Some of My Thoughts

Today I was reading a report that stated in 1992, fourteen years ago, a group of academics and historians compiled this startling information: Since 3600 B.C., the world has known only 292 years of peace! During this period there have been 14,351 wars large and small, in which 3.64 billion people have been killed. The value of the property destroyed is equal to a golden belt around the world 97.2 miles wide and 33 feet thick. Since 650 B.C., there have also been 1,656 arms races, only 16 of which have not ended in war. The remainder ended in the economic collapse of the countries involved.

So of course, war has been around for centuries. I was then thinking about God and is He pleased with war, when I was reminded of Ecclesiastes 3:8 which states that there is a "time for war and a time for peace." So apparently God does support war, He even used war for His purposes.

So going a little further into the depths of my understanding, I was thinking how America is a beacon of light to the world, a symbol of freedom and democracy. Then I reflected on New York harbor, there standing on approximately ten acres of land, is the Statue of Liberty, with her torch raised up to the sky, greeting all who enter the harbor. To America and the world, the Statue of Liberty is a symbol of freedom. People come to here to be able to live free, independent of oppression. Then I thought of the many who have given their lives sacrificially so we might enjoy the freedom we have today.

Which brought me to another thought or should I say truth... Nearly two thousand years ago on a hill called Mount Calvary stood a cross, an instrument of death for criminals. It was a symbol of death, but also a symbol of freedom. On this one “special” cross was One who did not deserve to be there. He was completely innocent of any crime whatsoever. He was there, however, because of you and I. This One who hung on that cross was Jesus Christ, the Son of God. The cross is an incredible symbol of freedom for those who believe.

So today, as I reflect on all these thoughts and the sacrifices, I am humbled and thankful. War is complicated, yet it is liberating at the same time.I don't pretend to understand it all. I know two thousand years ago man declared war on Christ, they sought his death, but his death liberated many. I am free to serve Christ in America, I am free to preach the Gospel, to share my beliefs.

I am thankful for so much and I will remember to pray for our military and not take them for granted, for through war and bloodshed, we enjoy another kind of freedom, not the soul liberating freedom Christ gives, but physical freedom.

I don't know if I should compare the two, but I was awe struck today as I was thinking about freedom, sometimes my thoughts take me to places I am still trying to sort out and understand, and some things I know I won't understand in this life. I don't have the answers so I will just look to the one who does and in the meantime I will trust He is working all things out for good for those who love Him and are called according to His purposes.

Let Us Not Forget!

Over the past century, more than 35 million men and women answered the call to arms in World War I, World War II, Korea, Vietnam, the Persian Gulf, Iraq, and countless unnamed military engagements. More than half a million of them never came home. Some died in battle, others in captivity; all died too soon.Recent military action in Afghanistan and Iraq has offered fresh reminders of the human reality of war: ordinary men and women leaving homes and families and all they know to risk their lives for an ideal of honor, or duty, or just to protect the soldier next to them.

People of patriotism and goodwill may debate the merits of any given war, police action, or humanitarian mission. But there should be no debate about our debt to the hundreds of thousands of our citizens who have given the ultimate sacrifice of their lives heeding the nation's call to service.Memorial Day is more than the start of summer. It is a chance to pause and remember the sacrifices -- remember the gallantry and bravery -- remember the fallen.

Freedom isn't free, some have paid the ultimate sacrifice. God Bless our Troops and God Bless America!!! Have a wonderful Memorial Weekend.

Storms

I love this picture. I love the water and the way the storm is blowing in makes me think of the things I am going through right now, and although times are hard and I don't understand all of this, the anchor still holds.

http://www.wrensworld.com/anchor.htm

Live as if Heaven is your only Audience!

What's Been Happening!

I am going to let you all know what has been happening in my life the last few days.

Tomorrow is Gary's funeral, I am not looking forward to it. I am still in denial. I just can't get his laughter out of my head. He always had a smile and would question people in a way that you couldn't help but smile. When he was taking a police report, he would be writing down what the person said, then look them in the eye and say something like, "now are you telling me the truth, because I don't think that is what really happened." He would have them telling him their life story before it was over with. He had this way of making you feel at ease like you could talk to him about anything. I am so not looking forward to the funeral.

Wednesday, my mother was having a hard time breathing, the home health nurse came out and they decided she could be having a heart attack, so the ambulance comes and takes her to the hospital. After about five hours, they decide it was a panic attack and she could go home. She was so impatient, wanted to leave right then, however they had several emergencies they had to attend to, so they couldn't get her paperwork done to release her as quickly as they would like. Have you ever wanted to spank your parent? lol. just kidding, really!!

In two weeks, Joseph and Kyle will be moving out. They are moving into a four bedroom home with two of their Christian friends who go to college. I am excited for the both of them, this is an opportunity for them to have accountability from some of their peers who are attending college and are really living the Christian life.

In a few months, we will have Felipe, (Philip) living with us. We explained to him Joseph and Kyle are not going to be there and he told me he wasn't coming to live with us because they were there, but because he didn't want to go home.

He used to sell drugs for his dad and now his little brother and Dad are doing worse than ever, his mom is in county for a year. He said his father doesn't believe he wants to change, but he is tired and doesn't want a life of fighting, drugs and anger, he wants to go to college and he wants to be with a family who is living for Christ.

Felipe told me he at first felt he should go home and try to help his family, but he realizes he has to first help himself and if he goes home, he can't change them, only by showing them there is a better way, and praying for them can he even hope to help them. It sounds like God is giving him wisdom in this situation. I am still concerned with it being close to the holidays when he is released, that he will miss his family terribly.

Besides all that, everything is good. Thanks for all of your prayers, you are a blessing to me!!

A Policeman's Prayer

Lord, I ask for courage,
Courage to face and conquer my own fears,
Courage to take me where others will not go,
I ask for strength,
Strength of body to protect others,
Strength of spirit to lead others,
I ask for dedication,
Dedication to do my job, to do it well,
Dedication to my community to keep it safe,
Give me, Lord, concern,
For all those who trust me,
And compassion for those who need me,
And, Please Lord, through it all, be at my side.

Today a fellow officer died. It was unexpected. He went home sick, his wife came home and found him on the floor, unconscious, not breathing.

Pray for Gary's wife and family. Thank you.

If I Could

This poem describes the way I feel about my mother right now. I can't stand to see her in pain, scared, afraid of being alone. It is difficult to help her since she doesn't know what to do, yet I have to try. I have found life is not always easy and sometimes it hurts to see those you love and care about in situations beyond yours and their control....

If I could give my mom the world
Or anything she wanted,
I'd give her my own heart and soul
And leave my own heart haunted.

I'd take upon myself her life
With all its strife and pain,
And let her ease into some space
Where she could live again.

The pain for me would not be pain,
At least not for a while;
For I'd be doing it for her,
And I would see her smile.

I wish that I could take her heart
And cleanse it with my tears,
And make her sorrow go away,
And answer all her fears.

I wish, I wish, but then I can't,
As I watch helplessly,
And take her in my arms and say
I wish that it were me.

But loving is a hard, hard way,
With all the pain it brings.
And yet there is no other way
To touch the heart of things.

Happy Mother's Day to all of you Mothers out there!

Are You Making Deposits?

"Brethren, ye have been called unto liberty: only use not liberty for an occasion to the fiesh, but BY LOVE SERVE ONE ANOTHER."

My son posted something on his blog and we were discussing it. He said he was disappointed in people and how they will take and take, never thinking of giving in return. I guess he has some friends who always have these high expectations of him, but when he needs them, they are not there. He is a very loving and giving person, almost to a fault.

I have had some friends like that. For instance, if I were to borrow someone's car, I would automatically have it cleaned, washed, waxed and filled up with gas when I brought it back, but I have had people ask to use my vehicle and of course it was filled with gas and clean when they took it, then when they returned it, guess what? It was dirty and empty, one time a person's dog had vomited in my car and they covered it with the floor mat and left it.

I have learned to let anyone who borrows something of mine know that I expect them to bring it back in the same condition I loaned it to them. It seems it shouldn't be an issue you should have to discuss. I think it has to do with how we are raised and some of it is probably the environment, I am not sure. What do you think?

I also am aware that we should do without expecting in return. In ministry you can do nothing else for you are in situations which you have to be flexible and give until it hurts. I think the difference is when it is someone you know and love who takes advantage of you. So that might be the answer, sometimes we expect much from those we love and we don't show them gratitude in return. Such as with friends and family. Are we showing them we love and care about them.

The word says, "it's the little foxes that spoil the vine!" Song of Soloman 2;15. It's the little things that speak volumes to those we love. Do we take the time to clean up after ourselves? Do we stop and let them know we appreciate what they do? Do we speak to them in ways that honor them and show them how much we value them as a person? Do we go the extra mile in their behalf or do we do just enough to get by? Do we just take and never think about giving in return?

Love whether it involves friends or loved ones is like a checking account, if one person is always putting in and the other is always taking out, then a bankruptcy occurs in the relationship. But if both parties do everything they can to put in as much as they can, then the account is overflowing. We should always think more highly of others than we do ourselves. Phil 2:3,4 Romans 12:1-5.

When was the last time you stopped and put a deposit in that account instead of taking out a withdrawal? Love should motivate love. Imagine if we all put in, wouldn't it be a wonderful world. I am reminded of the movie "Pay it Forward." Let's all pay it forward, let's do unto others as we would have them do unto us.

Take care and hugs to you all!!

Crossroads

I am at a crossroads. I have alot of decisions to make and as I was pondering the outcome, I thought of this poem by Robert Frost.

The Road Not Taken

Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth;
Then took the other, as just as fair,
And having perhaps the better claim,
Because it was grassy and wanted wear;
Though as for that, the passing there
Had worn them really about the same,
And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black.
Oh, I kept the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads on to way,
I doubted if I should ever come back.
I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.


The poem, The Road Not Taken, by Robert Frost represents the true life struggles one has to endure. In the poem the persona is confronted with two paths that provide him with two distinct choices in completing his journey. While pausing for a moment, he contemplates each path in its own merit. One path has been trampled upon with the footsteps of many and the other less traveled path needed wear. Should he be ordinary and take the one most frequently used or take a risk on the less traveled one? At the end of the poem we come to find out that the one less traveled is the one that made all of the difference. So should we be ordinary or take the paths that many do not? This is a question we are all faced with.

Trust

Psalms 91:1,2 "You who dwell in the shelter of the Most High, who abide in the shadow of the Almighty, Say to the LORD, "My refuge and fortress, my God in whom I trust."

Today I am trusting Him in every situation, I am not going to doubt, I am going to rest in knowing He loves and cares for us. I am not going to try to handle things on my own, I am going to ask Him for guidance, wisdom and strength to do what I need to do when I need to do it and to take the things that are beyond my control, working them out in the way He feels is best for me. I am going to church to be ministered to this morning, to get my cup filled up with love, from the source of life who said I will never thirst again.

The weather has been overcast for two days now and I just felt as I read Psalms 91 this morning that the overcast was due to the fact that I am under the shadow of the Almighty. I am in His protection, in His will and all I have to do right now is surrender it all to Him.

Life in the Fast Lane

Philippians 4:6-9 (NLT)
6Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Recently I have been so busy I haven't even had time to blog. Everyday I think of you all and how much I miss just jotting down my thoughts, but life has happened to me.

I was having lunch with my son the other day and he was telling me about his life and how life just kind of happens. I was thinking how profound that was. It is true. You make all these plans and then life comes along and plans are put on hold. We then began talking about how you have to squeeze things in sometimes that you want to make happen.

I realize God is ultimately in control because for sure if I were, then all my plans would work out. All my goals would get accomplished in the time frame I planned them to. Then the more I meditated on that fact, the more I realized I was thinking all about me. All about what I want, where I want to go, what I want to do and it's not all about me and my pleasure right now.

My friend Michael Pendleton http://deepertruth.blogspot.com/ has been posting about Ecclesiastes and it has truly ministered to me lately. Soloman partook of anything he wanted, looking for things to satisfy, reflecting on what He did.

As I read Michael's post today, I again thought of the times I have felt frustrated and aggravated was because I was thinking about me. The story of Eccliesiastes is more about the futility of life, but I felt a quickening in my spirit about being self centered. I was thinking the things in life that have true meaning are the things we do for others. The times we are loving and serving those who need us.

So as I continue in the Fast Lane of life, please be patient with me if I am not blogging everyday. I am trying to so don't run out on me! Gotta go now, hugs to you all and thanks for your prayers. I need them!!