Jul 21

Aurora Colorado Shooting So Sad

It was a tragic end to a wonderful evening where family and friends had planned to go the midnight screening of Batman The Dark Knight Rises. Many were gunned down by 24 year old James Holmes, who was dressed in body armor and a gas mask, at the Century 16 Cinema. Last count was 58 people hurt and 12 killed.

Many are questioning how and why something like this can happen. Some ask ‘where is God in all this?’ ‘How can he let people suffer.’ I don’t have answers, but I know an answer dropped in my email that day. Actually two emails, both from Chris Sigfrids, Senior Online Marketing Manager at WestBrook Multnomah. He quickly heard about the tragedy from his wife, as he was leaving his house for work. On the way to work he heard the rest of the story on the car radio. He, like most of us had questions. Many that seemed to come to him as he listened to the news reports and drove into work. In his first email he explains that

“I drove down I-25 listening to what had happened, just 50 miles up the road, I began to consider what the appropriate response was. Should I be angry? Should I forgive? Should I get a concealed carry permit? Should we have tighter gun laws?

In the second email he explains while in his office

“I … went to my bookshelves and found Randy’s [Alcorn] book, If God Is Good. I had read it a couple years ago and went through the table of contents to find chapter four. It gave me personal encouragement and I thought it might encourage others….”

Well I guess he got a lot of flack for his first email, people screaming that he was trying to sell books in face of this tragedy. He says that

“after spending 10 minutes with just a portion of Randy’s book, I felt comfort. I had answers. I found my orientation amidst the flood of possible responses.”

He wanted to share this comfort with many people; clergy, lay leaders, just us every day folks.

“My heart was simply to encourage others. I wanted to DO something about this senseless act, and this is what I thought I could do…something I could contribute,. A way to reach out and be an encourager,” he explained in his second email.

So in hopes that I can reach out and give others comfort also, I am embedding and giving a link so you can download chapter 4 of the book If God is Good by Randy Alcorn. I am also going to include the YouTube Video link of Randy being interviewed by Greg Laurie at Harvest Fellowship.
Randy Alcorn Interview

Here are links that Chris included in his email.

 Randy Alcorn’s website

A link to chapter 4 so you can download the chapter to read on the device of your choosing.

 

Hugs!!!

Namaste!!!

Read the book here: just keep scrolling.

0
comments

Posted in Happenings, Religion, Spiritual, Writing

Jun 25

Forgiving is Hard

Someone asked me last night how I am dealing with drama in my life that occurred a few weeks ago. This post is my reflection on that question.
 

Forgiveness is one virtue I have a very hard time with. I am trying, and trying very hard. I am putting my faith in Jesus Christ our Lord to lead me and show me the way. I must admit I am a lot better at it now then say 10+ years ago. I am finding with my new-found faith in God it is easier than it has ever been before.

Every day that I read the Bible I find another passage that strikes home, like

Philippians 3:13b “Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead,”


which makes it easier and easier for me to place everything in God’s hand and rely on Jesus to help and guide me. 

In Forward Day by Day Saturday’s reading had a wonderful saying:

“The eternal God is whispering: “Don’t fill your life

with broken shards of the trivial; tell someone you love

them; forgive from the heart. Don’t defer joy to some

future which never arrives. I stand knocking at your

door.”"

I know for me (my great-aunt, who was like a mother to me, died in my arms, and my brother-in-law passed away while my husband was with him, so very unexpectedly) these deaths brought the realization of forgiveness and numbered days. However, I know someone who has had both parents die young and tragically and yet they harbor resentment and fill their life with broken shards of the trivial. I pray for this person every day that he/she will realize we need not harbor resentment in our hearts, because we just do not know when tragedy will strike. Instead we need to love one another and live each day as if it is the last. The whole meditation really spoke to me and I pray that it will also speak to you and those who need it.

Here are a few Bible verses that I go to during those times when I am struggling, or when that feeling of resentment begins to bubble deep down inside and I can feel it gurgling and know I am going to slip into what ifs, and coulda, shoulda and wouldas.

“Teach us to realize the brevity of life, so that we may grow in wisdom.” Psalm 90:12

“Love prospers when a fault if forgiven, but dwelling on it separates close friends.” Proverbs 17:9

“If you forgive those who sin against you, your heavenly Father will forgive you. But if you refuse to forgive others, your Father will not forgive your sins.” Matthew 6:14-15

“…Lord how often should I forgive someone who sins against me? Seven times?” “No, not seven times.” Jesus replied, “but seventy times seven.” Matthew 18:21-22

“But when you are praying, first forgive anyone you are holding a grudge against, so that your Father in heaven will forgive your sins, too.” Mark 11:25

and finally Colossians 3:13-15 really hits it home every time.

“Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others. Above all clothe yourselves with love, which binds us all together in perfect harmony. And let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts. For as members of one body you are called to live in peace. And always be thankful.”

I took my confirmation on Sunday into the Episcopal church of The Holy Comforter in Burlington NC. Now these verses in Colossians really mean a lot to me because Bishop Gregg asked us if we will renew our commitment to Jesus Christ and I answered “I do, and with God’s grace I will follow him as my Savior and Lord.” He also asked the congregation – the members of the one body – “Will you who witness these vows do all in your power to support these persons in their life in Christ?” and they answered “we will.” Then the bishop said to the congregation “Let us join with those who are committing themselves to Christ and renew our own baptismal covenant.” Therefore, I am reminded even more of what Jesus stood for and how he died for us.


amothersheritage.com

Beauty in His Grip Button

Hugs!!!

Namaste!!!

 

1
comments

Posted in Religion, Writing

Jun 15

Fun Vacation

Skyland Resort restaurant view

Which vacation is your favorite? Did you feel closer to our Creator? I know I did.

I actually have two, they weren’t my dream vacation but they were close. I really am unsure as to what my dream vacation would be, but it definitely would include water.

One was the cruise hubby and I took around our 25th wedding anniversary. It wasn’t for the anniversary – KT was employee of the year and they gave him a gift certificate to a travel agency. We left Port Canaveral, went to Key West, Belize, Cozumel, Progreso (I think there is was one more but I cannot remember). KT and I had a balcony room and it was pure bliss. Mornings we had breakfast delivered and we would enjoy on the balcony. We saw so many wonderful birds and fish from the boat, and when we went snorkeling in the clear blue waters of the Caribbean. It was so restful.

The second was just after hubby’s brother Jim passed away last year. On the way home hubby really needed some R&R, so driving south on I-81 I pulled out my iPad and started looking for mountain cabins or lodges. Along the Blue Ridge Mountains in Shenandoah National Park are a few lodges. I found Skyland an absolutely beautiful slice of heaven. Here is a place where you can commune with nature, literally.

Ursus americanus

Can you see the bear? Click the picture to make bigger.

We had just settled into our room, I had made coffee and we took them to the back deck that had this amazing view.

View from deck - Skyland Resort

Just as we sat down I noticed something moving just below in the little valley.

Just behind our room

To the right of the tree. It was a black bear! We had Chantilly Lace (RIP baby girl) our Yorkie with us, thank goodness she was inside at that moment. I am sure if she saw it she would have been flying off that deck to check it out.

To show you how close it actually got check this out:

On the left is hubby's arm.

We stayed here from Friday through Sunday and it was the best thing we ever did. It was just so relaxing. We would just sit and read, walk Chantilly around, hike to the restaurant to eat. The staff was so friendly. Actually when I called to see if they had any openings, the woman who answered was wonderful. I told her I wanted a really nice view and she made sure to find us one, the Canyon Room. AWESOME!!!

I am thinking of doing this again within the next few weeks. Just sit back, relax, bring my bible and some books. I definitely feel very close to our creator here.

If you come here always remember:

No caption needed - this explains it all!

This post was brought to you by the prompt from

Hugs!!!

Namaste!!!

6
comments

Posted in Family, My Life

Jun 11

No One Can Tame the Tongue


I have many times have I fallen into the snares of my tongue. Just like in James 3:8 …no one can tame the tongue-a restless evil, full of deadly poison, my tongue also cannot be tamed. I try but it just does not work.

How often did I say something to one of my boys and dreaded it afterwards? How often has my husband told me to just let it go and don’t say anything, but my foolish tongue and brain did not listen? How many times have I said ‘why should I keep quiet and let it eat me inside, shouldn’t my transgressor know what they are doing to me?’ How do we get out of that vicious cycle of tongue, head and heart all vying to say something?

For me it should be turning to God’s word. Notice should? It helps soothe all my ails, but sometimes my stubborn ways get entangled with my knowing self. It also hasn’t helped that for a while I turned my back to God and stopped listening to his words and prompts. Yes, he has motivated me many times and many times I did not heed his call.

Even as recent as March, when we were vacationing in NY, God was screaming at me that I needed to start reading His Word and take up a study. Still I turned a deaf ear to him, until finally one day he screamed so loud at me I had no choice but take heed. Actually He made a deal with me and of course He won.

KT (my lovely husband of 33 years) and I were taking a day trip to western NC and eastern TN looking at houses. We drove all over God’s lovely countryside, sightseeing and watching for real estate signs proclaiming FOR SALE. We saw beautiful landscape, lots of horse and donkey farms.

Absolutely beautiful countryside!

We actually had planned a weekend of it, but KT started feeling ill and around 4 p.m. it started getting worse. We decided to head home. He did want to stop in Burlington at Tractor Supply to buy a Have-a-Heart trap. Something kept setting off our motion light in the backyard, and since our chickens are back there it was a major concern for us.

Something deep inside me said that if we make it back in time stop at Lifeway near Tractor Supply, before they close, go in and buy a Bible and devotional. I looked at the time, no way were we going to make it back by 6 p.m. before they closed. It got louder and LOUDER and LOUDER.

I knew we would never make it in time, the time, was 4:30 p.m., we were way out in Wilkesboro. I agreed to that inner voice!

HA! God had plans for me and do not fool around when HE wants something! We made it in plenty of time. KT dropped me off while he ran to Tractor Supply. That weekend, not only did I get a Bible and devotional, I found a church – Holy Comforter Episcopalian Church – to attend as well, along with a Bible study at same church.

Following a devotional I stumbled upon Proverbs and words that rang so true to my heart it pained me. Seared through my soul and cut deep. Especially in light of some things that had happened when my son and daughter-in-law stayed with us.

I read

Better is a dry morsel with quiet than a house full of feasting with strife.Proverbs 17:1

GASP!! didn’t I just do something similar to this one night. It was not a lot of strife but you could definitely feel the tension in the air when I had made a comment.

Then another night, dear son said something, and that ‘a friend loves at all times and kinsfolk are born to share adversity.verse 17 That difficulty was rearing its ugly head and my hard heart was not listening to what my sweet husband was trying to tell me. I was saying that they need to share in the difficulty I was having and sweet, knowing KT was saying, ‘No, you need to just let things lie and forget.’

Instead, I let the waters build up behind a dam, when I should have been turning to sweet Jesus and praying to him for the strength, the strength to forgive, and forget. But instead the fulfillment of verse 14 came to fruition-the beginning of strife is like letting out water; so stop before the quarrel breaks out. Oh boy did the quarrel break out. Why? because I just could not stop my foolish tongue and it kept on wagging and the dang dam broke.

Oh how I wish I was as the fool who kept silent and was considered wise, and upon closing their lips were deemed intelligent.verse 28

Along came God and His Word, I found that I could come to Him and bring Him my transgressions and be forgiven. I can also turn around and forgive those who have trespass on me.

Unfortunately I probably should have answered softly as it turns away wrath; whereas, harsh words stirs up anger.Proverbs 15:1 Because unfortunately, as I love her dearly as if she is one of my own, and I have forgiven the affront and want to foster the friendship, she is dwelling on the dispute (and also I believe some misconstrued notions) and alienating a friend.Proverbs 17:9

I know one day Jesus will heal her heart and I will be here for her.

Waiting with open arms and heart!

Hugs!!!
Namaste!!!

0
comments

Posted in Writing

Jun 09

Serenity

Do you have a special place you can go to for solitude? for meditation? a little peace? some soul searching?

Oh how I love your law! It is my meditation all day long Psalm 119:97

We bought our house and 3 acres in 2001 and I have set up a few peaceful places in my house. My craft room and bedroom have little sitting areas. Outside I had three places, my back deck, a little spot by the chickens, and a little area in front with a bistro set.

Our property is almost like a rectangle and on the first acre and half sits the house with front and back yard, the other acre and a half in the back is woods, a stream, and a small clearing near the stream. This little spot has always been a favorite of mine. I am not sure what it is about water; streams, rivers, lakes, oceans, I love them and am drawn to them.

 

AS A DEER LONGS FOR

FLOWING STREAMS,

SO MY SOUL LONGS FOR

YOU O GOD.Psalms 42:1


A few weeks ago I bought two Adirondack chairs. Sweet hubby mowed the area and put down some organic bug stuff. Today I went down with my Bible, my reading, and my journal and had some solitude. A time for meditation. It was peaceful, and my thoughts were as clear as the stream in front of me. I could feel God’s presence all around me, in the ferns, the cedars, the beeches, the birds and dragonfly.

Hubby and I decided we are going to clear it out some more, bring down a fire pit and a few insect torches. It is just to peaceful a spot and so close to God to ignore it.

Tell me about your spot. Where do you go?


Hugs!!!
Namaste!!!

4
comments

Posted in Family, Religion, Writing

Jun 07

Dayspring

katherines corner
Did you ever have one of those weeks or even months in which you were bombarded with the same thing over and over again. Okay well maybe bombarded is to strong of a word, but it is constantly present. For example, I kept seeing posts about a book called 1,000 Gifts, I would see it in bookstores, and I would hear people talking about it. So I caved, I bought it.

I went to a website called Dayspring and got lost in all their cuteness. They had so many wonderful things I had a problem in deciding what not to buy.

Not only did I pick up the book 1,000 Gifts, I also picked up a little workbook on community, a t-shirt, and the cutest purse and make-up bag. This is not your ordinary make-up bag. It is larger than most.

Across the front pocket it says ‘truly beautiful’ Ecc. 3:11. I am using it to keep my pens, pencils and highlighters for when I read the Bible. The front pocket holds my daily devotional Forward Day by Day. Inside is a zippered compartment and two pockets. It has a ton of room in there.

The bag is big enough to hold my Bible, my journal, my devotional book, whatever book I am reading, the make-up bag, plus a lot more. On the front it says ‘found & treasured’ II Thessalonians 2:13. It also has a zippered compartment and a pocket inside.

The picture was taken in my dinette, which leads out to our big deck and faces the backyard. On my table are roses cut from the bushes we bought over the weekend. I love them! They are in one of my teapots, I thought they matched perfectly. The table is decorated with a handmade embroidered tablecloth my Mom made me for Christmas. I adore it! I love when I receive handmade items, I feel so honored that I am so thought of for someone to sit, for hours or days, and make something just for me.

Here is a close up of one of the flowers, there are four, one in each corner.

She also hand crocheted the edging of the tablecloth. Usually I keep it in my bedroom on a little table where I have a small sitting area. I keep my precious mementos on that table; an angel my g-aunt gave me, a handkerchief by Laura Ingalls Gunn’s (from Decor to Adore) that belonged to her grandmother. You can see a picture of it here, without the homemade tablecloth, a book Gift from the Sea by Ann Morrow Lindbergh.

Do you have a special area in your house? What do you use it for?

Remember you can click on a photo to enlarge!

Hugs!!!
Namaste!!!

0
comments

Posted in Family, Religion, Spiritual

Jun 06

The World in Which we Live In

Things like this video drive me crazy. Can you imagine what those children must absorb from those adults? For me, this is akin to teaching hatred.

Ain’t no homo going to make it to heaven.

I am not new to Christianity, if there is such a thing I have been a Christian geek all my life. At one point wanting to become a minister. That is a story for another time.

I backed away from my Christian roots many years ago, but recently have come back to them. One of the things I focused on while looking for a new church to call home, was if they accepted the LGBT community. In my eyes if a church accepts LGBT then they are truly a loving, caring church and that is one I wanted to belong to.

I am sick and tired of so called Christians judging one another, judging non-Christians, and just plain judging. It is not necessarily the whole church, or the whole denomination, it can be just one or two that ruin the whole bunch. You know, one bad apple and all that.

After the video they scroll the verse of 1 Corinthians 6:9 & 10, which mentions effeminate, and in some versions homosexual.

Well I decided to take a look at that verse. First I checked out the Luther Bible printed in German 1910, and found instead the word used means weakling in German. Another word used Knabenschänder means boy molester, not homosexual. So in Germany these verses have totally different meaning. In my NRSV it uses sodomites, which is a Greek word (arsenokoitai) that Paul may have coined and was used for the first time here, according to my Harper Collins Study Bible.

How do we really know what Paul meant exactly?

My KJ says effeminate, but does not mention homosexuals, on the other hand the Amplified, New American Standard, and the New International all use the word homosexual. The word homosexual was not in use until he late 19th century so how it can find its way into the Bible is beyond me.

Now I am by no means an etymologist nor am I a linguistic, but I love to see original words and what their context was to that time frame.

I know a few boys and men who are effeminate, but they are not homosexual, so are you going to tell me God is going to cast them out also? No, I don’t believe so. Is God really going to give up on weaklings, especially when he said the meek will inherit the earth? No, I don’t believe so. I believe my God is a just God, but also a loving God. One in which Jesus said two important commandants law and prophets hang on:

“Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?”
Jesus replied, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”
Matthew 22:36-40

I believe words get mistranslated, or misquoted and the original word is much different then what is used in some translations.

I believe my God is a loving God!

Hugs!!!
Namaste!!!

 

0
comments

Posted in Writing

Jun 06

Free e-Bible

I wanted to share this will all my friends. Today and tomorrow (6/6 & 6/7) the Common English Bible will be free for ereaders. They have two options – Common English Bible and the Common English Bible with Apocrypha.

So don’t hesitate go on over to the Common English Bible link and get your copy.

This is perfect for me because Sunday during our confirmation class we were discussing the Bible. Pastor said it is always a good idea to have different versions to read while studying scripture. He also recommended The Message, which I went out and bought and absolutely love it! So now I use, HBSB, KJV, NRSV, NIV, NLV, & NASB which I believe helps give me a broader understanding of what God is trying to say to me.

Hugs!!
Namaste!!

0
comments

Posted in Writing

Jun 04

Empty Nesting

Have you been? Will you be? Are you just? I have been an empty nester since 2005 and again in 2012. I count the six months my oldest and his wife lived with us, because we had them in the house, living, breathing, moving people, other than my husband and myself.

It was strange to change my routine when they were here, and then to redo it all again when they left. I must admit when they were here we lived a more structured life. Breakfast, lunch, dinner all served and scheduled, but I believe it is something we must do in order to survive with a group in the home.

When it is just hubby and I we don’t have a set schedule. Sometimes he isn’t hungry when he gets home and other times he is starving. He calls me every day when he leaves work and this is how I gauge when we are going to eat. I don’t mind waiting for him to be hungry before we eat. There are also days we call growl and grab, when our stomachs get growly we grab something from the fridge and eat, not necessarily at the same time. However, one rule – we always sit together, even if one person isn’t eating.

One routine we had when the boys were little still remains today. Matter-of-fact my eldest (who lives in southern Ca., with his own little family) commented on it one day. He said it always stuck with him and now he tries it with Jill. Whenever we would get home, whether it would be me from school (I was a nontraditional college student) or work, no matter how busy we were between baseball games, or soccer, or whatever it was, we would always sit down with a cup of coffee and discuss our day. Husband and I, just the two of us, boys welcomed to join if they wanted to. However, saying that, the boys had their time at the dinner table also. We always sat together for meals.

Yes, we are a talking family, no matter what, we talk about things, talk it out, discuss. My oldest and I could sit together in the evening, usually his younger brother was in bed and hubby could be bowling or he did service calls in the evening, and older and I would talk forever. He had the gift of gab and we talked about everything, for hours at a time. I think this is the hardest part about being an empty-nester, there is no one around to talk to during the morning, the day, or the afternoon.

Now that I have come back to Jesus, I spend my day talking with him. I gather talking was important to Jesus because there are so many scriptures where He has healed mute people to be able to talk again. In Matthew alone there are these:
Matthew 9:32-33
Matthew 12:22
Matthew 15:31


Brooklyn Museum: Jesus Heals a Mute Possessed Man (Jésus guérit un possédé muet)
Jesus heals a mute possessed man
Brooklyn Museum
James Tissout, French 1836-1902

Do you spend your day talking with Jesus? How important is this in your life?

Hugs!!!

Namaste!!!

P.S. If you are having trouble commenting by clicking the number here below (on the bottom right). Please let me know through the community link.

0
comments

Posted in Family, Religion, Spiritual, Writing

May 29

On My Way Back

Copyright 2011

 

I am still not up and about with my back. So today I am giving everyone food for thought.

 

Luke 6:32-38

 

Write your thoughts down in the comments. I would be interested to hear them.

 

Hugs!!!

Namaste!!!

0
comments

Posted in Writing

« Older Entries