For the Love of Crafting

It has been such a privilege and a blast creating these arrangements for my church!

I was given the opportunity a couple of years back to come up with arrangements befitting of our "Lord's Super Table" and I must say that it has been such a blessing to me.

Not only have a "learned" what will and will not work; but I have been honored to do something I so love and enjoy!

Political?

I am by no means a politically adept individual and if inquired at could probably not expound on any given subject; but come on, even a simpleton like me can see.
Personally, my hope is in the Lord and I know that it is He that setteth one up and bringeth down another; so that I have no man to fear. But the reality of it is the astonishing way at which the masses are being drawn in. All of a sudden everyone wants to sit on the same side of the tracks and cry out U.N.I.T.Y.
Not all have to agree and that is the beauty of our God given freedom of choice but you can rest assured that there will be an outcry when someone poses opposition to the "evolved leader" so called.
I am not an "Obamite" and would have never voted for the man (race aside) based on his "moral stance" alone. He is scary to me on all fronts.
I will however give him the respect he deserves do to his "position" but agree I can not. I can only hope that my brothers and sisters will come together in solemn prayer for the sake of our quickly "declining" nation.
This spiritual battle is raging and it will not be long before we are found to be the minority. "Christian" is not a title Obama should give himself lightly considering his many stances.
I think America might have bit more than she can chew in this case. We will just have to pray and see.

Wow, Enough Said

ENTERTAINERS AGOG OVER OBAMA (Friday Church News Notes, January 23, 2009, www.wayoflife.org fbns@wayoflife.org, 866-295-4143) - The filthy entertainment industry is absolutely agog over President Barack Obama. Actor George Clooney said, “He walks into a room and YOU WANT TO FOLLOW HIM SOMEWHERE, ANYWHERE,” and actress Halle Berry agreed, “I’LL DO WHATEVER HE SAYS to do. I’ll collect paper cups off the ground to make his pathway clear” (Politico, Feb. 20, 2008). When New Age billionaire Oprah Winfrey introduced Obama on December 11, 2007, in Columbia, South Carolina, she called him “AN EVOLVED LEADER” and said, “We’re here to evolve to a higher plane.” She also said he is a “force for peace” who can break down everything that divides, including race and politics and religion. Pop singer/actress Jennifer Lopez gushed, “WASHINGTON NEVER HAD A BIGGER ROCK STAR AT THE HELM; he is just too good” (The Himalayan Times, Jan. 21, 2009, p. 14). She is right. Obama is a rock star because he represents moral relativism, corrupt Christianity and anti-Biblicism (he denies the infallibility of Scripture, hates dogma, rejects the doctrine of hell and salvation through Christ alone), and New Age mysticism (we can create a new world through our own divine-tinged initiative and the power of positive thinking). We are rushing on to the end of the age, but it is not time to hide in a hole and stockpile food; it’s not time to doubt and fear; it is time to awake out of spiritual lethargy, trust in God, walk in obedience and holiness, and try to win souls to Christ before it is too late. “And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed. The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light” (Romans 13:11-12).

It's Christ'mas Time!

Wow, this is quickly becoming my favorite time of the year (second only to Iraq homecomings) ...

I love this time of year, the time when we all get to reflect on that which matters most. Don't get me wrong, I can get "caught up" in the frazzle dazzle of it all as well; just as long and it doesn't "change" my line of sight ... we are ok!

First and foremost it is a time for a long good look and meditation on the greatest gift anyone could have ever thought to give ... The Life; in exchange for eternal life! Wow, what more can one ask? Everything else becomes secondary to that and vanity as wise old Solomon said.


But having said that, this for me is the time of year when I make the time to sit down and reflect on those we love. It is the one time I go "all out" and reach out to everyone. I take the time to send out a Christmas greeting ... not out of obligation but out of desire.

Being "travelers with the service" your list of friends and acquaintances can really grow! I believe I sent out close to 85 plus greetings this year! All joy however.

Our lives can get so "busy and full" with everyday stuff that we do not always make time for even a simple hello.

Sending out those cards is my way of telling everyone "hey, I may not call or see you on a regular basis; but you are on my mind!"

Letting those we care about know that they are "thought of" is a simple but much (I am sure) appreciated gesture.


So even if I can't find the time for hour long calls know that you are all thought of.

MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!

Colorado, How I Love Thee ... Let me count the ways

I have to confess that of all the places (which really aren't many) this life has taken us, Colorado by far excels them all.

We love to hike and be outdoors in general, although we don't get to do it as often as we'd like.

This was one of those weekends though ... we siezed the day and headed for the hills. God is great, all the time! All the time ... God is great!

God Is Great!

It has been a long hard road. My Mom has a little saying; "only he carrying the pack, knows the weight thereof."
And what a weight it has been at times.
My beloved has been gone all of eleven months now, almost hard to believe. This being his third tour we are no strangers to separation. But I have to admit that this has been the longest and the hardest by far.
Life has not been without its share of challenges yet I am amazed (even though our great Lord says we shouldn't be) by God's comfort and grace though it all.
The Lord has blessed me with two wonderful boys. They have been my strength and comfort through it all while living it. God sustaines us, but they have been my ministering comfort.
They miss their father, sure; but they have such a resolve about his purpose for this family and what he is doing out there.
Time and time again I have cried unto the Lord and He has heard my plea. He is my one constant in this ever changing emotional roller coaster of a ride.

Truly, "Come unto me all ye that labour and are heavy laden and I will give you rest" has been my comforting verse in this journey.

Is it over? not just yet. Much longer? not really given what we have already "endured." How will we manage? "Casting all your cares upon him for he careth for you." And being able to do ALL things through Christ, which strengthen me.

Glory, I'm Saved!

Missing you more ...

Answer to Prayer

It has been some time now since I have written, I do miss writing. I want to share with you all an answer to prayer.

Last year my boys were "offered" potential ownership to a playhouse. When the possibility was first mentioned my boys became ecstatic! They "nagged" my ears off for weeks on end to diligently continue to inquire. I said to them that if this was meant for them, they would have to commit it to prayer.

Time passed and we never did hear back. Needless to say my boys were still anxious at the possible thought of this becoming a reality for them. When I called to inquire about the house, the folks had moved away. My boys were now on the brink of discouragement. I told them to keep praying.

A few weeks later I received a phone call out of the blue and guess who it was? The folks called to say that they had left hurriedly after selling the house and closing in a matter of days. No time to call an make final arrangements for the playhouse. Upon ending our unexpected conversation they did mention to me that the house had been left behind and that the new owners had no children to speak of.

Well, I told my boys again to continue praying! It has now been 10 months (about 2 years in kids time) and guess where that old house is now sitting? You guessed it, our back yard.

The Lord answered our prayer!

We sought out the new owners and prayed that they would not think us stalkers or beggars. The lady of the house was really nice, upon our request she kindly said that we could have the house (free of charge)! Three months went by before we could actually transport it due to the cold and snowy weather. But God is faithful! Our Pastor and several men from the church provided the labor. We rented a flat bed and a few huffs and puffs later here it was.

The look on the boys faces when it was finally here and set up was priceless. I told them that God had answered their prayer in getting them this house as we would never fork out the $1,200 it would cost to buy one new! The house came with a climbing wall, lunch table, slide, swings and a monkey bar (we opted not to set up the swings as they took up so much space). A set up of this kind is very pricey so you can imagine just how much of a blessing we count it.

That same week my boys were also offered a brand new basket ball court! Amen! The brother that offered it even helped us set it in the ground.

This is just a testament to how great God is! Even though these are just material things, in the absence of their father it brings my boys great joy. And isn't it wonderful to know that our God cares about these two little ones and their joy?

God is faithful and wants to hear and answer even the smallest of prayers and desires.

Our prayer is that you are in His will. Have you trusted Christ as your Savior? He wants to answer even your smallest of desires when you accept His free gift of grace and claim Him as your Savior.

"For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation." Romans 10:10