There are those who do not believe Satan can read thoughts. I believe he not only can, but will use them against you, including your worse fears. There was once a woman whose biggest fear was being locked in a cellar with no one knowing where she was. Because of it she avoided cellars as often as she could. One day a couple of decades back, the tornado sirens blew in this town. We all knew the danger was imminent from tracking the weather stations, so she had no choice. She took her 2 elementary school aged sons down the cellar steps. The winds howled above their heads as debris whipped around them. Suddenly they heard a crash as a tree fell across their cellar door. Then the electricity went out and it was coal black. She had no idea how the town was fairing on the surface, or where the rest of her family was, or if they were ok. I don't remember if cell phones were available back then, but I do remember her telling me that no one knew where she was. She was finally living in her worse nightmare. So she and her sons sat in the dark, trapped underground as if they were buried alive. Hours later, her dad managed to find a way around all the road blockades on the off-chance that his daughter had overcome her fears and she and his grandsons had made it to their cellar. It took him even longer to get the tree off her cellar door and rescue them. Her fears had terrorized her since she was a small child, but had not shown her the final outcome--that she had a loving, smart father who would do anything to get to her. And that she would not only survive, but come out of her trauma unharmed. Sometimes Satan can lock our minds up so much that we can not get past the terror and see the light. Just like her father would do anything to get to her and save her and the boys, our Father, our God, will do whatever it takes to find us and fight for us against all evil. If we focus on him and not on the evil around us, we will hear his voice calling our name in the midst of the darkness, drawing us out into his light. It sounds over simplified. I know it is not. But I do know God is our salvation. When the evil comes, focus your thoughts on God, himself. Picture him fighting for you, breaking through every road block, removing every obstacle to pull you out of the dark recesses of your mind that Satan is trying to trap you in. Focus on the final outcome, not the demons, not on the nightmare.

I am so sorry. Was anyone else involved in the accident? My nephew died in 2000. He had turned 12 on Christmas day. 2 days later he died when he and his sister and cousin lost control on a snow bank. He slid under a semi-truck that they were waiting on to pass. They tumbled behind it. Members of my family took decades to recover (and in one case, completely broke down and never recovered). From what I hear, the poor driver of the semi never did either. As strange as it may seem to others, I think about the driver often over the years, always with prayers . My heart aches for your uncle's friend's family and his friends--and if anyone else was involved, my prayers are for them, too.

I'm so sorry for you and your family. I hope your uncle had a good life and did not suffer. My prayers continue for your health and for your family.

I hope and pray for that for you to dear. You are a special lady. Listen to God's prompting as you choose. He has the perfect one picked out for you. He already knows the desires of your heart, because he made it.

Good idea. I think I will talk to her about it. I have had a children's story accepted by Adwoba for his Aurora magazine for the African community. (He asked for contributions a while back on this site). I think I might try him and a few others. Thank you.

12 days of Christmas? I like the tradition where the wisemen advance a little closer to the manager everyday. I think it goes into January. We did it once with little manager figurines when the kids were little. Now that my girls are grown with families of their own, we celebrate Christmas at my house on Christmas Eve with a birthday cake for Jesus and open presents then. Ok everyone, what are your favorite Christmas traditions?

Thank you all for your prayers. God hears them, I know it. Though Tim is doing better (he and I were sharing miracle stories today and he was smiling, again) when everyone was wishing each other a Happy Thanksgiving as we left work, his face fell and I could tell where his mind had gone. This is going to be a difficult Thanksgiving for him. I don't know her, so I don't know how strong she is.

I have some medical problems, too, that get in the way, but sometimes I think maybe God hasn't healed me because he knows I over indulge on foods that are toxic to the body. I've believed since my 20s, way before I knew the Japanese hold the same belief, that food is medicine. (Or it can be poison). I know I feel better when I eat right--especially over a long period of time. Though I've had to learn the hard way which healthy foods don't agree with me either. However, I also understand social eating and feeling deprived when you can't eat like normal people--and how hard it is to stick to a healing diet. You very much are in my prayers.

it is one of my favorite miracle stories. God is so-o awesome. by the way, I have actually run across skeptics when I've told this story, but there is plenty of hospital documentation in the x-rays etc. at both hospitals.

I also have three from Jamestown, though the lady came over a few years after the other two helped found it. One was a 19-year-old soldier on one of the three original ships and was mentioned in an expedition report with John Smith. He later became known as one of the "ancient planters". His father was on one of the original ships, too-I think it was the same one. Imagine, they knew Pocahontas. They may not have had anything to do with her, but they knew her! How cool is that?! I'd love to find out about the lady, who married soldier boy's dad, and about the two men--like why they came over. She obviously was one of the group of ladies who came looking for a husband, but I wonder what made her do it. Genealogy is so-o much fun.😊 A little unnerving sometimes, too, because you never know what dark secret you are going to stumble across.

Try Salvation Army. They sometimes help with utilities as well as clothing and food. Also, Churches are very willing to help with food baskets, toiletries, gas money for your car and sometimes utilities this time of year. They may even find work for you. Can you get food stamps? Praying God opens doors all around you--including work wise.

I have 4 Mayflower ancestors according to several wills and documentations. But the one I am thinking about when I fix our Thanksgiving dinner with all the modern conveniences is the female ancestor. I can't remember her name--only that she was the oldest woman doing the cooking all three days. Wow! And I fuss over whether I defrosted the turkey in time or not. Can you imagine roasting all those deer? 😰 Am I remembering right--that there were only three adult women cooks at the first Thanksgiving?

Four weeks ago my friend was blessed with a brand new baby grandson. But last Sunday, as they were at church, the baby could not breathe and turned blue. They rushed him to our hospital, which is at least 15 miles away from the small town they were worshiping in. Multiple tests revealed that he had a hole in his lung. Our hospital is not equipped to handle any thing like that and Children's Hospital in OKC is over thirty miles away. So with her church praying every mile of the way, her little grandson was rushed to Children's. Then some place along I-40 a wonderful miracle happened. God closed the hole in his lung.

Penpal, I whatever news I get, I will pass on to all of you. Thank you.

I agree. I consider all of you friends. It is a pleasure getting to know each of you. I, also, know I can turn to you in need or for advise. You are all a blessing to me and gift from God.