A quick post for now - more later.
I'm sitting here watching the local 4th of July parade on television. We are not patriotic enough to actually go downtown and sit in the heat - especially since we can see it so much better here at home in air conditioned comfort.
But, as I sit here watching and listening to the comments from the news people, I again realize the sad state of our country.
Our nation has placed its faith in the human abilities of the military to maintain our freedom. But, the pursuit of True Freedom in Christ has been tossed to the wayside. For those of us who have True Freedom in Christ, we understand the importance of keeping Christ first. We know that accepting Christ as Savior and having a personal relationship with Him is the only TRUE Freedom we can ever have. Freddom in Christ can never be taken away. It doesn't have to continuiously be fought for - once it is received, it is forever.
My heart breaks for our nation. I grieve the fact that Christ is not welcome in so many places and in so many hearts.
So, my prayer, especially on this day is for our nation. I pray that across the US, people will come to realize that the only True Freedom is in Christ. I will continue to pray for our military and the freedom they fight for. But, without Freedom in Christ, there will never be complete freedom in these United States.
Showing posts with label Thoughtful Moments. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Thoughtful Moments. Show all posts
Friday, July 4, 2008
Thursday, April 17, 2008
Just Thoughts
I just read my cousin Selina's blog entry for this week. Her post made me think about a few things. You can read her blog here.
Our kiddoes at school have been in state testing this week. It is a very stressful time for teachers and students. But, praise the Lord, it is over until next spring. The kids can relax and tomorrow they get to relax, have a day of celebration complete with snacks (provided by the teachers) and a good movie to end the week. They have worked very hard and deserve a day to chill.
During the testing, we are not allowed to help them in any way. We aren't allowed to talk to them and we aren't supposed to move around the classroom. So, I found it a great time to catch up on some Bible study. I receive "In Touch" magazine each month (from Dr. Charles Stanley). It has some awesome articles and a daily study included. I just love it. And, it's free. If you are interested, simply go to this website and sign up.
Our school year is quickly coming to a close. Our last day is May 23rd. We have so many things going on in May that we really won't have that many learning days during that time.
Jacob and I are looking forward to our summer break. This will be my first summer in several years that I won't be babysitting. This summer is dedicated to me and Jacob. We are going to just hang out - go to the park - swim - visit the zoo - what ever we think might be fun.
I'm just looking forward to having some time with my son.
Makes me aware of how God feels about me. I'm sure there are too many days that I gety caught up in busy-ness of the day and God says that He is looking forward to having some time with me. On most days, I squeeze in time when I can - pray throughout the day and end up with a slightly empty feeling. Which is why my number one goal for this summer is to have real quality time each morning with my Lord. Everything else will have to wait - the house, laundry, etc. All that will still be there but I am going to have my morning coffee with God. I can hardly wait. For now, I'll keep squeezing out those precious moments every chance I get.
Our kiddoes at school have been in state testing this week. It is a very stressful time for teachers and students. But, praise the Lord, it is over until next spring. The kids can relax and tomorrow they get to relax, have a day of celebration complete with snacks (provided by the teachers) and a good movie to end the week. They have worked very hard and deserve a day to chill.
During the testing, we are not allowed to help them in any way. We aren't allowed to talk to them and we aren't supposed to move around the classroom. So, I found it a great time to catch up on some Bible study. I receive "In Touch" magazine each month (from Dr. Charles Stanley). It has some awesome articles and a daily study included. I just love it. And, it's free. If you are interested, simply go to this website and sign up.
Our school year is quickly coming to a close. Our last day is May 23rd. We have so many things going on in May that we really won't have that many learning days during that time.
Jacob and I are looking forward to our summer break. This will be my first summer in several years that I won't be babysitting. This summer is dedicated to me and Jacob. We are going to just hang out - go to the park - swim - visit the zoo - what ever we think might be fun.
I'm just looking forward to having some time with my son.
Makes me aware of how God feels about me. I'm sure there are too many days that I gety caught up in busy-ness of the day and God says that He is looking forward to having some time with me. On most days, I squeeze in time when I can - pray throughout the day and end up with a slightly empty feeling. Which is why my number one goal for this summer is to have real quality time each morning with my Lord. Everything else will have to wait - the house, laundry, etc. All that will still be there but I am going to have my morning coffee with God. I can hardly wait. For now, I'll keep squeezing out those precious moments every chance I get.
Sunday, March 30, 2008
Character Counts
This week, my good friend, Vickie asked me to write a character letter for her. She needed a few letters to let the judge in her upcoming hearing know what a good person and upstanding citizen she is.
Here's the nutshell version: a few weeks ago Vickie was on her way to work, it was a Friday. She was going along, happy and content, looking forward to her day and the upcoming weekend. Suddenly, the car in front of her stopped and she hit it with her car. No one was hurt, but the police were called. While the officer took all the info from the other drive, Vickie waited in her car and drank part of a Mt. Dew (that was all she had to eat or drink at that point). When the officer asked her to step out, she felt dizzy and staggered a bit. The officer asked her if she had been drinking - at 7:30 AM - of course she said no.
Let me interject here, Vickie has never drank, never even as much as tried a cigarette, does not swear (never has). She is the Lay Leader in our church, the Sunday School superintendent, works with the youth, serves on various committees, takes care of her aging parents, goes to the mission fields once a year - the list is endless. She is an awesome person and love God!! That's why when she called to tell me this story - I laughed uncontrollably. I asked her three different times how long it took her to make up this story - she literally had to convince me that it really did happen. I mean - this is Vickie for pete's sake!!
Continue story - Vickie was still a little bit on the unsteady side so the police officer made her take a sobriety test - right there on the side of the street near her office. She did not pass - oh, she did the finger-to-your-nose part o.k. it was the heel-to-toe backwards part that tripped her up (no pun intended).
So, the officer hand-cuffed her and took her to the hospital for a blood test; then on to city jail for booking. Yep, mug shots, fingerprint, the whole ball of wax.
Vickie was mortified. She had to sit in a jail cell for three hours before her parents could bail her out.
So, now she had to appear in court with her attorney to try to straighten this mess out.
We have all had a fun time with it - Vickie has made fun of herself and has really taken the whole thing in stride.
So, when she asked me to write a letter of character for her, I was honored that she would ask me. I gladly wrote her a glowing letter, telling all the wonderful things about her that I could think of. I used lots of lovely words and phrases - I meant them all - but I wanted to be sure that whomever read the letter could know what I know about my friend.
Then, I began to think - what kind of character letter could be written about me? What if I needed a letter of character from God - what could He write about for me?
Would he say that I have been a "good and faithful servant?" Would he say that I am always there for His children? What would He write?
I'm afraid it would be a terribly short letter. So, this experience has made me ponder my character. I need to pay closer attention to the tiny, itsy-bitsy details - you know, the ones that really matter?
If God were to write a character letter for you - what would He write?
Here's the nutshell version: a few weeks ago Vickie was on her way to work, it was a Friday. She was going along, happy and content, looking forward to her day and the upcoming weekend. Suddenly, the car in front of her stopped and she hit it with her car. No one was hurt, but the police were called. While the officer took all the info from the other drive, Vickie waited in her car and drank part of a Mt. Dew (that was all she had to eat or drink at that point). When the officer asked her to step out, she felt dizzy and staggered a bit. The officer asked her if she had been drinking - at 7:30 AM - of course she said no.
Let me interject here, Vickie has never drank, never even as much as tried a cigarette, does not swear (never has). She is the Lay Leader in our church, the Sunday School superintendent, works with the youth, serves on various committees, takes care of her aging parents, goes to the mission fields once a year - the list is endless. She is an awesome person and love God!! That's why when she called to tell me this story - I laughed uncontrollably. I asked her three different times how long it took her to make up this story - she literally had to convince me that it really did happen. I mean - this is Vickie for pete's sake!!
Continue story - Vickie was still a little bit on the unsteady side so the police officer made her take a sobriety test - right there on the side of the street near her office. She did not pass - oh, she did the finger-to-your-nose part o.k. it was the heel-to-toe backwards part that tripped her up (no pun intended).
So, the officer hand-cuffed her and took her to the hospital for a blood test; then on to city jail for booking. Yep, mug shots, fingerprint, the whole ball of wax.
Vickie was mortified. She had to sit in a jail cell for three hours before her parents could bail her out.
So, now she had to appear in court with her attorney to try to straighten this mess out.
We have all had a fun time with it - Vickie has made fun of herself and has really taken the whole thing in stride.
So, when she asked me to write a letter of character for her, I was honored that she would ask me. I gladly wrote her a glowing letter, telling all the wonderful things about her that I could think of. I used lots of lovely words and phrases - I meant them all - but I wanted to be sure that whomever read the letter could know what I know about my friend.
Then, I began to think - what kind of character letter could be written about me? What if I needed a letter of character from God - what could He write about for me?
Would he say that I have been a "good and faithful servant?" Would he say that I am always there for His children? What would He write?
I'm afraid it would be a terribly short letter. So, this experience has made me ponder my character. I need to pay closer attention to the tiny, itsy-bitsy details - you know, the ones that really matter?
If God were to write a character letter for you - what would He write?
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