In Acts 10:23-48a we read...

The next morning he got up and went with them. Some of his friends from Joppa went along. A day later they entered Caesarea. Cornelius was expecting them and had his relatives and close friends waiting with him. The minute Peter came through the door, Cornelius was up on his feet greeting him—and then down on his face worshiping him! Peter pulled him up and said, “None of that—I’m a man and only a man, no different from you.” Talking things over, they went on into the house, where Cornelius introduced Peter to everyone who had come. Peter addressed them, “You know, I’m sure that this is highly irregular. Jews just don’t do this—visit and relax with people of another race. But God has just shown me that no race is better than any other. So the minute I was sent for, I came, no questions asked. But now I’d like to know why you sent for me.” Cornelius said, “Four days ago at about this time, midafternoon, I was home praying. Suddenly there was a man right in front of me, flooding the room with light. He said, ‘Cornelius, your daily prayers and neighborly acts have brought you to God’s attention. I want you to send to Joppa to get Simon, the one they call Peter. He’s staying with Simon the Tanner down by the sea.’ “So I did it—I sent for you. And you’ve been good enough to come. And now we’re all here in God’s presence, ready to listen to whatever the Master put in your heart to tell us.” Peter fairly exploded with his good news: “It’s God’s own truth, nothing could be plainer: God plays no favorites! It makes no difference who you are or where you’re from—if you want God and are ready to do as he says, the door is open. The Message he sent to the children of Israel—that through Jesus Christ everything is being put together again—well, he’s doing it everywhere, among everyone. “You know the story of what happened in Judea. It began in Galilee after John preached a total life-change. Then Jesus arrived from Nazareth, anointed by God with the Holy Spirit, ready for action. He went through the country helping people and healing everyone who was beaten down by the Devil. He was able to do all this because God was with him. “And we saw it, saw it all, everything he did in the land of the Jews and in Jerusalem where they killed him, hung him from a cross. But in three days God had him up, alive, and out where he could be seen. Not everyone saw him—he wasn’t put on public display. Witnesses had been carefully handpicked by God beforehand—us! We were the ones, there to eat and drink with him after he came back from the dead. He commissioned us to announce this in public, to bear solemn witness that he is in fact the One whom God destined as Judge of the living and dead. But we’re not alone in this. Our witness that he is the means to forgiveness of sins is backed up by the witness of all the prophets.” No sooner were these words out of Peter’s mouth than the Holy Spirit came on the listeners. The believing Jews who had come with Peter couldn’t believe it, couldn’t believe that the gift of the Holy Spirit was poured out on “outsider” non-Jews, but there it was—they heard them speaking in tongues, heard them praising God. Then Peter said, “Do I hear any objections to baptizing these friends with water? They’ve received the Holy Spirit exactly as we did.” Hearing no objections, he ordered that they be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ.

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I don't know how anyone can read this and not get excited.  I am reminded that we are one body with Jesus at the head.  I may be just a toe, but I am filled with the same Holy Spirit as the big thigh.  God loves every, EVERY, believer.  Each one of us is worthy in his sight.  I cherish this promise.

I often find it hard to accept that there are those who believe their "body part" is so great that they ignore the "little tiny hair follicle" and its part in the kingdoms work.  Everyone that accepts is useful.  We must not focus though on what others may or may not see in our ministry.  We must only listen to the Lord's plan and purpose for us individually.  God loves the willing heart. 

When we are steadfast in his word our hearts are filled to the brim and overflow into action.  That's where I want to be every day.  Am I successful for him every day?  I would say, No.  The truth is, I don't know if I am successful for him because I am a seed planter.  I may see the fruits of my labor or I might not.  God knows though.  God knows my heart.

(Reminder:  What I write comes from God's lessons to me.  It has nothing to do with anyone on a personal level.  If God speaks to you in any way, be blessed)

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Luke 17:6 says, He replied, "If you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mulberry tree, 'Be uprooted and planted in the sea,' and it will obey you.

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Fresh Find:  I think this t is amazing.  I love the simple lines.  A guys best, but a girl might love it, too!

In worship (Dr. Tim Marrow) today our scripture reference was Matthew 14:22-33.  A few thoughts from my notes.

Lord save me.  This is my quest every day...Master of the Sea...save me.  Not in the sense of my salvation kind of saving because I am assured of that.  This is save me as I try to live in this world.

This thought came to my mind: If you have the faith to walk on water then you must not doubt it if your plan is to get to the other shore.

We often find ourselves in the midst of a storm, a valley, a trial, whatever you want to call it.  I know that each time I find myself there I know one thing...ALWAYS.  God is with me, he is my strength.

The one thought that really stuck with me is this:  Do not waste your storm.  What is the purpose of us being in a storm?  It doesn't really matter that we find ourselves in the storm.  It matters on how we reflect the love of Jesus to others as we walk through the storm.

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Our little dancers ...

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Fresh Find:  I like these old skeleton key necklaces in bright colors!

This horse hitch is at our childhood home.  It is the one thing remaining there that I would love to have.  I go by to see it every once in a while.  I remember getting the horse.  I remember being told at least a thousand times to not pull on the ring.  LOL

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Fresh Find:  Love this Poppy skirt.  I'm ready for skirts & flip-flops!

We will never know each other until we see through the eyes of God the beauty within. p

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Today my prayer is; God, Lead me today to serve, to make a difference, to sacrifice, to love, to push beyond comfortable, to accept, to challenge, to encourage; all as your representative.  Amen

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It snowed the most beautiful snow here today...

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They make me smile.  I so need that today! Our princesses!!!

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Fresh Find:  Love this t-shirt!

We always talk about the amazing sunsets that we have here on the land in plain view...for miles and miles.  People make fun of our few trees, but what you miss with trees is the first rising of the sun and the last of the setting sun.  Blessed.  Tonight God blessed my eyes to see...

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Fresh Find:  What a fun charm pin!

The past few years God has led me to create an art-piece to donate to the American Cancer Society, either at our Relay for Life or the Cotton Barons Ball, to raise money for our area's cancer patients. 

Let me say up front, I'm not an artist.  What I am is willing to try and make a difference.  I want to be the arms and legs of Christ's love.  I try to follow the nudgings of the Holy Spirit.  I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength, direction, ability, whatever I need for the task he places before me. 

This year God placed in my hands the idea to create the piece.  I started it today.  Here is a "snippet" of the American Cancer Society Relay for Life art-piece entitled:  It Touches Us All.  It will be sold at this year's Relay for Life in May. 

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Fresh Find:  I came across Ron Arad's work.  I love this piece and many others of this artist, designer, architect, creative genius!  Check them out!!!

February 1905 ... 12 Sun eggs 22 very cool

If I were to journal like my great grandmother it might read like this:

February 2013 ... 12 Tues made soup (no hens to count eggs) freezing and snow

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Have you ever driven up to a traffic light and it just starts dancing?  

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My favorite snow picture from today is this one...because "they" looks very unhappy with the coldness around "them".  LOL
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Fresh Find:  I LOVE this awesome sand dollar dress for warm weather or for now with a sweet sweater!

I grew up home alone after school and on Saturdays.  Both my parents worked all day.  It was often about dark when they would get home. One of the things about coming home from school to an empty house is the silence. 

Not that silence is a bad thing at all.  I kind of like the quite.  As a matter of fact I feel sure that all of that time alone has made me demand much quite time for my life as an adult.  Some people love people around them all of the time...others enjoy solitude.  I'm the latter. 

Coming home after school wasn't too bad because some days I could play outside with friends as long as the weather was good.  On colder days I might could go to a friend's house for a while.  We really were good kids.  We obeyed our parents or at least that's how I remember all of the neighborhood kids acting.

It was so much safer for kids back then.  Our parents didn't have to worry too much about someone doing anything bad to us.  Mostly they had to worry about us having friends over while we were alone.  My mother knew when anything had been touched.  I would pay dearly for that if I disobeyed. 

Speaking of discipline.  I am from the "belt" generation. "Go get me the belt." "Do you want me to get the belt?"  Believe me when I say...I got the "belt" on many occasions.  I'm sure I deserved it and I can say that loving discipline defines us; most often for the good.

Alone, I never really feel alone.  Maybe because I learned how to not be alone by being with myself.

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Fresh Find:  Have a wall that needs dressing?  Love this!

I attended the wedding of my cousin's daughter this weekend in Houston.  It was a simply elegant affair.  This is my cousin, Janis Alexander Cross, (Mother-of-the-Bride) and me at the reception.

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Fresh Find: I think these wall tiles would be awesome on a colored wall.

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Today God had me hopping.  I love these days where the Holy Spirit nudges me into action with a pop-pop-pop! 

Philippians 2:1-11 is such important scripture...So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Bless and be blessed!  A young boy gave me this creative representation...The Screws.  He actually let me select one of his creations as a thank you for blessing his family.  To me the white screw represents Jesus.  It is the one screw that is directly connected to the ring of life.  The black nail reminds me of the suffering he did for me on the cross.  The red screw represents the blood he shed for me.  The yellow screw represents the resurrection and the hope I have through grace.  The brown screw represents others and their importance to Jesus.  Notice the yellow screw of hope and the brown screw of others are together and touching.  Others hope is found in Jesus through our service, ministry, actions. Today I was blessed.

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Fresh Find:  This warm weather we are having makes me thing of flowers...the 50 state flowers kitchen towel to be exact!