I Found It ~ Really

Have you ever found yourself thinking:

Man, if only there was a company worth working for.

If only you could trust people to tell you the truth, without some hidden agenda and half-truths.

If only something that seemed too good to be true could really be true.

With all this modern technology, shouldn't there be something that really WORKS where our health is concerned?

If I could design the perfect busines, it would look like...

Well, I have personally had these thoughts many, many times. If only there could be a company you could feel really good about being associated with. If only there were a way to really help people ~ not by throwing money at a problem, but help them with their health, their self-esteem, their know-how, their family situations. If only there could be a "perfect" scenario. If only I could not only pay my bills each month, but have extra money to give to special projects at church, help fill the food pantry, support the local women's shelter, help families with special-needs kids, give more to local and foreign missions...

Well, I have found something I think is really amazing. I have not been associated with them very long (only a few months), but the more I learn and see, the more excited and impressed I really am. If you are curious ~ if you'd like to know more ~ seriously ~ check out the links in "My favorite links." I have never seen ANYTHING quite like it. And trust me, I am a hard-sell, having been let down hard in the past, I am a major skeptic. But I have done some digging on this one, and I mean it when I say "this is the one." It actually addresses EVERYTHING that would have been on my "if only..." list. Be sure to either leave comments here or "contact me" on my personal business website with your feedback and/or questions. If you take a chance on this one, you will never regret it.

Prayer for the Elections

I am praying for God's perfect will for America. For the upcoming elections. I don't know what God's will is. I know what I think it is. I know what my will is. I am very clear on how I plan to vote. I have done my best to be informed, to be current on the important issues. I have tried to see past what I hear from the main-stream media, past what the political info-mercials tell us. I feel that I am clear on the issues as they relate to my values, beliefs, and priorities. I know exactly how I intend to vote. As I have talked to some, I find that many people still have not made up their minds, they are confused on the issues. I pray that everyone who goes to the polls on election day would take the time first to read up on the issues, educate themselves on where the candidates really stand. There are voter guides available from Focus on the Family. These are non-partisan, strictly-the-facts guides that simply report the past voting records for all the candidates running for office, and other factual information. These guides are simply intended to educate everyone on the issues and the candidates, not to sway anyone's vote one way or the other. We must all become informed voters. The issues are too big, the future of America too precarious, to vote without knowing the facts. Get informed ~ then vote. There is still time. Go to http://focusvoter.com/ and click on your state, then fill out the information, turn off your pop-up blocker, and there you go. It is worth taking the time to be informed.

I Never Put It All Together Before...

I read the following post on another blog. Fascinating. Really puts it all in perspective ~ read on and see what I mean. (Be sure to read the whole thing, it gets even better.) We DO have some cleaning up to do.

545 PEOPLE... by Charlie Reese 
 
Politicians are the only people in the world who create problems and then campaign against them. 
 
Have you ever wondered why, if both the Democrats and the 
Republicans are against deficits, WHY do we have deficits? 
 
Have you ever wondered why, if all the politicians are against 
inflation and high taxes, WHY do we have inflation and high taxes? 
 
You and I don't propose a federal budget. The president does. 
 
You and I don't have the Constitutional authority to vote on 
appropriations. The House of Representatives does. 
 
You and I don't write the tax code, Congress does. 
 
You and I don't set fiscal policy, Congress does. 
You and I don't control monetary policy, the Federal Reserve Bank does. 
 
One hundred senators, 435 congressmen, one president, and nine 
Supreme C ourt justices. 545 human beings out of the 300 million are directly, legally, morally, and individually responsible for the domestic problems that plague this country. 
 
I excluded the members of the Federal Reserve Board because that 
problem was created by the Congress. In 1913, Congress delegated its Constitutional duty to provide a sound currency to a federally chartered, but private, central bank. 
 
I excluded all the special interests and lobbyists for a sound reason. They have no legal authority. They have no ability to coerce a senator, a congressman, or a president to do one cotton-picking thing. I don't care if they offer a politician $1 million dollars in cash. The politician has the power to accept or reject it. No matter what the lobbyist promises, it is the legislator's responsibility to determine how he votes. 
 
Those 545 human beings spend much of their energy convincing you that what they did is not their f ault. They cooperate in this common con regardless of party. 
 
What separates a politician from a normal human being is an 
excessive amount of gall. No normal human being would have the gall of a Speaker, who stood up and criticized the President for creating deficits. The president can only propose a budget. He cannot force the Congress to accept it. 
 
The Constitution, which is the supreme law of the land, gives sole 
responsibility to the House of Representatives for originating and approving appropriations and taxes. 
 
Who is the speaker of the House?...She is the leader of the majority 
party. She and fellow House members, not the president, can approve any budget they want. If the president vetoes it, they can pass it over his veto if they agree to. 
 
It seems inconceivable to me that a nation of 300 million cannot 
replace 545 people who stand convicted -- by present facts -- of incompetence and irresponsibility. 
 
I can't think of a single domestic problem that is not traceable 
directly to those 545 people. 
 
When you fully grasp the plain truth that 545 people exercise the 
power of the federal government, then it must follow that what exists is what they want to exist. 
 
If the tax code is unfair, it's because they want it unfair. 
 
If the budget is in the red, it's because they want it in the red. 
 
If the Army & Marines are in IRAQ , it's because they want them in 
IRAQ. 
 
If they do not receive social security but are on an elite retirement plan not available to the people, it's because they want it that way. 
 
There are no insoluble government problems. 
 
Do not let these 545 people shift the blame to bureaucrats, whom 
they hire and whose jobs they can abolish; to lobbyists, whose gifts and advice they can reject; to regulators, to whom they give the power to regulate and from whom they can take this power. 
 
Above all, do not let them con you into the belief that there exists 
disembodied mystical forces like 'the economy,' 'inflation,' or 'politics' that prevent them from doing what they take an oath to do. 
 
Those 545 people, and they alone, are responsible. 
 
They, and they alone, have the power. 
 
They, and they alone, should be held accountable by the people who are their bosses provided the voters have the gumption to manage their own employees. 
 
We should vote all of them out of office and clean up their mess!

AMEN, and AMEN! What more can be said?

God is Amazing!

I continue to watch my little granddaughter grow and change. It is the most amazing thing, as a grandmother. I know I marveled at our sons as they grew as well, but there is a difference with a grandchild. I feel more at peace and able to REALLY see her (and Him) in the process. I don't know if that peace comes from not having to stress as the decision maker when she has a runny nose or fever, or if it comes from maturing in the Lord, or the perspective you gain with age, or because God has healed so many of my wounds over the years that I can see all things more clearly without the filter of my soul-pain. It is probably a combination of all of the above. But I can only say, "WOW! God is truly amazing!"

God has been continuously impressing Phil. 4:8 on my mind and heart lately. It must be very important to Him that we focus our minds on all the things listed in this verse of scripture. Important to Him, because it is important to us, only we don't realize it. Someone hurt my feelings a couple weeks ago (not that it was the first time nor the last), and it was so tempting to think negative thoughts, reminding myself of all the times they had hurt me in the past or even things I had seen them do to others which had nothing to do with me, but God brought this scripture to me. At first I thought, "But I can't think of any good things about this person to focus on." And then He reminded me that the verse doesn't say anything about thinking good things about a person or even our circumstances. "Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable..." As I thought about those words, what came to mind is God Himself, and His Word. After all, what is "true"? What is "noble, right, pure..."? God is the only one who fits that description completely. So... instead of focusing on the person (even any good traits they might have) or the circumstances (trying to find the "silver lining" in a bad situation), I decided to get my eyes off all that entirely and focus on my awesome Savior, Almighty God (ruler of angel armies!), various scriptures that came to mind, His many blessings, etc.... And TADA! My whole being seemed to change, almost glow, with His presence and His peace and His Spirit. And that was so much better than thinking about earthly things, let me tell you.

I hope this encourages someone today. God bless.

By God's oh-so-amazing Grace,

Rewritten Princess

The End of a Long Day

Wow, am I tired! It is a good tired, though. When the leaves start to turn all their beautiful fall colors, I get in the mood to bake. I don't know why. So I have been baking most of the day today. I rarely use the same recipe twice ~ I love to try new things. So... today I made a new recipe for Banana Bread Pudding (I used cut up angel food cake instead of bread), and another new recipe for Apple Cobbler, and another new recipe for Pumpkin/Orange Marmalade Bread. And that was all interspersed with my other activities such as grocery shopping and helping get things set up at our church for a large women's event we are having tomorrow. So guess what... I'm pooped. (Can I say pooped? Sometimes my Missouri heritage comes through in my speech and Michiganders look at me kinda funny.) Anyway, I think I'm going to go soak my feet and think about how I wish I had a Therma-Spa hot tub. Toodles. (Can I say toodles?)

God and Life's Trials

I think my favorite verse of scripture will always be Jeremiah 29:11 (NIV): "For I know the plans I have for you," says the Lord. "Plans to prosper you and not to harm you. Plans to give you hope and a future." It was a high school girl who showed me this verse when we were together on a short-term missions trip to Russia about 15 or so years ago. I couldn't believe that verse had been there all along, and I had never noticed it before. It has come back to me over and over again and always brings me peace and comfort. We do live in a fallen world, a world at war ~ and I don't mean the war you can see with physical eyes. We live in the midst of a very brutal war raging all around us ~ a war for the souls of man. But ~ here are some things I know to be ABSOLUTELY TRUE.

For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind. 2 Timothy 1:7 (NKJV)

When you go through deep waters and great trouble, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown! When you walk through the fire of oppression, you will not be burned up; the flames will not consume you. Isaiah 43:2 (NLT)

I will guide you along the best pathway for your life.  I will advise you and watch over you. Psalm 32:8 (NLT)

I will provide their needs before they ask.  I will help them while they are still asking for help. Isaiah 65:24 (NLT)

The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still. Exodus 14:13 (NIV)

God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Psalm 46: 1 (NIV)

Because you are my help, I sing in the shadow of your wings.   My soul clings to you; your right hand upholds me. Psalm 63: 7-8 (NIV)

I will lead the blind by ways they have not known, along unfamiliar paths I will guide them; I will turn the darkness into light before them and make the rough places smooth. These are the things I will do; I will not forsake them. Isaiah 42:16 (NIV)

I could go on and on listing the powerful words of God. Did you know that the phrase translated "almighty God" in scripture, in the original language actually means "God of angel armies"? The God of angel armies goes before us, leads those armies in battles on our behalf, and tells us not to worry about a thing!

A good friend of mine underwent very serious brain surgery yesterday. The words of the doctors leading up to the surgery were not encouraging. The tumor was large; it was located in a very dangerous place; they advised her to get her affairs in order, maybe go do something she had always wanted to do. But this woman of God had such complete trust in the love and care of her Savior that she had no fears, no doubts, no regrets. Not because she believed that because God loved her she would not have to go through it, or even that because He loved her he would see that she came through the way she wanted to... She was at peace because she fully trusted that, whatever the outcome, He was in control, His ways are perfect and beyond our understanding, and He has a plan which includes ALL the details of her life.

The doctors and nurses were all astounded at her level of peace, even as the time got closer and closer, and even as they came to wheel her down the hall into surgery.

She did come out of the surgery fine. The tumor appears to be benign. "Coincidentally" there were no blood vessels or arteries feeding the tumor. "Coincidentally" there was a sheath between the tumor and the nerves in that part of her brain, so there was no nerve damage. She is now in recovery and we continue to pray for her and her husband and four young children. 

God is in control. And who, by their worry, can add one hour to their life? Isn't it better to allow the God who created the universe to be in control in our lives. Now He has the power to do what needs to be done ~ not you, not I ~ He alone has that power. And He loves you and offers you perfect peace.

My Lover

John Wesley was thirty-five when he experienced the  “warming” of his heart toward Christ (not his mind but his heart). In that moment he became not only a "Christian," but a lover of God.  There really is a difference. According to author John Eldredge, it was shortly after this that Wesley penned the hymn “Jesus, Lover of My Soul,” whose first verse goes like this: “Jesus, Lover of my soul/Let me to thy bosom fly.” John Eldredge says that down through the years the hymn has left many a hymnologist searching for a more acceptable translation. “The difficulty,” as John Julian said, “is the term Lover as applied to our Lord.” Revisions now in hymnbooks read, “Jesus, Savior of my soul” or, “Jesus, Refuge of my soul,” which are touching but nothing close to what Wesley meant. He meant Lover. This is a phrase that has always deeply stirred me ~ "Jesus, Lover of my soul." I often repeat it to myself, in good times and bad ~ it has a very powerful impact on me.

The idea that “reason and knowledge are everything” has permeated all of our culture, sometimes subtly, and sometimes not so subtle. It has even permeated our churches, which is very sad. I believe Jesus was a man of great passion. I believe He passionately sought to save us from our sin so we could be with Him for all eternity. WOW!

David, who wrote many of the Psalms, wrote with passion about God's love. The poetry that flowed from his heart is filled with unapologetic emotion toward God. He speaks of drinking from God’s “river of delights” (Ps. 36:8 NIV), how his Lover has filled his heart “with greater joy” (4:7 NIV) than all the wealth other men have found, and he writes in many places how his heart sings to God. He cries through the night, aches to be with God. “You have made known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence” (16:11 NIV). "As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the Living God." (42:1–2 NIV) These are not the words of "reason and knowledge". These are not the words of even your average pastor. For David (and for me), God’s love “is better than life” (63:3 NIV). David is captivated by the Beauty he finds in God. On and on it goes. The man is undone. He is as smitten as any lover might be, only his lover is God. Read the Psalms for yourself. Look for the passion in David's words. And do you think Jesus would have endured the agonizing torture and death before and on the cross for anything less than passion? Or for that matter, leave His throne in Heaven for anything less than passion? I think the term "lover of my soul" is already inadequate to capture the power and intensity of God's great love for each one of us.

As John Eldredge says, "It is possible to recover the lost life of our heart and with it the intimacy, beauty, and adventure of life with God." Ask God to awaken the passion of your heart toward Him. He will take you on an amazing journey of discovery. And you'll never want to go back.

Grief

Grief is part of the healing process.  For me, I had to grieve the fact that I did not have the family I had always longed for growing up.  I grieved that I did not grow up being the apple of my daddy's eye, that I was not unconditionally loved, that I never really got to be a "little girl." Grieving the loss helped me to let it go, but I didn't want to get stuck in my grief. And I didn't want to get stuck in anger or bitterness. I can now rejoice in the blessings of today.  I can't change the past, but I chose not to let it ruin my present or my future. And I certainly don't want history to repeat itself in my kids and grandkids. When we don't deal with past hurts, we usually go on to hurt the people we love most, consciuosly or unconsciously. Perhaps you need to grieve the losses in your life. Here are a few to consider:

• Loss of innocence
• Loss of a nurturing family
• Loss of security
• Loss of a close relationship with your mother
• Loss of a healthy relationship with your father
• Loss of trust
• Loss of employment
• Loss of a marriage
• Loss of a spouse
• Loss of a child
• Loss of a friendship
• Loss of hope

God's resurrection power is more than sufficient to resurrect hope in you again. Allow His love to resurrect and re-write your soul. Take the time necessary to really heal. He has come to give you LIFE, ABUNDANT LIFE.

Out of Abundance

I know I keep using quotes from John Eldredge, but he has so many good things to say! Here, then, is a quote that arrived in my email this morning.

If then you are wise, you will show yourself rather as a reservoir than as a canal. A canal spreads abroad water as it receives it, but a reservoir waits until it is filled before overflowing, and thus without loss to itself [it shares] its superabundant water. (Bernard of Clairvuex)

A beautiful picture. The canal runs dry so quickly, shortly after the rains subside. Like a dry streambed in the desert. But a reservoir is a vast and deep reserve of life. We are called to live in a way that we store up reserves in our heart, and then offer from a place of abundance. As Jesus said, “Therefore every teacher of the law who has been instructed about the kingdom of heaven is like the owner of a house who brings out of his storeroom new treasures as well as old” (Matt 13:52). I’m thinking, Storeroom? What storeroom? “The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart…for out of the overflow of his heart, his mouth speaks” (Luke 6:45 emphasis added). 

I think we get burned out when we don't spend enough time re-charging on God's word. Sometimes I think we feel like we are being selfish when we say no when we are asked to take on some "good" thing at church or helping out a friend. But we can't do everything ~ we just can't. I don't know if we have to be spending more time getting filled up with the Word than giving out of the abundance, but we do have to be full before we can give. Otherwise, we are no real good to anyone, and whatever we endeavor to do we are trying to do in our own strength and wisdom ~ how effective can that really be?

God is so very good, and He has so much to give to us. He is so willing to pour Himself into us when we spend time in His presence. I have been trying to make this more of a priority in my life. I need to fill that storeroom every single day, often more than once a day. But I can get so busy doing, that sometimes I let this "priority" take second place to other, less critical things. Even good things can get in the way of God's best in our lives.

Just some of my thoughts this morning. Be sure to let me know what you think.

Sarah Palin

I have been very impressed by Sarah Palin. I must admit, I have never been in favor of a female president in the past. I still feel that the pressures of the presidency/vice presidency are such that no one in their right mind would want to be subjected to that, male or female. I have noticed in the past how quickly most presidents visibly age after taking office. Ronald Reagan was an exception ~ he never really seemed too ruffled, and he didn't seem to age any faster than the normal process. I noticed the same thing about George W. Bush during his first term in office. His second term was a different story. I have wondered whether he spent more time on his knees in prayer during his first term, thus leading to more peace of mind and slower aging. I don't know this for sure, but it also appears evident to me in his decisions and policies of his second term ~ that perhaps he spent less time asking for divine guidance, thus leading to less peace, less divine wisdom, and more rapid aging. And what about prayer cover from fellow Believers?

Sarah Palin is beautiful, isn't she? And my goodness, didn't she handle the debate well last night? She is one smart lady, with a quick wit and able to think on her feet. She has the look of one who spends much time with her Lord. Whichever team is elected p/vp, they will be in desperate need of our prayers. (Of course I have my personal preference for the job.) America is hard on her public servants. The job is wrought with decisions that require divine guidance. Earthly wisdom will not be enough. And if the stresses of the job itself weren't enough, we have the mainstream media ripping them to shreds publicly over every tiny thing they can find (oh wait, that's only if the team is Republican).

My point is ~ we as Christians have a divine, God-given assignment. We are to pray for our leaders. All of them, no matter their political party. I can't help but wonder whether during George Bush's second term, Christians became too complacent, and began to neglect lifting him in prayer. Do we really understand the critical nature of this command from the God we love? It is the enemy of us ALL who wants us to be so busy that we don't have time or we forget to pray for our leaders. Busy-ness is not "just part of life." It is part of our enemy's plan for us. I really think that, more than George Bush, any failures in this past presidency rest on OUR shoulders, as his fellow Christians. I am not pointing fingers ~ I, too, am guilty. Somehow I just forgot to keep praying for him as diligently during his second term.

We cannot make that mistake again. Perhaps a good barometer of the amount of prayer from the Christians of America on behalf of the presidency is to watch the faces of the p/vp. If they appear to be unduly aging, we ain't prayin'.