New Years Blessings

We are now 4 days into the new year.There is so much to look forward to I don't know where to start. Guess we will just have to take it as it comes.
If the past year has done nothing else, it has taught some of us not to plan too far into the future. Who but God knows for sure what tomorrow will bring. We can plan, we can hope, we can dream, but we cannot dictate what tomorrow's dawning will unfurl.
As of tomorrow night it will be 1 year since Frances went into coronary arrest from which she did not survive. All of us who knew her, and loved her learned a hard lesson in just how fragile life is. But as hard as life is, God's Grace is greater !!
I know there are some who feel that my time of grieving was far too short. But may I please say to them, I knew her far better and more intimately than any other person on earth. And at the hour of her passing from this life to the next, she went to a far better place than she ever knew here. In the last week of her life, I prayed non-stop for God to spare her. I prayed that God would allow me to take her place that she might be allowed to stay here. And I know God was listening, because He always is. But apparently, He was ready for her to graduate. And please, make NO mistake about it. She and I had discussed the subject many times before. She did not fear death. Her eternal destination was certain, her salvation sure.
And yes, my grief was for a while overwhelming. But, as I said earlier, God's Grace is greater !!! As I continued to pray, both day and night, God in all His mercy began to show me that life must go on. I never would have thought it possible to love someone again.
But God had other plans and to prove it to me, He brought someone into my life to fill the emptiness. Someone I would fall in love with so very deeply that all emotional wounds would be healed. Sue and I have been married almost 5 months now, and we are very happy. Our marriage is being built on our faith in Jesus Christ, a foundation that cannot, and will not fail..
May all of you have a very Blessed and Happy New Year.

Via Con Dios
DM

Shopping's All Done

Folks, my Christmas shopping's all done. I think I have discovered one of the greatest tools for shopping this time of year. It's a little thing called gift cards. WOW !! It sure makes shopping for everyone a lot easier. Just buy that special loved one a gift card, and let them go get what they want. It saves on gas mileage, worry about the right size, color, and personal preference. And when you get home, you still have enough energy left to do most of those honey-do jobs that have been put off because you have Christmas shopping to do. Does this make perfect sense, or what ?? Just think about this for a moment, one quick trip to Walmart or the Mall, or any other of your favorite stores and it's all done !! And of course, one more added benefit to this is that you can make that special card for that special person as large as you like which in itself is sure to prove how much you care for them. Aren't we glad we live in America where we all have the right to think for ourselves ?

Alright, you surely have figured it out by now that I am not serious about this. But it's Christmas time, and we can't be serious all the time. Lighten up a little and have some fun this time of year. It's OK. Just remember to be kind to a total stranger, and tell someone that God really does love them. That is what this holiday season is really about.

May God bless everyone beyond measure.

Via Con Dios,
DM

Christmastime is coming

Well folks, it's almost that time of year again. Time for the Christmas season with all it's holiday cheer, gaiety and fun. Many folks are in the malls and various "discount" stores scrambling to spend their hard earned money on gifts for family and friends. It seems like folks have come to believe that the more you spend on someone determines how much you care about them. The stores all play piped-in christmas music to tug on our heart strings, so we will be more willing to open our purse strings, and SPEND, SPEND, SPEND !!!

I think it would benefit the whole world, if we would just stop in the middle of all this holiday madness and remember what Christmas is all about. It is NOT about lighted trees with gifts piled high underneath, and it's certainly not about all the commercialism of today. It is about the birth of a Savior, Jesus Christ, in a stable in Bethleham a little more than 2,000 years ago. God had promised a Messiah all the way back in the Old Testament book of Genesis. And that promise was continually made throughout scripture right up to the beginning of the New Testament Gospels. The Isrealites (and all of humanity) had been promised a Messiah, a redeemer, one who would save mankind from the penalty of death brought on by the first man Adam in the Garden of Eden. And now, that promise had been fulfilled in the Christ Child.

This became the greatest gift the world has ever known. God, who is without beginning or end, who was and is in complete control of the entire universe, gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever should believe in Him, would not die, but have the promise of life eternal (Jn 3:16) What greater gift could we possibly hope for than this ? That while we were yet sinners, Christ died for our sins ( Rom. 5:8 ).

The next time you are trying to think of the perfect gift for that special loved one, why not offer them the greatest gift of all,the Good News of the Gospel of Jesus Christ ?

What ??? You have no idea where to find this gift ? OK, please allow me to help point you in the right direction. First, you need to find and open a Bible to the New Testament book of John. Then turn to the 3rd chapter and read the entire chapter.
Then turn to the book of Romans. Look in verse 3:10 ,3:23 , 10:9-11. This is a pretty good map to find your way. It simply explains that anyone who is willing to accept God's free gift of salvation, through His Son Jesus Christ, and BELIEVE in Him will be forgiven of their sins and will be saved. You've done this ?? Great !! Now you are ready to share this gift with others. The greatest thing you can do for your loved ones this season is to share with them what God through His Son, has shared with you.

If after reading the above scriptures, you are still unclear about how to be saved, feel free to e-mail me at ( don8134@att.net ) and I will be more then willing to help you.

May God in all His Glory bless you and your's this Christmas season.

In His Service, Don & Sue Miller

Answered Prayer

I am so glad that God is still in the prayer answering business. Sue became very ill week before last with what we thought was the flu. After a couple of days in bed it became much worse so I took her to the emergency room at the local hospital. She had bronchial pneumonia, and a gastro-intestinal infection as well. She was admitted to the hospital and put on three antibiotics by IV. She was there for eight days and lost 15 pounds. That's a lot concidering the fact that she's not very big to start with. After a fast contact to several folks that I know to be strong prayer warriors, a prayer chain was started on her behalf. She was released from the hospital and is doing much better, but is still trying to regain some of the strength she lost during this time.

And folks, God really is in the business to answer prayers. He always answers, but not always with what we want. He knows best, and He has a master plan. I have learned not to question Him but rather to try to accept what He sends my way. There have been times when I have prayed so hard for healing for someone, and yet it seems God in all His infinite glory had something else for them.

Why does God allow bad things to happen to good people ??? I wish I had an answer, but I don't. I am reminded of an old gospel song that Jimmy Swaggart used to sing titled " I don't need to understand, I just need to hold His hand ".

Things are going well with Texas BBQ & Beans in our local spot here in Carterville MO. We are three weeks into it and selling lots of BBQ. If you are ever in the area, stop by and mention our blog. We'll treat you to some of the best South Texas style BBQ you will find this side of the Red River.

Until then, as always, Via Con Dios
Don & Sue

Time for an update

I really didn't realize so much time had passed since the last post I looked back at the most recent one. And that was at least a couple of months ago. Time is just going so fast these days. Someone once said not so long ago that we are never so busy as we will be when we retire. And that, folks, is as close to truth as we can get. There is an old saying back down in the hills of East Tennessee where I came from years ago about being "busier that a long tailed cat in a room full of rocking chairs". But lest anyone think I am complaining, let me clarify by saying this. I am enjoying life to the absolute fullest, and God is in complete control of it all !!

Sue and I made a trip down to South Texas a couple of weeks ago. She finally got to meet all of my older children, as well as 11 grandchildren and 5 great grandchildren.
And yes, Sue handled the shock very well. We have a lot of photos of the whole bunch, as well as some taken down on the beach where they all live. I will try to get some posted soon.

Texas BBQ & Beans is really picking up steam. I mentioned in a previous post about the place in Carterville MO where we intended to set up our BBQ business locally year round. The waiting is over, and we will be opening for business this week. We are still going to use the mobile kitchen, but it will stay parked in one spot. For the beginning, we will only be open Thursday thru Saturday.(I need to hold onto some semblance of my retirement status) We will be offering the usual fare of South Texas style Pulled Pork, BBQ Beef shoulder and smoked sausage, along with whole and 1/2 slabs of loin back ribs. Our ranch-style beans are world class. We use four different varietys of dry beans, lots of onion and garlic, crisp bacon and lots of bbq meat, and smoke them to perfection !!!! And for those hardy souls who are out and about early in the day, we offer hot biscuits and sausage gravy with coffee and/or hot chocolate.

May the God of all creation bless you beyond your greatest expectations. The apostle Paul wrote "Eye has not seen, ear has not heard, neither has it entered into the hearts of man the things that God has prepared for those that love Him". God said it, I believe it, and that settles it !!

Via Con Dios
DM

LABOR DAY IS IN THE CAN

Another Labor Day weekend has come and gone. It's hard to believe this summer season has come and gone so fast. So much has happened in so short a time. The writer of Ecclesiastes wrote about a time and a season for all things, a time to live, a time to die, a time to laugh and a time to cry. I know that is not an exact quote, but close enough to make my point. Sometimes our lives change with the seasons. Some are blessed with lives that are so predictable and stedfast,and others are just the opposite. Whatever your's may be, it is a gift from God and should be cherished as such each day your name is not found in the obituary column.

Sue and I have been married for a whole month now. And what a great life God has blessed us with. We have placed control of our relationship in God's care and trust Him to grow it as He sees fit. And, I must add, she is a really great cook on top of everything else. It will be a challenge to see if I can maintain the 50 lbs I have lost this summer.

As for Texas BBQ & Beans, we are going strong. We just finished a Labor Day weekend at MOKAN Dragway. We were there for Saturday and Sunday, selling out early Sunday evening and going home early. I think we went through about 15 gal of beans and some 600 BBQ Plates and sandwiches. I have been cooking BBQ since about 3:30am this morning getting ready for a two day festival at Diamond MO. this weekend, in addition to catering a company picnic Saturday of around 150 people. I know it sounds lika a lot of work, and it is. But it is a lot of fun too. AND, we get to meet so many new people, and have so many opportunities to serve God in the process.
And lest I forget to mention, as some of you know, we have been trying for some time now to find a suitable spot to set up our BBQ locally on a year round basis. Well, it is finally happening. We have located a spot in the town of Carterville MO where Sue and I reside. We met with the city council last evening and received not only an approval, but a big welcome as well. I will post more on this a little later. For now, we are booked solid for festivals through most of October. I think we are looking at being ready to start in Carterville around the first or second week of November.

Until then, may the God of all creation bless each of you beyond measure.......

Via Con Dios DM

Better late than never

Sorry folks, didn't realize it had been so long since I had posted. Guess it's better late than never. Life has been so busy it's just hard to get time to set down for a few minutes and post.
Sue and I just finished a day at the races Saturday with great success. We were at MOKAN Dragway for the biggest race of the year which is always held on that date. We started selling BBQ at 10:00am and by 5:30pm we were sold out of everthing we had on the truck. What a great day, and all the credit goes to our Heavenly Father.
On Friday, the day before the race, Sue and I delivered 50 lbs of BBQ pulled pork to my brother Dan in Oak Grove MO for a fund raiser that his church was having on Saturday. They were raising money to send their youth on a missions trip to Haiti. We were praying for God to bless their effort, and they were praying likewise for us.
Those who know, know that you just can't outgive God. He said in Malichi "Bring your tithes and offerings into the storehouse, and try Me and see. And I will open the windows of Heaven and pour out blessings beyond measure" (paraphrase)
Please don't anyone misunderstand me here. God blesses us, amd will continue to bless us in our faith. But God will not do by a miricle that which He expects us to do by obedience. Simply put, that means God expects us to put hands to the plow handles and go to work.
Some folks seem to be less than happy that God has seen fit to bring me through a time of tragedy and great loss, and even more more so that He has blessed my life so abundantly in the process. He has also blessed me with big shoulders so that I can bear the burden of other's hurt.
Sometimes, it becomes very easy to cast stones at others without knowing all the facts involved. But I believe Jesus Himself set the perfect example for us when He refused to respond to His accusers.
I will only say this, God knows my heart AND my motives in ALL things. When I stand before Him in judgement, I will stand with a clear conscience and know that my intentions were always pure. I hold no animosity towards any other human in this life. If anyone feels otherwise, I forgive you, and will continue to pray for you. May the God of all creation bless you beyond your limits.
And to all.......
Via Con Dios DM