Aren't there some days when it seems that there are not hours in the day? that s yesterday for us. What started out as a quiet Sunday morning with Sunday School and church became a day of not nearly enough hours. After church we went to the hospital to see Miss Opal,our dear friend here in the park. She was admitted on Saturday as she could not walk..As the day progressed, she could move her legs and feet to walk but she had no balance. As we were visiting her on Sunday, she was taken to another facility for an MRI (the one at the hospital she was in was not working). The results were that there was some imbalance in her inner ear. Today she was transported to a rehab unit. After visiting her on Sunday, we proceeded to an RV Park to visit with Elaine,.She lady who who started and ran the resale store for Children's Haven Int'l. for many years. Her husband passed away a few years ago,and now it was time for her to return to Iowa to be watched over and taken care of. It was a bittersweet visit, as we talked about old times, but know that she will be leaving this week for Iowa. We hope to stop and visit with her perhaps on one of our trips to Wisconsin.
After leaving Elaine's we went to find an amazing missionary. He and his wife spend most of their time in Southern Mexico, ministering to the folks there. He is very seldom in the US - Fred had called earlier and found him home. Bruce supplies us with rice and beans for the colonias. He does not charge for this, so we give him a generous donation for his ministry. The Gee's park donated funds for beans and rice, so we checked and found out Bruce had some available. While there we talked about God's wonderful ways and how He provides before we can even ask. He gave us 5# of ground Nigra - an animal on the King's Ranch here in Texas where hunters go to test their skills at hunting exotic animals. Bruce assured us the meat was delicious and makes wonderful meatloaf. We left there, headed home, and called Roy nd Paula Gee, who came over to drive back to Bruce's to get some beans and rice. While there, Bruce then donated boxes for chips and snacks for our ministry - what an amazing gift of generosity he has. Roy and Panla took the rice back to their park to bag for our big distribution in December - they are returning today for the beans. Already it was almost 6 PM - and I have not done anything on this blog, nor other book work to get ready for Monday. We were exhausted so just relaxed until bedtime (which seems to get earlier and earlier every night). Today we loaded all the quilts given to us by our Helping Hads group here in the park, as as well as boxes of clothes and other items to take to Ida tomorrow to distribute. It seems as if we are loading and unloading all the time! But I am not complaining a bit -- we give praise and glory to God for all the things He brings to us.
Rainy again today, so we did chores around the house and went to Wal-Mart for a few items. We usually don't buy food at Wal-Mart as we like HEB grocery stores better, so just picked up a few things that are cheaper in a department store. There were tons of folks there already in what seemed to be a shopping frenzy! We hurriedly got out of there and headed to my favorite store, Dollar Tree, for gift wrapping, etc. for Christmas season. Again, tons of folks there, all buying Christmas stuff as if it was going to run out tomorrow! So glad to get that all done and go home to peace and quiet (well sort of). I often think that if people would slow down and think of what CHRISTmas is all about they wouldn't feel that urge to shop, shop, and shop more.
As we enter this Thanksgiving week, start every day with a thanks to God for whatever is on your heart - your health, you family, your possessions, etc. By Thanksgiving day you should feel more relaxed and less stress. As I look beck on the many Thanksgiving dinners we spent with family, it seems impossible that our family has grown and prospered so much over the years. Our parents were the patriarchs of the time - we are now taking their places. As the years have gone by, the traditions have also changed. Our families are more scattered now - sure, they get together for family dinner, but it is more individual families than whole generations of the same family. I pray that each and every one of you have a blessed day always remembering to give Thanks to the One who made it all possible.
Do you realize that it is only 34 days until Christmas? There is not only the Christmas shopping to be done, but also all of the other things to pay for - utilities, food, rent/mortgage, etc. We are lost in the mentality of scarcity - a fear of running out money. What are we supposed to do? All of the daily expenses, Holiday shopping and then the church seems to want you to increase your tithe. You can hardly make the tithe the next few months, let alone increase it! Does God really call us to give? He loves a cheerful giver according to the Bible. We should not be a doubtful giver but a dutiful giver. I was talking to a friend the other day and she is worried financially - everything is increasing. They were doing well until her husband felt they were giving too much to the church (his personal wants were being cut back because of the tithing they were doing. After that happened, everything seemed to go downhill. I am not saying by giving more to God he will shower you with monetary riches, but it seems that even though your income has not changed, it seems that the money stretches farther!!! We are called to be thankful givers. As a thankful giver we become more thankful for God's grace - grace that we do not deserve. God provides for us so we can provide His grace with others.
We pray that everyone has a wonderful and blessed Thanksgiving - be sure to thank God today and every day for His blessings - write down all the ways He has blessed you in the past year - you will be pleasantly surprised.
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