Sings My Soul Saturday - 1/24

Joining Amy for Sings My Soul Saturday. This one is for all the bloggers and writers out there. "Something to Say" by Matthew West. The lyrics "no one can say it like you, God is love and love speaks through you." Keep writing, keep blogging, keep telling your story! You've got something to say!

I do too.

LOST

There is a television show called LOST. I've never seen said show, but evidently those who watch the show are rabid about it. Really. It all started when I read a blog post here by Pam at Alert & Oriented. She mentioned that while the show was on, if anyone disturbed her they better be "bleeding bad enough to need stitches." Wow. So I commented that I'd never seen the show.

Well, after that I got an email (not a comment friends, a real live email!) from Linda at 2nd Cup who had read my comment on Pam's blog and strongly encouraged me to rent Season 1 on DVD and just try it. Talk about peer pressure. She was sure if I tried it, I'd like it. (Sounds like something a mother says to her kids about veggies to me!)

Next, for fun, I undated my Facebook status to say "I don't watch LOST." Suddenly I started receiving responses from all my friends. "Get the DVDs" "I'll loan your the DVDs." It was like I had a serious problem here. I realized...the LOST people need for the people who haven't found LOST to find LOST or else they'll be lost. I've never seen anyone so concerned about LOST people...well, except Jesus.

In Luke 15:4-7, Jesus says, "Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Does he not leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, 'Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.' I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent."

Read verse 7 again. "there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent." Jesus came for the lost.

You LOST people can try and convert all of us who don't watch the show. As for me, I'm going to try to convert the lost people. Just like Jesus.

(However, if you'd like to talk about American Idol, The Mentalist, or House, I am available). *grin*

Matthew 18:14 -- In the same way your Father in heaven is not willing that any of these little ones should be lost.

Luke 15:10 -- There is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.

Luke 19:10 -- For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost.

Thankful Thursday - 1/22

Joining my Circuit City Buddy, Sonya at Truth 4 the Journey for another edition of Thankful Thursday.

1. Thankful that my family is healthy. Lots of stomach bugs and even whooping cough is going around my community. So far, we're all fine.

2. Thankful that I only have 1 more devotional to write (deadline 1/31) to submit for payment!

3. Thankful for friends who pray for my needs, and that I can pray for my friends, any place, any time, any reason.

4. Thankful for exercise friends to keep me motivated to head to the gym at 8 a.m.!

5. Thankful for praise music that lifts my spirit. I love to shout to the Lord! (My singing does sound more like shouting than singing, but my God just loves my joyful noise!)

What are you thankful for this week? Join Sonya's meme by clicking the button below. Or just leave your thankful things in my comments. Thankful for you today, my readers!

Investing & Conventional Wisdom

Welcome to Circuit City, where service is state of the art. That little jingle belonged to my former employer, Circuity City. I began with Circuit City in 1994. I met my friend Sonya (Truth4theJourney) there, and that is where my Christian life (through Sonya's seed-planting) went from passive to active. But this isn't that story.

I joined the employee stock purchase plan as quickly as I could at full buy in. Stock was around $25 a share then. I moved a head in the company, and eventually transferred over to the up and coming subsidiary CarMax, where I joined that stock program. At one point Circuit City stock was up to $50 a share. But I didn't sell. Conventional wisdom said don't sell if you don't need the money.

Circuit City stock is currently at 10 cents a share, and is currently liquidating it's assets to go out of business. I still own all my shares. I've lost money believing conventional wisdom.

CarMax stock was up to $57 a share in the past year or so. Not wanted to relive my Circuit City experience I talked to my stock broker. "Don't sell if you don't need the money" conventional wisdom said. I couldn't stand it. I sold half, and put the profits in the bank. I still have the other half in stock. It's trading at $8.11. I've lost 72% of my stock value.

The money that was in the bank was only earning about 1% in a savings account. My husband and my stock broker were all over me to invest it. Conventional wisdom says you don't leave money in a savings account. So I invested 1/2 of it. That 1/2 has lost 20% of it's original value. The other half is still earning a meager 1%...but it's earning!

Conventional wisdom has a lot to say. But it isn't always right. This isn't a post about stock trading, and what ever you do, don't listen to my money advice! You'll end up broke. But that same "conventional wisdom" talks about man evolving from apes, and the Big Bang theory and scientific discovery. Conventional wisdom isn't always right. Sometimes you have to go with your gut.

My gut says there is a God of the Universe. His son, Jesus, died to pay the price of my sins so that I may spend eternity in their presence. All I have to do is have faith. Faith=eternal life. That is a pretty good return on my investment, don't you think?

Isaiah 42:17 -- But those who invested in the no-gods are bankrupt—dead broke. (The Message)

Psalm 37:8 -- Bridle your anger, trash your wrath, cool your pipes—it only makes things worse. Before long the crooks will be bankrupt; God-investors will soon own the store. (The Message)

Proverbs 8:17-19 -- I love those who love me; those who look for me find me. Wealth and Glory accompany me— also substantial Honor and a Good Name. My benefits are worth more than a big salary, even a very big salary; the returns on me exceed any imaginable bonus. (The Message)

Blue Light Special

As I drove down the street last Thursday, I noticed the police car pulling up closely behind me. Sure enough, the blue lights began to flash. I pulled over and produced my license and registration. I hadn't been speeding, but it turns out my car tags (license plates) had expired...in November. The policeman headed back to his vehicle to write my ticket.

Several minutes passed and he came back and handing me back my license and registration. "Your debt has been paid" he informed me. My husband had paid the tag renewal fee, but not updated the stickers on my plate. The officer could still give me a ticket for improper display, and I guess I deserved one, but he let me go. A quick trip to DMV and $1 replaced the lost tags to be stuck on my license plates.

At the end times, I'll see those "blue lights" in heaven. (You know folks always do talk about walking toward the light. They just don't mention they're blue.) I'll be told of my offense, and I'll know what I deserve. But then God will say "Your debt has been paid." Jesus has taken care of my offense. I won't receive what I deserve. I'll be set free from my past and live eternally in God's kingdom come, just because I know, love and serve Jesus.

Jesus is the light of the world. Because of him, we don't have to be blue. We can have the light of life!

John 8:12 -- When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life."

2 Corinthians 4:6 -- For God, who said, "Let light shine out of darkness," made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ.

1 Peter 2:9 -- But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.

Picture Tag

I've been tagged by The Patterson 5! The instructions were to go to your picture files, pick the fourth folder and the fourth picture in that folder and explain it!

This was in 2005 when hubby & I went on a cruise. This photo is looking down from the side of the ship before we left dock. I love the colors in the photo.

You've got the instructions. If you want to play, consider yourself tagged!

**Updated - it was a cruise to "nowhere." A 3-day trip, one and a half days out and back, no docking. A baby cruise for a first time cruiser. Plus we left our child at home (with ET, thanks ET!) and weren't ready for a longer cruise. And for Sue J, my link to my losing poem trying to win a cruise. And yes, there really was water....

Ahh, this is the life....

Just a drill....

In Perfect Step

My mom has a photo of me when I was about 6 or 7 years old, in ballet class. All the little girls have their feet together and their hands in front of them clapping, except me. I have my hands on my hips and one leg out tapping my heel. I was out of step.

Fast forward ahead 30+ years and that is me in the Body & Soul fitness class. I started this class on Tuesday and was the model student. I say model, as the teacher used me as an example. She said "If you can't get the arm motions with the legs, just do what Kelly is doing and leave your hands on your hips." I just can't do the "heel, knee, kick" with my legs and do "up, down, up" with my arms at the same time.

I've not taken fitness classes in the past because the number of steps involved, and the coordination of the feet & hand motions together seemed overwhelming. I didn't want to look stupid. But with maturity comes caring less of others opinions of you (not to mention a slower metabolism) so I decided to start the class with a friend. I tried hard not to compare myself to the others who seemed more coordinated. I kept my eyes on the teacher, so I could follow her every step. Thursday was second class and amazingly I was already able to add some of the hand motions in. Soon I think my feet will be able to follow the steps without so much thought, and then I'll add all the arms. Soon, I'll be getting stronger!

As Christians, we too can be overwhelmed. Just look at one area of Christianity, the fruit of the spirit. (Galatians 5:22, 23) Love, peace, joy, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness and self-control seems like too much to achieve.

But if we start with one thing at a time, it's easier. Which one of the fruit do you have? Focus on the ones you do well. Don't compare your self with others! Then as you get one down, add another until you've gotten them all. Soon you'll be stronger! In time you can add more & more "steps" of Christianity. Keep your eyes closely on the Teacher (Jesus), like I did. Then you'll be spiritually fit, and in perfect step.

Galatians 5:25 -- Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.

Proverbs 4:12 -- When you walk, your steps will not be hampered; when you run, you will not stumble.

1 Peter 2:21 -- To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps.