May God bless you Michael

When I first heard the news that Michael Jackson had died, I could not believe it. I was very shocked and saddened at his sudden death. When someone dies suddenly, it's harder to deal with their death than when someone who has been ill for some time dies.

I watched Michael as a little boy performed on many of his TV shows and was marvelled at his superb talent. I thought he was so cute. He was the main attraction of the group.

As time went on, there were many changes about Michael. However, my love for him never changed. Instead of criticizing him for some bad decisions that he had made, I felt sympathy for him. I don't believe it was Michael's fault for some of his unusual behaviour. Something may have happened in his life that caused him to be that way. Plus all the stress that people have caused him. Perhaps he never received the care that he should have.

I am amazed at how some of the same people who built him up, also broke him down. Perhaps to them, he was too successful. He was criticized, mocked and accused. He was under a tremendous amount of stress. A lot of people began to hate him, more so for his unusual transformation and for child molestation accusations. They were very cruel to him. His true fans were always loyal to him. I am one of them. As I mentioned before, I felt more sympathy for him than hate.

For those who criticized and hated Michael, remember when Mary Magdelene was brought before Jesus. They wanted to stone her to death. What did Jesus say to them? "He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her". None of them could have done that because they knew they were all sinners, so they left.

Do you think Jesus, who is sinless, would have condemned Michael? No. But those who lie, cheat, steal and perhaps more horrible things, had condemned him for things they did not like about him. Some of these things were not even proven.

Goodbye Michael. Rest in peace. The peace you never got when you were alive. Your music would always remind us of you.

The link below is Lisa Marie Presley blogs about Michael Jackson's death and how it affects her:

www.aceshowbiz.com/news/view/00025327.html

'I am watching my cholesterol'

I was walking through the dessert section in the grocery store the other day, and could have only looked at the many mouth-watering cakes, pies and other desserts but was afraid to buy any because 'I am watching my cholesterol'.

We're constantly reminded by the media and health magazines about foods we should avoid in order to maintain good health and a healthy cholesterol level. I could not help but wonder, if most of us should avoid these foods (with a high cholesterol, fat and sugar content), then are these desserts there for only the skinny, young and healthy. A lot of young people are now overweight, so maybe they're there for only those that are skinny and healthy. If we are told to avoid these foods, then why put them in our view where we can be tempted.

That made me think of when God put Adam and Eve in the garden and told them they can eat from every other tree, but not to eat from the tree in the middle of the garden. He gave them a choice. They disobeyed, and unfortunately we're all paying for their choice.

Genesis 2:9 - And the Lord God made all kinds of trees grow out of the ground - -trees that were pleasing to the eye and good for food. In the middle of the garden were the tree of life and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.

Genesis 3:3 - But God did say "You must not eat fruit from the tree that is in the middle of the garden and you must not touch it or you will die."

So too, we have choices. We can choose to stay away from those attractive and tasty desserts and be healthy, or we can choose to enjoy them and pay the consequences.

I don't consider myself overweight, but I can lose a few pounds. I try to avoid that section of the store. Life is not fair, is it? Why can't they make desserts for people who are 'watching their cholesterol'.

The Wolves Within

An old grandfather said to his grandson who came to him with anger at a friend who had done him an injustice, "Let me tell you a story.

I too, at times, have felt a great hate for those that have done me wrong and have taken so much, with no sorrow for what they've done.

But hate wears you done, and does not hurt your enemy. It is like taking poison and wishing your enemy would die. I have struggled with these feelings many times", he continued. "It is as if two wolves are inside me. One is good and does not harm. He lives in harmony with all around him, and does not take offense when no offense was intended. He will only fight when it is right to do so, and in the right way.

But the other wolf, ah, he is full of anger. The smallest thing will set him into a fit of temper. He fights everyone all the time for no reason. He cannot think because his anger and hate are so great. It is helpless anger, for his anger will change nothing.

Sometimes it is hard to live with these two wolves inside me, for both of them try to dominate my spirit".

The boy looked intently into his grandfather's eyes and asked, "Which one wins, grandfather?"

The grandfather smiled and quietly said, "The one I feed".

________________________________________________________

"Holding on to anger is like grasping a hot coal with the intent of throwing it at someone else. You are the one who gets burned".

What is Faith?

Faith means to believe and trust completely. Faith is not something that happens to you, it is something that happens in you. It also means believing in something or someone you cannot see.

For we walk by faith, not by sight, 2 Corinthians 5:7.

Those who do not believe there's a God because they cannot see him, even though there's evidence of his existence, do not have faith.

So then Faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the word of God - Romans 10:17

But without Faith it is impossible to please Him: for he that cometh to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of them that deligently seek Him - Hebrews 11:6

Now Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. Hebrews 11:1Peter walking on water demonstrates faith, when he asked Jesus the water. It also onstrates

And Peter answered him and said, "Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water." - Matthew 14:28

29 - And he said, "Come". And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus.

30 - But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, "Lord, save me."

31 - And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said unto him, "O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?"

Faith is totally trusting God and not doubting. Most people base their faith on the result of their prayer request. If they've had a prayer answered, the level of their faith will more than likely be higher than if they've not received an answer to their prayers. They may say, I pray before for something and never received it, how am I to believe this time that I will get my prayer answered.

Another example of demonstrated faith is Abraham, who was about to use his only son, Isaac, as a sacrifice to God. He had so much faith in God, that obeying God was more important that sparing his only son's life. Perhaps deep down in Abraham's heart he believed that God would never take the life of his only son. God did not need to test Abraham's faith to find out how deep his faith was because God knows everything even before it happens. But he wanted to test Abraham's faith to prove a point to Abraham himself, or as a lesson to the rest of us. Just as Abraham was about to plunge the knife into Isaac's body, the angel held back his hand.

Why did God take Abraham's faith to the brink?

Just think of how many times God has put our faith to the test, to the point where we cannot take it anymore. It's at the point when we're at the brink that he intervenes. He never gives us more than we can bear.

I am facing some very difficult times in my life right now, like a lot of other people. I ask myself, could it be that God is using this to strengthen me for even more difficult times ahead? Yet, I do believe that God will work out something for me.

I've heard that a tree is strengthened by the storms it withstands. I think especially of the palm tree and how it seem to withstand storm after storm. Some trees would be uprooted, some will break, but the palm tree will be tossed back and forth and bend to the ground, but after the storm has passed it will bounce right back up because of its flexibility.

The Bible says that "the righteous shall flourish like a palm tree, planted in the house of the Lord, they will flourish in the courts of our God. (Psalm 92: 12-13).

When we go through the storms of life, we need to remember the palm tree.

David Letterman's comment or 'joke' about Sarah Palin's daughter

I personally did not find it funny. What may be a 'joke' to one person, may be pain or insult to another. Humiliating or derogative comments about anyone are not funny. There are so many other things to trample on other than young women's self esteem. How insensitive.

I agree with Sarah Palin. He should apologize not only to her daughter, but to women. It is sad how women are looked upon as sex objects in our society.

How about making jokes about yourself, Mr. Letterman. That way no one would be offended but you, and I'm sure you won't want to offend yourself, therefore you would be very careful what you say.

I would love to hear other people's views. Leave me your comments, or vote at the bottom, right side of this page.

To read the full story on Today (powered by msnbc.com) click on the link below:

http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/31275358/?GT1=43001#storyContinued

Flowers are God's gifts to us

Now that the warm weather is here and the frost has gone, the flowers in my small garden are finally showing life again. The roses have begun to bud. The butterfly bush and the hibiscus seem to take a while longer.

I bought two beautiful baskets of deep pink petunias today to hang on my fence. I really would have preferred if they were mixed with another colour - perhaps pink and white, but I could'nt find any. Didn't have a camera available to take a picture of them.

I am crazy about flowers. My eldest sister who lives in WV is more obsessed with flowers than I am. Everytime I phoned her and there's no answer, I know right away she's in the garden. I once bought her a small wall plaque that reads "I live in the garden, I only sleep in the house". It fits her perfectly.

Even though I like all flowers, some of my favourites are the daliahs, peony, clamatis, roses and daisies, to name a few.

I wonder how do they come up with the names for flowers. There are thousands of them. Some of the names I have a difficult time remembering. I came across this website on 'How Flowers Get Their Names' www.pss.uvm.edu/ppp/articles/flowname.html

Reliv International distributor

Now that I am a Reliv International distributor, I've been spending a lot of time trying to learn more about the business and the nutritional products. I've also been trying, with the help of Yola, to create a website (nothing fancy) to promote my business.

I've been using the drinks for about a month and I've noticed an improvement in my energy and my memory. I've also listened to a lot of people who claim how these nutritional drinks have improved their health.

One of the things that I like about the company is that they've opened feeding centres in Haiti, the Philippeans and other poor countries to nourish the people, especially the children. I was impressed. I am proud to be a part of this company.

Below are links on Reliv nutritional products:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7_A5p2RBQ2U

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZpB5G1h5rlQ

If anyone would like to order the products or become a distributor, please let me know in the Comment field. Do not leave your address nor phone #. Google will send me an email with your comment for me to decide whether I want to accept the comment or not. Instead of me replying to your comment, which would show up in my blog, I would contact you directly via your email address.

I Couldn't Be There Today

I came across this poem today which I had saved on my computer. It was written by my sister in West Virginia for my uncle (my mom's brother) who passed away in his sleep two years ago. No one expected it to happen as we had spoken to him just a few days before and his voice was very strong. He never complained about any illness. He had lived in London, England. We all miss him very much.

He and his wife were married for over fifty years. When someone you've been married to for so many years passes away, I guess it can be compared to losing a part of your body. One year after his passing away, she followed him.

I COULDN’T BE THERE TODAY

Though we were miles apart,
We always kept in touch.
Distance was no barrier,
Of the love we feel so much.

You call me often when I was sick,
I thought that I would die.
You gave me words of encouragement,
You built my hopes up high.

Now I am ok and you are gone,
You did not say goodbye.
You slipped away quietly,
But I understand why.

You went to be with Jesus,
A place of peace and rest.
Sleep in Jesus, dear uncle,
Lay your head upon his breast.

Until that day when we reunite,
Sleep in Jesus dear uncle.
It won’t always be night.

Love,
Your niece, Jenetha.

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