Refiner's Fire

I don't know about you but most of the time God's refining process is hard, painful and sometimes very long in my life. Even so, I want to be refined so I can be more like "HIM".

"Did I Mention"

I heard this song tonight at church and can't seem to get it off my mind. The lady that sang it did a really good job, and I thought I would share it with you sang by The Perry's.

Today's Rant......

WE had a lady in our church loose a teen granddaughter because her car was hit by a drunk driver. How pointless, the gentleman that hit the car was 28 and this was not his first offense.

This has always been a sore spot from me, although I have not personally been affected by a drunk driver tragedy. It is so pointless, and it should never have to happen. The person drinking and driving does not have to do this and it is a stupid decision. So this week at least two families were forever altered because of a drunk driver, the family that the teen died from, and the family of the drunk driver and in this situation there were two other people injured. I do not know their situation.

Alan and I also watched a movie this week entitle Seven Pounds, which was a decent movie with Will Smith in it. The jest of the movie comes out at the end of the movie that he was reading a text message while driving and killed his wife, and 6 more(or seriously injured 6 more). Their is more to the movie but these 2 events this week got me thinking about texting and driving(reading text messages/ or literally texting while driving). I will admit on occasion I have done this, read a text or sent a one word answer.

Today it stops. I challenge you to do the same. You are to precious to your family to do this to them, and the other cars that you meet are to precious to their family for you to be doing this, also.

Some statics for you on the internet.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration 5,870 people died in car accidents in 2008. ( This is 5870 to many, 5870 families have been altered because someone could not wait to read or send a text. Nothing is that important.) An additional 515,000 people were injured. Ridiculous!!!

50% of teenage drivers admit to texting while driving.
28% of all accidents in 2008 were caused by drivers between the ages of 18 and 29 that were texting while driving. (To my family and yours please stop it, and stop it now,you don't want to become part of this number. Your cargo is to precious to us, and their cargo is to precious to them).

Teens are not the only ones doing this. 81% of the U.S. population admits to texting while driving.

Most drivers today are aware of the risks of texting while driving but do it anyways

Due to the fact that text messaging slows a driver’s reaction time by 30%, texting while driving is being shown to cause greater impairment than being on drugs or drinking while driving.

So reading or sending texts, twittering, or checking out facebook needs to stop while you are in the car........Nothing is so important that it can not wait a few minutes until we get to our destinations. WE are not that important, but we are important enough to our families to not put them through an accident like this, just like the drunk driver should never get behind the wheel. We all think that kind of accident is such a waste and we should feel the same about our telephones in the car.

So Lord willing for me, this stopped today. I challenge you to stop and do the same because you are loved to your family and the vehicles you meet are loved by their families.

So that's my rant for today.
Joan

What I Just Finished Reading

I have been trying to finish up reading some books that people have loaned me recently and return them to their rightful owners. I just read "Learning to Breath Again", by Tammy Trent. Honestly, I had not ever heard of her before this book and I have had it a couple of months at least. She is a musician/singer and also been a Women of Faith Speaker. But I decided to give it a try this week so the book can return home.

I must say it was a very good book. Ms. Tammy's husband died in Jamaica in a diving accident Sept 10 2001. Then 9/11/01 happened and made her days in another country even more difficult after the sudden loss of her husband. She tells of their love story, marriage, career and then about losing the love of her life - Trent - her husband. And then she tells of learning to breath or live after becoming a widow and how God has helped her every step of the way.



If you have the opportunity and enjoying reading I would recommend this book. However, I am reminded in life we never know what we will have to face or where life will take us. But we can always rest assured that if we are God's child He will not hurt or harm us. Or ever take us through anything that He is not right there with us. So I leave you with this scripture..

Isiah 43:1-3a
But now thus saith the LORD that created thee, O Jacob, and he that formed thee, O Israel, Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art mine. When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee. For I am the LORD thy God, the Holy One of Israel, thy Saviour...


Until next time
Joan

I Don't Know Where To Go

Over the last year or so I have gone through many things that I will not or cannot write about on the blog and many times I am just empty on what to post. I have been struggling with what to do with my blog. I just don't know which direction to take it. Do you have any ideas? I have thought about just canceling it, what is your thought?

I am not open to posting a lot of family pictures, or divulging a lot of family information. I feel this is way to dangerous for the world wide web. There is to much evil lurking around everywhere and I don't want to expose anyone of my family to any of that. I don't want this blog to be a place for gossip for anyone as I see happening in so many of the twitter and facebook accounts and blogs. I know they can be used for good but personally I am seeing way to much of how it is just a means to socialize with people one should not be socializing with. It monopolizes peoples time and they are always checking up on the lastest gossip and neglecting their families. Be careful!!!You might be neglecting those most important to you!!! Some can't drive, or carry on a conversation, or work, or accomplish any task without being tied to their phones. Is this really magnifying our Saviour!!!!

I don't want the blog to be all about me, that is not having a humble spirit or for me being obedient to HIM. My life is HIS, and my life is to be about HIM, I don't want or need to post about me.

So I don't know which way to go, I want my blog if I continue to always be around my Saviuor. I just don't know what angle to take for my very few readers. I have thought of cooking,and couponing but how do you turn that into HIM when it is all said and done over and over again. I have thought of some book reviews, daily devotions, the list could go on and on.

But I just don't have an angle at this time.
Joan

From a Child's Memory Verse

Last night at church one of the young men, I mean pre-school age, young quoted this scripture.

It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in man.
Psalm 118:8

God spoke to me with this verse and reminded me that my trust needs to be in HIM and HIM alone.

In, With and Through Christ
Joan

Many Have Served

Many have served our country in my family and yours. Many died so we could be free. But He died so I could be free of Hell. What a Solider!!! Oh what a Saviour!!!!

In, With and Through Christ Alone
Joan