Biting the Blogging Bullet...Welcome to my Blogdom!

Now, don't get me wrong.  I LOVE a dollar store.  I buy about 80% of everything I use on a regular basis (groceries included) from the dollar store.  Our little town has three of them!  It is THE place to go for most of what I want.  From laundry supplies, to batteries, food for us, the cats, the birds, and the fish, soaps to clean everything in the house (including us), toys to occupy everyone, things to make us pretty, the house pretty, the yard pretty...you get the idea.  I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE the dollar store!  However...sometimes you need a little more. I was walking through the house one morning, thinking about pouring myself a cup of coffee.  Minding my own little business.  Mentally planning what I was going to do that day.  Out of the blue, God ripped right through my thoughts, and in a quiet little whisper said, "Quit living a dollar store life."  Now, I have to admit, I was completely taken aback!  I never really thou...

I have written notes in my Bible since I was a teenager.  It started out innocently enough.  I would highlight or underline a passage that spoke to me.  Then, it became a spot to jot down sermon notes when I forgot my notebook.  Every once in a while I would doodle a little something in the corner so that page would stand out when I was flipping through.  Sometimes I would scribble a little reminder of what God had specifically spoke into my heart while reading a particular passage.  My old Bible is paper thin and falling apart, but I so love reading the notes and promises from years ago.  Many of those pastors whose messages so inspired me are long gone, but their insight into God's word lives on. Fast Forward to now!  Today!  This afternoon my niece left me a note on my fb page stating that I simply MUST check out the Journaling Bible Community on FB!  Oh, my goodness!  It makes my little notes look like chicken scratch.  T...

Loneliness is not my friend. It never bothers with me when I am at home. It waits until I'm in a room full of people, sneaks up on me when I am least suspecting (and most vulnerable), and smacks me in the face...sometimes with enough force to bring tears to my eyes. In all of five seconds I go from shock, to embarrassment, to confusion, and then the realization that fight as I may, I'm only going to be capable of holding those tears back for a few more seconds. In acceptance, I race to do whatever needs to be done to hurriedly retreat into the darkness. Only there can the tears fall unseen and unknown to anyone but God. I'm not a big crier. I hate no one's tears but my own. I'm so thankful I have a God who not only sees my tears, but collects them. Those tears I loathe with a passion, God records them and cries with me. Loneliness may attack, but God comforts.   Loneliness cannot win! I love how David puts it in Psalm 56:8-11 NIV [with a little paraphrase from me.]...