The Day My Earth Stood Still

The Day My Earth Stood Still. . .

Where do our memories go when we can’t remember?
Do they go down the endless pit of a memory drain,
or have they been misplaced, sidelined, or lost,
or are they somewhere waiting to be found again?

Or do they go into the brains memory shredder
where the less used memories become deleted.
Could eventually all our memories go in there
leaving our memory completely depleted?

~ Orlando Belo ~

At the hospital, I was taken immediately into ER where the team began a rapid assessment.  I appeared to be in no acute distress and did not “look” sick. I was poked, prodded, scanned, giggled, wiggled, drained of (what seemed like) half my blood, asked a million questions to which I had very few answers, but I repeatedly asked the same questions unknowingly.  My white cell count was 22,000 yet no infection could immediately be pinpointed nor was one ever determined.

My husband and two oldest children began texting and calling close friends, family, and prayer chains.  Stroke? Aneurism? Tumor?  Scary words!! Yet every test was negative!

Somewhere, during what began as an ordinary Saturday, August 18, 2012, a breakfast of homemade fresh blueberry Belgium waffles and maple sausage, housecleaning, sweeping, and scrubbing (since the week goes by too swiftly, there just aren’t enough hours for housework after school) a deep mystic fog settled into my brain, howbeit, I do not remember.

No one knows how it started, why it started, or how it began.  The facts of the day have been shared with me and the steps that Larry and I took throughout that day have been reiterated to me only leaving me with more questions.

Was it that we visited garden centers in the greater Cleveland area in search of a flowering pink dogwood tree to enhance our landscaping?  That day was particularly hot and late in the afternoon, thinking of immediate cooling gratification, we drove through a McDonalds to get frappe’s – chocolate for Larry, caramel for me! The frappe made me nauseas.  Did that cause it?  I ripped my pants getting back into the car. . .did that cause it?

I complained of being sick and drove myself home from the restaurant where we had met Wesley for dinner. . .I don’t remember.

Why, you ask, am I telling you all of this and recapping a seemingly ordinary day?  Well, you see, I am simply repeating what was told to me about that day. . .because I DO NOT REMEMBER ANY OF IT!!!  My earth had stopped spinning that day and somewhere along the line, I jumped off!

My short term memory completely obliterated for what seemed like an eternity but, in reality, was only a matter of hours.  Somewhere in the middle of the night going into Sunday morning and after receiving a broad spectrum antibiotic to quell my super-high white count, the “fog” began to lift.  The earth slowed to a “manageable” spin and I was able to climb back on.  The next couple days were somewhat frightening as doctors tested, poked, scanned, and prodded more to find a clue as to what, when, where, how, and why?

The neurologist, who had ordered all of the STAT tests, finally having ruled out all of the possibly horrible diagnoses, declared that I had suffered “transient global amnesia”. The Mayo Clinic has a good description and discussion about it if you would like to know more. 

It is a very rare condition (that figures) and equally as rare is the fact that so little is known about it.  What bothers me most is that there is a part of my life, even if it was only a matter of hours, that are gone from me forever!  Nothing I can do can ever help me to recapture that time or to remember it.

I firmly believe that God’s hand touched my life that night and helped to restore me to a right mind.  Isaiah 26:3 reminds us that God will keep in perfect peace those whose mind is fixed upon Him and trusts in Him.  During those moments when I did not know where I was, God knew. For many years, I had hid His word in my heart, and my mind, and it was through that Word that I experienced unexplained restoration of my mind. Because I have walked with my hand in the hand of that Man, my Savior, Jesus Christ, when I was “lost” somewhere in my mind, He carried me.  He sustained me.  His love engulfed me.   In I Timothy 1:12, Paul writes, “for I know whom I have believed, and I am convinced that he is able to guard until that Day what has been entrusted to me.” 

I had entrusted myself to Jesus and He kept me. Philippians 2:5 reminds us to “let this mind (the mind of Christ) be in you. . .” How grateful I am that I had given my Savior, Jesus Christ, my mind.  I had entrusted myself wholly and completely to Him.  He didn’t let me down; He carried me.  He restored me. 

To God be ALL the glory.

For more information on "transient global amnesia"  please visit: http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/transient-global-amnesia/DS01022

Not Just Another Post or Email!

At a time in our American lives that is crucial to us and to all of our future generations, sticking your head in the sand is NOT an option, nor is making believe that things are better than they were four years ago.  Call me ultra conservative; unfriend me on facebook – I don’t care – in fact, I will pray for you, however, before you write me off or before you are lulled into total complacency (which is what the enemy of our souls wants), please read this article.  If you agree with Mr. Massie, pass it on.  If you don’t, delete it and continue to “dream” in your own little world.  I have included Mychal Massie’s website so you will know this is not just another email. If this were a joke, you would take the time to read it, so I challenge you to read the entire article.

If, after you read this article, you can, in good conscience, go to the polls on Nov. 6th, and vote to put this man back in office, you deserve everything we will suffer at his hands during a second administration.

Think of me what you will but I stand as a follower of Jesus Christ, first, and a true Patriot who loves her country and still prays and believes that God can and will bless America. 

May God bless us and may God bless America – land that I love. . .

Rhonda

"My body and my mind may become weak, but God is my strength. He is mine forever." Psalm 73:26 NC

by Mychal Massie Email | Archive

Mychal Massie is the former chairman of the National Leadership Network of Black Conservatives-Project 21 – a conservative black think tank located in Washington, D.C. He was recognized as the 2008 Conservative Man of the Year by the Conservative Party of Suffolk County, N.Y. He is a nationally recognized political activist, pundit and columnist. He has appeared on Fox News Channel, CNN, MSNBC, C-SPAN, NBC, Comcast Cable and talk-radio programming nationwide. A former self-employed business owner of more than 30 years, Massie's website is mychal-massie.com

When will Obama crack in public? 

Exclusive: Mychal Massie says BHO displayed 'a dark psychopathy' during budget talk 

At a time when many Americans can barely afford Burger King and a movie, Obama boasts of spending a billion dollars on his re-election campaign. Questioned at a recent appearance about the spiraling fuel costs, Obama said, “Get used to it” – and with an insouciant grin and chortle, he told another person at the event, who complained about the effect high fuel prices were having on his family, to “get a more fuel-efficient car.”
The Obamas behave as if they were sharecroppers living in a trailer and hit the Powerball, but instead of getting new tires for their trailer and a new pickup truck, they moved to Washington. And instead of making possum pie, with goats and chickens in the front yard, they’re spending and living large at taxpayer expense – opulent vacations, gala balls, resplendent dinners and exclusive command performances at the White House, grand date nights, golf, basketball, more golf, exclusive resorts and still more golf.

Expensive, ill-fitting and ill-chosen wigs and fashions hardly befit the first lady of the United States. The Obamas have behaved in every way but presidential – which is why it’s so offensive when we hear Obama say, in order “to restore fiscal responsibility, we all need to share in the sacrifice – but we don’t have to sacrifice the America we believe in.”

The American people have been sacrificing; it is he and his family who are behaving as if they’ve never had two nickels to rub together – and now, having hit the mother lode, they’re going to spend away their feelings of inadequacy at the taxpayers’ expense.  Why do modern liberals think and act as they do? Find out in Dr. Lyle Rossiter’s book, “The Liberal Mind: The Psychological Causes of Political Madness.”

Obama continues to exhibit behavior that, at best, can be described as mobocratic and, at worst, reveals a deeply damaged individual. In a February 2010 column, I asked, “Is Obama unraveling?” I wrote that it was beginning to appear the growing mistrust of him and contempt for his policies was beginning to have a destabilizing effect on him.

At that time, I wrote that not having things go one’s way can be a bitter pill, but reasonable people don’t behave as he was behaving. He had insulted Republicans at their luncheon, where he had been an invited guest. I had speculated that was, in part, what had led him to falsely accuse Supreme Court justices before Congress, the nation and the world, during the 2010 State of the Union address.

It appeared, at that time, as if he were “fraying around the emotional edges.” That behavior has not abated – it has become more pronounced. While addressing the nation, after being forced to explain the validity of his unilateral aggression with Libya, America witnessed a petulant individual scowling and scolding the public for daring to insist he explain his actions.

But during an afternoon speech to address the budget/debt, he took his scornful, unstable despotic behavior to depths that should give the nation cause for concern. Displaying a dark psychopathy more representative of an episode of “The Tudors” television series, he invited Rep. Paul Ryan, R-Wis., to sit in the front row during his speech and then proceeded to berate both Ryan and Ryan’s budget-cutting plan. Even liberal Democrats were put off by the act. MSNBC’s Joe Scarborough questioned the sanity of Obama’s actions.

Today, criticism is coming from all sides. A senior Democrat lawmaker said, “I have been very disappointed in [Obama], to the point where I’m embarrassed that I endorsed him. It’s so bad that some of us are thinking, is there some way we can replace him? How do you get rid of this guy?” (“Democrats’ Disgust with Obama,” The Daily Beast, April 15, 2011) Steve McCann wrote: Obama’s speech “was chock full of lies, deceit and crass fear-mongering. It must be said that [he] is the most dishonest, deceitful and mendacious person in a position of power I have ever witnessed” (“The Mendacity of Barack Obama,” AmericanThinker.com, April 15, 2011).

McCann continued: “[His] performance was the culmination of four years of outright lies and narcissism that have been largely ignored by the media, including some in the conservative press and political class who are loath to call [him] what he is in the bluntest of terms: a liar and a fraud. That he relies on his skin color to intimidate, either outright or by insinuation [against] those who oppose his radical agenda only add to his audacity. It is apparent that he has gotten away with his character flaws his entire life, aided and abetted by sycophants around him. …”

With these being among the kinder rebukes being directed at Obama, and with people becoming less intimidated by his willingness to use race as a bludgeon, with falling poll numbers in every meaningful category and an increasingly aggressive tea-party opposition – how much longer before he cracks completely?

The coming months of political life are not going to be pleasant for Obama. Possessed by a self-perceived palatine mindset, that in his mind places him above criticism, how long before he cracks in public? Can America risk a man with a documented track record of lying and misrepresenting truth as a basic way of life, who is becoming increasingly more contumelious?

The Smell of Rain

Bob Marley once said, "Some people feel the rain.  Others just get wet." With our Northeast Ohio weather, such as it is today, it just seemed appropriate to post this story that I have shared with many people over the past several years.  I don't know who originally wrote the story but it has never changed since I first read it.  Grab a few tissues and as the rains fall softly and continually outside, allow our Heavenly Father, through His cleansing rains in your own soul and spirit, to minister to you today.  Allow His love to wash over you and renew you.  I hope this story blesses you as much as it has blessed me and I hope if you do nothing else as you read this, you will learn to dance in the rain.  -RLS

The Smell of Rain
~~Author Unknown~~

A cold March wind danced around the dead of night in Dallas as the doctor walked into the small hospital room of Diana Blessing. Still groggy from surgery, her husband David held her hand as they braced themselves for the latest news.

That afternoon of March 10, 1991, complications had forced Diana, only 24-weeks pregnant, to undergo an emergency cesarean to deliver the couple's new daughter, Danae Lu Blessing. At 12 inches long and weighing only one pound and nine ounces, they already knew she was perilously premature. Still, the doctor's soft words dropped like bombs. "I don't think she's going to make it," he said, as kindly as he could. "There's only a 10 percent chance she will live through the night, and even then, if by some slim chance she does make it, her future could be a very cruel one."

Numb with disbelief, David and Diana listened as the doctor described the devastating problems Danae would likely face if she survived. She would never walk She would never talk She would probably be blind She would certainly be prone to other catastrophic conditions from cerebral palsy to complete mental retardation And on and on.

"No! No!" was all Diana could say. She and David, with their 5-year-old son Dustin, had long dreamed of the day they would have a daughter to become a family of four. Now, within a matter of hours, that dream was slipping away.

Through the dark hours of morning as Danae held onto life by the thinnest thread, Diana slipped in and out of drugged sleep, growing more and more determined that their tiny daughter would live- and live to be a healthy, happy young girl. But David, fully awake and listening to additional dire details of their daughter's chances of ever leaving the hospital alive, much less healthy, knew he must confront his wife with the inevitable.

"David walked in and said that we needed to talk about making funeral arrangements," Diana remembers "I felt so bad for him because he was doing everything, trying to include me in what was going on, but I just wouldn't listen I couldn't listen.

I said, "No, that is not going to happen, no way! I don't care what the doctors say Danae is not going to die! One day she will be just fine, and she will be coming home with us!"

As if willed to live by Diana's determination, Danae clung to life hour after hour, with the help of every medical machine and marvel her miniature body could endure But as those first days passed, a new agony set in for David and Diana.

Because Danae's underdeveloped nervous system was essentially "raw," the lightest kiss or caress only intensified her discomfort- so they couldn't even cradle their tiny baby girl against their chests to offer the strength of their love. All they could do, as Danae struggled alone beneath the ultra-violet light in the tangle of tubes and wires, was to pray that God would stay close to their precious little girl.

There was never a moment when Danae suddenly grew stronger. But as the weeks went by, she did slowly gain an ounce of weight here and an ounce of strength there.

At last, when Danae turned two months old, her parents were able to hold her in their arms for the very first time. And two months later - though doctors continued to gently but grimly warn that her chances of surviving, much less living any kind of normal life, were next to zero - Danae went home from the hospital, just as her mother had predicted.

Today, five years later, Danae is a petite but feisty young girl with glittering gray eyes and an unquenchable zest for life She shows no signs, whatsoever, of any mental or physical impairments.

Simply, she is everything a little girl can be and more- but that happy ending is far from the end of her story.

One blistering afternoon in the summer of 1996 near her home in Irving, Texas, Danae was sitting in her mother's lap in the bleachers of a local ball park where her brother Dustin's baseball team was practicing. As always, Danae was chattering non-stop with her mother and several other adults sitting nearby when she suddenly fell silent.

Hugging her arms across her chest, Danae asked, "Do you smell that?" Smelling the air and detecting the approach of a thunderstorm, Diana replied, "Yes, it smells like rain."

Danae closed her eyes and again asked, "Do you smell that?" Once again, her mother replied, "Yes, I think we're about to get wet It smells like rain." Still caught in the moment, Danae shook her head, patted her thin shoulders with her small hands and loudly announced, "No, it smells like Him. It smells like God when you lay your head on His chest."

Tears blurred Diana's eyes as Danae then happily hopped down to play with the other children before the rains came her daughter's words confirmed what Diana and all the members of the extended Blessing family had known, at least in their hearts, all along.

During those long days and nights of her first two months of her life when her nerves were too sensitive for them to touch her, God was holding Danae on His chest--and it is His loving scent that she remembers so well.

It's a Slow Fade

Just a few days ago, I returned to their mother’s arms, the lights of our lives, Gabriella and Sophia, my 3-1/2 and 21 month old granddaughters!  They had spent ten days with Mimi and Papa! Skype and iPhone’s Facetime fill the gap temporarily but there is absolutely nothing that equals the feel of four little arms hugging you and tugging your neck and planting little wet kisses all over your cheeks and lips. The back seat of my car was transformed with two toddler seats, assorted snacks and sippy cups. Our guest room, completely equipped with a crib from when Gabi was first born, was changed into the “toddlers’ romp”.  The toddler swing and kiddie pool were taken from their storage hiding in the back of the basement.  The swing was hung by a loving Papa waiting the turns each little Princess took to be endlessly pushed.  The little blue pool was filled to the top with water knowing that with our unseasonably hot weather, the water would be warm for a late morning swim.  It would be a busy, fun-loving ten days!

As we were planning some other activities that the girls might enjoy, a song familiar to me, written by Mark Hall of Casting Crowns, began playing in the background.  I had heard so many times before that I had memorized its tune and words.

“Be careful little eyes what you see
it’s the second glance that ties your hands as darkness pulls the strings
Be careful little feet where you go
For it's the little feet behind you that are sure to follow

It's a slow fade when you give yourself away
It's a slow fade when black and white have turned to gray
Thoughts invade, choices are made, a price will be paid
When you give yourself away
People never crumble in a day
It's a slow fade, it's a slow fade”.

I stopped to listen for a few moments. . .to the words. . .

“Be careful little eyes what you see
It's the second glance that ties your hands as darkness pulls the strings
Be careful little feet where you go
For it's the little feet behind you that are sure to follow.”

What an awesome responsibility we had for our little granddaughters.  Moreover, what an awesome responsibility their parents have today to bring up their children to know right from wrong; to fear the Lord; to (with much prayer) lead them to Christ as savior at a young age; to understand, as they grow, that what is popular is not always right and what is right is not always popular; to know how to use things and care for people; to not join in the wrongs of those that bully by name calling or physical abuse; to carefully choose friends – girls and boys alike; to learn a good work ethic; to learn how and whom to trust. . .I could write on, but I think you get the picture. 

While bringing children into this world and bringing them up in a right way has always been a challenge in any era, in this century, as we plunge into a decade of world unrest and uncertainty, it is not just a challenge,  it has become a battlefield for the very souls of our little ones.

We have heard over and over that if we “Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it.” Proverbs 22:6 Did you notice, however, it doesn’t mention those years in between?  Those are the years that bring the fervent, sometimes agonizing prayers for wisdom and protection of those “little darlings”. Gray hairs seem to mass produce overnight.  You dread thinking you may be awakened in the middle of the night by a call for help. . .sometimes it happens and sometimes the Lord prepares you and wakes you up before the phone rings.

It is a time when we worry for I Peter 5:8, we are reminded to “Keep a cool head. Stay alert. The Devil is poised to pounce, and would like nothing better than to catch you napping. Keep your guard up. You're not the only ones plunged into these hard times. It's the same with Christians all over the world. So keep a firm grip on the faith. The suffering won't last forever. It won't be long before this generous God who has great plans for us in Christ—eternal and glorious plans they are!—will have you put together and on your feet for good. He gets the last word; yes, he does.” (The Message)  We have solace.  We have a promise on which to stand and a God who HEARS and ANSWERS our prayers. We have a loving Savior that stands ever ready, arms outstretched, waiting for that prodigal son or daughter to come their senses and be welcomed “home”.  (Luke 15:11-32)

As my mind slowly returned to the reality of the moment the song continued to play.  You will find its words, its truths below.  Read it carefully.  If you have never heard it, I encourage you to use this link to listen to it. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QASREBVDsLk – this is a powerful music video. Be prepared.  Please, listen with your heart.    -Rhonda

"Slow Fade" Mark Hall

Be careful little eyes what you see
It's the second glance that ties your hands as darkness pulls the strings
Be careful little feet where you go
For it's the little feet behind you that are sure to follow

It's a slow fade when you give yourself away
It's a slow fade when black and white have turned to gray
Thoughts invade, choices are made, a price will be paid
When you give yourself away
People never crumble in a day
It's a slow fade, it's a slow fade

Be careful little ears what you hear
When flattery leads to compromise, the end is always near
Be careful little lips what you say
For empty words and promises lead broken hearts astray

It's a slow fade when you give yourself away
It's a slow fade when black and white have turned to gray
Thoughts invade, choices are made, a price will be paid
When you give yourself away
People never crumble in a day

The journey from your mind to your hands
Is shorter than you're thinking
Be careful if you think you stand
You just might be sinking

It's a slow fade when you give yourself away
It's a slow fade when black and white have turned to gray
Thoughts invade, choices are made, a price will be paid
When you give yourself away
People never crumble in a day
Daddies never crumble in a day
Families never crumble in a day

Oh be careful little eyes what see
Oh be careful little eyes what you see
For the Father up above is looking down in love
Oh be careful little eyes what you see

Some Beautiful Advice

Some Beautiful Advice. . .

    This is some of the most beautiful advice I have ever read.  It was sent to me by my cousin in an email. I started working on it the other night, then, I started to write another blog which I will post this week, but I pray you will be blessed by the simplicity of these words.

Someone once said: 'Never borrow from the future. If you worry about what may happen tomorrow and it doesn't happen, you have worried in vain. Even if it does happen, you have to worry twice.'  1. Pray 2. Go to bed on time. 3. Get up on time so you can start the day unhurried. 4. Say No to projects that won't fit into your time schedule or that will cause you to miss your time with God, family, church. 5. Delegate tasks to capable others. 6. Simplify and unclutter your life. 7. Less is more. (Although one is often not enough, two are often too many.) 8. Allow extra time to do things and to get to places.   9. Pace yourself. Spread out big changes and difficult projects over time; don't lump the hard things all together. 10. Take one day at a time. 11. Separate worries from concerns. If a situation is a concern, find out what God would have you do and let go of the anxiety. If you can't do anything about a situation, forget it. 12. Live within your budget; don't use credit cards for ordinary purchases. 13.  Have backups; an extra car key in your wallet, an extra house key buried in the garden, extra stamps, etc. 14. K.M.S. (Keep Mouth Shut). This single piece of advice can prevent an enormous amount of trouble. 15. Do something for the Kid in You everyday. 16. Carry a spiritually enlightening book with you to read while waiting in line. A compact Bible or the iBible (if you have an iPhone works great for me!) 17. Get enough rest. 18. Eat right. 19. Get organized so everything has its place. 20. Listen to a tape while driving that can help improve your quality of life.21.  Write down thoughts and inspirations. 22. Every day, find time to be alone. 23. Having problems? Talk to God anytime, on the spot. Try to nip small problems in the bud. Don't wait until it's time to go to bed to try and pray. 24. Make friends with Godly people.   25. Keep a folder of favorite scriptures on hand. 26. Remember that the shortest bridge between despair and hope is often a good 'Thank you GOD .' 27. Laugh. 28. Laugh some more! 29. Take your work seriously, but not yourself at all. 30. Develop a forgiving attitude (most people are doing the best they can).  31. Be kind to unkind people (they probably need it the most). 32. Sit on your ego. 33. Talk less; listen more. 34. Slow down. 35. Remind yourself that you are not the general manager of the universe. 36. Every night before bed, think of one thing you're grateful for that you've never been grateful for before. GOD HAS A WAY OF TURNING THINGS AROUND FOR YOU.   'If God is for us, who can be against us?' (Romans 8:31) I hope you enjoyed this. - RLS

Blessed Be Your Name

It is well after midnight and our precious little granddaughters are all snug in their beds for another night at Mimi’s and Papa’s home.  I finally settle down to relive in my mind’s eye, our busy day of play, swings, the kiddy pool, watching the girls run and laugh, digging through the old toy chest to rediscover toys , and at last, the Mr. Bubble sweetness coupled with the freshly bathed, slathered in Baby Magic lotion children ready for “night-night”.

As I sat reflecting on the photos from our recent vacation to southern Florida, I was reminded of our Sunday morning worship, blessed communion at the Lord’s table, and hundreds of voices, and hands lifted in praise as we sang Matt Redman’s song, Blessed Be Your Name.  The words, in and of themselves, speak of the blessings of the Lord in a way that is both familiar and comforting to me. 

I have experienced the land of the plentiful where abundance has flowed. My feet have walked through wilderness and desert places but Jesus was always there and I could say, blessed be Your name.

When the darkness of depression twice overcame my life for countless months at a time, still I could say, blessed be Your name.  When pain is overwhelming and sleep is fleeting, I know that my Redeemer lives and still I can and will say, blessed be Your name.

When there were broken promises, trust crushed, confidence betrayed, words given fraudulently, following the will of God as Abraham had done, literally by faith, not knowing where he would end up, still I could say blessed be Your name.

When death has snatched a loved one, a precious friend, in what I think has been untimely, still I must say, blessed be Your Name, for I know that He does give but He does take away.

Every blessing He pours out, I want to turn back to praise, whether or not the sun is shining, and whether or not all is well with the world.

Am I inhuman?  Do I not question?  Do I suffer silently?  Am I super spiritual?  Am I always the cheerful optimist?  I fall so short, but I believe the apostle Paul in his last letter to Timothy sums up the answer to my questions quite well.

“This is the Message I've been set apart to proclaim as preacher, emissary, and teacher. It's also the cause of all this trouble I'm in. But I have no regrets. I couldn't be more sure of my ground—the One I've trusted in can take care of what he's trusted me to do right to the end. 2 Timothy 1:11-12 (The Message)

Here are the lyrics to Matt’s song.  They couldn’t be more real than they are at this very moment alive in my heart and my spirit.  May they bless you as you read them and here’s the link if you would like to listen:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=du0il6d-DAk  

To God be the glory! - RS 

Blessed Be Your Name
In the land that is plentiful
Where Your streams of abundance flow
Blessed be Your name
Blessed Be Your name
When I'm found in the desert place
Though I walk through the wilderness
Blessed Be Your name

Every blessing You pour out
I'll turn back to praise
When the darkness closes in, Lord
Still I will say

Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your name
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your glorious name
Blessed be Your name
When the sun's shining down on me
When the world's 'all as it should be'
Blessed be Your name
Blessed be Your name
On the road marked with suffering
Though there's pain in the offering
Blessed be Your name

Every blessing You pour out
I'll turn back to praise
When the darkness closes in, Lord
Still I will say

Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your name
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your glorious name
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your name
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your glorious name

You give and take away
You give and take away
My heart will choose to say
Lord, blessed be Your name

A Philosophy Worth Sharing

Once attributed to author and cartoonist, Charles Schultz, the creator of the “Peanuts” comic strip, this little quiz, nonetheless, bears repeating. I share this with my students every year. You don’t have to actually answer the questions. Just read the questions through thoughtfully and you’ll get the point.

1. Name the five wealthiest people in the world.

2. Name the last five Heisman trophy winners.

3. Name the last five winners of the Miss America Contest.

4. Name ten people who have won the Nobel or Pulitzer Prize.

5. Name the last half dozen Academy Award winners for best actor and actress.

6. Name the last decade’s worth of World Series winners.

How did you do?

The point is none of us remember the headliners of yesterday. They are not second-rate achievers. They are the best in their fields. But the applause dies. Awards tarnish. Achievements are forgotten. Accolades and certificates are buried with their owners.

Here’s another little quiz. See how well you do on this one:

1. List a few teachers who aided your journey through school…

2. Name three friends who have helped you through a difficult time.

3. Name five people who have taught you something worthwhile.

4. Think of a few people who have made you feel appreciated and special.

5. Think of five people you enjoy spending time with.

Easier?

The lesson: The people who make a difference in your life are NOT the ones with the most credentials, the most money, or the most awards. They are the ones who care.

I hope you will share this with those who have made a difference in your life.  There are many who have made a difference in my life; some have already gone home to be with Jesus.  The others remain.  If you are reading this, chances are you have made a difference in my life.  You know who you are. ♥   “For God is not unjust so as to overlook your work and the love that you have shown for his name in serving the saints, as you still do” (Hebrews 6:10 ESV)

May God bless each of you with a bright, better than average day! - RS