Today is back to work Monday.  This weekend was fabulous.  Charlie and I spent a good amount of time together.  We need to do this more and more.  But for some reason he still isn't being real happy about doing this.  We spent Saturday walking around in two older cemetaries.  In fact we saw a parker that the lady had died on Aug. 26th, 18something.  It was just so amazing.  That was the date of the past Saturday.  At the one place the marker was of a husband and wife walking on the beach.  It made me extremely upset.  The wife was still living and there was sea shells all along the marker.   To be so much in love and to share with all the love they felt for each other.  Life is too, too short to let little things upset our happy lives together.  I have to be more and more aware of this.  Charley has her open house tonight for her first year at middle school.  Charlie will be taking Hunter to his football scrimmage so that Charley and her mom and dad will be able to take a guided tour of the intermediate school.   Some of Charley's teacher are the same that Heather had when she was going into 5th grade.  Amazing!!

Dear Lord, Please guide me each day to do Your will.  Give me patience, do not make me bitter or nasty, let me think before I do something that will upset You. Amen.

Today's reading:  If any of you wants to be My follower, you must put aside your selfish ambition, shoulder your cross daily, and follow Me.  We serve God whether people honour us or despise us, whether they slander us or praise us.  Everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution.  The fact that I am still being persecuted proves that I am still preaching salvation through the cross of Christ alone.  Be happy if you are insulted for being a Christian, for then the glorious Spirit of God will come upon you.  If you suffer, however, it must not be for murder, stealing, making trouble, or prying into other people's affairs.  But it is no shame to suffer for being a Christian.  Praise God for the privilege of being called by His wonderful Name!  So if you are suffering according to God's will, keep on doing what is right, and trust yourself to the God who made you.  For you have been given not only the privilege of trusting in Christ but also the privilege of suffering for Him.  If we endure hardship, we will reign with Him.  Christians follow their Lord by imitating His life and obeying His commands.  We must deny our selfish desires to use our time and money our own way and choose our own direction.  Following Christ in this life may be costly, but in the long run, it is well worth the pain and effort.  LAB note for Luke 9:23