Here is a sobering reminder that we have so much to be thankful for... and even more to be praying for!

If you woke up this morning with more health than illness, you are more blessed than the 1 million who will not survive this week.

If you have never experienced the danger of battle, the loneliness of imprisonment, the agony of torture, or the pangs of starvation, you are ahead of 500 million people in the world.

If you can attend a church meeting without fear of harassment, arrest, torture, or death, you are more blessed than three billion people in the world.

If you have food in the refrigerator, clothes on your back, a roof overhead and a place to sleep, you are richer than 75% of this world.
If you have money in the bank, in your wallet and spare change in a dish someplace, you are among the top 8% of the world's wealthy.

If your parents are still alive and still married, you are very rare,

even for the United States and Canada.
If you can read this message,

you just received a double blessing in that someone was thinking of you, and furthermore,

you are more blessed than over two billion people in the world that cannot read at all.

So remember as you are celebrating "THANKS GIVING"....

Enjoying that 20 lb turkey with all the trimmings...

Surrounded by your family and/or friends...

That you are among the few persons in this world to be so privileged.

Don't fail to truly give thanks from your heart.

Remember those that are less fortunate.

Take them before the throne of God and ask our dear Lord Jesus,

"please show me how I can use our blessings to help the lost and dying world. I am not my own. I am bought with a price; with the precious blood of Jesus. Lord, take my life and use it to carry on your work and purpose... the salvation of souls!"

"Is not this the fast that I have chosen? to loose the bands of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed go free, and that ye break every yoke? Is it not to deal thy bread to the hungry, and that thou bring the poor that are cast out to thy house? when thou seest the naked, that thou cover him; and that thou hide not thyself from thine own flesh? Then shall thy light break forth as the morning, and thine health shall spring forth speedily: and thy righteousness shall go before thee; the glory of the LORD shall be thy rereward. Then shalt thou call, and the LORD shall answer; thou shalt cry, and he shall say, Here I am, If thou take away from the midst of thee the yoke, the putting forth of the finger, and speaking vanity; And if thou draw out thy soul to the hungry, and satisfy the afflicted soul; then shall thy light rise in obscurity, and thy darkness be as the noon day:" (Isaiah 58:6-10)

HAPPY THANKS GIVING!

Six Random Things...

Ok, I was tagged again, this time by my sister Amanda. I am supposed to write six random things about myself. Hmmm.... not an easy task. But for the fun of the game I will give it a try. Here are the given rules:

Link to the person who tagged you. Post the rules on your blog.Write six random things about yourself.Tag six people at the end of your post.Let each person know he or she has been tagged.Let the tagger know when your entry is up.

#1 I LOVE Winnie the Pooh. I love his song "Up down, touch the ground puts me in the mood,Up down touch the ground in the mood, for food.I am short fat, poud of that thinking poundage wise, I improve my appetite when I excersize!" which leads to random thing...

#2 I LOVE food! I love to eat it, prepare it, and I love to feed people.

#3 I have a crooked nose. It slid to the side of my face in the year 2000, when I passed out and hit a hutch on the way down. The plastic surgeon was never able to put it back right again. SIGH!

#4 My two favorite Bible characters are King David, because he was so brave and he also has a passionate nature that I can relate to and then Joseph, because he was so upright in the midst of extreme adversity. I often pray "LORD, make me a "fruitful bough" like Joseph. That is what his father Issaac called him when he blessed him.

#5 I have always related to men better than women for the most part. Although I do have some really true and close girlfriends, I tend to be drawn to men in conversations more often. When I was a young girl, I was always hanging out with my brothers much more than my sisters although I was in no way a tom-boy. I just liked being with them better. I was never into the frilly girl stuff.

#6 I've always wanted to go live in another country and help needy people especially little children. I used to call up on those telethons to raise money for starving children and donate a whole .50 (thats how much I made an hour babysitting) Sometimes I think I will live the second half of my life in some foriegn land. But that is completely up to God now, and so far....

Ok, I am tagging... Brittney, Kassidy, Shirley, Joyce, Priscilla, Sherry

A PRAYER FOR COMFORT!

"I am determined, to live victorious

till He has finished His purpose in me

And nothing shall shake me,

for He'll never forsake me

and I am determined to live for the King!"

Dear Lord,

I bow before you, with a humbled heart

at how great you are, and how insignificant I am.

And yet you see me, you care about me,

Nothing that I pray is too small, or too big for you.

You are almighty, all powerful, and able to do

over and above all that we ask.

You have NEVER failed me yet, and you NEVER will.

I trust you LORD! I count it an honor to trust you,

to know you, and to seek you even to know you more.

Someday, I will see you Jesus. Yes, someday soon,

all my aching heart will melt away, and I will feel my tear stained face

cupped between the palms of your nail-scarred hands,

and you will look into my eyes, my eyes that haved turned away in mistrust from so many

but I will look into your precious loving, crystal clear eyes and I will know forever,

that everything is all right.

I already know in my heart, that everything is alright;

but when I, like the apostle Thomas, can touch you,

and like the other apostle, can lean on your breast, I will be so comforted.

I long for that comfort. Sometimes I get a taste of it when I pray

and read from your precious word.

Sometimes I think to find it here in some important work

or in the heart of some special person.

O, foolish heart, only in Jesus, only in Him can we ever be satisfied.

Lord, I commit my life and heart into your capable hands, for I know

that is a safe place to put them...eternally safe.

Be my light, broaden my steps before me.

Go before me and make those crooked places straight.

Help my heart, my passionate heart. May it ever be passionate for you,

My God, my Abba Father.

Banana Pancakes with PB and Honey Sauce

I made these this morning for breakfast. Everyone liked them and they were so filling. They are a meal in one- bread, protien, dairy and fruit. Another great way to use up those over-ripe bananas. Try 'em! Don't be afraid of the fat content. Just read up a little on Why Butter is Better, and go ahead and use that butter!

I doubled the recipe for my family of five and we have enough for the kids tomorrow. I will assume that you know how to fry a pancake-

In a large bowl, mix together and let stand 15 minutes (while you prepare remainder ingredients) :

1/2 cup oats

1 cup buttermilk

Meanwhile in another bowl, sift together:

1/2 cup whole wheat flour plus 1/3 cup white (I use King Arthurs white whole wheat)

2 Tbs. raw, shelled, sunflower seeds

1 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp cinnamon

1/4 tsp sea salt

1/4 tsp allspice

1/8 tsp nutmeg

lightly beat into oatmeal mixture:

2 eggs

1 TBS peanut oil

1 Tbs. Honey

1/2 cup mashed ripe banana

1/3 cup milk

Genlty fold dry ingredients into wet ingredients until just incorporated. Fry as you would other pancakes although these should be a little lower setting on the heat -325 and they take a little longer to cook because of their density. Top with-

Peanut Butter and Honey Sauce

Warm and stir together over low heat:

1 cup all-natural chunky peanut butter

1/4 cup unsalted butter

1 cup honey

Fall Favorites!

1. Favorite Smell? Apple Orchards at Apple Hill and fresh baked apple pie
2. Favorite Food? My Potato Soup and Aunt Sherry's Chili
3. Favorite Color? Amber
4. Favorite Drink? Pooh Bears Honey Hot Chocolate
5. Favorite Treat? Pumpkin cookies with maple frosting. YUM!
6. Favorite Place to go? Apple Hill
7. Favorite Candy? Candy corn (me too)
8. Favorite Movie to watch? I don't watch movies, but I love watching the beautiful fall sunsets out here
9. Favorite Clothing to wear? Fall jean jumpers and warm sockies in the mornings
10. Favorite Outdoor Activity? Out door fall festivities, like craft bazzars
11. Favorite Football Team? I don't even know any - LOL!
12. Favorite Fall Holiday? Thanksgiving
13. Favorite Haunted place? The only haunted place I ever liked was the Haunted Mansion at Disneyland
14. Favorite Food at Thanksgiving Dinner? Mashed Potatos and Gravy (mmm...me too and homemade rolls)
15. Favorite Pie? I love my homemade Pumpkin Pie
16. Favorite Fall Hobby? Baking...breads, cookies, pies, roast, ect...
17. Favorite Fall Memory? The fun fall birthday parties we have had here for Priscilla
18. Favorite Fall Sight? Colorful leaves, pumpkins and golden sunsets
19. Overall Favorite thing about Fall? Getting ready for cozy nights at home with a fire in the fire place, and the good smells of home-cooked meals. Family, friends!
20. Overall Favorite Season? Hands down its fall. I love it!

I'm tagging Felecia, Joyce, Rebekah, and Priscilla

A Day in Sacramento

We spent the good part of our day today touring the State Capitol and browsing around Old Sacramento. It was very interesting seeing the Capitol. That was my first time inside that building. Shane was loving every minute of it he and told me we need to go back when the assembly is having a meeting. He is very politically minded. Visit his Let Freedom Ring blog.

Any way, towards the end of the day we passed by a man who had fallen off his bike and was lying on the ground. A woman police officer was next to him. Brother Andy said we should pray for him and one of the kids suggested that we go over to him to pray. So we all went over where he was lying and Brother Andy bent down and told him that we were going to pray for him. The man asked him if he was a protestant or catholic. Brother Andy said, "I'm not anything, just someone who loves the Lord." Then he laid his hands on him and led out in prayer. A few seconds later the paramedics showed up and we all watched as they got the man ready to go to the hospital. The man waved to the kids on his way into the ambulance. This whole scene was etched on my mind the whole way home. It was the highlight of my day - Brother Andy praying for this unknown man. It was just like seeing Jesus. It is always sanctifying spending time with the saints.

I was tagged by Felecia!

I am: 40 this year (sigh) life is passing...

I think: about heaven and what it will be like to be there
I know: that Jesus lives in me
I have: three beautiful children

I hate: Hypocrisy
I wish: that everyone would realize that Jesus is the Lord, and that they are going to have to give an account for their lives
I miss: my babies!
I fear: "perfect love casteth out fear"
I feel: too deeply!
I hear: my conscience telling me to get off the computer and go to bed
I smell: air
I crave: pepper poppers and chalk (NO, I'm NOT pregnant)
I search: for honest souls
I wonder: why anyone would reject the truth
I regret: not starting my married life the right way... God's way!
I love: Jesus and the family of God
I am not: discouraged
I believe: God will win and I'm on the winning side!
I dance: when I feel giddy
I sing: with all my heart for Jesus
I cry: and God understands!
I don’t always: know the right thing to say
I fight: for what is right! I fight against giving up...
I write: because I love to.
I win: when I leave things in God's hands
I lose: when I take things into my own hands
I never: want to go back after the world or sin
I always: pray
I confuse: my children's names sometimes
I listen: carefully to the truth
I can usually be found: at home or at church
I am scared: for careless souls
I need: GOD!

I am happy: with Jesus
I imagine: What it would be like to live in a foriegn land laboring for the gospel
Now . . . I am tagging the following bloggers: Shirley and Amanda