Abuse is the notorious thief in the night
Comes without warning
Stalks the innocent
A taker of peace
A giver of nothing

Abuse hides in the shadows among us
Stalking within one's own home
Once a safe haven
A place next to heaven
Turned into a living hell

Abuse comes in all sizes, colors and shapes
It is a thief of hearts
A thief of youth
The thief of one's mind
A destroyer of one's body

Abuse by any other name is still abuse
It rips
It shreds
It creates tears
It brings havoc

Abuse is a respecter of nothing
It tries to shroud
It tries to disguise
It's a liar
It wants everything

Abuse is physical or verbal
Either one tries to defeat a soul
Tears a whole into parts
Pieces not easily glued back
Into it's former self

Abuse lives in the hearts
Lives in the minds
Lives in the bodies
Lives in the essence
Of a blackened soul

Abuse has no conscience
It tries to validate
It tries to justify
It tries to clarify
It tries to deny

Abuse is Satan flexing his hellish schemes
Seeking out the weak
Seeking out mindless followers
Seeking out the Godless
Inviting the evildoers to his home in hell

by
Karen

A friend of mine sent this to me in an email. I hadn't seen it before, although some of you might have, but thought it was a great message to post on the Stream.

God Bless each and everyone one of you this Lord's Day and everyday of this week.

Love, Karen

Dear Children,

It has come to my attention that many of you are upset that folks are taking My name out of the season. Maybe you've forgotten that I wasn't actually born during this time of the year and that it was some of your predecessors who decided to celebrate My birthday on what was actually a time of pagan festival. Although I do appreciate being remembered anytime.

How I personally feel about this celebration can probably be most easily understood by those of you who have been blessed with children of your own. I don't care what you call the day. If you want to celebrate My birth, just GET ALONG AND LOVE ONE ANOTHER.

Now, having said that let Me go on. If it bothers you that the town in which you live doesn't allow a scene depicting My birth, then just get rid of a couple of Santas and snowmen and put in a small Nativity scene on your own front lawn. If all My followers did that there wouldn't be any need for such a scene on the town square because there would be many of them all around town.

Stop worrying about the fact that people are calling the tree a holiday tree, instead of a Christmas tree. It was I who made all trees. You can remember Me anytime you see any tree. Decorate a grape vine if you wish: I actually spoke of that one in a teaching, explaining who I am in relation to you and what each of our tasks were. If you have forgotten that one, look up John 15: 1 - 8.

If you want to give Me a present in remembrance of My birth here is my wish list. Choose something from it:

1. Instead of writing protest letters objecting to the way My birthday is being celebrated, write letters of love and hope to soldiers away from home. They are terribly afraid and lonely this time of year. I know, they tell Me all the time.

2. Visit someone in a nursing home. You don't have to know them personally. They just need to know that someone cares about them.

3. Instead of writing the President complaining about the wording on the cards his staff sent out this year, why don't you write and tell him that you'll be praying for him and his family this year. Then follow up. It will be nice hearing from you again.

4. Instead of giving your children a lot of gifts you can't afford and they don't need, spend time with them. Tell them the story of My birth, and why I came to live with you down here. Hold them in your arms and remind them that I love them.

5. Pick someone that has hurt you in the past and forgive him or her.

6. Did you know that someone in your town will attempt to take their own life this season because they feel so alone and hopeless? Since you don't know who that person is, try giving everyone you meet a warm smile; it could make the difference.

7. Instead of nit picking about what the retailer in your town calls the holiday, be patient with the people who work there. Give them a warm smile and a kind word. Even if they aren't allowed to wish you a 'Merry Christmas' that doesn't keep you from wishing them one. Then stop shopping there on Sunday. If the store didn't make so much money on that day they'd close and let their employees spend the day at home with their families

8. If you really want to make a difference, support a missionary-- especially one who takes My love and Good News to those who have never heard My name.

9. Here's a good one. There are individuals and whole families in your town who not only will have no 'Christmas' tree, but neither will they have any presents to give or receive. If you don't know them, buy some food and a few gifts and give them to the Salvation Army or some other charity which believes in Me and they will make the delivery for you.

10. Finally, if you want to make a statement about your belief in and loyalty to Me, then behave like a Christian. Don't do things in secret that you wouldn't do in My presence. Let people know by your actions that you are one of mine.

Don't forget; I am Jesus and can take care of Myself. Just love Me and do what I have told you to do. I'll take care of all the rest. Check out the list above and get to work; time is short. I'll help you, but the ball is now in your court. And do have a most blessed Christmas with all those whom you love and remember :

I LOVE YOU,
JESUS

My daughter Melody will be celebrating her first anniversary with her husband, Michael, on December 23rd. Melody will be 26 years old on January 7th. I posted this almost two years ago on the Stream and decided to post it again. She and Michael were just over here at our other daughter's home here in Lubbock. We will be traveling back home on Tuesday. The weather is calling for possible snow on Monday and Tuesday, so hope there will be no ice. It would be exciting to see snow, as where we live, 8 hours from here, snow is almost unheard of.

Remembering my last born
With eyes so big and brown
Remembering her smile
The way she would frown
It was hard on her
Being number five
Going through the years
Trying to survive
Where did the years go
They passed by too fast
I barely had time
To enjoy her past
She's eighteen now
Not a baby nor child
She's a college student
Still not meek nor mild
I don't really know
About this empty nest
The hours get lonely
Yet I try my best
After all that was the purpose
To raise them all up
To be out on their own
To enjoy a full cup
My job is complete
I raised them God's way
Now it is up to them
If a Christian they'll stay
I know I wasn't perfect
Only Jesus could be
I just pray they will remember
I will love them through eternity
Dear God I want to thank You
For all the blessings I've received
For all my beautiful children
For all that they have achieved
I may not have done some things
In quite the right way
But I just want to thank You
For each and everyday
For my Mom & Dad & sisters & brothers
And all my wonderful friends
When my life's chapters are finished
It'll only be the beginning, not be the end.

My son-in-law's teacher mom sent this to me and I thought it was funny and oh so true if you are an educator. If you've already seen it, then hope you enjoy it again.

by Jeff Foxworthy

1. You can hear 25 voices behind you and know exactly which one belongs to the child out of line.

2. You get a secret thrill out of laminating something.

3. You walk into a store and hear the words 'It's Ms/Mr. _________' and know you have been spotted.

4. You have 25 people that accidentally call you Mom/Dad at one time or another.

5. You can eat a multi-course meal in under twenty-five minutes.

6. You've trained yourself to go to the bathroom at two distinct times of the day: lunch and prep period.

7. You start saving other people's trash, because most likely, you can use that toilet paper tube or plastic butter tub for something in the classroom.

8. You believe the teachers' lounge should be equipped with a margarita machine.

9. You want to slap the next person who says 'Must be nice to work 7 to 3 and have summers off.'

10. You believe chocolate is a food group.

11. You can tell if it's a full moon without ever looking outside.

12. You believe that unspeakable evils will befall you if anyone says 'Boy, the kids sure are mellow today.'

13. You feel the urge to talk to strange children and correct their behavior when you are out in public.

14. You believe in aerial spraying of Ritalin.

15. You think caffeine should be available in intravenous form.

16. You spend more money on school stuff than you do on your own children.

17. You can't pass the school supply aisle without getting at least five items!

18. You ask your friends if the left hand turn he just made was a 'good choice or a bad choice.'

19. You find true beauty in a can full of perfectly sharpened pencils.

20. You are secretly addicted to hand sanitizer and finally,

21. You understand instantaneously why a child behaves a certain way after meeting his or her parents



I'M ADDING A BIG "AMEN" TO #21

Have a Blessed Wednesday!

Karen

Texas skies so radiant, created by God's hand
A myriad of colors encompassing this land,
Spectacular vistas embraced by the Texas wind
Welcoming the moment, honoring a dear friend.

Journeying through a land so diversely alive
Representing generations of unending pride,
Developing a love only a Texan can comprehend
Appreciating a territory upon whom we depend.

Walking hand and hand, enjoying the Texas sun
Feeling its warmth, an equivalent to none,
Nothing surpasses the feeling it generates
As we travel through this Lone Star State.

Living in Texas, a privilege beyond compare
Loving a land with such infinite care,
Enjoying the uniqueness that God chose to bestow
Upon this beautiful State with an everlasting glow.

by
Karen