God’s Boundaries, by Joyce Meyer

Do you not know that your body is the temple (the very sanctuary) of 
the Holy Spirit Who lives within you, Whom you have received 
[as a Gift] from God? You are not your own, You were bought 
with a price [purchased with a preciousness and 
paid for, made His own]. So then, honor God 
and bring glory to Him in your body. 

—1 Corinthians 6:19-20

The word stress was originally an engineering term used to refer to the amount of force a beam or other physical support could bear without collapsing under strain.

In our time, the word has been expanded to refer not only to physical pressure but also to mental and emotional tension. As human beings, you and I are built to handle a normal amount of stress. God has created us to withstand a certain amount of pressure and tension. The problem comes when we push ourselves beyond our limitations, beyond what we were intended to bear without permanent damage. But like so many people, because I have things to do, I just keep pushing myself even though it is causing me physical damage.

Of course, when sickness tries to come on Dave or me, we immediately pray for healing. But if you become sick as a result of running your body down by pushing it beyond the limits God set for you to operate in good health, you need rest as well as prayer to restore your health. The boundaries He has set for us are for our own good.

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From the book New Day, New You by Joyce Meyer. Copyright © 2006 by Joyce Meyer. Published by FaithWords. All rights reserved.

Remember the Hairstyles I Showed You?

Finally, I went and got my hair styled and cut.  I did that about a month ago.  I loved the stylist and the hairstyle [which I had pictures of], but decided that the next time, I would have it cut even a bit shorter.  Well, today was "next time".  And it is shorter.  Just to refresh our memories, I'll share a few of the styles I was choosing from and then show you what I look like today!!

It was really difficult deciding on a "look" and I didn't have the time to even make an appointment until last month.

This is the style I chose last month - not too long and not too short...just right.

But, today I got a bit bolder!  Look...here's the cut I got today!!

OK...not totally.  I didn't get my hair colored like the picture shows.  And the sides aren't quite as short...And....

Well, here's what it looks like today!

Quite a difference from when I first had Bell's Palsy in 2014, isn't it?  I can certainly see the weight loss in my face...and how everything works so well!!

Fear Leads to Worry by Joyce Meyer

And who of you by worrying and being anxious can add one unit of measure (cubit) to his stature or to the span of his life? 

—Matthew 6:27

Fear and worry are closely related. You might say fear is the parent of every kind of worry because every worry starts as a fear. The Bible clearly teaches that God’s children are not to worry. When we worry, we rotate our minds
around and around a problem and come up with no answers. The more we do it, the more anxious we feel. When we worry, we actually torment ourselves with a type of thinking that produces no good fruit. Worry starts with our thoughts, but it affects our moods and even our physical bodies.

A person can worry so much that it makes them feel depressed and sad. Worry places stress on your entire system and causes a lot of physical ailments like headaches, tension in muscles, stomach problems, and many other things. It never helps, and it does not solve our problems.

We can worry about hundreds of different things, from what people think of us to what will happen to us as we age. How long will we be able to work? Who will take care of us when we get old? What happens if the stock market crashes? What if gas prices go up? What if I lose my job? Quite often, worry does not even have a basis or a nugget of truth to it. There is no known reason to even think about the things that worry and then frighten us.

The only answer is to stop worrying by placing your trust in God. He has the future all planned, and He knows the answer to everything. What we worry about frequently never happens anyway, and if it is going to happen, worrying won’t prevent it. God’s Word promises us that He will take care of us if we trust in Him.

Trust in Him: What are you worrying about? Cast your cares on Jesus. He wants you to trust Him with every thought, burden, and worry that you’re carrying because He’s fully capable of taking care of you (see 1 Peter 5:7).

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From the book Trusting God Day by Day by Joyce Meyer. Copyright © 2012 by Joyce Meyer. Published by FaithWords. All rights reserved.

123 Concrete Blocks Later

This past weekend, I was once again, very busy working on my fallen Garden wall.  Between Saturday and Sunday, I moved 123 Concrete Blocks/Caps, which each weigh approximately 45#.  That's about 5289 pounds of concrete blocks!!  I carefully put 2 at a time, into my wheelbarrow and walked 140 large steps pushing the wheelbarrow...to the Garage, where I decided to build a

Pen for my Pups, so I don't need a gate to keep them in it, while we sit out there!

Before I began working, this is how my yard looked, many stacks of blocks and caps - and even pieces of blocks.  I couldn't stand it anymore!  Luckily the weather cooperated and it was cool and semi-sunny.

This is how the yard looks now, with all of the blocks moved.

This is the new Pen I built in the garage.  When I dig out and move the remaining blocks from the wall, I will be expanding this...to the expansion crack you see - it will take up 1/4 of the garage...and be big enough to put a lounge chair in there for me!!  Particularly nice, since I had to get rid of my patio swing, it just fell apart over the winter...and I wouldn't have been able to use it without alot of repairs.  I kept the seat cushions for the Pups in their Pen and also kept the canopy from the swing, which I can hang from 2 hooks I put in in the garage door opening, to shield us from the western sun.

Now...I have several more steps to work on, to finish the wall - build the new connection from the side wall to the inside wall in the corners [front and back], remove all of the dirt from the 60 foot wall, straighten the inside 50 foot wall and moving alot of those blocks to do that and remove several in the middle of that wall to install a gate, so I can go out that way to pick tomatoes and whatever else I plant in the back of the wall garden, without having to walk all the way around!!

If you've missed any of my Garden 2016 posts - especially since the wall fell down, you can ready them HERE.

Oh...and Jury Duty is coming up soon!

Then, I will be having some work done on my house by professionals after that.  Busy, busy.

Thanks for stopping by...have a lovely day! 

Joining Thoughts of Home on Thursday [TOHOT] Here.  Please stop by and see what others are up to!!

God Answers the Prayers of the Righteous

Devotion by Joyce Meyer

...The earnest (heartfelt, continued) prayer of a righteous man makes tremendous power available [dynamic in its working].  — James 5:16

When people struggle in their prayer lives, they often think it is because they are unholy and unrighteous so they try to behave better, hoping that then their prayers will be answered.

The truth is that if we are born again, we are righteous. We may not do everything right; but we are 100 percent righteous through Christ. Second Corinthians 5:21 tells us He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the
righteousness of God in Him (NKJV).

There is a difference between righteousness and “right” behavior. Righteousness describes our standing—our position or condition before God—because of the blood of Jesus. We cannot make ourselves righteous; only the blood of Jesus makes us righteous, as if we had never sinned at all. God views us as righteous even though we still make mistakes. Because He sees us as righteous, we have a God-given right to pray and expect God to hear and answer us.

Always do the best you can to behave properly and do it because you love God, but remember that He hears and answers your prayers because He is good, not because you are.

God’s word for you today: You have been made righteous by the grace of God.

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From the book Hearing from God Each Morning: 365 Daily Devotions by Joyce Meyer. Copyright © 2010 by Joyce Meyer. Published by FaithWords. All rights reserved.

Everyday Answers

Be Positive by Joyce Meyer

We have thought of Your steadfast love, O God, in the midst of Your temple. 
—Psalm 48:9

Positive minds—minds full of faith and hope—produce positive lives. Negative minds—minds full of fear and doubt—produce negative lives. In Matthew 8:13, Jesus tells us that it will be done for us as we

have believed. This doesn’t mean that you and I can get anything we want by just thinking about it. God has a perfect plan for each of us, and we can’t control Him with our thoughts and words, but if we want His plan, we should think and speak in agreement with His will and plan for us.

I encourage you to think positively about your life and be thankful for the good things God is doing and going to do. Practice staying positive in every situation that arises; even if you’re going through a difficult situation, stand in faith, believing God will bring good out of it as He has promised in His Word.

Prayer of Thanks: Father, help me to keep my thoughts and my words focused on You. I thank You that You have good things in store for my life. I trust You today.

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From the book The Power of Being Thankful by Joyce Meyer. 

Update - Ellison Bay Mansion, largest in Wisconsin, Sold

What is believed to be the largest single-family home in Wisconsin, located in Ellison Bay, sold in December.  The approximately 35,000-square-foot mansion was built by philanthropist Judith Blazer, whose grandfather founded Miller Electric. Miller Electric is now part of Illinois Tool Works.  

The home was completed in 1996 and is located at 2177 Porcupine Bay Road in Ellison Bay. In 2005...

Frank Spitzer of Huntington Park, Calif., bought the mansion for about $20 million.  True North Real Estate in Fish Creek handled the sale. The real estate company had the home listed for 256 days before the sale was finalized Dec. 15.

The massive two-story library at what has in recent years been called Ellison Bay manor. Photo courtesy Jameson Sotheby's International Realty in Chicago. Credit: USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin

Door County Land Records lists the accessed value of the home at $7.085 million. According to someone with knowledge of the sale, the home sold for $2.7 million. The asking price for the 43-room mansion was $2.9 million.

The Door County online land records database lists the previous owner of the property as the Frank Spitzer Estate. The new owner is identified in records as New North Realty LLC.

By Samantha Hernandez, USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin

You can read my Original Post and see all of the photos of this magnificent Mansion Here! 

Onion Burgers with Green Bean Salad

This combination was a delightful dinner - I made both the Burgers & the Bean Salad and it was Fabulous!

Thanks for stopping by...Jan

Re-Building My 2016 Garden Wall

 After 2 1/2 hours outside, I was done today.  The new medicine I've been taking, has really fatigued me.  I hate taking medication!  But, I did make progress.  Click on that photo over there to the left and you'll see it enlarged...and you'll be able to read the caption on it...or scroll down to see it larger already!  I managed to lift and move a TON - that's 2000 pounds of those concrete blocks today and dig up the 4 huge Hostas...

Those Hosta Plants were awful...the bases measure approx 30" across. I can turn them over in the holes...but can't lift them. HELP!! :D  

If you've missed the posts I've done about the Garden and why I am having to do all of this work, you can read about it Here.

Tomorrow I need to be remove the blocks where you see their holes [2 layers] and level them and then re-build the wall. Don't you just LOVE the overhead photos from my Sitting Room window?

April Snow Brings May Flowers?

Yesterday afternoon, we began seeing snowflakes...really HUGE ones.  The Pups wanted to go outside alot more often, so that they could try to scoop up the big flakes of snow as they jumped around the courtyard.  They ran and ran and jumped and jumped.  The weatherman forecasted snow already back on Tuesday when an ALERT day was scheduled for us for today and tonight.  As night began to fall, snow began falling in earnest and when the Pups

went out before going to bed, there was about an inch of snow.

But, by morning...we had the biggest snowfall of 2015-2016 winter...6 1/2" measured right on my courtyard wall.  Can you believe it?  How many of you received snow too?

This photo of the trees is in the backyard of another neighbor.  It's so calm outside...and when I saw the snow still on the trees, I just had to snap it!

Now...I really do hope the snow is done for this season.

Have a wonderful weekend!

Daring to Stand for Truth

The complainer is further embarassed by the moral company in which he finds himself. His is a spiritual affinity with some pretty shady characters: Cain, Korah, the sulky elder brother, the petulant Jews of the Book of Malachi who answered every fatherly admonition of God with an ill-humored "Wherefore have we? Wherein have we?" These are but a few faces that stand out in the picture of the disgruntled followers of the religious way. And the complaining Christian, if he but looks closely, will see his own face peering out at him from the background. Lastly, the believer who complains against the difficulties of the way proves that he has never felt or known the sorrows which broke over the head of Christ when He was here among men. After one look at Gethsemane or Calvary, the Christian can never again believe that his own path is a hard one. We dare not compare our trifling pains with the sublime passion endured for our salvation. Any comparison would itself be the supreme argument against our complaints, for what sorrow is like unto His? After saying all this we are yet sure that no one can be reasoned out of the habit of complaining. That habit is more than a habit--it is a disease of the soul, and as such, it will never yield to mere logic. The only cure is cleansing in the blood of the Lamb.

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Verse

Korah son of Izhar, the sons of Kohath, . . . and certain Reubenites . . . became insolent and rose up against Moses. With them were 250 Israelite men, well-known community leaders who had been appointed members of the council.

Numbers 16:1-2

Thought

Korah and members of the council challenged Moses' leadership. They experienced God's judgment as a result. Are there churches experiencing God's judgment because of grumbling and complaint against God-appointed leaders? It is far easier to criticize leaders.

Prayer

Lord, I find it far easier to grumble and complain against leaders than to graciously submit to them. May I faithfully pray for my leaders.

Costs of Complaining

The complainer is further embarassed by the moral company in which he finds himself. His is a spiritual affinity with some pretty shady characters: Cain, Korah, the sulky elder brother, the petulant Jews of the Book of Malachi who answered every fatherly admonition of God with an ill-humored "Wherefore have we? Wherein have we?" These are but a few faces that stand out in the picture of the disgruntled followers of the religious way. And the complaining Christian, if he but looks closely,

will see his own face peering out at him from the background. Lastly, the believer who complains against the difficulties of the way proves that he has never felt or known the sorrows which broke over the head of Christ when He was here among men. After one look at Gethsemane or Calvary, the Christian can never again believe that his own path is a hard one. We dare not compare our trifling pains with the sublime passion endured for our salvation. Any comparison would itself be the supreme argument against our complaints, for what sorrow is like unto His? After saying all this we are yet sure that no one can be reasoned out of the habit of complaining. That habit is more than a habit--it is a disease of the soul, and as such, it will never yield to mere logic. The only cure is cleansing in the blood of the Lamb.

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Verse

Korah son of Izhar, the sons of Kohath, . . . and certain Reubenites . . . became insolent and rose up against Moses. With them were 250 Israelite men, well-known community leaders who had been appointed members of the council.Numbers 16:1-2

Thought

Korah and members of the council challenged Moses' leadership. They experienced God's judgment as a result. Are there churches experiencing God's judgment because of grumbling and complaint against God-appointed leaders? It is far easier to criticize lea

Prayer

Lord, I find it far easier to grumble and complain against leaders than to graciously submit to them. May I faithfully pray for my leaders.

Time Has Flown

It seems almost impossible that an entire year has slipped by already.  A year ago this past Sunday, April 3, 2015, was when my husband moved out of our home.  At the time I thought I'd be just fine.  But, underneath, I also thought it would be quite difficult.  Both were pretty much true.

There were plenty of things to keep me busy...like all the un-done chores and painting and setting up a daily schedule for Chores and my huge To Do List.  There was time I took just for myself...to heal my heart.  There was time that I devoted to my 3 Pups...to get them through the first couple of months of them missing their "daddy"...and driving me crazy every single time they heard a noise and thought it was him.

I wasn't at my best when he left...overweight, by quite a bit...weak, dragging butt to do anything, even the slightest thing around the house.  Sure, I had bursts of energy and got some things done, but on an every day basis...I didn't have the energy I needed.

All these many months later, I'm many pounds lighter...actually 67#.  I'm able to do alot more without getting tired.  I've had rough days...and lots of good ones too.

Am I fine?  No.

Oh yeah, I'm doing OK...but not truly over everything.  I don't have closure.  There's that word so many people throw around.  Closure.  

I'm still married.  But, I feel like a widow, since my husband was here one day and gone the next.  We don't talk, I haven't seen him since he left and said he'd be back home in a few weeks.  It's like he's gone POOF!

Today I saw the new Doctor, mainly to see if I could get a medical excuse to not have to be on Jury Duty in Detroit, of all places.  Not only did I get that excuse, which she faxed to the Court...but I got a lot more.  She could see how stressed I was...not only in my face...but my blood pressure.  So, now I will be taking blood pressure medication.  Hopefully, with more weight loss and the pills, it will make a big difference.  Like they always say, people who have high blood pressure don't feel ill.  I certainly didn't.  I also go back to see her in a few weeks...for fasting blood work.  Oh yippee!

I guess all of that comes as we get older and we're under stress.  

She asked me alot of questions today, which I really appreciated.  And after hearing some of the things that have transpired in the past year, she asked if I was in counseling.  I said no, that I was doing well.  But, I've been thinking...maybe it would be a good thing to see someone, join a church group or something...just to help me adjust a bit more...to get me off to a good start in the 2nd year of my life...on my own.

Some of you may remember my posts on Domestic Violence.  I did those a few years ago, for quite some time...and then abruptly stopped doing them.  I suffered at the hands of an abuser, who beat me many years ago.  ONCE!  That was it!  I left him.  Didn't take phone calls from him or anything.  I shared that here.   The reason for the end of my posts on the subject of Domestic Violence?  I felt awful posting about it and suggesting those suffering to get help...when I was suffering myself...and NOT getting help.  

With Alzheimer's, comes lots of symptoms.  Lots of symptoms.  I'd been emotionally beaten down...and physically injured as well, by the man I loved and was married to.  But, I didn't feel I could LEAVE him...because this was caused by a medical condition...and he wasn't himself any longer.  I'm thankful [I know that sounds odd] that he left - for both of our sakes.  I have forgiven him for all of the things that transpired between us.  I wish him well.  Being able to do that, was a gift from God.

But...there is still "stuff" that bothers me...upsets me...makes me wonder if I'll ever have a life again, if I will ever be the outwardly active person I was before all of this.  So, maybe I will seek out someplace where I can get some help...like a group at church.

I'm healing my body, now I need to continue healing my mind and spirit as well.

Please, include me in your prayers...I appreciate them so much.

Hugs,

Jan

The Illogic of Complaining

Among those sins most exquisitely fitted to injure the soul and destroy the testimony, few can equal the sin of complaining. Yet the habit is so widespread that we hardly notice it among us. The complaining heart never lacks for occasion. It can always find reason enough to be unhappy. The object of its censure may be almost anything: the weather, the church, the difficulties of the way, other Christians or even God Himself. A complaining Christian puts himself in a position morally untenable. The simple logic of his professed discipleship is against

him with an unanswerable argument. Its reasoning runs like this: First, he is a Christian because he chose to be. There are no conscripts in the army of God. He is, therefore, in the awkward position of complaining against the very conditions he brought himself into by his own free choice. Secondly, he can quit any time he desires. No Christian wears a chain on his leg. Yet he still continues on, grumbling as he goes, and for such conduct he has no defense.

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Verse

Do everything without complaining or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation.Philippians 2:14-15

Thought

The cause for complaint is often a God-given opportunity for growth and praise. What at first appear to be thorns may prove to be divine prods that move us closer to God.

Prayer

Deliver me from complaining, Lord. Rather, teach me to praise You and thank You for the opportunities to grow.

Staying with the Clear Teaching of Scripture

Every believer as well as every minister of Christ must decide whether he will put his emphasis upon the majors or the minors. He must decide whether he will stay by the sober truths which constitute the beating heart of the Scriptures or turn his attention to those marginal doctrines which always bring division and which, at their best could not help us much on our way to the Celestial City. No man has any moral right to propound any teaching about which there is not full agreement among Bible Christians until he has made himself familiar with church history and with the development of Christian doctrine through the centuries.
The historic approach is best. After we have discovered what holy men believed, what great reformers and saints taught, what the purest souls and mightiest workers held to be important for holy living and dying--then we are in a fair position to appraise our own teaching. Humility is the only state of mind in which to approach the Scriptures. The Spirit will teach the humble soul those things that make for his salvation and for a holy walk and fruitful service here below. And little else matters.
Verse - Now, brothers, I have applied these things to myself and Apollos for your benefit, so that you may learn from us the meaning of the saying, 'Do not go beyond what is written.' Then you will not take pride in one man over against another.
Thought - There is the danger of embellishing the written, even ranging beyond it, in order to serve up the new, the exotic, the innovative. Oh, for preachers who open to us the meat of God's Word with contextual accuracy, clarity, sound exegesis and meaningful application.
Prayer - Thank You for access to Your Word, Lord. There are many in the world without the Word in their language. May I receive it and live it to Your glory. Amen.
 A. W. Tozer, a modern day prophet, was a key figure in The Christian and Missionary Alliance. His legacy reaches through time and has impacted countless millions. A prolific author and pastor, Tozer was known for his emphasis on the deeper life movement. His message, informed as it was by A.B. Simpson the founder of The Alliance, brought the missionary call to a massive audience.

Did You Know?

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Cleveland-based Sherwin-Williams Co. has announced it is acquiring the Valspar Corp., a Minneapolis-based global paints and coatings company, in an all-cash deal for $113 per share, or about $11.3 billion.

The transaction, the biggest acquisition in Sherwin-Williams' 150-year-history, would create a global paint company with combined revenues of about $15.6 billion, adjusted earnings of $2.8 billion, and about 58,000 employees.

By Janet H. Cho, The Plain Dealer 

Email the author | Follow on Twitter

on March 20, 2016 at 1:29 PM, updated March 21, 2016 at 2:46 PM

Sherwin-Williams Co. President and Chief Executive Officer John G. Morikis announced on Sunday that the Cleveland-based paint company is acquiring the Valspar Corp., a Minneapolis-based global paints and coatings company, in an all-cash deal for $113 per share, or about $11.3 billion. (Lisa DeJong, Plain Dealer file) (Lisa DeJong, Plain Dealer file)

Those figures include estimated annual synergies of $280 million in sourcing, selling, general and administrative expenses, and process and efficiency savings within two years, after the deal closes.

Read entire article Here