tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-40413272967176867262024-03-21T06:39:49.950-07:00Staying on the Narrow Path ~~ by TalkerCatTiny steps on the Narrow Path to HeavenTalkerCathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11518527140962349724noreply@blogger.comBlogger33125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4041327296717686726.post-20424939538136513202010-02-24T12:22:00.000-08:002010-02-24T12:43:31.351-08:00A Far Better Place<div align="left"><strong><span style="color:#993399;"><em>Having suffered greatly, first from cancer, and then from the grueling medical regimen - pastor Dan Cummings was tired. After 2 weeks of treatment in Texas, he was looking forward to going back home to Michigan. In a post on his blog he wrote:</em> </span><span style="color:#3333ff;">"Today is far better ... amazing what some hydration will do. Will fly home on the weekend to continue treatment home."</span></strong></div><div align="left"><strong><em><span style="color:#993399;"></span></em></strong> </div><div align="left"><strong><em><span style="color:#993399;">Dan did return to Michigan, but several days later, his journey on earth ended. He went home to be with his God ~ whom he loved with every bit of his weakened body but might spirit.</span></em></strong></div><div align="left"><strong><em><span style="color:#993399;"></span></em></strong> </div><div align="left"><strong><span style="color:#993399;"><em>When I reviewed his blog a few days later, his words</em> <span style="color:#3366ff;">"Today is far better"</span><em> jumped out at me. I smiled through my tears in the knowledge that Dan was now experiencing a life that is truly <span style="color:#cc0000;">"far better" (Phil. 1:23).</span></em></span></strong></div><div align="left"><strong><em><span style="color:#993399;"></span></em></strong> </div><div align="left"><strong><em><span style="color:#993399;">Someday we who claim the name of Jesus will also go to that place where there is <span style="color:#cc0000;">"no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying."</span> It's a place where there is no more pain and where a loving Father promises to </span><span style="color:#cc0000;">"wipe away every tear from {our} eyes" (Rev. 21:4).</span></em></strong></div><div align="left"><strong><em><span style="color:#cc0000;"></span></em></strong> </div><div align="left"><strong><em><span style="color:#993399;">The life we have here isn't all there is. </span><span style="color:#cc0000;">There is a far,far better place that Jesus is preparing for those who love Him (John 14:2-3)</span></em></strong></div><div align="left"><strong><em><span style="color:#993399;"></span></em></strong> </div><div align="left"><strong><span style="font-size:180%;color:#009900;">"When our life on earth has ended we will feel God's warm embrace; there will be no pain or sorrow in that far, far better place."</span></strong></div><div align="left"><strong><span style="color:#009900;"></span></strong> </div><div align="center"><strong><em><span style="color:#993399;">"TalkerCat"</span></em></strong></div>TalkerCathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11518527140962349724noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4041327296717686726.post-78922435525240072022010-01-23T14:13:00.000-08:002010-01-23T14:13:11.997-08:00Zoologger: The amphibious Asian mystery cat - life - 20 January 2010 - New Scientist<a href="http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn18410-zoologger-the-amphibious-asian-mystery-cat.html">Zoologger: The amphibious Asian mystery cat - life - 20 January 2010 - New Scientist</a>TalkerCathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11518527140962349724noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4041327296717686726.post-54416698840439000562009-09-28T15:20:00.000-07:002009-09-28T15:30:07.210-07:00A Non E Mouse?<div align="center">Anonymity is the coward's way of hiding behind hurtful words.</div><div align="center"> ~~ "TalkerCat"</div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 169px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 143px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5386648565801227394" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiArNshWpFSazUBj0pUD5faE5Q6YGZxuzm3N2gugMyGchMgqf6Upv-z4nkmRZk-GFURag2FuE5MOdKrhJTBl4ppL3gGgJykLuEAK8qkn_zGI2trVnkYuamTbStqnnbXkeuGuMxaXej9USE/s200/May19001.JPG" /><br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-family:times new roman;font-size:180%;color:#cc0000;"><em><strong>"The words of a wise man's mouth are gracious" ~~ <span style="font-size:78%;">Ecclesiastes 10:20</span></strong></em></span>TalkerCathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11518527140962349724noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4041327296717686726.post-24119318752222937572009-09-27T12:08:00.000-07:002009-09-27T12:23:16.175-07:00Rock 'n Roll Heaven<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRVeW0pixjSC7G_4g03pxIQ6bcX-dSflK8MTGRgWnppPzMe41dog0f-KAx-NxWdzHkpe0sgpmUEpbdeF90EXF8Kws1ACrrZskXciENJ2km2uZmQnA3gVRcEr0mA9IYLIphT2wXavb_NK4/s1600-h/dennis.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 146px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5386227217420984002" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRVeW0pixjSC7G_4g03pxIQ6bcX-dSflK8MTGRgWnppPzMe41dog0f-KAx-NxWdzHkpe0sgpmUEpbdeF90EXF8Kws1ACrrZskXciENJ2km2uZmQnA3gVRcEr0mA9IYLIphT2wXavb_NK4/s200/dennis.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:180%;"><span style="color:#33cc00;">If only I had angels' wings, </span></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:180%;"><span style="color:#33cc00;">I'd ride the rainbow bend, </span></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:180%;"><span style="color:#33cc00;">And there, beyond the universe, </span></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:180%;"><span style="color:#33cc00;">I'd meet the Lord ~ my Friend </span></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:78%;color:#33cc00;">(Angie Monneus)</span></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:180%;"></span> </div><div align="right"><span style="font-size:180%;">Rest In Peace Dennis! </span></div><div align="right"><span style="font-size:180%;">You made it! You're a rock star!</span></div><div align="right"><span style="font-size:180%;"> Rockin' the Father's House! </span></div><div align="right"><span style="font-size:180%;">Can't wait to see you again my brother ..... </span></div><div align="right"><span style="font-size:100%;"><em>"TalkerCat"</em><br /></div></span><div align="right"><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:85%;"></span> </div>TalkerCathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11518527140962349724noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4041327296717686726.post-39884219014382869342009-09-24T18:24:00.000-07:002009-09-24T18:33:03.282-07:00The Bible on ONE Page<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbwSlJQltnCDYs7WRGNT70c8xzXG0vqMFaCxez8Z6fSX3gUQXrt4mf1mtPtZf_o71e3wXMMhKh_Bi2DGs_zwTmpsxUSJPNjXvJrLE8YYzf4FY2Nf0OSxFcWvRB4XBfbHYH4ML0zoR4ftk/s1600-h/Mary's+Lamb.bmp"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 143px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5385210565644041026" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbwSlJQltnCDYs7WRGNT70c8xzXG0vqMFaCxez8Z6fSX3gUQXrt4mf1mtPtZf_o71e3wXMMhKh_Bi2DGs_zwTmpsxUSJPNjXvJrLE8YYzf4FY2Nf0OSxFcWvRB4XBfbHYH4ML0zoR4ftk/s200/Mary's+Lamb.bmp" /></a><br /><div><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:130%;"><em><strong>This is the coolest link I've ever been blessed to view - </strong></em></span><a href="http://www.jrsbible.info/bible.htm"><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:130%;"><em><strong>http://www.jrsbible.info/bible.htm</strong></em></span></a><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:130%;"><em><strong> </strong></em></span></div><div><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:130%;"><em><strong></strong></em></span> </div><div><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:130%;"><em><strong><span style="color:#cc0000;">IMAGINE:</span> THE BIBLE ON ONE PAGE! Check it out and save it to your Favs! Great for telephone bible study groups! </strong></em></span></div><div><strong><em><span style="font-family:Verdana;font-size:130%;"></span></em></strong> </div><div><strong><em><span style="font-family:Verdana;font-size:130%;"></span></em></strong> </div><div><strong><em><span style="font-family:Verdana;font-size:130%;"></span></em></strong> </div><div><em><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;color:#3333ff;">TalkerCat</span></em></div>TalkerCathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11518527140962349724noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4041327296717686726.post-35169942642440976942009-07-08T10:22:00.000-07:002009-07-08T10:26:47.608-07:00<span style="font-family:georgia;color:#000099;"><em>O God, our Father, we thank You for all the bright things of life. Help us to see them and to count them and to remember them, that our lives may flow in ceaseless praise" ~ J.H. Jowett</em></span><br /><br />Ceaseless praise, indeed Lord! Ceaseless indeed! "TalkerCat"TalkerCathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11518527140962349724noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4041327296717686726.post-13396966682923295312009-07-02T15:56:00.000-07:002009-07-02T17:19:56.208-07:00My Heavenly Father<div align="center">I'm extremely (perhaps unusually) close to my mother and sibling. </div><div align="center">My biological father abandoned us when I was four years old - </div><div align="center">leaving my mother with three babies. </div><div align="center">She was 19. </div><div align="center">No one would have blamed her; or even thought anything of it, </div><div align="center">if she had given us up for adoption. </div><div align="center">But she chose to raise all of us on her own. </div><div align="center">Even though she often flew by the seat of her pants, she was a loving, doting mother. </div><div align="center">We never wanted for anything' everyone except us knew we were poor. </div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center">During the 60's and 70's society was knee deep in <em><strong>'free love'</strong></em> .... </div><div align="center"><strong><span style="color:#cc0000;">drugs, sex and rock & roll </span>was the mantra of the flower children.</strong> </div><div align="center">Mom was young then, in her 20's, and did her share of 'partying' </div><div align="center">however, <em>she never lost sight of <strong>her first priority</strong></em> - <span style="font-size:130%;">her children</span>. </div><div align="center">Never did she neglect us in any way, she was there to tuck us in bed at night </div><div align="center">and there when we awoke in the mornings. </div><div align="center">Christmas and birthdays were always extravagant affairs. </div><div align="center">It wasn't until I was older I realized what she went through to make sure we had it all. </div><div align="center">Anything from collecting soda bottles to saving change, </div><div align="center">to getting a small loan which she would pay off bit by bit, </div><div align="center">until the next year when she would do it all over again. </div><div align="center">Like I said, we never knew were were poor. </div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center">As the years went by, we all had Mom to rely on - </div><div align="center">she's always a soft place to fall. </div><div align="center">We're all now in our 40's and <span style="font-size:130%;">Mom is still our greatest gift</span>. </div><div align="center">We're all Christians and Honor our Mother </div><div align="center">and our Father who died in December, 2003 without any of us really knowing him. </div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center"><strong><em><span style="font-size:130%;">Mom</span></em></strong> has always been <strong><em><span style="font-size:130%;">Dad</span></em></strong> too.</div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center">So now I've come to the place in my spiritual growth </div><div align="center">where I've learned <span style="font-size:130%;">I was formed for God's family.</span> </div><div align="center">I was born into God's family by a second birth. </div><div align="center">When I placed my faith in Christ, God became my Father, </div><div align="center">other believers became my brothers and sisters, </div><div align="center">and the church became my spiritual family. The family of God. </div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center">Every human being was created <span style="font-size:130%;"><em>by</em> God</span> but not everyone is a child <span style="font-size:130%;"><em>of</em> God</span>. </div><div align="center">I became part of my human family by my first birth; </div><div align="center">but now I'm a member of God's family by my second. </div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;">God has given me the privilege of being born again</span> </div><div align="center">so I'm now a members of His own family. </div><div align="center">My spiritual family is even more important than my physical one</div><div align="center"> because it lasts forever. </div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;">My family on Earth is a wonderful gift from God,</span> </div><div align="center">but they are temporary and fragile, broken by divorce, </div><div align="center">distance, growing old and, inevitably, death. </div><div align="center">On the other hand, my spiritual family - my relationship to other believers</div><div align="center"> - will continue throughout eternity. </div><div align="center">It is a much stronger union, a more permanent bond, than blood relationships. </div><div align="center">When I think of the wisdom and scope of His plan I fall down on my knees and </div><div align="center">thank the Father of all, </div><div align="center">some of them already in Heaven </div><div align="center">and some down here on Earth. </div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center">A a child of God I get to share in the family fortune. </div><div align="center">Here on Earth I am given the riches of His Grace ... Kindness ... </div><div align="center">Patience ... Glory ... Wisdom ... Power ... and Mercy. </div><div align="center">But in eternity I will inherit <em>even more</em>. </div><div align="center">What a rich and glorious inheritance He has given to me, his daughter! </div><div align="center">First, I'll get to be with God forever. </div><div align="center">Second, I'll be completely changed to be like Christ. </div><div align="center">Third, I'll be freed from all pain, death and suffering. </div><div align="center">Fourth, I'll be rewarded and reassigned my position of service. </div><div align="center">Fifth, I'll get to share in Christ's glory. </div><div align="center">What an inheritance! </div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;">I am far richer than I ever thought I was</span>. God has reserved a priceless inheritance for me. It is kept in Heaven, pure and undefiled, beyond reach and change of decay. </div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;">No one can take it from me</span>. </div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center">Jesus and the people He makes holy all belong to the same family. </div><div align="center">That is why He isn't ashamed to call them His brothers and sisters .... </div><div align="center"> that's hard to wrap my mind around! </div><div align="center">I'm part of God's family and because Jesus made me holy, </div><div align="center"><strong>GOD IS PROUD OF ME!</strong> </div><div align="center">Being included in God's family has no higher honor or privilege. </div><div align="center">Nothing even comes close; </div><div align="center"><span style="color:#6600cc;"><strong>so</strong></span> <span style="color:#6600cc;"><strong>if ever you feel unimportant, unloved or insecure, </strong></span></div><div align="center"><span style="color:#6600cc;"><strong>remember to Whom you belong.</strong></span></div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center"><span style="color:#ff0000;">" ... God is the One who made all things, and all things are for His glory. He wanted to have many children to share His glory ... " Heb 2:10</span></div><div align="center"><span style="color:#ff0000;"></span> </div><div align="center"><span style="color:#ff0000;">" ... See how very much our Heavenly Father loves us, for He allows us to be called His children ... " 1 John 3:1</span></div><div align="center"><span style="color:#ff0000;"></span> </div><div align="center">Your Friend and</div><div align="center">Sister in Christ ~ Terri</div><div align="center">"TalkerCat"</div>TalkerCathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11518527140962349724noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4041327296717686726.post-25821429438512956632009-06-26T10:17:00.000-07:002009-06-26T10:45:31.770-07:00"Never Can Say Goodbye"<span style="font-size:130%;"><em><span style="font-family:georgia;">It takes a little darkness to see the stars, and a whole lifetime to reach them; </span></em></span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><em><span style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="color:#660000;">Michael's star now shines bright from Heaven .. . . </span></span></em></span><span style="font-family:times new roman;font-size:180%;"><em>A man when he was a boy; a boy when he was a man. </em></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><em><span style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="color:#660000;">Loved by the world;</span> kings, queens, princesses and jesters alike .... </span></em></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><em><span style="font-family:georgia;">breaking all barriers - <strong><span style="color:#660000;">"it don't matter if you're black or white" </span></strong></span></em></span><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;"><em>I was shocked to hear of his passing; it was as if <strong>a part of me went with him</strong>, and while it's hard to understand why those we love are taken from us, I find comfort in knowing <strong>he's in the arms of Jesus</strong>. </em></span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;"><em></em></span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><em><span style="font-family:georgia;"><strong>Goodbye for now beloved Michael Jackson. <span style="color:#009900;">Memories are the legacy of God's love.</span></strong></span></em></span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;"><em></em></span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;"><em>"TalkerCat"</em></span>TalkerCathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11518527140962349724noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4041327296717686726.post-56364808745644844692009-06-23T09:13:00.000-07:002009-06-23T09:15:17.026-07:00<span style="font-size:130%;color:#330099;"><em>"We make a living by what we get; We make a life by what we give"</em></span> Winston ChurchillTalkerCathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11518527140962349724noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4041327296717686726.post-37032287556649382232009-06-19T12:16:00.000-07:002009-06-19T12:36:01.008-07:00Role Models<span style="font-family:georgia;color:#006600;">From "Our Daily Bread" July, 2009</span><br /><br />During a summer of international sports scandals involving gambling and substance abuse, two athletes were applauded for their character as much as their professional accomplishments. A record crowd of 75,000 cheered Cal Ripkin Jr. and Tony Gwynn during their 2007 induction into the National Baseball Hall of Fame. <em>"Whether we like it or not,"</em> Ripkin said, <em>"as big leaguers, we are role models. The only questions is, will it be positive or will it be negative?"</em> Gwynn echoed the sentiment: <em>"There's more than just playing the game of baseball ... You're responsible, you've got to make good decisions and show others how things are supposed to be done"</em><br /><br />Every day people are watching us. As followers of Christ, we are guided by Paul's challenge to <em><span style="color:#000099;">"become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world"</span></em> <span style="color:#000099;">(Phil. 2:15) </span>Compromise causes others to become disillusioned, while character fosters hope. As the life of our Savior flows out from us, we can encourage others and point them to Him. <br /><br /><span style="color:#990000;"><strong>What kind of role model will we be for someone watching today?</strong> <em>"TalkerCat"</em></span>TalkerCathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11518527140962349724noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4041327296717686726.post-69754157772013042762009-06-18T12:26:00.000-07:002009-06-18T12:32:17.499-07:00<div align="center"><span style="font-family:times new roman;"><em><span style="color:#009900;">"Adopt the pace of nature, her secret is patience"</span></em> </span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:times new roman;">- Ralph Waldo Emerson</span></div>TalkerCathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11518527140962349724noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4041327296717686726.post-41265787182107983992009-06-17T11:56:00.000-07:002009-06-17T12:29:20.356-07:00Getting Involved<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimu1kCwG7WdE94zbrz8_7wxcyvfiPwI_jNOBWZtYJRcIU6JyhDSr1DJRUbujgpZPQH4szgGR5j88jInscGGx5bRh2uR2y_pbYzjrlZidwJ667aDJOA-ox5QFgt2hQ5_LZFR1g2BM0kNkk/s1600-h/Jesus+Lives.bmp"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 130px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5348380746807032642" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimu1kCwG7WdE94zbrz8_7wxcyvfiPwI_jNOBWZtYJRcIU6JyhDSr1DJRUbujgpZPQH4szgGR5j88jInscGGx5bRh2uR2y_pbYzjrlZidwJ667aDJOA-ox5QFgt2hQ5_LZFR1g2BM0kNkk/s200/Jesus+Lives.bmp" /></a><br /><div><span style="color:#006600;"><em><span style="font-size:130%;">"Isn't anyone going to help that poor guy?!"</span></em> My mother exclaimed as she realized what had been holding up traffic. A old man lay sprawled against a curb, his wheelchair toppled over as vehicles simply drove around him. Mama turned on the emergency flashers as my sister jumped from the car and to the man's side. </span><span style="color:#006600;">My mother and sister got involved as the Samaritan man did in <span style="color:#cc0000;">Jesus</span>' story in Luke 10. Like him, they overcame any reluctance they might have had to reach out to a man in distress. </span></div><br /><div></div><br /><div>The Samaritan also had to overcome racial and cultural prejudice. The people we would have expected to help showed indifference to the injured man's plight. It's easy to find a reason not to get involved. Busyness, indifference, and fear often top the list. Yet as we seek to follow our Lord more faithfully we become more aware of opportunities to show the kind of compassion He showed. </div><br /><div></div><br /><div>In the parable of the Good Samaritan, Jesus commended the man who had acted out of compassion even though it was inconvenient, difficult and costly to do so. Then to us He says <em><span style="font-size:130%;color:#cc0000;">"Go and do likewise"</span></em> (Luke 10:37)</div><br /><div></div><br /><div align="center"><span style="color:#663366;"><strong>The Lord is Gracious and full of compassion (Psalm 111:4)</strong></span></div><br /><div></div><br /><div><span style="font-size:130%;">True Compassion Puts Love Into Action ~~ TalkerCat</span></div><br /><div><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><br /><div align="center"></div>TalkerCathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11518527140962349724noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4041327296717686726.post-66712745016602968092009-06-06T15:11:00.000-07:002009-06-26T10:44:41.840-07:00ChoicesWatch as a young mother tries to get her 2-year-old to make a choice. <em>"You can have fish or chicken"</em> she tells him. She limits his choice to just two because he's too young to understand beyond that. Choice often allows a wider variety of options, but it also allows a person to reject them.<br /><br />Adam and Eve were in the best possible environment. God had given them freedom to eat of all the trees in Eden. He drew boundary lines around just <span style="font-size:130%;">one</span> tree! They had a choice, and it should have been a no-brainer to choose wisely. But their choice was tragic.<br /><br />Some hate God for what they see as His restrictions. They may even accuse Him of trying to 'control' their lives. But <span style="font-size:130%;">God gives us a choice, just as He did Adam and Eve</span>.<br /><br />Yes, God draws boundary lines, but they're for our protection. David understood this. He wrote, <em><span style="color:#6600cc;"><strong>"You, through your commandments, make me stronger than my enemies ... I understand more than the ancients, because I keep Your precepts. I have restrained my feet from every evil way, that I may keep Your Word"</strong></span></em> <span style="color:#6600cc;">(Ps. 119:98-101)</span><br /><br /><span style="color:#006600;"><strong><em>".... Of every tree of the garden you may freely eat; but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat ...."</em></strong> (Genesis 2:16-17)</span><br /><br /><div align="center">God cares so much about us that He gives us boundary lines so that we'll choose what's right. His commandments were given to fulfill us, not frustrate us.</div><div align="center">"TalkerCat"</div>TalkerCathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11518527140962349724noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4041327296717686726.post-11734756312980323552009-06-02T10:05:00.000-07:002009-06-02T10:32:33.828-07:00Walk The Walk<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjspxNjYNP1VN2WXDj5uKiGnfODBmNet68jDAKa0xIQ2NwqIV8mR7v79EshEdMqPe9NBTCetnwKzXkUlo5ED1nMXTY-3tfFISM6IWMFBchmymvuZL-9ws1udgM11KSTRil7rXiD40KYYv0/s1600-h/Gods+Bulletin+Board.bmp"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 104px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5342784407529969698" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjspxNjYNP1VN2WXDj5uKiGnfODBmNet68jDAKa0xIQ2NwqIV8mR7v79EshEdMqPe9NBTCetnwKzXkUlo5ED1nMXTY-3tfFISM6IWMFBchmymvuZL-9ws1udgM11KSTRil7rXiD40KYYv0/s200/Gods+Bulletin+Board.bmp" /></a><br /><div><span style="font-size:85%;color:#33cc00;"><strong>From "Our Daily Bread" July 2009:</strong></span><br /><br /><br /><br />The preacher was speaking tongue-in-cheek when he complained, <em><span style="font-size:130%;">"My wife is absolutely unreasonable. She actually expects me to live every thing I preach!"</span></em><br /><br />It's so much easier to tell someone what is right than to practice it personally.<br /><br />I suppose this is what is meant when we refer to athletes who 'talk the talk, but don't walk the walk'. Anyone can talk a good game, but actually performing well is far more difficult.<br />This is particularly true in the <span style="font-size:130%;">challenge of following Jesus Christ</span>. It's not enough for us to talk about faith-we must live out our faith... Perhaps that is why Paul, after giving instructions to his young protege Timothy about how to preach, included this reminder: <span style="color:#ff6600;">"Let no one despise your youth, but be an example to the believers in work, in conduct, in love, in spirit, in faith, in purity ... Meditate on these things; give yourself entirely to them" (1 Timothy 4:12,15)</span> As Christs' followers, we do not have the luxury of just talking a good game - we must live lives of <span style="font-size:130%;">exemplary faith in Jesus Christ</span>. We must walk the walk. </div><br /><div>- - - Bill Crowder<br /><br /></div><br /><div align="center"><em><span style="font-family:georgia;color:#cc0000;"><strong>"We please God when our walk matches our talk" TalkerCat</strong></span></em></div><br /><div align="center"></div><br /><div><br /></div><br /><div align="center"></div>TalkerCathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11518527140962349724noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4041327296717686726.post-4812886158901402722009-06-01T09:36:00.000-07:002009-06-01T09:58:56.503-07:00Live, Love, Chocolate<div align="right"><span style="font-family:arial;color:#6633ff;"><strong>An entry I read on a favorite blog caught my eye:</strong></span> </div><div align="right">It was the morning of his ninth wedding anniversary. Not having a lot of money, the writer ran out to get his wife their favorite French pastry</div><div align="right"> -- <em><span style="font-family:verdana;">pain au chocolat.</span></em> </div><div align="right">After sprinting several miles he arrived home, exhausted, to find her in the kitchen just pulling a chocolate-filled croissant out of the oven. </div><div align="right">It was <span style="font-family:verdana;"><em>pain au chocolat.</em></span> </div><div align="right">That husband compared their lives with the people in O. Henry's short story; <em>"Gift of the Magi".</em> It tells of a man who sold his lone possession of value - a pocket watch - to buy hair combs for his wife, who had sold her long, beautiful hair to buy a gold chain for his watch. </div><div align="right">Having no money concerns would be great - but realizing the immeasurable value of the people we care about is more important. We sometimes need a reminder that acquiring "things" is not near as important as appreciating the people God has placed in our lives<span style="color:#cc0000;">. When we practice putting others' interests before our own (Phil 2:3-4), we learn what it means to love, serve, and sacrifice. In fact, that's how we patttern Christ in our relationships (Eph. 5:1-2).</span> </div><div align="right">Life, love, and chocolate taste better when shared with others.</div><div align="right"> </div><div align="left"><span style="font-size:130%;">"Love is never afraid of giving too much" ~ <em><span style="color:#009900;">TalkerCat</span></em></span></div>TalkerCathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11518527140962349724noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4041327296717686726.post-36338923203781823412009-05-30T11:43:00.000-07:002009-05-30T12:01:36.597-07:00Friendly Reminder .....Although my stories are in the 'first person' it doesn't <em>always</em> mean it's happened directly to me, they're true stories - with names and/or places changed for creative purpose or to protect someones identity. I may find a story in publications such as "Our Daily Bread" and, whenever edifying to me , I "blog" it. <br /><br />I'll always identify an author's name ~ my sole purpose is to spread the Word of God, not to steal someone's identity or plagiarize . . . . . "TalkerCat"TalkerCathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11518527140962349724noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4041327296717686726.post-20465782193887183042009-05-30T11:04:00.000-07:002009-05-30T11:40:25.859-07:00Love is for losers?You can learn a lot about a person by what their t-shirt says. Recently, one of these messages caught my attention as I strolled through a local super market. A young woman wore a bright red t-shirt that read: <span style="color:#cc0000;">"Love Is For Losers".</span> Maybe she thought it was clever, or funny. Or perhaps she'd been hurt by a relationship and had pulled away from another rather than be hurt again. Either way, that t-shirt made me think.<br /><br /><strong><em><span style="color:#009900;">Is love for losers?</span></em></strong> The fact is, when we love we take risks. People could very well hurt us, disappoint us, or even leave us. Love can lead to loss.<br /><br /><span style="color:#333399;"><strong>The Bible challenges us to a higher ground in loving others</strong></span>. In 1 Corinthians 13, Paul describes what it means to live out God's kind of love. The person who exercises godly love doesn't do it for personal benefit or gain but bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things <em>(13:7).</em> <em><span style="font-size:180%;">Why?</span></em> <em><strong><span style="font-family:lucida grande;color:#cc0000;">Because godly love endures beyond life's hurts by pulling us relentlessly toward the never-diminishing care of the Father.</span></strong></em><br /><em><strong><span style="font-family:lucida grande;color:#cc0000;"></span></strong></em><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">So, perhaps love <em><strong>is</strong></em> for losers -</span> for it is in times of loss and disappointment that we need God the most. Even in our struggles we know that "Love Never Fails" <span style="font-size:130%;">God's love never fails.</span><br /><br />"TalkerCat"<br /><br />.... Now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love ... 1 Cor 13:13TalkerCathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11518527140962349724noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4041327296717686726.post-69675261038831839062009-05-29T12:14:00.000-07:002009-05-29T12:23:07.073-07:00Loyalties<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuu5kA9ryBMfKh05f2bS-Zv-RuGu-TTAnAwJG8zvToxXZEvbJifB-tn5Smqap7X7cOmVWcRuqqfRXXTXO9ba6pM0oPqoiM3rigBAC0EoLR1ysDpJnT-8H05vJk4Zf1I1vm_zNtWMOtT0s/s1600-h/MayWeComeIn.dib"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 158px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5341327764081503282" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuu5kA9ryBMfKh05f2bS-Zv-RuGu-TTAnAwJG8zvToxXZEvbJifB-tn5Smqap7X7cOmVWcRuqqfRXXTXO9ba6pM0oPqoiM3rigBAC0EoLR1ysDpJnT-8H05vJk4Zf1I1vm_zNtWMOtT0s/s200/MayWeComeIn.dib" /></a><br /><div><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;color:#cc0000;"><em>"Heaven's the place where all the dogs you've ever loved come to greet you"</em></span></div><div><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;"></span> </div><div><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;"></span> </div><div><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;"></span> </div><div><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;"></span> </div><div><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;"></span> </div><div><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;"></span> </div><div><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;"></span> </div><div><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;">Ethel ** Petey ** Lucy</span></div><div> </div><div> </div>TalkerCathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11518527140962349724noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4041327296717686726.post-82054601830750682712009-05-29T11:28:00.000-07:002009-05-30T11:42:01.781-07:00<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOfDPYAP1dbw4GXKcUfGeqD7DoccWAU-JYJLUch0HSRTdei4T_LpsHnITNzPAQlLY7M6J1MSXfGI2sqMz7J6fu2wkPBZvSvXBLDrnFPt2cQSuzUPTcyX0ekTGyw_Px9s8Ovyiw_oHhQkY/s1600-h/MayWeComeIn.dib"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 158px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5341316515357021554" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOfDPYAP1dbw4GXKcUfGeqD7DoccWAU-JYJLUch0HSRTdei4T_LpsHnITNzPAQlLY7M6J1MSXfGI2sqMz7J6fu2wkPBZvSvXBLDrnFPt2cQSuzUPTcyX0ekTGyw_Px9s8Ovyiw_oHhQkY/s200/MayWeComeIn.dib" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilQZaCdD9Axq2HvhCzFfioozcxOtj0fuY6-YMcnBfLmVTtLq0vXEYom_BqlIXg2zkDH6IaA6mJMdwUM4hPUlWRRe3UcIUeLpApzNBcF11CvILJcYd1l0nmk7KkJ8IWA5T54gjQaKitfsg/s1600-h/hrhtalkercat.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 100px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 75px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5341318180064680194" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilQZaCdD9Axq2HvhCzFfioozcxOtj0fuY6-YMcnBfLmVTtLq0vXEYom_BqlIXg2zkDH6IaA6mJMdwUM4hPUlWRRe3UcIUeLpApzNBcF11CvILJcYd1l0nmk7KkJ8IWA5T54gjQaKitfsg/s200/hrhtalkercat.jpg" /></a> TalkerCat > > ><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />< Ethel < Petey & Lucy<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1LBe9oeVxXIDOOZNiUPT5RsSsSuM8PJwekJR3Ee-8RGxR_KjD4t1NKKEOUqsnSaY48aBYhCJjbv1Sclkiw7pr7UnCrosfg3fwCQhbw9IyIbozKOy8vUypR5dQt7yfE3hBhet71xlG5ms/s1600-h/ethel+mae.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 140px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5341315147844711362" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1LBe9oeVxXIDOOZNiUPT5RsSsSuM8PJwekJR3Ee-8RGxR_KjD4t1NKKEOUqsnSaY48aBYhCJjbv1Sclkiw7pr7UnCrosfg3fwCQhbw9IyIbozKOy8vUypR5dQt7yfE3hBhet71xlG5ms/s200/ethel+mae.jpg" /></a><br /><br />>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>Ethel >>>>>>>>>>>>>><br /><br /></div><div><br /><br /></div><div></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:180%;color:#cc0000;">"To Wonder at an Animal is to begin to understand God"</span></div>TalkerCathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11518527140962349724noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4041327296717686726.post-81142069193559660102009-05-26T12:19:00.001-07:002009-05-26T13:18:25.665-07:00It's More Than Miss Clairol ....<div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:180%;color:#cc0000;"><em>"Gray hair is a crown of glory; it is gained by a righteous life."</em></span> <span style="color:#ff0000;">Proverbs 16:31</span></div>TalkerCathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11518527140962349724noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4041327296717686726.post-53723898996810803422009-05-23T14:15:00.001-07:002009-05-23T14:37:57.816-07:00My World Is Up-Side Down!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMlieHzPqIh0C30YiXoLFFaPh-ToWgdYhn4GS97fC5j89yE3M0MymU14cR_KClNY6SzSsGXpq_Yn6m6ZzcVwIieyYTG0fI2DV2af3FJGgZIe1gABjhxX1i6N8jJWSk2a-0bhQalOaEQnw/s1600-h/Mary's+Lamb.bmp"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 169px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 222px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5339132663778944482" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMlieHzPqIh0C30YiXoLFFaPh-ToWgdYhn4GS97fC5j89yE3M0MymU14cR_KClNY6SzSsGXpq_Yn6m6ZzcVwIieyYTG0fI2DV2af3FJGgZIe1gABjhxX1i6N8jJWSk2a-0bhQalOaEQnw/s200/Mary's+Lamb.bmp" /></a> Christ called his disciples to a radically new kind of life ~ one of total commitment to Him (Luke 14:26-33). Their life change is a showcase for how the committed heart can have a powerful impact. Of this, Billy Graham said: <em>"The men who followed Christ were unique in their generation. They turned the world up-side down because their hearts had been turned right-side up. The world has never been the same"</em> INSIGHT<br /><br />"Now great multitudes went with Him. And He turned and said to them: <span style="font-size:130%;color:#ff0000;"><em>" .... If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters and yes, even his own life also, he cannot be My disciple. And whoever does not bear his cross and come after Me cannot be my disciple. For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not sit down first and count the cost, whether he has enough to finish it ~~ lest, after he has laid the foundation, and is not able to finish, all who see it begin to mock him, saying 'this man began to build and was not able to finish' ..... "Salt is good; but if the salt has lost its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is neither fit for the land nor dunghill, but men throw it out. He who has ears to hear, let him hear! .... "</em></span><br /><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:180%;">Our love for Jesus is the key to spiritual passion ~~~ TalkerCat<br /></span></div><div align="center"></div>TalkerCathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11518527140962349724noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4041327296717686726.post-5956846444616960962009-05-22T11:26:00.000-07:002009-05-22T11:49:54.770-07:00Such A Perfect Blendship ... !<p align="left"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7Yn1sEkfcxWB9Jp_KUK6ZNRO9MxU_Af4L4uguQ_vaEcRFNiHR8BLWmJ7PpktIn7X0ZHk-ZXQPZdsvNclRl-REhslx2ey5L9VjiMqSW7OBBU_xWk-nJ1kOC8lTFcqHE0GIUk956z7YAbI/s1600-h/Pictureof%2520Bill%2520001%5B1%5D+(2).jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 161px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 123px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5338717820642807362" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7Yn1sEkfcxWB9Jp_KUK6ZNRO9MxU_Af4L4uguQ_vaEcRFNiHR8BLWmJ7PpktIn7X0ZHk-ZXQPZdsvNclRl-REhslx2ey5L9VjiMqSW7OBBU_xWk-nJ1kOC8lTFcqHE0GIUk956z7YAbI/s200/Pictureof%2520Bill%2520001%5B1%5D+(2).jpg" /></a></p><div align="center"><em><span style="font-size:85%;">A friend is the first person who comes in when the whole world has gone out - "Sherman"</span></em></div><br />John Chrysostom was one of the great preachers in the early church. He was given the Chrysostom, which means "golden-mouthed" because of his eloquent sermons. Here is one of his insights on the value of friends: <span style="font-size:180%;">"Such is friendship, that through it we love places and seasons; for as . . . flowers drop their sweet leaves on the ground around them , so friends impart favor even to the places where they dwell. With friends, even poverty is pleasant . . . It would be better for us that the sun were exhausted than that we should be without friends."<br /></span><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXmc9xRjuBwvG0lqU5VHi3k0a00RpmDNhlcYBjWkdOMF9imDAR2VW9eViA_zWn1jvJyA6U_PA5YRHlVEmqKgu72Gk1-8RF8ifdllkBngMi0QBf4N6ZCbOChj7gxQ-gG01J6nBRr7Nvkes/s1600-h/Best+of+Friends.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 138px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5338717418741104386" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXmc9xRjuBwvG0lqU5VHi3k0a00RpmDNhlcYBjWkdOMF9imDAR2VW9eViA_zWn1jvJyA6U_PA5YRHlVEmqKgu72Gk1-8RF8ifdllkBngMi0QBf4N6ZCbOChj7gxQ-gG01J6nBRr7Nvkes/s200/Best+of+Friends.jpg" /></a><br /><br /></div><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitD-a2vJdOf54m9-4EfSxfuuPH_WvzPCnhMsLrMHyRS0fHghs89zglelX3y2FrQm2fEmqaOFcXlXEjdMuU5qKSQE4Rg0KuXMMyvkG8dOV3AeXeLNLh0G5y_cguLc65vSJc-c27IjXyhZc/s1600-h/MaxandTivo.bmp"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 128px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5338717209565618738" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitD-a2vJdOf54m9-4EfSxfuuPH_WvzPCnhMsLrMHyRS0fHghs89zglelX3y2FrQm2fEmqaOFcXlXEjdMuU5qKSQE4Rg0KuXMMyvkG8dOV3AeXeLNLh0G5y_cguLc65vSJc-c27IjXyhZc/s200/MaxandTivo.bmp" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:130%;color:#990000;"><em>Jonathan loved David as he loved his own soul. - 1Samuel 20:17</em></span></div><div> </div><div>The story of Jonathan and David illustrate the value of friendship. Though David was hunted by the demented King Saul, he drew encouragement from his friendship with Saul's son. Their relationship was characterized by trust, understanding and encouragement. How difficult it would have been for David to endure this unjust persecution without the nourishment of friendship based in the Lord. <br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjovlLFJpFV2CM0nlAvRdebxTyhCSfSdExHT84f1beuJOu_ndsMh9N7culBymO62_i0dYz6f5THEox5aaHZIQDKtXWy8_7zQZFjEkz0hF1JPFWdXu_DUb-OtBvanduxH4Rouo3i_ROHVzc/s1600-h/beautifulcouple.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 134px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5338716932072755122" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjovlLFJpFV2CM0nlAvRdebxTyhCSfSdExHT84f1beuJOu_ndsMh9N7culBymO62_i0dYz6f5THEox5aaHZIQDKtXWy8_7zQZFjEkz0hF1JPFWdXu_DUb-OtBvanduxH4Rouo3i_ROHVzc/s200/beautifulcouple.jpg" /></a><br /><span style="color:#000099;"><em><strong>The ancient voice of Crysostom and the witness of David and Jonathan are reminders of the need to nurture the friendships God has given us. ~ TalkerCat<br /></strong></em></span><br /><br /></div><div align="center"><span style="color:#006600;"><strong>"Since I have no gold to give, And love alone must make amends, My daily prayer is while I live - God, make me worthy of my friends" </strong></span> Anon</div></div>TalkerCathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11518527140962349724noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4041327296717686726.post-56541228396334207952009-05-20T15:33:00.000-07:002009-05-22T21:41:47.769-07:00How Do I Spell Heaven? H O M E<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6TV_6C9hxF4TrCpDdzU5fGQNTzfDCOeGFElRtLXcfKf265OTIyp9UwTKaWwejpnuYcfeciAQJ4dIsLOw9-KjdDSZ9djDqeoUxA7PS1qoAo7uZDJ3rfQhh3wt4nsmjt4QSm-BiULjXVPE/s1600-h/thelongroadhome.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 135px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 140px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5338874719790914386" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6TV_6C9hxF4TrCpDdzU5fGQNTzfDCOeGFElRtLXcfKf265OTIyp9UwTKaWwejpnuYcfeciAQJ4dIsLOw9-KjdDSZ9djDqeoUxA7PS1qoAo7uZDJ3rfQhh3wt4nsmjt4QSm-BiULjXVPE/s200/thelongroadhome.jpg" /></a><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;color:#000099;"><em>One of my favorite pastimes as a young girl </em></span></div><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;color:#000099;"><em>was walking the footpath </em></span></div><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;color:#000099;"><em>between our home and the school I attended. </em></span></div><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;color:#000099;"><em>Those walks were high adventure for me: </em></span></div><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;color:#000099;"><em>shiny rocks to find, </em></span></div><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;color:#000099;"><em>birds to watch, lizards and horn-back toads to capture. </em></span></div><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;color:#000099;"><em>And when I made it to the large school yard </em></span></div><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;color:#000099;"><em>my dog and I would </em></span><span style="font-size:130%;color:#000099;"><em>sit in the cool grass to pick dandelions</em></span></div><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;color:#000099;"><em>and watch airplanes pass overhead. </em></span></div><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;color:#000099;"><em>I'd linger as long as I could; but only for so long, </em></span></div><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;color:#000099;"><em>because <strong>my mom wanted me home before dark</strong>. </em></span></div><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;color:#000099;"><em>The shadows grew long and the trail got dark fast in the Mojave Desert. </em></span></div><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;color:#000099;"><em><span style="font-size:180%;">I'd be wishing along the way that I was already home.</span> </em></span></div><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;color:#000099;"><em>Our house sat on a corner lot, vacant except for the occasional abandoned car - </em></span></div><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;color:#000099;"><em>but <strong>the light was always on</strong> </em></span></div><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;color:#000099;"><em>until all the family was in. </em></span></div><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;color:#000099;"><em>Often, mom would be waiting in the tiny kitchen. </em></span></div><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;color:#000099;"><em>"Have a good day?" she'd ask. </em></span></div><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;color:#000099;"><em>"It was pretty good" </em></span><span style="font-size:130%;color:#000099;"><em>I'd say, </em></span></div><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;color:#000099;"><em><span style="font-size:180%;">"but I'm sure glad to be home".</span> </em></span></div><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;color:#000099;"><em>Those memories of walking the desert make me think of another journey - </em></span></div><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;color:#000099;"><em>the one I'm making now. </em></span></div><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;color:#000099;"><em>It isn't always easy, but I know at the end of it there's a caring Father</em></span></div><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;color:#000099;"><em>and my eternal home. </em></span></div><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;color:#000099;"><em><strong>I can hardly wait to get there. </strong></em></span></div><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;color:#000099;"><em><strong><span style="font-size:180%;">I'm expected, the light is on</span> </strong></em></span></div><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;color:#000099;"><em><strong>and my heavenly Father is waiting for me. </strong></em></span></div><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;color:#000099;"><em><strong>Maybe He'll ask, just like my mother always did </strong></em></span></div><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;color:#000099;"><em><strong>"How was your day?" </strong></em></span></div><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;color:#000099;"><em><strong>"Pretty good" I'll say. </strong></em></span></div><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-size:180%;color:#000099;"><em><strong>"But it sure is good to be home"</strong></em></span></div><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;color:#000099;"><em><strong></strong></em></span></div><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;"><em><span style="color:#cc0000;"><strong>"TalkerCat</strong>"</span></em></span></div>TalkerCathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11518527140962349724noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4041327296717686726.post-28975855157320930272009-05-20T13:47:00.000-07:002009-05-20T13:52:28.062-07:00"You will receive me to Glory" .... Psa 73:24<div align="right"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:180%;color:#990000;"><em><strong>He will be waiting for me ~</strong></em></span></div><div align="right"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:180%;color:#990000;"><em><strong>Jesus, so Kind and true;</strong></em></span></div><div align="right"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:180%;color:#990000;"><em><strong>On His throne He will welcome me HOME ~</strong></em></span></div><div align="right"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:180%;color:#990000;"><em><strong>after the day is through ~</strong></em></span></div><div align="right"><span style="font-size:180%;">TalkerCat</span></div>TalkerCathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11518527140962349724noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4041327296717686726.post-57259942926671363652009-05-15T11:50:00.000-07:002009-05-15T12:14:12.289-07:00What Number R U?<div align="center">I recently came across a promising community: </div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;color:#3333ff;"><strong><em>1 Million for Christ</em></strong></span>. </div><div align="center">I don't know these men personally, except they are my Brethren. </div><div align="center">I do know they're doing a good thing</div><div align="center"> ~ championing a community of Christians ~ </div><div align="center">fundraising for the less fortunate. </div><div align="center"></div><div align="center">Although they do sell individually numbered t-shirts, their main gig is</div><div align="center">establishing <span style="font-size:180%;">1,000,000 Christian Soldiers</span> </div><div align="center">to raise money for charity </div><div align="center"> one t-shirt at a time. </div><div align="center">Although the shirts are the same, they're different, just as we are. </div><div align="center">We're all God's children yet we're different in the gifts He gave us. </div><div align="center">There's no purchase necessary to become a part of this community, </div><div align="center">but I can scarcely wait to get my shirt. </div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"><a href="http://www.1m4jc/">http://www.1m4jc/</a></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center">What will <em>your</em> number be?</div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center">TalkerCat</div>TalkerCathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11518527140962349724noreply@blogger.com2