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Dee's Delights and Delusions - 10/30/2008 3:15:18 PM
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DeeAnnBailey
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Joined: 3/23/2006
From: SC
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Do you ever have one of those days? You know the kind, nothing goes right, you get up late, there's no milk, there is frost on the windshield of the car, the slowest driver in the world gets in front of you on the way to work. I've had a year of those lately and it's given me a lot to think about.
I woke up late this morning, not much sleep the precious little one in our home had a virus over night. At 2:00 the sheets had to be changed, she had to be bathed, and fresh clothes. I'm so thankful for this precious child and what she means to me, I can't even complain when these things happen because she is too precious.
There was no milk, yes at ..... years old I still drink chocolate milk for breakfast and I hate when I don't have it. But my refrigerator is full, there are many other things to eat and drink. I think back to my mission trips in Mexico where many homes in the barrios didn't even have a refrigerator. I'll pick up milk on the way home but something else for breakfast as a change isn't that bad.
It's cold here for the time of the year, in the 30s and frost- I really don't like frost- it seems to serve no useful purpose. I go start my car to let the windows defrost - I hate burning gas and going nowhere! As I finish getting ready and I leave home in my WARM car, I realize that frost serves one purpose, it puts me in a warm car to ride to work. And I have a car, I don't have to ride a moped or a bike, I have a good car with heat and air. Things aren't so bad.
But grandma in front of me on the way to work - does she still work? If so what time does she have to be there? I'm in a hurry!!! Then we pass the accident that happened just minutes before, would I have been in it if I hadn't been behind this slow car? Maybe so, but God sent a grandma to slow me down. He loves and cares for me even when I am not paying attention!
God loves me and He loves you - what a thought, do you ever truly get your mind wrapped around it? I don't believe I really do but I pray that someday I will.
This next week is going to hold many things that will test my faith and my patience and I know myself well enough to know if I think I can handle them, I'm delusional! But He can and with Him in me, He can do it for me. I used to write a lot and lately the Lord has been dealing with me on not using abilities that He gives us. I asked Him who would want to read my ramblings, He said that didn't matter, being obedient did. I asked Him what will I write about, He said the things I teach you. If you want to write a lot, you must be willing to be a good student.
So I plan to write, somedays maybe short and some may be long. Some may be interesting and some may not. But if one person reads and sees something that touches their life, I am blessed beyond measure because God chose to use me.
< Message edited by DeeAnnBailey -- 10/30/2008 3:38:53 PM >
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D. Ann Bailey
My Blog Dee's Delights and Delusions
<<<<<<The love of my life - precious Erin!
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RE: Dee's Delights and Delusions - 10/30/2008 9:58:40 PM
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DeeAnnBailey
Posts: 2624
Joined: 3/23/2006
From: SC
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I came home and there was a lot to do plus I had to decide do I REALLY want to dress up for Halloween tomorrow? I mean really?????
I finally got to my computer. I found several emails on the same subject. They were sent by different people, the subject lines varied, the message in the emails were not all identical BUT they all had the same subject. The subject was prayer and our country or more specifically for our election in a few days.
I wonder how many people saw those same messages? How many read them and agreed with them? But more important, how many read, agreed and then prayed, I mean really prayed. Not a minute prayer but truly humbled their hearts, confessed their sins and plead for God's mercy on our country. If we get what we deserve, we may prosper financially but we will continue to watch our God given rights continue to dwindle.
I don't know what your political convictions may be but if you are reading this I ask, no I beg that you spend time praying for our country over the next few days. Pray that God will give wisdom and the His people will realize that we must stand together as Christians no matter our denomination, color or age and say 'I will follow God'. I will support God's chosen people and I will not support ANYONE that endangers them. I will support the right of an unborn child, I will support our troops.
I may not have the choices I would like but I will not sell the lives of unborn children for my financial well being.
There are those that tell us the election is over, they tell us who is going to win. Do you ever wonder why they are trying so hard to convince us?? I think it is simple, if I believe it is over and that my vote doesn't count, then I won't vote. If enough people do that, they are correct on who won and they scared us into believing it.
David, small and armed with only a sling and a stone, defeated a giant. Samson blind and having failed God pulled down two pillars to destory his enemies. Gideon went into battle with a small army yet he defended a larger stronger army. Why did these things happen? They happened because God's people believed and they stood to do what was right.
Who is the best man to govern our nation? In my opinion he isn't running.  But who is the man who will not appoint a supreme court justice that is liberal and wants to create rather than interprete law? That choice is easy. Who is the man who does not support abortion, especially partial birth abortion? Again it is obvious. Who is the man who understand where are troops are and where they have been? Who is the man who supports our military? (and over 75% of the military supports when polled) Who is the man who believes we should continue our friendship with Israel? Who is the man who has experience in government? Who does not believe that the money I earn should be taken from me to 'redistribute the wealth'?
I don't understand those that say those things don't matter or they don't count? How can they not matter? We are Christians - these are moral issues that the government controls. You can't legislate morals some same. I agree with something written in another blog I read - where do the laws against murder and stealing come from if we can't legislate morals. For the Obama - the picture is clear - if you have life but don't have a vote, you don't matter. That's not who I want to see running our country.
I plan to pray and I will be praying that God burdens other people's hards to pray for HIS will. And that He will wake us all up to realize that we must follow his direction.
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D. Ann Bailey
My Blog Dee's Delights and Delusions
<<<<<<The love of my life - precious Erin!
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RE: Dee's Delights and Delusions - 10/31/2008 7:51:35 AM
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DeeAnnBailey
Posts: 2624
Joined: 3/23/2006
From: SC
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I'm sitting at my office, what was I thinking!!!!! I know it is Halloween but I'm here in my PJs and robe - my department convinced me we should all come that way and our department theme would be Pajama party!!!
I have a meeting with my VP at 8:30 - I'm debating, should I change (I brought my jeans and a sweater) or should I just stick with the costume?????
_____________________________
D. Ann Bailey
My Blog Dee's Delights and Delusions
<<<<<<The love of my life - precious Erin!
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RE: Dee's Delights and Delusions - 11/1/2008 11:35:41 AM
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DeeAnnBailey
Posts: 2624
Joined: 3/23/2006
From: SC
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It is a beautiful day here today, the sun is shining, I got to sleep late - man that just doesn't happen. I can't help but reflect on how blessed I am. God has been so good to me in spite of myself sometime.
I look back at times in my life when I didn't recognize His goodness and protection and wonder... what was I thinking? How could I not see how He kept me from even worse harm that I managed to get myself into.
I think back to the times that depression covered me like a deep and heavy fog and the thoughts and feelings were destructive. God was still there, it was that little voice that kept some thoughts as only thoughts not actions. It was the phone call just as I was about to do something foolish that kept me tied up or got my mind off what was oppressing me at the time. I didn't credit it to Him but he was there all the time.
I see that now, the prayers for family and friends were answered. Then I ask myself, am I standing in the gap in pray that way? Lord, help us all today to look around us and see those that are in need and to pray for them. Seriously pray, not just 'Lord help them'. I remember prayer meetings growing up and they are nothing like prayer meetings today. People fell on their knees before God and PRAYED for each other. If there was a lost family member in the congregation their name was called out in prayer. If someone needed healing people stayed at the altar until something happened.
We wonder why our nation is the way it is and why we don't see answers to prayer - the answer is simple, we have forgotten how to 'fall into the ashes' and pray. We are too busy, our clothes are too good, we are too sofisticated, we are too proud, we have lost our compassion for souls and our passion for God.
God give that back to us and start with me, I know I don't pray enough and I don't seek Your will for me and Your help and mercy for my friends and family. I have co-workers that are lost, I have neighbors that are lost. Oh God, help me to see their destination when I see them, help me to weep over their souls. Help me to understand I may be the only person who stands between them and hell.
Help me to understand that we don't need things, we need love. We don't have to have new furniture or cars but we need new zeal for Christ.
God, in 3 days we have an election that may well shape where we go from here. Help me and others to commit to pray without ceasing for You people which are called by Your name to repent, to seek Your face and turn from our wicked ways and seek You before it is too late.
_____________________________
D. Ann Bailey
My Blog Dee's Delights and Delusions
<<<<<<The love of my life - precious Erin!
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RE: Dee's Delights and Delusions - 11/2/2008 1:40:12 PM
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DeeAnnBailey
Posts: 2624
Joined: 3/23/2006
From: SC
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Wow! It's Sunday and what a wonderful service we had this morning. Now I got my toes stepped on a bit but the preacher isn't doing a good job if he doesn't step on toes some. But before preaching was Sunday School and the teacher taught on discouragement. He made a statement that really stuck with me.
"Satan is like a dog chasing a car - he can't drive it if he gets it. He can distract the driver but he can't reach the driver with the car being removed. Satan must have God's permission to touch one of God's children."
Satan wants us discouraged because if we are discouraged we cannot share God's joy with others. If we are discouraged we cannot encourage other Christians. When we give in to discouragement, we are doing exactly what satan wants. The God of our salvation is always there for us but we must turn to Him. In I Sam. 30:6 - it speaking of encouraging ourselves in the Lord. Now it is wonderful when I friend encourages us but the greatest friend of all is there if we will just turn to Him. He is ready and able to give us all the strength and encouragement we need. We need to bring our discouragement and cast it at Jesus feet. I Peter 5:7 tells us to cast all our fears on on him. Fear is born of discouragement, true trust in God doesn't allow for discouragement. Now we are all human at at times each one of us faces discouragement but discouragement isn't from God. Recognize where it is from - flee from it!
As Ps 56:4 says we must determine in our hearts to trust God.
When we are down to nothing - God is up to something!!!
Then we had church, the choir sang and I did a special. I thank God that He allows me to sing. I love doing it, it brights my day. And I believe God uses it. I sang 'Mary for a While' - the message of turning to Jesus and allowing Him to minister to us went so well with the Sunday School lesson we had just had. Then the preacher preached and again the message of turning to God was very well.
That is trully our hope - turn to Jesus - flee satan. Recognize and repent, pray, pray for our nation, not just in the abstract but certainly pray that God will send repentance and revival. Pray that our nation will not abandon Israel. We must stand with His chosen people if our nation is to stand. We are a wicked and perverse nation but our stand with Israel has kept us from the judgment we deserve. If we turn our backs on them there will be nothing to keep His judgment from falling hard on us.
Lord, today we pray for our nation. Help us to see what is REALLY important. The stock market may hurt my retirement fund but my real treasures are laid up in heaven and other here on earth can hurt that.
I may have to walk to the grocery store and I may eat things I'm not crazy about but one day I'll be dining in the presence of the King of Kings so I'm not discouraged or afraid.
Lord, we thank You for all the times You have kept us from what we deserve and pray that You will put a hedge of protection about us now. Lord, let us realize how sinful we are and be ashamed and repentant. We ask these things in Jesus precious name. Amen
_____________________________
D. Ann Bailey
My Blog Dee's Delights and Delusions
<<<<<<The love of my life - precious Erin!
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RE: Dee's Delights and Delusions - 11/3/2008 9:37:27 PM
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DeeAnnBailey
Posts: 2624
Joined: 3/23/2006
From: SC
Status: offline
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Tonight I'm thinking and many folks will tell you that is dangerous. I live in the house I grew up in. Currently we have 4 generations living here, I built on to the back of my parents home a few years ago when my dad gave us a scare. So my parents, my daughter, my granddaughter and I live in the house we moved to when I was 12.
I looked around today and I realized how much things have changed since I moved here. We have some of the same neighbors, actually we have their children in the homes where their parents lived. But we have many other homes than we had then. When we first moved here I could leave home in the mornings during the summer to play with friends and no one was concerned if I didn't come home for hours, not because they were bad parents but because all the kids were gone, exploring the woods, riding our bikes, playing all over the area. Now if you have a child that gets out of your site you worry. How sad that my granddaughter will never know the freedom to get on her bike and ride for miles. We live in a good neighborhood with good neighbors but within 2 miles of our home are 7 convicted sexual predators. Two years ago a drug ring was busted several blocks from my house. We don't live in a bad section of town or ghetto area. We live in a nice home in a fine neighborhood, one block from an elementary school and 3 blocks from 1 church with 2 others within half a mile. But the things that used to belong 'in the bad areas' have moved to our streets.
I remember when I was in elementary school, there were folks all up in arms that someone was trying to take prayer and Bible reading out of the schools. Most folks just said 'they are fanatics, there is no way that will happen' so they didn't get involved. Because they didn't get involved, our school systems have lost many of the core values that made our country great for so many years.
I remember vaguely when Roe vs Wade was being decided, first most folks were outraged but they truly believed the Supreme Court would uphold the Christian values our country was built on. When they didn't, they were again outraged but 'what could they do?' We lost the right to protect the most innocent. We decided that actions would have consequences but instead of the guilty paying the innocent would.
I remember of the years seeing vigils being held outside of prisons protesting the death penalty yet many of those same people decried those that protest abortion. Where does that logic come from? The innocent child is fair game but a mass murderer should be protected? We lost the ability to under the most basic teachings of the Bible.
I remember many elections where we thought 'oh so-n-so must win' and if they didn't we were crushed and if they did we were estatic. But as I sit here and contemplate tomorrow's election, I know we are truly in a battle.
Neither candidate for President is the one that I would have picked, had I had a choice. McCain-Palin have some issues that I don't agree with, they have some areas where I am concerned.
But when I look at what Obama stands for my heart crings because truly if he is elected I know my granddaughter will never enjoy so many of the things that I did or that her mother did. She will not enjoy the ability to live in a country where we are a Christian nation. Now every person that moved here from other countries, if they did it legally, they have every right to be here. But we are the only country that instead of those moving here accepting and respecting who we are, we are being asked, in some cases told, that we must accept them, we must change, we should learn their languages, we should accept and respect their religion yet they should not be asked the same for us. We are being told that a child can be aborted up until the moment of delivery and that's ok. That is one of the most immoral and destructive thoughts to be sold to folks today.
We are told that an alternate life style must be honored the same as marriage. When God decided that man should not be alone, He did not create another man, He created a WOMAN. That is who marriage is designed for. My granddaughter may well live in a country that declares her family as haters because we stand for what the Bible says. She could watch her pastor go to jail if he refused to compromise what the Word of God says.
I detest war, I wish we did not have to ever have it. But I've seen the pictures from the First Baptist Church of Baghdad. I've seen pictures of men studing the Bible in a country that had been denied religous and other freedoms for years. Hundreds have been saved since we declared war - how do we put a price on that? Losing family and friends is horrible in war but what about those who have heard the gospel that had never heard it before. How can anyone say that war is without merit when it freed people from the murderous clutches of a mad man and allowed many to learn of Jesus?
I've prayed and I've begged others to pray. I don't have all the answers, only God does. And regardless of how the election comes out tomorrow my God is still in control. I am so thankful for that! I pray that we see our country return to God, that we confess our sins, that we will remember that being a Christian isn't something we put in a corner for when it is convenient. I pray that we will remember and understand that if something goes against the Bible it doesn't matter how much we justify it, it is still wrong. I pray that we will realize that the same God who fed over 5,000 with a loaf and 2 fish can and will supply our needs, we do not have to lay our unborn children at the altar of financial gain to succeed.
Most of all I pray that my granddaughter will not have to live in fear if she claims the name of Jesus because the terrorist have managed to destroy us from within and they have taken our religious freedoms way.
If you still haven't voted and more importantly if you are not 100% sure of who you are voting for, please ask yourself 'if God were standing here and going to vote, would He vote for financial gain over morals? if He were standing at the voting booth, would he condone the murder of children? Would He vote for a man who would put judges in place that would strip Christians of every freedom they still have?'
You may rationalize, you may actually believe the answers that are given as to why a Christian would vote for Obama. But you cannot show me any scripture that would back that stand. On the reverse, there are multiple scriptures about murder, God's love for us from the moment we are conceived. May God allow us all to vote as He would have us do and to pray for our next President, whomever he may be.
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D. Ann Bailey
My Blog Dee's Delights and Delusions
<<<<<<The love of my life - precious Erin!
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RE: Dee's Delights and Delusions - 11/4/2008 8:18:30 AM
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DeeAnnBailey
Posts: 2624
Joined: 3/23/2006
From: SC
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Election Day! First, please go vote! Every American that is eligible should be at the polls today. Today has an impact on my life in a more personal way as well. This is the day of my daughter's divorce hearing. 20 years old with a 10 month old and going through a divorce, how I wish she had made better choices. But regardless of the choices, I love her and I want what is best for her.
Then I think if me, a sorry excuse for a human being on most days, loves my daughter in spite of bad choices, what a great picture of God's love for us. I think back to when I was 20 and wish I could have known then what I know now. The heartache I would have been saved! The joy I could have had.
Now I can dwell right there or I can be thankful that God finally got my attention and I gave up trying to 'do it my way' and began to truly seek to follow Him. I fail at that a lot of days but very few days go by that I don't think about it.
I remember the day I learn that my suspicious were correct and my daughter's marriage was over. A part of me said 'I knew it' but the biggest part of me said 'baby I'm so sorry'. I wanted my daughter to know that she had my love no matter what happened. It didn't matter who was at fault, it didn't matter what others thought, she was my daughter and I loved her.
That reminds me that today there is hope for each of us and for our nation as a whole. God loves us. God wants to restore us. God wants to bless us. He wants what is best for us and He will do all that we will allow Him to do in our lives.
This morning I know that in 24 hours many things in my life will be viewed differently than they are now. I don't know what the judge's rulings will be, even though I know because of the evidence what it should be. But I know no matter what the judge says, God is in control and my faith and trust must be in him.
I also don't know what will happen in our nation but I know that the same God that has brought me this far is still with me today. I will praise His name in all things both good and bad. I know that fear is not of God so as it creeps up on me whether it be on the personal or national side, that I must turn to God and ask that He take away my fears and replace them with faith and trust. My God is faithful.
He's been faithful, faithful to me
Looking back His love and mercy I see
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D. Ann Bailey
My Blog Dee's Delights and Delusions
<<<<<<The love of my life - precious Erin!
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RE: Dee's Delights and Delusions - 11/4/2008 8:55:24 PM
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DeeAnnBailey
Posts: 2624
Joined: 3/23/2006
From: SC
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My daughter's divorce is final, we will still have to have another hearing on custoday and visistation because Ed, who came without an attorney decided he wanted one so the judge continued that part of the hearing.
I don't think my daughter was prepared for how hard it hit her, even though she has wanted this over and she doesn't want to live like that, divorce at any age takes a huge toll on most of us. Unfortunately the anger and hurt is going to come out somewhere. There are so many things I wish I had the chance to do over, I know many things she is going through today are tied to the things I went through when she was little and it breaks my heart. My sin is still impacting her life. And both of our sin will impact little Erin's life.
If only we could wrap a protective bubble around our children but we can't. But I'm thankful that at least for tonight my daughter and granddaughter are safe and I'm so thankful that God is still in control.
I keep checking on the voting, a part of me wants to go to bed and just wake up and see what has happened. I've done all I could, I voted, I carried folks to the polls, I did my research and tried to help others with research if they wanted help.
But a part of me says, the voting isn't over everywhere, keep praying. So if you are here, I'd encourage you to join me in praying, for our country, for our leaders, for our families, for our churches, for our children. Pray like there is no tomorrow because one day soon there will not be.
Thank you Lord for Your graciousness and love, help us to look to You and You only for our direction. Again we beg that You have mercy on our sinful nation and that You keep us from the dangers that lie ahead. Draw our hearts to You and make us more aware each day of how holy You are and how unworthy we are. Lord, protect us each day, even from our own leaders and those that want to be our leaders.
We thank You for Your answers to our prayers and we ask all these things in Jesus name. Amen
_____________________________
D. Ann Bailey
My Blog Dee's Delights and Delusions
<<<<<<The love of my life - precious Erin!
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RE: Dee's Delights and Delusions - 11/5/2008 10:35:10 AM
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DeeAnnBailey
Posts: 2624
Joined: 3/23/2006
From: SC
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I woke up this morning and turned on the radio, my head learned what my heard already knew. My first question was - has America gone that far away from God but quickly the question became have Christians truly put their financial gain before innocent lives and religious freedom. I'd rather think I lived in a godless nation than that Christians had made godless choices. But I'm afraid the later may be the case. God help us! I will tell the majority of Americans today what my grandmother used to tell me 'be careful what you wish for because you just might get it'.
That being said, I am praying for all our new leaders that God will have His will and way in their lives and that even those that don't believe in Him or uphold His principles will find themselves swayed to uphold what is right. God is still in control and today I put my trust in Him as never before.
Now that the election is over there are so many other things going on that didn't always have our full attention. The Lord has opened up the door for me to help a few folks with some money management suggestions, while I am far from an expert, He has allowed me to get some 'trial by fire' experience as well as some good training that hopefully can help others especially as the economy rides it's roller coaster.
Also, there are several new ministries opening up at our church and I'm praying that God will allow me to be a small part of those. I'm thankful for a church that is reaching into the community and wants to help not just preach to others. That God can and will save you is important and we want them to get it but sometimes you must get folks out of their 'situation' for them to see the light that is there. It has to be a combination.
So much to be done. I'm reminded of how much more we need to pray and ask for guidance but we also must read and study His word to get the guidance. It isn't going to come like a bolt of lightning; it is going to come by following His instructions. How much have I read the Bible this week, how much have you? And when we read are we 'speed reading' or do we look to see what the Lord has for us? I hate it when I feel people are rushing me when I try to talk with them. Don’t you think God may feel the same way? Talk about a lack of respect, how disrespectful we must seem when we try to put God into a 15 minute segment of our lives and expect that to be enough.
Lord, keep us mindful today that You are in control; nothing can come to us that You don't allow. Help us to look to You first in every situation. May we strive today to be what You would have us be. May we honor You in all we do. We thank You for your blessings, Your patience, Your compassion, Your comfort and Your love. In Jesus name we prayer. Amen
_____________________________
D. Ann Bailey
My Blog Dee's Delights and Delusions
<<<<<<The love of my life - precious Erin!
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RE: Dee's Delights and Delusions - 11/6/2008 9:50:12 AM
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DeeAnnBailey
Posts: 2624
Joined: 3/23/2006
From: SC
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I can't seem to get awake today, I have month end reports to finish and a lot of work to do and I just can't seem to get things together. I want to go home and go back to bed, just cover up my head and live in a dream wordl for a while.
Then I think about all the things I'm taking for granted and I realize that God has given me another wonderful day and instead of wishing it away on sleep I need to cherish the moments I have. Today I have a beautiful daughter and an even more beautiful granddaughter. I have job working at a company that I really enjoy working for. I have friends and a great church, I have my immeidate family still alive and with me. I don't have a house or car payment, the car may be older but it's in good condition and that's a blessing.
And I think about our country - we are so fortunate, God has blessed us over and over. Today I want to take time to pray for our country and for our leaders present and future that God will use them. God is not afraid of our new president, and I can say I've seen and heard more Christians praying in the last week than ever before.
God knows what it takes to bring us to Him and many times, it's the very thing we don't want to happen. Did I pray for President Bush the way I should? Probably not, I wasn't afraid he would do something totally contrary to my values and beliefs. I'm ashamed to admit that but I not in that boat by myself. We got cocky, self-assured, comfortable and we said standard prayers in many cases, not heart felt, gut wrenching prayers for our future and what our leaders might do. Shame on me and any others that fall into that category.
Prayer the single most effective weapon the Christian has and often the one least used. God help me to never allow myself to forget that!
When is the last time you prayed specifically for someone you don't know on a personal basis? The person ahead of you in line or the person who was grouchy to you in the drive, or the person who always pushes your buttons at work, have you prayed for them? Do you know the names of your Congressmen/women and do you pray for them?
Have you invested time to pray for missions either home or foreign? God hears us with when pray but we are too busy. I've assigned myself a task and maybe you would like to join me.
Because prayer often gets pushed to the side, I'm going to start making a list of things I set aside my prayer time for and then at the end of the week, I'm going to look and see what things are more important than prayer in my life. Then with God's help I'm going to readjust my priorities.
_____________________________
D. Ann Bailey
My Blog Dee's Delights and Delusions
<<<<<<The love of my life - precious Erin!
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RE: Dee's Delights and Delusions - 11/12/2008 4:53:15 PM
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DeeAnnBailey
Posts: 2624
Joined: 3/23/2006
From: SC
Status: offline
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Wow! Where has the time gone? I don't know how the last few days have flown by but they have! I'm a bit reflective today, 37 years ago today I was married in a small church. Almost comical now but the while the marriage didn't last, I'm now again attending that same church. Tonight when I pull into the parking lot I'll be looking across at the little church where we had the wedding.
Don't you sometimes wish you knew then what you know now? I know I do, everything in me told me all the signs of why that marriage wasn't right and how far out of God's will I was but yet I jumped every road block and hurdled every obstacle. And where did I land? In the cow pile in the pasture!
Do you ever wonder what God must think as He looks down at us? We are about to do something wrong and we pray "God, please show me if I'm wrong" and He slams the door in our face. Our first reaction is 'You won't believe the things the devil is throwing in my way but I'm going to persevere and I'm going to make this happen!' Wow talk about thinking a lot of ourselves, we don't even trust God to move the obstacles if it is His will, we believe we are supposed to 'move that mountain' and make it happen.
I sometimes wonder if I had been less stubborn and more thankful where my life would be today. What could the Lord have accomplished through me? Whose life would He have allowed me to touch? What stumbling blocks would have never been put in another's way?
You see this in your children and you think 'why won't they listen?', 'why won't they see this is exactly what I did?' or 'why can't they learn from my mistakes instead of repeating them?'
Don't you know when we think that, God thinks 'I'm perfect and I will give you perfect directions with peace and joy and you don't listen, so why should your children listen to you?' I know He wants what is best for us and He doesn't want us hurt but sometimes He must look and say "you know, all you had to do was listen' and shakes His head at us.
Friday night my daughter and I are going to dinner with some friends, one of the first 'normal' things we have done in a while. I called it our 'getting back to normal' dinner. Life for her is changing as she has gone through this time of abuse and now the divorce. I so wish she had been spared this but as she will tell you, she thought she knew what was best and she went her own way.
It's amazing, we had a talk last night about somethings that even weeks ago would have brought out the red flags and warning signs but we had a normal rational discussion. I'd almost forgotten what those are like but it was a good thing to 'flash back' to.
I'm thankful that God, who must often feel the same way about me, has been patient and loving with me. I pray that I will in turn show love and be more patient. I pray that my daughter and my granddaughter will learn that while I try to have the answers they need, I don't but God does.
Most of all I pray that they will not stumble more because of my words or actions.
< Message edited by DeeAnnBailey -- 11/13/2008 8:22:37 AM >
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D. Ann Bailey
My Blog Dee's Delights and Delusions
<<<<<<The love of my life - precious Erin!
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RE: Dee's Delights and Delusions - 11/17/2008 2:50:40 PM
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DeeAnnBailey
Posts: 2624
Joined: 3/23/2006
From: SC
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Mondays, don't you just love them???? Why is it that weekends seem so short? There is never enough time. Today is a very busy Monday because a lot of my work day is being spent on planning for our work Christmas party. The theme is 'Celebrate Giving' and true to it's name, our company and employees are going to be providing Christmas to around 100 people, mostly children that otherwise would not have Christmas. They will also be making a contribution to local food bank, giving to Blue Star Mothers and giving away 1000 bikes to kids. We are also going to be volunteering at a local soup kitchen. We are going to be packing food boxes for Senior citizens and packing toys for the kids and helping deliver them.
I'm excited, I love being able to work with seeing that people get what they need. I love getting the Christmas wish lists and being able to watch the toys and gifts come in. I'm so blessed, I don't have any needs and not really a lot of wants. Don't get me wrong, take me to the store and like most folks I can find somethings I'd like to have but I realize how blessed I am and I'm not focusing on 'getting'.
Christmas is for giving, not just gifts, but Jesus began the first step at Christmas to the ultimate gift of His life. And He continues to give to us, our health, our families, a good church. So many things that we cannot begin to thank Him the way we should.
I pray that as we give to help those in need, we can also share the real meaning of Christmas with them. With Christ in Christmas, true joy begins.
So today not only am I praying for my family and my church, I'm praying that God will use those of us that have the ability to impact others for His honor and glory. Let our testimonies speak even louder than the gifts we bring. Let us who Your joy in our attitdues and faces. Let us spread the good news that the King of Kings is come to bring life for all who will trust Him!
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D. Ann Bailey
My Blog Dee's Delights and Delusions
<<<<<<The love of my life - precious Erin!
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RE: Dee's Delights and Delusions - 11/20/2008 10:00:35 AM
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DeeAnnBailey
Posts: 2624
Joined: 3/23/2006
From: SC
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I'm moving a little slowly this morning, my back is suffering from more physical exercise than normal. We put together 200 bikes yesterday of the 1000 we will be giving away at Christmas. Wow, 200 bikes in 156 minutes, that was completing one bike every 46.8 seconds! It was an amazing assembly line process to watch, great teamwork, everyone working for the same goals - getting 200 bikes together and doing it in less time than the folks who had done it on Monday and Tuesday and we were able to do that! It was great!
As we got close to the end we knew we were running close on time and everyone went into high gear! If the person next to you was having a problem, you quickly moved to help them. The team the day before had completed the 200 bikes in 158 minutes and we had to beat that.
As I got home last night, while I was thinking about all the places that ached on my body and how many cuts and scrapes were on my hands, I thought 'wouldn't it be wonderful if God's children understood that sense of urgency?' We know we are in the last days, the signs are every where and you seldom go a day without hearing someone say it. But where is our urgency for souls? Why aren't we trying to reach the lost as the time approaches?
Yesterday both teams wanted that last bike done, it didn't made if my team finished it or the other team did. As our team finished our last bike, we moved to help with the 200th bike the other team was working on. It wasn't a competition, it was a team goal.
Paul spoke of running the race and I often thing of a relay team when I think of this. Everyone on the team may have their different weaknesses and strengths but if they work together, they can win the prize.
As Christains we are often too busy making sure everyone knows our opinions or our church is 'the right one' rather than looking at the souls that need Jesus.
Yesterday we were competing with the previous day's teams for the ability to wear jeans to work for week. As Christians we are working for rewards we can lay at Jesus feet. It far out weighs anything that we can win here on earth.
Let's get busy and be about our Father's business. The last soul that will be saved may well be alive today, they are waiting to be won. Will you help your brothers and sisters in Christ so that we may reach them?
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D. Ann Bailey
My Blog Dee's Delights and Delusions
<<<<<<The love of my life - precious Erin!
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RE: Dee's Delights and Delusions - 11/21/2008 1:49:32 PM
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DeeAnnBailey
Posts: 2624
Joined: 3/23/2006
From: SC
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At church Wednesday night the preacher made a comment that I thought was really great. He was preaching on finding God's will for your life. Actually he made several great points. One of the first one was 'are you truly praying for God to show you His will or are you praying that your will is what He wants'. I've probably been guilty of that one, you get the plan and you are so sure the plan is the right one so how could it possibly not be God's plan?
But the point that struck me most as this one 'Are you right now doing everything that you know God wants you to do each day while waiting for Him to direct you?' I ask myself are there days I don't pray like I should or read my Bible like I should? Then I'm not doing everything that God wants me to do each day. Am I neglecting tasks that I know I should be doing? I may have good 'reasons' but the bottom line is I'm not doing everything I should be doing.
God wants to direct us but most often He uses His word to do that, if we aren't reading and studying His word, we aren't allowing Him to talk to us. A one sided conversation doesn't accomplish much and if all we do is ask Him for things but we don't listen to his answers, we aren't doing what we should.
I love my job and I really can't imagine working anywhere else but if I talked to my boss as little as some of us talk with God, I won't be looked on with much favor. My boss understands my needs by hearing from him, he tells me what we can do about them by me listening to him. The same applies with God.
My biggest problem seems to be being too 'busy'. This past week I talked with someone about an opportunity that I think would be awesome and allow me to reach out to others but then I began to think of all the time it would take and I wondered how could I manage. I let things go at that conversation and I don't know if I'll take the opportunity or not. I need to not only talk with God but allow Him to talk with me. I need His direction so I can be what He would want me to be. Then I can follow where He leads me.
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D. Ann Bailey
My Blog Dee's Delights and Delusions
<<<<<<The love of my life - precious Erin!
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RE: Dee's Delights and Delusions - 11/26/2008 8:57:38 AM
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DeeAnnBailey
Posts: 2624
Joined: 3/23/2006
From: SC
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Wow! Tomorrow is Thanksgiving! I have so much to be thankful for! I'm thankful for my church family, our precious pastor and his wife and all the folks there. They are truly a blessing to me. I'm thankful for my family, my lovely daughter Alicia and precious Erin, they have made this year at times eventful but always filled with love. I'm thankful for my job and the team I work with. It has it's challenges but these folks are hard workers and they truly care about each other and those around them.
I'm thankful for many of the 'little things' waking up and seeing Erin smile in the mornings, hearing her try to talk and seeing her crawl around. I'm thankful that despite many bumps and hard places, she and my daughter are doing good. I'm thankful for this country I live in. While I know we are not headed in God's direction, it is still the best country in the world in my opinion and the fact that so many struggle to get here proves that to me over and over.
I'm thankful that when I'm down God sends someone allong to encourage me or a song that will lift my spirits. He cares so much for each of us. He shows His love to each of us in so many ways.
In recent weeks I've learns some interesting things about where I live, SC is 3rd in hunger needs in the USA and my county is 2nd in our state. So much need and yet most of us never see this need. I'm thankful that God has supplied my needs but I pray that He will make me more aware of the needs of those around me.
I'm thankful for friends at home, at work, in other states, folks I know I could call if I had a need and they would pray for me and they would help if they could. I don't know how those that don't have prayer support make it, I'd be a basket case!
I'm thankful for the precious baby we had born into our church family this week. I've watched the mom grow up, she worked for me for a while too. The last few months have been hard on them, she was on bed rest and we were scared many times that this child may not make it but he did and we rejoice with them that God has given them this precious child to raise for His honor and glory.
Once you begin counting the things to be thankful for and the blessings you have, it's hard to stop. So why do we usually spend more time thinking about the bad things? I think it is a tool of satan, if he can get us thinking about the bad things, we forget the good things and if we forget the good things, we will find ourselves not sharing the best news - that Jesus Christ is the answer to every situation.
I pray right now that God will bless my friends and family and all that read this blog. I pray He will minister to their needs and help them to rejoice in His many wonderful gifts.
Happy Thanksgiving!!!!
< Message edited by DeeAnnBailey -- 11/26/2008 11:41:34 AM >
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D. Ann Bailey
My Blog Dee's Delights and Delusions
<<<<<<The love of my life - precious Erin!
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RE: Dee's Delights and Delusions - 11/27/2008 10:02:57 AM
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DeeAnnBailey
Posts: 2624
Joined: 3/23/2006
From: SC
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I love this time of year! Thanksgiving, I remember dinners at my grandparents, all the children playing, and sneaking in to sit in the chair with 'Daddy Bill' (my granddad) to watch football. They would tell the children to play outside but as long as I sat up close to him no one would could send me out or tell me I was not supposed to be there.
Have you ever slid up close to our heavenly Father like that? Just knowing that no matter what was thrown your way, you were in His arms so no one could harm you, what a wonderful feeling!
I'm thankful for those times today! Today we are having a very NON-traditional Thanksgiving, I fought it but I lose. Instead of the smells of turkey and mac & cheese filling the house, everyone is pretty much doing their own thing. We've going out to eat, my mom and dad's idea, I fought it, Alicia and I were going to cook but my mom kept talking about the 'trouble' and we weren't sure if the heat was going to be back on, so I caved. I regret it now, I'd lke to be in the kitchen making all kinds of good stuff but my mom's already told my aunt we would meet her at the restaurant and the turkey is frozen.
Next year, we are having Thanksgiving at HOME!! And we are putting up the tree then if not before. It seems so unlike Thanksgiving today.
But just as with our salvation sometimes we don't 'feel' anything, it is still Thanksgiving regardless of where we are and what we do. I'm very thankful today for the messages and phone calls I've received wishing me a Happy Thanksgiving! I'm so thankful that God has instructed us to give thanks EVERY day because one day is not long enough to thank Him and others for my many blessings!
I miss Erin this morning, she spent the night with her dad and his family. She will be here shortly and everything will chance, at least one person will always be assigned to 'keeping an eye on her'. She is crawling and trying to walk and gets into everything! And she is such a joker! Yesterday I was coughing, I had gotten choked, of course she didn't understand that she just knew I kept coughing. Then she started with her little 'hack, hack' with a big grin on her face. She always trys to do what Nana does! 
Lord, today I give You thanks for everything that I have or ever hope to have. Help me to always remember it is all Yours. Keep me mindful the many blessings and treasures You have given to me. Thank you for my family, give them health and strength in the coming year. Thank you for my friends, be with them wherever they may be. Thank you for my church, pastor and his wife. Thank you for all the things that I cannot bring to memory but You know. And thank You most of all for sending Your Son to live, die and rise again, that I might become Your child. In Jesus name. Amen
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D. Ann Bailey
My Blog Dee's Delights and Delusions
<<<<<<The love of my life - precious Erin!
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RE: Dee's Delights and Delusions - 12/10/2008 7:51:34 AM
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DeeAnnBailey
Posts: 2624
Joined: 3/23/2006
From: SC
Status: offline
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Wow, it seems like forever since I've had a chance to come to the blog! I got that 'kill me and let me die' stomach bug, our whole family did and it was 5 days of pure misery! Then it was another couple of days before I could really eat anything at all. I should have lost weight but I'm not getting on the scales to see because if I went a week without eating and didn't that would make me mad!
So much going on these days, my daughter is going back to school full time. It's an | | |
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