Ya' Sink 'r Swim-1st of 5 Survi'l Tips On Stay'n Tha' Course

Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always aboundning in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord. 1 Corinthians 15:58

Christian's, do ya' feel like sometimes you're in a fishbowl where all eyes are look'n in on ya'? Where instead a' feel'n confident in ya' faith, ya' feel more like bait? Where all ya' energy is spent tread'n water and you're one step away of goin'n belly up?

Top Ten Reasons Why I Cannot Live Without Prayer

Welcome guest blogger Mari-Anna Stalnacke   Thank ya' Mari-Anna, what 'a bless'n!

Top Ten Reasons Why I Cannot Live Without Prayer by Mari-Anna Stålnacke

I can’t live without prayer. I know some people rarely pray. They might even intellectually believe in the power of prayer but they don’t really practice it. Or they go through the motions of prayer but they don’t really believe in the power of prayer anyway. Somehow they can live without prayer just fine. But that’s not me. I can’t imagine going through one single day without praying. It is hard to explain why I can’t live without prayer but I will try. Here are my top ten reasons why I can’t live without prayer:

Thanks Mamma

Mamma always says that life is more like just a closer stumble with thee. As I get older, I understand what she means.

Strength and honor are her clothing; she shall rejoice in time to come. She opens her mouth with wisdom, And on her tongue is the law of kindness. She watches over the ways of her household, And does not eat the bread of idleness. Proverbs 31:25-27

Remember Mamma say'n, "Don't do that", "Wash your hands", "Ya' have ta' share", "Time ta' get up", "Look at me when I'm talk'n ta' ya'", "Say please 'n thank ya'", and this one was a classic, "Rememb'r who ya' are." If you're a Mamma now, bet your say'n tha' same things.

Is Your Faith Root'd Like Tha' Oak?

Mamma always says that life's more like just a closer stumble with Thee. As I get older, I understand what she means by that.

Paul said to tha' faithful in Christ who were in Colsse: As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, as you have been taught, abounding in it with thanksgiving. Colossians 2:6-7

Grow'n up I rememb'r this big oak tree in our back yard. My sister, Ditsy Lou, 'n I loved ta' play under it in tha' summer, 'cause it gave a lot 'a shade. When our cousins would visit, they'd ride their bicycl's 'round 'n 'round 'n 'round tha' tree. Sometimes they'd ride too close to it 'n scrap tha' tree with their bike ped'l. Ditsy Lou's first boyfriend carved a heart on tha' tree -

In Tha' Arms 'A Jesus

Mamma says that life sometimes is more like just a closer stumble with thee. Tha' old'r I get, tha' more I understand what she means. Like tha' Bible says, we are ta' be stepp'n stones n' not stumbl'n blocks.

"Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest." Matthew 11:28

What a comfort'n word from God. Sometimes when I'm stress'd 'n feel'n a heavyness on my shoulders, I forget ta' go ta' God. Instead I take on tha' task 'a work'n things out myself. Big mistake! Does this ever happen ta' ya'?

Tha' Crown, Victory Won!

When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, He said, It is finished: and He bowed His head, and gave up the ghost. John 19:30

Easter's in tha' spring 'a tha' year when flowr's 'n trees are bloom'n, grass is gett'n green, 'n everyth'n is new again. It's a fitt'n time, I'd say, ta' celebrate the death 'n ressurection 'a Jesus. At our church's Easter Pageant last year, Cousin Cletus was in charge 'a roll'n tha' stone away from tha' tomb. Tha' lights had just gone down. He start'd ta' roll tha' stone 'n it got loose. It roll'd over tha' feet 'a tha' people sitt'n on tha' front row. Ya' could hear people holler'n. All tha' people, who help'd with mov'n sets, had ta' wear black. When tha' lights came up again, there was Cousin Cletus sitt'n in front of tha' tomb - in his flannel underware. It was tha' only thing black he had ta' wear.

"Salt" Flav'rs Life

You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men. Matthew 5:13

My Daddy used ta' say that a steak didn't taste right without steak sauce. Anythin' he ate had to have some kind 'a season'n on it. He lov'd salt on his green beans. One time instead 'a salt, Mamma put sugar in tha' green beans. Daddy's face look'd like he was gonna' be sick and asked her what was wrong with 'em. Mamma wasn't too happy that he didn't like 'em.  She told him that he need'd 'a little sweet'n up so she used sugar instead 'a salt.