"Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee." Isaiah 26:3
September 28, 2009
The Latest Greenacre Wedding
August 14, 2009
My Tribute to My Husband on Our 38th Anniversary
38 years ago this morning I was preparing for my wedding in
My marriage has been a glorious package of time-- not to focus on any one segment since individually those “times” are not always the norm of a marriage. Actually, our marriage has been a series of hundreds of happenings testing our love, patience, endurance that most might say are outside the realm of normal
As an engaged couple we typically discussed our future—size of our family, more education, where we would live, how we would raise our children... I’m the oldest of four children, but that first born instinct of mothering someone else’s children had not been given to me so my thoughts all those years ago were that two or three children would certainly be plenty. My fiancĂ© had never met a child he didn’t like and was aspiring to be a father of a houseful. Our compromise was four in that year before marriage in 1970, but by March of 1990 we had our eighth child and I had been won over! Our eight children have been the greatest blessings of our marriage, giving us a real understanding of “children are an heritage of the Lord”.
I really don’t think we realized the importance of our wedding vows when we pledged our love on that hot, muggy
The five years we spent in college after marriage preparing for ministry, in hindsight, are very revealing to me of my husband’s total surrender to the Lord and his perseverance to keep his life long commitment to the Lord and to me. Those college days were so foundational for our family and ministry as we had to totally rely on the Lord for every provision and to learn that the Lord would provide. Now, in 2009 the Lord is still calling us to trust Him for today and our future. Even when it’s so very hard I am thankful I have a husband who continues to trust God. I am so thankful for my husband this “anniversary day” and for the Lord who leads us along. Happy Anniversary, Jim!
July 30, 2009
Free Video Camcorder for tasting Progresso's Newest Soups!
- Chicken Tuscany
- Creamy Tomato Basil
- Hearty Vegetable and Noodles
- Homestyle Minestrone
July 22, 2009
Review of the American Patriot's Bible NKJV
I wish we had had the American Patriot’s Bible to use as a devotional tool when our children were growing up. As Americans our children should know that our founding fathers believed, “It is impossible to rightly govern the world without God and the Bible.” That quote attributed to George Washington is among the hundreds of entries inserted throughout the pages of this beautiful study Bible. The inclusion and interspersion of historical documents makes it a wonderful addition to the classroom as well where the truth of our American history is allowed and encouraged.
I appreciate the thorough and easy to read subject index that allows a student to quickly find and focus on a particular time/subject in American history. Additionally, the quality of the paper used, easy to read script, the colorful drawings and overall presentation make it a joy to read. Dr. Richard G. Lee, the general editor along with Thomas Nelson Publishers is to be commended for this beautiful New King James Version Study Bible and the successful accomplishment of showing that, indeed, biblical truths and our Christian faith formed the foundation of America.
June 24, 2009
Mystery Solved! Fifth Cousin to Susan B. Anthony Found
April 26, 2009
Walking the Streets in Arizona, but it's not what you might think!
In the year 2000 I worked for the 2000 Census in Northern Colorado. It was fun because it was a followup for all the folks who didn't mail in their form for one reason or another. My husband and I had some fun trips as we drove up into the isolated areas where houses were in obscure places in the hills and valleys of vast ranch lands.
This time, though, I used a hand held computer to map each and every home in my assignment areas. I really understood why people were leary when they saw me approach their door. Was I a religious fanatic, or the government wanting to get information so more money could be taken from them, or even worse was I looking for illegal immigrants? If given the chance I quickly tried to set their minds at ease. "Not to worry! We were just gathering a GPS spot to make the maps for the 2010 Census that would be conducted next year." That information often brought an immediate facial change of relief and often a hint of a smile. Only once was a dog let loose to chase me away!
The experience, first of all was supposed to bring in the income we needed. The $15 hourly salary + mileage offered great promise. The job was supposed to be 10-12 weeks, but... we were too quick, completing it in 4. We're sure the addition of the hand held computers was the key, but they tell us that the hiring pool was immense so they could be more selective this time.
I felt blessed to get the job for the income and the exercise until I experienced my first week of severe foot pain with new blisters every time I switched to a different pair of shoes or insoles. I thought walking 8-10 miles a day would yield a significant weight loss. It didn't!
Otherwise, I have to admit the typical, beautiful March/April days here with the citrus fragrance on every breeze made it an enjoyable daily walk.
In April of 2010 the Census questionnaires will be mailed to every home in America. So, to avoid those scary Census enumerators coming to your door, just fill out completely and return them. I'm going to send mine in and opt for an office job!
The Noticer by Andy Andrews—A Book Review
It must be true. I wanted this story to be true. Aren’t all allegories based on truth?! Yes, it is actually based on the remarkable true story of the author, Andy Andrews. The Noticer is one of those books you would like to give all your friends and those who aren’t because it gives hope. The hope that you can change things in your life now, today, given a new perspective and the immediate motivation to begin your life over!
I could not put this book down. It’s a good thing it is only 167 pages because I was driven to finish it in one sitting; to see the next bit of wisdom Jones had to share. Jones, not Mr. Jones, just Jones was a mysterious old man who always appeared at just the right moment to offer wisdom to folks who were on the edge of making bad decisions. Each character was someone we all know facing a challenge we all either need help with to help ourselves or someone else.
This thought provoking story is set in Orange Beach, Alabama, a town filled with people who have marriages on the brink of divorce, homelessness, bankruptcy, and many of the other challenges that we struggle with everyday.
Jones always seems to show up to give folks “a little perspective” that he gets from his gift of noticing things that others miss. The wisdom he shares is profound, but so simple that I wondered why I hadn’t thought about it that way or why I hadn’t been a “noticer” of that perspecitive.
After you read this story you will be compelled to share it, as well, to give hope to someone else.
February 24, 2009
One Cobra in the Car is One Too Many!
I decided to share one of our TRUE missionary stories on this post. I needed the encouragement and maybe you do too! Thanks to "Ring Around the Blogs"
It was a typical, beautiful Sunday morning on the southern
In less than a minute hundreds of Filipinos surrounded us--they had been watching the crazy scene of six Americanos yelling and trying to jump out of an old taxi. As they began to ask questions we were amazed at our ability to communicate with them in Cebuano, even though we had only been in language study for five months.
As several men with bolo knives chased the snake, we all suddenly realized that Tania had been bitten. A man immediately began squeezing her leg and rubbing it in his effort to force the poison back down her foot. Jim quickly applied a tourniquet to her leg, and then we all jumped back into the car and headed for the closest hospital.
Sunday is always a big market day with traffic-congested roads, and this day was no exception. We drove in three minutes what normally took ten. I was sure we would have a terrible accident as Jim cut between traffic and raced through the market. It was as if the Lord moved the cars and made openings just wide enough for us to squeeze through. We reached the hospital, our 12-inch tires squealing and smoking. Jim brought the car to an abrupt halt in front of the emergency entrance.
We have been told that with cobra bites an adult usually has 20 minutes to live, but for a child, that length of time is greatly reduced. Tania was already pale and her eyes were rolling back in her head as Jim carried her into the emergency room. At first the nurses and doctors refused to believe us, but after examining Tania’s foot and hearing Jim describe the snake, they suddenly came to life. An incision was made between the fang marks and the blood and some of the poison were suctioned out of the wound The doctor then told us that there was no anti-venom in Davao City. This was a shock we had not anticipated.
Jim took the three older children out on the hospital lawn and prayed and then took them home, not knowing if Tania would be alive when he returned.
After one hour in the ER they put Tania in a private room for observation. None of the doctors could believe that she survived. When our pediatrician came the next morning, Tania was up and smiling. What we had witnessed was nothing less than a miracle. Even though the cobra had left much of his venom on Jim’s boot there was still more than enough left to harm a small child. The doctor’s comments on his discharge report said “MIRACLE”.
Humanly speaking we should have had a tragedy before Christmas that year, but God in His wonderful mercy and grace brought us again through the fire of purification and spared our youngest daughter.
“For He will command His angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways...You will tread upon the lion and the cobra...” Psalm 91:11,13
Copyright 1982 Denise Greenacre
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January 22, 2009
Book Review: Same Kind of Different As Me
I don’t remember the last time I read a book, that grabbed my attention from the very beginning and didn’t let me go until I finished it several hours later at 2:30 in the morning. Thomas Nelson Publishers sent the book for review as an email attachment so I sat for those hours at my computer spellbound by the events leading to the blending of the lives of two men— a wealthy white man who was an international art dealer and a poor, illiterate slave of 20th century America as God used one woman to bring it about.
By Ron Hall & Denver Moore with Lynn Vincent / Thomas Nelson
January 16, 2009
Aloha Friday
January 9, 2009
Book Review: The Moon Shines Down
The Moon Shines Down
by Margaret Wise Brown
A child can travel the world in The Moon Shines Down. Based on the
It is a delightful story written in the same tradition of Margaret Wise Brown’s bestseller, Goodnight Moon soon-to-be a bedtime classic.