tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-43031753706668787692024-03-13T05:30:07.877-07:00From the Heart of a Work in ProgressGod'sChild09http://www.blogger.com/profile/16076738889330165758noreply@blogger.comBlogger40125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4303175370666878769.post-13461395799964681152012-05-18T08:16:00.002-07:002012-05-18T08:16:29.103-07:00Why I Don't Think GCB Should have been CancelledGCB was a television show that aired on ABC, I believe on Tuesday nights. I did not watch any episodes. I only saw a few minutes of it one night at it's intro before seeing the title and realizing what I was watching. The only reason I even knew about the show and what it was supposed to be about was because I somehow became a part of a group called "One Million Moms." Now, I'm not a mom, nor do I think I will be one in the very near future, but it still somehow keeps me up to date on just how sad our nation is getting. They send out emails about protesting companies that support homosexual rights, or abortion clinics, or anything along those lines. And I'm fine with that... though I don't think protesting them is going to change anything. Sometimes I do send in a letter of protest, but it's rare... I think I've only done it twice.<br />
<br />
These protests are usually effective, but only if by effective we mean it gets them to stop supporting these causes. If by effective we mean we're changing their hearts and minds about the matter, I believe we have failed miserably.<br />
<br />
I received an email from them about 2-3 months ago, ranting and raving about a new show on ABC, called "GCB"... short for "Good Christian Belles" (based on a novel with a similar but not so classy title). This was from one of the first emails I received regarding this program. <br />
"This show is described as "a wicked new drama that digs up sins from
the characters' past and leads to scandal." They make sure no one is
seen as a saint. Church members are seen scheming for revenge to an
extent far greater than what has ever been seen before on network
television. ABC's promotion states the good girls have gone bad and get
rowdy.<br />
The first episode used Biblical
references, hymns, prayer, and scripture to portray Christians in a
negative light. The twisted plot included gossip, theft, spreading lies
about someone having an STD, cheating, and porn in the script. The very
first scene had a husband running off with his mistress to Mexico with
money he had stolen from investors."<br />
<br />
Now, while as a show, I agree it is extremely inappropriate, I didn't like the way we went about getting it off the air. The majority of complaints I read on it related to how the programs portrayed Christians in a negative light. I never sent a letter of protest. Something didn't sit well with me. Finally, I received this email from OMM (One Million Moms)<br />
<br />
<h2 id="yui_3_2_0_12_1337348748910433">
"One Final Attempt to Have '<span class="yshortcuts cs4-visible" id="lw_1337352777_0">GCB</span>' Cancelled!</h2>
May 9, 2012<br /><br />
Dear Alex,<div id="yui_3_2_0_12_1337348748910555">
Two months
ago, ABC launched the TV series "GCB," a show centered on a bigoted
portrayal of Christianity. For ten weeks, episodes have mocked and
portrayed Christians in a negative light. This program is about as far
from true Christianity as it could be.</div>
<div id="yui_3_2_0_12_1337348748910559">
Last Sunday, ABC aired the season
finale of "GCB." This week the network will make a final decision on
whether or not the show will be cancelled or renewed for another season.</div>
<div id="yui_3_2_0_12_1337348748910561">
Now is our last chance to send a
strong message to advertisers, letting them know we are outraged by
their sponsorship of a show that openly ridicules the Christian faith
and depicts its followers as spiteful hypocrites.</div>
<div id="yui_3_2_0_12_1337348748910563">
ABC has to decide if they will
continue to push their agenda through a show that belittles the beliefs
of millions. ABC will announce on May 15 whether or not "GCB" will be in
their fall lineup or if it will be dumped on the cancellation heap.</div>
<div id="yui_3_2_0_12_1337348748910565">
Kristin Chenoweth, one of the lead
actresses from "GCB," describes herself as a "nonjudgmental, liberal
Christian" and describes the premise of "GCB," saying, "It's so wrong,
it's right." And that "The show is funny, it's silly."</div>
<div id="yui_3_2_0_12_1337348748910567">
She goes on to claim, "I would never do anything that would make fun of my God, my Christianity."</div>
<div id="yui_3_2_0_12_1337348748910569">
Really Ms. Chenoweth? Because that
is exactly what the show does! Christianity is constantly portrayed as a
joke and Christians are made to look like buffoons.</div>
<div id="yui_3_2_0_12_1337348748910571">
Before the show even aired, Robert
Harling, the creator of "GCB," claimed, "Church is sacred...we will
never, ever be disrespectful."</div>
<div id="yui_3_2_0_12_1337348748910573">
Now he sings a different tune,
stating in a recent interview, "We knew it would be controversial. We
knew it would be provocative."</div>
Help us send a clear message to the advertisers and to ABC that "GCB" will not be supported"<br />
<br />
After getting this email it all clicked for me. This show is a portrayal of what the World sees in those who call themselves God's people. Christ followers. It is not a slam on Christ.. it's a slam on His people...<br />
<br />
And then it made sense.<br />
<br />
ABC isn't slamming Christ's image... His OWN people are! We are the ones portaying Christ in a negative light. We are not living what we believe! We are claiming to have a love in us from Christ, but we are unwilling to show it to others. Sure we wear our Christian T-Shirts, and have our Christian lingo, but when the rubber meets the road, most Christians through themselves into neutral and coast... When the opportunity to love those who don't understand us arises, we instead attack them.<br />
<br />
By protesting these companies, we aren't sharing the love of Christ, we are threatening them with our money. That does NOT convince others that what we believe in is worth trusting.<br />
<br />
I can tell you I have the recipe for the best chocolate cake. I can tell you all about the ingredients, how I bake it, what it looks like... but until I give you a piece of it, you have no reason to trust me. We can talk about God's love, grace, forgiveness, justice and mercy, but until we give others a piece of it, they have no idea what we're talking about, nor do they want to.<br />
<br />
By protesting and whining...what we're telling them is "you're absolutely right, that's how we act, but if you keep saying it, we won't give you our money." Not, "we're sorry this is the image we've portrayed, we will try to make it better." Instead of apologizing for being the people portrayed in this program, we are behaving just like them. idle threats do not lead to a change of heart.<br />
<br />
Here's the bottom line. The world is depraved... and it won't be getting better... scripture makes it clear that it will only get worse from here. Our job is to love in the name of Christ. Not to be outraged at the honest opinions of others, even if those opinions hurt our feelings. They should hurt our feelings. They should hurt us so deeply and break our hearts and compel us to change. Something's gotta give!<br />
<br />
So how do I think we should have responded? I think we all should have tuned in (without the children), watched a few episodes, heard them out, and then come together to figure out where we went wrong in portraying Christ's love so poorly. Then, like we come together and protest, we should have come together and apologized. Overcome evil with good. Loved them more. Not been spiteful or hateful. Fits of rage are not a mark of a child of God. We should have responded in love and peace, without sacrificing truth. But love, not being right, is what can turn a heart.<br />
<br />
We want to say, "well Jesus said if the World hated Him, it will hate us as well"<br />
<br />
Here's the problem with that. Jesus spoke truth. Jesus lived what He taught. He didn't sacrifice His message to cater to the desires of the people but He also treated them with love. They hated His message. We should be joyful when people are offended by the gospel, not when they are offended by us.<br />
<br />
We inflict more harm on each other within the church than non believers do to each other. Christians tend to be more lazy on the job. How many times have you been cut off and honked at by a driver with a Christian fish? (it kills me when people say "I don't want to put the Fish on my car because I don't drive like a Christian...I'll give you a minute to figure out where the problem is there).<br />
<br />
It's like boasting of sobriety with a tall sangria in your hand. It's like being a dietician and being 200 pounds overweight. It's like being a hairdresser with fried hair. Something just doesn't sync together there, right? They will know who we are by our love. Not by our money, not by our picket signs, not by our "outrage" not by our protest letter. By our love.<br />
<br />
Time is simply too short to not just live what we believe. Stop just saying it... start living it! Then shows like GCB won't even be an issue! <br />
<br />
<br />God'sChild09http://www.blogger.com/profile/16076738889330165758noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4303175370666878769.post-35872014540526615012012-05-18T07:22:00.000-07:002012-05-18T07:22:31.341-07:00God's Grace is SufficientIt has been so long since I posted here. I have been sick, tired, depressed, weak, and busy. Not to mention that I no longer have internet at home. I have tried to blog, but when the time comes to start writing, my brain simply shuts down. The truth of the matter is I'm burned out. I'm not sure how much more of this I have ahead of me. If you had told me December 6th that I would still, on May 18th, be ill and battling for strength to get through each day, I would never have believed you. I never could have imagined what this first half of my year would entail. And I'm glad God didn't choose to reveal that to me ahead of time. He only gives us what He knows we can handle. <br />
<br />
I have to be honest. I have been slacking in my walk with Christ. My daily Bible reading is all but nonexistent. My prayer life is sporadic at best, and my decision to dwell on true, peaceful, life-giving thoughts is nearly always ignored. God has called me to join the Apollo Beach Bell Shoals, and while I'm grateful to be so welcomed into my new church home, I miss my family at FishHawk Fellowship. As wonderful as this new church is, it simply doesn't feel like home yet. Don't get me wrong, I know my home is in Heaven, but you know what I mean. It's new and different, and different is not easily taken into my mind right now.<br />
<br />
I'm finally getting some real help from a doctor who may actually be able to help me get better. Right now, I'm simply too weak to work. Any physical exertion, any emotional upset, anything at all, and my body breaks out again in spots. My blood vessels are weak, my mind is weak, I have minimal concentration, I cannot understand the things some people say to me. Things have to be repeated on occasion. I'm very very different from the Alex who was stumbling through life last year. In some ways for the better, in other ways, not so much.<br />
<br />
But His Grace is sufficient. It's the only thing I can hold onto right now. It's the only hope I ever have, when things are going well, and when things are horrible. When I feel strong and when I feel weak, when I feel able, and when I feel disabled, when I feel hopeful and when I feel helpless. When I feel needed and when I feel worthless. The one truth that resonates and provides for me the hope that gets me through is that His Grace is sufficient.<br />
<br />
God's Grace is sufficient.<br />
<br />
God's Grace<br />
<br />
is Sufficient.<br />
<br />
Sufficient.<br />
<br />
Not too much, and not too little. Just what I need.<br />
<br />
Goldilocks sleeping in Baby Bear's bed does not know the comfort of God's "Just Right" Grace. God'sChild09http://www.blogger.com/profile/16076738889330165758noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4303175370666878769.post-48532281443110647212012-02-22T21:31:00.003-08:002012-02-22T22:13:31.339-08:00It StartsTonight was my first time back at Refuge back with Matt Setliffe teaching us. Both this message and last week's resonated in my soul. It's so hard right now to write a linear story... I so want to share what was spoken into my heart this evening. But I want to make sure I tell the story God has so graciously written for me, in a way that is clear and in order. That being said, it still seems fitting that I finally get around to sharing this part of my testimony tonight.<br /><br />December 7th. A Wednesday night. I remember because it was my last normal evening out.<br /><br />My resounding, simple message from God - "listen daily" - in heart and hand, I went into Bell Shoals for their Wednesday night service. I had a strange little rash on my elbow from the park, and assuming it was just from a plant, I shrugged it off and came anyway. It was very uncomfortable but I truly thought nothing of it. After service, my best friend and I spent some time talking in my car. We are both feeling called to the same mission field, Italy, and because of this, we've shared many similar experiences of spiritual growth. We were discussing these, and I was sharing with her the things God had revealed to me at the park the day before.<br /><br />I went into Refuge, socialized as I always do. Went to all the people I always hug hello. Finally found the friends I always sit with and excitedly reserved the entire second row for us all. The message that night is not one I'm soon to forget. It was from a series titled "Out of Context," where we explored a few key verses that are used PAINFULLY out of context, and then learn the amazing, bigger, more wonderful beauty of them all IN context. That week's message was about Jeremiah 29:11. I could never properly summarize it (especially at nearly 1 a.m.) so I HIGHLY recommend you simply listen to it <a href="http://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/refuge-college-age-ministries/id312266685">here</a>. (<a href="http://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/refuge-college-age-ministries/id312266685">Out of Context, Part 4</a>)<br /><br />The message was not what I expected. This verse, though often used in business and graduate encouragement, is actually about a promise during a period of great discipline. At one point in the message, Matt said, "it's very possible... that God is disciplining some of you tonight, that you're in a season of discipline. I may not know that you're in a season of discipline. YOU know if you're in a season of discipline."<br /><br />I remember this part clearly, because I sat there and nodded in agreement. <span style="font-style: italic;">Yes, </span>I thought, <span style="font-style: italic;">I've been in those seasons. I just got out of one now! Thank you, God, for bringing me out of it! </span><br /><br />I started to feel a strange burning pain on my legs towards the end of this message. I later went home and discovered the rash.<br /><br />It wasn't until nearly a month later that I connected these two events in my mind. At the moment that Matt was teaching about discipline, I was entering into a season of it myself. As I was thanking God for bringing me out of one season, I was unknowingly entering another one... or maybe it's all the same one and God just REALLY isn't finished with me yet.<br /><br />Whatever the case may be, my uninformed prayer of praise is testimony to the sovereignty of God. I mean, think about it. I was looking back, thanking Him, not realizing the massive journey He was about to bring me through! O, how funny that we try to plan ahead. We don't know what the next moment holds, let alone the next day, week, month or year! Why do we place such emphasis on our plans? Only God's Will prevails!<br /><br />That night, I never would have guessed the path I was about to walk. Even tonight, I have no idea what the next chapter holds. I may be completely healed in the morning. I may get sicker. I may have to simply deal with being in the same health as I am right now. I don't know what the doctors are going to say in the coming weeks. I don't know a whole lot of anything. But what a comfort it is to know I can hold onto the One who knows it all! He's in our tomorrows before we get there, and He already knows how they'll turn out. Regardless, I know He's there with me, and for that I owe my undying gratitude and praise!God'sChild09http://www.blogger.com/profile/16076738889330165758noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4303175370666878769.post-52918365076496259862012-01-26T04:43:00.000-08:002012-01-26T05:22:38.046-08:00Starting Before the BeginningSo, here's a shocker... I didn't journal through this journey... I mean I think that's why they call it a journal... JOURNal... JOURNey... get it? I'm supposed to document my journey! But truth be told I simply lacked the energy and mental clarity to write anything that made sense. I tried a few times, but I just didn't have it in me. So I'm praying to God for grace to give me the memories I need to be sharing with you all. So it may not be the whole story, but it's the story that God wants me to share.<br /><br />I'm going to try to go in order of how this all has progressed, just so I can keep track of everything. I want to make sense to everyone. As you know, God is a God of order. We see that in creation. Everything may be complicated, but it all makes sense and has order.<br /><br />So I'd love to say I'll start at the beginning, but truth be told, I'm going to start BEFORE the beginning, because that's where the story really starts.<br /><br />At the beginning of December, I started to feel like my life was truly out of control. I had no job, no self-esteem, no desire to put myself in a position to lose another job due to lack of skill or focus or concentration or whatever number of reasons I was left unemployed. I wanted to badly to be one of those people who stays in the same place for 10-15 years, not because I wanted to stay in one place, but because I wanted someone to want me in the same place for that long. Weird, I know, but there you have it, that's how my brain works :).<br /><br />I was also growing increasingly depressed. I was wasting my days watching DVD movies (no, you don't need cable to waste time...). I didn't have internet at home, and I didn't feel like making the "drive" to the McDonald's that is literally less than a quarter of a mile away from me, to get online there. I didn't want to waste my time applying to jobs that I already knew from experience weren't going to hire me. I was stuck, in a huge rut of despair.<br /><br />So I decided to make a change. But before making this change, I wanted to take some long, uninterrupted time with my Lord. So I went to the park. I hadn't planned on sharing what He told me, but it's so fitting, I can't imagine telling my story without it!<br /><br />Let me back up just a bit first. Before I went to the park, I had started reading <span style="font-style: italic;">The Knowledge of the Holy </span>by A.W. Tozer. I was almost done with it, but I still had about 5 chapters left. The night before I'd planned my mini retreat, God kept me awake. Now what you may not know about me is that I can't read at night. I read about 3 pages or so and I'm so groggy I can't see the words anymore. So the fact that late at night, God kept me awake long enough to read those 5 chapters is proof of His providence.<br /><br />When I first came to the park, I was astounded by the silence. It was what drew me to it. It was why I chose the park I did for my quiet reflection with God. It seemed perfect for drowning out the noise of my life. So I went to a little spot and sat down. But I found I couldn't focus because I couldn't get a comfortable spot. so I moved somewhere else. slowly I became distracted by noises I hadn't heard before, noises nature makes that I don't get to hear because I'm too busy with man-made distractions. God had me sit down and listen to the difference being set apart from the noise was making. I was still hearing noise. It was one of those "if a tree falls in the forest and no one's there to hear" situations... the palm trees always make noise when wind hits them, but do we always hear it? No...<br /><br />In the same way, God is always speaking to us. He's always speaking His love, guidance, rebuke, discipline, peace, joy, revelation, to us. But are we always listening? No. But if we stop and listen, we'll start to hear that still, small Voice of our great, powerful God.<br /><br />I distinctly remember feeling as though He was speaking into my heart, "you need to listen to Me." So I responded, "Well, I'm listening now." To which He responded, "Listen daily."<br /><br />Little did I know He was about to take me on a journey that would make His voice and His character loud and clear. Daily. Hourly. In every horrifying, painful moment.<br /><br />God prepares His people. And the beauty is we really don't know why until we look back and say the only thing we are fit to say: "Wow, praise be to God."God'sChild09http://www.blogger.com/profile/16076738889330165758noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4303175370666878769.post-8832406524962046662012-01-21T20:08:00.000-08:002012-01-21T20:35:08.714-08:00Gross!!!! And Yet So Beautiful!!!So it's been a little over two months. I shared with you all previously how I didn't know what was next... well let's just say I NEVER GUESSED it would be this! December 6, 2011, I went to the park, December 7, I woke up with a small rash on my elbow... thought absolutely nothing of it, threw a little cortisone cream and moved on with my day. That night while at church, I started to feel a strange burning feeling on my ankles, then up my legs. But I was at Refuge... so needless to say between that and the subsequent Applebee's visit, I wasn't so focused on the strange pain.<br /><br />I got home to find my legs completely covered in blisters. The next morning, when my father saw them he made himself very clear that I needed to go to the doctor. I made an appointment and went in as soon as possible. My doctor said it was an auto-immune response to some (and by some I mean a truckload of the stuff) penicillin I'd taken about 10 days previously for a throat infection. She gave me a Prednisone dose pack and sent me on my way.<br /><br />Four days later, my mom saw it. By then it had begun to grow, spread, and get darker. She cried when she saw it. My mom's not the crying type. Believe me it takes a lot for her to cry. It was quite overwhelming.<br /><br />She told me I needed to go back immediately to the doctor and show her that it had not improved. Upon seeing how much worse the rash got, she sent me immediately to a dermatologist. They were able to see me right then, and they diagnosed me with Boullis Leukocytoclastic vasculitis (I forgot to mention the massive blisters that were accumulating on my ankles...hence the "Boullis"). They did a biopsy to confirm.<br /><br />I was put on a much higher and much longer dose plan of Prednisone, and given two separate ointments to use on the blisters. Each night was horrible pain and discomfort. I was not allowed to take certain pain killers because they believed I was reacting to medication, and they were therefore hesitant to give me anything that could have any real side effects. So that meant nothing more than ibuprofen...lots and lots of ibuprofen. I kept my use of it to a minimum.<br /><br />From my understanding of Boullis Leukocytoclastic Vasculitis, the leukocytes (a white blood cell) form in the blood vessel walls, causing them to erupt. I could feel each one breaking on my feet. It took ice packs and elevation to keep them from blistering further on my feet.<br /><br />I spent two weeks in a wheelchair. That was by far the most difficult for me, to know I had to bother someone in my family for every need to took me away from my bed.<br /><br />The blisters continued to grow until about a third of them burst. I'm currently going through daily wound care waiting for them to heal. Under the broken blisters were ulcerated skin...meaning pretty much that I had no skin under them, just raw tissue and exposed and damaged nerve endings.<br /><br />I also spent 3 days in the hospital, where I received three doses of IV steroids.<br /><br />I'm still trying to figure out which was worse...the rash or the accompanying stomach pain. Those nights were by far the most frightening. I was unable to take thoughts and form them into words. I would try to ask for a cracker and couldn't get my mouth to say cracker. That was definitely the most terrifying part, not being able to get my brain to do what it needed to do. The pain was so severe that the next morning, if I had even the slightest hint that it was returning I would break down crying.<br /><br />Just when I thought the worst was over, the blisters started to break on my ankles. As I said before, I'm still going through wound care daily with my incredible mom and dad. I honestly don't know how they've gotten this far with it, it is emotionally trying, to be doing something to your daughter every day that you know is causing her pain that brings her to tears.<br /><br />Today I'm still trying to get my energy back and walk in spite of the painful open wounds.<br /><br />I share all of this with you not to make you feel bad for me, but to let you know how much God has been showing me. I hope to in the next few days gather all my thoughts on the amazing things God had made so clear to me through this trial. Then of course I'll have to ask God which ones He wants me to share and which were for me alone in the moment, but hopefully He'll want me to share it all, because the journey has been incredible! So for the next few posts, keep in mind this condition I was in, because even I don't want to have to go through all the icky details again!God'sChild09http://www.blogger.com/profile/16076738889330165758noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4303175370666878769.post-12294377980243326712011-11-13T18:42:00.000-08:002011-11-13T19:16:03.453-08:00Not Sure what's NextIf there's one thing I hate most about being human, it's not knowing what's next. I can deal with our mortality... especially since my soul will never die... I am fine with being limited, being finite, being small and insignificant to all but our all-knowing God. But what I simply cannot stand is not knowing what's next.<br /><br />That's how I'm feeling right now. I'm at a complete stand-still in my life. I wish I knew exactly what was next. I wish I could know with all certainty that my business would take off miraculously, that someone would call me and offer me the employment opportunity of a lifetime. That somehow I could begin, soon, so live on my own. I wish I could know that I could soon stop being so dependent on my parents. I wish I could know that all my medical test results will come back negative. I wish I could know that I would be able to pay for my medical tests. I wish I could know what's causing all my aches, pains, and fatigue. I wish I wish I wish.<br /><br />But one thing I do know. One thing that is the only sure thing. The ONLY sure thing. I don't even know that as I leave starbucks tonight I won't get hit by a car... I have no certainties in this life. None of us do. What can I be sure of? God will be with me.<br /><br />God is the only unchanging one. El Olam, The Everlasting God. The same yesterday, today, and forever. THAT I can know for sure. Because He was with me from the beginning of my life, I know He will not leave me at the end of it, or in the middle of it, or around the corner from the next big thing, good or bad, that I have yet to face.<br /><br />So while the rest of my life is in complete, utter turmoil, I can still hang onto my Rock, my Redeemer, my Jesus.<br /><br />Thank You, Jesus, for never leaving or forsaking me! (Hebrews 13:5, Joshua 1:5, Deuteronomy 31:6)God'sChild09http://www.blogger.com/profile/16076738889330165758noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4303175370666878769.post-30869629798889239492011-09-21T09:37:00.000-07:002011-09-26T19:14:06.084-07:00Our God is a God of Order!!!It is with great joy and excitement that I share this with you all. I confess to you, my sisters (and brothers), that I used to be a very messy person. I happily say "used to be!" I used to leave things around everywhere. If I fixed a meal for myself, and my dad would walk in... he could practically follow the steps of everything I did... and he'd proclaim "Allie was here!" And I'd feel like a failure all over again. Just once I wanted to remember to pick up after my cooking or eating, reading or crafts...<br /><br />Worst of all was my room. By nature and upbringing, I'm not a messy person. But I'd fallen into a depression that manifested itself, among other ways, in a rather neglected room. While I enjoyed cleaning and organizing, something inside of me kept me from doing it for myself. Perhaps I felt I didn't deserve the calm of a neat and tidy living space... maybe I was holding on to teenage irresponsibility? I sincerely do not know what reason or reasons I had for going day to day the way that I did.<br /><br />I was sore and ached, depressed, feeling pathetic... and my knees were in almost unbearable pain... I only share this part because of the first of two events that led to a complete turnaround in this area of my life.<br /><br />I was in a Bible Study, and I asked God why my knees were in such horrible pain. What had I done? I hadn't injured them, that I knew of... there was no real explanation. As I asked and pleaded, I was<span style="font-style: italic;"> for some reason</span> in the book of Hebrews and found my way to Hebrews 12:12-13... (Now I'm a BIG proponent of using scripture in context...so feel free to read the whole passage! I know there's a much greater message in this passage, but at the moment this is what jumped out to me.) "Therefore lift your drooping hands and strengthen your weak knees, and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be put out of joint but rather be healed."<br /><br />I read that verse, and it was as if God were telling me, "here's why your knees are weak...and here's what to do to keep it from getting worse. If you don't do this, you will wish you only had weak knees."<br /><br />I was later to read the rest and learn even more about how to strengthen my walk with my Lord, but for now this was what I needed to do. Still I didn't have a desire to clean. It was not until I visited with two friends of mine who own their own homes, and keep them lovely, tidy and neat, that I decided it was time to grow up and take control of my living space.<br /><br />But it wasn't just a clean room that I wanted... I wanted the desire and ability to create habits that would last for the rest of my life. I didn't want a temporary fix... I wanted a life change. So I prayed that God would instil in me habits that would lend themselves to continual organization and cleanliness.<br /><br />With these changes have come a realization I never expected!!!<br /><br />Galatians 5:22-23<br />But the fruit of the Spirit is:<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Love</span>- Having a clean room has given me the ability to think clearly and love honestly without over-extending myself.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Joy</span>- Having a clean room has literally provided the possibility for true joy! I can walk into my room and smile in my heart.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Peace</span>-Having a clean room has created a space for peace. Having this time in my room to rest and relax and instill peace allows me to be more at peace in other areas of my life.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Patience</span>-it takes patience to make my bed EVERY morning... The old me used to say "I have no company coming to see me... and I'm going to unmake it tonight anyway... why bother?" But by patiently setting aside a little more time each moment to put things back where I found them, is teaching me patience in the bigger things in life as well!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Kindness</span>- the peace and joy and patience that maintaining a clean living space has given me is also adding up to general kindness to my family, friends, and complete strangers. It is true...the fruits of the spirit go hand in hand in hand...<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Goodness</span>-Having a clean room actually keeps me from thinking too much about myself, and allows me to think more of others and to be able to help others more freely.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Faithfulness</span>-Getting the big ball of failures of the messy room out of the way, is allowing me to create routines and faithfully be in the Word daily. It also allows me more time to be fully focused on what He wants to show me in His Scriptures!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Gentleness </span>- I've noticed the way I even handle the possessions I have now has a feel of gentleness, and it is also (hopefully) showing itself in my character and treatment of others. I have a stronger sense of when I'm not acting as a child of God should, and it is much harder to let any temper get out of hand without my feeling an overwhelming conviction on the matter.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Self-control</span>-The desire to keep my room clean has led me to have self control in what I use in my room, when I use it, and what I do with it afterward... I used to try on multiple pieces of clothing and, just like in the movies, throw them on the bed or over my head onto the floor... then in the rush of getting to where I needed to be, I'd leave them all there with the self-promise to take care of it later... now I put thought into each thing I take out of my closet, and I have to exercise the self control to put it back where it all belongs once I'm done.<br /><br />against such things there is no law.<br /><br />I'm really not sure yet what God wants me to do with this new-found wisdom and growth, but I know He doesn't plan to waste it. I praise Him for allowing me to become a woman who seeks to serve Him by learning to serve others and maintain a living space that reflects His character!!God'sChild09http://www.blogger.com/profile/16076738889330165758noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4303175370666878769.post-45381995157811049382011-08-27T13:42:00.000-07:002011-08-27T13:53:26.016-07:00Jesus is my Night LightHey everyone!!
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<br />Yeah yeah yeah, I know, it's been a super, crazy, long time since I've been on here. Truth be told, for once it's because <span style="font-weight: bold;">so much good</span> has been happening, I'm having a hard time keeping up with it all! I will do my very best to get a post out about that soon.
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<br />But for today, I have an entirely different little treat. I am cleaning out my closet (again)... going through all my stuff (again) and deciding (again) what I (still) need or really want to keep...
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<br />As daunting as this task is (we're talking about me keeping all of the things I have held onto through the years, the things mom has given me to keep, and the things I actually use at least on a weekly basis)... I actually enjoy tackling the monster that is my closet. For me it's a trip down memory lane. You'll see on my facebook profile, a few pictures of things I came across last time. Well, this time I went a little deeper into the things I chose to keep, and came across some more gems.
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<br />Like the writing assignment I had in the 2nd grade, about my hero. "My hero is Jesus. He perfomed many miracls. He bied, yes He actualy died just for us and when He rose from the dead he actually Left the Holy Spirit just for us. He stood upon the Mountans, to speek and teach the peolpe to pray. Jesus is very special to me. What about you." (Yes, those misspellings are from the original... far too adorable to correct.)
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<br />How wonderful it was that I knew even then the simplicity of the gospel... and it's still just that simple!
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<br />I also came across this poem I'd written. I strangely remember quite vividly the day I wrote it, though I don't remember when it was.
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<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Jesus is my Night Light</span>
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<br />Jesus is my night light
<br />Through the dark He shines
<br />Jesus is my teacher
<br />Teaching me to make straight lines
<br />Jesus is my buddy
<br />Showing me the rocks He finds
<br />Jesus is my night light
<br />Through the dark He shines
<br />
<br />Jesus is my night light
<br />Helping me through scary nights
<br />Jesus is my guardian
<br />protecting me from big school fights
<br />Jesus is my sheild
<br />Scaring off my biggest frights
<br />Jesus is my night light
<br />Helping me through scary nights
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<br />Jesus is my night light
<br />So the darkness never wins
<br />Jesus is my treehouse
<br />Protecting me from worldly winds
<br />Jesus is my savior
<br />Came to save me from my sins
<br />Jesus is my night light
<br />So the darkness never wins
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<br />God'sChild09http://www.blogger.com/profile/16076738889330165758noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4303175370666878769.post-33604918080559221862011-06-09T23:11:00.000-07:002011-06-20T22:57:16.521-07:00Lessons from Titanic<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:view>Normal</w:View> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:trackmoves/> <w:trackformatting/> <w:punctuationkerning/> <w:validateagainstschemas/> <w:saveifxmlinvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:ignoremixedcontent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:alwaysshowplaceholdertext>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:donotpromoteqf/> <w:lidthemeother>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther> <w:lidthemeasian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian> <w:lidthemecomplexscript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript> <w:compatibility> <w:breakwrappedtables/> <w:snaptogridincell/> <w:wraptextwithpunct/> <w:useasianbreakrules/> <w:dontgrowautofit/> <w:splitpgbreakandparamark/> <w:dontvertaligncellwithsp/> <w:dontbreakconstrainedforcedtables/> <w:dontvertalignintxbx/> 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mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt; mso-para-margin-left:0in; line-height:115%; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} </style> <![endif]--> <p class="MsoNormal">Anyone who knows me knows that I <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal">love</b> old movies. The Turner Classic Movie channel (TCM) is my favorite channel on cable. This comes in handy at the library. I am far more likely to track down an old black & white film in the shelves than anything else. And if there is one thing the library has plenty of, it’s old black & white films! The other day I decided to search out some more Cary Grant films. In my searching the shelves I came across “A Night to Remember” the 1958 film about the tragedy of the Titanic. I’d only seen bits and pieces through the years, and I decided I should watch it in its entirety.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">The film was beautifully made.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Void of the “Jack and Rose” fictional love story, this film truly captured the sentiments surrounding the incident. The film was successful in explaining a lot that I never knew. For example, according to the film, there was a ship that was incredibly close to the RMS Titanic. The doomed steamer tried multiple times to make contact, and the ignorant crew didn’t even respond to the cries for help. They observed the emergency flares, wondering why such a large liner would be firing them, instead of coming to their aid. </p> <p class="MsoNormal">But what stunned me the most was the way the passengers treated the situation. To be sure, at the beginning the crew decided to be calm about the situation, so as not to cause a panic. They simply started telling people to put on their life jackets and head to the outside, “just as a precaution.” Most of the first class passengers didn’t want to, and the film did a great job listing their various reasons. Some simply didn’t want to because they found it uncomfortable. It was too chilly outside. It was an inconvenience that they didn’t feel they should be obligated to accept. </p> <p class="MsoNormal">Then, as the situation became a little more obvious, the women and children had begun to be allowed onto the lifeboats. A few excuses for not going on board were revealed. One that comes to mind was the woman who was afraid because she had never gotten into a lifeboat before, and she was certain she would miss her step coming aboard. She saw how far down the water was, with the other lifeboats that were already safely in the water. She screamed out of fear, but she made it safely. As the transitions between the class passengers and the “steerage” passengers began, I heard one woman say, “I will not sit with them, they’re steerage!” Some boats were lowered with too few people. There a few examples shown where people insisted there was no room, when there was clearly plenty.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Anyone who has seen either Titanic film will remember “the Unsinkable Molly Brown.” In both films, we see her as an assertive, women’s liberation sort of woman. Not traditional in any sense, all of her actions ignoring status and seeking to be as helpful as possible. In one instance, she insists on allowing more people into the boat, saying everyone can make some more room to get someone else into the boat. After the ships sinks, she suggests their boat go back to help those left in the water.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>She even convinces the women to row as well, so they can stay warmer by moving their bodies.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Perhaps the strangest account, and whether it is true or not, was a woman who had to run back to her room and get her “lucky pig” a porcelain painted pig… rather large for a good luck charm.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">As I watched I found myself screaming at the television as if I were watching a football game (and actually caring about the outcome). “PEOPLE! THE SHIP IS SINKING! GET OVER YOURSELVES!!!”</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Sure it seems pretty obvious. We’d all like to believe we’d be a little more like Molly Brown. But in reality, I’m pretty embarrassed to say I see myself a whole lot more in the other passengers. I’ve been guilty of making all these same excuses, and more, to avoid stepping out and telling others about the abounding love of Christ. </p> <p class="MsoNormal">“<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">That</i> person wouldn’t listen to me.”</p> <p class="MsoNormal">“It’s <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">inconvenient</i>, I’ll be <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">late</i> for <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">Bible Study</i>!”</p> <p class="MsoNormal">“This is too scary, what if I fall flat on my face?”</p> <p class="MsoNormal">I have been completely guilty of taking God’s gift of grace for granted and keeping it all to myself, keeping the lamplight under my hand as they say.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:view>Normal</w:View> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:trackmoves/> <w:trackformatting/> <w:punctuationkerning/> <w:validateagainstschemas/> <w:saveifxmlinvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:ignoremixedcontent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> 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name="Bibliography"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="39" qformat="true" name="TOC Heading"> </w:LatentStyles> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin-top:0in; mso-para-margin-right:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt; mso-para-margin-left:0in; line-height:115%; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} </style> <![endif]--> </p><p class="MsoNormal">One question that stuck out in my mind was, “how could the selfish first class passengers survive, and the poor third class “steerage” passengers not make it? How is that fair?” But then I realized, those passengers would have to live the rest of their lives knowing that for whatever reason they survived while others didn’t, simply because of status, nothing at all to do with who deserved to live and who didn’t. The same is true for us. We did nothing to deserve this grace we've been given. But hell is a reality. It’s not a theory, it is truth. There’s no going back, no changing your mind, no doing it over again differently. Do we really believe that about the eternal destinies of those around us?</p> <p class="MsoNormal">The overwhelming truth is that the ship <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">IS </i>sinking. It’s sinking fast. Faster than any of us realize. Every day, people are dying without knowing who Christ even is, let alone how much they need Him. </p> <p class="MsoNormal">Let us not be the born-again “first class” passengers<br /></p>God'sChild09http://www.blogger.com/profile/16076738889330165758noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4303175370666878769.post-9537802216328698492011-03-04T07:24:00.000-08:002011-03-04T07:49:20.127-08:00YOUR Relationship with GodEvery night, for as long as I can remember, my grandmother has said to me, "Goodnight, Alex. God bless you." When I was younger, I used to get very confused... "But, grandma... I didn't sneeze!" I didn't quite get it.<br /><br />Then, when I got older, I began to learn what it meant to say to someone, "God bless you." I learned it's not just something to say when someone sneezes... Now, although I'm 23, sometimes when she says "Goodnight, Alex. God bless you," I say, "Ah-choo!!!"<br /><br />To some, that may seem disrespectful, but in my relationship with my grandmother, it's a sweet reminder of my childhood.<br /><br />Your relationship with your grandparents may be completely different from mine, I know your relationships with your friends aren't all exactly the same... we were wired by God to love in different ways! (Read the Five Love Languages sometime...)<br /><br />Just as a recap, the five love languages are: words of affirmation, quality time, gifts, physical touch (shout out to all my huggers!) and acts of service.<br /><br />I was smiling last night, thinking about how rude it would sound to someone else for me to say "ah-choo" to my grandmother when she is genuinely speaking God's blessing over me, and it made me think about what it means to have a personal relationship with God.<br /><br />Deep, meaningful relationships take time. They are always different in some way. They are unique. Some may seem deeper than others... some spend time with God outdoors in His creation, some prefer the quiet of their bedroom, some go to a coffeehouse... some write their praises, some sing them, some paint them...<br /><br />Don't envy the relationship someone else has with God. He has the capacity to love us each individually and uniquely. Wait in anticipation of deepening your relationship with Him, not simply striving to love Him like your friend or teacher does... Relationship takes time, and God has all the time you both need to build a relationship fit for eternity!God'sChild09http://www.blogger.com/profile/16076738889330165758noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4303175370666878769.post-65381983365175820252010-11-27T07:47:00.000-08:002010-11-27T08:23:50.518-08:00ThanksGIVINGHello friends, I know it has been a long long LONG time since I posted. I've had a few thoughts to share, but every time I was about to write it down, something always took my attention away from it... what a coincidence, eh? NOT...<br /><br />But, while I do have a few ideas still cooking in my head for some posts (stay tuned for a series on my take on the "love languages" of God), For right now I want to alert you all to a need I became aware of this Thanksgiving.<br /><br />My mom found a single mom who is in an extremely tough spot right now. She just got back to the states with her two daughters, ages 9 and 15. The three of them came to spend thanksgiving with us. She just used her very first check to get them a place to live. Now they have a place, but nothing to put into it. no dressers, nightstands, lamps, you name it. Perhaps it would be easier to tell you what they DO have...<br /><br />three mattresses (no box springs, no bed frames, JUST the mattresses)<br />a green plastic lawn table for a "dining room table"<br />a few metal folding chairs to sit on<br />and she JUST got a little money for some pots...but not a whole lot of food for those pots to cook.<br /><br />So, here's my request and challenge to you. Below, I have the specific list of things they brainstormed thanksgiving night, though I'm sure they need more than this. Please look into your hearts, your belongings, anything you can think of, and ask God to guide you in your decision on what, or even whether or not, to donate.<br /><br />(3) Boxsprings, (2 twin size, 1 full size)<br />(3) Bedframes (2 twin, 1 full)<br />(1) Living room set (e.g. sofa, end tables, maybe cocktail tables? bookshelves...look at your living room, what do you have in it?)<br />(1) Dining table<br />(2) Dressers<br />(2) Chests of Drawers<br />(2) Lamps<br />(2) Nightstands<br />(1) Microwave<br />(1) Toaster<br />(1) Mixer<br />(1) Blender<br /><br />If you can give any of these (or maybe publix gift cards for groceries, or cash donations - my mom is quite craigslist savvy and can find most if not all of this stuff very easily), please comment here or e-mail me at Godprovides2008@yahoo.com.<br /><br />If any of our Restorers of Streets are reading this, please consider this as a great way to cap off our month's focus on single mothers! She's our sister in Christ, and she just needs a little help in this area. And I cannot give too much info about the job she has, but suffice it to say she would be a great connection to have if we truly want to help the needy in our community! My mom knows her personally, and we have seen the situation they're in, it's absolutely real.<br /><br />They really are a great family, the girls are very sweet and sharp, with quick quick wit! Believe me, this is a hard working family who deserves our help!<br /><br />P.S. My step-dad has a pick-up truck, so if you have any of the furniture, he has already told me he would be more than happy to come pick it up in his truck, so you don't even have to worry about bringing it to me! See how easy? Please, guys, lets make this holiday season special for this family!<br /><br />For those who don't know what I meant by Restorers of Streets, read Isaiah 58, then pray about how you can contribute. Thanks everyone, I know we can all come through for these three amazing women!God'sChild09http://www.blogger.com/profile/16076738889330165758noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4303175370666878769.post-54410512915155002132010-09-25T08:53:00.000-07:002010-09-25T12:35:50.246-07:00The Sun Came Up TodayI was working yesterday all alone for the first time, minus the two cats who decided they didn't like me so much... And I got to thinking...random thoughts... about church and work and family and friends and music and food... haha.<br /><br />Then I started thinking, for whatever reason, about how I wanted to go help set up with the worship night we had last night with Refuge. I thought about how much time and effort it takes to put an event like that together. All the pre-planning, finding the time and date, getting materials, organizing the program, setting up, going through the event, and tearing down safely and efficiently. I thought about all the things that go into making church happen on Sunday morning. And my brain went reeling.<br /><br />Then God jumped into the conversation. "Do you know how much it takes for the sun to come up in the morning?"<br /><br />I thought about what it would take us to do that. We'd need trillions upon trillions of dollars for a track to hold our orbit in place, scientists to monitor the rate of motion, repair astronauts for keeping the track greased, agreement between all nations as to what time the sun should peak their horizon. Then all of a sudden everything would come to a standstill because the Earth's office CEO is placing bets against the Sun's office CEO...and an affair with his secretary... then we'd all try to catch all the news on TV, but that wouldn't happen because earth has stopped moving during deliberation, and one side of the earth burns and the other freezes...<br /><br />Yes, my brain was running a mile a minute...<br /><br />Then I realized just how much it takes for God to do it... He simply looks at the sun and says "ok Sun, go do your thing," and it happens. See how easy that was?<br /><p><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic; color: rgb(153, 0, 0);">Psalm 8:3,4 "When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, </span><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic; color: rgb(153, 0, 0);">which you have set in place, what is man that you are mindful of him, the son of man that you care for him?"<br /></span></p><p>How incredible! He's got the time to keep everything spinning in perfect motion, and is thinking of us the whole time!<br /></p><p><span style="font-style: italic;">God, You are all we need, You are all we truly have. Forgive us when we doubt Your ability to help in our time of need. Rescue us from anxiety. Help us to remember, You've got it covered! We thank You, Father, for being our everything!</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic; color: rgb(153, 0, 0);"></span></p>God'sChild09http://www.blogger.com/profile/16076738889330165758noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4303175370666878769.post-38071642259576600052010-09-21T14:35:00.000-07:002011-09-26T20:42:53.510-07:00Caro Gesu' Ti Scrivo<style>body{overflow:auto;width:100%;height:100%;margin:0px;padding:0px;}#cg_msg_content{margin:0px 10px 10px 10px;}#inline_attachments{margin:0px 10px 10px 10px;}.headerSubjectLine,.headerSender,.headerRss{display:inline-block;margin-right:2px;}.headerSubjectLine{margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:2px;line-height:20px;}.headerSender{cursor:pointer;float:left;}.messageHeaderDiv{position:relative;top:0px;left:0px;cursor:text;margin:0px 0px 0px 0px;padding:10px 10px 0px 10px;}.msgHeaderContainer td{vertical-align:top;}.headerSubjectLine span.cgSelectable-over{text-decoration:underline;}.headerSender span.cgSelectable{vertical-align:top;}.headerSender span.cgSelectable-over{text-decoration:underline;}.msgHeaderLink{cursor:pointer;margin-left: 10px;margin-right: 20px;-moz-user-select:none;}.headerControl{cursor:pointer;}.headerRecipientLabel,.headerCCLabel{float:right;margin-left:15px;padding-right:5px;}.messageHeaderDivider{color:transparent;background-color:transparent;height:1px;clear:both;margin:10px 0px 10px 0px;border-bottom-style:none !important;border-left-style:none !important;border-right-style:none !important;}.certMailBanner{background-color: #D7EFFD;border-bottom:1px solid #6B98B2;}.certMailBannerIcon {width:25px; 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font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;}.fontLink{color: rgb(0, 129, 194);}.textLink {cursor: pointer}</style><div style="min-height: 209px; height: auto;" id="cg_msg_content"><div id="SAWARN_BANNER1d67hg0"></div>This was one of my favorite songs last time I was in Italy (11 years ago...I was 12) Just tracked it down and decided to share it with everyone!!<br /><div id="SAWARN_BANNER1d67hg0"></div><div class="gmail_quote"><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin: 0pt 0pt 0pt 0.8ex; border-left: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); padding-left: 1ex;"><div><div style=" ;font-family:bookman old style,new york,times,serif;font-size:12pt;"><div style=" ;font-family:bookman old style,new york,times,serif;font-size:12pt;"><div style=" ;font-family:times new roman,new york,times,serif;font-size:12pt;"><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;"><br /><br />Caro Gesù ti Scrivo</span><br /><div style=" ;font-family:bookman old style,new york,times,serif;font-size:12pt;"> <div style=" ;font-family:bookman old style,new york,times,serif;font-size:12pt;"><div style=" ;font-family:times new roman,new york,times,serif;font-size:12pt;"><div style=" color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:bookman old style,new york,times,serif;font-size:12pt;"><br />(“Zecchino d’oro” 1997 - musica e testo: M. Piccoli)<br /><br />Caro Gesù ti scrivo per chi non ti scrive mai,<br /><span style="color: rgb(64, 160, 255);">Dear Jesus, I write to you for those who don't </span><br />per chi ha il cuore sordo bruciato dalla vanità,<br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 128, 255);"><span style="color: rgb(64, 64, 255);"></span></span><span style="color: rgb(64, 64, 255);"><span style="color: rgb(64, 160, 255);"><span style="color: rgb(128, 128, 255);"><span style="color: rgb(64, 160, 255);">For those whose hearts are burned and deaf from vanity</span></span></span></span><br />per chi ti tradisce per quei sogni che non portano a niente,<br /><span style="color: rgb(64, 160, 255);">For those who betray You for dreams and lead nowhere</span><br />per chi non capisce questa gioia di sentirti sempre amico e vicino.<br /><span style="color: rgb(64, 160, 255);">Because they don't understand the joy of having You forever with them as their Friend</span><br /><br />Caro Gesù ti scrivo per chi una casa non ce l'ha,<br /><span style="color: rgb(64, 160, 255);">Dear Jesus I write to You for those who have no home<br /></span>per chi ha lasciato l'Africa lontana e cerca un po' di solidarietà,<br /><span style="color: rgb(64, 160, 255);">For those in Africa, near and far, for some solidarity (not sure about this one, going to double check with dad what this line actually is trying to say)</span><br />per chi non sa riempire questa vita con l'amore e i fiori del perdono,<br /><span style="color: rgb(64, 160, 255);">for those who don't fill this life with love and the beauty of forgiveness</span><br />per chi crede che sia finita, per chi ha paura del mondo che c'è<br /><span style="color: rgb(64, 160, 255);">For those who think it's all over, and are afraid of the world that is.</span><br />e più non crede nell'uomo.<br /><span style="color: rgb(64, 160, 255);">And no longer believe in humanity</span><br /><br />Gesù ti prego ancora:<br /><span style="color: rgb(64, 160, 255);">Jesus I beg you again:</span><br />vieni a illuminare i nostri cuori soli,<br /><span style="color: rgb(64, 160, 255);">Come and bring light to our <span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1285104190_1">lonely hearts</span></span><br />a dare un senso a questi giorni duri,<br /><span style="color: rgb(64, 160, 255);">to make sense of these hard days</span><br />a camminare insieme a noi.<br /><span style="color: rgb(64, 160, 255);">and walk with us</span><br />Vieni a colorare il cielo di ogni giorno,<br /><span style="color: rgb(64, 160, 255);">Come and color our sky each day</span><br />a fare il vento più felice intorno,<br /><span style="color: rgb(64, 160, 255);">bring joy in the wind (loose translation)</span><br />ad aiutare chi non ce la fa...<br /><span style="color: rgb(64, 160, 255);">And help those who don't have the faith.<br /><br /></span>Caro Gesù ti scrivo perché non ne posso più<br /><span style="color: rgb(64, 160, 255);">Dear Jesus I write beause I can't take anymore</span><br />di quelli che sanno tutto e in questo tutto non ci sei tu,<br /><span style="color: rgb(64, 160, 255);">Of those who know everything and yet don't know You.</span><br />perché voglio che ci sia più amore per quei fratelli che non hanno niente,<br /><span style="color: rgb(64, 160, 255);">Because I want there to be more love for our brothers who have nothing</span><br />e che la pace, come il grano al sole, cresca e poi diventi pane d'oro<br /><span style="color: rgb(64, 160, 255);">And that peace, like grain in the sun, would grow to be made into golden bread</span><br />di tutta la gente.<br /><span style="color: rgb(64, 160, 255);">for all people.<br /><br /></span>Gesù ti prego ancora:<br /><span style="color: rgb(64, 160, 255);">Jesus I beg you again:</span><br />vieni a illuminare i nostri cuori soli,<br /><span style="color: rgb(64, 160, 255);">Come and bring light to our lonely hearts</span><br />a dare un senso a questi giorni duri,<br /><span style="color: rgb(64, 160, 255);">to make sense of these hard days</span><br />a camminare insieme a noi.<br /><span style="color: rgb(64, 160, 255);">and walk with us</span><br />Vieni a colorare il cielo di ogni giorno,<br /><span style="color: rgb(64, 160, 255);">Come and color our sky each day</span><br />a fare il vento più felice intorno,<br /><span style="color: rgb(64, 160, 255);">bring joy in the wind (loose translation)</span><br />ad aiutare chi non ce la fa...<br /><span style="color: rgb(64, 160, 255);">And help those who don't have the faith.</span><br /><br /><br />Signore vieni! Signore vieni!<br /><span style="color: rgb(64, 160, 255);">Lord Come! Lord Come!</span><br /><br /></div> </div></div> </div> </div></div> </div> </div></blockquote></div><br /><br /></div><div id="inline_attachments"></div><div style="top: -400px; left: -400px; position: absolute; visibility: visible;" class="module overlay yui-module yui-overlay" id="lwPreview"><div class="hd"></div><div class="bd"></div><div class="ft"></div></div>God'sChild09http://www.blogger.com/profile/16076738889330165758noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4303175370666878769.post-36827966176088023692010-09-19T19:09:00.000-07:002010-09-19T21:14:39.234-07:00Brush Your Teeth!(I know, it's been a long time, and yes, I will keep on apologizing every time I've waited too long to post something new...so just deal with it... ok I'm done being mean).<br /><br />I had a very interesting conversation with God this morning, and as best as I can, I'd like to share it with you. I've been working harder lately on making a daily quiet time a given part of my day. I used to fear having it become simple routine, just something to do because I'm supposed to. However, I've come to the realization that in my life in particular, daily time with God is not going to become a dry, mindless ritual.<br /><br />However, while I'd been doing very well each day this past week, for the last 3 days or so, my personal, set-apart time with God has been lacking. And boy did it beome evident very very quickly.<br /><br />I tried to tell God that I'm just no good at making new routines... but God didn't hesitate to give me an answer to my excuse.<br /><br />"Alex, your daily time with Me is just like brushing your teeth!"<br /><br />And, instantly, everything else just fell into place and made perfect sense. (Beware, this isn't fluffy and pleasant...)<br /><br />When you don't brush your teeth, you feel it all day. Once you realize it, you can't help but run your tongue across your teeth and sulk over that rough feeling that would be gone had you brushed. Not to mention your breath isn't all that great. Not only do you notice, but other people may notice, too... and that's never good. And not to mention the disease and death that slowly happens to your teeth and gums when not properly cared for. Sure it doesn't happen by missing once in a while. But if you continually neglect the care of your teeth, it will backfire.<br /><br />All of the same is true for my daily time with God. If I don't spend that initial time with Him, I feel it all day. I know something was missed and it nags at me. Not to mention my attitude isn't as great. I notice it, and most likely, others notice it, too. And that's never good.<br /><br />And of course, over time, if I choose to neglect my time with God, I start to see the over-reaching consequences. Before I know it, I've become depressed, discouraged, ready to give up. Whenever this happens, I can always trace it back to having eliminated that vital part of my mornings.<br /><br />Thankfully, though, God is our healer. Once we come back to Him, and determine in our hearts to not let a day pass without spending quality time with our heavenly Father, He begins to redeem the time lost, and continues His work in us. This is why we are always a "work in progress."God'sChild09http://www.blogger.com/profile/16076738889330165758noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4303175370666878769.post-42776942927793028252010-08-24T19:43:00.000-07:002010-08-24T19:55:45.686-07:00Move MeI'm trying very hard to clean out my closet right now, and I've come across a larger-than-life box of cards, letters, crafts, etc. from ages ago. My mom gave it to me a long while back, and everything in it has not been seen by anyone in at least 3 years...it's been longer for me (I found a letter written to me 22 years ago I'd never seen before).<br /><br />Anyway, I just found a song/poem I wrote. I don't remember the music for it, but the lyrics definitely speak to how I've been feeling. How good God is to give me this reminder that I wrote these words so very long ago, so long before today, when I need them most. He knew I'd come across it today of all days. So, in honor of our God, who knows <strong>exactly</strong> what we need <strong>exactly </strong>when we need it, I want to share this with all of you.<br /><br /><strong><u>Move Me</u></strong><br /><br />When the music ends<br />And I'm alone again<br />Reality creeps back in<br />Through the back of my mind<br /><br />Friends try to comfort me<br />With the simplicity<br />Of the truths they say<br />To give me courage, give me strength....<br /><br /><em>They tell me that</em><br /><em></em><br /><em>In me</em><br /><em>There is strength to move a mountain</em><br /><em>But I don't want to move the mountain </em><br /><em>I want to leave it be.</em><br /><em></em><br /><em>They tell me that</em><br /><em></em><br /><em>In me</em><br /><em>There is strength to take that mountain</em><br /><em>And throw it to the sea</em><br /><em>But throwing's not for me</em><br /><em></em><br /><em>I want to the Maker of the mountains and the sea</em><br /><em>To move me</em><br /><em></em><br />When the day is through<br />And I'm ready to<br />Try to sleep but<br />Sleep won't come easily to me<br /><br />I've heard it all before<br />So please don't tell me more<br />I know the way it goes<br />You must have faith the size of a mustard seed<br /><br />I know that only then<br />I'll find that<br /><br /><em>In me</em><br /><em>There is strength to move a mountain</em><br /><em>But I don't want to move the mountain</em><br /><em>I'd rather leave it be.</em><br /><em></em><br /><em>I know that</em><br /><em>In me</em><br /><em>There is strength to take that mountain</em><br /><em>And throw it to the sea</em><br /><em>But throwing's not for me</em><br /><em></em><br /><em>I want the Maker of the mountains and the sea</em><br /><em>To move me</em><br /><em></em><br />I'm reaching out for restoration<br />And all I find is desperation<br />When will all this desolation<br />Let me reach my destination<br /><br />I'm not asking for an easy way out<br />I know that's not what it's all about<br />Lord just please remove my doubt<br /><br />Lord, you are and will forever be<br />My Ultimate Provider<br />But first I'm asking You<br />To fulfill my one desire<br /><br /><em>In me</em><br /><em>There is strength to move a mountain</em><br /><em>But I don't want to move the mountain</em><br /><em>I'd really rather leave it be.</em><br /><em></em><br /><em>In me</em><br /><em>There is strength to take that mountain</em><br /><em>And throw it to the sea</em><br /><em>But throwing's not for me</em><br /><em></em><br /><em>I want You, the Maker of the mountains and the sea</em><br /><em>To come back down and lift me up</em><br /><em>And move me. </em>God'sChild09http://www.blogger.com/profile/16076738889330165758noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4303175370666878769.post-36042005855102239762010-08-24T16:00:00.000-07:002010-08-24T16:16:55.909-07:00Longing for Something MoreI know it's been a while since I posted. I really have no excuse, since I have nothing else eating up my time.<br /><br />I know this job simply wasn't meant to be. I know that I'm mostly glad things didn't work out. I know that God's got a plan for me. I know that He'll never leave me hanging. I know I know I know.<br /><br />What I don't know is what's next, or how I'm <strong>ever</strong> going to be able to be a part of God's Plan. I feel so insignificant, useless, awkward and insufficient. I feel like "a bull in a china shop," as my mom used to say; everywhere I go, everything I touch, I seem to mess up. Any idea I have for a job prospect is quickly replaced by a long list of reasons I would never succeed.<br /><br />Call it depression, call it pathetically low self-esteem, call it whatever you want, and you'll be right. This is mostly why I haven't posted anything. As transparent as I try to be with you, my faithful readers, I don't want to be such a downer.<br /><br />But I have to be honest with you. No matter how many "facts" I have about what happened at steppin' stone, the emotional impact remains the same. My heart is broken, and I'm scared to jump back in.<br /><br />I know that <span style="color:#990000;"><em>"God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline." (2 Timothy 1:7),</em></span> but right now I'm honestly just not feeling it. I know I shouldn't follow up God's word with "but"... when I was a little girl, I used to say "but" alot... mom used to tell me "anything that comes after 'but' is crap."<br /><br />"But" I know I'm not the only one who has ever felt like this. And I am tired of waiting for some magic words to make me instantly feel revived and renewed. No. There is no singular verse in scripture that's going to immediately make me feel better. I may be momentarily relieved and reassured by some verses, but it will only be through daily reading and meditating on the Word of God, and quality time in prayer with my King, that I will find healing.<br /><br />I'm realizing these truths as I type them to you. My emotional state at the moment is huge evidence to what happens when we stray away from daily time with Christ.<br /><br />So I openly, honestly and earnestly seek out your prayers for me as I try to come back into a pattern of walking WITH Christ, not just in Him.<br /><br />I hope that somehow in this ultra-depressing post, you will be blessed. I love you all and feel your prayers.God'sChild09http://www.blogger.com/profile/16076738889330165758noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4303175370666878769.post-65125548809269575922010-08-13T19:36:00.000-07:002011-09-26T20:49:16.808-07:00When the Door You Thought Was Open...ClosesIt seemed so perfect. I'd be living a new life, in a new place, with new challenges, to serve God in a new way. I'd be facing fears, learning new things, doing things I never thought I could do, fully relying on God. I'd be ministering to girls who need Christ, making a difference in their lives a little at a time, every day.<br /><br />The timing was perfect. I was down to the wire on my funds, and this job came in just in time. And it wasn't just a job, it was going to be a ministry and an exciting life.<br /><br />The calling seemed to fit. The prayers of many seemed to be answered. I was ready to give up all the things I held so dear to start something new for God.<br /><br />Then a week later, I was let go. For what (true) reason, I may never know. The meeting went well. They still want me to spend time with the girls. They think I'm good with them one on one, they want my singles' group to come out and do dinners and such with them. But as far as my time on their staff...it was cut pretty short.<br /><br />The reasons for all of this are still so unclear to me. It's hard to believe that there is a good ending to this whole story. But I have to trust in my God. He doesn't leave us hanging. I don't believe He allowed me to go through this without good reason. I may not know that reason for a while, but I do know there is one.<br /><br />I'm not going to lie to you all. This threw me into a funk. I've been very down all day. I spent some time standing out in the rain, thinking... the tears ended last night, today was more of a numb feeling.<br /><br />I feel like I missed out somehow on my calling. I feel like I did something wrong and failed God, my friends, my Bible teachers, my pastors, and my family. I feel like I made a big deal about nothing. I feel a lot of things right now...and none of these feelings include clarity...<br /><br />But do not despair...I have a happy ending to this. God hasn't given up on me, and I will not be giving up on Him. I had a little time when I honestly didn't feel like talking to Him, and it probably won't be the last time I feel like that. But God, in His sovereign grace and patience, is ready to take me back and get me back on track.<br /><br />So I don't know what my future holds. I have no clue, and honestly, it's the best place to be. It's a strangely calming, overwhelming, scary, disturbing, exciting, wonderful feeling, and I hope it's over soon... :)God'sChild09http://www.blogger.com/profile/16076738889330165758noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4303175370666878769.post-35101673320904688912010-08-06T17:13:00.000-07:002010-08-06T17:14:21.580-07:00I'm Not EnoughSo, I promised updates on my time at the farm, and since today is my first day off, it's the first time I've had a chance to get online. Let me tell you all it has been an amazing experience so far! I'm sure there will be days that I'll want to just curl up in a ball and cry, but I'm convinced at this point that God isn't going to guide me into anything He's not capable of bringing me through. I've already done so many things I didn't think I was capable of! And I know it's not me, but rather God working through me. I honestly have no doubt!<br /><br />I would love to sit here and list everything that God is doing, but it's just so much! I really have very few words to describe this experience, except to say that God is bringing me to places I never thought I'd be, in situations I never thought I'd be in, to do things I never thought I'd do. The amazing thing is that God has overshadowed every "I" in my life, and I'm starting to learn to just say, "Ok God...I can't do this but I know you can...so, do Your thing!"<br /><br />That's really all I have to share right now. Perhaps the next update will give more material to write.God'sChild09http://www.blogger.com/profile/16076738889330165758noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4303175370666878769.post-36306269936588740762010-08-01T19:38:00.000-07:002010-08-01T21:17:10.339-07:00Oh yeah...So, I forgot to mention on this blog, I GOT THE JOB!!!<br /><br />That's right!! After over a year of praying and searching for work, God has provided a job for me that is not just a job but an amazing ministry opportunity!<br /><br />I'm going to be working at Steppin' Stone Farms <a href="http://www.steppinstonefarm.org/index.htm">http://www.steppinstonefarm.org/index.htm</a>, training to be a house parent. It's going to be a very demanding, though extremely rewarding job, and it seems to be EXACTLY what God has been preparing me for!<br /><br />I start this Wednesday at around 10 a.m., and prayers would be GREATLY appreciated! I am still quite nervous about it, but I know that if this is God's plan for my life, it will work out. I'm trusting in all His promises He gave me during this past year.<br /><br />I was talking to my dear friend Robin Parker today and I was telling her how I wasn't looking forward to not being able to go to my church every week. I said, "why is God taking me away from my HOME!?" (emphasis on excessively whiny voice), and then I realized what I'm really saying is "why is God taking me out of my COMFORT ZONE!?"<br /><br />But He never once promises our lives in Him will be easy...He does promise, though, that He will never leave or forsake us. So we are never truly alone. It is such a comfort to remember always that the same God I worship Sunday mornings at Fishhawk Fellowship Church is the same God I worship at Refuge at Bell Shoals...Metamorphosis .... Daily in my own living room... driving in the car... and working at the Farm! He's in all of those places, which means I'm not truly torn apart from my family! How EXCITING is that!?<br /><br />So, I'm actually going to try to keep this post short (I always say that, don't I?), so I'll end it here. But another blog is coming soon, I promise!<br /><br />Thank you all for your prayers up to this point, and I hope you will continue to pray as I start to learn how to do that which I truly believe God is calling me to!God'sChild09http://www.blogger.com/profile/16076738889330165758noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4303175370666878769.post-77555393120655732312010-07-30T13:37:00.001-07:002010-07-30T13:37:49.571-07:00Never Failing LoveHey everyone!<br /><br />So I haven't written anything new because I didn't feel ready to. I am going to confess to you all that I have been going through a lazy season in my walk with Christ. And I can't explain why, or give any excuse. I just know that I can't write something I'm not sure I believe in myself, and I was experiencing doubt.<br /><br />Doubt is such a scary thing. The "what ifs" that come up in our walk with Christ are really extreme questions. But I know now that because I went through this season, I am now that much MORE confident of God's unfailing love, and His determination to complete the work He started in my life so very long ago.<br /><br />I wanted to share with you what God taught me through this season. I prayed a while back that God would allow me to understand just how much I need Him. I'm not saying I will ever truly get it, but I wanted to renewed appreciation for my need for Christ. We pray things like that, and then we sometimes forget, but God doesn't. And God will ALWAYS answer our prayers for Him to show us our need for Him!<br /><br />We sing the songs that say "break me Lord." But do we really understand what we're asking? No one falls and breaks a bone and says "oh, that was fun!" No! We fall and get hurt and say, "How did that happen? What did I do to fall like that?" We pray for God to break us, then we're surprised when He does.<br /><br />I had a teacher once tell our class that if someone is saved, and then sins, chances are he wasn't saved to begin with... I've since learned that that is ludicrous, but the thought still remains in my mind. It is understood that when we accept Christ, He takes up residence in our hearts and that begins to change us. But to believe that it means an overnight change to perfection is to set yourself up for failure and a tiresome cycle that will get you nowhere. We are saved by our Redemption, but we are being saved daily via Sanctification... Both are needed.<br /><br />Why? Are we saved for Heaven, just in case we die before we're perfect? Of course not! That would mean God doesn't know when we're going to die. Rest assured, nothing happens that takes God by surprise. Nothing happens that leaves Jesus going "woah...did you see that? I didn't see THAT sin coming...I'm not sure I died for THAT one....oops."<br /><br />The mere thought would be laughable, if it wasn't so heart-breakingly common. We run with the belief that if we are saved we will be perfect...therefore if we aren't perfect, we must not be saved. But this is SO flawed! We are seen as perfect in God's eyes when we realize that Christ is the only way we can be saved. When God is looking at us, He sees us as perfect because He sees His own Son. We see the now, He sees the end result. How beautiful is that!<br /><br />And yet we fall into habitual sins. It is these sins, not the oops-I-didn't-think-first-kinds, but rather the addictions, the habits, the ones we struggle with daily (be they anger mis-management, inappropriate films or music, over-eating, lustful thoughts, laziness, anxiety...choose your poison), that make us question whether or not we are saved.<br /><br />But my recent visit back to my past life (previous struggles that made a re-appearance) taught me a few things about what happens when we open our lives up to sin (I also have to give some credit for some of what I will say here to last night's metamorphosis lesson).<br /><br />Before I continue, I want to make it clear. I do not believe God makes us sin just so we can see our need for Him. He hates sin...why would he compel us to do that which He hates? It's not a making...but rather an allowing...When I prayed for God to break me, I didn't know I'd fall into my old sin patterns....but He did, and He knew that He would be able to use that backsliding season for my eventual benefit and to further His will in my life. So, God does not MAKE us sin (nor does the devil..."the devil made me do it" is just as ridiculous as saying "God made me do it"...we make our own decisions...free will, remember?)<br /><br />Now, back to what I wanted to say:<br /><br />When we open our lives up to sin, we also open our lives up to the father of lies.<br /><br /><strong><em>He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies.(John 8:44b) </em></strong><br /><br />When we decide to start listening to satan, he takes his cue and starts filling our minds with lies. Lies about anything and everything. We don't even notice it... then he lowers the boom. "If I were saved, I wouldn't be doing this....so since I'm still struggling with this, I must not be saved." It sounds like a logical statement... philosophical at best. But it turns into a fear in our hearts that, maybe we're not saved!!!<br /><br />Think of when you were a little child in the grocery store. You wandered off because something looked more interesting than following your parents...and suddenly you look aroubnd and realize, "mom's not there! I'm alone! I don't know where I am! I must find her!!!"<br /><br />So it is with the child of God who has wandered away. We look around and realize we're alone. And the lies kick into overdrive, "look at you, yeah you're alone because God left you. He gave up on you because you messed up just one too many times. Just give it up, you're never going to be what God wants you to be."<br /><br />But all we have to do is turn around...God is right there, waiting for us to run back into His arms. Rest assured, there will be scolding involved. But it is a scolding that leads to our own healing. It is just like when we found our moms in the store... she scolded us for running away, but while we are sorry we ran off, the joy of being back with our moms outweighed the scolding we were receiving. And now that many of you are moms (and even I felt this at times when my brother as a baby would run off for even a moment), you know that while you were scolding your child, your joy and relief to have them safe and back with you outweighed your anger at them for leaving. Your scolding comes from your desire to never go through the pain again and for your child to never have to be afraid and alone like that again.<br /><br />God is the same way. He longs for us to remain in Him.<br /><br /><strong><em>"As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love." John 15:9</em></strong><br /><strong><em></em></strong><br />This doesn't mean that when we wander, we lose our salvation. It does mean that there are consequences for our actions, both good and bad. And we can all attest to just how severe those consequences can be. But we have something those who are outside of Christ don't have. We have our Father, waiting for us to turn around and come back. And when we do, He will never turn us away. He will welcome us with open arms.<br /><br /><strong><em><br />"But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.<br /><br />"The son said to him, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.<br /><br />"But the father said to his servants, 'Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let's have a feast and celebrate. For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.' So they began to celebrate. (Luke 15:20b-24)</em></strong><br /><strong><em></em></strong><br />This is how God is with us when we come back to Him. It is a beautiful celebration. A wonderful reunion of Father and child.<br /><br />And the greatest part of all, is when we have the courage to be honest with eachother and share our struggles and fears and concerns, as well as the truths God has laid on our hearts. With that, I hope and pray that this blesses you. Whether it does or not, I still consider this season worth the pain for me to come out even closer to my Jesus.God'sChild09http://www.blogger.com/profile/16076738889330165758noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4303175370666878769.post-13620163337480158152010-07-21T23:02:00.000-07:002010-07-21T23:14:53.354-07:00SNA<div align="left">In looking back a little more, I found this paper I wrote for a science fiction class (believe it or not this was a science class...not a writing class... for HCC)... great class because it was a great teacher. Really no way to have failed. Fairly wonderful summer class from way back when. Anyway, we had to write a science fiction short story. Here was my submission...I believe I received an "A" on it...though I always did get "A's" and "B's" on my papers.<br /><br />There is room for improvement and expansion, but I re-read it, having completely forgotten how it went, and I liked it all over again...I hope you guys enjoy it too! It's kinda long (4 pages printed), but worth it, I think. Anyway, enjoy!<br /></div><div align="left"><br /><br /><strong><span style="font-size:180%;">SNA</span> </strong></div><br /><br />Dr. Bourge and his colleagues were setting up for an important briefing at the Pentagon. They had finally made the discovery so many had been waiting for. They set up the charts, graphs, and result sheets, and prepared to give a presentation that was sure to shock and amaze anyone watching.<br />It had taken many years, but Dr. Bourge had finally found the results he’d been searching for for over 10 years. Little by little the press began to move into the room. Dr. Bourge could hear all the clicking and swiping of the cords and wires of the cameras. But no sound could possibly be louder than his own heart racing. He was so excited he could barely breathe.<br />Finally, he saw the secretary of state come out to the podium to announce him. As the press gave a light applause, Dr. Bourge stepped up to the podium and gripped the edges. He began with a shaky, “Thank you all for coming this morning.”<br />“My colleagues and I have been conducting stem cell research for the last decade. It has taken us much longer than we planned, but we have come up with some amazing discoveries. We have so far been able to use stem cells to cure Leukemia, Alzheimer’s disease, and even paralysis, in over 30 patients. Every experiment had already begun over 5 years ago. However, considering the fragile nature of the study, we decided to monitor patients for another 5-7 years each.<br />“We have come out with no recurrences of any of the aforementioned diseases, and we are now comfortable with our conclusions. Pending consent of the United States Supreme Court, curing of such diseases will be possible with the aid of stem-cells.”<br /><br /><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;">*~<span style="font-size:180%;">~</span>~<span style="font-size:180%;">~</span>~<span style="font-size:180%;">~</span>~<span style="font-size:180%;">~</span>~<span style="font-size:180%;">~</span>~<span style="font-size:180%;">~</span>~*</span></div><div align="left"><br />Reverend Klein was eating his breakfast rather quietly, compared to his usual morning chatter with his family.<br />“Is everything alright, Dad?” asked his daughter, Elizabeth.<br />“Of course, Lizzie,” he answered, “Why do you ask?”<br />“Well, dad, you’ve been kinda quiet this morning.”<br />“Oh really? Well maybe it was because of the long evening I had yesterday at the church! You know, my job doesn’t end when I step down from the pulpit at the end of the Sunday service!!”<br />At this reaction, his little twin children, Janie and Sean, began to cry uncontrollably. Even Elizabeth’s eyes filled with tears. Her father had never been like this before, but since last month, he’d become easily angered. </div><div align="center"><br /><br />*~<span style="font-size:180%;">~</span>~<span style="font-size:180%;">~</span>~<span style="font-size:180%;">~</span>~<span style="font-size:180%;">~</span>~<span style="font-size:180%;">~</span>~<span style="font-size:180%;">~</span>~* </div><br />Mrs. Richman was everyone’s favorite teacher. She always had a wonderful surprise for all of her students. But today, as had been the case for the last few days, she had no surprise. In fact, the bigger surprise was how she acted today. She came in with a very tired look on her face, and she sounded absolutely drained. She shuffled into the classroom and plopped her purse on the desk. “Please open your books to page 56 and read quietly to yourselves while I read the story aloud.”<br />Her students sadly opened their books and began to read along. But in the back of everyone’s mind was a worry about what had happened to their beloved teacher. Mrs. Richman was usually so perky. What was going on? Ever since she got back from medical leave, she’d been very different.<br /><br /><div align="center"><br />*~<span style="font-size:180%;">~</span>~<span style="font-size:180%;">~</span>~<span style="font-size:180%;">~</span>~<span style="font-size:180%;">~</span>~<span style="font-size:180%;">~</span>~<span style="font-size:180%;">~</span>~* </div><div align="left"><br /><br />Mr. Madison was working on his project when his supervisor knocked on the door. He came in with a big smile on his face and told Mr. Madison he had some news for him.<br />“I’ve decided to quit my job!” he exclaimed. He seemed so happy, but Mr. Madison didn’t like what he heard. Mr. Brinkley had always been absolutely in love with his work. It was his first and only love. He wasn’t even married. But this was a side to Mr. Brinkley that Mr. Madison had never seen. Mr. Brinkley’s face was shining, and he had a massive smile across his face. Even his eyes were glistening. Mr. Madison just had to ask.<br />“And what are you going to do after you quit?” Asked Mr. Madison.<br />“I’m going to be a teacher!” Said Mr. Brinkley.<br />Mr. Madison looked Mr. Brinkley square in the eye. There was nothing about his supervisor that was like a teacher. “Why the sudden change of heart?” he asked.<br />“I don’t know, Bill.” Said Mr. Brinkley. “Just a change in the wind I guess. I’m ready for a new challenge anyway.” He turned and happily stepped out. He even seemed to have a new spring in his step. </div><div align="center"><br /><br />*~<span style="font-size:180%;">~</span>~<span style="font-size:180%;">~</span>~<span style="font-size:180%;">~</span>~<span style="font-size:180%;">~</span>~<span style="font-size:180%;">~</span>~<span style="font-size:180%;">~</span>~* </div><div align="left"><br /><br />Angela Michaels was cleaning up the dishes after dinner. She was very worried about her husband. He was always home in time for dinner. In fact, more often than not, he was home early enough to help set the table. But today, that was not the case. It was already 10:30, and he hadn’t gotten home or called yet. Then, the phone rang. Angela ran to it and picked it up. “Bryan?” She asked, seemingly out of breath.<br />But it wasn’t Bryan. It was the hospital. “Mrs. Michaels? This is Dr. Hillbrand. Could you please come to the hospital right away? Your husband has been in an accident.”<br />Angela was speechless. She didn’t know what to think. Then, she finally came to her senses, and responded to the doctor. “I will be there in no more than 15 minutes.”<br />She quickly hung up the phone and picked it up again to call her neighbor. Gina was over in 2 minutes flat, and no sooner had she arrived than Angela bolted out the door.<br />She arrived at the hospital and asked for Dr. Hillbrand. When he came to the waiting room. He said that Bryan had been in an accident involving a drunk driver. “I wish those drunks would just stay off the road.” She said.<br />“Actually, Mrs. Michaels, your husband was the one who was found to be intoxicated. The other driver is in stable condition, but I can’t say the same for Bryan. He’s lost a lot of blood, and right now he is in the ICU. Please, Mrs. Michaels, I’d like to ask you a few questions.”<br />But Mrs. Michaels was too shocked to answer any questions. Suddenly everything she held dear seemed to fade away. She felt hopeless with the thought of losing her husband. What if he didn’t make it? What would she do? And why was he drunk? He’d never even stepped into a bar in his entire life. He didn’t even drink wine! He never enjoyed the taste of beer. In fact, in all their marriage, Bryan had never had a drop of alcohol, except for one glass of champagne at their wedding.<br /></div><div align="center"><br />*~<span style="font-size:180%;">~</span>~<span style="font-size:180%;">~</span>~<span style="font-size:180%;">~</span>~<span style="font-size:180%;">~</span>~<span style="font-size:180%;">~</span>~<span style="font-size:180%;">~</span>~*<br /></div><div align="left"><br /></div><div align="left"><br />Mrs. Richman came home after a long, hard day of work at the school. She had a message on her answering machine from the principle. “Mrs. Richman, this is Principle Jones. I have received some reports about your performance during this week. I’d like you to call me as soon as you get this message. If it’s too late, please just come into my office tomorrow morning, and we can discuss what is to be done about this situation.”<br />Mrs. Richman was rather worried about this, but it was already 7 o’clock. Even the little mischief makers who stayed in school for detention were home already. She decided to just relax, get a good night’s rest, and go into the office in the morning.<br />The next morning, the principle was worried. He said that more than three students had come in that week to report Mrs. Richman’s change in behavior. They had said that she was always tired and irritable, which was odd in comparison with the happy, perky, and patient teacher she had always been.<br />“Mrs. Richman, you’ve been teaching at this school for over 13 years. I’ve known you for seven of them. I’m worried about the way your students are describing you. I would hate to see you leave, but I’m worried that that could be a result if something doesn’t change soon.”<br />Mrs. Richman was caught off guard. Was the principle telling her she could lose her job? “I’m so sorry. I have just been so tired these days. It’s like all of my energy has been drained out of me. I promise, Principal Jones, I will go see my doctor this weekend.” She said.<br />“I strongly recommend it.” He said sternly.<br /></div><div align="center"><br />*~<span style="font-size:180%;">~</span>~<span style="font-size:180%;">~</span>~<span style="font-size:180%;">~</span>~<span style="font-size:180%;">~</span>~<span style="font-size:180%;">~</span>~<span style="font-size:180%;">~</span>~* </div><div align="left"><br /><br />15 doctors had been invited. 3 doctors had presentations. There were also 2 educators and 3 governmental officers present.<br />The first to speak was Dr. Bourge. “As you all know, my father was the doctor who, along with his colleagues, finalized the processes of using stem cells to heal certain illnesses. However, I have received a few reports and have decided to hold a conference concerning these situations. We will first hear from Dr. Baker.”<br />Dr. Baker sat up and leaned forward so as to allow everyone present to see him. “I am a therapist in Chicago. I had a patient come into my office about two weeks ago who was having some serious anger management problems. He was a Reverend at a church near my practice, and he had never had any history of poor anger management.”<br />Next was Dr. Millard. “I have had a patient for 10 years. This patient, let us call her Mrs. Smith, had never had any history of headaches or fatigue. However, last week, she came into my office complaining of these very symptoms. She was found to have migraines and excessive fatigue, and I still don’t know where they came from. Of course, I prescribed some strong pain relievers and asked her not to drink any more decaffeinated coffee. I still thought, though, that I should address the situation, since she had just had a stem cell procedure done to heal her of leukemia. I thought, maybe, that she had not been fully recovered, but I’m still pending a definite diagnosis.”<br />After these two doctors came two of the educators. “We have been studying the SAT data provided by the students who take the exam. We decided to closely monitor them, and we have found that there were 4000 students whose selected major did not match the scores. In other words, those who are much stronger in math wanted to pursue a career in some other area, one that does not use math, but rather English or writing skills, where they scored far lower. 500 of these students had had stem cells implanted to help with the diseases and disorders this medical breakthrough has been able to heal. 1000 of them had fathers or mothers who had had the same procedure done for some other reason. 1587 of them had had a grandparent receive stem cells.”<br />3 of the government officials came up next. They announced that 4 of their fellow officials had left their jobs in order to pursue careers that had never interested them, before they had been given stem cells.<br />Dr. Hillbrand came last. “I had a case last month were a man who had never had a drop of alcohol in his life, ‘except for one glass of champagne at his wedding,’ in his wife’s words, died from a loss of blood and a significant blow to the head after becoming intoxicated and getting into an accident.”<br />“And what is the common denominator here? All of these people have received stem cells. We are now here to discuss the possible reasons for these occurrences.” Said a solemn Dr. Bourge.<br />“Couldn’t they just be side effects?” asked Dr. Baker.<br />“I don’t think so. It seems so strange that nearly everyone has this ‘side effect’ It’s almost like this is a normal outcome, not a strange occurrence.” Responded Dr. Hillbrand.<br />“Excuse me. If I may speak, I think I may know what is going on here,” came a small voice from a far corner.<br />Everyone turned to see who had just spoken. They saw a young man with short curly hair. “I believe that we have made a major mistake. One that should never have been made. I believe that we have messed with something that was better left alone.”<br />“How could you say that?” Said an angry Dr. Baker. “We have seen so many people healed of diseases that we never thought we could heal. Illnesses who’s prescriptions were “make the patient comfortable,” are now easily and quickly healed.”<br />“Yes, but at what cost? We have seen some prominent government officials leave their jobs for no reason. We have found confusion among the students of our generation. I believe we have meddled with something we never should have. What if we don’t know as much about DNA as we thought?” Said the man.<br />“What do you mean? And what is your name, anyway?” Asked an interested Dr. Hillbrand.<br />“Well, to answer your second question first, my name is Andrew. To answer your first question, I believe that there is a whole other side of DNA we haven’t even begun to tap into. Something intangible. How do we decide to become doctors, or teachers, or ministers? How do we develop a love for certain genres of music or films? I believe there is another element we have messed with, and I will henceforth call it SNA.”<br />“SNA?” asked a puzzled Dr. Bourge.<br />“Spiritual Neucleic Acid.” Answered Andrew, with a smile.<br />“Oh great, here we go. Let me guess. We’re messing with God’s plan?” said Dr. Baker.<br />“I didn’t say this was of God, though I do believe. Let me say, Dr. Baker, that you can’t separate church and state, no matter how much you want to, and you can’t separate someone’s spirit from their body with science.” Answered Andrew.<br />The entire room fell silent.<br />“The Bible says that even before you were in your mother’s womb, God had a plan for you. We have allowed unborn children, or embryo’s as you call them, to die as a result from taking stem cells from them to heal these illnesses. My theory is that if we have kept a child from growing up to be what God intended, he is going to achieve his purpose by some other means. This could be the means.”<br />“So you are saying that we have messed God’s plan and have therefore set ourselves up for disaster and failure.” Said a victorious Dr. Baker.<br />“Yes I did say that, but this could apply to many other things. How do we know that what makes a murderer a murderer doesn’t happen in his DNA? We don’t know. We never will know, because you can’t see the thoughts of a criminal.” Continued Andrew.<br />“Then why don’t we just take the children of parents who aren’t prone to crime or some other immoral activity, and use them instead?” asked Dr. Millard.<br />“We still don’t know much about the difference between genetic predispositions and social elements. We don’t know the effect these have on a person’s actions and personality. Therefore, we can’t guarantee that the embryo would not have grown into a productive and law-abiding citizen.” Answered Andrew. “And did you all notice the increase in symptoms in the children of these stem cell recipients? How far will this go? I believe we have to ask ourselves which is more important; healing these illnesses, or allowing society to continue as it always has and keep the country safe from unknowns.”<br />The doctors left the meeting very quietly. They were all thinking about what had just happened in that room. They all had to ask themselves, which is more important? </div>God'sChild09http://www.blogger.com/profile/16076738889330165758noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4303175370666878769.post-66011875501678828432010-07-20T11:48:00.000-07:002010-07-20T16:27:13.518-07:00Strolling Down Memory LaneFor reminders of God's faithfulness, almost nothing beats looking back on the other times He's shown up. I wanted to repost a blog entry I wrote over 4 years ago about God's Fireworks...but it was in my old Myspace account, which I haven't touched in at least 2 years... so I had to contact tech support, send a picture of myself holding up three fingers and a piece of paper with my old url...yeah it was strange...but it was all worth it, getting to read my old blogs!<br /><br />I'm going to recycle some of them over the next few days only because they are still so relevant! I'm not going to edit them...(I found some errors, so that will be hard...) I don't want to alter what was written. Yes, I'm weird like that, please forgive me for it. But this one is one of my favorites. May it remind us of just how big God really is.<br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">From July 3, 2006</span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><strong>God's Fireworks</strong></span><br /><br />I was sitting in my room doing some knitting (yes, I knit...I'm working on an American Flag for my room...how appropriate for July 4th, right?), when I heard (and saw, a bit) what sounded like some great fireworks....so I went outside to see them.<br /><br />Now where I live, you don't have to spend any money to go see fireworks...in my neighborhood, everyone around me does them...so all you have to do is stand out on the front lawn (or in the street if you're brave/dumb enough) and watch the fireworks all around you.<br /><br />Well, I was watching the fireworks...they were very beautiful. They weren't el cheapo...they were really nice...sparkly and colorful...saw a few red/white/blue ones and a few cream/white ones...really pretty...then, I heard some huge fireworks starting up...but I saw nothing...then it was silent...I was getting a bit bored...I thought, "ok these people are going to go to bed now...it is past 10p.m. and July 4th isn't till tomorrow...plus its starting to rain." And with that...the <strong>ENTIRE SKY</strong> filled with light! <div><br /></div><div>The next hour proceeded in the same way...a few fireworks...silence...then massive flashes of light that took up almost the entire sky...<br /><br />My ex-fiance used to say that lightning was God's fireworks show. Although he turned out to be a jerk and we broke up about 3 months of engagement...that's one thing I'll never forget that he said. Everytime I see a firework I think to myself...yeah that's pretty...its neat how we figured out how to get that to work...but then I see lightning...and I'm left speechless...Its God's way of going..."yeah let me play too! Here are my fireworks! Hope you like them!" It was like "battle of the lights." God obviously won.<br /><br />We use fireworks on the Fourth of July to remember the battles that were fought for our independence from England. While the canons and rifles didn't leave lovely colorful flowers of sparks in the sky, the sound and flash remind us of the explosions and the sounds of battle. They remind us of our independence as a nation.<br /><br />But the lightning reminds me of my dependence on God as my protection and strength. As human beings, we are not "independent." Although we want to believe that with age comes independence, we are still dependent on God. We may want to convince ourselves that we are independent, but as believers, we do know better. We are fully dependent on God for all of our provision, strength, peace, purpose, joy, and love. We are always in God's Mercy.<br /><br />Remember every time you see a flash of lightning, remember these verses...<br /><br />Job 36:26-33<br /><em>How great is God - beyond our understanding! The number of his years is past finding out. "He draws up the drops of water, which distill as rain to the streams; the clouds pour down their moisture and abundant showers fall on mankind. Who can understand how he spreads out the clouds, how he thunders from his pavilion? See how he scatters his lightning about him, bathing the depths of the sea. This is the way he governs the nations and provides food in abundance. He fills his hands with lightning and commands it to strike its mark. His thunder announces the coming storm; even the cattle make known its approach.</em><br /><br />And my favorite one!<br />Job 38:33-35<br /><em>Do you know the laws of the heavens? Can you set up God's dominion over the earth? "Can you raise your voice to the clouds and cover yourself with a flood of water? Do you send the lightning bolts on their way? Do they report to you, 'Here we are'?</em><br /><br />Happy 4th of July to all of you!<br />Next time you see fireworks,<br />remember that </div><div><br /></div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 311px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 242px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5496064403274109442" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_NKw9hvTWAxI/TEXxdJPSkgI/AAAAAAAAABo/ca8CB4SnWWo/s200/lightning.jpg" /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><div align="center">God is the Ultimate Firework Technician! </div><br />Also...watch this video. It gives you an idea of what I'm talking about here.<br /><br />(It's kinda long but you'll get the whole idea between 3:00 and 4:10, so fast forward to it and enjoy!)<br /><br /><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HS9vBf0VXWQ">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HS9vBf0VXWQ</a><br /><br /><br /><div align="center"></div>God'sChild09http://www.blogger.com/profile/16076738889330165758noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4303175370666878769.post-72069772839230363872010-07-02T09:08:00.000-07:002010-07-02T09:46:30.649-07:00The Dessert In the DesertOk...I'll admit this entry won't be fuzzy wuzzy like my cloud gig... but it is what it is, and I promise it will be orth your time.<br /><br />I've been reading through the Bible in 90 days... on Biblegateway.com (my favorite website, hands down), it is one of the reading plans. I have never gotten this far into it. I usually get through Exodus and I exodus outta there... Just too many nitty gritty details...and let's not get into Leviticus...or worse, Numbers! Sheesh!!!<br /><br />Well this time I've so far made it through to Judges (I'm about two weeks behind, between getting sick and being at camp), and it's been an amazing journey!<br /><br />Maybe I'm being a bit dramatic here, but I honestly feel like the Israelites...wandering the wilderness. I was in a horrible situation with my family, and God delivered me from it, but now I feel like I'm wandering that seemingly pointless wilderness between the bad and the promise. I have so many hopes and dreams that, only with God on my side, can be reached! So much potential! So much...future!<br /><br />So much to thank God for for delivering me from the past. Dark depression, low self esteem, poor self-image and extreme stress and anxiety were all left on the altar of the LORD and are just part of my past. By His Grace, I'm never going back to any of it!<br /><br />But here I am, stuck in the middle...not getting much of anywhere... it can be very discouraging (I just hope it won't be 40 years!), and disheartening most of the time!<br /><br />But then I came across a gem of a verse in Joshua. At the end of their long journey, the writer says, seemingly in conclusion to the whole messy, five-book-long story, that<br /><br /><div align="center"><span style="color:#660000;"><strong><em>"Not one of the LORD'S good promises to the house of Israel failed; </em></strong></span></div><div align="center"><span style="color:#660000;"><strong><em>every one was fulfilled." (Joshua 21:45)</em></strong></span></div><br />So I'm taking hold of that verse. God is a promise-keeping kind of God. He has promised that if we delight in Him He will give us the desires of our heart.<br /><br />And I wish I could sit here and tell you all the great stories of how He's done that! (of course for sakes of time, and confidentiality, I can't, but trust me it's some awesome stuff) I've learned so much about my God that I never would have learned had things not gone so crazy all year...it's sort of the dessert in the middle of the desert...<br /><br />I hope that this is of some encouragement to anyone else who feels like they're stuck in the wilderness! I know it helped me a great deal. I still feel like I'm stuck in the middle, but it's not so much wandering anymore to me, it's more of a waiting on God. And I'm willing to do that as long as I have to! <br /><br />Praise His Holy Name!!!God'sChild09http://www.blogger.com/profile/16076738889330165758noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4303175370666878769.post-80383858651565651782010-06-30T13:07:00.000-07:002010-07-06T08:46:41.748-07:00God's DoodlesMy grandma is a doodler. I'm not entirely sure that that's actually a word, but a doodler is one who doodles.<br /><br />Ok, vocabulary out of the way, I can move on. :)<br /><br />My grandma is a doodler. Whenever she's on the phone, she simply has to have a piece of paper near her to draw on. Her doodling is always the same; the profile of a woman with an up-do, and then a drawing of a dress, as a dressmaker might draw as a concept sketch. My personal favorite is when no paper is available. She finds a magazine and gives the models makeovers of eyeliner and longer eyelashes and bold lipliner. It's always the same.<br /><br />I read somewhere (don't ask for the source, honestly I don't remember where I saw it), that doodling actually <strong>enhances</strong> our attention. When you're in a boring business meeting doodling your 1 millionth daffodil, you're actually retaining more information!<br /><br />Trust me, I'm going somewhere with this.<br /><br />The other day, I begged God for something to show me that He was still with me. I know He is, but sometimes I feel like He's just not listening. So there I was in the car, finally a moment of complete silence before continuing with my day. I pulled out of my parking spot and started on my way, turned the corner and saw one of the most breathtaking sights I've ever ever seen!<br /><br />I honestly wish I had a camera to take this picture. It was a massive cloud with the sun in the middle. It looked as if the cloud was surrounding the sun on the sides and back... (the sun seemed to be <strong>inside</strong> the cloud), with the sunbeams pouring through the slits in the cloud. It was the closest my mind has ever come to what the throne of Christ might look like.<br /><br />I'm always staring up at the clouds (or the stars). If I ever get into a car accident, you can bet a cloud was involved. Now, this isn't doctrine...I'm not claiming that this is something we all need to agree on, but it is just a thought.<br /><br />Maybe the clouds are God's doodles?<br /><br />Think about it. Clouds provide shade, and rain when God decides we need it. I can think of many other things that would have accomplished the same goal, but they didn't have to look so pretty, majestic, and fragile. And, being in Florida, we are blessed with all low-lying land and water on both coasts Because of this, we always have some sort of cloud, somewhere in the sky. But the clouds never ever ever look the same! I can't help but imagine God humming while he doodles. I mean, when we breathe, we take in life-giving oxygen and breathe out the aftermath...carbon dioxide. When God breathes, he breathes life into things...God <strong>breathed</strong> life into Adam. Into human beings...and we're so intricate, the best doctors in the world still haven't fully figured out how we work. And that's just breathing!<br /><br />I don't think it's too far-fetched to think that God just feels like giving us amazingly beautiful creations that are different and wonderful every day, just because He wants to...<br /><br />So, this sounds very fluffy and light, but I'm not kidding when I tell you to look at the clouds. Actually take the time to take it all in, look at the colors...only God can make gray look beautiful. Look at a sunset...God gets greens, blues, golds, yellows, pinks, and purples into a perfect spectrum, and it's not always how we learned it in school... (you know...ROY G. BIV)...If God wants a yellow next to a violet color...or an orange next to blue...He can, and He does!<br /><br />So, seriously, take some time this week and take a look, and enjoy God's doodled post-card for you!God'sChild09http://www.blogger.com/profile/16076738889330165758noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4303175370666878769.post-60214819236967691252010-06-26T15:09:00.000-07:002010-06-26T15:50:49.028-07:00Stuck in a rutHello ladies,<br /><br />I have to be honest with you all. Always have been, why stop now? I don't want to waste precious time with details, but my heart is heavy at the moment. I'm no longer depressed, by God's grace alone, but I lack the motivation to take the next step in my life. It also doesn't help that I don't know what that next step is supposed to be. All the next steps just seem too big for me.<br /><br />But they aren't too big for God. I love writing on here because it makes me think things through. Though no one seems to be reading it right now, at least I am...<br /><br />I simply feel overwhelmed right now. My days keep slipping away before I have a chance to do anything with them. I just wish time would stop for just a few moments so I could catch up. It's like walking with those dear friends of mine who have very long legs... one of their steps it like three of mine, so unless I'm nearly jogging, I fall behind.<br /><br />That's where I'm at right now. I've fallen behind. I'm trying, though, to remember that God doesn't want us to compare ourselves to those around us. But I also need to get moving. Time's a-wastin'!<br /><br />So, all of this just to say, please pray for me. Pray that God would give me the strength I need to get up and get going!<br /><br />Love you all!God'sChild09http://www.blogger.com/profile/16076738889330165758noreply@blogger.com2