Step-by-step, You lead me.

"A wise and wonderful Director will be with us to give us step-by-step instructions.  If we will listen, He will guide.  If we will follow, He will lead.  The result - a life well lived and a journey well taken." ~Priscilla Shirer 

This family has been on the edge of embarking on a new path, the full details yet unknown.  It is exciting and scary, heartbreaking and thrilling.

From our last instructed step.

I am asked so often what the big picture of our plans looks like.  I really don't know.  There is some fear in not knowing, but God is clearly asking us to just do the next thing.  And we are so glad to know what the next thing is.  I hope we will take great pleasure in the moment and not concern ourselves with the guessing game of what may or may not come.

"If our guide [in Israel] had looked us in the eyes on day one, given us a map with the major places circled, a rundown of each location's significance, and then sent us on our way, it would have been a catastrophe. It would have been far too much for us to absorb and would have resulted in confusion yielding a horrible tour.  Our amazing trip came as a direct result of following him from one destination to the next, leaning in and listening to each explanation, and engaging in his wisdom step-by-step.  This is what a good guide looks like."

~P. Shirer, Jonah: Navigating A Life Interrupted

The Holy Spirit is a good guide.

O God, You are my God,

And I will ever praise You.

I will seek You in the morning

And learn to walk in Your ways.

And step by step You lead me

And I will follow You all of my days.

People are mean

I used to think, actually really believe, that people were inherently kind hearted and good and sweet. I actually, really believed this. I never thought people would be intentionally mean or cruel to others. And that if they were, it was because they didn't realize they were being mean. I was a Pollyanna at heart and genuinely loved people with all my heart no matter what. I thought only the best of them. Naïve and hopeful in the good of humanity.

And then I met a monumental knave who hated me simply because he saw me read my Bible. He lived in a world that I did not support, but I still, as always, tried everything within my power to show genuine love to him. This wasn't my first rodeo with someone whom I happen to not agree in life with. It just didn't seem that big a deal to me. We're all different, right? As much as I tried to love him, care for him, and ask about his life to show my interest in him as a person, it made no difference. He made it his mission to make my life a living hell. And he practically accomplished his goal. I had never experienced anyone like this before...or atleast someone who wasn't eventually won with lovingkindness and sincerity. I had so often been able to make an enemy a friend. He caused such drama: the withholding of paychecks owed to me, he lied to my employer after using me to advocate for his concerns, he created dissension among those who worked alongside me, he caused me being fired from a job that I worked very hard at and gave my all to. As much as I fought his efforts, month after month, to break down my positive attitude, eventually he even succeeded at influencing me toward cynicism and negativity.

People (even unbelievers) suggested that his treatment of me was for one simple reason: because I am a Christian. I never believed this to be true because it seemed so lame to hate someone for what they believe.

But now, after watching Christian after Christian dragged into court for standing by their ideals, I realize that they were right. And Jesus was right. “They will hate you on account of Me.”

For many years I wondered what positive or useful purpose this experience could possibly have in my life. And finally, in the last year, as I have battled, on the front lines at times, for public policy and against the evil that is advocated in this country, I realized that what that horrid experience taught me was a unique insight into the cruelty and great lengths people will go to just because your ideals are different from theirs...and just because you are different from them. And because "men love darkness rather than the light because their deeds are evil."  And, boy, will they bite and kick and seethe and be unconscionably nasty so they can not only have their way but force you to submit to their demands, as well. It's not enough for us all to do as we please (save the harming of person and property), we must knock down and destroy not just those in opposition to us, but even those who are silent or neutral.

The battle is real folks. And whatever the motivation is for these people, whether spiritual or whatever, we can not pussyfoot around reality and we can not candy coat people's real intentions and we can not excuse evil, cruelty, or ugliness for anything other than what it is. Or it will overtake us. And it is overtaking us because we fail to do anything about it. “To not speak is to speak. To not act is to act.” As my son says, we can sit on the fence with God on one side and the devil in the other, but the devil owns the fence. Not to choose IS to choose.

Wake up. The battle is raging and most of us are sleeping right through it. When we awake, we'll wonder how this all happened. The responsibility will rest in our hands.

quotes by Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Jesus

So, I met Ted Cruz. #Cruz2016

#Cruz2016

This came as an early Christmas present.  I was elated!

In case you were wondering, his favorite Bible verse is Isaiah 40:31.

"Those who wait upon the Lord will renew their strength.

They will mount up with wings like eagles.

They will run and not grow weary.  They will walk and not faint."

I am not usually one to endorse a candidate this early in the game, but Cruz is the best and fantastic choice.

Vote well, friends!

My interview on Cradle My Heart radio

As many of you know God took me to the heights of healing and redemption after a devastating abortion when I was 19.  

A week or so ago, I had the privilege of recording an interview with the sweet Kim Ketola and Cradle My Heart Radio.  The interview will air this Sunday evening at 9pm Eastern.

Please pray that it will draw post-abortive women (and men) to seek hope, healing, and forgiveness.  And please share if you think it might help someone.

• Here is the link to the announcement.
• You can also listen to an archive of it after it broadcasts by clicking on "Latest Podcasts" (scroll down to "Cradle My Heart") or on iTunes, or here.

Bless you!

Don't waste your time on fools.

And as you go, preach, saying, "The kingdom of heaven is at hand. "
Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out demons. Freely you have received, freely give. 

Now whatever city or town you enter, inquire who in it is worthy, and stay there till you go out. And when you go into a household, greet it.
If the household is worthy, let your peace return to you. And whoever will not receive you nor hear your words, when you depart from that house or city, shake off the dust from your feet. 

Assuredly, I say to you, it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of judgment than for that city!

Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves. Therefore, be wise as serpents and harmless as doves.
~Jesus. Matthew 10:7-16

Do not give what is holy to the dogs; nor cast your pearls before swine, lest they trample you underfoot, and turn and teat you in pieces.
~Jesus. Matthew 7:6

Choose your battles wisely, friends. 

"Apply energy only to those things we can change. [Don't] beat [your] head against an unbreakable wall. " (John Maxwell)

it unfolded its vivid bars

The boys and I have been working on three different curricula for California history this year.  My favorite, by far, is Beautiful Feet which is literature-based.  Loved these stories!  You must check out Jessie Benton Fremont: California Pioneer.  Fantastically inspiring!

The final book we read was Blue Willow by Doris Gates.  Such a precious and sweet story.  But this I read in the last chapter and had to note it so I can read it over and over again.

"After the parade, they all sang 'The Star Spangled Banner.' Janey was proud to see that Dad took off his hat.  She lifted her eyes to the flag.  Over and above them all, with languid grace, it unfolded its vivid bars.  There wasn't much wind and sometimes it drooped almost against he pole.  But just when Janey had decided it might become entirely limp, a fresh gust would seize it and lift it out over the crowd again.  It didn't matter in that least, she thought as with eyes glued to it she reached for the high notes in the national anthem; it didn't matter in the least whether it floated from the unpainted pole at Camp Miller or here above the tall gables of Western Union High School. It was simply the flag; nothing could add to its splendor or dim its glory.  She could feel that it stood for something important and big.  But what that something was, she couldn't have said if anyone had asked her.  It would take a grown-up to do that.  For to Janey and the other boys and girls standing there, the flag stood for their trust in the present and their hope in the future."

Oh, I remember that feeling, that truth.  But, I don't know that the flag still gives me "trust in the present" and "hope in the future."  Things in this country just aren't the same as they once were.  My children are growing up in a different America than I did.  Heartbreaking.  Still, we can return to this reality if only we assert ourselves and demand competent leadership and pray.

"If my people, who are called by My Name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land." ~2 Chronicles 7:14

Remember this?  Almost 2 years ago.  It seems longer.

I am blessed to have met so many incredible women when I participated in this.

My story is "Beauty from Ashes"...about 30 thumbnails down the page.  I am amazed at the bravery of these women and was so surprised at how the overwhelming majority of these stories were regretful.  Still, abortionists do not tell their clients of the Post Traumatic Stress that so often occurs after an abortion.

If you have had an abortion, God wants healing for you.  He wants to give you life ABUNDANT!  He wants to give you His peace that surpasses all understanding.  He wants you to know that you can walk with Him and no longer be under condemnation.  Be free!