The blanket of FEAR!

Friday was a day that I would like to forget but as much as I want to I can't.  News trickled onto the internet about a mass shooting at an elementary school in Connecticut.  I was filled with horror and thoughts that this can not be right.  Somebody had to have gotten the news wrong but it was not.  The more that I read and heard from others I knew that those parent were covered in a blanket of fear.

They had to go to that school and wait to found out if their child was alive, wounded or worse.  I can not imagine the horror and fear that filled their souls!  20 children and 6 adults were killed at an elementary school then the shooter took his own life.  He also killed his own mother.  27 families have been changed forever. There were times that I could not listen, read or hear anymore.  The news was more than my mind could fathom.  The families that lost loved ones could not just turn the news off though.  They are having to deal each minute with the loss of their child, sister, brother, parent and friend.

Since the news there have been many prayer vigils, support and sympathy pouring out to that community from the rest of the United States and across the world.   I think that we should cover the families, the children that went through the horror of that day, the teachers and the community with  many blanket of PRAYERS!  Let's cover them in prayers that God will enfold them in His arms, that He will comfort them and give them strength to make it through each day!  Pray that God will cover them with His love and peace.

Let's keep our blanket of prayers going for these families in the next days, weeks and months!

Luke 18:15-17

New International Version (NIV)

The Little Children and Jesus

¹⁵ People were also bringing babies to Jesus for him to place his hands on them. When the disciples saw this, they rebuked them. ¹⁶ But Jesus called the children to him and said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.¹⁷ Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.”

The Long and Whiny Road:Questions I left unanswered

Most parents will agree with me that children are very inquisitive and have many questions!  My boys were no exception and my girl is still asking questions I would rather not answer.  I remember my oldest son ask me how come there were lines on the inside of his hands.  With all the wisdom that I could muster I told him, "BECAUSE".  I know children think that parents are so wise and have all the answers but someone forgot to give this mother the key to that quick wisdom a parent is suppose to have.  I know that my children will remember the word because.  At times the questions were too soon.  They didn't need the answers yet but when they came of the age that the answers might help them they didn't ask.

My boys were typical and very curious.  They listened at school to the talk of other children and sometimes came home with questions that went unanswered.  My second boy had apparently heard some older grade school girls talking but the only thing that he remembered from their conversation was that girls are periods.  He came home and ask me, "If girls are periods then are boys questions mark?"  I immediately said yes and left the real question unanswered.  

I played the piano for a few years at a small church that was pretty desperate and I was the only one that they could get.  One morning when playing before the service I heard my third son.  I looked up and saw in his hand an unmentionable covered in pink in his hand as he was very loudly asking, "What's this, Mom?".  I jumped up, went to him, grabbed the unmentionable, put it in my purse(took the purse with me) and said, "It's nothing!"

My daughter has many questions that I have no idea how to answer.  She is always asking questions about body parts and are they supposed to be that way.  She always gets mad when I tell her that I have no idea.

Even if I told her what I thought it would be, I would be wrong!

There are questions that I would always try to answer.  Those were the questions that they ask me about Jesus.  If I didn't know the answer we would look them up in the Bible or ask someone.  I welcomed those questions!  I also told them that God will always answer them but they have to listen.  I told them that God will answer yes, no, or not yet!

God is waiting for a question!  He wants to hear from you.  He wants to hear, "Will you Come into my heart?"  Have you ask that question?  God will never leave you with unanswered questions!

John 3:16-17

New International Version (NIV)

¹⁶ For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. ¹⁷ For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.

““I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me— just as the Father knows me and I know the Father—and I lay down my life for the sheep.” John 10:14-15 NIV

Thankfulness

Tomorrow is a day to pause, reflect and remember what you are thankful for.  I thought I would just let you know today what I am thankful for!

I am thankful for another year with my husband.  I am thankful for his doctors that work so hard to keep him here.  I am thankful for his bullheaded, stubborn ways.  I am thankful that he is a family man and puts us first even in the midst of cancer.(even though we beg him to rest and concentrate on getting better)  I am thankful for his attitude! I am thankful that he is a christian!

I am thankful for my children and granddaughter and that this year we will all be together for Thanksgiving.  I am thankful for each one of them with their different gifts and ways of making me laugh, cry and sometimes scream.

I am thankful for my extended family, church family and many friends .  I am thankful for reconnecting with some friends this year that I hadn't seen in a long time!

I am thankful for the gift of prayer!  I am thankful for everybody that has sent many prayers to heaven on our behalf!  I am thankful for the Bible!

I am thankful for my house, my car, running water, food(especially chocolate), bathrooms, microwaves, music, furniture,  a heater, air conditioners, books, cleaning supplies, a job, co-workers, movies, the truth, writing, a computer, facebook, telephones and the list goes on!

I am thankful that I live in a free country where I have many rights!

Most of all I am thankful for my Heavenly Father, His Son, Jesus who died and rose again for us and the Holy Spirit who convicts!  I am thankful for the forgiveness given freely when asked for!  I am thankful that a way was paved for eternal life many, many years ago!!

What are you thankful for?

Psalm 100:3-5

New International Version (NIV)

³ Know that the Lord is God.
    It is he who made us, and we are his^[a];
    we are his people, the sheep of his pasture.

⁴ Enter his gates with thanksgiving
    and his courts with praise;
    give thanks to him and praise his name.
⁵ For the Lord is good and his love endures forever;
    his faithfulness continues through all generations.

My daughter's long, horrible, low down rotten day

Saturday was a busy day for my daughter.  She had tryouts for the Red Carpet Honor Band and than later that day a basketball game for the championship of a tournament at her school.  It started out a good day.  She seemed calm, cool and collected.  We left for the tryouts and she seemed good.

The musicians had to go to their stations to get their time.  When my daughter and her friend got to the front to get their times, they were not even on the list.  All at once Sarah was uptight and not so calm, cool and collected. She finally got her number and got to play.

The ball game was later that day and she sat on the bench until the fourth quarter.  I could tell by her face that she was not happy.  She did get to play most of that quarter and she hustled and played well but she still was not happy.

Now this day should have been a very good day for her.  She did make the Honor Band and the team won their game, they are 6 and 0 now.  You would think that this would be a wonderful day full of wins but not in her eyes.  She knows she could have played her flute better.  She was very nervous and her finger's were shaking and she was upset even though the team won.  She wanted more playing time.

As her mother I understand and I hurt for her too.  I want to fix it, I want to help but sometimes she just has to learn on her own.  I had to back off and try to keep my mouth quiet.  It wasn't very easy.  My daughter will have lots of long, horrible, low down rotten days and my hope is that each one will teach her something.  I hope that she will grow because of those days.

There is One though that can calm her and give her a peace that I can not give and that would be Jesus.  He knows all, He comforts His children and helps one through any long, horrible, low down rotten day.


What about you? Do you know His comfort?

Isaiah 66:12-14

New International Version (NIV)

¹² For this is what the Lord says:

“I will extend peace to her like a river,
    and the wealth of nations like a flooding stream;
you will nurse and be carried on her arm
    and dandled on her knees.
¹³ As a mother comforts her child,
    so will I comfort you;
    and you will be comforted over Jerusalem.”

¹⁴ When you see this, your heart will rejoice
    and you will flourish like grass;
the hand of the Lord will be made known to his servants,
    but his fury will be shown to his foes.

John 14:1-3

New International Version (NIV)

14 “Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God^[a];believe also in me. ² My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? ³ And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.

Points for the wrong team?

Many of you  that read my post know that I am a Mama Bear!  Don't mess with my children or you may have to face me.  Sometimes though Mama Bear needs to step back and let the little bears learn a few lessons on their own.

My only child left at home is a very talented young lady in many areas and she loves to play basketball.  The season started Friday and there were several mistakes made.  It reminded me of the time when my number two son was playing.  He was all by himself under the basket and turned as everyone in the crowd yelled at him.  He turned and easily made two points.  It was then he realized that he had just made two points for the other team.  He was embarrassed but there was not a thing he could do.  The deed was done and two points were chalked up for the other team.

At my daughter's game Friday I let my tongue and anger get the best of me.  I thought that maybe she needed to get to play a little more.  I thought maybe the coach should open her eyes.  I said some things that I should have kept to myself and ended up being rude to a young coach.  I started regretting my behavior on the way home but by the next day I knew that I should have kept my mouth shut.  Then on Sunday the preacher's sermon was out of James 3.  It was about the tongue and anger.  I sent an apology by text message that afternoon but the words and the actions could not be taken back.  They had already been said and I realized I had made points for the other team.  Satin's team.  I think  that this time Mama Bear learned a hard lesson!

What about you?  What team are you scoring for??

James 3:9-17

New International Version (NIV)

⁹ With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse human beings, who have been made in God’s likeness.¹⁰ Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this should not be. ¹¹ Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring? ¹² My brothers and sisters, can a fig tree bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water.

Two Kinds of Wisdom

¹³ Who is wise and understanding among you? Let them show it by their good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom. ¹⁴ But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth.¹⁵ Such “wisdom” does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. ¹⁶ For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice.
¹⁷ But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere.

The Long and Whiny Road:Children, cars and obediance

I grew up cruising Highway 66.  It was one of the roads that I traveled while in Drivers Ed class.  It became well known to me especially the stretch from my house off of Highway 177 onto 66 that lead into my hometown of Wellston.  Technically my three son's hometown is Wellston also and they spent some of their  first years traveling that stretch of road.

When my youngest son was around a year old the powers that be started cracking down on seat belt use.  It was going to become mandatory to use seat beats.  I remember that there was a period of time that we had to get used to this and to start using them.  It was a grace period.  If we got caught we would get a warning.

I was heading into town one day in my little Toyota Corolla.  I had some big boxes in the back seat and my youngest was wedged into the corner almost hidden by the big boxes.  He fell fast asleep as his two older brothers shared the passenger front seat.  I was almost to town when I noticed a car behind me.  It was a highway patrol car.  I instantly cautioned my two in the front seat to sit still.  Well my number two son had this problem.  He sometimes liked to do the exact opposite of what I told him to do.  He immediately jumped up, stood in the seat facing backward and he had a really good view as the red lights came on.

I pulled over and I cautioned the boys to just be quiet.  The youngest was still in the back sound asleep.  The officer made it to my window and looked in.  At that very instant my number two son decided to cry, yell and scream at the top of his lungs.  The officer very quickly assessed the situation and let me off with a warning.  He did lecture me on the safety of using seat belts and keeping children safe while my son screamed the whole time!  My youngest slept through the whole thing.

I wonder how many times that I have done this as a Christian.  I hear God telling me to do something but I do the exact opposite.  Why on earth would I do that?  Just as I grew up with a knowledge of Highway 66 around the area of my hometown I have known my God for a long time.  He knows what is best for me and what I am capable of so why would I do the exact opposite of what I am suppose to do?  It must be my nature, or I think I that it is something I jut can't do or maybe I think it is too hard.  I need to listen, obey and respond just as I wanted my own children to do.  God wants me to use His seat belt!    Sometimes God gives me a grace period and another chance.  Sometimes I receive a ticket.

What about you?  Are you traveling the road of obedience?

Psalm 119:4-6 (NIV)

⁴ You have laid down precepts
that are to be fully obeyed.
⁵ Oh, that my ways were steadfast
in obeying your decrees!
⁶ Then I would not be put to shame
when I consider all your commands.