Christmas Prayer

In the spirit of the season as I look around and see those who are struggling I am reminded of my many blessings. I look at those who have more than they really need and hope God will touch their hearts to share with those less fortunate. I see those who have barely enough to eat and my heart goes out to them wishing I had the resources to help them all. There is one thing I can do and that is offer my prayers.

• I thank God for being God, for paying the ultimate price for my sinful soul. I pray that those who do not know him will repent and seek his face.
  

• I thank God for my precious daughter, who is the life and breathe of me. I pray that God will watch over all children who are need of His blessings.
  

• I thank God for my grandson, who has brightened my life and added more love than any one person deserves. I pray God will dwell in our hearts so that we may raise our children to trust and believe in the Lord Jesus Christ.
  

• I thank God for my husband, a person to share my dreams, thoughts, and goals with, a partner in life whose only desire is to see me happy. I pray God will help those who are seeking a companion in their life.
  

• I thank God for my brothers and parents for all they have meant to me and been for me throughout my life. I pray God will touch and heal families who are in need of love and forgiveness.
  

• I thank God for my friends, for those who listen, encourage, but never judge me. I pray God will remind me each day to share his love and teachings and be the best friend I can be to others, that His light might shine through me.
  

• I thank God for my extended friends whom I have never seen, but have had the blessing of knowing through the internet. Especially my writing friends, you know who you are. I pray God will watch over them and protect them from evil and will bless them with whatever their need may be.
  

• I thank God that I wake every morning with food to eat, clothes to wear, and a roof over my head. I pray God will provide me with opportunities to help those less fortunate than myself and that He will cover them with His love.
  

• I thank God for the world he created with all the animals and wonders of nature that add beauty to my life. I pray God will touch our land with his love and help us to see the wrong of our ways.
  

• I thank God for the existence of faith and miracles, and I thank Him for forgiving me when I take them for granted or fail to recognize them for what they are. I pray that all will find peace and faith through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
  

• I thank God that because of Him I will one day see all my loved ones again in heaven. I pray that God will help those who have lost loved ones and comfort their heart as only He can do.
  

I pray you will take a moment out of your day and thank God for the blessing in your life both big and small. May God bless you this Christmas season and everyday that you have the privilege to live in such an amazing world. Miracles are all around you if you only take the time to look.

May your Christmas be blessed with all that is good ~Granny

Tis The Season

Click Here to read the meaning behind the traditional symbols of Christmas, from wreaths to holly, to gifs, to candles, and more.

May the true meaning of Christmas fill your heart this Holiday season.

May God's blessing surround you all year through.

Granny

In The Spirt of The Season

Early Morning

I listen to the wind rustle the trees,
enjoying the feel of the light morning breeze.
I listen to the birds sing their beautiful songs,
enjoying this moment just before dawn.

I listen to all of nature's sweet sounds,
a more peaceful time cannot be found.

This is the way God meant it to be,
He created it all for you and for me.

I listen as the people begin to awake,
my solitude is gone as a new day breaks.
Tomorrow will be another day,
I'll begin it again in the very same way.

(c) 1991 ~Deborah As. Seko

My Confession

This was shared with me by someone who cares about the state our world is in and so I thought I would return the kindness and share it with all who visit here, especially since he captured my sentiments so nicely.

The following was written by Ben Stein and recited by him on CBS Sunday Morning Commentary.

My confession:

I am a Jew, and every single one of my ancestors was Jewish. And it does not bother me even a little bit when people call those beautiful lit up, bejeweled trees, Christmas trees.. I don't feel threatened. I don't feel discriminated against. That's what they are: Christmas trees.

It doesn't bother me a bit when people say, 'Merry Christmas' to me. I don't think they are slighting me or getting ready to put me in a ghetto. In fact, I kind of like it It shows that we are all brothers and sisters celebrating this happy time of year. It doesn't bother me at all that there is a manger scene on display at a key intersection near my beach house in Malibu . If people want a creche, it's just as fine with me as is the Menorah a few hundred yards away.

I don't like getting pushed around for being a Jew, and I don't think Christians like getting pushed around for being Christians. I think people who believe in God are sick and tired of getting pushed around, period. I have no idea where the concept came from that America is an explicitly atheist country. I can't find it in the Constitution and I don't like it being shoved down my throat.

Or maybe I can put it another way: where did the idea come from that we should worship celebrities and we aren't allowed to worship God as we understand Him? I guess that's a sign that I'm getting old, too. But there are a lot of us who are wondering where these celebrities came from and where the America we knew went to.

In light of the many jokes we send to one another for a laugh, this is a little different: This is not intended to be a joke; it's not funny, it's intended to get you thinking.

Billy Graham's daughter was interviewed on the Early Show and Jane Clayson asked her 'How could God let something like this happen?' (regarding Katrina) Anne Graham gave an extremely profound and insightful response. She said, 'I believe God is deeply saddened by this, just as we are, but for years we've been telling God to get out of our schools, to get out of our government and to get out of our lives. And being the gentleman He is, I believe He has calmly backed out. How can we expect God to give us His blessing and His protection if we demand He leave us alone?'

In light of recent events... terrorists attack, school shootings, etc. I think it started when Madeleine Murray O'Hare (she was murdered, her body found a few years ago) complained she didn't want prayer in our schools, and we said OK. Then someone said you better not read the Bible in school. The Bible says thou shalt not kill, thou shalt not steal, and love your neighbor as yourself. And we said OK.

Then Dr. Benjamin Spock said we shouldn't spank our children when they misbehave because their little personalities would be warped and we might damage their self-esteem (Dr Spock's son committed suicide). We said an expert should know what he's talking about. And we said OK.

Now we're asking ourselves why our children have no conscience, why they don't know right from wrong, and why it doesn't bother them to kill strangers, their classmates, and themselves.

Probably, if we think about it long and hard enough, we can figure it out. I think it has a great deal to do with 'WE REAP WHAT WE SOW.'

Funny how simple it is for people to trash God and then wonder why the world's going to hell Funny how we believe what the newspapers say, but question what the Bible says. Funny how you can send 'jokes' through e-mail and they spread like wildfire but when you start sending messages regarding the Lord, people think twice about sharing. Funny how lewd, crude, vulgar and obscene articles pass freely through cyberspace, but public discussion of God is suppressed in the school and workplace.

My Best Regards, Honestly and respectfully,

Ben Stein

Word Play

I was strolling in the park this past weekend and came across two signs that made me realize just how many different definitions there are for the same word.

Sign 1:
Danger! Hot Playground Equipment. - I wonder where they stole it from.

Sign 2:
All tables must be reserved. - Verses what loud and obnoxious?

Smile it makes you feel good!

Have a great day,
Granny

Desires

I had a desire to help,
But lacked the resources.
Convictions, but lacked the faith.
Goals but no one to share them with.
I had the desire to succeed but no ambition.
Needs, but no outlet for them.
Love, but no happiness.
Hope, but no fulfillment.
Then I found Jesus...Now I have it all!

(c) 1992 Deborah A. Seko

FRIENDSHIP

“Friendship, like the immortality of the soul, is too good to be believed. “

~Ralph Waldo Emerson

What would it be like to go through life without at least one TRUE friend? For me, I believe it would be like being lost in a, dry, dusty, lonely, life threatening desert.

Most of us have family with whom we share a bond of love and commitment. We’ve all heard the old cliché’ blood is thicker than water. Yet, family alone is not enough to sustain us through the everyday joys, trials, tribulations, sorrows, and achievements that we go through during our life. After all, we do not get to choose our families and we are often too close to family members to share some our deepest innermost feelings.

A true friend is like an oasis. A place we can go and replenish our thirst, and rejuvenate our inner being. True friends allows us an opportunity to let down our barriers without being afraid of showing too much of ourselves. A true friend is someone we can talk to well into the wee hours of the night and never get tired or bored. Someone who does not judge you for your feelings or inadequacies. They accept you as you are and they have no expectations other than that same friendship in return.

A true friend can often sense your feelings even before your spouse or a family member might. We all have times when we are down for whatever reason and times we want to vent about any number of things. Often times we find it hard to share these thoughts and feelings with our families. However, it is easy to spend an entire day or even weekend sharing and trusting our most private thoughts and feelings with a true friend.

With true friendship, there is an unspoken trust that exist. Somehow and for some reason, you know deep down in your soul that person will be there for you regardless of the circumstances. A bond between true friends is unlike any other; like love it is difficult to describe yet it is essential to your wellbeing.

In life, we may acquire many friends along the way; however, it is a rare gift to find numerous true friends. You know the ones, those who would walk through fire to help you and never ask for anything in return. True friends are a blessing from God that adds to the quality of your life. I have always been a firm believer that God puts certain people in our lives at certain times in lives for a reason.

One true friend is worth more than an entire city of just casual friends or acquaintances. A true friend can sustain you through all that life has to throw at you. Never take a true friend for granted. Like a lifeline, they stand ready to hold you up in both good times and bad.

May God bless you with at least one true friend in your life.

Granny

Southern Dialect

Most folks learn early on to speak the vernacular of the region in which they’re raised. Our vocabulary and dialect is often learned and instilled in us between the ages of two to six years of age. Therefore, when visiting the South you should remember that the dialect with which folks speak has nothing at all to do with their intelligence or their knowledge of the rules of grammar.

In the South, maybe more so than anywhere else, the verbiage people use when communicating does not indicate their level of education, intelligence, or social status. Their way of speaking is just the way things are done, the way they have been raised, and is certainly not an indication of laziness as some may believe.

If you are considering visiting the Southern region of the United States, especially down around the Georgia area, you really should know the basics of Southern dialect. Here are few of the most basic things you will need to know in order to be able to understand and communicate properly when in the South.

1. The suffix "ing" in all words is silent and should be pronounced as "n" or "in"
Example: Think’n, fix’n, hang’n, chew’n, leave’n, rain’in, speak’in

2. The word "you" is pronounced "ya."
Example: Where ya go’n to? Did ya milk the cows? Are ya sure?

3. Always combine words whenever possible and omit any unnecessary words like "are."
Example: Did’ya see the size of that snake? Why’ya dressed like that? Where’ya go’n?

4. The prefixes "a" and "be" are silent in the words "about" and "because."
Example: ‘Bout time ya showed up. They got divorced ‘cause he cheated.

5. "Am Not" and "Are Not" is always spoken as "Ain’t."
Example:I ain’t let’n ya ride my mule. Ya ain’t never right.

6. Potato or potatoes are pronounced tater or taters.
Example: Roy, go and dig me up some of them taters for supper. Leave that last tater for your dad.

7. If you have something (or some’in) to say that is negative always follow it with "Bless his/her soul."
Example: Mrs. Daisy’s niece is dumb as a sack of rocks; bless her soul. Mr. Jenkins’s is as bald as an eagle; bless his soul.

8. "Yonder" is the acceptable word when giving directions.
Example:He lives right over yonder passed Joe’s diner. Go down yonder to the bridge and turn left. Go yonder about a mile then turn right.

9. "You all" is always pronounced ya’ll.
Example: Are ya’ll com’n to the dance Friday? Where did ya’ll go on vacation?

10. Five of the most common words to use in place of swearwords are:
Dad burn it! Dag nabbit! Darn! Dang! Dad blast it!

In the South, you will find some of the friendliest, heart-warming, helpful, bible-believing folks you’ve ever run into. So please, ya’ll come visit, relax, have a glass of good ole ice tea, and enjoy our dialect. Oh, and feel free to join right in if’in you have a mind to. Bless your soul!


Bless your soul
Granny

My Platform

I am not usually one who speaks out much on politics. Normally my stand is to pray for those who decide to embark on this path. However, after being bombarded by ads and events surrounding this year’s presidential campaign I have realized that no one clearly addresses the real issues that we as citizens deal with on a daily basis. Therefore, I have decided to share my opinion on what America needs and if I were running for Office these are a few of the issues I would address.

(1) Language - In America the official language is English. You must learn to speak English or have a personal translator above the age of eighteen with you at all times. You will not be allowed to apply for employment until you can speak English. (We will offer ample opportunities for you to learn our language, but we will not pay for it with taxpayer’s monies)

(2) Welfare – Each recipient must submit to random drug testing once a month. If you do not pass your check stops immediately. Checks will be issued on Monday mornings. You must reapply for the privilege to receive welfare every year. You must do volunteer community service for a minimum of 20 hours a week or until you are gainfully employed. You are not allowed to procreate while reaching welfare monies. (If you can’t afford to support yourself, you certainly can’t afford to support more children.)

(3) When imports are allowed, there will be a 100% import tax on them. The price of items exported and imported will be comparative. We will no longer sell our products dirt cheap while we are gouged for equally necessary items such as oil.

(5) Social Security will be reserved for those who have worked and put in their fair share.
Government officials, who will not be living on social security, will no longer be able to make decisions or vote on issues concerning Social Security. Social Security policies will be made by a forum of senior citizens who actually have to live and rely on social security for their lively hood.

(7) Professional Athletes –Any athlete found in violate of drug policies or who is convicted of a crime, will be banned for life. (Our kids and many adults look up to sports figures as mentors. This will help our youth to understand that there are real consequences for your actions)

(8) Crime – If you plead guilty or you are proven guilty in a court of law you will begin your sentence immediately. You will serve your full sentence with no opportunity for parole. You will lose your rights as an upstanding citizen to vote or make a profit from the crime you committed by selling rights to a movie, or writing a book, or speaking out at events. While incarcerated you will work in some capacity to help improve your community, whether it be digging ditches, mowing lawns, or rebuilding and cleaning areas destroyed by natural disasters. If you are convicted of a sexual crime, appropriate medical treatment will be administered to ensure your inability to ever commit such a crime again. If you are convicted of murder, you will immediately be sent to the front lines in Iraq and take the place of one of our young kids who have willing put their life on the line for the likes of you.

(11) The right to recite the Pledge of Allegiance and pray will be returned to our schools. In fact it will be mandatory that each school day will begin with an assembly hall where The Pledge of Allegiance and prayer will be conducted. Failure to attend will result in disciplinary action. (Notice I did not say participate. You can choose whether you wish to participate, but you will be exposed to what is our right as Americans so that you might realize what our forefathers and others have died for.)

(12) It will be mandatory practice that The National Anthem be played at all appropriate ceremonies, sporting events, outings, and public governmental affairs. It will also be mandatory that you place your right hand over your heart in respect for our country’s flag and all who have died under it.

(13) Racism is a two way street. If we are going to live together then we must have equality across the board. We no longer allow ALL white colleges; therefore, we will no longer allow ALL black colleges. We are not allowed weeks or special occasions that are set aside for ALL whites and therefore there will not be any ALL black special occasions either. Everyone must be given equal opportunity to attend any public function regardless of color. Employees are not to employ or keep employees just because of race just to meet some quota. You will be chosen for employment depending on your qualifications for the job. All college entrance exams or any other privileges that require testing will be the same across the board for everyone. Equality means not giving special privileges to someone just because of their race. Consequently, if we want equality we must have equality for ALL not just for a select few or just when it suits someone’s fancy.

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Many men and woman have given their lives for the freedoms that we enjoy every day. Their lives mean something and we should respect the fact they were willing to give their live so we could have the freedom to live ours. Freedom of speech is one of the freedoms many have died for. I hope that no one who reads these words will take them as a personal slander or as racist comments. However, if you chose to do so that is your right. I speak in general and from my own personal experiences.

Change can be a good thing as history has proven. However, America was built on certain values, morals, and beliefs and when we mess with those we are leaving our country and ourselves wide open for destruction and failure.

May God Bless America, its people, and all who believe in Him!

granny
I write because I care!

Favorite Bible Verses

It is on my heart today to share with all who pass through this site some of my favorite bible verses. I believe in one true God. He is my strength, my light, my salvation. His power is real, his mercy unmatchable, his love steadfast. I believe in prayer and I also believe that sometimes unanswered prayer is a blessing, for only He can see my future. My mom used to say that God gives us three answers to prayer, no, yes, and not now.

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Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever, is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, let your mind dwell on these things. [Philippians 4:8].

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Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you."
Deuteronomy 31:6

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But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. "Do not fear what they fear ; do not be frightened."
Take Courage
1 Peter 3:14

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"The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever."
Psalm 23

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"Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight."
Proverbs 3:5-6

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May God pour his blessing upon you and your heart be glad.

~Granny

Where Does The Time Go

I just returned from California where I spent a week taking care of my one and only grandson while my daughter and son-in-law took a much-deserved vacation. There is definitely a reason why the good Lord created women with a biological clock. It didn’t take long for me to realize that, while enjoyable, taking care of a one year old can certainly put a strain on the old muscles.

I thoroughly enjoyed the one-on-one time with my grandson however, it increased my awareness of my impending age. It can be so frustrating to feel mentally capable of doing so many things only to realize that the body no longer wishes to cooperate. Even if you do manage to get the body to perform the reward is days of aches and pains that you didn’t count on.

It seems like only yesterday I was running around chasing my own daughter, climbing monkey bars, playing ball, and sliding down slides on my bottom with her in my lap. When did they start making slides so narrow?

Normally, I don’t think of myself as old. Old is what, eighty, eight-five? So in comparison I’m still rather young however, after a week of chasing after my adorable, active one year old grandson, I came to realize that time is no longer on my side.

Where did the time go? When did my body’s capabilities pass my mental capabilities? I guess it happens so gradually that we don’t realize it until we’re playing piggy back in the floor and then find we can’t get off the floor without a helping hand.

This past week was a real revelation for me. There is still so much I want to do in life and I have to face the fact that time doesn’t stand still. Therefore, I’ve started thinking seriously, about how I need to organize my time better. There’s only so much you can cram into a twenty-four hour day. I’ve decide that by prioritizing and organizing my days more efficiently it will perhaps give me a greater opportunity to accomplish some of things that I have on my “Things I want to do before it’s too late” list.

August is just around the corner and I will be starting back to school and work, meaning my free time will become more limited than ever. One of my favorite sayings is, “Live each day as if it were your last,” yet I haven’t been heading that very smart advice, but it’s never too late to start.

So, I’m making my new year’s resolution early or late depending on how you look at it. My goal is to do something I’ve always wanted to try or go somewhere I’ve always wanted to go once a month. If my body tries to deny me the opportunity, I will simply feed it a couple of Advil and refuse to allow it to rob me of the opportunities that await me.

Time can be your friend or your enemy – it’s up to you. ~Debbie S.

May God’s love shine upon you and yours.

Granny

See The Truth!

My bother sent me this and it says it all.

America

Turn up the volume and wait for it to start.

Why I Grumble?

In person or on my blog you will find me jabbering away on most any topic from politics to my dearly beloved grandson. Those who read my musings and even those who know me in person often come away with different perspectives on who I am and why I grumble. There are those who might think I’m an opinionated baby boomer with a closed mind toward change, others will no doubt see me as thick headed, irrational, thinking I am the only one whose is ever right. Then there are those who feel I am just over flowing with righteous indignation.

However, the truth is that no matter how I might come across to you as an individual, the foundation of my grumblings is based on one thing and one thing only and that is that I care. Deep down in the depths of my soul I care about other human beings, I care about our children and their future, I care about the elderly who have given so much of themselves but are often simply forgotten. I care that we as human beings have allowed evil to take over our souls filling it with anger, hate, and almost no concern or consideration for human life.

I care that everything I hold dear from our grand old Flag, to prayer in school, to obeying our parents is being destroyed and throw aside as old fashion nonsense. I do not consider myself prejudice due to color or race, however I guess you might say I’m prejudice against having everything I hold dear in life mocked at, laughed at, and ridiculed simply because the times have changed. Respect, love, and honor for our loved ones, for our friends, for our country, for ourselves, should not have to change. The opportunity is there within each of us as individuals to make the world and our lives worthwhile, by simply not allowing a few to spoil the whole bunch.

We allow ourselves to be drawn into the false belief that things like love, respect, and concern for others will not bring us wealth or happiness, and so we have gradually replaced them with greed, anger, hate, and an egotistical attitude that getting a head in life is all that matters.

I think of all those who have given there lives for our freedoms and I cringe at how we abuse those freedoms for our own individual gain and self-supporting reasons. I was taught that rights come with responsibility and responsibility must be learned. I am reminded of the lyrics of a song that goes something like, “If you don’t stand for something you’ll fall for anything.” I believe that is part of what is happening in our society today. We are not being taught or given anything substantial to stand for or believe in.

We are told we do not have to obey or respect our teachers, our parents, or authority, because we have rights. We live in a country where men and women are dying daily to keep this country safe and to safeguard our freedoms yet we are no longer required to pledge alliance to the very flag they are dying under, nor do we have to sing our national anthem, or pray in school or public.

There are many in this country whom I would dare say have never read our constitution, yet we allow them to tell us we can’t say Christmas, we should take the word God off our money, we can’t fly the rebel flag, our parents can’t discipline us, and the list goes on.

What is so hard about showing respect? Why is it so difficult to love your neighbor as you do yourself? We are supposed to have freedom of religion, but it seems that’s only true if it doesn’t offend someone of a different religion. We have become a society that worries so much about being politically correct that we have destroyed plain old common sense and love for one another.

~~I received this only minutes after posting this blog entry. Flag Lables Banned

May God have mercy on our souls and forgive us our trespasses.

Granny