Raining!

Weather is a great metaphor for life - sometimes it's good, sometimes it's bad, and there's nothing much you can do about it but carry an umbrella.

~Terri Guillemets

Read more at Barefootpreachr.org

When Life puts the Squeeze on you!

Not long ago I spent some time cleaning the bathrooms in the house. It is a job that is necessary even though I really don’t enjoy doing it. I do enjoy the final results though! After cleaning counter-tops I moved to the sinks. These are where I usually see the most improvement when scrubbing with my sponge. I moved to the toilets before getting on my knees to clean the tub. When I got down on my knees to scrub out the tub I reached for another sponge. There are different cleaning products we use for porcelain, natural stone or glass so I need to be careful about how those chemicals will interact with each other. 


When the job is done, I rinse and then squeeze out the sponges I’ve used. As I did this, I noticed the effect of the different cleansers on the sponges. That is when I remembered this email story I received. 

WHAT’S IN YOUR SPONGE?  

There are 5 sponges laying on your kitchen counter top. Each member of your family has been cleaning up different areas of your home, but all the sponges look the same. You are curious as to what was cleaned in your home, but you can’t tell by looking…they all look the same….so what do you do?  

You squeeze each sponge to see what comes out. As you squeeze the first sponge, you see that cola comes out, and so you decide that someone cleaned the kitchen with that one. Upon squeezing the second sponge, you find tub and tile cleaner – that one was used to clean the bathroom.  

Next, in the third sponge, you find motor oil — hubby was cleaning the garage!
In the fourth sponge, baby powder puffs out when it is squeezed — yep, the baby’s nursery was done with that one!  

And finally, in the last one, is floor wax — that was the one you used on the hall floor!  

As you lay the last one down, you look again at their similarity – and they all look the same until they’re squeezed.  

Christians are the same way. As life squeezes us, different things come out – anger from one, a need for revenge from another, tears from one, remorse from yet another – also greed, untruth, lust – and finally, from one saint, pours forth the love of Jesus Christ.  

Just like the sponge, we can only squeeze out what is put in – stay in the Word daily, and be in continuous prayer, so that when life puts the squeeze on you (and it WILL), Jesus, and Jesus ALONE will shine forth from you! 

“But we have this treasure in clay jars, so that it may be made clear that this extraordinary power belongs to God and does not come from us. We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be made visible in our bodies.” ~ 2 Corinthians 4:7-10

It's been said ... Growing Old Ain't for Wimps!

The end of another year is quickly approaching and in a recent email, I was reminded of this truth. I thought I would share the wisdom with you ~ Enjoy!

Growing old is mandatory; growing up is optional. For this eternal truth I've got a little bit of wisdom to share with some of my young (and young at heart!) friends. Pay attention! They may help you live longer ;)

1. Forget the health food. You need all the preservatives you can get!

2. When you fall down, think about what else you can do while you're down there. (A reminder - don't waste the space you're in, do something with what you've got where you are!)
3. You're getting old when you get the same sensation from a rocking chair that you once got from a roller coaster. (No matter which stage of life you are in - let go and enjoy the ride!)
4. It's frustrating when you know all the answers, but nobody bothers to ask you the questions. (Share the wisdom anyway, you never know who might be listening!)
5. Time may be a great healer, but it's a lousy beautician. (So enjoy that afternoon nap, it can help you keep up a youthful appearance!)
6. Wisdom comes with age, but sometimes age comes alone.
7. Raising teenagers is like nailing Jell-O to a tree. (And don't forget what it was like to be 16!)
8. Wrinkles don't hurt. (Though it's important to have a twinkle in your wrinkle!) ;)
9. Families are like fudge . . . mostly sweet, but better with a few nuts. ('nuff said.)
10.Today's mighty oak is just yesterday's nut that held its ground.
11.Sapere Aude. (Dare to be wise.)
12.Laughing is good exercise. (It's like jogging on the inside.)
13.Do not regret growing older. It is a privilege denied to many.
14.Don't worry about avoiding temptation - as you grow older, it starts avoiding you!

Finally - At my age, in dog years, I'm dead! (The bright side is - I'm not a dog!)