tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-88646805577607219052024-03-05T07:30:43.115-06:00Humble Yourself And PrayFreedomsBlessingshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00160883646177368777noreply@blogger.comBlogger91125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8864680557760721905.post-3911425746549761012011-08-01T18:26:00.000-05:002011-08-01T18:26:46.979-05:00Thank You, Jesus- Gabby's Back!This is a GOOD day in America! <br />
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In the midst of all the politics on Capitol Hill and the debt ceiling crisis, this country needs a little bit of good news!<br />
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As I watched the news, I had goose-bumps all over! The day I have prayed for almost 7 months came to pass! Gabrielle Giffords has walked back onto the floor of Congress! One week less than 7 months ago, this lady was attacked senselessly and shot in the head. While it was first reported that she had died from the attack, thankfully, she did not!<br />
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I started this prayer blog as a way to deal with my emotions with the tragedy.<br />
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From the very moment this tragedy was reported, many people put a spin on the story, blaming the Tea Party for the attack.<br />
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The man that did this, from all accounts, was actually apolitical. While he had previous contact with Congresswoman Giffords, he was not a politically active person. Politics were not his motivation. Plain and simple, this man was a monster.<br />
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ALL blame should be left where it lies- with Jared Loughner.<br />
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This is not about politics. This is about a life- a beautiful life that was spared by God Almighty.<br />
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Thank You, Jesus, for healing Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords. Though I am sure she still has a long road of recovery ahead of her, her life is indeed a miracle! Thank You for sparing her life! All glory and honor belong to You, Lord God!FreedomsBlessingshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00160883646177368777noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8864680557760721905.post-89994781492910153012011-05-04T13:43:00.000-05:002011-05-04T13:43:03.489-05:00AMERICA CELEBRATES<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There have been several events to happen since I last blogged.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Congresswoman Giffords was seen walking on her own! All praise and glory be to Jesus Christ our Lord!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">She was boarding an airplane headed to Florida to watch her husband's last space flight ascend into the heavens. Sadly, all did not go as planned with the shuttle launch, and it appears that it will not happen until at least May 10. Thankfully whatever was wrong was found so that it could be repaired. The last thing our nation needs right now is another space shuttle tragedy!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">To see her board that plane on her own was miraculous! I am sure most all of us remember just a few months ago how unsure we were if she would survive this tragedy. Tragedy turns to triumph in the life of Gabrielle Giffords! Oh, the battle is not over for her, but she has made remarkable recovery! Her life truly is a miracle to behold!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The other big news since I've blogged is the death of Osama bin Laden by our military! Lord, forgive me for rejoicing in his death. I honestly do not know if it is a sin to rejoice over his death. If it is, I truly pray that God will forgive me. However, I know that God specifically commanded the Israelites to kill their enemies in the Old Testament. Sadly, I highly doubt that Osama bin Laden found Truth and Salvation in Jesus Christ before he was killed.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This man was evil incarnate. He orchestrated the deaths of thousands of people! Not only was he the mastermind behind the September 11, 2001 attacks on the World Trade Center, but he was also behind the bombings of the very same location in 1993.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">He lived to terrorize those who did not believe as he did. Justice has been served.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Today I pray for his family. I pray that somehow, some way, they will see that they are being lied to by a religion that teaches hate and terror to those who believe differently than them. Whether or not the moderates of the Muslim religion are just "backsliders", so to speak, or not, I cannot honestly say. But the extremists who seek jihad must not be allowed to terrorize the world. Their actions bring consequences just as all of our actions do.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There was literally </span><a href="http://conservativedailynews.com/2011/05/america-dances-in-the-streets/"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Dancing In The Streets</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> in America on Sunday night when it was announced that Osama bin Laden has been killed.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">That night President Obama addressed the nation, and the world, to give the official word that Osama bin Laden was dead. This is the first time I truly saw our President behave presidential! The speech he gave was the best speech he's delivered to date! Thank you, Mr. President!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Thank you, President Bush, for sticking to your guns and doing what was right no matter what the critics said. You were right on September 14, 2001, when you said: <br />
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<em>"I can hear you! I can hear you! The rest of the world hears you! And the people -- and the people who knocked these buildings down will hear all of us soon!"</em></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">They DID hear us! Osama bin Laden most definitely heard all of us, and the rest of the world heard all of us as well!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">To the true heroes who made this happen- The United States Military! May God bless each and every one of you! This would not have happened without your sacrifice, training, courage, conviction and commitment to bring justice to the families and friends of all who were lost on September 11, 2001. I pray for your continued safety. The fight is not over by any means!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Lord God, I continue to pray for this nation. She so desperately needs You but refused to acknowledge where she is wrong! Even in our celebration of the good things there is much division.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I continue to pray for Congresswoman Giffords. Please forgive me for not posting daily prayers for her as I had been previously. Though I am not posting daily, I still pray for her daily! I continue to pray for her husband, Mark Kelly, in the preparation for the final space mission. I pray for his and the entire crew's safety and wisdom.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I pray for President Obama. Keep him safe, as his life has been threatened by many throughout the world since the killing of terrorist Osama bin Laden. I pray for wisdom for President Obama. Already there are many discrepancies and changed decisions. Lord God, help him to make a decision and stick to it, no matter what the media says. Please help him to see that We The People need him to be a leader! He made the decision, I personally support him in the decision. I pray that he will not allow this to turn into more of a circus than it is threatening to be. He had to make a tough decision. He made it.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I pray that our military will be successful in weeding out even more terrorists using the information they obtained in the raid.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Lord God, please be with us and keep us. We truly need Your mercy, though we do not deserve it.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I pray all of these things in Jesus Name- Amen.</span>FreedomsBlessingshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00160883646177368777noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8864680557760721905.post-32735822826475824802011-04-22T22:42:00.000-05:002011-04-22T22:42:26.379-05:00GOOD FRIDAY<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Once again.... like sands through the hourglass, so are the days of our lives. And unfortunately, there is just not enough sand in the hourglass each day!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I really need to talk to God about adding a few hours to each day. But then again, I probably still wouldn't sleep, I would just fill those added hours with more things that I need to get done.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My life has taken a drastic turn in the last month. God has provided me with an opportunity that is a life long dream. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I love to write! I write about anything and everything. And now, I am a staff writer for <a href="http://conservativedailynews.com/">ConservativeDailyNews.com</a>. The name is self-explanatory.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I am having the time of my life!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">With this addition in my life, I am still writing, I just do not make it here to write as often as I had previously.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">For anyone who has kept up with this blog, I still continue to pray daily for Congresswoman Giffords and her husband; for this country; for our President; and for the nation and people of Israel.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I pray that you will join me on the other site. With the news that is happening on almost an hourly basis, you will never be lacking for something to read!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Lord God, I pray for Congresswoman Giffords and her husband. I pray that You will continue to keep them in the safety of Your loving arms.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Today is Good Friday. I am so thankful for your sacrifice for our salvation. I pray that You will use me to reflect Your light of salvation to the world.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I pray these things in Jesus Name- Amen.</span>FreedomsBlessingshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00160883646177368777noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8864680557760721905.post-23177136603681271042011-04-13T23:26:00.001-05:002011-05-04T12:01:12.724-05:00I WOULD RATHER LIVE MY LIFE<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><em><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"I would rather live my life as if there is a God, a</span></em></span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><em><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">nd die to find out there isn't, than live my life</span></em></span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br />
<em><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">as if there isn't, and die to find out there is."</span></em></span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><em><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></em></span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" /><br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This is a quote that I received in an email today. I find it interesting that it came today. But, for me, it just proves that God is very involved in our lives and knows how to affirm us if we allow Him to. </span></span><br />
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Last night I had dinner with two of my friends. On the way to the restaurant I was relishing in one of the rare moments of alone time with God. It's very difficult to find alone time when you have 5 kids- one of them being a 3-year-old.</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The CD playing in the car was a compilation disc that I play quite often in the car. It is a variety of Petra songs. </span></span><br />
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My favorite Petra song is <em>"Adonai". </em>As I drove down the highway, singing along with the music, I began to visualize my Master speaking everything into existence. My minds eye saw Him speak the stars into existence, His majestic hand reaching out to place each star in its specific place. I saw Him become playful, smiling, because He "saw that it was good."</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">One of my favorite ways to worship God is in nature. No, I do not worship nature itself, but I smile because I see that "it is good". Adonai alone is worthy of my praise and worship.</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">All of nature cries out to Him. All things were made to worship God Almighty. It is such an honor and pleasure to me to know Him and worship Him.</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">When I read the quote that I opened with today it fit so perfect with my thoughts. I know that I am not wrong in my beliefs. I know without a shadow of a doubt that God IS real. I know that He alone created the heavens and the earth and all that is within, above and below. However, in the minuscule "chance" that I <em>am</em> wrong, I would much rather worship God in my life, and find out in my death that He does not exist than not worship Him and believe in Him in my life and find out in my death that He DOES exist.</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Each of us are given a choice. I cannot make anyone believe in my Creator. My heart aches for those who do not believe in Him and know Him as their Savior. But we are all given free will. </span></span><br />
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Lord God, how I pray for those who do not know You. I truly cannot imagine my life without You. My Adonai, You are the Master of the earth and sky. You alone are worthy.</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I continue to pray for Congresswoman Giffords. I cannot wait for the day she walks back onto the floor of Congress. What a day of rejoicing that will be!</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I pray for this nation. Lord God, we need You desperately. I pray that hearts will be humbled before You. I pray that this nation will repent of her sins. I pray for our President. I pray for all elected leaders, that each of them will be safe. Protect them from harm. Humble each of them before You, that they will turn their eyes upon You and seek Your will for this country.</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I pray for Israel. The entire world is coming against her. I know it is prophesied and will happen. I know You are in control. But I pray for Your chosen people. </span></span><br />
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I pray all of these things in the precious Name of Jesus Christ- Amen.</span></span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/St8B99hfKHU?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>FreedomsBlessingshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00160883646177368777noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8864680557760721905.post-4278624027900842062011-04-12T00:30:00.000-05:002011-04-12T00:30:07.409-05:00A VERY PRODUCTIVE DAY<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Lord God, I thank You for the productiveness of this day. You have given me an opportunity and avenue to truly begin the fight my heart is so passionate about. I pray that You will pave the way in all that I do. May all that I do, all that I say, all that I accomplish bring honor and glory to Your Name.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I pray for Congresswoman Giffords. Protect her and keep her. I pray that she had a productive day as well.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I pray for this nation. I pray for our President. It is the same prayer I pray consistently.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I continue to pray for the nation and people of Israel. Protect them and keep them safe.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I pray all these things in the precious Name of Your Son Jesus Christ- Amen.</span>FreedomsBlessingshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00160883646177368777noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8864680557760721905.post-45217265537286125322011-04-11T01:31:00.001-05:002011-04-11T01:35:43.915-05:00THERE COMES A POINT IN YOUR LIFE<span style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif";">It's been several days since I've blogged here. Life just gets so crazy busy! Sometimes I think that in our modern world with the latest technology we have lost so much. We have things so much easier now, with the latest gadget or tool at our fingertips, yet we have so little time to enjoy the things that truly matter.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif";">I received an email from my brother today that I feel is worth sharing. It's one of those "forwards", yet this one hit a spot in my heart. So tonight, I will dwell on the thoughts from his email.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">'To get something you never had, you have to do something you never did.'<br />
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When God takes something from your grasp, He’s not punishing you, but merely opening your hands to receive something better. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">'The will of God will never take you where the Grace of God will not protect you.' <br />
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There comes a point in your life when you realize: <br />
Who matters, <br />
who never did, <br />
who won't anymore...<br />
And who always will.<br />
So, don't worry about people from your past, <br />
there's a reason why they didn’t make it to your future.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">This encompasses a lot of things for me. In fact, for a person that usually has an abundance of words, there are really no other words that I can add.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">If you are reading this, I challenge you to think on the words above. You have to get to that point in your life where you realize what truly is important. If you have not gotten to that point yet, I challenge you to make that a goal for 2011.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">For me, I most definitely have gotten to the point in my life where I realize who and what is important. In fact, today I had the most beautiful reminder of the important things. If you would like to read that story, you can read it here: <a href="http://conservativedailynews.com/2011/04/it%e2%80%99s-the-simple-things-in-life/">It's The Simple Things In Life</a></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">Lord God, though I have not blogged in several days you know that I have continuously prayed for the things that burden my heart.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">I pray for Congresswoman Giffords. I pray that You will continue to heal her body, soul, mind and heart. Help her to forgive the man who created this tragedy in her life. Help her to cling to You for comfort, peace and healing. I pray for her husband, Mark Kelly. Keep him safe on his shuttle mission.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">I pray for this nation. My heart aches for this nation who has turned her back on You. Lord God, humble her. Bring her back to You. I pray that she will rise up and fall to her knees in repentance before You.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">I pray for President Obama. I pray that he will humble himself before You. He and his czars and other members of his administrative team are destroying this nation. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">I pray for the nation of Israel who is once again under attack by gunfire and mortar and bombs. Protect her and keep her safe in the shadow of You, Almighty God.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">I pray all of these things in the precious, holy Name of Your Son Jesus Christ- Amen.</span><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"></span>FreedomsBlessingshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00160883646177368777noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8864680557760721905.post-83345415998607918202011-04-07T00:04:00.001-05:002011-05-04T12:02:06.162-05:00NO TIME LIKE THE PRESENT<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We all make plans. Endless plans. Tomorrow I will..... next week I will...... next month I will...... next year I will. The fact of the matter is none of us know what the next moment holds, much less the next day, the next month or the next year.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Are there people in your life that have forgotten how you feel about them? Is there someone in your life that may doubt your love for them? Have you left something unsettled between you and someone?</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Almost 10 years ago my life changed in an instant. I've written here about it before. It was the night my first husband took his own life.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">For many years I was tormented by the things that were left unsaid. I was haunted by the things that had been said but never been made right.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Thankfully, I now have peace with all that is involved with this death. However, I went through many years of turmoil in just dealing with the emotions of the event, not to mention the things that were left unsettled.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">You do not know what tomorrow holds. There is no time like the present to make things right. No matter what it is, no matter who it is with... make sure those you love know that you love them. You just never know what tomorrow may bring.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Lord God, I pray for peace in the lives of those who read this who may be in turmoil. I pray that You will be the Peace that passes all understanding to their soul.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I pray for this nation. I pray for our president. I pray that as a nation we will humble ourselves before You.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I pray for Congresswoman Giffords. She, more than most of us, realize the truth to the statement "there is no time like the present." I praise You for sparing her life. I pray You will use her life mightily for Your glory and honor.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I pray for the nation and people of Israel. I pray that You will keep her safe. Guide her and protect her.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I pray these things in the precious Name of Jesus- Amen.</span>FreedomsBlessingshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00160883646177368777noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8864680557760721905.post-87190118918359623452011-04-03T22:49:00.000-05:002011-04-03T22:49:08.689-05:00RESTING IN HIM<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Lord, tonight all I want to do is just rest in You. Every day it seems as though things become more and more tumultuous in this nation as well as around the world. While nothing <em>major</em> happened today, there are several news articles that have the rumblings of another shoe dropping before long. Sometimes it just becomes too much to think about.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I pray that You will help me to make a difference in all that I do. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I pray for Congresswoman Giffords. Every new news article that comes out now is more good news. I praise You for all that You continue to do in her life. Protect her and keep her. Continue to help her grow in strength.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I pray for President Obama and the other elected leaders of this nation. I pray for the people of this nation. I pray that they will humble themselves before You.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I continue to pray for Israel. Shelter her in the shadow of your wing. Help her to draw near to You.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I pray these things in the Name of Jesus Christ- Amen.</span>FreedomsBlessingshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00160883646177368777noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8864680557760721905.post-11203849520833908742011-04-03T00:28:00.000-05:002011-04-03T00:28:42.184-05:00NOTHING OUT OF THE ORDINARY, EVERYTHING EXTRAORDINARY<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My husband and I went out to dinner tonight with two other couple friends of ours. It is a very rare night that we are able to have a date night on a Saturday night.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We had a very good evening, laughing and just hanging out.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As we left to pick up the kids, walking back to the car, my husband and I held hands. Now, this is really nothing unusual for us. We hold hands all the time. What is unusual is that we were holding hands and it was just the two of us. Most of the time we have all five kids bouncing around us chattering as we go. Or, we will be holding hands in the car, the children chattering in the backseat.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It was a moment in time that I will cherish. Nothing out of the ordinary, yet everything extraordinary! I am truly blessed in more ways than I can count!</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Lord God, thank You for the abundant blessings in my life! My heart overflows with gratitude!</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I pray for Congresswoman Giffords. Please continue to heal her.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I pray these things in the Name of Jesus Christ- Amen.</span>FreedomsBlessingshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00160883646177368777noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8864680557760721905.post-20476012763718537602011-04-01T00:55:00.000-05:002011-04-01T00:55:54.590-05:00ONE DAY<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><em>"Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father." Philippians 2:9-11 (NIV)</em></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">One day, every knee WILL bow, and every tongue WILL confess that Jesus Christ is Lord. For me, it will be the most awaited day of all of my life. To be at the feet of my Jesus, loving Him, honoring Him, praising Him. For others, it will not be such a glorious day. I pray for these people.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I do not believe that these people have long to wait. I am so excited for that! Daily, the news points to that coming day when this scripture will come true:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><em>"I saw heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse, whose rider is called Faithful and True. With justice he judges and makes war. His eyes are like blazing fire, and on his head are many crowns. He has a name written on him that no one knows but he himself. He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood, and his name is the Word of God. The armies of heaven were following him, riding on white horses and dressed in fine linen, white and clean. Out of his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations. "He will rule them with an iron scepter." He treads the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God Almighty. On his robe and on his thigh he has this name written:</em></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><em>KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS." </em></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><em>Revelation 19:11-16</em></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Oh Glorious Day!</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">People get ready! Jesus is coming! He is not willing that any should perish!</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Lord, every day time grows shorter and shorter. While people have been saying this for thousands of years, and it still may be a long time in our view, we never know when we will breathe our last breath. I pray that You will open blinded eyes and soften hardened hearts.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I continue to pray for Congresswoman Giffords. I read a tweet today saying that she may run for Senate. Nothing has come out officially, but if this is even being discussed then it appears as though things are looking absolutely amazing for her! All glory, honor and praise be to You, Jesus, for the miracle in her life. I also continue to pray that the man that acted out this heinous attack will be given justice. Please do not allow political correctness to prevent justice in this.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I pray for President Obama. Lord, I get so angry! Please help me to not sin in my anger, where it concerns the man that is our president. I continue to pray that he will humble his heart before You, Jesus.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I pray for this nation. I pray that people will wake up and stand up for what is right. I believe many people have, but there are still too many who are complacent.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I pray for the nation of Israel. Protect her and bless her beyond measure.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I praise You for the mighty work You have done in my life. If it were not for my faith in You, I do not believe I would be alive today. Thank You for never giving up on me! </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I pray all of these things in the precious Name of my Savior Jesus Christ- Amen.</span>FreedomsBlessingshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00160883646177368777noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8864680557760721905.post-91270700617617294672011-03-31T00:49:00.000-05:002011-03-31T00:49:25.290-05:00THE LORD REIGNS<div class="post-header"><div class="post-header-line-1"></div></div><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-3588987978448084446"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There are some days that I find very conflicting in my spirit. Today is one of those days!</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I've become involved with a project that I am very proud to be a part of. As always, it is my consistent prayer that God will use me in every aspect of my life. Without a doubt I know that this project is not only an avenue that God is using me in, He is also blessing me tremendously!</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So I am sure you are probably wondering why my spirit would be conflicted.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As a believer in Christ, and a believer in the pre-trib rapture, I see how the world is shaping up around us. I know that time is so very short before the world literally explodes into the worst time in history known to mankind- The Tribulation. Now, if you do not believe in prophecy, end times, the rapture and such, that is your prerogative. But, I hold fast to God's promises for those who believe in Him.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So here I am- so very frustrated with the way things are going on in our country and the world. I so long for the day that all this is over, and I am worshipping my King Jesus! Yet, I am so very blessed and excited to be able to use my talents for a worthy cause.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">On days like this I have to just rest in the fact that the Lord reigns. He is in control of all things. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">One of my favorite Scriptures is Psalm 97. It is a testament of God's mighty power. He is in control.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">One of my favorite songs is by Michael W. Smith, "Let It Rain". </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As I have already mentioned, on of the things I love to think about is the return of Christ, sounding the trumpet to call His bride home. And here in one video is all of these things put together. Yes, The Lord indeed reigns! In Him I put my trust!</span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/5bBl7bw9lI8?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></span></div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<a href="http://smithprints.net/maranatha/"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Lord Reigns</span></a><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Psalm 97</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1 The LORD reigns, let the earth be glad; </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">let the distant shores rejoice. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">2 Clouds and thick darkness surround him; </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">righteousness and justice are the foundation of his throne. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">3 Fire goes before him </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">and consumes his foes on every side. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">4 His lightning lights up the world; </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">the earth sees and trembles. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">5 The mountains melt like wax before the LORD, </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">before the Lord of all the earth. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">6 The heavens proclaim his righteousness, </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">and all the peoples see his glory. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">7 All who worship images are put to shame, </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">those who boast in idols— </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">worship him, all you gods! </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">8 Zion hears and rejoices </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">and the villages of Judah are glad </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">because of your judgments, O LORD. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">9 For you, O LORD, are the Most High over all the earth; </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">you are exalted far above all gods. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">10 Let those who love the LORD hate evil, </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">for he guards the lives of his faithful ones </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">and delivers them from the hand of the wicked. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">11 Light is shed upon the righteous </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">and joy on the upright in heart. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">12 Rejoice in the LORD, you who are righteous, </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">and praise his holy name. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Lord God, help me to not be distracted by all that is going on in the world. It will be as You intend, in Your perfect timing.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I continue to pray for Congresswoman Giffords and her husband Mark Kelly. Please give them the peace and assurance that You are in control and reign majestically upon Your throne.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I pray for this nation. We continue to slip into a very dark abyss. Please have mercy on this nation.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I pray for our president. Humble him before You, Lord God. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I pray for the nation and people of Israel. Please comfort her always and assure her people that You reign upon Your throne and that Your covenant with them is forever and ever!</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I pray all of these things in the Name of Jesus Christ- Amen.</span></div>FreedomsBlessingshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00160883646177368777noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8864680557760721905.post-7517681456366676502011-03-29T21:10:00.000-05:002011-03-29T21:10:11.294-05:00PRAYING FOR HEALING<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This will be another one of those short and sweet posts.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There is so much hurt and pain going on in the world right now. I pray for all of these needs.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I pray for Congresswoman Giffords healing. She has made much progress, and I continue to pray for complete healing.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I pray for the healing of this nation. I know it will take the humbling of this nation for this to even be possible. With God, ALL things are possible!</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I pray for healing in Israel. So much pain has come to this beautiful nation. Heal the land of Israel, Lord God, I beg of You!</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I pray for healing for the brokenhearted.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I pray for sleep for the insomniacs.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I pray for healing of those who have endured persecution. Lord God, You tell us in Your Word that we will be hated for Your Name Sake. (Luke 21:17) Keep these hurting souls strong in You, Lord God. Love them and protect their hurts though their bodies are attacked.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I pray for healing for the women who have chosen abortion. The lie from Satan is that no one is hurt. This is a deception from the pits of hell! Not only is a life ended by aborting the child, but the emotional pain caused to these women is a deep wound that needs Your healing touch, Lord God.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I pray for our president. He seems to have so much bitterness and anger. Whatever the source of his hatred for the nation he leads comes from, I pray that You will heal him from those hurts. He says that he loves this country, but actions speak louder than words, Lord God.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We <em>all</em> need Your loving touch of healing in our lives.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I pray these things in the precious Name of Jesus- Amen.</span>FreedomsBlessingshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00160883646177368777noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8864680557760721905.post-62069937941601424432011-03-28T23:08:00.001-05:002011-05-04T12:03:51.632-05:00ANGEL OF LIGHT<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Yesterday I took my girls out for the day with me. We went to get their hair cut, stopped in a couple of different places to pick up some things I needed, picked up snow cones for everyone and headed home.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As we were driving around, music playing, the two girls singling along with the music, my 9-year-old asked me, "Mom, when he is singing about the angel of light is he talking about Satan?"</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This is one of those moments as a Mommy where you just have to smile in amazement! Yes, she actually gets it! I told her yes, that's exactly who it was talking about, what made her realize that. She told me that when he was singing about "you lied from the beginning" she knew it couldn't be God because God doesn't want us to lie. Ahhhh, the beauty of innocence!</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The song we were listening to is <em>"Angel of Light"</em> by Petra. You never know what will be the one thing that helps someone understand something, whether they are a child or adult.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">After this question we had a long discussion about how Satan presents himself to us as light when in reality he is darkness. It was a great conversation- one I will never forget! It's the one moment in time where I know without a doubt she <em>gets it!</em> It is the answer to the prayers of this mommy's heart!</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Little could I have known that at that very moment we, as a family, were caught up in the deception of The Angel of Light.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Rather than going into further detail here I am simply going to add the link to the article I posted on the other site I contribute to. If you want to know the rest of the story, please click this link: <a href="http://conservativedailynews.com/2011/03/out-of-the-frying-pan-into-the-fire/">Out Of The Frying Pan Into The Fire</a></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Lord God, I thank You for revealing the Truth in the deceptions of the Angel of Light. Please continue to protect my family from the enemy. I know he seeks to steal, kill and destroy every single one of us. I pray that You will place Your arms of protection around all of our lives and souls.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I pray tonight for Congresswoman Giffords. Protect her from any lies that Satan is telling her. Help her to hold on to Your truth in her healing and recovery.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I pray for this nation. I pray that we as a nation will have our blinded eyes opened to the lies of Satan. So many have fallen for his lies. He is stealing, killing and destroying this nation. I pray that the people will wake up!</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I pray for President Obama! There are so many lies that encircle his administration! I pray that You will shine Your light of Truth on all aspects of this presidency and his entire administration. I pray also for all of our elected leaders. There are many lies intertwined throughout our entire government system. Both parties- Republicans and Democrats- are guilty of lying to us and each other in leadership. I pray that Your light of Truth will shine on all of our elected officials.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I pray for the nation and people of Israel. Hold them safe in Your arms of love and protection. Guide them to Your Light of Truth. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I pray all of these things in the precious Name of Your Son Jesus Christ- Amen.</span><br />
<br />
<strong><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">ANGEL OF LIGHT</span></strong><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Performed by Petra</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Words and music by Bob Hartman</span><em><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">City lights are flashing, they call you to the streets <br />
Hearts are filled with passion in everyone you meet <br />
The Boulevard is waiting, it wants to get you high <br />
Neon signs are waiting to sell you anything you want to buy <br />
But I know your devices, it shouldn't seem so odd <br />
You lied from the beginning, I see through your facade <br />
<br />
(Chorus) <br />
Angel of light, I see you glow in the night <br />
But you only bring darkness to my soul <br />
Angel of light, You're telling me wrong is right <br />
I won't let you're evil take control <br />
<br />
They follow in your footsteps not knowing that you fell <br />
Bumper to bumper on the freeway to hell <br />
You lead them into wrong and you make it look so right <br />
You lead them into darkness and make them think you lead them into light <br />
But I know where you're going, too bad you're not alone <br />
If it wasn't for the real light I might have never known <br />
<br />
You got the clergy working overtime to widen the narrow way <br />
You've got politicians everywhere listening to what you say <br />
You've got false apostles teaching lies perverting the only way <br />
You've got principalities and powers waiting to obey <br />
You've got philosophies and vain deceits lying to deceive <br />
You've got hate, and greed, ungodly lusts in the deadly web you weave <br />
Somehow you've got so many thinking you're not even there <br />
One look is all it takes to get them blinded by your glare </span></em><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><object class="BLOGGER-youtube-video" classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=6,0,40,0" data-thumbnail-src="http://1.gvt0.com/vi/fno_0gsgwjE/0.jpg" height="266" width="320"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/fno_0gsgwjE&fs=1&source=uds" /><param name="bgcolor" value="#FFFFFF" /><embed width="320" height="266" src="http://www.youtube.com/v/fno_0gsgwjE&fs=1&source=uds" type="application/x-shockwave-flash"></embed></object></div>FreedomsBlessingshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00160883646177368777noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8864680557760721905.post-76113301629619018482011-03-28T00:21:00.002-05:002011-05-04T12:05:00.803-05:00WHO CAN SATISFY?<div class="post-header"><div class="post-header-line-1"></div></div><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-28556643371212462"><span style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif";">I love music. And when I like a song, you know it. Yes, I am one of "those" who will play a song over and over and over. I have literally had one song on perpetual "repeat" for weeks at a time. It drives my husband crazy. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif";">Some time ago, I was listening to a sermon online by Dr. David Jeremiah. Before the sermon started, the choir at his church sang a song that drew me in. It's just one of those songs you cannot get out of your head. So, I went searching. It's not a highly popular song, so I have not really been able to find a decent recording of it. Oh, how I wish I could have a copy of his church choir singing it!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif";">I will enclose the lyrics of the song, as well as a YouTube video of it at the end of this post.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif";">In listening to the song I began to think about the words and the meaning of them in my life. I guess that is one reason why it hit me the way it did.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif";">Putting all this in perspective in another way is the fact that I am doing my Spring Cleaning. If you read my previous post you know that it has turned into a completely different project this year than it has any other year.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif";">I- <em><span style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif";">we-</span></em> my family... has <em><span style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif";">all this STUFF! </span></em>So much of it there is absolutely no purpose or reason for having it. It is just here, occupying space, and in some instances, actually getting in the way.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif";">I am actually a very sentimental person. After my first husband's suicide I went through counseling and Survivors of Suicide group therapy. One thing that I realized through that process and my overall healing is that all the <em><span style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif";">stuff</span></em> is not the memories. The memories last forever. The stuff is just that... <em><span style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif";">stuff!</span></em></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif";">Another thing I came to realize over the overall healing process is that sometimes we hold onto things for sentimental reasons and rather than helping us they in fact hurt us. While I loved my first husband, we had a very tumultuous relationship in a lot of ways. No, he never physically abused me, but in many ways we did not treat each other with love and respect.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif";">I've gone through several different periods of cleaning out. Before this process I would have held onto everything I could just<em><span style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif";"> because</span></em> it was some link to the past. But as I began the deep soul-searching in my healing I realized that in some of these things the memories are not pleasant at all. So I began to question myself on why I would hold onto things that do not bring me happy memories.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif";">This Spring Cleaning is different from that in that I am not getting rid of bad memories... I am simply getting rid of things that do not have a purpose and a reason to share space with my family and I in our home.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif";">So, in all of this, again, my mind has been whirling. I'm sure by now, if you've read any of my blog, you know that I tend to think things over too much sometimes. So I have been asking myself, "Why? Why do we have all of these things if we do not really need them?" As I've pondered this, I've come to realize a lot of things.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif";">I am not the kind of person that thinks "things" are the key to happiness. I am also one of the rare women who absolutely DETESTS shopping! If I go shopping I go get exactly what I need and get out. I absolutely HATE shopping for clothes with a purple passion because I know I am going to have to try things on! This just takes up too much of my time!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif";">But yet I still get caught up in this rat race. I too am looking for "satisfaction" in things. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif";">For me I think it is more the "satisfaction of being prepared"... you know, "well, <em><span style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif";">one day</span></em> I may need this!"</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif";">And yet, interestingly enough I am absolutely <em><span style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif";">not</span></em> a pack-rat! Everything has to have it's place! Unfortunately, too many things have a place!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif";">How often we look for everything in the world to satisfy our soul. We chase fame and fortune, friends, the coolest car, the best job.... the list could go on and on.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif";">We are chasing everything and everyone to give us the satisfaction we crave. There is an overflowing fountain that can and will satisfy every craving of our soul. He is The King of kings! He is a victorious Warrior fighting for us in all that we do. He is The Lord of everything that is, has been or ever will be. He is my Rock. He is my Shelter. He is my very own! He is my blessed Redeemer Who reigns upon the throne! He is indeed the only One Who can satisfy the cravings of my soul. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif";">My Jesus... You alone satisfy all that I need! I have many blessings in my life, but the only true satsifcation is in You.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif";">Lord God, please forgive me for losing sight in the rat-race that is life. I am the world's worst in slowing down. I know that You understand me like no other person ever will. You created me. You know what makes me tick. And You know how to reach me when I'm fluttering around. Most of the time it is through music.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif";">I pray tonight for anyone who reads this blog and sees themselves in anything that I have written. I pray that You will use my passion for writing to bless other lives. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif";">Lord.... tonight I pray for those of the Muslim faith. This has been an issue that has been truly on my heart. I've not known exactly <em><span style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif";">how</span></em> to pray for them, but it has been a constant on my mind and heart for years. I know that You know my thoughts and prayers even when I do not. Tonight, I put this before You. I pray for the women who are victimized by this religion. I pray for any and all of those who are training to martyr themselves in the hopes of paradise. Lord God, this is nothing but a lie from the very pits of hell! I do not understand how anyone would so freely serve a god who expects them to die and kill others to earn their reward. I pray for the people of this religion- that their eyes will be opened. So many say that they serve the same god we do. No, this is not at all true! You, Lord God, are the God of love and peace and forgiveness! You have never called us to kill unbelievers! You tell us to forgive those who hurt us. The Muslim god calls for death to those who do not believe as they do. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif";">I continue to pray for Congresswoman Giffords. Continue to heal her heart, mind, body and soul from this vicious attack against her.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif";">I pray for this nation. I pray that we would be united, standing up for what this nation truly stands for!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif";">I pray for our president. Give him wisdom. Humble his heart.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif";">I pray for the nation and people of Israel. There is such a hatred for Your chosen people, Lord God. I know this is foretold in Your Word, but my heart truly aches at the hostility that is directed at them. Protect them and keep them always!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif";">I pray all of these things in the precious Name of Jesus Christ- Amen.</span><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif";">Who Can Satisfy </span></b><br />
<span style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif";">Words and Music by Dennis Jernigan</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif";">Who can satisfy my soul</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif";">Who on earth can comfort me</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif";">And love me like You do</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif";">Who could ever be more faithful and true</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif";">I will trust in You</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif";">I will trust in You my God</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif";">There is a fountain<br />
Who is a King</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif";">Victorious warrior and Lord of everything</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif";">My rock my shleter my very own</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif";">Blessed Redeemer <br />
Who reigns upon the throne</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif";">Who could ever be more faithful and true</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif";">I will trust in You</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif";">I will trust in You</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif";">I will trust in You my God</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif";">Who reigns upon the throne</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif";">Who reigns upon the throne</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif";">© 1989 Shepherd's Heart Music, Inc.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif";">This recording is not very good, but the song is AWESOME!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif";">My victorious Warrior reigns upon the throne! </span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/UNMw73XAtaA?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div></div>FreedomsBlessingshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00160883646177368777noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8864680557760721905.post-56608099952767945902011-03-27T01:43:00.001-05:002011-05-04T12:05:55.673-05:00BLESSED OR SPOILED?<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I am in the midst of Spring Cleaning. This year, I have a completely different attitude than I've had in a very long time.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">While I've gone through different stages over the years, so much of the time my Spring Cleaning ends up being just getting rid of clothes that no longer fit the kids and doing my <em>really deep</em> cleaning, like behind the refrigerator and things of that nature that are not in my weekly list of chores.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This year, something is different. I am getting rid of so many things that we just do not use!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As I am going through the kids clothes I am amazed at how much we have amassed. God has blessed us beyond measure, in this area! I am all about a bargain, and with 5 children that is an absolute must! A lot of my children's clothes are hand-me-downs, but the ones that are bought for them are without a doubt a bargain! And I am not at all ashamed to say this!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I had hoped to finish my Spring Cleaning this weekend, but, it is not going to happen. I am finding that I am looking at everything differently. If we do not use it or need it, it is going out! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This has brought me to a question within myself. Yes, without a doubt I <strong><em>know </em></strong>that we are blessed beyond measure! However, have these blessings turned into making us nothing more than spoiled brats? I pray that I will never take for granted the many blessings God has given me and my family, but when I sit down and really think about all that we have..... yes, sadly, I do take it all for granted.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Several natural disasters have hit the world in the last couple of years. While yes, there are always natural disasters, in a day and time when there is 24-hour news coverage of these disasters I believe it has a different effect than previously.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">When we are inundated with the images of so much grief and destruction... how do we respond? Do we go into a shell and mourn for the loss that others experience? Do we look around at our surroundings and realize that in an instant all that we have can be gone? It is a sobering thought.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Yes, I am blessed beyond measure. But I am also very spoiled. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Lord God, I thank You for Your abundant blessings in my life. While I know that I am not only blessed, but also the realization has hit that I am also very spoiled. It is time for me to get back to the basics. If something is not needed or used or does not have a place in our home, it is time to let it go.I pray that You will help me look through these renewed eyes as I continue this Spring Cleaning. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I pray for this nation. We, as a nation, are blessed beyond measure as well! In this new realization I have become so very sad for America! Very few people realize how blessed we are, I believe. I pray that this nation will wake up before it is too late! I pray that this nation will humble herself before You and praise You for Your endless blessings in this nation.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I pray for our President. I pray for all elected leaders who are making our laws. So many laws of this land are being broken. Lord God, I pray for truth and justice to prevail!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As always, I pray for Congresswoman Giffords. She is <em>truly blessed</em> in her life being spared by the senseless attack on her! I pray that this nation would look upon the miracle of her life and realize the blessing and miracle You have shown us through her.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I pray for the nation and people of Israel. Lord God, every day more and more anger is being hurled upon Your chosen people! Keep them safe, I pray. Hide them in the shadow of Your wings (Psalm 91).</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I pray all of these things in the Name of Jesus Christ- Giver of Life and all blessings- Amen!</span>FreedomsBlessingshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00160883646177368777noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8864680557760721905.post-31115395040304327782011-03-25T15:16:00.005-05:002011-05-04T12:07:00.499-05:00YES, THIS COUNTS!<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I received an email today that is going to be the topic of today's post. My brother sent me the email, and he had added a note that yes, this was his niece (his wife's sister's daughter). I called him and asked him if he could get their permission to post the picture on my blog entry for today, because I have never seen anything so beautiful in all of my life!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">When I talked to my brother after he talked to his brother-in-law, he told me he was surprised to find out that it <em>is not </em>his niece! This is an email that was actually forwarded to his brother-in-law. They are all amazed at how much like this little girl my brother's niece actually looks.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So, I am going to post the picture, as the note at the bottom of the page says to forward to your friends. If the parents of this child sees the picture and would like it to be removed, please let me know. I would never want to offend them in any ways.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So, before I go any further, here is the email text, as well as the picture, of the original email I was sent:</span><br />
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<div align="center" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #993300; font-size: 13pt;"><span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Matthew 18:20</span></span></b><br />
<b><span style="color: #993300; font-size: 13pt;"><span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them. </span></span></b><br />
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<strong><span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Arial; font-size: large;">DOES THIS COUNT?</span></strong></div><b><span style="color: #993300; font-size: 13pt;"></span></b><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzt5fB0lSHPhuHkPeUsZURl037daCwoGdcLHWGZ8mHxWxe9CM1pO2kH8HRblLGCcQZa2ZWY6a2c8RaIXpj0Wv1t3wnerwQn_Kn13D2zejUapfF87kfOOjaGzqO-1NSX-tnC0OY4gHaD6eC/s1600/praying+girl.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="288" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzt5fB0lSHPhuHkPeUsZURl037daCwoGdcLHWGZ8mHxWxe9CM1pO2kH8HRblLGCcQZa2ZWY6a2c8RaIXpj0Wv1t3wnerwQn_Kn13D2zejUapfF87kfOOjaGzqO-1NSX-tnC0OY4gHaD6eC/s320/praying+girl.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 24pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Yes, this <strong>most definitely counts, </strong>sweetheart!</span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 24pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This little girl understands more than most adults do. While I believe that it is imperative and very beneficial to read, study, disect, meditate and analyze Scripture to grow in our faith, walk and understanding of God, I beleive that a lot of times our analyzing gets in the way of the true heart of the matter. As my husband has said before, too often, the most "intellectual" of minds have absolutely no faith in God because He cannot be explained. Faith is believing in the unseen.</span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><a name='more'></a><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 24pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Luke 18:17 says, <em>"Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.” </em></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 24pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Today, I saw the picture of this Scripture. If we would only take God's Word at face value as this llittle girl has and obey Him, I believe that this world would change almost overnight! To have the faith of this child would impact the Spiritual World and turn it upside down!</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 24pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">In her innocent little mind and heart, her little dollies are just as capable to be taught to obey the Word of God as she is. Oh, to have that innocence once again!</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 24pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Lord God, I pray that You will strip the jaded areas of my heart and help me to have the tender heart of this precious little girl. I pray that anyone who happens across this posting will be touched as I was. This little girl could teach all of us invaluable lessons.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 24pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">I continue to pray for Congresswoman Giffords. I heard a news report saying that her husband, Mark Kelly, has said she is starting to process what has happened to her, her staff, and her supporters that horrible day. I pray that You will protect her heart and keep her safe in Your arms of love. Help her to process, heal and grow from this tragedy. Please do not let this tragedy turn to bitterness in heart. </span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 24pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">As always, I continue to pray for justice for the man that committed this horrible crime. I pray that political correctness will not be allowed to get in the way of justice. I also continue to pray for his heart and soul. In the last report I heard he is still very unrepentant for his actions. </span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 24pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">I pray for this nation. Lord, that this nation would see through the eyes of this innocent little girl! My mind cannot comprehend what would happen if this became reality. I pray that the people of America would fall on her face before You and ask for forgiveness in the numerous areas where we are going on the wrong path. Soften this nations heart and open her blinded eyes to Your Truth once again!</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 24pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">I pray for President Obama. Lord, Your Word instructs us to pray for our enemies. Many will read this statement and see it as a personal or political attack against Mr. Obama. Lord, You know my heart. You know this is not my words, but Mr. Obama's that I repeat. He did come out later and say that his comment was a mistake, and I can accept that. However, and most unfortunately, I do not believe this is the way he truly feels. I believe to the very core of my soul that his agenda is the enemy of this Republic- One Nation Under God.Actions speak louder than words. I continue to pray that he will humble himself before You and seek Your ways rather than his own agenda.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 24pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">As I do always, I continue to pray for the nation and people of Israel. Protect her and guide her Lord God. Hide her in the shadow of Your wings. Bless her and keep her. Each day more countries and more people come out to stand against her. I pray that their hearts will be softened and their blinded eyes will be opened as well. Your Word tells us in Genesis 12:3 very plainly- all blessings and curses are given depending on how we treat the nation and people of Israel. I pray that they will turn their eyes upon You and trust completely in Your ancient promises!</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 24pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">I pray all of these things in the precious Name of Jesus Christ- Amen.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div>FreedomsBlessingshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00160883646177368777noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8864680557760721905.post-28458741481367658992011-03-24T16:20:00.003-05:002011-05-04T12:08:15.592-05:00A WRETCH LIKE ME<span style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif";">This time of the year is extremely special to me. On February 25, 2004, a movie was released that reaches down into the very depths of my soul. While I know the story well, I've never seen it depicted in this exact way.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif";">The movie I am referring to is, "The Passion Of The Christ".</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif";">Within the first month after the movie was released, my husband and I went to the theatre 7 times to see it. At the time, we were Youth Leaders at our church. Since the movie was rated "R" due to the extreme violence depicted, we were required to view the movie before taking students to see it. For the students to see the movie their parents had to sign a permission form, for the exact same reason.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif";">I was raised in a Christian home. I often joke that I went to church before I entered the world, and started my entry into the world <em><span style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif";">at </span></em>church! My Mom actually went into labor during the Sunday night service. A funny side story here that my mom loves to tell. She went to the restroom, and her water broke. Obviously, she had to send someone in to get my Dad.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif";">My grandparents, as well as a couple of my aunts and uncles went to the same church. My Dad sent one of the ushers in to let my grandparents know what was going on. It was at this very moment that the congregation was sitting, and the choir was getting ready to sing. My grandfather did not realize what was going on, so he was standing up, in the middle of the church, looking at my aunt, who was in the choir, shaking his head "yes" So this is how the congregation knew I was ready to make my entrance into the world!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif";">Well, I've gotten a bit off track here. But, the point of telling this funny little tidbit of my life is to say that yes, I attended church regularly as a child. When the church doors were open, we were there. I knew the words of the old hymns by heart. In fact, I was even known to give a concert for my grandparents at the drop of a hat! There are even pictures of the performances, my "brush microphone" in hand. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif";">Even if you are not a church-goer, it's quite likely you know the words to the ever-famous hymn, "<em><span style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif";">Amazing Grace." </span></em>In fact, there is now even a movie of how the hymn came to be. This was one of the songs that I loved to sing the most.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif";">Strangely enough, though I have known the words of <em><span style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif";">"Amazing Grace"</span></em> by heart pretty much since I uttered my first words, It was not until I was 31-years-old that I truly grasped the true meaning of this beautiful hymn.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif";">As I have mentioned previously, for many years I ran from God. I got so tired of "man-made religious rules", and did not understand until much later that these man-made rules were not what a <em><span style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif";">RELATIONSHIP</span></em> with God was about at all.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif";">When I finally stopped running from God, I began the age-old struggle of <em><span style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif";">truly finding</span></em> God. I flat out refused to be a part of pious, religious rules. If God truly loved me as He said He did, He was going to have to accept me as I was, and help me understand what all this was about.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif";">One thing I have learned over the years- God does things completely outside of the box if you allow Him to!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif";">At this point, I was struggling immensely with past mistakes in my life. Yes, I told God He had to accept me as I was, but what did that really mean? This is God Almighty I am talking to here.... Creator of the universe. I wondered what made me think He would actually do as I told Him to do? Or better yet, why did I even care? I don't really have an answer to these questions, but thankfully, He met me where I was.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif";">Little did I realize that this began a very long Spiritual Journey that would completely free me from the bondage of man-made religion! God was about to take me on a journey to show me what His Amazing Grace is truly all about.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif";">I am a firm believer that everything happens for a reason. So I have no doubt that this all happened for a reason, all at the exact time it was supposed to happen. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif";">During the course of me watching, <em><span style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif";">"The Passion of The Christ"</span></em> 7 times, I was also reading the book of John in The Bible. And, at the very same time, I also read a book that literally changed my life. The book is<em><span style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif";">"Grace Walk"</span></em> by Steve McVey.This book literally rocked my world!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif";">Because I am such a stubborn person, I believe God decided He had to use a combination of things to get my attention. In the span of 2 weeks my blinded eyes were opened wide! </span><br />
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<i><span style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif";">Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound,<br />
That saved a wretch like me.<br />
I once was lost but now am found,<br />
Was blind, but now I see.</span></i><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif";">I was a wretch of a person for many years. I knew that I could not be "good enough". I had tried and failed. And tried. And failed again. And tried... and..... well, I think you get the point. This is why I finally gave up. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif";">THANKFULLY God Almighty never gave up on me! I bought into the lies of Satan for a long time, but God's Amazing Grace opened my blinded eyes to the Truth of Satan's lies!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif";">If you are still believing Satan's lies about your past or who you are, I sincerely pray that You will have your blinded eyes opened just as I did. The freedom that comes with realizing who you are is amazing! It is a journey I am truly treasuring! Every day of my life I realize more and more how uniquely and wonderful God created <em><span style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif";">me</span></em>! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif";">Lord God Almighty, I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. (Psalm 139:14) I thank You for never giving up on me. My life is Yours.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif";">I pray for Congresswoman Giffords. I thank You for the grace You have already given her in sparing her life. I pray that You will continue to restore her health and heal her body.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif";">I pray that this nation will humble herself before You. She has strayed so far away from the founding principles which were founded on Your principles. I pray for our president.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif";">I pray for Israel. She needs Your protection every moment of every day. I know that You will protect her, but I know many will suffer as well. Please help them to hold on to You each and every day. Help them to never take their eyes off of You and Your promises.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif";">I pray for every person in this world who does not know You. You are the Source of all Hope and Life.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif";">I pray these things in the Name of Jesus Christ- the Giver of all Life- Amen.</span>FreedomsBlessingshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00160883646177368777noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8864680557760721905.post-67888882727298835462011-03-23T19:52:00.005-05:002011-05-04T12:09:31.846-05:00LIFE IS A PUZZLE<span style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif";">After my first husband committed suicide, my life as I knew it literally ceased to exist. Everything that I knew, believed and lived shattered into a million pieces. It was at this point that God lovingly picked up one, single piece of my shattered, brokenness and placed it in the middle of His canvas, which is my life.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif";">All of the shattered pieces of my former life are still there today. While it may not appear that way, the shattered, broken pieces have been lovingly healed and mended by the hands of The Master Who created me and loves me so dearly. Many, many pieces have been loving placed where they belong, and yet, many others still are in the process of mending and healing.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif";">One thing that God showed me, after my husband died, was how yes, we are indeed created in the image of God. However, as humans, most everything we do is opposite of the way God does things. It is a strange concept, in one sense. Yet, it makes perfect sense as well. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif";">An image is a reflection of an actual thing, not the thing itself. When you look in the mirror at yourself, it is the opposite of reality. Your right side appears to be the left side, and vice versa.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif";">When you work a puzzle, what is the first thing that you do? You start with the outside pieces, and put the entire border together. At least, this is the way I do it, and this is the way I've seen most people work a puzzle.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif";">God began to show me that my life is a puzzle in progress at the work of His loving hands. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif";">So, in using this analogy, God began to show me how, because I am created in His <em><span style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif";">image</span></em>, it is very much like looking at myself in the mirror. I am a <em><span style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif";">reflection </span></em>of<em><span style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif";"> </span></em>Him, therefore, most things that I do are actually <em><span style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif";">opposite</span></em> of the way He does things. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif";">My life is a perfect example of this reality. My life is a puzzle in the hands of The Almighty. When my life fell apart, and every piece of my being lay shattered on the ground, He started working to put my life back together. He started with one, single piece, and placed it in the middle. He slowly began healing and replacing the shattered pieces, placing them together as they were ready to fit.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif";">He has worked on many areas of my life. There are some areas of my life that are further along than others. However, as far as I know, none of the outer edges of my life are in place. I cannot say for sure that this is the case, because I do not know when I will take my last breath. It is my assumption that I have many years ahead of me. Until I stand before God, and give an account of my life, the outer edges of the puzzle of my life will not be complete.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif";">We have to remember that Satan is the Father of all lies. He is the opposite of Jesus- The Way, The TRUTH, and The Life! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif";">Satan wants us to believe that bad things happen to us because God is angry with us, or God doesn't care about us, or we have done something wrong. While yes, the last option is sometimes the case- there are many times that things in our life happen as a consequence of our actions which are wrong, this is not God punishing us. It is simply a natural occurrence of cause and effect. Yes, I most definitely believe that God uses these cause and effect situations to teach us, and so in a sense it is a form of discipline, it is not actual punishment, I do not believe.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif";">As the saying goes, we often cannot see the forest for the trees. So much of the time, I believe this is the reality of our individual lives. If we buy into Satan's lies that God doesn't care about us, that He is angry with us, that He does not love us, or that we are being punished, then we can not see the overall forest- or puzzle- of our lives. Each of us were created for a specific purpose. That overall purpose, for all of us, is to commune with, and worship God The Creator of all things.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif";">The question for each of us as individuals is how, exactly, we were called to commune with and worship Him. To find our individual purpose that we were created for, I believe it is essential that we surrender our lives- our puzzle- to The Masters hands rather than our own. We cannot see the forest of our lives- He can. We get overwhelmed by the tree- our life- and cannot see how we fit as a piece of His puzzle of eternity.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif";">I can assure you, He is doing a<strong><i><span style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif";"> <u>MUCH BETTER</u></span></i></strong> job of putting the puzzle of my life together than I was!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif";">Lord God, I am so thankful that You have given me clear analogies to help me understand things as I do. While I know that I do not understand all that I would like to understand, I know the peace that passes all understanding that comes with having surrendered all that a I am and all that I do to You.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif";">I fail You miserably every day. I ask that You forgive me in each of these failings. I ask specifically that You continue to reveal to me where I need to make changes as Your daughter, as my husband's wife, and as my children's mother. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif";">I thank You for revealing the answer to a fervent prayer that has caused my heart to ache for many months now. I pray that You will help me to cling to You as I allow You to lovingly remold this area of my life. I am sure it will be painful in many ways, but I know the results will be more beautiful than I can ever imagine. In this situation, I ask for your forgiveness specifically, and pray that You will heal the hurts that have been caused by my actions. Help me to see things through Your eyes rather than my own. Please take the anger and any bitterness that has settled in my heart and soul that is poison to my life through this situation.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif";">I continue to pray for Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords today. I pray that You will help her to keep her life in perspective, and view this tragedy as a piece of the puzzle of her life. While I know without a doubt that this was never part of Your perfect plan, I know without a doubt that You will use this, as You do all things, for good. Where Satan intends evil to prevail, Your love, mercy, grace and goodness will overcome. I pray that You will help Ms. Giffords to forgive the man that assaulted her and her supporters. I pray that she will not allow anger to be unforgiveness which becomes bitterness that poisons to the very depths of our soul. Bless her and keep her in this continue process of healing and recovery.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif";">I pray for President Obama. I continue to pray that he will humble himself before You, rise up and be the leader that he was elected to be. Whether or not I voted for him matters not at this time. What matters is that he is the President of The United States of America. I am a citizen of this country, so he in fact represents me. It hurts my heart and soul that he does not take a solid stand on things. Even though I disagree with most everything he represents, he still does not stand solid. Because of this we are now seen as week. God, please have mercy on this country! We do not deserve Your mercy, but I plead with You to have mercy on this nation! We are still One Nation Under God. I pray for my fellow countrymen. I pray that we will unite and turn back to You as a nation.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif";">I pray for the nation and the people of Israel. Lord God, this is Your chosen people. I know that You are in control, and I know that You will always keep a Remnant. My heart aches for the apple of Your eye! I know prophecy foretells what is to come, but to actually be a witness to it is heart breaking! It is so frustrating that so many people are blind to reality! I know Your Word says that You will send a Great Delusion and people will believe it. I do not know if You have released this Great Delusion already or not, but it seems very likely that this is the case. I pray that You will soften hearts and open blinded eyes to Your Truth. As always, I pray for the protection of Israel. She has suffered greatly throughout history, and she continues to suffer today. May she be blessed and greatly rewarded by Your loving hands!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif";">I pray for Your Church- The Body of Christ. My heart aches to see that so many who call themselves by Your Name show no fruits. I know we will know them by their fruits, but the hypocrisy of The Church is appalling! Again, I know this was foretold in Scriptures. But knowing something is going to happen does not lessen the pain when it comes to fruition. God, have mercy on our souls! You are indeed our only Hope!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif";">I pray all of these things in the Name of Your Son Jesus Christ- Amen.</span>FreedomsBlessingshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00160883646177368777noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8864680557760721905.post-7176096954313288402011-03-22T20:00:00.002-05:002011-03-27T18:48:55.828-05:00YOUR WORD IS ALL YOU HAVE<span style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif";">There is nothing more in this world that I detest more than lying! I have seen the affects of lying in my life, personally. It literally almost destroyed me.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif";">Unfortunately, by nature, I am a "sneaky, manipulative" person. It has taken me many years to be able to acknowledge this, but as Dr. Phil says, "You can't change what you don't acknowledge!"</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif";">While this is my nature, this is no longer the person I am. Many years ago, I was faced with the reality of what my lies were doing to myself. At this point I am not going to even talk about how it affected other people in my life- I think that is a given, and understood by most everyone who is reading this blog.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif";">However, what most of us fail to realize is how our actions affect us. For every action there is a consequence, good or bad.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif";">As a child, I was very "sneaky". Unfortunately, I was good enough at it that I got away with a lot of things that were dangerous. If I had not been so good at sneaking around, maybe I would have been caught at the harmless things as a child, and it would have taught me not to be so sneaky, and this may have prevented me from putting myself in so many dangerous situations. Many of these dangerous situations have harmed me, and some still have lasting affects on my life today.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif";">Being sneaky goes hand-in-hand with lying. It is basically the opposite side of the same coin. While you may not be out-right lying about a situation, if you are not being completely truthful, or you are trying to hide things, you are being dishonest.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif";"><a name='more'></a>Things intensified for me when I put my running shoes on and started running from God. The further away from God I ran, the more I lied. The strange thing is- yes, I lied to others- but things had morphed so out of control that I was lying to myself. <br />
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<span style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif";">You are probably asking, "How can you lie to yourself? You know deep down inside what the truth is, even if you are not speaking it."</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif";">Yes, this is true- for a while. But over time, if you continue the habit of lying, you start believing your own lies.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif";">Some time before my first husband committed suicide, I began to seek out God once again. Because I still had a huge misunderstanding of Who He Is, I did not find His grace that He wants all of us to know and love. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif";">Remember- if we are a child of God's, no matter how far and long we run, He will never stop pursuing us. He never leaves us- we leave Him. However, in His infinite love and beauty, He is still there protecting us all along the way. My life is an extreme example of this.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif";">I had been lying for so long I could not tell the truth from a lie. Many stories that I had told for years were "vivid memories" in my mind. I could tell the story the same way time and time again. I had begun to believe my lies. My lies became my reality.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif";">When you realize that you do not know what the truth is in your own life, it is one of the scariest places you can be. I spent countless hours alone with God, begging for His forgiveness, and asking Him to show me the truth in every lie that I had told.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif";">God answers all of our prayers. We may not believe that He answers them, but sometimes His answer is no. Other times His answer is not now, be patient. And sometimes His answer is yes. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif";">When you ask God for righteousness, His answer is going to be yes. His answer to my prayer was very painful in many ways, but it was exactly what had to happen in my life if I was ever going to be healed completely. Lies are nothing but festering wounds of infection. If you do not rid your life of lies you are filled with infection. If you live your life caught in a web of lies you are not living a life of wellness.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif";">There have been many times that I would be in the middle of telling a story that I had told for years, and God would stop me in the middle of my conversation. This only happened with people whom I love, and who love me, and knew what was going on in my life. I had warned several people in my life that if I suddenly stop in the middle of a story, God is talking to me, and I have to listen and make it right.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif";">I believe because I sought to know and speak only the truth in my life, God blessed me by revealing the lies that I had told over the years. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif";">Now, I cannot stand to be around someone who lies. As a mother, this is a huge challenge for me, in teaching my children not to lie. As with all kids, they lie to get out of trouble. It is a challenge for me to remember this, and all the while teach them the importance of telling the truth. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif";">I am very honest with my children, and have told them how my lies almost destroyed me. Things literally got to the point where I was destroying every part of my life because of my lies.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif";">Your word is all you have. If you do not speak the truth, people recognize this. All the riches and fame in the world are nothing without your word of truth. Maybe all people do not recognize it, but people who seek God and seek to know the truth will recognize your lies. Many, many people in my life realized that they could not believe anything I said.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif";">Thankfully, this is my past. Now I live only for truth. Lies are straight from the pits of hell. Satan is the Father of all lies.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif";">Lord God, I pray that this nation will wake up to the truth of what is going on. Too many people are not paying attention.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif";">I pray for the truth to prevail overwhelmingly with Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords. I do not for one minute believe Jared Loughner is NOT mentally capable to stand trial! I pray that the truth will prevail, that justice will be done, and he will receive just punishment for his assault on so many people. I continue to pray for Congresswoman Giffords health and recovery. Bless her and keep her, as well as her husband, Mark Kelly.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif";">I pray that where there are lies, You will reveal all truth.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif";">I pray these things in Your precious Name, Jesus- The Way, The TRUTH, and The Life! Amen!</span></span>FreedomsBlessingshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00160883646177368777noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8864680557760721905.post-33018920318808602082011-03-21T20:45:00.023-05:002011-05-04T12:10:58.001-05:00FREEDOM<div class="widget Text" id="Text2"><div class="widget-content"><em><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif";">"Aye, fight and you may die. Run, and you'll live... at least a while. And dying in your beds, many years from now, would you be willin' to trade ALL the days, from this day to that, for one chance, just one chance, to come back here and tell our enemies that they may take our lives, but they'll never take... OUR FREEDOM!" </span></em><br />
<div align="center" style="text-align: center;"><em><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif";">~ William Wallace ~ </span></em><i><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif";"><br />
<em><span style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif";">"Braveheart" </span></em></span></i></div><br />
<span style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif";">Last night, I watched one of my all-time favorite movies. It's been a long while since I've watched it, but I happened to be flipping through the channels and saw it was on. What a perfect time in history for me to be reminded of the bravery of William Wallace.</span> <br />
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<span style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif";">Obviously, I am talking about the Mel Gibson movie,<em><span style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif";"> "Braveheart".</span></em></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif";">If you have never seen this movie, I definitely recommend it! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif";">Though this is a "fictional representation" of history, it is based on the life of a real man in 13th Century Scotland. I won't give a synopsis of the movie here, because I do not want to ruin the movie if you have not seen it; and if you have seen it, you know the intricate beauty that it encompasses. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif";">There are many, many aspects of this movie that draws me in. Number one, I love history. Number two, I am a hopeless romantic at heart. Number three, the fight for freedom is in my blood. I guess in reality, the number three reason should be my number one reason.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif";">Without freedom, we are truly slaves. This seems to be a given, but it amazes me how this is not obvious to the masses. It's strangely eerie how so many aspects of this movie can be applied to current day affairs. Change the setting and the characters, and you have the exact same scenario today, in modern day America.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif";">To type those words literally sends ice through my veins! We are the <em><b><span style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif";">LAND OF THE FREE</span></b></em>! Both of my grandfather's fought in World War II for freedom's sake. My father-in-law fought in the Vietnam War for freedom's sake. Both my dad and my husband tried to enlist in the military, but due to medical reasons, neither of them were able to join the military. Most of my ancestors were "freedom fighters" of some sort.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif";">To know that decades and centuries later, depending on what point in history you look at, the very freedoms that I enjoyed as a child are threatened saddens me to the very core of my being. Already, my children do not know the freedoms I knew as a child. We, as Americans, have taken our freedom for granted for many, many years. My generation has no clue what it is like to not live in freedom. Unfortunately, we are seeing that reality realized more and more every day.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif";">Because we have stood silent for so long, because we have taken the blessings of freedom for granted for so long, it is now under attack.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif";">There are so many quotes that I love in the movie <em><span style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif";">"Braveheart".</span></em> In fact, I could have made the majority of this post quotes from the movie and it could have stood alone, with nothing more needing to be said by me. There are also a couple of "sub-plots" to the movie that are eerily similar to today as well.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif";">Again, for the sake of not giving away too much of the story for those who have not seen the movie, and for the sake of not re-telling the story for those who have, I will not go into detail. However, politics are very much a part of this movie. The "special interest group" seeks to "negotiate" with William Wallace to stop his fight for freedom.</span><br />
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<a href="http://www.blogger.com/name/nm0000154/"><em><b><span style="color: #136cb2; font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">William Wallace</span></b></em></a><em><span style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif";">: A lordship and titles. Gold. That I should become Judas? </span></em><i><span style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif";"><br />
<em><b><span style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif";"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/name/nm0000521/"><span style="color: #136cb2;">Princess Isabelle</span></a></span></b></em><em><span style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif";">: Peace is made in such ways. </span></em><br />
<em><b><span style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif";"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/name/nm0000154/"><span style="color: #136cb2;">William Wallace</span></a></span></b></em><em><span style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif";">: Slaves are made in such ways.</span></em></span></i><br />
<span style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif";">William Wallace understood full well that negotiating away your principles leads to nothing but slavery. In the name of "political peace negotiations" the very freedoms our Founding Father's fought for have bought us nothing but a return to slavery. We are becoming slaves to the government more and more every day that I live. The "elite" that make the laws of this land have sold us out. Our elected officials- no matter what side of the aisle you are on politically- have lured We The People into a false sense of compromise and peace. Most of our elected officials feel they are "entitled" to the best because they are the "elected"... the "elite few" who make our laws and govern this land.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif";">To quote the movie once again:</span><br />
<a href="http://www.blogger.com/name/nm0000154/"><em><b><span style="color: #136cb2; font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">William Wallace</span></b></em></a><em><span style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif";">: It's all for nothing if you don't have freedom. </span></em><br />
<span style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif";">William Wallace understood the importance of freedom. He was not willing to sell out and betray his friends- the common men of Scotland- for a title, gold, and other treasures. William Wallace was a man of principles that understood that if you do not stand for something, you'll fall for anything.</span><br />
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<a href="http://www.blogger.com/name/nm0005171/"><em><b><span style="color: #136cb2; font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Robert the Bruce</span></b></em></a><em><span style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif";">: This Wallace... he doesn't even have a knighthood. But he *fights*, with *passion*, and he *inspires*.</span></em><br />
<span style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif";">America, <em><span style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif";">where</span></em> is your <em><span style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif";">passion? </span></em>Have you truly forgotten the beauty of freedom? Do you understand, as William Wallace did, that it's <em><span style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif";">all</span></em> for <em><span style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif";">nothing </span></em>if you do not have <em><span style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif";">freedom?</span></em> </span><br />
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<a href="http://www.blogger.com/name/nm0000154/"><em><b><span style="color: #136cb2; font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">William Wallace</span></b></em></a><em><span style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif";">: There's a difference between us. You think the people of this country exist to provide you with position. I think your position exists to provide those people with freedom. And I go to make sure that they have it. </span></em><br />
<span style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif";">William Wallace understood that just because you are in a leadership position does not mean you are entitled to that position. He was willing to risk- and <em><span style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif";">give</span></em>- his very life- to see his fellow countrymen be free!</span><br />
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<a href="http://www.blogger.com/" name="qt0515344"></a><span style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif";"> </span><b><a href="http://www.blogger.com/name/nm0005171/"><em><span style="color: #136cb2; font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Robert the Bruce</span></em></a></b><em><span style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif";">: I respect what you said, but remember that these men have lands and castles. It's much to risk. </span></em><i><span style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif";"><br />
<em><b><span style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif";"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/name/nm0000154/"><span style="color: #136cb2;">William Wallace</span></a></span></b></em><em><span style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif";">: And the common man, who bleeds on the battlefield, does he risk less? </span></em></span></i><br />
<span style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif";">Our fore father's risked everything they had to purchase the freedoms we enjoy today. Though they are slowly slipping away, and are a mere reflection of what I knew as "freedom" in my childhood, we are still abundantly blessed in this nation. Too many have thought about the risks and have sold out for "security's sake". What has it gotten us, I ask you? The common man in America has the opportunities to have land and castles just as the "ruling class" have. However, because we have not held the "ruling class" accountable, the common man is fast on the road to slavery to the "ruling class" once again.</span><br />
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<a href="http://www.blogger.com/name/nm0005171/"><em><b><span style="color: #136cb2; font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Robert the Bruce</span></b></em></a><em><span style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif";">: Lands, titles, men, power... Nothing. </span></em><br />
<span style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif";">He finally realizes what William Wallace has known all his life- it's <em><span style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif";">all</span></em> for <em><span style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif";">nothing</span></em> if you do not have <em><span style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif";">freedom</span></em>! All the money and power and titles in the world will not purchase freedom. Is it really worth it? </span><br />
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<a href="http://www.blogger.com/name/nm0000154/"><em><b><span style="color: #136cb2; font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">William Wallace</span></b></em></a><em><span style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif";">: We all end up dead, it's just a question of how and why. </span></em><br />
<span style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif";">Under the guise of "safety and security" we have allowed our freedoms to be taken away. Now, if we want to fly, we must be x-rayed. On September 11, 2001, people were going about their normal lives on a normal day. In an instant, life as we knew it ceased to exist. Terrorists attacked our land- our freedom- and we were frightened! Yes, I too was very much afraid at what was happening that fateful day! The people who died on September 11, 2001, had no idea that would be the day they died, nor did they know they would die because hijacked planes would be flown into buildings. The heroes who died on Flight 93 in Shanksville, Pennsylvania died that day as well. However, they had heard the news of what was going on. They knew they were going to die no matter what. They had the courage to rise up and fight the terrorists for freedom's sake. I have absolutely no doubt in my mind that the passengers on the other planes would have done the exact same thing had they realized what was going on. Unfortunately, they had no idea what was happening until it was too late.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif";">I believe that the heroes who stood up to the terrorists on Flight 93 that crashed in Shanksville, Pennsylvania understood exactly what William Wallace understood. We all die- it's just a question of how and why. The brave souls who stood up and fought for freedom that day gave their lives. How sad that in the name of "safety and security" we as a nation are betraying the very thing they died for! Their bravery has been negotiated for fear of another attack! How very sad!</span><br />
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<a href="http://www.blogger.com/name/nm0000154/"><em><b><span style="color: #136cb2; font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">William Wallace</span></b></em></a><em><span style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif";">: ...men don't follow titles, they follow courage.</span></em><br />
<span style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif";">I know many people with titles. Unfortunately, many people with titles have absolutely no courage at all! I can think of very few names off the top of my head that are an example of true courage in leadership today. However, one name does stand out to me. Darrell Issa, a Representative from California. Now, I do not know everything about this man. I am sure there are things in his past that are not exemplary. However, I believe this can be applied to us all!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif";">In a day and age where I trust absolutely no one in leadership, I believe that Darrell Issa is a man who exhibits courage. We need an army of leaders with courage to stand up and truly lead this nation out of the mess we are in! We need leaders who do not look at party affiliation, but instead stand on their principles for <em><span style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif";">FREEDOM'S </span></em>sake! People will follow and support courage. We could care less about a title!</span><br />
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<a href="http://www.blogger.com/name/nm0000154/"><em><b><span style="color: #136cb2; font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">William Wallace</span></b></em></a><em><span style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif";">: I have been given nothing. God makes men what they are. </span></em><br />
<span style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif";">Americans need to take this quote to heart. <em><span style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif";">None of us</span></em> have been given anything! God Almighty makes us who and what we are! Now, in adding to this quote, I believe that it is actually <em><span style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif";">our attitude</span></em> regarding the circumstances of our lives that allows or prevents God from making us who we are <em><span style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif";">called</span></em> to be. But I completely agree with the basic gist of the quote. I have been given nothing. You have been given nothing. Our freedom has been bought and paid for by a very steep price! Our fore fathers fought and gave their life's blood so that we would have the freedom's we enjoy today! However, our sense of entitlement is destroying us! We, as a nation, believe that we <em><span style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif";">deserve</span></em> the luxuries of freedom, but very few are willing to give what it takes to insure these freedoms never die!</span><br />
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<a href="http://www.blogger.com/name/nm0000154/"><em><b><span style="color: #136cb2; font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">William Wallace</span></b></em></a><em><span style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif";">: Every man dies, not every man really lives. </span></em><br />
<span style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif";">It is appointed unto every man to die once. Everyone who is born eventually dies. Sadly, so many people are afraid of death, yet every one of us will face it. How sad it is that the above quote sums up so many lives. How many people lay dying on their death beds and realize they never truly lived? I would rather die a horribly tragic death at a young age, than die a peaceful death at a ripe old age, if it means that I truly live every day of my life to its fullest potential.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif";">I am not willing to sacrifice my freedom for a false sense of security. Nothing worth having comes free. Nothing! Many people have shed their blood, sweat and tears and have given their very lives so that I may enjoy freedom today! I refuse to betray all that they gave!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif";">Lord God, I pray today for freedom! I thank You for the opportunity to live in freedom. I praise You for the blessings that freedom grants me. I worship You and thank You for my eternal freedom, which You bought and paid for with Your life's blood on the cross. Though my post today is about liberty and freedom in America, I also realize if it were not for Your sacrifice on the cross that freedom would not exists at all today.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif";">I pray for this nation, Lord. We have become complacent. It is a sad situation to see where we are headed! My heart aches, knowing what is to come. However, my heart sings, knowing that You are in control, and that I have freedom- not just in my country, but in knowing You. This, above all, gives me peace that passes all understanding in this troublesome time of chaos and calamity.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif";">I pray for Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords. I pray that justice will be carried out in her name. The attack on her and those she represents is reprehensible! I pray that justice is not sacrificed in the name of political correctness and the judicial system. I know You say that vengeance is Yours. I do not pray for vengeance, I leave that to You. However, I do pray for justice!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif";">I pray for President Obama. I pray that his agenda to stamp out our freedoms will be stopped cold in its tracks. I pray that he will humble himself before You and seek Your will and purpose for this great nation. He was called to lead this nation. He was elected by the people to represent us. Though I did not vote for him, he was elected to represent me just as well as those who did vote for him. I pray that he will open his eyes and see that without freedom there is nothing!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif";">I pray for the people of Israel. Lord God, protect her and keep her safe. I know that the world is coming against her. I know that she will stand alone as a nation someday very soon. I pray that Your promise to her will give her hope. Help her to see that she is never truly alone, because You are always there with her.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif";">Lord God, I pray all these things in the Name of Jesus Christ- the Author of Freedom! Amen!</span><br />
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<em><a href="http://www.blogger.com/name/nm0000154/"><strong><span style="color: #136cb2; font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">William Wallace</span></strong></a></em><em><span style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif";">: FRRRRREEEEEEEDDDDDDDDDDOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMM!! </span></em></div></div>FreedomsBlessingshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00160883646177368777noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8864680557760721905.post-62891217819308380742011-03-20T22:21:00.003-05:002011-05-04T12:11:44.078-05:00YOU GOT TO KNOW WHEN...<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As I've thought over my previous post, I am reminded of an old Kenny Rogers song, "The Gambler". I'm sure that if you've read my previous post you are wondering how in the world this song comes to mind. The post has nothing at all to do with gambling, playing cards, or anything that entails.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">However, the course speaks volumes for me, in my life:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><em>You've got to know when to hold 'em<br />
Know when to fold 'em<br />
Know when to walk away<br />
Know when to run<br />
You never count your money<br />
When you're sittin' at the table<br />
There'll be time enough for countin'<br />
When the dealin's done</em></span><br />
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Now, one thing you will learn about me is that I march to the beat of a different drummer. I've always been this way! In fact, I grew up in the '80's and was always known for wearing a "different style" of clothes... and this is in the '80's, when "different" WAS the style!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Maybe the reason this chorus reverberates over and over in my mind as I look back over my life experiences is because so much of the time I <em>did not</em> know when to hold 'em, fold 'em, walk away, or run. So much of my life I have made the wrong decision, no matter what decision I made.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As I've gotten older I have begun to pray fervently that God will give me wisdom. I am an "impetuous" person by nature, so I have to really think about what the proper action or reaction is in certain situations. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Though I am an impetuous person by nature, oddly enough, I am not a gambler. I guess this is because I recognize my addictive personality, and have for many years. Another strange fact about me that you will probably find almost unbelievable, given my past-I have never tried any kind of illegal drugs. Looking back, I believe it is because deep down inside, even years ago, I recognized the danger I was to myself. Thankfully, God Almighty protected me from myself for many, many years!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">All of life is a gamble, in reality. Just waking up in the morning is a miracle.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">With all that is going on in the world, so many are worried about radioactive fall-out from Japan's nuclear sites; an earthquake here in the United States (a MAJOR one has been predicted within the next week); another terrorist attack; or my biggest concern, our very own government. While I know that God is in control, I do wonder how this is all going to play out.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Life has always been a gamble. But in this day and time it is even more so.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It is my fervent prayer that I will continually listen to God's voice so that I know when to hold 'em; fold 'em; walk away; or run. I'm not counting my money at the table... the time for counting money is when the dealin's done.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In this perspective, the dealin's done when I stand before God Almighty and give Him an account of my life. I have failed Him miserably so much of the time. I continually ask His forgiveness for where I have failed Him.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Some days it is a struggle for me to continue to be the leader- the <em>witness</em> of <em>Him</em> in my life. Some days my natural reaction is to let my mouth overload my butt. And there are days that I do. However, I have a calling on my life. When everything in this life is over, I hope the gamble of <em>my life </em>is profitable!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Lord God, thank You for the call You have on my life. You called me many years ago, and You continued to pursue me when Satan sought to kill me, steal the calling on my life, and destroy my calling <em>and</em> my life.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I pray that You will keep me humble before You. Help me to hear Your voice and Your leading as I continue this journey- not just in life, but in this blog. It has taken a completely different turn than I ever could have imagined. However, I am surrendered to Your will and purpose in my life.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I continue to pray for Congresswoman Giffords. It is a true joy to be called to pray for her on a daily basis. Praying for her healing, health and well-being has given me peace in the trauma and stress I felt in the hours and days after her shooting. I never imagined that her tragedy would bring back memories from events in my own life, though they are completely different and in no way related. It is just another way that You use each of us, and each of our life experiences, in ways we can never imagine. I pray that You will continue to heal her and use her life for Your glory and honor.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I pray once again for President Obama. I know he has been "chosen for such a time as this." I continue to pray that he will humble himself before You and lead this nation in a way that is pleasing in Your eyes. Because I have read The Bible, I know this is probably not going to happen. However, it is my consistent prayer that this nation sees a miracle in our President some day.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I believe time is short. There are many people who have rejected You. I pray for all those who have rejected You.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I pray for the turmoil that is going on across the world. Bring peace and comfort to the people of Japan. Help them to heal and turn their eyes to You.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I pray for the nations in the Middle East. I know there will be no real peace until You walk this earth once again, Jesus. But I pray that many will come to know You before it is too late for them. Eternity is just a breath away for any of us.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I pray for the apple of Your eye- Your chosen people, Israel. Bless her and keep her, Lord, as the world unites against her. My heart breaks because once again, I've read The Bible. I know what is to come. My heart cries out in anguish to know that the entire world will come against Your people. Until my dying breath I will stand to honor and protect her.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I pray all of these things in the beautiful Name of Messiah- Yeshua Ha'Mashiach- Amen. </span>FreedomsBlessingshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00160883646177368777noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8864680557760721905.post-47597270128251603842011-03-20T01:25:00.002-05:002011-05-04T12:12:33.963-05:00LEADERSHIP DEFINED<div class="tweet-row"><div class="tweet-text"><em><strong><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"A leader takes people where they want to go. A great leader takes people where they don't necessarily want to go, but ought to go." Unknown</span></strong></em></div><div class="tweet-text"></div><div class="tweet-text"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I found this quote today on a graphic as I was doing research for another project I am working on. I tweeted it out, because it really hit home to me.</span></div><div class="tweet-text"></div><div class="tweet-text"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Before I became a mommy, I was on staff at our church in the Youth Department. I was basically the female Youth Pastor, though I did not have the official title. </span></div><div class="tweet-text"></div><div class="tweet-text"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I will try to keep my "church history" as brief as possible, because that's not what this post is about. However, I do believe it is important to set up my thought process in all of this.</span></div><div class="tweet-text"></div><div class="tweet-text"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I was raised in a very legalistic church. My brother and I were both known as the "black sheep" of the church because our parents raised us to make our own decisions, not just follow along. </span></div><div class="tweet-text"></div><div class="tweet-text"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">When I was 14-years-old I was sexually assaulted. As a very naive' 14-year-old, I was totally shocked, not only at what had happened, but that it was even possible. This event sent me on a downward spiral that would last a decade and a half or so.</span></div><div class="tweet-text"><br />
<a name='more'></a></div><div class="tweet-text"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">For two weeks I did not tell anyone what had happened. My parents obviously knew that something was going on with me, because I went from straight A's to D's and F's in 2 weeks! Not a good thing at all!</span></div><div class="tweet-text"></div><div class="tweet-text"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">When it finally came out what had happened, we went through the whole process- calling the police, making the report (though it was too late to prosecute), going to the doctor, getting counseling....</span></div><div class="tweet-text"></div><div class="tweet-text"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The first "counseling" I received was from my parent's pastor. Notice, I say my parent's pastor, and not my pastor, because a man of God, called to preach the Gospel of Christ, should be much better equipped to handle crisis situations. I do not hold anything against him... in fact, in an odd way, he taught me a lot of what NOT to do in a pastoral position. Again, I am not casting stones. In previous years, I would have been very bitter about this. The bitterness almost destroyed me.</span></div><div class="tweet-text"></div><div class="tweet-text"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Looking back, I realize that it was at this very moment that God called me. I had already given my life to Christ at this point, but I did not know the exact calling God had on me. I would not fully realize that calling for many, many years.</span></div><div class="tweet-text"></div><div class="tweet-text"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My mom has always taught me that "everything happens for a reason". I am a FIRM believer in this, and I teach my kids this. It is one of my "sayings", if you will.</span></div><div class="tweet-text"></div><div class="tweet-text"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I told my parent's pastor that I did not want what had happened to me to be for nothing. I wanted to share my story with the other girls in my youth group, so they would be aware of things that could happen. Of course, I was shut down immediately and told this could never happen. In fact, it was at this moment that I began to feel shame in what had happened to me.</span></div><div class="tweet-text"></div><div class="tweet-text"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As I got older, I began to run from God. I had a total misconception of Who God Is. It was my understanding that He was this "Big Man" up in the sky, just waiting for me to mess up. I had already "proven" to Him that I could not keep all His rules, and I just "knew" He was angry with me. So I put on my running shoes and I started my many years, very long journey of running away from God. If I could not be "good enough" for Him, what was the point?</span></div><div class="tweet-text"></div><div class="tweet-text"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Thankfully, this is not Who God Is at all! And more importantly, thankfully, He never left me! Even though I was running away from Him, ALL it took was one step in the other direction and He was there for me, to hold me and love me. And all the while I was running, He was right there with me, protecting me and keeping me safe during my very dangerous run from Him.</span></div><div class="tweet-text"></div><div class="tweet-text"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I will skip ahead many years, and leave out a lot of the gory details... for now. However, my life is an open book- Gods story, just lived out in my lifetime. So as He leads me to do so, I will fill in the blanks of space and time.</span></div><div class="tweet-text"></div><div class="tweet-text"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I married at 20-years-old, and we were married 8 1/2 years. Until death did we part. My entire life as I knew it shattered into a million pieces one horrible, fateful night in 2001 when he pulled out a gun, put it in his mouth, and shot himself. I tried to get to him, to stop him. In my mind's eye I am there... just barely missing his hands as he raises the gun to his mouth. But that is not how it happened, it is simply my mind trying to fix things. In reality, I was across the room, picking up my keys and purse to leave. We had been arguing. My life, as I knew it, ceased to exist in a single moment in time.</span></div><div class="tweet-text"></div><div class="tweet-text"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I swore I would never remarry. I had made many mistakes in my first marriage, and this was my first true love. There was no man who could ever come close to him, in my eyes, at this point.</span></div><div class="tweet-text"></div><div class="tweet-text"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Little did I know God had other plans for me.</span></div><div class="tweet-text"></div><div class="tweet-text"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A year and a half later I met and married my husband who is without a doubt God's greatest gift in my life next to His salvation on the cross. Again, at a later time, I will fill in the story at a later time. </span></div><div class="tweet-text"></div><div class="tweet-text"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">After we married, we started going to a church in my new hometown. He was born and raised here, and knew the church he said would be perfect for me. I was still very much in mourning, was still going through major post-traumatic stress, and did not, at this point, truly understand God's grace.</span></div><div class="tweet-text"></div><div class="tweet-text"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">If you had told me when I first walked into this church that I would be working with the youth group withing 3 months, I would have told you that you were crazy! If you would have told me by the end of that year I would be on staff I would have told you that not only were you crazy, but I would have told you exactly where you could go, as crazy as you were!</span></div><div class="tweet-text"></div><div class="tweet-text"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">But God's plans are not our plans, and His ways are not our ways. (Isaiah 55:8-9)</span></div><div class="tweet-text"></div><div class="tweet-text"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">When my husband and I felt God leading us to work with the youth group, we met with the Youth Pastor. As we talked, I tried to give him every reason in the world why he would never allow me to work with students. He surprised me when he told me that it was BECAUSE of my past that he thought I would be exactly where I needed to be in working with the students!</span></div><div class="tweet-text"></div><div class="tweet-text"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Over the next four years God taught me a lot- mainly, a true understating of His love and grace for me. </span></div><div class="tweet-text"></div><div class="tweet-text"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This Youth Pastor, who became my boss and a dear friend of ours, taught me a lot about love and forgiveness- mainly, loving yourself and forgiving yourself. Just as with love- if you do not truly love yourself, you cannot truly love someone else; the same should be said with forgiveness. If you cannot forgive yourself, you cannot truly forgive others.</span></div><div class="tweet-text"></div><div class="tweet-text"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This Youth Pastor/boss/friend allowed me to find God's grace, fall completely, head over heels in love with my Savior in a way I never could have imagined possible, and more importantly, he allowed me to fulfill the calling that God has on my life. To lead.</span></div><div class="tweet-text"></div><div class="tweet-text"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My life experiences help me to lead. It has taken me many years to understand this. It is also very frustrating when people call themselves a leader and have no clue what it means to be a leader. </span></div><div class="tweet-text"></div><div class="tweet-text"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So when I read the quote that I opened with tonight, it struck my heart solidly. I've thought about the quote all afternoon, since first reading it. And I believe tonight is where my life story begins to truly meld in my writings here on my blog.</span></div><div class="tweet-text"></div><div class="tweet-text"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">While this Youth Pastor/former boss/friend of ours is not perfect by any means, he is a great leader <em>because</em> he led me many places I did not want to go at all, but needed to go! My husband was right there beside me, giving me the strength and support and endless, unconditional love throughout this process. He truly is a jewel in my life!</span></div><div class="tweet-text"></div><div class="tweet-text"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My life's journey has not been an easy one. I have been through a lot of adversity in my life. However, I found that in the midst of these adversities is where I feel the closest to my Savior. No, it has not always been that way. But as the cliche's are endless, so are they true:</span></div><div class="tweet-text"></div><div class="tweet-text"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">If you want to see the rainbow, you have to stand a little rain.</span></div><div class="tweet-text"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Every rose has its thorn (yes, I know, it's a Guns 'N Roses song! :) )</span></div><div class="tweet-text"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Every cloud has its silver lining.</span></div><div class="tweet-text"></div><div class="tweet-text"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">While they are cliche, and I could continue listing them for an entire nightly post, the message is still the same. I would not change a single thing about my life- including the most painful things I have been through. If I changed one single thing in my life, I would be a different person and my life would be different. I am very happy and very blessed in my life. I am thankful for all that God has given me, and all that He has taught me. I praise and worship Him for sparing my life in the many dangerous situations I put myself in.</span></div><div class="tweet-text"></div><div class="tweet-text"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I am thankful that He helped me to realize the true calling He had on my life- to share my life with others. I am no longer ashamed that I was sexually assaulted. I am not ashamed that my first husband committed suicide. There are many other things I am not ashamed of. Oh yes... many things I wish I had done differently, many decisions I wish I had made differently. But I can't go back and undo anything that I've done in the past. So instead of living in regret, I choose to allow God to use my mistakes for His glory.</span></div><div class="tweet-text"></div><div class="tweet-text"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Lord God, my life is Yours. All that I am, I surrender completely to You.</span></div><div class="tweet-text"></div><div class="tweet-text"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I pray for Congresswoman Giffords. I pray that You will use the tragedy that happened in her life, the miracle that You have performed in sparing her life and healing her, all for Your glory and honor as well. Satan seeks to steal, kill and destroy, but You have saved, revived and replenished. I pray for her husband, Mark Kelly. Keep him safe on his last shuttle mission.</span></div><div class="tweet-text"></div><div class="tweet-text"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I pray for President Obama. Lord, I pray that You will raise him up to be a true leader. I pray that he will humble himself before You, and bring honor and glory to Your Name, rather than seeking accolades for himself.</span></div><div class="tweet-text"></div><div class="tweet-text"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As always, I pray for this nation. We, as a nation, and the world itself, is on a collision course with disaster. I pray that many will humble themselves before You, call out to You, repent, and worship You as Lord and Savior.</span></div><div class="tweet-text"></div><div class="tweet-text"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Protect us and keep us in Your ways, Lord God.</span></div><div class="tweet-text"></div><div class="tweet-text"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I pray all of these things in the mighty Name of Jesus Christ- Amen.</span></div></div>FreedomsBlessingshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00160883646177368777noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8864680557760721905.post-40461782557296070982011-03-19T00:06:00.001-05:002011-05-04T12:13:03.523-05:00THE ARMOR OF GOD<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I have no words in me tonight. I've sat here, thinking and praying on what He wants me to pray about tonight. There are so many things that need to be prayed over. In reality, it is all summed up in Ephesians 6:10-20</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><em>Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. </em></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><em>And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people. Pray also for me, that whenever I speak, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should. </em></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We are in a Spiritual Battle. Everything- all of life- is one, big Spiritual Battle.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Tonight, I am simply putting on my full armor of God. I need to be able to stand my ground no matter what.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">God is my Refuge and Strength. He is my Armor.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Lord God, I pray my consistent prayers. I pray for Congresswoman Giffords. I pray for her husband, Mark Kelly. I pray for President Obama. I pray for the turmoil around the world. I pray that this nation would turn back to You. You never left us... we, as a nation, left You, Lord God.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I pray for my 2 children who are sick. I pray for my husband... that You will bless the work of his hands. Protect him from those who would intend him harm. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I pray for my friends- in real life, and my online friends.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Help us all to put on Your armor, Lord God.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I pray all of these things in Jesus Name- Amen</span>FreedomsBlessingshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00160883646177368777noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8864680557760721905.post-64843570496805371452011-03-17T23:18:00.001-05:002011-05-04T12:13:34.087-05:00A QUIET HEART<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I am usually a person with many words to express my thoughts and feelings. Tonight, however, I have a very quiet heart.<br />
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There is a strange sense of foreboding.... yet, at the same time, a very quiet peacefulness. <br />
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I have many thoughts whirling- things I am thinking and praying on. However, my heart is very quiet.<br />
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Tonight, my prayer will be very short and simple.<br />
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I pray tonight, as always do, for Congresswoman Giffords. I pray her progress and healing will continue to surpass our understanding. She truly is a miracle!<br />
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I pray for President Obama. <br />
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I pray for this nation.<br />
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I pray for Israel- as a nation and as a people. Lord God, please keep her safe.<br />
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All these things I pray in the holy Name of Jesus Christ- Amen.</span>FreedomsBlessingshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00160883646177368777noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8864680557760721905.post-21062975053026168462011-03-16T20:12:00.002-05:002011-05-04T12:14:06.427-05:00I'VE COME TO A REALIZATION<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I just got finished with a major rant on Twitter. My husband just showed me an article that has blown my mind! For your reference, here is the article that caused my rant:</span><br />
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<a href="http://cnsnews.com/news/article/debt-jumped-72-billion-same-day-house-vo"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">U.S. Debt Jumped $72 Billion Same Day U.S. House Voted to Cut Spending $6 Billion</span></a><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Now, why in the world would this send me into a tizzy, you are probably asking. It is quite obvious that our debt and continued spending is completely out of control. It's been one of the main topics of discussion for- oh, I don't even <em>know </em>how long! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So I will tell you- my rant was caused by the sudden realization that <em>no one</em> in Washington gets it! And I do mean <em>NO ONE!</em> I say this, because if anyone at all truly got the enormity of this crisis, this would be the <em>ONLY</em> thing that was being discussed!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I have hated politics, absolutely <em>despised</em> politics, all of my life! In fact, I <em>still</em> hate it, even though it has become one of the main things I talk about! I have always hated it because most of the time the politicians- no matter who they are- sell out to special interests somewhere along the way. They forget who they are- if they were ever an upstanding citizen to begin with- and compromise their principles to make a deal here or a deal there.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I understand that you have to compromise on some things- <em>all</em> relationships require compromise in some way or another! However, if a person compromises any part of their core values and beliefs they have sold out!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Over the years our political system has become so eroded and corrupt that it is really hard to believe that anyone who is in office truly holds this nations heart and future as a priority.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The above article just solidifies my realization. The entire system has become nothing but one big game. The Republicans blame the Democrats and the Democrats blame the Republicans. Accusations are made on both sides. This project is held hostage for that deal. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The future of this nation is in the hands of 537 people (435 Congressmen; 100 Senators; 1 President, 1 Vice-President). The approximate population of The United States is 300 million. This does not make any sense at all!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I am a Christ-follower. I know that my only Hope is in Jesus Christ alone. There is no government, person or program that is the answer. I know this, and do not question this. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">What I have hoped for is that somewhere, somehow, there is <em>someone</em> who will stand up and shout from the rooftop of Congress or The White House that this insanity must stop! We have gone beyond the point of saving a dollar here or there to make a difference.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The exact same day a vote was taken to cut spending by $6 billion, our national debt increased $72 billion! Hello! Does anyone, <em>anywhere</em>, not realize how stupid this is? This has become an insurmountable problem! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Glenn Beck is criticized and mocked as being apocalyptic. He is made fun of, and called a liar. However, I know that at least 4 years ago he was saying that we are going to be in trouble if we do not start addressing this. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And, since so many people obviously cannot do math, that was <em>before</em> Barack Obama became President! No, it is not all Barack Obama's fault! HOWEVER, he most certainly is not doing anything to help the situation! He flies all over the country campaigning for the 2012 presidency, and has been since he took the oath of office on January 20, 2009 when he was inaugurated as president! He and his wife take more vacations than they are at the White House! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The budget talks in Congress has become nothing more than mamby-pamby land! The fact of the matter is there is going to be <em>NO MONEY</em> <em>FOR ANYONE</em> if something <em>DRASTIC</em> is not done! But the realization has hit me. No one truly cares! It's become nothing more than a blame game on both sides! I would love to know how much money is wasted in one day in just the arguing about the budget alone! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">All of this makes sense, really. As a nation, we rank horribly in math. I am not a statistician, so I will not even begin to start throwing numbers out there for someone to argue with. However, I do know from having 4 children ins public school, and seeing the national rankings of their school, The United States as a whole is failing miserably in math scores! We hear from the president and the teacher's unions how they want more money to address these issues, but I have no confidence whatsoever that this would address the issue. Trillions of dollars have been wasted on the education system, and we have absolutely nothing to show for it! Yes, I have proof of this- my 4 children, who I have to <em><strong>RE-TEACH</strong></em> every single day! Needless to say, home school is going to be our solution!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So, in the midst of this realization, I also have The Peace that passes all understanding. There is no hope whatsoever except for Jesus Christ. The Bible has plainly prophesied what is to come. I believe we are in the last days- whether it is tomorrow or 50 years from now.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Yes, I will still be involved in trying to have an impact on things. I believe that is part of my calling as a Christ-follower. For too long The Church- the body of Christ- has been silent. We have sold ourselves out as well by not holding our leaders accountable and not speaking up on the issues. Now, we are paying the consequences.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Unfortunately things are going to get much worse. However, I have no worries at all. My hope is in Jesus Christ- Messiah and Savior to all. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">No longer will I even consider that a politician is serious about truly addressing the budget issues of our country until someone actually speaks the truth. What is the truth? We are doomed, as a nation, unless drastic measures are taken immediately! And obviously, from what we have seen from our politicians, no one is willing to step out and take those drastic measures.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Lord Jesus.... my prayer is simple tonight. I thank You and praise You for Your Salvation. I am so thankful for Your peace that passes all understanding. The world is literally crumbling down around us. The earth is literally quaking beneath our feet. Though I may die before I wake tomorrow, I have no worries. You are all I need.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Lord Jesus, I pray for this nation. I pray for blinded eyes to be opened and hardened hearts to be softened. I know that You are going to bring a great delusion on the land, and I honestly wonder if it has already happened. This would be the only answer that makes any sense anymore.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Lord Jesus, I know that You are not willing that any should perish. I pray for the lost and dying world that has rejected You. Without You I truly am nothing and I have nothing. I praise You and worship You for all that I am and all that You have done in my life.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I continue to pray, as I do each day, for Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords. I long to see her give her first interview celebrating her life! I pray for the day she looks strongly and defiantly at her attacker and declares to him that he did not win, but that You, Lord Jesus, have won by performing the miracle of saving her life. She is beating all the odds! All glory and honor and praise belong to You, Lord Jesus!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I pray today for President Obama. My soul cries out in anger and frustration over his lack of leadership. I pray that he will humble himself before You. I pray that he will seek Your will and Your ways instead of his own. I pray that his blinded eyes will be opened. I pray that he will stand up and bless Israel, rather than seeking to divide her I know prophetically this is probably not going to happen. But it is my prayer.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I pray for Israel. I know You are sheltering her in Your mighty hand. I know she is in for a very tumultuous time. All the world will eventually come against her. However, my prayers are forever with Your people. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I pray all of these things in the precious Name of Jesus Christ- Messiah- Savior- King and Lord! Amen.</span>FreedomsBlessingshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00160883646177368777noreply@blogger.com0