WHERE ARE MY EMAILS?

I really enjoy IncrediMail. They have fun backgrounds for my emails. Neat animations. I like IncrediMail because -- Well, right now I do not like IncrediMail!

I know I am not a "geek" and I get frustrated with my lack of computer skills, but I have upgraded their product many times, with absolutely no problems. Until this week.

Up pops, IncrediMail 2! Upgrade now. New and improved! This has been popping up for awhile, but it always said, "But you might want to wait if you don't have the latest program." So I waited. This week, there was no, "But wait.", so I kept hitting next, next until it said, "You now have IncrediMail 2." I was so excited -- Excited until I realized it had not brought my emails forward. And my contacts were missing.

IncrediMail and I are exchanging emails. They said, "Do this." I tried. Only imported emails from October 26, 2010, a few folders I thought I had deleted and an old contact list. I sent their email back and informed them it did not work. As I write this, I am waiting on their okay now try this suggestion.

I have learned a few things: New and improved is not always better. Folders with old emails I thought I had deleted were still hiding in my computer. (Guess delete does not really mean delete and disk cleanup missed a few corners the last time it cleaned.) I should have printed my contact list.

Updating this program is a bit like our Christian life. How many Bibles do you own? Do you buy one each time you see a "new and easier to understand" version? Do you delete things from your life just to find out they are still there, waiting for a weak moment when they can again be in your life? And do you keep a list of contacts you can call on? People who will pray for you? Listen to you? Support you? Do you have a backup of that list in case your system crashes?

Did you just hear God laugh? "Mary, are you a Bible "geek"? Are you making full use of the one you have or are you only using a few kilobytes instead of the gigabytes available? Have you cleaned out your deleted-from-my-life folder lately? Do you know that your first "contact" should be me?"

(Have a great week. I will be on vacation so will not post again until March 18.)

TODAYS SCRIPTURE: EPHESIANS 4:22-24

You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.

QUESTIONS OF THE DAY

Have you ever upgraded something on your computer only to have that upgrade cause you hours of trying to get it fixed? Have you upgraded your life?

LET US PRAY (Please use this as a beginning of your prayer. Finish in your own words, words from your heart.)

What a strange world we live in. Instant access to information. To people. And we think this is so great. Well, duh, we have always had instant access to you. Lord, we take better care of our computers than we do of our own lives. We update, upgrade and use all the new and improved programs. But sometimes we try to put new upgrades in old programs and it just doesn't work.

Lord, I have been taught about my old corrupt self. I am learning new attitudes. And I have been given a new self. A new self created to be like you, in true righteousness and holiness. Thank you and please keep me on automatic updates. I do not want to miss a thing you have to offer. Amen

CHILDREN'S CHILDREN

TODAYS SCRIPTURE: Proverbs 17:8

Children's children are a crown to the aged, and parents are the pride of their children.

CHILDREN'S CHILDREN

Children are a blessing! Well, most of the time. We were blessed with a son and a daughter. And they have blessed us with "children's children" or more commonly known as grandchildren.

It is hard to believe but our oldest is 16 and our youngest turns 7 on February 19. Today I would like to tell you about Timothy (aka Timmy).

Timmy is the youngest of four boys. Yes, four! To picture this boy, please think about blonde hair, eyes that just snap and a smile that - A smile that melts your heart as you ask, "Okay, what have you done now?"

When it was time for Timmy to start kindergarten, the words heard over and over were, "And you have to keep your clothes on." This is a boy who never wears shoes and thinks having on anything more than a pair of shorts is being way overdressed.

One day I heard his older brother thanking him for getting his army man for him. Where had he gotten it? From out on the roof! Our daughter came in and heard the tale end of the conversation and asked, "Timothy, were you out on the roof?" He looked her square in the eyes and said, "No."

He then gave me a quick glance out of the corner of his eye. I never said a word. He left the room and Terri said, "He was out on the roof wasn't he?" She knows her boys.

Timmy is great at stirring up his older brothers and trying to convince me that it is not his turn to clear the table. Timmy is the only person I know who can be quietly sitting on the school bus and then hit himself in the eye with a school book while trying to kill a bug. Timmy -

Timmy is the first one to come running through the house saying, "Grandma is here. Grandma is here."

Timmy is the last one asleep when we have a movie night. And Timmy gives great hugs.

Timmy is my favorite youngest grandson.

Yes, children's children are a crown to the aged. You will have to ask our son and daughter if parents are the pride of their children

QUESTION OF THE DAY

Do you have a "Timmy" in your family? Someone with eyes that just snap and a smile that melts your heart as you ask, "Okay, what have you done now?" in your family?

LET US PRAY

Today, please think about the children you know. Your children. Children in your family. Children of friends. Children of those you work with. Children at your church. Children in your neighborhood. Children who are healthy and can run and jump and go out on roofs. Children who are not healthy. Think about these children, lift them up in prayer and ask God to surround them with His love.

THE BIBLE IS FULL OF LIES

I have heard for years that the Bible is a lie. Well, I have decided they are right. The Bible is full of lies and it doesn't take long for the lies to begin.

Genesis 3:4: "You will not surely die," the serpent said to the woman. See! There are lies in the Bible. In the very first Book, the serpent lied to the woman to get her to do what he wanted.

And those brothers lied about Joseph. Genesis 37:12-36 tells how the brothers sold Joseph and then let Jacob think his favorite son was dead. Talk about lies! And all because they were jealous.

There are also lies in the New Testament. One of Jesus' disciples lied. Not once, but three times! "I don't know what you're talking about," he said. "I don't know the man." And then a third time, Peter swore, "I don't know the man!" Well, of course Peter knew Jesus. Peter lied!!!

Oh, there are more lies. Leaders and kings lied about the power of their gods so the people would follow them. A father lied and tricked a man into marrying his oldest daughter. A woman lied about switching her dead baby for a live baby.

Men lied.

Women lied.

But, mainly, the devil lied. That is Satan's biggest weapon. Lies he tells and lies he puts into the hearts of others. Satan knows how to use each of our fears. Doubts. Desires. And misguided emotions of pride, envy, jealousy and greed. Satan uses us to get his work done.

Matthew 4:8: Again, the devil took Jesus to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. "All this I will give you," he said, "if you will bow down and worship me." Now, if that is not a big, bold faced lie, I have never heard one.

But, Jesus knew it was a lie and he knew what to do. Jesus said to him, "Away from me, Satan. For it is written; 'Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.' "

QUESTION OF THE DAY

Do you know what to do when that ole, sneaky, snaky, mouth-full-of-lies devil comes toward you?

LET US PRAY (Please use this as a beginning of your prayer. Finish in your own words, words from your heart.)

Lord, I do know what it feels like to have the devil put lies into my heart. Those lies make me question who I am. They make me question my worth. They make me question my faith. Today I ask for wisdom and strength. I need the wisdom of Your Word because it is through Your Word that I will recognize the lies of Satan. I need strength. Strength to say, "Away from me, Satan. I worship the Lord my God and serve Him only." Amen

GET READY!

I don't know about where you live, but much of the United States has been a bit under the weather. And I am not referring to the flu bug that hit me last week. No, I am referring to that white stuff that has decorated our back yard, covered our highways and caused every school to close. I knew it was really, really, REALLY serious when they announced that Tuesday night Bingo had been cancelled. We can do without meetings. We can do without the basketball game, but when Bingo is cancelled you know it is bad!

The storm of a lifetime was predicted. We could get two feet of snow. Freezing rain. High wind. Oh, my! And people listened. People got ready for the storm. People prepared!

I will admit, early Monday morning Bill went to the store and got milk, flashlight batteries and a couple other things. Late Monday afternoon, he went to town and said the parking lot, at our one and only grocery store, was filled. People were also topping off their tanks, in case the power went out. Yes, people were preparing.

Superintendants watched the front move in and called off schools. Highway crews were put on full alert. Factories closed early so employees could get home safely. Yes, people were preparing.

People prepared. People watched the weather maps. People were concerned that if the storm hit too hard the Super Bowl might not take place. We were all getting ready for a storm that might happen.

Did the storm come? Yes and it hit some areas harder than others. People were stranded on highways. Power was out. Country roads were drifted shut. Neighbors helped clean out each others driveways. Yes, the storm did come and we might be lucky enough to be hit again.

TODAYS SCRIPTURES

Therefore, prepare your minds for action, be self-controlled; set your hope fully on the grace to be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed. Peter 1:13

In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. John 14:2-3

You also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him. Luke 12:40

QUESTIONS OF THE DAY

Did you have to prepare for a storm this last week? Was it a weather storm or a personal storm?

Do you prepare for spiritual storms? Do you prepare so you will ready when the Son of Man comes again? There is a room with your name on it. Have your prepared yourself to enter your room?

LET US PRAY

Snow! Your earth received a good share of snow during the last few weeks. Lord, watch over those who are cold because they cannot afford heat or because power lines are down. Comfort and protect all who do not have walls to keep out the storms. Give people wisdom to be careful when they have to go out and protection to all those who brave the elements to provide for our safety. Lord, it seems we spend a major portion of our lives preparing for one storm or another. We go from this crisis to that crisis. We buy bread to feed our bodies and put off until tomorrow the bread we need for our souls.

(Finish in your own words, words from your heart. Talk to God about preparing your soul.)

Lord, keep my room ready. Amen