25 March 2024 Saying No

How often do you say “no” to things that would interfere with your goals?

Something that has gotten easier as I’ve gotten older is saying no. I used to say yes all the time and would get a resentment as a result. I felt like I had to say yes or I was a bad person. Now I realize that it doesn’t make me a bad person to say no sometimes especially if it’s not in my best interest. Sometimes no is the right answer – a catalyst for something else better to happen. An example is my ex brother in law asked my ex and I to come to Florida to a Ozz fest and I said I didn’t want to go. Well we didn’t go and he ended up meeting his future wife! Spending too much time making a decision means usually the answer is no for now – “too many mind.”

Matthew 5:37New International Version

37 All you need to say is simply ‘Yes’ or ‘No’;anything beyond this comes from the evil one.

23 March 2024 Weather

What is your favorite type of weather?

I have a couple kinds of favorite weather. One is sunny cold weather that nips your cheeks and the other is seventy degree weather with blue skies and the air is soft.

Isaiah 1:18New International Version

18 “Come now, let us settle the matter,”
    says the Lord.
“Though your sins are like scarlet,
    they shall be as white as snow;
though they are red as crimson,
    they shall be like wool.

22 March 2024 Teacher

Who was your most influential teacher? Why?

The teacher I remember and have fond memories of is a grade school teacher at Harvey Dunn her name was Mrs. Maxwell. She encouraged my writing. She gave me a certificate stating that I was the most likely to be an author. She was right. After we lost Sam our cocker spaniel we wrote a book. The title was The Gospel According to Sam an e-book.

Matthew 12:30-32 Niv

30 “Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters.31 And so I tell you, every kind of sin and slander can be forgiven, but blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven. 32 Anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but anyone who speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in this age or in the age to come.

21 March 2024 More

What do you wish you could do more every day?

I wish I had more stamina and energy to do more exercise each day. I need to lose weight!

Ephesians 3:20-21New International Version

20 Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, 21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen

20 March 2024 Tattoo

What tattoo do you want and where would you put it?

I have two tattoos and if I was to to get another I would just get the ones I have touched up or redone. I have a chameleon on my right shoulder and a Ichthys (Jesus fish) on my right ankle. They are barely recognizable right now. I might consider getting the tree of life life on my left ankle. As a Christian we aren’t supposed to get tattoos. I didn’t know this when I had them done initially.

Leviticus 19:28New International Version

28 “‘Do not cut your bodies for the dead or put tattoo marks on yourselves. I am the Lord.

19 March 2024 Resilient

What is one word that describes you?

One word that describes me is resilient. Despite all the difficulties I have faced in my life I have been able to bounce back from most of them. I think God has been walking with me through most of the trials! We get shaped and sculpted into who he wants us to be during trials just as much as through tribulations.

James 1:2-4 (NIV) – “Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.”

18 March 2024 Best Compliment

What was the best compliment you’ve received?

I don’t have just one.compliment I have several and they have come from my cousins wife. She always makes me feel beautiful. Whether it’s my hair or what I’m wearing she takes notice. She always makes me feel special.

Genesis 37:32-34New International Version

32 They took the ornate robe back to their father and said, “We found this. Examine it to see whether it is your son’s robe.”

33 He recognized it and said, “It is my son’s robe! Some ferocious animal has devoured him. Joseph has surely been torn to pieces.”

34 Then Jacob tore his clothes, put on sackcloth and mourned for his son many days.

I’m just

17 March 2024 Cross Country Trip

You’re going on a cross-country trip. Airplane, train, bus, car, or bike?

Today is a beautiful day. The skies have been full of geese and that has been amazing! Like watching angels fill the sky.

It’s a toss up between taking an airplane or a car to make a cross country trip. The last trip I made was via pick up truck with my cousins wife. We drove from Texas to Idaho and it was a long trip. It’s hard to believe it’s been almost 4 years! We drove right through Covid and when it was a scary time to travel. I am so grateful to have been traveling with such experienced travelers. It’s been several years since I’ve been on an airplane – can’t even remember what year it was!

Luke 9 :: NIV. and he sent them out to preach the kingdom of God and to heal the sick. He told them: “Take nothing for the journey–no staff, no bag, no bread, no money, no extra tunic. Whatever house you enter, stay there until you leave that town.

16 March 2024 Confidence

Who is the most confident person you know?

The most confident person I know is my Uncle John. He is a renaissance man, jack of all trades. He can fix most anything and if he doesn’t know what to do he does research and finds out how. I have a vacuum I want to see if he can fix! He takes great joy in taking things apart and putting them back together. I can remember one year we gave him a friction powered flashlight and he just loved it. He took it apart and put it back together just to see how it worked.

Hebrews 10:35-36 NIV35 So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded. 36 You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised.

13 March 2024 Repeated Watching

What movies or TV series have you watched more than 5 times?

I have watched Blade Runner, Purple Rain, Somewhere in Time, Cat People, The Hunger, Fried Green Tomatoes, Smoke Signals and Star Trek Next Generation more than 5 times. There are probably some others but these came to mind.

What are the most repeated verses in the Bible?

“Do not fear” is in 281. “Faith” is in 1241 verses. “Have faith” is in 784 verses. “Trust in the Lord” is in 213 verses; “in the name of the Lord” is in 472; “the lord thy god” is in 737