Category: 2013 Posts

Posted on in 2013 Posts

In God We Trust (ed?)

photo (29) - CopyYou all know that I like to keep things happy and  up-beat on my blog.  However, my heart has been burdened with a message I think God wants me to share.  So in obedience, I’m prayerfully, going to talk about gay marriage in our country today.  It grieves me to have to talk about it as I have friends that I care about who have chosen the gay lifestyle.  However, if I don’t speak truth , what kind of friend am I?

I am no theologian…just an ordinary woman who loves God and knows He can’t help but be totally dismayed with the direction our country is going.  A country that was originally founded as a nation that trusted God, is hardly recognizable as a Christian nation at all anymore.  God gives us clear direction.  He told us in His Word–the Bible–that marriage is between a man and a woman.  Genesis 2:20-24 But for Adam no suitable helper was found. 21 So the Lord God caused the man to fall into a deep sleep; and while he was sleeping, he took one of the man’s ribs and then closed up the place with flesh. 22 Then the Lord God made a woman from the rib he had taken out of the man, and he brought her to the man.  The man said, “This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called ‘woman,’ for she was taken out of man.”  24 That is why a man leaves his father and mother and is united to his wife, and they become one flesh.

This week someone was telling me about their friend who has a new boyfriend.  The last I heard their friend was married.  However, as the conversation went down, there was question as to whether she was still married or not.  Then it was said, “Well, I really don’t blame her for finding someone else.  Her husband was never home and they really didn’t have much of a marriage.”  Those words dug deep into my heart and have bothered me all week.  Is this the way we view marriage today?  Something of if it feels good, do it.  If it gets boring, move on?  Really?  It’s O.K. when you don’t have much of a marriage to go find someone else?  The last I heard it was a covenant between you, your spouse and God…until death do you part.  (1Corinthians 7:39A wife is bound by law as long as her husband lives; but if her husband dies, she is at liberty to be married to whom she wishes, only in the Lord. )

Is marriage not sacred anymore?   For many years the media has inundated us with sex.  Women nearly naked, buff men with their shirts off and often in underwear, men and women  laying together in bed either in the act of sex or suggesting it just to name a few examples.  Sex is a powerful tool that God uses to bind a man and woman together.  It is the super-glue so to speak to the relationship that keeps it strong.  However, we are all human.  When we are constantly bombarded with sex or risqué suggestions at every turn, some of us will not be able to handle the temptations.  The Bible talks about sexual deviations from  nearly the beginning of time.  It is a condition of the human race.  Hollywood, advertising and the like are feeding those human weaknesses every day and have been doing so for years.

If I am a Bible-believing Christian, I don’t have the luxury of disregarding what the Bible says when it comes to a topic regarding homosexuality.  1Corinthians 6:9-10 Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, 10 nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God.

I remember as a child wanting to do something that my friends were doing and I would say to my mom when she said no, “But Mom!  Everybody’s doing it!”  However, as my mom, she knew that my decision to join the crowd for whatever reason wasn’t good for me.  She would say, “If all your friend were jumping off a bridge, would you do that too?”  Just because everyone seems to be OK with it, doesn’t make it right. As Christians, we must know and heed God’s Word on subjects such as homosexuality and gay marriage even when it is uncomfortable or controversial.  God knows what is best for us.

Often, as human nature goes, those who are committing certain sins seek others who are doing the same.  When someone is living a sinful lifestyle, they want to find ways to justify what they are doing.  They look for the justification from those of like mind.  When someone enters into a sexually deviated  lifestyle of any kind, it may seem right for a season.  It may feel good physically.  It may cause endorphins to fly that make us happy.  Those endorphins may even cause us to be “drugged” to the point that we can no longer see right from wrong.  You see, it is that powerful super-glue affect that binds two together and makes it feel like a marriage kind of love.  However, marriage is not, surprisingly, just about emotional love—it is also about the body.  This article in Christianity Today explains it much better than I could ever do.   Even if there is no sex involved in a relationship, if a man loves another man or a woman loves another woman; just because they love doesn’t constitute the need for marriage.  I love my kids.  I love my friends.  Get the picture?

I’m not here to throw stones.  I am a sinner saved by grace just like anyone else who accepts the Lord as their Savior. I am trying to deliver this as humbly and lovingly as I can.  However, if you have chosen a gay lifestyle and continue down that path; I don’t believe God is not going to bless you.  (Hebrews 13:4  Marriage is honorable among all, and the bed undefiled; but fornicators and adulterers God will judge.)  I feel that as a country, if we continue to accept the lies of Satan and choose to live in ways that go against God’s Word; we will perish.

Marriage is something that should be coveted…protected…and respected.  It is not something that was intended to be anything other than between man and woman.  If God wanted man to marry another man, he wouldn’t have bothered to create Eve for Adam.  It seems like there is nothing sacred anymore in our nation though.  We throw away babies, disrespect authority and now continue to mock marriage designed by God, Himself.  I fear for our land and for those of us who call ourselves Christians and continue to allow our nation to go in the direction it is headed.

I am sad.  I am sad that so many have believed the lie and chosen the gay lifestyle. There are good, loving people who have been sucked into the sin.  Someone said today that they felt sorry for those who have to give up the loves of their lives…their soul mate…in order to live under God’s law.  Don’t we all pay a price of some sort when we choose God?  It doesn’t literally cost us anything to accept the Lord.  Jesus already paid the price for our sins on the cross.  However, I do remember people making fun of me for my choice to become a Christian, family members not accepting my newfound faith, and a lot of old habits of my prior sinful life that I needed to shed.  Some things were easy to get rid of and others took work and sacrifice of self. My choice to follow God is not always popular.  I have even questioned my choice from time to time when depression sweeps over me or life seemed to just be too difficult.  However, I know today that there was no sin in my life worth losing the relationship that I have today with my Savior, Jesus Christ.  Satan wants us to believe that we can’t live without it—whatever it might be.  Jesus wants us to know we will not live (eternally) with it.

Life on this earth is temporary.  It is the choices we make in the few short years given us on this earth that will affect our souls for eternity.  If I didn’t care, I wouldn’t step out and try to warn those living this lifestyle of its ramifications.  I know some will quit following my blog while others will be angry and attack me.  It makes me sad.  However, I know I serve a God that is bigger than any sin that binds someone on this earth and with His help you can be set free.  I was set-free from my sins, just as you can be too.  We are all human.  We all struggle with sin.

If we believe and trust in God as one nation under God, we have to believe His Word.

All of  it.

Want out of an LGBT Lifestyle?  Here’s help.

Posted on in 2013 Posts

How Great Thou Art!

Since I post my blogs on Monday, I seem to always be a day behind or a week ahead when it comes to Mother’s and Father’s Day posts.  However, I still feel compelled to mention it even if it is old news at this point!  Just consider this being 364 days early for next year!

dadEven though my dad has been gone for many years now, I still miss him from time to time and especially on holidays that honor his memory.   I can remember as a child going on Sunday mornings to our local store to pick-up a newspaper with my dad.  Our Springfield radio station always had a couple hours of spiritual music on Sunday mornings and dad would have the radio playing as we rode to and from the store.  He couldn’t hold a tune, but it will be forever etched in my mind, him driving down the road singing, “How Great Thou Art,” at the top of his lungs along with the radio.

I was blessed yesterday to have that same song be sung in our worship time at church.  It always makes me cry to sing it, but it seems to bring my dad’s spirit so close to me when I do.  As a matter of fact, we sang it last Father’s Day, too!  I have come to find out that it is a favorite song of our worship leader’s dad too.  It’s OK with me if we sing it every year.

Daily, we hear all of the bad things that are happening in the world.  We hear of tornados, war, terrorism, kidnappings, shootings, wildfires, etc.  It’s no wonder that we have depression and anxiety rampant in our society.  With negativity coming at us all the time, it is hard to keep positive and optimistic.  However, if you stop allowing the bad to overcome you and start looking for the good, I guarantee you that you will be blessed!   I didn’t even have to leave home this weekend to be reminded of “How Great Thou Art.”

It seems appropriate to share the beauty that I found around my yard on Saturday as I took time to reflect on the positives in this life.  My dad loved to garden and he would be happy to see that my yard is finally coming around to something that gives us joy rather than work all of the time.  It’s the little things in life, that if we were to just stop and breathe in, that would chase the fears, sadness and distress away from this life.  Remember, this world is only temporary.  There is much more to come for those of us who believe in the Lord, Jesus Christ, as our Savior.

So as I give honor to my earthly father this week of Father’s Day, I am also reminded of my most Precious Heavenly Father.  Won’t you walk through my flower garden with me and give thanks to the One Who Created us all?

O Lord my God, When I in awesome wonder,

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Consider all the worlds Thy Hands have made;

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I see the stars, I hear the rolling thunder,

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Thy power throughout the universe displayed.

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Then sings my soul, My Saviour God, to Thee,
How great Thou art, How great Thou art.
Then sings my soul, My Saviour God, to Thee,
How great Thou art, How great Thou art!

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When through the woods, and forest glades I wander,

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And hear the birds sing sweetly in the trees.

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When I look down, from lofty mountain grandeur

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And see the brook, and feel the gentle breeze.

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Then sings my soul, My Saviour God, to Thee,
How great Thou art, How great Thou art.
Then sings my soul, My Saviour God, to Thee,
How great Thou art, How great Thou art!

And when I think, that God, His Son not sparing;

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Sent Him to die, I scarce can take it in;

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That on the Cross, my burden gladly bearing,

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He bled and died to take away my sin.

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Then sings my soul, My Saviour God, to Thee,
How great Thou art, How great Thou art.
Then sings my soul, My Saviour God, to Thee,
How great Thou art, How great Thou art!

When Christ shall come, with shout of acclamation,

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And take me home, what joy shall fill my heart.

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Then I shall bow, in humble adoration,

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And then proclaim: “My God, how great Thou art!”

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Then sings my soul, My Saviour God, to Thee,
How great Thou art, How great Thou art.
Then sings my soul, My Saviour God, to Thee,
How great Thou art, How great Thou art!

Psalm 145:5 (NKJV)  I will meditate on the glorious splendor of Your majesty, And on Your wondrous works.

Posted on in 2013 Posts

What Is Bugging You This Week?

015As I age, I have grown to appreciate bugs.  Don’t get me wrong.  I don’t like them in my house.  However, they fascinate me when they’re outside.  Did you ever stop to think about how they feel being called a bug?  Did you ever look into their eyes and wonder what they’re thinking?  OK, I’m being silly.  Seriously, have you ever taken the time to look at the wonderful design of each one?

Since I love to take pictures, my photography has really given me a chance to examine bugs  up close and personal.  As I look at these, often times beautiful creatures, I am in awe of God who designed each one.  This week as I was reflecting on my latest bug picture—a dragonfly in my backyard—I knew God had a lesson in it for us this week.

As most of you know, I’m still recovering from my treatments for breast cancer.  I have been discouraged because I am still having low energy and other problems that bug me.  However, I know it is a process, so I am taking time to allow myself to heal.  As I was thinking about bugs this week, it dawned on me.  God has taken care to create some beautiful bugs on the earth.  We take them for granted and often look for ways to get them out of our lives.  They bug us and we simply want them gone.

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Just as bugs torment us, so do certain situations in our lives.  We often just want to stop the pain and suffering and get on with the things in life we enjoy.  We don’t want to be bugged by inconveniences of illness, job loss, financial difficulties, divorce, etc.   We simply want to rid ourselves of the problem.  However, could it be that these bugs have been perfectly designed just for us?

If we take the time and lean into God during tough times, there, we find the beauty in the situation.  We begin to see our trials from His viewpoint.  He knows exactly what it’s going to take for us to grow into the person He has created us to be.  Just as He has concerned Himself with every little detail of a bug’s design, He concerns Himself with every little detail of our lives as well.

001So this week, if you’re feeling bugged by life’s trials, relax.  Know that God knows every detail about your situation.  He doesn’t allow us to go through hard times because he wants to bug us.  Rather, He is interested in teaching us to find the beauty in the design.

Matthew 6:25-34   “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? 26 Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? 27 Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?

28 “And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. 29 Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 30 If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? 31 So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.