Melva Gifford

Today is a very simple lesson. I love seedless grapes and I also like puns. So when I was eating a bunch of grapes during one of my walks, I thought about the various blessings I have. Then came the pun that I am grape-full for my blessings. Why not make an object lesson of it?

I hope this topic can be of use to youth ministries, family devotionals, family counselors and family home evening groups.

Purchase a generous batch of grapes. Differ flavors, colors and perhaps seedless for this game.

Everyone sit around the table and take turns picking a grape and then mentioning a blessing you have such as health, the love of sports, your home, a good friend, the gospel of Christ, a certain author, the enjoyable talks with a parent or sibling. You can choose all types of things. Pick a grape as you mention a blessing and then the turn goes to the next person.

Once a particular blessing has been mentioned (make a list) that blessing cannot be used a second time unless it is distinct from a previous blessing. This might also  provide an opportunity to discuss how various blessings have come into your life. Heavenly father may be a key source but you can also discuss saving money for something, working hard, being smart in certain decisions etc.

Keep the list and post it up on a fridge or wall for easy reference and reminders.

If you have any input of this lesson, please share it in the comment section of this blog. Thanks.

I’m been collecting sites that help people prepare for an emergency. This is what I have so far. Have something to add, please do so in the comment section of this blog.

Letting family know you’re safe: redcross.org/safeandwell

Learning CDs: http://www.safeharboralliance.com/

solar cook over from home?? http://solarcooking.wikia.com/wiki/Steven_Jones

winter garden? http://www.fourseasonfarm.com/books/

purifying water. Visit www.ishallfearnothing.com

after a flood: http://www.ishallfearnothing.com/How-to-Cope-Following-a-Flood.html

work emergency kits: http://www.ishallfearnothing.com/Urban-Emergency-Evacuation-Kit.html

sanitation-tips http://www.ishallfearnothing.com/sanitation-tips.html

tower in door garden: http://kent.towergarden.com/

Government preparedness: www.ready.gov

Pandemic Preparedness FREE Online How-To Course: http://www.biodefense.com/

Lindon Cannery Missionaries – How the Lindon Cannery Can Help: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aUX4wo9liNQ

Backyard Beekeeping : Austin Haacke: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=az3lqTPTt8s

Water Foraging, Storage and Purification – Jed Norwood: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=slfhm6iWNQg

Disasters Happen . Jim Phillips: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H3oKgJ5dd2E

Earthquake Safety  Dr. Ron Harris: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bo6uUNDqPPQ

Bad: waste

Good: waist

Waist is around the body not waste.

I keep getting this wrong. ‘This might be the way to remember. Waists usually have belly buttons. So remember the dot in I as the belly button and thus waist.

Have a better way to remember the I in waist? Please share in the comment section of this blog.

Last fall I attended a financial seminar and learned about how mobile parks can be a source of income. Here are some of the notes I took. I hope they can be of use.

• You can get a park for the same cost as a home.
• Good for residential income.
• Good for very little income.
• Mobile homes or build at a higher standard than homes.
• Purchase mobile homes after 1980s because that’s when quality improved
• repairs are easier on mobile homes because parts or module and can be replaced more easily.
• Recession proof housing because the cheaper.
• Mobile home park store.com is a website that offers home parks.
• 25 units plus you pay for manager
• city and water means that place that is septic tanks.
• You want to C and B level. Not dirt roads. The one longer box.
• No pools or recreation.
• 8 yield is not worth buying. You want a higher yield.
• Mobile homes have unit and pad payments.
• Renters pay all bills.. Repairs on units since their conditioners are also responsible you want to have by the mobile home owner.
• Master Bill: is when everyone shares the bill, this might be like cable.
• You might offer a potential mobile home user one thousand dollar down and $500 a month to rent to buy.
• Each purchase needs to be a break even starting on day one.
• CNL: commercial net lease.
• COG: cash of goods sold.
• Business plan: overestimate your expenses and underestimate your income.

If you have something to add to this topic, please add it to the comment section of this blog. Thanks.

We have each had times of great loss and trial. A friend of mine had her recently married daughter-in-law die a month after the marriage. It tore her a part. I personally have had a family loss which is hard. We all also have had trials with jobs or physical ailments. We each find different ways to combat the challenges that we face. I recommend that we involve God as part to help us combat our challenges. I hope the follow topic can be of use to youth ministries, family devotionals and family home evenings.

Object lesson: a bowl of water, Ping-Pong balls, one of which is painted in clear nail polish. Put water in the bowl. And place Ping-Pong balls in the water. Swish the water around with your hands and the balls stay afloat because of their buoyancy. Now intentionally push all the balls under the water. It is a good chance that the balls not covered with fingernail polish, in the poorest state, may saturate with water and sing. But the Ping-Pong ball is covered with transparent nail polish is less likely to absorb water because of the barrier of polish.

This can be compared to a ways we can combat challenges. Here are some ideas that can help us combat challenges. First, knowing that God loves us and has a plan for his children here on earth can give is an eternal perspective to just in the here and now. There is a life after death that has the potential of great happiness. Our heavenly father loves his children desires to help us be happy. Sometimes when we face challenges depression or resignation may weigh us down. This is where faith in God and his plans for his children may be needed to sustain us. It may also take time for the pain of loss to not be as intense. Third family and friends can also act as a barrio in our challenges.

Combine all of these in our buoyancy in life.

If you have an ideas on how to contribute to this concept, please share in the comment section this blog.

http://www.hulu.com/watch/34465

Bad; exagerate

Good: exaggerate

When people exaggerate this go over the top so that means two Gs.