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Growing Up In The Country

Growing Up In The Country

Growing Up As A Child In The Country

I loved watching our livestock, and I liked to help take care of their livestock. I had two little runt pigs that I took care of until we took them to market. My Father let me keep the money for my runt pigs that grew up to be strong and healthy. I put the money from my pigs in my savings acct. I loved to follow my grandfather around as he did the daily chores on the farm. I would watch him feed and water the livestock and anything else that needed to be done on the farm. I would protect my Father and grandfather, repair farm machinery and do repairs on our rental homes. After my grandfather died, I followed my Father around the farm. I would help him lay out shingles on the small portable hog buildings. We moved a sow to another facility, which was quite a process. We put her piglets in front of her to make the task easier. I would watch my grandmother planting flowers, and as she grew them, she would tell me the names of the flowers. I remember everyone gardening and putting up sweet corn for the long winter months ahead. I would watch our neighbor and my Father tears down farm machinery and walk behind lawnmowers. My mother worked as a librarian at our local library in town. My mother would drive the 560 tractors when we put up hay. As I grew older, I would help stack the hay bails and unload the grain wagons. I would watch the grain dryer to ensure no misfunctions could start a grain fire. I am so blessed that I grew up in the country, as there is so much for a child to see and learn while enjoying the great outdoors.

Living As An Adult In  The Country

I love mowing lawns and weed-whacking and maintaining farm buildings. I want to keep up the farm like my parents did, as I feel it is an honor to them. I love the fact that I can have 14 cats in the country. I have three house cats. I have 11 cats in another heated building. I love walking around the country without neighbors right next to me who may be bored and have nothing better to do than watch my outdoor activities. I have a garden, and I freeze vegetables I have picked or harvested. I see an occasional deer, wild turkey, fox, and other animals that drink out of my birdbath or eat the dropped bird seed from the bird feeders. I love watching cardinals, goldfinch, blue jay, morning Dove, woodpeckers, indigo buntings, and other birds. I like to lay in my hammock and read a good history book. Living and working in the country rejuvenates the soul. I helped my Father harvest corn years ago as I ran the 815 International combine. I enjoyed running that combine, filling the hopper, and unloading it into the grain wagons or trucks. My life on the farm has many happy and everlasting memories that I would never trade for anything in the World. God bless all the dedicated and hard-working farmers who help put food on our table every day.

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The Power Of A Positive Outlook

The Power Of A Positive Outlook

Mind Over Matter

Think you can win, and you probably will win. If you believe you will not win, most likely, you will not. A negative attitude will drown you with negative thoughts, and you will have lost what could have been a productive and fulfilling day. I refuse to live with negative thoughts. I look at life and see the light in the day, not the darkness. Look at the sunrise and remember this is the day the lord has made. Let us rejoice and be glad in it. God wants us to embrace life and be productive, helpful, and kind to others. Being around people who never see positivity in anything is difficult. You try to help them by talking to them and cheering them up, but you seem to get nowhere. Never stop trying to help people that are down for they need your help desperately. Try to put a smile on someone’s face today and help them try to see the sunshine in their life.

If One Thing Does Not Work Move On

Some people get stuck on something that went wrong, keep dwelling on it, and miss out on life. Everyone will have some setbacks, but we must learn from them and advance to a better tomorrow. If you fail at one job, move on to another position where you may excel. Life has many bumps, but you can overcome them by talking to people and having faith in yourself. If you do not have confidence in yourself, no one else will either. Life is challenging, so be up for a good challenge and tell yourself I got this and can move onward.

People Want Positive Leaders

We will not follow someone that brings no positive vibes to the table. We want a strong and decisive leader who will not bow down when the going gets tough. A general will know the moves and maneuvers he has to have to win the war. He will know which men will be the ones that can help him accomplish his goal. A general with a positive outlook can and will bet the enemy in its tracks.

You Can Accomplish Much With A Positive Attitude

People do not want to be around others with a negative attitude. If you are around people like that, they also tend to bring you down; set a goal for yourself, and you will finally accomplish it if you tell yourself you can. Do not let anyone bring you down or try to suck your life out. Tell yourself I think I can and never say that I cannot do that when you know if you put your heart and soul into it, you can do it. You can be your own worst enemy sometimes, and you need to listen to your friends and ask God for guidance. Keep up the positive vibes.

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Flavor Of The Day

Flavor Of The Day

What Kind Of Flavor Do You Leave Behind

What kind of impression do you make when you visit and talk to people? Do you leave a good flavor in their mouth like a beautiful sundae, or do you leave them with a horrible cough syrup flavor? Try to make a good impression on people. You are hired by your first impression of someone hiring to fill the vacant position. Come dressed appropriately and have a positive and outgoing attitude. You will not be hired if you come in dressed with holes in your pants and look sloppy. Do not make demands on your future boss, such as you need to have three days a week off. Leave a pleasant flavor behind, and you will likely be hired if you are qualified for the job opening.

Being Around Friends

Visit and treat your friends with the utmost respect and other people. Take turns doing what the other person likes to do. Take your friend out to eat. Go on a day trip, discover new foods, and go shopping in the towns that you stop at and see the local attractions in the area. Listen to friends’ cares and concerns and help them when needed. Never be jealous of your friend’s accomplishments, and be glad for them. Treat your friends right, for an excellent friend is hard to find. Take your friend out for a surprise outing or shopping trip. Leave a wonderful flavor behind for your friends and loved ones.

Flavor Of The Day

There are all kinds of flavors of different ice creams because all of us like different flavors, which is a good thing. It would not be interesting if we all wanted vanilla ice cream or a steak dinner. Everyone has a distinct flavor that sets well on his palette. Thank goodness we all look different and are interested in other things, as all of us can add a little flavor to life. We need everyone to add their taste and their unique piece of the pie to the total to make the equation of life fit together perfectly and orderly. Without diversity, we would not function correctly and be out of sync with what needs to be accomplished on earth.

Getting Along With People

If someone gives you an inch, give them a mile, as the old saying goes. It is necessary to compromise sometimes for a fair and even outcome. Arguing with people only escalates a situation that is bad already. Talk out a solution that both parties can live with. Do not be quiet if you have a problem with someone or a business; they cannot read your mind. Most people want you to be happy with their product or service, and they will let you return it or fix it as they do not want to leave the cough syrup flavor in your mouth. Put your best foot forward in all your relationships with others, and everyone will feel like they are eating their favorite ice cream sundae.

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Put Your Heart And Soul Into It

Put Your Heart And Soul Into It

Your Passions In Life

If I am passionate about something, I put my heart and soul into achieving my goal. When people tell me I cannot do something, I want to prove them wrong. Someone once told me I could not win a grand prize at the fair. I proved them wrong, and I went home with the award. I used to love fixing up rental houses and made sure I could live in each one myself. I loved to paint, make minor repairs, and trim all the trees on the properties with my chainsaw and pole trimmer. I love cats, so I ensure they have the best care; I take them to my Vet for their yearly shots and health checkups. I love to keep up with things and ensure they look. I want a well-manicured lawn and buildings in good repair.

 

Your Connection to God Should Be Very Strong

Your connection to God should be a solid connection that you want to keep and uphold. If you feel you are not keeping up your connection to God, talk to your friends, Pastor, read devotions, read the Bible, and ask God to help draw you back to him. God is my compass, guide, and friend; he is always there for me at all of life’s high and low points. God helps me to see the high points in life and forget about spilled milk in the past. We cannot change our history but brighten our future as shining stars.

Passionate About Cooking  And Baking

If you are passionate about cooking, it will show in the flavor of the food dishes that you have prepared. Your food will look very presentable when it is served on the plate. You will have the food arranged on the scale and do it on some of your best china. People will most likely ask for seconds if you have been genuinely passionate about your cooking and presentation. I had a wonderful three-layer chocolate peanut butter cake served on a plate covered with chocolate swirls, and was it ever delicious? I love panna cotta with lemon, blueberries, and more. Desserts that look appealing make the dessert come to life and are an excellent way to end your meal.

Friendships

Nurture your friendships. Get together often with friends and tell them you love your company. As the old saying goes, friends are indeed the flowers in the garden of life. Without good friends in your life and your company with God, you would be adrift in the sea of life. Friends cheer you up and help you feel better and more alive. Never take friendship for granted; a true friend is like a rainbow after a storm, and good friends are hard to find. Your fellowship with God should be nurtured, and you should praise God daily for your company with him.

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Look On The Bright Side Of Things

Look On The Bright Side Of Things

Your Day Did Not Go As Planned

Most days do not go as they are planned to go. You may have gotten a lot of spam calls that delayed you from your work. Your plane flight may have been canceled. Always be grateful for what went right during your day. That would be good if you did not fall for any of the spam calls. Be glad you did not get on a plane that may have crash-landed due to ice buildup if they had not canceled your flight. If you are delayed on a trip, walk around the town you will be staying in overnight and look at local attractions that interest you. Somedays that do not go as planned turn out much better than any planned day. A friend may call you on the spur of the moment to go out for coffee or an incredible drive.

 

Make A Positive Out Of A Negative Day

If someone accuses you of something you did not do, talk it out with them. You will be glad you did and are back on sound footing with them. Never dwell on negative things, as they will drag you down. Keep your eye on all the positive things in your life and try to block out the adverse events. If you spill coffee all over your new carpet, remember you can have it professionally cleaned, and it will look new again. I try to remember all my beautiful and enjoyable times with family and friends. If I happen to break something, I replace it or keep my memories of it. Remember, with God in your life, gloomy days will become positive as you pray to God for guidance.

Your Job

Some people do not like their work and dread going to work every day. Be glad you have a job and can work, as many people cannot even work due to their health. Keep working at your job and do your absolute best work every day. You can look for your ideal dream job, but never quit one before finding another job. Do not change careers constantly, as your future employer will figure he cannot count on having you work for him for an extended period. If you do half a job at work, you will always have a job nobody wants. Present yourself in your best light and do your very best work every day, and you will have positive and happy days working.

Negative Comments And How To Handle Them

If someone complains about something they ate or purchased from you, try to make it right with them. If someone complains about something with nothing to back up their story and tries to stir up trouble,  tell them you will talk to them on the phone later. Never have an out-and-out argument over anything in your business where customers can hear you. A positive thing can quickly become negative when people do not get their facts straight. Turn customers’ negative experiences into positive experiences if at all possible.

God Can Turn Negative Days Into Positive Days

God will help you look on the bright side of things in your life. I pray to God for help when it is hard for me to look on the bright side of things, and he always brings sunshine into my life, even on the darkest days. With God in your life, many optimistic and cheerful days will be ahead.

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With God In My Life I Will never be Lost

With God In My Life I Will Never Be Lost

My Feet Will Be Planted Firmly on The Ground

With God in your life, your feet will be planted firmly on the ground, and you will not drift out to sea. God helps guide all of us in our lives if we let him. God presents many opportunities in our lives, and we are responsible for following or looking for them. God is your compass and guide in life. When all seems lost, God is always there for me. If you lose out on one opportunity in your life, another will eventually present itself. Life is full of constant changes; sometimes, change will draw you closer to God. When your relationship with God grows, you grow also.

Health Issues

Do not be afraid of health issues. Health issues can draw you closer to God, and you can accomplish things that would not have been possible before. Health problems give you a new outlook on life that will make you a better person as you can connect with others better. You will see other people’s troubles and problems and try to help them more. Do not let health issues consume or control you. You empower your illness and never let it empower you.

A New Direction In Your Life

All of us will have a new direction in our lives eventually. We will be alone after college, and our jobs will help others. We may get married and have children who live after us, which will make a difference in society. A job change could be around the corner, and we may like it much better than our previous job. Eventually, we will have to leave our home due to health and live in an Assisted Living Unit or a Rest Home. God will keep you on track with the various directions you will go in your life.

Traveling With God

When we travel, God knows our destination and what we will be looking at before we know it. God wants us to have safe travels and enjoy nature and the incredible beauty he has created in the World. It is fun to talk to people in various countries and learn that they are not any different than we are, as we all want the same things out of life. We want peace, joy, hope, and love and for people to be compassionate, kind, and caring toward us. God be my compass and my guide in all of my travels.

Never Get Lost In The Shuffle Of Life

Stay focused on your goals in life. If you are losing your way, ask God to help you stay focused and alert to what he calls you to do with your life. Everyone that is born contributes to the World in some significant way. Your life matters significantly in the scheme of things. Never hide your light under a bushel. Put it out there for the whole world to see it shining brightly.

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Redeem

Redeem

Some Things That We Redeem

We redeem pop bottles for the money we can get back. We may redeem a ticket for what we pawned at a pawn shop. We recycle things so they can be made into something useful again. When we burn a tree that has died or been cut down, we redeem the wood for another purpose. We make furniture and homes out of wood from trees. We can send a package in a box that we have saved. I have used pieces in ground-up timber for mulch or kitty litter. Whenever we give something old a new purpose, we have redeemed it. We must save many things to keep Mother earth clean for future generations. Saving items gives me a feeling of great satisfaction.

Redeeming Our Homes

Any remodeling we do to our home makes it a more comfortable living area. A new roof on your home redeems the life of your home immensely. A house without a good roof and foundation will not stand for long. A fresh coat of paint makes your home more presentable and more inviting to other people. New wiring helps prevent a fire in your home from overloaded circuits. New plumbing will help avoid water damage that could ruin your home. To keep a home in tip-top shape, we must redeem things by repairing or replacing them promptly.

Redeem Yourself

It can be tough to redeem yourself in someone else’s eyes if you have stepped over the line with them. Admit right away that you were wrong and that it was your fault. Fulfill your duties and obligations. Execute and go through with the things that you have promised. Ensure you satisfy the person you work for and do not complete only half of your task at hand. Keep your promises and be kind; you will not have to redeem yourself.

Redeem With God

Pray to God daily to help you stay on the right path. God is excellent as a guide, and you will never be lost. Suppose you have sinned, ask God for forgiveness, and tried not to repeat the sin. Be kind and forgiving of other people before you ask for forgiveness for yourself. The thief on the cross who, by a single act of Jesus, was redeemed from a life of evil. A person must atone or make amends for sin. Good will always win over evil in the end. Evil tries to live in people if they do not ask for help or accept Christ as their Lord and Savior. We must admit our wrongs to God and try to atone for our sins. Be good, kind, compassionate, loving, joyful, caring, hopeful, peaceful, and a good Samaritan. Help God spread his good works to the masses. God came into the world to serve and not to be served. Live by God’s good results and help others as God would want you to. Redeem with God by your side, helping you make decisions that please God and others.

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Take Time To Relax

Take Time To Relax

Rest And Let Your Body Heal When You Feel Sick

You may be a workhorse and want to keep working when you feel sick. Do not keep working when you feel ill; you will only feel worse, and it will take you twice as long to feel better. Rest in bed or read a good book until you feel better. Do not rush to start any new job until you are up to the task. Remember, Rome was not built in one day, and you cannot do it at work. Some of us are stubborn and will not rest until we are practically at death’s door,r, which is very foolish. Paying your bills, weeding your garden, and mowing your lawn will wait until you feel like your old self again.

 All Work And No Play Is Not Good For Anyone

Take a one-day trip to relax and unwind; you will be surprised how much better you will feel. People need to get away from everyday problems, even if it is just for a little while. When I return from a vacation, I feel completely revived, and I cannot wait to start new projects. Traveling awakens your senses and mind to new and exciting things you can reflect on for the rest of your life. I am thrilled when I arrive in a new country and discover all the sights and riches the area offers. I love eating their food and looking at the beautiful means of the site, such as architecture, museums, landscapes, flowers, animals, and much more. I love visiting with the people that I meet on my travels. Relax and travel, for no one can ever take that away.

God And Rest

We are invited to rest with Jesus every day, at any time. We sleep on the Sabbath and keep it Holy because we need it. Not only is it biblical rest, but we also need it for our physical, mental, and emotional health. Spiritual rest allows us to experience God in everything and recline in the knowledge of the Holy One. You can find rest for your soul through prayers, communing with God, faith, and his word. When we are well rested, we can communicate with God better in prayers, thoughts, and much more. Rest on the Sabbath and grow closer to God.

Restful Activities

Go out into the great outdoors and enjoy the sights and sounds of the day. Read a book, magazine, newspaper, and more. I like to lay in my hammock and read or watch the birds eating at my bird feeders. Go out for coffee with a friend or out to eat together. Call up people on the phone and visit with them, and you will feel much better. I love attending musical concerts, operas, museums, and more. Find your favorite way to unwind and revive your mind and soul, and you will be glad you did, as rest is good for your overall health.

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Fellowship

Fellowship

Sharing The Same Interest

It is nice to visit and be around people that share the same interest that you do. If you collect something, join a club of people with the same things you do. You can learn about the various items others have in the group. If a party in the group wants something that you have, you could exchange an item that interests you that they have. You will be able to learn how to repair the things that you have collected. I like to ask people about the history of where they purchased their collectibles. Some people have lovely family heirlooms they would never part with because their Great Great Grandfather owned the item until it was passed down to them. Card clubs are a good way for people to form a wonderful fellowship. While playing cards, they can visit each other and maybe discover that they like to travel, and eventually, travel together to a place they agree on. I belonged to a toy train club for about two years, and I got to look at some ancient toy trains that still could make it down the rails.

History Buffs

You could join a historical group in your hometown. You might want to become a member of your local museum. You could volunteer to be a tour guide at a museum and help them with fundraisers. You will meet people who enjoy history just as much as you do if you join any historical groups in your hometown or other towns that you want to promote and help out. I met many wonderful people at the historical museum in my hometown. All of us had a common goal we wanted to preserve history for future generations to come. We had people who were good at repairing and fixing old equipment so the young kids could see it working. We all put our talents to work to keep history alive for many years. My Grandmother belonged to a book club that read history books, and they would get together and discuss the book in great detail. Antique car clubs are lovely as they drive to car shows to show off their old antique car. Some people will meet at swap meets to find parts for their antique cars or old motorcycles. We have an old steam engine train that has been completely redone at our local park. Around Christmas time, they start it up, and it has that beautiful hum of an old steam engine. The save the Steam Engine club keeps growing yearly as we want to keep the old train running and humming for many years.

Fellowship In Church

Everyone in the church has a common goal: we all want to worship God as our Lord and Savior. Greeting and welcoming everyone that comes through the doors of our church is very important as we want to make them feel welcome in the house of the Lord. Before church, I visit and talk to people sitting next to me or walking by me to get to their church pew. Having coffee or eating after the service is also an excellent form of fellowship. Fellowship is essential for your mental well-being and overall happiness.

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Take It To The Lord In Prayer

Take It To The Lord In Prayer

Worry

Talk to the Lord about your worries and concerns. God will remove your fears and help you concentrate on the present if you let him into your life. If you have to take a test and have not studied for it, you better worry. God helps those who help themselves, and if you fail to look for the test at hand, you have failed yourself, and you cannot blame God that you did not pass your exam. We pray to the Lord to protect us from getting Co-Vid. We need to help God out and get our Co-Vid shots. After all, God gave us a brain to think with, and if we do not use our brain and get an image that will not protect us from our stupidity, that will kill us. God answers our prayers by giving us wise choices, and we should choose wisely so we will not have to worry. Worry robs us of what could have been a beautiful day. Do not worry and pray to God without ceasing and make wise choices in life every single day.

Prayers Do Get Answered

God answers prayers in his timeframe. God may not answer your prayer immediately as you may not be ready yet. You must understand what you are asking for in your prayers and accept God’s answer. Prayers that do not have good intentions will not get answered. Prayers should help people and uplift them. Prayers can be asked for healing and how to cope with challenging problems. God knows if your prayers are genuine or come from your heart. Never pray to objects or anything that is not God. When you are feeling down, sick, or depressed, pray to God to help lift you out of your despair and help you feel well again. God will answer all prayers for healing and the well-being of other people. Thank you, Lord, for answering our prayers and those that benefit others and help lift them.

Sickness

We pray for sick people to be healed by God’s healing grace. God does not want to see any of his children suffer. We pray that God will find the right Doctor for us that will understand and be knowledgeable about our illness and how to treat it, so we do not get worse—people who are sick need God’s healing prayersto to make a full recovery. The ill person also needs God to send the right people to be with her or as a cheerleader to give her the will to carry on. God had always sent the right people into my life when I needed them most. God knows what you need in your life, and I have put my life in God’s hands as he is my potter, and I am his clay. God, thank you for all your good work in my life. I want to help spread your good results into the lives of others I meet along life’s Hi-Way—God’s blessings to all.

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184Fans
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184Fans
81Followers
338Followers