May 29, 2020

Morning outdoor walk; chocolate chip bagel from Panera bread for breakfast, then got Mom.  She was basically very quiet to start with but perked up as the morning went on.  We sat outside on the deck and listened to the birds and the breezes blow.  I had some cards to write out and mail, which I did. I was so behind in my ironing that after lunch and dishes I tackled that.  Autmn came over for a while and visited with mom, then went with me to Lowe’s.  We got more pond stone (HEAVY pond stone!) and I finally replaced a dilapidated wicker chair with chairs that match my table/chair set.  Looks so nice, and long overdue!  I think the wicker  was about 13 years old.  It was a comfortable evening to be outside, so I was spreading the stones in the herb garden when the rain hit – no warning, just a downpour!  Got 3 out of 4 bags spread so one left for tomorrow, along with the dreaded weed-whacking! All day I kept thinking it was Saturday; who knows what day I’ll think it is tomorrow!

Since it was raining buckets, I couldn’t listen to Rod from Martin’s Ferry church on the deck.  I pulled up the youtube video on the fire stick and had a piece of pizza.  Rod’s message was very good – I’d love for all the teens I know (and even don’t know!) to hear it; about Daniel, and how he made it a point to stand out.  When you believe in something, you stand in the right way at the right time for the right reasons.  This will change your life; compromising will change it too, at a great cost, and not for the good.  You can’t be a ‘sort of’ Christian, not really living the life.  Just drifting.  You have to put on the full armor of God and STAND.  The way to do this is to make a predetermined resolution.  Decide ahead of time, before you are tempted, and stick to your commitment.  Stand out; don’t blend in.  Read the story of Daniel and how he refused to eat the king’s food.  He didn’t protest or argue or fight.  He offered rational, respectful alternative.  God was with him, and it worked.  Daniel did stand out.  Rod emphasized that it’s better to be remembered for standing out than forgotten for blending in. 

On this date in 1765 Patrick Henry gave the  treason speech:  If this be treason, make the most of it.  Ironically, it was also his birthday (1736).  Rhode Island became the last of the 13 colonies to ratify the constitution in 1790; in 1942 Bing Crosby recorded White Christmas, which sold over 100 million copies and is the world’s best selling single.  The Every Brothers’ song ‘Cathy’s Clown’ hit #1 in 1960; Bob Hope was born in 1903 and John F. Kennedy in 1917.  And today is National Paperclip Day – I have a purple one shaped like an airplane.  A little friend of mine used to make bracelets out of colored paperclips – I spent many a nickle on those!   

So make it a point to Stand Out – resolve that you will make good choices, stick to your resolutions, and be remembered for standing out – God will bless your life!