Southern Porch Extension

[Green Leaves]

I certainly didn't mean to imply Carol did not trust God, Don. It goes much deeper than that. I was just wishing she could actually feel God's arms around her.

[Laurie]

Mariane, Seema sent me that quilt when I'd had one thing after the other a few years back - Boss almost died, developed additional food allergies, got sick from the supplements I got from the nutritionist, had the long ordeal with my extensive dental work, etc. Anyway, there's a ministry in her church called Sew Blessed and they make quilts for people who are going through tough times. They try to choose fabrics in colors you like and they ask for your prayer request. Then they pray for you as they tie each knot on the quilt. And I believe they also pin your prayer request to your quilt and display the quilts at the church so others can pray for you. It's a lap size. One of the fabrics on the front is white with white lettering that says faith, hope, love, and charity. It has a cross on the back and also a "tag" sewn on the back with my name, the number of the quilt and the date. It was very sweet of Seema to think of me and arrange for them to make one for me. It meant so much and it still does.

[Laurie]

Don, I'm sorry to hear Carol has so much trouble sleeping. That makes it rough for you, too, to get your rest.

Mariane, I feel for you having the additional pain since you endure so much of it already.

Carol, I can't imagine the pain your friend is in.

Hugs all around to my Porch Pals.

[forHIM]

Sending my prayers for healing to all those who are in pain and who need to find rest. .

Carol, your poetry reflects so well the trust that goes along with pain and I do pray you will put a book together as I know it will bless those who read your work. God has a way of using us through our experiences and I know that my poems often reflect back on all the years I lived in constant fear and doubt. I sometimes think that I am an armchair Christian . . . but if this is were the Lord has me then I am going to make good time of it. Thank you for your prayers and for the love you show and the encouragement you give to so many.

Mairane, I too feel the pain from my rusty old neck and spine and the cold weather isn't nice to it. We are getting another round of snow tonight and tomorrow so I know that I will need to keep my long johns on and my wool socks too. Thank you for all your prayers . . . they mean a lot to me.

Laurie, my thoughts and prayers are with you and your family. I am glad you are resting and pray that each day you will regain strength soon. I pray the Lord will comfort your mother and ease her from her sorrow. Thank you for praying for me . . . prayers are a lot like chocolate . . . you can never get enough of them!

Verna, thank you for always making me feel good with your upbeat comments and for all your prayers. Your faith is so uplifting and I always look forwarding to reading your posts.

Don, praying for Carol and for you too. May the Lord help Carol to sleep and be at rest and to continue to give you His strength. Thank you for your prayers, I read your list and could put my name right there on top.

Joanney, I continue to pray for you and the boys and ask that God will bless you beyond what you expect . . . Thank you showing me strength in action, not just in words. I am amazed at all you do and how you never complain.

Edy, I always like to see what you are up to. You are always leading us to different sites of interest. I love when you post the songs . . . they are so uplifting.

Thank you all for being my friends in Jesus . . . for your encouragement, love and prayers.

Love and hugs

Debby

[Green Leaves]

Methinks the porch is a good place to find encouragement. Thanks, Mariane, and to all who participate.

[Edy]

Oh, GreenLeaves, what a quote from Columbus that is! I've heard that he was a lot more than the p.c. world gives him credit for, but I've never read for myself anything so spiritually profound from him. Thanks so much for giving us that quote. I just may have to order those books to share with my Howard.

Debby, I love that "prayer is like chocolate - you can never get enough of it!" I will add that to my "favorite quotes" list. Is that a Debby original? If so, I'll know who to credit, unstead of that stranger, "Unknown," that I've had to use too often.

Don, I sure sympathize with Carol feeling so vulnerable. Before Howard, living alone didn't usually bother me, since I like solitude. But, waking up in the middle of the night with a heart-pounding nightmare, knowing (no, hoping!) I was alone in the house, was another story. I'd think I could hear footsteps creaking up the stairs - until I recalled our folks comforting words when we were little - that we could claim the blood of Jesus, outloud, and ask for His holy angels to surround us. What comfort and peace that brought! I should dig out Martin Luther's bedtime prayer that our Dad often prayed with us, a comforting send-off for sleep.

Dear Laurie - I'm so glad to read that you are sleeping well. In the words of Shakespeare, sleep is the "balm of hurt minds, great nature's second course, chief nourisher in life's feast." (I think I remembered that correctly!). What a gift from our Creator, that we too often take for granted, is sleep! Another gift, your prayer quilt from Seema's church group, sounds like such a tremendous avenue for ministry. I love it!

BeachGrandma, you're so right. God's ways are higher than our ways, which means "in everything give thanks," whether richer or poorer, in sickness or in health, knowing He has plans for us for good and not for evil to give us a future and a hope. Praise God! I'm also so glad both for you and those little boys that you are having this important time together. It must remind you of having your own sons back home as little boys, again.

Did I miss anybody posting today? I guess I could just add my "Dittos!" and "Amen!" to Verna's and Debby's (and others) posts. My forgetter is improving with age, unlike Verna and others of you who manage to keep track of everybody. I'm wondering about Joanney's boy with the back problem and praying for a touch from the Master's hand to bring relief.

[forHIM]

Edy, it's original I just came up with it . . . A spin off from good ole Foresst Gump!

[Green Leaves]

Yes, and I am wondering how Carole is doing?

Have we all had those terrors in the night that seem to be evil? I remember one night in particular I was home alone with our first baby, Marty was working the night shift at a motel in town as night auditor. The atmosphere in the house just seemed to change and I became very frightened. Our chihuahua stood at the end of the bed, hair raised on his back, growling lowly. I remembered my mother sharing stories and So, laying in bed, I lifted my Bible in the air and said, Jesus. Things soon calmed down. I am convinced to this day it was spiritual.

My mother used to have several of those spiritual attacks, some very frightening. I am so glad she shared them with me so I could react appropriately. There is power in the name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus.

[Edy]

...Edy, I always like to see what you are up to. You are always leading us to different sites of interest. I love when you post the songs . . . they are so uplifting....

My biggest problem is remembering what I've already posted, here or on facebook, so I don't bore everyone by repeating myself!

Here's Luther's Evening Prayer (from his Small Catechism, with his directions included):

In the evening, when you retire, make the sign of the cross and say "In the name of God the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen."

Then, kneeling or standing, say the Apostles' Creed and the Lord's Prayer. Then you may say this prayer:

"I give Thee thanks, heavenly Father, through thy dear Son Jesus Christ, that Thou hast this day graciously protected me. I beseech Thee to forgive all my sin and the wrong which I have done. Graciously protect me during the coming night. Into thy hands I commend my body and soul and all that is mine. Let thy holy angels have charge of me, that the wicked one may have no power over me. Amen."

Then quickly lie down and sleep in peace.

The part I remember best must be what our main prayer turned out to be: "Into thy hands I commend my body and soul and all that is mine. Let thy holy angels have charge of me, that the wicked one may have no power over me. Amen."

I'm rather fond of Luther.

[Edy]

Yes, and I am wondering how Carole is doing?

Have we all had those terrors in the night that seem to be evil? I remember one night in particular I was home alone with our first baby, Marty was working the night shift at a motel in town as night auditor. The atmosphere in the house just seemed to change and I became very frightened. Our chihuahua stood at the end of the bed, hair raised on his back, growling lowly. I remembered my mother sharing stories and So, laying in bed, I lifted my Bible in the air and said, Jesus. Things soon calmed down. I am convinced to this day it was spiritual.

My mother used to have several of those spiritual attacks, some very frightening. I am so glad she shared them with me so I could react appropriately. There is power in the name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus.

Once upon a time, after I'd read a couple of Kurt Koch's books (Occult Bondage and Deliverance is one title), I asked my mom how she and dad were so wise to warn us in advance of dangerous activities (fortune tellers, ouigi boards, etc.) that curious kids might ignorantly explore. She told me that she and Dad read all Mrs. Penn-Lewises' books when they were first married. Has anybody ever heard of her? I haven't gone looking, myself, since Koch gave such good advice (another title of his The Devil's Alphabet is a list of warnings).

Those of us who have had Godly, conscientious parents are so blessed. When I read statistics on today's youth, it makes me quite concerned. Then I find that some folks are still taking advantage of today's technology to post the old Gospel songs on YouTube, and I rejoice. Here's one I know I haven't posted before:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LNbRBidF ... re=related

There is power in the blood of the Lamb!

By the way, I may have discovered why posts go missing. At least twice tonight, when I clicked on "submit," my post didn't go through. Instead, I was given a look at what someone else was just posting, in case it would impact what I was writing. So, I had to click "submit" a second time to get through. If I'd just clicked once and left the board, I wonder what would happen! (Did I solve the mystery, I wonder?)

[BeachGrandma]

In changing things over from my old HP to the new Dell, I lost my address book. I still need Email addresses for:

Edy
Carole
Laurie
Joanney
Debby

Thanks!

[Carole L]

received this as an email and wanted to share:

WE ARE AWESOME !!!
OUR Lives are LIVING PROOF !!!


To Those of Us Born
1925 - 1970:

At the end
Of this email is a quote of the month by Jay Leno. If you don't read anything else,
Please
Read what he
Said.


Very well stated,
Mr. Leno.
~~~~~~~~~
TO ALL THE
KIDS WHO SURVIVED THE
1930s, '40s, '50s,
'60s and '70s!!


First, we survived
Being born to mothers who may have smoked and/or drank
While they were
Pregnant.


They took aspirin,
Ate blue cheese dressing, tuna from a can, and didn't get tested for diabetes.


Then, after that
Trauma, we were
Put to sleep
On our tummies
In baby cribs
Covered
With bright colored
Lead-based paints.


We had no
Childproof lids on medicine bottles, locks on doors or cabinets,
And, when we
Rode our bikes,
We had baseball
Caps,
Not helmets, on
Our heads.




As infants and
Children, we would ride in cars with no car seats, no booster seats, no seat belts,
No air bags, bald tires and sometimes no brakes..




Riding in the
Back of a pick- up truck on a warm day was always a special treat.


We drank water
From the garden hose and not from a bottle.




We shared one
Soft drink with four friends, from one bottle, and no one actually died from this.




We ate cupcakes,
White bread, real butter, and bacon. We drank Kool-Aid made with real white sugar.
And we weren't overweight.
WHY?


Because we were
Always outside playing...that's why!


We would leave
Home in the morning and play all day, as long as we were back when the streetlights
Came on.
No one was
Able to reach us all day.
--And, we were
OKAY.




We would spend
Hours building
Our go-carts out
Of scraps
And then ride
Them down the hill,
Only to find
Out we forgot the brakes..
After running into the bushes a few times, we learned
To solve the problem..




We did not
Have Play Stations, Nintendo’s and X-boxes.
There were
No video games,
No 150 channels on cable,
No video movies
Or DVDs,
No surround-sound or
CD's,
No cell phones,
No personal computers,
No Internet and
No chat rooms.




WE HAD FRIENDS
And we went
Outside and found them!


We fell out
Of trees, got cut,
Broke bones and
Teeth,
And there were
No lawsuits
From those accidents.

We would get
Spankings with wooden spoons, switches, ping-pong paddles, belt, razor strap or just a bare hand,
And no one would call child services to report abuse.



We ate worms,
And mud pies
Made from dirt,
And
The worms did
Not live in us forever.



We were given
BB guns for our 10th birthdays, 22 rifles for our 12th, rode horses, made up games with sticks and tennis balls, and

-although we were Told it would happen-
we did not put out very many eyes.


We rode bikes
Or walked to a friend's house and knocked on the door or rang the bell, or just
Walked in and talked to them.




Little League had Tryouts
And not everyone
Made the team.
Those who didn't
Had to learn
To deal with
Disappointment.


Imagine that!!




The idea of a parent bailing
Us out if we broke the law was unheard of.
They actually sided with the law!




These generations have
Produced some of the best risk-takers,
Problem solvers, and
Inventors ever.


The past 50
To 85 years have seen an explosion of innovation and new ideas..


We had freedom,
Failure, success and responsibility, and we learned how to deal with it all.




If YOU are
One of those born
Between 1925-1970, CONGRATULATIONS!


You might want
To share this with others who have had the luck to grow up as kids before the lawyers
and the government regulated so much of our lives for our own good.


While you are at it, forward it to your kids,
so they will know how brave and lucky their parents were.


Kind of makes
you want to run through the house with scissors, doesn't it ?
~~~~~~~
The quote of
the month
by
Jay Leno:

"With hurricanes, tornadoes,
fires out of control, mud slides, flooding, severe thunderstorms tearing up the
country from one end to another, and with the threat of bird flu and terrorist
attacks, are we sure this is a good time to take God out of the Pledge of Allegiance?"
For those that
prefer to think that God is not watching over us....go ahead and delete this.
For the rest
of us.....
consider passing this
on.

[Green Leaves]

Isn't that the truth!

[BeachGrandma]

That says it all, Carole! I'm seeing it first-hand with my grandsons who are glued to the computer games the minute they arrive home from school. Their idea of having fun is definitely NOT walking on the beach, fishing, riding their bikes two block to the town park where all kinds of play equipment sits idle because no kids are interested. And it's not just my grandsons; rarely do we ever see any children playing outside any more. Tim tries hard to keep his kids outside by playing with them and encourages their reading by having a 30 minute reading time every night after supper. My friend up in the NC mts who is a librarian says all 6 of the county libraries' computers are busy all the time but these same people almost never check out a book (we're talking kids and adults).

Soccer season starts soon here at the beach and I'm glad. Tim signed up both boys to play so John and I will attend all the games to cheer the boys on. Anything to get them out of the house!

Thanks for posting that, Carole.

Did you all read about the toddler who was found 10 miles from home after the hurricane passed through, killing her parents and so many others? She had multiple brain injuries and died either last night or this morning in the hospital. I can't even begin to think about the terror that precious little one experienced. All I can allow myself to think about is that she's safe in the arms of Jesus forever.

[Joanney]

I was talking to a friend at church last night who said that he has decided to make his Sabbath from 6 PM on Friday to 6 PM on Saturday. (As Youth Director, he works on Sunday.) It made me think about how busy my weekend was -- I was home no more than 1/2 hour at a time all weekend except when I got home for the night. So I put myself as "unavailable" for subbing today and am taking the day off. I am doing some laundry and will take Joy to the vet this evening, but other than that, I am having a day of rest.

Part of my mind is rebelling and saying that I should spend the time sorting the boxes in my bedroom that still have not been sorted from the basement. And that I should use the time to look for permanent work. But I need the Sabbath (and clean laundry.)

Debby, I find it intriguing that you say I never complain. I feel like that is all I do on the Porch.

I showed the basement to a family from church last night. Once I call their references, they will give me their deposit and move in May 1 as long as the construction is done by then. Anyone have experience as to what questions to ask their references?