MEMORIES…

By Anita Mondragon
 

Read:  Ecclesiastes 12:1-7

We are to remember our Creator in the days of our youth, before the days of trouble come and the years approach when you will say, “I find no pleasure in them”-
 
This passage speaks of growing old.  Read it.  I can relate to many things in there already.  If you can’t yet…believe me…you will!

Mike and I were sitting out on the patio this morning, drinking our coffee, and enjoying the birds, and flowers.  There was a gentle breeze blowing…cool and quiet.  It was very refreshing to the spirit! Read more…



IN THESE TROUBLED TIMES

By Anita Mondragon
 
I went to bed last night and was very troubled in my soul at the things going on in our government. I prayed and tried to leave things in God’s hands for He IS in control. When I awoke this morning, the following words were going through my head. They helped calm my heart. Hope they do the same for you…. -Anita
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IN THESE TROUBLED TIMES

In these troubled times,
KNOW that God is near. Read more…


WHEN CHICKENS COME HOME TO ROOST…

By Anita Mondragon
 
I was born on a farm in Kansas.  Some of the sayings we had don’t make any sense to city slickers!  The above is probably one of them Emoji
 
I thought of this particular one the other day as  I recalled having a conversation with someone about five years ago regarding this very thing. .  But let me explain to you what that phrase means…
 
In today’s world, it could be said with one word…Karma.  We all know what that means, right?  However you treat folks, those same actions will be given back to you at some point in your life.  You can call it karma, payback, what goes around comes around….  The Bible puts it another way: it says in  Galatians 6:7: “Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction; the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life”
 
It’s easy to sow unforgiveness, anger, hate, judgment, unkindness…but when these things come back to you, it’s a hard pill to swallow!!
 
Now, on the farm, if someone says to you, “Your chickens are gonna come home to roost one day…” , that is a warning that you better be careful of how you are treating others because it will come back to haunt you! 
 
Both of my grandma’s said this many times-not only to me, but in conversation regarding others.  Is it true???  You can bet your bottom dollar it is!  If you treat others with kindness, the same will come back to you.  If you gossip, back-stab, deal unjustly with others, someday that will all come back to you as well.
 
My dad was a farmer before he became a pastor.  He used to say to the party people at church -the bowlegged “Christians” that had one foot in the world, and the other in church on Sunday only, he said, “You think you can go out on Saturday night and sow your wild oats and then come to church on Sunday morning, run to the altar and pray for a crop failure…but it doesn’t work that way!  What you sow is what you’ll reap!  And when those chickens come home to roost, you’ll rue the day you did what you did!”
 
If you know anything about chickens, you know that they run all over the farm during the day, but when night falls, and day is done, they all return to the coop to roost.  I saw a thing on Facebook talking about judging others for their sins.  I’m sure you’ve all heard: “Not my circus…not my monkeys!”  Right:?  Well, the one I saw the other day said:  “Not my coop…not my poop!”  Both these sayings indicate that if it is your circus, or your coop…it’s your problem to deal with it because it was/is your responsibility for the outcome.
 
So, I said all that to say this…
THE SOWING IS EASY…BUT THE REAPING COMES BACK ONE HUNDRED FOLD!  And when those chickens finally come home to roost…you may find you’ll need a bigger coop!


PLUCKED FROM THE FIRE

By Anita Mondragon
 
Here we are…already into the 7th day of a new year!  
 
As I sat and pondered on the things I did in the past year, I had to wonder if I truly had made a difference in someone\s life.  Oh yes, I attended church on a regular basis, helped with whatever I could, gave to the homeless, was kind…well, most of the time. I even taught a class.   I gave my tithe and then some for the needs of God’s work.  I and my husband are caretakers of our church, so we kept constant guard over God’s property; and, all these things were helpful and good.
 
However, as I recalled all of this, I asked myself and my husband this question:  “All these things were good and needful…BUT DID I PLUCK SOMEONE FROM THE FIRES OF HELL?”


THIS NEW DAY OF LIFE!

One of my life-long friends wrote the following on Facebook.  I was so moved by it, I asked her permission to use it on our blog site.  She agreed.  Thank you Cindy for the reminder!  
Take time to let these words sink in as you read the following, and enjoy! -Anita
 
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by: Cindy Nemec
 
I was talking to God this morning and I wanted to share.  Sharing is good. 
 
This is for those who need to hear this…It is a new year and a new beginning.  But everyday is a new beginning, a fresh start.  The sun goes down and the sun rises.  


TWAS THE MORNING AFTER CHRISTMAS

By Anita Mondragon
 
The following poem was written the day after Christmas as I found myself still cleaning up from Christmas Eve!  
My son, Joe, keeps reciting,  ‘Twas The Night Before Christmas, so I found it easy to write about the morning…and days after that wonderful holiday. I’m sure all the mom’s out there can identify!  Enjoy!-Anita

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‘Twas the morning after Christmas

When all through the house,

Not a creature was stirring

Dog… cat…or mouse!

Well…except for me, of course; I’m mom! Read more…



FROM HIM, TO ME

By Anita Mondragon
During my early years of childhood, our family was very poor.  We lived in a ratty old house with plaster walls, most of which was missing.  My mom would stuff old rags in between the cracks to keep the cold out.  I wore hand-me-downs until I was eight years old, and slept in a crib until I was six.  Christmas for us was very different indeed.  We struggled to have food on the table, so my brother and I rarely had presents.  This poem came from a memory of one Christmas in particular.-Anita
 
 

A ratty old shack

On the poor side of town;

No Christmas lights

Anywhere to be found.

Inside it’s doors,

Lived a family of four;

Wanting…and hungry…

So very poor!

I remember it well, Read more…



WHEN I AM DISCOURAGED

by Francine Rodriguez

 Have you ever felt like you have given your all and yet no one appreciates what you do? And just when you feel that your making some progress everything seems to be shot down. When you’re overwhelmed and distressed it seems as if everyone is against you, suddenly you discover there is no one to turn to for comfort or help in your trouble, no one but God.

We read in 1 Samuel 30 that David felt the same way we do at times. But David discovered that when there is no one to stand by you or to encourage you that sometimes you just have to learn how to strengthen yourself in the Lord.  

David and his men had returned home to Ziklag to find that the Amalekites had been there and they had raided and burned the city of Ziklag. But the worst was that they had taken all the women, their sons, and daughters and all that were there captive. They were distressed and they cried until they couldn’t cry anymore. Read more…



IF YOU’VE NEVER HAD A T-BONE STEAK…

By Anita Mondragon
 

I was remembering some of my old life yesterday, and how chaotic it all was. There wasn’t much good to be found. Yes, I was still breathing…but I wasn’t ALIVE! After pondering on that for most of the day, I went to bed last night thinking about how sweet life is with Jesus. HE changed everything for me! It reminded me of the following Country Western song I heard many years ago. “At the time”, I thought I loved my life when Satan was my master, but since I met Jesus…I know I was barely surviving.

Take a look at the words with a spiritual view, and see if you don’t agree with me! Words in parenthesis are mine…. -anita

Read more…



ARE YOU UNDER A CURSE?

by Mike Mondragon

Cain did not get himself in trouble, when he killed his brother, he was already in trouble.

There were signs previous to his deadly and murderous encounter with his brother, which showed Cain was not right with God, and he was not obedient to God. 

Short and to the point, are we right with God tonite? You see, regardless of what we believe, there is no such thing as a little sin or big sin. All sin is equal to God.

Read more…