Circus...Big Tree House...

Pictures of weekend fun...

Pennies....

Pennies.....
You always hear the usual stories of pennies on the sidewalk being good luck,. gifts from angels, etc... This is the first time I've ever heard this on the story.. Gives you something to think about..
Several years ago, a friend of mine and her husband were invited to spend the weekend at the husband's employer's home. My friend, Arlene, was nervous about the weekend. .The boss was very wealthy,. with a fine home on the waterway,. and cars costing more than her house
The first day and evening went well, and Arlene was delighted to have this rare glimpse into how the very wealthy live. .The husband's employer was quite generous as a host, .and took them to the finest restaurants. .Arlene knew she would never have the opportunity to indulge in this kind of extravagance again, so was enjoying herself immensely.. .
As the three of them were about to enter an exclusive restaurant that evening, the boss was walking slightly ahead of Arlene and her husband.
He stopped suddenly, looking down on the pavement for a long, silent moment.
Arlene wondered if she was supposed to pass him.. There was nothing on the ground except a single darkened penny that someone had dropped,. and a few cigarette butts
Still silent, .the man reached down and picked up the penny.
He held it up and smiled, then put it in his pocket as if he had found a great treasure. How absurd! What need did this man have for a single penny?. Why would he even take the time to stop and pick it up?
Throughout dinner, the entire scene nagged at her.. Finally, she could stand it no longer.. She casually mentioned that her daughter once had a coin collection, and asked if the penny he had found had been of some value.
A smile crept across the man's face as he reached into his pocket for the penny and held it out for her to see She had seen many pennies before! What was the point of this?
'Look at it.'. He said. 'Read what it says.' She read the words ' United States of America '
'No, not that; read further.''One cent?'
'No, keep reading.''In God we Trust?' 'Yes!'
'And?'
'And if I trust in God,... the name of God is holy,.. even on a coin. Whenever I find a coin I see that inscription ,It is written on every single United States coin, but we never seem to notice it!

God drops a message right in front of me telling me to trust Him?.. Who am I to pass it by? When I see a coin, I pray, I stop to see if my trust IS in God at that moment. I pick the coin up as a response to God; that I do trust in Him.....'
For a short time, at least, I cherish it as if it were gold. I think it is God's way of starting a conversation with me. Lucky for me , God is patient and pennies are plentiful!
When I was out shopping today, I found a penny on the sidewalk. I stopped and picked it up, and realized that I had been worrying and fretting in my mind about things I cannot change...

I read the words, 'In God We Trust,' and had to laugh Yes...., God, I get the message....
It seems that I have been finding an inordinate number of pennies in the last few months, but then, pennies are plentiful!
And, God is patient......

Proverbs 3:5

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart,.... And lean not on your own understanding;... In all your ways acknowledge Him,... And he shall direct your paths."......Proverbs 3:5

Thought For the Day...

"The best inheritance a parent can give to his children is a few minutes of their time each day."-

M. Grundler

A beautiful song ..by Clay Walker.." I'd Love To Be Your Last"

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Mom's Empty Chair.....

MOM'S EMPTY CHAIR

A woman's daughter had asked the local minister to come and pray with her mother.

When the minister arrived, he found the woman lying in bed with her head propped up on two pillows. An empty chair sat beside her bed. The minister assumed that the woman had been informed of his visit. 'I guess you were expecting me,' he said. 'No, who are you?' said the mother. The minister told her his name and then remarked, 'I saw the empty chair and I figured you knew I was going to show up..' 'Oh yeah, the chair,' said the bedridden woman.

'Would you mind closing the door?' Puzzled, the minister shut the door. 'I have never told anyone this, not even my daughter,' said the woman. 'But all of my life I have never known how to pray. At church I used to hear the pastor talk about prayer, but it went right over my head.' I abandoned any attempt at prayer,' the old woman continued, ' until one day four years ago, my best friend said to me, ' Prayer is just a simple matter of having a conversation with Jesus . Here is what I suggest. 'Sit down in a chair; place an empty chair in front of you, and in faith see Jesus on the chair. It's not spooky because he promised, 'I will be with you always'. 'Then just speak to him in the same way you're doing with me right now.' 'So, I tried it and I've liked it so much that I do it a couple of hours every day. I'm careful though. If my daughter saw me talking to an empty chair, she'd either have a nervous breakdown or send me off to the funny farm.' The minister was deeply moved by the story and encouraged the old woman to continue on the journey. Then he prayed with her, anointed her with oil, and returned to the church.

Two nights later the daughter called to tell the minister that her mama had died that afternoon. Did she die in peace?' he asked. Yes, when I left the house about two o'clock, she called me over to her bedside, told me she loved me and kissed me on the cheek. When I got back from the store an hour later, I found her . But there was something strange about her death . Apparently, just before Mom died, she leaned over and rested her head on the chair beside the bed. What do you make of that?' The minister wiped a tear from his eye and said, 'I wish we could all go like that.'

Prayer is one of the best free gifts we receive. I asked God for water... He gave me an ocean.

I asked God for a flower.... He gave me a garden. I asked God for a friend... He gave me all of YOU... If God brings you to it .... He will bring you through it. Happy moments.... praise God. Difficult moments..... seek God. Quiet moments..... worship God. Painful moments..... trust God Every moment.............. thank God.