Oldman's Inspirational Thoughts™

Wednesday, November 3, 2010

Hope ~ WFW

Those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength.

They will soar on wings like eagles;

they will run and not grow weary,

they will walk and not be faint.

Isaiah 40:31

Since it’s inception, the purpose of Word-Filled Wednesday is to share God’s word through photo, or graphic image combined with a verse from the Bible.

Word-Filled Wednesday is now being hosted at Internet Cafe Devotions. Please take the time to to visit and link to others participating in today's Word-Filled Wednesday. God bless you, may your day be filled with peace and joy.

Wednesday, October 27, 2010

Grow and Flourish in the Lord ~ WFW

And now, just as you accepted Christ Jesus as your Lord,
you must continue to live in obedience to Him.
Let your roots grow down into Him and draw up nourishment from Him,
so you will grow in faith, strong, and vigorous in the truth you were taught.
Let your lives overflow with thanksgiving for all He has done.

Colossians 2:6-7

Sunday, October 24, 2010

Five Finger Prayer

At our church we have been studying John Ed Mathison's Book, treasures of the transformed life. In it he speaks of the Five Finger Prayer which I thought I would share with you. Here is how it works, Look at your hand and let your fingers be your guide.

1. Your thumb is nearest you. So begin your prayers by praying for those closest to you, Family and Friends.

2. The next finger is the pointing finger. Pray for those who teach, instruct and lead us to our Father in Heaven. This can include teachers, choir members, ministers and all of the laity. They need support and wisdom in pointing others in the right direction.

3. The next finger is the tallest finger. It reminds us of our leaders. Pray for the president, leaders in business and industry, and administrators. These people shape our nation and guide public opinion. They need God's guidance.

4. The fourth finger is our ring finger. Surprising to many is the fact that this is our weakest finger, as any piano teacher will testify. It should remind us to pray for those who are weak, in trouble or in pain. They need your prayers day and night. You cannot pray too much for them.

5. And lastly comes our little finger - the smallest finger of all, which is where we should place ourselves in relation to God and others. As the Bible says, 'The least shall be the greatest among you.' Your pinkie should remind you to pray for yourself. By the time you have prayed for the other four groups, your own needs will be put into proper perspective and you will be able to pray for yourself more effectively.

14This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. 15And if we know that he hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of him. 1 John 5:14-15

Wednesday, October 13, 2010

Blessings from Above

What can I offer the Lord
for all He has done for me?

Psalm 116:12

Wednesday, October 6, 2010

Oh Where, Oh Where has the Old Man Been?

Hi, Hello, Good Morning, Good Evening, and Good Day,

I hope that covers it all. I know, I know you have been missing me, Right? Well, I just thought I would drop by to let y'all know what I have been up to.

Sometimes in our lives we must step back and pause and get more in touch with ourselves and how we can be an instrument of His peace and love and His faithful servant. “Be still, and know that I am God” Psalm 46:10

So as you might infer, this requires me to listen to Him and hear where I can improve which has lead me to concentrate on improving my quality of life. There are certain things I must accomplish to be able to serve Him properly.

First, I need to find employment. As you know, I've been unemployed for a long time for health reasons but I'm feeling much better now and I'm ready to go back to work. I am working as a Virtual Assistant, If I can be of assistance to your business or organization, please visit my website, http://www.virtualmanagementassistant.com/ I also have been volunteering at Emerging Healthcare, you can find their link in the sidebar.

I am also working on improving my health. Well, this is going pretty well. To date, I've lost a total of 130 pounds and continue to do well. In fact, I lost 7 more pounds this week. I am posting on my health blog, OLDMANBLURTSOUT, My Journey to a Happier and Healthier Lifestyle, pretty regularly now. It helps me with my weight loss. Please drop by and become a follower today!!!

I believe we have found a church we like now though my daughter still wants to check out one more. In a way, I hope she likes the one we are going to better because I am beginning to get to know some people and it is important to have this fellowship with others. "Let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do." Hebrew 10:25 I have faith God will lead me in the direction He desires.

Well, I hope that helps answer the question of where I've been. I will try to post more often; in the meantime please don't forget drop by my health blog and follow.

Dear Lord,

Thank You for all the wonderful people You have put into my life. It makes my heart leap for joy to feel the love of all of the brothers and sisters who continue to pray for me and my ministry. Help me to continue to Live a Life of Worship and bring Your love to all of the lives I touch. Please Lord, make me an example of Your peace and love that I may inspire others toward Your Son and my Lord, Jesus Christ. Thank you for your grace, it still amazes me. You have truly blessed my soul and my life. May Your will be done.

In Jesus' name I pray,
Amen

Friday, August 6, 2010

Prayer Request ~ Moving and Looking for Work

If you are wondering where the old man has been, I have been in the process of moving closer to my family. I have been experiencing many difficulties for awhile now and I am concentrating on finding employment and living healthier. Thank God I have a family who is there for me and is so very supportive in this time of troubles. Please continue to keep me and my daughter in your prayers and I will continue to pray for all of you. It may be awhile before I get settled in and I am able to begin posting again. Please pray I will be able to find a job which will meet my families needs as well as serve God's plan in my life.

Thank you and God bless.

I pray, Father, that out of your glorious riches you may strengthen me with power through your Spirit in my inner being, so that Christ may dwell in my heart through faith. And I pray that I, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge--that I may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all I ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within me, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen. [Adapted from Ephesians 3:16-21]

Tuesday, July 27, 2010

The Water of Life

It was one of the hottest days of the dry season. We had not seen rain in almost a month. The crops were dying. Cows had stopped giving milk. The creeks and streams were long gone back into the earth. It was a dry season that would bankrupt several farmers before it was through. Every day, my husband and his brothers would go about the arduous process of trying to get water to the fields. Lately this process had involved taking a truck to the local water rendering plant and filling it up with water. But severe rationing had cut everyone off. If we didn't see some rain soon... we would lose everything.

It was on this day that I learned the true lesson of sharing and witnessed the only miracle I have seen with my own eyes. I was in the kitchen making lunch for my husband and his brothers when I saw my six-year old son, Billy, walking toward the woods. He wasn't walking with the usual carefree abandon of a youth but with a serious purpose. I could only see his back. He was obviously walking with a great effort... trying to be as still as possible. Minutes after he disappeared into the woods, he came running out again, toward the house. I went back to making sandwiches; thinking that whatever task he had been doing was completed.

Moments later, however, he was once again walking in that slow purposeful stride toward the woods. This activity went on for over an hour: walking carefully to the woods, then running back to the house. Finally, my curiosity got the best of me. I crept out of the house and followed him on his journey (being very careful not to be seen... as he was obviously doing something important and didn't need his Mommy checking-up on him).

He was cupping both hands in front of him as he walked; being very careful not to spill the water he held in them... maybe two or three tablespoons were held in his tiny hands. I sneaked closer as he went into the woods. Branches and thorns slapped his little face but he did not try to avoid them. He had a much greater purpose. As I leaned in to spy on him, I saw the most amazing site.
Several large deer loomed in front of him. Billy walked right up to them. I almost screamed for him to get away. A huge buck with elaborate antlers was dangerously close. But the buck did not threaten him... he didn't even move as Billy knelt down. And I saw a tiny fawn laying on the ground, obviously suffering from dehydration and heat exhaustion, lift its head with great effort to lap up the water cupped in my beautiful boy's hand.

When the water was gone, Billy jumped up to run back to the house and I hid behind a tree. I followed him back to the house; to a spigot that we had shut off the water to. Billy opened it all the way up and a small trickle of water began to creep out. He knelt there, letting each drip of water slowly fill up his makeshift "cup," as the sun beat down on his little back. It was just last week he was punished for playing with the garden hose, and received a stern lecture on the importance of not wasting water. So, I'm sure that is why he didn't ask me to help him.

It took almost twenty minutes for the drops to fill his hands. When he stood up and began the trek back, I was there in front of him. His little eyes just filled with tears. "I'm not wasting," was all he said. As he began his walk, I joined him... with a small pot of water from the kitchen. I let him tend to the fawn. I stayed away... it was his job.

I stood on the edge of the woods watching the most beautiful heart I have ever known working so hard to save a life. As the tears that rolled down my face began to hit the ground, they were suddenly joined by other drops... and more drops... and more. I looked up at the sky. It was as if God, Himself, was weeping with pride.

Some will probably say that this was all just a huge coincidence. That miracles don't really happen. That it was bound to rain sometime. And I can't argue with that... I'm not even going to try. All I can say is that the rain that came that day saved our farm... just like the actions of one little boy saved a life.

"This story is to honor the memory of my beautiful Billy, who was taken from me much too soon.... but not before he showed me the true face of God; in a little sunburned body."

Author Unknown

For I will pour water on him who is thirsty,
And floods on the dry ground;
I will pour My Spirit on your descendants,
And My blessing on your offspring;

Isaiah 44:3

Monday, July 26, 2010

"Why Ivy Tech" Help Nancy Meeks win a scholarship

Nancy Meeks is trying to win a scholarship for college. By viewing her video you can help her win one of 3 scholarships to Ivy Tech. She currently carries a 4.0 GPA and looks forward to continuing her education. She did not qualify for scholarships or grants for the 2009-2010 school year and could really use the help for this coming school year. Thank you for your support! Come back and view often, through August 2, 2010.

Sunday, July 25, 2010

Sister Act 2 "Oh Happy Day"

~ Sunday Song of Celebration ~

If you would like to join this Sunday Song of Celebration please post your music video or audio track on your blog in order to praise, honor and worship our Lord, Jesus Christ. Be sure to grab the button in the sidebar. Then add your link in the comments below so I and others can visit and celebrate our Lord through song!

Friday, July 23, 2010

Warning: Americans are in Denial about Their Health

Today, our collective health is in danger. A mere twenty-five years ago less than 10% of the American population was considered obese. Now over 30% of Americans are documented as being obese with the largest growth rate being in the south. Mintel, a market research leader, found that only 25% of survey respondents said they suffer from or have been diagnosed as being obese or overweight. According to the Center for Disease Control, however, 67% of Americans fall into this category and likewise Mintel found 65% of the respondents were actually obese or overweight. It is an epidemic of mass proportions (pun intended).