It's CSB's Birthday!! BUT the Gift is For YOU!

Update: I forgot to mention that all entries must be made by Monday, March 5th to qualify for the drawing. :)

It's time to Par-tay! Yup, it's CSB's 4th Birthday today! Yes, you read that right. I said CSB. It's my blog's birthday and as a gift to me, I am going back to my original blog title. I was "under the influence" when I changed it but since then have come to realized that the original fits me better. So, back it goes- and it's feels good! You could say this blog has been "Born Again". ;) And to celebrate, of course, we have to have...

A Birthday Banner

 

Some candles and cake!

Some flowers!

Lilacs (my fav)

And... a birthday wouldn't be complete without a GIFT!

BUT... the gift is not for me. It's for one of you! Yup, one lucky person will win a $20.00 Starbucks Gift-card! And it's easy as cake to win. All you have to do is leave a comment below and answer this question: What is you favorite drink at Starbucks? That's it!

The winners name will be chosen out of a hat by none other than Sweet Guy himself on Tuesday, March 6th. The winner will be announced on Wednesday, March 7th, and must contact me by Monday March, 12th or another name will be chosen. Alllllrighty then...Let the party begin!

This blogger would like to say thanks again to all my readers. I could-and would, write this blog without you, but it's a lot more fun to have you all here! I thank you all for your sweet comments to me personally, and on this blog. Thanks you for supporting me and reading faithfully for these last four years. But most of all, I thank you for letting ME be ME!

 HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO CSB

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU!

And Many More!!

Note: Each participant will have only one chance to win so multiple comments will only serve to make this blogger smile...Thanks and good luck!

A Critical Condition and 5 Things Nice

"Somebody call 911, we need an ambulance!"
 911- "9ll, state your emergency."
Caller- "Uh yes, we need an ambulance!"
911- "Is the person breathing?"
Caller- "Oh Yes, no problem there!"
911- "Please tell me the their symptoms."
Caller- "Well, their tongue is flapping and rolling around, and their teeth are chewing and spewing, and...Oh, please! can you just hurry!
911- "Please try to remain calm ma'am, the ambulance is on it's way. Everything is going to be OK."
Caller- "Okay, I hope so, but please hurry, I don't know how much longer I can take it... uh, I mean, if they will make it, it's really bad!"

---------------------------------------------

I've had this post on my heart for a while now. I've been much convicted of a criticizing spirit of late- my own, and others as well. It exhausts me anymore to listen to it. It dampens my spirit and pollutes the atmosphere. I find myself avoiding people and places where I know I'll hear it. I'm trying to quit, and if I go "there", I am then tempted to indulge.
I've been pondering the reasons why we humans criticize one another, and I don't much like the answers to these questions, mostly because they hit a little too close to home for me. What is it that makes us prone to put-down and criticize others? To name a few:

• Inferiority Complex- criticizing gives us a false sense of superiority. (Nobody's fooled but us.)
• Superiority Complex- We really believe we are better than them and that gives us a right. (Again, false.)
• We are angry and bitter and therefore feel justified to criticize those we blame for our issues.
• We_______. (You fill in the blank.)

Whatever our reasons, it's wrong. I'm not gonna quote a bunch of scriptures here- we know what they are, and if we have to (and we will) give an account for EVERY word we say when we stand before God someday, then I think it behooves us to choose them much more carefully.

Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this should not be.

James 3:10 NIV

5 Things Nice
When my oldest sister was in Bible College, at some point, she and her peers felt the need to set this new rule to follow. Anytime someone broke the rule, someone else would say,"5 things nice!" I'm thinking it needs to be revisited. But if y'all don't need it, never-mind, I do!

The Rule:
For every time we (accidentally on purpose) speak a criticizing or negative remark about anybody (including ourselves!), we must immediately say 5 things nice about that same person (including...you guessed it, ourselves!). And it wouldn't hurt if someone else were to call us on it if we do. "5 things nice!" Oh, and that "teasing" we do when we really aren't teasing, that counts too. So...if we can't say anything nice...

"Sticks and stones may break the bones- But words can tear the heart out."

Thanks for reading!

Thank you, thank you Jesus for our FOOD? today...

and please naturalize it, sanctify it, de-checmicalize it, and let not any harm come to my body from it, amen.

I've got to STOP reading this stuff. But seriously, I just can't. It's making me crazy! Where in the living world do "food" manufacturers (now that's an oxymoron) get all these insane ideas for putting all this junk in our "food"? It sounds like the mad scientist has run amok! I can't stomach it!
Call me whacked, call me paranoid, call me a nutjob, whatever, but I'm almost scared to go to the "grocery" store anymore! Anyone for a bug-juice, maggot infested, paint chip smoothie, with a sprinkle of plastic on top? Y.U.M! Hey, why not? You can even use any leftovers to clean your carburetor, fertilize the garden (in the which you are going to start growing your own REAL food in, right?), and kill the weeds in the drive! What a deal!

(I'm rethinking that commune with the beet and chia seed songs...)

All kidding aside, this is really gross. Best thing to do tho is just eat the best you can...and maybe say the little prayer at the top of this post. Can't hurt. :-P

Happy Friday! Have a chemical free weekend y'all!

I Gotta Be Me...

Short, skinny, fat or tall, God made us perfect but that was in Eden...before the fall. ;-}

Look in the mirror and what do you see? I know there are days when I groan in agony at the sight in mine. Then I have to remind myself, God don't make no junk! There are so many things about myself that I would love to change. There are several people I would love to be like. But guess what? I can't be anybody but me. I know, bummer dude...
I can do a lot of things. I may even do some of them well. But I CAN'T do everything. Now you may have been taught that you can do anything you set your mind to. But I'm just not convinced that's entirely true. But what about the scripture: I can do ALL things through Christ, you say? I read that as saying that God will give us the strength to do what we need to do or help us get through hard places- Not that I can do absolutely anything I want to be able to do. God can enable people to do impossible things, and he has- but that's not the norm.
I can't climb mountains...I'd get vertigo and fall off. I can't ride a motorcycle like Sweet Guy can (hardly anyone can...just sayin' *wink*). I can't skydive...it would be skyDIE for me. I can't sing like Mariah Carey...but boy if I could! I can't draw or paint...I just don't have the talent. And the list goes on... There are a lot of things I can't do. BUT- there is one thing I CAN do that no one else will ever be able to do (not that they'd want to...), and that's be ME!
Sometimes I look around at the talent and abilities of others and I get discouraged. Man! If I could just do that, or if I could be that, then I could really be somebody! But the truth is: even tho I may be able to somewhat improve my talents and abilities, even master a few or learn new ones- I can never become someone else. (Duh) All I have to work with is what God gave me- and from his point of view (not necessarily mine), it's enough.

I'm not saying that we should never try to do things that are hard, or that we might never master. I play the piano. Not great- but just enough to enjoy playing for myself. I could practice and practice (and I have), but I have come to the conclusion (at no insult to myself), that I just do not have a natural ability for the piano. I could never be a Pam. G. or a Cheryl W. (They Rock!), it's just not in me. But that's OK. It does not diminish who I am or my self-worth. (And it does not prevent me from torturing the neighbors. hehe)
God gave us all talents and abilities, and it would not behoove us to make light of them by comparing ourselves to others. (Hey ME, I'm talking to YOU!) Find out what you CAN DO and do it will all your might! I've taken up jogging (Don't tell the girls in my old P.E. class! lol). I'm not too good at it yet, don't know if I ever will be, but I'm gonna do it anyways...at my speed and my ability level, not someone elses. I'm trying to be a better Sunday School teacher...will I ever be as good as some of the ones I admire for their natural talent? I don't know. But I'm trying and that's good enough--and so are YOU!

 "I may not sing like the angels. And I may not preach like Paul. But I know God has given me the greatest gift of all, a new heart."

For we dare not make ourselves of the number, or compare ourselves with some that commend themselves: but they measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise. 2 Corinthians 10:12

That's Amore'

Happy Valentine's Day!

That's Amore'

Oh Lord help me have lots of patience,

to be kind and considerate too.

For I too, need patience and kindness,

so to give it's the least I can do.

To put others before my desires,

is what helps me be humble and fair.

If I think only of my selfish wishes,

 it would prove that I really don't care.

Lord, I don't want to be boastful,

I'll let others trumpet my knack.

To to say it myself would be tacky,

and finesse would be something I lacked.

Anger and envy are ugly,

and ugly I don't want in me.

 So I'll plant a big grin on my grinner,

and just let anger and envy go free.

 If others can easily provoke me,

then I'm acting in ways I ought not.

I'm behaving myself too unseemly

and it's worse when I think evil thoughts.

 Lord, all I ask for is true love,

please shed it abroad in my heart.

For if I have not love I am empty

and my life would be evil and hard.

 Teach me Lord to walk life uprightly,

so that others will see it as well.

For I don't want to sound a brass trumpet,

or clang in the air like a bell...

written by Caroline 2-14-12

And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.
1 Corinthians 13:13

Why I RARELY drink soda- and A Chemical Reaction.

I have to admit that I have developed a taste for REG Coke in the last few years. The only reason I can think of is because of the bubbles- I love the bubbles. But I know it's "poison" in a glass, so I try hard to resist. The only time I drink it is when I go out to eat, and then not always. I found this article today and wanted to share (because sharing is kind) it with y'all. Now, listen, if you love your soda and drink it like your life depends on it -I'll not judge you for it, but I won't be happy about it either. I like you too much for that. :-)

I've been reading so much in the headlines about the chemicals and garbage in food lately and it's turning my stomach. Did you read this article about McDonald's pink slime?? It's what they used to make the unfit hamburger meat they use "safe" to eat! Seriously? Forget the Pepto! Just hand me a plunger! That's like totally beyond gross- in fact, it's criminal, in my book. The last time I went to see a doctor about some pain I was having in my side, we talked a bit afterwards; She told me that cancer is now an epidemic. Really?

Things I'm trying to eliminate or cut waaaay back on:

• Numero Uno.... Sugar!! (It's been proven that it feeds cancer cells. yikes!)
• Artificial (The word says it all.)
• Chemicals (In food? Yup. The FDA and chemical companies ain't gonna be my friend anymore but who cares!)
• Preservatives (What I call Live embalming. To much drama for you? Sorry.)
• "Natural" flavors (another word for chemicals)
• GMO's (genetically modified foods.)
• MSG (Go look it up.) :/
• Growth hormones in meat an dairy. (I don't need anymore help in that dept. ;-P)
• Coffee (Heaven help me!)
• Soda (almost no effort needed here, but still)
• Fast Food (especially McDonald's. He's a clown; So why am I not laughing?)

Okay, that's it... for now. Am I gonna go all freakish and never eat anything "fake"or drive thru the drive-thru again in my life? Or go join a commune for folks that only eat "pure" food and chant songs about beets and chia seeds? Good Lord No! That's not realistic. (IMO) But, I do want to try and do all I can to be more responsible for the this body that God gave me. And besides, I feel so much better when I don't eat junk.

Bon Appetit my friends! Thanks for reading.

Food. "Ain't nothin' like the real thang baby." 

Goodbye Charlie...

Charles Manson
May 17, 2001- Feb 11, 2012
(picture taken last night)

Dear Charlie,
You made a believer outta me. I was among the millions of (misguided) cat haters in the world...then YOU showed up under the fence, caterwauling at the top of your lungs! But so tiny and helpless- and full of fleas. I took you in (that was my first mistake) and gave you a bath (what was I thinking?!), then found you a blanket and a box to sleep in. I ended up bottle-feeding you. You fit in the palm of my hand and kneaded my palm as you drank. Then I would hold you just like a baby and you loved it! I started liking it too!
See, my intention was to find you a home. But the longer I kept you, the more you stole my heart. Finally, after "trying" to find you a home for several weeks, and having no luck, I took you to the Vet. When I brought you home I told Sweet Guy that it didn't matter anymore if we wanted to keep you or not, after paying THAT kind of a Vet bill, we HAD to keep you for the next 20 years in order to get our moneys worth! You only ended up giving us eleven years, but we will cherish every one!
You were a little stinker (actually, you were a-tub-of-lard-with-a-launching-pad-the-size-of-Texas-stinker). You only loved your momma. It was only if others had a bit of food or were real gentle-like with you, that you would tolerate anyone else's attention. You were known to be a bit of a nipper when ruffled more than you liked- a night stalker too, and I have the scars to prove it! But I loved you! You were my chubby snuggle buddy- and I will miss you so much! Thanks a million for all the love and joy you brought into our lives! Rest easy buddy...

 Dear God, I know YOU know best. But just for the record, I'm kinda tired of losing the beating hearts that I love. Just thought I'd give you a heads-up.

Yours truly, Caroline

There's Gonna Be Revival in The Land!

Better yet, we are ALREADY having revival in the land! Wowsers! We are having one of the best revivals at our church I think we've ever had! Every year, from the first part of January, to around that last part of February, we have an Evangelist come and preach revival for us. And it's always so good. But this year- for reasons God only knows, it didn't work out for us to have one. So, what we've had is different preachers come in at times and preach for us instead. It's so amazing how God works things out! The preaching, to me, has been different than any we've had in revivals past. Oh, it's revival preaching, but it seems like it's been more directed at the saints then usual. But hey, what better way to bring in the sinners then when that saints get stirred up, cleaned up, and prayed up?! I've been loving it!

Last night, there was really no preaching to speak of. The preachers wife sang an good old song (she tore it up, I mean!) and the power of God came in like a hurricane. The spirit of travail moved all over the building. The preacher told us that the Spirit of deliverance was in the house and that God wanted to deliver folks from the things that had them bound...some for years and years. So many people went to the alter. And I believe many people's lives were changed forever. I know I was moved in a very special way and I'm claiming my liberty! Fear and doubt get out! Faith and Trust are here to stay!

At the end of the alter service, the Elder read from Isaiah 61:1-3. It stirred up my faith even more, and helped banish my fears. I can't wait to see what God is going to do in the service tonight!

 Isaiah 61:1-3
1 The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me; because the LORD hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound;
2 To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn;
3 To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that he might be glorified.

Amen!

Wear My Shoes

This poem came to me today as I pondered the fact that sometimes we (I include myself here) are so quick to judge, to deem another persons feelings and thoughts as invalid or ridiculous. But the truth is, we haven't lived that persons life. We don't know where they're coming from. We can't possibly know how they feel. And, I submit that we all want our feelings to be taken seriously. Am I right? Answer that the next time you get angry or hurt and someone just brushes you off. Yeah, that's what I thought.

We may even have had something similar happen to us that would make us think that we can relate, but even then our feelings and reactions to similar things are going to be totally different. I'm thinking of a situation a few years back in my own family that I myself judged a bit too quickly. Even though I totally disagreed with that person's feelings and what was causing them, right or wrong, those feelings were/are real to them. It would probably do us all some good to at least try to see things from the other person's perspective. And if we can't then at least don't dismiss their feelings as unfounded...

Thanks for reading.

 Wear My Shoes

Have you been down the roads that I've traveled?
Have you been in the places I've lodged?
Are you familiar with all of the road blocks,
and the potholes in life that I've dodged?

Can you say that you really do know me,
that you relate to the trials I have faced?
All the secret hurts and the sorrows, of my life
and the scars in their place?

Not one soul can expound on my story,
every person's tale is their own.
So my request to you, friend, is this simple:
Til you've walked in my shoes, don't throw stones.

Written by Caroline 2-7-12

Cat Troubles

My cat Charles is very sick. If he doesn't get better I will have no choice but to have him put to sleep. It's breaking my heart. No. More. Animals. For. Me!

Charles Manson (aka, Charlie)