Clay Balls

A man was exploring caves by the Seashore. In one of the caves he found a canvas bag with a bunch of harden clay balls. It was like someone had rolled clay balls and left them in the sun to bake. They didn't look like much, but they intrigued the man, so he took the bag out of the cave with him. As he strolled along the beach, he would throw the clay balls one at a time out into the ocean as far as he could.

He thought little about it, until he dropped one of the clay balls and it cracked open on a rock. Inside was a beautiful precious stone!

Excited, the man started breaking open the remaining clay balls. Each contained a small treasure. He found thousands of dollars worth of jewels in the 20 or so clay balls he had left.

Then it struck him. He had been on the beach a long time. He had thrown about 50 to 60 of the clay balls with their hidden treasure into the ocean waves. Instead of thousands of dollars in treasure he could have taken tens of thousands, but he had just thrown it away!

It is like that with people. We look at someone, maybe even ourselves, and see the external clay vessel. It doesn't look like much from the outside. It isn't always beautiful or sparkling, so we discount it.

We see that person as less important than someone more beautiful or stylish or well known or wealthy. But we have not taken the time to find the treasure hidden inside that person.

There is a treasure in each and every one of us. If we take the time to get to know that person, and if we ask God to show that person the way He sees them, then the clay begins to peel away and the brilliant gem begins to shine forth.

May we not come to the end of our lives and find out that we have thrown away a fortune in friendships because the gems were hidden in bits of clay. May we see the people in our world they way God sees them.

I am so blessed by gems of friendship I have with you. Thank you for looking beyond my clay vessel.

I don't know who wrote this, but it touched my heart.

I am a Kept Woman

You see there were a few times when I thought I would loose my mind,
but GOD kept me sane. (Isaiah 26:3)

There were times when I thought I could go no longer,
but the LORD kept me moving.
(Gen. 28:15)

At times, I have wanted to lash out at those whom I felt have done me wrong.
But the LORD kept my mouth shut..( Psalm 13)

Somtimes, I think money just isn't enough,
But GOD has helped us to keep the lights on, the water on, the car paid, the house paid, etc...
(Mat. 6:25-34)

When I thought I would fall, HE kept me up.
When I thought I was weak, HE kept me strong!
(1 Peter 5:7, Matt. 11: 28-30)

I could go on and on and on, but I am sure you hear me!
I am blessed to be 'kept'!

I'm "kept" by the Grace and Love of GOD

Desert Song

I came across this song yesterday by being apart of Sings My Soul Saturday hosted by Amy.
There have been so many times that I find myself in the Desert. Not only me but, I hear so many who are struggling with all kinds of storms or should I say battles. Whether it is from:
Family, Finances, Friends, Jobs, Sickness...the list could go on and on and on. While we think we are alone because so many do not want to discuss their problems "WE ARE NOT ALONE"! We put on this mask and try to act like everything is happy and blissful when we are breaking into inside. I know because I have been there and still there a lot of the time! Remember this: YOU ARE NOT ALONE!! God is with you! So, my friend...when life hits you when you least expect it or you feel as things are spiraling out of control with life's struggles PRAISE HIM! MY GOD IS THE GOD WHO PROVIDES!



For more Super Sunday visit Peggy here.

Love Without Limits

For more Sings My Soul Saturday visit Amy.

Lifesavers Candy

A teacher was doing a study testing the senses (taste)        

The children began to identify the flavors by their color:

Red.....................Cherry
Yellow................Lemon
Green..................Lime
Orange...............Orange

Finally the teacher gave them all HONEY lifesavers. None
Of the children could identify the taste.

The teacher said, 'I will give you all a clue. It's what
your Mother may sometimes call your father.'

One little girl looked up in horror, spit her lifesaver out
and Yelled, 'Oh my Gosh! They're butt-holes!

The teacher had to leave the room!

Hope everyone has a FABULOUS Friday!!!:)
For more FUN and Laughs visit Kim here!

Sound Investing

The 4th and last part of Scriptural Prayers for Your Finances is Sound Investing.

Spending. Because everything I have is Yours, I will seek Your glory in every financial decision. Specifically, ______________(consult Him about the decisiions you're making now) (1 Chorn. 29:11; Prov. 3:6; 1 Cor. 10:31).

Saving. Just as the ant prepares for the future, I will put aside money for future expenditures that will honor You, including _______(list the things you need to save for) (Prov.6:6-8).

Financial investment. My Master, are there areas in which You want me to take obedient risks with the wealth You have entrusted to me, in order to bring a return that will serve You and Your kingdom (Mt.25:24-27)?

Treasure in heaven. I gladly store up for myself treasures in heaven, where nothing can destroy them or take them away. I choose to shift the focus of my heart from earthly possessions toward heaven, where my home and my lasting treasure are--with You (Mt. 6:19-21;
Heb. 11:16).

Investing in people. Lord, how can I most effectively invest my worldly wealth in people, so that when it is gone and this life is over, they might join me in heaven(Lk.16:9)?
Scriptural Prayers for Your Finances by Brian Smith

In the time that we are living with so much hurt, pain and financial stress; what better time to pray for our finances and our country than now!

Today is : BFF (Best Friends Forever)

To all my blog friends ....this is for you.

Hope you have a MARVELOUS Monday!
Happy BFF Day!

Made Me Glad

For more Super Sunday visit Peggy @Amazing Grace-Mazes, Messes, Miracles.

Three Men on a Hike

Three Men on a Hike Three men were hiking through a forest when they came upon a large raging, violent river. Needing to get to the other side, the first man prayed: "God, please give me the strength to cross the river."

Poof! God gave him big arms and strong legs and he was able to swim across in about 2 hours, having almost drowned twice.

After witnessing that, the second man prayed: "God, please give me strength and the tools to cross the river"

Poof! ... God gave him a rowboat and strong arms and strong legs and he was able to row across in about an hour after almost capsizing once.

Seeing what happened to the first two men, the third man prayed: "God, please give me the strength, the tools and the intelligence to cross the river"

Poof! ... He was turned in to a woman. She checked the map, hiked one hundred yards up stream and walked across the bridge.

"If at first you don't succeed, do it the way your wife told you!

Ladies...it is good to be back! I have missed you!

For more laughs visit Kim here!

Checking In

Summer is here!! This past month things have been very crazy for me. I hope to post on some of these things soon. Thanks to everyone who continues to visit my blog and send prayers and encouragement! I have one more post on "Praying for your finances" that I hope to get out this week.
I am so behind in visiting and reading blogs...so I will be by soon to see what is going on with you.

For now I am heading to the gym to work on getting in shape!:)