ4BsBVmMwe5OcvXMwJvJmDotDbEVAIJHSihoGGdoSveY6gEbr4iRzBd0drhMdrrOHF6sWZp20DnwjChCymYioqq_1MBCHo3XpTA8/s640/morningglory.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><o:p></o:p></span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">One such morning, the Lord showed my spirit how closely the hurting people in our lives mimic those delicate, unique flowers. How many times have I
missed an opportunity to see the beauty of a person because I refused to take the time to meet them in their time of need? How often have I ignored them or
turned away because all that I saw at first glance was the invasive, messy ‘vine’
they show to the world? Too many times, I’m ashamed to say.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Sometimes, the only way to reach a person with the love of
Christ is to meet them at the EXACT moment they are ready to ‘open up’ and
share their deep pain with us.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;">Seizing that moment may mean getting up early (or staying up late) to find them. </span><span style="font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;">It may mean going to really messy places to find them. </span><span style="font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;">It may mean giving up your own comfort to be a safe place for them. </span><span style="font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;">It may mean spending consistent time with the Lord so you can recognize
</span><i style="font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;">where to look</i><span style="font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;"> to find them. </span><span style="font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;">And finally, it may mean being there every single day, even when things
are not so easy for them, in order to gain their trust. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">The effort may be
time-consuming, but I promise the reward is worth it. And if you and I--those called by the Lord as His own<b>--</b>can't be the salt and light in the world, who will? </span><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia, times new roman, serif; font-size: large;"><b>"He will give eternal life to those who patiently do the will of God, seeking for the unseen glory and honor and eternal life that He offers." Romans 2:7 </b><br /></span>
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©2024-2026 Coffee, Cobwebs, and Curriculum. All rights reserved. All
text, photographs, artwork, and other content may not be reproduced or
transmitted in any form without the written consent of the author.
www.coffeecobwebsandcurriculum.blogspot.com
Follow me on Facebook or Twitter! Links can be found in the right sidebar on this blog! </div><div class="blogger-post-footer">This copyrighted article was originally published on www.coffeecobwebsandcurriculum.blogspot.com. If found published elsewhere, this material has been illegally scraped and should be reported to maomdegree@gmail.com”</div>Aprilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13123237408941307180noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6783386755733410303.post-72031731754406572892017-09-10T09:08:00.000-05:002017-09-10T09:14:16.114-05:00The More of Less <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">On my way to take Abbey to a birthday party yesterday, we came to a 4-way stop. Above it was a blinking red light to alert drivers of the intersection. Lost in thought and fighting a headache, I sat staring at that red light for a full five seconds, waiting for it to turn green so I could proceed through the intersection. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOBKYcuCfAxk_Dq2AcqKB76mRly-B9yoqS6TPFrv2gBvFggdWivSNUyyHQ1DRM1jiXcTLgKmsdBZ-Co4ZWLYsq7pZ2UwZGkMQohvSdmmwFzz-RHHOX0E1sBUFn6Vdxyb560xXnPtvuorw/s1600/facepalm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="241" data-original-width="258" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOBKYcuCfAxk_Dq2AcqKB76mRly-B9yoqS6TPFrv2gBvFggdWivSNUyyHQ1DRM1jiXcTLgKmsdBZ-Co4ZWLYsq7pZ2UwZGkMQohvSdmmwFzz-RHHOX0E1sBUFn6Vdxyb560xXnPtvuorw/s1600/facepalm.jpg" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Abbey and I got a good laugh out of it and we moved on down the road, but it sure got me to thinking about how distracted I've been lately. Life is incredulously busy and my brain can hardly handle it all. The threat of clutter--both physical and spiritual-- is how it keeps our discipleship from being all it can be. I am quite sure I never fully grasped the concept when I was younger, but boy, do I ever now! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><b>Less is more! </b>When my children were young, I discovered they would play together and much more happily in a room that was straightened up. So if their playroom became overwhelmed with toys and a mess, they would move into the areas of the home which were clean and start <strike>making a mess </strike>playing there. Once their rooms were tidied up again, they would happily play in their own spaces again. I have observed it over and over, with all the kids who have come into my home--their brains <i>need</i> organization and clutter-free zones, even if they don't understand the "why" of it all. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Adults are the same way. We also need organized, uncluttered spaces in our lives. <b>We <i>need</i> quiet time when all we think about are the praises and prayers on our hearts.</b> We need enough space to be able to voice them earnestly and sincerely to our Lord, who is always eager to listen. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwDVao2ZvTTGqUrJtk4NxQjYJn5WMD1naIun24jXrrsJ6JMB6H9UsR7qUVhlHheZklAKtRGw_CHnPplAit94Nasug4LJSS23vvCAc568R0J-4tXxCqRcFvxVOKyrxULNjhC2zmQ9jCUI4/s1600/brain.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="371" data-original-width="480" height="307" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwDVao2ZvTTGqUrJtk4NxQjYJn5WMD1naIun24jXrrsJ6JMB6H9UsR7qUVhlHheZklAKtRGw_CHnPplAit94Nasug4LJSS23vvCAc568R0J-4tXxCqRcFvxVOKyrxULNjhC2zmQ9jCUI4/s400/brain.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">An actual drawing of my brain. </td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">In a cluttered mind, prayers can become trite, short, and nothing less than duty. You see a post on Facebook that requests prayer covering and you type "Praying" or the hands-folded-in-prayer emoji and you move on through your newsfeed, hardly giving it another thought. Yep. I'm guilty, too. <i>Superficiality is the curse of our age</i>. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">God desires so much more for us, for our hearts. He knows that a simpler life means a much more peaceful life. And please know that while you may want to give away a lot of your possessions (which I recommend), the focus should not be on getting rid of what we have, but rather upon cultivating the disposition of "a life of joyful unconcern for possessions" (Richard J. Foster).</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiinvph4DS55O7I7Tq8k0t-6Ge4YcP08TPAzaIxk1r68t30YZplgR-gkw_x31Gu-vWm5sE3V_7gq2jIJZ0k_IxDoeE-_llMnVF6Dyzv8XX3jAiAv4K-XPXpU8BJ8Z2iHB1FSyy6ysXUR-Q/s1600/sunset.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="638" data-original-width="644" height="317" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiinvph4DS55O7I7Tq8k0t-6Ge4YcP08TPAzaIxk1r68t30YZplgR-gkw_x31Gu-vWm5sE3V_7gq2jIJZ0k_IxDoeE-_llMnVF6Dyzv8XX3jAiAv4K-XPXpU8BJ8Z2iHB1FSyy6ysXUR-Q/s320/sunset.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">"Deep calls to deep" as the Psalmist penned, and we can live a more spiritually-fulfilling life if we take time to focus on the important things each day. The work is not our own, but rather of the Lord.'s He will change our focus <i><b>if </b></i>we are willing to let Him have control of our cluttered minds and hearts. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Find that space, learn to say 'no' to the unimportant, get up five minutes earlier, give away the clothes you've not worn in years, <i>simplify your life</i>. You won't regret it. </span><br />
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<i style="color: blue; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif; font-size: x-large;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "verdana" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">"If you do this, you will experience </span><span style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "verdana" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">God</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "verdana" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">’s </span><span style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "verdana" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">peace</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "verdana" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">, which is far more wonderful than the human mind can understand. His </span><span style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "verdana" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">peace</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "verdana" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"> will keep your thoughts and your hearts quiet and at rest as you trust in Christ Jesus." Philipians 4:7</span></i><br />
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©2017-2018 Coffee, Cobwebs, and Curriculum. All rights reserved. All
text, photographs, artwork, and other content may not be reproduced or
transmitted in any form without the written consent of the author.
www.coffeecobwebsandcurriculum.blogspot.com
Follow me on Facebook or Twitter! Links can be found in the right sidebar on this blog! <br />
<br /><div class="blogger-post-footer">This copyrighted article was originally published on www.coffeecobwebsandcurriculum.blogspot.com. If found published elsewhere, this material has been illegally scraped and should be reported to maomdegree@gmail.com”</div>Aprilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13123237408941307180noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6783386755733410303.post-58209268310603511082017-08-01T19:11:00.000-05:002017-08-02T06:23:35.298-05:00What to Do After You Say "I Do" <br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">[<i>A letter to my son and his love, who will marry each other this coming weekend. My heart is full. The following is my love letter to them.</i>]</span></div>
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<o:p><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"> </span></o:p><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 18pt;">Dear Connor and
Ashley,</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 18pt; line-height: 107%;">I love y’all and I am
so happy you’re happy. As you embark on this exciting time of your lives,
my gift to you is to share some of the wisdom that life and the Lord have
taught me. Grab a seat and have fun reading!</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<li><span style="font-size: large;">Sleep on it. Especially big decisions.</span></li>
<li><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">Keep God in the center of both the good and the
bad days.</span></b></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Don’t work your life away. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Rest on Sundays.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Hold her hair back when she has a throw-up virus.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Expect that his viruses will always be worse than
yours. [Or so I’m told.]</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Go fishing often, even if it’s from the bank.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Sit close to the front at church and at meetings.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Pray WITH each other. Even when it’s awkward, say
prayers out loud each morning with each other. It will get easier and you will
start to crave that time together.</span></li>
<li><b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 24pt; line-height: 107%;">Pray FOR each other, even when you’re
not together.</span></b></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Remember that some days you will have to go
through the MOTIONS until the EMOTIONS follow. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">It’s okay to be
upset but don’t stop being respectful.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">You don’t have to fix each other’s problems.
Just listen. Hug. Be there.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Make sure it’s the two of you against the world.
Protect your marriage as a sacred entity, because it is.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Find someone to help each day.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Be submissive to your husband. Treat your wife as
a treasure.</span></li>
<li><b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 24pt; line-height: 107%;">Put your phone down for important
conversations. Make eye contact.</span></b></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Be the first to say ‘I’m sorry.’ Make eye contact
when you do it.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Invest in a heated mattress pad with separate
controls. Trust me.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Spend time alone, separately, doing something you
want to do. Even Jesus went to the woods for a while.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Don’t go to bed with a dirty kitchen.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Sleep on it. Especially big fights.</span></li>
<li><b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 24pt; line-height: 107%;">Be the first to forgive.</span></b></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Treat each other better
than you treat your friends.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Don’t use the past against each other.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Make a 10-year plan and have fun figuring out how
to reach that goal.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Put back $10 a week. You’ll have $520 by the end
of the year.</span></li>
<li><b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 24pt; line-height: 107%;">Don’t make major decisions when either
of you is tired.</span></b></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Don’t spend more than $30 without asking each
other for input.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Discover each other’s love language and use it to
speak to each other.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Be each other’s biggest fan and biggest
cheerleader.</span></li>
<li><b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 24pt; line-height: 107%;">Build each other up in front of
others.</span></b></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Always say goodbye with a kiss.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Don’t keep a mental (or written) record of wrongs.
The world will take care of that for you.</span></li>
<li><b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 24pt; line-height: 107%;">Always make sure there’s ice cream in
the freezer and Pringles in the pantry.</span></b></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Set an eating-out budget and stick to it. (And
order water and spend that money on a dessert instead.)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">It’s okay to eat hotdogs and boxed mac and cheese
on the slim money weeks.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Put the cap back on the toothpaste.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Empty a full trashcan.</span></li>
<li><b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 24pt; line-height: 107%;">Celebrate the special days in special
ways. Every time.</span></b></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Slow dance in the middle of the den at random
times.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Don’t use credit cards. If you can’t afford it,
you don’t need it. If you need it and can’t afford it, ask for help.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Learn to listen without thinking about what you’re
going to say next.</span></li>
<li><b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 24pt; line-height: 107%;">Pray daily for wisdom and courage, <i>not</i> for
things.</span></b></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Always wear your seatbelts.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Make cookies for your neighbors.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Be kinder than necessary.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Always check the health/food inspector grade right when you walk in a restaurant. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Buy the name-brand toilet paper.</span></li>
<li><b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 24pt; line-height: 107%;">If it doesn’t feel right, don’t do
it. Trust your gut. Trust each other.</span></b></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Meet deadlines. Keep promises.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Never grab at a falling knife. And be sure to
quickly move your feet.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Once a year, go somewhere you’ve never been
before, even it’s just a few miles away. Have fun exploring where God has
placed you.</span></li>
<li><b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 24pt; line-height: 107%;">Never miss an opportunity to thank a
member of the Armed Forces for their service.</span></b> </li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Once a month, pay for the person in line behind
you at the drive-thru. Unless it’s a minivan full of youngin’s. Just kidding.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Always be proud to be an American.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Be extra respectful to older people.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Watch funny Facebook videos together.</span></li>
<li><b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 24pt; line-height: 107%;">Be happy with what you have while
working for what you want.</span></b></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Don’t take medicine in the dark.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">If you hear an ambulance siren, say a prayer for
those involved.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Never comment about someone’s weight, especially
each other’s.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Avoid blue dye in foods.</span></li>
<li><b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 24pt; line-height: 107%;">Always check the expiration date on
the milk before you buy it.</span></b></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Buy the name-brand paper towels.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Buy the lotion-filled Kleenex when you’ve got a
cold.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Ask the locals for the best hidden-gem place to
eat.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Keep your smoke alarm batteries changed twice a
year. It can save your lives.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Laugh, laugh, and laugh some more. Life is too
stinkin’ hard to not find ways to laugh each day.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Write love notes to each other.</span></li>
<li><b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 24pt; line-height: 107%;">Don’t try to change each other. That’s
the Holy Spirit’s job.</span></b></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Be grateful that God doesn’t answer all your
prayers.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Never order barbeque or shrimp in a restaurant
where all the chairs match.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Share the TV remote.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Make sure the stove is off before you go to bed.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Make sure the A/C is off before you leave for the
day.</span></li>
<li><b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 24pt; line-height: 107%;">Make sure the hair straightener is
unplugged.</span></b></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Don’t go to ATMs at night.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Be faithful.</span></li>
<li><b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 24pt; line-height: 107%;">Successful marriage means you have to
start over every morning. No, really. You do. But it’s worth it.</span></b></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Include your parents in your prayers.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Read carefully anything that requires your
signature.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Watch a Christmas movie together.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Honor your parents. Text them often. Call them
even more.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Remember that overnight success can sometimes take
fifteen years.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Keep an extra house key in a safe place.</span></li>
<li><b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 24pt; line-height: 107%;">Reach out to Godly friends for help
when you feel discouraged.</span></b></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Read God’s word as often as you possibly can.
Download an app. Find a devotional book. Whatever it takes. Hide the verses in your
heart.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Keep an extra car key in a safe place.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Tithe at least ten percent each paycheck. And
tithe on your gross, not your net.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Develop a family motto. Write it down. Treasure
it.</span></li>
<li><b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 24pt; line-height: 107%;">Be aware that the small stuff <i>is</i> really
the big stuff.</span></b></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Life may hand you a crapload of hard stuff. Love
God anyway.</span></li>
<li><b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 24pt; line-height: 107%;">Fight hard to see the grace of God in
each situation.</span></b></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Enjoy this precious season of your lives. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Love
each other well. The rest will take care of itself.</span></li>
</ul>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 18pt; line-height: 107%;">I love you both so
much and I will be praying for God to bless you in ways you never dreamed
possible. </span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 18pt; line-height: 107%;">Love, Love, Love,</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 18pt; line-height: 107%;">Mama/April</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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©2017-2019 Coffee, Cobwebs, and Curriculum. All rights reserved. All
text, photographs, artwork, and other content may not be reproduced or
transmitted in any form without the written consent of the author.
www.coffeecobwebsandcurriculum.blogspot.com
Follow me on Facebook or Twitter! Links can be found in the right sidebar on this blog! <div class="blogger-post-footer">This copyrighted article was originally published on www.coffeecobwebsandcurriculum.blogspot.com. If found published elsewhere, this material has been illegally scraped and should be reported to maomdegree@gmail.com”</div>Aprilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13123237408941307180noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6783386755733410303.post-37763802249113212672017-06-04T09:07:00.000-05:002019-06-05T20:44:21.354-05:00Tears in my Coffee<br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Grief is a funny animal. It has no rhyme or reason, and it certainly has no time table. It can hit you like a ton of bricks at the most inopportune moments, and it can all at once make you sad for the loss yet grateful for the time together. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">I grabbed a spoon out of the drawer the other morning to stir my coffee and right there in the kitchen, I starting bawling, missing my grandparents so much it hurt. I have inherited many of their kitchen silverware pieces, and this spoon was one of those simple, yet prized possessions. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikNLgIRMZ-oB2K_eVtu6CAQ5GL6GjF_MYu6OJT3GFG2rgol_YBfcsbWTtgIkKiyflDM9c56SBeoeGSpoA80VHPVZDu256ZdUPvLAqvCWYrozqerL5eUSBScqPDSZGpADgSYyTYJXivoZA/s1600/spoon.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikNLgIRMZ-oB2K_eVtu6CAQ5GL6GjF_MYu6OJT3GFG2rgol_YBfcsbWTtgIkKiyflDM9c56SBeoeGSpoA80VHPVZDu256ZdUPvLAqvCWYrozqerL5eUSBScqPDSZGpADgSYyTYJXivoZA/s400/spoon.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">I am so grateful I was raised by them, as they became such a steadying force in my unstable childhood. As an adult, the voice I hear in my head when making decisions is not that of my parents, but of my grandparents. WWMSD--(What Would Mary and Sam Do?)--really does sometimes cross my mind. And I smile at the memory of them giving me a hug--or in Granny's case, a swat on my backside--and helping me figure out my current crisis. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">For all of you who completely understand loss and pain and grief, I know you know how it feels. One minute you're crying over missing them and the next minute you're laughing over a sweet memory of them. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Let me encourage you all--<b>Hope has a rope</b>! Every single day we wake up, we find ourselves one day closer to our loved ones in heaven! We are one day closer to healed, perfect bodies! Focusing on what is to come is an amazing way to view this difficult life because we, in our earthly state, see so much of the bad, but God wants us to see so much of the <i>good</i> still present on this side of heaven. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">We <i>must</i> hold onto the rope that connects us to heaven, where the joyful eternity with our loved ones by our made-whole-again sides will be all we know. No more tears, no more pain, no more evil. Just beautiful reunions with those we miss so much! </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">“God doesn’t expect you to be happy about what has been torn from your hands—whether it’s a marriage, your health, a job, or someone you love—but if you are willing to trust him, he can turn trash into triumph.” ~~Levi Lusko, <i>Through the Eyes of a Lion</i></span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white;"><b><i><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">"He will wipe away all tears from their eyes, and there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying, nor pain. All of that has gone forever.” Rev 21:4 </span></i></b></span><br />
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©2014-2016 Coffee, Cobwebs, and Curriculum. All rights reserved. All
text, photographs, artwork, and other content may not be reproduced or
transmitted in any form without the written consent of the author.
www.coffeecobwebsandcurriculum.blogspot.com
Follow me on Facebook or Twitter! Links can be found in the right sidebar on this blog! <div class="blogger-post-footer">This copyrighted article was originally published on www.coffeecobwebsandcurriculum.blogspot.com. If found published elsewhere, this material has been illegally scraped and should be reported to maomdegree@gmail.com”</div>Aprilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13123237408941307180noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6783386755733410303.post-54295322613335658582017-01-27T06:31:00.001-06:002017-01-27T06:32:54.014-06:00If You Give a {Teenage} Kid a Camera.....<span style="font-size: large;">If you give a <i>teenage</i> kid a camera....</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">She'll see signs of life in the middle of winter....</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">And that boundaries can be really good things.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">She'll see that some things get more beautiful with age...</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">And that trusting God can be the best place to find rest.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">She'll notice the lazy dreamers....</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">And the hard workers...</span> </div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">She'll notice patterns designed by a Master Artist....</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8CiGWrMnCy6Li9oTTLvvAx1mjLdaBkMutzhu9_5dnOk7etSTb3AiMX9iYXzll4cD6nzzqr04gilvafWIZhDvUrhEVnGQFXPzRPBe6Df-ODH0o09ISXnt-hHg9D0j2WeMi22encXOAVG0/s1600/IMG_0228.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8CiGWrMnCy6Li9oTTLvvAx1mjLdaBkMutzhu9_5dnOk7etSTb3AiMX9iYXzll4cD6nzzqr04gilvafWIZhDvUrhEVnGQFXPzRPBe6Df-ODH0o09ISXnt-hHg9D0j2WeMi22encXOAVG0/s400/IMG_0228.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">And ladies out for a morning stroll.</span> </div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">She'll be blessed to consider far away adventures...</span> </div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">But be very content to be a present-day follower. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">♥ All photos by Abbey Grace, age 13 ♥</span></div>
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©2017-2018 Coffee, Cobwebs, and Curriculum. All rights reserved. All
text, photographs, artwork, and other content may not be reproduced or
transmitted in any form without the written consent of the author.
www.coffeecobwebsandcurriculum.blogspot.com. Follow me on Facebook or Twitter! Links can be found in the right sidebar on this blog! <div class="blogger-post-footer">This copyrighted article was originally published on www.coffeecobwebsandcurriculum.blogspot.com. If found published elsewhere, this material has been illegally scraped and should be reported to maomdegree@gmail.com”</div>Aprilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13123237408941307180noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6783386755733410303.post-67545204469837806232016-03-12T08:13:00.000-06:002016-03-12T08:19:46.389-06:00Feathered but not Tethered <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-size: large;">This telephone pole which sits next to our driveway is the vantage point of so many types of birds. On any given day you can hear woodpeckers knocking, observe mockingbirds and bluebirds fussing at each other from the power lines, or see beautiful doves resting for a moment before loudly fluttering off. Maybe it's a sign I'm getting older, but I absolutely love to bird watch. They are such amazing works of God--their colors, the way they move, the sounds they make. I just love them! </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">But beyond their beauty, they are also teaching me that it's okay to stop and rest sometimes, and getting to that vantage point is more than it seems. Yes, those spiritual highs in our life are great, because they refresh our souls, but we simply can't stay there too long. Life won't allow it. From those high points we can observe what is truly happening in the spiritual realm all around us, and we can gain perspective. <i><b>We realize the battle never ends.</b></i> At least not on this side of heaven. It is exhausting, isn't it? </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">This Christian life makes it hard to take deep breaths sometimes (a lot of times). I just want like a whole week with no work issues, no fires to put out, no migraines, no sadness. (A girl can dream.) But we all know God has called us to live in a fallen world, and <u>to be salt and light</u> for those who are struggling even more than we are. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>He has called us to soar. </b></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">So take off, my friends, and go spread your love in this hurting world!<b> </b></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "verdana" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;"><b>“You are the world’s seasoning, to make it tolerable. If you lose your flavor, what will happen to the world?" Matthew 5:13</b></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "verdana" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;"><b>"They shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint." Isaiah 40:31</b></span></div>
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©2014-2016 Coffee, Cobwebs, and Curriculum. All rights reserved. All
text, photographs, artwork, and other content may not be reproduced or
transmitted in any form without the written consent of the author.
www.coffeecobwebsandcurriculum.blogspot.com
Follow me on Facebook or Twitter! Links can be found in the right sidebar on this blog! <div class="blogger-post-footer">This copyrighted article was originally published on www.coffeecobwebsandcurriculum.blogspot.com. If found published elsewhere, this material has been illegally scraped and should be reported to maomdegree@gmail.com”</div>Aprilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13123237408941307180noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6783386755733410303.post-27450056188266559572015-11-29T07:26:00.001-06:002015-11-29T07:36:33.390-06:00Scripture and a Snapshot~~11/29/2015<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">"I must consume the abundance of moments now. Days I am overwhelmed wanting to write the music of my life in a slower tempo, yet this is the glorious dance of <i>now</i>. So I shall dance in bare feet, for I am on holy ground." ~~Ann Voskamp</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Joining my friend Jennifer at <a href="http://www.glimpseofourlife.com/2015/11/scripture-and-snapshot_28.html" target="_blank">A Glimpse of Our Life</a> for Sunday's Blog Hop called Scripture and a Snapshot. Do yourself a favor and click through to see some lovely, lovely shots from other bloggers across the Web! </span></div>
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<a href="http://www.glimpseofourlife.com/2015/11/scripture-and-snapshot_28.html" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKVeVxkUVTcw682H2EUvyuH_eAt8BHxmlvI3nTlANX_OmtmoyaC4We3DjMuivYOKbYuFi7JN7N5PQy_xiwX_umT2CHjnz4FuvaA0fv8UiSOgppjOtor3ueRg98F0vBVBaAZO3_BmSFsas/s1600/Scripture+%2526+A+Snapshot.jpg" /></a></div>
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©2014-2016 Coffee, Cobwebs, and Curriculum. All rights reserved. All
text, photographs, artwork, and other content may not be reproduced or
transmitted in any form without the written consent of the author.
www.coffeecobwebsandcurriculum.blogspot.com
Follow me on Facebook or Twitter! Links can be found in the right sidebar on this blog! <div class="blogger-post-footer">This copyrighted article was originally published on www.coffeecobwebsandcurriculum.blogspot.com. If found published elsewhere, this material has been illegally scraped and should be reported to maomdegree@gmail.com”</div>Aprilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13123237408941307180noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6783386755733410303.post-16551047062978590362015-10-03T20:52:00.000-05:002015-10-03T20:59:23.939-05:00Just As I Am<br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">The other day, I was outside with my 16-month old granddaughter Swayze and our neighbor’s daughter (8 years old) came skipping over to
play with us. She immediately got down on Swayze’s
level and smiled at her. She said, “You know
who you look like? You! You look just like YOU!” Swazye giggled in agreement and threw the
ball to her. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsCEPDElUMcNDAizC8vrvj44iLq8HrpNnz_R26c0HGdcgvxF6hkeXlL5NtJ7SnAzs4h4_uPaBytk2Lu_JVE16izIwcEYrDOfwxj44FJehy2yXBL9oVZr9rF1_XbY3pfw5EVo46jOU5oDo/s1600/IMG_0298.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsCEPDElUMcNDAizC8vrvj44iLq8HrpNnz_R26c0HGdcgvxF6hkeXlL5NtJ7SnAzs4h4_uPaBytk2Lu_JVE16izIwcEYrDOfwxj44FJehy2yXBL9oVZr9rF1_XbY3pfw5EVo46jOU5oDo/s320/IMG_0298.JPG" width="240" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbVWFl0DFA4ls1D87majjeegCz64BTIw-E6JgA8ZWPvPv5V6EDtQQSG3iIHvfqYHF48h8NGu6itpqmn_4JW825LQAX5QurpIKd82KMJ382F55OCwYngR38jSP-0_xyUcOPNejkp7P6z-8/s1600/IMG_0311.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbVWFl0DFA4ls1D87majjeegCz64BTIw-E6JgA8ZWPvPv5V6EDtQQSG3iIHvfqYHF48h8NGu6itpqmn_4JW825LQAX5QurpIKd82KMJ382F55OCwYngR38jSP-0_xyUcOPNejkp7P6z-8/s320/IMG_0311.JPG" width="240" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Their innocent exchange made me think about how many years I
wasted trying to be something I’m not, to earn the favor of others, to be
accepted by certain groups, <b>to look a certain way</b>---when really all God ever
wants me to be is ME. Just me. That’s it. He is absolutely in love with me
just being <i>me--</i> looking uniquely like
me, acting uniquely like me, and loving others uniquely as He directs. I don’t
have to be funnier, nicer, smarter, <i>thinner</i>. <b>As long as my heart is reflecting His own</b>, that's all I need to be. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">He</span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"> is
perfectly content to get down on my level as often I as I need to hear it, sweetly look into my eyes, and gently say, “Just as you are, come unto me. You look
just like YOU.” </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqS02DDNyv5lrwvyyTSu8Cn5aQyIwg6xSe3kpt2Tzgd81zImUpzXs0oYsYU2v4GNORAWTb66YfyNlmRHRCHeYwjQ2hVHQ3J6hI5v1BXV8cTIJDhGg3ZpNxxRE858w3LQqLbctbmmvb2IQ/s1600/1461563_10152042681838470_1258074629_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqS02DDNyv5lrwvyyTSu8Cn5aQyIwg6xSe3kpt2Tzgd81zImUpzXs0oYsYU2v4GNORAWTb66YfyNlmRHRCHeYwjQ2hVHQ3J6hI5v1BXV8cTIJDhGg3ZpNxxRE858w3LQqLbctbmmvb2IQ/s200/1461563_10152042681838470_1258074629_n.jpg" width="172" /></a></span></div>
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<o:p><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"> ~~~~</span></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">“Thank
you for making me so<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span>wonderfully<span class="apple-converted-space"> complex!
It is amazing to think about. Your workmanship is marvelous—</span>and<span class="apple-converted-space"> how well I know it.</span>” <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+139%3A14&version=TLB"><span style="background: white; color: #b23526;">Psalm 139:14</span></a></i><span class="apple-converted-space"><i><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 200%;"> </span></i></span></span><i><o:p></o:p></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="apple-converted-space"><i><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 200%;"><br /></span></i></span></span></div>
©2014-2016 Coffee, Cobwebs, and Curriculum. All rights reserved. All
text, photographs, artwork, and other content may not be reproduced or
transmitted in any form without the written consent of the author.
www.coffeecobwebsandcurriculum.blogspot.com
Follow me on Facebook or Twitter! Links can be found in the right sidebar on this blog! <div class="blogger-post-footer">This copyrighted article was originally published on www.coffeecobwebsandcurriculum.blogspot.com. If found published elsewhere, this material has been illegally scraped and should be reported to maomdegree@gmail.com”</div>Aprilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13123237408941307180noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6783386755733410303.post-55373651877315322092015-05-16T09:07:00.003-05:002019-05-16T06:24:45.056-05:00Open Registration<span class="text Heb-12-22" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 24px;">Ever notice lately, if you're surfing around on the internet and you find a website or blog you really like, you're almost always asked to register? Do you think twice about putting your personal information there? Your physical address, your date of birth, and more? Along with that annoying step of "confirming your email" several times over. If you think about it, it's crazy what we'll do just so we can snag a coupon code or be added to a mailing list. Do you do that? No? Maybe it's just me. I spend a lot of time on the Net and I rarely think about what I'm doing. I do think I have been <i>way</i> too trustworthy of the cyberspace in this 15" box of techy wires sitting in my lap. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPNI4lI2ZF2r3zgmwcyaT1mItPugf81TaF3G0ofVWCr9ShopgNaKJnU_H00FAxjl7TEgdOvijT0PPMiOVAF-zwitJ9yrysjcaz1HkrIiJ0L6CAjNeInV0YZE-nhbE3OZdXdGq_rgWApkc/s1600/A26914_2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPNI4lI2ZF2r3zgmwcyaT1mItPugf81TaF3G0ofVWCr9ShopgNaKJnU_H00FAxjl7TEgdOvijT0PPMiOVAF-zwitJ9yrysjcaz1HkrIiJ0L6CAjNeInV0YZE-nhbE3OZdXdGq_rgWApkc/s400/A26914_2.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">"<i>But you have come right up into Mount Zion, to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to the gathering of countless happy angels; and to the church, composed of all those registered in heaven; and to God who is Judge of all; and to the spirits of the redeemed in heaven, already made perfect.</i>" Hebrews 12: 22 - 23 (TLB) </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">I heard this verse the other day and I immediately hid it in my heart so I could go look it up again and study it. It brought me such comfort and yet was thought-provoking as well. In this chapter of Hebrews, the author is encouraging the followers of Jesus, to stay the path, to stay strong in the face of adversity, and to realize the payoff is the beautiful gift of eternal life. The entire chapter is so encouraging. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span class="text Heb-12-23" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "verdana" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: x-large; line-height: 24px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span class="text Heb-12-23" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "verdana" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 24px;">If we can easily give virtual strangers, websites, and social media our sensitive information, why does it sometimes feel so difficult to give our entire lives to Jesus, the only one who can put our names in the most important database of all--<b>The Register of Eternal Life</b>?!!! </span></span><br />
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<span class="text Heb-12-23" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; line-height: 24px;">Maybe it's because we tend to focus on the tangible, the logical. Maybe it's because our brains don't handle faith well, and it requires we reach deep in our souls to try to understand the magnitude of eternal life. <i>Maybe it's because we don't feel worthy of having our names registered in the Book of Life. </i></span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo3GKU47p6oWoA4wADC2NWtyOs7s5qULvXcw9xhHE_zCy2D9ifYc8kDm54CQlDlErYl-KEqwrfrCaoZD2YYYDT1Bd36rwf2sXWsi5TshOfYXQ8uFVQE35xr3yIVpjDbhXC5MvJtQUTCnA/s1600/A26914_2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><img border="0" height="341" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo3GKU47p6oWoA4wADC2NWtyOs7s5qULvXcw9xhHE_zCy2D9ifYc8kDm54CQlDlErYl-KEqwrfrCaoZD2YYYDT1Bd36rwf2sXWsi5TshOfYXQ8uFVQE35xr3yIVpjDbhXC5MvJtQUTCnA/s400/A26914_2.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div>
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<span class="text Heb-12-23" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 24px;">Be encouraged, my friends! To have our names registered in heaven, we only have to simplify things---to stop making absolutely everything so painstakingly hard, and instead become like a child. Children believe something is truth just because they are told by the ones they trust (us) that what is being said <i>is</i> truth</span><span class="text Heb-12-23" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: x-large; line-height: 24px;">. </span><br />
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<span class="text Heb-12-23" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 24px;">And sweet Jesus asks us to do the same. He says that if we truly trust Him, we will believe with the faith of a child. That's it. We must see ourselves as the sinners we are, believe in our hearts there is only one Jesus who became our representative so God would accept us again, and do the best we can to live a life that mimics His. Then BOOM! There in the Register of Heaven, will be our names. </span><br />
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<span class="text Heb-12-23" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; line-height: 24px;">Stop striving. <i>Be still and know</i>. Whisper a prayer, super-short or super-long, and <i>know that you are heard</i>. No emails, no passwords to create, no hard-to-read captchas to type to prove you're not a robot. And most importantly, no unsubscribing from the list. It is there <i>permanently</i>. </span></span><br />
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<span class="text Heb-12-23" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; line-height: 24px;">You can relax, knowing you don't have to be perfect to stay on the list. Your name, your soul, your life are all engraved on His hands and in His heart, and the gates of hell can not prevail or erase it. Yeah, Team Jesus! </span></span><br />
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<i><span style="color: red;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "verdana" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 24px;">On this rock I will build my church, and the </span><span style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "verdana" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 24px;">gates</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "verdana" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 24px;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "verdana" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 24px;">of</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "verdana" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 24px;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "verdana" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 24px;">hell</span></span></i><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "verdana" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 24px;"><i><span style="color: red;"> shall not prevail against it.</span></i> Matthew 16: 18</span><br />
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©2014-2016 Coffee, Cobwebs, and Curriculum. All rights reserved. All
text, photographs, artwork, and other content may not be reproduced or
transmitted in any form without the written consent of the author.
www.coffeecobwebsandcurriculum.blogspot.com
Follow me on Facebook or Twitter! Links can be found in the right sidebar on this blog! <div class="blogger-post-footer">This copyrighted article was originally published on www.coffeecobwebsandcurriculum.blogspot.com. If found published elsewhere, this material has been illegally scraped and should be reported to maomdegree@gmail.com”</div>Aprilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13123237408941307180noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6783386755733410303.post-64061631099294412122015-04-19T09:48:00.000-05:002015-04-19T09:48:30.006-05:00Learning to Walk<span style="font-size: x-large;">I haven't blogged in a while. Let me tell you in case you ever doubted---Satan is alive and well, my friends. My family has been bombarded with his stupid antics lately, and it is has drained us, physically and emotionally. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">I have been searching His word for encouragement on how to keep going, one step at a time. One minute, one hour, one day at a time. Beautiful verses have really helped me: </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=psalms+27%3A14&version=TLB">Psalm 27:14 </a> <span style="background-color: white; line-height: 24px;"><i>Don’t be impatient. Wait for the Lord, and he will come and save you! Be brave, stouthearted, and courageous. Yes, wait and he will help you.</i></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=daniel+3%3A28&version=TLB">Daniel 3:28</a> <i><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 24px;">Then Nebuchadnezzar said, “Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, for he sent his angel to deliver his trusting servants when they defied the king’s commandment and were willing to die rather than serve or worship any god except their own.</span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 24px;"> </span> </i></span><br />
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<i><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=hebrews+11&version=TLB">Hebrews 11: 33</a> <span class="text Heb-11-33" id="en-TLB-27205" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 24px;">These people all trusted God and as a result won battles, overthrew kingdoms, ruled their people well, and received what God had promised them; they were kept from harm in a den of lions</span><span class="text Heb-11-33" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 22px;"><b> </b></span><span class="text Heb-11-34" id="en-TLB-27206" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 24px;">and in a fiery furnace. </span></span></i><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">But God has also provided real-time "love moments" from which I am learning. Our sweet little granddaughter (11 months) is starting to walk and it is the sweetest thing ever to watch! She teeters and totters and giggles and wobbles and we all love cheering her on. </span><br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dzUdtyIJ0mYg3jvQPAqXBhwwxD1jj2Hq4rDrRLBeYSeFAcoglyLl0nBmmAsYXrNTxn1QrEbxyeZGnj8nDHYJA' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">This week when Abbey (11 years) was helping her motor forward by holding Swayze's little hands while she walked, she would get faster and faster and she clearly felt so much more confident in her walking skills. But as soon as Abbey would let go of her hands, Swayze would lock her knees, put her arms up like she was riding a roller coaster, and fall straight back into Abbey's waiting arms, completely trusting she would be caught. Abbey would lift her up, get her started back in the right direction, and then quickly move in front of Swazye with a colorful ball as bait to help her power on to her goal. Some attempts were more successful than others, but Abbey kept patiently working with her. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2QxcFFEBCn8I2EhzA9RT31M63KhX7NB3s979RuGSWV_kIo8616NRynhmJOUT3coMLmp-juzbzSl66PcF4HQ48MejRBRGe3_OPusj9Cmgp0ZW6ocqdCqW_7ths1_qvvMgjEwoMGJrAzas/s1600/002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2QxcFFEBCn8I2EhzA9RT31M63KhX7NB3s979RuGSWV_kIo8616NRynhmJOUT3coMLmp-juzbzSl66PcF4HQ48MejRBRGe3_OPusj9Cmgp0ZW6ocqdCqW_7ths1_qvvMgjEwoMGJrAzas/s1600/002.JPG" height="360" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEm-6sw72HEtVquHCpdnQbzdwHSpO5yPzA8m5O44C5jSd2JcQpzmmIVtOXgO1XuU8EKVOMw9BVQduV_8HKCsbxrr0omDAqnOmvfYOF_2PDSqteJFw3-JwnYGawphdRDhQUXoss6pS7xNA/s1600/005.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEm-6sw72HEtVquHCpdnQbzdwHSpO5yPzA8m5O44C5jSd2JcQpzmmIVtOXgO1XuU8EKVOMw9BVQduV_8HKCsbxrr0omDAqnOmvfYOF_2PDSqteJFw3-JwnYGawphdRDhQUXoss6pS7xNA/s1600/005.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">Isn't that how we operate as well? Don't we run faster and stronger and more courageously when we know without a doubt God is holding our hands and we can <i><b>feel</b></i> it, and we can <b><i>see</i></b> the signs and miracles in tangible ways? And don't we, as faltering Christians, lose faith when we can't quite feel His touch any longer? Ugh, yes! We throw our hands up, poke out our lips, cross our arms over our chests, and say, "Forget it, Lord, I'm not taking another step because clearly You've let me go, forcing me to walk this vast journey all by myself! Where <i>ARE</i> You? Waaa, Waaa, <i>Waaaaaaa</i>!" People!!! Why do we do this? Why are we so muddle-headed? Why do we lose faith so quickly? Our short-term memory is oftentimes ridiculous and downright embarrassing. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPStQvD650-IusqvFFpGJ74ovdudpZuI5JVZCNnxlnSeKJCzSnNvcFrsB4SN-yfzY2FKDP02N8ryJAYICh6hgIzF5ULUdganQEG1CpV1JP1i9NywZsSoLHS-1RsXPdSeH7wJHg78VXkus/s1600/FullSizeRender.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPStQvD650-IusqvFFpGJ74ovdudpZuI5JVZCNnxlnSeKJCzSnNvcFrsB4SN-yfzY2FKDP02N8ryJAYICh6hgIzF5ULUdganQEG1CpV1JP1i9NywZsSoLHS-1RsXPdSeH7wJHg78VXkus/s1600/FullSizeRender.jpg" height="568" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">Ah, but our Lord and Savior is as patient with us as Abbey is with Swayze. As we learn and grow and change, we can<b><i> spiritually see and feel</i></b> <b><i>and realize deep down</i></b> that our God has not left us. Not for one second. He just knows that in order for our muscles to get stronger, we MUST be able to walk confidently out of the comfort zone and reach the hurting and the lost. We don't have to look back over our shoulder; we know without a doubt He will be there to catch us and love us and give us courage to get up and try again, no matter how many times we fail---no matter how many times we stumble, no matter what life throws at us. <b><i>Glory be to God. </i></b></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4sq-B-iFZDRx02L1CrloGgCHKCfBqzJbwXx8Q3mtYcJtvDalhsHfUC44cIa_fDBGPIO3Zl0FrTI3_nXz2vzdKkursky1eK8g48racQY9LE7aYe6p3r_Sy8rzMp8YGa1xveBI8YGZgl24/s1600/IMG_2336.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4sq-B-iFZDRx02L1CrloGgCHKCfBqzJbwXx8Q3mtYcJtvDalhsHfUC44cIa_fDBGPIO3Zl0FrTI3_nXz2vzdKkursky1eK8g48racQY9LE7aYe6p3r_Sy8rzMp8YGa1xveBI8YGZgl24/s1600/IMG_2336.JPG" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">So keep on wobblin', my Friends! It's all going to be okay in the end. (The Bible tells me so). </span><br />
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©2014-2016 Coffee, Cobwebs, and Curriculum. All rights reserved. All
text, photographs, artwork, and other content may not be reproduced or
transmitted in any form without the written consent of the author.
www.coffeecobwebsandcurriculum.blogspot.com
Follow me on Facebook or Twitter! Links can be found in the right sidebar on this blog! <div class="blogger-post-footer">This copyrighted article was originally published on www.coffeecobwebsandcurriculum.blogspot.com. If found published elsewhere, this material has been illegally scraped and should be reported to maomdegree@gmail.com”</div>Aprilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13123237408941307180noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6783386755733410303.post-85924282675297480472015-03-01T06:20:00.002-06:002015-03-01T06:20:45.538-06:00Scripture and a Snapshot 3/1/2015<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjRtqCZbL2Q2t-XXQ_fMLYZdWcgsIvMeq54NZINZWpwt1qVUNfAWHxcsvHro07kB80fsU5gvVM9aAUawbQ7pGz9ORMmxi6ZpqFph3WVRKKBrt6cDkA7WjIf1dS4ezB7bQ4x0cnODiMkOo/s1600/barnsunrise.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjRtqCZbL2Q2t-XXQ_fMLYZdWcgsIvMeq54NZINZWpwt1qVUNfAWHxcsvHro07kB80fsU5gvVM9aAUawbQ7pGz9ORMmxi6ZpqFph3WVRKKBrt6cDkA7WjIf1dS4ezB7bQ4x0cnODiMkOo/s1600/barnsunrise.jpg" height="428" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">Joining others in giving God glory through our photography:</span> </div>
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<a href="http://www.glimpseofourlife.com/2015/02/scripture-snapshot_28.html"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqkKhnIRipGOX1ac9xJPVJxQVAAntHOk-jXRYPDZQOfYSgufCKsgwEfu0WhMs_U88kFYYL-8jGcDo1_rcidMhVJYe0MB2FflgOUuWzZb4nt837pWD3nU6b-5qF2c7A6SXEWyikTEnIye4/s1600/Scripture+&+A+Snapshot.jpg" /></a></div>
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©2014-2016 Coffee, Cobwebs, and Curriculum. All rights reserved. All
text, photographs, artwork, and other content may not be reproduced or
transmitted in any form without the written consent of the author.
www.coffeecobwebsandcurriculum.blogspot.com
Follow me on Facebook or Twitter! Links can be found in the right sidebar on this blog!<div class="blogger-post-footer">This copyrighted article was originally published on www.coffeecobwebsandcurriculum.blogspot.com. If found published elsewhere, this material has been illegally scraped and should be reported to maomdegree@gmail.com”</div>Aprilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13123237408941307180noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6783386755733410303.post-63543084195152934532015-02-15T08:23:00.003-06:002015-02-15T08:25:01.579-06:00Scripture and a Snapshot:02/15/15<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkTnQl5nfxTUHmhqZzd5RsnF5mg2Is2VwEZZAB25GlYsD4FKDtdhYY4D9K2EOPI7RZ-ZbiSeygo4XI7TcmfGZ1LZldb02Ourit7g2ajAs7yM4-RC98bBZRb7pZSrV2tnE_fLm5ZLIbToU/s1600/bird.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkTnQl5nfxTUHmhqZzd5RsnF5mg2Is2VwEZZAB25GlYsD4FKDtdhYY4D9K2EOPI7RZ-ZbiSeygo4XI7TcmfGZ1LZldb02Ourit7g2ajAs7yM4-RC98bBZRb7pZSrV2tnE_fLm5ZLIbToU/s1600/bird.jpg" height="640" width="538" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">Joining my friend Jennifer and a lot of other pretty cool bloggers over at <i>Scripture and a Snapshot</i> <i>Sunday</i> as we give <u>God</u> glory through our photos: </span></div>
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<a href="http://www.glimpseofourlife.com/2015/02/scripture-and-snapshot_14.html"><img alt="http://www.glimpseofourlife.com/2015/02/scripture-and-snapshot_14.html" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyTHUSUSsGgajWjppElfUv2TRMbBr0m7PRk6wDQkaxka71R_lYJhp6RVl3EA1mBEAiwdPnIleVadj_ub3aCObaby5fLrIfPvnBEUyMq4n8W6Yw7-fl-TegZj0IZ2vsFx_Rv1zc2E5J-uQ/s1600/Scripture+&+A+Snapshot.jpg" /></a></div>
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©2014-2016 Coffee, Cobwebs, and Curriculum. All rights reserved. All
text, photographs, artwork, and other content may not be reproduced or
transmitted in any form without the written consent of the author.
www.coffeecobwebsandcurriculum.blogspot.com
Follow me on Facebook or Twitter! Links can be found in the right sidebar on this blog! <div class="blogger-post-footer">This copyrighted article was originally published on www.coffeecobwebsandcurriculum.blogspot.com. If found published elsewhere, this material has been illegally scraped and should be reported to maomdegree@gmail.com”</div>Aprilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13123237408941307180noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6783386755733410303.post-44548504744732316822015-02-08T16:36:00.000-06:002015-02-08T21:31:43.473-06:00Goody Two Shoes<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmJUuxrXB1nq-2a4CpJCE2_73vliizZ2xbHmWL_EPzJk1LThe9pXeyCkzrHwAwUtRbl9R74P2xczgzn2_W_ngdwY2qtVeGcdXGYcwDivMXwj_k1HP1PeNqXyzq4PfS8YBXYM7-rlwpvF0/s1600/th.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmJUuxrXB1nq-2a4CpJCE2_73vliizZ2xbHmWL_EPzJk1LThe9pXeyCkzrHwAwUtRbl9R74P2xczgzn2_W_ngdwY2qtVeGcdXGYcwDivMXwj_k1HP1PeNqXyzq4PfS8YBXYM7-rlwpvF0/s1600/th.jpg" height="320" width="246" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: x-large;">In a recent conversation with a friend of mine, she was telling me about a Christmas letter she had received from someone. The card had inside of it one of those year-in-review letters which described everything the family had done in excruciating detail. The reason she brought it up was because she felt her friend was going beyond sharing, and was instead overtly bragging about all the things their family had accomplished in the past year. The letter writer was especially pointing out all the good things they had done for others, and how others should be just like them and do the same things they were doing. My friend said reading it made her feel uncomfortable, like the person writing it wanted all the attention on her and her actions. Instead of pointing out how God was working in their lives, they were pointing out how great THEY were, and how unrighteous all others were. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYWXpJa2PYPNTM9-TFq9gu-r9Ixi7wNDJXgk3lGPfG-KbjxPxgn7J7ypUi1hFma19RoWZK0z05qFcf7421X0IJvxuVyDuyeylxYdcplk7g2mn-8Pnqb4nl1720ub_BaqwqEB_CX_kx2sc/s1600/th2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxlDc6RNoMnXey4T3sGO-Hcss-cxcPLmWcMVWEOKXPK5Hq5nCOR2oY4tYvLY_98BoWGIRz5AXjP93zT_mBUD22CSQkBxP-2a-BaK7DQPOym7yxtresjKtCERIH8omf_hZoL1L8-CouGOU/s1600/th3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxlDc6RNoMnXey4T3sGO-Hcss-cxcPLmWcMVWEOKXPK5Hq5nCOR2oY4tYvLY_98BoWGIRz5AXjP93zT_mBUD22CSQkBxP-2a-BaK7DQPOym7yxtresjKtCERIH8omf_hZoL1L8-CouGOU/s1600/th3.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a><span style="font-size: x-large;">Late last year, I had someone tell my daughter they think <b>I</b> am a nothing more than "Little Miss Goody Two Shoes," trying to draw attention to myself by sharing my life, and that I was nothing more than a sinner. Anything I was sharing about fostering, donating a kidney, daily Bible verses, adopting--all of it, according to them, did nothing except make them roll their eyes. In this scathing text message, they went on to say that anyone who would draw attention to themselves that way should be ashamed. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">Okay, while this person clearly has her own insecurity issues---whew---talk about knocking the breath out of me!! My first reaction was to be extremely vexed, and so, so hurt. And yet, y'all, it really made me look inward as well and thoroughly examine why I choose to share my life with anyone other than those closest to me. After many months of analyzing (because that's what I do) and lots of prayer (because I also do a lot of that), this is what I have discovered about why I do what I do: </span><br />
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<li><span style="font-size: x-large;">I am a sinful, selfish person, with selfish desires. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: x-large;">I made a lot of huge mistakes from the ages of 18 to 28 years old. Mistakes which affected so many innocent people, and I am ashamed. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: x-large;">I still make mistakes daily, just not as negatively life-altering as I did during that what-was-I-thinking period of my life. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: x-large;">Because of those mistakes, once I gave my life back to Jesus, I went all in. I wanted all of Him, and vowed to make as many good and righteous choices as I am capable of. I vowed to listen for His voice, and obey as much as I know how in this life. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>If I can turn my life around and live for Him, I feel like <i>anyone</i> can, and THAT, more than anything, is what I want others to "get."</b> </span></li>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGHKBEtlTDIoJ1QgHIbK1sam0XpR5cxNBhxU3xyGfWgVrTvEItgACtQ63xSWZA1Vl_9Q0wdDim41bxpBcRvIm_tJaQ9rawq7GdEWm2rxLi3XBGZYrLKp7esmkjEyTVU2AqVSsQB1gfsBg/s1600/goody2shoes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGHKBEtlTDIoJ1QgHIbK1sam0XpR5cxNBhxU3xyGfWgVrTvEItgACtQ63xSWZA1Vl_9Q0wdDim41bxpBcRvIm_tJaQ9rawq7GdEWm2rxLi3XBGZYrLKp7esmkjEyTVU2AqVSsQB1gfsBg/s1600/goody2shoes.jpg" height="244" width="320" /></a><span style="font-size: x-large;">It is sad that it took me so many years to learn to truly listen and trust God, and once I did, I was honestly surprised and startled by the things He was leading me to do. <i>There is a HUGE part of me that wants to make up for all the years I wasted.</i> And no, I don't believe in being saved via works, <b>only the blood of Jesus Christ can save me </b>(Isaiah 57:12). But I do feel as if I owe Him my life because He saved me from eternal death and from my own stupid, young self who just kept sinning and not considering anyone else's feelings. Good works are just an extension of my renewed faith (James 2:17). </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><i><b>Do I think God loves me more now than He did when I first accept Him?</b> </i>No, not at all. I know if I never put forth effort for one more kind deed between now and the time I die, He would still love me. <i><b>Am I motivated to work harder because of my past and daily sins?</b> </i>That would be a big, fat resounding <b>YES</b>. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">I share our lives with you all because I am excited and can't wait to tell you about the good things happening to us. I love interacting with you all, especially online, because I am painfully shy. If it feels to you like there is too much of me and not enough of the Holy Spirit living within me, I pray it is met with as much grace as God has shown me (and you). </span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><br />I am drawn to Him daily, and I don't want to turn anyone off by being myself, so all I know to do is the next, RIGHT thing, <i><b>even if that means being seen as a Goody Two Shoes. </b></i></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><i><b> </b></i></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-hfgM7UPHjxBkkBprz7Z4XZs6cGp0uIswlPWJHISz_3bG4y4eVM4YZxdk4Z8AnKTxMxgHU6CB5klSMe32X34aiLmz5CxkicsavFJOQkqe38QCH58rwgnbUsXPBnleJPvK5m_Nj8bxWSA/s1600/th2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-hfgM7UPHjxBkkBprz7Z4XZs6cGp0uIswlPWJHISz_3bG4y4eVM4YZxdk4Z8AnKTxMxgHU6CB5klSMe32X34aiLmz5CxkicsavFJOQkqe38QCH58rwgnbUsXPBnleJPvK5m_Nj8bxWSA/s1600/th2.jpg" height="295" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #6aa84f;"><b>Ephesians 2:10</b> "<i>It is God himself who has made us what we are and given us new lives
from Christ Jesus; and long ages ago he planned that <b>we should spend
these lives in helping others</b>.</i>"</span></span> </span><br />
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©2014-2016 Coffee, Cobwebs, and Curriculum. All rights reserved. All
text, photographs, artwork, and other content may not be reproduced or
transmitted in any form without the written consent of the author.
www.coffeecobwebsandcurriculum.blogspot.com
Follow me on Facebook or Twitter! Links can be found in the right sidebar on this blog! <div class="blogger-post-footer">This copyrighted article was originally published on www.coffeecobwebsandcurriculum.blogspot.com. If found published elsewhere, this material has been illegally scraped and should be reported to maomdegree@gmail.com”</div>Aprilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13123237408941307180noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6783386755733410303.post-67346191369950331002015-01-24T21:13:00.003-06:002015-01-24T21:13:56.635-06:00Scripture and a Snapshot ~~1/25/2015<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQl2v5yGUWP23LL-1QvuHIvoYEuTmpueTRd7jeIgApL6j7cQ1uYgjmCyosv-1258T3IyPO-Xs6jrBxz7QrvWRDdxToTvmneoueoLm4r6d-QQWNwjHj_wWb48n7ENEI_WubyctYc3uUBjc/s1600/IMG_0252.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQl2v5yGUWP23LL-1QvuHIvoYEuTmpueTRd7jeIgApL6j7cQ1uYgjmCyosv-1258T3IyPO-Xs6jrBxz7QrvWRDdxToTvmneoueoLm4r6d-QQWNwjHj_wWb48n7ENEI_WubyctYc3uUBjc/s1600/IMG_0252.JPG" height="360" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><b><span style="color: blue;"><i> </i></span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><b><span style="color: blue;"><i>He shall live within God’s circle of blessing, and his children shall inherit the earth.</i></span></b> <b> </b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>Psalm 25:13</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>~*~ </b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">Linking up with Jennifer and a ton of other great bloggers for inspirational scriptures and beautiful snapshots (click below): </span></div>
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<a href="http://www.glimpseofourlife.com/"><img alt="http://www.glimpseofourlife.com/" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrIzKXza3WzD_4PotI315P-wCAt0rGdjzC5f4bzU0hhH84qflf230bgNqFfT7_X54We-oBXxVbI1Xble8dGLra06qeQHz0Mr2zMf_iK2xTu8OoSzzilg65_7ImTNAP_3w8dL52nzOZb30/s1600/Scripture+&+A+Snapshot.jpg" height="320" width="260" /></a></div>
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©2014-2016 Coffee, Cobwebs, and Curriculum. All rights reserved. All
text, photographs, artwork, and other content may not be reproduced or
transmitted in any form without the written consent of the author.
www.coffeecobwebsandcurriculum.blogspot.com
Follow me on Facebook or Twitter! Links can be found in the right sidebar on this blog! <div class="blogger-post-footer">This copyrighted article was originally published on www.coffeecobwebsandcurriculum.blogspot.com. If found published elsewhere, this material has been illegally scraped and should be reported to maomdegree@gmail.com”</div>Aprilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13123237408941307180noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6783386755733410303.post-45825911276465607112015-01-01T21:22:00.004-06:002023-08-24T04:54:11.529-05:00Cow Trails (It's Time to Focus)<span style="font-size: x-large;">Driving to Atlanta for a business meeting with my hubby a couple of weeks ago, I noticed pasture after pasture of cows--nothing really extraordinary for southern interstates. But what I observed were all the cow trails in those pastures, and more specifically, how the bovine creatures on those trails were following behind one another, heads down, mindlessly trodding along. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfI5mv5Ec78eRt-AtUr5hOa7qnoBHqRqT79OnTT-LL5VgdhSuzjhnEf47Z-bcbAWuc6MOk8NqBykfljZzp_qsHv_8osRhy7OS7M2H-v8gb9lKYYt82O5EVxaSOMHHMI5dySLsvp-obIyA/s1600/th.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfI5mv5Ec78eRt-AtUr5hOa7qnoBHqRqT79OnTT-LL5VgdhSuzjhnEf47Z-bcbAWuc6MOk8NqBykfljZzp_qsHv_8osRhy7OS7M2H-v8gb9lKYYt82O5EVxaSOMHHMI5dySLsvp-obIyA/s1600/th.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">What causes this? What is their instinct's purpose for this behavior? I really don't know, except for maybe safety in numbers. I asked the cows, but they were tight-lipped . . .</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJO-scJLuq9M59wuRTuyzrAGu9hnW7X5pVuENqU2THy8uypBG5Jda2vMbVxLWDTjO4uv1Okann71o5AO-3jKJsie9K3JHT2Tx5y6gYwy4XHHTE7v3meqJGAobiFs9h5AfuGqYJh-cL4Wk/s1600/IMG_0472.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="515" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJO-scJLuq9M59wuRTuyzrAGu9hnW7X5pVuENqU2THy8uypBG5Jda2vMbVxLWDTjO4uv1Okann71o5AO-3jKJsie9K3JHT2Tx5y6gYwy4XHHTE7v3meqJGAobiFs9h5AfuGqYJh-cL4Wk/s1600/IMG_0472.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: x-large;">I think sometimes we as humans also need to stay on a narrow path, especially when it comes to following after worldly things which can so easily distract us from our eternal goals. And following after the familiar <i>can</i> be good if your Leader is Jehovah Jireh (the God who provides) and you know for sure you're on the right path. </span><div><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: x-large;">"Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is broad
that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter through it." [<i>Matt 7:13</i>] </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">But other times, God is calling us to get off that mindless trail of following after the crowd. Even if you recognize the backsides of those in front of you, God may be calling you stop smelling that um, kaka and move on with His purpose for you!! In order to have the confidence to do that, we have to be listening, and we have to be looking UP! </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">Here's what God has taught me lately, and hopefully with His grace, I can actually remember to apply it on a daily basis:</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: x-large;">1) <i><b>Be Wise</b></i>--stay close to Him, and listen for His voice. Sometimes it's a shout, but usually it's a whisper. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">2) <i><b>Not Everything That Glitters is Gold</b></i>---Boy howdy, y'all. Satan absolutely loves to disguise himself as light, all shiny and glittery. If your head is down or focused on the backside in front of you, you may not recognize the wolf inside that sheep's clothing. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">3) <i><b>Prepare Your Children and Your Loved Ones</b></i>--- Here's another tough one to swallow sometimes when we're out on the "mission" field of life. Not only do we have to be aware for our own good, but there are those around us who need us to guide them off that cow trail because God is counting on us to be leaders. It's not easy, but it is so rewarding and so worth the hard work. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">4) <i><b>Listen, Focus, and Listen Some More</b></i>----Have I said that yet? Because you really can't stay on social media or on your phone and continue rushing around all day and still expect to hear God's voice. You seriously have to be disciplined long enough to dive into His word. Get a devotional that helps you focus, but don't just read it; take time to research and read the accompanying verses in the Bible. Then take time to write down a <b>few of your praises and a lot of your prayers</b>. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: x-large;">Or don't. Just keep doing what you're doing. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: x-large;">But don't expect great results unless you're willing to do the hard work! We have to be different than the world! <b>We have to get off those muddy cow trails and pull ourselves out of the miry clay! </b></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">Okay, that's your Pep Talk! Now, 'git along little doggies! </span><br />
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©2014-2016 Coffee, Cobwebs, and Curriculum. All rights reserved. All
text, photographs, artwork, and other content may not be reproduced or
transmitted in any form without the written consent of the author.
www.coffeecobwebsandcurriculum.blogspot.com
Follow me on Facebook or Twitter! Links can be found in the right sidebar on this blog! </div><div class="blogger-post-footer">This copyrighted article was originally published on www.coffeecobwebsandcurriculum.blogspot.com. If found published elsewhere, this material has been illegally scraped and should be reported to maomdegree@gmail.com”</div>Aprilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13123237408941307180noreply@blogger.com0