Sancitity of Life Sunday

Tomorrow is Sanctity of Life Sunday.

We have days to pray for our troops, 9/11 victims, and the persecuted church. But tomorrow we pray for those voices unheard, the ones who never spoke. It's not a time for condemnation or judgement.

I see it as a time to rejoice.

I like to think those babies are in Paradise--utter perfection--and are completely and totally at Home with their true Maker and Creator.

Take a moment...a second and pray for the sanctity of life...because Life is Precious to God.

It's my way...or the highway

I've noticed that the previous blog posts have been about me...and I can't stand talking about myself.

Mostly, because I have nothing to say.

But, I can't help but mention what God's been doing in my life--making me realize how needy I am and probably making you think, "She's got some serious issues." But I take heart in this quote by Francis Chan, “If life were stable, I'd never need God's help.”

This week I realized (and not for the first time) how much I need Jesus. Enough said, right?

Wrong.
“Has your relationship with God changed the way you live your life?”
― Francis Chan

Anyone can admit they need help, anyone can admit that they need Jesus. But, until you put that "needing-Jesus," stuff to work, its only words. It's like telling someone how much you love them but never expressing it.

I needed to work on getting through my impossible brain that I can't do anything on my own. Nothing. I find myself saying, "Okay, God, I've got this part of my life--you work on something else," or, "I've got this, it's cool God, come back later when I really need you."

No. It's an all or nothing relationship.“He wants all or nothing. The thought of a person calling himself a 'Christian' without being a devoted follower of Christ is absurd.” ~ Francis Chan

It's hard because I don't like not knowing what to expect. I think that's the biggest reason that I choose "my" way, because I can sort of create the outcome, whereas trusting in God is like...who really knows what's going to happen? But I think that's the whole point--no knowing...trusting...and watching for what amazing things will happen.

“The irony is that while God doesn’t need us but still wants us, we desperately need God but don’t really want Him most of the time.” [choir of angels singing, Halleluiah in the background]

So...to this...I can only say I'm trying to change and the change is slow.

Oh, and may the Raven's win!!!!!

How an Abortion Saved the Lives of Many

How an Abortion Saved the Lives of Many

The good, the bad, and the negative. . .

I was suddenly perplexed as I listened to myself. It was a normal day, nothing unusual or irregular about the day. My thought process has instantly changed to negativity and it bothered me. One of those blasted days when nothing goes right, everything is wrong, so-and-so 'did it again,' worry about needless things, and the smallest trespasses are taken with the biggest offense. I wondered how I had gotten here--how had my view gone from completely happy and joyful to the complete opposite. It bothered me. A lot. How quickly I could be consumed about the unfavorable characteristics in my life, rather than move past them, bothered me. I was suddenly consumed about all that went wrong in my life that I didn't take time to admire and cherish all that I had--even the bad things. A few years ago, I read an article by someone (unnamed author, I apologize, I can't remember your name just what you said) but they talked about all the different ways to accept the mountains in your life and make the best of them. I make it sound so cliche, but truly it wasn't. The author continued, remarking about a particular time in her life when she complained of washing so many dishes. Every evening after dinner she'd wash and wash and wash, quickly tiring of the repetitive chore. Finally, she realized (while, washing the dishes) that her lack of gratitude bled not only into her daily chores but into every aspect of her life. She decided that a change was in order and chose to look at every drudgery in a grateful perspective. As she washed her dishes, she thanked God for providing the food to place on the dishes, for the people that the dishes served, for the dishes themselves--soon, she found that she had a host of thank-you's and remarks of gratitude. She continued throughout the day, when a prized possession was shattered she was grateful that her salvation was not as easy to crumble like that of a feeble treasure, the list continued. Not every drudgery will be that easy to be grateful for, but somehow, in everything, glory to God must be found. He wouldn't command us to, "Rejoice always..." In 1 Thessalonians. It doesn't matter the circumstance, we're to rejoice always. I think of great missionaries and persecuted Christians, such as Corrie ten Boom, who was encouraged by her dying sister, Betsy, to follow these very words while suffering from lice, fleas, cold, starvation, neglect, malnutrition and a host of other problems all while in a Nazi concentration camp. Somehow they found gratitude for their conditions, and somehow it got them through another day. It's hard. Somehow it's easier to find negativity rather than gratefulness. But it's so refreshing to find an outlook that mirrors gratitude and thankfulness.

Just Love God. . .

Night time is when my thoughts connect best. Something pieces my thoughts better at night, maybe the serenity or the stillness that night provides. Several times throughout the day I sat, trying to put my thoughts down, but was interrupted by the little voices asking to come color a picture, or help with school, or some chore that needed completion…and there went my lovely blog post. But tonight, I was able to finish my post—uncertain if anyone will be able to connect with what I’m saying…

God just wants your love. I looked at that sentence and questioned its validity. I’m one of those unlucky people who struggles with a serious illness—it’s called over-achieving. If you’re like me you know that sometimes being an over-achiever is not so great, because you constantly try and prove things to yourself by doing over what is expected. I realized this, amidst, trying to decide which nursing home to start volunteering at, which country to pick for my summer missions trip, and when to start volunteering at a nearby crisis pregnancy center. While, all of those things, are well and good, and have potentials to serve the Lord and reach out to others, I had somehow missed the point. I can try, all I want, to out-serve other people, track down every unbeliever until every last one has a tract, and solve world hunger, but if I miss the point of loving God, then it’s really all for loss. In myself, I have indeed missed the point. I’m not going to stop serving people and focus on just loving God. But I feel that while I am serving I have to strive harder to remember that God just wants my love...

You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength." Deut. 6:4-6

Back Again. . .

So, I've joined forces, yet again, with the blogging world.

It's safe to say that posts won't be appearing every day and that what I have to say or what I write will probably leave most of you in a quandary with my meaning. But I'm excited to just write and share my life and the lessons that I learn daily or rather, minute-by-minute.