For His Service

I am so thankful for the things God has taught me in 2013.  The most important thing I have learned is you can not fully understand the struggles of other people.  I can't fully understand losing a spouse, as thankfully, I have not.  I can't fully understand the lost of a child; I have lost two babies in utero, but haven't parented and then lost a child.   I can't fully understand having a difficult spouse, because Russell is gracious and kind to me... most of the time ( love you, honey).... just like I am, most of the time.  No one will fully know how difficult it is to raise a child who didn't have his/her basic needs met during the infant years...unless you also have a child like this.  No one will fully know how difficult it is to raise a child who has a chronic illness...unless you also have a child like this. I have learned to fully get that "Hurt People"'  hurt people.    But, that God is the ONLY healer.   God is the only one who FULLY knows

Are there perfect people on earth, people that don't mess up, hurt others, regret words, wish they said things differently?  No, we are all sinners, sinners who still mess up... who still think selfishly at times, who still struggle to put ourselves aside and think of others first. I think our actions, the way we display love, is the only way they will see Christ.    Our call is that of a peacemaker,  building peace within the church and making peace with those outside of it. Jen Hatmaker stated it this way:   We should refuse to contribute to someone’s pain by speaking about them abstractedly, distantly, as if they aren’t real human beings whose lives bear actual repercussions of our casual public conversations. The sterile public sphere outside of the protective confines of relationships is not a safe place for such weighty discussions, and we should not add to the pile of condescending, degrading comments about real human people. These precious, fragile conversations belong a

 Noah (my oldest) taking a relaxation break So, Russell showed his love for me by installing a bench swing inside our house. We already had the perfect spot so it was a matter of purchasing the swing and installing it.  There is something about swinging with your sweetheart ....  I guess it is a little sentimental thought that gets me,  as Russell and I began dating 1986 ...and the song Swingin  was regularly on the radio at that time.     I am so thankful for a husband who shows me he loves me.... as we relax, talk, cuddle and swing...in the comfort of our living room.   Thank you, Lord for your many blessings...     James 1:17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.    

So did you see today's news? Since Duck Dynasty, which is a company that sells duck calls (who happens to be believers with a "reality TV show"), has now decided to sell and market a brand of wine, Family Ministries has dropped them as a speaker at their conference.  Why?  They said that they didn't want people that drink wine to speak because they want the attending teens of this conference to be non-drinkers.   The full article can be read here.  .http://www.tricities.com/news/local/article_bfd2b520-4b3f-11e3-ac7e-0019bb30f31a.html.                but here is one quote:   Our greatest responsibility is to the young people we serve. Therefore, we feel that in light of the recent news that the stars of the show ‘Duck Dynasty’ are partnering with Trinchero Family Estates to launch Duck Commander Wines, to continue with this event would send mixed messages to the young people who go through our adolescent drug and alcohol program,” Family Ministries develop

Sometimes people question why we do what we do.  Sometimes it is for good reasons, while other times it is they believe their calling should be yours,  However, there are many callings that God has given us that we all are to hear and place into action.  So, what was our "First calling"? It actually is seen in the first book of the bible, Genesis: 1 : 28  And God blessed them. And God said to them,  “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it, and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over every living thing that moves on the earth.” 1. Have families 2. Take care of the earth. A calling we see over and over in the New Testament is to Love the Lord your God.. and to Love your neighbor as yourself. I think as a society, we stink, at all three of these.  Families are no longer priority over wealth.... and we aren't willing to sacrifice is order to the do the best thing for our kids (especially if that best thin

We all know the story of Jonah. Jonah's name means dove, but he certainly isn't peaceful like.  He was  disobedient to God (Jonah 1:3), fearful (Jonah 1:9), critical (Jonah 4:1), and bitter (Jonah 4:3, 8) God told Jonah to go to the rebellious people of Ninevah. Jonah said, "No."  Jonah tried to run from God via a ship.  God caused Jonah to be throw overboard and swallowed by a Big Fish.  He was in the belly of the Big Fish for 3 days..and God caused the fish to spit Jonah out on dry land.  God said, "Go!"  Jonah went... the people did repent from their evil ways.  Did Jonah rejoice... as more people are entering eternal life?  No.... Here is Jonah 4 (all of it) .. Jonah's Anger and the  Lord 's Compassion 4  But it displeased Jonah exceedingly, [ a ]  and  he was angry. 2  And he prayed to the  Lord  and said, “O  Lord , is not this what I said when I was yet in my country?  T hat is why I made haste to flee to Tarshish; for I knew that you

I was so sad after reading Adeye's post.   She and her husband have bee"n called to adopt many special needs children.   She shares the ups and downs and encourages other families to look at the children that might not otherwise get a home.   After all, the bible does say,   Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after  orphans and widows  in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.  (James 1:27).   Do I think everyone should adopt orphans...after all, I have adopted an orphan?    No, I don't .... I think everyone is called to help in some way... Donations to those who do feel called to adopt, feeding of orphans that wouldn't get enough otherwise, clothing them, medical care for them, etc.  (However, adoption isn't the call of 100% of the church body...even if I would choose it to be so).  I see an inflexibility in the Christian body to let the Holy Spirit direct one person to do one thing and al