December 18, 2009 - "A pretentious, showy life is an empty life; a plain and simple life is a full life" (Prov. 13:7)

Top of the afternoon, friends....

I hope this all finds you well and cheerfully preparing for the Christmas holiday!

The theme of this month's blog is Giving. I hope that in some way, you're helping those less fortunate than yourselves during the holidays (and throughout the rest of the year). We ALL have more than we need...please share with those that don't.

Just recently, my friend Trish and I have been trying to help a homeless gentleman in Columbus. He lives in an old metal silo, with no electricity, water, or heat--other than what a small kerosene heater provides. His name is Roger and he is suffering from some medical issues as well. We've been taking him food, coffee, kerosene, as well as some reading material to help him get by. He has applied for SSI, and we pray he'll be approved soon, so he can get into an apartment, and off the streets. He is also waiting for a surgery date to help correct those medical issues. The above picture is where Roger lives. Many homeless people live hopeless lives without help.

I am so thankful that I am going to be able to spend Christmas Eve with my family and friends. I couldn't care less about the gift part of what we do, but I so love our meal and time together. We do a "Yankee Christmas" exchange with the adults. If you don't know what that is, it's where each person in the group draws a number. The person with #1 gets to select the first gift. The person who has #2, can either "steal" #1's gift, or pick another gift from the gift table. The process continues until the last person selects the last gift or steals one from a another person. While quite a bit of "stealing" goes on, it's all in fun and we have such a great time! My sister, Terry always puts out a great spread for the evening too.

Thanks again for everyone's continuing prayers for my dad. He seems to be doing well right now. He went back into the hospital earlier this month for a blood infection. He was in for almost a week, and they sent him home with a port or pic-line so that he could receive antibiotics as an outpatient. The infection seems to have cleared up and the port has been removed, although he said he still feels like he has a kidney stone. So, please keep the prayers coming, as we pray and stand on faith that the cancer does not return.

Here's a nice story that fits right in with the Christmas theme! Enjoy!

YOU REAP WHAT YOU SOW

"Good morning," said a woman as she walked up to the man sitting on ground. The man slowly looked up. This was a woman clearly accustomed to the finer things of life. Her coat was new. She looked like she had never missed a meal in her life. His first thought was that she wanted to make fun of him, like so many others had done before. "Leave me alone," he growled....To his amazement, the woman continued standing. She was smiling -- her even white teeth displayed in dazzling rows. "Are you hungry?" she asked."No," he answered sarcastically. "I've just come from dining with the president. Now go away.." The woman's smile became even broader..Suddenly the man felt a gentle hand under his arm. "What are you doing, lady?" the man asked angrily." I said to leave me alone. Just then a policeman came up.. "Is there any problem, ma'am?" he asked.. "No problem here, officer," the woman answered "I'm just trying to get this man to his feet.. Will you help me?" The officer scratched his head. "That's old Jack. He's been a fixture around here for a couple of years. What do you want with him?" "See that cafeteria over there?" she asked. "I'm going to get him something to eat and get him out of the cold for awhile." "Are you crazy, lady?" the homeless man resisted. "I don't want to go in there!" Then he felt strong hands grab his other arm and lift him up. "Let me go, officer. I didn't do anything." "This is a good deal for you, Jack," the officer answered. "Don't blow it." Finally, and with some difficulty, the woman and the police officer got Jack into the cafeteria and sat him at a table in a remote corner. It was the middle of the morning, so most of the breakfast crowd had already left and the lunch bunch had not yet arrived. The manager strode across the cafeteria and stood by his table. "What's going on here, officer?" he asked. "What is all this, is this man in trouble?" "This lady brought this man in here to be fed," the policeman answered. "Not in here!" the manager replied angrily. "Having a person like that here is bad for business." Old Jack smiled a toothless grin. "See, lady. I told you so. Now if you'll let me go. I didn't want to come here in the first place." The woman turned to the cafeteria manager and smiled. "Sir, are you familiar with Eddy and Associates, the banking firm down the street?" "Of course I am," the manager answered impatiently. "They hold their weekly meetings in one of my banquet rooms." "And do you make a goodly amount of money providing food at these weekly meetings?" "What business is that of yours?" I, sir, am Penelope Eddy, president and CEO of the company." "Oh." The woman smiled again. "I thought that might make a difference." She glanced at the cop who was busy stiffling a giggle. "Would you like to join us in a cup of coffee and a meal, officer?" "No thanks, ma'am," the officer replied. "I'm on duty." "Then, perhaps, a cup of coffee to go?" "Yes, ma'am. That would be very nice. "The cafeteria manager turned on his heel, "I'll get your coffee for you right away, officer." The officer watched him walk away. "You certainly put him in his place," he said. "That was not my intent. Believe it or not, I have a reason for all this." She sat down at the table across from her amazed dinner guest. She stared at him intently. "Jack, do you remember me?" Old Jack searched her face with his old, rheumy eyes. "I think so -- I mean you do look familiar." "I'm a little older perhaps," she said. "Maybe I've even filled out more than in my younger days when you worked here, and I came through that very door, cold and hungry." "Ma'am?" the officer said questioningly. He couldn't believe that such a magnificently turned out woman could ever have been hungry. "I was just out of college," the woman began. "I had come to the city looking for a job, but I couldn't find anything. Finally I was down to my last few cents and had been kicked out of my apartment. I walked the streets for days. It was February and I was cold and nearly starving. I saw this place and walked in on the off chance that I could get something to eat." Jack lit up with a smile. "Now I remember," he said. "I was behind the serving counter. You came up and asked me if you could work for something to eat. I said that it was against company policy." "I know," the woman continued. "Then you made me the biggest roast beef sandwich that I had ever seen, gave me a cup of coffee, and told me to go over to a corner table and enjoy it. I was afraid that you would get into trouble. Then, when I looked over and saw you put the price of my food in the cash register, I knew then that everything would be all right." "So you started your own business?" Old Jack said. "I got a job that very afternoon. I worked my way up. Eventually I started my own business that, with the help of God, prospered." She opened her purse and pulled out a business card. "When you are finished here, I want you to pay a visit to a Mr. Lyons. He's the personnel director of my company. I'll go talk to him now and I'm certain he'll find something for you to do around the office." She smiled. "I think he might even find the funds to give you a little advance so that you can buy some clothes and get a place to live until you get on your feet. If you ever need anything, my door is always opened to you."There were tears in the old man's eyes. "How can I ever thank you?" he said."Don't thank me," the woman answered. "To God goes the glory. Thank Jesus. He led me to you." Outside the cafeteria, the officer and the woman paused at the entrance before going their separate ways. "Thank you for all your help, officer," she said. "On the contrary, Ms. Eddy," he answered. "Thank you. I saw a miracle today, something that I will never forget. And..And thank you for the coffee."

Please keep the following people/entities in your prayers this week, as they are all fighting some type of battle:

• Mary Carnes Napper
• OSHP
• Erin Hubbard
• Joyce Petty
• Roger
• Terri & Jen

Quotes for the day:

"Failure is not a single, cataclysmic event. You don't fail overnight. Instead, failure is a few errors in judgement, repeated every day"

- Jim Rohn -

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"Character isn't something you were born with and can't change, like your fingerprints. It's something you weren't born with and must take responsibility for forming"

- Jim Rohn -

I pray that you all have a wonderful and blessed Christmas holiday and a great New Year!

Finally....Here's a video about personal accountability....enjoy!

Blessings....

Lisa - 1095