Our White Christmas | I've Become My Mother!

Our White Christmas | I've Become My Mother!

A Small Little Peek Into Our Christmas | I've Become My Mother!

A Small Little Peek Into Our Christmas | I've Become My Mother!

I Am NOT a People Pleaser... | I've Become My Mother!

I Am NOT a People Pleaser... | I've Become My Mother!

The World Is Pro-Abortion?

Yesterday as I was driving my girls home from school - my oldest Nikki said this.... "My biology teacher said that the world (evolution) is pro-abortion." As I have shared a couple of times before - her biology teacher is very big on evolution and at every given opportunity tries to swing any topic into an evolution discussion... I believe when he said that the world is pro-abortion he meant that evolution is based on survival of the fittest...(the ability to survive and reproduce in a particular environment)....

I do not believe that the world is Pro -abortion.... I believe that miscarriages happen when there is something wrong.... But I do not see that as an abortion.. The teacher also stated that the woman who miscarries will most likely go to the doctor and get an 'abortion' to remove the excess tissue to avoid dying.... hmmm - okay.. I'm thinking the teacher does not know the difference between an abortion and a D & C... Or is he trying to teach our children to believe that a baby in the womb is not a child but "tissue"?

Many years ago - I did have a miscarriage and I developed a fever - the doctor believed that I may have had tissue left over and performed a D & C (Dilation and Curettage).. This is by no means an abortion!!!!! An abortion is intentionally removing a child from the womb not removing tissue that was left over from a miscarriage... Planned Parenthood would love for all us to believe an abortion is removing 'tissue' but that is not the case.... Abortion - there's a baby.... D & C - there's no baby but there's left over tissue that may need to be removed...

I am a Pro-choice/Pro-life mother... I choose to believe that a child is created at conception... I choose to believe that a child is a blessing.... I choose to not accept abortion as an option... Will I go out and judge and condemn people who choose abortion - absolutely not... and I expect those who choose abortion to not judge and condemn me because my Choice is different than theirs... After all doesn't Pro Choice... mean there's a choice and the choice can be to choose life...

As you can see this is a subject that I have very strong feelings about... I know we live in a 'Free thought - anything goes" society and I pray that the values and beliefs I teach in our home will carry on in our children....

Psalm 136 13-16
¹³ For you created my inmost being;
you knit me together in my mother’s womb.
¹⁴ I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
your works are wonderful,
I know that full well.
¹⁵ My frame was not hidden from you
when I was made in the secret place,
when I was woven together in the depths of the earth.
¹⁶ Your eyes saw my unformed body;
all the days ordained for me were written in your book
before one of them came to be.

Merry Christmas vs Happy Holidays

During the Christmas season - I get many forwarded emails complaining about people saying "Happy Holidays" rather than "Merry Christmas"... Many of the emails are down right nasty... What upsets me about this is that the emails are from people who should be showing grace and love... People who should be setting an example of Christ's love... but what they are showing with these numerous emails and Face Book posts is exactly what turns so many people away from God..... "Christian" - Judgment.... hypocrisy.... anger...

Last year a wise friend of mine said this.... "Don't get angry when someone says "Happy Holidays" rather than "Merry Christmas"... because chances are that person may not know Christ.." For example... My birthday is November 2nd.... to me that is a special day.. But I don't get angry at the cashier at Albertson's for saying "Have a nice day" rather than "Happy Birthday"... She doesn't know me.... so she wouldn't know....

We need to look at "Happy Holidays" as an opportunity to show God's love.. Sending emails... posting Face Book anti "Happy Holidays" posts isn't going to shine for God... It only turns off the ones who may have been seeking Him...

And for the record - The White House has NEVER called the Christmas tree a holiday tree - this is another lie to get people all riled up... Don't let this happen to you... Spread Joy, Peace, and Love..... Snopes - Christmas Tree

Merry Christmas to you..

Something From Nothing?

Questions:

If Evolution is True and everything was created by one cell and the earth was formed over 4.6 billion years ago and because the earth did not have any oxygen - it made it favorable for the first organic compounds to be formed - the beginning of the aerobic photosynthesizing bacteria that eventually (after a couple of billion years) created that one cell that created all creatures and living things.

How did the Earth Form? How was something created from nothing? Where did the molecules come from? Did nothing suddenly become something? How did photosynthesis occur without something thrown in? And where did that something come from? Where did that bacteria come from? Something or Someone must have "created" it - Don't you think?

I think the only logical answer would be:

In the beginning God created the Heavens and the Earth... I'm thinking that may have been when that BIG BANG was heard... When something came from nothing.. Don't you?

Reach Out And Don't Give Up!

When do you stop reaching out to a loved one?? When do you give up? Should you give up? Have you ever reach out to someone and the olive branch that you tried to give was rejected? Do you leave it up to them to reach out to you next? I know that it hurts when your love is not accepted or returned.. It feels awful - but we cannot give up...

Can you imagine giving up on your teenager when they treat you like the enemy? Or your baby that cries and refuses to be comforted? No, we do not... We may become frustrated.. angry - but we don't give up because we love our children unconditionally.... and as followers of Christ are we not told to love our enemies? Are we not told to give mercy?... What does mercy really mean anyway???? To forgive when it is not deserved.

"Love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High; for He Himself is kind to ungrateful and evil men" Luke 6:35

You can and should give undeserved love (reaching out) to your loved ones because God gave undeserved love to you and to me... Love is often expressed the most to those who deserve it the least...

Keep reaching - You might be surprised one day....

Going To The Dermatologist Today | I've Become My Mother!

Going To The Dermatologist Today | I've Become My Mother!

My Husband - "Mr. Fix It"

My husband is a Professional Manager at work and at life.... We often have discussions about what happened in my day with my business... with the kids. I would share a few things that may have disturbed me - a client not paying his bill on time... one or both of the kids acting out.. a disagreement I may have had with a lender or borrower... Usually when I get around to telling him the story of my day - it's already been "handled" but he can't help but advise me on what I should have said or done... It's not as if I could go back and have a re-do... My husband wants to fix the problem I am having (had) or give a solution or advise on what I should have done or will do in the future... "What can I do for you?" is a standard question.... I hear from him... Many times I do not need him to fix it - many times it cannot be fixed.... And maybe I just don't want it fixed... I just want him to listen to me..

Managers like my husband are natural problem-solvers. Every challenge is an opportunity to be met quickly. With marriage and relationships - problem-solvers are suddenly faced with a challenge that cannot be easily solved or it cannot be solved at all. Dusty (my husband) wants to fix things when they are broken - he wants things to always run smoothly - "well managed" but life - love - marriage is messy... We have definitely called on each others patience and we have learned that patience in marriage works a lot like faith... Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. Hebrews 11:1. Dusty may want to fix it - but he is learning that listening to me.. having patience with me may be all the fixing something needs... I am learning that - I should listen to Dusty's advise (he is a very smart man) and who knows I just might gain more knowledge and/or wisdom the next time I have a conflict...

The longer we are married the more practice we are getting - soon we will be reaching the Twenty-two years of marriage mark - hard to believe.. I'm thinking we may be closer to "perfection" in another twenty-two years - What do you think?

*Picture from Picasa

He Never Left Me.

It's been a long time since I posted on Amazing Salvation - I stopped blogging because my life was on overload and I was losing control... I refused to trust God... I refused to go to Him... I refused to talk to Him.. I was trying to control things from my end without His help... Without Him Period.... I was so angry at Him... I refused to go to church.. I refused to participate in the ministry that I loved for so long... But - I know that He never left me... Through my anger - He loved me... He waited.. and I found comfort in that... I know I was not forever lost...

I am humbled by His continued Presence....

He Loved Me - Even When I Was Mad At Him...

What do you do - When you love God but you're also so mad at Him - that you want to back away from Him? You are so angry - that you back away from church - your core group of Christian friends - your devotionals? This is where I have been the past three (3) weeks... I'm angry... But even through my anger - He made His presence and His love known to me.....

We have been going through our first serious trials of being a parent to a teen - A teen that decided she knew best... A teen that created such a mess that she could not find her way out... Instead of seeking help from us her parents - she decided to take out her anger on us.... She covered her fear and lack of control by being rebellious and disrespectful....

Before things started to spiral out of control - my daughter had left a message with the dean of girls at her school... She wanted to talk to her about something... Due to the busyness of the end of the year school activities - the dean did not get back to her for over a week...

God's timing is Perfect!!!! This is what the dean said when she called me after her discussion with my kid... This is what happened:

The dean finally called my daughter in to talk and my kid was mad...The first thing my daughter said is this, "I know why you called me in here - I don't know why my mom can't stay out of my business!" The dean advised my daughter she had no idea what she was talking about... She said that she called my daughter in because she had left a note that she wanted to talk.... My kid was shocked.... The dean asked her if she wanted to talk about what she meant... At first my kid said no and then all of a sudden everything came out... This huge weight was lifted off my kid's shoulders... The secret burdens she was hiding were freed and when my daughter came home and we talked - we cried together... and the healing started.....

You see - if the dean had called my kid in earlier - it would not have helped what had happened later... I was at a loss - I was so fearful for my daughter.... But God - opened that door of communication.. He knew I was desperate .... He knew my kid needed me.... He showed me He loved me regardless of how I was feeling about Him.... He is much bigger than my human emotions.. .. His love is far greater than I could ever imagine... I am in awe... I am humbled..

Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. if I rise on the wings of dawn if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast. Psalm 139:7-9

Listen Fast

A friend of mine e-mailed this to me the other day.... It's awesome... I talk fast but I do NOT hold a candle to this lady....

Today I Will Wallow - Tomorrow I Will Move On... | I've Become My Mother!

Today I Will Wallow - Tomorrow I Will Move On... | I've Become My Mother!

Running Around Like A Chicken | I've Become My Mother!

Running Around Like A Chicken | I've Become My Mother!

Saying I'm Sorry

There have been times in my life when my ugly pride had gotten in the way of saying I'm sorry.. Why is it so difficult at times to show the one you promised your life to that you love him? That you are so sorry for treating him like he did not matter... It took me twenty (20) years of marriage to get it... To realize that I made a commitment to this man... to God.... One of the best books I have read is theThe Love Dare - there is so much wisdom in this book.... Completely Bible based...

I had spent years blasting my husband for the minor mistakes he made... or the lack of attention he gave me... I was too busy pointing the finger in his direction - I never bothered to look in the mirror.... and in reality my sins were far more greater....

When a husband puts his interests, desires, and priorities in front of his wife, that's a sign of selfishness. When a wife constantly complains about the time and energy she spends meeting the needs of her husband, that's a sign of selfishness... Basically - it's the pot calling the kettle black...

Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves. Philippians 2:3

This is a quote that I totally agree with from The Love Dare: "If you're thinking that your spouse - not you - is the one who needs work, you're likely suffering from a bad case of ignorance, with a secondary condition of selfishness. Remember, love is not rude but lifts you to a higher standard..."

This is a scene from the movie Fireproof- it's the most humbling apology from a husband... I think every married couple could learn something from it... I know I did...

Saying No To The Tempter...

Saying "No" is often times hard... Not only for my kids but also for me.... for everyone I think... There are many tempters in our world.... Many times temptation comes in the form of over indulging in a favorite dessert..... or skipping a class with a friend.... or flirting with an old boyfriend/girlfriend on Facebook... Temptation is everywhere.... At first it may appear to be innocent but that little voice in the back of your mind is probably telling you - "Say No!!! - This is not right - back away... - GET OUT"... We need to listen.. We need to step back... and many times we may need to terminate a relationship that involves a tempter..... a temptation...

It is really sad to me how lost our society has become... Marriage is not taken as seriously.... Monogamy is rarely practiced - just ask Elin Woods - how she felt when she discovered her husband.. the father to her two (2) beautiful babies had slept with 120 women... Or the single mom dropping off her kids at school - how she feels raising a family on her own - without the support of a husband.... Our morals... our beliefs.... our convictions are no longer driven by what is right... but rather they are driven by what feels good... whether it is right... or it is wrong rarely matters any longer...

As followers of Christ we need to live our lives UNCOMMONLY... We need to maintain our beliefs... We need to set an example for our children and for those around us... Not by judgment but by example... We are not of this world... We are for His world....

But each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed. James 1:14.

Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. James 4:7

Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for heirs is the kingdom of Heaven. Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in Heaven. Matthew 5:10-12

Brothers, if someone is caught in a sin, you who are spiritual should restore him gently. But watch yourself, or you also may be tempted.. Galatians 6:1

There are so many verses talking about fleeing the tempter... that I am thinking that it's a very important thing to do... What do you think?

Archaeological Evidence - The Parting Of The Red Sea

My belief in God is based on Faith... I believe that the Bible is the Word of God.... I do not need physical proof of His existence.... But.....

I do have to admit that I love when archaeological evidence supports the Bible... These two videos are incredible - They show actual proof (in my opinion) of locations in the Bible that support - Moses crossing the Red Sea - Mount Sinai- the alter for the golden calf - and more... What do you think?



Chariot Wheels..

The Power Of Prayer

There have been many times in my life when I have stood witness to God showing off - Performing such incredible miracles just because He can... Just because He loves me and mine....

A few years back - my youngest had a MRI done - the technician told me that he saw something he did not like - a man with 25 years experience... I called my church and asked for urgent prayer requests... The following Sunday - my daughter wanted to go pray at the alter during the invitational prayer time - When we were done praying to God for answers and healing - we stood up and behind us and around us were several members on their knees praying along with us.... That Monday - the doctor's office called and said her brain was normal (there was a cyst or something there and it disappeared)... I believe a miracle occurred...

Many years ago I was in renal (kidney) failure and was on dialysis... I was at the lowest point in my faith and hope... My husband I decided to go to church one Sunday (we were not church going folks at the time) I remember the pastor telling us that God does not want us to worry.. God wants us to give Him our worries and concerns... He wants us to rely on Him... The pastor said to just go into a room and say "God take this worry away from - I'm tired of worrying" So when I got home - I went into another room (so my husband would not think I completely lost it) and said "God take this worry from me... I cannot do this anymore" and I laid down on the bed and went to sleep..... That night - I woke up with an 105 fever... I was rushed to the emergency room - the doctor came in and said - I have some good news and some bad news.... the bad news is the dialysis shunt has a staph infection and the good news is your kidneys are working and you are off dialysis..... Again God answered my prayers.... He gave me a miracle... By the way, that was 15 years ago and my kidneys are still working.....

There have been many more times when God showed His mercy and love. I love that I can talk with Him anytime.... anywhere.. I am thankful that He will always be there when I call Him... Today - many people celebrated National Prayer Day -Let's not stop at just one day of National Prayer... but let's keep it going Every Day....

The Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express. Romans 8:26

Do You Know What It Is????? | I've Become My Mother!

Do You Know What It Is????? | I've Become My Mother!

Well Done Good And Faithful Servant...

Tonight one on the questions in my Bible study was this....

"If the Lord was to take you home tonight, would you be able to say that you did not waste your life, but lived it for God's kingdom?"

This question is a really tough to answer - don't you think?

You know the saying - "Good intentions pave your way to hell"? If I am going to be honest here - I have to say that I do have good intentions... I will get very fired up and somewhere along the way I lose steam and often times fall back into my lazy ways....

In our round table discussion we talked about how to get and stay passionate about Jesus... The main answer was to love one another... To love the unlovable.... To stop judging.... What God requires of His Followers is basically simple... He wants us to love and honor His children and to love Him with all our heart, all our soul, and all our mind....

Romans 14:10-12 But why do you judge your brother? Or why do you show contempt for your brother? For we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ. For it is written: "As I live, says the Lord, Every knee shall bow to Me, And every tongue shall confess to God." So then each of us shall give account to himself to God.

We I need to live my life honoring Christ... I need to reach out to the unloved and love... I need to humble myself... I need to get out of this comfort zone I have created and get uncomfortable... Because when I go home to my Father - I want to be able to say....

I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. And God will reply.... "Well Done, good and faithful servant."

** image from yahoo images

To My Sisters - I Carry Your Heart...

I Carry Your Heart With Me
E. E. Cummings


I carry your heart with me(I carry it in
my heart) I am never without it(anywhere
I go you go,my dear; and whatever is done
by only me is your doing,my darling)

I fear no fate(for you are my fate, my sweet) I want
no world(for beautiful you are my world, my true)
and it's you are whatever a moon has always meant
and whatever a sun will always sing is you

Here is the deepest secret nobody knows
(here is the root of the root and the bud of the bud
and the sky of the sky of a tree called life; which grows
higher than the soul can hope or mind can hide)
and this is the wonder that's keeping the stars apart

I carry your heart (I carry it in my heart)

A Difficult Movie To Watch.....

Preview of Movie Below

Today I watched a movie with my daughters... It was probably the most difficult movie I have ever watched... it was called 'The Stoning of Soraya M".... It was based on the true story of an Iranian woman whose husband wanted another woman... a child bride really.. He was a vile man who decided that he wanted his current wife dead so he would not have to support her and could marry another... He tried to convince the village where they lived that his wife was unfaithful.... The village knew better but they chose to act on the husband's accusations.. In Iran - adultery is punishable by death....

This wife.... mother.... friend... niece was stoned to death... Her name was Soraya M... This story was told by Soraya's aunt - who met with a French reporter secretly and told him the story... There is so much more to the story that I highly recommend it as a must watch movie... It's heartbreaking and eye opening....

I have shared many times on this blog that my dream is to go out into the missionary field.... This movie helped to solidify my want... my dream... I have a strong feeling it helped to open my daughters eyes.... My oldest watched as tears ran down her face... not understanding the evil in the world... She has such a heart for service... I can picture her by my side one day.... Talking to and loving others in the field.... Going to meet the unreached and telling them the Good News of Jesus Christ...

2 Timothy 4:2 Preach the word of God. Be persistent, whether the time is favorable or not. Even if attitudes or circumstances are not favorable, speak out anyway, and tell about Christ's work..

A Prayer Request

"Whether we win or lose this game.. we will praise Him" This is a quote from one of my favorite movies - "Facing The Giants" This is a quote that I have been telling myself everyday since last week...

You see - my husband will be interviewing for a position in the South this coming Thursday.. This can be a huge change for this Southern California family.... Going from the Pacific Ocean to Memphis, Tennessee... Can you say "WOW!"? This is something that I believe will be wonderful for my family.. for my husband... for myself on so many different levels...

I have been praying every day... all day for God to bless us with this change... I have been praying that My want would be His will... I know - God's plan for me.. for my family is perfect... And many times - when something I thought I wanted did not happen - I could look back on it and have an "aha" moment.... I do have to say that this possibility of a new life feels right.....

My prayer request is this: I pray that God will bless us with this incredible opportunity but if it's His Will not to go..... I will continue to be faithful and I will continue to praise Him.... All Good Things Come From Him.....

Thank you. Kelly

I Hope He Says "Yes" | I've Become My Mother!

I Hope He Says "Yes" | I've Become My Mother!

My WOW Moment On Television

When this song was sang on American Idol - I cried.... I don't know why.... It was one of the those WOW moments on television.. What do you think? Is it a WOW for you too?

Shout To The Lord


My Jesus, My Savior
Lord there is none like You
All of my days
I want to praise
The wonders of Your mighty love

My Comfort, My Shelter
Tower of refuge and strength
Let every breath
And all that I am
Never cease to worship You

Shout to the Lord
All the earth
Let us sing
Power and majesty
Praise to the King
Mountains bow down
And the seas will roar
At the sound of Your Name

I sing for joy at the work of Your hands
Forever I'll love you
Forever I'll stand
Nothing compares to the promise I have in You

My Jesus, My Saviour
Lord there is none like You
All of my days
I want to praise
The wonders of Your mighty love

My comfort
My Shelter
Tower of refuge and strength
let every breath
All that I am
Never cease to worship you

Shout to the Lord
All the earth
Let us sing
Power and majesty
Praise to the King
Mountains bow down
And the seas will roar
At the sound of Your Name

I sing for joy at the work of Your hands
Forever I'll love you
Forever I'll stand
Nothing compares to the promise I have in You

Shout to the Lord
All the earth
Let us sing
Power and majesty
Praise to the King
Mountains bow down
And the seas will roar
At the sound of Your Name

I sing for joy at the work of Your hands
Forever I'll love you
Forever I'll stand
Nothing compares to the promise I have
Nothing compares to the promise I have
Nothing compares to the promise I have in You

I Just Want To Be Happy

How many times have you heard someone say - "I just want to be happy."? This statement will often follow a divorce... a separation... It will many times follow an action that may have been a huge and life changing event. I remember the day I filed for divorce... I left the attorney's office and got into my car... I called my sister on the phone and I was crying hysterically ... I remember telling her that all I wanted was to be happy... and my husband wasn't doing it.... I canceled the divorce proceedings two years later and it took a lot of soul searching and praying to learn that Dusty (my husband) was not responsible for my happiness.... I punished him for twenty years for not living up to my unrealistic expectations... and I am truly sorry for that....

I recently found a journal that I had kept when Dusty and I were dating... I had forgotten the pure joy I had with him.. The constant laughter.. I had forgotten what made me fall in love with him... Dusty could make me laugh like no other.... He would tell these stories that were so outrageous and the way he told them would keep my complete attention... He drew me in like a fly to honey..... Even to this day - Dusty is the most funny and smartest man I have ever known... and somewhere over the past 21 years - I had forgotten that...

As I have matured in my age and in my faith and in my marriage - I have learned that happiness is ever changing... My expectations are changing.... My wants and needs and the way I love have changed.... Dusty and I are no longer the very young twenty somethings from years and years ago.... thank goodness - I like who we are today... and the last few weeks - We have spent an abnormal amount of time together... and it's fun to rediscover the laughter we once had... He's a funny guy, my man....

Romans 12:10 Love each other with genuine affection, and take delight in honoring each other.

Struggling With Intimacy

For the last few months I have been struggling with my relationships... My relationship with my husband... with my friends... and with My God... I have found myself backing away... Wanting to be alone... Many of those who don't know me intimately probably would not notice the change... I can be subtle... But my closest friends.. Those who help to hold me accountable - see it... feel it...

I have been finding reasons not to go to church... not to journal.. not to pray.. I have been making excuses to my family... my friends.. and my God... Excuses for not being completely there... In many ways - I have been completely absent... Today - I had obligations and made myself get up and go to church and quite honestly I did not want to be there... I was going through the motions...

Today - I opened up to a friend... something I rarely do.... I shared what I have been going through... I am not angry at God... but I have been bored... I wasn't allowing Him to fill my needs any longer.. I have been seeking worldly desires... Worldly intimacies... Today - I noticed that the more I was avoiding Him... the more my joy was fleeing... The joy that I found in His word... in His presence... was just a memory.... I was not allowing myself to be intimate with Him.... Today - my friend shared that she was going through some of the same emotions..... Isn't it funny how He puts others in our path that can share and empathize with us.. Women who are also struggling in their relationships.. I think God loves us so much that He doesn't want us to be alone.. He wants us to find Him through and with others...

We are still studying Crazy Love by Francis Chan... To be perfectly honest - I had not read the chapter we were going to discuss tonight... The title of this week's chapter is 'When You're In - Love'..... The basic premise of the chapter was how to create that intimacy with our Father...I had not prepared myself for tonight's lesson - and leave it to Him to open the book to exactly what He wanted me to see....

Excerpt from Crazy Love - Chapter Six

SomeOne I Can Be Real With

If you merely pretend to enjoy God or love Him, He knows. You can't fool Him; don't even try. Instead, tell Him how you feel. Tell Him that He isn't the most important thing in this life to you, and that you're sorry for that. Tell Him that you've been lukewarm, that you've chosen (whatever it is) over Him time and again. Tell Him that you want Him to change you, that you long to genuinely enjoy Him. Tell Him how you want to experience true satisfaction and pleasure and joy in your relationship with Him. Tell Him you want to love Him more than anything on this Earth. Tell Him you want to treasure the kingdom of heaven so much that you'd willingly sell everything in order to get it. Tell Him what you like about Him, what you appreciate, and what brings you joy...

Jesus: God, Lunatic, or Evil Man...

By C.S. Lewis

When we come to the Incarnation itself, I usually find that some form of aut Deus aut malus hom (either God or a bad man) can be used. The majority of them start with the idea of the "great human teacher" who was deified by his superstitious followers. It must be pointed out how very improbable this is among the Jews and how different to anything that happened with Plato, Confucius, Buddha, Mohammed. The Lord's own words and claims (of which many are quite ignorant) must be forced home..

On the one side clear, definite moral teaching. On the other, which, if not true, are those of a megalomaniac, compared with whom Hitler was the most sane and humble of men. There is no half-way house and there is no parallel in other religions. If you had gone to Buddha and asked him "Are you the son of Brahman?" he would have said, "My son, you are sill in the vale of illusion." If you had gone to Socrates and asked, "Are you Zeus?" he would have laughed at you. If you had gone to Mohamed and asked, "Are you Allah?? he would first have rent his clothes and then cut your head off. If you had asked Confucius, "Are you Heaven?" I think he would have probably replied, "Remarks which are not in accordance with nature are in bad taste." The idea of a great moral teacher saying what Christ said is out of the question. In my opinion, the only person who can say that sort of this is either God or a complete lunatic suffering from that form of delusion which undermines the whole mind of man. If you think you are a poached egg, when you are looking for a piece of toast to suit you, you may be sane, but if you think you are God, there is no chance for you. We may note in passing that He was never regarded as a mere moral teacher. He did not produce that effect on any of the people who actually met Him. he produced mainly three effects - Hatred - Terror - Adoration. There was no trace of people expressing mild approval.

Jesus told people that their sins were forgiven... This makes sense only if He really was the God whose laws are broken and whose love is wounded in every sin. I am trying here to prevent anyone saying the really foolish thing that people often say about Him: "I'm ready to accept Jesus as a great moral teacher, but I don't accept His claim to be God." That is the one thing we must not say. A man who was merely a man and said the sort of things Jesus said would not be a great moral teacher. H would either be a lunatic - on a level with the man who says he is a poached egg - or else he would be the Devil of Hell. You can shut Him up for a fool, you can spit at Him and kill Him as a demon; or you can fall at His feet and call Him Lord and God. but let us not come with any patronizing nonsense about His being a great human teacher. He has left that open to us. He did not intend to.

Excerpts from God in the Dock, "what are we to make of Jesus Christ?" 1950 and Mere Christianity

A Slow Path In The Wrong Direction

Today - I spoke with a friend - About three (3) months ago she had found out her husband was having an affair.... He swore that it was over... He swore that it only lasted a week or so.... Today - my friend found out the affair had been going on for six (6) years and it's NOT OVER... Six YEARS!!!! How do you overcome this? How do you heal? How do you forgive? How do you go on? What do you say to your three (3) children - ages 7, 9 and 14 - who think their daddy is a hero? How do you NOT shatter into a thousand pieces?

I once heard that things like this don't happen all of a sudden... It's a slow path... in the wrong direction... My Sunday school teacher had said once that he doesn't have any women friends - unless they are with him AND his wife... He would never go to a casual lunch/dinner... he would never call a woman on the phone to chat.... He has ONE woman in his life and that is his wife... He said he believed that casual can move in the wrong direction... I tend to believe that is true.... I have always had many platonic male friends growing up - my best friend growing up was a boy - All through junior high and all the way through to college and beyond he was the best - always platonic... never thought about anything else friend... I remember my husband (my boyfriend) at the time getting jealous that I would spend the weekend with by best friend... I did not understand why... now I do... Looking through the eyes of a much older and wiser woman...

Infidelity is a very easy trap to fall into - if you allow yourself to play with fire... My friend will be going through some very tough times in the coming days... months.. years.. Her family will suffer for it... her faith .. her love... her strength... her beliefs will all be tested... Her ability to trust again won't come easily.... it is sad to me how much damage can occur by slowing following the wrong path towards something other than what is right.....



**picture from google pictures

Forgiveness Is Not An Option

The other night I watched a little bit of a movie called Amish Grace... It was based on the true story of a gunman who walked into an Amish school and shot ten (10) Amish girls and then turned the gun on himself... Several of the girls died... The father of one of the girls who had died went to go visit the widow of the gunman along with a couple of the elders. He went to tell the widow that he has forgiven her husband and that he and his family were there for her - he offered her comfort... Because God has commanded him to forgive...

I remember many years ago listening to a Priest talk about his visits to different state prisons... He told the story of a woman who's daughter was raped and killed by an inmate.. After about a year into his incarceration the mother went to go see him... and through her tears she forgave him... She and the inmate kept in touch for several years...

I don't know if I would be capable of that kind of forgiveness... How difficult it must be... In one's sorrow it would be much easier to hold onto the anger... the hatred... at least I think it would be... I pray that I never have to test that thought...

Colossians 3:12-13 "Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you"

Luke 17:3-4 So watch yourselves. If your brother sins, rebuke him and if he repents, forgive him. If he sins against you seven times in a day, and seven times comes back to you and says, "I repent," forgive him.

Micah 7:18-19 Who is a God like you, who pardons sin and forgives transgression of the remnant of his inheritance? You do not stay angry forever but delight to show mercy. You will again have compassion on us; you will tread our sins underfoot and hurl all our iniquities into the depths of the sea..

Today Is Good Friday

Today is Good Friday - A day that represents the Crucifixion of Jesus Christ... Although Jesus was completely innocent of all sin, Jesus suffered the most horrible, disgraceful punishment known. But His agonizing death was not an ordinary death, for it was not the final chapter. Jesus turned this apparent defeat into the most glorious victory the world has ever known. At the Cross, He suffered for the sins of the world. Then after His resurrection from the dead three days later, Jesus empowered His disciples with a new message, the Good News that He had finally defeated the power of sin and death. Through the Cross, Jesus offers salvation to All who will believe in Him.

Today - I was thinking of when I was a little girl - I can remember my mom singing along to this song... On a hill faraway...

Fighting Dirty...

Last year I embarked on a quest - a quest to fall in love with my husband... I did the Love Dare - from the movie Fireproof... I have to tell you that I indeed fell in love with Dusty all over again... I was loving in all of my ways... I was making choices to not fight... not criticize.. I was making the choice to love - in my actions and in my words... After the 40 days - others around us saw the changes... There were actual physical changes... We appeared to be more joyful... younger... more playful... A dear friend of mine called me on the phone one day - because she just wanted to tell me she loved what she saw... our pure love shining through... and she was thrilled... This particular friend was there the day - I announced that I had filed for divorce... We had been married 20 years and I was - no we were miserable... Something had to change... The Love Dare did that - God did that.... In His Word - In His Instructions - for the first time in my life I knew what love really was.... but....

A year has gone by since the Love Dare has been completed... We have been drifting away from the choices we were actively making... I was actively making... I lost sight of my responsibilities of being a Christ centered Wife... a loving wife... and because I lost focus - Dusty lost focus... I find that we are falling into some of the old habits of carelessness... and it has got to stop... I do not want to be back in the place we first started... The fighting has got to stop.. the indifference has got to stop... The drifting away has got to stop....

Today - I went back to my Love Dare book - I opened the book directly to Day 13- Love Fights Fair.... Yep - God has a way of just letting you know it... setting you right... I realized that I have been fighting dirty... That I have been so very prideful that I did not see the damage I have been inflicting... Words hurt... Actions hurt... Dirty Fighting can damage so deeply.. I could say that Dusty is guilty too - but you know - I am in charge of how I act... how I respond... and I choose to stop.... here is an excerpt from the Love Dare that just smacked me hard today...

The deepest, most heartbreaking damage you'll ever do (or have ever done) to your marriage will most likely occur in the thick of conflict. That's because this is when your pride is strongest. Your anger is hottest. You're the most selfish and judgmental. Your words contain the most venom. You make the worst decisions. A great marriage on Monday can start driving off a cliff on Tuesday if unbridled conflict takes over and neither of you has your foot on the brakes...

Love Reminds You That Your Marriage is Too Valuable To Destroy
Love Reminds You Your Spouse Is More Important Than The Fight.
Love Helps You Install Airbags and sets ups guardrails

Married couples who learn to work through conflict tend to be closer, more trusting, more intimate, and enjoy a much deeper connection afterward..

I have learned that The Love Dare should go beyond the 40 days.. It should last a lifetime... So I am back to basics... The Love Dare Day One..... Love Is Patient - Today - say NOTHING negative.....

Dear Lord - I messed Up Again..

Dear Lord,

I messed up again. I disappointed others, myself, and worst of all - I disappointed you. The more I struggled with your word - the more I fail... the more I fall short.... How can you forgive me when I fail you All the time..... so many times?

Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak" (Matthew 26:41). Our bodies have strong desires that tempt us to sin... When I think of all the times I fall short - I am in awe of all the times you forgive me... Your word tells me that all I need to do is ask, then receive Your forgiveness... Is it really true that my all sins are gone as far as the east is from the west? It's hard for me understand... but you are God and nothing is impossible...

Tonight - I again realized that you want a relationship with me... You want me to love you with all that I am... You want my heart... Everything I do in corporate worship isn't enough - good works are not enough - especially if I do the things out of obligation and not because of my desire... You want me to worship you.. to love agape... To Desire you To embrace your uncommon grace...

Today in Crazy Love - I read this: "Are you willing to say to God that He can have whatever He wants? Do you believe that wholehearted commitment to Him is more important than any other person in your life? Do you know that nothing you do in this life will ever matter, unless it is about loving God and loving the people He has made?"

Father, I am in a work in progress - I am thankful that you love me... you forgive me and you have not given up on me.... thank you.

Friday Follow - My First Giveaway | I've Become My Mother!

Friday Follow - My First Giveaway | I've Become My Mother!

Today - I am Letting Go!

Today - I am letting go - I am giving up control - I'm letting Jesus take the wheel.. I've been driving too long - and I'm tired.... With me behind the wheel there have been too many detours.. too many dead ends... I realized today (again) that I cannot do it all.... I try to be everything to everyone and I am exhausted... I've put my Father, my husband, and my kids on the back burner... The most important things in my life have been upstaged by my mad desires.. My mad and crazy business... my mad and crazy need to be in control... Not trusting God to take care of me....

With me in the drivers seat - I have driven off the road... I have gotten lost... I have ended up in places that I should never have ventured to.... So picture me stepping out of the car... walking around to the passenger's door getting in... not putting on a seat belt - with Jesus driving - there is no need - He alone protects me...

The Lord will keep you from harm - he will watch over your life; the Lord will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore... Psalm 121:7-8

One Moment Of Weakness

Have you ever gone on a diet.... and cheated.... And because you cheated you made yourself feel defeated.... and instead of jumping back on the diet you chose to blow it for the rest of the day... the rest of the week... the month... That one moment of weakness set you on a path of self destruction... This is what I believe happens when we sin... One sin - one moment of weakness - one indiscretion can create a domino effect of compounding our sin... to do more sin.. Until you are so buried... so caught up in what you are doing that it seems that there is no hope ... But all the time - your stomach - your heart is telling you to STOP... Have you ever felt this way?

Guilt is a very powerful negative emotion... I believe it is God's way of telling us to STOP!

Everyday is a new day... a new opportunity to do what is right... We can break away from sin... The decision is ours....

Hold Fast to what is right.. Hold Fast to your Father... Hold Fast to Love... Hold Fast... Don't give up...

May the God of hope fill you with joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. Romans 15:13

Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.. Psalm 51:10

There is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death. For what the law was powerless to do in that it was weakened by the sinful nature, God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful man to be a sin offering. Romans 8:1-3

Jesus said, "Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete. John 16:24

Lukewarm People

Let's just say I DO NOT LIKE A MIRROR IN MY FACE!!! A mirror that is telling me the truths of where I am... where I am headed... where I have been.. and what I am doing wrong.....

There's a quote in Crazy Love - that hit home and it was hard to accept...but the more I think about it - the more I believe it to be true

"The goals of American Christianity are often a nice-marriage, children who don't swear, and good church attendance. Taking the words of Christ literally and seriously is rarely considered. That's for the "radicals" who are "unbalance" and who go "overboard". Most of us want a balanced life that we can control, that is safe, and that does not involve suffering.."

According to Francis Chan author of Crazy Love - this is one of the many definitions of the lukewarm Christian... It's not that we are not saved... It's not that we don't love God... It's we don't give our life to Him.... the control to Him... We are not picking up our crosses and following Him....

"Lukewarm people don't really want to be saved from their sin; they want only to be saved from the penalty of their sin. They don't generally hate sin and are not truly sorry for it; they're merely sorry because God is going to punish them. Lukewarm people don't really believe that this new life Jesus offers is better than the old sinful one." Quote from Crazy Love...

"I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full" John 10:10

"What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? By no means! We died to sin; how can we live in it any longer? Romans 6:1-2..

Food for thought? I know I have my work cut out for me... How about you?

I Had A Camera and There You Go.. | Kelly's Ideas

I Had A Camera and There You Go.. | Kelly's Ideas

Are You Ready?

When I was a little girl, my sisters would tell me about the Rapture - I remember saying that I wanted God to wait.... I wanted to get married and have kids first... My daughters have both come to me at different times and told me that they hoped God would wait because they wanted to get married and have kids too... The cycles we go through... Today, I would welcome the Rapture - I would welcome the pure and complete love - comfort - joy - peace..

I don't know if the Rapture will happen in my life... For the past 2000 years or so - every generation believed it would happen.. There are signs... there are many signs that the time is drawing near. The Bible states that He will come as a thief in the night... although we do not know the date nor the time, Paul does tell us in 1 Thessalonians 5 - that we are not in the darkness - when they say peace and safety - then comes sudden destruction... Basically saying - it won't be a surprise when it does come to pass.

Will the Rapture precede the tribulation? I don't know for sure - I believe it will - I pray that it will.. There are many verses in the Bible that talk about how God will save us from wrath - "Pray always, that you may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man."

I saw this video and it really made me think - is this the way it's going to be?.. What do you think? And are you ready?