My wonderful week end

I am so truly blessed!!!!! I celebrated 12 years of sobriety on Jan. 30th. 2011.. It is only through God's grace that I am here today. He saved me from the gripping chains of alcoholism and then in 2005 I gave my life totally to Jesus! (2 Corinthians 5:17) (Psalm 16:9) What brought me to finally totally surrendering was ,even though I was sober for 6 years, I wasn't changing much. I was still sinning in some ways and I was not happy with where I was at.

Life hasn't been all fun and games, I mean come on it is life lol. BUT I know what to do today to get past the down times, the difficult times. I can still choose to sit in it, but I don't do that very often! (2 Corinthians 1:3-11)
I lost my mom in July and it was a very hard time for me and my family. She was sick for so long with Parkinson's and ended up with aspirated double pneumonia . She did put up a good fight , but in the end we saw it wasn't fair to try to hold on to her. She held on till dad finally said his good byes to her and that night she past away. Even though we know she is in a better place, with Jesus, we miss her so much!
http://helen-maag.gonetoosoon.org/memorial/

Then we lost my Uncle Bob a few months ago. And on top of that my other Uncle had heart surgery which Drs were not sure he make it. Prasie God he did!! So it has been a very tring time for us all.

On Saturday Jan 29th we went to my brothers for dad's 87th Birthday Party. Every one came, except my Aunt & Uncle who were in Florida . Dad was so surprised!

It was such a wonderful day! What a blessing to be able to feel good and enjoy the company of my family!

Sunday the day of my Ann.  I had to get up at 5am to go to Garfield ( hour and half away) with hubby for our  Family Business ( it is now in our son's names as we both retired, due to health issues). My friend stopped in to wish me happy Ann. and we also exchanged Christmas gifts, yes you heard me lol with the weather and my health & hers we just haven't been able to see each other. It was so great to see her!! After the show, we went to our son's & his girlfriends place for her daughter's 9th Birthday Party. I didn't feel good all day and just wanted to lay down. which i did for a bit at my son's. The day seemed to drag, but despite not feeling good, I made the best of it! (James 1:2-4)
Today, Monday I woke up feeling the pain of the week end. I am of course in a flare and it isn't a wonderful feeling! ( for those who read this and don't know I have Lupus) I so over did it this week end, but I have to say it was well worth it! I at least felt good for my dad's party, which I am glad as I don't like him to see me not feeling good!. I am just grateful for another day and I don't have to act out die to not feeling good or take it out on any one. (1 Thessalonians 5:18)
We are in for bad weather again! SO I don't feel bad about not making it to dad's tomorrow, as I was suppose to sleep over. I called to tell him the concert we were going to see was cancelled and he replied , "Stay home, we are in for very bad ice and snow storm" which I replied ," yes that's what i heard, so i guess will see how the week plays out and maybe I can come the end of the week."
I am so glad I didn't have to call to cancel tomorrow due to being sick. I know it only worries him and he doesn't need that.

So I am very grateful today for the 12 years I have, one day at a time. For AA , for the many people God has put in my life and learning things I never would have if it weren't for the 12 Steps & God's Word. I am still very open and willing to learn more and help anyone I can. For it is by helping other's that I grow even more.
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 (The Message)

16-18Be cheerful no matter what; pray all the time; thank God no matter what happens. This is the way God wants you who belong to Christ Jesus to live.
Thank you for being here and for helping me, one day at a time!
God Bless
Peace, Hope & Love
Donna S

SHAME

 SHAME
By Christine Wyrtzen


And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us. Romans 5:5
Hope does not put me to shame. What does that really mean?
David said, “None who wait for you shall be put to shame.” Psalm 23:3 At the time David was writing, he was surrounded by enemies. They had him in a snare. Though he had an opportunity to kill his most formidable enemy, King Saul, he chose to walk away with sword in hand and wait for God to deliver him. He also spoke in the same chapter about the sins of his youth being enemies.
I am surrounded by enemies as well. There are three.
1.) The world is an enemy because it is unfriendly to Christ and to my proclaimed faith.
2.) My flesh is my enemy as I am so prone to sin. Because I know myself much better in my fifties than I did in my twenties, I remember the sins of my youth. I was blind to their destruction and consequences. Sometimes I sinned by intention, other times because I had no insight. My sins and the bent of my flesh are definitely enemies.
3.) Satan is also my greatest enemy. Because He hates God, then he also hates anyone who belongs to God. That means me.
There can be shame in being despised. Have you experienced that? Your authentic self retreats behind some protective wall and a calculated plastic person takes charge. Jesus Christ is the only one who can heal shame. I must be tutored by His Spirit as I meditate on the Word for shame to be replaced with confidence.
How do I meditate? Here are some powerful ways I’ve found to interact with Scripture.

*Before reading a word, I ask God to open my heart and give me spiritual understanding.

*I focus on a short portion of scripture. Meditation is not about quantity, but quality. I meditate best when it involves just a few verses.

*I read a passage over and over, knowing that scripture is multi-layered. Each time I read it, the Spirit of God takes me to deeper understanding.

*I ask God to help me feel what He feels about the passage I’m reading.

*I investigate the stories of the people who wrote the words. What were their circumstances? Knowing that gives me insight into the passage.

My healing from shame takes intentional work on my part. Jesus doesn’t just show up and heal shame without my participation. My education in the scriptures is key and must be love-driven. He loves me and therefore, I learn. And as I do let the power of His Word wash over my shame-sick soul, Jesus slowly lifts my head.

Your healing is not quick but slow and intentional. You want me to understand where shame exists and why it’s there. Your Word is my light, leading me to dark places that need Your grace. I continue to take You by the hand for such a journey as this. Amen

http://christinewyrtzen.com/2011/01/28/shame-2/#more-1454

What it means to be holy,by Mother Theresa

Some words of wisdom from Mother Theresa. She is desribing what it means to be "holy":


To be holy, doesn't mean to do extraordinary things,
to understand big things,
But it is a simple acceptance, because I have given myself to God,
because I belong to Him --
My total surrender.

He could put me here.
He could put me there.
He can use me.
He can not use me.
It doesn't matter
because I belong so totally to Him
that He can do just what He wants to do
with me.

Sermon on the Mount Bible Study

Sermon on the Mount Bible Study

Dr Simon passed away

Parsippany, NJ, doctor to be

honored at Freehold Raceway
today Dr. Paul Simon died last Saturday

By ROB JENNINGS • STAFF WRITER • January 8, 2011
PARSIPPANY — It will be "Dr. Paul Simon Day" today

at Freehold Raceway, where a race will be run in
honor of the long-time Parsippany phusician who
practiced in the township for more than 60 years
and still made house calls.
Simon, who died last Saturday at age 88, was the
only doctor around when he opened his Lake
Hiawatha practice six decades ago, his son Marc
recalled.
Marc Simon, a surgeon at St. Clare's Hospital in
Denville, recalled riding as a child in the family car
as his father made house calls. His father
administered the polio vaccine when it was first
developed. He had scores of adult patients whom he
had delivered as babies.
"He took care of generations," he said of his father,
who died last Saturday - just two days after making
a final round of house calls.

Paul Simon once lived in Parsippany. He met his late
wife, Beatrice, while making a house call in Lake
Hiawatha, his son said.
He moved his family to Short Hills in the mid-1960s
but maintained his medical practice on North
Beverwyck Road. In his spare time, he visited his
horses - which for the past quarter-century were
kept at Gaitway Farms in Millstone Township,
friends said.
There, he dispensed medical advice and sometimes
treatment to fellow horse trainers at the farm.
"He was just an incredible individual - just very
well-liked," said Karen Fagliarone, director of racing
at Freehold Raceway. She helped organize today's
tribute.

On New Year's Eve, Simon was treating patients in
his office his longtime nurse Liz Wattley recalled.
"He said he felt so good he was planning a trip to
Florida," she said.
Two days later, though, Simon passed away.
Despite his age, Simon's death came as a surprise.
"He had office hours scheduled for this week," he
son said on Friday. "He was still practicing."
Word spread quickly through the close-knit Lake
Hiawatha neighborhood. Parsippany school board
member Michael Strumolo said he first met Simon as
a young child in the 1950s. Strumolo said he was
4years old when he was struck by a car and
"stitched up" by Simon.
Strumolo, who decades later would take his young
son to Simon for treatment, saw him Dec. 30.
"He was out doing house calls when his truck
overheated," said Strumolo, who owns a service
station.
The two met up for dinner that night, for what
turned out to be the final time, at the Spa Restaurant.
By Monday, Simon's friend at the Gaitway Farms
knew of the sad news.
Simon had not been told that Freehold Raceway was
planning a "man of the year" ceremony in his honor
this weekend.Upon consulting with his family, the
raceway decided to proceed with a race in his honor
today, starting at around 12:50 p.m. on what will be
called "Dr. Paul Simon Day."
Marc Simon said he will attend.


In Lake Hiawatha, he will always be remembered as
"Doc Simon." Those at the stable saw an additional
different side to him, one that they intend to honor.
"He'd sit in his little chair, in the barn, and take care
of horses," Fagliarone said.

She added that sometimes, he'd take a break - to see
a patient.




Dr. Paul Simon(Photo courtesy of Michael Strumolo)