Scarlett’s Web   For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son that whosoever believes in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life. John 3:16

American Idol was a instant hit in the US with preteens all the way up to senior adults.  Just about everyone had their favorite they wanted to win.  There are several definitions for the word Idol:

I wanted to read “Embracing Your Second Calling” by Dale Hanson Bourke for several reasons.  First I had just retired and secondly I had been a Pastor wife’s for over 35 years before my husband retirement.  Your role as a Pastor’s wife is usually defined by the Church’s need and your talents.  Many times you fulfill a role and never know how you got there.  Now I have the freedom to choose but can’t seem to find the direction I need to go.  This book seemed like the answer to my quest.  I wanted to read the book slowly so that every word would speak to me.  I got much more than I was prepared for.  Dale doesn’t just write with words, she writes with her heart and allows you to see her as she is.  Before reading too many pages you come to think of her as a friend who is sitting at your table chatting with you.  No longer are you reading but you are immersed on  a journey of self discovery.  Dale will take you there and at times the journey is strenuous but the closer you get to discovering your “second calling” the easier the path becomes.  I began to feel excitement and anticipation but I still didn’t feel that sense of calling.  There are so many people with needs but I’m not physically able to do much.  My husband and I had always dreamed of being able to travel to different mission centers and helping but he had surgery and cannot walk on one foot for at least 12 weeks and then will have surgery on the second foot which will extend his being unable to walk for at least 6 months.  I have always had a dream and Dale has guided me back to that dream as my “Second Calling”!

My husband and I went to visit his brother and his wife in Hawaii for our 40th Wedding Anniversary.  On the day of our anniversary we went to the beach at sunset and renewed our vows.  I have entered a picture from that evening in a contest.  Please vote for us at this link:  http://na.blackberry.com/eng/services/blackberrymessenger/bbm_contest.jsp?pbb_qsi=44453822&=PBB_HowDoYouBBM_526_PPIMEMAIL

You hold the power to make an application, device or website a success or a failure. The best way to promote anything is to tell positive things about the product. And vice versa you can kill something by focusing on the negative. It is rare that anything is perfect or a complete failure. Almost everything, including people, have good points and bad points. Mostly because what might be important for one person isn’t necessarily a priority for someone else. However, should the majority find that the product has little or no value that product is most certainly doomed. And just the opposite can be said if everyone raves about a product. The more people say positive comments about a product the more other people want the product. The power to make something a success or a complete failure is in our hands. Developers depend upon us as consumers to help make their product a success. The best way to do that is to be honest. Comment on both the positive and negative in your opinion. I’m sure if you asked someone who makes themes what drives them to continue doing so, their response would be that love hearing from users how much they enjoy using the theme. How do some websites become so popular? Word of mouth from the members. The more active members the more visitors are drawn to the site. The more posts are made the more people come back to read the posts. If you read something that is helpful posted by another member, post how much you appreciate that information. If you download a theme, let the person who created the theme know how much you enjoy using it. The very same thing applies as a Christian.  Your life and attitude reflect your walk with Christ thereby affecting your Personal Witness.  Who would want to attend a Church where a member there is always complaining about the Pastor or other members?  Or attend a Church where a Deacon is playing on a Church sports team gets angry and starts yelling at the officals and uses cuss words?  Who wouldn’t want to attend a Church where you hear all about the wonderful service you just attended or the mission project you are involved in.  You have been given much power. Power to be a positive Witness for Christ. Don’t waste it. Put it to good use. More Power to You!

Recently my youngest Grandson who is from Ethiopia and has Cerebral Palsy had his tonsils and adenoid removed.  He had to stay overnight but the next day went home.  Several days later he still was not drinking nearly enough fluids.  Since he cannot eat solid foods most of his nutrition is from Pedia Sure which he drinks from a bottle.  About 5 days after the surgery he had only drank about 2 ounces in a 24-hour period.  I went and stayed with the rest of the children while my daughter took Jacob to the hospital where he was given IV fluids.  Getting some liquids in his body was essential for his growth as well as necessary in order to stay alive.  They gave him some additional pain medicatioin and released him with orders that if he should stop taking some fluids they were to take him back to the hospital immediately.  Many days I only eat 2 meals.  I would like to say that I’ve lost weight and I could say that, it just wouldn’t be the truth. and at this point it is irrevelant.  Think a moment to Jacob getting IV fluids.  Without some type of nourishment our bodies begun to shut down and we die.  It is the same with our relationship with Jesus.  If we don’t take nourishment then we will die.  As a child of God we must grow and we can only grow with the proper nourishment which is communicating, learning and growing in our relationship with Jesus Christ.  How are you?  Are you healthy and growing by learning what God wants to do in your life? Or, are you withering like a vine in the hot sun that has not had water. Your spiritutal well-being is as important if not more important as your physical health.  Do you need Christ to bring a taste of cool water to your dry parched lips?  He is there just waiting for you to ask.  Call upon him and he shall quinch your thirst.  Refuse him and you shall be hot, dry and thiristy throuhout all eternity.

For the past two days it has rained longer and heavier than I can remember experiencing.  Several States have reported tornado’s and widespread flooding.  I’m in Kentucky and the county where I live is currently under a Flood Warning.  In fact about 20 miles from here where we have a boat and small trailer the boat and dock are out floating in the lake.  Fortunately they are being held by a cable, or at least they were when we were there several hours ago.  Water was already up about six feet into the yard.  The trailer is several feet off the ground so I don’t think water will get that high unless the dam were to break.  Several scenerios I either read, heard or was a part of today got me to thinking how very differently people handle serious situations.  As much rain as we have had today some may joke and ask “Have you started building your Ark yet?”  Fortunately for Noah he didn’t let people joking and making fun of him stop his building of the Ark.  Why?  Because he never took his eyes off of his purpose and his purpose was to do as his Heavenly Father said.  God told him to build an Ark and he did.  He brought into the Ark his family and two of each animal, a male and a female, just as God told him.  Today I read of a family in Tennessee who not only brought their family but their friends and neighbors into their home because of the flood waters.  They built their Ark today just as clearly as Noah.  They followed God’s direction to reach out to those around them and bring them into their Ark just as Noah followed God’s direction.  I’m sure that story can be repeated many times over.  I have a sister-in-law who also lives in Tennessee that I talked with tonight and she was home alone but safe and had everything she needed.  She also had family and friends she could call that would come if there was anything she needed. But then I think of my mother who lives in another State and as far as I know is not in danger, however, she also needs an Ark.  She is in danger of drowning because there is no one to offer her a place in an ark.  I’m sure you are wondering how could I not offer her a place in my Ark not only as a daughter but as a Christian.  Very simple there are those that no matter how many times you open the door of the Ark they will not get on.  Instead they alienate those around them and nothing makes them happier than to create discord among all those they come in contact with.  She is in her 70’s and has been married 4 times.  She lives in a town where she has been evicted from several homes for senior adults and other rental properties and she always contends that she is the injured party.   Even her relatives who live there will not communicate with her.  No matter how hard I try to help she resists if it isn’t what she wants to hear.  It has to be her way or no way.  Eventually you give up because you simply have not strength enough to help someone when they won’t help themselves.  Like so many people who have lost their lives because they simply would not listen when people warned them to leave their home because flood waters would sweep them away. Yet they stayed and lost their lives.  God has provided an Ark for us in Christ Jesus.  He is our Savior and he is knocking on your door.  All you have to do is open it and let him into your life.  For if you do not you will drown as surely as those who did not leave their homes when the flood waters came.  Family, friends and neighbors can offer refuge but only God offers eternal life thru his Son, Jesus Christ.  If you don’t know him and he is knocking at your door please contact me at Scarlett@BlackBerryLadies.Com and I will tell you how you can have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ and will welcome to my Ark.