Wonderful week!!

I have had a wonderful week off work.  I know, I am blessed to have a stable, good paying job in these troubled economic times.  But OHHHHH! How sublime it is to know you can do your own thing for an entire week!  I've stayed busy, too.  I often find when I get a day or two off, I waste it doing literally nothing of value OR just chores.  This week, I have been pleased.

Monday morning I baked cookies.  A new recipe (Peanut Butter-Ginger) from a library book about simple and tasty gifts.  I cut the cookies out to resemble little houses, put them in a cute basket with a home-made house warming card. Took that to a friend who just bought her first house with her new husband. (Very cute old house) Then cut some cookies out with my Moose Cookie Cutter and prepared a little box to send to my brother in Oregon, who just had shoulder surgery and is off work for 6 months.  Why a moose?  Well, it just so happens, my darling brothers used to call me "Moose" as a child.  I hated it so much then. (I was a scrawny, tiny thing and it was their loving idea of irony). But as I got older and we all became good friends, as siblings should, it became such an endearment that we carry it on!  I even made him an "I moose you" card with a darling little moose stamped on it.  Packed the rest of the box with western movies, Ernest movies, and books to read and mailed it off.

Bear in mind I am a great planner.... wonderful procrastinator.... and usually never follow thru with my lovely ideas. (Like the care-package) I am so pleased I got it all done. 

Got a haircut Monday afternoon with my honey (My son thought that was a very weird date) and enjoyed the evening after a session of physical therapy ("Tennis Elbow anyone?"). 

TUESDAY, I had lunch with a Sister-in-Christ and had a great visit. Went to the store to get my Valentine supplies (oh, yea) and coveralls for my son who has been "roofing" this last week and tired of ripped knees in his jeans and being cold.

WEDNESDAY, Took my honey and his work van to the shop and delivered him back to his truck; went to PT early; met my daughter in law at the house to prepare our Valentines for our "Card Swap" the weekend of the 4th with friends/family who enjoy doing likewise. Called my pastor and his wife to see if I could bring them lunch/dinner Thursday as they have both been sick with this nasty head cold all week.

TODAY, I got up and took my honey to his work van at the shop and ran to the store for a few missing ingredients for Cheese Tortellini Soup.  Home again to cook. Shower, Make up (1st in days), and off to deliver.  I hope they like it, it's one of my favorites and oh, so easy! 

So, as you see, I have not been idle. I have been reading each evening and praying that God keep me motivated to "do" not just "think".  I hate being a procrastinator and it is something I can change if I want to. It's up to me. Pray for me!!!!! God's Blessings to you and remember to share His love and pass it on to all you meet.

Secret Believers....Muslims who become Christians

2012. A new year. And how glorious.  My husband and I have started ours with illness.... colds to be exact.  Coughing non-stop and oh-so dizzy and tired.  We've both had our doses of antibiotics and still fighting it.  What is one to do but to keep on going?

Today I got up and made my way to church. I missed last week because of this bug and I was NOT going to let it stop me again.  A beautiful sermon, I'm so glad I made it.  I've been reading a book called "Secret Believers" by Brother Andrew and Al Janssen.  Very interesting to date.  It opens my eyes a little more to the struggle of Muslims who come to a faith in Jesus Christ.  I was unaware of a Muslims ideas of Jesus. I knew He (Jesus) was in the Quran, but I didn't know to what extent.  It's been interesting to get a little insight into their thoughts and ideas.  I look forward to the rest of the book and how God speaks to me during my study.  I know it is making me have more of an appreciation for our freedoms.  It's so easy to take for granted what we have.  Can you imagine a family turning on a child for studying the Bible? Beating her? I am not naive. I am aware these things happen. But for some reason it really hit me that this is not just a rare occurrence. This can be the normal way of life in these countries.  Christianity has so shaped our laws, just as Islam has shaped theirs. 

What a commitment to Jesus they make when they step out and say, "I believe!"  I am rambling, I know.  So many thoughts, so difficult to sort and make sense of them all.  Even harder thru this dizziness and haze of this crud that I have.  I would welcome any thoughts and commentary.  Something to get my juices going!!  Happy New Year everyone!!

Thoughts on Dietrich Bonhoeffer

I have been reading (just finished today) the biography of Dietrich Bonhoeffer. (By Eric Metaxas) Wow...  What an amazing testimony.  It seems to me, more now after reading this than ever before, there are very few people truly living a life for God.  I was  touched by this man's insight.  Of course, he was a brilliant scholar raised in a family of true intelligence.  But, intellect aside, it was his devotion to God and His Word that really got to me. It was because of his devotion that he had this insight into God's will for his life.  At such a young age, that someone could even reflect upon the thoughts he had... again I say, "Wow". 

It makes me recognize my apathy toward trying to see God's will in my own life.  I find it hard to take a mere 30 minutes in a day to read my Bible.  And he not only found the time but made it the essential part in his day... to read, to meditate, then to live it!  I understand the concept of living every part of my life with God in mind; but this is so much more.  Not to just live with a silly catch-phrase "What Would Jesus Do?" attached to every decision; No; but to spend such time with God that one just knows His will for his life!  To know (after careful meditation and prayer each day) when His voice is speaking. 

Dietrich Bonhoeffer was remembered by all who met him as a loving, gentle man.  How can you reconcile this with a man willing to be part in assassination?  I would have had trouble too, had I not read this wonderful biography.  He so carefully kept his family, his friends, and his church out of this part of his life; knowing it was God's will for him and him alone.  He did not seem to agonize over it, he just KNEW.  And the task, although unsavory, and seemingly contradictory to all he believed, was a matter of being obedient to God's will for him. 

I know I do this entire subject injustice in my bumbling words.  Something Dietrich Bonhoeffer said in a letter (to paraphrase):  Nothing should be indescribable.  If one takes enough time to think about it, there are words to describe nearly everything.  But I feel I am limited in my words to elegantly describe my thoughts and feelings about what I have learned from this man, 75 years gone now.  I know that as thoughts occur, I will be recording them for quite awhile. 

Mid-March.... ALREADY???

Where does the time go??  I cannot believe it is mid-March.  Here I am looking at my blog that I have not updated since January.  Much has happened during that time.  My husband was admitted to the hospital shortly after my last post for pneumonia.  I knew he was sick for quite some time... but being male... didn't think a Doctor was necessary.  Imagine his surprise when the doctor said, "You are taking this X-ray straight to the emergency room and you are having them admit you.  If they do not admit you, you have them call me and I will change their minds."  He had never been in the hospital overnight before.  In fact, he was there for 3 nights. 
     Now, here we are 2 months later, with bills over $18,000 (thank you insurance, but still.... $3000 deductible... and the extra 20%... ouch!), and we still do not really know for sure if the pneumonia was merely caused by an infection or if there is more at play.  We are looking at auto-immune problems, vasculitis, etc. 
    BUT, God is so amazing.  My husband has been out of work.  One may say, "ooh, bad timing for all those hospital bills", but we say, "ooh, good timing for him to be able to get some rest without any guilt and possibly be really helping himself tremendously!"  AND, my husband has decided exercise and a change in diet may help and has already lost nearly 60 lbs (and me 10lbs too).  Seems he wants to be around longer and enjoy my company and that of his children and grandson. 
    SO... through ALL things, God allows good things to come to His children.  We are both getting healthier, a serious condition may have been discovered that otherwise would not have, he is healing faster because he can rest, and God has never let us down financially before so we have no reason to believe this time will be any different.  Did I mention?  My husband has also started attending church with me regularly since getting out of the hospital.  (Except when he's gone fishing... he needed that time away - both for me and for him!)
  Well, I believe this year is going to be an amazing year for us.  God is so gracious and so good.  Anyone who thinks otherwise has just yet to meet Him face to face!

Imagine

   UGH! I hate being SICK.  I cannot believe I have this terrible cold. I don't know whether to be grateful that I wasn't sick over the holiday again and my time off, or irritated that now that I have to be at work full steam, I'm sick.  Hmmm.  All I know is, I'm a baby about being sick.  When I don't feel good I just want to sleep and be left alone.  I'm fortunate, my husband does a good job of taking care of me.  He allows me to sleep and offers to get me anything I need.  The dogs are not so understanding; they still love "mom" and want me to  let them out, feed them, and hug them. 
     I know in this world we will have illness, pain, and tears.  I anxiously await our entrance to heaven when we get a new body, one that does not get tired or sick. To live in a place of pure joy and love.  No viruses, no bacteria, none of those things that make us feel horrible!  They will banished forever.  Woohoo!
     You know what else will be great? No crying! I know a good cry can be cleansing, Lord knows I've done it enough, but can you imagine a time and a place where the need for crying will be abolished?  I love to imagine it....

New Beginnings

     A new year has arrived.  A chance for new beginnings for so many people.  New lifestyles; new eating habits, new exercise plans, new work ethics.  Generally, for most, it lasts about 3 weeks?  A month?
     What if we looked at each day as a new beginning.  Every morning, what if we awoke and said, "Thank you, Lord, for this day!  Let me be the best I can be for today."  I think by making small, reachable goals we stand a much better chance of actually changing (for the better, I hope).  Heck, I have to take some things hour by hour let alone day by day.  (Oh, this curse of loving sweets and despising exercise!) 
     I pray I can make the appropriate changes in my life.  Changes that will be pleasing to God, it is all I can ask. 

"Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever"

~ Hebrews 13:8, NLT

 Happy New Year to all.

Do not hesitate to share the important truth

You're walking along the street and your dear friend is with you.  She strays out into the traffic and a large truck is coming. It's going to hit her, there is no way it can stop in time.  She keeps walking, oblivious there even IS a truck, let alone the fact it's going to hit her.  All you have to do is tell her to move.  Do you?

You are going to try bungee jumping from a bridge.  You notice the cord is frayed and coming apart as your friend is putting on the harness.  In fact, it looks as though it's been "repaired" in several places but not well.  Do you stop your friend from jumping?

Now, your friend has begun a new relationship.  She shows you a picture.  He's your husbands ex-coworker.  He is being charged with assault and battery on his last girlfriend.  You know, because you witnessed the abuse at the company's New Year's Eve party.  You already see bruised finger prints on your friend's arm.  Do you tell her what you know?

OK, so the first one is obvious.  It's easy. You say, "Get out of the road!"  The second one seems easy to me, too.  "Hey! I don't think you should use this cord.  It looks like it could break."  The third one gets slightly trickier, but I think the answer is still pretty clear. You warn your friend.  You HAVE to tell what you know to be fact.  Remember? You even witnessed it!

In every instance you would do what you need to do to save your friend.  Who wouldn't?  So why do we hesitate to share the most important life-saving information there is?  The salvation message.  What are we afraid of?  If my friend, who was going to be hit by a truck, said angrily to me, "Don't tell me what to do!", then was hit by the truck, I'd be devastated.  But less so knowing I had done what I could. Same with the bungee cord friend.  I had done what I could, people are responsible for their own actions, especially when they have been given the facts.  Friend number three, although this is a different type of scenario, also has the will to do what she pleases with the information given.  We do run a risk of anger and even rejection.  She may not like what you are saying and ask that you not get involved.  There is not much you can do to physically protect, or protect emotionally, people who choose to ignore your warnings.

So what does that have to do with the salvation message? Everything.  Without Jesus, no one will enter heaven.  All will live eternally.  In either heaven or hell.  I believe without any doubt it will be one or the other and that hell is as real a place as heaven.  The old jokes about hell may be cute, with the parties, the little red man with the pitchfork and tail, but real hell is anything but.  It's a place of eternal torment.  Wailing and gnashing of teeth.  It will be a place of utter despair, darkness, misery, affliction, horror, and fear.  For eternity....  Now I think, if I truly love someone, do I want them there?  Stupid question, you say!  Of course I don't.  I want them in heaven, with Jesus and me.  How do they get there? The same way I do: Through Jesus and Him alone.

Why don't I tell my friend that?  Good question.  Answers are many but pretty much boil down to fear.  Fear of rejection.  Fear that my friend will laugh and make fun of my silly notions.  Fear that they will get mad at me for pushing my religious opinion on them.  Fear of them leaving me.  Fear of losing my friend.  Fear they may ask me questions I cannot answer.  Now, apply all those answers to why I don't tell my friend to get out of the way of the truck, not use the bungee cord, and get away from an abusive man.  Do those fears mean much?  What's more important? Your friend's eternal life or avoiding the consequences of your fear?  I hope through the new year I can take this to heart and heed my own advice.  I hope I can boldly, gently and with love, save my friends from their own-coming trucks.  Have a blessed 2011!

How Should We Celebrate Our Lord's Birth?

I just spent a week at my sister's home.  My mom had surgery (a raging success, Yea!) and I wanted to give some time to be with them both.  I have a fabulous sister.  We are separated by a mere 21 years and missed out on some bonding time when we were younger.  But, now, with me in my 40s and her in her 60s we have become the best of friends and beyond. 

She has become such a delight in making me see a better ME.  In understanding who I am, why, and how I can use my gifts and abilities for our Lord's purpose.  This last week we had much time to visit as Mom was in the hospital (we know where the good waiting rooms are, which ones have the best chairs; and Sis can even find free cookies!) and recuperating.  We discussed our disappointment in our past Christmas "celebrations".  What do we do to make this Christmas special... to be different from the past?  Basically, to bring the miracle of Christ's birth to our families in a REAL way. 

It all gets so lost in the hubbub of it all.  The shopping, the cooking, the baking, the decorating, the everything!  What do we do to simplify?  To really celebrate Christ?  We didn't come to any conclusions.  I suggested, perhaps, it isn't about what we do for our family, but for ourselves.  It's something we are both still pondering. Christmas is getting nearer and nearer and no decision yet.  I pray God will give me an answer and peace about this Christmas will be in our hearts.  The miracle of His birth should not be taken so lightly, so casually.  I do not believe that Christmas is about giving... at least not in worldly fashion.  It's about God's ultimate gift to us.  How do we celebrate that gift without losing it's meaning in our earthly giving of gifts? It becomes so out of control.   I try every year and family and "shopping" always seems to prevail...

Any suggestions or ideas from anyone who has been able to keep the meaning of Christmas? God's Blessing to you all! 

Let's not relive this Thanksgiving

What a strange Thanksgiving!  Got up Thursday morning and wasn't feeling well.  It quickly progressed to feeling bad and by 11:00 my husband was cancelling our dinner plans at his parents and heading to Walmart to buy some more stuff for a dinner at home.  I was in no mood for food, though and stayed in the bedroom while he slaved over an entire dinner for himself.  Bless his heart!  Our son was up snowboarding until dinner time and I was no company what-so-ever.  All I wanted to do was sleep off a terrible stomach.

Friday, I was hoping for relief and as much as I tried to say I was feeling better, my stomach was not agreeing.  We had the kids over for the BSU/Nevada game and I could only make it to half time (we were ahead at that time).  I went in to lie down just for a bit and the next thing I knew I heard screaming from the living room.  Our beloved Broncos were in trouble.  How very sad... they lost such a very close game.  The kids left and I got up and had a bit of chicken soup.  Finally, food that stayed down!  I stayed up until 3am (it was midnight when I had my dinner) and went back to bed. 

Saturday; Could it be? I actually felt a bit hungry.  A bowl of rice crispies and, HEY! Not bad!  I was able to get some laundry done, fiddled around with some card-making, and even had a small bite of dinner.  I decided to get on the scale and found I'd lost 8lbs. in the last couple days.  (Not for long, it'll be back in a matter of 2 days easy!)

I haven't even been able to watch the news or look online at college football.  It's not that I am so devastated at a loss for BSU... It's that I just am not in the mood to hear all the talk of how BSU was a "never-was" team that didn't belong ranked to begin with.  I know that some of the big schools and big football programs don't believe we belong, but those kids are amazing.  They are a great team, with a great coaching staff.  They were, and still are.  I don't want to hear people discuss our wonderful kicker, Kyle Bratzman.  He kicked goals that allowed wins to happen in the past.  He did not lose the game.  I don't want to hear it.  Not yet.  I pray the kids on that team do not take the game to heart. I pray Kyle knows his fans and Bronco Nation still thinks the world of all his hard work.  Those who do not, are not true fans.

In the grand scheme of things, we need to remember, they are all games.  They are just kids playing.  I am often quite disappointed in the actions of sports fans and I pray this time will be different. 

Created for a Purpose: Even Miscarriages

Yesterday, my 17 year old son texted me a question as I was heading to my car from the office:  "i have a question I don't think the bible answers.  What happens to unborn eggs? Heaven? Nothing? Are they even considered people without being conceived?"  (Why do I get these via text? & why as I'm walking to my car?) 
My answer: "Eggs aren't people. Fertilized eggs are." 
Next text:  "What about miscarriages? God knows they won't be born...What happens to them? Why weren't they born like my brothers and I?"  (Seriously?  Isn't he supposed to be worried about football? his car?...) 
My answer (quick, I'm at a stop light... I do NOT text and drive):  "They were meant for heaven"  
His Next Question:  "Will I meet them? Does God name them?"  (I really love this kid...)
My response:  (Still a red light, by the way...) "Yes!  and Yes!"  (Now I have to drop the phone... the light is green and I'm heading for the freeway.)

Three years ago, I became unexpectedly pregnant.  My husband and I were 43 and 42 respectively.  Kind of planning on an empty nest in the near future.  My children were surprisingly excited about a baby brother or sister.  My own parents, being near 40 when I was born, got quite a kick out of the idea, too.  The panic left and we started to plan.  The planning came to an abrupt halt, when just after 3 months, I had a miscarriage.  I could not believe the emotional pain.  I grieved horribly.  I remember crying out to God to heal my aching heart.  I had dreams that my baby was still there, only to wake up and be hit with the reality of the loss.  My Mom sent me a letter telling me how much she and Dad hurt for me... how they loved me. 

Two weeks later, my dad suddenly died.  Literally dropped in the middle of church having just shared about God's Word with the congregation.  He was gone.  Mom had stayed home that day.  I was 500 miles away.  My brother called me when I got home from church.  I had just begun to see some light in my darkness when I was drowning again. 

Sometime, I'll finish on that part of my life....but this brings me to the red light when I got off the freeway.  There was my unsent text:  "Yes! and Yes!" and I added: " They were in heaven to meet their grandpa!"  (I also had a miscarriage before conceiving my other 3 children, when I was 19). 

I got home and read to him my favorite:  Psalm 139:14-16 and we got to discuss how God created each of us uniquely for His purpose.  I love my sons.  God gave them to me for a reason.  My Dad was so very special and I cannot wait to see him again.  He can introduce me to my other 2 children when I get there.   I thank God for healing my heart of the worst pain I've known to date.  He is so good.  God Bless you all!

God cares about even the ordinary, everyday things in our lives

This morning I spilled a cup of coffee on my laptop.  My fairly NEW laptop... One I have saved for all year and have been so pleased with.  I immediately flipped it over and shook it (will it withstand that?).  I then ran with it to the bedroom and hit it with a high air blow dryer (will the heat damage it more?).  "Please, Lord, I really need my computer and really don't want to lose it!"  All the while the voice of the salesperson going through my head: "Would you like the extra warranty on this? It covers any damage done to the computer, now matter what.  Including spilling drinks on it."  I scoff, thinking only suckers buy the extra warranties.  Oh, yea, that played over and over in my mind while I'm running that blow dryer and shaking my computer.  Did I mention I decided to put cream in my coffee this morning?? Not just cream, but Peppermint Cream... the kind with sugar in it, too.  Nice....

Well, I prayed and blew and shook.  And here I am typing on it 4 hours later.  I'm assuming it's working although I am not sure if there will be some future effects.  Very possibly.  Well, for now, "Thank You Lord, for hearing my pleas."  Do you believe God listens and answers even the prayers about saving a computer?  Even when it's quite obvious His child has done something stupid to cause the problem in the first place. 

I love 1 Thessalonians 5:17. "Pray continuously." (Other translations I have read say "Pray without ceasing".)  My guess is that Paul was telling us to pray in every aspect of our lives. To be in contact with the Savior at all times.  To make sure God is involved all through our lives.  There are so many people who consider God a Sunday (Sabbath) thing, only.  That He is somehow only needed during our most difficult times. Someone to call on for desperate help.  (OK, so that was desperation this morning... but when my middle son was 8 and we prayed to find his rat before leaving for school...before Rizzo, the cat, found him... that was more for my son than the rat and I wasn't that desperate) This simple verse says it all.  Speak to God (Pray) constantly!  Well, I'm not in church 24/7.  I'm not in trouble most of the time.  In fact, sometimes, I'm doing mundane things like laundry, or writing in a blog, or cleaning toilets.... Does God want to hear from me about those things too?  My answer:  Why Not? 

My youngest son is one of those children who never stops talking.  When he learned to talk, he just kept going.  Once, when he was 3, a friend picked him up from his daycare and took him home with her 2 children (4 and 2) for the afternoon as a treat for him and favor for me.  He instantly began chatting with her about his day and asking questions of her children.  She told me her kids were wide-eyed and just listened as he talked.  When they got to her home, he was taking off his coat and looked at the other kids as they watched him.  He looked at my friend and said, "Don't they talk?"  She nearly died.  She wanted to say, "If you'd give them a moment to get a word in, they would," but she was much sweeter and said, "Yes, but they are shy."  He is 17 now and still rattles on the moment I walk in the door, telling me about his day in excruciating detail.  I love it.  He is open, honest, and so articulate.  I cannot imagine our heavenly Father does not feel the same about each of us.  We do need to be still and listen, but He wants to hear what we have to say as well. 

So, pray continuously, about everything.  God does listen.  He heard my prayer about my computer and helped me out.  I cannot imagine why it is working except that He wants me to continue my blog, continue the other work I use it for.

Thank you Jesus for even caring about the mundane things of our lives.  I love you so!

Persistence Pays Off

"Lord, teach us how to pray!"  (Luke 11:1) The disciples are in awe of Christ's prayer life.  They want to pray just like Him, so they ask this simple thing.  He gave them the Lord's prayer as an example and then continues with the story of the man who wakes his friend in the middle of the night for loaves of bread.  The sleeping man does not want to get up, but because his friend is persistent, he gets up and gives him the bread.  "Ask!" Jesus tells us.  If we don't receive, it's because we haven't asked. 

When I first read this, I was taken aback.  On the surface it appears as though Jesus is saying, God doesn't want to answer your prayers because you're a bother, so be persistent and He will eventually answer (if only to get you to be quiet).  Seriously! It's what it sounds like.  But if you really look, what He is saying is God does want to answer you prayers, but He wants you to ask!  God LOVES spending time with His children.  He loves communicating with us and giving us good things.  Jesus tells us numerous stories of God's love for His children throughout the New Testament.  One cannot deny that He wants to be the center of our lives and wants only good for us. 

By being persistent in our prayers we are learning to understand our true needs as well.  We learn to express ourselves and we learn how important the things we ask for are to us.  The persistence is for our sake, not for God's sake.  He already set in motion the answer to your prayer, before you even uttered it.  Therefore, in our persistence, we will recognize God's work as it happens.  We will better appreciate what He is doing.  Just as a good father wants only the best for his children, our Heavenly Father wants even greater for us. 

Thank you, Lord, for knowing my needs before I do.  Thank you for teaching me to ask and for helping me to learn what is important in this life.  You are truly worthy of all praise.  Amen

Are you worthy to be my neighbor?

So at work, my coworkers and I generally work as a team. We have our own duties, our own schedules, but when one gets backed up the others try to absorb the extra work and help out.  As a rule... There are times when you don't really feel the other person is pulling their weight and you just don't feel like "helping them out".  They really aren't "worthy" of help.

Today I read Luke 10:25-37; the parable of the good Samaritan.  A man (a Jew) was left for dead on the side of the road after being beaten and robbed.  Two different religious leaders (priests) walked by him and, instead of helping, passed by the other side of the road and left him.  The 3rd man, a Samaritan, stopped to help.  Samaritans and Jews were definitely not known to keep company with one another at the time.  Jews were a pure race, decedent from Abraham.  Samaritans were a mixed race... mutts!  It just was not proper for the two to mix.  Yet, this Samaritan not only stopped, but went the extra mile to pay money to an inn-keeper to continue care in his absence and promised to be back to pay any additional costs. After the story, Jesus asked which man was neighbor to the hurt Jew.  The religious leaders, to whom the story was being told, answered correctly:  The man who took pity on him. 

If Paul Harvey were here, I wonder if he would have "The Rest of the Story."  Can you imagine the Jew's reaction as he awoke and realized who was caring for him? Would it change his own attitude about who his "neighbor"was.  I am not sure if it changed the minds of the religious leaders to whom Jesus was talking, but it made me think today.  Do I have the right to determine who is worthy of my help?  Even in the little things like helping with a schedule.  Definitely with my patients who come through our doors every day.  Each one, rich or poor, whatever color or race, male or female, young or old, deserves my complete attention. I need to give to each one the care they need, the extra mile if possible, just as the Samaritan did, because all are my neighbors. 

Thank you Jesus, for that story to remind us to care for one another!  God Bless.

Is Halloween Anti-Chrisitan?

It's Halloween! Time for dress up and candy. That is what it meant to us growing up and when our children were young, and now my grandson! (He is Mario this year...his mother learned to sew and made him a nice costume, but Friday he changed his mind and decided a pirate would be fun.  Gotta love 4 year olds.)  The towns around here have debated trick-or-treat Saturday night or Sunday night.  Several have left it up to people.  Leave your light on Saturday night for trick-or-treaters if you want.  Why?  I don't understand the debate.  Is it about work/school the next day? I hardly think so because 5 years in a row it will fall on a school night and no one says a word.  My only thought is that it is a Sunday and they are concerned about church.  However, no one mentions this.
    
OK. If you are concerned about a pagan holiday on the Sabbath.... you should not be celebrating Halloween at all.  Here's my opinion, folks, whether you want it or not:  Christmas and Easter are such important holidays to me, as a Christian.  They have been commercialized and secularized (is that a word?) until they are hardly recognizable.  I STILL CELEBRATE THEM.  It is important because of what they mean to me... in my heart. How I celebrate is my choice.

Halloween today, in America, for 90+% of people is only a day set aside for people to dress in costume, have treats, and the occasional scare. (Yes, and college kids to "party" heavily... that's no big surprise, they'll use any excuse. I was once one of them, remember?  Drunkeness is another story).  There is no malice or evilness in their hearts that drive them, it's just for fun.  Heck, they can even leave out the "scare" part and just have fun.  I think God knows the heart of His children.  He loves to see us happy and having fun.  He doesn't want us harming ourselves (sin is harmful), so I'm not advocating the 60's "If it feels good, do it" mentality. (or was that the 70's??)  I'm saying: "LIGHTEN UP, PEOPLE!" 

Years ago we had this debate at our church and people were very divided.  10 years fast forward and those same people are now saying they were too legalistic and it's not a big deal.  They see the fun for the kids and that it is not harmful, not satanic.  That's my point of view.  What's yours?

Time with Jesus

I really need to be doing some housework today... you know... the nitty-gritty, down on your knees scrubbing kind of clean.  It's been awhile since I've done that (right before surgery last week), so it's overdue.  BUT, before I started, I needed to spend time with Jesus.  I love that phrase so much.  I used to call it "time reading my Bible", or "devotional time", but my Sister (she's the best, by the way) would always remind me to "spend time with Jesus".  OF COURSE! This time alone with the Savior should not be a chore!  Something we HAVE to do.  It is a privilege, a joy, an honor! 

Why do I resist the good things He has for me?  Satan loves to make me procrastinate.  If he can keep me from spending time with Jesus, he can work on my mind and my heart to turn me away from the King.  I often find myself busy with things I enjoy (writing, sewing, reading) and things I feel I have to do (cleaning, baking, working) and put off my time with Jesus.  I say things like, "I'll just finish this chapter." or "I'll get this room cleaned up first."  When He comes to mind, I need to drop all else and visit with Him.  My day can then start!  I have a much better outlook after my time with Him. He puts all other things into perspective.  I am more apt to hear the Holy Spirit and obey His promptings (sometimes His "shoves") when I have spent my morning with Jesus.

I get to talk to Him about my family, their spiritual needs and their physical needs; I talk to Him about me and MY needs as well as my desires and my wants.  Christians are good at reminding that God said He would supply our NEEDS not our WANTS and I whole-heartedly agree.  But, just like with any friend, I still love to to talk over my wants with Jesus.  Just as I love to hear what my children want (I usually know what they need) so perhaps someday I can surprise them with a treat.  Sometimes He will remind me that what I want is pretty unimportant and unnecessary and perhaps even detrimental.  I will accept whatever He tells me (OK-sometimes I accept grudgingly or with a growl) and praise Him for knowing best and supplying my needs! 

My Bible is sort of like those search engine (Bing) commercials; one verse leads me to another thought, then another, then another.  It's really quite fun.  One of the reasons I started this blog was to write about some of the things I find in those searches and see if other people have thoughts as well.  I love talking about Jesus and how He loves us and wants to be the center of our lives.  Non-believers will roll their eyes at that and consider me a Jesus Freak.  It's not like that is all I can talk about, but when He is the center...all things revolve around Him and all thoughts are filtered through Him, right?  You try to get the perspective of the situation by looking through His eyes (the best we can). 

Well, I don't want this to become too long and tedious. Today's reading reminded me that sin leaves scars even when it's forgiven. (David killing Uriah the Hittite 2Sam 12:1-14)  Lord help me to avoid sin so I do not leave the scars! I loved the prayer at the end: 

"May I not presume upon Your mercy by assuming there will be no consequences for my sin."

God Bless!

 

Awaiting your thoughts on Psychic Kids

So, today, as I think about my writing, I know I need to capture ideas as I think about them. I jot down every thought. But, I also know, I have pretty strong ideas in my own head and in order to create full, true characters in  a novel, one must understand many types of people.  After all, the Lord created us all very different and unique. We think, act and react very differently from one another. So, what better way, than to get reactions and comments from other readers and bloggers? 

During my husband's channel surfing, he stopped, briefly, on a show about psychic kids.  While I have made it perfectly clear my own beliefs about psychics and mediums (being empowered by Satan, not God, whether they do good or bad), and that they allow Satan control of their mind when they do these things, I really had to stop and wonder about these kids!  Some were old enough to understand these things about not being under control of their own minds, but some were young!  Were they capable of "allowing" or "vanquishing" these spirits that I  believe have a hold on their thoughts?  Why does it happen to them?  Some call it a gift... I call it a curse!  Is it because the family believes and allows?  I would love to hear other's thoughts on the idea and the concept. 

I know not everyone feels as I do about this subject.  I welcome all views and beliefs.  Just be civil, please, and express yourself in a respectable manner.  Thank you for your thoughts!

Christians need to stop acting like heathens

I've been reading information on "Hate Crimes Legislation" and the pros and cons against it. Actually, I've been reading about a lot of supposedly "controversial" issues. (Research for some stories I am writing) I am constantly saddened by my Christian brothers and sisters who speak out on things without proper research and knowledge.  I am especially disheartened when those who profess their Christianity instantly spew hatred and anger from their lips which further adds fuel to the enemy's fire.  You do not have to be an intellectual to respond or discuss issues of any magnitude; but you do need to speak as what you are... an ambassador of Christ.  If you profess, "I am a Christian", please do the rest of us a favor and act/speak like one.  PLEASE.

Jesus, as our example, only spoke the truth.  He had thousands follow Him. The "big-wigs" of the church were amazed at his knowledge.  (After all, he was merely the son of a carpenter!) I think it's important for Christians to be bold in their faith and their opinions; but boldness, in this case, does not translate to loud and offensive.  I read comments in blogs all the time by people who belittle and demean Christians and their faith by intimating they are ignorant, uneducated, bigoted, and hateful.  Then a professed "Christian" gets his/her nose bent out of joint and begins the rant.... and totally justifies the accusations. 

Jesus LISTENED to people. He knew their hearts, he understood their circumstances, he advised them to stop sinning and heed the word of the Father.  We may not know our adversary's hearts, but we can still listen, see where people are coming from. Then ask yourself, what is YOUR motive?  To change the person's mind? Their heart? Or is it to put down or humiliate?  Are you trying to retaliate for the sake of your own ego?  I have caught myself in the throes of righteous anger when I have realized my own motivation was to draw blood from my enemy..... unfortunately, I lost sight of the true enemy.  The person who lashes out against me and my faith is not my enemy. 

The enemy of all Christians is one and the same. The one who longs to steal, kill, and destroy; the father of lies; Satan himself. The person pouring out his venom upon me is the one for whom I need to pray!  I have seen evidence of people getting angry when someone says, "I'll pray for you", in these instances.  If they think God and praying to Him is fruitless, why do they care?  It's like someone telling me they will place a curse on me or use a voodoo doll on me.  I do not believe such things can harm me, so why should I care?

My request is this: be civil! People have differing opinions.  It's expected.  There is no need to attack or belittle on either side. AND if someone does act in such a manner toward you, remember the quote by Abraham Lincoln, "Better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak out and remove all doubt."  Brothers and sisters in Christ, remember who you are: A child of the King.  Act accordingly.
In Love.

Embryonic Stem Cell Research Ethics and Moral Obligations

I was looking up information about stem-cell research. Interesting enough, the most credible looking sites (well, the most sites period!) were very scientific and explained all the reasons why it was a good thing.  When I tried to find ethical arguments for and against, I didn't find as much as I thought I would.  What I found, again, were very scientific explanations about how and why it is done.  They glossed around the ethical portion. 
I found one Times article from 2004 which basically called anyone against it, stupid.  His argument was, that proponents of in-vitro fertilization with implantation of the embryo into the mother could not possibly be against embryonic stem (ES) cell research.  He had a valid point.  Unused fertilized eggs (embryos) are often discarded unless they are donated for research.  So what is the difference between "throwing them away" and "using them for research"? 
     The argument against ES cell research in general is that it is using "fertilized" eggs.  If your view is (as mine is) that human life begins at conception and is worthy of all rights of any human being, they you cannot advocate research on embryos any more than you could aborted fetuses or full term babies.
     My original question was why, with in-vitro fertilization and implantation, do you have to fertilize more eggs than you are going to implant, thus the need for discarding unused ones?  The reasoning is understandable.  They (doctors, lab personnel) do not know which eggs will become viable.  If they only fertilized 3 at a time, with a large percentage rate of failure expected, they may be wasting a lot of valuable time for the mother.  At least, that's my limited knowledge on the subject surmising.  So, the idea is to be more efficient and cost effective.  Fertilize a bunch, hope a few "take", implant those that do (another question of ethics implanting 7 embryos vs. only 2 or even 3), and pray that at least one will become the baby the parents are hoping for. 
     I think it comes down to those odds, and cost effectiveness, and time that drives the dilemma.  What if you could fertilize 2 at a time, implant them if they became viable, and retry if they didn't?  Cost... Time....  So, perhaps THAT should be our discussion.
     The author the Times article stated at the end than UNLESS you were an absolutist (aka. fanatic) you needed to "get out of the way" of ES cell research.  At least he gave me a leg to stand on. I'm one of those fanatics!

Psychics and Christianity

I'm frequently amazed that intelligent, normal seeming human beings can actually believe in horoscopes and psychic readings.  I am even MORE amazed that Christians would dare involve themselves in such activity.  I have to admit, I've always had a fascination with the super-natural.  But I also had an underlying fear of it as well. Thankfully for that fear (God's protection I now believe) I never got involved in witchcraft, ouiji boards, and the like. 

Reading the Bible I have learned, and God has shown me, that there are things we just don't need to get involved in.  Reminds me a bit of the Garden of Eden.  So much that Adam and Eve could have.  Absolutely everything... if they would just avoid that ONE TREE!  Well, we know how that ended.... 

Getting involved in psychic activity and encouraging it in our children is frightening.  If it is not an act and real information is being "divined" then it is from Satan.  That's right, people, demons.  I fully believe that "real" psychics (those who are not liars, charlatans, and thieves) are demon-possessed.  Doesn't Satan masquerade as an angel of light? How could he deceive if he presented his real self?  He'd be so frightening no sane person would be drawn to him.  So, of course, he's making himself appear good and helpful. 

This is the reason, I believe, that "real" psychics can do good things.  But I cannot believe it to be a gift from God.  Gifts from God are used to glorify the Father.  They bring honor to Him and to His Son.  If glory is given anyplace else (to the psychic or to his 'spirit-guide') then it is NOT a gift from God.   If your actions are not glorifying to God, they are against Him.  AND, giving credit to "some" god is not the same as acknowledging God, the Father, and His Son, Jesus Christ. 

I've been told I'm too closed-minded.  Well, if my faith were in "some" god and I had not firm belief in TRUTH, it would not be much of a faith, now, would it?  Why in the world would I say I believed in something, only to say in the same breath that it is open to interpretation?  Truth is black and white. But that's yet another conversation!
Love to you all!

Writer's block

Writer's block. Amazing. I can write for hours about nothing. Think of things to write when I'm not in a position to write anything, but the minute a blank screen or page appears before me, my mind is like a vast cavern totally void of any life or even light! Completely empty and just echoing back the nothingness.  How the heck does that happen?  How  do you break that and move on with ideas? 

Somehow you have to let your mind open up and start receiving signals again, but it seems all you can concentrate on is the emptiness of it all.  I suppose thinking about movies and books you've read would help. But if you're looking for ideas for a book or story, you want to be unique.  Of course there are books out there that duplicate ideas, and, as I've read, any book you write will be uniquely your own regardless of the idea. YOU will be the one writing it, so even if the idea is the same for a bunch of people, different books will come of it. Lately, I cant even come up with ideas.  I need to work on that.

I need to start jotting down my ideas and letting them expand.  One writer said to write what you love to read. Well, I love to read mysteries and courtroom drama... I think that takes someone who really knows all about that stuff. I don't know if I could do all that research. I love to read stories about animals... that is something I know. I think I could do that...

May the Lord Bless you this Sunday and grant you peace.