I knew never to open an umbrella inside because that was bad luck. I also knew that if you found a penny it was good luck. I guess in my parent’s time that a penny would buy a piece of candy. It’s still true today that a penny found is a penny earned.

I know my parents told me that if I keep making that face it might freeze that way. I certainly made lots of faces throughout my lifetime that I am really glad never froze! I have come to believe that you really can give away a smile. I have smiled at many people in my lifetime and watched them catch it.

An apple a day will keep the doctor away. I have eaten plenty of apples and have been a pretty healthy person. I imagine apple farmers made that one up. I was warned more than once with, “If you know what’s good for you, you will stop that.” I knew that if I continued doing whatever it was I was doing I was going to get a spanking. I usually stopped.

There is lots of weather lore out there. We all know: “Red sky at night, sailors’ delight; red sky in morning, sailors’ take warning.” I heard today that if the smoke coming out of the chimney is going down, snow is on the way. I will have to watch for that one the next time snow is on the way.

You have probably heard that the wooly worm’s bands predict the kind of winter that is on the way. The persimmon seeds also predict the winter forecast. A spoon means lots of snow is coming, while a fork implies a less snowy winter.

 Weather lore abounds. I know my neighbor’s dog used to break out of its fence and come over to where I was working in the yard about a half hour before a bad thunderstorm would blow up. How did that dog know that? I am not sure how true the old wives tales are, but I am sure that the old stories in the Bible can teach us powerful truths.

 I know that faith and courage will help me bring down the giants in my life because David defeated Goliath. David grew his faith by defeating the lion and the bear. Goliath was no match for a man who trusted in God and could defeat wild animals.

I know that I can trust God even when my enemies try to destroy me, because Daniel trusted in God and prayed even when laws were passed against it. Hungry lions were not going to get past the angel that was sent to protect him, but they destroyed Daniel’s enemies the next morning.

I believe in the power of prayer to change circumstances because all through the scripture men and women prayed to God and He moved to change the outcomes. I believe God hears our prayers and heals us, delivers us, and saves our souls. I believe God hears our prayers and quiets the raging storms. I believe God hears our prayers and does exceedingly, abundantly beyond all that we can ask, think, or imagine.

Jesus taught us that if we ask according to His will, we will be able to accomplish even greater things than He did. Jesus healed the sick, raised the dead, set the captives free, and fed thousands with only a little bit of food. I believe we can do great things too, if we will only trust in God and believe in the things He promised. The Bible is full of many things God promised us; we have to discover those promises and believe them.