It's Been a VERY Long Time - But, it's never to late to get back to GOD Talk

I was scrolling through some really old notes and ran across a post for over a decade ago. It was a prayer that my aunt in Minnesota sent me. She passed away recently. I've been thinking about her a lot. Wondering if she's listening and watching and still praying for me and for all the family. When I stumbled upon the old post with the St. Theresa Prayer, I immediately knew that she is definitely still with me. What a blessing to be a believer.

Remembering My Mother and Father and All My Loved Ones At Rest on All Souls Day

All Soul's Day is a Roman Catholic day of remembrance for friends and loved ones who have passed away. This comes from the ancient Pagan Festival of the Dead, which celebrated the Pagan belief that the souls of the dead would return for a meal with the family. Candles in the window would guide the souls back home, and another place was set at the table. Children would come through the village, asking for food to be offered symbolically to the dead, then donated to feed the hungry.

Because I believe in the Trinity, I know that those who have gone before me, are at rest with the Lord, and if I believe, I will see them again.

Rest In Peace, Albertina Walker

Sunrise: August 29, 1929

Sunset: October 8, 2010

Albertina Walker began singing at an early age and was greatly influenced by Mahalia Jackson. Mahalia Jackson took her on the road when she was a teenager. "

She was given the title "Queen of Gospel Music."

www.albertinawalker.com

We Can All Use Prayer

It seems like I haven't blogged here in forever. My aunt in Minnesota sent me this lovely prayer which prompted me to get back to this space that I enjoy so much.

I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.


In case you are not aware, Saint Theresa is known as the Saint of the Little
Ways, meaning she believed in doing the little things in life well and with
great love.... She is represented by roses.

May everyone who receives this message be blessed.
Prayer is one of the best free gifts we receive.
Read the prayer below.

Saint Theresa's Prayer

May today there be peace within.
May you trust God that you are exactly where you are meant to be.
May you not forget the infinite possibilities that are born of faith.
May you use those gifts that you have received, and pass on the love that
has been given to you.
May you be content knowing you are a child of God.
Let this presence settle into your bones, and allow your soul the freedom to
sing, dance, praise and love.
It is there for each and every one of us..
Have faith..

Services Announced for Bishop Walter Hawkins

WHO’S WHO IN GOSPEL MUSIC TO CELEBRATE LIFE OF GRAMMY WINNER BISHOP WALTER HAWKINS
WITH A-LIST CONCERT AT THE PARAMOUNT THEATER


Tuesday, July 20, 2010 @ 7:00 PM PST (Free Admission)
Musical Celebration Features Yolanda Adams, Mary Mary and Bebe Winans

Funeral: Wednesday, July 21, 2010 @ 11:00 AM PST At The Paramount Theater


Oakland, CA: A who’s who of the gospel world is gathering to pay final respects to Grammy Award winning gospel legend, Bishop Walter Hawkins, who passed away July 11th after a two-year battle with pancreatic cancer.

On Tuesday, July 20th, some of the biggest names in gospel music will congregate at The Paramount Theater for a musical salute to Walter Hawkins who is known for his classic gospel songs such as “Goin’ Up Yonder,” “Marvelous,” and “What is This?” The musical celebration is titled, The Man, the Music, The Ministry: A Musical Salute to Bishop Walter Hawkins.”

Among the stars confirmed to sing Hawkins’ evergreen compositions are platinum artists such as Yolanda Adams, Mary Mary, and Donnie McClurkin. Also performing is Hawkins’ sister, Lynette Hawkins, R&B artist Ledisi, Karen Clark Sheard, Daryl Coley, Vanessa Bell Armstrong, Byron Cage, Melvin & Doug Williams of The Williams Brothers, guitarist Jonathan DuBose Jr., D.J. Rogers, Ted Winn, and The Love Center Choir.

Making a special appearance will be Hawkins’ longtime vocal muse and former wife, Lady Tramaine Hawkins, whose dramatic vocals were featured on Walter Hawkins masterpieces such as “Changed,” “Goin’ Up Yonder,” and “He’s That Kind of Friend.”

The music directors for the evening will include Hawkin’'s brother, Edwin Hawkins, Donald Lawrence, Kurt Carr, Richard Smallwood, and Hawkins’ longtime music director, Rusty Watson. The masters of ceremonies duties will be shared by Bebe Winans, Marvin Winans, and Black Entertainment Television (BET) personality, Dr. Bobby Jones.

The concert takes place Tuesday, July 20, 2010 @ 7:00 pm at the Paramount Theatre, 2025 Broadway, Oakland, CA 94612-2303. Tickets are free and available on a first come, first serve basis. Contact Paramount Theater at: (510) 465-6400

The funeral will take place the following morning, Wednesday, July 21, 2010 @ 11:00 am at the Paramount Theater. Bishop Kenneth Moales (of Prayer Tabernacle Church of Love, Inc. in Bridgeport, CT) will officiate at the ceremony.

Instead of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to The Walter Hawkins Memorial Foundation. Cards, letters and donations may be mailed to: Love Center Ministries, 10440 International Blvd, Oakland, CA 94603.

MEDIA CONTACT:

Bill Carpenter at (202) 441-9870 or carpenterbill@me.com

Long Time, No Blog. . .

A PRAYER FOR TODAY

Father God, thank You for the people You have placed in my life. Help me see them the way You see them. Help me to appreciate the ways we sharpen one another so that we can help each other fulfill Your plan for our lives. In Jesus' Name. Amen.

(Copyright Joel Osteen 2010)

I Woke Up With A Song In My Heart

"Taste and See, Taste and See,. . .the Goodness of the Lord. . ."

Taste and See

Taste and see, taste and see the goodness of the Lord. O taste and see, taste and see the goodness of the Lord, of the Lord. I will bless the Lord at all times. Praise shall always be on my lips; my soul shall glory in the Lord for God has been so good to me. Refrain Glorify the Lord with me. Together let us all praise God's name. I called the Lord who answered me; from all my troubles I was set free. Refrain Worship the Lord, all you people. You'll want for nothing if you ask. Taste and see that the Lord is good; in God we need put all our trust.


James Moore, Jr. © 1983, GIA Publications

First Daffodil - Because Somebody Has Got To Be First

I can imagine when this little flower woke up and bloomed, he said, "Hey, I might be the first, but somebody has got to be first!"

Thanks to my sister, Bonnie, for sharing this photo from her flower garden.

Last weekend would have been our father's birthday and when I told her that I had gone to the cemetery and put flowers on his grave, she said, "What kind of flowers did you put?" I said, "Carnations." She said, "Daddy liked daffodils." I said, "Well, he used to love Carnation ice cream!"

Daddy, this one is for you!

Happy Birthday, Daddy

My Daddy would be 89 years old today were he alive.

He lived through the Great Depression, segregation, integration, discrimination and a long illness.

Yet, through it all, he remained a faithful believer in God. He never asked, "Why?" and maintained his intellect and dignity through it all.

He died on the 4th of July, Independence Day, 1996.

I find that to be ironic, but not at all surprising to anyone who knew him.

Rest In Peace - Gone But NEVER Forgotten

Love,

Dot

Burnt Biscuits (Thanks to Marsha in Atlanta for forwarding this)

BURNT BISCUITS..............


When I was a kid, my mom liked to make breakfast food for dinner
every now and then. And I remember one night in particular when she
had made breakfast after a long, hard day at work. On that evening
so long ago, my mom placed a plate of eggs, sausage and extremely
burned biscuits in front of my dad. I remember waiting to see if
anyone noticed! Yet all my dad did was reach for his biscuit, smile
at my mom and ask me how my day was at school. I don't remember
what I told him that night, but I do remember watching him smear butter
and jelly on that biscuit and eat every bite!

When I got up from the table that evening, I remember hearing my
mom apologize to my dad for burning the biscuits. And I'll never forget
what he said: "Honey, I love burned biscuits."

Later that night, I went to kiss Daddy good night and I asked him if
he really liked his biscuits burned. He wrapped me in his arms and
said, "Your Momma put in a hard day at work today and she's real
tired. And besides - a little burnt biscuit never hurt anyone!"

You know, life is full of imperfect things.....and imperfect people.
I'm not the best at hardly anything, and I forget dates and
anniversaries just like everyone else.
What I've learned over the years is that learning to accept each
others faults - and choosing to celebrate each others differences -
is one of the most important keys to creating a healthy, growing,
and lasting relationship.

And that's my prayer for you today. That you will learn to take the
good, the bad, and the ugly parts of your life and lay them at the
feet of God. Because in the end, He's the only One who will be able
to give you a relationship where a burnt biscuit isn't a
deal-breaker!

We could extend this to any relationship. In fact, understanding is
the base of any relationship, be it a husband-wife or parent-child
or friendship!

"Don't put the key to your happiness in someone else's pocket - keep
it in your own."

God Bless You..... Now, and Always....

So Please pass me a biscuit, and yes, the burnt one will do just
fine.!.!.!.! And PLEASE pass this along to someone who has
enriched your life... I just did!


(burnt biscuits were better than none... )

Rest In Peace, Thelma Llorens

"THE dying need but little, dear, --
A glass of water's all,
A flower's unobtrusive face
To punctuate the wall,

A fan, perhaps, a friend's regret,
And certainly that one
No color in the rainbow
Perceives when you are gone."

Emily Dickinson


I lost a good friend on Saturday.

I'm glad that she's no longer suffering and feel comfort in knowing she has received her crown in Glory.

Yet, I can't help but wish I'd let her know just how much she truly meant to me. But, somehow, I think she did.

May God Bless the Llorens Family and Our Mother of Mercy Catholic Church, Houston

Workplace Attack

Do you ever feel like co-workers are out to get you?

Does it make you question everything you do and tend to look over your shoulder?

Recently, I was faced with that situation.

Actually, as Christians, we are probably faced with a similar situation daily - whether it be from neighbors, co-workers, church members or the general public.

I talked to my sister about my feelings and the fear and uncertainty it was creating for me.

She told me that I should pray about it. She said, "Pray for that person and God may remove them from your situation."

Now, that doesn't mean that I'm going to pray for something bad to happen to another person or that I'm going to pray for someone to lose their job or anything that extreme. It just means that prayer does change things.

Maybe that means God will open another door of opportunity for either you or the person by whom you are being attacked.

Today, I received some "news" that things may be changing. They may change for the better - and they may not. But I do know that I am going to continue to do the right thing by God and by others and that if I tend to my own garden that my harvest will come.


"Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you."

James 4:7, New International Version

The Lord Loves A Good Joke!! (thanks to my Aunt Claudia for this)

It is a beautiful day in Minnesota today, about 60 degrees! Minnesotans have their traditions and customs that fit and define this part of the country. As a newcomer to Minnesota, I was educated about the important things like enjoying the lakes, fishing, hockey, hot-dish, winter carnival, and making snow angels, to name only a precious few. One of the most fun introductions I had was to the "Ole and Lena" jokes. I received one today from my hero. So, here is your chance to enjoy one, too, pass it on!

Love and many blessings on your behalf,

Claudith

Ole lived across the Minnesota River from Clarence Bunsen, whom he didn't like at all. They were yelling across the river at each other all the time.
Ole would yell to Clarence, “If I had a vay to cross dis river, I'd come over dere an beat you up good, yeah sure ya betcha by golly!”

This went on for years.

Finally, the state built a bridge across the river right there by their houses.
Ole's wife, Lena, says, “Now iss yer chance, Ole. Vhy doncha go over dere and beat up dat Clarence like you said you vud?”

Ole replied, “OK, by yimmy, I tink I vill do yust dat!”

Ole started for the bridge, but he saw a sign on the bridge and stopped to read it, then turned around and came back home.

Lena asked, “Vhy did you come back?”

Ole said, “Lena, I tink I changed my mind 'bout beatin' up dat Clarence. You know, vhen I yell at him from across the river he don't look so big. But dey put a sign on da bridge dat says ‘Clarence is 13 ft. 6 In."

God And the Spider (Author Unknown)

Thanks to Claudia for passing this along. . .

God and the Spider

During World War II, a US marine was separated from his unit on a Pacific island. The fighting had been intense, and in the smoke and
the crossfire he had lost touch with his comrades.

Alone in the jungle, he could hear enemy soldiers coming in his
direction. Scrambling for cover, he found his way up a high ridge to several small caves in the rock. Quickly he crawled inside one of the caves. Although safe for the moment, he realized that once the enemy soldiers looking for him swept up the ridge, they would quickly search all the caves and he would be killed.

As he waited, he prayed, "Lord, if it be your will, please protect me. Whatever your will though, I love you and trust you. Amen."

After praying, he lay quietly listening to the enemy begin to draw
close. He thought, "Well, I guess the Lord isn't going to help me out of this one." Then he saw a spider begin to build a web over the front of his cave.

As he watched, listening to the enemy searching for him all the while, the spider layered strand after strand of web across the opening of the cave.

"Hah, he thought. "What I need is a brick wall and what the Lord has sent me is a spider web. God does have a sense of humor."

As the enemy drew closer he watched from the darkness of his hideout and could see them searching one cave after another. As they came to his, he got ready to make his last stand. To his amazement, however, after glancing in the direction of his cave, they moved on. Suddenly, he realized that with the spider web over the entrance, his cave looked as if no one had entered for quite a while.

"Lord, forgive me," prayed the young man. "I had forgotten that in you a spider's web is stronger than a brick wall."

We all face times of great trouble. When we do, it is so easy to
forget what God can work in our lives, sometimes in the most
surprising ways. And remember with God, a mere spider's web becomes a brick wall of protection.

Lord, I thank you for all our
Military, and their families.
I Pray for your Brick wall of protection,
to protect them everyday!!!
Amen

God Did Make Little Green Apples - and Fujis Too :)

Thanks, Nate for submitting this photo of your very own Fuji apple tree.

Anyone have any good apple pie recipes to share?

Peace and blessings,

D.

Have Mercy On Me

(Today's submission from Marsha - thanks, Marsha)

You Should've Shown Mercy


"All the other servants saw what happened. They felt very

sorry for the man. So they went and told their master

everything that happened. Then the master called his servant

in and said, 'You evil servant. You owed me much money, but

you begged me to forgive your debt. So I told you that you

did not have to pay anything. So you should have given the

same mercy to that other man that is a servant with you. You

should have given him the same mercy that I gave you.'"

-- Matthew 18:31-33 (ERV)



KEY THOUGHT:

Mercy! More than an exclamation, it is the reason for exclamation!

Mercy, sweet mercy. It is the gift of freedom from our past, our failures, our wickedness. But it is a gift because in receiving it, we acknowledge to ourselves that we have received something we didn't deserve without the person giving it to us expecting us to grovel or be in their debt. Mercy! But more than just the reason for exclamation and joy, mercy is our gift to share. Mercy has not completed its redemptive work until it is passed on, until we see the joy of another being granted his or her freedom. Mercy is the currency of God's Kingdom.

Mercy is the music of God's family. Mercy is the basis of our hope.

Mercy is the gift of God we are to share with others.

The "Lion of the Left" is Gone - But Will Never Be Forgotten - RIP, Senator Ted Kennedy

Edward Moore "Ted" Kennedy
February 22, 1932 – August 25, 2009

Although, we knew that Senator Kennedy was terminally ill, it was still a shock to me when I heard the words on the "Breaking News" last night that he has passed away.

Despite any flaws he may have had, he was a remarkable politician, a dedicated family man and wonderful human being.

It is not an exaggeration to say that it is the end of an era.

God Bless the entire Kennedy clan and his friends, family and those of us ordinary citizens who felt that we somehow had a personal connection with him.

Be blessed,

Dot

"Kept Woman" - Author Unknown

I Am a 'Kept ' Woman?
You see, there were a few times when I thought I would lose my mind,
But GOD kept me sane. (Isa. 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've wanted to lash out at those whom I felt had done me wrong,
But the LORD kept my mouth shut.. (Psa. 13)
Sometimes, I think the money just isn't enough,
But GOD has helped me to keep the lights on, the water on, the car paid, the house paid, etc.., (Matt. 6:25 -34)
When I thought I would fall, HE kept me up.
When I thought I was weak, HE kept me strong! (I Pet. 5:7, Matt. 11:28-30)
I could go on and on and on, but I'm sure you hear me!
I'm blessed to be 'kept '
Do you know a 'kept ' woman?
If so pass it on to her to let her know she is 'Kept '
I'm "Kept" by the Love and Grace of God

Watch Your Mouth! Words can hurt. . .

Thanks, Marsha for today's submission.

Jesus called the people to him. Jesus said, "Listen and
understand what I am saying. It is not the things a person
puts in his mouth that make him wrong. It is the things a
person says with his mouth that make him wrong."

-- Matthew 15:10-11 (ERV)

I Thank God for Mama's Green Thumb

No one ever stops thinking about their mother - no matter how long it's been since she left.

It's been a year and a half now, but your "special touch" continues to blossom.

I felt so blessed this morning to step out into the yard and see this beautiful yellow gladiola starting to bloom.

Life will never be the same without her, but it's nice to know that even though she's gone, her deeds remain.



Make it a Glorious Sunday.

Peace and Blessings,

Dot