Tuesday 4

Hello, Friends,  I really don't have much to share.  We just can't get away from the cold and snow.  We had snow over the weekend and of course, like most, we are getting another round today.  They say, this one will be the worst, so far, and I am absolutely dreading it.  5 - 12 inches.  Y'all, I live in Oklahoma!  We aren't supposed to get this kind of weather!  It needs to stay where it belongs!  LoL. Anyways, I am bummed about it.  

We did manage to have a small birthday party for my grandson.  Who can believe he turned nine years old?  Not I!  

So, with nothing more to share, I thought I would participate in Tuesday 4.  If you want to participate, or view others who have, click here.

Teen Time Memories

Hey! Welecome back to Toni Taddeo's Tuesday 4.

Would you like to talk about some blasts from the past?

You know.. like malt shops, teen hops, proms and rock and roll?  OK, let's do it!

1. Was there a teen hangout in your town or near it where teens seemed to gravitate? What was a favorite place to go?

I'm sure there were many however I was shy(shocker, I know) and introverted.  Mostly, I preferred to stay home and read.  Besides, I never really fit in, because I was always the new kid.  We moved where the money was.  If we stayed in one place for more than a year,  I would hangout with my two or three friends at the Dairy Queen.

2  Did you attend your high school varsity games? What high school activities did you enjoy the most?

Absolutely!  Football games, of course!  I didn't participate in the activities.  I hated getting involved with anything because we moved so often.  Besides, we didn't have book clubs back then.

3. Did you have any teen idols whose music or acting you just really enjoyed?   What  music  did you enjoy most? What movies?

Oh yeah, I had teen idols!  David Cassidy, Shaun Cassidy, Leif Garrett,  The BeeGees...Oh my, all that pretty!  LoL. My music preference was light rock(see my teen idols) and oldies.  I wasn't and am still not into movies or television so I really didn't have favorite actors.  We watched mostly cartoons (back when cartoons were cartoons) and Westerns.  I was quite taken with "Little Joe" on Bonanza, though.

4. Did your school have dances or sock hops and did you attend?

Prom and Homecoming.  No, I didn't attend.  I would have died if I had!  *see question #1*

Sunday Reflecting

 This past week has been just a normal week around here.  Nothing happening just dull and boring.  

It has been cold, cloudy and just plain yuck.  Those kind of days play on me.  I end up feeling as yuck and ugly as the days are.  I was really struggling.  I admit, I wasn't the kindest person.  Grouchy, easily brought to tears, lashing out or not saying anything at all.  I couldn't get it together.  I felt that way up until this morning.  

The sun finally came out and some of y'all will get just how that simple thing can snap you out of a funk.  I still wasn't in the mood to go to church because I continue to struggle with the topic of my last post, but I got up, pulled myself together the best I could and we went anyway.  I have been not involving myself in the meet & greet, hugging, and all those things.  I am still reeling from being down and not able to attend church for a month, and nobody from church calling to see why.  I don't have a big ego that needs to be stroked.  I really don't but I feel like if you are going to call yourself a "church family" then you should check on others.  Anyhow...that was also playing into my mood, last week so I barely spoke to anyone.  

The scripture, this morning, was Matthew 5:13-16.

Believers Are Salt and Light

13 “You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men.  14 “You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. 16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven. (NKJV)

The Pastor posed a question to us.  It was something like this.  "If you were being charged, in a court of law, for your walk with God, would your life be enough to convict you?  Are your words and actions evidence of your walk with God?"

Of course, I thought, "oh yeah! I'm going down!" 

But hold up a minute because the next question was, "How would you grade yourself at work, around others, or at home?  What grade would others give you?  Are you being salt and light...is your light shining so bright, that there isn't any doubt who you are in God?"

I stopped and had to reflect on the past few weeks.  My grade would be a "D"..."C" at best...maybe.  

The Paster once again asked about our actions and if it would be enough to convict us.  Still pretty sure I would be convicted but he threw in a curve ball.

"What are you watching on tv?  Listening to on the radio?  Are you joining in gossip?  Or listening to some off color joke and laughing?  Are you just sitting there or will you get up and walk away?  Do people stop gossiping or telling the dirty jokes, when you walk in because they know you are a Christian?  That you might be offended?  Or...do they keep right on doing what they were doing?  If they continue then you might want to check to see how bright your light is shining."

I don't have any dealings with people who do those things because most people I am around know that I will be offended and likely start preaching but I do occasionally watch or read something that I shouldn't.  I don't even realize it sometimes.

I, also, wondered how strangers see me.  Say, at the grocery store?  Is my Jesus light shining brightly?  Am I being salt & light?  Could they say that I was guilty of being a Christian?  Would I stand convicted?  I know, that is one thing I hope I would be sentenced for.  We should all strive to be convicted for that.

What about you?  Would you be convicted?  Is your light shining brightly and glorifying God?  What grade do you deserve?  A+ or F?

Grace & Peace,

Pam

Ten (serious) Things About Me

 

I've only been blogging for about fifteen years.  In all that time, I've never done a post, like some have, that list some facts about myself.  Probably, nobody will be interested but I thought it would be fun to share a bit about my real personality and life.  This will be my serious list and then, in a later post, I will share my goofy side.  Y'all ready?

****

1.  I am a sinner saved by grace.  I love God but fail Him daily.

2.  I am a mother of two but have raised nine.

3.  I grew up in a home that now days would be classified as abusive.  (We got spankings, had chores, got smacked in the mouth for back talking...should have gotten more!)

4.  I hate drama, politics and stupidity!!!  

5. I also hate controversy and arguing but if you want to go there then you better be ready.  You will end up not liking me.

6.  I am in pain 24/7/365.

7.  I love deeply but don't trust anyone.

8.  I have no friends.  Acquaintances, yes, but that's it.  (Not really my choice, people just don't know what friends are anymore)

9.  I expect too much from humans.  I expect them to do right and at least try to act like they have a brain.

10. I am a Texan by birth.  I will always be a Texan no matter where I live.  

Good day for a nap...

That certainly seems to be the all- around feeling, today.  Yesterday was so pretty and warm.  83*, sunny with a breeze.  Purt near perfect if you ask me.  

Then...BAM!  Cold front! 

Today has been cold, gray and drizzly.  Flat out YUCK!  

I took a nap, furbabies took naps...probably the chicken did too.  That's just the kind of day it has been and I suppose the rest of the week will be on some kind of ridiculously crazy weather roller coaster.  I don't even want to think about next week!

Anyways... Zzzzzzz.

Shall we...play favorites?

 

We attend a church in a small town and we love it.  However, there is one thing that annoys me to no end.  Favoritism.  Our Pastor has only been with us for about nine months.  He is an amazing preacher.  Hits it on the nail head every week.  We like him and his wife.  BUT...he has his favorites.  He always includes them in sermons and jokes.  It always, "so and so did this" or "Isn't that right, so and so?".  I love all the people he points out...all 5 or 6 of them.  Sometimes, I look around to make sure there are more people there than just that handful.  I mean...  

Anyhow...I think I would understand a bit more if he was from the little town, and had been around these people for awhile but he isn't.  He doesn't even live in the town.  Maybe he just doesn't realize he is doing it or how it comes across.  

I wonder if all those folks who are pillars of the church, the ones who keep the money coming in, feel like they are overlooked?  The ones who do all the work...what do they think about not being included in the praise of accomplishments or work well done?  

For me, it is annoying.  Flat out, annoying.  I get deep into the sermon and then suddenly we are mentioning this person or that one.  It takes me forever to get back into the sermon, if I ever do, because I am trying to figure out what that has to do with what the sermon is about.

I do not like favoritism of any kind but when the leaders of a church play that game, I get my feathers a bit more ruffled.  Don't misunderstand, I am not one that does a lot around the church because of my disabilities and the distance we live from the church so I don't expect to be praised for anything, nor do I want to be, because the Bible plainly says pride and favoritism are sins.  I also know that I am sinning by being annoyed with it.  You don't need to point that out or tell me I should be focusing on God instead.  I got it.  I'm just curious whether you have ever experienced these things at church and how you got past it, if you did.

So what do you think?