The Anchor Holds

"My Hope is Built on Nothing less

Than Jesus' Love and Righteousness!

In every high and stormy gale: 

My anchor holds within the vale..."

This picture was taken of me when I was 5 years old...
It had flooded our front yard when we lived in Arkansas.
Instead of a disaster, my clever Mom thought of an adventure...
and so I floated all around my front yard that morning!

 

 

God does not promise that there will be no Storms,

 no discouragement,

BUT He did promise that when these times come, 

He will give us an Anchor…

 

 

 

"On Christ the Solid Rock I stand, All other ground

 

is

 

Sinking Sand,

 

 

All other ground is sinking sand.

 

 

 

 

Friday is Good Samaritan Day

On Fridays, we finish up our schooling activities early, and do random (or not so random) acts of kindness, which we call "Good Samaritan" deeds. 

Sometimes we do them as a family, and other times we invite friends to do them with us.  Some of our deeds are done in secret, some are not.  One Friday we made cupcakes and cards of thanks, and delivered them to our local Firehouse to show appreciation to our Fire Fighters.  They were really grateful, and now when I see them around town, they know me by name. 

Once a month, I take my friends over to the local Nursing Home, and we visit with the residents, sing with them, pray with them, and sometimes we make a craft with them.  I have become friends with many of these residents, and the nurses there say it makes their day  when we visit.

One Friday, I helped my dad paint the Living room.  I learned how to tape off the baseboards, use a roller, and how to clean the paint brushes afterwards.

We have done this for many years.  When I was a little kid, I enjoyed washing my parents' cars on Fridays. 

One Friday we made an herb garden with seeds and tiny pots for an elderly lady down the street who couldn't get out in her yard easily, but wanted to grow herbs.  It was fun, and later she baked some bread for us using those same Herbs that grew from our seeds.  That was fantastic, and it tasted delicious. 

Here are some other ideas of kind acts that can be done anytime:

Put together zip-lock bags of basic toiletries, snacks, reading material to hand to the homeless. Introduce yourself and shake each person’s hand when you give them one.

Send a handwritten letter to a shut in person.

Take someone a homemade "Picnic" lunch at work. Maybe your parent, or maybe just the overworked lady at the Post Office.

Next time you go for a Happy Meal at McDonalds,  bring an extra bit of money (if it takes a while to save this up, that's ok... it will be worth it!), then pay for a stranger’s meal.

Leave a huge tip for a waiter/waitress, even if all you bought was a donut.

Leave cookies for your mail delivery person or garbage man/men.

Visit a rest home and listen to the residents’ stories.

Next time you cut your lawn or shovel snow off the walk, do the same for your neighbor.

Put coins in meters for cars that are about to expire.

Hide dollars in hiding places in the dollar store!  I like to hide them in the toy aisle.

Write a letter and make a care package for a deployed soldier.

Take brownies to the police station for the officers.

.

ONE Truth

 

 Albert Schweitzer was a German Doctor who operated on sick African people. 

 I read a book about him for my home schooling.

 

 He helped...

 

 

See more of this post on my previous blog at
 

http://mytreasureisjesus.blogspot.com/search?q=German+Doctor

Would you like to join Lads to Leaders?

This was our Youth Group in Kentucky last year at convention.

Have you ever thought of becoming involved in Lads to Leaders? 
We have a great time, and learn so much about life! 

Go to L2L.com and read all about the organization.
You'll be glad you did!

 



Winter scenes I love...

This was a little scene outside our front door today after it snowed.

A Good Friend is a Rare Treasure



My Grandma says, to have a friend, I must be a friend. 

 

I wrote about this here, double click to read:

 

 

My Treasure is Jesus: A Good Friend is a Rare Treasure:  

A Tough Challenge

Proverbs 16:3

 

"Commit your ways to the Lord

and your plans will be established."

 

 

Can you believe I have NEVER had TV,  Cable,  or Satalite TV in my house?  Before I was born, my parents gave up TV watching to read and talk more. 

 

 They are not that weird!  They found lots of other things to do in life (rather than to watch other people's lives). I encourage everyone to join the TV Turnoff Week (August 21st to 27th), or if not,  just try to scale back on TV dependence.

 

Reading is a favorite hobby around our home
 

Here are some surefire conversation starters to try

when you or your family are "Bored."

 

 --Ask fun questions, like:

 1. Would you rather... be too hot, or too cold?
...go without the sense of smell or the sense of taste?
...the possibilities are endless
2. If you could meet anyone, living or dead, who would it be?
... what woud you talk about wth this person?
3. Name the most important qualities a friend should have.
... what about a teacher? ...a Parent?
4. What 3 things mad you Laugh today?
5. Describe what you think the world will be like in 50 years.
...what about 1,000 years?

 

We grow much of our own food

We throw fun parties

We Bake Cakes

We read to each other

 

We act crazy

We have outdoor cookouts

 Information and questions were taken from the book by Barbara Brock,

 "Living Outside the Box: TV-Free Families Share their Secrets"