We are honored to tithe to our church. God directs us to give, and he blesses us with our giving. Clinton has always taken care of our tithe giving as our family spiritual leader. To tithe is to give regularly.

I like 1 Corinthians 16:2- On the first day of every week, each one of you should set aside a sum of money in keeping with your income, saving it up, so that when I come no collections will have to be made. In other words, determine the amount in your heart according to your income and give it to the gathering house of faith seekers where God has led you to worship.

A couple of years ago, God placed on my heart that I need to give from whatever I have in my wallet come Sunday morning. When his offering plate is passed, I need to sacrificially give in addition to what we tithe. 

I don't typically share anything specific about our giving, but what happened this morning makes me smile.

Yesterday, I cleaned out my purse. I had receipts, bills and change stuffed in it. I took everything out and emptied it and organized it. Nothing unusual. This morning, as I sat down in the pew, I got my glasses out, and then my pen for doodling what God was going to share and the money to place in the offering plate.

I had twenty-three dollars in my wallet; two tens and three ones. As I sat trying to decide what to give, eleven dollars or twelve dollars, the Holy Spirit led my heart to know that I should give God the most because he blesses me so much. So, twelve dollars was placed in the offering plate.

Later, as I reached into my purse to get something, there was all of this money folded in half, in several different places down in my purse. Twenty-three dollars to be exact.

Listening to the Holy Spirit and giving sacrificially of our time and our money will surely be blessed by our God, who loves us.

In 2 Corinthians 9:8-11 we read:

And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work. As it is written: “They have freely scattered their gifts to the poor; their righteousness endures forever.” Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness. You will be enriched in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God.

Today, he gave me a very clear message!

Fresh Find: Awesome modern cuckoo clock!

Who was Mother Goose? I find it kind of scary that no one actually knows. I mean, who would doom Wednesday, Thursday and Friday's children?

Monday's child is fair of face,
Tuesday's child is full of grace,
Wednesday's child is full of woe,
Thursday's child has far to go.
Friday's child works hard for a living,
Saturday's child is loving and giving,
But a child born on the Sabbath day
Is fair and wise and good and gay.

What day were you born and does this Mother Goose writing fit you?

You can find out here: Day of the Week

In looking around online, I found this tidbit about Monday's Child days of the week poem. Below is a breakdown of the day, the origin of its name and the comparison to the line in the rhyme:

Monday - the second day of the week, day of moon goddess, Selene, Luna and Mani. "Derived from Lunae Dies, day of the moon, the name reflects the ancient observance of feast days dedicated to moon goddess or planet." Hence, "Monday's child is fair of face."

Tuesday - the third day of the week, the day of Mars, associated with Ares. Graceful and swift. "Tuesday's child is full of grace."

Wednesday - the fourth day of the week, Woden (Odin), chief god of Norse mythology, who was often called the All-Father. "Wednesday's child is full of woe." Odin's responsibilities were such that he was never attributed to any cheerful disposition. "Woe" as used in the English language today is an expression of grief, regret, distress, etc. (Every dictionary, take your pick, uses those words to describe the word "woe".) In the 17th and 18th centuries, it was more an expression of deep concern, and heavy responsibilities, and it has been suggested that "woebegone" might be more accurate; but "woebegone" wouldn't rhyme. Instead, we get "Wednesday's child is full of woe."

Thursday - the fifth day of the week, "... derives its name from the Middle English Thoresday, or Thursdaye, corresponding to the Roman dies Jovis. "Thursday's child has far to go," much like Thor, the only god who couldn't cross from earth to heaven upon the rainbow.

Friday - the sixth day of the week, named after the Odin's mother, Frigga (Roman equivalent Venus). Frigga means loving or beloved, hence, "Friday's child is loving and giving".

Saturday - the seventh day of the week, "corresponding to the Roman dies Saturni, or day of Saturn, the Roman god of agriculture. Those who worked the earth worked hard, hence "Saturday's child works hard for a living."

Sunday - the first day of the week. "From prehistoric times to the close of the fifth century of the Christian era, the worship of the sun was dominant. Sunday celebrates the sun god, Ra, Helios, Apollo, Ogmios, Mithrias, the sun goddess, Phoebe. "But the child born on the Sabbath day, Is fair and wise and good and gay." Correspondingly, sunny, fun, and loving - bringing joy to other people.

Well, that explains it, right? 

WOW, I'm so thankful that God created it all. He created me. If he created me with woe (yes, I'm a Wednesday child of God), then he created a way for my woefulness. He brought me to Jesus, who carried my sins to the cross and delivered me stain free to one day enter into the presence of God. 

Fresh Find: Fun game of phones!

Clinton's first home. Back in the day, many newlyweds lived in trailers. I would love to have this one for a playhouse! 

The word trailer always takes me back to this song we sang growing up. King of the Road by Roger Miller. 

Fresh Find: Fun egg separator fish.

Wow! We are so proud of our Miss "A." Her clay creation was one of two chosen to go to the museum in her town. Here she is showing us when we were there for her school program. They will host a community reception for them. What a wonderful honor!

Fresh Find: What a beautiful piece of art. I love this bucket!

God has led me to these words.

This week there were several Facebook posts on really bad customer service where I live. It does break my heart when a business is criticized as a whole for specific circumstances. I get it, though. When we aren't happy, ain't nobody happy. I say that teasingly, but it is true. I don't think that businesses realize the ripple effect that is created when customers receive bad customer service and leave unhappy. With technology, we can know right away if someone is unhappy and then everyone who has ever been unhappy is reminded of their experience and so the pebble skips across the surface until it sinks, unless the business is proactive and customer service is a dedicated requirement.

There are always two sides to every story. I get this, too. Even with two sides, two different views, there is no reason to come unraveled. When I worked retail, God shared this thought with me:

STAY EMPLOYED! The customer is "always" right. Should this ever come into question, seek management promptly, BEFORE you lose it…your temper, the customer, your job.

Let's tell the truth. It happens. We give and get bad customer service sometimes. We never really know what someone is going through behind their facade. We can't understand what we don't know, and this is what creates our chapter testimony and how we are led to handle the situation. We may feel we are trying to make a point when in reality we are pushing buttons in a way that another finds unacceptable. 

Fuses are different lengths. The problem is that we do not know a person's fuse length until it is too late. It blows. Now, what?

We obviously are not going to leave happy. No one is happy at this point. So, how do we get back on track?

Sometimes when we follow the chain of command to try and get resolution, we are not satisfied. So, we move forward.

First we must realize that what has occurred is in the past. It is history. 

For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through the endurance taught in the Scriptures and the encouragement they provide we might have hope. Romans 15:4

What did we learn from this experience? Since we can only worry about ourselves and our relationship with Christ, we must determine how God can use this in our life for his Glory.

As we witness sad and bad situations that affect our hearts, we must remember that every situation is a chapter testimony of our faith journey.

You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives. So then, don’t be afraid. I will provide for you and your children Genesis 50:20-21

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. Romans 8:28

When one person falls from customer service grace, we must remember that there very well may be someone else that can carry us through with a healing smile.

I know I have learned this week. 

Fresh Find: A great durable canvas carry-all.

I have been blogging, in His hands, since 2006, ten years! That is over 3,500 blog posts. In 2013, I started the Exploring Plainview blog. That is about 1,100 blog posts.  That's a lot of posts. At least, it is for me. I often question why I continue to share so publically and in this way. I guess it is my hope that somewhere along the way I can encourage, inspire, help, motivate and share the love of Christ through words and pictures. It is only worth my time if God can use it. I am convinced he is, or I would not do it.

Sometimes, I have nothing to say. Like tonight. Random thoughts.

I'm sitting here, and I realize that I have my night shirt on backwards. I feel the leopard print neckline choking me. I look down. Sure enough, the "v" is in the back. You see, this is my world. For someone so very organized, I do crazy things. Yes, age does play a big part in my fall from grace/fulness.

Did you know, that as we age our head weighs so much more than when we were younger (it's the wisdom we carry) that when we try to take a big step up onto something, our heads will not allow our legs to pull the weight on up to where we are trying to step, and we tend to fall backwards. Do not try and tell me that it is our rear-ends that keep us from accomplishing this!

One day, the young ones who laugh at us will understand that our hips were created to allow us to bounce off things like the ball in the pinball machine. 

Oh, there was another step on that step-ladder. I guess my eyes missed it. Anyone else ever have this problem?

I think my shoulders have gotten larger, too. I have a hard time making it through doorways without hitting one or the other of them.

If you are laughing, just wait!

Walking through a field and those big rabbits scare the p-doodle out of me darting here and there.

It is 72 degrees, and I will either be freezing with a heater blowing on me or burning up with a fan! It is still 72 degrees.

When I go outside to take moon pictures, and I scare the Dove and the Dove scare me! Yikes!!!

The moment when I forgot about that patio chair and danced with it in the dark.

Or, when I drive to Regional Park to take pictures after dark, and a bunch of guy-kids are gathered in the parking lot, driving strangely with all kinds of lights on their vehicles and I feel out of place. I wonder why?

Then one pulls up behind me and turn their lights off and then passes me slowly and I point the camera their way. Did they think I wanted to take their pictures? I'm only interested in stars and the moon, not guy-kids.

And, I haven't turned my choking shirt around because I'm blogging! Now~!

Well, that about does it for today.

Oh, here is a picture I took back in 2006 (the year I started blogging) at Caprock Canyon state Park. It was getting dark.

Fresh Find: If I traveled, I would have this.

I could not do without thee;

I cannot stand alone,

I have no strength or goodness,

No wisdom of my own;

But thou, beloved Saviour,

Art all in all to me,

And weakness will be power,

If leaning hard on thee. by Frances R. Havergal

This is how I feel. I often ask God if I will ever not be weak. He reminds me that in my weakness I am made strong.

On the day I called, you answered me; my strength of soul you increased. Psalm 138:3

I am nothing, but in him I find purpose. Hebrews 13:6 says, So we can confidently say, “The Lord is my helper; I will not fear; what can man do to me?” 

I am a part of the family of God. Romans 8:15, The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, "Abba, Father." 

I gain confidence to exist through knowing him in the Word and allowing the Holy Spirit gift to live in me and direct my paths. It is hard to live in the world as a follower of Christ. In the boldness, he gives me I can be used. Yes, sinful and unworthy me. Me with little to offer. He gives me an identity for his purpose. I'm not a puppet or a brainwashed woman. I am weak, and this opens my heart to strong. 

Popeye: I'm Popeye the Sailor Man. I'm strong to the finich, cause me eats my spinach, I'm Popeye, the sailor man. I'm one tough gazookas that hates all palookas that ain't on the up and square. I biffs 'em and buffs 'em and always out-roughs 'em and none of 'em gets nowhere.

Popeye believed his spinach gave him strength. I believe in Jesus for my strength. You may find it crazy. I find confidence.

Fresh Find: Ready for summer and I like these shorts!

A few years ago I decided I wanted to bowl. Little did I know the blessings that God would bring me through the women I would bowl with and come to love as well as the many wonderful women in the league. We started out with our team of three being Susan Barkley, Annette Coon and me the first year. The second year Annette had to stop bowling, and we picked up Glenda Feris to add to our team of three. So, it was Glenda, Susan and me. Glenda moved (BOO) and so this year we started the year with Pam Lloyd, Susan Barkley and me as our "Three Bags Bowling" team. Pam suffered an injury and needed to stop so we were fortunate to pick up Shea Anderson, who had bowled in the league our first year, but not on our team. We are blessed! We always have fun and Shea fits right in. I have enjoyed each lady and God has allowed our paths to cross for a purpose.

Tonight Susan blessed our threesome with a little bit of her amazing talent, other than bowling. Look at what she made. It is so very special!!! It was tucked inside this great mug with a little box of chocolates!!! (Thank-you, Susan!!!)

If you would enjoy being in a women's bowling league, get three ladies together and we will start up the new year in September of 2016.

Fresh Find: I love this salt and pepper pinch bowl set!

I choose my passion. Passion is a very committed word. For a Believer, passion is defined as an intense inner motivation inspired by the Holy Spirit that drives us to know, love, obey and worship the Lord Jesus Christ. Passion is what we are willing to suffer for.

Our greatest needs are spiritual. Shouldn't our passion be found here then? In spiritual things.

Prayer is life's limitless reach. When we pray from the Word, we grow. The more we grow, the more we know his love. Do we feel him, see him and introduce him? Or, are we lost in a toddler world?

The intercession of prayer and the intervention of the Holy Spirit allows us to overcome in every circumstance.

Our days should be filled with a fruitful exaltation of God's glory. We can try real hard to love God and others, this is man's religion. A Mesquite tree does not produce peaches.

Faith is bookkeeping. Our sins are posted on Christ's account. The righteousness of Christ is posted on our account.

Our passion should be; our prayer should be, that HE be exalted in us through life and death. We should live our lives as if there is no end. For really, spiritually, there is no end once we accept.

Our passion should be to wake up every day thanking God for one more day of fruitful labor.

When we find ourselves in days that overwhelm us, we should pray for courage to be faithful until HE chooses to deliver us. Amen

It isn't a matter of who gets the long or the short piece of the wishbone in our faith walk because through Christ all things are possible for us all.  We choose. I choose.

Thoughts from a Philippians study by Dr. Michael Dean, Ft. Worth, Texas, at First Baptist Church 2016.

Fresh Find: Adorable toddler Converse shoes!

This is a wonderful picture of most of the Nellie Mae and Robert Ross Glasgow family. Their family consisted of Nellie and Robert, Geraldine, Lindel, Evelyne, Leta Mae, Peggy, Jo Ellen, Elsie Fay, Dale and Gale, and Glenda Kay. Peggy Glasgow married TC Wall and they had Clinton, then Bert, Donna and Kathy. Peggy is on the far left side.

Fresh Find: Flora wallet.