Happy 8 day!

Today's date is 08/08/08. Next year the 09's and so on until 12/12/12 when after that it will take 88 years before the year 3000, and another chance to see triple numbers in a date will appear in 01/01/3001. Someone said 888 is the Chinese lucky number. Good luck. The Chinese haven't been very lucky throughout history.
In the Bible certain numbers have significance. Number 8 is the number of new beginnings.
In music it also is a new beginning. After 7 notes of a major scale end, a new scale starts on the octave. In a chromatic scale, meaning all the notes, there are 12before you reach an octave. Number 12 is also significant in the Bible.
There are 7 days in a week. 12 months in a year.
Todays date symbolizes new beginnings! Actually every day is a new beginning. We have a God of new beginnings! So...
What's new?

sowing and reaping

HAPPY FATHER'S DAY!
Papa, Papa, Papa! Hey Dad!
I use to call my father Daddy. Then as I matured I felt more manly to call him Dad. My grandfather was called 'Pop' even by people who weren't related.
Our Father Who Art in heaven said in Romans 8:15 For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, "Abba, Father." 16 The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God,17 and if children, then heirs-heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together.
Please hear me fathers! We sowed our oats and we are reaping our harvest, our children. Are we allowing that bounty to be corrupted by the weeds and the dirt that the world has put forth? Or are we inspecting and choosing the best fruit to fill our children's barns, their minds and their lives? If we sow to the wind will we not reap the whirlwind?
Heavenly Father, thank you for creating me in Your image. You are a loving father, who loves His children. Who wants the best for His children. Who died for His children.
Happy Father's day!

redundant rescue

No one likes to repeat themselves. Jesus use to repeat the word 'verily' or 'assuredly' to stress its importance. We don't always grasp at first glance, hence the 'double take'. In music the composer repeats the theme a few times to make it familiar before the variation. Then it closes back on the theme giving it a finality and sense of statement. I was going over my church notes when I noticed a recurring theme. Each teacher taught it. Each lesson was about it. I always new it, but this time I finally saw it. It was repeated over and over throughout the scripture. It is simply this: God is Love. I know, that's obvious. It can't be repeated enough though. God is Love! God is LOVE! GOD IS LOVE! So what does that really mean? It means you are important enough for Him to die for! The very Creator died for you! He did it once and for all...
No need to repeat it.
"It is finished."

Family fun

Our siblings are the people we will have the longest relationships with. Good or bad, those relationships are templates for who we are. We learn love, patience, anger, hurt--all those emotions from our family. If we have no siblings that also is a template for who we are. If I look back at where I was compared to now, or to how I treated others compared to now, I would hope to see some growth and improvement. I do. However, there are some areas that need a little attention, like holding onto grudges, or not being so sensitive when teased. I'm thankful that my family who are still alive have also grown and become the good people they are! I'm thankful that God saw fit to make them a part of my life. The longest part of my life. The most important part of my life!

Open your eyes

Sometimes it takes getting sent to our room. Rick is comatose. They moved him to another facility. At least he's stable now. I went to visit him and pray and I think he's trying to respond. Usually when I visit he just sleeps there. I didn't expect anything else but this time was very dramatic! I could actually see emotion in his tired, sleepy eyes. It seemed as though he struggled to open his eyelids and look in my direction. Then when his eyes finally fell on mine they lingered there for a minute. His mouth would flutter as though he were trying to speak. On my next visit I brought my camera. This time it wasn't as distinct but I still feel he's responding. Please pray for Rick. Pray that he'll stay sober and be a great witness to God's saving grace. Sometimes God has to take extreme measures to get our attention...To wake us up from our sleep...To get us to open our eyes and see!

consequence

I found Bandaid. He's in the hospital again. This time it's worse. They have him sedated so I couldn't ask him anything but the nurse said that he has a lung infection. He had that before after the accident (when he got hit by the taxi). He was in the hospital for a while and sobered up pretty good. I hope he makes it. I hope he can use this as a way to get sober and stay sober. Other wise he'll just keep reaping what he's sowing into. Please pray for Bandaid. His real name is Rick, and he's a nice person. He just has an addiction. God, please heal Rick and make him realize that only You can fill the void that we try to fill with other things.

Fermented fruit.

Bandaid got beat up. Sometimes he expresses a desire to quit drinking, then the next drink takes over and he's not in any pain...for now. Hub fell off the wagon. I don't know if what I do does any good. I tell myself that it can't hurt to pray with these people, but then I see no fruit and it's very discouraging. I think of others who selflessly keep on keepin' on even though they see no results. Did Mother Teresa stop serving just because poverty never ended? All the more reason to persevere. God can turn sour grapes into fine wine! Please pray for us.

Praise !

I saw Hub the other day. He's sober and looks like a real winner! He said he sees 'Sis' all the time and that she's sober and doing well in her sober living home! Let's keep them in our prayers. Thank you God for handing victory to those who love you! I praise you!
Bandaid goes to his deposition this month. He's still drinkin' and stinkin' but he is expressing a desire to stop. Pray.

My dad died

I need help. What gives me the idea that I can help others when I can't help myself? It's a rhetorical question that can be answered like this; God helps those who cannot help themselves. That's me...and you if you're honest. Well me Daddy past away. Actually he was killed in a major car crash up in Wyoming. It was at 0800 in the morning as he was eastbound on I-80 when the sunrise created an overwhelming glare (according to witnesses). The big rig didn't slow down as my father did and ran over my dad's truck and u-haul trailer. He was on his way from Portland OR to Broken Arrow OK where he had bought a new home. He was excited about the move. I know he has a better home now. I'm sure he's doing chores or staying busy somehow. My father was a very interesting and fascinating man! God rest his soul.