my weaknesses today

Today, I vacuumed like a fiend!  No, I am not Suzy Homemaker.  I got a new Dyson!  My old vacuum is still sitting in the hallway.  I'm sure my husband would like that to be gone from the hallway when he gets home.

Today, I moved 20 gallons of paint from the garage to the shed in an effort to continue organizing my garage.  No, it is still not organized.  I mean, look at this!

Today, I assembled a new wardrobe for dance costumes.  When I disassembled the old one, I whacked myself in the head with a pole.  Yeah, that felt good.

Today, I admitted to the world (via Facebook) that I am not in the least bit domestic.  It went like this:  "I think I'll start blogging for moms who can't cook, are allergic to the kitchen, couldn't care less about being crafty, but still want to raise world changers. I'm feeling incredibly inadequate when I see all these domestic genius moms around me. You all are amazing! How can a non-domestic type compare!? :-) Maybe you all can look into mass producing your domesticity and shipping it to us kitchen/craft phobes."  Yes, I am passionate.  Yes, I love my husband and my children.  Yes, I love my country.  Yes, I love Jesus, the Lord and Savior and forever Healer of my life!  Yes, I speak boldly about the things the move my heart.   But, I hate crafts, baking, cooking and doing creative things that would otherwise please my family.  I don't even like to babysit.  How's that for some honesty?  When I put something on the stove, I walk away and forget about it because I just don't want to stand there idly waiting for food to do what it does.  I burn things because of this.  I often have pots that boil over.  My husband shakes his head.  Contrary to popular belief, I cannot multitask.  Yes, I have many things going on at one time and they all sit unfinished as I start a new task.  I will eventually finish each one, but not before annoying myself and my husband by the mess I leave in my wake.  My son, Brandon, is the same way.

Today, I read this blog post:  Competitive Mothering and I loved it and it has inspired me to boast in my weaknesses.  I try to follow many wonderful mom blogs, but what I really want to know that they have Mount Washmore in their laundry hampers, too.  I mean, how do these gorgeous women homeschool numerous children, bake the best cinnamon rolls in the world, keep a spotless house, raise goats and chickens, and have time to write about it?!!  I often have the most hideous time management.  I would rather play a logic puzzle on my phone than do some task that would actually allow me more leisure to read a book, play a game, etc.  I spend too much time on my computer and I need to do something about that.  Right now, as I write, my dining room table houses an old purse and a tote bag full of papers...both of which I really need to put away.  The manual to my new Dyson is poking out from under my computer and there are about 157 lego pieces strewn over the table.  Oh! and 2 Hershey's Kisses (which I should not have eaten) wrappers stare at me reminding me that Christmas has been one poor excuse for too much egg nog, candy, cookies, and calories.  I refuse to step on the scale.  Ha!

I hope that in the next week, I will finish the garage and the shed.
I hope that I will get back on my bike and be motivated to do so.
I hope that I have not gained the 5 pounds I'm pretty sure have glued themselves to my waist and tush.
I hope it's only 5, and not more.
I hope that we will melt into a decent "school" schedule.
I hope I will read instead of wasting time on Facebook and logic puzzles.  And maybe clean the house a bit, too.
I hope I will write more.  I like to do that and so many ideas fly through my mind, but I don't take the time to do it....because Mt. Washmore is calling my name.

Anyway, this is a little bit of venting, but mostly I just want to keep it real and boast in my weaknesses.  I have two AWESOME boys who, today, when my hub showed them a pic of a "politically connected family" who recently visited our desert, they recognized the political figure in the bunch.  They read Red Wall books and I am shocked over that.  They just counted out nearly $60 in change all on their own.  And when I asked them to clean the guinea pig cage, they did it.  I have clean floors today (ok, so they do need a good mopping).  I have paint stored properly.  I have costumes (almost) put away --- ok, so there's still a pile on my bed!  I have a husband that probably would like a wholesome home-cooked meal but loves me even when most of the time that just doesn't happen.  My home is full and beautiful, but my yard has junk all over it.  My dog door is really dirty...it's almost gross...no, it IS gross.  And I have no idea how to clean it effectively.  Many people think I am amazing.  I'm not...obviously.  I'm just me.  But in those things where I excel, I want to be a blessing.  And I want a cozy home for my family.  I think I accomplish these things (for the most part).

I am a work in progress and may never be Rachel Ray in the kitchen, but I will get better at the things I'm not so hot at.  "He who began a good work in [me] will be faithful to complete it..."  There's always something to work on.  (And I didn't even talk about my unpleasant responses to the people that annoy me.) Be strong in my weaknesses, Lord!

It's getting dark and I have to go to the shed.
And I will reheat the Christmas chili (which I cheated and made from a kit) for dinner... which neither of my boys are thrilled about, but my hub loves.

And it's ok that I'm not a domestic diva.  I am a patriotic, Christ-loving, passionate wife and mom; and I don't know too many like me.  That may make me a really radical odd ball, but today I'll be glad that I am filling a unique role that a handful of others appreciate, and I feel called to.

the source of America's past success...and the reason we are flailing today

"...even in the land of uprightness

they go on doing evil

and do not regard the majesty of the Lord.

Lord, Your hand is lifted high, 

but they do not see it...

Lord, You establish peace for us;

all that we have accomplished 

You have done for us."

~Isaiah 26:1-13

Americans should govern America.   Those [senators] who believe that the UN needs to protect our people should have the decency to resign their offices and give them to those who feel up to the task of passing American laws to protect American people.
~Michael Farris, Patrick Henry College, Dec. 3, 2012

there's a par-tay goin' on!

Our 6th annual Christmas Open House is just around the corner.  I love planning this event and my family has come to love it as well.  It's become a great kick-off amongst our friends and family for the Christmas season.  Yea!

I really try to keep it simple...yet, still find that I am running around like a chicken with her head cut off.  Can't imagine what it would be like if it wasn't "simple." Ha!  Anyhoo... I try to limit food to just a few items.  Finger foods only or things that can be obtained by a skewer or toothpick.  The boys and I already had our cookie making afternoon.  It was dreadful!  LOL.  I REALLY don't like the kitchen.  I mean, I think they're cute and all, but I am so not a domestic diva and I hate all that has to happen in the kitchen.  Can't someone else please cook all our meals?!!

Ok, so simple foods:  we bake a zillion gingerbread and sugar cookies.  Then we frost the dang things 'til our tummies ache and the poor, little brown men start looking like hideously dressed blobs or wounded zombies.  Six hours later we're done and every year I swear it'll be at least a year before I ever do anything that crazy again...so I guess that works out.  I buy a couple bags of candies and crackers.  I throw together two cheese balls and I make several batches of what have become very popular cranberry meatballs.   That's it!   Of course, there's punch, tea, coffee, cocoa, and cider.

I set up the bounce house, have the boys stock every fire place (indoors and out) with ample firewood, and decorate, decorate, decorate.  Play music, light candles, have fun!  And don't forget to invite family, friends, and neighbors (obviously this should occur way before lighting candles).

So, how 'bout those recipes...  I usually find a cheese ball recipe online.  Still haven't found one that I love enough to repeat, but this year I discovered (in my mom's stuff while moving her and her hub out of their home) my Grandma's fabulous pineapple cheese ball.  Oh my goodness gracious great-balls-of-fire it is to die for!


Pineapple Cheese Ball
(F. Maxine McClain)

12 oz. cream cheese
green pepper, diced
small can crushed pineapple (well drained)

Mix it all together (let the cream cheese stand at room temp to soften).   Refrigerate for 24 hours.  Shape into a ball and roll in crushed pecans or bacon bits.  Ta da!  Try not to devour the whole thing before hand.  It is SO good!


Sweet Cranberry Meatballs
(Fix It and Forget It)

50 meatballs (Obviously I multiply this like crazy for our shindig.)
1 cup brown gravy
1 cup whole berry cranberry sauce
2 T. heavy cream
2 t. Dijon mustard

Put meatballs in slow cooker.  Mix remaining ingredients to gather and pour over meatballs.
Cover.  Cook on high 2-3 hours or low 5-6 hours.

Easy peasy.  That's how I like it.  If food involves more than 10 minutes to organize, then I'm so out of there.  So, you know this has to be easy enough for someone with a cooking allergy like me to be able to pull it off.

He raises up kings

For the Scripture says to the Pharaoh, 

“For this very purpose I have raised you up,

that I may show My power in you, 

and that my name may be declared in all the earth.”

Therefore He has mercy on whom He wills,

and whom He wills He hardens.

~Romans 9:17-18

“Lord, let me serve my country 

by loving You with all my heart.”

~The Truth Project Daily Travelogue

We are days away from a great and important election. After nearly 4 years of the most pro-abortion/pro-socialist president in our American history, we now have the opportunity to replace him or leave him where he is.

Remember that according to the Declaration of Independence, our first inalienable right is life. If our leaders won't protect life, then can we expect them to protect our property, or our freedom? And with no life, there is certainly no freedom.

This whole world seems to be in those “sorrows” mentioned in Matthew 24. The earth is groaning. So much of the Muslim world is literally on fire in protest against America. Incredible moral and spiritual decline envelop us. Threats are in abundance and it can truly cause us to become fearful.

I encourage you to go to www.HisChannel.com and watch recent archives of the World News Briefing? When we look around us things can seem overwhelming and scary but when we see things Biblically and prophetically, well...it just is pretty darn exciting!!! “Look up, for your redemption draws near!” (Lk, 21:28) It's so good to have a heavenly perspective and to put our faith solidly in our unfailing God who is sovereign over all things...even nauseating politics.

“...he (anti-Christ)...shall wear out the saints...”

(Dan. 7:25, KJV)

“And let us not grow weary in while doing good,

for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart.”

(Gal. 6:9)

The enemy's m.o. is to weary us. Keep doing the good GOD has called you to.

“The next president will receive 100% of the vote- 

Jesus alone will choose.

And whomever He chooses 

will be better than we deserve."

~R.C. Sproul, Jr.

Whatever happens, we are in the hands of magnificent God who is working even the ugly around us into His perfect prophetic purpose! “...ALL things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.” (Romans 8:28, emphasis mine.) There is a big picture, a greater epic story; and we are a part of it. Play your part well. Pray. Vote wisely. You've been placed in this act and scene of world history “for such a time as this.” (Esther 4:14)

"And He changes the times and he seasons; 

'He removes kings and raises up kings; 

He gives wisdom to the wise 

and knowledge to those who have understanding."

~Dan. 2:21

There are many voter resources available. I have spent a considerable amount of time on this: http://www.psalm30v11.blogspot.com/p/vote.html.  I include links to several voter guides and my own research on various candidates. ...so you can essentially one-stop shop. Yea!

“...believers have been given the prophetic task

of holding nations accountable 

to the standards of eternal truth.”

~The Truth Project Daily Travelogue

The king's heart is in the hand of the Lord;

he directs it like a watercourse wherever He pleases.

~Proverbs 21:1

Register and vote! You matter!

"The risks of pursuing truth are tremendous, 

and what could be a greater adventure 

than to risk everything 

in pursuit of the one thing that endures?" 

~Gordon Pennington, Burning Media Group

this manipulated generation

"Whoever controls the media controls the culture." 

~Francis Schaeffer

"No generation has ever been more manipulated 

than the generation that lives today." 

~Gordon Pennington, Burning Media Group

eroding our foundation

"To preserve the government, we must also preserve morals.  Morality rests on religion; if you destroy the foundation, the superstructure must fall.  When the public mind becomes vitiated and corrupt laws are a nullity and constitutions are waste paper." ~Daniel Webster

"When we throw God out, all our laws and Constitution become waste paper - we can make them say whatever we want." ~Del Tackett commenting on Webster's quote

U-turn or 3-point-turn?

There is such a debate right now amongst Conservatives, Republicans, and Libertarians.  The endless debacle over the third party vote and the inevitable split that always occurs. 

The third party candidate may very well be the most ideal and best choice, but the majority of the electorate refuses to leave their party.  And so principled, idealistic, and truly Constitutionally-minded folk cast their vote for the "ideal" inevitably splitting the vote amongst the Conservatives, and the end result is the most unqualified and most unrighteous candidate winning the election.  This is how we ended up with dreadful Woodrow Wilson.  And if we follow this course again, we will end up with Obama for another four years.

I personally ponder principle vs. wisdom.  I wonder if principle must at times be arrived at via a detour.  I agree that the most ideal thing is to slam on the breaks immediately and turn this car around because the cliff is right in front of us and to continue down the road at this rate of speed will be the end of us all.  But, since we know that men, in general, stay in the boxes of their political parties, perhaps joining with them in hopes of slowing the car down and giving us some time to save ourselves is wise.  Some say "Liberty or Bust!"  Yes, we will bust, but is that truly what we want?  I don't.  I have 2 small boys with their whole lives ahead of them, Lord willing, and I have zero interest in throwing my hands up and irresponsibly bringing destruction upon us all, and particularly upon them.  "You and I have a rendezvous with destiny.  We will preserve for our children this,the last best hope of man on earth, or we will sentence them to take the first step into a thousand years of darkness.  If we fail, at least let our children and our children's children say of us we justified our brief moment here.  We did everything that could be done." (Reagan)  These that want "liberty or death" refuse to vote for the assumed "lesser of two evils" because they don't want an evil at all.  This, I totally understand.  But are we mislabeling them as "evil," when the reality is that they are less "evil" as they are not ideal?  And they say, "we are just buying time" by electing the non-ideal only to oust the true evil?  Is "buying time" really so bad?  It's better than the clock running out and reaching the point of no return. 

Ronald Reagan said "If we lose freedom here, there is no place to turn to. This is the last stand on earth."  There is nowhere we can go if we find ourselves enslaved to a tyrannical government.  Every inhabitable place on this earth is claimed and we will be hard pressed to escape the eye of big brother.

It just doesn't seem wise at this point to vote directly or indirectly for the end result of Obama's continued reign in the White House.  I agree that an immediate u-turn would be most beneficial and ideal, but since that is near impossible because of the mindset of the people, I'll take a 3-point-turn possibility of getting this nation turned around and heading directly for the Constitution.  A slow turn around is better than no turn around at all.

    

Is it, in fact, more responsible to vote wisely for the leading popular party choice who can actually win, than to idealistically spend that vote on the very "best" choice who will not win?  If we voted completely on ideals, then I think we would use our write-in votes far more frequently, because none of the party choices are the very best.  There is always someone better suited, but who didn't climb the ranks according to political correctness and ritual.  I agree that if we all just voted for character and got out of our Republican party box, we could make real, drastic, revolutionary change.  Can it be done?  Will the masses walk that road and do right rather than what they are familiar with?  True, doing the same thing produces the same results.  Will we remain in this dangerous status quo?

In God's eyes, where does our responsibility lie?  Is it simply in ousting the evil leaders by voting for the other better-but-not-perfect candidate?  Or is it in casting our personal vote for the very best and most godly candidate and letting the chips fall where they may?

I don't know, but I am hoping to sort it out by November 6th.  I hope you do, too.

"...the remarkable history of our nation points to the fact that radical and revolutionary actions are hardly necessary in order to protect our freedoms and preserve our ideals.  From the earliest days of the Founding Fathers all the way through our national saga, the greatest reforms and the most substantial bulwarks of freedom were won not so much through dramatic innovation as through careful and conservative deliberation."  ~Dr. George Grant, The Importance of The Electoral College 

Constitution catechism nugget

from page 18-19 of The Catechism on the Constitution of the United States:

Q:  May ever the President of the United States be thus impeached and punished?

A:  Yes.  In this free and happy country no man is so great as to be above the law.  The laws are supreme; to them all persons, from the President of the United States to the poorest and the meanest beggar, must alike submit.  This is our glory.  Let every youthful American exult that he has no master but the law; let him mark the man who would change this happy state of things as the enemy of his country; and above all let him remember that as soon as he himself breaks the law, he becomes himself that enemy.  Whoever violates the law helps to weaken its force, and, as far as he disobeys, does what in him lies to destroy it: but he who honors and obeys the law strengthens the law, and thereby helps to preserve the freedom and happiness of his country.  In some governments it is held that "the king can do no wrong;" here we know no king but the law, no monarch but the constitution: we hold that every man may do wrong; that the higher he is in office, the more reason there is that he be obliged to answer for his conduct; and that as a great officer, if treacherous, is a great criminal, so he  ought to be made to suffer a great and exemplary punishment."

Remember a few months back when Obama was subpoenaed to a GA court and didn't appear?  If that were you or me, we would have a warrant out for our arrest and the next time the police interacted with us, we would be hauled off to jail.  Since we have no king, then technically no one is above the law.  But the reality seems to be that Obama thinks himself above the law and we must also think so since we have not called him to accountability. Even a subpoena for a baseless case must be obeyed.
In January, we took a family vacation to the northwest.  Jamie received a subpoena that required him, in the middle of our vacation, to appear at a DUI hearing he had to testify in.  We tried everything possible to continue the case so it wouldn't interrupt our vacation...to no avail.  We had to rearrange our plans so that Jamie could fly to San Diego in order to appear in court.  I won't elaborate on the incredible headache it was to accomplish this, but Jamie was threatened that if he did not appear in court, he would have a warrant.  Enough said.  "No man is above the law."  If law enforcement isn't, then should the President be?  No one ought to be.  We do not have a king who is above the law.  We are all subject to it.

"We are a nation of laws and not of men." ~John Adams

"If men were angels, no government would be necessary. If angels were to govern men, neither external nor internal controls on government would be necessary. In framing a government which is to be administered by men over men, the great difficulty lies in this: you must first enable the government to control the governed; and in the next place oblige it to control itself."  (Federalist 51)

"If every man were perfectly virtuous, and knew what would be best for himself and others, they might [govern themselves].  But this is far from being the case; and therefore the people of every country are and must be governed." (Elementary Catechism...)

Constitutional betrayal = treason

"...whoever goes contrary to [the Constitution] betrays his country, injures you, injures me, betrays us all, and is deserving of the heaviest punishment.  Whoever, on the contrary, loves and keeps it sacred, is his country's friend, secures his own safety, and farthers the happiness of all around him.  Let every American learn, from his earliest years, to love, cherish and obey the Constitution.  Without it he can neither be a great or a good citizen; without this his name will never be engraved with honor in the pages of our history, nor transmitted, like that of Washington, with praises and blessings to a late posterity."

~Elementary Catechism on the Constitution of the United States for the use of schools by Arthur J. Stansbury, p.10

This is a great book.  I read about a page and a half to my boys every morning at breakfast for five days in a row.  We discuss it and understand it.  It's an easy way to teach the Constitution and our unique form of government to your children and to learn about it yourself.


When I first read this section, I had to read it again and again.  It sort of knocked me upside the head and brought to mind one person in particular who has very nearly wiped his rear end with our glorious Constitution.  These words are so relevant for our president today and so many politicians who swear an oath that they will uphold and defend the Constitution and yet defy it in every way they can in order to have their own will done.  To know that this offense was not taken lightly in the past and should not be taken lightly now is vital.  Yet, we are so overwhelmed by the multiple attempts and successes to blatantly disregard and defy of the Constitution that we can hardly keep up.  But really one offense is enough to call out the President and any other leader who will betray us and the Constitution.  To not defend it is nothing short of treason --- "whoever goes contrary to [the Constitution] betrays his country, injures you, injures me, betrays us all, and is deserving of the heaviest punishment."  Our checks and balances have become ever so corrupt that they no longer hold one another accountable.  The legislature buddies up with the president who matches their party and agenda and the president appoints agenda activated judges that will do his bidding.  It is becoming difficult to differentiate our government from an oligarchy.  Once the picturesque ideal of a Republic, the image is becoming blurry and faded and our "public servants" are becoming the elite that assert their will upon us.


"I do solemnly swear that I will faithfully execute the office of President of the United States, and will to the best of my ability preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution of the United States."  (Presidential oath of office)   ....well then do it!  And we the people ought to raise our voices and use our vote to recall any who will not do the job they were hired to do.

Aunt Toby's killer mac n cheese

Enjoy!

From my darling Aunt Toby:

Heat oven to 375.

Nuke 1/2 of a cube of butter

Add 1/4 cup of flour right into the measuring cup with the butter

Add 2 cups of milk.

Nuke and stir until thick. Check often, it will boil over.

Cook 8 oz of macaroni. [I use 12 oz. of whatever pasta I have on hand.]

I use jarlsburg, sharp cheddar and havarti.

Slice.

Layer macaroni, cheese, etc.

Top with white sauce.

Bake until brown on top. (About 35 minutes)

Easy and 1,000 per bite!

depraved electorate

"The danger to America is not Barack Obama, but a citizenry capable of entrusting a man like him with the Presidency. It will be far easier to limit and undo the follies of an Obama presidency than to restore the necessary common sense and good judgment to a depraved electorate willing to have such a man for their president. The problem is much deeper and far more serious than Mr. Obama, who is a mere symptom of what ails America. Blaming the prince of the fools should not blind anyone to the vast confederacy of fools that made him their prince. The Republic can survive a Barack Obama, who is, after all, merely a fool. It is less likely to survive a multitude of fools, such as those who made him their president."

This quote was translated into English from an article appearing in the Czech Republic as published in the Prager Zeitung of 28 April 2010.

My kids are making me smarter

I was at a restaurant last week and there was a stack of Trivial Pursuit cards on the table.  I told Jamie to read some to me.  I normally stink at Trivial Pursuit.  I ended up answering about 80% of the questions correctly and all except one were things I have learned since home schooling my kids.  As I like to say, "I'm learning so much!"  I looked at Brandon and said, "Dude, you guys are making me smarter!"  He responded, "Thanks, Mom!"  Like he's teaching me...which he is...sorta.  ;)

A dream in a dream (no, not the Princess Bride line)

We were listening to an audio book of Swiss Family Robinson on our hour-long drive to our history co-op the other day when Silas announces that the story was like a dream: "No," he said, "a dream in a dream."  "Do you know why?" he said.  "Because the world isn't like Heaven.  Heaven is real, but the world isn't real.  The world is like a dream."

Cheryl Broderson, daughter of Pastor Chuck Smith and wife of Pastor Brian Broderson, stated one day on "Pastor's Perspective," a radio call-in show, that the spiritual realm is more real than the material realm.

True it is that this world will one day pass away and our focus must now and forever be on eternity.  How beneficial it is to look at the big picture and to not dwell on and be overwhelmed by the seeming largeness of our current circumstances.  Taking a step back to get a grip and to look at the big picture, God's master plan; and to realize that the little things are only a part of a much bigger thing that God is accomplishing in our lives.

Yes, Heaven is more real than earth.  Eternity will dwarf this life.  Our time here is indeed only a mist that appears for a moment and then is gone. (Jas. 4:14)  So, don't get too caught up in your struggles and temptations.  We can be self-controlled for a moment so that we may glory in eternity.  Our present sufferings are not worthy to be compared to the glory that will be revealed in us. (Rom. 8:18)

Occupy this earth until He comes, but keep your eyes up because our redemption draws near. (Lk. 21:28)

don't judge.

I think we often confuse "judging" for identifying what is clearly right or wrong. We have discernment for a reason, so we can know what is right and wrong (not to mention that God clearly tells us most of it straight up). What a confused culture we live in where we can not clearly state what is right before our very eyes. It's like The Emperor's New Clothes. Still, in stating and discerning the obvious, it is not our place to condemn or hate anyone. We are to still be ever so loving. It is a bootcamp I am currently training in...and I am so glad for it. Because I firmly believe there is a way to honor people, not agree, but still love deeply. I am totally thrilled to learn this lesson. It is one I have been anxious to learn for a while now. Bring it!

In all I am currently dealing with, I was initially concerned that I might start fading the black and white lines to a hazy gray. And slip into compromise. But, quite the opposite has occurred. I feel and have total clarity regarding right & wrong, black & white, good & evil, truth & deception. Clarity like never before...and I'm already a pretty black & white gal. Where I first thought I could sort of sympathize and understand, I find that I simply can not understand. Crazy lies. Sad deception. Everything in nature is so obvious.  I can sympathize, though, with the idea that people live with gnawing secrets for too long. I think it so heart breaking that anyone would have to live that way.

I see that things are not as complicated as culture claims them to be. Today, I sat in a writing workshop while a discussion ensued over the issue of abortion. I silently observed. It ended with the dejected statement of surrender, “it's a complicated issue.” 
No, it's not. 
It is not complicated. 
Life is life. If it breathes, has a heartbeat and brainwaves, and is currently growing into a human being, then I think we can assess that it is a human life. And snuffing out that life is murder. Even a child knows this. 
It is our “forward thinking," endless & often unnecessary discussions that become confusing. Confusion seems to result in “it's complicated.” No, you're confused. Put yourself in your right mind and recognize what is before your own eyes. If we would just look at the very thing right before us and stop listening to the lies, then things become very clear. We listen to the lies and let them totally cloud out reason and proof. “The emperor is wearing a glamorous robe.” “Oh, have you ever seen such rich fabric?” “What an immaculate new wardrobe he has!” Everybody's saying it so it must be true, right? Then a child looks at us all like we have lost our minds (because we practically have), and states truly, “The emperor is naked.” And we all ought to glance at each other and start whispering amongst ourselves, “You know, I thought he was naked too.” But no, we see the crystal clear, visible proof literally before our eyes and we still stupidly and stubbornly insist that what we are being told is the truth. 

We have totally allowed ourselved to be completely brainwashed.

Lord,
How discontent have I been these last couple of days?  Wickedly discontent.

Good timing for a lesson today about Psalm 90 and the importance of numbering my days and not wasting my life.

Nothing surprises You.  You are sovereign.  (I love the word "sovereign.")

You know the wickedness of our hearts, the secret darkness lurking in thoughts we would never willingly allow to escape.

The heart is deceitfully wicked.  Who can know it?
Answer: You.  You know it.  I try to mask and pretend even around You that I'm not as awful as I am, but then I realize that I'm vainly striving to convince You of anything other than reality.  And it is so much better, so much more freeing to just honestly and humbly confess the depravity of my thoughts and beg You to change me, to cause me to be grateful because in everything You have a great purpose: to cause me to be better and more like You, to help and comfort others who will later walk this same path, and for me to desire heaven more.

Change, comfort, fill me.  You know me so well.  I am so glad.

the truth about history

History is not a limited territory with defined borders that can be contained, conquered, and controlled.  It is instead a vast and limitless ocean that can only be explored and charted.  The farther you sail into the ocean of world history, the more you realize it is a journey with no end.  However, you can drop anchor at any point and probe the depths of world history where you are, and those anchors can become permanent places in your children's minds.  People, events and ideas are the anchors that will hold history in place for your children.  Your goal is not to try to cover the entire ocean surface of world history, which would require a very fast and shallow trip, but rather to pick some specific routes, stop at the most interesting places, and out down as many historical anchors as you can.  The more anchors you can create, the easier it will be for your children to begin to sort out and make sense of world history.  The best way to create those anchors is through reading whole, living books that make history come alive.

~Clay & Sally Clarkson

less of me

Circumstances of life sure have a way of blindsiding you sometimes. And yet we know that God uses everything in a life to grow us so long as we respond appropriately.

I wonder sometimes how many weird, unpredictable, outrageous things can come into a life? How many times have I said: “Really?! Who does this happen to?!” The answer is me and others who don't want a plain old apathetic, complacent existence. And it's ok.  I want radical. I want turn-the-world-upside-down-and-shake-it-up. I want to come to the kingdom for such a time as this. And I know that if I truly want to live for Him, then crazy stuff will flow my way.

Rejection happens.

Bad-decisions-turned-redemption-stories happen.

Miracles happen.

Love stories happen.

Crazy relatives happen.

Success happens.

Marginalization happens.

Slander happens.

How will I respond?

MORE of You, Jesus, and less, less, less of me.

disobedient and contrary

Reading of the resurrection of Lazarus today and the various responses to this incredible miracle:

Many Jews believed, but pharisees and the chief priests were fearful and sought to undermine the miracle, to subvert the reality of what had occurred.  They sought to kill Jesus and Lazarus.  An effort to remove any sign of the truth.  (John 11, esp. vs.45-48, 53; and John 12:10-11)

And so it is today.  News organizations omit Christian influence and events.  History revisionists omit from school textbooks anything referring to God in our founding documents.  There is nothing new under the sun. (Ecc. 1:9)

So, even when God proves Himself real, some people will still refuse to believe and actively defy the truth.  Some make it their life's mission to hate God, God's people, and to discredit Him in anyway they can be hiding the truth.  Why?

"I was found by those who did not seek Me; I was made manifest to those who did not ask for Me."
"All day long I have stretched out My hands to a disobedient and contrary people." ~Romans 10:20-21

...because there are disobedient and contrary people.  Boy!  Did this open my eyes this morning!  Sometimes, I am just shocked at people and how totally foolish they can be when the truth is staring them in the face and breathing down their neck...and yet, it seems out of pure stubbornness, they refuse to believe what is blatantly obvious.  But, here it is: people will purpose in their hearts to be disobedient and contrary, unteachable, stubborn, hard-hearted.  And for what purpose: pride.  To what end: eternal torment.    It seems the understatement of eternity, but "pride comes before a fall."  And oh, how they will fall.  As Pharaoh hardened his heart and set his eternal course, so do these disobedient and contrary people.  The course is wide and many there are who find it...leading to death.

"And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light because their deeds were evil.  For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed." ~John 3:19-20

At the risk of embodying the-pot-calling-the-kettle-"black," this causes me to consider where I am apt to be contrary.  I am the queen of stubborn.  I'm also the queen of say-it-straight like a mack truck.  (yikes.)  And I have to consciously (sometimes even after the fact...like now, as I write this section a day after posting) determine to not fight to have my own way, my own opinion, my own stance... to the death.  Some things are uncompromising, like God's Word, the sanctity of human life, etc.  But I can easily be contrary to people who disagree with me just for the sake of my own pride.  I must humble myself and genuinely attempt to see an issue from an opposing point-of-view.  This is something I have to purpose myself to do since it absolutely does not come naturally.  So, mercy isn't exactly my spiritual gift.  Sorry to those of you who have been the recipients of my lack of mercy.  Rest assured, many in the church have this gracious gift and they are much nicer than I.  So, I admit, I must look in the mirror on this one and make sure that I am not being contrary for the sake of being contrary, but seek the truth wherever it leads.  Because the truth sets us free ....even if it's different from what we originally assumed.

16 oz. of soda, please

So, the big news the other day was that NYC Mayor Bloomberg mandated that restaurants can no longer sell a soda larger than 16 ounces.  (Versions of the story: soda jerk; and Bloomberg bans soda and celebrates "Donut Day.")  He's "forcing" the people to drink less soda.  And why shouldn't he?  The libs have managed to control our healthcare so they ought to have a say in how we treat our bodies, right?  After all, they're paying for it.  And it's for your own good, anyway.  You are too stupid to decide for yourself what you should and shouldn't eat or drink.

Martin Niemoller has a famous quote:

First they came for the Communists,

and I did not speak out--

because I was not a Communist.

Then they came fort he Trade Unionist,

and I did not speak out-- 

because I was not a Trade Unionist.

Then they came for the Jews,

and I did not speak out--

because I was not a Jew.

And then they came for me--

and there was no one left to speak for me.

~Martin Niemoller

personal prisoner of Adolph Hitler

in Nazi concentration camps

A friend of mine just re-wrote it to apply to this ridiculous fascism over soft drinks, read it here.

Since this topic was on the minds of everyone the other day, it was unavoidable as I turned on talk radio while we drove down the highway.  I explained to my boys what Bloomberg had done and how utterly ridiculous it is and how it is a way to strip Americans of their freedoms.  If you give 'em an inch, they think they're the ruler.

Silas:  "Mom, I'm thirsty."
Me:  "Me too.  Would you like an orange juice or milk?"
Silas:  "Can I have a soda?"
Me:  "Sure."
Silas:  "Well," pause, "I'd like sixteen ounces of Coca Cola, please."

Mind you, he's 6 years old.  And a carbon copy of his mother, sass and all.  We sure had a good laugh.  Ultimately, I decided it was too late for a sugary soda and he had some O.J. instead (as mom, I can be a Bloomberg-type dictator to my children, it's my job), but we were in hysterics there for a while.

prayer

Sovereign, Almighty Creator, Daddy God,

Thank You for showing Yourself real and true.  In a place where reality is a carnal, ridiculous t.v show and truth is redefined as null, nonexistent, or relative and arbitrary.

So few cling to You anymore.  Even those who seemed to be Your own are turning away to satisfy their itching ears.  I think that's the most disappointing: when those who claim Your truth, love, and salvation pursue the world's version of it...which is a lie and nothing at all, yet the consequences are eternally devastating.

Redeeming Hero of the universe, allow failure to come so that a greater miracle can be done ...to widen our faith and to show Yourself sovereign and worthy of glory.

Come rescue us in this epic life we participate in.  We need our Hero to redeem us from the hand of the enemy and cause us to live happily ever after in Your holy and perfect presence.

Come quickly, Lord Jesus.

loss of man's favor = REJOICING!

"...And Jacob saw that Laban did not regard him with favor as he had before...
The Lord said...I will be with you. (ESV)
...I see your father's countenance that it is not favorable toward me as it was before; but the God of my father has been with me. (NKJV)..."

~Genesis 31:1-7

Loss of favor with men does not mean loss of favor with God.  

Hallelujah for that!

"Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake." ~Matthew 5:11 

I know I'm being particular,
but I sorta hope my "leap for joy" looks like this one.

"Blessed are you when men hate you, and when they exclude you, and revile you, and cast our your name as evil, for the Son of Man's sake.  Rejoice in that day and leap for joy!  For indeed your reward is great in heaven, For in like manner their fathers did to the prophets." ~Luke 6:22-23

(For a gal who loves people, and loves people to love her; this is a really potent and necessary truth.  Help me to rejoice in these seasons, Lord!)

Corrie knew what was right

...One day a Jewish woman brought

her baby, small and weak.

The baby cried. The frightened mother

found it hard to speak.

So when a minister arrived

to get his watch repaired,

it seemed to Corrie he was sent

in answer to her prayers.

His house was more secluded;

they'd be seer there with him.

She asked if he would take

the baby and the mother in.

"No, no!" he said instinctively.

His fear showed in his eyes.

"That Jewish baby could cost all

of us our very lives."

Although he was a Christian man

and knew the Jews' grim plight,

some Christians were too scared to do

what Corrie knew was right.

~Corrie Ten Boom, Shining in the Darkness

by Maloche, published by YWAM

I hope this Kori will always do what she knows is right...

...no matter what.

When I was first saved, my precious mentor, Renee Carson, told me that I ought to make Corrie Ten Boom my namesake.  I wish I could make it so.  But she is so much more than me.
How I admire her courage in the midst of fear.

Having read and studied so much recently about World War II, and the rise of the Nazi party and Hitler in Germany; I see many similarities around me here in the U.S.: intense regulations; an aggressive attempt to strip people of their right to worship, speak, and be self-sufficient; losing our freedoms in exchange for the government's "protection"; and the list goes on.

I don't want to be fearful, nor do I want to be naive of what really could be coming.

I hope that if things get ugly around here, I will always do what I know is right.  I pray for this end.

I want to be brave.
I want to be righteous.
I want to be a world-changer.
I want to set an example for my children.
I want freedom for us forever.
I want God's kingdom to come here on earth as it is in heaven.

my thoughts on gay marriage...there may be subsequent posts on this

Obama made his grand announcement last week that he supports same-sex marriage.  And so a wave of controversy, argument, and intolerance (and not the kind you think) ensued.



I sometimes wish that the reality was that we could just warmly get along with one another accompanied by no standards and no judgments, and an acceptance of the drastic differences among us.  I wish I, like many who claim themselves to be Christians (but are in fact clinging to and promoting heresy), could embrace simply as a varying point-of-view the issue of homosexuality...but I can't.  It is not me who decides anything...nor is it any other human being on the planet.  There IS a God and He is sovereign... I am neither of these things.  I must cling to Him, His Word, and His ways.  I can not reinterpret what He has clearly stated.  I can not accept that which is unproved by science...that homosexuality is simply a difference like ethnicities and gender...it is not.

Marriage. Ordained and created by God.  Man and woman.  A picture on earth of His relationship with the church.  Jesus, the Bridegroom; we, His bride.  He gives His life for us and will come for us.

"Marriage is not mainly about being or staying in love... It is about showing in real life the glory of the gospel." ~John Piper

To promote marriage in homosexual relationships is wrong.  Marriage is God-ordained.  Homosexuality is God-condemned.  The institution of God-created marriage and family can not be hijacked by the ungodly and the wicked.

I love all of my gay friends.  I wish them to be full of joy and hope and peace.  And I want nothing withheld from them, but... I love God more and I trust Him wholly.  And He is clear.

I wish that I could affirm them but I can't; and my silence on and avoidance of the issue of homosexuality is not serving them at all.  I want to speak the truth and guide them, but I don't want to hurt their feelings or shame them.  And so I end up saying nothing.  But to say nothing is to cause them more harm eternally.

"Faithful are the wounds of a friend;

but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful."
(Pr. 27:6)

I want to be a faithful friend.

I am not communicating this well. Why?  Because this is one of the things in the Bible that I'm not sure I totally like.  Yet, my disliking it doesn't matter.  God is God.  I am not.  He is right.  I am not.

After my first cruise ship contract, I questioned so much about God and His ways.  I didn't like that the way to salvation is narrow.  I didn't like that we had no choice as to our existence, yet we were still responsible to choose the right way or perish in everlasting torture.  I didn't like that I couldn't live my life the way I wanted and follow what seemed right to me.  I didn't like any of these things.  And I wrestled with it over and over in my mind, in conversations with Christians and non-Christians, yet the truth rang in my heart.  God's Word IS truth...even if I don't like it.  HE is the boss.  He is in control.  He is God; I am not.  Nor should I pretend to be.  Nor should I twist His flawless Word to appease my own desires.  He is God.  The rules are the rules and the consequences are the consequences...no matter what I think.  He will not change to appease me...nor should He.  His ways are far above my own.  His thoughts are far above mine.  I can only grasp a comparatively microscopic grain of His infinite wisdom.  And so HE rules.  And it will ever be so.   Glory to the perfect Creator of heaven and earth God!

So, if He says something must be the way it must be, then I must accept it.  I don't have a choice.  I can refuse to believe it...for now, but the reality remains...even if I deny it.  One day EVERY knee shall bow and EVERY tongue will confess that He is Lord.

In this vapor life that is here for a moment and then gone, let's choose Him.  Because eternity is so very long...especially in torment.  And is eternal torment really worth a vapor's length of time living the way we want? (Jas. 4:14)

To my beloved, confused, deceived friends: Oh how I love you.  I wish you would choose life abundant.  I wish you would turn from these temptations that I know desperately overwhelm you.  I, too, have sins that I struggle against.  Things that overwhelm me at times and I think I can't possibly continue to live my life this way.  But He knows the way I take, and when it is over, I shall come forth as gold. (Job 23:10)  So, can you, precious one.  Don't choose the easy way.  Don't choose the wide path.  These lead to destruction.  Please choose righteousness.  Choose to turn from your wicked ways.  Choose Him.  And let Him help you through your temptations and struggles.  Cry out to Him.  He is a refuge, a very present help in time of trouble.  And our fleeting life will pass and we will ultimately have the victory!


Oh let Him deliver you.