God is every where. Ok, this may seem obvious, particularly if you are a Christian, but I am not just talking about his prescense. What I am referring to in this post is the idea that in the United States we are free to discuss God and Jesus Christ, and a result, there is information about him everywhere. Evangelists preach His word on t.v., singers sing His praise on the radio, books quote Him, and the Internet shows Christian music videos, provides online bibles to look up your favorite verse, and more.
Today alone, my husband and I woke up and went to church. On the way, we listen to 89.5, the Christian radio station and returned home to watch the "The Nativity Story," a movie made in 2006 about Mary and Joseph and the birth of baby Jesus. Later I might spend some time browsing the Internet for more Christan links to add to this blog. Check out the ones that I've already added when you get the chance. They are all worth a visit. And when you do, be sure to take a moment to realize how blessed we are to have this freedom. It's not so in all areas of the world.
Wishing you "Blessings from Above,"
Denise
Sunday, December 30, 2007
Friday, December 28, 2007
Jury Duty
I got called for jury duty and was NOT happy about it - not because I mind doing my civic duty, but because I have to take the train into one of America's most criminal-ridden cities. It's almost like taking your life into your hands. I think I grumbled about it from the moment I received the notice in the mail all the way up until I got to the courthouse. It's just not a pleasant thing in our county. You either have to fight the morning rush on the highway to get there, running the risk of getting stuck in bumper to bumper traffic, or take the train which is well over an hour production to get there. In a perfect world it would only take about 10-15 minutes. I just didn't want to go.
When I got on the train the morning I was summoned to appear, I asked if the train was an express train, concerned if it would stop at my stop or whiz on by. As a passenger responded that it was an express train, me and another woman jumped off. "I don't want to miss my stop," I told her. "I have to go to jury duty." "So do I," was her response. We became friends from that moment on and only left each others side to go to the ladies room. We talked about everything from our husbands, to her kids, to jobs, and things she wants to do in life but doesn't think she can. I tried to encourage her that life is short and to do what she wants. I was thrilled that God gave me her company for the 6 hours we were together. Neither of us ever did get called to the court room and we even got dismissed early and took the train home together. God surely joined us together for the day - it was no coincidence!
Wishing you "Blessings from Above"
Denise
When I got on the train the morning I was summoned to appear, I asked if the train was an express train, concerned if it would stop at my stop or whiz on by. As a passenger responded that it was an express train, me and another woman jumped off. "I don't want to miss my stop," I told her. "I have to go to jury duty." "So do I," was her response. We became friends from that moment on and only left each others side to go to the ladies room. We talked about everything from our husbands, to her kids, to jobs, and things she wants to do in life but doesn't think she can. I tried to encourage her that life is short and to do what she wants. I was thrilled that God gave me her company for the 6 hours we were together. Neither of us ever did get called to the court room and we even got dismissed early and took the train home together. God surely joined us together for the day - it was no coincidence!
Wishing you "Blessings from Above"
Denise
Thursday, December 27, 2007
Plentiful delicacies
The other day I dropped my precious sugar bowl on the floor splattering sugar all over the place. I was heart broken because it matched my dishware. I also felt a twinge a guilt because centuries ago, sugar was considered a precious and rare item - only the rich had it - and here I was sweeping it off the floor and throwing it in the trash.
The same goes for food. Food is so precious to the hungry, yet so many of us, myself included, take it for granted. We have so much of it we don't know what to do with it all. That's particularly common during Christmas when we stuff ourselves at holiday parties and then wrap up the huge of amount of leftovers and divvy it up to take it home. And often it's the good stuff - crab meat, shrimp, sweet fruits, gourmet candies. Next time this happens, take a moment to reflect on how fortunate we are. There are people in other parts of the world that would just be grateful for anything to eat, let alone have all these delicacies in such enormous amounts.
Wishing you "Blessings from Above"
Denise
The same goes for food. Food is so precious to the hungry, yet so many of us, myself included, take it for granted. We have so much of it we don't know what to do with it all. That's particularly common during Christmas when we stuff ourselves at holiday parties and then wrap up the huge of amount of leftovers and divvy it up to take it home. And often it's the good stuff - crab meat, shrimp, sweet fruits, gourmet candies. Next time this happens, take a moment to reflect on how fortunate we are. There are people in other parts of the world that would just be grateful for anything to eat, let alone have all these delicacies in such enormous amounts.
Wishing you "Blessings from Above"
Denise
Be careful
Cousin Stacey's little girl, Karlee, yelled "Go! Go! And beee caaareful" as my mother-in-law and I left their house after a Tupperware party. A storm just rolled in lighting up our world with lightening, thunder, and what seemed likes buckets of rain.
My mother-in-law and I drove separetly, following each other home most of the way. After she turned down her street, I only had a 10 minute drive. Perched at the edge of my seat, my nose was only a few inches from the windshield - the rain was coming down so hard I wouldn't have been able to see otherwise. About three minutes from my house, the sky lit up, and for a brief second, I could see an enormous tree falling right down on me as I was driving. Lighting must have hit it. The lighting went away and I couldn't see anything, but I knew the tree was on it's way down. Reacting quickly I began to swerve to the right of the road just as the tip of the tree hit and cracked my windshields and took out the mirror on the driver's side view mirror before landing behind my car. It must have rested in the street because I noticed traffic had stopped.
I caught my breath realizing that I was fine it was just my little red Pontiac that took a bit of a beating. My husband and father-in-law were waiting in the garage when I pulled up. I got out to find the hood dented and pieces of the tree embedded in my windshield.
The insurance adjuster asked me, "Do you know how lucky you are?" And I just smiled. I know I was blessed by God! He kept me safe.
Wishing you "Blessings from Above"
Denise
My mother-in-law and I drove separetly, following each other home most of the way. After she turned down her street, I only had a 10 minute drive. Perched at the edge of my seat, my nose was only a few inches from the windshield - the rain was coming down so hard I wouldn't have been able to see otherwise. About three minutes from my house, the sky lit up, and for a brief second, I could see an enormous tree falling right down on me as I was driving. Lighting must have hit it. The lighting went away and I couldn't see anything, but I knew the tree was on it's way down. Reacting quickly I began to swerve to the right of the road just as the tip of the tree hit and cracked my windshields and took out the mirror on the driver's side view mirror before landing behind my car. It must have rested in the street because I noticed traffic had stopped.
I caught my breath realizing that I was fine it was just my little red Pontiac that took a bit of a beating. My husband and father-in-law were waiting in the garage when I pulled up. I got out to find the hood dented and pieces of the tree embedded in my windshield.
The insurance adjuster asked me, "Do you know how lucky you are?" And I just smiled. I know I was blessed by God! He kept me safe.
Wishing you "Blessings from Above"
Denise
Wednesday, December 26, 2007
Blessings from Above
I decided with the world often being a negative place, that I start a blog that focuses on the positive blessings in my life, my friend's world, and even complete strangers. And let me tell you, there really are more blessings in our lives then we realize. That's the point of my writing - to remind us how good we really have it.
While the idea of focusing on blessings isn't exactly a novel idea, it's not something that I've seen a lot of in "blogland." Blessings from Above gives me (and you!) a chance to share with others the good that happens in our lives and to encourage others to start taking notice of the positive things that are going on their world, whether big or small.
As I go along on my journey as a blogger, I'll share with you some of things that have happened to me in my life that could have created serious issues and how God blessed me and saved me from catastrophy. You'll "meet" the people in my life and my three furry rabbit friends who are a few of the loves in my life.
I'll talk to others, too, and let them share all the wonderful blessings that God has showered on them. Enjoy and and feel free to share with me how you've been "Blessed from Above."
Wishing you "Blessings from Above"
Denise
While the idea of focusing on blessings isn't exactly a novel idea, it's not something that I've seen a lot of in "blogland." Blessings from Above gives me (and you!) a chance to share with others the good that happens in our lives and to encourage others to start taking notice of the positive things that are going on their world, whether big or small.
As I go along on my journey as a blogger, I'll share with you some of things that have happened to me in my life that could have created serious issues and how God blessed me and saved me from catastrophy. You'll "meet" the people in my life and my three furry rabbit friends who are a few of the loves in my life.
I'll talk to others, too, and let them share all the wonderful blessings that God has showered on them. Enjoy and and feel free to share with me how you've been "Blessed from Above."
Wishing you "Blessings from Above"
Denise
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