Our new furniture

The pictures are of the furniture we received from our kids for Christmas, birthday, mother's day, father's day, valentines day, etc., etc., etc. THANK YOU SO MUCH!!!!!
We are enjoying them so much.

The little white spot on the couch is the sun poking through a hole in the blind. The little dog beside the chair is Linda's pal, Toby. He likes my chair, too.

Again - thanks all of you. Such a sacrifice you have made for us, when I know you could have used this $$$ for your own needs. We are so blessed!

It looks bad, but Psalm 12:5 is a wonderful promise from our God: "I will set him in the safety for which he yearns."

Read Psalm 12. (When I read it, it reminded me of the state of affairs in our country as we speak. Especially in view of what is happening in politics!)

King David looked out at the world and was troubled. He didn't need the internet to paint a bleak picture of society or the New York Times to remind him of crime and suffering. Even without a cable news show to give him all the bad news, he saw the evil.

He looked around and saw that "the godly man ceases." He noticed that "the faithful disappear." In his world, everyone spoke "idly" to his neighbor "with flattering lips and a double heart" (psalm 12:1-2).

This description may sound like the theme of a TV show, but it was life, in 1,000 BC. While we think that all this evil is much worse than anything that came before, David reminds us that all of the ills of the world are not just happening in the 21st century.

But David's words also give us hope. Notice his reaction to the bad news he bore. First, he turned to God and cried, "Help!" (v. 1) Then he implored God for specific needs. The response he got was positive. God promised that He would provide protection and safety for his people (vv 5-7)

When you are discouraged, cry out for God's help. Then just sit back, knowing that God has promised His protection and safety! Three thousand years AFTER David, God is still, and always will be, in control!

We have nothing to fear, because God is in control.

Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ. - - 2 Corinthians 5:20

The word "ambassador" in the dictionary means "An accredited diplomatic agent of the highest rank, appointed as the representative of one government to another. Any personal representative or messenger."

Read 2 Corinthians 5:17-21.

I am an ambassador for Christ - and so are you! We need to show people what and who and why and where Jesus is. We must live as as ambassadors for Christ so people see Him in us! I've been assigned to do this in my family, among my friends, and in my church. It's my calling and my honor. Yours, too.

I believe I'm living in a different world than this secular world we are in. I live in God's/Jesus' government.

Let's face it, being an example (ambassador) is often about being different. But most of us don't want to be different. We want people to like us, and the safest way to do that is to blend in. I can't tell you how many times I've agreed with someone who I know is going against the teachings of Christ, or just kept quiet. I don't like to cause waves. I want everyone to like me. But following Jesus has never been about blending in. Following Him means to be like Him, to respond to life and relate to people as He did. It's a little risky and uncomfortable to be different. But that's what being an "ambassador for Christ" is all about - - bringing the wonderful difference of your King to bear on the territory you've been assigned to. What an honor!

Make a difference by daring to be different.