PRAYING FOR ISIS

Ok.  I can't take it anymore.  In between loads of laundry in my toy-filled but comfortable family room I see a news article pop up in my feed… 220 Syrian Christians captured by ISIS.   Not even 2 weeks ago it was 21.

Today I hear 220.

These are PEOPLE.  Men, women, and children fleeing for their LIVES, people.  What are YOU doing on this Saturday?

I'm pretty sure it doesn't look anything like this.

What are you grieving today?  Why aren't we as believers, as a nation, GRIEVING the evil that's happening?

What if this was your daughter or son?  Can we stop for a MOMENT to consider that?

Can you put your child's face here?  Stroking her dusty hair, comforting her cries of hunger, thirst and exhaustion.

It makes me think… HOW do we stop this evil.  

It sounds so cliche.  

It sounds so impossible.  

Then you hear someone say, "All we can do is pray."  And I think, "all?"  That's all?? 

Wait a minute, we're missing it.  Jesus didn't live a perfect life, die a sinner's death and raise from the DEAD as our permanent High Priest for us to have this last resort mentality about prayer.  

Shall we pray for those fleeing their homes?  YES.  Shall we pray for those persecuted?  YES.  Shall we pray for those kidnapped, awaiting their death… YES.

But can I be as bold to say, let us go deeper than that.  Let us look at this through a biblical lens; what Jesus said in regards to persecution…

"love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you." Matthew 5:44

"bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you." Luke 6:28

I know what you're thinking.  You've GOT to be kidding me.  Pray for THEM?  Pray for ISIS?  

Trust me, when the thought first came to my mind (just after the 21 Egyptians were beheaded) I thought the same thing.  Because the years of watching the evil of this group just compounded outrage on top of sorrow on top of heartache on top of hopelessness.  

I understand this is a high hurdle for any Christian.  But then I hear a statement from Beshir Kamel, the brother of TWO of the 21 Coptic Christians murdered by ISIS:  

“This only makes us stronger in our faith because the Bible told us to love our enemies and bless those who curse us."

Those are a mourning brother's words.  

Those are a Christian's words.  

Christian = FOLLOWER of CHRIST.

Do you call yourself a follower?  If so, may I challenge you?  May I challenge you to PRAY.  To be on your knees for ISIS.  What would that DO?  What COULD it do?  ISIS gets to see the anguish and mourning and suffering of Christians and all other faiths around the world… how pleasing that sound is to them.  What if…. ok think about this… what IF... they saw us praying for them.  What if they saw pictures on Facebook and Twitter and videos on Youtube of people on their KNEES for them.  

Because let me ask you this: do you believe God is big enough to move in that?  Do you believe God is powerful enough to even change ONE heart?  To stir in any one of them… possibly saving one of their captives?  If so, then how is it NOT worth it??!  How is it not worth FALLING FACEDOWN and praying in BOLDNESS, abandoning every one of the world's reasons to show nothing but contempt and CLINGING to a God who is MIGHTY TO SAVE?!

I challenge you.  I challenge you to SHARE this.  To repost, forward, etc.  Hashtag #prayingforISIS.

We hashtag "thedress" and "whiteandgold" or "blueandblack" hundreds of thousands of times in a matter of MINUTES.  What would it look like… what COULD it look like, if we did the same for THIS.

How should we pray for them you ask?  How about….

PRAY the enemy's grip is loosened.

PRAY for a glimmer of light to shine in their darkness.

PRAY their visions be altered.

PRAY for truth to infiltrate their depravity.

PRAY they are moved by the faithful ones.

PRAY they see, even in small ways, the power of prayer to the One True God.

PRAY for hope to be revived in these heightened areas of battle.

PRAY for God's sovereign will to be recognized by the thwarting of their plans.

PRAY their hatred be waned.

PRAY their fight be dwindled.

PRAY their drive be diminished.

PRAY the veil be removed, giving them eyes to see.

Just do it.  Even once.  Hashtag, post, share…. and see what happens.

#prayingforISIS

Free The... what?

WARNING: this post is not exactly G-rated.  It's not even PG.    

So, I'm just gonna be real here…  after reading something this morning about a "gender equality movement" and film that was just released regarding it, my first thought is:

this world is spiraling out of control… I'm ready for Jesus to come BACK.

This movement, known as "free the nipple" is a movement meant to empower women and free them from oppression and censorship by legalizing female toplessness in all states.  True story.

As I read the article on this, I see so much.  

I see impure motives disguised with words such as "freedom" and "empower." 

I see the desire for change but the lack of knowing what to change TO.

I see a confused idea of equality.

A distorted sense of balance.

I see, the Enemy.

Don't agree with me?  Or maybe you do?  Or maybe you're on the fence because how could such moral sounding phrases be so wrong… right??

Ok so, this group of women that began this mission…. they want to FREE women.  Free women from what?  "Oppression and censorship."  Ok, so let's look at that.  Lina Esco, the founder of this movement, claims its goal is "simply to change public perception of women's bodies and to highlight the blatant gender inequality."  Change the public perception.  Supporters claim this would "help men to "see women as persons, not sex objects" and "give men a greater respect for women," in turn, "make women in our society much safer."  Wow.  That's a mouthful.  So let me get this straight: you want men to see women more as the individual person and not as sex objects… so you encourage women to make public one of the things (actually, two of the things) that men view to be sexual and become sexually aroused while looking at??   I saw something so interesting:  a young man post his support of this movement, claiming it all sounds good to him, oh- except for his sister.  Hmm, that's so strange!  (enter sarcasm)  If this helps you view this female as a PERSON and not sexually then why in the world would you NOT want to see your sister topless??  Or your mom?  Your aunt?  What about you parents with daughters?   Don't you, as a mother or as a father, desire other young men to see your daughters more as an individual?  Next time your daughter brings a boy home for a BBQ maybe she should enjoy the meal topless… I'm sure that would help give this boy some perspective and greater respect for your daughter.  

Why is this movement disguised with pretty words and moral ideology when, with a little common sense, we can see that's NOT the goal to be obtained?   

You know what I think?  I think because deep down, that's what we desire.  We desire morals and values to be upheld.  We desire truth and justice and all things good.  There's an innate drive in us for what's RIGHT.  Why else would we point our fingers at children dying of starvation and proclaim "that's not right?"  Why do we have laws established for punishment suiting any given crime?   Because it's inherent in human nature, this battle of right/ wrong.  It starts somewhere.  There's some plumb line we are measuring against to distinguish right from wrong.  Where does that plumb line come from?  If there is no ultimate TRUTH there would be no right and no wrong.  But, there is a right.  There is a wrong, isn't there?  So that's what sells this - the pursuit of what's "right."  But the sad thing is, those that desire the change here don't know what to change to.  So in desiring to fix what they see wrong, the pursuit gives birth to something arbitrary - like going topless.  Because hey, nudity isn't as bad as violence right?  Yes, that's the movement's claim.  On Free the Nipple's website: "What is more obscene: Violence or a Nipple?"   As if to say yielding to and promoting public nudity will somehow change the mass of violence in our society?  Or is the goal here not to change the glorification of violence but instead to choose the lesser evil and see where that takes us?  They asked what is MORE obscene?  So by their own admission, public nudity is obscene.  So much of our culture's violence is wrapped up in sexual violence.  Sex trafficking being a perfect example- the fastest growing criminal enterprise.  So what would we actually be accomplishing by laying it all out on the table?  Almost as if to say to quench the lion's desire to hunt and kill, simply place him in a position where the prey are more obvious, available and plentiful, then this will desensitize his hunger for it because it will become his new norm.  Does anyone believe this?  It is the lion's instinctive nature to hunt and kill just as it is the human's fleshly nature to sin in this way.  To lust.  

[Tangent: Yes, Let's just be honest.  Lusting is a sin.  I know, I know, who am I to judge right?   I'm no one.  And I'm also not the one calling it sin.  GOD IS.  Did I say sex is a sin?  Nope.  Enjoying sex is a sin?  No way. God knows sex is awesome - duh, He created it.  He created it to be for man and his wife.  THAT is how it is to be enjoyed.  And it cannot be enjoyed as intended unless within God's safe boundaries.  And don't you think the creator of something understands how the creation best works?  Keep in mind I said safe boundaries.  God doesn't place boundaries on things just to be mean.  Or is that your view of God?  A Creator with a bunch of rules.  I hope that's not how my girls view me.  I want them to know the love behind my parenting.  I want them to know the reason behind why they aren't allowed to run out into a parking lot.  Why they aren't allowed to sleep over at a friends house when I don't know the parents.  And why they don't get an iPhone at age 9.  I have reasons, and my reasons are driven by LOVE.  Though my 3 yr-old might not fully grasp why she must hold my hand as we walk through a busy parking lot,  that doesn't change my conviction.  I will grip her hand until we are to the other side, and some day… she'll understand.  I don't think God's ways are much different… other than He loves infinitely more than I am capable of, leaving me that much more confident in the circle of His safe boundaries.  Tangent Over]

If we aren't seeking TRUTH, then any change we are attempting is of impure motive.  I'll say that again: If we aren't seeking TRUTH, then any change we are attempting is of impure motive.  And as a result, we have confused ideas.  Like this one here of gender equality.  I can't help but laugh slightly.  I mean, we ARE different genders.  Let's at least acknowledge that.  And boy am I thankful for it.  We simply ARE designed differently.  Should we be treated any less as women?  No, that's not what I'm saying.  What I am saying is this: the confused idea is that the inappropriateness of women going topless equates to gender inequality.  Let's go back to how we're designed… differently.  

Generally speaking: 

women aren't as hairy

men aren't as emotional

men have better spacial awareness

women have better color identification

men are more competitive

women worry more

men talk less

women cry more

men have larger brains

women use theirs more

Just some basics.  Now here's a basic that's not G-rated (nor surprising):  in relation to sex a man's brain focuses on the visual sense while a woman's brain focuses on multiple sources.  So how does this relate?  It relates because for every topless woman there's a man who's brain connections are now firing wildly activated by that visual sense.  Does that mean this man shouldn't exercise self-control?  By no means.  However, in what way is this making us equal?  How is this putting us on an even playing field when our brains clearly function so differently?   Not to mention the unwanted attention the topless woman would no doubtedly receive.  You want to proclaim freedom from sexualism by subjecting yourself to the sexual appetites of men?  How successful does that sound?

Bottom line: we live in a fallen world.  Sin entered the world in Genesis 3 and it's been around ever since.  Because of sin, this world has a distorted sense of balance.  

Free the Nipple wants to restore "balance" to our censorship system and instead they are balancing the scales in the enemy's favor.  Satan loves to twist, warp, mangle, and pervert anything good.  He's done it with truth.  He's done it with marriage.  He's done it with sex.  And he won't stop.  We as believers have a responsibility to stand for TRUTH.  Because it's not our words, it's GOD'S word. 

I began this post with the thought that this world is spiraling out of control.  

It's not.  It's completely IN control. 

 In the sovereign hand of the God of the universe.   

So what will we do with that knowledge?

We need to be a generation of conviction.

A generation that seeks TRUTH.

Freeing, not nipples folks, but SOULS.

Breaking the chains we've placed around our very own necks.

 And only in the great Name of Jesus.

AMEN.

Let Them Be Disappointed

I'm going to take a moment to brag on this amazing young lady… and on God for how He used her to show tender care for His children.

C'anna came into our lives only months ago, to babysit our girls on a weekly basis while we have life group, and the occasional date night.  It didn't take long for all 3 girls to fall in love with her as every time she's here with them, she's really HERE with them.  She plays, laughs and loves on our girls.  I know all you moms out there know what it does to your heart when someone- not a blood relative- loves on your kids. HUGE right??  Well then came summer… break from life group, vacations, etc.  So we barely saw her.  Not only did the girls regularly ask when they'll see her again, but when we return to that routine with life group, and she's back for the first week, she brings a bag of hair accessories, does their hair and takes them outside for a little photo shoot... only to print, frame and wrap these photos with the girls the next week to gift us with.  Jealous yet??   

You know what else?  She doesn't rush out of here like she can't wait to leave this not-so-clean house that has laundry on the couches and dishes stacked up.  If those dishes are stacked up she does them.  Talk about serving others.  Ok the biggest thing happened just this morning…


I am committed Tuesday and Wednesday mornings to a bible study I not only participate in, but serve in, every week.  So when my daughter came home with this invitation to the Little Red Riding Hood play, that she clearly put so much effort into at school, my heart sunk a little…  

My first thought, why Wednesday morning God?  Really??  My daughter was the narrator / story teller for the play, and although it wasn't a big production, just her class and being performed in the classroom, the Mommy in me wants to be at anything and everything.  Especially when my child has been practicing, working at, rehearsing, etc.  Ok I'll check the schedule, I bet Daddy can make it!  Oops, no, Daddy's on shift.  And the next closest relative goes to that same bible study with me.  So, where does that leave this invitation?  On the kitchen counter for a few days until I figure out how to explain (again) commitment to my daughter.  Funny thing though, she knows.  I complimented the picture on her invitation and she of course inquired "are you coming?"  I simply said, "I would love to baby, I noticed it's on a Wednesday.  Do you know where I go on Wednesdays?"  The lightbulb turned on.  "oh that's right, ok, what about Dad?"  "Daddy's working baby."  My heart on it's way to breaking. Thinking, is this one of those times for discernment... and take time away from my ministry?  Then she steps in ever so maturely, "Your work for Jesus is more important Mom.  It's okay."

WOW.  If my heart has to go through these little disappointments for her to get THAT… it's all worth it right?  

FAST FORWARD: Tuesday night after life group, the lovely C'anna and I are talking.  She says V practiced her narrating for Little Red Riding Hood.  And how she'd love to come watch.  Wait, what??  A beautiful young college girl would wake up when she doesn't have to, take time out of her morning for what… to go watch Little Red Riding Hood narrated by a 2nd grader?  Amazing.  It was left as a maybe if she didn't have anything going on that morning.  Besides, I was confident in V's  grown up attitude about the whole thing that it would go smoothly.  Then this morning happened: drop off.  My time Wednesday mornings is precious.  I have just minutes to make the drop off for the girls at school then the drive to get to bible study on time.  As we start driving, the tears start falling.  "Mom I want you to come! Please!"  Oh my goodness, we talked about this… the conversation went so well!  "Just skip today Mom"  Ooooh boy, did I make a mistake here?  I didn't feel led to skip today… this is ripping my heart out… ok but it's showing her what sacrifice means, what service means… ahh but the tears are rolling- I can see them in that rear view mirror… We arrive at school, she hops out, and I ask to pray with her.  She's quite the emotional one and can't take it, she slides her hands out of mine.  "Baby girl…"  "No mom, I'll be fine" as she begins to walk away.   Then turns around and runs back for a hug, crying again.  There, "now let's say that prayer." I think I prayed in that moment for SOMETHING.  Something God, something for her heart.  It's such a small thing, but really it isn't.  It's not about the Red Riding Hood play anymore.  We kiss and hug, and I told her I'd stop by at lunch to see how it went.  And that I would have another mom take a video for me so I can watch it.  She nods her head and walks away, shoulders slumped.  I was desperate for something else to say to lift her spirits, but I had nothing.  Then I remembered C'anna.  As I hop back into my car, watching my daughter so slowly walk away, I text C'anna, and get a quick reply back that she's going.  I jump out of my car and run to catch up to V.  She's standing at the playground with her head down, 2 friends around her, clearly consoling her.  Once I get her attention I tell her she has a surprise visitor coming today.  "It's not me, but you'll have a surprise visitor coming to watch your play."  She smiles and nods as I rush off back to the car.

My drive consisted of me hashing over each decision.  (Our kids' meltdowns tend to do this to us right?)  Because how many moms would read this and think, that's wrong.  She left her daughter crying, simply asking her mom to be there for her… all for a bible study??  Which I have to let go of that.  There was and there will be other times where yes, I'll choose to be there for my daughters instead.  But that wasn't the choice today.  And as I drove I felt a peace with it.  And for many reasons:  

1.)  It's allowing my daughter to experience disappointment.  We won't always get what we want- even when those things we want are good things.  Whether they know it or not, my children need me to teach them how to respond to disappointment.  Not purposefully throw it their way… BUT, when it comes, to not jump at every chance to prevent them from experiencing it.

2.)  Serving the Lord comes at a cost.  But it also comes with great rewards.

And for me: 

3.)  Being in step with the Holy Spirit sometimes means saying no to something I want to do. Ouch.

4.)  Had I given in, I would have missed how God lovingly showed me He CARES.  He cares about the Red Riding Hood plays.  He cares about my daughter's tears.  He heard my prayer… for something, something to give her joy today.  He is so tender towards hearts that He put someone there this morning, when I thought there was no one, and someone my daughter was thrilled about.  She probably has no idea (unless she reads this) what a blessing she was this morning - not only to a 7 year old, but also to me.

About an hour and a half later I get this picture…. V with one of her favorite people, and on top of that, a full bouquet of flowers.

Thank you C'anna, just for being you.  You bring us joy.

In 3 Words: He Is Pruning

My husband and I just spent 3 days as we do every year at the Firefighters Retreat at Hume Lake.  It starts off with the International Firefighters For Christ event Thursday evening.  One of the things we did was reflect on where we are with God… in 3 words.  Mine were "He is pruning."  Sometimes it's as though I'm watching from an outside perspective as He walks through His temple (me) and overturns the tables (Matthew 21).  The things that don't belong there, the things that defile, the things that are obstacles for holiness.  If I'm honest, there's a lot of those money changer tables in me- selfishness, laziness, pride, delayed obedience… (more than I'd care to mention) but I'm encouraged by the progress.  Because after all, what's the purpose of pruning?   Removing the dead and old, causing growth and thriving of the new.

God has shown me a few times (quite recently) opportunities to step up and do work for Him.  Opportunities I should gladly fulfill with a joyful heart.  I feel I'm stepping up, but I noticed I tend to do it with my heels digging in as I feel inadequate- as if He asked the wrong person to do it- and not whole-heartedly trusting Him in the process.  Some may be small tasks, others a bit bigger.  No matter the size I need to get out the way, knowing ya, I AM inadequate but HE isn't.  And HE'S ENOUGH.  One thing God reminded me of is in Mark 6, when there are over 5,000 hungry people surrounding Jesus and His disciples.  And what's Jesus' response?  "You give them something to eat." (Mark 6:37)  Wouldn't you have loved to see their faces?!  What I loved about this is how God trains His disciples AS He uses them.  He doesn't wait until they're in their prime!  And when brought to Him, our resources (even just five loaves and two fish) are enough.  Remembering God doesn't call the equipped, He equips the called.  How many imperfect people from the bible have I studied over and over again and yet still hesitate in allowing Him to use me?  

• Noah got drunk
• Abraham was "too old"
• Timothy was "too young"
• Jacob was a liar
• Joseph was abused
• Rahab was a prostitute
• David had an affair & murdered
• Jonah ran from God
• Job was bankrupt
• Peter denied Christ
• Paul had persecuted Christians
• Lazarus was dead

2 Timothy 1:7 says, "For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline."  For some reason, young Timothy needed to hear this from his mentor Paul.  I love the charge Paul gives Timothy just before this in verse 6, "For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God which is in you…"  

More and more I'm realizing my responsibility as a daughter of Christ, a disciple, a wife, a mother, to fan the flame… Especially as a part of the younger generation.  I say this to myself just as much as anyone else: we need to STEP UP.  The biblically illiterate world we live in desperately needs our generation to be DIFFERENT.  To live authentically, to be transparent - to go back to the things of faith revealed… the God of Abraham.  Living out the Word and therefore living distinctly.  

And to not attempt it just on self-effort, wearing ourselves out.  "Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us" (Ephesians 3:20).

A great encouragement was given out this weekend by our friend Robert Blair, who came all the way from Northern Ireland as always to join the Firefighters For Christ at Hume for this retreat… if you are young, and don't have that "spiritual parent," that mentor like Timothy had in Paul, seek one OUT.  If you are older, mature in your faith and are not someone else's spiritual parent then SEEK THEM OUT.   This weekend I got to spend nearly 2 hours on a bench in the sunshine with a spiritual parent.  John White, the man who said yes to God and thus Firefighters For Christ was born in 1976, becoming international by 1978 and established as an incorporated organization.  He shared about a few of the most difficult trials he has weathered and each story was constantly pointing back to Jesus, telling of how God was glorified in each.  This modern-day Paul has the gift of evangelism, and LIVES OUT the high calling of a disciple with the urgency that the gospel of Christ demands… and has led countless men, women, and children all over this world to knowing Jesus Christ personally.  I say countless because I know the number is in the thousands as the Lord has greatly blessed his sincere, God-glorifying ministry.  I could make an entire post about John White, and his dear wife Jane- who just thinking of her and her strength in the Lord brings a huge smile to my face.  (In truth I even debated introducing them simply because you can't impress the impact this man and his wife have had into a few words on a blog.)  But the point being that those 2 hours on that bench were uplifting, encouraging and faith-building for this woman of 50 years younger.

I have heard the younger generation balk about not being able to relate to the older generation, not "getting much"… but ladies (and gentlemen), don't think that it's because of them.  We should be listening.  If we aren't, shame on us.

Sidenote: If you are one that doesn't see yourself as a disciple because you are that stay-at-home mom who changes diaper after diaper every day... routine school drop-off and pick up 10 times a week, is discouraged by the never-ending story of laundry, spilled milk clean-ups, toy picking up and dish washing, then ask God to change that wrong thinking.  You have eyes watching every move you make.  Little ears listening to how you respond when that milk spills, how you speak to your husband, and how you discipline.  Are you showing them Jesus in how you do life?  Jesus was a carpenter and didn't begin traveling in His ministry until 3 years before his death.  He had the challenge of living for God in an ordinary life.  Be encouraged.

I felt God nudging me.  Now it feels like more of a loving push.  He's pushing me outside the boundaries of comfort, showing me the needs, giving me the opportunities, and showing me that the convictions He's revealed along the way must be followed.  I cannot delay obedience in what He's already asked of me and expect Him to give me more.  He's blessed me with a growing desire to please Him and serve Him, and it requires an abandonment of comfort.  He's allowed things to happen in order to show me exactly where I am not fully reliant on Him but on others and other comforts.  And deep down, I'm thankful for that conviction, as much as it may hurt.  

He is pruning.  In so many areas, using so many avenues and people to do it.  I genuinely look forward to what my 3 words will be a year from now.  So bare with me, dear friends and family.  I'm a work in progress.

"He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus." Phillipians 1:6

I Thought I Loved You Then

I love how God WORKS.   This is quite a personal post.  And while I'll leave out the details, I simply want to record this in the blog of my life and give glory to God for how He works.

A couple days ago hubby and I had to talk.  Something came up, and quite honestly I was real upset.  It's something that so easily could have, in a moment, exploded with emotions and- let's just say, unhealthy conversation.  I escaped to my bedroom, immediately got down on my knees beside my bed in a moment of Romans 8:26…"in the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans."  Once words did come, I prayed for wisdom, emotional control, grace.  I prayed for His words, not mine, I prayed for Him to empty me of self and fill me with the fruit of the Spirit.  In a couple of hours after all the girls were down we were able to talk.  In that hour it was almost as though I could step back and physically watch God tenderly repair.  What could have been hurtful, He made healing.  What could have been damaging He made restoring.  Where there was anger He replaced with understanding.  Just a short while later I found myself in awe at the inner joy I felt.  Not a superficial giddy-ness.  But a joy in the LORD.  A deep-rooted peace and a gratitude for the husband God had given me invaded my heart.  As I held him I was so moved by the increase of love God gave me for him that night.  And realizing I don't deserve any of it.  But wait, an increase… The Brad Paisley song came on this morning "Then."  And boy did that strike a chord.  "Now you're my whole life, now you're my whole world, I just can't believe the way I feel about you girl.  Like a river meets the sea, stronger than it's ever been, we've come so far since that day, and I thought I loved you then."  I DID.  I thought I loved him when we were dating.  I thought I loved him when we got married.  I thought I loved him at the birth of our first child.  Thirteen years into being us and God is multiplying it still.  My marriage has flourished in so many ways, and with each growth spurt God has pruned my heart in the process.  I'm moved to tears at how much my husband is willing to sacrifice for me.  That despite all my faults and weaknesses he chooses every day to love and serve me.  I think I genuinely believed I knew what love was when I got married.  I didn't.  The Lord has shown me so much more.  Nothing has stretched my faith and been a greater evidence of His power at work and His authority in my life than my marriage.  And, I'm eternally thankful.  Frankie, not that you ever read this blog, but if you do dear, I am overwhelmed with a love for you.  Thank you for your commitment to the Lord, and to us.  

I LOVE you.

Disheartening

Wow.  So I'm disheartened today.  I have been hearing a lot of things lately that seriously cause my heart to ache.  And, if I'm completely honest, frustrate me.  We are called to love and so I do.  Yet also I feel as though sometimes I love in the background and truth isn't spoken.  So I apologize for the bluntness here, but my mind is going crazy this morning with the things I've been hearing and I have to get it out.

• Someone actually thanking God (yes, GOD) for the Supreme Court ruling for same-sex marriages in California.  I was so blown away when I read that.... the God who says in HIS word that homosexuality is detestable to Him.  THAT's who they are thanking?  This is not a blessing bestowed from the Lord.  So let's at least get that part straight.  Just as God hates ALL sin- every sin I commit as well, I'm not trying to discount myself here, but I certainly don't rejoice in my sin and proclaim thanks to the Lord for allowing me to further it.  Disheartening.  I read a quote that really says it well: “Our culture has accepted two huge lies. The first is that if you disagree with someone’s lifestyle, you must fear or hate them. The second is that to love someone means you agree with everything they believe or do. Both are nonsense. You don’t have to compromise convictions to be compassionate." Rick Warren

• Someone saying anyone who claims to follow the bible and doesn't adopt orphans, having only children of their own, is simply filling a narcissistic hole in themselves.  Wow.  Ouch.  And seeing so many others agree was just as much of a surprise as the statement itself.  God most certainly calls us to care for the orphans and widows. (James 1:27)  How that looks in each believers life will be different, as it's between the believer and God.  Apparently to this person prayer and financial support is not enough.  Interesting though, I wonder what IS enough?  And what is enough for the widows as well?  Adopting them along with the orphans?  I certainly agree that there are many Christians who don't give orphans and widows a second thought.... but does that mean none do?  Disheartening.  I just don't see Jesus making this judgment on those that do have children. And after all, that's who we are being compared to is it not?

• Hearing that a 3 year old lacks control of their impulsive urges so trying to teach them boundaries is useless at that age.  Huh??  What is our role as parents??  To take those difficult moments (also known as teachable moments) and work WITH them and FOR them.  We could go by this nonsensical principle our whole parenting lives.... "our 16 year old just can't control their physical urges" so let's treat the consequences not the cause (i.e. start her on birth control or if she really messes up, get an abortion).  I get so sad when parents chalk it up to "kids nowadays" so they slap a bandaid on a gunshot wound and call it a day.  Disheartening.  Instead let's teach our children their actions MATTER and have consequences.  Let's teach them TRUTH.  Let's exercise patience and consistency and love, but not with an attitude that they simply can't help themselves.  Let's teach them HOW to help themselves.  And in the process, we learn this very same thing ourselves.... since parenting almost works on our hearts more than theirs.

Thank you God that you are sovereign.  Help me to love others and love you more.

2 of my favorite videos

Since I'm on a roll with posting things... 2 of my most favorite videos...